US Virgin Islands
[singlepic id=4817 w=180 h=40 mode=web20 float=left]Good morning! This is Alex Randall with Good News Headlines
VIBJ to produce Tourism Supplement
The Virgin Islands Business Journal announced that they were going to develop a special tourism insert for Tourism Week. Normally Tourism would have an 8 page supplement in the Daily News, but with the Virgin Islands Business Journal, this year’s supplement will be accompanied by 16 pages of material from the business community. Moreover, the advertisers will be included in the business Journal’s World Wide Web site on the Internet giving our tourism materials extra punch.
Current Conditions in Paradise:
Temperature: 80 Degrees Water Temp: 71 Degrees Skies: Crystal Clear, Occasional Cloud Beach: Perfect Swimming: Perfect Diving: Perfect Sailing: Perfect Drinks: Ready
Chamber of Commerce Opposes Veterans Drive Rebuild
Thomas Brunt, President of the Chamber of Commence announced the business community’s opposition to the plans to reconstruct Veterans Drive. The Chamber doesn’t like any of the plans that have been put forward. The Chamber says there are more benefits from addressing traffic flow in other critical intersections and roads. They want to see work on Turpentine Run, Four Winds-Cassi Hill, Weymouth Rhymer Highway and Long Bay Road from Alton Adams to The justice complex. 04/30/97 8:55 AM
Seaborne Aviation has Top Credentials.
The FAA has awarded its 121 Certification upon Seaborne Aviation – the certificate means that Seaborne is operating with the top of the line staff, equipment and avionics. Seaborne is expanding from its current operation between Yacht Haven St. Thomas and King’s Alley St. Croix to include the British Virgin Islands and San Juan.
CTO Says EcoTourisam is the Future
The Caribbean Tourism Organization is preparing for their annual meeting and the focus of the discussion will be sustainable development and eco-tourism. The conference is coming up May 21-24 in Dominica. The natural beauty of the Caribbean islands and preserving that beauty for tourism is the conference theme.
Remember to Thank the Clean Up Crew
Carnival Came and went and there are some more heroes to thank. Did you think about the mess in the streets Carnival leaves behind. Well Public Works didn’t forget,. Senator Smokey Frett has a big thank you to Lando “Catcho” Gabriel and the whole crew from Dept. of Public Works who hauled away all the debris of the parades. 04/29/97 4:28 PM
May is Tourism Month
May 4th through the 10th is National Tourism Week in the Virgin Islands. We have the 3rd Annual Governor’s Tourism Conference on Monday May 5th. On Tuesday May 6th 75 elementary school students will be tourists for a day and it will be Hospitality Employee Day. Wednesday is National Tourist Appreciation Day. Thursday May 8 the Hotel Association hosts a half day seminar on hospitality industry and on Friday May9th there is dancing in the streets and art in the alleys as downtown opens up from 1:00 PM – to 10:00 PM – for a evening extravaganza.
Alicia “Chucky” Hansen Introduces Revenue Bill
Senator Hansen says we need to rethink how we market our islands. Our booth at the SeaTrade convention had a bad attitude, and dead presentations. She wants all the hotel taxes to go to better marketing and advertising. She also found a new source of revenue. We charge a hotel tax, but people who own time share rooms do not pay use and occupancy taxes. Hansen says we need a new revenue stream. 04/29/97 9:31 AM.
Recycle Batteries – CellOne Leading the Way
Cellular One is starting a cell battery recycling program on St. Thomas. For every cell phone battery brought in, CellOne will donate $2 to Boys and Girls Clubs in the Virgin Islands. Drop off points include CellOne offices in Crown Bay and AT&T offices in Havensight. If you recycle batteries, CellOne will also give you a discount on new batteries too. 04/29/97
Enhighed Pond or Not St. John Needs a Pier
Maybe the St. John pier won’t won’t be at Enhighed Pond. The Governor says there must be alternatives to keep a pier project alive on St. John. Perhaps they can scale back the idea of a 1000 foot pier, or use Federal transpiration funds, or do less dredging or use a different location. At the same time, the St. Thomas bulkhead safety has been questioned. The Governor called for an engineering study of the bulkhead, an end to parking on the waterfront apron and he wants areas designated where it is safe for trucks to unload ships on the bulkhead.
Don’t Drink while Pregnant.
Poorly educated women who drink too much alcohol during pregnancy are the leading cause of preventable mental retardation. To reach more low education women, the Council on Alcoholism and Drug dependency has created a new educational program using picture books and comics. 7 times more women drink alcohol during pregnancy than use marijuana and 17 times as many drink as use cocaine.
Important Notes:
Chase Foundation Neighborhood Grant up to $1000 are available to all 501©3 non-profit organizations for community development. Deadline is June 6th. The Bennie and Martha Benjamin Foundation has scholarships for students in the medical fields like midwifery, physical therapy, medical technology and medical school. Call Mrs. Jackson at 778-4711 4th Annual Kon Tiki Fund Raiser for the Schneider Hospital – Sponsors include WSTA, Delta Airlines, the Hospital staff, Windkeeper Communication A.H. Riise and Sherring Plough Pharmaceutical Co. – Music by the Starlites Band Call 776-8311 Do you have a young person in your home who wants to learn to dive? There is a free summer diving class on all three big islands beginning May 17th through June 21st. There is an advanced open water class to follow the introduction class. Call 776-2381.
Big Thank You
Fire Service Director Carlton Dowe has more thanks for the people who fought the Hassel Island fire. He thanked General Jean Romney and the National Guard, and for the folks in Dept. Housing Parks and Recreation who kept the lights on in Griffin Park to light the work area, Big thanks to Boyson Inc, Sea Hustler and Mary G for providing barge services. And thanks to the St. John Firefighters who came from that island to help put out the Hassel island fire.
And there is a Big Thank You here from the Fire Service of St. Thomas to the Fire Service of St. Croix. We know you have been fighting brush fires for the last three days and the folks on St. Thomas and St. John send their congratulations for a job well done in a professional manner Good Work on St. Croix.
Remember to Thank the Clean Up Crew
Carnival Came and went and there are some more heroes to thank. Did you think about the mess in the streets Carnival leaves behind. Well Public Works didn’t forget,. Senator Smokey Frett has a big thank you to Lando “Catcho” Gabriel and the whole crew from Dept. of Public Works who hauled away all the debris of the parades. 04/29/97 4:28 PM
Water Island Report
John Auer is taking a trip and left Water island today bound for the real world. Nothing else happened on Water-less island.