180 degree rainbow on May 16 - two pots of gold!

81 degrees in Crown Bay St. Thomas

82 % humidity.

29.99 Barometric Pressure – rising.

Mostly East Wind at  8 MPH.  

Point  07 inches of rain in the last 24 hours  - We have had 14.72  inches of rain so far this year.

No rain in the last 24 hours 

Doppler radar shows – Mostly Clear Skies but showers in the immediate area

Satellite photo shows – Rain showers on the way.

National Weather Service says: overcast with 20% chance of rain showers. High of 84F. Breezy ENE wind at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 20%

Cruise Ship News

 Allure of the Seas at Austin Monsanto Marine Terminal:

At the top of the news on Wednesday May 16

Fresh federal Funds because of the HOVENSA closure.  The Department of Labor in Washington DC is sending 7.8 million dollars to the Virgin Islands – Immediately. The National Emergency Grants will help fund the response to the HOVENSA closure. Paying for employment related services to 1,235 displaced workers on St Croix.  Most of the funds are for training the workers for new occupations.

Meanwhile the local Worker’s Compensation fund has dried up and people on disability have not received checks for 6 weeks.  Senator Hansen says she is angry about this and working on getting funding for the worker’s compensation.

Senator Celestino A. White is proud of his bathrooms.  The one at Brewers beach was his work. So was Lindberg Bay bathrooms and now the one at Coki Point is ready to use. White says, “The state of the art facility at Coki Point is complimented with a vendor’s mall, life­guard on duty and a permanent Facility Manager to insure that the facility remains clean, safe and an inviting place for residents and visitors alike to enjoy. The senator wants a regular police presence at Coki Point.

A challenger for Delegate Dr. Donna Christiansen?. St. Croix attorney Stacey Plaskett announced her plans to challenge Delegate Donna Christensen in the Democratic Party primary later this year.

A handful of supporters, friends and family gathered in Frederiksted’s Buddhoe Park to hear Plaskett make her case for the office. She earned her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., she worked in the district with then-Delegate Ron de Lugo, she worked for a D.C. lobbying firm then went to law school at American University College of Law while working full time with three small children She was counsel to the House Ethics Committee and worked for United Healthgroup, on government insurance, Medicaid and Medicare.Plaskett said “My knowledge of economic development , project finance, public funding, federal grants and other tools for growth give me wider range and depth of skill sets which meet the needs of the Virgin Islands at this time in Washington.”

Family Resource Center extends an invitation to everyone who’d like to help re-establish services to address domestic violence, sexual assault and other violent crimes on St. John. The Family Resource Center is working on an office on St. John within the next 30 days. Big Thank You to the Law Enforcement  Planning Commission Victims of Crime Grant, and the Myrah Keating Smith Health Center and the center’s Staff.  There is a meeting at the Myrah Keating Smith Health Center this evening at 5:30 pm. For more information call 776-3966

Governor John DeJongh had a sauté for an aviation giant as the Governor noted the invaluable contribution of retiring airline industry veteran, Peter Dolara of American Airlines to the development of tourism across the territory and the region. Governor de Jongh thanked Mr. Dolara, American Airlines’ Senior Vice President for Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America, for his commitment to the hospitality industry in the US Virgin Islands for decades, as well as for his personal affection for the island of St. Croix. “We wanted to personally thank you for all that you have done.”

Graduaiton !

Spoony and Loony talking with their friends in Texas

81  degrees in Crown Bay St. Thomas

83 % humidity.

29.97 Barometric Pressure – rising.

Mostly East Wind at 15 MPH.  

Point  45 inches of rain in the last 24 hours  – We have had 14.08  inches of rain so far this year.

Doppler radar shows – Mostly Clear Skies

Satellite photo shows – Rain showers on the way.

National Weather Service says:

Mostly cloudy with thunderstorms and rain showers. High of 86F. Winds from the East at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.

Cruise Ship News

No Ships Today

At the top of the news on Friday May 11

Changes are coming  to St Croix Schools as restructuring was on the table last night. First is to assign students to the school that is nearest to their home. Bus routes are getting rearranged.

But no ride for students who are out of the local school district. The goal is to reduce bussing costs, improve school attendance and balance class size and reduce over crowding. Officials are expecting some 300 to 500 new students in the St Croix Public schools without HOVENSA’s support for private education.

A group of high school seniors took to the streets – or at least the parking lots – to do their part in combating the ubiquitous plastic shopping bag, and to get others to pledge to do their parts as well, cleaning up the environment one shopper at a time. The students, juniors at the Good Hope School, were distributing shopping bags made from recycled materials. The bags were free to anyone who wanted one. were in the parking lot of Stop & Shop near Frederiksted. With the permission of the store’s manager, Amad Abdelghani, they were offering the bags to customers All the shoppers had to do was sign a pledge to use it when they go shopping. Manager says the store goes through pallets of plastic bags – tens of thousands of them – every month. Good News to use reusable bags. Better when they are free.

Good News from our Junior High School students – Some of our own will hundreds of middle school students from the nation and other countries who will be taking college courses this summer courtesy of the Center for Talented Youth (CTY) at Johns Hopkins University. Elena Christian Junior High School seventh grader Habeeba O’Neill and eighth grader Maryam O’Neill, and eighth grader Alyssa Grouby and seventh grader Ryan Hodge of John H. Woodson Junior High School were scored high on the  Talent Search test administered in March.  Some 78 other local students also took the test. The students’ high scores earned them full participation in CTY’s summer program, which offers a close up look at the college environment and the opportunity to enroll in “challenging and inspiring courses”.  Johns Hopkins CTY’s Talent Search program was introduced into the public schools this year by Education Commissioner Dr. LaVerne Terry and funded by an anonymous donor.  Participating students were referred to the program by school officials.

The Second Annual Rotary Sunrise Kid’s Triathlon will take place, Saturday, May 12th at Magens Bay. Age groups are 5to8, 9to11 and 12to15. Competing in three triathlon sports: swimming, biking and running.. Last year more than 100 students from St. Thomas and St. John participated.

New rules this year. Athletes will no longer be allowed to put their feet down while in the water, but they will be provided with life vests for floating and will not be disqualified if they should stand. Last year, several children jumped onto their bikes without stopping to put on proper shoes or a helmet. This year, children must wear sneakers or closed-toe shoes and a fastened helmet. The signature sponsor is Scotiabank along with other sponsors Virgin Islands Orthopedics, Merchants Bank, and the Virgin Islands Source on-line and new sponsors Glacial Energy and Frenchman’s Reef; nevertheless – it is the parents who are the biggest supporters.  If your business would like to sponsor or if you’d like to volunteer – Call Shaun Pennington at 777-8144.

The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) will conduct its 48th Annual Commencement Exercises on Saturday and Sunday. The Commencement keynote address will be given by Spelman College President Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum. St. Thomas will begin at 7 pm on Saturday at the Sports and Fitness Center. Attendance is by ticket only. The Commencement marshal is UVI Professor of English and Linguistics Dr. Vincent O. Cooper. St. Croix Commencement will begin at 4:30 pm on the grounds of the Albert Sheen Campus on Sunday, May 13. The co-marshals are Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Dr. Simon Jones-Hendrickson and Professor of Business Dr. Gabriel O-gun-mo-kun. How many diplomas – 279 for the students and three more honorary degrees. President Tatum and noted physician Dr. Alfred Heath will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree  and our Delegate to Congress Dr. Donna Christensen will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

Decisions, decisions. Hummm Where am I going in life?

New plans to teach the Fire Service to be EMT’s

81  degrees in Crown Bay St. Thomas

82% humidity.

29.93 Barometric Pressure – rising.

Mostly East Wind at 2 MPH.  

Point  03 inches of rain in the last 24 hours  – We have had 14.08  inches of rain so far this year.

Doppler radar shows – Mostly Clear Skies

Satellite photo shows – Clouds moving away from our area –clear skies coming.

National Weather Service says: During the morning hours, only a few isolated to scattered showers are expected across the major land areas and the surrounding waters. This afternoon, scattered showers are forecast.  Tranquil marine conditions are expected to prevail during the next few days with seas to four feet and a gentle to moderate trade wind flow.

 High of 84F. Breezy. Winds from the NE at 15 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%

Cruise Ship News

Disney Fantasy, Carnival Glory, Freedom of the Seas  at Havensight Dock

At the top of the news on Wednesday May 9

The Public Finance Authority authorized $650,000 to the Housing Authority to purchase the land behind Roy Lester Schneider Hospital for a new building that will be an addition to the Lucinda Millin Home for the Aged. Unanimously decision. The governor says he is confident the work on the elderly home can begin. They also paid $38,000 in utility bills for the St. Thomas Regional Library.

Health Commissioner Dr. Dullum announced the Health Department the go ahead for a paid training program to recruit emergency medical technicians the same way the Police Department recruits new officers. She lauded the ability to pay entry level basic EMTs which will allow the department to provide jobs and recruit new people into the EMS. The paid trainee program is expected to begin by late summer. It takes 11 EMTs to fully staff a 12-hour shift. Dullum also said they are working on an agreement with the Fire Services to extend Medical First Responder training to the members of the Fire Service. She says that will increase manpower, vehicle maintenance support and use of Fire Service stations.  The  Department of Health has six vacant positions to be filled and is urging residents, who are already trained, to check with the Division of Personnel if interested.

Public Services Commission met yesterday and began work on plans to revise the ferry rates between islands. The ferry companies are supposed to earn 6 to 8% on their work and the present rates do not allow them to break even according to the hearing examiner. They are talking about a government subsidy or an increase in the ferry rates.

More properties for sale as the Lieutenant Governor prepares to auction property with delinquent tax bills.  On May 23 through 25 they are auctioning property in St. Thomas and St John – 34 properties including Nanny PointSeveral properties in Mandahl and several in Linberg Bay.  And one titled to Adelita Cancryn on Palm Strade. 

The Lieutenant Governor will be auctioning June 5-7 on St Croix they are auctioning 33 preporties from Cotton valley to Whim and from Queen Cross Street to Beeston Hill Hermon Hill, Bugny Hole and Grove place. On St. Thomas May 23 to 25 at the GERS starting 9:00 AM each day. On St Croix at the Cardiac Care Center June 5 to 7 also 9:00 AM each day.

The University of the Virgin Islands is asking for your ideas to develop the next five-year strategic plan.  The University’s current strategic plan will conclude in September. The new strategic plan will cover the period from October through 2017. St. Thomas community can provide input  this evening at the Administration and Conference Center building at 6:00 PM.  On Thursday, May 10, members of the St John community are invited to bring their suggestions to a Town Hall meeting in the UVI Academic Center at the Marketplace St. John. For further information call Dr. Haldane Davies at 693-1004. This evening on St. Thomas at the Administration Conference Center building on the St. Thomas campus at 6:00 PM. 

Water Island Critical Path Decision Matrix....

Good News From HOVENSA – HOVENSA announced plans to continuing the supply of fuel to local gas stations through December 31 of this year. Before there had been plans to stop supplies in June.

Good News about trash.  The trash haulers are back as GEM COnstriuction got its equipment back on the road and the overflowing trash bins are destined to be emptied. They have had mechanical problems since last weekend. Now fixed.

Department of Labor St Croix has a recruitment and interview session for displaced HOVENSA workers today through Friday at the Department of Labor’s Sion Farm location. All former HOVENSA workers and trade craftsmen are invited to attend. For More Information go to Tradesmeninternational.com/HOVENSA

They came to learn about Customer Service; some 100 people from service, government and tourism sectors.  They took the pledge to educate tourists on the local culture and to make them feel more welcome. The message was clear – the territory’s well-being and economic development depend on how residents interact with visitors. Skits helped everyone see the reality of local folks behavior  through body language, tone of voice, and how people are dressed can affect tourists’ experience. The group also got lessons on local culture, plants, herbs, jewelry made of local plants. And they heard about the importance of our coral reef system. Randy Fish had a shocking number. 95 percent of people who do not do aquatic activities like snorkeling are not concerned with the fate of the reefs. But he told the workshop  “Coral reefs are the most important ecosystem on the planet,” “There’s more life per square area than any other ecosystem.”

With tremendous sadness we report the passing of Gladys Abraham. She began as a temporary teacher at the George Washington school – the former Evelyn Marcelli School in 1944. She attended the teachers Institute in Puerto Rico and went to New York University for  BS degree in 1953.  She taught and traveled on a Fullbright Scholarship and in 1962 she got her Masters degree in Psychology and moved into the position of Principal at the Sibilly school, then Lockhart and finally Kirwan Elementary the school that now bears her name.  Gladys Abraham Elementary School. Sadly. She is gone.

Virgin Islands Fire Service is lifting the ban on burning that has been in effect due to the dry conditions earlier this year.  With 14 inches of rain this year – the burning ban is no longer needed.

Virgin Islands Carnival Committee is having a  meeting for all booth owners in the 2012 Carnival – Wednesday at 5:30 PM at the Virgin Islands Carnival Committee Headquarters on lower main Street.

The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority is advising its customers that the St. Croix customer service office will close one hour earlier at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 8, to accommodate a staff meeting. Normal hours of operation will resume on Wednesday, May 9, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Governor John P. de Jo ugh, Jr. will convene a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority on Tuesday, May 8 at 10:00 a.m. The meeting will be held at the Virgin Islands Public Finance Authority.  For more information call Angel Dawson at 714-1635.

Notice is hereby given that there will be a Regular Meeting of the Virgin Islands Public Services Commission on Tuesday, May 8, 2012, at 6:00 p.m. at the Public Services Commission’s Conference Room located at 1003 Estate Ross/Barbel Plaza, Suite #4, St. Thomas, United States Virgin Islands. The meeting will be teleconferenced for the participation ofSt. Croix Commissioners and staff, and any member of the public who wishes to attend at the Commission’s office at Sunny Isle, St. Croix.

Here comes National Travel and Tourism Week with a series of professional development seminars on St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix. The free seminars are open to anyone in the service industry interested in improving their service skills and knowledge of the U.S. Virgin Islands. TODAY on St. Croix, sessions are planned for Tuesday at the UVI Melvin Evans Center, room 401.

There’s a class on Customer Service Excellence from 10:00 AM to noon. A class on History and Culture from 1 o’clock to 2:30 and then from 3 o’clock to 4:30 a session on Our Natural Environment. On Thursday Tourism will host a “Business After Hours” on St. Croix at the Marine Facility in Frederiksted and on St. Thomas at the Havensight Visitor Welcome Center – that’s on Thursday. For more information about Tourism Week call 774-8784.

Governor John DeJongh has proclaimed May as “Mental Health Month,” a with a focus this week on “Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week” and Wednesday is “Children’s Mental Health Day” in the Virgin Islands to encourage the community to learn more about mental illness and overcome the stigmas and fears associated with mental disorders.  There are special events this week – Wednesday, May 9 Open house at Barbel Plaza from 9 am to 3 pm  followed by National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day Film Series. For more information on St Croix call 773-1311 and on St. Thomas call 774-4888.

Hearty Congratulations to the Virgin Islands PSA Employees of the year. On St John Lucinda Jurgen is the employee of the year and on St Croix Madona Abraham is the winner.  Congratulations.

Our good news maker of the day are tehj 4 students from St Croix Country Day School who won admission to the US Military Academies. Delegate Dr. Donna Christiansen announced that Eliji Mondesir is going to West Point.  Samuel Watterson and Dylan Morohn are going to the Merchant Marine Academy and Rafael Almonte is going to the US Coast Guard Academy. The dfelegate says this has been a banner year for the US Virgin Islands with students going to all five of the academies. Nikki Barnes of Antilles School is going to the Coast Guard Academy prep school,.  Christopher Edwards is on his way to the Air Frorce Academy and Alejandro Perez is going to the Naval Academy at Annapolis. Eight other virgin islanders are already attending the academies.