Millie’s North opens in Ormond Beach

New restaurant offers locally sourced seafood.

ABBIE PACE CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A new restaurant opened at 330 S. Atlantic Avenue on Feb. 10, offering fresh seafood sourced from local fishermen, plus a full bar and cocktail list.

Millie’s North — owned by husband and wife Chris and Amy Chibbaro, plus a private owner — is named after the Chibbaros’ pet dog, Millie. The restaurant’s original location, Millie’s Restaurant and Catering, in Daytona Beach Shores, opened in 2018. Chris Chibbaro had moved to the Ormond Beach area from New Jersey in 2001, and fell in love with the region.

Some obstacles interrupted the Chibbaros’ initial attempt to open in Ormond, and a regional partner died unexpectedly shortly before the move.

But the Ormond Beach location made its debut not long after.

The restaurant focuses on seafood that’s not only fresh, but local.

“It always upsets us that almost all the fish that is caught around here is exported out,” Chris Chibarro said.

Chris Chibbaro said his favorite dish on the menu is the shrimp francaise — local shrimp, angel hair pasta and lemon caper beurre blanc.

He described Millie’s North’s motto as “Positive Mental Attitude,” or PMA, an acronym posted throughout the kitchen for employees to see.

“I love high quality food and things that are delicious and everything, but for me, it’s more about being a catalyst for people to create memo-

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ries,” he said. “The best compliment that I’ve ever had was when somebody told me that, ‘We got in the car to come tonight, and I told my wife it felt like we were going to a neighbor’s house for dinner.’”

The restaurant’s Daytona Beach Shores location was featured in Season 36 of Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Driveins and Dives.”

The Chibarros have two young daughters who admire their parents’ businesses, and enjoy growing up in the environment.

The Ormond Beach location is currently closed on Mondays and open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The Daytona Beach Shores location is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. Millie’s North is located at 330 S. Atlantic Ave. in Ormond Beach. The Daytona Beach Shores location is located at 3218 S. Atlantic Ave.

UNITED WAY OF VOLUSIA-FLAGLER VISITS CAPITOL

United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties visited the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee on Feb. 21-22 to propose the United Way of Florida’s Consensus Legislative Agenda to legislators.

Each year, United Way of Florida creates a Consensus Legislative Agenda that is approved by all 28 United Ways across the state. The 2023 agenda focuses on United Way’s work improving lives for “ALICE” — Asset, Limited, Income, Constrained, Employed — individuals. The United Way Consensus Agenda has three main focuses: Financial Stability (VITA), affordable housing, and expanding access to children’s health care (KidCare).

At the Capitol, United Way staff members Lawrence Anderson and Amanda Lasecki and Women United Flagler Volunteer Linda Mahran met with Senator Travis Hutson to talk about VITA, United Way’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, through which families that make up to $60,000 a year can file taxes for free with a tax certified VITA Volunteer. Appointments can be made now through April 15 by visiting unitedwayvfc.org/vitatax.

Florida’s United Ways urged legislators to invest $1.2 million in state funding which, when combined with the $1.8 million match by local United Ways in Florida, would offer enhanced opportunity for free tax preparation. To learn more, visit unitedwayvfc. org/advocate.

Flexjet Helps A New Generation Take To The Skies At Embryriddle

Flexjet, a subscription-based private aviation company, has opened an expanded Flexjet Innovation and Career Center at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Research Park in Daytona Beach.

The new facilities will house Flexjetsponsored internships, offer conference space for student meetings and introduce students to career opportunities in the rapidly growing business aviation sector.

“In the past, those interested in aviation careers have looked to the airlines and the military,” Flexjet Chairman Kenn Ricci said in a news release. “However, business aviation employs more individuals than the U.S. airlines, the Air Force and the Air National Guard combined, and offer a wide range of opportunities to build challenging and fulfilling careers. Through the Flexjet Innovation and Career Center, we hope to offer educational and training opportunities to students at one of America’s leading aeronautical academic programs while informing them about careers in business aviation.”

The expansion extends a partnership with Embry-Riddle that began in 2017. The new facilities increase the space devoted to Flexjet’s business aviation activities to 3,000 square feet.

“Embry-Riddle is honored to partner with Flexjet to provide students with real-world learning opportunities and introduce them to exciting new career possibilities,” University President Dr. P. Barry Butler said.