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Today's Showcase
Pat's Wildways
Pat’s Wildways: Fernandina Fossils
8 hours ago
Finding fossilized shark teeth on our beaches has a long tradition on Amelia Island. When I first moved here years ago, I, too, had the “collecting shark teeth bug.” I spent countless hours …
Digital Compass
That 'delivery failed' text could be a scam: A holiday guide to staying safe
Yesterday at 1:27 PM
The holiday season brings packages, tracking numbers, and a steady stream of delivery notifications. That makes it a particularly convincing time for one of the simplest online scams: a …
Off the Porch
Architectural Treasures of Amelia Island
3 days ago
Amelia Island offers a unique opportunity to experience history. Fernandina Beach's Historic District is a living museum. Like sleeping beauties ...
Amendment 3 could cost Fernandina Beach its Ybor Alvarez youth soccer fields
8 hours ago
FERNANDINA BEACH — The passage of Amendment 3 appears to have killed Fernandina Beach's plan to purchase the Ybor Alvarez soccer fields from its municipal airport, leaving the future of a youth …
Fernandina residents pack City Hall over flight school noise as Commission consider next steps
Yesterday at 3:20 AM
FERNANDINA BEACH — Fernandina Beach city commissioners Wednesday declined to immediately pursue a proposed $12 landing fee for visiting aircraft, instead directing staff to examine voluntary noise …
Amendment 3 Passes Statewide, Putting $3.3 Million in Fernandina Beach Tax Revenue at Risk
3 days ago
FERNANDINA BEACH — Nassau County voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment Tuesday that could cost Fernandina Beach an estimated $3.3 million annually in property tax revenue, more …
Minshew defeats Poynter in Fernandina Beach mayoral election
3 days ago
FERNANDINA BEACH - City Commissioner Genece Minshew defeated fellow Commissioner Tim Poynter in Tuesday's mayoral election, winning 56% of the vote in a contest between two officials whose support …
Top stories
October Nassau County restaurant inspections at a glance
5 days ago
Disclaimer: These records are sanitation and safety inspections conducted by the Division of Hotels and Restaurants on public food service establishments …
Turtle season ends with record 298 nests
Sunday, November 1
A late-October storm destroyed the last remaining sea turtle nest of the season on island beaches, but that didn’t dampen spirits over the nesting season. Amelia Island Sea Turtle volunteers …
The photo gallery
Pat’s Wildways: Spotting otters
Friday, September 11
Anyone who has read my column over the last couple of decades surely knows that otters are a part of my long-time history and my ever-present passion. For years I was chair of the International Union …
Sharing our space with others — pollinators
Saturday, October 3
There are many ways to make a positive impact on our local ecosystems to ensure our own health, stability and happiness in the future. We all know we need pollinators for our well-being. We can make …
Dragonflies
Saturday, August 29
Dragonflies are fascinating, with a secret underwater life that most people don't know anything about. The larval stage of a dragonfly lives in a freshwater environment for years as an animal called …
Digital Compass
The PHP flaw behind last week's headlines
Thursday, October 29
If your business has a website, there's a good chance it runs on a piece of software most owners have never heard of. Last week that software made international news. …
Blip
Thursday, October 22
AirDrop for Everyone, Only Better
If you own an iPhone and a Mac, you already know the small joy of AirDrop. Tap, send, done. Then you try to send vacation photos from your iPhone to your …
From the HeART
Everyone has something to say
Sunday, November 1
Statistics. Ugh. I took one required class in statistics for my sociology major in college. It was the bane of my existence. I got through it with the help of the professor who taught that subject …
What Time Is It?
Sunday, October 25
The ticking and chiming emanating from the booth at the antique store drew me. Clocks of every size, shape and vintage provided a happy cacophony.
The sounds sparked deep memories. We lived in …
Off the Porch
Boo! Halloween is here!
Wednesday, October 28
The air is cooler and crisper. We grab a sweater or jacket as we go out the door. Our grocery stores offer pumpkins and gourds of all sizes and shapes. Mums in yellows, purples, and oranges beg to be …
It is not a luxury - A Pedicure
Wednesday, October 21
Once every two weeks, I treat myself to something I once considered a total indulgence but am now convinced is a survival necessity. My pedicure. My toes seem to anticipate the pampering and know …
Pat's Wildways
Pat’s Wildways: Lunar influences
Friday, October 30
By now, everyone around Fernandina has noticed the exceptionally high tides that are flooding some of our streets. Downtown along Front Street always floods during these “king tides,” but this …
Pat’s Wildways: Nashville
Friday, October 23
It’s not every day you see a real live brawl and have the opportunity to call 911 about it. In fact, never has this happened to me. I’ve never seen anyone punched in person and (happily) never …
Ritz-Carlton's Cook named national resort General Manager of the Year
Yesterday at 12:00 AM
AMELIA ISLAND — Greg Cook, general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, has been named the nation's top resort general manager for 2026 by the American Hotel & Lodging Association …
Retraction: Incorrect Amendment 3 Election Results
3 days ago
Retraction: Incorrect Amendment 3 Election Results
The Fernandina Observer is retracting its original report on the Nov. 3 vote on Florida Amendment 3 because it contained incorrect election …
Nature
Nature's Reflection
Sweet harvest in south Georgia
4 days ago
It is satsuma-picking season at the family-run Vacuna Farms, which is owned and operated by Ben and Sherry Nevill Casey. Established in 2007, Vacuna Farms LLC is a verified pesticide-free, U-pick …
Florida enacts comprehensive weather modification ban
Saturday, October 31
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. —The Florida Legislature passed Senate Bill 56 on July 1, 2025, to protect Floridians from unauthorized chemical exposure and atmospheric manipulation. The …
Morning glory — friend or foe?
Saturday, October 24
Morning glories have been grown, cultivated, and loved for more than 1,300 years. Countless people have enjoyed their subtle and vibrant colors and their familiar, comforting presence. This …
Nature's Reflection
A trip to Costa Rica's tropical rainforest
Tuesday, October 20
In September 2025, we took the trip of a lifetime to Costa Rica’s tropical rainforest and to surf one of the world’s best left-hand point breaks. We flew into San José, rented a car, and drove …
See more Nature stories
County News
New Season Treatment Center invites community to Nov. 5 ribbon cutting for mobile opioid treatment unit in Yulee
5 days ago
YULEE, Fla. — New Season Treatment Center invites community members, health care partners and news media to a ribbon - cutting ceremony Thursday, Nov. 5, celebrating its fourth On the Road to …
Read more county news
City News
Fire erupts at Salt Life restaurant
5 days ago
Fire at Salt Life this morning - watch the video report:
Saturday, October 17
Would an intelligent species jeopardize its own ability to survive? The excessive use of plastic in our society is posing a serious risk to humans and to the health of the planet.
Plastic is a …
Read more.
Saturday, October 17
FERNANDINA BEACH - For years, eligible Nassau County residents who cannot afford breast cancer screening could receive free breast imaging in Jacksonville through a partnership between Pink Ribbon …
Read more.
Business
Can Nassau County stop mega data centers? Legal warning dominates public workshop
Tuesday, October 27
YULEE — Nassau County commissioners face significant legal risks if they attempt to ban data centers outright, County Attorney Denise May warned Monday, explaining why county officials are pursuing …
Surf Restaurant property proposed as 13-home redevelopment
Wednesday, August 12
FERNANDINA BEACH — An Amelia Island beachside landmark could give way to residential development under a concept plan headed to the city's Technical Review Committee this Thursday.
Golf Pub Social Announces New Ownership
Tuesday, April 7
FERNANDINA BEACH, FL — Golf Pub Social, Amelia Island’s go-to destination for indoor golf, live music, and community gathering, is entering an exciting new chapter. The venue has been …
Special Features
A Message in a Bottle Leads to Stories From Everywhere
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Recently, my friend Cathy showed me a plastic Coke bottle she found on the beach. Inside the bottle was a neatly folded letter. The cap was tight, and no water had penetrated the bottle. The message …
The Remarkable Journey of Cumberland Island Museum's Collection
Monday, February 17, 2025
In December 1990, the 5-log schooner Behemoth made two trips from Fernandina Beach to Brickhill Bluff. The 100-year-old nonmotorized vessel was owned, maintained and operated by Les Johnson. The …
Community
Holiday season kicks off with island museum’s annual Holiday Home Tour
3 hours ago
Fernandina Beach’s most iconic Christmas event, the Amelia Island Museum of History’s 20th Annual Holiday Home Tour, is scheduled for December 4 and 5. Owners have decorated homes in the historic …
Friends of the Library Fall Book Sale
5 days ago
The Friends of the Fernandina Beach Library Fall Book Sale is coming up. It is one of the library's major annual fundraisers, with thousands of donated books and other treasures.
What will you …
Friday, October 30
Enjoy an afternoon of classic big-band favorites, swinging rhythms, and the timeless sounds of American jazz. Whether you are a long-time fan or simply looking for a fun afternoon at an historic …
Thursday, October 29
Join the 14th Annual Keller Williams/Amelia Island Chili Cook-Off for Nassau County Shop with Cops programs, with both the Nassau County Sheriff's Office and the Fernandina Beach Police Department. …
Churches & Charities
Tuesday, October 13
Three local women have stepped up with a creative way to support Chandler’s Hope Clothes Closet, a nonprofit Michele Holbrook founded and manages in honor of her son. The organization collects new …
Wednesday, August 26
FERNANDINA BEACH — Nominations are officially open for Barnabas Center’s 6 th annual Hometown Heroes Fashion Show. This year’s event honors veterans and active-duty military members for their …
5-Day Forecast
Saturday
Mostly Sunny
High: 73°F
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Sunday
Sunny
High: 70°F
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Monday
Sunny
High: 71°F
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Tuesday
Mostly Sunny
High: 74°F
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Veterans Day
Mostly Sunny
High: 74°F
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