Local News Now

Bank of America surveillance photo provided by New Smyrna Beach Police Department for NSBNEWS.net. Cutline: This man participated in a scheme to skim money from the ATM at the Bank of America Brach on State Road 44 in New Smyrna Beach. If you know who he is, please contact Detective Tony Ford with the New Smyrna Beach Police Department at (386) 424-2240.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Bank of America has informed the New Smyrna Beach Police Department that sometime during the weekend of November 15-16, an organized gang compromised several bank ATM/Debit machines throughout the State of Florida, including the branch in New Smyrna Beach located at 1880 State Road 44, police said this afternoon.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Whether you’re trying to navigate the Internet or still looking for the computer's on/off switch, the New Smyrna Beach Regional Library has beginner computer classes that can help you find your way, says Pak Kuehn, a Volusia County spokeswoman.

Among the courses:

# Computer Basics will begin at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14. This class is for people with little or no computer experience who want to learn about the components of a computer and get acquainted with terminology. Participants will explore some of the functions and features of the Windows operating system.

EDGEWATER -- In 2003, Edgewater Fire-Rescue, in conjunction with Edgewater Fire-Rescue Association, began to expand its Operation Caring program. For many years, both organizations had been active in providing food and toys to children and families during the holiday season through the Operation Santa program.

GRADE: F

The whole world of finance is agog about the $50 billion Ponzi scheme carried out by Bernard Madoff on Wall Street.

Madoff’s scheme is alleged to have bilked many big time financial players such as Real Estate magnate Mort Zuckerman and Foundation for Humanity director Ellie Wiesel.

For those not familiar with a Ponzi scheme, it consists of an organized plan that promises to pay unusually large “dividends.”

 TALLAHASSEE -- The Speaker of the Florida House, Ray Sansom, announced council and committee assignments for members, including Sate Rep. Dorothy L. Hukill (R-Port Orange) as chairwoman of the Military and Local Affairs Policy Committee.

EDGEWATER -- The Edgewater Fire-Rescue will host a blood drive and bone marrow screening Saturday in honor of Miami-Dade Firefighter Catherine Wall, who is fighting Myelodysplastic Syndrome, a very serious and aggressive disease of the bone marrow, said Edgewater Fire-Rescue spokeswoman Lt. Jill Danigel.

Wall is a 24-year veteran of MDFR and has received various accolades for her volunteerism and community involvement, said Danigel, also Edgewater's fire marshal.

Photo by Sandi Carroll for NSBNEWS.net. Cutline: Jason Lott smiles as he makes a glass ornament at Galleria di Vetro Dec. 5. Lott, along with Kyle Carni and Vaigale Duers-Stevens, will demonstrate flameworking as part of Art Walk on Flagler Avenue, which will be held 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Santa will slip away from his workshop and busy schedule to visit Art Walk on Flagler Avenue on Saturday.

He knows that it is the perfect place to take a relaxing stroll and do some last minute shopping. Santa will be on the avenue until from, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., then he must get back to work at the North Pole. So bring your cameras and your "wish list" to the gazebo at Flagler and Pine streets.

You can visit this special holiday Art Walk from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., as you avoid the traffic and the crowds at the malls and stroll along Flagler Avenue, the charming five blocks between the Indian River and the ocean.

Photo by Capt. Budd Neviaser for NSBNEWS.net. Cutline: These wild turkeys in New Smyrna Beach avoided becoming a Thanksgiving dinner.

These No Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, was detected in the samples collected from Mosquito Lagoon, Indian River lagoon, or the Banana River, thus far this month.

NSBNEWS.net video by Sera King. Video highlights: Performances by the Showdolls and singer Roxi Tomei and the lighting of the Christmas tree atop Bert Fish Medical Center.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Christmas came early to Bert Fish Medical Center. Santa Claus pressed the button to light up the Christmas tree atop the hospital and performances by the Showdolls of New Smyrna Beach High School highlighted Sunday night's entertainment before some 500 people.

Though the crowd thinned considerably after the first 90 minutes of the 6 p.m. gathering in front of the hospital, dozens remained to the end to see the tree lit up shortly before 8:30 p.m.

"Lights of Love" was the theme of the evening, sponsored by the Bert Fish Medical Center Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the hospital that raised $12,000 for the hospital through this event, said Garry Mac, hospital spokesman who served as emcee.