🌱 Cruise Ship COVID-19 Outbreak + Crucian Christmas Festival

Before we get into the news, I want to highlight the “Made in the USVI” pop-up shop in downtown Charlotte Amalie. The store features art, crafts and gifts made by Virgin Island artists and artisans. The pop-up opened last Friday and will remain open until January 3, 2022. It will reopen again in April.

And now for the latest headlines, events,. and more.

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny, a shower or two. High: 83 Low: 76.

Top Stories:

1. Forty-eight people on a cruise ship that stopped in St. Thomas last week have tested positive for COVID-19. Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas ended a seven-day cruise this past Saturday. The forty-eight positive cases represent 0.78% of the 6,091 passengers and crew members onboard the ship. (Yahoo News)
2. The Crucian Christmas Festival is happening! The events are:
   1. Food, Arts and Craft Fair: Tuesday, Jan. 4
   2. "A Vibe Like No Other" featuring local and international artists: Wednesday, Jan. 5
   3. "Socalypso Village Night": Thursday, Jan. 6, 2021.
      All events will be held at the Agricultural Fair Grounds in Estate Lower Love. (VI Consortium)
3. Check out who is hiring in this week's newest job openings. (US Virgin Islands Patch)
4. Here's a heartwarming story for the holiday season: a 20-year-old cancer survivor from Michigan saw her wish come true with a family trip to St. Thomas and St. John, courtesy of the Make-A-Wish program. (Virgin Islands Daily News)

Today's USVI Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Ring, the home security company. Ring does a lot more than doorbells: check out their full suite of smart home products at Ring.com. And thank you Ring for helping to make local news happen in US Virgin Islands!

Today's Events:

• Downtown Walking Tour - St Thomas History (9:00 a.m.)
• Virgin Islands Skateboarding Community Sessions at Annas Retreat (5:00 p.m.)
• Jahnee Redlock playing at Brew STX in Christiansted (6:00 p.m.)
• Governor’s Children’s Christmas Drive Thru in Christiansted (6:00 p.m.)

Find more events on Patch: See What's Coming Up This Week.

Social Buzz:

• Drive down King Street in Christiansted with the kids and stop in front of Government House to pick up a free children’s holiday gift! Check out the Governor's Children's Christmas Drive Thru in Christiansted.
• Nearly 200 cyclists took part in the St. Croix edition of Loominate Bike Ride, hosted by disc jockey and St. Thomas native Benny Demus.
• Have you heard about the St. John donkey with the gnarly neck wound? Apparently, it was caused by a rope placed around the animal's neck, according to St John Wildlife and Donkey Rescue Incorporated. The group has been overseeing his care and after a course of antibiotics, he appears to be on the mend! (Facebook)
• "The Department of Health and the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts is pleased to announce the launch of a COVID-19 Vaccine Art Contest. The competition is open to 15 to 18 year old high school students in the territory..." (Facebook)

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Thanks for following along. See you tomorrow for more news, events and social chatter.

— 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.