Coral Bay Community Council - News and Upcoming Events

News and Upcoming Events

NFWF Grant Received by CBCC for Wetland Restoration on Department of Agriculture Property, Coral Bay; Will be part of Revitalization of Area. Coral Bay, St John, VI, January 19, 2012: The Coral Bay Community Council (CBCC) is pleased to announce the receipt of a $20,464 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Five Star Grant Program and its funding partner, the US Environmental Protection Agency. The purpose of the grant is for Riparian Restoration and Wetlands Protection in Coral Bay, St. John. The grant commits CBCC to a one-to-one match of in-kind funds, including volunteer services, donations, and partner activities, for a project with a total effort of just over $41,000.

The project will restore and improve the wetlands in the degraded area on 11 Estate Carolina (Parcel 11) along the roadside at the intersection of Route 107 and King’s Hill Road. This is the front portion of the property which includes “the Ag Station” in Coral Bay. Along with this wetlands restoration project, other improvements are being considered for the area including agricultural farmer’s plots on the part of the 4 acre parcel surrounding the Ag Station.

The goal is to restore the riparian area using native trees, shrubs and appropriate ground cover , so that it can serve as a community-based demonstration of appropriate species and plantings. Additionally, the project will provide environmental education through an afterschool program for children and project signage for residents of the community so they can learn about native trees and their roles in preserving and protecting ecosystems.

BCC is partnering with the VI Departments of Agriculture (VIDA), and Public Works (PW) to undertake this wetlands restoration project and to work together for the overall improvement of this area – which is at the very center of Coral Bay and visible and accessible to all. Additionally, part of the corner area that is not wetlands is proposed to become a community park area, possibly with benches, a domino table, and some play structures or sculptures for children, using funding beyond this grant. A covered farm stand is also being considered for sale of produce that the new farmer’s plots would grow.

Commissioner Dr. Louis Peterson and Ag Station Manager, Raymond Thomas, of Agriculture, Dale Braithwaite of Public Works, and Sharon Coldren and Tricia Reed of CBCC met for an initial planning meeting on January 10th to kick off the project and agree to responsibilities and timelines. Tricia Reed, the new Environmental Projects Manager at CBCC will manage the project. (See attached photo). The team also agreed to pursue the broader objectives of improving this central community location. “This grant is part of an integrated initiative for the betterment of the community,” said Agriculture Commissioner Dr. Louis Petersen.

A wetlands plant expert will be contracted this spring to design the plantings and public access and recommend removal of invasive species. As part of this planning process, a public meeting will be held to discuss ideas for the project and the surrounding land on Parcel 11 Estate Carolina.

Various groups in the community as well as individuals are expected to commit to volunteer maintenance and improvements so everyone can enjoy the area and be proud of it. Ultimately, there will be a volunteer committee responsible for ongoing maintenance. To support the planting phase this summer, CBCC is applying to be able to provide jobs to local youth through the Department of Labor’s summer job program, and seeking cooperation from other youth internship programs.

The project also includes funding for an instructor for an after school educational wetlands gardening program at Guy Benjamin School in fall 2012 for 10 interested students.

During the next year, CBCC will continue to work with the community and the Waste Management Authority to find a way to move the unattractive household waste bin site on the mangrove shoreline part of the parcel to a less visible and fenced convenience center with an area for recycling.

CBCC President Sharon Coldren concluded “The goal of the wetlands funding is to restore the area using native trees, shrubs, and appropriate ground cover and to serve as a demonstration of species and plantings that can be useful in Coral Bay, and inspire people to preserve more wetlands habitats, and also make good public and conservation use of the adjacent properties.”

CBCC encourages people to contact us at 340-776-2099, or coralbaycommunitycouncil@hotmail.comor to stop by the office
(in Coral Bay across from the fire station) to discuss the project, volunteer for project activities, or inquire about offering the expert consulting services needed.

Coral Bay Community Christmas Tree/Carole Sing – Thursday, December 22th - 6:30 pm at Sputniks Patio. Join everyone in singing caroles and welcoming Santa for the kids! This annual Tradition brings neighborhoods out to sing -- in a “competitive challenge for festiveness” between neighborhoods. So bring your voices and your neighbors – so you can sing loud! No talent required – just lots of holiday and community spirit. This is cohosted by the John’s Folly Learning Institute and the Coral Bay Community Council. Everyone is encouraged to bring gifts for Santa to give the children - so please buy a gift or two and wrap it and label for boy or girl and age – as appropriate. We always want to be sure to have enough for all the children! (You can also drop off gifts at CBCC's office anytime during normal working hours). See you Thursday, Dec 22 at 6:30pm. Parents need to accompany their children. Santa will arrive at 7:45 - if you've been good! Please contact Alvis Christian or the CBCC office, if you are willing to help with the logistics for this event – 776-2099.

CBCC Annual Meeting & Potluck Monday Nov. 28th The Coral Bay Community Council is holding its Annual Meeting and Potluck on Monday, Nov. 28th from 4:30 to 7 pm at Miss Lucy’s. Everyone in Coral Bay, St. John is welcome and should bring a favorite dish to share: Main dishes to desserts! Drinks will be on sale. Business meeting will be held at 6:30 pm. This will be a good time to renew your CBCC membership for 2011 or become a member for the first time. Let's all come together to celebrate living in Coral Bay! Bring your neighbors! We especially thank Miss Lucy's Restaurant for donating their wonderful premises for this annual event, and thank the local businesses who donate the drinks and supplies. For more information contact the CBCC office at 776-2099. Membership applications and lots of useful information can be found here on the website.

Click here for the VI Noise Reduction Law. The VI Police encourage you to call 911 with noise complaints, while they are happening. There will be a St. John Town Meeting on the noise law and enforcement on November 3rd in Cruz Bay. Details to follow.

The Coral Bay Community Council is holding an informal reception Thursday, September 8th, 2011 5:30 to 7pm, outdoors at the Johns Folly Learning Institute in Coral Bay to celebrate the completion of the NOAA and EPA-funded stormwater drainage improvement projects. The NOAA Restoration Center project managers are conducting site visits in Coral Bay - and look forward to the opportunity to hear from residents about the results of the projects. Join us in this beautiful setting, to celebrate the cooperative efforts of CBCC, neighborhood homeowners associations, the VI government, the Virgin Islands Resource Conservation and Development Council, and the federal government to protect our natural resources and improve our infrastructure. Everyone is invited to come to the reception.

Press will have an opportunity to interview the NOAA personnel and others. For more information, call the CBCC office at 776-2099.

Click Here for Property Tax Information Jan 23, 2011

JUNE 27TH MONDAY 6pm, – The Coral Bay Community Council PLANNING DISCUSSION SERIES will hold an additional meeting Monday, June 27th, 6 to 7:30pm at the Guy H. Benjamin School, Rm. 6 in Coral Bay St. John. Discussion at the previous June 13th meeting was so extensive on the dumpster relocation issue that we posponed the other discussion topics. Come this time to
1) share analyses by residents and Chris Laude, PE about the proposed water (RO) plant Environmental studies and evaluation process, and to
2) discuss infrastructure/planning needs for Coral Bay – what are our next steps? Shall we make recommendations to the Government? Shall we continue the series? Come be part of the discussion. For more information, call the CBCC office at 776-2099.

JUNE 13TH MONDAY 6pm, – The Coral Bay Community Council PLANNING DISCUSSION SERIES meeting will be held Monday, June 13th, 6 to 7:30pm at the Guy H. Benjamin School, Rm. 6 in Coral Bay St. John. This is the final meeting in the series. Come this time to 1) hear a report from the dumpster relocation committee, 2) analyses by residents of the proposed water (RO) plant Environmental studies, and to 3) discuss infrastructure/planning needs for Coral Bay – what are our next steps? Shall we make recommendations to the Government? Shall we continue the series? Come be part of the discussion. For more information, call the CBCC office at 776-2099.

May 16, 2011
6 TO 7:30 PM -- AT THE GUY H. BENJAMIN SCHOOL, ROOM 6. WATER PLANT IN CORAL BAY. Continuing - Planning Discussion Series May -PART 2: Possible Public Infrastructure Uses for Parcel 6-4 Carolina (where Public Works now stores soil and supplies): Infrastructure Land Use Planning for Coral Bay’s Future. Parks and Recreations, Public Works, WAPA and WMA all have possible uses for this site. Where should necessary public services and infrastructure be located in Coral Bay? Is more publicly owned land needed in Coral Bay?

May 9, 2011
CBCC Planning Discussion Series Meeting May 9th – 6 to 7:30 pm
Possible public infrastructure uses for Parcel 6-4 Carolina: Infrastructure Land Use Planning for Coral Bay’s Future. Parks and Recreations, Public Works, WAPA and WMA all have possible uses for this site. Where should necessary services and infrastructure be located? Is more publicly owned land needed in Coral Bay? Join us May 9th to discuss the new proposal to put a Waste Management Authority recycling and household garbage collection “Convenience Center” on this site. Another proposal for a WAPA water tank and standpipe for water trucks to support a proposed reverse osmosis water plant on the bay will be discussed in detail at an upcoming meeting. Be part of this public planning discussion. Look for more information on http://www.coralbaycommunitycouncil.org/Land-use.htm.
Please join the discussion Monday night May 9th at 6 pm at the Guy H. Benjamin School, Room 6 in Coral Bay.
For more information, call the Coral Bay Community Council at 776-2099

April 30th, 2011
Saturday, 9am to 11 am clean up: Wetlands, roadside and shoreline near the dumpsters!
Come join us for 1 to 2 hours Saturday am, April 30th -- to clean up the Wetlands area along Route 107 between the dumpsters and Island Blues. With the drought and recent roadside pruning, it will be easy to pick up the litter and make the area clean, before the foliage branches out. We have Bermuda grass seed to plant by the roadside too! The more adventurous can remove the large items of trash from the mangroves behind the dumpsters. Let’s make Coral Bay a more beautiful place!

April 11, 2011
CBCC Planning Discussion Series: Land Use Planning - "Wish List" Discussion:

CBCC's Planning Discussion Series will continue Monday evening, April 11th, 6pm at the Guy Benjamin School room 6. "I wish..." and "Wouldn't it be a good idea if...." will be the brainstorming session to highlight a whole range of community-based ideas for future land use, especially for public infrastructure. This session will feature the land use planning recommendations by Joe Mina, CBCC's stormwater engineer last year -- and all your ideas and wishes about how to improve the public infrastructure and various uses of land in Coral Bay. ALL serious ideas encouraged -- and maybe a few wild ones! Please come and participate in creating a "Wish List". CBCC will then analyze some of the ideas and report back. See you there!

Guy Benjamin School After School Program open house - Monday April 11 at 4pm at the school. Come see what the children have been doing this year in the Afterschool Program... You will be very pleasantly surprised about how many opportunities they now have. Would you like to be a volunteer for NEXT YEAR's afterschool program -- and share your skills and interests with our children. This is a good opportunity for snowbirds next year - since the core program runs from Nov to April. Let us know if you would like more info -- OR come to Monday's school event -- and you can sign up there for the volunteer interest list for next school year.

March 15, 2011
CZM Major Permit Hearing - March 15, 2011, noon, Marketplace, 2nd floor on one of our NOAA-ARRA projects:
Documents Letter, 6-4 Carolina Preliminary Plan , CZM Application 6-4 Carolina

Monday March 14th, 2011
The next CBCC Planning Discussion series meeting will be on Monday March 14th, 6pm at Guy Benjamin Elementary School, Room 6, in Coral Bay, St. John. Stuart Smith, Director, Comprehensive and Coastal Zone Planning- DPNR will lead a discussion about the draft Zoning Code revisions, especially the first detailed draft sections that are ready for review. These cover proposed new processes for development review and approval, managing violations and enforcement, and creating a future territorial comprehensive plan. The latest draft of this "Module 1" will be available for public review on DPNR’s website about March9th at http://planning.dpnr.gov.vi/documents/pubs.htm and at www.coralbaycommunitycouncil.org. Lending copies will be available in CBCC’s office. This is an opportunity to review and help guide these changes early in the law draft process, and consider the proposed law's relevance to Coral Bay and St. John issues. Everyone is welcome to participate. Tell your neighbors to come too! For more information, Please call the CBCC office at 776-2099.

Thursday Jan,13 2011
Lionfish have made it to Coral Bay. I know we have people in Coral Bay who would like to be trained to capture these fish while snorkling or diving.

Some lionfish have been seen in Coral Bay -- so we need to get a good local crew together to capture and kill them, before they reproduce more. Note they have been confirmed to have cigatura here -- so no eating!

The CORE Foundation is leading the effort to capture and kill these venomous reef predators on St. John.

Karl Pylick of CORE will do training on this Thursday evening at 6pm at the Donkey Diner. Find out the safe and easy ways capture lionfish.

I know many snorklers and divers are interested. CBCC is buying some nets and gloves. PASS the WORD

Jan 10, 2011 and second Monday of each month until June:
The Coral Bay Community Council PLANNING DISCUSSION SERIES will continue with its third meeting on Monday, Jan 10th, from 6 to 7:30 pm at the Guy H. Benjamin School (Room 6) in Coral Bay. This month's discussion will be two-fold. We will focus on protection of environmentally sensitive areas: wetlands, ghuts and coral reefs, including Local Area Action Strategies under the federal & DPNR coral reef protection and other programs, and DPNR's extensive range of responsibilities in environmental protection (air quality, water quality, regulating development, etc.). Given the significant personnel changes upcoming at DPNR, we will also invite people to make recommendations about future DPNR priorities, activities, and focus -- that CBCC will pass on to the Administration. Everyone is welcome to participate. Sessions are being held on the second Monday of each month until June, supported in part by the CBCC EPA CARE grant. For more information, call the CBCC office at 776-2099.

ANNUAL MEETING: Monday November 15th, Miss Lucy’s – and Potluck “Finger Foods” - Save the date! -- and please volunteer to help organize it.

Planning Series: Tuesday, Nov 16th -- The Coral Bay Community Council is launching a Planning Series of monthly discussion meetings highlighting basics in land use planning for Coral Bay’s future, from now through June 2011. The focus will be on infrastructure, community vision, development capacity, stormwater planning, environmental and cultural resource protection, economic development and discussion of options. Residents, government officials, and CBCC’s professional resources, as well as volunteer resources are all invited to participate in these meetings. Topics will be flexible, as suggested by the participants – the goal being to improve public understanding and discussion of land use planning options for Coral Bay’s future. The series will use resources funded by the CBCC EPA CARE grant , including the expertise of Chris Laude, PE., CBCC Stormwater Engineer. It is expected that some of the work may be useful for the rest of the territory too.

The first meeting will be held, Tuesday, November 16th, at the Guy H. Benjamin School Room 6, from 6 to 7:30 pm. The first topic will be an overview of planning issues and setting priority topics for future sessions. All are welcome. For more information, please call the CBCC office at 776-2099.

EXTENDED HOURS/DAYS FOR ST. JOHN VOTER REGISTRATION

Due to the unannounced closure of the STJ voter registration office on Aug. 5, the local election office will be open for extended hours on Tuesday and Wednesday (Aug. 10 and 11) from about 10am-7pm. Residents can get information about documents to bring by visiting www.vivote.gov

August 10th and 11th

The Coral Bay Community Council wishes to alert residents of St. John that the local election office will be open Tuesday and Wednesday (Aug. 10 and 11) from about 10am-7pm for people who want to register to vote beginning with the September 11th primary election. Registration will reopen on Sept 12th and close on October 2nd for the general election. The office is located just off the Cruz Bay Roundabout on the Southshore road. CBCC has posted a banner to remind people to register to vote there, and identify the location. Check the website www.vivote.gov or call the election office for documents you need to bring with you to register (press can provide this info).

Photo of banner available upon request.

July 30th, 2010

"Why is the water brown? Sedimentation studies in St. John bays and coral reefs" will be the special evening program on Friday, July 30th at 7:30 pm at Maho Bay Camps Resort Restaurant. Dr. Sarah C. Gray, Associate Professor of Marine Science and Environmental Studies at the University of San Diego is doing research here again this summer, this time on a 25-day field sampling program with 9 students. In this multi-year research program, she and her students are studying the land-sea connection to sedimentation in Coral Bay, Lameshur Bay and Fish Bay. She will share insights from her research with the community. Dr. Gray is a research partner in the Coral Bay Community Council's EPA CARE program and receives funding from NOAA for some of this work. You can come for the 7:30 program only, or earlier for dinner which is served from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Everyone is welcome.

Press contact: For further information, Dr. Gray can be reached at sgray@sandiego.edu or by cellphone at 619-200-1878.

July 28th, 2010

Erosion Control Blanket Installation Training - Wednesday July 28th, Noon til 3 pm, Sputniks, Coral Bay:

All construction workers and building contractors are invited for free training in the latest erosion control technology: erosion control blankets for steep slope construction sites. These blankets are now being used for Coral Bay retrofit work - to stop sediment from entering Coral Bay – and harming our reefs and marine life. Special blanket pins require special installation techniques, so don’t miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge and marketability as a Builder Who Cares. Randy Thompson of Propex will train on Wednesday, July 28th beginning at noon at Sputniks in Coral Bay and continuing til 3pm at a hands-on demonstration site. This is an EPA CARE grant Erosion Control seminar co-sponsored by the Coral Bay Community Council and the Island Green Building Association (IGBA). Participants are eligible for an EPA CARE - I CARE certificate upon completion of four seminars. Certificate holders will be publicized by IGBA as “Builders Who Care”. Julietta's Rotis will be served to participants at the special low price of $5.00.

FREE training and a cheap lunch with your friends – you can’t go wrong – see you there!
The session will begin with an overview of the current CBCC/VIRCD NOAA-ARRA Watershed Stabilization projects in Coral Bay that are just beginning construction. CBCC's new Stormwater Engineer, Chris Laude, will also be formally introduced to Coral Bay at this event. The community is welcome!

For more information, please call CBCC at 776-2099

June 10th, 2010

The Coral Bay Community Council will hold a CBCC Forum June 10th: 'A review of USVI Shark Research from 2004 to present' by Bryan DeAngelis and Dr. Greg Skomal. It will be the evenining program at the Maho Bay Campgrounds Pavillion at 7:30 pm Thursday June 10th. (The restaurant serves dinner from 5:30 to 7pm - this is the after dinner evening program for the guests too.) The shark researchers are returning this week for their 5th year of juvenile shark research in Coral Bay and Fish Bay. Learn about the juvenile sharks - 12 inches to 2 feet long - that live in our shallow bay nurseries. Over the years, the membership and volunteers of CBCC have helped support the research with donated hours, boats, gas, along with other grants. Concordia eco-resort has donated lodging. Come hear about the shark research we have all helped support. Everyone is welcome. For more information call the CBCC office at 776-2099.

Note that the program is being held at Maho Bay Campgrounds Pavillion at 7:30 pm, Thursday June 10th -- NOT our usual location.

May 10th, 2010
The Coral Bay Community Council's Forum on Monday, May 10th, at 6pm at Sputnik's will feature local Cistern Drinking Water testing results. Dr. Barry Devine will give a presentation of the water quality testing results done under the EPA CARE grant with the cooperation of residents. Results showed that locally available, easy to install ,water purification systems do work to make the water drinkable per national testing standards. More information on these solutions and how to do testing will also be shared. Eckerd College will also present their ongoing sedimentation research in Coral Bay. Julietta's Rotis will be available for dinner, if residents call Sputnik's by noon on the day to order them - 776-6644.

April 12th, 2010
The Coral Bay Community Council will be holding a community forum with Stuart Smith, DPNR's new St. John Planner, on April 12th from 6pm to 7pm at the John's Folly Learning Institute in Coral Bay. Stuart Smith will introduce himself and discuss what he has learned in his first month on the job -- and then listen to comments and concerns about planning and development on St. John from the audience. Participants are also encouraged to share their vision for the future of Coral Bay, as CBCC plans to re-initiate this process in cooperation with DPNR in the coming months. For more information, call the CBCC office at 776-2099

April 14, 2010:
Come Celebrate Watershed Restoration Ground-breaking in Coral Bay!

The Virgin Islands Resource Conservation & Development Council, Inc.(V.I. RC&D) and the Coral Bay Community Council (CBCC) invite you to participate in our Ground-breaking Event for NOAA Recovery Act-funded Watershed Restoration Activities in Coral Bay. The Coral Bay Watershed Restoration Ground-breaking will be held from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 14, 2010, on the second floor of the V.I. Agricultural station in Coral Bay. The Coral Bay public is invited to the Ceremony. The Honorable Governor John P. deJongh, Jr. and Mr. Samuel Rauch, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Programs, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, will be the principal speakers. Several Commissioners and community leaders will also be present. There will be time for press interviews from 11:15 to 11:30. Following the groundbreaking, a site tour will be conducted for V.I. Government and NOAA representatives from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

This event will highlight the significance of this project to the territory in providing dedicated funding to implement critical watershed conservation and restoration activities. These activities will help to restore degraded natural resources such as mangroves, coral reefs and fisheries as well as support building more resilient coasts in the face of climate change. It will also provide jobs and new skills in the territory.

Through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, over $2.7 million was awarded to V.I RC&D to implement the USVI Coastal Habitat Restoration through Watershed Stabilization Project. This groundbreaking event will kick-off storm water management construction projects to be implemented in Coral Bay utilizing $1.5 million of the NOAA-administered Recovery Act funds. By installing targeted watershed restoration practices, project partners are seeking to mitigate sedimentation – the primary land-based threat to USVI coastal and marine habitats. Please see the attached flyer for the agenda.

March 24 , 2010
The Guy H. Benjamin Afterschool Program, “The World Around Us”, has begun. It is in session Monday through Thursday from 3:30 to 5:15 and offers a wide range of both academic and extracurricular activities for children in grades K-6. read more..

January 11, 2010

Coral Bay residents are invited to attend a community meeting to be held Monday, January 11, 2010 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the John’s Folly Learning Institute. Coral Bay Community Council (CBCC), in partnership with the Virgin Islands Resource Conservation and Development Council (V.I. RC&D), will discuss planned storm water management construction projects to be implemented in Coral Bay with a portion of the $2.78 million in NOAA-ARRA Coastal Habitat Restoration grant funds received by V.I. RC&D. This work complements CBCC’s Coral Bay Watershed Management Project and utilizes designs developed under CBCC’s EPA CARE grant. Construction will focus on eliminating or reducing the most severe sediment plumes entering Coral Bay, and will include work on public and private roads including King’s Hill Road, Carolina Valley, Route 108 (lower Bordeaux), Hansen Bay, Johnny Horn Trail, John’s Folly and Calabash Boom. Work will be done in cooperation with homeowner’s associations, Public Works, and groups of residents who maintain their local roads. Local contractors are encouraged to attend to learn about bidding requirements. For more information, please call the CBCC office at 340-776-2099 or the V.I. RC&D office at 340-692-6932 x5

News Archives:

December 12 and 13
BIG TRASH REMOVAL - THIS WEEKEND is your chance to get rid of mattresses, tires, old furniture, and appliances at the Coral Bay bin site – legally. This is the Waste Management Authority’s annual big trash cleanup and metal recycling event. Take advantage of not having to haul these items all the way to Susannaberg as you normally do -- Just bring them down to the Coral Bay bin site – on Saturday or Sunday (12th and 13th)

December 14
Coral Bay Community Christmas Tree 2009 – THIS Monday, December 14 - 6:30 pm at the Coral Bay basketball court. Join everyone in singing caroles and welcoming Santa for the kids! This annual Tradition brings neighborhoods out to sing -- in a “competitive challenge for festiveness” between neighborhoods. So bring your voices and your neighbors – so you can sing loud! No talent required – just lots of holiday and community spirit.

CBCC’s role is encouraging everyone to bring gifts for Santa to give the children - so please buy a gift or two and wrap it and label for boy or girl and age – as appropriate. We always want to be sure to have enough for all the children! (You can also drop off gifts at Connections East and be sure to say for CBCC!) See you this MONDAY at 6:30 at the Coral bay Basketball Court! PS: If you are willing to help with the logistics that night – please email CBCC.

Dec. 2nd
There will be a public hearing of the STJ CZM committee on the Major CZM permit application for 6R-1 Carolina on Wednesday Dec. 2nd at 6pm at the Legislature building in Cruz Bay. This application is for the 5 acre rectangle at the corner of route 107 and Kings Hill Rd that includes at the NW edge: Love Citi Minimart and the small house behind it over to the SW boundary next to the former Pickles (now St. John Bar) property. The site also including the Domino Gas Station. Some stormwater measures are planned and CBCC is having them evaluated.

CBCC is holding an informative seminar Wed., Nov 18th, 5:30 to 6:30 pm at the Pavilion at Concordia Eco-Resort on “Water Quality Testing and Long Term Sediment Impacts to Coral Bay: New Research” Speakers will be Dr. Barry Devine, CBCC’s Research Coordinator under the CBCC EPA CARE grant and Gregg Brooks, PhD, Rebekka Larson, and Patrick Schwing of Eckerd College who will be conducting research in Coral Bay this week.

The CBCC ANNUAL MEETING and POTLUCK SUPPER will be held Monday, November 9th beginning at 5:30 pm at Miss Lucy’s. Put this on your calendar!

March 16th

The Coral Bay Community Council will hold a meeting Monday, March 16th at 6 pm at Sputniks to discuss the potential for receiving NOAA Economic Stimulus funds to restore natural drainage and correct erosion and sediment problems on dirt roads and elsewhere that cause sedimentation that threatens the marine habitat, including endangered coral. This funding is available for private land and public land projects.

January 15th
Dr. Sarah C. Gray of the University of San Diego will make a presentation, "Impacts of Development on Sedimentation in St. John's Bays" at the new Pavilion at Concordia Eco Resort in Coral Bay, Thursday, January 15th from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. She will describe her team's research on Stormwater Sedimentation rates in Lameshur Bay, Fish Bay and Coral Bay and how they are conducting this research, with the assistance of local volunteers and funding from NOAA. This research is a partner project under the Coral Bay Community Council's EPA CARE grant project and will assist in pinpointing problem areas and relative rates of sedimentation. Everyone is welcome - Drive the downhill road to the Restaurant at Concordia for parking. For more information call the CBCC office at 776-2099.

Jan 19th

Martin Luther King Day – “A DAY ON – Not A Day Off” - A National Day of Service
THE CORAL BAY COMMUNITY COUNCIL and the staff , students and parents of the GUY H. BENJAMIN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL are holding a PLAYGROUND MAINTENANCE DAY Monday, Jan 19th, 9 am til it’s done,. Everyone on St. John is welcome to come and participate in being useful and supportive of our local public school ,while honoring the memory of Dr. King through service to our community. Please join us!

JAN 20

POLICE COMMISSIONER: Coral Bay businesses will hold their 3rd meeting Tuesday morning, January 20th at 8:45 to 9:45 am at Shipwreck Restaurant, co-hosted by the Coral Bay Community Council and the St. Thomas- St. John Chamber of Commerce. There will be a brief business meeting, followed by a discussion with Police Commissioner James McCall about police coverage and public safety. All residents are welcome to attend. This timing will not interfere with enjoying the Presidential Inauguration on the 20th, since it begins at 12:30 local time.

2008

A Pre-Primary Candidates Forum will be held on August 27th beginning at 6:30 at the Westin Hotel on St. John. All Senatorial and At-Large Candidates have been invited to participate (whether or not they are in a primary race). This will be an early opportunity for the public to find out about the candidates and their positions on issues of local concern. The public is encouraged to attend and ask questions from the floor. The sponsor of this Forum is the nonpartisan Coral Bay Community Council. We hope to see many St. Johnians at this forum from 6:30 to 9pm on Wednesday, August 27th. There will also be time afterwards for informal discussion with the candidates.

Will there be marinas in Coral Bay? Can docks be put in? What are the government requirements? What are the practical timeframes? What environmental protection is needed for seagrass, turtles, and coral? Your questions and concerns on these important issues facing Coral Bay development will be addressed at this Monday, June 9th, CBCC Forum meeting – 6:30 to 7:30 pm, at the John’s Folly Learning Institute.

IF YOU ARE ON-ISLAND, THIS IS A “MUST ATTEND” MEETING – PLEASE!

Janice Hodge, DPNR CZM Director is the speaker. She will speak on DPNR-CZM regulation and use of submerged lands in the Virgin Islands, the Major CZM water permitting process and the environmental concerns that need to be addressed, esp. for marinas and docks She intends to give citizens a practical understanding of the application process, environmental concerns, and CZM mandates for submerged lands use.There will be time for questions from the audience – so please bring your particular questions about waterfront and water- based development. Looking forward to seeing you there - bring your neighbors!

The Coral Bay Community Council will hold its next forum on Tuesday, March 4th at 6:30 pm at the John’s Folly Learning Institute in Coral Bay. The St. John Commission on Youth will share the presentation they recently made to the Governor on the critical need for recreational facilities for youth on St. John, and their planned next steps to achieving their goals. They will share what they have learned, and what they plan to do next. The teens made an informative video that will be shown too. This is an opportunity to hear the young leaders in our community express their concerns, and find ways that we can all work together to support improving facilities and opportunities for our youth. Everyone is welcome!

CBCC MEETING: Monday, February 18th at 6 pm at the Johns Folly Learning Institute in Coral Bay. Wanda Mills-Bocachica, Director of Comprehensive and Coastal Zone Planning at DPNR, will be our principal speaker. As chief planner of the Virgin Islands, she will share her division’s planned activities to improve and update the zoning and planning processes for the Virgin Islands, and specifically for St. John. There will be time for questions. There will also be a brief presentation of techniques recently used to construct more environmentally-friendly roads by Bob Carney. Everyone is welcome! For more information, please email coralbaycommunitycouncil@hotmail.com or call the CBCC office at 776-2099.

Press Release:

Upcoming Events: