US Virgin Islands News

Hurricane forecasters: Wait'll next year

Colorado State University weather researchers say there is a better than a 50/50 chance a 'major hurricane" will make landfall in the Caribbean next year; 63% to be exact.

Phil KlotzbachWilliam Gray also say there is a 64% chance  a big one will hit the coastline of the US.

"We anticipate the current El Nino event to dissipate by the 2010 hurricane season and warm sea temperatures are likely to continue being present in the tropical and North Atlantic ... conditions that contribute to an above-average season," they said in their annual forecast.Overall the storm researchers expect 2010 will be a year with above-average activity, with as many as 16 named storms and half of them possibly becoming hurricanes.  Last year's forecast from the tropical Meteorology Project was essentially the same; as many as 14 named storms, a 63% chance one would hit the US coast and "above average major landfall hurricane risk in the Caribbean." 

There were nine named storms last year and only two hurricanes.  none hit the US coast. "Activity in 2009 was reduced considerably due largely to the moderate El Niño event that developed," Gray and Klotzbach said.

And we all know how that turned out.  Let's hope they're wrong again.

• The 2010 forecast: http://hurricane.atmos.colostate.edu/Forecasts/
• Figure courtesy of Weather Underground (http://www.wunderground.com)

Friends' winter seminars announced

The Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park has announced its schedule of winter seminars. 

Among almost 40 sessions, from December through April, there are more than half a dozen workshops being offered for the first time.  They include a private woodworking lesson from Avelino Samuel, a session with jazz drummer Eddie Bruce teaching ethnic drumming, and award-winning Trinidad Charlie showing how to make your own pepper sauce. Registration fees for the seminars go to benefit the Friends and the Park.

Participating in these classes is a double treat.  Not only do you get the chance to learn something from an expert and get closer to the real St. John, but you also will meet other visitors as well as island residents.

• You can download a PDF of the winter seminar schedule here http://www.friendsvinp.org/2010SeminarBroch.pdf.  Call 340-779-4940 for more information or to register.

Feds to fund new/old ferry

Even as stimulus program dollars are paying for long-needed repair work on Gifft Hill and South Shore road, there are more coming.  Gov. John de Jongh said multi-billion dollar appropriations bill just passed by Congress is worth $33 million for Virgin islands projects.

The Inquiring Iguana is pretty focused on St. John and scoured the legislation for what it means directly for the island.

• $200,000 for the acquisition of a refurbished passenger ferry for St. John
• $3.25 million for acquisition of land at Maho Bay and Hawksnest Bay for the National Park.

Other provisions in the bill provide for some new buses for Vitran and  a new 911 emergency communications center.

The Governor said he is "enormously grateful."

St. John Singers schedule

The Singers, folks from St. John and St. Thomas who just love to sing, plan three holiday concerts. 

A Cruz Bay show will be Wednesday evening at the Nazareth Lutheran Church,  Coral Bay will host two concerts, Dec. 20 and Dec. 22, at the Emmaus Moravian Church.  All concerts start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for children are $5 and for adults, $15.

The featured performer will be Glychris Sprauve.  Born in Puerto Rico, raised on St. Thomas, he is a multi-faceted performer as a tenor, pianist, composer, arranger and musicologist. He holds degrees in Vocal Performance from the Universities of Iowa and Maryland, and has also studied at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. Sprauve has sung extensively through Brazil, Argentina and the Caribbean.

• Sprauve's Web site: http://www.gylchrissprauve.com

Cruz Bay business for sale

A gift shop in the Raintree Court, next to the Fish Trap restaurant, has gone on the market. 

Donna Wheeler, an agent with David Jones Real Estate chose to use Craigslist to offer Tropical Details.

Asking price for the 625-square-foot gift shop and island boutique is $215,000. 

The listing says, "Current owner receives numerous requests for shipments. Potential for Web business."

• The posting on Craigslist: http://caribbean.craigslist.org/bfs/1505246715.html

Coral Bay business for sale

Cocoloba, the new-ish shopping center in Coral Bay, is for sale.  Asking price for the retail strip, which is home to the Big Bely Deli and Aqua Bistro restaurant is $3.9 million.

By the way, Cocoloba's not the only retail complex on the market.  Greenleaf Commons, just across the road from the Westin and barely a year old, is being offered at $4.95 million. 

While across the street, and a bit toward town, is Palm Plaza.  It's been listed for sale for several years but has recently been removed from the Multiple Listing Service.  Sold?  Owner decided to give it a rest?  The Inquiring Iguana wants to know.

La Plancha's menu online

Everybody's favorite restaurant at the Marketplace shopping center has a Web site. 

Not much to see but the menus for lunch and dinner have been PDF-ed and can be downloaded:

• http://laplanchadelmar.com/

New parking at Dolphin Market

Anthony Finta of Virgin-Islands-On-Line posted a photo  from the Roundabout project. 

Looks like there is a new parking lot for customers at Dolphin.  Nice.  But, not any bigger.

Party like an animal with the ACC

A new 5-bedroom Chocolate Hole villa will be the site of this weekend's '60s Dance Party to benefit the animals.  Pony up $85 and you can join the fun and gawk at Tre Vista Estate from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday night.

The event begins at sunset and launches into a '60's dance theme, fueled by Preston Elliot (of Beatlemania), performing with his new local band, Illuminati. Far-out food & loose libations will be provided by Baked in the Sun, East West Catering, La Plancha, Lime Inn, Mathayom, Sugar Estate Distributors, Sun Dog Cafe, Susie Christi, Ted's Supper Club, and Westin St. John Resort

Event goers will also have a chance to win raffle prizes, including donations from Bajo el Sol, Biras Cree, Drift Away Day Spa, Calypso Charters, Jude Woodcock, La Tapa, Ocean Grill, and Zozo's.

The ACC is raising funds to both support its efforts to provide care for stray and homeless animals,. but also to fund a new building to supply additional service such as animal related vocational training, pet grooming, dog training, and pet boarding.

• See Tre Vista at cateredto.com/VillaPage/TVE
• Learn more about the Animal Care Center at stjohnanimalcarecenter.com
  

Holy cruise ship! Oasis of the Seas has arrived

And YouTube was there.  See it here.