In a tradition started somewhere around 50 years ago, Frenchtown celebrated Fathers Day all weekend. The festivity's "Brownie's-ville" honored Irvin "Brownie" Brown, popular WSTA Radio show host, entertainer, master of ceremonies and Frenchtown Santa Claus.
Which is not to say Miss Carenage 2000 was overlooked. The 17-year-old Jenielle Maria Jeppesen took her place on the bandstand alongside Brown, to be crowned by reigning V.I. Carnival Queen Canika-Chisa George and Miss Carenage 1999, Tamika J. Scott.
Paying tribute to Brown were Athniel "Addie" Ottley, president of WSTA, and Jean Greaux Jr., president of the Committee for the Betterment of Carenage Inc., which hosted the weekend affair. Gov. Charles W. Turnbull, Sen. Lorraine Berry and Ira Hobson, Housing, Parks and Recreation Department commissioner, offered remarks.
The weekend was dedicated to dancing, drink, music, food and fun. Capping Sunday night, Theodore "Magic" Danet presented awards for the Mothers Day and Fathers Day fishing tournaments. The Best Female Captain award went to Jenine Berry on Rampage, with a total catch weight of 90 pounds. Named Best Male Captain was Mark Marin on Headmistress, with a total weight caught of 87 pounds.
"It's really different now," Danet said, recalling the time maybe 40, 50 — anyhow a lot of years — ago, when he got together with Louis Greaux, Pete Ledee, Alan Richardson, the late Gus Aubain and a few others and decided to make something of Fathers Day. A little fishing, a little food, a little drink, and sometimes a ragtag parade past the late Bar Normandie. Anyone could join in. It didn't matter who you were.
It still doesn't matter, but things have become somewhat more organized with sponsors, presentations, a bandstand, T-shirts, raffles, no end of professional musicians, and lots of food booths, Carnival Village style.
Jerry Richardson, manning "Caribbean Taste," couldn't remember how many years he's been participating, either, but he was enthusiastic about his wares -– "Trinidadian, Latin, we've got roti, curry, pates, fish, everything."
Sampling the wares and the music of Smalls & the Music Makers Sunday afternoon was a visitor with a familiar face — 16-year island resident and artist Martha Galiber. "I've never come down before," she said. "I didn't know what I was missing!"
The mini-carnival went on well into all three nights, celebrated by people who did know what they'd be missing. They jumped up to the various sounds of P'Your Passion, Imaginations Brass, Sea Breeze and the venerable Frenchtown favorite Smalls & the Music Makers.
