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⭐ Civic Pride, Political Shifts, and Public Trust
Issue #517
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01 Apr
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Table of Contents
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⭐ Civic Pride, Political Shifts, and Public Trust
Image Courtesy Volusia County
🎖 Veterans Memorial Plaza to Open April 25
Volusia County is putting the finishing touches on a heartfelt tribute to its veterans. After years of planning, the $1.4 million Veterans Memorial Plaza will officially open on April 25 at 9 a.m. with a ceremony hosted by the Volusia County Council. Located at the northwest corner of the Tom Staed Veterans Memorial Bridge in Daytona Beach, the riverfront plaza serves as a lasting memorial to service members who gave their lives in the line of duty.
The event will include music, remarks from local veterans and officials, and the unveiling of over 150 engraved tribute bricks. Residents can still donate for personalized bricks to honor loved ones. Features include flags for all six military branches, a World War I memorial, and a six-foot fire monument inscribed with names of fallen Volusia residents.
Free parking is available nearby, and attendees are encouraged to RSVP.
Source: Ormond Observer
🗳️ Democrats Edge Ahead in CD6 Early Voting
Early voting numbers are in for the special election in Florida’s Congressional District 6, and they show a surprising trend—Democrats have edged ahead in turnout, albeit by a narrow margin. As of March 31, Volusia County reported over 15,000 Democrats casting ballots, narrowly outpacing Republicans. The race, which features four candidates, has largely focused on Republican Sen. Randy Fine and Democratic challenger Josh Weil, a public school teacher.
National outlets, including The New York Times, are watching closely as Democrats hope to cut into what’s typically a safe GOP district. While Democrats led in some early voting sites like Daytona Beach, Republicans maintained an advantage in others, such as Ormond Beach.
Across the line in Flagler County, GOP turnout remains dominant, but Democrats are calling their performance “overperforming.” Election Day voting is still to come, and both parties are bracing for a close finish.
Source: Ormond Observer
📺 OPINION: Former Commissioner Calls Out Mayor Over Misinformation
Former Ormond Beach city commissioner Jeff Boyle has taken issue with Mayor Jason Leslie’s recent media tour, accusing him of spreading false or misleading information during a Channel 6 segment meant to highlight city progress. Boyle points out that many of the stops on the mayor’s tour—closed parks, delayed projects, and outdated warnings—painted a less-than-accurate picture.
From incorrectly stating beach parking fees to overselling a golf course proposal blocked by the FAA, Boyle argues that Leslie’s commentary has undercut public trust. He also criticizes the mayor for not correcting claims about a now-resolved fuel terminal issue that was publicly addressed last week.
Boyle emphasizes that the issue isn’t political censorship, but credibility. He commended fellow commissioners for pushing back against misinformation, and urged the mayor to adopt a more unifying, accurate tone as the city's public voice.
See Full Opinion at: Daytona News-Journal
This is a synopsis of Mr. Boyles’s opinion published in Daytona News-Journal. It does not represent the opinion of this publication
Have You Seen This? Fake “Windows Defender” Alerts Target Users in New Scam
A growing number of internet users are encountering deceptive pop-ups posing as official Microsoft security alerts. These messages, branded as “Windows Defender Security Center,” are part of an elaborate online scam designed to push bogus antivirus tools onto unsuspecting victims.
According to cybersecurity researchers, these alerts typically appear after users are redirected to dubious websites—often as a result of potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) that are unknowingly installed on their systems. These programs, commonly bundled with free downloads or delivered through rogue ads, generate misleading pop-ups and promote software under false pretenses.
Once on these fake warning pages, users are told their computers are infected with viruses and urged to download a cleanup tool. The free version of this tool scans the system and invariably finds multiple “threats.” Users are then prompted to purchase the full version to resolve the issues—issues that, in reality, don’t exist.
Security experts say the software being promoted offers no meaningful protection and is part of a fear-based strategy to exploit users. These tools may simply clear a fabricated list of threats while consuming system resources or engaging in other background activity. In many cases, these applications can gather browsing history, keystrokes, and other personal data, which can later be sold or used for identity theft.
The impact doesn’t stop there. PUPs often degrade system performance and flood users with intrusive ads—some of which can lead to malicious sites or install malware without consent. In more aggressive versions of the scam, malicious scripts prevent users from closing their browsers, requiring a force quit through Task Manager or a system reboot.
Authorities urge users not to interact with these warnings and to avoid restoring previous browsing sessions after rebooting, as this can reload the malicious page. Experts recommend removing any unknown software, running reputable antivirus scans, and staying vigilant against suspicious online activity.
Interested in A.I.?
Ormond Beach Author Pens AI Beginners Guide
Debra Brenneman, an Ormond Beach-based author, brings clarity and warmth to a complex topic in her new book AI for Beginners. Inspired by a casual conversation with her son, Brenneman realized just how deeply artificial intelligence has become embedded in our daily lives—from GPS and Alexa to tools like ChatGPT. Recognizing that many people still feel intimidated by the concept, she set out to write a guide that breaks AI down in a way that's accessible, relatable, and free of technical jargon. With AI for Beginners, Brenneman offers a friendly, approachable introduction to the world of artificial intelligence, helping everyday readers understand what AI is, how it works, and why it matters now more than ever. The book goes on sale on Amazon on April 1.
“If you like the book, please leave me a good review on Amazon”
-Debra Brenneman
⭐ Today's Meme ⭐
⭐⭐Local Business Directory⭐⭐
Please Patronize Your Local Businesses!
Ormond North Beach Cam at Ormond Lifeguard Station
Ormond South Beach Cam at Cardinal Drive - Not Available
Ormond by the Sea South Beach Cam - Not Available
Ormond By The Sea North Beach Cam
NOTE: Event information is gathered from online sources without verification. Readers are advised to check with the venue or other sources to confirm info
Tue Apr 1
Event: Master Gardening Plant Clinic, 10 AM – 12 PM
Ormond Beach Environmental Discovery Center, 601 Division Ave, Ormond Beach, FLEvent: The Tech Tutor, 10:30 – 11:30 AM
Ormond In The Pines Senior Living, 101 Clyde Morris Blvd, Ormond Beach, FLEvent: Watercolor Workshop, 1 – 4 PM
Ocean Art Gallery, 197 E Granada Blvd, Ormond Beach, FLEvent: Private Training: 1 Day, 2 – 4 PM
Ormond Beach Sports Complex, 700 Hull Rd, Ormond Beach, FLEvent: City Commission Workshop - Public Art, 5:30 PM
Events Center at Ormond Beach, 1437 US-1 STE C1, Ormond Beach, FLEvent: City Commission Meeting, 7 PM
Ormond Beach City Hall, 22 S Beach St, Ormond Beach, FLEvent: WWII Militaria Grand Finale Auction, 6 – 10 PM
Dunn's Attic, 136 W Granada Blvd, Ormond Beach, FLWed Apr 2
Ormond By The Sea Lions Club Meeting, 6:30 PM,
Alfies Restaurant, 1666 Ocean Shore Blvd., Ormond Beach
All Are Welcome! More info at (386) 441-4421Ormond Beach Garden Club Meeting, 9:30am - 12pm (Sep-May)
The Casements, 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach
Event: Site Plan Review Committee, 9 AM 10X
Ormond Beach Apartments, 600 Crowne Commerce Ct, Ormond BeachEvent: $5 to Wear Blue (Autism Awareness Month), 8 AM – 3 PM
Calvary Christian Academy Preschool, 1681 W Granada Blvd, Ormond BeachEvent: Mixed Media Night Light or Suncatcher Class, 3 – 5 PM
The Salty Mermaid, 1546 - 1548 Ocean Shore Blvd, Ormond BeachEvent: Private Training: 1 Day, 12 – 2 PM
Ormond Beach Sports Complex, 700 Hull Rd, Ormond BeachEvent: Dave Mason's Traffic Jam Let It Flow Tour 2025, 8:00 – 11:30 PM
Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center, 399 US-1, Ormond BeachEvent: Open Mic Event, Mar 5 – Apr 4
Kava Culture Kava Bar, 500 W Granada Blvd Ste 5, Ormond BeachEvent: Once Upon a Storytime Series, Mar 11 – Apr 8
The Casements, 25 Riverside Dr, Ormond BeachEvent: Wednesday is BINGO Night at Kava Kula, 8 – 10 PM Kava Kula Kava Bar & Lounge, 142 E Granada Blvd #213/214, Ormond Beach
Event: SADY Classes, 6 – 8 PM
Sica Hall, 1065 Daytona Ave, Holly HillThu Apr 3
Event: Ormond Beach Farmers Market @ David Hood Plaza, 8 AM – 1 PM
Ormond Beach Farmer's Market, 22 S Beach St, Ormond Beach, FLEvent: FREE BLOOD SUGAR AND VISION SCREENING, 10 AM – 1 PM
Ormond Beach Regional Library, 30 S Beach St, Ormond Beach, FLEvent: Private Training: 1 Day, 2 – 4 PM
Ormond Beach Sports Complex, 700 Hull Rd, Ormond Beach, FLEvent: Authentic Gemstone Jewelry Class, 1 – 3 PM
The Salty Mermaid, 1546 - 1548 Ocean Shore Blvd, Ormond Beach, FLEvent: Quality of Life Advisory Board, 5 PM
Ormond Beach City Hall, 22 S Beach St, Ormond Beach, FLEvent: Gentle Flow, 6 – 7 PM
Sol Wellness Yoga Studio, 725 S Nova Rd, Ormond Beach, FLEvent: Young Guns, 7 – 10 PM
Ormond Beach Performing Arts, 399 US-1, Ormond Beach, FLEvent: Trivia Night at Kava Kula, 8 – 10 PM
Kava Kula Kava Bar & Lounge, 142 E Granada Blvd #213/214, Ormond Beach, FL
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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