St. John Sea Salt from Salt Pond Bay

How Does the Salt Get There?
Saltwater enters the pond from the sea by seepage at high tides and by waves breaking over the surface during storms. Salt Pond is one of the only places on St. John that is below sea level. This condition prevents significant amounts of pond water from flowing back out to sea. Constant, intense sunlight and ever-present trade winds encourage an exceptionally high rate of evaporation. When rain is scarce, the water becomes extremely salty. Water can only hold a certain amount of salt in solution and when the salinity of the pond reaches that point, the salt crystallizes.

As the water level continues to drop, and more and more water is evaporated, a layer of salt is left along the edges of the pond. The longer the dry period, the higher the temperature, and the stronger the winds, the more this salt layer will extend towards the center of the pond and the thicker the layer becomes.

You can collect salt during these times by scooping up the salt with your hands, if it is still wet and soft. If the salt layer is dry and hard, use a knife or other sharp tool. (If you’ve forgotten to bring a container, just walk over to nearby Drunk Bay where there is a great deal of flotsam, and you’ll probably find something you can use.)

After the salt is collected, drain off as much water as possible and put it in the sun to dry further. You may be left with fine powdery salt, which you can enjoy on your food immediately or, if the dried crystals are large, you will first need to grind them up or pound them out.

The salt obtained from salt ponds is particularly tasty and healthy, containing all the minerals that are present in the sea, which include all those essential to the human body. So during the next dry spell, take the trail to St. John’s best salt pond for collecting salt and bring some back home.

Virgin Islands News

UVI Hospitality Program Teaches Locals to ‘Leave ‘Em Smiling’
By Molly Morris — April 28, 2013

“Always leave them with a smile, that’s what makes them want to come back,” said Tamara Lang, director of the University of the Virgin Islands Hotel and Tourism Management program, whose goal is exactly that…. Read more

St. John Weather

High Surf Advisory!
Partly cloudy with rain showers
High of 84 degrees F
Winds from the ENE at 10 to 15 mph
Chance of rain 30%
Water temperature (Charlotte Amalie Harbor, St. Thomas): 86 degrees F
Sunset: 6:39 PM AST

St. John Live Music Schedule

Aqua Bistro
Lauren Jones
3:30 – 6:30
776-5336

Beach Bar
Barefoot Davis
5:00
777-4220

Concordia
Bo
Sunday Brunch 10:00 am

Cruz Bay Prime
Mark Wallace
7:00 – 10:00
693 -8000

High Tide
Lemuel Callwood Steel Pan
4:00 – 6:00
714-6169

Island Blues
Van Gordon Martin
776 – 6800

Miss Lucy’s
Sambacombo
10:00 am – 2:00 pm
693-5254

Ocean Grill
David Laab
6:30 – 9:00
693-3304

Rhumblines
T-Bird
7:00 – 10:00

Shipwreck Landing
Hot Club
7:00 – 10:00

Sun Dog Cafe
David Laab
11:00 am- 2:00 pm
244-9713

See Weekly Schedule

Angel Face

St. John and Virgin Islands News

Early Registration for the Beach-to-Beach Power Swim Ends Friday, May 3rd

Dear Swimmer,

It is just over 4 weeks to the 10th annual Beach-to-Beach Power Swim to be held on Sunday, May 26th in the beautiful protected waters of Virgin Islands National Park.  I hope that you will be joining us.  For full information about the swim please visit www.friendsvinp.org/swim.

I just wanted to remind you that early registration ends next Friday, May 3rd.  So save yourself a few bucks and register now.  Early registration for adults is $40 and general registration, starting next Saturday, May 6th, is $50.  For youths, ages 17 and below, both early and general registration is $25.

Also, please note that registration is limited to 300 swimmers –  first come, first served; so please register soon to avoid disappointment

To register:

·         On-line go to www.friendsvinp.org/swim.
·         By phone call 340-779-4940 (office hours only)
·         In person on:

On  St. John at The Friends of the Park Store in Mongoose Junction, or Connections in either Cruz Bay or Coral Bay

On St. Thomas at Caribbean Surf Co. locations at Havensight or Red Hook

On St. Croix at SCUBA in Christiansted

For those of you on St. John or St. Thomas also please remember that there are two practice swims remaining to help you get ready for the event. They are on:

·         Sunday, April 28th from Maho to Cinnamon or Trunk
·         Sunday, May 12th from Maho to Cinnamon, Trunk or Hawksnest

The practice swims start at Maho Bay, near the dinghy channel at 8:30 am.  Please be there by 8:15 for the free registration and briefing.

I look forward to seeing you in the water on May 26th.  Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions.

Regards,
Joe Kessler, Race Director
Friends of VI National Park
340.779.4940
jkessler@friendsvinp.org

‘Rain Don’t Stop De Carnival,’ But Bullets Put an Early End to J’ouvert
By James Gardner — April 26, 2013

While many said the turnout at Thursday’s J’ouvert celebrations was the best it’s been in the last few years, the fun was short-lived. Violence broke out in the early morning hours, and V.I. police quickly shut down the event and asked everyone to go home….

…In a news release Thursday afternoon, the V.I. Police Department said three individuals were shot during the event and were taken to Schneider Regional Medical Center for treatment. Detectives at the scene said the victims were 23, 25 and 27 years old and that a preliminary investigation had revealed that a fight had broken out in the crowd dancing behind one of the bands.

“The wounded were taken from the scene by ambulances that were stationed nearby,” the press release said….

…In a statement released Thursday evening, Gov. John deJongh Jr. denounced the shootings and said that at least one of the victims was critically injured….

…The governor said he met Thursday with V.I. Police Commissioner-designate Rodney Querrard and other police brass, including the department’s intelligence unit director, Ray Martinez, to discuss the incident.

“I was assured by the leadership of the department that today’s shooting was not a random act,” the governor said in the release. “The intelligence gathered in the case suggests that the shooting stemmed from ongoing differences between two neighborhood groups who used the cover of the large crowd at J’ouvert to level their retaliatory acts.”…. read more

St. John Weather

Partly cloudy with rain showers in the morning, then clear with rain showers
High of 82 degrees F
Winds from the NE at 10 to 15 mph
Chance of rain 30%
Sunset: 6:39 PM AST
Water temperature (Charlotte Amalie Harbor, St. Thomas): 86 degrees F

St. John Live Music Schedule:

Aqua Bistro
Stephan Sloan
5:30 – 8:30
776-5336

Barefoot Cowboy Lounge
Michael Beason
7:00 – 9:00
201-1236

Castaways
Mikey P 8:00
Dance Party 11:00
777-3316

Cinnamon Bay
Eddie Bruce Drum Circle
6:30 – 8:00

Concordia
Bo & Lauren
6:30 – 9:00

High Tide
Mikey P
9:00
714-6169

Miss Lucy’s
David Reed
6:00 – 9:00
693-5254

Morgan’s Mango
Lauren Jones
6:00 – 9:30
693-8141

Ocean Grill
T-Bird
6:30 – 9:00
693-3304

Rhumblines
Erin Hart
7:00 – 10:00

Spyglass
James Milne
5:00 – 8:00
776-1100

Shipwreck Landing
Mitch Woods
7:00-10:00

Skinny Legs
Chris Carsel & Company
6:00
779 4982

See  Weekly Schedule

Doe at Caneel Bay

St. John Weather

Partly cloudy with rain showers
High of 84 degrees F
Breezy: Winds from the ESE at 10 to 20 mph
Chance of rain 20%
Sunset: 6:38 PM AST
Water temperature (Charlotte Amalie Harbor, St. Thomas): 86 degrees F

St. John Live Music Schedule

Aqua Bistro
Rascio on Steel Pan
6:00 – 8:00
776-5336

Barefoot Cowboy Lounge
Gann Brewer
7:00 – 9:00
201-1236

Castaways
Flip Flop Rock
8:00
777-3316

Coconut Coast
St. John Flutes
5:30 -7:00
776-6944

Cruz Bay Prime
Sambacombo
7:00 – 10:00
693 -8000

High Tide
Lemuel Callwood Steel Pan
4:00 – 6:00
714-6169

Miss Lucy’s
David Reed
6:00 – 9:00
693-5254

Shipwreck Landing
Chris Carsel
6:30 – 9:30

Sun Dog Cafe
Wednesday Night Jam
With Dan Silber
7:30-10:30
244-9713

See Weekly Schedule

A cruise ship sailing east along the south shore of St. John in the early morning

St. John News

Fire Guts Café Roma, Barely Touches Joe’s Diner
By Lynda Lohr — April 21, 2013

A fire Sunday gutted Café Roma restaurant, located on the second floor of a masonry building on Veste Gade in Cruz Bay, but Deputy Fire Chief Marx Costanzo said Joe’s Diner on the building’s ground floor got off with only a puddle.

The fire was centered between the restaurant’s dropped ceiling and the roof, Costanzo said. The roof and ceiling were made of wood.

“We don’t know how it started. It’s under investigation,” he said.

The fire didn’t spread to any adjacent buildings in the crowded downtown area. No one was hurt, Costanzo added…. read more

St. John Weather

Mostly cloudy with rain showers in the morning, then clear with rain showers
High of 84 degrees F
Breezy: Winds from the ENE at 15 to 20 mph
Chance of rain 20%
Water temperature (Charlotte Amalie Harbor, St. Thomas): 84.9 degrees F
Sunset: 6:38 PM AST

St. John Live Music

Aqua Bistro
Matt Mitruk
5:30 – 8:30
776-5336

Barefoot Cowboy Lounge
T-Bird
7:00 – 9:00
201-1236

Beach Bar
Reggae Express
9:00
777-4220

Castaways
Trivia Night
8:00
777-3316

Concordia
Open Mic with Ben Marr
3:30 – 5:30

Island Blues
Live Local Reggae – Bongin
4:30 – 7:30
776-6800

La Tapa
Sambacombo
6:30 – 9:30
693-8141

Maho Bay Camp
Bo & Lauren
8:00

Ocean Grill
Chris Carsel
6:30 – 9:00
693-3304

See Weekly Schedule

St. John Events

Reef Fest
Saturday, April 20th will be a fee-free day at Trunk Bay from 12 to 5 pm with various exhibits and interactive activities all centered around reef preservation and conservation.  There will be a free shuttle service from the Friends Store in Cruz Bay.  Call 779-4940 for more details

St. John & Virgin Islands News

Free Admission Next Week at National Parks
By Lynda Lohr — April 19, 2013

April 22 to 26 is National Parks Week and to celebrate, admission to V.I. National Park’s Trunk Bay on St. John and Christiansted National Historic Site on St. Croix are free for the entire five days…. read more

St. John Celebrates Earth Day
By Lynda Lohr — April 19, 2013

Adelaide Jones, a 9-year-old Gifft Hill School student taking in the sights at Friday’s Earth Day celebration, summed it up when she noted that it’s important to protect the earth because it’s where we live.

“It’s our only one,” she said.

Jones and about 500 other students from across St. John were at the V.I. National Park ballfield for the annual event sponsored by the Friends of the Park group…. Read more

St. John Weather

Overcast with thunderstorms and rain showers, then rain showers in the afternoon
High of 84 degrees F
Breezy: Winds from the ENE at 20 to 25 mph
Chance of rain 20%
Sunset: 6:37 PM AST
Water temperature (Charlotte Amalie Harbor, St. Thomas): 87.1 degrees F

St. John Live Music Schedule

Beach Bar
Jared and Brie from the ISH
9:00
777-4220

Castaways
Van Gordon Martin
777-3316

Cruz Bay Prime
Mike Wallace
7:00 – 10:00
693 -8000

Miss Lucy’s
David Reed
6:00 – 9:00
693-5254

Morgan’s Mango
Luba
6:00 – 9:30
693-8141

Ocean Grill
Rascio on Steel Pan
6:00 – 9:30
693-3304

Rhumblines
Lauren
7:00 – 10:00

Skinny Legs
Hot Club of Coral Bay
6:00
779 4982

See weekly schedule

Gibney Beach

St. John Weather

Overcast with rain showers
High of 84 degrees F
Breezy: Winds from the ENE at 20 to 25 mph
Chance of rain 20%
Sunset: 6:37 PM AST
Water temperature (Charlotte Amalie Harbor, St. Thomas): 87.1 degrees F

St. John Events

Annual Earth Day Environmental Fair
National Park Ball Field
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
The event will kick off with the third annual litter Stomp Parade from Julius E. Sprauve School to the fairgrounds.
Call 779-4940 for more details

St. John Live Music Schedule

Aqua Bistro
Stephan Sloan
5:30 – 8:30
776-5336

Barefoot Cowboy Lounge
Michael Beason
7:00 – 9:00
201-1236

Beach Bar
Johnny B Band
9:00
777-4220

Castaways
Mikey P 8:00
Dance Party 11:00
777-3316

Cinnamon Bay
Eddie Bruce Drum Circle
6:30 – 8:00

Concordia
Bo & Lauren
6:30 – 9:00

High Tide
Mikey P
9:00
714-6169

Miss Lucy’s
David Reed
6:00 – 9:00
693-5254

Morgan’s Mango
Lauren Jones
6:00 – 9:30
693-8141

Ocean Grill
T-Bird
6:30 – 9:00
693-3304

Rhumblines
Erin Hart
7:00 – 10:00

Spyglass
James Milne
5:00 – 8:00
776-1100

Shipwreck Landing
Mitch Woods
7:00-10:00

Skinny Legs
Chris Carsel & Company
6:00
779 4982

Five minutes of weather: a rain squall passes over St. John

Approaching Squall

Squall

Squall Passes

A Passing Squall

Experiencing the weather on St. John is somewhat like experiencing it on a ship at sea. The island is small enough and the mountains are not high enough to cause much of a land effect on the weather.

Standing on my deck early this morning, I could see the dark outline of a rain squall to the east, moving westward towards me. When the squall line got close enough I could feel the wind’s increased velocity at the leading edge of the squall.  Shortly there after came the rain which lasted about three minutes before the squall passed over and the skies to east were clear once again.

St. John Weather Forecast

Overcast with rain showers in the morning, then partly cloudy with thunderstorms and rain showers
High of 84 degrees F
Breezy: Winds from the East at 20 to 25 mph
Chance of rain 60%
Water temperature (Charlotte Amalie Harbor, St. Thomas): 87.1 degrees F
Sunset: 6:36 PM AST

St. John & Virgin Islands News

Funding Needed to Fight Lionfish
By Lynda Lohr — April 17, 2013

It will take money and effort to continue the fight against invasive lionfish, Frank Cummings, the education outreach coordinator for Caribbean Oceanic Restoration and Education, said Wednesday at the Rotary Club of St. John’s weekly meeting.

“The lionfish will affect our tourist-based economy,” Cummings told the seven Rotary members gathered at the Westin Resort and Villas Beach Café…. read more

Coast Guard Gets New Boats
By Lynda Lohr — April 17, 2013

Four new 29-foot boats will help the U.S. Coast Guard better respond to search and rescue calls and deal with potential threats in the Virgin Islands, the Coast Guard said in a press release issued Wednesday.

The new boats will continue “to extend the Coast Guard’s footprint and visibility throughout the Sector San Juan area of responsibility,” said Senior Chief Petty Officer Robert Gonzales, the Boat Station San Juan officer in charge…. Read more

St. John Live Music Schedule

Banana Deck
Steel Pan by Lemuel Samuels
6:00 – 9:00
693-5055

Barefoot Cowboy Lounge
Erin Hart
7:00 – 9:00
201-1236

Beach Bar
savitri
9:00
777-4220

Castaways
James
9:00
777-3316

Miss Lucy’s
Jazz with Rich and Greg
6:00 – 9:00

Morgan’s Mango
Mark Wallace
6:00 – 9:30
693-8141

Ocean Grill
Chris Carsel
6:30 – 9:00
693-3304

Rhumblines
Erin Hart
7:00 – 10:00

Skinny Legs
Lauren Jones Magnie
6:00
779 4982

Spyglass
James Milne
5:00 – 8:00
776-1100

See Weekly Schedule

Paddle board acrobatics at Maho Bay

St. John Events

St. John Film Society Presents

The Radiant Child
by Jean-Michel Basquiat
Directed by Tamra Davis
88 minutes, Documentary, 2010

Cases by the Sea, Coral Bay
Wednesday, April 17/ 7:30 pm
Suggested Donation $5

You may not know painter Jean-Michel Basquiat by name but chances are you have seen his art  — modern, primitive, iconic.  Born to a Haitian father and an African-Puerto Rican mother, Basquiat lived his formative teen years on Puerto Rico, emerging on Brooklyn streets in the 1970s as a locally-acclaimed graffiti artist.  By age 25 the charismatic Basquiat had evolved into a globally-acclaimed Neo-expressionist and Primitivist painter, rarified, commercial art-world darling, commanding $1M a painting.  This definitive documentary chronicles the meteoric rise of the artist with rock star status – an enormous talent whose fortunes mirror the rollercoaster quality of the 1980s downtown NY art scene.

Virgin Islands News

V.I. Legislature Passes Ban on Bath Salts and ‘Synthetic Marijuana’
By Bill Kossler — April 17, 2013

The V.I. Legislature passed legislation prohibiting the family of chemicals used to make intoxicants sold over the counter as bath salts and so-called “synthetic marijuana” …. read more

St. John Weather

Overcast with rain showers in the morning, then partly cloudy with rain showers
High of 84 degrees F
Breezy: Winds from the North at 15 to 20 mph shifting to the East in the afternoon
Chance of rain 50%
Water temperature (Charlotte Amalie Harbor, St. Thomas): 87.1 degrees F
Sunset: 6:36 PM AST

St. John Live Music Schedule

Aqua Bistro
Rascio on Steel Pan
6:00 – 8:00
776-5336

Castaways
Flip Flop Rock
8:00
777-3316

Coconut Coast
St. John Flutes
5:30 -7:00
776-6944

Cruz Bay Prime
Sambacombo
7:00 – 10:00
693 -8000

High Tide
Lemuel Callwood Steel Pan
4:00 – 6:00
714-6169

Miss Lucy’s
David Reed
6:00 – 9:00
693-5254

Shipwreck Landing
Chris Carsel
6:30 – 9:30

Sun Dog Cafe
Wednesday Night Jam
Lauren & Mark Wallce
7:30-10:30
244-9713

See Weekly Schedule

Orchids in bloom in my garden – April 16, 2013

This Orchid has only boolem twice in the 12 years that I’ve had it	My garden is almost entirely native plants, troublesome exotics like Wild Tamarind have been painstakingly eliminated (almost)	Small native orchid, grows in harsh dry sunny windy locations and loves it

St. John Weather

Partly cloudy with rain showers
High of 84 degrees F
Breezy: Winds from the ENE at 15 to 20 mph
Chance of rain 30%
Sunset: 6:36 PM AST
Water temperature (Charlotte Amalie Harbor St. Thomas): 87.1 degrees F

St. John Live Music Schedule

Barefoot Cowboy Lounge
Steven Sloan
7:00 – 9:00
201-1236

Castaways
Karaoke Night
9:00
777-3316

Driftwood David’s
Benn Marr
5:30 – 8:30
777-4015

High Tide
Chris Carsel
6:00 – 9:00
714-6169

Island Blues
Karaoke & Open Mic
7:00
776-6800

La Tapa
Greg Kinslow
6:00 – 9:30
693-8141

Miss Lucy’s
David Reed
6:00 – 9:00
693-5254

Morgan’s Mango
Sambacombo
6:30 – 9:30
693-8141

Ocean Grill
Rascio on Steel Pan
6:00 – 9:30
693-3304

Shipwreck Landing
Dave Gerard
7:00 – 10:00

Spyglass
T-Bird
5:00 – 8:00
776-1100

See Weekly Schedule

Power Swim 2008

Beach-to-Beach Power Swim – Practice Swims

To help with your training we have scheduled three practice swims, with the first one this Sunday, April 14^th.The schedule for the practice swims is as follows:

April 14: Maho to Cinnamon
April 28: Maho to Cinnamon or Trunk
May 12: Maho to Cinnamon, Trunk or Hawksnest

The practice swims will all start at 8:30 am (please note that on race day the swim will start at 8:00 am) from the north end of Maho Beach.

As always, safety is of utmost importance and we will have kayaks and safety boats accompanying the swimmers.

For swimmers coming from St. Thomas, please take the ferry that leaves Red Hook at 7:30 am.  We will have a vehicle meet the ferry and transport you to Maho.

As you know, the Beach-to-Beach Power Swim will be swum as four simultaneous events:
Short course (solo) from Maho Beach to Cinnamon Beach (1 mile)
Intermediate course (solo) from Maho Beach to Trunk Beach (2 ¼ miles)
Long course (solo) from Maho Beach to Hawksnest Beach (3 ½ miles)
Long course (three-person relay teams) from Maho Beach to Hawksnest Beach. The relay team transition points will be at Cinnamon Beach and Trunk Beach.

In each of the events, swimmers may compete using snorkels, fins, and/or exposure suits in a separate category of “assisted” swimmers. However, swim paddles, webbed (training) gloves and other swim aides are not permitted.

Registration is now open.  Please note that this year there are again reduced registration fees for swimmers 17 years and younger; as well as reduced registration fees for early registration (thru May 3).

Please visit our website at www.friendsvinp.org/swim for complete information on this event and to register.

Virgin Islands Audubon Society Hosts Speaker on Frigatebirds
By Source Staff — April 11, 2013

The Virgin Islands Audubon Society will hold its next meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16, on the second floor of the Marketplace.

The topic will be “Protecting the Frigatebirds.” These magnificent birds are in danger, and Audubon’s next speaker, Susan Zaluski, will talk about the efforts being made to protect them. Zaluski is the director of the Jost Van Dyke Preservation Society, a British Virgin Islands not-for-profit dedicated to preserving Jost Van Dyke’s land, heritage, surrounding seas and adjacent small islands. This group has cut down almost 60 dead frigatebirds that had either been hooked by fishing lures and were tangled in monofilament line or flew into fishing lines that another bird had brought back to the colony. Attend and learn about the threats and solutions to protecting frigatebirds.

US Virgin Islands Governor Nominates New Police Commissioner
By the Caribbean Journal staff

United States Virgin Islands Governor John de Jongh has nominated Rodney Querrard as the territory’s next Commissioner of Police.

Querrard previously served as police chief in the St Thomas-St John district from 2007 to 20012…. Read more

AT&T to launch LTE on US Virgin Islands this summer; 77 future markets named in US

US wireless giant AT&T Mobility has published a list of 77 new markets that it says will witness the introduction of Long Term Evolution (LTE) by ‘the end of the summer’. Alongside a number of markets in states such as Texas, California, Alabama and New Jersey, the cellco will also extend its 4G footprint to the unincorporated territory of the US Virgin Islands. The islands of St Croix and St Thomas have both been earmarked for inclusion in the rollout, and the eventual launch is likely to represent the first LTE network to go live on the Virgin Islands…. read more

St. John Weather

Clear with rain showers
High of 82 degrees F
Breezy: Winds from the ENE at 15 to 20 mph
Chance of rain 20%
Water temperature (Charlotte Amalie Harbor, St. Thomas): 87 degrees F
Sunset: 6:35 PM AST

Don’t look for any change during the next two weeks in the dry spell that began last summer, meteorologist Luis Rosa at the National Weather Service in San Juan said Thursday.

“For the next two weeks, I don’t see much chance of significant rain,” he said, adding that the wind will also continue…. read more

St. John Live Music Schedule

Aqua Bistro
Stephan Sloan
5:30 – 8:30
776-5336

Barefoot Cowboy Lounge
Michael Beason
7:00 – 9:00
201-1236

Beach Bar
Inner Vision
9:00
777-4220

Castaways
Mikey P 8:00
Dance Party 11:00
777-3316

Cinnamon Bay
Eddie Bruce Drum Circle
6:30 – 8:00

Concordia
Bo & Lauren
6:30 – 9:00

High Tide
Mikey P
9:00
714-6169

Miss Lucy’s
David Reed
6:00 – 9:00
693-5254

Morgan’s Mango
Lauren Jones
6:00 – 9:30
693-8141

Ocean Grill
T-Bird
6:30 – 9:00
693-3304

Rhumblines
Erin Hart
7:00 – 10:00

Spyglass
James Milne
5:00 – 8:00
776-1100

Shipwreck Landing
Mitch Woods
7:00-10:00

Skinny Legs
Chris Carsel & Company
6:00
779 4982

See Weekly Schedule