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Friends of VINP Practice Swims Set To Gear Up for Beach-to-Beach Power Swim

Details: Created on Friday, 12 April 2013 04:34; Written by Press Release

As residents gear up for the 10th Annual Beach-to-Beach Power Swim on May 26, Friends of VINP officials are hosting a series of practice swims starting on Sunday, April 14.

Friends of VI National Park officials last week announced a series of practice swims to help participants prepare for the upcoming 10th annual Beach-to-Beach Power Swim which will be on Sunday, May 26.

The first practice swim will be on Sunday, April 14, and will be from Maho Bay to Cinnamon Bay, a distance of about one mile. There next practice swim will be on Sunday, April 28, from Maho Bay to either Cinnamon Bay or Trunk Bay, a distance of about two and one quarter miles.

The final practice swim will be on Sunday, May 12, from Maho Bay to either Cinnamon Bay, Trunk Bay or Hawksnest Bay, a distance of about three and one half miles.

All practice swims will start at 8:30 a.m. at the northern end of Maho Bay beach, near the dinghy channel. Swimmers should arrive by 8:15 a.m. for sign up and a briefing. Kayaks, stand-up paddlers, a dinghy and a VINP patrol boat will accompany swimmers for their safety.

Country Singer Kenny Chesney Launches Blue Chair Bay Rum

Details: Created on Thursday, 11 April 2013 09:33; Written by Press Release

When Kenny Chesney decided it was time to find the rum he’d always wanted to drink, he didn’t approach the various distillers who’d offered him lucrative deals to lend his name and likeness to a brand created for him.

No, the man who oversees every aspect of giant stadium productions and listens to myriad songs beyond what he writes for his albums, decided he wanted to do it himself.

So with a handful of dedicated professionals, Chesney began thinking, then researching, then seeing if it was possible. For a young man who didn’t dream of rocking football stadiums, but for whom the University of Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium was holy ground, the impossible never seemed to be something out of reach.

“Everybody’s always expected this from me,” said Chesney. “There have been people who’ve approached us, stories that have gone around over the years. But rum is what I drink, and I always told myself; if I was going to do this, I wanted to create something I could be really proud of.”

“Not just take a check and a piece of a company, but make the rum I truly wanted to drink,” he said.

Chef Anderson Allen of La Plancha del Mar Named to “Best Chefs America”

Details: Created on Wednesday, 10 April 2013 09:30; Written by Press Release

Chef Anderson Allen outside La Plancha del Mar in Mongoose Junction.

Chef Anderson Allen of La Plancha del Mar restaurant has been honored as one of the country’s top culinary talents in the inaugural edition of “Best Chefs America.”

This is the first-ever peer review guide of U.S. chefs, who were chosen after extensive interviews between their fellow chefs and “Best Chefs America” analysts. Chef Anderson is among the chefs showcased in the informative and exquisitely produced 386-page coffee table book which was released on March 1.

“Chefs themselves truly understand what it takes to be successful in this competitive industry, and Best Chefs America offers them a forum to express their views,” said Elizabeth Fishburne, Best Chefs America Lead Analyst. “Based on the overwhelmingly positive response from more than 5,000 participating chefs, it is clear that the chef world was ready for us.”

“Best Chefs America” is the ultimate chef’s guide to chefs. Analysts conducted more than 5,000 confidential telephone interviews with chefs who were nominated by other chefs, culinary professionals and food enthusiasts across the country.

The interviews consisted of a series of proprietary questions, and software was used to aggregate the data. Chefs earning the highest scores among their peers in their region were included in the guide. The results were compiled into a 386-page coffee table book, complete with chef listings broken down both geographically and alphabetically.

“Best Chefs America” also features stunning photography and highlights emerging culinary trends and ingredients uncovered during the interviews. The book costs $75 and can be purchased online at http://bestchefsamerica.com/book/

Ryan Moore Is New ACC Shelter Manager

Details: Created on Tuesday, 09 April 2013 09:22; Written by Jaime Elliott

Ryan Moore

As the new shelter manager for the Animal Care Center of St. John, Ryan Moore is overseeing the care of 13 dogs and about 30 cats in the organization’s Estate Enighed no kill shelter, as well as organizing adoptions and volunteer help and more.

Having already worked for the ACC for more than a year, however, Moore knew exactly what he was signing up for, he explained.

“I’ve always loved animals and I started working here part time walking dogs and cleaning kennels in December 2011,” said Moore. “Then I started working full time as a kennel tech and helping out [former shelter manager] Kate [Webster] with whatever she needed.”

Originally from Connecticut, Moore previously worked at the Mystic Seaport Museum and at kennels in his home state. He first applied for the ACC shelter manager position a year and a half ago when the group decided to hire Kate Webster.

Residents Young and Old Celebrate 17 Years of John’s Folly Learning Institute

Details: Created on Monday, 08 April 2013 09:17; Written by Jaime Elliott

St. John residents, above, join JFLI officials in celebrating the institute’s 17th anniversary on Saturday afternoon, April 6. St. John Montessori School students along with artisan Ital Anthony, below, perform for event goers during the ceremony.

Residents old and young, including some of the territory’s top brass, gathered on the grounds of the John’s Folly Learning Institute on Saturday afternoon, April 6, to celebrate 17 years of education on the island’s remote south shore.

Invited guests included V.I. Senate Majority Leader Donald Cole, V.I. Field Officer for the Department of Interior and former V.I. Senator Basil Ottley and V.I. National Park Superintendent Robert FitzGerald along with St. John senior citizens, JFLI and St. John Montessori School students.

Guests took their seats in the shade of several tents while Carl Freeman played steel pan on the site of the former Horace Mann School, which educated south shore children on St. John until the early 1960s. The building was then used by the V.I. National Guard and Peace Corps until it fell into disrepair in the early 1970s.

On The Market: Enjoy Stunning Moon and Sun Rises from Hammer Cottage

Details: Created on Sunday, 07 April 2013 04:55; Written by Jaime Elliott

Soak up the stunning down island views from Hammer Cottage in Coral Bay.

Imagine sipping a glass of wine while watching a golden full moon rise above the horizon from your airy porch as the lights on Tortola begin in twinkle in the distance.

Jaw dropping moon and sun rises are just two of the amenities found at Hammer Cottage in Coral Bay, for sale for $495,000, explained Lynn Giovanna, broker associate at Islandia Real Estate.

“There are stunning views of the Coral Bay harbor and down island chain with breath-taking sun and moon rises from Hammer Cottage,” said Giovanna.

The cottage is located in the heart of Coral Bay, close to the funky shops and restaurants in the area. And the alabaster beaches on the island’s north shore are only a few minutes’ drive away.

The studio is situated on a full half-acre lot, with plenty of room to expand, Giovanna explained.