Last night was
Cultural Night with the King & Queen of the Band competition. Not much
competition and not as many people as in past years, but the enthusiasm could
not be contained. It was loud and exciting
and a spectacle of color and light. And
it was Infernos all the way. Infernos
took both titles - King Daryl Donovan and Queen Nicole Simms - celebrating the
tenth anniversary of the troupe and their ninth time winning the titles. They
were huge and resplendent with hibiscus and butterflies - Donovan was dressed
up as "Phantom of the Garden...
and Queen Simms decked out as
"Monarch of the Butterflies." but but but against what competition?
There really - was - only one other contestant for King of the Band.. Ok,
Second place to Party Lover's King of the band. In the Juniors - both titles
went to the 4H troupe from the University of the Virgin Islands. No
competition..
Not many folks
came to the St. John VITEMA Public
Hearings last evening. The topic was
hurricanes, tsunamis and earthquakes and a handful of people got the latest on
mitigation and preparation information. It is more than just hurricane
preparation -w e all know about hurricanes - but the others - how do you
prepare? The government is working on a plan to manage a disaster that would
knock out centerline road on St. John... Another idea being discussed is
warning sirens - sirens that would warn of a coming tsunami so people could get
up above sea level.
Should the government make property developers fund the cost
of the infrastructure they need? Should the government allow private developers
to use the government's bonding authority? The Senate was talking about Tax
Increment financing - where they figure out the future taxes the government
will collect from a proposed business and use that stream of funds to finance
bonds to pay for improvements to infrastructure for the development. Some Senators are wary of the broad powers
this would give the Economic Development Commission. They decided to continue
the discussion today.
How about a cash bonus to recruit police officers. The law is already on the books. Senator Carlton Dowe is asking Commissioner
of Police James McCall to implement an existing law and pay a bonus to new police
officers.
You know the Pope is in Washington DC and Delegate Dr. Donna
Christensen says she got to greet the Pope at the White House celebrations
yesterday. She said it was an honor to represent the 20,000 catholics in the
Virgin Islands who look to the Pope for spiritual leadership. Oh and she joined
the singing of Happy Birthday for the Pope.
Clear Blue Sky is
in today's Daily News telling all about this new idea in helping former mental
illness patients re-establish their lives.
Clear Blue Sky is a new idea - and it fits right in to fill some of the
missing pieces in our mental health system.
It is all about helping people reorganize their lives and get back to
being productive regular citizens. There is a special program for health
professionals coming up on Monday at Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort and a program for
the general public and all who are interested in mental health on Tues April 22
- - Call 779-7422.
You're listening to Good News Headlines on WSTA.
I'll have more news in just a minute, first this
8:00 AM - Nisky, Murphy's Auto Parts
9:00 AM - Nisky, Island Pizza, Electronics Unlimited
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Cruise ship news =
= Mariner of the Seas at
Havensight Dock and here at Crown Bay Dock
we have the Maasdam and the Caribbean Princess
= = = Let's give all our visitors a special warm welcome.
St. Croix No fires. The VI Fire Service announced a total
ban on all fires on St. Croix. All burning permits are revoked.
St. Croix you may have low water pressure from Mount Welcome
east to tide village and all along East End Road. From 5:30 PM this evening
through about 2 am Friday.
µ CAHS will
distribute report cards from 1:00 PM to 3:10 PM - to parents and guardians
only. Open House today from 1:00 PM to 3:10:00 PM
µ
Yvonne Milliner Bowsky Elementary School PTA is meeting at
6:00 PM at the Cafeteria.
E. Benjamin Oliver School Band Boosters is meeting at 5:30
PM at the band room.
Chamber of Commerce
Business-After-Hours this evening at the Business World showroom in
Bovoni Commercial Center. 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM.
St. Croix Rotary West has bingo tonight at 7:00 PM with a
500 dollar bonus and a new electronic machine.
Time for the second annual Margaret Mead Film Festival -
today Friday and Saturday at the Harvey
Administration Building at 7:00 PM. The movies are free. Tonight the film is
about Buddhist reincarnation as the filmmakers follow the life of a boy plucked
from obscurity to be the next leading lama of the Tibetan Buddhism. Friday the film is about a community where
the water company has suddenly raised the rates and people are having trouble
paying for water. Saturday our focus on
water continues with a documentary on American lawns and a film from India
about villages that lose water while city people squander it. 7:00 PM tonight,
Friday and Saturday.
This is National
Library week and we have a salute to library workers today at the Enid Baa
Public Library today. Tomorrow is Teen literacy day and Friday is Senior Day at
Florence Williams Public Library. And Friday the new bookmobile will be
dedicated at the UVI golf course. Saturday Florence Williams Public Library has
a block party. Saturday is also the 3rd annual read on the Green at UVI club
house.
This is the week of
the Young Child and there are activities in our schools and head start programs
to raise awareness of the importance of early childhood education. Early
childhood education sets the pattern for later in life and a good start leads
to a good life. Go to your child's early learning center and help them make a
difference for our children.