🌱 How a Fernandina Beach rip-current rescue earned a national heroism medal

Hey there, Fernandina Beach! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How a Fernandina Beach rip-current rescue earned a national heroism medal
• How a Fernandina Beach rip-current rescue earned a national heroism medal

And lastly, we have a post from a neighbor, Kim L.!

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Fernandina Beach? Post it to Fernandina Beach photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
Today's Fernandina Beach Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. Everyone deserves to be connected. That's why T-Mobile and UScellular have joined forces to connect people from big cities to small towns and everywhere in between. UScellular is now a part of T-Mobile. Find out more at T-Mobile.com/Better-Together.
Find a T-Mobile store near Fernandina Beach.

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 58 and low of 46 degrees.
• Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, temps: high: 64, low: 54.
• Thursday: A passing afternoon shower, with a high of 68 and low of 59 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Amarillo man among 16 others honored with Carnegie Medal for heroism (myhighplains.com) — A Fernandina Beach beachgoer, Lance Tyler Jones, is being honored with the prestigious Carnegie Medal after rescuing two young cousins caught in a powerful rip current off the local shoreline, though the children’s father tragically drowned. His award is part of a broader list of 17 North American civilians recognized for extraordinary, often life-risking acts of heroism in situations ranging from house explosions to river rescues and plane crashes.
   

• Two men, one posthumously, to receive Carnegie Medal for Fernandina Beach ocean rescue (firstcoastnews.com) — A Fernandina Beach ocean rescue that saved two children but cost rescuer Joshua Curtis his life is being recognized with the prestigious Carnegie Medal for Heroism. Curtis, visiting from Massachusetts, and local resident Lance Tyler Jones are honored for braving a powerful rip current off Fernandina Beach to bring the kids safely back to shore.
   

📸 Around Fernandina Beach

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Fernandina Beach

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Thursday December 18

• Technical Review Committee
  Fernandina Beach Calendar
  10:00 am
• Historic District Council Regular Meeting
  Fernandina Beach Calendar
  5:00 pm

Saturday December 20

• Markets By Mariah - Holiday Vendor Market
  Central Park - Fernandina Beach FL 32034
  10:00 am

Monday December 22

• Waterfront Advisory Board RM
  Fernandina Beach Calendar
  6:00 pm

Tuesday December 23

• Commissioner Poynter Community Outreach
  City Hall Commission Chambers , 204 Ash Street , Fernandina Beach
  5:30 pm

🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday December 16

• Development Review Committee
  Nassau County Calendar , 96135 Nassau Place , Yulee
  9:00 am
• How to Grow Worms & Harvest Worm Castings (December 16-18th, 2025)
  85831 Miner Rd , Yulee
  5:00 pm
• Regular Meeting of the Planning and Zoning Board
  Nassau County Calendar , 96135 Nassau Place , Yulee
  6:00 pm
• Community Development Board (CDB) Meeting
  City Hall, Commission Chamber , 800 Seminole Road , Atlantic Beach
  6:00 pm
• Novel Tea Book Club
  Callahan Branch Library , 450077 FL-200 #15 , Callahan
  6:30 pm
• Celtic Angels Ireland (Rescheduled from 2/26)
  Terry Concert Hall , Dolphin Dr , Jacksonville
  7:00 pm

Wednesday December 17

• Board of County Commissioner's Meeting
  Nassau County Calendar , 96135 Nassau Place , Yulee
  9:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Hi, we are in town visiting from south Florida.
  My dog, Nikki, got out at some point while we were gone this morning. We are at Ocean Ave and 1st, she is light brown about 55 pound pit bull lab mix… (Nextdoor North Fletcher)
• Please help Bootsie get back home.
  She lives in the Clinch Dr. area on the island (Nextdoor Fir Street)

• Allied Universal posted a job opening for Security Officer - Access Control Manufacturing in Fernandina Beach. Apply here.
• McDonald's posted a job opening for Crew Team Member in Fernandina Beach. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Fernandina Beach here.

🗞 Nearby News

Atlantic Beach

• City of Atlantic Beach looking for volunteers to help with New Year's and Centennial celebration (actionnewsjax.com)
• Beaches Luminaria kits available for purchase (pontevedrarecorder.com)
• Calico Cactus plans Dec. 22 launch in Murray Hill (jaxdailyrecord.com)

Jacksonville

Ok Fernandina Beach! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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