News

Submitted photos courtesy of City of Fernandina Beach and social media.

Submitted photos courtesy of City of Fernandina Beach and social media.

In photos: Annual Lighted Christmas Parade, downtown Fernandina Beach 2022

News Staff
Tuesday, December 6, 2022
The annual Lighted Christmas Parade, sponsored by America’s Youth Inc., traveled through downtown Fernandina Beach on Saturday and featured a variety of Christmas-themed vehicles and a visit from Santa Claus. For more photos, visit www.FBNewsLeader.com

State drops charges against former FBPD officer

Holly Dorman
Tuesday, December 6, 2022
The State Attorney’s Office has opted to drop the charges against a former Fernandina Beach Police Department officer, John Lee Finley, accused in June of this year of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman while she slept.
NCCOA’s Annual Thanksgiving event, complete with celebrity servers and happy seniors, filled the Fernandina Beach Senior Life Center’s Grand Hall, Nov. 21. In addition to a tasty meal, eastside and westside seniors danced to music from NCCOA Volunteer Lane Mashburn, owner, Amelia Auto Mart.

NCCOA’s Annual Thanksgiving event, complete with celebrity servers and happy seniors, filled the Fernandina Beach Senior Life Center’s Grand Hall, Nov. 21. In addition to a tasty meal, eastside and westside seniors danced to music from NCCOA Volunteer Lane Mashburn, owner, Amelia Auto Mart.

NCCOA hosts Thanksgiving for celebrity servers and seniors

News Staff
Wednesday, November 23, 2022
A very special Thanksgiving luncheon, complete with celebrity servers and all the fixins’, is an annual event at Nassau County Council on Aging’s (NCCOA) Fernandina Beach Senior Life Center, 1901 Island Walk Way. This year’s luncheon, held Nov.
Okefenokee Swamp. Submitted photo.

Okefenokee Swamp. Submitted photo.

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Lawsuit looms over proposed Okefenokee titanium mine

Holly Dorman
Wednesday, November 23, 2022
A federal lawsuit has been filed to challenge a proposed titanium mine near the Okefenokee Swamp. The Southern Environmental Law Center in Atlanta filed the suit Nov. 15, representing four conservation groups.
City sign before.

City sign before.

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City welcome sign gets a refresh

Julia Roberts
Wednesday, November 23, 2022
Fernandina Beach Main Street is working with the city of Fernandina Beach and Nassau County to update the gateway sign that welcomes people into the city on Eighth Street. At the Nov.
Nao Trinidad sailing into Fernandina Harbor

Nao Trinidad sailing into Fernandina Harbor

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Nao Trinidad sailing into Fernandina Harbor

News Staff
Wednesday, November 23, 2022
When Ferdinand Magellan set out to be the first to sail around the world in the 16th century, his flagship was the nao Trinidad. Setting sail from Seville, Spain, on Aug.
The Seven Seas Voyager is scheduled to dock at the Port of Fernandina in March 2023. The ship can carry 680 passengers and 489 crew members.

The Seven Seas Voyager is scheduled to dock at the Port of Fernandina in March 2023. The ship can carry 680 passengers and 489 crew members.

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Cruise ships scheduled for the Port of Fernandina without knowledge by OPHA

Julia Roberts
Wednesday, November 23, 2022
While the Ocean Highway and Port Authority said it was not aware of it, representatives of the Port of Fernandina have been working for months to make the port, which sits in the Historic District of Fernandina Beach, a port of call for cruise ships.
Puppies and kittens are getting out and about during visits to county departments, beginning with Fire and Emergency Operations. A pet was adopted on each trip.

Puppies and kittens are getting out and about during visits to county departments, beginning with Fire and Emergency Operations. A pet was adopted on each trip.

Paws-itively purr-fect. Shelter animals go on a field trip

Julia Roberts
Wednesday, November 23, 2022
A program in Nassau County is bringing together adoptable pets from the Nassau County Animal Services with county employees and has already helped two animals find homes.
Road Department Assistant Director David Hearn and Public Works Director Doug Podiak were on hand when Darren Marsh was recognized as Nassau County Employee of the Quarter.

Road Department Assistant Director David Hearn and Public Works Director Doug Podiak were on hand when Darren Marsh was recognized as Nassau County Employee of the Quarter.

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Marsh madness

News Staff
Thursday, November 17, 2022
At the Nov. 16 meeting of the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners, Maintenance Operations Supervisor Darren Marsh was recognized as employee of the quarter.
Those who attended Wednesday’s meeting had the chance to hold a small bottle of copepods. North Atlantic right whales need 3,000 pounds of copepods every day to stay nourished.

Those who attended Wednesday’s meeting had the chance to hold a small bottle of copepods. North Atlantic right whales need 3,000 pounds of copepods every day to stay nourished.

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Whale ho! Volunteers train to spot right whales

Holly Dorman
Thursday, November 17, 2022
Volunteers migrated to Story & Song Bookstore Bistro Tuesday and Wednesday to learn more about North Atlantic right whales and how to spot them. Julie Albert is a coordinator for the North Atlantic Right Whale Conservation Program Volunteer Sighting Network. She has been there for 23 years.