We spotted this plate as an avatar on the usvi-on-line forum and had to ask its owner about it. She is Jo Ann from Central Virginia, and she says she got this vanity plate only a month ago. This is a great example of how St. John can instantly get under your skin, because Jo Ann has only been to St. John twice (most recently in April.) But of course she has already made plans for the next trip. (If you’re reading this, you’re already terminally ill with St. Johnitis, so you understand.)
Does anybody in Virginia know what her plate means? “A few friends at work figured out what it means only because I talked about my vacation nonstop! I was a tad bit excited J ,” she says.
By the way, her favorite spot on St. John is Maho Bay.
St. John will get some attention in a forthcoming book by author Steve Bergsman, whose recent books include ”Maverick Real Estate Investing.” Steve, pictured here on the hunt for fixer-upper bargains on American Samoa, is writing a new book titled “Passport to Exotic Real Estate” about vacation home investments. Bergsman recently spent some time on St. John and says he was impressed with the island’s real estate offerings… and not surprised by the downturn in the real estate market on St. John.
“I suspect there will be weakness in St. John for another year or two,” he tells On-StJohn.com. “But great locations like St. John tend to get discovered all over again and prices start to appreciate in another round.” Bergsman, who says being a U.S. territory is what attracted hoards of investors to St. John after 2001, expects some discounting by St. John sellers in the near term, but says, “even if prices come down a bit, St. John is still not a cheap second home market.”
Bergman’s new book, which he says will include a chapter on the Virgin Islands and a section on St. John, is scheduled to be published in Spring 2008.
The Cruz Bay waters are safe again, and it had nothing to do with Sheriff Brody. Two of the three black tip sharks that have been entertaining some and freaking out others have been plucked from the water in the prime of their adolescence. One by a guy with a fishing pole who reeled it in and took it home for dinner. A second grabbed from the water by another fisherman who preferred the more straight-forward approach of a gaff hook.
Shark number three has apparently high-tailed it out of Cruz Bay. Kind of sad, isn’t it?
After promising St. John’s deputy police chief would be a St. John resident, the VIPD has given the Top Cop job to an officer who is not a St. John resident. The guy’s got great credentials, but he’s not a St. John resident.
The job goes to Sgt. Darren Foy, a 15 year law enforcement veteran, according to a VINP news release. Foy is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and most recently served on the St. Thomas-based Virgin Islands Safe Streets Task Force, part of the FBI’s violent gang task force initiative.
But he’s not a St. John resident. Maybe he plans to move to St. John.
St. John’s been without a deputy chief since Angelo Hill, a St. John resident, left the job six months ago. Hill, now working drug enforcement out of St. Thomas, held the top job in St. John for 12 years.
Okay, that’s not the name of this beach, but that’s about the best we could get out of anybody on the East End, who do call it Immigration Beach (and you can guess why they call it that.) We couldn’t find a name on a map, so if you know it, tell us. This is the beach on the SOUTH side of the road where Haulover Bay is to the NORTH. It’s between Lime Tree Cove and Hansen Bay. Consult your guide books and tell us what it’s called! This much is for sure: Nowhere on the island can you go from the Atlantic to the Caribbean Sea faster than this spot of road.
Look who showed up in Cruz Bay Sunday. The Gov made an appearance during this weekend’s Food Fare, making jokes and praising local event organizers. At this rate, John deJongh is going to have to get a monthly commuter pass for the barge over. (We are only 5 percent of the VI population, but he seems to have given St. John a fair share of attention in his first months in office.)
Sunday’s Food Fare leads up to the big event Thursday when the Festival Village opens in the parking lot downtown. Jouvert starts at 4 a.m. next Wednesday (did it once, too old to do it again) followed by fireworks Wednesday night. And lots of hangovers Thursday morning.
The three signs on the road in front of Donkey Diner in Coral Bay sum it up: Breakfast. Internet. Pizza. And if there were an entry in the Zagat Dining Guide, it would say “Come hungry.” In today’s On-StJohn TV Road Trip interview, meet the owners, British transplant Clare Bole and former Virginia wine salesman Doug Weaver. And find out what “Donkey Balls” are….below!
Governor John deJongh is doing twice monthly radio addresses, but you can hear them online as well. Gov. deJongh, 49, seems pretty hip. Since taking office, the Governor’s Website has been updated frequently, and even includes a link for public comments and ideas. (And if flags are flying half staff, you can find out why.)Anyway, the short radio addresses air every other Friday on 99.5 at 8am and at 11am during Roger Morgan’s Free Speech program. They also air on 102.9 on weekends. The first one’s on the Gov’s Website. Just click on “Listen Now.”
News of a proposed dock smack dab in the middle of beautiful White Bay has sparked anger, concern and an online petition against it that garnered thousands of signatures, largely from clout-wielding tourists. But White Bay businesses are equally as opposed. “I don’t think anything good would come of it,” Soggy Dollar Bar owner Jerry O’Connell tells On-StJohn.com. “My fear is that one dock would lead to another, and another and more commercial development.”
The dock would not be big enough for cruise ships, but rather intended for cruise ship launches that currently shuttle people into White Bay as far as they can, forcing passengers to jump into chest high water for the final swim to the beach (just like the rest of us.)
O’Connell, who bought Soggy Dollar in December 2005, says he is obviously opposed to it. “A large part of the appeal of White Bay is the noncommercial aspect of the beach, and that’s what attracts people to it. I’d appreciate those who feel the same way to make yourself heard.”
Tell Jerry what you think. Go here, and click on “contact us.” He says he’d love to get your email.
Cue up that Darth Vader Evil Empire music as the backhoe marches down Cruz Bay beach. DPNR wasn’t kidding when it said it was cleaning up the beach. Backhoes stormed the beach Wednesday, scooping up wayward dinghies, kayaks and other unauthorized boats, smashing them and putting them into dumpsters. The shaky-looking wooden dock straight out from the Beach Bar? Gone. Ocean Runner, Low Key Watersports and Noah’s Little Arks have all moved their boats further off the beach. We hear DPNR will accommodate those businesses with a marker channel that will let them bring boats in to pick up guests, but they’ll otherwise have to stay further out.
The one survivor from Wednesday’s clean-up? That big old army boat. Despite best efforts, that one fought back and wasn’t hauled away. Yet.
This is one big beach. You can buy food and drink here, and you can also rent watersports equipment. (There is a little 16 foot Hobie Cat you can rent that is REALLY fast.) The crowd here tends to be on the young side too, so it’s a good place to go if you want to see what your body is supposed to look like. Cinnamon Bay, part two, below!
Scotia Bank executives made the rounds at the real estate offices this month, promoting a new, really unprecedented loan program it clearly hopes will jump-start dead land sales on St. John. There’s a record 291 pieces of land for sale on St. John right now, and only nine land sales so far this year. Compared to 49 sales in 2006. The last boom year for land sales was 2003.
Here’s Scotia Bank’s deal, good through Aug 31, unless the bank decides to extend it. Buy a piece of land with 5 percent down. The 20 year note carries a rate of 7.99 percent up to $550K. (For reference, when we bought in Chocolate Hole in 2002, the un-negotiable terms were 30 percent down, 10 years, 8.25 percent.)
Just for fun, here’s the math. Say you find the perfect lot for $400,000. Cough up a $20,000 down payment (versus $120,000 at 30 percent down), and it will cost you $3,176.11 per month. The cost of admission is a whole lot cheaper, but that’s still a lot of Red Stripes.
This is one of the most beautiful spots on St. John, although we doubt the slaves working here had much time to enjoy it. The views from here are amazing. This tiny plot of land is steeped in history (and there are plenty of plaques to tell you all about its steepy-ness.) Follow the signs from the North Shore Road and park in the lot. It is an easy, easy, five minute walk. Plan on spending some time here, depending on how contemplative you get. No history in today’s installment. No interviews. Just a few minutes of some very beautiful images. Annaberg Ruins, below.
We spotted this plate as an avatar on the usvi-on-line forum and had to ask its owner about it. She is Jo Ann from Central Virginia, and she says she got this vanity plate only a month ago. This is a great example of how St. John can instantly get under your skin, because Jo Ann has only been to St. John twice (most recently in April.) But of course she has already made plans for the next trip. (If you’re reading this, you’re already terminally ill with St. Johnitis, so you understand.)
St. John will get some attention in a forthcoming book by author 
The Cruz Bay waters are safe again, and it had nothing to do with Sheriff Brody. Two of the three black tip sharks that have been entertaining some and freaking out others have been plucked from the water in the prime of their adolescence. One by a guy with a fishing pole who reeled it in and took it home for dinner. A second grabbed from the water by another fisherman who preferred the more straight-forward approach of a gaff hook. 
After promising St. John’s deputy police chief would be a St. John resident, the VIPD has given the Top Cop job to an officer who is not a St. John resident. The guy’s got great credentials, but he’s not a St. John resident. 
Governor John deJongh is doing twice monthly radio addresses, but you can hear them online as well. Gov. deJongh, 49, seems pretty hip. Since taking office, the Governor’s Website has been updated frequently, and even includes a link for public comments and ideas. (And if flags are flying half staff, you can find out why.)Anyway, the short radio addresses air every other Friday on 99.5 at 8am and at 11am during Roger Morgan’s Free Speech program. They also air on 102.9 on weekends. The first one’s on the Gov’s 
Scotia Bank executives made the rounds at the real estate offices this month, promoting a new, really unprecedented loan program it clearly hopes will jump-start dead land sales on St. John. There’s a record 291 pieces of land for sale on St. John right now, and only nine land sales so far this year. Compared to 49 sales in 2006. The last boom year for land sales was 2003.
