Published by former Mayor George Gardner April 4 2012
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George Gardner 57 Fullerwood Drive St. Augustine FL 32084 |
VIC becoming Expo Center Work continues to transform the St. Augustine/St. Johns County Visitor Center into the St. Augustine Community Expo Center for the 450th Commemoration. 
It will be "the hub of all signature exhibitions, events and visitor information services," says 450 Development Director Dana Ste. Claire.
Its first event, a $150 a ticket black tie affair March 23 to benefit the First Light Maritime Society, squeezed in between phases of work at the center. Further events will await completion of security, air conditioning, lighting, sound and other upgrades in what Assistant City Manager Tim Burchfield anticipates to be a $300,000 project. Some $200,000 went into the first phase of the $500,000 project.
"We are presently evaluating qualifications for professional services to establish what needs to be done, approximate cost and timeframe for completion," Burchfield says.
The city went before its Planning and Zoning Board Tuesday for approval to allow alcohol sales and consumption at the center and its outdoor areas as a use by exception.
While event rental rates haven't been set, Burchfield says one event organizer suggested $3,000.
The Lighthouse and Council on Aging's River House, among other venues, have been very successful in filling their calendars with event dates. | | Photo: Jackie Hird |
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Parada de los Caballos y Coches
Easter Sunday afternoon features a half-century tradition, St. Augustine's "Parada de los Caballos y Coches," the Parade of Horses and Carriages, featuring decorated carriages, the horses wearing hats donated by famous ladies.
Preceded by a promenade of Easter finery at 12:30 in the Plaza de la Constitución, the parade steps off at 3pm from the Mission of Nombre de Dios and continues along the bayfront.
The promenade includes prize baskets for a variety of family and individual judging - like best dressed, best hat, furthest traveled - all informally organized with folks gathered at the Plaza.
Photo: http://qsend.blogspot.com |
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Signature exhibitions
in current planning
The goal, 450's Dana Ste. Claire says, is "to convert the main floor to an exhibition space to showcase the rich prehistory and history of St. Augustine and Florida through a variety of exhibitions.
"The signature exhibitions ... will capture the spirit of this cultural diversity, beginning with the story of St. Augustine's first people, the Native Americans, and threading through 450 years of subsequent history ..."
Scheduled for 2015 is Tapestry: The Cultural Threads of First America, "developed in conjunction with the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indians and other institutions and organizations," Ste. Claire says. "It will trace the 450 years of cultural history of Hispanic-Americans, African-Americans and Native Americans in St. Augustine and La Florida."
Scheduled for this fall and into 2013 are Ancient City Mosaic being developed with the St. Johns County Cultural Council and the Sertoma Club, an International Wine & Food Festival, and The New World in the Eyes of Explorers. "Picasso is shaping up for 2013, too, possibly Spring," says Ste. Claire.
"There are many available traveling exhibitions produced by museums, institutions, universities and private companies from around the world that may have a place in St. Augustine's 450th Commemoration. But St. Augustine's story is unique, culturally diverse and specific to the city, and the reality is that there are few, if any, traveling exhibits that can adequately interpret this specialized theme ...
"The most effective way to showcase St. Augustine's history is to create and curate exhibitions in-house through the loan of objects from lending institutions coupled with the fabrication of text panels, reader rails, headers, cases and other exhibit materials." | |
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Historic weekend in Oldest City |
"Of course we have more history than any other American city. We're older," City Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline observed Saturday as the St. Augustine Archaeology Association unveiled a  marker on the site of Nuestra Senora de la Soledad along St. George Street.
And that history was everywhere. Around the corner at the Ximenez-Fatio House and at the Colonial Spanish Quarter, northeast Florida 7th and 8th grade girl scouts, dressed and well-researched for their roles, reenacted daily life in the 18th and 19th centuries, the St. Augustine Textile Guild hosted a Spin-In at the Visitor Center, and "This Other World: Ponce de León and the Founding of Florida," was reenacted at the Mission of Nombre de Dios.
Among speakers at unveiling, Historian Michael Gannon and Florida Public Archaeology NetworkDirector Sarah Miller.
At the Ximenez-Fatio House, Rosemary Bellemore ("Lizzie" this day), and Katherine Bogard ("Louisa") preparied meals for guests of "Florida's First Hotel."
"I'm a free black," Louisa announces, "and in charge of the kitchen. I hope one day to be the proprietor of this fine establishment, and have a lot of ideas for improvements."
Remedios marker dedication Friday
The St. Augustine Archaeology Association will dedicate a second marker Friday, April 6th, at 5:30pm on Aviles Street near the corner of King Street.
This one marks the site of Nuestra Senora de los Remedios, St. Augustine's first parish church built in 1572.
Historian Elsbeth Gordon and City Archaeologist Carl Halbirt will be speakers at the unveiling. |
Serving our community's needy |
 The Homeless Coalition of St Johns County and Second Harvest Mobile Food Pantry are partnering to distribute Free Food Bags for persons in need in St. Johns County, with an initial schedule through May.
The first, last Wednesday at the Homeless Coalition's Transitional Housing Office at 62 Chapin Street in West Augustine, served more than 100 with 8,400 pounds of produce, dairy, and bakery items.
The Mobile Food Pantry will set up from 1-3pm the Wednesdays of April 11 and 25, and May 9 and 23.
Applicants must meet low income eligibility requirements and register to receive food bags. Contact Debi Redding 904-824-6623 homelesscoalition@comcast.net. |
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Reality of war in documentaries | |
Four documentary films produced in St. Augustine will bring the reality of war home through narratives of those who experienced it. All will be presented on WJCT TV, the Jacksonville PBS affiliate.
Thursday, April 5, at 10:30, "Women in War" is the stories of five local women who served beginning in WWII and progressing through Iraq. Directed by Michael Isam, a Vietnam Veteran and longtime veterans advocate, the film is a production of Flagler Communications students. Additional showings Sunday, April 8, at 11pm and Thursday, April 12, at 9:30pm.
On April 20 WJCT will present three documentaries beginning at 9pm with "Vietnam: Service, Sacrifice and Courage." At 10, "War Stories from the First Coast" features WWII veterans from Coquina Crossing, and at 11, "POWs: Stolen Freedom." All were produced by the Florida Veterans Programs & Projects, Inc., sponsored by the St Johns Veterans Council. |
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History's Highlight |
City's 'prestigious boarding house'
3 years, 5 months, 5 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
Information provided by www.ximenezfatiohouse.org
It is the early 1800's. After a long steamboat trip from the small town of Jacksonville to the tiny settlement of Picolata, a coach transports visitors five hours along a rough, bumpy, and occasionally dangerous ride into St. Augustine.
Upon safe arrival, the means available for freshening up are well water in a pitcher and basin or a tub placed by the open fireplace in a bedroom.
The highlight of the day is the delicious noonday feast, perhaps featuring spicy wild hogs' feet, Picolata Deer soup, or American creamed rabbit.
Guests stroll along the sea wall by old Fort Marion in the cool of the evening, socializing with other adventurous visitors to this city, and possibly meeting James Audubon, Washington Irving, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Constance Fenimore Woolson, or Capt. George Archibald McCall.
Dating to the Spanish town plan of 1573, the Ximenez-Fatio property is a centerpiece of St. Augustine's oldest settlement and is a feature along the city's first platted thoroughfare, Aviles Street.
In addition to the stone house, the site features a detached kitchen dating from the Second Spanish period and a ca. 1802 wash house reconstructed from archaeological evidence.
Spaniard Andres Ximenez built the coquina block house about 1798 to serve as a store with private family quarters upstairs.
After Florida became a US Territory in 1821, three consecutive women owners, Mrs. Cook, Mrs. Anderson, and Miss Fatio, operated the property as a prestigious boarding house - one of the few socially acceptable business ventures for a 19th century woman.
In 1939, The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in The State of Florida (NSCDA-FL) acquired the property for use as its state museum house.
Each March the Ximenez-Fatio House Museum hosts "Living History Day" in partnership with the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council, Inc. Seventh and eighth grade students portray the lady proprietors, guests, and servants going about the daily chores and routines of a boarding house in the mid-l9th century. Visitors tour the house and are encouraged to interact with their hosts.
March commemorates the anniversary of Florida's Statehood and is National Women's History Month. This "Living History Day" program celebrates the historic accomplishments of the extraordinary women who operated the boarding house during the hardships of Seminole Indian uprisings, Yellow Fever epidemics, the Territorial period, and early Statehood. |
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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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