Letters

Dear Editor:

After reading the article in the newspaper, and as senior citizens, Commissioner Dwight Selby’s proposed rate hike of 2.3% seems to make sense. As new residents that have been here for only two months, we are getting slammed tax-wise as we get taxed at a higher rate, not being able to claim a homestead exemption for another year.

We went over to a beach park and noticed a ramp has not been repaired from a storm from over a year ago. Notice a surplus of money, but ADA individuals and senior citizens are not a priority. My wife is disabled, and it would make it so much easier for her to use the beach.

RON AND DEBBIE CATLETT

Ormond Beach

Ormond Beach airport: More red ink

Dear Editor:

The Sept. 16 edition of the Ormond Beach Observer attached an editor’s note to a published letter from Bob Blankenship regarding the planned extension of the Ormond Airport runways to accommodate more corporate jet traffic. Specifically, Mr. Blankenship’s letter noted in part that the airport is “currently a half million dollars in debt to the city’s general fund.”

The editor’s note summarized the city’s stated position that “general fund dollars lent to the airport fund are repaid as funds become available … loaned dollars cover operating shortfalls and provide grant match dollars.” I cannot fault the Observer’s editorial staff for reciting what our city of Ormond Beach officials relayed to them. However ...

The city’s current budget spreadsheet shows an airport debt to the general fund in the amount of $621,309. The 2021-2022 fiscal year projects an additional shortfall of $63,691, increasing our debt to $685,000. I have reviewed the spreadsheet data; these figures contradict the city’s misleading claim to its citizens that the general fund dollars are being repaid.

FAA guidelines and policies, to my understanding, require airports be self-sustaining with revenues meeting costs and no burdens on city taxpayers. Despite these federal requirements, Ormond Beach residents are having to continue to subsidize our general aviation/municipal airport. Revenue shortfalls will take an additional $100,000 annual hit in lost rental income now that the city has closed River Bend Golf Course.

And more red ink ... The city has been in arrears, and has been in litigation with Volusia County regarding taxes on its revenue producing golf course/ airport property. If Judge Weston grants the $271,000 summary judgement against the city, awarding that amount to the Volusia County tax collector for the city’s unpaid property taxes ... Well, go figure it out. Our Ormond Beach citizens deserve transparent facts, our citizens deserve transparent figures, our citizens deserve no less than the truth from their elected officials and city government.

Photo courtesy of Suzanne Scheiber Dream Green Volusia volunteers collected 24 bags of trash during the Ocean Conservancy’s 36th International Coastal Cleanup.

VOLUNTEERS PICK UP 900 POUNDS OF TRASH ON THE LOOP

Twelve volunteers part of Dream Green Volusia participated in the Ocean Conservancy’s 36th International Coastal Cleanup by cleaning up a half-mile section of the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail on Highbridge Road on Saturday, Sept. 18.

The volunteers picked up 900 pounds of trash and filled 24 trash bags, according to Dream Green Volusia’s tally. Volunteers found 337 pieces of plastic and foam packaging, 280 cans, 275 glass bottles, 175 plastic bottles and 150 food wrappers.

The Loop clean up site was one of 21 locations that participated in the international effort this year.

FUNDRAISER FOR LOCAL FAMILY

he recently lost his wife and unborn daughter after his wife contracted COVID-19.

Ashley Smith was hospitalized for a total 34 days before she died on Sept. 10, according to the fundraiser’s page. She was pregnant at the time, and lost the child before she was medically induced into a coma.

She is survived by her husband Christopher and 8-yearold son.

Over $11,000 have been raised thus far. To donate, visit https://gofund.me/c7fdb707

ROB BRIDGER Ormond Beach

Finding common ground

Dear Editor:

The last civil discourse/ common ground meeting was attended almost entirely by those who do not support the proposed runway extension at the Ormond Beach Municipal Airport. One young individual did stand up and present pros for the extension, a college student who had the courage to come out and engage in the dialogue, and it made all the difference. The important part was that a conversation was begun, and when I left, it was still going on between mostly middle age to older folks and this one young person.

There are usually deeper issues that can emerge during a discussion of pros and cons. As the moderator I was left with these questions:

Is the airport runway extension of primary importance for the city’s economic growth?

Is there a quality of life issue vs. an economic issue, and if so, how do we solve it?

Can we have it both ways, and why not think and talk together?

Is it important to know what citizens want and to answer their questions, and how do they make themselves heard?

Quite naturally it is easier to not show up and face the issue head on, especially if you are in the minority, but one young person did not back away and something happened: All of the people applauded this display of citizen participation, although the other view was different from theirs. Now that is what we as a community can be about, listening deeply to one another and creating something from what we have in common.

TRUNK OR TREAT

LightHouse Christ Presbyterian Church is now accepting candy donations for its upcoming Trunk or Treat event, to be held on Saturday, Oct. 30.

To donate, place candy in the tubs that are set up at the entrance to the Gathering Place, or the Hub.

HALLOWEEN DISPLAY

Ormond Beach residents David and Brandy Schoolcraft are gearing up to open their eighthannual Halloween display at their home at 111 Pine Creek Court, and they are inviting local organizations and businesses to send a representative during Halloween to help pass out candy and distribute information about their organization or business.

The Schoolcrafts’ Halloween display will be open 5:30-10 p.m. daily in October. However, the Halloween Safe-Stop event will only take place from 6-8 p.m. on Oct. 31 for trick or treating.

Last year, the Schoolcrafts’ distributed 275 treat bags to children. There is no admission fee, but donations are appreciated. To get involved, please contact David Schoolcraft at drschoolcraft@gmail.com

LINDA WILLIAMS

Ormond Beach

Send letters up to 400 words to jarleene@ormondbeachobserver.com. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

HONORING GLORIA MAX’S LEGACY

An endowment has been established to honor the late Gloria Max’s work and that of her husband, Ray, who engaged volunteers to help carry out their services since 1994 at the Jewish Federation of Flagler and Volusia Counties.

Someone Cares - An Endowment in Honor of Gloria and Ray Max, has been established through Community Foundation, a division of the United Way, by local philanthropists Larry and Andrea Frank.

The goal is to build the endowment to $500,000 within its first year,” said Larry Frank. “At that level, the principal is projected to generate enough money to help 40 families or more annually forever.”

The Franks have committed to matching the first $250,000 pledged to the endowment.

Accordingly, the Community Foundation is able to accept gifts to build the endowment and help perpetuate the great work of Gloria and Ray Max. Gifts may include cash, stocks, IRA Qualified Charitable Distributions, life insurance, and real estate. For more information or to offer a gift honoring the inspiring work of the Maxs’, contact David Jones at the Community Foundation at 386275-1940 or djones@uwvfc.org.

ORMOND BEACH 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, bmcmillan@ palmcoastobserver.com Associate Editor / Jarleene Almenas, jarleene@ ormondbeachobserver.com Staff Writer / Brent Woronoff, brent@palmcoastobserver.com Page Designers / Hailey McMillan, Jennifer Edwards

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

SUBSCRIBE

The Ormond Beach Observer is published every Thursday. To subscribe for driveway delivery, call Circulation Manager David Brooks, at 338-5080 or email david@ horizonroad.com.

TO ADVERTISE

Call the office at 386-447-9723. For Classifieds or Business Directory, call 386-492-2784 or email pcoclassifieds@palmcoastobserver. com.

Locally Owned / Publishers of The Palm Coast Observer

Palm Coast Observer, LLC

P.O. Box 353850 Palm Coast, 32135

ADOPTABLE PETS

Tequila, a 1-year-old terrier mix. Her adoption fee is $100.

Venus, a 2-year-old terrier and American pit bull mix. Her adoption fee is $70.

Zeus, a 5-year-old terrier. His adoption fee is $70.

Coco, a 1-year-old domestic shorthair. She’s at Pet Supermarket in Ormond.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2021

Sports 10 Business 12 YOUR NEIGHBORS

“Elegance” by Amaya Lewicki of Deland High School. This piece also received an honorable mention.

Youth artists at One Daytona

JARLEENE ALMENAS

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

It’s not every day students get a chance to showcase their art in a professional gallery.

For 30 Volusia County students, that opportunity came via One Daytona’s Gallery500’s third-annual student exhibition, held in conjunction with Volusia County Schools Visual Arts Program. The exhibition has tripled in size since its inception, and serves as a precursor to one of the most significant art fundraisers in the community: the One Daytona Art Festival. Last year’s inaugural festival drew over 90 artists and donated $15,000 to the VCS Visual Arts Program, as well as $5,000 to ArtHaus, a Port Orange-based art nonprofit.

Gallery500 Director Amber O’Neal said gallery owner Lesa Kennedy’s goal in opening Gallery500 was to provide a space to showcase and promote local art. Kennedy is also the NASCAR executive vice chair.

“She’s always wanted to support the young artists, and so with this exhibition, in conjunction to the art festival that we cohost every year, we are able to financially help support the Volusia County Schools Visual Arts program,” O’Neal said. “We’re excited to be a part and to see how it’s grown over the years.”

Kennedy — along with Ormond Beach artist Toni Slick and Kristin Heron, curator of education, outreach and exhibition for the Ormond Memorial Art Museum Museum — were among the committee of judges for the show.

Each student is picked to participate by O’Neal and VCS Visual Arts Coordinator Bryce Hammond, who look through all the entries submitted by local art teachers. One of the things O’Neal said she looks for is the meaning behind the pieces, explained in the student’s statements.

Emily (Marco) Larsen, a University High School senior, won “Best in Show” for her sculpture “Stop Saying the Band-Aid Helps” during the opening reception, held Friday, Sept. 17. In her student statement, she wrote that the piece was “a statement about the anger someone can feel when they’re hurt and torn apart, but the people around them choose to ignore them, or placate them, or offer a band-

Courtesy photos VCS Visual Arts Coordinator Bryce Hammond, New Smyrna High School student Jet Murphy and Gallery500 director Amber O’Neal.

aid for your stab wound.”

In a video interview provided to the Observer, Seabreeze art teacher and department chair Christine Colby said that the exhibition is a great way for students to see what competitions can be like at a district level, as well as see the talent beyond their respective high school. Students are often surprised when they get chosen for the exhibition.

“It makes them feel significant, and I see like a little pep in their step when they receive the news,” she said.

Being chosen for the show gives the student validation for their hard work, said Hammond. Many of them are motivated to graduate high school because of their love of art and wish to pursue it as a career. VCS holds 23 other community student art shows but none like the exhibition at Gallery500.

“It’s unique because it’s a professional gallery with international artists that show in it, and it’s a commercial gallery as well, so it gives the kids a taste of what it’s like to show professionally,” Hammond said.

The donations from the art festival, as well as the $500 cash prize the teacher receives if their student wins “Best in Show,” go a long way to providing students with materials in the classroom, as well as serve to replace machinery. It helps local art programs thrive, O’Neal explained.

“A lot of these students have difficulties expressing themselves verbally because they have more of an artistic mind and they express themselves visually, through their art,” O’Neal said. “So to be able to have an outlet to express themselves, to communicate who they are, to overcome any trials and tribulations and be able to create all these amazing pieces, I think, is so influential to their future and world.”

The student exhibition will be on display through Friday, Oct. 15. Some student art may be available for purchase.

LOOKING AHEAD

What: Second-annual One Daytona Art Festival When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 13-14 Where: One Daytona, 1 Daytona Blvd. Details: This juried outdoor fine art show marks a weekend of art and culture, featuring artists, artisans and live entertainment. Free admission. For artist and vendor inquiries, email artfest@gallery500.art, and for sponsorship inquiries, email rribakoff@ onedaytona.com.

“Where Books Take Us” by Jessica Dailey, of Mainland High School.