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(Photos by Dale Smith). The public keeps coming through the front door of Nuns & Roses Bed & Breakfast during the Dec. 12 "Tour and Taste" walk through the historic inns in downtown New Smyrna Beach as part of Christmas on Canal. As shown in this photo, visitors view the parlors on the first level before climbing stairs to the second level where the private suites are located.

Editor's note: The following story was submitted by contributing writer Dale Smith:

NEW SMYRNA BEACH – Four of the city’s most established overnight accommodations were decked out in their finest holiday attire earlier this month for a bed and breakfast "Tour and Taste" as part of Historic Canal Street's wrap-up of Christmas on Canal. They included Night Swan B&B on South Riverside Drive, Kelsey’s Riverview Inn on Flagler Avenue and The Longboard Inn and Nuns & Roses B& B, both on Washington Street.

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(Courtesy photo). This residence at 2044 Hickorywood Drive in South Daytona is the 2010 winnerr of the South Daytona Mayor's Award for Holiday Lighting.

SOUTH DAYTONA ─ Decked out with hundreds of lights, oversized snowmen, candy canes, lollipops and dozens of other whimsical touches, the Lewis home, located at 2044 Hickorywood Dive,. won the 2010 South Daytona Mayor’s Award for Holiday Lighting.

The award is done by the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and awarded to the best decorated home during the holiday season, South Daytona spokeswoman Jeanne Willard said.

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(Courtesy photo / DBPD). If you have seen missing 14-year-old Freshlyn Marie Maddox, please call Daytona Beach police at 386-671-5223. Please click the attachment below for further details.

DAYTONA BEACH -- A 14-year-old last seen by her father six days ago is missing and Daytona Beach cops are seeking the public's help in finding her.

Here is what police said of the missing girl identified as Freshllyn Marie Maddox, who was last seen Friday, by her father, Maddox at home at 611 Aberdeen St.: "Maddox has never run away from home before but stated that she did not want to stay with her father. Her mother lives at 757 Iowa St. The family has checked some friends' residences and they advise they have not seen her and she has not taken her meds since she went missing."

She is African-American, 5 feet 2 and 115 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. No clothing description was provided.

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(Photos by Dale Smith). At far left, NSB City Commissioners Jim Hathaway and Judy Reiker listen to their colleagues discuss future plans. In the second photo, Mayor Adam Barringer, Commissioner Lynne Plaskett and Assistant City Manager Khalid Resheidat do the same.

Editor's note: The following story was submitted by contributing writer Dale Smith:

NEW SMYRNA BEACH – City leaders started with a list of 17 goals for the coming year, but narrowed them to 10, including issues like zoning, downtown redevelopment, parking and city employee pensions, at a visioning workshop.

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(Courtesy photo). Albert Edward Gilner, 74, of New Smyrna Beach, has been arrested on federal warrants charging him with multiple counts of wire and mail fraud as well as money laundering.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A New Smyrna Beach man wanted by U.S. Postal Service on fraud charges has been apprehended with the help of a police detective here,

The feds were able to track down 74-year-old Albert Edward Gilner, arresting him 9:20 a.m. Friday at his residence, 1412 S. Riverside Drive, on warrants charging him with four counts of wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud, and one count of money laundering.

New Smyrna Beach Police Detective Lisa Gundrum was instrumental in making the arrest happen, having worked with federal investigators since 2008.

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DELAND -- The U.S. Census Bureau released population counts based on the 2010 census Tuesday, showing the nation’s population grew from 281,421,906 in 2000 to 308,745,538 in 2010, a 9.7 percent growth rate.

Florida, the fourth most populous state, will gain two congressional seats as a result of population increases. According to the Census Bureau, Florida's population increased from 15,982,378 in 2000 to 18,801,310 in 2010.

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DELAND -- Volusia County’s public libraries will close at 5 p.m. Thursday, and remain closed through Christmas, county spokeswoman Pat Kuehn said.

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(Courtesy photo / orlandomagic.com) Vince Carter, whose road through baskettball started at Daytona Beach's Mainland High School, then the North Carolina ar Heels and into the NBA with the Toronto Raptors, the New Jersey and then a homecoming of sorts with the Orlando Magic, is now a member of the Phoenix Suns in a major blockbuster trade.

DAYTONA BEACH -- The Orlando Magic have traded former Mainland High School star Vince Carter to the Phoenix Suns in a multi-player trade. Read more about it by clicking the link to SI.com: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/basketball/nba/12/18/magic.trades.ap/index.html?eref=sihp

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DAYTONA BEACH -- Passenger traffic at Daytona Beach International Airport increased 14 percent in November compared with the same month last year, according to VolusiaCounty officials.

During November 37,402 incoming and outgoing passengers traveled through Daytona Beach International Airport. This compares with 32,853 travelers recorded in November last year.