By Rev. Linda Hart Green Rev. Linda Hart Green Is difference dangerous? There are those who think so. Even proximity to differences is hard for some to accept. Yet diversity is a main …

By Taina Cristner In early 2006, at the beginning of the aughts' housing bubble, the city of Fernandina Beach rewrote the city’s Land Development Code. Then-City Attorney Braga, at the request of …

Dear Nassau County Commissioners, The county’s reduction of coastal building height in 2021 was appropriate and in line with both the foundation of our economy and the state’s encouragement to …

By Rev. Dr. Mark Charles I was told a story today about an individual in our town who was making payment on an account at a local business the week before Easter. As they were doing so the staff …

A Letter to  the Nassau County Commissioners and County  Attorney: Nearly two years ago, the Amelia Tree Conservancy, Sanctuary Property Owners Association and other members of the community sought …

By Rev. Linda Hart Green Rev. Linda Hart Green In 2010, I was a pastor in Ridgewood, New Jersey. The town’s name may mean nothing to you unless you are a New Jersey transplant to Florida like me, …

By Suanne Thamm Some years ago a now-departed neighbor added a new acronym to our vocabulary: WIWAK. This term, courtesy of his grown children, was coined to describe our friend’s experiences …

By the Conserve Nassau Board of Directors The Fernandina Beach City Charter provides general guidelines for commissioners on the hiring of a city manager. However, commissioners and the search …

By Margaret Kirkland Chair, Conserve Nassau With the current size and projected growth of Fernandina Beach, it is essential that the city’s hiring of a city manager be in line with current …

By Mike Phillips Over the years I’ve lost track of how many city commissions and councils I’ve dealt with. But it’s well into three figures, and I thought I had seen it all. I’ve seen a lot …

By Chip Ross For years a few individuals have publicly stated that the city of Fernandina Beach is a “criminal enterprise for its violation of state impact and building fee laws.” These few …

By Suanne Thamm Hatfields vs. McCoys. Sharks vs. Jets. Natives vs. Newbies. Isn’t it about time that local residents find some middle ground for advancing community priorities? Most of us either …

By Suanne Thamm Confused.  Frustrated.  Unhappy.  Angry.  Suspicious. These are just a few of the adjectives describing reactions in the Amelia Island/Fernandina Beach community to the sudden …

By Mike Lednovich Fernandina Beach is searching for its most important executive, the city manager. Mayor Bradley Bean, who has no expertise in the hiring of top executives, Tuesday repeatedly …

Editor’s note: This commentary first appeared in 2015, but it’s as fresh as it was then — and will be 20 years from now. Some things never change. THAMM-O-GRAMM By Suanne Thamm One of the …

THAMM-O-GRAMM By Suanne Thamm When Vice Mayor David Sturges showed up at the City Commission meeting on Feb. 21 wearing a coat and tie, we knew something of consequence was going to take place. Or he …

  Editor's note: St Marys Riverkeeper -- one of 15 Riverkeeper units in Florida -- fields scores of trained water-testing volunteers in Georgia and two Florida counties. That includes all the …

Dear Readers: Some of you may remember that before I wrote for the Fernandina Observer, I occasionally mailed out opinion pieces that I entitled THAMM-O-GRAMMS. Not sure whether I will resume at the …

Editor’s note: The following piece of advice to the Fernandina Beach City Commission was written by an eminent attorney who has a home in the city’s historic district. It is rather heavy reading …

  Editor’s note: I’m very liberal about reader comments. So long as you aren’t calling people names or snapping at them, your opinion is your opinion. But I’ve detected some pooh-poohing in …