Category Archives: General
She Was Many Things, but First a Great Teacher
By Raymond Arsenault Carolyn Phanstiel, who died earlier this week at the age of 85, [...]
May
Pat’s Wildways: Belizean Food
By Pat Foster-Turley It’s no surprise to my readers that whenever I travel, food is [...]
May
Women’s Club Awards Six Scholarships
The retiring President, Sue Dwyer and incoming president of the Women’s Club of Fernandina Beach, [...]
May
New Head for Regional Community Foundation
After a nationwide search, the Board of Trustees of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida [...]
May
Riverstone: Hard-nosed FAQs from Conservationists
Since announcing the formation of Citizens Against Runaway Development (CARD) we have heard from many [...]
May
Carolyn Edna Phanstiel: Teacher, Activist — and Friend
Carolyn Edna Phanstiel was born in Queens, New York, February 28, 1938, and died peacefully [...]
May
This Hot New Place in Yulee Will Make You Happy
By Dylan Bailey On its website, Grumpy’s Restaurant says it is bringing dining back to [...]
May
$1,000,000 for Piney Island Conservation
By Wes Wolfe Florida Politics Nassau County got what it wanted in its No. 1 [...]
May
St. Johns Ferry Is Resuming Its Historic Role
Officials greet car number 1,000,000 to cross on the ferry By Lauri deGaris The St. [...]
May
Public Notice
In the Juvenile Court of Putnam County, Tennessee at Cookeville, Tennessee Ann Marie Fisk VS Ivory [...]
May
Pat’s Wildways: Monkey River Village School
By Pat Foster-Turley I’ve been to Monkey River Village three times now, each time better [...]
May
It Started With a Flag
By Genece Minshew In June of 2018, on a Tuesday evening, Mayor Johnny Miller decided [...]
May
Citizen Group Forms to Sue Riverstone — If Need Be
A new non-profit, Citizens Against Runaway Development (CARD), has been organized to oppose the proposed [...]
Apr
Pat’s Wildways: Hunting Dosinias
By Pat Foster-Turley Lots of people collect seashells, and if you are from the inland [...]
Apr
America’s Youth Program Needs Flooring Help
If you are not familiar with this very worthwhile charity, please look up their website, [...]
Apr
Commentary: We Have a Chance to Degrade Our Home — or Add Value
Dear Nassau County Commissioners, The county’s reduction of coastal building height in 2021 was appropriate [...]
Apr
Pride Picnic as American as Apple Pie
By April L. Bogle Some 100 people – from pre-kindergarteners to grandparents and every age [...]
Apr
Pat’s Wildways: Is That a Turkey?
By Pat Foster-Turley I must confess that sometimes I respond too quickly to emails without [...]
Apr
Port Is Deep in The Red, With Urgent Needs to Spend
By Mike Lednovich The Port of Fernandina is suddenly awash in hundreds of thousands of [...]
Apr
Marina Beefing Up Security With Gates
By Mike Lednovich Property theft and vandalism on boats docked at the city marina is [...]
Apr
Citizens Give Commission Some Jobs to Do on Manager Search
By Mike Lednovich The citizens committee tasked with advising the City Commission on finding the [...]
Apr
City Has Found a New Airport Director
Interim City Manager Mark Foxworth has announced that Sam Carver, who currently manages the Witham [...]
Apr
It’s Blueberry Season — and a Season for Ancient Stories
By Lauri deGaris Blueberries are native to North America and can be found in every [...]
Apr
Pat’s Wildways: Reap What You Sow
By Pat Foster-Turley April 14, 2023 It started out as a simple visit to the [...]
Apr
Final Port Plan Gives Community What It Wanted
By Mike Lednovich After 18 months of work, the Ocean Highway Port Authority unanimously approved [...]
Apr
Commentary: Some Hard Truths About Parking Lot A
By Chip Ross Recently Amelia River Cruises emailed me concerning an action taken at the [...]
Apr
Volunteers Needed to Advise on Elder Issues
ElderSource, a nonprofit organization that works to empower elders, adults with disabilities and their caregivers [...]
Apr
City Manager Search: Back to Square One
By Mike Lednovich Executive search firm Strategic Government Resources says it will not provide only [...]
Apr
Tree Conservancy Celebrates 10 Years
Amelia Tree Conservancy is marking its 10th anniversary of protecting Amelia Island’s tree canopy. A [...]
Apr
Why the Secrecy on New Riverstone Offer?
Since May 22 of last year, Nassau County and Riverstone Properties have been at a [...]
Apr
Area 51 Korean Grill: Very Good, and Longer Hours
By Dylan Bailey Our restaurant reviewer Area 51 Korean Grill touts an impressive blurb on [...]
Apr
Pat’s Wildways: Bald Eagle Nests
By Pat Foster-Turley April 6, 2023 Bald eagles are everywhere these days, or so it [...]
Apr
Charlie George to Take Over as Interim Manager 38 Days Early
Interim City Manager Mark Foxworth is stepping down early, on April 14, to let the [...]
Apr
Commentary: Manager Search Must Be Done Professionally
By Margaret Kirkland Chair, Conserve Nassau With the current size and projected growth of Fernandina [...]
Apr
Review: New Cuban Bistro Off to a Delicious Start
By Dylan Bailey When I heard Amelia Island was welcoming another Cuban restaurant, I was [...]
Apr
Right-Wing Group Proposes Businessman for City Manager
By Mike Lednovich The ultra-conservative political group County Citizens Defending Freedom-Nassau is proposing a retired [...]
Apr
Pat’s Wildways: A Rare Bird
By Pat Foster-Turley March 31, 2023 When I enter the pool for my deep-water aerobics [...]
Mar
A Big Year for Concours Week
The Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau (AICVB) has released data on this year’s Amelia [...]
Mar
Charlie George to be Tapped as Next Interim City Manager
By Mike Lednovich Deputy City Manager Charlie George will assume the duties of interim [...]
Mar
Hard Choices Ahead on Rec Center Auditorium
By Mike Phillips The reports are in on a study of the costs of repairing [...]
Mar
Meet Four Military-Inspired Writers
If you like to write, kick off your weekend with Amelia Island Writers, who will [...]
Mar
The Good Old Days of City Manager Deals
Fernandina, Florida January 11, 1936 “A called meeting of the City Commission was held this [...]
Mar
Review: Fill Up at T-Ray’s
By Dylan Bailey On the corner of Beech Street and Eighth Street, lies an [...]
Mar
Commentary: ‘Criminal Enterprise’ Accusers Now on Record With FBI
By Chip Ross For years a few individuals have publicly stated that the city of [...]
Mar
Pat’s Wildways: Water!
By Pat Foster-Turley March 24, 2023 I often wonder where all the wildlife in our [...]
Mar
City Manager Search Group Launched — With Surprise Advisors
By Mike Phillips In a Fernandina Beach City Commission meeting made up primarily of routine [...]
Mar
Port Update: Fertilizer is Off the Table, and the Cement Exodus Will Continue
By Mike Phillips The cement exodus from the Port of Fernandina has slowed but is [...]
Mar
Genealogist to Discuss Resources
The Amelia Island Genealogical Society will hold its regular monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 21, in the Community Room [...]
Mar
Manager Search Update: No Applications
The Fernandina Observer has learned that there have been no applications received for the city’s [...]
Mar
‘One Book One Community’ Author Luncheon
Enjoy lunch 11:30 a.m. Thursday April 6 as author Katherine Reay discusses her book “The [...]
Mar
New Task Force to Seek Walking and Biking Opportunities
Under the direction of Fernandina Beach Deputy City Manager Charles George, a task force has [...]
Mar
Local PR CEO Named Best in US
The World Communications Forum Association has named Axia Public Relations CEO Jason Mudd as the [...]
Mar
Garden Club to Present “Down the Rabbit Hole” Flower Show
The Bartram Garden Club of Amelia will present Down the Rabbit Hole, a National Garden [...]
Mar
A Scramble to Get Cement Out of the Port
This is the aftermath of just one busted bag. (Photo taken last month.) Trucks started [...]
Mar
Pat’s Wildways: New Gardening Mishaps
By Pat Foster-Turley March 17, 2023 I’ve been gardening in my backyard for 20-some years [...]
Mar
Habitat Golf Tournament Coming Next Month
Nassau Habitat for Humanity is holding its second annual golf tournament on April 21 at [...]
First Presbyterian Hosting Food Drive for Barnabas
First Presbyterian Church is supporting Barnabas Center to collect healthy food donations on March 23 [...]
Commentary: What a Mess We Are In, Fernandina!
By Suanne Thamm Confused. Frustrated. Unhappy. Angry. Suspicious. These are just a few of the [...]
Mar
Story and Song Names an Executive Director
The Board of Directors of Story & Song Center for Arts & Culture has selected [...]
Mar
Nassau Big/Little Sisters Pair Named Tops in Florida
Every year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America chooses two volunteer mentors (called ‘Bigs’) and [...]
Mar
Pat’s Wildways: Local Shopping Rounds
By Pat Foster-Turley March 10, 2023 Most Saturday mornings when I am home I make [...]
Mar
Employers Wanted for Youth Work Program
CareerSource Northeast Florida (CareerSource NEFL) is recruiting regional employers to serve as job sites for [...]
Mar
Professional Development for Business Women
The Eight Flags Charter Chapter of American Business Women invites all Nassau County women to [...]
Mar
Commission Gives Unsafe Brett’s Structure a Pass
By Mike Phillips Neatly tucked into the March 7 city commission agenda was a small [...]
Mar
Think Ahead, Port! And Get Creative!
By Tammi Kosack Dear commissioners, As a stakeholder representative I have received scores of emails [...]
Mar
Pat’s Wildways: Okefenokee Day Trip
By Pat Foster-Turley March 3, 2023 Sometimes when Bucko and I are bored with Amelia [...]
Mar
Commentary: A Good City Manager is Hard to Find — And Too Easy to Fire
Editor’s note: This commentary first appeared in 2015, but it’s as fresh as it was [...]
Mar
Second Year of Heroes for Barnabas
This year’s second annual Barnabas Center Fashion Show honoring Hometown Heroes took place on Monday, [...]
Mar
Port Commission Will Vote on its Plan March 8
The Ocean Highway Port Authority (OHPA) commissioners are preparing to vote on a final version [...]
Feb
A New Backpacks for Kids Program in Nassau
The Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau, in partnership with the Amelia Island Tourist Development [...]
Feb
Pat’s Wildways: Backyard Birding
By Pat Foster-Turley February 24, 2023 Like most of my friends, I try to attract [...]
Feb
Neighbors Seek Review of RV Park Approval
On Tuesday, Pirates Bay residents filed a writ of certiorari requesting judicial review of the [...]
Feb
Library Director Ends a Distinguished Career
Library Director Dawn Bostwick retired last week after 27 years of service, 22 of those [...]
Feb
City Manager’s Comments – Capital
By Dale Martin, City Manager In last week’s recap of the city commission’s annual goal-setting [...]
Feb
Invader Raiders Are Death to Invasive Plants
If you went to the beach last fall and didn’t run into a bunch of [...]
Feb