Published by former Mayor George Gardner February 3 2016
The Report is an independent publication serving our community
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No Noche de Gala
No sponsor for annual Menendez birthday fete
Noche de Gala, the annual costumed ball celebrating the birth of St. Augustine Founder Pedro Menéndez February 15, 1519, will not be held this year.
 "It won't happen," says Director Bob Harper of Lightner Museum, site of the gala for years. "The city hasn't sponsored it for a while," says City Manager John Regan. And Mayor Nancy Shaver says, "No private entity has stepped up to sponsor it." For years the city hosted the February gala, complete with paseo (procession) down St. George Street to the Lightner, as a fundraiser for the city's historic preservation efforts. It seldom turned a profit but was once a weekend celebration of our founder's birthday, complete with afternoon festivities in the Plaza, paseo to the bayfront for a Menendez landing reenactment, and evening mix of formal and period-dressed guests in the balconies and reenactors filling the pool floor.
'It started as a small event'
Lightner Museum's Bob Harper recalls, "It started as a small event at Government House and then it was held at the Lightner. This was sometime in the 80s. It was the creation of the Department of Heritage Tourism when Dr. (Bill) Adams was director. Nella Holton was employed to produce this event and other fundraising efforts for the department.
"The Noche was then called the Menendez Ball and was never a Lightner event. The Museum was asked to donate our space by the City. The Museum did not profit in any way until the last time it was held here.
"At some point the City decided that they were no longer interested in holding the Noche. The Casa Monica agreed to sponsor it which was probably lucky so we still had the event for the 450th. The Casa Monica donated $6,000 last year to the Museum.
"Most events of this type have a shelf life of about ten years. It is generally recognized in the non-profit world that without major sponsors to underwrite them, the only people who profit are the caterers."
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St Augustine Police Commander Barry Fox's recent graduation from the FBI National Academy included honors for saving a life.
In the third week of the Quantico, Virginia, program, a classmate collapsed with a heart attack during a fitness training workout on the running track. Fox immediately began CPR, joined by two other classmates to continue CPR efforts until an AED (automated external defibrillator) and Emergency Services were able to respond.
Following successful emergency surgery, the classmate is now recuperating at home with expectations of full recovery.
Commander Fox was credited with saving the man's life by both his classmates and FBI Director James Comey, who personally called to thank him.
Fox attributes his response to the professional training he has received from the St. Augustine Police and Fire departments.
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First blooms of
Campaign 2016
 Two incumbents and one challenger have filed so far for City Commission seats in 2016.
Incumbents Mayor Nancy Shaver and current Vice Mayor Roxanne Horvath have filed, while Abbott Tract resident Sandy Flowers will challenge Horvath as Campaign 2016 opens.
Three local seats go to the polls in November - the other is held by Commissioner Leanna Freeman.
The mayor's term is two years and commissioners four years.
Hankerson joins Trump
St. Augustine Author/Lecturer/Producer Derek Boyd Hankerson says, "As an individual I'm humbled and honored to be recognized for my professional skills" on his appointment as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's Northeast Florida regional director.
He'll work on getting out the black vote in several key counties, including Duval.
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Thoughts on congested city
City officials have begun an in depth study of who's using our roadways and how they might be regulated. Flagler College has announced plans for a parking facility with student housing on Malaga Street. And the city has begun using Francis Field as an overflow parking area on busy weekends.
Veteran member of the Planning and Zoning and other city boards John Valdes offers some thoughts on untangling St. Augustine's traffic snarls in his commentary.
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Slice of Moon a good read
 St. Augustinian J. S. (Jan) Lavallee aces it with her first novel, A Slice of Moon, a story of love, loss and freedom, set in 1760s St. Augustine.
It's a slice of time in the oldest city as diverse cultures interact, the escaped slave searching for her love while eluding her pursuer, and here Lavallee shines with a good mix of dark fear and light humor to weave the adventure.
The author will be book signing at Anastasia Books during First Friday art Walk, and her book is available on Amazon.com.
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Never Fight a Shark in Water
 February is the Month of Civil Justice and Prison Reform Awareness, proclaimed by the City Commission, and Friday, February 12 at 7 pm, Never Fight a Shark in Water: The Wrongful Conviction of Gregory Bright will be presented at the Ringhaver Student Center Virginia Room.
The free event, hosted by Compassionate St. Augustine, is a one-man documentary performed by Gregory Bright and written by Lara Naughton, the remarkable story of Bright's wrongful conviction and exoneration.
He was wrongfully imprisoned in 1975 where he remained for nearly three decades for a murder he did not commit. After teaching himself to read and write while incarcerated, he appealed the verdict and was acquitted.
Bright is a public speaker and actor who has appeared in 12 Years a Slave and American Horror Story. He lives in New Orleans, Louisiana. Learn more about Gregory in this video, produced by Innocence Project New Orleans.
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5 - 9 pm on the first Friday of every month, the Art Galleries of St. Augustine feature new exhibits, refreshments and live music at more than 20 galleries. It's a free, self-guided walking tour (tour maps available at participating galleries), and free Art Walk Trolleys and Trains provided by St. Augustine Sightseeing Trains and Old Town Trolleys. 832-779-2781
School of the 16th Century
9 am - 4 pm Saturday The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park hosts Historic Florida Militia's Men of Menendez teaching a wide array of 16th century life skills. Learn how to fire crossbows, muskets and cannons as well as about clothing, cooking and other domestic tasks. Admission to the 16th century encampment is free. Admission to the park is $15 adults, $14 seniors, $9 children 6 - 12 (local discount available). 904-829-3168 www.fountainofyouthflorida.com
7 pm Saturday at Lewis Auditorium, celebrating their 150th anniversary the Sisters of St. Joseph, in cooperation with WJCT, will present the premiere of the documentary A Legacy of Faith: The Sisters of St Joseph of St Augustine, Florida. It's the story of the role the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine played in the foundation and growth of the Roman Catholic Church in 19th century Florida and Georgia. For sponsorships and tickets visit the website
Mardi Gras Party 6 - 9 pm Saturday at the Pioneer Barn at Fort Menendez on San Marco Avenue, celebrate Mardi Gras with a fun filled evening featuring Crawfish Etouffee, Chicken Andouille Gumbo and King Cake, with live entertainment. $40 per person, benefit for the St. Augustine Easter Celebrations.
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History's Highlight
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The Hurricane Lady
In the Minorcan Room on the second floor of the Father Miguel O'Reilly House Museum on Aviles Street rests the "Hurricane Lady," a 17th century statue from the island of Minorca.
 "The Hurricane Lady" is an unusual statue greatly revered by members of some of the prominent Minorcan families in whose homes it has resided over the past several hundred years.
One of these families proved to be the ancestral family of Steven Vincent Benet. The story is told that the statue was aboard a cargo ship bound for the Port of St. Augustine.
When, during the course of the voyage the ship encountered a fierce hurricane, the Captain and crew feared that all would be lost.
The statue, brought up from the hold, prompted them to pray for their deliverance in these words: "O Blessed Lady, if this storm passes and we arrive safely in port, we will give your statue to be enshrined permanently in a St. Augustine home."
Subsequently, the storm quieted and the cargo ship limped safely into the Port of St. Augustine. As promised in the prayer, the statue was given to a Minorcan family for enshrinement in their home.
"The Hurricane Lady," as she came to be known, was passed down through generations of the original family, ending with its bequeathal to the Sisters of St. Joseph, whose loving care and restoration efforts have enhanced the life of the statue.
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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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