Category Archives: General
Music Will Fill the Island Air This April
By Wilma Allen It isn’t just birds that will be singing this April. The island [...]
1 Comment
More Dr. Ruth Performances
Amelia Musical Theatre’s recent sold-out performance of “Becoming Dr. Ruth” is back for a limited [...]
2 Comments
Pat’s Wildways: Arizona Skies
By Pat Foster-Turley One of my main motivations for visiting southern Arizona with my brother [...]
Mar
RYAM Gets Initial Nod on Air Permit for Bioethanol Facility
By Mike Lednovich The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has notified RYAM that it plans [...]
12 Comments
Charlie George Modifies His Intent to Step Down
By Mike Lednovich Fernandina Beach Interim City Manager Charlie George expounded on his comment last [...]
2 Comments
Pat’s Wildways: Arizona Underground
By Pat Foster-Turley There’s a lot going on underground in southern Arizona, the location of [...]
Mar
St. Marys Mine Hearing Available Via Zoom
By Paula Alford The quality of life for all of us living near the St. [...]
4 Comments
Mar
Commentary: It’s Nassau’s River Also. Pay Attention!
By Emily Floore, St. Marys Riverkeeper On February 9, 2024, Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) [...]
6 Comments
Mar
Pat’s Wildways: Talking Turkey
By Pat Foster-Turley There is an avian mystery happening on Amelia Island, and maybe someone [...]
Mar
Commentary: When the Joy of Reading Crosses Paths With the Censors
By Linda Hart Green I do 75% of my seeing out of my right eye. [...]
17 Comments
Feb
Pat’s Wildways: The ‘Dying’ Art of Taxidermy
By Pat Foster-Turley Whenever I visit my friends in Gainesville I ask them for new [...]
2 Comments
Feb
Obituary: Marlene Marie Chapman
Marlene Marie Chapman (71), of Fernandina Beach, passed away peacefully at Community Hospice Jane and [...]
1 Comment
Feb
Anne Oman, Journalist and Observer Writer
We are saddened to report that Anne Oman, who served for nine years as a [...]
4 Comments
Feb
Tours of St. Peter’s Historic Church Coming in April
Are you interested in Fernandina’s history and historic buildings? Join a free 45-minute tour sponsored [...]
Feb
Quiltfest Applications Start in April
The theme for the 38th annual Jacksonville Quiltfest (QuiltfestJax) is “Sew Your Heart Out.” It [...]
Feb
Pat’s Wildways: Sundown Shows
By Pat Foster-Turley Every evening around some retention ponds there is a show that is [...]
Feb
Grace Church Invites Public to Birthday Fling
Grace Community Church, a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America, invites the public to [...]
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
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
Pat’s Wildways: Road Trip to Sebastian
By Pat Foster-Turley I am always on the lookout for new things to see in [...]
Feb
City Friendship Questioned as Developer Seeks Change
By Mike Lednovich Vice Mayor David Sturges’ friendship with a Fernandina Beach developer, who is [...]
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
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
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
A Fertile Year for Whales, Offset by Tragedies
By Lauri deGaris Seventeen — that is the number of North Atlantic right whale calves [...]
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
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
Port and Feds Are In a Serious Misunderstanding
By Mike Lednovich The Port of Fernandina is in peril of having to pay back [...]
Jan
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
A Friendly Agreement Expands Athletic Warmups
Fernandina Beach has often cast an envious eye on a large, unused field in front [...]
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
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
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
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
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
‘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
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
Commentary: A Topsy-Turvy Year at City Hall
By Mike Lednovich Now after more than a year in office, how did the 2023 [...]
Jan
Sixth Right Whale Calf is Sighted
By Lauri deGaris Right whale calf number No. 6 was born off Cumberland Island on [...]
Jan
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
Commission Takes First Steps Toward Manager Replacement
By Mike Lednovich Fernandina Beach city commissioners, still reeling from the abrupt departure of City [...]
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
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
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
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
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
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