Rediscovering Wonder Close to Home
July always feels a little different here along the coast. Maybe it’s the sound of fireworks echoing across the water, the extra families gathered outside after sunset, or the reminder that freedom itself was born from people willing to explore beyond what was comfortable or familiar.
Like many people, I can get caught up in schedules, deadlines, and trying to make every hour productive. Running a publication means there is always another meeting, another article, another deadline, or another project demanding attention. It becomes easy to focus so much on the next task that you forget to leave space for discovery, conversation, and simply experiencing the community around you. Some of the best moments come when you slow down long enough to appreciate what is happening around you instead of rushing to the next thing on the calendar.
That spirit of exploration and discovery feels especially fitting as America approaches its 250th anniversary. This month’s issue celebrates the people, traditions, and communities that help define our local American story—from the 60 years of patriotic service by the local chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and the Rotary Club's recognition of everyday heroes in Flags for Heroes on the Riverfront to the courage and dedication of our ocean rescue teams in Masters of Surf. We also explore the timeless Americana of Norman Rockwell, introduce you to the Daytona City Lifestyle team, and share ideas for health, fitness, and summer celebrations.
You don’t always have to travel far to find adventure. Sometimes it’s as simple as trying a new restaurant, attending a local event, walking the beach at sunrise, or spending an evening with friends and family under fireworks reflecting on the water.
This month, I hope you make time to explore something new—and perhaps rediscover something meaningful along the way.
THOMAS JOHN (TJ) FILLEY, PUBLISHER
July 2026
PUBLISHER
Thomas John (TJ) Filley tj.filley@citylifestyle.com
PUBLICATION DIRECTOR
Oksana Zingman Filley oksana.filley@citylifestyle.com
MANAGING EDITOR
Deb Lovett deb.lovett@citylifestyle.com
ACCOUNT MANAGER
Nicole Campon nicole.campon@citylifestyle.com
ACCOUNT MANAGER
Greg Hunter greg.hunter@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Mark Alexander, Deb Lovett
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
AdventHealth Central Florida, Lunar Studios, Riverfront Arts District, Hayworth PR, Margaritaville, Greg Hunter, Volusia County Beach Patrol & Ocean Rescue, Kirstan Menello, Daytona Beach West Rotary Club, Ken English
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
President Matthew Perry
COO David Stetler
CRO Jamie Pentz
CoS Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Josh Govero
LAYOUT DESIGNER Lillian Gibbs
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Brandy Thomas
business monthly
Cici Brown Legacy Award Recognizes Antoinette “Toni” M. Slick
Toni Slick - the artist featured on the cover of Daytona City Lifestyle's April issue received an award from Cici Brown at the Arts VoCo Awards ceremony this past April. Her work has been widely exhibited and recognized, including at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens and the Museum of Arts and Sciences (The Brown). Arts VoCo Awards is a Riverfront Arts District initiative.
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AdventHealth East Florida Division Reduces Nurse Turnover, Bringing Steadier Care
Hospitals across the country struggle with nurse retention, but at AdventHealth East Florida turnover dropped from 16.4% to 12.3% in 2025. At AdventHealth Daytona Beach, improvement was even more pronounced, falling from 17.1% to 10.9%.
“When nurses feel a sense of belonging, they want to stay,” said Jamie Kabanuk, AdventHealth Daytona Beach's chief nursing officer. “When the team feels comfortable, they can focus on the patient at a time that can feel uncertain for patients.”
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Margaritaville at Sea Launches Heroes Month
Created as an extension of Heroes Sail Free, the cruise line has launched Heroes Month to honor active and former military, first responders, nurses, and educators both onboard and beyond the ship. “Heroes month is about creating real moments of connection, gratitude, and well-earned escape,” said Christopher Ivy, CEO of Margaritaville at Sea. “Our continued commitment to honoring those who serve our communities will only expand with the launch of Beachcomber in January 2027.”
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Photography by Lunar Studios and Riverfront Arts District
Photography by AdventHealth East Florida Division
Photography by Hayworth PR
It’s built in conversations. Across desks. Over time.
At Sunrise Bank, Laura Chavez-Salazar and Janet Marks work with customers across Volusia County to navigate the financial decisions that shape their lives.
Beyond the branch, they stay actively involved in the community, supporting organizations like Family Renew Community and the Pregnancy Crisis Center, helping local nonprofits raise funds, and bringing financial education to families throughout the county.
Because trust grows where relationships come first.
Ormond Beach
299
Lobby Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday 9:00am - 4:00pm Drive Thru Hours of Operation Monday - Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm
ARTICLE BY DEB LOVETT PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAYTONA BEACH WEST ROTARY CLUB
Flags for Heroes
The Daytona Beach West Rotary Club Flags Honoring Every Day American Heroes on Display through July 5
Honoring heroes is a time-honored tradition that never goes out of style. In America, our heroes come from all walks of life, and nowhere is that more evident than in the Flags for Heroes event led by the Daytona Beach West Rotary Club.
The 200 flags streaming along the Riverfront Esplanade on the Intracoastal Waterway in Daytona Beach showcase 200 stories about 200 heroes at the Veterans Memorial location. Flags for Heroes are on display every year during the week of July 4th with this year being even more meaningful as we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
“We’ve had people nominate people from the French underground,” said Laura McGuinness-Rutledge, a member of the Daytona Beach West Rotary Club. “We’ve had moms, dads, teachers, grandparents nominated. It’s that one person who made a difference and encouraged you to have confidence – who told you, ‘You are worth it. You can do it.’ That’s a hero.”
Each flag has a tag explaining why they were nominated as someone’s hero.
If they’re still alive, the Rotary Club arranges for them to get their tag. In the end, the funds collected from the nominees to honor their hero go directly to non-profits the local chapter has selected as beneficiaries.
“This year, we are splitting our donations 50/50,” said Laura. “In previous years we’ve given to Family Renew, a local non-profit that provides little cottages for families who are experiencing homelessness to live in once they are accepted into the program. The residents live a sober lifestyle, children are able to go to school, and parents must search for employment. They also receive financial training in basics like budgeting and balancing a checkbook. Once they are ready to move into their own homes or apartments, the supplies that Family Renews has provided them are packed up for the family to set up their new home. It’s a very successful program with a 90% success rate.”
The other 50% of donations will go to Umuryango Children’s Network and the students at the Bright Future Academy, a
“Patriotism isn't just on battlefields. It's found in classrooms, kitchens, hospitals, neighborhoods, and anywhere we are inspired to believe.”
Flags for Heroes at the Riverfront Esplanade in Daytona Beach.
charity founded by Yohani Kayinamura, a member of the Daytona Beach West Rotary Club and survivor of the Rwanda genocide. Johani, a chemistry professor at Daytona State College, has created an orphanage for the children left behind. Umuryango means family in Rwanda, which is exactly how the Rotary Club members feel about the children in the orphanage. Rotary members, family, and friends spend time over in Rwanda helping out at the school
and providing things like computer training, education, food, clothing, and mentorship.
“In the words of Edward Everett Hall,” said Laura, ‘I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can still do something. And because I can’t do everything, I will not refuse to do something I can do.’ We can each be a hero to somebody – one person can make a difference.”
ARTICLE BY DEB LOVETT
Reflecting on America's 250th Anniversary
America Celebrates
Independence
As Americans gather for backyard barbecues, beach parties, parades, and fireworks this July 4th, the nation marks a milestone unlike any other—the 250th anniversary of its founding.
On the global stage, America has become a powerhouse yet remains a relatively young nation. Over the past two and a half centuries, the country has built a legacy shaped by resilience, ambition, opportunity, innovation, and an enduring belief in liberty and self-governance.
While today we revere the Fourth of July as a joyful national birthday, it marks a profound moment in America’s history. It’s the day in 1776 when the 2nd Continental
Fireworks on the National Mall in front of the Washington Memorial in Washington DC.
Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence, announcing our separation from Great Britain, and establishing a new nation. By early 1777, all 56 delegates had signed the historic document, which today remains preserved at the National Archives Museum in Washington, D.C.
Many Americans recognize the Declaration’s most famous lines, but a closer reading reveals America’s detailed complaints about foreign rule and its desire for independence. It was drafted, debated, and approved in less than a month.
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) continues to preserve and share that history through its commitment to historic preservation, education, and patriotism. The Americana Collection at DAR headquarters in Washington, D.C., includes signatures of all 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence which the public is invited to view. DAR’s preservation of these records allows researchers to confirm the authenticity and provenance of other documents so our country’s history is preserved and the memory of the Patriots who fought for American independence are honored.
Billie Remsa, DAR’s newly elected regent of the Captain James Ormond Chapter in Ormond Beach, Florida, believes the Declaration of Independence remains meaningful reading to revisit throughout your lifetime.
“The stunning history of our country is both complex and fascinating,” Remsa said upon reflecting on America’s 250th anniversary.
“Education is essential and curiosity is important. The Declaration of Independence and George Washington’s Farewell Address still offer timeless insight into the ideals and sacrifices our Founders endured and the determination that shaped us.”
While Florida was largely removed from the central battles of the war, it still felt the shifting influences of Britain and Spain. The area now known as Ormond Beach shares ties to that era through one of its earliest families.
Captain James Ormond was the captain and owner of the armed ship Somerset, whose route was the pirate-filled waters of the West Indies to Savannah and Apalachicola. He owned a sugar plantation in the Bahamas but sold it when Spain regained Florida from England and offered land grants to encourage settlement. He moved his family to Volusia County in 1790.
Florida State Society DAR Regent Kim Zeman speaks at the Captain James Ormond chapter's 60th anniversary on May 18, 2026. (Photo Credit: Ken English)
Captain James Ormond Chapter DAR Regent Billie Remsa listens as Mayor Leslie issues a proclamation recognizing 60 years of service. (Photo Credit: Ken English)
AS PRINCIPAL AUTHOR OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE,
THOMAS JEFFERSON WORKED ALONGSIDE THE COMMITTEE OF FIVE, INCLUDING JOHN ADAMS AND BENJAMIN
FRANKLIN, TO DRAFT THE DOCUMENT ADOPTED BY THE 2ND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS
JULY 4, 1776.
His first Florida plantation was in the Spruce Creek/New Smyrna area, but his Damietta property just north of present-day Ormond Beach spanned approximately 2,000 acres and produced sugar, cotton, and indigo. Upon his death, the family returned to Scotland. His son, James Ormond II, returned to America in 1820 to live near the Tomoka River where his family joined him in reestablishing the Ormond family in Florida. Decades later, the growing settlement was named Ormond in honor of the pioneering family.
This year also marks another significant local milestone as Daytona Beach celebrates its 150th anniversary, reminding us that the stories of communities and the nation often evolve side by side.
The 250th anniversary of America offers an opportunity not only to celebrate but also to reflect on the enduring words that helped define our nation’s founding spirit.
GEORGE WASHINGTON’S ENDURING EXAMPLE
George Washington remains one of the defining figures of early American history. A military leader, land surveyor, vast owner of real estate, and the nation’s first president, Washington emphasized unity, integrity, and civic responsibility throughout his public life.
It was at the dawn of that presidency that he defined the very nature of the new republic. In Washington’s First Inaugural Address, he stated America is an “experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.”
After retiring from the presidency in 1797, he returned to Mount Vernon, his Virginia estate overlooking the Potomac River, where he spent his final years.
One of the sayings most often attributed to Washington remains relevant today: “Honesty is always the best policy.”
JOHN ADAMS AND AMERICA’S FIRST CELEBRATIONS
Long before fireworks became a cherished 4th of July tradition, John Adams imagined the nation’s independence being celebrated with public gatherings and illuminations. In a 1776 letter to his wife, Abigail Adams, he envisioned future commemorations marked by “Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations.”
Communities across the country continue that tradition each Independence Day—celebrating not only the nation’s founding, but also the shared history, ideals, and local stories that connect generations of Americans.
George Washington
Masters of the Surf
FROM HIGH TECH RIP TIDE SIMULATORS TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONS & INTERNATIONAL COMPETITORS
ARTICLE BY DEB LOVETT
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIRSTAN MENELLO AND VOLUSIA COUNTY BEACH SAFETY AND OCEAN RESCUE
HEALTHY
A.J. Miller, Deputy Chief/Public Information Officer of Volusia County Beach Safety & Ocean Rescue
(Photo Credit: Kirstan Menello)
Tamra Malphurs, Division Director of Volusia County Beach Safety and Ocean Rescue (Photo Credit: Kirstan Menello)
Residents of the Daytona Beach area enjoy one of the most accessible beaches in the world. Volusia County is home to 47 miles of unbroken publicly accessible coastline, providing an almost never-ending playground for outdoor enthusiasts. County residents and visitors enjoy 140 pedestrian access points as well as numerous off-beach parking areas and vehicle access ramps. Dog owners in the Daytona area frequent two dog beaches where pets on leashes can romp in the surf and sand alongside their owners.
Patrolling this coastline are specially trained lifeguards and ocean rescue first responders who are members of an elite crew. Everyone knows New Smyrna Beach as a world-class surfing destination and “Shark Bite Capital of the World,” but this section of the Atlantic coast has nearly continuous rip tides as well.
“Rip tides are the number one threat to people’s safety on our beaches,” said Tamra Malphurs, Division Director of Volusia County Beach Safety and Ocean Rescue. So much so that the county recently launched a rip tide simulator course for the public to become accustomed to what rip tides feel like and how to handle them safely. Deputy Chief Alex “A.J.” Miller secured a $12,750 grant from the Florida Department
of Children and Families to buy two simulators from Slip Stream, the maker of Endless Pools, and create the inaugural course unveiled at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort pool in May. Before heading to the beach, you can get current water conditions by texting “BEACH” to 44144.
While Volusia has many lifeguard stands, not all are staffed due to a nationwide shortage. “We have 55 full-time EMTs and ocean rescue lifeguards,” reports Malphurs. “We hire about 150 seasonal lifeguards for the summer which gives us a total staff of 200 – 250, depending upon the success of our recruiting efforts.”
To join, candidates face rigorous physical and mental demands to meet strict United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) accreditation standards. The crew trains daily, swimming up to two miles and running drills. Malphurs and Miller are active members, overseeing 16 Honda ATVs, nine Yamaha jet skis, a Boston Whaler rescue vessel, three Skydio drones, and 28 F-150 trucks equipped with rescue buoys and paddleboards.
Malphurs’ 29-year career includes over two decades as a triple-trained lifeguard, EMT, and law enforcement officer, culminating in her appointment as Director in August 2024. A former Technical Rescue
CONTINUED >
Beach Safety Tips: Swim at staffed lifeguard towers. Never swim alone.
Remain calm, float, and swim parallel to the shore to exit rip currents. Don’t swim on Red Flag Days.
Team member deployed during Hurricane Katrina, she holds a criminal justice degree and certificates from the FBI LEEDA series, FEMA Advanced PIO, and FBI LEEDA Masters PIO. Since 2020, she has presided over the non-profit Volusia Surf Lifesaving Association (VSLA) to maintain high standards and support charities.
Miller brings over two decades of surf lifesaving, emergency response, and leadership experience. A Port Orange native, he became a full-time lifeguard/ EMT and law enforcement officer in 2006. An accomplished competitor, he was the USLA Southeast Region’s High Points Male champion in 2015, 2017, and 2026, and is a three-time winner of the Chattajack 31 prone stock division (2023, 2024, and 2025).
The award-winning team placed 1st at last year’s Southeast Regional Lifesaving Championships, beating 20 teams. “We also have a part-time lifeguard, April O’Gorman, who competes internationally for the USA World Team,” said Malphurs. O’Gorman, marking her eighth international competition, follows a strong local tradition: Lucy Noble and McKenzie O’Keefe represented the U19 National Team, Hallie Lynskey raced for Team USA (2015–2018), and Thomas McGibney remains the most decorated American surf lifesaving athlete.
April O’Gorman is the Board Race and Taplin Relay USLA National Champion. She is a member of Team USA and the World USA Team competing in the International Surf Rescue Challenge in New Zealand. (Photo Credit: Volusia County Beach Safety & Ocean Rescue)
Always know water conditions by understanding the color system for beach warning flags. (Photo Credit: Volusia County Beach Safety & Ocean Rescue)
Members of the Volusia County Beach Safety & Ocean Rescue running drills. (Photo Credit: Volusia County Beach Safety & Ocean Rescue)
The Artful Connoisseur
ARTICLE BY MARK ALEXANDER NORMAN ROCKWELL'S AMERICA
Norman Rockwell's portrait of Floyd Jerome Patten.
On the 250th anniversary of our nation, no more important American artist came to mind beyond Norman Rockwell. A recent experience may have caused him to be top of mind as our nation has a wealth of talented artists. Recently, however, I had the pleasure of researching two original drawings by this quintessential artist who was a true patriot and the greatest illustrator of 20th-century American life and values: Norman Percevel Rockwell (b. 1894 - d. 1978). In his 84 years he created iconic magazine covers with scenes of our national celebrations, historic events, traditions, humor, piety, human foibles, social awareness, the great American spirit, and patriotism that still entertain and inspire so many of us today.
Rockwell’s early influences and legendary career as an artist are well worth telling. One of the major influences on young Norman and his siblings was the fact that his father often read the works of Charles Dickens to his children. The British master storyteller of the 19th Century had a lifelong impact on the master visual storyteller. Decades later, it was the work of Norman Rockwell that inspired his two most avid contemporary collectors: filmmaker Stephen Spielberg and director George Lucas, both master storytellers in their own right.
A private client called one day recently and stated that she had inherited two original drawings by Rockwell. She wanted to know more about them and asked me to come take a look. I travelled to her home to view and photograph both works of art and to find out what she knew about their origins. She presented me with a past appraisal which turned out to be a conservation report for when the pieces had been cleaned. Most importantly the appraisal included a brief December 1968 news article written by her grandfather, Floyd Jerome Patten.
Floyd Jerome Patten was an important person in Rockwell’s life as he was an assistant editor of Boy’s Life, a new magazine at the time about scouting which was founded by Edward Cave in 1913. Many of the very first artists used in the magazine donated their work at no charge.
The 1968 article states: “One day, a gangling lad about 20 years old walked in carrying a huge portfolio. He told us he had just finished an art course and asked us to look at his pictures. We realized at a glance the boy had talent. One of the covers fitted our needs exactly. He mentioned a modest price and we bought it. He told us that it was the first picture he had sold. We bought many others later and he became our staff artist. The staff artist and the assistant editor became close friends.”
“One day the still gangling youth stood before my desk holding a picture: “Mr. Patten here is a practice character study I have just
“One day, a gangling lad about 20 years old walked in carrying a huge portfolio. He told us he had just finished an art course and asked us to look at his pictures. We realized at a glance the boy had talent. One of the covers fitted our needs exactly.”
finished. I want to give it to you if you like it. LIKE IT? I LOVED IT! Now it hangs behind my easy chair where I can look at it dozens of times a day.” The drawing of the boy was dated 1914 and signed with the artist’s initials “NPR”. The second drawing is Norman Rockwell’s signed portrait of his friend and assistant editor of Boy’s Life, Floyd Jerome Patten, circa 1915.
Rockwell’s place in American culture was further cemented by his series of Boy Scouts images. He is best known for his Saturday Evening Post magazine covers.
He was the creator of Rosie the Riveter and his paintings, The Four Freedoms, raised $142 million in War Bonds during their World War II national tour. The top price for a Rockwell painting was $41 million for Lot #10, Saying Grace (1951), sold at Sotheby’s New York on December 4, 2013. The top price for an original Rockwell drawing was Lot #30, Christmas Homecoming (1948), which sold for $650,000 on May 21, 2019 at Sotheby’s New York.
Mark Alexander can be reached through www.artserve2000.com.
Meet the DCL Team
ARTICLE BY DEB LOVETT | PHOTOGRAPHY BY VARIOUS
Daytona City Lifestyle hits the street every month due to the work of a small army of local creatives and a corporate team of designers, producers, content reviewers, and publishing professionals. Publisher TJ Filley has assembled a nimble team excited to get to know the amazing people in our town and to practice their craft in bringing you the stories and images that personify our little space of heaven on earth - Daytona Beach.
DEB LOVETT, APR, ITIL4
Deb was named managing editor of Daytona City Lifestyle magazine in September 2025. She is a career marketing, advertising, communications, and PR professional with a love of language, design, and keeping an eye on the zeitgeist. She comes from the ad agency world, having run a small boutique agency out of Austin, TX for a number of years working with a wide variety of industries from music and entertainment to travel, tech, gaming, food and beverage, hospitality, horse racing, and public health. She started out in print at Dow Jones & Co., Inc. and as a newscaster at WBLI-FM New York. While in Texas, she was art director at The Texas Lottery before moving to the Washington DC area as marketing and communications director on multi-million-dollar
contracts with NIH and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
She earned her Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) through a comprehensive exam process including oral presentations of her work successfully developing communications strategy and public affairs outreach for HHS’s historic public-private partnership with the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation to develop an effective test for Lyme Disease. While working in the IT industry, she was one of the few communications professionals to earn the ITIL4 Certification which establishes best practices for managing risk and delivering quality services in the IT industry.
Deb enjoys spending time with her daughter and two dogs, gardening, and days by the pool.
Deb Lovett | Greg Hunter | Nicole Campon
Photo Credit: Deb Lovett
GREG HUNTER, PHOTOGRAPHER
Daytona City Lifestyle welcomes Greg Hunter to the photography team. He is the owner of Speedway Custom Photo Lab. With more than 25 years of experience in graphic design and photography, Greg Hunter brings creativity, vision, and passion to every project at Speedway Custom Photo Lab. As owner and creative director, Greg oversees all graphic design and photography initiatives, helping clients tell their stories through impactful visuals and thoughtful design.
Understanding that every client has unique goals, Greg takes a personalized approach to each project — combining strategic creative direction with strong visual storytelling to build lasting relationships and memorable brands. Originally from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, Greg graduated from Mohawk College with a degree in Creative Advertising. In 2018, Greg purchased Speedway Custom Photo Lab, followed by acquiring Media Photo Graphics in 2019. Together, they merged two long-standing Volusia County businesses while expanding Speedway’s focus on professional photography.
Greg’s work has earned the trust of respected organizations throughout the community, including Rue & Ziffra, EMPros, ICI Homes, Seabreeze High School, Father Lopez Catholic High School, AdventHealth, Halifax Health, and The Orthopedic Clinic. Outside of work, Greg enjoys spending time with his two daughters, Emily and Madeline.
The Art of the Image
In an era where nearly everyone carries a camera in their pocket, professional photography remains an art rooted in experience, technical expertise, and storytelling. Behind every striking portrait, polished brand campaign, or memorable family image is a photographer who understands how to capture personality, emotion, and authenticity in a single frame. Equally important is the role of a professional photo studio, where lighting, color accuracy, print quality, and presentation transform digital images into captured moments in time. From fine art prints and commercial branding materials to custom framing and restoration, today’s studios blend craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology. For businesses and families alike, professional photography is more than documenting a moment — it is preserving memories, elevating brands, and creating visual stories that endure for generations.
Photo Credit: Speedway Photo Labs
NICOLE CAMPON, PHOTOGRAPHER
Daytona City Lifestyle welcomes Nicole Campon to the photography team. She is a professional photographer whose passion for storytelling and photography began in high school. She later built on that passion while attending the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she photographed and interviewed bands for the school newspaper and W27, covering concerts, artists, and live events.
Early in her career, Nicole assisted renowned photographers including Lynn Goldsmith, David LaChapelle, and Mike Rui - experiences that helped shape her artistic vision and creative style. She also worked with respected photo studios including Pier 59 Studios and Fifth & Sunset, gaining experience in fashion, editorial, commercial, and portrait photography.
After college, Nicole began her professional career at LGI Photo Stock Agency, eventually becoming the owner’s assistant. She later served as assignment editor at Corbis Stock Agency before transitioning into freelance photography full-time.
Nicole has worked with clients and productions associated with Warner Brothers, BBC, MTV, and A&E, building a diverse portfolio that includes celebrity photography, behind-the-scenes imagery, live events, editorial work, and portraiture. Known for capturing authentic emotion and human connection, Nicole combines her artistic background with her passion for community storytelling and creating imagery that leaves a lasting emotional impact.
The Making of a Moment
Photography has the unique ability to preserve not only a moment, but the feeling behind it. From editorial portraits and live events to lifestyle imagery and behind-thescenes storytelling, professional photography blends technical skill with an artist’s eye for emotion, composition, and connection. The most compelling images often come from photographers who know how to make people feel comfortable, authentic, and seen.
In today’s visually driven world, photography plays an essential role in personal branding, media, business marketing, and storytelling. Whether documenting milestone events, capturing dynamic personalities, or creating imagery for publications and campaigns, professional photographers help transform fleeting experiences into lasting visual narratives. Great photography goes beyond simply taking pictures — it creates atmosphere, evokes emotion, and tells stories that resonate long after the moment has passed.
Photo Credit: Nicole Campon
ARTICLE BY KALI KASPRZYK
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
MAKEUP BY MIKAYLA CRANE
The 10% Target Mindset
Jen Cohen ON THE PRACTICE OF ASKING FOR WHAT YOU WANT
Winnipeg in the winter, and a 17-year-old waits 45 minutes in the cold for Keanu Reeves. Her fingers are numb. She is not there for an autograph. She is there to ask him to appear in her audition tape for MuchMusic, Canada’s MTV. When he finally agrees, she writes her number on a gum wrapper with a borrowed lip liner.
He calls days later.
That 17-year-old was Jen Cohen — fitness expert, host of the Habits & Hustle podcast, and best-selling author. She has built a career on the premise her frostbitten afternoon proved. She calls the practice the 10% Target: 10 attempts at whatever you want most in life.
The premise is simple. Most people never make one attempt. Almost nobody makes two. The math works in favor of the person who keeps going.
The top-rated Habits & Hustle podcast has logged hundreds of conversations with high performers and the people who study what the body does to the mind. Her TEDx talk, The Secret to Getting Anything You Want in Life, has traveled widely inside Fortune 500 sales-training rooms. On the Share the Lifestyle podcast, Cohen sits down to share the working rules that are the foundation of her latest book, Bigger, Better, Bolder.
“You have to be the CEO of your own life.”
FEATURING JEN COHEN
Discover the full 10% Target Mindset framework.
1 2
MAKE TEN ATTEMPTS
The door opens, or another door does. The unmade attempt and the refused one leave you in the same place — except one of them teaches you something.
STACK THE DECK
Cohen frames her habits as a wager: How do I stack the deck so I win more than I lose? The workout happens first, and the food decisions follow. The email follow-up gets sent, and the answer arrives. The choices compound in a single direction.
3
DISCIPLINE IS A PRACTICED SKILL, NOT AN INHERITANCE
No one is born with it. The people who look disciplined are running a routine they have rehearsed long enough that it no longer feels like effort. The reps are the skill. Miss them, and the skill fades, the same as any other.
4
SELF-TALK ONLY WORKS WHEN THE BODY BACKS IT UP
Confidence does not arrive by repeating the word. It arrives after the body has done the thing — the workout finished, the cold walk endured, the email sent. The mind takes its cues from what the body proves it can do. Talk follows action, not the other way around.
5
NEVER MISS A MONDAY
The first decision sets the slope of the rest. Skip the Monday workout, and the rest of the week tends to follow. Hold the line on Monday, and the slope tilts the other way.
In A
ARTICLE BY PAULI REEP
PICKLE-BRINED CHICKEN WINGS SOAR TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH ALABAMA WHITE SAUCE.
Pickle
Pickle Juice Brined Wings
INGREDIENTS
• 2 pounds chicken wings (flats and drumettes)
• Pickle juice - enough to cover wings
• 1 – 2 teaspoons garlic salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• 6 tablespoons butter
• A few dashes of hot sauce
• 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped
INSTRUCTIONS
I’ve spent years searching for the perfect wing flavor, never quite satisfied, until I heard a podcast suggestion: brining chicken wings in pickle juice. It sounded strange at first, but it yields incredibly tender and flavorful wings! Since then, I save pickle juice from every jar I buy just to recreate these beloved wings. If I run out of pickle juice, olive juice works too. I air fry mine, but if you don’t have an air fryer, cook them as you normally would. Don’t forget to toss them in a buttery dill sauce and try the Alabama white BBQ sauce for an extra layer of goodness!
1. Place chicken wings in a non-reactive container and pour pickle juice over chicken wings until completely covered.
2. Place it in the fridge and let it marinate, covered, for at least 8 hours.
3. Drain wings, discard pickle juice, and completely pat wings dry.
4. Put dried wings in a bowl and sprinkle with garlic salt and pepper. Mix well.
5. Place wings in an air fryer basket, being careful not to crowd. Cook at 400 degrees for 28 minutes, turning every 8 minutes until crispy. If you don’t have an air fryer, bake them in the oven for 35 - 40 minutes at 400 degrees, flipping halfway through.
6. Melt the butter and add a few splashes of hot sauce of your choice and mix in a bowl. Add wings and completely cover with butter mixture. Sprinkle with fresh dill and toss a few times, and serve with my white barbeque sauce.
Alabama White BBQ Sauce
INGREDIENTS
• 1 ½ cups mayonnaise (I prefer Duke’s)
• ¼ cup water
• ¼ cup white wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon pepper, coarsely ground
• 1 tablespoon Creole mustard
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 teaspoons prepared horseradish
INSTRUCTIONS
Whisk all ingredients together until blended. Dip your pickle juice-brined wings in this sauce and taste the joy! Store in the refrigerator for 1 - 2 weeks.
of Welcoming
From
Thoughtful. Refined. Unforgettable.
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Travel protection plans help families cope with unexpected loss and expenses if a death occurs more than 75 miles from their primary residence.
events
A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS
JULY 1ST - 4TH
Hopes, Dreams & Promises Exhibition
Art League of Daytona Beach, 433 S Palmetto Ave., Daytona Beach FL | 1:00 PM
The Women Artists Group’s exhibition runs through July 4. Enjoy art from Beatrice Athanas, Bonnie Shapiro, Deborah B. Smith, Eliza Pineau Casler, Lillian Verkins, Marianna Hamilton Ross, and Vera Gubnitskaia - all professional artists living in Central Florida.
The gallery is open Tuesday - Sunday 1:00-4:00pm. Check hours for July 4.
JULY 1ST- 5TH
Flags for Heroes
Daytona Beach Oceanfront Bandshell, 70 Boardwalk, Daytona Beach, FL
The Flags for Heroes presented by the Daytona Beach West Notary Club in honor of our local heroes and Daytona Beach's 150th birthday runs through July 5th. This year 200 American flags will be displayed at the Riverfront Esplanade.
JULY 3RD, 10TH, 17TH, 31ST
Friday Night Sounds of Summer Concert Series + Fireworks
Daytona Beach Oceanfront Bandshell, 70 Boardwalk, Daytona Beach, FL | 7:15 pm
The City of Daytona Beach presents the free Sounds of Summer every Friday night at the oceanfront bandshell until August 28.
July 3: The Bee Gees Tribute
July 10: Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute
July 17: Ozzy Osbourne & Sammy Hagar Tributes
July 24: See Celebrating 150 Years of Daytona Beach
July 31: Garth Brooks Tribute
VIP tickets for sale at tix.axs.com.
JULY 4TH, 11TH, 18TH, 25TH
Saturday Night Star Spangled Summer Concert Series + Fireworks
Daytona Beach Oceanfront Bandshell, 70 Boardwalk, Daytona Beach, FL | 7:15 PM
Friends of the Bandshell presents the free Star Spangled Summer concert series every Saturday night at the oceanfront bandshell until September 26.
Saturday, July 4: Eagles Tribute
Saturday, July 11: Rolling Stones Tribute
Saturday, July 18: Fleetwood Mac Tribute
Saturday, July 25: Bob Seger and Allman Brothers Tributes
VIP tickets for sale at tix.axs.com
JULY 4TH
Independence Day Celebration
Rockefeller Gardens, 22 South Beach Street Ormond Beach, FL 32174
Celebrate America's 250th anniversary with live music, food, games for children and more. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs and enjoy the evening with family and friends for this annual community celebration. Fireworks at 9 PM.
Free shuttles usually run from 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM. Public parking is available at City Hall, The Casements, and Fortunato Park.
