Sen. Roosevelt David asked Monday that anyone having problems with the territory's Workers' Compensation program contact his office.
As chair of the Senate Labor and Veterans Affairs Committee, David said in a release, he has been trying to investigate reported problems within the program. At three previously scheduled committee meetings, Labor Commissioner Sonia Jacobs Dow has failed to appear due to illness.
Problems with the Workers' Compensation fund surfaced in March when Dow and Finance Commissioner Bernice Turnbull revealed at a Senate committee hearing that it was in the red by $2.9 million. At that time, it was also noted that the insurance fund was owed $6.8 million by the V.I. government and nearly $1 million by companies.
Sen. Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, in a strongly wordd letter to David last week, also expressed frustration at not being able to hold a meeting with Labor Department officials. Donastorg asked David to investigate "numerous complaints by Labor Department employees" and reminded David that the problems also extend to federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration operations in the territory.
David, in his release issued Monday, said he thinks the department's problems stem from "inefficient management, and not from lack of funds." He noted that $1.6 million was initially appropriated for the operation of Workers' Compensation this fiscal year, with additional funding appropriated by the Senate in March.
Labor employees staged a walkout last spring on St. Croix over working conditions. Another job action took place on St. Thomas in May over payroll deductions made because employees failed to show up for a retreat on St. Croix that had been scheduled during V.I. Carnival week.
As his office is continuing to receive complaints, David said, his concerns about the management of the Labor Department are growing. He said he is planning a meeting for late this month on the matter, at a date to be announced. He asked that anyone with questions about the department's operations call his office at (340) 693-3664.

The main potable water distribution line in Sub Base broke around 11:30 p.m. Sunday. The Water and Power Authority will complete repairs to the broken main by 10 p.m. Monday, according to a release from WAPA.
Patricia Blake Simmonds, WAPA spokesperson, said the break, which was due to age, has not caused any flooding, but the road is closed between Joe's Discount and Public Works. Simmonds said motorists wanting to go to Crown Bay Marina should use the road between L'escargot Restaurant and the marina.
Or motorists can enter from the Lindbergh Bay turn-off.
However, due to closure of the standpipe, higher elevations in Charlotte Amalie and Sugar Estate will experience low water pressure while repairs are being completed.

Two software development companies could become the Virgin Islands’ newest businesses if the Industrial Development Commission gives its go-ahead for tax breaks.
Soft DD Inc. and U.S. Viking LLC are the first computer software developers to apply for IDC benefits. At an IDC application hearing Friday on St. Croix, the owners of the two companies outlined their plans for relocating to the territory, with both saying IDC tax exemptions are the key.
Yoram Kochavy, owner of Soft DD, said that initially he would move his consulting company from California to St. Thomas and then expand operations to develop software for free Internet services. Soft DD is asking the IDC to grant it two years to reach the minimum program requirement of 10 local resident employees who would primarily be computer programmers.
David Bornn, Soft DD’s attorney, said that in order for the company to hire 10 Virgin Islanders with backgrounds in programming, a talent pool has to be developed. And that could take time.
Meeting the minimum requirements depends on the pool of employees developed, he said.
"We’re not asking for a waiver of the 10," said Bornn. "We want acknowledgment of the phase-in."
William Neville said he would move his programming business, U.S. Viking, to St. Croix from Florida if it is granted IDC benefits. Neville said his company is the leading newsroom software developer in the world and would employ six people at the end of its first year and 10 after the second.
Neville, who said he developed Microsoft computer applications in the early 1990s, wrote programs that replaced the old teletype machines that giant news organizations like the British Broadcasting Company and the Associated Press once used.
Key to Kochavy and Neville’s success in the territory will be the development of a talent pool within the University of the Virgin Islands’ computer science program.
"I’m looking to develop a relationship with UVI and their computer program specifically," Kochavy said. "We will go into the high schools and promote the technology so there is a better pool of people coming into the university. It’s not only beneficial to me, but the Virgin Islands."
Soft DD would contribute $5,000 a year toward computer education in the territory while U.S. Viking has promised $10,000.
Neville said software development is the most in-demand technology on the mainland but underrepresented in the territory. Attracting such businesses to the Virgin Islands would diversify the local economy, he said.
"If we establish here, it will give students the option to work and stay in the Virgin Islands," Neville said.
But developing a local talent pool that can take advantage of $65,000-a-year salaries, which is what U.S. Viking would offer, will take time. Kochavy said it will take five to eight months to train a person who already has computer skills to do what his company needs. That’s why it is crucial to help develop UVI’s computer program, he said.
"An Internet year is three months," Kochavy said. "What you need to create is a pool of people who are on the cutting edge. The problem isn’t going to be numbers per se, it’s going to be the ability."
Once Soft DD and U.S. Viking reach the minimum requirement of 10 employees, their annual payrolls would reach an estimated $392,680 and $586,519 respectively.
An IDC beneficiary company receives a 90 percent break on local income taxes and 100 percent exemptions on excise, property and gross receipts taxes.
When asked by IDC chairman Rafael Jackson why his company needed tax breaks when it projects million-dollar profits after two years of operation, Kochavy was blunt.
"Obviously, the tax benefits from the IDC is one of the reasons I’m coming here," he said. "My taxes would be much higher somewhere else."
IDC directors Jackson, Malcolm Plaskett, Louis Willis and Mary Ann Pickard are expected to make a decision on the applications in four to six weeks.

Two software development companies could become the Virgin Islands’ newest businesses if the Industrial Development Commission gives its go-ahead for tax breaks.
Soft DD Inc. and U.S. Viking LLC are the first computer software developers to apply for IDC benefits. At an IDC application hearing Friday on St. Croix, the owners of the two companies outlined their plans for relocating to the territory, with both saying IDC tax exemptions are the key.
Yoram Kochavy, owner of Soft DD, said that initially he would move his consulting company from California to St. Thomas and then expand operations to develop software for free Internet services. Soft DD is asking the IDC to grant it two years to reach the minimum program requirement of 10 local resident employees who would primarily be computer programmers.
David Bornn, Soft DD’s attorney, said that in order for the company to hire 10 Virgin Islanders with backgrounds in programming, a talent pool has to be developed. And that could take time.
Meeting the minimum requirements depends on the pool of employees developed, he said.
"We’re not asking for a waiver of the 10," said Bornn. "We want acknowledgment of the phase-in."
William Neville said he would move his programming business, U.S. Viking, to St. Croix from Florida if it is granted IDC benefits. Neville said his company is the leading newsroom software developer in the world and would employ six people at the end of its first year and 10 after the second.
Neville, who said he developed Microsoft computer applications in the early 1990s, wrote programs that replaced the old teletype machines that giant news organizations like the British Broadcasting Company and the Associated Press once used.
Key to Kochavy and Neville’s success in the territory will be the development of a talent pool within the University of the Virgin Islands’ computer science program.
"I’m looking to develop a relationship with UVI and their computer program specifically," Kochavy said. "We will go into the high schools and promote the technology so there is a better pool of people coming into the university. It’s not only beneficial to me, but the Virgin Islands."
Soft DD would contribute $5,000 a year toward computer education in the territory while U.S. Viking has promised $10,000.
Neville said software development is the most in-demand technology on the mainland but underrepresented in the territory. Attracting such businesses to the Virgin Islands would diversify the local economy, he said.
"If we establish here, it will give students the option to work and stay in the Virgin Islands," Neville said.
But developing a local talent pool that can take advantage of $65,000-a-year salaries, which is what U.S. Viking would offer, will take time. Kochavy said it will take five to eight months to train a person who already has computer skills to do what his company needs. That’s why it is crucial to help develop UVI’s computer program, he said.
"An Internet year is three months," Kochavy said. "What you need to create is a pool of people who are on the cutting edge. The problem isn’t going to be numbers per se, it’s going to be the ability."
Once Soft DD and U.S. Viking reach the minimum requirement of 10 employees, their annual payrolls would reach an estimated $392,680 and $586,519 respectively.
An IDC beneficiary company receives a 90 percent break on local income taxes and 100 percent exemptions on excise, property and gross receipts taxes.
When asked by IDC chairman Rafael Jackson why his company needed tax breaks when it projects million-dollar profits after two years of operation, Kochavy was blunt.
"Obviously, the tax benefits from the IDC is one of the reasons I’m coming here," he said. "My taxes would be much higher somewhere else."
IDC directors Jackson, Malcolm Plaskett, Louis Willis and Mary Ann Pickard are expected to make a decision on the applications in four to six weeks.

Two software development companies could become the Virgin Islands’ newest businesses if the Industrial Development Commission gives its go-ahead for tax breaks.
Soft DD Inc. and U.S. Viking LLC are the first computer software developers to apply for IDC benefits. At an IDC application hearing Friday on St. Croix, the owners of the two companies outlined their plans for relocating to the territory, with both saying IDC tax exemptions are the key.
Yoram Kochavy, owner of Soft DD, said that initially he would move his consulting company from California to St. Thomas and then expand operations to develop software for free Internet services. Soft DD is asking the IDC to grant it two years to reach the minimum program requirement of 10 local resident employees who would primarily be computer programmers.
David Bornn, Soft DD’s attorney, said that in order for the company to hire 10 Virgin Islanders with backgrounds in programming, a talent pool has to be developed. And that could take time.
Meeting the minimum requirements depends on the pool of employees developed, he said.
"We’re not asking for a waiver of the 10," said Bornn. "We want acknowledgment of the phase-in."
William Neville said he would move his programming business, U.S. Viking, to St. Croix from Florida if it is granted IDC benefits. Neville said his company is the leading newsroom software developer in the world and would employ six people at the end of its first year and 10 after the second.
Neville, who said he developed Microsoft computer applications in the early 1990s, wrote programs that replaced the old teletype machines that giant news organizations like the British Broadcasting Company and the Associated Press once used.
Key to Kochavy and Neville’s success in the territory will be the development of a talent pool within the University of the Virgin Islands’ computer science program.
"I’m looking to develop a relationship with UVI and their computer program specifically," Kochavy said. "We will go into the high schools and promote the technology so there is a better pool of people coming into the university. It’s not only beneficial to me, but the Virgin Islands."
Soft DD would contribute $5,000 a year toward computer education in the territory while U.S. Viking has promised $10,000.
Neville said software development is the most in-demand technology on the mainland but underrepresented in the territory. Attracting such businesses to the Virgin Islands would diversify the local economy, he said.
"If we establish here, it will give students the option to work and stay in the Virgin Islands," Neville said.
But developing a local talent pool that can take advantage of $65,000-a-year salaries, which is what U.S. Viking would offer, will take time. Kochavy said it will take five to eight months to train a person who already has computer skills to do what his company needs. That’s why it is crucial to help develop UVI’s computer program, he said.
"An Internet year is three months," Kochavy said. "What you need to create is a pool of people who are on the cutting edge. The problem isn’t going to be numbers per se, it’s going to be the ability."
Once Soft DD and U.S. Viking reach the minimum requirement of 10 employees, their annual payrolls would reach an estimated $392,680 and $586,519 respectively.
An IDC beneficiary company receives a 90 percent break on local income taxes and 100 percent exemptions on excise, property and gross receipts taxes.
When asked by IDC chairman Rafael Jackson why his company needed tax breaks when it projects million-dollar profits after two years of operation, Kochavy was blunt.
"Obviously, the tax benefits from the IDC is one of the reasons I’m coming here," he said. "My taxes would be much higher somewhere else."
IDC directors Jackson, Malcolm Plaskett, Louis Willis and Mary Ann Pickard are expected to make a decision on the applications in four to six weeks.

Gerald Greaux, on Lady Marie an Answer 24, brought in the largest kingfish in Sunday's Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament, walking away with $2,000 cash, sponsored by Vitel Cellular, and a seven-day Royal Caribbean cruise for two.
A total of 256 anglers, including 36 juniors, on 70 boats, participated in this one-day inshore tournament that is the largest in terms of participation and prizes of any event of its kind. Longtime sponsors Coors Light, Snapple and Paradise Rum, distributed by Bellows International Ltd. and Offshore Marine Services, dealers for Yamaha and Caribe, as well as sponsors Vitel Cellular and FedEx, assured the event was a success.
With the moon still up, Greaux, Larry Aubain, Alvin Turbe and Ruth Gomez met in Frenchtown, St. Thomas, to board Aubain's Lady Marie, for the Northside Sportfishing Club's Annual Bastille Day Kingfish Tournament. "We started catching just after 6 a.m.," Gomez said. Just after a skipjack tuna catch ended as a throw back from a shark bite, Greaux hooked up a 43.14-pound kingfish. "We he got it up to the boat, the hook was just barely in the fish's mouth. Gerald caught it with skill, and some luck," Gomez said.
Next up was Aubain, catching a 37-pound kingfish. "The guys were contented with their catches, so they started coaching me and instructing me every step of the way," Gomez said.
Three kingfish and seven barracuda later, she racked up 88.01 pounds of fish.
Skill, luck, hard work and a bit of being in the right place at the right time – plying the south shore from Sail Rock to Frenchcap – ultimately paid off with Greaux landing the Largest Kingfish prize, Aubain picking up the Best Captain award for five kingfish totaling 108.83 pounds, and Gomez earning Best Female Angler for her third time and setting a new record for total weight in this category.
Second Largest Kingfish went to Rob Carlin who caught a 42.54-pound fish. Carlin also won Best Male Angler for his 48.36 pounds total of fish. Joel Questel reeled in the Third Largest Kingfish -a 37.80 pounder – on the Gizmo.
Carlin pocketed a $750 cash prize sponsored by FedEx, and a pair of round-trip tickets for two on U.S. Airways. Questel won $500 cash, sponsored by Coors Light. Coors Light and Snapple also sponsored all the other cash prizes awarded to the remaining categories of tournament winners.
For his Best Captain win, Aubain won a Caribe C-9 inflatable dinghy with 8HP Yamaha engine donated by Offshore Marine. The Best Boat award went to Fire Fly, with Capt. David Bryan, who reeled in 15 fish weighing 52.35 pounds.
In the Junior Category, Luc Questel won Best Junior Male, aboard Gizmo, with 44.84 pounds of fish, while Tiffanie Bryan, fishing from Fire Fly, won Best Junior Female with 47.08 pounds of fish. Both of these weights set new tournament records for their category.
Although the tournament was focused around kingfish, other species earned anglers prizes too.
Lionel Olive Sr., fishing aboard Sara Lee won the Largest Jack, a 10.62 pounder. Kevin Scotak's 21.24 pound barracuda, caught on Rock-N-Roll, earned the award for this species. The Largest Bonito was caught by Ben Stout, aboard Fruit Loops, a 7.53 pounder. Largest Tuna went to Helen Petersen fishing from Island Warrior, with a 7.71 pounder. A 30.72 pound catch earned Peter Baker, aboard Sea Gull, the Largest Dolphin, a record breaker for this species in the history of the tournament. Finally, junior angler Adam Turbe, aboard the Mary B., caught the Largest Mackerel, a 7.86 pounder.
The catches were officially weighted by judge Herman Richardson.
Each year, the Northside Sportfishing Club makes donations to community organizations. This year, over $3000 was given to beneficiaries: The Joseph Sibilly School, St. Thomas Rescue, the American Red Cross, and The Victims Advocate Program.
2000 Results
70 Boats
256 Anglers (includes 36 Jr. Anglers)
170 Fish, Total Weight 1593.38 lbs.
38 Kingfish, Total Weight 593322.38 lbs.
PLACEMENT———–ANGLER———-LBS———-BOAT
Largest Kingfish———Gerald Greaux—–43.14——–Lady Marie
2nd Largest Kingfish—-Rob Carlin———42.54———Pablo's Boat
3rd Largest Kingfish—-Joel Questel——–37.80———Gizmo
Best Boat—————-David Bryan——–15 fish——-Fire Fly
(52.35 lbs.)
Best Captain————-Larry Aubain——-5 kingfish—Lady Marie
(108.83 lbs.)
Best Female————–Ruth Gomez——-88.01(*)—-Lady Marie
Best Male—————-Rob Carlin———-48.36——-Pablo's Boat
Best Junior Male——-Luc Questel———-44.84(*)—Gizmo
Best Junior Female—–Tiffanie Bryan——-47.08(*)—Fire Fly
Largest Jack————-Lionel Olive, Sr.—-10.62——-Sara Lee
Largest Barracuda——Kevin Scotak——–21.24——Rock-N-Roll
Largest Bonito———-Ben Stout————7.53——-Fruit Loops
Largest Tuna————Helen Petersen——7.71——-Island Warrior
Largest Mackerel——-Adam Turbe——–7.86——–Mary B.
Largest Dolphin———-Peter Baker——–30.72(*)—Sea Gull
*New Tournament Record

Third of four parts
When I first proposed traveling with my grandsons, I asked my oldest, 9-year-old Stephen, who lives in Charleston, S.C., where he wanted to go. He replied Alaska or Disney World. Then I offered him three choices:
– A train excursion aboard the Amtrak Crescent through North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama intersecting with the Sunset Limited to Orlando and the Silver Meteor home to Charleston;
– A train and boat trip, first on the Silver Meteor to Orlando to visit Disney World, Epcot Center and Universal Studios; then on the Silver Meteor to New York to embark on a cruise ship visiting Maine, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Montreal; then riding the Adirondack back to New York and the Silver Meteor home; or
– Flying from Charleston to London for two weeks.
He chose London. So, I went looking for deals. I found a $599 special for a week in London including round-trip air from Charlotte, N.C., airport transfers and a hotel in Bayswater just off Hyde Park. We ended up paying an additional $150 for air connections to Charleston and back and $360 for extra hotel nights, all arranged through www.go-today.com.
I forwarded Stephen two web sites to study – www.LondonTown.com and www.londonpass.com – and encouraged him to roam the Internet researching various general travel sites such as www.frommers.com. His mother bought him a "Fodor's Guide to London" and I got him the "Frommer's 2000 Guide to London." Our booking agent sent him "London for less."
Stephen skimmed the guides, but studied the "London for less." This is a discount card booklet giving directions and basic information concerning key attractions, selected restaurants and shops. The idea of discounts appealed to him and he was willing to purchase a $20 meal with a $5 discount rather than a $10 meal with no discount. Needless to say, we had many discussions concerning value.
Mom and I had a discussion concerning clothes and time away from the nest. I wanted a full two weeks at least and she thought one week adequate. We compromised on 10 days. Once into the trip, we could have spent a month, as far as Stephen was concerned.
Mom bought a Lands' End bag large enough for a full change of clothes for each day as well as Stephen himself. Usually I wash my underwear, shirts and socks every few days and seldom travel with more than a week's clothing. Stephen used half the clothes his mom packed and it took two of us to carry his bag.
Food for thought
At the Charleston airport, he said goodbye to Mom and trotted off to the gate like a world traveler. Arriving in Charlotte an hour later, he needed a hamburger fix. Growing kids snack constantly, so we did McDonald's with burgers, fries and water. He doesn't eat pickles, tomatoes or lettuce and doesn't drink sodas. I knew he was a picky eater from home visits but was just beginning to learn how picky.
On the plane our seats were jammed against the rear bulkhead. Once seated, he informed me he was not feeling good. The flight became a contest to see how many times he could revisit the hamburger and french fries. Most of the time he made the bag, but a couple of times he didn't. The flight attendants kept us well supplied with damp towels and new blankets, but since he refused carbonated drinks, I couldn't get anything down his stomach to settle it.
My best guess as to the cause included a bug contacted at home, the bumpy ride, the hamburger and fear of flying. Unfortunately, I did not have any track record traveling with this child. Word to the wise: Be prepared for everything. Take Pepto-Bismol.
We arrived at Gatwick Airport around 9 a.m. London time and our hotel at noon. Gatwick is a maze and London traffic is one traffic jam after another. Our economy room was small but clean and adequate. The hotel was about 100 yards north of Hyde Park and 80 yards east of Queensway, a major commercial strip. We had ready access to two subways (Central and Circle) and the Notting Hill-to-Piccadilly Circus double-deck bus.
After showering and changing clothes, we took off to stretch our legs in Hyde Park. Our first stop was the Round Pond in front of Kensington Palace. This is the primary home of the Queen's swans who have been joined by several classes of ducks and a multitude of pigeons. There is nothing so beautiful and imperial as a flock of swans. The rest of the day was spent getting to know the park and Queensway.
By evening, Stephen's only desire was to get a loaf of bread and feed the swans, which we did. This became our evening ritual – buying a loaf of bread and dining at the Round Pond with the Queen's swans.
Many hotels include breakfast with the lodging cost. Our hotel was owned by Malaysians and breakfast consisted of dry cereal and milk, yogurt, pineapple chunks, prunes, croissants, rolls, butter, jam, a lamb/olive loaf, cheese, bread, orange and grapefruit drink, hot chocolate, coffee and tea. This selection was broad enough for most picky eaters. Stephen was happy with orange drink, dry Rice Crispies ("wet makes too much noise"), hot chocolate and croissants. After a couple days I did demand inclusion of a glass of milk.
At first we went out to eat at interesting restaurants, but I learned the hard way just how stubborn someone else's 9-year-old can be. After a couple meals throwing away everything but the chips (french fries) and hamburger, I let him order french fries and hamburger. A vacation is not the time to change habits of a lifetime.
The rule became we would eat only at restaurants he would agree to eat something in. He could order what ever he wanted to as long as he ate it, and I would eat what ever I wanted. We found Indian restaurants accommodating, and after a week his menu had expanded to include Tandor chicken (skinless chicken cooked in a clay oven). His favorite restaurants proved to be the Hard Rock Café and Kahn's Indian Restaurant on Westborn Grove just off Queensway.
Seeing the sights, avoiding the lines
Stephen's London wish list was short and sweet. He wanted to see the aquarium, planetarium and zoo. Some museums would be nice and maybe the Tower of London. The next day, therefore, we traipsed from Hyde Park to Buckingham Palace, Victoria Square, St. James's Park, Westminster and the London Aquarium.
The aquarium is well done and held his interest for well over an hour. The best feature was the petting pond with several small rays and flounders. The neighboring London Eye is a gigantic ferris wheel with compartments holding at least a dozen people. Riding it gives you a magnificent view of central London. Unfortunately, there are those who are not comfortable with heights, and I didn't push it. There will be many more years in which to get comfortable with fate.
After another extensive walk through London to Piccadilly Circus, Stephen was ready for public transportation. London's bargains include the family pass, week pass and day pass on all of the subways and buses. To obtain a week pass, you must provide a color passport-type photograph. Ours were easily procured from a machine in the subway station which gives you four shots for a pound. We were quick and got two shots apiece.
The week pass cost $24.50 for Zone 1, which includes most of the city's attractions. When we visited Hampton Court, we needed an additional day pass for Zones 2, 3, 5 and 6 costing $3.68. The last day we toured, I bought one-day passes for Zones 1 and 2 costing $4.16. We ended up spending about half our travel time in subways for speed and the other half on buses for short hops or the view.
The London Zoo is great. If it isn't the biggest zoo in the world, it is very well done with an amazing collection o
f animals. We spent an entire day and should have spent two. The place is difficult to get to, as the subway dumps you out on the road with a sign "To the Zoo" then leaves you flat. You wander around asking directions and find yourself at a bus stop two blocks east of the subway station. The bus then takes you north and, if you are bright and ask for help immediately, you get off three blocks east of the zoo entrance.
The play is the thing in London. I purchased tickets for "King and I" on the Internet. Once in London, I went to the discount kiosk at Leicester Square, a short walk from Piccadilly Circus. This is the only operation run by the Society of London Theater offering true discounted tickets the day of the play. I couldn't get a ticket to "Lion King," but I did get two excellent half-off seats to "Midnight Express." This play is done on roller blades and is a good bet to hold a child's attention.
We spent a glorious Sunday at Hampton Court. The palace is well kept, many of the staff are in period costume and there is something for everyone. The first thing Stephen wanted to experience was the maze. We had a delightful time as he lived his fantasy chasing around until he found the center, then chasing around again to find the exit. We had an early snack at the garden tearoom and blessed our good fortune when the noon crowd rolled in. We took the train, but you can go or leave via water. Stephen had had enough by 3 p.m. and opted for the quickest way back to London.
The smartest thing we did was to purchase a combined entry to Hampton Court and the Tower of London. We would visit the tower later – walking past a half-hour queue for tickets.
Back in London we visited Westminster Abbey. There were no tours, but we got to attend a magnificent organ concert. Every Sunday a different organist is allowed to use the abbey organ which, needless to say, brings out the best in the musician. Following the concert we attended the evensong service at the rear of the abbey. This was far superior to a tour – and free.
Making the rounds of the museums
Madam Tussaud's Wax Museum is a classic must. But when we arrived at 9:30 a.m., the line wrapped around the block two to four deep, while there was no line at the planetarium, so we decided to do it first. At the entrance, we found we could purchase a double ticket including the wax museum. Upon exiting the planetarium show, those of us with double tickets were instructed to pass through a special door which put us at the top of the tour through the wax museum. Word to the wise: When possible, purchase your tickets in advance.
We spent one full day at the British Museum, another full day at the Museum of Science and Technology and a third at the Museum of Natural History. When my wife and I visited Egypt, we toured the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and the Valley of Kings in Luxor. When we remarked about the paucity of exhibits there, we were told to visit the British, German and French museums, as archeologists and collectors from those countries appropriated the best artifacts. Having visited the British Museum, I am a believer.
The Museum of Science and Technology is one exhibit after another of interesting subjects and a vast array of interactivity. The Space section has several classic missiles, rockets and landing modules. The Flight section begins with feathered gliders and ends with a cutaway of a 747. Visitors were encouraged to shoot water rockets, work various flight mechanics simulators, crawl around selected air ships, and verify the basic theories of flight.
Stephen could name and spell every key dinosaur by the time he was 6. At the Natural Science Museum you enter under the skeleton of one giant dinosaur, then tour the Dinosaur Wing walking next to, under and over one species after another. We also did the evolution of man, the larger African animals and snakes. The museum's extensive rock and gem collection didn't interest my 9-year-old.
We began one day at the London Dungeon, a commercial take-off on the house of horrors. There are multitudes of gory scenes, many narrated by actors in costume. Of course Jack the Ripper looms large, with several evisceration scenes. My 9-year-old wanted to know just what a "lady of pleasure" was. He seemed to accept one actor's definition of "a lady who sells her affection" – a great relief to me as he had asked me several times and I kept putting him off.
Next we did the Tower of London. This is a great castle with a first-class presentation of arms, armor and the royal crowns, maces and assorted jewels. There is a legend the Tower will stand as long as there is a raven in residence, so several are kept on the grounds. I enjoyed the museum objects; Stephen went for the ravens.
Finally, we did the Globe Theater. An American put together a consortium which built a replica of the theater used by Shakespeare, about 200 yards from the original site. Stephen was disgusted at the beginning of the tour, but became interested inside the theater court. When he got home and adults asked about London, the first thing he mentioned was the Globe.
He also enjoyed the War Museum. In its front yard is 16-inch gun. The interior has a wonderful display of tanks, four stories of suspended fighter planes and excellent interactive exhibits of trench warfare and the London blitz. Entire wings were devoted to chronological exhibits of the Boer War, World War I, World War II, Crimean War and more. This museum is well worth a full day at least.
When our time was up, we were just getting our stride. We could have stayed another two weeks just revisiting the zoo and museums – and, of course, feeding the swans. His big purchases included cologne and chocolates for Mom, a toy shark for Brother and a print of London Bridge for Dad.
While Stephen was not comfortable flying home, we made it without serious incident. (For anyone ill at ease with travel, I suggest a seat on the aisle and a shuttered window.) Overall, we had a great time getting to know each other and visited many interesting spots. And this 9-year-old can now relate his studies to actual experiences.
Next: Lessons learned

Gallivanting grandparent Kirk Grybowski chronicles his 10-day trip to London with his oldest grandchild — covering a lot of history and science, and expanding the youngster's palate pleasures by at least one new menu item. Part 3 of a series.
Third of four parts
When I first proposed traveling with my grandsons, I asked my oldest, 9-year-old Stephen, who lives in Charleston, S.C., where he wanted to go. He replied Alaska or Disney World. Then I offered him three choices:
– A train excursion aboard the Amtrak Crescent through North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama intersecting with the Sunset Limited to Orlando and the Silver Meteor home to Charleston;
– A train and boat trip, first on the Silver Meteor to Orlando to visit Disney World, Epcot Center and Universal Studios; then on the Silver Meteor to New York to embark on a cruise ship visiting Maine, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Montreal; then riding the Adirondack back to New York and the Silver Meteor home; or
– Flying from Charleston to London for two weeks.
He chose London. So, I went looking for deals. I found a $599 special for a week in London including round-trip air from Charlotte, N.C., airport transfers and a hotel in Bayswater just off Hyde Park. We ended up paying an additional $150 for air connections to Charleston and back and $360 for extra hotel nights, all arranged through www.go-today.com.
I forwarded Stephen two web sites to study – www.LondonTown.com and www.londonpass.com – and encouraged him to roam the Internet researching various general travel sites such as www.frommers.com. His mother bought him a "Fodor's Guide to London" and I got him the "Frommer's 2000 Guide to London." Our booking agent sent him "London for less."
Stephen skimmed the guides, but studied the "London for less." This is a discount card booklet giving directions and basic information concerning key attractions, selected restaurants and shops. The idea of discounts appealed to him and he was willing to purchase a $20 meal with a $5 discount rather than a $10 meal with no discount. Needless to say, we had many discussions concerning value.
Mom and I had a discussion concerning clothes and time away from the nest. I wanted a full two weeks at least and she thought one week adequate. We compromised on 10 days. Once into the trip, we could have spent a month, as far as Stephen was concerned.
Mom bought a Lands' End bag large enough for a full change of clothes for each day as well as Stephen himself. Usually I wash my underwear, shirts and socks every few days and seldom travel with more than a week's clothing. Stephen used half the clothes his mom packed and it took two of us to carry his bag.
Food for thought
At the Charleston airport, he said goodbye to Mom and trotted off to the gate like a world traveler. Arriving in Charlotte an hour later, he needed a hamburger fix. Growing kids snack constantly, so we did McDonald's with burgers, fries and water. He doesn't eat pickles, tomatoes or lettuce and doesn't drink sodas. I knew he was a picky eater from home visits but was just beginning to learn how picky.
On the plane our seats were jammed against the rear bulkhead. Once seated, he informed me he was not feeling good. The flight became a contest to see how many times he could revisit the hamburger and french fries. Most of the time he made the bag, but a couple of times he didn't. The flight attendants kept us well supplied with damp towels and new blankets, but since he refused carbonated drinks, I couldn't get anything down his stomach to settle it.
My best guess as to the cause included a bug contacted at home, the bumpy ride, the hamburger and fear of flying. Unfortunately, I did not have any track record traveling with this child. Word to the wise: Be prepared for everything. Take Pepto-Bismol.
We arrived at Gatwick Airport around 9 a.m. London time and our hotel at noon. Gatwick is a maze and London traffic is one traffic jam after another. Our economy room was small but clean and adequate. The hotel was about 100 yards north of Hyde Park and 80 yards east of Queensway, a major commercial strip. We had ready access to two subways (Central and Circle) and the Notting Hill-to-Piccadilly Circus double-deck bus.
After showering and changing clothes, we took off to stretch our legs in Hyde Park. Our first stop was the Round Pond in front of Kensington Palace. This is the primary home of the Queen's swans who have been joined by several classes of ducks and a multitude of pigeons. There is nothing so beautiful and imperial as a flock of swans. The rest of the day was spent getting to know the park and Queensway.
By evening, Stephen's only desire was to get a loaf of bread and feed the swans, which we did. This became our evening ritual – buying a loaf of bread and dining at the Round Pond with the Queen's swans.
Many hotels include breakfast with the lodging cost. Our hotel was owned by Malaysians and breakfast consisted of dry cereal and milk, yogurt, pineapple chunks, prunes, croissants, rolls, butter, jam, a lamb/olive loaf, cheese, bread, orange and grapefruit drink, hot chocolate, coffee and tea. This selection was broad enough for most picky eaters. Stephen was happy with orange drink, dry Rice Crispies ("wet makes too much noise"), hot chocolate and croissants. After a couple days I did demand inclusion of a glass of milk.
At first we went out to eat at interesting restaurants, but I learned the hard way just how stubborn someone else's 9-year-old can be. After a couple meals throwing away everything but the chips (french fries) and hamburger, I let him order french fries and hamburger. A vacation is not the time to change habits of a lifetime.
The rule became we would eat only at restaurants he would agree to eat something in. He could order what ever he wanted to as long as he ate it, and I would eat what ever I wanted. We found Indian restaurants accommodating, and after a week his menu had expanded to include Tandor chicken (skinless chicken cooked in a clay oven). His favorite restaurants proved to be the Hard Rock Café and Kahn's Indian Restaurant on Westborn Grove just off Queensway.
Seeing the sights, avoiding the lines
Stephen's London wish list was short and sweet. He wanted to see the aquarium, planetarium and zoo. Some museums would be nice and maybe the Tower of London. The next day, therefore, we traipsed from Hyde Park to Buckingham Palace, Victoria Square, St. James's Park, Westminster and the London Aquarium.
The aquarium is well done and held his interest for well over an hour. The best feature was the petting pond with several small rays and flounders. The neighboring London Eye is a gigantic ferris wheel with compartments holding at least a dozen people. Riding it gives you a magnificent view of central London. Unfortunately, there are those who are not comfortable with heights, and I didn't push it. There will be many more years in which to get comfortable with fate.
After another extensive walk through London to Piccadilly Circus, Stephen was ready for public transportation. London's bargains include the family pass, week pass and day pass on all of the subways and buses. To obtain a week pass, you must provide a color passport-type photograph. Ours were easily procured from a machine in the subway station which gives you four shots for a pound. We were quick and got two shots apiece.
The week pass cost $24.50 for Zone 1, which includes most of the city's attractions. When we visited Hampton Court, we needed an additional day pass for Zones 2, 3, 5 and 6 costing $3.68. The last day we toured, I bought one-day passes for Zones 1 and 2 costi
ng $4.16. We ended up spending about half our travel time in subways for speed and the other half on buses for short hops or the view.
The London Zoo is great. If it isn't the biggest zoo in the world, it is very well done with an amazing collection of animals. We spent an entire day and should have spent two. The place is difficult to get to, as the subway dumps you out on the road with a sign "To the Zoo" then leaves you flat. You wander around asking directions and find yourself at a bus stop two blocks east of the subway station. The bus then takes you north and, if you are bright and ask for help immediately, you get off three blocks east of the zoo entrance.
The play is the thing in London. I purchased tickets for "King and I" on the Internet. Once in London, I went to the discount kiosk at Leicester Square, a short walk from Piccadilly Circus. This is the only operation run by the Society of London Theater offering true discounted tickets the day of the play. I couldn't get a ticket to "Lion King," but I did get two excellent half-off seats to "Midnight Express." This play is done on roller blades and is a good bet to hold a child's attention.
We spent a glorious Sunday at Hampton Court. The palace is well kept, many of the staff are in period costume and there is something for everyone. The first thing Stephen wanted to experience was the maze. We had a delightful time as he lived his fantasy chasing around until he found the center, then chasing around again to find the exit. We had an early snack at the garden tearoom and blessed our good fortune when the noon crowd rolled in. We took the train, but you can go or leave via water. Stephen had had enough by 3 p.m. and opted for the quickest way back to London.
The smartest thing we did was to purchase a combined entry to Hampton Court and the Tower of London. We would visit the tower later – walking past a half-hour queue for tickets.
Back in London we visited Westminster Abbey. There were no tours, but we got to attend a magnificent organ concert. Every Sunday a different organist is allowed to use the abbey organ which, needless to say, brings out the best in the musician. Following the concert we attended the evensong service at the rear of the abbey. This was far superior to a tour – and free.
Making the rounds of the museums
Madam Tussaud's Wax Museum is a classic must. But when we arrived at 9:30 a.m., the line wrapped around the block two to four deep, while there was no line at the planetarium, so we decided to do it first. At the entrance, we found we could purchase a double ticket including the wax museum. Upon exiting the planetarium show, those of us with double tickets were instructed to pass through a special door which put us at the top of the tour through the wax museum. Word to the wise: When possible, purchase your tickets in advance.
We spent one full day at the British Museum, another full day at the Museum of Science and Technology and a third at the Museum of Natural History. When my wife and I visited Egypt, we toured the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and the Valley of Kings in Luxor. When we remarked about the paucity of exhibits there, we were told to visit the British, German and French museums, as archeologists and collectors from those countries appropriated the best artifacts. Having visited the British Museum, I am a believer.
The Museum of Science and Technology is one exhibit after another of interesting subjects and a vast array of interactivity. The Space section has several classic missiles, rockets and landing modules. The Flight section begins with feathered gliders and ends with a cutaway of a 747. Visitors were encouraged to shoot water rockets, work various flight mechanics simulators, crawl around selected air ships, and verify the basic theories of flight.
Stephen could name and spell every key dinosaur by the time he was 6. At the Natural Science Museum you enter under the skeleton of one giant dinosaur, then tour the Dinosaur Wing walking next to, under and over one species after another. We also did the evolution of man, the larger African animals and snakes. The museum's extensive rock and gem collection didn't interest my 9-year-old.
We began one day at the London Dungeon, a commercial take-off on the house of horrors. There are multitudes of gory scenes, many narrated by actors in costume. Of course Jack the Ripper looms large, with several evisceration scenes. My 9-year-old wanted to know just what a "lady of pleasure" was. He seemed to accept one actor's definition of "a lady who sells her affection" – a great relief to me as he had asked me several times and I kept putting him off.
Next we did the Tower of London. This is a great castle with a first-class presentation of arms, armor and the royal crowns, maces and assorted jewels. There is a legend the Tower will stand as long as there is a raven in residence, so several are kept on the grounds. I enjoyed the museum objects; Stephen went for the ravens.
Finally, we did the Globe Theater. An American put together a consortium which built a replica of the theater used by Shakespeare, about 200 yards from the original site. Stephen was disgusted at the beginning of the tour, but became interested inside the theater court. When he got home and adults asked about London, the first thing he mentioned was the Globe.
He also enjoyed the War Museum. In its front yard is 16-inch gun. The interior has a wonderful display of tanks, four stories of suspended fighter planes and excellent interactive exhibits of trench warfare and the London blitz. Entire wings were devoted to chronological exhibits of the Boer War, World War I, World War II, Crimean War and more. This museum is well worth a full day at least.
When our time was up, we were just getting our stride. We could have stayed another two weeks just revisiting the zoo and museums – and, of course, feeding the swans. His big purchases included cologne and chocolates for Mom, a toy shark for Brother and a print of London Bridge for Dad.
While Stephen was not comfortable flying home, we made it without serious incident. (For anyone ill at ease with travel, I suggest a seat on the aisle and a shuttered window.) Overall, we had a great time getting to know each other and visited many interesting spots. And this 9-year-old can now relate his studies to actual experiences.
Next: Lessons learned

St. Thomas lawyer Tom Bolt has been elected an at-large member of the American Bar Association's House of Delegates.
After having represented the V.I. Bar Association in the House of Delegates since 1989, he was elected by the general ABA membership to the at-large seat at the organization's annual meeting held simultaneously in New York and London the first week of July. He will serve a three-year term in the body of 530 members which meets twice a year.
This is "the first time a Virgin Islander has been elected by the general membership to national office" in the organization, according to a release from the 400,000-member ABA.
Bolt formed the law firm Tom Bolt & Associates in 1991, specializing in banking, commercial, light industrial and service sector law. He said he expects in his new position to continue to serve the interests of the V.I. Bar Association by "bringing programs and services to the territory."
Within the ABA, Bolt serves on cyberspace law and legislation committees of the Business Law Section and is active in the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law; General Practice, Solo and Small Firm; and Individual Rights and Responsibilities Sections. He also is a member of the Committee on Continuing Legal Education of the ABA and the American Law Institute and serves on the board of the American Law Network and on the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws.

St. Thomas lawyer Tom Bolt has been elected an at-large member of the American Bar Association's House of Delegates.
After having represented the V.I. Bar Association in the House of Delegates since 1989, he was elected by the general ABA membership to the at-large seat at the organization's annual meeting held simultaneously in New York and London the first week of July. He will serve a three-year term in the body of 530 members which meets twice a year.
This is "the first time a Virgin Islander has been elected by the general membership to national office" in the organization, according to a release from the 400,000-member ABA.
Bolt formed the law firm Tom Bolt & Associates in 1991, specializing in banking, commercial, light industrial and service sector law. He said he expects in his new position to continue to serve the interests of the V.I. Bar Association by "bringing programs and services to the territory."
Within the ABA, Bolt serves on cyberspace law and legislation committees of the Business Law Section and is active in the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law; General Practice, Solo and Small Firm; and Individual Rights and Responsibilities Sections. He also is a member of the Committee on Continuing Legal Education of the ABA and the American Law Institute and serves on the board of the American Law Network and on the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws.