Henry Frederick's blog

Welcome to 2009, a new year filled with promise. When the sun rises each day, there's always hope. Well, the Volusia County countdown of the top 100 stories is coming along, slower than anticipated, but Rome wasn't built in a day either. We're close to reaching the midpoint. When we finish this, it's on to the top 100 stories of 2008 for Southeast Volusia.

The results of both countdowns should spark plenty of debate as rankings often do.

We'll also have our individual accolades for "outstanding young person of the year," "outstanding public servant" and "citizen of the year."

Newsflash: I was working on the Top 100 stories for Volusia County at 2 this morning when I took a break to watch "The Fresh Prince" on Nick At Night. I was stunned with the four ALERTS that ran across the screen announcing Time Warner and Bright House customrs were losing this chanel as well as 18 others, including MTV, V-H1, TV Land and Comedy Central -- all belonging to Viacom. Apparently this tkes effect Jan. 1. I am stunned. I jumperd back online and started searching for stories on the subject.

What were the top stories in Volusia County in 2008? How about in Southeast Volusia? We'll have these answered for you starting Christmas Day, beginning with the countdown of the top 100 stories of 2008 in Volusia County, culminating with the top story on New Year's Day. Then we will begin the top 100 stories of 2008 in greater New Smyrna Beach. In addition, we will feature an Outstanding Young Person of the Year as well as the Citizen of the Year and Public Servant of the Year. The individual recognition is not necessarily positive or negative, but rather based on news value and impact on the community.

These are our plans for closing 2008 and welcoming everyone to an even better NSBNEWS.net in 2009. We will be much more aggressive and focused in our coverge of local news in 2009, including more expansive countywide news.

I'm dreaming of a warm Christmas, not like the cold days we've had of late. Where the sun is glistening and the temperature is blistering, just like it was a couple weeks ago.

I hate cold weather. I hate bronchitis and asthma that comes with it. I moved to the Sunshine State because of the warmth. The weather forecasters say it should hit the 70s by Christmas. That's more to my liking. It just doesn't seem like Christmas this year, any way. At least not the way the economy is going. It just seems so trivial shopping for gifts.

I've only owned three "American" cars in my driving history: a 1976 Buick Sky-hawk, a 1993 Ford Escort and a 2001 Chevrolet Cavalier. All were less than stellar, though the Sky-hawk, the only one that wasn't new -- a 10-year-old rust bucket -- when I bought it, lasted the longest. I've had much better luck with two Mazda RX-7s, a Mazda Miata, all Japanese, and my current vehicle, the German-made sports car, Audi TT. Let's face it: The Big 3 automakers of Detroit wouldn't need a $34 billion bailout if we bought their vehicles.

But why should we?

It's a good day to look at the "Good, the Bad and the Ugly" of our journalism competition.

The good goes to the weekly Observer for a touching story on a local man who lit up Christmas spirits for many years. The bad goes to NSBshadow.com for its bad to the bone story on Clay Henderson and his telephone conversations with City Commissioner Randy Richenberg and the ugly to the Daytona Beach News-Journal for its two days-late, 75 cents too-much story on an elderly woman rescued by deputies.

Today is Thanksgiving -- a day for personal reflection. It gives us the opportunity to take stock in where we are in life and where we are headed. It's also a time to think about the needs of others. And to appreciate what we have. That is so important in these tough economic times.

The game was over and they cried. Two young men drenched in sweat and tears knelled on the football field -- perhaps for the final time, competitively. Maybe not. College, the pros? Who knows? But on this windy, Friday night under the bright lights and a full moon, these seniors cleansed their souls and went out winners.

Such is the purity of high school football. The atmosphere of pride, cheers and glory. But the 'Cudas players weren't the only ones to shed tears after the big win over playoff-bound DeLand, 21-13. Cheerleaders, Showdolls and the band rocked the night at New Smyrna Beach Municipal Stadium in front of the home faithful.

It's hard to believe the news any more or maybe it's just that it is so depressing. For example, it turns out that nearly half the bail-out money for Wall Street is being re-directed. Makes you wonder if what's already been allotted was wasted.

If ever this country needed change, it is now and what better man for the job than Barack Obama. Finally, America has a person of color in the White House. Election 2008 truly was a historic election. I don't have anything bad to say about John McCain, the Vietnam War hero who waged an uphill battle almost from the onset of the primaries when his campaign was out of money and in disarray. With the looming recession and uncertainty about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, change was inevitable. Even though McCain tabbed Sarah Palin, he couldn't shake the connection to George W. Bush.