St. Augustine Report

Published by former Mayor George Gardner December 21 2011

The Report is an independent publication serving our community.

Contributions in its support are greatly appreciated.

George Gardner 57 Fullerwood Drive St. Augustine FL 32084

Vilano Publix opens January 14

View of new Publix from Usina Bridge

For Vivian Browning, Vilano Beach Main Street and the North Shores Improvement Association it's been a long journey to establishing the Vilano Town Center. The capstone is the January 14 opening of a 30,000 square foot Publix supermarket.

Developed in the Art Deco style, it will be joined by a companion Florida Vernacular style retail shop complex.

The initiative for revitalization of Vilano's business district began in 1995, when the Usina Bridge opened, Retail shops will join Publix replacing the old Vilano Beach Bridge and bypassing the business district.

"We wanted to evolve like a small beachside town, with services for the locals and visitors," Browning says.

The streetscape has that beachside town feel, with tiled pedestrian popouts and palm tree-lined streets.

The Vilano area is looking forward to a 150-foot floating dock, attached to the Vilano Pier, to boost business as boaters tie up, have a meal or drink, then walk a block to shop for groceries.

Mystery

in paint

The Associated Press photo of October 11, 1946, showing St. Augustine Bishop Joseph Hurley bowing as Archbishop Alojzije Stepinac of Zagreb, Yugoslavia, entered the court-room to be sentenced to 16 years in prison for treason, was important enough to be memorialized in a painting.

But no one knows who the painter, "Budabin the Artist" of New York was.

The painting was presented to the Mission Nombre de Dios Museum Saturday by Bishop Felipe Estevez. On hand (above): Mission Director Eric Johnson and historian Michael Gannon.

Gannon noted, "Bishop Hurley was very intense," evidenced by his show of respect for the Yugoslav prelate, against the court's orders.

Stepinac was found guilty of collaborating with the Axis during World War Two.

Sidewalks handle traffic

and stretch brick supply

Sidewalks are being addressed - and dressed - in and around St. Augustine's historic district. Wider Castillo sidewalk

Along Castillo Drive - that section of bayfront passing the Castillo - a wider coquina mix sidewalk is being set to better handle pedestrian traffic, while on Cordova Street adjacent to the Lightner/City Hall building a new style "brick-banded" sidewalk is in place.

The Castillo Drive sidewalk is part of the $1.4 million safety improvement project that will also include new 16-foot-wide brick crossings at Cuna Street and Fort Alley, and countdown pedestrian lights, a new signal, and coquina concrete su Brick-banded Lightner sidewalk rfacing along Fort Alley.

Brick-banding

Conserving a dwindling supply of original brick pavers, future sidewalks in historic neighborhoods will have brick bands around concrete rather than solid brick surfaces. The style was approved by the Historic Architectural Review Board and an example runs along the Cordova Street side of the Lightner/City Hall building.

Riberia section to open

Barring weather problems, the completed first phase of the $8.2 million Riberia Street improvement project will open Friday.

The section, from King to Bridge Street, was completed ahead of its expected January date. Still to be completed is connecting underground power to remove overhead lines crossing the street.

Bids for phase two, from Bridge to Cerro Street by Galimore Center, were opened last week. That phase is expected to begin in February and continue through April 2013.

The Riberia Street project heads the list of funding in a $15 million capital improvement bond issue approved in March.

Lights, ornaments, and Santa in Christmas collage

St. Augustine's Gilded Christmas

A description of "the glittering Victorian Christmas Celebrations of St. Augustine's Grand Hotels" should be enough, but Dianne Jacoby, portraying Mary Lily Kenan Flagler, promises a tour of Christmas traditions and decorations from Medieval 12th Night feasts into Colonial America as well.

The accomplished actress/author/painter will unfold Christmas Thursday at 7 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2487 A1A South. Tickets $10 at the door.

More about Dianne at www.paintedlady.biz

Christmas with Rick's Family & Friends

Christmas should be about giving, and this year marks the eleventh year for Rick Aeppli and family and friends providing Christmas Day meals and gifts to our community's folks in need. Christmas meal signage

It began at Rick's Labor Ready location behind Kmart, serving about 40. Expansion of attendance and community support continued growing through the day labor agency's relocation off SR 16 to today's location - offered two years ago by Prosperity Bank President Eddie Creamer - the bank's Community Center on Ponce de Leon Boulevard (US 1), where more than 100 enjoy the gifts of giving Christmas Day.

Among those serving: Creamer and his family and former Mayor George and Sally Gardner, who've continued their serving since that first meal eleven years ago.

"Christmas is for everyone, not just the fortunate and blessed" Rick says. "It's a day that changes people's outlook - both serving and served."

This year's Christmas Day festivities are from 11am to 2 pm, and include such gifts as filled back packs. Rick has information at 904-824-6606 (cell 904-687-9574)raeppli@laborready.com

History's highlight

St. Augustine, December 24, 1702

3 years, 8 months, 19 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary

December 24, 1702, Christmas Eve, 49 days into the British siege on St. Augustine.

Some 1,500 are huddled inside the protective walls of the massive Castillo de San Marcos, including "all priests, friars, women, children, Negro slaves, free Negroes and all Indians of whatever nation which have rendered obedience to his Catholic Majesty."

Forty-nine days since Governor Joseph de Zuniga y Zerda issued his proclamation: "The enemy is approaching by land and by sea and they are bringing the means to attack and besiege the royal fort." Castillo cannon night firing

Forty-nine days of constant pounding of cannon balls against the fortress walls - ineffectively absorbed into the soft coquina.

Forty-nine days of building siege trenches along the expanse of the fort's defensive glacis, ever closer to the target.

Now the English await mortars, able to lob deadly missiles over the walls and onto the crowded grounds, while the Spanish await a relief fleet from Havana.

Christmas Eve. Two sails are sighted. They are English. Morale inside the fort hits bottom. The ships have not come from Jamaica; they do not carry the dreaded mortars. But the defenders don't know this.

The governor focuses on morale: A Christmas Eve party for all and bonuses for the troops. His accountants say the treasury can't afford it. The governor replies, "Charge it to next year's account!"

Two days later, four sails are sighted on the southern horizon. As they near, they are identified as men-of-war. Finally, the welcome report: They are Spanish, the relief fleet from Havana.

The sight of the Spanish fleet is enough to make the English retreat. Deciding a retreat by sea would be stopped by the fleet, the English destroy their own ships and flee on foot.

December 29, 1702, after 54 days of siege, the St. Augustine garrison can finally celebrate Christmas.

Excerpt from Siege, St. Augustine Bedtime Stories.

For holiday gift-giving, Click for further information on this fascinating historic series.

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