WEST KING IS A THING . St. Augustine's west side is undergoing a not-so-subtle transformation, and the businesses in the West King business district just west of US1 are not letting it pass them by. Singer Jolie at the West King Market While the West King district in St. Augustine is just a short distance away from downtown St. Augustine, it is not an extension of the touristy downtown that locals often shy away from, it is a completely different feel. Read the full piece about the West King Market and West King Wednesday at the Florida Coastal Connection.

Artists Become Part of the City during the Plein Air St. Augustine Paint Out

Once a year artists from across the country adorn the streets of St. Augustine as a part of the Plein Air St. Augustine Paint Out hosted by the St. Augustine Art Association. You can read the full piece about the Plein Air St. Augustine Paint Out at the St. Augustine Connection.

Community Effort to Clean Up the African Cemeteries and Save the Lost Graves in St. Augustine

At the fourth Pinehurst and San Sebastian Cemeteries Restoration Day, passionate people from all over St. Augustine, Jacksonville and even Georgia came out to join in the effort to locate the lost graves, map out the graves and clean up around the gravesites. The cemeteries are two of the oldest African American cemeteries in Florida, and in recent years the West Augustine Improvement Association has taken over the cemeteries and is now beginning to host regular cleanup events to keep the cemeteries maintained with little funding. Read the full piece about the cemetery cleanup in St. Augustine at the St. Augustine Connection .

Ashley Chatmon, BSU President at Flagler College

"As a student, and especially as a high school student, you may feel helpless. While adults argue about preserving your physical safety at school, they're also coming for what you're allowed to learn, whose history is worth learning, whose feelings must be protected. Your books are being banned, your plays are being canceled. Well, I'm here to tell you to never underestimate the learning you can obtain outside of school. I implore you to get in touch with your community leaders. I implore you to know your history. The public library is free. Take your education into your own hands, because no one can take that away from you." Ashley Chatmon, Black Student Union President at Flagler College Visit The St. Augustine Connection for the full feature of Ashley Chatmon, Flagler College BSU President.

Efforts to Green Up St. Augustine Highlighted as St. Augustine Celebrates the 40th Tree City Designation with Tree Giveaways

Twine Park in Lincolnville got a little greener today, when local residents, plant lovers, college students, city workers and city officials joined together to celebrate that St. Augustine had been designated a Tree City for the 40th consecutive year by the Arbor Day Foundation. Read the full piece about Arbor Day in St. Augustine at the Florida Coastal Connection .

The Corner Market in Lincolnville St. Augustine - One of the few Black-Owned Businesses Left - is Raising Money for Major Renovations

The Corner Market in Lincolnville at 97 MLK Avenue, St. Augustine, FL has been in the Smith family's ownership for decades, and for the past seven years Nyk Smith has been running it. It is one of the few black-owned businesses left in this historic area, which was built by formerly enslaved people, and if this building could talk, it would have so many stories to tell. You can find the full piece about The Corner Market in Lincolnville at the St. Augustine Connection.