Monthly Archives: January 2023

It’s a Non-Partisan City Government — But Are You Sure?

By April L. Bogle I don’t know anyone who wants the political battles being fought [...]

Big Raise Approved for Nassau Teachers

By Wes Wolfe  Florida Politics Nassau County is making moves, working to better compensate the [...]

Cruise Ships Top Concern at Port Authority Open House

By Mike Lednovich French mathematician Narges Obaid famously said: “Don’t trust everything you see. Even [...]

City Manager’s Comments – Nate Coyle

By Dale Martin, City Manager Next week, the city will lose one of its most [...]

Interview: Story & Song Bookstore Bistro

By Dylan Bailey I was given the opportunity to interview Donna Kaufman, who is the [...]

Amelia Community Theatre Presents “Clue”

It’s a dark and stormy night in 1954, as invited guests arrive at the foreboding [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Little Talbot Pond

By Pat Foster-Turley January 27, 2023 I’m sure most of you zoom on State Road [...]

Whigham Sentenced for Second-Degree Murder

Fernandina Beach Police Department Jeffrey Tambasco, Deputy Chief Press Release January 23, 2023 Today, Shawn [...]

Citrus Drive Delivers Local Fruit to Barnabas

Barnabas Center Press Release Submitted by Nicola Barnack Director of Development Jan. 25, 2023 Record-breaking [...]

Calling All Port Questioners – Final Open House

If you have any questions, concerns or fresh ideas about the Port of Fernandina Beach, [...]

Florida Roots Trail Race Delivers an Unforgettable Day at Fort Clinch

The third annual Florida Roots Trail Series foot race was run this past weekend at [...]

New Memorial in Fernandina Beach Honors Pearl Harbor Survivor

Executives from Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) and the Veterans Council of Nassau County honored a [...]

Commentary: Townhouses in a Neighborhood That Cherishes Its History – and the Law

By Julie Ferreira The Fernandina Beach City Commission is poised to make a significant decision [...]

Commentary — Townhouses: A View From the Historic District

  By Taina Cristner Most of us are very concerned about the impact this new [...]

Commentary: A Rebuttal of a Rebuttal on Waterfront Plans

By  Bob Allison I read with interest Commissioner Chip Ross’s rebuttal to my article about [...]

City Manager’s Comments – Henry

By Dale Martin, City Manager Henry Centrella was released (supervised) from prison earlier this week. [...]

Pat’s Wildways – Big Dogs

By Pat Foster-Turley January 20, 2023 It is no surprise to anyone who regularly reads [...]

A Friend of Fernandina and The Observer Has Passed

Editor’s note: We were saddened to learn of the death of Malcolm “Mac” Noden. While [...]

Pay Up to Tee Up: Golf Fees Soaring on the Island

By Mike Lednovich Domenick Gambardella and Carla Foreman were stunned after receiving an email late [...]

A Starring Role for Trees at City Hall

It was a good evening for trees at this week’s Fernandina Beach City Commission meeting. [...]

Commentary: Much Ado Over an Old Waterfront Plan

Editor’s note: It’s unusual, I know, for one news organization to publish a rebuttal to [...]

It’s Time Again to Get Books to Children

Ferst Readers of Nassau County is once again partnering with Nassau County Public Schools for [...]

Restaurant Review: The Old/New Crab Trap Is a Delight

By Dylan Bailey The Crab Trap, at 31 N. 2nd St., was long a staple [...]

Habitat Is On a Roll

As the Nassau Habitat for Humanity team rings in the new year, breaking ground on [...]

COMMENTARY: A Proud and Fearless Day, 45 Years Later

By Alexandra R. Lajoux Yesterday in Fernandina Beach, our community hosted the biggest local parade [...]

COMMENTARY: Why the Rush to Change City Elections?

By Genece Minshew Well, that did not take long. Less than a month in office, [...]

City Manager’s Comments – James Thomas

By Dale Martin, City Manager In 1998, Tom Brokaw, then the sole anchor of “NBC [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Effects of the Freeze

By Pat Foster-Turley January 13, 2023 Those of you fairly new to Nassau County maybe [...]

Port-City Meeting Worked in More Ways Than One

By Mike Phillips The city commission and port executives and commissioners had a mutually respectful [...]

Legislators Hear From Tree Advocates

By Wes Wolfe Florida Politics Conservative state legislatures like to pass municipal preemption laws to [...]

Free Dental Clinic for Kids

Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) is hosting the Jacksonville Dental Society’s annual Give Kids [...]

Barnabas Fashion Show Fund-Raiser

This year’s second Barnabas Center Fashion Show Honoring Hometown Heroes takes place Monday, Feb. 27, [...]

COMMENTARY: Let’s Keep Our Non-Partisan Elections Non-Partisan

By Arlene Filkoff On the Fernandina Beach City Commission agenda for Jan. 17 is an [...]

Genealogy Group to View New Software

The Amelia Island Genealogical Society will hold its regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, in the Community Room [...]

Fernandina Memories at the Museum

On Monday, Jan. 16, at 7 p.m., the Duncan Lamont Clinch Historical Society will present [...]

Three Churches, One Partnership Offering Spiritual and Physical Support

By Elizabeth Matthews       The COVID impact was felt far and wide. During that time, three [...]

More Than a Concert: A Bridge for Peace

The 22nd season of the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival continues with a timely performance on Tuesday, Jan. [...]

City Manager’s Comments – Beaches and Parks

By Dale Martin, City Manager At the City Commission’s January 3 workshop, the primary topics [...]

Local Man Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court

NEW YORK (Reuters) – A 35-year-old Fernandina Beach man, Cooper Morgenthau, has pleaded guilty to [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Ghosts on the Beach

By Pat Foster-Turley January 6, 2023 These days, going to the beach this time of [...]

Starting Point Open House: Jan. 13

Starting Point Behavioral Healthcare will host an interactive open house Friday, Jan. 13, 4-6 p.m., [...]

Job-Hunting? Here’s a Virtual Job Fair Jan. 12

More than 30 companies throughout the region will be connecting with job seekers during the CareerSource [...]

Commentary: a Heartfelt Argument for Girls’ Softball

by Amber Stuckey Board Member of Elm Street Little League   Some of my fondest [...]

If You’ve Lost Someone, This Is For You

“Understanding Grief” is designed to help people learn that healing is possible after the death [...]

Want to Honor a Really Special Park Ranger?

The Florida Park Service Ranger Association is hosting the 2023 Park Ranger of the Year [...]