Virgin Islands community members have joined together to foster a new tradition, starting this year. This tradition will recognize and honor those who serve their community  tirelessly selflessly, and courageously.
 Cherly Rae, on behalf of the HG Community Service Award volunteers and event

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

23-1/2 acres: No Development Needed wins “Black Coral Award for Best Documentary Under 20 Minutes” at the Third Annual Reef Renaissance Film Festival held Saturday at Coral World Ocean Park on St. Thomas.

St. Thomas, USVI–(June 8, 2015) Friends of Mandahl announces today that a documentary film highlighting Mandahl Bay has won top honors at the Third Annual Reef Renaissance Film Festival held on Saturday, June 6. Filmmakers from around the world were showcased at the event which focuses on conservation, sustainability, and the ocean resource.

23-1/2 acres: No Development Needed is filmed and produced by Karl Callwood, member of the Steering Committee of Friends of Mandahl, in cooperation with several local environmental organizations.

Callwood sees the award as continued validation for the preservation of Mandahl Bay.

“The vast bio-diversity of Mandahl Bay is indeed unique enough to concern the world’s ocean scientists and environmentalists. Mandahl Bay is now internationally archived. It is my hope that because of this win, any future developer incursions at Mandahl Bay will automatically trigger the journalistic curiosity of the world’s best environmental filmmakers.