LOOKING BACK

A Year in Review: Here's what happened in Ormond Beach in 2023

See the year in photos and a timeline of some of the top news stories of the year in our community.

By Jarleene Almenas
| 5:00 a.m. December 31, 2023

Jan. 6: Troy Railsback and his son Lucas, of Ormond Beach, work on an art project during the first free monthly Family Art Night program of the new year at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum. Photo by Michele Meyers

Jan. 20: City Commissioner Lori Tolland and her granddaughters Caroline and Maddie help plant a live oak tree at the Environmental Discovery Center in celebration of Florida Arbor Day.

Jan. 26: The newly constructed Beachside Elementary School holds an open house for students and their families. Photo by Michele Meyers

Feb. 3: Ormond Beach Elementary student Alyssa Gilreath, 10, gears up to compete in the ECO Pro Surf Series Championship in Puerto Rico. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Feb. 4: Spruce Creek High School art teacher Joseph Vandenberg melds his passion for fishing and art into one image during the chalk competition at the Granada Grand Festival of the Arts. He was the runner-up for Best of Show. Photo by Michele Meyers

Feb. 11: Ormond Beach firefighters gather in front of their department's engines at the beach by Flagler Avenue Boardwalk in New Smyrna Beach to celebrate the life of firefighter Ethan Wilson. Photo by Michele Meyers

Feb. 21: Seabreeze agriculture teacher and FFA advisor Craig Lungren laughs after cutting the ribbon for the school's new agriculture lab with gardening shears. Photo by Michele Meyers

March 5: Blues and Brews Bistro Chef Zachary Mims and Liz Burger serve up butter chicken tikka cajun with pickled purple slaw during Taste of Ormond. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

March 19: Florida Women's Art Association's "It's a Kite Thing" exhibit opens at the Museum of Arts and Sciences. Artist Teri Althouse is pictured here with her and Thays Franca's kite. Courtesy photo

March 24: Caldwell B. Cladwell, played by Danny Crile and his daughter Hope Cladwell, played by Agata Sokolska-Li, dance in the show "Urinetown" at the Daytona Playhouse. Photo by Michele Meyers

April 1: Tucker Lothian, Hunter Bebon, Emmett Bebon, Hope Bebon, Miley Lothian and Kyle Bebon take their photos with the Easter bunny at Tomoka United Methodist Church's annual Easter party and egg hunt. Photo by Michele Meyers

April 15: At 69 years-old, Doug Pettit was the oldest competing athlete at the 12th annual Celtic Festival Highland Games. Photo by Michele Meyers

April 22: Capt. Hunter Ramirez and firefighters Vann Meadows and Garrett Fiske, of the Ormond Beach Fire Department, show off their mustaches during the Ormond Beach Police's annual Donut Dash 5K. Photo by Brian McMillan

May 5: Anjali Khanna stars as Myrtha, Queen of the Wilis, in Ormond Ballet's production of "Giselle." Photo courtesy of Jeremiah Garner

May 6: Art in the Park Best in Show fine artist Mike Nelson stands amid his Brutalist style pottery. Photo by Michele Meyers

May 12: Pumphouse BBQ is chosen as the winner of Ormond Beach's first Burger Week. Pictured are Pumphouse BBQ owner Rob West, Chef Bryan Brymer and employee Miles Hiniker. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

May 13: Riggs Harris from 95.7 the Hog, J.R. Rivera with the Half Wall Brewery and Martin Truda who is a regular at the brewery hang out at the fourth annual Ormond Beach Beer Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers

May 17: OBMS Band Director Sonya Shearer takes a photo of Walter Bailey, who was the school's band director from 1966-1997, and his family during the OBMS Spring Concert in his honor. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

May 19: Ormond Beach Police Officer Stephen Brugone salutes during the 2023 Law Enforcement Memorial at Daytona Memorial Park. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

June 2: Ormond Beach Police Officer Greg Stokes, the former school resource officer for Ormond Beach Middle School, is recognized with a schoolwide "clap out." Photo by Jarleene Almenas

June 17: Kyle Parker hugs his daughter on the dance floor during The Casements first father-daughter dance. Photo by Michele Meyers

June 27: City Commissioner Harold Briley and Mayor Bill Partington smile as City Commissioner Susan Persis and husband School Board member Carl Persis toss another shovel-full of dirt into the air to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Tomoka Elementary. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

July 4: Fireworks shine over the Halifax river on the Fourth of July in Ormond Beach. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy

July 14: Halifax Humane Society staff Victoria Kerry holds an adopted puppy as he and William Cossa sniff each other during the Puppy Preview at the new HHS Dog Adoption Center located in the Volusia Mall. Photo by Michele Meyers

July 22: Santa Claus and Nancy Cortez, vice president of the Ormond MainStreet Board, ride around in a golf cart during MainStreet's Christmas in July event. Photo by Alexis Miller

Aug. 5: Gabrielle Rosa's photo, titled "Flowers," won Best in Show in the city's first Young Adult Photography Contest, created in memory of late city photographer David Pizzo. Rosa is a freshman at Seabreeze High School. Courtesy photo

Aug. 14: Volusia County Schools Superintendent Carmen Balgobin visits a sixth grade classroom at Hinson Middle School on the first day of school. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Aug. 24: Erik Nason, Advent Health's manager of sports medicine for Volusia and Flagler counties, talks about the importance of ECGs and health screenings before a JV football game at the Ormond Beach Sports. He donated two automated external defribillators (AEDs) to Seabreeze High School. Photo by Brent Woronoff

Aug. 29: City Streets Department employees Cameron Skroskznik and Marcus Butts help fill sandbags for a resident at Nova Community Center in preparation for Hurricane Idalia. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Sept. 2: Patti Winchester (third from left) holds her $250 winning duck as she celebrates with her friends at the Ormond Beach Elks Lodge 2193 duck drop fundraising event. Winchester donated half of her winnings back to the Elks. Photo by Michele Meyers

Sept. 3: Award-winning professional Polynesian dance troupe Hiti Mahana perform at the Rock the Aloha for Maui fundraiser at the Ormond Memorial Art Museum. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy

Sept. 7: Maya Ulibarri and Senior Peyton Domayer show off what they're working on during Christine Colby's class at Seabreeze High School. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Sept. 11: A group of 11 Ormond Beach firefighters participated in the 9/11 stair climb at Marina Grande on the Halifax. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Sept. 20: Gary Heston holds up a sign protesting the fuel farm at the base of the Granada Bridge. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Oct. 3: Beachside Elementary third graders Milagro Gutierrez, Audriana Aylward, Caroline Perry and Adalen Foley check out Volusia County School's new STEM bus with STEM bus resource teacher David Van Slyke. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Oct. 3: Ormond Beach Police Cpl. Carlos Ortiz, retired Lt. Thomas Elkins, Cpl. Ryan Summerlot and Capt. Chris Roos attend National Night Out. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Oct. 6: Bridget Chawarz, and Estelle Breathe, both 11 year olds from Ormond Beach, as well as Sophia Berlanti, 11, of Daytona Beach, and Nargol Aghdasi, 11, of Ormond Beach, enjoy Realty Pros Assured's seventh annual Community Appreciation Night. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy

Oct. 9: Rabbi Rob Lennick, executive director of the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties, speaks during a vigil and memorial for Israel held at Temple Beth El after Hamas' attack. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Oct. 13: Malek Azizy holds up signs calling for an end of the occupation of Palestine during a protest at the Granada Bridge. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Oct. 14-15: ¡Curb Alert! does his best Florida Man Act routine at the Ormond Beach Live music and art festival. Photo by Michele Meyers

Oct. 17: Mollie Martin (left) and Kalease Heggins (right) are crowned Seabreeze High School royalty . Photo by Michele Meyers

Nov. 4: Monica Khreis and Buddy run along the water after the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new dog beach in Ormond. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Nov. 9: Veteran John Kirkman and his great grandson Trace Dean embrace during Pine Trail Elementary's Veterans Day program. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Nov. 24: Francy and Robby Gill showcase their Ford Model A during the 65th annual Gaslight Parade in Ormond Beach. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Dec. 1: Charlie Davila checks out the presents underneath the tree during The Casements Guild's 45th annual Christmas Gala. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Dec. 7: Ormond Beach Police Officer Jesse Godfrey hands a folded flag to Jennifer Bakaysa during her husband's funeral service. Ormond Beach Police Cpl. Michael Bakaysa died on Dec. 1, two weeks after suffering a medical incident during training. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Dec. 9: Chris Washington greets his kids after his surprise homecoming during the Ormond Beach Home for the Holidays parade. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Dec. 10: Rabbi Asher Farkash lights the center of the menorah during Chabad of Greater Daytona's Mega Chanukah event. Photo by Alexis Miller

Dec. 16: Jamiyah Loeffler and Ormond Beach Police Capt. Chris Roos team up for Ormond Beach Police's annual Shop with a Cop. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Ormond Beach Observer
News

January

Jan. 5: At his first Volusia County Council meeting, Councilman Troy Kent suggests that the county add dog-friendly stretches of beach.
Jan. 11: Volusia County Schools declares impasse with teachers' union, Volusia United Educators after eight bargaining sessions. The district offered the union a $14.7 million proposal, but VUE said its proposal failed to show the district "respects and prioritizes experienced staff."
Jan. 17: As he works to address his to-do list now that he's in office, County Councilman Troy Kent tries to rally council to make beach driving free for residents.
Jan. 27: Mary Jo Allen, vice president and chief nursing officer at Halifax Health, is named the Ormond Beach Chamber of Commerce's new executive board chair.
Jan. 31: The Ormond Beach City Commission outlines its Strategic Plan priorities. Among them are determining a best use for the parking lot at the demolished Union Church property at 56 N. Beach St., creating a park or community center west of I-95 and expanding the city's reclaimed water storage.

February

Feb. 4: Ormond Beach firefighter Ethan Wilson dies after a surfing accident in New Smyrna Beach. The 33-year-old donated his organs as his last act of service.
Feb. 8: The developers of the former Tomoka Oaks golf course hold two neighborhood meetings, proposing the construction of 300 homes. Residents of Tomoka Oaks adamantly oppose the development.
Feb. 21: The Volusia County Council votes unanimously to consider a dog-friendly beach "test" area near Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park.
Feb. 27: Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood holds joint press conference with elected officials, faith leaders to denounce antisemitism after a series of hate incidents in the county.
Feb. 28: Volusia County Council Chair Jeff Brower calls for cooperation to address water quality issues during the 2023 State of the County address.

March

March 7: After 20 years on the Ormond Beach City Commission, Mayor Bill Partington announces he will run for the Florida House of Representatives.
March 8: The Florida Department of Transportation holds meeting at The Casements to propose a $100 million project to build two sections of buried seawalls in sections of State Road A1A in Ormond-by-the-Sea and Flagler Beach.
March 21: The City Commission unanimously approves a $1.7-million work authorization to Bomar Construction, Inc., of Ormond Beach, for the Ormond Beach Performing Arts renovation project.
March 23: The Ormond Beach Police Athletic League receives a $30,000 donation from local developer and longtime supporter Paul Holub. He vowed to donate $30,000 annually to OBPAL for the next 20 years.
March 28: The Volusia County School Board adjusts the district's media selection policy to comply with new state statutes.

April

April 4: The "ReGrow the Loop" initiative — aimed to regenerate plant coverage and raise awareness on the Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail — is approved by the Volusia County Council.
April 11: Alice Louise Olmsted Burt, cofounder of the Ormond Beach Historical Society, dies at age 97.
April 18: Faced with uncertainty due to the Live Local Act, the City Commission decides to table the Tymber Creek Apartments proposal.
April 25: The city celebrates the new outdoor basketball court at the South Ormond Neighborhood Center.
April 30: Ormond Beach's first Burger Week begins. Fourteen local restaurants compete for the title of having the best burger in town.

May

May 1: Sea turtle season officially starts, but Volusia County already has three nests. The first was laid by a leatherback sea turtle on March 29.
May 2: The Volusia County Council reverses its decision to discuss a challenge process for books in public libraries.
May 11: The Tillandsia Garden Club of Ormond Beach celebrates its 75th anniversary.
May 16: The City Commission reluctantly approves the 270-unit Tymber Creek Apartments proposal, fearing that a denial could lead to the construction of an apartment with over 500 units, made possible by the Live Local Act.
May 25: The Conklin Davis Center for the Visually Impaired celebrates its first birthday since its merger.

June

June 2: Seabreeze High School and Mainland High School graduates their 2023 classes.
June 7: Four Tomoka Elementary principals — past and present — bid farewell to the school's campus prior to its demolition. The principals were School Board member Carl Persis (1991-2004), Julie Johnson (2004-2015), Susan Tuten (2015-2018) and Julie Roseboom (2018 to date).
June 20: Volusia County approves a speed limit reduction on three residential roads in Ormond-by-the-Sea: Juniper Drive, Wisteria Drive and Camellia Drive.
June 22: Volusia County and the Daytona Beach International Airport welcome Avelo Airlines, the airport's first low-cost carrier.
June 27: Volusia County Schools discusses $43 million boost in state dollars for the 2023-2024 school year.

July

July 11: The County Council votes 6-1 to approve an 18-month pilot program to allow dogs on the beach from Milsap Road to Rockefeller Drive in Ormond Beach.
July 13: The Ormond Beach Planning Board continues the public hearing for the development proposal for the former Tomoka Oaks golf course, citing it was too important of an issue to rush through.
July 17: The Roundtable of Volusia County Elected Officials holds its first transportation subcommittee meeting. The subcommittee hopes to address infrastructure issues that impact multiple jurisdictions.
July 18: The City Commission sets a tentative millage rate of 4.006 mills for fiscal year 2023-2024, a rate that is 4.15% above the rollback rate.
July 19: The Florida Trust for Historic Preservation picks the Ormond Yacht Club as one of its "11 to save," a list of threatened historic places in the state which aims to inspire communities to preserve them.

August

Aug. 1: A new zoning district — "I-2, Heavy Industrial" is created after a unanimous vote by the City Commission, despite some commissioners expressing concern that it could pave way for a fuel farm at 874 Hull Road, which is located in unincorporated Volusia County land.
Aug. 15: Residents flood City Hall's commission chambers in opposition of Belvedere Terminals' proposed fuel farm. The City Commission vows to fight the project.
Aug. 16: Volusia County reports record-breaking sea turtle nesting season with 1,482 nests on the beach with six weeks left of nesting season. This figure was higher than last year's record of 1,427 nests at this point in time.
Aug. 21: Having received a new site plan three days before the second public hearing for Tomoka Reserve, the proposed residential development for the former Tomoka Oaks golf course, the Planning Board decides to continue the meeting to a third public hearing.
Aug. 23: About 500 Ormond Beach residents show up at the special meeting called by the County Council on the fuel farm to voice their opposition to the development.

September

Sept. 5: Volusia County's legal department points to Senate Bill 250 as the reason why the zoning for 874 Hull Road can't be changed to prevent a fuel farm. The new law prohibited local governments within 100 miles from where Hurricane Ian or Nicole made landfall in 2022 from adopting more restrictive or burdensome amendments to its comprehensive plan or land development regulations.
Sept. 6: Citizens criticize the city of Ormond Beach for knowing about the fuel farm after they discovered city staff met with Belvedere Terminals during a Site Plan Review Committee in June 2022. City Attorney Randy Hayes defends staff and affirms that the city is committed to fighting the project.
Sept. 14: Ormond Beach Police Detective Jessica Fowler is recognized as the city's Officer of the Year.
Sept. 16: Ocean Conservancy's 38th International Coastal Cleanup effort held. More than 20 locations in Volusia participated.
Sept. 26: The Planning Board unanimously recommends the Tomoka Reserve development be denied by the City Commission during the project's third public hearing. Also, the Florida Department of Transportation announces $340 million in funding for the I-95 interchange at U.S. 1 in Ormond Beach as part of the governor's $4 billion Moving Florida Forward infrastructure initiative.

October

Oct. 4: Zev Cohen and Associates unveils design concepts for Cassen Park's renovation during a City Commission workshop.
Oct. 5: S.R. Perrott challenges the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's issuance of an air construction permit to Belvedere Terminals for a fuel farm at 874 Hull Road.
Oct. 10: Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington delivers annual State of the City address, the theme of which was "advancing innovation."
Oct. 16: Ormond MainStreet celebrates 28th anniversary.
Oct. 25: The Ormond Beach City Commission finds Hunter's Ridge developer, U.S. Capital Alliance, in noncompliance after the developer failed to convey 300 acres of conservation lands to the city and issued Flagler County a 60-foot-wide public road easement. The city also alleged the developer never prepared a hydroperiod restoration plan for the conservation lands as outlined in its Development of Regional Impact. The city filed a lawsuit with the developer and Flagler County two days after the meeting.

November

Nov. 7: The City Commission opts to send the Tomoka Reserve plans, the development proposed for the former Tomoka Oaks golf course, back to the Planning Board for revision, in the hopes the developers will come back with plans for less lots. Also, at the County Council meeting that same day, councilmen voted against funding additional school resource deputies.
Nov. 15: The Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler distribute over 300 turkeys for families in need for Thanksgiving.
Nov. 17: Volusia County Schools' chief financial officer announces the school district will fund the additional school resource deputies on its own, stating that the County Council disregarded responsibility by denying funding. The County Council felt the request came too late after the budget season and that the district could handle the additional cost.
Nov. 21: The developers of the former Tomoka Oaks golf course state they will not negotiate with the city further and will pursue constructing a subdivision under an R-2 "Single-Family Low Density" zoning, requiring a rezoning of the property. Also, the Volusia County Council enacts a moratorium on all heavy industrial development as a result of the fuel farm proposal at 874 Hull Road.
Nov. 30: The Lohman family celebrates the opening of its new luxury townhomes, The Cupola at Oceanside, with a topping off ceremony.

December

Dec. 5: The City Commission voted 4-1 to seek a consultant to conduct a space needs analysis for a new police station and emergency operations center.
Dec. 9: Ormond Beach hosts its 32nd annual Home for the Holidays parade.
Dec. 11: The Florida Department of Education releases grades for the 2022-2023 school year. Four out of the five Ormond Beach elementary schools earned an "A" grade. Ormond Beach Middle School and Hinson Middle School both earned a "B" grade. Seabreeze High School improved to a "B" and Mainland kept its "C" grade.
Dec. 12: Volusia County Schools moves ahead with funding seven additional school resource deputies without County Council's support.
Dec. 19: The City Commission unanimously approved a request by the Ormond Beach Arts District to allow art wraps for nine traffic signals and two streetlight cabinets along the downtown district. The wraps will feature Ormond Beach artists' works.