PORT ORANGE
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
NUTCRACKER STARS PAGE 6
VOLUME 5, NO. 4
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• DECEMBER 2021
State wants to add to parents’ rights Lawmakers seek to strengthen Parent’s Bill of Rights, which Gov. Ron DeSantis used in mandate fight. PAGE 6
County Council, School Board, to adopt differing maps
Picture this One Daytona honors 14 artists in sold-out show
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white peacock opens its feathers for only a few seconds at a time, but Darlene O’Leary, of Ormond Beach, was ready. O’Leary’s photography was on display, along with art by about 100 other artists, Nov. 13-14, at the second-annual One Daytona Art Festival, a fine art show coinciding with Welcome to Rockville Festival at Daytona International Speedway. O’Leary takes photos from St. Augustine to New Smyrna Beach, specializing in animals. Another local artist, Joy Kronseder, of Port Orange, has a massive sea glass collection that inspires her art.
The boards could not agree on one redistricting plan. JARLEENE ALMENAS ASSOCIATE EDITOR
After 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. The School Board largely favored
“We’re very encouraged by the success and support from our community,” Lesa Kennedy, owner of One Daytona’s Gallery500, in a press release. “Artists and vendors were excited to come back and participate, making this a sold out art festival. We’re enthusiastic about our future in 2022.” Eight artists competed for best in show, and the winner was Jacksonville’s Bill Slade, who won $1,500. “I’m delighted to see this quality of show,” Harry Messersmith, a judge from DeLand, in a press release. “This festival has a great future.” –JULIA AMBROSE AND BRIAN MCMILLAN
SEE VOLUSIA PAGE 6
YOUR TOWN Spreading cheer by donating toys
Local Postal Customer
PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID DAYTONA BCH FL PERMIT #447
Auxilium Manus DEO, First Baptist Daytona, and several businesses are gearing up for toy distribution for 300+ children ages 6 weeks to 5 years who attend Mid Florida Headstart schools. Please bring unwrapped new toys to any of the following locations, through Dec. 16: Daytona Beach: Jon Hall Chevrolet, Chef Papa’s Café & Catering, Dollar General (Bellair), Daytona Beach Shores Dollar General on A1A, and the new Dollar General at 811 N. Clyde Morris. Port Orange: Dollar General (U.S. 1), Dollar General (Clyde Morris), Pinch a Penny, and Bully Me Now. If your business would like to help collect toys for us, contact 386-7606070.
Joy Kronseder, of Port Orange
Photos by Julia Ambrose
BRIEFS Florida lawmakers may move away from OSHA Florida lawmakers Wednesday, Nov. 17, passed a measure that could lead to the state taking over regulation of worker safety and health issues and ending oversight by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The Republican-controlled House voted 76-38 along almost straight party lines to pass a bill (HB 5B) that directs Gov. Ron DeSantis to develop a plan for the potential change. The Senate early Wednesday evening gave final passage in a 23-13 party-line vote. The proposal came after OSHA this month issued a COVID-19 vaccination rule that would apply to employers with 100 or more workers. Those workers would have to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or test negative at least once a week and wear masks. DeSantis has argued the rule would lead to workers losing jobs.
DeSantis touts education budget Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, Nov. 10, rolled out parts of his proposed edu-
cation budget for next fiscal year, touting the recommendations as “wins for families, students and for teachers.” The governor will ask lawmakers during the 2022 legislative session to raise per-student spending in public schools by more than $200 over the current fiscal year, to $8,000 a student. DeSantis also wants to spend $15.5 million to carry out a plan that would replace the statewide standardized tests known as the Florida Standards Assessments with a progress-monitoring system. DeSantis announced in September that he would request that lawmakers end the current system of standardized testing. Continuing a plan to boost minimum teacher salaries to $47,500, DeSantis said he will recommend that lawmakers earmark $600 million to increase educator pay. That amount would represent an additional $50 million in teacher-pay funding from the current budget. “When I became governor, the average minimum salary was around $40,000. Now it’s close to $47,000. And with our proposal, we’re going to be in a really, really good spot. Certainly one of the top 10 in the country (in teacher pay), and we may even be in the top five,” DeSantis said.
Council 8086 donates Coats for Kids to seven schools JOHN O’MALLEY KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
The Knights of Columbus Our Lady of Hope Council 8086 followed up its successful Duck Derby by donating winter jackets to students at seven local schools in its annual Coats for Kids drive. The late-September event at Port Orange City Center raised enough funds to purchase nearly 400 winter coats and jackets. Last week, a dozen Knights visited seven local schools to distribute the jackets to deserving students.
More than a dozen Knights from the Council distributed the coats at Sugar Mill Elementary, Spruce Creek Elementary and Port Orange Elementary in Port Orange; South Daytona Elementary and Turie T. Small in South Daytona; Holly Hill Elementary in Holly Hill; and West Side Elementary in Daytona Beach. Roger Packard is the Grand Knight of Council 8086. Tony Manzolillo is the council’s point of contact for Coats for Kids, with Tim Mell the council’s Program Director.
Sugar Mill Elementary School Principal Laura Figueroa is pleased to accept the jackets from Knights (from left) Tim Mell, Dave Dollieslager, Tony Manzolillo, Roger Packard, George Kline, Bob Thomas and Jim Waggoner.