Posts tagged elections
Voguit to Examine Two-Party System During Community Lecture Series Event
0October 9, 2012
Every election year tells the same story, Republicans and Democrats battle for the right to hold powerful positions in our country with third party candidates often an afterthought. But with nothing in the Constitution or federal laws discussing a two-party system, how did this become the political norm?
“I have looked at presidential elections, congressional elections and gubernatorial elections between 1865 and 1900 and clearly America was voting for Democrats or Republicans,” said Flagler College assistant professor Steve Voguit.
“I am intrigued by this tradition since the constitution does not require political parties at all.”
Voguit will address this topic as he continues the 2012 Community Lecture Series on Oct. 23 with a talk on “United Nation, Divided Nation: Patterns in American Politics after the Civil War.”
“I’ll be attempting to show the solidifying of the two-party tradition and the domination of the Democrats and Republicans at the national level,” said Voguit, who was recently included in the Princeton Review’s latest book, “The Best 300 Professors.” “I will also talk briefly about the political conditions of that time like high voter turnout and very close elections for instance as well as the establishment of tradition in our society in general and in this case politically.”
Professor Voguit earned his M.Ed. and B.S. degrees from Millersville University of Pennsylvania. He also completed graduate coursework at the University of Florida, the University of South Florida and Texas State University.
Voguit’s lecture is the second in this year’s lecture series entitled “Reconstruction & Gild: Wealth, Innovation and the Pursuit of Status in Late 19th Century America” which focuses on defining moments in American history during the mid to late 1800s. Speakers will discuss the topic through the lens of their particular discipline.
Tickets are $5 per person for a single lecture, or $15 for four lectures. Active military personnel may attend at no charge. Lectures begin at 10 a.m. in the Flagler Room at Flagler College, 74 King St. Reservations are required, but space is limited. The lecture will last approximately one hour and will be followed by a coffee and pastry reception.
For reservations or more information, call Holly Hill, Assistant Director of College Relations at (904) 819-6282. To watch a live stream of these lectures, visit ustream.tv/channel/community-lecture-series.
Flagler College is an independent, four-year, comprehensive baccalaureate college located in St. Augustine, Fla. The college offers 24 majors, 29 minors and two pre-professional programs, the largest majors being business, education and communication. Small by intent, Flagler College has an enrollment of about 2,500 students, as well as a satellite campus at Tallahassee Community College in Tallahassee, Fla. U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review regularly feature Flagler as a college that offers quality education at a relatively low cost; tuition is $23,690, including room and board. A relatively young institution (founded in 1968), Flagler College is also noted for the historic beauty of its campus. The main building is Ponce de Leon Hall, built in 1887 as a luxury resort by Henry Flagler, who co-founded the Standard Oil Company with John D. Rockefeller. For more on Flagler College, visit www.flagler.edu.
Source: Flagler College
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St. Augustine news highlights
0July 20, 2012
HARB ‘s July meeting rescheduled
Because of members’ scheduling conflicts, the July meeting of the Historic Architectural Review Board was rescheduled from its usual third Thursday until a week later. The meeting originally set for Thursday, July 19 will now be held on Thursday, July 26 at 2:00pm. The meeting will be broadcast on GTV on Monday, July 30 at 9:00am.
Concerts in the Plaza welcomes The Company
Expect to hear your favorite hits from the Sixties and Seventies as you beat the heat in the shade of the Plaza’s majestic oaks on Thursday, July 26 when Concerts in the Plaza welcomes The Company.
Call your friends and have them meet you in the Plaza to enjoy St. Augustine’s great free summer concert series now in its 22nd season. It’s still “the best way to spend a Thursday night.”
The two-hour concerts are free and attendees should bring lounge chairs for seating. Picnic dinners are popular, but alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the Plaza. For a schedule and helpful map-links visit www.plazaconcerts.com.
450th Commemoration seeking volunteers to assist in survey
To gain a better understanding of the needs, experiences and expectations of members of the community, merchants and visitors , the City of St. Augustine is conducting a research project and needs volunteers to assist. The survey results will enable the city to build a strong brand message for the 450th commemoration and beyond.
Some 600 community members and 200 merchants will be offered surveys on-line and via email, but 500 visitor surveys will be conducted at several locations downtown, and that’s where volunteers are needed. Each survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.
Click here to register for both a volunteer orientation date and for survey day(s), location(s) and time(s).
Have you seen the the archaeology exhibit at The VIC?
A new exhibit at The VIC offers a look into the extraordinary life of 18th century St. Augustine through ordinary items uncovered by the city’s archaeologist and volunteers. Organized into displays focusing on various aspects of colonial daily life, the exhibit offers items commonly associated with home life, the routines of a military lifestyle, and even those depicting entertainment including games and tavern items. The free exhibit, recently featured in a St. Augustine Record article, 450 Years of unbroken history, is open 8:30am-5:30pm in The VIC. For a map, click here.
Are you ready to vote?
In early July the St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections Office will mail new voter information cards to all registered voters, but in order to receive the new card, a voter’s address must be current with the Elections Office.
Voter cards are especially important this year as they contain all of the new districts, precincts and polling locations following the redistricting process and precinct changes. With the August 14 Primary Election quickly approaching, it is vital that voters receive their new cards to know their district, precinct number and polling place and to ensure the receipt of sample ballots that will be mailed prior to each election.
Voters are encouraged to visit the Elections Office website and use the voter lookup feature to check their status and verify their address. The last date to register to vote or make party changes for the August 14 Primary Election is July 16. Address updates should include voter’s name, address, date of birth, and new address and can be made by calling the Elections office at 904.823.2238 or by sending an email to elections@votesjc.com.
Senator Bill Nelson’s staff to meet with constituents
Staff representatives of US Senator Bill Nelson’s office will hold office hours for St. Johns County area residents on Monday, July 30, 2012, from 3:00pm to 4:00pm at the City of St. Augustine Beach City Hall, 2200 A1A South. The availability is open to anyone – including those who need help with a federal issue. Those unable to attend may contact Senator Nelson by mail at 1301 Riverplace Blvd., Suite #2010, Jacksonville, FL 32207; or through his website available here. For more details, call Senator Nelson’s office at 904.346.4500.
City Agendas
The City Commission’s next regular meeting will be on Monday, July 23. The agenda is available here.
The Parking and Traffic Committee will meet on Thursday, July 26 at 8:30am. When available, the agenda will be here.
The Historic Architectural Review Board’s July meeting was rescheduled from Thursday, July 19 until Thursday, July 26 at 2:00pm. The agenda is available here. The meeting will be broadcast on GTV on Monday, July 30 at 9:00am.
Agendas and minutes for all city meetings can be found at www.staugustinegovernment.com with a schedule of upcoming meetings listed under City Calendar. City Commission meetings are broadcast live via GTV (Comcast Channel 3 in St. Augustine) each second and fourth Monday at 5:00pm. Commission meetings are also recorded and rebroadcast as are Planning and Zoning Board and Historic Architectural Review Board meetings. For a current schedule of all programming on GTV, click here.
Source: City of St. Augustine
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St. Augustine news highlights
0July 13, 2012
Take a minute to remind yourself of the basics of mosquito control
Certainly an unwanted result of summer rains are mosquitos, so the team at the Anastasia Mosquito Control District of St. Johns County is urging residents to take a moment to reacquaint themselves with preventive and protective measures.
One simple way to start is to acquaint yourself with the Five D’s of Prevention.
Then take a look at the two very helpful flyers available that are perfect for community, church or clubhouse bulletin boards or just to remind those in your own household of the simple steps anyone can take that will help protect everyone. One flyer announced National Mosquito Control Awareness Week and has simple peventive reminders is available here, and the other, from the Florida Department of Health, outlines simple preventive and protective steps, is available here.
The Anastasia Mosquito Control District’s web site has a wealth of information about ways to control mosquito breeding areas, notices of aerial spraying and fogging conducted by the district, and reports on the work of the district.
St. Johns County residents with mosquito problems or issues can make a service request by visiting the district’s website at www.amcdsjc.org or by calling 904.471.3107.
Archaeology exhibit now open at The VIC
A new exhibit at The VIC offers a look into the extraordinary life of 18th century St. Augustine through ordinary items uncovered by the city’s archaeologist and volunteers. Organized into displays focusing on various aspects of colonial daily life, the exhibit offers items commonly associated with home life, the routines of a military lifestyle, and even those depicting entertainment including games and tavern items. The free exhibit, recently featured in a St. Augustine Record article, 450 Years of unbroken history, is open 8:30am-5:30pm in The VIC. For a map, click here.
The Ancient City Slickers bring big fun music to Concerts in the Plaza
What do you get when you combine banjos, kazoos, tuba, maracas, washtub bass, guitar, and washboard? None other than the very popular Ancient City Slickers and their original blend musical entertainment that can only be described as big fun music. The Ancienct City Slickers return to the Plaza de la Constitucion’s Gazebo on Thursday, July 19 to mark the half way point in this summer’s Concerts in the Plaza starting at 7:00pm.
The two-hour concerts are free and attendees should bring lounge chairs for seating. Picnic dinners are popular, but alcoholic beverages are prohibited in the Plaza. For a schedule and helpful map-links visit www.plazaconcerts.com.
HARB ‘s July meeting rescheduled
Because of members’ scheduling conflicts, the July meeting of the Historic Architectural Review Board was rescheduled from its usual third Thursday until a week later. The meeting originally set for Thursday, July 19 will now be held on Thursday, July 26 at 2:00pm. The meeting will be broadcast on GTV on Monday, July 30 at 9:00am.
Bridge of Lions 5K necessitates traffic re-routing
The Bridge of Lions 5K Run (see story below), set for Saturday, July 21 at 7:30am, will necessitate brief traffic re-routing along St. Augustine’s Bayfront, the Bridge of Lions and on streets throughout Davis Shores on the north side of Anastasia Blvd.
Scheduled to start at the north end of Avenida Menendez near the Castillo de San Marcos, the participants will run south on Avenida Menendez using the northbound lane and cross the Bridge of Lions during which the bridge will be closed to all vehicular and boat traffic.
The race then continues north on Gerado St., west on Arpeika Ave., north on St. Augustine Blvd, east/south on Inlet Drive, west on Arpieka Ave., south on Zorayda Ave., east on Oglethorpe Blvd., south on Comares Ave., west on Flagler Blvd., north on Alcazar to the finish line at Oglethorpe Park.
Traffic along Avenida Menendez and the Bridge of Lions should return to normal by 8:00am and the entire race concluded by 9:00am. To avoid delays, the public is advised to avoid these areas during the race.
For a brochure regarding the event, click here.
Are you ready to vote?
In early July the St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections Office will mail new voter information cards to all registered voters, but in order to receive the new card, a voter’s address must be current with the Elections Office.
Voter cards are especially important this year as they contain all of the new districts, precincts and polling locations following the redistricting process and precinct changes. With the August 14 Primary Election quickly approaching, it is vital that voters receive their new cards to know their district, precinct number and polling place and to ensure the receipt of sample ballots that will be mailed prior to each election.
Voters are encouraged to visit the Elections Office website and use the voter lookup feature to check their status and verify their address. The last date to register to vote or make party changes for the August 14 Primary Election is July 16. Address updates should include voter’s name, address, date of birth, and new address and can be made by calling the Elections office at 904.823.2238 or by sending an email to elections@votesjc.com.
Senator Bill Nelson’s staff to meet with constituents
Staff representatives of US Senator Bill Nelson’s office will hold office hours for St. Johns County area residents on Monday, July 30, 2012, from 3:00pm to 4:00pm at the City of St. Augustine Beach City Hall, 2200 A1A South. The availability is open to anyone – including those who need help with a federal issue. Those unable to attend may contact Senator Nelson by mail at 1301 Riverplace Blvd., Suite #2010, Jacksonville, FL 32207; or through his website available here. For more details, call Senator Nelson’s office at 904.346.4500.
City Agendas
The Parking and Traffic Committee will meet on Thursday, July 26 at 8:30am. When available, the agenda will be here.
The Historic Architectural Review Board‘s July meeting was rescheduled from Thursday, July 19 until Thursday, July 26 at 2:00pm. The agenda is available here. The meeting will be broadcast on GTV on Monday, July 30 at 9:00am.
The City Commission‘s next regular meeting will be on Monday, July 23. When availble the agenda will be posted here.
Agendas and minutes for all city meetings can be found at www.staugustinegovernment.com with a schedule of upcoming meetings listed under City Calendar. City Commission meetings are broadcast live via GTV (Comcast Channel 3 in St. Augustine) each second and fourth Monday at 5:00pm. Commission meetings are also recorded and rebroadcast as are Planning and Zoning Board and Historic Architectural Review Board meetings. For a current schedule of all programming on GTV, click here.
Source: City of St. Augustine
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Time to get ready to vote
0June 22, 2012
In early July the St. Johns County Supervisor of Elections Office will mail new voter information cards to all registered voters, but in order to receive the new card, a voter’s address
must be current with the Elections Office.
must be current with the Elections Office.
Voter cards are especially important this year as they contain all of the new districts, precincts and polling locations following the redistricting process and precinct changes. With the August 14 Primary Election quickly approaching, it is vital that voters receive their new cards to know their district, precinct number and polling place and to ensure the receipt of sample ballots that will be mailed prior to each election.
Voters are encouraged to visit the Elections Office website and use the voter lookup feature to check their status and verify their address. The last date to register to vote or make party changes for the August 14 Primary Election is July 16. Address updates should include voter’s name, address, date of birth, and new address and can be made by calling the Elections office at 904.823.2238 or by sending an email to elections@votesjc.com.
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Flagler College names AARP Bulletin editor Jim Toedtman as new Flagler Forum director
0May 13, 2012
Jim Toedtman, editor of AARP’s Bulletin, 
has been named director of the Flagler College Forums on Government and Public Policy lecture series.
has been named director of the Flagler College Forums on Government and Public Policy lecture series.
Toedtman, a speaker at the program for the last 13 years, succeeds Victor Ostrowidzki, who passed away this past spring after battling cancer. Ostrowidzki, 80, was a veteran journalist and former White House reporter who covered every presidential election from 1964 to 1988. He joined the faculty at Flagler in 1997, founded the Forum series and taught classes on elections and the media.
The Forum brings nationally-recognized journalists and authorities to St. Augustine to discuss issues of local, federal and global importance. Past speakers have included Robert Novak, Mark Shields, David Broder, Joe Klein, Anne Coulter, Pat Buchanan and Chris Matthews.
“I am delighted with the opportunity of continuing and enhancing the Flagler Forums in ways that enrich the academic lives of Flagler students and benefit the St. Augustine community,” Toedtman said. “I look forward to the challenge of building on the solid foundation set by my friend Vic Ostrowidzki.”
Toedtman has had a distinguished career as reporter and editor for the New York daily newspaper, Newsday, and as an editor for Hearst Corp. newspapers in Boston and Baltimore. At Newsday, he was part of a team of reporters investigating Long Island land scandals that won the 1970 Pulitzer Prize for public service. From 1986 to 1995, he served as managing editor of New York Newsday and helped develop and direct the staff, which won numerous awards including the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for local reporting. He was named Newsday’s Washington Bureau Chief in 1995.
He was named editor of the AARP Bulletin in 2005. Since his appointment, the Bulletin has been consistently recognized for excellence in covering a range of public policy and consumer issues. It is published 10 times a year and has a circulation of 22 million. He also helped develop AARP’s online news and information website.
Toedtman graduated from the College of Wooster and earned a M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University. He also studied at the University of Queensland, Australia, as a Rotary Foundation Fellow.
Flagler College President William Abare said, “I am delighted that Jim Toedtman has agreed to accept our offer to serve as the director of the Forums. Over the past 13 years, Jim has become a good friend of the College and a close personal friend.”
Abare added, “We are extremely fortunate to have someone with Jim’s experience to lead this important program. He is a well-respected journalist who has a great network of friends and colleagues from which to draw Forum speakers. He is very familiar with our campus and our community and will be a great addition to our staff.”
Source: Brian Thompson, Director, News and Information, Flagler College.
