Music, arts, books: a recipe for love, laughter, and memories

Have you ever seen the movie "You've Got Mail"? It's an oldie but goodie — a story that pits the owner of an independent bookstore against a CEO of a large corporate chain. I suspect that most folks who watched the movie rooted for the community-focused independent store and its kind, compassionate owner. There were moments in the story where it looked like the independent store would lose and become a thing of the past. But —  spoiler alert! —  it doesn't.  

Story & Song has been a discovery of love for many of us. Our independent store — which recently celebrated its eighth birthday — is a place not only for purchasing books, but also for meeting friends and enjoying entertainment like tales for toddlers shared by Ms. Dearsha, a wonderful staff member. The puppets who stand at attention in the corner of the children's section never fail to grab my attention, and many of them now occupy a place in my home.

The owners, Donna and Mark, have become friends to many of us and will often join us in the great activities upstairs. There are authors, musicians, comedians, movies, and so much more. Donna and Mark pour their hearts and souls into everything they create for us, and their love for their community is always on display.

The staff members greet us with smiles and conversations that make patrons feel welcome. The chefs create dishes that are flavorful and unique, and all who come for lunch are welcomed.

Story & Song is a place of love and care where, like the old "Cheers" TV show, everybody knows your name. As I entered the other day to place an order, I was greeted with “hey Barb, hi Barb, welcome” from the staff. As usual, it was not just about choosing the food; it was about the exchange of words of kindness and love among friends. As the familiar sound of ukuleles wafted down from upstairs, I was reminded of old friends and their love of music. I just stood there and let the memories wash over me. Some tears, some laughs, and lots of smiles.

My hope is that others can experience this place of magic and respite created by Mark and Donna. The 2025 Small Business of the Year award given by the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce is a well-deserved recognition for this awesome place of dreams. And I'm grateful that this independent bookstore is thriving and shows no signs of becoming a thing of the past.

Barb Gingher is a 25-year resident of Fernandina Beach. Dr. Gingher retired in 2017 from Baptist Medical Center Nassau, where she served as Nurse Executive. She is a member of the non-profit organization Compassionate Fernandina. The organization's vision is "a community in which we treat each other and Earth with kindness, dignity, and respect," and the mission is "to widen the circle of compassion through practical, intentional actions." The city of Fernandina Beach issued a proclamation in 2017 and endorsed the principles of Compassionate Fernandina, joining forces with the organization "to promote compassionate actions throughout the city and to make compassion a clear and dynamic force in our world."

If you have a story you'd like to share here in the Fernandina Observer - about a neighbor or friend or stranger or business that showed you kindness, or about kindness and compassion in general - please contact Peggie Weeks at pegweeks@gmail.com