Al Everson

There is something about July 4 that gives me an overwhelming sense of thanksgiving and gratitude for having been born in and to have lived in the greatest nation that has ever existed in the history of the world. We recall during these days the drafting and public release of our nation's birth certificate, known as the Declaration of Independence.

Constructing a new home or anything else in Volusia County’s biggest city will soon result in additional expense. As covered in the June 25-July 1 edition of The West Volusia Beacon, the Deltona City Commission was posed to enact a 73-percent increase in the preconstruction charges required by the city. The hike unanimously passed on second and final reading This […]

As the election cycle nears, is there political uncertainty in Deltona? Published reports in recent days raised questions about two members of the City Commission who had allegedly failed to qualify for the 2026 municipal election. The politicos in question are City Commissioner Maritza Avila-Vazquez and Commissioner Stephen Colwell. What led up to Deltona City Clerk Joyce Raftery’s conclusion that […]

Real estate prices and values in Volusia County are solid, and the prospects for continued upward movement are bright, based on the latest information released by the county Property Appraiser's Office. The total estimated market worth of all land and improvements in the county now sits at just over $110 billion, as shown in the preliminary tax roll for 2026.

Come fall, owners of property in Deltona may see yet another expense on their annual tax bills. City leaders are preparing to place on the tax notices a charge for fire protection and emergency responses to blazes or the smell of smoke. The proposal to levy a fire assessment goes before the Deltona City Commission July 20. At that time, […]

Though summer is swiftly passing, and the July 4 holiday is moving into the rearview mirror, it is fitting in the afterglow of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence to highlight the cost and the sacrifices that made our country possible. Many of the signers of our nation's birth certificate gave up everything they had to create this

Was it a response to a spreading tax revolt? Does the shadow of state tax reform loom large over Deltona? Was it smart politics? Or a sudden embrace of austerity? Or all of the above? Whatever the reason or reasons, there was a double victory for Deltona property owners July 20. First, the Deltona City Commission extinguished a proposal to […]

Inquiring minds may want to know. Volusia County will establish a special place in cyberspace for those wondering if their special someone may be prone to violence and may make them a punching bag or worse. After hearing victims’ stories and being convinced that men and women — even the younger ones who have begun dating — need a ready […]

A plan to create a new neighborhood along DeLand's east side is on hold. After more than an hour of talk among themselves, the lawyer representing the would-be developer and people living nearby the site in question, Volusia County's Planning and Land Development Regulation Commission postponed until Sept. 17 a decision on whether to support a 147-home neighborhood with a […]

There is a new topic of conversation in government and business circles: data centers. The movement toward artificial intelligence, frequently abbreviated as AI, has created the need for these hereto unheard-of cyberfacilities. Chances are that you are going to hear more and more about them in the coming months. What are data centers? “Large-scale data centers are warehouses that