St. John’s first real taste of this year’s *_* season (we prefer the term “rainy season”) is forming a into a tropical wave a few hundred miles to the east this week, and it’s a good time to ask the perennial question about the value of travel insurance.
Villa management companies strongly recommend renters invest in trip insurance this time of year because of the potential, however slight, of storm interruption. Two that our management company, Carefree Getaways, recommends are CSA Vacation Guarantee, and Travel Guard.
“Because of our strict cancellation policy, we urge you to obtain traveler’s cancellation insurance. Refunds are not guaranteed due to weather or acts of God,” their policy says.
Trip insurance is generally pretty cheap, and typically promises to bail you out in the event of a trip Mother Nature ruins.
The questions are is it worth it, and have you had an actual experience with a claim that went well? We’d like to hear your comments as we bunker down for the next three months of *_* season roulette.
The newly-improved Franklin Powell Park/Plaza is still missing a lot of landscaping, and if you’ve got some ideas about how to fill those planters, speak up.
Park renovations included several big stone planters around trees, and St. John Administrator Leona Smith says the next move it to decide how to fill them.
“I am meeting with [Department of Public Works Commissioner] Darryl Smalls next week and we are going to discuss whether we want the government to pay for the landscaping, or if we want to encourage private businesses or other groups to get involved,” Leona tells us.
Leona would like to hear your ideas too. If you have a serious proposal, include details and your contact information and email it to us here. We’ll forward it ahead of next week’s meeting.
Stacy Mulcare’s Ceremonies St. John, a long time OSJ advertiser, just got more off-island exposure.
MacoCaribbean.com, a Trinidad-based publication that bills itself as a guide for savvy travelers from writers who “eat, sleep and breathe the Caribbean,” praises the huge network of connections Stacy has built over 15 years at Ceremonies St. John and her husband Seamus’ cake-making skills (he’s baked for the White House you know!)
Have you ever seen the inside of a St. John church?
Stacy’s Website has some cool virtual tours of churches, restaurants and other wedding venues. Like this one, of Saint Ursula’s Anglican Church.
Today’s Lunch of the Week takes us to the second floor at The Marketplace, and to Happy Fish, where they take their sushi seriously.
Today’s lunch is the Kulchak Combo, named after the restaurant’s original owner, Nate Kulchak: Tempura fried shrimp, tucked in a roll with cucumber, avocado and seared tuna and served with a sweet and spicy sauce. $15 by itself, but order it as a lunch special that comes with one side for a buck more, $16.
The big reveal happened mid-day Thursday. The new and improved Franklin Powel Park in Cruz Bay is now open for your enjoyment. (We’re checking to see if there’s a winner in our contest to pick the date.)
There’s a slight problem with the landscaping. Or rather, lack of it. But more on that later.
In the meantime, meet Beth Schmidt in an exclusive Ruth Cam interview. The St. John resident, on her way out of town Thursday morning, will now forever be remembered as the person who officially broke the park in. Find out why, below!
An On-StJohn.com reader, commenting on a recent restaurant story, called the customers at Woody’s riff raff. Opinions are always welcome here.
In this case, Woody’s was flattered.
Not only was the staff not offended, they decided it was a reason to party.
“We had these shirts made up for the staff after that comment on your Website,” says manager Mike Hedy.
“We closed down for a snow day and went boating in the BVI’s, ending up at Soggy Dollar wearing those shirts the whole day. We love our riff raff crowd!”
Scott needs a new sail. Agustina needs to get to Croatia. And both now have a little help to make it happen.
The St. John Yacht Club has awarded its first ever grants to very young sailors to encourage their growth in the sport.
Scott McKenzie, pictured above with dad Ed and Commodore Scott Barnett, is a 6th grader at Antilles School and has already sailed in local regattas, and in the U.S., Canada and Argentina. His goal is to place in the Top Ten in the 2011 IODA World Optimist Competition in New Zealand, and he’ll use the $1,000 grant for much needed equipment.
15 year old Agustina Barbuto, pictured below with parents Carlos and Maria, entered her first international regatta last summer in Turkey and has finished near the top in international competitions in Israel and Buenos Aires. She’ll use her $1,000 grant to help cover cost for an upcoming competition in Croatia.
Agustina has big plans too. She says her long-term goal is to represent the USVI in the 2016 Olympic Games.
The St. John Animal Care Center has just published its first e-Magazine and would like you to subscribe.
“We hope the magazine will draw attention to some of the shelter’s special animals and help find them a home,” says Greg Damron, who put the online publication together. “We also want to communicate with our members and show the progress we’re making, and hope to encourage more donations.”
In this first issue, you’ll find stories about the shelter’s recent facelift, including an explanation of why there’s a big portrait of a dog named Henry painted near the entrance, the Georgia triplets, the feral cat program and “The Adorables,” profiles of pets waiting to find a home.
There’s also a “where are they now section” telling the stories of some recently adopted pets.
On the cover: Calabash, a two year old that weighed 34 pounds when rescued May 23. He’s up to 49 pounds now.
Check out the first issue by clicking here. It’s a fun read! And be sure you subscribe.
The slew of road work going on around the island now includes some much needed guard rails along the fun to drive, but sometimes dicey East End road.
These guard rails sew in the stretch overlooking Hansen Bay and Round Bay, an area where there have been several accidents that sent vehicles rolling down the hill.
Wanna take a virtual drive of the East End? Click here.
See that pile of bulbs? That’s about what needs replacing in the course of roughly two months.
We don’t know if it’s the power surges or brownouts, or exposure to the elements, but that is not an unusual pile of replacements a half dozen times a year. Granted, Bongo Bongo resembles a small cruise ship when fully lit, but still.
So next time you check into a villa and night falls, and you can’t believe how many bulbs are burned out, look for the drawer or cabinet where replacements are and screw a few in. Cleaning folks and management companies aren’t generally there at night, and the next guests, and especially the owners, would really appreciate it.
Most of the time.
True story: We once had guests who replaced every single light bulb in the house, at their expense – all of them – with 100 watt bulbs because all the lights and lamps were too dim. And they offered a sincere ‘You’re welcome” in the guest book.
