US Virgin Islands News

Villa owner sick of rude guests

A comment by an angry and frustrated owner of a rental villa on St. John has generated more than a dozen responses at  at USVI On-Line, most from people who say that when they rent villas they try to leave them better than when the found them.

But the self-described owner of a $10,000/week property hasn't seen too many of those kinds of guests.  "I've had things stolen over the years that you wouldn't believe including magnets, knick knacks, artwork, books and even an area rug!," he/she wrote. "Would they treat their friends' homes this way? Would they sit on nice furniture while wet from the pool? Would they help themselves to any expensive coffee table books that tickle their fancy? Would they bleach all the guest towels with face cream and then claim it wasn't them when asked? Would they leave the stereo in the rain and then pretend they didn't?"

Replies have been sympathetic. "My wife insists on making the place better: scrubbing counter tops, shaking rugs, washing sheets and towels (refolding them, too), often buying small things to add to the owners' collection of things,' wrote "Dave." 

While one commenter seemed to doubt the veracity of the complaint, another said, "I, too, am sorry you've had some poopy guests, but doesn't that sort of come with the territory?" Most other posts were on the side of the villa owner.  One said, "We certainly respect all of your furnishing and property and we are extremely grateful that you share your lovely homes with us."

New restaurants prepare for openings

The NewsofStjohn's Inquiring Iguana hears that the island's newest upscale restaurant has been doing tryouts this month.  Dry runs of staffing assignments, menu preparation, tasting, etc. at Mongoose Junction's Ocean Grill.  Grand opening is expected at the end of September.

And two former Yoga instructors are on track to open a vegetarian Mediterranean restaurant on the second floor of the Marketplace in the middle of October. Satyamuna - Food For The Soul is being launched by Giuliana and Ofer Elyakim.  She was born in Sicily, and migrated to New York where she studied art and fashion design and, while teaching Yoga, became focused on healthy cooking.  Ofer was born in Israel, and recently worked in California managing the kitchen of a Yoga ashram retreat in Grass Valley. Menus for the restaurant are online, Watch them build the restaurant at http://www.satyamuna.com/index.html

VI National Park to host research reviews

The Park's 50th Anniversary Conference on Marine and Terrestrial Scientific Research will be convene Nov. 1-3 at the Environmental Resource Station at Lameshur Bay.  The Park has been the site of some of the longest-term underwater biological and ecological research in the world, according to Rafe Boulon, the Park's chief of Resources Management. 

Half a century of research studies will be reviewed with an eye to helping to identify the kinds of projects which should be undertaken in the future.  The conference is offered by the Park, the University of the Virgin islands, the United States geological Survey, Friends of the Park, and Ocean Conservancy, and others.  More information is available at http://islands.org/science/Conference%20webpage.htm.

Park Superintendent promoted

Art Frederick is leaving St. John at the end of the month  to take a new position in the National Park Service in Atlanta.  He became superintendent of the VI Park in 2003.  Kristen Maize, program manager for the Friends of the Park, told the Virgin islands Daily News,  "We're very saddened.  We’re definitely going to miss him."

While on the job on island, Frederick oversaw development of  a general plan for the park as well as restoration and renovation of the pavilion at Hawksnest Beach, and rehabilitation of portions of the North Shore road.  The superintendent of the San Juan National Historic Site in Puerto Rico will temporarily oversee St. John's Park until Frederick's replacement is identified.

St. John Singers prepare Mozart concert

Members of the 25-year-old St. John Singers hope to honor Mozart's 250th birthday with a concert on island at the end of October or early November, the St. John Source reported.  Once that is done, the Singers will plan for their annual Christmas concert.  The concert programs "lean toward classical," said Nancy Morse, vice president of the group, although she the group's repertoire includes reggae, original songs by members, and West Indian Christmas tunes. 

Concert admission fees as well as funding from the V.I. Council on the Arts help finance the Singers' efforts.  The Source reported, "Anyone who can carry a tune is welcome to join."  Rehearsals at Monday evenings at Nazareth Lutheran Church.

Passport up to date?

Next January, you'll need a passport to return to the United States from Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico.    However, the State Department has said a driver’s license and/or birth certificate will be OK from the Virgin Islands. "U.S. citizens returning directly from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the U.S. and do not need to present a passport. U.S. territories include the following: Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains Island and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands," according to a statement on a government Web site.

Texaco reopens

The St. John Source reports Bob O'Connor's pumping gas again.

      "After being closed for more than a week, St. John's Texaco gas station opened Tuesday. 'It was stocked with gas Tuesday,' Texaco Caribbean spokeswoman Isabelle Guerin said." Full story. 

Fall restaurant closings

Ruth at St. John Spice has become the unofficial reporter for what's open and what's not during the down season. Her list is alphabetical.  Print it out and bring it with you between now and Nov.

(Buy some Blind Betty hot sauce.  Locally imagined, locally produced, globally tasty.)

The best man won

John deJongh, a civic-minded businessman from St. Thomas, easily won the Democratic primary to become the party's candidate for Governor in the November general election. He and his running mate, St. Croix's Gregory Francis, will run against Kenneth Mapp and Almando Liburd and Sen. Adlah Donastorg Jr. and Cora Christian.  This was DeJongh's second try at the gubernatorial job; he ran four years ago as an independent but lost to Charles Turnbull.

The winning candidates garnered almost 52% of the votes cast in what is reported to have been a record-setting turnout during last Saturday's voting.  During the campaign, DeJongh visited St. John and pledged to  help the island get its own planner and to have authority over the St. John Capital Fund, and to study whether St. John should have its own high school.

Francis, on the ticket for Lt. Gov., told the St John Source, "John and I want to bring the Virgin Islands back to how it used to be - an open and respectable government for all and not just a few."  A supporter of the candidates, Steve Nisky said, "I think all of the islands realized we had a breath of fresh air and a government that's going to work in the daytime, not in the late of night."  More from the Virgin Islands Daily News.

Ferry service reduced

The number of ferry runs between St. John and Charlotte Amalie is being cut to three a day.   Normally, there are four. This month and next, ferries will depart the St. Thomas waterfront daily at 9 a.m., 1 p.m., and 5:30 p.m., and from Cruz Bay at 7:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., and 3:45 p.m.  There is no change in the hourly service, 6:30 a.m. to midnight between St. John and Red Hook.