The public discourse is filled with talk on the state of children, youth and families in the territory. The tenor of this discourse is not positive, as we long for the days when families were stronger, children respectful of their elders and youth hopeful and thoughtful about the future.
This longing always seems to give way to accusations and recriminations as to the causes and who’s at fault. If it takes a village to raise a child, it is safe to say the village is under pressure.
Rather than have dialogue on these issues, we have spirited dialectics on the moral climate of today’s society, or argue the relative importance of changes in the educational, legal and economic systems.
Recognizing that individual and government responsibility is a continuous public discussion, we get stuck in what Professor Cornell West of Harvard University calls the opposing views of the structuralists and the behavioralist. And no matter what side you’re on, men and fatherhood are in the center of the discussion.
As a community we need a new way of looking at fatherhood that gets beyond the impasse of trying to decide whether the crisis in families is a result of moral, cultural, economic or legal machinations.
The pressure on our children, youth and families precludes us from waiting for changes in either the moral climate or government programs.
The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands, or CFVI, through its Our Children Now! initiative, decided to focus on what can be done now. As a result the Fatherhood Initiative was launched.
The initiative seeks to change the public discourse to focus on three elements:
— The importance of connecting men to their children, regardless of their marital status.
— The shared responsibility of individual fathers and mothers and those who work with families.
— The opportunities that community agencies have in fostering those connections.
With the support of the national Coalition of Community Foundations for Youth, CFVI put a plan in place to gather information on the status of fatherhood in the territory. The plan’s key strategies are to get the man’s point of view on fatherhood, develop a support network for fathers and identify institutional barriers to responsible fatherhood.
Over the past six months focus groups have been held on all three islands to begin collecting data from fathers. Many men expressed excitement that for once, someone was finally asking for “their side of the story.”
For many of the men the sessions were a catharsis. Brutally frank and honest, the men talked about their successes and their failures as fathers. Make no mistake about it, men are well aware of what it takes to be a “good” father.
Soon after the convening of the focus groups, CFVI sponsored fatherhood events with many of the men who participated in the focus groups.
All the men in the St. John focus spent a day with their children at Coral World, St. Thomas’ aquarium. On St. Croix, the men and their children went on a day sail. In both cases men got an opportunity to be fathers in settings outside their normal routines. The men proved that tying a shoe lace or changing a pamper was not exclusively woman’s work.
In the coming year CFVI plans to establish formal support groups with the men from the focus groups, using them to reach out to more men in the community.
A concomitant goal is to identify support services, when needed, for the men who participate. A process to map institutional barriers to responsible fatherhood is also being developed.
Much of the guidance for this work is coming from national practitioners on the mainland, where the issue of fatherhood came to the forefront of social service discussions in the early '90s.
We know there is a lot of work to be done, and we don’t proclaim to have all the answers. We are not yet certain of how to create community expectations for fathers. And we are only now grappling with how to influence support systems, and the government agencies that have a direct effect on fathers and families.
We are, however, committed to identifying issues and implementing solutions. You see it’s not just our children who are at risk, it’s the village.

The League of Women Voters of the Virgin Islands will hold a buffet luncheon at 12 noon on Mon., Jan. 25 , at L’Escargot, SubBase.
The special guests will be members of the 23rd Legislature. Senate President Vargrave Richard is expected to outline the senate agenda. The public is invited. Please call 775-9269 or 776-9357 for reservations by January 22, 1999.

These savory, crisp fritters, laced with the delicate flavor of conch, are favorite snacks throughout the islands. Since fresh or thawed frozen raw conch is very tough, it must be tenderized in a pressure cooker or, if a recipe requires it raw, like this one, it needs to be pounded to break it down. The conch can then be finely minced or ground in the food processor or a meat grinder.
1 pound conch, cleaned, tenderized and passed through a food processor or meat grinder
3/4 cup finely diced celery
1/2 cup minced scallions
1/4 cup finely minced carrot
1 finely minced garlic clove
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 large egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup cool water or as needed
Few dashes hot sauce
Salt and freshly ground pepper
vegetable or peanut oil
Combine the ingredients through the thyme in a large bowl. Add the flour, baking powder, and egg. Combine. Stir in the water, a little at a time. The mixture should have a very thick batterlike consistency. Season with the hot sauce and salt and pepper.
Heat 2 to 3 inches of oil in a deep fryer to 375 degrees. Drop the batter in rounded tablespoons into the oil. Cook in batches until golden brown all over. One word of caution: The center cooks last, so sample one of each batch to make sure it's done. That's the cook's reward. Drain each batch and serve with cocktail or tartar sauce or the following lime dipping sauce.
Lime Dipping Sauce
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup sour cream
1 finely minced scallion
1/4 cup finely minced green pepper
1/4 cup well-drained crushed pineapple (patted dry between paper towels)
1 tablespoon mustard or to taste
2 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice Dash or 2 of hot pepper sauce Salt and freshly ground pepper

Combine the ingredients and refrigerate at least one hour before serving.
Serves 6 to 8.
Editor's note: Michele Evans, a resident of St Thomas, is the author of thirteen cookbooks. She also co-authored "La Cucina Siciliana di Gangivecchio", which won the James Beard Foundation award for the best Italian cookbook for 1997. Her travel guide, "Caribbean Connoisseur…An Insider's Guide to the Islands' Best Hotels Resorts and Inns", published by St. Martin's Press is in its third edition.

Researchers have finally estimated the lifetime risk for developing coronary heart disease (CHD). One out of every two men and one out of every three women aged 40 and under will develop CHD. Those who have survived to age 70 still face the risk that one out of every three men and one out of every four women will develop CHD in their remaining years of life.
According to Claude Lenfant, MD, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Director: This study shows why it is so important for adults of all ages to take steps to prevent heart disease. Even young adults should know their cholesterol and blood pressure numbers, eat in a heart-healthy way, be physically active and watch their weight to reduce their lifetime risk of CHD.
Heart disease is the #1 killer of Americans. It occurs when the coronary arteries become narrowed or clogged and cannot supply enough oxygen-rich blood to the heart. It leads to chest pain, called angina, and heart attacks. People are more likely to die from heart disease than cancer, stroke, lung diseases or accidents.
Leading indicators for CHD are high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, sedentary habits, overweight, and smoking.
Many physicians caring for senior citizens may have believed persons who survive to an older age without CHD are no longer susceptible to developing it. Since even at age 70 the average person remains at high risk, greater emphasis should be placed on control of risk factors in older men and women according to CHD specialists.
The findings are based on a 50-year study involving 7,733 volunteers, aged 40-94. This study provided a well-described population with long-term follow-up and carefully documented CHD events and causes of death. The Study is far superior to other estimates limited by reliance on death certificate data or short-term follow up according to CHD specialists.

Block scheduling, which began at Ivanna Eudora Kean and Charlotte Amalie high schools in August, is getting high marks from the schools' principals.
The new scheduling system, which took students from seven 50-minute classes a
day to four 90-minute classes a day, is a winner for students and teachers alike, according to a Daily News report.
Sinclair Wilkinson, principal at Eudora Kean, said block scheduling has reduced absenteeism and campus violence.
And "twice as many students are on the honor roll," Wilkinson said, adding 90 percent of teachers like the new system.
Those who don't complain there's not enough material to support the block, he said, adding this reflects a lack of audio-visual equipment and materials to support lessons.
CAHS Principal Jeanette Smith echoed Wilkinson's comments and said "our challenge is getting teachers to effectively utilize the 90-minute time."
CAHS teacher Barbara Lawrence said teachers now have a smaller student load — 65 to 75 students — as opposed to about 130 before.
Lawrence said this gives her a better chance to know the students, and with fewer papers to grade, she can give more work.
Other problems facing the education system, including lack of equipment, supplies and substitute teachers and continuing theft of computers, still plague the system.

Peter Holmberg and his new compatriots on VIM III got off to a good warmup race Monday with a fourth in the very tough IMS Class.
Holmberg said decisions on which side of the course to favor on the second beat decided the outcome. VIM came out best of the group on the "wrong" side to finish fourth for the day.
Chris Rosenberg and B.V.I. Olympic racer Robbie Hirst are sailing in the Melges 24 One Design class. These V.I. sailors, with 60 boats on the starting line, finished a very strong third in the first race of the day. The second race was a disappointment, however, with a finish in the mid-20s.
Last year the V.I. Melges crew said getting into the top 10 pack was a big leap from the rest of the boats, so it remains to be seen if they can crack the barrier again.
Because of the large number of entries at the GMC Yukon Yachting Key West Race Week, not all the boats race in the same area.
This allows for different sizes of the race courses and, as you note from the above report, even different numbers of races to be held from one class to another.

The official celebration Monday honoring the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. echoed with commitments to peace, freedom, brotherhood — and to our young people.
Gov. Charles W. Turnbull, keynote speaker, said government officials must join with churches and community groups to establish a no-nonsense tough-love program to save young people, the Daily News reported.
"We must all be resolved to do our part to work together as one people, for as one people we shall rise or as one people we shall sink," he said.
Turnbull also called for meaningful celebrations of local and federal government holidays.
"If we feel our holidays shouldn't be celebrated, then we should tell each other and scrap it and work," he said. "If we go to the beach and elsewhere and don't know the meaning of the holiday, it should be scrapped."
The ceremony began with an interfaith ecumenical service conducted by the Interfaith Coalition of St. Thomas-St. John at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral and continued with a parade down Main Street to Emancipation Garden.
JROTC students from Charlotte Amalie and Ivanna Eudora Kean high schools led the parade, according to the Daily News.
The CAHS marching band played during the parade and the music continued at Emancipation Garden with tributes from local
choirs from CAHS, Eudora Kean High and Kirwan Terrace Elementary School.
Other participants in the tribute included "God's Chosen Vessels," a pantomime group from the Faith Christian Fellowship Church and Kareem Turnbull, a seventh-grader at Zion Assembly School.
Turnbull, who marched in the parade down Main Street, then presented remarks to the crowd of about 300 people, said King's message was that "each of us must be prepared to do our best in our true greatness."
The holiday, he added, was a time to remember the work and sacrifice of King and those who marched and worked with him.
One young person attending the tribute, 14-year-old Calvern Williams, said if King hadn't died, the United States might have had a black president.
"If we continue living up to what he tried to accomplish, we could be more productive," Williams said.

Six days (nights) what ever; dedicated to MUSIC! Great!
Was Beachjam '99 a good deal? You betcha. Bill Grogan, the Bornns, and all their cohorts should be praised to the rooftops. Beachjam '99 was near perfect. Great weather, Great location, excellent proscenium, super duper crowd, and lively music to quench any pallet. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.
I loaded biker mama on the Kawasaki and trundled off to the beach around noon. The crowd was building and the food services were doing a great business. By 12:30 the pates were almost all gone and we were into serious food. The only thing lacking was mutton, beef stew and Chinese. Next time?
The Zydeco Express didn't garner their share of publicity last week, but they were a great choice to lead off the day. Country and Western is simply fun music. There was a guy in the middle of the stage who was committed to scratching his chest off except for some galvanized — hung there by his mother? Good band, good sounds, good presentation. Made my Texas Pit go down smooth.
Next was the Tabou Combo. I never did figure out just how many are in a combo, maybe it is like the Texas Pit Combo, some of everything that's around. Again, good sound with a bit more of a jump up beat. One problem they have is some dude in black who chose to educate us to the Fxxx word. We have enough of our own trash without importing any more from New York. I would suggest the Tabou Combo educate Mr. Mud Mouth to the realities of a family beach outing before they become taboo.
Similarly, there was a trashy woman from New York thrown away by a Jamaican; or something. She obviously has a problem with body parts and sex. Someone who has to stoop to this level looking for comedy obviously lives in a waste land. Not next year!
Finally the band we had been waiting to cap the weekend stormed the stage and warmed up. Then we all waited. Now and then an instrumentalist would blow or twang to keep his fingers/ tongue/ etc. warm. And we all waited. Making people wait is a cheap shot used by immature egoists. Puente shouldn't need that garbage.
When he found the stage, we were treated to bursts of excellent mambo and asides of how good Tito Puente is. Mr. Grandstand made it a point of playing every piece and announcing he didn't need to do encores because he was so great. As I remember it, the audience asks for an encore because the musicians have done a superior job and the audience wants to hear more. Puente's Band I would definitely ask for encore. I love Big Band Music. The only reason I would encore Puente based on today's performance is the fact I think he should work for his money.
As a Senior Citizen proudly sporting my blue band, I have great empathy for the many jazz stars this week who slowed down, took breaks, etc. to overcome the fatigue incumbent with extended performance. Especially at the rate they all played; including Puente. My problem is the performer with a great band who limits the performance to the lowest common denominator  his stamina. The Puente Band had three trumpets, two trombones, two saxes, a piano, three percussion and a guitar. Talented musicians most capable of carrying one number after another. Brownie stepped in for the final number and rapped out his own mean mambo. Puente could have let Irvin play several numbers and capitalized on a most talented Virgin Islander who has the respect of us all. In my humble opinion, Mr. Puente would be well advised to headline a special number now and then, letting his most excellent organization carry the show. Seventy to eighty minutes of music didn't cut it.
Beachjam was an almost unqualified success. Next time lets get a less egotistical headliner, one who enjoys playing music for the crowd. Paul Oscher and Danielo Perez are two who come to mind.

On his fourth trip to St. Thomas, Latin legend Tito Puente said his message to St. Thomas and its people is, "I love you -— you have given me inspiration for my music."
Puente, who is from Ponce, Puerto Rico, was the headliner for BeachJam ‘99. Puente said he believes God gave him a gift of musical talent and he will play "for as long as my health holds up."
In an interview before his afternoon performance at Magens Bay, he said he had a special connection to St. Thomas and its people.
"St. Thomas people understand Latin music," he said.
He remembered a special St. Thomian: Milo Francis, former band leader of Milo and the Kings, whom Puente recalled playing with at the Palladium in New York City in 1964.
"I loved Milo," he said. "I remember drinking rum with him."
Puente brought the house down with his famous "Oye Como Va," made popular by the band "Santana," but written by Puente.
When asked about the tune that most people think was written by Carlos Santana, Puente said, "I don't mind. I love getting those nice royalty checks."

People arrived steadily all day long Monday, the Martin Luther King holiday, for BeachJam '99 at Magens Bay.
Starting at 6 a.m. and continuing throughout the day they came: young and old; black, white and brown — even some red by the end of the day; locals, tourists and people from surrounding islands, joined together in a momentous musical event. And there was not a sour note to be heard on stage or off.
How many people? It's hard to judge, according to Bill Jowers, general manager at Magens Bay.
"Because there are no cars here, I don't have my usual measuring stick," Jowers said. Early in the day he said his best guess would be about 3,000 people, but as the day came to an end Jowers estimated the crowd at its peak to be 4,000 to 4,500. But people were coming and going all day long so there could have been more, he said.
BeachJam organizer Bill Grogan said he had no idea how many people showed up. But no matter how many people are there, Grogan said, "you always want more."
But, he added, "it's a great crowd."
And that was sentiment of the day.
"It was a great success and really well-organized," said UVI student Teneka Richardson. "I hope they do it again next year, or next week even."
Teneka arrived on foot from her home in the Wintberg area.
That is how almost everyone arrived.
"It's different here at the beach — to have this here and with top-name bands, too," said one attendee who asked not to be named.
"I'm a Seventh-day Adventist, " she explained.
Capt. Red Bailey of the sportfishing boat Abigail III said, "I've seen more familiar faces here today than I've seen in the last five years. It's great."
Those who didn't walk in came by boat. About 45 boats were anchored in the bay where it's unusual to see five.
"Except for the fishing boats, there are usually only one or two here on a good day," said Jowers.
People who came in by boat paid the same $15 admission fee as everyone else, according to a visitor from Boston who arrived on a boat.
And for the $15 ticket price, beach goers got a day full of music, starting at 9 a.m. at the two Jam stages at either end of the beach road with two gospel choirs, the UVI Jazz Ensemble, and continuing with the All Stars Steel Band.
Events got under way at noon on the main stage where HBO comediennes Barbara Carlyle and DK took turns MCing the event and cracking up the crowd with their unique wit. Irving "Brownie" Brown, local radio personality, calypsonian and musician, also took the stage to help introduce the acts.
Brown was surprised to find himself on stage again later, when headliner Tito Puente invited him to join his band for the final number.
Puente and Brown were reacquainted before the show when they realized they had met back in 1964 in New York City when Puente and well-loved local band leader
Milo Frances played the Palladium together.
As the sun began to get lower in the sky, the crowd slowly began leaving the beach, gathering at the entrance to the park to get a "ride-up" on one of the 10 shuttles that were circling the road into and out of the beach all day.
"Outstanding", said resident Richard Brown. "Someone stepped up and made this happen. That's the best part."
"Love it, love it," said Monique Sibilly Hodge. "I'm having a great time."
"These are the kinds of events the Virgin Islands needs," said E.J. Armstrong as he left the beach with his wife and two children.
A day at the beach, as the promoters said, will never be the same.