Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune statue arrives in Daytona Beach

The marble statue of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune arrived safely in downtown Daytona Beach Wednesday. The statue will be on temporary display at the News-Journal Center, 221 N. Beach Street, prior to being transported to Washington D.C. for its permanent placement in the U.S. Capitol. It will be unveiled to the public next week. For more information, visit www.mmbstatue.org.

Pictured: Master sculptor Nilda Comas celebrates the safe arrival of the 11-foot tall, three-ton marble statue of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. Inset photo is the marble Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune statue.

Go Wildcats! Homecoming parade and traffic details

Bethune-Cookman University will celebrate homecoming activities Saturday starting with a parade at 9 a.m. and culminating when the B-CU Wildcats host the Delta Devils of Mississippi Valley State in a SWAC conference game at Daytona Stadium at 4 p.m.

Parade Details
Beginning at 9 a.m. from the rear of the Daytona Mall, parade participants will travel east on Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd. to the practice field on B-CU’s campus. The following intersections will be closed to all traffic during the parade: Nova Road/MMB, Lincoln Street/MMB and Dr. MLK Blvd. Detours will be in place.

Football Game Details
Daytona Beach Police Department will provide traffic control on West International Speedway Blvd. and LPGA Blvd. before and after the game, which kicks off at 4 p.m. Inbound traffic is expected to begin immediately following the parade and be heavy from about noon to 4 p.m.

Once the parking lots at Daytona Stadium are full, traffic will be redirected to Father Lopez Catholic High School. Pedestrian crosswalks will be in place. One-way traffic patterns will NOT be in effect on LPGA Blvd. Drivers should expect significant delays until they pass Daytona Stadium. Motorists not attending the events are strongly encouraged to use alternate routes to avoid traffic delays.

Wine Walk in Downtown Daytona Beach Saturday

Head to beautiful downtown Daytona Beach this Saturday for the October Wine Walk. Participants can sip, sample and socialize from 1 to 5 p.m. strolling through unique shops and enjoying live music while sampling fine red and white wines served by participating merchants.

The event will have two check-in points (one on North Beach Street and one on South Beach Street) where attendees will receive their Wine Walk Passport, wine glass and beverage tickets. Plenty of free parking is available behind the shops.

Advance tickets are $25 per person and can be purchased online through 11:30 p.m. Friday. Tickets will also be available the day of event at registration points for $30 per person until they sell out.

Future Wine Walks are planned for Nov. 20 and Dec. 11. For more information, visit www.RiverfrontShopsofDaytona.com.

Walk to a Park Day is Sunday

Residents are invited to celebrate National Walk to a Park Day and World Mental Health Day Sunday, Oct. 10. The city is committed to providing amenities and natural green spaces for residents and visitors of all ages to enjoy. Parks are essential for supporting mental health and wellbeing. That’s why the city has joined the 10-minute walk initiative, which seeks to ensure that residents have access to a quality park within a 10-minute walk from their home, and encourages residents to visit their local park Oct. 10. To find a city park near you, visit www.codb.us/Parks.

When you walk to a park Oct. 10, make sure to take a photo and send it to communications@codb.us. We will be compiling photos and posting them on the city’s social media the week of Oct. 11. We also encourage residents to use #WalkToAParkDay and #WorldMentalHealthDay and tag #CityDaytonaBeach on social media.

Household Hazardous Waste Day is Nov. 6

Start cleaning the garage! There will be a free household hazardous waste disposal event for Daytona Beach residents from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6, at the city’s Public Works Facility located at 950 Bellevue Ave.

Items that will be accepted, but not limited to, include paint and paint thinners, solvents, pesticides, fertilizers, household chemicals, batteries, pool chemicals, anti-freeze, car wax, light bulbs, motor oil and propane tanks. Because of their potential to contaminate the environment or water supply, these types of materials should never be included with regular household garbage. Improper disposal may lead to surface and groundwater contamination. In addition, improperly stored chemicals can be a fire hazard and may endanger children and household pets. The city will ensure the collected materials are disposed of properly.

Materials not accepted are fuel, gas cans, tires or lawn equipment (mowers, trimmers or gas-powered yard maintenance items).

Daytona Beach residents will be asked to provide proof of residency. Commercial hazardous waste will not be accepted.

For questions about the drop-off event, contact Sandra Van Cleef at (386) 671-8670 or VanCleefSandra@codb.us.