Published by former Mayor George Gardner September 26 2015
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 Obelisks being placed
Dodging rain showers, workers are setting in place 25 Obelisk Art 450 obelisks in locations throughout the city.
John Valdes, who volunteered to head up a team setting bases and the obelisks, said weather willing all will be in place Monday.
Compassionate St. Augustine's (CSA) Caren Goldman says each of the selected sites was chosen to tell a unique story about St. Augustine through a lens of compassion.
How it all began
"In 2013, as CSA pondered how it might contribute to the commemoration of the 450th, Goldman says, "one of its members was contacted by Paul-Gordon Chandler, a colleague and founder of CARAVAN, a peace-building visual arts non-profit dedicated to building interfaith bridges.
 "CARAVAN's highly acclaimed public art project 'In Peace and Compassion' was exhibited in Cairo, Egypt and London, England that year. (After) ongoing conversations with Chandler about that project ... the seed of that idea began to take root." Following on the popular approach to public art featuring painted animals, CARAVAN's public art exhibition had painted/decorated life-size fiberglass donkeys (symbol of peace and compassion in both Islam and Christianity) involving 45 of both Egypt's premier artists and noted Western artists.
"As CSA's advisory board members contemplated whether to use lions, manatees, or some other cultural symbol for such a project, the creative imagination of one member led them to the decision to use replicas of the iconic obelisk with an emphasis on its four values."
Read a full account of Obelisk Art 450 (OA450) here.
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"Pope Francis was masterful in his address to the joint meeting of Congress.
"With the integrity of a shepherd's voice, he presented themes of human dignity - calling for a culture of 'hope and healing, of peace and justice.'
"He used four U.S. citizens as relevant models of virtue for Americans today: Abraham Lincoln, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton. He actualized what they stood for."
Bishop Felipe J. Estévez, Diocese of St. Augustine
who joined U.S. Bishops in Washington, D. C. Thursday
Image: Youngsters get selfies with Pope during Washington visit.
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Plans advance for
a colonial parade
A colonial torchlight parade the first Saturday in December has opened St. Augustine's holiday season for 40 years. It was the British Night Watch Grande Illumination, commemorating the British occupation of St. Augustine 1763-1784.
Reenactors have scrambled since announcement that the Committee for the Night Watch is taking this year off for some reorganization. Increasing city fees and bed tax grant complexities, as well as a dwindling reenactment corps, have been cited.
An expanded era, from 1739-1784, commemorates the Spanish, St. Augustine's black militia, the Yamasee tribes, and East Florida Rangers as well as the British.
It was an era of Oglethorpe's raids on St. Augustine, the Battle of Bloody Mose, and the change of flags from Spanish to British in 1763 and back to Spanish in 1784.
"The event will no longer be exclusively British," veteran reenactor Rick Coyle says. "All colonial units of that era are invited."
 Ron and Donna Shelley have traveled to St. Augustine from Miami for many years for the Night Watch and other reenactments. Donna's reaction to the suspension of the British Night Watch:
"It is a pity that those in political positions in Saint Augustine's city government don't seem to understand that in addition to tee shirts, fudge and claims for the oldest this and that, their city has a rich history that would be the envy of many great cities in our country.
"Historic reenactment has the ability to bring real revenue to the city and local businesses. Too bad that city leaders are focusing their attention on the debit side of ledger instead and ignoring the credit side."
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Outdoor dining
for Artillery Lane?
City commissioners Monday will consider an ordinance to allow outdoor dining on Artillery Lane from Aviles Street, where outdoor dining is allowed, east toward the bayfront.
The regular City Commission meeting begins at 5 pm in the Alcazar Room at City hall.
In the rehabilitation of Aviles Street several years ago the sidewalk was widened to allow outside dining.
Though St. George Street is an all pedestrian way, city officials have refused to allow the European-style outdoor dining there.
Commissioners will decide Monday whether to move the ordinance to a public hearing and final action at a later meeting.
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Report on defamation standards
"It went beyond criticism of me, this commission and our city," Neville told fellow commissioners at the end of a regular commission meeting. "It's an attack on our process. We need to protect the integrity of the process."
Neville tried without success through the city attorney to get a retraction from Historic City News Editor Michael Gold, who refused. Gold wrote,"The idea that a dysfunctional city commission could instruct the city attorney to retaliate against the press for exposing political campaign financial donations taken by an elected public official from principles in a controversial rezoning application is anathema to a free press."
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 What to do with mini windfall? Commissioners will decide Monday what to do with a mini windfall, a $1,084 donation from 84 Lumber, presented to Mayor Nancy Shaver at the reopening of the business. It could be added to the $9,132,325 in property taxes for 2016, if approved by commissioners in special session before Monday's regular meeting. The 2016 figure is a boost from $8,507,190 in 2015. While the millage rate has remained the same, increased property values and new construction have added to the figure.
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In the mail
St. Augustine's city gate
Numerous comments and even a computer generated 3D image.
 If memory serves me correctly, I do believe the ladies of the Maria Jefferson Chapter, Daughters of the Revolution actually led the protest. Michael Isam
Oh yes, it was a DAR project, and the ladies were DARs. Annie Woodruff was the first Regent of the reorganized chapter. Virginia Hassenflu
Thank you for the article featuring the other city gate. You may be interested that there are at least two other copies of "La Puerta de Tierra" as the Spanish called our gate. You might also note the "New City Gate" on Ponce de Leon Blvd. One of the statues is Juan Ponce de Leon and the other Pedro Menendez de Aviles? Charles A. Tingley Senior Research Librarian.
And from Dana Williams of Design Computer Systems, Inc. in Lake Worth, a computer image mapping animation.
Growth & tourism commentary
Well put John Valdes! Your commentary brought tears to my eyes for our dear little city. D. Hudson
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History's highlight
Sitting with the Big Apple
 What do the founding of St. Augustine and the 1954 World Series have in common?
You could have seen both from the same seat.
When the St. Augustine Amphitheatre was constructed in preparation for the 400th Anniversary of the city in 1965 the play "Cross and Sword" was a driving force behind the design, says the blog. Curiously, the end caps of the new Amphitheatre seats bore the logo of the New York Giants. That's because in 1964, W. I. Drysdale acquired the seats from the New York Polo Grounds - the NY Giants home stadium - following its demolition."
Most of the seats were sold to a private dealer before the county took over the Amphitheatre in 2002.
And that wasn't the only time St. Augustine got second-hand seats from a New York City landmark. A hundred chairs from the Metropolitan Opera House were installed into a newly remodeled conference space in the Government House in 1967, when Government House was acquired by the St. Augustine Historical Restoration and Preservation Commission. It had served for many years as the St. Augustine post office
"It was renovated by the Commission to serve as a conference, community, and exhibition space."
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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 a former newspaper reporter and editor. Contact the Report at gardner@aug.com or gardnerstaug@yahoo.com
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