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Mainland High School football coach John Maronto resigns; two days after release of video alleging solicitation of sex with an undercover cop posing as a prostitute

The video and audio evidence against Mainland High School football Coach John Maronto released Monday by the State Attorney's Office leads to Volusia County's winningest coach stepping down today, though his criminal defense attorneys maintain his innocence. Maronto was scheduled to take his Mainland squad in two weeks to play at New Smyrna Beach against his former team, the Barracudas. He was New Smyrna Beach's coach in the mid 1990s.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Mainland High School football coach John Maronto abruptly resigned today, two days after release of a Daytona Beach police surveillance video by the State Attorney's Office that accuses him of soliciting sex from an undercover Daytona Beach female cop posing as a prostitute during the Labor Day weekend.

Chamber of Commerce networking and seminars a conduit to help businesses grow

Newspaper Section

Samantha Bishop, interim director of the Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce, will write a weekly blog for NSBNEWS.net on the relevant issues of business and commerce in the cities of New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater and Oak Hill, and the chamber's efforts to encourage and enhance economic development and vitality for the betterment of businesses and the public. Her blog is called "Chamber Change." Here is the first installment:

The past week has been filled with two very helpful business seminars. As you know the Chamber is the resource to help businesses network so they can grow their business and we are also the conduit to push economic development. Economic Development doesn’t just mean bringing in new business but includes helping our existing businesses stay competitive and thrive.

Fall Festival to benefit Samsula Academy slated for Sept. 25 at SNPJ LODGE

SAMSULA -- School supporters and parents are organizing the third annual Fall Festival Fundraiser to benefit Samsula Academy. The event, hosted at SNPJ Lodge, 421 N. Samsula Drive is slated to begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Festivities include music, game booths and food.

Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas endorsed by National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare

Video and photos by Multimedia Editor Sera Frederick.

Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas returns home Monday from Washington D.C. to announce to a jubilant crowd of supporters in New Smyrna Beach's Memorial Park that she has received a major endorsement from the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. See our exclusive coverage in the video above and story and photos below.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas didn't pull any punches in pledging to continue fighting for to strengthen and protect Social Security and Medicare as she accepted the endorsement Monday from the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.

Native son and restaurant entrepreneur Chad Schilsky newest member of New Smyrna Beach's CRA

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Chad Schilsky has the boyish look like he could step back on the field and quarterback the 'Cudas. But at 26, this native son is all grown up and an entrepreneur with a restaurant that has proven popular 13 months after opening, even in this sluggish economy.

State Attorney's Office releases audio and video evidence in support of Daytona Beach P.D.'s prostitution arrest of Mainland H.S. football coach John Maronto; a former head coach at NSB High

The State Attorney's Office released its video and audio evidence against embattled Mainland High School football coach John Maronto to the media after NSBNEWS.net and other news organizations sought the digital evidence under Florida's freedom of information statutes. Maronto, 68, of Daytona Beach Shores, was arrested by Daytona Beach police two weekends ago during an undercover prostitution sting on the beachside. Maronto, the winningest football coach in Volusia County, held that position for New Smyrna Beach High in the mid 1990s. He's been allowed to continue coaching and teaching a gym class by Volusia County School District Superintendent Margaret Smith despite the misdemeanor arrest that has drawn widespread media coverage. After the 2 p.m. release of the electronic evidence, school district spokeswoman Nancy Wait said school officials were waiting for release of the video as well and would reassess the stuation.

DAYTONA BEACH -- In a frainy DVD video and accompanying audio, embattled Mainland High School football coach John Maronto is heard telling an undercover female cop he believes is a prostitute that he's "married," though it's his night out and he's looking for "sex" and willing to pay "fifty" for it, even asking the woman to get in his car.

NSB Wine Tasting on Flagler Avenue toast of the town at Clancy's and That's Amore

Video and photo by Sera Frederick.

Spirits were lifted by the taste of fine wines during Saturday's Wine Tasting event on Flagler Avenue, including Clancy's Cantina where Kathleen Hughes, at left, was having a good time. The wine tasting was just as popular at the That's Amore restaurant on nearby Pine Street. At these eateries and several other participating establishments, patrons  bought wine glasses at nominal prices and various ticket amounts for refills.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Kathleen Hughes knows a good wine when she sees it, but the true test is in the taste.

Strike up the band: Cudas sport new uniforms at Friday's home opener

Newspaper Section

Video by Multimedia Editor Sera Frederick. The New Smyrna Beach Cudas marching band looked sharper than ever Friday at the NSB sports complex and with good reason, thanks to shiny new uniforms.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Strike up the band. The 55-member Cudas marching band looked and sounded real sharp Friday night, especially at halftime of the football game, with 12 color guards led by senior drum major Kaitlin Hearn.

Cudas football coach Lance Jenkins NSB loss in home opener: 'They took us to the woodshed'

Newspaper Section

Video by Multimedia Editor Sera Frederick

New Smyrna Beach lost its first game of the season in its home opener Friday, 21-12 to Deltona to fall to 2-1 on the season with Cudas head coach Lance Jenkins saying his team was outcoached.

Photo by Sera Frederick

The Deltona Wolves were strong in the trenches, easily getting to the 'Cudas backfield on several key plays that led to scoring on turnovers.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The Cudas scored on the opening kickoff of the game with running Raheem Mostert sprinting 94 yards to put the Cudas up 6-0. But it was the power runs of Deltona fullback Josh Dagley who ran in three touchdowns and a stellar defense by the visiting team en route to a 21-12 loss at the NSB Sports Complex before a packed house.