Author Archives: Mike Phillips
On World Whale Day, Consider the Unnecessary Deaths
By Lauri deGaris February 18, 2024, is World Whale Day. And I am heartbroken to [...]
Feb
Is This Your Year to Write a Book?
Has anyone ever said to you, “You should write a book about that?” Is 2024 [...]
Feb
Quiltfest Applications Start in April
The theme for the 38th annual Jacksonville Quiltfest (QuiltfestJax) is “Sew Your Heart Out.” It [...]
Feb
No Action Yet on Density Plan. Public Workshop Set
By Mike Lednovich The city’s Planning Advisory Board took no action Wednesday on proposed revisions [...]
Feb
Coastal Furnishings Closing for Good
After almost a decade of serving the coastal communities of Nassau County, independent furniture retailer [...]
Feb
Grace Church Invites Public to Birthday Fling
Grace Community Church, a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America, invites the public to [...]
Feb
How to Pitch Your Novel
The Amelia Island Writers are presenting a free workshop on pitching an idea for a [...]
Feb
Barnabas Honors Hometown Heroes
This year’s 3rd annual Barnabas Center Fashion Show Honoring Hometown Heroes, which takes place on [...]
Feb
The Amelia Will Return Feb. 29 to March 3
The Amelia returns in 2024 with a week-long celebration of motoring excellence. Attendees will enjoy [...]
Feb
“Billy” Star is Only Second Girl in the World
Julia Taylor is appearing as Billy in “Billy Elliot the Musical” (BETM) in Fernandina Beach, [...]
Feb
“You People” — a Commentary
By Chip Ross, city commissioner I recently received an email from a local charter boat [...]
Feb
Commentary: How Religious Freedom Was Born in the USA
By Linda Hart Green This is the current signboard in front of the First Baptist [...]
Feb
Library Friends to Donate $40,000
By Wilma Allen At its annual membership meeting, Feb. 22, Friends of the Fernandina Beach [...]
Feb
At Vintage Donuts, Your Imagination Is the Cook
By Dylan Bailey If you’re a fan of donuts and have a penchant for nostalgia, [...]
Feb
Question: Close Downtown Boat Ramp and Use Bartels Ramp?
By Mike Lednovich The Community Redevelopment Area Advisory Board (CRAAB) will discuss the merits of [...]
Feb
City Friendship Questioned as Developer Seeks Change
By Mike Lednovich Vice Mayor David Sturges’ friendship with a Fernandina Beach developer, who is [...]
Feb
The Big Spring Book Sale Is Coming in March
The Friends of the Fernandina Beach Library’s Spring Book Sale will be held March 20-23 [...]
Feb
Many More Steps Before Flood Wall Can Be Built
By Mike Lednovich Fernandina Beach Mayor Bradley Bean disregarded the numerous obstacles in constructing a [...]
Feb
Want to Help Our Environment? You Need to Know This
By Candis Whitney Did you know that there are more than 25 environmental/conservation organizations in [...]
Feb
Take This Class and Make Our Community Safer
By Jim Bollenbacher Did you know that if you experience sudden cardiac arrest, your chance [...]
Feb
Learn About Homeless Programs
If you’re curious about the increase in the number of unhoused people in our county [...]
Feb
Too-Small Tug Can’t Handle Ocean Barges and Must Be Sold
By Mike Lednovich The Ocean Highway and Port Authority (OHPA) voted Monday to sell its [...]
Feb
Ross Seeks Second Opinion on Partisanship
By Mike Lednovich Fernandina Beach City Commissioner Chip Ross is seeking an advisory opinion from [...]
Feb
It’s Time to Pay Our Respects to Early-Death Babies
February means different things to different people, but to Kim Maimone February means Mera’s Mission [...]
Feb
Start-Ups Grads Venture Forth
The latest graduates of the $1,000 Start-Ups program have completed a 9-month program on entrepreneurship, [...]
Feb
When Whale History is Lost, So is Ours
Editor’s note: In celebration of right whale calving season on our shores, we are posting [...]
Feb
Cucina South: Perfect for a Special Night Out
By Dylan Bailey Located amidst the beautiful oaks of Amelia Island, Cucina South is a [...]
Feb
A Fertile Year for Whales, Offset by Tragedies
By Lauri deGaris Seventeen — that is the number of North Atlantic right whale calves [...]
Feb
Late Filing Trips Sturges Up With Ethics Commission
By Mike Lednovich The Florida Commission on Ethics Wednesday found there was “probable cause” that [...]
Feb
Nao Trinidad’s Last Day in Our Marina
By Wilma Allen Today is your last chance to step back in time and imagine [...]
Jan
Beware: Officials Warn of a Realistic Phone Scam
The Nassau County Clerk of the Circuit Court and the Comptroller have issued this warning [...]
Jan
Panama Woes Becoming Fernandina Woes
By Mike Lednovich A year-long drought is limiting the number of ships able to pass [...]
Jan
Port Will Sell Some Land, but Without a Plan for the Money
By Mike Lednovich The Port of Fernandina’s long-time accountant urged Ocean Highway and Port Authority [...]
Jan
Fancy Condo Plan Reviewed by City
An ultra-modern design, 33-unit, four-story condominium project at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and North [...]
Jan
Commentary: When a Helping Hand Is a Jar Opener
By Linda Hart Green I received this fancy jar opener for Christmas. This may seem [...]
Jan
Billy Elliot, the Musical, Coming to ACT Next Month
Amelia Community Theatre opens “Billy Elliot: The Musical” on Feb. 9 at 207 Cedar St. [...]
Jan
Take Your Visitors to Salt Life. No Visitors? Take You
By Dylan Bailey When it comes to dining experiences that seamlessly blend food, ambiance, and [...]
Jan
Motel Proposed at Sadler and Ryan
The developer for a proposed motel located at the entrance of the Pirates Bay community [...]
Jan
Tringali Owners File Appeal of Judge’s Ruling
By Mike Lednovich The Tringali property owners have filed an appeal in the First District [...]
Jan
Port and Feds Are In a Serious Misunderstanding
By Mike Lednovich The Port of Fernandina is in peril of having to pay back [...]
Jan
A Friendly Agreement Expands Athletic Warmups
Fernandina Beach has often cast an envious eye on a large, unused field in front [...]
Jan
Commission Considers Bond Issue With Big Holes In It
By Mike Lednovich Fernandina Beach city commissioners have a vision for a $25 million bond [...]
Jan
A New Book for a New Festival of Stories and Songs
By Wilma Allen Release of the new book, “Life on American Beach: Voices from Within,” [...]
Jan
Citing a November Case, Bach Says Candidates Can Tout Party Affiliation
By Mike Lednovich City Attorney Tammi Bach issued an opinion Monday that says candidates for [...]
Jan
Andre The Seal: Rockport and Boston’s Most Popular Resident
By Lauri deGaris Seals are also known as sea dogs, and they can entertain us [...]
Jan
Unusual Shipping Container Hotel Up for Review
By Mike Lednovich The city’s Technical Review Committee (TRC) is scheduled Thursday to review a [...]
Jan
Up Close and Personal: A Rush to Watch Whales Near Shore
By Lauri deGaris In my mind, few things are more exciting than receiving news about [...]
Jan
Amelia’s Last Great Grove of Sabal Palms Hangs in the Balance
By Lauri deGaris Recently, I walked along the south end of Amelia Island’s beach with [...]
Jan
Atlantic Seafood to Move, Grow but Still Look Funky
By Mike Lednovich The City’s Historic District Council Thursday mostly liked the concept design of [...]
Jan
Two Department Heads Leaving the City
By Mike Lednovich Fernandina Beach Municipal Golf Course General Manager David DeMay and city Parks [...]
Jan
City Elections Are Coming — But So Far Candidates Are Scarce
By Mike Lednovich The clock is ticking with just four months remaining for candidates to [...]
Jan
Waterfront Park Takes a Step Toward Reality
By Mike Lednovich So far, so good for the latest plan put forward to convert [...]
Jan
Sturges Strikes Back at Ethics Complaint Filers
By Mike Lednovich At Tuesday’s city council meeting, Fernandina Beach Vice Mayor David Sturges called [...]
Jan
Vintage Car Show at Canopy Way Day Program
A special event had been planned for Saturday, Jan. 20, from 10 a.m.-noon at Canopy [...]
Jan
Commentary: The King Celebration Goes to the Very Roots of Fernandina
By Linda Hart Green Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2009 marked my first visit to [...]
Jan
Sturges Told Investigator Firing of Martin Triggered Ethics Charge
By Mike Lednovich Fernandina Beach Vice Mayor David Sturges said the commission’s firing of City [...]
Jan
New Right Whale Calf, Hit by a Boat, Likely Will Die
By Lauri deGaris The first North Atlantic right whale calf born this season has been [...]
Jan
Memories of Last Year’s Magical Whale Visitor (and Dolphin Friends)
By Lauri deGaris Last January, many Amelia Island residents, and visitors too, were thrilled to [...]
Jan
Facebook Posts Cast Doubt on State Probe into Sturges/Ericksen Relationship
By Mike Lednovich A Florida Commission on Ethics Advocate ruled that because Fernandina Beach Vice [...]
Jan
‘Becoming Dr. Ruth:’ Many Laughs for People of a Certain Age
Jill Dillingham of Amelia Musical Playhouse, first gave the script of “Becoming Dr. Ruth” to [...]
Jan
Amelia Chamber Season to Start with ‘Rhapsody in Blue’
By Wilma Allen Pianist William Ransom will take the stage Sunday, Jan. 14, at 5 [...]
Jan
Whale Calves 7, 8 and 9 Grace Our Waters
By Lauri deGaris Whale blessings keep right on coming … right whale calves nos. 7, [...]
Jan
Stories From Ancient Times Unite Whales and People
Editor’s note: In celebration of right whale calving season on our shores, we are posting [...]
Jan
Sturges Ethics Complaint Dismissed
By Brett L. Steger, attorney The Florida Commission on Ethics has entered a public report [...]
Jan
Pelorus Jack: Part Two of a Whale of a Story
This article is part of a series of 10 appearing every other Monday in the [...]
Dec
La Boheme Coming to Amelia Island Stage
By Wilma Allen La Boheme, among the most popular operas of all time, will be [...]
Dec
Winter Solstice: a Universal Celebration
By Lauri deGaris December 21, 2023, marks the astronomical beginning of winter. Mother Earth’s north [...]
Dec
Commission Takes First Steps Toward Manager Replacement
By Mike Lednovich Fernandina Beach city commissioners, still reeling from the abrupt departure of City [...]
Dec
Fat Exit Package Proposed for Ty Ross
By Mike Lednovich The Fernandina Beach City Commission will be presented today with a proposed [...]
Dec
Commentary — The Manager Solution: Make Charlie George Permanent
By Mike Lednovich What many folks don’t realize is that over the past 12 months, [...]
Dec
Pay Attention: Really Hearing People is a Gift
By Linda Hart Green It’s crunch time for gift buyers. At least, that is what [...]
Dec
New Story-telling Festival Headlined by Carl Hiaasen
By Wilma Allen If he’s as funny on stage as he is on the page, [...]
Dec
Tringali Demolition Halted Owing to Missing Asbestos Permits
By Mike Lednovich The Fernandina Beach Building Department slapped a “stop work” order on the [...]
Dec
Commentary: Sure Things Lost and Lessons Learned
By Mike Phillips One day, back in my corporate career, I lamented to the CEO [...]
Dec
The New City Manager Resigns. More — Much More — to Come
By Mike Lednovich Fernandina Beach City Manager Ty Ross verbally resigned Friday morning effective immediately [...]
Dec