The week-long St. John Arts Festival opens at 11 a.m. in Cruz Bay Park. First-day activities include music by the Love City Pan Dragons, a food fair, a crafts fair and music by Smalls and the Music Makers and Ah We in the park, plus art gallery and island nightlife attractions and the Safety Zone art auction.
For schedule details, see the St. John Source "Things to do" section.

A U.S. magistrate judge on Monday denied a request by federal prosecutors that a former St. Croix police officer accused of a litany of crimes, including attempted murder, be held without bail.
Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Resnick ruled that former police officer Lawrence Benjamin be placed under house arrest until his trial begins sometime in early April. In denying the prosecution’s motion, Resnick agreed with Benjamin’s attorney, who said his client could have fled the territory months ago when the FBI began its investigation into the allegations.
Benjamin’s unsecured, $100,000 bond was put up by his parents in the form of a home in Estate St. John. Benjamin’s father is Cecil Benjamin, who was recently nominated as the V.I. Commissioner of Labor.
Lawrence Benjamin, who resigned from the force in November after eight years, faces eight charges, including attempted murder, civil rights violations, using a firearm during a crime of violence and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
According to the indictment against the former officer, on Nov. 9, 1999, Benjamin shot Ray Romero in the leg under the guise of the law. Additionally, Benjamin is accused of breaking into a home in order to get 103 pounds of cocaine. The cocaine, however, was actually fake and had been placed in the house as part of a sting operation conducted by the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force.
Although Benjamin left without the drug, the government maintains he intended to distribute it.
Three other officers have also been indicted by a federal grand jury as a result of an ongoing FBI investigation into 13 charges of civil rights violations, theft and unlawful arrest. Adrian Williams, Luis Torres and John Hardy were released last week on $25,000 bail by Resnick. Their trials are also scheduled to begin in early April.

The St. Thomas/St. John district Mathletes contest featuring teams of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15, at Palms Court Harborview.
The winning team will receive a trophy and will advance to the territorial Mathcounts finals.

The St. Thomas/St. John district Mathletes contest featuring teams of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15, at Palms Court Harborview.
The winning team will receive a trophy and will advance to the territorial Mathcounts finals.

The St. Thomas/St. John district Mathlete contest featuring teams from 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15, at Palms Court Harborview.
The winning team will receive a troph6y and advance to the territorial Mathcounts finals.

The St. Thomas/St. John district Mathletes contest featuring teams from 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15, at Palms Court Harborview.
The winning team will receive a trophy and will advance to the territorial Mathcounts finals.

The Southeast Resource Center will sponsor Hearing Officer Training from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 21, and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, at the Holiday Inn Windward Passage Tradewinds Conference Room.
Attorneys and Certified Hearing Officers who are interested in providing services to special education students are urged to attend.
For additional information contact Belinda West-O'Neal at 774-4399.

Native St. John botanist Eleanor Gibney and University of the Virgin Islands biology professor Gary Ray will lead a botanical walking tour of Lameshur and Europa Bays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 24.
For a $30 donation you get the guided walk, lunch at the V.I. Environmental Resources Station and transportation to and from Cruz Bay or Coral Bay. Proceedsw will benefit the Sisters' Gardens Park in Coral Bay. Participation is limited to 10 persons. For reservations, call 693-9410.

Native St. John botanist Eleanor Gibney and University of the Virgin Islands biology professor Gary Ray will lead a botanical walking tour of Lameshur and Europa Bays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 21.
For a $30 donation you get the guided walk, lunch at the V.I. Environmental Resources Station and transportation to and from Cruz Bay or Coral Bay. Proceedsw will benefit the Sisters' Gardens Park in Coral Bay. Participation is limited to 10 persons. For reservations, call 693-9410.

Native St. John botanist Eleanor Gibney and University of the Virgin Islands biology professor Gary Ray will lead a botanical walking tour of Lameshur and Europa Bays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 7.
For a $30 donation you get the guided walk, lunch at the V.I. Environmental Resources Station and transportation to and from Cruz Bay or Coral Bay. Proceedsw will benefit the Sisters' Gardens Park in Coral Bay. Participation is limited to 10 persons. For reservations, call 693-9410.