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VI govt. honors midwestern Senator

CrapoThe Governor of the Virgin Islands gave his new “Alexander
Hamilton Distinguished Public Service Award” for “intellectual
brilliance, patriotism and outstanding leadership” to Sen. Mike Crapo,
a Republican from Idaho.  Crapo is supporting legislation in Congress
which would make it easier for Virgin islands-based businesses to
qualify for tax reductions. 

Currently, business owners must reside in
the islands half the year.  The VI’s lobbyists, and Crapo, are urging
that be reduced to 122 days over a three-year period, the Associated
Press reported. A
member of the awarding committee said Crapo is “powerful and he’s
chosen not to ignore us.”  The Senator is a member of the Finance
Committee.

Plans for the Park’s 50th birthday

A barbecue featuring live music and free food is planned for the community playground next to the National Park Service building on Dec. 1 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Virgin Islands National Park, the St. John Source
reported.  The Park will also observe its birthday by
dedicating a new garden next to the Visitor’s Center and launching a new
patrol boat.  The Center will also debut a new movie about the founding
of the Park. 

Karen Brady, director of development for the Park, told the online newspaper, "If it wasn’t for the National Park,
St. John would look like a lot of other islands in the Caribbean that
are overdeveloped."  That evening,  there will also be a
$150-a-plate dinner, dance and silent auction to benefit the park at Caneel Bay’s Turtle Bay Estate House.

Governor balks at ID checks for liquor

Governor Charles Turnbull said he will veto legislation requiring club and bar owners to check the IDs of all customers, young and old alike.  Sen. Terrence “Positive” Nelson
said his proposal would reduce teenage drinking.  Turnbull said it
would be “an additional burden … on small establishments that do not
have the necessary staff to cover all aspects of the operation,” the St. John Source reported.”

Villa owner sick of rude guests

A comment by an angry and frustrated owner of a rental villa on St. John has generated more than a dozen responses at  at USVI On-Line, most from people who say that when they rent villas they try to leave them better than when the found them.

But the self-described owner of a $10,000/week property hasn’t seen too many of those kinds of guests.  "I’ve had things stolen over the years that you wouldn’t believe
including magnets, knick knacks, artwork, books and even an area rug!,"
he/she wrote.
"Would they treat their friends’ homes this way? Would they sit on nice
furniture while wet from the pool? Would they help themselves to any
expensive coffee table books that tickle their fancy? Would they bleach
all the guest towels with face cream and then claim it wasn’t them when
asked? Would they leave the stereo in the rain and then pretend they
didn’t?"

Replies have been sympathetic. "My wife insists on making the place better: scrubbing counter tops, shaking rugs, washing sheets and towels (refolding them, too), often buying small things to add to the owners’ collection of things,’ wrote "Dave." 

While one commenter seemed to doubt the veracity of the complaint, another said, "I, too, am sorry you’ve had some poopy guests, but doesn’t that sort of come with the territory?" Most other posts were on the side of the villa owner.  One said, "We certainly respect all of your furnishing and property and we are extremely grateful that you share your lovely homes with us."

New restaurants prepare for openings

The NewsofStjohn’s Inquiring Iguana hears that the island’s
newest upscale restaurant has been doing tryouts this month.  Dry runs
of staffing assignments, menu preparation, tasting, etc. at Mongoose
Junction’s Ocean Grill.  Grand opening is expected at the end of
September.

Logo_satyamuna
And two former Yoga instructors are on track to open a vegetarian
Mediterranean restaurant on the second floor of the Marketplace in the
middle of October. Satyamuna – Food For The Soul is being launched by
Giuliana and Ofer Elyakim.  She was born in Sicily, and migrated to New
York where she studied art and fashion design and, while teaching Yoga,
became focused on healthy cooking.  Ofer was born in Israel, and
recently worked in California managing the kitchen of a Yoga ashram
retreat in Grass Valley. Menus for the restaurant are online, Watch them build the restaurant at http://www.satyamuna.com/index.html

VI National Park to host research reviews

ScienceintheparkThe Park’s 50th Anniversary Conference on Marine and Terrestrial
Scientific Research will be convene Nov. 1-3 at the Environmental Resource Station at Lameshur Bay.  The Park has been the site of some of the
longest-term underwater biological and ecological research in the
world, according to Rafe Boulon, the Park’s chief of Resources
Management. 

Half a century of research studies will be reviewed with
an eye to helping to identify the kinds of projects which should be
undertaken in the future.  The conference is offered by the Park, the
University of the Virgin islands, the United States geological Survey,
Friends of the Park, and Ocean Conservancy, and others.  More
information is available at http://islands.org/science/Conference%20webpage.htm.

Park Superintendent promoted

Art Frederick is leaving St. John at the end of the month  to take a
new position in the National Park Service in Atlanta.  He became
superintendent of the VI Park in 2003.  Kristen Maize, program manager
for the Friends of the Park, told the Virgin islands Daily News,  "We’re very saddened.  We’re
definitely going to miss him."

While on the job on island, Frederick oversaw development of  a general
plan for the park as well as restoration and renovation of the pavilion
at Hawksnest Beach, and rehabilitation of portions of the North Shore
road.  The superintendent of the San Juan National Historic Site in
Puerto Rico will temporarily oversee St. John’s Park until Frederick’s
replacement is identified.

St. John Singers prepare Mozart concert

Members of the 25-year-old St. John Singers hope to honor Mozart’s
250th birthday with a concert on island at the end of October or early
November, the St. John Source reported.  Once that is done, the Singers
will plan for their annual Christmas concert.  The concert programs
"lean toward classical," said Nancy Morse, vice president of the group,
although she the group’s repertoire includes reggae, original songs by
members, and West Indian Christmas tunes. 

Concert admission
fees as well as funding from the V.I. Council on the Arts help finance
the Singers’ efforts.  The Source reported, "Anyone who can carry a
tune is welcome to join."  Rehearsals at Monday evenings at Nazareth
Lutheran Church.

Passport up to date?

Next January, you’ll need a passport to return to the United States
from Canada, the Caribbean and Mexico.    However, the
State Department has said a driver’s license and/or birth certificate will be OK from the Virgin Islands. "U.S. citizens returning directly
from a U.S. territory are not considered to have left the U.S. and do
not need to present a passport. U.S. territories include the following:
Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Swains
Island and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands," according
to a statement on a government Web site.