Author Archives: Mike Phillips
A Third Whale Calf Is Born Unto Us!
By Lauri deGaris New moon blessings to right whale #1970 – Palmetto and her newborn [...]
Dec
Commentary: A Nightmare on 14th Street
By Chip Ross City Commissioner Traffic is about to get much worse on South 14th [...]
Dec
Special Meeting Called to Discuss Ty Ross Affair
By Mike Lednovich The Fernandina Beach City Commission will hold a special meeting Dec. 19 [...]
Dec
New Atlantic Seafood — Much Bigger — Being Negotiated
By Mike Lednovich The Fernandina Beach City Commission has approved negotiating a new lease for [...]
Dec
Commentary: It’s Not the Alcohol, It’s Everything Else
By Suanne Thamm Dear City Commissioners: Please accept my sincere sympathy for the position that [...]
Dec
Commentary — For the Good of the Order: Resignation
Editor’s note: We are offering publication of brief, thoughtful, well-written commentaries on this subject. They [...]
Dec
Hearing Canceled, CARD and ATC Remain in Riverstone Suit
Attorneys for both Nassau County and Riverstone have agreed that Amelia Tree Conservancy (ATC) and [...]
Dec
Pelorus Jack, a Whale of a 275-Year Maori Story
By Walter C. Hornaday The following article by Walter C. Hornaday, appeared in the Sunday Star, [...]
Dec
Another Right Whale Gives Birth to a Calf
By Lauri deGaris Right Whale #3360 – Horton – has given birth to her third [...]
Dec
Chief Asks for State Review of How Ty Ross Case Handled
By Mike Lednovich Fernandina Beach Police Chief Jeff Tambasco has asked the State Attorney to [...]
Dec
Amelia Fresh Cafe: Good and Healthy
By Dylan Bailey Nestled inside of Nassau Health Foods is a cozy cafe with big [...]
Dec
Ty Ross: Give Him Another Chance or Send Him on His Way?
By Mike Phillips The truth takes its own sweet time. We know the truth that [...]
Dec
Key Riverstone Hearing to be Conducted Via Zoom – CANCELED
CANCELED – See comment below. A hearing on Riverstone litigation matters has been scheduled for [...]
Dec
Ty Ross Incident’s Police Video Being Redacted
By Mike Lednovich Police body camera video of Fernandina Beach City Manager Ty Ross’ alcohol-related [...]
Dec
From Grim to Soon to Be Attractive on a Stretch of SR200
By Wilma Allen The median strips along state Route 200, as you drive to and [...]
Dec
Symphony Bus Trips Available Again
Amelia Residents in Action for the Symphony for many seasons co-sponsored bus transportation to Jacksonville [...]
Dec
Learning to Wait Is a Spiritual Discipline
By Linda Hart Green In the golden light of an early summer evening, I swished [...]
Dec
First Right Whale Calf of the Season Has Been Born
By Lauri deGaris The full moon of November presided over the birth of this season’s [...]
Dec
Remaining Floodwall Plan Comes With Three Big Holes
By Mike Lednovich Fernandina Beach City Commissioners will see a “Waterfront Resiliency System” conceptual design [...]
Dec
Library Friends’ Next Discussion
The Friends of the Library Book Club will meet Dec. 14 to discuss “Great Circle” [...]
Nov
Overdrinking Tips City Manager Into a Bicycle Wreck
By Mike Lednovich Fernandina Beach’s new city manager, Ty Ross, said he was alcohol-impaired riding [...]
Nov
Atlantic Seafood Wants Big Space Increase and 30-Year Rent
By Mike Lednovich After more than a year since taking over the lease of the [...]
Nov
The Buffalo, the Cod and the Whale: Going, Going …
Editor’s note: During our right whale calving season, this is one of a series of [...]
Nov
Lessons in Life from a Biting Turkey
By Lauri deGarisThe other day, I was at the barn sharing time with a herd [...]
Nov
Ross, Bean Snarl Over Invite to Ethanol Firm
By Mike LednovichFernandina Beach Mayor Bradley Bean, who works for Rayonier Advanced Materials (RYAM), skirted [...]
Nov
Land Use Changes Would Make City More Dense
By Mike Lednovich After nearly four hours of Fernandina Beach City Commission meetings on annexations, [...]
Nov
David Sturges Comments on Two Ethics Complaints
By Mike LednovichFernandina Beach Vice Mayor David Sturges for the first time publicly commented Tuesday [...]
Nov
In Dark Times, Find Small Hopes and Nurture Them
By Linda Hart Green I’m hearing that folks are finding it difficult to be hopeful [...]
Nov
Some Different Ideas If You’re Not Sure About Thanksgiving
By Dylan Bailey If you’re planning to eat out for Thanksgiving on Amelia Island, here [...]
Nov
Oh, Peg Leg Pete! Your Future Hangs in the Balance
By Mike PhillipsThe Fernandina Beach Historic District Council was surprised to find Peg Leg Pete [...]
Nov
Rayonier Exec Gets High Honor
The Florida Council of 100 has announced that veteran real estate executive Chris Corr is [...]
Nov
Barnabas Bowls: A Report to the Community
By Karen Schaffnera and Donna SweetThe bowls at the heart of Barnabas Center’s annual Empty [...]
Nov
Rayonier Applies to Get Into the Bioethanol Production Business
By Mike Lednovich Rayonier Advanced Materials (RYAM) of Fernandina Beach has submitted an application to [...]
Nov
Just in Case, How to Prepare for the Unexpected
We plan for so many things in our life; weddings, children, school, college, buying a [...]
Nov
Sturges Faces Yet Another Ethics Complaint
By Mike LednovichA second ethics complaint has been filed against Fernandina Beach Vice Mayor David [...]
Nov
Have You Noticed? Amelia Is Becoming ‘Music Island’
By Wilma AllenGoogle “Music City” and you will find Nashville, Tennessee. Google “Music Island” and [...]
Nov
Native Language Unspoken for 200 Years Brought to Life
November’s “3rd on 3rd” at the Amelia Island Museum of History will be presented by [...]
Nov
How Whales — and People! — Use Songs to Navigate
By Lauri deGarisEditor’s note: This is the second in a series of 10 articles about [...]
Nov
We Could Use More Table Talk in This Community
By Linda Hart GreenDo you remember the kitchen or dining room table in the home [...]
Nov
Bantam & Biddy is a Gluten-Free Heaven
By Dylan BaileyBantam & Biddy has been on Amelia Island for a few years now [...]
Nov
Commentary: It Was a Black Day at City Hall
By Mike Lednovich Last Tuesday in Fernandina Beach was a day of ignominy. That’s when [...]
Nov
Corps Agrees to Move the Channel at No Charge
By Mike Lednovich The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has agreed to move the Amelia [...]
Nov
Port Commission Gavel Passes to Miriam Hill
By Mike Lednovich Miriam Hill was elected Wednesday as the chairman of the Ocean Highway [...]
Nov
Division And Insults Mar Solemn Proclamation
By Mike Lednovich What was intended as a solemn city commission proclamation honoring transgender victims [...]
Nov
Restoration Foundation Honored for 50 Years of Accomplishments
At the first Plantation Ladies Association luncheon (PLA) of the 2023-24 season, the group honored [...]
Nov
Veterans Day: a Parade, a Picnic and Later a Living History
The American Legion Post 54 of Fernandina Beach is once again presenting the Veterans Day [...]
Nov
After Much Ado, Bean Won’t Read Transgender Proclamation
By Mike Lednovich Fernandina Beach Mayor Bradley Bean notified Fernandina Beach Pride Monday that he [...]
Nov
Mimi’s Coffee & Boba Tea Is Popping With Flavor
By Dylan Bailey Amelia Island hosts a variety of wonderful and delicious treats. However, one [...]
Nov
Who’s In Charge Here? Golf Advisors, Manager Differ
By Mike LednovichBy Mike Lednovich Fernandina Beach Golf Club General Manager David DeMay sent tremors [...]
Nov
A Park Plan Is Emerging Next to Lots D and C
By Mike Phillips The Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board (CRAAB) made some progress at last [...]
Nov
Transgender Panel Discussion at St. Peter’s
On Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, Fernandina Beach Pride will host a community event to commemorate [...]
Nov
A Short Announcement but Big News
Charlie George bounced into the Wednesday night Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board meeting like a [...]
Nov
Some Budget Juggling Gets an Executive Chef for Golfers
By Mike Lednovich Failing for years just to even break even, the Fernandina Beach Municipal [...]
Nov
A Wobble on Reading the Transgender Proclamation
By Mike Lednovich Mayor Bradley Bean notified Fernandina Beach Pride Monday that he was [...]
Oct
Habitat to Break Ground on a Mini-Community
Nassau Habitat will break ground for its 2024 build “Berkman Place” on Thursday, Nov. 9, [...]
Oct
Easier Lot Division Changes Proposed By Sturges
By Mike Lednovich Changes to the city’s rules on how property can be divided into [...]
Oct
Can You See the Way a Whale Sees? Yes You Can!
Editor’s note: Among other accomplishments, Lauri deGaris is a marine biologist. As the right whale [...]
Oct
Commentary — Our City Crossroads: Bigger or Better?
By Chip Ross City Commissioner, City of Fernandina Beach Two separate but opposing points of [...]
Oct
Two Bits of Progress at Port Authority Meeting
By Mike Phillips Ocean Highway and Port Authority commissioners still don’t have a well-defined plan [...]
Oct
After 4 Years, Port Tells Feds It Has No Tug Contracts
By Mike Lednovich The Ocean Highway and Port Authority, along with Port of Fernandina operator [...]
Oct
Dickens on Centre Plans Just Keep Getting Better
By Dylan Bailey Dickens on Centre, an enchanting holiday event on Amelia Island, has been [...]
Oct
Meet $1000 Start-Ups Nov. 4 – And Have Fun, Too
$1000 Start-Ups will hold its annual Celebrate Small Business Fair on Saturday, Nov. 4, from [...]
Oct
Barnabas Adds Online Market to Empty Bowls Event
A new Barnabas initiative keeps the creativity flowing at this ever-growing, home-grown social service agency. [...]
Oct
There’s help for Troubled First Responders
National First Responders Day is an opportunity to honor the men and women who help [...]
Oct
Symphony Ensemble to Focus on Harp and Violin
By Julia McDermott A performance by Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra musicians, punctuated with an intermission and [...]
Oct
Two Gala Nights at the Opera at ACT
Amelia Island Opera and Amelia Community Theatre present two evenings of spirited and exhilarating music [...]
Oct
Who Should Pay for Water Hookups? Ross Says 3-2 Vote Means Residents Pay
By Mike Lednovich Mayor Bradley Bean, Vice Mayor David Sturges and Commissioner Darron Ayscue ignored [...]
Oct
City Rezoning to Protect Land on State-Mandated Housing List
By Mike Lednovich The City Commission was unanimous in protecting parcels at the MLK Rec [...]
Oct
Commentary: Port Commission Simply Isn’t Functioning as it Should
By Mike Phillips It’s time to say this, and say it bluntly: The Ocean Highway [...]
Oct
Events for Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). Each year, the month of October reinforces advocacy [...]
Oct
Feds Breathing Down Port’s Neck to Get Into Barge Business — But The Tug It Bought Is Too Small
By Mike Lednovich The Ocean Highway and Port Authority and Port of Fernandina operator Savage [...]
Oct
‘Shop With Cops’ Chili Fundraiser Will Be Nov. 9
The 11th Annual Chili Cook-Off Competition, benefiting the “Shop with Cops” program for Nassau County [...]
Oct
Commentary: The Wise Know What They Don’t Know
By Linda Hart Green I don’t like to admit I was a know-it-all in school. [...]
Oct
Library Book Club to Discuss Woolf Classic
The Friends of the Library Book Club will discuss Virginia Woolf’s classic novel “To the [...]
Oct
Grants for Main Street Facade Improvements
Fernandina Beach Main Street has started a facade improvement matching grant program. The program is [...]
Oct