CHILDREN'S PARADE 2002 — 50TH ANNIVERSARY
St. Croix Majorettes show their true red, white and blue colors.
CHILDREN'S PARADE 2002 — 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Montessori School presents Islands in the Sun.
CHILDREN'S PARADE 2002 — 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Twirlers and Masqueraders make their presentation to the delight of the crowd.
CHILDREN'S PARADE 2002 — 50TH ANNIVERSARY
Peacock in Paradise struts down Main Street.
CHILDREN'S PARADE 2002 — 50TH ANNIVERSARY
One of the precious Sun Children waits her turn to move down the parade route.
CHILDREN'S PARADE 2002 — 50TH ANNIVERSARY
All Saints School presents A Hysterical Roogoodoo.
CHILDREN'S PARADE 2002 — 50TH ANNIVERSARY
The Charming Twirlers perform in front of Emancipation Garden Post Office demonstration area.
HOTELS UNUSUALLY BUSY WITH CARNIVAL VISITORS
April 26, 2002 – By most accounts, V.I. Carnival has been good for business.
"I don't think I've ever seen a stronger Carnival" in terms of bookings, Joel Kling, general manager of the two Best Western properties on St. Thomas, said. His Emerald Beach and Carib Beach Resorts are across the road from Cyril E. King Airport, and Kling said he's never seen so many St. Croix residents cross the waters for the occasion.
This is the finale week for the 50th anniversary Carnival festivities, which wrap up for most folks on Saturday with the annual Adults' Parade and fireworks show in downtown Charlotte Amalie, although there is a "last lap" dance Sunday night.
Other hoteliers said they've been kept busy with Virgin Islanders who live off-island returning home in strong numbers to celebrate, along with tourists, some of whom times their visit to coincide with the festivities. If you look hard, you might find a room or two available this weekend, but on Friday they were difficult to find on Internet booking sites.
Jayne Hillner, general manager of Marriott Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort and president of the St. Thomas-St. John Hotel and Tourism Association, said family members of hotel employees have filled up a lot of rooms.
At the Reef and at many other hotels, Virgin Islanders and employee relatives are paying discounted rates. And many tourists apparently took advantage of discount deals advertised on the Tourism Department's website, usvitourism.vi. It lists a whole slew of hotels offering special rates.
Some hotels have ongoing promotions of their own with wholesalers, and these helped fill the rooms. But since the rates are lower, hoteliers aren't making as much money as they would like. "Rates are softer than expected," David Yamada, general manager of the Renaissance Grand Beach Resort, said.
Other travel-related businesses also reported Carnival has been a boon.
"We were booked up a couple of months ago," Michelle Thomas, Dependable Car Rental manager, said. A lot of her customers were Virgin Islanders who returned home for Carnival, she added.
At Kmart in Tutu Park Mall, business also has been good. Manager George Newton said the store has been running lots of specials on things people need for Carnival — such as sodas and cameras. "We're not making any money on them, but it brings people into the store," he said.
Newton said business has been brisk all week, but he expects things to slow considerably on Saturday, when thousands of people head to Charlotte Amalie for the parade. "I'll be there too," he said, noting that he can take the time off because the store will not be busy.
While Newton will only have to brave St. Thomas traffic to get downtown, those coming from St. Croix must cross the ocean by plane or ferry. Seaborne Airlines reservations agent Betsy Torres said there were a few seats available for Friday afternoon and that some were available throughout the day on Saturday.
The V.I. Fast Ferry has been running extra trips between St. Croix and St. Thomas since Thursday and will continue to do so through Sunday. The extra runs include one at 11:30 p.m. Saturday so Crucians can head home right after watching the fireworks. Alison Nolan, the ferry company's 'business development director, said ridership has been about 1,500 a day. "Usually, it's only a third of that," she said.
Sinclair Crabbe, owner of Sinclair's Café in Charlotte Amalie, said his place has been packed for the last week. "I've been swamped," he said. A mention of his restaurant on network radio on The Tom Joyner Morning Show has sent numerous customers his way, particularly during Carnival, he said.
On St. John, at the Westin Resort, general manager Gregg Lundberg said that while the hotel was just about full, it wasn't because of visitors coming from off-island to take in Carnival on St. Thomas.
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.
"I don't think I've ever seen a stronger Carnival" in terms of bookings, Joel Kling, general manager of the two Best Western properties on St. Thomas, said. His Emerald Beach and Carib Beach Resorts are across the road from Cyril E. King Airport, and Kling said he's never seen so many St. Croix residents cross the waters for the occasion.
This is the finale week for the 50th anniversary Carnival festivities, which wrap up for most folks on Saturday with the annual Adults' Parade and fireworks show in downtown Charlotte Amalie, although there is a "last lap" dance Sunday night.
Other hoteliers said they've been kept busy with Virgin Islanders who live off-island returning home in strong numbers to celebrate, along with tourists, some of whom times their visit to coincide with the festivities. If you look hard, you might find a room or two available this weekend, but on Friday they were difficult to find on Internet booking sites.
Jayne Hillner, general manager of Marriott Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort and president of the St. Thomas-St. John Hotel and Tourism Association, said family members of hotel employees have filled up a lot of rooms.
At the Reef and at many other hotels, Virgin Islanders and employee relatives are paying discounted rates. And many tourists apparently took advantage of discount deals advertised on the Tourism Department's website, usvitourism.vi. It lists a whole slew of hotels offering special rates.
Some hotels have ongoing promotions of their own with wholesalers, and these helped fill the rooms. But since the rates are lower, hoteliers aren't making as much money as they would like. "Rates are softer than expected," David Yamada, general manager of the Renaissance Grand Beach Resort, said.
Other travel-related businesses also reported Carnival has been a boon.
"We were booked up a couple of months ago," Michelle Thomas, Dependable Car Rental manager, said. A lot of her customers were Virgin Islanders who returned home for Carnival, she added.
At Kmart in Tutu Park Mall, business also has been good. Manager George Newton said the store has been running lots of specials on things people need for Carnival — such as sodas and cameras. "We're not making any money on them, but it brings people into the store," he said.
Newton said business has been brisk all week, but he expects things to slow considerably on Saturday, when thousands of people head to Charlotte Amalie for the parade. "I'll be there too," he said, noting that he can take the time off because the store will not be busy.
While Newton will only have to brave St. Thomas traffic to get downtown, those coming from St. Croix must cross the ocean by plane or ferry. Seaborne Airlines reservations agent Betsy Torres said there were a few seats available for Friday afternoon and that some were available throughout the day on Saturday.
The V.I. Fast Ferry has been running extra trips between St. Croix and St. Thomas since Thursday and will continue to do so through Sunday. The extra runs include one at 11:30 p.m. Saturday so Crucians can head home right after watching the fireworks. Alison Nolan, the ferry company's 'business development director, said ridership has been about 1,500 a day. "Usually, it's only a third of that," she said.
Sinclair Crabbe, owner of Sinclair's Café in Charlotte Amalie, said his place has been packed for the last week. "I've been swamped," he said. A mention of his restaurant on network radio on The Tom Joyner Morning Show has sent numerous customers his way, particularly during Carnival, he said.
On St. John, at the Westin Resort, general manager Gregg Lundberg said that while the hotel was just about full, it wasn't because of visitors coming from off-island to take in Carnival on St. Thomas.
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.
GAREE AND WHEATLEY TO WED
April, 26, 2002 – Dale and Joy Garee of St. Thomas announce the engagement of their daughter Jade Virginie Garee to Travis Dwight Wheatley of St. Thomas.
Garee graduated from All Saints Cathedral School in 1998 and will graduate from the College of William and Mary in Virginia in May.
Wheatley graduated from All Saints Cathedral School in 1995. He is a recent graduate of Harvard University and is currently attending William and Mary Law School. He is the son of Maurice and Dawn Wheatley.
A summer wedding is planned.
Garee graduated from All Saints Cathedral School in 1998 and will graduate from the College of William and Mary in Virginia in May.
Wheatley graduated from All Saints Cathedral School in 1995. He is a recent graduate of Harvard University and is currently attending William and Mary Law School. He is the son of Maurice and Dawn Wheatley.
A summer wedding is planned.
POSTING DUMP HOURS — CONSISTENTLY — WILL HELP
Dear Source,
I try to play by the rules when it comes to disposing of broken appliances. So, when I was told by the repair shop that it was not feasible to repair my 15-year-old television set due to unavailability of parts, I tried to do the right thing.
First, I called the Department of Public Works and asked for the open hours for the Anguilla landfill. I already knew that it was illegal to put appliances in the public bins at Peter's Rest. I was given the telephone number of the landfill to call for the information I needed. The person who answered at the landfill said that they couldn't accept that kind of trash at the landfill.
Next, I called John Green, the senior coordinator for solid waste at DPW, and explained my predicament. He said he would talk to the people at the landfill and call me back. He soon phoned back that it was okay to take the TV to the landfill.
A few days later, I called the main office of DPW again and asked for the hours that the landfill would be open on Friday. I was told the hours were 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays and holidays.
I drove to the landfill on Friday with my TV, just after 4 p.m.. I took the beautifully paved road that has been turned into a raceway and is now called the St. Croix Motorsports Complex — the same road that I have been taking to the landfill for the last 30 years. There was a gate at the entrance to the road, but it was wide open, so I drove on in, and in through the open landfill gate near the old abattoir. I got out and spoke with an employee from Fergutrax, the company that is operating the equipment that compacts the trash and covers it with soil, who pointed toward a heap behind the scalehouse where I could put my dead TV.
As soon as I got back in my car to drive my dearly departed TV to its final resting place, I was confronted by two Garbage Policewomen who said I couldn't bring my TV in there because the landfill was closed for the day. They indicated that the people at the main office at DPW didn't know what they were talking about when they told me what the open hours for the dump were, and that the hours were clearly posted on the sign on the entry road. I said I didn't see any such sign, and then it became obvious that they were talking about a different road than I was.
When I could see that they were not going to budge from the stand they had taken from behind their badges, I explained that I needed the room in my car in order to seat my friends that I was about to pick up at the nearby airport.
The two officers relented at last and allowed me to deposit my TV on the pile. On the way home, I stopped to see the signs on the "new" road to the landfill. The sign on the East Airport Road — the one that motorists who might want to take dead appliances to the landfill would see — clearly states that the hours for the landfill are 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., every day of the week. After turning off the East Airport Road onto the new landfill road, I saw another sign, giving the hours as 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
It sure would be nice if the signs and the people who answer questions at the main office all agreed on the operating hours.
I have a suggestion: Wouldn't it make sense if a sign was posted at each trash bin location giving the correct hours of operation of the landfill and listing the materials that can't legally be put in the bins but must be taken to the landfill instead? The same sign should list the materials that can't be disposed of at the landfill, and a telephone number to call about what to do with them.
After my experience with my TV, I can begin to understand why there are so many discarded appliances along the back roads of St. Croix.
Ken Haines
St. Croix
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.
I try to play by the rules when it comes to disposing of broken appliances. So, when I was told by the repair shop that it was not feasible to repair my 15-year-old television set due to unavailability of parts, I tried to do the right thing.
First, I called the Department of Public Works and asked for the open hours for the Anguilla landfill. I already knew that it was illegal to put appliances in the public bins at Peter's Rest. I was given the telephone number of the landfill to call for the information I needed. The person who answered at the landfill said that they couldn't accept that kind of trash at the landfill.
Next, I called John Green, the senior coordinator for solid waste at DPW, and explained my predicament. He said he would talk to the people at the landfill and call me back. He soon phoned back that it was okay to take the TV to the landfill.
A few days later, I called the main office of DPW again and asked for the hours that the landfill would be open on Friday. I was told the hours were 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays and holidays.
I drove to the landfill on Friday with my TV, just after 4 p.m.. I took the beautifully paved road that has been turned into a raceway and is now called the St. Croix Motorsports Complex — the same road that I have been taking to the landfill for the last 30 years. There was a gate at the entrance to the road, but it was wide open, so I drove on in, and in through the open landfill gate near the old abattoir. I got out and spoke with an employee from Fergutrax, the company that is operating the equipment that compacts the trash and covers it with soil, who pointed toward a heap behind the scalehouse where I could put my dead TV.
As soon as I got back in my car to drive my dearly departed TV to its final resting place, I was confronted by two Garbage Policewomen who said I couldn't bring my TV in there because the landfill was closed for the day. They indicated that the people at the main office at DPW didn't know what they were talking about when they told me what the open hours for the dump were, and that the hours were clearly posted on the sign on the entry road. I said I didn't see any such sign, and then it became obvious that they were talking about a different road than I was.
When I could see that they were not going to budge from the stand they had taken from behind their badges, I explained that I needed the room in my car in order to seat my friends that I was about to pick up at the nearby airport.
The two officers relented at last and allowed me to deposit my TV on the pile. On the way home, I stopped to see the signs on the "new" road to the landfill. The sign on the East Airport Road — the one that motorists who might want to take dead appliances to the landfill would see — clearly states that the hours for the landfill are 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., every day of the week. After turning off the East Airport Road onto the new landfill road, I saw another sign, giving the hours as 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekends and holidays.
It sure would be nice if the signs and the people who answer questions at the main office all agreed on the operating hours.
I have a suggestion: Wouldn't it make sense if a sign was posted at each trash bin location giving the correct hours of operation of the landfill and listing the materials that can't legally be put in the bins but must be taken to the landfill instead? The same sign should list the materials that can't be disposed of at the landfill, and a telephone number to call about what to do with them.
After my experience with my TV, I can begin to understand why there are so many discarded appliances along the back roads of St. Croix.
Ken Haines
St. Croix
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.
