An Online Blog About the Daily Happenings of St. John, USVI
This video doesn’t need much of an introduction. Simply put – it’s an incredible, three-minute video that captures aerial views of the East End. It was filmed using a GoPro camera and a DJI Phantom, which is a radio-controlled helicopter. IrixGuy filmed it and we thank him for sharing it with us.
Check it out and turn on your sound:
I was wandering around Cruz Bay yesterday when a woman named Sherry stopped me near the National Park dock. She had just hopped off Seadream, a small cruise ship that was docked off of Cruz Bay. She only had a few hours on island, so she wanted to know what she should do.
The two of us starting chatting while Mr. News of St. John chatted up the two gentlemen that had accompanied her onshore. It turns out that Sherry was visiting with a few friends, including a man named Geoff Bodine. Does that name ring a bell for any of you? Any NASCAR fans out there?
It turns out Geoff, who was super nice by the way, is a pretty decorated race car driver. He’s driven in the top three series and won 18 Sprint Cup races in the 80s and 90s. He even won the Daytona 500 in 1986. Pretty cool huh. (And yes, I totally Googled that.)
Geoff retired back in 2012 after racing for more than 27 years. He now owns a Honda motorsport dealership in Melbourne, Florida and makes bobsleds for the US Olympic Team.
As I mentioned, he was a very nice guy. He even gave us the autographed picture above. Good to meet you Geoff. Hope you enjoyed the island.
Hi everyone, happy Monday! I hope you all had a wonderful Easter yesterday for those of you who celebrate. I had one of the best holidays ever, and I wanted to tell you all about it.
So a friend and I were taking a nice cruise out east yesterday when we happened upon Angel’s Rest in Haulover Bay. For years, I’ve been trying to catch up with Captain Peter and the Angel’s Rest, but our paths never officially crossed until yesterday. So naturally the second I saw him, all of our other Easter plans got put on the back burner. We parked the Jeep, grabbed some cash and hopped in the water.
For those of you unfamiliar with Angel’s Rest, it’s a very cool floating bar. But what makes it even cooler is Captain Peter himself. Captain Peter built Angel’s Rest a few years back and it’s the only boat on St. John that has a liquor license. It’s a comfy little spot with a bar with seating for about seven or so people , a glass table with chairs for those looking to relax while watching the critters swim by through the circle cut out in the floor below, two beds in the event that you need a little catnap and a very comfortable rooftop sun deck for those looking to chill or work on their tans.
You need to see this for yourself. Check it out this little video we took:
Angels Rest goes out a few times a week (when Peter feels like it) and it can be found either at Haluover or Vie’s. If you’re on island and looking to find him, give him a ring. You can see his number on his “business cards” below:
And an added bonus, the head at Angel’s Rest has probably the best restroom view on island.
One of the island’s most beloved bartenders will serve his last drink Wednesday. Kenny Quinn, the affable, lovable bartender who’s served up drinks at Aqua Bistro for the past seven years is leaving island.
“It’s the best thing that could have happened,” Kenny said Monday. “It’s good for me, but after 20 years, it’s going to be hard for me to leave people on island.”
Kenny came to St. John back in 1995 right after Hurricane Marilyn tore through the territory.
“There wasn’t a roof left on island,” Kenny said.
He came to work in construction and then spent seven years bartending at Island Blues. For the past seven years, he’s called Aqua Bistro home where he’s known for his great conversation and his classic Betty Ford Clinic visor.
“Outpatient,” Kenny joked. “Or else I wouldn’t be here.”
Kenny’s next chapter will lead him up to New York where he plans to retire – Kenny turns 68 on Sunday. In the meantime, Aqua Bistro plans to throw him one heck of a going away party during his last shift tomorrow, April 16.
Kenny’s last shift will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be live bands around 2 p.m. He is also working today from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. so be sure to stop by and say hello.
“This isn’t an end,” Kenny said. “It’s a beginning.”
I have to say Kenny – you will certainly be missed.
I don’t know about all of you, but I think I could sit up at the Cruz Bay overlook with a bottle of Carib and watch the sun set nearly every night of my life. There is just something so beautiful, so still and so awe-inspiring about watching the sun slowly fall to the ground.
I recently came across this article from Huffington Post. It made me realize that we should all take the time to watch the sun set wherever we are – whether it be up at the Cruz Bay overlook, somewhere in the states or anywhere else in the world. Here’s what the Huffington Post had to say:
7 Reasons You Should Make Time for the Sunset
We all know just how romantic, inspiring and utterly Instagram-able they can be, but most of us only make time for sunsets when we’re on vacation, as if that calming, beautiful moment can only occur when we’re in an exotic place, free from everyday obligations.
But — newsflash — the sun sets every single day, no matter where you are. And with the days getting longer and the weather getting warmer, the sunset is becoming more and more accessible, and an easy, free way to infuse some wonder and awe into your regular routine.
Here’s why you should consider making time to watch the sun set:
1. It can slow down time.
Seriously. By witnessing the beauty and awe of the sunset, you can slow down your perception of time. According to 2012 research, participants who felt awe — defined as ‘the emotion that arises when one encounters something so strikingly vast that it provokes a need to update one’s mental schemas’ — felt like they had more time available and were less impatient. ‘Experiences of awe bring people into the present moment,’ researchers wrote in the paper, ‘which underlies awe’s capacity to adjust time perception, influence decisions, and make life feel more satisfying than it would otherwise.’
Feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day? Amazingly, by taking the time to gaze out into the vast, color-soaked sky, we’re actually empowering ourselves to regain control of the clock.
2. & 3. It doesn’t take long and it forces you outside.
Even if you have to go back to the office after you watch that last sliver disappear below the skyline, taking a few minutes out of your day to experience some of the golden hour will be worth it. Just a 20-minute dose of fresh air promotes a sense of vitality, according to a series of studies published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology.
‘Nature is fuel for the soul,’ Richard Ryan, Ph.D., lead author of the studies, said in a statement. ‘Often when we feel depleted we reach for a cup of coffee, but research suggests a better way to get energized is to connect with nature.’
4. It allows you to multitask in a healthy way.
You can take in the sunset in a variety of ways: while running, walking, biking or simply observing. The mental benefits of the former three are well known — exercise, after all, has been shown to ease symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress — but simply sitting and observing the sunset also gives you a health boost: the opportunity to practice mindfulness.
Mindfulness, according to a Perspectives on Psychological Science study, is “the nonjudgmental awareness of experiences in the present moment” and has been proven to have significant psychological and physical benefits, including stress reduction and improved cognitive functioning. What better way to practice being aware of the present moment than by watching the literal passing of time as the sun sinks below the horizon?
5. It will force you to put your phone down.
When we relegate the experience of sunsets to vacations and special occasions, we feel the urge to document, capture and save them — as if hoarding photos of their majesty will help us remember that wondrous feeling. But if you experience the sunset more regularly, you’ll no longer feel compelled to see it through a screen. (Besides, your Instagram followers would never stand for the repetition!)
In her new book, ‘Thrive,’ president and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post Media Group Arianna Huffington warns that an over-reliance on technology can cause us to miss the moment. ‘Even the good moments that celebrate us, we are hardly there to enjoy it,’ she recently told Barbara Walters. By watching the sunset and not your screens, you’ll give your brain the chance to recharge and recover.
6. It will help you appreciate life’s gifts.
People around the world are drawn to sunsets, but a few special places have really embraced the sunset as a daily opportunity to give thanks. In places like Santorini, Greece, and Maui, Hawaii, the sunset is regarded as a nightly celebration. Crowds gather to cheer and applaud it, reinforcing the idea that we should celebrate and be thankful for each day.
Being mindful of all the things you have to be thankful for can boost your well-being, research suggests. Studies have shown that practicing gratitude is associated with a sense of overall gladness, improved sleep and even increased patience.
7. It will inspire you.
Inspire us. You all know how much we love to receive reader’s photos. Feel free to send us your best sunset photos to [email protected]
For those of you who follow News of St. John on Facebook, you may have read last Friday how we were pretty excited about receiving our 2,703rd “like.” To be honest, we’re excited about each and every like we receive, but this one was different. Why you ask? Because we were “liked” by the island’s most famous pig.
Meet Ziggy.
Ziggy Hartness has lived on St. John for the past three years. His “mother” Kristin Hartness decided a few years back that she wanted a pig as a pet, so she went online and found a breeder in Orange Park, Florida. Little Ziggy was only four pounds when Kristin picked him up from the St. Thomas airport. The breeder told her that Ziggy was a “mini teacup” pig and that he would weigh no more than 25 pounds.
Hmmm … I think they were wrong.
“It’s just more to love,” Kristin said with her cute North Carolina accent.
Over the last three years, Ziggy – all 220 pounds of him – has become a local island celebrity. He lives over near Gallows Point with his parents – Kristin Hartness and Jay Yontz – and is a frequent visitor along Cruz Bay beach. You may have seen him pop into the Beach Bar from time to time or perhaps at Deli Grotto where he is treated to a grilled cheese sandwich every weekend. You may have even seen him on Facebook. Ziggy’s a pretty popular pig with more than 1,600 “friends.”
So what’s it like to be the mother of a 220-pound pig?
“He’s perfect,” Kristin said. “He really is. He understands sentences. It’s like talking to a kid. He’s my beautiful, adorable precious little pumpkin.”
And just like many children, Ziggy has been known to thrown a temper tantrum here and there.
“Everyone on the beach can hear him when that happens,” Kristin said. “He’s very emotional.”
Fortunately for Kristin and Jay, Ziggy is house trained. He is very clean and eats two meals a day. His favorites are fish salads with all the toppings, lasagne and fruits and vegetables.
He has a great personality, according to Kristin, and loves all of the attention he gets from locals and tourists.
“He loves people,” she said. “And they just love him. They absolutely love him. They want to get their picture taken with him. Mostly everybody just goes crazy over him.”
So the next time you’re out and about near Cruz Bay beach, give a look around and you might just see Ziggy, the island’s most famous pig.
It happens often, and it’s pretty cool. Thousands of hermit crabs migrate in the US Virgin Islands and on St. John. Researchers are looking for your help this year in their efforts to track the predicted 2013 migration.
Their request is pretty simple: If you happen to come across hermit crabs anywhere on the island, they would like to know about it. This could be in your backyard, at your villa, on a trail or even on a roadway or in a parking lot. Researchers are asking that you make note of the date, time, location, number seen, as well as the direction they are traveling (toward or away from the water). Once you jot down that information, please fill out their questionnaire which can be found here. You can help determine when and where the hermit crabs are migrating.
Last year’s hermit crab video taken by Steve Simonsen was so incredible, it went viral. To date, it’s received more than 476,000 views on Vimeo and YouTube.
Check out last year’s video here:
The Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) issued a Notice of Violation to the Denis Bay property owner accused of altering the area’s landscape and VI National Park land.
DPNR found that property owner Tony Ingrao violated seven provisions of the VI Building Code including excavating and land clearing on National Park land; failure to secure an earth change permit; building without a permit; violating provisions of permits; and excavations affecting adjoining properties.
According to the Notice of Violation, the Division of Building Permits was notified on May 13 that a landslide occurred on a lower section of the roadway adjacent to plot 2B Denis Bay. Prior to the landslide report, the Division had met with the construction project manager to discuss concerns about possible environmental impacts and hazards created by the site. Mitigations efforts were discussed and it was indicated at the time that they would begin as quickly as possible.
Now that the Notice of Violation has been issued, Ingrao will be required to submit plans and a new building permit application for site stabilization, drainage and any associated structure needed to stabilize the affected area. Ingrao must submit any agreement or mitigation approved by the National Park with regard to the impacted areas. Ingrao is required to notify and receive approval for any work conducted on the recently reopened roadway leading to the property, and upon approval, Ingrao has 45 days to make repairs to that roadway. DPNR also fined Ingrao $10,500 which must be paid within 30 days.
Jamal Nielsen, DPNR Media Relations Coordinator, stated Monday that Ingrao has already implemented corrective action measures, although he did not have specific details on what types of measures have been put into place thus far.
Ingrao is a world-renowned interior designer based in New York City. News of St. John reached out to him Monday, but was unsuccessful.
Below is a map of the property’s location:
As we mentioned last week, finding airfare to St. Thomas has proven to be quite the task in recent months. We have a few more tips that can help you in your quest to find the cheapest airfare.
1. Southwest releases its fares today through March 7, 2014. The catch with Southwest is that it only flies to San Juan, Puerto Rico. You would have to pick up a puddle jumper flight from there. But it may be worth the extra hassle – After performing a quick search for fares for next February, we were able to find roundtrip fares from New York for only $307 RT; from Los Angeles for only $388 and from Dallas for only $446.
2. For those of you traveling with a small group and don’t mind the extra hassle of San Juan, Cape Air has a pretty good deal out there. It’s called the Commuter Book. This, however, is only good for folks traveling with five or more in a group, or those in smaller groups who travel to St. John more frequently.
The way it works is simple: You purchase a Commuter Book of tickets on Cape Air. The booklet consists of 10 one-way tickets between San Juan and St. Thomas (or vice versa). The tickets must be used within one year of purchase. Cape Air states that fliers can save up to 30 percent by purchasing tickets this way. In our very unscientific study, we’ve found an average savings of around 13 percent. The regular price for February, for example, is $1,245 for five round trip tickets whereas the Commuter Book sells for only $1,099. That’s a savings of $146, not too shabby.
So yes, it has become increasingly more expensive to travel to St. John but there are ways to lower airfare costs for those willing to put up with small hassles and those committed to doing their diligent homework.
In case you missed last week’s post about other ways to get the lowest airfare, please click here to read the full article.
A reader posed a question on our Facebook page the other day, and we were wondering if anyone could shed light on the topic.
Adventures & Aesthetics wrote this on our wall:
“Hello readers, We were wondering if anyone knows why Flanagan Island was known as Witch Island on old charts? I did a quick web crawl and was unable to uncover the legend .. except that Pelican Island may have also had the same moniker … or maybe another witch!”
Flanagan Island is a small, unihabited island located between St. John’s East End and Norman Island. Check it out on a map here.
One of our readers responded and said, “The English language charts I have seen generally show ‘Flanagan’ Island to the early 1900s. Prior to that (and the US purchase of the islands), you can see Witch Island.“
So that begs the question…when and why did the name change occur? And why was it initially named Witch Island?
