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When Shannon and David Pursley purchased Gallows Point Gift & Gourmet in January 2012, they expected their new business venture to last a lifetime. But after dealing with health issues. they’ve made the painful decision to move on.

The Pursleys listed the business for sale last week. The asking price is $209,000.

“We are deeply saddened to have listed Gallows Point Gift & Gourmet for sale,” Shannon Pursley said. “I consider the Virgin Islands my home after living here on and off for 25 years, and we really planned on making St. John our permanent home. But due to my health, we must move on.”

Gallows is a fun little gift shop with a seasonal breakfast bar. It is also one of the St. John’s most popular places to book an island activity. Check out its website at www.StJohnAdventures.com.

According to its listing, the business is “turn-key” and has “impressive income.” To see the full listing, click here.

First there was the Sahara Dust which blew in last week. Then there was the earthquake that shook the island on Monday. And on Wednesday, a Tropical Wave prompted a flood advisory throughout the area.

What is up with the weather?

This is what the view from Amorosa in Peter Bay is supposed to look like:

But this is what it looked like last weekend amid the Sahara Dust:

And this is what it looked like yesterday:

The National Weather Service is calling for sunny skies today with a high of 83 degrees. The weather, hopefully, will be looking brighter in the days to come.

St. John will once again provide the backdrop for the popular HGTV show House Hunters International with a film crew beginning its first of a three-day shoot today on the island.

Diana Beam, owner/broker of Re/Max Island Paradise Realty, Inc., is taping her third House Hunters International episode this week, which will follow a Florida couple and their elementary school-aged daughter in their quest to find the perfect rental property in Coral Bay.

The family will view three properties ranging in price from $750,000 to just under $1 million. Here is a sneak peak of the properties the family will view:

House Number 1:

House Number 2:

House Number 3:

All of the properties look incredible to us here at NOSJ. Which of the three would you choose?

According to Diana, it will be a few months before the episode airs. NOSJ will keep you in the loop.

Animals en route to new homes in the States will continue to fly free on American Airlines thanks to a well-known Virgin Islands philanthropist.

American Airlines ended its sponsorship of the Humane Society of St. Thomas’ Pets with Wings program last week due to “restructuring” and the number of requests it receives, the St. Thomas Source reported Friday. American Airlines reinstated the program over the weekend, however, after being endorsed by philanthropist Jeffrey Epstein.

Epstein is one of the largest investors in the US Virgin Islands. He is also a financial supporter of the Humane Society.

The Pets with Wings program allows travelers on American Airlines to chaperone a local shelter animal from the US Virgin Islands to another shelter in the United States. American Airlines typically charges $125 for pets that travel under a seat and $175 for dogs that go as cargo; however those fees are waived for pets traveling through the program.

American Airlines has flown more than 150 animals from the US Virgin Islands since the program began two years ago.

Looking to adopt a pet from the US Virgin Islands? If so, please check out the St. John Animal Care Center here. You can also check out the Humane Society of St. Thomas here. 

Tonight: Senior Variety Show

Saturday: Festival Bike Race

Sunday: Festival Princess Pageant

The Westin has implemented some pretty cool technology aimed at increasing customer satisfaction. The resort now uses a unique feedback system in which guests are encouraged to leave comments, both positive and negative, via a voicemail at any point during their stay. Guests are asked three simple questions: What is the Westin doing right; which employees have provided outstanding service; and what can the Westin do better?

The answers are immediately converted to text messages and emailed out to management. The Westin is hoping this new technology will help improve guest satisfaction while reducing potential problems during a guest’s stay.

Here’s an example of how this technology works:

One guest recently left a voicemail about the service they received during a child’s birthday celebration. That message was immediately passed along to management, and for the rest of that child’s trip, he received extended birthday wishes from all of the Westin staff. Pretty neat if you ask us.

Bartenders Chosen for Sunday’s Competition

Motu is gearing up for its first annual Iron Bartender contest this weekend, and the official contestant list has been released. Competing are some island favorites. They include:

• Bryan from Shipwreck Landing
• Eric from Castaways
• Seth from Zozo’s
• Jason & Jonathan from La Plancha/Zero Sushi
• Nic from Waterfront Bistro
• Max from High Tide
• Hilary from Asolare
• And more!

Iron Bartender is an on-the-fly mixology contest fashioned after the popular television program, Iron Chef. Sunday’s competition will be the first of its kind on St. John. Doors open at noon, and the contest begins at 1 p.m. For more information, contact Motu here.

Nine Months to Fix Centerline?

According to a story in the St. John Source, repairs to the crumbling section of Centerline Road near Coral Bay will not be completed until March 2014. Yes, you read that right – March 2014.

According to the article, bids for the job will go out next week and a contract is expected to be awarded next month. Work is slated to begin in September and is estimated to take six months.

We all know that the road is crumbling and the rainy season is fast approaching. We here at NOSJ are all for island time, but this seems a bit unreasonable to us. What do you think?