Local

Participants of the Junior Lifeguard Camp take park in an exercise Wednesday at Seaside Park. The first weeklong session of the camp was held this week. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Participants of the Junior Lifeguard Camp take park in an exercise Wednesday at Seaside Park. The first weeklong session of the camp was held this week. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Junior Lifeguard Camp teaches local youth foundational skills of open-water rescue

Ashley Chandler
Friday, June 12, 2026
During the summer, local lifeguards and the city’s parks department come together to support the future of public safety on local beaches. “These are the lifeguards of the future,” said Karen Geisler of Fernandina Beach Ocean Rescue. “We’re setting the seeds.
The Fernandina Beach NewsLeader won three awards during the Florida Press Association’s 2025 Weekly Newspaper Contest. The awards are currently displayed in the front office at the News-Leader, 1235 S. 10th Street, Fernandina Beach. News-Leader photo

The Fernandina Beach NewsLeader won three awards during the Florida Press Association’s 2025 Weekly Newspaper Contest. The awards are currently displayed in the front office at the News-Leader, 1235 S. 10th Street, Fernandina Beach. News-Leader photo

News-Leader wins General Excellence in state contest

News Staff
Friday, June 12, 2026
The Fernandina Beach NewsLeader won three awards during the Florida Press Association’s 2025 Weekly Newspaper Contest. The News-Leader took First Place in General Excellence in its division. General Excellence represents the best newspapers overall in each circulation division.
From left, Rick Ludwig with his dog Raven, Angela Young, Matt Tarlton with Copper, Scott Lempe’s dog, Thomas Gritzner with Payton and his caretaker, Anna Gritzner.

From left, Rick Ludwig with his dog Raven, Angela Young, Matt Tarlton with Copper, Scott Lempe’s dog, Thomas Gritzner with Payton and his caretaker, Anna Gritzner.

Cruisin' for a cause

Ashley Chandler
Friday, June 12, 2026
This weekend an annual local event that supports veterans will hold its largest event to date. The Cross the Line Paddle for Veterans is set to take place Saturday morning.  Bill Cimino, co-director of Cross the Line Foundation, said as of Wednesday 149 people were registered for the event.
Supreme of the Wu-Tang Clan, left, and Brian Bowen of the Southern Edge Collective. Submitted photo

Supreme of the Wu-Tang Clan, left, and Brian Bowen of the Southern Edge Collective. Submitted photo

‘Get stoked’ for skate & surf film festival

Ashley Chandler
Friday, June 12, 2026
Next week, filmmakers and creators from around the world will congregate on Amelia Island for an international celebration of skate and surf films and music and to support the future of the industry.

Golf course GM outlines upcoming projects

Nick Blank
Friday, June 12, 2026
Fernandina Beach Golf Course officials laid out the next few years of projects and purchases at Tuesday’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee meeting. In terms of projects, the golf course highlighted $150,000 for a well rehabilitation and $50,000 for a lean-to shed in 2027.
Local resident Pam Dawson’s entire front and back garden are a considered Florida-friendly landscape by the University of Florida. Submitted photo

Local resident Pam Dawson’s entire front and back garden are a considered Florida-friendly landscape by the University of Florida. Submitted photo

Celebrating ‘the art of gardening’

Ashley Chandler
Friday, June 12, 2026
On Sunday, the Bartram Garden Club of Amelia Island held a local garden tour to celebrate National Garden Week. The tour featured six stops at home gardens on Amelia Island.

Developer proposes 9 townhomes near riverfront

Nick Blank
Friday, June 12, 2026
A developer has plans for nine townhomes near the Amelia Riverfront, according to plans heard by Fernandina Beach’s Technical Review Committee. Architect Gulfstream Design Group presented adding the homes at the intersection of Alachua and 2nd Street. The property sits on .
The Gumball 3000 rolls through Main Beach Park. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

The Gumball 3000 rolls through Main Beach Park. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Supercars, superstars stop in Fernandina

Ashley Chandler
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
Thousands swelled Fernandina Beach as high-end cars shot down the road for an international annual event catering to a cross-section of car and celebrity lovers. Each year, the Gumball 3000, a nationwide 3,000-mile road rally that raises money for charity, takes place across the country.
Donald Johnson, right, and Dalton Pinner of Duval Asphalt put finishing touches on the Publix parking lot Thursday. Johnson said they did all the paving and printing of the lot. Publix has officially announced it will open on July 2. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Donald Johnson, right, and Dalton Pinner of Duval Asphalt put finishing touches on the Publix parking lot Thursday. Johnson said they did all the paving and printing of the lot. Publix has officially announced it will open on July 2. Photo by Ashley Chandler/News-Leader

Publix to open July 2

Nick Blank
Thursday, June 4, 2026
Residents can patronize Amelia Island’s renovated Publix in less than a month, a company spokesperson told the News-Leader.Publix will reopen on July 2, about a year after its closure.