Local

Meeting attendees hold anti-paid parking signs in their seats at Tuesday's meeting. By Marisa DeMar/News-Leader

Meeting attendees hold anti-paid parking signs in their seats at Tuesday's meeting. By Marisa DeMar/News-Leader

Paid Parking Passes

Marisa DeMar
Thursday, January 8, 2026
The Fernandina Beach City Commission has officially approved paid parking. The second reading of Ordinance 2025-13, which outlines the paid parking program, was approved by commissioners in a 4-1 vote at the meeting Tuesday evening.
Chloe the capuchin monkey climbs on Jake Stephenson while setting up for work on Jan 1.  By Marisa DeMar/News-Leader 

Chloe the capuchin monkey climbs on Jake Stephenson while setting up for work on Jan 1.  By Marisa DeMar/News-Leader 

Monkey Business 

Marisa DeMar
Thursday, January 8, 2026
All Hands Home Improvements LLC has been crafting a custom enclosure for a family with two pet monkeys in Yulee.
Andrew Ensign of Sentinel K9 Academy holds Daisy, the 4-month-old Labrador retriever he is training to be an autism assistance dog, at Main Beach on Dec 31. Photos by Marisa DeMar

Andrew Ensign of Sentinel K9 Academy holds Daisy, the 4-month-old Labrador retriever he is training to be an autism assistance dog, at Main Beach on Dec 31. Photos by Marisa DeMar

Dog whisperer 

Marisa DeMar
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Sentinel K9 Academy is a specialized dog training business based in Nassau County offering service dog certifications and standard behavioral classes.  The owner and trainer, Andrew Ensign, found his passion for training dogs when he got his own German Shepherd in 2016.
FPU and Light-Up Amelia debut the new shrimp in front of the Fernandina Harbor Marina during the annual Shrimp Drop on Dec. 31. By Marisa DeMar/News-Leader

FPU and Light-Up Amelia debut the new shrimp in front of the Fernandina Harbor Marina during the annual Shrimp Drop on Dec. 31. By Marisa DeMar/News-Leader

New year, new shrimp

Marisa DeMar
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
The City of Fernandina Beach rang in the new year in true Floridian fashion with its annual New Years Eve Shrimp Drop. Hundreds gathered as the city’s Vice Mayor Darron Ayscue addressed the crowd and began the countdown a few seconds prior to the drop at 7 p.m on Dec. 31.
Demonstrators outside the city comission meeting Tuesday night. Marisa DeMar/News-Leader

Demonstrators outside the city comission meeting Tuesday night. Marisa DeMar/News-Leader

Downtown paid parking passes 4-1

News Staff
Tuesday, January 6, 2026
The Fernandina Beach City Commission officially passed the downtown paid parking ordinance 4-1 after the second reading at the Tuesday night meeting.  Read more about paid parking in the Wednesday and Friday editions of the News-Leader.
Brian Carlton points to merchandise at the Southern Fireworks tent in Fernandina Beach.

Brian Carlton points to merchandise at the Southern Fireworks tent in Fernandina Beach.

Officials, vendors urge fireworks safety

Nick Blank
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
Brian Carlton was managing Southern Fireworks’ tent on 14th Street in Fernandina Beach on a windy Monday. He sets up a week out from New Year’s Eve, he said, and he’s required to keep two fire extinguishers on hand.
City commissioners discuss the reasoning for paid parking at city hall in Oct.

City commissioners discuss the reasoning for paid parking at city hall in Oct.

Final decision 

Marisa DeMar
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
The second reading of Fernandina Beach’s paid parking ordinance is set to take place during the city commissioners meeting on Jan. 6.  If the majority of the commission votes in favor of the ordinance, paid parking will be officially enacted in downtown Fernandina Beach in the near future.
American Beach Community members attend the gala at the Amelia River Club on Dec. 27. Photos by Marisa DeMar

American Beach Community members attend the gala at the Amelia River Club on Dec. 27. Photos by Marisa DeMar

90 years and counting 

Marisa DeMar
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
A gala was hosted Saturday to close out the year of celebrating the 90th anniversary of historic American Beach on Amelia Island.