Hi, kids!

It’s time once again to turn a jaundiced eye toward the news and newsmakers of the day who, in my cynical opinion, either contributed to our quality of life or detracted from it in some significant way:

Today’s production of Barker’s Theatre of the Absurd is a long one! Buckle-up, grab the beverage of your choice, and settle in for my jaded opinion on the news and newsmakers here on Florida’s “Fun Coast.”

Welcome back, y’all…

Volusia County Council of Cowards: The Final Blow for “The World’s Most Famous Beach”

On Tuesday, the Volusia County Council of Cowards dealt the coup de grâce to struggling Main Street merchants and our beleaguered core tourist area when they voted 5-2 to crush any further mention of reopening beach driving and access between Auditorium Boulevard and International Speedway Boulevard in Daytona Beach.

In exchange, some mysterious “investment group” with murky plans to “possibly” develop another hotel and half-empty commercial space in the former Boardwalk area got everything they needed.

And we don’t even know their names…  

It didn’t matter. The beach driving “discussion” was dead on arrival.

Restoring vehicular beach access was the cornerstone of Chairman Jeff Brower’s first and second terms – which means it was doomed from the beginning.  Per usual, this week the most wholly compromised group of self-serving political hacks ever assembled did everything in their power to pander to the mercenary whims of their political benefactors while crushing any hope of returning our 112-year-old tradition to Volusia County beaches.

How do I know that? 

Because whenever “staff” places an item on the agenda which begins, “At the Chair’s request…” the issue is guaranteed to go down in flames… 

Every. Damn. Time.

In April, the same council paid lip service to Chairman Brower and the Main Street Merchants Association who asked for a reversal of a 25-year-old mistake that removed beach driving from the area as part of a disastrous “deal” between the City of Daytona Beach and developers of the Ocean Walk Shoppes. 

They got an exclusive beach. We got a scary parking garage…

That lopsided development agreement, coupled with the whims of some of the Halifax areas all-powerful “movers and shakers,” convinced those in city/county government that keeping residents and visitors from driving on the beach would be the cure-all for our myriad civic, social, and economic problems.

It wasn’t.

In the lead to Tuesday’s meeting, county “staff” drug their feet for eight-months, finally reaching out to recalcitrant hoteliers and other beachfront landowners content with their quasi-private beach – five of which responded with letters in opposition to beach driving.

That strategic procrastination pushed the question beyond consideration for the 2026 state legislative session, further kicking the can down the dusty political trail. 

Unfortunately, the City of Daytona Beach couldn’t be bothered to weigh in on the issue…

We’ve heard it all before. 

The same tired arguments that are trotted out each time this age-old Us v. Them fight for beach access comes up haven’t changed:

The legislative hurdles are too steep, the incidental take permit is in jeopardy, unnamed “investors” who are “possibly” on the cusp of saving us all are now considering moving to more lucrative beachfront property (bullshit) if beach driving is even discussed, putting the wants of do-nothing hoteliers and vacant property owners who have sat on their hands for decades ahead of struggling residents and merchants, yada, yada, yada…

At the end of the day, one thing remains clear, the majority of our elected cowards still have their heads wedged firmly in their sizeable backsides – because that is what they were told to do by those who own the paper on their political souls – and absolutely nothing changes.   

That’s why the tragic stagnation of the status quo rules the day in the smoldering ruins of ‘Old Daytona.’

During the typically unbalanced and previously choreographed charade – Councilman Troy Kent, the only other councilmember to support Chairman Brower’s push for beach access – explained the obvious, “There are two words to describe the results of this experiment, and those words to me are ‘epic failure.’”

In turn, Mr. Kent reminded everyone of what’s really at stake: “When you shut off access to the beach, you basically make a private beach for the landowners that own that beach…”

For his part, the always detached Councilman David “No Show” Santiago exposed how little he knows (or cares) about east Volusia, or the concerns of struggling Main Street entrepreneurs, when he pontificated that the push to restore beach driving represented “false hope.”

“Daytona Beach is the economic engine of Volusia County.  Investment needs to occur there, and no insult to them —they are stuck in the ’80s. We need to find ways to get investment in here, and we’re hearing from people in the investment world: A solution to this in the vote of a no is a potential moving forward.” Santiago said.  

Horseshit.

We have people who invested blood, sweat, tears, and money on Main Street and beyond – and they have repeatedly told the council what they need to be successful.

They were arrogantly ignored…

Trust me – many Halifax area residents wish we had the prosperity our core tourist area enjoyed during the 1970’s and 80’s – before Volusia County took control and systematically destroyed our most important natural and economic amenity – and long before the likes of “No Show” Santiago put the wants of a few “possible investors,” over the needs of Volusia County taxpayers.

Per usual, there was the obligatory incoherent string-of-consciousness rambles from Councilman Danny “Gaslight” Robins designed to belittle Chairman Brower for being attentive to his constituents, then pushing to return beach access to this important tourist corridor.

In my view, the outcome was preordained before the meeting was ever gaveled to order.  

Sadly, thanks to the complete acquiescence of those dullards we elected to represent our interests – who so blatantly ignore their own rules time-after-time, then do whatever they want to advance the whims of their political benefactors, shadowy “possible investors,” and speculative developers with another “panacea” project – our “powers that be” finally accomplished their ultimate goal of permanently removing our heritage of beach driving from our tired and dilapidated core tourist area.

They won.  You lost.

Tragic.

Like “Gaslight” Robins mewled from the dais, he’s “frustrated,” and “something has to change.” 

He’s right.

I encourage you to vote like your livelihoods and quality of life depend upon it.  Let’s vote Danny Robins, David Santiago, and their confederated political jacklegs to the ash heap of history where they so richly belong while there is still something worth fighting for.

Orange City Mayor’s Malevolent Meltdown Raises the Ire of Citizens

On a Friday evening in late November when most residents were unwinding for the weekend, the tyrannical Orange City Mayor Kellianne Marks – a meanspirited half-bright with a God complex – exposed her overweening hubris when she hastily called an inconvenient “special meeting” of the Orange City Council with the single agenda item:

“Discuss performance of the City Clerk.”

It was clear from the onset of the standing room only meeting that Mayor Marks’ true intent was to terminate City Clerk Kaley Burleson.  To underscore Marks’ spitefulness, at the time of the meeting, Ms. Burleson was on preapproved personal leave assisting her mother who had undergone major surgery earlier in the day.

In order to defend herself against Mayor Marks’ malicious accusations of “insubordination,” “…demonstrated contempt for this government body and has undermined the authority of this council itself,” and failing to adequately respond to communications from state Sen. Tom Wright’s office which “…may have cost the city approximately $3 million” in potential state funding, Ms. Burleson was forced to leave her mother’s bedside and appear in her own defense at the meeting.

In turn, Councilwoman Dawn Tiamson piled on with references to a series of Facebook messages between Marks and her late husband, former councilman Alex Tiamson – exchanges that some felt contained racist remarks – which were distributed to the council by Burleson at the behest of a resident, and “…created public chaos, rumor and defamation, which is not the desired characteristic of a public official.”

Fortunately, Mayor Marks’ nasty attempt at personal retaliation backfired in her face.    

Horribly…

From the minute the meeting was called to order, angry Orange City residents were repeatedly gaveled down by Mayor Marks amid threats of ejection as they shouted to make themselves heard by their elected officials and jeered the officious proceedings from the gallery.

In fact, in an act of patriotic defiance, during the Pledge of Allegiance, the assembled citizens of Orange City loudly emphasized every word to remind their elected representatives of their civic duty.  

After Mayor Marks vindictively explained the reasons why she felt Ms. Burleson was no longer fit to serve the community, she called for a motion to terminate the City Clerk’s contract.  The motion was brought by the Marks’ obsequious minion, Dawn Tiamson, and seconded for discussion by Councilman Harold Grimm.

Then, Ms. Burleson had an opportunity to respond…

That’s when Ms. Burleson took off the gloves and defended her professionalism and dedication to Orange City – explaining how Mayor Marks mistreats city employees, made racist statements, berated staff, and created what was later described as a toxic work environment that has seen an incredibly disruptive turnover in senior city staff.    

Then came perhaps the most salacious revelation of the raucous evening when Ms. Burleson explained how she was on vacation when the meeting request from Sen. Wright’s office was received. 

According to an article by Mark Harper writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal:

“She (Burleson) noted that she was on vacation the week Wright’s invitation came to her email, and her auto-reply asked senders to reach out to the clerk’s office. She said Marks had a meeting with Wright, regardless, which Burleson suggested the mayor handled inappropriately.

“You,” Burleson said to Marks, “came in my office and told me how you took your intern to Tallahassee Day because she had big boobs and had her showoff her cleavage to Tom Wright because he likes that kind of stuff.”

Whoa.  It appears Sen. “Terrible Tommy” Wright’s vile reputation as a lecherous creep has escaped the cloistered bounds of his normal hunting grounds – domestic violence shelters…

In my view, if true, that shocking disclosure alone should result in the immediate resignation of Mayor Marks for her role in pandering to Sen. Wright’s prurient proclivities by suggesting a female intern dress promiscuously as a means of gaining a funding advantage…

According to the News-Journal’s report, “Burleson said she had two witnesses in her office when Marks made the remark, which the mayor did not dispute.”

I guess Mayor Marks gave her intern a valuable lesson in how things get accomplished in Tallahassee, eh? 

My God.

How many times does Florida’s senate leadership need to hear these lewd anecdotes regarding Sen. Wright’s appalling inclinations before they do something to protect the integrity of the legislature, the appropriations process, and vulnerable females subject to Wright’s well-documented predation? 

According to the report, “Burleson said some of the dispute between the mayor and herself had to do with emails regarding a meeting earlier in November, when Marks had requested the council be served food from Olive Garden “because the council expects to be fed before 6 p.m.”

When Burleson provided the Olive Garden meals on the city’s dime, she said the standard in the past had been to make the food also available to any member of the public in attendance. So she did, and Marks complained.

Burleson later said Marks told her: “My concern is I don’t want to eat from a buffet with a ton of people touching the food I’m eating. It’s not sanitary.”

I think they call that the “Dictator’s Diet,” in microcosm – feast like a queen on food purchased with public funds, while residents go hungry…

Following Ms. Burleson’s statement, more than a dozen citizens – to include current and former employees, politicians, and civic activists – rose in support of Burleson, vehemently speaking out on her behalf, with many calling for Marks immediate resignation.

Not one person who approached the podium supported Mayor Marks’ attempt to fire Burleson.

During public comment, former Orange City Mayor Gary Blair asked, “Why are we here?”

“She’s excellent. You are tearing this city down Miss Marks. You’re burning it down … Look at all the senior staff that you’ve lost because of you.”

“My mother used to use a term, and I will use it on you tonight: That you are rotten to your core. These people who asked you to resign? You better go home and think about it … So do everyone a favor, and sign out.”  

After citizen remarks, Mayor Marks – in a narcissistic pique of power – had a member of the gallery ejected from the meeting for speaking out, then called for a short recess.  When the meeting returned to order, City Attorney Paul Waters recommended a vote be taken on the original motion to terminate Burleson’s contract. 

The motion failed on a 5-2 vote with Mayor Marks and Councilwoman Tiamson apparently failing to grasp the passionate sentiments of their constituents…

In my view, the debacle in Orange City exemplifies the best and worst of municipal government, that local level of our representative democracy closest to “We, The Little People,” and most responsive (we hope) to our needs and input.

Perhaps Mayor Kellianne Marks will learn a valuable lesson from her self-created spectacle, namely that leadership isn’t about slamming gavels, positional power, or haughty honorifics – it is defined by one’s actions and character…

In the aftermath, let’s hope Mayor Marks listens to the will of her constituents and steps aside – taking the sycophantic simpleton Dawn Tiamson with her – and allow this small community to heal from her egotistic power grab and rebuild confidence in community governance.

Fooled Us Again – The Triumphant Return of JetBlue to DAB

In 2018, just three-years after Volusia County economic development types ponied up some $2.3 million in “public incentives” to lure JetBlue to Daytona “International” Airport – area residents were left holding an empty bag when the carrier fled DAB for more lucrative markets by announcing JetBlue was “consolidating underperforming routes.”

Remember?  I do.

To attract the airline to Daytona Beach, Volusia County officials went so far as developing a “travel bank” comprised of local companies – to include Brown & Brown, the former Consolidated-Tomoka Land Company, International Speedway Corporation, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – which were required to spend a quarter-million dollars over two-years with JetBlue in exchange for one flight per day to New York’s JFK.

Add thousands of dollars in marketing support from area advertising authorities, waived fees, and free upgrades to the airline’s gate location at DAB, and it was a surprisingly good deal – for JetBlue anyway…

When JetBlue left us rubes in their jetwash, I cynically called it another “investment” of public funds in a private/for-profit enterprise that never panned out, but that does not seem to dissuade our economic development officials from making the same mistake twice.  

Similar incentives have been used to entice low-cost airlines like Avelo and Breeze – including the ludicrous, unsustainable, and artificial practice of offering a “minimum revenue guarantee” to ensure income for the airlines. 

Is anyone at Volusia County offering your small business a revenue guarantee? 

I didn’t think so…

As a longtime observer of Volusia County governance, I harbor a disturbing theory that our redundant economic development apparatus (and those elected/appointed representatives who ostensibly provide “oversight”) have evolved without a somatic reflex. 

An intricate polysynaptic process of the nervous system that allows normal people to instinctively protect themselves from harmful situations, like quickly withdrawing one’s fingers from a hot stove.   

Typically, those physiological reactions – coupled with the capacity for experiential learning, reflectivity, and discernment – keeps us from making the same detrimental errors in judgement a second time.

Not here.

Today marks the triumphant return of JetBlue to DAB. 

You guessed it – ignoring the lessons of the past, once again, Volusia County lavished the carrier with more financial incentives – a horribly reckless and irresponsible move that left many Volusia County residents I spoke with shaking their heads…  

Last month, the Volusia County Council approved a request by Daytona “International” Airport officials totaling $400,000 for more public incentives.  According to the agenda report:

“The incentives consist of a waiver of all terminal rent fees, landing fees, marketing/advertising support up to $200,000 per market, and inclusion in the annual advertising program ($350,000 approx. value). A transfer of $400,000 from reserves will be executed upon approval of this agenda item to cover the remaining costs of marketing and advertising support.”

The fact is, airlines will consider demand, costs, and competition then locate where they can be competitive, selecting routes based on their profitability, in keeping with the company’s strategic goals. In my view, the fact Volusia County held out another lucrative goody bag to “lure” JetBlue back to this Hooterville market simply proves the old idiom, “A fool and our money are soon parted.”  

I often speculate if those economic development shills who gamble fast and loose with public assets would be so quick to shower the same “incentives” – on a carrier who gave them the slip seven years before – if they were playing with their own money?

In my view, every aspect of Volusia County government – including enterprise funds and previous corporate welfare giveaways – are in desperate need of a thorough independent audit. 

Once the facts are exposed, anyone who willingly ignored the lessons of history and pissed good money after bad should be terminated, prosecuted, or both. 

Despite what we are told, repeating a fiscal mistake with public funds – time after time – isn’t normal, logical, or ethical – it is the textbook definition of insanity…  

Quote of the Week!

“Just weeks after New Smyrna Beach voters killed a plan to extend the mayor’s term length from two to four years, the 2026 race for the job is taking shape.

Incumbent Mayor Fred Cleveland was already in, having filed for re-election in September. A second candidate, little-known James Curtis Taylor, had also filed a year earlier. Now Lisa Martin, the incumbent Zone 2 city councilwoman, is stepping forward.

Martin and Cleveland have been on opposite ends of key votes, including the approval of Deering Park Innovation Center, a massive multipurpose development with homes, businesses and green spaces on the southwest side of the Interstate 95-State Road 44 interchange.

Cleveland, 67, and Martin, 75, were first elected to the City Commission in 2022, inheriting a city that had suffered widespread flooding during a devastating storm, Ian. Days after the election, another hurricane, Nicole, added a double dose of destruction.

A key issue for the election will be how to handle the pace of development and its impacts on the city’s quality of life, not just Deering Park, but the impact of previous developments, such as Venetian Bay and Coastal Woods, all to the west of what Cleveland dubs “Old Town” New Smyrna Beach.”

–Reporter Mark Harper, writing in The Daytona Beach News-Journal, “Incumbent commissioner enters New Smyrna Beach mayoral race,” Friday, November 28, 2025

In the view of many residents of the once quaint community of New Smyrna Beach, the reign of Mayor Fred Cleveland has been a disaster. 

Literally.

After extensive flooding left existing NSB homes and businesses inundated, Mayor Cleveland and the City Commission undertook a dubious stormwater study that many believe was tailored to tell them exactly what they wanted to hear while concerned citizens were left shaking their heads.

According to Mayor Cleveland, the analysis determined new development at the waterlogged Venetian Bay and the massive Coastal Woods “…had no impact on the flooding that occurred in other areas of the city…”  

Sure…whatever you say, Fred…

In September, a frightened New Smyrna Beach City Commission voted 3-2 to opt out of a statewide lawsuit attempting to repeal Senate Bill 180 and preserve municipal growth management regulations and home rule authority for local governments. 

The vote was based in part on Mayor Cleveland’s handwringing regarding serious repercussions from those very legislators we sent to represent our interests in Tallahassee…

At the time, Mayor Cleveland clutched his blankie tight and mewled, “I don’t want us to be on the blacklist of those that get punished, one way or another, under the radar.  A majority of our county commissioners have said to me we will get punished (if the city joined the lawsuit). And it’s not right, I don’t like it, but it’s human nature … I’m concerned about a suit being our first best step.”

Really?

In spinelessly slinking away from the biggest fight for local control in state history, Cleveland confirmed that any community who dares stand against the devastating effects of overdevelopment will be silenced by base thuggery, threats, and intimidation.  Something the majority of our state legislative delegation are going to have to answer for at the ballot box next year…

Then, New Smyrna Beach residents watched as the cheese slipped off Fred’s cracker when he openly called for using the iron boot of government to police their right to free expression on the ‘everyman’s soapbox’ of social media.

You read that right.

During a public meeting last month, the hypersensitive Fred “Fraidy Cat” Cleveland fumed over social media posts he found offensive, which resulted in City Attorney Carrie Avallone sending a letter on official letterhead to Volusia County Council District 3 candidate Bryon White – an outspoken opponent of overdevelopment and its effects on our natural places – demanding that he “correct or remove” statements critical of NSB officials from social media.

You read that right, too.

In my view it was a gross abuse of power and a heavy-handed attempt to silence a political critic using city resources.

That’s frightening.

During his rambling diatribe against anyone who expresses a viewpoint different from those espoused by the NSB spinmeisters – Mayor Cleveland ominously asked if one of the city’s thought police in the “public information” department could “monitor” the social media posts of residents and “set the record straight” with anyone who “berates” city officials or tries to “further an agenda.”

In my view, Mayor Cleveland’s rampant paranoia and willingness to censor critics at public expense is just one reason New Smyrna Beach residents approved only two of the seven city charter amendments during last month’s election. 

That included righteously rejecting extending the mayor’s term from two to four years and increasing the salaries of the mayor and city commissioners.

It is time for the voters of “Old Town” New Smyrna Beach to send Fred Cleveland packing – before he ramrods more westward expansion while crushing citizen opposition – a dangerous combination tailored to meet the mercenary wants of real estate developers, not the needs of residents in this once quaint slice of what made Florida special… 

And Another Thing!

I’m an infernal realist. 

Not by choice.  I would love nothing more than to run with the flock, shove my head in the sand, and live in the fantasy of a cotton candy world, as Harry McClintock said, “…with lemonade springs where the bluebird sings in the Big Rock Candy Mountains…”

Unfortunately, I’ve been fated to see the harsh reality of things as they are – warts and all – through a Gin-soaked haze…

As a result, I’m rarely moved by party politics or faux passion, destined to instinctively recognize politically choreographed outcomes by connecting historic lessons (that others have conveniently forgotten) with current events.

Do that long enough and you learn that leopards and politicians don’t change their spots… 

After all these years I still cling to the old-fashioned notion that good citizens who contribute to our society, struggle to make a living in this artificial economy, pay increasingly onerous taxes and fees, work hard to raise and educate their families and follow the rules, form the backbone of our community – and they deserve better from those who have been elected to represent their interests.

When it comes to politics, I am a true No Party Affiliate, with moderate, even apolitical, views on most issues.  As a result, I rarely involve myself in the terrible divisiveness of the national battle for partisan dominance, which has now devolved to savage retaliation and a seething need for vengeance on both sides of the aisle.

That probably sounds odd coming from someone who churns out a weekly political opinion blog, but, as you may have noticed, my screeds tend to take our local politicos (and those who control the rods and strings of governance) to the woodshed for their assholery, ineptitude, and petty posturing – not party politics.

That’s not going to change.

Besides, Volusia County and its various political subdivisions provide ample fodder for community discussion – and oceanic room for improvement…

Why is that?

In my view, for decades, the “Fun Coast” has been controlled by a weird oligarchy of uber-wealthy political donors seeking to control their environment.  An exclusive club which exists to serve itself – and the egocentric nature of their shadowy rule has forever disfigured Volusia County – now considered the ugly stepsister of Central Florida. 

A place best avoided, generally sidestepped by the real players in the region, who treat us like something they don’t want to step in…

Look, don’t take my word for it.

Just review any substantive local issue over the last decade or so – from the poorly planned albatross of SunRail, to the gross suburban sprawl that now blankets our region, widespread development-induced flooding, the corporate welfare and cronyism that allows deep pocketed local governments to pick winners and losers in the marketplace, our water quality and the pending implementation of toilet-to-tap, the environmental carnage inherent to overdevelopment, the lack of affordable housing, outdated transportation infrastructure, stressed public utilities, the blight and dilapidation that commercially handicaps our core tourist area, etc. – and you will find the same institutional and systematic fingerprints.

Be honest.  Have you seen any fundamental improvement over the past four-years?

I’m not talking about what we are told to think by solipsistic elected officials – or the fictional depictions of some canned video at the State of the County Address – but the true status of our civic condition as evidenced by the tangible realities you experience in your daily life and observe with your own eyes.

In less than a month, a new year – and a fresh election season – will be upon us. 

In addition to various municipal elections, in 2026, four Volusia County Council seats – At-large, District 1, District 3, and District 5, and Volusia County School Board Districts 1,3,5 – will be on the ballot.

Folks, it truly is time for substantive change. 

That begins with finding quality candidates for public office then supporting them – politically and financially – so we have a fighting chance to stop the pernicious cycle that has dominated Volusia County for far too long.

A competent choice beyond reelecting political retreads with a history of service to development interests – or those perennial politicians busy climbing the chairs to higher office.  They’re easy to spot, congenital liars earmarked by their preternatural ability to tell you exactly what they think you want to hear – then completely ignore you and your neighbors – staring down like a stone gargoyle from the dais of power whenever you attempt to participate in your local government…

Considering that modern political campaigns in Volusia County have taken on the appearance of a blood-soaked knife fight – an exercise in assured personal and professional destruction – marked by ad hominem attacks based on outright lies, carefully designed to besmirch an opponent’s character and reputation, well-placed rumors that muddy the waters, and manufactured tittle-tattles that cast doubt and deflect attention from the myriad issues we face.

Make no mistake, win or lose, wading into that fetid shitpit is going to leave a mark. 

It isn’t for everyone… 

Because the decisions of local elected officials have such a significant impact on our lives and livelihoods, I find it unfortunate that we have a large number of voters who simply accept the status quo, buying into the false promises of those candidates with enough cold cash in their war chest to get their message – as crafted by their political overseers – in front of the masses with enough frequency and flash to sway opinions.

Someone once wrote that excellence honors passion and noble purpose demands high standards – anything less results in disillusionment and drains enthusiasm.  In Volusia County politics and governance, excellence and high standards are in short supply…

Cowards hide their agenda, misrepresent, make self-protective decisions, obfuscate, deflect, and place blame.  Real leadership leans-in, commits willingly, admits mistakes, holds firm to core principles, demands transparency from the bureaucracy, and makes purpose-driven decisions – leaders reach high, accept responsibility, and inspire confidence by their personal example.

Any of that sound remotely familiar to you here on Florida’s Fun Coast?

I didn’t think so…

With that in mind, there is no reason someone like District 5 Volusia County Councilman David “No Show” Santiago – who, in my view, represents the worst of the worst of self-serving political hacks – should be running unopposed in an area encompassing The Lost City of Deltona – that raging political dumpster fire that is the largest city by population in the region.

Fortunately, a few good candidates have already thrown their hats in the ring in several districts – and I understand others are considering a run for office next year – solid citizens who want something more for their family and yours than business as usual.

If you have that ‘fire in the belly’ to serve, I encourage you to consider stepping into the fray and communicate with your neighbors how you will return honor, integrity, and the public’s trust to local governance. 

It’s important.

That’s all for me.  Have a great weekend, y’all!   

Note to Readers:

I hope to see everyone in the beautiful City of Holly Hill this weekend as the community kicks off its traditional holiday celebrations!

Tomorrow beginning at 6:00pm, enjoy an evening filled with holiday cheer, festive performances, and a special visit from Santa Claus on the front steps of historic Holly Hill City Hall!

Bring the whole family and help usher in the Holiday Season as we light up the community Christmas tree together. This beloved event is free and open to all!

On Saturday morning at 10:00am, the 66^th Annual Holly Hill Christmas Parade rolls along its new route – travelling west along Second Street to Ridgewood Avenue – then north to LPGA Boulevard.   

Come join us! 

It’s a true smalltown slice of Americana and one of “The City with a Heart’s” most cherished traditions… 

Hope to see you there!