5/6/22 @ 8:30 a.m. - The City of Fernandina Beach has issued a Press Release reminding residents that May 1st marked the beginning of turtle nesting season and urging residents to reduce activities that will interfere with nesting. Please see below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
News Contact:
Mary Hamburg, Digital Communications Specialist   
City of Fernandina Beach
204 Ash Street
Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
(904) 310-3289
www.fbfl.us

May 5, 2022          

SEA TURTLE NESTING SEASON
 
Sunday, May 1 marked the beginning of Turtle Nesting Season.  From now until the end of October, mama turtles will be coming onto the beaches of Fernandina Beach to lay eggs at night.  These females need a quiet, dark beach to nest.  Lights can scare and discourage turtles from coming ashore.  If a female fails to nest after multiple attempts, she will often resort to a less-than-optimal nesting spot, resulting in few, if any, hatchlings surviving.
 
Beachfront light (also flashlights, flash photography, video equipment, and cell phone screen illumination) can cause sea turtle hatchlings to become disoriented and wander away from the ocean.  If sea turtle hatchlings see artificial light, they become confused and may crawl in circles. Often, they die from dehydration, exhaustion, terrestrial predation, or passing cars.
 
Things you can do to help:
 

• Keep beachfront lighting turned off during the nesting and hatching season.
• Lighting used for purely decorative purposes should be kept off.
• Reduce light reaching the beach by lowering shielding, recessing and/or redirecting light sources.  Any light source visible to an observer standing on the beach is likely to affect sea turtles.
• Place security lighting on motion-sensitive switches that keep lighting off when it is not needed.
• Apply dark window tinting to windows visible from the beach and draw curtains and blinds after dark.
• Outdoor light fixtures should have yellow, amber, or red bulbs.

 
If you happen to see a nesting sea turtle or hatchlings while you are on the beach, stay at a distance where you cannot be seen.  Remain quiet, keep all lights off (including flashlights, flash photography, and video equipment).  Do not disturb them in any way.
 
For more information and lighting options, please contact Code Enforcement Director, Michelle Forstrom at (904) 310-3440 or email her at mforstrom@fbfl.org.  Please visit the City website for more information: www.fbfl.us/seaturtlelights

4/21/22 @ 2:15 p.m. - On Saturday, April 16, 2022, the County hosted the Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Event. We are pleased to report that during the 4 hour event, a total of 348 vehicles came through. The event also included a food drive for Barnabas' food pantry. It has been reported that a total of 587 pounds was collected! This will have a positive impact on individuals in need right here in our community and we are grateful to everyone who made a donation.

Thank you as well to each and every resident that attended the event and did their part to ensure that harmful items are kept out of the landfill. And a big thank you to the employees at Nassau County Solid Waste and Keep Nassau Beautiful for coordinating the event, and to the public works employees who spent their morning with us clearing out vehicles for the residents, sorting materials, and placing them in the proper truck for disposal.

Below are some photos from the event. It will still be several weeks until we know the exact weight/tonnage of hazardous materials collected, but we will share that information as soon as it's available.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

4/12/22 @ 3:30 p.m. - Saturday's Waste Tire Amnesty Day event was a huge success! A total of 856 tires were collected and will be recycled. We appreciate the public who participated in this event and did their part to ensure that the tires were disposed of properly. We also appreciate the efforts of Solid Waste staff for coordinating the event and the public works employees who volunteered to assist during the event. It was truly a team effort and thanks to them, the event ran smoothly and efficiently.

Note: Below is a graphic showing the total amount of tires collected from each County district.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

4/8/22 @ 1:00 p.m. - Just a friendly reminder that the Waste Tire Amnesty Day Event will take place tomorrow, Saturday, April 9, 2022 at the Convenience Recycle Center located at 46026 Landfill Rd., Callahan.

This event is free for Nassau County residents (proof of residency will be required) and allows you to safely dispose of up to 15 light car or truck tires. Tires must be off the rim and free of debris. No commercial loads will be accepted.

The event starts at 8:30 a.m. and will last until noon, or until the trucks are full (whichever comes first).

If you have any questions, please contact Nassau County Solid Waste at (904) 530-6700.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

3/31/22 @ 10:15 a.m.

PRESS RELEASE

We are pleased to announce that County Manager, Taco Pope, and the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners have been jointly named as Partner of the Year by the North Florida Land Trust for the Conservation Land Acquisition and Management (CLAM) Plan adopted on January 25, 2021. The CLAM was created to provide guidance in the selection of lands to be acquired by the County and set aside for conservation.

Mr. Pope and the Board were recognized at the North Florida Land Trust’s Annual Meeting on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. North Florida Land Trust President, Jim McCarthy, stated, “Nassau County is being recognized for leading the effort in adopting the strategic Conservation Land Acquisition and Management Plan for Nassau County and for preparing for a local land conservation referendum to the voters in November 2022. The process they are following is exemplary in that they are planning for conservation in a rapidly growing county utilizing a commitment to transparency, equity, fiduciary responsibility and scientific integrity. Due to Nassau County’s efforts, they are preserving as much land as possible for wildlife habitat, environmental sustainability, and community resilience”.

According to Mr. McCarthy, to be considered for the title of Partner of the Year, an agency must advance the North Florida Land Trust’s mission in preserving and enhancing the quality of life by protecting North Florida’s irreplaceable natural environment.
 
County Manager, Taco Pope, stated, “Adopting the CLAM was a monumental step forward for Nassau County. We’ve had great partners to help us get to this point. With the support of the North Florida Land Trust Board of Directors and staff, we were able to successfully create a program that will guide the County in identifying properties for conservation, planning for acquisition of those properties, and ensuring that the properties are managed sustainably and with appropriate recreational opportunities for the public. We appreciate the guidance they provided us and are honored to have been selected as Partner of the Year”.

To view the adopted CLAM Program, please visit our website.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

3/31/22 @ 8:15 a.m. - This edition of our Nassau Now series features information about the Waste Tire Amnesty Day Event scheduled for Saturday, April 9, 2022.

If you have any questions, please contact Nassau County Solid Waste at (904) 530-6700.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

3/21/22 @ 9:45 a.m. - Please see the below Press Release issued by Keep Nassau Beautiful following their Adopt-a-Tree Event in Callahan last week.

More than 140 Free Trees were distributed in Callahan During Adopt A Tree Drive-Thru Event

** Jonah Blutcher was recognized for his video project: Save The Trees **

Nassau County, Florida, March 16, 2022. Keep Nassau Beautiful (KNB) kicked off its spring 2022 Adopt A Tree drive-thru by hosting an event at the NE FL Fairgrounds in Callahan. Nassau County residents reserved one or two trees from a list of five available Florida friendly species.

13 volunteers, including Nassau County Commissioner Klynt Farmer, OHPA Commissioner and KNB BOD Chair Mike Cole, and Nassau County Arborist Garner Cox, were on hand to help residents load their reserved trees in vehicles. The 1-to-3-gallon trees were 4 to 6 feet in height.

During the event KNB recognized Yulee High School student Jonah Blutcher with a gift card for his TSIC scholarship video project titled, Save The Trees. Blutcher’s video highlights the benefits of trees and his volunteer work with KNB during Adopt A Tree events. The video is posted on YouTube https://youtu.be/Y1bQ2YRHAf8 or from a link on the KNB website: https://keepnassaubeautiful.org/programs/planting-nassaus-future/

Adopt A Tree Drive-thru events are funded through dedicated grants, fundraising activities and private donations. In partnership, the City of Fernandina Beach provides free trees for residents of the City of Fernandina Beach. Liberty Landscape Supply sponsors the supply of trees. UF/IFAS Nassau County Extension provides the educational component. Residents are asked to help the tree get its best chance at a healthy long life by following the UF/IFAS Nassau County Extension recommendations for proper planting and maintenance including a watering schedule until the tree gets established.

For more information KNB@KeepNassauBeautiful.org or 904-261-0165.
Keep Nassau Beautiful, Inc. is working to inspire, educate, and equip individuals, groups, businesses and governments to take action to make Nassau County a place where residents, visitors and wildlife can thrive and experience the beauty of Nassau County. www.keepnassaubeautiful.org

3/9/22 @ 10:35 a.m. - This edition of our Nassau Now series features information about the Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Event scheduled for Saturday, April 16, 2022.

If you have any questions, please contact Nassau County Solid Waste at (904) 530-6700.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

The bi-annual Household Hazardous Waste and Recycling Event will be held on Saturday, April 16, 2022, from 8:00 a.m. - noon (or until trucks reach capacity... whichever comes first).

Examples of items that will be accepted include:
- Aerosol cans
- Household cleaners
- Cooking oil (used)
- Oil, lubricants, oil filters
- Insecticides and pesticides
- Computers
- Radios
- Printers
- Power tools
- Televisions, VCRs, DVD players
- Batteries
- Propane Tanks
- Paints and paint thinners
- And much, much more!

What: Household Hazardous Waste Recycling Event
When: Saturday, April 16, 2022 from 8am-12pm (or until truck reaches capacity)
Where: Nassau County Road Department, 86200 Gene Lassere Blvd., Yulee, FL 32097

Please enter the facility utilizing Courtney Isles Way from Chester Rd.(see map below for details)

This event is FREE to Nassau County residents with proof of residency. Small businesses may also be approved to dispose of items for a small fee, however you must call Keep Nassau Beautiful in advance to register at (904) 261-0165.

Participants are asked to bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to the Barnabas Food Pantry.

-Sabrina Robertson
 Public Information Officer

2/17/22 @ 7:15 p.m.

Keep Nassau Beautiful (KNB) volunteers and partner organizations will be holding three free-tree /drive-through events where residents can pick-up one or two free trees to be planted in Nassau County.

Individuals, businesses, and organizations may reserve free trees by completing a few simple steps; reviewing UF/IFAS Extension tree fact sheets for the available species and viewing an educational video led by UF/IFAS Nassau County Extension. Once the on-line learning is complete residents will be ready to complete the reservation form to select their preferred tree species and pick-up location. Completion of the reservation form is required 72 hours prior to the drive-through event. Nassau County proof of residency is required to pick up one or two of our 3-gallon size trees. Residents are also asked to help the tree get its best chance at a healthy long life by following a watering schedule while their tree gets established.

Free tree drive-through events are scheduled as follows:

• Callahan: Saturday, March 12th at the NEFL Fairgrounds
• Yulee: Saturday, March 26th at the County Road & Bridge Office on Gene Lasserre Blvd.
• Fernandina Beach: Saturday, April 2nd at Peck Center

All events will be held between 9am – 11am. Details and reservation form at https://keepnassaubeautiful.org/news-and-events/.

The project is being generously funded through dedicated grants, fundraising activities and private donations. Liberty Landscape Supply sponsors the supply of up to 5-species of trees for the drive-through events. The City of Fernandina Beach funds trees for residents of the City of Fernandina Beach. Up to 500 trees will be distributed and species are available while supplies last.

“Trees are essential to addressing the negative effects of climate change, maintaining wildlife habitat, retaining property values and providing aesthetic beauty,” said Mike Cole, KNB Board Chair, “Keep Nassau Beautiful is honored to host these free tree drive-through events which engage residents in keeping Nassau County green and beautiful for future generations.” For more information KNB@KeepNassauBeautiful.org or 904-261-0165. 

Keep Nassau Beautiful, Inc. is working to inspire, educate, and equip individuals, groups, businesses and governments to take action to make Nassau County a place where residents, visitors and wildlife can thrive and experience the beauty of Nassau County. www.keepnassaubeautiful.org