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, [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Belizean Food

By Pat Foster-Turley It’s no surprise to my readers that whenever I travel, food is [...]

Women’s Club Awards Six Scholarships

The retiring President, Sue Dwyer and incoming president of the Women’s Club of Fernandina Beach, [...]

New Head for Regional Community Foundation

After a nationwide search, the Board of Trustees of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida [...]

Riverstone: Hard-nosed FAQs from Conservationists

Since announcing the formation of Citizens Against Runaway Development (CARD) we have heard from many [...]

Carolyn Edna Phanstiel: Teacher, Activist — and Friend

Carolyn Edna Phanstiel was born in Queens, New York, February 28, 1938, and died peacefully [...]

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 [...]

$1,000,000 for Piney Island Conservation

By Wes Wolfe Florida Politics Nassau County got what it wanted in its No. 1 [...]

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. [...]

Public Notice

In the Juvenile Court of Putnam County, Tennessee at Cookeville, Tennessee Ann Marie Fisk VS Ivory [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Monkey River Village School

By Pat Foster-Turley I’ve been to Monkey River Village three times now, each time better [...]

It Started With a Flag

By Genece Minshew In June of 2018, on a Tuesday evening, Mayor Johnny Miller decided [...]

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 [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Hunting Dosinias

By Pat Foster-Turley Lots of people collect seashells, and if you are from the inland [...]

America’s Youth Program Needs Flooring Help

If you are not familiar with this very worthwhile charity, please look up their website, [...]

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 [...]

Pride Picnic as American as Apple Pie

By April L. Bogle Some 100 people – from pre-kindergarteners to grandparents and every age [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Is That a Turkey?

By Pat Foster-Turley I must confess that sometimes I respond too quickly to emails without [...]

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 [...]

Marina Beefing Up Security With Gates

By Mike Lednovich Property theft and vandalism on boats docked at the city marina is [...]

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 [...]

City Has Found a New Airport Director

Interim City Manager Mark Foxworth has announced that Sam Carver, who currently manages the Witham [...]

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 [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Reap What You Sow

By Pat Foster-Turley April 14, 2023 It started out as a simple visit to the [...]

Final Port Plan Gives Community What It Wanted

By Mike Lednovich After 18 months of work, the Ocean Highway Port Authority unanimously approved [...]

Commentary: Some Hard Truths About Parking Lot A

By Chip Ross Recently Amelia River Cruises emailed me concerning an action taken at the [...]

Volunteers Needed to Advise on Elder Issues

ElderSource, a nonprofit organization that works to empower elders, adults with disabilities and their caregivers [...]

City Manager Search: Back to Square One

By Mike Lednovich Executive search firm Strategic Government Resources says it will not provide only [...]

Tree Conservancy Celebrates 10 Years

Amelia Tree Conservancy is marking its 10th anniversary of protecting Amelia Island’s tree canopy. A [...]

Why the Secrecy on New Riverstone Offer?

Since May 22 of last year, Nassau County and Riverstone Properties have been at a [...]

Area 51 Korean Grill: Very Good, and Longer Hours

By Dylan Bailey Our restaurant reviewer Area 51 Korean Grill touts an impressive blurb on [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Bald Eagle Nests

By Pat Foster-Turley April 6, 2023 Bald eagles are everywhere these days, or so it [...]

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 [...]

Commentary: Manager Search Must Be Done Professionally

By Margaret Kirkland Chair, Conserve Nassau With the current size and projected growth of Fernandina [...]

Review: New Cuban Bistro Off to a Delicious Start

By Dylan Bailey When I heard Amelia Island was welcoming another Cuban restaurant, I was [...]

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 [...]

Pat’s Wildways: A Rare Bird

By Pat Foster-Turley March 31, 2023 When I enter the pool for my deep-water aerobics [...]

A Big Year for Concours Week

The Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau (AICVB) has released data on this year’s Amelia [...]

Charlie George to be Tapped as Next Interim City Manager

  By Mike Lednovich Deputy City Manager Charlie George will assume the duties of interim [...]

Hard Choices Ahead on Rec Center Auditorium

By Mike Phillips The reports are in on a study of the costs of repairing [...]

Meet Four Military-Inspired Writers

If you like to write, kick off your weekend with Amelia Island Writers, who will [...]

The Good Old Days of City Manager Deals

Fernandina, Florida January 11, 1936 “A called meeting of the City Commission was held this [...]

Review: Fill Up at T-Ray’s

  By Dylan Bailey On the corner of Beech Street and Eighth Street, lies an [...]

Commentary: ‘Criminal Enterprise’ Accusers Now on Record With FBI

By Chip Ross For years a few individuals have publicly stated that the city of [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Water!

By Pat Foster-Turley March 24, 2023 I often wonder where all the wildlife in our [...]

City Manager Search Group Launched — With Surprise Advisors

By Mike Phillips In a Fernandina Beach City Commission meeting made up primarily of routine [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Manager Search Update: No Applications

The Fernandina Observer has learned that there have been no applications received for the city’s [...]

‘One Book One Community’ Author Luncheon

Enjoy lunch 11:30 a.m. Thursday April 6 as author Katherine Reay discusses her book “The [...]

New Task Force to Seek Walking and Biking Opportunities

Under the direction of Fernandina Beach Deputy City Manager Charles George, a task force has [...]

Local PR CEO Named Best in US

The World Communications Forum Association has named Axia Public Relations CEO Jason Mudd as the [...]

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 [...]

A Scramble to Get Cement Out of the Port

This is the aftermath of just one busted bag.  (Photo taken last month.) Trucks started [...]

Pat’s Wildways: New Gardening Mishaps

By Pat Foster-Turley March 17, 2023 I’ve been gardening in my backyard for 20-some years [...]

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 [...]

Story and Song Names an Executive Director

The Board of Directors of Story & Song Center for Arts & Culture has selected [...]

Nassau Big/Little Sisters Pair Named Tops in Florida

Every year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America chooses two volunteer mentors (called ‘Bigs’) and [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Local Shopping Rounds

By Pat Foster-Turley March 10, 2023 Most Saturday mornings when I am home I make [...]

Employers Wanted for Youth Work Program

CareerSource Northeast Florida (CareerSource NEFL) is recruiting regional employers to serve as job sites for [...]

Professional Development for Business Women

The Eight Flags Charter Chapter of American Business Women invites all Nassau County women to [...]

Commission Gives Unsafe Brett’s Structure a Pass

By Mike Phillips Neatly tucked into the March 7 city commission agenda was a small [...]

Think Ahead, Port! And Get Creative!

By Tammi Kosack Dear commissioners, As a stakeholder representative I have received scores of emails [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Okefenokee Day Trip

By Pat Foster-Turley March 3, 2023 Sometimes when Bucko and I are bored with Amelia [...]

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 [...]

Second Year of Heroes for Barnabas

This year’s second annual Barnabas Center Fashion Show honoring Hometown Heroes took place on Monday, [...]

Port Commission Will Vote on its Plan March 8

The Ocean Highway Port Authority (OHPA) commissioners are preparing to vote on a final version [...]

A New Backpacks for Kids Program in Nassau

The Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau, in partnership with the Amelia Island Tourist Development [...]

Pat’s Wildways: Backyard Birding

By Pat Foster-Turley February 24, 2023 Like most of my friends, I try to attract [...]

Neighbors Seek Review of RV Park Approval

On Tuesday, Pirates Bay residents filed a writ of certiorari requesting judicial review of the [...]

Library Director Ends a Distinguished Career

Library Director Dawn Bostwick retired last week after 27 years of service, 22 of those [...]

City Manager’s Comments – Capital

By Dale Martin, City Manager In last week’s recap of the city commission’s annual goal-setting [...]

Invader Raiders Are Death to Invasive Plants

If you went to the beach last fall and didn’t run into a bunch of [...]