Top 100 Stories

Learn about sea serpents Feb. 18 at DeBary Historic Hall

Scott MarloweDEBARY -- Scott Marlowe, author of “The Cryptid Creatures of Florida,” will discuss sea serpent sightings in Florida at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, at DeBary Hall Historic Site, 201 Sunrise Blvd.

Marlowe is a cryptozoologist - a person who searches for animals whose existence has not been proven - and is known for his efforts to document sightings of bigfoot-like creatures known in Florida as the skunk ape. He has traveled the world for more than 30 years collecting and analyzing accounts of strange animal encounters and legends. He studied at Polk Community College and Rollins College and taught an online course called “Cryptids in Myth, Legend and Folklore” at Florida Keys Community College last fall.

New Smyrna Beach offers free adult classes in February

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Adults can learn about computers, e-readers, gardening and more at the New Smyrna Beach Regional Library this February. Upcoming programs include:

● E-books and e-readers: Wednesday, Feb. 1. Librarian Tobey Mason and Library Assistant Kristin Heifner will show patrons how to use the library’s downloadable media options including Freegal’s free and legal music downloads and Overdrive’s popular audio books and e-books. They will focus on Nooks at 9:30 a.m. and Kindles at 10:30 a.m. Registration is required.

● DVD learning series: 2 p.m. Thursdays, Feb. 2, 9 and 16. During each one-hour session of “Mr. Lincoln: The Life of Abraham Lincoln,” Professor Allen C. Guelzo of Gettysburg College will discuss Lincoln’s life, focusing on the man, his politics, his opposition to slavery, and the gifts that equipped him to lead the nation through the Civil War. Registration is not required. This taped course is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

US Sen. Rubio and Gov. Scott no shows at Romney rally in Ormond Beach

Ann Romney, Pam Bondi, Mitt RomneyNSBNews.net photo by Sera Frederick / Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi introduces Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann, to 2,500 supporters in Ormond Beach on Sunday evening.

ORMOND BEACH -- State Attorney General Pam Bondi was here Sunday night to support Mitt Romney at the big rally, but where were other Sunshine State Republican office holders? NSB News reached out to the offices of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, Congressman John Mica, Congresswoman Sandy Adams and Gov. Rick Scott.

Both the Rubio and Scott camps said they were remaining nuetral -- at least for the time being.

No. 1: U.S. Navy Seals take out Osama bin Laden

May 2, 2011, may not be rembered as much as Sept. 11, but Osama bin Laden didn't get to rejoice on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks he masterminded. That's because American Navy Seals took him out. Bin Laden was shot to death. Payback is a son-of a-bitch.

Mitt Romney asks Ormond Beach crowd: 'Are you ready to send Barack Obama home?

Frontrunner calls Gingrich 'Washington insider'

Mitt RomneyNSBNews.net photo by Henry Frederick / Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi claps as Mitt Romney fires up the crowd in Ormond Beach on Sunday night.

ORMOND BEACH -- Like clockwork, Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney arrived at 6 p.m. to a raucous crowd 2,500 supporters with an opening question: "Are you ready to send Barack Obama home to Chicago?" The crowd roared with a yes.

"This is a decision point for this country," Romney said, adding Obama represents big government while he supports one that is small and simple. "If I'm president of the United States, we'll get rid of Obamacare," Romney said, drawing an even bigger roar.

Newt Gingrich South Carolina's conservative champion

Mitt Romney has a fight on his hands with Jan. 31 Florida primary

Stan EscuderoBy Stan Escudero
Chief Political blogger for NSB News
 

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES -- Conservatives rule in South Carolina, which explains Newt Gingrich’s stunning double-digit victory Saturday in the Republican primary election.

What the media outlets are hoping for is a knock down/drag out struggle in Florida between Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich and they are likely to get it. Florida, with its Jan. 31 primary, is a whole different game from anything the candidates have faced so far in this election. It is the most important state among the early GOP primary contests.

No. 2: 9/11 a decade later: We will never forget

We can't forget. We won't forget. We will never forget. The 10th anniversary of 9/11 was marked again by the reading of the names of the victims, but mostly the comfort of knowing Osama bin Laden was taken out by U.S. spcial forces on orders of President Obama.

4. Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords shot in the head

Gabrielle GiffordsArizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head during a Jan. 8 rally outside of Tuscon by a lone gunman who killed six people, including conservative federal Judge John Roll.

Twelve ohers besides Giffords were wounded. The 22-year-old gunman, Jared Lee Loughner, was arrested on scene.

On May 16, Giffords recovered enough to travel to Kennedy Space Center