Published by former Mayor George Gardner September 7 2016
The Report is an independent publication serving our community
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Candidate Forum 2016
Three seats on City Commission
 The Neighborhood Council presents the 2016 Candidate Forum for City Commission seats October 6 from 7 - 8:30 pm at the Willie Galimore Center on Riberia Street.
Doors will open at 6:30 to meet the candidates.
John Versaggi will moderate the forum with questions prepared in advance. Send your questions by September 10 to john.versaggi@gmail.com.
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The 451st anniversary of the founding of St. Augustine will be reenacted Saturday September 10 in ceremonies beginning at 10 am at the Mission of Nombre de Dios, based on the eyewitness memoir of Father Francisco López de Mendoza Grajales, chaplain of Menéndez' 1565 fleet.
Florida Living History, Inc., a nonprofit organization "dedicated to informing our state's citizens and visitors about Florida's colonial and territorial past," will reenact Pedro Menendez coming ashore and gathering with his entourage at the mission's rustic altar.
After the reading of a proclamation by St. Augustine Mayor Nancy Shaver, Bishop Felipe Estevez will celebrate the Mass and will deliver the homily.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, Living History reenactors will be available for pictures and interaction with the public.
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Three incumbents face three newcomers in November's city elections.
Mayor Nancy Shaver, completing her first two-year term, is challenged by WFOY Radio Station owner Kris Phillips. Leanna Freeman, a commissioner for eight years, will seek a third term, challenged by North Davis Shores Neighborhood Association President Susan Rathbone. And Roxanne Horvath is completing her first four-year term, and Mount Moriah Pastor Ron Stafford is her challenger.
Meet the candidates, in their own words.
 I wake up humbled each morning by the responsibility you gave to me two years ago. You asked me to preserve and protect our hometown, deliver open government, improve livability and repair crumbling infrastructure. As Mayor, I have challenged our city government to be accountable to you -- to provide real, thoughtful and long term solutions to mobility, storm water, sewers and roads. Progress is being made. I find myself blessed with the flexibility and energy to offer you my full time attention and commitment to move us forward. With your support, working together we will make this special place even better.
St. Augustine residents continue to be asked for more and more, while the strain on city services and infrastructure is becoming more and more driven by out of town visitors who pay little to nothing to help keep up the city. It's time residents get an advocate in City Hall who will stand up for them and start asking those who visit our beautiful city to start pitching in and shouldering some of the burden.
Commission
 As a long-time resident of the City, I look forward to protecting our City's authentic past and working for an improved livable future. I have years of experience in public service, both on the Commission and on the Planning and Zoning Board. As a practicing attorney I offer both a unique perspective and valuable input on issues that are often complex. I have worked to make St. Augustine a better place to live, work and raise a family. I envision our families continuing to enjoy our unique city for generations to come. I hope to have your support in November!  If you want things to change, take action! That is why I am running. Today we are facing the same challenges as eight years ago with no marked improvement. Our infrastructure is failing, yet the current Commission holds to a long-term plan and refuses to make changes or adapt. I want to restore the balance between business and residents and protect our quality of life. We need fair and consistent code enforcement with codes that reflect the times. I wish to put the needs and desires of citizens before my own and do this in a professional and respectful manner.
 As an Architect, I will strive to balance ALL interests of the City, residents, business, institutions, and tourists, and to implement the critical initiatives required to achieve our united vision with creativity and innovation. With over 30 years of practice, including Historic Preservation and State funded grant applications. I will use my insights, training and experience to contribute meaningfully to the improvement of the community. My unique skills of problem solving with creativity, ability to visualize and communicate will help to ensure livable, healthy, sustainable and quality designed environments for future generations.
There comes a time when citizens deserve to be a part of decision making other than when it's time to vote. One issue is the three minute time slot to speak at City Commission meetings. St. Augustine has a wealth of knowledge among its citizens that can be utilized rather than paying large sums of our tax dollars to consultants. I'm running to serve Davis Shores, North City and Lincolnville, and to make West St. Augustine part of our city again. Become serious about the drainage and parking problems that affect our citizens. Our visitors come and go, but we remain. This is about the people!
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First Coast Opera in Orlando benefit concert
First Coast Opera of St. Augustine will join six other opera companies from around the state for "One Voice Orlando - A Celebration in Song," to raise money to support the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando and the non-profit organizations providing initial and ongoing support.
The concert, September 11 at 8 pm in the Walt Disney Theatre at the Dr. Phillips Center, will include the Orlando Ballet.
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City utilities team aids Tallahassee
A city utilities team was sent to Tallahassee last Thursday to help the capital recover from Hurricane  Hermine.
Answering a state-wide assistance alert, the team of five carried two portable bypass pumps, two utility trucks, and a box van complete with tools, materials, and supplies.
More than 100 of Tallahassee's pump stations lost power.
"We are helping people who are in dire need and we have to pay it forward because one day we will be making the same call," said City Manager John Regan.
The call came through FLAWARN, a statewide emergency alert system.
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A weekend for Veterans Day
Veterans Day 2016 will be a weekend November 11-13 planned by the Veterans Council and Military Officers Association, including the traditional parade, a three-day film festival and
God Bless the U.S.A. writer/artist Lee Greenwood in concert.
The Grand Parade
Stepping off at 11 am Friday, the parade will pass along the bayfront, Cathedral Place and Cordova Street.
Featured will be several military bands, JROTC, ROTC, helicopters and a fly over, says Military Officers Chair George Linardos. The Consul Generals of France, Spain and England will attend the parade.
Military Film Festival
Friday through Sunday, November 11-13, the Corazon Theater on Granada Street will be presenting a free series of documentaries featuring the stories of local veterans who have served our country.
November 11 - 1 pm K9s for Warriors - Unleashing the Underdogs, 1:30 pm Serve & Protect, Stories of Coquina Crossing World War II Veterans, 3:00 pm Prisoners of War, Stolen Freedom
Saturday, November 12 - Noon K9s for Warriors, 2 pm Serve & Protect, 4 pm Korea: Forgotten War, Remembered Heroes, 6 pm Vietnam: Service, Sacrifice & Courage, 7 pm Prisoners of War, Stolen Freedom
Sunday, November 13 - 1 pm Prisoners of War, Stolen Freedom, 1:30 pm Vietnam: Service, Sacrifice & Courage, 2 pm Korea: Forgotten War, Remembered Heroes.
Patriotic Concert
Lee Greenwood in concert at the St. Augustine Amphitheater at 4 pm Sunday, November 13.
This is a fund raiser for local veterans organizations.
Greenwood says of God Bless the USA "I wanted to write something that would unite Americans from coast to coast and to instill pride back in the United States. The song represents my family, my community and those men and women who have paid the price for the freedoms we all love and enjoy."
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History's Highlight
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Jamestown v. St. Augustine
In 2007 Jamestown celebrated its 400th anniversary as "America's 400th Birthday." In 2015 St. Augustine celebrated its 450th anniversary as the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in continental America.
An account from historian Susan Parker
  The young children who stepped ashore as founders of St. Augustine in 1565 were grandparents by the time the English set up shop in Jamestown in 1607. By 1607 St. Augustine's endurance had already been tested several times. In the 42 years between the time that settlers from Spain established our town and the founding of Jamestown, St. Augustine had survived at least two major fires -- one set by the English adventurer Francis Drake in 1586.
The Spanish crown seriously questioned whether St. Augustine was needed to defend the mother country and conducted a lengthy inquiry in our town in 1602. But our town survived this 17th-century version of base closure.
By the time of Jamestown's inception, our town was well on its way to the look it still presents. Florida's Governor Mendez Canzo had formally established the Plaza in 1598 and had selected the site of Government House as his home and office. The plaza is today the oldest public space in the nation.
The Government House lot has been used for government purposes longer than any other site in our nation.
England had tried to settle Roanoke Island in North Carolina in 1584. The disappearance of the Roanoke colony settlers remains an unsolved mystery.
Historians Ralph Davis and Kenneth Andrews claim that King James I (the king of Bible fame) did not want to rile the Spanish by locating a new colony too close to Florida.
Davis in his book, "The Rise of the Atlantic Economies," says that King James ordered that any settlement "keep well clear of the Spanish in Florida." In "Trade, Plunder and Settlement," Andrews writes that James tried to assure the Spanish by explaining his namesake settlement to be a private risk rather than an English crown project.
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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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