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DOWNTOWN NEIGHBORS 03.13.2013

A standing ovation from all of us to Cathy Brown, the longtime Executive Director of the St Johns Council on Aging, who will be handing over the day-to-day operation and management of the COA this coming June to Becky Yanni, Development and Volunteer Manager. In the past 13 years under Cathy’s leadership the COA has grown, blossomed and changed the lives of innumerable people. Her energy and enthusiasm is indefatigable and we all know you can’t be in the same room with her without volunteering to do something. Enjoy your sabbatical and we’ll be waiting right here when you get back!

This past Sunday marked the celebration and recognition of five amazing women who came together to be honored as the 2013 recipients of the Dr Gail Pflaster ROWITA Awards. ROWITA was the brainchild of the late Dr Pflaster and stands for Recognizing Outstanding Women in the Arts. A full house at the Limelight Theatre watched and cheered as Diane Bradley, Debbie McDade, Patti Rang, Mary Siess and Wendy Tatter were presented with their awards by Joy D’Elia who has taken the over the reins and by Tommy Bledsoe. Past ROWITA winner Jean Rahner delivered the keynote speech and the winners were introduced by the very people who nominated them for the award.

If you know these women, call them to congratulate and thank them for their tireless contributions to the arts. If you don’t know them, make it a point to get to know them because you will be richer for it.

Save the dates –

Don’t miss the first ever Paseo Pastel – St Augustine Chalk Walk event being held the weekend of March 23. Organized by StAR (St Augustine Regional Council), the pre-event party will be from 7-9pm on March 22 at the Visitor Information Center, 10 W Castillo Drive, and all the participating artists will be on hand. The Chalk Walk will take place on March 23 between 9am and 5pm on the sidewalks in the Promenade between the parking garage and the Visitor Information Center and the 24th is an all-day event with the public walk around and sidewalk washing. Tickets for the pre-event party are $25 and you can find them and more information at staugustinechalkwalk.com. The Children’s Museum of St Johns is organizing the Kids Corner which will be available for the event’s youngest visitors to create their own chalk art. Volunteers are needed for the Saturday event where visitors will need greeting and artists support. This inaugural event showcases career chalk artists and promises to draw quite the crowd as 50+ artists compete for cash prizes – don’t miss it! Wendy Keohane is the volunteer coordinator and you can reach her at [email protected].

Downtowner Dick “Frog” Bozung invites one and all to the 2013 Spring Equinox Community Dance being held on March 22 from 8-11pm at the Willie Galimore Center at the south end of Riberia Street. Polish up your dancing shoes and get ready to boogie to the sounds of rock and roll, R & B, world music and then some. All ages are welcome and anyone under 17 gets in for free. The rest of us will pay a $3 admission at the door. If you’ve ever been to one of Frog’s community dances, you know how much fun is to be had. For everyone else, be assured that a good time is assured.

Residents of Flagler Model Land Company are reminded that the first quarterly meeting of their neighborhood association will be held on March 25 at 7pm in the Markland House on King Street. Becky Greenberg invites everyone to attend so you can meet new neighbors (and there are some!), greet the old ones and get updated on what’s happening in the city. Becky promises it’s going to be a good year.

Have you ever wondered how the artistic process works? How creative people choose their methods, materials and objectives? How does art happen? If these questions pique your curiosity you’ll want to accept Karen Sheridan’s invitation for a free artists’ lecture at Plum Gallery at 9 Aviles Street from 6-8pm on March 30. The gallery has partnered with Sara Pedigo, Liz Robbins, Barbara Cornett, Theresa Segal and Deedra Ludwig to present an instructional evening with refreshments and wine served. The artists represent different mediums and styles so there will be something interesting and informative for everyone. For more info you can call 825-0069 or visit plumartgallery.com.

It’s good to be back after a season of flu, allergies and the most interesting weather I can recall over the past 22 years – let’s dust off the pollen and welcome spring to the city.

Irene Arriola Real Estate, Inc.
81 King Street, Suite B Saint Augustine, FL 32084
Email: [email protected] | Office phone: 904.829.2002
Cell phone: 904.669.0691 | Fax: 904.829.2029