- December 31, 2025
Jan. 9: Volusia County Council Chair Jeff Brower takes his oath of office as his wife looks on. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Jan. 10: Ormond Memorial Art Museum Executive Director Stephanie Mason-Teague and board member Dr. Philip Shapiro hold a poster of "Starry Night over the Halifax" by Sherrill Schoening at the 35th annual Starry, Starry Night gallery walk. Photo by Michele Meyers
Jan. 20: Aiden Bond, with Experience Creative Arts Ministry, performs in the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration event at the South Ormond Neighborhood Center on Monday, Jan. 20. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Jan. 23: Erick Palacios is sworn in as 2025 chairman of the Ormond Beach Chamber of Commerce. Photo by Brian McMillan
Jan. 24: Ethan Wilson Firefighter of the Year R.L. Durham (right) poses with his fiancee (left) and Ethan Wilson's family, Ashley and Coast Wilson during OBFD's first awards ceremony. Photo courtesy of Pauline Dulang/city of Ormond Beach
Feb. 1: Joe Vandenberg, of South Daytona, is a teacher at Spruce Creek High School. He competed in the chalk art competition at the 2025 Granada Grand Festival of the Arts. Photo by Brian McMillan
Feb. 3: Ormond Beach Police Lt. Tom Larsen holds one of the puppies found in a trailer at the Econo Lodge. A total of 17 dogs were rescued. Photo courtesy of Pauline Dulang/Ormond Beach Police Department
Feb. 15: Mindy Ash holds Bubba, a Great Horned owl; Lisa Necrason holds Jet, an American Kestrel; and Bob Kellog holds Einstein, an Eastern Screech owl during the Great Backyard Bird Count event at the Ormond Beach Environmental Discovery Center. Photo by Connor McCarthy
Feb. 24: Sisters Judy Makela and Carol Magill Woodard are reunited with the remains of their brother, a World War II sailor who died during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Feb. 27: The Mainland High School dance ensemble performs during the district's first State of Our Schools address. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
March 3: Tomoka Christian Church celebrates the groundbreaking for the new Tomoka Care Facility. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
March 13: Artists Thays França and Teri Althouse work on their mural at Art Spotlight. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
March 25: St. Brendan Catholic School students (back) Lina Quattrocelli, Isabelle Yablonski, (front) Alaina Truesdale, Gianna Capri and Emma Weingart collect teddy bears for Kada's Promise. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
March 29: The Ormond Beach Police Explorers hold their first awards ceremony. Pictured are Dawson Taylor, Jordyn Queen, Lilyan Shields, Abigail Queen, Emily Garcia, Diane Lancaster, Elijah Daly and Kipton Brown. Photo courtesy of the Ormond Beach Police Department/Pauline Dulang
March 29: Ormond Beach Mayor Jason Leslie was present at the South Ormond Neighborhood Center to help launch this year's Mayor's Health and Fitness Challenge. Photo by Connor McCarthy
April 4: Ocean Center Director Lynn Flanders speaks during the news conference celebrating the Ocean Center's 40th anniversary. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
April 12-13: Highland Games athlete Jeffrey Kean competes in the men's advanced division at the 14th annual Ormond Beach Celtic Festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
April 19: Emma Craik and Renee Scotty jump over the finish line of the Ormond Beach Police Athletic League's Donut Dash 5K at the Trails Shopping Center. Photo by Michele Meyers
April 26: Cultuvue opens its exhibit at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center. Pictured are the husband-and-wife duo behind Cultuvue: LaToya Carey, president of the nonprofit, and James Carey, photographer and artist. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
May 3: Ormond Beach Police Sgt. Jay Brennan (center) holds the torch as he stands next to Carson Fraiser, who finished first in Ormond Beach Police's Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Florida. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
May 3-4: Jamie Miceli paints an ocean wave during the 51st annual Art in the Park. Photo by Connor McCarthy
May 13: Ormond Brewing Company celebrates winning Ormond Burger Week 2025 alongside the Ormond Burger Week committee and Provision Packs Founder Carrie Torres. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
May 8: Seabreeze students Chloe Sebastian, Madison Heard, art teacher Christine Colby, school district visual art specialist Bryce Hammond, student Ellie Pleier, art teachers Kasondra Price and Paul Shuler, and student Kayla Ernest during the opening reception of the Seabreeze High School Tradewinds art show. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
May 16: Team Candy Crushers drivers Gianna Tolko and Alexis Watson hand out candy as they cruise in the parade at the Pathways Elementary's 20th annual "Most Spectacular Awe Inspiring Derby." Photo by Michele Meyers
May 26: Everett Sargent lays a flower down in honor of fallen service members during the Ormond Beach Memorial Day Remembrance Service. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
May 30: Mainland students hold candles up after principal Melissa Fraine tells them to be the light after they graduate and step into the world. A total of 365 Buccaneers graduated at the Ocean Center on Friday, May 30. Photo by Michele Meyers
May 30: Seabreeze teacher Tanya Wilhelm (second from left) gets hugs from her students before the graduation ceremony at the Ocean Center on Friday, May 30. A total of 345 seniors graduated. Photo by Michele Meyers
June 2: Jim Sawgrass speaks to campers about arrows and how Native Americans used them for hunting during the Ormond Beach Historical Society's second annual summer camp. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
June 6: Pace Center board member Sarah Truhlar, graduates Alexis Williams, Jordan Stoner, Gabriel Crowell, Ta'Tyana Hampton and Zoe Ryan, and board member Charlena Kowatch celebrate the girls' graduation. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
June 14: Festival volunteer Barbara Bonarrigo carries a German flag which represents her home country at the International Day Festival at Rockefeller Gardens. Photo by Michele Meyers
June 20: Tomoka Christian Church Executive Pastor Cord Bear performs the ceremony for Nancy Mehler and George White during the church's free annual wedding event. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
June 21: Kailei Renick dances at the "Saturday Night Fever" Father Daughter Dance at The Casements. Photo by Michele Meyers
July 4: Ormond Beach Mayor Jason Leslie (third from left), City Commissioner Kristin Deaton (center), City Commissioner Travis Sargent (third from right), family and friends start the annual fireworks show over the Halifax River. Photo by Suzanne McCarthy
July 12: "Peter Pan and The Hook" opens at the Daytona Playhouse. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
July 19: Emma Ceku and Rebecca Collins, employees at Fern & Fable bookstore, with Mr. and Mrs. Claus during Ormond MainStreet's eighth annual Christmas in July event. Photo by Alexis Miller
July 26: New World School of the Arts - Miami Dade College students Aria Reiter (right) and Luciano Olivieri (left) pose for the sketch artists during the "Timeless Gestures" event held at the Southeast Museum of Photography. Photo by Michele Meyers
July 30: City Commissioner Lori Tolland, Ormond Beach Chamber President Debbie Cotton, Volusia County Councilman Troy Kent cut the ribbbon on the new Cassen Park. Photo by Brian McMillan
Aug. 2: Artist Annye Docherty paints live during the Locals Mix original music competition on the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and Gardens rooftop. Photo by Michele Meyers
Aug. 11: Mainland High School Principal Melissa Fraine and Superintendent Carmen Balgobin celebrate the school's academic successes on the first day of school. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Aug. 15: Ellie Schultz, city recreation leader at the EDC, shows new animal ambassador Dexter to Emily and Aiden Queen, of Ormond Beach. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Aug. 22: Provision Packs Founder Carrie Torres speaks during the 22nd annual Power of the Purse. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Aug. 23: Cancer survivor Corrine Graczewski, of Ormond Beach, is honored during the Coke Zero 400. Pictured with NASCAR Cup Series driver Erik Jones and Steve Graczewski. Courtesy photo
Sept. 6: The Ormond Beach Composite Squadron celebrate the opening of its new cadet training facility. Front row: Maj. Robert K. McFadden, Lt. Col. Joseph B. Wisniewski, Maj. Kristen L. Miller, Staff Master Sgt. Diana L. Browning, Cadet 2nd Lt. Caleb D. Thoma, Mayor Jason Leslie and Cadet Maj. Brenden C. Muessig. Middle row: Commissioner Travis Sargent; Barry Cotton, Central Florida District director for Sen. Rick Scott. Back row: Airport Manager Steven Lichliter and Lt. Col. Larry Spangler. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Sept. 7: Patricia Redman joins the protestors at the entrance of Riverbend Community Church in support of victims who reported abuse by certain leaders of the church. Photo by Michele Meyers
Sept. 12: People walk across Rockefeller Gardens in memory of Charlie Kirk. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Sept. 11: Ormond Beach Capt. Nick Nates, firefighter Braden Hansard and probationary firefighter Jack Reynolds listen to instructions ahead of the 9/11 memorial stair climb. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Sept. 20: Elks Lodge 2193 exalted ruler Joe Brozyna shows the event T-shirt provided by Greg Dorsey (right), owner of Lightning Apparel at the 3rd Annual Ormond Beach Elks Duck Drop. Photo by Michele Meyers
Sept. 25: Mainland Homecoming King and Queen Javon Estes and Aysia Thompson are crowned. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Sept. 27: Sober Cafe performs at the seventh annual Ormond Beach Live music festival. Photo by Michele Meyers
Oct. 3: Seabreeze principal Tucker Harris (center) crowns the new homecoming king Shane Triplett (right) as junior Dallas Cannon (left) assists at the Daytona Stadium. Photo by Michele Meyers
Oct. 6: American Legion Post 267 celebrates its 75th anniversary. Pictured: American Legion Riders Family Head Rob Smithers, Post 267 Commander John Delage, Mayor Jason Leslie, Sons of the American Legion Family Head Mark Olson, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 267 President Toni Elsworth, and Deputy Mayor Lori Tolland. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Oct. 14: Ormond Beach Mayor Jason Leslie speaks during the 2025 State of the City address. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Oc.t 18: Hundreds attend the first 'No Kings' protest in Ormond Beach. Photo by Michele Meyers
Oct. 19: Fugu chef Sam Wong smiles while presenting his food during the 12th annual Taste of Ormond. Photo by Sydney Tevin
Oct. 24: James Caputo and Gavin Kwiatek pose together doing the signature hand motions from the popular "6-7" meme at the annual Realty Pros Assured Community Appreciation Night. Photo by Sydney Tevin
Nov. 6: Marine Corps veteran Jerry Kramer salutes the flag during Ormond Beach's Veterans Day Celebration. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Nov. 8: Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood, with Rabbi Rob Lennick, overseee the distribution of food to Volusia County residents who are on the SNAP program. Photo by Sierra Williams
Nov. 11: Ormond Beach City Commissioner Travis Sargent is presented with an award and challenge coin by Mayor Jason Leslie during OMAM's annual Veterans Day Tribute. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Nov. 14: Tomoka Elementary School students Aaron Dye and Case DeBord play with a non-Newtonian fluid during a STEM outreach event with Embry-Riddle students. Photo by Sierra Williams
Nov. 15-16: The Robert Keele Band performs on stage, at Riverfest, in Ormond Beach. Photo by Sydney Tevin
Nov. 28: People show off their cars during the 67th annual Gaslight Parade on East Granada. Photo by Sydney Tevin
Dec. 1: Susan Hansen helps decorate the Christmas tree inside The Casements for the annual gala event. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Dec. 3: Daytona Dog Beach and Volusia County representatives wave to a drone after cutting the ribbon for the new dog beach in Daytona. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Dec. 5: Six-year-old Beachside Elementary student Cal Staton is overjoyed to see his friend Luke at The Casements Guild's 47th annual Christmas Gala. Photo by Michele Meyers
Dec. 6: Ormond Beach Police Cpl. Carlos Ortiz and Leo Gabaud take part in Shop with a Cop. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Dec. 13: Santa and Mrs. Claus ride in on the winning Abaco Windows float at the 34th annual HOme for the HOlidays parade. Photo by Michele Meyers
What is the foundation of a hometown newspaper?
Looking back on the hundreds of articles published in the Observer in 2025, I'd have to say it's you — the readers whose stories are shared within our pages, who are photographed while attending community events, and whose thoughts are shared weekly in our opinion section. You are the newsmakers, the ones who shape the community and create a sense of place.
From what's happening at City Hall and what's being constructed down the street from your neighborhood, to the community festivals and spotlights of locals helping locals, your stories and actions are what motivate us at the Observer fulfill our mission: To build community spirit and bridges of understanding through accurate and compelling journalism.
As we look back on 2025, and the faces and key moments that defined and inspired our news cycles, I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for your readership, your feedback and your support of local journalism.
We couldn't do it without you. See you in 2026!
