Waterfront 'Gravel vs. Dirt' Decision Set for February

By Mike Lednovich
3 days ago
Following almost a year of squabbling, the decision whether to keep petanque courts or replace the area with grass to accommodate overflow parking on the riverfront ...

City rejects building moratorium idea

By Mike Lednovich
4 days ago
Fernandina Beach city commissioners Wednesday opposed considering a moratorium on building development for property owners that seek to combine parcels according to guidelines of the Land Development …
Today's Showcase
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
3 hours ago

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 …

Digital Compass

Why Disposable Email Addresses Should Be Your Next Online Privacy Tool

Gmail logo on a smartphone.

By Deryck Burnett
Yesterday at 3:30 AM

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 …

From the HeART
Thich Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese Buddhist teacher and peace activist.

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 …

Wisdom for the New Year from Bob Dylan

By Linda Hart Green
Sunday, January 5
I was excited to see the movie “A Complete Unknown” as soon as it showed nearby. I am in awe of Bob Dylan’s lyrics, even though I am not enamored of his sandpapery voice. The movie …
Off the Porch
The Queen Anne style Bailey House, built in 1895.

Architectural Treasures of Amelia Island

By Dickie Anderson
3 days ago

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 …

It’s That Time of Year – Resolutions

By Dickie Anderson
Wednesday, January 8
Yup, we have opened a brand new calendar. Welcome, 2025. We all want it to be a good year and promise ourselves and others that we will set some goals. So the dance begins – the pressure is on. …
Digital Compass

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 …

The Reality of Chromebooks as Disposable Computers

By Deryck Burnett
Thursday, January 2
I’ve always thought of Chromebooks as throwaway computers. They’re inexpensive, lightweight, and functional – but ultimately, very wasteful. Designed to be cost-effective, they make …
Pat's Wildways
Bucko looks longingly at our old haunts.

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 …

Pat’s Wildways: Crooked River State Park

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, …
Dining With Dylan

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 …

Georgia Smoke - Peaches + Pecans – Barbecue Worth Discovering

By Dylan Bailey
Saturday, January 4
You might not realize it, but nestled on Sadler Road, right between Dollar Tree and the ghost of the Peach Cobbler Factory, there’s a hidden gem of a barbecue spot: Georgia Smoke Peaches + …
City News
Krechowski
Faced numerous legal challenges

Fernandina Port Attorney Resigns

By Mike Lednovich
3 hours ago
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 …

City celebrates Arbor Day this Friday

3 days ago
The city of Fernandina Beach has received its 23rd year of national recognition as a Tree City USA community by the Arbor Day Foundation. This represents the city’s continued commitment to …

City works to fill legal void after sacking City Attorney

By Mike Lednovich
5 days ago
The sudden termination of City Attorney Tammi Bach last Tuesday has the Fernandina Beach city manager in a full court press to put temporary legal support in place while the search for a fulltime …
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

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 …
Winter Solstice wreath.

Wreaths, Remembrance, and the Winter Solstice

By Lauri Holton
Saturday, December 21, 2024
Wreath is an old English word meaning “to twist.” We weave evergreens, flowers, tree branches, herbs, fruit, berries, and more into a continuous loop, creating an everlasting symbol of …
Pat's Wildways

Pat’s Wildways: Give Wildlife a Break

Causing resting shorebirds to fly depletes their energy.
By Pat Foster-Turley
Friday, December 20, 2024
It’s that time again. The weather is chilling and the shorebirds are sheltering on our beaches in huddled groups, trying to conserve energy and stay warm and out of the wind by hunkering down …
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

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 …

Start-Ups Grads Venture Forth

Tuesday, February 6, 2024
The latest graduates of the $1,000 Start-Ups program have completed a 9-month program on entrepreneurship, financial management and life skills. This fairly new program has now graduated 43. The …
5-Day Forecast
Saturday
Showers Likely
High: 65°F
(-18°C)
Sunday
Showers Likely
High: 63°F
(-18°C)
M.L.King Day
Partly Sunny and Breezy then Partly Sunny
High: 42°F
(-18°C)
Tuesday
Showers Likely and Windy
High: 46°F
(-18°C)
Wednesday
Chance Showers and Windy
High: 42°F
(-18°C)