St. Croix This Weektag:www.stcroixthisweek.com,2010://202010-08-06T08:38:05ZMovable Type 3.35Skywatchtag:www.stcroixthisweek.com,2010://20.32232010-07-27T15:50:05Z2010-08-06T08:38:05Z Once the Virgin Island Sun sets and the sky grows dark, high overhead you will find three bright stars are dominating the sky. Since these three form a large triangle which is visible during the Summer months, up North,...
Once the Virgin Island Sun sets and the sky grows dark, high overhead you will find three bright stars are dominating the sky. Since these three form a large triangle which is visible during the Summer months, up North, they are called the Summer Triangle. Each bright star marks a different, star group or constellation. Brightest and highest in the sky is Vega, in Lyra the Harp. In mythology this is the harp invented by Hermes, which Mercury gave to Orpheus, the musician who joined Jason and the Argonauts. On another occasion Orpheus took his into the infernal regions and charmed Pluto, king of Hades, with the music of his harp to win back his lost bride Eurydice.
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To the South of Vega is the bright star Altair, in Aquila, the Eagle. The eagle was the bird of Zeus and is often represented carrying aloft the young boy Ganymede. Aquila was also known as the bird of Jove and the bearer of his thunder. Whatever the legend, it is impossible to take the fainter stars that join with Altair and really make an Eagle out of this part of the heavens. Deneb is the third bright star and is to the east of Vega and Altair. Deneb and marks the tail of Cygnus, the Swan.
Perhaps you can see a Swan here. Faint stars form the Swan's body and long neck and others the bird's wings. One myth states that the Swan represents Orpheus, who was slain by Bacchus. However Orpheus' music was so wonderful that he was changed into a Swan and placed in the heavens near his beloved harp.
Cygnus is flying south along a hazy band of light. This is the light from billions of stars so far away that you cannot see each one as a point of light. This is the Milky Way, our city of stars in the universe. Follow the band toward the south and you come to Sagittarius, the Archer. Sagittarius really looks like a teapot! You can see a small triangle of stars which forms the lid, the pot itself, Sagittarius' curved arm is the pot's handle and there is even a spout! When you look toward Sagittarius you are looking to the center of the Milky Way. Sagittarius is firing his arrow at Scorpius, the Scorpion.
The Scorpion's heart is marked by the bright red star Antares. Fainter stars form the Scorpion's body and long curved tail. According to legend, Orion was a mighty hunter. Orion boasted that he could defeat any animal on Earth in battle. Suddenly a scorpion appeared, stung Orion on the foot and Orion died. But, Orion was such a great hunter that he was placed in the sky; as was the scorpion. However, you never see Orion and the Scorpion in the sky at the same time.
On September 21st the Solar System's largest planet, Jupiter, will be at Opposition; directly opposite the Sun as seen from the Earth and also its closest approach to Earth. Jupiter will rise about 9:30 p.m. and will be as big and bright as it gets in the night sky. Wait an hour or so for it to climb higher in the eastern sky and you will easily spot this bright planet.
In the northern hemisphere Autumn begins on September 22nd. On October 22nd Comet Hartley 2 will make its closest approach to Earth, coming within "only" 11.2 million miles. For a few days around October 20th, the comet may be bright enough to view with the naked eye. Look to the east just before sunrise.
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Elle's Creative Touchtag:www.stcroixthisweek.com,2010://20.32222010-07-27T15:31:11Z2010-07-27T15:36:23ZElle's Creative Touch - 513-4879, 772-0975 Specializing in handmade soaps, body lotions, and body scrubs, all our products are made on St. Croix with natural ingredients and scents like Mango, Papaya, Ginger, Coconut, Lime and Lemongrass. We also design our...
Elle's Creative Touch - 513-4879, 772-0975
Specializing in handmade soaps, body lotions, and body scrubs, all our products are made on St. Croix with natural ingredients and scents like Mango, Papaya, Ginger, Coconut, Lime and Lemongrass. We also design our own totes and baskets with tags, to carry them in or all-occasion cards to go inside! For that very special local, island made birthday, anniversary, or anytime gift to take off island with a tropical touch, give us a call. Open Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. or visit us at 57B Smithfield, Frederiksted (turn right at the Boys and Girls Club next to the new Medicine Shoppe on Centerline and I’m down 3 blocks on the right on Percy Gardine Street). New location in
October!
www.ellescreativetouch.comSt. Croix Map #66, F'sted Map #8]]>
Real Estate: Window of Opportunitytag:www.stcroixthisweek.com,2010://20.32212010-07-27T14:44:41Z2010-08-06T08:39:30Z Julie San Martin -- ReMax St. Croix The US Virgin Islands real estate market is unlike the US real estate market in one important respect - limited inventory. Consequently, real estate ownership in the USVI an effective tool for...Julie San Martin -- ReMax St. Croix
The US Virgin Islands real estate market is unlike the US real estate market in one important respect - limited inventory. Consequently, real estate ownership in the USVI an effective tool for wealth preservation.
2010 is one of these windows of opportunity. Inventories have begun to level off and the number of closed sales is increasing. Buyers will get their best deals on St. Croix real estate - homes, condos, and land - during the next 12 months. It's counterintuitive to buy when few others are, but a wise investment!
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Island Worshiptag:www.stcroixthisweek.com,2010://20.32202010-07-27T14:40:00Z2010-08-06T08:54:04Z The history of our island is mirrored in its old church structures, many of which have recently been restored. The Moravian brethren, arriving here in the 1730s from Saxony in today's Germany, founded their mission to bring Christianity to...The history of our island is mirrored in its old church structures, many of which have recently been restored. The Moravian brethren, arriving here in the 1730s from Saxony in today's Germany, founded their mission to bring Christianity to the enslaved part of the population. Their handsome yellow buildings at the entrance to Christiansted and red-roofed white wooden church midisland, along with a contemporary church in Frederiksted, attest to their continued importance. The historic Anglican (Episcopalian) churches built in Gothic style include St. John's in Christiansted, and in Frederiksted the beautifully restored St. Paul's church, which had been damaged by a fire in 1996. These and other Anglican churches bear witness to the large English population which settled here (and also brought us our custom of left lane driving.
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Mt. Washington Labyrinthtag:www.stcroixthisweek.com,2010://20.32192010-07-27T14:35:45Z2010-08-06T09:10:26Z For centuries, labyrinths have held great spiritual significance. Now everyone, from medical professionals to religious leaders, is touting the healing effects of these intricate walkways. The labyrinth's coiled patterns have been found on pottery and clay tablets dating back...
For centuries, labyrinths have held great spiritual significance. Now everyone, from medical professionals to religious leaders, is touting the healing effects of these intricate walkways.
The labyrinth's coiled patterns have been found on pottery and clay tablets dating back 4000 years. The oldest existing labyrinth of medieval design is in Chartres, France, built around 1200 in the floor of Chartres Cathedral.
Labyrinths were a form of pilgrimage for some; people walked the path, ascending toward enlightenment. Many could not afford to travel to holy sites so labyrinths and prayer substituted for such travel. Later, the religious significance of labyrinths faded though recently their spiritual aspect has seen a resurgence.
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There are now around 3000 labyrinths in the US on the grounds of hospitals, hospices, schools, churches, prisons, and private homes. They have become a popular way for people of all faiths to achieve both spiritual and physical health. Nancy Ayer, owner and designer of this Medieval Chartres-Style, 7 Circuit Labyrinth, says "The Mt. Washington Labyrinth is an ancient, sacred space built to bless, heal, and restore the land as well as all who walk her path. Something this profound cannot be kept to oneself; it must be shared with the world. The plantation ruins offer visitors a tranquil backdrop for peace and contemplation."
Open every day, year-round. Mt. Washington Plantation is located 2 miles North of Frederiksted. The labyrinth gate is to the left when you reach the property and the parking lot.
Rum and Revolution, Part 2tag:www.stcroixthisweek.com,2010://20.32182010-07-27T14:26:41Z2010-08-06T09:20:10Z Part 10 in a series Excerpts from "Divers Information on The Romantic History of St. Croix" by Florence Lewison, 1963, St. Croix Landmarks Society. In 1773 Europe was in another of its states of tension over quarrels between various...
Part 10 in a series
Excerpts from "Divers Information on The Romantic History of St. Croix" by Florence Lewison, 1963, St. Croix Landmarks Society.
In 1773 Europe was in another of its states of tension over quarrels between various combinations of nations. The price of sugar fell, the coffee market crashed in Germany and a general slump culminated in England's trying to enforce the Tea Tax in the colonies. That was the year of the Boston Tea Party, which in any preceding year might just as well have been a molasses or rum party. It led to the outbreak of actual fighting in 1775.
England promptly switched from French brandy to West Indian rum for its navy, and the French began their unofficial aid to the northern colonies. In the West Indies the smuggling went right on.
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Rum and Revolution, Part 1]]>
Lionfish be Gone!tag:www.stcroixthisweek.com,2010://20.32172010-07-27T14:21:04Z2010-08-06T09:22:54Z First of all, please know that Lionfish are NOT harmful to you - just the environment! They do have venomous spines, however, so you don't want to touch them or any other fish for that matter. That being said,...
First of all, please know that Lionfish are NOT harmful to you - just the environment! They do have venomous spines, however, so you don't want to touch them or any other fish for that matter. That being said, we could use your help with the USVI Lionfish Removal Effort!
The Indo-Pacific Lionfish is a beautiful, dramatically colored, striped fish, with a bit of an attitude. It is often stationary, resting against rocks or under coral ledges allowing you to get a close view of it. Unfortunately the Indo-Pacific Lionfish is invasive and harmful to the environment. The Lionfish have been documented eating an average of 85% of the juvenile fish on a reef in a 5-week period. They are also prolific breeders - Lionfish have been observed breeding every month of the year; a single adult female can release over 30,000 eggs as often as every 4 days!]]>
As bleak as this sounds we have discovered a weakness! Once they have settled and there is ample food (our local fish do not know the Lionfish is a predator), and there is no competition with other Lionfish (at current population levels), and there are no predators (except for us), there is no reason for them to move. This allowed us to develop a simple Lionfish Marker that everyone can carry with them while snorkeling or diving. This low tech but highly effective site- marking tool consists of a strip of plastic survey tape with a wine cork at one end and a metal washer at the other. When released, the washer sinks to the bottom while the cork rises creating a visual beacon that is easily seen from all sides of a coral head.
This means that when a Lionfish is spotted, marked and reported, a trained group of collectors can quickly and efficiently remove the Lionfish from the water. We'd like to make every dive, snorkel, and swim a Lionfish "spotting and marking opportunity" with everyone on or in the water carrying one of our Lionfish Markers. With your help searching for Lionfish and supporting the Lionfish Response Program, we can reduce and manage the impact of this invasion. There is a group of divers that do Lionfish dives weekly and Dive Experience does a Lionfish search each month in Buck Island National Park.
What To Do If You See a Lionfish: Mark the location with a cork streamer, take a GPS reading if possible, and report the sighting immediately. Cork streamers are available from the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) by calling 643-0800. Remember, the Lionfish is not harmful to nor is it interested in you, just the environment!
Kendrick'stag:www.stcroixthisweek.com,2010://20.32162010-07-27T14:19:29Z2010-07-27T14:20:02Z
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Cover Artist Toni Lance: For the Love of Birdstag:www.stcroixthisweek.com,2010://20.32152010-07-27T14:15:16Z2010-08-06T09:26:19Z Toni writes, "I have been a permanent resident on St Croix for 30 years, painting and looking after birds. Originally growing up in Laguna Beach, California, I had a tremendous love of birds and photography from an early age....Toni writes, "I have been a permanent resident on St Croix for 30 years, painting and looking after birds. Originally growing up in Laguna Beach, California, I had a tremendous love of birds and photography from an early age. I was fortunate enough to be given a scholarship for college in that area from the Laguna Festival of Arts. For two years, at Humboldt State, I studied Photography and Wildlife Management. I was good at drawing and painting and the photography equipment was expensive, so I spent the next two years at Long Beach State studying Biomedical Illustration. That is really where I had my training for the detail and rendering. There I was being trained to paint human subjects and worked often with cadavers, but my passion was entirely birds and animal subjects.
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After college I spent the next few years painting detailed watercolors of birds, learned taxidermy and checked out stuffed birds from natural history museums. My paintings showed every detail of the feathers and my watercolors were very tight.
In 1980, I came to visit St Croix and like many others, I loved it and moved here. Continuing to paint birds, my subjects also became the local architecture, people and flora. I was honored to be asked by the British Philatelic Bureau in 1986 to paint two series of postage stamps. The History of Rum Making for the BVI's and Birds of Prey for St. Vincent. Also during this time, I traveled a bit and painted watercolors of Africa, Greece, Yugoslavia, and Costa Rica.
Having shown my art in the Virgin Islands, California, New York, Florida and Arizona, I now primarily have an annual one woman show at the Walsh Metal Works Gallery. I was thrilled to have recently been a featured artist in the Spring issue of American Artist Watercolor magazine this year. I am presently making a stab at illustrating and writing a book. On birds of course!"
We're thrilled with Toni's two covers for August and September and grateful for her story, "Oh, To Be a Pelican!".]]>
Oh, To Be a Pelican!tag:www.stcroixthisweek.com,2010://20.32142010-07-27T14:07:03Z2010-08-06T09:27:31Z By Toni Lance When the water is clear, the fish can see you and on a rough day, you can't see them. There are times when you see no fish at all. There are the storms, when you either...By Toni Lance
When the water is clear, the fish can see you and on a rough day, you can't see them. There are times when you see no fish at all. There are the storms, when you either stay tucked on the ground or soar with the high breeze that might take you far from home. And then there are those days, when the wind is perfect and you and your friends are drafting each other low over the water and you spot the ideal fishing ground. The day is spent flying high, circling, diving, crashing, splashing, stuffing yourself with fresh fish, sunning, preening, and relaxing. Oh to be a pelican.
The Brown pelican is the smallest of the eight species of pelicans. With a wingspan of 6-8 feet, it is the only pelican that dives for fish from the air. The most distinguishing feature of the pelican is its long beak with a hooked tip and a huge gular or pouch. The Brown pelican weighs 6-12lbs and needs to consume about 4lbs of fish a day. With acute eyesight, the pelican dives for medium-sized bait fish, locally in the Virgin Islands called sprat or fry. The birds acrobatically dive from as high as 60 feet above the water to scoop up fish and as much as 30 gallons of water into their gular. As they lift their heads out of the water, the flexible pouch drains and they throw their head back to swallow the catch.
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Brown pelicans can live 30-40 years. It is a myth that they go blind and die from repetitive diving. But they could go blind from Botulism or eating rotten or poisonous fish. This is one of the many threats to the birds. Others include serious tears to the gular from fishing hooks, becoming snared and tangled in abandoned fishing line, flying into overhead wires, human encroachment of nesting sites and, of course, OIL.
The Brown pelican was declared endangered in 1970 after almost plummeting to the brink of extinction after populations were decimated by the use of the pesticide DDT. Just last fall in November of 2009, they were removed from the Federal Endangered Species list. It is hoped that the Gulf oil spill does not cause it to go back on the list. The Brown pelican is prevalent along the coasts of California, Oregon and Washington. Being the Louisiana State bird, it is in large numbers along the Gulf, presently breeding and nesting in Florida to Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We are very lucky in the Virgin Islands to be able to enjoy this prehistoric looking, yet remarkable bird. It is everyone's delight to see groups of pelicans at sunset traveling single file low over the water surface. We take for granted the thrilling site of pelicans one after another tucking their wings and diving straight into the sea. Personally, I could spend hours enjoying a pelican sitting on a post, preening and fluffing his feathers or with his head turned backwards resting.
What can you do to help the Brown pelican? If you are fishing and a pelican gets caught on your fish hook, DO NOT CUT THE LINE. Reel in the bird carefully and take out the hook or call a wildlife expert for help. If you see an injured pelican in the Virgin Islands, call the local animal shelter or Fish and Wildlife or The St. Croix Avian Sanctuary bird rehab center 340- 773-1839. And if you want to help the Brown pelican in the Gulf, give to Tristate Bird Rescue or IBRRC (International Bird Rescue and Rehabilitation Center). They are on the front lines in trying to save the oiled pelicans.]]>
Run Crab, Run!tag:www.stcroixthisweek.com,2010://20.32132010-07-27T13:58:41Z2010-07-27T14:01:58Z Be sure to catch the Crab Races, a popular local event featured several evenings per week at waterfront restaurants (check the Events Calendar for times and locations). Fun for adults and children alike, it's a great opportunity to get...
Be sure to catch the Crab Races, a popular local event featured several evenings per week at waterfront restaurants (check the Events Calendar for times and locations). Fun for adults and children alike, it's a great opportunity to get out and mingle, enjoy Happy Hour, and win some terrific prizes. Participating is simple: Examine the basket of hermit crabs ( there are all shapes and sizes), choose one that looks fast, and decide on a good "racing name" for your entrant. At the sound of the horn (or in this case a kazoo) the crabs are off and running to the cheers of the crowd! With several heats and lots of winners, it's good island-style fun!]]>
Sea Turtlestag:www.stcroixthisweek.com,2010://20.32122010-07-27T13:53:58Z2010-08-06T09:28:52Z By Claudia Lombard Sea turtles are among the largest living reptiles. They spend almost their entire lives at sea, have scales and a bony shell (except leatherbacks), are cold blooded, breathe air, and lay their eggs on land. The...By Claudia Lombard
Sea turtles are among the largest living reptiles. They spend almost their entire lives at sea, have scales and a bony shell (except leatherbacks), are cold blooded, breathe air, and lay their eggs on land. The earliest known sea turtle fossil dates back to 150 million years ago! St. Croix is home to four species of sea turtle. The leatherback, hawksbill, green and loggerhead sea turtle are found nesting on the beaches and swimming in the waters of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Leatherback sea turtles are the largest sea turtle; females nesting on St. Croix average 6-800 lbs and the largest male ever recorded was more than 2000 lbs! After nesting in the tropics, leatherbacks migrate to the North Atlantic; a satellite transmitter was attached to a St. Croix nester and she was documented traveling all the way to Nova Scotia! Scientists have estimated that leatherbacks could be extinct within 10 to 15 years based on current levels of population decline.
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Green turtles have been documented holding their breath for up to five hours - this is at a resting state. Loggerhead sea turtles are named for their relatively massive, block-like head.
Loggerheads are the most common nesting sea turtle in the southeastern U.S. but are very rarely seen in the USVI.
During the peak nesting season, which in the USVI occurs between March and October female turtles crawl ashore to lay their eggs on our sandy beaches. Females use their front flippers to excavate body pits and fling the upper layer of dry sand away. Next, with their bodies in this pit, they use their rear flippers to dig an egg chamber in the moist sand. Depending on the species, the female will deposit approximately 80 to 150 eggs into the chamber, cover the eggs with sand and return to the sea.
The eggs incubate in the sandy nest for approximately 2 months. The sea turtle hatchlings crawl to the surface of the sand and then when the sunsets and the sand cools the hatchlings race to the sea. As adults, hatchlings have very few predators but as hatchlings they are very susceptible to many terrestrial and marine predators. Hatchlings spend several days swimming far offshore to drift lines where they can rest, eat and grow.
All four sea turtle species found nesting on the beaches and swimming in the waters of the U.S. Virgin Islands are designated as threatened or endangered and are protected by the Endangered Species Act. Some of the more serious threats facing sea turtles include loss of nesting habitat to coastal development, poaching of sea turtles and their eggs, artificial lighting on or adjacent to beaches, incidental take of turtles during commercial fishing activities, ingestion of and entanglement in marine debris, and beach erosion and increased sand temperatures caused by climate change.
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Eat Fresh, Buy Local - A Farmer's Directorytag:www.stcroixthisweek.com,2010://20.31232010-05-27T18:18:14Z2010-05-27T13:41:38Z ARTfarm, LLC - 514-4873 Saturdays, 9-11am (beginning Jan. 2) St. Croix Map #11 Organic sweet local tomatoes, salads, herbs, veggies, and a new farm have sprouted on the South Shore. All new farmstand, art gallery, gardens, rain catchment ponds,...
ARTfarm, LLC - 514-4873
Saturdays, 9-11am (beginning Jan. 2) St. Croix Map #11
Organic sweet local tomatoes, salads, herbs, veggies, and a new farm have sprouted on the South Shore. All new farmstand, art gallery, gardens, rain catchment ponds, and livestock and sculpture gardens! During construction, farmer/artist Luca Gasperi plans to continue supplying customers with the highest quality fresh produce. www.ARTfarmLLC.com]]>
Creque Dam Farm - 473-3155
St. Croix Map #17
Home to the Virgin Islands Sustainable Farm Institute, Creque Dam Farm is doing its part to keep local farmers off the virtual endangered species list with farming courses for school children and adults. They also offer VI Locally Grown, a Wednesday produce pick-up system where you can purchase directly from chemicalfree and organic farmers through www.vi.locallygrown.net. Growers post their ripening produce to the site on Sunday then you can buy online Monday and Tuesday. The produce is picked only after it is sold to ensure freshness for the customer and reliability for the farmer.
La Reine Farmers' Market - 778-0998
7-3pm every Saturday St. Croix Map #20
Up to 45 farmers rise early to meet the early crowds at this colorful marketplace run by the Department of Agriculture. Stock up on potted and dried herbs, carrots, yams, collard greens, lettuce, beets, thyme, parsley, chives, mango, avocado, eggfruit, guava, okra, pumpkin, arugula, Chinese cabbage, and Soursop and more. Look for homemade jams, jellies, chutney tarts, pies, cakes, and local juices plus potted plants and fruit trees.
Tropics Hydroponics Farm - 227-5546
Monday-Friday, 8-12 noon Saturday mornings, La Reine Market St.Croix Map #13 Owned and run by Brian McCulough, this farm specializes in growing high quality Bib lettuce as well as beefsteak and cluster vine ripened tomatoes. They use no soil - only feeding well water nutrition to all of their plants...well water that has been purified through reverse osmosis, ph balanced and enriched with a special blend of nutrients!
VI Farmers' Cooperative - 643-4354
7-3pm every Saturday St. Croix Map #12
The goal of this 78-member Cooperative is to revive the agriculture industry by pooling farmers' produce for a more consistent supply of locally grown food. Located at Estate Grange across from the VI Health & Fitness Center, they plan to create a permanent farmers' market open six days a week giving the community and farmers a steady headquarters for buying and selling.]]>
Skywatchtag:www.stcroixthisweek.com,2010://20.31992010-05-27T14:07:08Z2010-05-27T14:11:32Z While visiting the Virgin Islands you will be able to see five planets. When the western sky is just turning dark after sunset, the first star-like object to appear will be the very bright, white planet Venus. Sunlight reflects...
While visiting the Virgin Islands you will be able to see five planets. When the western sky is just turning dark after sunset, the first star-like object to appear will be the very bright, white planet Venus. Sunlight reflects off of Venus' clouds and since the planet is so relatively close to Earth, it is very bright. In fact, Venus is the third brightest object in the sky after the Sun and the Moon. Since it is so bright, as its light passes through the atmosphere around the Earth the air breaks the white light up and Venus can be seen to seem to change color from white, to re, to blue. With this effect, and being so bright, Venus is the celestial object most often reported as a UFO.
Once the sky grows dark, look high in the west for a bright red star-like object. Not as bright as Venus, but definitely red. This is the planet Mars. Nearby Mars you will find a bright red-orange star, not as bright as Mars. This is Regulus, the brightest star in Leo, the Lion. Regulus is the period at the base of a backwards question mark. The top of the question marks forms the lion's head. A little higher in the sky a triangle made of fainter stars forms the lion's hind quarters and tail.
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Around 2:00 a.m. Jupiter will rise in the east. Wait a few hours for Jupiter to climb higher in the sky and the largest of all the planets will be easy to locate.
So, Venus: bright in the west just after sunset; Mars: high in the west once the sky grows dark; Saturn: high in the east; and, Jupiter in the early morning hours. What about the fifth planet? You see it all the time - the Earth! The night of May 5th-6th is the maximum of the Eta Aquarid meteor show. This is not one of the better meteor showers to see, so you may not want to stay up until between mid-night and dawn to see perhaps ten meteors, or shooting stars, per hour.]]>
Real Estatetag:www.stcroixthisweek.com,2010://20.31982010-05-27T13:48:00Z2010-05-27T13:49:34Z A historical perspective of the development of St. Croix after 1917 shows a pattern of an island that gets discovered, goes through a period of growth, and then seems to go to sleep only to be rediscovered again. This...
A historical perspective of the development of St. Croix after 1917 shows a pattern of an island that gets discovered, goes through a period of growth, and then seems to go to sleep only to be rediscovered again. This pattern dates back to the late 1930's and 40's with the migration of people from Vieques and Puerto Rico. The island then went quiet until the late 1950's when the Grapetree Bay Hotel was built and the tourism market was born. Thru the 1960's hotels and condos were being built from East to West like Grapetree Beach, St. Croix by the Sea, Queens Quarter, Mill Harbor, Sugar Beach, The Reef, Gentle Winds, Sunset Beach and Granada Del Mar. By the early 1970's, St. Croix started suffering from growing pains and, with the US economy on a downturn, the island seemed forgotten by the travel industry. Fortunately, during the 1960's, the Harvey Aluminum Plant and the Hess Oil Refinery were built adding to the existing Cruzan Rum Plant giving the island some diversity in its economy.
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Then in the mid 1980's, Carambola Beach Resort was built and the island was again rediscovered. Over the next four years, developers flocked in and purchased most of the development land that was available and several projects seemed imminent. From condo projects on the West End to hotel developments on the South Shore, St. Croix was the hot spot in the Caribbean. Tourists were buying land for future building, retirees were buying their dream home, and investors gobbled up the condos. Then in September 1989, Hurricane Hugo made a direct hit on the island and it took two years to rebuild and recover. But again, the US economy had gone flat and St. Croix became the forgotten island once again. In 1995 St. Croix got a boost in exposure when Hurricane Marilyn hit St. Thomas and St. Martin and cruise ships were forced to call on St. Croix. Even with this exposure, the real estate market was slow.
Then in the late 1990's and early 2000's the cruise ship industry stopped calling on St. Croix but a tax benefit program brought new blood to the island. From1998 thru 2005 the market continued to grow and hit new heights. The US economy was booming and buyers were taking advantage of low interest rates. By 2006, things began to slow down and the market started to drop but as has happened time and time again, the cruise ships started to come back to the island and a whole new group of tourists are rediscovering St. Croix. Once the US economy improves, St. Croix will again see another boom of real estate activity.
-- Hamilton Real Estate
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The history of our island is mirrored in its old church structures, many of which have recently been restored. The Moravian brethren, arriving here in the 1730s from Saxony in today's Germany, founded their mission to bring Christianity to the enslaved part of the population. Their handsome yellow buildings at the entrance to Christiansted and red-roofed white wooden church midisland, along with a contemporary church in Frederiksted, attest to their continued importance. The historic Anglican (Episcopalian) churches built in Gothic style include St. John's in Christiansted, and in Frederiksted the beautifully restored St. Paul's church, which had been damaged by a fire in 1996. These and other Anglican churches bear witness to the large English population which settled here (and also brought us our custom of left lane driving.
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The Indo-Pacific Lionfish is a beautiful, dramatically colored, striped fish, with a bit of an attitude. It is often stationary, resting against rocks or under coral ledges allowing you to get a close view of it. Unfortunately the Indo-Pacific Lionfish is invasive and harmful to the environment. The Lionfish have been documented eating an average of 85% of the juvenile fish on a reef in a 5-week period. They are also prolific breeders - Lionfish have been observed breeding every month of the year; a single adult female can release over 30,000 eggs as often as every 4 days!]]>
As bleak as this sounds we have discovered a weakness! Once they have settled and there is ample food (our local fish do not know the Lionfish is a predator), and there is no competition with other Lionfish (at current population levels), and there are no predators (except for us), there is no reason for them to move. This allowed us to develop a simple Lionfish Marker that everyone can carry with them while snorkeling or diving. This low tech but highly effective site- marking tool consists of a strip of plastic survey tape with a wine cork at one end and a metal washer at the other. When released, the washer sinks to the bottom while the cork rises creating a visual beacon that is easily seen from all sides of a coral head.
This means that when a Lionfish is spotted, marked and reported, a trained group of collectors can quickly and efficiently remove the Lionfish from the water. We'd like to make every dive, snorkel, and swim a Lionfish "spotting and marking opportunity" with everyone on or in the water carrying one of our Lionfish Markers. With your help searching for Lionfish and supporting the Lionfish Response Program, we can reduce and manage the impact of this invasion. There is a group of divers that do Lionfish dives weekly and Dive Experience does a Lionfish search each month in Buck Island National Park.
What To Do If You See a Lionfish: Mark the location with a cork streamer, take a GPS reading if possible, and report the sighting immediately. Cork streamers are available from the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) by calling 643-0800. Remember, the Lionfish is not harmful to nor is it interested in you, just the environment!
Toni writes, "I have been a permanent resident on St Croix for 30 years, painting and looking after birds. Originally growing up in Laguna Beach, California, I had a tremendous love of birds and photography from an early age. I was fortunate enough to be given a scholarship for college in that area from the Laguna Festival of Arts. For two years, at Humboldt State, I studied Photography and Wildlife Management. I was good at drawing and painting and the photography equipment was expensive, so I spent the next two years at Long Beach State studying Biomedical Illustration. That is really where I had my training for the detail and rendering. There I was being trained to paint human subjects and worked often with cadavers, but my passion was entirely birds and animal subjects.
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After college I spent the next few years painting detailed watercolors of birds, learned taxidermy and checked out stuffed birds from natural history museums. My paintings showed every detail of the feathers and my watercolors were very tight.
In 1980, I came to visit St Croix and like many others, I loved it and moved here. Continuing to paint birds, my subjects also became the local architecture, people and flora. I was honored to be asked by the British Philatelic Bureau in 1986 to paint two series of postage stamps. The History of Rum Making for the BVI's and Birds of Prey for St. Vincent. Also during this time, I traveled a bit and painted watercolors of Africa, Greece, Yugoslavia, and Costa Rica.
Having shown my art in the Virgin Islands, California, New York, Florida and Arizona, I now primarily have an annual one woman show at the Walsh Metal Works Gallery. I was thrilled to have recently been a featured artist in the Spring issue of American Artist Watercolor magazine this year. I am presently making a stab at illustrating and writing a book. On birds of course!"
We're thrilled with Toni's two covers for August and September and grateful for her story, "Oh, To Be a Pelican!".]]>
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Owned and run by Brian McCulough, this farm specializes in growing high quality Bib lettuce as well as beefsteak and cluster vine ripened tomatoes. They use no soil - only feeding well water nutrition to all of their plants...well water that has been purified through reverse osmosis, ph balanced and enriched with a special blend of nutrients!
VI Farmers' Cooperative - 643-4354
7-3pm every Saturday
St. Croix Map #12
The goal of this 78-member Cooperative is to revive the agriculture industry by pooling farmers' produce for a more consistent supply of locally grown food. Located at Estate Grange across from the VI Health & Fitness Center, they plan to create a permanent farmers' market open six days a week giving the community and farmers a steady headquarters for buying and selling.]]>
So, Venus: bright in the west just after sunset; Mars: high in the west once the sky grows dark; Saturn: high in the east; and, Jupiter in the early morning hours. What about the fifth planet? You see it all the time - the Earth! The night of May 5th-6th is the maximum of the Eta Aquarid meteor show. This is not one of the better meteor showers to see, so you may not want to stay up until between mid-night and dawn to see perhaps ten meteors, or shooting stars, per hour.]]>
A historical perspective of the development of St. Croix after 1917 shows a pattern of an island that gets discovered, goes through a period of growth, and then seems to go to sleep only to be rediscovered again. This pattern dates back to the late 1930's and 40's with the migration of people from Vieques and Puerto Rico. The island then went quiet until the late 1950's when the Grapetree Bay Hotel was built and the tourism market was born. Thru the 1960's hotels and condos were being built from East to West like Grapetree Beach, St. Croix by the Sea, Queens Quarter, Mill Harbor, Sugar Beach, The Reef, Gentle Winds, Sunset Beach and Granada Del Mar. By the early 1970's, St. Croix started suffering from growing pains and, with the US economy on a downturn, the island seemed forgotten by the travel industry. Fortunately, during the 1960's, the Harvey Aluminum Plant and the Hess Oil Refinery were built adding to the existing Cruzan Rum Plant giving the island some diversity in its economy.
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Then in the mid 1980's, Carambola Beach Resort was built and the island was again rediscovered. Over the next four years, developers flocked in and purchased most of the development land that was available and several projects seemed imminent. From condo projects on the West End to hotel developments on the South Shore, St. Croix was the hot spot in the Caribbean. Tourists were buying land for future building, retirees were buying their dream home, and investors gobbled up the condos. Then in September 1989, Hurricane Hugo made a direct hit on the island and it took two years to rebuild and recover. But again, the US economy had gone flat and St. Croix became the forgotten island once again. In 1995 St. Croix got a boost in exposure when Hurricane Marilyn hit St. Thomas and St. Martin and cruise ships were forced to call on St. Croix. Even with this exposure, the real estate market was slow.
Then in the late 1990's and early 2000's the cruise ship industry stopped calling on St. Croix but a tax benefit program brought new blood to the island. From1998 thru 2005 the market continued to grow and hit new heights. The US economy was booming and buyers were taking advantage of low interest rates. By 2006, things began to slow down and the market started to drop but as has happened time and time again, the cruise ships started to come back to the island and a whole new group of tourists are rediscovering St. Croix. Once the US economy improves, St. Croix will again see another boom of real estate activity.
-- Hamilton Real Estate