| 📅 WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2026 Mid-Week | Fernandina Beach 🌦️ 87°/72° |
| 📰 | What You Need to Know |
Nassau County's debate over large data centers is heading toward a decision. The Board of County Commissioners is set to take its final vote on a proposed 12-month moratorium on June 8, and ahead of that, the county's new fact-finding committee will hold seven public meetings across Yulee and Callahan through the month of June. The series opens Monday, June 1 at 5 p.m. in Yulee and continues June 2 in Callahan, giving residents repeated chances to weigh in and hear experts on water, energy, and environmental questions. The first public hearing on the moratorium back on May 11 drew a packed room, so expect plenty of company if you go.
Read More → The County InsiderNassau County is getting ready to put its conservation dollars to work. At their May 20 meeting, commissioners approved issuing up to $11 million in general obligation bonds for the county's Conservation Land Acquisition and Management program, known as CLAM. The borrowing draws on the $30 million conservation bond that nearly 68 percent of voters approved in November 2022 to protect natural areas, working lands, and water resources around the county. With the money lined up, officials can move faster when priority properties come up for sale.
Read More → News-LeaderReach hundreds of engaged local readers three times a week. The Island Brief lands in inboxes across Amelia Island and Nassau County every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning.
Get the Rate Card →| 🌟 | Community Spotlight |
Sarah Twardy, who teaches U.S. History and Government at Fernandina Beach High School, has been named one of five finalists for Florida's 2027 Teacher of the Year. The Florida Education Foundation narrowed the field from roughly 170,000 public school teachers statewide, and Twardy earned her spot after being named Nassau County's Teacher of the Year back in January. Her classroom has the numbers to match the honor. Her students posted a 92 percent pass rate on the U.S. History end-of-course exam, the highest in the school's history. With 19 years in education, she is also known for mentoring student teachers and for an inquiry-based style that pushes kids to ask hard questions and connect history to being good citizens. The state names its winner in July.
Read More → Florida Times-Union| 💼 | Business Brief |
| ➤ | Fellowship Amelia Island, the assisted living and memory care community at 1900 Amelia Trace Court, marked its renovation and new ownership with a ribbon-cutting hosted by the Nassau County Chamber on May 26. (More) |
| ➤ | Down at the Fernandina Harbor Marina, the Dingy Dock (Dock G) is back in the water and fully in service after a full rehabilitation, a small but welcome win for local boaters heading into summer. (More) |
| 🗓️ | Quick Picks This Week |
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FRI
29
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Kingfish Tournament Captain's Meeting
Fernandina Harbor Marina • 7 PM
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SAT
30
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42nd Annual Kingfish Tournament & Fishing Rodeo
Fernandina Harbor Marina • Lines in 6:30 AM, weigh-in 2 to 5 PM
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SAT
30
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Fernandina Beach Farmers Market
N. 7th Street, downtown • 9 AM to 1 PM
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Sarah Twardy's story got us thinking about the teachers who stick with us long after the final bell. Who is a Nassau County teacher who made a real difference for you or your kids? Hit reply and let us know. We read every response.
Amelia Island is often called the southernmost of a chain of Atlantic barrier islands that runs north along the coast through Georgia and into South Carolina. By what name is that chain of islands collectively known?
Answer: The Sea Islands. Amelia is the southernmost link in the chain.
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