fbpx

Big weekend on a little island

A triple-header of activities drew hundreds of locals and visitors to the Beach Bar, the Sprauve School playground, and Mongoose Junction over the weekend.

BoatThe fun began with the 9th annual Minimal Regatta on the waterfront, an annual competition which requires competitors to build a watercraft out of not much more than nuts, twigs and Styrofoam.  About eight people entered the Beach Bar event this year.  Despite the fact their ‘boats’ could include little more than a sheet of plywood, some boards, nails and duct tape, a good time was had by all who launched and sailed their craft. None were lost at sea.

In the afternoon, it was on to Wagapalooza, the Animal Care Center-sponsored island dog show.  The St. John Source estimated 250 people attended and watched 39 dogs compete for fun and prizes.  The traditional “Wagometer” was the arbiter for awards, measuring the loudness of the audience’s applause.  Check back here later for pictures.

The nightcap was Music in the Moonlight at Mongoose Junction.  Michelle Wicklund blogged that a variety of artists sang and played several songs each, and “There were tons of people there.”

Let’s hear it for the girls

I used to live in Chicago, where they DO say, “Vote early. Vote often.” 

Well, in this case, it’s nearly the last minute, but, if you’re a VI resident you can support two St. Johnians whose photographs are finalists in the Territory’s “Share My USVI” competition, sponsored by the Department of Tourism.  Deadline for voting is Sunday, May 17.

Etre Lisa Etre, a longtime resident multi-media artist, is one of he island’s finalists, and Julia Pergolizzi from East End is the second.

Lisa’s entry is “Keepin’ de Beat” in the Culture and Heritage category. 

Bananaquits Julia’s contribution is a picture of bananaquits at feeding time.

“Julia’s become interested in photography and took a bunch of pictures … and is now a finalist in her age group (ages 11-13),” wrote Louise, her mother. “She’s so excited about it.”

The rules of the contest say only legal VI residents can vote, and only people who are eligible to vote can see the finalist photos.  But anybody can go to www.sharemyusvi.com and see many of the contest’s entries.

Ferry fare hike frozen

Cruz_bay_ferry_dock_4 The VI Public Service Commission agreed to postpone a 40% hike in the Red Hook/St. John ferry fare for 60 days.  The increase, from $5 to $7 each way, was to go into effect May 1.

The PSC convened a public hearing at the legislature building on St.
John to hear complaints about its decision to approve a fare increase.  St. John’s Unity Day Group filed a formal request for
reconsideration.

About 70 people attended the hearing at the Legislature building. Unity Day Group argued the ferry companies’ financial justification for the increase included some odd ‘business’ expenses.

The St. John Source quoted Sharon Coldren, a Group member, saying “I see $1 million in unpaid gross receipts taxes … I see loans to officers.  I see a time-share condo mentioned.”

The Commission agreed to reopen the fare hike request process which will lead to at least one more public hearing and allow for public comment.

The Commission will again try to figure out the true financial condition of the ferry companies.  Both Varlack Ventures and Transportation Services perennially plead losses and poverty, but few people have seen proof this is so.

Property taxes due July 1

Viirb Here comes the Taxman, again … maybe. 

By an Executive Order, Gov. John P. deJongh has set July 1 as the date for the 2006 property tax bills to be paid.

The bills were sent to residential and commercial property owners in the Virgin Islands last summer.  But because the matter of the fairness of the Territory’s valuation process was being contested in federal courts, the Tax Assessor said they could be ignored.

Which raises the question of how the Governor can now say taxes are due in seven weeks, given that the court case is not yet settled.

Wait, there’s more.  The Acting Tax Assessor told the St. John Source that property tax bills for 2007 are now being processed and may be in the mail in August.  That could mean a second property tax payment will be due around Halloween.

The Governor's Executive Order can be read here.

Guy Benjamin, grand old man of the island

Benjamin Imagine St. John in 1914.  That’s when Guy Benjamin was born, far on the East End of the smallest Virgin Island. 

He was the first St. Johnian to finish high school.  He went on to graduate from New York University, and to become both Superintendent of Schools on St. John and St. Thomas and an author (Me and My Beloved Virgin). 

Still living in Coral Bay, and directing the choir at the Moravian Church, Benjamin continues to wield what they call in Chicago ‘clout.’  In a profile of Benjamin in this month's Caribbean Travel & Life, writer Peter Muilenburg says all it took was him to indicate he was opposed to a proposal to build a marina, hotel and condos on church land to kill the project.

If you love St. John, you need to know about Guy Benjamin.  One way would be to read his book, “Me and My Beloved Virgin.”  Another is to stop by the Sputnik Bar, where he’s been known to stop for refreshment.  Or you could go to church and listen to him sing.

Holiday Homes rolls with the times

St. John’s oldest real estate firm is consolidating its offices. In a Spring/Summer newsletter, Holiday Homes explained that, “As the market has changed, we have to stay nimble to be in shape for our 50th anniversary next year!”

So, the 24-year-old sales office at Mongoose Junction will be closed and Holiday Homes will be headquartered on the first floor of the Marketplace.

This is interesting, because the Inquiring Iguana has heard of another real estate firm which said it would prefer to be located at Mongoose because there is greater tourist traffic there; the Marketplace gets locals. However, there’s no question that tourists need food and Holiday’s prime location next to Starfish Market, with big display windows for photos and posters, gives its real estate offerings great visibility.

Business wise, Holiday Homes says "We’re in a tricky economy. Winter season was slow but spring is more active,” the newsletter reported. In the first five months of the year, there have been three home closings and contracts on six more, compared to last year when four homes had closed and 10 were under contract.

Dealing with St. Thomas airport

Whether American Airlines really means it when they suggest you arrived at the airport four hours ahead of departure, to insure your bags get on the plane with you, there are some things you can do to reduce the stress of the airport.

  • Log on to AA.com where you can print your boarding passes the night before you are set to fly.
  • Try to live with one carry on bag.  How much room do shorts, underwear, t-shirts and sandals require, anyway?
  • Use the automatic check-in machines at the airport.  An agent will sticker the bags and you’re on the way.

Got any other ideas?  Pass them along here.

The animals say ‘Thanks!’

A few weeks ago we sent the Animal Care Center some cat toys, and some dog toys, too.  Several readers commented they'd do the same thing.  And they did! 

A brief message from the ACC included the word 'inundated' to characterize the generosity of the people who sent bones, chewies, rawhides, and all manner of toys. 

Ya done good!

St. John Podcast: Shelley, the live trip blogger

Shelley Shelley McLennan
didn’t see a whale during her visit to St. John last week, but she sure
saw and and did a lot of other stuff.  And it’s all there for you to
see, too, on her Island Girl blog.

Shelley’s
the person I’ve named the Greatest Trip report writer.  She doesn’t
wait ‘til she’s back home in Canada to chronicle her latest visit. 
Rather she does it while she’s living it, almost ‘live blogging’ the
vacation.  Husband Rob is cool, understanding that even after a night at Woody’s, Shelley may still go to the laptop and upload photos and write commentary about the day's events.

I’ve gotten to know Shelley and Rob over the past eight months.  They were staying at Blue Tang, our villa, when heavy weather came up last fall.  We got into e-mail contact then and have continued. 

When I saw Shelly’s Trip Reports on line, I had to know more.  And so in this week’s St. John Podcast,
I talked about her love affair with the island (five visits, so far),
how she plans her daily adventures, and what it’s like to take as many
as 500 photos a day with a Nikon 700 camera.

Shelley's blog is at islandgirl.typepad.com

Listen to the show. Press the "Play" arrow.

You can also download or listen to the show by clicking here.

Dozens of previous podcasts are available in the archive at http://barnako.typepad.com/news_of_st_john_usvi/podcasts/