Oct. 26, 2001 — In the face of the negative publicity following federal raids this week on his business and rampaging rumors about his supposed links to terrorists, Fathi Yusuf was emphatic Friday that he could never be connected to terrorism, yet understanding of why federal authorities acted as they did.
Yusuf, a co-owner of the Plaza Extra Supermarket chain in the territory and a naturalized American citizen from Palestine, said that business at the three stores, two on St. Croix and one on St. Thomas, was down after the Tuesday raids by federal agents. But shoppers are "coming back slowly."
"This slowdown, I have to expect it," he said. But on Friday things seemed "to be much, much better."
He added, "I don’t blame my customers. If I was them, I’d do the same thing."
And Yusuf, 60, who last year pleaded guilty to three counts of hiring three illegal immigrants from Palestine, said he understands the position of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, particlularly in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the mainland.
"They gave us the search warrant. The warrant had details on it, the judge signed it, and I respect that," Yusuf said. "I’m sure they’re not going to find me connected to any type of terrorist.
"We can understand the point of view the federal agents are coming from. If they don’t do what they do, they can’t control things."
As far as the rumors that ran like wildfire throughout the territory following the raids, which included tales of a secret cache of guns and ammunition hidden in a tunnel under one of his stores, Yusuf was incredulous. But he won’t take rumors generated by New York Post gossip columnist Cindy Adams sitting down.
Adams wrote that Yusuf had sponsored one of the hijackers that piloted an airliner into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11 and that the two had conspired to blow up the Hovensa refinery on St. Croix.
"She libeled me very badly," Yusuf said, adding that he will sue The New York Post and Adams. "When my customers see something like that, I know it is bad. I don’t have a choice but to sue that lady. If I don’t do it, it’s like I am admitting it. If I stay quiet, my life and my family is in danger."
Yusuf, who said he’s been in the community for 40 years, was adamant that he has nothing to do with terrorism. He also said that his Palestinian heritage doesn’t diminish the feelings he has for his adopted country -– the United States of America.
"Yes, I came from Palestine. But I am glad I am an American. I will not deny where I came from, but I am proud of the country that adopted me. I am an American, my children are born in America.
"There is no way in the world I can be connected to terrorism," Yusuf said. "I have never done it in the past, and I will never do it in the future."
'BE A HERO' SPOTS SPUR SOME WHISTLE-BLOWING
Oct. 26, 2001 – "Be a hero," advises the television commercial for the V.I. Fraud and Corruption Task Force, urging residents to report what they know about wrongdoing within the government.
Since the TV spot and its radio version began airing about two weeks ago, calls to report fraud and corruption have started to come in. "We have some leads, and some have potential," V.I. Inspector General Steven van Beverhoudt said.
If you think you'll get paid for your information, though, think again. The Task Force does not have a reward fund. "People should feel good doing something positive for helping the community," is the way van Beverhoudt sees it.
He acknowledges it will be an uphill battle to get people to report what they see and know. "People don't want to get involved, and they think nothing will get done anyhow," he said.
However, van Beverhoudt pointed to an early, high-profile Task Force success: In March 2000, former Gov. Roy L. Schneider paid about $50,000 in restitution after the V.I. Justice Department agreed to dismiss charges against him and three of his former aides. They faced 14 counts of fraud, conspiracy and falsification of records stemming from incidents involving the expenditure of public funds following Hurricane Marilyn.
"The precedent was set," van Beverhoudt said.
The task force, formed early in 2000 as a joint initiative of the Inspector General's Office and the Justice Department, initially had its own staff attorney, funded with a grant from the Law Enforcement Planning Commission. The attorney left in February, but a replacement recently arrived, van Beverhoudt said. And, he said, the task force has a staff member answering the hot line people can call with information. Additionally, other staff from his office and the Justice Department are available to work on cases.
Attorney General Iver Stridiron did not return telephone calls requesting comment.
The hotline number to call to report government fraud and corruption is 774-3388.
Since the TV spot and its radio version began airing about two weeks ago, calls to report fraud and corruption have started to come in. "We have some leads, and some have potential," V.I. Inspector General Steven van Beverhoudt said.
If you think you'll get paid for your information, though, think again. The Task Force does not have a reward fund. "People should feel good doing something positive for helping the community," is the way van Beverhoudt sees it.
He acknowledges it will be an uphill battle to get people to report what they see and know. "People don't want to get involved, and they think nothing will get done anyhow," he said.
However, van Beverhoudt pointed to an early, high-profile Task Force success: In March 2000, former Gov. Roy L. Schneider paid about $50,000 in restitution after the V.I. Justice Department agreed to dismiss charges against him and three of his former aides. They faced 14 counts of fraud, conspiracy and falsification of records stemming from incidents involving the expenditure of public funds following Hurricane Marilyn.
"The precedent was set," van Beverhoudt said.
The task force, formed early in 2000 as a joint initiative of the Inspector General's Office and the Justice Department, initially had its own staff attorney, funded with a grant from the Law Enforcement Planning Commission. The attorney left in February, but a replacement recently arrived, van Beverhoudt said. And, he said, the task force has a staff member answering the hot line people can call with information. Additionally, other staff from his office and the Justice Department are available to work on cases.
Attorney General Iver Stridiron did not return telephone calls requesting comment.
The hotline number to call to report government fraud and corruption is 774-3388.
BENEFIT SALE IS A CHANCE TO FURNISH A HOME
Oct. 21, 2001 – If you're in the market for furniture, accessories, and art, here's a benefit warehouse sale for you. Mark your calendar for noon Sunday, Nov. 4, at the Bovoni Self-Storage Warehouse.
The sale, sponsored by the Hebrew Congregation of St. Thomas, will feature items ranging from a recliner to a cedar chest, with practically everything in between you might need to furnish a home.
Condition of items ranges from almost-new to seen-better-days, according to a release from the Congregation. Prices range from $1 to $1,000, with most in the $20 to $50 category.
More details about items for sale are in the story under Things to Do.
You can shop and buy until 5 p.m. – unless everything is sold earlier. It will be a pay-and-take sale, according to the release, so purchasers should be prepared to take whatever they buy with them.
More information is available at the Synagogue at 774-4312.
The sale, sponsored by the Hebrew Congregation of St. Thomas, will feature items ranging from a recliner to a cedar chest, with practically everything in between you might need to furnish a home.
Condition of items ranges from almost-new to seen-better-days, according to a release from the Congregation. Prices range from $1 to $1,000, with most in the $20 to $50 category.
More details about items for sale are in the story under Things to Do.
You can shop and buy until 5 p.m. – unless everything is sold earlier. It will be a pay-and-take sale, according to the release, so purchasers should be prepared to take whatever they buy with them.
More information is available at the Synagogue at 774-4312.
VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT CONTINUES
A volleyball tournament featuring St. Thomas girls' varsity teams will be held at Antilles School courts on the weekend. Teams from Charlotte Amalie High School, All Saints Cathedral School, Sts. Peter and Paul School, Antilles School, and an all-star Antilles JV team will compete.
The public is invited. Food, drinks and t-shirts will be on sale during the tournament, which starts at 2 p.m. Friday and continues at 8 a.m. Saturday, according to a release from Antilles School.
The 10th Annual Ocean Spray Volleyball Tournament, sponsored by B&D Wholesale, distributors of Ocean Spray products, was originally scheduled with visiting teams from St. Croix and Puerto Rico, and there was some talk of competition with some boys' teams as well. It has shaken down, however, to a competition among girls' teams from St. Thomas, said Antilles coach Dawn Wheatley. Eudora Kean School also dropped off the rosters.
Next year the 11th annual tournament will be held in the new Mark C. Marin Sports Center, currently under construction at Antilles School.
The public is invited. Food, drinks and t-shirts will be on sale during the tournament, which starts at 2 p.m. Friday and continues at 8 a.m. Saturday, according to a release from Antilles School.
The 10th Annual Ocean Spray Volleyball Tournament, sponsored by B&D Wholesale, distributors of Ocean Spray products, was originally scheduled with visiting teams from St. Croix and Puerto Rico, and there was some talk of competition with some boys' teams as well. It has shaken down, however, to a competition among girls' teams from St. Thomas, said Antilles coach Dawn Wheatley. Eudora Kean School also dropped off the rosters.
Next year the 11th annual tournament will be held in the new Mark C. Marin Sports Center, currently under construction at Antilles School.
MAKE YEAR OF FEW TOURISTS A YEAR OF CHANGE
The last decade has not been kind to the U.S. Virgin Islands. In many respects, it has been a period of economic, social, and political decline. Many of the wounds of this period were self-inflicted. "Unkind" does not describe the current situation.
The events of recent months have produced a situation that can only be described as cruel. A series of events, mostly related to the terrorist attacks on the mainland, have come as relentless body blows to the territory's economy and its sense of hope for the future. It sometimes seems as if the only bad thing that has not occurred is a major hurricane.
Not one of these events was within the control of Virgin Islanders; nor are immediate solutions. Their cumulative impact has been to decimate an already struggling economy. The Virgin Islands needs help — primarily, but not exclusively, financial assistance — to get through the next year. That help can come from only one source, the federal government. Without it, there will be great hardship, with the potential for enormous strain on a social fabric that already is badly frayed.
While the Virgin Islands often has been guilty of crying wolf, this time the wolf is, in fact, at the door.
Toward what purposes should an assistance package be applied? Here is a small package of ideas.
First, it is useful to make an assumption with respect to the upcoming tourist season. The safest assumption is that it is going to be a near total loss. If one accepts this assumption — and there is little evidence to contradict it — the territory, particularly the tourist sector, should use this period to do three things that have been largely neglected in recent years, and in some instances for many years.
Through a mix of grants and low- or no-interest loans, the federal government should infuse substantial funds to keep displaced workers and affected businesses afloat. These dollars should create work, but not "make work." Three areas should be targeted, and measurable achievements should be assigned to each, the overall objective being a "new" Virgin Islands when the next tourist season arrives:
– Low-interest and no-interest loans with easy repayment terms to improve communities and upgrade properties that have not been effectively maintained in recent years, investments that represent a vote of confidence in the future. Savan and Frederiksted would be logical candidates as seriously distressed communities in which a range of measurable improvements could be made in the coming year.
– A large scale, systematic and permanent effort to improve tourism management and customer service, the Achilles heel of the Virgin Islands economy and a key source of its declining reputation. The University of the Virgin Islands would be a logical institutional home for this undertaking, and funds should be allocated for stipends for displaced workers and managers to gain a true understanding of customer service. Make the year of no tourists the year of learning and change.
– Significant funding for major beautification efforts on all three islands, a response to the environmental deterioration of recent years and also a vote of confidence in the future.
To the extent possible, funds for these efforts should flow through recognized entities, including not-for-profit agencies, or should be administered directly by a federal agency. They should not be allowed to disappear into the bottomless pit of the Virgin Islands government coffers.
In all instances, achievements should be measured. A year or two from now, the territory should be even more beautiful than it is now, visitors should report good consumer experiences, and Virgin Islanders should be proud of having weathered the storm with minimal damage and a set of great accomplishments.
It is time for both the federal government and local business and civic leaders to step up to the challenge, the feds with money and the private sector with planning, commitment and organization. Instead of 2001-2002 being the year when the downward slide intensified, it can be the watershed year when the Virgin Islands, in the most adverse circumstances, turned the corner to a brighter future.
The events of recent months have produced a situation that can only be described as cruel. A series of events, mostly related to the terrorist attacks on the mainland, have come as relentless body blows to the territory's economy and its sense of hope for the future. It sometimes seems as if the only bad thing that has not occurred is a major hurricane.
Not one of these events was within the control of Virgin Islanders; nor are immediate solutions. Their cumulative impact has been to decimate an already struggling economy. The Virgin Islands needs help — primarily, but not exclusively, financial assistance — to get through the next year. That help can come from only one source, the federal government. Without it, there will be great hardship, with the potential for enormous strain on a social fabric that already is badly frayed.
While the Virgin Islands often has been guilty of crying wolf, this time the wolf is, in fact, at the door.
Toward what purposes should an assistance package be applied? Here is a small package of ideas.
First, it is useful to make an assumption with respect to the upcoming tourist season. The safest assumption is that it is going to be a near total loss. If one accepts this assumption — and there is little evidence to contradict it — the territory, particularly the tourist sector, should use this period to do three things that have been largely neglected in recent years, and in some instances for many years.
Through a mix of grants and low- or no-interest loans, the federal government should infuse substantial funds to keep displaced workers and affected businesses afloat. These dollars should create work, but not "make work." Three areas should be targeted, and measurable achievements should be assigned to each, the overall objective being a "new" Virgin Islands when the next tourist season arrives:
– Low-interest and no-interest loans with easy repayment terms to improve communities and upgrade properties that have not been effectively maintained in recent years, investments that represent a vote of confidence in the future. Savan and Frederiksted would be logical candidates as seriously distressed communities in which a range of measurable improvements could be made in the coming year.
– A large scale, systematic and permanent effort to improve tourism management and customer service, the Achilles heel of the Virgin Islands economy and a key source of its declining reputation. The University of the Virgin Islands would be a logical institutional home for this undertaking, and funds should be allocated for stipends for displaced workers and managers to gain a true understanding of customer service. Make the year of no tourists the year of learning and change.
– Significant funding for major beautification efforts on all three islands, a response to the environmental deterioration of recent years and also a vote of confidence in the future.
To the extent possible, funds for these efforts should flow through recognized entities, including not-for-profit agencies, or should be administered directly by a federal agency. They should not be allowed to disappear into the bottomless pit of the Virgin Islands government coffers.
In all instances, achievements should be measured. A year or two from now, the territory should be even more beautiful than it is now, visitors should report good consumer experiences, and Virgin Islanders should be proud of having weathered the storm with minimal damage and a set of great accomplishments.
It is time for both the federal government and local business and civic leaders to step up to the challenge, the feds with money and the private sector with planning, commitment and organization. Instead of 2001-2002 being the year when the downward slide intensified, it can be the watershed year when the Virgin Islands, in the most adverse circumstances, turned the corner to a brighter future.
Editor's note: Management consultant Frank Schneiger has worked with V.I. agencies since 1975, most recently as consultant to United Way of St. Thomas/St. John. He is one of the founders of the St. Thomas/St. John Youth Multiservice Center.
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.
MAKE YEAR OF FEW TOURISTS A YEAR OF CHANGE
The last decade has not been kind to the U.S. Virgin Islands. In many respects, it has been a period of economic, social, and political decline. Many of the wounds of this period were self-inflicted. "Unkind" does not describe the current situation.
The events of recent months have produced a situation that can only be described as cruel. A series of events, mostly related to the terrorist attacks on the mainland, have come as relentless body blows to the territory's economy and its sense of hope for the future. It sometimes seems as if the only bad thing that has not occurred is a major hurricane.
Not one of these events was within the control of Virgin Islanders; nor are immediate solutions. Their cumulative impact has been to decimate an already struggling economy. The Virgin Islands needs help — primarily, but not exclusively, financial assistance — to get through the next year. That help can come from only one source, the federal government. Without it, there will be great hardship, with the potential for enormous strain on a social fabric that already is badly frayed.
While the Virgin Islands often has been guilty of crying wolf, this time the wolf is, in fact, at the door.
Toward what purposes should an assistance package be applied? Here is a small package of ideas.
First, it is useful to make an assumption with respect to the upcoming tourist season. The safest assumption is that it is going to be a near total loss. If one accepts this assumption — and there is little evidence to contradict it — the territory, particularly the tourist sector, should use this period to do three things that have been largely neglected in recent years, and in some instances for many years.
Through a mix of grants and low- or no-interest loans, the federal government should infuse substantial funds to keep displaced workers and affected businesses afloat. These dollars should create work, but not "make work." Three areas should be targeted, and measurable achievements should be assigned to each, the overall objective being a "new" Virgin Islands when the next tourist season arrives:
– Low-interest and no-interest loans with easy repayment terms to improve communities and upgrade properties that have not been effectively maintained in recent years, investments that represent a vote of confidence in the future. Savan and Frederiksted would be logical candidates as seriously distressed communities in which a range of measurable improvements could be made in the coming year.
– A large scale, systematic and permanent effort to improve tourism management and customer service, the Achilles heel of the Virgin Islands economy and a key source of its declining reputation. The University of the Virgin Islands would be a logical institutional home for this undertaking, and funds should be allocated for stipends for displaced workers and managers to gain a true understanding of customer service. Make the year of no tourists the year of learning and change.
– Significant funding for major beautification efforts on all three islands, a response to the environmental deterioration of recent years and also a vote of confidence in the future.
To the extent possible, funds for these efforts should flow through recognized entities, including not-for-profit agencies, or should be administered directly by a federal agency. They should not be allowed to disappear into the bottomless pit of the Virgin Islands government coffers.
In all instances, achievements should be measured. A year or two from now, the territory should be even more beautiful than it is now, visitors should report good consumer experiences, and Virgin Islanders should be proud of having weathered the storm with minimal damage and a set of great accomplishments.
It is time for both the federal government and local business and civic leaders to step up to the challenge, the feds with money and the private sector with planning, commitment and organization. Instead of 2001-2002 being the year when the downward slide intensified, it can be the watershed year when the Virgin Islands, in the most adverse circumstances, turned the corner to a brighter future.
The events of recent months have produced a situation that can only be described as cruel. A series of events, mostly related to the terrorist attacks on the mainland, have come as relentless body blows to the territory's economy and its sense of hope for the future. It sometimes seems as if the only bad thing that has not occurred is a major hurricane.
Not one of these events was within the control of Virgin Islanders; nor are immediate solutions. Their cumulative impact has been to decimate an already struggling economy. The Virgin Islands needs help — primarily, but not exclusively, financial assistance — to get through the next year. That help can come from only one source, the federal government. Without it, there will be great hardship, with the potential for enormous strain on a social fabric that already is badly frayed.
While the Virgin Islands often has been guilty of crying wolf, this time the wolf is, in fact, at the door.
Toward what purposes should an assistance package be applied? Here is a small package of ideas.
First, it is useful to make an assumption with respect to the upcoming tourist season. The safest assumption is that it is going to be a near total loss. If one accepts this assumption — and there is little evidence to contradict it — the territory, particularly the tourist sector, should use this period to do three things that have been largely neglected in recent years, and in some instances for many years.
Through a mix of grants and low- or no-interest loans, the federal government should infuse substantial funds to keep displaced workers and affected businesses afloat. These dollars should create work, but not "make work." Three areas should be targeted, and measurable achievements should be assigned to each, the overall objective being a "new" Virgin Islands when the next tourist season arrives:
– Low-interest and no-interest loans with easy repayment terms to improve communities and upgrade properties that have not been effectively maintained in recent years, investments that represent a vote of confidence in the future. Savan and Frederiksted would be logical candidates as seriously distressed communities in which a range of measurable improvements could be made in the coming year.
– A large scale, systematic and permanent effort to improve tourism management and customer service, the Achilles heel of the Virgin Islands economy and a key source of its declining reputation. The University of the Virgin Islands would be a logical institutional home for this undertaking, and funds should be allocated for stipends for displaced workers and managers to gain a true understanding of customer service. Make the year of no tourists the year of learning and change.
– Significant funding for major beautification efforts on all three islands, a response to the environmental deterioration of recent years and also a vote of confidence in the future.
To the extent possible, funds for these efforts should flow through recognized entities, including not-for-profit agencies, or should be administered directly by a federal agency. They should not be allowed to disappear into the bottomless pit of the Virgin Islands government coffers.
In all instances, achievements should be measured. A year or two from now, the territory should be even more beautiful than it is now, visitors should report good consumer experiences, and Virgin Islanders should be proud of having weathered the storm with minimal damage and a set of great accomplishments.
It is time for both the federal government and local business and civic leaders to step up to the challenge, the feds with money and the private sector with planning, commitment and organization. Instead of 2001-2002 being the year when the downward slide intensified, it can be the watershed year when the Virgin Islands, in the most adverse circumstances, turned the corner to a brighter future.
Editor's note: Management consultant Frank Schneiger has worked with V.I. agencies since 1975, most recently as consultant to United Way of St. Thomas/St. John. He is one of the founders of the St. Thomas/St. John Youth Multiservice Center.
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.
SUNDAY'S THE 'LAST JAM' FOR SAX CYMBALS
Oct. 25, 2001 – On Sunday night, the Sax Cymbals will be playing at the Hard Rock Cafe. They've been doing that, off and on, for years. What's news is that they won't be doing it again — at least not anytime soon.
That's because band leader and founder Anthony (does anybody call him Anthony?) "Rusty" Vellek will be getting on a jet plane a few days later to leave St. Thomas after 18 years of calling the Virgin Islands home.
It's an affair of the heart — both the leaving and the going — he says.
As Sally Smith — the fourth or fifth member of his "trio," depending on who's counting — puts it, "He and an old friend reconnected by a wild fluke, and the relationship has developed to the point where he and she are now a 'they' also."
Her name is Mimi and he'll be joining her in Alexandria, Va., outside of Washington, D.C.
They knew each other more than 25 years ago, when he was living in the nation's capital. "We had lost contact after I moved here," he says, but last year he went to D.C. for training for Chase Manhattan Bank, his daytime employer, "and ended up in a class with one of her employees, who passed along my phone number and e-mail address."
They got together when he went north again in February for the annual East Coast Jazz Festival in Rockville, Md., and from then on, the e-mails flowed regularly.
Early on in the e-mail era, Vellek developed a network to keep friends and fans informed of upcoming gigs. And so, that's how he let a lot of people know about Sunday's "last jam" for the Sax Cymbals at Hard Rock.
"This one is special," his e-mail sent out Tuesday begins, explaining that on Sunday at 7 p.m. the band "will give our last St. Thomas performance — at least for now." Sticking with his standard way of referring to the ensemble, he adds that "the five-piece trio will be performing — Sally Smith on piano, Rhett Simmonds on bass, Dean Prince on percussion, Robert Luke helping out with bongos and chimes, and Rusty on sax.
"We expect a number of friends to drop by and sit in, too."
In the message he also expresses thanks to general manager Stephen Danesi and the staff at the Hard Rock, noting, "They've promised to see that there's plenty of food and beverages for everyone, and we expect a great party … Hard Rock has become something of a home base for Sax Cymbals, and we appreciate their support and hospitality."
Danesi said Thursday night that the feeling is mutual, and the regular dinner menu will be available.
Smith, a relative newcomer to the band, says Vellek "has been a fixture on the St. Thomas music scene and has been a promoter of live music here, period, whether others' or his own." They met professionally several years ago as volunteers — both enlisted to do a Rotary East fundraiser event for Eudora Kean High School, she recalls. "After that, he said, 'You want a job?'" About the same time, radio personality and funny man Luke came aboard as a percussive presence.
The Sax Cymbals has been a duo — it started out seven years ago with Vellek and Prince, literally playing sax and cymbals — as well as a trio, a quartet, a quintet and a "quintet and friends." Vellek approached Simmonds, a veteran bass player, early on about making it a trio. "One of the things that impressed me with the group is that Rusty has a very wide repertoire," Simmonds says. "He plays a lot of material that other people haven't been playing within the jazz areas."
While Prince was otherwise involved, the trio added Louis Isaacs, "becoming a four-piece trio when Dean was available," Vellek relates. "Roy Malone played with us for a while before his illness and eventual death, and Sally joined up about five years ago. Robert started sitting in a while back for kicks, and he added such a good spirit and energy that we kept him around (besides, he's my kid brother, so it keeps it in the family, so to speak)."
Home base for some time was the shoreline restaurant at Secret Harbor Beach Resort, where "we did a number of beach parties — including the ones for the Norway Jazz Cruises for several years running," he adds. "Our last big bash there was after Marilyn, when we put on the first live music after she blew through."
Vellek promoted the Sax Cymbals sound as "mellow music at a reasonable volume level."
Smith says she'll miss Vellek not just for his music but for "his good sense of humor. That sounds so trite. But he's one of the decent folk — and bright and funny."
Simmonds' first comment about the band breaking up was "Things happen." But then he added, "I've worked with lots of different groups. In this one, we've had a good run. It was a lot of fun, working with a lot of different people."
Smith and Simmonds both let out in separate conversations that Sunday will not really be the end. Vellek already has planned a reunion for next February's East Coast Jazz Festival.
But if you want to catch the five-piece trio and friends, Sunday night's the time and Hard Rock's the place.
That's because band leader and founder Anthony (does anybody call him Anthony?) "Rusty" Vellek will be getting on a jet plane a few days later to leave St. Thomas after 18 years of calling the Virgin Islands home.
It's an affair of the heart — both the leaving and the going — he says.
As Sally Smith — the fourth or fifth member of his "trio," depending on who's counting — puts it, "He and an old friend reconnected by a wild fluke, and the relationship has developed to the point where he and she are now a 'they' also."
Her name is Mimi and he'll be joining her in Alexandria, Va., outside of Washington, D.C.
They knew each other more than 25 years ago, when he was living in the nation's capital. "We had lost contact after I moved here," he says, but last year he went to D.C. for training for Chase Manhattan Bank, his daytime employer, "and ended up in a class with one of her employees, who passed along my phone number and e-mail address."
They got together when he went north again in February for the annual East Coast Jazz Festival in Rockville, Md., and from then on, the e-mails flowed regularly.
Early on in the e-mail era, Vellek developed a network to keep friends and fans informed of upcoming gigs. And so, that's how he let a lot of people know about Sunday's "last jam" for the Sax Cymbals at Hard Rock.
"This one is special," his e-mail sent out Tuesday begins, explaining that on Sunday at 7 p.m. the band "will give our last St. Thomas performance — at least for now." Sticking with his standard way of referring to the ensemble, he adds that "the five-piece trio will be performing — Sally Smith on piano, Rhett Simmonds on bass, Dean Prince on percussion, Robert Luke helping out with bongos and chimes, and Rusty on sax.
"We expect a number of friends to drop by and sit in, too."
In the message he also expresses thanks to general manager Stephen Danesi and the staff at the Hard Rock, noting, "They've promised to see that there's plenty of food and beverages for everyone, and we expect a great party … Hard Rock has become something of a home base for Sax Cymbals, and we appreciate their support and hospitality."
Danesi said Thursday night that the feeling is mutual, and the regular dinner menu will be available.
Smith, a relative newcomer to the band, says Vellek "has been a fixture on the St. Thomas music scene and has been a promoter of live music here, period, whether others' or his own." They met professionally several years ago as volunteers — both enlisted to do a Rotary East fundraiser event for Eudora Kean High School, she recalls. "After that, he said, 'You want a job?'" About the same time, radio personality and funny man Luke came aboard as a percussive presence.
The Sax Cymbals has been a duo — it started out seven years ago with Vellek and Prince, literally playing sax and cymbals — as well as a trio, a quartet, a quintet and a "quintet and friends." Vellek approached Simmonds, a veteran bass player, early on about making it a trio. "One of the things that impressed me with the group is that Rusty has a very wide repertoire," Simmonds says. "He plays a lot of material that other people haven't been playing within the jazz areas."
While Prince was otherwise involved, the trio added Louis Isaacs, "becoming a four-piece trio when Dean was available," Vellek relates. "Roy Malone played with us for a while before his illness and eventual death, and Sally joined up about five years ago. Robert started sitting in a while back for kicks, and he added such a good spirit and energy that we kept him around (besides, he's my kid brother, so it keeps it in the family, so to speak)."
Home base for some time was the shoreline restaurant at Secret Harbor Beach Resort, where "we did a number of beach parties — including the ones for the Norway Jazz Cruises for several years running," he adds. "Our last big bash there was after Marilyn, when we put on the first live music after she blew through."
Vellek promoted the Sax Cymbals sound as "mellow music at a reasonable volume level."
Smith says she'll miss Vellek not just for his music but for "his good sense of humor. That sounds so trite. But he's one of the decent folk — and bright and funny."
Simmonds' first comment about the band breaking up was "Things happen." But then he added, "I've worked with lots of different groups. In this one, we've had a good run. It was a lot of fun, working with a lot of different people."
Smith and Simmonds both let out in separate conversations that Sunday will not really be the end. Vellek already has planned a reunion for next February's East Coast Jazz Festival.
But if you want to catch the five-piece trio and friends, Sunday night's the time and Hard Rock's the place.
PARTIES FOR KIDS TAKE TRICK-OR-TREATING INSIDE
Oct. 25, 2001 – There will be plenty of Halloween parties for youngsters on St. Thomas, even though some planners acknowledge that, given the scary stuff that's been going on in the world since Sept. 11, it might be better not to celebrate Halloween in ways intended to instill fright.
That's the view Coral World Marine Park general manager Trudie Prior expressed. "It's a matter of good taste and judgment," she said. While there have been some cancellations of Halloween events out of concern that they would frighten children, Prior called that overreacting. "I don't think we should deny them a good time," she said of the youngsters.
Prior said Coral World plans to proceed with its annual Halloween party, set for Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. Children under age 12 in costume get in for free, but each must be accompanied by an adult; the local adult entry fee is $8.
Coral World marketing manager Allegra Kean said the event will feature face painting, fish feeding, drawing of temporary tattoos, games like Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin, visits to a "Spook Room" and fortune telling. ("All good fortunes," she promised.)
Kean said a costume contest will begin at 3 p.m. Prizes will be given in different age groups and for the "most creative" get-ups. Each child will get a bag of candy to take home.
The Children's Reading Program at the Enid M. Baa Library also will have a Halloween party on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Children ages 3 to 12 and their parents or guardians are invited to come in costume and enjoy games, spooky stories, snacks and fun.
Tutu Park Mall on St. Thomas also is planning Halloween festivities for kids on Saturday, from 1 to 6 p.m. The fun is open to children under the age of 12, and they must be accompanied by an adult.
Mall marketing director Pam Morales said personnel at stores in the mall will pass out candy to children in costume who stop by. "This is indoor trick-or-treating," she said, calling it a safe way for children to enjoy the holiday. All youngsters should bring their own "treat" bags.
In addition to the mall-wide treating, the Sweet Kisses candy store in the mall will celebrate its first anniversary with a "spooky party" that will include a costume contest and music by DJ Creepy of Big Bout Productions.
Also on Saturday at 10 a.m., the Estate Bovoni Weed and Seed program is having its second annual "Boo to Drugs" Halloween party, sports and fun day at the Bovoni site. Zelda Williams, program manager, said the event also is to celebrate the annual Red Ribbon Week, "saying no to drugs," and she expects a big turnout.
Williams said the morning will feature volleyball, softball, kickball, basketball and a boxing demonstration, with music and lunch to follow. In the afternoon, there will be a presentation on drug abuse, and National Guard and Police Crime Prevention Unit personnel will show the youngsters how dogs work in detecting drugs. Also on tap are a mini-fashion show, a magic show, dancing, treats, door prizes, a raffle and a limbo and fire-eating finale.
The Weed and Seed program is run under the V.I. Housing Authority and sponsored by the U. S. Department of Justice. Its strategy is to weed out crime and seed neighborhoods with positive programs.
On Halloween itself, Wednesday, a couple of events for youngsters are planned.
Pistarckle Theater is holding "an alternative Halloween" celebration at the theater in Tillett Gardens Wednesday from 3 to 7 p.m. Admission is $5 for children and $10 for adults. There'll be a best mask contest.
At the Hull Bay Hideaway, there'll be a family-oriented party starting at 7 p.m. Wednesday with games and candy for youngsters and announcement of best-costume awards at 9 p.m., in time to get the youngsters home and to bed at a reasonable hour on a school night.
Halloween — short for "hallowed evening" — began with an ancient Celtic belief that on Oct. 31 the Lord of Death released the souls of the dead back to Earth. While some still observe the date's occult traditions and some connect it with the Christian All Souls' Day, Halloween has for generations been mainly a secular holiday for most Americans.
The only public pronouncements regarding Halloween locally have come from the Police Department. On Oct. 17, Police Commissioner Franz Christian strongly suggested in a press release that Halloween this year should be "a night for family fun," as opposed to children going out trick-or-treating door to door. And, definitely, no child should be allowed on the streets alone at night, he said.
Christian also said police patrols would "saturate the territory" to prevent tragedies and crimes by anyone who might try to "turn Halloween into 'Devil's Day.'"
That's the view Coral World Marine Park general manager Trudie Prior expressed. "It's a matter of good taste and judgment," she said. While there have been some cancellations of Halloween events out of concern that they would frighten children, Prior called that overreacting. "I don't think we should deny them a good time," she said of the youngsters.
Prior said Coral World plans to proceed with its annual Halloween party, set for Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. Children under age 12 in costume get in for free, but each must be accompanied by an adult; the local adult entry fee is $8.
Coral World marketing manager Allegra Kean said the event will feature face painting, fish feeding, drawing of temporary tattoos, games like Pin the Nose on the Pumpkin, visits to a "Spook Room" and fortune telling. ("All good fortunes," she promised.)
Kean said a costume contest will begin at 3 p.m. Prizes will be given in different age groups and for the "most creative" get-ups. Each child will get a bag of candy to take home.
The Children's Reading Program at the Enid M. Baa Library also will have a Halloween party on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Children ages 3 to 12 and their parents or guardians are invited to come in costume and enjoy games, spooky stories, snacks and fun.
Tutu Park Mall on St. Thomas also is planning Halloween festivities for kids on Saturday, from 1 to 6 p.m. The fun is open to children under the age of 12, and they must be accompanied by an adult.
Mall marketing director Pam Morales said personnel at stores in the mall will pass out candy to children in costume who stop by. "This is indoor trick-or-treating," she said, calling it a safe way for children to enjoy the holiday. All youngsters should bring their own "treat" bags.
In addition to the mall-wide treating, the Sweet Kisses candy store in the mall will celebrate its first anniversary with a "spooky party" that will include a costume contest and music by DJ Creepy of Big Bout Productions.
Also on Saturday at 10 a.m., the Estate Bovoni Weed and Seed program is having its second annual "Boo to Drugs" Halloween party, sports and fun day at the Bovoni site. Zelda Williams, program manager, said the event also is to celebrate the annual Red Ribbon Week, "saying no to drugs," and she expects a big turnout.
Williams said the morning will feature volleyball, softball, kickball, basketball and a boxing demonstration, with music and lunch to follow. In the afternoon, there will be a presentation on drug abuse, and National Guard and Police Crime Prevention Unit personnel will show the youngsters how dogs work in detecting drugs. Also on tap are a mini-fashion show, a magic show, dancing, treats, door prizes, a raffle and a limbo and fire-eating finale.
The Weed and Seed program is run under the V.I. Housing Authority and sponsored by the U. S. Department of Justice. Its strategy is to weed out crime and seed neighborhoods with positive programs.
On Halloween itself, Wednesday, a couple of events for youngsters are planned.
Pistarckle Theater is holding "an alternative Halloween" celebration at the theater in Tillett Gardens Wednesday from 3 to 7 p.m. Admission is $5 for children and $10 for adults. There'll be a best mask contest.
At the Hull Bay Hideaway, there'll be a family-oriented party starting at 7 p.m. Wednesday with games and candy for youngsters and announcement of best-costume awards at 9 p.m., in time to get the youngsters home and to bed at a reasonable hour on a school night.
Halloween — short for "hallowed evening" — began with an ancient Celtic belief that on Oct. 31 the Lord of Death released the souls of the dead back to Earth. While some still observe the date's occult traditions and some connect it with the Christian All Souls' Day, Halloween has for generations been mainly a secular holiday for most Americans.
The only public pronouncements regarding Halloween locally have come from the Police Department. On Oct. 17, Police Commissioner Franz Christian strongly suggested in a press release that Halloween this year should be "a night for family fun," as opposed to children going out trick-or-treating door to door. And, definitely, no child should be allowed on the streets alone at night, he said.
Christian also said police patrols would "saturate the territory" to prevent tragedies and crimes by anyone who might try to "turn Halloween into 'Devil's Day.'"
MAKE YEAR OF FEW TOURISTS A YEAR OF CHANGE
The last decade has not been kind to the U.S. Virgin Islands. In many respects, it has been a period of economic, social, and political decline. Many of the wounds of this period were self-inflicted. "Unkind" does not describe the current situation.
The events of recent months have produced a situation that can only be described as cruel. A series of events, mostly related to the terrorist attacks on the mainland, have come as relentless body blows to the territory's economy and its sense of hope for the future. It sometimes seems as if the only bad thing that has not occurred is a major hurricane.
Not one of these events was within the control of Virgin Islanders; nor are immediate solutions. Their cumulative impact has been to decimate an already struggling economy. The Virgin Islands needs help — primarily, but not exclusively, financial assistance — to get through the next year. That help can come from only one source, the federal government. Without it, there will be great hardship, with the potential for enormous strain on a social fabric that already is badly frayed.
While the Virgin Islands often has been guilty of crying wolf, this time the wolf is, in fact, at the door.
Toward what purposes should an assistance package be applied? Here is a small package of ideas.
First, it is useful to make an assumption with respect to the upcoming tourist season. The safest assumption is that it is going to be a near total loss. If one accepts this assumption — and there is little evidence to contradict it — the territory, particularly the tourist sector, should use this period to do three things that have been largely neglected in recent years, and in some instances for many years.
Through a mix of grants and low- or no-interest loans, the federal government should infuse substantial funds to keep displaced workers and affected businesses afloat. These dollars should create work, but not "make work." Three areas should be targeted, and measurable achievements should be assigned to each, the overall objective being a "new" Virgin Islands when the next tourist season arrives:
– Low-interest and no-interest loans with easy repayment terms to improve communities and upgrade properties that have not been effectively maintained in recent years, investments that represent a vote of confidence in the future. Savan and Frederiksted would be logical candidates as seriously distressed communities in which a range of measurable improvements could be made in the coming year.
– A large scale, systematic and permanent effort to improve tourism management and customer service, the Achilles heel of the Virgin Islands economy and a key source of its declining reputation. The University of the Virgin Islands would be a logical institutional home for this undertaking, and funds should be allocated for stipends for displaced workers and managers to gain a true understanding of customer service. Make the year of no tourists the year of learning and change.
– Significant funding for major beautification efforts on all three islands, a response to the environmental deterioration of recent years and also a vote of confidence in the future.
To the extent possible, funds for these efforts should flow through recognized entities, including not-for-profit agencies, or should be administered directly by a federal agency. They should not be allowed to disappear into the bottomless pit of the Virgin Islands government coffers.
In all instances, achievements should be measured. A year or two from now, the territory should be even more beautiful than it is now, visitors should report good consumer experiences, and Virgin Islanders should be proud of having weathered the storm with minimal damage and a set of great accomplishments.
It is time for both the federal government and local business and civic leaders to step up to the challenge, the feds with money and the private sector with planning, commitment and organization. Instead of 2001-2002 being the year when the downward slide intensified, it can be the watershed year when the Virgin Islands, in the most adverse circumstances, turned the corner to a brighter future.
The events of recent months have produced a situation that can only be described as cruel. A series of events, mostly related to the terrorist attacks on the mainland, have come as relentless body blows to the territory's economy and its sense of hope for the future. It sometimes seems as if the only bad thing that has not occurred is a major hurricane.
Not one of these events was within the control of Virgin Islanders; nor are immediate solutions. Their cumulative impact has been to decimate an already struggling economy. The Virgin Islands needs help — primarily, but not exclusively, financial assistance — to get through the next year. That help can come from only one source, the federal government. Without it, there will be great hardship, with the potential for enormous strain on a social fabric that already is badly frayed.
While the Virgin Islands often has been guilty of crying wolf, this time the wolf is, in fact, at the door.
Toward what purposes should an assistance package be applied? Here is a small package of ideas.
First, it is useful to make an assumption with respect to the upcoming tourist season. The safest assumption is that it is going to be a near total loss. If one accepts this assumption — and there is little evidence to contradict it — the territory, particularly the tourist sector, should use this period to do three things that have been largely neglected in recent years, and in some instances for many years.
Through a mix of grants and low- or no-interest loans, the federal government should infuse substantial funds to keep displaced workers and affected businesses afloat. These dollars should create work, but not "make work." Three areas should be targeted, and measurable achievements should be assigned to each, the overall objective being a "new" Virgin Islands when the next tourist season arrives:
– Low-interest and no-interest loans with easy repayment terms to improve communities and upgrade properties that have not been effectively maintained in recent years, investments that represent a vote of confidence in the future. Savan and Frederiksted would be logical candidates as seriously distressed communities in which a range of measurable improvements could be made in the coming year.
– A large scale, systematic and permanent effort to improve tourism management and customer service, the Achilles heel of the Virgin Islands economy and a key source of its declining reputation. The University of the Virgin Islands would be a logical institutional home for this undertaking, and funds should be allocated for stipends for displaced workers and managers to gain a true understanding of customer service. Make the year of no tourists the year of learning and change.
– Significant funding for major beautification efforts on all three islands, a response to the environmental deterioration of recent years and also a vote of confidence in the future.
To the extent possible, funds for these efforts should flow through recognized entities, including not-for-profit agencies, or should be administered directly by a federal agency. They should not be allowed to disappear into the bottomless pit of the Virgin Islands government coffers.
In all instances, achievements should be measured. A year or two from now, the territory should be even more beautiful than it is now, visitors should report good consumer experiences, and Virgin Islanders should be proud of having weathered the storm with minimal damage and a set of great accomplishments.
It is time for both the federal government and local business and civic leaders to step up to the challenge, the feds with money and the private sector with planning, commitment and organization. Instead of 2001-2002 being the year when the downward slide intensified, it can be the watershed year when the Virgin Islands, in the most adverse circumstances, turned the corner to a brighter future.
Editor's note: Management consultant Frank Schneiger has worked with V.I. agencies since 1975, most recently as consultant to United Way of St. Thomas/St. John. He is one of the founders of the St. Thomas/St. John Youth Multiservice Center.
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.
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