January

Bob Lewandowski, longtime proprietor of Health Foods for Life at 122 E. Rich Ave. (known for the car with a giant papier-maché carrot on top), retired in January after 47 years. “I hate to leave. I thought they were going to drag me out by my boots,” Lewandowski told The Beacon.

Belvedere Terminals’ plans to build a fuel farm at 874 Hull Road in Ormond Beach were roundly shouted down by the public. Belvedere, however, countered with a threat to sue the county if the County Council did not allow it to develop the property zoned for heavy-industrial uses and situated along railroad tracks in the unincorporated area. The company reapplied for permission to build the fuel-storage and shipping facilities on the land. The plan for the fuel facility is still pending.

The DeLand City Commission moved to allow medical marijuana dispensaries within city limits. Adding to some confusion, several hemp shops already operated within the city.

Timbercrest Elementary School Principal Lonnie Tidmarsh shaved off his iconic beard after the school got an A grade from the Florida Department of Education.

Travis McBride, 46, was charged Jan. 18 with premeditated first-degree murder in connection with the death of an unhoused individual in DeLand. McBride allegedly hid the victim in his car overnight until DeLand Police discovered the body early the next day. McBride is the son of Cmdr. Francis “Mac” McBride, who retired after 45 years with the DeLand Police Department. Travis McBride’s court case is pending, and he is currently, as of December 2024, held in the Volusia County Branch Jail without bond.

Blue Spring State Park rangers reported that a record 932 manatees were spotted at the spring the morning of Jan. 21. The 2024 number shattered the previous records, in 2022 and 2023, of around 750 manatees.

Deltona’s City Commission got one new face and lost another. In a special meeting called Jan. 29, Deltona resident Troy Shimkus was appointed to the City Commission to fill the vacancy left by the untimely departure of District 2 Commissioner Anita Bradford. District 2 covers the northwestern part of Deltona. Shimkus was subsequently defeated in his bid for election to a four-year term as commissioner.

A consultant warned Jan. 31 that Deltona’s drainage problems are considerable and that correcting flooding and drainage problems in the heart of Deltona will take time, effort and cash. The warning proved to be prescient, as hurricanes Helene and Milton later overwhelmed the city water system and resulted in flooding of low-lying areas.

The consultant, Ardurra Engineering, a Tampa company, is studying the Lake Theresa Basin with a commitment to submit its report on possible solutions to flooding problems. The city is paying $1.2 million for the study, which is supposed to be completed in 2025.

February

DeBary broke ground on a new Main Street, covering almost 20 acres and located a short walking distance north of DeBary’s SunRail depot.

In what would become a yearlong saga, Orange City’s Historic Preservation Board tried to save a historic shuffleboard court. The aging shuffleboard complex has been closed for years. City officials propose to demolish the center and create a parking lot for municipal vehicles and people who work for Orange City and those who come to municipal offices on official business.

Citing an increase in the number of people living on the city’s streets, the DeLand City Commission approved new ordinances Feb. 19. The new rules forbid camping and sleeping along the streets and empower the DeLand Police Department to take people directly to social-services agencies. If they refuse assistance, unhoused individuals may be arrested.

The Deltona City Commission Feb. 5 renamed the Lake Butler Skate Park the Eddie Rios Skate Park. Rios was an accomplished acrobatic-bicyling athlete who succumbed to cancer a short time later.

After four-and-a-half years since the murder of Christine McCaleb, Jared Shaw, now 36, was sentenced to life in prison. At around 2:30 a.m. on Oct. 16, 2019, Shaw fatally stabbed McCaleb, 67, while she was sleeping on a park bench outside the Bank of America building in DeLand. A jury rejected the defense’s arguments for not guilty by reason of insanity on Feb 13, 2024.

The owners of a popular food truck, Parvathy’s Kitchen opened a permanent location in Artisan Alley in DeLand. Parvathy’s Kitchen features Indian cuisine.

Against the wishes of people who live nearby, the Volusia County Council Feb. 20 approved a mixed-use development on DeLand’s east side, not far from Lake Winnemissett. The council voted 4-3 to change the land use and to rezone 40 acres on the northwest corner of the intersection of State Road 44 and Kepler Road for a 100,000-square-foot retail center, complete with a supermarket, and 100 townhouses.

March

The Volusia County Code Enforcement Board gave City Limits Taproom and Grille, a bar north of DeLand, until mid-March to meet county standards on building, zoning and the use of the property. The City Limits saga lasted for two years, until owner Pete Ferrentino opted to close down in late October.

After a half-century of waiting, the Stetson University Hatter men’s basketball team made it to March Madness after winning a championship game March 10. The Hatters were knocked out in the first round March 22 after being paired up for the game with the top-seeded Connecticut Huskies.

During the night of March 22 and the early-morning hours of March 23, William “Bill” Bell, commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2380, witnessed something that no veteran or community leader would ever hope to experience — a fire blazing through his VFW post, located at 510 S. Alabama Ave. in DeLand. The post vowed to soldier on.

More than 30 years after planners envisioned a replica of Heathrow at and around the interchange of Interstate 4 and State Road 472, ambitious ideas are becoming reality. While leaders of Volusia County, DeLand and Deltona shared a vision for the future of some 1,800 acres, nothing happened.

The old Development of Regional Impact (DRI) expired several years ago, and Deltona led the way in bringing a hospital, two Amazon fulfillment centers and a host of new shops and restaurants to its activity center property on the east side of I-4.

Lookjng forward, a mixed-use project known as The Crossings is set to be built on acreage on the southeast corner of State Road 472 and Kentucky Avenue. The property was annexed into Orange City a few years ago. A hotel, shopping center and apartments await construction.

Another project, yet to become a reality, is known as the Ford 472 Subdivision. New homes will be built on the cleared site on the north side of the state highway.

After 34 years, a Downtown DeLand business institution, Florida Victorian Architectural Salvage, relocated from West Georgia Avenue to a spot a few blocks away.

The long-anticipated handoff ownership of SunRail from the Florida Department of Transportation to local governments was ratified. The five local jurisdictions that have SunRail service — Volusia, Seminole, Orange and Osceola counties and the City of Orlando — will become responsible for paying the cost of owning and operating the 61-mile-long transit system that extends from Poinciana to DeLand.

The phased transition of ownership becomes official Jan. 1, 2025.

April

After 22 years, Judge James R. Clayton retired.

A total solar eclipse darkened the skies April 8.

The Beacon hosted a new writing competition called News For You By You for student journalists and announced the winners at the inaugural West Volusia Beacon Journalism Conference April 20.

DeBary’s hopes of landing $2.5 million to establish a waterfront nature park were dented, but not dashed, as the Volusia County Council withheld approval of the city’s request for at least a few months. The County Council in November authorized a super-grant of $2.5 million for making Alexander Island, also known as Alexander Point, a nature park.

The city bought the 170 undeveloped acres at the west-to-north turn of the St. Johns River for preservation and for passive public use.

Stetson University began the early stages of a historical reconstruction of Hulley Tower, located at 512 N. Woodland Blvd. in DeLand.

Nyrania Barr-Miller, a class of 2024 student at University High School in Orange City, a hearing-impaired track-and-field star, was profiled by The Beacon.

After months — and even years — of discussing the matter and logging a series of caretaker administrators, the Deltona City Commission April 15 unanimously settled on Dale “Doc” Dougherty as their choice for Deltona’s city manager.

Dougherty formerly served as the manager of Garden City, Michigan.

The Volusia County Elections Department opted to move into retail space on DeLand’s north side. After the County Council approved the purchase of the property for $9 million, the elections office took over a former Save-A-Lot supermarket in the shopping plaza.

May

Budget cuts by the Volusia County School Board came after the depletion of ESSER funds (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief), monies that were allocated to schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the programs affected was AVID, or Advancement Via Individual Determination, which was essentially wiped out from Volusia County high schools. AVID programs, designed to prepare students for college readiness, began in 2003 and are currently in about 23 middle and high schools.

Work began to widen Veterans Memorial Parkway to accommodate more traffic. Ultimately, a portion of the road, about three-fifths of a mile between Harley Strickland Boulevard and East Rhode Island Avenue, will become a four-lane stretch. The widening of this additional piece of VMP comes as Parc Hill fills up with single-family homes and apartments.

The Volusia County Council repealed a 25-year-old gun ordinance requiring a “cooling-off” period for the sale of firearms, despite urgings to leave the law on the books. The 1999 county ordinance mandated a three-day wait between the purchase of a gun and the purchaser taking possession of it, along with a criminal-background check of the buyer.

On April 25, members of the community gathered at Venue 142 in Downtown DeLand, for the second annual Matt Buth Foundation Gala. Three Volusia County high-school music students were awarded scholarships that had been funded through the Matt Buth Foundation. Buth, a DeLand high-school student, died by suicide in 2019.

Despite some misgivings about traffic hazards on the busy highway, the Volusia County Council approved a subdivision and a commercial center at the northwest corner of West State Road 44 and Grand Avenue. The land in question is 42.36 acres that has been a tree farm, but is now within the planning sphere of DeLand. The neighborhood-to-be is christened Woodruff Ridge, and it will have 121 single-family homes.

Two longtime pizza shop owners, Mary Lou Mirino and Anthony Kadriu, passed away.

Claire Smith, a student at Southwestern Middle School in DeLand, competed in the National Spelling Bee. Smith, who was only 12 years old, was a seventh-grade student who was the winner of the Scripps National Spelling Bee, Region 2, which advanced her to the National Bee. Smith was a semifinalist in the national competition.

Orange City Mayor Gary Blair visited Orange City, Iowa, the only other Orange City in the United States.

Marie-Angelis Rosendo, 18, of DeLand, returned home from the 2024 National Golden Glove Tournament of Champions as a champion of amateur boxing!

SMA Healthcare, a substance abuse, mental health and behavioral health system that operates in Volusia, Flagler, Marion, Putnam, St. Johns and Citrus counties, broke ground for an outpatient services building, located at 1251 N. Stone St. in DeLand.

June

June 1 marked the first day of the Atlantic hurricane season, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted above-normal hurricane activity, with a forecast of 17 to 25 named storms. At the end of the season Nov. 30, there were 18 named storms and multiple Category 5 hurricanes.

The year 2024 was a year of record high values for property. For the first time in history, the county’s overall worth topped $100 billion, at $104.6 billion, 7 percent greater than in 2023.

Deltona City Attorney Marsha Segal-George announced in June she would resign, effective Sept. 30, and the City Commission launched a search for her successor. The search slowed to a near halt. It was not until Nov. 2 that the largest city in the county approved a $40,900-a-month contract with TG Law PLLC.

More than $32 million of state funding that was previously approved and allocated for Florida museums, educational institutions and arts programs was vetoed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The total effect on West Volusia was $192,812 over 10 different arts organizations in the area.

As concerns about development abound, the Deltona City Commission rejected a request to expand Fernanda Place, a neighborhood on Deltona’s east side. That same week, with a packed house in attendance, the DeBary City Council June 19 refused to convert 59 rural acres fronting on Fort Florida Road and West Highbanks Road for development of single-family homes.

The qualifying period for the 2024 elections ended, solidifying the local races that include clerk of court, sheriff, County Council chair and several School Board races.

Mitchell Cleaners — the long-standing dry cleaning and laundry business in the heart of Downtown DeLand — closed. The spot is now slated to become a medical marijuana dispensary, a possibility only opened up in 2024.

After fires swept through Osteen and Pierson, scorching hundreds of acres in rural property, a burn ban was in effect for Volusia County.

After four years and extensive renovations completed through a collaborative effort of the West Volusia Historical Society and the City of DeLand, the DeLand House Museum once again opened to the public.

Stetson University moved closer to breaking ground for a 305-bed residence hall, located in the center of campus. The four-story residence hall is scheduled to open in 2026.

July

Approximately 20 years of visioning, planning, revising and re-revising culminated in
the Deltona City Commission’s approval of an ambitious mixed-use project that promises to give area residents and consumers the bustling commerce center they have craved. Deltona Village was OK’d by the City Commission July 17.

On July 13, an assassination attempt was made on now-President-elect Donald Trump.

The long-anticipated construction of a roundabout at the intersection of State Road 44 and Kepler Road began. For the next 15 months or so, workers will labor to change the flows of traffic from stop-and-go to steady flows in four directions, with a measure of safety included in the mix.

An overlooked chapter in American history and local history was acknowledged with the placement of a marker for a group of female pioneer pilots who learned, trained and prepared to serve their country at a now-defunct airport on Orange City’s west side. Under sunny skies and amid high humidity, about 100 people from near and far gathered on the morning of July 17 to remember and honor the Betsy Ross Airfield and the Betsy Ross Flying Corps.

In the run-up to the new fiscal year, the Volusia County Council looked to save money and avoid increases in taxes. In an effort to economize and streamline local government, the council voted July 16 to dissolve the seven-member Library Advisory Board. How much money will be saved is not clear.

The race for DeLand City Commission Seat 2 took a decided turn July 27, when thousands of DeLandites opened their mailboxes to a flyer paid for by the Richard Paiva campaign. The front of the flyer prominently displayed a mugshot of Paiva’s opponent, Charles Harper Hill, taken after Hill’s arrest in a 2020 domestic violence case. The back of the flyer liberally quoted from the charging affidavit, with sections highlighted in bright yellow. Paiva won the seat in the August primary election.

August

Transformation of the landmark Trinity United Methodist Church building into a mixed-use gathering spot known as NorthWest Square neared completion. The building, which includes rentals and retail spaces, opened at the end of September.

DeLand Pride expanded to a new 1,600-square-foot facility in Amelia Square.

Volusia County Schools reported that it had received a B grade for 2023-24.

The African American Museum of the Arts expansion project broke ground. The new construction will be 3,500 square feet compared to the museum’s previous 800-square-foot facility. The new building will include a welcome desk, gift store, multiple gallery spaces, a multipurpose meeting room, a library focusing on Black art and culture, ADA-compliant restrooms, and additional storage and catering space.

A potential ghost candidate emerged in the race for clerk of court. A ghost candidate runs in a race but is not trying to win — rather, they serve to draw votes away from another candidate. After incumbent Laura Roth handily won against opponent John Flemm in the Republican primary, 22-year-old Stetson University student MacKenzie Quinn withdrew. The entry of Quinn, a Democrat, prompted the primary race, in which only registered Republican voters could vote.

DeLand officially connected to SunRail.

September

There was another casualty of the changes in the U.S. retailing marketplace, as shoppers saw the big “Store Closing” banner on the outside front wall of the Family Dollar store in the Deltona Plaza, 1200 Deltona Blvd. The shutdown of the store was part of the mass closing of many of the chain’s outlets across the country. Earlier this year, Dollar Tree, the parent company that owns the Family Dollar stores, announced that it would close hundreds of its subsidiary’s stores in 2024.

The Volusia County Council awarded a $4.24 million contract to Halifax Paving Inc. for the extension of East Beresford Avenue to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Beltway and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of South Blue Lake Avenue and East Beresford Avenue.

Sheriff Mike Chitwood followed through with a promise to publicize the name, age and school of students arrested for false threats of violence, with a post widely shared on Facebook Sept. 16.

The post included the mugshot of an 11-year-old boy who allegedly made online threats to commit a school shooting at Creekside or Silver Sands Middle School, which the boy later said was a joke.

To the chagrin of Mayor Gary Blair, the Orange City Council cut its funding for community groups that had relied upon it in years past. Groups affected by the action included the Orange City Blue Spring Manatee Festival Inc.; Everybody Is Somebody, which organizes an African American heritage celebration in February; and the Sorosis Club, which promotes events that raise money to help children. Altogether, the four-line item will be cut sharply, as the Blue Spring Manatee Festival Inc., the Sorosis Club and Everybody Is Somebody will each now be given $1,000.

Volusia County set a record nearly $1.6 billion budget for the 2025 fiscal year and the property-tax rates.

After more than a century of selling things that make a house a home, Badcock & More Home Furniture went out of business. Two locations, in Orange City and DeLand, were abruptly shuttered.

Hurricane Helene made landfall Sept. 26. While much of Central Florida was spared from damaging winds, the long arm of the storm dumped water over the area for many days.

October

Explosively powerful Hurricane Milton formed quickly in the first week of October, making landfall on Oct. 9. On the heels of Helene, many municipalities suffered intense flooding and overwhelmed water systems. As of December, some areas are still flooded.

As the general election loomed, a bitter battle took shape within the Republican Party in the Sunshine State The party in Florida is split into two factions, the Republican Party of Florida and the Republican Assemblies. Additionally, a member of the Republican Executive Committee, Rosa Campbell, sued Chair Paul Deering. Deering declined to run for re-election in December.

The DeLand skating rink, The Rink, closed Oct. 27 after 71 years.

City and county officials gathered on Thursday, Oct. 31, to celebrate the grand opening of the newest section of the Charles Paiva Greenway, a 1.35-mile trail that goes from East Minnesota Avenue to U.S. Highway 92. This latest addition connects Earl Brown Park to the Stetson University campus.

November

The headlines for local election results were: first Hispanic Pierson Town Council member ousted, longtime Democrat lost School Board seat, marijuana and abortion amendments failed.

Volusia County Chair Jeff Brower won re-election.

Twenty-two years to the day since Terrell Barkley was found dead in his car on the side of Adelle Avenue in DeLand, his mother and family members and friends gathered with investigators from the Volusia Sheriff’s Office Nov. 8 to plead for information about his unsolved murder. He was only 22 when he was killed. A $50,000 cash reward is available for any information on this case, or any of 40+ unsolved cases in Volusia County.

On Nov. 8, the grand opening of Panda Express in Deltona was held. The restaurant is located at 3231 Howland Blvd. in Deltona. Panda Express has approximately 3,000 restaurants in the U.S. and abroad.

Citizens of Orange City made history this election cycle by electing Kelli Marks as the first female mayor in the city’s history. She was sworn into office Nov. 19 following a landslide victory over opponent Laurie Scotton. Marks received 65.2 percent, or 3,966 votes, to Scotton’s 34.8 percent, or 2,117 votes. Not only did Orange City make history by electing Kelli Marks as the first female mayor, but four of the other six City Council seats are now occupied by women.

Volusia County is now on track to create another place at the Tomoka Landfill to receive and retain what households and businesses cast off as part of living in a modern society. That new cell at the landfill will cost approximately $31.6 million to build, and it is scheduled to be ready to receive waste by the end of 2026.

As flooding woes continued well into November, concerns about development dominated city and county meetings. The Beacon covered a dozen stories regarding flooding and development based on public outcry in this month alone.

December

West Volusia residents have reported several monkey sightings across the area. Deltona, in particular, became a hot spot for the unexpected visitors, with multiple sightings near Providence Boulevard, close to the Deltona Regional Library. Monkey sightings were also reported from Pierson to Osteen. The history of the rhesus macaque population in Florida traces back to the release of free-roaming rhesus macaques near Ocala in the 1930s, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

After weeks of hearing complaints about flooding, the Volusia County Council Dec. 3 threw cold water on a proposal to raise stormwater assessments in the unincorporated areas. The County Council tables a decision on a proposal to create a 90-unit residential complex just outside DeLand’s north city limits at 1400 Jacobs Road. The move comes after months of public comments urging a slowing of development after hurricanes Helene and Milton flooded residential areas.