Published by former Mayor George Gardner

December 17 2014

The Report is an independent publication serving our community

Two left turn lanes onto US 1 (lower left) and a single traffic light for realigned streets (right) are included in current plans presented at a public session Monday.

FDOT unwraps work in progress

Adjustments for San Marco/May Street/US 1 traffic

The Florida Department of Transportation unveiled its thinking to date Monday to ease congestion at the San Marco Avenue/May Street intersection and East San Carlos at US 1.

Most immediate, two left turn lanes from East San Carlos Avenue onto US 1. That's funded for 2016, Project Director Steve Browning says.

More distant, creating two concepts for San Marco and May Street. Each concept - a roundabout or a single traffic signal - proposes shifting May Street to the south.

FDOT engineer talks with residents at public session.

All five streets would enter a roundabout configuration. For a single traffic signal concept, the west end of San Carlos would be closed, eliminating one of the current five entering streets.

Dozens of residents and commuters attended the public information meeting at the main library on the fringe of the congested roadways. It provided more than two hours of individual discussions with FDOT officials along walls lined with concept renderings.

None of the concepts would impact the contested plan for a 12-gas pump 7-Eleven at San Marco and May Street.

Colonial Spanish

holidays at Mission

Honoring our Spanish heritage in the holidays, Florida Living History, Inc. presents its fourth annual Navidad en el Viejo San Agustín (Christmas in Old St. Augustine) heritage Event Saturday 6-9 pm at the Mission of Nombre de Dios.

The Christmas music and customs of 16th-century Florida are featured in torch lit settings throughout the mission grounds.

Look for living historians in period garb, representing the citizens of 16th-century San Agustín de la Florida.

A procession will reenact Mary and Joseph's search for lodgings in Bethlehem on the first Christmas Eve, stopping by the homes and shops of townspeople in settlement life.

Also included, a Spanish Christmas play, colonial Spanish holiday treats and a traditional Spanish belén (Nativity scene) featuring hand-made scenery and structures.

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St Augustine Aquarium

finds location on SR 16

Aquarium artist rendering One of the arguments against an aquarium at Riberia Pointe was lack of experience in its proposers, Shawn and Kathy Hiester.

Undaunted, the business school graduate with 20 years in design and construction management and his Biology graduate wife with more than 20 years in sales and marketing have followed their dream to a 5-acre site on SR 16, where they plan to build that aquarium.

They anticipate construction in two phases. First an 80,000-gallon outdoor Snorkel Adventure, Zip Line and Adventure Course.

Then another 180,000 gallons and 40,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibit space with an assortment of Florida marine species.

The St. Augustine Children's Museum, also rejected for a Riberia Pointe site, earlier announced it will be part of a shipyard project across the San Sebastian River from Riberia Pointe.

Seraphin sues city

over termination

Seraphin

450 fundraiser Charlie Seraphin, terminated after getting involved in the 2014 city election campaign, is suing the city, claiming his civil rights were violated.

Daytona Beach Attorney Kelly Parsons Kwiatek with the Cobb Cole law firm notified the city she's been instructed to "pursue all available remedies including injunctive relief, compensatory damages and attorney's fees."

The city is represented by a labor attorney with the Florida League of Cities.

Seraphin, paid $78,000 a year, was unsuccessful in raising hoped-for corporate donations to the 450th, so he focused on other projects including a culinary program for the homeless and the annual Spanish Wine Festival.

Abbott residents seeing red over yellow curbs

Incensed by yellow curbing along Abbott Tract's narrow streets, residents made themselves heard at last week's City Commission meeting and will register concerns again today at a session with city officials at 4 pm in the Alcazar Room at City Hall.

City Manager John Regan said the yellow curbing was encouraged for greater emergency vehicle access and understood the neighborhood supported it.

"We need to reset our communications relationships with the neighborhoods," Regan told commissioners.

Vision Committee looks to New Year

With a mission to provide the City Commission a list of top priorities early next year, the city's Vision 2014 & Beyond steering committee huddled Monday to review progress.

Chair and Vice Mayor Roxanne Horvath said she hopes for a workshop with commissioners February 2 and formal presentation to the commission at its regular meeting February 9.

Wreaths Across America blanket National Cemetery

Story and photos by Michael Isam

All 1,216 graves at St. Augustine's National Cemetery are adorned with wreaths Saturday, set by nearly 100 veterans, family and residents in remembrance of the service of veterans.

The ceremony included placement of wreaths for each branch of service and a POW/MIA wreath, escorted by a member of each branch, or who had served or had a family member in that branch.

"In every placing, there are tears shed for family or friends who did not return, but will never be forgotten," said co chairman Ray Quinn, a retired sergeant major of the Florida Army National Guard.

"For some, this ceremony aids to bring a time of closure. That is why we include families in the placing of the wreath."

The Veterans Council of St. Johns County took over fundraising efforts for the event three years ago and vowed that wreaths would be provided for every grave every year.

The VFW Brian Tutten Post 2391 firing detail provided the final salute with John Donlin, veteran and retired Sheriffs Office commander playing Taps.

St. Augustine on NBC's TODAY

NBC Today Show includes St. Augustine in places to go for sunny or snowy holiday destinations. Watch the video (and give it time to come up).

History's Highlight

Menendez' Asiento

273 days to St. Augustine's 450th anniversary

Six years after Tristan de Luna's failed expedition to establish a permanent settlement in Florida, King Phillip II called on the greatest seaman of the age, Pedro Menendez de Aviles, to continue the settlement effort. It began with an asiento.

King Phillip's decision to contract with Pedro Menendez to establish a settlement in the new territory of La Florida was twofold. As with Tristan de Luna, need continued to convert the Indians to Christianity and give refuge to Spaniards shipwrecked on the coast.

Menendez statue But now, with word the French had founded a settlement along the northeast coast, the king instructed, "You will explore and colonize Florida; and if there be settlers or corsairs of other nations not subject to us, drive them out."

The asiento was a legal contract. Governments in the 16th century had no standing armies but rather contracted for necessary services.

Menendez' asiento with King Phillip II specified, "Take, with a year's supplies, 500 men, of which 100 farmers, 100 sailors, rest skilled men-of-war; must, within 3 years, place a total of 500 settlers, including skilled tradesmen, 10-12 religious, and 4 addl. Jesuits, 100 horses, mares, 200 calves, 400 hogs, 400 sheep; take galleass San Pelayo."

In exchange, the king gave this trusted, albeit headstrong seaman extraordinary concessions, among them, governmental and military powers in this new world "for two lives," land grants of "25 leagues squared," and "1/15th of profits, perpetual," largesse well beyond that granted to four previous, failed expeditions.

It was for Menendez to assemble all the necessary elements, while adding his own. For in addition to being Spain's ablest seamen, he was also a businessman, and the asiento gave him tremendous trade advantages in the active Indies market.

In modern terms, Menendez' investment in this voyage in the summer of 1565 was $5,920,625, while the Spanish Crown invested $4,622,625.

From the signing of the asiento on March 20, 1565, to the final departure June 29, Menendez pulled the pieces together. His title of adelantado, representing the king, his reputation as a keen businessman, and his proven ability as a commander at sea, gave him extraordinary capability to assemble an extraordinary fleet.

Flagler College's Eugene Lyon's The Enterprise of Florida describes a command hierarchy of family and friends and commercial and shipping barters - the complexities of the asiento that made Menendez' historic voyage possible.

Abundant record-keeping gives historians a vivid picture of 16th century events. Menendez, outfitting his ships with munitions and soldiers to fight a war, and tools and settlers to establish a colony, also made room for an Escribano Público - a Notary Public - and 12,000 sheets of paper, to record the expedition's formal actions.

Image: Menendez statue in Aviles and at St. Augustine Lightner/City Hall building

Excerpts from The Asiento in St. Augustine Bedtime Stories. Great for holiday giving. Click for details on this fascinating historic series.

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 a former newspaper reporter and editor. Contact the Report at gardner@aug.com or gardnerstaug@yahoo.com