Midtown Art Fest and Mural Reveal Saturday

Midtown Café Daytona is hosting the Midtown Art Fest this Saturday and the city is cosponsoring this event. The first 150 people at the Art Fest between 6 and 9 p.m. and say they were invited by Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick L. Henry will receive a complimentary meal (valued at $15 or less). Make sure you come out and support Midtown Café Daytona and the good work they are doing in our community.

More than 20,000 free books available for kids

There will be a Reading Opens the World Family Literacy and Book Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, at the Dickerson Community Center, 308 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Books are available on a first-come, first served basis, so arrive early!
Parents and guardians are welcome to choose up to 10 FREE books per child for home libraries, with a maximum of 30 books per family.
Educators and school staff may choose up to 50 FREE books for their classrooms.
Pick up literacy information for parents in English and Spanish, professional development information for educators.
Enjoy fun family-friendly activities: DJ, face painting, hot dogs, Italian ices, a bouncy house and more!

Watch replay of city commission meeting

City commissioners met Wednesday night and people who were not able to attend can watch a replay of the meeting.

At the meeting, items approved by the commission include:

Purchase of 20 equipped marked police vehicles
Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund distribution
Interlocal agreement with the county for the transfer of property along the western and northern shoreline inland on City Island
Multiple collective bargaining agreements
FY 2023/24 property taxes and budget for the City and Daytona Beach Downtown Development Authority
Proposed list of legislative priorities
Ordinance authorizing a loan not to exceed $6.5 million and an interlocal agreement between the Midtown CRA and City
Several rezoning requests

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New beachside parking area

A new parking lot across from the Veterans Memorial Museum and Peninsula Club is substantially complete. The paved parking area offers 19 spaces for patrons and has upgraded landscaping.

Surface replaced at Suburbia Park playground

A new rubber surface has been installed in the playground area at Suburbia Park, 700 Heineman St. The new maintenance-free surface is more durable and safer for youth.

FDOT hosts public meetings about transportation improvements

LPGA Blvd. improvements
The Florida Department of Transportation is hosting a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11, at the News-Journal Center, 221 N. Beach St., for the public to learn about a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study for LPGA Boulevard from International Speedway Boulevard/U.S. 92 to Williamson Boulevard. The purpose of this study is to accommodate existing and future travel demand and improve safety on LPGA Boulevard and the I-95 interchange.

There are three options to attend the meeting—in person Oct. 11, or virtually or by phone (listening only) at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 10. For more information, contact Jesse Blouin at (386) 943-5167 or via email.

Tentative 5-year work program
The Florida Department of Transportation is hosting a public hearing from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17, at the FDOT District Five Office, 719 S. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, for the public to learn about their tentative five-year work program for fiscal years 2024/2025 through 2028/2029. The program forecasts where and when funds are needed for improvements across all modes of transportation including roadway, bicycle, pedestrian, freight, trails, transit, aviation, seaports and spaceports.

There are three options to attend the meeting—in person Oct. 17, or virtually or at an in-person appointment between Oct. 16-20.

To make an appointment or for more information, contact Katherine Alexander-Corbin at (386) 943-5168 or via email.

Gladys Knight performance moved to Friday, Jan. 26

The performance for Gladys Knight, known as the “Empress of Soul,” has been rescheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26, at Peabody Auditorium. All tickets purchased will be honored for the new performance date. Tickets are available online or between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Peabody Box Office. Tickets start at $44.50 plus applicable surcharges. For information, call (386) 671-3472.