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Free kids' fishing clinic Saturday in Daytona Beach

EDGEWATER -- Teaching children a lifelong hobby, instilling appreciation for our marine environment and providing fun, family outings are the objectives for the Kids’ Fishing Clinic in Daytona Beach. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will offer the free program for children between the ages of 4 and 16 on Saturday, March 31.

Firefighters battling 130-acre wildfire in New Smyrna Beach

Newspaper Section

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Firefighters are battling 130-acre wildfire on this early Tusday morning in the western part of the city, a mile south of State Road 44 and 1 1/2 miles west of Interstate 95, that could generate lingering smoke for motorists on the two roadways.

"Due to this wildfire’s location, lingering smoke may become a factor in the City of New Smyrna Beach," said Division Chief Randy Wright, also the spokesman for the New Smyrna Beach Fire Department. "Drivers are cautioned to slow down and use low-beam headlights when traveling on roads that are affected by smoke."

Dubbed the "Champion Fire," it is 65 percent contained, Wright said.

New Smyrna Beach to hold inaugural Easter egg hunt April 7 at Old Fort Park

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Children are invited to the inaugural New Smyrna Beach Easter Egg Hunt at noon, Saturday, April 7, at Old Fort Park, 210 Sams Ave. Nearly 6,500 plastic, colored eggs will dot the landscape, said Liz Yancey, city recreation and special events supervisor.

"This is the first Easter Egg Hunt the City has sponsored in at least 34 years," Yancey said. "Volunteers will take hours filling the eggs with candy. And if you've ever seen an egg hunt, you know it will be over in just a few minutes."

Bike Week body paint model at Cabbage Patch outside New Smyrna Beach strikes a pose

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Sophia Smith

Sophia Smith

NSBNews.net photo by Henry Frederick / Is she for real? That's what the Bike Week crowd kept asking at the Cabbage Patch.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Those who walked by a vendor tent for helmet art work at the Cabbage Patch in Samsula during Bike Week wondered if the life-like figure in body paint was the real thing at the Cabbage Patch. Few dared to ask and those who did didn't get an answer.

Only with a sharp eye or a strong camera lens could see that this was a living, breathing creature, whose beauty was accentuated by the flourescent green paint. With little in the way of actual clothes and a lot to be left to the imagination, 38-year-old Sophia Smith was a head turner.

US Army's Golden Knights a heavenly treat for thousands at New Smyrna Beach Balloon & SkyFest

Newspaper Section

NSBNews.net video by Multimedia Editor Sera Frederick / The Golden Knights entertain the crowd Saturday at the New Smyrna Beach Balloon and SkyFest at the New Smyrna Beach Municipal Airport.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Under bright sunny skies Saturday, people craned their heads upwards for a once-in-a-lifetime view of an elite group of parachuters with their precision landings at the fourth annual New Smyrna Beach Balloon and SkyFest.

Surfer bitten by shark in New Smyrna Beach

Newspaper Section

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A 21-year-old surfer was bitten by a shark earlier today near the South Jetty, the Volusia County Beach Patrol said.

Joey Coppola suffered minor lacerations to one of his feet while surfing in waist-deep water, said Beach Patrol Capt. Tamar Marris, the agency's spokeswoman. She said the surfer was treated on scene, but declined transport to nearby Bert Fish Medical Center.

Saturday's 2 p.m. shark bite was the third such incident this year, following two others on the same day earlier this month, all in New Smyrna Beach waters. Volusia County had six shark-bite incidents last year.

300-pound black bear that bit Longwood woman on butt captured and euthanized; cub sent to sanctuary

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Newspaper Section

LONGWOOD, Fla. -- The 14-month-old Florida black bear cub whose mother attacked a Longwood resident March 16, will spend the rest of its life at EARS wildlife sanctuary near Citra in Marion County. The mother bear, hower, was put down Thursday whwn both were captured.

New Smyrna Beach Balloon Fest takes to skies Friday for 3-day weekend

 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The fourth annual New Smyrna Beach Balloon Fest takes to the skies beginning today and NSBNews.net will chronicle the festivities through the weekend as the Internet newspaper has done all along.

Family physician Dr. Carol Gaines joins Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center in Daytona Beach

Dr. Carol GainesCourtest photo / Dr. Carol Gaines joins the medical staff of Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center.

DAYTONA BEACH - Board-certified family medicine physician Carol Gaines, DO, has joined the medical staff at Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center.

"We're extremely blessed that Dr. Gaines has joined our Florida Hospital family," said Dr. Ron Jimenez, Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center's chief medical officer.

Oak Hill Book Club meets at the public library today for John Berendt's 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil'

OAK HILL -- The Oak Hill Library Book Club will meet at 10:30 a.m. today at the library, next to the Post Office Halifax Avenue, for this month's selection, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” by John Berendt.

For more information, please call book leader Lorna Brice at 386-345-0630.