Today's Showcase
Pat's Wildways

Pat's Wildways: Bemoaning the Loss of Bayous

Crawfish like this one at the New Orleans Aquarium used to be common in the bayous, but no longer.

By Pat Foster-Turley
Yesterday at 3:30 AM

I am a big fan of swamps -- freshwater swamps in particular. One of my favorite places is the bayous of southern Louisiana. Or should I say “was” one of my favorite places. It has …

Digital Compass

Why You Should Be Using the App Library on Your iPhone or iPad

The iPhone App Library organizes apps into categories.

By Deryck Burnett
3 days ago

When Apple introduced the App Library with iOS 14, it quietly revolutionized how we interact with our iPhones and iPads. While some users may have overlooked this feature, it is one of the most …

Police photo from early this morning.

Snow hits Fernandina, icy roads pose problems

By Mike Lednovich
4 days ago
Snow hit Fernandina Beach early today on the north section of Amelia Island and ice covered roads had police out in force to monitor traffic and mishaps. Police officials reported numerous …

Habitat for Humanity Merges with Jax

By Mike Lednovich
5 days ago
Nassau Habitat for Humanity has merged with Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville (Habijax) to form a new organization to likely be called Northeast Florida Habitat for Humanity. 
From the HeART
Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Find Hope and Inspiration in History

By Linda Hart Green
Sunday, January 19

As we remember the events that led to a national holiday honoring the Rev. Dr. King Jr., let’s look to some 20th-century history and see if we can find some inspiration and hope for the days ahead.

To Find Peace, Sit Still

By Linda Hart Green
Sunday, January 12
I visited the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden on a recent trip to Washington, D.C. When I entered the museum, I immediately saw big colorful words on the walls and ceiling of the lower floor. I took the …
Off the Porch
Dickie and her sister Betsy on safari.

Africa Redux

By Dickie Anderson
4 days ago

Recently, a friend returned from her dream trip to South Africa. Excited for her, I shared memories of my two trips to Africa years ago. The trips were with my fellow adventurer, my sister Betsy. The …

Architectural Treasures of Amelia Island

By Dickie Anderson
Wednesday, January 15
Amelia Island offers a unique opportunity to experience history. Fernandina Beach's Historic District is a living museum. Like sleeping beauties, the island's Victorian-era homes have been frozen in …
Digital Compass
Gmail logo on a smartphone.

Why Disposable Email Addresses Should Be Your Next Online Privacy Tool

By Deryck Burnett
Thursday, January 16

In an age where data breaches are a daily occurrence, our email addresses have become a critical vulnerability. A single leaked credential can unlock a chain of opportunities for hackers, exposing …

The Double-Edged Sword of Digital Connection

By Deryck Burnett
Thursday, January 9
In my line of work, I’ve witnessed countless people struggling with the reality of living in a hyper-connected world. While platforms like Facebook can create a sense of community, they can …
Pat's Wildways
Cuban tree frog adults are larger than our native green tree frogs but share identifying toe pads.

Pat's Wildways: Frogs

By Pat Foster-Turley
Friday, January 17

By now, almost everyone has heard that frogs are becoming scarcer in the wild these days. Combined effects of habitat loss, diseases, introduced species, and changing climate have affected frog …

Pat’s Wildways: Cedar Key Post-Hurricanes

By Pat Foster-Turley
Friday, January 3
A few times a year, Bucko and I have been in the habit of driving across the state to Cedar Key, the old terminus of the railroad track from Fernandina back in the day. It’s about a three-hour …
Dining With Dylan
Epic stuffed crust pizza with pepperoni.

Papa Johns in Yulee: A Welcome (and Greasy) Return

By Dylan Bailey
Saturday, January 18

Papa Johns is back! After a decade without one nearby, the beloved pizza chain has opened a new location in Yulee, Florida, and the community was ready for it. I made a point to stop by on their …

Selina’s FriendSip Cafe: Coffee with a Side of Faith and Charm

By Dylan Bailey
Saturday, January 11
Driving along the ever-packed stretch of A1A, you never know what you’ll stumble on. It might be a farmers market buzzing with activity or a festive bail bond office clinging to its holiday …
City News

MLK Parade Participants Brave Chiller Front

By Mike Lednovich
5 days ago
Hardy parade participants and spectators braved bone-chilling conditions Monday in honoring the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. in Fernandina Beach.

Fernandina Port Attorney Resigns

By Mike Lednovich
Friday, January 17
Ocean Highway and Port Authority attorney Patrick Krechowski, who helped the port navigate through a series of legal issues, has resigned his position. Krechowski, with the law …

Brett's settlement talks collapse; leaseholders seek arbitration

By Mike Lednovich
Thursday, January 16
After nearly 18 months of negotiations with the city, leaseholders for Brett's Waterway Cafe have begun legal action in Nassau County Circuit Court to have a panel of arbitrators determine how much, …
County News

Zimmerman named to school board

Monday, December 9, 2024
Fernandina Beach business owner and political activist Joe Zimmerman has been appointed by  Governor Ron DeSantis to the Nassau County School Board, filling the District 3 seat vacated by …
Nature
Okefenokee expansion map.

Okefenokee Expansion and Reflection

By Lauri Holton
4 hours ago
Today, the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge is the largest national wildlife refuge east of the Mississippi River. It contains approximately 407,000 acres and that number is about to increase. …

Saving Sturgeon: St. Marys Riverkeeper's Lunch and Learn

St Marys River boat trip, fall 2024.
By Lauri Holton
Tuesday, January 7
The St. Marys Riverkeeper invites Fernandina residents to the next “Lunch and Learn” webinar ​ series on Jan. 15, 2025, from 12-1 p.m. This free webinar ​ will explore the federally …
Pat's Wildways

Pat’s Wildways: Crooked River State Park

Turtles, including this diamondback terrapin, are displayed in the nature center.
By Pat Foster-Turley
Friday, December 27, 2024
If you are looking for another interesting day trip from Amelia Island, it’s worth a drive to St. Marys, just to our north. Although Bucko and I have been up this way many times before, …
Health
A woman undergoing intravenous therapy.
By Shari Roan
Friday, January 10
A growing number of people diagnosed with cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and autoimmune diseases benefit from biomarker testing – a type of genetic test that can help physicians determine …
Read more.
By Shari Roan
Tuesday, December 31, 2024
Self-improvement is a good thing, but according to research, professing New Year’s resolutions may not be the way to make positive changes in your life. One infamous study found that 43% of …
Read more.
Community
Community

Dining Down Centre – Epic Birthday Celebrating Fernandina Beach’s Bicentennial

Wednesday, December 18, 2024
The party begins January 1, 2025, from 2-4 p.m. This event is the culmination of a year-long community-wide bicentennial celebration involving more than 30 organizations. Fernandina Beach Main …

Fernandina Beach-based Singer Soars on NBC’s 'The Voice'

THE VOICE --
By Shari Roan
Saturday, November 16, 2024
When he auditioned for the NBC hit program “The Voice,” earlier this year, Edward Preble, a 19-year-old vocalist from Fernandina Beach, thought the show might be a “stepping stone …
Cold night shelter seeking volunteers
Friday, November 15, 2024
The JTA Expands Services to Nassau County for Transportation Disadvantaged Residents
Sunday, October 6, 2024
As of Tuesday, October 1, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) has assumed all responsibility as the Community Transportation Coordinator for the transportation disadvantaged residents of …
Churches & Charities
Thursday, June 13, 2024
Nassau County Council on Aging (NCCOA)  has received a gift of $4.9 million from Tom and Julie Wood Family Foundation to support, enhance and create …
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
If you're curious about the increase in the number of unhoused people in our county and what is being done, learn more about what the nonprofit Coalition for the Homeless is doing. An open community …
Special Features
Bottle with message inside.

A Message in a Bottle Leads to Stories From Everywhere

By Lauri deGaris
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Recently, my friend Cathy showed me a plastic Coke bottle she found on the beach. Inside the bottle was a neatly folded letter. The cap was tight, and no water had penetrated the bottle. The message …

It’s a Wonderful Life

Ken and Elizabeth Wilson at their old house in 1987.
By Shari Roan
Monday, December 23, 2024
Last September, when Elizabeth and Ken Wilson drove up to the Maplewood, New Jersey, house they owned over 35 years ago, memories overwhelmed them. The retired Fernandina Beach couple were in New …
Business
Cheryl Wison has collected an impressive array of fossils and shark teeth.

Beach Treasures on Display

By Shari Roan
Sunday, January 19
When Cheryl Wilson moved to Fernandina Beach in 2018, she was drawn to walks on the beach to clear her head and get some exercise. As she strolled on the sand, however, her eyes were drawn to shells …

Waffle House Planned on 8th Street

By Mike Lednovich
Monday, December 16, 2024
Owners of property on South Eighth Street have applied to the city to build a Waffle House on 1.2 acres of vacant property next to the Wells Fargo building, according to city documents. The …
Connor and his mom, Christine, hold Connor's book and microgreen kit.

He Makes It Easy to Be Green

By Pam Green
Monday, September 16, 2024
Despite having come into this world with a myriad of debilitating medical issues, teen entrepreneur Connor Hiebel, radiates an aura of tenacious positivity. The 19-year-old founder of Amelia …
5-Day Forecast
Sunday
Sunny
High: 58°F
(-18°C)
Monday
Partly Sunny
High: 56°F
(-18°C)
Tuesday
Mostly Sunny
High: 64°F
(-18°C)
Wednesday
Partly Sunny
High: 68°F
(-18°C)
Thursday
Partly Sunny
High: 64°F
(-18°C)