Helping hands for Dorian’s victims
Among Hurricane Dorian’s Bahamian victims a family of six, the Garry
family, endured 36 hours outside their destroyed home as Dorian packed 185
mph winds with 220 gusts.
They lost their home, church, seven family members, friends, and all
belongings. At the request of a fellow pilot, St. Augustine resident Stephen
Sipprell flew his plane to the Bahamas to bring the family to the United States.
Stephen and his wife Holly welcomed them to make a new household of
eleven.
With help from the community the Sipprells are assisting the Garrys in literacy,
activities, housing near their established support system, transportation, and
from dependency to empowerment.
The family was admitted legally into the United States on a 1-94 temporary status. Because they are not
supposed to legally work in the United States, they are reliant on donations during their stay.
To date, $8,000 has been raised toward a $50,000 budget for housing and basic expenses. An account
overseen by the Sipprells has been established. Checks can be made payable to "John or Monique Garry" at
4369 Palm Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084.
November 9 2019
Commissioners to be
honored for service
Commissioners Roxanne Horvath and
Nancy Sikes‐Kline will be recognized
at Tuesday’s City Commission meeting
with 20‐years of service awards from
the Florida League of Cities.
Membership Services Manager Mark
Raymond Sittig will make the
presentation.
“On behalf Of the Florida League of
Cities, I want to congratulate you on
earning a John Land Years of Service
award for twenty years of service to the
City of St. Augustine,” League
President Leo Longworth wrote ro each
commissioner. “You should be very
proud of this.”
Photo of Horvath (left) and Sikes-
Kline at September 2018 dedication of
a pedestrian extension connecting the
new southern seawall with the Bridge
of Lions, originally proposed by
Horvath.
History’s Highlight
75 years ago - D-Day
Monday’s Veterans Day ceremonies at Anastasia Baptist Church will commemorate the greatest
operation of World War Two, the invasion of Normandy. This is an account from Wikipedia.
The Normandy landings were landing operations on Tuesday, 6 June 1944 of the Allied invasion of
Normandy in Operation Overlord during World War II.
Codenamed Operation Neptune and often referred to as D-
Day, it was the largest seaborne invasion in history. The
operation began the liberation of German-occupied France
(and later western Europe) and laid the foundations of the
Allied victory on the Western Front.
Planning for the operation began in 1943. In the months
leading up to the invasion, the Allies conducted a substantial
military deception, codenamed Operation Bodyguard, to
mislead the Germans as to the date and location of the main
Allied landings.
The weather on D-Day was far from ideal, and the operation
had to be delayed 24 hours; a further postponement would
have meant a delay of at least two weeks, as the invasion
planners had requirements for the phase of the moon, the tides, and the time of day that meant only a few
days each month were deemed suitable.
Adolf Hitler placed German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel in command of German forces and of
developing fortifications along the Atlantic Wall in anticipation of an Allied invasion.
The amphibious landings were preceded by extensive aerial and naval bombardment and an airborne
assault—the landing of 24,000 American, British, and Canadian airborne troops shortly after midnight.
Allied infantry and armoured divisions began landing on the coast of France at 06:30.
The target 50-mile (80 km) stretch of the Normandy coast was divided into five sectors: Utah, Omaha,
Gold, Juno, and Sword.
Strong winds blew the landing craft east of their intended positions, particularly at Utah and Omaha. The
men landed under heavy fire from gun emplacements overlooking the beaches, and the shore was mined and
covered with obstacles such as wooden stakes, metal tripods, and barbed wire, making the work of the
beach-clearing teams difficult and dangerous.
Casualties were heaviest at Omaha, with its high cliffs. At Gold, Juno, and Sword, several fortified towns
were cleared in house-to-house fighting, and two major gun emplacements at Gold were disabled using
specialised tanks.
The Allies failed to achieve any of their goals on the first day. Carentan, St. Lô and Bayeux remained in
German hands, and Caen, a major objective, was not captured until 21 July.
Only two of the beaches (Juno and Gold) were linked on the first day, and all five beachheads were not
connected until 12 June; however, the operation gained a foothold that the Allies gradually expanded over
the coming months.
German casualties on D-Day have been estimated at 4,000 to 9,000 men. Allied casualties were
documented for at least 10,000, with 4,414 confirmed dead.
Museums, memorials, and war cemeteries in the area now host many visitors each year.
Photo - A U.S. Coast Guard LCVP (Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel) disembarks troops of
Company E, 16th Infantry, 1st Infantry Division (the Big Red One) onto Omaha Beach on the morning
of June 6, 1944. During the initial landing two-thirds of Company E became casualties.
$700,000 sought to continue
West Augustine connections
Running on the “resounding success” of a mini-grant
program in the area of Duval and South St. Johns Streets,
newly appointed Public Works Director Reuben Franklin
will ask city commissioners Monday to approve
$700,000 “to further the mini‐grant program for sewer
connections in West Augustine.”
Franklin says $250,000 a year set aside for West
Augustine utilities has accumulated to “slightly over $1
million.” The West Augustine area is outside of city
limits, but inside the city's Utility Service Area for water
and sewer.
The current program “has been a resounding success story, as evidenced by the community’s support of the
program and the visual improvements to the neighborhood,” Franklin says. “We are actively improving
people's daily lives through this project.
“One side benefit - we believe the success of the mini-grant program has spurred two rounds of additional
funding from the State legislature to install new sewer mains and connect even more residents in West
Augustine.”
$96,000 sought for shortfall
Franklin will also ask for $96,000 from the West Augustine sewer set-aside fund to cover a difference of
$95,357 between a State grant amount and the projected cost of the West Second Street sewer expansion and
connections project.
River to Sea Loop trail approval, funding sought
Public Works Director Reuben Franklin will ask city
commissioners Tuesday to adopt a resolution supporting
a proposed alignment and complimentary route of the St.
Johns River to Sea Loop, authorize a trail maintenance
agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation
and apply for available dedicated shared use facility
funds for design and construction of the proposed trail.
“In 2017, the Board of County Commissioners entered
into a grant agreement with the Florida Department of
Transportation (FDOT) to participate in a planning study
to complete the St. Johns River to Sea Loop Trail in the
county,” Franklin says.
“The goal of the study was to evaluate existing conditions and determine the best route to complete the
northern portion of the. overall loop which spans multiple counties.
“A preferred alignment and complimentary route for the loop has been selected through this planning
process and City staff will seek approval of the City Commission.”
Four end city careers
City hall is saying farewell to four who have served a
combined total of 108 years.
Sharon Langford - Visitor Services Manager, began
with the city November 13,1989 and retires November 15
after 30 years of service.
Jolinda LeVeck, Administrative Coordinator for the St.
Augustine Fire Department, joined the city November 29,
1989 and signs out November 29, also with 30 years of
service.
Tim Burchfield, Assistant City Manager, joined the
city May 23, 1990 and retired October 14 with 29 years
of service.
Paul Williamson, Public Affairs Director, joined the
city August 3, 2000 and retires November 15 after 19
years of service.
Comprehensive Plan update
faces public hearing Tuesday
After two years of study including 19 workshops and
public hearings, a proposed update of the city’s
Comprehensive Plan goes to the City Commission
Tuesday for first reading and public hearing.
Planning and Building Deputy Director Amy Skinner
says, “This Comprehensive Plan is updated to project to
the year 2040. The proposed language in the Goals,
Objectives and Policies is a compilation of public input
and feedback and working with other City departments.”
After second reading and final commission approval
state agencies will have 60 days to review the submittal
and provide comments to the City.
“The actual adoption and any response to agency
comments is expected after January 2020.” Skinner says.
Commissioners to look at
mayoral election process
An ordinance to place the question of mayoral
election process on the March 2020 Presidential
Preference Election ballot goes to commissioners
Tuesday for consideration.
Commissioners split 3-2 at their last meeting on
whether to consider a referendum for voters to decide
on mayor’s election by popular vote or appointment by
fellow commissioners. Mayor Tracy Upchurch and
Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline voted against
changing the current popular vote method.
Upchurch said at the time this first reading would
give residents more time to make comments to
commissioners.
In the Mail
Phil Genovar was a local Nascar pioneer. He
operated a racetrack where the Chili's is now
located. His family's ancestral land holdings
essentially ran from Gonzales Creek to the
University of St. Augustine and westward.
Former City Attorney Ron Brown
Inaugural Collectors Forum at Lightner Museum
If you are a collector, fascinated by the art of collecting or modestly intrigued by
the possibility of starting your collection, you’re invited to Lightner Museum’s
inaugural Collectors Forum November 14 from 6 - 8:30 pm.
Three prominent collectors will share their adventures as they built their
individual art collections and offer insights on how to expand your collecting
passion.
The Collectors Forum will be followed by a tasteful wine pairing reception and
an exclusive look at newly designed exhibition areas.
Reservations required. Tickets $15 for Lightner Museum members and $25 for
non-members.
Visit the website.
