​So at this point you’ve probably already heard about Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.  Though we won’t go into depth on what they are or how they work (there are plenty of guides online),  they are essentially digital tokens that have value. Bitcoin is a bit like a commodity, think of gold, and has value because of the demand for it. And this value has been extremely volatile. But over the last few years, as demand has greatly increased, its value has also greatly increased. At time of this post, one Bitcoin is worth approximately $11,000 USD.

​Anyone who has walked the streets of DeLand knows what a jewel it is. After all, its downtown was named “America’s Mainstreet” in 2017. But, what you may not know is that DeLand is home to a new local “celebrity” thanks to a commercial for the prescription drug Chantix. Mark Blanchette, a fine arts photographer who calls DeLand home, was featured in the commercial that started airing in January. One of the settings is DeLand's Forno Bello restaurant. 

Construction has begun to transform Georgia Ave. in Downtown DeLand into an attractive area for the already busy Artisan Alley district. Now an integral part of the city’s SoNY — short for “South of New York” — district, the diminutive street hosts Persimmon Hollow Brewing Co., Cafe DaVinci, BakeChop and Neighbors Artisan Taqueria, to name a few popular businesses. An extension of the popular weekly Artisan Alley Growers and Makers Market stretches onto the avenue each Friday, as well. The tiny thruway connects South Woodland Boulevard and South Florida Avenue, making it a popular shortcut for vehicles and pedestrians alike. Over several years, the traffic has rendered the pavement cracked and worn, and the infrastructure of the road is in need of repair as heavy summer rains caused flooding issues in the building occupied by Trilogy Coffee Roasting Co. ​