(CBS12) — A Volusia County man has been accused of threatening to shoot the president's brain everywhere in a social media post The United States District Court (USDC) said that on March 20 at 12:36 p.m. posted a threatening message to President Donald Trump on X Secret Service agents tracked down the IP address and identified Dell as the suspect an officer called Dell to inquire about the threat at which point Dell allegedly threatened the agent over the phone and followed up with text messages saying "B**** pull up to my s*** b**** I'm gone shoot you in your mf face" and "Come here I bet you won't leave walking or talking." Officials requested backup from the Port Orange Police Department (POPD) who allegedly saw Dell holding his cellphone prompting officers to place him under arrest for making threats to a law enforcement officer See also: Michelin Star Guide eyes Palm Beach County expansion Dell allegedly admitted that the X account belonged to him and that he threatened the president He claimed he was worried that the Trump administration was going to revoke his federally assisted housing Dell has been accused of threatening to kill the president and threatening to kill a federal officer Find more ways to stay up to date with your latest local news. Sign up for our newsletter to get the day's top headlines delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the biggest stories and can't miss video was arrested last month on charges of threatening to kill the president and influencing impeding or retaliating against a federal officer by threat to murder according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S Dell in March tagged @realDonaldTrump in a post on X and said “...I’ll kill your (expletive) myself you better not come to Florida I’m gone shoot your brains everywhere.” The Secret Service tracked the post to Dell who was found in Port Orange and was arrested Officials said Dell initially denied making the threat but later admitted to it saying he was “worried that the Trump administration was going to take away his federally assisted housing.” Copyright 2025 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us / Follow on Social Media Careers at WKMG Closed Captioning / Audio Description Public File Current EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications EEO Report Disability Assistance Copyright © 2025 ClickOrlando.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group NEW SMYRNA BEACH — Almost 80 people took over the sidewalk at the busy intersection of State Road 44 and Mission Drive in New Smyrna Beach to protest the Trump Administration Thursday Protesters brought signs and wore clothes criticizing the president and even calling for his impeachment Jeff Bezos and other prominent American billionaires “When we are under such extreme duress from a wannabe dictator who participated in the protest with his wife “There is not going to be one thing that makes the difference Change is incremental and you just have to do something Pat Sones said gatherings such as Thursday’s indicate a “collective growing movement” of voices against the federal government’s policies which she argued “are hurting everyday Americans and their pocketbooks.” She called “ridiculous” the president’s statement during an April 30 Cabinet meeting about how, because of recent tariffs imposed on China, American children will have to settle for “two dolls instead of 30 dolls” for Christmas this year “The growing recognition of how this is affecting more and more people is going to have a big impact,” Pat Sones said Stephen Gregory also criticized the president’s April 30 remarks saying that it is difficult to point out something that is “going right.” He spoke out against DOGE and the thousands of federal employees fired by the Musk-led agency “It’s as if everybody that they fired was not working,” Gregory said “These people worked their (expletive) off every day It’s going to collapse so much stuff in this country Rob Murphy said even though he recognizes Trump and his government allies were fairly elected he argued “they don’t seem to care anything about the Constitution.” “What terrifies me is the assault on our rights and the rule of law,” Murphy said He said he takes “a little bit of heart in seeing people like us out here today and all across the country.” “That doesn’t happen because everything is wonderful,” Murphy said “It happens because people don’t like what is going on and they are scared.” Two more May Day protests are scheduled for Saturday: One in DeLand at 10 a.m. and one in Daytona Beach at 11 a.m. Visit mobilize.us/mayday for details National Public Gardens Day is celebrated every second Friday of May before Mother's Day Here are 5 botanical gardens — the only three on the Treasure Coast and two nearby Opened in 2010 on 20 acres along North Fork of St. Lucie River; built using native plant communities as foundation Skateboarding: 5 of the best skate parks on the Treasure Coast Snorkeling: 5 of the best spots on the Treasure Coast this summer who established its collection of fruit trees to help produce new food resources 15 acres at Florida Tech; home to 400 species of palms at one point but freezes reduced number to about 60 Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More Hurricane Nicole came through Central Florida resulting in the destruction of homes along Florida’s east coast Port Orange was among those coastal neighborhoods to have felt the impact of the storm Storm surge from the hurricane caused the Cambridge Canal Pump Station’s retaining wall to collapse in on itself Port Orange City Engineer Junos Reed described it as a “raging rapid,” since the water from Rose Bay had spilled into nearby ponds and then into the city’s canal system there are more than 200 miles of canals and ditches throughout Port Orange that play a role in moving stormwater out Many of which are located behind people's homes Even though the city made temporary repairs to both the wall and the pump station following Nicole it still wasn’t enough to protect residents’ homes during Hurricane Milton that temporary solution called for the implementation of one operational water pump and the construction of a sandbag wall to keep the water from Rose Bay out Even though the city invested over half a million dollars’ worth of sandbags to protect residents against future storm surge while it figured out a permanent solution Residents like Ryann Stevens had their homes flood for a second time the night Hurricane Milton struck Central Florida Stevens is growing impatient as the city works towards a permanent fix to the pump station which she believes could have been avoided City officials like Junos Reed say they’ve got big plans to ensure this never happens again Port Orange resident and mom of two young children Ryann Stevens says she feels frustrated nearly six months after Hurricane Milton flooded her home for a second time in the span of two years explain to my little ones that your toys are gone; your house is gone She is still rebuilding parts of her home that were damaged during the hurricane by repainting the floors and doors but she isn’t getting ahead of herself with the repairs because she says she could lose it all again in a few months The less we would have to rip up and so we would have to rip up drywall so at least this’ll kind of decrease our cleanup,” adds Stevens she says her home flooded in the span of forty-five minutes despite not being in a flood zone Now she’s fearful that it could happen again due to the Cambridge Pump Station’s retaining wall that initially broke during hurricane Nicole in 2022.  We should be close to being finished if they had acted efficiently and effectively from the beginning,” says Stevens who has held the city accountable for their actions since Hurricane Milton flooded her home a second time The Cambridge Pump Station was designed to pump water out of the Cambridge basin area and into the Halifax River to manage stormwater runoff.  But in 2022, storm surge from hurricane Nicole caused the pump station’s retaining wall to collapse The city then placed over half a million dollars’ worth of sandbags along the berm causing many homes in the Port Orange neighborhood to flood again City of Port Orange officials explain that they’re currently in the design phase for a permanent fix of the Cambridge Pump Station These improvements will entail raising the berm to match the height of the railroad tracks that run west of Rose Bay “It’s going to be a 72-inch diameter pipe that’s going to come all the way east and then once we get to this point we have to go underneath the railroad tracks,” explains Reed On the other side of the tracks is where the “discharge structure” will be located and that is where the water will leave the system flowing out into the Rose Bay But construction for that project wouldn’t begin until the beginning of next year the city will have to rely on beefing up the number of sandbags along where the retaining wall used to sit But Junos Reed says it’s all part of a bigger plan “We don’t want a solution that’s going to be fast we want a solution that’s going to be resilient and that’s going to work,” explains Reed but he explains that it’s because of the permitting process with the Army Corps of Engineers Johns River Water Management District and now He says the good news though is that the permits have already been approved and that they have now hit the 90% mark of the design stage.   “We’re going to certainly do everything we can to mitigate and limit amount of flooding at all possible,” says Reed who wants his legacy in Port Orange to be about how he helped address flooding issues Design and scheduling are on track to be complete by the fall and then once that is complete the city will have to bid the project out to get prices from contractors which Reed estimates will add a couple months to the process Once the bid evaluation process is complete the city will have to bring the bid to council for it to get approved through a series of city council meetings The city anticipates being under construction by the beginning of next year and expects construction will take an average of 16 months “It seems like it’s not moving fast because we haven’t physically come out here and dug any dirt up or put any pipes in the ground We’re still moving the process forward as expeditetedly as we can,” adds Port Orange City Engineer The project will cost the city between 7 to 10 million dollars “I would stay up the road with family or friends that don’t flood before I’d stay here so just that I don’t have them go through that again,” says Port Orange resident Ryann Stevens PORT ORANGE — The planned revitalization of Port Orange’s popular Down Under area promises not only functional infrastructure improvements but also to beautify and “breathe new life” into the area And that new look is starting to take shape with the help of an Atlantic High School student Those who visit the area today will see some of the columns that support the east end of the Dunlawton Bridge painted in blue layered with designs that celebrate both the city and the neighboring marine life on the Halifax River These are part of a mural series that will cover the bridge’s columns and walls which takes place gradually over the next few years as part of the Down Under Revitalization Project and promises to bring infrastructure and aesthetic improvements to the area a local nonprofit organization that offers art education for local youth and supports art initiatives throughout the city ArtHaus Executive Director Cameron Vinston was already thinking about the idea for a mural project when she spoke with Tracy Grubbs, Port Orange’s current vice mayor and ArtHaus board member “We both just had that lightbulb moment,” Vinston said in an interview ArtHaus at the REC center: Nearly 4 months after reopening, here is what is new for residents The approximately 11,000 square feet of murals will be painted in stages taking between four and five years to complete Vinston said she hopes the process will become easier through community donations Vinston knew the designs had to reflect and celebrate the city and the area’s rich marine life including Atlantic High School sophomore Morgan Siple The design needed to feature an orange to represent the city as well as fish or other animals to represent the area’s aquatic life Siple returned with a sketched drawing of a blue background and a middle section featuring an orange emerging in between waves so that’s why I came up with the orange as the sunrise,” Siple said in an interview She said that the area under the bridge is very dark and wanted the colors to pop out as much as possible Vinston took the themes and symbols Siple created for the columns and generated the rest of the renderings that will fill the bridge’s side and support walls Vinston said the designs are not final yet with some texture and color work planned as ArtHaus staff and volunteers continue to paint other parts of the bridge through the years Vinston said murals have their own special significance not only because of the art they depict but also the fact that they are meant to become part of the neighborhood She said she would like to help pull Port Orange into the “esteemed setting” of cities with vibrant and widespread art scenes Vinston said she would like to work with the city on other future projects such as Riverwalk and the Interstate 95 overpass She believes more murals could also attract more visitors to the city you want to go and have your picture taken,” Vinston said She said she is inspired by the work of Brazilian artist and painter Romero Britto whose works “bring happiness to his community — to uplift their spirits.” “And to inspire those around him to smile and have happiness in their heart,” Vinston said “And that is my goal through this facility." who has been a student under Vinston for about four years the best part of working on her typical chalk watercolor and pastel artworks is “seeing people enjoy art.” “To think that I could do a mural that lasts forever it would be very nice knowing that people can go down there and see (the murals) and appreciate it … She hopes that the murals will also inspire other young artists like herself to take on new artistic challenges In order to avoid interfering with commerce in the area, painting will take place between December and January, she said. The Down Under area houses five businesses: Our Deck Down Under The two small columns featuring Siple’s designs were originally meant to begin in December as part of the first stage but the City Council had yet to approve other parts of the projects for work to begin While Vinston and her staff will be able to finish the two columns by next month ArtHaus will have to overcome challenges throughout the multi-year process “We have to raise funds for the paint and supplies,” she said “Just paint alone will cost roughly $40,000 That’s why she and her team plan to campaign in the community to gather as much help as possible whether that means financial donations or signing up volunteers They are also applying for grants with the Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Wildlife Corridor to help raise more funds that are (painting the murals) in between hours when we have classes (at ArtHaus’ City Center location).” She plans to raise enough funds to hire mural artists and pay ArtHaus’ student interns to help with the painting job city staff plans to ask the City Council in the next few months to begin designing infrastructure and parking improvements the city will receive cost estimates for items like drainage landscaping and aesthetics," Springer wrote in an email "This will also allow staff to pursue grant opportunities to help fund the project Design is expected to be finished by late 2025 or early 2026." Those interested in helping ArtHaus during the mural series project can visit arthaus.org or call 386-767-0076 to learn more PORT ORANGE – A utility worker fell from the bucket of a boom truck Friday morning in Port Orange when a vehicle crashed into it the utility worker fell from the bucket and landed in the roadway The worker was taken to the Halifax Hospital in Daytona Beach with serious injuries Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information is asked to call Port Orange Police Department Traffic Homicide Investigator Carlyton Hambsh at 386-506-5838 Southbound lanes of Nova Road were shut down south of Madeline Avenue but later reopened Brenda Argueta is a digital journalist who joined ClickOrlando.com in March 2021 She is the author of the Central Florida Happenings newsletter that goes out every Thursday PORT ORANGE — A panel of three appeals court judges on Tuesday gave the Florida Department of Transportation a green light to build its controversial Interstate 95 at Pioneer Trail interchange project on the Port Orange/New Smyrna Beach border FDOT officials say they plan to proceed on Wednesday with accepting bids from general contractors The $120 million project will replace the aging existing two-lane I-95 at Pioneer Trail overpass with a new traffic interchange that will include on- and off-ramps to the interstate A building permit has already been issued for the project by the St said the appeals court's unanimous ruling on Tuesday "affirmed the final order (to issue the building permit to FDOT) by the District." Environmentalists and wildlife sanctuary advocates seeking to block the project expressed disappointment at the appeals court's ruling "Our attorney confirms that this ruling is not in our favor," said New Smyrna Beach resident Bryon White who joined in filing the lawsuit with Port Orange resident Derek LaMontagne and two citizens groups: Bear Warriors United and the Sweetwater Coalition of Volusia County White said he and the lawsuit's other filers will seek to overturn the Florida Fifth District appeals court's ruling in federal court an Ormond Beach transportation engineering consultant cheered the appeals court's ruling as a big victory for FDOT She said the project is much needed to improve safety and reduce traffic congestion in the fast-growing area "I'm excited for a SAFER Volusia County," Ghyabi wrote in a text message to The Daytona Beach News-Journal The ruling came five days after the judges heard oral arguments in a 45-minute hearing at the Marion County Courthouse in Ocala on April 24 The judges did not offer an explanation for their ruling which only contained three words: "Per curiam Per curiam is court language meaning that it was a unanimous decision by the panel horse stables and single-family homes on large lots the Pioneer Trail area has seen an explosion in development with thousands of new homes and apartments built and more on the way The latter includes Taylor Morrison Homes' new 701-home Ardisia Park community in New Smyrna Beach and ICI Homes' Woodhaven community in Port Orange which is well underway with hundreds of homes already built Woodhaven is expected to have 1,300 homes and 400 apartment units or townhomes upon full buildout It runs parallel to I-95 along a 2.6-mile stretch of Williamson Boulevard from Pioneer Trail to Airport Road Other communities within two miles of I-95 at Pioneer Trail include Venetian Bay and Coastal Woods in New Smyrna Beach and Waters Edge and the Golf Club at Cypress Head community in Port Orange The I-95 at Pioneer Trail overpass is located next to the environmentally sensitive Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Nature Preserve which is on the northeast side of the interstate The area includes an unnamed canal that runs parallel to I-95 south from Doris Leeper Park The canal is considered a protected "Florida Outstanding Waterway," according to the lawsuit's filers It is also an estuary that connects with Spruce Creek "Runoff and pollution from the road and traffic will enter the canal and pollute Spruce Creek," said White who grew up next to the park and later worked for several years as a resident caretaker there "It is a diverse upland and lowland habitat containing spectacular bluffs along Spruce Creek which is very rare in Florida," said White of Doris Leeper Park "It is critical habitat for wildlife including the gopher tortoise and scrub jay." residents in the Pioneer Trail area surrounding the interstate must either drive north to the interchange at Taylor Road/Dunlawton Boulevard in Port Orange or south to the interchange at State Road 44 in New Smyrna Beach Both interchanges are becoming increasingly congested with traffic FDOT estimates that during peak hours alone more than 2,000 vehicles a day currently enter I-95 at the interchange at Taylor/Dunlawton to head north and over 1,000 use it to head south Nearly 1,500 vehicles a day during peak hours use the I-95 on-ramp at State Road 44 to head north and 900 a day use it to head south Woodhaven resident Chris Scavuzzo told The News-Journal in an interview in 2022 that he supported building an interchange at I-95 and Pioneer Trail I've been stuck at that light at Williamson and Taylor for several cycles," he said "I'm totally for protecting the creek and environment I'd rather see some (traffic congestion) relief." When will construction begin?FDOT spokeswoman Cindi Lane told The News-Journal on April 18 that the construction timeline won't be set until a general contractor has been chosen and the contract awarded we anticipate construction will take about three years," she added The project itself is fully funded through a combination of state the Pioneer Trail overpass is expected to be open during construction but if lane closures are needed during certain phases of construction FDOT will work closely with the contractor to limit impacts to the traveling public — as we do with all projects." FDOT has selected what it calls a "partial-cloverleaf" configuration for the I-95 at Pioneer Trail interchange It will include traffic signals on Pioneer Trail both at the on- and off-ramps west and east of the interstate White said the appeals court's ruling was a big blow but said he and the lawsuit's other filers are not ready to wave the white flag "We plan to file a federal action," he said The way the appeals court judges issued their ruling without explanation presents a problem in trying to overturn it "We can't argue the merits of the care again because the DCA (district court of appeals) did not render an opinion," he wrote in a text message "This is why it is more important than ever for voters to root out politicians bankrolled by developer cash and restore power to the people so we can protect and preserve what is left of our beautiful state." PORT ORANGE — The Florida Department of Transportation are scheduled to open bidding from general contractors to build its planned $120 million Interstate 95 at Pioneer Trail interchange today a day after appeals court judges ruled in favor of the controversial project The environmentalists and citizens groups that filed a lawsuit to try to block the project argued that it would caused irreparable harm to the adjacent Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve The nature park/wildlife habitat is located on the northeast quadrant of the two-lane I-95 at Pioneer Trail overpass that the planned interchange would replace The late namesake for the park was a sculptor/painter from Charlotte who moved to New Smyrna Beach in 1958 and proceeded to make a name for herself both as an artist as well as an outspoken advocate for nature preservation Doris "Doc" Leeper died in New Smyrna Beach on April 11 She was the founder of the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach and instrumental in the creation of both the Canaveral National Seashore as well as the Spruce Creek Preserve a document filed with the University of Central Florida Libraries She also was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in 1989 A nonprofit group called Friends of Spruce Creek Preserve successfully lobbied for the Volusia County Council to rename the Spruce Creek Preserve in Leeper's honor shortly after her death The park was created when Volusia County and The Nature Conservancy acquired 610 acres along "The Bluffs" of Spruce Creek in 1983 the Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve covers 2,513 acres that stretches from the northern limits of New Smyrna Beach north to Rose Bay The entrance to the park on Martins Dairy Road The park includes more than three miles of nature trails that lead to a 15-foot-tall observation tower New Smyrna Beach resident Bryon White is one of the filers of the unsuccessful lawsuit to halt the interchange project along with Port Orange resident Derek LaMontagne and two citizens groups: Bear Warriors United and the Sweetwater Coalition of Volusia County White grew up next to Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve and worked for several years as a resident caretaker of the park which is very rare in Florida," he said of the park "It is critical habitat for wildlife including the gopher tortoise and scrub jay "It also contains dozens of archeological sites including a burial complex that was used by the Timucua people for thousands of years." White said the FDOT project could adversely affect the park because "Runoff and pollution from the road and traffic will enter the canal and pollute Spruce Creek." Construction of the project is expected to take three years Opponents of the FDOT project also expressed concerns that creating the interchange which will add new on- and off-ramps to I-95 at Pioneer Trail will encourage developers and builders to add even more new homes and apartments in an area that was once rural but has seen an explosion in new master-planned communities ICI Homes continues to add new homes at Woodhaven while Taylor Morrison Homes recently began construction of new homes at the new Ardisia Park subdivision Population growth in in the area west of I-95 has created traffic congestion both at the I-95 interchanges at Taylor Road/Dunlawton Boulevard in Port Orange and at State Road 44 in New Smyrna Beach Adding an interchange at Pioneer Trail would alleviate traffic congestion at the two interchanges north and south of it as well as provide residents in the area with another evacuation route during hurricanes and other catastrophic events The project is already fully funded and FDOT has already been issued a building permit from the St The legal fight might not be overWhite said he and the lawsuit's other filers plan to seek the appeals court's ruling to be overturned in federal court it appears that FDOT has a greenlight to proceed with construction PORT ORANGE — It's official: The new Chuck E. Cheese at The Pavilion at Port Orange will hold a soft opening on Friday to be followed by a grand opening the following Thursday March 7th with a Grand Opening event to follow on Thursday March 13th from 5-7 p.m.," wrote Allison Chouinard in an email to The Daytona Beach News-Journal on Friday The Irving, Texas-based chain built the new Chuck E. Cheese at 5539 S. Williamson Blvd. in Port Orange to replace one that was destroyed during Hurricane Ian in September 2022 The new one is located in the exact same location as the old one "The Grand Opening event will invite the community for an evening of family fun that includes a purple carpet & Friends and 30 FREE minutes of All You Can Play games for each child during the event," wrote Chouinard Cheese offers a 'brand new experience'At 13,633 square feet in size Cheese eatery at The Pavilion shopping center is slightly bigger than the one it replaced it features several new features aimed at encouraging physical activity as well as interacting with one another "Children and families will experience a brand-new Chuck E Cheese that features the most popular arcade sports and kid-focused games with varying skill levels for players of all ages a large format video wall and screens with audio connected throughout the fun center to provide a more immersive entertainment experience for guests and birthday parties," according to Chouinard "The new Port Orange location will offer an Adventure Zone featuring an all-new Trampoline Zone and Chuck E.’s Super Hero Playground - elevating the Chuck E Cheese experience by incorporating both physical activity and fun in a secure environment climb and play while developing essential motor skills and teamwork." Cheese restaurants used to feature an animatronic band called "Munch's Make-Believe Band." The company last year phased out its robot puppets at almost all of its restaurants in an interview with The New York Times last year described the switch to giant video walls digital dance floors and trampoline zones as the company's largest and "most aggressive transformation." The changes are being made to meet the needs of children in the 21st century Chouinard in an interview in November estimated that the new Port Orange Chuck E Cheese would employ 25 to 30 "cast members," but on Friday she said it has wound up employing more than 50 "All positions have been filled including 46 Cast Members and 5 Managers," she wrote "We can't wait to open our doors very soon and welcome back our Port Orange families to experience the all-new Chuck E The building permit for the new Port Orange Chuck E Cheese estimated a construction cost of approximately $2 million which is slightly more than that $1.6 million spent to build the chain's original location at The Pavilion in 2013 The general contractor for the new restaurant/arcade is Parkway Construction Port Orange Mayor Scott Stiltner said he welcomes the return of Chuck E Cheese to his city after a nearly 2½-year absence "I'm very pleased to see that the rebuild of this business is almost complete and ready to re-open," he told The News-Journal "There will be a lot of excited kids and parents happy to have this dine-and-play option return to the Port Orange Pavilion." Fans of discount supermarket Aldi were delighted recently with news that the chain, first opened in Germany in 1913, will soon bring 14 new locations to Florida But how many are opening in Volusia County Three new Aldi stores are in the works locally (with one opening very soon) including a brand-new store and two former Winn-Dixie stores They will add to the eight existing Aldi stores in Volusia The chain also has two Flagler County locations in Palm Coast About 220 Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores will be converted to the smaller So where is Aldi coming to next in Volusia County Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony scheduled for 9 a.m. the first 100 customers on opening day will receive several special perks including a "Golden Ticket" that could be worth up to $100 a free eco-friendly bag filled with Aldi products A brand-new Aldi will anchor the upcoming The Shoppes at Summer Tree retail development at the intersection of Williamson Boulevard and Summer Tree Road in Port Orange The 19,432-square-foot shop will be larger than the two Aldi locations currently closest to Port Orange: the store roughly 8 miles to the northeast at 1106 Beville Road in Daytona Beach that measures 18,539 square feet in size and the store 9 miles to the southeast at 2335 State Road 44 in New Smyrna Beach that's 17,825 square feet Second Aldi coming to Ormond BeachAldi is also planning a second location on Ormond Beach's Granada Boulevard The new location would also replace a Winn-Dixie store at 353 W while the city's existing Aldi store is located at 1260 W told The News-Journal last year that the store's restoration would cost approximately $1.7 million and that there’s no “definitive timeline” to complete the process Aldi is an international chain of no-frills grocery stores with no coupons and few There is a double-your-money-back "Twice is Nice" guarantee on its store-brand products and the chain regularly offers "FINDS," limited-time offers that change weekly or seasonally and other discounted deals The company does not offer a membership program The Aldi chain was founded by Karl and Theo Albrecht in 1946 (Aldi is an abbreviated form of "Albrecht Diskont") after the brothers argued over whether the stores should sell cigarettes they split the company into Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd which both operate stores internationally in different regions including the new Winn-Dixie and Harveys stores Aldi operates two stores in Daytona Beach and DeLand News-Journal reporter Clayton Park contributed to this report PORT ORANGE − Turns out Chuck E. Cheese fans will have to wait a little bit longer for the chain's newly rebuilt restaurant here to reopen The freestanding pizza restaurant/family fun center at The Pavilion at Port Orange was expected to hold its soft opening Friday but a spokeswoman for the Texas-based chain on Thursday afternoon said they are still waiting for the city to issue a certificate of occupancy "I just learned that the Port Orange Chuck E in an email to The Daytona Beach News-Journal "We are awaiting approval from the City and will know more by end of day tomorrow (Friday) as to what the new open date will be," she wrote Chouinard in her brief email did not state whether the grand opening for the Port Orange eatery would also need to be rescheduled the grand opening celebration is still expected to take place Thursday CEC Entertainment built and opened its Port Orange Chuck E but the building was destroyed during Hurricane Ian in September 2022 After determining that the building was not salvageable which owns its outparcel property at The Pavilion tore it down in 2023 to make way for a completely new restaurant on the exact same spot The anticipated cost to build the new Port Orange Chuck E The project's general contractor is Parkway Construction Cheese won't have an animatronic band as the chain last year phased out its once-signature robot puppets at all but a handful of its locations the eatery will offer a number of new features all aimed at better-connecting to kids in the 21st century "The Port Orange location will be the first in Florida to offer an Adventure Zone − an all-new Ninja Run obstacle course and Trampoline Zone − elevating the Chuck E while developing essential motor skills and teamwork," wrote Chouinard in an email Other features include a floor-to-ceiling video wall and interactive dance floor Port Orange Mayor Scott Stiltner told The News-Journal that the new restaurant's fire suppression system had not yet been completed which is preventing the certificate of occupancy from being issued While the city prides itself on being welcoming to businesses "especially when we know there's going to be a lot of children involved," he added "The city is doing everything it can to issue a temporary C.O (certificate of occupancy) on Friday so they can at least start stocking food and supplies and train employees," said Stiltner if the contractor does his job in completing the fire suppression system We should be having pizza there in the near future." PORT ORANGE — The Port Orange City Council Tuesday voted unanimously to approve a memorandum of agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that designates immigration law enforcement duties and powers to Port Orange Police officers The measure is part of ICE’s 287(g) program which allows the agency “to delegate to state and local law enforcement officers the authority to perform specified immigration officer functions under the agency’s direction and oversight.” The memorandum calls for the Port Orange Police Department to nominate officers to be trained and certified by ICE officials in the new functions which includes the power to “arrest without warrant any alien entering or attempting to unlawfully enter the United States in the officer’s presence or view.” DeSantis: Sheriffs now able to enforce immigration laws under new agreement with feds some have struggled to understand whether they have a choice in accepting the agreements The program caused controversy earlier this year in Fort Myers when the City Council voted against it but DeSantis later made it clear participation wasn't a choice a lawsuit has been filed questioning whether cities have the right to refuse the program All 67 Florida county sheriffs have also accepted the memorandum Powers designated to local Port Orange police officers participating in the 287(g) agreement with ICE will be the same as other law enforcement agencies in the state, as described by the governor’s office: “Interrogate any suspected alien or person believed to be an alien as to their right to be in the United States If they are found to be in violation of proper immigration status they will be further detained and processed for State or Federal criminal offenses;Arrest and detain any alien attempting to unlawfully enter the United States such as through ports of entry or via waters off of Florida’s coastline;Deliver detained illegal immigrants for examination by immigration enforcement authorities for further screening;Enforce felony arrests which are cognizable under any federal law regulating the admission or removal of aliens;Have the power to serve and execute warrants of arrest for immigration violations; andBe authorized to administer oaths and to take and consider evidence to complete required alien processing to include fingerprinting as well as the preparation of affidavits and the taking of sworn statements for ICE supervisory review.”According to the agreement officer training will be both in-person and online ICE officials will train officers on the scope of their new authority; “relevant” immigration laws; ICE’s use of force policy; civil right laws; detention of aliens; complaint procedures; cross-cultural issues and obligations under federal law pertaining to applicable treaties or international agreements While ICE is responsible for travel costs of any police officers "while in training status," law enforcement agencies will bear other expenses Some city boards have struggled to understand whether they have a choice in approving the agreements Last month, the Fort Myers City Council deadlocked on its vote to approve the agreement prompting Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier to issue the board a response stating that its rejection of the agreement violated the law “Preventing a local law enforcement agency from entering into a 287(g) agreement with the federal government prevents that agency from participating in certain federal immigration operations,” Uthmeier wrote in a post on X According to Chapter 908 titled "Federal Immigration Enforcement," of state statute any municipal officer who takes action to prevent local law enforcement from entering the 287(g) agreement “may be subject to action by the Governor including potential suspension from office.” That is because of the state’s ban on “sanctuary policy,” which prohibits local governments from adopting a “law or custom” that stops local police departments from “participating in a federal immigration operation with a federal immigration agency as permitted by federal and state law.” When the Fort Myers council brought the issue again at a subsequent meeting members voted unanimously to approve the agreement Port Orange Mayor Scott Stiltner said cities have processes when it comes to adopting “mutual aid agreements” with outside agencies police departments and city managers can sign onto such agreements without the need of an elected body approval “We just do it a little bit differently,” Stiltner said in an interview and we want to make sure (the City Council) knows about it.” The mayor added that he sees the agreements as “a directive from the governor.” “My position is that regardless of whether it was a directive from the governor I’m going to always support supporting other municipal state and federal law enforcement agencies that need assistance from our police department if they are operating in the city of Port Orange.” said taking on the agreement “is just protocol,” but he is still not certain how much the program will impact the department’s daily operations “We see it occasionally,” Marino said of incidents involving undocumented immigrants in the city “We have come across people we have been arrested and we would notify ICE and say this person is in custody at the main jail.” Marino said the department is still in the “first steps” of the process It is still unclear how many police officers will be required to participate what kind of training they will receive and how long it will last Marino said he does not expect the program to greatly affect the department’s daily operation “We have run across (undocumented immigrants) we have taken into custody but it’s not like an everyday (occurrence) where we’re out doing sweeps and catching 15 civil rights attorneys and former elected officials voiced their concerns about how 287(g) agreements “make our communities less safe.” They also argued that municipalities are not required by either state or federal law to enter into the agreements also brought up a lawsuit the city of South Miami filed against the state last month asking that the judiciary settle the question of whether cities have the authority under state law to refuse adopting 287(g) agreements with ICE The lawsuit argues that Section 908.11 of Chapter 908 “specially requires ‘the sheriff or the chief correctional officer operating a county detention facility’ to enter into a 287(g) agreement.” The city added that the law contains “no express requirement that municipalities” enter into the agreements and that the “definition of ‘sanctuary policy’ makes no reference to 287(g) agreements except as expressly limited to the county requirement.” Failing to sign the agreement “is not an affirmative act and does not constitute limiting or prohibiting any activity,” South Miami argued Deportation effects: Will Florida teens be replacement workers for deported immigrants? What to know about child labor bill “Cities being asked to do this is not about anyone who has been convicted of a crime,” Greer said “What they are doing is empowering local police to take our neighbors off the street and put them directly into a deportation pipeline — people who have no criminal record but simply have civil immigration issues to resolve.” On Friday, a Miami-based judge granted a temporary restraining order against a similar Florida law aimed at undocumented immigrants: SB 4-C Judge Kathleen Williams wrote that federal law controls immigration and that the new law "unlawfully encroaches" on that on that power according to a News Service of Florida story Opponents say 287(g) agreements are about ‘fear,’ not ‘safety’Other leaders on the call pointed to how adopting 287(g) agreements could negatively affect communities in different ways According to a press release from Juan Cuba executive director of Sheriff Accountability Action and who participated in the call “these voluntary agreements empower local police officers to act as federal immigration agents reviving programs previously discontinued due to racial profiling and civil rights violations.” Cuba argued that Florida is being set up as “ground zero for a national plan to deputize local law enforcement in a mass deportation machine,” tying the effort to President Trump’s “broader immigration agenda.” “Over 80% of all new 287(g) Task Force agreements nationwide are in Florida,” Cuba said “These agreements aren’t about catching criminals — they’re about making people so afraid they self-deport.” executive director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition said 287(g) is about “fear” and not safety entire communities lose trust and go silent,” Petit said “People stop reporting crimes and pull their children out of programs organizing director of Hope CommUnity Center said these agreements could lead to negative economic effects in local Florida communities “They destabilize key industries like agriculture which depend on immigrant workers,” Gómez-Tejeda said 'We're not criminals': Hundreds support immigrants at DeLand protest In the call was also the son of undocumented immigrants who said the agreements turn his and his family’s livelihoods into a state of “constant fear.” “A traffic stop shouldn’t mean deportation,” Alfonso said “No child should go to school wondering if their parents will be there when they return.” Walmart is thrusting over 30 Florida stores into the future The company first announced its plan to remodel 650 stores into its "Store of the Future" concept in January 2024 with the makeovers taking place across 47 states and Puerto Rico "Our new and remodeled stores will reflect Walmart's Store of the Future concept, featuring improved layouts, expanded product selections and innovative technology to help our associates better support our customers and make shopping more convenient and enjoyable," Walmart said in a release. Florida stores in line for this transformation include three locations in Volusia County Coming to Volusia County: Aldi announces new Florida locations The model involves a new aesthetic look with big Departments will be expanded with more product selections and new layouts to give shoppers (and employees) more room to move around a new private screening room and privacy checkout areas Each store's capacity for online pickups and deliveries will also be increased The "Stores of the Future" are also designed with sustainability in mind including more energy-efficient equipment and lighting Walmart also plans to develop a coast-to-coast network of affordable electric vehicle fast-charging stations The three Walmart locations in Volusia County set to receive "Stores of the Future" makeovers are located in Port Orange Port Orange: 1590 Dunlawton Ave.Daytona Beach: 1101 Beville RoadDeltona: 1569 Saxon Blvd.More: Daytona's 'Lawyer Dude' buys downtown landmark with plans for a 'rad' new name Which Walmarts in Florida will become 'Stores of the Future?'Bradenton: 6991 SW 8th St.Cape Coral: 3920 Skyline Blvd.Crawfordville: 35 Mike Stewart DriveDaytona Beach: 1101 Beville RoadDelray Beach:3155 S Federal Highway16205 S Military TrailDeltona: 1569 Saxon Blvd.Fort Pierce: 5100 Okeechobee RoadGreenacres: 3911 S Suncoast Blvd.Homestead: 1499 South Dixie HighwayJupiter: 2144 W State Road 7Largo: 13817 Walsingham RoadMargate: 5555 W Eau Gallie Blvd.Miami:6931 NW 88th Ave.6991 SW 8th St.3200 NW 79th St.9191 W Flagler St.Miramar: 1800 South University DriveNorth Port: 1100 S Main St.Orlando: 11930 Narcoossee RoadPerry: 1900 S Jefferson St.Port Orange: 1590 Dunlawton Ave.Punta Gorda: 5001 Taylor RoadQuincy: 1940 Pat Thomas ParkwayRoyal Palm Beach: 9990 Belvedere RiadSarasota: 3560 Bee Ridge RoadTallahassee: 4400 W Tennessee St.Tamarac: 6931 NW 88th Ave.Tampa: 4525 Gunn HighwayVero Beach: 5555 20th St.Walmart will also open two new Neighborhood Market stores in Milton and Pace According to Walmart's director of local communications and the store won't close during renovations All 20 stores set for remodeling could start construction and be finished by the end of the year Walmart can't guarantee completion dates because the projects are subject to change based on construction schedules and other factors Where can I find a Walmart near me in Florida?There are 387 retail Walmart locations and 11 supply chain facilities in the Sunshine State, employing over 118,000 associates. Find more Florida locations here. There are 13 locations in Volusia and Flagler counties, according to Walmart's store directory PORT ORANGE — An unusual chain of events has resulted in plans this summer to expand both a popular pizzeria and an optometry center a new office plaza that is currently under construction "It's a dream come true," said Giovanni "Gio" Spinosa the co-owner with his wife Shana of Don Giovanni Contemporary Italian & Pizza of their plans to finally expand their restaurant at the Summer Trees Plaza in Port Orange The space they will be taking over on July 1 is currently home to a Dr is building a new office building two miles to the east Moving to the new Pines Professional Center at 5140 Clyde Morris Blvd. will allow him to double the size of his Port Orange practice upon its completion noting that his decision also allowed the landlord of Summer Trees Plaza to lease the vacant storefront space on the other side of Dr Eye's current location to the new Dazzle Digit Nails & Spa salon Don Giovanni's desperately needed more spaceThe Don Giovanni pizzeria which opened four years ago recently took second place in The Daytona Beach News-Journal/LocaliQ's reader poll of the Daytona Beach area's "best pizza restaurant." The Port Orange Don Giovanni pizzeria currently occupies a cozy 1,400-square-foot space that often has a line of customers waiting for an available table Known for its authentic Italian cuisine (Gio is a native of Naples, Italy) and Shana's outgoing fun-loving personality as a host, the eatery quickly gained a following of regular customers, prompting the couple's decision two years ago to open a second location in Ormond Beach It didn't solve the need for more room at their original Port Orange restaurant everyone essentially feels like they're having dinner together," said Shana but at the same time you don't want to be eating with the whole restaurant." The couple said their preference was to try to remain at Summer Trees Plaza which is in the heart of the city's fast-growing area west of Interstate 95 That opportunity came when Great Florida Insurance agent Gordon Gillespie moved his agency out of Summer Trees Plaza to its present location on Nova Road in South Daytona early last year The storefront space he vacated was two doors over from Don Giovanni's But that space was roughly the same size as that of the pizzeria and Dr The property managers for Summer Trees Plaza came up with a novel solution: they offered financial incentives to try to persuade Iannarelli to move his Dr which would allow the Spinosas to expand their pizzeria Iannarelli said the offer wasn't worth the disruption to his business which has occupied its current space the past 11 years And the hassle of moving to a space exactly the same size as before didn't make any sense When he learned about the availability of a vacant 1.39-acre land parcel on Clyde Morris According to Volusia County property records he closed his $450,000 purchase of the property on June 20 With the land already zoned for Planned Commercial Development Iannarelli quickly obtained the necessary approvals from the city to begin construction of the single-story four-unit Pines Professional Center which will offer a total of 8,501 square feet of space which will be roughly 2,500 square feet in size The new Pines Professional Center is just south of Gaff's Quality Meat across the street from the Port Orange Walmart supercenter "We're looking for mostly professional businesses maybe other doctors' offices," Iannarelli said of his plans to lease out the building's other three units the company that manages Summer Trees Plaza said when Iannarelli turned down their offer to compensate him for relocating to the former Great Florida Insurance space the plaza's out-of-state landlord agreed to sign him to a short-term lease to allow the optometrist time to build his own office building They were then able to lease the former Great Florida Insurance space to Loc Ngo owner of the new Dazzle Digit Nails & Spa salon "I was kind of surprised that Jason (Iannarelli) didn't take the offer we'd made for him to move one unit over "I got to add a new tenant and allow Giovanni to expand It (the bigger pizzeria) should be a big hit." The Spinosas said they have been working on plans on how to build out the soon-to-be former Dr Eye space next door in phases so they can minimize the downtime for their restaurant during construction They plan to build a bigger commercial kitchen in the new space and work on renovating the rest of it while keeping the current restaurant open as long as possible before tearing down the wall separating the two units they could complete the expansion in just a month but the couple acknowledged it could take longer when the Port Orange pizzeria does have to temporarily close they hope customers will be able to visit them at their Ormond Beach location at 1930 W When the expanded Port Orange pizzeria opens it will offer more than just additional seating Gio said he plans to expand the menu to include more authentic Italian dishes as well as expand the eatery's selection of fine wines The couple hope to start offering special events such as food-and-wine pairings "We like to give people a little more of an experience," said Gio Spinosa Added Shana: "We're just very thankful for the ability to grow even bigger and better." Iannarelli marvels at how the unexpected chain of events resulted in benefitting both his business as well as the Spinosas Both Iannarelli and the Spinosas said they expect to add workers when they expand their respective businesses "Sometimes things work out because things present themselves in a way you may not have did this otherwise but it all works out perfectly," said Iannarelli (This story has been updated to add that Walmart has committed to a $2,500 donation for a nonprofit and to add photos of the cats from the colony near the Walmart.) Barbara Schmidt is back and the Port Orange “Walmart cats” probably couldn’t be happier Schmidt had been feeding a colony that live in some brush near the Walmart She had just finished feeding the cats when police and a Walmart security employee showed up Schmidt said she was trespassed from the Walmart She could not return to feed the animals or shop at the store There was no indication there was any problems,” she said the 81-year-old Schmidt also worked to keep the colony from growing through trap She said she spends $15,000 a year on food for the cats That money does not include any vet bills she pays But her work came to an abrupt end when she was trespassed And I feed about 35 to 40 cats in there,” Schmidt said She said she had a good working relationship with the managers at the Walmart so she was not sure what the problem was She said that the problem started when a cat and her kittens kept taking refuge in the garden center Schmidt was trying to get the cats out when an employee saw her and started screaming at her She said the second time the same employee saw her in the parking lot "He went screaming and yelling right in my face," Schmidt Schmidt said she did not make a formal complaint about the employees and she added she has good relations with the managers and other workers at the store Schmidt did not post about her situation on social media “I got started on my client’s case against Walmart on March 12 we had already reached the resolution with Walmart; they apologized the trespass order against my client was lifted and Walmart also pledged $2,500 to a local animal charity,” Levy wrote A Walmart spokesperson wrote that Walmart had committed to the $2,500 donation Schmidt’s love for animals and her dedication to taking care of these cats We’re pleased that we’ve come to an agreement allowing her to continue caring for them in an area away from our store and its entrances,” the spokesperson wrote Many in community backed Schmidt and catsLevy said many in the community supported Schmidt They all wanted to show support for the cat colony,” Levy said Levy wrote she was fighting for Schmidt and for the cats “I became a lawyer to help fight injustice and am grateful for every opportunity to answer my calling.”  Levy said of Schmidt: “She’s a very responsible caregiver who takes her job as a caregiver very seriously.” Walmart employees were happy to see Schmidt because otherwise the cats would be starving,” Schmidt said Schmidt said she is also thankful that some people were dropping off food for the cats while she was persona-non grata from the Walmart One of those people was Cindy Nour of Daytona Beach Shores Shores tends to a cat colony in that city and follows trap When Schmidt was banned from feeding her colony Nour helped by bringing the cats some food “She was very distraught thinking that the cats were not being fed And that in itself was inhumane taking animals that are accustomed to being fed and not feeding them,” Nour said Nour said the brush is apparently being used by people There was also some drug paraphernalia in the woods Nour said people like herself and Schmidt who help cat colonies are doing good work and it's unfortunate Schmidt had to deal with being trespassed And what she is doing is actually a good thing," Nour said Schmidt back with the cats at Port Orange WalmartSchmidt said she is in the brush by the Walmart everyday “I’m there every single day and I’m into the brush because I feed the cats in the brush out of danger and they are not interfering with the customers at Walmart,” Schmidt said She said she has taken the cats that were chilling in the garden center to her house to avoid any more problems She said some of the colony's cats have been there for a decade Schmidt said that a woman had taken care of the colony until she died Then her daughter cared for the cats until she died And then Schmidt started caring for the cats about a half-dozen years ago Schmidt also picks up trash she finds in the brush She also sprays for fire ants to keep them away from the cat food and it would be like any other living thing that expects food at a certain time they definitely know who I am,” Schmidt said A Samsula family has stepped up to buy the former Ritter's Frozen Custard property in Port Orange They plan to convert the distinctive 12-sided building into a combination hamburger joint and ice cream shop his wife Mara and their sons Michael and Christopher have begun renovating the building's interior which will include the addition of a full-service commercial kitchen the Port Orange Frozen Gold Ice Cream will open in early March with Big Mike's Burgers opening in mid to late April the family (doing business as Saljanin LLC) paid $1.24 million on Jan 7 to acquire the two-acre property on the northeast corner of Clyde Morris and Herbert Street The purchase included the dodecagon-shaped 1,563-square-foot building that's been a local landmark since the Port Orange Ritter's Frozen Custard shop opened in August 1999 They have said they intend to look for another location to possibly reopen their Ritter's business Frank Saljanin said he was surprised when he saw the for-sale sign going up because "Ritter's had been there forever." He said his family were regular customers when his kids were growing up a Stetson University graduate with a degree in business administration and a real estate broker's license He learned the property was put up for sale by an out-of-state landlord and had generated interest from several prospective buyers All wanted to tear down the building and redevelop the property for national chains The Saljanin family decided to buy the property so they could save and fix up the building to become a second location for their two New Smyrna Beach eateries "I think the best thing here is that the (former Ritter's) building is getting saved," said Mara Saljanin Added Michael: "We like bringing new life to old places." The Saljanins intend to retain the property's mini-park and kids' playground Their Frozen Gold Ice Cream Shop at 104 Eddie Road in New Smyrna Beach features a similar outdoor seating area Michael Saljanin said his family plans to add a giant outdoor chair to their new location in Port Orange like the one they have next to Frozen Gold Customers enjoy having their photos taken in it The co-located eateries in Port Orange will be pet-friendly with Frozen Gold selling "pup cups" of ice cream and Big Mike's selling plain burger patties for pets "We want to make it a third-space," said Michael Saljanin "You have your home and where you go to work A third space is where you go to have fun." Frank was in middle school when his father moved his family to the Daytona Beach area from New York "Frozen Gold was the first place we stopped to get ice cream when we moved down here," Frank recalled Marko Saljanin ran a popular pizzeria in Orlando called Planet Pizza for 30 years until his death in 2019 The Orlando Weekly published a tribute to Marko describing him as a "jolly patriarch" and an "indelible figure in Orlando's history" who left "a deep imprint in the city's cultural fabric." Frank grew up working in the family business as did his sons "We always lived here (in Samsula) and drove to work in Orlando," he said He and his family decided to sell Planet Pizza after his dad's death so they could work closer to home The Saljanins became the landlords of Donnie's Donuts in New Smyrna Beach when they bought the property at 1112 W They bought the nearby Frozen Gold Ice Cream shop at 104 Eddie Road from the family of the late Bruce Rossmeyer three months later Frozen Gold has been in business under various owners since 1970 When the New Smyrna Beach Donnie's Donuts closed following the back-to-back hurricanes in 2022 Frank Saljanin said he and Michael decided to open Big Mike's Burgers there instead of leasing it to another tenant "Big Mike" has been Michael's nickname since he was a student at New Smyrna Beach High School where he captained the wrestling team. He made news in 2013 when at age 11 he led a successful fight to block an asphalt plant from being built in Samsula Christopher is a former officer with the Daytona Beach Police Department who joined the family business last year Big Mike's specializes in smash burgers served on pretzel buns and waffle fries as well as milkshakes and ice cream floats We roll our meat every day − certified Angus beef that's always fresh Frozen Gold serves soft-serve and hard scoop ice cream Frank said his family anticipates hiring 20 people at the new Port Orange location He added that former Ritter's employees are welcome to apply Frank Saljanin said John Dame has been extremely helpful in showing him the former Ritter's building and explaining the unique aspects to the property "He's one of the nicest people I have ever met." he said adding that he wishes the Dames great success in whatever it is they decide to do next Mayor welcomes new eateries to Port Orange"Ritter's was a fabulous business and social gathering spot for Port Orange residents for decades," said Port Orange Mayor Scott Stiltner I'm happy to hear that it (the building) will remain a great place for residents to enjoy ice cream and good eats with family and friends I wish the Frozen Gold and Big Mike's Burgers businesses tremendous success and welcome them to Port Orange." PORT ORANGE — The new Chuck E. Cheese pizza restaurant/family fun center quietly opened for business on Wednesday March 12 after receiving a certificate of occupancy from the city Cheese in Port Orange has passed all inspections and will be opening later today a spokeswoman for the chain's parent company CEC Entertainment The soft opening was originally scheduled for March 7, but was delayed until the building's general contractor finished installing a fire-safety system The community is invited to celebrate the return of Chuck E Cheese to Port Orange when the eatery holds its grand opening festivities on Thursday "Families will enjoy an evening of kid-friendly entertainment with free cake giant balloon drop and special appearances from Chuck E. we're giving away free 30 minutes of game play for each child during the event." in The Pavilion at Port Orange shopping center CheeseThe chain originally opened its Port Orange location at The Pavilion in 2013 but that standalone building was destroyed during Hurricane Ian in September 2022 The irreparably damaged structure was torn down the next year and replaced by a completely new restaurant that includes new features (This story was corrected to reflect that McKenzy R Nazien is eligible for parole on the count of attempted first-degree murder The state attorney's office originally said he was not eligible for parole on either sentence This story was also updated with additional information.) A 20-year-old man was sentenced to two consecutive life prison sentences after a jury convicted him of first-degree premeditated murder for gunning down one man and trying to kill another at the Sunrise Pointe Apartments in Port Orange three years ago Kathleen McNeilly presided over the trial at the Volusia County Courthouse in DeLand and sentenced Nazien to the mandatory life in prison without parole on the count of first-degree murder with a firearm public information officer for the State Attorney's Office McNeilly sentenced Nazien to a consecutive term of life in prison on a count of attempted first-degree murder with a firearm in the attempted killing of Cox-Saunders Nazien and Brown were members of separate groups working together on a debit card A complaint by someone who said they were shorted $50 exploded into violence with Nazien shooting Brown and a huge gunfight breaking out in part of the Sunrise Pointe Apartments on Richel Drive according to Assistant State Attorney Andrew Urbanak Urbanak likened the scene to “a war zone.” Investigators recovered 48 bullet casings of differing types from the apartment complex The prosecutor showed jurors photos of shell casings found in the parking lot bullet holes in a van and bullet holes in an apartment The cas was investigated by the Port Orange Police Department Larizza stated in a release that Nazien was one of the office's "Young Guns" defendants "The defendant shot our victim multiple times and at least 40 rounds were expended during this shooting episode," Larizza stated in the release "It is nothing short of miraculous that more folks weren't shot or killed Another example of the disturbing trend of a teenager engaging in homicidal activity." PORT ORANGE − Construction is underway on a food truck court just south of the city of Port Orange's Riverwalk Park and the new Tiki Docks restaurant "I think it's very likely that the public will like it (the food truck court) so much that they (Bristol Development) will end up working it into their permanent plans," he said The food truck court will be located on the northwest corner of Herbert Street and Halifax Drive just south of the separately owned and operated Tiki Docks restaurant Upon completion the court will offer a half-dozen food trucks and live music on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The facility will include outdoor seating, a covered stage, and public restrooms as well as a new Beach Bros coffee shop/coffee roasting plant that will also serve beer and wine Beach Bros and the new public restrooms will be located in an existing building on the premises at 373 Halifax Drive a 3,120-square-foot structure built in 1973 that used to be used as a recreational facility Beach Bros Coffee is an already existing business run by Brian Shleifer and Paul Hartley It was established in January 2024 and debuted a pop-up outdoor cafe at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach in April of that year More information on the business can be found at beachbroscoffee.com When is it expected to open?The target date for opening the food truck court is either the last weekend of February or the first weekend of March the president of Benedict Advertising in Daytona Beach who is taking a lead role in overseeing the food truck court's creation Benedict is also a partner in a company called ParkerStark that will have a hand in operating four of the six planned food trucks at the Port Orange food truck court What food trucks will be taking part?Benedict said plans call for the four food trucks his company helps run to serve the food truck court on a regular basis other locally owned food trucks will also be on hand on a rotating basis The four food trucks slated to be ongoing fixtures at the food truck court are "Chicken Spit" (serving rotisserie chicken dishes created by Chef Jason Goodenough) "La Pinsa" (which will serve "Roman-style" pizza) "Spagato" (which will serve gelato frozen desserts in spaghetti form) and MoPho (which will serve French/Vietnamese/Cajun dishes created by multiple James Beard Award-nominated chef Michael Gulotta from Louisiana) "We've already had a number of local food truck operators reach out to us (to be part of the Port Orange food truck court)," said Benedict Benedict is a partner in the popular side-by-side Jimmy Hula's surf-style taco restaurant and Dunes Brewing Company in Port Orange's Down Under area at the east end of the Dunlawton Bridge that is part of the city's community redevelopment area that includes the Riverwalk district at the bridge's west end "(Port Orange Community Development Director) Tim Burman asked if I'd be interested in getting involved in working with Bristol Development and the city to create the food truck court," Benedict said "They (Bristol Development Group) love this area," he added "What we're doing is a temporary solution so the community has a place to go (along the Halifax River for dining options and entertainment)." Bristol's plans call for the development of a mixed-use complex that will include two riverfront restaurants luxury apartments and a parking garage on 13 acres it intends to purchase from the city at the south end of the Riverwalk District Benedict said he has been told that Bristol hopes to begin site work and construction of the mixed-use development in either late 2026 or early 2027 Construction would begin at the south end of the property which would allow the food truck court to continue operating at least initially during that period Plans submitted to the city for the mixed-use project under the working title "Riveryard," also show that a two-block section of Halifax Drive where the interim food truck court is being built would remain designated as an area for festival-style events "We want spaces along the river that we can enjoy with our families," said Stiltner which is located at the north end of the Riverwalk District (3459 S Ridgewood Ave.) has already become a big draw in the community as has the new Tiki Docks restaurant at 3633 S Stiltner praised Benedict as a local entrepreneur who has been instrumental in revitalizing the city's Down Under area a longtime City Commissioner who was elected to become Mayor this past November said he was initially a skeptic when he first heard about food trucks "many years ago." He has since changed his mind after having attended food truck events in other communities PORT ORANGE — Division was clear among those who spoke about water fluoridation during the City Council’s Tuesday night meeting, which ended with a 3-2 split vote from the board to keep adding fluoride to the city’s water supply Residents worried about their children’s health, and some, who argued water fluoridation is a form of forced medical treatment, spoke against the practice as a whole. On the other hand, several local dentists spoke in favor of community water fluoridation emphasizing its proven safety and effectiveness in preventing tooth decay over many decades Councilmembers Shawn Goepfert and Jonathan Foley and Vice Mayor Tracy Grubbs approved a motion to continue the city’s water fluoridation operation Mayor Scott Stiltner and councilman Lance Green were opposed Port Orange councilmembers weigh fluoride decisionIn 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan, became the first city in the world to fluoridate its drinking water, according to the National Institute of Health After 11 years of monitoring 30,000 school children in the city officials found that cavity rates among the group “dropped more than 60%.”   Water fluoridation was a discussion item on the City Council’s agenda with the possibility of a vote if a councilmember made a motion to either continue or discontinue the practice Stiltner thanked community members who reached out with information and opinions on both sides of the debate The mayor said residents’ personal choices were “a big factor” in his consideration of the issue in a lot of the data and research that you read the concept of fluoridation early had a lot to do with … large communities that struggled to provide dental hygiene — they don’t have that,” Stiltner said you have got to ask yourself: Are we that city?” He argued that Port Orange is a “well-off” city where dental hygiene is “very teach children about caring for their oral health and I don’t see a city that fits that prior mold of ‘How else are they going to take care of their teeth?’” Grubbs said the information surrounding the subject “is a lot to take in when you are dealing with people’s health.” The vice mayor said one the aspects of the discussion that he found concerning was how accessible dental care might be for community members “It is a major concern,” Grubbs said, highlighting the county’s health department program, Volusia Volunteers in Medicine which can offer free medical and limited dental care to residents who meet certain requirements “That’s a big concern for me — everybody should have equal health.” Foley said he is open to new information about the issue, which he expects will come out the state Legislature’s proposed Senate Bill 700 which would prohibit local municipalities from adding fluoride to public water systems “There is a lot of testimony and a lot of evidence and they are going to get a much better presentation than the five of us are going from the information we are getting,” Foley said “I think we might want to make sure to let the state hear all the arguments and then follow their lead on this.” local dentists offer opposing viewsMichelle Edwards was one of the residents who sent “numerous studies” to council members which she claimed document the “negative effects of fluoridated water.” Edwards took issue with the argument that Port Orange’s level of concentrated fluoride in the water supply is lower than other cities and below the U.S Public Health Service recommended .7 milligrams per liter limit “Focusing on the concentration levels overlooks the fact that it is the total daily dose of fluoride that causes toxicity,” Edwards said that should not be the main focus of this discussion.” “is that our citizens currently do not have the ability to opt out of something being added to their water for medical purposes Fluoride debate heats up: Parents are seeking fluoride-free dentists. Here's what experts say. “No one should be subjected to a medical intervention without having the freedom to make the decision for themselves especially when it comes to something as fundamental as the water we drink,” she added Several other residents echoed Edwards’ call for individuals to be able to choose what goes in the water they and their families drink with many adding that access to fluoride treatment can be available through other means said she has seen what water fluoridation can do to help the community’s oral health as well as the negative sides of no fluoridation “It’s traumatic for children whenever they need to get dental work done,” Smillie said adding that most children are more comfortable seeing a pediatric dentist as opposed to coming to a general practice office “Even with a great pediatric dentist here in town access to care is still a big issue that we struggle with.” National organizations and medical groups such as the American Dental Association the American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have stood by their view that water fluoridation in the U.S is safe and effective in preventing tooth decay in children and adults Athas Kometas said has been in practice for almost 40 years even before the city had adopted water fluoridation when he “saw the fillings that were being done.” “But what gets me is why the hell am I here?” Kometas said “I stand to gain from the fluoride being removed from the water because I know first-hand we will have more cavities But I actually believe I want to help my patients … And I really want to help the patients who can’t afford the care.” He suggested the city consult its planning and zoning officers if they decide to remove fluoride from the water supply “because you are going to need twice as many dentists.” PORT ORANGE — The husband-and-wife owners of Ritter's Frozen Custard a local landmark eatery for more than a quarter-century announced that Sunday will be their last day in business John Dame who co-owns the restaurant/ice cream shop with his wife Renee confirmed that they are looking for a new location in hopes of reopening the business they started in 1999 "I don't know where we'll wind up," said Dame The couple said they need their new location to have a drive-through lane which has become a must in the fast-food industry in recent years It's something the current Port Orange location lacks Renee Dame said she and her husband live in Daytona Beach They would like to keep their business within a 20-mile radius of its current location "People from Port Orange/New Smyrna Beach all the way to Ormond Beach and even Palm Coast know our business so we would want to stay within that range Dame said their lease expired and that their landlord decided to put the two-acre property up for sale as a potential retail redevelopment site in Port Orange is on the northeast corner of Clyde Morris and Herbert Street Commercial Realtors with CBRE in Orlando recently erected a "for sale" sign in front of Ritter's advertising the property as a two-acre retail site The listing for the property on CBRE's website describes it as a "development opportunity at signalized hard corner" and gives an asking price of $1.3 million An undated description of the property from several years ago on the real estate website Zillow described it as "a prime corner with more land to develop Possibly up to 4,000 (square feet) and could double that by going two stories." The Zillow listing showed that the property was put up for sale in 2010 with an asking price of $1.79 million but then was taken off the market the following year The News-Journal was unable to reach the commercial Realtors marketing the property for comment What is Ritter's?The Port Orange Ritter's opened on Aug 1999 in a distinctive 12-sided standalone 1,563-square-foot building that was constructed to the Dames' specifications In addition to a large surface parking lot the property includes a kids play area and several picnic tables John Dame is a military veteran who served in the Air Force and then went on to a career in the restaurant business working 22 years for the Eddy Corp. which was a longtime McDonald's franchisee in Volusia County His wife worked 35 years at the Social Security office in Port Orange She retired in 2014 to work full time at Ritter's John Dame said he and his wife got the idea to become franchisees of Ritter's after visiting friends in Greenwood They took the couple to a Ritter's location in Indianapolis on a chilly fall evening in 1996 "All three (walkup) windows were open and 10 customers were in line at each window at 9:45 at night (in 30 degree weather)," John Dame recalled The Dames opened the first Ritter's location in Florida Their Port Orange eatery's reputation as both a family-friendly and pet-friendly eatery helped grow a strong base of regular customers that come from as far north as Palm Coast and as far south as Edgewater In addition to serving a wide array of frozen custard desserts and milk shakes it offers a limited menu of food items that include Nathan's hotdogs We believe we have the best ice cream product out there," said Renee Dame when asked how she and her husband have managed to stay in business for so many years in an industry with a high failure rate "We really strive to have the best customer service out there," she added "We did what we could to keep the customers happy." Employee says 'it's a great first job'Renee Dame said one of their main goals when they started was "to develop young people and help prepare them for their futures." The 20 people they currently employ includes a number of local high school students began working at Ritter's as a server at age 15 after being a customer since she was a child with her family "It's like family here," the Atlantic High School graduate said of why she continues to work at Ritter's while attending classes at Daytona State College to become a radiologist I think we're going to be able to reopen." The couple do own a food truckThe Dames also have a Ritter's food truck that caters birthday parties John Dame said he and his wife have not yet decided whether they will operate their business out of their food truck while looking for a new location They would need a commercial kitchen in order to do that Renee Dame said she and her husband plan to eventually retire but are not yet ready to call it quits on their restaurant/ice cream shop business She added that she is also a trainer for TRUFOODS LLC the New York-based franchisor for Ritter's She has helped franchise operators open Ritter's locations in other parts of Florida as well as in Texas Who currently owns the property?According to Volusia County property records the land where Ritter's is currently located is owned by an entity called Lookie LLC an Indiana-based limited liability company whose managing partner is a man named Howard I The News-Journal was unable to reach Gross for comment John Dame said he and his wife were originally partners in an investor group that included Gross and another investor that acquired the Port Orange property in the 1990s Dame said he and his wife switched from being partners in Lookie LLC to strictly being tenants on a long-term lease that was renewed in 2020 Gross today is the sole owner of Lookie LLC The Dames said they intend to maintain their regular hours of operation through Sunday unless they run out of product before then The Port Orange Ritter's is open weekdays from 11 a.m If they still have product to sell on Sunday They're open to adding investors"If there's any investors out there that would like to join us in our new pursuit we're always open to talking to people." added Renee Dame The couple can be reached via email at ritters116@gmail.com A chemical spill into a Port Orange sewer plant led to evacuation and shelter in place orders for residents and businesses Wednesday morning according to a Facebook update from the city offloaded a chemical into the wrong tank with the potential to cause a possible hazmat situation at the Sewer Plant at 817 Oak Street," according to the update residents and businesses in certain areas near the plant were asked to evacuate or shelter in place while emergency crews managed the situation." More in Port Orange: Port Orange to ask for $3.7M in state funds for water management, sports fields projects The issue involved two chemicals "that could mix together to potentially create chlorine gas," city spokesman Mike Springer told The News-Journal Chlorine gas is "a toxic gas with corrosive properties," according to the Centers for Disease Control "It is widely used as bleach in the manufacture of paper and cloth and in manufacturing solvents synthetic rubber and refrigerants," according to the agency's website The residential evacuation area was east of Dunlawton Avenue as well as the business park area south of the sewer plant Residents on the social media platform reported before 11 a.m that police were driving through the neighborhood asking them to evacuate The city does not yet know how many residents or businesses had to be evacuated one sewer plant employee "was taken to get checked out as a precaution Port Orange Fire and Rescue remains on the scene with the help from the Volusia County Fire Rescue With zero regrets and hundreds of memories this family-owned restaurant has decided to close its doors after four years serving the Port Orange area Bela Lisboa will serve its final share of Mediterranean fare Sunday who opened the restaurant in 2021 with his wife The couple’s decision to part ways with the establishment was summed up with a single word: “Tired,” Vagos said with a sigh of quiet exhaustion this was a good opportunity for us to just take a bit of a break.” New Flagler Beach restaurants, cafes? 7 area eateries open in March, 2 close Mom’s Home Cooking says goodbye after 25 years serving New Smyrna Beach 'Simple, delicious and clean’: The best restaurant I’ve tried this week in Port Orange the Vagoses certainly weren’t restaurant rookies having owned a Portuguese restaurant in Romania for roughly four years an Italian restaurant in Portugal and even another Bela Lisboa in Tennessee — which Vagos later sold Despite the gamble of its tucked-away location Bela Lisboa proved to be a chance worth taking — one Vagos looks back on with few critiques “In the beginning it was tough recruiting — finding someone with a background in Mediterranean cuisine,” he said “… but I don’t think I would change anything and we made our changes throughout the years to get the community in here,” incorporating Spanish and Italian touches Not quite the European Cracker Barrel: New Smyrna Beach gourmet pantry to expand with café 2-day festival brings tacos, treats, live music to Daytona Beach “There’s not many restaurants around with a menu like ours It makes us unique; it makes us a destination,” he said “… And now we know the market much better than when we first moved here We learned that you probably have to use more social media and advertising.” friends,” Alberto’s Pizza Shop of Port Orange commented and we are wishing you the very best in your next adventure.” Hundreds of others offered their well wishes and a virtual cheers to starting new chapters while acknowledging the city’s “culinary loss.” Mexican scratch kitchen to expand with 4th location in Ormond Beach It’s nice that people love us that much but “… I Just want to say thank you for the support of the community but the ones we did please … they’ve been very supportive to keep us going here.” What’s next for Bela Lisboa?Following its Sunday closure the restaurant is planning to reopen under a new concept with new owners — a couple from Pennsylvania they plan to spend some well-earned time away with family though this likely won’t be the last we hear of them “We’re probably going to spend some time in Tennessee” Vagos said “We’re gonna take some time off … Put our ideas together and come up with a plan You might see us again around this area .. call 386-262-5828 or visit facebook.com/belalisboarestaurantfl (This story was updated with new information.) Coffee doesn’t have to be just a quick caffeine fix or an early a.m it can be an experience — a journey of nuanced farm-to-cup flavors shaped by the unique profile of its origin and artistry of expert roasters the upcoming opening of owners' Brian Shleifer and Paul Hartley’s first brick-and-mortar location in Port Orange is a testament to the area’s ever-growing appreciation for specialty coffee and their unshakable commitment to providing it 15 iconic restaurants in the Daytona, Flagler area that have stood the test of time 'We feel very supported': Family-owned business to expand with New Smyrna Beach bakery If you’ve attended any Tortugas games in the last year or ventured down A1A on Daytona’s bustling beachside boasting the words “Beach Bros Coffee Company.” Shleifer and Hartley brought the brand to life last April nestled within Daytona’s historic Jackie Robinson Ballpark could be found on gamedays during the season right outside Daytona Beach’s iconic Streamline Hotel after noticing a lack of specialty Colombian coffee options in the area — a drought they quickly remedied the third largest coffee producer globally maintains a revered reputation for its bold area locals have been able to savor its fine flavors right from their cups in Daytona Beach The brand prides itself on offering ethically-sourced showcased within the multitude of unique drinks decorating its beverage menu from classic drip coffee and espresso to the marshmallow-topped Seaside Bonfire latte and Queen Bee latte — a personal favorite that combines honey-infused Americano with cinnamon and rich vanilla bean foam the beaming duo looks forward to expanding their local caffeine footprint with their first permanent location along the Halifax River at 3738 Halifax Drive in Port Orange — a long-anticipated venture they described as the ultimate goal since the brand’s inception 'Moonshiners: Master Distiller' crowns Holly Hill distillery owner its winner The new shop, one of the area’s first beer, wine and specialty coffee bars right on the water, is opening, tentatively by mid-April, in tandem with Port Orange’s new food truck court located at the northwest corner of Herbert Street and Halifax Drive 3,120 square-feet in size and over half-century old the duo knew it would be an uphill climb renovating it to their standards “What you see is two palm trees and the Dunlawton Bridge,” Shleifer explained We made it before we even started the company The logo is created with two palm trees and a bridge.” Date night approved: 8 Best romantic restaurants in the Daytona Beach area The uncanny resemblance made the location a no-brainer for the two Port Orange residents and they quickly got to work with a timely turnaround in mind What to expect at Beach Bros Coffee’s new beer wine and coffee barThe expansive new location will elevate the classic grab-and-go style operation that average coffee shop customers are accustomed to educational experience that’s rewarding to both coffee enthusiasts and casual coffee drinkers You don’t have to wait for seasons,” Hartley continued Best Daytona Beach restaurants? 5 area favorites everyone should try at least once 5 New Smyrna Beach restaurants , 1 bakery make Southern Living’s dining guide guests can look forward to a menu that features over a dozen coffee variations and coffee flights a setup where customers can package their own specialty coffees and a cupping bar where guests can sample various coffees while learning about the farms from which they’re sourced and the unique storing Beach Bros takes pride in offering an exclusive often limited selection of freshly harvested coffee that is “locally imported in small batch roasts” and roasted to order It’s smooth and there’s not a lot of after taste,” Hartley said noting the quality difference in specialty coffee that customers’ almost instinctual “mmmms” have continued to affirm as opposed to “just buying it off a boat or from these random third-party distributors,” Shleifer said The brand currently works with four high-altitude that together produce roughly 14 different exotic coffee variations informative experience that encourages curiosity facilitates conversation and answers questions through every cup Shleifer and Hartley are introducing a “classy upscale” element to the local shop with the addition of a beer and wine nook which will feature roughly half a dozen beers a “decent variety” of local and imported wines and Anticipated new DeLand restaurant and lounge serves upscale eats, craft juiced cocktails Savoring the sea: Exploring the best seafood restaurants in the Daytona, Flagler area Alongside its beloved variety of breakfast goods and Italian-imported desserts — like the tiramisu pistachio tortino and ricotta or hazelnut cream krapfens — the brand’s menu will expand with various sandwiches and potentially Colombian pastries The shop will feature Indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the river hopes to ultimately distribute Beach Bros Coffee to local restaurants and retailers while continuing to saturate their community with more coffee trailers in the future — “ideally” a dozen from Ormond Beach to Miami within the next few years what did we used to say — the sky’s the limit,” Hartley said Shleifer continued: “We want everyone’s experience to be coming into that little café and — from conversation with the barista and watching the coffee be made to the way it looks and the way it tastes — leaving with a memory “Having a memorable moment and experience to us is the difference between our coffee shop and other coffee shops Beach Bros Coffee Company’s trailer is currently located at 140 S PORT ORANGE — Chuck E. Cheese is set to make its return to The Pavilion at Port Orange in early to mid-March An employee leaving the freestanding pizza restaurant/family fun center nearing completion at 5539 S in Port Orange said the staff was told to expect to open on Friday also reported March 7 as the Port Orange location's reopening date But Port Orange Mayor Scott Stiltner recently received an email from a representative for the chain stating that the location at The Pavilion is tentatively slated to open on March 13 The email asked Stiltner to set aside either March 26 or 27 to attend a VIP event for the new Port Orange Chuck E Kayla Limon is the public relations professional working on behalf of Chuck E Cheese parent company CEC Entertainment who sent Stiltner the email "As of now there's nothing finalized that I can state." "My understanding is that a grand opening will be held in mid- to late March but that there will be a soft opening before that." Texas-based restaurant chain had not yet requested an inspection That's the last step required before it can receive a certificate of occupancy to open the Port Orange location What happened to the old Port Orange Chuck E. Cheese?A freestanding Chuck E. Cheese restaurant/arcade opened at The Pavilion in 2013, but was destroyed during Hurricane Ian in late September 2022 The irreparably damaged building was torn down in October 2023 to make way for a completely new one to be built on the exact same spot Cheese is slightly bigger at 13,633 square feet in size It will also offer new features the old one didn't a spokeswoman for CEC Entertainment who spoke with The News-Journal in November said "The Port Orange location will be the first in Florida to offer an Adventure Zone — an all-new Ninja Run obstacle course and Trampoline Zone — elevating the Chuck E The company last year phased out its robot puppets at almost all of its restaurants CEC Entertainment CEO David McKillips in an interview with The New York Times last year described the switch to giant video walls which is slightly more than that $1.6 million spent to build the chain's original location at The Pavilion The general contractor is Parkway Construction Chouinard in November said the new Port Orange location was expected to employ 25 to 30 workers (a.k.a. A hiring sign can still be seen in front of the soon-to-open Chuck E Job openings were posted on the website for Chuck E 19 and 24 for several positions including "food prep cook," "pizza maker," "party host," "game room attendant," "kid check attendant," and "server." and ready to re-open," said Stiltner on Thursday – A three-day festival in Port Orange this weekend will highlight craft beer and “delicious cuisine” at Riverwalk Park The Spring Brew & Food Fest is back from Friday through Sunday offering free family fun and live entertainment The festival will also feature “an incredible variety of local brews," a beer garden "The festival is the perfect opportunity to gather with friends and family for an unforgettable spring weekend‚" the event’s website reads. festivals and more by signing up for our Central Florida Happenings newsletter Here’s a look at the live entertainment schedule: For a look at the complete schedule of the festival, click here to visit the event’s website — Halloween marked three weeks since Hurricane Milton made landfall in Central Florida Some residents in the city of Port Orange are cleaning up the mess leftover by a storm for a second time now One resident on Spruce Creek Road blames the flooding on the city’s lack of preparation Ryann Stevens is calling for an immediate temporary solution to the flooding problem in her neighborhood that goes beyond sandbags brought out by the city her home flooded for a second time in two years and she said she thinks more could’ve been done ahead of the storm “How many?” is what Stevens’ 6-year-old son was asking his mom when he saw the floodwaters from Milton coming into his home in the middle of the night “We didn’t know when the water was going to stop coming in so that’s kind of what he was saying was ‘how many more minutes’ until it stops coming in,” Stevens explained She has had to scrap all the floors in her home and dispose of a good chunk of her furniture for a second time. Not to mention Stevens had to get rid of her four vehicles that were damaged by the storm Frustrated to be doing this for a second time Stevens said she’s raising awareness on the issue for an immediate temporary solution to this ongoing problem “They basically told us they’re planning to fix it but it’s not actually going to be fixed for 10 years Let’s just get something that will protect us for now,” Stevens said about her feedback from city officials at the last city council meeting Ryann Stevens' home flooded during Hurricane Milton Port Orange Mayor Donald Burnette acknowledged that the sandbags lined up along the Cambridge Levee were just a temporary fix to a larger problem The city’s berm is used to protect neighboring homes and infrastructures from storm surge from the Spruce Creek River the water from Spruce Creek comes off the Halifax Canal which makes its way eastward into the Halifax River and into the Atlantic Ocean A system of canals also flows through several parts of Stevens’ neighborhood which is where she said the water that seeped into her home likely came from Burnette said a permanent solution is on its way but says that it will unfortunately take time before residents will see those effects it’s like we can’t rely on the wall anymore or the sandbags so it’s like every storm that we get we’re expecting that we’re going to flood and that shouldn’t be how it is,” she said The city of Port Orange’s public information officer the Cambridge pump station and its berm are working and were functioning during Hurricane Milton even though water flowed over the top of the berm “Low-lying areas near bodies of water and built before modern stormwater regulations went into place in the 1990s can be particularly vulnerable to flooding especially during significant rainfalls like those experienced during Ian and Milton.” Burnette said the city’s infrastructure isn’t able to deal with the kind of storm surge they experienced during hurricanes Ian and Milton Burnette said that he thought Hurricane Ian was a “one-off” but since then he said the city has put forward various projects to address the flooding concerns that will probably become a “new trend” as he calls it Springer outlined some of the city’s permanent solutions to addressing flooding The city expects construction for these projects to begin next fall and is expecting its master plan to be completed early next year the city also said its Public Works Department is continuing to do “regular maintenance and cleaning of canals and stormwater systems to keep them operating efficiently.” Burnette said acquiring the money to fund these projects is another challenge but he said he anticipates some will come from the taxpayer fund the Federal Emergency Management Agency (specifically with the project at Cambridge Canal) Stevens said she and her community will continue to rally together to raise awareness on the issue until something gets done especially after the storms we really came together,” she said Port Orange’s next city council is taking place at 6:30 p.m PORT ORANGE —News that the popular Ritter's Frozen Custard shop here has lost its lease has elicited an outpouring of comments and reactions on social media "I can't believe this," wrote Sandi Azeez on the Daytona Beach News-Journal's Facebook page of Sunday 12 being the last day for Ritter's at its longtime location at 4629 S Such an incredible place to work and (the) owners were such kind-hearted Maureen Moore Snyder wrote that she has been stopping at Ritter's regularly to buy "a great hot fudge sundae" to take to her husband who is in a memory care assisted-living facility "Now where?" she asked in her Facebook post Genevieve Lowe wrote that the news of the impending departure of Ritter's "makes me so sad I was born in (19)99 and just had my first baby and was so excited to take him there when he's old enough." John and Renee Dame of local franchisees who opened Ritter's Frozen Custard in Port Orange on Aug 1999 in a distinctive 12-sided standalone building that was built to their specifications The couple were originally partners with two out-of-state investors who bought the then-vacant two-acre property on the northeast corner of Clyde Morris and Herbert Street at their request in the mid-1990s with the Dames agreeing to become lease-paying tenants with Howard Gross of Indianapolis becoming their landlord Gross currently owns the property under an entity called Lookie LLC Why are they temporarily closing?With the Dames' long-term lease finally expiring Gross decided to put the property up for sale Commercial Realtors with CBRE in Orlando are currently marketing it as a retail redevelopment site that could potentially accommodate a larger standalone building if the current one is torn down Search for a new home is underwayThe Dames have begun searching for a new site to potentially reopen their Ritter's restaurant/ice cream shop said they would like to keep their business in east Volusia County and are open to considering sites from Ormond Beach south to New Smyrna Beach Their one stipulation is that the new location must be able to accommodate a drive-through service lane which they said has become a must for the fast-food industry in recent years Commenters on Facebook have suggested that the Dames relocate their business everywhere from Palm Coast to DeLand and Edgewater economic development manager for the City of South Daytona told The News-Journal that he would be interested in talking with the Dames about the possibility of moving their business to his city "Would love to have them come to South Daytona," McEnany wrote in a text message "We have a few grants and would love to have them join our busy (commercial) corridor (Ridgewood Avenue)." John and Renee Dame said they would welcome hearing from anyone interested in becoming a partner with them in reopening Ritter's at a permanent new location They can be reached via email at ritters116@gmail.com (This story has been updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.) Halifax Health on Jan. 2 will open its newest emergency room building in Port Orange — the first part of the new multi-facility location on Williamson Boulevard Hospital staff and community members gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony Dec 14 for the nearly 9,000-square-foot building located on the corner of Williamson Boulevard and Airport Road dubbed “Port Orange South,” includes plans for another 7,000-square-foot medical office building with construction to begin at a later date Previous coverage: Halifax Health to bring medical office, ER buildings to new Port Orange location The facility is “the only free-standing emergency department in the area staffed exclusively by board-certified emergency room physicians,” according to a press release from John Guthrie vice president and spokesman for Halifax Health Halifax Health also promises to offer “the most current medical technology” and “comprehensive” 24/7 care for patients of all ages Other features of the new Halifax emergency room include: "While this opening represents Halifax Health’s expansion in Port Orange South additional phases may be explored in the future as part of the system’s broader vision to further enhance local health-care services," Guthrie added In an email to The News-Journal earlier this year Guthrie said Halifax’s expansion into the south side of the city comes as the local community grows "Purchasing land on Airport Road is our effort to provide access and choice for the people of southeast Volusia County,” Guthrie wrote said the new facility’s location “emphasizes access and choice” for both the south side of Port Orange and New Smyrna Beach residents who live nearby “This emergency department reflects our ongoing mission to meet the diverse needs of our community while maintaining the highest standards of medical excellence,” Feasel said in a press release Guthrie said the expansion "underscores Halifax Health’s dedication to fostering a healthier community by providing immediate access to life-saving care." He said Halifax Health will continue to monitor the community as it grows further “and provide additional health-care services as the community asks for them.” Halifax Health opened its latest location in the city in 2022 — a Halifax Health ExpressCare facility at Belvedere Medical Park which is also home to Radiology Associates Halifax Health Primary Care and Halifax Health Pediatric Care The new Halifax Health Emergency Department – Port Orange South is located at 6225 S The facility can be reached at 386-425-7400 PORT ORANGE — Part of the process for Port Orange’s ongoing vulnerability assessment involves the residents’ help in identifying areas and neighborhoods most susceptible to flooding The first of the process’ two required community outreach meetings took place Jan where officials heard from approximately 60 community members about their experiences with flooding over the last few years engineers with Daytona Beach-based consulting firm Kimley-Horn led a brief presentation highlighting the objectives of the assessment and how residents could contribute to the current data collection phase The city hired the firm last year to conduct the study after the City Council in August approved a $164,650 grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (or DEP) for funding Previous coverage: Port Orange hopes 'vulnerability assessment' will spot projects, ideas to mitigate flooding “What we want to know is: Where are the vulnerable areas so that we can come up with solutions that integrate all of the system that we already have,” Ciresi said Ciresi and Rocha said the assessment’s objective is to identify “flooding risks due to rainfall storm surge and sea-level rise” in Port Orange The firm hopes to achieve this objective through several steps The assessment will look at city infrastructure points that are vulnerable to flooding lift stations and other parts of the stormwater system Once the study identifies those vulnerabilities the next step is to work on an “adaptation plan,” which will lay out the strategies to work on solutions Ciresi and Rocha invited residents to view several boards around the room containing maps of various city neighborhoods and place stickers in areas they know suffer from flooding episodes The assessment will also include an exposure analysis phase another community outreach meeting and other tasks This next meeting is expected to take place in March as well as provide “recommendations of actions for adaptation strategies and future project funding” and “to inform the public of the results and the future risk of sea-level rise and increased flooding,” according to the project’s plan set out last year Residents took their time going around the room to indicate which parts of the city have experienced flooding in recent years Several residents glued stickers in neighborhoods near Herbert Street areas west of Spruce Creek Road and several more Renard Gregoire lives south of Taylor Road in a neighborhood close to Summer Trees Road which has suffered from some flooding in past storms such as Hurricane Ian in 2022 and Hurricane Milton in 2024 He said that while most of his neighbors’ houses flooded in the past few storm events his was mostly spared by the topography of the two bonds located behind his property A smaller pond immediately behind his backyard runs along several houses on his street A larger retention pond is located east of the smaller pond but divided by a sidewalk track and some vegetation water from the smaller pond begins to rise flooding several homes on Gregoire’s street before overflowing into the bigger pond It does so just in time for the water to get into his house He said the problem could be solved with some kind of drainage pipe in between the two water bodies to help with the stormwater flow “There were six houses along the (smaller) pond that got flooded,” Gregoire said He has been in the city for 25 years and said the worst he had ever experienced was in 2004 when the storms that hit the area brought water “partway into my yard It was a half-inch from coming into my house,” he said Milton almost brought water into his property again “I flooded once and came close to flooding again and it’s because of all the development they are doing out in this area,” he said Dream turned nightmare: Milton destroys veteran's first home 2 weeks after he moves in Ciresi said that the residents’ input was “very helpful.” “We had a lot of residents who provided locations for us that “They are giving us information on the mechanism of flooding — not only where it is flooding but specifics And all of that is going to help us come up with a good plan for the future.” Ciresi said the firm expects to have the vulnerability assessment completed by October 2026 This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The Port Orange ESE paraprofessional arrested during Bike Week in an internet sting targeting alleged online predators seeking children has been put on leave and is prohibited from campus while an investigation is underway Volusia County Schools officials said Monday Jeffery Summers, 51, who works at Horizon Elementary School, was taken into custody alongside 15 others as a result of an undercover multi-agency operation targeting predators seeking sexual activity with children Summers was charged with obscene communication with a minor/traveling to meet after using a computer to lure a child; and obscene communication/use of a computer to solicit/lure a child Previous coverage: Teacher among 16 people arrested in internet sex sting targeting predators seeking children Horizon Elementary Principal Melani Johnson said the school is working with police to assist in investigation efforts “We take these charges very seriously,” Johnson wrote “Our most critical priority every day is the safety of our students The staff member has been placed on leave while the (Port Orange Police Department) conducts their investigation.” A crisis team was on the school campus Monday “to assist any students who need support or counseling,” she added “(Summers) will not be allowed on any Volusia County Schools campus and will have no further interaction with students until the investigations conclude and a determination can be made,” Johnson wrote Summers has been at the school for four years and he was assisting a blended kindergarten/first-grade class,” according to district spokesperson Sarah Lux It was unknown at the time of publication whether Summers was on paid leave Johnson said the district is also conducting “an internal professional standards investigation.” Summers was taken into custody when he thought he was traveling to meet a child for sex but instead encountered undercover officers posing as children was conducted with the help of Homeland Security Investigations; the Lake City New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater police departments; and the St A 74-year-old Ormond Beach woman was killed early Sunday morning when the SUV she was driving veered into the opposite lane and collided head-on with another vehicle the Florida Highway Patrol said in a press release to the area of Tomoka Farms and Shunz roads in Port Orange were traveling southbound on Tomoka Farms Road in a Mazda CX-5 A 35-year-old Port Orange woman was traveling northbound in a Nissan Murano when the Mazda driver "drifted" into her lane and struck her vehicle head-on Related: 2 die in West Volusia County crashes, including biker The Mazda driver was pronounced dead at the scene Her passenger and the Nissan driver were transported to Halifax Daytona Beach with serious injuries The drivers and passenger were all wearing seatbelts PORT ORANGE  — To celebrate her 107th birthday, Jane Marine embraced one of the habits that she credits for her longevity, lifting a glass of red wine in a toast with friends at CountrySide Lakes Senior Living basking quietly in the attention of about a dozen or so friends and staff members at an informal party on Monday at the assisted-living center Born on March 31, 1918, in Chicago, Marine embraced life in the Windy City starting as an only child who eventually married there and raised three sons of her own as well as working most of her life as a school secretary at an area high school As the decades unfolded, she would witness as astonishing array of technological and cultural advances, spanning Charles Lindbergh’s historic transatlantic flight to the Great Depression the moon landing and the dawn of the MAGA era and AI surrounded by balloons to celebrate another year Gary recalled that his mother had “lots of rules” around the house a necessity with “three boys who didn’t do much of anything but mess things up.” Now well into the first decade beyond her milestone 100th birthday Marine continues to approach each day with a sense of discipline and routine walking roughly 1/3 of a mile that’s logged on her Fitbit A glass of red wine also is part of her program Since moving to CountrySide nearly a decade ago Marine has endeared herself to residents and staff members alike She’s the senior member of an elite group at the center the “100 Club,” which boasts seven members ranging in age from 100 to 107 “She’s fun to hang out with,” said Jerny Rieves While the daily exercise routine contributes to her good health Rieves points to another attribute as equally important “I think it’s more about having a good attitude,” she said that positive outlook was evident from his first casual encounter with Marine when she told him that she had spent her “first 100 years” in Chicago as if it were the first phase of a much longer journey “You don’t look a day over 107!” Spar joked to the Birthday Girl on Monday take their oaths of office before their first official City Council meeting The new mayor and the board also took time to recognize now former Mayor Don Burnette and former councilman Drew Bastian for their years of service to the city “I know how passionate you have been about your city,” Stiltner told Brunette “And I know that every single decision that you have ever made from this seat that I sit in tonight has been made from a position of respect and love for your city.” Stiltner then presented Bastian with a plaque in recognition of his work with the City Council and Burnette with the gavel he used during his time as mayor Green hears support and criticism regarding arrestGreen was arrested in September after police said he crashed into the back of another vehicle at Williamson Boulevard and Taylor Road He begins his term as he continues to face misdemeanor charges on driving under the influence and obstructing an officer without violence According to Port Orange police, Green and his wife, Susan Green, switched places at the scene of the accident so it would look like she was driving three residents spoke during public participation — and only two of those residents addressed Green’s arrest The first was former Port Orange Fire Chief Ken Fustin, who was fired in April 2021 after an altercation at a packed Cracker Barrel with Volusia County’s former Public Protection Director Joe Pozzo Fustin first thanked Bastian for his service before saying he stood “in support of Councilman Lance Green.” made an unfortunate mistake that affected their reputation in this community,” Fustin said “I can honestly and sincerely relate to the humiliation and criticizing they have publicly endured since that episode.” Fustin pointed to the state statute that allows for a recall vote after 25% of an elected official’s term has expired I think it will be yesterday's news one year from now and the citizens will hopefully be grateful for what Lance brings to the table,” Fustin added Laureen Vartanian criticized Green about his arrest during the meeting's public comment portion She spoke about the national and local media attention the situation brought to the city “You ran for office on safety in Port Orange,” Vartanian said why didn't you man up and take responsibility for you unsafe “lying to law enforcement is one of the worst things you can do.” “You have no respect for law enforcement,” Vartanian added Green did not respond to either comment or address the incident directly “I look forward to sitting on this bench and making the decisions that are going to make Port Orange better,” Green said “I couldn’t be more excited about our future I’m very much looking forward to working for the city.” Green's legal case is still open; he has a hearing scheduled for Jan The City Council meets for its next regular meeting Tuesday A structure fire that started Wednesday morning near Herbert Street in Port Orange has been put out according to the city's Fire and Rescue Department "There are no reports of any injuries at this time," but crews are continuing to work the scene and are asking the public to avoid the area according to an update on the department's Facebook page Photos shared by Port Orange Fire and Rescue on social media show crews fighting flames in a structure near the 500th block of Herbert Street The area houses several businesses and commercial buildings Police are investigating a traffic incident involving a vehicle and a pedestrian that left one person critically injured on Friday night in Port Orange The wreck happened about 8:05 p.m. at Ridgewood and Dunlawton avenues, according to the Port Orange Police Department First responders took the pedestrian to Halifax Hostpital in Daytona Beach as a trauma alert Port Orange police have not released the man's identity because they first wanted to notify a relative The Port Orange Police Department is looking for information about the wreck Witnesses or others with information can contact Traffic Homicide Investigator Sgt concerns over what many described as overdevelopment in the city and other issues.Cheered on by fellow residents some questioned the city’s efforts to prevent flooding while others called on their representatives to come up with efficient solutions and others still called on officials to resign city staff updated the council on the hurricane's impacts Councilmembers Tracy Grubbs and Jonathan "Reed" Foley were not in attendance.City Manager Wayne Clark led the presentation which provided an overview of the storm’s aftermath including the number of homes damaged by flooding the damage to public property and how much it will cost the city Clark also reviewed the city’s stormwater system highlighting the structures currently in place and areas in the city that flooded last week which are almost the same areas that flooded in previous storms approximately 1,300 structures were damaged by the storm — 60% of which were related to wind and 40% to flooding The cost of damages is estimated to be around $51 million Clark said about 600 homes flooded last week which he said were 400 fewer than the almost 1,000 homes that flooded during 2022’s Tropical Storm Ian The city has struggled with flooding for decades although different storms brought rainfall totals that proved more challenging to the city’s stormwater infrastructure than others Several residents at the meeting said their homes flooded for the first time during Ian Of the city’s approximately 22,500 residences almost 80% were built prior to 1990 without any stormwater regulations in place “Over half of our city got built before there were stormwater regulations,” Clark said "Twenty-five percent got built before there were any (regulations) at all we don’t have the infrastructure in place,” he added “Most of the drainage runoff (goes) through a street and into a natural series of creeks and canals.” Clark also said that several city buildings sustained roof damage from water; city parks saw downed trees and scattered debris; and most buildings at the city’s wastewater treatment plant flooded Future projects: Port Orange to ask for $3.7M in state funds for water management, sports fields projects Public property damages amounted to about $9 million Other notable incidents included the loss of power at the Virginia/Monroe pump station and a broken pump at Sweetwater Hills during the storm While the presentation did not provide a number After going into more detail about areas in the city where more work needs to be done and the eight ongoing stormwater improvement projects, Clark said that the city’s stormwater master plan will be completed in the spring while a vulnerability assessment is also underway The meeting then moved to public participation when residents started relating their struggle to deal with the storm’s aftermath Amy Yoder is a resident at the Foxboro neighborhood one of the areas off Spruce Creek Road that flooded during Ian and now again with Milton She expressed her concern over the fact that the ongoing stormwater improvement projects would not amount to a significant change in terms of flooding easement in the near future “So what does that do to our homes?” Yoder said “I’m not very happy walking away from here the improvements I put into my home — I’m probably going to lose money on my house.” Robert Pasternak said he has seen “a lot of flooding — two years ago and now.” He called out the city’s investments in beautification efforts such as planting new vegetation in the medians along Dunlawton Avenue people’s homes are flooding,” Pasternak said “You guys have the solutions in your hands We engineer solutions for flood and storm water all over the place He said some of his family members and friends still have their homes flooded because people can’t live in their homes,” he said “We pay tens of thousands of dollars in property taxes and we’re not going to be able to keep our homes because we can’t repair them after this storm — can’t keep up with these rising insurance costs.” He then urged the City Council to make stormwater improvement the city government’s top priority “No one wants to live here if their house floods,” Pasternak said but there’s a lot of things we can do to defend ourselves and we’re counting on you to lead the way.” Vulnerability assessment: Port Orange hopes 'vulnerability assessment' will spot projects, ideas to mitigate flooding Other residents voiced concerns over the costs they now have to face with some suggesting they will move from their homes in order to avoid dealing with repair costs after every storm event encouraged residents to reach out to state and Congress representatives who could help assist the city’s efforts in securing funds for stormwater improvement projects.