ORMOND BEACH
Observer
WWII REUNION PAGE 1B
YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
VOLUME 13, NO. 26
Plastic straws unbanned? City commissioner proposes elimination of city’s educational plastic straw ban. PAGE 2A
FREE ON NEWSSTANDS | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2025
Chair seeks a united Volusia In his fifth address as County Council chair, Jeff Brower once again called for countywide cooperation and partnerships. PAGE 1B
INSIDE ART IN DOWNTOWN
Ormond Beach’s Bill Jones gets OK for new sculptural sign for Art Spotlight PAGE 8A
FATAL CRASH
Granada Boulevard crash results in 81-year-old Daytona Beach man’s death, injury of Ormond Beach teen driver. PAGE 5A
UNDER THE SEA
Underwater photographer to showcase works at Ormond’s Ocean Art Gallery. PAGE 2B
COUNTY TO CLOSE L.B. KNOX BRIDGE AND HIGHBRIDGE ROAD Volusia County will temporarily close the L.B. Knox Bridge and Highbridge Road in Ormond Beach from March 17 through May 1 for scheduled bridge deck repairs and road resurfacing to improve the functionality of these infrastructure components. During this period, the stretch of Highbridge Road from Walter Boardman Lane to the bridge will not be accessible to vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Situated in northeast Volusia County, the L.B. Knox Bridge spans the Halifax River and forms part of the northern section of the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail. To navigate around the closure, travelers can use the Granada Bridge on State Road 40 in Ormond Beach or State Road 100 in Flagler Beach. Residents along Highbridge Road may access their homes via Walter Boardman Lane. Officials will post detour signs and closure notices along the affected routes to inform the public. The construction may cause disruptions to boat traffic on the Halifax River.
Volusia County Council Chair Jeff Brower delivers State of the County address at the Ocean Center on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Photos by Jarleene Almenas
Wilmette property sparks city’s interest One commissioner proposed its purchase to help mitigate nearby flooding issues. JARLEENE ALMENAS
INDEX
Business..................... PAGE 8A Calendar..................... PAGE 2B Cops Corner............... PAGE 6A Letters.......................PAGE 10A Public Notices...........PAGE 10B Sports..........................PAGE 7B Real Estate................. PAGE 9A
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MANAGING EDITOR
A 20-acre property located on the southeast corner of Wilmette Avenue and North Center Street in Ormond Beach is being sold for $2 million. Should the city of Ormond Beach buy it? City Commissioner Travis Sargent proposed the purchase at the commission meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 18, citing the property’s proximity to Thompson Creek and possibility to help mitigate flooding occurring in local neighborhoods. “I think this is something that we really can look into and preserve a very special piece of land, I think, in the center of our city from being developed,” Sargent said. The property consists of about 10 acres of uplands, with
1,787 feet of combined frontage on Wilmette Avenue and North Center Street, according to the listing. It’s currently zoned B-1 Professional/Office, which permits the construction of adult day care centers, assisted living facilities, offices, financial institutions, hospitals, nursing homes, pharmacies and veterinarian offices, with uses such as restaurants, retail and multifamily units identified as conditional uses. Sargent added that the property is also typically very wet. “We hear about the fill and build and everything,” he said. “To build on this is going to be trouble.” The city doesn’t have many undeveloped parcels like this left, he added. The property could also be turned into a recreational amenity for the community, he suggested. Commissioners were open to the idea. “I’d like to preserve that area,” Commissioner Kristin Deaton said. “That would be a phenomenal option. If it truly is an
option, I would like to look into that.” Commissioner Lori Tolland said she loved the idea, and that she had looked at other areas too in preparation for the commission’s future workshop on stormwater. “This would be the right time to identify properties that might work,” she said. “I’m not saying this isn’t a great idea — this one specifically — but there might be other opportunities as well that we can use to protect flooding and stormwater and all.” City Planning Director Steven Spraker said staff solicited properties a few years ago for the Volusia Forever program, which was created in 2000 through a voter referendum for the purchase of environmentally-sensitive land. This resulted in the purchase of the 19-acre Penland and Pomerenke property located off Airport Road. “A similar exercise could be done, trying to see which properties are interested,” Spraker said.
Tiny Tots Tuesday MOAS launches new early learning program for children ages 3-5.
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Let’s get physical Seabreeze tops Flagler Palm Coast in flag football 13-0.
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