Published by former Mayor George Gardner November 16 2011
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George Gardner 57 Fullerwood Drive St. Augustine FL 32084 |
Funding shift for monuments
City looks to Miami sponsorships for replicas
Memo to City Commission: Don't pay fundraisers in advance for fundraising.
A fundraising team contracted at $2,500 a month for six months plus ten percent of funds raised "hasn't been very successful," City Manager John Regan told commissioners Monday as he introduced a new tack - to present a replica Constitution Monu-ment to the City of Miami in exchange for generating private sector sponsorships to fund three replicas, the other two promised to Aviles and Cadiz, Spain.
Access Public Relations has raised no money, Regan says.
Regan said Miami Tri Events, staging a St. Augustine marathon series next weekend, has indicated interest in sponsorship and suggested more Hispanic support could be found in Miami. Tri Events' leadership is Latin American.
He said while the idea is still being developed, Mayor Joe Boles will be attending a federal 450 Commission meeting in Miami December 9, before the next regular City Commission meeting, "so I want to make sure the commission is aware of this."
Discussions with Miami's Cuban population "have been very positive," he said, to the concept of transferring the monument to Cuba when US relations are restored. | |
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Honorees to
Light Up city
Former School Superinten-dent Otis Mason and former Mayor Tracy Upchurch will do the honors, lighting the tree and city respectively, during this year's Nights of Lights cere-mony on Saturday.
The selections were made by Mayor Joe Boles, carrying on a tradition initiated by Mayor George Gardner in 2003.
St. Augustine's 18th annual Nights of Lights festivities in the Plaza de la Constitución
begin at 4 pm with Showtime USA and holiday and big band sounds of The All Star Orchestra. The lighting cere-mony starts at 6:30 with light-up set for 6:45.
Included in the festivities: viewing with refreshments in the Cathedral courtyard across from the Plaza, $25 to benefit the Cathedral Parish Early Education Center (829-2933), and Mayor's Holiday Lighting Gala, $150, for the St. Francis House Transitional Housing Program (825-1004). |
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Wages of graffiti:
$3,661 in penalties | |
State and federal prosecution of vandals defacing the Castillo and lion at the Bridge of Lions has resulted in $3,661 in fines, court costs, and restitution, along with 600 hours of community service and letters of apology to the community.
County Court Judge Chuck Tinlin, hearing the cases, urged that the letters of apology be published in area media, Assistant City Attorney Isabelle Lopez reported to city commissioners Monday.
Both state and federal agencies prosecuted the Castillo graffiti. In the state case: a $250 fine, $373 court costs, $150 restitution, six months probation, and 100 hours of community service. The federal prosecution resulted in a $1,000 fine, $667 restitution, 30 days house arrest, two years probation, and 200 hours community service.
In the state prosecution of defacing a Bridge of Lions iconic lion, a $500 fine, $721 restitution, one year probation, and 300 hours of community service.
Lopez noted community service time is already being served at the Castillo. |
City 450 meets to go live | |
City Commissioner Bill Leary Monday joined fellow Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline's opposition to untelevised 450 planning meetings, calling for live broadcasts on Government TV, "and if there are scheduling conflicts, fold them into the regular meeting."
Sikes-Kline was the lone dissenter October 24 when the commission decided to convert the 450 workshops, held before regular bimonthly commission meetings, into formal meetings to avoid having to readdress matters for formal action during the later meeting.
The December 12 meeting will be broadcast live, while meetings in January and February will have to be coordinated with scheduled telecasts of Tourist Development Council meetings, city officials say.
About a dozen residents attended Monday's 450 meeting at 3:30 pm in the Alcazar Room at City Hall, where City Manager John Regan announced a revised plan to fund Constitution Monument replicas, 450 Communications Director Jennifer Zuberer described the point-grading system for evaluating event applications, and 450 Development Director Dana Ste. Claire outlined a five-part Discover First America series beginning December 7 at Flagler College Auditorium. |
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Heard at City Commission meeting |
Commissioner Bill Leary: "I've heard too many yeses on panhandling concern," urging more aggressive police action.
Purcell Conway, chair of the Galimore Advisory Committee: "We're trying to get more black small businesses," suggesting development of an amusement park at Galimore to finance center programs.
Mayor Joe Boles, on a resolution dedicating "exclusively for the development of programs at and for the management of the Willie Galimore Center" $400,000 paid by the county as it discontinued management of Galimore Center: "Don't they trust us?" City Manager John Regan responded, "Short answer, no." The resolution passed.
Conrad Matt, Spanish Garrison president: "We plan renewed Changing of the Guard four times in the next few months, plus our annual Spanish Night Watch and other reenactments. We need help on the city's limit of three permits a year to groups" marching on St. George Street.
Brian Bosley, CEO of Solar Stix portable power source developer: "We love St. Augustine and want to be a part of its 450th and community efforts." He's offered units to the Lincolnville Farmers Market and there may be a collaboration with PGA Tour for 450th event support. Solar Stix recently took over the former Morrison Hardware building on West King Street.
Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline: "A reminder that our police and firemen are collecting toys for the Toys for Tots program," to be delivered at an FEC train stop December 10 at 8:45 am at the Sebastian Way Crossing north of St. Augustine. |
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Changing of the Guard returns |
 After a two-year hiatus, the St. Augustine Garrison will renew its Changing of the Guard/Guardia de la Noche ceremonies on four Saturday evenings in late 2011 and early 2012.
Representing protection of the governor's house in colonial times, a Garrison detachment will proceed from the Taberna on St. George Street at 5:30 to station itself at Government House on the Plaza de la Constitución. A second unit will arrive at 6 pm to relieve the guard.
The ceremony includes a clearing of the muskets in a volley salute, and opportunities for the public to ask questions and take pictures.
The popular Changing of the Guard will be conducted November 26, December 17, January 14, and February 4. Contact Garrison President Conrad Matt. |
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History's highlight
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3 years, 9 months, 24 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
Now the experienced Menendez, who had commanded ships of all descriptions in all kinds of weather since his teenage years, ordered his fleet south.
To the French, it was victory. To Menendez, it was common sense. He knew the sudden viciousness of autumn storms, and he sensed such a storm brewing now. 
He put in at the bay he had passed earlier, sent officers ashore to scout a location for a fort, and two days later, Saturday, September 8, 1565, with trumpets blaring, pennants waving and the assemblage singing the hymn, Te Deum Laudamus, he knelt and kissed the cross that had been brought ashore, and proclaimed the establishment of St. Augustine. It was named for the saint on who's feast day he had first sighted the Florida coast, August 28.
His keen senses were correct, and a storm carried by ever blackening clouds frothed along the sea and pounded into the coast.
Ribault, meanwhile, his people swelled with confidence by earlier events, now realized the storm was coming, but decided this was the opportune time for his fleet to attack the Spanish in their harbor. Older hands thought otherwise, to which Ribault sternly charged that those not following the attack would be traitors.
Menendez had his own plan. Rather than risk his ships, he would lead his troops overland to Fort Caroline. Grumbles were met with his own charge: All not of the true faith would die.
Leaving a skeleton force at Fort Caroline, Captain Ribault, with eight ships and 350 men, drove into the storm. Menendez's troops, meanwhile, struggled through the wilderness in torrential rains, finally finding the fort virtually defenseless.
The few survivors of the relentless onslaught, women and children, were marched back to St. Augustine to spend months in servitude, awaiting ransom to free them. By Menendez's orders, they would not be harmed. Any soldier found molesting a captive would be put to death. Menendez even held out some hope that one day the women might intermarry with his people and strengthen the colony.
The fleet of Captain Jean Ribault, meanwhile, had been storm-driven fifteen miles south of its goal and shattered along the shoreline.
Excerpt from Matanzas, in 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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