🍎 Back from the Big Apple

Happy Monday, folks! St. Augustine's weather continues to be hot🌡and sticky 🥵 with a feel like factor almost 15 degrees higher than the actual temperature. 🤬

I jetted north to spend America's birthday with family and friends. Other than leaving my four-legged child in doggie daycare, my New York visit was, as always, amazing. Sharing with you the skyline of my youth. Having said thus, there's no greater gift than calling St. Augustine home.

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Florida Supreme Cout revokes license of former mayor ⚖

Joseph Lester Boles Jr., St. Augustine’s former mayor, cannot practice law in Florida for at least the next five years.

According to a recent press release issued by The Florida Bar News , the Florida Supreme Court issued a disciplinary revocation “with leave to apply for readmission in five years effective 30 days following a May 30 court order. ”

The state Supreme Court revoked his law license after allegations that Boles appointed himself and his colleagues as successors or representatives in the estate or trusts of clients, including those who were terminally ill. Boles “ failed to follow the instructions of several testamentary documents while serving as the trustee and sold a decedent’s home to his daughter allegedly for lower than fair market value.”

Click here to read the story.

What else you should know today: 🔊

🍷We have a winner: Wine Spectator recognized St. Augustine's Viva Hospitality’s trio of restaurants — Michael’s St. Augustine , La Nouvelle French Bistro (Best of Award of Excellence) and Pesca Vilano (Award of Excellence) — among the world's best wine restaurants.

😀Call for volunteers: ElderSource , a nonprofit organization working to empower elders, adults with disabilities and their caregivers is seeking volunteers — residents of St. Johns County — to serve as members of its advisory council. Click here for details.

📕Calling all readers: The St. Johns County Public Library Systems bookmobile returns to the World Golf Village Convention Center Fridays 10 a.m.-1 p.m. excluding Aug. 2, until Aug. 26.

📷Selfies wanted : The St. Johns County Parks & Recreation Department kicks off " Passport to Parks " requesting fun social media posts/pics of families enjoying geocaching; popsicles in the park; pickleball; family bingo night and disc golf programs. Program registration can be found here . Tap into more adventures with the SJC Parks and Rec App.

📣A call for artists: Touting a 10k budget, the St. Johns Cultural Council is issuing a call for muralists to showcase their talents on the north wall of building 368 A1A Beach Boulevard in St. Augustine Beach, located between the Cultural Arts Center, the St. Augustine Beach Hotel, and the Fire Rescue Station. Online applications end July 8.

🎨The public is invited: Vickie Scuri, Ivan Depeña, and Patrick Marold will present proposals to the City of St. Augustine’s Public Art Committee on Tuesday, July 9, at 9 a.m. for the May Street and San Marco intersection art installation.

Best thing I ate.... Gina's Basil 🌿

My New York bestie, a.k.a. Gigi, has an incredible green thumb. The hostess with the mostest lives on the Eastchester Bay, which flows into the Long Island Sound. The green-thumb Bronx farmer sports a garden filled with culinary delights the likes of cucumbers, string beans, eggplant and tomatoes along with mint, basil, parsley and rosemary. Personally, nothing tastes better than fresh anything from the garden. Add to that, a soft summer breeze blowing the scent of the garden through the balcony doors, and you know that you're experiencing a slice of heaven.

My favorite snack, fresh Italian bread, mozzarella, tomatoes, fresh basil, salt, pepper, and a sprinkle of olive oil. Best thing ever.

Share your favorite St. Augustine moments with us via pictures and stories of family celebrations, friends, and solo days brimming with funny, historical or simply pleasant moments as well as the "Hey, I have an idea; and did you know; and why is this happening in St. Augustine?" and of course, Tuesday's, "I've got a question" notes to Lviti@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: 🍎 Back from the Big Apple