The Baha’is of the Virgin Islands joined believers around the world at noon Thursday to observe the anniversary of the martyrdom of one of the central figures of their faith, The Bab.
Those who live according to the spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit, to set the mind on the spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:5/6
Since late winter of this year, I have assumed it to be my responsibility as a clergy person to be a “non-anxious presence” for the genuinely or self-styled “afflicted” who have heeded the government’s “stay at home” protocols designed to help curtail the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a world where achieving a state of sustained joy may seem elusive — even impossible — for many, millions of Jehovah’s Witnesses and their invited guests in some 240 lands will attend a virtual global convention this summer with the theme “Always Rejoice!”
Law & Crime, the leading live trial and true crime network, has announced its expansion into many of the most popular tourist spots in the Caribbean. The network recently expanded with cable providers in the U.S., including Verizon FiOS and Cincinnati Bell, and has now extended its reach…
By Henry Kapples
The “Akeidat Yitzkhak” (the Binding of Isaac) resolved itself with proof of Abraham’s fear, faith, and obedience plus with realization that God, who is all about salvation, is always right around us (perhaps right behind us) ready to provide what is needed.
“Return to your stronghold, o prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.”
St. Thomas
{span}Marcus Daniel of Reichhold Center for the Arts films a performance by the Eccentric Moko Jumbies yesterday as part of the Division of Festivals’ Culture Pop Up for this year’s virtual St. John Festival celebration. Culture Pop Up events were hosted at the Caneel Bay Resort.{/span}
The Eccentric Moko Jumbies preformed Wednesday as part of the Division of Festivals’ Culture Pop Up for this year’s virtual St. John Festival celebration. The event was hosted by Caneel Bay Resort,and was filmed by Marcus Daniel.
In the darkness before dawn on Nov. 23, 1733, two enslaved Africans waited anxiously in Coral Bay for the signal that would mark the beginning of a revolution. The pair’s peers had hidden knives in a wood delivery to Coral Bay’s Fort Fredericksvaern, which they used to kill every soldier but…
Brown Bay, present day. In 1734, this is where Breffu’s story ended.
With St. John Festival going virtual this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, members of the St. John Festival & Cultural Organization—which handed over the reins to the Department of Tourism’s Division of Festivals—looked back on their memories from Festivals past.
As part of their community COVID-19 response to support distanced learning, the United Way of the U.S. Virgin Islands introduces the “In It to Win It” summer book club initiative for Virgin Islands students.
Join Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights for a virtual quelbe concert Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. The concert, to be held via Zoom, will include the band’s classic quelbe sounds, with prizes for best cultural wear. Join the Zoon party at https://US02WEB.zoom.us/J/88449800194. Meeting I.D. is…
There may not be a live St. John Festival this year, but the 66th annual event will still live on as a pop-up virtual celebration starting Saturday and continuing through July 4.
By LORI ABBOTTS
As more and more flights return to the territory, St. John hotels report that July’s occupancy is looking better than June, though the absence of St. John Festival coupled with coronavirus fears is keeping occupancy rates far below normal. Cruz Bay Boutique Hotel, which is typically sold out…
The USVI Storm Strong program is collecting recipes from the community to publish a hurricane-themed cookbook. The cookbook, “One Territory, One Pot: Easy Recipes for Hard Times” seeks to find creative and delicious ways to spice up meals during and following a storm using the non-perishable…
In my more than 30 years teaching junior high classes of church school, I made it a practice to start the school year, every year, with the frightening passage in Matthew chapter 10, especially verses 34 to 39 in which Jesus warns his disciples:
Art Uncorked, a weekly art class hosted by St. Thomas resident Amy Gibbs, returned this past week after a three-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic disease. The two-hour class takes place on Wednesday nights from 7 to 9 p.m.
There are different projects each week that allow the participants to experiment with numerous types of painting styles such as acrylic, water color, pastel, and oil. In addition to these painting techniques, other projects include wine glass painting and recycled art.
For Gibbs, creating art is a therapeutic exercise in which people from all walks of life can find a soothing sense of relaxation. She started this class because art has had a profound effect on her life and she wants to share that joy and ease with others.
Gibbs also wanted to create a class that allows the community to come together for a period of time and simply live in the moment. People just show up, paint what they feel, sip some wine, and share a few laughs. Wigs and costumes are also available for those interested in dressing up and being extra creative while painting.
Although artists of all skill levels are encouraged to attend the class, no amount of artistic talent is needed for one to enjoy the class. Gibbs said that she understands that many people without a background in art are scared to try painting because they feel that they are not good enough and that they might embarrass themselves. However, Gibbs revealed that one of her most rewarding feelings is when a novice artist who hasn’t painted since the second grade finally picks up the brush again and taps into his or her creative potential.
Even though Art Uncorked is a great way to meet other people on the island, there are also options for those wishing to take the class with friends and family. Groups of friends can schedule art parties in which they get to choose the specific project that interests them. Also, there are Family Nights intended to strengthen the bond between parents and their children. Gibbs stated that it is a great opportunity for kids to put down their smart phones and allow the family to enjoy the art that they created with one another.
Those who are interested can sign up for Art Uncorked classes by registering online at www.artuncorkedvi.com. Tickets are $40 per person and wine bottles can be purchased for $10. For private events, call 340-514-5257.
Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School’s (BCB) Full Force Engineers team is the 2019-2020 winner of the national MATHCOUNTS Video Challenge. The challenge required students to select and solve a problem in a visually creative way while displaying the students’ mathematical skills. The team topped…
A combination of virtual and live concerts by local musicians can be enjoyed as venues slowly and cautiously book live performances in the coming weeks. Virtual jams can be viewed on each musicians’ individual Facebook page. Visit Street Level VI’s Facebook page for an updated list of local music.
By LORI ABBOTTS
The Theovald E. Moorehead Dock and Terminal’s gravel parking lot at Enighed Pond in Cruz Bay is set to reopen July 1 as a paid parking facility. The V.I. Port Authority, which owns the parking lot, removed dozens of derelict vehicles and equipment from the lot last year and spent $400,000 to…
More than two months after the territory closed its doors to visitors, tourists began trickling back June 1, limited by a reduced number of flights arriving on St. Thomas daily. Vacation rental owners and managers report a vast array of circumstances from fully booked calendars to sparse boo…
This past week, the St. Thomas/St. John Friends of Denmark Society honored one of their former members with a special award. Patricia Nicholson-Jones, a member of the society for more than 40 years, received her award acknowledging her service from the society’s President Marlene Peterson-Bo…
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, Gen 1:1.
The Trinity is a special subject in our worship on the First Sunday After Pentecost, which is called “Trinity Sunday.”
Caribbean food and beverage industry aficionados have been raising their glasses every Friday evening to toast the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s (CHTA) new “Limin’ wid Taste” expositions. The organization’s Taste of the Caribbean judges, some of the region’s leading mixologists, …
From the twin traumas of Hurricanes Irma and Maria to the fear and anxiety caused by the coronavirus and the related economic fallout, Virgin Islands residents have faced numerous challenges over the past few years. Now there’s a listening ear with a unique perspective that seems tailor-made…
The handful of residents who showed up at Maho Bay the morning of May 24 was nowhere near the hundreds that usually turn out for the Friends of Virgin Islands National Park annual Beach to Beach Power Swim, but the group’s fundraising efforts surpassed the organization’s goal.
To assist the territory’s front line responders fighting the coronavirus pandemic, Oriental Bank made a donation of $20,000 to the V.I. Health Department for protective gear.
The University of the Virgin Islands Center for Excellence in Leadership and Learning (UVI CELL) has been reaffirmed accreditation status by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).
In preparation for the 2020 Census, slated to resume USVI interviews in early June, the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) sponsored the distribution of 5,500 copies of “WE COUNT! A 2020 Census Counting Book” to families throughout the territory.
With the help of the Nigel O. Hodge Foundation, Jayda Todman will receive the spinal surgery she needs to live a normal, active life.
Of the seven Principal Feast Days observed by many churches, the most important, of course, is Easter, with its reminder that God is all about Salvation so that in this world of God’s creation, we will surely, always, ultimately, overcome.
Sunset live stream
For the first time in more than two months, hotels and villa rentals will open their doors to tourists starting Monday. The arrival and turnover process will look a lot different than it did in late March, when the territory closed to visitors in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. On St. Joh…
The 40th day of Eastertide, the Major Feast of the Ascension, both exhilarates and saddens me, year after year. It always falls on a Thursday — because Easter itself is always a Sunday — exhilarates because of what it celebrates and saddens because of its non-observance in many corners of mo…
Those who knew 17-year-old Allegra Muilenburg as a young child growing up on St. John can’t say they’re surprised at the success she found on The Voice, a televised singing competition.
As a home decor artist, Ali Norton was uniquely poised to find success in the time of coronavirus. She had the fabric featuring her own watercolor designs. She had the sewing machine. All she needed was the inspiration, which would come in the form of a simple request.
Thanks to the Golden Age Ranch on St. Thomas, many older racetrack horses can look forward to a well-deserved retirement. This non-profit three-acre horse sanctuary in Smith Bay across from Lindquist Beach rehabilitates and trains them to be gentle horses, ideal for riding.
Our churches’ Easter season, referred to in liturgical jargon as “Eastertide,” is full of important religious landmarks:
Like all other non-essential businesses in the Virgin Islands, Coral World Ocean Park temporarily closed its doors March 25, in order to comply with the governor’s order to contain spread of the coronavirus.
Botanical Garden opens
Greetings to all my brothers and sisters across the Diocese, across the Caribbean, the nation and the world.
Mother’s Day had its origins in the best of quasi-religious intent: desire to heal the wounds of the Civil War, in which so many lives had been lost in our young nation, in expectation that no one felt the pain quite as much as the mothers of the dead. It was as if a gigantic Pietá — a sorro…
