A major problem for Nelmar Terrace neighbors battling a proposed 7-Eleven convenience store and gas pumps at San Marco Avenue and May Street is a site design that could force motorists through the National Register Historic District neighborhood.

While City Attorney Ron Brown said the matter won't come before the commission unless formally appealed, residents called on commissioners during Monday's public comment period to step in.

With the project allowed under current zoning for that site, 7-Eleven only had to get approval fom the Planning and Zoning Board to remove preserved trees, which was granted.

Nelmar resident Skip Hutton said a public meeting is scheduled for 6 pm Monday in the Alcazar Room at City Hall with representatives of 7-Eleven to discuss concerns.

The site plan for the already congested intersection has access points on San Marco and May; May is entry only and San Marco is right turn out only.

Residents argued it will force motorists heading from May Street to downtown to find the quickest way to back to May Street - through the neighborhood.

Said Nelmar Neighborhood Association Vice President Matthew Shaffer: "Keep this 24-hour package liquor convenience store gas station from forever changing the atmosphere in North city."

   Three of four candidates squared off Tuesday evening in a forum for the only City Commission race this year, the seat of incumbent Errol D. Jones.

   Deltra Long, a former Planning and Zoning Board member and chair, Roxanne Horvath, an architect who's served on both the plan board and Historic Architectural Review Board, and Bruce Maguire, a former county commission chair, are challenging three-term Commissioner Jones, whose recent difficulties with the law has likely spurred competitive interest.

   Maguire failed to show up for the session, hosted by the Flagler Model Land Company Neighborhood Association.

  The neighborhood Floridian Restaurant was filled as the candidates fielded questions for 1 1/2 hours on zoning, Flagler College and the 450th commemoration. Much of the questioning focused on the college's plan for a classroom complex in the neighborhood and the 7-Eleven proposal in North City.

   "Keep in mind," associoation President Beck Greenberg reminded the candidates as the session wrapped up, "there are business associations and trouism groups, but we neighborhood associations are powerful too." 

     Priscilla Arline...1918-2012.  Priscilla was a whisp of a black woman with the constitution of a horse.  She came to the Peck House as she said: "to do a little dusting." Then she stayed for over 40 years.  Every Friday she worked from 9 to usually after 5.  She dusted, cleaned, mopped (even the rubber rugs in the kitchen) and polished silver. If an item was missing or moved she was on the telephone to the president.

   She and her husband had a large family and rightfully bragged that they had sent them all through school without asking for a single penny of welfare.

   Priscilla collapsed on a Friday afternoon bent over the kitchen sink cleaning silver. In attempting to cut off the cold water she cut on the hot water instead and badly burned her hands.  She was in a nursing home until her death last week in Flagler Hospital.

   Goodbye Priscilla, we will never see your like again, you are the end of an era.  Rest well; you have earned it and our admiration for a job well done.

   Maurine Boles, Historian, Women's Exchange, Pena Peck House