A DeLand-built WWII tug anchors in Astor! The land of DeLand The American army tug ST 479 Tiger crossed Lake George successfully, due to high water levels after several storms. From Monday, November 28the nearly 80-year-old tugboat, originally built on Beresford Lake in 1944, and would have been used in the invasion of Normandy in World War II, is moored north of Astor in anticipation of a post-new year’s eve arrive at Ed Stone Park. From now on, according to tug mastermind dan friend, the tug is still looking for permanent accommodation. The arrival caps a years-long effort to return the tugboat to its ancestral home from where it was moored Stockholm, Sweden. Insurance agent joins DeLand Planning Council
Harper Hillinsurance agent and former president of the DeLand Area Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary of Downtown DeLandwas unanimously nominated to serve on the city council planning board 21 November. Hill will fill the board seat vacated by Dan Roseauwho was elected to DeLand City Commission in August. Land city
Commission OKs apartments An apartment complex on Spring Garden Avenue in DeLand was approved at first reading by the DeLand City Commission 21 November, after being rejected earlier. If approved at second reading, the 204-unit project will be built next to the Cascades neighborhood, just north of Plymouth Avenue. Since being rejected by the municipal board in August, the developer offered to offer bonuses to local health workers who move into the complex within two years of completing construction. Shared Land Farm needs your help Many of us are lucky
enough to have recovered from the effects of Hurricanes Ian and Nicholas. This is not the case for Shared Land Farm at 1330 E. Taylor Road at DeLand. The damage continues and recovery costs have jumped into triple digits for this small family farm. Middle ground planned a pancake breakfast based on farm donations on Saturday December 3, to help mitigate rising costs. For more information or to RSVP for the event,
visit Middle ground website at www.cgofarm. com/2022-pancake-breakfast. Community day at art Museum – DeLand Both Art Museum sites in DeLand will host a free “Community Day” 1-4 p.m. Sunday December 11with the help of Coalition Volusia remembers and the Museum of African American Arts. See The Beacon schedule inside for more info! Deltona ratifies contract with acting city manager The day before the election November 7the Deltona City Commission
reached an agreement with James Chisholm, former city manager of Daytona Beach, to lead the city’s government for at least six months. On a 4-3 vote, the lameduck duck municipal board ratified a six-month contract with Chisholm which includes: $87, 400 for six months service at Deltona; the benefits of a full-time employee of the City of Deltona, and the City will pay “the full premium for comprehensive health, dental and vision care coverage for the ACTING MUNICIPAL MANAGER and his wife “;
Deltona “will contribute to a private retirement plan an amount equal to the Florida Retirement System contribution amount”; 80 hours – the equivalent of 10 working days – of personal leave, in addition to other paid leave; a personal vehicle; and lia- Legacy of bert fish lingers in West Volusia bility insurance. For more on this story and others, visit www.beacononlinenews. com. DeLand Christmas Events
in progress DeLand launches its DeLand Winter Wonder events with the annual city tree lighting Friday, December 2the DeLand Christmas Parade Saturday December 3and the independent market DeLand Sunday, December 4. Following this, on Friday, December 16DeLand’s Park and Recreation will hold its second annual “A Walk Through Christmas at Earl Brown Park” through a Earl Brown Park turned into a holiday show. It’s not all fun and games,
yet. The annual DeLand Christmas Boat Parade on the St. John River was canceled due to flooding and damage from Hurricanes Ian and Nicholas. Santa Claus will also make his way around DeLand; see our website for a full list of Jolly St. Nick’s routes.
