April 5, 2003 — Groucho Marx once said that he learned a lot when the TV was on — because he went off to read a book.
Library supporters are inviting the public to follow his example in the Enid M. Baa Library courtyard at 5:30 p.m. Monday, April 21, and participate in the activities of "Break Free From TV."
A release has outlined the program that will be presented. Margaret Epps will be demonstrating games that she learned from children in Lesotho when she was a Peace Corp teacher there. Dr. Hollis Liverpool, the renowned calypsonian "Chalkdust" from Trinidad, is sure to inspire future calypso talents. Laura Moorhead is going to teach everyone how to make johnnycakes with a recipe right out of her book that can be found on the shelf in the library.
Also on the program will be storyteller and musician Glenn "Kwabena" Davis, Tulip Fleming and Gilbert Sprauve.
It would be unlikely to find such a line-up of people on any television show. And there will be no commercials, just refreshments and the fellowship of people who care about enriching their lives. The "Break Free from TV" program is to encourage everyone to observe TV Turnoff Week by presenting plenty of ideas for alternative activities.
"This is a time when families and individuals can turn off the television, computers and electronic games as well, and interact with each other," said Sharlene Harris, director of the territorial public libraries. "Many people will be surprised to learn that life can be more fun, rewarding and even relaxing when we watch less TV and do more activities."
According to the TV Turnoff Network, said the release, "Successful regional turn-offs in the past have proven that a one-week recess from TV helps establish conditions that allow for more family interaction, sports, reading, volunteering, exercising and enjoyment of nature."
Statistics show that the average American family watches more than four hours of TV a day. An American child between the age of two to 17 watches an average of 19 hours, 40 minutes of TV per week. By the time this average child reaches age 18, he or she has seen 200,000 violent acts on TV and watched 20,000 TV commercials per year.
The Friends of the St. Thomas Public Libraries and the V.I. Division of Libraries are sponsoring this one activity at the beginning of the No TV Week to inspire families and individuals to actively seek out other diversions such as picnics or hikes, arts and crafts, planning and cooking special meals, helping neighbors, initiating community projects and of course, reading, reading and more reading.
For more information on TV Turnoff Week, contact the national TV-Turnoff Network at their Web site or call them at (202) 518-5556. For more information about this event, call Harris at 774-3407.
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