Fernandina Observer

By Carol Kando-Pineda
FTC Attorney, Division of Consumer & Business Education
November 10, 2019

November 11 is Veterans Day. More than 18 million people are U.S. military veterans. It’s a fitting time to thank military veterans for their sacrifice and service in protecting the United States. It’s also a good time to help protect our veterans from fraud.

Whether you’re a recent veteran or you returned to civilian life 20 years ago, you’re making decisions that affect your financial well-being. MilitaryConsumer.gov has helpful information for any stage of life, whether you’re launching your civilian career, enjoying retirement, or still serving in the Armed Forces. Get tips on managing money and credit, steering clear of scams, making the most of your education benefits, avoiding possible financial pitfalls when buying a car, and more. Share the information with the veterans in your life and encourage them to sign up for email updates to stay connected.

As always, if you spot a scam, tell the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint. And thank you for your service.

By Bill Guenther
November 9, 2019

Editor’s Note: Bill Guenther lives in Fernandina Beach with his wife, Gail Anderson Guenther who was born and raised here on the island. Bill is a veteran pilot for Delta Airlines, flying international long haul routes on the Boeing 777. Guenther was a Navy attack pilot flying the A7-E out of Cecil Field in Jacksonville in the early 80’s. He met Gail there and fell in love with her and Fernandina. He enjoys boating and fishing and cheering for Virginia Tech, his alma mater, and the Georgia Bulldogs.

Baptist Medical Center
Press Release
November 9, 2019

Straight A” streak for patient safety continues at Baptist Nassau.

Baptist Medical Center Nassau received an “A” for patient safety, the highest grade possible, in the fall 2019 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades. The designations recognize Baptist Nassau’s efforts in protecting patients from harm and providing safer health care.

“Nothing is more important than our patients’ safety. This is the fourth consecutive time that Baptist Nassau has received an A patient safety grade,” said Hospital President Ed Hubel, FACHE. “Our team members make safety their top priority – constantly monitoring safety measures and making improvements where they are needed.”

Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville and Baptist Medical Center Beaches also received an “A” grade.

The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization driven by employers and other purchasers of health care committed to improving health care quality and safety for consumers and purchasers. The Safety Grade assigns an ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’ or ‘F’ grade to all general hospitals across the country based on their performance in preventing medical errors, Continue reading →

November 9, 2019

Florida’s Zone C general gun deer season begins Saturday, Nov. 2, providing hunters the opportunity to get back to nature. And if knowledge, skill and luck come together for a successful hunt, there’s also healthy and delicious wild game to share and enjoy.

Zone C is Florida’s largest hunting zone, encompassing the central and northern part of the state. The general gun season for deer runs Nov. 2 – Jan. 19 on lands outside of the wildlife management area system and gives hunters the chance to carve out time from their busy schedules to go afield. It’s also a good opportunity to introduce someone to deer hunting. Taking a friend, family member, co-worker or neighbor hunting makes the experience even more special.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has developed online resources to make it easier for mentors and new hunters to get started deer hunting. Plus, the FWC’s new WMA Finder allows users to locate public hunting opportunities based on species, season, location and more. If you plan on hunting at a WMA, check WMA regulations brochures for each area you’re interested in because season dates and other regulations may vary. Continue reading →