PTOO 02 2021

PORT ORANGE

Observer

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VOLUME 4, NO. 6

• FEBRUARY 2021

Volusia teachers to get a raise School Board OKs salary increase. The base salaray will now be $44,335, with state support. PAGE 4

BRIEFS County Council approves two new ambulances Two years ago, the county’s public protection staff laid out a plan to eventually add more staffing and 911 ambulance units to the response fleet as the need, call volume and service demands dictated. On Tuesday, Jan. 19, the staff told the Volusia County Council that the time has come.

And the council agreed, voting unanimously to buy and equip two new ambulances.

Staffing for the ambulances will be added in March. And even more ambulances probably will be needed in the future to continue keeping pace with the call volume, Public Protection Director Joe Pozzo told the council.

“We need to add additional ambulances. This is the first step to, I would say, more in the future,” Pozzo said Jan. 19. “Because the county is growing.”

At a total cost of $626,884, the two ambulances will be fully equipped for advanced life support service with medical gear such as cardiac monitors and mechanical CPR devices. According to Volusia County EMS Director Jason Brady, the addition to the fleet is necessitated by the increase over the past year in workload and the distance that current ambulance units have to travel to calls.

According to Pozzo, one of the new ambulances will be positioned on the east side of the county and one west. They’ll begin service around May 1.

Light it up!

The winner of the 2020 Light Up Port Orange contest, sponsored by Port Orange Parks and Rec was the home at 1410 Breaks Way, according to the city’s Facebook page. Mayor Don Burnette and Rec Man visited George and Lacey to congratulate them.

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PORT ORANGE KNIGHTS SPONSOR STATE POSTER CONTEST WINNER

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Father Titus Kachinda, Pastoral Vicar at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church (right); and Robert Brock present a certificate and check for $50 to Andrea Banaszek for winning the Catholic Citizenship Essay Contest. Her essay went on to win the state championship.

Andrea Banuszek, winner of the Catholic Citizenship Essay Contest sponsored by Our Lady of Hope Council 8086, advanced to win top honors in the state of Florida in the Knights of Columbus-sponsored competition.

Banuszek earned a $50 firstplace check for winning at the Council level. Her essay then went on to capture top honors in K of C District 20, along with winning in Region 3 and then for the Florida State Council.

The essay competition was part of the Knights’ Faith in Action Community initiative. Dr. Ernie Jackson is the Council’s

Community Director, while Rob Brock was the point of contact for the competition.

John O’Malley is the Grand Knight, and Tim Mell is Service Program Director.

The Florida State Council of the Year in 2020 – earning 2-Star Council Honors – Council 8086 is ahead of schedule to earn Star Council for the sixth time in the last seven years.

Anyone interested in being part of the Our Lady of Hope Knights’ program is asked to contact O’Malley at jomalley1@ cfl.rr.com.

PORT ORANGE OBSERVER

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FEBRUARY 2021

$16.7 million for COVID-19 rental assistance

GARY DAVIDSON COMMUNITY INFORMATION VOLUSIA COUNTY GOVERNMENT

Volusia County is in line for more than $16 million in federal aid to help local residents struggling to pay their rent due to the financial fall-out from the COVID-19 pandemic. On Jan. 19, the County Council formally blessed the new coronavirus aid initiative by giving approval to the county’s Community Services staff to launch the grant program once the money is received.

Last year, the county allocated $27.5 million of its federal coronavirus relief funds for rent and mortgage assistance to Volusia County residents. So far, a total of 7,974 applications for assistance have been approved. Although requests are still being processed, the deadline to apply expired on Dec. 30. However, the new COVID-19 stimulus bill passed

by Congress and signed by President Trump last month included $25 billion for emergency rental assistance. Volusia County has been told that its share will be

$16.7 million.

While approving the program Jan. 19, the council also authorized the hiring of up to 15 temporary county employees to help manage the program and process the rental assistance applications.

The positions – a program manager, two supervisors, nine case workers, two accounting specialists and one staff assistant – will be paid for out of the grant funds and will be vacated when the program ends.

The program will target people earning at or below 80% of the area median income, or AMI, with preference given to those at 50% or below the AMI. To qualify for assistance, one or more members of a household must have qualified for unemployment benefits or experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs or experienced other financial hardship due either directly or indirectly to the coronavirus outbreak. Additionally, one or more people in the house-

hold must be able to demonstrate a risk of homelessness or housing instability. Landlords will be able to apply on behalf of their tenants who meet the eligibility requirements as long as the tenant cosigns the application.

Community Services Director Dona Butler told council members that underemployment can be a critical challenge for many.

“That can make a big difference,” said Butler. “You might not have lost your job entirely, but you may have had your hours cut in half or you relocated to another job that just doesn’t pay you what you were being paid before.”

In addition to rent assistance, the program also will provide financial help for utilities and home energy costs or other expenses related to housing. Households will be able to receive up to a year of assistance, but must be re-certified every three months to continue receiving assistance. In addition to the grant funds, case workers also will be trained to refer clients to other community resources for which they might qualify. The county hopes to have the program up and running on March 1. The public will be notified how and where to apply and the required documentation once the program is ready to accept applications. The county plans to produce a training video to teach clients how to submit an online application.

“It’s going to be challenging, because there’s going to be a lot of folks that want assistance,” said Butler.

State officials push for incentives to attract businesses U.S. Space Command headquarters going to Alabama is the latest evidence of Florida’s self-inflicted wounds from cutting back on business incentives, members of the Florida Economic Development Council argued on Thursday, Jan. 21.

The council maintains that Florida put itself at a competitive disadvantage in attracting high-skilled and high-paying jobs by giving up on “performancebased” incentive programs such as the Qualified Target Industry, or QTI, tax-refund program.

The QTI program offered tax refunds of $3,000, or double in rural counties, for the creation of each full-time job that paid at least 115% of the state or local average wage.

But the state in recent years revamped economic-development efforts after a battle between then-Gov. Rick Scott and House leaders about incentives.

State Rep. Chip LaMarca, a Lighthouse Point Republican who appeared at Thursday’s webinar, said while he supports making Florida more competitive, people need to be held accountable for tax dollars.

Volusia prepares for mandatory redistricting With the country’s population count for the 2020 Census now completed, Volusia County is turning its attention to the man-

datory redrawing of the boundary lines for its five County Council districts.

County Attorney Mike Dyer briefed council members on Tuesday, Jan. 19, about the reapportionment process and the decisions that will need to be made along the way. The county’s home rule charter requires the county to go through redistricting every 10 years after each national Census. The goal is to ensure that all five council districts remain contiguous and as equal in population is possible.

The Volusia County School Board will be going through the same process.

“It obviously needs to be as easy as possible for people to vote and be involved in the system and understand it,” said Brower. “I think this motion covers council workshops and community input so the general population is invited to participate.

And they will not be left out.”

Some of the other goals that the council established Jan. 19 to guide the process included preserving municipal boundaries when possible, keeping intact large concentrations of minority populations and ensuring that no two sitting council members end up in the same district.

After the council reapportioned its districts 10 years ago, the population in the five districts ranged from 98,043 to 100,212. Based on preliminary estimates from the new Census, the population of the five council districts are expected to be around 110,000.

The deadline is six months after the federal government formally publishes the Census.

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The program will aid those at or below 80% of the area median income; up to 15 temporary county employees will be hired to process applications and manage the program.

BRIEFS

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PORT ORANGE OBSERVER

Committed to Volusia Brower vows to bring unity to County Council Photos by Jarleene Almenas

County Council Chair Jeff Brower takes his oath of office on Thursday, Jan. 7.

Volusia County Council Chair Jeff Brower, council members Heather Post, Billie Wheeler and Danny Robins were sworn in.

JARLEENE ALMENAS ASSOCIATE EDITOR

T County Councilwoman Billie Wheeler takes her oath of office.

County Councilman Danny Rob ins takes his oath of office.

County Councilwoman Heather Post takes her oath of office.

he most important task facing the recently installed Volusia County Council is bringing unity among the residents, said Chair Jeff Brower after being sworn into office on Thursday, Jan. 7, as he vowed to listen to his constituents and treat them with respect.

“To feel a sense of belonging, and neighborliness,” Brower said.

“To encourage peace and prosperity and liberty. Let’s vow to come together to make Volusia County the safest and the most pleasant place to live, to work, to play, to be able to drink the water and swim in it.”

Also sworn into office inside the council chamber at the start of the meeting were County Council members Danny Robins, Billie Wheeler and Heather Post. Robins is the new representative for District 3, a seat formerly held by past County Councilwoman Deb Denys who resigned her position to run for chair in the 2020 elections. Both Wheeler and Post are serving a second term.

When being sworn into office, Brower placed his left hand on two Bibles. One belonged to his father, and the other to his mother. He assured the public that after spending time with the county manager and staff, he felt “unequivocally” that their main goal was to help this council be successful. He requested differences be set aside in favor of serving.

“You truly are the govern-

“To feel a sense of belonging, and neighborliness. To encourage peace and prosperity and liberty. Let’s vow to come together to make Volusia County the safest and the most pleasant place to live, to work, to play, to be able to drink the water and swim in it.”

JEFF BROWER, County Council chair

County Council Chair Jeff Brower stands with his family after being sworn into office

ment,” Brower said. “We are your servants. The purpose of government is to protect your God-given rights.”

Later in the meeting, Wheeler was elected as the council’s vice chair after a nomination for County Councilwoman Barb Girtman failed with a 3-4 vote.

Council members Ben Johnson, Fred Lowry, Wheeler and Robins voted against.

Wheeler, who represents District 2 on the council, won her race by a slim 656 votes in the November elections. Wheeler commented on the riots that occurred in the U.S. Capitol, calling the event a “travesty” and promising the public that the council would never allow similar events to occur in Volusia County.

“Each and every person on this council I know is committed to Volusia County and to the citizens,” Wheeler said. “We don’t have city lines. We don’t have east-west lines. We’re all working for Volusia County.”

Post said she is excited for the potential that awaits Volusia County, expressing her hopes for council discussion at workshops as well as the new council’s focus to listen to the people.

“Know that your voices are heard, but they can only be heard if you voice them,” she said.

Robins also spoke to unity, urging for the community to push forward. He said he wanted the public to remember the council works for them.

“You’re going to see some customer service, I believe, and some energy, like you’ve never seen before in Volusia County,” Robins said.

Some changes coming soon to the County Council could also include a change of meeting times. The council directed staff to explore the option of holding meetings later in the day to allow more public input.

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FEBRUARY 2021

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Communication is a ‘work in progress’ ‘It’s a new day,’ said Councilwoman Girtman.

JARLEENE ALMENAS ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Communication, and the lack thereof, was at the center of Volusia County Council’s first meeting of 2021 on Thursday, Jan. 7.

It started when County Council member Ben Johnson reprimanded fellow Councilwoman Heather Post for an email to an employee in the county’s community information division that he believed to be a verbal attack.

Post’s email asked for the council to be informed ahead of time on what would be presented to the public in a press conference.

“We’re supposed to set an example and promote unity up here. It’s destructive, counterproductive and demoralizing to staff to be unfairly berated by a council member, particularly when you’re doing the right thing,” Johnson said.

The other council members were blindsided by Johnson’s comments, with Chair Jeff Brower and County Councilwoman Barb Girtman saying they were disappointed at how Johnson approached the situation. Johnson later apologized to Post.

Girtman said she recognized they were in a “high-stress, high-intensity” situation, and while she didn’t always agree with Post’s methods to air grievances, she didn’t agree with Johnson’s methods either.

“It’s a new year, it’s a new day, it’s a new opportunity to go forward,” Girtman said.

Post, who apologized to the employee, read her email aloud to the council, saying she wanted county staff to notify them when there are public meetings, and what information will be shared so that when constituents ask, she is able to have answers. Post said she doesn’t want to find out what the county is doing from the press.

“When I bring these things up, it is not meant to be an attack, it is meant to be, ‘Hey this needs to be corrected, and we need to correct it and move forward,’” Post said.

County Manager George Recktenwald said communication would be smoother if concerns are raised directly with him.

Later in the meeting, Girtman said she felt the county’s approach to handling the pandemic lacked a sense of urgency.

“You actually are seeing a more relaxed approach to this surge than the earlier time when the numbers were not as significant as where they are now,” Girtman said. “I’m saying that even for us this morning in this room — we had no mandate for people to come in and wear a mask, we have people not social distancing in our own room, in our own space.”

Post also had a stern exchange with Public Protection Director Joe Pozzo and Patricia Boswell, administrator of the Department of Health in Volusia County, over the lack of information about vaccinations for seniors.

Pozzo assured Post that county staff, who found out about the Daytona vaccination site via a press release themselves, now had a significant role in registration and planning for future events. Boswell apologized, took full responsibility and promised to improve communications.

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PORT ORANGE OBSERVER

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FEBRUARY 2021

School Board OKs salary increase for teachers The plan now needs the state of Florida’s approval.

JARLEENE ALMENAS ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The Volusia County School Board unanimously approved on Tuesday, Jan. 12, a tentative agreement that, if given the green light by the Florida Department of Education, will increase the base teacher salary to $44,335.

This action comes after the district and teachers’ union Volusia United Educators reached a consensus on the issue in December 2020, following months of nego-

tiations and two impasse hearings.

“We batted a lot of things back and forth, and so we’re very excited we’ve come to this resolution,” said Mark West, Volusia County Schools chief human resources officer.

The teacher salary increase is a result of the passing of House Bill 641, which allocated school districts around the state with funds to raise the minimum salary to as close to $47,500 as possible. Volusia County received

$9,975,410 to accomplish this, and 80% of those funds will be used to increase teacher salaries, while the remaining 20% will be used to increase the base salary of other instructional personnel, according to the agreement.

In addition to the base salary increase, the agreement outlines that all teachers will receive at least a 2.5% raise. All increases will be retroactive to July 1, 2020.

West said that once the state approves the agreement, the district will move forward with implementing the increases.

VUE President Elizabeth Albert

said the union is ready to move past this issue and onto 2021.

“We have come to an agreement that I think is, by far, much better than where we started, and so we’re happy with that,” Albert said. “We’re happy that it ratified yesterday with a 95% approval rate from those who voted.”

At the Jan. 12 meeting, the School Board was also supposed to discuss the creation of a “Volusia County School District Police Department,” but the item was pulled from the agenda by School Board Member Ruben Colon, who asked district staff review it and present it before the board during a workshop for discussion. The board unanimously approved.

The plan to create the police

department would not have included the hiring of more employees, according to a press release issued by VCS last week.

It proposed utilizing current employees of the district’s Safety and Security Department who are already certified law enforcement officers.

“Many other school districts in Florida have similar hybrid arrangements with their own sworn law enforcement officers who work alongside school guardians and school resource officers and school resource deputies provided in partnership with other law enforcement agencies,” the press release stated.

Email jarleene@ormondbeachobserver.com.

Volusia County Schools reports 3.2% increase in high school graduation rates Rates increased by 3.2% in the 2019-2020 year.

JARLEENE ALMENAS ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Volusia County School’s graduation rate has improved for the 10th consecutive year, having increased by 3.2% for the 20192020 school year, according to a press release.

The school district reported the 87.7% graduation rate is its highest ever. It has grown by 9% in the past two years, and currently, five of the 10 high schools have a graduation rate of 90% of above.

Only two schools saw a decrease in graduation rate: Mainland High School, with a 0.3% decrease; and

University High School, with a 0.5% decrease, as seen by a chart shared by School Board Member Ruben Colon on Facebook, who celebrated the significant 6% increase in graduation rates for Deltona High School and Pine Ridge High School. The school to see the highest increase was New Smyrna Beach High School, with 8%. Seabreeze High School improved by 0.7%.

“Graduation assurance is a top priority for Volusia County Schools,” said Superintendent Dr. Carmen Balgobin in the press release. “It’s a major team effort by students, teachers, school counselors, school administrators, principals, and district staff, and we are celebrating this success today.”

The district stated that it credits the improvements to a “comprehensive strategy that focuses on providing individualized support to seniors, close monitoring of seniors’ credits and grades, more career technology programs, and the addition of advanced programs.”

“The pandemic has thrown many challenges at us this year, but we have been steadfast in our support of high school students as they progress toward graduation,” Balgobin said. “We offer rigorous instruction and utilize robust and effective progress monitoring to ensure that all students have the opportunity to walk across the graduation stage.”

PANDEMIC EXEMPTIONS PLAY A ROLE Graduation rates for Florida high school students ticked up this year, with 90% of students graduating, according to a state Department of Education report released this week. The report showed a 3.1 percentage-point increase in seniors graduating statewide during the 2019-2020 year.

Jacob Oliva, chancellor of the state’s K-12 public school system, attributed at least part of the gains to the state’s waiving of testing requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Though graduation rates

are up, I want to be very clear this increase must be understood within the context of the exemptions that were provided in the spring semester to the class of 2020,” Oliva wrote in an email to school superintendents on Thursday.

“That compassion and grace for our seniors was absolutely necessary, as we took several steps to ensure that our seniors would have support and opportunities to minimize the disruption of the pandemic on their educational journey.

However, it limits the interpretation of these results.”

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FEBRUARY 2021

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STANDING O

Emily Jones empowers women through paddle boarding Women Making Waves is not just her business.

It’s helped Emily Jones to grow as a woman.

JARLEENE ALMENAS ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Integrity. Kindness. Community.

Those are three key words by which Ormond Beach resident Emily Jones lives her life.

As the founder of Women Making Waves, an outdoor adventures

and paddle boarding excursion community for women, Jones loves what she does. The mission of Women Making Waves is to bring women together with the aim to empower them to be themselves through a paddle boarding experience. Jones leads her “tribe” out to islands in Ormond-by-the-Sea, Winter Park, New Smyrna Beach and Oak Hill, where the women then drink wine and sit around a circle.

“The circle symbolizes that we’re all connected in some way,” Jones said.

WHY I NOMINATED EMILY JONES “I first discovered Emily from her Instagram page wmwtribe, ‘Women Making Waves Tribe’. I thought to myself, ‘Who is this girl bringing together over a thousand woman in this community through paddle board adventures? I need to meet her and hear her story.’ Emily has a heart for bringing women together of all ages and stages in life to find community, empowerment and adventure.

Challenging them to step out of their comfort zone and share in each others struggles of life. They have so much fun and I can’t wait to get more involved. This is something the comunity and the whole world so desperately needs more of — unity, togetherness, more now than ever. I want all the women in this area to know about Woman Making Waves and know they have a place in this tribe.”

KYRA ALTES, owner of Fluid Form Fitness and 2019 Standing O

Hearing their stories has changed Jones. While “who am I?” is a hard question to answer, Jones said her tribe of women have helped her become who she is today.

“I don’t know if I know who I am, but I know what I am,” Jones said.

Jones always wanted to be a leader. She used to dream about being the lady in the suit walking down a hallway with a team behind her back, and for a time, she was that woman. Before she moved to Florida in 2014, Jones worked as the vice president of operations for a home security business. She was the only woman in leadership at the time, and she learned a lot.

However, Jones said she wishes that back then, she could have had the insight regarding leadership she has today.

“In a corporate job, I felt like I was leading, but I wasn’t the woman I needed to be to lead the way I wanted to,” she said.

Women Making Waves has allowed her that opportunity.

Her words for 2020 were “Lead Her” — it applied to leading herself and other women into finding who they are, and discovering a community that will lift them up.

“I have the logos on my shirt,” Jones said. “’Find your tribe and love them hard,’ and being the best version of yourself means you can love in the best ways.”

Visit wmwmovement.com

Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Emily Jones refers to the women who join Women Making Waves as her tribe.

She always starts the conversation with how Women Making Waves got its start, dating back to July 2016.

Jones had started a paddle board and kayak rental company earlier that year, now called Paddle Florida Now. She had been living in Florida for about two years, and yet, still struggled with meeting new people, especially women. She took a shot in the dark and posted an event on Facebook, detailing her plans to drink wine and get to know other women while paddle boarding.

Three women, all who didn’t know each other, showed up.

It was a refreshing experience, Jones recalled.

The next week, 18 women showed up to paddle board. Now, Jones has met over 2,200 women who have gone on a Women Mak-

ing Waves excursion.

“I’ve heard all their stories and seen people transform, including myself,” Jones said. “I’ve transformed in a way I never knew possible because I have the perspective of all these other women, from [ages] 21 to 82.”

Many stories told while in that circle are emotional. Some are funny. Jones only has two rules: 1) If it’s not about you, don’t share it, and 2) Listen when someone is speaking.

That’s important. Having a safe space where these women can feel heard opens the floor to some who would never share any personal details, Jones said. The most common story she hears is that of women trying to figure out who they are beyond being a mother and a wife. The circle gives them a place to explore that.

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FEBRUARY 2021

after COVID Java Junction owner dies of COVID, leaving wife and 4-year-old behind MICHELE MEYERS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Sopheavy Meth with her son Lincoln In and husband Samnang In.

Courtesy photo

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On Nov. 13, 2020, Samnang In lost his life to COVID-19. He was only 41 years old.

He had big plans for himself. Big plans for his family. He was getting his law degree and wanted to be an attorney so his wife would not have to work so hard. He had asked his wife to move back to Cambodia but the mysterious virus that shutdown Wuhan, China, had finally made its way to the United States, and his wife summoned him back before the lockdown in March.

Samnang continued his education online as the pandemic raged throughout Florida. The state began its phases of reopening, and the family, including his mother-in-law and father-inlaw who had moved from Cambodia to the United States in 2016, began to return to work. Even though they were hyper vigilant about following the CDC rules concerning the virus, both Samnang and his father-in-law were diagnosed with COVID on Nov. 3.

“We were so careful,” Sopheavy Meth said. “My husband used gloves, hand sanitizer and bleach.

He would sanitize the bags and the groceries before he brought them in the house. We were so unlucky.”

Sopheavy, called Sophia by her

HOW TO HELP Java Junction is located in the Winn Dixie Plaza on Granada Boulevard, along with Fletcher’s Irish Pub. Owner Bill Fletcher was approached by one of his customers who told him about Sopheavy’s story.

The community had pulled together for two of his earlier fundraisers, Shave for the Brave and Taco Bell Joe, so he immediately decided to organize another one, this time a GoFundMe. “I know Ormond Beach and the surrounding areas will come together to help this family in need,” Fletcher said.

If you would like to help Sopheavy and her family, visit https://gofund.me/ d7f7b09e.

customers, is now the sole owner of Java Junction in Ormond Beach.

She and her husband bought the doughnut and coffee shop in 2017 following the sale of their Holly Hill location.

Due to the financial burden COVID has placed on small businesses, she is also the only one working in the store six days a week and closing two days a week at the Holly Hill store.

Following her husband’s death, she made a decision to cut back one day so she could spend time with her 4-year-old son, Lincoln. Money is even tighter now, and sometimes the bills do not get

TRIBUTES Janice S. Catalfamo 1936-2020 Janice S. Catalfamo, 84, of Port Orange, Florida passed away peacefully at Halifax Health Hospice in Port Orange, FL Tuesday, December 22, 2020. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at a future date.

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Janice was born March 21, 1936 in Rochester, New York. She was a top producing Sales Representative for Prudential Financial, a bank Manager, and a loving mother to her four children. Upon retirement Janice relocated to Plantation Bay in Flagler County Florida in 1999. Janice had an incredible eye for color, that brought joy to many of her loved ones. She was a very talented jewelry maker and loved arts, crafts, home design, landscaping as well as the warm company of her many dear friends and neighbors. Janice was preceded in death by her loving husband of 61 years Carmen James Catalfamo, father Anthony R. Barone and her mother Josephine J. (DiSano). She is survived by her daughter Jomaine Ledbetter and fiancé Robert Krause, son(s) Kenneth, Anthony and wife Barbara (Parker), Kevin and wife Key (Marilyn Mongeon), her brother David Barone and wife Clare (Frankenberger). She is also survived by seven grandchildren; Nicole, Michael, Michelle, Stephanie, Anthony, Jessica, Meagan, four great grandchildren; Porter, Christian, Isla, Elianna. Arrangements are under the care of Haigh-Black Funeral Home. Condolences for the family may be shared at www.Haigh-Black.com.

She was a very talented jewelry maker and loved arts, crafts, home design, landscaping as well as the warm company of her many dear friends and neighbors.

SERVICE: A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at a future date.

Condolences for the family may be shared at https://www.haigh-black.com/obituary/ janice-catalfamo

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Palm Coast’s Premier Nautical Sales Event

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PORT ORANGE OBSERVER

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FEBRUARY 2021

Coffee to go for soccer mom Maribel Mejia-Cruz

Java Junction owner Sopheavy Meth.

“We were so careful. My husband used gloves, hand sanitizer and bleach. He would sanitize the bags and the groceries before he brought them in the house. We were so unlucky."

SOPHEAVY METH

Country living close to the city! Come check out this totally renovated 3 bedroom 2 bath home on over 2 acres in Port Orange.

No HOA! This home has been remodeled top to bottom. New kitchen with granite counter tops new appliances new AC new well new bathrooms the list goes on and on. MLS#1078501 $369,900 Call Michael Williams 386-689-2462.

Nestled on a quiet cul-de-sac, backing up to the preserve within the highly desirable CROSS CREEK neighborhood this 4 bedroom, 3 bath gem offers tranquil living while being close to everything. MLS#1076263 $362,000 Call Leanne Galliher 386-507-1917.

How would you like to Escape & Unwind just steps to the Ocean?

Think of warm breezes, toasty sand & refreshing waters. If this sounds like something you need in your busy life, look no further!

This two Bed unit with Oceanfront & pool view sets the tone for a trip to remember in the ‘’World’s Most Famous Beach!’’

MLS#1077400 $54,900 Call Hannah Harp 386-299-1884.

Nice Beachside 4bd/2.5/Bonus Room, very open with high ceilings. This home is just 2 minutes walking distance from the beach. It is close to shopping and many restaurants. The roof was replaced in 2020 and both air conditions were replaced in 2018. There is tile throughout the home. MLS#1077313 $299,900 Call Linda Wright 386-453-7323.

COASTAL WOODS is a great community in New Smyrna Beach located minutes from the beach as well as 95. The tranquil living of this community offers a little bit of everything for everyone of all ages. This 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom SMART home offers a phenomenal view of the pond in your fenced in yard. MLS#1079767 $265,000 Call Jennifer Waldo 813-415-7227.

COQUINA COVE LPGA

Welcome Home! This beautiful 5-bedroom, 4-bath home is perfectly situated in a quaint neighborhood, on a stunning waterfront with gorgeous views! Built in 2011, this home has been meticulously maintained and is in ‘’turn-key’’ condition.

Newly painted interior and new carpeting throughout.

MLS#1079668 $359,000 Call Cindy Lee Harper 386-566-4747.

Check out this open floor plan, it is perfect for entertaining and relaxing! Not only is the home amazing but the location is great too!

Be a part of Daytona Beaches most pristine community in LPGA! Don’t miss out on this opportunity to live in this immaculate home!

MLS#1079795 $275,000 Call James Brodick 386-527-5027.

PELICAN BAY

HERITAGE FOREST Welcome Home! This home is located in the exclusive and highly sought after Steeplechase section within the acclaimed Countryside Community, complete with exemplary schools and loads of amenities so there’s something for everyone.

MLS#1078161 $389,500 Call Kymberlee Nguyen 386-281-0352.

Beautiful Corner Lot in the heart of the World’s Most Famous Beach ! This wooded lot is ready for you to build your dream home. Close to shopping, schools, restaurants, interstate, and Daytona International Speedway!

MLS#1076667 $89,900 Call Bobby Parks 386-566-6617.

Regular Java Junction customer Candice Lucas.

GATED GOLF Pelican Bay Estate Home on a DOUBLE LOT in quiet cul de sac. This brick home is immaculately maintained & has a BRAND NEW ROOF JAN 2021. The home has electric HURRICANE SHUTTERS on EVERY WINDOW & ENERGY EFFICIENT SUN TUNNELS throughout. There is a RARE 4+ CAR GARAGE & will hold an ADDITIONAL 6 MOTORCYCLES. MLS#1078951 $418,900 Call Mark K. Card 386-566-8092.

GROVES

COUNTRY LIVING

RARE 3 BEDROOM WITH OFFICE that could be 4TH BEDROOM OCEANFRONT LUXURY in OCEAN VISTAS. This incredible unit was decorated by DAVID WALLER INTERIORS & is being sold furnished. The 456 SQ FT lanai has a grill and incredible outdoor living space too. 2 Pets allowed MLS#1076435 $895,000 Call Jennifer Card 386-566-8091.

Do not let this opportunity pass you by! 3 acre lot in the heart of Ormond, right of off Granada Blvd. Close to restaurants and shopping. The house on the property is in disrepair and a teardown. Priced for land value. Build your dream home with enough room for all your toys. MLS#1077482 $450,000 Call Gabi Sessions 386-846-7996.

COUNTRYSIDE

OCEAN VISTAS

Come check out this ground floor 2 bed condo across the street from the beach! This is great for race fans, bikers, students, or an affordable second/ vacation home that you can use part time and rent out when you aren’t using it. MLS#1079230 $129,900 Call Elena Scott 386-566-6984.

CROSS CREEK

OCEAN WINDS

BEACHSIDE OFFICE - 386-441-SOLD (7653) 2110 Oceanshore Blvd., Ste. B, Ormond Beach, FL 32176 PORT ORANGE OFFICE - 386-767-SOLD (7653) 840 Dunlawton Ave., Ste. D, Port Orange, FL 32127 COMMERCIAL OFFICE - 386-253-8565 211 E. International Speedway Blvd., Ste. 104, Daytona Bch, FL 32118

PLAZA RESORT AND SPA

CORPORATE OFFICE - 386-677-SOLD (7653) 900 West Granada Blvd., Ste. 3, Ormond Beach, FL 32174

CORNER LOT

Sopheavy has vowed to honor her husband’s pledge: She recently contacted his grandniece, reassuring her that she will find a way to pay for her college tuition.

“He was so good. I lost my goodhearted guy,” Sopheavy said, as her eyes filled with tears.

ORTONA

numerically.

Always the advocate for higher education, Samnang paid for approximately 10 family members to attend college including siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews. His untimely death left one unfulfilled promise to pay, but

COASTAL WOODS

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paid on time, but she knows it is important for her to be there for him. He misses his daddy.

The father and son duo bonded in 2018 when Samnang was forced to convalesce due to a heart attack. He spent his days teaching Lincoln a diverse curriculum of reading, writing, history and Cambodian. The toddler quickly absorbed his lessons and began to read with fluidity by the age of 2 1/2. Ask him who the 16th president of the United States was and he will clearly state his namesake.

He can recite all of the presidents’ names and where they fall

Photos by Michele Meyers

Welcome Home! This beautiful 3-bedroom, 2-bath POOL home is located in the desired Groves community of Port Orange. Perfectly situated on a cul-de-sac, and backing up to a gorgeous waterfront, this home offers a relaxing and private poolside setting as well as Bass fishing from your backyard.

MLS#1079735 $279,000 Call Kelly Riggle 386-212-7333.

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PORT ORANGE OBSERVER

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FEBRUARY 2021

WE CAN CHANGE FOR THE BETTER

YOUR TOTAL HEALTH NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS HEALTH TESTING AND TREATMENT 1435 Dunn Ave., Suite #101 Daytona Beach, FL 32114 (386) 274-7651 cancommunityhealth.org

Dr. Dana Barnes

Dr. Mohammed Reza

347761-1001

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