🌱Memorial Service for Addie Ottley, Spelling Bees + 8 Tuff Miles

Good morning and mostly good news this Thursday morning. Here are the top stories I'm following, and don't miss today's event line-up.

• Spelling Bees are back in-person this year. The V.I. Department of Education announced that the Intermediate Spelling Bees will take place on Feb. 24 in both school districts. Spelling Bees in 2020 and 2021 were held virtually due to the pandemic. The competitions on Feb. 24 are invitation-only and are not open to the public. via the VI Consortium.
• The St. Thomas Coastal Zone Management Committee approved the construction of a series of breakwaters across the mouth of Morningstar Bay on St. Thomas. The breakwaters are an effort to restore the beach and protect the shoreline and the Marriott resort. Full story in The Source.
• Friends of Virgin Islands National Park is hosting their annual gala virtually this year (thanks, Covid), but you can participate by bidding in their online auction and raffle. Tickets are on sale until Monday, February 28 at 3PM. The auction closes the same day. Link to the auction site and more details via News of St. John.
• A public memorial service is planned for Athniel C. Ottley rom 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at UVI Sports and Fitness Center on Tuesday, March 1. From 8-10 a.m., Wednesday, March 2, he will lie in repose at the Earle B. Ottley Legislative Hall, St. Thomas. Read the full obituary in The Source.

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Today's weather: A stray afternoon shower. High: 80 Low: 72.

Today's Events:

• Never miss an Open Mic Night at Miss Lucy's in Coral Bay (5:30 p.m.)
• Morning Yoga with Kim on the lawn at Yacht Haven Grande (6:30 a.m.)
• Mama’s Black Sheep at Six Nine Restaurant & Bar in Frederiksted (6:00 p.m.)
• David and Dianne Gunn at Castaways in Frederiksted (6:00 p.m.)
• Caribbean Movement Adult Dance Class (6:30 p.m.)

Social Buzz:

• Friends of Virgin Islands National Park: "2021 by the numbers! This chart from the Friends Impact Report shows some of the program work undertaken by Friends." (Facebook)
• Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands: "$10,000 Grants Available for Education, Social and Health Well-being, Culture, and Environmental Protection Funded by the Liberty Foundation..." (Facebook)
• Officially, 8 Tuff miles isn't happening this year. Unofficially, you can run 8 Tuff Miles on Saturday. "Join us as we take on the 8 Tuff Miles course in St John as a group 'fun run'! We'll be departing from Red Hook on the 6:30 a.m. ferry and will plan to meet by the Cruz Bay Visitor Center around 7 a.m. The 8 Tuff Miles course is point to point from Cruz Bay to Coral Bay via Centerline Road. The course elevation gain is approximately 1400 feet. Please note that transportation back to the start will not be provided." (Facebook)
• The territory is experiencing an unusual die-off event of Long Spined Sea Urchins. This is particularly concerning because in the early 1980’s over 90% of the natural populations of these urchins were killed by a disease and researchers are worried that this could be a new emergence of disease. These urchins are vital to the health of our coral reefs because they eat the algae that try and smother coral reef colonies. DPNR needs the help from the public to report any dying/dead urchins around the territory. (DPNR)

— 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.