Submitted by John Bond
August 24, 2019 11:00 p.m.
Editor’s Note: John Bond’s home base since 1984 is Denver, Colorado but with family in the area, he is a frequent visitor to Amelia Island. John’s hobby is photography and he enjoys capturing the beauty of Amelia Island. We thank John for his contribution to the Fernandina Observer.
By John Haughey
The Center Square
August 24, 2019 – 2:30 p.m.
Florida has become the 30th state to join the Electronic Registration Information Center [ERIC], a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit that uses information from motor vehicle departments, Social Security Administration records and other databases to cross-reference voter registration across member states.
“One of my administration’s top priorities is protecting the integrity of Florida’s elections, which is why joining ERIC is the right thing to do for our state as it will ensure our voter rolls are up-to-date and it will increase voter participation in our elections,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday. “We are confident that by improving the accuracy of our voter rolls, we will reduce the potential for voter fraud.”
ERIC, which is governed by a board of directors consisting of elections officials from member states – its chair is Nevada Deputy Secretary for Elections Wayne Thorley – says on its website that it offers “a streamlined process of verifying voter eligibility less expensive and more accurate than previous systems.”
Membership allows Florida elections officials to crosscheck voter registration data with the other 29 member states to identify duplicate registrations and outdated records from voters who have moved or passed away. Continue reading
Re-submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
August 24, 2019
[Note: This piece was originally published last weekend, but due to technical problems it disappeared. At least that’s what we think. Or could it have been sabotaged by gator rivals??]
Wendy Langley got quite a surprise recently when she stepped out onto her pool deck and found a young alligator taking a cooling dip on a hot day in the Langleys’ swimming pool.
A call for help quickly brought Sgt. Edwards from the Sheriff’s Department to the scene as well as a Florida Fish and Wildlife trapper who relocated the rambunctious reptile to a more natural habitat at a location further away … perhaps Gainesville?
The gator had been hanging around the Langleys’ house for some time. On at least one previous occasion Wendy had spotted him walking the grounds. She said that two weeks earlier the gator had been cooling off under their car. “Gil backed up the car for me to get in, as I was walking toward the passenger door I saw the gator and took off.”
We have not been able to determine whether the gator was drawn to the Langleys’ house as a result of Tourist Development Director Gil Langley’s efforts to attract visitors to Amelia Island. Nor can we say whether the gator’s motivation was to undermine the Langleys’ fervent support for the Crimson Tide.
A I Guides Redfish Spot Tournament
Press Release
Contacts: Capt. Brian Soucy 904-505-3481
Capt. Lawrence Piper 904-557-1027
August 24, 2019
Folds of Honor representative Rocky Sickmann, a survivor of the Iran Hostage Crisis will speak at the Amelia Island Guides Association Redfish Spot Tournament Captain’s meeting on Friday September 6, 2018, 7pm which is being held at the Amelia Island Marina.
Rocky Sickmann, a recent retiree of Anheuser-Busch and survivor of the Iran Hostage Crisis, joined the Folds of Honor as Senior VP, Budweiser Accounts. In this new role, Sickmann will focus on the organization’s foundation development, as well as managing Folds of Honor’s existing partnership with Anheuser-Busch.
“We are pleased to add Rocky Sickmann to our team,” said Major Dan Rooney, founder and president of Folds of Honor. “Rocky brings great leadership qualities and business acumen to our organization, but he also embodies our mission. We are confident that his Continue reading
University of U S Constitution Scholarship Foundation
Press Release
Contact: [email protected]
August 24, 2019 9:00 a.m.
__________________________________________________________
University of US Applications Due September 12
The University of US is a free, volunteer educational program for high school students established to promote a greater understanding and appreciation of the U.S. Constitution and our American Heritage.
The program of six seminars features speakers on The Federalist Papers, Articles of the Constitution, Amendments to the Constitution, Supreme Court Justices and Landmark Cases, The U.S. Court System, and American Heritage and Founders.
Each class includes presentations by prominent local, state, and/or nationally recognized lecturers, enhanced by interactive activities to engage students in the subject matter. The University of US is the gateway to students’ participation in the
U.S. Constitution Scholarship Foundation scholarship competition
Monthly classes are conducted at The Red Bean Center and round-trip transportation is available to participants, along with after school refreshments.
Schedule 2019-2020
September 19th Orientation
September 23rd Judge Adrian Soud, Our Heritage and Founders
October 28th Karin Agness Lips, The Articles
November 25th Representative Cord Byrd, The Amendments
January 27th Dr. John Baker, The Federalist Papers
February 24th Professor David Ardia, Important Supreme Court Justices
March 23rd Dr. Sharon Foster, The Supreme Court and Final Exam
April 27th Graduation Ceremony and Scholarship Awards
I-95
Daytime lane closures from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Tuesday southbound near the Nassau County line and Georgia State line for Gateway sign and guardrail construction.
I-95 from Florida State Line to Georgia exit 22 (Horsestamp Church Road)
Daytime lane closures for GDOT resurfacing project.
Chester Road at David Hallman Parkway
Nighttime lane closures Thursday from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. for road work.
Chester Road from State Road A1A to David Hallman Parkway
Nighttime lane closures Saturday and Monday through Thursday from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. for road work.
State Road A1A from Arrigo Boulevard to Mt. Zion Loop
Daytime lane closures Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for road work.
State Road A1A at Chester Road
Nighttime lane closures Saturday and Monday through Thursday from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. for road work.
State Road A1A from David Hallman Parkway to Eric Oliver Way
Nighttime lane closures Saturday and Monday through Thursday from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. for road work.
State Road A1A from Gene Lasserre Boulevard to Peeples Road
Daytime lane closures Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for road work.
State Road A1A at Lofton Creek Boat Ramp
Daytime lane closures Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for road work.
State Road A1A from St. Peter Boulevard to Meadowfield Bluffs Road
Daytime lane closures Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for road work.
Plantation Artists’ Guild & Gallery
Press Release
August 23, 2019 3:00 p.m.
Plantation Gallery exhibiting artists Rebecca McDannold and Susan Hitchcock will team-up for the “Corner” show spot during the month of September.
Both artists draw their inspirations from the birds found along the beaches, docks and the Continue reading
FSCJ Media Release
Reposted August 23, 2019 – 2:00 p.m.
Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) District Board of Trustees elected new officers at the August 2019 Board meeting for the 2019-20 year.
“FSCJ is fortunate to have highly qualified and dedicated Board members who provide essential leadership for our service area and relevant guidance to the students, faculty and staff of FSCJ,” said FSCJ President Dr. John Avendano. “I am looking forward to working with these talented individuals to bring new opportunities to our students and provide the highest-quality education combined with real world work experiences.”
Thomas “Mac” McGehee, Jr. was elected to serve as Board chair. Mr. McGehee was originally appointed to the District Board of Trustees in 1999 and has held several positions during his time on the Board, including Board chair, Board liaison to the Foundation Board and member of the Board Finance and Audit committee.
Wayne Young was elected as vice chair for Duval County. Mr. Young was appointed to the District Board of Trustees in February 2018. Mr. Young was elected as a committee member for the Board’s Finance & Audit Committee in August 2018. Additionally, he previously served as a member on the Board of the Florida State College at Jacksonville Foundation. Mr. Young currently serves as the director of response and environmental programs for JEA, where he has spent more than a decade of his career, after retiring from his more than 25 years of honorable service with the U.S. Navy.
Mike Bell was elected as vice chair for Nassau County. Mr. Bell was appointed to the District Board of Trustees in August 2017. Additionally, he previously served as a member on the Board of the Florida State College at Jacksonville Foundation. Mr. Bell is vice president of public affairs at Rayonier, Inc. Over the last 15 years, Mr. Bell has been heavily involved in workforce and economic development in Northeast Florida.
Also serving on the Board and representing Duval County are Thomas Majdanics, Hunt Hawkins, Palmer Clarkson and Dr. Jennifer Brown. Representing Nassau County along with Bell are Candace Holloway and Laura DiBella.
Diocese of St Augustine
Press Release
CONTACT: Kathleen Bagg
(904) 262-3200, ext. 110/office
August 23, 2019 1:00 p.m.
All are welcome to celebrate the founding of America’s oldest city and the establishment of the oldest parish of a permanent European settlement on Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche at Mision Nombre de Dios.
The celebration will begin with a 10 a.m. historical reenactment of the landing of the Spanish at the mission grounds by the Men of Menendez, followed by a reading of a proclamation by a City of St. Augustine representative. The festivities will close with an 11 a.m. Mass at the rustic altar celebrated by Bishop Felipe Estévez of the Diocese of St. Augustine.
Founder’s Day celebrates the anniversary of the founding of St. Augustine, our nation’s oldest city, founded more than 50 Continue reading
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