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Good morning, Deltona! In today’s edition: Coco’s repeated water rescues, grass clippings fueling algae, free professional headshots, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Coco’s repeated water rescues: Bodycam video shows Volusia County deputies rescuing a 6-year-old boy who fell into a Deltona pond on Christmas. The nonverbal child with autism was reunited with his family — watch the rescue footage.
Unseen sources of pollution: An ORCA study found discarded grass clippings fuel algae and muck in the Indian River Lagoon, accounting for up to 10% of the nutrient load in heavily residential areas — learn what the study found.
Enriching opportunities for local kids: Volusia County is seeking providers for its 2026 summer camp scholarship program for income-eligible families. Applicants must have administrative capacity and at least one year of camp experience — see how and when to apply.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since this month last year. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Waterfront improvements take shape: Volusia County restored public access to Ponce Inlet’s North Jetty with a temporary staircase after storms destroyed the wooden connector. A full rebuild is planned for spring 2026, which will bring ramp access back. The county and Army Corps also plan a 400-foot concrete deck extension. See what’s planned for the jetty.
Hands-on ocean science: Peek into sea turtle rehab from the Turtle Terrace, touch stingrays and urchins, and climb the observation tower. The Marine Science Center turns curiosity into a feel-good reset, perfect when you want learning without homework. Follow the nature trail and leave a little saltier, a lot more amazed.
Burrito night upgrade: When you want a burrito that actually fills the plate and your evening, Pepe’s Cantina DeBary serves an XL stuffed with rice, beans, pico, and guac, the whole happy orchestra, plus plenty of Mexican comfort picks. Big flavors, easy vibes, and chips worth lingering over.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now, you’ll get three free gifts, AND you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.
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📆 Around town this weekend
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✉ Vintage Paper & Postcard & Collectibles Expo @ Volusia County Fairgrounds | Friday (1/9) at 10:00 AM – DeLand is piling the tables high with millions of vintage postcards, photos, and paper oddities, the good stuff from serious dealers. It’s a treasure hunt for local history buffs and nostalgia nerds. Bring patience, reading glasses, and a tote, you’ll need all three.
☯ Forged by the Dark, Painted by the Light @ ArtWorks DeLand | Friday (1/9) at 6:00 PM – Swing by ArtWorks DeLand for the opening reception of John Zoccoli’s new show, a journey from confinement to contribution. It’s grit alchemized into grace, with pieces that linger longer than your neighbor’s HOA emails. Come for reflection, stay for conversation, unhurried looks, and good company.
📚 Book Counter @ Hammer And Stain Workshop | Friday (1/9) at 6:00 PM – If your New Year pep talk needs a practical prop, make a book counter to track those reads. Pick your paint or stain, swap stories, and leave with something solid, useful, and nice. Consider it accountability you can dust, not an app you ignore.
😂 Bonkerz Comedy Show @ The Center At Deltona | Friday (1/9) at 8:00 PM – Bonkerz Comedy Show brings sharp stand-up and the kind of belly laughs you only get in a room full of locals. Leave the news, the group chat, and your to-do list at the door, then let pros roast everyday life while you sip something decent.
📷 Beginner’s Photography: Learn and Hike @ Lyonia Environmental Center | Saturday (1/10) at 9:00 AM – Trade the couch for a hike in the preserve and finally figure out what that AV button does. Guides walk you through outdoor photography basics, composition, and easy tricks as you go. All ages, all skill levels, no ego, just good shots and fresh air.
🧠Navigation & Compass Skills Workshop @ Deleon Springs State Park | Saturday (1/10) at 9:00 AM – Trade the “where’s the boat” panic for real bearings at this scuba navigation and compass skills workshop. Open to certified divers, you’ll practice swim patterns, set accurate headings, and book it with a $20 reservation through ARock Scuba, CFL Scuba Reepair, or Neptune’s Splendor Scuba.
📸 Free Professional Headshots @ Skydive DeLand | Sunday (1/11) at 9:00 AM – Still rocking that 2012 LinkedIn headshot? One-day-only free pro sessions with studio lighting, a 15-minute slot, and one fully edited high-res image, perfect for resumes, portfolios, and credibility. Grab a spot before they vanish: https://www.clperspective.com/booking-calendar/free-pro-headshot-s-jan-11th-only
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 Deltona report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 80°F – Low: 60°F – Precip: 1%
Areas of fog before 10am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. North northeast wind 0 to 5 mph. Later: Patchy fog after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 60. East southeast wind 0 to 5 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 82°F – Low: 60°F – Precip: 4%
Patchy fog before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Southeast wind 0 to 10 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. Southeast wind around 5 mph.
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