Local News Now

ORLANDO -- It's pretty much a given that when the 61st annual NBA All-Star game is played here at the Amway Arena, Dwight Howard will be the starting center. But he may not be alone.

Three other Magic players are on the All-Star ballot: Point guard Jameer Nelson, shooting guard Jason Richardson and small forward Hedo Turkoglu. Richardson has had a phenomenal start in the early going of this contracted season following the lockout, but Howard is clearly the star attraction not only on the Magic squad, but the league as a whole.

All eyes will be on the four-time All-Star with the likely trade talk swirling gain as the NBA's best come to town with the likes of LeBron James of the Miami Heat, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers.

The last time Orlando hosted the All-Star game was 1992, with Magic Johnson's return to the NBA after his shocking announcement that he had contracted the HIV virus. Johnson won the game's most valuable player award.

Highlights of the Feb. 9, 1992, game were shown Wednesday as the Magic and the league joined in announcing the start of balloting for the All-Star Game. Magic Johnson led the West to a 153-113 blowout over the Eastern Conference all stars.

Howard said he's pumped about the game: "It is special having it here. We've been talking about this for the last couple of years and how we were going to make this game very exciting and good for our city... We're looking forward to putting on a good show for Orlando.''

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is in the driver's seat early in the 2012 campaign toward the GOP nomination after his narrow victory in Iowa as Florida Republicans await their chance to vote in the Jan. 31 primary.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A win is a win, even by eight votes and Mitt Romney, dubbed the "Massachusetts Moderate" by former House speaker Newt Gingrich, kept his front runner status over upstart upstart Rick Santorum in the Iowa caucus.

Gingrich is holding out hope is past associations with President Regan back in the 80s will jump start his Conservative label with GOP voters who are of the opinion that Romney represents the best hope of Keeping President Obama from another four years in the White House.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The Counseling Center of New Smyrna Beach Florida welcomes the newest member of its team of expert clinicians, Anthony Capozzi, MD.

Dr. Capozzi will begin seeing patients this month. He is a board certified psychiatrist with 22 years experience in behavioral health treating adults and adolescents.

EDGEWATER -- Our teens, as bright, quick witted, and cheek-pinching loveable they are, are truly not qualified to talk back. Qualification stems from years of learning and experience on your part as a parent and former teenager.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The party was on Flagler Avenue, complete with fireworks and plenty of public drinking, to ring in the new year and your tax dollars -- $13,250 -- helped pay for it.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Norwood's Restaurant & Wine Shop, just east of the South Causeway Bridge, is going to the dogs, literally on Saturday morning, Jan. 21, with a series of events for dog lovers with proceeds to benefit the Southeast Volusia Humane Society.

The featured events are a Go Dog Go "5K Run," a "1/2 mile Dog Dash," and a "1/2-mile Pet Walk." Here is a link with information on the fundraiser: http://www.racesmith.com/races/GoDogGo5K.html.

Participants will start and end the race at Norwood’s, following a safe, scenic course through the New Smyrna beachside. Runners may run with dogs and will be asked to start at the end of the pack and keep to the right while on the course.

Here are the entry fees: 5K - $20 preregistered, $25 day of race; 1/2 Mile Dog Dash - $15 preregistered, $20 day of race; 1/2 Mile Pet Walk - $15 preregistered, $20 day of race.

Packet pickup for early registrants: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20, at the Southeast Volusia Humane Society, 1200 S. Glencoe Rd., New Smyrna Beach. The packet pick up/registration is also available 7 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, the morning of the events.

Awards for 5K Run will be given out immediately after the event. Awards for the ½ mile Dog Dash and 1/2 mile Pet Walk will be given out after the pet walk ends. All 5K Run pre-registered participants will be guaranteed a Runner’s shirt and goodie bag. All ½ Mile Dog Dash and ½ Mile Pet Walk participants will be guaranteed a T-shirt and goodie bag.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH – InterContinental Hotels Group, the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms, is proud to announce that Holiday Inn is ranked highest in guest satisfaction among mid-scale full service hotel chains, according to J.D. Power and Associates 2011 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study.

As one of the brand’s 808 hotels in the America the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites New Smyrna Beach contributes to the brand’s overall success by providing a consistent and welcoming experience for each and every guest.