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New agency advocates for foster teens Leaders of Guiding Hope, a new foster care agency, wants to help high-risk teens find stability PAGE 4
IN BRIEF
RAPTOR vs. songbird
New vaccination requirements likely to fuel Florida debate
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The Biden administration, on Nov. 4, moved forward with COVID-19 vaccination requirements for employees of large businesses and health-care workers, adding fuel to a debate that will be on display in Florida during a special legislative session this month. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued rules that will fully take effect on Jan. 4. The OSHA rule will apply to employers with 100 or more workers. It will require employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or test negative at least once a week — a measure that will cover 84 million workers nationally, according to a White House estimate. “COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on workers, and we continue to see dangerous levels of cases,” U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh said in a prepared statement. “We must take action to implement this emergency temporary standard to contain the virus.” The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rule will apply to workers at health-care facilities, such as hospitals and nursing homes, that participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Workers in the facilities will have to show they have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine by Dec. 5 and be fully vaccinated by Jan. 4. The agency said the rule will apply to about 17 million health-care workers across the country. The Biden administration had earlier announced it would require vaccinations at large employers and health-care facilities, but Thursday’s rules filled in the details. Also, it said a deadline for requiring employees of federal contractors to be vaccinated has been pushed back from Dec. 8 to Jan. 4 to correspond with the new rules. The release of the rules came less than two weeks before Florida lawmakers will hold a special session that Gov. Ron DeSantis called to push back against the requirements.
Osprey
Florida legislators propose replacing the mockingbird with the osprey as the state bird THE COMPETITORS HABITAT: Mockingbird: Open areas like fields and parks, edges of forests Osprey: Coastal areas, rivers and lakes, swamps DIET: Mockingbird: Insects, berries, seeds, fruit Osprey: Overwhelmingly fish, but occasionally invertebrates or small reptiles, mammals or birds FEEDING HABITS: Mockingbird: Forages on open ground Osprey: Dives feet-first into water. On average, catch fish at least once every four dives FAMILY LIFE: Mockingbird: May pair for life, or have multiple pairings over lifespan. Females generally lay three to six eggs. Osprey: Form lifeling breeding pairs. Females generally lay three eggs, but can have from one to four. Both parents incubate eggs.
NEWS EDITOR
T
h e m o c kingbird — Mimus polyglottos, meaning the mimic of many languages — has been Florida’s state bird since 1927. But the mockingbird is also the state bird of Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi. Is it really the right bird for Florida? A proposal to remove the mockingbird as the state bird was offered by Sen. Jeff Brandes, a Republican from St. Petersburg, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is reopening the debate on who should be the state’s avian representative, offering a new alternative: the osprey, Pandion haliaetus, also known as the fish hawk. But given a choice between the mockingbird and the osprey, the choice for some local birders is clear: Neither. Flagler Audubon President Jason Giraulo said his chapter members tend to favor making the Florida scrub-jay — the only bird that lives exclusively in Florida — Florida’s state bird. It’s an idea also favored by two legislators, Sen. Tina Polsky (D- Boca Raton) and Rep. Sam Killebrew (R-Winter Haven). “Both times over the past
two decades, the scrub-jay has been suggested, and for some reason or another, was always shot down,” Giraulo said. He suspects developers, in particular, may not be enthusiastic about making the state bird a species that’s been decimated by development. When Giraulo started birding in Flagler eight years ago, he said, birders knew of three scrubjays remaining in Flagler; now, as far as they know, there are none. Using the scrub-jay as the state bird would have the benefit of making Florida’s state bird unique, Giraulo noted. But when the switch to the scrub-jay had been proposed in the ‘90s, the mockingbird had also earned an enthusiastic supporter in the person of Marion Hammer, a lobbyist for the National Rifle Association. Hammer’s backing of the mockingbird helped kill the campaign for the scrub-jay, said Halifax River Audubon President and Conservation Chair David Hartgrove. But the osprey, like the mockingbird, is found nationwide; other species of osprey are found on all continents except Antarctica. And, Giraulo said, ospreys don’t really scream “Florida” — not
nearly as much as, say, the state pie (key lime) or the state flower (the orange blossom). For that purpose, something like the flamingo might be a better pick, he said. Hartgrove agreed. “Personally, I would prefer to see a bird that’s suffered population declines and is an iconic, easily identified species, like the roseate spoonbill, become our state bird,” Hartgrove said. “However, I have my doubts that anything serious will be done to change the status quo.” When the FWC put the question of the state bird before 77,000 elementary- and middle-schoolers in 2008, there had been a clear winner — the osprey — so that’s the species the commission has proposed as an alternative this year. “No matter what the state bird is, the most important thing — whether it’s protecting whatever little scrub-jay habitat exists, or celebrating the survival of the osprey — is that it’s important for people to connect with what nature we have here,” Giraulo said. “Because it could be gone in an instant.”
VSO receives generous gift to care for K-9s Daytona Beach resident shares love of dogs with community
Local Postal Customer
JONATHAN SIMMONS
Mockingbird
Pamela Mobbs
LAURA WILLIAMS VOLUSIA SHERIFF’S OFFICE
The Volusia Sheriff’s K-9 Unit has received a gift of more than $32,000 from the estate of a Daytona Beach resident who spent her life loving dogs, especially German shepherds, and wanted to support local K-9s. Pamela Mobbs, who died in October 2020, at age 90, specified that her gift was to be used equally to buy bullet-proof vests for the Sheriff’s Office K-9s and purchase and train additional dogs. Mobbs’ love of dogs began when she was very young, said her daughter Jane Mobbs, of Daytona Beach. When her mother was a little girl in England, Pamela Mobbs’ grand-
father had a fierce guard dog that stirred fear in most people. “My mother wandered out into the back yard, and although her grandfather feared the worst, the dog was super gentle with her and protected her always,” Jane Mobbs said. “She had many shepherds in her life.“ Pamela Mobbs fell in love with law enforcement K-9s after her daughter took her to a K-9 demonstration at the Boardwalk near the Bandshell in Daytona Beach. “She thoroughly enjoyed the K9s and watching the officers handle them,” Jane Mobbs said. “My mother wholeheartedly believed all the K9s should be fitted with bullet proof vests as they often go into uncertain areas first to help apprehend suspects.
“She would be so happy to know that she is making a difference in a dog’s well-being,’’ Jane Mobbs said. The Sheriff’s Office has a force of 18 dogs. Some are trained to detect narcotics; others learn to locate bombs and some are sent into dangerous situations to find bad guys. The Sheriff’s Office received two separate checks from Mobbs’ estate, each for $16,428.16, ($32,856.32 total) representing her kind generosity. “This is an incredible gift to our agency and it represents this woman’s amazing love for dogs,” Sheriff Mike Chitwood said. “Her legacy will continue to positively impact the Sheriff’s Office and our citizens for years to come.”
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NOVEMBER 2021
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DAYTONA WEST
Observer “If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.” Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944
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BRIEFS Shopping center acquired into out-ofstate CRE fund Commercial Real Estate firm Shannon Waltchack acquired 26,652-square-foot shopping center South Forty Plaza in Ormond Beach — the latest acquisition in SW’s second fund, SW Neighborhood Centers II, which is focused on acquiring neighborhood centers in target markets throughout the Southeast and Midwest. South Forty Plaza is located at the high traffic intersection of West Granada Boulevard and Clyde Morris Boulevard, serving over 52,000 vehicles per day. The center is occupied with a diverse mix of tenants, including residential real estate services, financial advising, pet services, restaurants, nutrition, nail spa, printing services and custom blinds. “We are excited to join the Daytona Beach market and look forward to increasing our portfolio expansion throughout Florida,” Director of Investments Tyler Hose said. SWNC II has built strong relationships throughout Florida, with deals in the pipeline in Tampa, Orlando, St. Petersburg, Largo and more. Since closing in March 2021, SWNC II has secured two other properties in Birmingham, Alabama, and Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin. SWNC II has multiple deals under contract, and the team is seeking additional properties for its portfolio.
Daytona Regional Chamber, VCS launch new partnership A new program for middle and high school students in Volusia County Schools will help those students uncover their natural skillsets and identify potential career pathways using those innate abilities. The Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce and Volusia County Schools, with support from CareerSource Flagler Volusia, are providing YouScience, an innovative aptitude assessment program, for all students in grades sixth through
twelfth, beginning with the 20212022 academic year. “The partnership between Volusia County Schools, Daytona Regional Chamber, and CareerSource Flagler/Volusia has offered a unique opportunity for students to experience YouScience,” said Scott Fritz, superintendent of Volusia County Schools. “Helping students prepare for college, career, and life is the ultimate goal. YouScience is one of the tools to help students find a career path.” Through internships, apprenticeships, and job shadowing, students will be able to see the day-to-day experience prior to making a longterm commitment to classes supporting that career goal. Such career exploration also benefits local employers by connecting them with the future workforce and keeping talent within the community after their educational careers conclude. “The workforce is most successful when their talent is aligned with the skills needed — whether that be future entrepreneurs or those who will work up the career path to be the CEO of any of our local businesses,” said Robin King, president and CEO of CareerSource Flagler Volusia.
The Casements Guild’s 43rd-annual Christmas Gala to be held Dec. 3-5 The Casements has been called “The Jewel of Ormond Beach” for its stately beauty on the banks of the Halifax River. The Casements Guild will host the 43rd-annual Christmas Gala from Friday, Dec. 3, to Sunday, Dec. 5. Christmas celebrations kick off at The Casements with the Ormond Beach Christmas Tree Lighting at Rockefeller Gardens. The tree lighting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 3, and will include carols, a special visit by Santa and the Snow Queen, and photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Every year, Ormond Beach welcomes the Christmas season with the beautiful decorations that light up The Casements, the winter home of John D. Rockefeller, and the huge city Christmas tree glittering in Rockefeller Gardens.
The Casements Guild spend an entire week decorating the mansion inside and outside.
Daytona Solisti Chamber Orchestra returns to live, inperson performances The Daytona Solisti Chamber Orchestra has a new series of concerts. All concerts will be at 3:30 p.m. Sundays at Lighthouse Christ Presbyterian Church: Jan. 16, 2022 – “Beethovenfest” with pianist Dr. Michael Rickman, a Steinway artist and Solisti’s Artist in Residence, performing solo piano works of Beethoven. March 6, 2022 – “Romancing the Strings” with the Daytona Solisti Chamber Orchestra. The program includes Franz Schubert’s Sonata in A minor, D. 821, “Arpeggione” featuring violist Angelo Goderre, an active professional freelance musician in Jacksonville, and Geminiani’s “La Folia,” an exciting and energetic work for string chamber orchestra and harpsichord. May 8, 2022 – “Beethovenfest” with the Daytona Solisti Symphony Orchestra and pianist Michael Rickman celebrating Beethoven’s 250th Birthday Anniversary. The program includes Rickman’s performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. 15, and the orchestra’s performance of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21.
Addressing health care worker shortages State lawmakers are mulling ways to help bolster education and training programs for nurses and other health care professionals to address an ongoing staffing crisis in hospitals and long-term care facilities. Industry leaders warned the Senate Committee on Health Policy on Wednesday, Oct. 13, that worker shortages are driving up costs and leading to employee burnout. Hiring difficulties also have generated competition within the healthcare industry. Manny Diaz, a Hialeah Republican, said some collaboration may be in the works as lawmakers look to chip away at the problem.
48th Daytona Turkey run returns to Speedway The event is held over Thanksgiving weekend and features a car show, swap meet, an Artisan Alley, and plenty of food vendors. JENNIFER LABONTE DIRECTOR OF MARKETING, DAYTONA TURKEY RUN
The 48th Daytona Turkey Run welcomes fans of all ages to celebrate their love of classic cars. The largest combined car show and swap meet in the U.S. is a four-day show that kicks off at 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 25, Thanksgiving day, at the Daytona Speedway. It runs through Sunday, Nov. 28. The Daytona Turkey Run is open to the public and features more than 6,000 vintage, classic and custom, muscle cars, race cars and trucks on display and for sale, as well as a massive swap meet in which vendors sell and trade hard-to-find auto parts and accessories. There is also an Artisan Alley with fashion and art and a full midway of delicious food vendors. More than 100,000 attended the 47th Daytona Turkey Run. The event is held 100% outside within 480 acres of infield. While masks are not being mandated, they are encouraged. Stationary hand sanitizing stations will also be set up throughout the infield. The 48th Daytona Turkey Run admission is $15 Thursday through Saturday and $10 on Sunday with free parking. Children under 11 are free. Show hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. Free parking is available at the Daytona Speedway all four days. The Spring Turkey Run will be held on March 25-27, 2022. For more information about the Daytona Turkey Run, visit www. TurkeyRun.com.
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NOVEMBER 2021
BUSINESS OBSERVER Development, real estate + business news
Ormond residents start food tour company JARLEENE ALMENAS
“Her family, every time they vacation, that’s what they do. They search for food tours to go on to learn about the town and taste different foods from the restaurants.”
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
W
Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Michelle Lamb will conduct all of Fun Coast Food Tours in Ormond Beach.
TASTING AROUND TOWN
ith several locally owned restaurants located in Ormond Beach’s downtown district, residents and visitors alike may have trouble picking just one dining destination. But, two local women have come up with a solution: A food tour. Fun Coast Food Tours held its first official tour in Ormond Beach on Friday, Oct. 21. The company is the brainchild of Ormond Beach residents Linda Webster-Dubea and Michelle Lamb. Lamb recently moved to Plantation Bay from Brevard, North Carolina, and as she was making a list of fun things to do in her new town, her friend WebsterDubea noticed a food tour was missing. “Her family, every time they vacation, that’s what they do,” Lamb said. “They search for food tours to go on to learn about the town and taste different foods from the restaurants.” Thus, their business was born. The pair began planning and researching food tours in March, and with their shared experience of working in the Cocoa Beach Chamber of Commerce 15 years ago, they have been able to get six local eateries to participate: Rose Villa, 31 Supper Club, Ormond Garage, The Grind Gastropub and Kona Tiki Bar, Frappes Italian Grille and Gold Leaf Coffee Co. Each walking tour will take participants to four restaurants. As their business grows, Lamb said they hope to add more restaurants to their list of stops. Lamb, who previously worked as a contracted meeting planner for
MICHELLE LAMB
NASA and the European Space Agency, said food tours are a fun way to experience a variety of restaurants while getting to know the community. As a new resident, she said she’s looking forward to getting more involved and making friends, especially as she’ll be the one conducting each tour. “It’s so much easier to talk and get to know people when you’re enjoying good food,” she said. At each tour stop, the restaurant will get to showcase a dish for the participants to sample, in the hopes of enticing them to dine at their establishment at a later date. Tours are held regularly starting at 11:30 a.m. and last for three hours. Visit https://funcoastfoodtours.com/ Email jarleene@ormondbeachobserver.com.
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NOVEMBER 2021
Giving teens another chance Guiding Hope foster care agency wants to help highrisk teens find stability JARLEENE ALMENAS ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Victor Sims knows how important it is to give a child more than one chance to thrive. After spending the first 12 years of his life in foster care, hopping from placement to placement — 22 different homes, from what he remembers — he’s seen firsthand the change having a stable home can make, especially for teenagers. And as the executive director of Guiding Hope, an Ormond Beach-based foster care agency that serves teens struggling in the system, he wants to make sure foster parents have both the support, and the will, to give them all the chances they need. “I always tell people I don’t believe a child deserves a second chance — I believe they deserve another chance,” Sims said. The agency launched this month and will serve Volusia, Flagler and Putnam counties. Part of Sims’ model includes the provision of mental health services, educational programs and training for
LOCAL CHILD WELFARE STATISTICS AS OF SEPT. 30, IN VOLUSIA COUNTY: There are 853 children in outof-home care. Almost 54% are in licensed foster care homes. 53, or 6.21%, are in group care. 153 are 13-18 years old. IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA: There are 22,554 children in out-of-home care. 51.7% are in licensed foster care homes. 1,522, or 6.75%, are in group care. 4,462 are 13-18 years old. Source: Florida Department of Children and Families
foster care parents and continuum of care once a child ages out of the foster care system, thanks to a partnership with Dreams and Success Homes Foundation, a real estate organization that helps provide transitional housing for young adults 18 and up. It’s a partnership Sims hopes will bring long-term results. “Teens deserve a fresh start when they are placed in the system,” said Michael Willams, DASH executive
Courtesy photo
Michael Williams, DASH executive director.
“Teens deserve a fresh start when they are placed in the system. Somewhere they don’t have to be judged, condemned, and reprimanded for being challenging and unique. A home and community that expects the best from them but when the worst happens, will continue to expect and empower them to be their best.” MICHAEL WILLAMS, DASH executive director
Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Victor Sims, executive director of Guiding Hope, aims to reduce the number of high-risk teenagers in group foster homes.
director, in a press release. “Somewhere they don’t have to be judged, condemned, and reprimanded for being challenging and unique. A home and community that expects the best from them but when the worst happens, will continue to expect and empower them to be their best.” SOLUTIONS BASED ON EXPERIENCE
Sims and Williams have been working together in child welfare for about three years, and while their stories are different, they represent each end of the spectrum of the foster care system. While Sims was adopted at 12, Williams entered the system at 12. Never adopted, Williams had been removed from his home because his mom couldn’t provide him a safe place to live. But even so, he came from a loving home, he said in a recent interview with the Ormond Beach Observer. His mother’s parental rights were terminated once he entered foster
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care, and Williams was angry. He showed that by rebelling, and in turn, experienced over 40 different placements in his first six months in the system. Once he aged out of the system, he realized he spent those six years of foster care in survival mode, he said. He had forgotten what his own dreams were. “Since then, I’ve created a lot of solutions and programs and been part of a lot of programs to really change the way people look at teens who don’t want to be adopted or don’t find permanency in the system,” Williams said. According to DASH, nearly 50% of young adults transitioning out of foster care will experience homelessness within 18 months, and over 60% of women become pregnant by age 21. Less than 3% will earn a college degree by the time they reach 25 years of age. Those are the statistics Guiding Hope is fighting, and the work starts when the children are in the foster care system. The language of trauma is behavior, said Sims, who has been specializing in working with high-risk teenagers for the past five years. Many teenagers feel a lack of permanency in their foster homes, and are aware that, for the smallest infractions, they can be switched into a different placement. In some circuits in Florida, it’s not uncommon for foster parents to call police when their foster teen refuses to go to a new placement, Sims said. He wants to ensure their foster homes aren’t ones the child runs away from, but homes to run to. He said he and Williams are creating
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a program that they wish they had both had access to growing up. “Our solutions are literally based off our stories,” Sims said. HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
Having grown up in the system after his biological father shot his biological mother, it wasn’t until Sims entered kindergarten that he realized not every child was waiting for their forever family. In that year alone, he experienced four different placements and three schools. “What kept me moving was that hope,” Sims said. “You know, that something was better on the other side.” Now that he’s established Guiding Hope, his goal is to have 100 beds for teenagers through foster homes. Currently, there are 53 children in group homes in Volusia County, according to the Florida Department of Children and Families, and Sims believes those should be a last resort in the system. He only experienced one group home in his time in foster care, and refused to be sent to another one after that. Instead, he chose to sleep in a DCF office, something that Sims said is, unfortunately, not a rare occurrence. But in order to meet his goal, Guiding Hope needs foster parents, and Sims said he seeks to raise the community’s awareness of their mission, in the hopes that adults who have considered fostering in the past will step up. “If we can find a family that’s willing to give our children chances, I think we’ve done better for our community,” Sims said.
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DAYTONA WEST OBSERVER
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NOVEMBER 2021
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Redistricting maps won’t match in Volusia
Volusia delays ARPA fund decision
County Council and School Boardcan’t agree on one redistricting plan.
Regulatory and legislative changes could be coming; county staff advised the council to wait and see the outcome.
JARLEENE ALMENAS ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Two joint meetings, five hours of total discussion and 17 maps later, the Volusia County Council and Volusia County School Board have decided to adopt different maps for redistricting, a decision that will cause more split precincts and ballot styles, particularly for the west side of the county. While the boards were hopeful about agreeing on a combined version of the respective maps each favored, at the joint meeting held on Thursday, Oct. 28, neither side could agree on the same combined option. The Volusia County Council voted 5-2 to adopt plan “FI-5” — with Council members Fred Lowry and Heather Post voting against — which splits the city of DeBary between Districts 1 and 3. At the County Council meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 2, the council further tweaked its map to move a small section of an unincorporated area between Osteen and Enterprise into District 3 from District 5. The School Board largely favored plan “FI-4,” which keeps the city of
Screenshot courtesy of Volusia County Government
The Volusia County Council and the Volusia County School Board held a joint meeting to discuss redistricting on Thursday, Oct. 28.
DeBary in one district and instead moves Orange City into District 5 from District 1, which were the main differences between the two maps. A motion to adopt plan “FI-4” failed at the County Council level with 4-3 vote, because according to the county’s charter, a two-thirds vote is needed to approve changing district lines. Council members Danny Robins, Barbara Girtman and Lowry voted against. County Councilman Ben Johnson said both boards made a “gallant attempt” in trying to adopt the same map. “We tried and it didn’t work,” Johnson said. “I commend everybody for sitting down and coming to the table and talking about it. I think at this time any further discussion on this is basically wasting everybody’s time when we need to start implementing our plan.” From the start of the meeting, Lowry said that the task before both boards wasn’t just difficult. He said it was “impossible.” “Lake Helen and DeLand don’t want to be split up,” Lowry said. “I completely understand that. I’ve gotten all kinds of emails today from Enterprise and Osteen and they don’t want to be split up, and they don’t want to be with the East side. You’ve got Orange City that doesn’t want to be split up, and you’ve got DeBary that’s tired of being split up. There’s no map that satisfies all four of those criteria, so I don’t know. To me, we’re just going to have to bite the bullet.” School Board member Anita Burnette asked if it was possible to combine plans “FI-4” and “FI-5,” but county attorney Sebrina Slack said they could not edit maps during the meeting. “This is pretty much the best effort we could do,” she said. School Board Attorney Ted Doran told the School Board that, if they were already going a different direction from the County Council, they could review other maps at a future School Board meeting that would bettter suit the district’s needs than “FI-4” and “FI-5.” Volusia County Supervisor of
“If the representatives from 2, 3 and 4 would all vote the same way, I mean, it’d be done. There’s no difference.” CARL PERSIS, Disrict 4 Volusia County School Board member
Elections Lisa Lewis pled with both boards to adopt the same map. There will be cities that are going to be upset either way, but adopting one map for both boards would simplify the elections process for the citizens, she said. She grew emotional as she thanked the boards for trying to reach a consensus. The County Council did have a vote to reconsider its plan, but it failed since Girtman, Robins and Lowry voted against. School Board members made two attempts to try to agree with the County Council. First, School Board member Carl Persis made a motion for the School Board to consider adopting plan “FI-5” as well, but the motion died for lack of a second. Then, School Board member Linda Cuthbert passed her gavel to Board Member Jamie Haynes in order to second a second motion by Persis to adopt plan “FI-5,” but it failed 3-2, with Burnette, Haynes and School Board member Ruben Colon voting against. Persis said it was disappointing to leave the meeting without agreeing with one another on district boundaries. Looking at the maps, Districts 2, 3 and 4 were all virtually the same. “If the representatives from 2, 3 and 4 would all vote the same way, I mean, it’d be done,” Persis said. “There’s no difference.” To not agree on a map because of a “few blocks,” said Persis, seems shortsighted. County Council Chair Jeff Brower also expressed his disappointment. “It’s a failure for the voters,” he said.
JARLEENE ALMENAS ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Though Volusia County is still expecting to receive $107 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, less money will be available to be used for provision of government services, a previously broad definition for ARPA’s revenue loss category. This is a result of recent revenue trends — to include higher-thanexpected tourism taxes, state revenue sharing, water and sewer state grant funding and impact fees — and the Department of Treasury’s requirement to convert fiscal-year revenue loss calculations to calendar year amounts. Unlike coronavirus relief dollars granted to the county under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which had a short timeframe to be used, ARPA dollars are available for four years. Volusia County initially projected a combined revenue loss of $80 million for the four fiscal years between 2019-2020 and 2022-2023, but, because of the update in calculations, revenue loss for calendar-year 2020 is now estimated at $12 million, with no revenue loss projected for the next three calendar years. “If you look at just $80 million versus the $12 million, it seems like a big number,” County Chief Financial Officer Ryan Ossowski said. “But we’re talking about four entire years of an organization that has $620 million in our calculation as far as what our base revenue is.” What does this mean for the county? The projects planned to be funded through the revenue loss category could need to be revisited. On June 22, the County Council was given an overview on how ARPA funding could be used, and aside from revenue loss, three other cat-
SUN BUGGY Also at the meeting, the County Council approved a special one-year “pilot permit” for Sun Buggy Fun Rentals, a beach tram service that will operate on the beach from the International Speedway Boulevard approach to the Emilia Avenue approach.
egories were highlighted: COVID-19 response and its negative economic impacts; “premium pay” for essential workers; and water, sewer and broadband infrastructure. But with likely regulatory and legislative changes coming regarding ARPA dollars, Ossowski suggested waiting until the Department of Treasury updates its guidance. According to the agenda item document, the Department received nearly 1,000 online comments regarding the relief funds, particularly pertaining to the revenue loss calculations being made on calendar-year versus a fiscal-year basis. As a result, county staff believes guidance could change to allow revenue loss to be calculated on a fiscal-year basis, which would increase the county’s revenue loss calculation for fiscal year 2020-2021 to $34 million. Additionally, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Fiscal Recovery, Infrastructure, and Disaster Relief Flexibility Act on Oct. 19, which if signed onto law, would allow 30% of coronavirus relief dollars to be spent on roads, mass transit and other infrastructure projects. County Manager George Recktenwald agreed that waiting would be prudent, and suggested the council resist committing ARPA funds until the Department of Treasury makes a decision regarding regulatory changes. He suggested the county hold a workshop in January to discuss the funds. Email jarleene@ormondbeachobserver.com.
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DAYTONA WEST OBSERVER
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OrmondBeachObserver.com
NOVEMBER 2021
Don’t miss our Early Deadlines! Thursday, November 25th Publications Space Reservation: Alexa Wilson (12) hits over the Pine Ridge front row.
Photos by Brent Woronoff
Wednesday, November 17
Materials Due: Mainland pushes Pine Ridge to limit Thursday, November 18 in volleyball district championship Classifieds:
BRENT WORONOFF STAFF WRITER
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ainland High School is known for its football and basketball programs, both of which have provided the trophy case with state championship hardware. The volleyball team has never even won a district championship. But it came so close on Thursday, Oct. 21. Down two sets to Pine Ridge in the District 4-5A championship game at Seabreeze High School, the Bucs won the next two sets before losing 15-13 in the fifth and final frame. “These kids played with a lot of heart and hustle,” coach Lauren Valle said. Mainland beat No. 1 seed Seabreeze in four games in the semifinals Wednesday, Oct. 20, to advance to the district championship for the first time since 2007. “We’re definitely trying to change the culture, not just being a school for football and basketball,” Valle said. “We’re not a team that relies on true volleyball players. We have tremendous athletes. We rely a lot on our basketball girls and our track girls.” The Bucs, who fell to 13-10 with the loss, had played the top two district seeds, Seabreeze and Pine Ridge, close during the regular sea-
son. “We definitely made big progress this year,” said senior Alexa Wilson, who led Mainland with 22 kills against the Panthers in the marathon match. But despite taking the runner-up spot in the district, Mainland did not advance to the state playoffs. The four district champs and the next four highest-ranked teams in the region move on. Seabreeze (19-7) took the final at-large spot and was scheduled to play Panama City Mosley in a regional quarterfinal match on Oct. 27. “I’m proud of how we grew this season after starting 0-4,” Seabreeze coach Sara Swayze said of her squad, which has just one senior starter in outside hitter Chloe Womack. The Bucs would have needed to win the district title to advance. After losing the first two sets by two-point margins, they rallied to win the next two, 25-20 and 25-22, to force a fifth set. “It’s always been our mindset that we can’t give up when we’re down,” Wilson said. “We just decided to fight as hard as we could until it was over.” Sadie Rich (8) goes up for a block.
Mainland's volleyball team poses with the district runner-up trophy.
DISTRICT 4-5A CHAMPIONSHIP
Friday, November 19, 3pm
Pine Ridge 3, Mainland 2 Set 1: Pine Ridge 25-23. Set 2: Pine Ridge 25-23. Set 3: Mainland 25-20. Set 4: Mainland 25-22. Set 5: Pine Ridge 15-13.
Thursday, December 3rd Publications Space Reservation:
Mainland stats: Alexa Wilson 22 kills, Sadie Rich 14 kills, Mia Mayberry 10 kills.
SEMIFINAL
Manland 3, Seabreeze 1 Set 1: Mainland 25-23. Set 2: Seabreeze 25-19. Set 3: Mainland 25-11. Set 4: Mainland 25-23. Seabreeze stats: Skylar Martin 15 kills; Mollie Martin 12 kills; Chloe Womack 16 aces, 11 digs; Sydney Townsend 4 bocks; Madison Ethridge 4 blocks; Andie Litz 41 assists. Mainland stats: Alexa Wilson 21 kills, 8 digs; Bella Truxall 20 aces, 38 assists; Jackie Christiansen 18 aces; Ava Colubiale 6 blocks.
Wednesday, November 24
Materials Due:
Wednesday, November 24 The Observer offices will be closed for the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, November 25. PalmCoastObserver.com OrmondBeachObserver.com 367645-1
The Bucs upset Seabreeze in the semifinals to advance to the district title game for the first time in 14 years.