Local

Photos courtesy of First Coast YMCA

Photos courtesy of First Coast YMCA

Healthy Kids Day draws hundreds of local families

News Staff
Thursday, May 4, 2023
Hundreds of local kids and their families participated in the First Coast YMCA’s annual Healthy Kids Day event Saturday morning. There were a number of free activities open to the community, including Zumba, yoga, Tae Kwon Do, family pickleball and cooking classes.
58th Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival

58th Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival

In pictures: 58th Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival a success

News Staff
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
The Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival returned Friday through Sunday to downtown Fernandina Beach. Pirates were in abundance, and the shrimp were plentiful. Along with the Miss Shrimp Festival pageant, artists and Thursday’s popular parade, thousands gathered for the annual festival.
JTA’s St. Johns River Ferry returns to service. File photo

JTA’s St. Johns River Ferry returns to service. File photo

JTA’s St. Johns River Ferry returns to service

News Staff
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
JTA’s St. Johns River Ferry returns to service  The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) recently announce the reopening of the St. Johns River Ferry. JTA CEO Nathaniel P. Ford Sr.
Submitted photo

Submitted photo

NCSB, BOCC swap land

Holly Dorman
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
The Nassau County School Board and the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners have agreed to swap parcels of land owned by the respective boards. Since 2021, both boards have been in talks about the land swap.
David Voss, president of Voss and Associates, presents the findings of his focus groups and the proposed communications plan his firm came up with for the Nassau County School District. Photo by Holly Dorman/News-Leader

David Voss, president of Voss and Associates, presents the findings of his focus groups and the proposed communications plan his firm came up with for the Nassau County School District. Photo by Holly Dorman/News-Leader

How to fix a ‘blurry brand’? NCSB hears proposed communications plan

Holly Dorman
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
After three months and $15,000, consulting firm Voss and Associates presented its suggested strategic communications plan to the Nassau County School Board.
Janet and Doug Adkins were in Tallahassee Tuesday to advocate for the Emily Adkins Prevention Act, which will establish a workgroup to create a protocol for screening patients for blood clots. Submitted photo

Janet and Doug Adkins were in Tallahassee Tuesday to advocate for the Emily Adkins Prevention Act, which will establish a workgroup to create a protocol for screening patients for blood clots. Submitted photo

Janet and Doug Adkins honor their daughter with advocacy

Julia Roberts
Tuesday, May 2, 2023
As Janet and Doug Adkins live with the unimaginable loss of their daughter, Emily, they are working through their grief by creating something positive – the hope that they can prevent other families from suffering a similar loss.
Amelia Island Sailing Club’s fourth race of the season. Submitted photo

Amelia Island Sailing Club’s fourth race of the season. Submitted photo

Six sailboats and a submarine

Beth Jones
Thursday, April 27, 2023
The Amelia Island Sailing Club held its fourth race of the 2023 season on Saturday, April 22, with six boats on the line at the mouth of the Amelia River for the 10 a.m. start of the 10.1-nautical mile race.
Caroline Best receives recognition from Mayor Bradley Bean before Municipal Clerks Week. In typical fashion, Best thanked city leaders, past and present. “I can’t do my job without your trust in me and my ability,” she said. “I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to serve each of you every single day.” Photo by Julia Roberts/News-Leader

Caroline Best receives recognition from Mayor Bradley Bean before Municipal Clerks Week. In typical fashion, Best thanked city leaders, past and present. “I can’t do my job without your trust in me and my ability,” she said. “I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to serve each of you every single day.” Photo by Julia Roberts/News-Leader

City celebrates Municipal Clerks Week: Caroline Best keeps the city running

Julia Roberts
Thursday, April 27, 2023
At the April 18 Fernandina Beach City Commission meeting, Mayor Bradley Bean read a proclamation recognizing April 30 through May 6 as Municipal Clerks Week in the city.
Fastsigns owner shows the way to historic American Beach. Submitted photo

Fastsigns owner shows the way to historic American Beach. Submitted photo

Fastsigns owner shows the way to historic American Beach

Julia Roberts
Thursday, April 27, 2023
No conversation about American Beach is complete without talking about MaVynee Betsch, known as “The Beach Lady.” Thanks to a local company, her likeness points the way to the landmark community for visitors as they come onto Amelia Island across the Shave Bridge.
“Shrimper’s Paradise,” an art installation made of litter found on local beaches, is part of Beach Junki’s Washed-Up Project. This initiative takes trash collected from Amelia Island’s beaches and turns it into art. Beach Junki has also set up the Beach Toy Borrow Box for beachgoers to save money and the planet as they reuse the toys provided. Submitted photo

“Shrimper’s Paradise,” an art installation made of litter found on local beaches, is part of Beach Junki’s Washed-Up Project. This initiative takes trash collected from Amelia Island’s beaches and turns it into art. Beach Junki has also set up the Beach Toy Borrow Box for beachgoers to save money and the planet as they reuse the toys provided. Submitted photo

Beach Junki cleanup benefits sea turtles

Holly Dorman
Thursday, April 27, 2023
Plastic in the ocean is a serious issue. Luckily, there’s a solution to the pollution. Scientists estimate about 8 million pieces of plastic find their way to the ocean every day. All together, there are more than 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic in the ocean.