Published by the Department of Public Affairs, City of St. Augustine. Florida January 11 2011 |
First America Foundation:
Partners, not committees, for 450th | |
The private, non-profit foundation designated by the city to manage the upcoming commemorations plans partnerships rather than committees to develop programs and projects.
"If groups have an idea for the commemorations, they can apply for recognition," First America Foundation (FAF) Staff Director Jamie Alvarez told city commissioners Monday in the first public presentation since the foundation's formation last August.
Commissioners' questions on the foundation dominated Monday's meeting, which also included official designation of a new archaeology facility on Pellicer Lane as the Dr. Sue A. Middleton Archaeology Center, plans for public input on the future of the M&M Market, traffic regulation during upcoming King and Riberia streets projects, an update on the Home Again St. Johns program, and presentation of a $754,764 grant from the Florida Inland Navigation District for Salt Run dredging. |
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Gala to benefit monument
Profits from a beefed-up Noche de Gala in February will go toward a $15,000 dressing up of Constitution Monument in the Plaza, in anticipation of the 200th anniversary in 2012 of the Spanish Constitution it represents.
The annual gala, commemor-ating the birth of St. Augustine Founder Pedro Menendez, will feature period music and dance, and reenactment of a 16th century banquet in Lightner Museum.
Plans for the monument include fencing, a marker, and possibly lighting. |
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Foundation details promised January 26 | |
First America Foundation Staff Director Alvarez said many details on the foundation's plans and operations will be presented at the foundation's news conference set for January 26 at 10 a.m. at the Llambias House.  Newly seated Commissioner Bill Leary led commission questioning, along with
In the foundation's initial quarterly report to the Commission, Alvarez said the 22-member FAF board of directors rejected a potential of more than 40 community committees for program development in favor of organizations within the community initiating ideas for foundation support.
Newly seated Commissioner Bill Leary led commission questioning, along with Commissioner Leanna Freeman - concerned about the "transparency" of FAF.
The city will request a workshop in February to review details from the January 26 news conference, and continuing quarterly reports as well as monthly updates on FAF progress.
City Attorney Ron Brown cautioned that, "while the city may certainly require information as to the progress made by FAF in meeting the contract requirements," the foundation is like any vendor under city contract, and commissioners are limited on probing its internal operations. "The stuff of the foundation is not a matter of hauling dirt from one location to another," Leary responded. "We're talking about a significant impact to the citizens of St. Augustine over the next four years." |
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Public sessions for M&M, Riberia project | | City commissioners will set aside time at a future commission meeting for public comment on the future of Lincolnville's M&M Market, recently purchased by the city.
More immediately, the city's Public Works Department and Riberia Street contractor will hold a public session Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in the Alcazar Room at City Hall to outline timing and traffic patterns as the Riberia Street project gets under way.
And in an unusual move, Commissioner Leanna Freeman has arranged a public meeting with Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline tomorrow morning at 8:15 in the city manager's conference room on the fourth floor of City Hall.
The topic will be entry corridor improvement plans. Sikes-Kline has been involved in transportation programs as the city's representative on the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization. Freeman had the meeting properly advertised under the state's Sunshine Law. |
| Remembering Civil Rights movement |
 Next weekend and Monday will bring reminders of the successful 1960s Civil Rights movement here which led to the signing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The documentary movie, "Crossing in St. Augustine," by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. associate Andrew Young will be shown Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of Memorial Presbyterian Church. The free showing will be followed by a panel discussion.
Sunday at 5:30 p.m., Historic St. Cyprians Church in Lincolnville will host evening Vespers, with Former Senator George McGovern speaking and The New Mount Moriah Christian Ministries Gospel Choir providing music.
The annual Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast Celebration begins at 7:30 a.m. Monday at the County Convention Center in the World Golf Village.
At 11:45 a silent march from St. Paul's AME Church in Lincolnville to the downtown plaza will open an hour of speakers and signers honoring Dr. King. |
History's Highlight
Ponce's quest - true or false?
One in a series of historic features for our 450th, researched by George Gardner
4 years, 7 months, 29 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
Drawn from The Exploration of Florida and Sources on the Founding Of St. Augustine by Luis Rafael Arana, former supervisory historian at the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
The legend about a fountain of youth seemed to have been connected with Ponce de Leon in Spain rather than in America.
Ponce and Captain Juan Perez Ortubia reported in person the results of their expedition to discover Bimini to King Fernando in April 1514, but they could display no treasure or rare and valuable finds such as had come from the West Indian islands. 
It was actually Perez who had continued the search and discovered Bimini at Ponce's orders, while Ponce returned to Puerto Rico to secure claims to his discoveries.
Perhaps it was Perez who talked about the Indian legend, and in jest the Court said that Ponce had indeed gone searching for a fountain that guaranteed perpetual youth rather than mundane things like gold or precious gems.
Whoever was the author of the report, it is true that as early as December 1514, Peter Martyr, the historian, was writing the Pope about the rumored existence in the New World of a spring whose water rejuvenated old men. Martyr, however, did not attempt to link or connect this story to Ponce de Leon.
It was the historian Gonzalo Fernandez de Oviedo, who, in 1535, originated the story that Ponce had wasted time searching for the fountain of youth during his voyage.
Escalante de Fontaneda, survivor of a Florida shipwreck, exaggerated the legend so much in his report in1575, that the historian Antonio de Herrera, in 1601, regarded the search for the fabulous spring as important as the true objective of Ponce's expedition.
Contemporary manuscripts so far uncovered do not mention the fountain of youth nor indicate that Ponce de Leon was even aware of the fantasy.
Certainly if he had believed the Indian legend, he would hardly have delegated the search for Bimini, reputedly the location of the fountain, to another captain. He would certainly have saved such a great prize for himself. |
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The St. Augustine Report is published by the Department of Public Affairs of the City of St. Augustine each Tuesday and on Fridays previewing City Commission meetings. The Report is written and distributed by George Gardner, former St. Augustine Mayor (2002-2006) and Commissioner (2006-2008) and a longtime newspaper reporter and editor. Contact The Report at gardner@aug.com |
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