Former mayor picks top ten news items for 2013

In his periodic newsletter, The St Augustine Report, George Gardner offers his perspective on items of interest to city residents, as well as reporting and commenting on meetings of the city commission; where he served for six years from 2002-2008.

In this New Year’s Eve edition, Gardner has selected his “top ten” picks of news items covered during the past twelve months.

Former Mayor Gardner’s Top Ten Stories of 2013:

•Mumford concert
•Colonial Quarter opens
•Riberia Street reopens
•Spanish El Galeón visits
•7-Eleven plan resurfaces
•Commissioner Leary resigns
•$16 million West Augustine sewer plan
•Riberia Pointe development plan
•Deaths of George McClure, ‘Ty’ Tiberio
•Hotel Ponce 125th anniversary

Gardner provides an on-line archive of the past year’s newsletters where more information is available, as well as additional news of the day.  To review the 2013 St Augustine Report issues, follow these links:

• St. Augustine Report December 11 2013
• muskets blaze / Spaniards prepare for 2014 anniversaries here / Fire Department rating climbs / The historic Spanish Christmas Tree / In Spain, bonfires for Christmas
• St. Augustine Report December 7 2013
• Spanish ships to arrive / Shop local, suggests city Purchasing Department / Streetscape cost increase / Ordinance to extend Nights of Lights / Darkness of Decembers past
• St. Augustine Report December 4 2013
• Easter committee Votes for Sunday Parade for 2014 / Saturday opens Christmas with parades / Stanley Paris voyage begins / Changing city scene / Bedtime Stories gift idea / Frances Kirby Smith
• St. Augustine Report November 22 2013
• Hesitant nod for port heritage area / Cleanup, management plan for Little Beach / 450-foot cake for 450th? / Steering committee for vision / Getting along – commissions meet / Giving thanks, 1777
• St. Augustine Report November 17 2013
• Little Beach neighborhood issue / Nation’s Oldest PORT City heritage area / Certified arborist for city / Hearings on streetscape assessment / Lighthouse – St. Augustine’s beacon
• St. Augustine Report November 13 2013
• Plan board tackling the tough city issues / 100 Years of shrimping in new book / Historic home demolition sought /Indians ‘seem a Noble Race’
• St. Augustine Report November 6 2013
• City Vision project begins / First America series returns / New World exhibit at Visitor Center / Pirate Gathering / The Pirates
• St. Augustine Report October 30 2013
• Four event fees waived / Commission okays Carriage drinking / Tolomato Cemetery
• St. Augustine Report October 26 2013
• $2 million campaign to renovate Legion Hall / 3 sites apply for National Register / Time capsule for 2065 / Fee waivers sought for events / The siege of 1702
• St. Augustine Report October 23 2013
• Renee Morris resigns from St. Francis House / Maritime Heritage Festival / First Colony exhibit opens / Letters: City projects and vision; The ‘History Bundle’ / The other Menendez
• St. Augustine Report October 16 2013
• $240,650 seawall, multiuse area in planning for marina / Commission to help UF historic sites / $125,000 approved for streetscape planning / Postage stamp for 450th? / Event hall, mural win commission approval / Little visible support for history here / The Delaney Murder Case
• St. Augustine Report October 12 2013
• ‘Ballroom,’ mural, carriage drinking in public hearings / Property owners ante up for streetscape plan / Benefactor Tiberio dies / UF seeks city promotion / Adelaide Sanchez Endowment Award / Dias de la Raza
• St. Augustine Report October 9 2013
• $2.7 million streetscape plan seeks ‘hybrid’ funding / $44,300 to volunteers for Mumford concert / Building mural here reflects national trend / History, diversity highlight Columbus Day weekend 2013 / The autumn of Osceola’s life
• St. Augustine Report September 18 2013
• Mumfords’ historic visit / Jakes honoree at Book Festival / Problem with events atop garage / Pedro Menendez death
• St. Augustine Report September 11 2013
• wine in horse carriages / Nonprofit, business and public park for Riberia / Antenna, events venue on HARB agenda / ‘… now was the time to attack it’
• St. Augustine Report September 7 2013
• Children’s Museum at city’s Riberia Pointe? / Fresh Starts in Culinary Arts / Garage rooftop as event venue / Founding in Menendez’ words
• St. Augustine Report September 4 2013
• City seeks 7-Eleven plan action, FSDB trustees voice opposition / Antenna ‘would adversely impact’ historic landmark / Civil rights movement digitized / Spanish Bakery reopening / 1st order of business – the French
• St. Augustine Report August 28 2013
• West Augustine leaders Hail $16 million sewer plan / Paint it brick, call it sidewalk / Parking under Francis Field? / Priest’s account of founding
• St. Augustine Report August 24 2013
• Oldest city going high tech / Picasso ‘not about money’ / Next exhibit $240,000 ‘Journey’ / City doing more with grants / Limelight Opens 22nd season / Voyage to a founding
• St. Augustine Report August 21 2013
• City budget climbing back / Why Francis Field for Mumford? / City home port for El Galeón / Asiento for Menendez’ epic voyage
• St. Augustine Report August 14 2013
• Segways, restaurants are latest traffic woes / Looking for escape from 7-Eleven plan / Visioning St. Augustine / Before St. Augustine – de Luna at Pensacola
• St. Augustine Report August 10 2013
• 7-Eleven park idea draws financial pledges / Letter: The backbone of our town is our history / Sewer line help for West Augustine / Ponce fountain search not likely
• St. Augustine Report August 7 2013
• County distances itself from Mumford concert / Riberia Street reopening / A 7-eleven site park? / African American Futurist plans Mose weekend / Menendez’ enslavement plan
• St. Augustine Report July 31 2013
• $417,838 breakout on Mumford expenses / How other stopovers are handling Mumford / Picasso bulls running in red as exhibit ends / Comment – Helpless in St. Augustine / Varela ‘taught us how to think’
• St. Augustine Report July 24 2013
• City Commission OKS $417,000 reserve funds for Mumford expenses / Mumford contract detail / ‘T’ for terrifying 7-Eleven intersection / Comment – Small city, big britches / The Three Mrs. Flaglers
• St. Augustine Report July 20 2013
• City needs $50,000 for county ‘expertise’ for Mumford concert / Spanish Bakery closing / Neighbors grill 7-Eleven developers / Ballad for St. Augustine / The fire of 1895
• St. Augustine Report July 17 2013
• Historic streetscape under study / VIC parking facility paying its way / Bed tax grant results / First anthem written here
• St. Augustine Special Report 7-Eleven July 13 2013
• 7-Eleven plan resurfaces
• St. Augustine Report July 10 2013
• George McClure dies / Parking permit program failing / 2003 performer proposal rekindled / Gullible’s Travels in St. Augustine
• St. Augustine Report July 6 2013
• Traffic wars for city, residents / El Galeón
  extends stay / Precision in Spanish colonial town plans
• St. Augustine Report July 3 2013
• More parking garages in study / Bed tax requests / Oglethorpe cannons and Buffalo Soldiers / Radio stations go FM / The Battle of Bloody Marsh
• St. Augustine Report June 26 2013
• Commission room security begins / Bridge underlighting / Bank lobby as reception hall? / Oglethorpe’s siege of 1740
• St. Augustine Report June 22 2013
• Home port for El Galeón? / Plan to underlight the Bridge of Lions / Lincolnville timeline display proposed / Alcohol, vendors in public hearings / Paddler Justin Riney arriving / Grant sought for lost ships search / The Lost Fleet of Jean Ribault
• St. Augustine Report June 19 2013
• Mumford a test for sustainable tourism / Bloody Mose returns Saturday / Artillery moving in to British siege site / Battle of Bloody Mose
• St. Augustine Report June 12 2013
• $250,000-$392,000 for mini golf ‘multi-purpose park’ / Compromise on disputed alley? / Commission gives cautious nod to non-profit for 450th / Alcohol, vendor ordinances advance / Aggressive grant-seeking for city / Mission sets 1st Mass marker / Searle’s raid aftermath
• St. Augustine Report June 8 2013
• Help for North City waterworks building / Hypolita businesses seek vendor ban / Commission agenda – 450 nonprofit, alleys and alcohol ordinances / One way streets to connectivity / Spy a motive for Searle’s raid?
• St. Augustine Report June 5 2013
• $2.7 million Mumford concert promises $25,000 for city / Galeón cost covered / Jags contribute to pool / Comment: Small town going big / Survival a tribute to Spanish endurance
• St. Augustine Report May 29 2013
• Oak trees removed for Mumford concert / Ceremony for arrested rabbis / Memorial Day 2013 / Menendez’ galleon among 1st
• St. Augustine Report May 22 2013
• El Galeón in port / Memorial Day events open summer season / Ship launching at Fort Menendez / Gullah Geechee Corridor thank you / War – ‘for the right reasons’ / St. Augustine carnival 1847
• St. Augustine Report May 15 2013
• Commission to revise agenda for public input / Whetstone fence, Island alley, bank lobby plans and vendors discussed / ‘Flexible’ PUD adopted / city-county team gearing up for Mumford / Wayfinding 1,650 historic places here / Nolan discusses A 450th worth celebrating / Maritime Foundation lists events / Montiano and Matanzas challenges
• St. Augustine Report May 11 2013
• Proposal OKs vendors’ current location – with regulations / Ordinance change would
  allow ‘Faneuil Hall’ plan / Commuter rail plan still alive / 450 Mosaic spread across county / Magical world of the Timucua
• St. Augustine Report May 8 2013
• Romanza Festivale opens / Whetstones battle city, state along bayfront / Antique Roadshow for A1A /
  mailbag – Parking challenges, Mini golf site / World of the Timucua
• St. Augustine Report May 1 2013
• Parking challenges – Survey and strict enforcement / Cemeteries cleanup / Cedars on chopping block / Galimore pool nears opening / St. Cyprian’s – storefront to landmark
• St. Augustine Special Report April 26 2013
• St. Augustine 400 – Memorabilia captures spirit of 1965 anniversary
• St. Augustine Report April 24 2013
• Faneuil Hall? Plans aired for vacated bank lobby / Commission OKs security plan / Planned Unit Development ordinance moves to hearing / King Street improvement plans expand / Commission rejects M&M bid / Building codes circa 1573
• St. Augustine Report April 20 2013
• M&M Market offer / Debate continues on mini golf site, PUD ordinance, vendors, horse corral / Herbie Wiles to get La Florida Award / Bond savings to go to parking facility, historic area streets / Mailbag: comments on Historic treasure or tourist town, reluctant activist, Romanza / Harriet Beecher Stowe in St, Augustine
• St. Augustine Report April 17 2013
• Spanish galleon to visit / ‘Reluctant activist’ got Picasso figures / Romanza Festivale is
  St. Augustine’s Spoleto / Edit: National historic treasure or best little tourist town? / El Galeón vs reluctant inlet
• St. Augustine Report April 10 2013
• two tour companies vie for mini golf site / Lincolnville CRA approved / PUD ordinance gets more tweaking / Ponce Fiesta, Spanish Muster Parade celebrate history / Wax Museum moving to Old Drug Store / Ponce as tragic figure
• St. Augustine Report April 6 2013
• City to appeal Wendler case to Supreme Court / Rhythm & Ribs / Stormwater study targets coquina, debris and runoff / Fiestas few and far between in 1700s
• St. Augustine Report April 3 2013
• Archaeologists oppose Citizen Archaeology Permit program / Fiesta commemorates Ponce / Wendler/City duel continues / Committee plans beautification / Ponce de Leon myth, landing and discoveries
• St. Augustine Report March 27 2013
• Alcazar tops state grant list / City tackles CRA, PUD / The Tiny Old City video / New pool 5 lanes big / Black Raven pirates seek reality show / Giving back in St. Augustine Beach / March 27, 1513 Florida sighted
• St. Augustine Report March 23 2013
• Ordinance would relocate vendors north of garage / Lincolnville CRA goes to commission / PUD revisions on city agenda / YMCA to present Galimore pool plan / Fodor’s Travel Blog ranks St. Augustine among the “10 Best Small Towns in America” / Menendez’ strategic genius
• St. Augustine Report March 20 2013
• A week of Ponce celebrations / Foot Soldiers monument video / Flags on Bridge of Lions urged / Chalk walk, muster, blessing of fleet on weekend / McDaniel closings carriage business / 1912 Ponce Celebration editorial
• St. Augustine Report March 13 2013
• Cannons and plaques / Commissioner Crichlow has unfinished business / Making a monument / Colonial Quarter opens Saturday / Bridge of Lions flags petitioned / Mayor on 450th / St. Augustine’s building block
• St. Augustine Report March 9 2013
• Braille for monuments / Broadband radio upgrade / County goes roundabout / Extreme Makeover’s Ty praises Enactus project / St. Augustine’s Menorcans
• St. Augustine Report March 6 2013
• Two cultures, one weekend / AAA finds Ponce Going (many) Places / Wanted!! 450 artists / Inactive committees / Irish St. Augustine?
• St. Augustine Report February 27 2013
• Flagler students plan reusable bags / Llambias House weddings still upset / Ponce de Leon baptism font here April 3 / A cannon for Oglethorpe Park / Five ROWITA honorees / Oglethorpe’s Siege of 1740
• St. Augustine Report February 23 2013
• Flagler students have green idea / Resolutions to be considered for 4-month reserves / Our historic black sites 2
• St. Augustine Report February 20 2013
• Bridge a preservation ‘Success Story’ / Close shave for police, fighting cancer / Workshoip to ‘Synchronize’ 450 / Galimore Center pool is framed in / Fire paintings in refurbished Lightner Museum rooms / Our historic black sites
• St. Augustine Report February 13 2013
• Crash rate ‘below average’ at Anastasia intersection / Commission mulls higher use fee for Visitor Center / Crichlow replaces Leary on commission / Home Again success measured in meals / ‘Modern’ construction 1883
• St. Augustine Report February 9 2013
• City schedules British superstar rock band / City lists rent schedule / FDOT to report on
  fatal intersection / Ten vie for commission seat / Capturing city’s maritime history / PUD, CRA under review / St Augustine in World War II
• St. Augustine Report February 6 2013
• City mobility report – $14 million investment, $76 million return / City’s worst crash sites / High rating backs $22 million refinance / Leary resigns commission seat / Fort Mose featured in Black history Month / The other Menendez
• St. Augustine Report January 30 2013
• 2 named for La Florida Award / ‘Can’t they get it right?’ on transient vending / Bulletproof shield for commissioners? / Visitor Center overhaul for exhibits / Women of St. Augustine
• St. Augustine Report January 26 2013
• $22 million bond refinance / Galimore pool work begins / Sorting out entry corridor review / CRA – from blight to bright / Women of St. Augustine
• St. Augustine Report January 23 2013
• Red water attack – City schedules water line replacement / Archaeology first, then dig / Picasso exhibit opens February 1 / St. Augustine in the Civil War – At Final Rest
• St. Augustine Report January 19 2013
• Two award nominations, one slot / Total vending ban? / Redefining Corridor Review Committee / PUD wants public input / ‘Truing up’ 450, visioning mini golf / St. Augustine in the Civil War – The houses
• St. Augustine Report January 12 2013
• Commission to get PUD analysis / City seeks study of fatal intersection / Adding, amending awards / City introduces coral growing idea / St. Augustine in the Civil War – The public spaces
• St. Augustine Report January 9 2013
• 450th focus now on infrastructure for 500th / Garage revenue falls short of goal / Ponce’s 125th trumps 500th / Legacy of Henry Flagler
• St. Augustine Report January 2 2013
• Landmark sites get new life / Guidelines work for entry corridors / City plans garage rate increase / Early colony ‘degenerated into chaos’