The St. Thomas Historical Trust has four new board members, including Ray Szymanski, Filippo Cassineli, Stephen Jones and Steve Bornn. Szymanski is busy working on the finance committee, Jones has taken over the license plate program, Cassineli is our new fundraising arm and Bornn is working on getting the fort reopened.
This past Sunday, board member Felipe Ayala had the second in a series of eight lectures at the VI Council on the Arts gallery. This one featured Virgin Islands artists Ray Miles, Shansi Miller, Greg Samuels and John Chinnery. Thirty were in attendance. The trust has been asked to put together a tour to the Ponce Museum soon. More information will be forthcoming. The next lecture will feature “We From Up Street” at 3 p.m. on Feb. 20, at the same location.
The Hassel Island project, championed by board member Charles Consolvo, is a partnership with the VI National Park and the V.I. government. The Historical Trust now has a bobcat on the island for clearing as well as an intern working with the park on landscape design. It gives constant tours to school and civic groups and sells a DVD about the History of Hassel Island at the Historic Trust Museum. The museum, overseen by board member Bernice Turnbull, is now open with volunteers leading tours. Tours are given between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays 10-3.
The Step Street project is proceeding and is spearheaded by board member Trevor Milner. The trust has partnered with the V.I. government, Historic Preservation and My Brothers Workshop to get the first two streets cleaned and restored to be safe to walk up and down. The next tour will be announced and will be in the Savann area.
There is a lot going on at the trust. To become a member, support the organization or to find out how to be a part of this important organization, contact Debbie Avery, executive director, 774-5541 or execdirector@stthomashistoricaltrust.org or look for The St. Thomas Historic Trust on FACEBOOK
