In today's Digest:
🌲 A 4,462-acre Palm Valley enclave could auto-certify Sept. 28
📷 FDOT gives agencies 30 days to remove plate readers from state roads
📚 115 local businesses offer September discounts to library cardholders
🥐 French bistro cooking in Lincolnville's Jefferson House
Located at 102 Bridge Street in historic Lincolnville, La Nouvelle brings French bistro cooking to the Jefferson House. Chef Michael Lugo's concept puts Marseille native Matthieu Landillon at the helm, with dishes such as steak tartare, duck confit, and bouillabaisse marseillaise.
The setting gives you three ways to settle in: a cozy dining room, wraparound porch, or garden patio. Weekend brunch joins dinner service, and the upstairs Three Stories Inn turns the same address into a stay-and-supper option.
Read more here.
🌲 4,462-acre enclave nears automatic certification
The Gist: St. Johns County commissioners failed to approve or deny certification of a 4,462-acre tract north of Nocatee under Florida's new agricultural-enclave law. Motions to deny and approve both failed 3-2, and the board directed lawyers to explore challenging the law.
Why It Matters: Certification would put the tract on a faster path to residential development, with consequences for roads, schools, water and one of northern St. Johns County's largest undeveloped areas.
What's Next: County Public Affairs Director Wayne Larson said commissioners have until Sept. 28 to act before certification occurs automatically.
Read more here.
📷 State orders plate readers off state roads
The Gist: FDOT revoked permits for automated license-plate readers installed within state-highway rights of way and gave law enforcement agencies 30 days to remove them. As of Sept. 1, the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office had not publicly said how it would respond.
Why It Matters: For St. Johns County, the order limits where sheriff's readers can operate but does not affect cameras on county roads or private property.
What's Next: The 30-day removal clock is running, and FDOT says it will remove any affected devices that remain afterward.
Read more here.
📚 Library cards unlock deals at 115 local businesses
The Gist: More than 115 St. Johns County businesses are participating in the library system's Community Connections campaign throughout September, up from 34 partners when it launched in 2024. New and existing cardholders can show their card for participating discounts.
Why It Matters: The program pairs immediate local savings with free year-round access to books, audiobooks, e-books, streaming movies and research tools.
What's Next: Deals run through Sept. 30, and library cards are free to St. Johns County residents.
Read more here.
🥕 Amphitheatre Farmers Market | St. Augustine Amphitheatre | St. Augustine | Saturday, September 5, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | More Shop local produce, handmade art, coffee, and prepared foods beneath the oaks.
🥾 Guided Exploration Hike | Guana Trailhead | Ponte Vedra Beach | Saturday, September 5, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. | More Learn Guana ecology and five millennia of history on a two-mile trail.
🏰 Fort Mose Militia Muster & Training | Fort Mose Historic State Park | St. Augustine | Saturday, September 5, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. | More Watch costumed militia practice colonial firing drills and historic weapons safety.
💃 Aviles Street Festival | Ximenez-Fatio House Museum | St. Augustine | Saturday, September 5, 4:00 to 9:00 p.m. | More Live music, flamenco, sword dueling, art, and food celebrate Spanish heritage.
🐦 Bird Walk at Anastasia State Park | Anastasia State Park | St. Augustine | Sunday, September 6, 8:15 to 10:00 a.m. | More Spot shorebirds and wading birds across beaches, boardwalks, and nature trails.
🎨 Fall Members Show | St. Augustine Art Association | St. Augustine | Friday, September 4 through Sunday, September 27; noon to 4:00 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday | More See emerging and professional members' work across varied styles and media.
🖼️ First Friday Art Walk | Art Galleries of St. Augustine | St. Augustine | Friday, September 4, 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. | More Explore 25-plus galleries, meet artists, and ride the free downtown shuttle.
🎸 Blues Traveler and Gin Blossoms with Spin Doctors | St. Augustine Amphitheatre | St. Augustine | Friday, September 4, doors 5:00 p.m., show 6:00 p.m. | More Three enduring rock bands bring blues, power pop, and radio hits.
🎤 Pecha Kucha Night: Sing Out Loud 2026 | Colonial Oak Music Park | St. Augustine | Sunday, September 6, mingling 6:00 p.m., program 7:00 p.m. | More Three singer-songwriters pair rapid-fire personal stories with intimate concerts.
🎶 Music & Art by the Sea: Mandalla Music | St. Johns County Ocean Pier Pavilion | St. Augustine Beach | Wednesday, September 9, 3:00 to 9:00 p.m.; concert 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. | More Local art and a free beachside set pair with Mango Mike's food.
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