Courtesy graphic/The Observer. The Observer front page devoted its lead story to asking readers to buy subscriptions to keep the weekly newspaper going, especially in this tough economy with its reserves used up. In the spirit of journalism cooperation, and as a fellow member of the Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce, NSBNEWS.net is posting the Observer's story here, written by its editor, Robert Burns: 

Help Us Help You
By Robert Burns
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The country’s newspapers are in crisis. If they are to continue serving communities all over the country, they need support. The Observer is one of those newspapers that need to have community support to thrive.
 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A motorist killed on the Fourth ogf July on Interstate 95 just south of State Road 44 in New Smyrna Beach has been identified as a Port Orange man.

Jeffrey Lee Simmons, 52, was identified by the Florida Highway Patrol as the motorist killed on I-95, when he apparently overcorrected his steeering and rolled over his pick-up truck.

Simmons was not wearing his seatbelt and the rollover caused him to be ejected from the vehicle, the FHP reported. He was pronounced dead on the scene shortly after the 3 p.m. accident.

Courtesy photos. State Rep. Dorothy Hukill, R- Port Orange, announced this morning she is running for the 24th district seat in Congress held by first-term incumbent Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach.

PORT ORANGE – Saying first-term incumbent Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas "voted for trillions in new government spending with no way of paying it back," State Rep. Dorothy Hukill announced today that she has filed paperwork to be a candidate for the 24th district seat in Washington.

NSBNEWS.net video by Sera Frederick. Thousands enjoyed Edgewater's fireworks show for the Fourth of July. See our previous story for highlights and enjoy our video coverage.

NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick and Sera Frederick. Lucky, a lab and beagle mix, turns his head away from the loud fireworks display that his owners Fred Furhmann and Vicki Edwards enjoy, along with several thousand others on along Riverside Drive (here in front of City Hall) and the adjoining side streets to U.S. 1 for what turned out to be a spectacular Fourth of July fireworks show.

EDGEWATER -- These are the dog days of summer where it's easier to just sit and pant than to get overly excited, especially for Lucky, a 12-year-old lab and beagle mix. He was well behaved among the thousands gathered under the cover of darkness until "Kaboom!" And Lucky moved to the back of his owner's chair.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- With a three-day holiday weekend here and a chance to celebrate Independence Day, Volusia County Fire Services is encouraging common sense fire safety.

Courtesy photo. ESPN is reporting Steve McNair, the retired quarterback for the Tennessee Titans and the Baltimore Ravens, was found shot to death this afternoon in his Nashville home. He was 36 and a former league MVP, who took the Titans to their lone Super Bowl in 1999 against the St. Louis Rams. A woman in his house was also killed.

PORT ORANGE -- The boil water notice for 385 homes in the exclusive Spruce Creek Fly-In was lifted 10 a.m. Friday, the Volusia County Health Department announced.

The notice was lifted after two consecutive days of safe-drinking water tests.

The notice was put in place after utility crews shut off water to parts of the subdivision for installation of a stormwater pipe Wednesday and Thursday that led to a drop in overall water pressure.

Anyone with concerns can call Volusia County Water Resources and Utilities at (386) 822-6465.

I remember coming to America from Italy. It was 1931, 79 years ago and I was 6 years old I remember passing the Statue of Liberty and seeing people with tears in their eyes entering New York Harbor, embarking at Ellis Island.

My mom, my sister, and I hugged each other crying, so happy to be in America after waiting two years. We thanked God for our safe journey.