Author Archives: Kathy Blacklock

Pat’s Wildways: Backyard Bliss

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

Pat’s Wildways: Warming Up

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

Pat’s Wildways: Arizona Skies

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

Pat’s Wildways: Arizona Underground

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

Pat’s Wildways: Talking Turkey

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

Pat’s Wildways: The ‘Dying’ Art of Taxidermy

By Pat Foster-Turley Whenever I visit my friends in Gainesville I ask them for new [...]

Anne Oman, Journalist and Observer Writer

We are saddened to report that Anne Oman, who served for nine years as a [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Sundown Shows

By Pat Foster-Turley Every evening around some retention ponds there is a show that is [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Road Trip to Sebastian

By Pat Foster-Turley I am always on the lookout for new things to see in [...]

Historic New Zion Church Undergoing Restoration

As you travel along Atlantic Avenue and N. 10th Street at the east end of [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Bald Eagle Nests

By Pat Foster-Turley I love it when one of my columns spawns another one. This [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Healing Power of Nature

By Pat Foster-Turley This was a week I didn’t have a column in mind. My [...]

Renowned American Impressionist Eric Jacobsen to Host Workshop

By Dylan Bailey In the art world, the name Eric Jacobsen holds a significant place. [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Treats at the ARK

By Pat Foster-Turley Anyone who knows me by now knows that I love animals, especially [...]

Once-a-week Trash Collection for City Customers Starts Today

Did you put out your garbage today? Are you a Waste Management customer? Double-check this [...]

‘Once Upon a Time in Florida’ Literary Luncheon

  By Marla McDaniel From editor and writer Jacki Levine and the University of Florida [...]

Tasty’s Fresh Burgers: Where Smash Burgers Steal the Show

By Dylan Bailey Tasty’s Fresh Burgers is a well-established restaurant that has been serving delicious [...]

Bartram Garden Club Celebrates Florida’s Arbor Day

The Bartram Garden Club will be celebrating Florida Arbor Day at 11 a.m. on Jan. [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Deer Mortalities

By Pat Foster-Turley Here on Amelia Island, deer cannot be legally hunted, and for the [...]

Join the Dream Team: MLK Day of Service Seeking Volunteers

Calling all volunteers! United Way of Northeast Florida is looking for volunteers this Saturday in [...]

MLK Day Panel Discussion Event to Share Stories

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Duncan Lamont Clinch Historical Society will [...]

Storm Warning Ends — Oops, It’s on Again and Raining Buckets — What a Day!

Severe Weather Updates 12:30 — From the U.S. Weather Service: Expect a band of severe [...]

Sky’s the Limit for FBHS Aerospace Students

By Wilma Allen By the time they graduate from high school, many local teens will [...]

Amelia Island Restaurant Week Celebrates its ‘Sweet Sixteen’

By Dylan Bailey It’s time to pop the champagne and cut the cake! Amelia Island’s [...]

CRAAB to Submit Waterfront Park Plans for Approval

  By Mike Lednovich When the city commission convenes on Jan. 16 they will be [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Manatee Watching

By Pat Foster-Turley Bucko and I finally made it to Crystal River, long heralded as [...]

Is the Island Maxed Out? Commission’s All Over the Place

By Mike Lednovich The late Los Angeles Dodgers Manager Tommy Lasorda once said, “Opinions are [...]

Sixth Right Whale Calf is Sighted

By Lauri deGaris Right whale calf number No. 6 was born off Cumberland Island on [...]

Commentary: A Topsy-Turvy Year at City Hall

By Mike Lednovich Now after more than a year in office, how did the 2023 [...]

Do You Have Room for a Labor of Love?

By Linda Hart Green New Year’s Day was special for my brother and me. We [...]

Restaurant Review: Thumbs Up for Hana Sushi in Yulee

By Dylan Bailey As someone deeply fond of Asian cuisine and seafood, I was thrilled [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Old Florida

By Pat Foster-Turley Whenever Bucko and I feel like getting away from the hubbub that [...]

Citizens Win Tringali Case

By Mike Lednovich A circuit court judge has ruled there is “no plausible explanation for [...]

Two More Whale Calves Born Nearby During the Solstice

By Lauri deGaris Newborn right whale calves No. 4 and No. 5 emerged from the [...]

Timoti’s – Wild Caught Seafare

By Dylan Bailey There’s no denying that good food, coupled with a warm, inviting ambiance, [...]

Pat’s Wildways: 12 Days of Christmas on Amelia Island

By Pat Foster-Turley 12 Days of Christmas on Amelia Island   On the first day [...]

V Pizza: Classic and Innovative

By Dylan Bailey When it comes to pizza, everyone has their preferences. Thin crust or [...]

City Backtracks on Resolution to Revamp Golf Course Advisory Board Duties

By Mike Lednovich The Fernandina Beach city administration promised to work hand-in-hand with its Golf [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Invaders in Simmons Park

By Pat Foster-Turley For years there has been controversy about what to do with the [...]

RYAM Annual Golf Tournament Raises a Record $91,000 for United Way

Rayonier Advanced Materials (RYAM) and United Way of Northeast Florida last week announced that RYAM [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Adventures on the Cumberland Ferry

By Pat Foster-Turley It seemed simple. Buy advance tickets to both the ferry and the [...]

Changes Coming for Recorded Documents Related to Property Ownership

In an effort to hinder the rise of property fraud, an amendment to Florida Statute [...]

Fernandina Police Release Bodycam Video of City Manager Bicycle Accident

Fernandina Beach Police body camera video of new City Manager Ty Ross’ bicycle accident two [...]

The Bodycam Video: Minute by Minute

By Mike Lednovich Editor’s note: This is a running summary of the police bodycam footage [...]

City Manager Responds to Calls for Resignation

By Mike Lednovich Responding to withering calls for his resignation, new Fernandina Beach City Manager [...]

Martin Luther King Jr. Parade to be held January 15

All are invited to participate in the 46th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Parade of Fernandina [...]

Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls – Classic Comfort Food

By Dylan Bailey If you’ve been craving a taste of New England but couldn’t find [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Possum Painter

By Pat Foster-Turley I must admit I have very interesting friends here on Amelia Island. [...]

Marina Projects Update

By Mike Lednovich Deputy City Manager/City Engineer Charlie George updated the Marina Advisory Board Monday [...]

Santa Claus is Coming to Hilliard and Fernandina Beach

Join Micah’s Place in spreading holiday cheer to Nassau County boys and girls via a [...]

Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Radio Play at ACT

Santa gets his day in court as Amelia Community Theatre presents “Miracle on 34th Street: [...]

Indigo Fernandina Opens its Doors

By Dylan BaileyOpening its doors on Nov. 14, 2023, Indigo brings a fresh twist on [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Stings and Thrills in Belize

By Pat Foster-TurleyI was underwater, snorkeling at last in good mangroves in Belize. It took [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Rain and Shine in Belize

By Pat Foster-TurleyBucko and I have found a place in the world that we keep [...]

Pat’s Wildways: A Walk on the Greenway

By Pat Foster-TurleyNow that I am happily able to walk distances again after my successful [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Finally, a Walk on the Beach!

By Pat Foster-TurleyRecently I walked for more than an hour on the beach, something I [...]

Commentary: Deaths We Know, and Deaths Beyond Understanding

By Linda Hart GreenI think about tomatoes when I think about my friend’s husband. He [...]

Dang Good Coffee Lives Up to The Name

By Dylan BaileyMeet Monica Risker, the heart and soul behind the newly opened Dang Good [...]

Commission Financial Reports Reveal Just a Little

By Mike LednovichFlorida’s tepid financial interest reporting requirements reveal very little about the financial income [...]

Pat’s Wildways: New England Roots

By Pat Foster-TurleyOne purpose of my recent road trip to New Hampshire with my brother [...]

Pat’s Wildways: New England Serendipity

By Pat Foster-TurleyThere are some travel plans that turn out perfectly and others that fall [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Tows and Tails

By Pat Foster-TurleyI am always impressed by the devoted animal caretakers in our midst. For [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Ducks of Long Island

By Pat Foster-TurleyThe ducks of Long Island, New York were famous back in the day [...]

Pat’s Wildways: The Origins of Heckscher Drive

By Pat Foster-TurleyFrom Amelia Island down to Heckscher Drive is a favorite drive for Bucko [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Out in the Country

By Pat Foster-Turley  Most weeks these days I drive out to the ARK off Highway [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Blackwater Swimming

By Pat Foster-TurleyI guess I’m like a Florida Gator after all, not the sports type [...]

Bartram Garden Club to hold ‘Welcome Back’ Meeting

The Bartram Garden Club is holding a Welcome Back Coffee and Tea at the GFWC [...]

Pat’s Wildways: New Sights, Old Memories

By Pat Foster-Turley On our Big Bend road trip a couple of weeks ago Bucko [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Big Bend Road Trip

By Pat Foster-TurleyBucko and I have lived in north Florida for decades now, but it [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Otter Ice Capades

By Pat Foster-TurleyLike everyone else these days, I’ve been complaining about the heat, and even [...]

Baba’s Brings Authentic Mediterranean Cuisine to Fernandina

By Dylan Bailey If you’re a foodie with a taste for Mediterranean cuisine, then you’re [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Beating the Heat

By Pat Foster-Turley It’s hot out there! Everyone I pass on the street is sweating [...]

City Marina Dock Fee Increase Paused Until Next Year

By Mike Lednovich There is no denying the fact that the city marina is a [...]

Commission Decides Against Increasing New Development Fees

By Mike Lednovich The City Commission did an about-face Tuesday on funding improvements to the [...]