July 9, 2003 — The V.I. Police Department is experiencing technical difficulty with the computing system at the motor vehicle bureau, said a release signed by deputy Police Chief Elvin R. Fahie Sr.
For those of the motoring public who had visited the bureau to have vehicles processed and who received numbers, paperwork may be completed.
However, rather than coming in, please call 774-5765. The attendant will need the color of the number and the number that is held in order to let motorist know if the papers are completed. If so, further instructions will be given.

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Number of Participants: 331
Overall Winner: Charley Charles 12:47
Results
12 & Under
1. Kayalyn Edmeade 15:02
2. Julia Casazza 17:10
3. Cassandra Britterwolf 17:16
4. Kia T'Nique Thomas 19:51
5. Mahalia Abraham 21:56
6. Tiyana Walters 22:03
7. Tina Mullen 22:14
8. Naomi Letang 22:17
9. Jessica Gonsalves 23:12
10. Trinita Warner 23:48
11. Jenna DiCola 23:49
12. Tiniqua Warner 23:59
13.Kamara Smith 24:25.2
14. Shamiqua Victorine 24:26
15. Arielle Jennings 24:36
16. Vonyia McFarlane 24:39
17. Kendall Herbert 24:51
18. Francie Lenahan 25:30
19. Anika Morris 25:31
20. Darcy Loveland 25:36
21. Remi DeJongh 25:40
22. Laquann Roberts 25:54.1
23. Angenique Larcheveaux 27:12
24. Sandi Samuel 27:59.8
25. Anisa Joseph 28:11
26. Shannel Newland 28:19
27. Destini Nibbs 28:47.1
28. Kayana Walters 28:53
29. Deqiqnni Flemming 28:57.7
30. Kejanna Young 29:08
31. Cristina Rios 29:10.3
32. Simfoni Nibbs 29:14
33. Nicole Moore 29:18.8
34. Shenelle Moolenar 30:03
35. Ladonna Bess 30:04.6
36. Jendayi Edmeade 30:36.9
37. Jolene Maynard 31:12
38. Jaunai Forbes 31:21.6
39. Alliyah Todman 31:22
40. Deneesha Smith 31:33
41. Pia Nicholson 31:36
42. Grant Farrell 32:47.1
43. Aleece Evans 33:19
44. Rukiya Richards 33:51.7
45. Sierra Singh 34:14
46. Elisabeth Goldberg 35:07
47. Alexia Edward 35:43
48. Anika Hamilton 35:43
49. Linola Smart 36:38
50. Jazmine Tolentino 36:45
51. Jemm-Annie Samuel 37:17
52. Akeria Haynes 37:46
13 TO 18
1. Melissa Lima 18:21
2. Kira Robles 19:40
3. Valerie Shirineish 20:39
4. Victoria McFarlane 21:53
5. Maxine Emerick 21:56.5
6. Vanessa Malone 22:33
7. Denisha Estrill 22:39
8. Aretha Benjamin 22:40
9. Veronique McFarlane 22:40
10. Chaquan Thomas 23:45
11. Jaimye Rhymer 23:46
12. Yakani Brandy 24:49
13. Amber Morris 26:14
14. Tachelle Newton 27:08
15. Chenel Roberts 27:15
16. Britteny Hogan 27:45
17. Melania Grigoria 27:47
18. Jamie Mills 27:51.5
19. Latorre Gianelli 28:57.1
20. Kerish Robles 29:07
21. Jamilya Christopher 29:09
22. Estelle Andrew 29:10.7
23. Keanna Young 29:13
24. Rahiela Russell 30:07
25. Andrea Wade 33:06
26. Shamayra Fahie 35:24
27. Khalifa Thoams 35:45
28. Shamoya Barzey 36:39
29. Deidre Adams 36:40
30. Verionique Callwood 36:43
31. Princess Stuart 36:39
32. Shanequa Williams 36:57
33. Khandisha Bruce 37:03
34. Kimisha Wade 37:18
35. LahKeem Smith 1:02
19 TO 29
1. Kim Curtis 14:31
2. Kelli Judson 15:29
3. Bernissa Stanislas 15:33
4. Katie Hommeland 15:52
5. Yulanda Woodley 16:15
6. Megan Fastener 16:18
7. Lisa Stichler 16:57
8. Chelsea Mondies 17:27
9. Michelle Curtis 18:08
10. Leslie Smith 18:09.8
11. Dina Perry 19:14
12. Jalie Mowery 19:21
13. Sarah Purnell 21:57
14. Monika Fostner 22:04
15. Vanessa King 22:56
16. Cammy Durham 22:56.8
17. Zureya Chlopek 23:17
18. Chawna Wesselhoft 23:31
19. Kishan Stevens 24:25
20. Paula Matthews 24:30
21. Krista Sieckman 23:58.9
22. Katherine Dicks 25:39
23. LaToya Lettsome 25:48
24. Careese Louis Smith 27:00
25. Japheth Auguste 27:02
26. Amy Causvick 27:39.4
27. Melanie Moe 27:39.9
28. Tanya Schulterbrandt 28:14
29. Jan Petersen 28:24
30. Emily Trocelle 28:24.9
31. Toya Seales 28:52
32. Angele O'Loughlin 29:03
33. Tijha Lake 30:11.8
34. Tiate Numann 31:34
35. Yan Lin 34:13
36. Jermina Pierre 34:35
37. Mellga Samuel 35:03
38. Kathleen Goldberg 35:08
39. Eudine Bradshaw 35:08.6
40. Vickki-Ann Samuel 35:08.9
41. Delta Ottley 36:36
42. Simone Simon 36:43
43. Kaisa McFarlane 36:44
44. Pamela LaPlace 37:02
45. Neema Francis-Gilkes 37:45
46. Sala Bess 1:00.2
30 TO 39
1. Kristin Tuhoy 14:39
2. Annie Greaux 15:44
3. Boel Merritt 15:53
4. Annette Johnson 16:40
5. Arlne Augustine 16:40
6. Tami Penn 16:58
7. Lisa Wishart 17:14
8. Karen Mo 19:01
9. Lisa Lamotte 19:03
10. Mary McGarrity 19:26
11. Lucinda Schutt 19:43
12. Beverly Clendinen 20:47
13. Topaz Lake 21:37
14. Merlene Mason 22:19
15. Kilolo Blyden 22:57
16. Theresa Jeremiah 23:14
17. Laverne Raimer 23:24
18. Monique Chetram 23:41
19. Verna Malone 23:58
20. Dawn Cloyd 24:45
21. Tamarah Smalls 24:59
22. Rita Mootoovaran 25:05
23. Arlene Chalwell 25:20
24. Angela Trant 25:20.9
25. Gay Rossow 25:38.3
26. Kay Rossow 25.38.7
27. Thalia Riviere 25:48.6
28. Cheryl Phillip 25:52
29. Angela Petty 26:05
30. Angela Abbott 27:13
31. Robin Britterwolf 27:25
32. Florence Somersall 28:13
33. Corlette Morris 29:03
34. Tara Rodriguez 29:12
35. Christine Turnbull 29:26.4
36. Melissa Rhymer-Manning29:27.8
37. Therese Quetel 30:12
38. Joy Blackburn 30:17
39. Gwen Jackson-Smith 30:58
40. Monee Parris 31:01
41. Michal Rhymer-Charles 31:08
42. Sandra Felicien 31:21.3
43. Shawna Francis 31:37.7
44. Cecelia Sookaram 31:38
45. Celestina Carey 32:46
46. Jennifer Rejim 32:47
47. Lisandra Larota 32:53
48. Elia Bonner 33:56
49. Diana Rogers 35:13.2
50. Julie Todman 35:13.5
51. Trina McFarlane 35:40
52. Becky Nelson 36:40
53. Colette Paulus 36:07
54. Yugonda Ferroro 36:58
55. Nola Stuart 37:01
56. Dotsy Wrensford 37:07
57. Monique Simon 37:08
58. April Jacoby 37:16
59. Carolyn Pickering 37:47
40 TO 49
1. Billie Hodges 14:02
2. Kirsty Aitken 15:29.6
3. Karin Bentz 16:25
4. Nancy Murphy 17:11
5. Monica Bastin 17:13
6. Margot Murray 18:25
7. Karen Rice 19:16
8. Vicki Jones 19:47
9. Georgina Febres 19:54
10. Cinthya Wormant 20:15
11. Annette Nicholson 20:23
12. Jane Dicola 21:08
13. Carolyn Smith 21:10
14. Debbie Murphy 21:17
15. Lorna Brandy 22:24
16. Susan Shaindlin 22:47
17. Rosa Rios 23:23
18. Suzanne Cillers 23:24
19. Leslie Bush 24:32
20. Lorraine McFarren 24:35
21. Delene Smalls 24:42
22. Rosenarie Mosica 24:43
23. Erica Herbert 24:51.3
24. April M-Phillips 24:56
25. Peggy Filnn 25:07
26. Morel Smith 25:28
27. Marie Ryan 25:37.3
28. Lisa Evans 25:37.8
29. Jayne Wynter 25:55.5
30. Marva Mercer 27:21
31. Miriam Registe 27:37
32. Lenise Mercer 28:34.8
33. Carolyn Nibbs 28:50
34. Ana Rosario 28:58
35. Eldora Pierre 28:59
36. Rhynetta Elcock 29:11.8
37. Luz Wynne 29:18.1
38. Melonie Richards 29:18.5
39. Maria Rosa 30:01
40. Lynette Glasford 30:30
41. Pamela Thomas 30:34
42. Judy King-Edmeade 30:56
43. Phyllis Johnson 30:59
44. Knolah Nicholls 32:01.3
45. Evelyn Hodge 32:05
46. Joanna Norman 32:06
47. Mary Howe 32:48
48. Orgyll Carillo 33:08
49. Joan Foy 33:23
50. Carole Mestemaker 36:35
51. Maria Ferrero 36:37
52. Barbara Varley 35:46
53. Rebecca McDonnell 36:49
54. Selane Thomas 36:52
55. Trevore Monsanto 36:57
56. Patricia Simmonds 37:09
50 TO 59
1. Mel Steckel 14:51
2. Gloria Salas-Lindquist 16:56
3. Carole Goldberg 17:02
4. Lisa Henriques 18:15
5. Carolyn Davis 18:46
6. Cassandra Mallory 18:48
7. Thyra Hammond 20:08
8. Reds Barber 20:31
9. Libby Davis 20:45
10. Joyce Buchanan 21:38
11. Joanne Gazarek 21:42
12. Monika Wendland 22:20
13. Mary Dunakey 23:36
14. Carolyn Thomas 24:50
15. April Newland 25:46
16. Kathleen Mullen 26:04
17. Althea Lemon 26:05.7
18. Penny Druce 26:57
19. Shaun Pennington 27:06
20. Beatrice Forde 27:10
21. Clothilda Millin 27:46
22. K Taylor 27:51.1
23. Jane Benjamin 27:52.9
24. Barb Newport 28:26.6
25. Mona Doreen Registe 29:00
26. Maudlyn Howard 29:11
27. Robin Slaughter 29:11.5
28. Jan Swenson 29:19
29. Meledy Ovallen 29:25
30. Marilyn Moore 29:29.9
31. Gloria Bess 30:04.9
32. Irmela Neumann 30:08
33. Sherry Anderson 30:11
34. Cathi Jones 30:35
35. Karen Woods 30:36
36. Judi Bonelli 30.36.5
37. Mary-A nn Weston 31:09
38. Gloria Biske 31:37.2
39. Olga Lima 31:41
40. Sheila Haynes 31:50.1
41. Loretta Martin 31:50.9
42. Greta Nicholls 32:01.8
43. Natalie Sibilly 32:49
44. Patricia Thompson 33:24.3
45. Beverlee Smaka 33:24
46. Gwendolyn Pride 33:27
47. Jane Griffiths 34:09
48. Stacy Loveland 34:16
49. Betsy Way 34:22
50. Marti Anderson 35:12
51. Catherine Callwood 36:42
52. Ann Marie Kessel 36:44
53. Marilyn Constantine 36:48
54. Benita Martin 37:00
55. Luana Nibbs 37:15
56. Judith Hobson 39:00
57. Kathleen Anthony 1:02.5
60 & OVER
1. Patty Varga 21:13
2. Ianthe Baynes 22:52
3. Sandi Pomoroy 23:29
4. Chantal Overbeek 24:44
5. Billye Mayo 26:58.4
6. Diane Windisch 27:18
7. Nona McCray 29:27.2
8. Toya Andrews 29:28.5
9. Jeanette Donovan 29:58
10. Molly Morris 29:59.8
11. Ruthella Simon 31:20
12. Patricia Roumo 33:51
13. Sue Boland 34:29
14. Lucy Gunther 36:42
15. Polly Watts 36:50

July 9, 2003 — Food Stamp recipients are reminded of the importance of reporting changes in their households, said a release from V.I. Human Services Department.
The following changes must be reported immediately:
— a new member in a household;
— an increase or decrease in employment earnings;
— son or daughter leaving the household to attend college etc.;
— receipt of child support payment;
— receipt of tax refund;
— purchase of a new car, etc.
Human Services Commissioner Sedonie Halbert would also like to notify the general public that a total of 19 individuals were disqualified from the Food Stamp Program for one year, for their failure to report household changes.
For more information or inquiries contact the department's financial programs division at 774-2399 on St. Thomas and St. John, 773-6050 in Christiansted, or 772-0085 in Frederiksted. Any fraudulent information can be reported through the complaint line at 714-2072, and relay service for the hearing impaired is available at 1-800-440-8477.

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July 9, 2003 – Members of the St. Croix community who turned out for a town meeting on the territory's fiscal crisis Tuesday night voiced strong opposition to the government borrowing up to $235 million to meet expenses and undertake capital improvement projects.
More than 60 people, including representatives of such community groups as Generation Now!, the V.I. Parent-Teacher Association, Fisherman's United and Farmers In Action, attended the meeting, held at the Curriculum Center. Sponsored by Sens. Louis Hill, Luther Renee and Ronald Russell, its purpose was to gather input from the public on the issues of borrowing, taxes and capital improvement projects.
The three senators have scheduled a similar town meeting on St. Thomas, set for Friday night at the Holiday Inn Windward Passage Hotel.
Kevin Williams of Generation Now! stated: "We do not support borrowing that seeks to cover up the mistakes and mismanagement. The people must stand up, and the senators must listen to the voice of the people." He urged repeal of the "double-dipping law" which allows retirees to return to government service by working on a contractual basis. The practice "doesn't give a chance for young people to come back and contribute to the future of the Virgin Islands," he said.
Susan Herzog of Carambola Beach Resort said: "We all continue to the same thing and expect different results. Why keep borrowing, only to borrow again? This is not a proactive society; we wait until the decision is made, and then we speak out. Borrowing is just an analgesic, and we don't need any more anesthesia."
Several attendees expressed their disappointment that other senators, especially those of the St. Croix district, were not present.
Ira Hobson, president of V.I. PTA, stated, referring to the members of the 25th Legislature: I think there is a division between the Democrats, because there are five [Democrats] on St. Croix, and it is obvious that they are not here [all] tonight."
Renee and Russell, from St. Croix, and Louis, from the St. Thomas-St. John district, all are members of the Senate's Democratic majority. The other Democratic senators in the St. Croix district are Senate President David Jones, majority leader Douglas Canton Jr., and Emmett Hansen II.
Eurman Fahie commented on the lack of attendance and the senators' need to respond to the people's wishes. "The audience shows that our people are complacent," he said. "This place should be standing room only." And, he said, "the senators need to listen to the people and hold more town meetings." Darryl Miller similarly encouraged all senators to utilize town meetings — before and after the fact.
Former senator Virdin Brown, a member of the Independent Citizens Movement, said he was disappointed that the meeting was not an official meeting of the Legislature. He was concerned, since the other senators failed to appear, as to what impact the proceedings would have on the final vote on borrowing $235 million. "The people are distraught and distressed," he stated.
The bill submitted by Gov. Charles W. Turnbull seeking authorization for the government to float another $235 in bonds is one of six measures the governor proposed in May to address the territory's fiscal crisis. The Senate has acted on the other five measures, including approving some new tax measures and rejecting others. The borrowing bill is to be taken up by the Rules Committee on Friday morning. There have been reports that it could be considered by the full Senate next week.
Many of Tuesday night's attendees said they appreciated the chance to air their concerns before the senators but lamented the continuing lack of economic progress on St. Croix. Many expressed support for projects to stimulate the economy and improve the quality of life on their island.
"It is a good thing for us to be able to come here and voice our opinion," Eusebio Christian said. Citing what he termed ;the swift response of the Legislature and the governor to Yacht Haven redevelopment plans on St. Thomas, he said: "The Christiansted bypass has been on the back burner since 1976, but when St. Thomas wants something, they break ground the next day."
The governor called a special session of the Legislature in May and urged the lawmakers to ratify an agreement to lease filled and submerged lands and to approve a Coastal Zone Management permit for the hotel and marina redevelopment project, which they did.
Kendall Petersen of Farmers in Action stated that the establishment of an agriculture industry would positively affect the health and the economy of the island. "St. Croix was the bread basket of the Caribbean 40 years ago," he said, "and since the government turned away from agriculture, the people have been suffering."
If money is to be borrowed, Sheila Scullion said, "the roads need to be fixed." She also urged the senators to "help fight the battle for the [traditional] medical school, and also establish an alternative medical school that will focus on herbology and alternative medicine."
Government House indicated recently that separate bids to establish a traditional medical school and a school of osteopathic medicine in the territory are under consideration.
A few people supported limited borrowing — with stringent controls.
Cathleen McMannus, a local disk jockey, compared the government to her "island car." "Every time my car stops, I have to pull out the cables and give it a jump start," she said. "I may have to borrow money to get a new one, but I won't borrow much; the new blouse will have to be passed over, and I will have to brown bag my lunch every day."
Friday's town meeting on St. Thomas will take place at the Holiday Inn Windward Passage Hotel, from 6 to 9 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend. For more information, call 693-3523 or 693-3616.

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July 9, 2003 — The Virgin Islands has lost a native daughter who touched the lives of many in her long life on St. Thomas: Gwendolen Maria Adams, 85, died July 2 in Maryland while visiting her daughters.
She spent her last days exactly as she would have wished: with an independent spirit, doing what she loved: after attending the national convention of the Hibiscus Society in Florida — for the 26th straight time! she marveled — she went on to visit her daughters, Gail Campbell and Sandra Adams Watson, grandchildren and extended family and had been out shopping just before she became briefly ill.
Viewing will be from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Monday, July 14, at the John Thomas Funeral Chapel, and funeral Mass will be at 9 a.m. at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Charlotte Amalie.
Gwendolen Maria Adams was born in St. Thomas on April 12, 1918, the first of eight children born to Ella Joseph and Alton A. Adams Sr. Gwen, as she was affectionately known, attended various schools on the island and graduated in the very first graduating class of Charlotte Amalie High School in 1937.
She began a long working career with a first job out of high school as a kindergarten teacher for the handsome sum of $2 a month! In 1942, Gwen went to work for the U.S. Navy at the Submarine Base as a junior property and supply clerk. After six years with the Navy, Gwen went to work with the U.S. Army Chemical Corps in 1948 on the San Jose Project.
In the early 1950s, after the birth of her first daughter, Gail, she went to work for the Office of Price Stabilization as an accounting clerk. From 1951 to 1958, she worked at the U. S. Comptroller's office under the supervision of Peter Bove.
In the early '60s her second daughter, Sandra, was born. At that time she temporarily left her government life to become an entrepreneur, opening a boutique called "The Queen Bee" in what is now the Royal Dane Mall. After seven years as a business owner, Gwen returned to a career in government where she worked for the V.I. Finance Department, retiring in 1985 as chief of the audit division in Finance.
Beyond a long career in finance and accounting and as a business owner, and volunteering and serving with many community groups, her most important role in life, said a family release, was as a "central figure in the Adams family – a daughter to Ella and Alton; niece to 'Auntie' Edna; a sister to Enid, Althea, Alton, Olyve, Eleanor, Merle and Hazel; a mother to Gail and Sandra and a grandmother to Phil, Scott, Derek and Julian." She was "Aunt Gwennie" to the children of the Finch, Questel, Andre and Adams families as well as to many friends. She was family caregiver, without fanfare, to her father, mother, and sister.
Miss Adams had a number of interests — and "her hobbies were her passions," said daughter Sandra. Well known for her growing and hybridizing hibiscus, she lost all of her plants in 1989's Hurricane Hugo, said Alton Adams Jr. "She was devastated, but she did get back into the growing after a time," he said. She played instrumental roles over the past 30-plus years in both the St. Thomas Garden Club and the St. Thomas chapter of the American Hibiscus Society, where she was always to be seen sitting and chatting at the annual plant sale.
Miss Adams' community service included board membership with the V.I. Council on the Arts and the Alton Augustus Adams Sr. Music Research Institute, which will be housing archives and materials of her father's life. She had recently attended a lecture on her father's life by Dr. Kristi Kienberger at the University of the Virgin Islands. She was a member of the St. Thomas/St. John Friends of Denmark Society, had visited Denmark at least once, and this year helped organize lodging for the Danish visitors. She stayed active all her years. Her sister Enid Questel recalled, smiling, how she kept driving herself and how the police would help her out when she had trouble parking.
"Anyone who knew Gwen was quickly drawn in by her bright smile, magnetic personality, hearty laugh, quick wit and warm heart," concluded the release.
She is survived by her daughters, Gail Campbell and Sandra Adams Watson; son-in-law Douglas Watson; grandsons Phil and Scott Campbell and Derek and Julian Watson; sisters Enid Questel and Althea Adams; brother Alton Adams Jr.; brother-in-law Bernard Questel; sister-in-law Pamela Adams; aunt, Blanche Sasso; many nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.

Editor's note:Information for this article was supplied by Sandra Adams Watson.

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July 9, 2003 – Emergency management teams representing police, fire, paramilitary and emergency medical services are sitting down together to consider the possibilities of a terrorist attack on the Virgin Islands. A two-day tabletop exercise is being carried out by officials of the Department of Homeland Security between Tuesday and Wednesday on St. Thomas and St. Croix.
The exercise was conducted under security constraints. Trainers said they wanted to keep some of the information being shared with local emergency responders away from the public because they were discussing the nature of biological and chemical weapons. Responders were taken through a scenario that involved an attack on a popular commercial location that would result in many deaths and injuries.
"It's a discussion of issues that would arise during a hypothetical situation," said Rob Schweitzer, an official with the Office of Domestic Preparedness. "What we do is present a scenario, in this case a chemical agent dispersion that occurs within the downtown limits of St. Thomas, specifically Vendor's Plaza, and we've broken out each of the representatives into their respective functional areas."
According to Eddy Charles of the Law Enforcement Planning Commission, for many of the responders on St. Thomas, this week's weapons of mass destruction drill was another opportunity to face potential disaster through coordinated efforts. Charles said he agreed with a recent assessment made by V.I. Delegate to Congress Donna Christensen, who said Virgin Islands responders are better prepared than many emergency teams in U.S. states.
The reason why local first responders work together so well, Charles said, is because the same group of people are called to assist in any number of disasters, from hurricanes to hazardous material spills to large brush fires to cruise ship emergencies.
But Schweitzer said the distinction between this exercise and other emergency practices is the focus on recognizing the signs that a weapon of mass destruction may have come into play.
"The biggest thing is awareness, so when you do these exercises you present all the representatives and the responders with the signs and symptoms that are unique to weapons of mass destruction, or chemical agent, or biological agent," he said.
Once the information is disseminated among the first responders, Charles said the next step is to pass some of the details along to support service agencies that provide material support in the event of an emergency. The departments of Property and Procurement and Human Services were two of the agencies he named as examples of those providing such support.
"You've got to bring this thing to a head," Charles said. "And to do so it's going to take some drills. So for the individual that train from the various agencies, there are other personnel within the other agencies that support these first responder agencies."

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"Finding Nemo" is a perfect film for Virgin Islanders. Where else can movie-goers so easily identify with the colorful and magical world of the ocean and coral reefs? "Finding Nemo" is like Scuba diving with a special set of headphones that allows you to hear the fascinating conversations of the creatures beneath the seas.
Nemo (voice of Alexander Gould) is a young clown fish with an overprotective father, Marlin (voice of Albert Brooks). There are reasons for his concern; the ocean can be a dangerous place for a small orange and white striped fish, as proven by the initial loss of Nemo's mother, Coral, and all his siblings. Marlin promises he'll never let anything happen to Nemo, and he tries to keep him safe at home in their sea anemone.
But Nemo is an adventurous clown fist. On his first day of school, he wants to prove to the other creatures in his class that he is brave and fearless by swimming out beyond the drop-off to touch the bottom of a diving boat. But one of the divers, a dentist in Sydney, Australia, captures the little clown fish in his net and takes him back to the aquarium in his office, only to be presented as a gift to his niece, Darla (voice of LuLu Ebeling), who is known as a "killer fish shaker" to the others in the tank, who try to help Nemo find a way out of the tank and back to the ocean before Darla arrives in three days.
Marlin is distraught. He is in agony. He has lost Nemo, his only remaining son and family. But there's hope; the diver left behind his mask, which has on it his Sydney address. Marlin teams up with a forgetful triggerfish named Dory (voice of Ellen DeGeneres) to set out for Sydney harbor.
Marlin must address his own fears of the ocean in order to rescue Nemo. Marlin faces sharks, explosions of underwater mines, jellyfish and a series of mishaps caused by Dory's loss of short-term memory. Time is against him, though he's got some pelicans and sea turtles – and Dory – on his side.
The beauty of "Finding Nemo" is in its amazingly accurate depiction of the coral reef and the ocean. The story is a beauty too, and DeGeneres is just brilliant as the forgetful Dory.
You will want to run out of the film and straight to the beaches, doffing your clothes for a bathing suit, snorkel and mask. Oh yeah, and you've got to pick up a pair of those earphones. There's a whole world to look at under water. Pixar Studios has proven that it's also a world to eavesdrop on.
"Finding Nemo" is rated G. It's an hour and 31 minutes long.
It starts at Market Square East on Thursday, July 10.

Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

"Finding Nemo" is a perfect film for Virgin Islanders. Where else can movie-goers so easily identify with the colorful and magical world of the ocean and coral reefs? "Finding Nemo" is like Scuba diving with a special set of headphones that allows you to hear the fascinating conversations of the creatures beneath the seas.
Nemo (voice of Alexander Gould) is a young clown fish with an overprotective father, Marlin (voice of Albert Brooks). There are reasons for his concern; the ocean can be a dangerous place for a small orange and white striped fish, as proven by the initial loss of Nemo's mother, Coral, and all his siblings. Marlin promises he'll never let anything happen to Nemo, and he tries to keep him safe at home in their sea anemone.
But Nemo is an adventurous clown fish. On his first day of school, he wants to prove to the other creatures in his class that he is brave and fearless by swimming out beyond the drop-off to touch the bottom of a diving boat. But one of the divers, a dentist in Sydney, Australia, captures the little clown fish in his net and takes him back to the aquarium in his office, only to be presented as a gift to his niece, Darla (voice of LuLu Ebeling), who is known as a "killer fish shaker" to the others in the tank, who try to help Nemo find a way out of the tank and back to the ocean before Darla arrives in three days.
Marlin is distraught. He is in agony. He has lost Nemo, his only remaining son and family. But there's hope; the diver left behind his mask, which has on it his Sydney address. Marlin teams up with a forgetful triggerfish named Dory (voice of Ellen DeGeneres) to set out for Sydney harbor.
Marlin must address his own fears of the ocean in order to rescue Nemo. Marlin faces sharks, explosions of underwater mines, jellyfish and a series of mishaps caused by Dory's loss of short-term memory. Time is against him, though he's got some pelicans and sea turtles – and Dory – on his side.
The beauty of "Finding Nemo" is in its amazingly accurate depiction of the coral reef and the ocean. The story is a beauty too, and DeGeneres is just brilliant as the forgetful Dory.
You will want to run out of the film and straight to the beaches, doffing your clothes for a bathing suit, snorkel and mask. Oh yeah, and you've got to pick up a pair of those earphones. There's a whole world to look at under water. Pixar Studios has proven that it's also a world to eavesdrop on.
"Finding Nemo" is rated G. It's an hour and 31 minutes long.
It starts at Market Square East on Thursday, July 10.

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July 8, 2003 – The company planning to redevelop the derelict Yacht Haven Hotel and Marina came back Tuesday with both barrels blazing in response to a citizen group's appeal Monday of the firm's Coastal Zone Management permit covering several acres of adjacent landfill as well as the existing property.
The redevelopment plans "are on indefinite hold" until the permit appeal is resolved, a release from Insignia Nautica, parent company of the local developer, IN-USVI, stated.
"We are very disheartened by the appeal, as we had planned to begin demolition in a matter of days," Andrew Farkas, chief executive officer of Insignia Nautica, said. "It is truly unfortunate that Helen Gjessing, Judith Bourne and the Save Long Bay Coalition waited until the 11th hour to bring this to the Board of Land Use Appeals. We hope [to] continue to pursue economic and waterfront development for the people of the Virgin Islands, but we are saddened that progress and financial growth for the territory has once again been needlessly slowed."
(For the coalition's explanation of its lawsuit, see "Yacht Haven leasing appealed to land use board".)
IN-USVI is proposing to raze the existing Yacht Haven structures and build a new hotel and marina as part of a tourism-oriented complex. The company also has leased some seven acres of adjacent Long Bay landfill from The West Indian Co. for development of shopping and other facilities and a walkway from the hotel complex to downtown Charlotte Amalie. It also has leased certain submerged lands in Long Bay from the V.I. government for the marina redevelopment.
In May, the Senate ratified and the governor signed a single CZM permit for the overall project development. (See "Senate approves submerged lands lease".)
Proceeding without landfill proposed, rejected
Gjessing, Save Long Bay Coalition president, emphasized Monday that the group is not challenging the hotel and marina revitalization. Rather, she said, it is asking the Board of Land Use Appeals to separate the filled land from the overall development permit so that the hotel and marina work can proceed while another CZM permit is sought for the filled land. Public hearings on the application would be required, and if a new permit is approved, Gjessing said, the coalition is asking that it be for no more than 20 years.
Farkas said Tuesday that separating the landfill from the hotel property is impossible from IN-USVI's development perspective. "Our plans are comprehensive and inextricably linked," he said. "We cannot build the marina without the esplanade and the stores, or the hotel without the park and the fountain. It is basic business sense that you cannot have the parts without the whole."
WICO agreed to lease the landfill to IN-USVI for 90 years. The submerged lands lease was also made for 90 years to facilitate efforts to obtain financing for the redevelopment project.
In Tuesday's release, Farkas argued, as he did before the Legislature in May, that Insignia Nautica had done its research in the more than two years leading up to the Senate vote and that the arguments raised in opposition to its plans are without legal merit. He charged that the Save Long Bay Coalition's action "appears to be a frivolous appeal intended solely to delay the project and hamper the economic development of the Virgin Islands."
The coalition, like legislative legal counsel Yvonne Tharpes, claims the government may not lease property for a period greater than 20 years. IN-USVI, however, cites a 1986 Territorial Court ruling that WICO as a semi-autonomous corporation is "not subject to laws limiting leases of government land to 20-year terms." IN-USVI said further that land leased from WICO is not legally "trust land," as it was wholly transferred to WICO with the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in 1989 that WICO as the holder of title could lease the land to a private party.
The IN-USVI release expressed dismay "that such a small group of people with such narrowly defined interests would seek to block the long-anticipated redevelopment of the Charlotte Amalie waterfront." Farkas questioned "whether even one of the members of the Save Long Bay Coalition actually resides in Long Bay." They "are not the people that have to live with this eyesore," he said, referring to the derelict Yacht Haven complex.
The heavy-handed approach is nothing new for Farkas. He similarly took aim at Tharpes in May when she challenged the legality of the submerged lands leasing. In a letter to Senate President David Jones, he accused her of inaccuracy, inconsistency, legal error and anti-business bias. Two days later, the Senate, in a special session called by the governor, ratified an agreement between IN-USVI and the government to lease the filled and submerged lands, even as officials agreed that Tharpes was correct in saying the move was contrary to law.
What exactly is planned
In Tuesday's release, IN-USVI promised "a safe, educational, entertaining and beautiful venue in which to work, shop, play and relax" that will include dinghy dock access, relocation of existing legal moorings, mandatory recycling and environmental monitoring within the marina. At the request of CZM, the release states, IN-USVI "will pay for and provide space for historical displays regarding the history of Charlotte Amalie."
According to IN-USVI, the redevelopment will include "guest accommodations, commercial space, parking facilities and a boardwalk-style esplanade linking the Yacht Haven area with historic Charlotte Amalie," as well as state-of-the-art marina facilities that will pave the way for the territory's re-emergence "as the yachting capital of the Eastern Caribbean."
IN-USVI also will "pay for and build a public park, complete with a tot lot, picnic areas and an outdoor amphitheater for local performers," the release stated.
The company projects that more than 500 persons will be employed in the initial 18 months of construction and that the completed project will provide 600 permanent jobs. It further projects that the V.I. government stands to gain $7.6 million in new revenues in the project's first year of operation.
Meanwhile, the release noted, IN-USVI's Yacht Haven mural-painting project got under way Tuesday, with about 20 youngsters beginning work on decorating a barrier wall erected around the hotel property in preparation for demolition of the buildings that have stood mostly abandoned since Hurricane Marilyn damaged them nearly eight years ago.

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July 8, 2003 – A company receiving tax benefits under the territory's investment incentive program sought at a show cause hearing on Tuesday to convince the Economic Development Commission that it should continue doing so.
An EDC official said Medical Air Services Association was the subject of the hearing because "we have to insure the people of the Virgin Islands get a return on the investment that they're making."
MASA is a company that sells what is defined as insurance to cover the cost of emergency transport in case of accident, illness or death and operates the aircraft to perform such services. It was first granted what were then Industrial Development Commission benefits in the mid-1990s — a 90 percent exemption on income taxes and 100 percent exemption on gross receipts and excise taxes.
EDC compliance officers told commission members on Tuesday that the company has failed to comply with its agreement to hire 38 full-time employees and that it has failed to set up a corporate headquarters in the Virgin Islands.
Attorney George Dudley, representing MASA, said the company had missed the mark in failing to set up its corporate headquarters. But he said this occurred because the company got caught in a real estate crunch after Hurricane Marilyn while it also was awaiting an opportunity to build a hangar at the St. Thomas airport to house its aircraft.
Dudley also said Medical Air does in fact employ the number of people called for in its EDC certificate but that some of the personnel are contract workers whose names do not appear on the company payroll.
According to Dudley, the commission's challenge of the size of MASA's work force is puzzling. "As a part of its business plan, from Day 1, it counted for the requirement of the 38 employed persons its agents, its independent contract workers, as opposed to its payroll workers," he said. "If you include the persons working for Medical Air as independent contractors with the persons working for Medical Air as payroll employees, you see that Medical Air has met the criteria of 38 employees."
EDC compliance officer Margarita Benjamin disagreed, saying her review of the company's personnel records found that many of the contract workers fell short of the minimum 32-hour work week needed to qualify as full-time workers. In some cases, she said, contract personnel logged only 10 to 15 hours a week.
Frank Halley, MASA chief executive and board chair, pledged at the hearing to act quickly to set up the required headquarters in the territory.
Halley also said that part of the under-employment problem would be corrected by the hiring of aircraft mechanics and maintenance people once a planned hangar is built at Henry E. Rohlsen Airport. The company currently maintains its aircraft in Puerto Rico and Florida. But even with the hangar crew added, he said, MASA can only realistically employ 25 people.
After hearing the arguments of both sides, Dean Plaskett, EDC chair, said the commission would review the documents submitted relating to the case and notify MASA of its decision.
Frank Schulterbrandt, Economic Development Authority chief executive officer and EDC assistant chair, said Tuesday's show cause hearing could have been avoided if MASA had contacted the EDC to request a modification in its tax certificate. "If Medical Air had filed a waiver or a modification notice to the EDC, this issue with employment should have never occurred," he said, "but that was never done."
The commission has several options in dealing with the case. It can revoke Medical Air's benefits; it can modify the company's certificate and adjust its benefits; or it can decide to take no action.
Schulterbrandt said the EDC wants to demonstrate to other beneficiaries and potential applicants that it wants to do business with them. For that reason, he said, when there are problems, the commission seeks wherever possible to encourage compliance without adopting an adversarial stance.

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