The West Volusia Beacon

08/31/2025

🎉 FirstLight Home Care is celebrating their Grand Opening! 🎉

Join them for a festive celebration to commemorate their grand opening. Enjoy food, drink and merriment with the FirstLight team.

📞 RSVP to John Bordas at 386-349-9306 or [email protected].

08/31/2025

✨🎉 The Childhood Cancer Foundation is hosting its 18th Annual Glitter & Gold Gala on Saturday, September 6, 2025, from 5:30 PM to 10:30 PM at the Ocean Center, 101 N Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach, FL 32118.

💛 Individual tickets are $100, and attendees can purchase them here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/18th-annual-glitter-and-gold-gala

💌 The organization is also seeking donations for its Silent Auction. Interested donors can reach out at [email protected]

For more information, call 386-747-7799.

08/29/2025

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08/29/2025

Orange City is undergoing a change in supervision. City Manager Dale Arrington is retiring, closing out — for now at least — a career spanning about 40 years in local government.

“I’ve worked for decades and decades. It’s been a wonderful trip and a great job,” Arrington told The Beacon. “I’ve been very blessed in my career to work with some wonderful people.”

Arrington served as assistant city manager of DeLand before being tapped as the chief administrator of Orange City in 2016. She also worked in Volusia County’s zoning division before moving into city government.

Orange City is undergoing a change in supervision. City Manager Dale Arrington is retiring, closing out — for now at least — a career spanning about 40 years in local government. “I’ve worked for decades and decades. It’s been a wonderful trip and a great job,” Arrington told The Beacon....

08/29/2025

The conflict between Deltona and the state government over a new disaster-recovery law has moved to a higher level.

Plans were made at the Aug. 18 City Commission meeting to sue the state over Senate Bill 180, despite a request to the contrary.

The conflict between Deltona and the state government over a new disaster-recovery law has moved to a higher level. Plans were made at the Aug. 18 City Commission meeting to sue the state over Senate Bill 180, despite a request to the contrary. “At this point, the Florida League of Cities is askin...

08/29/2025

Volusia County officials say a crossroads on DeLand’s south side would be better served with a roundabout than with the stops at the access points of two neighborhoods.

Although there are currently no plans to build such a traffic-control improvement, the County Council has approved a contract with the Ormond Beach engineering firm of England-Thims & Miller Inc., to design a traffic circle on Taylor Road at the entrance to a pair of upscale subdivisions. On the north side of Taylor Road is Bent Oaks, and on the south side is Longleaf Plantation.

Volusia County officials say a crossroads on DeLand’s south side would be better served with a roundabout than with the stops at the access points of two neighborhoods. Although there are currently no plans to build such a traffic-control improvement, the County Council has approved a contract wit...

08/29/2025

The Rev. Carlos Perez of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand will address the congregation with a theme of “New Beginnings” during his sermon at 10:45 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 31. At the conclusion of the service, Communion is offered to all believers present.

Music during the service is provided by musician Joyce DeLoach and song leader Dorothy Ashton.

The Adult Sunday School class will meet at 9:30 a.m. Aug. 31 to study 1 Peter 2:1-12, “Living Stones in a Spiritual Temple,” remembering that we are a royal priesthood ministering to one another.

The Outreach Team is providing the evening meal at The Bridge Shelter, 421 S. Palmetto Ave. in DeLand at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2.

English as a Second Language class A new English as a Second Language conversation class for adults will begin 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, and will continue weekly at the DeLand Campus/Deltona Alliance Church, 402 W. New York Ave. This free class offers attendees an opportunity to learn or impro...

08/28/2025

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? West Volusia has plenty going on!

Check out our online events calendar to see what’s happening:
🔗https://www.beacononlinenews.com/events/

08/28/2025

After years of drafting ordinances. resolutions, letters and contracts, and keeping city officials on the legal straight and narrow path, Orange City’s longtime attorney is leaving. William E. Reischman Jr., center, holds the proclamation honoring him for his career and achievements in the growing city since 1999. From left are Orange CIty Council Members Lisa Richardson and Fran Darms, Mayor Kelli Marks, Reischmann, Council Members Harold Grimm, Dawn Tiamson, Lisa Stafford and Dana Knight.

Read more here: https://www.beacononlinenews.com/articles/news/orange-city-council-honors-retiring-attorney-advances-park-plans/

08/28/2025

Dogs are now allowed on certain select parts of Volusia County’s beaches, and now, there is serious talk about allowing horses on the sunny strands.

In a follow-up to a request by the County Council earlier this year for more information about allowing horseback riding by the seaside, the council Aug. 19 leaned toward further but careful consideration of the idea. That would involve establishing a trial program, most likely in the northeast part of the county.

“We’re either going to be yea or neigh,” County Council Member Troy Kent playfully told his colleagues. “I do think it would add something to Volusia County.” Ultimately, the County Council voted 5-2 to gather more information on oceanside horseback riding.

Dogs are now allowed on certain select parts of Volusia County’s beaches, and now, there is serious talk about allowing horses on the sunny strands. In a follow-up to a request by the County Council earlier this year for more information about allowing horseback riding by the seaside, the council ...

08/28/2025

Volusia County Council Member Don Dempsey, left, holds a photo of Danko, a German shepherd companion of Groovy Records owner Jerry Schafer, right, who holds a proclamation honoring the dog. Danko, the beloved mascot of Groovy Records in Downtown DeLand, watched over the store and greeted friends and customers. He commanded the loyalty and friendship of customers during his nearly 12 years of life and had a large following on social media, Schafer said. Danko touched the lives of thousands up close and online, and his recent passing “has left a void in the hearts of community members who were touched by his gentle nature,” the proclamation noted. “We all miss him,” Dempsey concluded. The Volusia County Council issued a proclamation declaring Aug. 22 as Danko Day.