Fernandina Faces

Johnnie Robinson

BY DICKIE ANDERSON PHOTO BY SHERRY CARTER

Dedicated to his music and the island he loves, Johnnie Robinson has made a diff erence in a great many lives. For 30 years, he taught and inspired students at Fernandina Beach High School.

Robinson created and cultivated numerous programs during his tenure, including the Mighty Marching Pirate Band, jazz ensembles, symphonic bands, madrigal singers, and gospel singers. Many of his students share that their experiences playing an instrument and participating in one of Robinson’s music programs were an important part of their high school experience.

His passion has always been working with children. He remembers fondly those who taught and encouraged him. Th ey include Edwin Pleasant, a favorite middle school teacher, and Sonny Morgan, his high school music director.

It was Morgan who fi rst steered him toward jazz. His fi rst musical experience was in sixth grade, when he got a trombone, his fi rst instrument. He later decided to change instruments because his father loved the sax and encouraged him to play that instrument. He did change, and he has been playing the saxophone ever since.

“To work with young people is great,” says Robinson. “For one thing, it keeps you feeling and looking young. Plus, it means something when you have young people listening and wanting to learn a skillful craft. In a sense, they become your kids because you learn to care for them and love them.”

He is quick to share that being named Teacher of the Year at Fernandina Beach High School was a career highlight. In addition, he was inducted into the Fernandina Beach High School Hall of Fame. He was honored when Building 7 on the high school campus was named in his honor, christened the Robinson Music Hall.

Currently, Robinson is an instructor at Amelia Music Studio. Th e studio off ers music lessons, music therapy, performing opportunities, camps, and more. Th rough Amelia Music Studio, he is able to continue using his skills and experience to teach the instruments he loves.

Robinson was born and raised in Fernandina Beach. He graduated from Florida A&M University (FAMU), and he was an original member of the famous FAMU Marching Band, known as the “Marching 100.” Since its inception in 1946, the FAMU Marching Band has been credited with 30 innovative techniques that have become standard operating procedure for many high school and college marching bands. Some career highlights include performing on the same stage with Earth Wind and Fire, Billy Paul, and the Chi-Lites.

It is hard to imagine the man without a saxophone in his hands. He remains on the staff of the Fernandina Beach High School marching, jazz, and concert bands. He is happiest when making music. Robinson is known for his magical saxophone music, and he even plays the jazz fl ute on occasion.

He is active in the Nassau County Community Jazz Band, in which he plays alto sax. Th e band is a multi-generational ensemble, recognized for its repertoire of classics, pops, marches, audience sing-a-longs, movie medleys, and the unexpected.

He has fond memories of forming the band Instant Groove with Lawrence “Baby Lawrence” Holmes in 2001. Th e popular group played in many venues around the island, including Th e Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, and they are still active. Robinson and his wife, Rosalyn, have a son, Paul, and daughter, Karyn, and six grandchildren.

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Can’t have one without the other...

Pick up your copy of Amelia Island Weddings together with Amelia Islander Magazine at local merchants for inspiring wedding stories, helpful tips, and beautiful wedding venues around Amelia Island, or visit www.ameliaislandweddingsmagazine.com to read the current issue online.

snapShots

AT THE GRAND OPENING OF THE A.L. LEWIS MUSEUM AT AMERICAN BEACH

ADUIBAJE M. DAVIS AND MARYANN BROWN BURNELL JOHNSON AND LOURYNE SPAULDING JEAN DRAPEAU, CONNIE NICHLESON, AND HAROLD CARDNER GEORGE & FRANCIS GREEN

AT THE OPENING RECEPTION FOR ENGEL & VOLKERS AMELIA ISLAND

PATTI BURCH, MARLA MILLER, AND RANDY BRINTNELL ROSE MARIE HUSAK, TIFFANY SHAW, AND LYNN RINKER KIM NURNEY, MATT BROOKSHIRE, AND NICOLE SCHMIDT TINA CARROLL, LORI LECKER, AND CHRIS CARROLL

AT THE FLORIDA/GEORGIA PRE-GAME COCKTAIL PARTY AT JJ COOPER

COURTNEY FULK AND ASHLEY STANEYICH NANCY & DON JORDAN NEALY AND MOLLY DANIELS SUSAN FISHBACK AND GARY ROSS

AT THE OPENING RECEPTION FOR ARTIST RAMONA NORDAL AT THE ATLANTIC CONTEMPORARY

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AT THE AMELIA ISLAND BOOK FESTIVAL CELEBRITY AUTHOR LUNCHEON AT THE RITZ-CARLTON

VALERIE GSELL, KRISTIN HARMEL, AND PAIGE FOERY JEAN GOULDEN AND CHRIS PORTH KATHY KIRTS AND GAIL VINSON MARCHA OWEN AND CHERYL SICKLER

AT THE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY “SHE NAILED IT” EVENT AT MOCAMA BEER COMPANY

ADRIENNE TALBERT, AMY STEFFEN, AND CHRISTINE STEFFEN BARB KENT, CAROLINE BLOCHLINGER, AND SHARON MOONEY JESSICA MESKIMEN AND JALEN ATKINSON TERRI HOOPER, DEB SAUL, AND GALE CRANSYON

AT THE “NEW NEIGHBOR NITE”AT STORY & SONG BOOKSTORE BISTRO

CYNTHIA BONCZKIEWICC AND NANCY JOLLY CINDI MILLER AND JOHANNA CLEARY DARLENE & MIKE DONAHUE KRISTEN MANDRICK AND ED MONTGOMERY

AT THE “PASTA 4 PAWS” FUNDRAISER AT THE ATLANTIC REC CENTER

Holiday Tides

’Tis the season for shopping! Visit our pop-up holiday shop opening at The Shops at Omni Amelia Island on November 1. Holiday Tides will be fully stocked with ornaments, festive gifts and plenty of holiday cheer.

THANKSGIVING DINNER-TO-GO

PLACE ORDER BY NOV. 23 | MARCHÉ BURETTE

> Keep your focus on family, while we prepare your traditional Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings > Meals feed 6-8 people and includes turkey, 4 sides, rolls, pie and a bottle of wine

THANKSGIVING DAY BUFFET

NOV. 24 | BRUNCH 10 A.M.-3 P.M. | DINNER 3-8 P.M. | SUNRISE CAFÉ

> Enjoy a scrumptious holiday feast with the whole family > Offering traditional favorites, prime rib, raw bar, salads, sides, desserts and more > $84 per adult and $44 per child, book your reservations at OmniHotels.com/Verandah

THANKSGIVING DINNER

NOV. 24 | 12-8 P.M. | VERANDAH

> Enjoy a delectable four-course dinner, perfect for a holiday celebration > appetizer, main plate and dessert book your reservations at OmniHotels.com/Verandah AMELIA’S SIGNATURE SHOP

Men’s, ladies and kid’s apparel, gifts and souvenirs.

BANK OF AMERICA PRIVATE BANK

Offering a tailored approach in delivering services to assist high-net-worth individuals, families and institutions to preserve, grow and share wealth across multiple generations.

BOB’S STEAK & CHOP HOUSE

Offering simple elegance, a lively atmosphere, prime steaks, chops and seafood.

CHICO’S

A specialty retailer of women’s apparel and accessories from exclusive, private label designs.

FALCON’S NEST

Aviation-themed restaurant with a full bar, great burgers, bbq, sandwiches, salads and more. Now offering barrel-aged cocktails, join us every month to see what our mixologist is featuring!

HARRISON’S MERCANTILE

Fashion trends, casual wear and accessories for men and women featuring Peter Millar, Tommy Bahama, Vineyard Vines, and more.

LITTLE SANDY

This 10-hole short course provides a traditional, yet fun-focused golf experience for all ages and abilities. Operating by walk-ins only, simply visit Little Sandy to start your round.

MARCHÉ BURETTE

Coffee shop and food market offering wine, spirits, gourmet cookware, wine accessories and gifts. Join us for our signature culinary

NATURAL SLICE

A family-friendly, surf-inspired pizza joint and retail shop serving fresh ingredients on hand-tossed dough.

NATURE CENTER

of tours to include kayaking, paddleboarding, children’s discovery tours and more!

ARTISTS’ GUILD & GALLERY

Gallery of local artist’s work featuring workshops, demonstrations and lectures.

SPA & SALON

The ultimate indulgence for your body, mind and spirit. Offers an array of aromatherapy candles, oils, lotions and jewelry.

THE QUEEN BEE

Jewelry, handbags, ladies’ apparel and fashion accessories featuring Susan Shaw, Fornash, Oia Jules and Toune & Reese.

PHOTO BY LAITCHE Callicarpa Beautyberry

autumn color

As the holidays approach, November is the perfect time to work in the garden and add new color to your landscape with plants like Callicarpa Beautyberry and Trumpet Plant.

BY BETTY MORRELL

November is a beautiful time of year on Amelia Island, off ering plenty of opportunities to work in the garden. Now is the time to plant cold-weather annuals like Pansies, Dianthus, and Snapdragons, which will off er continuous color while your perennials take a winter nap.

For the DIY new gardeners, we learn a lot by trial and error. Planning and planting your garden is like setting out your clothes for an occasion or furnishing a room. It’s about design, texture, style, and color. When deciding on a garden design, start with your style of home, which will help determine whether your garden is large, small, or confi ned to a specifi c area such as a patio, pool deck, or balcony. No matter where it is, be creative, have fun, and enjoy!

Consider textures, for example. Fine-textured plants are plants with small, delicate foliage, like wispy Ferns, wirey-stemmed Whirling Butterfl y (Guara), or ornamental grasses like Purple Muhly Grass. Needle-leaf plants such as Junipers, Rosemary, and Japanese Yew have fi ne textures.

Medium-textured plants serve as a transition from fi ne to coarse. Th ey don’t have wispy leaves or heavy ones, but are somewhere in the middle. Mediumtextured plants include Gardenia, Camellia, Pittosporum, and Viburnum.

Coarse-textured plants are visual heavyweights, such as Canna Lilies, Bananas Gingers, large leaved Caladiums, and various Elephant Ears. Many of these give a tropical look to a garden, as thick branches, leaves with spines or thorns, and foliage with irregular edges add to a plant’s visual weight or coarseness. Bold colors increase the contrast and make plants seem coarser, where fi ne textures usually take a back seat.

For winter gardens of color, there are many varieties of colorful leaf plants, trees with fl owers, bushes and fl owers that can turn a dull winter garden into a spectacular feast of color. Th e Callicarpa Beautyberry, with its clusters of bright purple seeds on arching branches, is a sight to behold. It not only adds color during most of the winter, it also feeds the birds. Begonias add a splash of color with their foliage and beautiful fl owers in an array of colors.

I love the Trumpet Plant (Brugmansia). Its peach blossoms are most fragrant at night. Th e spectacular fl owers can reach a foot in length. Th ey also come in yellow, pink, and many other colors, but I love the peach “Grand Mariner.” You’ll love it, too. It’s easy to propagate, just take a branch and stick it in the ground!

Bougainvillea can be a great backdrop for winter annuals like petunias and geraniums. And don’t forget the colorful foliage of Crotons and Bromeliads, which can vary from one inch to three feet in height.) Th e diff erent colors and texture combinations are almost innumerable. I know you will fi nd some that will catch your eye!

If you have any questions, email me at bamorrell33@gmail.com. Happy Th anksgiving and Happy Gardening!

TIP OF THE MONTH TIP OF THE MONTH

Do not cut your Crape Myrtle back yet. They need to be pruned into shape when they are dormant, not in leaf. January and February are the best months for trimming them.

From engagement ring to wedding ring...

...make it Amelia.