Protecting our city’s trees
“We’re not large enough to have an arborist on staff,” Planning
and Building Director David Birchim told the Planning and Zoning
Board (PZB) at its November meeting, but board members kept
alive a plan to protect the canopy of our Tree City with contract
certified arborists.
Birchim explained there’s been concern in using professional
arborists who might also represent developers coming before the
board. Staff arborists from other jurisdictions could be expensive,
and they’re busy with their own areas.
Marquis Lattimer + Halback is a certified arborist and under
contract for city projects, Birchim noted. The landscaping firm is
currently developing a template of replacement trees for preserved
trees that are taken down.
The board decided to let the consultant complete the list, then seek out a certified arborist when second
opinions are sought on tree removal.
The Planning and Zoning Board took over review of tree removal applications more than a decade ago from
the Code Enforcement Board when it was decided the PZB could better negotiate with developers project siting
in an effort to save trees.
The city has been a national Tree City for 35 years.
November 21 2018
Florida recounts - again
A manual recount in St. Johns County
was completed last Saturday – one of
many throughout Florida to decide tight
races for US Senate and Florida
Commissioner of Agriculture.
Pictured are Canvassing Board’s
Elections Supervisor Vicky Oakes and
Attorney Ron Brown while Attorney
Thomas Bell looks on.
Governor Rick Scott edged out
incumbent Senator Bill Nelson and
Democrat Nikki Fried defeated state Rep.
Matt Caldwell for agriculture
commissioner.
The recounts were reminiscent of
Florida’s “hanging chad” recount in the
2000 presidential election between
George W. Bush and Al Gore, ultimately
settled in Bush's favor by a margin of 537
votes when the U.S. Supreme Court
stopped a recount.
Photo: St. Johns Democratic Party
Plans outlined for
Loring monument
The University of
Florida’s Historic St.
Augustine board has
approved in concept
several ideas to offset
opposition to the
monument in the park
behind Governor’s
House honoring
Confederate General William Wing Loring.
Board liaison Ed Poppell and Chair Allen Lastinger
developed the outline, including
• Adding interpretation to the memorial.
• Adding large plaques in the park describing black
military history.
• Naming the park. Poppell said one name that has been
considered is Francisco Menendez, who escaped slavery
and was a key part of efforts to defend Spanish St.
Augustine and Fort Mose.
• Promoting education about black history on a TV in
the Governor’s House and sharing parts of a UF
documentary on St. Augustine history with organizations
such as the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center.
Poppell said completing all of the projects could cost
$75,000 to $100,000. Poppell and Lastinger plan to
return to the board in the spring with details.
Loring served in the armies of the United States, the
Confederacy and Egypt. He grew up in St. Augustine and
joined a militia at 14 years old. His ashes are buried on
the site.
53rd Annual Art
& Craft Festival
The St. Augustine Art Association,
with a host of community volunteers,
will present its 53rd annual Art & Craft
Festival Saturday and Sunday
November 24-25 at Francis Field.
Look for thousands of original works
of fine art from paintings and pottery to
handbags, jewelry, sculpture,
woodworks, glass and other one-of-a-
kind creations.
Live music produced by the Gamble Rogers Folk
Music Festival will be offered, along with cultural
displays, artist demos, food trucks, and beers and
wines.
The two-day event benefits the programs of the St.
Augustine Art Association.
Saturday 10 am-5 pm, Sunday 10 am-4:30 pm.
Admission $2.
Find complete details at
http://www.staaa.org/festival/
Book signings at Historical Society
Dr. Ann Browning Masters and Dr. Tom Graham, two of St. Augustine's premier authors, will hold book
signings at the Oldest House Museum Complex Saturday December 1 from 1 to 3 pm.
Dr. Masters is author of Floridanos, Menorcans, Cattle-Whip Crackers: Poetry of St. Augustine,
published by the Florida Historical Society. Poetry from this collection has been published in anthologies
and journals, recognized at the Florida Folk Festival, and recorded for the Florida State Historical Archives.
In 2015 she was knighted by the St. Augustine Easter Festival for her dedication in promoting St.
Augustine’s Spanish heritage. A St. Augustine native, she is a 12th generation Floridian.
Dr. Tom Graham is professor emeritus of history at Flagler College and author of several books, including
Mr. Flagler’s St. Augustine and Silent Films in St. Augustine.
Light refreshments will be provided. Parking is limited. This event is free and open to the public.
Christmas Parade shaping up
The St. Augustine Christmas Parade returns this year on December 1, the first Saturday in December,
starting at 9 am.
Organizations, businesses, community and school groups that would like to participate in the parade, and
anyone interested in volunteering to help at the parade, contact Linda Abbott at 904.824.4997.
History’s highlight
The REAL first Thanksgiving
From the Florida Humanities Council
Does history depend on who writes it? We honor the Pilgrims on Thanksgiving. But Florida historians say
that America’s REAL first feast took place more than a half century before—and was a whole different story
(with different food).
On September 8, 1565, Spanish Admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés landed in St. Augustine with 500
soldiers, 200 sailors, and 100 civilian farmers and craftsmen, some with wives and children.
After claiming La Florida on behalf of Spanish monarch
Philip II, Menéndez and his entourage celebrated a Mass
of Thanksgiving for the expedition’s safe arrival and then
shared a meal with the native Indians.
These stand as the first documented Thanksgiving
events in a permanent settlement anywhere in North
America north of Mexico, said Michael Gannon, an
eminent Florida historian who holds the title of
Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of History at
the University of Florida.
Gannon, who died in 2017, spent nearly 60 years
keeping St. Augustine in the national spotlight as the
United States of America’s first permanent settlement of
European origins.
Gannon’s research indicates that the REAL first Thanksgiving meal probably consisted of “cocido,” a stew
of garbanzo beans, salted pork, and garlic, accompanied by hard sea biscuits and red wine.
If the native Indians contributed food to the meal, they might have brought protein sources such as deer,
gopher tortoise, shark, drum, mullet, and sea catfish, and vegetables such as maize (corn), beans, squash,
nuts, fruits, and miscellaneous greens.
Gannon’s findings are based on documents from the Menéndez expedition and research by archaeologists.
But despite such irrefutable evidence, Gannon said it would be difficult to change American lore about this
traditional holiday.
“It is very difficult to get the powered-wig states north of Florida to recognize St. Augustine’s priority
among American cities,” he said. “Even historians and journalists, particularly those of an Anglo-American
bent, seem reluctant to accord any special stature to that dark-haired community, which was set in place one
year following the death of Michelangelo and the birth of William Shakespeare.”
Gannon also noted that by the time the British colonies Jamestown and Plymouth were founded, “St.
Augustine, Florida, was up for urban renewal. It was a city with fort, church, market, college seminary, six-
bed hospital, and 120 shops and homes.”
So, as we begin this season’s preparations for a Thanksgiving feast of turkey, dressing, gravy, cranberry
sauce, vegetables, breads and, of course, pumpkin pie—don’t forget the garbanzo beans!
Image: remnantnewspaper.com
A weekend of history
Candlelight tours, artillery, colonial procession
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument will host special evening tours on Friday, November 30,
commemorating the Siege of 1740.
British General James Oglethorpe had laid siege and was poised to run the Spanish from the city. Citizens
clung to the hope that the Spanish forces would strike a blow from the Castillo that would send the English
invaders away. A desperate plan was conceived to attack the British occupiers of Fort Mose.
In partnership with the St. Augustine Garrison, staff and volunteers in 18th century period clothing will tell
the stories of St. Augustine on the brink of its destiny.
Visitors will experience the evening before the Fort Mose counterattack, and learn about life in the town
during the siege under cannon fire from the British on Anastasia Island.
Six 45-minute candlelit living history tours will depart from the ticket both at 6:45, 7, 7:15, 7:30, 7:45, and
8 pm. Nonrefundable tickets are available $10 per adult, $5 per child 5 to 15, and children under 5 free.
Colonial Night Watch procession
On Saturday December 1, the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument will be commemorating the
18th Century with a timeline of the Castillo’s Colonial military history 9:30 am - 4:30 pm.
Both Spanish & British periods will be represented in musket and artillery demonstrations and
presentations of the Castillo’s 18th Century. These special events are in coordination with the St. Augustine
Garrison and included with $15 General admission.
Look for Naval artillery demonstrations on the Castillo Gun deck at 10:30 and 11:30 am and 1:30, 2:30 and
3:30 pm. Musket and field artillery demonstrations take place on the Castillo’s outside glacis at 11 am and 1
and 4 pm.
A special cannon firing at 7 pm will signal the beginning of the Grand Illumination. Re-enactors from
various time periods will march together from the Castillo along St. George Street to the Governor’s House.
