fbpx

Sprauve gala to fete alumni

The annual fund raiser at Caneel Bay Resort to benefit the Sprauve School has usually featured celebrity waiters, government officials, local business owners and community activists who are honored as they pour wine for the several hundred attendees.  This year’s event, Jan. 14, will feature Sprauve alumni, according to the St. John Source.  The school opened in 1955, with four classrooms, a kitchen, the principal’s office and cafeteria.  Funds raised will go to renovate the school’s Family and Consumer Science Classroom and lab. 

(We’ve bought our tickets.  To attend this wonderful island-wide event – great food, great company, music, and dancing, call 340-715-6622. And give.)

Real estate: condo listings decrease

The number of residences offered for sale on the island’s Multiple Listing Service increased again this past week, despite the holidays, to 84 properties, another record.

The number of condominiums offered for sale showed a decline for the first time in several weeks, down 2 to 23.  Land offerings, on the other hand, continued to increase, adding 2 to 197.

P1010529The number of commercial opportunities had one new listing for Caneel Bay-located Paradise Watersports. The scuba business and retail operation is priced at $315,000.

St. John School gets new president

Dale Miller resigned his post as head of the St. John School on Gifft Hill, after overseeing its creation through a merger of Pine Peace and Coral Bay Schools, and construction of a new classroom building.  The new president, Fred Trayser, said of Miller, "He finished what he set out to do which was to set up a permanent campus."  Trayser said he and Miller and his wife "pretty much acted as the contractors" to make sure things were finished.  He said the school currently has seven board members and wants more, to help in fund raising.

Happy New Year

It’s been a year of growth for News of St John. Thank you.

Readership on the Web has doubled, and our e-mail distribution has increased by 50%.  In the past two weeks, four advertisers have joined us, interested in reaching the more than 14,000 people who love, visit, and spend money on, St. John.  If you’d like to know how NewsofStJohn.com can promote your business, gift shop, jewelry store, real estate, villa rental, or other venture, please, e-mail [email protected]

How to do some good on island

Here are some of the island’s community organizations and activities that deserve your support. Your contributions will be welcomed.

  • St. John Revolving Fund ,Box 37, St. John USVI 00831

Pfffffft! It’s over

Maybe St. John could get a new marketing slogan:  What happens here, doesn’t necessarily happen here. 

Renee Zellweger and Kenny Chesney’s marriage was annulled this week in Los Angeles Superior Court.  Each of the formerly-happy, beach-wed couple waived their rights to motion for a new trial and appeal, People magazine reported.  She filed for the dissolution in Sept. four months after their wedding on island.

Virgins are the place

Tw_logoReaders of Travel Weekly have named the Virgin Islands as the Best Caribbean Destination of the year.  The publication bills itself as the national  newspaper of the travel industry.  The finalists for the award were Aruba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, St. Lucia, and the USVI.  Governor Charles Turnbull issued a news release this week announcing the honor.

"It speaks highly about how the trade feels about us," said Steve Bornn, marketing director for the Tourism department. "They’re the ones that are going to sell us," he said, according to the St. John Source.

Other travel-related awards received by the VIs this year include Conde Nast Traveler’s naming St. John the Best Island in the Caribbean and Atlantic, one of the 10 best places to stay according to National Geographic Traveler, and 19 varied awards by Caribbean and Travel Life magazine.

Real estate home listings up 31%

The number of residences for sale has climbed to 83, another record, continuing a trend since the summer.  A year ago, 63 houses were offered on the Multiple Listing Service. The median house asking price is $1.695 million; the average is $2.059 million, down $50,000 from the $2.1 million average a month ago. In the past month, the number of land listings has increased from 192 to 195. Condominiums offered for sale have risen from 21 to 25.

Tourists say the darndest things

The St. John Sun Times reports tourists really are different. "A species who tend to refer to ‘coffee’ as ‘Starbucks’ and bemoan the island’s lack of good malls," according to Crystal Bray.  "They wear nice shoes to the beach and suffer under the delusion that St. John is spelled with an ‘s’ at the end."  The best strategy, when confronted by such behavior, Bray writes, is to have a good laugh about it with friends.

Some sayings of tourists which Bray says were heard on island:

  • To a local bartender: "Am I getting drunk faster here because we’re closer to the equator and gravity is stronger?"
  • "Have you ever swum under any of the islands?"
  • "Are there an colored fish on St. John?"
  • "How quickly does the water get deep?"
  • A lady brought empty canisters of film on a snorkel trip. "To collect samples of all the different colors of water."
  • "Are these prices in US dollars?"
  • "Is the sand here naturally or do they have to bring it in specially?"