Three days ago I received an e-mail from our Secretary, Lee, saying she was stuck in London and needed $2000.00 to return home.  Below was an address to send the money.    Knowing Lee, things didn’t sound right.  I came into Islandia the next morning to see her peacefully sitting behind her desk.  I mentioned the e-mail and she said someone hacked into her e-mail and stole all of her addresses with this plea for money.  It was sent to well over 100 people.  Lee did notify the London fraud department and they are looking into the address provided to send the money.  I had to laugh when she said she’s had so many phone calls from people checking to see if she needs $2000 that she had to put on her answering machine that she is not in London and does not need any money, but it’s nice to know that people care!

This morning I received another e-mail from a gentleman that works for the NPS.  Same plea, same amount, same address…  Just a friendly reminder that if you receive one of these e-mails from anyone on St. John or Islandia - it is a scam and not from us.  We’re all safe and sound in the good ole USVI.

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July Fourth Celebration Activities Heat Up
by Lynda Lohr     

 June 25, 2009 — July Celebration activities will ramp up Friday with a Festival Mix starting at 9 p.m. at the Winston Wells Ballfield.
The Children’s Carnival Village opens Friday at the Creek. It features games and rides for children in an alcohol-free environment and runs through July 3. Rides will be set up in V.I. National Park Ballfield and cartoon characters will circulate.
Miss St. John will be selected at a pageant held at 8 p.m. Saturday at Winston Wells Ballfield.
Food Fair follows at 1 p.m. Sunday in Cruz Bay Park. Miss St. John will be crowned. Boat races start at 2 p.m. Sunday in Cruz Bay Harbor.
The July Fourth Celebration Village opens at 7 p.m. Monday in the parking lot across from the post office. The village will be open nightly until July 4.  Cultural Day begins at 3 p.m. July 3 in Cruz Bay Park.
J’ouvert starts at 4 a.m. July 4 in Cruz Bay. The parade gets under way at 11 a.m. July 4 in Cruz Bay.
Head to Cruz Bay to watch the fireworks over Cruz Bay Harbor. They start at 9 p.m. July 4.
The entire event wraps up at 1 p.m. July 5 with a Beach Jam at Oppenheimer Beach.
As St. John’s July Fourth Celebration moves into high gear, Deputy Police Chief Darren Foy urged residents and visitors to stay safe.
“The V.I. Police Department has put in place an operational plan for the festival season. This plan is designed to ensure the safety of everyone who attends the festivities,” he said.
According to a press release from the Police Department, traffic checkpoints will be set up around the areas where events are taking place. Police Department spokesman Melody Rames said this means at the ferries and in other locations on St. John.
“People driving may be stopped by police officers,” she said.
Police will be conducting random searches.
Foy urged those attending July Fourth Celebration events to have a designated driver if they are drinking. They should travel in groups for safety, avoid dark areas and leave their grudges and animosity at home, he said.
“The police will have zero tolerance for drugs and any kinds of violence,” Foy said.
He urged people to park in well lit areas if possible. However, since lighted parking is in very short supply in Cruz Bay, Police Department spokesman Melody Rames urged people who must park in dark places to travel in groups.
“Use common sense,” she said.
Foy also asked people not to park, stand or stop in handicapped parking spaces and not to block sidewalk access ramps, fire hydrants, crosswalks, other vehicles, driveways as well as entrances to homes, businesses and public roads. There is no parking less than 15 feet from a corner or in specifically designated spaces.

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Trunk Bay on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

Sales of existing homes showed another gain in May, benefiting from favorable affordability conditions and a first-time buyer tax credit, according to the National Association of Realtors®. May’s increase was the first back-to-back monthly gain since September 2005.

“There has been some concern that because language in the stimulus legislation states that those eligible for the credit include the 50 states and the District of Colombia that the territories are not eligible,” Delegate Donna M. Christensen said in a statement from her office. “However, for the Virgin Islands and Guam, the mirror tax makes changes to the U.S. code applicable to our territories.”

If you already purchased a home you can still use the deduction, so long as the purchase was after Jan. 1. If you are considering buying a home, the tax credit is another factor to consider as you budget and determine what you can afford.

for more info: marty@islandiarealestate.com

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St. John Festival 2009 - Schedule of Events

By administrator - Posted on June 4th, 2009

Tagged: St. John Events

Come Jingle and Unwind for Festival 2009!

Saturday, May 30, 2009
Pan-o-Rama
4pm at Franklin Powell, Sr. Park

Friday, June 19, 2009
Senior Variety Show
7pm at Winston Wells Ball Field
Click here to read the story >>

Saturday, June 20, 2009
Festival Bike Race, honoring Mrs. Yulandra Wilson-Potter
8am at the National Park Dock
Festival Mix
9 p.m. at Winston Wells Ball Field

Sunday, June 21, 2009
St. John Festival Princess 2009 Selection Pageant
6pm at Winston Wells Ball Field
Click here to read the story >>

Saturday, June 27, 2009
Miss St. John Festival Queen 2009 Selection Pageant
8pm at Winston Wells Ball Field
Click here to read the story >>

Sunday, June 28, 2009
Food Fair & Coronation, honoring Mrs. Cleamena Hodge-Duncan
1pm at Franklin Powell, Sr. Park
Boat Races
3pm in Cruz Bay Harbor

Monday, June 29, 2009
Festival Village Open, honoring Mr. James Penn “Pennville”
7pm at Cruz Bay Parking Lot

Friday, July 3, 2009
Cultural Day
3pm at Franklin Powell, Sr. Park

Saturday, July 4, 2009
J’ouvert
4am throughout Cruz Bay
Parade
11am starting at the National Park Dock
Fireworks Display
9pm at Cruz Bay Harbor

Sunday, July 5, 2009
Festival Beach Jam
1pm at Oppenheimer Beach

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Filed under: Local News and Events

St. John Cabinets is thriving as the exclusive retailer on St. John, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, for Elmwood Cabinets and TopKnobs cabinet hardware.  They will also soon be adding appliances from Wolf and Subzero to round out their product line.  St. John Cabinets sells to contractors, developers, business-owners and homeowners.  Their high-touch customer service strategy includes complete design and installation services.

This entrepreneur has an enviable track record of building successful start ups and is now ready to take on new challenges. She will work closely with a new owner in order to facilitate a smooth and successful transition.  Are you ready to give up life in the fast lane for life in the left lane (we drive on the left!)?  If so, take a closer look at this very profitable turnkey business opportunity.  It could be the key to living your dream.

So wouldn’t you rather be living and working in a laid-back warm tropical setting?  The island of St. John, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, is the American jewel of the Caribbean.  The National Park occupies about 2/3 of the island’s 20 square miles and is home to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches.  Over the past 10 years St. John has experienced explosive growth in tourism.  One result is the construction of many luxury villas and condominiums yet the island is still without need of even one traffic light!  St. John Cabinets was established to fill an ever increasing demand for the look of fine custom cabinetry without the long lead times and expense of hiring custom cabinet makers.   The seller has recognized this opportunity and in a few short years has built a thriving business operating from an efficient showroom in a prime location.  Consistent quality and a passion for customer service have made this business a winner.

For more information contact listing broker: marty@islandiarealestate.com

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“HANSEN BAY 7A” is an 18 Acre  waterfront parcel with trade wind breezes and great water views over Long Bay, Round Bay to the north, west to Rams Head and south to St. Croix.  Deeded rights to sandy beach at Long Bay.  Permitted preliminary subdivision map available on request .  This is an easy project for the first time developer or perfectly suited for a very private estate.  $3,180,000 down from $5.5

For more information on this parcel or any other real estate on St. John, VI contact Merry  340 776-6666  merryvi@aol.com

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Marketplace Gym Reopened!

“Gym in Paradise” is open again for business, having been closed for over two months. Now called “Hardware Abs” it is under management of the former owners, Terry and Tom Bertolino and Kate and Jim Swan.

Freshly painted and with all equipment in good order, the doors opened at the old fee of $65.00 per month with discounts for multiple month packages. The yoga room at the rear of the space is also available for rent. Open Monday through Saturday from 6am to 9pm, call the Swans or Bertolinos at 340-693-8780 for information.

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Fabulous views of Drake’s Passage over Hurricane Hole to Tortola,Virgin Gorda, Fallen Jerusalem, Salt & Cooper Islands. A very private location on lower Bordeaux Mountain with great breezes and easy access. Perfect for a private home or this large 1.8 lot has development potential. Zoning is R-2 (1/4 acre minimum) and the parcel can be subdivided into maximum of 7 lots.  Just $1.1M 

Call or E-mail for more information on this or any other real estate on St. John, VI

Merry     340 776-6666    merryvi@aol.com

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Filed under: New Listings