New Smyrna Beach, FL


An autobiography is a funny thing. It is an historical document, of sorts; written by the
person who experienced it.
“Fact or fiction? Powering down a PC via the power button will harm it”
While Europe has been leading the way for decades, America is catching up, fast. Increasingly, Americans are going solo.
Welcome New Members!
For nearly a century, The Observer newspaper served Southeast Volusia; a chronicle of the things which went on here...
“Rob,” said a favorite uncle of mine over the phone in the early months of 1974, “Sears share prices are about to shoot up
Composed for this year's NSB Balloon & SkyFest Rally Program - Mar 23 - 25, 2012
We kids in the Burns car could smell the acrid smoke of burning tires from more than a half-mile back.
You see fewer and fewer of them each year, Hawaiian shirts.
I recently read this press release from Progress Energy the other day; here it is for you to peruse
I get into a lot of homes and businesses every week, and invariably the question comes up about just how long I’ve been fixing things.
Hope everyone’s enjoying the spectacular weather we’ve had this past week.
What could they possibly have in common?
OK, where were we? Oh yeah, talking about electronic devices.
If you own or have access to a television set, you probably know by now that this is an election year.
Known county-wide as “Mother Art”, having dedicated decades to bringing the classic arts to the largest audience possible, tempting all to feast from the buffet of arts available in every Volusia County community, especially pro-quality displays of original student, just plain kids’ works, this champion of the arts was the real thing.
Good thing that I walked the ocean shoreline, swam parallel with the land mass and tossed a line off the dock during the daylight today.
Lounging - on the river-facing porch hammock; reading
Whether in need of a new appliance or one’s component parts, it’s worth a yuletide stopover at N. Dixie Freeway’s Murphey Appliance just to get in the Christmas spirit.
The elections are finalized; a new Board of Directors has been voted by the membership and ratified by the Board of Directors.
The Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce partnered with the New Smyrna Beach High School to provide the business community with the Academy Showcase;
With great honor, it is my pleasure to announce our newest member of the Chamber of Commerce team; Rebecca Collins
Everyone that attended Friday’s seminar is truly inspired by the tools that they learned.


Birth of a New Tradition
The bashing of large corporations has taken center stage in the debate over their excessive greed and obscene, outlandish remuneration for their CEOs, and this writer has been one of those bashers.
Annually I experience the same odd weekend in late January or early February void of understanding the fascination of watching steroidal, beast-like millionaires engage in gladiator activities on a Sunday evening.
This week Congress failed to gain the needed 2/3rds majority in the House to pass the Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution.
In main menu click on Columnist / Political Columnist / Jim Jollie or Click Here
I grow weary of hearing about how impossible it is to find a job.
When a business is looking for a CEO they must go through an extensive interview process.
In every presidential election the incumbent warns that we need to "stay the course" and the challenger professes "change".
We have evolved into a society that assumes no responsibility for our own actions.
One might suppose it is a good night when, while at your 45th high school reunion, you are called a Socialist only once.
More reasons why Wall Street is being occupied…
Those Wall Street protesters occupying lower Manhattan are not giving up any time soon.
Herman Cain’s recent comments in response to the Occupy Wall Street protestors
Recently a letter to the editor came to my attention, blaming unions for driving industries to other countries, resulting in the destruction of employment opportunities in this country.
At dinner last week my friend Scott shared comments from a seminar he delivered to MBA students about entrepreneurship.
“I don’t think you’re a doom and gloomer; your pragmatic.”
When I reflect on Christmas a montage of memories fill my head.
Every day the world around seems to get crazier.
Americans tend to bury their heads in the sand when it comes to government. Sadly a majority cannot name the Vice President, and certainly not the Secretary of State or the Speaker of the House.
I love football: Go Bucs! I tend to yell at the TV and go crazy when they score.
What an amazing turn of events to watch the Occupy Wall Street crowd starting to behave in the manner in which they decry.
Recently, our Vice-President commented that violent crime such as rapes and murders will continue to increase across the U.S. unless Congress passes the President’s American Jobs Act.
The Tea Party’s arguments are starting to take shape
Sebastian and I stick with Dad on Sunday afternoons because we know he’s going to play fetch with us at half time.
Every culture has their rituals for the new year and they all make sense to me.
I'm in Weirsdale,FL, the heart of Florida, with miles of orange trees and I'm getting ready to interview Grammy Award winning Country Music Legend Crystal Gayle.
“I am an animal lover and I wanted to do something to help all the animals.”
Mango’s Corner has been honoring people in the Southeast Volusia area for the impact they have on animals.
This week I want to talk about a strange thing that my brother, Sebastian, does.
Howloween is just around the corner and it’s my favorite time of year.
I received an email and the writer asked me a question I wasn’t sure how to answer.
This is the time of year when churches all over Southeast Volusia will be having their Blessing of the Animals.
I don't want much for Christmas
On one of those rainy days I decided to make some soup and looked in my vegetable bins. Butternut squash...perfect.
I have so many kitchen gadgets and yet I can always find one I don’t have.
When I shared that I was driving to Michigan my friend Susanne asked if I could bring back some dried cherries.
After all, what is Thanksgiving without left-overs?
The O’Jays are hot…actually they’ve had 50 years of hotness and awards in every area, like Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, BET Lifetime Achievement Award, and so many more.
For a kid, there’s nothing that’s been as exciting as the circus!
I watch part of Ben Vereen’s sound check and it doesn’t take long to realize you are standing in front of someone who is a professional.
I met with Jared Blake in Daytona Beach, during his tour.
Shaquille made a bet with me. He bet I was the only one in the room that had read his book.
It was a sad day July 31st when a shy, skittish, Annie Oakley accidently slipped out the door while the door was answered by the pet sitter.
I often think about what goes through the minds of our animals as they wait for the right person to come in and take them home.
The summer time of long grass, sprays, and bugs can be hard on our furry friends.
As the “Dog Days of Summer” give way to the cooler days of Fall, an exciting time begins for the animals of Southeast Volusia Humane Society.
The month of September has been a busy time for Southeast Volusia Humane Society. The best part is it made way for many of our animals to find forever homes.
WESH-TV Chief Meteorologist, Tony Monolfi, arrived at Burns Sci-Tech today at 11:00 a.m. to meet members of the school weather team, and to speak with students about the field of meteorology, the scientific study of the atmosphere.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH GARDEN CLUB has the most outstanding group of ladies that I have had the privilege of meeting in a long time.
Oak Hill is going to the Volusia County Fair
Today the Oak Hill community welcomes those participating in the Ride 2 Recovery – Florida Challenge, presented by United Healthcare, in partnership with the Military and Veterans Administration.
One Saturday while cleaning up the playground, Randon walked over to the rusty old bike rack where he remembered storing his bicycle.
October has been proclaimed as National Bullying Prevention Month.
Mike Arman was busy last weekend, as he and wife, Ela Lugo, attended the 100 Year Star Ship Convention at the Orlando Hilton.
This past Saturday night NSB hosted our annual Christmas Street Parade and Boat Parade. Let me tell you a story about the days gone by.
Daytona hosted a very large and well attended car show this past weekend.
The Bald eagle is a large, powerful, brown bird with a white head and tail.
I really don’t understand the state that our world is in these days. I watch hard working folks losing their incomes or a portion of it. I watch them lose their homes, cars, and standard of living.
The Butterfly Rainforest is located on the campus of the University of Florida in Gainesville.
Ever share things? I have a large family and so the idea that I could actually have something all to myself was a learned phenomenon.
Halloween has just passed and the big holidays are soon upon us.
The holidays can be a time of added stress as we prepare for Christmas and the New Year.
When you see someone you know what do you do? You smile, right?
When are we truly alone? Most of us are so accustomed to being around others that being alone is sometimes a luxury.
I know that most of you have heard stories of life after death. Some of you have been told these stories or experienced events in your life that tell you it is true.
Human beings need to be touched, often and lovingly.
For a moment take a deep conscious breath, relax your body, close your eyes mindfully and ponder the experience of “appreciative joy.
Yoga has become main stream in the United States
Yoga practice and discipline have roots that are ancient.
When two entirely different publications arrived at my home this week declaring the dangers of salt, I decided to share the information with my readers.
Andre and Bernard Baran, Brothers Nutrition, have certainly left their imprint on our community. After thirty years of service, they are saying goodbye and embarking on a new journey.