Good morning, Deltona! In today’s edition: Manatees at night, a Tom Petty tribute, a new transit app, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

🏆 Most popular this week

Curated by popular demand — here are this week’s most-clicked events, local spots, and stories.

Events for gentle giants: Manatee season is in full swing at select Florida State Parks, with upcoming celebrations like a Manatea Festival on Jan. 18 and the 41st Annual Blue Springs Manathen — get all the details.

Conservation under public scrutiny: Photos of cleared land at Deltona’s Lyonia Preserve sparked concern, but the work under a federal permit on college property aims to restore scrub habitat for Florida scrub-jays — see what’s behind the project.

Footprint widens across markets: Sonesta announced agreements to add six upscale hotels to the MOD Collection, including in Daytona Beach and New Smyrna Beach, part of an expansion by the nation’s eighth-largest hotel company — see where hotels are planned.

Simplifying everyday travel: Volusia County launched VoTran On Demand for trip planning and real time bus tracking. VoAccess paratransit riders can manage rides, with broader features planned. Available on Apple and Android — get all the details.

Rainy day sanity saver: If your little whirlwind needs to burn energy, The Play Fort is a calm, socks-only indoor playspace with wooden climbers and pretend-play nooks, plus a chill vibe for grownups. Great for quick playdates, toddler adventures, and afternoons when weather or patience isn’t cooperating.

Celebrating classroom excellence: Volusia County Schools will name its 2027 Teacher of the Year at a Jan. 10 dinner. The district has five finalists, including Matthew Pellegrino of Galaxy Middle in Deltona — see who’s in the running.

Are you overpaying? The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. I was paying over $300 for ONE car until I checked out various quotes, switched providers, and ultimately cut my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably losing money too — this free comparison tool makes it easy.

Gold & silver are hot: Gold just had it’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150% in 2025… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. If you’re curious about adding precious metals to your portfolio as a market hedge, American Hartford has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.

A new haircare solution: My hair’s been thinning and I’ve been quietly ignoring it, hoping it’ll fix itself. Plot twist… it hasn’t. When I finally started looking into what I should do, there were so many options I didn’t know where to start. I stumbled on Keranique, and its simplicity really sold me. One kit, no pills, no choosing products, and no confusion whatsoever. It’s also on sale with a money-back guarantee (although I doubt you’ll need it).

📆 Sneak peek at next week

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🆚 Trinity Christian Eagles vs Seabreeze Sandcrabs @ Trinity Christian Academy | Monday (1/12) – Trinity Christian’s Eagles face Seabreeze’s Sandcrabs in a talons-versus-claws showdown. Expect spirited student sections, overpriced nachos, and the kind of small-town noise you pretend you don’t love, then argue calls with your neighbors like it’s a civic duty.

🐾 Wednesday Wildlife Walk @ Lyonia Environmental Center | Wednesday (1/14) at 9:00 AM – Shake off Wednesday with a guided wildlife walk that trades notifications for birdsong, fresh air, and unhurried steps. Expect easy trails, curious critters, and good company, so bring comfy shoes, a thermos, and binoculars if you enjoy hearing tweets the old-fashioned way.

🍻 Books & Brews @ Dunes Brewing | Wednesday (1/14) at 5:00 PM – Like your history served with a head on it? Dunes Brewing hosts author Sara Dahmen for Books & Brews, pouring craft beer, stories from The Tinsmith 1865, and conversation that actually goes somewhere. Bring your bookish side, and your hop tolerance.

🪟 Interchangeable Window @ Hammer And Stain Workshop | Wednesday (1/14) at 6:00 PM – Ready to refresh the house without repainting a wall? This hands-on Interchangeable Window workshop rolls out four new designs, so you can swap styles with the seasons, keep the mantel happy, and feel smug about tasteful commitment issues. Bring a friend, or your inner HGTV.

🎬 Movie: Marty Supreme @ Epic Theatres of West Volusia | Thursday (1/15) at 12:00 PM – Think you’ve got quick reflexes, or at least fond memories of rec center ping-pong? Catch a free screening of Marty Supreme, with Timothée Chalamet as a charming table tennis champ. It’s open to 55+, which means comfy seats, civilized volume, and zero TikTok distractions.

🎸 The Borken Hearts: Tom Petty Tribute @ Cafe Da Vinci | Thursday (1/15) at 6:00 PM – Tom Petty’s greatest hits are rolling into Cafe Da Vinci with The Broken Hearts, and yes, you absolutely know every chorus. Expect tight harmonies, jangly guitars, and guilt-free singalongs. It’s the kind of night that feels like Gainesville without the drive, or the traffic.

🌙 Park After Dark: Manatees at Night @ Blue Spring State Park | Friday (1/16) at 5:30 PM – After dark at Blue Spring, trade Netflix for nature and let the manatees do the heavy breathing. Start with nature journaling and kids crafts, unroll sunset picnic, then stroll the boardwalk spotting owl cameos, gator eyes, and night magic. Tickets are $3, park entry extra.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

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📻 Deltona report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 82°F – Low: 60°F – Precip: 3%

Areas of fog before 9am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: Patchy fog after 4am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. Southwest wind 0 to 5 mph.

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Tomorrow – High: 76°F – Low: 49°F – Precip: 19%

Patchy fog before 7am, then patchy fog and a slight chance of rain showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A slight chance of rain showers before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Most popular house this week

On a secluded 2.62-acre lot with no HOA, this 3-bed, 2-bath home stays hidden. A two-garage setup includes a 2-car attached plus a 1,200-square-foot detached workshop with an 11,000-pound lift, two roll-up doors, and a 12 by 12 entrance.

Inside, a flexible layout splits living and family rooms from dining and a breakfast nook, with granite counters and stainless appliances in the kitchen. The primary suite includes a soaking tub and a walk-in shower. A screened pool joins recent updates, including a 2024 roof, 2020 AC, 2025 water heater, and 2025 septic service. Near I-4, Daytona, and Orlando. One or more photos are virtually staged.

Take a peek inside →