October 16 2019
Lady of La Leche
Shrine elevated
The Shrine of Our Lady of La
Leche at Mission Nombre de
Dios, America’s oldest Marian
Shrine, has been elevated to a
National Shrine by the U.S.
Conference of Catholic Bishops
(USCCB).
According to the conference,
the term shrine signifies a
church or other sacred place to
which the faithful make
pilgrimages for a particular
pious reason with the approval
of the local ordinary.
In 1609, the Spanish
established on the grounds of
Mission the Holy Virgin’s first
sanctuary in the United States.
They built a chapel and
dedicated it to Nuestra Señora
de La Leche y Buen Parto.
A statue of the nursing and
watchful mother of Jesus was
placed in the chapel. The Holy
Virgin holds the infant Jesus in
her right arm and offers him her
breast.
On Oct. 11, 2020, as part of the
150th anniversary of the
establishment of the Diocese of
St. Augustine, a canonical
coronation of the statue will
occur, only the fourth Mary
crowned in the United States.
History’s Highlight
National sentiment favored Seminoles
Second of two accounts from Red Patriots: The Story of the Seminoles, written in 1898 by Capt.
Charles HE Coe.
Find complete text of Red Patriots here.
We have said that the leading sentiment of a majority of the American people favored a discontinuance of
the Seminole War and a settlement on the basis of justice to the red men. But it must be remembered that
Florida in general, and to some extent adjoining States, formed an exception to this rule.
General Thomas Jesup was therefore severely censured for
his efforts to terminate the war by allowing the Seminoles to
remain in the Territory. In a long editorial relating to the
correspondence between the General and the Secretary of War
(John C. Calhoun), the leading newspaper in the Territory thus
expresses the sentiments of its readers:
“From the confidence with which General Jesup expresses his
views of the policy to be pursued toward the Indians, we should
suppose he had entirely mistaken the nature of his mission to
Florida. We presume the General Government will feel under
no obligations to him for spending their money in constant
negotiations with the enemy whom he is sent to subdue, whilst
an army of 10,000 men is kept in pay merely to witness his rare talents for diplomacy.
“And we are sure the people of Florida will not thank him for his assiduous efforts to barter away their
lands to their savage enemies .... In whatever light the proposition is received, it is abhorrent to every man
endowed with the common feelings of humanity."
General Jesup’s suggestions were opposed by many on the ground that the national “honor and dignity"
were involved. On this point another journal says: “The people of Florida will not submit to it ... The
national honor and dignity are too deeply concerned for it to listen for one moment to the proposed
arrangement."
It did not seem to occur to these writers that, in truth and justice, the lands occupied by the Seminoles
belonged to them; or that thousands of American citizens in other sections of the country could also claim
“the common feelings of humanity." Clearly, in the opinion of such editors and of many of their readers, the
red man had “no rights which the white man was bound to respect."
Before the war was over, however, the majority of the genuine settlers in the Territory were ready for
peace on any terms.
The expression of General Jesup's views in his recommendations to the Secretary of War, do greater credit
to his head than his heart. He argues on the ground of governmental policy and economy but has nothing to
say of the rights of the Indians as human beings. In all his dealings with these unfortunate people, he seems
to have regarded them as savages, not as fellowmen to whom the Golden Rule applies.
Images: Calhoun (left) and Jesup
Sailing club gift draws overflow
crowd to Commission meeting
Vesting, candidate residency are approved
An offer of waterfront land for a youth sailing program, vesting
rights for the former Santa Maria Restaurant and candidate
residency and mayoral election form dominated Monday’s City
Commission meeting, but it was the youth sailing proposal that
filled the Alcazar Room to overflowing.
With Vice Mayor Leanna Freeman absent, commissioners
approved a gift of land adjacent to the Yacht Club in Lighthouse
Park to be leased to the Yacht Club for its youth sailing program,
approved vesting rights to White’s Wharf LLC for development of a
new restaurant on the Santa Maria site in Matanzas Bay, and
directed preparation of an ordinance requiring a year’s residency to
run for city office.
Commissioners decided to delay action for further discussion and
public input on whether to have public vote or commission appointment of the mayor.
Youth sailing school
One and a half hours and numerous public comments pro and con ended with a 4-0 vote to approve a gift to
the city by Dr. Stanley Paris and his wife of their property adjacent to the Yacht Club, on condition it be leased
to the Yacht Club for its youth sailing program.
Commissioners John Valdes and Nancy Sikes-Kline voiced support, Sikes-Kline noting the program “is for
our residents” and Valdes adding, “There’s a beneficial deed restriction (without which we) could have 35-
foot-tall vacation rental buildings.”
Mayor Tracy Upchurch noted the plan would go through the Planning and Zoning Board and return to
commission for final action.
Vesting Determination
for Santa Maria project
Another hour was consumed as Attorney Mac McLeod
argued for vesting determination on the former Santa Maria
Restaurant for the owner, White’s Wharf LLC.
McLeod assured commissioners, “We’re not trying to get
final approval but determination of vested rights. We still
have to go through the Planning and Zoning Board (with
details of the plan to replace the former restaurant).”
Commissioners hesitated on building height before being
assured the building would remain at 1½ stories, and
seating, which McLeod explained would be expanded with
additional outdoor seating.
Candidate residency
and mayoral vote
With 35 minutes remaining before the recently agreed
adjournment at 9 pm, commissioners tackled candidacy and
mayor vote issues - in 28 minutes.
They agreed to set a requirement of one-year residency to
qualify for city office candidacy, which City Attorney
Isabelle Lopez said, “is maximum courts have allowed for
residency to run for office.”
The question of whether to have public vote or
commission appointment of the mayor brought strong
comments from Commissioner John Valdes, who initially
proposed commission appointment, and Mayor Tracy
Upchurch, who has served through several years of process
change.
Said Valdes, “We have a form of government that elects
five people as commissioners. And somehow we’ve skewed
one of those seats around so that it appears we also have a
strong mayor.
“We either have strong mayor form of government or we
have the form of government we have (manager). Right
now we have both. We’re schizophrenic.”
Responded Upchurch, “The confusion has to do with the
term mayor.
“I have students when you appointed me (to succeed
former Mayor Nancy Shaver) who assumed I was leaving
the college. Does it take any time at all to explain to them?
No; I chair meetings and cut ribbons, and that’s the extent
of the conversation.
“There are some nuances here though. The people have
spoken. They have spoken loudly and clearly. When mayor
(Ramelle) Petroglou was removed (in 1983), it offended the
sensibilities pf the community and the charter revision was
passed. So the people have spoken on this.
“This, in my opinion, is not a road we need to go down.
“It is a non-issue. I am not in favor of putting this on the
ballot.”
Commissioners decided to delay action on the mayor vote
and put the candidate residency requirement referendum on
the primary election ballot in August.
Flood project to protect city core
Basically the city’s designing a protective barrier around part of the city’s core
Public Works Director Mike Cullum
A major project to protect the city’s downtown has advanced through its
first public meeting last week.
the Lake Maria Sanchez Flood Mitigation and Drainage Project would
protect against heavy rains of more than 7 inches in 24 hours, with a
bulkhead to protect against storm surge of up to 7 feet, which was about
the storm surge from Hurricane Matthew.
The project became possible with Federal Emergency Management
Agency dollars made available after Hurricane Matthew for projects that
would help prevent future flood damage.
“Basically the city’s designing a protective barrier around part of the
city’s core,” says Public Works Director Mike Cullum. “The reason we
chose 7 feet is the current elevation of the seawall on the bayfront is 7
feet, and the elevation on the west side of the project along Martin Luther
King Avenue is also 7 feet.”
Assuming the plans are approved by FEMA, Cullum estimated the
project could be done in 2½ years.
One proposed feature is a seawall to line the marsh just south of Lake
Maria Sanchez. The wall would be about 7 feet above sea level and would be designed so people couldn’t
walk on it.
Visit the website.
Theater season opener fit for Halloween
A Classic Theatre’s first show of the 2019-2020 season
is Noel Coward’s paranormal romantic comedy classic
“Blithe Spirit,” the tale of a temperamental writer
haunted literally by the spirit of his first wife,
Blithe Spirit will run at the Lincolnville Museum and
Cultural Center Fridays and Saturdays, October 25-26
and November 1-2 at 7:30 pm. Sunday Matinees on
October 27 and November 3 at 2:30 pm.
For tickets visit
https://www.aclassictheatre.org/tickets . For telephone
reservations call Jan at 904-501-5093.
Pocket park dedicated to Menorcans
A representative of the mayor of Mahon, the capital city of the island of Menorca, was on hand recently to
help dedicate a pocket park to Menorcans at Spanish and Hypolita streets.
Jaume Gomila brought with him a Menorcan flag to be flown at the park. Menorcan and American flags
raised at the ceremony symbolized efforts to renew and strengthen ties between the two sister cities,
officials said.
