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MARTIN P.R. KEEPS THE WORLD UPDATED

St. Croix To Host Annual Thanksgiving "Jump Up"
St. Croix will host the sixth annual Thanksgiving "Jump Up" in historic Christiansted, November 26, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Visitors can experience the festive spirit of the islands as local bands perform a variety of island music and Alli Paul's Original Mocko Jumbie Dancers demonstrate their rhythmic coordination. Area shops and restaurants will be open late for business and offer special Jump Up discounts. "Jump Up Bucks" will also be given away the week prior to the event and can be used toward purchases at participating Christiansted Restaurant and Retail Association businesses on November 26. For more information, call (340) 713-8012 or e-mail inquiries to plynn@prisco.vi.
V.I. Ecotours Wins Ecotourism Award
St. Thomas' Virgin Islands Ecotours has been selected as the recipient of an honorable mention in this year's Islands magazine international ecotourism award competition. The award was formally announced yesterday during the award luncheon at the Caribbean Tourism Organization's annual conference, held this week in the Dominican Republic. V.I. Ecoutours will be featured in the September/October issue of Islands magazine, which has a circulation of 220,000, and is published eight times a year.
The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas Announces $75 Million Expansion Project
The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas recently announced several additions to its $75 million expansion project scheduled to begin in October 1999. Two new, peach-stucco buildings, housing 24 suites, 24 guestrooms and the Private Club Lounge, will be developed adjacent to the resort on Bluebeard's Beach.
A complete 8,700-square-foot spa and fitness center will also be constructed featuring nine treatment rooms and sophisticated spa services which include: a wide variety of cardiovascular and weight-training equipment; a whirlpool spa; a freshwater pool; and a children's pool.
The new Ritz-Carlton Club, luxury private club residences at the five-star level, will be developed at the resort site. All 152 existing guestrooms and suites will also undergo a complete refurbishment including new furniture, carpeting, draperies and bed linens.
Distinctive of the territory, light colors and tropical designs will characterize the new Caribbean-inspired décor. New air conditioning and plumbing systems will also be installed to provide vacationers with even more comfort. The $75 million expansion project is expected to be complete by spring 2001. For more information or reservations, call (800) 241-3333 or (340) 775-3333.
St. John Shopping Arcade Hosts Millennium Kick-Off Celebration
St. John's Mongoose Junction celebrates the spirit of Christmas and the turn of the century at "An Elegant Evening in the Courtyard" millennium kick-off celebration on Friday, November 26, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. This premier shopping district will be decorated for Christmas and will feature live music in its courtyards, visits from local artists, special demonstrations, art exhibits and more. Vacationers may browse through the complex's studios and retail shops – all staying open late for the occasion – and featuring fine specialty items including jewelry, resort fashions, original artwork by local artists and handmade articles from St. John, the Caribbean and around the world. Visitors may also choose restaurant- or café-style dining. For more information, call (340) 693-8090.
St. Croix Native Wins International Award
St. Croix native Wayne James was recently awarded the International Humanitarian Medal for his work on the Middle Passage Monument Project. The project honors the millions of African people killed during the transatlantic slave trade. For the first part of the project, a sculpture was lowered onto the floor of the Atlantic Ocean, 427 kilometers from the New York Harbor, on July 3, 1999. Between the years 2000 and 2005, replicas will be placed on land to compliment the original sculpture, which faces Africa. The replicas will be placed in the six regions of the world where the slave trade occurred, namely Africa, the Caribbean, Central America, Europe, North America and South America. James will choose the site where he will receive the medal. Government House on St. Croix is one of the locations James is considering for the spring 2000 ceremony. The International Humanitarian Medal, awarded only 12 times in its 36-year history, recognizes individuals and organizations who have made international contributions and is administered by the Institut International de Promotion et de Prestige based in Switzerland. For more information about the Middle Passage Project, call The Homeward Bound Foundation, Inc. at (888) 334-9229 or (202) 333-0911. E-mail inquiries to info@middlepassage.org.
Wedding Consultants Provide Personal Touch on St. Thomas
For couples who want to make their wedding dream a reality, Weddings with a Flair wedding consultants promise the personal touch for the special occasion. These experienced consultants provide professional assistance to couples as they plan their nuptials in America's Paradise.
Whether couples are taking their first trip down the aisle or renewing their vows, numerous options are available at Weddings with a Flair. Couples may choose from four wedding packages or customize a package that is uniquely theirs, at an additional cost.
The Tropical Wedding package is the most basic of the four packages and ideal for the couple that desires a very simple, yet romantic wedding. The package price is $595 for the couple and two guests and includes: the wedding site; wedding arrangements; clergy and witnesses; recorded music; air-conditioned transportation to and from wedding site; and a certified copy of the marriage certificate mailed to the couple's home.
The Precious Wedding package is $995 for the couple and four guests and includes the basic package features plus: the bride's bouquet, groom's boutonniere; an eight-inch wedding cake; a chilled bottle of champagne; and a basic photograph package.
The Elegant Wedding package is $1,295 for the couple and six guests and includes the Precious Wedding features, as well as one pair of personalized champagne flutes and a photograph album. The Flamboyant Wedding package is $1,695 for the couple and up to ten guests and includes the Elegant Wedding features, in addition to a deluxe photograph package with album, instead of a basic photograph package, and transportation to and from the wedding site in a Lincoln Town car.
Weddings with a Flair also offers a Vow Renewal package, reception services and numerous other wedding options. For additional information, call (340) 775-7361 or (888) 644-1417. E-mail inquiries to wedwithflair@islands.vi or visit the Web site at www.weddingwithflair.com.
Internet Site Offers Live Video Footage
Internet users can now view live video footage from Frenchtown, St. Thomas to Hassel Island at the "Live from St. Thomas" Web site. Web surfers can see the current weather conditions by logging onto www.st-thomas.com/view/ or www.st-thomas.com and select live video from the site menu.
The st-thomas.com Web site also provides links to access information on topics that include: attractions; hotels; dining; activities; weddings; real estate; island information; in the water information; weather; currency conversions; hotel and tourism association information; travel insurance; and miscellaneous information. Links to St. Croix and St. John sites are also provided. To learn more, visit www.st-thomas.com/view/ or www.st-thomas.com.

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