Top Dance Company Here Again in May

By Wilma Allen One of the most dazzling ensembles in last fall’s Amelia Island Dance [...]

Residents Aghast at Amelia Baptists’ PUD Proposal

By Mike Lednovich   Amelia Baptist Church held a neighborhood meeting Monday and revealed its [...]

8 Comments

Dear Readers: Prepare for Change

By Mike Phillips Observer Editor and Publisher In the coming weeks, you will start seeing [...]

9 Comments

Judge Sends City, Port Back to Mediation

By Mike Lednovich The seemingly never-ending legal wrangling over whether the Ocean Highway and Port [...]

2 Comments

O’Brien’s: A Bit of Grease, Good Fare, but You’d Better Like Beer

By Dylan Bailey An authentic Irish pub experience is a rarity in these parts. So, [...]

1 Comments

A Fruitful Whale Season Marred by Too Many Deaths

    By Lauri deGaris On April 11, 2024 the Amelia Island Whale Ambassadors threw [...]

2 Comments

Your Best Recipe Could Be in a New Amelia Cookbook

By Wilma Allen Area cooking enthusiasts are invited to submit their favorite recipes for “The [...]

Airport Touch-n-Pay Idea Meets Cheers — and Doubts

By Mike Lednovich Members of the city’s Airport Advisory Commission (AAC) faced a three-quarters-full meeting [...]

Antun Files for Mayor Position

City Commissioner James Antun has filed to run for Fernandina Beach Mayor. Antun was elected [...]

6 Comments

‘Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike’ Opening Soon at ACT

Christopher Durang’s award-winning comedy “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” opens April 18 at [...]

Pat’s Wildways: North Florida Wildlife Center

By Pat Foster-Turley In preparation for yet again another road trip to Florida’s Big Bend [...]

First Lower Density Step Taken in Race to Beat ‘Live Local’ Law

By Mike Lednovich In an effort to blunt revisions to Florida’s “Live Local Act,” which [...]

2 Comments

Review: ‘Songs of the Sea’ — and More Delights Coming

By Wilma Allen Make no mistake: creativity, talent, and cooperation are alive and well on [...]

2 Comments

Airport to Consider Automated Landing Fees That Would Discourage Touch and Gos

By Mike Lednovich Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport Director Sam Carver supports airplane landings fees as [...]

2 Comments

Commentary: Want to Cut Taxes? Look at Marina Subsidy

By Chip Ross City Commissioner Citizens want to cut taxes, but the subsidy of the [...]

9 Comments

A Good-Deed Effort Saves Two Special Camellias

By Mike Lednovich Local developer Todd Bates, who is planning to build four houses on [...]

2 Comments

Historical Society Program: George J.F. Clarke and the Creation of Fernandina

  James G. Cusick, the curator for the P.K. Yonge Library of Florida History in [...]

Another View of the Cross — And of a Christian Message

By Linda Hart Green Why don’t I wear a cross? You’d have to have known [...]

5 Comments

Akari Sushi Delivers a Unique Burrito Experience

By Dylan Bailey Akari Sushi, located just off from Centre Street, promises a delicious sushi [...]

Weeds? Look Again at a Bountiful, Useful Lawn

By Lauri deGaris According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a weed is a plant that is [...]

2 Comments

Pat’s Wildways: Gulf Specimen Marine Lab

By Pat Foster-Turley I’m always on the lookout for new column ideas, and over my [...]

2 Comments

Commentary: It’s Now or Never to Keep Our City Liveable

By Mike Lednovich The deadline is just six weeks away for candidacy in the Fernandina [...]

7 Comments

How will the FAA’s proposal impact Amelia Island?

By Mike Lednovich It won’t happen next week, next month, or even this year. But [...]

5 Comments

Commentary: Book-Banners Who Preach a War Between Good and Evil

By Linda Hart Green A number of books have been removed from Nassau County school [...]

43 Comments

The Surf Restaurant is a Wipeout

By Dylan Bailey The Surf Restaurant, a bar and beach motel standing since 1957, offers [...]

8 Comments

Pat’s Wildways: Backyard Bliss

By Pat Foster-Turley It’s my favorite time of year in our backyard. The air is [...]

1 Comments

City-Port Fuss Takes Another Step Toward Resolution

By Mike Lednovich The City of Fernandina Beach is done haggling with the Ocean Highway [...]

1 Comments

Yet Again, City Candidate Switches Seats

By Mike Lednovich City Commission candidate Charles A. (Tony) Morris has changed again to a [...]

19 Comments

It’s That Time to Build a Lifeguard Team

By Wilma Allen As days get longer and temperatures rise, Fernandina Beach’s Ocean Rescue Division [...]

1 Comments

A Journey Into the World of Falconry

  By Lauri deGaris Over the past few years, I have enjoyed sharing numerous picnics [...]

2 Comments

St. Peter’s Adds Another Tour Opportunity

Are you interested in Fernandina’s history and historic buildings? Join a free 45-minute tour sponsored [...]

Easter Isn’t About Eggs. It’s About Renewal

By Linda Hart Green Maybe, like me, you have driven by the site of the [...]

9 Comments

Magnolia’s Cafe: Rebranded, Moved and Even Better

By Dylan Bailey Magnolia’s Cafe is a new restaurant that has opened in Fernandina Beach. [...]

1 Comments

RYAM Invited to Tell Commission About Bioethanol Plans

By Mike Lednovich Interim City Manager Charlie George has been instructed to invite Rayonier Advanced [...]

3 Comments

Pat’s Wildways: Warming Up

By Pat Foster-Turley There is always something to catch my eye when I walk on [...]

Sturges Gets Indefinite Delay in Proposed Subdivision Changes

By Mike Lednovich At the urging of Vice Mayor David Sturges, the Fernandina Beach City [...]

9 Comments

Two Seat One Candidates for Commission

Charles A. (Tony) Morris is an announced candidate for Fernandina Beach City Commission Seat 1 [...]

12 Comments

Citizens Forming Up to Fight Bioethanol Plant

By Mike Lednovich Can David defeat Goliath one more time? A band of 150 hopeful [...]

14 Comments

Four Local Writers, Three Crime Stories and One Special Event

Amelia Island Writers presents a special event – When Crime Meets Truth and Imagination – [...]

Bretts and the City: No Love Lost

By Mike Lednovich While the owners of Brett’s Waterway Cafe want a big payday over [...]

Music Will Fill the Island Air This April

By Wilma Allen It isn’t just birds that will be singing this April. The island [...]

More Dr. Ruth Performances

Amelia Musical Theatre’s recent sold-out performance of “Becoming Dr. Ruth” is back for a limited [...]

Commentary: Six Short Lessons for Our School Board

By Mike Phillips The Nassau County School Board was treated Thursday evening to a lesson [...]

Ayscue Files to be Next City Mayor

Fernandina Beach City Commissioner Darron Ayscue has filed to run for mayor in the August [...]

Bioethanol Forum to be Held Monday — All Are Invited

By Mike Lednovich Plans for a bioethanol plant to be located at the Rayonier Performance [...]

At Bar Zin, Expect Luxury That You Won’t Forget

By Dylan Bailey A quaint bistro called Bar Zin is tucked away behind the lush [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Arizona Skies

By Pat Foster-Turley One of my main motivations for visiting southern Arizona with my brother [...]

RYAM Gets Initial Nod on Air Permit for Bioethanol Facility

By Mike Lednovich The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has notified RYAM that it plans [...]

Titanium Mine Hearing Finds Not a Single Supporter

By Paula Alford Not one supportive comment was heard on March 5, when more than [...]

It’s Time for Wildflowers — and Magic

  By Lauri deGaris This time of year, there is no surer sign of spring [...]

Charlie George Modifies His Intent to Step Down

By Mike Lednovich Fernandina Beach Interim City Manager Charlie George expounded on his comment last [...]

Commentary: Living With Grief Is a Long, Learning Process

By Linda Hart Green I exhale with relief when the date of March 6 passes. [...]

Lagniappe Cooks up a Little Something Extra

By Dylan Bailey Lagniappe takes inspiration from the flavors of New Orleans, Charleston, and Savannah. [...]

City Looking at Lower Density Numbers Downtown and Elsewhere

By Mike Lednovich Fernandina Beach city commissioners have agreed that city staff should make recommendations [...]

Waterfront Dispute Comes Down to a Park or More Parking Spaces

By Mike Lednovich The race is on to determine whether a waterfront park in Fernandina [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Arizona Underground

By Pat Foster-Turley There’s a lot going on underground in southern Arizona, the location of [...]

RYAM Open House a Friendly Affair

The crowd at the RYAM bioethanol open house Wednesday was mostly neighbors wondering about this [...]

It Might Feel Early, But the Time to Seek Office Is Upon Us

By  Suanne Thamm This year is a crucial political year for the city of Fernandina [...]

St. Marys Mine Hearing Available Via Zoom

By Paula Alford The quality of life for all of us living near the St. [...]

Commentary: Good Old Boys Versus the Public Good

By Mike Lednovich In the heart of Fernandina Beach, important decisions that shape our community’s [...]

Rotary’s Taste of Amelia is Coming March 9

The 37th Taste of Amelia event will showcase culinary treats from a variety of restaurants [...]

Coming Soon: A Coffee Place With a Mission

By Dylan Bailey If you’re a coffee connoisseur, there’s a new coffee shop on the [...]

Commentary: “Getting Older” Doesn’t Have to be “Getting Old”

By Dickie Anderson Approaching my 80th birthday this spring, I am determined to do everything [...]

Commentary: It’s Nassau’s River Also. Pay Attention!

By Emily Floore, St. Marys Riverkeeper On February 9, 2024, Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Talking Turkey

By Pat Foster-Turley There is an avian mystery happening on Amelia Island, and maybe someone [...]

Commentary: The Riverstone Battle is Far From Over

By Lyn Panone On April 23, 2023, Nassau County Commissioners Martin, Huppman, Gray and Farmer [...]

A Fateful Deliberation Continues Over Potential Density Changes

By Mike Lednovich Like the scientists in the film Oppenheimer who grappled with the potential [...]

City-County Soccer Field Deal Nears Completion

By Mike Lednovich Nassau County will contribute up to $1.7 million to help Fernandina Beach [...]

City Seeks Grants to Cover Public Safety Shortages

By Mike Lednovich Fernandina Beach’s Fire Department Chief and Police Chief told city commissioners their [...]

Is the Bioethanol Proposal Legal? Expert Opinion Sought

By Mike Lednovich Fernandina Beach City Attorney Tammi Bach says she is seeking an outside [...]

Commentary: When the Joy of Reading Crosses Paths With the Censors

By Linda Hart Green I do 75% of my seeing out of my right eye. [...]

Want to Know More about the Bioethanol Proposal?

RYAM has issued an invitation to an open house at its 10 Gum St. facility [...]

Fusion Ramen Causes a Stir in Yulee

By Dylan Bailey If you’re a fan of ramen, you’ll be thrilled to know that [...]

Go Figure: Park Discussion Was All Over the Waterfront

By Mike Lednovich Hodgepodge perfectly describes what happened during discussion Tuesday on what began as [...]

Commentary: An Interview With Johnnetta Betsch Cole

By April L. Bogle Johnnetta Betsch Cole’s lineage alone could fill a book. She is [...]