Published by former Mayor George Gardner November 12 2011
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George Gardner 57 Fullerwood Drive St. Augustine FL 32084 |
Flagler plans more classroom space
Demolition of radio station request goes to HARB
Flagler College has plans to demolish its radio station facility at Cordova and Cuna streets and build a 20,000 square foot classroom building.
The college will seek approvals from the city's Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) Thursday, November 17, at 2 p.m., in the Alcazar Room at City Hall.
The demolition application states the radio station is "a non-contributing structure built in 1956 located in the City of St. Augustine National Register Historic District."
The college will ask for a Certificate of Demolition and an Opinion of Appropriateness for the classroom building, the latter a preliminary approval which is later finalized with a Certificate of Appropriateness. | |
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Veterans Day
11-11-11
Residents visit the World War Two tent before Friday's annual Veterans Day ceremonies at Francis Field.
Residents and visitors filled the seats for the event, highlighted by guest speaker Brigadier General Joseph Balskus, adjutant general for air and commander, Florida Air National Guard, as well as a salute to veterans here who have died in the past year. |
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Resolution supports
the Galimore Center | |
"WHEREAS, the Willie Galimore Center for many years served and continues to serve as a community center providing social, recreational and educational activities to the Lincolnville neighborhood," city commissioners will consider Monday a resolution designating funding and setting a deadline for development of programs and management of the Willie Galimore Center.
The commission meeting begins at 5 pm in the Alcazar Room at City Hall.
Funding of $360,000 would be held in reserve "exclusively" for the center, and "no later than June 11, 2012, future plans for the Willie Galimore Center shall be presented for consideration by the City Commission."
Of $400,000 paid by the county when it discontinued management of the center October 1, commissioners authorized $40,000 to keep the center open with existing programs.
The $360,000 balance will be applied to program development, with ideas from the community. |
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City commissioners will consider a resolution Monday recommending redistricting plans "which contain the geographic boundaries of the City of St. Augustine within the boundaries of a single county commissioner district or school board district," and which "ensure the greatest consistency in the representation of the social, political and economic values of the City of St. Augustine."
Recommended are plans A, B, or C under consideration by school and county officials, "which best foster the goals and objectives of this Resolution." |
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Ordinance tightens panhandling control |
Citing "obstructing traffic and public safety issues associated with distracted driving," city commissioners Monday will consider on first reading an ordinance to prohibit panhandlers approaching vehicles on city streets.
It's City Attorney Ron Brown's recommendation to solve a thorny problem as commissioners sought to end panhandling along San Carlos Avenue by the main library and Davenport Park.
There was confusion on control of sidewalks and that grassy area between them and the street.
Brown will recommend this ordinance as the solution. |
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450 workshop now official meeting |
A formal City Commission meeting on 450th planning Monday will review the event application process, approve sponsorship agreements, and discuss a Discover First America Series and the March 2012 Constitution monument signature event.
The meeting begins at 3:30 pm in the Alcazar Room at City Hall, preceding the regular commission meeting at 5 pm.
Commissioners voted recently to convert its regular 450 planning workshops to regular meetings, to avoid having to readdress matters for formal action during the later meeting. Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline was the lone dissenter in that vote, concerned that fewer residents are able to attend that earlier meeting.
Sponsorship agreements to be considered include the Casa Monica Hotel for the Noche de Gala in 2012, Solar Stiks, Florida Living History, and the St. Augustine Maritime Heritage Foundation. |
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16th century boatyard dedicated |
 Sixteenth century commanders built boats and ships as needed, with what materials were available wherever they might be. Given the major role of seafaring back then - and the toll unforgiving seas would take - they were past masters at ship-building.
The St. Augustine Maritime Heritage Foundation respects that replicating those skills five centuries later won't be quite as swift, but the effort and end product will be a signature part of St. Augustine's 450th commemoration.
A boatyard at the Fountain of Youth Park was dedicated Thursday, and capped off with a contribution of $1,000 from the park's Fraser family to the foundation.
The citizen non-profit plans to build two 16th century ships: the chalupa, a utility longboat used to off-load larger ships, and the caravel, the 65-foot workhorse of early fleets.
Foundation President Maury Keiser says, "We want to have the caravel built in public view, with local labor using the tools and designs of that period, and where residents and visitors can watch its progress." |
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History's highlight
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3 years, 9 months, 28 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
He was born in 1519, at Aviles on Spain's north coast, among the youngest of 20 children. With his father's early death, he grew up in a foster home. Restless, born by and to the sea, as a teenager he was in command of a small armada fighting French corsairs - privateers or pirates - plaguing Spanish shipping in the Mediterranean.
 He showed his unusual talents at an early age. At one time, French corsairs attacked vessels carrying a wedding party. His small patache was no match for the three attackers, so he separated two in a chase, and took them one by one. The remaining attacker fled.
By 1558 he had proved himself a responsible, if not always obedient, commander. Ordered to escort six zabras (freighters) with four warships to the battleground at Flanders, he found only four freighters, and no warships, ready. He decided not to wait, and sped the convoy to the distant port before the corsairs could attack.
The return trip was more spectacular. Ordered to escort six ships, he found another 27 stacked up, fearing a French armada. Adding the 27 to his convoy, he approached the fleet, gathered his charges and wove and darted about, leaving the fleet in confusion and safely reaching port.
By his fortieth year, 1559, Menendez was General of the King's armada, hailed as a brilliant seaman, but exhausted and poor. He battled depression and fever for nearly two years before answering a summons of the king. He was to be Captain General for the Fleet of the Indies, the ships bringing treasure from the Americas.
Six years later, Pedro Menendez de Aviles y Alonso de la Campa would accept the royal asiento for his greatest challenge - to drive the French from the American continent, establish a permanent settlement, and christianize the native population.
Account from St. Augustine Bedtime Stories. Click for further information on this fascinating historic series. |
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The St. Augustine Report is published weekly, with additional Reports previewing City Commission meetings as well as Special Reports. The Report is written and distributed by George Gardner, St. Augustine Mayor (2002-2006) and Commissioner (2006-2008) and a former newspaper reporter and editor. Contact the Report at gardner@aug.com |
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