The Federal Transit Administration has awarded a $161,296 grant to the Public Works Department for bus support service for St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix, Government House has announced.
The total project costs $287,936, according to the release, which had no information on how the money will be used or divided among the islands.

Gov. Roy L. Schneider has accepted a gift of land, Virgin Cay Marina near Bovoni, to be used as a conservational/recreational park.
The land was given by the estate of Cynthia Sophie Major to the V.I. government with a stipulation that it be named the Cynthia and Ian Major State Park.
Housing, Parks and Recreation will manage the property, the Government House press release said. It did not indicate how big the cay is or any specific plans for how it will be used.

Tiger Woods played Mahogany Run Golf Course on Wednesday and decided, "I like the course."
Thursday's Daily News has a page 1 story with photo showing Woods golfing. Said Nevin Phillips, golf director at Mahogany Run: "We're in heaven here. He's the No. 1 player in the world."
Phillips said he didn't know Woods was coming to play until a half-hour before his tee time.
Woods played Mahogany Run on his 23rd birthday "to have fun," he told the Daily News. But he wanted his visit to be private, and declined to say where he is staying in St. Thomas or how long he'll be here. He also didn't say what he shot.
Woods, a Stanford University graduate who turned pro in 1996, won the 1997 Masters tournament. He lives in Orlando.

Beginning in January, the Internal Revenue Bureau will computerize all withholding procedures, according to IRB Director Joseph Aubain.
Aubain said that for the first time in 22 years, the bureau will reconcile withholding taxes along with 501, 941, W3 and W2 forms.
For more information call the IRB at 774-5865.

An early February event at Tillett Gardens will herald the return of Chee-Yun, a Korean violinist who is widely recognized in the music world as one of today's most gifted young musicians.
Chee-Yun is a past winner of the Young Concert Artist's International Auditions. Sounds like another must see.
The concert is scheduled for 8 p.m. Feb. 3. Call Tillett Gardens at 775-1929 for ticket information.

Malaysian developer Tan Kay Hock's representative "has not negotiated" with the West Indian Co. Ltd. over terms of a lease "and it appears he does not intend to do so," WICO's president and CEO has said.
Edward E. Thomas released excerpts Wednesday of correspondence with the Public Finance Authority over the status of Tan's negotiations to lease 7 acres at the Long Bay landfill for a $200 million hotel-condominium-marina complex.
Thomas' scathing letter makes it clear that WICO officials believe the developer expected to dictate terms of the lease — something WICO officials decisively rejected.
"The property will not be given away," Thomas wrote the PFA. "It is only fair and prudent for WICO to get a decent financial return for the use of this valuable property."
Thomas apparently released portions of his letter in response to a press release last week from the Public Finance Authority urging WICO to keep the door open for negotiations for the Long Bay project, planned for the site of the derelict Yacht Haven Hotel which Tan now owns.
In response to the authority's request that "this investor (be) adequately nurtured and encouraged to maintain his interest in the territory," Thomas wrote:
"WICO has not closed the door to negotiations but it takes two parties to negotiate. In the process, one party should not expect to dictate the terms and conditions of the negotiations.
"In fact, there has been one discussion between the WICO negotiating team and the representative of Johan Holdings Berhard, Mr. Ian Peacocke.
"Mr. Peacocke has not negotiated, and it appears he does not intend to do so, and has stated and reiterated, the conditions of a lease to which the WICO board must agree and the proposal was Johan Holdings Berhard's final offer.
"We are not sure of the basis for his adamant stance but the members of the negotiating team feel that position is unreasonable, not in the best interest of this territory, and recommended against approval of such a proposal."
Thomas went on to say that "the attention being given" to Peacocke and the development company "must give them a feeling of support not shared by the negotiating team. It may be that Johan Holdings Berhard is accustomed to dictate terms of leases that benefit them only. No financial data or business plan has been provided to us to help us analyze the project and, if they are encouraged to proceed as they wish, no one will ever be privy to those necessary documents."
Thomas said WICO officials have discussed the stalemate with Gov.-elect Charles W. Turnbull, who would have to approve any modification to the existing Coastal Zone Management permit for the landfill site before sending it to the Legislature for its OK.
Turnbull's views about the proposed project are "not as enthusiastic as presented" by the PFA, Thomas noted.
WICO first met with Peacocke in October 1997, Thomas said, but Peacocke didn't submit a proposal to WICO until August 1998.
"And notwithstanding the size of the project and the lack of information about it, he expected an expedited approval on his terms and conditions," Thomas told the PFA. "We do not know what was promised Johan Holdings Berhard but the WICO board members do not feel bound by any commitments that may have been made; we have made none.
Thomas said the WICO board had no objection to the PFA's suggestion that the board hire a reputable Realtor to advise members on the terms of the project but added, "We would not be bound by his/her views since we cannot transfer to him/her the fiduciary responsibility we have."
Editor's note: Please see earlier story on the PFA's recommendations. For a list of WICO board members, check out the Community/Data site.

The business community's meeting Wednesday morning with telecommunications representatives provided no immediate solution to ongoing interruptions in local and long-distance telephone service, the chamber's president said.
"To say the meeting was disappointing is an understatement," said Thomas B. Brunt III.
"We called this meeting to solve problems — to discuss options and suggestions and say, ‘Yes, this will work – no, this won't work,' " Brunt said. "What Vitelco gave us was, 'We're looking into it and doing everything possible to solve the problems.' "
"We are very concerned that the measures being taken will not be adequate to take care of these ongoing problems," Brunt said.
Brunt said that Samuel Ebbeson, president of the V.I. Telephone Corp., admitted during the meeting that Vitelco's existing equipment was installed in the 1980s and said it is inadequate and in poor condition.
Brunt voiced disappointment that the new switch Vitelco is installing won't be ready until March or April. Vitelco also indicated that new T-1 lines would not be available for another 30 to 45 days, Brunt said.
Katrina White-Comissiong, Vitelco's public relations director, verified that the switch is due to be installed in St. Thomas the end of March. Brunt said chamber members are very concerned that they are going to have a repeat of last year's telephone problems that never got solved until January or February.
"The season is over by March or April," Brunt said.
Comissiong said the problem is not money. "We try to anticipate problems at peak times," Comissiong said. "Last year we ordered additional circuits in August. They didn't arrive until January."
She said additional circuits have been ordered and is hopeful that with the help of Puerto Rico Telephone Co. and AT&T Virgin Islands, the process will be expedited.
With the circuits currently available, 336 outbound 1-800 calls can be processed simultaneously, according to Comissiong. With the new two new T-1 lines, the capacity will increase to 378.
The chamber's other concern, Brunt said, is that the Puerto Rico phone company does not have the ability to service this community.
Brunt said Vitelco's tests indicate the company has had a 17 percent failure rate in a 24-hour period. Brunt said the Chamber wants Vitelco to calculate its failure rate between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. — peak business hours.
Comissiong said the tests were done a few weeks ago when serious problems began to surface.
Brunt said the chamber has asked for another meeting next Tuesday, Jan. 5, to give Vitelco time to assess the situation and come up with some concrete solutions.
A representative of A.H. Riise who attended the meeting said the ongoing phone problems — especially the breakdown in 800 service — were a huge issue for retailers , especially in view of the bogus credit cards that may be circulating.
"It's not such a problem for us, because we sell perfume and liquor — small ticket items. But with the Rolex store, it's a different situation." The Riise representative, who asked not to be named, said the store's employees try to verify transactions by cellular phone on large purchases, but that doesn't always work either.
If you cannot verify a transaction, putting it through without electronic verification makes merchants susceptible to fraud.
Brunt said one retailer at the meeting lost a $40,000 sale due to lack of phone lines.
Editor's note: See earlier story for background on the island's recurring telephone problems.

Dates for the V.I. Health Department's division of emergency medical
services' emergency vehicle operators course for EMTs are set for January.
The program will be conducted in two sessions. Classroom-based training
will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., from Jan. 12 to 21.
The driving range courses are scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 23, and Sunday, Jan 24.
Emergency medical technicians planning to participate must register by calling the EMS office at the Roy L. Schneider Hospital at 776-8311.

Before you set in stone your plans for Old Year's Night, consider the island's newest Italian restaurant, Fagioli.
Opened only since Thanksgiving, Fagioli is still a young eatery with loads of potential. The staff is still getting the feel of the place, but they are friendly and eager to please.
Recently I stopped in to talk with Patricio Sagredo, the chef/owner. Allow me to introduce him to you.
Patricio Sagredo is not new to the restaurant business. He has been a chef for most of his life, most recently at Virgilio's, and has owned restaurants in California and Ecuador.
As to his culinary training, his only admittance was that he learned from his Italian mother and grandmother first hand. Now, that's Italian in any cook book. Yet his recipes have subtle flavorings from his Chilean homeland
In answer to the question "What are your favorite dishes?" I got the following answers. First, pasta. All the pasta is homemade, just like his mother taught him. He especially likes the Lasagna Alla Vegetariana. Then seafood — fresh seafood. So fresh that Patricio does not run it on his regular menu. He only offers it as the Pesce del Giorno (Fish of the Day).
According to Patricio, all portions for dinner are large.
"After working eight to nine hours, people want a big meal," he said. However his lunch portions are smaller because people are generally in a bit of a hurry to get back to work.
Check out a sampling of what he has on his special New Year's Eve menu: Grilled Scallops with Baby Greens and a Lemon Caper Dressing for one of the appetizers (priced at $10.95). A choice for entree is Chilean Sea Bass with Crab Meat in Tomato Ragu, served with Pureed Carrots and Sauteed Spinach (priced at $27.95). This latter dish is a personal favorite of this shy, gentle chef.
Along with music and dancing, there will be free champagne offered at the stroke of midnight.
In addition to the specials listed above, Chef Sagredo will be offering his regular menu as well.
He also has a medium priced wine list that carries wines from France, Italy, Chile, Australia and California. Among his champagnes he lists Dom Perignon. Fagioli is located on the waterfront, next door to Gold's Gym. The warm, Mediterranean ambiance of Italy is evident from the first step into this charming new restaurant. The view of our own harbor only serves to enhance the fantasy.
So, for the particulars. Fagioli is open Monday to Saturday for lunch, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and dinner, 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. Live musical entertainment is on hand during dinner hours on Friday and Saturday.
Price range for lunch is $7 – $14, and dinner is $12 – $20.
Reservations for parties of four or more are recommended. Telephone: 777-8116.

The head of the Central Labor Council has sharply criticized top Schneider administration officials for requesting lump-sum payments of their unused annual leave as they step down.
Luis "Tito" Morales said that while this practice is allowed by law, outgoing officials "shouldn't be bleeding the carcass" and exacerbating the islands' fiscal crisis, according to Wednesday's Daily News.
Morales named Gov. Roy L. Schneider, Dean Wallace, Maria Wallace, Amos Carty, Osbert Potter, Alain Lockhart-Mullah, Karen Blyden, Maureen Bryan, Dean Luke, Nellon Bowry, Joseph Aubain and Juan Centeno as officials who have requested pay for their unused annual leave.
Carty told the Daily News he was unaware of who will get lump-sum payments, and Centeno said he couldn't comment on individual cases. But both stressed that there is nothing illegal or improper about the requests.
Alternatively, government employees could extend their official resignation dates and continue to collect bi-weekly paychecks. Or they could credit their unused leave toward their retirement plan, Centeno said.
Morales said the request for costly lump-sum leave payments "is appalling in light of the fact that the Public Remployees Relations Board has been unable to hear cases on the island of St. Thomas because there has been no allotment for travel and other expenses for the past two quarters."