Feb. 25, 2002 – If you thought you felt an earthquake at 3:30 a.m. Monday, you were right. Another of those minor events beneath the floor of the sea occurred north of Virgin Gorda.
According to the Puerto Rico Seismic Network, the earthquake registered 4 on the Richter Scale. It was centered at 18.6 degrees north latitude and 64.6 degrees west longitude and happened about 26 miles under the Earth's crust.
Small earthquakes in this region are common. "This was typical for the Sombrero seismic zone," said Gisella Baez, chief data analyst at the Mayaguez-based Seismic Network.
In the last week, nine earthquakes have been recorded in this region. On the Richter Scale, there were two 4's, a 3.5, a 3 and the rest ranging from 2.2 to 2.6. So far this month, there have been 41 earthquakes recorded, the biggest a 4.1 on Feb. 13.
In February 2001, 68 earthquakes were recorded in this region. The strongest was a 3.9. Last month, the region saw 87 earthquakes, with the strongest a 4.2. In January 2001, 78 earthquakes were recorded in the region, the largest at 3.8.
Earthquakes that register 4 and above on the scale are the exception in the region; most are smaller, and in many cases no one feels them. Larger tremors causing extensive damage have occurred in the region. There was one that registered 7.3 in 1918. The best known was a major quake in 1867 that caused a tsunami wave that smashed water into the Frederiksted and Charlotte Amalie harbors.
Residents on St. Thomas and St. John reported feeling Monday's earthquake, but no one reported any damage.

Feb. 25, 2002 – In response to complaints by Charles Harwood Complex workers as well as neighbors about dust and noise, demolition crews will work only from 4 to 10 p.m. instead of around the clock on the renovations at the Christiansted complex.
And trash will be hauled away in the morning before Health Department workers arrive for the day.
Department spokesman Lee Vanterpool said Monday that the demolition of two wings of the building should be finished shortly. After that, crews will move on to the next stage of work in Phase 1 of the three-phase project.
In response to complaints by Harwood Complex workers about dust, maintenance staff cleaned air-conditioning ducts and nurses are using air purifiers, Health Commissioner Mavis Matthew said in a press release issued Friday.
"When complaints were received, they were addressed," Vanterpool said.
The demolition project by Roy Construction Co., which began Feb. 13, has had several snafus. Matthew said that trash removal was stalled at one point because the Anguilla landfill closed for the weekend. Additionally, a water main at the complex ruptured.
Phase 1 of the project must be finished by June or the Health Department will lose funding from the federal Interior Department, which Mathew said provides most of the money for the project. The cost of the project has not been made public.
Once the demolition work wraps up, renovation work on the second floor of the main building will get under way. That work will include a new roof and fascia, gutters and downspouts. That part of the project is still out to bid.
Phase 2 consists of renovation of the first and third floors of the main building and the first floor of the annex. Phase 3 consists of exterior work, sidewalks, paving, parking, lighting and security fencing.

Feb. 25, 2002 – Sunday's March Jazz Vespers concert will be "A Rhythm Mix" by Rhythmix. That may be a little tough on the tongue to say, but the music will definitely be easy on the ears.
The five-piece Crucian ensemble comprises leader Mario Thomas on electric bass, Alphonso "Scypio" Thomas on saxophone, Otto James on piano, David McKean on drums and Rene Encarnacion on percussion.
Jazz Vespers, presented by the St. Croix Reformed Church in Estate La Reine, is held on the first Sunday evening of the month in the church sanctuary. The program begins at 5:30 p.m. There's no admission charge, but a freewill offering is taken.
Mario Thomas took up the bass at the age of 10 after having his interest in music tweaked by listening to the band led by his dad, "Scypio" Thomas, practicing at their home. In no time at all, young Mario was playing calypso, reggae and whatever else was popular on the radio at the time. He was in the ninth grade when he formed his first group, Together Root.
He went on to study at the Military School of Music in Washington, D.C., and at Howard University, where he toured Africa as a member of the Howard University Jazz Septet. He has gigged with John Fadis, Louie Belson and Wynton Marsalis and was a mainstay in saxman Dave Yarborough's Jazz Band. In 1990, he formed Rhythmix; the band has been active even since and can be heard on Saturday nights at the Buccaneer Hotel.
Alphonso "Scypio" Thomas got his introduction to music playing coronet and trombone at St. Patrick's School in a band that played for parish marches and processions. His first saxophone was a gift from longtime friend Elmo James, who told him to take it home and practice. He did, and was soon jamming on sax around the island.
Later, he formed his first band, the Vibratones. Since then, he has played with Archie Thomas's band, filled in for Rudy Schulterbrandt while he was in New York, and has been a member of Sanora Santa Cruz. Nowadays, he's a mainstay in Rhythmix, the band led by his son Mario. His work also can be heard on his classic recording "Crucian Fiesta."
Otto James was influenced musically early on by his brothers and sisters. He also credits trumpeter Eric Davis as a major early influence. He has fond memories of "keg," the art of making drums from a key and goatskin and recalls the excitement of listening to Latin music on the Puerto Rican radio stations as a youngster.
James studied at the Manhattan School of Music and had performed with some of the top Latin bands in New York, including Orchestra Tropicana. Upon his return home, he joined forces with the crème de la crème of the St. Croix music scene, including Archie Thomas, Mario De Chabert, Mario Moorhead, The Vibratones and Rudy Schulterbrandt's band, where he played timbales.
David Mc Kean's professional career started at age 15. He attended the Army Navy School of Music in Norfolk, Va., and played for two years with the Army band in the state of Washington. He toured the West Coast with Forecast and Suite 7 and was percussionist at LA Golden West Studio doing music tracks for radio and television commercials. He worked with Hank Crawford, was house drummer at Jimmy Smith's club in Los Angeles and was percussion instructor with the Tacoma Symphony's Youth Development Program.
McKean came to St. Croix for the 1994 jazz festival. "I had to bring my drums," he recalls, "so I took the heads off and packed my clothes inside." A few days after his arrival, he was gigging with the St. Thomas All Stars at Pier 69. He has been a member of Rhythmix for seven years and also is a longtime member of the V.I. Art Ensemble.
Rene Encarnacion is known as a conga drummer/percussionist but also is an accomplished bass player. His first instrument was steelpan and his first formal musical studies were at St. Croix's Seventh Day Adventist School. There, "everyone else at school had guitars, so I decided to play bongos," he says.
As leader of Conjunto Topico de Santa Cruz, he kept that band going for 10 years. He was part of Sanora Santa Cruz with Ruben Santana and "Scypio" Thomas. He also worked with the late Tito Puente and with Jovani, regarded as the No. 1 conga player in Latin America. He also can be heard on The Mighty Sparrow's "Saltfish" album.
Jazz Vespers is a family-oriented event held in an alcohol-free, smoke-free environment. In addition to jazz that is invariably exceptional, "the sunsets are truly amazing" at the Reformed Church site, publicity states. Following Sunday's concert, refreshments will be served and attendees will have the opportunity to mingle with the musicians. Young people especially are encouraged to attend.
On tap for Jazz Vespers concerts to come are ensembles featuring trumpeter Marcus Rabb on April 7, drummer Dave McKean on May 5 and trumpeter Stan Joines on June 2.
The church is located on the hill above the Kingshill post office. For more information, call Willard Fields at 719-3672 or Pastor Rod Koopmans at 778-0520, or e-mail to Jazz Vespers.

Funeral services have been set for Doris E. Samuel who died Feb. 18, at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 2, at the Emmaus Moravian Church. Viewing will be at 10:30 a.m. at the church. Interment will be at Emmaus Moravian Cemetery.
She is survived by sons Albert, Avelino, Curtiss and Ricardo Samuel; daughters Carmen Samuel-Hodge, Karen Samuel, Coreen Samel, Brenda Samuel-Morris, Christine and Cicerly Samuel; brothers Mablon Pickering, Elroy Henley, Pastor Richard Callwood, Jenaro Callwood, Michael Callwood and Charles Callwood; sisters Daisy Callwood, Patria Thomas, Mable Richardson, Luz Hodge and Carmen Parillon; and numerous other relatives and friends.

Feb. 25, 2002 – A shared love of fishing drew 15 couples aboard 10 boats to compete in the Virgin Islands Gamefishing Club's annual Couples Fishing Tournament on Sunday.
"The boys helped out — that's our secret," said Adrianne Baird, who with boyfriend Colin Butler won first place with her catch of a 19.2-pound dolphin.
Baird and Butler were fishing aboard the Mary B. with another couple, Krista Sieckman and Rob Barringer. Sieckman's catch of two dolphin weighing in at 9.2 and 7.4 pounds earned her and Barringer the second-place award.
Sieckman said they left the dock about 7 a.m. "and went south, then west. All three fish came right together, about 10 a.m. The guys know where to go to reel them in, but they let us do the fishing today, and it was great."
Marielle Brandon's catch of a 5.2-pound kingfish won third place for her and companion Joseph Ledee aboard the Sea Witch.
While the fish didn't seem to be biting, that didn't stop the fun. In keeping with the couples theme, the weigh-in and awards presentation took place, in cooperation with the Fish and Wildlife Division of the Planning and Natural Resources Department, at Honeymoon Beach on Water Island. Heidi's Honeymoon Bar and Grill, a new eatery at the venue, provided hamburgers and hot dogs, while the Lover's Lane boutique on the St. Thomas waterfront supplied the lover-ly prizes.
The Couples Tournament kicked off a Gamefishing Club series of small boat events which will continue with the Dolphin Tournament in April. For more information, call 775-9144.

Feb. 25, 2002 – A Reading Rocket teleconference, entitled "Whole Class Strategies for Reading Instruction," will be telecast locally from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Education Teleconference Center in each district.
Hosted by the National Association of State Directors of Special Education, the teleconference will feature presented G. Reid Lyon, John T. Guthrie and Phyllis C. Hunter, according to an Education Department release.
State director of special education is Belinda West-O'Neal. More information is available from the Office of Special Education at 774-4399.

Feb. 25, 2002 – A Reading Rocket teleconference, entitled "Whole Class Strategies for Reading Instruction," will be telecast locally from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Education Teleconference Center in each district.
Hosted by the National Association of State Directors of Special Education, the teleconference will feature presented G. Reid Lyon, John T. Guthrie and Phyllis C. Hunter, according to an Education Department release.
State director of special education is Belinda West-O'Neal. More information is available from the Office of Special Education at 774-4399.

Applications for the Best Dressed as a Doll Carnival competition are due by Saturday, Mar. 9 at the Carnival Committee Office. Applications are available at the office and Daniel's Variety Store.

Applications for the Carnival Toddlers Derby are due by Saturday at the Carnival Committee office. Applications are available at the office and Daniel's Variety Store.

Groups or individuals planning to participate in the 2002 Food, Arts & Crafts Fair, named "McBeans' Golden Touch," are asked to turn in applications by Friday at the Carnival Committee office.
More information is available in the Carnival schedule; go to menu item Community/Other Stuff.