March 13, 2003 — The American Red Cross St. Thomas-St. John Chapter has announced its next course schedule.
— March 22-April 26, Water Safety Instructor Course. The course will be taught from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturdays at Magens Bay. Cost is $150. Instructors will be in demand as summer camps soon will look for properly trained instructors and the Learn to Swim Program gets started in the public schools in the fall.
— March 22-April 26, Learn to Swim Program. This program, offered for ages 5 to 105 will be taught Saturdays at Magens Bay. Adult classes are from 8 to 9 a.m. and children's are from 9 to 10 a.m. Cost is $50.
For more information about either course, call the headquarters at 774-0375 or Gayle Deller at 774-0352.

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March 13, 2003 — The American Red Cross St. Thomas-St. John Chapter has announced its next course schedule.
— March 22-April 26, Water Safety Instructor Course. The course will be taught from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturdays at Magens Bay. Cost is $150. Instructors will be in demand as summer camps soon will look for properly trained instructors and the Learn to Swim Program gets started in the public schools in the fall.
— March 22-April 26, Learn to Swim Program. This program, offered for ages 5 to 105 will be taught Saturdays at Magens Bay. Adult classes are from 8 to 9 a.m. and children's are from 9 to 10 a.m. Cost is $50.
For more information about either course, call the headquarters at 774-0375 or Gayle Deller at 774-0352.

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 13, 2003 — Purim is a holiday based on the Biblical Book of Esther, explains a release by Rabbi Arthur Starr of the Hebrew Congregation of St. Thomas. It is a tale filled with heroes and villains with whom people can easily identify: Mordecai, the hero of the day who defies those bent on destroying his people; his niece Esther who risks her life for her people; Haman, the wicked Prime Minister; King Ahashuerus.
This story of victory over oppression resonates with us today, lending hope in the most perilous of times. Purim is a holiday which has almost no home observance and whose synagogue ritual is limited virtually to the reading of the story and cheering and booing the characters. The mood of the sanctuary is turned into a carnival-type spirit.
The special food eaten at Purim is Hamantaschen – a three-cornered pastry filled with prune or other fruit jams.
A Purim celebration will take place at the Hebrew Congregation on Synagogue Hill at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 17, with the reading of the Megillah (the scroll of Esther) followed by refreshments. Come in costume and bring creative noisemakers to drown out the name of Haman, said the release.

March 13, 2003 – The University of the Virgin Islands Bulletin Board issued today has these announcements:
Inaugural Week Continues With Exhibits, Receptions
Inaugural week for UVI President Dr. LaVerne Ragster continues with special exhibits, a student, faculty and staff reception March 13 on the St. Thomas campus and a Faculty Colloquium, with videoconference links between campuses, on Friday, March 14.
— Exhibits
Virgin Islands Art Exhibit through Friday, March 14
A special display of artwork created by Virgin Islanders is featured in the VIP Room of the UVI Sports and Fitness Center. The exhibit includes a "family corner" chronicling the life and ancestry of Dr. LaVerne Ragster through art. Dr. Ragster was toasted by members of the university community and her own family at an informal opening of the exhibit March 10.
Among the artists with works featured at the exhibit are J. Antonio Jarvis, Pita Gonzalez, El' Roi Simmonds, Austin Petersen, Clifton Berry, Kenneth Harrigan and Avelino Samuel.
Reichhold Center's 25 Year Retrospective daily 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A display showcasing a quarter century of growth at the Reichhold Center for the Arts, St. Thomas' premier performing arts forum, is featured at the Reichhold Center's gallery on the St. Thomas campus.
Intellectual and Literary Exhibits daily 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Intellectual and literary work from past and current UVI faculty will be on display at the Ralph M. Paiewonsky Library on the St. Thomas campus and the
Melvin Evans Library on the St. Croix campus.
— Faculty Colloquium Friday, March 14, from 3 to 5 p.m.
A presentation by Dr. Roy E. McClean, a native St. Thomian and graduate of Eudora Kean High School, on the role that the Virgin Islands and UVI have played in his personal development. Dr. McClean graduated from the College of the Virgin Islands in 1985. He later earned a Ph.D. in chemistry and now serves as professor of chemistry at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. The venue is The Theater (room EC 401) on the St. Croix campus, with a videoconference link to Chase Auditorium (room B-110) on St. Thomas.
— Cultural Extravaganza Saturday, March 15, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Music, art, poetry and dance from the Virgin Islands and the Caribbean will be presented at the Sports and Fitness Center, St. Thomas campus. Performing will be UVI's Concert Band and Concert Choir, the Louis Taylor Trio, the Caribbean Chorale, Roan Creque and quadrille dancers. Poetry and dramatic choral readings are also planned.
All events are free.
UVI Scholarship Applications for 2003-2004 Now Available
Applications for scholarships to UVI are now available for high school, undergraduate and graduate students for the 2003-2004 school year. Applications are available at the financial aid offices on UVI's St. Thomas and St. Croix campuses. For more information contact the financial aid offices at 693-1090 on St. Thomas and at 692-4193 on St. Croix.
Applications, along with letters of recommendation, must be returned to UVI by 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 1. April 30 is the admissions deadline for the 2003-2004 school year.
Change in UVI Library Hours Announced
The St. Thomas campus library will close at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 16, to encourage attendance at Dr. Ragster's installation ceremony. The St. Croix campus library will close at its normal time.
For the first time, both campus libraries will be open the Sunday after spring break (March 23) to assist returning students who may need time to finish assignments due the following week.
SBDC Set Business Taxes Seminars on St. John and St. Thomas
UVI's Small Business Development Center is offering its small business seminar on Filing Your Business Taxes for 2002 on St. John and St. Thomas. The St. John seminar was set for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 13. The St. Thomas session is scheduled for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 27, at the SBDC training facility at Nisky Center. The presenters, who are from the V.I. Bureau of Internal Revenue, will be Roy L. Moorehead, chief of audit, and A. Alonzo Brady, senior revenue agent. Topics to be covered include: tax changes for 2002; how to compute taxes; local and federal taxes; filing business taxes accurately; and how returns are selected for audit.
Admission is free. Pre-register by Tuesday, March 25, for the St. Thomas seminar at the SBDC office in Nisky Center or call 776-3206.
UVI-Queen Mary Walk/Run Slated March 14
UVI's St. Croix campus invites alumni, students faculty and the entire V.I. community to participate in the second annual UVI-Queen Mary Highway Walk/Run on Friday, March 14.
The Walk/Run — which is part of the campus' celebration of Charter Day and the inauguration of Dr. LaVerne Ragster as UVI's fourth president — begins promptly at 6 a.m. (assembly time 5:30 a.m.) in the K-Mart parking lot in Sunshine Mall and proceeds along the Queen Mary Highway to the University's St. Croix Campus. The event ends at approximately 8 a.m.
The registration fee is $15 for adults and $12 for students and children. Participants will receive a commemorative T-shirt and towel. Light refreshments will be provided on conclusion of the walk/run. Commemorative prizes will be awarded to the top finishers.
Registration forms are available from the chancellor's office or on-line.
UVI's CES and EPA to Hold "Community Dialogue" March 17 on St. Croix
UVI's Cooperative Extension Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2, will sponsor a Community Dialogue session from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday, March 17, at the UVI Research and Extension Center, Room 133, on the St. Croix campus. The session is designed to provide residents with a forum for discussing community concerns in the areas of environmental health and quality of life and for addressing government decision-makers. Jane M. Kenny, regional administrator, and other EPA Region 2 staff members will participate. Topics such as air and drinking water quality, sewerage and other wastewater management, and solid waste management will be on the agenda. For details contact Jim Casey at 714-2333 or 714-0521.
Workshops to Focus on Effective Sediment and Erosion Control Plan Training
Workshops on Developing an Effective Sediment and Erosion Control Plan Training will be conducted from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, in Room 133 of the Research and Extension Center on UVI's St. Croix campus and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 20, at the SBDC Training Room upstairs in Nisky Center on St. Thomas. The program is sponsored by the UVI Cooperative Extension Service, DPNR Coastal Zone Management Program and V.I. Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc.
The workshop is designed for individuals associated with the design and implementation of sediment and erosion control measures and plans. The deadline to register has passed. Workshop sessions are limited to 40 participants. For more information contact Julie Wright at 693-1082 or Faye Williams at 692-9632 extension 101.
SBDC Offers Spanish Language Business Plan Seminar March 18
UVI Small Business Development Center will conduct a Spanish language version of a seminar entitled "Small Business Fundamentals: Developing A Business Plan (Narrative)" from 5:45 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, at the UVI-SBDC Training Center in the Sunshine Mall on St. Croix. For details and to pre-register by Friday, March 14, call 513-3405 or UVI-SBDC at 692-5270.
White House Initiative on HBCUs and UVI Offer March 19-20 Technical Workshop
UVI's St. Croix Campus will host a technical assistance workshop on funding and career opportunities sponsored by the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and UVI on March 19 and 20. St. Croix campus. Chancellor Jennifer Jackson says the two days of workshops will provide an excellent opportunity to interact with representatives from a number of federal agencies and the funding opportunities they oversee.
UVI President Dr. LaVerne Ragster will join with 15 other university presidents who are registered for participation. Representatives from 30 HBCUs and seven different federal departments are expected to participate. The workshop is designed for individuals involved with federally funded research or academic programs. Late registration is still available for $150. For more information and to register contact Nereida Washington at 692-4183.
UVI Jazz Ensemble, Pianist Mulgrew Miller to Perform March 20
The UVI Jazz Ensemble will present a concert at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 20, in the Little Theatre on the University's St. Thomas campus. The concert will feature performances by renowned jazz pianist Mulgrew Miller and vocalist Danielle Greenaway. A native of the Mississippi delta, Miller is considered one of the leading pianists of his generation. He has produced more than 400 recordings and has performed around the world. Miller's UVI concert will include such classic jazz pieces as "Bye Bye Blackbird," "Take the A Train," "'Round Midnight," and "St. Thomas." Vocalist Greenaway will perform "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" and "Blue Skies."
Also performing will be pianist/ vocalist Detra Davis, who will be featured on "God Bless the Child." The ensemble is conducted by Martin J. Lamkin. The concert is sponsored by the Music Department of UVI's Humanities Division. It is funded in part by the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional sponsorship is provided by Best Western-Emerald Beach Hotel. Admission is $10. Tickets are available from the UVI Humanities Division, the Music Department and Jazz Ensemble members.
UVI Volleyball Matches Slated for March 24-26
UVI's men's volleyball team will warm up for its upcoming fall season by hosting the team from Ramapo College, an NCAA Division III school located in New Jersey, in a series matches scheduled for March 24 through 26, at the UVI Sports and Fitness Center. In addition, the Ramapo squad will play the St. Thomas All-Stars, a men's team with players from the St. Thomas and St. John Volleyball Association squads. A women's exhibition match is also scheduled.
The schedule:
–March 24th – Ramapo College vs UVI Bucs (male) – 8 p.m.
–March 25th – Full Force vs Island Mix (female exhibition game) – 7:30 p.m.
Ramapo College vs St. Thomas All-stars (male)
–March 26th – Ramapo College vs UVI Bucs (male) – 8 p.m.
All matches will be played at the Sports and Fitness Center on the St. Thomas campus. Admission is $1 per person.
Jason Liburd, UVI's men's volleyball head coach, says the team is trying to arrange additional matches before entering ODI League play in Puerto Rico in the fall. The men's squad is led by seniors Sean O'Loughlin and Oren Hodge, and junior Andrew Linder. The team also includes Kairann George, Michael Richardson Jr., Shimoi VanHolten, Jelani Richards, Casey Brandemuehl, Phillip Bernier and Reese Romney.
Free Stepping Workshop/Demonstration Set April 3 on St. Thomas
The student activities office on the St. Thomas Campus invites the UVI community to a stepping workshop/ demonstration at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 3, in the recreation center. "Step Afrika" is a professional stepping group out of Washington, D.C., which is in the territory for an Exhibition Step Show at the Reichhold Center on April 5. The workshop will focus on the origin of stepping and how it relates to our African ancestry. The workshop/ demonstration is free. Call Reichhold Center at extension 1559 for ticketing information for the April 5th performance.
SGA and Student Trustee Elections Set April 3 on St. Thomas
Elections for the student representative to the UVI Board of Trustees and for officers for the 2003-2004 Student Government Association will be held Thursday, April 3, on the St. Thomas campus. The university community is asked to encourage students with leadership potential to apply. The application deadline is Monday, March 31. Applications and a list of available positions are available at the student activities office. For details call extension 1111.
UVI to Participate in Caribbean Debating Competition in Jamaica
The 13th Annual Caribbean Inter Collegiate Debating Competition will be held March 27 to 30 in Jamaica. This year's event is co-sponsored by CARICOM in celebration of the Caribbean Community's 30th anniversary. The eight institutions participating this year include the University of the Virgin Islands along with UWI-Mona (Jamaica), UWI-St. Augustine (Trinidad), UWI-Cave Hill (Barbados), University of Guyana, InterAmerican University-Puerto Rico, UTECH in Jamaica and University of Surinam.
Topics to be debated include: visa requirements between Caribbean countries, Caribbean integration, discounting of AIDS drugs in the Caribbean, war as a solution to international conflicts, and the relationship between globalization and colonialism. Professor Gene Emanuel serves as coach and advisor to the UVI team.
Reichhold Center Announces STARfest9 Auditions
UVI's Reichhold Center for the Arts has announced it will conduct auditions for STARfest 9 on March 21, 22 and 23. STARfest, an annual theater production featuring Virgin Islands dancers, musicians and comedians, is scheduled for May 10 and 11, and May 24 and 25.
A modeling segment will be added to STARfest for the first time this year, according to Reichhold operations manager Cindy Rollins. The addition is designed to help participants prepare for possible appearances on Star Search, the nationally televised CBS program hosted by Arsenio Hall. Star Search participants compete for $100,000 in prize money in each of five performance categories.
Applications to audition for STARfest are now available at the Reichhold Center on UVI's St. Thomas campus, Modern Music locations in Havensight Mall and Nisky Center, Parrot Fish, Krystal & Gifts Galore, and at the UVI Bookstore. March 14 is the deadline for applications. For more information contact Cindy Rollins at 693-1553 or e-mail.
Koresh Dance Company Show Next on Reichhold Calendar; Travel Package Offered
A performance by the renowned Koresh Dance Company of Philadelphia is scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at UVI's Reichhold Center for the Arts. The company's style is described as "eloquent and explosive, employing an emotional blend of ballet, modern and jazz stylings." The Reichhold show will feature ten dancers performing a full-length piece entitled "Past, Present, and Future." Folk, ballroom, modern, classical and futuristic dance styles will be included.
A master class for dance enthusiasts, conducted by company director Ronen
Koresh and members of the cast, is scheduled for Friday, March 28, at 5 p.m. at the Reichhold Center.
The performance is partially supported by a grant from the Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour, the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts and WSTA Radio. For tickets, group packages, and to register for the master class, contact the Reichhold Center Box Office at 693-1559. The Reichhold Center and Seaborne Airlines are offering a travel package discounts for individuals coming to the show from San Juan, Puerto Rico and St. Croix. For details contact the Reichhold Box Office.
Little Theatre's Spring Production Reminds Director of "The Bachelor"
UVI's speech communications and theatre department will present William Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" as its spring production for two weekends, April 4, 5 and 6, and April 11, 12 and 13. Director Michael Prenevost says the story of Shakespeare's merchant reminds him of the p opular TV shows "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette."
"The very idea of throwing two people together to be engaged seems ridiculous," Prenevost said. "Then again, there was a time when arranged marriages by parents were quite common. And that's what the play is all about." The play involves a rich leading lady with many suitors, a moneylender, a merchant and a couple on the run. There is "romance, comedy, prejudice and greed," Prenevost said. "Just like "Survivor." Prenevost promises the play that has been "updated to the 1970s and that the classic story of the merchant faced with losing a pound of flesh will feature "abridged Shakespearian language" and a definite "disco" feel. For details contact Prenevost at 693-1355.
For more on the University of the Virgin Islands, visit the website at www.uvi.edu.

Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix 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 13, 2003 – The University of the Virgin Islands Bulletin Board issued today has these announcements:
Inaugural Week Continues With Exhibits, Receptions
Inaugural week for UVI President Dr. LaVerne Ragster continues with special exhibits, a student, faculty and staff reception March 13 on the St. Thomas campus and a Faculty Colloquium, with videoconference links between campuses, on Friday, March 14.
— Exhibits
Virgin Islands Art Exhibit through Friday, March 14
A special display of artwork created by Virgin Islanders is featured in the VIP Room of the UVI Sports and Fitness Center. The exhibit includes a "family corner" chronicling the life and ancestry of Dr. LaVerne Ragster through art. Dr. Ragster was toasted by members of the university community and her own family at an informal opening of the exhibit March 10.
Among the artists with works featured at the exhibit are J. Antonio Jarvis, Pita Gonzalez, El' Roi Simmonds, Austin Petersen, Clifton Berry, Kenneth Harrigan and Avelino Samuel.
Reichhold Center's 25 Year Retrospective daily 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A display showcasing a quarter century of growth at the Reichhold Center for the Arts, St. Thomas' premier performing arts forum, is featured at the Reichhold Center's gallery on the St. Thomas campus.
Intellectual and Literary Exhibits daily 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Intellectual and literary work from past and current UVI faculty will be on display at the Ralph M. Paiewonsky Library on the St. Thomas campus and the
Melvin Evans Library on the St. Croix campus.
— Faculty Colloquium Friday, March 14, from 3 to 5 p.m.
A presentation by Dr. Roy E. McClean, a native St. Thomian and graduate of Eudora Kean High School, on the role that the Virgin Islands and UVI have played in his personal development. Dr. McClean graduated from the College of the Virgin Islands in 1985. He later earned a Ph.D. in chemistry and now serves as professor of chemistry at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. The venue is The Theater (room EC 401) on the St. Croix campus, with a videoconference link to Chase Auditorium (room B-110) on St. Thomas.
— Cultural Extravaganza Saturday, March 15, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Music, art, poetry and dance from the Virgin Islands and the Caribbean will be presented at the Sports and Fitness Center, St. Thomas campus. Performing will be UVI's Concert Band and Concert Choir, the Louis Taylor Trio, the Caribbean Chorale, Roan Creque and quadrille dancers. Poetry and dramatic choral readings are also planned.
All events are free.
UVI Scholarship Applications for 2003-2004 Now Available
Applications for scholarships to UVI are now available for high school, undergraduate and graduate students for the 2003-2004 school year. Applications are available at the financial aid offices on UVI's St. Thomas and St. Croix campuses. For more information contact the financial aid offices at 693-1090 on St. Thomas and at 692-4193 on St. Croix.
Applications, along with letters of recommendation, must be returned to UVI by 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 1. April 30 is the admissions deadline for the 2003-2004 school year.
Change in UVI Library Hours Announced
The St. Thomas campus library will close at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 16, to encourage attendance at Dr. Ragster's installation ceremony. The St. Croix campus library will close at its normal time.
For the first time, both campus libraries will be open the Sunday after spring break (March 23) to assist returning students who may need time to finish assignments due the following week.
SBDC Set Business Taxes Seminars on St. John and St. Thomas
UVI's Small Business Development Center is offering its small business seminar on Filing Your Business Taxes for 2002 on St. John and St. Thomas. The St. John seminar was set for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 13. The St. Thomas session is scheduled for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 27, at the SBDC training facility at Nisky Center. The presenters, who are from the V.I. Bureau of Internal Revenue, will be Roy L. Moorehead, chief of audit, and A. Alonzo Brady, senior revenue agent. Topics to be covered include: tax changes for 2002; how to compute taxes; local and federal taxes; filing business taxes accurately; and how returns are selected for audit.
Admission is free. Pre-register by Tuesday, March 25, for the St. Thomas seminar at the SBDC office in Nisky Center or call 776-3206.
UVI-Queen Mary Walk/Run Slated March 14
UVI's St. Croix campus invites alumni, students faculty and the entire V.I. community to participate in the second annual UVI-Queen Mary Highway Walk/Run on Friday, March 14.
The Walk/Run — which is part of the campus' celebration of Charter Day and the inauguration of Dr. LaVerne Ragster as UVI's fourth president — begins promptly at 6 a.m. (assembly time 5:30 a.m.) in the K-Mart parking lot in Sunshine Mall and proceeds along the Queen Mary Highway to the University's St. Croix Campus. The event ends at approximately 8 a.m.
The registration fee is $15 for adults and $12 for students and children. Participants will receive a commemorative T-shirt and towel. Light refreshments will be provided on conclusion of the walk/run. Commemorative prizes will be awarded to the top finishers.
Registration forms are available from the chancellor's office or on-line.
UVI's CES and EPA to Hold "Community Dialogue" March 17 on St. Croix
UVI's Cooperative Extension Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2, will sponsor a Community Dialogue session from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday, March 17, at the UVI Research and Extension Center, Room 133, on the St. Croix campus. The session is designed to provide residents with a forum for discussing community concerns in the areas of environmental health and quality of life and for addressing government decision-makers. Jane M. Kenny, regional administrator, and other EPA Region 2 staff members will participate. Topics such as air and drinking water quality, sewerage and other wastewater management, and solid waste management will be on the agenda. For details contact Jim Casey at 714-2333 or 714-0521.
Workshops to Focus on Effective Sediment and Erosion Control Plan Training
Workshops on Developing an Effective Sediment and Erosion Control Plan Training will be conducted from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, in Room 133 of the Research and Extension Center on UVI's St. Croix campus and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 20, at the SBDC Training Room upstairs in Nisky Center on St. Thomas. The program is sponsored by the UVI Cooperative Extension Service, DPNR Coastal Zone Management Program and V.I. Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc.
The workshop is designed for individuals associated with the design and implementation of sediment and erosion control measures and plans. The deadline to register has passed. Workshop sessions are limited to 40 participants. For more information contact Julie Wright at 693-1082 or Faye Williams at 692-9632 extension 101.
SBDC Offers Spanish Language Business Plan Seminar March 18
UVI Small Business Development Center will conduct a Spanish language version of a seminar entitled "Small Business Fundamentals: Developing A Business Plan (Narrative)" from 5:45 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, at the UVI-SBDC Training Center in the Sunshine Mall on St. Croix. For details and to pre-register by Friday, March 14, call 513-3405 or UVI-SBDC at 692-5270.
White House Initiative on HBCUs and UVI Offer March 19-20 Technical Workshop
UVI's St. Croix Campus will host a technical assistance workshop on funding and career opportunities sponsored by the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and UVI on March 19 and 20. St. Croix campus. Chancellor Jennifer Jackson says the two days of workshops will provide an excellent opportunity to interact with representatives from a number of federal agencies and the funding opportunities they oversee.
UVI President Dr. LaVerne Ragster will join with 15 other university presidents who are registered for participation. Representatives from 30 HBCUs and seven different federal departments are expected to participate. The workshop is designed for individuals involved with federally funded research or academic programs. Late registration is still available for $150. For more information and to register contact Nereida Washington at 692-4183.
UVI Jazz Ensemble, Pianist Mulgrew Miller to Perform March 20
The UVI Jazz Ensemble will present a concert at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 20, in the Little Theatre on the University's St. Thomas campus. The concert will feature performances by renowned jazz pianist Mulgrew Miller and vocalist Danielle Greenaway. A native of the Mississippi delta, Miller is considered one of the leading pianists of his generation. He has produced more than 400 recordings and has performed around the world. Miller's UVI concert will include such classic jazz pieces as "Bye Bye Blackbird," "Take the A Train," "'Round Midnight," and "St. Thomas." Vocalist Greenaway will perform "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" and "Blue Skies."
Also performing will be pianist/ vocalist Detra Davis, who will be featured on "God Bless the Child." The ensemble is conducted by Martin J. Lamkin. The concert is sponsored by the Music Department of UVI's Humanities Division. It is funded in part by the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional sponsorship is provided by Best Western-Emerald Beach Hotel. Admission is $10. Tickets are available from the UVI Humanities Division, the Music Department and Jazz Ensemble members.
UVI Volleyball Matches Slated for March 24-26
UVI's men's volleyball team will warm up for its upcoming fall season by hosting the team from Ramapo College, an NCAA Division III school located in New Jersey, in a series matches scheduled for March 24 through 26, at the UVI Sports and Fitness Center. In addition, the Ramapo squad will play the St. Thomas All-Stars, a men's team with players from the St. Thomas and St. John Volleyball Association squads. A women's exhibition match is also scheduled.
The schedule:
–March 24th – Ramapo College vs UVI Bucs (male) – 8 p.m.
–March 25th – Full Force vs Island Mix (female exhibition game) – 7:30 p.m.
Ramapo College vs St. Thomas All-stars (male)
–March 26th – Ramapo College vs UVI Bucs (male) – 8 p.m.
All matches will be played at the Sports and Fitness Center on the St. Thomas campus. Admission is $1 per person.
Jason Liburd, UVI's men's volleyball head coach, says the team is trying to arrange additional matches before entering ODI League play in Puerto Rico in the fall. The men's squad is led by seniors Sean O'Loughlin and Oren Hodge, and junior Andrew Linder. The team also includes Kairann George, Michael Richardson Jr., Shimoi VanHolten, Jelani Richards, Casey Brandemuehl, Phillip Bernier and Reese Romney.
Free Stepping Workshop/Demonstration Set April 3 on St. Thomas
The student activities office on the St. Thomas Campus invites the UVI community to a stepping workshop/ demonstration at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 3, in the recreation center. "Step Afrika" is a professional stepping group out of Washington, D.C., which is in the territory for an Exhibition Step Show at the Reichhold Center on April 5. The workshop will focus on the origin of stepping and how it relates to our African ancestry. The workshop/ demonstration is free. Call Reichhold Center at extension 1559 for ticketing information for the April 5th performance.
SGA and Student Trustee Elections Set April 3 on St. Thomas
Elections for the student representative to the UVI Board of Trustees and for officers for the 2003-2004 Student Government Association will be held Thursday, April 3, on the St. Thomas campus. The university community is asked to encourage students with leadership potential to apply. The application deadline is Monday, March 31. Applications and a list of available positions are available at the student activities office. For details call extension 1111.
UVI to Participate in Caribbean Debating Competition in Jamaica
The 13th Annual Caribbean Inter Collegiate Debating Competition will be held March 27 to 30 in Jamaica. This year's event is co-sponsored by CARICOM in celebration of the Caribbean Community's 30th anniversary. The eight institutions participating this year include the University of the Virgin Islands along with UWI-Mona (Jamaica), UWI-St. Augustine (Trinidad), UWI-Cave Hill (Barbados), University of Guyana, InterAmerican University-Puerto Rico, UTECH in Jamaica and University of Surinam.
Topics to be debated include: visa requirements between Caribbean countries, Caribbean integration, discounting of AIDS drugs in the Caribbean, war as a solution to international conflicts, and the relationship between globalization and colonialism. Professor Gene Emanuel serves as coach and advisor to the UVI team.
Reichhold Center Announces STARfest9 Auditions
UVI's Reichhold Center for the Arts has announced it will conduct auditions for STARfest 9 on March 21, 22 and 23. STARfest, an annual theater production featuring Virgin Islands dancers, musicians and comedians, is scheduled for May 10 and 11, and May 24 and 25.
A modeling segment will be added to STARfest for the first time this year, according to Reichhold operations manager Cindy Rollins. The addition is designed to help participants prepare for possible appearances on Star Search, the nationally televised CBS program hosted by Arsenio Hall. Star Search participants compete for $100,000 in prize money in each of five performance categories.
Applications to audition for STARfest are now available at the Reichhold Center on UVI's St. Thomas campus, Modern Music locations in Havensight Mall and Nisky Center, Parrot Fish, Krystal & Gifts Galore, and at the UVI Bookstore. March 14 is the deadline for applications. For more information contact Cindy Rollins at 693-1553 or e-mail.
Koresh Dance Company Show Next on Reichhold Calendar; Travel Package Offered
A performance by the renowned Koresh Dance Company of Philadelphia is scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at UVI's Reichhold Center for the Arts. The company's style is described as "eloquent and explosive, employing an emotional blend of ballet, modern and jazz stylings." The Reichhold show will feature ten dancers performing a full-length piece entitled "Past, Present, and Future." Folk, ballroom, modern, classical and futuristic dance styles will be included.
A master class for dance enthusiasts, conducted by company director Ronen
Koresh and members of the cast, is scheduled for Friday, March 28, at 5 p.m. at the Reichhold Center.
The performance is partially supported by a grant from the Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour, the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts and WSTA Radio. For tickets, group packages, and to register for the master class, contact the Reichhold Center Box Office at 693-1559. The Reichhold Center and Seaborne Airlines are offering a travel package discounts for individuals coming to the show from San Juan, Puerto Rico and St. Croix. For details contact the Reichhold Box Office.
Little Theatre's Spring Production Reminds Director of "The Bachelor"
UVI's speech communications and theatre department will present William Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" as its spring production for two weekends, April 4, 5 and 6, and April 11, 12 and 13. Director Michael Prenevost says the story of Shakespeare's merchant reminds him of the p opular TV shows "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette."
"The very idea of throwing two people together to be engaged seems ridiculous," Prenevost said. "Then again, there was a time when arranged marriages by parents were quite common. And that's what the play is all about." The play involves a rich leading lady with many suitors, a moneylender, a merchant and a couple on the run. There is "romance, comedy, prejudice and greed," Prenevost said. "Just like "Survivor." Prenevost promises the play that has been "updated to the 1970s and that the classic story of the merchant faced with losing a pound of flesh will feature "abridged Shakespearian language" and a definite "disco" feel. For details contact Prenevost at 693-1355.
For more on the University of the Virgin Islands, visit the website at www.uvi.edu.

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March 13, 2003 – The University of the Virgin Islands Bulletin Board issued today has these announcements:
Inaugural Week Continues With Exhibits, Receptions
Inaugural week for UVI President Dr. LaVerne Ragster continues with special exhibits, a student, faculty and staff reception March 13 on the St. Thomas campus and a Faculty Colloquium, with videoconference links between campuses, on Friday, March 14.
— Exhibits
Virgin Islands Art Exhibit through Friday, March 14
A special display of artwork created by Virgin Islanders is featured in the VIP Room of the UVI Sports and Fitness Center. The exhibit includes a "family corner" chronicling the life and ancestry of Dr. LaVerne Ragster through art. Dr. Ragster was toasted by members of the university community and her own family at an informal opening of the exhibit March 10.
Among the artists with works featured at the exhibit are J. Antonio Jarvis, Pita Gonzalez, El' Roi Simmonds, Austin Petersen, Clifton Berry, Kenneth Harrigan and Avelino Samuel.
Reichhold Center's 25 Year Retrospective daily 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A display showcasing a quarter century of growth at the Reichhold Center for the Arts, St. Thomas' premier performing arts forum, is featured at the Reichhold Center's gallery on the St. Thomas campus.
Intellectual and Literary Exhibits daily 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Intellectual and literary work from past and current UVI faculty will be on display at the Ralph M. Paiewonsky Library on the St. Thomas campus and the
Melvin Evans Library on the St. Croix campus.
— Faculty Colloquium Friday, March 14, from 3 to 5 p.m.
A presentation by Dr. Roy E. McClean, a native St. Thomian and graduate of Eudora Kean High School, on the role that the Virgin Islands and UVI have played in his personal development. Dr. McClean graduated from the College of the Virgin Islands in 1985. He later earned a Ph.D. in chemistry and now serves as professor of chemistry at the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis. The venue is The Theater (room EC 401) on the St. Croix campus, with a videoconference link to Chase Auditorium (room B-110) on St. Thomas.
— Cultural Extravaganza Saturday, March 15, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Music, art, poetry and dance from the Virgin Islands and the Caribbean will be presented at the Sports and Fitness Center, St. Thomas campus. Performing will be UVI's Concert Band and Concert Choir, the Louis Taylor Trio, the Caribbean Chorale, Roan Creque and quadrille dancers. Poetry and dramatic choral readings are also planned.
All events are free.
UVI Scholarship Applications for 2003-2004 Now Available
Applications for scholarships to UVI are now available for high school, undergraduate and graduate students for the 2003-2004 school year. Applications are available at the financial aid offices on UVI's St. Thomas and St. Croix campuses. For more information contact the financial aid offices at 693-1090 on St. Thomas and at 692-4193 on St. Croix.
Applications, along with letters of recommendation, must be returned to UVI by 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 1. April 30 is the admissions deadline for the 2003-2004 school year.
Change in UVI Library Hours Announced
The St. Thomas campus library will close at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 16, to encourage attendance at Dr. Ragster's installation ceremony. The St. Croix campus library will close at its normal time.
For the first time, both campus libraries will be open the Sunday after spring break (March 23) to assist returning students who may need time to finish assignments due the following week.
SBDC Set Business Taxes Seminars on St. John and St. Thomas
UVI's Small Business Development Center is offering its small business seminar on Filing Your Business Taxes for 2002 on St. John and St. Thomas. The St. John seminar was set for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 13. The St. Thomas session is scheduled for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 27, at the SBDC training facility at Nisky Center. The presenters, who are from the V.I. Bureau of Internal Revenue, will be Roy L. Moorehead, chief of audit, and A. Alonzo Brady, senior revenue agent. Topics to be covered include: tax changes for 2002; how to compute taxes; local and federal taxes; filing business taxes accurately; and how returns are selected for audit.
Admission is free. Pre-register by Tuesday, March 25, for the St. Thomas seminar at the SBDC office in Nisky Center or call 776-3206.
UVI-Queen Mary Walk/Run Slated March 14
UVI's St. Croix campus invites alumni, students faculty and the entire V.I. community to participate in the second annual UVI-Queen Mary Highway Walk/Run on Friday, March 14.
The Walk/Run — which is part of the campus' celebration of Charter Day and the inauguration of Dr. LaVerne Ragster as UVI's fourth president — begins promptly at 6 a.m. (assembly time 5:30 a.m.) in the K-Mart parking lot in Sunshine Mall and proceeds along the Queen Mary Highway to the University's St. Croix Campus. The event ends at approximately 8 a.m.
The registration fee is $15 for adults and $12 for students and children. Participants will receive a commemorative T-shirt and towel. Light refreshments will be provided on conclusion of the walk/run. Commemorative prizes will be awarded to the top finishers.
Registration forms are available from the chancellor's office or on-line.
UVI's CES and EPA to Hold "Community Dialogue" March 17 on St. Croix
UVI's Cooperative Extension Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 2, will sponsor a Community Dialogue session from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday, March 17, at the UVI Research and Extension Center, Room 133, on the St. Croix campus. The session is designed to provide residents with a forum for discussing community concerns in the areas of environmental health and quality of life and for addressing government decision-makers. Jane M. Kenny, regional administrator, and other EPA Region 2 staff members will participate. Topics such as air and drinking water quality, sewerage and other wastewater management, and solid waste management will be on the agenda. For details contact Jim Casey at 714-2333 or 714-0521.
Workshops to Focus on Effective Sediment and Erosion Control Plan Training
Workshops on Developing an Effective Sediment and Erosion Control Plan Training will be conducted from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, in Room 133 of the Research and Extension Center on UVI's St. Croix campus and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 20, at the SBDC Training Room upstairs in Nisky Center on St. Thomas. The program is sponsored by the UVI Cooperative Extension Service, DPNR Coastal Zone Management Program and V.I. Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc.
The workshop is designed for individuals associated with the design and implementation of sediment and erosion control measures and plans. The deadline to register has passed. Workshop sessions are limited to 40 participants. For more information contact Julie Wright at 693-1082 or Faye Williams at 692-9632 extension 101.
SBDC Offers Spanish Language Business Plan Seminar March 18
UVI Small Business Development Center will conduct a Spanish language version of a seminar entitled "Small Business Fundamentals: Developing A Business Plan (Narrative)" from 5:45 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, at the UVI-SBDC Training Center in the Sunshine Mall on St. Croix. For details and to pre-register by Friday, March 14, call 513-3405 or UVI-SBDC at 692-5270.
White House Initiative on HBCUs and UVI Offer March 19-20 Technical Workshop
UVI's St. Croix Campus will host a technical assistance workshop on funding and career opportunities sponsored by the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and UVI on March 19 and 20. St. Croix campus. Chancellor Jennifer Jackson says the two days of workshops will provide an excellent opportunity to interact with representatives from a number of federal agencies and the funding opportunities they oversee.
UVI President Dr. LaVerne Ragster will join with 15 other university presidents who are registered for participation. Representatives from 30 HBCUs and seven different federal departments are expected to participate. The workshop is designed for individuals involved with federally funded research or academic programs. Late registration is still available for $150. For more information and to register contact Nereida Washington at 692-4183.
UVI Jazz Ensemble, Pianist Mulgrew Miller to Perform March 20
The UVI Jazz Ensemble will present a concert at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 20, in the Little Theatre on the University's St. Thomas campus. The concert will feature performances by renowned jazz pianist Mulgrew Miller and vocalist Danielle Greenaway. A native of the Mississippi delta, Miller is considered one of the leading pianists of his generation. He has produced more than 400 recordings and has performed around the world. Miller's UVI concert will include such classic jazz pieces as "Bye Bye Blackbird," "Take the A Train," "'Round Midnight," and "St. Thomas." Vocalist Greenaway will perform "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" and "Blue Skies."
Also performing will be pianist/ vocalist Detra Davis, who will be featured on "God Bless the Child." The ensemble is conducted by Martin J. Lamkin. The concert is sponsored by the Music Department of UVI's Humanities Division. It is funded in part by the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Additional sponsorship is provided by Best Western-Emerald Beach Hotel. Admission is $10. Tickets are available from the UVI Humanities Division, the Music Department and Jazz Ensemble members.
UVI Volleyball Matches Slated for March 24-26
UVI's men's volleyball team will warm up for its upcoming fall season by hosting the team from Ramapo College, an NCAA Division III school located in New Jersey, in a series matches scheduled for March 24 through 26, at the UVI Sports and Fitness Center. In addition, the Ramapo squad will play the St. Thomas All-Stars, a men's team with players from the St. Thomas and St. John Volleyball Association squads. A women's exhibition match is also scheduled.
The schedule:
–March 24th – Ramapo College vs UVI Bucs (male) – 8 p.m.
–March 25th – Full Force vs Island Mix (female exhibition game) – 7:30 p.m.
Ramapo College vs St. Thomas All-stars (male)
–March 26th – Ramapo College vs UVI Bucs (male) – 8 p.m.
All matches will be played at the Sports and Fitness Center on the St. Thomas campus. Admission is $1 per person.
Jason Liburd, UVI's men's volleyball head coach, says the team is trying to arrange additional matches before entering ODI League play in Puerto Rico in the fall. The men's squad is led by seniors Sean O'Loughlin and Oren Hodge, and junior Andrew Linder. The team also includes Kairann George, Michael Richardson Jr., Shimoi VanHolten, Jelani Richards, Casey Brandemuehl, Phillip Bernier and Reese Romney.
Free Stepping Workshop/Demonstration Set April 3 on St. Thomas
The student activities office on the St. Thomas Campus invites the UVI community to a stepping workshop/ demonstration at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 3, in the recreation center. "Step Afrika" is a professional stepping group out of Washington, D.C., which is in the territory for an Exhibition Step Show at the Reichhold Center on April 5. The workshop will focus on the origin of stepping and how it relates to our African ancestry. The workshop/ demonstration is free. Call Reichhold Center at extension 1559 for ticketing information for the April 5th performance.
SGA and Student Trustee Elections Set April 3 on St. Thomas
Elections for the student representative to the UVI Board of Trustees and for officers for the 2003-2004 Student Government Association will be held Thursday, April 3, on the St. Thomas campus. The university community is asked to encourage students with leadership potential to apply. The application deadline is Monday, March 31. Applications and a list of available positions are available at the student activities office. For details call extension 1111.
UVI to Participate in Caribbean Debating Competition in Jamaica
The 13th Annual Caribbean Inter Collegiate Debating Competition will be held March 27 to 30 in Jamaica. This year's event is co-sponsored by CARICOM in celebration of the Caribbean Community's 30th anniversary. The eight institutions participating this year include the University of the Virgin Islands along with UWI-Mona (Jamaica), UWI-St. Augustine (Trinidad), UWI-Cave Hill (Barbados), University of Guyana, InterAmerican University-Puerto Rico, UTECH in Jamaica and University of Surinam.
Topics to be debated include: visa requirements between Caribbean countries, Caribbean integration, discounting of AIDS drugs in the Caribbean, war as a solution to international conflicts, and the relationship between globalization and colonialism. Professor Gene Emanuel serves as coach and advisor to the UVI team.
Reichhold Center Announces STARfest9 Auditions
UVI's Reichhold Center for the Arts has announced it will conduct auditions for STARfest 9 on March 21, 22 and 23. STARfest, an annual theater production featuring Virgin Islands dancers, musicians and comedians, is scheduled for May 10 and 11, and May 24 and 25.
A modeling segment will be added to STARfest for the first time this year, according to Reichhold operations manager Cindy Rollins. The addition is designed to help participants prepare for possible appearances on Star Search, the nationally televised CBS program hosted by Arsenio Hall. Star Search participants compete for $100,000 in prize money in each of five performance categories.
Applications to audition for STARfest are now available at the Reichhold Center on UVI's St. Thomas campus, Modern Music locations in Havensight Mall and Nisky Center, Parrot Fish, Krystal & Gifts Galore, and at the UVI Bookstore. March 14 is the deadline for applications. For more information contact Cindy Rollins at 693-1553 or e-mail.
Koresh Dance Company Show Next on Reichhold Calendar; Travel Package Offered
A performance by the renowned Koresh Dance Company of Philadelphia is scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at UVI's Reichhold Center for the Arts. The company's style is described as "eloquent and explosive, employing an emotional blend of ballet, modern and jazz stylings." The Reichhold show will feature ten dancers performing a full-length piece entitled "Past, Present, and Future." Folk, ballroom, modern, classical and futuristic dance styles will be included.
A master class for dance enthusiasts, conducted by company director Ronen
Koresh and members of the cast, is scheduled for Friday, March 28, at 5 p.m. at the Reichhold Center.
The performance is partially supported by a grant from the Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour, the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts and WSTA Radio. For tickets, group packages, and to register for the master class, contact the Reichhold Center Box Office at 693-1559. The Reichhold Center and Seaborne Airlines are offering a travel package discounts for individuals coming to the show from San Juan, Puerto Rico and St. Croix. For details contact the Reichhold Box Office.
Little Theatre's Spring Production Reminds Director of "The Bachelor"
UVI's speech communications and theatre department will present William Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" as its spring production for two weekends, April 4, 5 and 6, and April 11, 12 and 13. Director Michael Prenevost says the story of Shakespeare's merchant reminds him of the p opular TV shows "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette."
"The very idea of throwing two people together to be engaged seems ridiculous," Prenevost said. "Then again, there was a time when arranged marriages by parents were quite common. And that's what the play is all about." The play involves a rich leading lady with many suitors, a moneylender, a merchant and a couple on the run. There is "romance, comedy, prejudice and greed," Prenevost said. "Just like "Survivor." Prenevost promises the play that has been "updated to the 1970s and that the classic story of the merchant faced with losing a pound of flesh will feature "abridged Shakespearian language" and a definite "disco" feel. For details contact Prenevost at 693-1355.
For more on the University of the Virgin Islands, visit the website at www.uvi.edu.

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Dear Source,
As a person of Afro Caribbean heritage, I am not satisfied or comforted by Botany Bay Developers' promises to preserve the importance of Estate Botany Bay's cultural, environmental or historical resources for future generations. While it is true that the land is in private hands, does that mean that the developer can proceed as they feel fit? Presently, Estate Botany Bay is a cultural and historical gold mine to the people of the Virgin Islands — whether we know it or not.
The property includes several archeological sites, including the remains of a pre-Columbian settlement that may date back at least 1,400 years, as well as numerous slave graves and plantation ruins. The V.I. Planning and Natural Resources Department has designated the site as an "area of particular concern" because of its cultural, environmental & historical resources.
Besides the environmental concern, concern for the cultural and historical aspect regarding Estate Botany Bay's development is equally important. To date the only evidence Botany Bay Partners have shown towards preserving the cultural and historical aspects of Estate Botany Bay has been a verbal one.
In past public hearings requests to have been made, such as:
— Open access to Botany Bay before public hearing so that the public can get a better understanding of what/where Botany Bay is.
— Identify and secure for future use public access route to beach.
— Require Botany Bay Partners in writing to conduct school tours of the Amerindian ball court ruins and also plantation ruins. These areas and future discoveries should be declared and designated historically significant. All these and the artifacts of Botany Bay should be preserved on tape in perpetuity.
— Entire area of Botany Bay should be videotaped from the air, sea and underwater as well as a walk-through of sensitive historical and environmental areas before construction/ development.
Since this entire area of cultural, environmental and historical importance will be changed due to this development, it is crucial for future generations to be able to look back on what is one of the most important sites in the Western Hemisphere. Historical and cultural foundations of the Virgin Islands should be preserved as a living part of our community life and development in order to give a sense of how we came to be.
The ecosystem that makes up Botany Bay, the ancestral human remains at Botany Bay and the ruins of Botany Bay: all of these things, are no less important to the people of the Virgin Islands than the dollar is to the Virgin Islands.
Unfortunately we have become the ones catering to everyone else; many of us have forgotten the legacy of how we came to be here. Since Estate Botany Bay was purchased decades ago the people of the Virgin Islands have again been denied access to cultural and historical opportunities.
In this day of modern technology there is no reason why Botany Bay, as it is, cannot be videotaped and archived for future Virgin Islanders. We must give our children a sense of belonging and heritage. Without this we will continue to be strangers in our own land.
As demands for land and development grow, we continue to place more value on momentary means instead of taking care and passing on our cultural, environmental and historical resources to our children. They are depending on us to safeguard their past and provide them a future. Some already say it's too late, but I believe we must find a way to strike a balance that includes the needs of the present and conservation of our culture, environment and history.
Caroline Browne
St. Thomas

Editor's note: We welcome and encourage readers to keep the dialogue going by responding to Source commentary. Letters should be e-mailed with name and place of residence to source@viaccess.net.

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March 13, 2003 – Mitch Gibbs' collection of paintings spanning 18 years at the Solo Arte gallery in Cruz Bay through Monday represents a return to the St. Thomas artist's St. John roots.
Gibbs made his first trip to the Caribbean in 1985 — not to the Virgin Islands and not to paint, although he was a successful mainland artist at the time. His mission was to deliver a commissioned painting from the mayor of York, Pennsylvania, to the mayor of San Juan.
Instantly smitten with Puerto Rico's alternative to Pennsylvania in terms of winter weather, he decided to spend the season painting. In preparation for a solo show back home, he committed himself to completing three watercolors or pastels each day. The show was a sellout, but that was just the beginning of his Caribbean career.
"Nearly everyone I met in San Juan told me I should visit St. John," he recalls, "so I spent the last two weeks of my winter sojourn at Cinnamon Bay, continuing to make three paintings a day." The pastels of beach scenes "created so much interest among the other campers that I held an exhibition at my tent site and sold almost all of the new series — including one to Jimmy Carter."
Gibbs spent part of the next three years living on the North Shore, painting and selling his work in front of Mongoose Junction. Then he moved to St. Thomas, where he was invited to become artist-in-residence at Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort.
Despite having adopted St. Thomas as his home, he continues to spend as much time as possible at Cinnamon Bay, Peter Bay and Trunk Bay painting St. John's scenic North Shore. The large body of his oils and acrylics on display at Solo Arte are collectively titled "Mitch Gibbs Returns to St. John, The Paintings: 1987 to 2002."
Solo Arte is located in the Lumberyard complex in Cruz Bay. For more information, call gallery owner Janet Cook-Rutnik at 715-2150.

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March 13, 2003 – St. Thomas artist Madeleine I.E. Meehan's "Mostly Music Art" is being featured in coming weeks at a venue that has provided the inspiration for many of her paintings and drawings of performing artists doing their thing — the Reichhold Center for the Arts.
The show comprises mainly aquarelle watercolor paintings on paper, but also some drawings and a few oils on canvas. It will hang in the Reichhold Art Gallery on the lower level of the center from Saturday through April. It's being mounted as part of the University of the Virgin Islands celebration of the inauguration of LaVerne Ragster as the institution's fourth president.
The official opening reception will come on March 20, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., when Meehan will join forces with one of the best-known performing artists on the St. Thomas scene, guitarist, singer and songwriter Sammy Watts, to celebrate the creative partnership of music and visual art.
Working in pen and ink, brush and magic crayon, Meehan has captured the creative energy of live performance art on paper in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, on the U.S. mainland, and beyond, including at the Spoleto U.S.A. Festival in Charleston, South Carolina, the Sunsplash Festival in Jamaica, and a jazz festival in Istanbul, Turkey.
Many of her images are taken from the stage of the Reichhold Center: Anatomy of Latin Jazz, Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico, Caribbean Dance Company, the Dave Brubeck Trio, David Sanborn and his orchestra, "Dream on Monkey Mountain," Eddie Palmieri's La Perfecta II band, "Folk Nativity," "Godspell," the Marcel Marceau mime troupe, the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, Rennie Harris' Pure Movement, the Shenandoah Shakespeare Company, the Territorial Court Rising Stars Youth Steel Orchestra, and UVI music ensembles.
She has also been a familiar presence at V.I. Carnival events, concerts in Tillett Gardens, and at Pistarckle Theater, Gladys's Café, Moonlight Foundation concerts on St. John, the St. Croix Blues Festival and other music, dance and cultural arts venues throughout the islands.
Meehan, who was born in Cuba, attended New York's High School of Music and Art and has a bachelor of fine art degree from Cornell University. She is a life member of the Art Students League of New York and received honors at L'Ecole des Beaux Arts in Fontainebleau, France. She maintains studios on St. Thomas and in East Hampton, New York.
She has exhibited in more than a hundred shows. On St. Thomas, her work can be found at MAPes MONDe Gallery in Grand Galleria, Tillett Art Gallery and The Color of Joy, as well as at her studio.
Watts, a native of Nevis, has been entertaining St. Thomas audiences since 1965. He has toured throughout the U.S. mainland, Canada and Europe and has recorded his original music on six albums. His "Sweet Island Man" has been No. 1 in the Caribbean, as has his "Forward On," recorded on his first album. He also wrote the music and lyrics for the popular "Good Mornin' Mi Son."
Watts performed with "Soul Side" on St. Thomas in the 1960s and formed his own combo in the '70s. He also was part of the Isaac Hays "Black Moses" group. He can be heard these days at Bolongo Bay Beach Club's Beach House from 7 to 11 p.m. on Fridays and at the Sapphire Beach Resort pavilion from 7 to 11 p.m. on Saturdays.
The March 20 event is supported in part by a grant from the V.I. Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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March 13, 2003 – Mitch Gibbs' collection of paintings spanning 18 years at the Solo Arte gallery in Cruz Bay through Monday represents a return to the St. Thomas artist's St. John roots.
Gibbs made his first trip to the Caribbean in 1985 — not to the Virgin Islands and not to paint, although he was a successful mainland artist at the time. His mission was to deliver a commissioned painting from the mayor of York, Pennsylvania, to the mayor of San Juan.
Instantly smitten with Puerto Rico's alternative to Pennsylvania in terms of winter weather, he decided to spend the season painting. In preparation for a solo show back home, he committed himself to completing three watercolors or pastels each day. The show was a sellout, but that was just the beginning of his Caribbean career.
"Nearly everyone I met in San Juan told me I should visit St. John," he recalls, "so I spent the last two weeks of my winter sojourn at Cinnamon Bay, continuing to make three paintings a day." The pastels of beach scenes "created so much interest among the other campers that I held an exhibition at my tent site and sold almost all of the new series — including one to Jimmy Carter."
Gibbs spent part of the next three years living on the North Shore, painting and selling his work in front of Mongoose Junction. Then he moved to St. Thomas, where he was invited to become artist-in-residence at Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort.
Despite having adopted St. Thomas as his home, he continues to spend as much time as possible at Cinnamon Bay, Peter Bay and Trunk Bay painting St. John's scenic North Shore. The large body of his oils and acrylics on display at Solo Arte are collectively titled "Mitch Gibbs Returns to St. John, The Paintings: 1987 to 2002."
Solo Arte is located in the Lumberyard complex in Cruz Bay. For more information, call gallery owner Janet Cook-Rutnik at 715-2150.

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.