Help our restaurants survive

Like a bad dream, IT seemingly came from out of nowhere. Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, an import from China that escaped the tariffs, suddenly appeared.

As is often said, “Sunshine is the best disinfectant.”

After talking with my family, I realized that we are understanding the COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of our previous traumatic experiences.

Can somebody on the left side of the political barbed-wire fence tell me how Democrats can, with a straight face, lay claim to being the party of diversity? I’m just curious. Do any of them notice how their selection process has played out? Their media partners act as if all is well. And I’m…

The United States is about to be forced to learn some very hard and painful lessons involving our health care and economic systems. We are woefully unprepared for them, and at their core is the man we have in charge.

You and I, and all other Florida taxpayers, are being ripped off every day. Our tax dollars — money we provide to help care for our state’s ailing poor — are being siphoned out of the Medicaid program and into the pockets of predatory entities that, ironically, were created to save us money.

Reader appreciates Michael Braddock’s ‘West Volusia Memories’

I would like to thank reporter Eli Witek for the recent article about the “Water Quality Issues” meeting hosted by the DeLeon Springs Community Association Inc. Feb. 24.

Recently, a student asked me a simple question: “I’d love to know your thoughts about how you think Brexit is going to affect the United States.”

In the post-World War II era, the Republican Party was often in exile from Congress for causing the Great Depression. Fighting went on for control of the party between the Wall Street money folks and the crazies of the John Birch Society wing of the party.

County Chairman Kelley has somewhat figured out that the sales-tax referendum went down in flames because few people trust the county. Of course it was not his fault. Everyone else screwed up. No one trusted the county or its past messages, so they are planning a new campaign with a familiar…

Why are Florida Republicans in Congress silent about treatment of Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman?

In my constant effort to bring a dose of reality to The Beacon, I thought I’d dispel a myth that seems to be traveling in certain political circles. That would be the idea that this political game between the deranged left and President Donald Trump and his supporters is going to be close in…

Don’t trust imperfect police with license-tag readers

This column is for supporters of this president.

It took long enough. The Deltona City Commission voted to give away about $2.5 million in taxpayer money, without even knowing which panhandler wanted it. They went for the usual promise of jobs, though, in fairness, they did not get a promise of good jobs.

Much has been written recently about Jane Shang, Deltona’s former city manager. Remember, there are always two sides to every story, and the truth lies in the middle. Ms. Shang is not perfect, but she is also not the evil and unethical person characterized by the press.

Thanks to a beautiful community

I am massively conflicted about Michael Bloomberg’s attempt to buy the Democratic nomination and the presidency. The only reason to support him is also the main reason I detest what he is doing, his bankroll.

The following is an open letter to President Donald Trump.

At the end of the Senate hearings on the articles of impeachment, Republican senators took exception to U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff quoting a White House staffer saying the president would have the “head on a pike” of anyone who crossed him in the process. Someone should, today, ask U.S. Sen. Mitt…

One of my favorite Beacon readers asked me a question that couldn’t be sidestepped. It came from a Democrat who isn’t some crazy left-wing nut. She’s actually a moderate who is pro-life.

Another sideswipe at the public’s right to know is making its way through the Florida Legislature. It won a key committee vote in the House last week, and a companion bill is due for a hearing today by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

When you are Downtown, you can look into the shop windows. It is often hard to resist. You look in and see what they are doing or promoting. Maybe you need some, so you stop in. Merchants tend to show off their goods, which is why we have so many glass windows along the Boulevard.

I recently attended a training on the science of implicit bias and its effects on police work.

BY NICKI JUNKINS

Central to a democracy are fair elections — elections that were not always fair, as we know. The Constitution had to be perfected to allow blacks and women to vote, because the vote was originally limited to white men who were trusted to own or dominate the rest of us.

While many of you are fixated on the televised impeachment of President Donald Trump, I’m focused on something far more important: Trump’s opponent in the November election.

BY THE FAITH COALITION

I remember the old days. At this point, that covers a lot of ground, but bear with me. If you needed the cops, but it was not an emergency, you phoned the station and spoke to the desk sergeant.

Kobe Bryant, his daughter, Gianna Bryant, and seven others died in a helicopter crash Jan. 26 in Calabasas, California. Beacon photographer Marsha McLaughlin drew this cartoon in remembrance.

Consciousness of guilt. It permeates every aspect of this administration’s and Republicans’ in Congress response to the House of Representatives’ investigation into, and impeachment for, the criminal activities of this president.

I really hope my Democrat friends didn’t get their hopes up and aren’t feeling confident.

There are a lot of phone scammers out there. Unfortunately, the variety is limited. That means that I hear the same promotions over and over again.

This is not a black-and-white world. It only seems that way in our polarized society. I am not white; more a blend of pink and beige, with a few brown spots thrown in, but when given a choice on census or other government forms, the only one I can legally and honestly check is white.

SunRail to DeLand would take cars off the road

Is our drinking water being polluted?

It’s been more than a week since Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani was assassinated. The only thing that has been made clear in the aftermath is the total dysfunction of the American national-security apparatus.

It does not usually snow here in Central Florida. However, we still get our share of snowflakes. For instance, consider Cayla Bartolucci, a former Texan now working for the very, very delicate city government of New Smyrna Beach.

Healing our polarization will require civil conversation

The sign, and the spiel, says “Stop legislature from changing amendment without voter approval.”

As 2020 begins, I’d like to thank my friends on the left for a fantastic year. History was made on Dec. 18. And I watched the festivities to the bitter end.

“Remember that I predicted a long time ago that President Obama will attack Iran because of his inability to negotiate properly–not skilled!” Just one of numerous tweets from our president accusing his predecessor of what he himself is guilty of.

Amazing! It has been more than a decade since I last wrote about the City of DeLand and its desire to eliminate old-fashioned business signs. During that time, attrition and hurricanes have acted to eliminate most of the remaining problem signs. Unfortunately, no such luck with the “temporar…

Eli’s picks: The seen, the unseen, and the seen again