Sunday, February 28, 2010

Double research

Another double research kind of day. Happens every Sunday.

First research is the usual one. Do a crossword puzzle in my little study.

Then, breakfast at Donkey Diner. A sampler with scrambled, with the NT Times Sunday Crossword. This always creates the need for more research, which I do in the same little study. I usually do a little more of the crossword at this time, getting a few words. Then I finish the crossword in the new den.

You just have to be persistent.

Captain G. Piecost

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Dartmouth Squash News

This was from the Dartmouth College web site. News about the squash team, which ended the season 12-8. Only 1-5 in the Ivy League. How could that be? They beat both Brown and Penn. Brown is the color of poop.

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Dartmouth Men's Squash Wins Two on Saturday, Defeats Brown and Tufts
Courtesy: Dartmouth
Release: 02/14/2010

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Michael Shrubb won both his matches on Saturday in three games.
View larger Courtesy: Gil Talbot

Michael Shrubb won both his matches on Saturday in three games.

PROVIDENCE, R.I – The Dartmouth men's squash team played its final two matches of the regular season on Saturday. The Big Green won both its matches, 9-0 including an Ivy League victory over Brown.

Dartmouth will next compete at the CSA Championships hosted by Yale on Feb. 19-21.

Dartmouth began its day by taking on Brown on the Bears home court. The Big Green won easily, 9-0. Four of Dartmouth's matches were won in three games as Christopher Hanson at No. 1, Brian O'Toole at No. 4, Michael Shrubb at No. 6 and Daniel Wagman at No. 8 each were able to win relatively easily.

Robbie Maycock at No. 3 had a tough game against Brown's Benjamin Clayman as Maycock dropped the first game 3-11 but rebounded to take the next two easily. Clayman proved tough in the fourth but Maycock came away the victor.

Michael Lewis at No. 2, Ted Schroeder at No. 7 and Stephen Wetherill at No. 9 each had their sets taken to four games but each were able to add to the win total for the Big Green.

DARTMOUTH 9, BROWN 0
1. Hanson,Christopher (D) def. Thompson,Brad (B), 11-3,11-2,11-2
2. Lewis,Michael (D) def. Leanza,Adrian (B), 11-5,11-9,10-12,11-3
3. Maycock,Robert (D) def. Clayman,Benjamin (B), 3-11,11-7,11-4,14-12
4. O Toole,Brian (D) def. Davis,Patrick (B), 11-8,12-10,11-8
5. Lee,Luke (D) def. Greenberg,Adam (B), 11-6,11-6,10-12,11-5
6. Shrubb,Michael (D) def. O Connor,Eamon (B, 11-6,11-8,11-7
7. Schroeder,Ted (D) def. Holter,Christopher (B), 4-11,11-7,11-9,11-7
8. Wagman,Daniel (D) def. Bryan,William (B), 11-7,11-5,11-8
9. Wetherill,Stephen (D) def. Heitzmann,Alex (B), 9-11,11-3,11-7,11-3

In the second match of the day against Tufts, Dartmouth again proved too much for the Jumbos. In the No. 1 spot Alex Gross was the only Tufts player to last four games against the Big Green as Christopher Hanson was able to put him away in three after dropping the first to Gross.

The next eight spots were all won in three games.

DARTMOUTH 9, TUFTS 0
1. Hanson,Christopher (D) def. Gross,Alex (T), 9-11,11-2,11-6,11-9
2. Lewis,Michael (D) def. Subranni,John (T), 11-9,11-8,11-6
3. Maycock,Robert (D) def. Bradley,J. Zachary (T), 11-3,11-9,13-11
4. O Toole,Brian (D) def. Rind,Benjamin (T), 11-6,11-5,11-7
5. Shrubb,Michael (D) def. Dalury,Max (T), 11-3,11-6,11-8
6. Schroeder,Ted (D) def. Taylor,Sheldon (T), 11-6,11-9,12-10
7. Wagman,Daniel (D) def. Leighton,Scott (T), 11-6,11-6,11-7
8. Wetherill,Stephen (D) def. Kim,Andrew (T), 11-4,11-4,11-0
9. Kurth,Alex (D) def. Salisbury,Will (T), 11-0,11-4,13-11

Friday, February 26, 2010

Red Sox

Some people are actually questioning the offense of the Boston Red Sox. What?

The first 7 batters are wicked good.

Ellsbury
Pedroia
Martinez
Youkilis
Ortiz
Beltre
Drew

All of them are capable of wicked good seasons. In fact, I expect at least 20 home runs from all of them, with Youkilis and Martinez getting 30, and Ortiz getting 40. Who knows about Beltre. He has hit 40 before.

and then there are wicked good defensive players at centerfield and shortstop, where you need wicked good defensive players:

centerfield Mark Cameron
shortstop Marco Scutaro and Jed Lowrie

Thursday, February 25, 2010

A fix

I have to fix Elaine's cutting board today. Somehow it got two green stains. Good thing they weren't little brown stains har har hardy har har.

A little sanding, and then some oil. That should do it.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Scrabbke

I have seven scrabble names.

Axolotl
Captain
CTL
Henway
Piecost
Pokey
Zeke

All of these people are incredibly good. They consistently beat Master, who has a rating of 2000. Soon, they will all catch the ultimate player Genius. I guess once everyone has a rating equal to Genius, the playoff begins. Each of my players will win a game against Genius.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

What's a piecost

I was walking downtown yesterday and saw a piecost.

Really? What's a piecost?

Oh, about 4 or 5 dollars.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Polishing my table

I wish I knew more about putting a super hard finish on my dining room table. Right now it is sanded to 600 grit. The plan is to sand it to 1200 grit, as soon as some sandpaper arrives in the mail. But what then? I want to put a finish on it so it can't get glass rings. Right now it has a glass ring. Hopefully it will buff out.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

I put in a light fixture yesterday

I put in a light fixture yesterday. And then I went on a boat ride to Hurricane Hole, where I ate lunch and went snorkeling. And then it rained.

Of course, my little office, where I have my little peecee, got dripped on from above. Eventually there will be no more drips in my little office, or else!

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Boating again

I am going boating again today. Fortunately it is someone else's boat so all I have to do is show up, get on it, and go.

Probably I have to jump in the water and go snorkeling, but so what. I am going to shave so I can snorkel without getting water in my mouth.

And tomorrow, there will be a party at my house with all the people who helped build it.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Tax Review Board

This article is in today's St. John Source, which you should read by going to www.stjohnsource.com.

Judge: Tax Review Board Needs Beefing Up Before Bills Can Go Out
By Ananta Pancham — February 19, 2010

The government's intentions may be good, but after months of hearings, there's still not enough evidence to show that the issue at the heart of its long-standing property tax court battle – whether the territory has a functioning Board of Tax Review – has been resolved, according to District Court Judge Curtis Gomez.

In a 33-page opinion handed down Wednesday, Gomez denied the government's motion to lift the court-ordered freeze on property tax bills and said he will continue to monitor the board on a biannual basis until he determines it is functioning properly and in full compliance with the provisions of the 2003 settlement agreement that granted the injunction and what was essentially a complete overhaul of the territory's property tax system.

At this point, the government needs to prove that the board is meeting regularly and has a process in place to deal with the backlog of appeals that have been pending for more than 10 years, he said.

"To its credit, the government has implemented some of the familiar markers of due process, including providing notice of hearings and scheduling hearings," the judge wrote. "Notwithstanding those inroads, the conditions that motivated this lawsuit have still not been completely addressed. In spite of administrative progress and more frequent hearings, taxpayers with appeals pending for 10 years still have not been provided a full hearing at which to raise their objections to the real property taxes they challenge."

And if the board can't help its "longest suffering taxpayer-appellants," it can't claim to be functioning at "constitutionally required levels," Gomez added.

The whole point of the lawsuit – filed in 2000 by a group of commercial property owners challenging what they claimed were inflated assessments – and the subsequent settlement agreement was to correct the government's "constitutionally violative practices," Gomez wrote. So, the court should only lift or modify the injunction when the Board of Tax Review is able to provide all taxpayers with the due process guaranteed in the Constitution, he added.

And for those residents who have had to wait 10 years for a hearing, it can "hardly be said that a clear and certain remedy is at hand," the judge said.

But that doesn't mean the government can't collect taxes. Repeating what he has said in court for the past two years, Gomez wrote Wednesday that the government can issue bills at the 1998 assessment levels – it just has repeatedly chosen not to do so and "seems content to repeat the unfounded assertion that it cannot collect taxes, as if repetition makes it so."

Government attorneys have contended that it cannot collect taxes at the 1998 levels because of a new government law that sets up a new rate structure and allows the bills to be issued at the revised 2006 levels.

"The government clearly cannot issue bills at the rate that the Legislature has already repealed," government attorney Carol Thomas-Jacobs has said in court.

Gomez has disagreed with the government's position, saying that the territory's tax assessor can determine when the bills will and won't be issued. At most, the new law lays out requirements for how real property in the territory must be assessed, but doesn't force the government to immediately issue the 2006 bills at the new rates.

The court case has prevented property tax bills from being sent out for fiscal years 2006 through 2009, which officials say has heavily contributed to the territory's precarious financial state.

But the government did score one minor procedural victory Wednesday – which may be short-lived since attorneys for the commercial property owners have already filed a motion asking Gomez to reconsider his decision.

In his ruling, Gomez vacated a portion of the settlement agreement mandating that assessments be conducted in accordance with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice -- a national guidebook for real estate, personal property business and mass appraisals.
Gomez said Wednesday that the mandate was tied to a 1936 federal statute that has since been repealed, and therefore doesn't still need to be included among the conditions of the settlement agreement.
The statute required that property be taxed based on its actual value, and prevented the government from taxing real property -- regardless of its classification or use -- at different rates.
Attorneys for the commercial property tax owners lashed back Wednesday, saying the settlement agreement was also based on local law, which now requires properties to be assessed at fair market value.
Both terms – fair market and actual value – mean the same thing so the government's obligation continues, the motion says.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Fourth Haiku

Good villa rentals
Waterfront hot tubs and pools
Stay for a few weeks.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Villas Close To Cruz Bay

Here is a list of the 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom rentals available in the Cruz Bay area. All are an easy walk into town for restaurants, bars, stores, activities. Click on the links to see the full listings. You can send an inquiry directly from the link, or send me an email or call, and I will help.

Please note: Not all of these keep availability calendars. The fastest way to get a response about availability is to send an inquiry from the link. The owners will send you a response. Prices here are approximate, and may change. The property owner will give you a price quote.

Gerry Hills
Owner, www.stjohnvillarental.com
stjohncaptain@aol.com
340-642-3360

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1-bedroom

Azul de Mar – Mahogany Tree Villa – 4 rooms, pool, a/c in bedroom. $1,050 low season, $1,545 high season.
http://stjohnvillarental.com/finder/show.php?id=4

Caribsea – Mahogany Tree Villa – 2-level, pool, a/c in bedroom. $1,195 low, $1,860 high.
http://stjohnvillarental.com/finder/show.php?id=6

Caribsurf – 1-bedroom efficiency right across the beach at Frank Bay. $980 low, $1,400 high.
http://stjohnvillarental.com/finder/show.php?id=35

Coconut Coast – 7 studios right on the beach at Turner Bay. Will sometimes take short rentals if there is space in the calendar. Pool, jacuzzi. $189/night low, $289/night high.
http://stjohnvillarental.com/finder/show.php?id=12

Coral and Blue – Condo. Pool. $1,200 low, approx. $2,000 high.
http://stjohnvillarental.com/finder/show.php?id=36

Far Horizons – Good views, pool. $1,125 low, $1,425 high.
http://stjohnvillarental.com/finder/show.php?id=14

Garden By The Sea B&B – 3 rooms with sitting areas.
Garden Suite or Terrace View Room – $275 high, $200 mid, $180 low.
Wild Ginger Room – $250 high, $180 mid, $160 low
http://stjohnvillarental.com/finder/show.php?id=88

Harbor View – 1 bedroom apartment with small pool. $165/night low. $210/night high.
http://stjohnvillarental.com/finder/show.php?id=176

Hillcrest Guest House – 6 suites. Very close to Cruz Bay. Will take short rentals if there is space in the calendar.
November 16 to April 15-High Season
1-2 People: $1,300/week.
3-5 People: $1,400/week.

April 16-November 15-Low Season
1-2 People: $1,000/week.
3-5 People: $1,100/week.
http://stjohnvillarental.com/finder/show.php?id=19

Star Villas – 6 villa suites available.
Papaya 1 – $235/$1,610 high -- $165/$1,130 low
Star View – $235/$1,610 high -- $165/$1,130 low
Frangipani – $235/$1,610 high -- $165/$1,130 low
Star of the Sea – $235/$1,610 high -- $165/$1,130 low
Sugarbird – $265/$1,820 high -- $185/$1,270 low
Evening Star Studio – $150/$1,000 high -- $100/$675 low
http://stjohnvillarental.com/finder/show.php?id=17

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2-bedroom

Coconut Coast – 2 suites right on the beach at Turner Bay. Will sometimes take short rentals if there is space in the calendar. Pool, jacuzzi. $299/night low, $389/night high.
http://stjohnvillarental.com/finder/show.php?id=3

Far Horizons – Pool, nice views. Upper level of a 2-story villa. Close to Frank Bay Beach.
http://stjohnvillarental.com/finder/show.php?id=164

Palm Breezes – At Battery Hill – Condo. 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, pool. $295/night low. $450/night high.
http://stjohnvillarental.com/finder/show.php?id=149

Star Villa – 3 villa suites.
Papaya II -- In Season -- $285/$1,970 high, $210/$1,480 low
Star Villa (with pool) -- $395/$2,730 high, $310/$2,145 low
Sky Top -- $375/$2,600 high, $290/$2,005 low
http://stjohnvillarental.com/finder/show.php?id=16

Villa Larimar – At Villa Caribe. Condo with pool. 2 baths. Sleeps 4.
DAILY - 2 PEOPLE – click on the link for rates for 3-4 people.
$300 -- Jan 1, 2009 - Apr 16, 2009
$240 -- Apr 16, 2009 - Jun 1, 2009
$185 -- Jun 1, 2009 - Nov 1, 2009
$240 -- Nov 1, 2009 - Dec 15, 2009
$300 -- Dec 15, 2009 - Jan 1, 2010
http://stjohnvillarental.com/finder/show.php?id=152

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Another Cutting Board

I started a cutting board yesterday for S.A. Hills (ultmast).

I think it is wicked good. Of course, it isn't done yet. Maybe today I can finish the planing, routing, and sanding steps. Then add some legs, oil, wrap, and mail.

He'll like it, I bet.

ultcuttingboardmakeraroonie

Monday, February 15, 2010

Chores Today

Some chores for today - -

Fix a screen
Install magnets to close cupboard doors under the sink
Maybe observe the parking spot completion
Maybe do my www.stjohnvillarental.com accounting
Maybe start on a cutting board

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Lap Cat

My cat Henry is a lap cat. He is on my lap right now, as a matter of fact. When I pat him, he purrs. Right now, he wants a pat, and he is going to get one. A big hug. Here it comes. . . . It was a wicked one. He loved it, but then he jumped off and climbed onto the bed for a morning nap.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Parties all over the place

There are parties everywhere on St. John. Just no yacht club parties. Pretty sad to say this. Maybe I can have one at my house.

Immediate Past-Commodore Captain G. Piecost

Friday, February 12, 2010

Here is the Villa Finder page of St. John Villa Rental

Here is information about st john virgin islands villa rentals. You can take a vacation in st john, but you need to use this web site to find a house or condo or villa to rent. Go to St John Villa Rental and send an inquiry.

St John Villa Rental USVI Pool Wedding Honeymoon Villas Virgin Island Vacation Rentals.
St. John Vacation Villas
We recommend the following vacation rentals for your trip to St. John.
Click on the individual properties to see photos and descriptions.
Last-Minute Specials

For the complete list of St. John villa last-minute specials, click here.
For personal help, recommendation for villa selection, or for St. John information, click here.
Villa Location Type B/R Bath Pool Hot Tub Avail.
Arcadia Chocolate Hole Cottage 1 1 Yes - Calendar
Azul de Mar Cruz Bay Suite 1 1 Yes - Calendar
Bananaquit Cruz Bay Apt. 1 1 - Yes -
Captains Cabin Coral Bay Cottage 1 1 - - Calendar
Caribsea Cruz Bay Suite 1 1 Yes - Calendar
Caribsurf Cruz Bay Suite 1 1 - - -
Catch n Keep Cottage Coral Bay Cottage 1 1 - - Calendar
Coconut Coast 1 BR (7 choices) Cruz Bay Condo 1 1 Yes Yes -
Coconut Cottage Coral Bay Cottage 1 1 - - Calendar
Coral and Blue Cruz Bay Condo 1 1 Yes - -
Coral Dream Coral Bay Villa 1 2 - - -
Far Horizons Cruz Bay Suite 1 1 Yes - Calendar
Garden By The Sea B&B (3) Cruz Bay B&B 1 1 - - -
Harbor View Cruz Bay Apt. 1 1 Yes - -
Hillcrest Guest House (6) Cruz Bay Suite 1 1 - - -
I Delfini Fish Bay Apt. 1 1 - - Calendar
In Harmony Retreat Coral Bay Cottage 1 1 Yes - Calendar
La Barracuda Guest House Hart Bay Cottage 1 1 Yes - Calendar
Meritage Cottage Hart Bay Cottage 1 1 - Yes Calendar
Papaya Moon Coral Bay Cottage 1 2 Yes Yes Calendar
Rendezvous Cottage Rendezvous Bay Cottage 1 1 Yes - Calendar
Sea Cottage Gifft Hill Cottage 1 1 - - Calendar
Siempre Azul Coral Bay Cottage 1 1 - Yes Calendar
Sky Cottage Gifft Hill Cottage 1 1 - Yes Calendar
Star Villas 1 BR (6 choices) Cruz Bay Villa 1 1 - - -
String of Pearls Great Cruz Bay Cottage 1 1 - Yes -
Tranquility Fish Bay Cottage 1 1 Yes - Calendar
Turtle Haven Gifft Hill Cottage 1 1 - - Calendar
Valley View South Shore Suite 1 1 Yes - Calendar
Windcrest Villa Garden Suite Great Cruz Bay Suite 1 1 Yes - Calendar
Windcrest Villa Loft Suite Great Cruz Bay Suite 1 1 Yes Yes Calendar
~ Other 1-Bedroom Villas ~ St. John Villa 1 1 - - -

Bayview Ajax Peak Villa 2 2 Yes - -
Buddha Gardens Coral Bay Villa 2 2 - - -
Cameron Cove Coral Bay Villa 2 2 - - -
Caneel Trailside Cottage Cruz Bay Cottage 2 2 Yes - Calendar
Captains View Cruz Bay Villa 2 2 Yes - -
Carnival Beach House Klein Bay Villa 2 2 Yes - Calendar
Castle St. John Coral Bay Villa 2 2 - Yes Calendar
Coconut Coast 2 BR (2 choices) Cruz Bay Condo 2 2 Yes Yes -
Coral Breeze Great Cruz Bay Condo 2 2 Yes - Calendar
Daffodil Villa Fish Bay Villa 2 2 Yes - -
Far Horizons Cruz Bay Villa 2 2 Yes - Calendar
Hibiscus Gardens Great Cruz Bay Villa 2 2 Yes - Calendar
Horizons Cottage Coral Bay Cottage 2 2 - - Calendar
Kamabesu Fish Bay Villa 2 2 Yes - Calendar
Louisenhoj Coral Bay Villa 2 2 - - Calendar
Luna Vista Mamey Peak Suite 2 1 Yes - Calendar
MoonSwept Coral Bay Villa 2 2 Yes - Calendar
Mystic Ridge North Shore Villa 2 2 Yes Yes Calendar
Palm Breezes Cruz Bay Condo 2 1 Yes - Calendar
Palmy Daze Pastory Condo 2 2 Yes - -
Panacea Cruz Bay Condo 2 2 Yes - Calendar
Perelandra Cruz Bay Villa 2 2 Yes - Calendar
Rendezvous Villa Rendezvous Bay Villa 2 2 Yes - Calendar
Sea Turtle Villa Fish Bay Villa 2 3 Yes - Calendar
SeaCruz Cruz Bay Villa 2 2 Yes - Calendar
SeaRock Coral Bay Villa 2 2 - Yes Calendar
Skyridge Upper Carolina Villa 2 2 Yes - Calendar
Star Villas 2 BR (3 choices) Cruz Bay Villa 2 2 Yes - -
Starlit Escape Coral Bay Villa 2 3 Yes - Calendar
The Retreat East End Villa 2 2 Yes - Calendar
Time Out Chocolate Hole Villa 2 2 Yes Yes Calendar
Tradewinds Cottage Coral Bay Cottage 2 2 - - Calendar
Villa IntimaSea Chocolate Hole Villa 2 2 Yes Yes Calendar
Villa Larimar Cruz Bay Condo 2 2 Yes - -
Villa Madeline Coral Bay Villa 2 2 Yes Yes Calendar
Villa Tamarindo South Shore Villa 2 2 Yes - Calendar
Windcrest Villa Great Cruz Bay Condo 2 2 Yes Yes Calendar
Woodrose99 Fish Bay Villa 2 2 Yes - -
~ Other 2-Bedroom Villas ~ St. John Villa 2 2 - - -

Allesandra Chocolate Hole Villa 3 3 Yes Yes Calendar
Andante by the Sea South Shore Villa 3 3 Yes Yes Calendar
Blue Palm Villa Coral Bay Villa 3 3 Yes - Calendar
ChocoCruz Maria Bluff Villa 3 3 Yes Yes -
Cinnamon Stones Catherineburg Villa 3 4 Yes Yes Calendar
Cinnamon Tarn North Shore Villa 3 3 - Yes Calendar
Coconut Coast 3 BR (2 choices) Cruz Bay Condo 3 3 Yes Yes -
Coconut Hill Cottage Bordeaux Cottage 3 3 Yes - Calendar
Easy Breezes Coral Bay Luxury 3 3 Yes Yes -
Golden Dragon Fish Bay Villa 3 3 Yes - Calendar
Horizons Cottage + Capt. Cabin Coral Bay Cottage 3 3 - - Calendar
Idyllic Villa Great Cruz Bay Villa 3 3 Yes - Calendar
Innisfree Gifft Hill Villa 3 2 Yes Yes Calendar
La Barracuda Hart Bay Villa 3 3 Yes Yes Calendar
Love View John's Folly Villa 3 2 Yes - -
Odessa Hart Bay Villa 3 3 Yes Yes -
Rendezvous By The Sea South Shore Villa 3 3 Yes - Calendar
Sea Cay Rendezvous Bay Villa 3 4 Yes - -
Serenity Maria Bluff Villa 3 3 Yes - Calendar
Splendore Maria Bluff Villa 3 3 Yes Yes Calendar
Still Waters Chocolate Hole Villa 3 3 Yes Yes Calendar
Stone Cottage Fish Bay Cottage 3 2 Yes Yes -
Swogjans Dragon Bordeaux Villa 3 3 Yes Yes -
Tre Scalini Chocolate Hole Villa 3 3 - - Calendar
Villa Bijou Great Cruz Bay Villa 3 3 Yes - Calendar
Villa Mollo Coral Bay Villa 3 2 - - Calendar
Windchime Villa Gifft Hill Villa 3 3 Yes Yes Calendar
~ Other 3-Bedroom Villas ~ St. John Villa 3 3 - - -

About Time Ajax Peak Villa 4 3 Yes - -
Acqua Blu Boatman Point Villa 4 4 Yes - -
Amani Great Cruz Bay Villa 4 4 Yes Yes -
Argonauta Cruz Bay Villa 4 4 Yes Yes Calendar
Beach Garden Villa Chocolate Hole Villa 4 4 Yes - Calendar
Blue Skies Great Cruz Bay Villa 4 4 Yes - Calendar
Casa de Sonadores Gifft Hill Luxury 4 4 Yes Yes Calendar
Chateau La Tete Rouge South Shore Villa 4 4 Yes Yes -
Coco Tier Virgin Grand Villa 4 4 Yes Yes Calendar
Eleahs Garden Gifft Hill Villa 4 3 - Yes Calendar
Kamabesu Fish Bay Villa 4 4 Yes - Calendar
La Barracuda Main + Guest Hart Bay Villa 4 4 Yes Yes Calendar
Meritage Great House Hart Bay Villa 4 4 Yes Yes Calendar
Mystic Ridge North Shore Villa 4 4 Yes Yes Calendar
Peter Bay Beach House Peter Bay Ult. Lux. 4 5 Yes - -
Reef Bay Holiday Villa Reef Bay Villa 4 4 Yes Yes Calendar
Rendezview Hart Bay Luxury 4 4 Yes - Calendar
Sail Loft Upper Carolina Villa 4 4 Yes Yes Calendar
Sea Turtle Villa Fish Bay Villa 4 3 Yes - Calendar
Serendipity Chocolate Hole Villa 4 4 Yes - Calendar
Skyridge Upper Carolina Villa 4 4 Yes - Calendar
Sol Inclination Fish Bay Luxury 4 4 Yes Yes -
Southern Cross Chocolate Hole Villa 4 4 Yes - Calendar
Villa Anansi Klein Bay Villa 4 3 Yes - -
Villa Callaloo Ajax Peak Villa 4 4 Yes - -
Villa Claudia South Shore Villa 4 4 Yes - Calendar
Villa Colorado Great Cruz Bay Villa 4 4 Yes - Calendar
Villa IntimaSea Chocolate Hole Villa 4 4 Yes Yes Calendar
Villa Venturoso Cruz Bay Villa 4 4 Yes Yes Calendar
~ Other 4-Bedroom Villas ~ St. John Villa 4 4 - - -

Coco Caribe Chocolate Hole Villa 5 6 Yes Yes Calendar
Crystal Seaview Chocolate Hole Villa 5 5 Yes - Calendar
Innisfree Complex Gifft Hill Villa 5 4 Yes Yes Calendar
Islands End Coral Bay Villa 5 5 Yes Yes Calendar
Kismet Maria Bluff Ult. Lux. 5 6 Yes Yes -
Meritage Great + Cottage Hart Bay Villa 5 5 Yes Yes Calendar
Starlit Escape Coral Bay Villa 5 3 Yes - Calendar
Vida de Mar Dever's Bay Luxury 5 5 Yes Yes Calendar
Villa Tesori Rendezvous Bay Luxury 5 5 Yes - -
VillAllure Coral Bay Villa 5 5 Yes - -
Woodrose99 + Stone Cottage Fish Bay Villa 5 4 Yes Yes -

Chateau Margot Bordeaux Luxury 6 6 Yes - Calendar
Great Expectations Chocolate Hole Luxury 6 6 Yes Yes Calendar
Oceana Great Cruz Bay Luxury 6 6 Yes Yes Calendar
Ristaba Chocolate Hole Luxury 6 6 Yes - Calendar
Villa Paulette Fish Bay Luxury 6 6 Yes Yes Calendar
Villa St. John Chocolate Hole Luxury 6 6 Yes Yes Calendar
~ Other 5-6 Bedroom Villas ~ St. John Villa 6 6 - - -

Sirens Song St Thomas Ult. Lux. 7 7 Yes - Calendar

Thursday, February 11, 2010

source today

This article was in The Source today www.stjohnsource.com. This is our local on-line newspaper. Lots of stuff happening on St. John, at last. And the best news is the parking lot for the pond needs CZM approval, so we can get it the way we want!

Help on the Way for Cruz Bay Parking Nightmare
By Lynda Lohr — February 10, 2010

Work on the Cruz Bay roundabout is expected to finish by the end of June.

Construction on an interim 150-space parking lot at Enighed Pond Marine Facility is slated for the third quarter, Public Works Commissioner Darryl Smalls said Wednesday.
"We're in the process of getting the documentation ready for the CZM. We hope to begin by summer," he said, referring to the application process for a Coastal Zone Management permit.
Smalls sent out a press release Tuesday that outlined progress on the department's St. John projects, valued at a total of $18.7 million. He said that he's done the same for all islands to update residents.
Describing the lot's location, Smalls said it will be in front of drivers before they exit left off the barge. However, access will be from the roads that sit adjacent to the marine facility.
Developing the parking lot requires moving the berm that sits atop land dredged from the pond when the V.I. Port Authority constructed the marine terminal, he said.
The CZM application also includes a fish market to be built along Pond Mouth Road adjacent to the marine terminal, Smalls said.
A total of $2.2 million is allocated for both the interim parking and the fish market, but Smalls said that the projects won't use all the money. The remainder will go towards finding a location and developing plans for a parking garage.
Several attempts have been made to build a parking garage on local government-owned land now used for the parking lot across from the Creek, but all have fallen through. Smalls said he had no specific location in mind, but would look for a place that was closer to Cruz Bay's downtown than Enighed Pond.
"The bottom of the garage may have an opportunity for retail," he said.
In other Public Works news, the $6.9 million Cruz Bay roundabout is about 90 percent done. Smalls said he expects work to conclude before the end of June. He said that he plans an education campaign to help people understand how to navigate the roundabout.
While yield signs are in place on the streets that enter the roundabout, drivers continue to ignore them, as well as stop in the roundabout to let passengers out of their vehicles. These actions are dangerous to both motorists and pedestrians.
"We have a similar situation at Mandela Circle," he said, referring to the St. Thomas project also under construction.
According to Smalls, Public Works will advertise in February for the design and construction of two new ferry boats. One each will be leased by the government to Transportation Services and Varlack Ventures, the two St. John companies that hold franchises to operate between St. John and St. Thomas. They will fly the Vitran flag. Public Works has a $3 million grant to pay for the ferry boats.
Additionally, a state-of-the-art catamaran will be ordered to replace the aging Star of Life ambulance boat. A vendor should be selected by the end of March.
"I don't want to say too much because it's in the middle of negotiations," he said.
The government has a $200,000 grant from the Interior Department to work on plans for a new combined elementary and high school at Catherineberg. Public Works will advertise for bids in February. Building the school is contingent on a successful land swap involving V.I. National Park land at Catherineberg and land on St. Croix to establish a national park honoring Alexander Hamilton.
Meanwhile, work continues on the $3.5 million Route 104 improvement project, Smalls said. Additionally, plans are in the works to finish paving the last section of Bordeaux Road. It will cost $1.2 million, with work starting by the end of March, Smalls said.
In the third quarter, Smalls said improvements like drainage, surfacing and safety improvements will be done on Bethany Road and John Head Road, which runs through Catherineberg. Improvements to those two roads are expected to cost about $1 million.
Public Works plans to advertise shortly for bids on improvements to Cruz Bay Park, also called Frank Powell Park. This project should cost about $300,000.
About $250,000 is allocated to improve the Cruz Bay Recreation Center.
And finally, four bus shelters on St. John will be improved to the tune of $150,000.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Chores, chores, chores

1. Computer stuff
2. Take Chauncey to the vet.
3. Sign bank papers.
4. Get gas.
5. Pick up furniture from Tropical, after customs and tax.
6. Finish trim around country sink.
7. Shorten legs on table.
8. Elaine's (or St. John Summit)
9. Open mic (or St. John Summit)

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Today's Article in The Source

This article is in the online newspaper, www.stjohnsource.com, this morning. I suppose they'll eventually find this lady somewhere. Sounds to me like she took the money and ran away with it to a country with no U.S. extradition. I am not going to let her rent a villa from www.stjohnvillarental.com because of this.

Speculation Rampant Over Vanished St. Thomas Real Estate Broker
By Darrin Mortenson — February 9, 2010

She fled to Venezuela via Cuba ... or lost all her money in high-stakes poker tournaments … or she’s living a posh life under federal witness protection, and the feds will soon fix this whole sordid mess.
That’s just a taste—hors d'oeuvres, if you will—of a juicy feast of rumors tempting St. Thomians in the wake of the sudden disappearance of St. Thomas real estate broker and businesswoman Rosemary Sauter.
The truth, however, has yet to even be sketched by law enforcement officials now on the lookout for Sauter ever since she vanished early last week.
As the broker and owner of RE/MAX Dream Properties on St. Thomas, Sauter held the only key to several large pools of money—escrow accounts into which buyers deposited down payments while financial institutions cleared real estate deals.
Without Sauter around to write checks, those accounts are now off limits to the agents—and their clients who need them.
Red flags, such as broken promises and late payments, alerted fellow realtors and brokers to potential troubles last month. And after several recent deals failed to close due to insufficient funds in the escrow accounts controlled by Sauter, the St. Thomas Board of Realtors last week issued an urgent statement warning members not to deposit money into RE/MAX Dream Properties accounts.
Since then, the question on many V.I. minds is: Where’s Rosemary and how much money has she got?
By adding all the claims from people who’ve come to the board saying they cannot access funds in the RE/MAX accounts, St. Thomas Board of Realtors President Kerstin McConnell said Monday that she can confirm at last that approximately $2.5 million is now at stake.
The board has yet to explain, however, how the industry could permit one person to control—or disappear with—so much.
Everyone now seems to know someone, who knows someone, who has lost something to Sauter.
To read the recent comments on the popular St. Thomas blog might lead one to expect lynch mobs—or libel suits.
Amid the clamor, however, officials from the V.I. Department of Justice have been relatively hushed.
After issuing a statement Friday confirming there was a warrant for her arrest, Justice officials on Monday cautioned against reaching conclusions, saying investigators have not yet examined Sauter’s accounts and cannot confirm that anything is actually missing.
“We have no warrant to search her property or office,” DOJ spokeswoman Sara Lezama said Monday.
“At this point we have just secured the properties,” she said of Sauter’s Lockhart Gardens RE/MAX office, where computers and files might hold the key to the accounts in question. That office has been sealed shut since Friday with tape that reads, “Crime scene.”
“Right now everyone is just speculating,” Lezama said.
So far, she said, local authorities have not frozen Sauter’s accounts.
A local judge last week also denied a temporary restraining order against Sauter requested by several local realtors trying to block Sauter’s access to the RE/MAX escrow accounts.
“We have issued an arrest warrant, and we are looking for her,” Lezama said Monday, adding that the DOJ has enlisted the help of U.S. Marshals to spot Sauter at air- and seaports.
Not much more information has been issued by either local or federal authorities.
And that’s very frustrating to residents such as Chuck Pessler, who said that on the day before it was sealed by police, he visited Sauter’s Lockhart Gardens office looking for some $22,000 he’d deposited with RE/MAX Dream Properties for a condo.
“It looked like it had been ransacked,” said Pessler, who had been promised a check from Sauter to close a purchase on a Cowpet Bay condo on Jan. 29.
Pessler said he had made a good faith deposit of $1,000 to Sauter, and then deposited $21,500 as a down payment with Sauter through his real estate agent, Marsha Maynes.
Sauter never sent him a check, he said.
Since his deal failed, Pessler said he has asked the V.I. Attorney General’s office for help, with no success. He said he was offered no way to get a refund for his money and was disappointed to learn that the DOJ had not issued a warrant or restricted Sauter’s access to the accounts.
When Pessler received copies of both of his checks, he said he knew for sure that he’d been had. The $1,000 check showed that it was deposited into a RE/MAX escrow account. But the one for $21,500, however, showed that it had been deposited into the RE/MAX operating account.
“I’ve lost my money, from what I can tell,” Pessler said Monday. “And I’ve certainly lost my house, my condo,” he said, adding that the seller has since gone into foreclosure and the bank took the condo.
As stories like Pessler’s continue to surface around the island, and as Sauter remains at large, the hows and whys of her disappearance and the disposition of millions of dollars remain ripe for rumor at Sauter’s expense.
“It’s had a tremendous trickle-down effect,” Pessler said. “I think we’ll find out a lot of people got hurt

Monday, February 8, 2010

Photograph of my dining room table.

This post does not have a photo of the dining room table. There is one in the camera, and there will soon be a few others, including on facebook.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Secalocagee

If you can't find a locagee, secalocagee. Fortunately, I am never in this position, because I do not seek the treasure.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

My table

I worked on the legs and the skirt yesterday. Today is wax job today. Then my little house in the woods gets a wicked table. Maybe later today I will play some scrabble on my little peecee, if I have time. Got to do some research first in my special library, then eat two fried eggs on toast while watching sports center. I can feel the research building up. Gotta concentrate on it so it is wicked good.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Dinner

We had dinner last night next door. What was it, you ask? It was some kind of chicken with sauce, and some salad, and some other stuff. And everybody drank wine. Later, two bald guys chatted. I have more hair than either of them. And we all went to bed, tired but happy.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

More villa rental info

Here is some more information about st john virgin islands villa rentals. You can take a vacation in st john, but you need to use either of these web sites to find a house or condo or villa to rent. When you use these web sites, you end up with a wicked good villa. If you are planning a trip for summer, you might as well do some research and use this St John Villa Rental This is the best choice of all villa rentals and has a photo gallery of st john attractions. St John USVI Villa Rentals Frank Bay Villas are perfect for st john vacations. In fact, they are so good that they recently won an award for top websites in the whole Caribbean for travel to the Virgin Islands. What do you think about that? You think it is wicked good, most likely. I bet that no-one else in the usvi has won such an award. Here is the name again, in case you need to look at it one more time. St John Vacation Villa Rental A villa on St John is very relaxing. Go to Cruz Bay or Coral Bay, or get something on the water with a view. And maybe you should try this one as well, since it is extremely exciting. St John Villa Rentals Wedding or honeymoon? Try the wedding section, or the last-minute specials. And don't forget to check out St John Villa Rentals. for information about shopping centers, beaches, activities, and loads of usvi villa rentals. These are all wicked good for information.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

News from The Source

Today's "The Source" is full of news, and you should read it. Here are the beginnings of the stories.

V.I. Track Stars Shine in Europe, United States

Laverne Jones-Ferrette and Tabarie Henry, well-known V.I. track stars and teammates from the 2008 Beijing Olympics, set world-leading times within hours of each other Sunday at track meets in Germany and Texas, gaining notice from…
EPA Administrator Tours Coral Bay Watersheds

Smart growth is a priority for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Region 2 Administrator Judith Enck said Tuesday as she toured the Coral Bay area with the Coral Bay Community Council and EPA staff…
Brief: DeJongh Nominates Four for Government Slots

Gov. John deJongh Jr. has nominated James Benton and Roberto Cintron to the Land Use Appeals Board for the district of St. Croix and reappointed John Woods for the St. Thomas-St. John district board, according…
Crime Stoppers Needs Your Help

Crime Stoppers is asking your help to solve the following crimes. Even the smallest bit of information may be just what law enforcement needs to solve these cases.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Henway

I was walking in Cruz Bay yesterday and saw a henway.

What's a henway?

Oh, 2-3 pounds.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Monday = no post day today

Monday again. So I am not going to post in this blog today.