A clearly very surprised Shaun Pennington, founder, publisher and owner of the Virgin Islands Source online news publications, received the Person of the Year Award on Wednesday from Rotary Club II of St. Thomas.
Pennington said she was "pleased and thrilled" by the honor. The daily production of three interrelated news sites "totally is a group effort, and I accept this on behalf of all the 'Sourcers,' as we call them."
Rotarian Elliott "Mac" Davis made the presentation at a luncheon at Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Resort. Davis, an attorney, said the club began giving the annual award 21 years ago "to recognize someone who, through their words and deeds, has demonstrated their allegiance to the principle of service to others above service to self."
He described Pennington as "a writer by God-given talent" who trained in business management and public relations. For many years she has lent her support to a number of organizations, including the League of Women Voters, the St. Thomas-St. John Arts Council, the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce, the Ad Club of the Virgin Islands and the Friends of Fort Christian.
On Jan. 15, 1999, Pennington launched the St. Thomas Source. It was followed in July of that year by the St. Croix Source and, five months later, by the St. John Source.
"All three newspapers reach local readers looking for accurate, complete and unbiased news and insightful commentary about their home," Davis said. "And because they are electronic, these newspapers also instantly reach thousands of people around the world who also have a vested interest in keeping up with the news we make here. They are read faithfully by the major decision-makers in government and the private sector, in the territory, in the nation's capital and beyond."
Producing a daily newspaper with a very small staff means Pennington is on call seven days a week, 24 hours a day, Davis said. "Through these efforts, and countless other unheralded ones, she continues to uphold the standards of honesty, integrity, generosity of spirit and community commitment that we have come to expect," he said.
As usual, Davis teased his audience by withholding as long as possible any identifying information about the recipient of the award. Some Source staff hid in the room until Davis made the announcement.
Pennington was lured to the luncheon by Davis and her husband, Wally Bostwick, on the pretext that she was to accompany the "real" recipient, Penny Feuerzeig, former executive editor of the Virgin Islands Daily News and an adviser for the Source.
Upon learning she had won the award, Pennington joked, "Does this mean I don't have to write the story?"
Feuerzeig, who was in on the ruse, said after the presentation that she takes pride in Pennington's success.
Several of the past honorees and/or their family members, were on hand for the presentation, as guests of Rotary.
Previous persons of the year are: Wilbur "Bill" LaMotta, Albert Aubain, Gov. Roy Schneider, Costas Coulianos, Calvin Wheatley, Dr. Alfred Heath, Gov. Alexander Farrelly, Irvin "Brownie" Brown, Delegate Ron deLugo, Dilsa Capdeville, Athniel "Addie" Ottley, Judge Verne Hodge, Leona Bryant, Edward Thomas, Juel Molloy, Vinnie Mohanani, Sen. Lorraine Berry, Nick Pourzal, Randy Knight and John P. DeJongh Jr.
For the full text of the speech given by Davis as he presented Person of the Year Award to Source publisher Shaun A. Pennington click here.

Delegate to Congress Donna Christian Christensen and Gov. Charles Turnbull met with Interior Secretary Gale Norton on Tuesday to press for action to lessen the impact of the federal government’s establishment and expansion of marine national monuments in the territory.
The meeting of the Pacific Basin Development Council, which focuses primarily on issues affecting the Pacific territories but to which the Virgin Islands is invited because of common concerns, provided a chance for the two V.I. officials to discuss the recent creation of a national monument off St. John and the expansion of Buck Island Reef National Monument off St. Croix.
"We need your assistance on the question of who owns the submerged lands," Christensen told Norton. "Once the jurisdictional questions are resolved, we are also asking for the involvement of our fishing community in the development of the management plans."
Christensen also asked that the designations of the "no-take" zones be put on hold until the jurisdictional issues are resolved.
It was Turnbull’s second meeting with Norton this week on the monument issue. In a statement Wednesday, Turnbull said the secretary told him she would review the monument boundaries and make "appropriate adjustments" after consulting with local officials.
"Because not a lot of consultation was done, we need to take another look at those most affected," said Norton of the monument designations. "We need to look at what can be done through management and boundary adjustments until we reach a mutually satisfactory solution."
On Tuesday afternoon, Christensen attended a briefing with Interior officials and the House Resources Committee's National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee staff that addressed the issue of who owns the submerged lands. Interior officials gave presentations on how they determined ownership and on the need for preserving and in turn replenishing the fisheries.
Christensen noted that while fishermen were not against the replenishment of the fisheries, a balance should be struck between preservation and the community's socio-economic well-being.
According to the proclamation signed by former President Bill Clinton during his last week in office that expands the Buck Island Monument by 18,000 acres, the secretary of the Interior, who oversees the Park Service, has two years to prepare a management plan to protect natural and historical resources. For the 12,700-acre St. John monument, the time line is three years.
The delegate echoed her concerns over the ramifications of no-take zones Wednesday when she addressed the Coral Reef Task Force in Washington, D.C. While applauding the task force's science and preservation efforts, Christensen urged members to "work harder to look for that fragile balance, and take into equal consideration every impact that your decisions might have, as well as to maintain a posture of flexibility in terms of the possible approaches that might well be able to achieve the same goal."
The 1999 Coral Reef Task Force meeting was held on St. Croix, where Turnbull and Dean Plaskett, Department of Planning and Natural Resources commissioner, signed off with other members to set aside as no-take zones a minimum of 20 percent of U.S. reefs by 2010.
The Coral Reef Task Force meeting was attended by a contingent of Virgin Islanders, including DPNR staff, Friends of the Park and the National Park Service officials.

Police on St. Croix continue to investigate an alleged car-jacking earlier this week that ended with the victim escaping his assailants while at an automated banking machine.
Early Monday, a man reported to police that while he was driving on a back road near the Christiansted Cemetery another vehicle was blocking the road. An unidentified man flagged the 44-year-old man down and approached his 2000 GMC Sonoma pick-up truck.
The man on foot then approached the pick-up truck window and pointed a silver handgun while on the opposite side of the vehicle another armed man appeared, according to St. Croix Deputy Police Chief Novelle Francis.
The driver was robbed of $150 and his automated teller card was taken. The suspects then ordered the victim into the passenger seat and then commandeered the truck, Francis said. The suspects are alleged to have driven the victim to Banco Popular in Orange Grove in the truck while another followed in the vehicle used to block the road.
While the suspects contemplated the ATM, the victim made his escape. He ran to the nearby Pueblo supermarket and called police at about 1:30 a.m., Francis said.
Francis said police investigators are looking into the incident. The case could be turned over to federal law enforcement officers because car-jacking is a federal offense.
Individuals with information about the crime are urged to call 911 or the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 778-2211 ext. 4531.

Myron Elias Johannes, known as "Micro" to his friends, of Estate Calquohoun, died Wednesday, Feb. 21 at Juan F. Luis Hospital. He was 66.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 6 at St. Ann's Catholic Church, with a viewing beginning at 9 a.m.
Interment will follow in the veteran section of Kingshill Cemetery.
He is survived by his daughter, Yvette West; sons, Roberto Rivera, Marcelino Ventura Sr., Ray Johannes Sr., Myron Johannes Jr., and Jose Johannes; grandchildren, Mario, Rashed, Renita, Gail, Roberto Jr., Christina, Sara, Eliezar, Marcelino Jr., Myles, Ray Jr., Angela, Ivanna, Robin, Raymond, Akeem Elias, Akeem Alijawon, Jahmali, Elijah, Iveliz, Jonathan, Jose Jr., Eric, and Janice; sister, Anna Johannes Lindo; nieces, Kimberly Jean-Marie, Pamela Harris, and Horolyn "Lynn" Lindo; great nieces and nephews, Kahalima, Kianna, Khamal, Jamal, and Rashawn.
He is also survived by daughters-in-law, Andrea Rivera, Aretha Ventura, Beulah "Bea" Johannes, Jacqueline Springer, and Judith; son-in-law, Edward Bibb; special cousins, Ruby Simmonds and Ruth Beagles; many friends including the Johannes, Urgents, Venturas, Walcotts, James family, and Williams family, the Horsemen's Association Racing Protective Syndicate, The New Drive- In, Larry Oliver, Derby, Macedon, Dwayne Thomas, Mighty Grover, Eddie Bramble, and Sarah James; along with many other friends and relatives.
Funeral arrangements are in the care of James Memorial Funeral Home.

Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd released Wednesday expenses for senators' travel expenses for their trip to Washington, D.C., in January for the presidential inauguration. They total $21,849.
These figures are the requested expenses only. They are not complete, pending the senators handing in their individual itemized expenses and receipts, which are not yet available.
The expenses range from $853 for airfare only for Sen. Douglas Canton Jr. to $3,935 for Sen. Carlton Dowe. Canton paid other expenses out of his own pocket.
The breakdown is as follows:
Sen. Adelbert Bryan
Airfare $752
Hotel $524
Ground Transportation $400
Meals $350
Total $2,326
Sen. Douglas Canton Jr.
Airfare $853
Sen. Donald Cole
Airfare $786
Hotel $1,500
Ground Transportation $400
Meals $250
Total $2,936
Sen. Carlton Dowe
Airfare $896
Hotel $1,839
Ground Transportation $300
Meals $900
Total $3,935
Sen. Alicia Hansen
Airfare $1,114
Hotel $1,074
Ground Transportation $450
Meals $350
Total $2,988
Sen. David Jones
Airfare $881
Hotel $812
Ground Transportation $450
Meals $320
Total $2,013
Sen. Almando Liburd
Airfare $771
Hotel $1,839
Ground Transportation $300
Meals $900
Total $3,810
Sen. Norma Samuel
Airfare $1,114
Hotel $1,074
Ground Transportation $450
Meals $350
Total $2,988
Total $21,849

Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd released Wednesday expenses for senators' travel expenses for their trip to Washington, D.C., in January for the presidential inauguration. They total $21,849.
These figures are the requested expenses only. They are not complete, pending the senators handing in their individual itemized expenses and receipts, which are not yet available.
The expenses range from $853 for airfare only for Sen. Douglas Canton Jr. to $3,935 for Sen. Carlton Dowe. Canton paid other expenses out of his own pocket.
The breakdown is as follows:
Sen. Adelbert Bryan
Airfare $752
Hotel $524
Ground Transportation $400
Meals $350
Total $2,326
Sen. Douglas Canton Jr.
Airfare $853
Sen. Donald Cole
Airfare $786
Hotel $1,500
Ground Transportation $400
Meals $250
Total $2,936
Sen. Carlton Dowe
Airfare $896
Hotel $1,83900
Ground Transportation $300
Meals $900
Total $3,935
Sen. Alicia Hansen
Airfare $1,114
Hotel $1,074
Ground Transportation $450
Meals $350
Total $2,988
Sen. David Jones
Airfare $881
Hotel $812
Ground Transportation $450
Meals $320
Total $2,013
Sen. Almando Liburd
Airfare $771
Hotel $1,839
Ground Transportation $300
Meals $900
Total $3,810
Sen. Norma Samuel
Airfare $1,114
Hotel $1,074
Ground Transportation $450
Meals $350
Total $2,988
Total $21,849

Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd released Wednesday expenses for senators' travel expenses for their trip to Washington, D.C., in January for the presidential inauguration. They total $21,849.
These figures are the requested expenses only. They are not complete, pending the senators handing in their individual itemized expenses and receipts, which are not yet available.
The expenses range from $853 for airfare only for Sen. Douglas Canton Jr. to $3,935 for Sen. Carlton Dowe. Canton paid other expenses out of his own pocket.
The breakdown is as follows:
Sen. Adelbert Bryan
Airfare $752
Hotel $524
Ground Transportation $400
Meals $350
Total $2,326
Sen. Douglas Canton Jr.
Airfare $853
Sen. Donald Cole
Airfare $786
Hotel $1,500
Ground Transportation $400
Meals $250
Total $2,936
Sen. Carlton Dowe
Airfare $896
Hotel $1,83900
Ground Transportation $300
Meals $900
Total $2,936
Sen. Alicia Hansen
Airfare $1,114
Hotel $1,074
Ground Transportation $450
Meals $350
Total $2,988
Sen. David Jones
Airfare $881
Hotel $812
Ground Transportation $450
Meals $320
Total $2,013
Sen. Almando Liburd
Airfare $771
Hotel $1,839
Ground Transportation $300
Meals $900
Total $3,810
Sen. Norma Samuel
Airfare $1,114
Hotel $1,074
Ground Transportation $450
Meals $350
Total $2,988
Total $21,849

Foul play was not a factor in the death of 21-year-old Lucas James Thomas, whose body was found in the waters near the Yacht Haven marina on Monday afternoon, according to the St. Thomas medical examiner.
Dr. Francisco Landron said the findings of the autopsy conducted Wednesday were "consistent with that of drowning."
Thomas, a crewmen on a charter yacht, was reported missing Saturday morning. A search involving local divers, police officers and volunteers of St. Thomas Rescue turned up nothing on Sunday. A diver found the body entangled in debris on the ocean floor on Monday.
Landron said "foul play was not suspected at all" in Thomas' death. He said he considered the case closed "unless police bring me something else on it."
St. Thomas police have not commented on the autopsy findings and whether the case is now closed.

Around 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, the Humane Society Spay Day activity at Port of Sale Mall had hit a lull. Only 40 certificates for spaying or neutering pets had been given out.
But then Jimmy came in and picked up 14 certificates for his girlfriend's cats, though he turned down project organizer Lisa Walker's suggestion to take a certificate for his Rottweilers.
After that, business picked up, and by 6 p.m. 507 certificates had been given out. Walker said last year saw about 300 certificates. At the time, though, she was delighted, "We'd only anticipated maybe 100 — we simply didn't know what to expect."
"Now, I hope people will follow through on bringing the certificates to the vets," Walker said. Some people pick up the certificates, she said, and then attempt to catch feral pets and bring them in, not always an easy task. She said between herself and two friends, it took them a year and a half to catch a female cat at Magens Bay who had three litters during that time.
This year's project "2001; a Spay Odyssey," is the second spay-and-neutering program on St. Thomas. Applicants are asked to fill out a simple form, after which they are given a certificate to take to any one of the island's four veterinarians. If the veterinarian deems the animal safe for surgery, that's all there is to it.
The program costs nothing to the pet owners. It is funded by the society from a special bequest left by former island resident Ethel Brinkerhoff, and by the veterinarians who provide services at minimum cost to the shelter.
Along with other society volunteers including Tara Hinton, Linda Witkop, Lorraine Mason and veteran shelter worker, Delsa Thomas, Walker was taking applications and dispensing information to any and all takers. "Get your pet fixed for free," she said to a couple teenage boys passing by. They just grinned and kept walking. "You've got to try," Walker said, "You just never know."
She knows something, though. The shelter has had to euthanize far fewer pets since last year's program, and Hubert Brumant, shelter manager, said there is also an appreciable decrease in the number of puppies and kittens left at dumpsters.
According to a pamphlet put out by the Humane Society and the Interfaith Coalition of St. Thomas-St. John Inc., in a seven-year period one unaltered female and male dog can produce 4,372 births. And that's nothing compared to the feline world, whose gestation period is shorter. The booklet states that within seven years, two unaltered cats, plus all their unaltered kittens' kittens, can be responsible for 420,715 births. Now, multiply Jimmy's girlfriends's 14 cats' potential kittens' litters seven times, and … well, let's hope we don't have to.

The Community Health clinics at the Roy L.Schneider Hospital will be closed Friday, March 2, Dr. Mavis Matthew, acting health commissioner, announced Wednesday.
The closing is to allow for a rededication ceremony for the newly refurbished reception area, and to present awards of appreciation to Health Department employees.
Clients with Friday appointments are asked to contact the clinic to reschedule. For further information, call 776-8311, ext. 2116.