Island Life

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All notices, announcements and other publicity for events must be sent by e-mail. Nothing sent by fax or postal mail can be printed. Call 774-8772 ext. 4138 for more information. Email:

notices@dailynews.vi

College fairs

A series of college fairs sponsored by Antilles School are being held through Oct. 30 for all V.I. high school students interested in attending a selective college. The dates, places, times and participating colleges are:

Friday, 9 to 10:30 a.m. - Eckerd, Florida Tech, Goucher, Johnson C. Smith, Johnson & Wales, Lynn, Manhattanville, Northeastern, Penn State, Regis, University of Tampa at MCM Center, Antilles School.

Oct. 4, 7:30 p.m. - Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, Pennsylvania and Stanford at Marriott's Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort. Register at www.exploringcollegeoptions.org.

Oct. 14, 3 p.m. - Vanderbilt, Princeton and Northwestern Universities at Prior Jollek Hall, Antilles School.

Oct. 30, 7 p.m. - Brown University at Kimelman Library, Antilles School.

Call Chris Teare at 776-1600 ext. 3702 for information.

American Red Cross

In celebration of National Preparedness Month the American Red Cross is encouraging all households to create a family disaster plan to prepare for the next emergency or disaster. Plans should include designating a meeting place right outside the home in case of a sudden emergency like a fire, an out-of-area emergency contact person and a location where everyone should meet if they can't go home. A template to build a plan is available on the Red Cross website under the Prepare Your Home and Family tab. Call 778-5104 or visit redcross.org for information.

Visual arts program

The School of Visual Arts and Careers will hold an after-school program for high school students in grades nine through 12. Students will receive training in artistic techniques, explore art-related careers and develop a portfolio for college entrance or professional employment. Instructors and guest artists will expose students to a variety of mediums and approaches to creating art. The school is a non-profit program located on Main Street and is funded in part through grants from the Virgin Islands Council on the Arts, local contributors and corporate donations.

Call Edie Johnson at 344-4369 for information and an application.

Sugar Bay kayak tour

Carol Cramer Burke and Lynnea Roberts will guide a kayak tour of Sugar Bay, Salt River at 10 a.m. Saturday and share information about mangroves, marine ecology and bird life of the ecosystem. Cost is $10 per person. Participants will meet outside of Anchor Dive shop (Salt River Marina) at 10 a.m. Reservations are required.

Pistarckle fundraiser

Pistarckle Theater will host a French wine tasting event at 6 p.m. Saturday at the theater. Frank Machover of V.I. Wine Wholesale will offer a new selection and affordable favorites and Edward Miller will present the medically-proven benefits of wine. Hors d'oeuvres and canapés will be available for wine pairing. All proceeds from the wine tasting and 15 percent of wine purchases will go toward Pistarckle's matching grant. Tickets are $35 each or $60 for two.

Call 775-7877 or email pistarckletheater@gmail.com for information or to RSVP for the wine tasting.

Homelessness forum

The Homeless and Public Safety Committee of Downtown Revitalization will hold a forum on homelessness from 6 to 8 p.m. Sept. 27 in UVI's Administration Building Conference Center on St. Thomas. Addressing homelessness is a critical element of revitalizing downtown. Downtown Revitalization's goal is to assist homeless service providers as they assist the most vulnerable, long-term homeless individuals and families to attain permanent, supportive housing. Deadline for presenter registration is Sept. 15. Volunteers are welcome.

Call 775-1255 or email coast_vi@yahoo.com for information or for presenter registration forms.

UVI events

- Members of UVI's class of 1998 are reminded to make a contribution to the "50 for 50" Class Challenge toward making UVI the first Historically Black College and University to attain a 50% alumni participation rate. The class with the highest participation rate and highest contribution wil be publically recognized at the end of the challenge. Contact Keith James at 877-241-6687 or kjames@urassociation.com or Linda Smith at 692-4231 or lsmith@live.uvi.edu for information. Visit www.uvi.edu to make a contribution.

- The Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning Center offers a Human Resource Certification program from 6 to 9 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays at the UVICELL Center on the St. Thomas campus. The certification is awarded by the Human Resource Certification Institute and signifies that human resource professionals have achieved the industry certification that sets them apart as true professionals in their field. Call 693-1100 or visit http://cell.uvi.edu for information.

- The Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning Center offers a course in Real Estate Principles and Practices from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the UVICELL Center on the St. Thomas campus. The course will expose individuals to the real estate industry and prepare them for the Real Estate Salesperson licensing examination. Call 693-1100 or visit http://cell.uvi.edu for information.

- Volunteers are needed from 5:30 to 9 p.m. through Sept. 20 in the first-floor conference room of UVI's Administration and Conference Center on the St. Thomas campus for UVI's final Phonathon of 2012. Volunteers will make calls and process online pledges from Reichhold Center for the Arts patrons as well as traditional and special alumni. Prizes will be awarded to top performers and dinner will be served. Call 693-1047 for information.

- The Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning Center will offer a six week PRAXIS prep course from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday beginning Sept. 22 at the UVICELL Center on the St. Thomas campus. The course is designed for secondary school teachers or elementary content area teachers hired after the 1995-1996 school year and are required to take the PRAXIS exam. The prep course prepares teachers for the exam so that they can be designated as highly qualified in order to meet the mandates of the No Child Left Behind Act. Call 693-1100 or visit http://cell.uvi.edu for information.

- The Environmental Finance Center and the V.I. Recycling Partnership are seeking university students interested with assisting in developing and delivering a sustainable organics materials management educational program for K through 12 schools and other local organizations from Oct. 2012 through May 2013. The program will focus on waste reduction, reuse and recycling, with a special focus on organics management. Free training will include organics management and composting methods, developing K through 12 curriculum and developing programs to schools throughout the islands. Students may use the program to receive college credit. Contact Ana V. Arache at avarache@syr.edu for a detailed program timeline and information on applying. Application deadline is Oct. 15.

- UVI's President for a Day Competition will give two UVI students an opportunity to trade places with UVI President David Hall. Over the course of three days, the winning students will shadow President Hall to observe and learn the role of a university president, assume the role of president while President Hall participates in the student's full schedule, and President Hall and the student will provide public presentations on what they learned from the exercise. Applications are available from the Student Life section of the UVI website, www.uvi.edu. Deadlines to enter are Oct. 1 for St. Thomas students and Feb. 7, 2013 for St. Croix students. Contact Astrid Carmora at 693-1047 or president_for_a_day@myuvi.net for application requirements.

HUGS meeting for special needs

HUGS V.I. (Here to Understand and Give Support) and IIPCC (Inter-Island Parent Coalition for Change) will host a meeting for persons with special needs and their parents/guardians from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 22 at the Sugar Estate Head Start Building on First Avenue. Attendees will receive information about IEPs, IEP diplomas and the changes in placements of students for the new school year. A petition for signatures will also be circulated regarding a proposed recreational activity for persons with special needs.

Anderson Fund teacher grants

Applications for the 2012 Teacher Grants from the Anderson Family Fund at the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands are now available. The Anderson Family Fund "Teacher Grants Program" provides funding on a competitive basis for projects that seek to improve student achievement. Teachers, assistant teachers and guidance counselors in the public school system of the US Virgin Islands are eligible to apply for these grants that range from $250 to $1,000, to implement an innovative project in their classrooms and schools.

Successful applicants must agree to submit a brief written report, receipts for expenditures and visual documentation on the use of the grant at the end of the funding period. Any applicant who was a recipient of a 2011 Anderson Teachers Grant must have submitted a written final report on the use of the 2011 grant in order to be eligible for a grant in 2012. All proposals must be submitted to the foundation no later than 5 p.m. Sept. 28. For an application, visit the grants section at www.cfvi.net or email a request to mquetel@cfvi.net or general.info@cfvi.net.

Call CFVI at 774-6031 for information.

Maroon celebration at Maroon Ridge

The St. Croix Unified for Community, Culture, Environment and Economic Development will hold a cultural ceremony Sept. 28 in St. Croix's Maroon Ridge. The untold story of St. Croix's maroons and the maritime underground railroad will be celebrated to promote culture, history, environment, scholarship and geotourism.

- A culture and preservation symposium will take place Sept. 29 with presentations on culture-based community revitalization, local examples and a hands-on workshop on the financial and technical resources available to owners and others who want to redevelop historic property.

- Easy, moderate and extreme level tours to Maroon Ridge and a mini film festival will be held Sept. 30.

Call 772-9685 to RSVP for the symposium by Sept. 20.

V.I. Carnival Committee hosts Queen workshop

The Virgin Islands Carnival Committee will host a workshop for prospective Carnival Queen Contestants at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 29 in the Lockhart Elementary School Cafeteria. The workshop titled, "Reasons why I should vie for the title of Virgin Islands Carnival Queen 2013," will give young ladies considering entering the Carnival Queen Pageant valuable insight to the process. This workshop is open to girls between ages 16 and 21 and their parents/guardians. RSVP is required by this Saturday.

Call Desha Powell at 514-6507 to RSVP or for information.

Magens Bay's Water Safety Training

Registration for the fall session of Magens Bay's Water Safety Training Center's Learn to Swim Program will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 29 at the lifeguard stand near shed No. 4. Registration times are 9:30 to 10 a.m. for ages six months to five years, 10 to 10:45 a.m. for all adults and advanced swimmers ages six to 15 and 10:45 to 11:30 a.m. for beginner swimmers ages six to 15. The program's fall session will take place from Oct. 6 through Nov. 3.

Contact Gayle at 643-6319 or gayledeller@gmail.com or Magens Bay at 777-6300 for information.

Dollar fo' Dollar Culture and History Tour

The seventh annual Dollar fo' Dollar Culture and History Tour: A Remembrance of the 1892 Coal Workers Strike on St. Thomas will be held from 9:30 a.m. to noon Sept. 29. Participants will meet at Emancipation Garden for tour orientation at 9 a.m., then proceed at 10 a.m. toward Main Street. Tour guides will point out historic protest sites accompanied by Bamboula drumming, dancing and chanting. The free, interactive tour is held annually in celebration of the hundreds of 19th century coal laborers and Queen Coziah who led a successful protest in the streets of Charlotte Amalie for better pay. This year marks the 120th anniversary of the historic protest.

Call 473-7943 or 643-5851 for information.

St. Croix Junior Bowlers

The St. Croix Junior Bowlers, a positive youth development organization dedicated to promoting the sport of bowling, is now accepting registration for the 2012-2013 season. Registration is open to ages four through 21. Visit www.stxjrbowlers.org through Sept. 29 to register. Cost is $75 for new members or $50 for returning members. Returning members may purchase a new shirt at a cost of $25. The dress code for league bowling is long pants, league shirt and bowling shoes.

Call Wayne Christian at 678-592-1416, Yolanda Brooks at 514-3337 or Sarah Dahl-Smith at 277-0701 for information.

Sunset cruise fundraiser

Arts Alive will host a sunset cruise fundraiser aboard the Treasure Seeker pirate ship from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29. Activities will include complementary appetizers, drinks for sale, a raffle drawing and entertainment by Bill Johnson, Danny Silber, Larry Benjamin, Janice Ballard, Fred and Polly Watts, Alana Davis and Brenda Sylvia. Arts Alive is administered by the Tillett Foundation, a not-for-profit arts organization with a mission to involve and encourage young people in the appreciation, study, performance and exhibition of fine music and visual arts. Admission is $25 for adults and $15 for children ages 12 and under.

Call 776-8566, email artsalive@tillett.net or visit www.tillettfoundation.org for information or to purchase tickets.

Walk for Wishes fundraiser

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of the V.I. holds its first annual Walk For Wishes fundraiser at 7 a.m. Sept. 29 at Yacht Haven Grande. The 5K walk will begin and end at Yacht Haven Grande. All participants will receive medals and t-shirts. Sponsorship packages are available from $250 to $1,000 and include a wide variety of opportunities for individual and/or corporate participation. The Make-A-Wish Foundation fulfills wishes for children with life threatening illnesses and recently has made dreams come true for a number of Virgin Islands youngsters. The prospects are recommended by their doctors and then qualified by a team of expert "wish grantors". No truly eligible child is ever turned down.

Contact Meagan Malo at 513-8213 or email walk4wishesusvi@gmail.com for information.

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority

- The Nu Chi Zeta chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority on St. Croix will host a Zeta Youth Auxiliary Open House from 1 to 3 p.m. Sept. 29 at the Ricardo Richards Elementary School. The Open House is for girls ages six through 18 interested in participating in community and social activities. Call 277-9839, email nuchizeta@hotmail.com or visit www.zphibvi.org for information.

- Zeta Phi Beta Sorority of St. Croix will hold the second annual Put Ur Feet in Pink for the Cure event will be held at 8 p.m. Oct. 20 at Rotary West in Frederiksted. Proceeds from this breast cancer charity event will be donated to the YAG Foundation and the American Cancer Society. Call 643-3322, email nuchizeta@hotmail.com or visit www.zphibvi.org for information.

Cancer Society offers low-cost mammograms

To celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, the American Cancer Society will offer low-cost mammograms for men and women without insurance. Registration will take place on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Cancer Society office in the Medical Arts Foundation Building on St. Thomas, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays at the St. John Community Foundation Office at Market Place and from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily at the Sunny Isle Shopping Center Office on St. Croix.

The American Cancer Society is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem.

Call 775-5373 on St. Thomas or St. John or 778-2882 on St. Croix for information.

Family and Youth Crisis Intervention Program

- Adolescent Anger Management classes are held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays through Dec. 4. The program assists youth who are exhibiting negative behaviors and may be having trouble in school, at home or socially. Space is limited.

- Parenting classes are held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Dec. 4. The program assists parents who are experiencing difficult times with their children and who desire an improved relationship with their children.

- The Rites of Passage component is currently accepting registration from parents with sons ages nine to 12 years. Classes will be from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. every Saturday from Sept. 8 to Dec. 8. The component offers field activities, Tai-Chi, computer literacy, social development/skills, cultural literacy and ecological art.

All programs are free but space is limited. Call Greg McGriff at 776-9085 for information or to register.

Project Homeless Connect volunteers

The Department of Human Services and the United Way of St. Thomas/St. John will host Project Homeless Connect 2012 on Oct. 12 on St. Thomas and Oct. 26 on St. John. Volunteers are needed for escorts, guides, greeters and wait staff. Training will begin Sept. 27 in the Department of Human Services Sugar Estate Head Start conference room at 10 a.m. for the first session and at 11:30 a.m. for the second session. Service providers are invited to a training session on Oct. 4 at the SBDC conference room in Nisky Center at noon.

Call the United Way of St. Thomas/St. John at 774-3185 for information.

Rotary Club scholarship

The fund raising committee for the Rotary Club of St. Thomas is holding a raffle to benefit the Rotary Scholarship Fund. Raffle prizes are a 14.5' Brig Rigid Inflatable Falcon Rider courtesy of Caribbean Inflatable, a Heavenly Days Catamaran six-hour charter for 48 people courtesy of Bolongo Bay Beach Resort and a weekend for two at the Palms at Pelican Cove Hotel on St. Croix. The goal of the scholarship program is to help as many students as possible to graduate from college. Raffle ticket donation is $10 per ticket or $100 for a book of 11 tickets. Raffle tickets can be purchased from any member of the Rotary Club of St. Thomas or at Tutu Park Mall. The drawing will be October 11.

Beach Jam at Magens Bay

The October Sunday Beach Jam will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 14 at Magens Bay Shed No. 4. There will be live music, a potluck table and birthday cake for everyone. Games for the kids and a flea market from Cece's Closet will also be available. All proceeds support The Family Resource Center.

Contact Polly Watts at 775-2814 or pollywatts@earthlink.net for information.

P.E.A.R. Conference

The 5th Annual P.E.A.R. Conference for girls and boys ages 12 to 18 years of age will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Oct. 20 at Sugar Bay Resort and Spa. This year's theme is "Walk of Fame" and topics include dating violence, the art of communicating, body beautiful inside and out, guys just want to have fun and aim high. Call 690-0303 or 777-3312 or visit www.uniquexpression.org for a registration form. Fee is $25. Registration deadline is Oct. 6.

Spinal analysis at Wisdom Waves

Chiropractor Tammi McKnight will hold a free posture check for children ages four to 18 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 21 at Wisdom Waves Wellness Center. A posture check for adults will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 10 at the center. Complimentary posture workshops will take place at 7 p.m. Oct. 25 and Nov. 12 at the center. Wisdom Waves Wellness Center is located in Compass Point Marina at 6300 Estate Frydenhoj No. D1-A, St. Thomas, VI 00802.

Call 774-3020 to make an appointment.

Celebrity Golf Tournament

The 29th annual American Airlines Charity Golf Classic for Queen Louise Home for Children will be held Nov. 9 through Nov. 11 on St. Croix. The tournament provides an opportunity for sponsors to enjoy three days of golf with celebrity athletes and benefits Queen Louise Home for Children, a 501(c)3 organization on St. Croix. This year's celebrities include Mike Eruzione, captain of the 1980 Winter Olympics United States team that defeated the Soviet Union in the famous "Miracle on Ice" game and Bert Blyleven, 2011 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1970 to 1992 and current color commentator for the Minnesota Twins on Fox Sports North. Festivities include a celebrity draft and cocktail party, gala and auction.

Email info@lssvi.org for information.

St. Thomas Humane Society

The Humane Society of St. Thomas is seeking volunteers to foster homes for animals. Fostering a pet is an opportunity for an individual or family to provide a dog or cat with the one-on-one attention it needs. Volunteers also can use the fostering experience to see what it would be like to have a pet companion.

Call 775-0599 for information or to volunteer.

JazzHaven

Free jazz concerts are currently held the third Saturday of each month through November at Yacht Haven's esplanade. The performances feature talented youngsters from St. Thomas as well as internationally acclaimed musicians from Puerto Rico. Fat Turtle and Grande Cru are providing specials and lawn service for concert viewers.

- The next concert will be held at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, featuring fiddler/violinist Alana Davis, Denise Hummer and the Flamboyant Band and Liza Micceli.

Contact Alicia MacDonald at 244-4663 or Alicia@ambagent.com for information.

Pre-GED program

The Caribbean Institute for Training and Development holds pre-GED classes from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday nights at the institute in Mandela Circle across from Wendy's. The program is free to those who qualify and will prepare participants for all five modules of the Pre-GED and GED exams. Visit the Department of Labor for an application to apply and register. Seating is limited.

Call the institute at 776-3320 or the Department of Labor at 776-3700 for information.

Disability Mentoring Day

Work-Able is seeking sponsors, businesses, employers, work site coordinators, mentors and mentees to support and participate in 2012 Disability Mentoring Day on Oct. 17. Disability Mentoring Day is celebrated annually as a part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month to promote career development through hands-on career exploration, on-site job shadowing and mentoring relationships. Students who participate will receive six community service hours and a particicipation certificate.

Contact Work-Able at 514-6600 or workableinc@gmail.com to make a contribution or for information.

Volunteers of the Virgin Islands

The not-for-profit organization is accepting school supplies to help children in the community for the 2012/2013 school year. Supplies needed include backpacks, child safety scissors, crayons, glue, colored markers, pens, notebooks, sanitizer, used elementary school books, Kleenex, pocket folders, glue sticks, no. 2 pencils, rulers and liquid hand soap.

Call Eunice Robert at 998-9479 for information.

Chiropractic workshops

Local chiropractor Tammi Reeve McKnight has recently achieved the highest level certification in Network Spinal Analysis, an advanced form of chiropractic that is on the cutting edge of neuroscience. Mcknight holds weekly community workshops at no charge to empower people on living at their highest potential. All workshops are held at Wisdom Waves Wellness Center in Compass Point Marina on St. Thomas. Email info@wisdomwaves.com to request a schedule and descriptions of workshops.

Diabetes support group

The Food and Nutrition Department at Schneider Hospital hosts a diabetes support group from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month in the sun room of the hospital's Island Breeze Café. The support group is open to anyone interested in learning more about diabetes and self-care.

Contact DeAnna Dahlem at 776-8311 ext. 1031 or ddahlem@srmedicalcenter.org for more information.

QuickBooks training

The University of the Virgin Islands - Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning Center is offering a course on the full-featured small business accounting software - QuickBooks. Introduction to QuickBooks will be held 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays at the UVICELL Center on the St. Thomas Campus. Participants will learn how to set up a standard list of accounts, manage accounts receivable and payable, reconcile bank accounts, track credit card transactions and much more.

For more information on the program or how to register, call 693-1100 or visit on-line at http://cell.uvi.edu.

Alternative Movie Night

Sevenminusseven presents a free "Movie Night" at 7 p.m. every Wednesday evening. Film selections are foreign, art and independent films. Movies are shown in Blu-ray with a high definition projector on a big screen in the air-conditioned media room. Sevenminusseven is located in Sub Base next to Pueblo. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Call 267-424-4699 or email sevenminusseven@yahoo.com for more information.

Adult Education registration

The Adult Education Pre-GED and GED Day Program began Jan. 31 starting from 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at Garden Street (yellow building).

All of the following Evening Programs began Feb. 6 : High School Diploma and ESL (English as a Second Language) from 6:15 p.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays at Charlotte Amalie High School; Pre-GED, GED, ESL and Adult Basic from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays at Lockhart; Pre-GED and GED from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays at Julius E. Sprauve School.

Registration is ongoing, for more information call 227-5295.

No-flea boutique

The Humane Society of St. Thomas' new No-Flea Boutique is now open every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The resale shop is located at the Humane Care Campus, off Weymouth Rhymer Highway and across from Cost-U-Less. Humane Society members who show their membership card at check-out will receive an extra 10 percent off, and all purchases directly benefit the island's homeless pets.

The Nadir market is still open on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon - and everything there is selling for $.50 and up until the store is cleaned out.

The Humane Society is no longer accepting clothing and household item donations at the Nadir location. Bring them to the new site during its open hours.

If you are interested in volunteering and can donate one 4-hour shift each week, email Leslie Maxwell at lesliemaxwell50@yahoo.com.

Dorcas Care

The Department of Human Services Family Caregiver Support Program, which provides support and resources to persons caring for the elderly, has implemented Dorcas Care adult day care services.

Volunteers are needed to administer the program and will receive training in First Aid, CPR, and general caregiving for the elderly. Family caregivers who need assistance are urged to register for services.

For more information contact Arleen Evans O'Reilly at 773-2323 ext. 2024 on St. Croix and Shirma Henry at 774-0930 ext. 4120 on St. Thomas.

GED classes

House of Refuge Empowerment Programs offer GED tutoring that assist students in learning essential theorems and principles of the sciences to prepare them for taking the GED examination. For more information, contact Mrs. George or Mr. Celaire at 473-6925 or 513-3288.

Community orchestra auditions

To be a member of the New Community Orchestra of St. Thomas pick up an application at G-Clef Music Academy or V.I. Montessori School and International Academy. The orchestra is open to all musicians from 8 years old through adults. Participants must be able to read music. Pre-orchestra classes are also being held for those who don't read. Rehearsals are held from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sundays.

- The New Community Orchestra is looking for instruments in any condition. Donations can be dropped off at G-Clef Music Academy in Tillett Gardens or V.I. Montessori School and International Academy in Red Hook.

For more information, contact Leah at 617-290-5797 or leah.aronin@gmail.com or Sherrie at 998-1823 or sherriedavis50@yahoo.com.

Movie night

"Family Movie Night" is held at 7 p.m. the second Friday of each month at Yacht Haven Grande. Bring your own chair and blanket. Admission is free, but a small donation will be accepted.

Weatherization program

The Virgin Islands Weatherization Program provides low income, elderly and handicapped residents with energy measures such as Energy Star refrigerators, hot water heater timers, compact fluorescent light bulbs low-flow shower heads, aerators and power strips at no cost to the resident.

Applications are available on St. Croix from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Methodist Outreach and Training Center at 195 Richmond across from Henneman Ice Plant. Call 773-1155 for more information.

Client intake on St. Thomas will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays to Fridays at the Methodist Outreach and Training Center at 4A Kronprindsens Gade. Call 714-7782 for more information.

On St. John, client intake services will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday and Thursdays at the St. John Methodist Church. Client intake services will be also be at the St. Ursula's Multipurpose Center and the Adrian Senior Center. Call the centers to find out the times and days at 693-8580 or 776-6144.

Energy program

The Virgin Islands Energy Office is unveiling a program to help small businesses territory-wide cut their power consumption. The program is known as the Worthwhile Investments Save Energy and is part of the Better Buildings Initiative of the federal Department of Energy. Participants in the WISE program will be eligible for rebates of up to 40 percent of their project costs for energy efficiency retrofits to their businesses.

Eligible applicants are small, retail and service businesses with utility usage of 30,000 kWh monthly or less. To qualify, businesses must own their buildings or have long-term leases. An application for the rebates is on the Energy Office website at www.vienergy.org.

For more information, contact Miguel Quinones at 714-8436.

Zumba class

Zumba fitness classes are held at 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Winston Raymo community center next to Lionel Roberts Stadium. For more information, call Christine at 690-4307 or email cdejl@yahoo.com.

Solar water heaters

The Virgin Islands Energy Office is urging residents to take advantage of its Sun Power Loan program to purchase a solar water heater and substantially reduce their electric bill. The Sun Power program allows residents to purchase and install a solar water heater with no upfront costs. Rebates up to $2,500, along with loans up to $3,500, are available to cover the costs.

Energy Office Director Karl Knight said that the Energy Office has conducted a successful appliance rebate program and a successful rebate program for fuel efficient vehicles, paying out more than $1.2 million in subsidies to 2,462 residents and small businesses, but federal money is no longer available for those two programs.

The Sun Power program is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and is administered in a partnership between, the Water and Power Authority, the Economic Development Authority, and the Energy Office.

Almost 600 residents have already been approved for the program. It is estimated that another 200 residents will be able to go through the program the way it is before the program is revised or shutdown.

The no-money-down loans are financed through the Economic Development Authority at a 1 percent fixed interest rate over five years and are repaid through borrowers' WAPA bills.

Information and applications can be found at www.vienergy.org or call 713-8436 on St. Croix and 714-8436 on St. Thomas.

Sewing classes

Sew Stylish is offering sewing and designing classes for kids and adults from 10 a.m. to noon Saturdays and Sundays and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays. For information, call 201-0812.

Notary public applications

The Lieutenant Governor's Office announces that notary public applications are now available online. New and renewal applications, as well as the Notary Public handbook, can be accessed at the Lieutenant Governor's website, www.ltg.gov.vi.

Online availability of the documents enables the Lt. Governor's Office to be more responsive to inquiries about the notary public application process and responsibilities. For more information, contact the Lt. Governor's office at 774-2991 for the St. Thomas-St. John district or the Division of Banking and Insurance at 773-6459 for the St. Croix district.

Red Cross seeks donations

Hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis and other natural disasters have taken a toll in the Virgin Islands. The American Red Cross of the Virgin Islands reminds willing residents to make tax deductible donations to lessen the blow of such disasters. To make a donation, visit the Red Cross at 6035 Castle Coakley, Christiansted, or call 774-0375, or visit their upstairs office at Nisky Center.

CPR classes

St. John Rescue conducts community CPR classes, with instruction in CPR, automated external defibrillator use and the Heimlich maneuver, taught in a three-hour, one-day class.

Contact Bob Malacarne via email training@stjohnrescue.com or 626-5118 for more information.

Weekly feeding event

Volunteers of the Virgin Islands feeds the homeless and people in need between 8 and 10 a.m. every Saturday at Market Square across from the Methodist Church and is accepting donations of food and grocery items and clothing.

Call Eunice Robert at 998-9479 for more information.

Creque Dam volunteer days

Volunteers are needed to help out at the Creque Dam farm from 9 to 11 a.m. or from 2 to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Email shellibrin@gmail.com for more information.

UVI Wellness Center

The UVI Wellness Center on the St. Thomas campus is accepting alumni memberships at discounted rates. The Center is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Bolongo Bay Chess Club

The new Bolongo Bay Chess Club is open to players of all skill levels, children and adults. The club meets from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturdays in the karaoke area next to Iggies.

Contact Corinne at 626-1199 or email corinnevanrensselaer@yahoo.com for more information.

Visit www.chessvi.com for upcoming events.

New Beginnings

New Beginnings for a Better Tomorrow offers two-hour private computer tutorial sessions in English and Spanish from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays, and from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Instruction is given on Office 2003, 2007 and 2010; Word; Excel; Power Point; Access; Publisher; keyboarding; career development and preparation; and job skills training.

After-school family tutorial sessions, to be held from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, are to be discussed in the areas of technology, reading, writing, math, science and other subjects; piano and violin; fashion and design, sewing, embroidery and crochet; and drawing, painting, arts and crafts and scrapbooking.

Call 227-6515 for more information.

Community awards

Southland Gaming of the Virgin Islands has established a Community Award program to recognize and reward the positive efforts of Virgin Islands individuals and organizations. The company has dedicated $25,000 to the program, and one successful nominee will be selected every other week to receive $1,000.

The Community Award program is designed to spotlight selfless individuals and organizations that continue to make the Virgin Islands a unique and wonderful community. Limitations have not been placed on the categories. Examples include sports and recreation, music, education, environment, social change, early childhood and youth mentoring. Nominations may be submitted by individuals and organizations for themselves, or by a third party on behalf of another individual or organization.

Applications will be reviewed and references checked by a panel. Award winners will be announced every other Friday by media release. There is no restriction on what funds may be used for.

The two-page application must be fully completed and then submitted to Southland Gaming for review. Applications are available online at www.sgvi.com/awards. Once completed, the application can be emailed to awards@sgvi.com, faxed to 776-4185 or mailed to Awards, Southland Gaming of the V.I., 1003 Estate Ross, St. Thomas, V.I. 00802.

For more information, contact Shaine Gaspard at shaine@sgvi.com.

Pet licensing

Pet licenses are available online from St. Croix Animal Welfare Center at www.atcroixawc.org/pet-licenses.

According to Virgin Islands law, pet owners should buy identification tags each year from St. Croix AWC. Tags start at $5 and offer the benefit of reuniting lost pets with their owners.

Visit www.atcroixawc.org/pet-licenses for more information.

COAST recruitment

For over 34 years, The Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of St. Thomas and St. John has endeavored to address the many serious alcohol and substance abuse problems plaguing the Virgin Islands. COAST remains alive and well and is in the process of redeveloping new leadership, new office space, new programs and relationships with existing agencies working to combat the war on drugs, alcohol and violence. COAST is recruiting new members to serve the organization in a number of areas such as executive council, volunteers and regular membership.

Call 774-4358 or email coast_vi@yahoo.com for more information.

Call for volunteers

The Herbert Grigg Home for the Aged is looking for committed volunteers to share with resident seniors. The rewarding opportunity offers training and fellowship.

Call Jacqueline Douglas at 778-0708 for more information.

Foster grandparent program

Persons aged 60 or older who are interested in working with children are invited to call the Department of Human Services Foster Grandparent Program.

Eligible applicants can receive a tax-free stipend, free transportation to the work site, a free annual physical, free monthly training and more.

Call 772-9811 ext. 27 on St. Croix and 774-5265 ext. 1 on St. Thomas for more information.

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