Today's Showcase
From the HeART

Who is My Neighbor?

Brendan and Chris Twiggs at the Lviv Volunteer Kitchen in Lviv, Ukraine, Oct. 2024.

By Linda Hart Green
Yesterday at 3:30 AM

At a time when many are drawing the circle around themselves tighter due to fear and uncertainty, Brendan Twiggs, a 20-something Fernandina native, is widening his circle. Why? It has to do with the …

Dining With Dylan

DeCicco's Pizzeria: Wildlight’s Newest Slice of New York

By Dylan Bailey
2 days ago

As Wildlight continues to grow, so do the number of restaurants that come with it. We’ve seen Mexican joints, burger spots, an ice cream parlor, and even a breakfast place pop up. But now, we …

Port Property Hits Online Real Estate Sites

By Mike Lednovich
2 days ago
Ocean Highway and Port Authority property at the corner of North Third Street and and Dade Street is now listed for sale on online real estate sites like Zillow and Realtor.com with an asking price of …

On Valentine’s Day, Love Your Heart

By Shari Roan
3 days ago
February signals Valentines, chocolates, flowers and perhaps a quick checkup of your heart health. Health organizations across the country honor American Heart Month with an array of events and …
From the HeART

Persistence is Bravery Too

By Linda Hart Green
Sunday, February 9

My cat’s name is Jitters. He has lived up to it. He runs out of the kitchen when my toast pops up. He hightails it under the bed if the doorbell rings. He needs safe spaces. In these stressful …

Small Acts, Big Love

By Linda Hart Green
Sunday, February 2
A friend of mine is a tireless advocate for animal rescue. She matches her words with actions. Her story reminds me it is possible to make a difference right where you are. She volunteers …
Off the Porch

Gotta Have That Java

By Dickie Anderson
5 days ago

Ever stop to think about it? Some of our habits are so ingrained that we rarely analyze how they became such absolutes in our lives. At our house coffee in the morning is an absolute. It is as much …

Losing Things

By Dickie Anderson
Wednesday, February 5
We all hate to lose things. It is crazy-making. It can be big things like where you parked your car or small things like an earring. Thank heavens for the key fobs telling your car to blink or honk. …
Digital Compass

Teamup - a Serious Alternative to Google Calendar

By Deryck Burnett
4 days ago

When I first started using Teamup, I was amazed at how simple and effective it was, especially compared to Google Calendar. Don’t get me wrong – Google Calendar is great if you’re …

Start Using Open Source Software

By Deryck Burnett
Thursday, February 6
You don’t need to spend money on Microsoft Office to get high-quality tools for writing, spreadsheets, and presentations. LibreOffice and OpenOffice are free, reliable alternatives that work …
Pat's Wildways
I enjoyed the large old growth along the 2½-mile boardwalk in Congaree National Park.

Pat's Wildways: Congaree National Park

By Pat Foster-Turley
3 days ago

Recently, I made the long drive up to Durham, North Carolina, to visit my niece Margaret and her family – a long overdue trip for me. But driving up congested, fast-moving Highway 95 whitened …

Pat’s Wildways: Shell Shenanigans

By Pat Foster-Turley
Friday, February 7
It was the coldest day this winter so far. What the heck was I doing on the beach at Little Talbot Island all wrapped up in layers of winter clothes? It was not the best day for beachgoing, according …
Dining With Dylan

Savor the Island: Highlights from Amelia Island Restaurant Week 2025

By Dylan Bailey
Saturday, February 1

Another year, another incredible Amelia Island Restaurant Week! From Jan. 17 through 26, the island indulged in a 10-day feast highlighting the best of over 20 restaurants. If you missed it, you …

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 …
City News
Money is due in October

Port Must Scramble to Find $20,000 to Pay City

OHPA comissioners discuss PILOT payment shortfall
By Mike Lednovich
4 days ago
Delays in applying a universal administrative fee to Port of Fernandina customers could result in the Ocean Highway and Port Authority (OHPA) struggling to gather sufficient funds to pay the city of …

Group Goes for Gold as New Skate Park Estimates Hit $2 Million

By Mike Lednovich
5 days ago
The cost estimate for a new Poe Pinson Skate Park at Main Beach has come in at $2 million as Friends of Fernandina Skate Park prepare to make their pitch for funding from the city.

Election Changes Financial Landscape of City Utilities

By Mike Lednovich
Tuesday, February 11
What a difference an election makes. A newly seated city commission did what the prior city commission didn't do -- they listened to their hired consultant and in-house Public Works/Utilities …
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

Cummer Museum: Where Art Meets Nature

Entrance to the Cummer Museum.
By Lauri Holton
Tuesday, February 11
This past week, I visited the Cummer Museum and Gardens to see the “Spirit in the Land” art exhibit before it closed. It was a wonderful exhibit that provoked many thoughts about how we …
Okefenokee expansion map.

Okefenokee Expansion and Reflection

By Lauri Holton
Saturday, January 25
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. …
Off the Porch

Africa Redux

Dickie and her sister Betsy on safari.
By Dickie Anderson
Wednesday, January 22
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 …
Pat's Wildways

Pat's Wildways: Frogs

Cuban tree frog adults are larger than our native green tree frogs but share identifying toe pads.
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 …
Business

10 restaurants failed first inspections last week

Wednesday, February 5
Readers can view the full report for each establishment at https://data.jacksonville.com/restaurant-inspections/nassau/   BANTAM AND BIDDY Administrative complaint …

Sparkling Event Venue Opens at Amelia River Golf Club

By Shari Roan
Tuesday, February 4
Engaged couples, vendors and invited guests celebrated the grand opening of a 6,000-square-foot event center Jan. 25 at Amelia River Golf Club. The venue is the brainchild of Tom and Michelle Miller. …

Inspectors Cite 23 Restaurants

Wednesday, January 29
These records are sanitation and safety inspections conducted by the Division of Hotels and Restaurants on public food service establishments. Each inspection report is a "snapshot" of conditions …
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 …
Health
Assorted mocktails.
By Shari Roan
Monday, February 10
About one-quarter of American adults participate in Dry January, a vow to avoid drinking alcoholic beverages for the month, according to the polling firm Civic Science.
Read more.
By Shari Roan
Thursday, January 30
Each month, the Observer brings you a roundup of some recent health news. Medicare recipients who rely on telehealth visits for their care will still have Medicare coverage of those visits, at least until later this year …
Read more.
Community
Community

Amelia Island Book Festival Announces 2025 Schedule

Yesterday at 11:48 AM
This year's 2025 Amelia Island Book Festival kicks off on Friday, Feb. 28, with the Authors in School Program. AIBF​’s Authors in Schools (AIS) program has not only provided the opportunity …

Get Shelling! Amelia Island Needs Your Help for Whale Mosaic Project

Right whale and calf mosaic, Main Beach, 2018.
By Lauri Holton
Monday, December 30, 2024
Amelia Island Whale Ambassadors invites you to help our community create a shell mosaic on the beach. On Jan. 25, 2025, we will gather at Main Beach to create a life-size whale out of shells to raise …
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 …
THE VOICE --
Fernandina Beach-based Singer Soars on NBC’s '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 …
Churches & Charities
Friday, November 15, 2024
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 …
5-Day Forecast
Overnight
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Monday Night
Mostly Clear
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Tuesday Night
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers
Low: 55°F
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Wednesday Night
Chance Showers
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Thursday Night
Mostly Clear
Low: 40°F
(-18°C)