Aug. 20, 2002 – Families living on fixed or low incomes will be able to take advantage of a donation of hurricane supplies made to the V.I. government by PriceSmart on St. Thomas.
A hundred small kits containing batteries, canned goods and canned sterno fuel will be handed out at a hurricane preparedness trade show scheduled for Saturday at Tutu Park Mall.
PriceSmart also donated two larger emergency supply kits to Government House and the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency at a ceremony held Wednesday at VITEMA headquarters.
"We want to be involved in the community," PriceSmart's general manager, Eric Hildebrandt, said at the presentation ceremony. While that "helps us out in the long run with sales," he said, it's also just to let people know "we're on St. Thomas, and we're here to help the community."
In accepting the donation for VITEMA, Adj. Gen. Cleve McBean of the V.I. National Guard said PriceSmart and Hildebrandt "set the tone for what corporate citizenship is all about."
Noting that VITEMA, like the rest of the community, must be prepared for possible natural disasters, McBean added, "Part of our preparedness structure also requires us to have some goods on hand."
Representing Government House, James O'Bryan accept the other preparedness kit on behalf of the governor. And he took the opportunity to remind residents of the need to be prepared as the height of the 2002 Atlantic hurricane season approaches.
Warren Bush, director of the University of the Virgin Islands Small Business Development Center, said exhibitors at Saturday's trade show will promote locally available goods and services consumers can utilize to protect their homes and businesses before a catastrophic storm strikes. The SBDC has organized such events in conjunction with VITEMA for several years. And at times of disaster, the agency assists the public in preparing applications for disaster assistance.
"We look forward to this event," Bush said of the trade show, so that the community can be made aware of "the types of preventative help that is out there."
The trade show will be in progress from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In order to receive one of the small preparedness kits, an individual must be a food stamp program participant or have a recipient card, Hildebrandt said.
Meanwhile, on Friday, a "natural hazards management" forum is scheduled at Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort, where banking and insurance representatives will be on hand to answer questions. The event, from 9 a.m. to noon, is being presented by VITEMA and the SBDC and is open to the public without charge.
Panelists will discuss disaster preparedness planning, insurance, mitigation, earthquake and hurricane preparedness and exemplary paractices in emergency management. Bush said the forum will bring together service providers who can help guide consumers through the process of making homes and businesses weather ready.
Hurricane experts have predicted a mild to moderate 2002 hurricane season. Even so, Bush said, one of the points of holding trade shows and forums year after year is that they help instill a readiness mindset, so that if any kind of disaster should strike, Virgin Islanders will find their response is almost second nature.
For more information call the SBDC at 776-3206 or VITEMA at 774-2244.

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Aug. 20, 2002 – Families living on fixed or low incomes will be able to take advantage of a donation of hurricane supplies made to the V.I. government by PriceSmart on St. Thomas.
A hundred small kits containing batteries, canned goods and canned sterno fuel will be handed out at a hurricane preparedness trade show scheduled for Saturday at Tutu Park Mall.
PriceSmart also donated two larger emergency supply kits to Government House and the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency at a ceremony held Wednesday at VITEMA headquarters.
"We want to be involved in the community," PriceSmart's general manager, Eric Hildebrandt, said at the presentation ceremony. While that "helps us out in the long run with sales," he said, it's also just to let people know "we're on St. Thomas, and we're here to help the community."
In accepting the donation for VITEMA, Adj. Gen. Cleve McBean of the V.I. National Guard said PriceSmart and Hildebrandt "set the tone for what corporate citizenship is all about."
Noting that VITEMA, like the rest of the community, must be prepared for possible natural disasters, McBean added, "Part of our preparedness structure also requires us to have some goods on hand."
Representing Government House, James O'Bryan accept the other preparedness kit on behalf of the governor. And he took the opportunity to remind residents of the need to be prepared as the height of the 2002 Atlantic hurricane season approaches.
Warren Bush, director of the University of the Virgin Islands Small Business Development Center, said exhibitors at Saturday's trade show will promote locally available goods and services consumers can utilize to protect their homes and businesses before a catastrophic storm strikes. The SBDC has organized such events in conjunction with VITEMA for several years. And at times of disaster, the agency assists the public in preparing applications for disaster assistance.
"We look forward to this event," Bush said of the trade show, so that the community can be made aware of "the types of preventative help that is out there."
The trade show will be in progress from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In order to receive one of the small preparedness kits, an individual must be a food stamp program participant or have a recipient card, Hildebrandt said.
Meanwhile, on Friday, a "natural hazards management" forum is scheduled at Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort, where banking and insurance representatives will be on hand to answer questions. The event, from 9 a.m. to noon, is being presented by VITEMA and the SBDC and is open to the public without charge.
Panelists will discuss disaster preparedness planning, insurance, mitigation, earthquake and hurricane preparedness and exemplary paractices in emergency management. Bush said the forum will bring together service providers who can help guide consumers through the process of making homes and businesses weather ready.
Hurricane experts have predicted a mild to moderate 2002 hurricane season. Even so, Bush said, one of the points of holding trade shows and forums year after year is that they help instill a readiness mindset, so that if any kind of disaster should strike, Virgin Islanders will find their response is almost second nature.
For more information call the SBDC at 776-3206 or VITEMA at 774-2244.

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Aug. 21, 2002 – Dr. Blanche Bello, principal of Guy Benjamin Elementary School on St. John, announces the reporting schedule for the 2002-2003 school year.
All new, returning and transfer students in Kindergarten through fifth grade are to report to school at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 27.
Parents or guardians are asked to accompany their children for the orientation session.
The Administration and staff of Guy H. Benjamin School welcomes their students back and reminds parents that workbook, insurance and PTO fees ($41) are due on the first day of school.

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The next monthly Manager's Resident Meeting will be held in the Paul M. Pearson Gardens Community Center. The agenda includes a welcome by Mr. Jeffrey Lettsome, Housing Manager and the guest speaker Miss "J", Public Relation Specialist. Mr. Lettsome will give a management update followed by the resident satisfaction survey and a question and answer period.
Persons with a disability who need special accommodations are asked to call the Manager's Office at 776-1498 three days prior to the date of the meeting.

Aug. 21, 2002 – Sidney George, principal of Jane E. Tuitt Elementary School, announces that students enrolled at the school will report to school at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 27.
Orientation will be held in the school assembly area at 9:30 a.m. for all new and returning students in grades one through six, including multilingual students. Students are to be accompanied by parents or guardians.
Kindergarten students also accompanied by parents are to report at 8 a.m. They will be dismissed at 12 noon. The first full day of classes for Kindergarten students is Wednesday, Aug. 28.

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Aug. 21, 2002 – Dr. Dora Hill, principal of Joseph Sibilly Elementary School, announces the reporting scedule for the 2002-2003 school year.
Tuesday, Aug. 27 – classes resume for students in grades one through 6 from 7:50 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Orientation for students in kindergarten is as follows:
Tuesday, Aug. 27 – students with last names beginning with A-G are to report from 8 a.m. to noon.
Wednesday, Aug. 28, students with last names beginning with H-Z are to report from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.
Thursday, Aug. 29 – all Kindergarten students will attend a full day of school from 7:50 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Lunch will be served daily beginning Aug. 27; as well as bus transportation for students who participate in the program.

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Aug. 21, 2002 – Embarking on its second full season, St. John's Epiphany Theater Company will be on the move this weekend to raise funds at both ends of the island.
And sometime in the next few months, it will making a big, permanent move — to a new performance venue "to be announced."
Kicking things off this weekend is a benefit show of sketches and music set for Saturday night at Paradiso Restaurant in Mongoose Junction, with an encore show to follow on Sunday night at Skinny Legs.
At the Paradiso event in Cruz Bay, set for 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Epiphany members will perform in the comedy revue, and the St. John Iguanas will provide the music — with internationally acclaimed jazz violinist and frequent St. John visitor Brian Silber as special guest artist.
Admission is a $25 donation, which includes complimentary wine and hors d'oeuvres plus admission to the Paradisco for dancing after the show. There'll also be a cash bar. Tickets are being sold at both Connections offices and at The Mail Center in the Marketplace; they'll also be available at the door.
For the Skinny Legs show in Coral Bay on Sunday, which also is to start at 6 p.m., the show and the music will be the same, but without the food and drink accompaniments. Admission is a $10 donation, payable at the door.
Tickets for a raffle of prizes including resort accommodations and scenic flights over the islands are being sold by Epiphany members now and will be available at both venues. They're $5 apiece or five for 20.
Epiphany's move to a new home is necessitated by the fact that its first season home is about to go out of existence. The three premiere season productions "Bus Stop," "The Tender Trap" and "Picnic" — were staged at the Marketplace, in space the management made available for community events. But now, with that area being converted into office space, the benefit shows are "to raise funds to establish a permanent community theater and multi-use facility," artistic director Paul Devine says.
"The theater company would like to thank the owners and staff of the Marketplace for their kindness in allowing the company to put on our performances as a gift to the community of St. John," Devine says. They not only provided a free venue but helped Epiphany get up and running by providing lighting, materials for constructing sets and administrative support, he says.
Special thanks go to Marketplace principal David Mugar, manager Ce Ce Burns, designer Glen Spear, and the Bertolino and Swan families "for their constant help and encouragement," he adds, "and to the staff, the performers and the people of the Virgin Islands for their support and dedication."
Epiphany has been functioning under the auspices of the not-for-profit Good for St. John corporation, and donations to the theater company may be made as a tax-free contribution to the Good for St. John Foundation, Devine says. Epiphany "will be soon applying for individual non-profit status as a Virgin Islands corporation," he adds, and will then seek federal tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status. After that, its board plans to pursue grant support from arts funding organizations.
Meantime, "regardless of the fact that no permanent facility is available at this time," he says, plans are proceeding for the season's first production, the venerable Broadway musical "The Fantasticks."
The show, which will be Epiphany's first musical, is to open on Nov. 22 and run for three weekends, through Dec. 8. The first casting call was Monday and a second is set for Aug. 29, at 6 p.m. in the theater at the Marketplace. Those wishing to audition should being sheet music for a song to perform; an accompanist will be provided. Casting needs are a young man and a young woman in their late teens, and five adults of either gender, Devine says.
Lisa Duncan will direct the production, with Elizabeth Putnam as choreographer and Danny Silber as musical director. For more information on auditioning or getting involved behind the scenes, call Duncan at 714-6087 or contact Devine by calling 714-2807 or e-mailing to Epiphany Theater.
Epiphany "is dedicated to providing quality theater to the community of St. John and also to providing an outlet for those persons interested in or with skills in the theater arts," Devine says. Anyone with the desire to get involved in theater is encouraged to try out for roles or to apply for production positions. Devine says the company staff includes individuals "with many years of production and performing who want to create a membership of persons interested in becoming part of the magic of theater."
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Aug. 20, 2002 – Employees of the Legislature on St. Croix were treated to a house call Tuesday: Lorilei Plaskett and Carol Azille from the Frederiksted Health Care Inc. conducted a free health-screening clinic to check blood pressures.
The screening was part of activities to celebrate National Health Care Center Week, said a release. The program continues with a diabetic screening at the Frederiksted Health Center Wednesday and at Sunny Isles Shopping Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The Saturday clinic will also offer free immunization to the first 100 children.
The clinic at the Legislature was judged a success, from the number of employees who came to be checked. Employees were also given booklets on the importance of regular health screening for diabetes, high and low blood pressure.
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Coral World Marine Park on St. Thomas winds up the eight-day Turtle Fest with activities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. all weekend at the park's Blue Water Terrace area. Even the retail shops, Currents and Go Fish, are in on it. Any product that has a turtle on it is 15 percent off. This means everything from plush toys to sundresses to pendants, earrings, prints, books, magnets and hand-painted birdhouses, is on sale.
Bring the family: there's a chance to choose a name for a rescued turtle hatchling, face painting,videos of the recent leatherback hatching on Coki Beach, a traveling turtle cart display, and telling of traditional animal stories.
Sunday admission to reduced to $1 throughout September.

Coral World Marine Park on St. Thomas winds up the eight-day Turtle Fest with activities from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. all weekend at the park's Blue Water Terrace area. Even the retail shops, Currents and Go Fish, are in on it. Any product that has a turtle on it is 15 percent off. This means everything from plush toys to sundresses to pendants, earrings, prints, books, magnets and hand-painted birdhouses, is on sale.
Bring the family: there's a chance to choose a name for a rescued turtle hatchling, face painting,videos of the recent leatherback hatching on Coki Beach, a traveling turtle cart display, and telling of traditional animal stories.