Local News Archives | News of St. John

National Geographic Explorer Follows “Diving With a Purpose” in New Podcast

January 19, 2022January 19, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Good Morning All! If you recall, I posted an article regarding a shipwreck in Coral Bay a few months back with mention of the dive group, Diving With a Purpose (DWP). Well, that spring issue of National Geographic feature (also mentioned in the article) will be available online on February 7, but a six episode podcast featuring the work and “purpose” of this incredible dive group will be live on January 27. And I am so incredibly excited to “dive” into these stories.

Coming Soon to a Liquor Store Near You – Pusser’s Painkillers in a Can!

January 18, 2022January 18, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Heads up gang…Beach and boat days everywhere are about to get a whole lot easier in the realm of cocktails to go! Over the summer, I wrote up the recipe and backstory for the world famous Pusser’s Painkillers, the official drink of the Virgin Islands. But, soon come, you won’t need to work so hard for those boat ready delectable drinks.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – A Brief History

January 17, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Today, the US Virgin Islands celebrates the life and mourns the loss of a great Civil Rights leader. A man who dedicated his life to challenging racial inequality and attempting to instill the same liberties in the African American communities around the country that others of a lighter skin tone could enjoy without a fight. With a deep seeded history of slavery and inequality, it is not surprising that the USVI takes this holiday of remembrance very seriously. You won’t find a bank, a government office or a variety of private businesses open today in the territory. The doors are locked up tight with workers participating in walks, family gatherings and celebrations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy.

Here, St. John – Stories of People and Place

January 14, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

The story behind this beautiful island did not just begin when the Virgin Islands National Park was founded. But that is the narrative that is largely presented to new residents and visitors to St. John. A place that is beloved and coveted by thousands of people all over the world has a much deeper story to tell that is often glazed over by Americanized beach bars and burger joints, beautiful beaches and sunsets and adventurous day trips. Although, the current picture of St. John looks to be much like that last sentence, the history of St. John, the culture of St. John is very seldom accurately portrayed. And, in my opinion, the entire kaleidoscope of stories, not just the predominant rose colored lenses, are what makes this place truly magical.

Sun Dog Café Celebrates ONE MILLION Meals and 25 Years in Business!

January 12, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Today, I have a very special story to share with all of you. This month, Sun Dog Cafe in Mongoose Junction with coincidentally celebrate two major milestones that many restaurants never achieve singularly. The tiny outdoor café whose inspiration was a lost dog named Lucky and a kitchen the size of a Volkswagen Beatle (according to the New York Times) will celebrate 25 years of service to the Love City Community AND the service of their one millionth meal this month…Who knows how many beers, shots and Painkillers have been served at the little Gecko Gazebo bar over that period of time. I’m sure that count was lost long ago 🙂

The Plastic Water Bottle Dilemma – Save the Planet & Some Cash!

January 11, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Hi there! Today I’m going to get a bit real with you all about something that drives me absolutely crazy…Disposable plastic water bottles! Did you know that, “According to the Container Recycling Institute, 86% of disposable water bottles used in the United States become garbage or litter, adding 38 billion disposable water bottles in U.S. landfills?” That’s INSANE. And totally preventable! And, here on St. John, or in the Virgin Islands in general, there is NO plastic recycling so it is actually 100% of those disposable bottles that end up in our one landfill on St. Thomas or on the beaches, trails or…worse, in the water! But, this problem is something that we can all do a little bit about in order to cut down on this waste and litter on our beautiful island…Oh, and you’ll save a bundle of cash as well!

Mandatory Monday Beach Break

January 10, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Hello all! It is a beautifully overcast and breezy Monday morning here on St. John and we had an absolutely perfect Sunday yesterday! It is RARE that both Teddy and myself have a day off from ALL of our jobs. But, we took the day yesterday and spent some time truly enjoying St. John. And I took a little video clip to ensure that all of you got a little beach break today as well!

COVID on St. John- Last Minute Cancellations and Restaurant Closures

January 7, 2022January 6, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Good Morning, Good Morning! Due to the recent (January 3) changes in protocols, I have written a lot about the testing requirements to get into the territory recently. And many of you have scrambled and made those quick turnaround tests happen! But, what I haven’t mentioned is the effects of this current surge in the territory, on St. John specifically. And there is some definite news you can use here, especially if you are currently on island or planning a last minute trip!

The Whales are Back!

January 5, 2022January 5, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Yesterday was an absolutely incredible day for many boaters, residents and whale watchers on St. John! We were out on a half day sail near Little St. James when the radio started going crazy with Coast Guard recognition of a small pod of whales off of St. John’s North Shore. I pulled up Facebook (yes, it IS good for some things!) and saw the alerts from other boaters. “Whales spotted on the North Shore heading towards Lovango.” That was at about 1PM yesterday. As the afternoon went on, more and more friends and comrades began posting videos and photos of their encounters. Unfortunately, we were passing them like ships in the night, so none of these photos are my own (I was almost crying at the end of the day, LOL). But, check out the following for some pictures, snaps from videos and info on how to properly conduct yourself in the event of one of these magical encounters!

Cover photo: Steve Simonsen Photography – February, 2021

A Few Clarifications on COVID Testing for Travel

January 3, 2022 by Hillary Bonner

Happy New Year to you all! I hope that you all found a great way to celebrate the old year and ring in the new over the weekend! We closed out the old year with a DOLPHIN sighting at Lovango Cay! A mama and her baby were just playing around in the water right next to us for like 20 minutes. I laughed, I cried and a gave a whole lotta gratitude for that magical moment in time. And we rang in the New Year at Beach Bar with Mother Goat and many beautiful members of our island family. Masked up and getting down. It was AWESOME. So cheers to you, cheers to St. John and cheers to a bright new 2022 ahead of us all 🙂 And, now, on to the news….