Since taking office in November on a promise to cut spending while maintaining essential services for the residents of New Smyrna Beach, Mayor Adam Barringer, Commissioner Judy Reiker and incumbent Commissioner Jack Grasty (returned in the primary), have done just the opposite.
NSBNEWS.net photos by Jeanette DiCara.
Peter Kafura, and Kyra Crawford, sophomores at New Smyrna Beach High School, were among dozens of Southeast Volusia residents picking up garbage from the riverbanks of the Indian River and among nearly 200 overall, lending a helping hand during Saturday's 22nd annual Halifax/Indian River Clean-Up. Kyra walks out of the woods with an armful of garbage by the river, including a shoe. A full can of garbage sits ashore by the Sea Scout's sailboat. This boat was recently a part of the Lipton Tea Rigatta near New Smyrna Beach.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Peter Kasfura has volunteered two years in a row now to help with the annual Halifax/Indian River clean-up. Kyra Crawford was out here for the first time. She held up an old shoe and said that this and some of the garbage did smell bad, but the New Smyrna Beach High School sophomores did it any way because it needed to be done.
Among the beautiful extic birds of nature is the Roseate Spoonbill. In a little while, I'll tell you about a local one, byt in gweneral, the Roseate Spoonbill is characterized by long legs, a long neck, and a long, spatula-like bill.
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NSBNEWS.net photos and video by Jeanette DiCara.
At left, Angela Dicara, daughter of NSBNEWS.net blogger Jeanette DiCara, is among the performers at the "Jammin' in the Park" fundraider at Hawk's Park, which raised $3,000 to help pay for new uniforms for the New Smyrna Beach High School marching band.The ultimate goal is $30,000.
EDGEWATER -- The New Smyrna Beach High School marching band held its "Jammin’ in the Park" fundraiser on Saturday, April 17, at Hawks Park to raise money for new uniforms. About $3,000 was raied during this event, with the ultimate goal of $30,000 to replace uniforms that have been handed down, patched and re-sewed for 18 years.
Having just completed the 2010 Citizen's Academy Program, I wish to thank all City Departments for their presentations and information to the Citizens that took part in the program. I would recommend to any citizen interested in how our city operates to consider going through this program.
I felt special attending a dinner last month honoring Mike and Dana Thompson. Quite a few people attended the dinner held next to the golf course to recognize the well-deserving couple. Many spoke of their accomplishments, Mike as a former mayor of Oak Hill and Dana as a teacher at New Smyrna Beach Middle School.
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Courtesy photo.
When I initially read that the New Smyrna Beach City Commission had appointed several citizens to a budget review task force I was elated. But my elation was short lived after reading the enabling resolution. That's because City Manager Pam Brangaccio's initiative ignores the most expensive part of the budget for this task force: Union contracts.
Despite the feel-good task force, the city manager seems intent on continuing to draw money from the reserves to cover shortfalls as opposed to cutting union contract-driven expenses as propsed in her long-term budget plsan unveiled last fall.
We have a new commission and we all hoped for "change." This has not happened. City Commissioner Judy Reiker and Mayor Adam Barringer were newly elected in November with the mantra of holding down costs and looking out for the taxpayer.
More than a year has passed since the discussion commenced that led to an opinion from a competent outside counsel that the lease was void from the start, but after untold hours of City Commission time, the problem with the Angler Club and their lease remains unsolved.
Nothing can prepare you for the stress and emotional turmoil that comes with the world of runway. The beautiful elegance you see on the catwalk, is nothing like the chaos that goes on behind the scenes. When I jumped into this judging world of glamor, I found out first hand just how hard the life of a runway model can be.
Although, being on the runway is a lot of fun, it is also a lot of work. Runway has its ups and downs and though we are there to work, it is always fun.
