The Omega Institute in conjunction with the St. John-based People Moving Forward Foundation will kick off this season's free seminars with Stephan Rechtschaffen's talk on 'Timeshifting' on Monday at the Marketplace community meeting area on the third floor.
A shuttle will meet the 7 p.m. ferry from Red Hook, which arrives around 7:20 p.m. The shuttle will return to the ferry dock in time to make the 9 p.m. ferry back to Red Hook. Shuttles run $2 per person.

Jan. 4, 2002 – The number and species of birds observed in the Dec. 29 V.I. Audubon Society Christmas Bird Count on St. John are down from last year, but at least part of the reason may be that the island's luxurious foliage this season due to unusual rains made it harder to get an accurate count.
"They move too quick in the bushes, and they all look alike," Laurel Brannick-Trager, the organization's president, said of the birds.
Forty bird watchers counted 1,962 birds from 55 species. Last year 46 people spotted more than 2,000 birds from 60 species, Audubon Society member Wil Henderson said.
Neither Brannick-Trager nor Henderson is alarmed by the decreases. Meantime, Henderson is continuing to update the numbers as more information comes in, and he expects the official count to rise. "The bird status is quite good," he said.
Brannick-Trager said the organization had fewer volunteers turn out to help count the birds this year than last, too, because many people are sick. St. John and St. Thomas residents as well as visitors took part.
Henderson said bird watchers saw one each of two species not usually found on St. John — the cinnamon teal duck and the purple-throated Carib hummingbird. The Virgin Islands is at the very edge of the migratory range for these two species, he said.
He said counters also reported seeing some other unusual species and that he is working on verifying that information to make sure the reported observations were accurate.
Henderson was also cheered to find more Caribbean elaenais than in recent years. The species was decimated when Hurricane Hugo hit in 1989, but the numbers have climbed back "well into the normal range now," he said.
According to Henderson, the foliage is unusually dense now because the island did not experience the usual two distinct dry seasons in the last year. Thus, trees did not lose as many leaves as normal. Additionally, the recent spate of downpours fueled additional growth. The rains also filled ponds, making the water in the middle too deep for wading birds, so that they instead clustered around the water's edge, which made them hard to spot.
Another factor in the lower count, Henderson said, was that there probably were fewer migratory birds to count because the U.S. Northeast had a warm fall. However, the recent cold weather in that region is likely to send more birds south. "They're probably getting out of there like mad," he said.
The Christmas Bird Count is a worldwide event held every year during the Christmas season. On St. John, the Audubon Society has been taking part in the count for 23 years. Nationally, this was the 102nd annual count.
Henderson will report on the 2001 Christmas Bird Count at the next V.I. Audubon Society meeting, scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 15 at the Legislature Building in Cruz Bay.

How do you like your shark? Swimming of course, and separated from you by some serious hi-tech glass. And that's what you get at Coral World Marine Park and Underwater Observatory. Adjacent to idyllic Coki Beach, Coral World answers questions about sea, land and sky life that most people don't even ask. And the learning process is as friendly and pleasant as spending a day in paradise: and you are!
The Underwater Observatory is a dramatic geodesic dome that at its deepest level gives you a clear vision into the Caribbean Sea. The coral reefs, highlighted by red, yellow and orange sponges, provide a home for myriad creatures from jonquil sergeant majors to schools of blue tang. Look among the swaying soft corals and violet sea fans to find the "Great Observer," a barracuda.
The next level holds a 50,000 gallon circular Predator Tank where lemon, nurse and Caribbean reef sharks share their watery environment with tarpon, large green moray eels, the largest Cubera snapper you have ever seen and a toothy barracuda. The third level is a place to relax, have a drink from the Shark Bar, check out the shell and old bottle collection and enjoy a panorama that stretches from Coki Beach to St. John and the British Virgin Islands.
Etched into the shoreline are Turtle and Sting Ray Pools and the center of the Marine Park hosts the Shark Shallows, home to our baby sharks. Be there at feeding time when an aquarist will explain their kinder, gentler nature…and let you pet one. In the Marine Gardens Exhibit, you will find out about Coral World's Sea Horse Breeding and Release Program with three thousand babies being born and more than one third of that number returned to the wild. Quite an accomplishment for the male sea horse who carries the eggs and delivers them from his pouch!
Take the nature trail beyond the Mangrove Lagoon and enjoy the Tortoise Pen, where the resident guests dine beside a water lettuce pond. The island trees, flowers, cacti and plants are well marked and tell a story of their use in cosmetics, medicine, hurricane protection and decoration. At the Caribbean Reef Encounter, the tank duplicates the complexities of reef life with queen angelfish, grouper, and parrotfish – and a multitude of others – swirling about in a magnificent undersea parade. There is a Touch Pool, a Parrot Aviary, fabulous shopping at two boutiques, two restaurants, parasailing, diving, snorkeling and SNUBA…..or just swim and sunbathe at Coki Beach.
The only question that remains unanswered is: is one day enough at Coral World? For more information, please go to our website at www.coralworldvi.com.

Jan. 4, 2002 – "Mighty Pat" did his comeback king thing again Thursday night, capturing the Calypso Monarch crown at the Crucian Christmas Festival with renditions of his "Stop Beating Your Woman" and "Don't Mess With America."
A calypso competition winner multiple times since the 1980s, on St. Thomas as well as St. Croix, "Mighty Pat" — Samuel Ferdinand — was last year's Crucian Festival first runner-up to winner Campbell "King Kan" Barnes. Ferdinand, a Crucian, won the V.I. Carnival Calypso Monarch title twice in the 1990s and took first runner-up honors at the St. Thomas event in 2000.
For his 2002 victory, Ferdinand received $3,500 along with the title and trophy.
First runner-up this time was St. Thomas's "King Kun Fu Plentae," who was awarded $2,500. Second runner-up honors went to Crucian Sharon "Shari Diamond" Brooks, who received $1,500.
The competition Thursday night at Island Center went into the early hours of Friday morning as 11 contenders vied for the title in dual rounds of competition.
Also competing in addition to the winners were Morris "King Generic" Benjamin, Allan "King Herring" Clarke, Lesroy "Happy" James, Elvis "Tumba" Liburd, Karen "Lady Mac" McIntosh, "Lady Ann" Sorhaindo, "Princess Rosealyn" Sorhaindo, James "Monarch" Wakefield
Masters of ceremonies for the competition were DJ's Bad Company from St. Croix's Magic 97X-FM and Sly J, "the Chief Rocker," from ZDK Radio in Antigua.
Friday's main event was the Children's Parade, which was to be followed by live music in the Festival Village from 3 to 7 p.m. by Generation Band, from 8 to 11 p.m. by New Direction out of St. Vincent, and from 11:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday by St. Thomas's P'your Passion.
Saturday brings the Adults' Parade, scheduled to step off at 11 a.m. In the Village afterward, there'll be music by Native Rhythms from 6 to 8 p.m., Liquid Sounds from 9 to 11 p.m. and V.I.O. International (formerly Violators) from 11:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. Sunday.
Sunday's Village music will feature Phranchize Band from 5 to 7:30 p.m., V.I.O. again from 8 to 11 p.m. and the "Last Lap" sounds of soca band Burning Flames out of Angitua from 11:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. Monday.
Monday's finale for "A Little Bit of Old and All That's New for Crucian Festival 2002" is the festival Calypso Show, featuring newly crowned monarch Mighty Pat, Xpress Band and this year's festival junior calypsonian winners — Lady Dictator (Pee Wee #1), Lady Terror (Pee Wee #2), Island Shadow (Intermediate Calypso King), and Lady Sash (Junior Calypso Queen). The show starts at 8 p.m. The Village closes at midnight.

Jan. 4, 2002 — Deborah Hodge would like to share the joy of announcing the marriage of her niece Shemeka Raymond, daughter of Ms. Linda Raymond to Jabari Donovan on Friday, December 28th 2001 in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands.
Congratulations and Best Wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Donovan from your family and friends in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Star Consulting Services LLC will host the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at 12A Estate Mafolie.
Members, guests and potential members are encouraged to come and learn about the various business services that Star Consulting provides.
Shuttle service will be provided from the Joseph Sibilly School and Sibs Restaurant parking lots.
Complimentary horsd'oevers will be served as well as the famous Chamber $2 bar.

Jan. 4, 2002 – A $11,125 property lien has been filed by the V.I. government against Sen. Norma Pickard-Samuel and her husband, Gilbert Samuel, for income taxes for years 1997 and 1998.
According to information from the Lieutenant Governor's Office, the tax lien on property owned by the couple was prepared on Dec. 14, 2001, and filed in the Recorder of Deeds Office on Dec. 28.
Pickard-Samuel expressed surprise at the government's action. "We owe taxes and we have a monthly payment agreement," she said. "We made a payment before we left [for Christmas vacation] on the 18th or 19th of December," she said, after checking with her husband.
"We can't give up payment on all of our bills to just pay that," she said.
She added, "I'm not going to fight it, because it is something we owe. I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. I'll hold on to my receipts."
Pickard-Samuel said she plans to contact the Internal Revenue Bureau as soon as the agency reopens after the January holidays.
Noting that 2002 is an election year, she commented, "I wonder if this was deliberate," referring to the information being made known.
The notice states: "… Demand for payment of this liability has been made, but it remains unpaid. Therefore, there is a lien in favor of the Virgin Islands on all property and rights to property belonging to this taxpayer for the amount of these taxes, and additional penalties, interest, and cost that may accrue."
A local tax expert said levying tax liens is a common government practice, even if the taxpayer is making payments on delinquent taxes. "The government has to protect itself," the expert said, explaining that a property tax lien prohibits the taxpayer from selling any property before paying the government what it is owed. A title search must be done before property is sold, and such a search would reveal any tax liens, which would have to be satisfied before the closing on the sale of the property.
The Samuels are charged with owing an unpaid balance of $5,935 for 1997 income taxes and $5,189 for 1998 income taxes.
Messages left for Louis Willis, IRB director, for comment were not returned. Government offices are closed Friday and Monday in observance of the Three Kings Day holidays.

Jan. 4, 2002 – A $11,125 property lien has been filed by the V.I. government against Sen. Norma Pickard-Samuel and her husband, Gilbert Samuel, for delinquent income taxes for the years 1997 and 1998.
According to information from the Lieutenant Governor's Office, the tax lien on property owned by the couple was prepared on Dec. 14, 2001, and filed in the Recorder of Deeds Office on Dec. 28.
Pickard-Samuel expressed surprise at the government's action. "We owe taxes and we have a monthly payment agreement," she said. "We made a payment before we left [for Christmas vacation] on the 18th or 19th of December," she said, after checking with her husband.
"We can't give up payment on all of our bills to just pay that," she said.
She added, "I'm not going to fight it, because it is something we owe. I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. I'll hold on to my receipts."
Pickard-Samuel said she plans to contact the Internal Revenue Bureau as soon as the agency reopens after the January holidays.
Noting that 2002 is an election year, she commented, "I wonder if this was deliberate," referring to the information being made known.
The notice states: "… Demand for payment of this liability has been made, but it remains unpaid. Therefore, there is a lien in favor of the Virgin Islands on all property and rights to property belonging to this taxpayer for the amount of these taxes, and additional penalties, interest, and cost that may accrue."
A local tax expert said levying tax liens is a common government practice, even if the taxpayer is making payments on delinquent taxes. "The government has to protect itself," the expert said, explaining that a property tax lien prohibits the taxpayer from selling any property before paying the government what it is owed. A title search must be done before property is sold, and such a search would reveal any tax liens, which would have to be satisfied before the closing on the sale of the property.
The Samuels are charged with owing an unpaid balance of $5,935 for 1997 income taxes and $5,189 for 1998 income taxes.
Messages left for Louis Willis, IRB director, for comment were not returned. Government offices are closed Friday and Monday in observance of the Three Kings Day holidays.

Jan. 4, 2002 – The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a two-unit Single Family Home in St. Croix, VI for auction.
This property is only four years old and is located at 122 Mt. Pleasant in Christiansted, VI.
The first unit has 3 bedrooms, 2 baths with 1,957 sq. ft. The second unit has 2 bedrooms, 2 baths with 1,486 sq. ft. Additional features include 2 covered porches, an open balcony and 2-car garage.
The home is located on the East End of St. Croix. To preview photos and details, go to www.bid4assets.com/VIHome. Place bids online Jan 24 – 30, 2002. For additional information, call 1-877-794-1544 or e-mail service@bid4assets.com.

Dec. 10, 2001 – Join residents and visitors at Caneel Bay Resort on Jan. 19 for the fifth annual Julius E. Sprauve School Gala. Cocktails begin at 6:30 p.m., with dinner served at 7:30 p.m. Tickets run $75 per person.
"We need the continued support of everyone in this community to provide the best possible education for our children," said Caneel Bay manager Brian Young.
He and St. John resident Terry Pishko chair the event.
"It's a wonderful time," Pishko said.
The event also features celebrity waiters, dancing, raffle drawings and an auction of an original oil painting by Lee Eng valued at $3,000.
Robert Luke of 105 JAMZ and Alex Randall from WSTA's Lucky 13 will serve as masters of ceremony.
Young said the money raised at this year's dinner dance will go to pay for a culinary laboratory at the school to allow students to explore the food industry.
Money raised at last year's gala equipped a science lab.
For more information or to make reservations call Peggy Blitz at 715-6622.
There are only 90 tickets left, so don't waste anymore time. Get your tickets today!