District 3 Debates

The primary is August 14th, absentee ballots have arrived in mailboxes this week. The Volusia County Council elections are extremely important to the future of our area of the county. District 3 encompasses New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater, Oak Hill, Samsula, much of Port Orange and a few other pieces of the county.

Our candidates include Jim Hathaway (NSB City Commission) Justin Kennedy (Edgewater City Commission) and Deb Denys.

You can meet the local candidates at the Edgewater Landing Clubhouse on Thursday, July 19th at 6:30. Meet them, chat with them and ask questions.

The debate schedule is below:

Saturday, July 21st - Brannon Center, 9:50 am. - Hosted by Headline Surfer

Tuesday, July 24th - Brannon Center, 5:30 pm - Hosted by the Daytona Beach News-Journal

Saturday, August 4th - First Baptist Church, New Smyrna Beach, 7:00 pm - Hosted by Cindy Todd

The candidates will also appear on the Marc Bernier Show on Wednesday, July 25th at 5:00 pm

Whoever you support it is important to understand the issues, how the candidates plan to develop our economy and most important to me what type of person they are. I support Justin Kennedy for our District because I know what he stands for, his economic development plans and what kind of guy he is. I think Jim Hathaway is a pretty nice guy too and I am looking forward to hearing what he has to say at the events mentioned above.

If you have not made up your mind on who to vote for, hitting one of these events is a great way to help you decide.

Weekend Events

I am late on this weekend event thing. There is not much going on so you did not miss much. Lots of people out shopping for school supplies. The weather is not supposed to clear up so the beach is out.

If you are new to the area or even if you are not, today's News Journal has a great Newcomers Guide with the paper.

Have a great weekend!

Seafood Festival

The first annual New Smyrna Beach Shrimp & Seafood Festival will be held Thursday, August 14 from 5 to 9PM hosted by the Merchants of Flagler Hospitality Group and the Daytona Beach News Journal. Flagler Avenue will be closed from 5 to 9PM to cars and open only to foot traffic.

The festival features over 30 great restaurants from New Smyrna and surrounding areas offering "tastes" of their best shrimp and seafood dishes. Restaurants will be competing for the festival's "BEST ON THE BEACH" award and offering sample portions for sale all priced in the $3 to $5 range. In addition to great seafood, the festival will feature related booths with arts, education, non-profit and fishing related themes, there will be live entertainment with Minister Theory playing on the big stage at Cooper and Flagler Streets.

Come out and celebrate the great seafood New Smyrna has to offer and drop by the OM Chill Bar's Beer Garden, where you can taste NSB's largest selection of Microbrews and fine wines!

The Beginning of the End

The systematic dismantling of the News-Journal has begun. The stock report was discontinued last week, this week they have announced layoffs, the closing of the New Smyrna Beach and other local offices and sadly enough for us the end of the Daily Journal. This is the section dedicated to New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater and Southeast Volusia County. They are preparing the paper for sale. I wonder what it will look like when all is said and done.