The Government Employees' Retirement System invites government employees age 30 and over to participate in a Pre-retirment Planning Workshop titled "Count Down to Retirement" to be held in the GERS Conference Room, St. Thomas.
Learn about your benefits.
For additional information or to pre-register call 776-7703 ext. 4203. Seating is limited so register early. Pre-registration deadline is Monday, March 31.

March 21, 2003 – The Government Employees' Retirement System invites Government employees age 30 and over to participate in a Pre-retirement Planning Workshop titled "Count Down to Retirement" to be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 2, in the GERS Conference Room, St. Thomas. Learn about your benefits.
For additional information or to pre-register call 776-7703 ext. 4203. Seating is limited so register early. Pre-regiistration deadline is Monday, march 31.

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March 21, 2003 – Parents and guardians of students attending the Joseph gomez Elementary School are advised that students will be dismissed at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, march 26, in order to facilitate the regular monthly faculty meeting. Parents are asked to be on time to pick up students.

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March 21, 2003 — The St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce will host the 2003 annual Awards Banquet and Dinner Dance on Saturday, March 29, at the St. Peter Greathouse and Gardens. Cocktails are at 6:30 p.m., and dinner is served at 8 p.m.
At this year's gala, the Wilbur "Bill" LaMotta Community Service Award, the Student Achievement Award and the Award for Design Excellence will be presented.
This year's LaMotta award honorees are Judy Pitzl, co-owner of St. Thomas Graphics; Peter Holmberg, Olympic Silver Medalist and Match Racing World Champion, Judge Ishmael A. Meyers, Territorial Court of the Virgin Islands; and Kenneth L. Blake, territorial director of crime prevention for the Police Department.
Other awards will go to Louise Ali of Nana Baby Home; Juel Brin of the Future Business Leaders of America, a community volunteer and graduating senior at Charlotte Amalie High School; and James Armour of Armour Enterprises.
Tickets for the event are $100 and may be reserved by calling the Chamber office at 776-0100. The Sea Breeze band will provide entertainment for the evening.

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March 21, 2003 — The St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce will host the 2003 annual Awards Banquet and Dinner Dance on Saturday, March 29, at the St. Peter Greathouse and Gardens. Cocktails are at 6:30 p.m., and dinner is served at 8 p.m.
At this year's gala, the Wilbur "Bill" LaMotta Community Service Award, the Student Achievement Award and the Award for Design Excellence will be presented.
This year's LaMotta award honorees are Judy Pitzl, co-owner of St. Thomas Graphics; Peter Holmberg, Olympic Silver Medalist and Match Racing World Champion, Judge Ishmael A. Meyers, Territorial Court of the Virgin Islands; and Kenneth L. Blake, territorial director of crime prevention for the Police Department.
Other awards will go to Louise Ali of Nana Baby Home; Juel Brin of the Future Business Leaders of America, a community volunteer and graduating senior at Charlotte Amalie High School; and James Armour of Armour Enterprises.
Tickets for the event are $100 and may be reserved by calling the Chamber office at 776-0100. The Sea Breeze band will provide entertainment for the evening.

Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas 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.

March 21, 2003 — The St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce will host the 2003 annual Awards Banquet and Dinner Dance on Saturday, March 29, at the St. Peter Greathouse and Gardens. Cocktails are at 6:30 p.m., and dinner is served at 8 p.m.
At this year's gala, the Wilbur "Bill" LaMotta Community Service Award, the Student Achievement Award and the Award for Design Excellence will be presented.
The Wilbur "Bill" LaMotta Community Service Award was established in 1983, Chamber executive director Joe Aubain said. He continued, "The award recognizes the outstanding contributions to the U.S. Virgin Islands of public officials and private citizens whose achievements reflect the commitment and dedication exemplified by the life and work of Bill LaMotta. Prior to his death in 1980, Mr. LaMotta was president of the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce, a Small Businessman of the Year, a civic leader and renowned Caribbean composer and musician. The award is presented to individuals who exhibit dedication, sincerity, forthrightness and ethics in the performance of his or her duties or in the practice of his or her business or profession."
This year's honorees are Judy Pitzl, co-owner of St. Thomas Graphics; Peter Holmberg, Olympic Silver Medalist and Match Racing World Champion, Judge Ishmael A. Meyers, Territorial Court of the Virgin Islands; and Kenneth L. Blake, territorial director of crime prevention for the Police Department.
In 1999, the Chamber's directors added the recognition of an individual whose leadership in a non-profit or charitable organization furthers the goals and objectives of the organization and benefits the community. The honor this year goes to Louise Ali of Nana Baby Home.
The Award for Design Excellence was established in 1999 to recognize an individual or corporation's capital investment in the territory, which demonstrates outstanding achievement in quality design, improvement to the environment, commitment to the community, and economic growth. This award goes to James Armour of Armour Enterprises.
The Student Achievement Award was established in 1992 to honor students who have made their schools a better place through their active involvement in student government, extra curricular activities, as well as excelling academically. The honoree for this award is Juel Brin of the Future Business Leaders of America, a community volunteer and graduating senior at Charlotte Amalie High School. A separate Source article about Juel will be posted soon on the Source.
Tickets for the event are $100 and may be reserved by calling the Chamber office at 776-0100. The Sea Breeze band will provide entertainment for the evening.

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.

March 21, 2003 — The St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce will host the 2003 annual Awards Banquet and Dinner Dance on Saturday, March 29, at the St. Peter Greathouse and Gardens. Cocktails are at 6:30 p.m., and dinner is served at 8 p.m.
At this year's gala, the Wilbur "Bill" LaMotta Community Service Award, the Student Achievement Award and the Award for Design Excellence will be presented.
The Wilbur "Bill" LaMotta Community Service Award was established in 1983, Chamber executive director Joe Aubain said. He continued, "The award recognizes the outstanding contributions to the U.S. Virgin Islands of public officials and private citizens whose achievements reflect the commitment and dedication exemplified by the life and work of Bill LaMotta. Prior to his death in 1980, Mr. LaMotta was president of the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce, a Small Businessman of the Year, a civic leader and renowned Caribbean composer and musician. The award is presented to individuals who exhibit dedication, sincerity, forthrightness and ethics in the performance of his or her duties or in the practice of his or her business or profession."
This year's honorees are Judy Pitzl, co-owner of St. Thomas Graphics; Peter Holmberg, Olympic Silver Medalist and Match Racing World Champion, Judge Ishmael A. Meyers, Territorial Court of the Virgin Islands; and Kenneth L. Blake, territorial director of crime prevention for the Police Department.
In 1999, the Chamber's directors added the recognition of an individual whose leadership in a non-profit or charitable organization furthers the goals and objectives of the organization and benefits the community. The honor this year goes to Louise Ali of Nana Baby Home.
The Award for Design Excellence was established in 1999 to recognize an individual or corporation's capital investment in the territory, which demonstrates outstanding achievement in quality design, improvement to the environment, commitment to the community, and economic growth. This award goes to James Armour of Armour Enterprises.
The Student Achievement Award was established in 1992 to honor students who have made their schools a better place through their active involvement in student government, extra curricular activities, as well as excelling academically. The honoree for this award is Juel Brin of the Future Business Leaders of America, a community volunteer and graduating senior at Charlotte Amalie High School. A separate Source article about Juel will be posted soon on the Source.
Tickets for the event are $100 and may be reserved by calling the Chamber office at 776-0100. The Sea Breeze band will provide entertainment for the evening.

Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas 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.

March 21, 2003 – Mark your calendars. The one-day inshore fishing tournament that offers the best prizes and attracts more participants than any other in the Virgin Islands, the Annual Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament, will be held July 13 at Hull Bay Hideaway.
First organized by the Northside Sportfishing Club in 1987, the tournament has attracted more than 400 anglers aboard more than 100 boats from throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Bastille Day tournament is one of many activities celebrating French Heritage Week.
Last year Danny LaPlace, aboard the Sea-ducer, reeled in the largest kingfish, a 26.72-pounder. LaPlace was only one of more than a dozen prize winners, as there are also awards in categories such as best boat, best captain, lady anglers, junior anglers, and other fish species like jack, bonito, tuna, mackerel and dolphin.
Fishing starts at 5:30 a.m. and ends at noon, when the beach party begins, with food, music and fun lasting right up until the times for the awards ceremony.
The Annual Bastille Day tournament benefits the Joseph Sibilly School, St. Thomas Rescue, the American Red Cross and The Victim Advocate Program. Last year, the successful of the event enabled the Northside Sportfishing Club to also donate two college scholarships to local students and $10,000 for the reconstruction of the Estate Dorothea Tot Lot.

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March 21, 2003 – Sometimes during times of war and national crisis, local families may have their own personal crises and need to contact their military family members serving abroad. Keeping Virgin Islanders in touch with their loved ones during these times is part of the fundamental mission of the American Red Cross in the Virgin Islands.
Congressionally mandated, the American Red Cross utilizes its Armed Forces Emergency Services (AFES) program to link military personnel to their families back home through its emergency communications network. This is done while maintaining a stance of neutrality to all sides involved in the conflict.
"Virgin Islanders with family members serving in the armed services are encouraged to stay in contact with each other as much as possible," Bill Young, emergency services director for Red Cross in the V.I., said. "But when a family crisis arises, such as a death or illness, rest assured that the Red Cross is here to help and will get that emergency message to the military member."
To help the communication process, Young emphasized the importance of having some basic information about service members when contacting the Red Cross, including full name and military rank/rate, Social Security number, date of the birth, military unit's name and mailing address, and telephone number (if available).
"Once we have this information, it will make contacting the service member easier," Young said.
The Red Cross AFES program not only handles emergency communication regarding deaths or serious illnesses, but the Red Cross can send messages to announce births and to simply check on the welfare of a service member.
For more information about the program, call the local American Red Cross headquarters in the Virgin Islands at 774-0375.

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March 21, 2003 – Sometimes during times of war and national crisis, local families may have their own personal crises and need to contact their military family members serving abroad. Keeping Virgin Islanders in touch with their loved ones during these times is part of the fundamental mission of the American Red Cross in the Virgin Islands.
Congressionally mandated, the American Red Cross utilizes its Armed Forces Emergency Services (AFES) program to link military personnel to their families back home through its emergency communications network. This is done while maintaining a stance of neutrality to all sides involved in the conflict.
"Virgin Islanders with family members serving in the armed services are encouraged to stay in contact with each other as much as possible," Bill Young, emergency services director for Red Cross in the V.I., said. "But when a family crisis arises, such as a death or illness, rest assured that the Red Cross is here to help and will get that emergency message to the military member."
To help the communication process, Young emphasized the importance of having some basic information about service members when contacting the Red Cross, including full name and military rank/rate, Social Security number, date of the birth, military unit's name and mailing address, and telephone number (if available).
"Once we have this information, it will make contacting the service member easier," Young said.
The Red Cross AFES program not only handles emergency communication regarding deaths or serious illnesses, but the Red Cross can send messages to announce births and to simply check on the welfare of a service member.
For more information about the program, call the local American Red Cross headquarters in the Virgin Islands at 774-0375.

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.