🏴‍☠️ Jim Cantore Season | September 25, 2024

Good Morning, St. Augustine!

I’m James and this is the 25th edition of the Old City Lowdown - popping up in your inbox like Jim Cantore in Florida when a storm gets a name.

Before I kick things off today, I wanted to shout out all of the “Redditors” that subscribed to the newsletter yesterday in response to my post on the platform. I need to check my math, but I believe yesterday was the biggest bump in subscribers since July. If you’re out there, I appreciate you reading my post on Reddit and signing up for the Lowdown!

I’d also like to welcome the Lowdown’s newest sponsor: Lions Lacrosse Athletic Association, a St. Augustine not-for-profit youth lacrosse program with a focus on fun and skill development. As many of you know, I serve as the Offensive Coordinator for the Flagler College Men’s Lacrosse program and we work closely with Lions Lacrosse. This is a fantastic organization with exceptional leadership and I am grateful to have their support. Welcome to the Lowdown family, Lions Lacrosse!

In today’s edition:

• Florida State of Emergency 🌀

• New Home for Kingfish Grill? 🐟️ 

• AdventHealth to build ER on SR 207 🏥

Now, let’s get to the Lowdown.

-James Foote
Publisher | Old City Lowdown
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Want to get your business in the Old City Lowdown? Let’s talk.

Tropical Storm Watch in effect

Wed • 86 🌡️ 77 | ☁️ | 💧15% | 🍃 SE 16mph

Thu • 84 🌡️ 78 | ⛈️ | 💧86% | 🍃 ESE 30mph

🌀 Governor Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Helene

On Monday, Governor DeSantis declared a state of emergency for Florida as Helene began to take shape in the Caribbean. When a state of emergency is declared, reactions vary from skepticism to panic, so I’d like to clarify what it actually means.

What is a state of emergency?

A state of emergency is essentially a financial and resource allocation decision, enabling the State to support local efforts in preventing or reducing damage, loss, and suffering. This is common when a disaster is expected or imminent.

How will Helene affect St. Johns County?

At the very least, we can expect heavy rain with the possibility of flooding and high winds. Helene will reach the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, which will impact the strength and path of the storm. In the meantime, make sure you know your Evacuation Zone in case the severe weather heads our way. Click here to confirm your zone and have a plan ready to stay safe if needed.

Although the storm's strength is still uncertain, we've had a lot of rain over the past 30 days, so be mindful of potential flooding, particularly in vulnerable areas.

School Closings

Parents and caregivers should stay alert for possible school closures later this week. Duval County has already announced closures for Thursday and Friday, and similar action may be taken in St. Johns County. If forecasted winds and flooding pose a danger to buses, you can expect school closures Thursday and potentially Friday.

Free Sandbags Available

Per usual, St. Johns County is providing free sandbags ahead of Helene. Please note that sand and bags will be available, but you will need to fill them on site. So, bring a shovel and some muscle.

• Windswept Acres Park – 5335 SR A1A South, St. Augustine

• Solomon Calhoun Center – 1300 Duval Street, St. Augustine

• St. Johns County Equestrian Center – 8200 Smith Road, Hastings

• Mills Field – 1805 Racetrack Road, St. Augustine

• North Beach Park – 3721 Coastal Highway, Vilano Beach

• Palm Valley Bridge – ​East Side of Intracoastal Waterway

Sandbag stations will be open 8AM-5PM today with a limit of 20 sandbags per person.

For more information on planning and preparing for major storms, visit SJCemergencymanagement.com

😼 Panther Near Palencia?

Editor’s Note: I apologize in advance—it might feel like it takes an act of Congress to get the video in the story below to play at a reasonable size. But despite the hassle of navigating a corporate news site in 2024, it's worth the effort!

Sean and Susie Rogers, new St. Augustine residents, got a surprise visitor—twice! Their doorbell camera captured what they believe might be a Florida Panther on their front porch. Bill Samuels from the Florida Panther Project confirmed it looked larger than a bobcat or housecat. With two confirmed panther sightings in the area earlier this year, the first in 40-years, it’s possible this could be the same big cat.

Check out the video on ActionNewsJax

📢 County Hosts Open House for Comprehensive Plan Update

St. Johns County invites the public to attend the second open house for its Comprehensive Plan Update on Sept. 30 at the County Auditorium (500 San Sebastian View) in St. Augustine. Two sessions will be held (10AM-12PM and 5PM-7PM), allowing participants to help shape the community’s vision through 2050. The Comprehensive Plan, required by the state, guides the County’s long-term goals and policies. County staff and consultants will lead discussions on strategy selection. Residents are also encouraged to participate online at www.SJCPlanUpdate.com, with community input essential to addressing critical issues for the County's future.

🏫 SJC School District Hosts Virtual Parent Technology Workshop Today

Do you have a student in the school district and find yourself wondering what the heck Clever, Schoology, and Microsoft 365 are? Have no fear, a tech workshop is here. Tonight, the District is hosting a Parent Technology Workshop livestream on YouTube to help you and your student succeed this school year. Tune in here at 5:30PM today to get the lowdown on these applications.

🐟️ Kingfish Grill to Move on from Camachee in 2025

After rumors spread about the closure of Kingfish Grill, Paul Mackey, the proprietor of the popular North City restaurant, addressed the situation on Instagram. He announced that the restaurant's 20-year lease would not be renewed by the new property owners, and Kingfish Grill will be seeking a new location in 2025. The restaurant is expected to remain open through the end of its lease, which expires on March 1, 2025, before relocating. View Paul’s Instagram post here.

🏥 AdventHealth Plans 12-Bed ER in St. Johns County

In August, AdventHealth purchased two parcels of land off State Road 207, east of I-95 near Wildwood Drive, in St. Johns County. Yesterday, the Florida-based health care system announced that this location will soon be the site of a 12-bed off-site emergency room facility. This facility is expected to be the first phase of a larger project on the nearly 11-acre property. Construction is set to begin in 2025, with an anticipated completion date in early 2026. (AdventHealth.com)

🍽️ The Local expands in Jacksonville with eyes on St. Augustine

The Local, a favorite North Florida restaurant, is expanding south, with plans to open new spots in Ponte Vedra Beach by April 2025 and Five Points soon after. Roost Restaurants is aiming for six to eight locations from Jacksonville down to St. Augustine. Known for its cozy vibes, unique menus, and strong community ties, The Local is all about giving back while serving up great food. The new Ponte Vedra location will feature a wraparound patio, live music, and a lively atmosphere, adding even more flavor and jobs to the area. (Jacksonville Business Journal)($)

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Many of the events scheduled for Wednesday & Thursday have been postponed due to the forecasted weather. Here is a sneak peek at the weekend ahead:

🎸 7th Annual St Augustine Songwriters Festival
📆 Sept 27-29
📍 Multiple Locations

Don’t miss the St. Augustine Songwriters Festival (Sept. 27-29), where hitmakers share the stories behind their chart-topping songs. It’s a weekend of inspiration, music, and unforgettable moments that will leave you enchanted. Come for the tunes, stay for the stories!

Catch the St. Augustine Songwriters Festival at some of the Old City’s favorite live music joints, including: Prohibition Kitchen, Colonial Oak Music Park, The Distillery, and Trade Winds Lounge.

Click here for the full schedule and more info.

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🐊 Estuary Fest
📆 Sept 28 | 10AM-2PM
📍 GTM Research Reserve

The annual Estuary Fest in celebrates National Estuaries Week with a fun-filled day of music, art, food, and entertainment for all ages. This free event is open to everyone and features food trucks, a raffle, and a scavenger hunt with prize bags packed with goodies.

__________

🧑‍🌾 St. Augustine Amphitheatre Farmers Market
📆 Sept 28 | 8:30AM-12:30PM
📍 St. Augustine Amphitheatre

Every Saturday, you can enjoy fresh, local food, farm-fresh produce, handmade arts and crafts, and live entertainment under the oaks at The Amp. BYO reusable bags and remember, no pets. Free parking is available at The Amp and at The Elks Lodge.

With doom & gloom on the horizon for the next 48-72hrs, I’m going to hold off on rebooting the Live Music calendar until Monday.

Shoot me an email and let me know what venues or artists I can’t miss in version 2.0 of the Live Music Lowdown.

Also, a reminder: If you took some good photos at the Live Wildly Showcase, email me or tag @OldCityLowdown on Instagram to have them featured in an upcoming newsletter.

Sponsored by:
Lions Lacrosse Athletic Association

🏈 High School Football

This Week’s Slate:

• Thu | FSDB vs. Countryside Christian (Gainesville), 7PM (8-Man)

• Fri | Menendez (2-2) at Westside (Jacksonville), 6:30PM

• Fri | St. Augustine (3-1) @ Columbia (Lake City), 7:30PM

• Fri | Tocoi Creek (3-1) vs. Bartram Trail (St. Johns), 7PM

• St. Joseph Academy (6-0) on Bye

🦁 Flagler Sports | Upcoming Events

Men’s Soccer
9/25 @ Lander, 2:30PM

Women’s Soccer
9/25 @ Eckerd, POSTPONED

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