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I love this time of year. Everything feels a little fresh, like we all get a clean page. Around here, that new page is already buzzing, because our January cover features the amazing ME STRONG ladies. I enjoyed spending time with them and hearing their stories of friendship, grit, and joy in the middle of hard things... and I can say it has honestly been a highlight for me.
These very special women reminded me that the story we tell ourselves really matters. A new year is usually all about big resolutions, but what if we started smaller and kinder this year? Maybe it looks like leaning into that inner voice that says, “I’m always behind,” and gently swapping it for: “I’m learning to do life at my own pace.” Let’s start to act on those little “words to live by” that we stick on the fridge, our mirror, or our phone and practice them all year long.
Thank you to the local businesses and sponsors who make this magazine possible each month. Your support keeps these stories in our mailboxes and keeps DeLand feeling like the small town with all the heart that we love.
Here’s to a year of cheering each other on, speaking to ourselves with a little more kindness, and showing up strong for our neighbors, just as the ME STRONG community continues to model so beautifully. I hope to see you downtown at the end of the month, whether you are cheering from the sidelines, running, walking, or simply enjoying the joy of being together with our incredible DeLand neighbors.
I am so excited to walk into 2026 with you!
Expert Contributors
■ FINANCIAL ADVISOR
Edward Jones Evin Lynch 386-337-7981 www.edwardjones.com/evin-lynch
■ HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING
Jacob Heating and Air Conditioning
Robert Jacob 386-232-9282 www.jacobhac.com
■ ITALIAN RESTAURANT
Sinatra’s Ristorante 386-218-3806 www.sinatras.us
■ PRIVATE SCHOOL
St. Barnabas Episcopal School
Paul Garcia, Head of School 386-734-3005 www.sbesyes.org
To learn more about becoming an Expert Contributor, contact Denille Brownlee at dbrownlee@bestversionmedia.com or 407-923-7824
■ RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE Lively Real Estate
Tracy Snow 386-337-7981 www.tracysnow.com
■ SENIOR LIVING Alliance Community 386-734-4381 www.alliancecommunity.org
■ YOGA STUDIO Hot Yoga DeLand Kirsty Boyer & Heather McIver 386-469-9987 www.hotyogadeland.com
■ Be The Next Expert Your Business Name Your Name Phone number here www.yourwebsitehere.com
Planning Ahead: Starting the New Year with Clarity and Con dence in Your Home Journey
BY TRACY SNOW, YOUR LOCAL DELAND REALTOR®
A NEW YEAR always invites reflection. It is a natural moment to pause, look at your life, and ask whether your home is truly supporting the season you are in. As a fellow DeLand neighbor and someone who has walked alongside many families through life’s big transitions, I can tell you that your home plays an enormous role in shaping the life you want to live.
Real estate is not just a transaction. It is planning, preparing, and thinking intentionally about your next chapter. Whether you are expanding your family, craving simplicity, or beginning to consider investment opportunities, the new year is an ideal time to explore those possibilities with clarity and confidence.
When Life Grows, Sometimes Your Home Needs To, Too
Many families reach out to me not because they want a bigger home, but because they want a home that fits who they are becoming. Upsizing with purpose can mean space for a new baby, room for aging parents, dedicated areas for working from home, or simply more places to gather and create memories. When your life grows, your home should grow with you.
The Freedom of Downsizing
For others, the new year brings a desire to simplify. Downsizing can be a deeply freeing experience: less maintenance, lower costs, and more time and energy for the things that matter most. Many clients tell me that downsizing did not feel like giving something up. It felt like gaining room to breathe again.
Investing in Your Future
Real estate remains one of the strongest long-term wealth building strategies. Whether you are adding a rental home, exploring a fixer upper, or expanding your portfolio, investing can provide financial security for years to come. If you have ever wondered whether real estate investing might be right for you, the new year is a great time to start exploring your options with guidance from someone you trust.
A Neighbor’s Perspective
My passion for real estate began early, long before it became my full-time career. I earned my license at 23, then spent 30 wonderful years in retail before life brought my family from Northern California to Florida. That move opened the door for me to step fully into real estate, a decision that has become one of the greatest joys of my life.
Eight years later, I still wake up grateful to do this work. Helping clients begin new chapters, navigate big decisions, and move with confidence is truly an honor. My business is built on listening, understanding, and partnering with trusted lenders, inspectors, photographers, stagers, and service providers who share my commitment to excellence.
“Your home should support your life. When you plan with intention, every move becomes part of your legacy.” –Tracy Snow
Above all, real estate is about relationships. It is about walking alongside people during meaningful transitions and building friendships that last long after closing day. I am here for the long haul, no matter where life takes you, no matter what goals you are dreaming toward, and no matter what your next chapter requires.
Your Next Step Starts Now
If you are stepping into the new year with questions, dreams, or possibilities on your mind, this is the perfect moment to begin planning. When you approach your next move with intention, and with a trusted professional by your side, every decision becomes part of your longterm legacy.
| www.tracysnow.com
THE ME STRONG FAMILY:
Strong Party of Five, Stronger City of DeLand
BY DENILLE BROWNLEE | PHOTOS BY DREAMSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY + VIDEO
SOME STORIES ARE so woven into the fabric of a place that it becomes impossible to tell the story of the town without telling the story of the people, and impossible to tell the story of the people without telling the story of the friendships that shaped them. ME STRONG is one of those stories. At the heart of it stands a friendship that transformed into a mission. Five women who, long before they raised millions of dollars or inspired thousands of runners, were simply friends bound by family, school, faith and a love for life.
Those five women, Kim Martin, Linda Emery, Kim Winters, Kathy Guyer and Barbara McCallan, have become known as the founders of ME STRONG. But to understand ME STRONG, you must first understand them.
Their story begins at St. Barnabas Episcopal School, where most of them worked and where their children grew up side by side. Kathy was a kindergarten assistant, Barbara the school bookkeeper, Kim Winters and Kim Martin taught in the lower school and Linda was a deeply involved parent. Their children shared classrooms, sports teams, playgrounds and friendships long before their mothers ever imagined they would someday build a non-
profit together. The school community became their backdrop and their families became natural extensions of one another.
Over the years, their spouses and loved ones quietly and faithfully became part of the ME STRONG effort, building backdrops, hauling supplies, volunteering on race morning and supporting the women through long planning sessions. ME STRONG has always been, at its heart, a family-supported mission.
Their friendships blossomed through the everyday rhythms of DeLand life: teaching, volunteering, carpools, church, after-school events, shared meals and eventually an annual girls’ trip that became their treasured tradition. Whether road tripping to Charleston, Nashville or Key West, they filled their days with laughter, inside jokes and a fearless sense of adventure. Signs reading “Honk if you are living the dream” became part of their unofficial signature. Even today, they exchange daily group texts filled with memories, encouragement and humor.
A moment during the recent DeLand Living cover photoshoot captured this essence perfectly. As I walked up to the courthouse steps where they gathered, I heard easy laughter drifting through the air. Then one of them began playfully singing “Do-Re-Mi,” and the others joined in for a few warm, joking lines.
It was a spontaneous moment that spoke volumes. Five women, years into a friendship that has walked through joy, hardship and triumph, still finding ways to delight each other and share the kind of connection that built something bigger than any of them imagined.
But ME STRONG began in a season that was anything but light.
In 2011, Linda Emery faced a recurrence of cervical cancer. Her four friends rallied around her with the only tools they knew: love, humor, action and a deep belief in the power of community. Linda, now a respected national cancer research advocate, approached her diagnosis with remarkable courage. Her friends refused to let her walk it alone.
With only four months to prepare and almost no budget, they organized a 5K in her honor. They hoped 300 people might register. Nearly 900 showed up. DeLand responded with an outpouring of support and it became clear the women had sparked something much bigger than a single event.
Today, fifteen years later, the ME STRONG 5K attracts more than 6,000 participants each year. More than two million dollars has been given directly to individuals battling cancer throughout Central Florida. There is no office, no salaries and no overhead. Only generosity, partnership and heart. Every dollar raised goes directly to help neighbors during their hardest season.
And each of the founders brings her own gift to the mission:
•Linda Emery: The face of courage and advocacy. Linda has turned her personal journey into a platform for research and advocacy, using her lived experience to add the patient voice to global efforts in the world of cancer while pouring her heart back into the DeLand community.
•Barbara McCallan: The steady financial mind. A Stetson graduate and longtime DeLand resident, Barbara has served as ME STRONG’s unofficial CFO, ensuring every dollar donated is handled with integrity and returned directly to those in need.
•Kim Winters: The creative communicator and marketing voice. Kim helped shape ME
STRONG’s outreach and sponsorship efforts in its earliest days, crafting messages, traditions, signage and community engagement strategies that still define the race today.
•Kim Martin: The operations leader. Drawing on years of teaching, leadership and event management, Kim oversees logistics, volunteer coordination and the countless details that ensure the race runs seamlessly.
•Kathy Guyer: The artistic heartbeat. A fifth-generation Volusia County native, Kathy brings creativity, charm and deep local roots to everything ME STRONG produces, from signage and displays to the special touches that make the race feel like a true hometown celebration.
Together, they form a circle that has remained unbroken through diagnosis, life changes and the immense growth of the event. They still take their annual trip. They still sign restaurant reservations as “Strong Party of Five.” They still text each other every morning. And they still believe deeply in DeLand, the city that has poured so much back into them.
Over time, something beautiful happened. What began as one friendship supporting one friend slowly grew into a larger family, one
that stretches far beyond the original five. Today, thousands in DeLand consider themselves part of the ME STRONG family. The founders often say that the race may start with them, but it belongs to everyone who walks, runs, cheers, volunteers or supports a neighbor facing cancer. The movement is no longer just theirs. It is all of ours.
And through it all, they remain adamant. ME STRONG is not about them.
“It found us,” they say.
“We did not seek it. It became what our community needed.”
ME STRONG is, at its heart, proof of what can happen when people decide to do something, even if they do not have all the answers at the start. It is a reminder that a simple yes can spark a movement. That ordinary people can create extraordinary impact. And that community is at its strongest when neighbors choose to lift one another up.
DeLand has made ME STRONG its own and the founders never take that lightly. They often say, “We may plan the race, but the community owns it.” And it is true. ME STRONG has become a tradition, a rallying point, a celebration, a comfort and a bright spot on the calendar for thousands of families.
ME STRONG reminds us all that courage is contagious, friendship is powerful and communities shine brightest when they lift one another up.
As we celebrate the fifteenth annual ME STRONG 5K this month and honor these remarkable women on our January cover, we hope their story inspires you to support a neighbor, join the movement or believe in the impact of compassion lived out loud.
This is DeLand.
This is friendship turned into mission. And this is truly a picture of DeLand Living.
DO YOU KNOW A NEIGHBOR WHO HAS A STORY TO SHARE? //
Nominate your neighbor to be featured in one of our upcoming issues! Contact us at rgarrison@bestversionmedia.com
January 2025
Fri., January 2
DeLand Artisan Alley Farmer’s Market
@ ARTISAN ALLEY, DOWNTOWN DELAND
A favorite local tradition, this lively Friday evening market features fresh produce, baked goods, specialty foods, plants, honey, and handmade artisan items. Open rain or shine, it is the perfect place to stroll, shop, and start your weekend in historic downtown. This event occurs every Friday.
Discover a fun, family-friendly event focused on community and creativity. Meet comic artists and writers, browse vendors with comics, toys, and collectibles, enjoy on-site refreshments, and connect with fellow fans and collectors. A great place to explore, shop, and make new friends!
Times: Sat. 10am–5pm | Sat. 10am–4pm
Cost: $10 at the door; $15 for both days (10 and under are FREE) www.delandcollectiblesshow.com
Sat., January 3
Jamming at the Settlement
@BARBERVILLE PIONEER SETTLEMENT
Join as the Pioneer Settlement hosts a community-wide acoustic jam where musicians of all levels come together to play, practice, and celebrate old-fashioned storytelling through music. A fun,
Every Thursday Pork Tenderloin Special only $25 from 4pm to 9pm
Dueling Pianos every 2nd & 4th Friday of each month
screen-free way to connect and enjoy local talent. (Music may end before 4 p.m.)
Time: 9am-4PM | Cost: $10/Adults & $5/Kids (6 and under are FREE) www.pioneersettlement.org
Fri.-Sat., January 9-10
Vintage Paper & Postcard & Collectibles Expo
@ VOLUSIA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS
Browse vintage postcards, historic paper goods and unique collectibles from a variety of vendors. A fun outing for collectors, history lovers and anyone who enjoys discovering pieces of the past.
Times: Sat. 10am–5pm | Sat. 10am–4pm | Cost: $5
www.marylmartin.com
Sat., January 10
80th Anniversary Hula Bowl
@ SPEC MARTIN MEMORIAL STADIUM
The nation’s premier college senior all-star game is coming to DeLand. Watch 120 top athletes from across the U.S., Canada, and Japan showcase their talent in front of NFL, UFL, and CFL scouts. A rare chance to see future pros compete up close during an exciting week of football in our hometown.
Time: 12:00 pm | Cost: $30-$50 www.hulabowl.com
Wed., January 14
Wine, Women & Chocolate
@ THE ABBEY
Grab a Passport at any participating shop and explore Downtown
DeLand from 5 to 7:45 p.m., collecting stamps and making at least one purchase to qualify for prizes. Meet at The Abbey Bar by 7:45 p.m. for the 8 p.m. drawing. Visit every stop for bonus entries — and $2 in MainStreet Bucks. Come dressed to the theme for an extra raffle ticket! A fun night of shopping, treats and local charm. Time: 5-7:45pm | Cost: Free to Attend www.mainstreetdeland.org
Sat., Janury 17
Downtown DeLand Cruise
@ ALABAMA & EAST INDIANA AVE., DOWNTOWN DELAND
All years, makes & models welcome! Monthly cruiser award, door prizes, 50/50, and music by Rockin’ Rich. Time: 3:00–7:00 pm | Cost: FREE www.mainstreetdeland.org
Sat., January 24
The Highwaymen Gala
@ MUSEUM OF ART DELAND
Step into a soulful, Southern-inspired evening celebrating the legacy of the Florida Highwaymen. This Museum of Art – DeLand fundraiser highlights the upcoming 2026 exhibition The Florida Highwaymen: Selections from the Walker Collection. Enjoy a night of artistry, culture, and community while supporting year-round fine arts programming. A true cultural highlight of the season!
Time: 7-10pm | Cost: $125 www.moartdeland.org
Fri., January 30
Art for All
@ MUSEUM OF ART DELAND
Experience where art and community meet at this free event series, along with a guided hands-on art activity. Bring family, friends, or a date and enjoy a fun, creative evening together.
Time: 4-7pm | Cost: FREE www.moartdeland.org
Sat., January 31
ME STRONG 5K
@ DOWNTOWN DELAND
Register to be a part of this beloved event that unites thousands in support of neighbors battling cancer. Presented by Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, the event donates 100% of sponsorship funds directly to local patients, with race proceeds helping cover essential household bills. Lace up, show up, and be part of this powerful community movement.
Time: 8am | Cost: $40/$20 (0-18) www.mestrong.net
Where loved ones thrive with Lifestyle Medicine
Alternate Design Plumbing A Volusia County Neighbor You Can Count On
BY DENILLE BROWNLE
FOR MORE THAN three decades, Alternate Design Plumbing Inc. has been a familiar and trustworthy presence for families across Volusia County. Headquartered just minutes from DeLand in Orange City, this family-owned company began in 1994 and has grown right alongside the community it serves. What started in new construction eventually shifted into full residential service, where the team discovered how much they loved working directly with homeowners. Helping someone understand their home, easing their worries, and solving a problem that restores peace of mind quickly became the most meaningful part of their work.
Alternate Design Plumbing handles everything from simple repairs to major remodels, including leaks, clogs, repiping, water heater issues, kitchen and
bath upgrades, and the water treatment systems that Florida families rely on. Their Orange City showroom is a favorite among residents planning renovations, offering hands on product displays and friendly, pressure free guidance.
Their philosophy is rooted in the traditional plumber’s motto: Protectors of the Nation’s Health.
To the team, that means ensuring clean and safe water enters every
home and empowering homeowners to understand how to care for their biggest investment.
Education is woven into every service call, and they take pride in helping families stay ahead of costly emergencies. One of the best tools they offer for this is their Diamond Club maintenance plan, designed for homeowners who value prevention, routine checkups, and having a trusted partner watching out for potential
issues.
Family plays a big role in the company culture. Evenings and weekends are spent with loved ones, and a few office dogs enjoy tagging along during the workday, bringing smiles and a little extra warmth to the team. Their technicians do not bring dogs into customer homes, but the same friendly spirit is felt in every visit. Although plumbing can be a messy job at times, the crew finds joy in uncovering the root of a problem and providing the right solution. Many Volusia County homeowners say it feels like working with a neighbor rather than a typical service provider. Whether you are upgrading a DeLand kitchen, facing a sudden issue, or simply trying to better understand your home, Alternate Design Plumbing remains a trusted partner ready to help.
FromLassostoLeashes:
Four-Legged Cowboys Take the Stage in Paw-some Costume Contest
BY RENEE GARRISON
COSTUMED CANINES will strut downtown along Woodland Boulevard in The DeLand Krewe of Amalee Dog Parade & Festival on Saturday, February 14. This year’s theme, “Barkin’, Boots & Bling 2026,” guarantees some cowboy swagger among the canines and their companions.
“It’s always exciting to see the creativity among dog-lovers in our community,” says Cheryl Johnson, who has served as Chairperson of Dog Registration since 2017. “Some people go to such great lengths with their dog costumes, and many come from out of town. There’s even a children’s category to get younger people interested in participating.”
Judging begins at 8 a.m. in front of the Lynn Business Center on Stetson’s campus between Michigan Avenue and Ohio Avenue. The parade begins at 11 a.m. and participants can register online until February 7 at www.delanddogparade.com. (You can also register on the morning of the parade for an additional fee.) Winners receive embroidered sashes along with goodies donated by local veterinarians, merchants and restaurants.
According to Dog Parade Chairman Karen Robbins, “This annual vibrant event is fun for all ages. Best of all - it supports local charities and
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strong civic engagement.”
Here are the Dog Costume Contest Categories, along with a few ideas for inspiration:
Country Hearts – It’s Valentine’s Day at the Dog Parade, so have your pooch show some love! Hearts, cupids, roses … but make it country-style. Maybe a pink bandana accompanied with some bling, some pink gingham ruffles, or line your wagon with a country hearts quilt pattern and go to town with heart motifs on your dog’s sweater. Or you could embody a country heartbreak song like Jolene, Desperado, or Queen of Heartache.
Americana – Red, white, and blue go to town! More country quilt applications work for this category – barns & silos, US flags, tractors, antiques. Or dress yourself and your dog as Uncle Sam.
Neon Nashville – Pump up the color for this category! Fringe and boots, neon electric guitar, plenty of glitter. A side of Tennessee barbecue? Perhaps a hat with a price tag on it if you want to go old-school Nashville (we see you, Minnie Pearl).
Blue Grass Boho – A little vintage, a little earthy, throw in some crochet or macrame for the Boho, but the Bluegrass aspect is folksy and acoustic – think banjo, mandolin, and fiddle, Bill Monroe, Alison Krauss, and the Punch Brothers
Denim Dog – Barkin’, Boots & Bling go perfectly with a denim dressed dog! You can go simple or add a lot of bling to your denim creation. Of course, sport the country denim yourself!
Honky Tonk Hound – For a honkytonk vibe, your pup can be the piano player at a tawdry Texas dance hall, a Hank Williams or Loretta Lynnstyle singer, or a fringed & flounced dance-hall gal. You can join your hound in the country-western costume!
Cowboy Canine – (youth category) If you’re 15 or under, this may be the category for you, although you could also win in another category. Get that doggie rollin’ with a cowboy hat, bandana, some chaps, maybe a lariat. Or get some cowgirl action going with embroidery and fringe, channeling your inner Lucky Prescott. Extra points for youth owner and dog with complementary costumes.
For the past 25 years, the Krewe has donated over $750,000 to local Arts, Animals and Families charities, including 101 Paws and Claws, Florida Pointer Rescue, Journey’s End Animal Sanctuary, Paisley Paws -Florida Wild Veterinary Hospital, Poodle and Pooch Rescue of Florida and Halifax Humane Society.
Move, Breathe, Belong How Yoga Supports Wellness in DeLand
BY KIRSTY BOYER AND HEATHER MCIVER, HOT YOGA DELAND CO-OWNERS
WHEN MANY PEOPLE think of yoga, they picture flexibility, calm breathing, and peaceful music. And while those are wonderful parts of the practice, yoga is ultimately about something much deeper: reconnecting with your body, strengthening your mind, and learning how to stay centered in a fast-moving world. Whether you are a long-time practitioner or stepping onto a mat for the first time, yoga offers tools that meet you exactly where you are.
As instructors in DeLand for a few years, we’ve seen firsthand how yoga supports the physical body; building strength, improving mobility, supporting overall health, and easing chronic tension. But we’ve also seen how it softens the mind. Pausing, breathing, and staying present can reduce stress, improve sleep, and create a sense of calm in the middle of life’s demands.
Why Hot Yoga? A Supportive Tool — Not a Requirement
Heated yoga can help muscles warm more quickly, encourage deeper mobility, and create a refreshing, detoxifying sweat. It is not about being “advanced,” but about exploring your practice in a different environment. Some students love the challenge and intensity; others prefer non-heated options. Both paths support health and well-being.
A Practice for Every Body
One of the most important truths we share with new students is this: yoga is for everybody and everybody. You do not need flexibility, experience, or perfect balance. Every posture can be modified. The goal is not perfection. The goal is presence, breath, and feeling at home in your body.
Our Hot Yoga DeLand community includes athletes, seniors, beginners, and longtime practitioners. What connects us is the desire to move well, breathe deeply, and feel grounded.
“Yoga is for every body — the practice meets you exactly where you are.”
Where to Start if You’re New
Beginners often ask which classes are best to start with. A simple guide:
•Heated Slow Flow (heated): Gentle, instructional, great for brand-new students.
•Vinyasa Flow (non-heated): Moderate movement linked with breath.
Renew & Restore Therapeutic (non-heated): Ideal for mobility, stress relief, and joint support.
•Hot Power (heated): A dynamic class best once you’ve learned the basics.
•Hot Power Sculpt (heated): A yogameets-strength class for those wanting a high-energy workout.
•Yin Yoga (non-heated): A slow, meditative practice with longer holds that ease tension and nourish joints and fascia.
The best first step is simply to show up. Tell your instructor you’re new, and we will guide you through modifications, pacing, and alignment so you feel supported.
Hot Yoga DeLand also offers Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga weekly and Kids Yoga once a month.
A Studio Built on Inclusivity and Kindness
Our mission is to offer a space where people feel encouraged, supported, and welcomed just as they are. Yoga is not a destination. It is a lifelong tool for physical health, emotional grounding, and personal growth.
If you’ve been curious about yoga or wondering how to begin, consider this an open invitation. Your mat is waiting. Your community is here.
HOT YOGA DELAND KirstyBoyer&HeatherMcIver 386-469-9987 | www.hotyogadeland.com
Our Best Year Yet in DeLand
A resilient economy, a vibrant downtown, and daily choices that move us forward
BY DENILLE BROWNLEE
IN DELAND, a new year doesn’t just flip the calendar, it feels like a fresh canvas. Brick streets, busy patios, and full calendars remind us this small city has big momentum. The city continues to invest in economic development that helps existing businesses grow and new ones open, especially in our award-winning downtown. Grants, technical support, and partnerships help entrepreneurs turn ideas into jobs and gathering places. Homes here show solid long-term value, even as prices level and buyers gain options, giving families and investors reasons to stay rooted and optimistic.
Your best year rarely comes from one big leap, but from a handful of daily choices. One is to start a small discipline. That might mean walking downtown once a week, setting aside 15 minutes to review your budget, or committing to visit one local business you’ve never tried each month.
The second move is to stop something that’s not helping. Maybe it’s doom-scrolling headlines, saying “yes” to every commitment, or putting off that conversation with your banker, realtor, or landlord. Clearing space makes room for better things.
Third, build intentional relationships. DeLand thrives on connection: merchants partnering on events, professionals referring one another, neighbors chatting at the market. This year, look for one person to encourage, one person to learn from, and one local business to champion publicly. Join a civic group, attend a ribbon cutting, or simply learn the names of the people who run your favorite spots.
Finally, choose one smart risk. Launch the side idea, sign up for the class, test the new product, host the event you always dream about. No one grows by staying perfectly comfortable.
With a resilient local economy, a vibrant downtown, and a real estate market built on long-term value, DeLand gives us plenty of reasons to believe in the future. Our everyday choices—where we shop, how we serve, and who we encourage—will help make this truly our best year yet. Together, we can make this the year DeLand shines brighter than ever.
Simple Appetizer for Easy Entertaining
BY RENEE GARRISON
THIS APPETIZER IS great for entertaining. They are very tasty and very simple to make!
Blue Cheese & Pear Tartlets
Ingredients:
¾ lb. blue cheese, crumbled
3 ripe pears, peeled, cored and chopped
¼ cup plus 2 Tb. Cream
Pepper to taste
3 (2.1 oz) packages mini phyllo tart shell
Instructions:
• Mix together blue cheese, pear and cream.
•Season to taste with pepper.
•Spoon mixture into shells.
•Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
•Serve warm.
A LETTER FROM THE MAYOR CITY OF DELAND
Dear DeLand Community,
As we begin 2026, I want to share my excitement and gratitude for the incredible spirit that defines our city. DeLand is a community built on connection, compassion, and a commitment to supporting one another, I am incredibly proud of everything we have accomplished together.
This year is already shaping up to be a special one. I’m thrilled for the return of beloved traditions like the MeStrong 5K, an event that unites us in strength, hope, and community pride. Shortly after, we’ll gather again for one of DeLand’s most iconic celebrations, the Krewe of Amalee Mardi Gras on MainStreet Dog Parade. This unique event brings smiles to faces of all ages and showcases the creativity and camaraderie that make our city so vibrant.
As we look ahead to the months to come, I am filled with optimism and enthusiasm. Thank you for your continued dedication to making DeLand a wonderful place to live, work, and celebrate. I look forward to seeing you all at our upcoming events and throughout the year.
