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Citizens of the Year: Mike Pastore, advocate for Daytona's homeless & Tamara Spuzzillo who quit smoking in June

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Mike Pastore, Daytoma homelress advocate HeadlineSurfe.copm Male Citizen of theYear / Headline Surfer® Tamara Szabo Spuzillo of Port Orange, HeadlineSurfer.com Citizen of the Year / Headline Surfer®Photos for Headline Surfer® /
Mike Pastore of Daytona Beach and Tamara Szabo Spuzillo of Port Orange are the internet newspaper's citizens of the year.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Mike Pastore has created a firestorm by getting directly in involved in helping Daytona's homeless by handing out sleeping bags, transporting some to local shower and health facilities.

And in the process, the street preacher, known as "Pastor Mike," who was once homeless, finds himself in a tough spot with politicians, business owners, the cops and even some media outlets because of his advocacy and voice for the voiceless.

Tamara Szabo Spuzzillo, a secretary in a law office from Port Orange, has done something very special, not only for her family and close friends, but also for herself. And in the process has become a true inspiration to loved ones and complete strangers alike: She quit smoking cold turkey on June 4 -- two days after she turned 50 years old and hasn't taken a puff since then.

27. NSB cops: Port Orange woman's body recovered from submerged car in pond

Top 100 Local Stories of 2014 in Central Florida / Headline Surfer®

Divers work to recover body of woman motorists in New Smyrna Beach pond in 2014 / Headline Surfer®Drowning victim in submerged car / Headliner Surfer®2014 NSB submerged car drowning victim Srah Marx  / Headline Surfer® NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Attempts to save a 26-year-old Port Orange woman who lost control of her car and ended up submerged in a pond in the Venetian Bay community the afternoon of Oct. 27, 2014, proved fruitless. 

Sarah Marx was later identified in the day as the driver and drowning victim in the 11 a.m. tragedy.

It wasn't as if everyone was just standing around and doing nothing to try and save her.

Congressional dis 6 candidate Adam Barringer to hold press conference Monday in Orange City with W Volusia mayors

Congressional 6 candidate Adam Barringer to hold press conference Monday in Orange City / Headline Surfer®Tom Laputka, mayor of Orange City / Headline Surfer®Photos for Headline Surfer® /
Congressional candidate will be joined at an 11:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 4, press conference at the Dickinson Center, 120 E. Graves Ave, Orange City by Orange City Mayor Tom Laputka, Deltona Mayor Masiarczyk,  Lake Helen Mayor Buddy Snowden and DeLand Mayor Bob Apgar.

ORANGE CITY, FL – Adam Barringer, conservative Republican candidate for the 6th Congressional District from New Smyrna Beach, has been endorsed by 11 Volusia County mayors. Four of them from West Volusia will join him at a press conference planned for 11:30 a.m. Monday. The public is invited and welcomed to ask questions.

The press conference will be held at the Dickinson Park gazebo, 120 E. Graves Ave., Orange City. Joining the former New Smyrna Beach mayor in his quest for Congress will be a group of mayors from West Volusia who have endorsed him. They include Orange City Mayor Tom Laputka; DeLand Mayor Robert Apgar; Deltona Mayor John Masiarczyk: and Lake Helen Mayor Buddy Snowden.

28. Daytona Mayor Derrick Henry recognizes passing of poet Maya Angelou

Top 100 Local Stories of 2014 in Central Florida / Headline Surfer®
Maya Angelou's last tweet / Headline Surfer®At left is the final tweet of author and civil rights activist Maya Angelou a couple of days before her death May 28, 2014. She was remembered locally by Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry who said he twice met her, describing her as an 'American literary icon.'

DAYTONA BEACH -Mayor Derrick Henry paid homage to American poet Maya Angelou who passed away at the age of 86.

Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry / Headline Surfer®"I can't think of an American literary icon that I have adored more," said Henry of Mayou, who died Wednesday morning. "I am thankful for having been exposed to her gracious spirit and enormous personality. I have had the pleasure of reading all of her books."

Votran unveils children's artwork on underpass of Daytona's Ocean Walk pedestrian walkway

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Children add new artwork tile to Votran buws stop location in Daytona / Headline Surfer®DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The underpass of the pedestrian walkover between the Ocean Center parking garage and the Ocean Walk Shoppes has been upgraded with fresh art tiles created by local elementary school children.

The original art wall was created in 2002, when the pedestrian walkover was built, but time and sea air took their toll on the art tiles.

Daytona 500's Joey Logano, UFC's Holly Holm HeadlineSurfer.com Athletes of the Year

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Joey Logano, Holly Home HeadlineSurfer.com Athletes of the Year / Headline Surfer®Kansas City Royals choice for team of the year

World Series champion Kansas City Royals HeadlineSurfer.com Team of the Year / Headline Surfer® DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Joey Logano was NASCAR's winningest driver in 2015, with six victories, incuding the biggest of 'em all in stock car racing -- the Daytona 500.

And how about the "Preacher's Daughter," whose kick heard 'round the world resulted in the knockout of previously unbeaten "Rowdy" Ronda Rousy? While it was only one fight for Holly Holm it, was the biggest of the year in the UFC, regardless of gender,.

With those credentials, Joey Logano and Holly Holm are the HeadlineSurfer.com Athletes of the Year, among professional male and female competitors, respectively. 

COMING SUNDAY: Joey Logano, Holly Holm HeadlineSurfer.com Athletes of the Year

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Joey Logano, Holly Home HeadlineSurfer.com Athletes of the Year / Headline Surfer®DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Both are known for speed and precision and they're proven winners. NASCAR's Joey Logano and UFC's Holly Holm are the male and female selections for the HeadlineSurfer.com Athletes of the Year.

A complete profile on each will be published Sunday, along with photo and video highlights.

Logano led all drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup racing series this past season with six wins, including the biggest of them all, the Daytona 500.

Holm, known as "the Preacher's Daughter," knocked out previously undefeated "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey with a kick to the head heard 'round the world to win the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship.

Christmas message from Adam Barringer: 'We do need to take a pause with immigration' to avert terrorist attacks

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Florida 6th Congressional frontrunner talks tough on securing our borders

Fla 6th Congressional candidate Adam Barringer with his wife, Shannon / Headline Surfer®

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- He's not calling for an all-out ban on Muslims entering the US like GOP presidential frontrunner Donald Trump, but Adam Barringer, himself the frontrunner for Florida's 6th Congressional District in the 2016 elections, is just as adamant that immediate steps must be taken to secure our borders to try and avert terrorist attacks.

Stetson junior defensive back Donald Payne earns American Football Coaches Association FCS All-America honors

Donald Payne, junior defensive back named to FCS All America Team / Headline Surfer®
Photo for Headline Surfer® / 
Stetson University's Donald Payne scores All America honors.

DELAND, Fla. -- Stetson junior defensive back Donald Payne has added another accolade to his long list of accomplishments: He has been named named to the 2015 American Football Coaches Association FCS All-America team.

Congressional endorsements: National Assn of Realtors supports GG Galloway; 10 mayors & ex-county chair back Adam Barringer

GG Galloway, running for Congress / Headline Surfer®6th Congressional candidate Adam Barringer has 10 mayoral endorsements / Headline Surfer®

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- GG Galloway finally has gotten an endorsement in his run for the 6th Congressional seat in the 2016 elections: the National Association of Realtors. Then again, Galloway of Ormond Beach, makes a living as a Realtor.