Business

PORT ORANGE -- Belk invites Florida charities, schools and other nonprofit organizations to participate in its Spring Charity Sale on May 1 at its brand new store at the Pavilion of Port Orange. The event will once again benefit communities throughout the company's 16-state market area, including the newest in Port Orange, off Interstate 95, a 10-minute drive north from New Smyrna Beach.

WASHINGTON DC -- Congresswoman Suzanne Kosmas, D-New Smyrna Beach (FL-24), announced that new, common-sense rules will go into effect today help protect credit card holders from a wide range of unfair practices.

Passenger traffic at Daytona Beach International Airport increased 23 percent in January compared to January of the previous year, Volusia County officials said.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The Utilities Commission now accepts Visa and MasterCard credit and debit cards for payment at the main office building, 200 Canal St., or online via E-Access customer account portal.

The E-Access link is available on the right hand side of the UCC page. In addition to paying your bill online, E-Access allows you to view past statements, order electronic delivery of bills, and make service requests. If you have any questions about getting started, please call Customer Service at 386-427-1361.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce will be very involved in the fundraising efforts at Mother Music Fest on May 8.

DAYTONA BEACH -- The Ocean Center has many exciting events on the calendar in early 2010, including the Lipizzaner Stallions Jan. 2, Harlem Globetrotters Feb. 23 and Jeff Dunham’s “Identity Crisis Tour 2010” March 17. Buy tickets at the Ocean Center box office or through Ticketmaster(800-745-3000) today.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Passenger traffic at Daytona Beach International Airport increased 12 percent in November 2009 compared with November 2008. The traffic increased from 29,300 to 32,853 passengers.

November’s traffic increase reflects the first month of passenger growth since June 2008, and may be an indicator of increased demand for commercial air transportation in the new year, according to airport officials.

Additionally, passenger loads were strong in November. Delta Air Lines filled 92 percent of available seats and US Airways filled 84 percent.

NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick.Several thousand people swarm Flagler Avenue on Thursday night for the second annual Shrimp and Seafood Festival that featured not only food samples and drinks, with prices maxed out at $5, but also displays of non-food items, lots  of music and activities  for children. Above, left two photos, people mill around. In the third photo, children play Twister. 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Thursday's second annual Shrimp and Seafood Festival on Flagler Avenue drew several thousand people and that made Southeast Volusia Chamber of Commerce President Robert Lott a happy man.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Are we going to climb out of this recession anytime soon? Not anytime soon, judging by local and national unemployment figures.

Though the national jobless rate dipped slightly from 9.4 percent in July from the 9.4 percent in June, according to Department of Labor Statistics reported by CNN with 247,000 net jobs lost, locally in Volusia and Flagler counties, July's jobless rate was 11.7 percent. That's almost double June's 6.8 percent and closer to May's 11.7 percent, according to Florida's Agency for Workforce Innovation.

FAST FACTS:
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June 1-17

New Smyrna Beach:

# KB Home Gold Coast LLC, 521 Aeolian Drive, single-family, $303,007.

# KB Homes, 537 Aeolian Drive, single-family, $303,007.

# Old Smyrna Land Co. LLC, 2665 Old Smyrna Circle, single-family, $284,763.

# John L. and Cheri D. Bennett, 650 Hidden Pines Blvd., single-family, $297,013.

# KB Homes, 536 Aeolian Drive, single-family, $189,277.

# Phyllis A. and James Le Tennyson, 545 Josie St., single-family, $129,655.