Pancake Breakfast

The Edgewater Fire Rescue will hold its Pancake Breakfast on March 5th from 7am-11am.  The menu will consist of pancakes, sausage, scrambled eggs, juice, coffee or tea.  All this food for only $5!

The breakfast will be held at the Fire Association Hall at 2616 Hibiscus in Edgewater.  Tickets are available at the door and takeouts will be available.

Marine Discovery Center Spring Break Camp

Marine Discovery Center will be holding Spring Break Camps the week of March 14-March 18 at the center located on the North Causeway. It is for children 6 - 14 years of age and runs from 8a-3pm. They do have options for extended care hours if you work. The cost is $150.00 and you must register by March 11th. Contact Chad for more information!

Don't Quit

 
Those of you that read this blog more than once a week know my son plays baseball, he has played some form of organized baseball since he was about 7 years old, so about half his life. For the last year he has played on what we could be considered the New Smyrna Beach Cuda's "Farm Team". It is a program organized by the Varsity Coaching Staff at NSB High. Led mainly by Kenny Lutz these coaches put together a program that includes strength training, endurance, grade checks and promotes good sportsmanship and basically being a better overall person.

My son had played with pretty much the same group of kids for the last year, being the "pilot project" and playing in the Central Florida Baseball League (Great teams) they have lost every single game since last summer.(they play year round with a break for Christmas) It has been a humbling, character building experience for these kids. I did not know how much until yesterday.

Prior to the game our coach told the kids one of our players had quit the team. Apparently he was tired of losing and was going to play with a team in another region that wins games. Wow, really?

So after basically being told that one of their own no longer wanted to play with them because they were losers, these boys went on to come perilously close to winning the game, they tied in the bottom of the 6th inning. The game was called for the 2 hour time limit or I believe they would have won. They certainly outplayed their opponents and had plenty to be proud of.

In the truck on the way home I asked my son about the player who quit.  He gave me "the look", you know the one, the look a 14 year old gives you when he thinks you are totally nuts. He said, "Mom, you don't quit because you are losing, that is just stupid." Keeping in mind, he does not play every inning, he does not start every game, but he goes out there every day, practices, works hard and is part of "the team". You don't quit because you are losing. That says it all. I can stop writing now.

2011 Bike Week

It is that time again, Bike Week. The Official Website of Bike Week has all the details. Motorcycle Event News also is a great site that features all kind of motorcycle news including complete Bike Week events and details. Bike Week runs March 4th through March 13th and events are held throughout Volusia County.

Get out and enjoy the weather, the noise and support your local business!

Dolphin Discovery Challenge Golf Tournament

Grab a friend and plan to support the Marine Discovery Center Education Programs with a fun day of golf! March 12, 2011 at Hidden Lakes Golf Club, contact Hidden Lakes to register and get more information on the MDC website.

Support the Cuda's - Subscribe to the Paper

Now you can support the Cuda's Baseball Program and get the News-Journal at the same time! Any new subscription purchased will put money directly into the baseball program at New Smyrna Beach High School. The Baseball program now features teams from 7th grade on up to Varsity and supports a positive attitude, good grades and sportsmanship.

There are three ways to subscribe-fill out this form and email it, or email me and I will give you our fax number. You can also call the News-Journal at 877-777-6673 and say Cuda's to get your new subscription started today.

Around Town-Weekend Events

Plenty to do this weekend and gorgeous weather to do it in! The Art Fiesta is this weekend at Old Fort Park. Art Walk on Flagler Ave on Saturday from 10am-5pm. The Garlic Restaurant has a Concert in the Courtyard on Sunday at 5pm. SoNapa has entertainment on Saturday. Toni and Joe's has entertainment on Saturday from 1pm-7pm. Get out and enjoy this great weather and support your local business!

Support Cuda's Softball

Come out to NSB High School on Saturday, February 26th at 12 noon and support The Lady Cudas. There will be food, music, games, cotton candy, dunking booth (with head coach Anna Cindric in it!) and a softball game vs Atlantic High beginning at 2:00.

Please come out and support this event that is open to everyone in the community! The luau is free to enter and gates for the softball game open at 1:30 with a $5 entry fee that includes 2 free luau game tickets.

Please support our local athletes in their fundraisers this year!

Art Fiesta

The 49th Annual Art Fiesta will be held this weekend in Old Fort Park in New Smyrna Beach. Over 200 artists and vendors from around the world come to New Smyrna Beach to share their work. Speaking of great art the photo above is by Captain Kimo, you can see more fantastic work by Captain Kimo right here.

Hawaiian Open & Luau

 Thursday, February 24th, head on over to Flagler Avenue for the Hawaiian Open & Luau. There will be an 18 Hole Putt Putt golf course, Polynesian Dancers and Hawaiian Roast Pork, food and craft vendors.

If you want to play sign up at any one of the 3 golf registration tents located along Flagler Avenue.  Admission is $10 to play.  The entry fee Includes 18 holes of putt putt golf and a gift bag with freebies and discounts.  Golf balls and putters will be provided at each hole.  .   

Grand Prize: Players who complete 18 holes of putt putt golf may deposit their score cards into the drawing boxes at the 3 sign up tents.  Grand Prize and additional prize winners will be pulled from these cards at the end of the night. GRAND PRIZE is a trip for two to Hawaii including airfare voucher and hotel.  Additional runner-up prizes include free rounds of golf at local golf courses.  Golfers must be 21+ with ID to play and to win there will be no exceptions

Support your local business!

Green Winters Nursery-Permaculture Presentation

There was a segment on the news last night about our food bills climbing to ridiculous levels so this event is quite timely. Jenny Nazak a local permaculture expert and promoter is speaking at Green Winters Nursery in Ormond Beach on Saturday, February 19th at 2pm. Green Winters is a local organic nursery with seedlings, plants and supplies. There is no charge for the presentation and it should be interesting and informative for anyone interested in organic gardening and sustainable living. They are located at 147 Tomoka Ave in New Smyrna Beach,

Jenny Nazak has studied and practiced sustainable gardening and design in many parts of the world, mainly in central Texas, which shares a lot in common with central Florida in terms of climate, soils, and other features. She holds a Permaculture Design Certificate from the US Permaculture Institute and a Certificate in Earth Based Vocations from EcoVersity in Santa Fe NM. Permaculture is an integrated approach to designing sustainable, high-yield, low-maintenance living environments by deliberately mimicking patterns found in nature.

You can contact Jenny by clicking on her name or calling 512-619-5363.

Belong

There is a new Women's Community Outreach Group starting in our area. "Belong" is for women young and old. They will meet every second Tuesday of the month in the Venetian Bay Club House, which is at 63 N. Airport Rd. in New Smyrna Beach. Each month with feature an event, a speaker or in some cases both! This group will also do community outreach, fundraisers and take on other positive projects.

The very first meeting will be March 8th beginning at 11:30am and running until 1:30pm. The cost is 13.00 and includes lunch. The March luncheon will feature speaker Joyce Harris who is a Certified Tea & Herbal Specialist.

If you are new to the area this is a great way to meet women in the area, if you are not a new resident it is an excellent way to get involved and get to know some new people while learning new information AND helping the community!

If you would like more information please email Marianne.

River Quest Charity Challenge

 This sounds like a unique and fun event all for a great cause! The River Quest Charity Challenge is a race of running and/or walking which includes trivia, obstacles and challenges that requires participants to exhibit teamwork, resourcefulness, determination and the ability to make decisions on the fly as they search for the River Quest Check Points scattered in unknown locations throughout the city. The event begins with teams of two or four receiving a clue at each checkpoint. They must solve the clue in order to reach their next destination. There will be a variety of physical and mental challenges.

The evening of the River Quest Charity Challenge will include a sit-down dinner at Sugar Mill Country Club at 6:00 PM. Mark Pinhasovich, at home winner of The Biggest Loser season 10, and his winning cousin Merav Fiorella will be speaking. Costs are below and registration forms and complete details can be found on their website.


 
Registration Information
Teams of 2 - $50 until 2/15; $60 2/16-26; $70 2/27-3/5
Teams of 4 - $90 until 2/15; $100 2/16-26; $110 2/27-3/5
Dinner Only - $30 until 2/15; $35 2/16-26; $40 2/27-3/5

Wonderland Theatre~Spring Break Camp

If you are starting to think about Spring Break and your kids are interested in the performing arts the Little Theatre of New Smyrna Beach is holding Spring Break Camp at their facility on 3rd Avenue. The camp is March 14-18th. They are offering two camps one for children age 7 - 12 and another for the teens age 13-17. Full information can be found on their website including online registration. Registration is required and can also be completed at their Box Office. Hard to believe Spring Break is almost here but it is!

Around Town~Weekend Events

Not sure where this week went and how it got to be Thursday already.....but the weekend is around the corner.....there is plenty to do. Support your local Farmer's Markets located on Canal Street in New Smyrna Beach and Turgot Ave in Edgewater.

Also this weekend is the Heart to Heart Challenge  in New Smyrna Beach and Show What You Know Day in Samsula. Both benefits support great local causes.

East Coast Cruiser Night is this Saturday from 4-8pm on Canal Street, great fun and great cars!

There is a some great racing going on and you don't have to go all the way to Daytona to see it. Check out the action at the New Smyrna Speedway!

The Kiwanis Clubs annual Strike it Rich Party is this Saturday at Brannon Center beginning at 6pm.

Whatever you do this weekend, enjoy! Support your local business!

YMCA Spring Soccer

The Southeast Volusia YMCA is holding Spring Soccer  registration now through February 27th. Practice begins the week of March 14th and the season starts March 25th. It is for children ages 4-15 and full information and registration forms can be found on the website. You can also stop by the Y at 148 W. Turgot in Edgewater for more information.

Got Junk?

The New Smyrna Beach Cudas, JV Baseball Team is holding a Rummage Sale on Saturday, February 19th from 8am-2pm in the Ace Hardware Parking Lot on US1 in New Smyrna Beach. If you are doing Spring cleaning and have items to donate please leave a comment or email me and I will put you in touch with the players that will come and pick it up. Pickup will be between February 14th and 18th. Once you get rid of your junk please come by and buy more junk to replace the junk you got rid of!


Please support your local sports programs!

Support Hope Reins

HOPE REINS AND MARCODY RANCH PRESENT

THE 2nd ANNUAL SHOW WHAT YOU KNOW DAY

Show what you know day is great fun for horse lovers of all ages. This is a chance to enjoy some great riding, food and fun while supporting the programs at Hope Reins Therapeutic Riding. Of course you can also see my gorgeous daughter and her faithful (and slightly crazy) horse Marco ride in several of the events. Information on the event is below!

DATE: Saturday February 12th, 2011

TIME: Beginning at 10 AM

LOCATION: Marcody Ranch - 3805 Pioneer Trail - New Smyrna Beach

JUMPING!  BARREL RACING! DRILL TEAMS!  ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!RAFFLE!  BAKE SALE!

Suggested Donations are $5 for adults and $2 for children.

Food and refreshments will be available. 

Proceeds go directly into a Therapeutic Riding Scholarship Fund

Marcody Ranch is located exactly ½ mile east of Tomoka Farms Road (415), on the south side of Pioneer Trail.  Call 424-0123 for more information or just come and enjoy the show!