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Headline Surfer cartoon by Sera King / Parking remains an issue with the Hampton Inn in New Smyrna Beach.

DELTONA --

Many people are finding it difficult to conjure up reasons to be thankful this Thanksgiving, myself included. With the condition of the country and the world seeming to deteriorate before our very eyes, being thankful is the last thing on our minds.

Are you in this group? If so you need to look around you and see how much you actually have.

The City Commission on Tuesday night committed to spend $130,000.00 of your money to benefit special interest groups when they voted 5-0 to support an Echo Grant application for the "Richenberg Fish Farm" at the old high school site.

Yes, this is the "fantasy zone project" that you have been assured for two years that NO CITY MONEY would be used to support. And where did they find the money? You guessed it, in the "bare bones" 2009-2010 budget that just two months ago Commissioner Jack Grasty whined could not be cut or "people would lose their jobs."

NSBNEWS.net photos by Sera Frederick and Henry Frederick.

At left, Canal Street is lit up as shown in this 6:45 p.m. Wednesday photo looking east. In the middle, the lights were on throughout the day as well. At right, Christmas lights also adorn two trees at City Hall on nearby Sams Avenue. The lights cost $9,000, not including the labor to have them installed. That has not yet been tabulated. This is in addition to the $9,000 Christmas tree, which was lit up Tuesday night, but not Wednesday night. It is to be officially lit 6 p.m. Friday. The latter figure does not include the cost of labor, which also has yet to be tabulated.

Click on the attachment on the cost of the Canal Street lights as provided by the city of New Smyrna Beach through a public records request by NSBNEWS.net:

Please click the attachment to read the police reports for the Tuesday day shift:

DAYTONA BEACH SHORES -- The state Fire Marshall's Office is investigating a suspicious fire that that destroyed a gift shop Tuesday night.

A car was seen speeding off immediately after a fire erupted inside the Hurricane Gift Shop on South Atlantic Avenue in the Winn Dixie shopping plaza, asuthorities said, quoting eyewitnesses shortly after the 7 p.m. blaze erupted.

Nobody was injured and the stor was closed at the time.

COCOA BEACH -- A 10-year-old Ohio boy was bitten by a shark Tuesday in the surf, Beach Patrol officials there told Local 6 Orlando TV.

Despite being bitten on his foot and upper thigh, the boy swam bsck to shore on his own in shallow waters at 11:30 a.m. near the Ocean Landings condominiums in the 900 block of State Road A1A.

The child was treated at Cape Canaveral Hospital.

ORMOND BEACH -- A robber made off with cash early this morning after smashing a hotel clerk on the side of the head with a fire extinguisher, the Volusia County Sheriff's Office said.

However, the suspect left behind plenty of evidence to help Sheriff's deputies quickly link the culprit to the crime.

Nov. 25, 2009: Scott R. Canfield and Courtney B. Wilson, New Smyrna Beach.

Nov. 24, 2009: Ritchie L. Martin and Amy M. Curry, Edgewater.