Nov. 26, 2002 – New oil paintings by St. John artist Patty Tacquard are the subject of an exhibition opening at the Wicker Wood & Shells gallery in Mongoose Junction on Friday evening with a wine and champagne reception from 5 to 8 p.m.
The opening and opportunity to meet the artist are part of Friday's annual "Evening in the Courtyard" festivities, the traditional launch of the holiday gift-giving season in the St. John shopping complex.
Tacquard, a former California resident, was a St. John visitor for 11 years before she made the island her permanent home in 2000. She has a degree in architecture and design from the University of California at Berkeley and most recently studied with California artist Mercedes Bantz.
"Painting on St. John is wonderful for me for much the same reason that living here is," Tacquard says. "At first, one is astounded by the turquoise water, the tropical flora, the light on the water, the palms, beaches … But then, when you have a little time, you begin to focus on the small scenes, too: the perfect shady spot, the reflections off the water, the beauty of a mango, or the herds of goats…"
She recalls that as a child with her first Brownie camera, she was drawn to the "close-up" shot. Today, "My zoom lens is almost a permanent fixture on my camera," she says. Similarly, she adds, "in my paintings, I like to focus on the vignettes of the islands. I'm always looking for the next perfect, surprise close-up view."
For a preview of Tacquard's work, visit the Wicker Wood & Shells Web site. For more information, call co-owner Jim Nelson at 776-6909.
Wicker Wood & Shells is open daily. Along with an extensive selection of original art and prints, it features sculpture, glass art, Bovano glass enamels, crafts, gifts, cards and a selection of island books.

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.

Nov. 26, 2002 – New oil paintings by St. John artist Patty Tacquard are the subject of an exhibition opening at the Wicker Wood & Shells gallery in Mongoose Junction on Friday evening with a wine and champagne reception from 5 to 8 p.m.
The opening and opportunity to meet the artist are part of Friday's annual "Evening in the Courtyard" festivities, the traditional launch of the holiday gift-giving season in the St. John shopping complex.
Tacquard, a former California resident, was a St. John visitor for 11 years before she made the island her permanent home in 2000. She has a degree in architecture and design from the University of California at Berkeley and most recently studied with California artist Mercedes Bantz.
"Painting on St. John is wonderful for me for much the same reason that living here is," Tacquard says. "At first, one is astounded by the turquoise water, the tropical flora, the light on the water, the palms, beaches … But then, when you have a little time, you begin to focus on the small scenes, too: the perfect shady spot, the reflections off the water, the beauty of a mango, or the herds of goats…"
She recalls that as a child with her first Brownie camera, she was drawn to the "close-up" shot. Today, "My zoom lens is almost a permanent fixture on my camera," she says. Similarly, she adds, "in my paintings, I like to focus on the vignettes of the islands. I'm always looking for the next perfect, surprise close-up view."
For a preview of Tacquard's work, visit the Wicker Wood & Shells Web site. For more information, call co-owner Jim Nelson at 776-6909.
Wicker Wood & Shells is open daily. Along with an extensive selection of original art and prints, it features sculpture, glass art, Bovano glass enamels, crafts, gifts, cards and a selection of island books.

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.

Nov. 26, 2002 – Tutu Park Mall is celebrating the holiday season in a big way. The festivities begin Saturday, Nov. 30, with Santa's arrival in time for the 5:30 p.m. "Annual Lighting of the Tree Ceremony"
It's a chance for the little ones to meet the jolly fella and get in an early wish list. There will also be balloons, face painting, personalized hats and photo opportunities in center court.
In addition to Santa’s visit, Emanuel Benjamin Oliver Elementary School’s music department – consisting of the steel band, concert choir, recorder band, and concert band – will kick off the Holiday Concert Series by performing season favorites.

Nov. 26, 2002 – Tutu Park Mall is celebrating the holiday season in a big way. The festivities begin Saturday, Nov. 30, with Santa's arrival in time for the 5:30 p.m. "Annual Lighting of the Tree Ceremony"
It's a chance for the little ones to meet the jolly fella and get in an early wish list. There will also be balloons, face painting, personalized hats and photo opportunities in center court.
In addition to Santa’s visit, Emanuel Benjamin Oliver Elementary School’s music department – consisting of the steel band, concert choir, recorder band, and concert band – will kick off the Holiday Concert Series by performing season favorites.
Tutu Park’s concert series continues throughout the holiday season with musical groups performing Saturdays from 5 to 6:30 p.m. The scheduled line-up:
— Saturday, Dec. 7 Redeemed Brothers
— Friday, Dec. 13 UVI Jazz Ensemble
— Saturday, Dec. 14 Seventh Day Adventist Choir
— Saturday, Dec. 21 St. Nicholas Brass Quintet
Santa’s holiday appearance schedule in center court will be Saturday, Dec. 7, noon-5 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 8, 1-5 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 14, noon-5 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 15, 1-5 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 20, 5-9 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 21, noon-5 p.m., and last chance on Sunday, Dec. 22, from 1-5 p.m.
For more information on these and other events visit www.tutuparkmall.com or call 775-4658.
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.

Nov. 26, 2002 – The deadline is Monday for organizations to apply for funding from the National Minority AIDS Council's Equal Access Computer Grants Initiative.
The Health Department's Office of Minority Health urges community organizations that provide HIV/AIDS services and programs to apply for the grants, which fund comprehensive computer and Internet equipment and services to help the receiving organizations in their missions.
NMAC will provide 100 community-based organizations in the United States, its territories and possessions, with computer equipment and Internet access to enhance HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs.
Applications for 2002-2003 grants must be submitted by Dec. 2. Requirements are outlined on the Health Department's HIV Clearinghouse Web site, or call 715-0963 for an application.
Each participating group will receive a complete desktop computer with Internet connectivity for use by clients and staff, $100 for additional software or upgrades (such as graphics or virus scan protection), 24/7 telephone support for a year for all hardware and software, $300 for dedicated telephone lines, Internet service paid for one year, and a $500 grant for training staff and clients.
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.

Nov. 26, 2002 – The deadline is Monday for organizations to apply for funding from the National Minority AIDS Council's Equal Access Computer Grants Initiative.
The Health Department's Office of Minority Health urges community organizations that provide HIV/AIDS services and programs to apply for the grants, which fund comprehensive computer and Internet equipment and services to help the receiving organizations in their missions.
NMAC will provide 100 community-based organizations in the United States, its territories and possessions, with computer equipment and Internet access to enhance HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs.
Applications for 2002-2003 grants must be submitted by Dec. 2. Requirements are outlined on the Health Department's HIV Clearinghouse Web site, or call 715-0963 for an application.
Each participating group will receive a complete desktop computer with Internet connectivity for use by clients and staff, $100 for additional software or upgrades (such as graphics or virus scan protection), 24/7 telephone support for a year for all hardware and software, $300 for dedicated telephone lines, Internet service paid for one year, and a $500 grant for training staff and clients.
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.

Nov. 26, 2002 – The deadline is Monday for organizations to apply for funding from the National Minority AIDS Council's Equal Access Computer Grants Initiative.
The Health Department's Office of Minority Health urges community organizations that provide HIV/AIDS services and programs to apply for the grants, which fund comprehensive computer and Internet equipment and services to help the receiving organizations in their missions.
NMAC will provide 100 community-based organizations in the United States, its territories and possessions, with computer equipment and Internet access to enhance HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs.
Applications for 2002-2003 grants must be submitted by Dec. 2. Requirements are outlined on the Health Department's HIV Clearinghouse Web site, or call 715-0963 for an application.
Each participating group will receive a complete desktop computer with Internet connectivity for use by clients and staff, $100 for additional software or upgrades (such as graphics or virus scan protection), 24/7 telephone support for a year for all hardware and software, $300 for dedicated telephone lines, Internet service paid for one year, and a $500 grant for training staff and clients.
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.

Dear Source,
Well, I finally hit the wall: the V.I. Bureaucracy Wall. I know, I shouldn't be surprised or upset that I haven't received my 2001 tax refund check. Some people haven't seen them for years. But when I asked around and found that most everyone I asked had received theirs, and since the governor had promised them by the end of October (right before the election), well, I thought, "Great! Things are really turning around, and aren't nearly as bad as everybody says."
A month ago I called the V.I. Internal Revenue Bureau and asked about the status of my return. The lady took my Social Security number, checked my return and let me know that yup, it had been "completed" and it was only waiting for the Finance Department to cut the check. She was even kind enough to let me know how much it was. Well, I could look forward to a decent Christmas! But that was a month ago.
Okay, we've had the election. No check by the end of October. But now it's
Thanksgiving. Maybe Finance doesn't need to follow up on the governor's promise now that the election is over. Maybe they're busy. So I called again. (You always can tell if you got the right number to either IRB or Finance, because it will ring 50 time or more before someone picks it up — they must be really busy! — you know, processing returns, cutting checks.)
So now I'm told that yes, my return had been completed well over a month ago, but Finance has not "called for the checks." So, Finance calls for the checks? ("Hello, this is Finance, could you please send over some tax refund checks?" — I don't think so.)
I think it was the waiting on the phone for someone to answer that finally got me frustrated, even more than not receiving the check. But then, that's really gonna hurt. It's gonna be a blue, blue Christmas without it.
But hey, like the lady who finally answered the phone at Finance told me: "We've got other things to do, like payroll, and vendors to pay, and it all depends on when it's scheduled."
"Who sets the schedule?"
"I don't know," she tells me.
I don't know either. The only thing I do know is that there is a big pile of "completed" returns sitting at IRB, waiting for Finance to "call for the checks." And in the meantime, there's payroll to meet, and vendors to pay. And that's true too.
But tell me, what do they use to pay the payroll, and pay the vendors? Isn't it the taxes we pay? And aren't our refunds the money we overpaid? I don't mind paying my fair share (and I'd mind even less if they spent it wisely), but I do mind the government not giving me the difference back. As promised.
Merry Blue Christmas.
D. Bronsky
St. Thomas
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.
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.

Dear Source,
Well, I finally hit the wall: the V.I. Bureaucracy Wall. I know, I shouldn't be surprised or upset that I haven't received my 2001 tax refund check. Some people haven't seen them for years. But when I asked around and found that most everyone I asked had received theirs, and since the governor had promised them by the end of October (right before the election), well, I thought, "Great! Things are really turning around, and aren't nearly as bad as everybody says."
A month ago I called the V.I. Internal Revenue Bureau and asked about the status of my return. The lady took my Social Security number, checked my return and let me know that yup, it had been "completed" and it was only waiting for the Finance Department to cut the check. She was even kind enough to let me know how much it was. Well, I could look forward to a decent Christmas! But that was a month ago.
Okay, we've had the election. No check by the end of October. But now it's
Thanksgiving. Maybe Finance doesn't need to follow up on the governor's promise now that the election is over. Maybe they're busy. So I called again. (You always can tell if you got the right number to either IRB or Finance, because it will ring 50 time or more before someone picks it up — they must be really busy! — you know, processing returns, cutting checks.)
So now I'm told that yes, my return had been completed well over a month ago, but Finance has not "called for the checks." So, Finance calls for the checks? ("Hello, this is Finance, could you please send over some tax refund checks?" — I don't think so.)
I think it was the waiting on the phone for someone to answer that finally got me frustrated, even more than not receiving the check. But then, that's really gonna hurt. It's gonna be a blue, blue Christmas without it.
But hey, like the lady who finally answered the phone at Finance told me: "We've got other things to do, like payroll, and vendors to pay, and it all depends on when it's scheduled."
"Who sets the schedule?"
"I don't know," she tells me.
I don't know either. The only thing I do know is that there is a big pile of "completed" returns sitting at IRB, waiting for Finance to "call for the checks." And in the meantime, there's payroll to meet, and vendors to pay. And that's true too.
But tell me, what do they use to pay the payroll, and pay the vendors? Isn't it the taxes we pay? And aren't our refunds the money we overpaid? I don't mind paying my fair share (and I'd mind even less if they spent it wisely), but I do mind the government not giving me the difference back. As promised.
Merry Blue Christmas.
D. Bronsky
St. Thomas
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.
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.

Dear Source,
Well, I finally hit the wall: the V.I. Bureaucracy Wall. I know, I shouldn't be surprised or upset that I haven't received my 2001 tax refund check. Some people haven't seen them for years. But when I asked around and found that most everyone I asked had received theirs, and since the governor had promised them by the end of October (right before the election), well, I thought, "Great! Things are really turning around, and aren't nearly as bad as everybody says."
A month ago I called the V.I. Internal Revenue Bureau and asked about the status of my return. The lady took my Social Security number, checked my return and let me know that yup, it had been "completed" and it was only waiting for the Finance Department to cut the check. She was even kind enough to let me know how much it was. Well, I could look forward to a decent Christmas! But that was a month ago.
Okay, we've had the election. No check by the end of October. But now it's
Thanksgiving. Maybe Finance doesn't need to follow up on the governor's promise now that the election is over. Maybe they're busy. So I called again. (You always can tell if you got the right number to either IRB or Finance, because it will ring 50 time or more before someone picks it up — they must be really busy! — you know, processing returns, cutting checks.)
So now I'm told that yes, my return had been completed well over a month ago, but Finance has not "called for the checks." So, Finance calls for the checks? ("Hello, this is Finance, could you please send over some tax refund checks?" — I don't think so.)
I think it was the waiting on the phone for someone to answer that finally got me frustrated, even more than not receiving the check. But then, that's really gonna hurt. It's gonna be a blue, blue Christmas without it.
But hey, like the lady who finally answered the phone at Finance told me — "We've got other things to do, like payroll, and vendors to pay, and it all depends on when it's scheduled."
"Who sets the schedule?"
"I don't know," she tells me.
I don't know either. The only thing I do know is that there is a big pile of "completed" returns sitting at IRB, waiting for Finance to "call for the checks." And in the meantime, there's payroll to meet, and vendors to pay. And that's true too.
But tell me, what do they use to pay the payroll, and pay the vendors? Isn't it the taxes we pay? And aren't our refunds the money we overpaid? I don't mind paying my fair share (and I'd mind even less if they spent it wisely), but I do mind the government not giving me the difference back. As promised.
Merry Blue Christmas.
D. Bronsky
St. Thomas
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.
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.