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Just a teenager who wishes people were nicer

“No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind.” ~Taylor Swift

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The spirit of the holidays brings people together, makes everyone a little more charitable and makes life more than bearable.

Edgewater cops: 75-year-old resident struck and killed by hit-and-run driver

Pedestrian killed in Edgewater / Headline SurferThis snapshot graphic shows the location in the 2300 block of Ridgewood Avenue in Edgewater where a 75-year-old pedestrian was struck and killed Monday.

EDGEWATER -- Edgewater cops are looking for a hit-and-run motorist who struck and killed a 75-year-old person walking north in the 2300 block of South Ridgewood Avenue at 6:55 p.m. Monday.

NSB Mayor Adam Barringer 'Newsmaker of the Year' for scandal, favoritism and bad language

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Newsmaker of the Year / Headline Surfer

Honorable mention: Former Flagler Avenue financial kingpin Robert Lott

NSB Mayor Adam Barring 2012 Newsmaker of the Year / Headline SurferRobert Lott, 2012 Hon. Mention Newsmaker of the Year / Headlin SurferNEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Mayor Adam Barringer is Headline Surfer's 2012 "Newsmaker of the Year" for being embroiled in a second scandal involving allegations of using his elected position for financial gain with his private business holdings, the latest resulting in an ethics complaint file with the state. He also appointed a friend to the planning board who admitted in court to buying cocaine from an undercover police officer, voted $20,000 in CRA taxpayer funding for a boyhood friend to fix up his bar and cursed out a rookie cop who wouldn't let him drive through a closed side street before the start of the Christmas parade -- a cop who served in combat in Iraq.

Realtor Bill Roe of New Smyrna Beach Headline Surfer's 'Citizen of the Year'

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Citizen of the Year / Headline Surfer 

Honorable Mention: Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson

Bill Roe of Ocean Properties in NSB Top Citizen / Headline SurferVolusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson hon. mention top citizen / Headline SurferNEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Bill Roe, proprietor of Ocean Properties, the premier Realtor in New Smyrna Beach, is Headline Surfer's choice as the 2012 "Citizen of the Year" for his patriotic spirit and loyalty to God, country and overall standing in the community.

Honorable mention for this year-end award is Sheriff Ben Johnson who handled himself with class and distinction in his successful re-election as Volusia County's top cop.

County Council at-large member Joyce Cusack: Now the time to take critical look at CRAs

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The Sunday Conversation / Headline Surfer 

Video produced by Multimedia Editor Serafina Frederick / County Council at-large member Joyce Cusack answers tough questions in Headline Surfer's online newsmaker show, 'The Sunday Conversation.'

County Council member Joyce Cusack with Henry Frederick / Headline SurferDELAND -- County Council at-large member Joyce Cusack believes the time is at hand for she and her colleagues to take a critical look at how CRAs are being managed by the cities before and if any new agreements are struck as the current ones begin to sunset.

Three-day Thunder testing at Daytona ends with definitive answer: 'Gen 6' race cars are fast

Dale Earnhardt, Jr: 'With this car we have a chance to do something great'

Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Daytona Testing / Headline SurferThe back of Dale Earnhardt Jr's new Gen 6 car / Headline Surfer

Photos by Tom Pennington/Getty Images for NASCAR / Publication in Headline Surfer / Dale Earnhardt, Jr., the No. 88 Chevrolet during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Preseason Thunder testing Saturday at Daytona International Speedway. Check out the video for highlight's of the 'big one' with Friday's multi-car crash.
Editor's Note: See what Earnhardt had to say about the new race cars in a video press clip inside this story.

DAYTONA BEACH -- With the big crash sandwiched in between on day 2, the three-day Preseason Thunder Test at Daytona International Speedway that ended this afternoon provided an exciting glimpse into what NASCAR fans can expect from the "Gen 6" race cars at Budweiser Speedweeks culminating with the Feb. 24 running of the Daytona 500: Speed, baby! Pure unadulterated speed!