|
Share your Report with friends on these social networks
|
|
Published by former Mayor George Gardner January 23 2013
The Report is an independent publication serving our community.
Contributions are greatly appreciated. Click or mail to
George Gardner 57 Fullerwood Drive St. Augustine FL 32084
|
|
Red water attack
City schedules water line replacement | |
"Once these improvements are constructed there should be a dramatic improvement to the City's
 | |
Corroded water line
City of St. Augustine photo
|
aesthetic water quality, fire flow and maintenance. Additionally, once these improvements are
implemented the City shall be in a favorable position to continue tracking
and isolating the remaining areas with 'red water' complaints."
With this preamble and $6,371,600 in funding, the city's Public Works Department is ready to draw a red line through the city's red water challenge over the next two years.
The injection of $4.5 million through recent utility bond refinancing can tackle a major portion of replacing corroding cast iron and galvanized steel lines, but Public Works Director Martha Graham cautions, "in order to complete the long term water main improvements an investment of approximately $10,246,968 is required in the upcoming 5 to 10 years.
Find the complete Public Works Water Main Improvement Plan here.
|
|
|
|
Ponce lands tonite
|
Ponce lands tonight at Lewis Auditorium in the continuing Discover First America program. The presentation by the Fountain of Youth recognizes the 500th anniversary of Ponce de Leon's discovery of La Florida.
the program is free; doors open at 6 with program start at 7.
|
|
|
|
The schedule
The construction schedule is tentative, subject to design and bid processes and weather.
- Lincolnville through February 2013
- Lighthouse through May 2013
- Palmer through May 2013
- Masters February - June 2013
- Menendez August - December 2013
- Magnolia September 2013 - January 2014
- Abbott Tract December 2013 - April 2014
- Fullerwood September 2013 - February 2014
- North City February - July 2014
- Nelmar July - November 2014
- Grant July - November 2014
|
|
Archaeology first, then dig
First and foremost in the nation's oldest city is archaeological study of its long history.
Public Works is working closely with City Archaeologist Carl Halbirt to assure archaeological monitoring of areas to be dug up for water line replacement. Halbirt's recommendations:
Palmer and Masters Drive areas - Least likely to contain archaeological deposits, though the possibility of prehistoric sites (ca. 4,000 to 500 years ago) exists. There's also evidence of an early mission site, San Sebastian de Yaocos, somewhere along the west bank of the San Sebastian River near the north end of the Palmer or south end of the Masters Drive projects.
 Menendez and Lighthouse areas - Also less likely. The Menendez area is within marshland reclaimed in the early 20th century with the development of Davis Shores. Most of the Lighthouse area dates to the construction of the current lighthouse and most city archaeological projects here have turned up little archaeological remains.
North City area - Some of the streets within this zone may bisect the historic 18th century Horneque Line - a defensive line that extended from Hospital Creek to the San Sebastian River. Soil sediments associated with a moat would still be present in the areas of Cincinnati and Rhode avenues.
Abbott Tract - A diverse assortment of archaeological sites dating from the prehistoric era to the recent past, including 18th century deposits of the mission community of Nombre de Dios and mid- to late 19th century deposits in the development of the Abbott Tract.
Magnolia area - Native American sites dating from 4,000 to 500 years ago, the 16th to 17th century mission site of Nombre de Dios - the original location, and late colonial farm sites.
Nelmar Terrace area - a continuation of the Magnolia area containing late prehistoric to colonial era deposits (circa A.D. 1000 to A.D. 1800).
Fullerwood area - Locations along the eastern side contain late prehistoric Native American deposits.
Lincolnville area - deposits of the 18th century mission community of Pocolataca and 19th century urban farmsteads and/or plantations.
Most active monitoring areas will be Abbott Tract, Magnolia, Nelmar, and Fullerwood, with spot monitoring for Palmer, Masters, and Lighthouse project areas.
|
|
|
|
|
A periodic feature of the Report is a Wish List of programs or projects. Send in your ideas.
|
|
Picasso exhibit opens February 1
An exhibit of 39 Picasso art pieces opens February 1 at the $1.5 million remodeled Visitor Center, continuing through May 11 - a signature event of city hall's 450th commemoration.
The main hall of the visitor/expo center has been fashioned into a "bullring" of display panels for one of Picasso's favorite themes, with original art pieces created between 1929 and 1961.
City officials hope to recapture the $100,000 exhibit fee through ticket sales ($10 adult, $8 senior, $5 ages 7-12), merchandising and private rentals. Find the list of ticket venues here.
  (Ed. Note: The Picasso link to St. Augustine history has been found. City hall's announcement of the exhibit notes it's "a tribute to the Spanish cultural and artistic traditions that were introduced to Florida by Juan Ponce de León in 1513 and St. Augustine by Don Pedro Menéndez de Avilés in 1565."
Actually they were likely busy with other matters at the time, but if not for them, we might be seeing an exhibit of 20th century British artists Sickert, Wyndham Lewis, Nash or Spencer.
In the opening episode of a three-part BBC series, art historian James Fox stirred things up by declaring that Picasso, Dali, Miró, Jackson Pollock et al were basically a bit rubbish and if you wanted to find the true Michelangelos of the 20th century then you need look no further than British artists Sickert, Wyndham Lewis, Nash and Spencer.
Images: Self portraits, Pablo Picasso (left) and Wyndham Lewis
|
Focus - our children
 To strengthen our community and enrich our parents, teachers and everyone working with our children to be safer and kinder - both online and off.
That's the goal of a three-part Community Empowerment Series being presented by the St. Johns County Education Foundation and Communities in Schools February 2, March 9 and April 27 at the World Golf Village IMAX Theatre.
Look for expert parenting advice with how-tos on some of the most important issues facing children today, especially bullying. Visit the website.
|
|
History's Highlight
St. Augustine in the Civil War
At Final Rest
2 years, 7 months, 17 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
This is the third of three highlights on the public spaces, homes, and final resting places of the Civil War period. These excerpts are from Florida Civil War Heritage Trail, a Florida Heritage Publication of the Florida Division of Historical Resources. 
Loring Memorial 48 King Street
This monument was erected in 1920 on the Government House grounds by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in honor of Confederate Major General William Wing Loring. His ashes are imbedded in the foundation of the monument.
San Lorenzo Cemetery
This cemetery contains the remains of at least 93 Confederate soldiers and sailors including 3 black Confederate veterans who served as musicians in the 3rd Florida Infantry, and seven black Union soldiers of the US. Colored Troops.
St. Augustine National Cemetery
This cemetery contains at least 33 Union troops and veterans, including Union sailors who died while on duty at Egmont Key and whose remains were relocated here in 1909 as part of the nationwide effort to consolidate military burials. The highest ranking Union officer interred here is Brigadier General Martin D. Hardin of Illinois, who served during the war in the Army of the Potomac and was a personal friend of President Abraham Lincoln. The cemetery also contains the remains of at least two Confederate veterans.
St. Francis Barracks
This building was used as a military barracks first for Confederate troops, and then for Union troops after the Federal occupation of St. Augustine in 1862.
Tolomato Cemetery
This cemetery contains the remains of Union veterans and at least 17 Confederate veterans. Also buried here is Florida Catholic Bishop Augustin Verot, known as the "Rebel Bishop" for his defense of the Confederate cause. After the Civil War, Bishop Verot became an advocate for the rights of freed slaves and oversaw the establishment of a school for their education in St. Augustine by the Sisters of St. Joseph.
St. Augustine Bedtime Stories - Dramatic accounts of famous people and events in St. Augustine's history - in booklets designed for quick reads before bed. Information here.
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
|
