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Published by former Mayor George Gardner May 28 2014
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Boles faces activist challenge
Eight candidates for City Commission seats
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Shaver
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Boles
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Seeking a fifth term as mayor, Joe Boles has competition.
Nancy Shaver, a marketing consultant living in Lincolnville, is best known for digging out figures showing a financial loss in the Picasso exhibit, fallacies in a city hall partnership with an aquarium developer's proposal for Riberia Pointe, and earlier a lack of credibility in a proposed coral growing plan for the Riberia site.
If successful she may join another hard-working member of the City Commission. Vice Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline, currently also chair of the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization, has been successful in bringing planning funds and teams to the city for highway enhancements and several studies including a Mobility Institute, as well as seeing an archaeology center established in the mother's name - the Dr. Sue A. Middleton Archaeology Center - and creating the Adelaide Sanchez Award program for Historic Preservation, Restoration, Education and Interpretation.
Sikes-Kline is being challenged by professional engineer Grant Misterly, who's served two terms on the City Planning and Zoning Board (PZB) as well as the Entrance Corridor Committee and is currently on the City Visioning Steering Committee.
There are currently eight candidates filed for two commission seats and the mayor's seat, with qualifying from noon June 16 to noon June 20, the final date for candidacy filing.
The most active race is for the seat being vacated by Don Crichlow, who stepped in to fill Bill Leary's seat when he resigned last year.
Filing for that seat are contractor and PZB member John Valdes, certified public accountant Todd Neville, downtown resident Ron Berben and north city resident Lee Bicknell.
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24th season for
concert series
St. Augustine's Concerts in the Plaza opens its 24th season Thursday at 7 pm in the Plaza de la Constitución, continuing all summer through Labor Day.
The Driftwoods led by local veterinarian Eric Searcy offer Bluegrass & Beyond to start the series Thursday.
The concerts feature local groups with a variety of music ranging from bluegrass and blues to old time and popular rock.
Attendees are invited to bring blankets and lounge chairs for seating. Picnics are a favorite as well, but no alcohol.
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Candidates and funds
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 Here's the City Commission candidate list and reported campaign funds collected at this early stage.
For the complete candidate list, financial reports and candidate statements, visit the website.
Mayor
Joe Boles $0
Nancy Shaver $0
Seat 4 (being vacated by Don Crichlow)
Ron Berben $6,056
Lee R Bicknell $0
Todd D Neville $25,780
John Valdes $5,235
Seat 5 (Incumbent Nancy Sikes-Kline)
Grant Misterly $6,636
Nancy Sikes-Kline $2,300
Primary, General Election dates
Unless more candidates file, only the race for Seat 4 will go to a Primary Election August 26, while the mayoral and Seat 5 races go to the General Election November 4.
The top two Seat 4 candidates would go to the General Election, unless one of the four candidates wins more than 50 percent of the Primary vote to win the seat.
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MEMORIAL DAY 2014 - Hundreds joined in the annual Memorial Day ceremonies at the St. Augustine National Cemetery Monday, then many walked the several blocks north to the Plaza de la Constitution, where a relocated World War Two Memorial was rededicated. The memorial, established in 1946 by the St. Augustine Pilot Club, was reconstructed at the new site by local contractors as a public service from a corner location obstructed by electric panels.
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First stone church in the US?
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A network of coquina and tabby layers at the Mission of Nombre de Dios suggests archaeologists may have found the site of what could be the first stone church in the US.
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Labyrinth of coquina and tabby at Mission
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A team of archaeologists under Gifford Waters of the Florida Museum of Natural History is unearthing coquina walks and walls - "a huge puzzle," St. Augustine Archaeological Association's Toni Wallace says.
The team has been working the site for several weeks and Mission Director Eric Johnson says, "Their progress is unprecedented and the foundations they have uncovered are amazing, even to seasoned archaeologists and historians.
Three years ago a team under archaeologist Kathy Deagan found evidence suggesting an original mission church to the north of the current site.
Historic records suggest the church dates to 1677, when lack of funds halted construction on the Castillo. It's possible the religious Governor Pablo de Hita authorized moving laborers and coquina to the mission to construct the church.
During a British Carolina attack on St. Augustine in 1728 the invaders used the church as an artillery site to bombard the Castillo. The Spanish governor ordered the destruction of the church to prevent future enemy use and the coquina was returned to continue work on the Castillo.
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Happenings
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Feel the Wheels Benefit - The Junior Service League of St. Augustine hosts a fundraiser Saturday benefiting The Children's Museum of St. Johns in front of the St. Augustine Outlet Mall off SR 16, 10 to 4 pm.
Look for hands-on experiences with construction vehicles, semi-trucks, service vehicles, boats, a Big Wheels course and a remote controlled race car track.
Uptown Saturday Night - 5 - 9 pm San Marco Avenue offers live music, refreshments, new exhibits, book signings and more at galleries, antique stores and unique shops. The Mission Nombre de Dios provides free parking.
The Downtown Bazaar - 6 - 10 pm The Colonial Quarter courtyard is filled with fine art, unique artisan crafts, local authors sharing their stories of local lore, live music by studio recording musicians, and mystifying magic.
Looking ahead
Family Fun Day - Sunday June 22, the St Augustine Maritime Heritage Foundation presents its Second Annual Family Fun Day 11 am - 3 pm at the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park.
Look for model boat building and races, ship wreck artifacts, youth sailboat rigging, demonstrations, fun exhibits, knot tying and tug 'o war contests, storytelling, book signing, prizes, cannon firing, boat safety, food and more.
The nonprofit foundation is building a replica 16th century boat on the site of St. Augustine's original settlement at the park as part of its mission to educate and promote St. Augustine's rich maritime history.
Visit the website.
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History's highlight
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Many lives of William Loring
1 year, 3 months, 12 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
Officer in the Mexican-American War, commander in the Oregon Territory, Confederate General in the Civil War, Fereek Pasha in the Egyptian army.
William Loring's fifty year military career is recognized with an obelisk on the west side of Government House.
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Confederate General Loring
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Fereek Pasha Loring
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His career began at the age of 14 with the St. Augustine Militia after moving from his birthplace in Wilmington, North Carolina, and was first tested in skirmishes with the Seminole Indians in the 1830s.
He attended Georgetown University from 1839 to 1840 and then studied law and was admitted to the Florida bar in 1842. In 1843, he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives, but in 1845 he ran unsuccessfully for the Florida Senate.
In 1846, Loring joined the Regiment of Mounted Rifles created to protect the Oregon Territory. He was promoted to major even before the regiment saw battle. Loring's regiment saw action in most of the battles of the Mexican-American war and he was wounded three times. While leading the charge into Mexico City, Loring's arm was shattered by a Mexican bullet, and he would later have it amputated.
In 1849 Loring was ordered to take command of the Oregon Territory and after two years was transferred to commander of the forts of the frontier. For five years he skirmished with Comanches, Apaches and Kiowas. Loring was promoted to colonel at the age of 38 in December 1856, the youngest in the army.
When the Civil War erupted, Loring sided with the South. He told his officers, "The South is my home, and I am going to throw up my commission and shall join the Southern Army, and each of you can do as you think best." He soon acquired the nickname "Old Blizzards" for his battle cry, "Give them blizzards, boys! Give them blizzards!"
After the Confederate defeat, Loring served for nine years in the army of Isma'il Pasha, the Khedive of Egypt. He joined about fifty Union and Confederate veterans who had been recommended to the Khedive by William Tecumseh Sherman.
During his service to Egypt, Loring attained the rank of Fereek Pasha (Major General). After his return to the United States, he wrote a book about his Egyptian experiences, A Confederate Soldier in Egypt (1884), and was posthumous co-author of The March of the Mounted Riflemen (1940).
In 1878, partially due to finances, the American officers were dismissed from Egypt and Loring returned to Florida where he unsuccessfully ran for the United States Senate. He then moved to New York City where he died. He is buried here in Loring Park, Woodlawn Cemetery.
Excerpts from Wikipedia
Capture 449 years of St. Augustine history with St. Augustine Bedtime Stories - Dramatic accounts of famous people and events. Details here.
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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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