Sept. 17. 2002 – Registration for the pre-GED and GED (General Educational Development), is being held between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the following sites: Athalie Petersen and Florence A. Williams Public Libraries, the Adult Education Center in La Grande Princesse, and the Department of Education headquarters in Christiansted.
The next pre-GED exam is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 24, at the Adult Education Center. Only individuals who have passed the pre-GED will be allowed to register for the GED.
For more information contact Ms. Molloy at 773-1095, ext. 258.
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GOMEZ TO HOLD FIRST PTA MEETING FOR 2002-3
Sept. 17, 2002 – The Joseph Gomez Elementary School will hold its first PTA meeting of the 2002-2003 school year at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19, in the cafeteria.
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ASVAB SCHEDULED FOR KEAN STUDENTS
Spt. 17, 2002 – The Counseling Department of the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School announces that the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery has been scheduled for Sept. 24-26, for students in grades 10 through 12. Testing will be held at the V.I. National Guard Armory in Estate Nazareth from 7:45 a.m. until 12 noon on each day. The schedule is as follows:
Tuesday, Sept. 24 – 10th grade students
Wednesday, Sept. 25 – 11th grade students
Thursday, Sept. 26 – 12th grade students
All students are encouraged to take the ASVAB and not just those who are looking toward a military career. The ASVAB assists students in their overall career exploration and is useful for students in taking these types of tests.
Interested students are encourage to register with their couselors immediately.
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Tuesday, Sept. 24 – 10th grade students
Wednesday, Sept. 25 – 11th grade students
Thursday, Sept. 26 – 12th grade students
All students are encouraged to take the ASVAB and not just those who are looking toward a military career. The ASVAB assists students in their overall career exploration and is useful for students in taking these types of tests.
Interested students are encourage to register with their couselors immediately.
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PARENT CONFERENCE AT DOBER ELEMENTARY
Sept. 17, 2002 – A Parent Conference is sceduled for the Leonard Dober Elementary School from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Palms Court Harborwiew Hotel. the three hour conference will provide valuable information to parents and guardians regarding meeting the educational needs of children.
Featured speaker will be Dilsa Capdeville, founder and program director of Kidscope, Inc.
All Dober parents are invited to be a part of this informative and entertaining program.
For more information contact the school at 774-5874.
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Featured speaker will be Dilsa Capdeville, founder and program director of Kidscope, Inc.
All Dober parents are invited to be a part of this informative and entertaining program.
For more information contact the school at 774-5874.
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TUITT ELEMENTARY PTA MEETING
Sept. 17, 2002 – Parents and guardians of students attending the Jane E.Tuitt Elementary School are advised of a PTA meeting scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 19, in the cafeteria.
Topics on the agenda include the new grading policy, the "No Child Left Behind" Act, and the need for greater parental involvement.
Mr. Roy McFarlane, Special Assistant to the Governor for Information Technology, will discuss items related to technology.
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Topics on the agenda include the new grading policy, the "No Child Left Behind" Act, and the need for greater parental involvement.
Mr. Roy McFarlane, Special Assistant to the Governor for Information Technology, will discuss items related to technology.
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GEORGE R. RONAN FUNERAL SATURDAY
Funeral services for George R. Ronan age 45, of Smith Bay, will be held at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Davis Funeral Home Chapel. Inerment will follow at the Western Cemetery #3.
He is survived by his mother Albertha Estella Scatliffe; sons Darwin Ronan and Brice Todman; daughters avis, Louise, Diana Nadia Ronan and Durna Todman; sisters Mariel Adelle Jennings, Ona Parsons and Marjorie Ronan-Abbott; brother Julien Scatliffe; 21 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Many other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
He is survived by his mother Albertha Estella Scatliffe; sons Darwin Ronan and Brice Todman; daughters avis, Louise, Diana Nadia Ronan and Durna Todman; sisters Mariel Adelle Jennings, Ona Parsons and Marjorie Ronan-Abbott; brother Julien Scatliffe; 21 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Many other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
DE JONGH ARNOLD SET DISCO FOR YOUNGSTERS
Sept. 17, 2002 – The Old Mill in Contant will be the site Saturday for a Kiddie Disco, and the sight of strictly youngsters in grades 1-8 "moving and grooving."
From 4 to 7 p.m., the de Jongh Arnold 2002 campaign team will host youngsters from grades 1 through 8. A safe event which will be supervised by adult volunteers, said a release, the young people can dance to the sounds of DJ Witchdoctor. A $1 admission fee also includes a bag of school supplies.
For more information or to volunteer to help, contact Lesley Comissiong at 714-5646.
From 4 to 7 p.m., the de Jongh Arnold 2002 campaign team will host youngsters from grades 1 through 8. A safe event which will be supervised by adult volunteers, said a release, the young people can dance to the sounds of DJ Witchdoctor. A $1 admission fee also includes a bag of school supplies.
For more information or to volunteer to help, contact Lesley Comissiong at 714-5646.
DE JONGH ARNOLD SET SATURDAY KIDS' DISCO
Sept. 17, 2002 – The Old Mill in Contant will be the site Saturday, Sept. 21, for a Kiddie Disco – strictly for the youngsters.
From 4 to 7 p.m., the de Jongh Arnold 2002 campaign team will host youngsters from grades 1 through 8. A safe event which will be supervised by adult volunteers, said a release, the young people can "move and groove" to the sounds of DJ Witchdoctor. A $1 admission fee also includes a bag of school supplies.
For more information or to volunteer to help, contact Lesley Comissiong at 714-5646.
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.
From 4 to 7 p.m., the de Jongh Arnold 2002 campaign team will host youngsters from grades 1 through 8. A safe event which will be supervised by adult volunteers, said a release, the young people can "move and groove" to the sounds of DJ Witchdoctor. A $1 admission fee also includes a bag of school supplies.
For more information or to volunteer to help, contact Lesley Comissiong at 714-5646.
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.
GERS FACING COLLAPSE, SENATORS TOLD AGAIN
Sept. 17, 2002 – The only way to save the Government Employees Retirement System from collapse is to increase contributions from both employees and their employers — government agencies and departments — according to GERS attorney Alphonse Nibbs.
GERS is near collapse because it is paying out more in benefits than it is collecting in contributions, Nibbs and Lawrence Bryan, system administrator, told the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Agriculture and Consumer Protection on Monday.
"It started two or three years ago," Bryan said.
Sen. Roosevelt David termed GERS "very close to death's door." "If this system collapses, the entire community will be devastated," he said, noting that he expects crime to increase if that happens. He accused fellow senators of taking the situation too lightly.
Nibbs, attorney for the GERS board of trustees, said the board has repeatedly brought the problem to the Senate's attention "The body stayed silent and has not acted appropriately to put forth the best solution for the people," he said.
Raymond James, GERS board vice chair, put the unfunded liability figure at $518 million, but fellow board member Yvonne Bowsky said the figure was closer to $800 million.
"If we don't act now, it will go higher," Sen. Emmett Hansen II said.
Bryan said GERS loans total $100.8 million. The system has made 6,273 personal loans totaling $62.9 million, 1,763 retiree loans totaling $9.3 million, 999 mortgage loans totaling $26.9 million, 31 land loans totaling $358,628, and 158 auto loans totaling $1.2 million. These loans account for 20.7 percent of the system's allocated operating expenses.
While several officials of the territory's banking community were invited to testify on their institutions' rates, points and closing costs, none showed up to do so.
"I think they have something to hide. They said they were going to be here," said Sen. Adelbert Bryan, the committee chair. When the banks want something, he said, their officers are quick to appear at Senate hearings.
Lloyd Williams said he had noticed a large number of mortgage foreclosures in the past few months. He said this was uncommon for the territory, and "someone should wave the flag and protect the consumer." He also said that mortgage rates nationally are as low as 4.7 percent, but the best he could find in the territory was two points higher than that.
Sen. Bryan said most of the territory's banks are "predatory lenders" because they receive various exemptions and benefits but don't reinvest in the community. He had particularly harsh words for V.I. Community Bank, because it receives Economic Development Commission tax breaks. "They should have lower rates," he said.
The committee heard from Ken Kenion of the finance company Commoloco. He said that the number of finance companies in the territory has dropped from four to one because the maximum interest rate allowed at such companies is capped at 19.5 percent. He said loans made through finance companies locally stand at $30 million.
The senators heard audio testimony from Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James II. Speaking to the committee via the Legislature Building telecommunications system, James said that banks want a financial services act, and that this is in the works. He said the V.I. Banking Board received the document last week.
Committee members present for the session were Sens. Bryan, David, Hansen and Vargrave Richards. Not present were Donald "Ducks" Cole, Norman Jn Baptiste and Celestino A. White Sr.
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GERS is near collapse because it is paying out more in benefits than it is collecting in contributions, Nibbs and Lawrence Bryan, system administrator, told the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Agriculture and Consumer Protection on Monday.
"It started two or three years ago," Bryan said.
Sen. Roosevelt David termed GERS "very close to death's door." "If this system collapses, the entire community will be devastated," he said, noting that he expects crime to increase if that happens. He accused fellow senators of taking the situation too lightly.
Nibbs, attorney for the GERS board of trustees, said the board has repeatedly brought the problem to the Senate's attention "The body stayed silent and has not acted appropriately to put forth the best solution for the people," he said.
Raymond James, GERS board vice chair, put the unfunded liability figure at $518 million, but fellow board member Yvonne Bowsky said the figure was closer to $800 million.
"If we don't act now, it will go higher," Sen. Emmett Hansen II said.
Bryan said GERS loans total $100.8 million. The system has made 6,273 personal loans totaling $62.9 million, 1,763 retiree loans totaling $9.3 million, 999 mortgage loans totaling $26.9 million, 31 land loans totaling $358,628, and 158 auto loans totaling $1.2 million. These loans account for 20.7 percent of the system's allocated operating expenses.
While several officials of the territory's banking community were invited to testify on their institutions' rates, points and closing costs, none showed up to do so.
"I think they have something to hide. They said they were going to be here," said Sen. Adelbert Bryan, the committee chair. When the banks want something, he said, their officers are quick to appear at Senate hearings.
Lloyd Williams said he had noticed a large number of mortgage foreclosures in the past few months. He said this was uncommon for the territory, and "someone should wave the flag and protect the consumer." He also said that mortgage rates nationally are as low as 4.7 percent, but the best he could find in the territory was two points higher than that.
Sen. Bryan said most of the territory's banks are "predatory lenders" because they receive various exemptions and benefits but don't reinvest in the community. He had particularly harsh words for V.I. Community Bank, because it receives Economic Development Commission tax breaks. "They should have lower rates," he said.
The committee heard from Ken Kenion of the finance company Commoloco. He said that the number of finance companies in the territory has dropped from four to one because the maximum interest rate allowed at such companies is capped at 19.5 percent. He said loans made through finance companies locally stand at $30 million.
The senators heard audio testimony from Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James II. Speaking to the committee via the Legislature Building telecommunications system, James said that banks want a financial services act, and that this is in the works. He said the V.I. Banking Board received the document last week.
Committee members present for the session were Sens. Bryan, David, Hansen and Vargrave Richards. Not present were Donald "Ducks" Cole, Norman Jn Baptiste and Celestino A. White Sr.
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REICHHOLD CENTER'S NEW CALENDAR IS AVAILABLE
Sept. 17, 2002 – The Reichhold Center for the Arts has published its annual calendar for the 2002-2003 season.
In line with the start of the new season, the calendar begins with October 2002 and features season headliner jazz saxophonist David Sanborn, the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, "Folk Nativity," Eddie Palmieri, P'Your Passion, and some shots of the center's youth programs.
"This year's calendar is especially striking with a bold color and layout," said David Edgecombe, director of the center. The 8-inch square calendar is more compact than the standard 8-inch by 11-inch size of many calendars. The white number and mostly white text stands out readably well on the strong red background.
The calendars are available at all Reichhold Center outlets: Kristal Gifts Galore in Tutu Park Mall, Modern Music in Nisky and Havensight, Parrot Fish on Back Street, University of the Virgin Islands St. Thomas campus bookstore, Connections on St. John, and the Reichhold Center box and main offices. For more information call 693-1550.
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In line with the start of the new season, the calendar begins with October 2002 and features season headliner jazz saxophonist David Sanborn, the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, "Folk Nativity," Eddie Palmieri, P'Your Passion, and some shots of the center's youth programs.
"This year's calendar is especially striking with a bold color and layout," said David Edgecombe, director of the center. The 8-inch square calendar is more compact than the standard 8-inch by 11-inch size of many calendars. The white number and mostly white text stands out readably well on the strong red background.
The calendars are available at all Reichhold Center outlets: Kristal Gifts Galore in Tutu Park Mall, Modern Music in Nisky and Havensight, Parrot Fish on Back Street, University of the Virgin Islands St. Thomas campus bookstore, Connections on St. John, and the Reichhold Center box and main offices. For more information call 693-1550.
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.
