Sept. 24, 2001 – There's a silver lining for the Virgin Islands in the dark economic clouds on the horizon as a result of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks: The S/S Norway will be returning to St. Thomas and St. John for another year of service starting the last week of this year.
Norwegian Cruise Lines and its new parent company, Star Cruises, had announced plans to reposition the Norway to Asia beginning with the winter season. Its "farewell Atlantic crossing" sailed out of Miami on Sept. 2, bound for Southampton, England, with arrival on Sept. 18. But with the global unrest now, NCL/Star Cruises has decided to continue homeporting the ship in Miami for Eastern Caribbean cruises calling at Sint Maarten, St. Thomas and St. John, and the privately owned Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas.
The Caribbean itinerary will begin Dec. 23 and continue "through at least December 2002," according to a release from The West Indian Co. The Norway will call in the territory on Thursdays, beginning Dec. 27.
"This is exceptionally good news in light of events of the last few days as we attempt to stabilize our tourism economy," Edward Thomas, WICO president, said in a release Monday. "The S/S Norway has been an economic staple, especially for Main Street, and its return for the peak of the season bodes very well for all of us."
The Norway has a passenger capacity of 2,032 and carries a crew of 900. With a draft of 35 feet, the ship is one of the few that has never docked at St. Thomas, instead anchoring in the outer harbor and transporting personnel to and from the waterfront aboard two large tenders that are carried from port to port aboard the vessel itself.
Before entering back into service in the Caribbean, the Norway will be in dry dock in Europe for the next three months undergoing refurbishing.
The bright blue vessel with its familiar twin smokestacks has been calling weekly at St. Thomas for two decades. In the 1990s, a morning drop-off stop at St. John was added, with passengers allowed to disembark, see St. John, then travel to St. Thomas by ferry to board the ship from the Charlotte Amalie waterfront in the afternoon. The ship, the longest in the world until megavessels began making their appearance in the '90s, was built in 1962 and christened the France. It re-emerged as the Norway in 1980 and last underwent refurbishment in 1996.

The V.I. Carnival Committee has scheduled a regular general meeeting for 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28, at the Committee's offices located across from the Department of Finance. Planning continues for the 50th celebration of the Virgin Islands Carnival.
For more information call 776-3112.
Applications are now available for the Carnival 2002 Prince and Princess Pageant. Contact Francisque Roberts at 774-1343 or the VICC at 776-3112.
Applications are also now available for the 2002 Carnival Queen Pageant. For more information contact Lorna Webster at 776-3112.

Anthon Jackson, Jr. died Thursday, Sept. 20. His funeral will be held at 9 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 28, at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Viewing will precede the service from 5 to 6 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. at Creque's Chapel. Internment will be at Western Cemetery II.
He is survived by his wife Lorna Turnbull Jackson; sons Wayne, Clayton, Calvin, Cleve, Ulric, Courtney and Craig Jackson; daughters Charlene Jackson West, Cheri Jackson Griffith, and Monique Jackson Bute; brothers Rudolph, Roy and Keith Jackson; sisters Doreen Jackson VanPutten, Eleanor Jackson Thomas, Susan Jackson Hewitt, Calma and Clarice Jackson; 22 grandchildren, and many friends and relatives too numerous to mention.

The New Image Foumdation Corporation Policy Board is sponsoring the Clothes Closet Bazaar that starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, continuing at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 30, at the Vitraco Mall.
One can purchase beautiful previously owned clothing, books and furniture at greatly reduced prices. Get a free professional fashion and beauty consultation, tips on public speaking and enjoy a mini fashion.
Call 777-8883 for more details.

The New Image Foundation Corporation is sponsoring the Clothes Closet Bazaar for 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29, and at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 30, at Vitraco Mall.
Come out and purchase beautiful previously owned clothing, books and furniture at greatly reduced prices. Get a free professional fashion and beauty consultation; tips on public speaking, and enjoy a mini fashion. Call 777-8883 for more details.

The V.I. Port Authority informs the public that a continuation of its Governing Board meeting held on Sept. 19, is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 28, in the Conference Room of the Administration Building on St. Thomas.
A complete agenda is available to the public for $15.

The V.I. Port Authority announces that a continuation of its Governing Board meeting that was held on Sept. 19, is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 28, in the Cconference Room of the Administration Building on St. Thomas.
A complete agenda is available to the public for $15.

The annual meeting of the V.I. Housing Authority Board of Commissioners is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 26, at the Central Offices of the Authority in Estate Anna's Retreat, St. Thomas.

The annual meeting of the V.I. Housing Authority Board of Commissioners is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 26, at the Central Offices of the Authority in Estate Anna's Retreat, St. Thomas.

Editor's note: Here is a message that Ruth and Bob Butler, who operate the Sea Trekin' helmet-dive activity at the Coral World Marine Park, recently e-mailed to friends and family after efforts to find their son in New York failed. Ruth, who wrote the letter, also is Coral World's public relations director. They agreed to allow the Source to publish it.
Dear Friends,
Butler and I have returned to St. Thomas from New York. Someone like me, who lived there my whole life, still finds it a real small town, full of good people willing to help us in this horror movie.
Our sons Jason and Jonathan and Christian's father-in-law Peter and brother-in law Dennis spent days looking for Christian in triage and medical centers. We looked at every "in" we had in New York and were able to find many. Jason and Jon were allowed to look at the living "John Doe's" — alive but unidentifiable.
Christian's father-in-law is a famous architect whom I asked for the reality of the situation. He said I didn't want to know the truth. I'm just an old reporter who looked at the pictures and figured out that our boy was gone quickly in the world's worst immolation. He leaves the most beautiful wife, Jane, and three children: Max, 8, Morgan, 5, and Samuel, 3.
We will be flying back to New York on Monday for a celebration of Christian's life on Tuesday. He was an assistant vice president at Cantor Fitzgerald, which had offices on floors 100-105 at the World Trade Center. But that is not who he was. He was a scholar and an athlete who grew a littler fatter to become a community and philanthropic man.
I have spent a lifetime making money on words. They fail me. They are meaningless. For all of you who are a part of our lives, your words mean everything.
God bless us all.
Butler and Ruth
Responses may be e-mailed to source@viaccess.net.