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 [...]
Mar
Pat’s Wildways: Warming Up
By Pat Foster-Turley There is always something to catch my eye when I walk on [...]
Mar
Pat’s Wildways: Arizona Skies
By Pat Foster-Turley One of my main motivations for visiting southern Arizona with my brother [...]
Mar
Pat’s Wildways: Arizona Underground
By Pat Foster-Turley There’s a lot going on underground in southern Arizona, the location of [...]
Mar
Pat’s Wildways: Talking Turkey
By Pat Foster-Turley There is an avian mystery happening on Amelia Island, and maybe someone [...]
Mar
Pat’s Wildways: The ‘Dying’ Art of Taxidermy
By Pat Foster-Turley Whenever I visit my friends in Gainesville I ask them for new [...]
Feb
Anne Oman, Journalist and Observer Writer
We are saddened to report that Anne Oman, who served for nine years as a [...]
Feb
Pat’s Wildways: Sundown Shows
By Pat Foster-Turley Every evening around some retention ponds there is a show that is [...]
Feb
Pat’s Wildways: Road Trip to Sebastian
By Pat Foster-Turley I am always on the lookout for new things to see in [...]
Feb
Historic New Zion Church Undergoing Restoration
As you travel along Atlantic Avenue and N. 10th Street at the east end of [...]
Feb
Pat’s Wildways: Bald Eagle Nests
By Pat Foster-Turley I love it when one of my columns spawns another one. This [...]
Feb
Pat’s Wildways: Healing Power of Nature
By Pat Foster-Turley This was a week I didn’t have a column in mind. My [...]
Jan
Renowned American Impressionist Eric Jacobsen to Host Workshop
By Dylan Bailey In the art world, the name Eric Jacobsen holds a significant place. [...]
Jan
Pat’s Wildways: Treats at the ARK
By Pat Foster-Turley Anyone who knows me by now knows that I love animals, especially [...]
Jan
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 [...]
Jan
‘Once Upon a Time in Florida’ Literary Luncheon
By Marla McDaniel From editor and writer Jacki Levine and the University of Florida [...]
Jan
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 [...]
Jan
Bartram Garden Club Celebrates Florida’s Arbor Day
The Bartram Garden Club will be celebrating Florida Arbor Day at 11 a.m. on Jan. [...]
Jan
Pat’s Wildways: Deer Mortalities
By Pat Foster-Turley Here on Amelia Island, deer cannot be legally hunted, and for the [...]
Jan
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 [...]
Jan
MLK Day Panel Discussion Event to Share Stories
In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Duncan Lamont Clinch Historical Society will [...]
Jan
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 [...]
Jan
Sky’s the Limit for FBHS Aerospace Students
By Wilma Allen By the time they graduate from high school, many local teens will [...]
Jan
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 [...]
Jan
CRAAB to Submit Waterfront Park Plans for Approval
By Mike Lednovich When the city commission convenes on Jan. 16 they will be [...]
Jan
Pat’s Wildways: Manatee Watching
By Pat Foster-Turley Bucko and I finally made it to Crystal River, long heralded as [...]
Jan
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 [...]
Jan
Sixth Right Whale Calf is Sighted
By Lauri deGaris Right whale calf number No. 6 was born off Cumberland Island on [...]
Jan
Commentary: A Topsy-Turvy Year at City Hall
By Mike Lednovich Now after more than a year in office, how did the 2023 [...]
Jan
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 [...]
Dec
Restaurant Review: Thumbs Up for Hana Sushi in Yulee
By Dylan Bailey As someone deeply fond of Asian cuisine and seafood, I was thrilled [...]
Dec
Pat’s Wildways: Old Florida
By Pat Foster-Turley Whenever Bucko and I feel like getting away from the hubbub that [...]
Dec
Citizens Win Tringali Case
By Mike Lednovich A circuit court judge has ruled there is “no plausible explanation for [...]
Dec
Two More Whale Calves Born Nearby During the Solstice
By Lauri deGaris Newborn right whale calves No. 4 and No. 5 emerged from the [...]
Dec
Timoti’s – Wild Caught Seafare
By Dylan Bailey There’s no denying that good food, coupled with a warm, inviting ambiance, [...]
Dec
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 [...]
Dec
V Pizza: Classic and Innovative
By Dylan Bailey When it comes to pizza, everyone has their preferences. Thin crust or [...]
Dec
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 [...]
Dec
Pat’s Wildways: Invaders in Simmons Park
By Pat Foster-Turley For years there has been controversy about what to do with the [...]
Dec
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 [...]
Dec
Pat’s Wildways: Adventures on the Cumberland Ferry
By Pat Foster-Turley It seemed simple. Buy advance tickets to both the ferry and the [...]
Dec
Changes Coming for Recorded Documents Related to Property Ownership
In an effort to hinder the rise of property fraud, an amendment to Florida Statute [...]
Dec
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 [...]
Dec
The Bodycam Video: Minute by Minute
By Mike Lednovich Editor’s note: This is a running summary of the police bodycam footage [...]
Dec
City Manager Responds to Calls for Resignation
By Mike Lednovich Responding to withering calls for his resignation, new Fernandina Beach City Manager [...]
Dec
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 [...]
Dec
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 [...]
Dec
Pat’s Wildways: Possum Painter
By Pat Foster-Turley I must admit I have very interesting friends here on Amelia Island. [...]
Dec
Marina Projects Update
By Mike Lednovich Deputy City Manager/City Engineer Charlie George updated the Marina Advisory Board Monday [...]
Nov
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 [...]
Nov
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: [...]
Nov
Indigo Fernandina Opens its Doors
By Dylan BaileyOpening its doors on Nov. 14, 2023, Indigo brings a fresh twist on [...]
Nov
Pat’s Wildways: Stings and Thrills in Belize
By Pat Foster-TurleyI was underwater, snorkeling at last in good mangroves in Belize. It took [...]
Nov
Pat’s Wildways: Rain and Shine in Belize
By Pat Foster-TurleyBucko and I have found a place in the world that we keep [...]
Nov
Pat’s Wildways: A Walk on the Greenway
By Pat Foster-TurleyNow that I am happily able to walk distances again after my successful [...]
Nov
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 [...]
Nov
Commentary: Deaths We Know, and Deaths Beyond Understanding
By Linda Hart GreenI think about tomatoes when I think about my friend’s husband. He [...]
Oct
Dang Good Coffee Lives Up to The Name
By Dylan BaileyMeet Monica Risker, the heart and soul behind the newly opened Dang Good [...]
Oct
Commission Financial Reports Reveal Just a Little
By Mike LednovichFlorida’s tepid financial interest reporting requirements reveal very little about the financial income [...]
Oct
Pat’s Wildways: New England Roots
By Pat Foster-TurleyOne purpose of my recent road trip to New Hampshire with my brother [...]
Oct
Pat’s Wildways: New England Serendipity
By Pat Foster-TurleyThere are some travel plans that turn out perfectly and others that fall [...]
Oct
Pat’s Wildways: Tows and Tails
By Pat Foster-TurleyI am always impressed by the devoted animal caretakers in our midst. For [...]
Oct
Pat’s Wildways: Ducks of Long Island
By Pat Foster-TurleyThe ducks of Long Island, New York were famous back in the day [...]
Oct
Pat’s Wildways: The Origins of Heckscher Drive
By Pat Foster-TurleyFrom Amelia Island down to Heckscher Drive is a favorite drive for Bucko [...]
Sep
Pat’s Wildways: Out in the Country
By Pat Foster-Turley Most weeks these days I drive out to the ARK off Highway [...]
Sep
Pat’s Wildways: Blackwater Swimming
By Pat Foster-TurleyI guess I’m like a Florida Gator after all, not the sports type [...]
Sep
Bartram Garden Club to hold ‘Welcome Back’ Meeting
The Bartram Garden Club is holding a Welcome Back Coffee and Tea at the GFWC [...]
Sep
Pat’s Wildways: New Sights, Old Memories
By Pat Foster-Turley On our Big Bend road trip a couple of weeks ago Bucko [...]
Sep
Pat’s Wildways: Big Bend Road Trip
By Pat Foster-TurleyBucko and I have lived in north Florida for decades now, but it [...]
Sep
Pat’s Wildways: Otter Ice Capades
By Pat Foster-TurleyLike everyone else these days, I’ve been complaining about the heat, and even [...]
Aug
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 [...]
Aug
Pat’s Wildways: Beating the Heat
By Pat Foster-Turley It’s hot out there! Everyone I pass on the street is sweating [...]
Aug
City Marina Dock Fee Increase Paused Until Next Year
By Mike Lednovich There is no denying the fact that the city marina is a [...]
Aug
Commission Decides Against Increasing New Development Fees
By Mike Lednovich The City Commission did an about-face Tuesday on funding improvements to the [...]
Aug