Local News Now

NSBNEWS.net video by Sera Frederick. Community leaders in the Westside neighborhood want the city to focus more on the recreational needs of the children there and to address cracked sidewalks and overgrown tree branches.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- It's the "appearance" of two New Smyrnas that has some Westside leaders speaking up about the city's seemingly endless focus on the economics of Canal Street and Flagler Avenue, the tourist- and business-oriented parts of the city while the area west of the U.S. 1 railroad tracks, which is predominantly black, gets lesser attention.

"We have to do better as far as our appearance and that's what's killing us," said Pete Carter, a minister in the Westside, who asked at Tuesday night's City Commission meeting why Pettis Park remained closed even though the basketball court renovation appeared complete.

NSBNEWS.net video by Sera Frederick.The New Smyrna Beach City Commission said "thanks" Tuesday night to retiring Fire Chief Tim Hawver, who received a standing ovation.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Tim Hawver, New Smyrna Beach's fire chief for 12 years and a firefighter for parts of four decades, was recognized Tuesday night by the City Commission, less than a week after announcing his retirement.

Courtesy photo (left)/NSBNEWS.net photo (right). Saying she wants profitability in government spending and holding the line on taxes, Judy Reiker has announced that she is a candidate for the District 1 City Commission seat held by Randy Richenberg. Reiker's Web site is voteforjudynsb.com.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- With her campaign motto of "All together better!" Bouchelle Island resident Judy Reiker said she will challenge incumbent City Commissioner Randy Richenberg for his District 1 seat in the November elections.

NSBNEWS.net photo by Sera Frederick. Kevin Fall, project manager of the New Smyrna Beach Community Redevelopment Agency, informed city officials Tuesday night he expects the removal of arsenic-tainted soil at the former Dunn Lumber property at Canal Street and U.S. 1 to cost under $200,000 with available federal monies.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The city paid $417,000 to acquire the former Dunn Lumber property in January, viewed as the gateway to the city's tourism route at the intersection of West Canal Street and U.S. 1.

Courtesy photo. A Mass of the Ressurrection will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday for the Rev. Francis J. Browne, of Sacred Heart R.C. Church of New Smyrna Beach, who died Thursday. He was 66.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- A Mass of the Resurrection for Rev. Francis J. Browne, C.Ss.R., 66, who died Thursday, June 18, 2009 will be concelebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday, at Sacred Heart R.C. Church.

A Christian Wake service will be 7 p.m. Monday, at Sacred Heart. Burial will be Saturday,  in Mt. St. Alphonsus Cemetery, Esopus, N.Y.

June 20, 2009: Robert T. Bogosta Jr. and Amy D. Perin, Edgewater.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Even as the country endures a nasty recession, James Pendleton had no problem opening up his wallet and paying about 30 bucks for food and drinks for himself and his two young girls at Thursday's Seaside Fiesta on Flagler Avenue.

Courtesy photo/The Observer. Father Francis Browne, pastor at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in New Smyrna Beach, died Thursday. He was 66.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH – Father Francis Browne's love of the priesthood was unquestioned as was his favorite hobby: Fishing.

As first reported by The Observer newspaper, Browne, pastor of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in New Smyrna Beach since 2003, suffered a massive heart attack Thursday that resulted in his death while fishing with a friend, Paul Arnold of Edgewater, in Mosquito Lagoon near the Canaveral National Seashore when he was stricken in the boat. Browne was 66.