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  • ⭐Halifax Humane To Spay, Fire Rousts OB Family, Arts Fest Adds Books, School Guardian's Death

⭐Halifax Humane To Spay, Fire Rousts OB Family, Arts Fest Adds Books, School Guardian's Death

Issue #879

01 Apr

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Courtesy: Halifax Humane Society

🐈Halifax Humane Society is marking its 90th year with one of the more practical birthday gifts the region's cat population has ever received. Through the end of June, male cat neuter procedures at the organization's Mason Avenue clinic are available for five cents. The goal is 900 surgeries in 90 days — a targeted push to slow the cycle of feline overpopulation before kitten season hits full stride. Each procedure includes pain medication, a rabies vaccination, and either a microchip or ear tip depending on whether the patient is a house cat or a community feral. Appointments are required and must be booked online at halifaxhumanesociety.org/spay-neuter-clinic. Feral cats arrive in humane traps; pets in hard-sided carriers. Feral appointments are Wednesdays; pet appointments run Thursday through Saturday.

✦

🔥When a fire tore through a home on Windsail Circle last Saturday morning, it took nearly everything the Kester family had — including their dog. What the community gave back in the days that followed was remarkable. Nearly $40,000 has poured into a GoFundMe for Jessica and Jason Kester, two educators whose commitment to this county runs deep. Jessica teaches English at Daytona State College; Jason shapes fourth graders at Pine Trail Elementary and was once named Volusia County's Teacher of the Year. Firefighters kept the blaze from reaching neighboring properties, but the house itself is a total loss. If you'd like to help, the family's fundraiser is at gofund.me/f6bb012c9.

✦

📘The Daytona Beach Arts Festival has always celebrated painters, sculptors, and performers — this year it's adding a chapter for readers. Novel Tea Book Shop, Ormond's beloved literary hangout, is debuting a dedicated literary zone called The Book End at the April 11–12 festival in the Beach Street Arts District. Federal Lane will be transformed into a gathering place for authors, poets, and storytellers across genres from fantasy to children's lit, with hands-on activities running all weekend. The shop itself will anchor the space with tea, author signings, and browsing. It's a natural extension of what makes a community arts festival worth attending. More at novelteabookshop.com.

✦

✔️We close today with a story that warrants brevity and care. On the evening of March 20, a Volusia County school guardian died by suicide in the parking lot of Ormond Beach Elementary School. No students were present. The incident has only recently become public through a police report. The district has declined to comment on the individual's role, citing a statutory exemption for school safety personnel. We share this because it happened in our community, and because the people who work to keep our schools safe carry burdens the rest of us rarely see.

If you or someone you know needs support

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988, available 24/7
Crisis Text Line: text HOME to 741741

Sources
"Ormond Beach educators lose dog, house in fire" — Daytona News-Journal / Ormond Observer, March 31, 2026
"Halifax Humane Society offering male neuter surgeries for a nickel through June 30" — Ormond Observer, March 31, 2026
"Novel Tea Book Shop to host literary experience" — Ormond Observer, March 31, 2026
"Volusia school guardian kills himself at Ormond Elementary" — Daytona News-Journal, March 31, 2026

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📅 Wednesday, April 1, 2026

📍 Ormond Beach

📚 Library & Literary Events

  • You Should Write a Book (Author Forum)

    • Have you ever thought about writing a book? Head to the Sandcastle Auditorium for a special in-person forum featuring local authors Joe Cavanaugh, Mark Lane, Jennie Erin Smith, and Cindy Villanueva, moderated by Jeff Boyle.

    • Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

    • Location: Ormond Beach Regional Library (30 S Beach St)

  • eLab Open Assistance

    • Drop into the library's LaunchPad for free, one-on-one assistance with basic computer skills, cover letter and resume building, email setup, or navigating internet job searches.

    • Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM

    • Location: Ormond Beach Regional Library (LaunchPad)

🧘 Health & Community

  • Ormond By The Sea Lions Club Meeting, 6:30 PM,
    (New Location) Grace Life Beachside Church Hall, 6 Sandra Drive, Ormond Beach
    All Are Welcome!  More info at (386) 441-4421

  • UF/IFAS Volusia Master Gardener Free Plant Clinic & Educational Program -(Sep-May) - 10:00am - 12n

    Ormond Beach Environmental Center, 601 Division Ave. Ormond Beach
    Bring photos or examples to identify and correct your plant problems, and learn Florida gardening tips. April is an “April Fools” surprise”
    Topics change monthly.. For addtl info contact Cathy Baber, 757-647-1301

  • Chair Yoga In-Person

    • Led by certified yoga instructor Sandy Reid, this relaxed morning session gives participants an opportunity to move their bodies and clear their minds without the strain of a traditional yoga mat class.

    • Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

    • Location: Ormond Beach Regional Library (Sandcastle Auditorium)

  • Social Worker in the Library

    • A dedicated community social worker will be on-site to provide free assistance, resources, and guidance for local residents in need of support.

    • Time: 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM

    • Location: Ormond Beach Regional Library (Sea Turtle Room)

🏛️ Civic & Local Government

  • Site Plan Review Committee

    • Standard city business continues at City Hall. Residents are welcome to attend this morning's committee meeting to stay updated on local zoning and developments.

    • Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

    • Location: Ormond Beach City Hall, CR103 (22 S Beach St)

📍 Holly Hill

🎒 Youth & Family Note

  • Volusia County Schools: Early Release Day

    • Heads up for locals and parents! Today is a scheduled Early Release day for Volusia County Public Schools (including Holly Hill School). Expect increased mid-day traffic and more kids out and about in the afternoon!

🏓 Active & Leisure

  • Mid-Week Pickleball @ Pictona

    • Get over the mid-week hump on the courts! Pictona is open for its standard open-play schedule. It is a great Wednesday to drop in for a few games or hang out in the Osprey Room for cards and indoor games at the "Club Hub."

    • Time: Open daily (typically 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM)

    • Location: Pictona at Holly Hill (1060 Ridgewood Ave)

🧘 Wellness & Support

  • Midday Wednesday Meditation

    • Take a mental break during your workweek with a peaceful, guided midday meditation. This session is held in a welcoming, quiet environment right on Ridgewood Avenue.

    • Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

    • Location: Unity of Daytona Beach (908 Ridgewood Ave, Holly Hill)

📍 Daytona Beach

🎣 Major Expos & Sports

  • The Florida Saltwater Fishing Expo (Kickoff)

    • Anglers, rejoice! Today marks the opening of this massive multi-day fishing expo at the Ocean Center. Browse hundreds of vendors, check out the latest in tackle and marine gear, and sit in on seminars from top fishing pros.

    • Time: Check the Ocean Center schedule for daily floor hours

    • Location: Ocean Center (101 N Atlantic Ave)

  • Embry-Riddle Lacrosse Doubleheader

    • Support local collegiate athletics! Head over to the ERAU campus to catch an action-packed lacrosse doubleheader.

    • Time: Check the ERAU Athletics site for exact face-off times

    • Location: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

💃 Community & Fitness

  • Active Classes at the Shores Community Center

    • Keep your fitness routine going at the Daytona Beach Shores Community Center! Today’s lineup includes:

      • Sittercise: 9:00 AM

      • Fitness, Fun & Freedom: 10:00 AM

      • Ballroom Dance (Triple Step Swing): 3:00 PM

    • Location: Shores Community Center (3000 Bellemead Dr)

📅 Local Events: Thursday, April 2, 2026

📍 Ormond Beach

🎭 Arts & Entertainment

  • Arts VoCo Awards Celebration

    • Celebrate the incredible artistic talent within the Volusia County community! The Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center is hosting this special evening dedicated to recognizing local artists, performers, and cultural contributors.

    • Time: 6:00 PM

    • Location: Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center (399 N. US-1)

🥦 Fresh & Local

  • Ormond Beach Farmers Market

    • It's Thursday, which means it is time for the weekly farmers market! Stroll through the City Hall Plaza to shop for fresh regional produce, baked goods, local honey, plants, and handcrafted items.

    • Time: 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM

    • Location: City Hall Plaza (22 S. Beach St)

🏛️ Civic & Local Government

  • Quality of Life Advisory Board Meeting

    • Standard city business continues at City Hall. Residents are welcome to attend this afternoon's meeting regarding community improvements and local quality-of-life initiatives.

    • Time: 5:00 PM

    • Location: Ormond Beach City Hall, CR103 (22 S Beach St)

📍 Holly Hill

🏓 Active & Leisure

  • Thursday on the Courts @ Pictona

    • Head over to the 49-court facility for a great day of open-play pickleball. If you prefer indoor games, the "Club Hub" in the Osprey Room is open for cards, Mahjong, and socializing. Don't forget to grab lunch at their on-site restaurant, The Kitchen.

    • Time: Open daily (typically 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM)

    • Location: Pictona at Holly Hill (1060 Ridgewood Ave)

📚 Education & Youth

  • After-School Tutoring & Study Time

    • The Holly Hill Public Library acts as a quiet afternoon hub for local students and homeschool groups utilizing the space for study and tutoring.

    • Time: 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

    • Location: Holly Hill Library (8423 Old State Rd)

📍 Daytona Beach

🎸 Headline Concert

  • Vintage Vinyl Live performs Boston

    • Take a trip back to 1976! Vintage Vinyl Live is recreating the iconic debut album from Boston—note for note and song for song. Utilizing some of the best musicians in the country, they are bringing the soaring vocals and multi-instrumental magic of "More Than a Feeling" and "Peace of Mind" to the historic Peabody stage.

    • Time: Doors at 6:00 PM, Show at 7:30 PM

    • Location: Peabody Auditorium (600 Auditorium Blvd)

🥂 Wellness & Pampering

  • SPArty at the Hard Rock Hotel

    • Treat yourself to an afternoon of luxury! The Rock Spa is hosting a special "SPArty" featuring appetizers, sparkling wine, complimentary chair and hand massages, and swag bags for the first 30 guests. It's a great opportunity to score discounts on future treatments and retail products.

    • Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

    • Location: Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach (918 N Atlantic Ave)

🤸 Community & Fitness

  • Active Classes at the Shores Community Center

    • The Daytona Beach Shores Community Center has a completely packed Thursday schedule to keep you moving and having fun:

      • Zumba Gold: 8:45 AM

      • SilverSneakers: 9:30 AM

      • Mah Jong: 12:00 PM

      • Chair Volleyball: 1:00 PM

      • Chair Yoga: 4:30 PM

      • Acoustic Music Jam: 5:30 PM

      • Gentle Yoga: 6:00 PM

    • Location: Shores Community Center (3000 Bellemead Dr)

NOTE: Event information is gathered from online sources without verification. Readers are advised to check with the venue or other sources to confirm info.

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