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On The Market: Enjoy Sweeping Views and Peaceful Tranquility at Whale Watch Villa

Details: Created on Sunday, 26 May 2013 04:27; Written by Jaime Elliott

Whale Watch Villa offers easy access to the main level and expansive decks—the perfect vantage point from which to soak up the stunning view.

With sweeping views of Ram Head, Bordeaux Mountain and the tranquil Caribbean Sea stretching out to the horizon, you’ll find the peace and tranquility you’re looking for at Whale Watch Villa.

Located in Estate Hansen Bay, the two bedroom, two and a half bath Whale Watch Villa is for sale for $1.225 million, explained Holiday Homes broker associate Jan Courlas.

Perched one parcel above the waterfront on the quiet East End of St. John, the home affords privacy and stunning views, explained Courlas.

“Whale Watch is located in Estate Hansen Bay near the end of the road or the end of the last road on the island’s East End,” said the Holiday Homes broker/owner. “The whales really do come here to play.”

While Whale Watch Villa is not a waterfront property, one can still hear the sound of waves breaking on the nearby shoreline, Courlas added.

Chef Kim Serves Up Seriously Tasty Sushi at Caneel Bay Resort

Details: Created on Saturday, 25 May 2013 04:19; Written by Jaime Elliott

Caneel Bay Resort Sushi Chef James Kim and (L to R) sous chefs Shamoy, Aline and Dario, serve up top notch fish selections and speciality rolls during lunch and dinner hours.

The Baja California: a spicy tuna roll with cucumber, cilantro and avocado, wrapped with yellowtail and topped with slices of jalapeños.

Not many experiences on Love City make one think they’re on the island of Manhattan instead of St. John.

But the sushi kitchen at Caneel Bay Resort just might make you pause and question if in fact you’re in a swanky Manhattan Japanese restaurant for a moment. Yes, it’s that good.

Chef James Kim opened the resort’s new sushi kitchen, located adjacent to Caneel’s popular lunch bar and grill area, in November 2012.

Kim brought more than 27 years of experience as a sushi chef to the luxury resort. After learning the ropes at culinary school in his native Japan, Kim worked in NYC for 10 years before opening his own restaurants in the Virginia Beach area.

The chef operated two popular restaurants in the Virginia Beach area for more than 15 years. During that time he won numerous awards, including sushi chef of the year for several years and best sushi restaurant. Kim also worked as a sushi chef instructor at Johnson and Wales University’s Maryland campus.

Kim sold those restaurants last year and moved to St. John to head up Caneel’s sushi kitchen. Since opening in November, the chef has been wowing island residents and Caneel guests alike with his expert knife skills and inventive specialty rolls.

JESS Elementary Basketball Team Wins Territorial Championship

Details: Created on Friday, 24 May 2013 04:14; Written by Jaime Elliott

(Top left to right) John Griffith Jr., Shukoi Sprauve, Patrick Hendrickson, Miseal De Lacruz, Dante Mccot and Nekwante Sprauve. (Bottom left to right) Abraham Nunez, Jaco Lewis, Melvin Burgess and Kaleed Powell. Coach Clarence Stephenson stands behind the team.

On Saturday, May 11, Julius E. Sprauve School’s elementary boys basketball team wrapped up a perfect season by winning the Virgin Islands Territorial Championship.

With a perfect season on the line, and having already earned the title of St. Thomas/St. John District Champion, the JESS basketball team beat the undefeated St. Croix District champion team from Claude O. Markoe in two games.

The JESS Seagulls, under the direction of coach Clarence Stephenson, were led by Shukoi Sprauve, who was named the championship game MVP. Shukoi Sprauve scored 27 points and posted 10 rebounds along with five steals in the clinching game.

This is the best finish yet for the JESS Seagulls elementary school basketball team, who made it to the district’s final four before losing last year.

The group continues to improve and the community can only expect more championships to come, explained Coach Stephenson, who has been coaching youth basketball on St. John for six years and been helming the JESS team for one year.

“Last year we made it to the final four and the year before that the Guy Benjamin School team I coached won the district championship,” said Stephenson. “We’ll be back next year for sure. We have a great program going and the girls and boys teams are going to be great next year.”

All this basketball success on St. John comes despite the lack of a functioning full court on which to practice. The Pine Peace basketball court, which often flooded, is currently under renovation and is not expected to open for several months.

In the meantime, the JESS student athletes have been practicing on the Estate Adrian half-court, but they’re excited for the new court to be finished, Coach Stephenson added.

“They can’t wait for the new court,” he said. “The kids are really excited.”

JESS Elementary Basketball Coach Stephenson, JESS Athletic Director Lea Richmond and school principal Dionne Wells are extremely proud of these student athletes, who played hard all year!

Congratulations JESS!!!

Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center Makes 30 Years

Details: Created on Thursday, 23 May 2013 04:10; Written by Jaime Elliott

MKSCHC nurses, doctors and staff pose in front of the island’s health facility during a celebration of National Hospital Week, which also marked 30 years for the health center.

The Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center opened its doors to St. John patients in 1983 and Eddie Bruce was among those who helped celebrate by providing live music.

On Thursday morning, May 16, Bruce was on hand once again, this time with fellow musicians Michael Sorzano and Koko Pickering, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of MKSCHC.

With several tents erected in the health center parking lot to provide shade, MKSCHC staff took time to recognize those who go the extra mile to help patients and also handed out Years of Service awards to employees of five, 10 and 30 years.

“Behind the success of any great business you will find it is great people who make it work,” said Schneider Regional Medical Center CEO Dr. Bernard Wheatley.

While celebrating MKSCHC’s 30 years of dedicated service to the St. John community, Wheatley looked ahead while sharing remarks with the crowd.

“Not only are we here to celebrate 30 years but to look forward to the next 30 years, too,” said Wheatley. “We are only as strong as we are united.”

Carolina Corral Unveils Adopt a Donkey Campaign

Details: Created on Wednesday, 22 May 2013 04:29; Written by Jaime Elliott

A donation of about $90 a month can help ensure that Carolina Corral can continue to take care of all its donkeys.

While the Saturday, May 11, Second Ever Donkey Softball game in the Coral Bay ball field drew a small crowd who enjoyed donkey rides and games, Carolina Corral owner Dana Bartlett remains in need of financial assistance.

While running her business is difficult enough, Bartlett also cares for island donkeys in need. Whether they have been hit by a car or broken a leg, it’s Bartlett’s phone which rings when a donkey on St. John needs assistance.

“When I get a local call early in the morning, it usually means I’m heading out looking for an injured donkey,” said Bartlett.
Although Bartlett always responds to donkeys in need, she’s having trouble keeping them all fed.

“A lot of these donkeys are too young or just can’t be used for rides,” said the Carolina Corral owner. “But they all eat and that adds up. And that’s even before any medical treatment or needs.”

To help offset those costs, Bartlett is offering an “Adopt a Donkey” campaign where residents can donate about $90 a month to make sure all those hungry mouths get the food they need.

Bartlett can also use volunteers to help clean and feed the animals, she added.

For more information or to adopt a donkey from Carolina Corral, call Bartlett at 693-5778.

Recent Rains Worsen Weakened Centerline Road

Details: Created on Tuesday, 21 May 2013 04:11; Written by Jaime Elliott

Recent heavy rains brought down a new section of the already eroding area of Centerline Road near the Upper Carolina subdivision turnoff, above. DPW officials are aware of the problem but don’t expect to move ahead with repairs for at least three months.

Heavy rains on Friday, May 10, brought flooding across the territory, but the force of the rain just might have caused the worst damage on St. John.

A section of Centerline Road near the Upper Carolina subdivision turnoff has been deteriorating since the fall of 2010, when Tropical Storm Otto’s deluge undermined the already eroding roadbed.

More than two and a half years later, Department of Public Works has done no work on the area and each heavy rain only erodes the area more and more. Such was the case on Friday night, May 10, when a large section of asphalt crumbled away, further undermining the sole road into and out of Coral Bay.

St. John residents driving past the area last week were warned of the growing danger by a new and larger bright orange barrier which was placed in the damaged road section, joining several orange cones which were placed in the area in 2010. The placing of the orange cones and new barriers is only action DPW officials have taken in the area, and residents should not expect to see any additional improvements to the road before mid-August at the earliest, explained DPW Commissioner Darryl Smalls.