Patricia Northey Volusia County Council District 5

Transcription

1 Patricia Northey Volusia County Council District 5 COUNTY COUNCIL UPDATE OCTOBER 2013 WHILE IT MIGHT BE FRIGHT NIGHT IN WASHINGTON, YOUR LOCAL VOLUSIA COUNTY GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO FUNCTION. YOUR TRASH WILL BE PICKED UP, EMERGENCY CALLS FOR SERVICE ARE BEING ANSWERED, AND PERMITS CAN STILL BE PULLED. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES TO REBUILD OUR LOCAL ECONOMY ARE ONGOING. WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND OUR BUDGET IS BALANCED. 1

2 Libraries offer Affordable Care Act workshops If you can afford health insurance, you re required to have it by Many will qualify for financial assistance to pay for coverage. Where do you start? Three Volusia County public libraries will offer free workshops to help you navigate the new Health Insurance Marketplace, which was created by the Affordable Care Act. The Deltona Regional Library, 2150 Eustace Ave., is planning three programs: 1 to 2 p.m. Friday, Oct to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 The DeLand Regional Library, 130 E. Howry Ave., will host these programs: 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesdays, Oct. 9, 16 and 23 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30 The Port Orange Regional Library, 1005 City Center Circle, will offer programs at: 1:30 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17 1:30 to 4 p.m. Thursdays, Nov. 7 and 14 PARK YOUR CAR AT THE DEBARY STATION AND HOP ON A TRAIN AND TRAVEL TO POINTS SOUTH. WORK ON YOUR COMPUTER OR FOLLOW UP ON THOSE UNRETURNED TELEPHONE CALLS YOU MEANT TO TAKE CARE OF THE DAY BEFORE. GET AN EARLY START ON THE DAY OR JUST RELAX AND READ THE PAPER AS YOU TRAVEL TO WORK. THIS WILL BE A GREAT WAY TO TRAVEL IN THE REGION! 2

3 PHASE I WILL FEATURE SEVEN LOCOMOTIVES, FIVE COACHES (PASSENGERS ONLY) AND NINE CAB CARS THAT WILL MAKE UP VARIOUS TRAINS. A TRAIN WILL CONSIST OF AN ENGINE, A COACH IN THE MIDDLE, AND A CAB CAR AT THE END. THESE TRAINS CAN BE ADDED ON, IF THERE IS A NEED TO HOOK UP MORE CARS, BASED ON RIDERSHIP. THE ENGINEER CAN ACTUALLY DRIVE THE ENTIRE TRAIN FROM THE CAB CAR. SO, LET S SAY THE TRAIN LEAVES DEBARY HEADING TO SAND LAKE ROAD WITH STOPS IN BETWEEN. RATHER THAN TURN THE TRAIN AROUND, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE A TURN STYLE AND TIME, THE ENGINEER GETS OUT OF THE ENGINE, WALKS BACK TO THE CAB CAR, PRESSES THE CONTROLS, AND THE TRAIN HEADS NORTH. TO PEOPLE WATCHING, IT WILL SEEM LIKE THE TRAIN IS GOING BACKWARDS, WE CALL IT PUSH-PULL TECHNOLOGY. EACH CAB CAR CAN SEAT 103 PEOPLE, IF BIKES AND WHEEL CHAIRS ARE INCLUDED; 132 SEATED PASSENGERS W/O BIKES AND WHEEL CHAIRS; CAPACITY IS 337 THAT S COUNTING PEOPLE SEATED AND WALL TO WALL, STANDING ROOM ONLY. THE CAB CARS WILL HAVE RESTROOMS ON BOARD, SO WILL THE COACHES. AND WHILE WE WILL BE SENDING OUR COMMUTERS OUTBOUND, WE WILL ALSO BE WORKING TO CAPTURE VISITORS FROM POINTS SOUTH OF US AND THE TOURIST RICH ORLANDO MARKET. THE DEBARY STATION WILL BECOME THE STARTING POINT FOR LOW IMPACT NATURE BASED TOURISM IN WEST VOLUSIA. FROM THE DEBARY STATION, OUR VISITORS WILL BE ABLE TO JUMP ON OUR SHOWCASE TRAIL SYSTEM AND VISIT THE ARRAY OF ECHO ADVENTURES THAT AWAIT THEM. Check out the progress being made on the Ft. Florida Station in DeBary. We will be ready for the trains to roll into the station. This is a Volusia County project and is the 1 st phase of Sunrail in Volusia County. Phase 2 will take the train to DeLand and a study is expected to be undertaken soon to look at service to Daytona and our airport. We truly will be a multi model transportation hub. Want to know all the details? Go to There you will find schedules, fares, and connecting information. 3

4 Occasionally this newsletter will be bringing you information on new businesses in our community. In case you had not heard, west Volusia has a new radio voice! AM 1230 WSBB with transmitter and studios located in New Smyrna Beach has truly become the voice of Volusia County with a signal up and down the eastern coast of Volusia County. Over the past several years, residents and business owners in West Volusia have wanted a local radio station with news, information, and music. In November of 2012 AM 1230 started broadcasting to West Volusia on AM 1490 adding weather, business and community information pertinent to all of Volusia County. Also with the addition AM 1230 and AM 1490 became the flagship station originating Stetson University Football, Basketball and selected Baseball games. Barb Diegel Vice President of AM 1230 and AM 1490 said, all of us who are part of the station are honored to be an information and entertainment outlet for the slightly more than half million residents of Volusia County. County-Council-Member-District-5/ I am regularly posting content on County Council issues to this page. Like the page to get the most recent Council News. And on Twitter: You can find many of our County services on Facebook and twitter as well. You can also sign up for notifications from the manager s office, parks, rec and culture, emergency management and other important county 4

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6 There are three trails of varying lengths designed for the average hiker. Well marked with places to rest, you will see beautiful vistas, wildlife, plants, and flowers native to the scrub habitat. Take the long hike that takes you to one of the highest points in Deltona. It is a stunning view. Lyonia is especially beautiful in the fall. Check out my Facebook page for more photos of this Florida desert right here in our backyard. Environmental specialists lead hikes through Lyonia Preserve at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. every Monday and Friday. Participants should wear closed-toe shoes, bring water, and be prepared to hike on unpaved sugar-sand trails. Meet at Lyonia Environmental Center, 2150 Eustace Ave., Deltona. Reservations are requested and may be made by calling , ext Interested in supporting the center? Donations to support the Lyonia Environmental Center can be mailed to: West Volusia Audubon Society; PO Box 1268; DeLand, Fl Write Lyonia in the memo field. The West Volusia Audubon Society is a 501(c)(3) and all donations are tax deductible. 6

7 ARE YOU A FISHERMAN? DO YOU DIVE? This program is funded by Volusia County inlet district dollars. Volusia County Continues Award-winning Marine Wildlife and Artificial Fishing Reef Program The highly successful and popular reef construction program continued this summer and 29 artificial reefs have been deployed offshore Volusia County since late May The program builds marine habitat on the nearshore continental shelf using clean, donated concrete culverts, structures, utility poles, bridge pilings and steel ships and barges. In fact, in the last 3 years the reef program has recycled over 50 million pounds of concrete materials that would have otherwise ended up in our landfills or scrap yards. Once placed on the federally permitted areas on the seafloor Mother Nature does the rest with fish, shrimp, crabs and marine invertebrates almost immediately colonizing the reef structures. The reefs attract and provide habitat for a wide range of marine life including snapper, grouper, sea bass, flounder, manta and sting rays, sharks, sheepshead, cobia, kingfish, amberjack, barracuda, dolphin, sea turtles, crabs, shrimp, octopus, baitfish, tarpon, angelfish, spadefish, hard and soft corals, barnacles, clams, starfish, sponges, sea fans and jellyfish. Reefs support the local and regional marine and boating industries by providing fishing and diving locations on the nearshore area of the continental shelf where no natural reef occurs. This provides easily accessible sites for deep-sea fishing and diving. Reefs improve the quality of life for the residents, visitors and marine life in east central Florida and will naturally function for decades to come. In 2012 the Florida Association of County Engineers and Road Superintendents awarded Volusia County the "Team Project of the Year" award for interagency cooperation and private sector cost-savings in acquiring, transporting and loading artificial reef materials. 7

8 Brought greetings to the Volusia County Hispanic Chamber Viva Volusia Festival; Chaired Healthy Start Executive Board Meeting; Attended TPO Executive Board and General Membership meeting; Participated in DeBary Life Song community conversation; Toured all Volusia sites placed on the DEP surplus list; Attended the River of Lakes Heritage Corridor Connie Bernal (r) site manager UCF Bus. Incubator Lynn Sinnott (r) honored for her years of service. meeting; enjoyed a sneak peak on the SunRail ride from DeLand to Kississimmee; attended A Fabulous Affair Benefitting women in Volusia; Spoke to the Orange County Legislative Delegation on behalf of the St. Johns River Alliance; Presented a proclamation to Executive Director Lynn Sinnott for 20 years of service to Easter Seals; Attended Daytona State College 2013 Annual Gala honoring Lisa France Kennedy; Attended September VCOG meeting; Participated in the City of Edgewater s Trails and Economic Development Workshop; participated in the Florida Greenways and Trail Council Meeting; did the monthly WNDB Radio Show the Volusianaires; attended the 2 nd Florida National Scenic Trail Symposium and the 2013 Florida Outdoor Recreation Summit; Attended the DeBary, Deltona, Orange City Rotary Annual Hops and Wine Tasting. Lake George DEP Surplus Site Saundra and Charlie Gray sneak peak ride DeBary, Deltona, Orange City Rotary Hops and Vine Fundraiser 8

9 PLACES TO GO AND THINGS TO DO! We are blessed to live here in Volusia County. The weather is perfect this time of year. Now is the time to get out and explore our county. There is so much to do right here at home. Begin by going on line and check out our county web site. You can use the drop down menu to explore our beaches, our trails, parks, libraries and historical places. NEW LISTING October 19 th : The good folks of the Enterprise Preservation Society will be hosting the 13 th ANNUAL OLD ENTERPRISE FESTIVAL. Mariner s Cove Park on the banks of the St. Johns River in Enterprise NEW LISTING October 20 th : Lace up those sneakers & join us for the PINK FEET 10K/5K ROAD RACE at DeBary Hall Historic Site, located at 198 Sunrise Blvd. in DeBary! Florida Hospital and the Historic DeBary Hall have joined forces again this year to bring you a memorable scenic 5k or 10k through the neighborhoods of DeBary starting and finishing at the Historic DeBary Hall. Go to to register for this fun event. NEW LISTING October 26 th : DELEON SPRINGS FALL FESTIVAL: at the Porter House along Highway 17-92, from 9am -4pm NEW LISTING November 2 th : The 7 TH ANNUAL RIVER CITY RUN sponsored by the Rotary Club of DeBary-Deltona-Orange City: start time is 8:00 A.M., but get there at 7:30 A.M. See more at: 9

10 NEW LISTING November 2 nd : Florida and the U-Boats: Torpedoes, Saboteurs, and the Hooligan Navy. Learn how German submarines attacked merchant ships from New York to New Orleans close enough that people onshore could see them burning; how German spies on PonteVedra Beach buried explosives and equipment meant to blow up Florida rail lines; and how a German U-Boat captain was honored in Jacksonville almost 50 years after sinking a tanker offshore. Lani Friend narrates as historical re-enactor Larry French brings to life Kapitänleutnant Reinhard Hardegen, ace U-Boat commander who wreaked havoc from New York to Florida during the "American Hunting Season" of PM FREE NEW LISTING SAVE THE DATE: November 30 th : City of DeBary Tree Lighting ceremony. More info to follow Our trails are calling you! Please note: This is a monthly newsletter, written and edited by yours truly, updating you on what is happening in District 5 and in the County. This is a public record and is intended for broad distribution. It may be shared. Please feel free to me on any issue that you have a concern. My address for official county business is pnorthey@volusia.org. My cell phone is Or you can reach my assistant at the numbers O) ; F) : Photo credits: Reef fish & barge by Joe Nolin; Trail bridge by Michele McFall-Conte. SunRail Train by FDOT Other photos provided by Pat Northey Volume 7: issue # 6 10