The Virgin Islands Department of Education proudly congratulates all student participants in the District Spelling Bee Competitions held across the territory in the St. Thomas–St. John District and the St. Croix District. These remarkable students demonstrated exceptional academic excellence, courage, focus, and determination as they competed for the prestigious title of District Champion.
The District Spelling Bees brought together some of the territory’s most talented young scholars, each representing their schools with pride and perseverance. Through rigorous preparation, long hours of practice, and an unwavering commitment to learning, these student spellers showcased the power of literacy, discipline, and intellectual curiosity.
Commissioner Dionne Wells-Hedrington, Ed.D., applauded the students for their achievements and dedication. “Our student spellers exemplify what it means to pursue academic greatness with confidence and determination. Their hard work and passion for learning inspire us all. Every participant is a champion, and we celebrate their courage to step onto the stage and represent their schools and families with distinction.”
VIDE also extends sincere appreciation to the dedicated teachers, principals, parents, guardians, and school communities whose encouragement and support helped prepare students for this meaningful academic milestone. Their collective efforts continue to strengthen literacy development and foster a culture of academic achievement throughout the territory.
The Spelling Bee competitions highlight the importance of language, communication, and scholarship, skills that empower students to succeed in school and beyond. Whether advancing to the next level of competition or returning to the classroom with new confidence, each participant has gained valuable experience that will contribute to their future success.
Have you ever wondered how transportation improvements are chosen across the territory?
The Department of Public Works is leading the way — from road projects to VITRAN bus services and even ferry transportation — and now, they want to hear from you.
You’re invited to attend a public meeting to receive an update on the USVI Transportation Master Plan and share your thoughts on projects planned through 2050.
Meetings will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m.:
On St. Croix — Tuesday, Feb. 24 at the University of the Virgin Islands Research and Technology Park or join virtually via Zoom call.
On St. John — Wednesday, Feb. 25 at the Cleone Henriette Creque Legislative Conference Room.
And on St. Thomas — Thursday, Feb. 26 at the Department of Planning and Natural Resources at Tutu Park Mall.
For more information, visit https://dpw.vi.gov/comprehensive-transportation-master-plan/ or search “USVI 2050 Transportation Study” on Facebook.
Help us shape your future of transportation in the Virgin Islands. Your voice matters
The 2026 Cipriani Phillips Ag Fair Meet / High School Championships delivered a full day of excitement, athletic excellence, and school pride as St. Croix’s top young athletes competed at the St. Croix Educational Complex Track. When the final points were tallied, the host school, St. Croix Educational Complex (SCEC), emerged as the undisputed champion, capturing both the Female and Male team trophies in commanding fashion.
Educational Complex runners. (Submitted photo)
SCEC’s depth and consistency across sprinting, middle‑distance, field events, and relays proved decisive. The SCEC females scored 80 points, while the SCEC males accumulated 82 points, comfortably ahead of the competition.
Good Hope Country Day School finished second in both divisions, earning 12 points in the female standings and a strong 40 points on the male side. St. Croix Central High School rounded out the podium finishes with 10 points among the females and 17 points among the males, showcasing notable individual performances throughout the meet.
The championship action opened with the 100‑meter dash, where Charlise Morris claimed gold in the female 100M with a time of 13.39 seconds, followed by Nehalia Giddings (13.91) and Sarai Gomez (14.01). Morris later doubled down on her success by capturing the female long jump title with an impressive leap of 5.10 meters.
On the boys’ side, Rajon Charles was the class of the field in the male 100M, sprinting to victory in 11.21 seconds. He backed that performance with another gold in the 200M at 23.26 seconds, cementing himself as one of the meet’s standout sprinters. Yahraya Doctrine placed second in both the 100M and 200M, while Kolebert Daisely added a bronze in the 100M.
Distance events highlighted endurance and strategy, particularly from Kennedy James, who dominated the girls’ middle‑distance races. James captured gold in the female 1500M with a time of 6:00.33, then returned to win the female 800M in 2:58.51, a double victory that significantly boosted SCEC’s team total.
In the boys’ 1500M, Ayden Cintron took top honors, crossing the line in 4:24.97, while David Morton Jr. claimed gold in the male 800M with a winning time of 2:14.81. Kolebert Daisely added another podium finish with silver in the 800M.
The 400‑meter races were among the most competitive events of the meet. Faith Eatmon led the female field, winning in 1:02.01, followed by Sarai Gomez and Juvantia Hurst. On the boys’ side, Juvante Hurst captured gold in 51.96 seconds, edging out Vedant Mittal in a tightly contested race.
Jahleya George was a dominant force in the girls’ throws, winning both the javelin (16.81m) and shot put (7.65m). Anna Simon earned silver medals in both events, contributing valuable points for her team.
The boys’ throwing events were equally impressive. Kahlan Beaupierre captured the male javelin title with a throw of 34.26 meters, while Jordan Vaughn followed closely behind and later claimed victory in the male shot put with a top throw of 13.94 meters.
In the male high jump, Isaiah Benjamin cleared 1.80 meters to take first place, also earning silver in the long jump behind Quinn Sayre, who won the event with a leap of 5.81 meters.
The Cipriani Phillips Ag Fair Meet / High School Championships is the official Virgin Islands High School Track & Field Championships for the past three decades, traditionally bringing together high schools from St. Croix and St. Thomas to compete on a single championship stage.
For the past two years, St. Thomas high school track and field teams were unable to attend, not due to lack of interest or preparation, but because the Department of Education did not provide the necessary logistical support for travel to St. Croix, despite formal requests being submitted more than three months in advance of the championship dates.
These championships are meant to unite Virgin Islands student‑athletes across districts. Ensuring equitable access and support for all schools is essential to preserving the integrity and inclusiveness of VI high school Track and Field.
Schneider Regional Medical Center’s medical staff met Thursday night with the Virgin Islands Government Hospitals and Health Facilities Corporation board of directors in the wake of a formal vote of no confidence, marking the first face-to-face discussion since physicians publicly rebuked the board over its handling of the territory’s hospital consolidation.
A recent no-confidence resolution from Schneider Hospital medical staff came after the board removed the hospital’s chief executive, Tina Comissiong, and elevated Luis Hospital CEO Darlene Baptiste to a role overseeing both hospitals as part of a structural consolidation.
Schneider staff said that consolidation began without consultation and without a detailed plan for the transition. Staff communicated their concerns in a closed-door meeting with the board Wednesday night, after which board secretary Christopher Finch reported that they had a “robust discussion” and gathered opinions while providing “information about additional steps for the integration and plans going forward.”
Jerry Smith, who chairs the V.I. Government Hospitals and Health Facilities Corporation board, told the Source Thursday that it was helpful to hear the physicians’ position.
“I do have a sense that they have an idea of the road map,” Smith said after Wednesday night’s meeting. “I also have a sense that they don’t agree with it, but they know what it is.”
With the consolidation, Smith said the GHHFC is “becoming a corporation that has central leadership for its institutions.”
“It’s going to be HR, it’s going to be finance, it’s going to be supply chain management, it’s going to be facilities — that’s all we’re doing, really,” he said. Historically, “the corporation was created to manage the hospitals, but then what happened was the hospitals were just cut loose to run themselves. And it’s not necessarily that the individuals were doing a bad job; they were just doing different jobs. So then it makes it difficult to maximize what you can achieve in a rural environment like we’re in.”
Smith added that most of the hospitals’ issues are financial.
“If you have money … you don’t have problems with buying supplies,” he said. “However, when you don’t have much money, you need to be doing a very good job of inventory management. You have to manage your supplies well. You have to have the policies that state how supplies are to be used. When you have an abundance of everything, you could kind of just haphazardly do what you want, but when you have minimal amounts of things, you have to manage them extremely well. And I see great examples of excellent work being done in different spots of each hospital, but there’s some learning that can take place.”
But physician leaders say their concerns go beyond disagreement with the board’s direction.
Dr. George Rosenberg, former SRMC chief medical officer, and Dr. Lori Thompson, president of the SRMC Medical Staff, said the vote was not about consolidation itself, but about process.
“We have, in theory, absolutely no problem with the hospitals merging,” Thompson said. “In many ways, it could be beneficial — purchasing power, shared IT resources, and the skill sets we already help each other with. What we are not comfortable with is the way that it happened.”
According to Rosenberg, the Medical Executive Committee received an email on a Thursday night requesting an emergency meeting the following morning, where they were informed of Baptiste’s appointment as territorial CEO and the naming of a territorial chief operations officer. Later that same day, Comissiong was released.
The medical staff requested a meeting with the board prior to its Feb. 13 meeting, Rosenberg said, but received no substantive response. At that Feb. 13 meeting, physicians voted by what they described as a significant majority to approve the resolution of no confidence, citing lack of transparency, stakeholder engagement, and planning.
“None of us as physicians, and none of the board members, in their individual capacities or as a group, has the skill, knowledge, or education to evaluate whether a merger is beneficial — and, if it is, how to proceed,” Rosenberg said. “You need an experienced consulting firm that specializes in hospital mergers. That was not done.”
He acknowledged that Ernst & Young was engaged, but said its role was limited to financial matters and did not include operational interviews with medical staff or senior leadership.
“There was no transition. There was no handoff,” Rosenberg said. “It was done in an extremely haphazard fashion.”
Physicians have also questioned the creation and filling of new leadership positions without public posting or what they describe as a traditional vetting process. Rosenberg said morale at SRMC “has never been lower.”
“This isn’t about the current leadership,” he said. “It’s about the process the board initiated — and our complete loss of confidence in their ability to manage and lead the hospital through something this complex.”
The medical staff is now drafting proposed changes they consider mandatory and plan to present them internally before determining next steps. While the board maintains that consolidation will strengthen centralized leadership and financial controls, SRMC physicians say their objection remains focused on how the restructuring was launched — and whether it was done with the preparation and engagement such a transition demands.
Meanwhile, the GHHFC issued a formal Request for Proposals titled “GHHFC System Strategic Planning, Integration and Turnaround Implementation Services” (RFP TB-2026-001), updated Feb. 17. The RFP seeks qualified firms to provide system strategic planning, integration, and turnaround implementation services for the corporation in both the St. Croix and St. Thomas–St. John districts. Proposals are due March 11.
Department of Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Jean-Pierre L. Oriol testifies before the Senate Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure and Planning Committee Thursday. (Screenshot from V.I. Legislature livestream)
A Senate committee on Thursday heard sharply divided testimony on a bill that would allow small-scale distilleries and breweries in agricultural and low-density residential zones, highlighting a clash between promised economic benefits and environmental and land-use concerns.
Bill 36-0211, before the Senate Disaster Recovery, Infrastructure and Planning Committee, would amend Title 29 of the Virgin Islands Code to define breweries, distilleries, microbreweries and microdistilleries and allow facilities producing up to 100,000 gallons a year in A-1, A-2, R-1 and R-2 zoning districts, subject to approval by the Department of Planning and Natural Resources.
Supporters said the measure would let farmers develop value-added products and agritourism opportunities. Opponents said it could divert scarce farmland from food production, threaten aquifers and coastal waters, and conflict with the territory’s new Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plan.
The bill directs DPNR, in collaboration with the Agriculture Department, to write rules for microbreweries and microdistilleries, including environmental standards for wastewater, stormwater, solid waste, odor and noise. It also requires public notice before such facilities are approved in agricultural and residential zones. Opponents said the measure should mandate full public hearings. Lawmakers noted that in 2022, the Legislature passed Bill 34-0301, repealing language that had allowed rum distillation to be treated as agricultural processing on agricultural land.
Senate President Milton E. Potter, the bill’s sponsor, told colleagues the measure responds to farmers who want to process what they grow. “Across our islands, and particularly on St. Croix, we’ve seen a growing number of small agricultural entrepreneurs who are not simply farming. They are dreaming bigger,” Potter said. “They want to take their sugar cane, their local crops, their creative vision, and produce something of value right here on Virgin Island soil … But what stands in their way is not ambition. It is zoning.”
Department of Planning and Natural Resources Commissioner Jean-Pierre L. Oriol said his department supports the bill’s intent as part of a broader update to the zoning code. “This legislation is not merely about alcohol production. It represents a broader policy discussion about the future of agriculture, rural land use and value-added enterprise in the Virgin Islands,” he said.
Oriol described micro distilleries and microbreweries as “lighter manufacturing or artisanal industrial” uses and said any approvals “must be subject to environmental performance standards, including, but not limited to, wastewater management, stormwater control, solid waste disposal, odor mitigation, noise attenuation, and energy use considerations.”
Attorney Kevin Rames, representing Prosperity Farm, argued that small distilleries tied to local agriculture could help diversify the economy and keep farmland in production. He pointed to Kentucky’s bourbon industry and rum production in Martinique as examples where spirits generate billions in output and support thousands of jobs. “Farmland preservation is not just environmental policy. It is an economic strategy,” Rames said, adding that with limits on production, minimum lot sizes and setbacks from homes, “micro distilleries are compatible with surrounding communities.”
Alice Charles of People Protecting Places urged senators to reject Bill 36-0211, arguing agricultural land should be reserved for food production, not alcohol manufacturing. “Farmland should grow food, not industrial alcohol,” she said. “We do not need any distilleries or breweries on agricultural land with their potential to destroy viable soils and our aquifers,” she said.
Charles said allowing microdistilleries and microbreweries in A-1, A-2, R-1 and R-2 zones would divert scarce land and water from farming and increase the risk that distillation wastewater, known as vinasse, could contaminate soils, groundwater and coastal waters.
Charles pointed to a 2025 Department of Planning and Natural Resources advisory deeming Prosperity Beach unsafe for swimming after bacteria levels spiked following a suspected discharge near Prosperity Farm. She presented photographs of rust-colored runoff she described as “consistent with liquid distillery waste known as vinasse” flowing toward the shoreline and warned that authorizing additional distilleries could spread similar impacts into residential neighborhoods, threatening wells, beaches and tourism.
She noted that lawmakers in 2022 repealed language classifying rum distillation as agricultural processing and said the current bill contradicts that decision and the territory’s Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plan. Submitting a petition with 941 signatures opposing the measure, she told senators, “The people of the Virgin Islands are watching … Please do not sacrifice our islands for a short-term corporate win.”
Several senators said they were unwilling to advance the measure without significant revisions, pointing to ongoing environmental testing, unresolved questions about wastewater and runoff, broader coastal protection concerns, and limited benefits to food security.
“Let’s be clear-eyed about this bill. It does not bring any food security improvement. I don’t see how this bill really adds to food security improvement,” said Sen. Novelle Francis Jr.
“The committee collectively has decided that the bill needs substantial work,” Sen. Kurt Vialet said, adding that lawmakers will merge competing amendments into “one comprehensive bill that addresses the environmental concerns raised … because we think that those environmental concerns are important to make sure that we maintain the quality of life that we presently have on St. Croix.”
Potter, who formally moved to hold the bill, said he believes “the concept of the bill … is a good concept” but warned “the devil is always in the details,” arguing that greater safeguards and a “proper enforcement mechanism” should be codified in statute rather than left to later rules and regulations.
After a marathon hearing focused on where alcohol production belongs in the Virgin Islands and how to balance land use with economic development, lawmakers ultimately shelved the bill. On a 7–0 vote, members agreed to hold Bill No. 36‑0211 in committee at the call of the chair.
On Tuesday, many concerned residents on St. Croix took to social media questioning the lack of grass cutting at public schools across the island, specifically at St. Croix Educational Complex High School, St. Croix Career and Technical Education Center, and Eulalie Rivera Elementary School. Some claims stated that the grass had not been cut since December.
Overgrown grass covers sections of the campus at St. Croix Career and Technical Education Center. Maintenance workers began clearing the area following public concerns about landscaping delays at public schools on St. Croix. (Submitted photo)
Some residents even took matters into their own hands, beginning to cut the grass at CTEC themselves.
The Source reached out to Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance Director Craig Benjamin for updates.
However, according to Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance Director Craig Benjamin, landscaping work had already begun at CTEC prior to the social media posts. Benjamin said his crew had cut the grass at the rear of the campus and was working their way toward the front of the school.
Benjamin also clarified that the bureau did not have an active landscaping contractor in place because the contract had been delayed in the Property and Procurement Department for approximately two and a half months. He explained that after the contractor was awarded the bid, the process was held up while the contractor submitted all required documents to finalize the service agreement.
Benjamin said he received the completed contract Thursday morning. He signed the agreement that afternoon and forwarded it to Property and Procurement for final processing. He expressed hope that the contractor will begin work by Monday once processing is complete.
Benjamin emphasized that the timing of the contract signature was not related to social media attention and said he did not have the finalized contract in hand prior to Thursday. Procurement for final processing includes a submission for legal review.
The grass cutting concerns come amid broader maintenance challenges within the territory’s public school system. In November 2025, Benjamin appeared before the Senate to discuss ongoing infrastructure and maintenance issues affecting schools.
Emergency repairs, he said at the time, have become routine as the system’s $3 million annual maintenance budget continues to be stretched thin. Of that amount, approximately $2.1 million is already committed to essential supplies and maintenance contracts, including landscaping, janitorial services, trash removal and pest control, services critical to maintaining basic operations.
That leaves only about $900,000 to respond to daily emergencies, perform urgent repairs and prepare facilities for the opening of the 2026 to 2027 school year, Benjamin said.
Benjamin emphasized that the bureau is working diligently to address concerns.
“We want the public to understand that we are doing our best,” he said.
Representatives of Incat Crowther meet with local officials during a site visit in the St. Croix District as part of ongoing design work for the proposed passenger and vehicle ferry between St. Croix and St. Thomas. (Photo courtesy Government House)
Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. said the design of the proposed St. Croix–St. Thomas passenger and vehicle ferry is about 30 percent complete following recent site visits and coordination meetings in both districts, Government House announced in a press release.
Bryan met with Public Works Commissioner Derek Gabriel after a week of technical inspections by ferry design firm Incat Crowther. The firm visited ports in the St. Croix District and the St. Thomas–St. John District during the week of Feb. 9 to assess operating conditions and coordinate with the Virgin Islands Port Authority, according to the press release.
“This is about doing it right the first time,” Bryan said in the release. “We are designing a passenger and vehicle ferry that fits our routes, our ports, and the conditions our operators and passengers deal with every day. These site visits put the right experts on the ground so we make sound technical decisions now, not expensive corrections later.”
The administration is moving through the design phase with attention to safety, reliability, accessibility and long-term performance. On-site evaluations are intended to ensure the vessel will operate efficiently at existing marine facilities and perform reliably in local waters, the press release stated.
Incat Crowther, which previously completed design work for other government-owned vessels including the Spirit of 1733, met with VIPA marine officials to review docking conditions, traffic flow, passenger circulation and navigational requirements. The discussions also addressed potential upland and waterside improvements needed to support passenger and vehicle operations, the release stated.
Key elements under development include ADA-compliant access and accommodations, as well as an advanced propulsion system to support more dependable service, the release stated.
Gabriel provided an update on design progress and coordination efforts, confirming that information gathered during the site visits will guide technical decisions in the coming months, according to the release.
The design is expected to be finalized in the coming months as the project moves toward procurement and implementation.
“This ferry is about connecting our people, strengthening commerce between districts, and making interisland travel more dependable,” Bryan said in the release. “We are keeping the work moving, and we will keep the public informed every step of the way.”
The Young Entrepreneur Development Program begins March 19, offering free online workshops for territory youth. (Source photo by Michele L Weichman)
As the Virgin Islands works to strengthen workforce retention and expand economic opportunity, the University of the Virgin Islands Center for Excellence in Leadership and Learning is launching a new program focused on youth entrepreneurship.
The Young Entrepreneur Development Program, a free six-month initiative beginning March 19, will guide participants through the process of building a business, from idea development and market research to branding, financial planning and pitch preparation.
Workshops will be held online twice monthly on Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., according to UVI CELL. The program will conclude with a public pitch showcase, followed by continued one-on-one advising and technical assistance.
“This program moves beyond theory; it prepares young people to see themselves as innovators, leaders and economic contributors within their own communities,” said Liza Margolis, UVI CELL entrepreneurship program manager. “The Entrepreneur Youth Development Program is about building skills, confidence and opportunity early.”
Funded in part by a grant from the Popular VI Community Fund at the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, the initiative provides hands-on training in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, marketing and business planning. Organizers say those skills extend beyond launching a company.
“Entrepreneurship skills complement every career path and business knowledge is essential across all professions. No matter what industry your child may be interested in, this program will provide a foundation for success on the entrepreneurial path or for employment within a company or organization. Entrepreneurial skills empower individuals to adapt and create opportunities, regardless of circumstances,” said Suzanne Darrow-Magras, UVI CELL director.
Darrow-Magras said the program is also intended to counter the territory’s long-standing outmigration of young professionals.
“The Virgin Islands has long faced the loss of talented young people seeking opportunity elsewhere, but young people do not have to leave to succeed,” she said. “At UVI, students can access free tuition opportunities, innovative degree programs, and real support to turn their ideas into action.”
She pointed to what she described as UVI’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, which includes continuing education and workforce development training through UVI CELL, business advising through the UVI Small Business Development Center, government contracting support through the APEX Accelerator, and growth and financing connections through the UVI Research and Technology Park.
“Together, UVI’s entrepreneurial ecosystem gives our youth the tools, guidance and confidence to build their futures right here at home,” Darrow-Magras said.
The Young Entrepreneur Development Program is part of UVI CELL’s broader youth initiative, which also includes the return of the annual EmpowerU Youth Summit.
This year’s EmpowerU Youth Summit, branded as the Coins & Culture Wealth Festival, will focus on financial empowerment, entrepreneurship and real-world decision-making. Modeled after the Teach Students Money Expo, the event will feature interactive simulations and hands-on activities centered on building strong financial foundations.
Participation in both programs is free.
Registration for the Young Entrepreneur Development Program is available here. Registration for the EmpowerU Youth Summit is available here.
Waves break along the north shore of St. Croix during an earlier February swell event. Another northerly swell is expected to produce choppy seas and hazardous marine conditions. (Source photo by Jesse Daley)
The National Weather Service in San Juan, Puerto Rico, has reported that a northerly swell is spreading across Atlantic waters surrounding Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, creating hazardous marine and beach conditions over the coming days. Marine alerts are in effect across both U.S. territories.
Dangerous Surf and Rip Currents
In an update from the NWS on Thursday, forecasters warned that the energy from the swell will create breaking waves between six and eight feet, building to as high as 10 to 12 feet along exposed northern coastlines. Dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents will persist, particularly through late Friday. Winds may also become gusty at times, contributing to wind-driven, choppy seas.
A northerly swell is expected to bring hazardous marine conditions, dangerous rip currents, and elevated surf across parts of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. (Photo courtesy NWS)
“Beach conditions will become more hazardous as a long-period northerly swell continues to spread across the Atlantic waters and local Caribbean passages through Thursday night,” the NWS said. “The latest model guidance indicates that the swell will peak tonight through Friday morning. Therefore, high surf conditions and life-threatening rip currents will continue along the beaches from northwestern to northeastern Puerto Rico, including Culebra, as well as St. Thomas and St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands,” the NWS continued.
“Beachgoers and inexperienced surfers are urged to stay out of the water, continue monitoring forecast updates, and follow all local advisories, warnings, and guidance from lifeguards and local officials as conditions deteriorate,” the NWS advised.
The NWS noted that the seas are forecast to become calmer late in the weekend, before another swell possibly arrives during the middle of next week.
A safety graphic explains how rip currents form and how swimmers can escape by moving parallel to shore. (Photo courtesy NOAA and NWS)
Mostly Fair Weather Expected Into the Weekend
While marine hazards remain the primary concern, the NWS also said that brief trade wind showers may pass over the local islands at times. However, the flooding risk is expected to remain limited and primarily concentrated across portions of Puerto Rico.
A more stable weather pattern is developing across the region as high pressure strengthens over the area, creating slightly drier and more settled conditions. Through at least Saturday, mostly fair weather with moderate winds is anticipated across the Virgin Islands, with passing showers at times, and temperatures are expected to remain slightly above normal.
The National Weather Service reminds residents and visitors to follow safety precautions during high surf events as hazardous coastal conditions develop. (Photo courtesy NWS)
Looking ahead to early next week, the NWS said patches of moisture may move across the region beginning Sunday, and a trough of low pressure could help increase shower activity by the middle to latter part of the week.
Where to Find Weather Updates
Severe weather and other natural hazards can occur at any time of year. Information regarding the weather across the USVI, including marine forecasts, is available from the NWS and NOAA.
Additionally, the local forecast is regularly updated on the Source Weather Page, where a weekly video forecast is available.
Eager crowds visit exhibitors at the 2024 small business expo held at Tutu Park Mall. (Source photo by Judi Shimel)
Producers of goods and services will greet the public Saturday at Tutu Park Mall at the second annual Small Business Expo.
Promoter Janette-Millin Young says those who attend from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. will have a variety of opportunities to browse the merchandise, attend mini-seminars and enjoy a splash of Virgin Islands culture.
The event — called Shop Local, Grow the Economy — returns to center court at the mall in 2026 after setting up shop at Fort Christian the year before. More than 30 vendors are expected to set up tables promoting their businesses ranging from travel agencies, to food products, to human service consultants, to estate planning advisers and solar energy companies.
In 2023, the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy said 36.9% of the Virgin Islands workforce is found in small businesses. Millin-Young sees the expo as a place where anyone who earns a living through small-scale private enterprise can learn how to make that business grow.
“I believe the prototype of most of these businesses is very small, composed of three persons — the actual owner and assistants, and that’s because it’s very expensive to operate a business here,” she said. “A lot of these businesses sell local products but they don’t sell in large quantities.”
Through networking and sitting in on the three mini-workshops offered on Saturday, the promoter hopes visitors and participants can find ways to increase sustainability. One returning vendor says that kind of encouragement is the reason she keeps coming back. “This will be my third time attending. My experience has been phenomenal,” said Gerilyn Ray, owner of Raeniece Collections. Ray said the connections formed at the events have helped her build a support network and repeat customers for her products.
First-time sponsor Lisa Donovan says she’s been eager for a chance to join Shop Local-Grow the Economy as a sponsor. “I always wanted to be a part of the event that Janette Millin-Young promoted,” she said, adding that this year it will also be an opportunity to let participants know more about the Party Shop, her own local business.
“What I hope to get out of it — I love networking,” Donovan said.
Entertainment offerings at center court include a Bamboula Dance production. Millin-Young said she hopes everyone who comes will leave with better ideas about their role in helping the V.I. economy flourish.
The District Spelling Bees brought together some of the territory’s most talented young scholars, each representing their schools with pride and perseverance. Through rigorous preparation, long hours of practice, and an unwavering commitment to learning, these student spellers showcased the power of literacy, discipline, and intellectual curiosity.
