The St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce will host a Membership Luncheon at The Holiday Inn, Winward Passage Hotel, with Rodney E. Miller, CEO of the Roy Lester Schneider Hospital, as guest speaker. Mr. Miller will outline his goals and objectives for the future of the Roy L. Schneider Hospital and the Myrah Keating Smith Community Center.
Chamber members, guests and potential members are encouraged to attend. Lunch with be served at a cost of $25 for members and $30 for non-members. Call the Chamber of Commerce at 776-0100 to RSVP.

July 26, 2002 – Here's where Julie Wright stands on one of the biggest, shall we say, areas of disagreement in households around the country: Yes, it is all right to use a bit of bleach in your toilet bowl once a week.
But "don't pour bleach in every day," the University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service program supervisor advises.
Her suggestion is to use a "teeny weenie" bit to remove chemical stains in weekly bathroom cleaning. But actually, she'd prefer you to use less-toxic alternatives such as borax and lemon juice, which she says can do the job just as well.
The Cooperative Extension Service has published a handy booklet called "Recipes for a Non-Toxic Household" that spells out numerous natural — and typically less expensive — alternatives to commercial household cleaners. The booklet also suggests baking soda for regular toilet bowl cleaning.
On Thursday, Wright and CES agent Dale Morton took their message on the road to St. John, where they conducted the latest workshop in a series on how to deal safely with everyday things around your home.
The topic for this one was "Understanding Your Septic System." Wright explained in more detail than most lay persons would ever have imagined how septic systems work and how to best take care of them.
The bleach issue occupied a fair amount of time at the workshop. Wright said yes to measuring and no to dumping bleach into your toilet bowl as well as into your wash machine. She recommended following the label directions on how much to use. Bleach in the laundry is crucial if your washer empties into your septic system, she said; however, most people's washers empty into the ground.
But don't put bleach in your dishwashing water, she said. Residue that remains on the dishes is definitely not good for health.
Wright shared a laundry list of things not to put in the toilet: No tissues, dental floss, swabs, paper towels, tampons or cigarette butts. A magnet that came with the workshop handouts also listed disposable diapers; coffee grounds and cat litter as no-no's. And while neither mentioned sanitary napkins, common sense should tell you that they're in the same category.
"The toilet is not a garbage can," Wright said.
The problem, she said, is that items which do not break down easily in the septic system cause it to stop functioning properly and can clog up the pipes. Toilet tissue matters, too. If your toilet paper dissolves too well, it won't settle into the bottom of your septic tank, where it becomes part of the sludge layer. Instead, it goes into your drain field and can clog it up.
Wright also touched on the impact of water usage on septic systems. If you're taking showers like Niagara Falls is next door, the excess water can overwhelm your septic tank.
And you know that liquid soap so many people prefer over bars? It has more oil than regular soap, and that isn't so good for septic tanks, either.
She also advised against spending money for septic system additives that you flush down the toilet. Touted as a way to put a septic tank back into bacterial balance, they work for a couple of days at best, she said, but after that you're back to your same old problems.
"Wastewater entering your septic tank has all the bacteria it needs. If it could handle more, it would make more," Wright said.
A septic tank should last about 40 years if operated and maintained properly, she said. This includes pumping it when there's a need — every three to five years on average. If you've got a puddle of smelly water in your yard, a mushy spot over your drain field or a bad odor hanging about, you may need to call the professionals to check things out.
And if your toilet won't flush or your drains back up, you're in deep doo-doo. You've probably got a failed septic tank, and "you'll have to start over with a new septic tank system," Wright said.
Plant banana trees over your drain field, Wright advised. Bananas and other broad-leaf plants love the nutrient-laden water that seeps up from the drain field. However, that water probably contains bacteria your stomach won't like, so this is not a good place for planting herbs and vegetables. Don't plant trees, either, she said, because the roots can clog the drain field.
Also, don't cover your drain field with concrete, mulch or gravel because that will inhibit water absorption and evaporation.
And if you're building, don't let the construction workers drive their heavy equipment over the area planned for a drain field, because that will compact the soil, which in turn will prevent the drain field from working properly.
To request a copy of "Recipes for a Non-Toxic Household" or to obtain more information on septic tank construction and care, contact Wright by calling 693-1082 or e-mailing to Julie Wright.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Sea Grant program has prepared an easy-to-understand article on septic tank care and maintenance called "Septic Sense, Scents, Cents." It's available online at the Fearless Flush web site.

Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

July 26, 2002 – Here's where Julie Wright stands on one of the biggest, shall we say, areas of disagreement in households around the country: Yes, it is all right to use a bit of bleach in your toilet bowl once a week.
But "don't pour bleach in every day," the University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service program supervisor advises.
Her suggestion is to use a "teeny weenie" bit to remove chemical stains in weekly bathroom cleaning. But actually, she'd prefer you to use less-toxic alternatives such as borax and lemon juice, which she says can do the job just as well.
The Cooperative Extension Service has published a handy booklet called "Recipes for a Non-Toxic Household" that spells out numerous natural — and typically less expensive — alternatives to commercial household cleaners. The booklet also suggests baking soda for regular toilet bowl cleaning.
On Thursday, Wright and CES agent Dale Morton took their message on the road to St. John, where they conducted the latest workshop in a series on how to deal safely with everyday things around your home.
The topic for this one was "Understanding Your Septic System." Wright explained in more detail than most lay persons would ever have imagined how septic systems work and how to best take care of them.
The bleach issue occupied a fair amount of time at the workshop. Wright said yes to measuring and no to dumping bleach into your toilet bowl as well as into your wash machine. She recommended following the label directions on how much to use. Bleach in the laundry is crucial if your washer empties into your septic system, she said; however, most people's washers empty into the ground.
But don't put bleach in your dishwashing water, she said. Residue that remains on the dishes is definitely not good for health.
Wright shared a laundry list of things not to put in the toilet: No tissues, dental floss, swabs, paper towels, tampons or cigarette butts. A magnet that came with the workshop handouts also listed disposable diapers; coffee grounds and cat litter as no-no's. And while neither mentioned sanitary napkins, common sense should tell you that they're in the same category.
"The toilet is not a garbage can," Wright said.
The problem, she said, is that items which do not break down easily in the septic system cause it to stop functioning properly and can clog up the pipes. Toilet tissue matters, too. If your toilet paper dissolves too well, it won't settle into the bottom of your septic tank, where it becomes part of the sludge layer. Instead, it goes into your drain field and can clog it up.
Wright also touched on the impact of water usage on septic systems. If you're taking showers like Niagara Falls is next door, the excess water can overwhelm your septic tank.
And you know that liquid soap so many people prefer over bars? It has more oil than regular soap, and that isn't so good for septic tanks, either.
She also advised against spending money for septic system additives that you flush down the toilet. Touted as a way to put a septic tank back into bacterial balance, they work for a couple of days at best, she said, but after that you're back to your same old problems.
"Wastewater entering your septic tank has all the bacteria it needs. If it could handle more, it would make more," Wright said.
A septic tank should last about 40 years if operated and maintained properly, she said. This includes pumping it when there's a need — every three to five years on average. If you've got a puddle of smelly water in your yard, a mushy spot over your drain field or a bad odor hanging about, you may need to call the professionals to check things out.
And if your toilet won't flush or your drains back up, you're in deep doo-doo. You've probably got a failed septic tank, and "you'll have to start over with a new septic tank system," Wright said.
Plant banana trees over your drain field, Wright advised. Bananas and other broad-leaf plants love the nutrient-laden water that seeps up from the drain field. However, that water probably contains bacteria your stomach won't like, so this is not a good place for planting herbs and vegetables. Don't plant trees, either, she said, because the roots can clog the drain field.
Also, don't cover your drain field with concrete, mulch or gravel because that will inhibit water absorption and evaporation.
And if you're building, don't let the construction workers drive their heavy equipment over the area planned for a drain field, because that will compact the soil, which in turn will prevent the drain field from working properly.
To request a copy of "Recipes for a Non-Toxic Household" or to obtain more information on septic tank construction and care, contact Wright by calling 693-1082 or e-mailing to Julie Wright.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Sea Grant program has prepared an easy-to-understand article on septic tank care and maintenance called "Septic Sense, Scents, Cents." It's available online at the Fearless Flush web site.

Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

July 26, 2002 – Sen. Emmett Hansen II narrowly escaped two gunshots fired by a man involved in a barroom fight in Christiansted around midnight Thursday.
No one was hurt and the gunman was arrested by a police officer who happened to walk into the establishment looking to have dinner.
Hansen said he used training from his days as a deputy sheriff to deal with the situation when the assailant pulled a gun on another man in the East Bound Sports Bar and Restaurant. Police said the intended victim had been shot by a friend of the gunman in a previous incident.
"I was standing by the pool table with a couple of friends, and two young men started fighting and they were right at my feet and I was pinned against a table," Hansen told Isle 95 radio on Friday. "So, I reacted and grabbed the one who was on top and moved him."
Then, he continued, "When I glanced behind me, the gentleman who got up off the ground drew a gun. I was able to move out of the way just as he discharged two shots."
According to police reports, Mervyn Tang-Yuk was socializing at the bar a few minutes after midnight when we was confronted by Darren Henry. Tang-Yuk "was upset because in a previous incident he had been shot by Mr. Henry's friend," Deputy Police Chief Angel Santos said, and "Tang-Yuk rushed this individual and they started to fight."
Santos said that when Hansen tried to break up the fight, Henry drew a gun from the waistband of his pants and opened fire. "The senator immediately jumped out of the way to avoid being shot and also placed his hand over the slide of the weapon that the suspect had in his hand and tried to hold him at the same time," the deputy chief said.
When the officer who happened on the scene came through the door of the bar, he drew his service weapon and ordered Henry to drop his gun. Henry was arrested on the spot, Santos said, and was charged with reckless endangerment and assault.
Hansen, a first-term senator, was philosophical on Friday about the ordeal. He told Isle 95 he was "just fortunate enough" that he had worked at one time as a deputy sheriff, and so "I knew what to do."
But he also said he was angry that street crime involving weapons continues unabated despite passage by the current Legislature of a measure toughening penalties for gun-related crime, a bill that he introduced and fought to have approved.

Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

July 26, 2002 – Sen. Emmett Hansen II narrowly escaped two gunshots fired by a man involved in a barroom fight in Christiansted around midnight Thursday.
No one was hurt and the gunman was arrested by a police officer who happened to walk into the establishment looking to have dinner.
Hansen said he used training from his days as a deputy sheriff to deal with the situation when the assailant pulled a gun on another man in the East Bound Sports Bar and Restaurant. Police said the intended victim had been shot by a friend of the gunman in a previous incident.
"I was standing by the pool table with a couple of friends, and two young men started fighting and they were right at my feet and I was pinned against a table," Hansen told Isle 95 radio on Friday. "So, I reacted and grabbed the one who was on top and moved him."
Then, he continued, "When I glanced behind me, the gentleman who got up off the ground drew a gun. I was able to move out of the way just as he discharged two shots."
According to police reports, Mervyn Tang-Yuk was socializing at the bar a few minutes after midnight when we was confronted by Darren Henry. Tang-Yuk "was upset because in a previous incident he had been shot by Mr. Henry's friend," Deputy Police Chief Angel Santos said, and "Tang-Yuk rushed this individual and they started to fight."
Santos said that when Hansen tried to break up the fight, Henry drew a gun from the waistband of his pants and opened fire. "The senator immediately jumped out of the way to avoid being shot and also placed his hand over the slide of the weapon that the suspect had in his hand and tried to hold him at the same time," the deputy chief said.
When the officer who happened on the scene came through the door of the bar, he drew his service weapon and ordered Henry to drop his gun. Henry was arrested on the spot, Santos said, and was charged with reckless endangerment and assault.
Hansen, a first-term senator, was philosophical on Friday about the ordeal. He told Isle 95 he was "just fortunate enough" that he had worked at one time as a deputy sheriff, and so "I knew what to do."
But he also said he was angry that street crime involving weapons continues unabated despite passage by the current Legislature of a measure toughening penalties for gun-related crime, a bill that he introduced and fought to have approved.

Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

July 26, 2002 – Sen. Emmett Hansen II narrowly escaped two gunshots fired by a man involved in a barroom fight in Christiansted around midnight Thursday.
No one was hurt and the gunman was arrested by a police officer who happened to walk into the establishment looking to have dinner.
Hansen said he used training from his days as a deputy sheriff to deal with the situation when the assailant pulled a gun on another man in the East Bound Sports Bar and Restaurant. Police said the intended victim had been shot by a friend of the gunman in a previous incident.
"I was standing by the pool table with a couple of friends, and two young men started fighting and they were right at my feet and I was pinned against a table," Hansen told Isle 95 radio on Friday. "So, I reacted and grabbed the one who was on top and moved him."
Then, he continued, "When I glanced behind me, the gentleman who got up off the ground drew a gun. I was able to move out of the way just as he discharged two shots."
According to police reports, Mervyn Tang-Yuk was socializing at the bar a few minutes after midnight when we was confronted by Darren Henry. Tang-Yuk "was upset because in a previous incident he had been shot by Mr. Henry's friend," Deputy Police Chief Angel Santos said, and "Tang-Yuk rushed this individual and they started to fight."
Santos said that when Hansen tried to break up the fight, Henry drew a gun from the waistband of his pants and opened fire. "The senator immediately jumped out of the way to avoid being shot and also placed his hand over the slide of the weapon that the suspect had in his hand and tried to hold him at the same time," the deputy chief said.
When the officer who happened on the scene came through the door of the bar, he drew his service weapon and ordered Henry to drop his gun. Henry was arrested on the spot, Santos said, and was charged with reckless endangerment and assault.
Hansen, a first-term senator, was philosophical on Friday about the ordeal. He told Isle 95 he was "just fortunate enough" that he had worked at one time as a deputy sheriff, and so "I knew what to do."
But he also said he was angry that street crime involving weapons continues unabated despite passage by the current Legislature of a measure toughening penalties for gun-related crime, a bill that he introduced and fought to have approved.

Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

July 26, 2002 – Sen. Norman Jn Baptiste, who chairs the Legislature's Education Committee, expressed dismay Friday at what he sees as the Education Department's apparent lack of progress toward reforms critical to securing new accreditation for three of the territory's high schools. And acting Education Commissioner Noreen Michael was the target of his ire.
Michael, he said, "has yet to show that this is a new day with new leadership."
The acting commissioner was to have submitted status reports to the Legislature by June 30 on the development of policies for site-based management and a substitute teacher pool, critical issues in the loss of accreditation for the schools last year. The fourth public high school isn't accredited and never has been.
Early this week, Jn Baptiste wrote to Michael asking her to submit the reports, nearly a month past due, immediately.
On Wednesday, Michael wrote back to Jn Baptiste: "I acknowledge that the department should have submitted a written request to the Legislature for additional time for submission of the reports. I apologize for not doing so."
Her letter continued, "We started work on the progress reports several weeks ago, and are continuing to work toward their completion for submission to the Legislature. While the reports are not finalized, it is anticipated that they will be complete and submitted to the Legislature not later than July 31, 2002."
That is not good enough, Jn Baptiste said Friday. "I'm going to hold her feet to the fire," he said. "It is crucial that the Education Department complies with the mandates of the law. I don't think she has anything to report. The simple fact of the matter is they have not done their duty."
Last December, Gov. Charles W. Turnbull signed legislation creating the V.I. Public High School Site-Based Management Fund and calling for the development, adoption and implementation of site-based management policies. The Legislature amended the measure in February to require timely reports to the lawmaking body on progress toward those ends.
Jn Baptiste also stressed the importance of complying with a timeline laid out by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools at a June 18 meeting with Education officials on St. Thomas. Middle States is the regional accrediting entity for the Virgin Islands schools.
"What does this say? This sends a message that with the DOE, it's business as usual, and all our hopes of gaining reaccreditation by 2004 will be shattered," Jn Baptiste said, shaking his head. Middle States officials have said that the earliest the territory could hope to regain accreditation for the schools would be for the 2004-05 academic year.
Michael was named acting Education commissioner on April 30, the day Gov. Charles W. Turnbull fired Ruby Simmonds from the post after learning that Middle States had rejected the territory's appeal of the loss of accreditation.
"What we need is bold, effective and efficient leadership. That is crucial to our schools," Baptiste said Friday morning. He noted that he expected to see Michael in the afternoon at the Education Department's Fiscal Year 2003 budget hearing before the Senate Finance Committee, of which he is a member.

Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

July 26, 2002 – Sen. Norman Jn Baptiste, who chairs the Legislature's Education Committee, expressed dismay Friday at what he sees as the Education Department's apparent lack of progress toward reforms critical to securing new accreditation for three of the territory's high schools. And acting Education Commissioner Noreen Michael was the target of his ire.
Michael, he said, "has yet to show that this is a new day with new leadership."
The acting commissioner was to have submitted status reports to the Legislature by June 30 on the development of policies for site-based management and a substitute teacher pool, critical issues in the loss of accreditation for the schools last year. The fourth public high school isn't accredited and never has been.
Early this week, Jn Baptiste wrote to Michael asking her to submit the reports, nearly a month past due, immediately.
On Wednesday, Michael wrote back to Jn Baptiste: "I acknowledge that the department should have submitted a written request to the Legislature for additional time for submission of the reports. I apologize for not doing so."
Her letter continued, "We started work on the progress reports several weeks ago, and are continuing to work toward their completion for submission to the Legislature. While the reports are not finalized, it is anticipated that they will be complete and submitted to the Legislature not later than July 31, 2002."
That is not good enough, Jn Baptiste said Friday. "I'm going to hold her feet to the fire," he said. "It is crucial that the Education Department complies with the mandates of the law. I don't think she has anything to report. The simple fact of the matter is they have not done their duty."
Last December, Gov. Charles W. Turnbull signed legislation creating the V.I. Public High School Site-Based Management Fund and calling for the development, adoption and implementation of site-based management policies. The Legislature amended the measure in February to require timely reports to the lawmaking body on progress toward those ends.
Jn Baptiste also stressed the importance of complying with a timeline laid out by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools at a June 18 meeting with Education officials on St. Thomas. Middle States is the regional accrediting entity for the Virgin Islands schools.
"What does this say? This sends a message that with the DOE, it's business as usual, and all our hopes of gaining reaccreditation by 2004 will be shattered," Jn Baptiste said, shaking his head. Middle States officials have said that the earliest the territory could hope to regain accreditation for the schools would be for the 2004-05 academic year.
Michael was named acting Education commissioner on April 30, the day Gov. Charles W. Turnbull fired Ruby Simmonds from the post after learning that Middle States had rejected the territory's appeal of the loss of accreditation.
"What we need is bold, effective and efficient leadership. That is crucial to our schools," Baptiste said Friday morning. He noted that he expected to see Michael in the afternoon at the Education Department's Fiscal Year 2003 budget hearing before the Senate Finance Committee, of which he is a member.

Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

July 26, 2002 – Sen. Norman Jn Baptiste, who chairs the Legislature's Education Committee, expressed dismay Friday at what he sees as the Education Department's apparent lack of progress toward reforms critical to securing new accreditation for three of the territory's high schools. And acting Education Commissioner Noreen Michael was the target of his ire.
Michael, he said, "has yet to show that this is a new day with new leadership."
The acting commissioner was to have submitted status reports to the Legislature by June 30 on the development of policies for site-based management and a substitute teacher pool, critical issues in the loss of accreditation for the schools last year. The fourth public high school isn't accredited and never has been.
Early this week, Jn Baptiste wrote to Michael asking her to submit the reports, nearly a month past due, immediately.
On Wednesday, Michael wrote back to Jn Baptiste: "I acknowledge that the department should have submitted a written request to the Legislature for additional time for submission of the reports. I apologize for not doing so."
Her letter continued, "We started work on the progress reports several weeks ago, and are continuing to work toward their completion for submission to the Legislature. While the reports are not finalized, it is anticipated that they will be complete and submitted to the Legislature not later than July 31, 2002."
That is not good enough, Jn Baptiste said Friday. "I'm going to hold her feet to the fire," he said. "It is crucial that the Education Department complies with the mandates of the law. I don't think she has anything to report. The simple fact of the matter is they have not done their duty."
Last December, Gov. Charles W. Turnbull signed legislation creating the V.I. Public High School Site-Based Management Fund and calling for the development, adoption and implementation of site-based management policies. The Legislature amended the measure in February to require timely reports to the lawmaking body on progress toward those ends.
Jn Baptiste also stressed the importance of complying with a timeline laid out by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools at a June 18 meeting with Education officials on St. Thomas. Middle States is the regional accrediting entity for the Virgin Islands schools.
"What does this say? This sends a message that with the DOE, it's business as usual, and all our hopes of gaining reaccreditation by 2004 will be shattered," Jn Baptiste said, shaking his head. Middle States officials have said that the earliest the territory could hope to regain accreditation for the schools would be for the 2004-05 academic year.
Michael was named acting Education commissioner on April 30, the day Gov. Charles W. Turnbull fired Ruby Simmonds from the post after learning that Middle States had rejected the territory's appeal of the loss of accreditation.
"What we need is bold, effective and efficient leadership. That is crucial to our schools," Baptiste said Friday morning. He noted that he expected to see Michael in the afternoon at the Education Department's Fiscal Year 2003 budget hearing before the Senate Finance Committee, of which he is a member.

Publisher's note : Like the St. Croix Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

Dear Source:
Paul Arnold and I offer our condolences to the family of Ariel Melchior, Sr., who died on July 23. As he was affectionately called, "The Founder" was one of the master craftsmen of this community. His contributions as a newspaper editor and his service in countless aspects of Virgin Islands life have truly influenced and shaped the Territory that we know and love.
Mr. Melchior enlightened us with his editorials during a long and distinguished journalism career which spanned nearly 50 years. Today when we read those editorials, some written decades ago, we come to realize his vision and foresight, as well as how many issues have remained status quo. The Virgin Islands has truly lost one of its community stalwarts. Paul and I, as well as our families and supporters, join the Melchior and Dudley families and the community in mourning his passing.
John de Jongh