450th commemoration workshop tomorrow

City Heritage Director Dana Ste. Claire, who also serves as 450th Commemoration executive director, announced to Historic City News local reporters that the second of monthly public workshops on planning for St. Augustine’s 450th commemoration will be held tomorrow, Tuesday May 25th at 5:00 p.m. in the Alcazar room at City Hall.

Ste. Claire is expected to note, among other things, the success of the “First America” program completed last Monday as well as plans for a second series again next year.

The workshops were ordered by the City Commission to keep its members and the public up to speed on the planning progress.

A major hurdle is completion of the appointment process of a Federal St. Augustine 450th Commemoration Commission and appropriation of $500,000 annually in support funds.

Bill Leary, a former US Interior Department official, described at the last workshop the rigorous financial disclosure process required before the proposed appointees can be approved. This has served to delay announcement of the new federal commission.