A civil suit to evict the bar and restaurant St. Thomas Social from Yacht Haven Grande over some $200,000 in unpaid rent and fees has been dismissed, according to court records.
Yacht Haven USVI, LLC attorney Matthew J. Duensing filed the one-page notice of voluntary dismissal, without prejudice, in V.I. Superior Court Tuesday.
The dismissal ends a monthslong saga that played out on social media afterย news of the lawsuitย began circulating online, with St. Thomas Social co-owner Brett โMacโ McClafferty calling it a โfake news storyโ while promoting the restaurantโs $2 Taco Tuesdays and telling naysayers that the complaint would be dismissed imminently.
According to the suit, Yacht Haven Grande entered into a five-year lease beginning in December 2022, requiring the bar and restaurant to pay base rent and percentage rent calculated from gross receipts on a monthly basis. The complaint states that the restaurant failed to pay those as well as interest, late fees and utility costs totaling $198,272.29.
The restaurant received a notice of default on March 4 and a notice to quit the lease on April 2, which directed it to vacate the premises by May 2, according to the complaint.
Yacht Haven Grande had asked the court to evict St. Thomas Social and order that it pay all related costs.
When contacted by the Source late last month, McClafferty said, โAny disputes between the landlord (IGY/YHG) were resolved over a month ago, and any issues cured. We are proud of our relationship with Yacht Haven Grande and its leadership, and this reporting is an unfortunate publishing an old dispute [sic] that has been resolved. We look forward to continuing our service to the Virgin Islands community and our employment of 36 local Virgin Islanders.โ
The restaurant, its parent company Social Hospitality Group and McClafferty โ principal of Mac Private Equity and MPE Clearings and Holdings โ are the subject of numerous other lawsuits, including several accusing McClafferty of running a โPonzi schemeโ during which he โrepeatedly provided false financial information, such as altered screenshots of account balance, and altered or fictious [sic] emails and wire transfer information.โ
Mac Private Equity filed a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition in Delaware Bankruptcy Court in March.ย The company bills itself as โan American off-shore fundโ providing โcutting-edge private equity in paradise.โ
Palm fronds on a coconut tree in Christiansted, St. Croix, bend in gusty winds Tuesday as rainclouds โ and haze โ are seen in the distance. (Source photo by Jesse Daley)
The National Weather Service has explained that Saharan dust will envelop the local islands over the next few days, maintaining a hazy sky. Additionally, gusty winds, choppy seas and precipitation will continue to affect the region.
The Source contacted Ian Carlos Colรณn-Pagรกn, a lead meteorologist at the NWS in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to obtain further details about the weather conditions across the area.
Saharan Dust
โA moderate episode of Saharan dust is currently affecting the region and is forecast to persist through at least Thursday night,โ Colรณn-Pagรกn said. โThis will lead to hazy skies, reduced visibility, drier air, and degraded air quality. Temperatures may feel warmer than normal due to a combination of dust, humidity, and light winds, particularly across coastal and urban areas. Lesser concentrations of dust are expected to linger into the weekend,โ he continued.
A graphic explaining Saharan dust. (Photo courtesy NWS, San Juan, Puerto Rico)
โFor a visual representation of heat-related and other local hazard risks, please refer to the NWSย Experimental Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook,โ Colรณn-Pagรกn stated. โAnd as always, individuals with respiratory conditions or sensitivity to airborne particles are advised to take appropriate precautions,โ he advised.
The NWS also noted that gusty winds, caused by a strong area of high pressure over the Atlantic Ocean, will continue to affect the islands. The breezy conditions are expected to generate choppy seas.
โA surface high-pressure system over the Atlantic will promote easterly winds throughout the forecast period, which will be breezy, particularly along coastal areas,โ according to an update from the NWS on Tuesday. โThe breezy to locally windy conditions will persist, resulting in choppy seas and a moderate risk of life-threatening rip currents along most beaches throughout the week,โ the NWS said.
Swimmers are encouraged to understand the risks associated with rip currents, including recognizing how to escape the pull of a rip current if caught in one. Additionally, small craft operators are advised to exercise caution due to hazardous seas over the next few days.
โModerate to rough seas will continue, and small craft should exercise caution across most waters and local Caribbean passages. Similar conditions will prevail throughout the rest of the week. Isolated thunderstorms are expected to develop each afternoon, mainly over the western waters of Puerto Rico,โ the NWS update continued.
โBeachgoers should be aware that a moderate risk of rip currents will prevail this week along most beaches of Puerto Rico, Vieques, Culebra, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, mainly driven by breezy to locally windy conditions.โ
Tropical Waves
Colรณn-Pagรกn shared information regarding several tropical waves that are forecast to pass through the Caribbean this week. At this time, it appears that the waves will stay to the south of the local region.
Visible satellite imagery obtained at 4:40 p.m. AST shows clouds associated with a tropical wave moving through the Caribbean and south of the local islands. (Photo courtesy NOAA)
โA tropical wave is currently moving into the eastern Caribbean and is expected to pass south of the local islands between Tuesday and Wednesday,โ Colรณn-Pagรกn explained. โWhile the bulk of its moisture is forecast to remain well south of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, some of that moisture may reach the region. This could lead to periods of enhanced shower activity during the midweek period, especially during the afternoon and evening hours,โ he acknowledged.
โHowever, widespread rainfall is not anticipated at this time,โ Colรณn-Pagรกn clarified. โInstead, we expect a continuation of the typical early summer weather pattern, with brief, isolated showers and possibly a few thunderstorms,โ he continued.
The NHC does not expect cyclonic development in the Atlantic or Caribbean within the next seven days. (Photo courtesy NHC)
Colรณn-Pagรกn went on to explain that a second tropical wave is expected to pass through the Caribbean later this week.
โAnother tropical wave, currently near 45ยฐW longitude, is forecast to move into the eastern Caribbean around Thursday,โ Colรณn-Pagรกn noted. โCurrent forecast model guidance suggests that similar to the ongoing wave, the majority of moisture will likely stay well south of the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico,โ Colรณn-Pagรกn said. โNo tropical cyclone development is expected over the next seven days, based on the latestย NHC Tropical Weather Outlook.โ
Notably, while the Atlantic Basin has been quiet, the Eastern Pacific Basin has been active with tropical activity. Three named storms have formed so far this year in the Pacific Ocean near the south coast of Mexico, and the National Hurricane Center is currently monitoring another area for possible development.
The NHC is monitoring the Eastern Pacific, which has seen three named cyclones develop as of June 10, 2025. (Photo courtesy NHC)
Champion Athletic Performance Academy claims a 1-2 win over FA Shield champions, Rovers SC, in USVISF Menโs Premier League opener. (Photo by Lance P. Chardon II)
Champion Athletic Performance Academy edged out a victory over long-undefeated Rovers SC in the U.S. Virgin Islands Soccer Federation Premier League opener Sunday afternoon at the Bethlehem Soccer Complex on St. Croix.
Rovers took control early with reliable scorer Vasco Manuel Palacios Gil finding the back of the net in the 10th minute. CAPA had a more difficult time finding their rhythm with Rabi Abdallah missing a penalty kick at the 19-minute mark, quickly followed by a yellow card for Arthbert William. Yeison Alfredo Gudino Pinto shifted the momentum, scoring CAPAโs first goal to tie the game 1-1 in the 38thย minute.
After a red card for Kidaniel Perez and several substitutions early in the second half, Rovers remained unable to regain control. CAPAโs Trevon Thorpe capitalized on a critical scoring opportunity late in the game to end the match in a 1-2 win.
Immediately afterward, USVI soccer fans turned their attention to St. Thomas, where New Vibes SC faced off with Massey Soccer Academy at Ivanna Eudora Kean High School. New Vibes dominated the match from the kickoff, with Naqwan Henry scoring the teamโs first goal only seven minutes into the first half. A yellow card for Bernado Antoine had little impact on their momentum. Jordan Atemazem closed the second half with a successful penalty kick to secure a 2-0 lead for New Vibes.
Massey Team Official Dale Richards received a yellow card at the close of the first half, followed by a second-half yellow card for Getrau Louis and a red card for Josner Francois. New Vibes also saw their fair share of warnings with Martino Rosier, Max Sonder Joseph and Felix Emmenson all receiving yellow cards in the second half. Jamie Browne and Johson Bazelais maintained New Vibesโ commanding rhythm, scoring two additional goals to end the match in a 4-0 shutout.
Next up in the Menโs Premier League are Helenites SC vs Prankton SC on St. Croix and LRVI FC vs Raymix SC on St. Thomas. Helenites and Prankton will face off at Bethlehem Soccer Complex on Sunday at 4 p.m. The St. Thomas matchup will follow, kicking off at 6 p.m. at Ivanna Eudora Kean High School.
Stay up to date with this seasonโs fierce competition by following USVISF onย Facebookย andย Instagram.
A St. Croix man is facing multiple felony charges after police say he cashed fraudulent checks totaling more than $4,000 using another personโs bank account.
According to a police report issued by the V.I. Police Department, detectives from the Economic Crimes Unit began investigating Thomas S. Schoenbohm on July 3, 2024. The investigation revealed that Schoenbohm willfully created or presented three fraudulent checks totaling $4,370 and personally cashed them at Food Town Supermarket on multiple occasions.
On Tuesday at approximately 11:06 a.m., detectives Melissa Rogers and her partner traveled to #74 Union & Mount Washington to execute an arrest warrant. Schoenbohm was located at the residence, served the warrant, and was taken into custody without incident, the police report stated.
He was transported to the Wilbur H. Francis Command Police Operations Building at #45 Mars Hill, where he was advised of his rights, booked, and charged with obtaining money by false pretense, grand larceny, and access to computer for fraudulent purposes, the report stated.
Bail was set at $20,000. Schoenbohm was transported to the John A. Bell Correctional Facility, pending his Advice of Rights hearing scheduled for Wednesday at 9 a.m. in V.I. Superior Court, it said.
The Red Hind fish is a grouper found in local waters whose unique red and orange coloring makes it easily identifiable. (Photo courtesy Lee Richter)
The Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park invites children ages 9-15 to submit an application for their second annual Learn to Fish Summer Camp.ย
The Learn to Fish Summer Camp is a free weeklong immersive program led by instructor and local fisherman Enzo Newhard, who will introduce young anglers to the fundamentals of safe and sustainable fishing. In addition to gleaning hands-on experience, participants will learn about ocean tides, turbidity, and how the behavior of fish varies between species and environmental conditions.
Designed to connect young Virgin Islanders with their natural environment and cultural heritage, the Learn to Fish Summer Camp will also host a series of expert speakers who will cover topics ranging from coral health to environmental conservation.
Mark Gestwicki, the program director at The Friends of the National Park, has seen extensive community interest since the inception of the pilot program in 2024. โIโve never had so much positive responses from parents about a program since holding this position. I think one of the key factors is that this program is 100% funded and so it is accessible to everyone who has an interest in learning the trade of fishing. Nothing beats the excitement seen on the faces of the kids who get their first reels. While the program is still in its infancy, we have hopes to eventually expand it to include more weeks and more participants,โ Gestwicki said.
The majestic Queen Trigger Fish is known for its colorful appearance and is usually found in tropical waters. (Photo courtesy Lee Richter)
Funded by a National Park Foundation grant, this summer camp opportunity opens the door to expose students to conservation, marine biology, and other science-based educational tracks. โYou need to instill the love of the resource so children feel compelled to protect it. While we are encouraging them to learn this trade so they may have the ability to source their own food, we are also educating them about the symbiosis of man and the natural world,โ Gestwicki said.
The camp will be held over three separate weeks, from June 23 to 27, July 7 to 11, and July 21 to 25. Applicants are eligible to enroll for one week only. Based in Cruz Bay, St. John, each day of the program will begin promptly at 8 a.m. and end at 1 p.m. All fishing equipment will be provided and after successful completion of the program, participants will be gifted their own reel and rod to keep.
Interested participants are encouraged to apply early as spaces are limited. To register or learn more, please contact Gestwicki at mgestwicki@friendsvinp.orgย or 340-779-4940. Additional details can be found atย www.friendsvinp.org.
A father and son were arrested and three loaded firearms were recovered during the execution of a search and arrest warrant Tuesday in connection with an April shooting in Estate Upper Love, St. Croix, the Virgin Islands Police Department announced.
According to the VIPD press release, 23-year-old Elijah Spencer was taken into custody June 10 without incident. Spencer, who was already under house arrest and wearing an ankle monitor for an unrelated matter, is accused of firing at a vehicle with occupants following an argument outside the Front Line nightclub on April 19. The ShotSpotter detection system recorded 13 gunshots in the area, and officers recovered multiple spent casings. No injuries were reported.
Spencer is charged with first-degree attempted murder, first- and third-degree assault, carrying a dangerous weapon during the commission of a crime, possession or sale of ammunition, first-degree reckless endangerment, and unauthorized possession of a firearm. His bail was set at $100,000, according to the police report.
During the search of the residence, detectives recovered three loaded firearms and detained Spencerโs father, 41-year-old Tony Elizee. Elizee was subsequently arrested for unauthorized possession of a firearm. His bail was set at $50,000, the police report stated.
Neither man was able to post bail. Both were booked and transported to the John A. Bell Correctional Facility, pending their advice of rights hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesday in Kingshill Superior Court, the report stated.
A St. Croix bank teller allegedly transferred $100,000 from a 90-year-old customerโs account without his knowledge and used the money to buy a $60,000 car, police said Tuesday. It might not have been the first time.
Jahmaira Farrell, 29, of Barren Spot, faces 21 counts including forgery, grand larceny, passing forged or counterfeited matters, passing or possession of forged bills or notes, embezzlement by fiduciaries, aggravated identity theft, participating in fraud on creditors, access to computer for fraudulent purposes, and financial exploitation of an elderly or dependent adult.
Farrell also faces conspiracy charges for working with a yet-uncharged accomplice, according to court records.
Working as a teller at Oriental Bank, Farrell allegedly created false documents authorizing aย managerโs check for $100,000.00 payable to her accomplice, police said.
The accomplice allegedly deposited the check into his Banco Popular de Puerto Rico account before wiring $60,386.49 to Metro Motors Management Incorporation in Delray Beach, Florida, for Farrellโs 2022 blue Acura MDX. This accomplice also allegedly gave Farrell a $30,000 check, which she deposited into her personal Bank of St. Croix account.
The accomplice spent the remainingย $9,613.51ย from the alleged heist, police said.
โAdditional fraudulent checks were discovered to have been cashed against the victimโs account; however, those were determined to fallย outside the statute of limitations,โ police said.
The statute of limitations on many financial crimes in the Virgin Islands is three years or less.
Farrell was apprehended at the Mars Hill U.S. Post Office Monday. She was advised of her rights, served her arrest warrant, and placed under arrest without incident, police said.
Unable to post $35,000 bail, Farrell was remanded to the John A. Bell Adult Correction Facility.
Commissioner Jean-Pierre L. Oriol of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources reminds the public of the current annual seasonal closures for Queen Conch, Whelk, Mutton and Lane Snapper, as established by as per VI code title 12, chapter 9a, sections 304 and 316 effective, March 13, 2015, and July 1, 2008, respectively. These harvest prohibitions are in place to protect the populations of these species during critical reproductive periods. This allows the conservation of fished populations and helps sustain and improve the fisheries of the Virgin Islands.
Harvesting of Queen Conch (Aliger Gigas) is prohibited from Sunday, June 1, 2025, through Friday October 31, 2025. The conch season will reopen on Monday, November 1, 2025, and will remain open until Midnight, May 31, 2026. Commissioner Oriol also reminds the public of the currently active seasonal closures for: Whelk/the West Indian Top Snail (Cittarium pica) which commenced on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, and will endย Tuesday, September 30, 2025.ย
Mutton Snapper (Lutjanus analis) and Lane Snapper (Lutjanus synagris) which commenced on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, and will end Monday, June 30, 2025. Harvest and/or possession of these species during the periods listed above are prohibited Territory-wide.ย
The Commissioner would also like to inform the public of the Mutton Snapper Spawning Aggregation Seasonal Closure Area to the Southwest of St. Croix. Fishing of any kind is prohibited in this seasonal closed area between March 1st and June 30th every year. The closed area is marked by boundary points at the following locations:
A โ 17o37.8โN, 64o53.0โW
B โ 17o39.0โN, 64o53.0โW
C โ 17o39.0โN, 64o50.5โW
D โ 17o38.1โN, 64o50.5โW
A โ 17o37.8โN, 64o52.5โW
โWe ask for everyoneโs cooperation to protect Virgin Islands resources for the present and future benefit of the people of the Virgin Islands,โ said Commissioner Oriol.
For more information or questions, please contact the Division of Fish and Wildlife at DFWelectronic@usvi.onmicrosoft.com or 340-773-1082 (STX Office) or 340-775-6762 (STT Office), the Division of Environmental Enforcement at 773-5774 on St. Croix and 774-3320 on St. Thomas.
The Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts is pleased to announce the next exhibition in our 2025 Dialogues on Freedom Series, titled Espรญritu Africano, a solo exhibition by Crucian artist Mark Feijรฃ o Milligan II who returns home from Hawaii to honor his heritage and culture in this expansive exhibition of paintings, drawings and multimedia works on view from July 5 โ Aug. 30.
The opening reception is Saturday, July 5 from 4 โ 8 p.m. with live music by the Rivert Diaz Trio with a brief introduction by the artist at 6 p.m. Complimentary small bites will be provided. Tickets for the event can be purchased at cmcarts.org and are$20/person and $10 for CMCArts members. Tickets and memberships may be purchased at the door. Espรญritu Africano celebrates the enduring essence of the African spiritโone that transcends time and geography.
This body of work explores the spiritual, folkloric, and generational ties that unite the African Diaspora, revealing the unseen forces that guide, uplift, and empower us. Whether felt as an intangible presence, an unshakable inner strength, or the ancestral energy that surrounds us, this spirit is ever-present. It weaves through our daily lives, shaping our paths and reminding us that we are never alone.
A comprehensive artist-designed print catalog documenting the exhibition will be available a few weeks after the opening. The catalog includes an essay from prominent Curator Dr. Koฬ and Jeff Baysa based in Los Angeles, Hawaii and New York City. Dr. Baysa will be present at the opening reception. Please join us for this extraordinary experience to meet both artist and essayist.
Exhibition Opening Saturday July 5
Espรญritu Africano, a solo exhibition by Native Son
Mark Feijรฃ o Milligan II
Honoring the timeless spirit of the African Diaspora
The Annie E. Casey Foundation released its nationalย 2025 KIDS COUNTย Data Bookย on Monday, a 50-state report of recent household data analyzing how children and families are faring post-pandemic.
The 2025 KIDS COUNT Data Book presents a complex picture of child welfare in the United States. (Image courtesy Annie E. Casey Foundation)
While the U.S. Virgin Islands is not part of the rankings in the national Data Book,ย as it draws data from the American Community Survey, which is not conducted in the territory, the USVI is included in the KIDS COUNT Data Center, which houses key data points on child well-being across the nation, according to the St. Croix Foundation for Community Development, which issued a press release on the national report.
To supplement available national data, each year the St. Croix Foundationโs KIDS COUNT USVI team publishes a Data Book focused specifically on the U.S. Virgin Islands that reports available data aligned with the four domains of the national Data Book: economic well-being, education, health, and family and community factors. To date, it has published four Data Books/Spotlights and, in 2025, released the territory’s first online, interactive KIDS COUNT USVI Data Dashboard.
โThe foundation’s KIDS COUNT Team releases the data book in a public presentation each December, and we meet annually with all government data partners toย discuss the data in the book,โ Lilli Cox, vice president of communications for the St. Croix Foundation, told the Source. โWe also work closely with Government House, particularly in 2024, when we held our KIDS COUNT USVI Summit in collaboration with their policy team. For data in theย 2023 Data Book, this was indeed โA Call to Action.โ The Foundation has conducted private meetings, held public testimonies, and continued to publish the data widely across our community,โ she said.
โWe are noticing a growing consensusย among all of our public, private, and civic sector partners in using the data to drive tangible results, which is encouraging,โ Cox added.
The annual Data Book presents national and state data from 16 indicators in the four domains and ranks the states according to how children are faring overall.
This year, nationalย Data Bookย trends presented a complex picture: steady progress in some areas, setbacks in others and persistent opportunities to do better for children and their families. Since 2019, seven of the 16 key indicators have improved, six have worsened and three have not changed, according to Mondayโs press release from the St. Croix Foundation.
The national Data Book also highlighted the impact of geography, with data showing that where a child lives matters for their health and quality of life: โGeographic disparities around the country have persisted for years, shaped by differences in state and local policies, economic conditions, infrastructure, resources, neighborhood characteristics and community investment.โ
Geographic disparity is a reality faced in the U.S. Virgin Islands as well, albeit on a smaller scale, the St. Croix Foundation noted.
According to the 2020 Census, 33% of children in the USVI were living in poverty. The poverty rate is even higher for children under age five, with 37% affected. But poverty levels are not evenly distributed throughout the islands, the foundation said.
One method to illustrate the distribution of children in poverty in the USVI is through a map of the islands, highlighting estates where child poverty is most prevalent. These custom maps are available in theย 2023 KIDS COUNT USVI Data Book, available at this link.
On St. Croix, 36% of children across the island lived in families with household income below the poverty line, with the center-west areas (Estate Paradise and Profit) being most affected. Additional pockets of high child poverty are found on the north shore just west of Christiansted (Golden Rock). Areas with the lowest child poverty rates are concentrated in the southeast and eastern ends of the island. Estates and income levels are seen as follows:
On St. Thomas, 30% of children island-wide lived in poverty according to the 2020 Census.ย The highest child poverty rates were located in the center of the island (Kronprinsens Quarter and Hospital Ground), and another significant cluster in the southeast (Estate Bovoni). The lowest child poverty rates are concentrated in the west and southwest of the island.
Finally, 27% of children on St. John lived in poverty.ย The highest concentration of child poverty is found in Estate Mandahl and Estate Saunders Gut, while areas with the lowest child poverty rates are mostly located in the east and northeastern end of the island.
As a child, where you live in the USVI matters. It encompasses the average family income in your neighborhood, the performance of your local public school, the placement of public housing, and the investment of government and private sector resources, including transportation, services, and businesses, according to the St. Croix Foundation.
โBy mapping and monitoring indicators like child poverty at the estate level, we equip policymakers, community organizations, and funders with the evidence needed to prioritize high-need areas and implement targeted interventions,โ it noted. โAt the same time, critical data gaps remain, particularly in areas such as early childhood development, youth mental health, and educational outcomes disaggregated by disability or language status. Addressing these gaps is essential for developing a fuller, more equitable understanding of child well-being across the territory.โ
According to St. Croix Foundation President and CEO Deanna James,ย โGeographic disparities are often compounded by systemic inequities shaped by race, class, and gender. In the USVI, historic patterns of underinvestment, colonial governance, and vulnerability to climate-related disruptions contribute to these disparities and require context-specific, equity-driven responses.โ
Now in its 36th year of publication, the National KIDS COUNT Data Book provides reliable statewide numbers to help leaders see where progress is being made, where greater support is needed and which strategies are making a difference.
โTo truly become a country that equips every child to thrive as adults, our leaders need focus, creativity and commitment,โ said Lisa Lawson, president and CEO of the Casey Foundation. โTheย Data Bookโs findings call on leaders at every level to act boldly to build a strong future, relying on what we know works,โ she said.
โBy staying grounded in data and driven by what children and families say they need, we can help ensure that all young people have the chance to thrive and contribute meaningfully as adults, helping to grow our future workforce, reduce long-term social and economic costs and build a stronger society for everyone,โ Lawson continued.
The 2025 national KIDS COUNT Data Book can be accessed atย www.aecf.org/databook. Virgin Islands KIDS COUNT publications and the Data Dashboard can be found by visiting the St. Croix Foundationโs website at www.stxfoundation.org/kids-count-usvi/. For more information about KIDS COUNT USVI, contact the St. Croix Foundation at 340-773-9898 or kidscountusvi@stxfoundation.org.
