Dear Source,
This is a Virgin Islander out in Louisiana (for almost three years now) who wishes to congratulate everyone for such a wonderful job. Well Done!
You guys at the St. Croix Source are my main information source for the Virgin Islands. You are always updated with current news. I can't contact my family (still living on St. Croix) at all times, but I can reach you anytime online!
I have been able to "show off" our beautiful island to those who have not even heard about us — and those who have vacationed "once upon a time" and are interested in what is going on today. I would like to thank you once again for alternative news and information about my homeland.
Nancy Velazquez~Tank
Baton Rouge, La.

Editor's note: We welcome and encourage readers to keep the dialogue going by responding to Source commentary. Letters should be e-mailed with name and place of residence to source@viaccess.net.

Oct. 29, 2001 – Four men who were picked up on illegal immigration charges on Friday and who have been identified by federal authorities as Jordanian nationals are to appear on Tuesday in U.S. District Court on St. Thomas.
Agents from the FBI, Drug Enforcement Agency, Immigration and Naturalization Service and local police arrested the four men at the Miller Manor guest house in Charlotte Amalie on Friday morning. U.S. Magistrate Judge Geoffrey Barnard charged them with unlawful entry and remanded them to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service for 10 days.
Court documents identify the four as Ra Ed Awad Mustafa Alghazawi, 33; Yaser Mohammad Hammad, 25; Eyad Ahmad Abdel Mustafa, 30; and Amer Abdel Rahim, 20.
Saturday's action continued a series of raids led by federal investigators that began last Tuesday when a team of agents and police searched the Plaza Extra supermarkets on St. Thomas and St. Croix, along with several other Arab-owned supermarkets and smaller grocery stores on both islands. People who were interviewed in some of the searches have said the agents asked questions in connection with the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the mainland. No arrests or charges were reported as a result of those raids.
On Thursday, a team of federal agents arrested eight individuals indentified by authorities as Syrian nationals at the Bunker Hill Hotel in Charlotte Amalie. Those men remain in custody on illegal immigration charges and also are expected to return to District Court on Tuesday.
The investigation continues into the men's activities, and prosecutors may bring other charges, including harboring aliens, against one or more of the defendants, Assistant U.S. Attorney Hugh Mabe said. Federal prosecutors will request that the men be detained until their case is resolved, he said.
Defense attorneys for the four objected to the detention order on Friday, and part of Tuesday's hearing is expected to center on that issue.
INS investigators have said that some of the men arrived on St. Thomas in January of 2000, while the others came in February of this year. All arrived by boat from St. Martin, according to INS Special Agent William Monk.

The life insurance industry is finding itself on unfamiliar ground. How does it advertise its product without appearing to be capitalizing on the recent World Trade Center tragedy and the anthrax scares. Life insurance is an image conscious industry that is dependant on its conservative, solid and dependable stature. It now finds itself questioning how it should advertise its product. A product that many people are also now wondering if they have enough of, or how and if it would cover them in light of the recent terrorist acts.
How does a life insurance company say, "Buy my policy," and not appear insensitive, as if to be exploiting those same events? At the same time, however, individuals may have concerns about their life insurance program or may have a question on how to start one, but they do not want to appear as if they are panicking or giving in to the terrorists. It is an awkward situation for the company and the consumer.
Actually, however, this presents an unprecedented opportunity for the life insurance industry to shine. The events of September 11th will give it the chance to show its tremendous financial strength; to show its unique ability to be resilient in the face of change and at the same time display stability during uncertain times. In short, they will pay their claims and be here tomorrow.
Life insurance companies have made themselves as consumer friendly as any company can. So if you have a question on your current life insurance policy or would like some facts on applying for a new one you can call a local agent, call your favorite company toll free direct or go online and request a quotation. If you are uncertain who to call, contact the Division of Banking and Insurance and ask for an up to date list of life insurance companies and agents licensed in the Virgin Islands. If you feel you need some answers there are plenty of resources available.

The Virgin Islands Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners will have a special meeting at the Central Offices of the Authoritiy in Aureo Diaz Heights, St. Croix.

The Virgin Islands Housing Authority's Board of Commissioners has scheduled a special meeting for 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 31, at the Central Offices of the Authority in Areo Diaz Heights, St. Croix.

Oct. 29, 2001 — A 24-year-old man is under arrest for firing shots into the car of the lieutenant governor's sister on Oct. 21 as she drove along Melvin Evans Highway with a carload of young people.
Police arrested Shashi Jadooram of William's Delight on Saturday, according to Capt. Jeremy Swan. Jadooram was charged with five counts of third-degree assault and reckless endangerment for allegedly firing shots into the vehicle of Barbara James Petersen, sister of Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James II, as she was driving with her daughter and three of her daughter’s friends in the vehicle following a volleyball game at Good Hope School.
Police said the incident occurred when two cars boxed Petersen’s vehicle in near Paradise and two shots were fired, striking Petersen’s car. As Petersen accelerated to escape, she called 911 on a cellular phone and then hit an embankment near the Golden Grove intersection. No one in the car was hit by the shots or seriously injured in the crash.
Swan said one of the passengers in Petersen’s vehicle had been involved in an altercation with Jadooram earlier in the evening. Jadooram’s bail was set at $100,000.

Oct. 29, 2001 – "Committed to You" is the theme of November's Jazz Vespers concert at the St. Croix Reformed Church. It's on Sunday at 5:30 p.m., showcasing the artistry of the Black Diamond Quintet. Admission is free, although a free-will offering is taken.
"Black Diamond" is vocalist Julia Lowe, a resident since 1977 of St. Croix, where she met sax man Rudy Shulterbrandt, who inspired her to start singing as a jazz soloist. Performing with her will be Benjamin Jacobs-el on piano, Neil Simon on bass, Ken Afra Dailey on drums and Teddy Blackwood on percussion.
Lowe, who was born in Alabama, grew up in New York and got her first formal voice training with The Featherbed Lane Freedom Community Choir, which was known for performing jazz masses. Lowe was reared by her grandmother, a classmate of Sarah Vaughn, another formative influence in Julia's life. Lowe performed with Shulterbrandt at the first St. Croix jazz festival and has many theatrical appearances to her credit, too, including "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "The Wiz."
Jacobs-El, who is from Brooklyn and has lived on St. Croix since 1974, was a trombonist with the Newport Youth Band, and then with a spin-off, The New York Jazz Septet. In 1958, after three years at the Juilliard School of Music, he went on the road with Slide Hampton and Lloyd Price, then found a slot in the Coker Camble Band, which backed such Motown stars as Stevie Wonder, The Supremes and The Temptations. Only after settling on St. Croix did he make the transition from trombone to piano.
Simon, who played guitar before he took up the bass, played in Frederiksted's Seventh-day Adventist Church as a teen-ager, and at 18 played his first gig with Jacobs-El. Simon earned a degree in architectural engineering from New York University and while in New York toured with Freddie Jackson and Billy Ocean. Since returning to St. Croix in 1988, he has collaborated with trumpeter Duke Jones from Kid Creole and the Coconuts and is currently working with X-itement.
Dailey played flute and clarinet before making the move to drums. He was practicing the drums at his mother's home when the producer for the Modern Ink Spots walked by, listened, knocked on the door and asked his mom if he could join the group. He has worked at Philadelphia's Sigma Sound Studios, where the "Philly" sound originated, and has toured with Grover Washington Jr., Betty Carter and The Dells. He's currently a member of the Roy Davis Trio.
Blackwood was born in New York to Virgin Islander parents. His mother taught him drumming on their kitchen table. He went on to study with master West African drummers Chief Bey and Babatunde Olatunji. He has worked with Ohaldo Williams, Herbie Mann and Jimmy Hamilton and has toured with the Mighty Sparrow and recorded with Jamaican band leader Ron Barrige.
Jazz Vespers starts at 5:30 p.m. Seating is unreserved. Willard John will record the live performance for the congregation.
"Since Jazz Vespers is not held in a bar or restaurant, the concerts afford families a chance to spend a cozy evening out together in a smoke-free environment," promotional material notes. And young people with an interest in music will be able to interact with the artists after the performance. Refreshments will follow the program, which is made possible in part through sponsorship by Beeston Hill Clinical Laboratory, Carringtons Inn St. Croix and Owen Johnson Electric.
The church is located in Estate La Reine on the hill above the Kingshill Post Office. For additional information, call Willard Fields at 719-3672 or Pastor Rod Koopmans at 778-0520, or e-mail to Jazz Vespers.
Meantime, fans can mark their calendars now for upcoming Jazz Vespers programs: The Elvis Pedro Quartet on Dec. 6, Horace Clark and Out of Nowhere on Jan. 6 and the Eddie Russell Sextet on Feb. 3.

Oct. 28, 2001 – There are several great perks with aging. Along with your hearing mellowing out so you don't hear bad things people say about you, and your eyesight getting soft so your geriatric friends all look sort of fuzzy and warm, you get great discounts on travel. When my nephew was about to graduate from the University of California at Berkeley and told me he was going to have a great party; I decided to accompany my sister to the bacchanal.
My senior citizen coupons on American Airlines allowed me to fly from St. Thomas to the family homestead in Santa Barbara, Calif., and back for $338. Using the Amtrak "1, 2, Free" program, I was able to get tickets for both my sister and myself from Santa Barbara to the Jack London Station in Oakland for the total round trip price of $150.
For about $500, I could spend a couple days in Santa Barbara pigging out on Mexican food, see a couple of my old buddies, take a premier train trip twice, enjoy a week in Berkeley eating fresh breads and exotic cheeses for breakfast, spend a day or so in San Francisco walking the hills and waterfront, wallow in dirt-cheap ethnic foods, and visit with my sister and her most enjoyable son. Win, win, win!
One of the classic train rides in the world is the Pacific Coast Starlight run between Seattle and Los Angeles. The trip ranks right up there with the Ghan and Indian Pacific in Australia, the Canadian across Canada; the Hong Kong/Beijing Express in China, Russia's Trans Siberian, and the European Oriental Express.
This 1,389-mile trip through three states was put together by Amtrak in 1971. Prior to that, travel from Seattle to Los Angeles had required three different trains operated by three different railroad companies — the Southern Pacific California Coast Daylight, Starlight, and Lark; the SP Northern California Daylight and Cascade; and a number of connecting trains operated by Union Pacific, Great Northern and Northern Pacific.
Views from the upper deck
All Amtrak cars on the Starlight are double deckers. The lower level has special areas for the physically challenged, a kiddy room with toys and VCR cartoons, toilets, and the snack bar or café. The upper level has roomy coach lounges. There is a special sightseeing lounge car with seats facing outward and vista windows extending from knee height to almost the center of the roof.
First Class travelers not only have their own staterooms with sofa and lounge which make into comfortable beds at night, but also a unique Pacific Parlor Car. The parlor car serves breakfast, plus snacks and drinks throughout the day, and provides First Class passengers with a place to enjoy their fellow passengers and the panoramic views of the Pacific coast.
Beginning from the south, the train parallels U.S. Route 101 running along the California coast from Oxnard to Gaviota some 70 miles north of Santa Barbara. Then the line runs through the historic Hollister Ranch, which was private property up to the 1970s. Some of the best surfing off the North American continent is found on the coast of "the Ranch." And this stretch of about 100 miles offers some of the most scenic views of the California coast you'll find anywhere.
Next, the line turns into Vandenberg Air Force Base, the Pacific coast missile base, followed by the Army's old Camp Roberts, which was used for tank training. Most of this run is through landscape little changed from the time John Fremont took his first tour through California in the middle 1800s, staking a claim for the United States of America.
Climbing over the Coast Range north of San Luis Obispo, the train runs through the cherry groves, vineyards, artichoke fields and assorted other vegetable plots of the Salinas Valley. Finally, it crawls through Silicone Valley and the San Francisco Bay sprawl.
The bounties of Berkeley
Our stay in Berkeley was all I had imagined. We walked six blocks to the Cracker Barrel Bakery each morning for hot rolls, muffins and bread accompanied by smelly cheeses of every hue. The graduation party was a blast, with over 40 young graduates in Environmental Planning and Landscape Architecture floating in Margaritas with Mexican taco and tortilla ballast. My nephew, his wife, my sister and I hit the Japanese, Vietnamese, Greek and micro-brewery outlets for great food every night. And the unexpected bonus was finding that ever-elusive gasket for my blender that I could not find on St. Thomas. There it was, waiting for me in a blender outlet in San Francisco.
Traveling back to Santa Barbara, we reversed our route, climbing on the train at 9 a.m. in Oakland, which got us into Vandenberg AFB before 5 p.m., so we were able to enjoy an early dinner gazing out the dining car window as we passed along the cliffs of the Hollister Ranch.
Amtrak now has a mileage program similar to those of the airlines. Every dollar spent on tickets earns you two points, and you can exchange points for free tickets. Meantime, I logged 8,500 American AAdvantage miles on my frequent flyer account. With a couple more flights, I will have enough miles for a free coupon (30,000 miles to the Caribbean) to bring a member my family to visit us in the islands. What a great way to enjoy retirement!

Oct. 28, 2001 – There are several great perks with aging. Along with your hearing mellowing out so you don't hear bad things people say about you, and your eyesight getting soft so your geriatric friends all look sort of fuzzy and warm, you get great discounts on travel. When my nephew was about to graduate from the University of California at Berkeley and told me he was going to have a great party; I decided to accompany my sister to the bacchanal.
My senior citizen coupons on American Airlines allowed me to fly from St. Thomas to the family homestead in Santa Barbara, Calif., and back for $338. Using the Amtrak "1, 2, Free" program, I was able to get tickets for both my sister and myself from Santa Barbara to the Jack London Station in Oakland for the total round trip price of $150.
For about $500, I could spend a couple days in Santa Barbara pigging out on Mexican food, see a couple of my old buddies, take a premier train trip twice, enjoy a week in Berkeley eating fresh breads and exotic cheeses for breakfast, spend a day or so in San Francisco walking the hills and waterfront, wallow in dirt-cheap ethnic foods, and visit with my sister and her most enjoyable son. Win, win, win!
One of the classic train rides in the world is the Pacific Coast Starlight run between Seattle and Los Angeles. The trip ranks right up there with the Ghan and Indian Pacific in Australia, the Canadian across Canada; the Hong Kong/Beijing Express in China, Russia's Trans Siberian, and the European Oriental Express.
This 1,389-mile trip through three states was put together by Amtrak in 1971. Prior to that, travel from Seattle to Los Angeles had required three different trains operated by three different railroad companies — the Southern Pacific California Coast Daylight, Starlight, and Lark; the SP Northern California Daylight and Cascade; and a number of connecting trains operated by Union Pacific, Great Northern and Northern Pacific.
Views from the upper deck
All Amtrak cars on the Starlight are double deckers. The lower level has special areas for the physically challenged, a kiddy room with toys and VCR cartoons, toilets, and the snack bar or café. The upper level has roomy coach lounges. There is a special sightseeing lounge car with seats facing outward and vista windows extending from knee height to almost the center of the roof.
First Class travelers not only have their own staterooms with sofa and lounge which make into comfortable beds at night, but also a unique Pacific Parlor Car. The parlor car serves breakfast, plus snacks and drinks throughout the day, and provides First Class passengers with a place to enjoy their fellow passengers and the panoramic views of the Pacific coast.
Beginning from the south, the train parallels U.S. Route 101 running along the California coast from Oxnard to Gaviota some 70 miles north of Santa Barbara. Then the line runs through the historic Hollister Ranch, which was private property up to the 1970s. Some of the best surfing off the North American continent is found on the coast of "the Ranch." And this stretch of about 100 miles offers some of the most scenic views of the California coast you'll find anywhere.
Next, the line turns into Vandenberg Air Force Base, the Pacific coast missile base, followed by the Army's old Camp Roberts, which was used for tank training. Most of this run is through landscape little changed from the time John Fremont took his first tour through California in the middle 1800s, staking a claim for the United States of America.
Climbing over the Coast Range north of San Luis Obispo, the train runs through the cherry groves, vineyards, artichoke fields and assorted other vegetable plots of the Salinas Valley. Finally, it crawls through Silicone Valley and the San Francisco Bay sprawl.
The bounties of Berkeley
Our stay in Berkeley was all I had imagined. We walked six blocks to the Cracker Barrel Bakery each morning for hot rolls, muffins and bread accompanied by smelly cheeses of every hue. The graduation party was a blast, with over 40 young graduates in Environmental Planning and Landscape Architecture floating in Margaritas with Mexican taco and tortilla ballast. My nephew, his wife, my sister and I hit the Japanese, Vietnamese, Greek and micro-brewery outlets for great food every night. And the unexpected bonus was finding that ever-elusive gasket for my blender that I could not find on St. Thomas. There it was, waiting for me in a blender outlet in San Francisco.
Traveling back to Santa Barbara, we reversed our route, climbing on the train at 9 a.m. in Oakland, which got us into Vandenberg AFB before 5 p.m., so we were able to enjoy an early dinner gazing out the dining car window as we passed along the cliffs of the Hollister Ranch.
Amtrak now has a mileage program similar to those of the airlines. Every dollar spent on tickets earns you two points, and you can exchange points for free tickets. Meantime, I logged 8,500 American AAdvantage miles on my frequent flyer account. With a couple more flights, I will have enough miles for a free coupon (30,000 miles to the Caribbean) to bring a member my family to visit us in the islands. What a great way to enjoy retirement!

Oct. 28, 2001 – Thick, sweet, golden brown and often studded with raisins, cut squares of bread pudding are a favorite dessert in the Virgin Islands.
Bread pudding is a simple dessert born of the thrifty homemaker's desire to use up stale bread in a tasty way. In its most basic form, cubed or sliced bread is saturated with a mixture of milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla and spices, then baked. Past this point, the variations are endless.
French bread is most often used for bread pudding. However, butter bread is a favorite alternative in our islands. Health-conscious folks may use whole wheat bread, along with an egg substitute, low fat milk, and artificial sugar. Vanilla is the most common flavoring, although cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and even rum may be added.
Supplemental ingredients can be stirred into the basic bread pudding mix for extra pizzazz. For example, some recipes call for melting chocolate into the milk and sugar mixture. A tropical bread pudding recipe I once sampled had layers of sliced banana, chunked pineapple and flaked coconut tucked between the tiers of bread. For this week's recipe, this being the end of October, I thought a pumpkin-flecked bread pudding might be just the right twist. The recipe below is made from fresh West Indian pumpkin, or calabaza. Enjoy!
Calabaza Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce
3 pounds calabaza (enough to make 2 cups cooked, mashed pumpkin)
2 cups undiluted evaporated milk or half and half cream
1 cup dark brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
12 slices butter bread-style white sandwich bread
1/2 cup raisins
another 1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup whipping cream
Remove seeds and inner strings from calabaza. Cut in chunks and placein a large kettle. Cover with water and bring water to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until calabaza is tender. Drain. When calabaza has cooled, cut peel off. Place flesh into a saucepan. Over medium heat, mash and stir calabaza until excess water is removed.
In a large mixing bowl, stir together the milk, 1 cup dark brown sugar, eggs, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, vanilla and 2 cups mashed pumpkin. Fold in bread cubes and raisins.
Transfer mixture to a greased 11×7-inch glass baking dish. Let stand 15 minutes, then bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, or until a knife inserted into center comes out clean.
While pudding is baking, make caramel sauce: Whisk 1 1/4 cups brown sugar and butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat until butter melts. Whisk in cream and stir until sugar dissolves and sauce is smooth, about 3 minutes. To serve, pour caramel sauce over top of pudding.
Makes 15 servings. Per serving: 360 calories, 14 gms fat (36 percent fat calories), 67 mg cholesterol, 253 mg sodium.