Jan 25, 2022 | Island News
No visit to St. Croix is complete without spending a weekend day on the island’s west end at Sandy Point Beach. The official name of the beach is Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and has the longest continuous beach in the USVI. Breathtakingly stunning, this two-mile long stretch of sandy white beach is one of the longest in the Caribbean with crystal clear blue waters and some of the best water views on island.
Established in 1984, Sandy Point NWR covers 383 acres that provides a critical nesting habitat for three species of federally threatened and endangered sea turtles: the leatherback, hawksbill and green sea turtle. The initial land purchase was specific to protecting nesting habitats of endangered leatherback sea turtles, the largest sea turtle species in the world.
The Refuge objectives are to:
- Conserve, enhance, restore and protect native wildlife populations and habitat.
- Conserve and protect cultural resources.
- Provide environmental education and interpretive opportunities.
- Support the National Park Service’s commitment to implement and carry out seaturtle recovery plans.
In 2021, Sandy Point saw 81,668 green turtle hatchlings, 665 adorable leatherback hatchlings and 22,138 baby hawksbills. These numbers are recorded thanks to the non-profit organization St. Croix Sea Turtle Project that works in collaboration with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). They focus on sea turtle research and conservation and supporting students interested in marine biology.
As the largest leatherback nesting population within U.S. jurisdiction, Sandy Point NWR is a federally protected site. Visitors must take great care when visiting the Refuge to ensure its longevity. It closes seasonally from April 1st to September 1st to protect the nests and hatchlings of the endangered leatherback sea turtle. It is open the remainder of the year on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am-4pm.
Article written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com) for Coldwell Banker, St. Croix Realty
#stcroix #stcroixusvi #usvi #nature #turtles #conservation #sea #endangeredspecies #wildlife #wildlifepreservation
Jan 25, 2022 | Island News
Sail to Buck Island with one of St. Croix’s sailing legends aboard Llewellyn’s Charter. Considered a Crucian icon by many, skilled sailor and former Calypso King Llewellyn Westerman has welcomed passengers aboard his trimaran vessel since 1979, taking the idyllic journey between Teague Bay and Buck Island Reef National Monument for a one-of-a-kind experience. What makes Llewellyn’s Charter standout from other Buck Island charters is his six-passenger 37-foot performance trimaran, Charis+. With no motor, Lew (what most call him) and his crew set out on the waters for a fast and exciting voyage. Seeing them in action as they operate a true sailboat complete with raising the sails and gliding through the smooth, sleek Caribbean waters adds an enhanced level of delight to the outing.
A third-generation sailor, Westerman prides himself on his fine tuned navigation skills on the water. “I’ve been on the water since I could remember myself,” said Lew. As a young boy growing up in Nevis, he would organize boat races in the water drain after heavy rains. “We would make makeshift boats made of leaves, sticks and whatever else we could use and race our boats.” He revealed his first sail on the water was on a 12-foot boat. He graduated from that smaller vessel and added a few feet onto his current boat. “For years, I handled Charis+ by myself with no help.” After losing his right leg three years ago due to poor circulation, Westerman didn’t let this stop him from doing what he loves the most – singing and strumming his guitar and sailing.
A lover of poetry from youth, Westerman fell in love with the calypso music he would hear on the radio. “Calypso is poetry with music,” he said. When he arrived on St. Croix in 1960, he befriended a local calypso artist who convinced Westerman to write his own material. Once he started writing his own music, Westerman won his first calypso competition in 1983. He went on to record several albums – many still found at local music stores like Riddims in downtown Christiansted. Guests of Llewellyn’s Charter are often treated to the sweet sounds of his guitar accompanied by his smooth melodic voice. “I love singing for my guests and sharing all the stories of St. Croix. I’ve been here a long time and I could write a volume of books!”
Reserve your spot on this custom-built trimaran sailboat for an unforgettable day of sailing, snorkeling and swimming in the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. Call 340.773.9027.
Article written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com) for Coldwell Banker, St. Croix Realty
#stcroixusvi #stcroix #caribbean #boating #islandliving #sailing #charter
Jan 14, 2022 | Island News
On December 26th, a community event aimed to educate, engage and empower the local community on Kwaanza was held at Grove Place inside D. Hamilton Jackson Park. Kwanzaa is a holiday that celebrates African heritage, unity, and culture from December 26 to January 1. With performances, storytelling, community award ceremonies, the event kicked off the seven-day holiday. Senator Genevieve Whitaker spoke at the event and gave praise for the event and reiterated the importance of Virgin Islands history being taught in our schools. The event included performances from Kemit Sweeney, 340 Steppaz/ GP for Life Dancers, and many more. The event closed with an awards ceremony that recognized organizations and individuals in the community who do service. The event wa put together by the UCU and Kwaanza Everyday. The full article is on St. Croix Source, read here.
Photo by Darshania Domingo, featuring Kemit Sweeney
Jan 14, 2022 | Island News
Friends of the V.I. National Park kicked off the first installment of Sea Turtle Talks series earlier this month, and more will be offered on the second Sunday of each month for the next six months. This Friends and Ocean Surfari partnership offers an on-the-sea classroom experience for the audience to learn how to safely interact with and protect local marine life while swimming alongside them in the cool blue Caribbean water.
In the first talk, Willow Melamet, V.I. National Park’s Sea Turtle Program Coordinator spoke to a small group of participants about everything from local turtle habitats to nesting patterns as the Sunfari catamaran nestled into Maho Bay on St. John. Read the full article on St Croix Source here. For more information about the talks, email vinpturtles@friendsvinp.org.
Photo from Friends of the V.I. National Park
Dec 22, 2021 | Island News
The holidays on St. Croix aren’t complete without an ice-cold glass of coquito! Smooth & creamy, this coconut based alcoholic beverage is the perfect combination of ingredients that include coconut, milk, spices like nutmeg and cinnamon and of course, rum – more specifically Cruzan Rum. It is often described as Puerto Rican eggnog since it originated in the neighboring island. The U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico have had a longstanding connection since 1917, the year when many Puerto Rican descendants migrated to the territory. As the largest number of migrants in the USVI, we have a one-of-a-kind cultural link between the islands that have produced several shared traditions like drinking copious amounts of coquito during the festive holiday season.
The fervent love of coquito by the Crucian people came to the forefront in 2007 when St. Croix held its first ever Coquito Festival. Hosted by La Reine Chicken Shack, the finest coquito makers would compete for a grand prize and bragging rights for best coquito on island. This is where attendees would see coquito of all flavors ranging from original to pistachio, chocolate and strawberry. Due to the ongoing strains of the global pandemic, the festival has been on pause since 2020 but that doesn’t stop the coquito from flowing! Across the island, you will find coquito for sale at local supermarkets, roadside vendors and at popup sales hosted by well-known coquito connoisseurs.
Not able to make it to St. Croix for the holidays to get a taste of coquito? Not to worry! Here we’ve shared a tried-and-true coquito recipe you can try at home. Feel free to omit the alcohol for a delicious nonalcoholic option. Enjoy!
Coquito Recipe
(Makes 8-12 servings)
INGREDIENTS
1-12oz can evaporated milk
1-15oz can sweetened cream of coconut (Coco
Lopez is what we use in St. Croix)
1-14oz can sweetened condensed milk
1-15oz can coconut milk
1.5-2 cups of Cruzan Light Rum (or any other rum
available)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
2 cinnamon sticks
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Directions: Combine all the milks in a large blender
and blend until completely combined. Add the rum,
vanilla and ground cinnamon to the mixture and blend
together. Pour into glass bottles with sealed lids and
cover and chill in refrigerator for at least 2 hours before
serving.
Article written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com) for Coldwell Banker, St. Croix Realty
#stcroixusvi #stcroix #caribbean #drinks #foodie #islandliving #localflavors
Dec 22, 2021 | Island News
Get ready for an explosion of flavors at Christiansted’s newest vegan restaurant Café Roots-N-Kulchah! Chef Kimba Kabaka has been whipping up delicious plant-based dishes on St. Croix for over six years. Born and raised on St. Croix, Chef Kimba’s restaurant originally opened in Summer 2016 in the Frederiksted historic district on St. Croix’s west end. In October 2021, he relocated his popular eatery to Christiansted. “I was ready for a new chapter in my career, a change of pace and energy,” said Kimba. “Christiansted offered that to my business and so far, it has been really great.”
Kimba’s passion for opening his business back in 2016 was rooted in a longtime vision he’s had as it relates to vegan food. “I wanted to give people a different option in the vegan and vegetarian style on island and truly educate others about plant-based food and eating.” While vegan and vegetarian food is a big deal here on St. Croix, Kimba felt like it wasn’t something that many people were exposed to. At Café Roots-N-Kulchah, guests are introduced to vegan food in what Kimba describes as an elevated dining experience. Menu items include a variety of dishes such as vegan patés, stuffed plantains, grilled vegan burgers, vegan chili and stuffed mushrooms. The drinks are equally delicious and refreshing with options like citrus basil iced tea, seamoss, guava and lime ginger beer.
For those with an aversion to vegan food due to past experiences, Kimba assured that anyone eating at Café Roots-N-Kulchah will be blown away. He revealed that eighty percent of his customers are non-vegan/vegetarians and become regulars after one or two visits. Dinner service is offered on Fridays and Saturdays with live music in the courtyard on Saturday nights. Local musicians play a blend of reggae, jazz and other mellow type tunes that adds to the allure of Café Roots-N-Kulchah. “Between the ambience and outdoor setting combined with the food, music and overall vibe, you never know what you’re going to get and that’s the wow factor of the space.”
Café Roots-N-Kulchah is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11:30am to 6pm; Friday lunch hours are 11:30am to 2pm and reopens for dinner from 6pm to 10pm; Saturdays are dinner only from 6pm to 10pm. It is located at 5 King Street in the courtyard behind Walcott Real Estate next to Lord God of Saboath Lutheran Church. Visit their Facebook page to see the day’s specials at www.facebook.com/Cafe-Roots- N-Kulchah-1495601960728251.
Article written by Anquanette Gaspard (agaspard@cruzanfoodie.com) for Coldwell Banker, St. Croix Realty
#stcroixusvi #stcroix #caribbean #goodeats #food #foodie #gourmet #restaurant #vegan #islandliving #local
