Community Bloggers

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- When I was growing up in Edgewater and going to private school, I didn't  come into contact with many African-Ameicans. However, I will point out  that the first crush I ever had was on a black girl named Tiffany.

One of the hazards of living in Florida are the throngs of long lost friends and relatives who want to “visit." Needless to say, my winter guest list has accelerated since I moved to Ponce Inlet.

We left the Orlando Peabody Hotel Friday evening and quick-stepped over to the Rosen Center for a “Meet and Greet” with Presidential candidate Herman Cain. It was scheduled to begin at 7:30 but delayed while management set up a room twice as large to hold the excited Republicans. And still the crowd spilled over.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- As I drove two of my daughters to New Smyrna Beach High School on Monday, May 9, I saw a sign on the building: "FOR SALE." I thought, "Ha! That's a good one."

It was carefully tied 20 feet above the ground. I laughed when I saw that the 2011 senior class took credit for it. Of course, this is the school prank of 2011 that seniors traditionally leave behind.

Jim Tager, principal of the high school said he doesn't know who did it. He's glad this year's prank was not anything destructive. His biggest worry was how high off the ground it was placed by someone.

It would seem that a cherry picker type of vehicle would have done it because of the slope on the roof below it and the height of the rope tied, but I don't think the school should focus on who did it.

My daughters saw rubber ducks in the school's pond one recent year. As long as no one is hurt and there is no property damage I think this is a fun way to have the school administration, students and teachers to remember each unique group of graduates.

NSBNews.net photo / Deposed Daytona State College President Kent Sharples gives the thumbs up Nov. 18, after a separation-retirement agreement is announced by board Chairman John Tanner, shown here at left.

Daytona State College is in a world of hurt over $1.5 million taxpayer dollars used to pay the bills the Community Cultural Foundation incurred last summer when planned concerts failed to generate either public interest or money from ticket sales. Mayor Glen Ritchey's plan to bring back the LSO as a remedy is nothing short of a delusion.

EDGEWATER -- I saw a recent report from ABC News' Diane Sawyer that I found troubling: Our 4 million miles of roads ranks us 20th in the world behind places like Malaysia due to deterioration and poor maintenance. How sad is that?

I was a bit taken aback that someone even had done a ranking of road conditions in the countries of the world, but was not terribly surprised to hear this country wasn’t doing very well. Most states I have been in have many poor roads causing accidents due to pot holes, narrow shoulders, fraying asphalt and other factors.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- In a minute, we'll have a commercial break. Below this press release about a concert that I am doing in benefit of the Artist Workshop here in new Smyrna Beach, you'll find a little life story of that wonderful organization right here in your own back yard.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- New home construction got a boost in the third quarter for the Central Florida area. Builders started work on 1,163 single-family homes in the metropolitan area of Orlando. This is an upward bounce compared to last year's figure of around 900 new homes.

Myth No. 1: We only use 10 percent of our brain.

Here's the truth: Brain imaging studies using PET scans and functional MRI show that any mentally complex activity uses many areas of the brain, and over a day, just about all of the brain gets a workout. More proof that the entire brain is crucial for daily life is the devastating impact of damage to even a small area of the brain.

EDGEWATER -- Our teens, as bright, quick witted, and cheek-pinching loveable they are, are truly not qualified to talk back. Qualification stems from years of learning and experience on your part as a parent and former teenager.