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Local News

Dr. Cool Just Got Cooler

Dr. Cool Logo

Since 1999, Dr. Cool has been the island’s go-to air conditioning specialist. Dr. Cool can now add the island’s go-to high-end appliance retailer and servicer to their list of services.

Dr. Cool recently expanded their business to include high-end appliances. As the official USVI authorized dealer for the represented brands, Dr. Cool is pleased to be able to offer a full, two-year warranty on parts and labor across all products, with an additional 5 year warranty on compressors. An unparalleled benefit to the island community that no dealer has been able to provide…until now!

The business recently opened an expansive showroom, so customers now have the opportunity to browse Dr. Cool’s selection of fine appliances in person. Customers are welcomed and encouraged to test their cooking skills in one of Dr. Cool’s live kitchens. Sounds like fun to us!

Dr. Cool supports community building, which is why they plan to invite the public into their showroom for events that will include wine tastings and cooking demonstrations. It’s important to the folks over at Dr. Cool to share what they have with the community. (We’ll pass along dates and times as soon as they become available.)

Dr. Cool offers Energy Star rated appliances including Sub Zero, Wolf, Miele, Thermador, Gaggenau, Bosch and Electrolux.  Every Dr. Cool appliance comes with a full two-year warranty – the best appliance warranty in the islands.

Dr. Cool has been serving St. John residents since 1999. They plan to continue to service St. John’s air conditioning, refrigeration and appliances needs long after the sale and installation of these items, and for years to come.

Stop by the showroom and check it out for yourself. They’re located over in Palm Plaza just over Jacob’s Ladder. The showroom is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is also open Saturday by appointment.

You can also check them out on the web at www.DrCool.com.  You can even like them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com.DrCoolBuzz or follow them on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/DrCoolBuzz

Dr. Cool has been providing air conditioning service since 1999. Pictured here is Gary, General Manager of Dr. Cool with the Mitsubishi A/C display.
Dr. Cool has been providing air conditioning service since 1999. Pictured here is Gary, General Manager of Dr. Cool, with the Mitsubishi A/C display.
Gabrielle Dr. Cool
Gabrielle Nelson, Dr. Cool’s Kitchen Design Consultant, stands in front of a live Dr. Cool kitchen.
(Photo courtesy of Barbara Crites)

Tropical Storm Watch in Effect

Storm Track July 9 2013

Tropical Storm Chantal is churning up the Caribbean Sea and moving quickly, but it looks like St. John will be spared a direct hit.

As of this morning (6 a.m.), the storm was about 520 southeast of St. Croix with maximum winds of 50 mph. According to the National Weather Service, Tropical Storm Chantal is expected to move west-northwest over the next 24-36 hours. Rain and squalls will begin affecting St. John and the surrounding areas this evening and into Wednesday.

The good news if that hurricane conditions are very unlikely to occur with this storm. The bad news is that the storm is expected to strengthen a bit as it moves closer. That means the threat of sustained high winds will increase as the storms nears, although they are expected to stay under tropical storm force. A storm surge is not expected, but tides on the south and east coasts are expected to be one to two feel about normal.

What does this mean for St. John? Well, the system has the potential to bring flooding rains to the area and high wind gusts. That means it’s time to bring your pets inside, secure your boats and put away any of those items outside that you would really miss should they blow away. For the tourists on the island, it means you should probably hunker down at the nearest bar, preferably with a Bushwacker in hand.

In all seriousness my tourists friends and locals alike, it seems as if this is going to be a windy, rain event. For the latest on Tropical Storm Chantel, please check out any of these websites:

If you’d like to see live conditions of what’s happening in St. John, please check out Great Expectation’s webcam, which provides a great view of the south shore. You can find that webcam here.

This image was captured this morning:

Great Expectations webcam July 8 2013

 

 

Zozo’s Ristorante is On the Move

Zozos
Photo courtesy of Zozos.net

One of St. John’s most popular fine dining spots will have a new home later this year.

ZoZo’s Ristorante announced Friday that it is leaving its current location at Gallows Point Resort after 13 years. ZoZo’s isn’t going too far, however, as it plans to move just down the road over at Caneel Bay.

ZoZo’s will move into the space currently occupied by the Sugar Mill restaurant. The old 18th century sugar mill will undergo renovations this summer led by ZoZo’s owner John Ferrigno. ZoZo’s will open in its new location on November 1 after Caneel’s annual seasonal closure.

We’re curious – Now that ZoZo’s is leaving Gallows, what would you like to see go into its old spot? 


8 Tuff Miles registration opens Monday

Peter-running-1On your marks.  Get set.  Go … to Active.com to sign up for next February’s running of the 17th annual  8 Tuff Miles road race on St. John.

It will be the biggest ever. Organizer Peter Alter says 1,500 competitors will be assigned bibs and numbers. “That will be VI history,” he said.

Off-island runners can  sign up beginning Oct. 1. They get a two month lead on locals who must wait until Dec. 1.  There will be 600 slots for off-islanders and 900 for locals.

Alter’s also fleshing out the event.  He’s announced that Grammy Award winning musician Matt Still will entertain at the race’s awards ceremony. "And, yes, we will be roasting a few pigs, too.”  By the way, Still is nationally known for making what’s been called the “Greatest Marriage Proposal Ever."  (You can see it here.) 

Stop the madness at the airport

Here's a brainstorm:  there should be a taxi service that takes people from the St. Thomas airport to the Red Hook ferry dock … and nowhere else.  

No group riding. No stops at Bluebeard's Castle, or Bolongo Bay or Secret Harbor.  Nope, just a simple Point-A-to-Point-B trip, which would go a long way to reducing the frustration and 'taxi rage' from which some people suffer when they reach Red Hook.

This simple, genius-level, oh-so-obvious idea was offered this week at a Tourism Department workshop. The session had a moderateor who was characterized as a "change engine consultant."  He heads up a New Jersey firm working on a $100,000 contract from Tourism to advise the VI's.

People involved in the Territory's tourism industry participated in the first meeting, Monday.  Video conferencing let folks from all three islands participate.

Other ideas from St. Johnians on the call, as reported by the Virgin islands Daily News, included improving the traffic flow in Cruz Bay (i.e. eliminate the chaos at the ferry dock) and developing the prime waterfront, particularly across from Nature's Nook.

Island magazine cuts back

Thumb_SJST_1_mar12

The St. John Sun Times is reducing its publishing schedule to every other month.  

The publisher of the island's best source for the word on about what's new, island deals, or where the music and best food are says the change is not seasonal. 

"It's a business decision I should have made long ago," said Ella Anderson, owner. "But I love publishing and editing so much I delayed."

It's been five years since she took on the Sun Times. "Five years of beautiful covers, zany photo shoots, editing marathons and sweaty all nighters," she wrote in the March/April issue.  Any business owner knows what she's talking about. The pressure is always on.

Anderson has developed a loyal cadre of locals who write/edit/photograph/report.  Sometimes their collective purpose seems to be to build community spirit and unity rather than to make a profit.

The St. John Sun Times is a must have/must read for every resident and visitor.

"I know our locals will miss the extra issues.  We don't get much to read that's free around here!," Anderson added.

Until the May/June issue, Anderson says look to the Sun Times' Web site or Facebook pages for news of the island.

Re-elected, Barshinger wants electricity cost cut

Barshinger Like all incumbents in the VI Senate, Craig Barshinger held on to his seat  in Tuesday's voting.  The  At Large Senator garnered nearly 60% of the ballots in a three-person race.

The St. Johnian said he will focus his attention on reducing residents' cost of electricity from Water and Power Authority to 20 cents a kilowatt hour from the current 35 cents.  He said he will also encourage WAPA to use clean and renewable energy sources.
Monsanto
Barshinger defeated two other candidates.  Lorelei Monsanto, an opponent of proposed property tax changes, came in second in Tuesday's balloting with 23%.  The St. Johnian told the Virgin Islands Daily News, "Since the people have voted, they must like what they already have in place."  In extremely good nature, she added, "And since they like it, I love it."

The third candidate was Allecia Wells of St. Thomas.

  • The full VI Daily News story is here.

Coral Bay builders face shutdown

For years, Coral Bay locals have worried they were at risk because Centerline Road is the only way into or out of the east end of the island.  Now, their fear has become real.

Last week's torrential rains, dumping more than a foot of water, have undercut Centerline near Bordeaux Mountain. That means the foundation of the roadway is washing away making it dangerous for heavy vehicles.

As a result, according to Sloop Jones, "No more concrete trucks … water trucks … (or) anything else that is heavy.  Our road is collapsing."

The ban on heavy vehicles came Monday from Daryl Smalls, the commissioner of public works.  He was 'shocked', the St. John Source said, to learn that five concrete trucks used the road Monday morning.

He ordered no trucks or heavy equipment, other than that of his department, should use the road east of the Bordeaux overlook until he decides it's safe, the Source reported. 

Smalls' "on the spot edict" threatens to halt construction on some residential and commercial projects in Coral Bay, East End, Bordeaux, and out toward Salt Pond by choking off supplies and building materials.

The Commissioner was described as 'stunned' by the damage the rains caused to roads, the Source said.

RandyinMd posted to the Virgin islands On-Line Web site that, "Coming across Centerline Road on St. John the large expensive stone retaining wall and driveway near the Reef Bay trail is collapsed and covered with dirt and stones."

St. John Source storm coverage

Progress for new St. John school

A federal official has gone on  record endorsing a plan to a land swap which will make it possible for construction of a St. John school near Centerline Road.

Anthony Baubata, the Interior department's Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas, met with the Governor and agreed to assist in the project.

The proposal involves turning over land on St. Croix to the National Park Service in exchange for a St. John school site, dates back to 2007.

“We’re all moving in a direction where we are recommitted, we’re re-energized to try and make sure the land is available for residents of St. John so we can build a public school there for the children of the community,” Baubata said during a visit to the territory.

St. John animal shelter on life support

Pups

Thanks to generous readers of NewsofStJohn.com, and others, the Animal Care Center will not close next week.

Alarms were sounded late last week by ACC board members that the "no kill" shelter would have to close at the end of August because it was broke. The volunteer organization was in dire shape, financially overwhelmed by the expenses of operating, caring for, and housing about 60 dogs, puppies, kittens and cats.

Despite what seem to be fund raisers held quarterly, all of which were described as "successful" a day later, the $13,000 monthly operating budget was not being met.  "Fund raising is not enough.  Know any grant writers who could help us," said the ACC's Jennifer Dale.

You can help now by making a donation through PayPal here.

Skinny_dogsMany readers of this Web site responded to our story published Friday. John Fuller, the ACC's Treasurer, said nearly 100 people contributed $5 to $1,000, totaling nearly $7.400. "We're not out of the woods yet," he said.  One source said the ACC now has enough money to operate to the middle of October, when another fund raiser is planned.

Read moreSt. John animal shelter on life support