Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Boat Motor Burglary

On Wednesday night Dec, 23rd, 2008 sometime after midnight or Thursday morning our motor was stolen off our boat sitting on the boat lift in our “Pelican” canal, in the backyard, we live at 218 Puebla Road.

This motor is a White Johnston 9.9 Hp, short shaft.

We have the ID number and serial number of this motor and the sheriff office is looking for a description of a boat that might have been seem in our canals on that evening or morning or any information of who may have done this.

If you have any information at all, please notify me or the sheriff’s office immediately.

You may reach me by my cell phone at (904)484-6368
Home number is (904)471-8774
Work Number (904)471-6299
Or my personal email is gmartinello@comcast.net
My work email is bmmc@comcast.net

Maybe together we can find these criminals and stop them before some else gets robbed.
Thank you and Happy holidays to all,
Gene Martinello

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Treasure Beach Water Main Replacement Project Intent

The goal of the Treasure Beach Water Main Replacement Project is to improve water quality and pressure in the Treasure Beach area. By removing the galvanized water mains and replacing them with PVC, the rusty colored water will be eliminated. By increasing the water main size, the low pressure during high demand times will be eliminated. An added benefit of the new water mains will be an increase in fire protection on many of the dead end roads.

Summary:
This project will include replacing 6,900 ft of two inch galvanized pipe with 3600 ft of six inch PVC pipe, 3,300 ft of four inch PVC pipe and 220 new 1” water services from the water main to the customers’ meter. The construction will take place on the following roads: Majorca, Rio Royale, Ole, Rojo, Ajo, Treasure Beach, Basque, Pizarro, Ventura, Hildago, Puebla, Villa Verda, Barco, Desoto, Gomez, and Salado.

Project Time Line:Date Item


December 16, 2008 Board of County Commissioners Awards Bid

January 23, 2009 County receives full executed contract and bond from Contractor.

January 27, 2009 Pre Construction meeting between County and Contractor.

February 1, 2009 County issues Notice to Proceed to contractor so the Contractor may begin mobilizing to project site.

August 1, 2009 Contractor shall be substantial finished with the project.

September 1, 2009 The Contractor shall be completely finished with the project and have all equipment off the project.

The construction schedule determining the order and time for each individual road is being developed. The contractor will be notifying residents prior to beginning construction on each roadway.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

Volunteers spend time visiting, feeding the elderly

By Janis Dell'Olio

I have been spending a lot of time in our neighborhood working as a companion caregiver for the elderly, and I have noticed that, as always, Meals On Wheels is one or our most effective organizations. I can not even imagine what the lives of so many elderly shut-ins would be like without the freshly prepared, nutritious meals delivered to their door five times a week and without the dedicated volunteers who deliver a smile, a friendly chat and sometimes even a newspaper along with the meals.

Kay Green is the manager of volunteer personnel for the program, which is administered by the St. Johns County Council on Aging. She told me that Meals on Wheels provides 300 meals a day, which are distributed countywide by 230 dedicated volunteers. Let me introduce you to a few of these volunteers, who unanimously report that they get as much or more out of the program than the clients they so generously serve.

For instance, Joe Ciriello, of St. Augustine Shores, is a retired steel mill worker from Pennsylvania who has been delivering meals since 2002. He "officially" delivers once a week in the State Road 207/Wildwood Drive area, and he also fills in when others can't make it. Joe also drives elderly clients to and from their doctor appointments. "They have all become my friends," he said. "I enjoy visiting them and helping them out."

Marion and Bill Libby live at Treasure Beach, but they are in our neighborhood nearly every day delivering meals. With gas prices rising, Meals on Wheels is having difficulty finding volunteers, but Marion tells me that they simply combine their delivery routes with grocery shopping and other errands that need to be done anyway.

"The important thing is to help others," she said.

They are both retired military (Bill from the Army and the Army National Guard, Marion from the Navy and the Army National Guard). These active folks are avid bicyclists and, on their bikes, participate in the Treasure Beach neighborhood safety patrol.

Don McAllister told me that he and his wife, Rita, have been delivering meals for five years and appreciate the positive feedback they get from the clients. They deliver meals in St. Augustine South, and they live on Anastasia Island with their dog, Molly, a 1-year-old yellow Labrador. Molly recently has been certified by the American Kennel Club as a therapy dog. Don proudly explained that Molly successfully completed a special training course, equipping her to visit nursing homes and other care centers. Last week, Molly made her first official visit to the Summerville Assisted Living Center on U.S. 1 South.

Virginia Beasley, who lives in St. Augustine South, got involved with the program when her husband, Joseph, died, a little more than five years ago. A native of Massachusetts, Virginia was involved with senior housing programs during her professional life and welcomed the chance to be involved with seniors in this program.

"I love them all," she said, but she is especially fond of one client, a bedridden woman who is blind, but always so pleasant and cheerful that she brightens Virginia's day. Virginia is very involved with family. Her sister, Barbara Haynes, has just moved to St. Augustine from Massachusetts, and we welcome her. Virginia's two grandchildren, Zachary and Makenzie Crete, attend Otis Mason Elementary School, just off U.S. 1 South.

Like all our grandchildren, they are both highly gifted, and Zachary, 10, is running for class office.

These are only a few of the dedicated volunteers who "keep the meals on the wheels."

If you have the time and inclination to get involved with this program, give Kay Green a call at 209-3685.



Scholarship program: Teresa Nizza, president of the St. Augustine South Improvement Association (SASIA), is very excited about the SASIA scholarship program. Scholarship applications will be distributed to all area high schools in February and eligible students are enthusiastically invited to apply.

Last year's winner, Rachel LaFlam, of St. Augustine South, received a check for $1,000 plus an additional check for $100 that the scholarship committee raised just by putting out a "change car" at the weekly bingo games held at the clubhouse on Royal Road every Thursday at 1 p.m.

Rachel's parents, Diane and Keith LaFlam, tell me that Rachel, a graduate of St. Augustine High School, has begun her freshman year at Southeastern University "and she loves it!"

Keith LaFlam is owner of the LaFlam Design Group, located on U.S. 1 South. Diane LaFlam is a full-time mom. Rachel is the second of the couple's four children. Their eldest, Andrew LaFlam, is studying at the University of Central Florida. Two younger brothers will be competing for scholarships soon.



Neighborhood source for fresh fruits and vegetables: "I like to eat trees!" announced Asher Morgan, a small resident of St Augustine Shores, clutching a beautiful head of broccoli that did indeed look like treetops. He was helping his mom shop for vegetables at Currie Produce Market, that bright yellow shop on U.S. 1 South that opened last May,

The Curries are native Floridians fifth generation Floridians, as a matter of fact. The family started out in the last century growing oranges and opened East Palatka Fruit Market in the 1930s. When so many orange trees were lost to freezing temperatures in the 1980's, they decided to concentrate on the retail side of the business, opening their first St. Augustine store on the north side in 1992. Judging by the shoppers I talked to on a recent Saturday, the new store in our neighborhood will be very popular.

On my first visit, I found that Allyson and Patrick Currie have already built up a loyal clientele. "I love it. They have good, fresh stuff" said Joyce Sikes, who lives in Southwood.

http://staugustine.com/stories/100108/community_1001_004.shtml

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Allow Steinheimer's golf cart on sidewalk

By TOM CUSHMAN

Over the past weeks there has been considerable comment on Morris Steinheimer's challenge to the constitutionality of a Florida law. That law prohibits the driving of any type of vehicle that is not powered by "human power" on a sidewalk. I, and attorneys Kara Mort and Anne Marie Gennusa represent Steinheimer, and have challenged the application of this law to an individual in his situation. We feel that the law conflicts with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Article 2 of the Florida Constitution.

The two federal laws require that public resources, such as sidewalks, must be available to all citizens, and the laws are specifically designed to open up public facilities to individuals with disabilities.

Steinheimer is a qualified individual under these laws. He does not have a driver's license, and has been denied a license. In addition, he does not feel that he can safely drive a car on the streets.

He does feel competent to drive his golf cart/mobility device at slow speeds, and has in the past driven his cart along the sidewalks next to State Road A1A. However, driving a car at such slow speeds on the highway would be a danger. He lives in Treasure Beach, and his home is five or six miles from grocery stores and church.

Travel that far in a manual wheelchair is unrealistic. Electric wheelchairs and scooters are prohibited by the same law that prohibits Steinheimer's golf cart/mobility device. The law is unconstitutional because it denies Steinheimer and his partner, Mandy Fugate, their rights to live as normal a life as possible. This not only violates the constitutional rights of such individuals, it makes no sense whatsoever.

Ironically, so far, the state of Florida, Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, has purchased two such vehicles for Steinheimer. One was stolen, the other was driven until it was worn out. What purpose did the state have in mind for the vehicles, if Steinheimer is prohibited from driving on the sidewalks? Does anyone believe it will be safer for him to drive on the highway in a vehicle that cannot exceed 20 mph?

He is not asking for permission to drive unsafely. He has only requested what the ADA calls a "reasonable accommodation" to be allowed to drive his mobility device on the sidewalk. By issuing the citation the city of St. Augustine Beach has denied him and his partner such an accommodation. So they challenged the application of the law because it deprives them of the use of the sidewalk.

The inability to use the sidewalks essentially makes Steinheimer and Fugate prisoners in their own home.

There is very limited bus service, and it is never available closer than mile from their door. How are they to get where they need to go? They are not wealthy people. Cab fares are out of their financial reach. The only available solution at this point is to drive the golf cart/mobility device on the shoulder of the road. That is a potential traffic hazard, and threat to the public safety.

Steinheimer's next step must be an appeal of the denial of their challenge in the county court.

Steinheimer has only asked that he and Fugate be given equal access to public facilities.

I suggest that is the law. It's been the law, at least since 1990 when the ADA was passed.

It's time it was recognized and enforced.

Tom Cushman is a longtime St. Augustine resident and defense attorney.

http://staugustine.com/stories/081008/opinions_081008_034.shtml

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Couple's love survives court ruling

Barred from traveling by golf cart, duo faces limited options

By CHAD SMITH

Fighting an uphill legal battle is difficult for anyone. But it's even more so when you have trouble simply walking out of the house.

That's what Morris Steinheimer and Mandy Fugate are facing.

Both sustained severe head injuries decades ago, long before they met, and have several disabilities. For them, the key to some sort of normalcy and independence over the past several years has been a golf cart.





Normally reserved for toting golfers around 18 holes, the cart carries Steinheimer, 45, and Fugate, 32, to the grocery store, to Anastasia Baptist Church and the YMCA, all several miles from their Treasure Beach Road home.

That is, it used to.

After a St. Johns County Court judge on July 10 upheld a state law that bars golf carts from sidewalks, the couple has had a difficult time adjusting back to immobility and dependence on Fugate's mother, Sandy Middlemiss, on top of trying to figure out the next step in the legal arena.

In March, Steinheimer was arrested after refusing to sign a citation for driving on a sidewalk He was hoping to get the judge to rule the law unconstitutional and wipe the citation off his record.

Middlemiss lives with the couple and said since the ruling they have been worried about what lies ahead in a world where they can't just pick up and go.

"It's been upsetting," Steinheimer said. "We're trying to survive, and for us we don't feel like we're hurting anybody."

For them, there are few alternatives.

There are motorized scooters. But Middlemiss said she bought one for her daughter, who is paralyzed on her left side, years ago, and she crashed it.

Driving is another option. But Steinheimer's injury stems from an automobile accident in which a friend died, and he has been fearful of driving since. Also, Middlemiss and the couple's attorney said it's unlikely he'd be able to get a license because of his disabilities.

There are taxis. But that would become too costly.

And there is the bus. But Middlemiss said the St. Johns County Council on Aging bus that would take the pair to eat with senior citizens on Fridays would come earlier and earlier. The driver would honk the horn when they weren't on time. Middlemiss said that caused them to rush.

"And when Mandy and Morris rush around, they fall," she said.

The Sunshine Bus stops on A1A at the end of Treasure Beach Road. But Steinheimer said that's a long walk from their home, especially considering he needs a walker and Fugate needs a cane to get around.

Tom Cushman, one of the couple's lawyers, said a hearing on Steinheimer's citation is scheduled for Friday. But after that, he said he would have to talk with his clients to determine whether they would appeal the judge's July 10 ruling.

"I think we pretty much have to appeal it, or otherwise they're pretty much stuck in their house," Cushman said.

The couple met at an Atlanta conference for people with brain injuries and got married shortly after in September 1998. They legally divorced last summer so Fugate could get the health insurance benefit from her father's Social Security because she had trouble finding a provider, Middlemiss said.

"In God's eyes, they are still married," she said.

Steinheimer and Fugate have been in separate states visiting relatives since early July but will be back home early this week.

In a telephone interview from Michigan, Fugate said she was upset by the judge's ruling. But, she added, she and her partner would press on no matter what.

"What? Do you think we're just gonna lay down and die?" she said. "I don't think so."

From his parents' home in Kentucky, Steinheimer said that, though this has been a difficult time for the couple, their bond has eased the tension.

"I'm her better half, and she's my better half," he said. "Love survives even after complications."

http://staugustine.com/stories/072708/news_072708_044.shtml

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Lawyer: Golf cart ban violates Constitution

Opponent says sidewalks are for pedestrians, not vehicles

By RICHARD PRIOR

An attorney for Morris Steinheimer argued Monday that the disabled man has a constitutional right to drive his golf cart on the sidewalks of St. Augustine Beach.

Steinheimer, who lives on Treasure Beach Road, has to travel a "substantial distance" to "church, grocery stores and other things" available to the public, said attorney Thomas E. Cushman.

His client is entitled to the "reasonable accommodation" of a golf cart to run ordinary errands with his "life companion," Mandy Fugate, who also is physically impaired, said Cushman.

Steinheimer suffered a severe brain injury in a four-wheeler accident in 1983, when he was 21 years old, Cushman said.

Fugate was injured in an ATV accident when she was 11 years old.

The couple got a divorce in June 2007 so Fugate could collect a portion of her father's Social Security benefits, said her mother, Sandy Middlemiss.

Denying Steinheimer a "reasonable accommodation" for his condition, Cushman said, is a violation of the U.S. and Florida Constitutions, the Americans With Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Steinheimer told St. Johns County Judge Charles J. Tinlin that he has not had a driver's license since his accident. He doesn't feel physically able to drive a car, and he has concerns about maneuvering a car in traffic, he told the judge.

Without a driver's license, he can't operate the golf cart in the roadway.

Smaller "mobility devices," such as wheelchairs and Segway Personal Transporters aren't large enough to hold two people and their purchases, argued Cushman, who was assisted by local attorneys Anne Marie Gennusa and Kara E. Mort.

In response to the judge's question, Steinheimer said his golf cart has a top speed of 18 mph.

"A golf cart going 18 miles an hour on a sidewalk with pedestrians could certainly do some damage," Tinlin said.

Mort and Cushman cited that portion of the state statute covering motorized scooters that would be allowed on sidewalks.

They are restricted to three wheels and a top speed of 30 mph.

Steinheimer was ticketed March 29 near Jack's BBQ on A1A Beach Boulevard. He was arrested and later released on a pre-set bond of $200.

SAB Police Chief Richard Hedges said later that pedestrians claimed they had to move into the grass and onto A1A to get out of the way of the cart.

Steinheimer had received written warnings and citations in the past for driving on sidewalks. That was his first arrest.

Tinlin asked Cushman if it was true that the police department was responding to citizen complaints when an officer cited Steinheimer.

Cushman said he didn't know -- but he has collected the signatures of 3,000 people who think Steinheimer and Fugate should be allowed to drive on the sidewalk.

Asked by the judge to assess several letters to the editor that criticized Steinheimer, Cushman said he preferred to keep his feelings to himself.

"My opinion is (the letter writers) have never had a disability; they've don't need a reasonable accommodation."

"Steinheimer has a physical impairment which substantially limits one or more of his major life activities," his attorneys wrote in their motion to dismiss the charge. "(T)hat major life activity is walking."

Geoff Dobson, city attorney for St. Augustine Beach, brought a proposed ordinance before the City Commission a year ago that would have allowed Steinheimer and Fugate to use the golf cart on sidewalks under city jurisdiction.

The commission dismissed the proposal.

Even if it had been approved, the change would have covered only two streets in the city's jurisdiction - Mickler Boulevard and Old Beach Road. The other roadways are under state or county jurisdiction.

If Steinheimer feels he is "not qualified to operate a slow-moving electric vehicle or golf cart on the highway," Dobson said, he is "probably not qualified to drive the golf cart where there is pedestrian traffic."

He told Tinlin that the City doesn't discriminate against Steinheimer and Fugate. The distinction between their cart and the variety of motorized wheelchairs that is allowed "has to do with the number of people who can ride in the vehicle," he said.

The smaller vehicles aren't so large that they take over the sidewalks, which are for pedestrians, not vehicles, Dobson insisted.

"To open the door ... to allow golf carts on all the sidewalks of the state" would be unreasonable, he said.

Cushman wasn't put off by that prospect.

If a decision in his client's favor forced the Legislature to examine the needs of those with disabilities, "So be it," he said.

Tinlin said he hopes to have a decision by the end of the week.

http://staugustine.com/stories/070808/news_070808_055.shtml

Saturday, June 28, 2008

BURGLARIES, THEFTS

What: Gold rings
Value: $442.72
Where, when: 200 block Treasure Beach Road, June 20.
(SJCSO)

http://staugustine.com/stories/062708/police_062708_037.shtml

Friday, June 27, 2008

Sale to benefit Homeless Coalition

A three-day 4th of July garage sale will be held July 3-5 to benefit the Homeless Coalition.

The sale will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day at 6301 Costanero Road in Treasure Beach, off State Road A1A South, at Crescent Beach.

Condo furniture, antiques, books, kitchenware, a Maytag glass-top stove, nice refrigerator plus $1 bags of clothing are among the bargain items to be found.

All proceeds benefit Emergency Services and Homeless Coalition's building program. Donations are appreciated. For information, call (904) 824-6623.

http://staugustine.com/stories/062708/community_062708_041.shtml

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Jerry J. Biskner

Jerry J. Biskner, age 32, of St. Augustine, died early Saturday morning, June 14, 2008, from injuries sustained in an auto accident. Jerry was born in Pontiac, Mich., and had resided in St. Augustine since 1995, moving here from Clarkston, Mich.

He was a dedicated employee of Ideal Stant Corp. in St. Augustine for 10 years. He was a loving son, brother, husband and father and was an avid fan of all professional sports teams from the city of Detroit but especially the Detroit Lions.

Funeral services will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18, 2008, at St. Johns Family Funeral Home, 385 State Road 207, with the Rev. John Fletcher officiating. A visitation will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. and from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home before the funeral service.


Jerry is survived by his wife, Sherry Biskner; a daughter, Amber Miller; sons, Anthony Griffin and Austin Biskner, all of St. Augustine; his parents, Douglass and Cindy Berndt; and his little sister, Kensy Elizabeth Berndt, all of Treasure Beach. He is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins and his dog, Cocoa Butter.

St. Johns Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Letter: Parking nonexistent off Matanzas Inlet Beach

By Allan Howard

Editor: In response to a letter to the editor published on June 3, 2008, "Suggests electric vehicles for Matanzas Inlet beach."

The writer suggests banning driving on the beach. My question is, where would you have those hundreds and hundreds of cars park? From Ocean Trace to Fort Matanzas there is virtually no off-beach parking. Any available land belongs to the private sector and is occupied with buildings.

Should we park on the highway and if so where would you have access walkways to the beach? Would the access points be the same as those in Ponte Vedra, nonexistent?

Allan Howard
St. Augustine

http://staugustine.com/stories/061008/opinions_061008_054.shtml



==========================================================================
THE JUNE 3RD LETTER:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Letter: Suggests electric vehicles for Matanzas Inlet beach
By Michael BonDurant
Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Editor: The following is my comment to the National Park Service, The Record, and to John Mica, regarding driving on Fort Matanzas National Monument property.

I am in favor of eliminating automobile driving at the Matanzas Inlet on National Monument beach property. Cars are everywhere and causing pollution in our cities, why do we want to continue to pollute the air, water and sand on our beaches?

As an alternative, I would recommend that the Park Service rent out electric vehicles for driving on the beach, thereby making some money for the park maintenance.

In addition, I would frankly recommend that this would be an excellent plan for all the beaches in St. Augustine. Pollution, wildlife protection, not to mention protection of the people lying on the sand, it's time to eliminate driving on our beaches. There are simply too many cars, too much noise and pollution, and too many injuries caused by our addiction to driving on the sand.

What is the big thrill anyway? Are we too lazy to walk a few feet from the parking area? Do we not value our beautiful beaches enough to park our nasty, oil dripping and smog-emitting cars on the street or in lots where they belong?

Michael BonDurant
St. Augustine

http://staugustine.com/stories/060308/opinions_060308_045.shtml

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

St Johns County Lighting Ordinance

In August 2006, the St Johns County Commission passed an ordinance (# 2006-82) effective August 3,2006 and reads that NO LIGHT of MORE THAN 25 WATTS is allowed within 50 feet of a dock or any body of water. This includes Treasure Beach!!!

I have had complaints of glaring lights (over 25 watts) shining directly into the canal neighbor across the canal. This is unacceptable!

I am asking the residents who are suffering from this situation to contact the County Code Enforcement Office (209-0734) and report this violation. Don’t even attempt to confront the property owner across from you. This is the county’s job to do. Remember code enforcement is driven by complaints .You don’t need the heartburn. When you call the office – get a complaint number - so you can check on the situation if it seems that nothing is being done.

The complaint is held anonymous so your name is never given out.

To the property owners who have the bright, glaring lights referred to in the above - you know who you are. If you don’t want a complaint made against you that could result in fines and penalties levied by St Johns County and possible court fees – please take correct this situation immediately.

The Board of Directors of Treasure Beach

http://www.clk.co.st-johns.fl.us/minrec/OrdinanceBooks/2006/ORD2006-82.pdf

NOT all dock builders are created equal!

Recently a new twin boat lift system is now under construction in the Egret Canal part of Treasure Beach. The dock builder is now facing headaches and the area neighbors appear to be encroached by the lifts openings using the property beside the home owners actual sea wall area to enter or leave the lift system with his boats. Some years ago I personally ran a large dock building company in Savannah, Georgia and learned a few things back then. After watching this job site unfold with its predictable out come, its obvious why we end up with rules and regulations governing our contractors and home properties. The out come on this one is so wrong that even the property owner is having one lift removed or changed, he's now frustrated with the job that is well under way. Without a drawing or any idea what he was getting into, the property owner placed his trust in the builders ability to construct the twin lift system for two twenty foot boats and a floating dock with no regard to the properties next to his. This was leading to disaster and cost investments that would run him into a nightmare that is still unfolding even as I write this. With the job site, still unfinished but still trying to move ahead it appears the builder has no clue or experience with Treasure Beach. First off, I'd like to point out that a twenty foot boat requires more than twenty feet inside the lift area, plus more than twenty feet to allow the boat an entrance. Simple math will tell anyone, you'll need more than the eighty feet for a twin system if your going to stay within your own property bounds in Treasure Beach canals for most of us. The average property is only some eighty feet wide at the sea wall alone for most of our canal owners. Now if we add a floating dock to this system the owner now requires over one hundred feet of property to contain this amount of construction, enough said about this math topic, but I just wish someone else had to deal with the next step. The job site appears to now be going out beyond the fifteen foot boundary set by the county, so perhaps we'll have to get into this next issue soon. The dock builder refused to dismantle the second lift until he could sell it to another job site. The site now under construction for about two months is another sad point. I've never seen a small job take so long and stop so many many times for days without anything further being done. Weather was never a factor, and yet we still see the dock builder show up for a few hours here and there. I pray we don't see this builder in our area again, but I'm sure he'll find work nearby sooner or later. To further add problems, this builder used only a water pump to install the pilings. This is generally ok for decks, but for a hoist system that will see loading and unloading, a good jet and hammering in is the best way to settle the piling. The builder purchased oversized piling and cut what he couldn't use off the top. What this means is the home owner paid for lumber that couldn't be used on the job site, but paid to have it installed. Most builders will charge per piling and per foot. Cutting the tops is normal, but not when you take about eight to ten feet off. The builder admitted he hit something in the mud and had to settle for seven foot depth to nine feet depending on each piling. From my property my first note was that the piling was NOT marked for depth, so its obvious the builder has no real idea how much piling is below the mud line, but also the old sea wall is heading for failure, which means this job should never have been started without replacing the sea wall first.

The home owner has discovered yet another problem that we all face. The lift can't be used unless we have high water levels to load or unload the boat, the lift when it hits bottom unloads the cables and that can be another mess on your hands, and yes, the home owner spent hours on his new lift trying to fix the cables back after the first try using the lift. To add more problems the home owner discovered his second lift would not fit his boat opening if he wished to use it.

I would suggest anyone thinking about getting dock work done to please consider having the dock builder do a drawing of the proposed construction site, and use a tape measure yourself to check for clearances before going ahead with the proposal. Finally, I would also recommend a quick check with our the TBPOA canal committee about your site work for ideas or even a savings in this case before going ahead with the work. The builder should be familar with Treasure Beach and should be able to show past work sites, this should be a must for anyone getting a new dock or deck contracted. On a last note, I would at least have someone monitor the construction from time to time, this can save a lot too before things get too far down the road. Afer a quick meeting with this home owner I discovered the builder was from Jacksonville and doesn't normally do any work in our area.

Report: L.A. Panchuk / Author: The Devil's Magnet / Reporter for X-zone radio

Treasure Beach resident

From the President’s Heart

I was once told by a very close friend - when I was completely overwhelmed by all the problems in the world, that you can’t fix the whole world But you can make your little corner better.

Treasure Beach has had a Board of Directors since our community began. Why?? All of a sudden are we in danger of losing our association???

Are all the retired people in our community too BUSY for 3 hours a month?

Do our families with children care about the neighborhood their children grow up in?

Or is this just another apathetic neighborhood ?

I have worked together with the Board for the past three years to make our neighborhood a better place and now it is very depressing to think that our association may end because NOBODY CARES ENOUGH to volunteer their time.

There are a multitude of things that the Board of Directors do for Treasure Beach. If this association goes away- Who will you call with your neighborhood problems? What will you do to repair an entrance wall ? Who do you think will handle your safety problems in this community with the Sheriffs Office? How about the Beach Walkway? What will happen there in the future? What about our failing canals - Are you ready to deal with the county as an individual ?

Listen I can go on about other situations but I’m not.

Please consider the open positions listed below :

President, Treasurer, Neighborhood Watch Vice President, 2nd Vice President. These jobs need to be filled before the October Meeting.

Please call Paula Murphy at 461-4356 or Rose Larsen at 461-4411 . They are the nominating chairpersons. The board and I will help you with the position you select. I will stay on as president emeritus to assist the board.

Remember- You can make your little corner better.

Sincerely,

Charles Novak
President- TBPOA

RE: A follow up from last issue about construction on the canals in Treasure Beach

Two months ago I pointed out an issue about dock building and installing new work in front of an older seawall in the canals of Treasure Beach titled " Not all dock builders are created equal". Well, folks my article was too accurate and the job has taken the final turn I warned about last month. After Tropical storm Fay gave us heavy rains in our area. The seawall I spoke about, blew out while Fay drifted away, leaving a lot of rain in Treasure Beach. The damage is now more costly than the property owner expected and so he's now facing the full nightmare he insisted on having. I cannot convey how simple it would have been to avoid the now expensive mess of concrete laying in the canal up against the new pilings and boat lift systems. From our vantage point the wall dropped about 2feet and cracked open spilling dirt into our canal system. From the top to the bottom the wall is now at an angle and "pushing" against the new boat lifts that were installed. Already the owner has met with a dock builder to assess the cost to install a new seawall. Without any more surprises, some of the new work will have to be removed to access the wall and dig up the old wall's remains. The materials from the old seawall will create a cost with the job, and the site will run up over anything like just having a seawall repaired or a new one installed. The old wall could have been saved from this blow out, but again you need to know the truth about your own seawall and its depth into the mud line of the canal.

From my past experience with seawalls, they can run a life span from 20 to 40 years before failure occurs. This depends on the type of material used and job conditions, even weather plays a factor for the life of a good seawall. The specifications for a good seawall today are 50% below the mud line, or that is in layman's terms, half the wall should be below the mud line. For an example if your wall is going to be 8ft for exposure, then there should be 8ft of wall buried below the mud line. Basically there are several types of walls to choose from for holding the dirt back so I'll explain each in some detail.

Lets go with the lowest cost for most builders first, and that is wood. These are popular for several reasons, but mainly the price per foot to install them, a wood wall can run from about $200 per linear foot and up depending on soil condition's and job access. A good wood seawall is said to have about 20 to 25 years of life expected in its design, if its installed correctly. The wood walls to be installed are generally lined with piling, that is 2.5CCA rated poles. A good wooden seawall will have a whaler system at the top and about midway along its exposure, the whaler is a heavy timber you'll see running about mid way up on your exposed wall and then a second one at the top which is capped by a wide board to finish the job and tied back by galvanized rods or stainless steel cables. The tie back is very important but should be maintained by the property owner, if anything begins to show such as bowing or soil dropping down behind the wall. The sinking soil problem is generally the first thing a property owner will see when leaking starts. you can fill in the dirt lost, but the wall will continue to " leak out". The wooden walls have some good points at this level. Working to repair a wooden seawall can be cheaper than other materials used for seawalls and in some cases a section of the wall can be repaired without rebuilding the length of the wall thus saving the property owner the nasty headache of spending a large amount of money to rebuild a failed wall. Generally the piling will out last the rest of the structure and can even be reused for a new wall if all the boards are rotted and leaking soil to the canal. Inspection of the piling before hand is recommended before attempting anything like re-using the old piling for a new wall. Failure in wood walls can vary depending on the original job, so there's no hard fast rule to where or what might be involved in wooden pressure treated seawalls when it reaches the point of failure.

In speaking with some of the local dock and seawall builders I was very unhappy about their opinions when it comes to seawalls. Truth be known from my past experience, they offer the cheapest and fastest repairs, but not always the best. There are several ways to get around the builders, but the only simple way is to insist watching the job site, even more important on commercial rated composite sheets, these are expensive but will offer up to a 50 year warranty. Installed correctly these will out perform any other material, but again like wood, the installation is the key to a good strong wall. If the builder takes short cuts or doesn't get the proper depth, then its possible to have failure with even these walls. The composite type products offer several good construction points, one is that the entire wall only requires a top hold back system tied to the whaler. No piling is required for installation and you'll see these walls used in commercial areas anywhere in Florida. The down side is the dock builder will require the correct equipment to install these, and that may very well be where they try and talk the home owner away from this product, thus the problem begins. These walls by manufacturer's standard require 50% below the mud line. Anyone in Treasure Beach will hit hard coral before reaching 50% in most cases. It takes some heavy equipment to dig out the rock like coral here and thus the expense starts to run up. Its best to have some one on hand to supervise this part to insure the builder is getting it done correctly.

This past week I spoke with country rep Karen, who was doing an inspection on a seawall. I showed her some issues that are early signs of problems in seawalls, and how a leak might be detected at the top before anything at the bottom shows up. For most of us, a good wooden seawall will fall better in our budget. There are several areas that should concern anyone getting a new wooden seawall. The tie back system, also called the deadmen is very important and must be installed correctly to prevent early failure at the top of the wall. The best way to do this is concrete with reinforce rod, all heavy galvanized products, and a coating brushed or sprayed on before the concrete is poured to insure long life. The tie back rods should be galvanized with a space up to 20ft between the seawall and the deadmen connection buried in the ground. At this point the wall material will make a difference on spacing. The average space per connection should be every 5 to 6 feet, but this can vary depending on soil and height conditions and materials being used for the new wall. Generally if you don't think your builder is doing it right, ask questions, or even insist on getting the job checked before letting the contractor finish it.

L.Panchuk ( Author: The Devil's Magnet ) X zone radio reporter Treasure Beach

NURSE'S HEART ATTACK EXPERIENCE

I am an ER nurse, (day in and day out!) and this is the best description of this event that I have ever heard. Please read, pay attention, and send it on!
Diane K. in AZ

FEMALE HEART ATTACKS
I was aware that female heart attacks are different, but this is the best description I've ever read.

Women and heart attacks (Myocardial infarction).

Did you know that women rarely have the same dramatic symptoms that men have when experiencing heart attack .... you know,the sudden stabbing pain in the chest, the cold sweat, grabbing the chest & dropping to the floor that we see in the movies.

Here is the story of one woman's experience with a heart attack.

I had a completely unexpected heart attack at about 10:30 PM with NO prior exertion, NO prior emotional trauma that one would suspect might've brought it on. I was sitting all snugly & warm on a cold evening, with my purring cat in my lap, reading an interesting story my friend had sent me, and actually thinking, 'A-A-h, this is the life, all cozy and warm in my soft, cushy Lazy Boy with my feet propped up.

A moment later, I felt that awful sensation of indigestion, when you've been in a hurry and grabbed a bite of sandwich and washed it down with a dash of water, and that hurried bite seems to feel like you've swallowed a golf ball going down the esophagus in slow motion and it is most uncomfortable. You realize you shouldn't have gulped it down so fast and needed to chew it more thoroughly and this time drink a glass of water to hasten its progress down to the stomach..This was my initial sensation---the only trouble was that I hadn't taken a bite of anything since about 5:00 p.m.

After that had seemed to subside, the next sensation was like little squeezing motions that seemed to be racing up my SPINE (hind-sight, it was probably my aorta
spasming), gaining speed as they continued racing up and under my sternum (breast bone, where one presses rhythmically when administering CPR).

This fascinating process continued on into my throat and branched out into both jaws. 'AHA!! NOW I stopped puzzling about what was happening -- we all have read and/or heard about pain in the jaws being one of the signals of an MI happening, haven't we?

I said aloud to myself and the cat, 'Dear God, I think I'm having a heart attack!'

I lowered the foot rest, dumping the cat from my lap, started to take a step and fell on the floor instead. I thought to myself 'If this is a heart attack, I shouldn't be walking into the next room where the phone is or anywhere else .... but, on the other hand, if I don't, nobody will know that I need help, and if I wait any longer I may not be able to get up in moment.''

I pulled myself up with the arms of the chair, walked slowly into the next room and dialed the Paramedics .. I told her I thought I was having a heart attack due to the pressure building under the sternum and radiating into my jaws. I didn't feel hysterical or afraid, just stating the facts. She said she was sending the
Paramedics over immediately, asked if the front door was near to me, and if so, to unbolt the door and then lie down on the floor where they could see me when they came in.

I then laid down on the floor as instructed and lost consciousness, as I don't remember the medics coming in, their examination, lifting me onto a gurney or getting me into their ambulance, or hearing the call they made to St. Jude ER on the way, but I did briefly awaken when we arrived and saw that the Cardi ologist was
already there in his surgical blues and cap, helping the medics pull my stretcher out of the ambulance. He was bending over me asking questions (probably something like 'Have you taken any medications?') but I couldn't make my mind interpret what he was saying, or form an answer, and nodded off again, not waking up until the Cardiologist and partner had already threaded the teeny angiogram balloon up my femoral artery into the aorta and into my heart where they installed 2 side by
side stents t o hold open my right coronary artery.

I know it sounds like all my thinking and actions at home must have taken at least 20-30 minutes before calling the Paramedics, but actually it took perhaps 4-5 minutes before the call, and both the fire station and St. Jude are only minutes away from my home, and my Cardiologist was already to go to the OR in his scrubs and get going on restarting my heart (which had stopped somewhere between my arrival and the procedure) and installing the stents.

Why have I written all of this to you with so much detail? Because I want all of you who are so important in my life to know what I learned first hand.

1. Be aware that something very different is happening in your body not the usual men's symptoms but inexplicable things happening (until my sternum and jaws got into the act). It is said that many more women than men die of their first (and last) MI because they didn't know they were having one and commonly mistake it as indigestion, take some Maalox or other anti-heartburn preparation and go to bed, hoping they'll feel better in the morning when they wake up ... which doesn't happen.

My female friends, your symptoms might not be exactly like mine, so I advise you to call the Paramedics if ANYTHING is unpleasantly happening that you've not felt befo re. It is better to have a 'false alarm' visitation than to risk your life guessing what it might be!

2. Note that I said 'Call the Paramedics.' Ladies, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! Do NOT try to drive yourself to the ER -- you're a hazard to others on the road and so is your panicked husband who will be speeding and looking anxiously at what's happening with you instead of the road. Do NOT call your doctor -- he doesn't know where you live and if it's at night you won't reach him anyway, and if it's daytime, his assistants (or answering service) will tell you to call the Paramedics. He doesn't carry the equipment in his car that you need to be saved! The Paramedics do, principally OXYGEN that you need ASAP. Your Dr. will be notified later.

3. Don't assume it couldn't be a heart attack because you have a normal cholesterol count. Research has discovere d that a cholesterol elevated reading is rarely the cause of an MI (unless it's unbelievably high and/or accompanied by high blood pressure). MIs are usually caused by long-term stress and inflammation in the body, which dumps all sorts of deadly hormones into your system to sludge things up in there. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive.

Don't buy a golf cart just yet!

This month Saint Johns County will be passing into law, regulations for using a golf cart on local roads. But at this time reading over the new law Treasure Beach has been cut out from the deal like most anything our county does. The golf cart idea is another way to reduce traffic on the streets according to our commissioners. Well if you think about it, golf carts travel pretty slow and would hold up most traffic on any road in our area. The new law has several problems for us here in Treasure Beach, so lets go over them. First and for anyone operating a motorized vehicle within the state of Florida you need a driver's licence. This alone means no children can drive just about anything on the street, but we've been living with that law for a long time now, and this will still apply to golf carts too. Its somewhat a feeling that most wives would argue over the definition of children, but yes even drunken men on the golf course should have a drivers licence if they cross a road. The new law removes Treasure Beach for now from having golf carts running around the development because of the speed limits written into the law. So my next point is the new law is for developments that are posted with below 25 mph. Our roads are presently posted at 25mph so this means we are out of golf cart reach for now under the new law. This makes me wonder if Treasure Beach lowered its speed limits to 20 mph zones, would the county lower the golf cart rule to 15mph ? Now the real question comes into mind, should we lower our speed limits within Treasure Beach development ?

On another point, if you've ever encountered a speeding golf cart at night, it can be a sudden meeting with your car or truck. In a way the golf cart deal would allow us all to move about the development quickly without the car, and we could say reach the local store or plaza at our entrance. It appears the new law is for communities that have a golf course, this use for a golf cart would be about the best application. Most are private roads within the secured area and are technically exempt from our local road laws anyway, so the new law doesn't really provide anything. I call on our thoughts here, but did anyone notice some new developments have small garage doors built into the new homes under construction on the island ? Did someone already have this new law in mind when building ? Perhaps the beach will become the new race track for golf carts. You can after all buy four wheel drive golf carts these days. Like each time I think about our canals and the mud down in those trenches for boats, perhaps we should lower our speed limit and grow grass in the 5+mile canals. A NEW GOLF COURSE!

I hope your laughing at this point, cause those little golf carts do not float. Treasure Beach was built for boating, but no law seems to help us out, so maybe we don't play enough golf here! Well, I'm not running out to buy a golf cart for now. Certainly our only golf cart couple Mandy and Morris found out about our laws within Saint Johns county over golf cart use on the streets or sidewalks for that matter. The start of this new law can be traced back to a development in Saint Augustine, Florida called Nocatee communities. Somehow this caused public hearings to approve a proposal for an ordinance to provide using golf carts within a development. Who has that kind of power ? Well, the Nocatee community was owned by the Davis family that is Winn Dixie. Apparently the bottom line this month for Treasure Beach is we need a nice family to move here that has some large Wal Mart size background to get what we need from the county. In the future of Treasure Beach perhaps we should get the speed limits lowered, and then build a nice small road where the brand new beach walkway is for us all to " drive" our new golf carts to the beach side! Just imagine in front of the Palm's Grill all those carts parked out front of the restaurant. Tourist would be asking where the devil is the golf course in Treasure Beach? We could get a new cart painted blue and white with a flashing light to patrol our streets at night! Down on the beach we could have racing on Saturday nights with golf carts! Cool uh?

My thinking is we need our boats, not golf carts right now, but lets give it some thoughts, perhaps we'll have to install parking lots for golf carts to access our beach entrance. On the good side of all this is our development will not see golf carts going down our roads for now with this new regulation coming into effect. So, don't buy one just yet if you live in Treasure Beach, but drive safe and here's to our new year ! Lets hope its a good one.

LA Panchuk ( Author: The Devil's Magnet ) Reporter for Xzone Radio
Treasure Beach resident

This article is released for full publication as seen fit for Coastal Newspaper or any media use.

Jeannie Blaylock’s “M-Line” Project

Tammy Hopper, owner of “WAVES” wishes to thank those that supported efforts to raise money for Jeannie Blaylock’s “M-Line” project for free mammograms. Jeannie is pictured with Tammy and a few members.

The ladies raised over $700.


Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Jacquelyn Petersen

Jacquelyn Petersen, 50, of St. Augustine, died March 12, 2008, at Shands Hospital in Gainesville. Ms Petersen was a native of Albany, Ga., and had resided in St. Augustine for the past six years. Ms. Petersen was a graduate of Albany High School and of the Albany State College, graduating as a nurse. She worked for 25 years in nursing while living in Albany. She also worked at the Ocean Blue and The Point Restaurant on Vilano Beach.

Services: A memorial service will be held Saturday, April 5, 2008 from 12 noon until 4 p.m. at 212 Puebla Road, St. Augustine.

Survivors: Her fiance, Big Mike, Treasure Beach; daughter, Janice Petersen, Columbus, Ga.; sister, Janet Permar; Atlanta, Ga.; brothers, Charles Strickland, North Carolina, Ray Strickland, Atlanta; nieces, nephews other relatives and friend.

http://staugustine.com/stories/031908/obits_txt01_019.shtml