Published by former Mayor George Gardner September 6 2014
The Report is an independent publication serving our community
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Trimmed 450 budget
goes to commission
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After two weeks of homework, 450 Director Dana Ste. Claire will present to city commissioners Monday an anniversary year budget of $799,320, shaving $138,680 off his original request of $938,000.
Two weeks ago, Commissioner Leanna Freeman said the budget, "is much higher than I ever wanted it to be," Vice Mayor Nancy Sikes-Kline requested a workshop, and City Manager John Regan promised one-on-one explanations with each commissioner.
Most of the cuts, $126,500, come from feature programs, while adding a $5 ticket charge for a previously planned free Tapestry exhibit in the Visitor Center.
A proposal for an all-day parking fee at the Visitor Center parking facility, expected to generate $429,500, remains in the city budget, which goes to public hearings Thursday and September 25, each in the Alcazar Room at City Hall at 5:05 pm.
A total of more than $3 million will have been spent over a four-year period by a three-person city hall team managing the 450th.
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Yield to Life
Campaign
The North Florida Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) and St. Augustine police are launching a Yield to Life Safety Campaign aimed at increasing awareness and reducing bicycle and pedestrian-related crashes.
The multi-media campaign will run September 8-21.
St. Augustine is a "hotspot" for bicycle and pedestrian-involved crashes, according to records, with 30 incidents a year average.
A similar public awareness campaign with the TPO and Atlantic Beach Police resulted in a 71% decrease in bicycle/pedestrian accidents, officials say.
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The revised 450 events budget
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Rally today at
7-Eleven site
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The call is out to join a protest rally today at the proposed 7-Eleven project site at San Marco Avenue and May Street.
Sign wavers and supporters opposing a convenience store and 12-pump gas station at the congested intersection will gather from 4 to 5:30 pm today - one of the peak times for traffic snarls between downtown and Vilano Beach.
The city's Planning and Building Department was awaiting only applicant fees and final paperwork to issue a building permit, Planning and Building Director David Birchim saying
"We cannot hold a local development permit in anticipation of a state agency permit being approved."
He was referring to conflict between the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) minimum and city code road standards, an issue which sent an earlier application to Circuit Court on appeal. FDOT documentation meeting the tighter city standards is not a part of the new application.
Meanwhile, 7-Eleven Attorney James Whitehouse said the previous application will remain on the Circuit Court docket awaiting a calendar date. "We don't want to close off any avenues," he said last week.
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No official answers on VA clinic relocation
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Veterans Council Chair Bill Dudley (left) and County Asst. Administrator Jerry Cameron (right) couldn't pin down VA's Thomas Wisnieski Thursday
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A Town Hall meeting Thursday with Thomas Wisnieski, Director of North Florida /South Georgia Veterans Health System, "was the same old bureaucratic double speak that we have become accustomed to from those who are charged with the care of our veterans," says Veterans Council Chairman Bill Dudley.
"Our veterans deserve better than this. They didn't ask questions about when they had to go and serve. They didn't question that, they went and served. Now all they're asking is 'Where is my health care going to come from in seven months?' And they are not telling us."
County officials as well as many of the county's 5,000 veterans who use the VA clinic attended that session, in which the director and two other VA officials bobbed and weaved around a commitment after the current county property housing the clinic is taken over by Lowe's in March.
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Cross and Sword - the memories
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Cast list, heritage booklet and program from 1970.
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The St. Augustine 450th Commemoration Commission tasked member/Mayor Joe Boles with resurrecting the Cross and Sword state play created for the city's 400th anniversary in 1965.
Boles hasn't made that happen, but items in a box stored away for years shows what was in 1965, and might have been in 2015.
"I received a box from my uncle of some things that were in my grandmother's house," writes resident Cari Wells." She always loved St Augustine, so it was no surprise when I came across two items.
"The first item being the St Augustine Historical Heritage booklet. It was copyrighted in 1952 and revised in 1995. It gives full history of the city complete with pictures.
"The other item is a program booklet from the 1970 production of Cross and Sword at the St Augustine Amphitheater. This piece is very interesting as it shows pictures of the amphitheater, the actors and advertisers of businesses back then. Some are still in business today. Also included are 2 paper copies of the cast list."
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$1 million for a community 450th
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While city 450 Director Dana Ste. Claire brings a $799,320 budget request for next year's 450th commemoration to the City Commission Monday, a reader ponders what this money could produce if the community, rather than city hall, had that budget. Among the thoughts:
- Original Cross and Sword play at the amphitheater, free for all St. Johns County residents,
 $10 for others - Victorian Tea Party, $10 per person, in Victorian Clothing $5. Coffee and tea shops in town can serve different teas or coffees
- Big Parade, with $500 grants to 20 different groups to have floats pulled by city vehicles
- Major grant to Historic Florida Militia whose numerous reenactment groups can provide daily Changing of the Guard, flag ceremonies for different historic periods, and on street period dressed hosts
- Daily Changing of the Guard along St. George Street.
- Colonial Quarter and Government House Museum free to St. Johns County residents on weekends
- Free tours for residents of El Galeón, Nao Victoria, Espiritu, Black Raven and other ships
- Local and big name jazz concerts at Vickers field, with city officials running hot dog stands - as they have at St. Augustine High School football games - free to Lincolnville residents, $10 for others
- Grant to garden clubs to beautify areas of the city
- Production of monument replicas
- A 1565 Dinner on the Castillo north fort green with Spanish historic period food and beverage, $20 per person
- Art show in the plaza by the Art Association
- Dressage parade for residents and reenactors representing periods of St. Augustine history
- Remaining available monies for city insurance and public services.
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History's Highlight
Cross and Sword celebrated 400th
368 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary
 June 27, 1965, Cross and Sword premiered to begin ten summer week runs in the new 2,000 seat St. Augustine Amphitheater on Anastasia Island.
The play was created to honor St. Augustine's 400th Anniversary. It was written by Paul Green, winner of the 1927 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his Broadway play In Abraham's Bosom, and noted for his ability to blend music, dance, pantomime and poetic dialogue into one larger than life historical play.
In 1973, Cross and Sword was designated Florida's official state play by the Florida Legislature, and enjoyed more than two decades of production until its expense, a shift in tourism interest, and the loss of automatic state funding spelled its end.
Competing with other state arts grants, Cross and Sword asked the state Division of Cultural Affairs for $27,089 in 1997, and was turned down. The 1996 season was the show's last.
The largely dormant state-owned property caught the interest of the County Commission, and extensive renovations expanded seating to more than 4,000, with state-of-the art sound and lighting. The renovated amphitheatre has met with success, drawing major modern performances to its stage.
Restoration of Cross and Sword remains in the minds and hearts of many today who remember the original production, among them local residents who were part of the cast.
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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 or gardnerstaug@yahoo.com
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