Mission, neighbors battle
over development plans
A citizen group using social media is circulating a petition “to
stop the Mission development of St. Augustine's Historic Mission
Grounds.
“The SaveStA2020 Team are concerned individuals in the
community,” according to the website Nextdoor. “The Church
plans to build a 3- story parking garage and an amphitheater on
these consecrated grounds. This Pilgrimage site will bring huge
Charter buses further congesting our narrow historic streets.
“The SaveStA2020 Team have created a petition to Bishop Felipe
Estevez, pleading with him to reconsider the application and to
work with the Citizens and Neighbors toward a solution that could work for everyone.
“We hope that bringing all the issues to his attention directly, along with thoughtful consideration of the
neighbors, residents and parishioners impacted, may have some sway with his plans, process and ultimately a
termination of development plans or a significantly reduced development plan for the Mission.
The St. Augustine Diocese is awaiting a change in land use language to open the way for an 800-seat
amphitheater and parking garage which would provide necessary parking for the amphitheater.
The city’s Planning and Zoning Board, which previously deferred action on a language change, will continue
discussion of the matter at a Comprehensive Plan Citizen Board Workshop Thursday, April 25 from 1-4 pm in
the Alcazar Room at City Hall.
Find the Mission Petition here.
April 17 2019
Easter 2019
St. Augustine's Easter Parade, in
its 60th year, is moving from Easter
Sunday afternoon to Saturday
morning, allowing more to
participate, Easter Festival officials
say.
The parade, known as the Parada
de los Caballos y Coches (Parade of
Horses and Carriages) begins at 9
am Saturday, April 20, stepping off
from the Old Jail Museum along
San Marco Avenue and the bayfront
to the Plaza de la Constitución.
The Annual Easter Sunday
Promenade begins at 12:30 pm at
the gazebo of the Plaza de la
Constitución and includes awards in
various traditional Easter dress
categories.
History’s Highlight
The Legend of Marie Sanchez Creek
A reader asked about a story that Maria “was of the manor born and fell in love with a Spanish
soldier - far below her station. Her upset parents had the influence to have her beau transferred to
Havana. Maria was so upset she is said to have hurled herself into the lake that now bears her name
and drowned.”
Historical Society Research Librarian Charles Tingley says Maria Sanchez Lake was a tidal creek
prior to the lake being created by the St. Augustine Improvement Co. by building the dam at South
Street (1894-97). The "Marie Sanchez" (that's the exact spelling) first appears associated with the
creek on the 1737 map of St. Augustine by
Arredondo. The origin of the name is
unknown.”
From an article in the St. Augustine Record
August 23, 1959 by W. W. "Buddy" Wilson,
editor.
There is a legendary tale concerning the
name of St. Augustine's Little Sanchez Creek,
more often now referred to as Maria Sanchez
Lake.
The origin of the name Maria Sanchez Creek
is often thought about, but perhaps the story
of the real naming has never been told.
It is legendary one which seems to persist in
the minds old timers who have heard folktales from their forefathers.
Constance Fennimore Woolsen writing for Harper’s New Monthly Magazine in 1874, after
interviews with long-time native residents, gives credence to the story that there is a legendary Maria
and her fate may have been tragic enough to form the basis for the legend and brought about the
naming of the creek.
The story handed down for generations goes that Maria Sanchez was a beautiful young maiden back
in the early history of this little Spanish town and her favor was sought by many of the young Dons of
the era.
The story continues, however, that Maria's main love was the creek and that she, in an Indian dugout
canoe, spent many days and moonlit nights paddling over its silvery waters which flowed through the
dismal swamp marshes.
As the creek entered the town, however, it meandered through lush orange groves which covered
parts of the city in that day. The creek ran clear up to the Lightner Museum Building area then). The
scent of the orange blossoms added to the loveliness of the scene which the young Maria enjoyed so
well.
The true story of how the creek claimed the life of the pretty young girl has many suppositions, but
an overturned canoe gave mute evidence that Maria was lost in the creek she loved so much.
Could be that the canoe was tilted by a lover to cause a tragic accident, or was Maria swept
overboard by a low hanging branch as some believe, or was she the victim of a disgruntled admirer?
The poem of The Legend of Maria Sanchez will offer some new guesses and may offer much for
criticism, but it is repeated here as it was reportedly translated from the original Spanish in which it
was written.
Earth Day inspires city
recycling event April 26
In observance of Earth Day and in conjunction with its
focus on diverting recyclable items away from the landfill,
the City of St. Augustine Public Works Department is
coordinating a one-day community recycle event.
This year's event will be held at the Solid Waste facility at
the south end of Riberia Street on Friday, April 26 from 9 am
to 1 pm.
While Earth Day is actually April 22, the recycling event is
being held on Friday, April 26 in hopes of being more
convenient for the community.
in response to increasing community requests this year's
event will feature paper shredding.
Download information here.
Quotable
“We really have some unfinished business on race relations in the city,”
St. Augustine Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline saying she now supports moving the city’s
memorial to Confederate soldiers. Sikes-Kline has been attending community conversations
about racial issues at Grace United Methodist Church, which she said have been revealing
and have changed her position on the memorial.
The use of the title “Mayor” to designate the Chair of the City Commission has caused confusion in
the past especially since the Consolidated City of Jacksonville Charter applies the title to the elected
City Manager. The Mayor/City Manager enjoys authority to manage Jacksonville’s city government
while the St. Augustine Mayor/Chair wields the gavel at Commission meetings. The Jacksonville City
Council members elect one of their own to serve as Chair of the Council. Our citizens often see the
Jacksonville Mayor exercising far more authority than is available to the St. Augustine Mayor and
assume such authority resides in the local office.
Former City Attorney Ron Brown
Dread Scott to examine American society
On Thursday April 18 artist Dread Scott will give an Artist’s Talk on his work, which
takes multiple forms and addresses issues such as race, incarceration, war, government
repression and revolution.
His presentation begins at 6 pm in the Virginia Room of the Ringhaver Student
Center.
Using his work as a subject, Scott’s lecture will address the nature of American
society and examine how the past not only conditions the present but resides in the
present in new form.
Scott works in a variety of art forms, including performance, installation, video,
photography, printmaking and painting. No matter the medium he works in, his art
always features a profound social commentary.
In his 2010 performance, Money to Burn, Scott burned $171 on Wall Street and
encouraged others to do the same, highlighting the absurdity of American dependency
on money.
Scott (born Scott Tyler) adopted the name in a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1857
denying Dred Scott his freedom by ruling that negro-slave descendants were not U.S. citizens.
Sheriff offers video links
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office is reaching out to
neighborhood watch groups with new technology that
allows users to share videos and photos captured from
video doorbells.
The program is built on a new Neighbors by Ring app
which shares not only between neighbors but also with law
enforcement and allows users to receive safety alerts as
well.
“It is the hope of the [Sheriff’s Office] that the
community will become Watch Partners with law
enforcement to help prevent crime and solve cases,”
Sheriff’s Office officials say. “Users do not have to have
the Ring doorbell or cameras to use the app; they can
upload any video or photo they have on their mobile
device.”
To explain more about the app and what communities can
expect, the Sheriff’s Office is hosting a series of
informational meetings in the county - the next two April
23 at Turning Point Church 7-8:30 pm and May 1 at
Riverview Club at The Shores 7-8:30 pm.
