$5,000 donor for memorial move
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Published by former Mayor George Gardner January 29 2014
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Foot Soldiers donor contributes
$5,000 for War Memorial move
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Proposed war memorial site (top) and Foot Soldiers Memorial (bottom) in Plaza
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Nena Vreeland
Photo: Susan Johnson
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Nena Vreeland, whose $20,000 donation inspired fundraising completion for the $70,000 St. Augustine Foot Soldiers Memorial, will donate a remaining $5,000 needed to relocate the War Memorial in the Plaza de la Constitución to a site symmetrically opposite the Foot Soldiers Memorial.
Commissioners Monday approved the relocation 35 feet from its present location, which is shrouded by electric panels at the Charlotte Street/Cathedral Place corner of the Plaza.
Florida Power and Light has contributed $5,000 to the estimated $10,000 move. Nena's donation will go to the Pilot Club, the nonprofit 501.c.3 which originally installed the memorial in 1946.
General Services Director Jim Piggott said the memorial is of concrete block faced with coquina, and could fall apart during a move "but could easily be restored."
Screening of the electric panels at the current site is also planned.
Nena was passionate in offering the needed funds. "My husband, father-in-law, and 14 cousins served in all five branches of military service in World War Two. They all made it back, but I feel very strongly about the guys who didn't."
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Appreciating
Our veterans
"It was one large hoe down, throw down, low country boil, music till you drop shindig!" Veterans Chronicler Michael Isam reports of a Veteran's Appreciation Day last Saturday, hosted by Bryan Tutten Memorial VFW Post 2391 with support from Island Doctor, Old Carriage Realty, Coleman Music, Family Kia, Jack Wilson Chevrolet, Hyundai, AmVets and VFW.
More than 150 local veterans joined in, honoring WWII and Korean veterans. On the menu, domestic roast pig, wild pig, venison stew, slow country boil, calamari, and all the trimmings.
"One thing good for sure came out of this event," said veteran Jim Sisk. "I am watching more and more of the younger vets in close conversation with older vets. Finally the 'My war was different than your war' veil has begun to show transparency. It is about time."
A young Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association member, 'Life-Line,' added, "I love to hear the stories of the elder veterans. "The more I hear, the closer I feel and I don't feel quite so alone."
Photo: Michael Isam
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Ordinance proposes vacated sign removal
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Sign structure at former Hardee's
Photo: City of St. Augustine
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Removal of the long criticized sign structure on the former Hardee's property at US 1 and King Street would be forced under a proposed ordinance to be considered by the Planning and Zoning Board (PZB) for recommendation to the City Commission.
But that's just one of more than two dozen signs and structures documented by Planning and Building Director Mark Knight's staff.
Knight noted there are vacant signs and structures "all over town, including the city's own sign structure at the former garden center on San Marco Avenue.
Citing "the proliferation of abandoned, vacated or out-of-business commercial on-site signs and sign structures affects the aesthetics of the City of St. Augustine and is a detriment to the quality of life of its residents and business owners," the ordinance would target vacated signs and structures determined by vacancy of the business, disconnection of utilities, or lapse or termination of business tax receipts.
Signs would be removed no later than fifteen days, and sign structures no later than one year following commercial vacancy.
The PZB meeting begins at 2 pm next Tuesday in the Alcazar Room at City Hall.
Cutting back gas pumps
Declaring "gas stations today often have twelve or more fueling stations and do not fit into the historic development patterns of the three entry corridors," another ordinance to be considered Tuesday for recommendation to the commission would limit gas pumps to eight on those entry corridors, King Street (including West King ), San Marco Avenue and Anastasia Boulevard.
The ordinance would also require "a retail store with a minimum of 3,000 square feet of gross floor area for retail and/or restaurant use" with the gas pumps.
It's patterned after Carmello's eight-pump station at King and Malaga streets.
A proposed 12-pump gas station and 7-Eleven store at congested San Marco Avenue and May Street raised concerns. Planning and Building Director Mark Knight has denied a building permit for the 7-Eleven and it will be appealed to the Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) February 20. HARB reviews entry corridor code disputes.
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Lights go dim Sunday
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St. Augustine's popular holiday Nights of Lights will end Sunday, completing more than two months of display through the holiday season.
A City Commission ordinance extended the program through the Sunday following January 31 annually, and a resolution extended this year's to February 2.
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Live streaming sails through commission
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Public Affairs Director Paul Williamson says he "cautious to suggest a time frame" to begin internet live streaming of city meetings, "but it will be with all deliberate speed."
City commissioners Monday authorized a $17,500 contract with Swagit Productions of Plano TX to provide the service through the end of the fiscal year September 30, with a link on the city website.
Swagit is now live streaming the Board of County Commissioners and a number of other Florida local governments.
Williamson told commissioners Monday the service will provide for "up to 75 agendaed meetings, and last year we had about 65, so there'd be room for other programming as well."
Vice Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline cautioned not to confuse this streaming service with Comcast, which telecast Monday's commission meeting after two months of technical problems.
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St. Augustine's Interim Fire Chief will be recently hired Fire Marshal Bob Growick, City Manager John Regan told city commissioners Monday. He will succeed Mike Arnold, who officially retired Monday. Growick took over in September as fire marshal after John Rayno retired.
Another EPIC milestone
Forty years of service, 6,159 served last year alone, and now the nonprofit EPIC Behavioral Healthcare has opened a Recovery Center for drug and alcohol rehabilitation services and treatment.
The 16-bed facility, first and only of its kind in St. Johns County offering drug and alcohol detoxification, is in a renovated building at 3574 US 1 South, supported with a $1.3 million operations appropriation by the state legislature and a $1.65 million capital fundraising campaign, which is 67% toward its goal.
"We wanted to create a space that was welcoming, warm, and comfortable so clients could feel at home during what is likely the toughest time in their life," says EPIC Chief Executive Officer Patti Greenough.
Visit the website.
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1 year, 7 months, 11 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
From exhibit description at Journey: 450 years of the African American Experience in the Visitor Center
 The Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine came from Le Puy, France, to St. Augustine in 1866 at the invitation of Augustin Verot, Bishop of Savannah and Vicar Apostolic of St. Augustine, to educate the newly freed African Americans.
In February of 1866, Bishop Verot wrote to the Superior in Le Puy, France, Mother Leocadie Broc, stating realistically: "I have five to six hundred thousand Blacks without education, without religion, and without Baptism for whom I wish to do something... It is my wish, that you understand clearly and perfectly, that it is for the care of the Negroes, and for them only, that I am seeking Sisters of your Order for my Diocese."
Eight brave Sisters of St. Joseph ventured forth on a perilous journey to a new land wholly dependent on God. They arrived in Florida at Picolata Landing on the shores of the St. Johns River September 2, 1866, ready to serve the "dear neighbor."
By November 1866, the Sisters opened classes for Black male children in a house on the O'Reilly property on St. George Street and by December the Sisters were visiting and caring for sick African American men, women and children in their homes. In January, 1867, the Sisters opened classes for black children in the O'Reilly House on Aviles Street, and began evening classes for adult blacks there.
The Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine are proud of the fact that they opened the first school for black children in the state of Florida on their property on St. George Street. The school was called St. Cecelia. The school was renamed St. Benedict the Moor when it was relocated to the property of that newly established parish, St. Benedict the Moor, in 1914.
By 1916, the Sisters had been teaching blacks of all faiths throughout Florida for 50 years. At this time, Florida's governor declared it against the law for white teachers to teach blacks and he, therefore, arrested the three Sisters at St. Benedict School.
This law was declared null and the Sisters continued teaching until 1964, when the Civil Rights Act was passed. At that time some of the children entered Cathedral Parish School.
Today the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine continue to work in collaboration with others to bring union and reconciliation to our world, "that all may be one."
Photo: First students of the Sisters of St. Joseph, 1867, in Journey: 450 years of the African American Experience exhibit
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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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