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The Amelia Island Sea Turtle Watch invites the public to its nest excavations, where tourists and locals alike might have the chance to see sea turtle hatchlings, like this one who needed a little extra help to make it to the ocean. Photo by Holly Dorman

The Amelia Island Sea Turtle Watch invites the public to its nest excavations, where tourists and locals alike might have the chance to see sea turtle hatchlings, like this one who needed a little extra help to make it to the ocean. Photo by Holly Dorman

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Five things to remember as the weather warms up

Holly Dorman
Friday, March 3, 2023
Amelia Island is home to wildlife of all kinds. As the seasons change, so does the wildlife. The warmer weather means the North Atlantic right whales will return north and the sea turtles will return to Amelia Island to nest, along with other changes in the ecosystem.
A group of scientists and volunteers works to disentangle from a length of fishing rope. Submitted photo

A group of scientists and volunteers works to disentangle from a length of fishing rope. Submitted photo

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Arizona representative aims to RESCUE Whales

Holly Dorman
Friday, March 3, 2023
Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) introduced the RESCUE Whales Act into Congress this week, aimed at repealing a section of the 2022 omnibus that may impact North Atlantic right whales and prevent them from receiving critical aid in the face of a dwindling population.
Firefighters trained with Nassau County Emergency Management for four days, ending with hands-on incident training provided by CSX. Photo by Julia Roberts

Firefighters trained with Nassau County Emergency Management for four days, ending with hands-on incident training provided by CSX. Photo by Julia Roberts

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CSX and NCEM conduct incident training

Julia Roberts
Friday, March 3, 2023
Emergency responders from Nassau County are better prepared to deal with the effects of a situation involving hazardous materials being carried by rail after a four-day training held at the Nassau County Emergency Operations Center and a local business.
This property is the proposed site of Breakers RV Park at the corner of Ryan and Sadler roads. Residents of the neighborhood are fighting the development, saying the road is not wide enough to accommodate large vehicles, which will inevitably drive into the Pirates Bay subdivision. Photo by Julia Roberts

This property is the proposed site of Breakers RV Park at the corner of Ryan and Sadler roads. Residents of the neighborhood are fighting the development, saying the road is not wide enough to accommodate large vehicles, which will inevitably drive into the Pirates Bay subdivision. Photo by Julia Roberts

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Sadler RV park facing new legal hurdle

Julia Roberts
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Three residents of the Pirates Bay subdivision have petitioned the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court to void a development order issued by the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners that would allow development of an RV park on Sadler Road.
Seal of the City of Fernandina Beach

Seal of the City of Fernandina Beach

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City will discuss audit process in response to concerns

Julia Roberts
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
The Fernandina Beach City Commission has requested Comptroller Pauline Testagrose to research the cost of having an outside CPA firm conduct an audit of the city’s building and impact fee funds.
Mike Doran, chairman of the Veterans Council of Nassau County, left, and Fred Blaz, chairman of Veterans4VeteransNassau, proudly display a check from Rayonier. The money is earmarked for the Veterans4VeteransNassau gathering scheduled for April 22 at West Nassau High School in Callahan. Submitted photo

Mike Doran, chairman of the Veterans Council of Nassau County, left, and Fred Blaz, chairman of Veterans4VeteransNassau, proudly display a check from Rayonier. The money is earmarked for the Veterans4VeteransNassau gathering scheduled for April 22 at West Nassau High School in Callahan. Submitted photo

Rayonier supports county veterans

News Staff
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Vets4Vets is a movement under the Semper Fidelis Society, a Jacksonville-based nonprofit (501)(c)(19) with a mission to inform veterans about policy changes and to connect them with a support network. Veterans4VeteransNassau, sponsored by the veterans council, is devoted to Nassau County veterans.
The Fernandina Beach City Commission recognized the 50th anniversary of the Fernandina Pirates at the Feb. 21 meeting. Photo by Julia Roberts

The Fernandina Beach City Commission recognized the 50th anniversary of the Fernandina Pirates at the Feb. 21 meeting. Photo by Julia Roberts

50 years of piracy and philanthropy

Sean Rosenthal
Tuesday, February 28, 2023
The Fernandina Pirates Club turns 50 this year, so it’s time to celebrate and reflect on the volunteer-based local nonprofit.
Pictured are, from left, Kayla Vanderlaan, Gator Bowl; Danielle Loudermilk, principal at Hilliard Elementary; Whitney Jones, assistant principal at Hilliard Elementary; Gil Langley, Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau; Katie Cox, Gator Bowl; Maurie Dugger, Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau; and Susan Evans, First Coast Blessings in a Backpack. Submitted photo

Pictured are, from left, Kayla Vanderlaan, Gator Bowl; Danielle Loudermilk, principal at Hilliard Elementary; Whitney Jones, assistant principal at Hilliard Elementary; Gil Langley, Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau; Katie Cox, Gator Bowl; Maurie Dugger, Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau; and Susan Evans, First Coast Blessings in a Backpack. Submitted photo

Nassau children benefit from AICVB program

News Staff
Thursday, February 23, 2023
The Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau, in partnership with the Amelia Island Tourist Development Council, the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl and the First Coast Blessings in a Backpack joined together Feb.
The Fernandina Beach High School Sailors of Swing with director Tyler Odom. Submitted photo

The Fernandina Beach High School Sailors of Swing with director Tyler Odom. Submitted photo

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The Mighty Marching Pirates take top honors

News Staff
Thursday, February 23, 2023
The Fernandina Beach High School jazz band, Sailors of Swing, participated in the District Jazz MPA (Music Performance Assessment) at First Coast High School in Jacksonville and earned an overall superior rating.

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Atlantic Rec Center preschool to close

News Staff
Thursday, February 23, 2023
Fernandina Beach Parks and Recreation Director Catherine Vorrasi said that while the current term will be the last for Amelia Preschool at the Atlantic Rec Center, the closure will allow her department to impact more children with new programs.