Top 100 Stories

Enjoy Saturday's 'Christmas in July' on Flagler Avenue

Newspaper Section

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Art Walk on Flagler Avenue will celebrate "Christmas in July" from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday.

This is the perfect time for art lovers to get a jump on their holiday shopping. It will be a festive day to take a fascinating stroll along Flagler
Avenue while enjoying the wonderful art on display in galleries, under canopies, and on porches. "

Obituaries

Newspaper Section

Charles A. Hyde, Sr., 80, of New Smyrna Beach, A U.S. Army veteran, plumber by trade and survived by his wife of 58 years, Betty, and three children, died Tuesday, July 21, 2009.

Laura Peace Lawson, 42, of Edgewater, a bank teller, survived by her husband of one year, Craig Lawson, and her daughter, Alexis, died Saturday, July 18, 2009.

Albert G. Geiger, Jr, 82, of New Smyrna Beach, a decorated veteran of the U.S. Navy who received several medals for his valor during World War II, including the Victory Medal, died June 6, 2009.

Small airplane touches down off I-95 in Edgewater; then takes off again from briefly closed interstate

Newspaper Section

EDGEWATER -- A small plane piloted by a New Smyrna Beach man made an emergency landing in a grassy area near the northbound lanes of Interstate 95 in Edgewater Wednesday night before taking off after the Florida Highway Patrol briefly closed a stretch of the highway to enable him to take off and return to the Ne Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport.

Volusia County library services web site address changes

DELAND -- Volusia County’s Library Services will be consolidating its Internet presence by discontinuing the www.vcpl.lib.fl.us Web address and directing all users to http://volusialibrary.org.

Volusialibrary.org offers the same array of features and access as the other site. The change was made to make the library system’s primary web address similar to those of other services of Volusia County Government and easier for the patrons to remember. The site also can be accessed from Volusia.org when users select “library” from the drop-down menu or right-side menu bar.

'Safe Haven: The Warsaw Zoo' Holocaust documentary applauded by Polish government

Newspaper Section

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Blue Heron International Pictures announced today that its latest Holocaust documentary -- "Safe Haven: The Warsaw Zoo" -- has attracted the attention of the Polish government.

“Alex Ringer, our producer in Israel, received a congratulatory letter recently from H. E. Agnieszka Magdziak-Miszewska, the Polish ambassador to Israel,” said Executive Producer Richard Lester, a teacher at New Smyrna Beach High School and one of the film's producers.

Volusia ECHO grant workshops Aug. 11 and 14

DELAND -- The Volusia County Environmental, Cultural, Historical, and Outdoor Recreation (ECHO) Grant-In-Aid program is starting the 2009-10 grant cycle with two workshops Aug. 11 and 14.

Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits that have an office in Volusia County, municipal governments within Volusia County, and departments of Volusia County Government. Eligible applicants who wish to apply this year must attend at least one of the two workshops.

House passes Kosmas-sponsored 'Pay-As-You-Go' legislation: Bill would make fiscally responsible budget rules into law

Newspaper Section

WASHINGTON D.C. -- Today, Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach (FL-24), a member of the fiscally responsible New Democrat Coalition, applauded the passage of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) Act by the U.S. House of Representatives.

The measure, cosponsored by Congresswoman Kosmas, will turn PAYGO budget rules that have been in effect since 2007 into law with enforceable consequences.

Dillard's at Volusia Mall evacuated due to smoke

DAYTONA BEACH -- Dillard's, the clothing store for men at the Volusia Mall, was closed after the store was evacuated at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday because of smoke from an apparent electrical problem.

The store was evacuated and power turned off after smoke was detected near the elevators and escalators, Daytona Bech Fire Department officials reported.

Debra Rogers wants fellow council members to significantly reduce Edgewater's mill rate in new budget

Newspaper Section

Courtesy photo. Edgewater Councilwoman Debra Rogers wants her colleagues to cut spending in the new fiscal budget. Edgewater's mill rate in its current operating budget is the highest in Volusia County, followed by Daytona Beach.

EDGEWATER -- Councilwoman Debra Rogers is going against the grain with her colleagues concerning Edgewater's spending for the new fiscal year, especially since the city's current operating budget required the highest tax rate in Volusia County this year.

Obituaries

Shirley A. Davis, 66, Edgewater, a homemaker, died Monday, July 20, 2009.

Mary Catherine Webb, 96, of Edgewater, a former teacher and librarian involved in Democratic party politics, died Monday, July 20, 2009

Julie Dunning, 39, of New Smyrna Beach, married with two children, who battled multiple sclerosis, died Thursday, July 16, 2009.

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