News of St. John

The ocean temperature around the islands hit 84.5 degrees Fahrenheit
about a week ago, higher than the average last year when some coral
reefs suffered "bleaching."  But the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration has reduced its "warning" about bleaching to a "watch", according to the Virgin Islands Daily News .  "We don’t expect anything further to happen," said Al Strong,
a scientist for NOAA.  The "watch" will expire when water temperatures
fall below 84.2, which is expected early next month, the newspaper
reported. Waters off St. John were almost a degree warmer than the
territory average.

Strong estimated that last year, 40 percent of reefs
in some sites died.   A biologist for the US Geological Survey said the problem has not gone away.  "The losses are continuing, and this is not just a bleaching story," explained Erinn Muller.
"It’s bleaching followed by disease," which kills reefs and eliminates
habitat for fish and other marine life as well as attractions for
snorkelers and divers.  Here’s an analysis of the reasons why coral reefs are deteriorating.

Where two or three locals used to sit and watch TV outside what was Oscar’s Convenience store, a martini lounge has opened.  Ruth of St. John Spice published pictures of the spot, Infusions, which says it offers "Not your average martini."  (Happy Fish at the Marketplace also touts its ‘tinis.) A calendar of events shows the owners are emphasizing Monday Night Football, entertainment by Marty Beech and the Paradise People, and Ladies Nights on Sunday to draw customers.   

During the first three weeks of October, Infusions will be closed Saturday nights. (What’s up with that? Closed Saturday?)  Its located across from the Lime Inn and is open, when it’s open, 6pm to midnight. Info at 340-776-9770. 

One taxpayer said he thinks Infusions will do well, "Because it’s air conditioned."

For a few summers, we’ve been visiting Maine.  And who should we find doing a concert in the small towns? Inner Visions,
St. John ‘s successful reggae group.  Turns out they love New England.
Well, this year they made two trips.  "We told our agent that we wanted
to play one more time (there) before we went home," said Philip "Grasshopper" Pickering, the lead vocalist for the band.  Inner Visions played in Round Pond Sept. 30, and in July at Damariscotta, where they also appeared last year.  The local newspaper, the Lincoln County News, profiled the group and its CDs including "Street Corner Musicians."

The VI National Park announced a new pamphlet about the
island’s history after the end of slavery on St. John and before the
island began to appeal to tourists. Laurel Brannick, the park’s education specialist, said the document was prepared by van intern from the University of San Diego who spent the summer doing research, the Virgin Islands Daily News
reported.  "There’s a gap when it was a very quiet time on St. John and
people had to work hard to survive," she said. The booklet highlights
island activities of the time including the making of bay rum and
charcoal.  The work is aimed at children 10-12 who participate in the
Park’s Junior Ranger activities. Booklets may be ordered at
340-776-6201, ext. 257, the Daily News reported.

Gary Moses’ plan to sell his Mixology Warehouse to someone looking to own a business on St. John has come to a close.  "We fell short on entries," he said on the venture’s Web site, http://www.myparadisebusiness.
Moses invited people to send him an essay, and an entry fee of $200
explaining why they wanted to own a business on the island.  Moses said
the full entry fee will be returned to applicants, even though the
rules permitted him to keep a portion for administration.  "We do plan
on running the contest again in early 2007," he said.

One opens, another closes.  With O’Connor’s Texaco back in business, the owners of E and C Gas and Service at Enighed Pond, a bit down the road on the way to the Westin,
are proceeding with their plan to close for 8 weeks while the station’s
underground fuel tanks are replaced.  If all goes well, E and C will
reopen early in December.  Meanwhile, government officials are
reportedly continuing to search for a site to relocate the Texaco
station when it is expected to close next summer, to make way for
construction of a traffic roundabout, the Virgin Islands Daily News reported.

Nest is a gift shop on the second floor at the Marketplace, the easy in-easy out shopping center, anchored by Starfish Market.  Missie Hensel owns the store and has done all the buying during the two years she’s been open, next to the Mail Center.  (Yea, Mail Center!!!  Now offering three-month mailbox rentals for snowbirds.) 

Hensel stocks tableware, napkin sets, candles, potpourri, and local
musicians’ CDs, that are perfect as hostess gifts, according to the St. John Source.
"It’s pretty much everything I like," Hensel explained. One of the
biggest challenges she’s faced in the business has been the high cost
of shipping the items she finds at trade shows to St. John.  She’s in
the store six days a week; info at 340-715-2522.