Aug-Sept 2015
St. Augustine’s 450th Birthday Celebration
by OCL Staff
The celebration has certainly come a long way from its humble beginnings as ideas jotted on a napkin at Barnacle Bills. TDC Chairman Glenn Hastings, Dana Ste. Claire, who was working with the Spanish Quarter at the time, and Mayor Joe Boles realized that the 450th anniversary was approaching, at that time still years away but nevertheless, approaching. Plans had to be made because, like we said, something this important, this big, needed to be “commemorated” properly.
Fast forward to today. We’ve been at it for awhile — since 2012 to be exact. It was decided there would be a “slow” build to September: each year leading up to 2015 would celebrate a different aspect of our heritage. 2012 it was the 200th Anniversary of the Spanish Constitution; 2013 — the Viva Florida! 500th anniversary of Ponce de Leon’s discovery of La Florida; 2014 — the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the Civil Rights Act and our rich African American heritage. Each year brought a wealth of events from educational to entertaining to cultural and more, which tied into that year’s theme. The past few years, St. Augustine has been treated to more outstanding lecturers, performing artists, exhibits…you name it — all in the name of celebrating our wonderful, unique, diverse and dynamic city.
August 2016
Natural Wonders
Photos by John Moran
Turquoise blue waters so clear you can see all the way to the bottom without a mask; white sugar sand and flowing green water plants providing a perfect backdrop for colorful fish, turtles and manatees; people of all ages frolicking in the invigorating, 72 degree (year-round) fresh waters; world-class diving, in caverns and caves well below the surface of the earth; breathtaking beauty which many call the “Real” Florida.
If you don’t know what we’re talking about, you should. If you do, well, then you know that these are only a fraction of what the natural springs of our great state has to offer.
For us “coastal dwellers,” enjoying a day on the water almost always means grabbing the sunscreen and heading down to the beach. There’s no doubt that the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean provides it’s fair share of recreational activities and serene beauty. One thing that often escapes many of us though, is Florida’s “other” water attraction (and no, we’re not talking about Blizzard Beach, Aquatica or any of those other man-made water worlds): its abundance of crystal-clear fresh water springs (more than 900 in all), 19 of which are part of the State Park system, some just a short drive from St. Johns County. Others springs make take a bit longer to get to but are well worth the extra drive.
Don’t be mistaken — it’s not like these wonders have gone unnoticed throughout time. Springs were one of the main reasons for the peninsula’s surge in development in the 1800s. They have inspired writers, artists, and photographers for hundreds of years.
Of Silver Springs, Harriet Beecher Stowe mused ”There is nothing on earth comparable to it.” In her Pulitzer-prize winning novel, “The Yearling” Cross Creek resident, Marjory Kinnan Rawlings referred to Silver Glen Springs as “…a secret and lovely place”…
Holiday 2016
Hurricane Matthew — Before, During, and After
by Ed Toy
Friday morning, hurricane conditions began in St. Augustine, with winds from the northeast at 75 mph, with gusts to 100. The water rose steadily all morning until it was over the top of docks in Salt Run and began to inundate lower lying areas like the entire downtown St. Augustine Bayfront, Davis Shores, the St. Augustine Beach Pier, Crescent Beach and Summer Island. When the storm surge hit in the early afternoon, it was less rising water and more of a river torrent, drowning and overtaking everything in its path.
Boats were ripped from their moorings, docks floated off their pilings and washed up onto what was normally dry land, and entire neighborhoods were inundated with salt water. Several hours later, the water receded, and all that was left were piles of debris, downed trees and branches. You could barely drive through the streets when the storm was over the next morning, but if you had, you would have seen that houses were still standing, and it looked like St. Augustine had been spared the full brunt of Hurricane Matthew.
If you had driven through those same neighborhoods where the storm surge was highest that morning, however, you would have seen the real story. Entire lives uprooted as belongings were being thrown out on the street corner, waiting to be taken to the dump. Drywall, kitchen cabinets and appliances lined the sides of the street in enormous piles as people raced to dry out the inside of walls before black mold sat in.
May 2017
A Reason to Stay In
by Bill Kenyon and Brian Hornung
It’s easy to default to thinking about serious fishing as a labor-intensive, time-and-money-consuming process involving prepping and fueling a boat, rigging up a large variety of rods for whatever fish you’re after, motoring to the perfect spot (and if that’s not the one, pulling anchor and searching for the next)…and that’s just half of the battle. Inshore fishing doesn’t usually require as much effort (although you certainly can utilize a boat for an outing close in). Just grab a tackle box, a few rods (watercraft if desired) and go!
What seems to fly under the radar of many people unfamiliar with the sport is that inshore fishing involves considerably less fuss. Just to be clear, inshore fishing generally refers to saltwater fishing in nearshore and tidal backwaters (ex: Intracoastal tributaries).
Low costs, coupled with the ease of accessing the waterways via smaller powerboat, kayak, canoe, SUP or shoreline, make this an ideal option for those just starting out. For more experienced anglers, the lure of being able to cast a line out without having to deal with all the aforementioned trouble and cost is one that’s hard to resist. Add to that the benefit of being surrounded by the area’s spectacular coastal scenery: flora and fauna and a wide array of marine life such as manatees, sea turtles, dolphins and water birds, all of which serve to add to the enjoyment.
March 2017
Down in the Dirt
by Kara Pound photos by Mark Cubbedge
A local businesswoman, entrepreneur, and community supporter takes on a new and unexpected challenge.
Meet Letti Bozard…team co-owner, Revolution Racing. Yes, dirt car racing.
“She’s really popular around the place…” says Jack Spencer, father of Bozard’s team partner, driver Blake Spencer. And when Jack says “place,” he’s not talking about some gala or festival…he’s talking about the race track.
October 2016
The Birth of a Bourbon
by Kara Pound
photos by Mark Cubbedge
The St. Augustine Distillery tries, and succeeds, at doing something that hasn’t been done in Florida for a very long time.
A few years ago, McDaniel and Diaz set out to show the world that Florida could make bourbon of exceptional quality, too. On Friday, September 9th, the community will get the chance to experience the result of that quest. The St. Augustine Distillery will proudly release its Florida Double Cask Bourbon at the distillery’s gift shop on Riberia Street.
May 2017
The Work of a Saint
By Lura Readle Scarpitti photos by Kate Gardiner
A collapsed-lung on a recruting trip; buying into the idea that a first-class college could be built from the rubble of a crumbling resort; the resulting legacy of success and excellence – Dr. William Abare’s story was one that Old City Life absolute had to tell.
“The truth of the matter is, you have doubts. Any rational person… If you came here in 1971 to visit, you pulled into the Keenan parking lot, which was not paved, basically dirt with pot holes, it was crummy. And you’d walk into the building and it had a smell of mildew, because the building had not been maintained. NO library. NO student center. NO gym. NO auditorium. You got the Hotel Ponce de Leon and Markland House, which were not in great condition. That was it. So anybody who came thinking that, optimistically, ‘This is going to make it…’”
Abare pauses as if finishing that sentence is disrespectful to the tireless work, long hours and dedication of people who gave their heart and soul to make this idea of a thriving, successful liberal arts college in the middle of St. Augustine, Flagler, survive… because it did make it. Boy, did it ever make it.
May 2017
Coffee and Caring
by Kara Pound photos by Tammy Harrow
A local coffee shop with a global focus.
The same year, they started selling their roasted Kenyan beans and fresh cups of coffee as Growers Alliance, and became popular at local farmers markets.
“About four years ago, we knew that we wanted to start a coffee shop with a central location near the St. Augustine Amphitheatre, which hosts one of our most successful farmers markets,” Gikunju explains. “We found this old mechanic shop and signed a lease in September of 2014.”
February 2017
Sweet Success
story by Anne C. Heyman
photos by Mark Cubbedge
The motel duties just weren’t enough for Henry’s creative nature. Hearing that one of the drugstores on King Street was making about $250 a month selling ice cream, Henry and Esther launched their own ice cream parlor that same year on Aviles Street. Today it’s known as Tedi’s Ice Cream.
The family empire eventually grew to seven locations in downtown St. Augustine, including a sandwich shop and a chocolate factory on Cordova Street. “There was no chocolate shop in St. Augustine back in those days.”
February 2017
A Walk Through History
story by Chad Light photos by Mark Cubbedge
The freedmen living on lots along what is today Washington Street originally called their settlement Africa, or Little Africa. In that same decade, the northwest corner of modern Lincolnville in the area of the corners of Bridge and Riberia Street was a 5-acre orange grove owned by Abraham Lincoln’s private secretary, John Hay (who later served as Secretary of State under Theodore Roosevelt). This important fact resulted in the entire community coming to be known as Lincolnville by 1878.
and historian to tell us what this historical
neighborhood is all about. What we got was a
personal tour of a rich and diverse section of the
Oldest City.
Over the decades, the settlement was expanded from this northeast area, around present-day Washington, Oneida, Dumas, St. Francis, St. Benedict and DeHaven Streets, and developed the entire peninsula. It was characterized by narrow streets, small lots, and houses built close to the street line, similar to the colonial St. Augustine-style and land-use pattern. This pattern can be seen as we walk the streets south from Bridge Street all the way to Cerro Street on the border of the Willie Galimore Recreation Center.
August 2017
Happy As a Clam?
by Leigh Palmer photos by Brian Miller
With a true farm-to-table mission to supply not only his restaurant, but the entire NorthEast Florida area with the freshest and best clams and oysters around, and the response he’s been getting, Sullivan is optimistic about the future of his operation. But he admits that optimism will only last as long as the emphasis on smart water management remains as intense as it has been in the past. “St. Johns County is one of the best in terms of doing this right. “Look at these things,” he says, dipping a hand in a barrel full of miniature oysters waiting to be put into trays and then taken out to the beds, “…they’re the ‘canaries in our coal mine.’ They’re the indicator of, if the river is healthy or in trouble. And if the river goes, with all that it means to the area, it’s not just my business that goes. We will all suffer the loss.”
January 2017
Changing of the Guard
by Sue Bjorkman
photos by Tucker Joenz
Being a First Responder in St. Augustine requires an uncommon combo of Mayberry in your soul and a big-city state of mind. It’s still a small town, yet it hosts mega-events and welcomes dignitaries from international royalty to presidential candidates to national media. The locals are fiercely loyal to their historic hometown but there are also millions of tourists visiting every year. This path of logistics, vigilance and local love would be hard to navigate if not for solid leadership showing the way.
October 2017
Spirited History
by Anne Heyman
photo by Mark Cubbedge
Who has walked before us in this old town and perhaps still does?
In a community which dates back more than 450 years, it’s only logical to believe, at least a little, in the paranormal.
“No doubt there’s a bunch of ghosts running around this town,” observes veteran businessman Dan Holiday, “but I’ve never seen them.” However, in the 1960s when he rented the north side of the Lightkeeper’s House, two men on two separate occasions during the six years Holiday lived there did experience visitors.
June/July 2017
Waves of Smiles
by Leigh Palmer photos by Tucker Joenz
OCL was there when the very first Surf Quest was held in 2014, and we are so very excited about its success and growth. It has changed the lives of not only the disabled discovering the joys of the ocean but the volunteers who help them as well.
Three events into its 3rd full season, Funcheon says that the effect on the surfers has been profound. “They’re making strides socially through Surf Quest because they have something in common now, with people that aren’t disabled. They don’t have to talk about physical therapy or treatments or whatever. They talk about, and communicate through, their shared love of the ocean. They form bonds with the instructors and the rest of the people who come out on a regular basis. Everyone, both those who are disabled, and those who aren’t, look forward to every event and they share that excitement. The day after the event, the kids here (at the school) start asking ‘When’s the next one?’ It affords them an opportunity that’s not normally available to people with disabilities and they love every minute that they get to feel ‘normal.’”
September 2017
Preserving People
by Marcia Lane
Last year, when the City of St. Augustine conducted a survey as part of their new Historic Preservation Master Plan, nearly 500 people took part. Perhaps the best summation of why people support preservation in the Oldest City came from the person who wrote: “Saint Augustine would be just another Florida beach town if not for its history and architecture.”
This master plan won’t be the first for the city nor the first effort at historic preservation. Back in 1986, a historic preservation element was part of the city’s comprehensive plan. What would make the difference in managing historic resources, it argued, was getting residents to help protect the “historic character and distinct charm” that drew them to the town.
October 2017
Visions of Cuba
Zach Thomas and Alex Diaz
Two photographer friends go to Cuba and come back with some AMAZING images..
There also wasn’t some grand plan to go to Cuba to shoot particular pictures. “Really when we started talking about what we wanted to shoot was really on the cab ride from the airport to Havana. That’s when we were talking about our ideas…”
Diaz breaks in “…what to photograph and what not to photograph. We didn’t want to go too cliche…we wanted to avoid all that as the central subject.”
June/July 2017
The Abare Legacy…
by Leigh Palmer
The story of Dr. Abare’s 40 years at Flagler College was too big to tell in one issue…so OCL split it up into two parts.
The little space which is left for the tale needs to be dedicated to explaining the real legacy of Dr. William Abare Jr.’s and his tremendous impact on Flagler College — his innate ability to connect with each and every student at the school. Say what you will about awards, and top ten lists, and increased endowments; it’s Abare’s true love for the school and the lives of its students that people will remember…
May 2018
“Amp”ing It Up
Story and Photos by Mark Cubbedge
“Over the last couple of years, our reputation has been out of control,” said Ryan Murphy, general manager of the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. “We are one of the major venues when a tour manager is mapping out the plan. They say ‘Let’s talk about the Southeast — we’re going to Atlanta, etc. and when we hit Florida we are going to St. Augustine, Miami and Tampa.’ We are such a small town, yet we are such a major venue.”
What’s notable is, Paisley’s dates that followed the show at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre (capacity 4,000) included the KFC YUM! Center in Louisville, Kentucky (17,500), Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee (18,500) and the Verizon Arena in Little Rock, Arkansas (18,000).
What Paisley’s team and the St. Augustine Amphitheatre staff did was take the time to figure out how to innovate the open-air space and create a fully-immersive concert..” experience.