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Published by former Mayor George Gardner July 3 2013
The Report is an independent publication serving our community.
Contributions are greatly appreciated.
or mail to
George Gardner 57 Fullerwood Drive St. Augustine FL 32084
Click to order St. Augustine Bedtime Stories -
two sets of twelve, $15 each set
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2nd parking garage?
Castillo visitor increase presses need
A second parking garage - and maybe more - are in a study to ease pedestrian flow to the National Landmark Castillo de San Marcos, which had 727,000 visitors in 2012 and a 20 percent increase in January-May 2013 visitation.
 Jeremy Marquis of Marquis Halback, Inc., contracted to develop improved connections between the city and Castillo through a Paul S. Sarbanes Transit in Parks Grant, says, "We have looked at available properties in the downtown area that could be used for additional parking density within a 10 to 15 minute walk of the study area. "There are a number of selection criteria and evaluation criteria we are analyzing, but no final recommendations have been made." Seven sites suitable for a multistory parking facility are listed, including the area behind the Lightner Museum. Protest over that site, decided by a previous City Commission, resulted in a new majority being elected in 2002 which shifted the plan to the Visitor Center.
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Before
the blast
Fireworks By Santore's Jerry Dimura finishes linking cannons to igniters for a July 4 fireworks show in Palm Coast's Town Center in 2010.
Santore's crew is completing the same scenario on barges to be floated into St. Augustine's bay for the city's 2013 Fireworks Over The Matanzas tomorrow at 9:30 pm, funded by the city and Tourist Development Council.
FlaglerLive reported on those preparations in 2010:
"By mid-afternoon, Fireworks By Santore's crew ... was done racking the cannons and arming them with those bulbous shells, each of which, depending on its size, looks oddly shaped like an oversize brown onion, sprouting wires that tangle back to relay boxes that then connect to the command center ... some 100 feet away."
St. Augustine's festivities this year begin at 6 pm with The All Star Orchestra in the Plaza gazebo.
Photo: FlaglerLive
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Potential garage sites
in Castillo visitor study
Marquis Halback estimates a parking deficit of 1,023 to 1,352 spaces, and listed seven potential parking garage sites, with estimated levels and capacity:
- Grace Church/Flagler, Cordova and Carrera streets - 3 levels, 684 spaces
- Francis Field - 1/885
- Sebastian Inland Harbor - 4/1,074
- Post Office - 3/640
- Malaga Street - 4/550
- Lightner Museum - 3/no listed capacity
- Masonic property, King Street and ML King Avenue - 3/493
Marquis Halback has conducted extensive workshops and presentations since 2011, most recently presenting information to the Historic Architectural Review Board June 20 and Parking & Traffic Committee and public meeting June 27.
"In all of our analysis, we are focused on improving alternative mobility around the Castillo and historic district," says Marquis. "With our unique urban national monument, pedestrian connections will be enormously important to that end."
Find details at the Marquis Halback website.
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Bed Tax grant requests
ready for TDC approval
The Tourist Development Council's grant review panel will present its findings to the TDC July 15 on bed tax grants. With 28 applicants seeking a total of $720,582, there is only $550,000 available for the 2013-14 period.
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On a sunnier day a tea set in a neighborhood yard is ready for playtime.
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The requests range from six organizations seeking $60,000 each to 12 seeking $10,000. Among the major requests: the Lighthouse Sea Your History Weekends, Art Association Art & Craft Festival, Romanza Festivale and Celtic Festival, and City of St. Augustine African American Experience.
The St. Augustine Chalk Walk, rained out last year, hopes for $25,000 and better weather in 2014, and the Historic Florida Militia seeks
a total of $30,000 for all of its annual reenactments - Searle's Sack, Colonial Grand Muster, Drakes Raid, and Changing of the Guard.
The complete applicant request list is here.
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Bringing history to life
 Three replica cannons rest in Davis Shores' Oglethorpe Battery Park after a successful dedication Sunday, while cannon project Chair Ric Erkelens took some time Saturday to visit with Buffalo Soldiers FL John Russell of Orlando and Walt Anderson of Gainesville during the Buffalo Soldier unit's visit to the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park.
The cannon project was organized by the 450 Military Committee, with assistance from the city in casting cannon carriages and - helped by the North Davis Shores Neighborhood Association - sprucing up the site of Georgia General James Oglethorpe's unsuccessful effort to bombard the Castillo in June and July, 1740.
 The mounted Buffalo Soldiers represent a unit formed during the Civil War and still existing today. The 450 Military Committee's next event will be a commemoration August 24 of the Dade Monuments at St. Augustine's National Cemetery, where remains of officers and soldiers killed during the Seminole Wars were interred in 1842, including Lt. Francis Dade's command, ambushed in 1835 to open a second chapter in the continuing Indian wars.
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WFOY, WAOC, WSOS - FM
Better serving "areas in northern St. Johns County which were straining to listen to us before," and delivering "a clear, strong signal even during severe weather when local news alerts are so vitally important."
Reasons enough for St. Augustine's two radio companies to invest in costly equipment to add FM stations to their services.
Kris Phillips, WFOY 1240 AM and WAOC 1420 AM, now offers 102.3 FM.
Kevin Geddings, WSOS 1170 AM, has added 99.5 FM.
"Broadcast radio is still listened to by the vast majority of Americans each and every day according to recent surveys," said Geddings. "And you can't beat what it costs you as a listener."
"The area has grown well beyond the original 1240 AM signal design, which dates back to the 1930s when St. Augustine was a much smaller community," says Phillips. "Our new signal strength will cover fast-growing St. Johns County, as well as portions of Flager, Putnam, Duval, and Clay counties."
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Mumford concert
... Who's going to pay for all the damage done by the party animals attending the Mumford concert?!! Do we want to be an historic city or a rock/music concert city? It's a mess just after the 4th of July festivities; I can't imagine what it's going to look like after this.
Bridge underlighting
... When will something actually related to the 450th be done to commemorate the 450th? Lights under the bridge of Lions, a less than mediocre Picasso exhibit, an emergency services resuscitator, and all the other smoke, mirrors and snake oil we've been offered in the name of so-called "legacy" achievements have NOTHING to do with observing the 450th anniversary of the founding of our city by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés. When, please Lord, when are we as a city going to do something related to our HISTORY and HERITAGE?
Parking garages
... No funding is available for the suggested areas for parking structures. Bringing common sense to this issue makes it clear that the Fort needs to build a parking garage on the property next to the current Park Service Admin building. Looking at the footprint of our current parking structure, there is ample square footage to build there, and (then) we have 1,200 more parking spaces and more access in and out of the city ... not to mention that it is easier for Fed to get up front funds to build.
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History's highlight
The Battle of Bloody Marsh
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2 years, 2 months, 6 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
Georgia General James Oglethorpe's constant harassment of St. Augustine through 1740-1742 prompted retaliation from La Florida Governor Manuel de Montiano, leading to a decisive battle July 7, 1742.
Considered the decisive battle for control of "the debatable land" of Georgia, the forces of Britain's James Oglethorpe, who had attacked St. Augustine in 1740 and 1742, and Spain's Manuel de Montiano, in retaliation, met in the Battle of Bloody Marsh, July 7, 1742.
Fort St. Simon and Fort Frederica lay about 7 miles apart on St. Simon Island. Between the two a "military road" ran, a path one wagon wide, along which the army and nearby settlers in Frederica could receive supplies from Ft. St. Simon.
Manuel de Montiano, governor of La Florida, rode the tide into St. Simon on July 5, 1742, sailing under the firing guns at Fort St. Simon, bypassing the fort and landing more than 50 ships near higher ground. Oglethorpe withdrew from the fort before the Spanish could mount an attack.
With some 3,000 troops of his estimated force of 4,500, Montiano took the fort the following day and began to scout the island on foot for Oglethorpe and his men. They quickly found the military road between Fort St. Simon and Fort Frederica, but dismissed it as a farmer's path.
The Spanish began searching the leeward side of the island, completely ignorant of the existence of Frederica. After realizing their mistake, Montiano ordered more than 100 men to scout the road, looking for evidence of English forces or Frederica.
Oglethorpe had chosen Frederica because of its location - it was surrounded by marsh, and there were only two ways to attack by land, through the dense forest to the north of Frederica or along the military road to the south of Frederica.
Sticking to a defense planned 8 years earlier, Oglethorpe stationed a small group of Highlanders, Rangers and marines under the command of Noble Jones to defend the road. Jones caught the Spanish skirmishers at the head of the formation by surprise.
Jones ordered his men to fall back as he rode off to find Oglethorpe. When notified of the engagement, Oglethorpe, according to legend, jumped on the first available horse and rode off down the road to St. Simons.
At Gully Hole Creek, Oglethorpe halted the orderly retreat of Jones' combined force and led them in an attack against the advancing Spanish, routing de Montiano's men in a furious battle.
Knowing the Spanish would continue the attack, Oglethorpe followed the retreating enemy to an open area in a marsh. Placing his men carefully around the open field as the Spanish regrouped, Oglethorpe left to rally more support.
A much larger Spanish force appeared and engaged Oglethorpe's men. The colonists tore into the superior Spanish force, forcing them into a haphazard retreat and ending Spanish efforts
to control the debatable land.
British accounts say the name Bloody Marsh came from the marsh running red with Spanish Blood. But a similar name is also recorded, from an earlier encounter between Oglethorpe and Montiano, June 26, 1740, the Battle of Bloody Mose, in which the British were routed.
Image: Site of the Battle of Bloody Marsh, from Rootsweb
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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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