ST. MARTIN: www.st-martin.org or 646-227-9440. Airport in St. Maarten served by American, United, Delta, U.S. Airways, Continental, JetBlue and Spirit airlines among others. Attractions include Fort Louis and Pic Paradis, the highest point on the island. The euro is the currency of St.

By Norm Goldstein Associated Press MARIGOT, St. Martin -- It was early on our first morning here as we stepped on to the hotel room terrace to see a clear blue, cloudless sky. The only sounds were ripples of the waters from the Simpson Bay lagoon below and the chirping of the birds.

ON the bright side, at least the transfer back to the airport shouldn't take long for these sunbathers on the Caribbean island of St Maarten.

ORIENT BEACH, St. Martin _ There are beaches. And then there are beaches. Welcome to Orient Beach, a two-mile strip of soft white coral sand and perfect blue water that seems to be in a league of its own in the Caribbean.

By Venice Buhain, The Olympian, Olympia, Wash. Nov. 19--The first deadlines are approaching for applications to colleges locally and around the country. Students need to check their lists more than twice to make sure that they've got everything they need to make their applications a winning package.