Fish, Fungi & Other Staple Foods of the VI

Based in Syosset, New York, Paul Angelides provides quality engineering solutions and is a longstanding member of the National Academy of Forensic Engineers. Maintaining a second residence in the US Virgin Islands, Paul Angelides enjoys activities such as snorkeling, boating, and trying out local culinary offerings.

When it comes to food, the Virgin Islands constitute a distinctive region of the Caribbean that has fish and fungi as staple foods. This dates back to the Danish colonial times, when salt herring and cornmeal were basic ingredients used in a variety of dishes. Not a type of mushroom, fungi are dumplings made up of salted cornmeal and shortening. Similar to polenta, fungi can be served with meat or fish fillets.

Soups are also integral to the Virgin Islands and include hearty cow heel soup, which incorporates fresh vegetables such as potatoes, okra, and carrots, as well as gelatinous, tender cow heel. Callaloo is a stew that has chicken broth as its base and contains generous portions of dasheen leaves or spinach. Not unlike Louisiana gumbo in flavor, callaloo is typically served over a large fungi dumpling and may be eaten with salted fish or boiled plantains.

Snorkeling St. John’s Salt Pond Bay

A mechanical and forensic engineer with a career that spans several decades, Paul Angelides operates his own firm in Syosset, New York. For part of each year, he lives on St. John, the smallest of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Among his other recreational pursuits, Paul Angelides is an avid snorkeler.

One of most popular snorkeling destinations on St. John is Salt Pond Bay. To reach this saltwater enclave, visitors must complete a quarter-mile hike on the Salt Pond Bay Trail in Virgin Islands National Park.

Skirted by a white sand beach, Salt Pond Bay has exceptionally clear water that is great for snorkeling. The two large rock formations near its center provide a welcoming environment for a broad spectrum of aquatic life including tropical fish, sea turtles, stingrays, and giant hermit crabs. The bay also offers exceptional snorkeling along its rocky eastern coast. Among this area’s various rock formations, it supports colorful coral reefs and underwater fields of seagrass.

NAFE’s “Ethics for Forensic Engineers

A resident of both the Caribbean island of St. John and the Long Island hamlet of Syosset, New York, Paul Angelides has operated his own construction engineering firm for the past 32 years. To augment his professional activities, Paul Angelides holds membership in the National Academy of Forensic Engineers.

As part of its overarching mission to support the forensic engineering profession, the National Academy of Forensic Engineers (NAFE) offers jurisprudential system certification to qualified individuals. It also supports educational efforts as a publisher of peer-reviewed technical literature and a sponsor of various professional development programs and events. For example, NAFE offers a series of presentations on demand through its website.

One of these presentations, “Ethics for Forensic Engineers,” takes a close look at the Code of Ethics of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) and related cases of the NSPE Board of Ethical Review. Using these sources as a springboard, presenter Samuel Sudler, PE, IntPE, CFEI, CVFI, examined the moral challenges that professionals typically face in the field of forensic engineering.

USVI Diverse Coral Ecosystems

Paul Angelides is an established Syosset, New York entrepreneur who maintains membership in the National Academy of Forensic Engineers. A boating and marine enthusiast, Paul Angelides maintains part-time residence in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI).

Located in the northeastern Caribbean, the USVI are connected with the British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico via an underwater platform that gradually slopes north to a depth of 300 meters, before running into the Puerto Rico trench, which extends 8,000 meters deep. To the south, this shelf extends 13 kilometers before abruptly dropping off to a depth of 4,000 meters.

Within the shelf where the U.S. Virgin Islands are situated, there are algal ridges and a variety of reef types, as well as a submarine canyon, There are no true coral reefs near the shoreline, but numerous coral communities grow in shallow water along mangrove prop roots and on boulders, up to depths of 50 meters. Shallow reefs further offshore tend to have a mix of dead elkhorn coral stands and a few high-density living stands.

Unfortunately, coral communities in the U.S. Virgin Islands are under threat, with a coral disease outbreak that decimated 80 percent of stony corals across 100,000 acres from Key Biscayne and Key West in Florida having spread to USVI coral communities in 2019. The disease impacts long-lived coral species that build reefs and represents the worst example of a multi-species coral disease ever experienced in the Caribbean. One theory is that this habitat-threatening disease has moved south through elements such as ship hulls or boat ballast water. 

Hiking Virgin Islands National Park

Paul Angelides has served as president of his own forensic and consulting engineering firm in Syosset, New York, for nearly 35 years. When he isn’t working, he enjoys hiking America’s national parks. For part of each year, Paul Angelides resides on the island of St. John in the US Virgin Islands.

Extending from the north to the south sides of St. John, Virgin Islands National Park has more than 20 hiking trails that can accommodate hikers of diverse interests and skill levels. For visitors seeking a pleasant stroll, the park offers accessible boardwalks that wind through historic ruins and incorporate bird-viewing decks that overlook one of the park’s numerous salt ponds. At just over half a mile, the short Yawzi Point Trail provides access to secluded rocky beaches. More challenging hiking trails in Virgin Islands National Park include the Reef Bay Trail, which descends 937 feet to the floor of the Reef Bay Valley. At the bottom of this trail, hikers can spot petroglyphs and enjoy beachside views of the old Sugar Mill.

A Look at National Parks in the New York Area

Living in Syosset, New York, Paul Angelides has managed his engineering firm since 1987. Outside of running his business, Paul Angelides enjoys several hobbies, which include hiking at national parks in his home state of New York.

New York has a number of impressive parks to visit. The Appalachian Trail covers over 2000 miles across the country, with part of it going through New York state. The 90-mile stretch has a little bit of something for everyone, with some areas that are great for beginners, with others that are for experts. The elevation ranges from 124 to 1433 feet and there is a variety of wildlife that can be seen during a hike.

Saratoga Spa state park is located in Saratoga Springs, and it offers people a variety of different sites and activities to take in. There is a performing arts center, a theater, and various museums that can be explored. As well there are 12 miles of trails and certified running courses, along with a pool and golf course.

The national parks of New York harbor consist of 11 different sites that can be explored in the area. Visitors can take in the African Burial Ground national monument, the Ellis Island museum of history, and more. The Gateway national recreation area features 27,000 acres of park that is very diverse and offers visitors a lot of different areas to walk, hike, run, and do other activities. 

Choosing a Time of Year to Visit the Virgin Islands

Paul Angelides has enjoyed a successful career overseeing an engineering firm in New York. Additionally, Paul Angelides lives part-time in St. John in the Virgin Islands, a place known for its natural beauty and beaches.

After seeing pictures of the clear water, sunny skies, and other attractions, many people want to visit the Virgin Islands. However, they may not know the time of year they should visit to get the maximum enjoyment from their trip. While St. John often has great weather all year, visitors should keep a few weather-related considerations in mind.

The most popular time to visit the Virgin Islands is December through March. Temperatures are generally in the 80s during the day. However, since it is the most popular season for Caribbean travel, hotels charge the highest rates during this time.

Many people consider April and June the best times to visit the islands since the peak season is winding down and the weather is still pleasant. July through November, or hurricane season, offers the best deals. However, this period has higher temperatures, sometimes in the 90s, and rainier weather, not to mention the possibility of hurricanes.