The Wednesday Music by the Sea free concert and signature dinner series continues in August with:

August 1         Out of Hand (rock n roll)                   Panama Hattie’s
August 8         Jan Crawford & Soul Sensations    Beachcomber
                                    (Motown)
August 15       Nightwind (country)                          The Crab King
August 22       Schubert & Smith (easy listening)    Mango Mango’s
August 29       JW Gilmore Blues Band                   Purple Olive

The music starts at 7pm and dinners begin at 6pm. Don’t forget to bring a chair or blanket. For more information call 347-8007.
            This is the Civic Association’s fifth season of free concerts at the Pier Pavilion in St. Augustine Beach. And every year it has grown more popular. We are especially pleased to be able to bring together the great local musicians and our fine Anastasia Island restaurants for our community and tourists to enjoy. Recently the Civic Association celebrated the fifth concert season with a members party recognizing volunteers and board members who donate their time to make the events possible. About 80 members attended at the Pizza Garden and Pastabilities restaurant where owner Fran Madera and family prepared an Italian buffet and the Falling Bones (and friends!) performed. A big thanks to Fran and the ‘Bones’ for making the party memorable.
            The Anastasia Island branch of the St. Johns County library system is on track to open in the middle of August. For the last couple of weeks and continuing into August there are opportunities for volunteers to get the library ready. Books and other media have been arriving and they need to be organized and shelved.  If you can lend a hand please contact Stacy Stanish at 817-6925. Also, for those of us who have been waiting, the traffic light at A St. and A1AS will be coming soon. Getting to the new library will become that much easier and safer.
            St. Johns County parks have received $550,000 from the State to expand local recreational opportunities. Funded through the Dept. of Environmental Protection’s(DEP) Florida Recreational Development Assistance Program(FRDAP) the monies will assist three local projects and enhance nearby communities by increasing outdoor recreation opportunities and improving public access to Florida’s natural resources. Two of the projects are here on Anastasia Island. Windswept Acres Park on A1AS will use the grant for a playground, picnic facility, multi-purpose trail and trailhead, parking, restrooms and the entrance. The Maratea Beach Walkway in St. Augustine Beach will use the grant for a multi-purpose trail, parking and the entrance. The beach walkway on the north side of Sea Colony has been in the works for a couple of years now. It will be the only public access to the ocean between F St. and Ocean Trace. Recreational opportunities on the island continue to improve!