June 13, 2008 — It was a family affair Friday at the Warren C. Smith Senior Center on St. John, with entertainment provided by the children of several of the fathers honored at the 22nd annual Father's Day Luncheon.
One of those honored, St. Thomas resident Hugo Petersen, played the mouth organ. Also honored were the Rev. Glendon Cross, Alexander Dawson and Rodney Varlack.
Clarence Scipio, who heads senior center activities, discussed Varlack's contributions to the St. John community.
"He's a very hard-working guy," Scipio said.
Varlack was the founder of Varlack Ventures, a transportation company with arms that include ferry services, car rentals and a tour company. While he has turned the day-to-day operations over to his children, he continues to conduct tours.
Entertainment came from the musical group 'N Harmony, which includes three of Varlack's daughters, and Cross' daughters the Cross sisters, who also sang for the crowd.
Cross, pastor at St. John's Seventh-day Adventist Church, had kind words for the other honored fathers.
"As I look at the other honorees, I feel like a stripling among giants," he said.
Cross, whose been on St. John five years, said he learned about the St. John community by meeting its elders.
"I believe we have met the pioneers," he said.
Dawson, a St. Thomas resident who is the manger of Legal Services of the Virgin Islands on St. Thomas, explained to the seniors at the center that his agency provides free services for seniors. They do not have to meet income requirements.
"If you have legal right and civil rights, but have no attorney, you effectively have no rights," Dawson said.
Petersen's daughter, Joyce Jackson, stood up to wish her father a happy Father's Day.
"You all are pillars of the community," she told the four who were honored.
Scipio outlined the services provided by the senior center, which was called the St. Ursula's Senior Center until it was renamed in May.
"The senior card permits you to pay Mr. Varlack $1.25 one way instead of $5," Scipio joked, referring to the ferry fare between Red Hook, St. Thomas and Cruz Bay, St. John.
Seniors with a valid senior card, obtainable at the senior center, also get half price on their driver's licenses and vehicle registration.
The seniors themselves entertained with a rousing rendition of the "Senior Citizen's Theme Song," sung to the tune of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic":
If you're 60 years and older and you don't know what to do
Just join the senior center and they will welcome you
They're lots of fun and laughter and you never will feel blue
Senior citizens are marching on
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