6
ORMOND BEACH OBSERVER
|
A park instead of more homes
LET T ERS
OrmondBeachObserver.com
THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 2020
Dear Editor: As you may know, Ronnie Bledsoe recently passed away. He was the business partner of Plantation Oaks developer Parker Mitchenburg. I remember at the recent Ormond Beach Planning Board meeting Mr. Mitchenburg made some reference to both of them not having a lot of good years left in them. Mitchenberg and Bledsoe have been responsible for the bulk of the unwise and environment-damaging developments along that corridor and extending well into Flagler, so I think they have done enough damage. I would like to propose that Parker donate the buffer and closest unsold lots to the city to be redeveloped as a city park and demolish the atrocious entrance and wall at the Old Dixie entrance. After removing the entrance pavement and wall with the ugly signs, a pedestrian and bike path could be installed. This would allow access to the public to the park and also allow him to advertise his property as access to the Loop, as I believe that is a big
selling point for him. At the same time, he could establish his and his partner’s legacy with the park as people who, in the end, cared about the community. When the traffic studies were done, I believe that they used outdated data and don’t account for the fact that people 55 and older are living longer and are more active and would probably produce as much traffic as younger folks since they will still have yard, pest, pool, and property maintenance vehicles passing along Old Dixie. Amazon, UPS and meal delivery vehicles will still be a concern regardless of what population ends up buying the houses. So, in my view, the developer is trying to sell the rezone as a good thing for the public, but it is really that his business and sales senses tell him that he can make more money off stick-built houses. In my view, the best solution at this point would be to close that entrance off to vehicle traffic to reduce that traffic and at the same time provide an animal parkway and park that everyone could enjoy. If we can get this concession I don’t care if he wants to name the park Bledsoe-
Mitchenberg Park, so long as we can preserve what we have left of the Loop National Scenic Byway. TIM GRIGSBY Ormond Beach
Editor’s note: Tim Grigsby is a candidate in the Ormond Beach City Commission Zone 1 race.
Relocation of Ormond Beach Police Station Dear Editor: With a small fortune already paid to a consultant, the Ormond Beach city government continues to move ahead with plans to relocate the police station from West Granada Boulevard. There was no public mandate for the move, and we were told the 20-year-old building was obsolete and required a new air conditioning system. We were also told the site was flood-prone and unsuitable as a command center during weather emergencies. (The city once owned a converted RV mobile command center. Was it sold as surplus?) The police station is far from becoming obsolete, with a state of the art indoor
firing range and extra space that became available when we eliminated the dispatch center and hired the county to provide that service. The site has never flooded, and all city buildings require regular upgrades of their HVC systems. Not too long ago, in a radio interview, a city commissioner revealed a more probable reason for the relocation when he touted the site as a great opportunity for commercial development that would enhance the downtown. The police station generates almost zero traffic but a commercial center so close to U.S. 1 would add greatly to traffic at one of the most problematic intersections in the county. Ormond Beach continues to divert citizen tax dollars to advance the agendas of commercial interests. Moving the police station is a costly, bad idea. MIKE MCLARNAN Ormond Beach
Send letters to jarleene@ ormondbeachobserver.com. Include first and last name, as well as city of residence. Editor may alter the letter for clarity.
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
Publisher / John Walsh, jwalsh@palmcoastobserver. com Executive Editor / Brian McMillan, editor@ ormondbeachobserver.com Associate Editor / Jarleene Almenas, jarleene@ ormondbeachobserver.com Page Designers / Hailey McMillan, Jennifer Edwards Advertising Manager / Jaclyn Centofanti, jaclyn@ palmcoastobserver.com Senior Account Manager / Susan Moore, susan@ palmcoastobserver.com Front Desk Associate / Bonnie Hamilton, bonnie@ palmcoastobserver.com Operations Manager / Maureen Walsh, maureen@ palmcoastobserver.com Circulation Manager / David Brooks, david@horizonroad. com
DELIVERY
YOUR TOWN involved in school and church clubs and activities, according to a press release. Winch has put in over 100 volunteer hours during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in the past, picked up and delivered food and toys during the holidays, assisted in FBH events and stepped in whenever he was needed. He will be majoring in marine biology at Stetson University.
NEW OPTOMETRIST IN ORMOND BEACH Courtesy photos
FBH Founder and Chair Forough Hosseini and Tyler Winch
HIGH SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS Food Brings Hope recently recognized two youth volunteers as they graduated from local high schools. One of them was Daria Babazadeh, the FBH May Student Volunteer of the Month, according to a press release. She graduated from Father Lopez High School and is continuing her education at the University of Miami where she will major in biology. While at Father Lopez, she participated in cheerleading and the golf team. Babazadeh was also a member of the school’s Honor Society and Global Exploration club. Most recently, she assisted in packing food bags for FBH’s drive-thru food distribution at Mainland High School. The other student recognized was Tyler Winch, the FBH December Volunteer of the Month. He is a recent graduate of Atlantic High School, and in May, he also graduated from Daytona State College with his associate’s degree. He did so while juggling volunteer hours, a part-time job and being
ORMOND BEACH
Drs. Jennifer and Jason Iannarelli
Dr. Eye, located at 1400 Hand Ave. in Ormond Beach, has added a new optometrist. According to an announcement, the private eye care practice and optical boutique was opened by Dr. Jason Iannarelli. This summer, his wife, Dr. Jennifer Iannarelli, joined the practice, bringing over 15 years of experience with a focus on geriatric care, cataract and glaucoma treatments. Dr. Eye is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday. Visit dreye.cares or call 872-3111.
ATTORNEY EARNS HIGH RATING Ormond Beach resident and attorney Kelly H. Chanfrau, a partner at Chanfrau and Chanfrau, has been awarded the AV Preeminent Judicial Edition Rating in both legal ability and ethical standards by members of the Bar and Judiciary for 2020. This is the highest rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
ADOPTABLE PETS
The Ormond Beach Observer is published every Thursday. To suspend or stop delivery, call Circulation Manager David Brooks, at 338-5080.
TO ADVERTISE
Call the office at 386-447-9723. For Classifieds or Business Directory, call 386-492-2784 or email pcoclassifieds@ palmcoastobserver.com. Kelly Chanfrau
This rating is given to attorneys who are ranked at the highest level of professional excellence for their legal expertise, communication skills and ethical standards by their peers, a press release states, quoting the Martindale-Hubbell website. “It is an honor and recognition that means so much because it is based on feedback from other attorneys as well as clients,” said Chanfrau, a Seabreeze alumna. “It is meaningful and significant and is something for which I feel humbled and tremendously grateful.”
INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEANUP Volusia County will participate in the Ocean Conservancy’s 35th International Coastal Cleanup during the weekend of Sept. 18-20. There will be no site captains or check-ins due to social distancing requirements, the county says. Those wanting to participate will choose a location when registering online, download the data collection app to their phone and show up at their desired time during the date window to conduct a cleanup effort. Groups of 10 or less are encouraged. Sites will close when registration reaches capacity. The first 1,500 registered participants will get a promotional item with the 2020 ICC logo, though registration is not required to participate. Visit volusia.org to register. Registration will be open until Aug. 28.
NEWS TIPS
Send news tips to jarleene@ ormondbeachobserver.com.
EVENTS Doris is an 8-year-old terrier and American Staffordshire mix.
Submit local nonprofit or entertainment events here: ormondbeachobserver.com/ calendar.
LETTERS
Send letters to editor@ ormondbeachobserver.com. The editor may make changes for clarity and length. Include first and last name and city of residence.
Zoey is a 3-year-old terrier and American Staffordshire mix.
Locally Owned / Publishers of The Palm Coast Observer Palm Coast Observer, LLC P.O. Box 353850 Palm Coast, 32135
All cats 1 year and older currently have their fees waived. The Halifax Humane Society is now open to the public by appointment only during its regular business hours. To adopt, contact adoptions@ halifaxhumanesociety.org or call 274-4703.
ORMONDBEACHOBSERVER.COM ©Copyright The Observer Media Group Inc. 2015 All Rights Reserved
