ORMOND BEACH
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 4, NO. 4
Who cares about the charter? WAYNE GRANT NEWS EDITOR
The 10 officials outnumbered the citizens at the “listening session” Sept. 21 at the Ormond Beach Library, where citizens were invited to provide their thoughts about the Volusia County Charter Review. The charter is the equivalent of a local constitution for the operations of Volusia County government. Passed in 1970 in a countywide vote, the charter requires a citizen review at least every 10 years. It deals with the structure of county government, including matters such as beach management, taxation, government departments, county council organization, election procedures, etc. For more details on how comment on the charter, and what was said at the Sept. 21 meeting, see the story, “County review comes to Ormond,” on ormondbeachobserver.com.
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SEABREEZE SEEKS FIRST VICTORY 11
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2015
DO RIGHT BY THE KIDS
The Volusia County Guardian ad Litem Program desperately needs volunteers to advocate for the ever-increasing number of children in the dependency system.
YOUR TOWN PICKING UP OUR ‘BACKYARD’ Emily Blackwood
Even after her case closed, Polly stays in touch with Sarah, and they remain close friends.
EMILY BLACKWOOD COMMUNITY EDITOR
Elena Stoner, 9, and her cousin, Dune Winters, 11, were among the 1,810 Volusia County residents who spent their Saturday morning walking up and down their rivers and beaches collecting trash as part of the International Coastal Cleanup and Halifax/Indian River Cleanup. Last year, 1,209 Volusia County volunteers collected 7,314 pounds of trash during the cleanups. Based on the trash they picked up, Elena and Dune worry that few people have a passion for the planet. “There’s so much trash around here and no one really cares,” Winters said. “I want keep the earth healthy and clean.” See the full story online.
Polly Peyer and Sarah started off as total strangers. Sarah was 9 years old and living in an unstable environment that the Department of Children and Families was investigating. Peyer had been appointed as Sarah’s Guardian ad Litem for the trial, and had just started her volunteer service with the program. Though at first they seemed to have nothing in common, a few games of Scrabble broke the ice. “I think I beat you,” Sarah, now about to turn 13, said with a sly smile. “You did,” Peyer replies with a similar smile back. “She’s very competitive.” The Scrabble game Peyer brought with her that first day was actually from her own childhood. She gave it to Sarah for safe
HOW TO VOLUNTEER Those interested in becoming Guardian ad Litem volunteers can call 239-7803 or visit the Volusia County Guardian ad Litem Program at 250 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach.
keeping. “I still have that game,” Sarah said. “It still has tape holding it together.” The two laughed and for a moment the sad reasons behind why they met are forgotten. Sarah is one of the many children the Guardian ad Litem program serves in the Volusia and Flagler county courts, and her name has been changed to protect her identity. Though her case was closed, Peyer wanted to keep Sarah’s name and face out of the media to give her a chance at a life without a constant reminder of the negative parts of her history. A VOICE FOR CHILDREN
A retired U.S. Air Force veteran, Peyer had always had it in her mind that she wanted to be a voice for the children. About 30 years ago, she read about the program in a fiction book, and made a mental plan to join when she retired. “It was always on the back of my mind,” she said. “In 2010, I retired, and soon after I got to Florida I saw an ad in the paper for Guardian ad Litem training. I called and the journey went from there.” Sarah was one of Peyer’s first
“I don’t speak poorly of their parents — you can’t. The older they are, the more curious they are, and the more they want a normal life, and that’s the hardest.” POLLY PEYER, Guardian ad Litem volunteer
cases, and Peyer stayed with her through all the trails, guardian placements and even a few months in foster care. During that time, Peyer would guide Sarah through not only her living situations, but all of the different aspects children face when they grow up. “We don’t talk about the case too much,” Peyer said. “You don’t tell them all the detail, and I’m very very careful. I don’t speak poorly of their parents — you can’t. The older they are, the more curious they are, and the more they want a normal life, and that’s the hardest.” But throughout their relationship, Peyer has had a hard time keeping the details from Sarah. SEE ‘DETACHMENT’ PAGE 4