Jan. 3, 2002 – Omega Institute in conjunction with the St. John-based People Moving Forward Foundation will again this year hold free "Evenings with Omega" lectures for residents and visitors. The hour-long presentations will take place on Mondays, Jan. 7 through Feb. 4, in the third-floor community meeting area of the Marketplace in Cruz Bay.
All lectures will begin at 7:30 p.m. For those wishing to attend from St. Thomas, a shuttle will meet the 7 p.m. ferry from Red Hook and return to the ferry dock in time to make the 9 p.m. boat back to Red Hook. There's a $2 fee for the shuttle service.
The institute, based in Rhinebeck, N.Y., presents a series of weekly seminars at Maho Bay Camps every winter. For many years, speakers involved in the seminars also have devoted an hour to speaking to the local community.
"This is an opportunity to experience world-renowned authors and experts," said Allison Smith, who heads the People Moving Forward Foundation. The speakers are people who have written bestselling books about holistic health, she said. The offerings:
Jan. 7 — Stephan Rechtschaffen kicks off the series with his talk on "Timeshifting." Rechtschaffen, who co-founded Omega Institute, teaches holistic approaches to time, longevity, stress reduction and well being.
Jan. 14 — Krishna Das will speak on "Devotional Chanting." A longtime student of various Indian spiritual traditions, he will focus on the power of chanting.
Jan. 21 — Pat Love will speak on "Relationship Awareness," guiding her audience toward self-discovery through relationships.
Jan. 28 — John Perkins will discuss "Shamanism." He is a noted author and researcher who has worked with indigenous people around the world.
Feb. 4 — Margo Arnand will speak on "The Art of Sexual Ecstasy," a look at ways to expand and contain one's sexual energy.
The weeklong Omega Institute seminars at Maho Bay Camps also are open to local residents, who may attend for the whole week or just single workshops. Speakers include those tapped for the "Evenings at Omega" plus a roster of many others authorities well known in their fields. Registration is $35 for one half-day workshop session, $70 for a full day, and $350 for the full week.
For more information about "Evenings at Omega" or the various seminars, call Lucy Portlock at 776-6567.

Jan. 3, 2002 – For the first "Friday Night Alternative" of the new year, there'll be more of the same and quite likely something new, too.
In addition to house keyboard/vocals artist Sally Smith, drummer "Mr. B." and some of the other regulars, "I think we may have a surprise visit from a new musician or two," organizer Corinne Van Rensselaer says.
"New" artists are getting harder and harder to come by, as so many from the local music scene have already stopped by and sat in over the months since "Friday Night Alternative" got started. Jazz, blues, folk music and more have become standard offerings, with other genres in evidence as their performers take a turn at the microphone.
The evening of live music and good company takes place on Fridays from 6 to 8 p.m. on the Marlin Deck overlooking the American Yacht Harbor marina. Exactly where on the long, broad deck is just outside The Color of Joy, Van Rensselaer's art gallery and boutique in the Red Hook shopping complex.
The enticements also include complimentary wine, cheese and crackers; a video "to entertain the kids and a few of the adults" provided by Red Hook Video; and an opportunity to peruse the artwork in the gallery and perhaps take a chance on the current raffle, of a framed print of hibiscus blossoms.
Raffle tickets are $5, and they can be purchased during regular gallery hours, too, with drawings held on the final Friday of each month. The raffles and the sale of "Friday Night Alternative" T-shirts are fund-raising efforts aimed at meeting the costs of "keeping the show on the deck."

Jan. 3, 2002 – A physically disabled counselor at Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School has sued the Education Department and Commissioner Ruby Simmonds charging they have not provided adequate handicapped accessibility to the new school, which is in partial use this academic year while construction work continues.
School counselor Betty Mann Lee claims in her lawsuit that the school is in violation of the federal Americans With Disabilities Act, which requires that government buildings have parking spaces for the handicapped located as close as possible to handicapped-accessible building entrances, with accessible routes between them.
Lee, who has had to use a cane and walker since a work-related injury left her partially disabled in 1990, charges in the suit that she has been unable to report to work or perform her duties as counselor because school administrators have not put in the assistive devices required under the federal act.
Apart from the disability that restricts her physically, Lee is fully capable of performing her job, according to the suit, which was filed by attorney James Derr on her behalf in District Court late in December.
The school, pegged with a price tag of $28 million last August by Amadeo Francis of the Public Finance Authrority, is being built to replace the former BCB school, which was heavily damaged by Hurricane Marilyn in 1995. Initially estimated at $20.5 million Francis told a Senate committee, the cost increased because of changes to the initial plans.
The V.I. government has not yet filed a legal response to the suit, and Education Department officials could not be reached late Thursday for comment on the case.
Lee's suit states that she wants to work but that school administrators have refused to install the needed accessibility features, even after she presented her concerns through a union representative and later through legal counsel. The response from school officials has been to threaten to fire her, she claims.
"Defendants have stated that they have no obligation to provide parking, access and work station accommodations to plaintiff," the suit states.
The suit asks the District Court for preliminary and permanent injunctions ordering school officials to install the accessibility features that Lee needs to perform her job.
No hearing date has been set for the case.
Last August, Education Commissioner Ruby Simmonds said it was expected that the school would be completed by December of 2001, but Francis put the completion date at late in Fiscal Year 2002, which ends Sept. 30. While work continues, some classes have continued to meet in the temporary modular units provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Jan. 3, 2001 – Individuals and groups with an interest in keeping the islands of the territory green or making them greener may be able to obtain federal funds for their favorite projects.
According to Agriculture Commissioner Henry Schuster Jr., the Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Program has about $148,000 in federal grant money to be awarded in the territory through the 2002 Challenge Cost-Share Grant Program.
The program aims to encourage citizens to become more involved in creating and sustaining forestry programs. Grants will be made for projects intended to ensure the protection or establishment of trees, forests and related natural resources in the local community.
Schuster said applicants can seek funding for more than one project, and large-scale projects can be funded in phases over two or more years. Not-for-profit organizations, territorial government agencies, schools and individuals can apply for grants.
Each grant must be matched locally, with local entites contributing at least 25 percent to federal funding of 75 percent. "This match may include in-kind donations, volunteer assistance and private and public, non-federal, monetary contributions," Schuster said. "The recommended range for proposals is $1,000 to $20,000, and the maximum funding to a single applicant is $20,000 a year," he added.
For further information and a 2002 Proposal Packet, contact Belinda Esham, Urban and Community Forestry coordinator at the V.I. Agriculture Department. She can be reached by mail at #1 Estate Lower Love, Kingshill, St. Croix 00850; by telephone at either 778-0998 or 778-0997, est. 233; and by e-mail at V.I. trees. The deadline for submitting proposals is Feb. 28.

Jennifer Lopez Cruz, age 9, of Estate Concordia, passed away on Dec. 31, 2001, at her residence. Funeral services will take place at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 9, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Fredericksted. Viewing will be at 9 a.m. with interment at the Kingshill Cemetery.
She is survived by her mother Carmen M. Cruz; father Joel A. Lopez; grandparents Rafaela Rivera, Paula Lopez, Gegono Cadiz Jr., Nelson Melcado and Atension Lopez;
sisters Jessica Marrero, Miledis Garcia, Naisha Lopez and Kimberly Lopez; brother Ricardo Marrero; and many other family members and friends too numerous to mention. Professional services are entrusted to James Memorial Funeral Home.

Jan. 3, 2002 – Parents and students are reminded that all public schools in the territory will resume classes at their regularly scheduled times on Tuesday, Jan. 8.

Jam 3, 2002 – Parents and students are reminded that all public schools in the territory will resume classes at their regularly scheduled times on Tuesday, Jan. 8.

Jan. 3, 2002 – All parents and students are reminded that all public schools in the territory will resume classes at their regularly scheduled times on Tuesday, Jan. 8.

Jan. 3, 2002, 2002 – The Calypson Tent Sub-Committee of the VI Carnival Committee will hold its final meeting for all Calypso Elimination Tent organizers at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 10, at Radio One.
For more information contact Buddy Kennings, chairperson, at 776-1000 ext. 235 or 775-5127.

The Calypso Tent Sub-Committee of the VI Carnival Committee will have its final meeting for all Calypso Elimination Tent organizers at Radio One.
For more information, contact Buddy Kennings, chairperson, at 776-1000 ext, 235 or 775-5127.