Friends and colleagues of Joe and Cristina Kessler are invited to gather for an online memorial celebration to be held at noon on Sunday, Aug. 18.
The Kessler and Dombrowski families have asked participants to join them on Zoom and raise a glass at 12 p.m. EDT for a simultaneous, worldwide toast (with a drink of their choice).
Following the toast, family, friends, and colleagues will be able to share remarks and remembrances in smaller break-out rooms. Participants will receive a Zoom link to the event after registering here.
Joe and Cristina Kessler were well-known throughout the Virgin Islands. Joe served as president of the Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park for 17 years before retiring in 2018. Cristina, an activist and a writer, was best known in the territory for her children’s book “Hope Is Here” about a bird that made regular migrations to St. Croix.
They both died instantly on April 25 when a train smashed into their 22-foot RV as they were driving across railroad tracks in rural Taylorville, Illinois.
The couple loved to travel and were on vacation at the time of their death. During their lives, they had visited more than 100 countries, served in the Peace Corps, and worked in Africa, Asia, and South America.
“Two things are true about Joe and Cristina,” said Jeff Kessler, Joe’s brother. “They have family, friends, and colleagues around the world, and they loved to celebrate.”
The timing of the event is designed to allow participation from multiple time zones, he said.
Much of Chef Brady Sweet’s world-record holding calzone was eaten by early afternoon Sunday (Photo by Ananta Pancham)
Even if Chef Brady Sweet hadn’t succeeded in breaking the record for the world’s biggest calzone on Sunday—which he did—Guinness World Records officials said the real victory was in witnessing the entire St. Thomas community come together to make it happen.
“What I saw today was a lot of collaboration,” said Hannah Ortman, an official Guinness World Records adjudicator who oversaw the attempt. “Anything that happens on the day of an attempt is the culmination of a lot of hard work from so many people, and I can just imagine how much more went into it beforehand. Now, seeing the culmination of it all is pretty exciting.”
The calzone, which spanned about 35 feet, far surpassed the previous record set by Sweet himself a decade ago in Indiana, when he created a 23-foot, 7-inch calzone weighing 212 pounds. Since then, Sweet has moved to St. Thomas, where he became the owner of Café Amici and established himself as a local culinary figure specializing in pizzas and calzones – a passion he poured into his latest creation, which was stuffed with a range of fillings.
Humane Society volunteers were on hand Sunday to greet event goers and cheer on Sweet. (Photo by Ananta Pancham)
The event drew large crowds, with many locals lining up to purchase slices of the colossal calzone for $10 each; Sweet chose to donate the proceeds from the event to the St. Thomas-St. John Humane Society, a cause close to his heart.
“Puppies matter,” Sweet said when asked about his choice of charity. “When you look at all this organization has been through, no matter what’s happened, they needed a restart, and the community to help them do it. We’re glad to offer our support.”
Sweet also offered his gratitude to the support he received from local businesses who came out to help him cook, and ensure the dough remained in one piece as it was cooked in a specially designed conveyor belt, sent down by the Middleby Marshall Corporation.
Ortman emphasized that while the record was important, the real victory was in the experience and the way the community came together to make it happen. “The record is part of it,” she said, “but the real victory is the experience, and in this case, it was wonderful to see how everyone in St. Thomas rallied behind Chef Sweet and the Humane Society.”
Speakers at Sea, Tea and Me address a gathering of about 30 people at the Lindbergh Bay Water Park. (Photo courtesy American Legion Post 90)
An afternoon tea and some seaside scenery provided the backdrop for members of American Legion Post 90 to pay tribute to Virgin Islands veterans injured in conflict. Wednesday, Aug. 7, marked the second observance of Purple Heart Day in the Virgin Islands.
Legionnaires and their supporters say they want to recognize service members with an event called “Sea, Tea and Me” and to reach out to others similarly honored that they have yet to meet.
“We had three of our Purple Heart recipients with us — Orlando Brown, Roy Stephens, and Hubert Raimer,” Post Commander Hillis Benjamin said. Veterans Affairs Director Patrick Farrell and Sens. Dwayne DeGraff and Marvin Blyden joined the event, which was held at the Port Authority Water Park in Lindbergh Bay.
They were joined by Muria Nesbitt, readjustment counselor of the Veterans Affairs Clinic.
The names of other recipients who have died were also mentioned as officials addressed the group. “Memorialized were Nanton Moses, Ewart Harley, Myron Buddy Henneman, and Howard Zimmerman,” said Legion spokesperson Beverlie Baron.
Myron Buddy Henneman, Ewart Harley and Nanton Moses among the Purple Heart recipients honored posthumously on Aug. 7. (Photo courtesy American Legion Post 90)
As the attendees met and greeted one another, Benjamin said organizers were able to gather the names of two more Purple Heart recipients from the Virgin Islands, “and it turned out one of them had been awarded the Purple Heart twice,” she said.
Businesses and contributors who helped make the event possible included Senators DeGraff, Potter, Blyden, Angel Bolques, and Ray Fonseca; Cost U less, West Indies Corporation, The Fruit Bowl, and community member Ruth George.
Military members receive the Purple Heart medal after being injured at war or in incidents caused by those considered enemies in armed conflict. The day of observance was first declared during the American Revolutionary War on Aug. 7, 1782, by then-General George Washington.
The territory is awaiting the arrival of the new VITRAN ferry, which is currently under construction, the Public Works Department announced.
The catamaran designed by Incat Crowther is currently under construction by Gulf Craft LLC in Franklin, La. Recently, the framing and plating of the deck and cabin were completed. Currently, all the metalwork is being finished in preparation for sandblasting and painting. Additionally, various systems, from fuel to water piping, are being installed, according to the press release.
The new VITRAN ferry is under construction. (Photo courtesy DPW)
Construction of the ferry—recently named “The Spirit of 1733” by Virgin Islands residents—began in November 2023, following the award of the Federal Transit Administration’s 2022 Passenger Ferry Grant in January that same year, the press release stated.
The new ferry will be built with accessibility and an elevated customer experience in mind. It will feature two ADA-compliant bathrooms, including five dedicated wheelchair-accessible spaces, a fully enclosed luggage room on the main deck level, and integrated side boarding ramps for a safe and efficient boarding experience, the release stated.
The new VITRAN ferry will hold 300 passengers. (Photo courtesy DPW)
The ferry will be capable of transporting up to 300 passengers. The air-conditioned main cabin will provide seating for up to 200 passengers and the vessel’s upper deck will transport up to 100 passengers in outdoor seating, it said.
The new passenger vessel will service the route between Red Hook on the island of St. Thomas and Cruz Bay on the island of St. John. Currently, two other Incat Crowther-designed vessels service this route, it said.
Check out our weekly weather forecast with Jesse Daley, covering Sunday, Aug. 11, through Saturday, Aug. 17. Our YouTube playlist is updated every week, AND check out Jesse’s daily weather updates here.
Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. officially acted on a series of bills passed during the most recent legislative session, with a mix of approvals and vetoes that, in his transmittal letter to Senate President Novelle Francis, emphasize his support for measures that promote public welfare and fiscal responsibility while vetoing those he deemed “inappropriate” or lacking due process.
Among the notable actions, Bryan vetoed Bill No. 35-0229, which sought to honor former Gov. Kenneth E. Mapp by renaming Route 75 as the “Gov. Kenneth E. Mapp Highway” and appropriating $45,000 from the General Fund for this purpose. While acknowledging Mapp’s contributions, Bryan expressed concerns over the expenditure, particularly in light of the territory’s ongoing budget deficit and declining revenue collections. He suggested that the Legislature should focus on developing revenue-generating measures to address financial challenges rather than allocating substantial funds for non-critical purposes.
“As a governor, I recognize Gov. Mapp and his contribution to the Virgin Islands, however by contrast, the Legislature recently chastised the administration for attempting to assist over 100,000 people in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl, and l am confident in your support for denying the expenditure of $45,000 for the commemoration of a single person,” Bryan wrote. “As was expressed by the sentiment of the body, allocating this large sum for such a non-critical purpose is not appropriate at a time when we are facing a large budget deficit and declining revenue collections.”
The decision comes as the V.I. government continues to grapple with a significant $91 million budget shortfall. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has requested that all government agencies and departments reduce operational spending by five percent in the last three months of the fiscal year to help address the shortfall, which acting OMB Director Kimika Woods recently told senators resulted from several factors, including pay raises initiated by Mapp and continued by Bryan, as well as the impact of nationwide inflation.
Despite these financial challenges, Bryan approved several bills aimed at improving the territory’s infrastructure and services. This includes Bill No. 35-0240, which transfers the administration of the Government Insurance Fund from the Department of Finance to the Department of Labor, and Bill No. 35-0262, which appropriates $1.43 million for pre-construction costs associated with dredging the Charlotte Amalie harbor.
Bryan also approved Bill No. 35-0313, appropriating $100,000 the V.I. Department of Human Services to provide meals to those waitlisted for the Meals on Wheels program.
“Unfortunately, this amount is sorely insufficient to clear the 97-person waitlist, thereby rendering the goal unachievable and not sustainable,” Bryan wrote in his letter. “Additionally, the deadline of August 5, 2024 listed in the bill has already expired. To successfully achieve this goal, a sustained funding source must be identified to address this worthy initiative. It would be fiscally irresponsible and cruel to begin food service for persons waitlisted only to remove them from the service once the appropriation of $100,000 is exhausted, which would be within a matter of weeks.”
Additionally, Bryan signed Bill No. 35-0301 into law, which mandates that the Government of the Virgin Islands cover the costs of forensic medical exams for victims of rape or unlawful sexual contact, regardless of the victim’s cooperation with law enforcement or insurance status. He also approved Bill No. 35-0310, which allocates $250,000 for the emergency restoration of electrical services in specific areas of St. Croix, Bill No. 35-0312, which provides funding for the repair and maintenance of the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School track and field facilities, and Bill No. 35-0314, which reprograms $100,000 previously appropriated to the Elmo Plaskett Little League West on St. Croix and the Alvin McBean Little League on St. Thomas to the Girls Softball Little League program in both districts.
Bill No. 35-0311, mandating the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (“WAPA”) to seek technical assistance from the United States Department of Energy, the United States Army Corps of Engineers and relevant federal government agencies to modernize its electrical grid and water systems, improve reliability, enhance efficiency and incorporate advanced technologies was also approved.
“I note that WAPA has been and will continue to be closely engaged with federal agencies such as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (“NREL”), the Department of Energy, Sandia Labs, the Naval Postgraduate School, the EPA and its EPIC program and the Army Corps of Engineers,” Bryan wrote. “WAPA also receives federal support through FEMA and HUD grants which facilitates collaboration with project management firms like Sargent & Lundy and Westpeak Energy, LLC. An ongoing collaboration with NREL focuses on interconnection methods and advancing renewables in the Territory. I am confident that this continued partnership will yield positive results.”
In his letter to Francis, Bryan also vetoed Bill No. 35-0269, which proposed penalties for perjury in proceedings before the Legislature of the Virgin Islands. Although he supported the intent to hold individuals accountable for misleading the Legislature, Bryan cited concerns about the lack of due process protections in the bill and encouraged the Legislature to revise the bill to ensure that perjury charges are handled appropriately through the judicial system.
Lumber designated for rebuilding after the 2017 hurricanes sits at Henderson School on St. Croix after years in the elements. (Source photo by Susan Ellis)
The V.I. Justice Department has rejected calls to sever the cases of three co-defendants accused of bilking taxpayers through a $4 million federal contract to store wood for the territory’s hurricane recovery.
The trio was arrested in June after a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Davidson Charlemagne of St. Croix with government program fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracy; Sasha Charlemagne, his wife, with money laundering conspiracy; and Darin Richardson of St. Thomas with criminal conflict of interest and making materially false statements. The indictment also names an unindicted co-conspirator, referred to as “Individual One.”
According to court documents, the charges stem from a two-year FBI investigation into a 2020 V.I. Housing Finance Authority contract for the storage and management of wood that was shipped to the territory to be used for the reconstruction of commercial and residential buildings following hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.
Last month, the Charlemagnes filed separate motions to have their cases severed from that of Richardson, contending that they are not charged with a conspiracy and have not been accused of working together to commit the same crimes. Last week, Richardson argued the same in a motion to have his case heard separately from the Charlemagnes.
In a response filed Thursday in V.I. District Court, the U.S. Attorney’s Office rejected those claims.
“All three defendants make much of the fact that the government has not charged them with a conspiracy, and they highlight the obvious by noting Davidson and Sasha Charlemagne are charged with one set of offenses … while Darin Richardson is charged with a separate set of offenses,” the response states.
“The defendants further complain about ‘the government’s attempt to use Individual One as a bridge between Charlemagne and Richardson,’ because, in their telling, the Charlemagnes and Richardson were engaged in wholly separate crimes somehow disconnected from each other,” it says.
“However, this is where all three defendants’ arguments fail inasmuch as they argue that they did not participate in the same act or transaction, or as part of a common scheme or plan. To the contrary, while the three defendants in this case are charged with committing different offenses, all three of them were engaged in the same ‘series of acts or transactions, constituting an offense or offenses,’” as required under the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure governing the joinder of cases, the government responded.
“Consequently, joinder was proper at the inception of this case and the Court should deny the defendants’ motions to sever,” it said.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, all three were involved in a coordinated scheme to defraud the Department of Housing and Urban Development in connection with the 2020 contract issued by the VIHFA for managing the lumber piles on St. Croix and St. Thomas that was funded by HUD through the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program.
The indictment alleges that Davidson Charlemagne arranged for “Individual One” to submit a bid on behalf of ISG, and D&S Trucking, owned by the Charlemagnes, would subcontract to perform the majority of the work.
The bid, totaling nearly $3 million, included inflated labor costs, according to the complaint, and was ultimately awarded by Richardson, who at the time was the chief operating officer of VIHFA.
Richardson had significant control over the procurement process and allegedly manipulated the evaluation of bids to favor ISG’s proposal, according to the complaint.
It further alleges that after the contract was awarded, its value was increased by $1 million under false pretenses, with the length of the contract inaccurately extended. These actions resulted in significant financial gain for the Charlemagnes, facilitated by Richardson’s misuse of his official position, according to the court filings.
Meanwhile, the lumber on St. Croix and St. Thomas remained almost entirely unused and stacked on pallets outdoors and exposed to the elements for more than three years. Moreover, the St. Croix woodpile was stored rent-free at Henderson Elementary School — meaning the government was paying millions to store its own property on its own land — the Justice Department alleges. Davidson Charlemagne is territory facilities manager for the V.I. Education Department, at a salary of $90,000 per year, according to the Division of Personnel employee database.
The government also claims that Richardson received a $107,000 payment from “Individual One” as a result of his role in the scheme, and that the actions of each defendant were integral to its success.
Additionally, separating the cases would undermine the efficiency of the trial process and could result in inconsistent verdicts, it said.
The government also emphasized that much of the evidence required to prosecute Richardson would overlap with the evidence against the Charlemagnes, further supporting the decision to keep the cases joined.
Judge Wilma Lewis is presiding over the case and had not ruled on the matter as of Friday.
In response to the ongoing power outages impacting the territory, the Virgin Islands Department of Human Services (VIDHS) Division of Family Assistance is set to provide replacement SNAP benefits to households affected by extended power outages. This initiative aims to support those who have lost food purchased with SNAP benefits due to these unforeseen circumstances.
Eligible SNAP recipients who experience a power outage lasting four or more hours may apply for replacement benefits. The replacement program is part of a broader effort to assist individuals affected by disasters and misfortunes, including fires, floods and malfunctioning refrigeration units.
“Ensuring timely assistance for those in need is crucial, especially as power outages disproportionately affect our most vulnerable populations,” Delegate Stacey Plaskett said in a statement Friday, highlighting that her team advocated for this program’s availability to Virgin Islands SNAP recipients.
According to a release from Human Services, households affected by power outages or other qualifying disasters should report their food loss within 10 days. Applications for replacement benefits can be picked up at any SNAP office location or downloaded from the VIDHS website at http://www.dhs.gov.vi/.
Program Details:
Eligibility: Households may be eligible if they lost food due to a qualifying disaster such as a fire, flood, power outage (four or more hours), or broken refrigerator/freezer.
Maximum Replacement: Equivalent to one month of benefits.
Reporting Loss: Report food loss within 10 days. Forms can be submitted by mail, email, or fax.
Submission Process:
Request Form: Complete and submit the form to your district office within 10 days of the loss.
Verification: VIDHS will verify the reported incident through third-party contacts. If verification is not possible, additional documentation may be required.
Issuance: Replacement benefits will be issued within 2 to 10 business days upon verification and approval.
For more information or to contact VIDHS, SNAP recipients can reach the Certification Unit Offices at the following numbers:
St. Croix: (340) 772-7100 Ext. 7159; 7166 or (340) 772-7120
St. Thomas: (340) 774-0930 Ext. 4303 or (340) 774-2399
St. John: (340) 774-0930 Ext. 4303; (340) 774-2399 or (340) 776-6334
Applications can be submitted in person or via drop boxes located at the following addresses:
St. Croix: 41-B Mars Hill, Frederiksted, VI 00820
St. Thomas/Water Island: 1303 Hospital Ground, St. Thomas, VI 00802
St. John: Multipurpose Building, 307 Enighed, Contant, Cruz Bay, VI 00830
For further details, visit the VIDHS website at www.dhs.gov.vi, follow them on Facebook or call (340) 774-0930.
Gylton Da Matta, far left, talks to campers at volleyball camp. (Source photo by Mark J. Daniel)
Island Vibes Summer Camp and In the Zone Athletic Club, Inc. teamed up to bring two highly decorated international icons to St Thomas to hold a volleyball clinic at Antilles School this past week.
Camp Director Vernon Araujo of Island Vibes Summer Camp, met Gylton Da Matta when he was selected by the United States Virgin Islands Olympic Committee to attend the International Olympic Academy in Greece where Da Matta was a lecturer. After the class, Araujo approached Da Matta about holding clinics here in the Virgin Islands, to which the volleyball instructor happily agreed.
This initial meeting was in 2012. It wasn’t until 2016 that Da Matta came to the Virgin Islands and conducted two training sessions, one in each district. Araujo was able to bring the volleyball specialist back to America’s paradise in 2017 and 2018. This visit is the first time in six years that Da Matta has been able to return to the Virgin Islands to conduct this clinic.
“We are honored to be here for the sixth time. This is our sixth camp here. Most importantly because there is a huge potential in the kids here.” said Da Matta in an interview. “Not only in the passion of volleyball but also big potential in athletics overall. I think this is a very untapped market. We believe in the potential of the children of the Virgin Islands.”
Da Matta is an international volleyball consultant who has trained top athletes in the sport of volleyball all over the world. Presently he resides in Colorado where he has a thriving volleyball program called, International Youth Olympic Sport Academy, YOSA. Da Matta is a certified International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) level 4 coach who has written many technical instructional volleyball manuals and has been heavily involved in the creation of other volleyball instructional platforms like SportsEdtv.com.
Gold medalist Renan Dal Zotto works on setting a basketball with Chloe Irons and Seava Brin at volleyball camp. (Source photo by Mark J. Daniel)
One of the coaches Da Matta brought with him was Renan Dal Zotto. Dal Zotto won a gold medal playing for Brazil at the 1984 Summer Olympic Games. He has also won numerous international FIVB indoor and beach events over his playing career. His transition to coaching was equally successful as he was at the helm of Brazil’s national men’s team and coached in the professional volleyball league in Italy for many years.
“I think this camp was excellent,” said Araujo. “This was the most kids we ever had. We had representation from all three islands. We had one student who came down from the States, even though she was born here. We want to create opportunities for people who are from here and are living abroad, to come home and have meaningful camps that they can attend.”
Da Matta added, “The enthusiasm of the kids was amazing. We were teaching the kids very advanced skills and they were demonstrating attention, patience, dedication, discipline, and respect. These are the reasons why we are very motivated to come and be here.”
Araujo would like to thank Alpine Securities, IGY Marinas, Yacht Haven Grande, Southland Gaming, and Antilles School for their support of the camp and their commitment to the youth of the Virgin Islands.
Organizers are planning to have the next event in July 2025.
Ocean Explorers take a group photo at Brewer’s Bay. (Source photo by Joshua Crawford Barry)
The Youth Oceans Explorers Summer Program, a four-week immersive experience that offers students a unique opportunity to actively engage in coastal and environmental conservation while also learning to identify various plants and fish species, wrapped up in the first week of August.
The program, led by Howard Forbes Jr. from the Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service (VIMAS), has been engaging in various activities aimed at fostering a love for the ocean and its surrounding ecosystems for almost a decade.
The program’s activities culminated in a beach cleanup at Brewer’s Bay. These cleanups help collect crucial data that can influence local legislation to better protect the Virgin Islands’ natural resources.
On the day of the cleanup, the participants made their way to Brewers Bay around 10 a.m., armed with gloves, bags, and a competitive spirit. As they combed the beach for debris, the excitement was palpable. The goal was not only to collect as much trash as possible but also to log the types of debris found, providing valuable data for future conservation efforts. This hands-on experience taught the campers the importance of protecting their environment and how their efforts contribute to a larger cause.
As the cleanup progressed, the campers’ bags filled with a variety of trash, from plastic bottles to discarded fishing gear. The most memorable moment came during the weigh-in, a highly anticipated event where Forbes brought out his scale. The campers gathered around, eager to see who had collected the most trash. One particular bag stood out – it contained a cinder block. When asked about it, the camper simply replied, “Building materials count as trash, so I put it in there.” The bag, weighing an impressive 30 pounds, became the talk of the cleanup.
Program leader Howard Forbes Jr. weighs trash that campers picked up during beach cleanup. (Source photo by Joshua Crawford Barry)
After the weigh-in, the group headed back to the UVI Marine Center for lunch. The camaraderie and sense of accomplishment were evident as the campers shared stories of their finds and discussed the impact of their work. Post-lunch, the campers participated in an educational activity that allowed their creativity to shine. Using pieces of coral, rocks, and toy animals, they created artificial reefs. These miniature ecosystems, complete with turtles and crabs, were a fun and informative way to learn about the importance of reefs in marine environments.
For those interested in supporting ongoing conservation efforts, there are numerous ways to get involved. Volunteering at cleanups, donating financial support, providing personnel, or even offering refreshments for volunteers are all invaluable contributions. Interested organizations and stakeholders can reach out to Forbes at howard.forbes@uvi.edu and follow the UVI Center for Marine and Environmental Studies (CMES) Facebook page for updates. Additionally, more information can be found at www.viepscor.org and www.uvi.edu/vimas.
