Earlier (around 6:00 AM) for just about five minutes, the sky exploded in a bright orange. In the far south, towards St. Croix, a small patch of blue could be seen and looking to the west, there was a rainbow.
Shortly afterward, the dark squall clouds gathered together. Lightning lit up the sky and thunder shook the house.
Before 1985 there was a wooden viewing tower atop Caneel Hill, built by National Park contracted workers. That year the powerful Hurricane Hugo destroyed the tower leaving it pretty much a pile of debris, a state in which it remained for some 21 years.
In 2006, a St. John resident, Frank Cummings, who operates SNUBA, decided to do something about it. With some persistence, he was able to obtain both permission and partial funding from the National Park to construct a new tower atop the 719-foot high hilltop. Work began in May of 2006 with the help of private volunteers and additional funding provided by Steve Black. The debris was removed and carried down the hill and the new construction materials were carried up.
Volunteers carried up the 80-pound bags of cement, containers of water, tools and afsteners. Teachers from the Baptist school brought up a generator, and Boy Scouts from Illinois helped bring up the recycled lumber substitute along with volunteers from the Friends of the Park.
Just to the west of the popular Hawksnest Beach, lies a much smaller and far less visited stretch of soft coral sand known as Little Hawksnest.
I revisited this little beach yesterday and realized that it has been some time since I had been there. The tide was high and the surf was up (our St. John winter season is just about upon us) and there wasn’t much beach to speak of with waves washing up almost to the vegetation line.
It isn’t always this way and on more normal days one can find a quiet little beach just to the west of the public beach.
To get to Little Hawksnest, you’ll need to walk to the far western end of the public beach, take the trail through the woods that parallels the shore until you get to the rocky coastline separating the two beaches. A relativity easy scramble will bring you to the beach.
Thinking back (all the way to 1972) I remember attending the wedding of Charlie Deyalsingh (Trinidad Charlie) and Cathy Hartford on this very beach, where among other festivities we had a pig roast.
Remember I said relatively easy scramble, but thinking about it, setting up a pig roast on that beach must have been fairly challenging. I guess we all were a lot tougher in those days.
Press Release from St. John Film Society:
We have a wonderful event planned for next Wednesday night at Cinnamon Bay Amphitheater. We sent out the press release on Wednesday (hope you received it!) and would love a mention on your fabulous site if you have the time and space. This event local filmmakers: Joan Keenan, Janet Cook-Rutnik & Bill Stelzer. We also have some very special visiting guests. Thanks in advance and hope you can make it!
Halloween Costume Prize Columbus Georgia
The Uptown Tap and The Vault, 1024 and 1026 Broadway, Columbus, Georgia, will award a five-night free stay (with meals) on St. John, Virgin Islands to the best overall costume.
Small Plane Crash on St. Croix
A single engine Cessna 177 enroute to St. Thomas crashed while attempting to return to the airport on St. Croix killing the three people aboard
Today’s Photos I’ve included some sunset photos here again, I hope I’m not overdoing this, but the light was sooooo nice!
Miss Michelle's Pre K Kids in Halloween Costumes
Sunset over Great Cruz Bay, St. John Virgin Islands
Chocolate Hole, St. John USVI - Late Afternoon Light
For parents of the Lower School Kids and anyone else who’s interested – here’s a video of the kids who did a little parade at the upper school:
Leinster Bay was once called “Smith Bay.” The current name “Leinster Bay” was adopted by James Murphy, a St. Thomas merchant, slave trader and ship owner, who purchased Leinster Bay, and surrounding estates in 1796. The name Leinster came from the province in Ireland where his family came from.
This photo was taken from the Annaberg Sugar Mill ruins.
Yesterday a pair of dolphins put on a show for boaters at moorings, kayakers and swimmers in the vicinity of Maho Bay. The pair cavorted around the spectators, blowing out air from their blowholes and bringing their tails, heads, and dorsal fins to the surface.
Getting good photos of these guys are not easy, especially without a telephoto lens and excellent timing, but I was able to capture two fairly decent shots of the dolphin surfacing while three girls, visitors from our neighboring island, Puerto Rico, swam after them as their mom followed in a kayak.
7:00 pm Thursday, October 22th
Marketplace
Cruz Bay, St John
Please join us this Thursday night for an extraordinary work of visual journalism, a richly illustrated report on a distant catastrophe that is also one of the central stories of our time.
“…a tale about humans between the North and the South, about globalization, and about fish.”
Some time in the 1960’s, in the heart of Africa, a new animal was introduced into Lake Victoria as a little scientific experiment. The Nile Perch, a voracious predator, extinguished almost the entire stock of the native fish species. However, the new fish multiplied so fast, that its white fillets are today exported all around the world.
This booming multinational industry has created an ungodly globalized alliance on the shores of the world’s biggest tropical lake: an army of local fishermen, World bank agents, homeless children, African ministers, EU-commissioners, Tanzanian prostitutes and Russian pilots.
Come early for for dinner at The Marketplace!
Special Announcements: Halloween Treats: Popcorn, Candy & Beverages Available at the show on Thursday, from our friends at La Plancha
Free Zemi Caribbean Workshop “Inner Creative Journeys” Nov 10, 2009
The community is invited to a FREE workshop for anyone interested in experiencing “Inner Creative Journeys”. Viki Brown is the facilitator for this event on November 10, 2009 at 7pm – 9pm. She uses drumming and flute along with visualizations to guide you to find answers to specific questions that are intimately your own. She believes that by practicing these methods, originally brought to us from the indigenous Indians, that we can find what is true to our hearts. In doing so, we can have a more peaceful community and world.
Viki is also the coordinator for the workshops in January . See www.zemicaribbeanworkshops.com for details about the exceptional professional speakers that will guide you through a variety of ways to heal your body, mind, and soul. Learn about Yoga, Tai chi, Cosmology, Dance, Drumming, and Journeys for clarity. Please call Viki at 340 693 5308 or email viki@caribbeanworkshops.com for directions.
ZEMI CARIBBEAN WORKSHOPS
January 2010 in St. John, USVI at the Solyoga studio at Mongoose Junction in Cruz Bay, on the beach and in the National Park.
January 9-16th is: Healing Modalities Workshop
Dr. May Trieu – Chinese Medicine Healer, Acupuncturist, Tai Chi Instructor
Louise Olivi, M.S.- Your Authentic Self, intuitive/spiritual counselor, hypnotherapist, energy healer and Crop Circle Researcher.
Carla Murray- Vinyasa Restorative Yoga, Singer, Actor, Guitarist and Teacher of Voice.
Kelley Hunter, Ph.D., C.A.P.-Cosmology, internationally-known Astrologer and Mythologist.
Viki Brown- Inner Creative Journeys, Visualizations for clarity facilitator, Fine artist.
Eddie Bruce- Caribbean Drumming, teaches Theater Arts and Music.
Gina Wellner – Hoop Dance,Certified Hoop Dance and Ball Room Instructor
January 23-29th is: Tai Chi Alchemy and Healing Retreat
Rick Barrett- Tai chi Total Immersion, author of “Taijiquan: Through the Western Gate.” Internationally known Tai Chi Instructor.
Carla Murray- Vinyasa Restorative Yoga, singer, actor, guitarist and teacher of voice.
Kelley Hunter- Ph.D., C.A.P.- Cosmology, internationally-known Astrologer and Mythologist.
Viki Brown- Facilitator for Inner Creative Journeys, Fine artist.
Eddie Bruce- Caribbean Drumming, teaches Theater Arts and Music.
Gina Wellner – Hoop dance, Certified Hoop Dance and Ball Room Instructor
Zemi Caribbean Workshop prices for each week is $275 for one, two or all instructors. Arrive on Saturday and leave on Saturday. Wednesday is open for an optional group sail or beach day. Please see the Calendar at www.zemicaribbeanworkshops.com for more detailed information. Sign up in November, seating is limited. Contact viki@zemicaribbeanworkshops.com for best fares on accommodations or call 340 693 5308.
Viki Brown
www.Zemicaribbeanworkshops.com
340 642 2424 340 693 5308
HI! Crazy Cracker’s is hosing a fundraiser for Sharon “Puppy” Lees on November 7th. Doors open at 3:00, auction begins at 9:30. Dates with St. John’s most eligible bachelor’s will be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Gift certificates will be given for restaurants, bars, etc for the winner. A silent auction will also be held upstairs. All money raised will go toward Puppy’s medical expenses. We want to see everyone out!
Message from Ashley Osborne
Email: osbash2004@aol.com
Phone: 340-715-3361
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