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July 9, 2008
Shelley Szafraniec, APR
Community Information Specialist

THREE COUNTY PROGRAMS RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE BY NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COUNTIES

The National Association of Counties (NACo) is honoring three Volusia County programs - Washback Watchers, Deltona Regional Library’s after-school program for teens, and DeBary Hall Historic Site’s adaptive use restoration - with 2008 Achievement Awards. The three programs will receive the awards, given to unique and innovative county programs, at NACo’s 12th annual awards ceremony in Kansas City, Mo., July 13.

The Washback Watchers program was created in 2003 to survey and recover post-hatchling sea turtles, also known as washbacks. The program is a critical support element to the county’s Sea Turtle Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). The HCP is a requirement of a federal permit issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which outlines the conditions that must be followed to protect listed species and habitat while also allowing beach driving.

Up to 150 active volunteers survey the 36 miles of Volusia County’s beaches and have recovered more than 364 washback sea turtles in recent years. They were an integral part of the effort that was made in 2007 when more than 4,000 total washbacks came ashore in Volusia County. The volunteers are trained to walk into areas that are less frequented by the public and able to recover many sea turtles that otherwise would have perished in the elements.

The Washback Watchers program is unique to Volusia County. In no other county of the United States do washback sea turtles occur in such great numbers. Once rescued, the volunteers are authorized to transport the turtles to the Marine Science Center for care before being released back into the ocean.

The association also honored the Deltona Regional Library’s X-Room, an after-school program designed for, and in cooperation with, teens in self-care, also known as latchkey teens. The program was founded in 2005 to curtail disruptive behaviors by teens and create an environment of support, empowerment and social responsibility. Under staff management, students read, do homework, work on computer projects, make crafts, watch movies or play video games.

DeBary Hall Historic Site received an award for its $888,241 restoration project, which transformed a wooden stable into a facility for public programs, special events and rentals. The stable includes a 1,675-square-foot main room, catering kitchen, small conference room, exhibit room and restrooms. The exhibit room has two wagons, citrus equipment and names plates for the horses that were housed in the stable. Interpretive panels are placed near the exhibits and in front of the stable to educate visitors about the everyday workings and what the stable was used for by the DeBary family. More than 75 percent of the flooring is original and the entire north wall is original.

Completed June 2007, the DeBary Hall stable offers banquet seating for 100 people and theater seating for 150 people. The project was funded with two Volusia County Environmental, Cultural, Historical and Outdoor (ECHO) recreation grants, a Florida Recreational Development Assistance grant and matching dollars from Volusia County’s general fund.

To be eligible for the NACo award program, an organization must offer a new service to county residents or fill in the gaps of existing service and have produced measurable results.

NACo is a full-service organization that provides legislative, research, technical and public affairs assistance to county governments. Created in 1935, NACo continues to ensure that the nation’s 3,066 counties are heard and understood in the White House and Congress. The award program began in 1970.

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