An Online Blog About the Daily Happenings of St. John, USVI
Several island construction projects have been stymied on St. John because the builder can’t find sand.
Yes, sand. But not the beach kind. The kind of sand that is used to make concrete.
Dave Carlson told the St. John Source he has five Carlson Construction projects on hold because there is no sand. "It’s never been this bad," he said.
Carlson is a member of the Island Green Building Association and has been active with the group in trying to blunt massive development projects on St. John.
The National Park Service plans two meetings on island this week to help formulate plans for managing the park and the Coral Reef National Monument. The protection of cultural and natural resources, encouraging positive visitor experiences, and cooperating with locals living on island is objectives to be considered. At meetings Wednesday night in Coral Bay at John’s Folly Learning Center and Thursday night at Sprauve School, Park officials will report on how they have adapted some of the ideas presented to them over the past year. Public input is encou8raged.
More information is available at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectId=11165. There’s also a newsletter, reporting on the status of the project and including numerous documents, graphics and maps. Download the PDF file.
St. Thomas’ news and talk station, WVWI-AM 1000, is among three being sold by Radio One to Gordon Ackley, owner of one of the largest commercial Internet services in the territory. The other stations in the $4.3 million deal are WVJZ and WWKS.
Few people are aware that WWKS, 100.3 FM, is actually licensed to Cruz Bay, but there never has been a station on St. John .
Radio One’s owner, Randy Knight, said he will stay in the islands. "I want to concentrate on diverse businesses and focus on local philanthropy," he told the St. John Source. Knight has been a benefactor of both the Antilles School and the Humane Society of St. Thomas. Ackley also owns WIVI-FM and three stations in the British Virgin Islands.
The third annual Beach to Beach Power Swim, sponsored by the Friends of the VI National Park, is scheduled for May 28.
Sponsors include Alfredo’s Landscaping, Maho Bay, Theodore Tunick and American Paradise Real Estate.
Last year 116 people participated in the event which raises funds for the Friends. Kristen Maize, program manager, expects 150 swimmers to swim one of the three the courses which all start at Maho Bay and go to Cinnamon Bay (1 mile), Trunk Bay (2 miles), and Hawksnest Bay (3 miles). Power Swim Web site: http://www.friendsvinp.org/swim/
Gov. Turnbull and a number of Senators cut the ribbon to officially open the Enighed Port. The project was conceived more than 20 years ago, and completed several months ago. Island administrator Julien Harvey
said there is still work to be done, including added bathrooms, install
water, build an 800-square foot administration building, and add public
phones. Opening the port "is a positive step for St. John and the
entire Virgin Islands."
The $16 million facility includes 650 feet of dock space for cargo
carriers, 6 acres of cargo handling and storage, and a channel that can
accommodate vessels up to 175 feet long, the Virgin Islands Daily News reported.
About a dozen St. Johnians were barred from attending the Port
opening ceremony where they hoped to show their concern about real
estate development on St. John. They were herded outside the
facility’s exit gate where they, nonetheless, made their point, the St. John Source reported. Condominium projects were at the center of the group’s concern.
Sen. Craig Barshinger "saluted" the Dept. of Planning and Natural Resources for its recent denial of a permit for a multi-story condo at Pastory. Radha Speer, wife of well known architect Glenn Speer,
was among the demonstrators. She said she’d "like to see a moratorium,
on building until we figure" out how to prevent runoff which occurs
when land is cleared. The Gov. and several Senators talked with the
protesters and were thanked for listening.
* Houses: 104 (up from 101 on 4/17)
* Commercial: 26 (down from 27 on 4/17)
* Condos: 52 (up from 50 on 4/17)
* Land lots: 249 (unchanged from 4/17)
Source: Multiple Listing Service
Gym in Paradise
has been repriced down to $140,000. A listing here about 18 months ago
had the Marketplace-location listed at more than $300,000.
Polli’s, Cap’s Place, Larry’s Landing, and Captain’s Corner have installed a total of about 40 video lottery terminals on St. John. More are possible, ac cording to the V.I. Lottery Commission
which says only a third of the allowable machines have been installed
on the island and St. Thomas. The Commission said the government
received almost $3 million in license fees for the terminals.
There’s no "under new management" banner hanging from the roof, but
everyone knows that Tage has undergone some changes. The new chef is
Chris Frangiadis, who’s reportedly been sitting around waiting for the new restaurant at Mongoose to open (when, already???). Chris’ style is "French in technique, global in scope," according to a report on USVI-Online.
There’s an all-new menu, and an all new staff because the folks who
were there a few weeks ago when the previous chef left couldn’t go a
couple of weeks without pay. So they moved on, and new folks have
moved in. One visitor says that "We have eaten at Tage twice since it
reopened, and I must say the food is really good."
The first annual Marine Show on St. John is scheduled for Saturday, May 6th at the Marketplace from 9am to 2pm. The free show will include boats, educational presentations and demonstrations. "Boats and engines of various shapes and sizes will be on display and for sale, sponsored by Bradford Aircraft & Marine Accessories, Gary’s Marine Service, Maritime Yacht Sales, and Offshore Marine, a spokeswoman for the show said. Bob Wilkensen of B&C Boat Building will also demonstrate techniques he uses to construct water craft.
