Happening 4th of July weekend on Amelia Island: Jimmy Parish & the Ocean Waves will create a Margaritaville vibe in this Victorian-era riverfront city with a free concert July 1. Stars & Stripes Freedom Festival July 4, 2011 in Fernandina. Parade on Centre Street, fireworks at Fernandina’s riverfront and Ritz-Carlton oceanfront.
Fernandina Beach city officials want to borrow nearly $10 million to undertake several pet projects that are hardly “urgent.” They continue full throttle with a tax-and-spend mode, this time with non-voter debt.
It is the prestigious brand of Amelia Island that draws tourists from around the world and earns accolades from travel publications. Tourism numbers are improving dramatically over last year. And while some come to visit, others come to stay. Famed author John Grisham has reportedly purchased several oceanfront lots.
Urban and suburban development is eliminating monarch butterfly habitat by supplanting agricultural landscapes where an estimated 90% of milkweeds occur. Almost all of Florida’s 21 milkweeds are native — add some to your landscape for the butterflies. Also, a useful reference, “Dealing with Snakes in Florida’s Residential Areas – Identifying Commonly Encountered Snakes.”