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WEEKEND 60 seconds for Trailer park Longtime democracy? party coach retires EVENTS PAGE 6 PAGE 7 PAGE 14 $1.00 FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2021 / 14 PAGES, 1 SECTION • fbnewsleader.com Local tourism pioneer passes away JULIA ROBERTS island. Elizabeth Pointe Lodge was once in a tragic car accident in 1998. Katie’s Tourist Development Council Executive News-Leader named the second-best hotel in America wishes to be an organ donor saved the Director Gil Langley said. by Conde Nast Traveller. lives of five recipients, ages 9 to 62. The “There are a few people that change Fernandina Beach lost a noted leader He was a founder of the Amelia Island foundation is sponsoring organization for things for you, and David was one of Saturday with the death of David Caples, Tourist Development Council and was awareness, education and fundraising those people for me,” Langley said. who left a legacy of leadership and a life- active in the Chamber of Commerce, activities that promote organ donation. “Few people have impacted the lives of saving gift borne from grief. YMCA and other local organizations. In 2011, the Capleses were given the so many folks because of their actions. Caples was a well-known business But perhaps his most lasting legacy James S. Wolf, MD, Courage award by I can say I wouldn’t be here today if it leader, first owning the 1735 House is the Katie Caples Foundation, which Donate Life America for their work. weren’t for David and Jack Healan and and then Elizabeth Pointe Lodge, which was created after he and his wife, Susan, Caples was instrumental in growing remains one of the premier inns on the lost their 17-year-old daughter, Katie, the local tourism industry, Amelia Island CAPLES Continued on page 3 Caples Senate BOATLOADS OF BUSINESS to consider insurance changes JIM SAUNDERS For the News-Leader TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Senate could be poised to take up a plan that would make far-reaching changes in the state’s property-insurance sys- tem, including allowing insurers to limit amounts paid for roof damage and plac- ing new restrictions on attorney fees in insurance disputes. The Senate Rules Committee on Thursday approved the plan (SB 76), positioning it to go to the full Senate. The measure is dramatically different from a House property-insurance bill that, for example, does not include the proposed limits on payments for roof damage. Senate bill sponsor Jim Boyd (R-Bradenton) and Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-St. Petersburg) described the prop- erty-insurance industry as being in a “crisis,” with financially strapped com- panies deciding not to provide coverage or substantially raising homeowners’ rates. Brandes said during Thursday’s meeting that the Senate should not back away from its proposal. JULIA ROBERTS/NEWS-LEADER “If we don’t act, we’re failing our The Fernandina Harbor Marina brings visitors into downtown Fernandina Beach, creating business for shops, bars and restaurants, Marina constituents,” Brandes said. “We have Advisory Board members said. “It’s not just a mud pit. It’s a money maker for downtown merchants,” MAB member Allen Mills said. to stand our ground here.” But some Democrats criticized the Senate bill, saying it would lead to Marina board wants to educate public on value of city-owned asset increased out-of-pocket costs for home- owners who sustain roof damage. Also, JULIA ROBERTS be aware also that this investment in they said the proposed restrictions on News-Leader ▼ WHAT DO YOU THINK? the marina has great dollar value in attorney fees would make it harder for return.” policyholders to get representation to The Fernandina Beach Marina What do you think about the Fernandina Harbor MarinMarinaa Marina Advisory Board member challenge insurers over claims. Advisory Board wants the local busi- and its economic impact on downtown Fernandina Allen Mills agreed. “I just think this legislation goes ness community to appreciate the Beach? Email Letters to the Editor to sjbryan@fbnewsjbryan@fbnews-s- “There are boaters that come in too far,” Senate Minority Leader Gary people the marina brings to town and for weekends that not only rent a slip, leader.com. Letters must include the writer’s name, Farmer (D-Lighthouse Point) said. the money those visitors spend. address and daytime phone number. but rent a room at the Hampton (Inn), “This is a David vs. Goliath situation, At the Monday Marina Advisory they buy dinner down the street,” literally, and we’re taking David’s sling Board meeting, member Coleman ? Mills said. “The whole city is gain- away.” Langshaw floated the idea of a work- to bring in enough revenue (from slip the marina, but not the business the ing from this marina. We are putting The debate in the Senate and House shop with stakeholders such as the rentals, fuel, etc.) to be self-support- marina brings to town. heads in beds. Showcase and let the comes after state insurance regulators Chamber of Commerce and local mer- ing. However, that has not been the “We need to invite them to look at people know just what we are doing.” last year signed off on dozens of rate chants “to start having the conversa- case, and the marina is millions of the wonderful opportunities the mari- Scott Stewart said outreach efforts increases topping 10%. Also, as the tion that we’ve been trying to get out dollars in debt to the city’s general na and the merchant community could could educate taxpayers in the city market has tightened, the state-backed there about the value of the marina to fund for routine expenses, as well as do working together,” Langshaw that “there are some positive things Citizens Property Insurance Corp., the community.” repairs following Hurricane Matthew. said. “We need people to realize the about the marina.” which was created as an insurer of last The city owns the marina, which Langshaw said the community is well value of this marina. We’ve burdened is an “enterprise fund” — it is meant aware of the financial situation facing taxpayers a lot, and we want them to MARINA Continued on page 3 INSURANCE Continued on page 3 Local nonprofit faces lawsuit from private donor NIKKI MAIN vate donations, grants and fundraising. the Barberas sent an email to Cats News-Leader The donation made by the Angels Inc. stating they were “seek- Barberas amounted to 1,000 shares ing a board position to help in fundrais- Cats Angels Inc. SPCA is facing a of Immunomedics – now owned by ing efforts as well as overall financial Cats Angel civil lawsuit, accusing the nonprofit Gilead – with a value amounting to assistance.” Inc. SPCA organization of not abiding by instruc- about $87,500, according to the law- The Barberas were not appointed is facing a tions attached to an October 2020 suit. The lawsuit claims stipulations to Cats Angels’ board of directors, the civil lawsuit donation. for the donated shares included pay- lawsuit says. The lawsuit claims the after a fam- The lawsuit was filed in the Fourth ing off the $50,000 mortgage on Cats inclusion of the board position was a ily claimed a Judicial Circuit Court in January by Angels’ building at 709 S. Eighth St. non-negotiable requirement, and on donation was Joan and Bruce Barbera. in Fernandina Beach, purchasing Dec. 2, the Barberas requested a full conditioned Cats Angels is a volunteer-based new appliances and setting aside the reimbursement of the shares because upon receiv- organization that spays and neuters remaining funds for a campaign to con- Cats Angels failed to adhere to the ing a board cats in Nassau County in an effort to struct a new building to replace the stipulations. of directors reduce overpopulation, according to its existing garage. In that Dec. 2 request, the Barberas’ position. website. It does not receive govern- According to court documents, on NIKKI MAIN ment funding and relies solely on pri- the day of the donation, Oct. 14, 2020, LAWSUIT Continued on page 3 NEWS-LEADER INDEX LOOKING BACK 50 YEARS CLASSIFIEDS, 12 SERVICE DIRECTORY, 12 COMMUNITY, 9 SUDOKU, 8 Fernandina Beach Mayor E.E. Jones gave Shriner J.T. Rouse a EDITORIAL, 6 SPORTS, 14 key to the city during the Shriners OBITUARIES, 2 WEEKLY UPDATE, 2 parade downtown. RELIGION, 10 March 25, 1971 News-Leader, 167th year. No. 25, Copyright, 2021 FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2021 NE 2 WS News-Leader OBITUARIES House eyes deep cuts for nursing homes, Jo Ellen Lawrence hospitals in state and federal funding Jo Ellen Lawrence, of Yulee, Fla., passed away March 24, 2021. She spent her final days wrapped in her family’s love. CHRISTINE SEXTON starts July 1. She was a caring wife, loving mother and an News Service of Florida Florida Hospital Association President amazing Nana. She was raised in Kanawha City, and CEO Mary Mayhew, in a statement, W.Va., and has been a longtime resident of Nassau TALLAHASSEE – A top priority of Florida called the House’s proposed reductions to County, Florida. Jo Ellen met her husband, Joe, House Speaker Chris Sprowls to extend the hospitals “a gut punch to the doctors, nurs- while working at a bowling alley her family owned, length of time that women with newborns can es and health care heroes who risked their and over the last 45 years, they have been on receive Medicaid benefits might be coming at lives responding to this (COVID-19) crisis. an awesome life adventure together. They have the expense of nursing homes and hospitals. It is simply beyond belief that during a public three wonderful daughters and nine beautiful The House on Thursday rolled out a health emergency, some state lawmakers grandchildren.

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