🌱 GERS Wants To Build Havensight Hotel + VIPD Officer Assaulted

It's Friday, folks. And yes, it is the day after St. Patrick's Day. So if your eyes are a little bleary and your head is a little soft, just take it easy. Grab a coffee and start slow.

While you're at it, here are the local stories worth catching:

• GERS is requesting two zoning changes for their Havensight Mall property in order to accommodate a new 125-room hotel. The zoning changes were endorsed by the Department of Planning and Natural Resources and presented to the Senate on Wednesday. GERS is campaigning for the change on behalf of developer Shaun Miller, who presented the pension system with plans to build a the five-story hotel 9 months ago. Miller is a local businessman and the owner of Standard Aviation. Curious what it might look like? Read more in the VI Consortium.
• 110 Virgin Islanders have died from COVID-19. That's the latest count, released by the Virgin Islands Department of Health, after the death of a 77-year-old St. Croix man. Full story in The Source.
• V.I. Waste Management is taking steps to curb illegal dumping across the territory. Full story in The Daily News.
• A VIPD officer was assaulted while conducting a traffic stop on Monday. Two officers pulled over a vehicle with heavily tinted windows on Hospital Line road in St. Thomas. According to the VIPD press release, “the officer also stated that the other male suspect came around the vehicle and then grabbed him in a ‘chokehold,’ causing him to almost lose consciousness. The officer observed one of the males throwing a firearm into the vehicle, as the other male who held him in a chokehold told the driver to drive off.” Full story in The Source.

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Today's weather: Mostly sunny and nice. High: 83 Low: 75.

Today's Events:

• Robin Bay Clean Up, St. Croix (8:45 a.m.)
• Health for a Lifetime Fair at Tutu Park Mall Center Court, St. Thomas (11:00 a.m.)
• Hula Hoop Class at Nicci's Boutique in Yacht Haven Grande, St. Thomas (5:30 p.m.)
• Friday Movie Night at Leatherback Brewing, St. Thomas (6:00 p.m.)
• After Irma Band at Tickle's Dockside Pub, St. Thomas (6:00 p.m.)
• The Eddie Russell Band LIVE at Six Nine Restaurant & Bar, St. Croix (7:00 p.m.)

Social Buzz:

• St John School of the Arts is thrilled to be bringing “Broadway Comes To St John” back to our 4th and 5th graders, after being on a long hiatus due to the ongoing pandemic. The originally scheduled (public) performances this past January were cancelled due to an uptick in Covid cases. At this time, there will only be two shows, performed strictly for an audience of the families of the children performing, on March 19. (St. John School of the Arts)
• StJohn Source: Film Fest Challenges Virgin Islanders’ Creativity (Twitter)
• There is an amazing new way to spend your evenings on St. John in an incredibly magical atmosphere! Check out this fun and informative new activity series at Cinnamon Bay Beach and Campground (News of St. John Twitter)
• The Department of Health & The Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation would like to present “Nutrition Month Kick, Run, and BOUNCE Fun Day”. There will be health presentations, a professional Nutrionist, Mental Health Providers, and much more! See you there! (Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation)

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— Ashleigh Baldwin

About me: I'm the Patch Community News Editor for the U.S. Virgin Islands. I'm here to provide news you can use. Do you have a news tip, question or feedback? Please contact me at ashleigh.baldwin@patch.com.