The V.I. Bureau of Internal Revenue is now accepting credit and debit cards as payment for all types of taxes.
The type of credit cards presently accepted are VISA and MASTER CARD. For convenience, ATH cards (debit cards) will also be accepted. Taxpayers must go in to the bureau to make these payments.
THERE'LL BE TIME (AND A PLACE) TO TALK SATURDAY
Sept. 20, 2001 – If you — and especially if your children — want to talk about it, or listen to what others have to say about it, be at Tillett Gardens Saturday at 4 p.m. and plan on staying for a couple of hours.
"It" being what most people have been talking about to the exclusion of most everything else in the last 10 days — the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 and their aftermath for America and the world.
"We need to talk," says Jason Budsan, owner of Caribbean Herbals, a candlemaking and craft business located in Tillett Gardens.
Budsan and his landlady, Rhoda Tillett, are organizing the semi-informal forum Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. in the hope of bringing diverse segments of the St. Thomas-St. John community, especially children, together to share their thoughts and feelings.
Dr. Olaf Hendricks, a St. Croix psychiatrist, is expected to moderate the discussion. Other community resource professionals who've said they'll take part include Michal Rhymer of Family Resource Center, Iris Kern of The Safety Zone on St. John, firefighter Daryl George, business executive Michael Bornn and educator Carol Henneman.
Budsan says he's still in the process of reaching out to various sectors of the community to encourage them to participate — school teachers and administrators, counselors, religious leaders, the Police and Education Departments and more.
He said Kern arranged for Hendricks to take part: "He flies to St. Thomas all the time, and Dr. Kern told me he is coming over on his own to do this." Hendricks could not be reached, but Kern confirmed that "he told me he was coming."
Budsan said the forum was inspired by a two-hour live program hosted by Peter Jennings on the ABC television network Saturday morning. Jennings met in a New York City school gymnasium with dozens of youngsters, from pre-school to high school age and from a variety of ethnic and religious backgrounds, and some of their parents. The children largely determined the directions in which the discussion moved, with Jennings calling on pre-positioned experts — in person and via video hookup — in everything from airline operations to the Muslim faith to respond to issues raised.
Then, Saturday afternoon, while Budsan was at work, he said, "I saw a lot of kids in Tillett Gardens, some crying, some just looking at their parents wondering whey they were so shocked at what they were watching on the television. I realized this is the future. Rhoda pulled me over and said 'What should we do?' I said we've got to help the children, the kids that come here. And she said, 'Yes, put it together.'"
Budsan said he started thinking about the ABC special. "I thought, that's exactly what we need to happen — a 'Graffiti Street'-type atmosphere, relaxed, the children speaking, telling each other and us what their fears are." He added, "A lot of the things they say are things we adults would like to say, but we aren't able to express ourselves."
Saturday's forum similarly will be relaxed in structure, Tillett said, and the hope is that Hendricks will serve as moderator.
While reaching out to children is the prime focus of the forum, Tillett said reaching out to the Arab and Muslim members of the local community is extremely important, too. As U.S. residents, they share the pain of the attack and also are experiencing backlash from people who judge them to be terrorist supporters because of their ethnicity or faith.
Tillett noted that she has a tenant who is an Arab and "asked him to come and to invite all his friends." Budsan went to the nearby Plaza Extra Supermarket, which is owned by Arabs, and asked general manager Willy Hamed to spread the word, "and he said he would."
For Tillett, who is Jewish, the forum comes in the midst of the annual observance of the Ten Days of Repentance, also called the High Holy Days. It is, Rabbi Jay Heyman of the Hebrew Congregation of St. Thomas said recently, "a period of self-examination and introspection … to examine our hearts and to plead our case before the Eternal." Activities during the period are directed toward reconciliation with both God and other people, he said, "to alter conduct, readjust values and set things right in one's personal life."
That, Tillett said, makes the forum appropriate. "We always want to do for people," she said. And if it become clear from Saturday's participants that there's more to be done, she'll help.
"If there is a desire after Saturday, if people want to come and share, then every Saturday we can put the microphone up and we can talk," she said. "What happened is all we're talking about, anyway. If you meet someone on the street, that's all you talk about."
Budsan's convinced already that the desire will be there to continue the dialogue. "It's going to be a series of meetings," he said. "One child will speak out, then another and another. Then the process will begin, and it's needed."
He added, "We've got to act now. It's not something that can wait until we feel more like dealing with it."
For additional information, call Budsan at 777-7190 or Tillett at 775-1929.
"It" being what most people have been talking about to the exclusion of most everything else in the last 10 days — the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 and their aftermath for America and the world.
"We need to talk," says Jason Budsan, owner of Caribbean Herbals, a candlemaking and craft business located in Tillett Gardens.
Budsan and his landlady, Rhoda Tillett, are organizing the semi-informal forum Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. in the hope of bringing diverse segments of the St. Thomas-St. John community, especially children, together to share their thoughts and feelings.
Dr. Olaf Hendricks, a St. Croix psychiatrist, is expected to moderate the discussion. Other community resource professionals who've said they'll take part include Michal Rhymer of Family Resource Center, Iris Kern of The Safety Zone on St. John, firefighter Daryl George, business executive Michael Bornn and educator Carol Henneman.
Budsan says he's still in the process of reaching out to various sectors of the community to encourage them to participate — school teachers and administrators, counselors, religious leaders, the Police and Education Departments and more.
He said Kern arranged for Hendricks to take part: "He flies to St. Thomas all the time, and Dr. Kern told me he is coming over on his own to do this." Hendricks could not be reached, but Kern confirmed that "he told me he was coming."
Budsan said the forum was inspired by a two-hour live program hosted by Peter Jennings on the ABC television network Saturday morning. Jennings met in a New York City school gymnasium with dozens of youngsters, from pre-school to high school age and from a variety of ethnic and religious backgrounds, and some of their parents. The children largely determined the directions in which the discussion moved, with Jennings calling on pre-positioned experts — in person and via video hookup — in everything from airline operations to the Muslim faith to respond to issues raised.
Then, Saturday afternoon, while Budsan was at work, he said, "I saw a lot of kids in Tillett Gardens, some crying, some just looking at their parents wondering whey they were so shocked at what they were watching on the television. I realized this is the future. Rhoda pulled me over and said 'What should we do?' I said we've got to help the children, the kids that come here. And she said, 'Yes, put it together.'"
Budsan said he started thinking about the ABC special. "I thought, that's exactly what we need to happen — a 'Graffiti Street'-type atmosphere, relaxed, the children speaking, telling each other and us what their fears are." He added, "A lot of the things they say are things we adults would like to say, but we aren't able to express ourselves."
Saturday's forum similarly will be relaxed in structure, Tillett said, and the hope is that Hendricks will serve as moderator.
While reaching out to children is the prime focus of the forum, Tillett said reaching out to the Arab and Muslim members of the local community is extremely important, too. As U.S. residents, they share the pain of the attack and also are experiencing backlash from people who judge them to be terrorist supporters because of their ethnicity or faith.
Tillett noted that she has a tenant who is an Arab and "asked him to come and to invite all his friends." Budsan went to the nearby Plaza Extra Supermarket, which is owned by Arabs, and asked general manager Willy Hamed to spread the word, "and he said he would."
For Tillett, who is Jewish, the forum comes in the midst of the annual observance of the Ten Days of Repentance, also called the High Holy Days. It is, Rabbi Jay Heyman of the Hebrew Congregation of St. Thomas said recently, "a period of self-examination and introspection … to examine our hearts and to plead our case before the Eternal." Activities during the period are directed toward reconciliation with both God and other people, he said, "to alter conduct, readjust values and set things right in one's personal life."
That, Tillett said, makes the forum appropriate. "We always want to do for people," she said. And if it become clear from Saturday's participants that there's more to be done, she'll help.
"If there is a desire after Saturday, if people want to come and share, then every Saturday we can put the microphone up and we can talk," she said. "What happened is all we're talking about, anyway. If you meet someone on the street, that's all you talk about."
Budsan's convinced already that the desire will be there to continue the dialogue. "It's going to be a series of meetings," he said. "One child will speak out, then another and another. Then the process will begin, and it's needed."
He added, "We've got to act now. It's not something that can wait until we feel more like dealing with it."
For additional information, call Budsan at 777-7190 or Tillett at 775-1929.
JUDGE'S ORDER TO REMOVE FLAG PIN OFFENDS
Dear Source,
It was with much surprise that I read of Judge Rhys Hodge's order to Lofton P. Holder to remove an American flag lapel pin that Mr. Holder was wearing to court recently. Attorney Stephen Brusch and Judge Hodge should be ashamed of themselves for this act of anti-patriotism. While the Virgin Islands is geographically far removed from the United States, it is still, to the best of my knowledge, a territory of the United States of America.
Mr. Holder said that he feels as if his First Amendment rights had been violated. I'm not sure you even have to go that far! Mr. Brusch and Judge Hodge have basically just slapped America in the face with these actions.
This, at a time when we all need to stick together, united under one flag. Wave the flag, citizens of the UNITED STATES Virgin Islands!
Eric K. Roeske
Watertown, Wis.
It was with much surprise that I read of Judge Rhys Hodge's order to Lofton P. Holder to remove an American flag lapel pin that Mr. Holder was wearing to court recently. Attorney Stephen Brusch and Judge Hodge should be ashamed of themselves for this act of anti-patriotism. While the Virgin Islands is geographically far removed from the United States, it is still, to the best of my knowledge, a territory of the United States of America.
Mr. Holder said that he feels as if his First Amendment rights had been violated. I'm not sure you even have to go that far! Mr. Brusch and Judge Hodge have basically just slapped America in the face with these actions.
This, at a time when we all need to stick together, united under one flag. Wave the flag, citizens of the UNITED STATES Virgin Islands!
Eric K. Roeske
Watertown, Wis.
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.
MID-ISLAND FISH MARKET GROUND BREAKING RESCHEDULED
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Mid-Island Fisherman's facility has been rescheduled for 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21, at Estate Body Slob, adjacent to the Farmers Market at Ville La Reine.
This planned construction will correct some of the problems with selling fish on the roadsides on St. Croix. When completed, it will coincide with the Farmers Market at Estate Ville la Reine and provide an enhanced shopping experience for the people of St. Croix.
This planned construction will correct some of the problems with selling fish on the roadsides on St. Croix. When completed, it will coincide with the Farmers Market at Estate Ville la Reine and provide an enhanced shopping experience for the people of St. Croix.
JUDGE'S ORDER TO REMOVE FLAG PIN OFFENDS
Dear Source,
It was with much surprise that I read of Judge Rhys Hodge's order to Lofton P. Holder to remove an American flag lapel pin that Mr. Holder was wearing to court recently. Attorney Stephen Brusch and Judge Hodge should be ashamed of themselves for this act of anti-patriotism. While the Virgin Islands is geographically far removed from the United States, it is still, to the best of my knowledge, a territory of the United States of America.
Mr. Holder said that he feels as if his First Amendment rights had been violated. I'm not sure you even have to go that far! Mr. Brusch and Judge Hodge have basically just slapped America in the face with these actions.
This, at a time when we all need to stick together, united under one flag. Wave the flag, citizens of the United States Virgin Islands!
Eric K. Roeske
Watertown, Wis.
It was with much surprise that I read of Judge Rhys Hodge's order to Lofton P. Holder to remove an American flag lapel pin that Mr. Holder was wearing to court recently. Attorney Stephen Brusch and Judge Hodge should be ashamed of themselves for this act of anti-patriotism. While the Virgin Islands is geographically far removed from the United States, it is still, to the best of my knowledge, a territory of the United States of America.
Mr. Holder said that he feels as if his First Amendment rights had been violated. I'm not sure you even have to go that far! Mr. Brusch and Judge Hodge have basically just slapped America in the face with these actions.
This, at a time when we all need to stick together, united under one flag. Wave the flag, citizens of the United States Virgin Islands!
Eric K. Roeske
Watertown, Wis.
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.
BIR NOW ACCEPTING CREDIT AND DEBIT CARDS
The V. I. Bureau of Internal Revenue is now accepting credit cards as payment for all types of taxes.
The credit cards presently accepted are VISA and MASTER CARD. For conveience, ATH cards (debit cards) will also be accepted. Taxpayers must go to the bureau to make these payments.
The credit cards presently accepted are VISA and MASTER CARD. For conveience, ATH cards (debit cards) will also be accepted. Taxpayers must go to the bureau to make these payments.
SCIENCE AWARENESS FOR SECONDARY STUDENTS
Sept. 20, 2001 – Junior and senior high school students and parents are invited to an orientation session for the Science Awareness Saturday Academy Programs and Mentoring Program, at 11 a.m. Saturday at the University of the Virgin Islands. The sessions will be in the Business Room B-110 in St. Thomas, and EC 401/Theater in St. Croix.
Interested students should come with an essay stating which science area they are interested and why.
The Junior Academy will be for students from grades 6-8 and the High School Academy will be for students from grades 9-12. Each academy will accommodate 30 to 35 students.
Sponsored by the Division of Science and Mathematics, the programs will meet monthly. Experiments will be conducted with doctors, scientists, health professionals, engineers, computer specialists and other science professionals. Students will do some homework or follow-up assignments, and will work toward a science poster presentation for the closing May 4, 2001.
For information on St. Thomas, contact the coordinator, Dr. Rosenid Hernández-Badía at (340) 693-1383 or email rhernan@uvi.edu. On St. Croix, contact Dr. Barbara Evans at: email bevans@uvi.edu or (340)692-4101.
Interested students should come with an essay stating which science area they are interested and why.
The Junior Academy will be for students from grades 6-8 and the High School Academy will be for students from grades 9-12. Each academy will accommodate 30 to 35 students.
Sponsored by the Division of Science and Mathematics, the programs will meet monthly. Experiments will be conducted with doctors, scientists, health professionals, engineers, computer specialists and other science professionals. Students will do some homework or follow-up assignments, and will work toward a science poster presentation for the closing May 4, 2001.
For information on St. Thomas, contact the coordinator, Dr. Rosenid Hernández-Badía at (340) 693-1383 or email rhernan@uvi.edu. On St. Croix, contact Dr. Barbara Evans at: email bevans@uvi.edu or (340)692-4101.
JUDGE'S ORDER TO REMOVE FLAG PIN OFFENDS
Dear Source,
It was with much surprise that I read of Judge Rhys Hodge's order to Lofton P. Holder to remove an American flag lapel pin that Mr. Holder was wearing to court recently. Attorney Stephen Brusch and Judge Hodge should be ashamed of themselves for this act of anti-patriotism. While the Virgin Islands is geographically far removed from the United States, it is still, to the best of my knowledge, a territory of the United States of America.
Mr. Holder said that he feels as if his First Amendment rights had been violated. I'm not sure you even have to go that far! Mr. Brusch and Judge Hodge have basically just slapped America in the face with these actions.
This, at a time when we all need to stick together, united under one flag. Wave the flag, citizens of the UNITED STATES Virgin Islands!
Eric K. Roeske
Watertown, Wis.
It was with much surprise that I read of Judge Rhys Hodge's order to Lofton P. Holder to remove an American flag lapel pin that Mr. Holder was wearing to court recently. Attorney Stephen Brusch and Judge Hodge should be ashamed of themselves for this act of anti-patriotism. While the Virgin Islands is geographically far removed from the United States, it is still, to the best of my knowledge, a territory of the United States of America.
Mr. Holder said that he feels as if his First Amendment rights had been violated. I'm not sure you even have to go that far! Mr. Brusch and Judge Hodge have basically just slapped America in the face with these actions.
This, at a time when we all need to stick together, united under one flag. Wave the flag, citizens of the UNITED STATES Virgin Islands!
Eric K. Roeske
Watertown, Wis.
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.
FISH MARKET GROUND BREAKING FRIDAY
Sept. 20, 2001 – A groundbreaking ceremony for the Mid-Island Fisherman’s Market in St. Croix will be held at 2 p.m. Sept. 21. The Market site, located in Estate Body Slob, is close to the Farmer’s Market at Ville La Reine. When the Fishermen's Market opens in about a year, shoppers can pick up produce and fish in one stop.
Norman Edwards, executive assistant to Agriculture Commissioner Henry Schuster, said that currently fishermen sell their wares along Queen Mary Highway and from their boats in Frederiksted and Gallows Bay. He hopes that the fishermen will shift their sales to the new facility when it opens.
"We are building a proper facility with refrigeration," Edwards said. He said the refrigerating the fish will help prevent waste.
Norman Edwards, executive assistant to Agriculture Commissioner Henry Schuster, said that currently fishermen sell their wares along Queen Mary Highway and from their boats in Frederiksted and Gallows Bay. He hopes that the fishermen will shift their sales to the new facility when it opens.
"We are building a proper facility with refrigeration," Edwards said. He said the refrigerating the fish will help prevent waste.
FISH MARKET GROUND BREAKING RESCHEDULED
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Mid-Island Fisherman's facility has been rescheduled for 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21, at Estate Body Slob, adjacent to the Farmers Market at Ville La Reine.
This planned construction will serve to correct some of the problems with selling fish on the roadsides on St. Croix. When completed, this facility will coincide with the Farmers Market at Estate Ville La Reine and provide an enhanced shopping experience for the people of St. Croix.
This planned construction will serve to correct some of the problems with selling fish on the roadsides on St. Croix. When completed, this facility will coincide with the Farmers Market at Estate Ville La Reine and provide an enhanced shopping experience for the people of St. Croix.
