<IMG SRC=http://www.caribbeandreams.net/donation.jpg><br><br>FRENCH QUARTER – Eric Hill of www.traveltalkonline.com presents a check of over US$1000 along with computer equipment to Lynne Coffin and her assistant ‘Tito’, of the French Side Based Association, Protectrice des Animaux. The fund raising efforts were rallied via the Internet after a Today newspaper article about the plight of the organization, written by reporter Stanley Ejingiri, was posted on the online forum. Carol and Eric Hill, the owners of the website, made it a personal mission and started a funding drive to raise money for the APA. Coffin, the Founder and President of the Association said that in recent times, the cost of getting animals off the streets and giving them the attention they need increased so much that she had no choice but to consider closure if help does not come soon. Over the years, the shelter has provided material and programs for schools and serves as a destination for field trips for students. It has been instrumental in placing over 300 dogs and cats in adoptive homes. Dog owners, who had no means of sterilizing their animals but wanted to, knew where to get assistance. The ASA is located on the road to Le Galion, near Orient Beach and close to the Butterfly Farm. Photo by Richard Kastelein.<br><br><br><br>Owners of influential <br>Saint Martin website visit<br><br>PHILIPSBURG – Little did they realize, a 10-year-old ‘hobby’ of writing about Saint Martin on various bulletin boards on the internet was going to turn into a two year dot com explosion, but Eric and Carol Hill, owners of www.traveltalkonline.com, are getting close to one million page views a month in high season and have more than 3200 active members who love Saint Martin and write avidly about this island on their site.<br> With people reviewing businesses, talking about crime, telling of their favorite places… their website is being watched by many and is exerting an interesting influence on the island both economically and politically. <br> For instance, the letter of the recent scooter jacking where an American couple was forced off their bike doing 35 miles an hour and thwarted an attempted theft was viewed by over 2000 people at press time last night. But over 2000 people also looked at a thread rather humorously titled ‘Joggin Naked on Orient Beach’.<br> “We give businesses the opportunity to change or offer what customers want,” said Eric, reflecting on the sometimes negative reviews of establishments on the island. “If you don’t know what is wrong, you cannot change it.” Most of the commentary on businesses is usually good however, with writers pointing out all the things they love about the island. <br> He added that one bad review or good review is not going to make or break a restaurant but consistent remarks either way usually have an impact. “Not every customer is right all the time either.”<br> One of the most import factors for the couple, who started the site only two years ago, is that they never went into this to start a commercial venture – it’s been a labor of love. They have 30 advertisers who ‘pay the bills’ per say but make no real revenue from the site. <br> “I mean, where else on the internet will a banner advertiser get over 30,000 banner views a month for US$350 a year?” asked Eric. He currently runs the site on three servers and is adding another two for high season this year. <br> “We are a family, a community – made up of people from all over the world,” stated Eric. “And Saint Martin is the center for this community.”<br> Eric and Carol, who hail from Virginia and have been coming to the island since 1988 told the Today that they not only plan Saint Martin parties (there is a TTOL party at the Greenhouse on Thursday night at 6:00pm) for TTOL’ers (traveltalkonliners) there has even been parties in St. Louis, Maryland and Massachusetts by avid fans of the island and the website. <br> “It’s just great for us to put a face to a name,” continued Eric. “Oh… that’s what you look like!” Many of the TTOL’ers have become pretty close online over the past two years and developed solid friendships and finally meeting each other is enjoyable for all, adding another dimension to their holidays. <br> The website also sells t-shirts, hats, drink coolers, flags and even temporary tattoos to help members find each other on the island. “Due to the merchandise, every day on this trip I have had someone come up to me and talk about it,” said the site owner. “That’s what it’s there for.”<br>