Volusia News Now

Headline Surfer® graphic / Ruthy's Kozy Kitchen, 618 W. Canal St., as shown in the locator map in the inset, was the target of an overnight burglar or burglars,  who broke in through a window and made off with an undisclosed amount of cash.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Ruthy's Kozy Kitchen on West Canal Street, the eatery that nearly closed four years ago because of 18 months worth of delays in completion of a CRA-funded street beautification project, was burglarized earlier this week, New Smyrna Beach cops said in a delayed report.

WASHINGTON, DC – The office of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today released a list of upcoming Mobile Office Hours throughout Florida.

Each week, Rubio’s staff offers a variety of constituent services, assisting people with a wide range of issues, including problems with Social Security, Medicare, Veterans Affairs, and more. Here is a list of mobile office dates and locations:

Headline Surfer® photos / In the game of musical chairs, New Smyrna Beach Mayor Adam Barringer is out in terms of a third run, former Commissioner Jim Hathaway is still weighing whether to get back in and run for mayor and Commissioner Jack Grasty, shown in the inset, is indeed running for mayor.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Amid a mountain of personal tax debts and continuing corruption in New Smyrna Beach governance, Adam Barringer is not seeking a third term. And as expected, two-term City Commissioner Jack Grasty has filed papers to run for the top municipal post.

Photos for Headline Surfer® / Phil Giorno, former longtime Volusia County Democratic Chairman has generated enough signatures to officially qualify for the Volusia County Council District 5 seat in the 2014 elections against fellow challengers Rich Gailey of DeBary, Deltona City Commissioner Fred Lowry, Jr., and Deltona resident Donald Mair. Giorno is shown at the Supervisor of Elections Office in DeLand with his certified petition.

DELTONA -- Veteran politician Phil Giorno has reason to smile these days. After all, he's qualified by petition to run for the district 5 seat on the Volusia County Council held by term-limited incumbent Patricia Northey representing Deltona, DeBary and Enterprise.

New Smyrna Beach has new website, but municipal election qualifying information either non-existent or hidden on back page

Headline Surfer photos® / Mayor Adam Barringer may not seek a third term as he deals with a mountain of personal debts and legal issues leading to speculation that either former Commissioner Jim Hathsway, shown with him to his left, or two-term Commissioner Jack Grasty are gearing up for possible runs.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- There is chatter in the city of charm that there are two possible suitors for mayor should incumbent Adam Barringer opt not to seek a third two-year term amid his lingering myriad legal and financial problems: Current City Commissioner Jack Grasty and former City Commissioner Jim Hathaway.

Photos for Headline Surfer® by David Hartgrove of the Halifax River Audubon Society / Signs are posted on Dissapperaring Island alerting boaters to a rare species of bird nesting.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A least tern pair has been discovered nesting on Disappearing Island near Ponce Inlet. The birds were spotted May 14 by members of the Florida Shorebird Alliance’s Volusia Shorebird Partnership as they conducted a routine shorebird survey in the inlet.

Least terns weigh just over an ounce and have a wing span of about 20 inches. They have a grayish-white body with a black-capped head, narrow wings, yellow legs and a yellow bill. They nest on sandy beaches and rooftops in the southern U.S. and are aggressive in defending their nests.

Photos for Headline Surfer® / Large crowds boad SunRail in DeBary while fares are free. As of Monday, fares will no longer be free to board SunRail. And VOTRAN buses, as shown in the inset, end free shuttle rides today from Deltona to DeBary.

DeBARY -- The free VOTRAN shuttles bringing passengers from Gemini Springs Park and the Deltona Plaza to the DeBary SunRail station end today, Volusia County officials announced in a press release.

On Monday, SunRail will begin collecting paid fares for all boarding passengers.

ORMOND BEACH -- Gov. Rick Scott announced the appointment of Dr. Sue Kim to the Florida Humanities Council.

Kim, 69, of Ormond Beach, is a retired staff psychiatrist at Coatesville VA Medical Center. She succeeds Darryl Paulson and is appointed for a term that ends ending Nov. 13.

Speedway projects, other construction expected to generate even greater figures

Projects like the $400 million Daytona Rising renovation at Daytona International Speedway, home to signature races like the Daytona 500 and the Rolex 24 bring in tourists from around the globe. And a key ingredient is Daytona Beach International Airport.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Passenger traffic at Daytona Beach International Airport increased 11 percent in April compared to April of last year, Volusia County officials said.