Students from the St. Croix and St. Thomas-St. John districts are being honored as Athletes of the Week for their outstanding performances in sports.
The VIDE Athletes of the Week are:
The Virgin Islands Department of Health is pleased to report a significant decline in Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) cases across the territory, following a coordinated public health response and targeted outreach campaign.
Between January and March, the territory experienced a surge in HFMD cases, with more than 270 cases reported — most concentrated in daycares on St. Thomas. As of Friday, that number has dropped dramatically to just 11 reported cases territorywide for the past few weeks of April.
Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion credited the reduction to a swift and collaborative response that included the production of a parent-friendly explainer video, hands-on assistance from the Epidemiology Division to affected daycares and schools, and strong interagency coordination with the departments of Education and Human Services to share information directly with parents and staff.
“We are grateful for the partnership and immediate action of our team and supporting agencies,” said Commissioner Encarnacion. “This is a strong example of how timely education, targeted outreach, and proper hygiene can protect our children and contain the spread of illness.”
The Department urges continued vigilance and hygiene practices, especially in childcare and educational settings. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to monitor their children for symptoms—such as fever, sore throat, mouth sores, and rash on the hands and feet—and to keep sick children home to avoid further transmission.
The Department of Health will continue to monitor the situation and provide guidance as needed. Schools and childcare providers are reminded to report suspected cases to the Epidemiology Division at epi@doh.vi.gov.
Students from Lockhart Elementary School experienced a hands-on introduction to sustainable agriculture during an educational visit to the farm at The Hideaway at Hull Bay. The visit is part of a greater initiative to nurture the next generation’s connection to the land and local food systems.
During the visit, students explored the principles of regenerative farming and gained insight into how local fruits are cultivated—from seed to harvest. The tour offered a unique opportunity for students to connect classroom learning with real-world practices that support environmental stewardship and food resilience in the Virgin Islands.
To cap off the experience, students enjoyed refreshing, homemade popsicles made from fruit harvested directly from the very trees they had just explored—bringing the farm-to-table journey full circle in a fun and memorable way.
“I believe it is vital to introduce young people to the natural world and the principles of agriculture early in life. The moments I spent as a child with my hands in the soil helped shape the vision for The Hideaway at Hull Bay. Now, we are committed to sharing that experience with the community and our guests, inspiring a deeper connection to the land and a more resilient future.” Said Lee Steiner, Founder and CEO of The Hideaway at Hull Bay.
This initiative reflects The Hideaway’s commitment to agricultural awareness in the community through education, sustainability, and community engagement. The mission of strengthening the USVI agricultural sector and reducing reliance on food imports in the territory is aligned with the VI government’s “Vision 2040” initiatives.
The Virgin Islands Transit shuttle to Carnival Village runs April 18 to May 2 from 9 p.m. to midnight.
From the Red Hook Terminal to the Bus Depot, the bus stops at The Mall, Fort Mylner, and all regular bus stops from Kmart in town to the Bus Depot. The reverse route is used for transport from the village to Red Hook.
The bus costs $2 for adults and $1 for children.
No drinking, eating, smoking, loud music, weapons, yelling, arguing is allowed.
The University of the Virgin Islands will recognize two distinguished Virgin Islands leaders with honorary degrees for their exemplary service, dedication and contributions to the territory at the University’s 2025 Commencement Ceremonies.
Retired Brigadier General Deborah Y. Francis Howell and Brigadier General Sally F. Petty will each be presented with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at UVI’s 61st Commencement Ceremonies. Francis Howell will receive her degree on Thursday, May 15, at 1 p.m. on the Albert A. Sheen Campus (AAS) on St. Croix. Petty will be honored the following day, on Friday, May 16, at 1 p.m. at the Elridge W. Blake Sports and Fitness Center on the Orville E. Kean Campus (OEK) on St. Thomas.
Retired Brigadier General Deborah Y. Francis Howell, a trailblazer in the Virgin Islands National Guard, made history as the first woman to serve as Adjutant General of the Virgin Islands. A proud UVI alumna, General Howell’s military service spanned 36 years, including her pivotal leadership during the Territory’s response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.
She holds an Associate of Arts and a Bachelor of Arts in Business from UVI and a Master of Science in Management from Central Michigan University. A highly trained logistician placing in the top ten percentile of her various military courses and a graduate of premier military institutions, General Howell is widely recognized for her exceptional service and leadership having received numerous medals and awards in her illustrious career. Beyond her military accomplishments, she has contributed to the Virgin Islands through her work in government and civic engagement. As a past District Governor of Rotary District 7020, she led efforts across the Caribbean and hosted a major regional conference in St. Croix, bolstering the local economy and community pride.
A dedicated community servant, General Howell is a member of numerous organizations including the American Legion, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Bethel Methodist Church and the Rotary Club of St. Croix West, where she has twice served as president. Her legacy is one of tireless service, deep-rooted faith, and transformative leadership.
Brigadier General Sally F. Petty, also a proud UVI alumna, has devoted over 30 years to shaping future leaders as an educator and military officer. Currently serving as Principal of Ivanna Eudora Kean High School, she is widely respected for her unwavering commitment to academic excellence, student success, and community collaboration. She holds a Bachelor of Science in History from Norfolk State University, dual master’s degrees from UVI and Air War College, and is a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Executive Education in Leadership in Homeland Security.
In addition to her leadership in education, Brigadier General Petty has had a distinguished military career. She began her service in 1989 and currently serves as Assistant Adjutant General of the Virgin Islands Army National Guard. Her numerous military honors include the Legion of Merit (2nd Award), Bronze Star Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal. Known for her resilience and unwavering dedication, she is a symbol of excellence and service in both education and defense.
UVI President Dr. Safiya George stated, “We are proud to honor these two remarkable women and UVI alumnae whose lives exemplify the highest ideals of leadership, courage, and service. Their accomplishments are an inspiration to our students and to the entire Virgin Islands community.”
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Durna A. Todman on March 30, 2025 at the age of 57.
She survived by her children: Byron Callwood Jr., Kaseem Bruno, Shaquille Bruno, Kiara Bruno, and Kianna Bruno, grandchildren: J’wannn Austin, Kamari Brookes, Kaseem Audain, Olmiada Pierre, Brixton, De’Janique and Aliyah Callwood. Sisters: Gerda Patrice Arroyo, Joycelyn Rhymer, Nadia Ronan, Diane Ronan, and Louise Ronan. Brothers: Jerry Todman, Brice Todman Sr., Darwin Ronan, and Egbert Malone. Many other relative and friends to numerous to mention.
Funeral service will be Monday May 5 at Faith Christian Fellowship Church Alive in Christ in Annas Retreat. The viewing will be morning of service from 9-10 a.m. with service to follow at 10 a.m. Internment will be Eastern Cemetery, Smith Bay.
Arrangements entrusted to Turnbull’s Funeral Home and Crematory Services.
Local runners laced up their running shoes Saturday morning to support ARTfarm, LLC and take on the unique challenge of pace prediction at the second annual Farm-To-Park Prediction Run. The five-mile, point-to-point course stretched from ARTfarm to the St. Croix East End Marine Park, offering both a scenic route and a test of runners’ pace awareness.
Before the race began, each participant submitted a prediction of their finishing time — with no watches or timing devices allowed during the run. Among the 20 runners who took part, 16-year-old Ayden Cintron, one of St. Croix’s top youth distance athletes, came closest to his prediction. Cintron estimated a 33-minute finish and completed the course in 33:21.
David Lewis secured second place, finishing just 25 seconds off his predicted time, while Dr. Esther Ellis claimed third, missing her estimate by only 34 seconds.
Although the event was centered around predicting one’s pace, the St Croix Road Racing Committee also acknowledged the fastest runners in the field. The top three men were Nathan Langley, Ayden Cintron, and David Lewis. Among the women, Bridget Klein claimed top honors, followed by Esther Ellis and Megan Mault.
The event blended friendly competition with community support of ARTfarm, LLC, which suffered damage to their farm equipment during the bush fires on Southside Rd a few weeks ago. The St Croix Road Racing Committee dedicated the race proceeds to the owner of ARTfarm, LLC, Luca Gasperi, who was present at the finish to accept the funds.
Just before the big bacchanal of St. Thomas Carnival shifts into gear, the gleam of shiny steel pans filled the scene at Fort Christian Parking Lot. The annual Pan-O-Rama brought the festive sounds of bright tenors, the rumbling bass and percussion knockin’ dog.
Once Carnival Village is officially opened at Monday’s ceremony, some of the best local and regional dance bands will fill the air with soca, zouk, salsa and quelbay tunes. Rum will flow and plates filled with specialty meals will pass across the counter of village booths. But Sunday was family night as fans of steel pan music gathered around band after band as they took turns performing.
Many of those bands were made up of students — elementary, middle and high school students, ringed by friends and family, guided by instructors. The Ulla Muller Panatics, Bertha C. Boschulte Burning Blazers, Charlotte Amalie High School Mello Hawks, Love City Pan Dragons, and Gen Fusion proudly showcased their musical youths.
Instructor Kareem Forbes checked the double-decker trolley for the Gen Fusion Steel Orchestra. He explained that the band of 35, which had undergone a name change from St. Thomas Junior All Stars, had been performing since 2021.
Across from where the trolley was being prepared, adult performers checked the drum set for the St. Thomas All Stars. Co-director Judy Bryan thanked former first lady Cecile deJongh for helping them find a performance space to practice for Sunday’s event.
All Stars — a community band — has performed in Carnival events since the 1990s, but took a break during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bryan said. Sunday’s performance would showcase a new generation of All Stars; some of them, she said, were playing in public for the first time.
Pan Dragons director Andrea Milam praised her band of young performers, saying they put in extra hours to get ready for Pan-O-Rama, as well as a trip to Virginia Beach in early May.
Spectators gathered, listened and danced to the sounds of their band, then drifted west in the square to hear competitors in the recent steel band shoot out featured in an event on Easter Sunday.
Then it was time for fun as the sun went down and the swirling lights of amusement park rides echoed with squeals from their passengers.
And steps from the Farrelly Justice Complex, the Superior Court Rising Stars Youth Steel Orchestra rendered the sounds of a festive season to come.
Yard Vybes and Pan Around the Neck wrapped up the evening’s celebrations.
Hundreds of music fans filled the Fort Christian Parking Lot on Saturday night to celebrate a lively showcase of song, storytelling and showmanship — the art of calypso. Those who stayed until the end witnessed Lucas Evans, performing under the stage name John Gotti, take home the title of St. Thomas’ 2025 Calypso Monarch.
The victory marks Lucas’ third consecutive win, putting him in rare company among Virgin Islands calypso monarchs.
Lucas clinched the crown with his second-round performance of “De Monarchy,” delivering a strong stage presence that opened with a dramatic scene: seated on a throne beside local calypso legend Louis Ible Jr., who appeared in white robes and a gold crown. Together, they created a moment that blended tradition with new talent, setting the tone for Lucas’ winning set.
Nine contestants performed two rounds of original songs, blending sharp lyrics with lively performances. Emogen Creese, known as Blakness, opened the first round with powerful vocals that set a high bar for the night. Creese later earned the title of first runner-up.
Veteran performer Myrel Tonge, better known as Super T, had the crowd moving with his playful entry, “No More Tempo at 65.” His performance, filled with energy and humor, secured him second runner-up honors.
Meanwhile, the Mighty Pat took home the award for Best Political Commentary. His song, “Government Cockroach,” included a clever prop — a can of bug spray — that got a reaction from the crowd.
Younger fans cheered for Jasmine, who delivered a heartfelt song focused on caring for the next generation, showing the range and spirit that calypso continues to inspire.
Throughout the four-hour competition, the seats at the foot of the stage stayed full, while others gathered around the perimeter, socializing at food and vendor booths in the soon-to-be-dedicated Carnival Village.
The evening closed with performances by featured artists Lioness, Nikki Smith, and Dominica’s reigning Calypso Queen, Joy.
Master of ceremonies Sheldon Turnbull kept the evening moving and later returned to the stage to announce the winners. Other contestants who brought their best to the stage included King Paul, Chaplet, Ny-G and X-Man.
In his biweekly column, Langley Shazor speaks to issues important to men within the territory.
This is another writing inspired by one of my 40-word videos. The word at the time of this writing is resilience. An overutilized and often oversimplified general term, it has become one of many major buzzwords across social media by both professional counselors, life coaches, and therapists, as well as the self-declared experts and quasi-coaches who have infiltrated and polluted the mental health space. Although being and having resilience are high-quality character traits, they should not be the justification for continued abuse.
To contextualize this, I think back on something that I had to debunk in conversations and posted on social media about: thick skin is not license for toleration. In a culture that is inherently abrasive under the guise of being direct, and rude behind the façade of communicative, the call for thick skin is an excuse to absolve perpetrators of accountability. We don’t have to just deal with people, especially disrespectful ones. Strategist and former hostage negotiator, Ryan Dunlap (whom I follow closely) said, “you can’t burn bridges and expect people to show up with a boat”.
Thus, thick skin and resilience are somewhat synonymous and are both being projected on us to force acceptance of adverse situations and interactions. This is not something we should be built for. A continual onslaught of circumstances and occurrences that keep our nervous systems firing at a high level, keeping us in a heightened emotional state, and maintaining the activation of our fight or flight mechanism is not at all what we were designed to do or how we were purposed to live.
Let us also not swing the pendulum to the extreme opposite end either, which is something we are also experiencing in a society where people are so ill-equipped for the complications of life that they categorize everything as toxic and traumatic. This broad-brush approach allows them to cower behind terminology and forgo accountability to make tough and necessary lifestyle changes. Running, hiding, dismissing, neglecting, or suppressing are not solutions but strategic aversion tactics.
The complication is striking the balance between being assertive (not combative) in establishing boundaries, being resilient when things happen that we cannot control, and removing ourselves from things that do not require our energy. Wisdom, like the Serenity Prayer, states, is knowing the difference. I would say that knowledge is knowing the difference and wisdom is making the appropriate choice and the correct time.
Resiliency, though a badge of honor, should not be armor. We cannot shut ourselves off from experiencing life, nor can we constantly be at war with it. Some of what we experience, we have the capability to alter. We have talked extensively about spheres of influence, rooms, tables, environments, and habits. If you find yourself constantly on guard, it is time to analyze several areas to see what is keeping you in a constant state of heightened emotions. It is one thing to have your “spidey senses” tingling and quite another to live in paranoia.
Being resilient means being able to recover from one-offs. To expound on that further, these individual situations should be different in nature, magnitude, and complexity. If you are fighting the same battles, in the same areas, with the same people (or types of people), you are unfortunately the common denominator. The silver lining in that realization, and a more appropriate way to be resilient, is that you can change all of that. It will take some time, and it will be difficult, but it can be done. And if you are exhausted and burning or burnt out, it should be done for your well-being.
Another justification for not being built for everything is that everything is not yours to take on. Not every issue is your battle, not every need yours to address, not every injustice your crusade to undertake. With 8+ billion people on this planet, it is quite ok to let someone else do some things. Now this does not mean if you are able to help that you hope someone else does (again a one off). We are simply pointing out that you can’t spread yourself so thin that you lose your ability to be resilient as well as effective in your calling. Adding to this topic, you also don’t have to take on others’ problems to fix or solve. By all means, be a sounding board, safe space, voice of reason, etc. but whatever their issue is, is not your responsibility. Understanding the difference allows you to have that armor of resilience primed for actual “combat” of the unavoidable nature. Being your brothers’ or sisters’ keeper means you empower them to win their wars, not enable them to pass the battle off to you.
We are more than conquerors, which means we are more than capable of coming back from anything. We just don’t need to be coming back from everything. Resilience is applied; it isn’t assimilated. We use it to overcome, we do not become it, and it does not become a lifestyle. Some things are not our battles, while others require us to be bold and confront opposition head-on. Wisdom is knowing when to walk away and when to push through. Be resilient, but don’t live there.
Langley “Casual-Word” Shazor is a poet, author, publisher, entrepreneur, public speaking coach, podcast host, and pastor who is an advocate for youth and men. His goal is to enlighten, empower, and liberate those who are silenced, marginalized, and enslaved to self-destructive thoughts and behaviors. Visit thecasualword.com.
Editor’s Note: Opinion articles do not represent the views of the Virgin Islands Source newsroom and are the sole expressed opinion of the writer. Submissions can be made to visource@gmail.com.
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