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Deltonans will soon have a new place to get their caffeine fix. Dutch Brothers, a growing coffee chain, plans to build a 950-square-foot restaurant with a drive-thru pickup window on the cityu2019s busy north side. The new drink-in/takeout business will be built at 2906 Halifax Crossings Blvd., which is within the Mixed Use Planned Unit Development anchored by the Halifax Health/UF Health hospital. Established in 1992 in Grants Pass, Oregon, Dutch Brothers now has more than 1,000 outle...
Sen. Tom Wright speaks with Beacon reporter Al Everson about the possibility of eliminating some property taxes. Beacon Video/Al Everson Related story: Amid uncertainty about tax reform, county leaders try to set 2026 agenda
Tax season 2026 is upon us. More importantly, tax season 2026 is upon me. This will be my 30th year in the business. And this year will be fun. The u201cOne Big Beautiful Billu201d is in effect, and I have some keen observations colored by my political bent for all of the Beacon faithful. President Trumpu2019s u201cTax Cuts and Jobs Actu201d was signed into law in late 2017 and implemented in 2018. 2019 was a very good tax season for me. I realized early on that I could point out to my...
One thing I have noticed about Florida is that there are some pretty impressive storms. Not much over a year ago, I had to clean up some legal problems from a hurricane that went up the West Coast. By the time they get to me, problems are mostly paper. I am not going to go out and banish the storm from the state. If it is bad, then I will probably just wait indoors. I expect the Legislature is the same way. Probably a bit more so: No one expects them to do anything useful. Indeed, they...
Stetson Universityu2019s Hand Art Center is celebrating the enduring power and versatility of original printmaking and one-of-a-kind books with u201cLooks Good on Paper,u201d an expansive exhibition running Tuesday, Jan. 20, through Saturday, March 21. An opening reception will take place 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, and the public is invited to attend. The exhibition brings together nearly 100 works by members of the Central Florida Printmakers and the Book Arts Guild of Central Florid...
In The West Volusia Beacon Weekly Edition dated Dec. 11-17, 2025, writer Larry French offers an inspired opinion article about the Tiger tugboat representing the Greatest Generation in World War II. While I couldnu2019t agree more about the significance of the Greatest Generation in World War II, I completely disagree that the Tiger tugboat is the right vessel to best illustrate their service and dedication to God and country during World War II. Yes, the Tiger was built on the east sh...
Because of popular demand u2014 as in raising the issue during public participation at every meeting for the past three months, the County Council may revisit its decision to rescind funding for cultural-arts organizations from the countyu2019s general fund. The council has heard repeated outrage and pleas to restore $611,000 for operating grants for a variety of cultural groups, including museums, drama and fine-arts organizations. Council members say they may reinstate the grants for...
At a time when artificial intelligence can generate stories in seconds, a creative-writing class at DeLand High School is taking a slower, more deliberate approach u2014 one built on imagination, collaboration and handwritten drafts. Led by longtime Volusia County educator David Finkle, the mixed-grade creative-writing class (grades nine-12) is once again writing, editing and publishing a full-length childrenu2019s novel. This
Right now, Gov. Ron DeSantis is promoting his Florida Homeowner Tax Cuts, promising to protect Florida from big business, give homeowners relief in a high-price economy, and shift the cost of infrastructure to corporate property owners. Under the current slate of proposals, property taxes on homesteaded homes would be reduced or potentially eliminated through expanded exemptions and millage rollbacks. It works politically because it taps into something real: the resentment many n...
Trash and Treasure Sale at 1st Christian Church First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) of DeLand, at 1401 W. New York Ave., is hosting its annual Trash and Treasure Sale 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7. Shoppers will find furniture, household goods, clothing and collectibles, along with soup for sale in the kitchen. Proceeds fund camp and college scholarships. The Influence of Islam in America: Hidden Threads, Living Light Please join us at...
At their Jan. 21 meeting, members of the DeLand City Commission recognized 12 young artists from Starke Elementary School for participating in the cityu2019s Art in Public Places program. The childrenu2019s art has been on display in the gallery on the second floor at City Hall, 120 S. Florida Ave. Four of the youths were able to attend the City Commission meeting, and received certificates, applause from the audience, and gift cards for milkshakes at Chick-fil-A. Recognized were Kelil...
On a clear January morning, my sisters and I took our father, Mitch Geier, someplace we never expected: on a hike. When he was younger, my dad was an active man. He played tennis, hiked and sailed. In his 30s, he suffered a heart attack alone on a sailboat and managed to sail himself back to shore. A triple bypass followed. Lifelong diabetes took more. At 73, he is a double amputee, having lost both legs to complications from the disease he has lived with since childhood. So when my si...
A 36-year-old transient man attacked a 13-year-old Southwestern Middle School student Jan. 20 in DeLand. The incident began on the sidewalk of State Road 15A near the entrance of The Cascades, an HOA in north DeLand. According to the charging affidavit, Chris Schwable confronted the boy and threatened him with a knife around 8 a.m. Joseph Wells, a good Samaritan, saw the interaction while driving by and turned around to intervene, according to the affidavit and statements by Well...
Rainfall across the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWM) remained below average in December, with precipitation below normal in 17 of the Districtu2019s 18 counties, contributing to declining aquifer levels and mixed surface water conditions. According to a Jan. 20 press release from the SJRWM, the entire District is experiencing some level of drought, as classified by the U.S. Drought Monitor, ranging from abnormally dry conditions in central areas to moderate and severe ...
