Nov. 7, 2008 — A benevolent moon shone down on Crown Bay Harbor Thursday evening as hundreds of hungry and happy folks indulged in an elegant feast under the stars to benefit public television WTJX Channel 12.
Folks' hunger was appeased by the bountiful buffet and their happiness more than appeased by the election of Barack Obama. It was the talk of the evening at the station's fourth annual fund-raiser, "A Taste of Two Islands."
Radio personality Lee Vanterpool, a/k/a "LeeV," sporting an Obama T-shirt, was enthusiastic about the benefit, the food and the election. "I like the diversity of WTJX programming," he said. About our president-elect, he was all smiles: "Look at what I'm wearing," he said.
Yvette deLaubanque, WTJX development officer, circulated among the more than 25 local restaurant displays, hardly having time for a bite, let alone an interview. "We've sold about 400 tickets so far," she said. "This is the first time we've had it here." She said before it was at the Sunset Terrace at Marriott's Frenchman's Reef, but, "we outgrew the location.
"I like the ambience here," said deLaubanque. The crowd was festive, the music — Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights — was upbeat, and deLaubanque gave short shrift to a hint of rain to come.
The buffet spread far and wide over the harbor with white-skirted stations offering everything from apricot muffins, to sophisticated shrimp dishes, arugula salads with mozzarella cheese, salt fish, tiny tasty ribs and local salt fish and johnnycake, blackened potato salad, roti and chow mein.
While proferring a roasted Brussels sprout, East End Café manger Brendon deWitt said, "This is such good exposure. Our chef Adam Breshnahan prepared this."
Chef Douglas Gluntz of Café Amici, a first-timer at the event, was dispensing his salads like, well, hot cakes. "It's a positive thing to do," he said, handing over a small plate of green goddess salad, which lived up to its name.
While folks milled around the myriad assortment of treats, Charlotte Amalie High School French Club students Vernitia Rogers and Kevin Greaux stood by offering assistance. Rogers said, "This is just one of many functions we do. Madame Dockery didn't even have to ask us to volunteer for this one. We help set up the tables and we escort people."
Monique and Derek Hodge were among those circulating, enjoying the food and the evening's general good feeling, along with a smattering of senators, and others out to support the local station. "It's a wonderful thing to do," Monique Hodge said.
Sen. Terrence "Positive" Nelson, was far more concerned with the national election than his own win Tuesday — he was St. Croix's biggest vote-getter. Surrounded by well-wishers, Nelson said, "It's a big thing; I'm 41, and it's the biggest thing in my lifetime. This is phenomenal. It will help close the gap, the divide. The earth, the universe will respond."
Unfortunately, the universe responded far too directly. About midway through the evening the rain came, not nearly as benevolent as the moon.
However, the crowd was local and did the obvious thing: moved out of the rain, and kept on eating, chatting and dancing, while many of the food stations were moved under cover.
"The crowd gets bigger every year," she said. "It's our biggest fund-raiser — we're still counting, and I think we raised about $20,000 including tickets, drinks and raffles."
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