The V.I. Montessori School is hosting its 32nd "Las Vegas Night," at the Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort. Blackjack, roulette, craps, bingo, live and silent auctions (including a new car), a raffle ($10,000 cash as top prize), food and a wine bar are featured.
Admission is $30 in advance and $35 at the door; ticket outlets are East End Secretarial Service, Glenn's Gifts and Bags, The Veggie Table, Sanrio, Phil's Paradise and Sunflower Clothing. You also can get $5 raffle tickets at these locations, or from any Montessori parent.
COINS IN FOUNTAINS WILL GO TO TERRORISM RELIEF
Nov. 7, 2001 – Visitors to the Divi Carina Bay Casino often pitch spare change into the two fountains on the property — perhaps for luck going in, or in either glee or dismay coming out — and it's been the management's practice to donate the cash, fished out from time to time, to charity.
Now, there's actually a drive under way, called the "Fountain of Hope" campaign. Money being tossed into the water will be given to "Operation Helping Hand," a Government House-sponsored telethon set for Nov. 17 that is to benefit victims and families of victims of the World Trade Center and Pentagon terrorist attacks.
Donations for the campaign also may be made inside the casino.
What's more, whatever amount is collected, "we'll match it," Divi advertising manager Fran Geocaris said Tuesday.
There already were a couple of sacks of retrieved coins sitting around before Sept. 11 awaiting distribution, and they will be part of the telethon donation, Geocaris said.
She said visitors had asked about a way to help victims of the disaster.
The poster promoting the "Fountain of Hope" campaign carries a photograph of the New York City skyline that includes the former World Trade Center towers and an American flag. To motivate folks a bit more, the casino is giving a "United we stand" pin, also featuring the American flag, to each donor.
Now, there's actually a drive under way, called the "Fountain of Hope" campaign. Money being tossed into the water will be given to "Operation Helping Hand," a Government House-sponsored telethon set for Nov. 17 that is to benefit victims and families of victims of the World Trade Center and Pentagon terrorist attacks.
Donations for the campaign also may be made inside the casino.
What's more, whatever amount is collected, "we'll match it," Divi advertising manager Fran Geocaris said Tuesday.
There already were a couple of sacks of retrieved coins sitting around before Sept. 11 awaiting distribution, and they will be part of the telethon donation, Geocaris said.
She said visitors had asked about a way to help victims of the disaster.
The poster promoting the "Fountain of Hope" campaign carries a photograph of the New York City skyline that includes the former World Trade Center towers and an American flag. To motivate folks a bit more, the casino is giving a "United we stand" pin, also featuring the American flag, to each donor.
MISSING PUPPY STORY HAS HAPPY ENDING
November 7, 2001 – Not many missing dog cases have happy endings, but the search for a Dalmatian puppy taken from Back Street on Saturday ended happily Monday morning when pet owner Bob Butler tracked down his 8-week-old puppy, Trekker, in the Hospital Ground area.
"I didn't think we were going to see him again," Butler said, despite his wife Ruth's feeling that there was still some hope.
Shortly after Trekker disappeared in front of their home (witnesses saw two men pick him up and drive away), Ruth, who is in public relations, started making flyers to post around the island. She then sat down to write an emotional letter addressed to the people of St. Thomas. It spoke of the tragic loss of her son in the World Trade Center attacks, a recent home burglary and acts of vandalism to both her and her husband's cars.
"After all, in these terrible times," she wrote, the puppy "made us laugh."
Her letter, which was published in the Source and read by Addie Ottley on WSTA Radio the following morning, must have touched many — and prompted one good Samaritan to act. After hearing the Butlers' story on the radio, St. Clair Henry, who owns a grocery store on Seventh Street, called Ottley's "Morning Show" to say he had just seen the puppy in the neighborhood.
Almost immediately, Bob started receiving phone calls from friends who heard the tip. He rushed into town to meet Henry. With the help of one of Henry's patrons, the men spent the next hour going door-to-door around the neighborhood until finally they knocked on the right door. A woman handed over the puppy.
Trekker is now back home recovering from his "adventure".
"I think he was a little traumatized," Bob said, explaining that the puppy would always cry when Bob left for work in the morning.
The Butlers say they are very thankful to everyone who helped get Trekker home safely.
"I didn't think we were going to see him again," Butler said, despite his wife Ruth's feeling that there was still some hope.
Shortly after Trekker disappeared in front of their home (witnesses saw two men pick him up and drive away), Ruth, who is in public relations, started making flyers to post around the island. She then sat down to write an emotional letter addressed to the people of St. Thomas. It spoke of the tragic loss of her son in the World Trade Center attacks, a recent home burglary and acts of vandalism to both her and her husband's cars.
"After all, in these terrible times," she wrote, the puppy "made us laugh."
Her letter, which was published in the Source and read by Addie Ottley on WSTA Radio the following morning, must have touched many — and prompted one good Samaritan to act. After hearing the Butlers' story on the radio, St. Clair Henry, who owns a grocery store on Seventh Street, called Ottley's "Morning Show" to say he had just seen the puppy in the neighborhood.
Almost immediately, Bob started receiving phone calls from friends who heard the tip. He rushed into town to meet Henry. With the help of one of Henry's patrons, the men spent the next hour going door-to-door around the neighborhood until finally they knocked on the right door. A woman handed over the puppy.
Trekker is now back home recovering from his "adventure".
"I think he was a little traumatized," Bob said, explaining that the puppy would always cry when Bob left for work in the morning.
The Butlers say they are very thankful to everyone who helped get Trekker home safely.
SECOND BOMB SCARE EMPTIES CANCRYN AGAIN
Nov. 7, 2001 – For the second day in row, 500 Addelita Cancryn Junior High School students found themselves in the bleachers of Joseph Aubain Ball Park in Frenchtown instead of in their classrooms, while as many others were directed to the school athletic field after the school received another telephoned bomb threat about 8 a.m.
A similar bomb threat on Tuesday emptied the school at about the same time.
Clutching her umbrella under dark and threatening skies, Principal Yvonne Pilgrim was hurrying from the school to the nearby Frenchtown Community Center, and then to the ballpark. She was making arrangements for the asthmatic and disabled students to go to the center.
"The Headstart kids from the school in back are coming over, too," said Gladys Lake, project director of the senior citizens program at the center. She said the youngsters would get a warm welcome from the seniors: "They'll greet them with open arms. They'll be wonderful mothers and grandmothers to all the kids."
The Headstart school is located so close to Cancryn that it had to be evacuated, too, Lake explained.
A teacher who declined to be identified sat at the center thoroughly disgusted. "I just can't take it," she said. "Yesterday we roasted for over two hours – at least today I've got a little shade." She said the school lunches were late arriving Tuesday because of the scare, and then the power went out. "And now again," she said.
When Pilgrim finally had time to speak on the way back from the ball park, she managed a smile. "You should go down there," she said. "The kids are singing now."
Pilgrim, the teachers, the students, Fire Services officials, police bomb squad personnel and Assistant Principal Selassie Francis were aghast that such a thing could happen two days in a row. Shaking his head, Fire Services Deputy Inspector Richard Lindo said, "Unfortunately, I can believe it. The people who do this want to see it happen — see the evacuation. The government has to find them and take them to court."
He added, "I think they're working their way into town now."
There were earlier scares this school year at Ivanna Eudora Kean and Charlotte Amalie High Schools on St. Thomas and Guy Benjamin Elementary School on St. John, as well as telephoned threats of bombs at local hotels. A suspect was apprehended in September after a bomb threat at the Hovensa Refinery on St. Croix. No bombs have been found at any sites.
Lindo was directing foot and vehicle traffic away from the school grounds as he welcomed the arrival of the bomb squad around 8:25 a.m. One squad member simply shook his head at Lindo as he drove in. A sign near the school entrance reads: "Generosity – a character education principle." Perhaps the perpetrator of the threat took the sign literally, someone commented.
Following the school's crisis management plan, the students were once again separated itno two groups — 500 going to the ball park, and 500 to the athletic field at the west end of the school campus, Francis said. He once again was overseeing the youngsters at the ball park. "Back up the ramp — you have to be in the bleachers," was his refrain to the restless students who wanted to be anywhere but there. Cody Connor, an eighth grader, said, "I feel pretty bad I can't go to school." Another student put it more bluntly: "I feel dumb and I want to go home. This is boring."
Francis said the students were singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" and the "Virgin Islands March" to keep their spirits up. "I just can't believe it," he said. "This is ridiculous."
Deputy Police Chief Theodore Carty said the school was opened again about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. He said police have no leads on who is responsible for the threats. "They call from a pay phone to 911, or they call the school directly," he said, which makes the calls extremely difficult to trace.
A similar bomb threat on Tuesday emptied the school at about the same time.
Clutching her umbrella under dark and threatening skies, Principal Yvonne Pilgrim was hurrying from the school to the nearby Frenchtown Community Center, and then to the ballpark. She was making arrangements for the asthmatic and disabled students to go to the center.
"The Headstart kids from the school in back are coming over, too," said Gladys Lake, project director of the senior citizens program at the center. She said the youngsters would get a warm welcome from the seniors: "They'll greet them with open arms. They'll be wonderful mothers and grandmothers to all the kids."
The Headstart school is located so close to Cancryn that it had to be evacuated, too, Lake explained.
A teacher who declined to be identified sat at the center thoroughly disgusted. "I just can't take it," she said. "Yesterday we roasted for over two hours – at least today I've got a little shade." She said the school lunches were late arriving Tuesday because of the scare, and then the power went out. "And now again," she said.
When Pilgrim finally had time to speak on the way back from the ball park, she managed a smile. "You should go down there," she said. "The kids are singing now."
Pilgrim, the teachers, the students, Fire Services officials, police bomb squad personnel and Assistant Principal Selassie Francis were aghast that such a thing could happen two days in a row. Shaking his head, Fire Services Deputy Inspector Richard Lindo said, "Unfortunately, I can believe it. The people who do this want to see it happen — see the evacuation. The government has to find them and take them to court."
He added, "I think they're working their way into town now."
There were earlier scares this school year at Ivanna Eudora Kean and Charlotte Amalie High Schools on St. Thomas and Guy Benjamin Elementary School on St. John, as well as telephoned threats of bombs at local hotels. A suspect was apprehended in September after a bomb threat at the Hovensa Refinery on St. Croix. No bombs have been found at any sites.
Lindo was directing foot and vehicle traffic away from the school grounds as he welcomed the arrival of the bomb squad around 8:25 a.m. One squad member simply shook his head at Lindo as he drove in. A sign near the school entrance reads: "Generosity – a character education principle." Perhaps the perpetrator of the threat took the sign literally, someone commented.
Following the school's crisis management plan, the students were once again separated itno two groups — 500 going to the ball park, and 500 to the athletic field at the west end of the school campus, Francis said. He once again was overseeing the youngsters at the ball park. "Back up the ramp — you have to be in the bleachers," was his refrain to the restless students who wanted to be anywhere but there. Cody Connor, an eighth grader, said, "I feel pretty bad I can't go to school." Another student put it more bluntly: "I feel dumb and I want to go home. This is boring."
Francis said the students were singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" and the "Virgin Islands March" to keep their spirits up. "I just can't believe it," he said. "This is ridiculous."
Deputy Police Chief Theodore Carty said the school was opened again about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. He said police have no leads on who is responsible for the threats. "They call from a pay phone to 911, or they call the school directly," he said, which makes the calls extremely difficult to trace.
CORAL BAY THANKSGIVING REGATTA SETS SAIL
Nov. 6, 2001 – The Coral Bay Yacht Club will hold its 20th annual Thanksgiving Regatta Nov. 23 and 24. Based at Skinny Legs Bar and Restaurant and run in the waters outside Coral Bay Harbor, the event draws a wide cross section of sailors.
"We are getting more and more people interested in racing PHRF, but we want to encourage everybody to come out," said Gary Wright, a member of the race committee.
You'll find no blue blazers at this event. The post-race parties are laid-back events held at Skinny Legs. Not your typical yacht club scene.
"This is a real fun regatta," said Denise Wright, who works on the regatta.
In addition to the more serious PHRF racers, who also frequent bigger regattas like the Rolex Regatta and BVI Spring Regatta, it also sees liveaboards who pull up the anchor only once or twice a year, cruisers who like to test their mettle against fellow sailors and sometimes, just about anything that floats.
"You don't have to have a syndicate with a container and a mother ship," Denise Wright said, describing the way of life for many boats that race in large regattas.
The regatta's first day always sees single-handed and gaff-rigged boats race the course. The action picks up on day two when friends, family and just about any one who wants to sail boards a wide variety of boats.
The regatta first set sail when a bunch of guys who were building Cowhorn boats on the beach in Coral Bay decided to have a regatta. The regatta grew, until now the regatta attracts more than three dozen boats.
While the old salts give the course a run for their money, one of the next generation took home the top prize last year. Ian Beam, now 17, sailed to victory on his J-24 Ruff~Ian.
He also plans to repeat his tactics.
"We'll probably stick to the left side of the course," Beam said.
He said he plans to sail with the same crew as last year – Revel Boulon, Dane Tarr and Angelo Raimondi.
Gary Wright, who sails a Cal 27 named onlinevacations.com, said Beam would be his closest competition.
The Nov. 23 race will have several classes. They are gaffers, singled handed 35 feet and under, single handed 35 feet and over, and multihulls.
The Nov. 24 races has traditional, three separate cruising classes, two PER classes and a multihulls class.
On Nov. 23, the skippers meeting begins at 9:30 a.m., with the first start at 11:15 a.m. On Nov. 24, the skipper's meeting is 9 a.m. The race starts at 11 a.m. Both are at Skinny Legs.
Denise Wright pointed out that it is essential for boat captains to attend the skipper's meeting. She said the course is announced and last-minute changes discussed.
"People who don't come to the skipper's meeting sometimes lose unnecessarily," she said.
The awards ceremony begins at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 24 at Skinny Legs.
The entrance fee runs $30.
For more information, call Commodore Dave Dostall at 776-6030.
"We are getting more and more people interested in racing PHRF, but we want to encourage everybody to come out," said Gary Wright, a member of the race committee.
You'll find no blue blazers at this event. The post-race parties are laid-back events held at Skinny Legs. Not your typical yacht club scene.
"This is a real fun regatta," said Denise Wright, who works on the regatta.
In addition to the more serious PHRF racers, who also frequent bigger regattas like the Rolex Regatta and BVI Spring Regatta, it also sees liveaboards who pull up the anchor only once or twice a year, cruisers who like to test their mettle against fellow sailors and sometimes, just about anything that floats.
"You don't have to have a syndicate with a container and a mother ship," Denise Wright said, describing the way of life for many boats that race in large regattas.
The regatta's first day always sees single-handed and gaff-rigged boats race the course. The action picks up on day two when friends, family and just about any one who wants to sail boards a wide variety of boats.
The regatta first set sail when a bunch of guys who were building Cowhorn boats on the beach in Coral Bay decided to have a regatta. The regatta grew, until now the regatta attracts more than three dozen boats.
While the old salts give the course a run for their money, one of the next generation took home the top prize last year. Ian Beam, now 17, sailed to victory on his J-24 Ruff~Ian.
He also plans to repeat his tactics.
"We'll probably stick to the left side of the course," Beam said.
He said he plans to sail with the same crew as last year – Revel Boulon, Dane Tarr and Angelo Raimondi.
Gary Wright, who sails a Cal 27 named onlinevacations.com, said Beam would be his closest competition.
The Nov. 23 race will have several classes. They are gaffers, singled handed 35 feet and under, single handed 35 feet and over, and multihulls.
The Nov. 24 races has traditional, three separate cruising classes, two PER classes and a multihulls class.
On Nov. 23, the skippers meeting begins at 9:30 a.m., with the first start at 11:15 a.m. On Nov. 24, the skipper's meeting is 9 a.m. The race starts at 11 a.m. Both are at Skinny Legs.
Denise Wright pointed out that it is essential for boat captains to attend the skipper's meeting. She said the course is announced and last-minute changes discussed.
"People who don't come to the skipper's meeting sometimes lose unnecessarily," she said.
The awards ceremony begins at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 24 at Skinny Legs.
The entrance fee runs $30.
For more information, call Commodore Dave Dostall at 776-6030.
CORAL BAY THANKSGIVING REGATTA SETS SAIL
Nov. 6, 2001 – The Coral Bay Yacht Club will hold its 20th annual Thanksgiving Regatta Nov. 23 and 24. Based at Skinny Legs Bar and Restaurant and run in the waters outside Coral Bay Harbor, the event draws a wide cross section of sailors.
"We are getting more and more people interested in racing PHRF, but we want to encourage everybody to come out," said Gary Wright, a member of the race committee.
You'll find no blue blazers at this event. The post-race parties are laid-back events held at Skinny Legs. Not your typical yacht club scene.
"This is a real fun regatta," said Denise Wright, who works on the regatta.
In addition to the more serious PHRF racers, who also frequent bigger regattas like the Rolex Regatta and BVI Spring Regatta, it also sees liveaboards who pull up the anchor only once or twice a year, cruisers who like to test their mettle against fellow sailors and sometimes, just about anything that floats.
"You don't have to have a syndicate with a container and a mother ship," Denise Wright said, describing the way of life for many boats that race in large regattas.
The regatta's first day always sees single-handed and gaff-rigged boats race the course. The action picks up on day two when friends, family and just about any one who wants to sail boards a wide variety of boats.
The regatta first set sail when a bunch of guys who were building Cowhorn boats on the beach in Coral Bay decided to have a regatta. The regatta grew, until now the regatta attracts more than three dozen boats.
While the old salts give the course a run for their money, one of the next generation took home the top prize last year. Ian Beam, now 17, sailed to victory on his J-24 Ruff~Ian.
He also plans to repeat his tactics.
"We'll probably stick to the left side of the course," Beam said.
He said he plans to sail with the same crew as last year – Revel Boulon, Dane Tarr and Angelo Raimondi.
Gary Wright, who sails a Cal 27 named onlinevacations.com, said Beam would be his closest competition.
The Nov. 23 race will have several classes. They are gaffers, singled handed 35 feet and under, single handed 35 feet and over, and multihulls.
The Nov. 24 races has traditional, three separate cruising classes, two PER classes and a multihulls class.
On Nov. 23, the skippers meeting begins at 9:30 a.m., with the first start at 11:15 a.m. On Nov. 24, the skipper's meeting is 9 a.m. The race starts at 11 a.m. Both are at Skinny Legs.
Denise Wright pointed out that it is essential for boat captains to attend the skipper's meeting. She said the course is announced and last-minute changes discussed.
"People who don't come to the skipper's meeting sometimes lose unnecessarily," she said.
The awards ceremony begins at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 24 at Skinny Legs.
The entrance fee runs $30.
For more information, call Commodore Dave Dostall at 776-6030.
"We are getting more and more people interested in racing PHRF, but we want to encourage everybody to come out," said Gary Wright, a member of the race committee.
You'll find no blue blazers at this event. The post-race parties are laid-back events held at Skinny Legs. Not your typical yacht club scene.
"This is a real fun regatta," said Denise Wright, who works on the regatta.
In addition to the more serious PHRF racers, who also frequent bigger regattas like the Rolex Regatta and BVI Spring Regatta, it also sees liveaboards who pull up the anchor only once or twice a year, cruisers who like to test their mettle against fellow sailors and sometimes, just about anything that floats.
"You don't have to have a syndicate with a container and a mother ship," Denise Wright said, describing the way of life for many boats that race in large regattas.
The regatta's first day always sees single-handed and gaff-rigged boats race the course. The action picks up on day two when friends, family and just about any one who wants to sail boards a wide variety of boats.
The regatta first set sail when a bunch of guys who were building Cowhorn boats on the beach in Coral Bay decided to have a regatta. The regatta grew, until now the regatta attracts more than three dozen boats.
While the old salts give the course a run for their money, one of the next generation took home the top prize last year. Ian Beam, now 17, sailed to victory on his J-24 Ruff~Ian.
He also plans to repeat his tactics.
"We'll probably stick to the left side of the course," Beam said.
He said he plans to sail with the same crew as last year – Revel Boulon, Dane Tarr and Angelo Raimondi.
Gary Wright, who sails a Cal 27 named onlinevacations.com, said Beam would be his closest competition.
The Nov. 23 race will have several classes. They are gaffers, singled handed 35 feet and under, single handed 35 feet and over, and multihulls.
The Nov. 24 races has traditional, three separate cruising classes, two PER classes and a multihulls class.
On Nov. 23, the skippers meeting begins at 9:30 a.m., with the first start at 11:15 a.m. On Nov. 24, the skipper's meeting is 9 a.m. The race starts at 11 a.m. Both are at Skinny Legs.
Denise Wright pointed out that it is essential for boat captains to attend the skipper's meeting. She said the course is announced and last-minute changes discussed.
"People who don't come to the skipper's meeting sometimes lose unnecessarily," she said.
The awards ceremony begins at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 24 at Skinny Legs.
The entrance fee runs $30.
For more information, call Commodore Dave Dostall at 776-6030.
CORAL WORLD HOST TO BUSINESS AFTER HOURS
St. Thomas' beautiful Coral World will be opening its doors from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday for the bi-weekly St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours.
Don't miss the Caribbean reef encounter, the marine gardens or the famous Chamber $2 bar and complimentary hors d'oeuvres.
Classical guitarist Chris Roberts will be performing.
This will be a wonderful opportunity to visit the Marine Park and Underwater Observatory and see why everyone on St. Thomas should become a member.
Coral World membership includes : Unlimited admission for one full year , discounts in the gift shops and on food and beverages and more. And who knows what the door prize will be….
Chamber members, guests and potential members are encouraged to attend.
For a sneak preview of the park click here.
Don't miss the Caribbean reef encounter, the marine gardens or the famous Chamber $2 bar and complimentary hors d'oeuvres.
Classical guitarist Chris Roberts will be performing.
This will be a wonderful opportunity to visit the Marine Park and Underwater Observatory and see why everyone on St. Thomas should become a member.
Coral World membership includes : Unlimited admission for one full year , discounts in the gift shops and on food and beverages and more. And who knows what the door prize will be….
Chamber members, guests and potential members are encouraged to attend.
For a sneak preview of the park click here.
NOMINEES OK'D AS PAY HIKES PROMPT REMARKS
Nov. 6, 2001 – Dr. Mavis Matthew was approved as Health commissioner and Judge Edgar D. Ross was confirmed for a second term on the Territorial Court bench by the full Senate on Tuesday.
In the first day of a three-day session on St. Thomas, the Legislature also approved Gov. Charles W. Turnbull's nominees to the Public Services Commission, the Roy L. Schneider Hospital and Health Facilities Board, and the Government Employees Retirement System Board.
However, some of the most spirited discussion had to do not with the day's agenda but with the morning's news that Turnbull had by executive order granted huge salary increases to his commissioners and other top administrators.
Matthew, a pediatrician, had been acting commissioner for more than six months, the maximum period an appointee can serve in an acting capacity. She became acting commissioner in January after Dr. Lucien Moolenaar, former acting commissioner and now deputy commissioner for public health services, was accused of embezzling about $100,000 from the V.I. government between 1995 and 2000.
On Oct. 19, Gov. Charles W. Turnbull nominated Matthew to serve as permanent head of the department. At a Rules Committee hearing last month, senators grilled her for about four hours before unanimously approving the appointment and forwarding it to the full Senate.
Matthew had been director from 1991 to 1999 of the Maternal and Child Health and Children with Special Health Care Needs programs. She served as Health Department assistant commissioner from 1999 until early this year.
The senators warmly endorsed Matthew's appointment Tuesday but offered advice all the same. Sen. Emmett Hansen II voiced expressed the sentiments of several colleagues when he said he hoped she would communicate with the senators and return telephone calls. He and the other senators criticized unnamed commissioners and other government officials for not responding to phone messages.
Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd told Matthew, "I admire your perseverance, but I think Sept. 11 had something to do with the governor sending your nomination down. It became apparent someone had to head the Health Department."
Ross's nomination passed quickly and unanimously. The judge was unable to attend the session because he had a jury trial on St. Croix. The native Crucian has been a member of the local legal community since beginning his career in 1970 with V.I. Community Legal Services. He held District Court and Territorial judgeships between 1980 and 1984 before assuming his present position on the Territorial Court bench in 1995.
No keeping up with the commissioners
Something other than the nominations at hand pervaded the session. Late Monday Turnbull issued a release citing his executive order giving whopping pay raises to his Cabinet appointees and their subordinates, setting new pay ceilings for commissioners, assistant commissioners, deputy commissioners and heads of divisions.
The commissioners will receive a salary increase of almost 50 percent, to $97,000 from $65,000. Earlier this year in the 2002 Omnibus Bill, senators put in an amendment to the V.I. Code that would have made their own salaries commensurate with that of the highest-paid commissioner. At the time, both commissioners and senators received $65,000 annually. The governor line-item vetoed the amendment.
The senators had anticipated that Turnbull would raise commissioner salaries because of step increases recently given to government workers under them who could, as a result, stand to be making more than their superiors.
An override of the governor's veto was an option the senators could have exercised in Tuesday's session. They didn't do that, but the governor's raising of ceilings for his top aides did not go without comment.
Sen. Roosevelt David, after backing Matthew's nomination, told her, "I think the governor had plans up his sleeve. After he sent you down, he gave you $97,000."
Sen. Celestino A. White Sr. said he wasn't seeking an override now, but that might change, depending on whether "the governor makes a move to adjust the governor and the lieutenant governor's salaries." (Gubernatorial aide James O'Bryan said Tuesday that Turnbull was not planning to do that — and that the salaries of the two top officials must be approved by the Legislature.)
Sen. Donald "Ducks" Cole said, "We will leave the governor's veto stay." That's the way things stayed until later in the session, when Sen. Adelbert Bryan asked the Senate legal counsel to give an opinion on the governor's executive order.
Liburd said he hadn't seen the order and asked his staff to check and see if a copy had been received. It turned out it had been received Tuesday at about 3 p.m. Liburd noted the date on the order as Nov. 1 and wondered why it had taken so long to reach him. A copy of the order the Source received was dated Nov. 5.
Liburd and other senators were not happy to have received the news via published reports of the raises Tuesday in the print media. "I think the governor should inform the Legislature before the media," the Senate president said.
Commission, board nominees approved
Approved for the Public Services Commission were Jerris T. Browne, deputy police commissioner; Valencio Jackson, Finance Department assistant commissioner; Alric Simmonds, deputy chief of staff to the governor; Verne C. David, business consultant; and Desmond Maynard, attorney, who was reappointed to a second term. The approvals gives the commission, long hampered by lack of appointments, five of its legally mandated seven voting members.
Approved for reappointment to the RLS Hospital and Health Facilities Board were current board members June A. Adams and Ray K. Joseph.
Approved for the Government Employees Retirement System Board were Raymond James, special assistant to the Housing, Parks and Recreation commissioner; Yvonne Bowsky, retired educator; and Marvin L. Pickering. Reappointed to the GERS board were Vincent G. Liger, a social worker, and Leona E. Smith, Licensing and Consumer Affairs coordinator.
Liburd recessed the session about 5 p.m. because some senators had to travel to St. Croix for a funeral Wednesday. He said discussion on the governor's order would continue in the second day's session, scheduled to convene at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday on St. Thomas.
All senators attended the session except Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, who was excused.
In the first day of a three-day session on St. Thomas, the Legislature also approved Gov. Charles W. Turnbull's nominees to the Public Services Commission, the Roy L. Schneider Hospital and Health Facilities Board, and the Government Employees Retirement System Board.
However, some of the most spirited discussion had to do not with the day's agenda but with the morning's news that Turnbull had by executive order granted huge salary increases to his commissioners and other top administrators.
Matthew, a pediatrician, had been acting commissioner for more than six months, the maximum period an appointee can serve in an acting capacity. She became acting commissioner in January after Dr. Lucien Moolenaar, former acting commissioner and now deputy commissioner for public health services, was accused of embezzling about $100,000 from the V.I. government between 1995 and 2000.
On Oct. 19, Gov. Charles W. Turnbull nominated Matthew to serve as permanent head of the department. At a Rules Committee hearing last month, senators grilled her for about four hours before unanimously approving the appointment and forwarding it to the full Senate.
Matthew had been director from 1991 to 1999 of the Maternal and Child Health and Children with Special Health Care Needs programs. She served as Health Department assistant commissioner from 1999 until early this year.
The senators warmly endorsed Matthew's appointment Tuesday but offered advice all the same. Sen. Emmett Hansen II voiced expressed the sentiments of several colleagues when he said he hoped she would communicate with the senators and return telephone calls. He and the other senators criticized unnamed commissioners and other government officials for not responding to phone messages.
Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd told Matthew, "I admire your perseverance, but I think Sept. 11 had something to do with the governor sending your nomination down. It became apparent someone had to head the Health Department."
Ross's nomination passed quickly and unanimously. The judge was unable to attend the session because he had a jury trial on St. Croix. The native Crucian has been a member of the local legal community since beginning his career in 1970 with V.I. Community Legal Services. He held District Court and Territorial judgeships between 1980 and 1984 before assuming his present position on the Territorial Court bench in 1995.
No keeping up with the commissioners
Something other than the nominations at hand pervaded the session. Late Monday Turnbull issued a release citing his executive order giving whopping pay raises to his Cabinet appointees and their subordinates, setting new pay ceilings for commissioners, assistant commissioners, deputy commissioners and heads of divisions.
The commissioners will receive a salary increase of almost 50 percent, to $97,000 from $65,000. Earlier this year in the 2002 Omnibus Bill, senators put in an amendment to the V.I. Code that would have made their own salaries commensurate with that of the highest-paid commissioner. At the time, both commissioners and senators received $65,000 annually. The governor line-item vetoed the amendment.
The senators had anticipated that Turnbull would raise commissioner salaries because of step increases recently given to government workers under them who could, as a result, stand to be making more than their superiors.
An override of the governor's veto was an option the senators could have exercised in Tuesday's session. They didn't do that, but the governor's raising of ceilings for his top aides did not go without comment.
Sen. Roosevelt David, after backing Matthew's nomination, told her, "I think the governor had plans up his sleeve. After he sent you down, he gave you $97,000."
Sen. Celestino A. White Sr. said he wasn't seeking an override now, but that might change, depending on whether "the governor makes a move to adjust the governor and the lieutenant governor's salaries." (Gubernatorial aide James O'Bryan said Tuesday that Turnbull was not planning to do that — and that the salaries of the two top officials must be approved by the Legislature.)
Sen. Donald "Ducks" Cole said, "We will leave the governor's veto stay." That's the way things stayed until later in the session, when Sen. Adelbert Bryan asked the Senate legal counsel to give an opinion on the governor's executive order.
Liburd said he hadn't seen the order and asked his staff to check and see if a copy had been received. It turned out it had been received Tuesday at about 3 p.m. Liburd noted the date on the order as Nov. 1 and wondered why it had taken so long to reach him. A copy of the order the Source received was dated Nov. 5.
Liburd and other senators were not happy to have received the news via published reports of the raises Tuesday in the print media. "I think the governor should inform the Legislature before the media," the Senate president said.
Commission, board nominees approved
Approved for the Public Services Commission were Jerris T. Browne, deputy police commissioner; Valencio Jackson, Finance Department assistant commissioner; Alric Simmonds, deputy chief of staff to the governor; Verne C. David, business consultant; and Desmond Maynard, attorney, who was reappointed to a second term. The approvals gives the commission, long hampered by lack of appointments, five of its legally mandated seven voting members.
Approved for reappointment to the RLS Hospital and Health Facilities Board were current board members June A. Adams and Ray K. Joseph.
Approved for the Government Employees Retirement System Board were Raymond James, special assistant to the Housing, Parks and Recreation commissioner; Yvonne Bowsky, retired educator; and Marvin L. Pickering. Reappointed to the GERS board were Vincent G. Liger, a social worker, and Leona E. Smith, Licensing and Consumer Affairs coordinator.
Liburd recessed the session about 5 p.m. because some senators had to travel to St. Croix for a funeral Wednesday. He said discussion on the governor's order would continue in the second day's session, scheduled to convene at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday on St. Thomas.
All senators attended the session except Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, who was excused.
DRIVER RESCUED AFTER CAR PLUNGES INTO HARBOR
Nov. 6, 2001 – A motorist was considered lucky to be alive after her car ended up in about 25 feet of water around 3 a.m. Tuesday. The four-door compact car veered off Veterans Drive onto the waterfront apron across from the downtown Bank of Nova Scotia building and plummeted into the waters of St. Thomas harbor.
Norman John Jr., one of those who helped rescue the woman, said Tuesday that he and two other men had seen the car heading west on the four-lane highway but then it disappeared as the driver apparently lost control of the vehicle.
"We noticed the car was nowhere around but found seawater on the bulkhead, so we concluded that the car went into the water," John said.
The driver was able to exit the vehicle and was face up in the water as the men peered over the bulkhead. John said the wave action brought her close enough to the bulkhead for them to rescue her. Although her "weight and her size made it a bit difficult," he said, "we were able to get her onto the bulkhead and get her breathing again."
He said he and his friends then called 911 for assistance from police and an ambulance.
The woman, whose identity was not available, was admitted to Roy L. Schneider Hospital, where she remained hospitalized Tuesday for treatment and observation.
Her vehicle was retrieved from the harbor around 9 a.m. Towing service personnel hoisted the car out of the water with the assistance of a diver and a marine enforcement team from the Planning and Natural Resources Department.
Police officials had no comment Tuesday on the incident.
Norman John Jr., one of those who helped rescue the woman, said Tuesday that he and two other men had seen the car heading west on the four-lane highway but then it disappeared as the driver apparently lost control of the vehicle.
"We noticed the car was nowhere around but found seawater on the bulkhead, so we concluded that the car went into the water," John said.
The driver was able to exit the vehicle and was face up in the water as the men peered over the bulkhead. John said the wave action brought her close enough to the bulkhead for them to rescue her. Although her "weight and her size made it a bit difficult," he said, "we were able to get her onto the bulkhead and get her breathing again."
He said he and his friends then called 911 for assistance from police and an ambulance.
The woman, whose identity was not available, was admitted to Roy L. Schneider Hospital, where she remained hospitalized Tuesday for treatment and observation.
Her vehicle was retrieved from the harbor around 9 a.m. Towing service personnel hoisted the car out of the water with the assistance of a diver and a marine enforcement team from the Planning and Natural Resources Department.
Police officials had no comment Tuesday on the incident.
GENERAL FUND TO BE TAPPED FOR ROAD REPAIRS
Nov. 5, 2001 – The territory will look to the General Fund and for different sources of federal money to pay for road work normally financed through $12.7 million a year that comes from the Federal Highway Administration, according to Kent Bernier, economic and financial adviser to Gov. Charles W. Turnbull.
Some of the FHA money will be used each year to repay the GARVEE bonds that will be floated to pay for the long-planned Enighed Pond commercial port and part of the Red Hook marine terminal. Both are Port Authority projects.
The government plans to float GARVEE bonds worth $19.5 million, with $17 million going for the Enighed Pond commercial port project and repair to adjacent roads, and $2.5 million to the Red Hook project.
GARVEE stands for Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicles. States and territories can issue GARVEE bonds, which are backed by anticipated annual FHA funding.
Bernier said that debt service, meaning interest, on the GARVEE bonds will run $3.5 million a year. The bonds will have to be repaid in eight years from the time of issue. He said that once the FHA gives advance construction approval, the territory's Public Finance Authority will provide start-up money for both projects. The PFA will be reimbursed by money from the GARVEE bonds.
"The FHA is in the process of approving the construction," Bernier said.
He said the projects will generate jobs and, in a domino effect, increase revenues to the government. This means the government will still be able to pay for road repairs without using all of the FHA money, he said.
Additionally, Sen. Donald "Ducks" Cole is continuing his quest to get the federal government to send the territory the federal gasoline taxes paid by mainland motorists on fuel produced at the Hovensa refinery on St. Croix. "We're still lobbying on it," Cole said.
Bernier pointed out that the federal money doesn't come close to paying for all of the territory's road repairs. "We have set aside $4 million from the General Fund to fix the roads," he said, speaking of the Fiscal Year 2002 budget.
Port Authority officials announced last week that the authority and the V.I. government had reached formal agreement to apply for GARVEE bonds. The governor signed the agreement Oct. 30.
Finch said in a press release that, in light of the agreement, he was positive that the FHA would approve advance construction funding through the GARVEE bonds.
As soon as the FHA approved the deal, Finch said, the Port Authority would send out requests for design and construction proposals for the Enighed Pond project. He also said the Port Authority would request bids on the Red Hook marine terminal project.
In a complicated deal, Finch said the Port Authority will turn over to the General Fund the $4 million saved in a sinking fund toward the Enighed Pond project — because the GARVEE bonds will pay the tab. Additionally, the local government will advance to Port Authority $2.5 million to pay for part of the Red Hook marine terminal project, but the Port Authority must reimburse the government when money from GARVEE bonds come in. The Port Authority will pay for the rest of the $5 million project.
The Port Authority and the Public Works Department each will pay for half of the total cost to improve the roads at the Red Hook marine terminal, a project estimated at $1 million. The Port Authority and the local government had initially agreed to share funding of the Enighed Pond project, but when the GARVEE bonds became available, they developed an alternative funding method.
The agreement between the Port Authority and the government calls for paving the two 12-foot lanes to the Enighed Pond commercial port dock, constructing sidewalks on the dock side, adding curbs and gutters, building a concrete swale and installing streetlights.
At Red Hook, the Port Authority and the Public Works Department will equally split the $1 million cost of road improvements. The project includes signs at the intersection of the Red Hook dock, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, streetlights on Route 38 (Red Hook road), drainage improvements and asphalt paving on Route 38.
Some of the FHA money will be used each year to repay the GARVEE bonds that will be floated to pay for the long-planned Enighed Pond commercial port and part of the Red Hook marine terminal. Both are Port Authority projects.
The government plans to float GARVEE bonds worth $19.5 million, with $17 million going for the Enighed Pond commercial port project and repair to adjacent roads, and $2.5 million to the Red Hook project.
GARVEE stands for Grant Anticipation Revenue Vehicles. States and territories can issue GARVEE bonds, which are backed by anticipated annual FHA funding.
Bernier said that debt service, meaning interest, on the GARVEE bonds will run $3.5 million a year. The bonds will have to be repaid in eight years from the time of issue. He said that once the FHA gives advance construction approval, the territory's Public Finance Authority will provide start-up money for both projects. The PFA will be reimbursed by money from the GARVEE bonds.
"The FHA is in the process of approving the construction," Bernier said.
He said the projects will generate jobs and, in a domino effect, increase revenues to the government. This means the government will still be able to pay for road repairs without using all of the FHA money, he said.
Additionally, Sen. Donald "Ducks" Cole is continuing his quest to get the federal government to send the territory the federal gasoline taxes paid by mainland motorists on fuel produced at the Hovensa refinery on St. Croix. "We're still lobbying on it," Cole said.
Bernier pointed out that the federal money doesn't come close to paying for all of the territory's road repairs. "We have set aside $4 million from the General Fund to fix the roads," he said, speaking of the Fiscal Year 2002 budget.
Port Authority officials announced last week that the authority and the V.I. government had reached formal agreement to apply for GARVEE bonds. The governor signed the agreement Oct. 30.
Finch said in a press release that, in light of the agreement, he was positive that the FHA would approve advance construction funding through the GARVEE bonds.
As soon as the FHA approved the deal, Finch said, the Port Authority would send out requests for design and construction proposals for the Enighed Pond project. He also said the Port Authority would request bids on the Red Hook marine terminal project.
In a complicated deal, Finch said the Port Authority will turn over to the General Fund the $4 million saved in a sinking fund toward the Enighed Pond project — because the GARVEE bonds will pay the tab. Additionally, the local government will advance to Port Authority $2.5 million to pay for part of the Red Hook marine terminal project, but the Port Authority must reimburse the government when money from GARVEE bonds come in. The Port Authority will pay for the rest of the $5 million project.
The Port Authority and the Public Works Department each will pay for half of the total cost to improve the roads at the Red Hook marine terminal, a project estimated at $1 million. The Port Authority and the local government had initially agreed to share funding of the Enighed Pond project, but when the GARVEE bonds became available, they developed an alternative funding method.
The agreement between the Port Authority and the government calls for paving the two 12-foot lanes to the Enighed Pond commercial port dock, constructing sidewalks on the dock side, adding curbs and gutters, building a concrete swale and installing streetlights.
At Red Hook, the Port Authority and the Public Works Department will equally split the $1 million cost of road improvements. The project includes signs at the intersection of the Red Hook dock, sidewalks, curbs, gutters, streetlights on Route 38 (Red Hook road), drainage improvements and asphalt paving on Route 38.
