This was in The Source a few days ago. When you read The Source, make sure you also are in St John, staying at a st john villa rental. You can find a lot of them at www.stjohnvillarental.com.
Fifth Annual Beach-to-Beach Power Swim Gearing Up to 'Go'
by Lynda Lohr
April 28, 2008 - On your mark, get set, go for the fifth annual Beach-to-Beach Power Swim set to run May 25 starting at Maho Bay Beach. Swimmers are in the water at 8 a.m. A briefing starts at 7:30 a.m.
"It's a fun event and it's in the park," Friends of V.I. National Park Development Director Karen Brady said.
The Friends group holds the swim to raise money for its programs, including its summer learn-to-swim program.
Two practice swims will help swimmers get ready for the main event. The May 4 swim goes from Maho Bay Beach to Trunk Bay Beach. The May 18 swim starts at Maho Bay Beach and ends at Hawksnest Bay Beach. Both start at 8 a.m. There is no charge to participate in the practice swims.
The May 25 Beach-to-Beach Power Swim includes four simultaneous events. They are the one-mile short course solo swim from Maho Bay Beach to Cinnamon Beach, the 2.25-mile intermediate course solo swim from Maho Bay Beach to Trunk Beach, a 3.5-mile long course solo swim from Maho Bay Beach to Hawksnest Beach, and a 3.5-mile long course three-person relay team swim from Maho Bay Beach to Hawksnest Beach with transition points at Cinnamon Bay and Trunk Bay beaches.
The Beach-to-Beach Power Swim features the park's "incredible waters and beaches, two very special attributes of the park,” said Joe Kessler, Friends of the Park president and the race director.
"This event has become part of the list of challenging sporting events in the Virgin Islands," he said.
Awards will be given in age groups, with an awards ceremony at Oppenheimer Beach at noon. A barbecue at Oppenheimer Beach runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Beach-to-Beach Power Swim is for both competitive swimmers and "relatively serious" recreational swimmers. To make it as accessible and fun for as many participants as possible, swimmers may compete using snorkels, fins and exposure suits in a separate assisted-swimmer category.
Advance registration through May 9 costs $30. General registration on May 10 through 23 is $40. Late registration, available only at the pre-race meeting at 5 p.m. May 24 at Maho Bay Camps is $50.
Registration fees for those 17 and under are $15 through May 23 and $25 on May 24.
Swimmers can register either on-line at www.friendsvinp.org/swim, by phone at 779-4940 or in person at: the Friends of the Park Store in Mongoose Junction, Connections in either Cruz Bay or Coral Bay, or at Caribbean Surf Co. at Red Hook and Havensight locations on St. Thomas, or at SCUBA on St. Croix.
For more information about the Beach-to-Beach Power Swim, including the course description, course maps, and competition rules and to register visit www.friendsvinp.org/swim or call 779-4940.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
As always
As always, this last blog is barren. Nothing to write about, except I will probably make the long trek to town and get breakfast and mail and fruit for the big m. And a newspaper and the tradewinds. And that's it. Today might be a good day to make a cutting board. I think I will do it. Some website work, but not a lot.
Monday, April 28, 2008
List of websites for you to visit today.
Try these websites about st john. www.stjohnvillarental.com is the best one to find all the villas for rent. And then you can also look at www.frankbayvillas.com, which is the second best. For villa vacation rentals, look at www.stjohntravelforum.com, but that also has the best information about things on st john, so it is dual purpose.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Patriots Fourth Pick
The Patriots picked Kevin O'Connell from SD State with their fourth pick, last pick of the third round. Seems like an expensive backup, since they have Tom Brady at #1 for a few more years. But what do I know. I preferred Colt Brennan.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Wagapalooza Article from The Source
This was in the Source today. Everyone should read it, and then rent a villa on st john usvi from www.stjohnvillarental.com.
Wagapalooza on Tap for May 17
by Lynda Lohr
April 30, 2008 -- Dogs, dogs and more dogs are busy learning new tricks for the 8th annual Wagapalooza, set for 5 to 9 p.m. May 17 at the Winston Wells Ballfield in Cruz Bay.
"It's going to be a hoot," said Animal Care Center President B.J. Harris . "The most fun ever."
Wagapalooza raises money for the Animal Care Center of St. John, which operates the island's only shelter and runs numerous programs to benefit various types of animals.
The dog show is Wagapalooza's highlight, with dogs judged in categories that include best trick, best lap dog, best dancer, best spots, best old timer, best puppy love, best costume, best jumper and best tail wagger.
This year the Animal Care Center will have a Waga-Meter to measure the level of applause by the audience. And then everyone should look at www.frankbayvillas.com to pick out a vacation villa rental.
"Rather than judges, the winners will be by acclamation," Harris said.
The audience will also get to pick the best in show, which the organizers are this year calling the Waga Queen and King.
Wagapalooza also features live music, a raffle, free dog nail clipping and a K-9 demonstration by the V.I. Police Department. Food will be for sale, Harris said, and the Animal Care Center is aiming for healthy fare such as wraps in addition to hamburgers and hot dogs. Roger W. Morgan of Paradise Radio 93.5 will return for a second year as Wagapalooza's master of ceremonies.
Dog owners are encouraged to register early for the event. Registration is $20 per category, and forms are available at the Animal Care Center shelter, located near the Elaine I. Sprauve Library, Connections and online at wagapalooza.com.
Volunteers are needed. Businesses can help by buying space on Wagapalooza T-shirts or providing raffle prizes. To help in any way, call 774-1625 or stop by the animal shelter Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Wagapalooza on Tap for May 17
by Lynda Lohr
April 30, 2008 -- Dogs, dogs and more dogs are busy learning new tricks for the 8th annual Wagapalooza, set for 5 to 9 p.m. May 17 at the Winston Wells Ballfield in Cruz Bay.
"It's going to be a hoot," said Animal Care Center President B.J. Harris . "The most fun ever."
Wagapalooza raises money for the Animal Care Center of St. John, which operates the island's only shelter and runs numerous programs to benefit various types of animals.
The dog show is Wagapalooza's highlight, with dogs judged in categories that include best trick, best lap dog, best dancer, best spots, best old timer, best puppy love, best costume, best jumper and best tail wagger.
This year the Animal Care Center will have a Waga-Meter to measure the level of applause by the audience. And then everyone should look at www.frankbayvillas.com to pick out a vacation villa rental.
"Rather than judges, the winners will be by acclamation," Harris said.
The audience will also get to pick the best in show, which the organizers are this year calling the Waga Queen and King.
Wagapalooza also features live music, a raffle, free dog nail clipping and a K-9 demonstration by the V.I. Police Department. Food will be for sale, Harris said, and the Animal Care Center is aiming for healthy fare such as wraps in addition to hamburgers and hot dogs. Roger W. Morgan of Paradise Radio 93.5 will return for a second year as Wagapalooza's master of ceremonies.
Dog owners are encouraged to register early for the event. Registration is $20 per category, and forms are available at the Animal Care Center shelter, located near the Elaine I. Sprauve Library, Connections and online at wagapalooza.com.
Volunteers are needed. Businesses can help by buying space on Wagapalooza T-shirts or providing raffle prizes. To help in any way, call 774-1625 or stop by the animal shelter Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Last post of the day
When I get to this blog, about nuclear physics, I am often out of normal scientific analysis, so I have to write about particle theory. But it often is unread. Too many atoms in the world, I think. And there are too many worlds in the galaxy, and too many galaxies in the universe.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
National Park Article from The Source Today
This was published in The Source this morning. I guess they have decided it was more important than www.stjohnvillarental.com or www.frankbayvillas.com for villa rentals on st john.
St. John School Proposal Hits Snags in U.S. Senate
by Lynda Lohr
Christensen (center) and Lorelei Monsanto (right) at Wednesday's hearing.
April 23, 2008 -- A bill in Congress to provide land for a new school on St. John faces difficult legal and policy issues, according to the U.S. senator who chaired a hearing on the issue Wednesday.
The bill before the House of Representatives would authorize the U.S. Interior Department to lease land within V.I. National Park. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources' Subcommittee on National Parks, chaired by Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), held the hearing in Washington, D.C.
The hearing, which covered 11 bills concerning federal park facilities, was broadcast on the Internet. The bill, sponsored by Delegate Donna M. Christensen, passed the House in September 2007. At Wednesday's hearing, Christensen and St. John resident Lorelei Monsanto asked the Senate to pass the bill.
"The V.I. government has no land on St. John for a school," Christensen said. "Keep the welfare of the children in mind."
She spoke about the poor structural conditions of St. John's public schools, and noted that, in particular, Julius E. Sprauve School sits in a busy and congested area with a "rowdy drinking establishment" across the street. One Sprauve student, Javon Alfred, was killed while walking home from school in Cruz Bay, Christensen told the committee.
St. John residents Alvis Christen and Monsanto's daughter, Lauryn Samuel, were also present at the hearing, but they did not testify, Christensen said. Monsanto spoke on behalf of the One Campus group, which has pushed for the land lease bill.
A land swap rather than a lease might solve the problem, suggested Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), but Christensen and Monsanto opposed the idea. One scenario involves swapping land within the national park on St. John for local government land on St. Croix.
"Swapping land on St. Croix is like asking Texas to give land to Vermont," Monsanto said.
Allowing a land lease would set a bad precedent, according to several people who testified.
"If we agreed to something like that, we would be inundated with requests to have important community pieces in parks," Burr said.
In addition to the precedent issue, the Park Service opposes the land lease bill because it is inconsistent with the original purpose of the park, said Daniel Wenk, deputy director for operations of the Park Service.
Akaka asked Wenk if the property proposed for the lease -- 55 acres at Estate Catherineberg sold to the park by Ethel Bishop in 1968 -- had any buildings on it. There are buildings, but a school would have to be built, Wenk told him.
Under questioning from Akaka, Wenk said the park operates schools in Yellowstone, Grand Canyon and Yosemite National Park, but does not lease land in any parks to local governments.
Akaka concluded the hearing by noting that the Bush administration also opposes the bill. However, he said he would continue to work with the bill's sponsor to see if some solution can be reached.
One Campus forged new ground by testifying before the Senate, Monsanto said after the hearing.
"We're going to take it all the way to the end," she said.
St. John School Proposal Hits Snags in U.S. Senate
by Lynda Lohr
Christensen (center) and Lorelei Monsanto (right) at Wednesday's hearing.
April 23, 2008 -- A bill in Congress to provide land for a new school on St. John faces difficult legal and policy issues, according to the U.S. senator who chaired a hearing on the issue Wednesday.
The bill before the House of Representatives would authorize the U.S. Interior Department to lease land within V.I. National Park. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources' Subcommittee on National Parks, chaired by Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii), held the hearing in Washington, D.C.
The hearing, which covered 11 bills concerning federal park facilities, was broadcast on the Internet. The bill, sponsored by Delegate Donna M. Christensen, passed the House in September 2007. At Wednesday's hearing, Christensen and St. John resident Lorelei Monsanto asked the Senate to pass the bill.
"The V.I. government has no land on St. John for a school," Christensen said. "Keep the welfare of the children in mind."
She spoke about the poor structural conditions of St. John's public schools, and noted that, in particular, Julius E. Sprauve School sits in a busy and congested area with a "rowdy drinking establishment" across the street. One Sprauve student, Javon Alfred, was killed while walking home from school in Cruz Bay, Christensen told the committee.
St. John residents Alvis Christen and Monsanto's daughter, Lauryn Samuel, were also present at the hearing, but they did not testify, Christensen said. Monsanto spoke on behalf of the One Campus group, which has pushed for the land lease bill.
A land swap rather than a lease might solve the problem, suggested Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), but Christensen and Monsanto opposed the idea. One scenario involves swapping land within the national park on St. John for local government land on St. Croix.
"Swapping land on St. Croix is like asking Texas to give land to Vermont," Monsanto said.
Allowing a land lease would set a bad precedent, according to several people who testified.
"If we agreed to something like that, we would be inundated with requests to have important community pieces in parks," Burr said.
In addition to the precedent issue, the Park Service opposes the land lease bill because it is inconsistent with the original purpose of the park, said Daniel Wenk, deputy director for operations of the Park Service.
Akaka asked Wenk if the property proposed for the lease -- 55 acres at Estate Catherineberg sold to the park by Ethel Bishop in 1968 -- had any buildings on it. There are buildings, but a school would have to be built, Wenk told him.
Under questioning from Akaka, Wenk said the park operates schools in Yellowstone, Grand Canyon and Yosemite National Park, but does not lease land in any parks to local governments.
Akaka concluded the hearing by noting that the Bush administration also opposes the bill. However, he said he would continue to work with the bill's sponsor to see if some solution can be reached.
One Campus forged new ground by testifying before the Senate, Monsanto said after the hearing.
"We're going to take it all the way to the end," she said.
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