Barbara Jenness, ABR, AHWD, e-PRO, GRI, PMN, TRC

In northeast, Florida we all talk about "Mayport" shrimp. Mayport is a coastal village north of St. Augustine and east of Jacksonville on the St. Johns River right where it meets with the Atlantic Ocean. That makes getting out to the ocean and to the shrimp a breeze. It is home to about 20 of the state's shrimping boats. However, St. Augustine is located on the Intracoastal (called "the river" by the locals) at the St. Augustine inlet. In fact, I believe you can get to the Atlantic faster from St. Augustine.

The difference between Mayport and St. Augustine shrimp---the port the shrimp boat comes into to unload the shrimp. All the shrimp boats in the area troll off the coast, so they are covering the same area. They are a lovely sight to see off the coast along A1A from Jacksonville to Ponte Vedra Beach to S. Ponte Vedra Beach to North Beach to Vilano Beach to St. Augustine Beach to Crescent Beach---you get the idea. It seems that all the shrimp caught in the area are called "Mayport" shrimp. Your comments and insight into this debate are appreciated.

So, if you want really fresh shrimp, eat locally caught shrimp while vacationing in northeast Florida. Four types of shrimp live in the waters off the coast here: brown, white, pink and rock shrimp. Brown and white shrimp make up the majority of what is caught here. Those of us that are fortunate to live here, enjoy fresh seafood year round.

Here's a photo I took recently of a shrimp boat heading out to the Atlantic in the early morning. It came into the St. Augustine inlet when the surf and wind were rough.

This is your friendly reminder that tomorrow, October 17th from 4-7:30 p.m at the Vilano Beach oceanfront pavilion will be a celebration of the completion of the streetscape. Please come and invite your friends as the public is invited. Dignitaries include Congressman Mica, St. Johns County commissioners and commissioners-elect, representatives from Callaway Contracting, RS&H Engineering, and others.

The Chamber Singers from the St. Johns Performing Arts Center, S. Augustine High School will be singing the National Anthem. Restaurants participating with samples are The Reef, Caps, Kingfish, Creekside and Crab Grabbers.

On Monday, October 6^th, I learned from a fellow REALTOR® that our Humane Society was closing at the end of the month. This morning I got verification from reading our local newspaper. Per the St. Augustine Record's article today:

"Humane Society Director Cindy Bishop is working to adopt out the nearly 200 animals at the shelter. She said she plans to call rescue groups in the area, and she is researching the possibility of transporting animals to Humane Societies in surrounding counties."

If you have been thinking about adopting a pet, now is the time. Please tell everyone you know. Many of you know our wonderful cat, Kahlua. We adopted her from this Humane Society.

Please stop by the Florida East Coast Humane Society at 1665 Old Moultrie Road before October 31, 2008. They are closed Sundays and Mondays. Here are their hours and phone number:

Tuesday thru Friday 10 to 6
Saturday 10 to 5
Closed Sunday and Monday
904-829-2737

Thank you.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Public Information office just announced the following detour on King Street which will affect most of us in our Nation's Oldest City.

"Traffic on eastbound King Street at the U.S. 1 intersection near the Seabreeze Carwash will be routed onto a new detour that will be in place for approximately six weeks beginning September 24. The detour will route eastbound King Street traffic north onto U.S. 1 returning to King Street at Cordova Street. This will allow construction crews to realign the turn lane at the southeast corner of the intersection and replace the signal.

All eastbound King Street traffic will be detoured north on U.S. 1, east on West Castillo Drive, south on South Castillo Drive, west on Cathedral Place, south on Cordova Street and back to King Street, just less than two miles.

A westbound detour that is currently in place will be completed prior to eastbound King Street being closed."

The work on the King Street and U.S. 1 intersection began June 9th and began affecting westbound traffic on King Street on August 5th. This $1.1 million safety project is expected to be completed by early 2009. The project includes adding a new traffic signal at King Street and Malaga Street/Sebastian Harbor Drive, reconfiguring the dedicated turn lanes at King Street and U.S. 1, replacing the existing signal and sidewalk at King Street and U.S. 1, replacing and adding pedestrian signals with new signals that have a crossing time countdown display, replacing drainage pipes to meet current standards, adding wheelchair accessible ramps, and making minor modifications to the median at Daniels Street two blocks south of King Street on U.S. 1.

For additional information regarding this project, contact the Public Information Office at 800-475-0044 or monica.reifeiss@earthtech.com. For information about FDOT projects around Northeast Florida, visit www.northfloridaroads.com/goto/KingStreet.

On Tuesday, September 16, 2008, the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners will review funding and budget requests for beach restoration. The meeting starts at 9 a.m. at the county auditorium at 4020 Lewis Speedway, St. Augustine, FL.

According to the agenda for the meeting:

"The St. John County Annual Funding Request and Local Long-Range Budget Request to use Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) consists of the following elements:

1. South Ponte Vedra/Vilano Beach/Summer Haven Beach Restoration
2. St. Johns County Shore Protection Project
3. South Ponte Vedra/Vilano Beach Restoration"

Here are the supporting documents.