Volusia inside DELAND/LAKE HELEN DELEON SPRINGS PIERSON Business Real estate investors find their wallets Page A7 @HometownNewsVolusia @Hometownnewsvolusia @HVolusi Call us about Vol. 6, No. 52 Your Local News and Information Source • www.HometownNewsVolusia.com Friday, Feb. 9, 2018 Celebrate Spring Community City of DeLand can get Special Edition Notes Publishing March 23rd Master gardeners plan automall concerns heard plant clinics annexation, as it is contiguous and touches For more information By Gina McKee the city into which it would be annexed; it Call 386-322-5900 Volusia County’s master [email protected] does not create any enclaves through annex- gardeners will share winter city Despite a firm opposing position, the City of ation; and it is not, nor does it create, a long, gardening tips and answer narrow stretch of land. questions during plant clinics DeLand cannot simply put a stop to annexation and lim- development of the proposed I-4 Automall. The 47-acre plot of land, currently in its, in February. Residents can unincorporated areas of the county at the inter- bring their plants for a free “We don’t have any magic button over here that there are we can just press and stop the automall,” Darren change of Interstate 4 and Orange Camp Road, also opportunities to have concerns check-up. is the site of a proposed I-4 Automall and several •10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. Elkind, DeLand city attorney told DeLand City addressed and even oppose, but not to simply vote Commissioners and members of the public at a spe- other potential developments. to stop the annexation and future developments. 10, at the Deltona Regional When residents attending DeLand’s special meet- Library, 2150 Eustace Ave. cial meeting Feb. 1. “There may be tools that we can “What I’m trying to explain, when you say, ‘Are use as a city to affect how that happens or whether ing questioned whether or not DeLand commis- you going stop it?’ is if the application for develop- Howard Jeffries will discuss sioners would stop the development, Mr. Elkind cacti, succulents and wildflow- that happens, but (DeLand commissioners) don’t ment were in the City of DeLand, (DeLand commis- just have the ability to say it’s not going to happen.” said the process isn’t that easily ended. With the sioners) would have the ability to say yes or no,” Mr. ers from 11 a.m. to noon. property owners requesting voluntary annexation •10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, The property in the annexation application sub- Elkind said. “What I want to make clear is that we do mitted by the property owner to the City of Lake into the City of Lake Helen, and a small portion of not have some absolute ability, whether they want to Feb. 20, at the DeBary Public the property already residing within Lake Helen’s Library, 200 N. Charles R. Helen meets the legal requirements for voluntary See AUTOMALL, page A2 Beall Blvd. For more information, call the Volusia County Extension Service at (386) 822-5778. Community What a performance DeLand library hosts book sale gets a look at The Friends of the DeLand Regional Library will host its monthly book sale from 9:30 school rebuild a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9; and 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Satur- By Gina McKee district to meet with commu- nity members, parents, facul- day, Feb. 10. [email protected] ty and staff to get their input The sale will be in the Parents and community on what they would like to library’s auditorium at 130 E. members got their first see in the new school.” Howry Ave., DeLand. opportunity for input on the Architect Rene Tercilla of Hardback and large softback new look of George Marks Harvard Jolly in Orlando was books will be $1 each, and Elementary School and an on hand to listen to commu- small paperback books will be introduction to the architect nity questions, concerns and eight for $1. Children’s books who will create it. wish lists on what features will be $2 a bag. On Saturday, At a public meeting the new buildings may con- all non-children books will be Wednesday, Jan. 24, Volusia tain, Mr. Edgecomb said. $3 a bag. County Schools officials con- The project, funded by a The Friends’ Book Store will ducted a public meeting to portion of the half-cent sales be open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 introduce the community to tax, will maintain a couple of p.m. Thursday and Friday, and the selected architect as well the newer, or newly remod- from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Satur- as to answer questions eled buildings, but will also day. regarding the $3 million contain brand-new construc- Proceeds from the book replacement project. tion on the site of the school’s store and monthly book sales “This was more of an 28 acres in DeLand. help to provide non-budgeted informal gathering, not so While no timetable is set programs and special needs much a formal meeting,” said for construction yet, the Bruce D. Henderson/staff photographer activities. Robert Edgecomb, commu- informal session served as a Volusia County elementary school children perform “Stomp Meets Japa- For more information, call nity information specialist kick-off for the much-antici- nese Taiko Drumming” on Friday, Feb. 2, during the 45th annual Volusia (386) 822-6430, ext. 20762. for the school district. “It’s an opportunity for the school See REBUILD, page A2 All-County Elementary Music Showcase at DeLand High School. Tour West Volusia The West Volusia Historical Society will host an historic bus tour at 2:30 p.m. Wednes- Night to Gala See NOTES, page A2 Shine Day Personal Finance A8 focuses PLAN STRONGER set for people on the Continuing to look at care with spirit, centers special and fun By Lori Carter Entertainment B1 needs For Hometown News “How to Train Your Drag- IT'S BEER By Diane M. Carey on” is just one of the topics one [email protected] can learn about during “Heart Photo courtesy of Jan Brock of Spirit” Gala Day from 10 On February 9 the interna- Tim Tebow escorts Courtney Widdison on the red carpet to last year’s Night a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, tionally celebrated ‘Night to to Shine in the Henderson Center at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Feb. 10, at Southern Cassadaga Shine’ will mark its fourth Spiritualist Camp Meeting anniversary, the third year Association, which has been locally. Night to Shine is spon- The unique prom-night inception. She said in East around since 1894. This year’s East Volusia sored by the Tim Tebow experience is for people with Volusia participants arrive on Gala Days are presented event will again be in the Annual event comes Foundation and local church- special needs, ages 14 and a red carpet, have photos four times yearly as fundrais- Henderson Center at Embry- to a head in DeLand es throughout the world. older. This year more than taken, a hair and makeup sta- ers for the nonprofit organiza- Riddle Aeronautical Univer- More than 500 churches are 175,000 volunteers around tion, shoe shine area, limou- tion. The Spiritualist Camp sity from 6-9 p.m. Friday, participating this year, all on the world will serve more sine ride, dinner and enter- was designated as a Historic Index Feb. 9. The event will premier than 90,000 honored guests tainment. Also, prom attire Feb. 9. The local church District on the National Regis- in West Volusia the same day sponsors are Christ Presbyte- simultaneously on one night. will have been given to Business A7 Out & About B1 ter of Historic Places in 1991. at Stetson Baptist Church, rian Church in Ormond Jan Brock has been on the attendees through donations Classified B6 Police Report A5 Rev. Don Zanghi, who has Crossword B5 Sports B5 1025 W. Minnesota Ave. in Beach and Stetson Baptist East Volusia Night To Shine received at Christ Presbyteri- Horoscopes B1 Viewpoint A6 DeLand. Church in DeLand. committee since the event’s See SHINE, page A2 See GALA, page A2 Help us Celebrate Pride in FOOD SERVICE Week! February 5th through the 9th. This week applauds nutrition and www.thecloistersretirement.org (800)738-1222 | 400 East Howry Ave., DeLand foodservice professionals and other members of the nutrition A Retirement Housing Foundation Campus services team for their hard work and dedication on the job. A not-for-profit community - ALF#8340 A-2 • DeLand/Lake Helen/DeLeon Springs/Pierson Hometown News Friday, Feb. 9, 2018 forward to it, she said. this worldwide movement,” Shine Pastor Dan Glenn of Stetson Tim Tebow shared on his From page A1 Baptist Church is especially foundation’s website. “To think enthusiastic about being a that 90,000 people with special an Church. Ms. Brock refers to first-time sponsor. needs will be cheered for, cele- the prom donations as a “glit- “We have been thinking brated and loved on one night ter closet,” which contains jew- about this for a while, but this around the world is just amaz- elry, purses, gowns and tuxe- is our first time to take it to an ing. When Night to Shine dos donated by the community, action point,” Pastor Glenn started just four years ago, and which participants can said. “We are really excited even with our big vision we keep. about being able to host our could never have imagined Attendees, known as VIPs, VIPs.