Oct. 15, 2002 – The territory will observe Disability Mentoring Week this week, in honor of the more than 1 million people who have entered the labor force since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, allowing their fulfillment as taxpayers, consumers and workers.
Wednesday is Disability Mentoring Day in the Virgin Islands, and ancillary events will be coordinated by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment, the American Association of People with Disabilities and Work-Able Inc.
"The observance also points out that new generations of young people with disabilities are growing up in the Virgin Islands, graduating from high school, going to college and preparing to participate fully in the workplace," a Government House news release said. "They have the right to maximize their potential by making the most of their intellect, talents and abilities."
Young people with disabilities will spend part of the day gaining insight into career opportunities by shadowing employers and touring various workplaces.

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Oct. 15, 2002 – This week the territory will observe Disability Mentoring Week in honor of the more than 1 million people who have entered the labor force since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, allowing further contribution to society and their own fulfillment as taxpayers, consumers and workers.
Wednesday is Disability Mentoring Day in the Virgin Islands, and ancillary events will be coordinated by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment, the American Association of People with Disabilities and Work-Able Inc.
"The observance also points out that new generations of young people with disabilities are growing up in the Virgin Islands, graduating from high school, going to college and preparing to participate fully in the workplace," a Government House news release said. "They have the right to maximize their potential by making the most of their intellect, talents and abilities."
Young people in the territory with disabilities will spend part of the day gaining insight into career opportunities by shadowing employers and touring various workplaces.

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Oct. 16, 2002 – Public Works last week completed repairs to pipelines in Golden Rock that ruptured in August, fouling area residents' yards with raw sewage. And according to a statement from Commissioner Wayne Callwood, the department is now cleaning the area in preparation for resurfacing the roadway.
More than 500 feet of concrete sewer line – from the LBJ housing community to Harbor View Apartments – was replaced with 12-inch pipe, which is twice the diameter of the deteriorated 30-year-old pipes there before.
On Aug. 31, the aging lines backed up and erupted with force so strong they tore holes into the roadway, flooding the streets with wastewater.
Robert Moorehead, Public Works assistant commissioner, said then that the pipes were too small to handle the volume of wastewater pumped through them. He said the construction of several nearby condominiums and hotels over the years, which also tapped into that sewer system, was too much pressure for the pipes to hold.
Janet Muckle's home sits directly across from where the pipes burst last time, but for years, she said, the smell of sewage was not uncommon in the neighborhood.
"I just paid my last doctor bill for the migraines I got from the smell," she said, adding that she suspects her cistern is contaminated from wastewater seeping into it.
Even so, she is grateful for the repairs. When asked how the situation has improved, her only reply: "It's fantastic – fantastic."
Muckle said Public Works also removed a manhole near the front door of her home, and there have been no sewage problems since the repairs.
Funding problems caused the delay in pipe replacement. The repair contract cost almost $100,000, Moorehead said. "But, that's the price you pay. It's the type of job no one wants to take on."
He added that the manholes are fixed and repaving the roadway will begin as soon as the weather permits. "I think by next week the whole area will be restored."

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Oct. 15, 2002 – Four-time award-winning author Cristina Kessler will conduct a two-day fiction writing workshop on St. John's Maho Bay Pavilion on Nov. 16 and 17. The workshop will include plot and character development, dialogue and "tricks to getting started."
And, of course, there will be lots of writing. Each participant will have a short story well under way by the workshop's end. One editing session is also included for those who complete a short story after the workshop.
A resident of St. John, Kessler has written and published numerous children's books, countless articles for national and international magazines and newspapers, and co-founded a women's magazine in Ethiopia. In addition to presenting fiction workshops internationally, she is now most proudly the "Author-in-Residence" at the Julius Sprauve School on St. John.
Shirley Joseph, Sprauve School principal, beamed with pride at the recent publication of a book of stories written by Sprauve students under Kessler's tutelage. "Ms. Kessler has harnessed the raw talent of these kids and has really instilled in them a love of writing," Joseph said.
In the past 20 years, Kessler has conducted writing workshops for teachers, children and aspiring novelists in over 15 countries worldwide. "I hold these workshops to share my love for writing and to encourage and empower those people who have always wanted to write to get started," Kessler said.
Fees for the two-day workshop are $230, with a portion of the proceeds going to "The Wheelchair Foundation" to buy one wheelchair for a handicapped person in Ethiopia. Closing date for registration is Nov. 10.
To register for the workshop or for more information, call Kessler at 779-4331, visit her Web site at www.cristinakessler.com or email her at bamakocdk@hotmail.com.

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Oct. 15, 2002 – Four-time award-winning author Cristina Kessler will conduct a two-day fiction writing workshop on St. John's Maho Bay Pavilion on Nov. 16 and 17. The workshop will include plot and character development, dialogue and "tricks to getting started."
And, of course, there will be lots of writing. Each participant will have a short story well under way by the workshop's end. One editing session is also included for those who complete a short story after the workshop.
A resident of St. John, Kessler has written and published numerous children's books, countless articles for national and international magazines and newspapers, and co-founded a women's magazine in Ethiopia. In addition to presenting fiction workshops internationally, she is now most proudly the "Author-in-Residence" at the Julius Sprauve School on St. John.
Shirley Joseph, Sprauve School principal, beamed with pride at the recent publication of a book of stories written by Sprauve students under Kessler's tutelage. "Ms. Kessler has harnessed the raw talent of these kids and has really instilled in them a love of writing," Joseph said.
In the past 20 years, Kessler has conducted writing workshops for teachers, children and aspiring novelists in over 15 countries worldwide. "I hold these workshops to share my love for writing and to encourage and empower those people who have always wanted to write to get started," Kessler said.
Fees for the two-day workshop are $230, with a portion of the proceeds going to "The Wheelchair Foundation" to buy one wheelchair for a handicapped person in Ethiopia. Closing date for registration is Nov. 10.
To register for the workshop or for more information, call Kessler at 779-4331, visit her Web site at www.cristinakessler.com or email her at bamakocdk@hotmail.com.

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All interested persons are hereby notified that in accordance with Section 717 Chapter 12 of Title 29, Virgin Islands Code, as amended, dealing with the Economic Development Commission, a Public Hearing on the following applications for tax exemption will be held on Thursday, October 24, 2002 at 10:00 a.m. at the Casino Control Commission Hearing Room, Orange Grove St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
NAME: …………….TYPE: ……………….LOCATION:
1. Communication Technologies, Inc. *DSB-Information Technology, (New) St. Croix , V.I.
2. London Merchant Managers, LLLP *DSB-Business & Management Consulting (New) St. John, V.I.
3. Tropico Management, LP *DSB-Business Management & Investment Advisory (New) St. Croix, V.I.
4. Tonge's Concrete & Building Supplies, Inc. Concrete manufacturing (New) St. Croix , V.I.
Any person, firm or corporation interested in the approval or disapproval of the applications may appear and be heard, provided that a written statement is submitted to the Chief Executive Officer of the Economic Development Commission at least one day prior to the hearing at P.O. Box 223499 Christiansted, St. Croix USVI 00822, (Phone) 773-6499 (Fax) 773-7701.
Frank Schulterbrandt, Esq.
Chief Executive Officer
* Designated Service Business

Oct. 15, 2002 – The Crystal Shoppe will soon take over the crystal and china department inside the A.H. Riise Store on St. Thomas previously occupied by Little Switzerland.
Crystal Shoppe owner Dick Puig said he expects to open in time for the Christmas shopping season. He said the area is in the midst of renovations.
Puig declined to indicate the length of his lease on the approximately 3,200 square feet of space, but said he expected to be at the site for "quite a number of years."
He cited several reasons for expanding the Crystal Shoppe's operations. The family-owned company also has stores at 1 and 14 Main St.
Puig said the A.H. Riise store's large space will allow for displays and "other things," including presenting the merchandise in a less crowded manner that will have a positive effect on business.
Additionally, moving into the A.H. Riise spot eliminates competition from that store.
"We have faith that St. Thomas will continue to be an important part of the Caribbean shopping experience," Puig said.
The store inside A.H. Riise will include three separate boutiques – one for Waterford, one for Swarovski and one for LLadro. Puig said it will also carry china.
Jim Eilen, A.H. Riise's director of retail merchandising, said the change in tenants provided an opportunity to do needed upkeep, adding that the building is about 150 years old.
Eilen said the renovations are in keeping with the historical character of the building. "It enhances and brings out the old world flavor of the space," he said.

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Oct. 15, 2002 – The territory's Medicare and Medicaid problems were on the plate when Delegate Donna M. Christensen and territorial health facility officials met with the heads of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services last week. The federal agency is part of the U.S. Health and Human Services Department.
Christensen "asked for the meeting to address several reimbursement problems which have proven intractable through regular channels," she said in a news release.
She played host to the Capitol Hill meeting between Rodney Miller, chief executive officer of Roy L. Schneider Hospital on St. Thomas; Thomas Robinson, CEO of Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix; Linda Pulley, CEO of Seaview Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility on St. Thomas; Thomas Scully, administrator for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and Ruben King-Shaw, deputy administrator at the center.
Christensen said that as a result of the meeting, reimbursement issues for cardiovascular and rental dialysis treatments were placed on the fast track.
"In addition, the wage index, which determines reimbursement for hospitals, nursing homes and home health care, was essentially fixed, with room left for further increases," the release stated.
Less progress was made on the Medicaid cap, she said, but she and the territory's health facility officials did make King-Shaw understand the impact the cap has on the territory.
"We solicited their support to remove the cap by legislative means, as we have been working on for the last few years," Christensen said.
She said King-Shaw was sensitive to the fact that the cap prevents access to health care for Virgin Islanders. He offered, as a short-term measure, to put the health facility professionals in touch with agencies that make grants so they can look for ways to make up the shortfalls, she said.
Christensen attributed the shortfalls to the territory's high rate of poverty and the high number of uninsured people using the health care facilities.
Monique Clendinen, Christensen's spokeswoman, said the federal government caps the number of people who can receive Medicaid money at 85 percent of the number of residents living below the poverty line. In 2001, this amounted to $6.3 million. The local government picks up the rest of what it actually costs to treat the number of people who can't pay for care.
On the mainland, the federal government funds Medicaid payments for 100 percent of eligible residents.

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Oct. 14, 2002 – The work of advocates spreading the word against domestic violence has become a year-'round job, but during October, which is national Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the message is repeated in as many ways as possible.
By mid-month, organizations on St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix were preparing for their highest-visibility events — public marches to remember those who have died, who have been hurt and who live in fear because of violence in the home.
Recently, Iris Kern, executive director of the Safety Zone, spent some time with a team of artists cutting out foam rubber silhouettes representing some of the victims of domestic abuse. The silhouettes will be carried in a procession scheduled for Oct. 24 from the Cruz Bay tennis courts to the bandstand in Cruz Bay Park.
"I'm so excited," said Kern, who said she got the idea from the 7th International Conference on Family Violence, held recently in San Diego. St. John saw its first domestic violence march last year, and Kern said it was received with a "marvelous response" by the public.
This year, St. John and St. Croix both will hold "Take Back the Night" marches on Saturday. Both events are scheduled to start around 6 p.m. The St. Croix march is sponsored by the St. Croix Women's Coalition.
Meanwhile Family Resource Center on St. Thomas is getting ready for a march and candlelight ceremony on Tuesday beginning at 5 p.m. As is the case on St. John, the big event is surrounded other, smaller activities throughout the month. The ceremony will include a reading of the names of those who lost their lives to battering. Rhymer said the roll increased by four in the last year — including two small children beaten by adults and a man killed by his wife.
Last Thursday night, Family Resource Center's executive director, Michal Rhymer, led a workshop at Frederick Lutheran Church for clergy and female parishioners about the things they could do to help protect members of their congregations. Rhymer said the turnout was not as good as she would have liked, but pastors from more than half a dozen St. Thomas churches took part. The workshop was a prelude to last weekend's Domestic Violence Awareness Sabbath/Sunday, an appeal to houses of worship to raise awareness among worshippers.
On Tuesday afternoon, while domestic violence awareness advocates on St. Thomas set up public outreach tables at Emancipation Garden, Safety Zone members plan to meet with police for a domestic violence training session.
These events are in addition to year-'round radio and television show appearances, which advocates say have been effective in reaching out to people who might not be willing to play more public roles. "It's a Family Affair," "La Nueva Era" and the "Domestic Violence Awareness Talk Show" are aired on radio stations WSTA and WGOD.

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Oct. 15, 2002 – The 2002-03 Music at Whim Concert Series gets under way this weekend with performances on Friday and Saturday nights by pianist Felipe Ramirez.
The remainder of the season:
Nov. 15/16 – Aundrey Mitchell on viola and Ivo Kaltchev on piano.
Jan. 10/11 – Burr Phillips on bass baritone and Tara Emerson on piano.
Feb. 21/22 – The Klemperer Trio — Erika Klemperer on violin, Ronald Crutcher on violoncello and Gordon Back on piano.
March 21/22 – Brian Kershner on bassoon and Barbara Gonzalez-Palmer on piano.
April 11/12 – Dallas Weekley and Nancy Arganbright, piano duo.
Tickets are $30 per concert for general admission and $25 for Landmarks Society members. Series discount packages are available.
This is the 17th season of "candlelight ambience" concerts presented by the St. Croix Landmarks Society in the 250-year-old Whim Greathouse. All concerts begin at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday programs are identical. Meet-the-artist receptions will be held following the Saturday performances in the Museum Store for those who purchase series packages as patrons, donors or friends.
For more information, visit the Landmarks Society's Candlelight Concert Series Web site. To have a free brochure mailed to you, call 772-0598 or e-mail to the Landmarks Society.

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