Local

Members of the community saw plans and photos of the glory days of Evans Rendezvous at a meeting held to involve the public in the process of reinventing the building and nearby county-owned properties to become the American Beach Historic Park. Photo by Julia Roberts/News-Leader

Members of the community saw plans and photos of the glory days of Evans Rendezvous at a meeting held to involve the public in the process of reinventing the building and nearby county-owned properties to become the American Beach Historic Park. Photo by Julia Roberts/News-Leader

Community helps to shape plans for Evans Rendezvous

Julia Roberts
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
Members of the American Beach community gave their input into plans for the site of Evans Rendezvous to representatives of Nassau County government and consulting firm Community Planning Collaborative last week, helping the shape the future of what was once the “Pre-eminent entertainment and social...
Photo by Beth Jones/News-Leader

Photo by Beth Jones/News-Leader

Right whale festival: A reason for hope

Sean Rosenthal
Tuesday, November 7, 2023
This past weekend 20,000 people came out to the Right Whale Festival in support of one of the most critically endangered species on earth. Whale experts educated the public, vendors sold sustainable whale themed goods and kids ran around with their faces painted like sea mammals.
Chuck Hall The Banjo Man, Microgreens, and salsa samples. Photo by Judie Mackie

Chuck Hall The Banjo Man, Microgreens, and salsa samples. Photo by Judie Mackie

Bountiful harvests and local delights

Guest Columnist
Thursday, November 2, 2023
Fernandina Beach is host to Florida's friendliest farmers market, and it will be open Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine. Their sister market, Wildlight Market Place will also be open in Yulee, near Interstate 95.
NCCOA President and CEO Janice Ancrum (fifth from left) and the Executive Board kick off the “Building for Our Future” Capital Campaign, 2016. Submitted photo

NCCOA President and CEO Janice Ancrum (fifth from left) and the Executive Board kick off the “Building for Our Future” Capital Campaign, 2016. Submitted photo

2010s: Hometown leader takes charge

Guest Columnist
Thursday, November 2, 2023
Since our founding in 1974, Nassau County Council on Aging has seen the county grow by leaps and bounds. With this growth has come a much larger senior population and a much greater need for programs and services. Following the millennium when seniors comprised 16.
East Nassau Community Planning Area, known as Wildlight, is 24,000 acres in total.

East Nassau Community Planning Area, known as Wildlight, is 24,000 acres in total.

East Nassau Community Planning Area: The next chapter

Tracy Dishman
Thursday, November 2, 2023
As part of its Vision 2023 initiative, Nassau County reached out to Rayonier, a timberland real estate investment trust headquartered in Yulee, in 2007 to head a planning effort that would help the county get ahead of the population growth it was foreseeing.
Typical of his management style, City Manager Ty Ross is in his office working with Administrative Services Manager Agnes White. Ross achieves assimilation by facing the challenge head on. “When you first meet someone, it goes both ways. There’s a little bit of fear and anxiety there,” he said. “It’s nipping all that in the bud and establishing a baseline level of trust so we can build from there.” Photo by Julia Roberts/News-Leader

Typical of his management style, City Manager Ty Ross is in his office working with Administrative Services Manager Agnes White. Ross achieves assimilation by facing the challenge head on. “When you first meet someone, it goes both ways. There’s a little bit of fear and anxiety there,” he said. “It’s nipping all that in the bud and establishing a baseline level of trust so we can build from there.” Photo by Julia Roberts/News-Leader

New city manager looking at the bigger picture from a personal perspective

Julia Roberts
Thursday, November 2, 2023
Fernandina Beach’s city manager is a team player who works to bring calm to a job with five bosses — the city commissioners. “This job is about people, first and foremost – people, relationships,” Ross said. “I strongly feel, and am very confident, that I can get along with anyone.
From left, Bella Peters, Wally Borrero, Ken Pinson and Mike Nichols look through the window of Dina’s Skate Shack. Photo by Sean Rosenthal/News-Leader

From left, Bella Peters, Wally Borrero, Ken Pinson and Mike Nichols look through the window of Dina’s Skate Shack. Photo by Sean Rosenthal/News-Leader

Ollies and outreach

Sean Rosenthal
Thursday, November 2, 2023
Any time of day at Main Beach Park there is a cacophony of hardwood slapping down on pavement, rolling wheels and shouts of encouragement.
Representative Black. Photo by Julia Roberts/News-Leader

Representative Black. Photo by Julia Roberts/News-Leader

Legislators hear from constituents

News Staff
Thursday, November 2, 2023
Legislators representing Nassau County in Florida defended the state’s school voucher program, which allows roughly $8,000 to pay tuition at private schools if a student does not attend public, state-funded schools.

City commission and Planning Advisory Board discuss code amendments

Julia Roberts
Thursday, November 2, 2023
The Fernandina Beach Planning Advisory Board and City Commission met last week to discuss proposed changes to the city’s Land Development Code, amendments that some members of the city commission requested in what they said was an attempt to clarify sections of the code that apply to underlying...