Ha, told you so. And so the walls come crumbling down. And now what?

New Gas Station Project in Violation Again
November 22, 2011
Chocolate Hole LLC found itself in a world of hurt Tuesday, when construction on its gas station appeared to have destabilized a nearby road.

The company faces fines of $5,000 to $10,000 for undermining the road above while excavating land for its new 24-hour gas station and convenience store, Planning and Natural Resources spokesman Jamal Nielsen said Tuesday.

“Salem has been warned on several occasions,” Nielsen said, referring to owner Nedal Salem.

Planning staff visited the site Tuesday, found the violations and helped Salem “secure the site,” Nielsen said. He said that the staff will soon issue a “findings of fact” and determine how much the fine should be.

He added that Salem was given “some direction” as to how to build a retaining wall.

Salem denied he had any problems with the excavation, and said he was currently working on constructing the retaining wall, Tuesday.
“Our priority is to put it up,” he said.

He said the gas station should open in about eight months.

The gas station project is sandwiched between Southside Road and a road through the Power Boyd neighborhood. It sits next to a small shopping center that’s home to St. John Market in an area locally called Great Cruz Bay. Officially, it’s Chocolate Hole.

According to Nielsen, Planning’s Building Permits Division issued a stop work order on June 7, because the severity of the cut into the hillside to make way for the gas station was done in an unsafe manner. Nielsen said Salem corrected the problem and work continued.

After heavy rains on Aug. 31, the department issued another stop work order and told Salem he had to develop a plan to mitigate erosion and redesign the retaining wall.

“The plan was developed and the stop work order lifted,” Nielsen said.

On Nov. 21, a “significant” portion of the property above fell into the construction site, resulting in the latest problem for Salem.

The project was unpopular with some residents who turned out in the fall of 2010 for public meetings on the matter. The main issue was the impact on business at a nearby market and a gas station, as well as safety issues when fuel trucks travel on the very steep Jacob’s Ladder to reach the new gas station.

Currently, St. John has only one gas station. It’s located in Cruz Bay. No one at the meetings disputed the need for another one, but some people said they preferred putting one at the other end of the island in the Coral Bay area.

Another gas station is in the works at Estate Adrian on Centerline Road.

Oh, "Warf Side?" Thank you, E1!

What the hell? Seems like a good way to get jumped and have your last remaining possessions 'teefed, but what do I know?

I am looking for a dedicated companion who wants to live on the beach. (Virgin Islands)
Reply to: job-6z8wy-2634100210@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]

I am moving to the United States Virgin Islands in approximately one week. I will be homeless and living on the beach until I can find work. I am looking for someone who is in a similar position that wants to do this with a companion. Having the support of another is much better than doing it alone. Living on the beach is kind of like camping. It's only going to work for certain types of people because there are physical and mental challenges. And believe me when I tell you the challenges we could face will be extreme.

I am a clean 32 year old white male. I have no dependents. I do not use drugs. I drink alcohol socially only. I have no criminal background. I have lived and worked in St. Thomas previously and I had a really good job. But the economy took my job away and I moved back to the mainland with my extended family last year. I am having no luck finding work on the mainland. So I am relocating back to the islands without any support. I still have a friend who lives on St. Thomas but you just can't live somewhere without being able to pay the bills. I am on a strict budget but I do have money to survive. I will be bringing a backpack of essential supplies including a travel pillow, suntan lotion, mosquito repellent, a tent, a razor, some towels, mosquito repellent, a few changes of clothes that I will hand wash, etc. You see where this is going. I will also bring along a one man tent. I suggest you do the same.

I am willing to help you out as much as I can. However, life is going to be tough for the both of us until we find some income. If you're a true friend, I will give you my last drop of water. I would hope you would do the same. Conservation is the key. We must live conservatively to survive and make this work. Once I approach the island, I won't be able to easily leave the island. I have a pretty impressive work history but I'm throwing that all away and willing to accept a job busing tables for a low wage. Just because we live outside doesn't mean we should totally ignore personal hygiene.

I have not decided which island is best yet. St. John is the most beautiful island of all three. However, St. Croix is big and largely flat. We can hide better in St. Croix because it's much larger than the rest and it has less tourism. There are jobs on St. Croix. Please understand that this will at first be a journey but at the same time it could end up being a fight to survive. Our safety should be fine. But our money supplies and food supplies could run low. This is a risky venture. I am not looking for someone who wants to hit the beach up for three days and then leave the island. You can do that on your own. I am looking for someone who has had enough and wants a change. There will be a lot of walking, a lot of roaming, a lot of lounging and a lot of sacrifice. Money doesn't last forever. I am bringing some resumes with me.

Again I have lived and worked on St. Thomas before. Just one year ago, I had a $45k a year job with transportation and housing. Everything was going great. Now I'm in the dumps. I am looking to pull out in one week. So please, no drug addicts, no murderers, no rapists. I just want a drama free experience where we try to move forward and help each other. This could be a life changing experience for the right person. But I guarantee you it will be a catastrophe for the wrong person. Please email me if you're serious and we can talk on the phone. Thanks.

Location: Virgin Islands

Bye, bye, tree.

Oh, joy. "Rainbow Kid's" has opened another store.

What a mess. Late afternoon near the customs and fuel docks.

Whoopsie!

Kudos to my eagle-eyed roving reporter for capturing this! XO!

This is shameful.

At the WAPA protest from Wednesday. The link is here, but you have to cut and paste it, since I can't seem to attach a live link tonight. Innovative DSL is being very uncooperative this evening, and I need to stop and get caught up on Judge Judy now. This Youtube video scares me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHcB_5TvKJI

New parking lot? More like a used car and storage lot. And yes, those Jeeps do have "FOR SALE" signs in them.

Come on, now. Adrian, Adrian, Adrian.

I am so en-couraged!

Awesomeness!

Judge Swan’s Marijuana Quote

“Some people who smoke marijuana are better drivers than sober drivers.”
– Superior Court Judge Ive Swan

Our limited contact with former VI Superior Court Judge Ive Swan (now VI Supreme Court Judge) has led us to conclude he is a thoroughly competent and conscientious jurist, more the reason why we were stunned by his quote above. We could not help asking, “From what font does his knowledge of Buddha spring?”

Does he partake of a little sacramental weed himself from time to time?

The quote was made in open court during a murder trial. The defendant was found guilty of First Degree Murder, but on appeal, the Third Circuit ruled Judge Swain’s remark denied the defendant a fair trial.

WTF? SAY WHAT?!

paul Vrabcak on November 3, 2011 at 5:17 pm

wayto go mr springer, you are to be commendedo hve gottn this issue this far, mearly the fact theyre having th Ag look into it mens you have a case that the boe fers you will take to federal court,th three weks is to scour federal law looking for exceptions to the current elagability law. its pretty obvious that our BOE couldnt find any reason to dismiss the claim as chuckie want them to do, her three laywers couldoffer no defence to the charge as stated , chuckie attempted to agrue what moral terpatude is but that wasnt the specifics of the charge, its about the letter of the elagability law, comendations to you i see this as a victory hat thy will move as slow as the can on but still ts brought the fer ofthe people to chckie and the boe

Hey there, goat! Where are you going?