Nancy Sikes-Kline

Just a quick update on the subject of multi-modal transportation in the City of St. Augustine.

• The Bicycle Plan for the City of St. Augustine is final now.  A special thanks to the North Florida Transportation Planning Organization for funding it. Its linked here: http://www.firstcoastmpo.com/images/uploads/general/saint+augustine+bike+plan+20111209.pdf

• VeloFest headed by Heather Sutherland has gotten permits approved for a two (2) day cycle festival in April with the 40 mile Wrigley Ride and the Old City Crit.  VeloFest will help us raise awareness on cycling safety and share the road principles.  http://www.velofest.org/

• New Signage & Sharrows for the Bridge of Lions. The historic two-lane 1920s bridge presents a challenge to cyclists coming into and out of the historic city so the Florida Department of Transportation has installed “Share the Road” signage there and has future funding for new “sharrow markings” or pavement markings.  Expect to see new signs and paint in the next month or so.  Public awareness posters will be distributed.

• Route Maps: work begins on designing and printing maps for cycling.  Leisure tourism officials recognize the demographics of cycling enthusiasts and their potential to bring substantial dollars into the community.  We’ll be looking to them to support production of the map(s).

• PUD minimum standards requiring bike racks.  Yes.  Expect to see a proposal before the City Commission this year that will require bike racks in future PUD rezoning requests in the historic districts.

• More “Cycling Savvy” courses geared to teach bicyclists how to ride safely on our streets.  http://cyclingsavvy.org/about/3-part-course/

Bike plan press from the St. Augustine Record here:  http://staugustine.com/opinions/2011-01-18/our-view-city-lacks-bicycle-friendliness#.TxHrLYFYWSo

Next up: Trains

St. Augustine North Davis Shores (SANDS) Neighborhood Association has produced a video on the first 50 years of Davis Shores history titled Davis Shores: Growing Up in the Venice That Never Was.

Long time residents were interviewed,  old photos and postcards were gathered and one fine neighbor, Mr. Kevin O’Brien stepped forward to create and film the hour long video.  The effort was the brain child of neighbor Jeanette Berk, who produced it as if birthing a child.  That labor lasted almost three years in production before release this spring.

Stories feature personal memories and accounts on mosquitoes, trees, snow and hurricanes, among other things.  The history of Davis Shores development is one of the great stories of the boom-to-bust Old Florida; a  brand new neighborhood born out a developer’s dream, how it grew and prospered, and even got its own neighborhood school, R.B. Hunt Elementary School.

Many folks generously wrote checks, asked friends and neighbors to gather old photos, brainstormed to find the neighborhood’s oldest residents and volunteered time to help with the interviews.  It was truly a neighborhood wide effort, with so many folks caring enough to pitch in and make it happen.

All the people of SANDS deserve a big pat on the back and high five for pulling together to preserve the very personal history of Davis Shores.

Congratulations!

My own special thanks and appreciation goes to Arthur Milam of Ponte Vedra Beach, who donated his beautiful family heirloom book of photographs documenting the stunning 1,500 acre dredging project that created North Davis Shores in the 1920s.  Mr. Milam donated his personal collection of the Burghert Brothers photographs to the St. Augustine Historical Society, so that they could be used in the Davis Shores DVD.   Mr. Milam’s generous donation also provided the vast majority of photographs in the Beth Rogero Bowen’s book,  Bridge to A Dream: The Most Beautiful Bridge in Dixie, published by the St. Augustine Historical Society in 2010.

Davis Shores DVD: For those people that may want to get a copy of the Davis Shores DVD it can be obtained for a $30.00 donation (please make checks out to SANDS. Mail to: Jeanette Berk 52 North Saint Augustine Blvd,Saint Augustine, Fl 32080). The money will be used for projects within North Davis Shores. Call 904-810-2171 or by email at jeanetteberk@comcast.net.

Yes, I have them and use them regularly.  More frequently than this blog.  Actually I prefer them to blogging.

You are invited to “friend” me on Facebook or “follow” me on Twitter.

Thanks for visiting!

Once again, I would like to thank the many many voters, supporters, endorsers, friends, well wishers, helpers, contributors, and sign bearers who hung with me during this last campaign.

A very special thank you to Andy and Kathy Schirmacher who helped us put up and take down our big signs down speedy quick; to my husband and children who have been there for me through the thick and thin; to my dear friends Becky, Kathy, Jeanette and Theresa, who always challenge me and hold me accountable.

Now, let’s see what we can do with four more years!

On Nancy Sikes-Kline: “I’ve known her for 25 years; she continues her education in broad areas, isn’t afraid to change her mind when the evidence supports new thinking, and has facilitated the compromises necessary as an elected Commissioner representing her constituents without compromising herself in hypocrisy or abandonment of her basic values.” — Bieramar

My Endorsements for re-election:  St. Augustine Record and St. Johns County Board of Realtors

Thank you to Historic City Media News for picking up the phone and calling me directly to ask my reasons for not accepting an invitation to go to Spain!

You can read it here: http://www.historiccity.com/2010/staugustine/news/florida/why-sikes-kline-is-not-going-to-spain-4727

• Tomorrow night the City Commission will meet at its regular time.   Homelessness and aggressive panhandling is the #1 problem facing the city now  — I have asked the City Manager and staff to present an overview of problems and solutions to act on at the meeting.

• On the delegation to Spain:  I feel very strongly about this and can speak on my own behalf to say I did not accept the Spain invitation because my work is here with my family and people of the city.  At least one Commissioner should remain in the City at all times in case of emergency.

• AMTRAK!  I’ll be sharing some good news on this front so tune in at:   http://www.co.st-johns.fl.us/Watch_GTV/index.aspx

• EARLY VOTING begins Monday August 9th!  Get out there and vote!!!!

“Long before Nancy Sikes-Kline was a city commissioner, her work to improve the city was evident in her historic preservation and heritage tourism activities.

As a commissioner she has not let go of those interests but has taken on the regional transportation council assignment to ensure our city gains those tax dollars for our long-term economic benefit.

We believe Nancy Sikes-Kline should be returned to office.”

- St. Augustine Record Editorial Board