The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources will hold two workshops to help people who own or operate underground and above ground storage tanks to better comply with environmental regulations.
The all-day workshops will be held on June 5 on St. Croix and June 6 on St. Thomas. The workshops are designed to help people better understand the federal and local requirements for proper management of underground storage tanks (USTs), above ground storage tanks, underground injection wells and used oil, and will provide general information about protecting the Virgin Islands' sensitive aquatic ecosystems.
Underground storage tanks are the leading source of groundwater contamination in the United States, with over 30,000 leaks and spills reported annually in past years. USTs range in capacity from a few hundred to thousands of gallons, and are used to store gasoline, heating oil and other fuels, waste oil and hazardous substances at gas stations, marinas, government facilities and large industrial sites.
Leaks from tanks often contaminate the soil around them, and can cause unhealthy gasoline vapors to settle into the basements of private homes and apartment buildings. They can also contaminate underground aquifers, which are used as drinking water by many people. EPA and state underground storage tank regulations were put in place to prevent such releases, and, if a release does occur, to insure that it is addressed immediately.
Claudia Gutierrez, underground storage tank coordinator for EPA's Region 2 Office, will be joined by Jim Casey, EPA Virgin Islands coordinator, to present several topics for discussion. Hollis Griffin, director of DPNR’s Division of Environmental Protection, will provide opening remarks and speak about developing good working relationships with regulatory agencies.
The EPA/DPNR workshops will be held at the following locations: St. Croix – June 5, 2001, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Almeric L. Christian Federal Building. St. Thomas – June 6, 2001, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. U.S. Federal Building and Court House, First Floor Conference Room.
EPA invites anyone interested in attending one of the workshops to contact Cecil Williams of DPNR at (340) 773-0565.

June 1, 2001 – During the past few evenings, the night blooming cereus (Hylocereus trigonus) has been in bloom in Estate Nazareth, which is early for this species. During the next few months, for about three nights each month, this epiphytic cactus erupts in bloom. Each blossom opens shortly after dark and will last only until about 7 a.m. the next morning. Since we see these blooms so rarely, people get quite excited about them.
The night blooming cereus is a vine-like cactus which grows up trees and over rocks and stumps. They grow in the shade or under the hot sun. The three sided stems are divided into one or two-foot lengths, climbing up the tree or rock, with the newest stems reaching out for the sunlight. The flower grows from either the middle or the tip of a new stem division.
Driving along Vessup Lane tonight, the car's headlights catch the luminous flowers. These flowers are huge, about eight inches across and at least as deep. The cup of the flower is filled with hundreds of stamens with one prominent style. In the surrounding darkness, the blossoms have a mystical essence. In the early morning sunlight, the colors of the flowers are soft white and pale green. Bees buzz in and around the flowers. Don't worry about getting stung by the bees, they are too busy with their feast to care about humans.
If you miss the show, don't fret. Next month, you will have a few nights of enjoying the night blooming cereus.
Editor's note: Ellen Higgins has a nursery on St. Thomas. Her particular interest is in plants native to the Virgin Islands. For consultation call 776-1221 or e-mail ehiggins@viaccess.net.

June 1, 2001 – The Bureau of Internal Revenue expects to process and mail about 4,500 tax-year 2000 refund checks by Friday — representing, it says, about one-sixth of the total 25,000 taxpayers owed refunds for last year.
Louis Willis, IRB director-designate, said Thursday he is confident "all refunds will be paid in time to save the government the expense of having to include interest."
Shortly after he took over as acting director, Willis promised to process refunds in a more timely fashion in order to eliminate the costly interest the government has been forced to pay in the past because of delayed refunds.
One tax-related expense the government may find it impossible to avoid, however, is a result of the Bush administration tax cut approved by Congress on Saturday and about to be signed into law. Because the Virgin Islands tax code mirrors that of the federal government, local taxpayers will be entitled to the same tax breaks as their mainland counterparts. "Single taxpayers are entitled to receive $300, single heads of households $500, and married couples who file jointly $600," Willis said.
According to CBS MarketWatch, describing what will happen on the federal level: "The most immediate impact for taxpayers will come from a new, retroactive 10 percent income tax bracket. The Treasury Department will aim to distribute lump-sum refund checks" of up to $300 for individual taxpayers, up to $500 for single parents and up to $600 for married couples by Oct. 1 to taxpayers who filed their 2000 tax returns by April 16 of this year.
The 10 percent tax bracket was enacted retroactive to Jan. 1 on the first $6,000 of income for individuals, $10,000 for single parents and $12,000 for married couples. At present, the lowest income tax rate is 15 percent. The lump-sum refunds are intended to jump-start the economy by encouraging spending immediately, regardless of how much taxpayers may wind up owing at the end of 2001.
Other than the retroactive provision, the new rate changes will begin to take effect July 1. The lump-sum payments also could offset the higher withholding now in effect for 2001.
Over gradual phase-in periods of five to 10 years, the legislation will result in cuts in marginal income-tax rates, doubling of the $500 child credit, elimination of the "marriage penalty," repeal of the estate tax, and the addition of expanded education and retirement savings incentives. The child credit goes up to $600 for 2002. Part of the credit is refundable to some lower-income parents who have no income-tax liability.
According to Willis, the local government will have to pay out about $20 million under the retroactive provision. He said he does not know where the funds will come from, but "administration officials are to meet soon to find a solution."
Willis said it is possible the federal government will reimburse the territory for some or all of the liability, as it will do in the case of the increased child tax credit.
At an all-island tax conference scheduled later this month, the U.S. territories and dependencies are expected to lobby heavily for Washington's assistance in meeting the tax-cut rebate requirement.
The tax-cut burden on the V.I. government comes at a time when the territory already is appealing to Washington to lift the burden of the earned-income credit. Again because of the mirror system, that provision results in the local government paying refunds to households that fall below certain income levels.
Delegate Donna Christian Christensen said Thursday she is continuing to lobby for relief and is optimistic about the progress being made. If the local government is finding it difficult now to afford what the national tax policy requires, she said, then it may find it impossible in the future.
Christensen said she has been told that the Turnbull administration is taking steps to prepare for impact of the federal tax-cut law.

June 1, 2001 — Despite flubbing a main fact in his argument against reducing the size of the V.I. Legislature, Sen. Donald "Ducks" Cole remains opposed to the idea.
The error involves a sister U.S. territory, Guam, which recently reduced the size of its legislature from 21 to 15 members.
Last week, Cole and reduction proponent Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg traded barbs about a bill that seeks to shrink the Senate from 15 to nine. Although 87 percent of Virgin Islanders who voted in the referendum last November favored reduction, the 24th Legislature’s majority, of which Cole is a member, sent Donastorg’s bill back to Cole’s Government Operations, Planning and Environmental Protection Committee.
In defending his opposition to the bill last week, Cole pointed to Guam, which like the Virgin Islands is a U.S. territory. Cole said Guam had 21 members in its legislature, which represents 153,000 people. That works out to approximately 7,285 persons per representative, or 4.76 percent of the population.
The Virgin Islands, he said, has 15 senators for a population of 101,809 — meaning 6,787 persons per representative, 6.67 percent of the population.
Reducing the V.I. Senate to nine would increase the number of persons per representative to 11,312, or 11.11 percent representation, Cole said. And this, he said, would violate the equal protection clause in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the basis of the principle of "one man, one vote."
Donastorg, however, noted that in 1998 voters on Guam elected to reduce the size of their legislature from 21 to 15, and this was implemented last November. The new makeup gives Guam 10,200 people per representative.
"I wholeheartedly agree with Sen. Cole about one thing," Donastorg said. "We should indeed follow Guam’s example. Unfortunately, he has it entirely wrong."
Despite his error, Cole stood by his position Thursday. He said Donastorg’s proposal is both a reduction and a re-apportionment bill. According to an analysis of the bill done by Cole’s office, a reduction would exceed limits established by the U.S. Supreme Court for determining state legislative apportionment laws.
"We’re dealing with re-apportionment here," Cole said. "These issues were never explained to the voters."
Cole’s analysis also compared the territory to a number of Caribbean jurisdictions:
– The Cayman Islands, with one legislative body made up of 15 members, has a population of 38,000, thus having 2,533 people per representative.
– The British Virgin Islands, also a unicameral legislature, has 13 members for its 20,000 residents, which translates into 1,538 people per representative.
– Dominica’s unicameral legislature, made up of 31 members, represents 74,400 people, or 2,400 residents per representative.
Cole called the representation on the other islands "staggering" when compared to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
But Donastorg discounted all of Cole’s claims, saying that his bill doesn’t change the proportion of representatives for each island.
"We will have four St. Thomas-St. John senators, four St. Croix senators and one at-large senator. The proportions are unchanged," Donastorg said.
Furthermore, he said it is "unwise" to compare the V.I. Senate to other Caribbean island legislatures because most operate "under entirely different systems of government."
Cole's committee will hold public hearings on Donastorg's bill Monday on St. John, Wednesday on St. Thomas and Thursday on St. Croix. Donastorg had asked Cole to reschedule the hearings because he will be off-island; Cole refused.
Donastorg said Cole’s refusal is part of the majority’s effort to "kill the bill."
"I hope the community will continue to pressure our leaders to respect their wishes on this matter," Donastorg said.
Cole, meanwhile, said the hearings are aimed at discussing the issue in public, which wasn’t done prior to last year’s election.
"If the people choose to vote me out of office, they can go ahead," he said.

June 1, 2001 – A man convicted in December of armed robbery in connection with a Feb. 19, 2000, heist at the Western Union office on Dronningens Gade behind the Green House has been sentenced to 12 years in a federal prison.
William Henry Hodge, 24, of Vester Gade, who was also convicted of obstructing justice for threatening a witness, was given five years for robbery and obstruction and seven years for use of a firearm during a robbery.
Shortly after the robbery Hodge went to the home of a witness in the case and threatened to kill her. The witness, who was key to Hodge's conviction, had seen Hodge and his accomplice near the crime scene as they removed the stocking masks they were wearing and recognized them.
The accomplice is still at large. Hodge has refused to help police apprehend the second gunman in the robbery, according to the Daily News.
The sentences are to be served consecutively.

Divi Carina Bay Casino welcomes Dino Casino's Super Gold Revue, which has delighted audiences the world over for the past 15 years. This talented group performs a wide variety of music ranging from island favorites to rock ‘n' roll and features fantastic impersonations of Little Richard, Marilyn Monroe, and many more. The group does several costume changes and features plenty of audience interaction so don't miss the "Super" show, only at the Mongoose Lounge in June.
People enjoy all of the great live bands at the casino, but this month, the Casino wants to see how talented its guests are. Karaoke kicks off every Monday night at 9 p.m. Everyone is invited to show off their vocal talents, or lack thereof, in the Mongoose Lounge.
June brings a $10,000 Fat Cat Blackjack Tournament on June 12th, with a $5,000 Grand Prize! The month also features Trivia Tuesdays and Bingo on June 7 and June 21. Both offer lots of fun and prizes.
Here is the entertainment listing for the Mongoose Lounge:

Friday, June 1
Dino Casino's Super Gold Revue 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Xpress Band 1 a.m. – 4 a.m.

Saturday, June 2
Dino Casino's Super Gold Revue 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Tuff Enough 1 a.m. – 4 a.m.

Sunday, June 3
Stanley & the 10 Sleepless Knights 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Dino Casino's Super Gold Revue 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Monday, June 4
KARAOKE 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Tuesday, June 5
Aquamarine 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Wednesday, June 6
Dino Casino's Super Gold Revue 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Thursday, June 7
Dino Casino's Super Gold Revue 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Friday, June 8
Dino Casino's Super Gold Revue 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Xpress Band 1 a.m. – 4 a.m.

Saturday, June 9
Dino Casino's Super Gold Revue 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Liquid Sounds 1 a.m. – 4 a.m.

Sunday, June 10
Dem Boyz 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Dino Casino's Super Gold Revue 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Monday, June 11
KARAOKE 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Tuesday, June 12
Aquamarine 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Wednesday, June 13
Dino Casino's Super Gold Revue 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Thursday, June 14
Dino Casino's Super Gold Revue 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Friday, June 15
Dino Casino's Super Gold Revue 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Oreo and Cricket 1 a.m. – 4 a.m.

Saturday, June 16
Dino Casino's Super Gold Revue 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Tuff Enough 1 a.m. – 4 a.m.

Sunday, June 17
Dem Boyz 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Dino Casino's Super Gold Revue 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Monday, June 18
KARAOKE 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Tuesday, June 19
Aquamarine 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Wednesday, June 20
Dino Casino's Super Gold Revue 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Thursday, June 21
Dino Casino's Super Gold Revue 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Friday, June 22
Dino Casino's Super Gold Revue 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Tuff Enough 1 a.m. – 4 a.m.

Saturday, June 23
Dino Casino's Super Gold Revue 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Tuff Enough 1 a.m. – 4 a.m.

Sunday, June 24
Dem Boyz 5 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Dino Casino's Super Gold Revue 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Monday, June 25
KARAOKE 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Tuesday, June 26
Aquamarine 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Wednesday, June 27
Dino Casino's Super Gold Revue 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Thursday, June 28
Dino Casino's Super Gold Revue 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Friday, June 29
Dino Casino's Super Gold Revue 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Oreo and Cricket 1 a.m. – 4 a.m.

Saturday, June 30
Dino Casino's Super Gold Revue 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Tuff Enough 1 a.m. – 4 a.m.

GOLF
Buccaneer Golf Course
18 holes open to the public. 340.773.2100 ext. 738
Carambola Golf Course
18 holes open to the public. 340.778.5638
The Reef Golf Course
9 holes open to the public. 340.773.8844
TENNIS

Private courts are located at:
The Buccaneer Hotel
340.773.2100 ext.736
The Carambola Beach Resort
340.778.3800
Chenay Bay
340.773.2918
The Reef Condominium Tennis Club
340.773.8844
There are public courts at Canegata Ballpark in Christiansted and courts near Fort Frederik in Frederiksted.

GOLF
Buccaneer Golf Course
18 holes open to the public. 340.773.2100 ext. 738
Carambola Golf Course
18 holes open to the public. 340.778.5638
The Reef Golf Course
9 holes open to the public. 340.773.8844
TENNIS

Private courts are located at:
The Buccaneer Hotel
340.773.2100 ext.736
The Carambola Beach Resort
340.778.3800
Chenay Bay
340.773.2918
The Reef Condominium Tennis Club
340.773.8844
There are public courts at Canegata Ballpark in Christiansted and courts near Fort Frederik in Frederiksted.

Dear Source,
The Pond Bay Club was conceived as a five-star boutique hospitality resort reflecting the best of the natural wonder and tranquility that makes St. John known throughout the world. The 15-plus acre site is part of beautiful Estate Chocolate Hole. Preserving and enhancing the environmental and aesthetic values of the site is paramount to the Pond Bay Club developers, who have been recognized by watchdog groups for the quality and sensitivity of their environmental, historical and archaeological work while developing significant projects.
The Pond Bay Club design, as reflected in the revised proposal, continues this record by being well below one-half the allowable density for the W1 (Waterfront Pleasure) zoning and by incorporating cutting-edge environmental engineering to ensure the protection of Chocolate Hole Bay and Salt Pond.
The Pond Bay Club's design is consistent with positioning at the very top of the competitive Caribbean hospitality market. The Pond Bay Club will be positioned as the region's finest small resort and among the world's very best. As a newly constructed, all-suite, intimate-style facility operated in accordance with industry-leading service standards, the Pond Bay Club aspires to cultivate a discerning and loyal clientele willing to pay a premium for participating in the exceptional quality of St. John.
Thus, Pond Bay developers believe strongly that it will benefit the St. John community and economy as a whole.
Indeed, one of the most troubling aspects of the commentary about Pond Bay has been how some seem to overlook economic realities. St. John does not exist in a vacuum; it is part of the Virgin Islands, and it is much dependent on St. Thomas for services, private and governmental. All of the Virgin Islands, and all Virgin Islanders, have a vested interest in the necessity of contributing to the common good, the commonwealth. Pond Bay will make a significant, positive contribution to the commonwealth.
Much information was presented at the Pond Bay public hearing — much positive information. For example, the real property tax benefit of Pond Bay was noted as the equivalent of 222 new homes valued at $500,000 each, and this from only 62 units as originally proposed. Millions of dollars in stamp taxes, payroll taxes and, over the long term, income taxes of Pond Bay employees will benefit all of the Virgin Islands.
With so much of St. John a national park, the tourist-driven economy is the only engine to produce income and profit. Pond Bay will be very much a part of the tourism product that makes and keeps St. John unique.
The Pond Bay development team felt that our original application to CZM was consistent with, and for the most part in excess of, the level of data and support analysis submitted with similar proposals in the past.
Thus we were surprised at certain regulatory staff recommendations, since much of their desired information was expected to be included with the full minor water permit, once the terms of the major permit had been resolved. Many of the design elements for the minor permit we believed to be dependent on the final terms for the CZM major permit.
Notwithstanding this, however, we appreciate the concerns of both staff and the interested public and have not hesitated to bring a highly experienced team of environmental scientists and engineers to St. John to address these issues. We feel strongly that the revised project application we shall soon file includes many of the suggestions of the local public, the CZM staff and the CZM committee members themselves at the public hearing.
Pond Bay is a good-faith effort designed to that high environmental and engineering standard which should be applied to all projects throughout the U.S.V.I.
Everyone associated with the Pond Bay Club remains open to constructive suggestions to improve our project, which will be a significant positive element in the economy and overall life on St. John.
Bob Emmett
Managing Director, Pond Bay Club
St. John

May 31, 2001 – Four V.I. teen-agers with hearing disabilities are looking forward to a unique two-week experience in June: attending the summer sports program of the Gallaudet School for the Deaf in Washington, D.C.
The youngsters, all Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School students, are Kisias George, 15, Jaliya Anderson, 15, Rennick Etienne, 14, and Willie Payne, 14. All were smiling broadly and signing rapidly Thursday afternoon as they witnessed the receipt of a $1,000 check from St. Thomas Rotary East to help sponsor their excursion.
Carolyn Smith, acting executive director of the V.I. Resource Center for the Disabled, held her hand over her heart as she thanked Rotarian Ruth Miller for the donation, gazing proudly at the delighted teen-agers. "We're so proud, so happy," Smith said with emotion, waving away further comment as the students' teacher, Sarah Hancock, signed the comments for them.
Jaliya then stepped shyly over to Miller and gave her a thank-you card about 2 feet tall with a bright yellow and blue seascape on the cover. "Thank you," said the inside message in part, "for making a donation to our summer camp. You will help four deaf people. Do you like the picture on the front of your card? It is my own art style."
The group has raised all but $600 of the funds needed for the trip. Rotary II also provided $1,000 donation, the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands awarded a mini-grant, and American Airlines provided discounted fares.
The four even perform together as a quartet. Known as the "BCB Deaf-fun Signers," they will present a spring concert of silent songs in the middle school auditorium at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, June 4. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children.
Miller and Hancock have served as the youngsters' mentors for several years. At BCB, where Hancock teaches, the students are enrolled in regular classes. Principal Carver Farrow described the four collectively as "a joy" and said he'll "be so sorry to see those kids go, along with Sarah." After the teens graduate in June, Hancock will stay with them as their teacher when they move on to high school.
"They are integrated in the school in every respect," Farrow said. "Last year they learned to play the steelpans, and Willie is ahead of everybody in his drafting class. I don't mean by a couple points; I mean head and shoulders."
Willie was disappointed to learn that he wouldn't get to play soccer at the camp, but allowed as how basketball was going to be OK. Kisias doesn't care all that much about the sports. "I want to meet deaf people," she said with a big grin.
In a fund-raising statement, the students describe themselves as "an isolated group of four deaf teen-agers on St. Thomas." They may be isolated in their inability to hear, but their excitement about the coming trip was all-embracing. "What's that new word we learned?" Hancock asked them by signing, then answered, "Oh yes, eager."
Smith said the fact that there are so few deaf teens on the island will make the summer camp all the more valuable for the young people.
They are scheduled to leave the territory on June 17 for the two-week program. Anyone interested in offering additional support may obtain further information by calling Sarah Hancock at 775-3806.