By Mike Phillips Observer Editor and Publisher In the coming weeks, you will start seeing a very different Fernandina Observer. We didn't want to startle you one day, so here is a preview: The new …

By Mike Lednovich The deadline is just six weeks away for candidacy in the Fernandina Beach city commission and a concerning silence persists. Despite widespread dissatisfaction with the …

By Linda Hart Green A number of books have been removed from Nassau County school classrooms and libraries. The local group, Citizens Defending Freedom, was responsible for the challenges that …

By Mike Phillips The Nassau County School Board was treated Thursday evening to a lesson on what literate citizens can do, something that a lot of people who’ve been behind book bans can’t do: …

By Linda Hart Green I exhale with relief when the date of March 6 passes. I have done so every year for the past 35 years, which is half of my life. My father died on March 6, 1989, at the age of 66, …

By Mike Lednovich In the heart of Fernandina Beach, important decisions that shape our community's future are often made within the confines of City Hall. As citizens, we place our trust in the hands …

Photo credit: Oshi Medlin Photography By April L. Bogle Johnnetta Betsch Cole’s lineage alone could fill a book. She is the sister of MaVynee Oshun Betsch, The Beach Lady of American Beach. She is …

By Chip Ross, city commissioner I recently received an email from a local charter boat captain. The e-mail stated in part: “I am having a hard time believing this is a discussion you people are …

By Linda Hart Green This is the current signboard in front of the First Baptist Church in America in Providence, Rhode Island, founded in 1638. 1638! My colleague and friend, The Rev. Dr. Jamie …

By Linda Hart Green I received this fancy jar opener for Christmas. This may seem like a terrible choice for a gift, but it was actually thoughtful. My age and a pesky form of inflammatory arthritis …

By Linda Hart Green Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2009 marked my first visit to Amelia Island. My husband and I had just concluded attending a conference on St. Simons Island, and we were heading to …

By Mike Lednovich Now after more than a year in office, how did the 2023 version of the Fernandina Beach City Commission perform? Let's count the ways by starting with January through Dec. 31. …

A banjo-playing mummer struts his stuff in the annual Mummers Parade in Philadelphia. By Linda Hart Green New Year’s Day was special for my brother and me. We spent the whole day with our dad. He …

Charlie George By Mike Lednovich What many folks don't realize is that over the past 12 months, there have been five different city managers running the city. Dale Martin served 9 weeks before being …

By Linda Hart Green It’s crunch time for gift buyers. At least, that is what the ads tell us. If we have to order online, we might have to spring for expedited shipping. It wasn’t always this …

By Mike Phillips One day, back in my corporate career, I lamented to the CEO that I was only batting 70% on recruiting. He got a characteristically long look in his eyes, cleared his throat and said, …

By Chip Ross City Commissioner Traffic is about to get much worse on South 14th Street. If the city commission votes at its next meeting to annex 3.47 acres of commercially zoned land just south of …

By Suanne Thamm Dear City Commissioners: Please accept my sincere sympathy for the position that recent actions of our new city manager and police chief have placed you and our city …

Editor's note: We are offering publication of brief, thoughtful, well-written commentaries on this subject. They will run with the regular news feed. Please submit them to me at …

By Linda Hart Green In the golden light of an early summer evening, I swished my crinoline petticoat pacing back and forth on the deck behind my grandparents’ home. I was 6 years old, dressed to …