Community Affairs

Bryan Re-Establishes Virgin Islands Interagency Council On Homelessness
CHRISTIANSTED — In observance of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, November 16 – 24, Governor Albert Bryan, Jr. hosted an inaugural meeting re-establishing the Virgin Islands Interagency Council on Homelessness (VIICH) at Government House in St. Croix on Tuesday. The Council, led by Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner

Friends Of NPS: ‘Getting To Know Buck Island’s Sharks’ Will Take Place This Week
CHRISTIANSTED — The Friends of the National Park Service will be holding a discussion called: “Getting To Know Buck Island’s Sharks” this week. The group said that the informative talk takes place on Wednesday, November 20 at 5:30 p.m. at the Guinea Company Warehouse on Company Street in Christiansted. (Click for Map). Grace

Make-A-Wish St. Croix Teen’s Dream Comes True Aboard Disney Cruise Line
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A St. Croix teenager got a welcome home celebration worthy of any hero. But Lowell Thomas, 13, isn’t just any young person on the Big Island. He struggles with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and survived a heart transplant in 2017. Thomas recently returned from a week-long Disney cruise to

Former VING Member Named New Civilian Aide To U.S. Army Secretary
WASHINGTON — A former Virgin Islands National Guard member was appointed a new civilian aide to the secretary of the U.S. Army this week. During a ceremony at the Pentagon on November 13, Beresford Edwards was given that distinction by Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy to represent the territory.

First Annual Paws & Claws Fundraiser To Be Held Next Weekend On St. Thomas
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Off The Rocks Rescue is hosting their inaugural fundraiser at host location Caribbean Fish Market, St. Thomas, on Saturday, November 23, from 4 to 7 p.m. A $30.00 donation includes two glasses of wine, compliments of Bellows International, two raffle tickets for a chance to win fabulous

2 VIPD Officers Will Man Juan Luis Hospital Due To ‘Escalating Gun Violence’
CHRISTIANSTED — Acting Juan Luis Hospital Chief Executive Officer Dyma Williams today announced the graduation of hospital-based law enforcement officers Dequan Bondieumaitre and Claudelle Abraham from the Virgin Islands Police Academy on November 4. Officers Dequan Bondieumaitre and Claudelle Abraham are the first hospital-based peace officers in the territory, Williams said.

Music Academy Offering Scholarships For New Members Of VI Youth String Orchestra
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — G-Clef Music Academy successfully launched its VI Youth String Orchestra earlier this year. After the summer break, G-Clef has been eager to continue and expand the orchestra with new members, said G-Clef’s James Gumbs. G-Clef is opening up membership through a scholarship opportunity. Interested youths, ages eight to 17,

UVI Board of Trustees Approves Fiscal Year 2020 Budget, Fundraising Goals
FREDERIKSTED — The University of the Virgin Islands Board of Trustees approved a Fiscal Year 2020 Budget of $47.1 million in a regular session of its quarterly meeting on Saturday. The Board also set the Fiscal Year 2020 fundraising goal at $3 million and the Alumni Giving rate at a

Virginia Native To Represent USVI In 2019 Miss Universe Pageant in Atlanta
ATLANTA — A Virginia native will represent the territory in an upcoming international beauty and talent pageant. Andrea Piecuch, 25, will be up on stage as the United States Virgin Islands’ hopeful in the Miss Universe 2019 competition in Georgia. It is the 68th edition of the international beauty pageant

UVI Hackathon 2019 Winners Present Solutions to Power
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — The University of the Virgin Islands announces the winners of the 6th annual Hackathon, which was held on both the St. Thomas and Albert A. Sheen Campuses on October 18 and 19, and October 25 and 26, respectively. The marathon app concept development competition was keenly contested