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A modest proposal for The Creek

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The old barge dock area has now become an outdoor garage for ferry repairs, a parking lot, and a dock for small cruise ships.  It could be, and should be, much more. 

Smart planning now could turn this valuable waterfront into an attractive boardwalk and plaza, offering visitors options for exploring the island and the Park, water sports and activities, and maybe a spot to enjoy a rum-and-Coke.  Light retail with island-made art, hot sauce, jewelry and pottery could be featured, too. 

This has a chance of happening if the Port Authority "thinks different," as Steve Jobs would say.

The Authority should offer the land for lease to commercial or island-based, community-minded developers. The deal should be structured to benefit Cruz Bay and groups like the Baby Pan Dragons or Sprauve School. It is not unreasonable to expect far-sighted dreamers to offer the island incentives, either cash or in-kind projects, to improve some of the deteriorating public facilities on the island. 

Planning of the waterfront development should also be a joint effort by private developers and the community. The winner(s) ought to be required to give groups like the St. John Coalition a seat at the drawing table.  Public meetings should offer citizens the opportunity to explain what they would like to see in the project.

The Port Authority has had no problem issuing long leases (20-40 years) for car rentals and food stands across the street, where Nature’s Nook is. The Authority should seize this once in a lifetime opportunity to improve St. John.

Governor vetoes Red Hook Customs office

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Who knew that the Senators wanted to include a U.S. Customs inspections facility at the new ferry dock at Red Hook – which still ain’t open? 

Gov. John deJongh found out about it when he reviewed an appropriations bill that earmarked $400,000 for the project. 

He used his veto pen to kill the idea because, "There is no indication" the U.S. Department of Transportation wanted a new Customs office on St. Thomas.  The Senators, it appears, saw proceeds from a sale of VI bonds, with some dollars not used, and figured – Hey, let’s spend them.

By the way, the new ferry dock does have a name.  Turns out to be the Urman Fredericks Marine Terminal.  The Senate approved the memorializing last September.  (Nope, I’ve no idea who he was or what he did. Anybody?)

Wagapalooza Winner

Tshirt Mark Kichler of Carmel, Indiana will be receiving this Wagapalooza 2007 T-shirt for his entry in last week’s contest in which people were asked to describe their favorite thing about St. John.

"The most amazing thing happened during a July 4th parade, a few years ago," he wrote, "when a little old lady came up to me and said I looked hot and offered me her prime place in the shade and gave me a bottle of water. Like I said, it’s the people of St. John that make it such an amazing place."

Half of the entries also mentioned the people. "It has to be the friendliness," added another writer, Larry. " I cannot think of one place we have been where the people treat visitors so extremely nice."  He added that, his wife "would say the Bushwackers at the Beach Bar would be one of her favorite things."

Read moreWagapalooza Winner

Island pooch party draws hundreds

An estimated 300 people and 40 dogs showed up for the island’s annual dog show, Wagapalooza, Saturday afternoon at the Winston Wells ball field in Cruz Bay.

Mitzi
The Best in Show award went to Allen Greathouse and his toy fox terrier, Mitzi (at left).  The pup has only three legs and so Greathouse capitalized on that to costume Mitzi as a pirate. "We’re going for the sympathy vote," he told the St. John Source.  (Click on the pictures to see bigger versions.)

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One of Wagapalooza’s judges, Jane Washburn, said some competitive categories were more successful than others.  "We were all laughing at the LARGE lap dog category," she said in an e-mail. "Richard’s dog just laid down next to him!  Only one dog would get up on the owner’s lap."

Washburn added that a good number of pet adoptions occurred during the event, too, but that there are still "lots of puppies and kittens and adult animals whop also need a good home." Wagapalooza is a fund raising event produced for the St. John Animal Care Center. (Photos courtesy of John Diehl.)

Governor vetoes Sirenusa expansion

Now the question is – will the developer make good on his threat to halt the condominium project?  Carlo Marzano testified his financing could be "pulled" if he didn’t get approval to add seven units.

The St. John Coalition, which gathered almost 1,100 signatures against the Sirenusa rezoning, is urging its members to keep up the pressure by writing Senators urging them not to override the Governor’s veto.

 

Signatures against Sirenusa

The St. John Coalition said it gathered almost 1,100 petition signatures urging the Governor to veto the Senate’s approval of a bill allowing developers of the Sirenusa condominiums to add seven units. The Coalition planned to deliver its petitions to the Governor’s office. 

"There are rumors Sirenusa will once again pay their workers to demonstrate for the rezoning by going to Government House on Friday," the Coalition said in an e-mail.  "It is obviously hard for the rest of the working people of St. John to take off from work, since we won’t be paid to demonstrate.   And of course, we live on St. John — rather than St. Thomas."

Support the animals – order a shirt

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Wagapalooza T-shirts are now available for mail ordering.  Proceeds benefit the St. John Animal Care Center and its island wide dog show which "barks off" Saturday evening.

Ben the Bouvier is pictured here wearing the white shirt. (Click the picture to see a bigger version of the photo of the big dog.)

They also come in sky blue. 

E-mail [email protected] or call 340-642-2338 to place an order with Nancy.

Governor’€™s decision due Friday

The VI Senate-approved bill backing a zoning waiver for construction of additional, and taller, units at Sirenusa finally hit Gov. John DeJongh’s desk about 10 days ago – and his time’s up Friday, according to the St. John Source. 

One St. John taxi driver said one reason to overturn the approval for more units at the Cruz Bay condo project is because there’s no fire truck on the island which could douse water on the top floor of a four-story building.  More in the Source.

Preparing for hurricane season

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If you’re on St. John, you take hurricanes pretty seriously. After all, you’re in the middle of the ocean
and the storms come off the coast of Africa and you watch the Weather Channel non-stop. But …if you’re safe on the mainland, you can turn severe
weather into something to pass the time during the lazy, hazy days of summer.

Thunder Matt’s Saloon, a fan site for the Chicago Cubs, is
shifting into storm mode now, primarily because of Andrea,
a subtropical storm that’s formed even before the traditional start of
hurricane season, June 1. Players review
the names chosen for this year’s hurricanes, and compete to see who racks up
the most points – based on how severe each storm becomes. Ghoulish.

Thunder Matt’s Saloon

St. John is going to the dogs

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Women, children, and dogs of all ages will be in the center ring at the Cruz Bay ball field Saturday evening for the 7th annual island-wide dog show, Wagapalooza. 

Pets will compete in 10 categories including Biggest Lap Dog, Best Smoocher, and Best Trick. "My favorite is ‘Best Look-a-Like," said Jennifer Dale, one of the organizers of the event which benefits the Animal Care Center.  "That one’s always a little spooky."  St Croix’s Roger W. Morgan, host of Paradise 93.5 radio’s morning show, will help MC the event. 

Admission is free, beer is reasonably priced, and the laughs will be many.

Free T-shirt offer

The Care Center raises funds at Wagaplooza through entrance fees, sales of raffle tickets and t-shirts.  If you’d like to win a t-shirt, send me an e-mail telling me your favorite thing about St. John.  E-mail [email protected]. There will be one winner, and I’ll post many of the best ‘favorites’.

In this week’s St. John Podcast, Jennifer Dale explains why buying a raffle ticket for Wagapolooza is a smart thing to do.  The odds, like "The Force," are with you. To listen on your computer, click the play button below.

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

Subscribe to News of St. John’s weekly podcast at the Apple iTunes Music Store and search for "news of st. john,"
or copy "http://fbarnako.libsyn.com/rss" and paste it into the "Subscribe" field under the iTunes software’s "Advanced" tab.  You can also use
that link to subscribe with other podcatching software.  If you’re having
a problem, e-mail: [email protected].

Read moreSt. John is going to the dogs