July 1, 2001 – Gov. Charles W. Turnbull has signed into law amendments to the territory's Tobacco Settlement Act, thus bringing the territory into compliance with the 1998 Tobacco Settlement Agreement, and opening the way for up to $50 million to flow into government coffers over the next 25 years.
Previously unaware that the local law was not in compliance with the master settlement agreement reached in 1998, Turnbull last week called a special session of the Legislature to amend the act by the July 1 deadline.
The tobacco settlement gives the Virgin Islands and other states and territories cash payments in exchange for exempting tobacco companies from future legal action. The statute the territory was required to enact in order to participate in the deal contained typing and technical language errors.
After spending four hours reviewing and revising the bill during the special session Friday morning, the Legislature approved the amendments by a vote of 14-1, with Sen. Adelbert M. Bryan offering the dissenting vote.

July 1, 2001 – Gov. Charles W. Turnbull has signed into law amendments to the territory's Tobacco Settlement Act, bringing the territory into compliance with the 1998 Tobacco Settlement Agreement and opening the way for up to $50 million to flow into government coffers over the next 25 years.
Previously unaware that the local law was not in compliance with the master settlement agreement reached in 1998, Turnbull last week called a special session of the Legislature to amend the act by the July 1 deadline.
The tobacco settlement gives the Virgin Islands and other states and territories cash payments in exchange for exempting tobacco companies from future legal action. The statute the territory was required to enact in order to participate in the deal contained typing and technical language errors.
After spending four hours reviewing and revising the bill during the special session Friday morning, the Legislature approved the amendments by a vote of 14-1, with Sen. Adelbert M. Bryan offering the dissenting vote.

June 30, 2001 – Lions, tigers and bears — oh, my, and many more creatures will take to the stage Thursday through Sunday, July 5-8, as the young actors of the Pistarckle Theater Summer Camp put on "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."
The play is a non-musical version of the classic L. Frank Baum story that was made into the 1939 Judy Garland film "The Wizard of Oz," Pistarckle president Nicola Emerich said.
"When we talked about a show for children, I thought about what would bring out the child in me — and therefore best allow me to share my passion for acting with the children," camp co-director Holli Hornlien said.
Hornlien, a Chicago-based actress who starred in Pistarckle's January production of "The Final Twist," is sharing the direction duties with fellow Chicagoan Julie Ganey.
After three weeks of preparation, the 31 youngsters, ages 8 to15, are psyching themselves up to appear before an audience.
"We all tried out for our different parts," said Erika Nye, her face framed by the shaggy brown mane of the Cowardly Lion costume. Daniella James, playing Toto, jumps in Nye's lap and practices wagging the makeshift white tail sewn onto her black jump suit. "I don't have any lines, but I do have to act a lot," Daniella noted. "I'm always by Dorothy's side.
Katie Ackley's character of Dorothy, in contrast, has had a book-load of lines to learn as the star of the show. "The main thing was not to think of them as lines," Katie said, "but to just follow the flow of the story."
The roles of munchkins, winged monkeys and dancing poppies have gone to many of the younger theater camp participants. Other youngsters are playing key roles behind the scenes. Lubin Davis, for example, is the stage manager and was one of the set painters. "I drew the designs first, then painted them on," he said. The result is a transformation of the Tillett Gardens theater into the Land of Oz itself.
"Theater teaches responsibility, the value of working together as a collaborative effort, and a sense of presence that helps kids later on with speaking in front of people," Emerich said.
There will be four performances of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The first, a "pay as you can" pre-opening, is at 8 p.m. Thursday. The official opening is at 8 p.m. Friday. Matinees are scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $12 for general admission and $6 for children ages 10 and under. They may be purchased in advance at Polli's Mexican Restaurant and East End Secretarial Services, or at the door. To learn more and to reserve seating, call 775-7877.

June 30, 2001- Evangelism, music and dance are coming together for a series of Christian outreach presentations at Christiansted and Frederiksted venues Sunday through Friday.
Presented by the local organization Youth With a Mission and by Christ's Wesleyan Church in Egg Harbor, N.J., the programs will feature international evangelist Mike Smalley and Mark Levine of the New Jersey congregation.
As one of its evangelistic outreach projects this year, Christ's Wesleyan Church has sent a 36-member team to St. Croix this week to take on three concurrent projects: staffing a summer camp, conducting "street evangelism" events at Paul E. Joseph Stadium in Frederiksted and at the corner by Bassin Triangle and the police station in Christiansted, and presenting five free concerts of classical, jazz and gospel music.
The evangelism programs are also featuring the In His Steps Dancers from the Word of Life Church in Atlantic City, N.J.
The evangelism rallies begin at 7:30 p.m. — on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at Bassin Triangle and in the stadium. There are no programs on the Fourth of July holiday Wednesday. Smalley will lead the Christiansted programs and Levine and Pastor Andrew Dixon will lead those in Frederiksted.
"We have two teams that are dividing their time between the two venues," a member of Youth With A Mission said. "Only the dance group is going back and forth between the two locations.
The In His Steps Dancers, a group that has appeared Off-Broadway and on college campuses as well as in churches, will perform on Sunday, Tuesday and Friday at Bassin Triangle and on Monday and Thursday at the stadium.
The concerts are being presented by saxophonist Lawrence Gwozdz, music faculty member of the University of Southern Mississippi, accompanied by pianist Martha Gardner, adjunct faculty member at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Local artists also have been invited to perform.
The first concert was Saturday night at Island Center. The others will take place Sunday at 9:30 a.m. at Sunny Isle Baptist Church, Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at Midland Wesleyan Church, Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at First Assembly of God and Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church.
Gwozdz directs the USM Sax-Chamber Orchestra, which performed recently at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. He will be sharing the story of how he became a world-acclaimed alto saxophonist in spite of having been born with the disabling disease of spina bifida.
Also taking part in the evangelism events is Pastor Norman Goos of Christ's Wesleyan Church, who has been serving that congregation since 1985. He also has served as dean of graduate studies for the Caribbean College of the Bible, a pastoral training institution based in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
The Wesleyan Church is a worldwide denomination with more than 3,000 congregations that operates 22 colleges and several hospitals.
Churches participating in the St. Croix evangelism activities are Beeston Hill Wesleyan Holiness, Calvary Baptist Church and Christian School, Church of God (Holiness), Church of God (Holiness) West End Mission, Church of God of Prophecy, Church of the Nazarene/William's Delight, First Assembly of God, Frederiksted Assembly of God, Frederiksted Wesleyan Holiness, Golden Rock Church of the Nazarene, Grace Baptist, Holy Ghost Deliverance Ministry, House of Prayer Ministry Inc., Iglesia de Dios MB Sol de Justicia, Midland Wesleyan Holiness, Miracle Revival Deliverance, St. Croix Christian, St. Croix Christian Union, The Salvation Army, V.I. Wesleyan Holiness, Vision of Hope Foundation Ministry, Word of Life Ministries Inc. and Z.L. Grady AME Church, with support from the Sunny Isle Baptist and Way of the Cross Baptist Churches.
The public is invited to all of the programs. For further information, call Peter Farnum at Youth With A Mission, 778-7373.

June 30, 2001 – Charley Tinsley's may not be a household name in the Virgin Islands yet, but the St. Thomas newcomer hopes to find fame and fortune — not for himself, but for the Boy Scouts.
Since Jan.1, the new Boy Scouts of America chief executive officer for the territory has been working to increase public awareness about the scouting program. His hope is to make scouting more visible in the community, improve communication with the public and intensify fund-raising efforts.
Born in Hermanville, Miss., Tinsley studied marketing in college. After earning a master of business administration degree from Jackson State University, he moved to Detroit, where he taught college business courses. In 1985, he chanced upon the Boy Scouts when he answered a blind ad. "The scouting values matched my own," he says. "This was a chance to give back to the community."
Now a 15-year veteran of the Boy Scouts organization, Tinsley was selected over three other candidates to head the V.I. Council.
The Virgin Islands "is a different place from where I'm from," he says. "Compared to big-city life in Detroit, there is a calmness here." While there is a lot for which to be thankful in that, he says, the slow pace of the islands has its down side, too. "Every day that goes by, we miss the opportunity make a positive impact on a child," he explains.
That's why Tinsley, who is based on St. Thomas, has been busy training staff and volunteers and helping to organize a slew of fund-raising events. In his first half year on the job, he has been involved with the Boy Scouts Royak Regattas on St. Thomas and St. Croix and the Governor's Cup Golf Tournament.
He is preparing now for the upcoming 29th annual USVI Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament, popularly known as the "Boy Scouts tournament." Considered the best of its kind, the contest attracts top anglers from around the globe. Last year's event netted $140,000 for the Boy Scouts, making it the local scouting program's biggest fund-raiser by far.
Fund-raising events are critical to the Boy Scouts, accounting for 62 percent of the local chapter's budget, according to Tinsley. "They are also a great opportunity for us to showcase scouting and tie in nicely with the community," he adds.
Tinsley plans to remain in the Virgin Islands for another four to five years. The Boy Scouts organization generally advocates short terms for council heads to allow for career opportunities within the organization. "If you remain in a position for too long, you can lose your edge," Tinsley says.
He equates his job to running in a 100-meter relay. "You make a whole lot happen in a short time," he says, "then hand over the baton."

June 30, 2001 – Charley Tinsley's may not be a household name in the Virgin Islands yet, but the St. Thomas newcomer hopes to find fame and fortune — not for himself, but for the Boy Scouts.
Since Jan.1, the new Boy Scouts of America chief executive officer for the territory has been working to increase public awareness about the scouting program. His hope is to make scouting more visible in the community, improve communication with the public and intensify fund-raising efforts.
Born in Hermanville, Miss., Tinsley studied marketing in college. After earning a master of business administration degree from Jackson State University, he moved to Detroit, where he taught college business courses. In 1985, he chanced upon the Boy Scouts when he answered a blind ad. "The scouting values matched my own," he says. "This was a chance to give back to the community."
Now a 15-year veteran of the Boy Scouts organization, Tinsley was selected over three other candidates to head the V.I. Council.
The Virgin Islands "is a different place from where I'm from," he says. "Compared to big-city life in Detroit, there is a calmness here." While there is a lot for which to be thankful in that, he says, the slow pace of the islands has its down side, too. "Every day that goes by, we miss the opportunity make a positive impact on a child," he explains.
That's why Tinsley, who is based on St. Thomas, has been busy training staff and volunteers and helping to organize a slew of fund-raising events. In his first half year on the job, he has been involved with the Boy Scouts Royak Regattas on St. Thomas and St. Croix and the Governor's Cup Golf Tournament.
He is preparing now for the upcoming 29th annual USVI Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament, popularly known as the "Boy Scouts tournament." Considered the best of its kind, the contest attracts top anglers from around the globe. Last year's event netted $140,000 for the Boy Scouts, making it the local scouting program's biggest fund-raiser by far.
Fund-raising events are critical to the Boy Scouts, accounting for 62 percent of the local chapter's budget, according to Tinsley. "They are also a great opportunity for us to showcase scouting and tie in nicely with the community," he adds.
Tinsley plans to remain in the Virgin Islands for another four to five years. The Boy Scouts organization generally advocates short terms for council heads to allow for career opportunities within the organization. "If you remain in a position for too long, you can lose your edge," Tinsley says.
He equates his job to running in a 100-meter relay. "You make a whole lot happen in a short time," he says, "then hand over the baton."

The League of Women Voters of the Virgin Islands will hold its monthly luncheon meeting at noon, Monday, July 9, at Chickie's Restaurant in Frenchtown. Members and the general public are invited.
There will be a discussion with the staff of the Legislative Committee on Economic Development regarding a draft sustainable economic development plan. A question and answer period will follow.
For reservations call Norma Levin at 774-5227 or Eleanor Cerge at 776-9357.

June 30, 2001 — The League of Women Voters of the Virgin Islands will hold its monthly luncheon meeting at noon, Monday, July 9, at Chickie's Restaurant in Frenchtown. Members and the general public are invited.
There will be a discussion with the staff of the Legislative Committee on Economic Development regarding a draft sustainable economic development plan. A question and answer period will follow.
For reservations call Norma Levin at 774-5227 or Eleanor Cerge at 776-9357.

June 30, 2001 – Charley Tinsley's may not be a household name in the Virgin Islands yet, but the St. Thomas newcomer hopes to find fame and fortune — not for himself, but for the Boy Scouts.
Since Jan.1, the new Boy Scouts of America chief executive officer for the territory has been working to increase public awareness about the scouting program. His hope is to make scouting more visible in the community, improve communication with the public and intensify fund-raising efforts.
Born in Hermanville, Miss., Tinsley studied marketing in college. After earning a master of business administration degree from Jackson State University, he moved to Detroit, where he taught college business courses. In 1985, he chanced upon the Boy Scouts when he answered a blind ad. "The scouting values matched my own," he says. "This was a chance to give back to the community."
Now a 15-year veteran of the Boy Scouts organization, Tinsley was selected over three other candidates to head the V.I. Council.
The Virgin Islands "is a different place from where I'm from," he says. "Compared to big-city life in Detroit, there is a calmness here." While there is a lot for which to be thankful in that, he says, the slow pace of the islands has its down side, too. "Every day that goes by, we miss the opportunity make a positive impact on a child," he explains.
That's why Tinsley, who is based on St. Thomas, has been busy training staff and volunteers and helping to organize a slew of fund-raising events. In his first half year on the job, he has been involved with the Boy Scouts Royak Regattas on St. Thomas and St. Croix and the Governor's Cup Golf Tournament.
He is preparing now for the upcoming 29th annual USVI Open/Atlantic Blue Marlin Tournament, popularly known as the "Boy Scouts tournament." Considered the best of its kind, the contest attracts top anglers from around the globe. Last year's event netted $140,000 for the Boy Scouts, making it the local scouting program's biggest fund-raiser by far.
Fund-raising events are critical to the Boy Scouts, accounting for 62 percent of the local chapter's budget, according to Tinsley. "They are also a great opportunity for us to showcase scouting and tie in nicely with the community," he adds.
Tinsley plans to remain in the Virgin Islands for another four to five years. The Boy Scouts organization generally advocates short terms for council heads to allow for career opportunities within the organization. "If you remain in a position for too long, you can lose your edge," Tinsley says.
He equates his job to running in a 100-meter relay. "You make a whole lot happen in a short time," he says, "then hand over the baton."

June 30, 2001 — The League of Women Voters of the Virgin Islands will hold its monthly luncheon meeting at noon, Monday, July 9, at Chickie's Restaurant in Frenchtown.
Members and the general public are invited.
There will be a discussion with the staff of the Legislative Committee on Economic Development regarding a draft sustainable economic development plan. A question and answer period will follow.
For reservations call Norma Levin at 774-5227 or Eleanor Cerge at 776-9357.