 People give up homes for various reasons. Sometimes the circumstances are in their control (such as making the choice to sell a house and move to a new one) and sometimes they aren’t (like in the case of a foreclosure, house fire, natural disaster, or death of the primary resident). Leaving a home can be very sad and emotional regardless of the reason.
 Why would DeLand need another ice cream shop? People come from miles to visit places like Sweat Spot and Rodeo Whip. Are two new ones really going to make a big difference? To fans of these new institutions, the answer is yes!
 The Covid Grinch trotted into December and tried to snatch Christmas joy from Volusia County. He figured it would be easy, but Volusia County is still filled with holiday merriment. This the first year in recent memory the Downtown Christmas Parade was cancelled. It may look a little different (and aren’t we getting used to that at this point), but it's still jolly!
 The DeLand and Stetson University community were saddened to learn that former Stetson Basketball coach, Glenn Wilkes passed away last November. Known as the Godfather of Florida Basketball, Wilkes put the Hatter Basketball program on the map in the 60's and 70's.
 It’s been six years since the dreams of two DeLand locals became a reality. In 2014, Robbie Carelli and Andy Sistrunk began Persimmon Hollow, the now-beloved craft brewery in Downtown DeLand. It is considered to be an anchor in the Artisan Alley district of businesses that are west of Woodland Blvd.
 What’s better than one Aldi opening in DeLand? Two Aldis! That's right. Another Aldi is joining the DeLand community, this time in South DeLand. Although no official announcement is on the Aldi company website, the city has confirmed the German chain will open its doors with a new location yet again in DeLand.
 Have you ever wondered what it would be like to spend a night listening to the night sounds of the St. John’s River? Crickets, gator calls, the gentle lapping of the water along the shore, owl hoots. What about the early morning stillness before it becomes busy with fishermen and motorboats? Birds awakening, the fog over the river, otters and manatees playing in the gentle current. Few modern river visitors have the opportunity to experience such peace, but West Volusia visitors have that special chance.
 There’s a new, yet familiar, business in downtown DeLand and it's a one-of-a-kind place with a familiar feel.
Confused? Let’s clear that up.  During the COVID-19 lockdown, many began home improvement projects. Many of us had the time and still do to work on making our homes better.
 True, authentic Florida has always been known for its vast, rugged and unforgiving terrain, rich Native American influences and history, wildlife that demands respect and a wide berth and gorgeous waters, flora and fauna. It's been the envy of states for years and the topic of many books and explorations. One such explorer was William Bartram, an American naturalist (1729-1823). Bartram took a four year expedition to chart the beauty of many southern states. His journey in Florida took him from Amelia Island to the Gainesville area where he studied what is now Payne’s Prairie. Eventually, his adventures brought him south along the St. John’s River to Astor and then Blue Springs in Orange City.
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