16 St. John Tradewinds, March 8-14, 2010 Improving Early Education Through Non-profit Kids First! Continued from Page 9 the right educational track, the group also helped to make sure the schools were prepared, Claflin added. “We also wanted to improve the quality of the preschool environ- ment,” he said. “You need things like maps, puzzles and educational toys so we’ve provided grants to improve teaching tools for the early learning centers.” Taking stock of the group’s accomplishments to date, Kids First! members are proud of their achievements. “About 50 kids enter early childhood centers each year and if we can do this right, we can dramatically change the outcomes for their formal school years and beyond,” said Claflin. With a clear focus on its goals, the group is just trying to keep its coffers full in order to see results, according to Claflin. “We're long on good intentions, but we need money,” he said. “When we first formed it was me and a few neighbors, but we need a bigger base of support. So I’m starting a villa rental program.” Since Kids First! was launched by residents who own vacation vil- las, Claflin decided to try to get more villa owners to support the group’s efforts by donating a small percentage of what they make through renting their St. John houses. “The villa rental program works by a villa owner agreeing to give two percent of his rental income to Kids First! and we agree to pro- mote the relationship to prospective renters,” said Claflin. “More than 60 percent of the people who come here and rent villas, come back more than once. These people develop an emotional connection to the island and this is something people can do differentiate their villa.” Claflin has been working with several villa management agencies and hopes the villa program expands to be a steady revenue stream for Kids First! and the kids of St. John. “This will do two things,” said Claflin. “We can raise money to make real changes in education and we can change the image that rental villa owners don’t’ really do their part for the community. We're doing everything we can to bring us all together.” To support Kids First! or for more information, check out the group’s website at kidsfirstsj.org. : ‘= + —_ . “Copyrighted Material - syndicated Content a Available from Commercial News Providers” ite Ms. > ee ' Grande Bay Gets Overwhelming Rezoning Support Continued from Page 3 John, everybody benefits. There is no negative impact to St. John.” Local contractor Todd Wil- son, who has been involved with Grande Bay as a consultant, asked the senators to approve Bay Isle’s rezoning request as a means for providing jobs to St. John resi- dents. “It’s important to help devel- opers be successful so they will invest in the Virgin Islands,” said Wilson. “Any jobs that are avail- able nowadays is a good thing.” Senators expressed both sup- port and hesitation at Bay Isle’s rezoning request. Senator Wayne James wondered how Grande Bay was allowed in the first place, and said he was “stupefied” when he first saw it. Senator at Large Craig Barshinger claimed the develop- ment is “out of scale” with sur- rounding properties, and alleged that Bay Isle partners David Band and Kelly Frye wondered “how to pack the most stuff into this very valuable piece of land.” “We allowed it to happen,” said Barshinger. In addition to Barshinger and James, senators present at the hearing included Senate President Louis Patrick Hill, and senators Terrence Nelson and Patrick Sim- eon Sprauve. The Legislature will vote on the rezoning in the near future. The Senate also heard a request for rezoning at the March 4 hear- ing by the Boynes family for con- struction of a post office (see re- lated story). “Tentative” Post Office Site Rezoning Hearing Continued from Page 3 May 2007, but let the lease lapse after three years of no progress. Officials said the lease would be renewed once a zoning change was obtained by the family. The Boynes family has never stopped trying to move forward, family spokesperson Cheryl Boynes-Jackson explained at the hearing. “The process has been ongo- ing,” said Boynes-Jackson. “We are trying to fulfill each and every requirement along the way.” Senate President Louis Patrick Hill expressed distaste at the fact that the process has taken nearly three years thus far. “Tt disturbs me greatly that this project was held up by govern- ment bureaucracy,” said Hill. “It’s really unacceptable.” St. Johnian Robert O’Connor Jr., who was the lone testifier in the matter, expressed support for the rezoning. O’Connor, a former senator himself, asked the Senate to approve the Boynes family’s re- zoning application. “IT have always looked out for what is best for St. John, and this application serves the people of St. John well,” said O’Connor. “The post office is essential to St. John. This is a good time to move forward.” All of the senators in attendance — Barshinger, Carlton Dowe, Hill, Terrence Nelson and Patrick Simeon Sprauve — _ expressed their support for the rezoning. The Legislature will vote on the rezon- ing in the near future. The Senate also heard a request for rezoning at the March 4 hear- ing by Grande Bay developer Bay Isle Associates (see related story). St. John Runners Raise Money for Team River Runner Continued from Page 7 passing him. Everyone just was really encouraging.” Many veterans who travel with TRR are athletes who don’t let their disabilities stop them, which is ex- actly what inspired Chabuz to use his legs to help. One veteran, who has been to St. John twice, com- peted in the Boston Marathon and other paraplegic sports, Chabuz added. “It’s really amazing that these men and women, who are so active before they’re injured, don’t have to stop being active thanks to this group,” he said. “Peter, who did the Boston Marathon, was a big in- spiration for me because I saw such a transformation in him from one year to the next.” “People often get upset by the littlest things and to see these guys and girls and what they go through and how they just keep doing more, it’s amazing,” said Chabuz. In addition to Chabuz and Slodden, Ted Kelliher also raised funds for TRR through his 8 Tuff Miles participation. TRR officials were delighted with the unsolicited St. John fundraising efforts for the group. “There is great news from the islands,” said Joe Mornini, TRR executive director. “That local people on the island spend their energy and skill developing a creative fundraising strategy is just beyond words. But words will need to suffice.” “Those of us that work almost daily with the in- credible individuals from America’s Armed Forces returning from war abroad are energized by those citizens that step up to the task of helping welcome them home to healing, hope, and honor,” said Mor- nini. “Moe, Hank, and Ted will be going 8 Tuff Miles to support the troops — but beyond that, they are go- ing that extra mile this country has always gone for the troops. We can’t ask for more than that.” TRR would simply not be able to make trips like the one to St. John on a regular basis without help. “The island community has done so much to help us, without this type of support we could never pull these trips off,” said Gary Clark, TRR VI program co- ordinator. “We are a small organization, but we have chapters at over 20 hospitals and 95 percent of the people associated with us are volunteers. The bottom line to us is that these vets deserve all we can do for them because they have sacrificed so much.” After putting eight miles behind them, Slodden — who finished the race in one hour and 36 minutes — and Chabuz, who finished in one hour and 17 min- utes, were happy just to be able to help TRR. “T just wish there were more runners so I could have raised more money,” said Chabuz. Both runners are still accepting donations. Call Chabuz at 779-4982 to donate or check out the web- site www.teamriverrunner.org.