Veterans' Affairs will hold counseling sessions on benefits, claims, pensions and compensatins from 2 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29, at the Veterans Affairs Office in Nisky Center.
For more information contact the Veterans Affairs Office at 774-6100.

YARU Web Enterprises, St. Croix-based Internet web construction company is proud to announce WWW.SHOPSTCROIX.COM.
This web site will showcase local merchandise, making it available to the estimated 100 million Internet shoppers all over the world. Customers will be able to browse the site, view actual digital photographs of the merchandise and place orders via a secured credit card transaction.
Internet sales topped $10 billion last year and analysts predict sales to increase to $40 billion this year and to $100 billion by the year 2003.
YARU Web Enterprises has created WWW.SHOPSTCROIX.COM as a vehicle to allow local merchants to expose their merchandise to the global Internet community.
PC Magazine recently estimated the average cost to create an E-Commerce Web site to be $1,800, plus the cost of ongoing site maintenance. YARU Web Enterprises will offer merchants a virtual storefront on WWW.SHOPSTCROIX.COM for a monthly fixed cost as low as $30.
For more information visit WWW.SHOPSTCROIX.COM or email Sales@SHOPSTCROIX, or call Kent Yarborough, Director of Marketing, 778-4999.

Editor
St. Thomas Source
Dear Editor:
For a few minutes forget about retroactive wages, payless pay days, mandatory automobile insurance, and all the other politicized troubles. Without clean drinking water, fairly unpolluted air and unsoiled land we cannot exist. Unless we take a more preventative and protective stance regarding our environment, our children's children are doomed.
While I agree we have serious immediate issues facing us in these our Virgin Islands, we first need to set our priorities. One of our most serious concerns is the direct impact our disposable society is having on our environment.
Recently, the government has raised the fine for littering from $250 to $1000 and the signage in most areas are in both English and Spanish, but where are the enforcers? No matter how high the fees are raised and fines imposed, the basic problem will still exist, finite landmass. We now must pay for the usage of the landfill, yet we still haven't had any mass information about recycling, composting and alternative energy sources. However, using all
available media, newspapers, radio and television there is no reason why each
family could not actively participate in reducing the amount of garbage it creates. In Seattle, Washington, $1 million was spent educating a community of 500,000 on the benefits of recycling.
How much if any is being spent here?
Technically, a land fill should consist of non-reusable items and hazardous materials. Our landfill contains, all types of paper, cans, bottles, old cars, sofas, food, refrigerators, I could go on all day. Most of this stuff can be recycled, but we must be educated in sorting out glass, paper and plastic products, and also encourage the development and usage of recycling centers. We need to get into the habit of reusing plastic and paper bags.
If each family took cloth shopping bags to the supermarket, imagine how much plastic that would eliminate.
Garbage pickups should be scheduled and garbage that isn't sorted a fine should be levied. Water jugs can be taken to reputable water sellers and be refilled. Discarded food should be put in a compost heap since composting creates rich soil.
The government is in fiscal crisis, but if we could find a company willing to barge all our old, cars, refrigerators to a recycling center, for a share of the profits of course, everyone wins. There are solutions to our problems but we must be creative in our problem solving.
We all have to take responsibility for creating unnecessary burden on our finite mandamuses. We are quick to wonder if we will profit from the EPA's fines leveled against Royal Caribbean, but we don't seem to realize that we too have contributed to the poisoning of our air, land and water.
Caroline Browne

Maybe I'll stop reading the VI Daily News completely! It's a pleasure to read your on-line newspaper. Keep up the good work.

Lonnie Willis
St. John

U.S. Virgin Islands Lieutenant Governor Gerard Luz James II Tuesday extended condolences to Ms. Helen Roebuck and the entire Roebuck family on the passing of Richard Rueben Roebuck Sr. on St. Croix last Thursday.
"I extend my sincere condolences to the entire Roebuck family on the passing of a stalwart within the St. Croix community," said James. "I trust that the good memories you have of him will help ease your grief while giving you strength and comfort during this difficult period," the lieutenant governor said.
Affectionately known as "Rip" by friends and family, Richard Rueben Roebuck Sr. was an active businessman in St. Croix, involved in running a dairy and chicken farm and later a heavy equipment firm called ROE-WIN Inc.
"Certainly, Richard Roebuck Sr.’s loss will be felt by the entire community of St. Croix. He had a strong presence in the community, and he also was a strong horse enthusiast," James said. "Because of that, he imported some thoroughbreds to the island, one by the name of Helmar which still holds the record at Randal Doc James Racetrack."
James said he would always have fond memories of the times he spent as a young boy with Mr. Roebuck’s children during the 1960s, especially son Chesley and daughters Joy, Radiance, and Aileen, with whom he spent many weekends picnicking on the island’s beaches.
Services for Richard Rueben Roebuck will be held Friday at the Lord of God of Sabaoth Lutheran Church in Christiansted.

The full impact of the World Trade Organization's ruling against the foriegn sales corporation program may not be known for months, but the Office of U.S. Trade Representative is taking a dim view.
"It was a loss for us in terms of the (WTO) panel's ruling," Ron Lorentzen, a spokesman for the agency, said in a telephone interview from Washington Tuesday.
The loss for the United States could be a program designed to create U.S. jobs and a favorable balance of trade. It could also lose money if the WTO imposes sanctions to compensate the European Union, which brought the complaint against the FSC Industry.
So far the V.I. government has made no comment on the issue, despite requests Monday and Tuesday. Late Tuesday, Lt. Gov. Gerard James II's spokesman Michael Burton said, "We're reviewing the report from the U.S. Trade Office and will issue a statement later." James has oversight for FSCs.
Although the WTO ruling that was issued Friday is a confidential "interim" report, it is not expected to change substantially before it is released to all WTO members, probably in late September.
Lorentzen said "we are still going through it with our lawyers" to determine exactly what it all means, but "the bottom line" is that the panel found that the FSC constitutes a tax subsidy which is forbidden under the Agreement of Subsidies and Countervailing Measures governing WTO member nations.
"We're actively considering appealing it," Lorentzen said.
A number of administrative steps must come before an appeal, he said. Written comments on the interim report are due by August 6 and the Dispute Settlement Body of the WTO could consider the matter in October or November. It could be February or March before an appeal is heard — if the U.S. makes an appeal.
Another alternative for the U.S. is to attempt to create another program designed to meet the same goals as the FSC but structured so that it does not violate WTO rules.
"That a possibility" Lorentzen said, "but it's too early to speculate."
Attorney William Green, who works with the national trade organization, the FSC-DISC Tax Association, also thinks a new program is a possibility.
"We've always had something (to aide U.S. exporting) since 1962," he said. First it was Export Trade Corporations, then the Western Hemisphere Trade Corporation, then the domestic International Sales corporation (DISC) and finally, the FSC.
As one program was challenged, it was phased out over a period of years and another was established.
The FSC was created in 1984. It was especially beneficial to the Virgin Islands because exporters were required to establish a presence offshore and the Virgin Islands has been the favorite location. What role it might play in a revised plan is anyone's guess.
According got the European Union, FSCs are responsible for $152 billion in U.S. exports annually, and the collective tax subsidy to them is about $10 billion.
Editors' note: Bernetia Aiken is the manager of a FSC management company.

Foreign sales corporations — the V.I.-based subsidiaries of U.S. export companies which pump $8 million to $10 million a year into the territory's treasury — have drawn the scrutiny of the World Trade Organization and the European Union.
The WTO recently issued a preliminary report on FSCs following a complaint lodged by the EU. The report has not been made public and its contents were the subject of intense speculation in the national and international media Monday and Tuesday.
Early assessments of the WTO ruling's impact on the FSC program range from catastrophic to marginal; what appears clear, however, is Congress may have to change the laws regulating FSCs and the territory's program will go through some alterations.
FSCs are set up in the Virgin Islands and five or six other jurisdictions by U.S. exporting companies seeking tax breaks on federal income taxes.
Graham Dunn, vice president of the V.I. FSC Association, said the adjustment may even mean more FSC activity in the territory.
"Up until now the EU has claimed the FSCs don't have a sufficient nexus in the offshore jurisdictions. My understanding is that the corporations will have to create offshore entities that have more substance," he said.
In other words, FSCs may have to expand their local operations from the management companies that currently represent the extent of their existence in the territory; such expansion would likely generate more taxes and could mean hiring more employees.
It remains to be seen, however, how U.S. corporations would react to the increased costs of FSCs and if that would drive them out of the Virgin Islands.
"It's a little bit anxious, but eventually there could be extra work and extra finances for the industry and extra finances for the local government," Dunn said Tuesday.
The WTO's final report is expected in September and the U.S. will have until November to appeal the decision, Dunn said.
"A large percentage of Fortune 500 companies have FSCs and they're not going to sit back and watch their millions disappear," he said. "And the U.S. itself isn't going to let the program fall down, even if it's in retaliation against the EU."
The Division of Corporations and Trademarks in the Lieutenant Governor's Office oversees FSCs. As of Tuesday afternoon, Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James and his staff were still reviewing documents and other information received from the Clinton administration and the U.S. Trade Office.
James will make a statement on the report later in the week, an aide said.
"It's a very important program," Dunn said. "It certainly makes the Division of Trademarks one of the more profitable agencies in the government."

This Dreamworks production is based on the 1936 film of the same name which was based on Shirley Jackson's remarkably frightening story, "The Haunting of Hill House."
Starring Lili Taylor and Liam Neeson, this production draws more on the latest special effects of Hollywood, than on exploring the psyches of the characters, which is what Jackson wrote about.. But those special effects are pretty amazing.
Director Jan de Bont brought us "Twister"and "Speed,"to give you an idea of the possibilities here.
Dr. William Marrow (Neeson) becomes interested in studying the history of an 130 year old mansion, Hill House, which is said to still be haunted by its previous and tragic residents. He lures three unsuspecting people to the house under the pretext of studying sleep disorders.
Then hold on as he delves into what actual power the house possesses. Not for the "feint"of heart.

South Park has taken its outrageously funny and irreverent children from TV's Comedy Central to the big screen. The wonderfully animated show is the dream child of Trey Parker and Matt Stone who describe themselves as "thirty year old third graders with the morals of a dog." The movie bears this out and then some.
The potty-mouthed kids of the Colorado town of South Park hold nothing sacred.
Family values, politics and education are highly regarded subjects of hilarity and mirth. That's for openers.
In the movie at hand the kids sneak into a R-rated movie (which this, in fact, is, too). Their parents are outraged by the effect the movie has on their young minds and demand to be heard. Well, one thing leads to another – anger, censorship and, of course, war with our heros risking their young lives. But this isn't all.
This televison-cartoon movie phenomenon is described by The New Yorker as "big, splashy singing and dancing. . . .and pretty damn fat-ass funny." Both Disney and Broadway come in for their share of satire, and Isaac Hayes supplies one of the many voices you may recognize.
Parker, when asked to describe their maiden effort, said: "You could say its about inalienable freedoms in the face of oppression, but then you'd sound like a jerk." Yup.

An outbreak of influenza in the Dominican Republic is causing concern, in the V.I. Health Department, for people traveling in the Caribbean.
Health Commissioner Dr. Wilbur K. Callender said in a release Tuesday, since "we are now in between flu seasons" no influenza vaccines are available.
Dr. Paul Arguin, epidemiologist for the Health Department, suggests that people who intend to travel in the Caribbean region, especially the Dominican Republic, get antiviral medication from their physicians.
The flu season officially begins in August/September and ends in May/June, according to the release. Flu vaccine is usually available at the Health Department's Immunizations Clinics starting in September — the release said.