March 4, 2007 — The University of the Virgin Islands' golf course was transformed into the island's largest picnic table Sunday at the annual Afternoon on the Green.
It was a community affair held under the slogan, "It's Celebration Time, Afternoon on the Green has Officially Turned 18." Though rain had threatened the night before, the sun came out brilliantly Sunday.
Dressed in a wool outfit, UVI President LaVerne Ragster looked over the event from a slight hill about noon, just before things got rolling. "I have to leave in a few minutes for a conference for university administrators in Phoenix," she said. "That's why I'm dressed like this. I'm already checked in, but I had a few minutes to come back."
She viewed the scene below her with satisfaction as dozens of volunteers wearing bright green T-shirts busily set up the tables under the brightly striped tents. "This is the most fun and the best fund-raising event we have for networking and bringing the community together."
After briefly addressing the crowd, encouraging one and all to enjoy and thanking the volunteers, Ragster literally ran off for her flight, stopping only at the desert tables to reserve a piece of Vienna cake for her return.
Joseph Boschulte, vice president for institutional advancement, emphasized the instructional side of the event: "Each year, we try to get more educational displays worked into the festivities." As Boschulte spoke, his three-year-old daughter, Janae, ran up, anxious for a hug. Boschulte's family — including his son, Jaedan, and wife, Aisha — came out to enjoy the day, too.
Children make up a big part of the day, and they were there by the dozens Sunday. They enjoyed a "Marine Jeopardy" game, answering questions about dolphins and coral reefs. They saw a candy-making exhibit where goodies were rolled up into peppermint candies called jawbones, storytelling and an ice cream-making demonstration, which they watched with impatience. Over to the side, children enjoyed old-fashioned jump-roping, set up on large plywood stands.
Arguably the most popular venue was the free face-painting tent. Patrice Johnson, UVI public relations director, had a line of youngsters in front of her as she carefully applied yellow, purple and green to the very serious face of Eshae' A'ska, an eight-year-old Ulla Muller third grader.
"I just want to look pretty," she said.
Holding a face-painting book in one hand, Johnson looked up from her handiwork with a smile — sort of.
"I've never done this before," she said. "I'm on the committee and the usual face-painter was engaged, so …." For a novice, Johnson did a land-office business as the youngsters came in unadorned and walked out as cats with whiskers or gaily painted clowns.
And then came the food. Everything from traditional rice and beans to fried breadfruit and Katrina Jambalaya to Lash and Boom's Jack Daniels Tofu. Not to mention the music. Folks kept rhythm to the beat of the Spectrum band while balancing plates of jerk pork or Eli Potato Stuffing, washing it down with maubi, fresh carrot juice and frozen fruit drinks.
Everything cost only $2 a taste except grilled items, which went for a whopping $3 each.
Chris Doute, government automated-library-systems administrator, looked anxiously toward the food tent, which was late for its noon opening. "I've been fasting," he said, "because this is so good. I wanted to wait, but I really have to get something to eat soon."
Spotted a while later, comfortably seated in the shade, Doute said he had broken his fast with some substantial vittles, but he was still awaiting the special treat he had been looking forward to, fried cauliflower.
"There's a sign for it, but it isn't here yet, and it's so good," he said. "I had some at the Bordeaux fair last month. I wish they'd bring it."
Alas, it didn't show. Nor did the Puerto Rican piononos, plantains rolled with meat and vegetables, a treat not often seen on St. Thomas.
First time Green chairwoman Peggy Smith, UVI accounting director, had her hands full. She was everywhere at once, checking and labeling the food items and keeping tabs on the volunteers, all the while maintaining a steady smile.
"I watch the money," she said of her day job, but took on special duties Sunday. "They asked if I could do it, so I took it on. I see I need lots of volunteers to get the stuff on the tables earlier. I'm learning tips for next year."
This year had an abundance of academic displays, and an abundance of young people enthusiastically talking about their particular departments. A trivia game with questions about the territory was run by Sadio Thomas, Ayishih Bellew and Grisha Fleming of the Eastern Caribbean Center, which conducts research and offers data on the Virgin Islands with a small staff.
"Which island has the smallest population?"
"St. John?" someone ventured.
"No, Water Island," someone else said.
"Yes, reach into the box for a prize," Thompson said, and the winner got a package of pencil erasers.
The center is the leading authority for all sorts of information. Now it is building geographic databases for endangered species, as well as political, economic and social resources.
As the afternoon wore on, folks greeted one another and old friends sat contentedly together on benches in the shade. Freshman Sen. Basil Ottley came with his two-year-old daughter, talking with Luis Sylvester from the Legislature. Leona Bryant sampled some foodstuffs. Raul Carillo, formerly of Radio One and now the governor's protocol officer, chatted with Mary Gleason, longtime Frenchman's Reef personality.
All the while, about two dozen Civil Air Patrol cadets directed traffic politely and efficiently, some of them even holding bouquets of bougainvillea.
Back Talk Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.
