Tips for visitors

The Friends of the Virgin islands National Park seminar series is more popular than ever.  Friends president Joe Kessler said 27 programs are scheduled from January to April.  "People need to call us as soon as they know when they’ll be on island, to make reservations," Kessler said.  "A day in advance is not going to cut it."

In this week’s St. John Podcast, Kessler talked about the Friends seminars, what’s new at the Cinnamon Bay archaeological dig, and the volunteer guides who answer questions at Annaberg Plantation.

Listen to the podcast by clicking the play button below.

You can download or hear the file, also, by clicking here.

You can also subscribe to News of St. John’s weekly podcast by going to the Apple iTunes Music Store and searching for "news of st. john," or you can copy the words feeds.feedburner.com.stjohn and paste them into the subscribe field under the iTunes software’s "Advanced" tab.  You can also use that Feedburner link to subscribe in other podcatching software.  If you’re having a problem, e-mail: [email protected].

More than 100 people attending the annual meeting of the Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park heard a modest State of the Park address from Resources Management Chief Rafe Boulon. He said 2006 was a "reasonably good year … despite level funding and cost increases, the St. John Source reported.

Boulon might have added that other handicaps included the resignation of Park Supt. Art Frederick and a short "acting superintendency" of Walter Chavez.  He recently returned to his full time post on Puerto Rico.  A new acting superintendent, Catherine Light, arrived on island during the weekend.

Read moreVI National Park: “Reasonable year”

In the 20+ years I’ve loved St.
John, I’ve been able to swim with turtles only once, and that was off the Caneel Bay beach.

Lark22
had her up-close-and-personal time with a Hawksbill at Trunk Cay last week.  Her husband had
the camera … and she’s given us the video. (Click to see it.) Here’s her story.

Lots of self-patting on the back at the weekend’s 50th anniversary parties for the Virgin Islands National Park.  The Virgin Islands Daily News
estimated the cost of the new garden exhibit highlighting the role of
philanthropy in the Park service at $60,000.  That makes me smile. You
spend 60K to thank people for donating to a good cause.  Is an exhibit
a good cause?

Mary Bomar, director of the National Park Service, was
the keynote speaker.  She said a Stewardship Action Plan is being
developed to project ocean parks, engage visitors in stewardship, and
establish a "seamless network" of parks, wildlife refuges, marine
sanctuaries and research reserves, the Daily News reported.

Celebrations observing the 50th birthday of the Virgin Islands
National Park this weekend include dedication of a new memorial garden
near the National Park Service building and a fund raising dinner at
Caneel Bay. 

Representing the Park will be Walter Chavez, the interim
superintendent, who will be on the job through most of the winter while
a permanent head of the VINP is recruited.  Chavez’s last posting was
at the San Juan National Historic Site.

The government has launched a new Web site designed to encourage vacationers to visit the Virgin Islands.  Information about the beauty, cultural pride and economic opportunities of the Virgin Islands are found on the promotional site, www.GovernorTurnbull.net, designed by a New York communications firm as part of a $50,000 contract. 

"Part of our mandate was to project the territory nationally," said Lonnie Soury, president of Soury Communications. "We want people to see the Virgin Islands in the aspect of the national and global picture."

Soury told the Virgin Islands Daily News the web site is now being promoted to the financial community and national media outlets in New York and Washington.