June 13, 2002 – If it's Father's Day, this must be Frenchtown.
The community's annual holiday mini-carnival — the 50th, 51st or thereabouts — officially kicks off at 6 p.m. Friday at Joseph Aubain Ballpark with a ceremony honoring this year's Miss Carenage, Takara A. Scott.
Father's Day weekend in Frenchtown is a family tradition, and it's not unusual for three generations or more to take in the festivities. Nor for politicians to be much in evidence.
Cutting the ribbon to open the mini-village will be Gov. Charles W. Turnbull. Irvin "Brownie" Brown, something of an institution, himself — the village was named for the popular WSTA radio host two years ago — will again be the master of ceremonies.
This year's V.I. Carnival Queen, Cubie Ayah-George, will join Miss Carenage 2001, Shanda Danet, in crowning Shanda's successor.
Backing Brown on the introductions will be Frenchtown stalwart Theodore "Magic" Danet, vice president of the Committee for the Betterment of Carenage, which puts on the Father's Day affair, and the CBC president, Jean P. Greaux Jr.
Ira Hobson, Housing Parks and Recreation commissioner, and Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd also will offer remarks.
After the formalities, the real fun will begin in the brightly lighted ballpark. Under the flapping Coors Light banners draped from the center bandstand, hundreds of families will be milling around eating pates, snow-cones, roti, fry fish and chicken legs while they catch up on each other's doings. It's the same every year, and always as if it's the first time.
"I can hardly wait," said 7-year-old Richard Hunt, dancing around the red, white and blue trailer called "The Pate Shack" that his father, Tony Hunt, operates. Richard was helping put last-minute touches on the food booth decorations Thursday night.
Milo's Kings and Imaginations Brass will be keeping things hopping all weekend. Bellows International, distributors of Coors, and Yamaha of Offshore Marine are the event's major sponsors, spokeswoman and former Miss Carenage Gail Joseph said. "We couldn't do this without them, even though we have lots of smaller sponsors."
The festivities go on through Sunday night, with attractions including food, drink, computerized photos, dancing, toy booths for the kiddies and much more. Or, you can just stand around with friends and reminisce about the good old Father's Days with their impromptu parades, lots of drink at the late Bar Normandie, and food where you could find it.
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