Hosted by the Dr. Joyce M. Cusack Resource Center, this year’s Thanksgiving Feed the Community Event Thursday, November 21, 2024 from 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM will serve as a time of remembrance, reflection, and renewal of hope. The event will be held in Spring Hill Park, 971 South Thompson Avenue.
For many in our community, this holiday may not be one of abundance. Some may not be able to afford a Thanksgiving meal, while others may be facing loneliness, homelessness, or displacement. For those feeling isolated or disconnected, a community dinner can bring the comfort of family, belonging, and hope.
A host of generous community partners have come together to ensure that this Thanksgiving holiday is one filled with joy, warmth, and togetherness.
We will be offering free hot meals, along with a coat, socks, gloves, and blanket giveaway to help provide warmth during the colder months (first come-first served).
Additionally, various giveaways will be available, aimed at easing the challenges of day-to-day life and sparking hope for a brighter tomorrow.
Whether it’s a warm meal or a winter coat, these small acts of kindness can make a big difference for those struggling this holiday season.
Please join us in making this Thanksgiving a time of compassion, connection, and renewal for all.
For more information or to donate, please contact the Resource Center at:
Two projects were awarded ECHO funding this week after receiving approval by the Volusia County Council.
The Charles Paiva Greenway, which runs north from Earl Brown Park along Alabama Avenue to near Stetson University, received a $1.5 million grant that will allow the multi-use trail to be extended about 1.3 miles from East Minnesota Avenue to U.S. 92.
With the completion of the trail, DeLand will have trails that not only go through its core area, but also has trails that head east, west, north and south – creating a perimeter around the city.
“The city is very appreciative of the funding that was awarded by the Volusia County Council,” said Mayor Robert F. Apgar. “These projects will go a long way toward improving the quality of life for our residents and visitors.”
The Volusia County Council also approved appropriating $150,000 in funds for Jackson-Lane Memorial Park to go toward purchasing new playground equipment that will be accessible to children of all abilities.
The city will provide matching funds for the projects, which are expected to be completed or in progress in 2023.
The Volusia County ECHO program is a voter-approved initiative that is funded using property taxes to support projects for environmental, cultural, historical and outdoor recreational purposes.
(DeLand, FL) – Officials broke ground this week on a connector road that will give a number of businesses in North DeLand access to a major thoroughfare.
The Eidson Drive connector project will provide companies located in the Northwest Industrial Park, Patterson Park and Airport industrial base access to State Highway 11. These companies, which include DaVita Labs, Kingspan and Complete Parachute Solutions, among others, also represent some of the city’s largest employers with a total employee base of more than 2,500 people.
“While the connector road being built is only about a mile long, this project is a great example of the public and private sectors working together to provide tremendous economic opportunities and benefits for existing and new businesses as well as our entire community,” said Mayor Robert F. Apgar.
The Eidson Drive connector project is a public-private partnership between the City of DeLand and the DeLand Arboricultural Partnership. Mayor Apgar thanked the Skinner family for donating the land for the project. He also thanked Senator Tom Wright and former state representative David Santiago for sponsoring the appropriation to provide funding for the initiative. The Florida Department of Transportation allocated $1 million for the project with the city funding the remaining balance.
The connector is expected to be complete by the end of 2022.
The Florida League of Cities (FLC), celebrating its 100th anniversary as the united voice for Florida's municipal governments, recently recognized three city officials -- Commissioner Chris Cloudman, Assistant City Manager Mike Grebosz and Mayor Bob Apgar -- with a 2022 Home Rule Hero Award for their hard work and advocacy efforts during the 2022 Legislative Session. All three worked tirelessly throughout session to promote local voices making local choices, protect the Home Rule powers of Florida's municipalities and advance the League's legislative agenda.
"On behalf of the League and its legislative team, we're very proud to present this year's Home Rule Hero Awards to a deserving group of municipal leaders," said FLC Director of Legislative Affairs Casey Cook. "We had a record number of Home Rule Heroes this year, which shows the dedication and impact of local officials on behalf of their residents and businesses in protecting local decision-making. These local officials were constantly engaged and actively advocating for their communities throughout the 2022 Legislative Session. They're heroes for Home Rule and we thank them for their efforts."
This is the first time DeLand has had 3 recipients in the same year.
Home Rule is the ability for a city to address local problems with local solutions with minimal state interference. Home Rule Hero Award recipients are local government officials, both elected and nonelected, who consistently responded to the League's request to reach out to members of the legislature and help give a local perspective on an issue.
"I am proud of the work our city has done to protect not only our residents but municipalities across the state," said Mayor Bob Apgar. "For some time now, state legislators have been eroding the rights of local government to self-govern when they should be collectively focused on solving problems affecting our entire state like out-of-control rent, funding for affordable housing or rising seas.
"I want to congratulate Commissioner Chris Cloudman and Assistant City Manager Mike Grebosz who have received this award 2 years in a row. As I leave office later this year, I am happy to know there are others who will continue to advocate for our city and I encourage all of our future commissioners to be active advocates for DeLand at the state level."
Commissioner Chris Cloudman was born in Boynton Beach and grew up in Port Orange. He moved to DeLand in 2008 and was appointed to Seat 4 of the City Commission in 2014 and has served ever since.
Assistant City Manager Mike Grebosz, a city resident and Stetson University graduate, has worked for the city for 17 years including the last six years as Assistant City Manager.
Mayor Apgar has won the Home Rule Hero Award multiple times since its inception in 2009. He has been very active in the Volusia League of Cities, Florida League of Mayors and the Florida League of Cities in various capacities during his time as mayor.
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