SJHS board members Bruce Schoonover, Robin Swank, Eleanor Gibney, and David Knight, below, introduce the society?s first book, ?St. John, Life in Five Quarters,? in 2009. Reggie Callwood of the National Park Service and SJHS member Helen Gjessing, above, work on the restoration effort at Annaberg in 1987.

The St. John Historical Society invites the St. John community to celebrate its 40th anniversary at a party at the Battery on Tuesday, March 11, at 5 p.m. The event will feature catered food and drinks and a slideshow of St. John and Historical Society images. A video entitled ?Flight to Freedom: Hans Jonathan,? which follows the quest of a modern-day Icelandic family to discover the true story of their enslaved Crucian ancestor, will be shown, along with a presentation by V.I. historian and SJHS board member George Tyson. All are welcome to attend. Non-members are asked to consider making a donation at the party.

The SJHS began in February 1974 with a meeting of 19 residents at the V.I. National Park headquarters at the Creek in Cruz Bay. The goals and objectives of the SJHS were laid out that day, and have remained largely unchanged since.

SJHS volunteers have played a major role in promoting and preserving the island?s unique history and cultural heritage throughout the society?s 40 years. The clearing and stabilization of the ruins of the Annaberg Country School was one of the first projects undertaken by the society, and stewardship of the site continues to remain a high priority for the SJHS, which completed its annual clearing of the school?s ruins on February 15.

The old Marina Market building in Cruz Bay, above, is being transformed into a home for Healing Arts.

Acupuncturist Dr. May Trieu will host an open house on March 9.

After months of refurbishing, The Healing Arts Complex will be hosting an open house on Sunday, March 9, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for patients, friends and families.

?Everybody on St. John is most welcome,? said Acupuncturist Dr. May Trieu OMD, Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

Dr. Trieu, who has served St. John and St. Thomas patients for years, is inviting the public to visit the expansion of her healing arts practice on St. John in the former Marina Market building on South Shore Road in Enighed

?It is for whoever believes in a holistic approach to healing,? Dr. Trieu told Tradewinds. ?I?m inviting and encouraging everyone who believes in healing to join us.?

Chiropractor Elizabeth Masiello, who currently has an office at the Lumberyard, will be at the Healing Arts building twice a week, according to Dr. Trieu. The Healing Arts Complex will also will feature Psychologists Dr. Laurie Thompson and Dr. Jennifer Richard and Massage Therapist Sheri Theberge.

Contractor Robert W. Hoskinson II, a familiar sight over the past several months in his bright white cowboy hat at the South Shore Road medical center, is putting the finishing touches on the project.

The murder trial of Amanda Hayes, above, ended up on national television, including the "Nancy Grace Show," with host Nancy Grace, below center.

Former St. John resident Amanda Hayes was convicted of second degree murder by a Raleigh, North Carolina jury and sentenced to between 13 and 16-and-one-half years in jail by Judge Don Stephens on Wednesday, February 19.

Hayes, 41, was found guilty of second degree murder for her part in killing 27-year-old mother of two Laura Ackerson in July 2011. Amanda Hayes? husband, Grant Hayes, who lived on St. John for several years with his then-girlfriend Laura Ackerson and their two young sons, was convicted of first degree murder in September 2013 and is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

The jury of nine women and three men deliberated for 11 hours before handing down its second degree murder conviction following a 13-day trial which featured testimony from 49 witnesses, including Amanda Hayes.

During the trial, prosecutors alleged that Amanda Hayes worked with her husband Grant Hayes to murder Ackerson, the mother of Grant Hayes? two sons. Laura Ackerson and Grant Hayes were in a heated custody battle over their two young sons when prosecutors allege Grant and Amanda Hayes killed Ackerson, dismembered her body with a power saw, packed her remains in coolers and transported the body pieces to Texas, where they dumped Ackerson?s remains in a creek near the home of Amanda Hayes? sister.

Headlines on television stated "Woman helps hubby murder and dismember former lover"

Supermodel Natasha Barnard lounges on a beach in Brazil sporting a suit by Coral Bay?s Ranifly Bikinis.

St. John bikini designer Rani Keohane

Watch out world, here comes Rani Keohane and she?s bringing custom bikinis.

The Coral Bay-based bespoke bikini designer is riding a wave of publicity which is not about to end any time soon.

For the second year in a row, one of Keohane?s  RaniFly Bikinis was included in Sports Illustrated?s Swimsuit Issue coverage and her suits were recently chosen as one of five bikini brands recommended for ?women who rip? by Grind TV.

On the 2014 SI Swimsuit Issue website, http://swimsuit/si/com, a graphic printed RaniFly tie-string bottom and triangle top bikini is worn by South African model Natasha Barnard as she?s photographed lounging on a sandy beach in Brazil.

This is the second year in a row that one of Keohane?s bikinis has been featured in SI Swimsuit Issue?s online coverage. And, while many of the SI swimsuit photographers adhere to a ?less is more? ethos, both of RaniFly Bikini?s pictures actually show the bikinis. The coverage also includes a handy direct link from the SI website to www.RaniFlyBikini.com.

RaniFly Bikinis will sponsor St. John sailor Mimi Roller, above, a contender in the next Summer Olympic Games, along with Mimi?s partner, who will sport the designer?s swimsuits during the competition.

There has been no new information from V.I. Police Department about the investigation into the mid-January stabbing death of a New Jersey man in his south shore apartment.

There is nothing new to report from V.I. Police Department investigators.

A VIPD spokesperson has said officials will issue statements when they have something to release to the public.

There is nothing new to report from the private investigator working for the Malfetti family.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has not taken an active role in the investigation despite the call by a  New Jersey U.S. Senator for federal involvement in the investigation into Malfetti?s death.

Friends Lambaste USVI on Internet 
Friends and family of Malfetti on St. John and in his home state of New Jersey, meanwhile, have fed internet chatter which typically follows any major crime against a visitor about how dangerous the U.S. Virgin Islands are for tourists.

Malfetti family private investigator William Phoenix has never asserted Malfetti was murdered in a case of mistaken identity, although Phoenix has confirmed to Tradewinds he was aware of the island rumor that Malfetti was killed after being mistaken for the previous tenant of the apartment he had recently rented.

The future final resting place of Magarbi ?TJ? McCullum Matthew will have beautiful views of Cruz Bay harbor.

Thomas Matthew was gazing at the morning bustle on Cruz Bay from the roadside above the quiet, sun-dappled cemetery sloping down to the waterfront early on the morning of February 24, envisioning the view his 22-year-old son, Magarbi McCullum ?TJ? Matthew, would have from his final resting place.

?He was my only son,? Matthew said of the oldest of his three children, his voice wavering.

?He liked to be called ?TJ? for Thomas Junior,? his father recalled with his familiar smile easing his somber demeanor.
TJ was killed in a February 16 automobile accident near Seattle, Washington, where he had been serving in the U.S. Navy.

TJ and his father created Our Market Smoothies, the colorful oasis in downtown Cruz Bay across from the U.S. Post Office. Together they made Our Market and Hospitality Car Rental into a shaded gathering spot for visitors and residents with TJ working with his father there after school and on weekends and holidays.