| Coral
Bay Community Council,Inc. |
![]() Pastel by Vicki Rogers, submitted for CBCC Visions Arts Contest, June 2004 |
| 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 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. 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
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 May 9, 2011 April 30th, 2011 April 11, 2011 March 15, 2011 Monday March 14th, 2011 Thursday
Jan,13 2011 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. Jan 10,
2011 and second Monday of each month until June: 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. 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). 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.
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! 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. May 10th,
2010 April
12th, 2010 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. 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 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 December
14 Dec.
2nd 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. 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. |
| CORAL
BAY COMMUNITY COUNCIL, INC.
Office: 8-1 Estate Emmaus, Coral Bay, St. John, U. S. Virgin Islands Mailing: 9901 Estate Emmaus, St. John, VI, 00830-9587 |