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  • ⭐Teachers May Get a Raise If Voters Agree, Libraries Launch New Reading Kits, and A Citizen Speaks Out

⭐Teachers May Get a Raise If Voters Agree, Libraries Launch New Reading Kits, and A Citizen Speaks Out

Issue #896

18 Apr

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Volusia County

In a 3-2 vote at a special meeting Friday, the Volusia County School Board agreed to pursue placing a teacher and staff pay referendum on the November ballot. The push is being led by Volusia United Educators, the district's teachers' union, which estimates the measure — a property tax millage capped at a four-year term — would generate roughly $70 million annually for teacher and support staff compensation. A recent poll commissioned by the union suggested 62% of county voters would support it. The case for the raise isn't hard to make: Volusia's average teacher salary of $52,613 trails neighboring Seminole, Orange, and Brevard counties by several thousand dollars. The board's two dissenters cited concerns about timing — with families facing economic pressure — and a desire for more detailed terms before committing. A formal vote to place the measure on the ballot is scheduled for May 12. If the board approves, the proposal then goes to the County Council.

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Starting the week of April 20, Volusia County Public Library branches will debut a new resource for the youngest readers in the family: decodable reading kits, available free with a library card. Decodable books work differently from standard picture books — instead of encouraging children to guess words from context clues, they guide kids through sounding out words using phonics skills they've already been taught, building genuine reading independence rather than workarounds. The kits align with Florida's science-of-reading framework and will launch during Pre-K Storytime sessions at the Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach, Deltona, DeLand, Port Orange, and New Smyrna Beach regional branches. If you have a young child working on reading readiness, this is worth knowing about. Check schedules at volusialibrary.org.

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Community Voice: Elena Krafft on Protect Volusia

Ms. Krafft attended a recent town hall featuring Senate and Volusia County Council candidates and came away struck less by what the candidates said than by the atmosphere in the room. She describes a standing-room crowd visibly divided between residents concerned about overdevelopment, flooding, and water quality on one side, and what she characterizes as development-aligned political networks on the other.

The scene reminded her of the 2024 election cycle, when she says grassroots candidates faced coordinated attacks from the same networks, including the removal of a sitting county chair from the Republican voter guide.

Krafft argues that money continues to shape local elections while most residents are too busy with daily life to counter well-funded campaigns. She frames the upcoming August primaries and November election as a choice between pro-development and pro-resident candidates.

She lists six specific votes she attributes to Councilmembers Jake Johansson, Danny Robbins, and David Santiago that she says went against residents' interests: voting against a heavy industrial moratorium, against a countywide development moratorium, against a rural boundary protection measure, against mandatory low-impact development standards, against letting residents vote on the toilet-to-tap issue, and for limiting public hearings on certain zoning decisions.

She closes by asking readers to share her post so voters understand the voting records of these officials before casting their ballots.

Sources
"Volusia County Schools, teacher's union, to pursue tax referendum for increased teacher, staff pay" — Ormond Observer, April 17, 2026
"Volusia County Public Library launches decodable reading kits to boost early literacy" — Ormond Observer, April 16, 2026
Community Voice: Elena Krafft on Protect Volusia— Protect Volusia / Facebook,
April 17, 2026

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📅Saturday, April 18, 2026

📍 Ormond Beach

🍀 Cultural Festivals

  • Ormond Beach Celtic Festival

    • Saturate your senses in the sights, sounds, and tastes of Celtic heritage! This award-winning festival occupies two beachside parks along the Halifax River. Expect multiple live music stages, traditional Highland Games, a Clan Village, and plenty of Celtic food and drink.

    • Time: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Festival continues through Sunday)

    • Location: Rockefeller Gardens & The Casements (25 Riverside Dr)

    • Cost: $12 in advance / $15 at the gate (Children 12 & under are free)

🇯🇲 Live Music & Festivals

  • 15th Annual Spring Break Reggae Festival

    • Get ready for a massive day of island vibes! The Venue at Destination Daytona is hosting a nearly 12-hour reggae festival featuring fantastic live music, food, and great energy to kick off the spring season.

    • Time: 12:00 PM – 11:30 PM

    • Location: The Venue at Destination Daytona (1651 N US-1)

📍 Holly Hill

🏓 Active & Leisure

  • Pickleball Dink N Drink Saturdays!

    • Get your weekend pickleball fix away from the festival crowds! Pictona hosts its weekly Saturday social featuring open play, music, food and drink specials, and raffle prizes.

    • Time: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM

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

🌳 Parks & Recreation

  • Saturday on the Halifax River

    • Looking for a free, quiet afternoon away from the busy events in Ormond and Daytona? Sunrise Park offers plenty of shade, picnic tables, and beautiful riverfront views for a relaxing weekend outing.

    • Time: Open sunrise to sunset

    • Location: Sunrise Park (1135 Riverside Dr)

📍 Daytona Beach

🚙 Major Events & Festivals

  • Jeep Beach 2026 (Ongoing)

    • The county-wide Jeep takeover continues! Thousands of Jeep enthusiasts are gathering for the first weekend of this massive event. Expect off-road vendor displays, beachside meetups, and plenty of custom rigs cruising down A1A and around the Speedway.

    • Time: Events run daily (Check the official Jeep Beach app for Saturday's specific meetups)

    • Location: Various locations throughout Daytona Beach and the Speedway

🎈 Family & Kids

  • Daytona KidFest & Camp Fair

    • A completely free family event! This fair is loaded with resources, summer camp info, and free activities including face painting, balloon animals, inflatable axe throwing, family bingo, and character meet-and-greets.

    • Time: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM

    • Location: Tanger Outlets Daytona Beach (1100 Cornerstone Blvd)

    • Cost: Free

⚾ Sports & Entertainment

  • Daytona Tortugas vs. St. Lucie Mets

    • Take me out to the ballgame! Grab a hot dog and a cold drink, and cheer on the hometown Daytona Tortugas as they play their Saturday night home game.

    • Time: First pitch at 6:35 PM

    • Location: Jackie Robinson Ballpark (105 E Orange Ave)

💃 Nightlife & Social

  • First Annual Prom Night: Take Two

    • Prom is back, and this time, there are no rules! This 90s-themed adult (21+) prom is built for people who want the magic without the awkwardness. Dress up, dance hard, and enjoy DJ-driven throwbacks, a complimentary glass of champagne, and a crowning of the Prom King & Queen.

    • Time: 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM

    • Location: The Shores Resort & Spa (2637 S Atlantic Ave, Daytona Beach Shores)

    • Cost: Starting at $32.57

Here is your hyper-local event list for Sunday, April 19, 2026, ordered exactly as requested: Ormond Beach, Holly Hill, and Daytona Beach.

Sunday brings the grand finales of some fantastic local weekend festivals and a great afternoon of Minor League Baseball!

📅 Sunday, April 19, 2026

📍 Ormond Beach

🍀 Cultural Festivals

  • Ormond Beach Celtic Festival (Final Day)

    • It's your last chance to experience the magic of the Celtic Heritage! Head down to the riverfront for day two of this award-winning festival. Enjoy continuous live music, watch the impressive Highland Games, grab a pint, and explore the Clan Village.

    • Time: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM

    • Location: Rockefeller Gardens & The Casements (25 Riverside Dr)

    • Cost: $12 in advance / $15 at the gate (Children 12 & under are free)

🏍️ Social & Leisure

  • Sunday Live Music at Saints & Sinners

    • Close out your weekend with a laid-back Sunday afternoon at Teddy Morse's Daytona Harley-Davidson. Walk the lot, grab a drink, and catch a live performance from a local rock or blues band at the on-site Saints & Sinners Pub.

    • Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

    • Location: Teddy Morse's Daytona Harley-Davidson (1637 N US-1)

📍 Holly Hill

🏓 Active & Leisure

  • Sunday Open-Play Pickleball @ Pictona

    • Wrap up your weekend on the courts! Pictona is the buzzing heart of Holly Hill on Sunday mornings. With 49 courts available, it is the perfect spot for open play. Grab a post-game lunch at their on-site restaurant, The Kitchen.

    • Time: Open daily (typically 7:30 AM – 9:00 PM)

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

🌳 Parks & Recreation

  • Sunday on the Halifax River

    • Looking for a free, quiet afternoon away from the busy events in Ormond and Daytona? Sunrise Park offers plenty of shade, picnic tables, and beautiful riverfront views for a relaxing weekend outing.

    • Time: Open sunrise to sunset

    • Location: Sunrise Park (1135 Riverside Dr)

📍 Daytona Beach

⚾ Sports & Family Fun

  • Daytona Tortugas vs. St. Lucie Mets (Family Sunday)

    • Take me out to the ballgame! Sundays are usually Family Days at the ballpark. Cheer on the hometown Daytona Tortugas as they wrap up their home stand series against St. Lucie. Stick around after the game, as kids usually get the chance to run the bases!

    • Time: First pitch at 5:00 PM (Typical Sunday start time)

    • Location: Jackie Robinson Ballpark (105 E Orange Ave)

🚙 Major Events & Festivals

  • Jeep Beach 2026 (Ongoing)

    • The county-wide Jeep takeover continues! The first weekend wraps up today, but the energy stays high. Expect off-road vendor displays, beachside meetups, and plenty of custom rigs cruising down A1A and around the Speedway.

    • Time: Events run daily (Check the official Jeep Beach app for Sunday's specific meetups)

    • Location: Various locations throughout Daytona Beach and the Speedway

🎸 Live Music & Entertainment

  • Sunday Afternoon Jam at the Ocean Deck

    • Grab a drink on the beach and catch a massive lineup of local reggae, rock, and acoustic artists taking the stage all afternoon at Daytona's most iconic beach bar.

    • Time: Music starts at 1:30 PM

    • Location: Ocean Deck Restaurant & Beach Club (127 S Ocean Ave)

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

Do you have an event you’d like to have posted? Submit Your Event Here. OR scan the QR Code below

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