Madi Apparel

Have you met Hayley Besheer?
She is the woman behind local company Madi Apparel. 

Yes, she is selling underwear. MADI stands for Making a Difference Intimates...because for every pair purchased a clean, new pair will be donated to a woman in need. Here is a current list of the organizations MADI is partnering with.

I sat down and talked with Hayley recently and was surprised to learn that intimate apparel is the least donated and one of the most needed items by shelters and charitable organizations.

MADI Apparel hopes to change all that in the coming months. All styles of her underwear will be available to purchase soon and we are helping her get the word out! All of MADI's underwear is made from organically derived bamboo blends and is made in the USA. Check out Hayley's mission on her website,  Like her Facebook Page or take a minute and watch the video below!

NSB & Edgewater Fireworks!

New Smyrna Beach & Edgewater are both holding their annual Fireworks this year! Edgewater's celebration starts at 5:00 pm at Menard May Park with entertainment, food and vendors. The Fireworks will blast off right down the street at George Kennedy Park at dusk. This event is free!

New Smyrna will start out at 3:00 pm with food trucks, music and other vendors at Riverside Park. The Fireworks will kick off at about 9:15 (or whenever Edgewater is finished)

I have been to both events in recent years and they are both excellent!

Port Orange July 4th Celebration!

Community Back to School Program

Great program sponsored by my awesome friend Tim Hankerson of T's Mobile Detailing! He does so much for our community and youth! Please support this if you are able!

Jake Sachs - NSB City Commission

I am very excited about Jake Sachs! He is running for New Smyrna Beach City Commission. I have known Jake several years and think he truly represents a GREAT option for the City Commission. Jake is a really nice guy who really wants the best for the city he calls home. 

Jake has a passion for our environment, he spends many hours in his kayak picking up trash, on the beach and is an active member of the Surfrider Foundation, the Marine Discovery Center and the Southeast Volusia Audubon Society. 

I spent some time with Jake talking about what is important and  what he sees for the future of NSB. I think he thinks like the rest of us. Take a look below and see what he is running on and see if you agree.  

Jake wants to:

• Listen to the concerns of our local citizens and find solutions by working with city staff and residents to solve neighborhood concerns. 
• Protect our natural resources especially Mosquito Lagoon and the Indian River Lagoon
•  Help environmental and business interests work together because without one the other  cannot succeed. 
• Utilize smart growth practices without urban sprawl. 
• Support local businesses and core districts. 
• Mitigate impacts to our residents and infrastructure when beaches and roads become over crowded and littered. 
• Make roads safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists. 

 Check out Jake on Facebook here. Give his page a like and follow along with what is going on. It is very important for our city and the future. 

Back to School Backpack Drive

Reggae Music Festival

The Reggae Music Festival slides into town June 20-June 22. Get a partial list of performances here. This event is free unless otherwise noted. You can also text reggae to 71441 for a complete schedule.

Marine Discovery Center Open House

Christmas in July on Canal Street

Church at the Beach - Sunday Funday

Join Church at the Beach next Sunday for some Free Family Fun! There will be bounce houses, games, pizza for lunch and a movie at 2:00 pm. The fun starts at 10:00 a.m. Church at the Beach worships and celebrates at the NSB high School. Visit their website here.

Happy Father's Day

Father's Day is a Holiday celebrating Dad. Started in the early 20th century to complement the Mother's Day Holiday.

We don't do much with Father's Day around here. It usually falls around my daughter's birthday which is a nice distraction. My children have not seen their father in 7 years. This is by his choice. He last saw them when my son was in 4th grade and my daughter was in 2nd. He is now a Senior and she is a Sophomore.

He has never done homework with them, has never met their teachers, has never seen my son play baseball or my daughter volleyball. He did not teach them to drive. He does not take care of them when they are sick, or when their feelings are hurt. He doesn't do their laundry, tell them to clean up their room or talk to them about their day. He is not going to visit colleges with them or worrying about their SAT scores.

My son's birthday was last week, he sent him a text, the day after. He got a card, a week later. My daughter's birthday was yesterday, she has not heard from him. I reminded them both that today was Father's Day, just as I remind them every year that it is their father's birthday in March. My son (the peacemaker) said, "I will send him a text" as he went out the door to work. My daughter rolled her eyes.(those of you that know her are smiling)

Make no mistake I have good kids, my son has awesome grades, plays sports and has worked at Publix since he turned 15. My daughter has fantastic grades, plays volleyball, volunteers at the Food Pantry and wants to be a Doctor. Do I think their life would be different if their father was in it? Probably, better, not sure. I have plenty of divorced friends who waste a lot of time fighting over how their kids are raised. I know a couple of kids who have crappy step-fathers. I am by no means mother of the year. In fact some days I suck at it.  In spite of that they are ok. It is not the best, but it is how it is. This is not a rant against absent fathers, I am not mad. It is a reality, there are plenty of absent mothers too.

We are very lucky and I need to acknowledge and give a big thank you to all the good examples in my kids lives. My brother Rick, Coach Snap Wood, Coach Nick Regilio, Dom Amendolare, Robert Patt. Men who have taken time to be interested in them and what they do and they expect nothing in return. You are the examples I want them to take with them as they grow up.

Happy Father's Day

Golf Pass

It is Beachweeks Golf Pass time! From June 28th until July 5th enjoy reduced rates at two of our local golf courses.

SPRUCE CREEK GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
386.756.6114
1900 Country Club Drive, Port Orange

Before Noon: $20.00 plus tax
After Noon: $15.00 plus tax

THE PRESERVE AT TURNBULL BAY
386.427.8727
2600 Turnbull Estates Drive, New Smyrna Beach

7am - 3pm: $25.00 plus tax
After 3pm: $20.00 plus tax 

*Call the specific golf country club to book your tee time using the code "Beach Weeks".

Sundae Beach Run

The 5K Sundae Beach Run is Sunday, June 29th at the Flagler Ave Beach approach. Registration starts at 7:00 am and the race begins at 8:00 am. This chip timed race is great for runners of all skill levels and ages, there will be medals in 84 categories. Free T-shirts, and a sundae bar for all runners rounds out the day!

Register online here     

The run benefits Southern Stone Charities.

Southern Stone Charities distributes collected funds to local community non-profits. Funded projects are support services and programs that promote education, health, wellness, and community building efforts as well as projects that support historical, environmental, cultural assets in the communities Southern Stone Communications serves. Recent recipients include Boys and Girls Club of Volusia-Flagler, local food banks, professional firefighters’ funds, and community policing efforts.

Sugar Fix

Have you visited the Beachside Candy Company on Flagler Avenue? The new owner took over in May and it is as fabulous as ever, maybe more so! It is the same quaint building with a fresh new interior and delicious candy of all varieties! I spoke to the owner Julie today and she is very excited to join the Flagler Avenue business community.

Let's talk about the chocolate..dark chocolate, milk chocolate, nonpareils, espresso beans, chocolate covered raisins, malted milk balls..the list is long and so so good. She has salt water taffy, ice cream (think root beer floats), one entire wall is candy you can purchase by the bag. A child's dream! Actually, my dream..but we won't tell my trainer that. I was chatting with some very nice people who are here on vacation, they told me how their kids can't wait to come to the Beachside Candy Company and spend their money...they seemed to be doing a good job.

Looking for a gift? Fill a gift bag with an assortment of chocolates, maybe a specialized box, she has them for every occasion, even a sand bucket makes a great vehicle to deliver candy in!

The Beachside Candy Company is located at 221 Flagler Ave and is open Monday-Saturday 10:00 am-9:00 pm and Sunday 11:00 am-5:00 pm.

Seaside Fiesta

Mark your calendars! June 21st is the 26th Annual Seaside Fiesta! This is one of my favorite events on Flagler (yes I say that about all of them). But really, I love this one...There is something for everyone at this one, it is a big music, food, craft fest all in one place. Love it!

Surf Lessons in Daytona

Free Surf Lessons!

Rip Currents-Be Safe

Do you know what do do if there is a rip current? First and foremost swim near a lifeguard, we have an abundance of lifeguards in NSB, they are well trained and can save your life. Here is an old post of mine from way back with more good information on rip currents.

Rip Currents - 2007

Summer Concerts at Daytona Bandshell

Oak Hill Library Summer Reading Program

The Oak Hill Branch of the Volusia County Library System has a great summer planned for young readers!  Fizz, Boom, Read is for children ages 5-11 and is FREE but space is limited so call or stop by the library to sign up. You can pick up a goodie bag and reading log at the same time.


June 19-1:30 pm Volusia County Beach Safety Patrol 
June 26-1:30 pm Pyrotechnology- Florida Public Archeology Network -Learnhow Fire was used by the Timucan Indians 
June 27-1:30 pm Craft- Test Tube Terrariums (limited to first 30 children signed-up)
July 10 -1:30 pm Mad Science/Big Top Science
July 11- 1:30 pm Craft -Butterfly and Firefly Bead Buddies (limited to first 30 children signed up) 
July 17, 1:00 pm Wild-life Tree a Live Animal Program
July 18, 1:30 pm Craft- Shells and Sand (limited to first 30 children signed up)

You can get the entire library calendar here. Just click your branch to just get events for your area. 

Sand Art Festival

The Sand Art Festival is next weekend! It is free and there are prizes and fun in the sun! Check out all the information here. 

Event Information and Application

Pop Warner Football

Pop Warner Football Sign-ups are going on now. Get more information here. You can sign up Monday - Friday at Parks & Rec located at 1000 Live Oak, NSB. You can also sign up this Saturday from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm at the NSB Walmart.

Kite Festival

The Kite Festival is in New Smyrna Beach this weekend! The high flying fun will be held just south of Flagler Avenue on June 7th & 8th. There will be tons of kites of all shapes and sizes, kite demonstrations and competitions. There will also be kite lessons for first time kite flyers There will be a kid's zone and a free kite for the first 400 kids each day. This event is free.