🎭Fund the arts

Welcome to a warm Wednesday with very little change in the humidity in between afternoon clouds. ⛅

Since nothing says summer like Florida's humidity😰, this week's theme will address a perfect way to cool down with yummy recipes from St. Augustine’s Spice & Tea Exchange for crafting refreshing cocktails and mocktails.

Tropical Bay Breeze — layered with Hibiscus Flower — Cut & Sifted tea, this vibrant beverage combines Mango Tango Herbal Tea infused vodka, Mango Sugar simple syrup, pineapple juice and fresh lime to create the perfect balance between sweet and tart.

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Funding needed for St. Augustine's arts and culture 🎭

Gov. Ron DeSantis' veto of arts funding from the state's $116.5 billion budget for fiscal Year 2024-2025 impacted St. Johns County's cultural and organizations and events, including those in St. Augustine.

According to a news release from the St. Johns County Cultural Council , the legislature typically approves funding of 50% to 100% of the applications submitted.

“Applications are reviewed by a panel of experts, and those scoring 80 or above are recommended for state funding,” the group said. “With the governor’s veto for the first time in modern history – the State of Florida will provide no funding for cultural organizations in FY 2025.”

Nancy Sikes-Kline , the mayor of the City of St. Augustine , described the veto as a shock.

“I don’t think anyone was expecting it,” she said. “There were years when the state’s arts and cultural grant funding was reduced, but those were widely anticipated due to a bad economy."

Sikes-Kline underscored the importance of the cultural programs to the community.

“We live in a very special, very old place filled with arts, culture and heritage organizations that celebrate, preserve and strengthen this strong sense of place,” she said. “High quality programming and events benefit our residents, attract visitors, and provide hundreds of jobs that significantly impact the county economically.”

Click here to read the story.

What else you should know today: 🔊

🚘Calling all cars: OUR Rescue NE FL Ambassadors/Advocates Jen Watson Vassiliadis and Dar Christianson are hosting OUR’s Rise UP and GET Loud Caravan to help end human trafficking on Saturday, July 27. Participants will meet in decorated cars at Alvin Island in Fernandina Beach and caravan to St. Augustine's Alvin Island . Details can be found here .

🚗 Slow down: According to the St. Augustine Police Department , Operation Southern Slow Down , a campaign designed to curb speeding and aggressive driving while promoting safer driving, is now underway until July 20 through Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee. Click here for details.

🎆 Time to celebrate: Vilano Beach Main Street and the St. Johns Cultural Council are hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, July 17 at 4 p.m. to celebrate the $1.8 million renovation of Vilano Beach Oceanfront Park.

💗🤍💙Vote: July 22 is the deadline for county residents to register to vote, or for registered voters to change their party affiliation for the August 20 Primary Election. Information can be found here .

Questions with someone you should know…. Luis Hernandez from LifeSouth Cord Blood Bank 🩸

With this year’s summer emergency need for blood, we spoke to Luis Hernandez, director of cellular therapies for LifeSouth Cord Blood Bank .

1. The St. Augustine Record: What is umbilical cord blood? Umbilical cord blood is a rich source of stem cells used in treatment of diseases and disorders. Cord blood transplants can treat more than 80 blood cancers, genetic diseases, immune and metabolic disorders, including leukemia, lymphoma and sickle cell anemia. It has surpassed bone marrow as a source for stem cells in transplants. To date, more than 40,000 patients have received cord blood transplants since the procedure was first performed in 1988.
2. The St. Augustine Record: Why is donating so important now? Every day, mothers donate their umbilical cord blood to help save lives around the world. July is National Cord Blood Awareness Month. LifeSouth Community Blood Centers Cord Blood Bank is the first cord blood bank in the southeast and fifth nationwide to provide transfusable cord blood products that are licensed by the Food and Drug Administration .
3. The St. Augustine Record: How can a new mother donate umbilical cord blood? Every donation is an opportunity for moms to give life twice. Stem cell-rich blood is collected from the umbilical cord after delivery through a painless process for both the mother and child. There is no fee associated with donating cord blood. Once tested, it’s securely stored by LifeSouth and added to the National Marrow Donor Program’s Be the Match registry – the largest and most diverse donor registry in the world. LifeSouth Community Blood Centers Cord Blood Bank is accredited by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy.

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: 🎭Fund the arts