⭐ Ormond Beach Schools Excel with Five Earning 'A' Grades

Issue #269

NOTE: Sometimes Gmail will cutoff the end of the newsletter. You can always view online. Also if missing check the “Promotions’ and “Spam” folders and drag to inbox. 👇👇👇👇👇

Stories with ($) after the link may require third party subscription

Today’s Forecast

7 Day Forecast

Tropical Update: (Click Image)

Brian Shields’ YouTube Channel

Ormond Beach Schools Excel with Five Earning 'A' Grades; Seabreeze High Makes Major Comeback

Photo: Courtesy Volusia County Schools

In the latest Florida Department of Education report, five Ormond Beach schools received "A" grades for the 2023-2024 school year. Notably, Seabreeze High School achieved this status for the first time since 2015, marking a significant turnaround under Principal Tucker Harris. Seabreeze, which was previously rated "C" in 2021-2022, earned the highest student achievement points in Volusia County. Ormond Beach Middle School also improved from a "B" to an "A," while Pathways Elementary, Pine Trail Elementary, and Ormond Beach Elementary retained their "A" ratings. Mainland High School improved from a "C" to a "B," and Hinson Middle School maintained its "B," but Tomoka Elementary dropped to a "B." The district as a whole earned a "B," just short of an "A." Superintendent Carmen Balgobin highlighted ongoing improvements and community support for the schools. (See Full Story at Ormond Observer) $

Beloved Port Orange Restaurant “Daytona's Original First Turn” Announces Closure

Courtesy Photo: Daytona’s First Turn

Daytona's Original First Turn, a popular Port Orange restaurant, will soon close after 40 years of operation. Owners Shane Snipes and Janet Brown McDermott announced the closure via Facebook, beginning a ten-day countdown with final events to celebrate the restaurant’s legacy. The decision to close was described as a heavy-hearted one, with Snipes noting that continuing the business had become too challenging. Patrons expressed their disappointment in the comments, as Snipes revealed that the property is being sold for $2.4 million. The property is listed under KMTM Enterprises, LLC., registered to Kurt and Misty Jones of New Smyrna Beach. The restaurant’s final days will be marked by a series of events, allowing the community to say goodbye and capture lasting memories of the beloved establishment. (See Full Story at NewsDaytonaBeach.com)

Will They Ever Get Home? No Return Date for Starliner Yet as Final Tests and Battery Extension Proceed

NASA and Boeing announced that the Starliner spacecraft, which has been delayed for over a month, is undergoing final tests to address helium leaks and thruster issues. Originally intended for an eight-day mission, the spacecraft has exceeded its planned duration and is now on an extended timeline. Boeing's Mark Nappi assured the vehicle's safety, while NASA’s Steve Stich emphasized the availability of the Dragon spacecraft as a backup. The mission's battery life has been extended from 45 to 90 days to manage the delays. Engineers are conducting additional tests, including a test fire of a spare thruster this weekend. The astronauts on board, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, are using the extended mission to refine their skills and gather useful data. A return date will be determined once all technical issues are resolved.
(See Story at WESH2.com)

Photo: SpaceX

SpaceX is gearing up for a Falcon 9 rocket launch from Kennedy Space Center early on July 27, aiming to deploy 23 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit. The primary launch window opens at 12:21 a.m., with backup opportunities extending to 4:21 a.m. and additional slots available on July 28. This flight will mark the 17th mission for the first-stage booster, which has previously supported a range of payloads. The launch is a significant step for SpaceX following a launch anomaly on July 11, when Starlink satellites failed to reach their proper orbit due to a liquid oxygen leak. The company has since identified and addressed the issue, making necessary adjustments to prevent future problems. SpaceX's focus remains on safety and reliability as it continues its mission of deploying satellites and supporting space exploration. Follow the launch progress at SpaceX.com. (See Full Story at ClickOrlando.com)

Recent Arrests

Ormond Beach Police Department

  • Corey Donnell Gaines, 41, of Ormond Beach: Arrested July 14; charged with improper exhibit of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon, obstructing officer without violence. Bail: $3,500.

  • Samantha J. Aultman, 39, of Ormond Beach: Arrested July 14; charged with aggravated assault. Bail: Not set.

  • Rayvn Neuenfeldt, 22, of Ormond Beach: Arrested July 16; charged with criminal mischief. Bail: $2,500.

Holly Hill Police Department

  • Camino Cam Childress, 46, of Holly Hill: Arrested July 15; charged with public assistance fraud. Bail: $2,500.

  • Mark Anthony Thomas, 53, of Holly Hill: Arrested July 16; charged with battery and aggravated assault. Bail: Not set.

  • Jo Anne Jackson, 59, of Holly Hill: Arrested July 16; charged with attempted burglary of an unoccupied structure. Bail: $5,000.

  • Richard Cortez Dooling, 78, of Holly Hill: Arrested July 16; charged with fleeing or attempting to elude lights and siren active, driving while license canceled. Bail: $3,000.

Volusia County Sheriff's Office

  • Roger Allen Cox, 60, of Ormond Beach: Arrested July 13; charged with battery. Bail: $2,500.

  • Frank James Powers, 48, of Ormond Beach: Arrested July 17; charged with use of two-way communication device to commit felony, sale of Fentanyl and cocaine. Bail: $30,000.

  • David Von Oesen, 52, of Holly Hill: Arrested July 18; charged with possession of sexual performance by a child, engage in sex conduct contact with animal. Bail: Not set.

Local Pulse Dealz are live!

Digital coupons for local businesses and the services.
Visit the Dealz page and get a great deal.

⭐ Today's Meme ⭐

⭐⭐Local Business Directory⭐⭐
Please Patronize Your Local Businesses!

Welcome Uncommon Grain!

Uncommon Grain, a new bakery and café, has opened at 11 W. Granada Blvd. in downtown Ormond Beach. The bakery will offer a variety of fresh breads, pastries, artisan sandwiches, and eventually smoothies. Founded by Sergio Faenza and Brandon Sheppard, who also own nearby restaurant 63 Sovereign, Uncommon Grain aims to enhance local food options and revitalize a space that has been vacant since Cakery Creations closed. The bakery’s design features an open, light-filled atmosphere and includes a mural depicting historic downtown scenes from the early 1900s.

Operating hours will be from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Saturday, with Sundays off. Faenza and Sheppard hope to provide unique breads and ethnic-inspired dishes, creating a welcoming spot for daily visitors and locals alike. Visit the Uncommon Grain website at TheUncommonGrain.com

Ormond Beach Cam at Ormond Lifeguard Station
Ormond South Beach Cam at Cardinal Drive
Ormond by the Sea South Beach Cam
Ponce Inlet NE Cam

Check Out The New Events Calendar

Click Image To View Calendar

What do you think of the new calendar?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

Be sure to click event links to confirm time and location!!

NOTE: We have noticed several events still posted online for the Ormond Performing Arts Center. We have confirmed with the center they are still closed probably until late in the year due to the fire and many of the previously scheduled events will be re-booked at another time. You can safely ignore any event postings you may find online. (Updated 6/23/24)

Do you have an event you’d like to have posted? Submit Your Information Here

NOTE: Event information is gathered from online sources without verification.

Our goal is to provide Ormond Beach readers with news that's relevant to our area. The BIG news sources don't always reach to the "micro-level", so we need your help! We welcome your input for news of local happenings that would be of interest to Ormond readers. Neighborhood news, events, etc., are all welcome. Got photos? Great! If you fancy yourself a writer we'd welcome your participation.

You can enter event information on this form, or for important, urgent news items feel free to text us at 386-444-2002 or email [email protected] with information about your news. We will get back to you for details.

We Want To Spotlight Your Business!

We ❤️ Local Businesses!


Our community is brimming with businesses that have fascinating stories and big hearts. If you're a local business owner making waves, crafting unique experiences, or simply putting a smile on our faces, we want to chat with you! "Ormond Local Pulse" is eager to shine a light on the unsung heroes of our town. Let's collaborate and let the community know what makes your business special. Send us a message, and let's celebrate the spirit of Ormond Beach together!

⭐ Own a local business? ⭐
⭐ We WANT to spotlight YOUR business!! ⭐

❤️ Love a local business? Nominate them.

We could use your help!

We’ve got big plans as we get up to speed! But we need your help!
One huge way that you can help us is to spread the word for us.
Know somebody who lives in the Ormond Beach, Ormond-By-The-Sea, or Holly Hill areas that would benefit from being kept in the know?

Do you fancy yourself a writer? We’d love to feature articles from our neighbors and readers. If you’d like to contribute let us know HERE

Please share Ormond Local Pulse with your friends! Have them scan the QR code or send them the link below.. 👇👇👇👇

https://bit.ly/ormondlocalpulse

😊😊😊😊😊 Have A Great Day

TECH NOTE: Some readers using the Edge browser have reported getting warning messages that they are attempting to access an unsafe site. This is a glitch in the Edge browser. If you switch to Chrome, Firefox or Safari you should have no problems. Rest assured our site IS SAFE
OUR NEWS POLICY: Our goal is to provide synopses of locally relevant news and articles for Ormond residents. This may include local issues, county and state news affecting Ormond Beach, and other matters such as health, technology, pets, etc.. We hope to provide something of interest to all readers. We welcome your feedback here.

Reply

or to participate.