Candy Trail Betrays Ormond Beach Store Burglar

Issue #034

⭐ In This Issue of Ormond Local Pulse ⭐

⛅ Ormond Beach Weather - Partly Cloudy, Highs in the Upper 50! Brrr!

📰 Local - Candy Trail Betrays Ormond Beach Store Burglar
📰 Local - A Race Against Time: Florida's Battle to Preserve Its Citrus Legacy
📰 Local - Lake to Lagoon Conservation Effort Receives $25 Million USDA Grant
👮‍♂️ Police Reports
🎈 Events - Lots Going On!
🔦 Business Spotlight - Kosher Cuisine Returns to Ormond Beach with Gili's Kitchen Opening

Courtesy - WeatherBug

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Candy Trail Betrays Ormond Beach Store Burglar

Last Monday, In an unusual theft case, a 55-year-old Daytona Beach man was arrested for burglarizing an Ormond Beach Dollar store and stealing a large quantity of Reese's peanut butter cups. The police, responding to a burglar alarm, found the store's entrance open and a Reese's display knocked over. Surveillance footage showed the man breaking in and attempting to steal cigarettes before taking the candy. A store employee's recognition and a trail of candy led the police to a nearby homeless camp, and the suspect was apprehended two days later. He claimed to have no memory of the event due to intoxication.

A Race Against Time: Florida's Battle to Preserve Its Citrus Legacy

Florida's citrus industry is in crisis due to Citrus Greening Disease, transmitted by a small insect, leading to a drastic reduction in orange production. This has caused an 80% drop in citrus production since 2005, with a 60% decrease between 2022 and 2023 alone. The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is spearheading efforts to combat this disease, with initiatives like the Crop Transformation Center and a $2 million funding commitment. Scientists are focusing on breeding disease-resistant orange strains and exploring genetic editing to boost the trees' immunity. The situation is exacerbated by climate change, with rising temperatures aiding the spread of the disease. Despite the challenges, researchers remain optimistic about finding a solution through science.

Lake to Lagoon Conservation Effort Receives $25 Million USDA Grant

Courtesy of ACT

The Lake to Lagoon regional conservation partnership program, involving Volusia County, has received a $25 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This initiative focuses on conserving sensitive agricultural lands and implementing conservation and land management activities to improve climate resiliency in the Lake to Lagoon area, which encompasses Volusia, Lake, and Flagler counties. The program is led by the Alachua Conservation Trust in collaboration with Volusia County and Stetson University, with Volusia County providing significant financial support. It includes partnerships with various environmental and conservation organizations and is set to run from 2024 to 2029.

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Mon Nov 27

  • * Monday Karaoke at The Grind at Grind Gastropub:
    Grind Gastropub & Kona Tiki Bar, 49 W Granada Blvd, Ormond Beach, FL

  • Housing Authority: Mon, 8 PM, 100 New Britain Ave, Ormond Beach, FL

  • * Outrageous Ormond Beach Scavenger Hunt: 2 – 4 PM,
    Rosie's Cafe, 136 W Granada Blvd, Ormond Beach, FL

  • Holiday Wreath Workshop, Wed-Dec 6, 9:30am-Noon
    Ormond Beach Garden Club, The Casements, 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach, MUST RSVP by 12/1 HERE- $$

Tue Nov 28

  • Karaoke Night & Dave & Busters, 9PM
    Dave & Buster's, Tomoka Town Center, 1507 Cornerstone Boulevard, Daytona Beach

  • Ladies Night, 9pm-12am
    Ocean Deck Restaurant, 127 South Ocean Avenue, Daytona Beach

  • Holiday Wreath Workshop, Wed-Dec 6, 9:30am-Noon
    Ormond Beach Garden Club, The Casements, 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach, MUST RSVP by 12/1 HERE- $$

  • Village Shopping: Where the Locals Go: 3 – 10 PM,
    142 E Granada Blvd, Ormond Beach, FL

  • Dizzy Daytona Beach Scavenger Hunt: 2 – 4 PM,

    Sweet Marlays' Coffee, 214 S Beach St, Daytona Beach, FL

Wed Nov 29

  • Holiday Wreath Workshop, Wed-Dec 6, 9:30am-Noon
    Ormond Beach Garden Club, The Casements, 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach, MUST RSVP by FRIDAY HERE- $$

  • Calvary Kids Toy Wrapping Party: 5 PM,
    Calvary Christian Center, 1687 W Granada Blvd, Ormond Beach, FL

  • *Outrageous Ormond Beach Scavenger Hunt: 11 AM – 1 PM,
    Rosie's Cafe, 136 W Granada Blvd, Ormond Beach, FL

  • Village Shopping: Where the Locals Go: 3 – 10 PM,
    142 E Granada Blvd, Ormond Beach, FL

Thu Nov 30

Fri Dec 1

Sat Dec 2

—Watch for More Events—

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* Indicates a weekly/regular event $$=Fee/Requires Pre-Registration

Local Arrests

Ormond Beach Police Department

- Anthony Lee Land, 40, from Ormond Beach, was taken into custody on November 10. He faces charges of aggravated assault. No bail has been set.

Holly Hill Police Department

- Daja Monet Garrett, 28, a resident of Holly Hill, was arrested on November 12. She is charged with aggravated assault, with bail set at $7,500.

- Patrick S. Hagerty, 48, also from Holly Hill, was apprehended on November 15. He is charged with fleeing or attempting to elude with lights and siren active, and driving without a driver's license. Bail has been set at $6,000.

Volusia County Sheriff’s Department

- Jesus Ricardo Maldonado, 32, of Ormond Beach, was arrested on November 13. He is charged with failure of a sex offender to properly register. No bail has been set.

- Anthony Aaron Abbaleo, 25, from Holly Hill, was taken into custody on November 13. He faces battery charges, with no bail set.

- Michael Dean Dockery, 34, of Ormond Beach, was arrested on November 13. He is charged with criminal mischief, with bail set at $2,500.

Kosher Cuisine Returns to Ormond Beach with Gili's Kitchen Opening

Photo Ormond Local Pulse

In a move that revitalizes the kosher dining landscape in Ormond Beach, Gili’s Kitchen OB, a new Mediterranean-inspired kosher eatery, commenced its operations this past spring. The restaurant, co-owned by Ricki Ben Simon and her brother-in-law, Gili Ben Simon, occupies the former site of Eden Fresh Café at 188 E. Granada Blvd, marking a significant step in filling the void left by the recent closures of local kosher establishments Eden Fresh Café and J Grill.

Ricki Ben Simon, an Israeli native who has resided in Jacksonville for 18 years, embarked on this venture after recognizing a need in the community. The decision to open a kosher restaurant was influenced by her desire to offer something unique in the culinary scene. According to sources, the distinctiveness of Gili’s Kitchen lies in its innovative serving methods and the use of unique ingredients.

Gili Ben Simon, the namesake of the restaurant, brings over two decades of experience in the catering and restaurant industry, having honed his skills in Israel, Cambodia, and Paris. His culinary expertise is a cornerstone of the restaurant's appeal, with Ricki Ben Simon noting that his cooking is "on a different level."

The duo initially focused on catering through their Jacksonville restaurant, also named Gili’s Kitchen, which opened in 2018. However, they soon shifted their focus to establishing a restaurant presence. Both the Jacksonville and Ormond Beach locations offer catering service.

Gili’s Kitchen OB aims to cater to a diverse clientele, including the sizable Jewish community in Ormond Beach and tourists. The menu is a blend of traditional Jewish fare like falafel, shawarma, and matzoh ball soup, alongside more universal offerings such as burgers and Philly cheesesteaks.

Ricki Ben Simon also shed light on the principles of kosher food, emphasizing the humane treatment of animals and the meticulous health checks involved, overseen by a certified shochet.

Gili's Kitchen is located at 188 E Granada Blvd, Ormond Beach, and is open Monday through Thursday from 11am to 8pm, and Sundays from 12pm to 8pm, while remaining closed on Fridays and Saturdays. You can order online or reserve a table, and Gili’s has drive through options as well. They can be reached at (386) 265-1424. Stop by and tell them you saw them on Business Spotlight in Ormond Local Pulse!

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