Mayor, DAR regent preview America250 events in St. Augustine Beach

Mayor Dylan Rumrill and Beth Pelzer, regent of the Mariah Jefferson chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, used the Monday with the Mayor program to preview local activities tied to America250, the nationwide commemoration of the country’s 250th anniversary.

Pelzer said the local effort is the result of multi-year planning and involves 22 organizations. "We are 3 years in the planning of activities," she said, and encouraged residents to visit the project website, america250saintaugfl.org, for details. The site, she said, lists activities, a teachers' curriculum and a lecture series kicking off in January.

Pelzer summarized the historical context that the local programs will reference, noting that the original Liberty Tree was a white elm outside Boston and that colonial groups later adopted meeting under trees after tavern meetings were compromised. She described the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Sons of the American Revolution and the Colonial Dames as the three core local partners that launched the effort.

According to Pelzer, the program's early activities include a lecture series sponsored in part by the Colonial Dames and educational materials intended for teachers. She said the partnerships and curriculum are listed under the "activities" section of the website and invited community groups and individuals to consult the site for schedules and participation details.

Mayor Rumrill closed the segment by thanking Pelzer and urging listeners to check the website for upcoming events. No formal actions or votes were taken during the broadcast segment.