SAM = St Augustine Magazine

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Challenge Peter Robertson page 12

Neoteric by Vivienne Mackinder pages 23

Foundation of Strength Linda Bartimus page 41

St Augustine Magazine

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publisher T H E C ON S ERVATO R IE F LO R A L & E VENT DESIGN is a full service wedding and event design studio

specializing in unique flower arrangements, distinctive décor, and custom design concepts.

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editor 6 contributers

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caring 10 challenge 11

adventure 16 fun 18 We cater to people who can appreciate, as we do, all things green and blooming, a perfectly planned wedding concept, visual impact and a good party!

Bringing an always-fresh naturally sophisticated style to St. Augustine and the surrounding areas.

living 20 style 23 flash 30 flash 32 wine 33 dining 34 foodie 36

Everyday local floral deliveries available.

poem 38 flash 40 people 41 conversation 46

St Augustine Magazine The magazine for the Old City way of living.

2 9 9 S A N M A R C O AV E N U E s a i n t au g u st i n e , f lo r i da 3 2 0 8 4 T E L E P H O N E 9 0 4 - 8 2 9 -1 1 2 9 i n f o @ c o n s e r vato r i e d e s i g n . c o m hours: T U E S D AY - S AT U R D AY 1 0 a m to 6 p m 02 StAugustineMagazine.com issue 2\015

staugustinemagazine.com | 904.679.5433 | 904.501.1313 | info@staugustinemagazine.com St Augustine Magazine™ | SAM™ | The magazine for the Old City way of living.™ Mailing Address: St Augustine Magazine | P.O. Box 3484 | Saint Augustine Florida 32085 USA Street Address: 233 West King Street | Saint Augustine Florida 32084 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher.

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I’ve been hearing people use the cliché ‘It is what it is...’ way too often lately. Besides the fact that it is stating a completely obvious fact, it also has a sad resignation to its tone. While there are certainly things in life that are outside of our control, the phrase is used far beyond things that we can’t change. I hear it more often being used by people to describe a situation where they simply don’t want to put forth the effort to improve things.

The people we really enjoy being around are the ones that accept the things that they can’t change but work hard to improve the things that they can. These are people who radiate positivity and are turned to for guidance in our times of need. This edition of St. Augustine Magazine features several people that simply don’t accept ‘it is what it is’ in terms of things they have the power to change.

Peter Robertson decided to empower himself in a healthy way and take on a huge physical challenge all while benefiting children in need. Linda Bartimus has actively worked in our community to help get medical care to those lacking access to it for years. And many among us will help contribute to the ASSIST Program in the coming months by getting much-needed school supplies to students in need.

These are just several examples of people in our own small community that refuse to sit complacently and allow things to pass them by. We could all benefit from remembering that it is our obligation, both personally and as a community, to make positive changes when we can. ‘It is what it is’ just isn’t good enough.

Peace and Blessings, Yvette Monell, Publisher

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PHIL KING photography Photojournalist & Fine Art Prints 904-333-7440

by Zach Seymour

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Letter from the Editor

SUMMERS IN FLORIDA CAN BE A FICKLE MISTRESS: OPPRESSIVE heat tends to mix with travel, freedom and activity to form an amalgamation of excitement, adventure, sunburn and excessive perspiration. I remember one particular late-May afternoon when I was snaking my way north down one of the more intricately cluttered stretches of St. George Street. Annoyed, sweaty and cramped, I felt myself getting exceedingly and irrationally bothered by the lumbering masses. “How dare they clutter my thoroughfare?

This is my home!

As my chosen destination peeked into view, gray coquina glory and all, I realized the Fort and its grounds were even more covered in humanity than the street I had just navigated. I stomped onward in defiance of both heat and common sense. As I climbed the green hill towards the fortress, just as deftly avoiding rolling children as a 17th century soldier may have avoided musket fire, my annoyance reached its crescendo. However, I was determined to enjoy my fort. Interlopers be damned!

Between camera clicks, strollers, selfies and novelty t-shirts, I circled the old stronghold clockwise seeking refuge and a patch of peace. Dissatisfied with my options, I climbed the set of wooden steps and took my search to the seawall. Alas! At the north-easternmost point of the star-shaped battlement was a beautiful corner of respite where I could put my back to the numberless masses and enjoy my view.

Legs dangling, I was able to appreciate Vilano, Anastasia and the teeming inlet without even the slightest turn of the head. As my blood pressure and agitation abated, I began to contemplate just how silly and futile my frustrations had been and how fantastic the view was that I was experiencing.

Clear-headed and slightly embarrassed by my indignation, I realized how vital it is to maintain perspective when living in a city whose lifeblood is rooted in the tourism industry. It is all too easy to become hardened and dismissive towards those who choose to visit our beautiful area. Traffic, both human and vehicular, can be insufferable, restaurants can be impenetrable and trolleys with passengers yelling can be intolerable. However, we must always be mindful to not bite the hand that feeds us and remember that we should take great pride in the fact that people choose to vacation where we make our homes. Just consider all of the people who don’t feel such pride when mentioning where they live.

Sitting on that jagged corner, I was struck by the importance of being able to find a place, as a resident of a tourist town, that you feel is your own.

While it is obviously critical to embrace tourism and the commerce and businesses that thrive from our many visitors, I feel that it is equally important to seek and find places as a local that you personally identify with and are uniquely special in a way that serves as a reminder as to you why you have chosen to live here in the first place. g

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06 StAugustineMagazine.com issue 2\015

contributors

Nate Parks

Creative & Technical Guru

Vanessa Lenoir

Jeanne Maron

Director of Marketing & Advertising Relocated to St Augustine in Sept of 2006. Mother of a beautiful daughter. I’m proud to have been part of the team in building the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine (NICU). Through my career as a NICU nurse, I found a passion for bettering the lives of children. Since leaving Flagler Hospital in 2013, I became involved in volunteer work primarily with the Kiwanis Club of St Augustine, whose goal is to help children of the world starting with those in our own community. Currently the Vice President of the Kiwanis Club & Fundraising chair.

I love living in St Augustine and I plan to share the best of our city. Come with me and SAM on my journey informing everyone about our wonderful city.

904.392.5377 | Vanessa@StAugustineMagazine.com

Leigh Cort

Wine Contributor

Maron has been the owner and operator of The Gifted Cork & Gourmet for the past sixyears. Her 29 years in retail in Jacksonville and St. Augustine have kept her busy, but she never sees a dull moment.

Wine is her passion. Vice President of La Chaine de Rottiseur in Jacksonville (an international wine and food organization out of France), a past President and member of Women Business Owners of North Florida and Children’s Home Society of Florida, and a member of the St. John’s County Chamber, Jacksonville Women’s Network and Leadership Jacksonville, Class of ‘04.

Jeanne has her BS from UF in Journalism, specializing in Public Relations and is married to Howard Caplan.

She has three sons. busyjeanne@aol.com

Life—Style Contributor With a passion for travel, food and celebrities, Cort’s interests take her to barrier islands, chef’’s tables, worldclass resorts and acclaimed historic inns.

Her public relations company, LeighCortPublicity.com, specializes in creative PR campaigns and integrated marketing, as she represents restaurants, historic hotels and bed & breakfast inns, private islands, celeb chefs and specialty foods.

Whether she’s promoting St. Augustine, Eagle Island, GA, Savannah, St. Simons Island, GA, Peachtree City or Spring Lake NJ, there is always a touch of ‘show business’ associated with her clients and projects.

08 StAugustineMagazine.com issue 2\015

Instant human, just add coffee. Nate specializes in fine art and commercial photography as well as graphic design and other multimedia production. noeticcreations@gmail.com

Andrea Rosenblatt Food Contributor

Chef Andrea Rosenblatt has been teaching home cooks culinary fundamentals since 2004. She and her husband, Michael, opened A. Chef’s Cooki n g Studi o i n 2007 whe r e cooki n g classe s f or a ll age s an d ski ll le v e ls ar e o ff e re d by Che f An dre a a nd m an y tale n te d local c h e f s as w e ll!

Information at achefs.com

Misty Begemann Social Media Editor

A Flagler College grad with here BA in Communications in 2010, and Misty graduated from Full Sail University in 2013 with a Masters in New Media Journalism. Not being able to tear herself away from St. Augustine and the magic it holds, she was pulled back to her heaven on earth. She brings with her to SAM, creativity, imagination, and the desire to showcase this city in the grand style it mandates. misty@StAugustineMagazine.com For advertising information 904.392.5377 | Vanessa@StAugustineMagazine.com

Brooks Hastings Write & Poet

A Children’s Book Author, Illustrator, Artist and Designer. Brooks has a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from Florida State University and is currently working on her first publication: a compilation of children’s rhyming stories.

St Augustine Magazine is published 10 times per year Subscriptions are $19 for 10 Issues | Single Issues $9

Kourtney Patterson Contributing Writer Kourtney Patterson is the author of Accidental Sailor, the nonfiction story of her transformation from a homeless young lady to an ocean-crossing cruiser.

For information on retailing St Augustine Magazine in your store please call 904.679.5433 Bulk issue rates for special events are available.

RESTORATION

RENOVATION

Phil King

NEW CONSTRUCTION

Writer & Photographer In the Air Force, Phil did all aspects of photography, including work for the SR-71, the world’s fastest plane. He later taught photography at State University of New York at New Paltz, where he received his degree. There, Frank Zappa nicknamed him “The Real Phil King.” He is a journalist who still enjoys merging hard facts of nature and history with colorful feelings of art. As author of Saint Augustine Carriage Tour he blends St. Augustine’s story with colorful prose, pictures and lively humor. Enjoy his photography and books at Wednesday or Saturday farmers markets, local venues, online booksellers, and on thousands of local walls and coffee tables.

Watch for Phil’s controversial novel, set in St. Augustine, later this year.

CUSTOM HOMES

“Building for the next hundred years”

johnvaldesandassociates.com 904.824.6150 St. Augustine, Florida JOHN VALDES & ASSOCIATES, INC.

Scott S. Smith Photographer

Scott S. Smith has been a professional photographer for over 14 years. He works on projects ranging from corporate advertising to weddings. His project and client list includes Travel & Leisure, Hyatt, Nocatee and Mercedes Benz. This past April, he opened Monarch Studio on West King Street, a full-service photography studio, where he is collaborating with photographers Zach Thomas and David Walters.When not working on photography assignments, Scott enjoys cooking, exercise and being outdoors.

issue 2\015 StAugustineMagazine.com 09

caring

by Ginny Levito

Blessing Bags

It’s that time of year again to start collecting products for the Blessing Bags being gathered for ASSIST (Aid & Support for Students in Sudden Transition), the county program that aids homeless school children. The goal is to make up 150 bags by August.

Last year and the year before, 50 bags were donated. This is a bigger project, but there is more time to do it.

Here is what they need for each bag: (Please be sure items will fit in a gallon size bag - some of the products received last year were so tall that we couldn’t close the bags.)

-Shampoo -Conditioner -Bar Soap -Toothbrush -Toothpaste -Deodorant -Comb -Washcloth

Most of the products can be purchased at the Dollar Store, and Publix sells large size Pepsodent toothpaste for 99¢.

There is a need is for T-shirts, girls and boys underwear and socks. Remember, these are teenagers for the most part, but there are younger children as well.

Underwear, tee shirts and socks MUST be new! Flip-flops would also come in handy. Feminine care products are needed, but they can only accept pads. If you would like to donate underwear, tee shirts, etc., these will be delivered along with the gallon bags filled with the other products.

Chris Stone, Homeless Liaison, said: “We will take whatever anyone would like to provide adult sizes included, but a 50/50 boy to girl split should be fine. The sizes would be traditional small to x-large.”

“I know we all realize how blessed we are, as are our children and grandchildren. These kids are in real need. Please be generous with your contributions and your prayers.” —Ginny Leveto ginnylhd@gmail.com

-Body lotion -Pens/markers -Small note pads -Gallon bags

DONATE NOW! What Can I do?

BECOME AN ANNUAL MEMBER: $1500-Gold, $750-Silver $375-Bronze Donations will help: Sponsor students for summer camp enrichment and after school programs, provide support for college tours, and the purchase of laptops for students entering college.

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BECOME A MENTOR (contact Raymond Randolph at 904.540.1450) SPECIFY THE ASSIST PROGRAM

St. Johns County Education Foundation (ASSIST) Program Contact:

BECOME AN EMPLOYER (contact Joann Johnson at 904.547.7642)

Chris Stone, Homeless Liaison 40 Orange St., St. Augustine, FL 32084 904.547.7587 Christopher.Stone@stjohns.k12.fl.us or ONLINE www.Getonthebusstjohns.org

Financial contributions to SJCSD ASSIST (Aid & Support for Students in Sudden Transition) program may be mailed to:

challenge story by Zach Seymour & photography by Scott S. Smith

‘STEPPING UP’ Peter Robertson

more > issue 2\015 StAugustineMagazine.com 11

challenge

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by Zach Seymour

‘Stepping Up’ to the Challenge

WALKING UP AND DOWN 560 FLIGHTS OF STAIRS would be a monumental undertaking for anybody. To do so at 70 years old would make it quite remarkable, and to do it all with the goal of helping those in need while inspiring those who have forgotten what they are capable of makes it truly special and moving.

Peter Robertson has had a special life, and can obviously still move, because this is exactly what he accomplished at the Anastasia Island Lighthouse on May 19, the day of his 70th birthday.

At an age where some feel fortunate to be alive and luckier still if they can maintain an active lifestyle, Peter shattered the previous record for flights up the spiral staircase by completing the climb 40 times. The previous 1-day record was 28 times up and down. Peter’s motivation to climb was selfless for such an individual undertaking; he climbed in order to benefit a Haitian orphanage by asking individuals to donate $1 for every round trip. I wonder how many donors imagined that as many as 40 trips was feasible?

A ‘Winding’ Path

Climbing for a Cause

Peter Robertson is the owner of The Robertson Firm, a legal firm on Anastasia Island that specializes in construction litigation. As is the case with many of us that end up in this neck of the woods, Peter’s story didn’t begin in this area, although his journey here is an interesting saga.

Peter was born in Canada and moved to the States in 1957. He moved to Gainesville, Florida at the age of 10, and began his relationship with the University of Florida by enrolling in PK Yonge, UF’s research school. Peter attended UF from 1963-67 before being drafted into the Marine Corp on December 7, 1967. Having attended college, Peter qualified for an officer’s training program before shipping off to Vietnam.

During his 25-month tour of duty in Vietnam, Peter rose to the rank of Captain.

Peter’s role in a group called Force Recon is documented in the book ‘Force Recon Command.’

The group was the Marines’ version of the special forces. Although Peter had impressive service while in Vietnam, he returned to a world where veterans were not met with the same admiration and gratitude that their fathers had experienced in returning from World War II. One positive and life-altering event did occur upon his return to Gainesville - his mother introduced him to the woman that would become his wife whom he married three weeks later.

Peter and his wife moved to Quantico Va., where Peter remained in the Marines. Florida was home though, so after the birth of three children, the young family returned to Gainesville. Peter received his General Contractor’s License in 1976 and successfully plied his trade for nearly a decade amassing a variety of skills, information and experience that would prove fruitful in later years. Looking for a change and interested in law from a young age, Peter enrolled in UF’s College of Law in 1987. He graduated, passed the bar and began work for a firm that specialized in construction litigation in the Gainesville area. Given his ability to ‘speak the language of contractors,’ Peter became a partner within a year.

12 StAugustineMagazine.com issue 2\015

Peter went on to start his own firm in Gainesville, The Robertson Group, and practiced until 2011. He remained active in the community and especially active in The Fellowship for Christian Athletes at the University of Florida. He was so involved with the FCA that he regularly held Bible study at his house for Gator athletes and became close with several players. For example, Heisman trophy winner Danny Wuerffel briefly stayed at his house after he graduated.

Keeping the Feet Moving

Having always enjoyed St. Augustine and Anastasia Island, Peter and his wife knew where they wanted to ‘retire,’ and in 2011, they moved to the island. Peter’s initial plan was to have a small office and secretary, so he could continue to practice law at his own pace and on his own time. As is often the case in life, even the best laid plans go awry. Before he knew it, Peter had a growing practice with attorneys, secretaries and was managing a new law firm. When talent meets ambition, growth is often inevitable, but Peter has kept the office environment laid back. It’s not retirement, but regularly allowing flip flops and shorts as work attire is a good compromise.

photography by Scott S. Smith

The Lighthouse Peter read a story roughly nine months before his 70th birthday about an elderly woman who had climbed the lighthouse steps nine times.

Having always maintained his physical fitness, Peter was intrigued as to how he’d fare. “I nearly died after three trips,” he remembers. “I had no idea how hard it would be.”

As someone who had experienced success in the military, the construction industry and twice with his own law firms, Peter wasn’t one to shy away from a challenge. It took him a couple months to build up to 10 trips daily, which is when he learned that the record was 28. With his birthday a handful of months away, Peter decided this would be the perfect way to ring in a new decade of his life.

While he was initially simply going to break the record for the sake of accomplishment, Peter decided that if he was already planning on doing it, he should see if he could link his personal goal to helping a worthy cause.

A St. Augustine acquaintance, Peter Fontana, has been associated with the Hope for Haiti Foundation, an orphanage in Haiti, for the past 25 years. Peter had flyers made and distributed to local businesses requesting a $1 pledge to the Foundation for every trip he made up and down the lighthouse steps.

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S

‘Stepping Up’ to the Challenge by Zach Seymour

began from page 11

With a goal in sight, Peter began training for his new record-breaking goal. This training extended beyond simply walking the steps daily. Given the nature of climbing stairs, and the exponential demands it has on the respiratory system, Peter had to train himself how to breathe to maintain a consistent heart rate while simultaneously lifting his 180 pounds per step.

While Peter became adept at keeping his heart rate under 120, he also had to combat the fact that he was burning roughly 1,200 calories an hour while climbing.

To reach his ultimate goal, Peter needed to able to climb for roughly six hours. To combat the weakness and lightheadedness that accompanies calorie depletion, Peter devised a method to consume 700 to 800 calories an hour while climbing. He accomplished this with a combination of peanut butter and honey sandwiches, a goo containing liquid glycogen and Pedialite. Other strategies included executing a proper technique on each step (your whole foot never goes on the step, toes only) and climbing with a rotating group of friends to stave off boredom and complacency.

Peter slowly built his physical fitness and refined the skills necessary to complete such an arduous task over the course of several months. At the peak of his conditioning, Peter’s resting pulse was around 60 and his blood pressure was an impressive 112 over 68, good marks for anyone, let alone a 70-year-old.

Rewards from the Top

For advertising information

and getting into the next issue of St Augustine Magazine contact:

Vanessa Lenoir

Director of Marketing & Advertising

904.392.5377 Vanessa@StAugustineMagazine.com 14 StAugustineMagazine.com issue 2\015

On May 19, Peter not only beat the record but blew it out of the water. In addition to his personal triumph and the unique celebration of a milestone birthday, Peter raised funds for kids in Haiti that need and deserve help and potentially inspired others in our community to help those less fortunate. Another aspect of Peter’s motivation was to remind people that they can be healthy at any age and that it’s never too late to improve yourself. Like climbing a spiral staircase, self improvement always starts with the first step. How many steps climbed after that is up to each of us to determine. g

The Hope for Haiti Foundation

T

THE HOPE FOR HAITI FOUNDATION WAS registered in 1999 by Peter and Shay Fontana as a charitable organization. The main aim of the Foundation is to give orphans in Haiti a better life through care, education and adoption to US parents. In addition the Foundation aims to initiate family preservation and job creation programs. In order to have legal status in Haiti the Fondation Fontana d’Haiti was created.

Land was purchased the same year at Kaliko Beach located halfway between the towns of Arcahaie and Montrouis. The Fontanas used their many years of experience working in Haiti to build an orphanage as well as the necessary infrastructure. It now consists of eleven buildings together with independent power and water supplies as well as satellite internet connections.

Over the years there have been many changes and improvements. The Hope for Haiti Foundation has received a number of grants from Rotary International as well as from private sources and with their help a number of new initiatives have been started. Recently a new sponsorship program helps to support the children at the orphanage.

The sponsorship fee pays for housing, clothing, food, schooling, medical care and staff.

The Tutoring Company is a peer tutoring service that provides a unique and tailored learning experience to students who have either struggled in a traditional learning environment or seek to earn the highest possible grades by refining the skill-sets they already possess.

Temporary foster care has become an important part of the Fontana Children’s Village. These children are perceived to be at risk due to the parent’s extreme poverty or inadequate parenting skills.

During 2012 Haiti ratified The Hague Convention for International Adoption. As a result the Haitian Social Services Department (I.B.E.S.R.) reduced the number of agencies that are registered to do adoptions to only a few. In addition the new rules separated the orphanages from the adoption agencies resulting in many hardships for the orphanages.

The Hope for Haiti Foundation is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. All donations are tax deductible. 100% of donations are used for project activities. Donations or Sponsorship payments can be made by: Hope for Haiti Foundation, 217 Fiddlers Point Dr., St. Augustine, FL 32080 USA g

The Tutoring Company has already served the Gainesville community for five school years, and we’re excited to branch into the Daytona/Ormond, DeLand and St. Augustine communities.

Schedule a Tutoring Session Today!

Call Now: 352-328-1993 | thetutoringwebsite.com

At the Tutoring Company, we aim to facilitate a learning environment that makes learning and succeeding enjoyable. We want students to look forward to learning instead of dreading it.

We provide personalized tutoring in nearly any math and science class as well as SAT and ACT Test Prep, study skills and organizational help.

issue 2\015 StAugustineMagazine.com 15

adventure

by Kourtney Patterson

Good Times, Bad Times

A

AS WE ROCKED VIOLENTLY AGAINST THE WIND AND waves, I looked at my pet snails happily munching on anything green in their jar and wished I was one of them. Snails don’t get seasick, do they?

It was a rough day of rolling and bashing from Grenada to Carriacou. My boyfriend, Pete, and I had successfully completed two Atlantic crossings. We were on the final leg of our trip and headed home to Florida. Over the next five months, we planned to sail through the Windwards, the Leewards and into the Bahamas before hurricane season. But first we had to make it through this.

We had scheduled for eight hours to sail north to Tyrell Bay. What we didn’t account for was the fact that the current rips through the area where the water is unbroken between the Atlantic and the Caribbean at three knots. We also didn’t account for winds being directly on the nose. Our sailboat, Norna, is a wooden gaff-rigged cutter with a square sail and does not beat to windward very well, if at all. Our eight-hour trip turned into 24 hours of hard sailing and seasickness.

We finally entered Hillsborough Bay, a little further north, but supposedly easier to enter at night.

Exhausted, we dropped anchor and tried to sleep for the last hours before daylight. To our disappointment, Hillsborough was a rolly anchorage, and we couldn’t stand the violent see-sawing for long. Pete walked forward to our hand-crank windlass while I turned on the engine to put her back into drive.

We pulled the anchor off the bottom, and as we were drifting back, we caught onto something. It felt as though we had run aground. The taught chain on the windlass and the constant jumping and lurching of the boat caused the chain to rip off the bow roller and dangerously tug on the bulwarks. As the bow roller fell, the chain jumped off the gypsy and disengaged the windlass handle.

The handle flew up and hit Pete square in the head. I looked up to see Pete with blood on his face. Panicked, I ran down below and called for help on VHF. Two fisherman came to our aid and assessed our predicament. Luckily, Pete was not badly injured, so he set to work attempting to unshackle the anchor chain from the boat. Once it was free, we threw the whole mess over with a bumper and Pete went with the fishermen, as I drove Norna around the bay.

Fifteen minutes later, I saw the anchor was on board the fishermen’s boat, and Pete was grinning widely. more >

16 StAugustineMagazine.com issue 2\015

continued

He said, “Kourtney, our CQR was hooked on a giant fisherman anchor on the bottom. I dove down 12 feet to retrieve it!”

We thanked the fisherman and motored away, with dents on Pete’s head and Norna’s bow, but with spirits happy to have our anchor and chain back in place. We motored around the corner and anchored in Tyrell Bay to the sounds of birds chirping and goat bells tinkling. We wanted nothing more than to sleep, but for the next seven hours, I had to keep Pete awake for fear of a concussion. In an attempt to stay awake, I started day-dreaming of a very different sail we’d had not so long ago…

It was the beginning of our return Atlantic crossing, and we had a 600-mile run from Gibraltar to Graciosa in the Canaries. We had decided to sail west to the edge of the Portugal coast to get into steady sea breezes and were rewarded with a relaxing five-day run.

We held a peaceful beam reach for a day and a half, and for the rest of the way, we put up our square sails and got pushed along steadily. It was as if a guiding hand was nudging us along. There were days where we cooked meals under sail and felt as though we were in a calm anchorage.

We arrived safely in Graciosa with its black-sand beaches. Now we had the Canaries at our fingertips; we could explore inside of volcanoes in Lanzarote, surf at La Santa, or sail 200 miles west to see the rain forests and huge ferns of La Palma. We felt blessed to be sailors.

In the Caribbean, I smiled at this memory.

That’s the thing about cruising – every good moment at sea can have a half-dozen torturous ones to complement it. A perfect sunset can be followed by a disheartening grounding, just as a 600-mile reach to the Canaries can be followed by a 40-mile beat to windward. Eventually, you learn to take the bad with the good and to remember that the world is still worth exploring. I just wish I could be a little more like that snail. g Kourtney Patterson is the author of ‘Accidental Sailor’, the nonfiction story of her transformation from a homeless young lady to an ocean-crossing cruiser.

issue 2\015 StAugustineMagazine.com 17

fun

by Phil King

“Flip Flop ‘Til You Drop,” 2015

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photo by Bonnie King

With summer arriving, it is time for many St. Augustine islanders to start thinking about a “Pleasant Walk For Charity.” It’s time to buy this year’s brightly colored T-shirt and begin creative alterations to present at the tongue-in-cheek fashion show, all in the name of charity. The flamboyant T-shirts help ensure safe passage, as hundreds walk to the participating businesses, restaurants, and bars on A1A Beach Boulevard in St. Augustine Beach.

In Memory of Walker ‘Rance’ Newton

Of course, we are talking about the famous “Flip Flop ‘Til You Drop” event that enlivens Anastasia Island every summer after the Fourth of July. This will be the 13th annual celebration with a purpose. Over that time, walkers have raised over $150,000 for local charities. This year’s proceeds will go to “Kids Bridge,” which provides help to transitioning families with supervised visitations among other services.

“Flip Flop ‘Til You Drop” was founded in 2002

by Walker “Rance” Newton, Wesley Davis, and Kenny Conrad to raise money for Parkinson’s Disease. They did a trial walk, and with the help of friends, recruited businesses along Beach Boulevard to support the fundraiser with specials for participants and contributions to the cause.

This year’s event will honor “Rance,” who recently passed away unexpectedly. He was a St. Augustine Beach developer turned mystery writer, locally famous for “The Sand Crab Chronicles” series, among others, under the name of Walker Newton. Primarily, he was a true and trusted friend, sure to be missed by many. Family members and friends throughout the country will join in the celebration.

Memories of Last Year’s Walk

by Pat Payne and Bonnie & Phil King

18 StAugustineMagazine.com issue 2\015

On Saturday, July 11, entertainment will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Jack’s Bar-B-Que’s stage.

Woodsy, Pandora, and Atlantic Blue will play

during the afternoon, while Smoke and Mirrors will play during the evening.

Between acts, the much ballyhooed T-shirt contest will amuse and amaze the easily entertained crowd. Slits, sparkles, knots, and beads will dazzle the beach’s fashion-minded audience. Fifty-fifty drawings will line some pockets, while raffles of merchants’ donated prizes will keep the atmosphere intense, until half the crowd cools down in Jack’s pool.

The official T-shirts, which will make event specials available to walkers, can be purchased for $15 at FA Cafe, LYMI Oddities, the Original Cafe Eleven, the Sunshine Shop, and Jack’s Bar-B-Que, with proceeds being donated to the cause. All afternoon, pink T-shirted people will walk or ride the Old Town Trolley to visit those merchants plus the A1A Burrito Works Taco Shop, Dunes Cracker House, Coquina Beach Surf Club, Panama Hattie’s, and Holiday Isle Oceanfront Resort.

So, get your best flip flops out! Buy yourself the pink 2015 official T-shirt before they are sold out, and come on out on July 11, for a “Pleasant Walk for Charity” and possibly the best time you’ve ever had helping others! As Rance always said, “Life is short, make it wide.” g

The Right to Become and Remain Relaxed

by Zach Seymour

L

LET ME START BY SAYING I AM BY NO means the manliest of men and have no delusions that I epitomize a definition of even modern masculinity. Full disclosure: I can grow a pretty impressive beard, and I do enjoy good old-fashioned exercise and an outdoor sweat from time to time, but I am by no means Steve McQueen. That being said, a day at the spa or a lengthy massage had never really crossed my man- mind before.

While I consider myself a progressive and open-minded fellow, my idea of a ‘massage’ is when I can convince my girlfriend to halfheartedly rub my neck for 20 seconds. So when I was approached with the idea of an actual massage, the “real McCoy” if you will—oils, towel coverings, tables with holes in them, the whole nine yards—I was skeptical.

As I warily opened the door to Norma Sherry & Co. Spa on US1, I was warmly greeted by Norma and her staff in her well-decorated parlor.

Any nervousness I may have had for my first trip to the spa was quickly assuaged. The peacefulness and serenity were palpable. Just the barrage of foreign aromas had me ready for relaxation.

The walls, paintings and décor in the spa are as colorful and unique as the woman who owns it.

Nearly everything on the walls is from local artists and is for sale. I couldn’t help feeling like I was walking into a large piece of art and would myself, at least temporarily, become a part of some sort of show. Norma’s personal story, she has spent time as a writer, television producer and pioneering spa owner, is perfectly told in the whimsical setting of her spa. It’s interesting, eclectic and fantastic. Her gift of storytelling is amplified and accentuated by her surroundings. She and her spa complement each other well.

photography by Nate Parks

20 StAugustineMagazine.com issue 2\015

living

Part French Salon, part holistic healing center and part beauty shop, Norma’s latest dalliance into the luxury spa world opened its doors in April. Norma Sherry offers everything from massages, facials, salon services and even botox, permanent makeup and fillers. I was loosened up and feeling adventurous, but I was fairly certain permanent lipstick or fat injections in my face were not on the docket for my first experience. Mercifully, I was told I’d be receiving a massage. I was both pleased and relieved.

After I had taken in the sights, sounds and smells of the main room, Norma introduced me to Wayne, who would be acting as my spiritual guide on my inaugural journey through the world of massage. A New York City transplant, Wayne immediately struck me as someone with a great passion for his chosen trade.

Every gesture, explanation and direction was geared towards personalization and comfort. I felt like I was in good hands—literally.

My room was dark and cool with soft music playing that the cynic in me may have scoffed at if I wasn’t mentally prepared to step out of my comfort zone. After disconnecting from my affect and disrobing, the cool room stood in stark contrast to the warm bed that I carefully climbed into. When Wayne returned, he explained to me that we would experiment with several different massages and that the best thing I could do as the client was to communicate what I was experiencing.

Wayne’s devotion to his craft goes beyond ensuring that the client enjoys their massage.

Wayne said that each experience with a client is different, and each massage is tailored to the specific needs of that individual. For Wayne, the process of the massage is symbiotic in that

continued >

the experience in making a client feel relaxed and more at peace is therapeutic for him as well. Wayne said that at the nexus of all the different types, beliefs and specializations of massage, the end goal is simple and always the same: to make the client feel good, whether that is stress relief, pain management or simply a body-loosening stretch.

Wayne began by asking me if there were any areas where I thought I carried stress or had specific problems. I said I didn’t think so. By the end of my experience, I realized that my inability to target a particular region was because nearly my entire body must have been carrying stress. I just couldn’t feel it because I’d normalized my discomfort.

Wayne unleashed a fluid combination of Lomilomi, a Hawaiian traditional massage, sports massage, deep tissue, guided stretching and pressure and energy point targeting on me. As I vacillated between cringing from deep tissue work and fighting off falling asleep during the ultra-relaxing Lomilomi, I gained a greater appreciation for the wide variety of techniques, styles and goals of the art form.

With no set time frame for my massage, I was carefully running my internal clock to try to maintain a sense of how long we were shooting for. I was fairly certain we were approaching the 30-minute mark when Wayne informed me that we were wrapping up and were just passing 90 minutes. I couldn’t believe it. I even checked my phone as if I was being tricked. I had not been. Apparently my super relaxed state had even extended to my sense of time.

My general takeaway from the experience is that men should be taking advantage of the wonders of therapeutic massage more often, probably ‘manly men’ even more so than the rest of us. It can help repair a broken body and help loosen joints, muscles and tendons to prevent injury. Not to mention what it does for the mind. I walked out of Norma Sherry feeling relaxed, both mentally and physically, loose and lucid.

In our fast-paced world, where slowing down and decompressing seems to be increasingly discouraged, a massage or a trip to the spa are great ways to get centered and reconnected with life’s simple pleasures, which is a goal that should extend beyond age, occupation and especially, gender. g issue 2/015 StAugustineMagazine.com 21

flash

Rock ‘n’ Roll Bash

Bozard Ford hosted this 5th Annual event with an 80s MTV Spring Break Throwback theme. The night started with a VIP Pre-Party beach blast with retro specialty cocktails, back room poker and a Rubix Cube on every table. All to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida, THE PLAYERS Championship Unit.

22 StAugustineMagazine.com issue 2\015

Neoteric

(a modern person; a person who advocates new ideas)

by Vivienne Mackinder much more >

issue 2\015 StAugustineMagazine.com 23

Neoteric The perfect place to share the art of hair is a city with a rooted respect and appreciation for the arts, where walking around dressed-up in costume is the norm and where brides come by the busload.

Vivienne Mackinder is driven by her mission to not only continually hone her own artistry and creativity but to uplift the spirit and the image of the profession of hairstyling as well.

Neoteric is an exciting avant-garde collection designed to stimulate the imagination. Vivienne says her inspiration for the collection was to explore new textures with exaggerated dimension, fusing the world of fashion photography with the canvas of a painter.

This collection features amazing hairstyles combined with pieces from iconic designers like Alexander McQueen, Marchesa, Valentino, Isaac Mizrahi and many more. “I hope these images make you linger and dwell, taking you on a journey of the imagination and limitless possibilities,� says Vivienne. Neoteric is ethereal, showcasing unorthodox setting techniques designed to create an edge. The styles came from unique processes: from pressing hair in folded foil to create a zigzag pattern to hooking hair through a hairnet to create a setting pattern. Whether the style is avant-garde or classic, the most important aspect is always to retain the essence of beauty.

more>

24 StAugustineMagazine.com issue 2\015

Neoteric

by Vivienne Mackinder

more >

issue 2/015 StAugustineMagazine.com 25

Neoteric

by Vivienne Mackinder

26 StAugustineMagazine.com issue 2\015

Neoteric

by Vivienne Mackinder

by Vivienne Mackinder Vivienne is an in demand featured guest artist/educator for premier events world-wide. Vivienne divides her time between, teaching and on camera presenter, editorial and advertorial shoots.

more >

issue 2/015 StAugustineMagazine.com 27

Neoteric

by Vivienne Mackinder

Explore more of Vivienne’s work at HairDesignerTV.com and viviennemackinder.com.

631.591.1079 for information on speaking engagements, educational workshops and programs.

Photography by Roberto Ligresti Hair by Vivienne Mackinder Founder of HairDesignerTV.com (HDTV) Fashion Stylist David Widjaja Makeup David Maderich Shot on location at a 3-day photographic workshop in NY City.

HairUwear hairpieces, wigs and accessories available at Ammar Beauty Supply Co. 223 W. King Street - 904.829.6544

28 StAugustineMagazine.com issue 2\015

Churchill & Lacroix, Antiquarie for fine vintage jewerly Lightner Museum Courtyard - 904.827.9009

I will gladly come to where ever you are.

Deep Tissue Massage H o t Sto n e Ther apy Ly m p hati c D rai nage My o f as c i al R e lease On S i te Chai r Mas sage

Or t hopedic Massage Spor t s Massage Swedish Massage Tr igger P oint T her apy C upping T her apy

Gift Certificates available upon request

Caleb K. Hicks, LMT.

Calebhicksmassage.com (813) 842-5809 Cell • (904) 826-1965 • info@calebhicksmassage.com State license/Certificate: FL MA67385 • #mm53003

Take Aim for 2016

30 StAugustineMagazine.com issue 2\015

Hot Shot

Texas Governor Rick Perry and the St. John’s County Republican Party gathered for “Take Aim for 2016” This Blue Jeans & Boots BBQ event war held at the St. Augustine Gun Club. The interested can out to spend time conversing with Texas Governor Rick Perry at an intimate VIP sponsor event prior to the main dinner. Before the dinner Perry was keynote speaker at the Flagler College Gymnasium.

Bakery

and

Cafe

has really cool stuff

The fab food on the table at the VIP Reception: • Datil Pepper infused Bruschetta • Fresh Fruit in a Watermelon Basket • Smoked Pork Sliders with Dijon Aioli • Smoked Snapper Garni • Jalapeno Shrimp Poppers • Fresh Ceviche & Toast Points • Southwestern Spring Rolls with Avocado Ranch Dip

Sandwiches

E E E

Cup cakes Bottles of datail sauces

coffee

ICE CREAM Cakes for Wed dingS Chocolate covered datil peppers

you can go there for Breakfast or for lunch

facebook.com/hotshotbakery 8 Granada St. - Downtown

(904) 824-7898 issue 2/015 StAugustineMagazine.com 31

flash

St. Johns Cultural Council

photo bombed

Bill & Carol Coleman

Tommy Bledsoe caught a mermaid

Jody Hicks & Carol Coleman

Where’s Nico?

On the night the moon was at its fullest the St. Johns Cultural Council held the Moon Over Matanzas Soiree aboard the El Galeon.

32 StAugustineMagazine.com issue 2\015

photography by Nate Parks

by Jeanne Maron

wine

The Dark Side of The Moon

W

WINE LABELS HAVE COME A LONG WAY, BUT so has winemaking. A great example of this transformation are the wines from Wines That Rock (WTR) Winery out of Mendocino, California. All of their wines are organic and biodynamic, which pairs them well with the progressive lifestyle of those in the area.

The Dark Side of the Moon is a lovely Cabernet Sauvignon that pairs nicely with Pink Floyd’s music, as the winemaker, Mark, created this wine while listening to that specific album. The band is a partner in the operation and allows the winery to use the name and art for the bottles.

Mark captures the intense character of Cabernet while reflecting the density and character of Pink Floyd’s masterpiece album. The flavor profile has aromas of black currant and cherry and rich flavors of cassis, toasted vanilla bean. The wine also features subtle hints of chocolate. This rich, dry red wine should be enjoyed with hearty chicken dishes, beef and lamb, and red-sauced pasta.

All WTR wines are organic and made from grapes that are grown without pesticides. Also, the winery doesn’t add additional sulfites as a preservative. Naturally occurring sulfites exist but are so minute it doesn’t tend to bother those with allergies.

Taking conditions one step further, WTR Winery also utilizes biodynamic processes. This method dates back to the early days of grape growing when farmers planted the grapes based on the phases of the moon (for example, according to The Farmer’s Almanac). All fertilizers used are natural, primarily coming from compost within the vineyard. This practice is another form of sustainability—keeping the local biological system diverse and productive.

At The Gifted Cork, we sell a lot of the WTR wines with the collectible labels, but we also encourage drinking and enjoying the wine itself. Come check out this wine and the others from the company to start your collection. Any question you may have on paring send to info@thegiftedcork.com. g

issue 2\015 StAugustineMagazine.com 33

The Shell

photography by Nate Parks 34 StAugustineMagazine.com issue 2\015

Game

by Leigh Court

dining

W

WHEN I PERUSED THE DAILY BOARD AT JOHNNY’S Oyster Bar, which described the Copps Island, Blue Point and Louisiana oysters being served atop the cool white marble bar, I knew that something delicious was happening on the second floor above Meehan’s Irish Pub. Johnny’s Oyster Bar is one of St. Augustine’s secret dining spots for romance and has unobstructed waterfront views. While looking out at the seascape of Matanzas Bay and feeling the Atlantic breezes, Johnny’s immediately stole my heart.

There is no better way to beat the heat this season than by climbing to the rooftop verandah above the Pub and sliding down a freshly shucked oyster or enjoying one of the dozen preparations by Chef Kris Baldwin and the culinary team.

Prominently located on the corner of Hypolita and Avenida Menendez, Meehan’s and The Backyard have been popular among locals and tourists for years, but now it’s Johnny’s turn.

To oyster lovers, nothing is more enticing than a platter of freshly shucked oysters alongside the ritual presentation of a few accessories – cocktail sauce, horseradish, mignonette sauce, lemon wedges and crackers.

Sitting indoors surrounded by Irish inspired memorabilia or out in the open air, the bartenders, servers and oyster shucking experts confidently guide you through the menu.

Each day at Johnny’s Oyster Bar brings an exciting array of the freshest bounty of oysters emanating from anywhere in the U.S. and Canada.

This particular night’s three options were from the cold waters of New England’s Long Island Sound: the Copps Island mollusks (succulent and juicy); the Blue Points (full and meaty, named for Blue Point, Long Island); and the large and popular Louisiana variety (delicious on the half shell and perfect when chilled with a shot of Tabasco).

Johnny’s Oyster Bar is the realization of John Meehan’s dream of creating a setting where he could share his passion for the oyster and the ocean. Like wine, oysters draw their distinctive flavors from their environment, as there are at least 300 unique varieties. Yes, the concept of the oyster bar has been around awhile, but the oyster’s new-found popularity and year-round accessibility have inspired Chef Kris and Chef Paul to take them to a new level of creative preparation.

There are many seafood dishes on the rooftop menu, like Stoned Tuna, Shrimp Flatbread, and Baked Clams and Bouillabaisse. But Oysters Meehan (roasted with clarified garlic herb butter topped with parmesan), Oysters Pico (served chilled with Pico de Gallo and chopped baby cilantro) and Oysters Johnny (baked with rich shrimp and mushroom sauce) are the headliners of the show.

With a colorfully stocked bar reminiscent of Dublin, Ireland, and at least 50 choices of beer, visitors would be wise to consider easing into the feast with a hand-crafted cocktail.

Galway Races is cooling (Jameson Irish Whiskey, muddled lemon, lime, mint and simple syrup topped with ginger beer) and martini lovers should consider indulging in the Dirty Pearl (Belvedere Vodka shaken to perfection with a touch of fresh oyster brine).

Johnny’s Oyster Bar offers an ocean’s bounty of delicious eating served with its own brand of American history. Step back in time, enjoy the hustle and bustle at Johnny’s bar and let the old-school oyster adventure begin. g

issue 2\015 StAugustineMagazine.com 35

L foodie

by Chef Andrea Rosenblatt

Living on the coast, we are fortunate to have access to delicious fresh and local seafood.

Readily available, it can be easy to take it for granted. And still, so many of my clients tell me that seafood almost never makes an appearance in their own weekly dinner routines at home! They say they order the fresh catch at restaurants faithfully, but when it comes to cooking at home, somehow the local bounty misses the cut. One of the following reason is typically why:

FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WILL SAY THAT I am not a chain grocery-store seafood shopper. Take advantage of, and get comfortable with, a local seafood market. Two of my personal favorites are Kyle’s Seafood on US-1 just north of the city gates, and many of my clients boast about how they love Seafood Shoppe on AIA on Anastasia Island as well.

Stop in sometime, introduce yourself and ask questions. Their crews are there to answer. Ask what’s new, what came in that day, what they are recommending and why. Even the owners themselves will be happy to suggest recipes and cooking techniques.

How will you know it’s fresh? There are two answers to this: the first is just to ask - what’s new? But, the second is even easier; shop where you know they have a huge following and turnover and only put out the freshest fish, like Kyles and Seafood Shoppe.

How long will it keep after purchase? That can vary a bit based on what you are buying.

Again, I suggest you ask the experts, but as a general rule, you need to cook or freeze your fresh seafood within three days of purchase. The good news is that most fish cooks in 20 minutes or less. So even if you are not going to eat it right away, you only need to commit a few moments of your day to cooking it so it can be frozen and used another time.

The final, and most delicious, question must be “How we are going to cook the fresh catch when we do finally find the right resource?”

Here’s a simple guide to get you started: Firm, thick-skinned fish such as wahoo and swordfish: Marinate and bake at 350 for 10 minutes per inch of thickness, or grill for the same time.

Tender, delicate white fish such as trigger, flounder, snapper, and tilapia: Season and bake or pan sear with a little olive oil or butter until just pale white and easily flakes with a fork, about 8 minutes per inch of thickness.

Finally, salmon – this fish is so versatile you can truly cook it using any method if it has its skin on – pan sear or grill, skin off, pan fry or bake.

Rather than worry about following a specific recipe, I prefer to let the folks at the seafood market tell me what is fresh, use the above guidelines for cooking technique, and then I decide on a flavor profile. Country of origin is a good starting place for flavor profile. For example, for Italian, season with sautéed garlic, tomato and fresh basil, and serve pasta on the side. If you’re in the mood for Asian, season with miso paste and rice wine vinegar, garnish with green onions and serve white rice on the side. The following are some basic guidelines for the flavor-profile method of seasoning:

Fishing Lessons

36 StAugustineMagazine.com issue 2\015

Copy this little guide and put it on the fridge.

Head to a local seafood market, and let the great staff that runs it choose a fish for you for dinner!

Greek: 1 cup olive oil ½ cup lemon juice 1 tsp. ground black pepper 1/2 tsp. salt 2 tbs. ground dried oregano 1 tbs. good olive tapenade Several rings pickled banana peppers Pinch sugar 1 fresh tomato, diced ½ cup feta cheese, crumbled 8 Greek olives, chopped ¼ cup red onion, finely diced 1 large lemon, cut into 8 wedges In a bowl, whisk together oil, lemon juice and pinch of sugar. Add pepper, salt, oregano, whisking. Add tapenade, pickled peppers and tomato. Stir to coat all of the tomatoes. Pour over fish if baking, serve as sauce on the side if grilling or pan searing.

Serve hot sprinkled with feta cheese, onion and olives, and lemon wedges with orzo drizzled with olive oil or over fresh baby spinach.

Japanese Sauce: ½ cup soy sauce ¼ cup mirin ¼ cup rice wine vinegar 2 Tbs. miso paste 1 Tbs. honey 2 tsp. sesame oil 2 scallions, finely sliced 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes In a small bowl whisk together soy sauce, mirin, rice wine vinegar, miso paste, honey and sesame oil. Pour over fish if baking and serve as sauce on the side if grilling or pan searing.

Serve hot sprinkled with sesame seeds and with steamed rice and sliced cucumbers.

Italian 1 cup olive oil ½ cup red wine vinegar ½ tsp. anchovy paste 2 tsp. dried oregano 2 tsp. dried thyme 2 tsp. dried marjoram 2 ripe tomatoes, diced 2 tsp. ground black pepper 2 tsp. salt 12 leaves fresh basil 1 lemon, finely sliced ¼ cup really good quality olive oil In a bowl whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar and anchovy paste. Add dried herbs, black pepper and salt and mix well. Pour over fish if baking and serve as sauce on the side if grilling or pan searing.

Garnish with diced tomatoes, fresh basil, lemon and a drizzle of great olive oil. Serve with a side of pasta, or over simple polenta.

Moroccan: 1 cup olive oil ½ cup vinegar 2 tsp. smoked paprika 2 tsp. z’atar blend 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon pinch cayenne ½ cup raisins, soaked in warm water 2 tsp. ground black pepper 2 tsp. salt drizzle of Persian lime oil Combine oil, vinegar, paprika, z’atar, cinnamon, cayenne, raisins, salt and pepper together in a glass bowl.

Pour over fish if baking, serve as sauce on the side if grilling or pan searing. Serve with steamed couscous.

Thai #1: This takes on the classic summer roll flavors 1 cup olive oil ½ cup vinegar zest and juice of one lime ½ teaspoon fish sauce 4 tablespoons each of fresh chopped basil, mint, cilantro and parsley 3 green onions, very thinly sliced 1 Thai chili, finely diced 3 teaspoons soy sauce Combine all ingredients in a glass bowl. Pour over fish if baking, serve as sauce on the side if grilling or pan searing.

Serve with steamed jasmine rice Thai #2: This takes on the classic peanut sauce of Thailand.

1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter 1/2 cup coconut milk 3 tablespoons water 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice 3 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon fish sauce 1 tablespoon hot sauce 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger root 3 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro In a bowl, mix the peanut butter, coconut milk, water, lime juice, soy sauce, fish sauce, hot sauce, ginger, and garlic. Pour over fish if baking, bring to a simmer in a saucepan and serve as sauce on the side if grilling or pan searing.

Garnish with cilantro just before serving. Serve with steamed jasmine rice.

Resources: Kyles Seafood Market – 3874 N. Ponce De Leon Blvd 904.824.4580 (don’t forget to try their signature soups, spreads, smoked fish and pies, too!)

Grouper Snapper Tuna Flounder Wahoo Swordfish Clams Lobster Local Shrimp All Crab Legs Live Blue Crab

Seafood Shoppe – 2125 A1A S., St. Augustine Beach 904.471.0410 Join us at the Studio for classes focusing on seafood all summer long. Knife skills August includes filleting flat and round fish as well as cleaning shell fish! www.achefs.com for calendars and information. g

issue 2\015 StAugustineMagazine.com 37

poem

A Day at the Beach

by Brooks Hastings

Shimmering Light is a 16” x 20” Oil on Board by Matthew J. Cutter Available at Brilliance In Color Gallery, 25 King Street, 32084 904.810.0460 | bic@cutterandcutter.com

G

Get up by eight - so you have plenty of time Check the weather beforehand, and hope for sunshine

Bring Frisbees, footballs and corn-hole boards too, Buy a big tent with shade for your crew

Dust off your flip-flops, and put on your suit Dig out your beach chair, and your sunglasses too

Don’t forget lotion, you‘ll need several kinds Waterproof is the best, since it lasts a long time

Remember your snorkel, your mask and your fins The sooner you get there, the more fun you’ll pack in

At this point you probably need to get going, You’re taking too long, and 11 is approaching

Grab your wetsuit, strap on your board Stop and buy surf wax at the beachside surf store

Packing’s the worst – it takes way too long By the time you get going, your day’s almost gone

At this point you should probably look at the clock It’s a 2-hour drive, and you have to gas up

Remember your music, and waterproof radio Bring extra batteries – you don’t want to run-low

My guess is it’s almost 9:45… And at this point, You’re losing valuable beach time

Most important of all – above all of the rest Is the people you’re bringing – that you must never forget

Pack up the cooler, with lots to eat, Bring tons of ice, and plenty to drink

If you follow this plan, then you can certainly guarantee, That your toes touch in the sand between 2:30 and 3.

The End.

38 StAugustineMagazine.com issue 2\015

g

flash

Gala XIII

Celebrando Nuestra Herencia Espa単ola

Dr. Rafael & Elsa Aponte and Todd & Heather Neville co-chaired the elegant black-tie event that Raises $275,000 for the Flagler Health Care Foundation. The Gala featured a reception in the resort courtyard overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, with a procession to the dining ballroom being led by reenactors in ornate attire.

40 StAugustineMagazine.com issue 2\015

by Yvette Monell

people

Linda Bartimus

Foundation of Strength

Retires

H

photography by Katie Lay

“HELLO, IS THIS YVETTE? MY NAME IS Linda Bartimus. I saw your magazine...each year we have a Gala to benefit Flagler Health Care Foundation. I thought you might want to come and take pictures.”

This was back in 2006, my first encounter with Linda. I had no idea how much the lady on the other end of that telephone conversation would touch my life.

I have to share just some of my personal experiences with Linda. I shucked and tasted my first oyster at the Annual Oyster Roast hosted through Flagler Health Care Foundation by the North Shore Connectors Council with Linda. I has always wanted to simply see the Mayan pyramids. Linda and I climbed to the top of one together. After seven hours on a Flagler Hospital surgery table I opened my eyes to see Linda at my bedside.

“She is a very humble person,” said Tom Bartimus, Linda’s husband. “She’d always set back and let the other people get in the spot light.

When I do brag about her, she’s almost embarrassed. I’m so proud of the work she has done.”

Linda L. Bartimus, CFRE, Executive Director of the Flagler Health Care Foundation, has raised millions of dollars over the past 13 years. Somewhere there is a tally of how much money it totals out to, but there is no way to calculate the number of lives Linda has touched and saved through her work. She is retiring this year.

Flagler Hospital had never had a true development program. The foundation had functioned as a land acquisition and holding company. Linda’s challenge was to change the focus of the foundation to fundraising and to design and implement a comprehensive development program.

“Tom and I lived in Jacksonville. A position became available and I was looking for something down here. When I got the job I asked Tom, ‘How would you like to move to St. Augustine?’

He said, ‘I’d love to!’”

“I didn’t know anybody in St. Augustine, but what a great place to be. When you’re a fundraiser, if you spend your time in your office, you’re not really doing your job. When raising money, you need a lot of community involvement. You need to be out there. I got involved in everything that I could in the community,” said Linda.

“The foundation started in 1984. They really didn’t do any fundraising,” said Linda.

“When I came, I was the first Foundation Director. I like starting things from scratch. I applied for the position, and Jim Conzemius, at that time President of the Hospital, hired me. I came to work for him then I found out he was retiring,” more >

issue 2\015 StAugustineMagazine.com 41

continued from page 41

“A few years I came across this quote by Bernard Shaw that I feel describes me” says Linda.

“I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no “brief candle” to me. It is a sort of a splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment, and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations.”

—George Bernard Shaw

Tom & Linda Bartimus

Linda laughs as she goes on to tell the story, “When I started they said, ‘Here’s an empty office. Here’s a telephone, we’ll get you a computer. What else do you need?’ Mr. Gordy came on as hospital president and at that time they had a board of eight people, so we increased the board to 35. The first Gala was Mr. C’s retirement party” The Flagler Hospital is known for hosting St. Augustine’s largest fundraising event of the year, ‘The Flagler Health Care Annual Gala,’ which has a donor base of more than 5,000. Other annual events are the Skeet Shoot at the Rod and Gun Club, the Golf Classic at Marsh Creek Country Club and the Annual Oyster Roast.

Linda said, “Special events play an important role in philanthropy at Flagler Health Care Foundation.”

Today, the heart of the foundation is the more than 100 community leaders and volunteers who comprise its Board of Trustees, serve on committees and work on a number of special events. Flagler Health Care Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization designed for the sole purpose of supporting the hospital through philanthropic funding. It accepts charitable contributions to advance the quality and availability of health care services that Flagler Hospital provides to residents of Northeast Florida.

The Board was reconstructed from eight to 35 trustees who are divided into working committees of the annual fund, special events major gifts and planned gifts. A major obstacle was the widespread community and internal perception that the hospital was already well-funded and did not need to obtain charitable gifts.

Flagler Hospital is committed to providing charity care to persons who have healthcare needs and are uninsured, underinsured, ineligible for government programs, or otherwise unable to pay for medically necessary care based on their individual financial situation.

42 StAugustineMagazine.com issue 2\015

As the community started to grow surrounding the hospital, Linda was a complete visionary. To tackle the challenge of more patients needing more money, Linda started her idea for the Connectors Program. “The idea is to get a group of neighbors together that want to help connect the neighborhood get closer to the hospital and the hospital closer to the community,” said Linda.

The Marsh Creek Connectors raised $135,000 this year to purchase I-Stan, a state-of-the-art human patient simulator, which is used extensively to train emergency medical personnel at Flagler Hospital and throughout the St. Johns County community. They also supported the purchase of a portable ultrasound machine.

They recently completed a campaign to raise $161,000 to purchase a state-of-the-art portable X-ray machine for Flagler Hospital’s Emergency Care Center. This exciting technology allows for immediate processing within seconds at the patient’s bedside, speeding diagnostics and care.

This equipment also provides the highest image quality available with significantly less discomfort to the patient.

Flagler Health Care Foundation manages a variety of designated funds. Donors can choose the fund they wish to benefit with their gift or designate their gift to be used where it is needed the most. A donor, under certain circumstances, may even establish a new designated fund.

“The Foundation can only give funds to the hospital support treatment for some of its patients in need,” said Linda. “Anything we do has to support the hospital. There is an application process. We have committees that are employees of the hospital that are on call 24 hours so that within two days, we can give them an answer. We even established an employee emergency fund because if you can help an employee in an emergency, you are helping the hospital.”

When asked what she’ll take way from building the foundation has meant for her, Linda said, “The spirit of the St. Augustine community, the people that I have met, the support they give the hospital and their willingness to help. This is a unique community. People are very open. They are very caring and very giving. Not only did that enable me to do my job, but if I were to take credit for anything, it would be because of the support and the willingness for people in this community to help one another.”

Linda continued, “I work very hard at whatever I do. I’ve always had a lot of different interest. I’ve always done a multitude of things. Please understand I’m not sad about retirement. Everything has grown so much. I felt really good because I started something that I know are will go on to serve and flourish with a lot of help from a lot of wonderful people. You can’t do anything without help from other people. I’ve enjoyed doing it.”

Heather Allen will take on Linda’s position as Executive Director of the foundation. “Please support her and please work with her just as you have with me. Show her what a wonderful community it is. I want to see Flagler Hospital make the foundation bigger and better than ever.

Linda announced her retirement in October. “I set the date for my retirement. I wanted to stage this last Gala. I wanted to see it through. I knew after the Gala was the perfect time for a new person to come in,” said Linda.

The 2015 Gala XIII: Celebrando Nuestra Herencia Española (Celebrating our Spanish Heritage) was hosted by the Foundation this May at Hammock Beach Resort, and the event raised more than $275,000 for Flagler Hospital. The Foundation will continue the tradition with a 14th Annual Gala that is scheduled for May 2022, 2016 at Hammock Beach Resort. g

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“Linda, in her 13 years of service at Flagler Hospital took a multi function Foundation activity and brought it up to power with the rest of the hospital. Her tireless persistence work developed a meaningful level of contributions, which are absolutely essential to a quality patient center experience. I have been very pleased to have worked with her.”

— Jim Conzemius

“We greatly appreciate Linda’s dedicated years of service to the Flagler Health Care Foundation,” said Flagler Hospital President & CEO Joe Gordy. “The tremendous success of our recent gala and the many positive relationships forged with our community are a testament to Linda’s vision and leadership.”

Linda Bartimus was hired over 13 years ago to create a viable foundation for Flagler Hospital. She has certainly accomplished that goal through her hard work and dedication to the Hospital.

Her first major fund raiser was the first Gala, honoring Jim Conzemius as he retired. She just finished a very successful number 13 - raising over $200,000!

Linda and I have enjoyed a warm relationship with her over these past years as she has made Flagler Hospital her first priority for success.

—Ray and Linda Matuza

“I worked with Linda for 11 years. We started at the hospital on the same day. I started in accounting then later they moved me down to her department. We meshed together immediately and every since became close friends almost family. She was just as sweet and as nice as she is now. I know the hospital and the fund raising community is going to miss someone of her giving. When she is raising money she puts all of her whole heart into it. She will be missed mostly for kindness and being a true heartfelt friend/family member. No matter what she’s going to do in her retirement I know she will be on the-top. I know our friendship will never be broken.”

— Paula Jaillet, Development Assistant

“Linda Bartimus has been the face of the Flagler Healthcare Foundation for many years. We are so grateful to her for her tireless energy and commitment. We wish her a well deserved, peaceful and lovely retirement while she cruises around the world. Thank you Linda!”

—Joe and Jane Boles

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Age:

I’m 61 years young two days ago!

Music:

I think everyone has music inside the heart. A special area for the type of music they like. Music is so important in our lives, the lyrics of the songs. I put on songs to help me in life to remind me of the good times or certain situations. Everyone’s got situations. If somebody breaks your heart or a good friend or family member passes away.

Certain songs you listen to, the lyrics at that point, really open up and make sense. Where as before they didn’t make much sense. It was just nice harmony. I totally 101% use music as therapy.

Money:

What’s that?! I worked hard and smart in North Jersey in New York City as an ad agency Art Director and retired early. I don’t have to work but I do photography.

Success:

To me personally it’s not all about money, for sure. It’s about relationships with friends. Friendships are precious. I’ve got a few friends and lot of acquaintances. But a friend is someone you can call on and 3 or 4 o’clock in the morning if you need help. Someone that will come running. You’ll know they’re there for you.

Failure:

If someone doesn’t have failure in life, they haven’t tried. I believe if you have a dream, or an idea, or take a chance at a job, or a place to live. If you do succeed, great - if you don’t, great. Better to have tried and failed then have not tried and succeeded.

Celebrity:

Well I’m a guy so I like female celebrities. Whether it’s musicians, actors, actresses but don’t worship them like an idol. You should worship God and not people. I don’t ever want to be a celebrity. Just want to be out there to help people. And if I add to the world before I leave the world doing something good then I’m happy. I never want to be praised. You should praise God. He’s the celebrity.

Art:

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David Saunders Mermaid Photographer

46 StAugustineMagazine.com issue 2\015

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