Author Archives: Mike Phillips
Grants for Nonprofits That Help Youth Are Offered
VyStar Foundation is now accepting grant requests for its youth initiative. Funding priority will be [...]
Aug
Commentary: Musing About Connections That Make Life Better
By Linda Hart Green I took a photo of a mishmash of wiring out of [...]
Aug
Fifth Annual Dance Season Set, Tickets Going Fast
By Wilma Allen Thanks to enthusiastic audiences and sold-out performances in its first four seasons, [...]
Aug
Only in Fernandina Beach: The Eclectic Band Sonofarious
Scott Kessler, Marcus Yew. Bottom: Brenda Kayne, Nora Wittman, Munsell McPhillips By Wilma Allen With [...]
Aug
7 Brew: Drive-Thru Only, but Heavenly Coffees
By Dylan Bailey It’s not every day you see a new coffee shop opening within [...]
Aug
A Get ‘er Done Evening with the Redevelopment Board
By Mike Phillips The members of the Community Redevelopment Agency Advisory Board (CRAAB) were presented [...]
Aug
City Manager List Is on the Table from Citizens Committee
By Mike Lednovich The search for a new Fernandina Beach City Manager that began with [...]
Aug
Commentary: A Highly Seasoned Boater’s Advice on Our Marina
By Wally Moran Having stopped in Fernandina Beach by boat more than 50 times myself, [...]
Aug
New Sadler Road Hotel Project to be Reviewed
By Mike Lednovich A $7 million hotel project on Sadler Road will be reviewed Thursday [...]
Aug
Commentary: Sidewalks vs. Trees Need Not Be a Conflict
This is an open letter from the Nassau County Sierra Executive Board to fellow stakeholders [...]
Aug
Emily’s Death Has Led to United Action on Blood Clots
By Rich Donnelly First Coast News A local family’s grief has led to a new [...]
Aug
Coalition for the Homeless Meeting Coming Up
The next community meeting for the Coalition for the Homeless – Nassau County will be [...]
Aug
Tough Talk from Customs: New Port Facility or Else
By Mike Lednovich The Ocean Highway and Port Authority (OHPA) has so little money available [...]
Aug
Commentary: Want a Miracle? Try a Kind Word
By Linda Hart Green I got caught in the rain. It was sunny when I [...]
Aug
Ciao! Italian the Way It Should Be Done
By Dylan BaileyIn the vibrant heart of Fernandina Beach, Florida, there’s a little gem known [...]
Aug
Port Plans to Add Two Fabric Warehouses
By Mike LednovichThe Port of Fernandina is ready to start building two fabric warehouses on [...]
Aug
After a Shambles, Port Votes to Sell Historic District Lots
By Mike Lednovich The Ocean Highway and Port Authority (OHPA) voted 4-1 Wednesday to sell [...]
Aug
Lecture on the Slave Ship Antelope
The Amelia Island Museum of History will host Dr. Jonathan Bryant’s presentation “Dark Places of [...]
Aug
Commentary: Blindsided by a ‘Good Neighbor’ Church
By Samuel Jefferson Kennard I am shocked and dismayed to hear that Amelia Baptist Church [...]
Aug
An Update on The Cumberland Horses Suit
By Lauri deGaris On April 12, 2023, the horses of Cumberland Island — in their [...]
Aug
Nine Manager Candidates Presented to Citizen Committee
By Mike Lednovich Colin Baenziger & Associates has submitted nine city manager candidates to the [...]
Aug
Amelia Baptist Church Seeks to Rezone, Expand and Sell to Developer
By Mike Phillips The Amelia Baptist Church (ABC) owns 10+ acres adjoining its property in [...]
Aug
Publix Goes for Expansion Allowed by New Code Changes
By Mike Lednovich Just days after the city commission voted to change the City [...]
Aug
Like a Breakfast to Write Home About? Try the Southern Donut Company
By Dylan BaileyIf you’re a breakfast aficionado craving gourmet donuts, hearty meals, and artisan coffee, [...]
Aug
Rep. Bean Bill Would Freeze U.S. Education Dept. Hiring
U.S. Congressman Aaron Bean (FL-04) Chairman of the Early Childhood, Secondary, and Elementary Subcommittee, introduced [...]
Aug
City Opens Up Path to Bigger Shopping Centers
By Mike Lednovich By votes of 4-1, the Fernandina Beach City Commission Tuesday paved the [...]
Aug
City Finds More Money for Improvements
By Mike LednovichThe combination of having too much money in city reserves and underestimating anticipated [...]
Aug
An Update on the City Manager Search Process
Here is the schedule going forward for selecting the new Fernandina Beach city manager: Now [...]
Aug
Brett’s Lawyers Up, Threatens to Sue
By Mike LednovichAn attorney for Center Street Restaurant Group, owners of Brett’s Waterway Cafe, is [...]
Aug
Big School Tax Hike in the Works
The District School Board of Nassau County is proposing a tax levy of $109 million, [...]
Jul
County Has a New Planning Director
Nassau County’s new planning director is Elizabeth Backe. She has almost 25 years of experience [...]
Jul
Two Main Streeters Get Big State Award
Last week, winners of the Secretary of State’s 2023 Florida Main Street Awards were announced [...]
Jul
New Wrinkles in RV Site Plan: Townhouses and City Annexation
By Mike PhillipsThe developer of a proposed RV park on Nassau County land on Sadler [...]
Jul
Dolly Parton’s ‘9 to 5’ on Stage as Live Musical at ACT
By L. McClane Amelia Community Theatre opens “9 to 5: The Musical” on August 11 [...]
Jul
The Story of Horses and People
A Meditation by Lauri deGaris Horses have grazed the plains and pastures of [...]
Jul
Port Hears First Broker Ideas About Land Sale
By Mike LednovichDuring a special meeting of the Ocean Highway and Port Authority (OHPA) Thursday, [...]
Jul
Mezcal: New, Exciting and Authentically Mexican
Lined up for Mezcal Spirit of Oaxaca By Dylan Bailey Nothing quite matches the excitement [...]
Jul
What’s With the Alachua Project? Contractor Shortages
Curious people want to know: What’s going on at the seemingly stalled Alachua rail crossing [...]
Jul
By 3-2, City Votes Rollback, Sets Up $2.5 Million in Cuts
By Mike Lednovich Joyce Tuten speaks against rollback After 50 minutes of debate over the [...]
Jul
Marina Fuel Leak: 76 Days and Counting
By Mike LednovichA leaking fuel line at the city marina fuel dock has resulted in [...]
Jul
Marina Operator Hopes to Increase Fees
By Mike LednovichThe operator of the Fernandina Beach city-owned marina is proposing rate increases of [...]
Jul
Final 55 Manager Candidates Ready for Committee Review
By Mike LednovichThe final tally for candidates for the Fernandina Beach city manager is 55, [...]
Jul
Proposed PILOT Deal: A Park for the Debt
By Mike Lednovich Fernandina Beach City Commissioner Chip Ross is pitching a lawsuit settlement with [...]
Jul
Commentary: A Trashy Blame Game That Should End
Editor’s note: Because of recent problems with our system demanding unnecessary passwords from some commenters, [...]
Jul
Commentary: Hard Choices for United Methodists
By Mike PhillipsMy first church fight scared the pants off me. I was only five [...]
Jul
Memorial Methodist Keeps Its Focus Amid Wider Debate
By Dylan BaileyThe United Methodist Church, known for its rich history and global reach, is [...]
Jul
An Artist’s Tale: Finding Her Calling
By Dylan BaileyTricia Faulkner’s tale is an inspiring story of self-discovery, resilience, and artistic brilliance. [...]
Jul
City Critic Was Getting Free Trash Service for Five Years
By Mike LednovichNews-Leader columnist Steve Nicklas, who repeatedly criticizes city spending as wasteful, has been [...]
Jul
Commentary: It Isn’t Just $30,000 — It’s the Principle of the Thing
By Mike PhillipsThe cost of the city commission’s 50% pay raise that’s under discussion is [...]
Jul
Team Ohana Makes It to Kauai, Still Raising Funds
By Mike LednovichFernandina Beach-based Team Ohana completed its 2,800-mile journey Tuesday, rowing from Monterey, California, [...]
Jul
Amid Big Cuts, a Big Raise for Commissioners?
By Mike LednovichFernandina Beach City Commissioners are cutting funding for sidewalks, beach walkovers and paving [...]
Jul
Commission Stands Firm on Cutting Capital Improvements
By Mike LednovichThe needle didn’t budge over the proposed 2023-24 capital improvement budget as the [...]
Jul
Commentary: Farewell, Dale Martin. Flagler Beach Is Lucky
By Suanne Thamm On Friday, July 14, 2023, former Fernandina Beach City Manager Dale Martin [...]
Jul
Manager Applications Up to 42 — 19 with Crucial Experience
By Mike LednovichTen more applications have been received for the vacant Fernandina Beach city manager [...]
Jul
How to Help a Troubled Soul
Did you know that nearly 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. lives with a [...]
Jul
Sales Tax Holiday Coming Up
Florida consumers can purchase qualifying back-to-school supplies exempt from sales tax Monday, July 24 through Sunday, [...]
Jul
Are OHPA’s Dire Finances a Formal Emergency?
By Mike LednovichThe Ocean Highway and Port Authority’s attorney and accountant are working with the [...]
Jul
Get Ancestry Help at July 22 Meeting
The Amelia Island Genealogical Society (AIGS) will hold its monthly meeting at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, [...]
Jul
Much-Awarded Young Pianist to Play at St. Peter’s
Prize-winning pianist Spencer McKee will present a concert on Thursday, July 20 at 7 p.m. [...]
Jul
People Who Love Japanese Food Love Fancy Sushi
By Dylan Bailey For great tasting Japanese cuisine, Fancy Sushi stands out from the crowd. [...]
Jul
Florida Housing Leader to Speak Here
The next community meeting for the Coalition for the Homeless – Nassau County will be [...]
Jul
Dale Martin the Unanimous First Choice for Flagler Beach Manager
By Mike Lednovich Former Fernandina Beach City Manager Dale Martin was selected Friday as the [...]
Jul
Is Port-City Dispute Nearing Resolution? Stay Tuned
By Mike Lednovich Fernandina Beach claims each year that the Ocean Highway and Port Authority [...]
Jul
Once Again, Amelia Gets Kudos from Magazine Readers
Amelia Island has been voted No. 8 among the “Best Islands in the Continental United [...]
Jul
Key Promotion at Convention & Visitors Bureau
The board of the Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau recently approved the promotion of [...]
Jul
City Manager Search Extended to July 21
By Mike Lednovich Colin Baenziger & Associates, the city’s executive search firm, notified city commissioners [...]
Jul
A Flurry of Applicants Ends Manager Search With 32
By Mike Lednovich Five current or former city managers and a city administrator were among [...]
Jul
This Piano Man Plays in Church — and Far Beyond
By Dylan Bailey David Crout, who is the pianist at Blackrock Baptist Church, has [...]
Jul
You Haven’t Lived Until the Moon Has Captured You
By Lauri deGarisHave you ever been moonstruck? It has been a long time since it [...]
Jul
Peck Grads Celebrate Fond Memories
Former students of the historical Peck School celebrated the 8th reunion banquet recently at [...]
Jul
Arts in the Marsh — Last-Minute Thrill
Are you looking for a unique arts experience surrounded by nature? Then you must visit [...]
Jul
New Library Director Selected
Julie Cannavino has been selected to serve as the next Nassau County library director. She [...]
Jul
Nana Teresa Has a Story — And Boy, Can She Bake
By Dylan BaileyNana Teresa’s Bake Shop is a special place. It has captivated the hearts [...]
Jul
Birdsong Photo Presentation Coming Up
The Amelia Island Museum of History will host Bill Birdsong’s presentation “Photography on Our Greenway” [...]
Jul
Commentary: OK Commission, Stop Kidding Yourselves About Taxes
By Suanne ThammNero fiddled while Rome burned. The Fernandina Beach City Commission (FBCC) sticks its [...]
Jul