Nov. 5, 2002 – By about 10:15 a.m. Tuesday, 217 voters had punched the little buttons turning to red their choice on the voting machines at Addelita Cancryn Junior High School.
It was a remarkably high turnout for that hour, elections officers said.
And a remarkably quiet one. A half hour earlier, about 30 persons had been lined up outside the school cafeteria waiting their turn to vote. Some said they had been there since 7:15 a.m.
Election officials geared up for about 38,000 of the territory's approximately 54,000 registered voters to turn out Tuesday, with Elections Supervisor John Abramson Jr. saying he expected a heavy turnout. If early voters were an indication, it appeared that their projections would be true.
At Addelita Cancryn, which now is the voting site for what were once three separate polling places, the lines were moving smoothly by 10:30 a.m., with voters joking with one another in an almost jovial atmosphere. And the waiting time was down to almost nothing by noon.
Gov. Charles W. Turnbull cast the 531st vote at Cancryn around 1 p.m. Dressed in a bright orange sport shirt, a white baseball cap and a pair of neatly pressed jeans, the governor said he thought things, for him, were going "Fine — in fact, very fine."
Asked about a 30-minute paid political commentary by Attorney General Iver Stridrion that aired on a St. Thomas radio station on Monday, the governor said, "I was so busy, I didn't even hear it." Turnbull said he had nothing to do with Stridiron's broadcast, which maligned gubernatorial candidate John de Jongh. Stridiron said he paid for the air time himself.
There was no rancor among the electioneering enthusiasts set up to plump for their candidates outside the Cancryn gates, however. Campaigners had set their booths up in what appeared to be perfect harmony, with none of the traditional "in your face" behavior to be seen.
A federal judge's decision on Monday allowed the campaigners to set up 25 feet from polling places, instead of having to stay 1,000 feet away, as the St. Thomas-St. John Board of Elections had decreed for the district earlier.
Campaigners at other polling places similarly seemed a more benign lot than other elections recall. At Charlotte Amalie High School, the street was thronged with supporters, but polite ones.
One of a contingent of youngsters assembled by Sen. Carlton Dowe's booth held her candidate's card out to a motorist with a smile and the comment, "Hi! We ain' harassing you. Just vote!"
At Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, long lines early in the day, like those at Cancryn, forced some would-be voters to leave after and an hour and a half or more of waiting, in the hope of returning later. "I have to get back to work," Anne Mahoney said, reluctantly leaving Cancryn.
At Cancryn, there was a complaint by one disgruntled voter, Jose Rojas, of "chaos" early in the day regarding who should stand in which line according to their last names.
Rojas, wearing a de Jongh/Arnold T-shirt, stood with senior citizen Dorita Weeks, who said she had just cast her ballot for the Turnbull/Richards team. Although they were joking with each other about their opposing choices, they agreed on one thing: concern about the lack of police presence. "They should be here to direct the senior citizens into a separate line," Rojas said.
Election judge Marie Turnbull said there are no special provisions for senior citizens, only for disabled persons. At Eudora Kean, however, seniors were being moved to the head of the line. And there was a police presence at Cancryn. Four officers were observed sitting in the rear of the cafeteria drinking coffee.

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.

The UVI Little Theatre will present "The Dancing Mice," a play by Pulitzer Prize winning author John Patrick, as its fall 2002 production. The UVI Little Theatre is located on the second floor of the CA building on the St. Thomas Campus.
The play will run for two weekends: Nov. 15, 16, and 17, and Nov. 22, 23 and 24. Show time is 8 p.m. Tickets are $5 for students and $10 for adults. They are available at the Humanities Building and UVI Bookstore on the St. Thomas campus, and at Nisky Pharmacy and Dockside Bookstore. For more information contact Dr. Rosary Harper at 693-1354.

Nov. 5, 2002 – The V.I. National Park will close the Lind Point overlook on North Shore Road for about four days starting Nov. 18, according to a news release from maintenance chief John Javor.
The park plans to expand the area and build a stone retaining wall at the popular overlook.
The Federal Highway Administration, working with the park, hired Caribbean Drilling Services to test the soil before it begins reconstructing the overlook. Javor said the test consists of drilling holes to determine the soil strata of the area.
This project is part of the improvements being made along North Shore Road that the park will complete this fall.
Projects are also planned for Cinnamon Bay, Penn Point, Maho Bay and Hawksnest Bay.

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. 5, 2002 — The V.I. Cycling Federation's road bicycle race on the South Shore Road on Sunday morning offered three categories so that cyclists of all abilities could compete.
The Class A riders raced 48 miles, which included the climb to Point Udall and a trip around the east end of St Croix. Jamie Keys, the defending V.I. cycling champion, won the race by more than two minutes. John Riggs bested Sue Brown for second place just inches before the finish line. A second sprint finish between Danney Fontenelle and Juancito Gario took place before a cheering crowd just minutes later.
The Class B riders headed east as well, to loop the east end, and finished the 27-mile ride at Cane Garden. The race was dominated by newcomer Hillman Johnson. Victor Cruz finished in second place and Rachel Witty was the third to cross the finish line.
The Class C riders, including several first-time competitors, covered an 18-mile distance along the South Shore Road. Ernst Schuster outpedaled James Meyers for the first place win and Peter Brown finished in the third position.
The next race is scheduled for Veterans Day, Nov. 11, at 7 a.m. starting at Rust Op Twist. There will be three distances with prizes in each category. For more information, call Victor Cruz at 773-3030.
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. 5, 2002 – Caroline Owens of Westport, Conn., was perplexed when she got near the sand at Trunk Bay Beach. How was she going to get from her wheelchair into the water?
"Can I get closer?" she asked V.I. National Park lifeguard Richard Penn Jr.
Penn had just finished demonstrating the park's newest piece of equipment, the De-Bug. With balloon tires, the wheelchair-sized vehicle can better navigate the sand.
Park Superintendent John King said the park gets occasional requests from handicapped people who can't navigate their wheelchairs on the sand. The De-Bug can even go right into the water.
Owens, whose left leg was in a cast because of a broken ankle, said she knew her wheelchair wouldn't do the job. She said that its wheels got caught in a grate as she exited the Cruz Bay ferry dock, and she was dumped unceremoniously to the ground.
Owens said she was delighted to find that the park had a way to assist her.
"I wanted to go to the beach and get into the salt water," she said.
King said that the all-terrain wheelchair provides as stable ride and has excellent directional control and maneuverability. All its wheels remain on the ground even when traversing uneven sand.
He did not know how much it cost, but said funding came out of the park's budget.
If you'd like to use De-Bug when you visit Truck Bay, have someone in your group ask a lifeguard to get it out of the locked storage room. You may use it for your entire visit.

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.

The second annual Jazz in the Moonlight concert series will be held at 8 p.m. at the Westin Resort. This free concert stars legendary jazz pianist Roan Creque on the beach at the Westin Resort on St. John.
Featured performers include Harlem jazz great Bill Saxton, recording artist Dion Parson, New York City jazz singer Anna Tucker, and special guest artists from Chicago, Miami and the Virgin Islands.
Free round-trip passenger ferry service will be provided from Red Hook to the Westin on the Westin ferry, courtesy of The Moonlight Foundation. The ferry leaves Red Hook at 7:15 p.m. and returns at approximately 11 p.m.
For more information, call Steve Simon at 693-8120.

The second annual Jazz in the Moonlight concert series will be held at 8 p.m. at the Westin Resort. This free concert stars legendary jazz pianist Roan Creque on the beach at the Westin Resort on St. John.
Featured performers include Harlem jazz great Bill Saxton, recording artist Dion Parson, New York City jazz singer Anna Tucker, and special guest artists from Chicago, Miami and the Virgin Islands.
For more information, call Steve Simon at 693-8120.

The St. Croix Landmarks Society will present a Listen and Learn Concert/Workshop at Island Center. Featured artists are Aundrey Mitchell, viola and Ivo Kaltchev, piano. The duo will present a program of classical music.
The series is made possible through the generosity of Mr. Gary Lalor of the Butler Bay Greathouse, International Asset Management and the Virgin Islands Council on the arts.
The Listen and Learn Workshops are open to school age children and senior citizens free of charge.
Reservations are encouraged. Call 772-0598 ro reserve a space.

Nov. 5, 2002 – The St. Croix Landmarks Society will present a Listen and Learn Concert/Workshop at 10 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 18, at Island Center. Featured artists are Aundrey Mitchell, viola and Ivo Kaltchev, piano.
This series is made possible through the generosity of Mr. Gary Lalor of the Butler Bay Greathouse, International Asset Management and the Virgin Islands council on the Arts.
Listen and Learn Workshops are open to school age children and senior citizens free of charge. Reservations are encouraged. Call 772-0598 to reserve a space.

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. 4, 2002 – Scores of children with orthopedic problems got treatment at the Ingeborg Nesbitt Clinic in Frederiksted on Friday, thanks to the St. Croix Shrine Club.
Twice yearly the club brings down a battalion of doctors, nurses and specialists to help youngsters with physical difficulties from bone disorders or burns. The function of the club, according to Dr. Philip Petachenko, a member, is to provide money for the children's transportation to one of the Shrine's stateside orthopedic hospitals or burn centers for medical care.
"People who have a child who needs orthopedic care or has burn problems should contact us," Petachenko said. "There is no charge for any of our services, and there are no racial or background barriers. All we care about are the kids."
A team of three doctors, three nurses and two orthopedic specialists came to the region last week from the Shriners Hospital in Springfield, Massachusetts, to help treat patients with a range of problems including muscular dystrophy, scoliosis and cerebral palsy.
Shriner Bill Watkins, like Petachenko, was a founder of the St. Croix Shrine Club 25 years ago. Watkins said more than 268 children have been helped through the club and that many of Friday's young patients had been to Springfield several times for treatment.
There are 22 Shriners hospitals throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. Kids ages 6 to 18 are eligible to apply for treatment, Watkins said, and those accepted may receive health care up to age 21. "We will accept any child if it's something we can help," he said.
Watkins said treatment and/or transportation costs patients nothing. He said an annual dance at the St. George Village Botanical Garden helps foot part of the bill, and donations of frequent-flyer miles from American Airlines help with the travel.
Some of the young patients "have to see a doctor every six months," Watkins said, "and some have been to the hospital several times."
The Springfield medical team visited St. Thomas on Thursday and St. Croix on Friday; it's also visiting Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic before returning to Massachusetts.
"We need the public to be aware of what we do," Petachenko said. "We just want to help."
For information about applying to the St. Croix Shrine Club for assistance, call Grady Thurman at 773-9437.

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.