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Good morning, New Smyrna! In today’s edition: Harlem Globetrotters, Teacher of the Year reveal, VoTran On Demand app, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Community aid sparks fresh start: A Port Orange woman moved into a new mobile home after a local hurricane relief program stepped in. Transform386 has helped more than 220 families and is assisting hundreds more — learn how the program helps.
Spotlight on standout educators: Volusia County Schools will name its 2027 Teacher of the Year at a Jan. 10 dinner. Five finalists are in the running, including Galaxy Middle School’s Matthew Pellegrino of Deltona — get all the details.
Transit made more predictable: Volusia County launched the VoTran On Demand app to help riders plan trips and track buses. Paratransit users can manage rides now, with expanded features coming for more passengers — get all the details.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since this month last year. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Grants and plans under review: The Volusia County ECHO Advisory Committee meets today at 9 a.m. in the County Council Chambers at the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center in DeLand. The agenda includes 2026 grant cycle updates, a 2025 Work Plan and Annual Report review, two grant rescissions, three reimbursements, and an updated DCE Plan. See what’s on the agenda.
Indoor energy release: Need a low-stress spot for littles to climb, bounce, and play while you sip something decent? In nearby Port Orange, Bizy Beaver Indoor Playground offers a jump pad, multi-level structures, a toddler zone, a calming corner, and a small coffee bar…clean, friendly, and firmly socks-on.
Your year‑round court fix: With three indoor and three outdoor courts, City Gym makes it easy to sneak in a game this week, no sunburn excuses. City-run, well kept, and tucked between the library and Live Oak, it’s great for casual doubles or a low-pressure solo drill.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now, you’ll get three free gifts, AND you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.
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📆 Around town this week
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
🎨 School’s Out for Art: Comic Strip Workshop @ Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens | Monday (1/5) at 2:00 PM – School’s out, art’s in. Send your 5 to 12-year-olds to a comic strip workshop where they’ll swap screen time for ink, with all supplies included, and you’ll keep the kitchen table clean. Seats are limited, so register early; members save, everyone wins.
🌿 Conservation Cement Workshop: Posh @ Marine Discovery Center | Tuesday (1/6) at 9:00 AM – Skip the treadmill and get useful with an oyster reef build for Indian River Lagoon. You’ll shovel shell, mix cement, and pour cement-coated oyster shell units, then wear splatter like a badge. Wear grubby clothes, bring water and sun protection, masks, eye protection required, 16+.”
🏝 Puerto Rico Yoga Retreat @ Kula Yoga Studio | Tuesday (1/6) at 10:00 AM – Consider this your permission slip to leave the to-do list behind and stretch in Puerto Rico. Four nights, five days, three yoga classes daily, breakfast and dinner included, coastal digs, real connection, zero guilt. $1,650 covers it, $750 locks it in, limited spots.
🦎 Chameleon Watercolor Paint Class @ Victoria Meeting Center | Wednesday (1/7) at 11:00 AM – This beginner-friendly watercolor class keeps it easy with a pre-drawn, brightly colored chameleon, all supplies, and simple techniques. Come relax, learn a few basics, and leave with a wall-worthy lizard you never have to feed, or explain. Grab a spot here: https://square.link/u/6lQfXZ6M
🏀 Harlem Globetrotters @ Ocean Center | Wednesday (1/7) at 7:00 PM – Whether you grew up watching the Globetrotters on TV or just appreciate a proper hook shot with confetti, snag last-minute seats through Gametime at the Ocean Center. Expect ball wizardry, dad-joke humor, and squeaky sneakers, the kind of fun that actually entertains the whole crew.
🌊 Outreach: Twelve National Historic Landmark Lighthouses @ New Smyrna Beach Regional Library | Thursday (1/8) at 2:00 PM – Swing by the New Smyrna Beach Regional Library for a deep dive into twelve National Historic Landmark lighthouses, including our beloved Ponce Inlet. Nerd out over Fresnel lenses, salty lore, and gorgeous architecture, without climbing a single spiral stair.
🍷 Trinchero Family Estates Wine Dinner @ Norwood’s Restaurant & Treehouse Bar | Friday (1/9) at 7:00 PM – Whether you know Trinchero Family Estates from Napa weekends or just trust a good pour, this wine dinner brings five courses paired with six beautiful wines. Yes, six, because restraint is overrated. Expect thoughtful pairings, grown-up conversation, and the kind of evening you actually remember.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📻 New Smyrna report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 75°F – Low: 56°F – Precip: 12%
Patchy fog before 9am. Partly sunny. High near 75, with temperatures falling to around 71 in the afternoon. North wind around 5 mph. Later: Areas of fog after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. West northwest wind 0 to 5 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 77°F – Low: 56°F – Precip: 4%
Areas of fog before 9am. Sunny, with a high near 77. Southwest wind around 5 mph. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 56. South southwest wind around 5 mph.
This house is wild
Nearly 2,200 square feet of light filled living above a trickling backyard creek. Beautiful hardwoods, updated fixtures, and a flexible plan include a lower level suite with its own bath and private deck for multigenerational living or guests.
Outdoors brings a fenced yard, a sweet greenhouse, colorful gardens, and a dedicated fire pit. A large outbuilding suits a workshop or she shed, and there is still a two car garage. Finished basement hangout space adds extra room. A stocked community lake sits a short walk away. Septic recently pumped and inspected in July. No HOA. Set on an oversized corner lot at the end of a quiet cul de sac.
Take a peek inside →
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