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NSBNews.net photo by Henry Frederick / A photo of Edgewater Councilman Ted Cooper is displayed on the dais in front of the chair he occupied in the council chambers, along with his name plate and flowers following his memorial service Tuesday.

EDGEWATER -- Myron Hammond returned to his creaky chair at his Edgewater Towing garage, jumping on the phone and choking back tears as he checked on parts for a customer.

Minutes earlier, he had returned from a memorial service for Councilman Ted Cooper, the silver-haired gentleman, whose life was cut short at 61 from a massive heart attack six days earlier. 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The Observer removed its "subscription" offer on its website Tuesday, one day after NSBNews.net pointed out that solicitations for paid subscribers was posted even though the Observer weekly newspaper has not published for a month and its owners told the Daytona Beach News-Journal they had come to the end of the line.

The Observer's former editor, Robert Burns, now identifies himself on his personal Facebook page as employed with Hometown News. though the Fort Pierce-based weekly with a Southeast Volusia edition doesn't identify him as such.

Asks why same CRA attorney advised it was legal then; not legal now

It was legal then and illegal now. NSBNews.net file photo by Sera Frederick / CRA Chairman Jim Kosmas is shown here holding a golden shovel for the Sept. 29 groundbreaking at the Hampton Inn on Flagler Avenue. Construction on the beachside hotel has been grounded since that day without explanation. Standing behind him in sunglasses to the far left is fellow CRA board member Chad Schilsky. Both were approved for grants for their businesses, which turned out to be illegal.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- CRA Chairman Jim Kosmas told NSBNews.net over the weekend that he repaid his Community Redevelopment Agency the $1,925 grant for improvements to his law office that was unanimously approved by his board with him abstaining from the vote.

"I paid the city on Friday," Kosmas told NSBNews.net. "What I Don't understand is why the attorney said it was OK then and now it is not."

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Some guy named Robert Burns bumped into me today Saturday afternoon on the North Causeway before the New Smyrna Beach Christmas Parade and introduced himself. He told me was hosting a new web site. He added that NSBNews.net only posts the bad news. Seriously? I took offense at that.

NSBNEWS.net photo by Sera Frederick / Ho! Ho! Ho! Santa was on hand at Christmas Park where he greeted a few children on and their parents as shown in this 6:50 p.m. Friday photo. Santa's visit is part of Christmas on Canal, sponsored by the New Smyrna Beach Community Redevelopment Agency and the merchant association there.   

Special to NSBNews.net

EDGEWATER -- I will be holding my final listening session of the year in Volusia County at 2 p.m. Saturday, at the Edgewater City Hall, making it my 16th public listening session in Florida's 24th Congressional District this year.

Unfinished Business

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Bob Tolley tasked the City Commission at Tuesday night's meeting to clean their own house regarding the CRA mess and not just the mess regarding the recently uncovered improper grants to CRA Board members, but all of it, along with the other problems in New Smyrna Beach.

The problem, as Tolley said at the podium, is far greater than these grants. It's dealing with the overall integrity, transparency, and reputation of the city. He stated his preference was to have the city clean its own house, in “true” partnership with the citizens.

But, if they chose not to, he was concerned enough about the situation that he intended to submit a letter to the governor, attorney general, state auditor, and local state attorney asking them to conduct an investigation of the city, the CRA, the hospital district, etc.

That brings me to the real problem here.