11/6:

1. Per my previous post I will explain the dirty little secret of how banks make money from foreclosure. 

First you must ask, how did banks, that just a year ago needed bailout money, get so cash heavy. 

Sure was not from loaning money and in fact it is from foreclosures.  And here is how.

The percentages are the same so lets use a house with a mortgage of $100,000 but only worth

$40,000.  The bank agrees to short sale the house for $40,000 providing the mortgagee will split

'the loss' and agree to sign a note for $30,000.   On the surface it appears the bank is losing $30,000

but wait............our 'government' covers the loss and gives the bank the $60,000 they lost.  So now the

bank has the original $100,000 from the mortgage and got the homeowner on the hook for another

$30,000. This is how the banks can offer to pay people to relocate as I addressed in a previous post.

Sometimes they get homeowners to agree to sign a loan agreement for the entire 'loss' and in that

case they would have made $60,000. With those kind of numbers on the books there is all kinds of

ways to settle the debt and all of it is in favor of the banks. To add injury to insult the banks have a

'third party', whom they are close with, buy the house for the $40,000 who can then hold it or sell it

for a profit and the bank (under the table) makes money on that side also.  There ya go.  Some people

say 'patatos' and some say potatos' and some say 'the sky is falling' and it all goes back to money

(greed) with NO logic or common sense.

Bob Waldorf

 

2. Shirley Shirley.  Let me remind you if it walks like a duck, quacks like and duck and looks like a duck

.........it must be a duck.  WE HAVE GAMBLING or don't you get out of your house enough to know that.

  Every convenience store has lotto, Moose, VFW and Eagles have gaming machines and the Duval Home

in Deland is offering a $10,000 poker tournament. The big difference is that because we don't have the

Debary Downs we don't have additional tax revenue that we could have gotten from that business or the

Race Trac. The ironic part is that who goes to the Moose, VFW, Eagles etc.....the senior and war vets.  Most

fought for FREEDOM of which you want to restrict. Shame on you. So who doesn't want gambling in Debary?

The unknowing.  The State of Florida is going to have casino gambling and that will include Daytona and

possibly Orlando unless the 'rat' can stop it because it would conflict with its family image. It is no wonder

you support Leon because you know with him in office the city will stay the way it is with vacant decaying

buildings on 17-92 and vacant offices on Enterprise and decaying 'former model homes' on Dirkson.

Wow...is this city something to be proud of or what?  Opportunity doesn't happen often so the next time,

if there is a next time, somebody better use some common sense and jump on the opportunity or just wait

and watch more businesses close and more houses become vacant but we won't have gambling or a

convenience store off I-4. Debary remains the chuckle of Volusia County and believe me the cities around

us don't want it any other way.

Bob Waldorf

 

 

 

11/3:

You know Mort, you make me chuckle! I know you just love to rattle my cage!

Shirley H.

****************

Bob "The Sky is Falling" Waldorf

*******************************     

11/2:

Remember 2010 Amendment 4: Should the public vote on changes to growth plans?

- How many of Debary's city council at the time supported Amendment 4?
- How many of the current crop of city council candidates supported Amendment 4; or took

the time to read Amendment 4?

For those who do not remember, Amendment 4 to the Florida Constitution would have

required voter approval of proposals that would change local growth-management plans.

What a novel concept .. empower the citizenry. I think if the OWS crowd was around back

in 2010 they might have chanted: .... "this is what democracy looks like".

With regard to Debary's upcoming elections I believe that this Amendment would have made

it more palatable for Debary citizens like myself to support Real Estate Agents, Brokers, and

contractors who might be running for city council.

As a result of Amendment 4 failing I will absolutely not support anyone running for city

council who works in the real estate business (e.g. agents, contractors, brokers, etc). The

truth is that once sworn in, this kind of candidate will instinctively begin looking out for their

"own", brokering changes to the Debary growth management plan that benefit themselves

and their associates. FACT!

jb
in Debary

*******************************

11/1:

 

 

10/31:

I would like to speak in support of Leon Cerankowski running for Seat #4, Debary City Council.

I have met Mr. Cerankowski and his wife, Debbie. I have listened to their concerns and beliefs.

They are both troubled about what’s been happening in Debary, and much to their credit,

want to do something about it. I would rather see a conservative in Seat #4, than another

liberal who (I believe) leans in favor of the gambling issue. Granted, it would be nice for

Debary to attract new business and additional revenue for the City coffers. But, and I mean

BUT, we need to be very careful as to the types of businesses we allow in our City. Easy

money is not always the best way to go. It’s been shown over and over again that gambling

establishments not only bring revenue, but also bring a lot of additional expenses and

headaches for the community.

On another note, comments have been made about Leon Cerankowski’s business being

located in Orange City and not Debary. Actually, folks, that’s pretty good business sense!

Remember the old adage: Location … Location … Location! Being situated on Saxon in

Orange City, he draws people not only from Orange City, but also from Deltona and Debary.

Just so happens I shop at Debbie’s Health Foods, and I live in Debary!

Please vote for Leon on Tuesday, November 8th.

Shirley Horchler

***********************************************

Bob, when are you going to get over not having another mega gas station in DeBary.

Why don't you propose a zoning change in your neighborhood and put one right smack

dab in the center of you community. I wonder how popular you would be???
Is there any government spending proposal you do not agree with??? In your post it looks

like you want increased local spending (council member family staffed TAX PAYER funded

organizations), Sunrail (only funded for 7 years for 4200 max cars) whaich does not work

in three largest counties in state (Tri-Rail Palm Beach, Broward, Dade) so lets do it in Smaller

Osceola, Seminole, Volusia and ORange, and it sounds like Bob is for bailing out the banks,

AGAIN!!! Bob, all this socialism you talk about is great until you run out of other people's

money. What is wrong with partnering with businesses for sponsoring opportunities around

community events? It is a win, win, win situatiion - The local business gets exposure, event

gets funded, and tax payer does not get bilked for more of "THEIR" hard earned money.

Rich Gailey - American Tax Payer, We feed the world.

 

10/30:

I was just wondering if during all the NIMBYing, figuratively spitting on the men and women

of the U.S. military, declaring that NOTHING
will ever change, the possible return (yea right, possible) of the evil gambling barons,

bemoaning of community events and the like... ANYONE noticed that the council seems to

be trying to overturn the will of DeBary voters!

I seem to remember DeBary voting on this very issue a year or so ago and voting it down.

What gives? I know it isn't supposed to affect the current council---the point is we have all

ready voted on this!

Thanks for listening
Fred K

From Norm: Lenny Marks has a great editorial on this coming this

Thursday night or Friday morning.

************************************************

 

 

10/28:

Yep, that's right. PoP's very own, luvable, "OWS wanna-be" has posted another predictable

comment, chock full of intellectually dishonest (and intellectually lazy) platitudes; no doubt

'copied' from the likes of: DailyKOS, HuffingtonPost, MoveOn, MSNBC, and the DNC. Sad &

pathetic!
jb

**************************

Bob 'The Sky is Falling' Waldorf 
Sky might not be falling but it sure is starting to rain hard and some don't even realize there

is a cloud in the sky.

***********************

*****************************************************************

 

you can twist it anyway you want to , like always,
John, sorry I do not have the wrong information, you insist on
giving the wrong information. I'm just gonna tell you I have been in
Debary when your house was a vacant lot, and you where younger.
you have had your moments of outburst in many places, more than once.
what you have to learn is when somebody ask you to step away from them or leave them alone you

need to listen to thier wishes.

Norm I tune in every now and then, just to see if anything has changed
and I can see nothing has. I will keep hoping for a brighter day

Angie

10/27  

 

 

10/24:

hello boys, been along time and I see NOTHING has changed. You guys still have nothing good

to say about anything that is going on in the city. All you want to do is bash everybody that

gives their time to the city. In Case you have not hear or should I say you don't want to hear,

people are sick and tired of the negativity that flows from your site that is why there are barely

any comments anymore, or you want to hammer the average person for misspelling. God forbid

if they do not agree with you, you talk about the Mayor going on a temper tantrum....you go on

a keyboard temper tantrum. Anybody that believes that THIS BLOG SITE is the truth and nothing but the

truth is blind.

This is the views of the creators of this site and a few radicals that believe only their own words.
Mr. Likakis you bring up the "ETHIC" charges YOU brought against the Mayor..I wouldn't brag to

much about that because I have a set of papers that are the final results from the charges YOU

brought against our Mayor, and they state he was found "INNOCENT" OF all charges against him.

A matter of fact they say he did NOTHING WRONG, and if you did not like the way he governed

the city to show it at the voting poles! Anybody can get a set of these papers from the board of

ethics state of Florida. Although I know YOU have a set.
Last but not least I know for a fact that the Mayor knows more about ROBERTS RULES OF

ORDER than most. He has practiced these very same rules for many boards and for a new

councilman to sit there and say "none of us here know much about Roberts rules of order" is a

false statement. Maybe HE don't know about Roberts rules of order, but he should not speak for

the entire board. I for one am glad EVERYBODY gets a chance at their 3 minutes, that's how it

should be.
I really hope you guys find happiness in your life, because if you care about the city half as much

as you say you do you would speak of her good things and realize WE all have our own opinions

that's what makes this country great. Please stop being so critical of everybody else's opinion

Angie Dobies

FROM NORM:

Angie,

Thanks for being a regular reader of POP – it’s why readership has gone up from 350 or 400 a hits a month

six years ago to a monthly average of 2500 hits a month today. I, too, wish more wrote in...but with 13,000 registered

voters and only 624 voting, I guess it's par for the course. But new voices are being heard.

 

Secondly, since 2007 I’ve been speaking out against City Management. So was Lenny Marks and John Likakis.

At the last workshop – 10/19 – I agree with all five council members: we have a great City Manager, Asst. City

Manager and a great City Planner. This wouldn’t have happened without criticism, ability, real leadership and taking

the shots both political and personal as will be proven below. CM Hunt said that he and the Council benefit from having

a great trio in place and the change or tumult we went through to get there - I agree with him. So, the criticism,

complaining and demand for competent management at the top paid off – it worked. Out of 86 applicants Lenny Marks

and myself found CM Parrott. The Mayor who would have many believe he has leadership abilities, brought absolutely

nothing, nada, zip to the table on the second City Manager search.

 

So now we look at the very top: Council members who should be coming prepared and ready to run a meeting; the

Mayor is not capable of that and it’s demonstrated when he’s there but particularly when he’s not and the meetings

run better for his absence, which has been happening a lot lately: I can’t remember a vice-mayor running more meetings

than Jack Lenzen.

 

Next, attacks and stirring it up. I now quote you, Angie, from last year on Mr. Meister’s blog:

Angie Dobies
Joined: Nov 2010
Gender: Female

	Re: Dear Vice Mayor Erickson Part VI « Reply #5 on Nov 26, 2010, 6:55pm »
I hear that his web site is run through the Seminole county school Internet. I think he has told them that this is for educational purposes. can anyone find out about this? I would not want my child learning this type of negativity.

 

Something like this is put on a blog when that person, you, Angie, have nothing to combat the facts that are being

presented. So “hearsay” attacks, literally, are started. That there is no truth to what you wrote, is irrelevant. The

attack continued on the same blog:

 

FROM MISSIONMAN ON MR. MEISTER’S BLOG SOMETIME IN JANUARY OF 2011:

I would like to know if an employee, lets say of Seminole County School District, should happen to create a website that

contains controversial political material from Volusia County and uses the resources of that particular school district.

Do you think this would constitute dismissal? This is just purely hypothetical of course.

 

What really bothers Angie and people of her ilk are when facts are used to argue City issues. They can’t stand it and

revert to threats, charges of racism or an attempt to go after someone’s job. And then people like Angie say, “Why the

personal attacks?” “Why are you guys being so negative?” Mr. Meister’s blog was created solely to attack myself and

Lenny Marks and you were a regular contributor and this all shows that negativity and attacks are fine if they are

directed at Norm and Lenny…but if facts are cited at other people and/or issues – that’s bad. This was all explained a

long time ago. But I’m really glad you wrote in again so I could cover this new information about how you wanted to

bring my job into the picture.

 

As for the Ethics Committee, the Mayor supposedly sent things up to the Ethics Committee about Mr. Conoley - I'm sure the Mayor

was doing this on principle. But if anyone were to do it against the Mayor it would be personal...perhaps racist - right?

If those items about Mayor Garcia are deemed appropriate behavior by the Ethics Committee, then we have a

problem with the Ethics Committee. State Statute: 112.320: Commission on Ethics; purpose: to serve as guardian of the

standards of conduct for the officers and employees of the state, and of a county, city, or other political subdivision of

the state. Lying, yelling at a citizen, making a threat to a fellow sitting Council member and bursting into a meeting

yelling profanity with an email by a witness to corroborate it, these behaviors and others do not seem to be, at least

to me, the kinds of behavior I would approve of. I guess the Ethics Committee has changed their purpose – so that

behavior will continue; you seem to be in favor of that kind of behavior, excuse it and defend it, Angie – we disagree.

 

I’m a very happy person: what I once criticized about City management has now been corrected and the current

Council agrees - although Carson and Garcia defended the previous dysfunctional management – is that leadership

and ability? The challenge for this and future Councils is that management needs real answers to real questions.

 

What has Mayor Garcia actually done? The record reflects a tenure of supporting poor management and creating a

fecal storm where none existed. He yells, screams, and threatens and talks a great, great game – but what has he

done? He makes no motions to move the meeting forward, he speaks last which puts him in a safe position after he

sees how the vote is going to go. He talks tough as a leader but demonstrates no actual qualities that a leader would

exhibit. Rarely says what he means and means what he says. The moment any attempt at improving something occurs,

like the running of meetings, he throws a tantrum because he takes it personally.

 

Angie, there are plenty of people to sit around and tell each other how great they are. The Mayor loves to tell the

Council how great they are doing as if he is someone above them and they are subordinate. How would he know,

anyway? He didn’t know the City wasn’t being managed correctly. He lied to the Council and the people about his

role in the FEMA reimbursement to make people think he was responsible for bringing in millions of dollars - he had

nothing to do with it - I give that credit to CM Courson who gave the order to go after it.

 

But go ahead, sit around and tell each other how great you are. It’s how we got to

where we were 4 years ago.

Norm Erickson

 

***********************************

Wrt bashing the mayor & council,
I'll leave that up to you, Bob, etc.

My posts were directed only @ Mort Culligan
for his hateful & disgraceful cmts regarding
The ten-yr anniversary of 9-11; and his
Most recent angry rant about our great
Country and our great Military!

Cheers.

******************

From the POP Homepage Banner:

"Fellow naysayers and haters...you are welcome here...here you are among friends...here,

you may ask...questions. Here you are allowed to express your thoughts. Here you may rattle

the cage. Let it commence."


**********************************************************************

So I entered the POP domain so I could 'rattle a cage'. Then, in the interest of free speech,

you chose to censor my message (and this was not the first time). After I called you out your

predictable response was to throw a tantrum. Don't worry - no apology necessary because

your among fellow naysayers, haters, and cage rattlers.

At least now for the benefit of all the occasional visitors we know YOUR rules of engagement

-- that YOU post only what YOU choose to post.

Have a fantastic NIMBY day (apologies to Mr. Culligan for co-opting his 'catchy' little phrase.)

Jeff Browning

 

I love it when this happens: a nameless person holds a website to a higher standard of accountability

than his/her

City Council especially the City Council and City Manager of years ago that was truly a "mutual admiration

society". This person is complaining about a website but probably never complained about the dozens of

actual City issues raised on this website for the past 6 soon to be 7 years.

That I post anything from anyone is a service I provide truly free of charge to the citizens of DeBary.

Even for the "JB"'s of DeBary. "JB", I anxiously await your apology.

From 10/19:

A few days ago some faceless bombastic blowhard posted the following on this website: "This country

has no enemy greater than the ... ignorance of it's own people."

What a jerk!

oh yeah .... Hey Mort - Have a fantastic NIMBY day.

LOL

JB

From 10/22 (3 days later):

Censorship ... What? That can't be.

Yep it is true - hence this forum has officially been busted - and proven to be nothing more than a mutual

admiration

society for a bunch of whiny buffoons, pretending to be watching out for the best interests of the citizens

of Debary.

Have a fantastic NIMBY day!

JB

 

10/22:   

 

 

10/21:

Dear Bob and Mort:

I really appreciate your efforts on behalf of the City that will be my home next year. However, no one in

the City (particularly the the City Council and staff)is listening to you. In the words of Jerry Jeff Walker

you are "***ing in the wind".

As you noted by the poor turnout for recent elections, people aren't sufficiently interested in their City

and their tax dollars to turn off their big screen tvs one evening a month to attend a Council meeting or

vote once a year. It is the same everywhere. Until something becomes personal, no one pays attention.

For years John Likakis has been a voice crying in the darkness. He tries to tell his neighbors, he writes editorials, he attends meetings and shares his thoughts with anyone who is interested. But no one

listens. It must be disappointing to call for action and participate for so many years to no avail. God bless

you, John!

Chris Carson has lots of time to study items before the Council as he is no longer working for the City of

Winter Springs. But he continues to be a one-cause council person. For him that is recreation. Maybe that

is all he knows or cares about in the City. He serves only one faction of the citizens. Does anyone else see that??

No one is responding to editorials from either POP or citizens on these issues. I don't expect anyone to respond to

these thoughts either.

They ignored past editorials for Council members and staff to read their

own laws and meeting materials.


Anita G.

 

10/16:

 

 

10/12:

 

 

9/25:

I have only written in a couple of times but again I must speak up.

This mayor is atrocious - not that many members of the Council are much better. He absolutely has no

idea how to run a meeting, he still whines when he doesn’t get his way and the list goes on. He never

shuts up which is how he bull----ed his way into office in the first place. And now three years later, he is

going to walk right back in unopposed. You people out there should be ashamed - no one could stand

up and run against him. Thank God he can’t run for a third term.

Council Members we elected you too - and we can take you out in future elections. Read you packets,

learn your by-laws, codes, etc., and try to look half-way intelligent up there. Oppose the Mayor when he

is wrong and, for God’s sake shut him down when he babbles on.

This Mayor is detrimental to our good City and the citizens should make better choices in the future.

Elect people who deserve to sit on the council, not because they are your friend or their mommy and

cohorts urge you to give their child a job. Ask questions, do your due diligence and vote in the right

people, not the people who have the biggest mouths. A big mouth does not equal big brains!

My husband and I have formed a web-cam party on Council Meeting nights. We had 8 people there

for the meeting on the 21st. We will try to enlarge our group and encourage more groups to form.

The consensus from our group was that the Mayor can not run a council meeting but he can’t even run a workshop. If he doesn’t get his way expect a hissy fit.

K. Martin

 

9/22: THE ART OF FUNDING...

So on September 22, the Volusia County Council is slated to approve over $600,000 of funding to Arts

Organizations. One has to question how the Sands Theater Center in DeLand is slated to receive over

$46,000 in funding when just this summer they were caught in an agreement with a For Profit company

and have supposed to have been paying property taxes on the Athens Theatre. The Athens is the Tax

Payer funded restoration that ended up costing $10 million to restore. Needless to say their agreement

with a For-profit violates ECHO rules but no one seems to be checking. Since the organization doesn't

have any full time paid employees, how does their budget get so high? And when you try to check out

their IRS 990s, there doesn't seem to be any filings since 2008 -

http://dynamodata.fdncenter.org/990s/990search/esearch.php
This funding is supposed to be for non-profits that operate within the guidelines.

Art Waller

**************************

 

 

9/19:

IT’S A GREAT DEAL IF YOU CAN GET IT, TOO…

Let’s review the bidding:

Just 9 months ago CM Carson wanted to start a committee of citizens to work on a calendar of events – we already

have one on the City’s website – but this is what he said.

 

Then the Committee was to create events. When CM Carson was asked by CM Koval what kind of events,

“Fireworks” was CM Carson’s only response.

 

This “Committee” then turned into a non-profit organization that has private meetings - no citizens, no accountability,

The Community Partnership Program (CPP), is registered in CM Carson’s aunt’s name: Sue Lombardi. The president is

CM Koval’s wife Lorraine Koval.

On the board are Marsha Carson, CM Carson’s mother, and CM Carson’s uncle, Gerald Lombardi. These are

what we call facts and I pass no judgment. The CPP was given an award and it was presented to

CM Carson – not Sue Lombardi, the president of the CPP, nor any of its board members.

 

Now this non-profit organization is being given 3000 dollars of taxpayer money for the Autumn Harvest. Next

year they have asked for and have gotten into the budget 20,000 dollars for the fireworks show - the fireworks show

that wasn't going to cost us anything - in fact, it was going to spur economic activity. Just two months later and it's

costing us money.

Debbie and Leon Cerankowski have spoken out against this – please keep it up as what you’re saying makes sense.

 

This started just 9 months ago and if everyone is fine about it, that’s great. Just wanted

to make people aware that a Committee idea to clear up a calendar that already existed has now changed into

a non-profit organization that is receiving taxpayer money. They play the "this is

a private non-profit." When they want funding, they become "public non-profit". It will happen with Team Volusia

and it is happening with Obama and the Solyndra story: Private when it suits us, public when we need money.

 

The line item that increased from 500 dollars to

20,000 dollars is still in the budget and it’s a 4000% increase for the fireworks display. Will the Council even

talk about who put this in the budget and why the other four agreed?

If the Council gives 20K to the CPP, will there be accountability? How will we police the money?

 

If you can get it, too, it’s a great deal for your non-profit as well.

 

9/17:

These comments will probably fall on deaf ears because people who read this are probably part of the

624. However they can tell their neighbors about this because they may be part of the remaining

approximately 11,400.  People who run for City of Debary elected office do it because they believe

they have ideas and suggestion and experience that will help all the citizens of Debary.  They spend

money making signs, take time out of the daily lives to talk to people, stand on hot street corners

and basically give up their normal lives during the time the voters are deciding on who to vote for. 

Then on election day all they ask you to do is take 5 minutes that is FIVE minutes out of your daily

schedule and cast a vote. That ’s all they want from you.  5 minutes to vote. Out of approximately

12,000 registered voters only 642 cast a vote last Tuesday – September 13 th .  That is pathetic,

shameful and almost sinful.  However who is to blame? Debary didn't even put the voting date in its

news letter or even on the fire station sign until citizens complained at about 3:30pm voting afternoon.

  What a joke. Rumor is the fix was in and they didn't want to take a chance their local home picked

favorite would not win so they just didn't tell anyone.  Hmmmm....... Say it ain't so 'comrade'. But it sure

helped me make a decision for my future.  After two failed attempts I have decided never to run for any

elected office in the City of Debary.  For those of you who know me I apologize to you because you have

been solid supporters over the last two elections.  For those who think you know me because of what

they read in the paper I feel sorry for you. You think you know so much when you actually know nothing

and you probably would shake in fear if anyone would try and bring up your background the way they

have done mine - TWICE.  Enough said on that. There are a lot of folks in Debary that are whining about

the re-district map being voted on.  There are many that don ’t even know what it is and even mor e

that don ’t care.  The handful that have been diligently fighting for Debary in Deland should be

appreciated.  That includes some of the city council and quite a few citizens.  I was not one of them

but I strongly commend them for their effort. But there is something those fighters needed to consider.

  Maybe Debary doesn ’t get respect because it doesn’t deserve it. Twice in the last few years Debary

has had the opportunity to stand up for themselves and show the county that they are a force to be

reckoned with but instead, both times, they choose to show the county that they are nothing more than

small town Debary.  Not accepting new business and just allowing more to close. That is OK if that is

what you want but you can ’t have it both ways.  No wonder the east side gets ‘what they want’.

You can’t deny progress and at the same time ask to have your voice heard or be a serious economic

contender.  Yes I know there are those that will say it has nothing to do with economics and maybe that

was a bad term beca use the fact is that Debary is just 'stands still' and doesn't have the support of its

citizens because of the restrictive attitude it takes toward business in order to keep the 'vocal' happy. 

How sad. There is nothing going on in Debary so no one at that county council really cares, I mean really

cares.  Problem is most of you don ’t want to face the truth and that is why I scared you.

I bring the truth – like it or not. I just heard this week of talk about sun rail taking folks all the way to

Daytona beca use Daytona may allow the expansion of gambling. That ’s funny.  Debary could have

been a destination but apparently it is content with being a ‘stop along the way’. I know of one more

business that just closed in Debary because Debary holds on to that old home town ‘cave’ attitude –

Citizens Against Virtually Everything making Debary and ‘banana’ type city – Build Absolutely Nothing

Anywhere Near Anyone. The closed business, a coffee shop business right on 17-92.  That is sad.

So citizens – lend me your ear s.  The general election is November 8 th of this year 2011! You have

approximately 52 days to make arrangements to take 5 minutes out of your schedule to vote.  There

are two candidates running for seat 4 and I respect them both, however I am now absolutely convinced

that many voters only vote for people because they ‘like them personally’ and don’t have a clue, or care,

what they would do, or have done, for the city –-- but the fact is there are two candidates that worked

really hard running their campaign s.  If they are willing to give their time, and money,  then you should

be willing to give 5 minutes to exercise your right to vote.  As far as the city having it's voice heard and

respected it must change it's attitude and let everyone know that you are going to start aggressively 

soliciting new business growth for the city and then, maybe -just maybe, you will become a serious city

 with more folks moving in (instead of out) and will gain the power of the people so the 'voices' of the

people will be heard and the City of Debary will be listened to and respected.  
November 8 th – general election – vote.

Bob Waldorf

 

 

9/14:

A New Chapter in the Same Old Story

However, none of the city councils of Deltona, DeBary and Orange City or our District 5

representative caved, and they should be commended because there were county representatives

looking for cover and only one found it.
I guess I need to get used to not having enough representation on the council. Will you please do

me a favor county council members and stop telling me how you represent the entire county (or the

majority)when you are going to kick out this piece of work. The map is an embarassment and all you

have to do is look at the jagged and patched together boundaries on the east side and Deland districts

to meet needed constituency groups. Then look at the nice clean cuts around the cities of Deltona,

Orange City and THROUGH DeBary, you know the cities who had the audacity to hold open votes

regarding their preferred map in a timely fashion. The cows that shows up first are the first ones to

be butchered. Congratulations should go out to all the east side/Deland ciites that got every map

manipulation that was requested. If you cannot be proud at least be happy. And too little too late

CM Andy Kelly finally got the cover he was seeking thanks to another flop on the council. Your support

would mean so much more to us on the southwest side if you did not wait until after the vote was

already counted to support our southwest city borders. And to my fellow southwest border cities start

working hard to earn enuogh money to pay for the extension and relocation of the Deland Station of

Sunrail through Delands city core and over to the east side where the train will drop you off at the new

parking garage's on the beach that will continued to be funded with southwest volusia taxpayer dollars.

It is always wise to extend rail in a county without trafic problems to the side of the county with

decresaing population numbers where major employers have pulled out. But then again that is why

we have a county that pays the second highest taxes per county in the state. But Hey, they have

10 more years to make us number 1!!!

From Norm: The Mayor wanted to flip and go with 9 so the Council could "sit at the table" and decide

where DeBary would be amputated.

9/9:

A friendly reminder - the primary elections are coming on September 13th, next Tuesday.

Debarypop is about the closest thing candidates have for a venue and I want to thank the host

for continuing to keep the site updated.  While I would like everybody to vote for me I know that

will not happen so I ask you to please do the following:

Please carefully consider each candidate for their individual merit and what they have done and

what they want to do, for the City of Debary.  Consider the commitment each candidates has shown

before the elections and not just since registering.  Do not vote for a candidate because they look nice,

talk nice or know certain people.  This is a much more important election than what some people realize

and too many times people ask 'who should I vote for' from a neighbor or 'friend'.  I have absolutely no

problem standing on my own merit both past and present.  I personally do not need to attack others in

my attempt to be elected and I personally feel sorry for those that do.  I want to thank Mr. Norm Erickson

for nominating me to the Street Scape Committee last year and I hope that I have served well. I am

looking forward to my recommended design to be installed in the near future.  I have been blessed to

be a volunteer for the service I have been able to provide to Debary and thankful for some service I

have not been able to provide such as being called to action for the CERT Team. As a candidate I am

personally available to answer any questions about issues facing Debary and can be contacted via my

web site at: www.bobwaldorf.com  Please give each candidate your direction consideration and no matter who you choose please exercise your right to vote next Tuesday.

Thank you

Bob Waldorf

*******************************

Message for Mort C.

Hey Mort. I usually do not waste my time responding to bombastic blowhards who spend their free time bullying people on a social web site; but your recent post, subj: "what will America remember?" demands a request.

I'll keep it simple; given your demonstrated lack of intellect & common sense. This request is very straight forward. Please cite your source for the following assertions that you made in subject post:

1. "...the tens of thousands of innocent people our military killed in the mideast"

2. "We need to remember .... the death of over 6000 US soldiers"

3. ".. and the cost of at LEAST five (5) TRILLION dollars..."

4."..Our military efforts have created just as many terrorists as it has destroyed."

Sadly I suspect that you will not be able to provide one credible source; yet I am 100% certain that you will continue to 'spam' this web site with unsubstantiated BS. Do me a very big favor and STFU!

Have a fantastic NIMBY day.

LOL

JB

9/7:

Redistricting or "As the Council Turns" Is the fix in???

Why is the County Council trying to turn Mayor Garcia??? Why Him??? See NJ redistricting article dtd. 9/7.

Volusia County voting districts still up in air - News

If I were mayor I would be offended that these county council members, who created their own

problem by flopping, would ask me for cover after the DeBary council had a vote and supported map

10 without any negative feedback from the community the council represents. The current county

council is now trying to pit Deltona vs. DeBary in this fight. MAp 10 keeps all of the west side cities

intact with their natural borders, so why split us? CM Persis stated that "Daytona and Port Orange

are split so one of the west side cities needs to be split". What??? I know he used to be a principal

at a govt. run school and nanny nanny boo boo may have worked on his playground, but we deserve

better leadership at the county level. You, as I quote "represent the entire county". If you are so intent

on splitting west side communities move one of the districts from the east side to the west then you

can also restore Daytona and Port Orange to their natural city boundaries as long as that is O.K. with

the 2 east side families you had to satify with the three remainig maps. Why doesn't any Deland

represetative support Map 10 and why do they care so much about what happens in DeBary? Do you

remember 2 years ago, also after labor day weekend, when the Stetson (Deland) students packed our

city council wearing the same t-shirts regarding DeBary Downs? Watch out DeBary, the next meeting

scheduled 9/14 at 9am. old courtroom in Deland, your represetation is being diluded without much

county support. You will be able to speak at the next meeting, however the school board who also

supports MAP 10 (4-1), will not be allowed to participate in this meeting. I wonder why???

Rich Gailey

From Norm: I don't think the County is being a good partner..not working together...not a good relationship...

not a good working relationship: all the things that politicians give so much lip service to. Those good working

relationships go out the door when push comes to shove and DeBary always seems to get the short end. What will

Mayor Garcia do? He Flipped on Team Volusia, he flipped on the Strategic Planning,

he flipped on not running for office again, he flipped on saying it wouldn't bother him to not have an office. So therefore,

...he will flip for the County on this...how many times will the Mayor flip us off before someone says, "Enough!"

The County is having a meeting next week, but they're not inviting the School Board. The County will want

the Mayor to flip...they expect him to flip...

 9/11/01......what will America remember? 

 

Far more importantly, what will America learn?

  You have got to be kidding me , the City of Debary is going to have a 'rememberance' of the 9/11/01 attacks ,

complete with entertainment this Sunday....why?  As if entertainment has something to do with tragedy

    Well .....someone has to say it......you can remember all ya want, you can flag wave and pray all you want, the

damage has been done, those unfortunate people are dead and there is not one thing we can really do about it

except ........LEARN!!

   All this memorializing, entertainment and flag waving amounts to a big bucket of nothing...UNLESS you really want

to learn from the sad terrible events of 9/11/01.

   I'll tell you some of what I learned:

   We need to remember ,not only those innocent people that died in the USA during 9/11/01 but we need to

remember the tens of thousands of innocent people our military killed in the mideast in our attempt to get REVENGE.

I am not talking about the terrorists, just the innocent people that our nation has slaughtered in Afghanistan and

IRAQ that were in the way of our bloody ugly REVENGE.

    We need to remember the Dept of Defense, CIA,NSA,FBI , etc. all failed to do their job of defending this country

and no one has been held accountable for that negligence.

    We need to remember we started another worthless dangerous bureaucarcy called the Dept of Homeland Security

...when that is exactly what the Dept of Defense is supposed to be doing. The DOD is supposed to defend the

homeland...HELLO! It is their job and they failed.

    We need to remember this nation's government  has been meddling in the affairs of every nation on earth,

which, like it or not, has a cost. The cost is, you make enemies that you better be prepared to deal with we were

not prepared and still are not.

 

 

    We need to remember the attacks of 9/11/01 were a gambit, a sacrifice to lead our foolish mindless government

into a TRAP. We are still in the trap, it is called the War in Afghanistan. Osama Bin Laden was quoted as saying .....

that was the point of the attacks. We even threw in a bonus war in IRAQ to add to our foolishness reaction.

 

    We need to remember our 'revenge minded' efforts at war have backfired totally with the death of over 6000 US

soldiers and the cost of at LEAST five (5) TRILLION dollars in borrowed money.

 

    We need to remember we did  EXACTLY what Osama Bin Laden wanted...get involved in a war in his sandbox at

$2 billion a week plus corpses....Like it or not, the great SUPERPOWER USA is still shakin in it's boots after those attacks.

 

    Al Queda has no Navy, Airforce, Marine or Army to defeat, which makes  most of our priceless military toys

worthless in this type war.  Our military efforts have created just as many terrorists as it has destroyed...in the

long run.

   We cannot stay in these wars forever and we are hurting our COUNTRY far more than they are hurting our enemy.

   Saddam Hussain and Osama Bin Laden are dead...too bad it does not matter because we have fallen on our

own sword. We have accomplished little if nothing because we will simply be outlasted as we were in Vietnam.

 

    Our government is so mindless and corrupt that it never learns the lessons of war yet asks our soldiers to

sacrifice for their country.   They are sacrificing and dying for the mistakes and illusions of their government, not

for their country.   It feels better when you say someone died for their country when in fact it was their

government's orders that got em killed.

  Al Queda can never defeat the USA...but we can defeat ourselves through the weight and folly of our government's

foolish military blundering and that is exactly what is happening.

   We need to remember this nation was formed as a result of the American people outlasting the British in an

expensive overseas war that lasted 8 years.     HELLO!!! ....remind you of anything? We are in that same situation

as the British, being defeated by our own efforts and folly in an expensive war overseas that we cannot ever win by

any measure.

   Our military claims we are making PROGRESS, what do you expect them to say , war is their business... just look

at the cost.   Just look at the cost ,  followed by the bitter taste of regret because we cannot stay in these ongoing

FIASCOS forever...we are BROKE now!

   Go wave your flags , say your prayers and memoralize our nation as it wallows, caught in a Mid Eastern war trap

that is choking the life out of THIS NATION.

   We need to remember we are beating ourselves on every level,  financially, militarily  and spirtitually as we have

been choking on our own arrogance and revenge since 9/11/01.   The poison of our own revenge will be mixed with

the taste of our own regret.

  Remember this, these wars will have no winners...none at all, just survivors and the bitter taste of regret.

   Our government's reaction to the events of 9/11/01 are ten times more tragic and destructive than anything

that happened on 9/11/01 ...remember that, it will be in the history books .  

 

Thank You

M Culligan

***********************************

  September 13th is the primary election.  Not many people are aware that we are having a primary because the

mayor and council member Hunt actually ran unchallenged and therefore are automatically re instated.  However

there are four candidates for seat #4 being vacated by Jack Lenzen.  With this knowledge I am very very concerned.

  As a citizen of Debary I am having difficulty understanding why our mayor would go and speak in front of a current

sitting council persons HOA. (sunshine law???)  In addition this council person collected signatures for the mayor for

his re election campaign when he was running un opposed.  The mayor also calls this council person by his 'first name'

in council meetings (always before it was Mr. This or Mr. That)  And if that is not enough to be concerned about I find

one of the candidates, who has never done anything for Debary (of record) owns a business in our neighboring city,

Orange City. Then the icing on the cake is he is backed by a sitting council man who is chummy with the major. 

(Everyone feel comfortable so far???) While this election may not seem important it is really the opposite.  This election

and then the full election in November is very important and for all of those that have been following the mood

of the council. You will surely understand how important having an unbiased voice can be. Most of the candidates

are running on their own accomplishments and their own merit but not all.  One or more of the candidates are

running on their close connection to council representatives currently sitting on the council.  That makes this election

very very important and could possibly put the former 'Marks Brothers' to shame.  They were only two and everyone

hollered.  You are subjecting yourself to THREE so be careful. The out come of this election is going to leave the citizens

of Debary one of two choices. You will either have 3 council representatives that will agree on everything and run

things they way 'they want' or you will have a chance for equality with at least two being objective and then having

one tie breaking vote which is the way it should be for complete representation of the entire city. To make an informed

decision you should consider who has done volunteer work for the city and who has not.  Who have shown their

commitment to the City of Debary and who have not. It literally makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck to

think that someone can get elected because of friendship and not on merit.  I ask all the citizens of Debary to not

be lazy and make your own decision based on your research.  Do not take the recommendation of others as you

will surely lose your vote in the long run.

Debra H.

**************************

Patricia Christian.  Last I heard that got voted down.  It originated from Altamonte Springs.

Here is part of the article

By Keith Laing
The News Service Florida

October 7, 2010

Sen. Lee Constantine, R-Altamonte Springs, declined to comment Tuesday because he will

not be in the Legislature next year after facing term-limits. Constantine has said he considered

SB 550 to be a capstone of his career in the Legislature and lawmakers presented him with a

framed copy of the bill after he made farewell remarks on the floor of the Senate this year.

The most recent article I could find was October 2010

Bob Waldorf

 

 

9/4:

Florida Legislature passed SB 550 in 2010 requiring mandatory septic tank inspections every five years. This is an outrage. Is there nto a petition we residents of Florida can sign in protest? If so please let us know so we can acquire one.

Patricia Christian

 

8/30:

        Thanks to R.Dwyer & Mr Tabor for correcting Shirley H. on how much the City of Debary gets

from the taxpayers.   It is all itemized in the tax bill that comes from the County of Volusia. I read

the tax bill and just can't wait to pay for crap I never use or voted for, especially the ECHO free

money giveaways.

       Shirley knows that Springview has no spring view and Parkview has no park view, both have

a view of tract housing , they are Debary developers answer to  Levittown, NY.   Many can remember

  these areas when they were inhabited by deer, bear, fox and rattlesnakes, well at least some

rattlesnakes are still there.

        Another thanks  for Rich Gailey's comments of 8/23........ya gotta scroll back and read what he

said.   Really ya gotta, his comments are rich alright.

        I think he actually associates Christianity and our country with having moral principles, as if

to say the USA is on the moral 'high road'! He claims christians sacrificed so much and started this

nation....what a crock, our ancestors took this land at gunpoint. 

      Rich forgets we stole this country, every square inch from sea to shining sea.  We bought,

blasted, bullied and bulldozed every person, nation, tribe or obstacle  in our way, then proclaimed 

the lie that GOD Blesses America.   God blessed the original land the american people currently

control..perhaps.  Remember the principal of 'Manifest Destiny'..Rich? Remember the treaties we

broke and the wars we started...Rich?

     The USA is a great nation , compared to North Korea, Somalia or Afghanistan and if the

Communist Chinese keep lending us money we will continue to be great.   Sure we are great,

as long as we do not run out of lies and illusions about how great we are.

     I recently heard a person that claims to be a christian, explain the a church steeple was

intended to draw your eyes skyward towards heaven.

    The USA has filled that heavenly sky with spy sattelites, helicopter gunships, Predator Drones,

missles , B-1's,B-2s,B52's, B29s,B17s,  etc ...all in the name of God and Country !  God Blesses

America...sure Rich........but only as long as it is tax deductable ,politically correct or militarily dominant.

    The 10th anniversary of 9/11/01 is coming up Rich , America can remember when they were 

attacked and forget how many nations we bombed and attacked and why.

  Sure...RICH G.....God Blesses America in the present times......but only as long as we can keep

borrowing from the future times.

Morton Culligan

 Debary, Fl.

************************************

Wow!!! DeBary has a wailing wall. I guess I live a sheltered life, because I didn't know that.

Some place where you can throw a bucket horse squeezing
or bull squeezings and even an occasional bucket of good stuff and hope somthing sticks. Kudos

to Mr Ed Sullivan on his article on current zoning. I owned a service station for over 30 years. One

thing that I know is that people will travel a lot more than a quarter mile for good service,cheap gas,

and somtimes even quality. There is another location in close proximity that could serve Race Trac

quite well. I'm not on the city council. but if I was,I would have voted to deny any zoning changes.

The back of my neck still bristles when I think of that eminent domain issue in Connecticut. They took

the family to the Supreme Court, took his property, demolished it, than with a sadistic twist of fate,

the developer backed away from the project. Shame on some council members.

Leon cerankowski

*************************************

I'm all for economic development, and in a lot of cases the "Build It and They Will Come" philosophy

can work. I'm not a fan of Sun Rail for a few reasons.

The legacy transportation network in Florida was built around vehicles carrying people to where they

need to go, whether for work, shopping, or play. As a result, places where people might want to go

to recreate, work, or shop are scattered around, as are the places people live. There's not one central

place where people live, work, or play...

One might somewhat successfully argue that providing a connection to the new basketball arena

area offers connections to cultural and sporting events, as well as potentially bringing people to the

downtown Orlando area as it attempts to revitalize.

A similar attempt to use existing rail Right-Of-Way for commuter purposes on the east coast of Florida,

known as the Tri-Rail project. The vision was to connect West Palm Beach, and the City of Miami

together and 'reduce traffic congestion' on the highway, most notably I-95, in that corridor.

The results: $61M in annual capital and operating costs vs $11M in annual revenues... Not a pretty

picture...

See the following link: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/08/23/2372118/report-state-in-secret-talks-to.html#ixzz1Vww0BR5m

Whatever happened to creating a real business case and starting a business off by providing

products and services that people want or need at a price they can afford. Increasing fares on

Tri-Rail (the service area cuts through one of the largest populated areas in Florida) would certainly

drive people away. Then the government (aka, you and I) are left with stranded assets and paying

our taxes to subsidize a huge tax burder. The Feds haven't done much better with AmTrak, especially

with customer service: http://amtrak.pissedconsumer.com/. One is left to wonder why there are no

news articles written to document the financial condition of AmTrak either.

Not that I'm a pessimist regarding 'mass transit'. I grew up in Pittsburgh with it's large network of

bus and trolley service. I've traveled New York City and Long Island trains, buses, and subways,

and been on subways and trains in London and Paris and Chicago.

No doubt that when a route is located adjacent to locations where large amounts of the population

can take advantage of public transportation, everyone wins. It's just not clear that we have a

winning formula in our case. Not only that, but the residents of the City of Debary will be paying

for a train station that we may not be able to dig ourselves out from financially, let alone use consistently.

Adrian Zvarych

*************************

We need to contact city,county,schoolboard members regarding redistricting.  Redistricting

determines our representation and our say in local issues.  Redistricting determines who we

can vote and direct our concerns on local issues for school board and city and county issues. 

The map that had the most consensus support was map 10. which would have put all of Debary

in with communities like Orange City, Deland and unicorporated county.  Cities that are close to

the same size of us and we have more in common (Mainly west side I/4 communities along St. John River). 

However, at the last redistricting meeting Lake Helen packed the council because they did not want to be lumped

in with Deltona and now the

committee which is chaired by CO. CM Pat Northey and SB member Diane Smith and others is

seriously considering map 11 which would lump us in with Deltona and move Lake Helen in with

the West side Communities at our expense.  We need to contact our local Debary, County, School

Board and other municipalities if you have time to voice your concerns.  If you do nothing you

support being lumped in with a community of more than 86k people vs. ours of just over 19k. 

You do the math.  Again, I do not know that this list has all of our neighborhood emails so please forward to others.

 

Rich Gailey 

 

 

8/26:

I was very interested in what the out come of the Race Trac gas station would be.

Unfortunately I was out of town for a while but had the opportunity to watch the

Council meeting not once but twice. What I noticed was the Mayor had many private

conversations with the City Attorney. This is in violation of the States Sunshine Laws,

a big NO NO. Will any Council Member speak up and mention this infringement at the next meeting?

I think not. Do any of them know the rules?

Bill Bevins

From Norm: Talking to the lawyer during a meeting is not a violation of Sunshine Law. It's a poor practice

and the Race Trac meeting was the most poorly run meeting I've ever seen and I've been watching

meetings since the Springof '04. There is no basic understanding of Robert's Rules of Order

by any member of this Council - period. Wanting discussions with no second on a motion by TWO

Council members. The Mayor allowing CM Koval's wife to deliver a Public Service Announcement

about the importance of attending meetings during a public hearing - he never had a problem swinging

that gavel to shut me or the rest of the Council up.

After 4 hours of testimony, CM Carson spoke for 2 and a half minutes offering no basis of denial - I defy

anyone to listen to what he said and explain to me what he said - this includes CM Carson.

But hey, that was a hell of a fireworks show, wasn't it? And Larry the Cable Guy has his key to the City.

And now we're going to have remote control cars in our Nature Park.

******************************************

Response to Mr. Marks.  Thank you.  As Vice Chairman of the current Street Scape Committee I want

to let you know you are correct.  The current council is weak and it will get weaker and more one

sided if one of the current members gets his 'friend' voted in.  Because I am running for election I

will not name names but anyone paying attention can figure it out. 

In all fairness I accept that I have been the 'clog in the wheel' from getting more bus shelters.  

The bus shelter design was my first agenda when I got on the committee and I caused the committee

to re address the original design. I have faith that the new and updated design will be widely accepted

by the citizens but of course we still have to get council approval.  

As a former council person you know how slow the wheels turn but the good news is we have a

committed sponsor and I am sure we will have a resoIution on the bus shelters in the near future

and citizens can expect to see new shelters being built before the end of this year.  I also accept

responsibility for not addressing the other issues.  I have found it very difficult to get a quorum to

our meetings and because of that we have had to skip some of the monthly sessions.  It is even

harder to get public participation but I will keep trying. 

Street Scape meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at city hall and everyone is invited. As far as

what I know about the signs.  Code enforcement, Mr. David Hooker, now operates on 'complaints only'

so when folks see a violation it is now up to them to call and complain. 386-668-2040

Bob Waldorf

**********************************

I do agree with Mr. Marks comments about the signs in the city. however, I do have to take him

to task about his comment, "It seems they have not passed an ordinance that spells out specific

rules as to what is allowed and what is not allowed."

Where were you the past three years when you were on the council, you did not pass any specific

rules either.

Henry Tabor

 

8/25:

Oops, sorry! Guess I should have checked my Notice of Proposed Property Taxes

before I spoke/wrote. 'Scuse me ... munch, munch, munch ... gulp! There, that's done

(I hate eating crow). Actually, the City of Debary gets approximately $15,000 to $16,000

from Park View subdivision.

Shirley Horchler

8/24:

The $140,000 in taxes the author claims collected by the City is grossly overstated by 90%.

According to the Volusia County Property Appraiser's web site, the total tax bill on the subject

property was $1,731, of which only $184.84 were the Ad Valorem taxes levied by the City. The

total Ad Valorem City taxes levied for the community would be approximately $15,156 assuming

the count of 82 is correct and the average City tax is about $184. There is a big difference between

$140,000 and $15,000.

R. Dwyer

************

Shirly needs to check her math. You may pay $1,700 a year in taxes, however, the school board

gets most of it, then the county, hospital and my favorite, St Johns Water management. The city

might get $200 a year in taxes which would be about $16,400 for your sub-division, not $140,000.

Henry Tabor

*****************************

 

8/23:

I was not ignoring the comments posted last week, I was out of the country with little internet access. I was in the type of place Mort would apparently love to live, a place where you have no govt. social programs (which I agree), no income tax (also agree), no zoning reguirements (Casino's, brothels, family housing, supermarkets, schools, livestock, hookers all in the same neighborhoods on the main streets. I was in the Dominican Republic. I do not believe that is the scenario that plays out with unfettered capitalism, that is what occurs when you do not have a country founded on the Moral Principals that this country was founded on. You know Mort the Christians who were willing to put their lives and fortunes on the line to start this country. What we have now is the result of all the people who have voted since the 1930's, especially the Pinko Commie Hippee freaks from the 1960's who quadrupled down on the insanity of social programs. The reason we have these problems today are mainly the results of elitist socialists, atheists (who hate Christians so much that they would rather look to govt. theft than Christian Charity), church organizations who gave up their historical responsibility to care for the poor to govt. agencies along with the secularists. Where did the needy get help prior to 1937??? Could all your misplaced prejudice be based on all the candidates you voted for over the years that have taken wealth out of the pockets of capitalists and redistributed to govt. bureaucrats that think they could do a better job than the early church in this country??? Capitalism only works in moral and just societies. If you do not believe me go to any Euro or non- dictatorial third world nation in the world.

Rich Gailey

*************************

Hey Culligan Man:

You say some pretty smart things, and yet you can be so mean! Yes, you struck a nerve with me by referring to my home (in Parkview) as a "suburban nightmare." What you forgot to mention in your diatribe is that every one of those homeowners in Parkview, Springview "and other zero lot line suburban nightmares ..." pay taxes, and I might add pretty hefty taxes! I believe there are 82 houses in Parkview, times (I'll make a guess) roughly $1,700 per year in taxes. That comes to just under $140,000 a year the City is getting from just one of the "suburban nighmares."

Did you forget to take your happy pill this morning?

Shirley Horchler

 

8/21:

Thanks TEAM NOTHING aka Team Volusia

 

    The ' easy money ' city council of DEBARY gave YOU PEOPLE....$25,000 to encourage new business.

 

  Where were you, when a Race Trac gas station tried to set up business in NIMBY DEBARY?

 

    Your BOGUS worthless organization did NOTHING...because it has no value...NONE.

 

   Debary is a NIMBY CITY........that discourages business...YET give phony political organizations like TEAM VOLUSIA......taxpayer money.

 

     Team Volusia is 'TEAM NOTHING', just another EDC scam...thanks for nothing.... Pat Northey and TEAM VOLUSIA!

 

       A special thanks to Pat Northey.......a friend of non profit BUM organizations that thrive on taxpayer money

 

Morton Culligan Taxpayer

Debary,Fl

**********************************************

 

Two facts to keep in mind:

Churches and their ancillary uses do NOT pay taxes. So no monetary profit to the City,

only use of City services.

Think about that before giving them free rein to do any activity as they please. Would you do

the same for a temple or mosque??

There is a finite amount of land available within the City limits for development of new commercial

uses. Annexation is not available as a tool for expansion ( with the exception of some limited sized parcels).

The existing undeveloped land in the City should, in my opinion,be conserved (the wise use of a resource,

not the prohibition of its use). They City has something tha developers want. Don't sell the City's limited

resource, like a whore on the street. Hold out for the best the City can get from a developer. Negociate

(sp) for the betterment of the City, not the quickest fast buck that they offer.

I love DeBary!

Anita G

*********************************************

 

Lillian and Paris

 

    When Racetrac wanted to open up a gas station @ I-4 and Debary Dr.   why did not you people

support them?

 

    You people are so busy promoting your own tax exempt business....you forget about the FACTS......

YOU need to support REAL Businesses. Real businesses pay taxes and provide jobs...it is called capitalism.

 

   Team Volusia is another worthless Economic Developement organization....where were they?????

They were shaking down government and businesses for money as usual.

 

   Do YOUR job..try supporting businesses OTHER than your own.

 

    People need jobs...not meaningless FUNDRAISERS....and government funded self promoting

organizations..........get to WORK!!!

   Try supporting businesses against the NIMBY forces of Debary and our weakling City Council.

Morton C   

Debary,Fl.

 

 

8/16:

 

 

8/12:

**************************

Response to Mort.

I find Mort's comments amusing and contradictory. You say you bought in Orlandia Heights so you would not have to live near commercial, yet it sounds like your vision is to live in a city with double decker casino's, racetracks and a couple of strip clubs to spice up our boring city. Sooo, why did you buy a house in DeBary and why hasn't the chamber of commerce hired you to bring your form of community development to DeBary? There are plenty of places that fit your definition of community. I bet (no pun intended) you are a guy that does not like to pay excessive taxes. You seem to be a libertarian (at least for adults, not children) and you seem like a seasoned citizen who has been able to vote for many years. Do you think social programs increase spending (I.E. need to increase taxes)? If you think our social programs increase spending then the next question to answer is what puts people on social programs? Do divorces (split houses - split incomes), gambling, porn (apparently a routine Saturday night for Mort) drugs, etc. addictions, dead beat parents or not taking care of elder parents put people on SP's. You know Mort, businesses that liven up your kinda town. Who took care of these types of people before the introduction of social programs into our country? That's right, churches. I wonder if we went back to the model before the 60's or 1937 if we might be paying lower taxes, and if you would be whining about the tax exempt status of organizations that serve our communities. This may surprise you Mort, but I would have no problem with being a libertarian if we did not have the infrastructure of destruction (confiscated money funded social programs). If we did not have SP's then all of your adult ent. loving freaks could gamble/drink/drug and self medicate yourselves to death and thin the out the heard for the rest of us who tire of hearing about you complain about churches while you support business's that increase our need for social programs. I don't know how you made it to Virginia!
with on
e foot on the brake wile the other foot was on the gas. (Mort's community philosophy)

P.S. I do enjoy your commentary Mort however I would rather live in a city with a vision for the future not a what feels good now do it mentality. We can do better.

Rich Gailey

 

 

8/10:

There is a far better site for RaceTrac. Debary Council made a wise decision turning down the rezoning request by Racetrac. The property is a prime site for professional offices that will hire our local citizens for technology, medical, professional & support jobs. Many more jobs than a mere 14 to 17 lower paying jobs RaceTrac promised. There is a superior site already zoned B-6, Interstate Commercial which allows gas stations and is only 1/4 mile away on the "Debary" side of I-4, across Dirkson from the Burger King. Shame on Dan Hunt for not having a vision for our city.

Carolyn Evans 

********************************************

 

In answer to Rich Gailey's comments....concerning my comments.

  Debary is a NIMBY community with many people that want jobs, lowers taxes and prosperity......but do not want anything commercial in their backyard. Why did these people buy or build in a commercial area or a potential commercial area to begin with? What could be more commercial than Interstate 4?

   The intersections of   I-4 & Debary ave/Dirksen is a commercial area always has been since I-4 was built.  The fact that people bought near there is their problem. So are the intersections of Dirksen and 17-92 or Highbanks and 17-92.

   I built in Orlandia Heights....why?? The word 'heights' plus no commercial activity anywhere near me.   People that build on low flood land and or next to I-4 get what they deserve...that is just the way it is.  Many of the citizens never want to take responsibility for the fact that they bought in the wrong places.

   As far as your daugther's speech, I never heard it , I was in Norfolk Va. and was not going to make a 1400 mile round trip.   But I am glad you brought that subject up because people often invoke their right to use children for political or economic puroses.

  How can you say no to the children they are our future! LOL....  No child bought the property you are currently stuck with, perhaps you bought it and need to take responsibility.

   Invoking  children!!   That is really old common politics, to play on the sympathy of the crowd.

   Children cannot vote or pay taxes......and should not be used for political objectives.....that is the way I figure it anyway.

     Again, most of our silly city council listened to the minority group of loud DEBARY NIMBY whiners and ignored the basic concepts of capitalism and free enterprise and turned away another commercial opprotunity.

    Actually I would like to see I-4 and Dirksen packed with commerce....why, because it deserves commerce because it IS a commercial area if there ever was.

     When it comes to Dirksen and 17-92 it should have 3 double decker Casinos a racetrack and a couple of topless clubs to spice up the boring sluggish Debary community for good.

     Debary has enough 'tax freeloader' churches and non profits bum businesses, we need businesses that will make a buck and write some paychecks.

 

Morton C.

 

Regardless of how many people would be helped or hurt by this development, you have to be aware of the current zoning and the purpose of the zoning classifications as stated in the DeBary Code of ordinances Sec. 3-106. B-9 General Office Classification.
(a) Purpose and intent. The purpose and intent of the B-9 classification is to provide areas for general office use. It is intended that this classification apply to suitable properties which are situated in urban areas to provide a transitional area between residential development and more intensive land uses.

Transitional Area. That alone explicitly precludes a change to intense commercial. It would create a contition exactly opposed to the intention of the current zoning. Citizens should not be ambivalent to this kind of blatant abuse.

There's a difference between promoting growth and shoving it down people's throats, in direct violation of the intent of the current law. Yes it is the property owner's right to ask (if they can change the law), but it is the council's right to say no. In fact it is their obligation if the requested change goes against their comprehensive plan intent and would harm its citizens.

One of the primary functions of government is to protect a minority from being steamrolled by a mob who "thought it sounded like a good idea" at the time, but really just wants to do anything that hurts "other people". Geuss what? we're all other people to someone, and we're not rolling over so one owner can get their zoning change and split with ten times what their property is worth under current rational zoning restrictions.

You want zoning changes to heavy commercial? Go buy somewhere that's not zoned for EXACTLY the opposite. Sheesh!

 

Ed Sullivan

 

 

8/8:

I guess after going to the council meeting and sitting for hours and reading all the comments

I must make my own comment

about the City of Debary's denial of the Race Trac application. I am not commenting on their

decision but on how they arrived at it. 

The hearing lasted over 4 hours. The council gave the applicant 30 minutes to present its

presentation (which lasted about 40 minutes).  It then gave the opponents time to speak

which took about 3 of those four hours.  Many of the opponents said the same thing but using a

different time span

of how long they lived in the area and why they moved there.  There were about 5 speakers that

gave what they said were facts. 

But were they facts or emotion?  One of the speakers, Carolyn Evans, said she drove all around

and could not find a Race Trac with a wall as proposed by the applicant.  She was right.  They have

never designed such a store and the council was told this would be the first of its kind.  At 3:16 into

the council meeting she said, ''because the Race Trac does not build in residential areas''. 

Apparently Ms. Evans missed two Race Trac operations in Apopka. One on Highway 436 in front of

Hector Gonzalez who just recently bought his home at 246 Lake Cortez who does not have a problem 

with the Race Trac and thinks it is convenient.  I could not find anyone home at 251 or 303 which are

also right behind the Race Trac on Highway 436.  Or what about the folks who live in Error Estates on 441 in Apopka. 

I found those houses to be about 25 feet from the back of the Race Trac building and the only buffer any

of those houses have are shrubbery.  Mr. Harry Senior who was walking in the neighborhood said the Race Trac

had been built about 3 or 4 years ago which was a long time after the houses in Error Estates.  According to

Mr. Harry Senior nothing has changed.  Please, don't say we cannot compare Debary to Appoka because many

wanted to compare it to Atlantic City when the Debary Downs was an issue. (see its hard to be a hypocrite) So

my issue here is how did the council arrive at their decision that was fair to all the citizens of Debary?  It amazes

me that the council members can take hours to knock on doors while campaigning but can't take any time to gather

their own facts.  This decision should have been fact based with emotion only a slight part of the decision. 

Facts because of the economic impact to the City. Obviously they had time to visit their supporters to cement

relationships but did they really vote for all the citizens of Debary?  I believe that all the citizens of Debary are

entitled to a council member that will do his or her homework and not vote out of emotion or to satisfy the few. 

Who knows....maybe they made a good decision and all the citizens approve...........but the fact is we don't know

because they didn't do their homework.

Bob Waldorf

 

**********************************

It never ceases to amaze me when supposedly sane people trip all over themselves to cheerlead for any size, shape or form of building in any place wrong enough for it. In fact, the wronger (!) the better, for some.
Case in point: A hired gun from Sarasota comes to town, armed with bogus "facts" and a posse of salivating biostitutes and other "experts." Purpose: to change residents' zoning laws to suit themselves, make money, and then get out of town before sunset and before the banks close. Wait a minute! What's that I hear? uh-oh, its the "G" word. You know:

G ive us what we want, when we want it. Now.
R esidents don't understand how good this will be for them.
O ur experts say there won't be any problems.
W whatever is on the property now -- this will be better.
T his is just the first step. All problems will be addressed later.
H ow can you pass up (jobs/taxes/beauty/housing/commercial - take your pick)?

In conclusion, I have a few words on the subject of changing the public's zoning/land use laws for no reason other than private profit:

Farmton
DeBary Marina
Venetian Bay
Thornby
Restoration

Sandra Walters

*******************************

I love hearing about "The Nimby" card. Come clean, how many of you have a gas station, let alone a Race Trac station in your back yard? Ask your spouse what they would think. I am a proud father that my daughter was able to stand up in a room full of 100 people and address her unscripted concerns to the city council. Maybe you should have showed up instead of waiting for decision to be made and then pipe up on a faceless blog taking shots at little girls.
Now onto the real issue at hand, the vision for Debary. I have lakefront property next to a interstate that I would love to sell to a major hotel chain and cash out. However, my neighbors would then be saddled with this monstrosity next door. That is why we have zoning laws, specifically transitional zoning laws designed to protect neighborhoods. Maybe if Debra understood why the good lord gave her 2 ears, 2 eyes and 1 mouth she would then understand why she does not have a RT or hotel or poker room in her back yard. On to the money, Mort (who I usually agree with) your source is the News Journal/sales pitch of RT. Come on, do you really believe News Journal did extensive research into the validity of their claims? If you do I have some swamp land next door for you to buy for $1.4 mill. Do you believe the owner of RT is going to up and move to DeBary? Because that is the only way any of the profits would find its way to DeBary. The only income generated for DeBary wouild be the min. wage jobs that RT creates. What about what won't be there? All the professional level jobs that have been there the past 30 years that pay more than min. wage, and they live and profit in the area. Yes, builders have had a tough time the past few years but that does not mean we have to sell out to the first business that comes down the pipeline. What about the new opportunity to get a diversified professional business base like CPA, Law, Investment, etc. which is what most of the current zoning supports. None of that is there if you have a RT gas station. When I asked the expensive sales team RT had at the meeting the same question I asked you, none of them replied in their rebuttal that they live with a RT in their back yard, and they were the only ones in that room getting a big fat check from RT, which Debary would never see.

Rich Gailey

 

8/6:

 

8/1:

7/27:

Even though the proposed new gas tanks at RaceTrac are to be of the more modern and safer

design, there is still the issue of runoff from the stations’ driveway.  Through the years, gasoline

and other automotive fluids that may have leaked on to the stations’ driveway will eventually

find it’s way to our drinking water source, even if the runoff is contained in a retention area or areas. 

That will slow the process of contaminating Lake Monroe/St John’s River, but really not accomplish

much in terms of our drinking supply.

 

One other interesting design point – the design of the retention ponds will capture most typical

summer thunderstorms.  There’s a rating for how many inches per hour of rainfall a retention area

might hold.  If we get a tropical system or two through here and the ground is already saturated

and the retention area is already full, whatever has accumulated in the bottom of the retention

area (hydrocarbon sludges etc) may end up getting flushed into the lake.

Adrian Z.

From Norm: Adrian is referencing an article and here is the link: ARTICLE

*******************************

www.bobwaldorf.com

 

 

 

7/20:

 

 

7/12:

To POP,

A few weeks ago you asked the question “With the Kennel Club withdrawing from Orange City and Sun Rail coming to DeBary---how long will it be for gambling to resurface in our fair City?” Why wait, let’s put a card room in the Glen Abbey restaurant, have a service bar with two poles for the exotic dancers to show off their skills and for a topper a small porn movie house. Think of all the money the city can reap from taxes alone. The same thing can be done at the Debary Golf & Country Clubs real estate office. The money would just keep rolling in. Don’t like any these ideas because they may be in your neighborhood, WELL, KEEP IT OUT OF MINE!!!

D. Thalburg
DeBary

7/11:

7/8:

Greetings Bob, hope you had a happy and safe 4th of July. Your points are well taken. My point was to say that we aren't losing anything at a rapid pace, and certainly not our country. Giving 20 Million to refugees doesn't make us ignorant, and it doesn't make us appeasers.
Just take a chill pill Bob, no need to get all backed up over a generous donation to those in need.

George H.

 

7/1:

***********************

 

 

Dear Citizens:
There isn't a commuter rail line out there that makes money. Far and away, most of them are subsidized via the taxpayers.
But ask yourself this one question: Is transporting 500 people from point A to point B and back again on one electricity consuming rail car less environmentally damaging than 350 exhaust belching cars?
Of course it is. So either keep wrecking the environment and leave that selfish legacy to your grandchildren, or, grow some brass ones,and step out of your comfort zone. No time for whiners, get over yourself.
Rail Transport has high value to people that live in the 21st century, it frightens people that act like it's still 1965.

Jake Thibodeau

***************************8

*************************

House Resolution 1388 has NOTHING to do with anyone giving any aid to anyone from the GAZA Strip, or for that matter, allowing 80 billion Palestinian refugees to relocate to DEBary.
Bob Waldorf doesn't do his homework. Wake up Bob. Go to snopes.com Bob, breath deep; and say: "There are no Palestinians rowing ashore on the St Johns River".

George Harbinger

**************************

*************************************

***************************

 

6/20:

Dear Citizens:

Bob "The Sky Is Falling" Waldorf writes to inform us of the OBAMA Administrations opening our borders to Palestinian Refugees, which magically means we now support HAMAS. SHAME ON YOU BOB! The money spent was the US contribution to a huge UN Relief Fund to help innocent citizens caught up in conflict ridden war torn countries all over the world. The Bob Waldorf's want to use this website to peddle their misinformation. Poor Bob; the Palestinian refugees are going to take over DEBARY! Oh Help Us BOB!
Although Bob hopes you don't check facts, just go to snopes.com and plug in United Nations Relief Fund USA Contribution.

You Are SO BUSTED BOB>

George Harbinger

****************************

from 2009 - http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/palestinians.asp

Don't know if this website is accurate either......

Alex Urchuck

******

Debary Taxpayers.

      We can see most of our local Debary and County politicians are lined up in a row in favor of the $1.2 billion dollar SUNRAIL project.   They all scream JOBS! JOBS! failing to mention most of the jobs will be temporary yet the burden for paying for this railway will be permanent.  They fail to mention how our nation is drowning in debt and this project will solve nothing and never make a penny.

  The main pusher for this liberal spending project is Rep. John Mica.  Congressman Mica claims to be a conservative yet he wants the taxpayers to support this liberal "welfare on rails" project.

   This is a socialist railway that will never make a dime, similar to  TRI RAIL in South Florida which had to depend on taxpayer subsidies of $44 M last year.   AMTRAC, the national socialist railway system cost $1.5 Billion in taxpayer subsidies as our nation searches of way to cut spending.

  You have to follow the money to understand SUNRAIL , it is all about the money and represents the false economy of government spending.  This is all money borrowed from our future by people that claim to care about the children. Why are they trying to fix a broken economy on borrowed dollars, how far can our politicians reach into the future for money to finance this liberal socialist project?

    Sunrail will cost $1.2 billion the first year according to the VETO SUNRAIL website. 

   Of this $1.2 billion in federal funny money, CSX railway will walk away with $641 M dollars of borrowed taxpayer money.   What is the real deal between our giveaway government and CSX ,  aren't they subsidized already?

   $600M is being spent on the train stations, can you imagine $600M.   It makes you wonder who owns the land that those train stations will be built on and when they purchased it.   Why do I get the feeling politically friendly developers are going to do quite well on SUNRAIL?

  What will be the annual cost of operating this system?   Who will pay LONG TERM....the taxpayers will of course as the politicians and their corporate friends will be long gone as this railway requires more tax dollars.

    Many supporters say SUNRAIL will relieve the traffic congestion in central Florida, of course there is an element of truth to that.    Something has to happen nationwide on our traffic problem and it will be solved by the cost of fuel , not any socilalist railway system.  

  Congressman John Mica owns our local politicians because he is the 'candy man' of federal giveaway dollars.   We often forget how government money is used as a tool for political control and how it migrates into private pockets.

 The USA is broke and living on borrowed money, this socialist railway is just another straw on the camel's back.

                                                                            Morton

 

 

 

6/19:

Whether you are an Obama fan, or not, EVERYONE IN THE U. S. Needs to know....

Something happened... H.R. 1388 was passed behind our backs. You may want to read about it. It wasn't mentioned on the news... Just went by on the ticker tape at the bottom of the CNN screen.
Obama funds $20M in tax payer dollars to immigrate Hamas Refugees to the USA.
This is the news that didn't make the headlines...
By executive order, President Barack Obama has ordered the expenditure of $20.3 million in "migration assistance" to the Palestinian refugees and "conflict victims" in Gaza.
The "presidential determination", which allows hundreds of thousands of Palestinians with ties to Hamas to resettle in the United States, was signed on January 27 and appeared in the Federal Register on February 4.

Now we Learn that he is allowing hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refuges to move to, and live in, the US at American taxpayer expense.
These important issues are being "lost" in the blinding bail-outs and "stimulation" packages.
They want to raise our national debt but cannot take of our own citizens.

Doubtful? To verify this for yourself:
www.thefederalregister.com/d.p/2009-02-04-E9-2488

WE are losing this country at a rapid pace.

Bob Waldorf

 

 

 

6/13:

Sad news is it was about our Assistant manager and her arrest for alleged DUI. What a day for Debary! We were on three news networks,as well as in the Orlando Sentinel; the News Journal; and untold times in the blogosphere.
Fell down Twice! Holy Cow! Dropped names left right and sideways in what appears to be an attempt to get off the hook. Why did she have to drop the City Of Debary's name though? What on earth was that about?
Latest word is: She's innocent! Plans to fight the charges. Hmmm; Let's see: Fell down twice; quoted as stating "She had a lot to drink", Speeding; Driving erratically. Yep, she's innocent. Sounds ludicrous to me.

Neal Donaldson

********************

I have to agree with the first response here; it's not about forgiveness, or kicking someone when they are down. Those words just cloud our judgment.
DUI is a serious charge. The comments from the arresting FHP Officer are very serious too. As if falling down twice wasn't bad enough; it is a whole other issue when you try to get off the hook by playing the "I'm a city manager" card. This speaks to ethics and integrity; both on and off the job. Whether you like it or not, being a city employee means your behavior reflects on your community. We would not tolerate this behavior or this double standard from any other employee. Miss Blissett's words at the scene of her arrest speak volumes about her. In some people's minds, it's okay to have two sets of rules: One set for the Citizens of Debary; and a separate set for Assistant Managers. As taxpayers we have a right to expect the manager to do his job. We have a right to expect city employees conduct themselves in a manner that does not bring negative publicity to our good City, nor its good name.

Greg Linfelder

 

6/11:

Dear Citizens of DeBary:

Last time I checked, refusal to submit to a breathe, urine, or blood test in the State of Florida triggers an automatic suspension of one's driving privileges. Can you effectively carry out your duties without a drivers license? As an assistant manager, one most likely represents the city at many functions. As taxpayers, you pay a salary for a fully functional employee to carry out the requirements of the position. How will the assistant manager travel from function to function without a drivers license? For that matter, how will she get to work? The Suspension is AUTOMATIC.

Jack Reardon

*************************************

Could happen to anyone? Yes, but driving drunk in Florida is a serious charge because we all know that this act can have devastating consequences. That's why your license states on the front that you will consent to sobriety test as directed by law enforcement. When you refuse, it triggers a suspension of your license. End of Story.
What is all the more troubling is the "Name Dropping" that took place when she was stopped. "I'm a single mother"."My ex husband is a narcotics officer." And saving the best for last: "I am an assistant city manager." This reeks of the "double standard" employed by some people who are telling us: "I want to be judged by a different set of rules." What is the message that we send when we tolerate this behavior?
Kudos to the FHP Officer for their quick thinking and their professionalism. It is nothing short of a miracle that she did not kill herself, or others.
Our behavior off the job is just as important as our competence on the job. Whether she got 3 gold stars on her performance appraisal is besides the point. All I hear is Poor Me. While having a field sobriety test administered: Fell down twice, acknowledged having had "a lot to drink", refused blood test, and tried to invoke the city of Debary assistant city manager clause to get off the hook.

John Anderson

 

6/8:

Debary Taxpayers,

      The Deland Beacon apparently has not chosen to publish my answer to an article concerning The Gateway Center for the Arts sent in by Shirley Marshall on May 30th 2011.  

      Shirley claims in her Beacon Letter entitled  " Another view of Gateway Center "  It is obvious I hold a great deal of resentment towards Pat Northy and the GCA".

     Wrong again Shirley.... I am just trying to point out that the GCA is a burden upon the taxpayer and Pat Northy is just a common politician gaining votes by helping to steer taxpayer funding to the GCA Arts Clubhouse. Politicians often gain votes at the expense of the taxpayers by supporting projects such as the GCA because they have no respect for the taxpayers money.    Politics 101 ...I'll support your project at taxpayers expense and you support my project...getting re-elected.  Nothing ever has to be said it is just business as usual across the USA on all levels of government from sea to shining sea.

      Shirley claims " The GCA did not get a free building or a free $100,000 check from the City of Debary"

The fact that the The Debary Arts League pestered the community for many years with fundraisers and garage sales does not excuse the fact that it did get a $100,000 check from the City of Debary.   Where did the City get the money....from the taxpayers, that is where Shirley.   The GCA did get a free building from the sweat of the taxpayers, from all levels of government...Federal.State,County and Municipal.   Some of the money was squeezed from local businesses and individuals as well but that building was mostly paid for from the taxpayers pockets.

      Non Profit organizations are masters at getting "FREE MONEY" through  Grants, memberships and other hustles from their friends in government. The GCA,Team Volusia,The West Volusia Chamber of Commerce, the Volusia League of Cities all  *SELL MEMBERSHIPS* in their organizations....none of these businesses pay taxes yet they all enjoy taxpayer money.

     Shirley boasts that The Gateway Center for the Arts claims to be all about education, arts, music, drama , creative writing, etc.   What we tend to forget is that the taxpayers are already paying for that stuff in the public school system.... why are we paying again?  Why should the taxpayers have to pick up the tab for retired people and idlers to dabble in the arts?

      If the GCA is an Arts Center, why do they have a gift shop, rent space, hold fundraisers, have a flea market and church operating on their premises?   The Gateway Center for the Arts is all about FUND

RAISING for a non profit organization that pays no taxes.  Pat Northey is one of the local politicians that sits on their board of directors and has supported this Non Profit , non taxpaying business by helping the GCA recieve money from the County of Volusia.

     I often hear of how people want lower taxes and less government yet the Gateway Center for the Arts is all about wasteful government spending and increased government.  All these NON -Profits get government hand outs because politicians are to weak to say no.

     Why is it that the ARTS Community cannot stand on its own and continually begs for government funding?

Mort Culligan

************************************

Just want to thank DeBary POP for remembering D-Day. I showed the article that was written on POP to my grandfather who served in Europe during WWII, he became emotional when he read it. He said to me “God bless POP for remembering D_Day day”. So, I will repeat the same words that my grandfather said “God bless POP for remembering D-Day”.

M. Osborne

 

6/6:

As a representative of the City of Debary Ms Blissett has shown the residents of this town her lack of judgment as to driving under the influence being impaired and risking not only her life but the lifes of others. As we all know this is a very serious charge and not to be taken lightly. Much consideration should be given to this matter by our officials of the City of Debary and not to be glossed over. Not based on work performance but on the actions that she chose to take. In closing any other elected offical or hire by the City would be judged accordingly.

Frank S.

From Norm: Our council members have nothing to do with this; this is a City Manager issue only. Council members can comment, but NO direction can be given in the firing or retaining of staff - that would violate the Charter. It's interesting how when I moved to fire CM Courson for performance issues, her hard work and friendships were cited as reasons for retention; now personal choices NOT performance issues are being cited. Other elected officials or staff will NOT, NOT be judged accordingly; they would/will be judged primarily on their "popularity" in this City. Change Blissett to Courson, you'd get one response. Change Blissett to Erickson, you would get a different response because the response would be based on personal reasons not core beliefs, the Staff Handbook, etc,. It's completely arbitrary.

Meanwhile, other actual City issues I've discussed on this website, issues that Mort, Bob Waldorf and Rich Gailey have discussed get no further response. Should Council members serve for 4 years? Should we go to one meeting a month? No response. But this...people are writing in. And that summarizes so much in this and probably other cities.

Lastly, I've had two editorials sent in via the website with no signatures and no valid email addresses. If you are that or those individual(s), please send me your name. Thanks.

***********************

The comments by Ben Arnold on Debary POP website about our assistant city manager.

   Is there really a person named Ben Arnold in this community, or is it a shortened version of Benidict Arnold...famous American?

   Look......Do not kick people when they are down ,  Ms Blissett may have made a serious mistake, but believe me she will suffer for it plenty already.

    It is not easy being a city employee and I am sure it could drive anyone to drinking. I have already lost count of how many City Managers and Assistant managers Debary has devoured.

    Municipal employees are often caught between politicians, taxpayers, businesses and various special intrest social groups, that cannot be easy.

     How about some forgiveness  instead of  making it worse than it already is.

MC

***********************

Conoley has never been about "saying what you mean and meaning what you say" as he wanted EVERYONE to do to HIM!!! He hates blogs...now he runs one...he hates personal attacks...now he attacks Erikson. He called the Mayor names...now he is "good friends" with the mayor. I wonder if THE MAYOR KNOWS THAT!! HAHA Conoley ran three times for office and then QUIT...don't talk about him on POP...your ABOVE IT!!!!

 

                                                                                                              

6/5:

While watching the 11:00 p.m. WESH news last night, I saw that our Assistant City Manager was arrested for DUI. Seems she blew past a couple of troopers at 90 mph on I-4 then ran off into the grass while taking the DeLand exit. It was a very nice photo of her and she looks good in orange; I know this sort of thing can and does happen to the best of people, what I hope doesn't happen is for the people of DeBary to call for her to be dismissed. That would be a shame because she really has worked very hard for this city and is good at what she does.

Thanks for listening.

Fred K.

************************************8
Fred, She is not all that. She needs to go. She is an embarrasement to the city. Ask anyone that goes to the florida league dinners. The only thing she does is talk trash about everyone she works for. This does not suprise me and I am pretty sure she has been in trouble before.

Ben Arnold

 

6/4:

The Percentages Game

From Mr. Conoley’s blog:

May, 2011, was another record breaking month…readership continues to grow exponentially!  Registrations are also growing exponentially!

What are the actual numbers? Actually, why wouldn't you print the numbers? Of course, now that the well has been poisoned, any actual numbers posted in the future won't be persuasive.

Within the state of Florida,  two cities increased their readership by + 600% or more.  They were:  1) Pompano Beach, and 2) Lady Lake. 

Without actual numbers, percentages are meaningless. A 600% increase could mean it went from 0 to 6 readers. If someone tried this kind of flim-flam on you Mr. Conoley, you would be responding in exactly the same way and justified in doing so.

Lastly, what Mr. Conoley has said about Mr. Erickson: ...praising himself in order to boost a falling ego and a growing inferiority complex. ...an example of what can happen...when he begins the process of self-delusion and begins to believe that he is far more important than he really is.   

And it's so sad when people act that way, isn't it Mr. Conoley? People like Erickson trying to make others think he is so important and/or his blog is widely read by so many people.

6/1:

This is one of the best I have read that reminds us of our past but also the young folks who think they invented conservation. LOVE IT In the line at the store, the cashier told the older woman that she should bring her own grocery bag because plastic bags weren't good for the environment. The woman apologized to him and explained, "We didn't have the green thing back in my day." The clerk responded, "That's our problem today. The former generation did not care enough to save our environment." He was right, that generation didn't have the green thing in its day. Back then, they returned their milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled. But they didn't have the green thing back in that customer's day. In her day, they walked up stairs, because they didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. They walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time they had to go two blocks. But she was right. They didn't have the green thing in her day. Back then, they washed the baby's diapers because they didn't have the throw-away kind. They dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts - wind and solar power really did dry the clothes. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that old lady is right, they didn't have the green thing back in her day. Back then, they had one TV, or radio, in the house - not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief, not a screen the size of the state of Montana. In the kitchen, they blended and stirred by hand because they didn't have electric machines to do everything for you. When they packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, they used a wadded up old newspaper to cushion it, not styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, they didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. They used a push mower that ran on human power. They exercised by working so they didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right, they didn't have the green thing back then. They drank from a fountain when they were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time they had a drink of water. They refilled their writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and they replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But they didn't have the green thing back then. Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. They had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And they didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint. But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful the old folks were just because they didn't have the green thing back then? WOW!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Bob Waldorf

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What is TEAM VOLUSIA?

          From what I can see, it is just another 501(c)6  tax exempt corporation.

          Love the website..... It is a fully loaded sales pitch that is almost comical.

          Just what we needed....more government , that is EXACTLY what Team Volusia represents.

          The nieve City Council of Debary, Fl. played follow the leader as it got on board your for a $10,000 per year membership.  What do they care it is only taxpayer money.

          Partnering, more aggressive leadership, seamless coordination, inclusion, engagement and collaboration, these are some of the BIG promises from Team Volusia.

           I can see it now, all these high tech, high paying jobs marching right into Volusia County behind the efforts of Team Volusia...sure.

           Volusia County already has an Economic Development Dept with a staff of 10 and had a budget of $2.7M for 2010.   Isn't that enough tax payer money wasted already?

           What else are you guys selling, maybe some swampland in Florida?   The Volusia County Council and the Debary City Council  will fall for anything.  What do they care, it is only taxpayer money, they just give away money they never earned ........because they are politicians. Our politicians in Debary have little respect for the taxpayers money, they just hand it over to special intrest groups.

            TEAM Volusia is repackaged government, that the taxpayer is stuck funding though expensive memberships that is all it is.  

             Your website sales pitch fails to mention, every county in the USA is in competetion for those jobs and all Team Volusia is ..is a sales pitch.

             Team Volusia has great results so far, it has created a $125k per year job for its CEO and taken the business community and taxpayers for ...HOW MUCH SO FAR?

 Morton C.     Debary,Fl

 

           

 

 

5/30:

OK Rich.  You win.  We agree on a lot of things.  Now I have said it and I will never be the same.  To top it off I am going to have to say your right - on most things in your last post except you are still comparing different areas with Debary and what you speak of in these area are not facts.  They really are not.  Yes I know because yes I lived there and yes I had a business there and what else do I have to give you to convince you I know what I am talking about instead of what I read about. I could debate that with you forever and it would be like saying potato and pototo. 

We can definitely agree to disagree on this 'but' I am behind everything you said about my last post and government.  This is why I am pro freedom because I am against big government or didn't you get that from my post.  So as far as the gambling let's both sit back and catch our breath and wait until someone throws out a salvo and then we can put the gloves back on and go at it.  Until then lets worry about our representatives.  Or did you not get that??

Bob Waldorf

 

5/29:

The awards from Florida League of Cities is nothing but a joke. Our own council members nominiate individuals for these seperate awards. It would not suprise me that Mayor Garcia nominated himself for this award.

Now he will have something else to add when I see him on the streets. "Hi I am Mayor Garcia, and a Silver Star winner from the Florida League of Cities".

Jan Taylor

 

5/27:

5/26/11
O.K. I will take the bait and digress from the gambling issue to defend something more important the American Capitalist. It is interesting that the two men that you mention in your last post are socialists. Dominique Strauss Kahn was running for office in France as the Socialist Party Candidate. As much as I am against our fractional reserve based banking system, at least they have to be strong armed by socialist leaning politicians under the guise of “Redlining” to force our banks to do “Subprime” lending. Subprime lending is now being re-introduced even while we are still recovering from our most recent bank bailout, in St. Louis, Mo. by the Attorney General’s office. The IMF (World Bank) which DSK runs lends American tax payer money to third world nations who default on the loans, then refinances the loans to these same countries that have no means to pay back. This is all done to expand the money supply which increases inflation and reduces the value of our dollars. You could say DSK is the ultimate socialist.

I personally do not understand why people are mad at the Manhattan Socialist Bernie Madoff the former Chairman of NASDAQ. All he did was scam people out of money they “chose” to invest with him out of vanity by being with “Bernie”. All he did was pattern his ponzi scheme after the worlds largest, social security. We do not have the option to “choose” to participate in the SS scheme. If we do not pay our payroll taxes into this system they send us to jail. SS will fall apart just like Bernies, and all of the Euro systems. I do not condone what Bernie did, however it is not nearly at egregious as what the federal government is forcing on us.

To bring this back to gambling and our community, there are three streets that affect our lives each day, Wall Street (socialists posing as capitalists in collusion with FED), Main Street (true capitalist businessmen in communities all over this country like those on 17-92) and your street (the one YOU live on). Socialists by nature want control by any means possible which is why they have built the infrastructure in this country and the world. What they need to do is make more people dependent on it by tripping up the people who work and live on the Main Streets and Your Streets of this country. The question for me is what are our local elected leaders going to do regarding our “Main Street” which will affect the “Our Streets” in Debary. Are they going to bring a business that has destroyed the streets of so many communities throughout our country such as Fern Park/Casselberry, Daytona, Miramar, Atlantic City, etc.

Rich Gailey

 

5/25:

The residents of Debary just got a big slap in the face and will never admit it.  While Daytona Beach Kennel club was busy helping defeat the gambling issue in Debary years ago they were secretly hanging on to their private agenda.  Now it is out in the open according to DBNJ.  The Kennel Club is going to open their own gambling establishment in Orange City. Hahaha.  (jobs - revenue) and how far do you think it is from Highbanks and 17-92 to Dirksen or Highbanks and 17-92 to Enterprise.  Is the difference really enough to justify losing jobs and revenue??  So while they (the Kennel Club)was helping stop the Debary Downs they were actually holding on to their own license. 

But you can't discuss logic with people that have none even if it is approving a gambling entity to sponsor an event at the Gateway Center (a non profit organization that has tons of money sitting in it back pocket).  Smart people make smart decision and do not let emotion get involved - Rich remember the comment you made about me. So not to make a mistake again Rich I am referring to the smart people of the Daytona Beach Kennel Club not making emotional decision only business decision 'like I was referring too'.  And while I am addressing comments made by Rich he needs to know I never said 'Poor' .......I said less fortunate....like in State of Florida driving restrictions !!!!  

But Rich I do thank you for addressing the freedom issue but when was the last time a businessman that owned an adult entertainment establishment accused of wrong doing?  25 years ago?  Me?  But what about the guy in New York Bernie Madoff or the most recent, charged with a sex crime, Dominque Strauss Kahn and he did NOT own a gambling or adult business he only controlled 'our' money.  And let's don't forget one fact -- I don't care -- because it does not matter to me except for the freedom of choice issue and I even gave into that by saying that those who don't want it have the freedom of choice to make their opinion heard.  Why is it that conservative American ideas always cause finger pointing and name calling instead of factual responses?  Why is that?  I know it is hard to debate against common sense and logic so they use ''' lame excuses ''' and even go so far as to ignore that I said the final decision would be left up to council and maybe the could even get money for the Springs. Oh well.....

There is another issue that has me fired up.  Our elected officials in Tallahassee have just been caught casting votes for member when they are not present - '' but close by'' as reported by Channel 9 news today.  Well if they are close by why can't they be there to vote?  In other words why can't they be there doing the jobs our tax dollars are paying them to do?  I worry that this country is becoming a banana republic with giving up ideas and ideals here and some there - depending on the 'likes and dislikes' of the vocal.  Anyone reading this going to do anything about the elected officials?  I am, I am writing to all of them to express my displeasure. And here, so you don't have any excuses: Alan Hays, hays.alan.web@flsentate.gov - Fred.Costello@myfloridahouse.gov - Larry.Metz@myfloridahouse.gov .  If you don't mind - don't write.

So, if anyone, or when anyone, knocks my position on the foundation of this country (FREEDOM) then you certainly have to question the motive.  If I don't like something I just don't support it but I will never try to force my opinion on others to prevent choices.  Isn't that a little selfish?

 

Bob Waldorf 

 

5/20:

Wanting to protect one’s home and its property value is not a “lame excuse.” I would love to know why certain people moved to Debary in the first place. Was it for the peaceful, natural atmosphere and to get out of the rat race of the “big” city, or was it with the hope that someday they’d have a card room down the street that they could walk to and crawl home.

As for the men and women who fought for the freedom of choice, I honor and respect their sacrifices; however that particular “freedom of choice” analogy is, again, absurd! Believe me, I enjoy my cocktails and I also enjoy playing the slots while on a cruise (I’ve said this before). However, and that’s a HUGE however, NOT IN MY BACK YARD!

Try asking your neighbors, friends and other Debary residents, you would quickly discover that about 90% of the taxpayers in Debary do not want this type of development. I don’t have a problem with Debary trying to build jobs in our community, just not this type of job.

I want to go on record right now, and say that if the City Council approves this project, I will be first in line to file a lawsuit against the City. Everyone knows the majority of residents do not want this, look at the last time.

And, you know what? Who cares if the Daytona Kennel Club wants to throw a party at the Gateway Park? I don’t !!! I’ll check out the website and maybe even go … maybe I’ll see y’all there.

Shirley Horchler

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Mr. Waldorf has finally taken us to one of my favorite discussions “Freedom”!!! He also has introduced one of my other favorite discussions “The Poor”. I enjoy talking about the concept of freedom “in 2011”, when it is convenient for those who want to institute the instruments of control. Where were all these freedom loving people in the 1930’s when we instituted the first tool of population control (social security) or the 1960’s when we tripled down with medicare, medicaid and welfare benefits to fill out the toolbox. Now when we have all the elements of control in the toolbox all we need are victims, err recipients of government benefits (or taxpayers money). So now that the main tools are in place (ObamaCare will be phased into the toolbox) all government needs is a way to drive more nails (recipients) into the coffin of socialism (control).
Now that we have the stage set lets bring out the main character “The Poor”. (Good place to see who the real poor in the world are go to globalrichlist.com and enter what income you believe is poor, real eye opening) I know Mr. Waldorf is really a free market capitalist at heart, however, I suspect that he has been educated by the same institutional government based education system that I was, or he is trying to use the same weapon against the taxpayer as those who want to control us. I had to make a conscience decision to not let my schoolin’ get in the way of my education (Mark Twain) that my family and studies after college have provided. Mr. Waldorf had mentioned that he could drive to gambling establishments, but he is truly concerned about “The Poor” who may not be able to afford to drive. First of all he must not be aware of Votran has routes that will shuttle people over to gamble their families monies away. (which is only funded by user’s to the tune of 18%, I wonder who funds the rest? Ans. Same people who will be funding Sunrail after 7 years when the federal tax payer money goes away) Who will fund their lifestyles when all of their families money is gambled away? I will go on record as supporting a gambling facility in Debary once we bring True Freedom back to this country that existed before all of the tools of control were allowed to be imposed on us by representatives voted in by the citizens of this country over the last 80 years. Until then I do not support any adult entertainment enterprises that will create more people who do not know how to act like an adult and take personal responsibility for their lives, because adult entertainment establishments are a direct path to expanding the number of recipients of confiscated tax payer dollars.
Surely you do not believe that we have all of these gambling counseling services because there are so many gambling winners that just do not know what to do with the winnings. 5% of our population are compulsive gamblers, which means their families income is going to their addiction not their families well-being. When one income goes to gambling then eventually after divorce whatever income is left now has to support two households. (Who do you think funds the shortfall of those two households?) Divorce is one area where our country now leads the world. The same outcome occurs for all adult entertainment businesses both legal and illegal.
Certain parts of our “poor” who were targeted for “help” back in the 1950’s had a lower divorce rate than the Caucasian population at the time, after we have spent 50 years helping those poor now 70% of that community grows up without a father in the house.
Let’s not use the secular humanists weapon of the poor to bring adult entertainment venues to our community. We have already helped “The Poor” enough. It is now too late to talk about freedom with the system that currently exists to take away more freedoms form those that support this system – The American Tax Payer. Once we get to a place where the ancillary negative effects of a certain entity does not further burden the tax payer I do not see how our system can support more entities that break the backbone of our economy. Eventually Atlas will shrug.

Rich Gailey – I apologize for my verbosity. I did cut this way back believe it or not

 

5/18:

Debary Citizens,

  

   Guess who one of the sponsors for the TASTE of WEST VOLUSIA EVENT being held at Gateway Park is?

 

    The Daytona Beach Kennel Club !!!!! Which is a Gambling establishment that would have had to

compete with DEBARY DOWNS.   The Daytona Beach Kennel Club is not in WEST VOLUSIA why are they

helping fund this?

 

    That is right, the very gambling corporation that funded the opposition to Debary Downs....remember?

 

     It appears the Daytona Beach Kennel Club is helping fund an event in a Debary City Park...nice

gamble !

 

   Go to  www. Taste of West Volusia .com and see for yourself. You gotta see their video!

 

    Don't forget to save up your $15 admission fee, I am sure they have a big cash register at the

Gateway Center for the ARTS. Remember the GCA is supposed to be about the ARTS.....not just

commercial activities.

Mort Culligan

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I really enjoy the debate that has been going on about the possibility of a horse track.  Mind you

I said 'possibility' of it even being brought up.  There seems to be a lot of 'all about me and mine'

instead of consideration about others.  Living 1/2 mile from something that supports job may not

be a bad thing and as far as Gemini Springs I agree that is beautiful however I will not agree that

a horse track would ruin it. If it ever gets brought up and the council decides to consider it, then

they would be the ones to issue guidelines to protect it. 

Who knows, maybe people with money might give some $$ to enhance the beauty.  Maybe.  But me

---   I don't care if we have a horse track or not other than the fact that I think an American's should

have the right to chose but then of course that being said everyone has their right to chose - for it or

against it.  Just say you don't want it and stop coming up with lame excuses that make no sense. 

Personally I am very lucky that I 'can' drive to Daytona, or anywhere else to gamble,  if that is what

I chose to do.  My concern is for those that cannot and are not as fortunate as I am.  What about the

men and women that fought for freedom of choice only to be told now that they are retired, and maybe

cannot drive, that they are not going to be allowed a choice because some younger person has their

own selfish agenda, or even a similar retired person who has their own agenda to prevent them from

having the choice. 

It is a fact that people who don't want gambling don't approve of drinking either and both of these

are moral issues.  No one wants to admit the real reason behind opposing something so they come up

with fabrication and ridiculous comparisons. So just for the record let it be known that I, Bob Waldorf,

don't really care one way or the other if we have a horse track, a card room, a casino or whatever. -

''because I don't have to go if I don't want to''.  However I do care for what this country stands for - 

freedom of choice. So instead of telling me to drive to Daytona why don't you move to a more controlled

country???

Bob Waldorf

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MARK ALLEN MEISTER

February 22, 1961 - May 12, 2011

With sorrow we announce the passing of Mark Allen Meister, DeBary, on

May 12, 2011 at Fish Memorial Hospital in Orange City, Florida, after an extended

illness. Mark was born on February 22, 1961 in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania.

He was the son of George W. Meister and Helen M. Meister, both of whom preceded

him in death. He is survived by a son, Cody Allen Meister; and long time companion,

Wendy Kuehne, both of DeBary; step-mother, Marjorie Meister of Port Orange;

and a

brother, George Robert Meister of Port Orange. One brother, Richard O. Meister

preceded

him in death; two nephews, Joel Allen Meister of Port Orange and Ricky Joseph Meister.

Mark spent much of his early life in Pennsylvania and moved to Florida approximately

25 years ago. Before becoming ill he worked for ABC Demolition of DeBary. He loved professional wrestling and liked to be involved in local politics. He was a member of the

Port Orange Presebyterian Church.

A Memorial Funeral Service will be held Wednesday, May 18, 2011; 2 p.m. at the S

hannon Maloney Funeral Home, 4084 Halifax Drive, Port Orange, with the Rev. Richard

Hills, Presbyterian minister, officiating.

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Just a note to offer condolences to Mark’s family and friends. We’ve known Mark for many years

and we both agreed and disagreed on numerous subjects. He felt strongly on many ideas

and presented them well - before the Council, in Newspapers and in POP (People Over Politics).

We will miss his presence.      

John Likakis

Lenny Marks 

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