Harbour Night, a Caribbean street festival, will take place 7 p.m. to midnight Wednesday, Feb. 14 at Strand Street, on the waterfront in Frederiksted.
For this Harbour Night, Frederiksted welcomes 3500 cruise ship passengers and crew from Carnival Victory, three Dutch Navy ships and a large local turnout to celebrate Harbour Night Valentine's Day.
Entertainment will be provided by Noel, Dem Boys, Jazzy Blue, Xpress Band, The Karamu Afi Dance and Drums Troupe, and Willard John's Moko Jumbies.
Food, arts and crafts vendors will be on hand, along with the St. Croix Animal Shelter, American Red Cross, The Deaf Coalition, and the Boys and Girls Clubs. Other non-profit organizations that would like to participate are welcome and can register by calling Pamela at 772-1624.
There is a parking ban on Strand Street between 5 p.m. and midnight. Cars in violation will be towed.
For more information about Harbour Night call 772-4000.

Harbour Night, a Caribbean street festival, will take place 7 p.m. to midnight Wednesday, Feb. 14 at Strand Street, on the waterfront in Frederiksted.
For this Harbour Night, Frederiksted welcomes 3500 cruise ship passengers and crew from Carnival Victory, three Dutch Navy ships and a large local turnout to celebrate Harbour Night Valentine's Day.
Entertainment will be provided by Noel, Dem Boys, Jazzy Blue, Xpress Band, The Karamu Afi Dance and Drums Troupe, and Willard John's Moko Jumbies.
Food, arts and crafts vendors will be on hand, along with the St. Croix Animal Shelter, American Red Cross, The Deaf Coalition, and the Boys and Girls Clubs. Other non-profit organizations that would like to participate are welcome and can register by calling Pamela at 772-1624.
There is a parking ban on Strand Street between 5 p.m. and midnight. Cars in violation will be towed.
For more information about Harbour Night call 772-4000.
Please call 772-4000 for more information.

The Legislature’s legal counsel has declined a senator’s request to look into the constitutionality of the disparity in funding between majority and minority bloc senators.
Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg wrote attorney Constance Krigger, the Senate’s chief legal counsel, on Monday asking her to research the legality of the eight-member majority bloc’s "efforts to marginalize non-majority senators through severe budgetary constraints."
Donastorg said many of the majority bloc senators reportedly are operating with budgets "well in excess of $500,000."
However, since six of the seven non-majority senators do not chair a committee, Senate President Almando "Rocky" Liburd says that justifies their budget allotments of approximately $100,000.
Donastorg asked Krigger whether the disparate allotments constitute a violation of equal protection laws, "as all 15 members of this body were duly elected to serve the people of the Virgin Islands and are entitled to equitable resources."
"By my interpretation, the unequal allotments could very well establish unequal representation – a clear violation of the United States Constitution," Donastorg wrote.
Krigger said she couldn’t render an opinion on Donastorg's request because of the Legislature's rules, which state that the chief legal counsel’s duties are to examine, analyze and research legislative proposals.
"In that capacity, the Legal Counsel’s Office cannot issue a legal opinion on a measure that is not a legislative proposal and it cannot be involved with an issue that is purely political in nature and pits one group of senators against another," Krigger said.
She did say that past research on a similar issue found no instance that involved allocation of funds between the majority and minority members, and that included the U.S. Congress. Krigger did note that a taxpayer lawsuit could be instituted by any taxpaying resident who feels that his or her constitutional equal protection rights are being violated.
The $100,000 allotment dished out by the majority caused Donastorg to ask Liburd to direct $10,000 from his $65,000-a-year salary to his allotment so he could supplement the pay of his three remaining staff members.
Donastorg said he had to fire four of his employees because the allotments doled out by the new Senate majority to minority, non-committee chair holders was insufficient. Liburd refused the request.

The Department Of Education, in conjunction with AT&T of the Virgin Islands, will be sponsoring an art contest in celebration of Black History Month. The contest's theme is "My Black Hero is." Students in the public elementary schools who are interested in participating are encouraged to submit their entries by Wednesday.
Entries will consist of an 8-1/2 by 11 inch to 11 by 14 inch portrait of a black hero the student views as the most inspirational in his or her life, as well as a short three-sentence paragraph explaining why.
Questions and requests for information regarding the contest should be directed to Marcia Jeffers at 776-6500 ext. 4424.

The Government Employee's Retirement will hold a Pre-retirement Workshop from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 21, in the GERS Conference Room of the GERS Building, St. Thomas.

The Government Employee's Retirement will hold a Pre-retirement Workshop from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 21, in the GERS Conference Room, GERS Building, St. Thomas.

While some vendors who had been selling T-shirts and the like at Drake's Seat have moved to Vendors Plaza, attorneys for at least two others have filed documents in District Court asking Judge Thomas K. Moore to reconsider his Jan. 26 ruling that the government can bar vendors from the overlook.
Vendors' attorneys reportedly have also filed a suit against Christine Wheaton, the owner of the Drake's Seat property.
According to a report in The Avis, attorney Kenth Rogers said his clients were denied due process when their location permits were not renewed by the Police Department in 1993.
The vendors apparently never received a hearing on the matter, Rogers said. Instead, they entered into month-to-month memoranda of agreement with the Department of Housing, Parks and Recreation to set up at Drake's Seat.
In his ruling last month, Moore found that Housing, Parks and Recreation had no legal authority to issue the memoranda.
According to the V.I. Code, Moore said at the time, "Housing Parks and Recreation has absolutely nothing to do with the vendors at Drake's Seat. They lost their property interest there when they lost their valid VIPD placement permits."
Without a legitimate property interest, Moore said, the question of whether vendors' rights of due process were violated was moot.
On Jan. 26, Moore gave vendors' attorneys two weeks to file additional documents in support of their case. It was not known when he would hand down a decision.
Attorney Chad Messier, representing the Wheaton estate, said the additional suit by the vendors supposedly alleges "conspiracy" by the widow of Homer Wheaton, Christine Wheaton, who lives in Switzerland. But Messier said Friday that his client had still not been served with the suit.
Meanwhile, five Drake's Seat vendors have accepted a proposal from the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs to situate them next to Vendors Plaza, according to DLCA Commissioner Andrew Rutnik. But he said Friday was the last day for vendors to do so.
"These vendors have finally realized that the judge's ruling has stood, and that the government does indeed have the right to remove them from Drake's Seat," Rutnik said.
He said that while original plans for the expansion of Vendors Plaza to accommodate those from Drake's Seat called for 14 vendor spots, "we may amend that plan. But certainly we are going to expand Vendors Plaza."
Vendors have not been setting up at the Drake's Seat overlook recently and Rutnik said, "I do hope they don't try to go up there again. We've been very patient, the police have been very patient. No arrests have been made. But if they keep pushing those buttons, they will be arrested."

Wiener schnitzel, rahm schnitzel, Juken schnitzel, chicken schnitzel, kielbasa and Hungarian goulash. Throw in some plebeian dishes such as chicken breast Hawaiian and pot roast, garnish with red cabbage and noodles, and you have a good basic German menu.
That's Petra's Schnitzel Haus.
The wiener schnitzel platter consists of about four nice-size pieces of breaded veal cutlet with a slightly pickled flavor. They're so tender you can cut them with just a bit more than a glance. So good you simply don't want to swallow. Complement this with red cabbage cooked with whole cloves, raisins and a touch of sugar, plus a helping of basic noodles. The results are two pleasing points of reference for your palate to work from.
The Hungarian goulash platter is made up half of noodles mixed with firm cubes of beef in spicy brown gravy, and half of vegetable. The red cabbage is simply too good to miss. I don't know what most Hungarians would think of this adaptation of their national dish, but it tasted very good to me.
Entrees cost from $10 to $20. At times, Petra has put together a Wednesday night special menu for locals with all entrees priced at $10.99. The menu usually has at least four specialties, so it is hard to go wrong.
Be forewarned, however: At Petra's place, everything is a la carte. A salad is at least $3.50, and several appetizers that look tasty are priced at $5 or more. Evidently you need to bring your own bread.
At one time it was not possible to get water to drink with your meal at this establishment unless you purchased a bottle of designer water. Detesting that policy, I refused to review the Schnitzel Haus. Things have changed. Now you can obtain a glass of water upon request. Other drinks appear to run $3 to $4.
The ambiance is a mix of cozy and camp, with half a dozen tables for four and a couple more for two. Seating is in an open room and on a narrow deck overlooking the marina outside. At night, it's a tranquil scene, with a couple of fans inside to improve the airflow.
Schnitzel Haus was a popular stop on the Lagoon shuttle out of the Compass Point Marina that made continuous rounds in the evening last year, serving half a dozen dining and drinking establishments with docking facilities, allowing passengers so inclined to have their cocktails, main course and dessert at different stops. Unfortunately, the service is no longer in operation.
Last year, Schnitzel Haus was a participant in the Rotary East dine-out coupon book program, which this reviewer highly recommends. The 2001 coupon book will be out in mid-April, good into December, and will sell for $20 (up from $15 in previous years, but still well worth it). The books are filled with coupons good for free or discounted second entrées, drinks or desserts at dozens of St. Thomas and St. John restaurants, and proceeds from their sale benefit Rotary East educational programs, including University of the Virgin Islands scholarships. As soon as the new books are off the presses, they will be available from any Rotary East member.
Bottom line on dining at Schnitzel Haus: It's a worthwhile experience – for the cozy atmosphere, good basic drinks and excellent German food. While the prices are somewhat high for this type of establishment and the menu is strictly a la carte, the food quality is very good.
The restaurant restrooms are spacious, clean and well appointed. The service staff is well trained, and there is adequate monitored parking. With the Wednesday specials, this is about as good as it gets.
Schnitzel Haus
Ambience: 4 stars
Food: 4 stars
Service: 4 stars
Value: 3 stars
Located at Trawlers in Paradise, Route 32 between La Vida and Fish Hawk Marinas
340-775-9896 (evenings), 776-7198 (days)
Dinner Monday-Friday, 6-9 p.m.
'50s-'60s music (solo guitar and vocals) Mondays 7-9 p.m.
German cuisine
Amex only

Editor's note: The Tottering Taster is a senior citizen dedicated to enjoying good food who dines in local establishments to bring Source readers unsolicited assessments biased in favor of an ultimate eating-out experience. The individual uses a pseudonym so restaurant personnel will not be able to identify the reviewer and try to influence the review.

The Ivanna Eudora Kean High School Parent Teachers Student Association will meet at 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 12, in the school's cafeteria.
All parents are urged to attend.

Public housing residents on St. Croix aired their grievances with their living conditions at a hearing of the Senate Committee on Housing, Parks and Recreation on Thursday night.
Taking the brunt of the criticism was Department of Housing, Parks and Recreation Commissioner Ira Hobson.
Two residents of LBJ Gardens, under the purview of Hobson's department, said their homes were literally falling down around them.
Christopher Simmonds said he’s had problems with his unit since Hurricanes Hugo, in 1989, and Marilyn, in 1995. He said he has done some work on his home with the expectation of getting reimbursed. But that hasn’t happened.
"The house is cracking up bad," he said. "The kitchen ceiling is falling in."
Navetta Webster, an 11-year resident of LBJ Gardens, said all areas of the housing community have a long history of problems. The recreational facility has been a "hell hole" for the past five years, she said.
Personally, Webster said her unit is often flooded with sewage, soaked by leaking water pipes and plagued by bad wiring that destroys appliances. She showed a videotape of the problems, and criticized the "incompetency" and "laissez-faire" management of Housing Department officials.
"For five-and-a-half years I’ve been complaining," Webster said. "I’ve complained and complained until I can’t complain anymore."
V.I. Housing Authority Executive Director Conrad Francois and V.I. Housing Finance Authority Executive Director Claude Richards were also present at the hearing, called by committee chairman Senator Celestino White, a long-time advocate for public-housing residents and of home ownership programs for middle- and low-income residents.
Other witnesses listed a litany of complaints, which the housing officials promised to look into.
Senators in attendance, besides Senator White, were Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, Carlton Dowe, Emmett Hansen II , Norma Pickard-Samuel, Norman Jn Baptiste and Adelbert Bryan.