The Bacchanal is over for another year, and on reflection we had a wonderful time. Our first time participation in the Cultural Fair, which is still referred to as the Food Fair was da bomb. Help from dear friends, Jackie Bingham, Chloe Beyer and Augustine Holder was invaluable. We caught up with so many folks as they stopped by our booth, including, Luana Wheatley, Karen Samuel, her brother, Avelino, Harry and Carrie Freyn, Tregenza Roach, Janet Smalls and her daughter Delene, Patricia La Corte of Grande Cru, Jen Litwin of Oceana, Robert Holder with a great new look, Mark and Carrie Gilpin visiting from Florida, James O’Bryan, Simon Caines, Carolyn Henry, Mary Ottley, Percy Clouden, Michelle Taylor, Kim Bonelli, Vernon Finch, Aquanette Chinnery, Raul Carrillo, Renee Johnson and Judy Wheatley to name a very few.
The one drawback to being a participant was not being able to mingle with the other booths as much as we would have liked. Kudos to the Cultural Fair committee.
After Carnival the weariness hit big time, so to wind down Jacqueline Bingham and I headed to the beach along with hordes of others needing to soak our bones. The waters were colder than I like, but for all those visiting from cooler climes it was just perfect. After a trip to Coki, Jackie and I went in search of the perfect local fish dish. We arrived at Sea Side Inn before they even opened their doors but Celia Hermon who was home from Florida, let us in so we could relax and have a sip or two. Then came the piece de resistance…..the time to choose the fish for the evening’s meal. Celia’s sister, master cook, Louella Hermon who is also the proprietor of Sea Side Inn helped with that process and by evening’s end, Jackie’s plate which began with a yellow tail in butter sauce, fungi, green banana and a small salad, was so clean I was sorry that I hadn’t got a before and after shot of her plate. This was a great way to end a terrific visit with a dear and wonderful friend whom I had not seen in over 15 years. Come back home soon, JB and bring Keith, Katie and Blaine with you next time.
The V.I. Humanities Council celebrated 25 years of serving our community with a stellar weekend conference beginning last Friday. One of our favorite people was honored with yet another award – the 2010 Humanist Award from the council. Dr. Alfred O. Heath, who is always so gracious, was introduced by Dilsa Capdeville who recalled how close her family was to the good doctor. One of the other highlights of the opening ceremony was the keynote speaker, internationally acclaimed author, and Haitian native, Edwidge Danticat. She was introduced by our friend, Elaine Jacobs, who is also an author and well known storyteller. Mrs. Danticat made one of the most chilling and thought provoking statements about her country that I have ever heard. In talking about the aftermath of the devastation, she said that before the earthquake Haiti was trying to move from misery to poverty. Now, it struggles to move from deep misery to misery. We must continue to do all we can to help.
The VIHC weekend celebration of diversity ended on a rousing note with an explosion of international cultures at the Reichhold Center. Included were representatives from St. Kitts/Nevis, the Phillipines, Vietnam, Dominica, India, the African continent represented by several countries, and of course, the VI.
Congratulations to Mabel Maduro and her staff as well as to the board of directors led by Annie Smith. Among those enjoying the VIHC weekend activities were Delegate Donna Christiansen, Daisy Lafond, Rashidi Clenance and Gerard Emanuel who came over from St. Croix, Tracy Johnson, Mildred Bough, Gene Emanuel, Mary Alexander, Glen Kwabena Davis, Averricia Williams and her husband, Lunsford, Hilda Joyce, Tulip Fleming, Dr. May Trieu, Netfa Romain, Allison Bourne-Vanneck, Ruth Moolenaar, Anna Mae Comment, Chinwe Osaze with her son, Lassima, Monife Stout, Alton Evans, Marilyn Krigger, Pamela Richards-Samuel, Myron Jackson, Vincent Cooper and Winthrop Maduro who emceed the show on Saturday.
They’re baaaaack! The CAHS students who travelled to Japan with their chaperones returned to St. Thomas last week. Among the students was William Curtis, III, for whom this trip was extra special. He was able to visit with his Mom who was in Japan and his grandparents who live in Tokyo. Congrats again to Idalia “Dolly” Dockery on yet another successful trip which exposed our students to another part of the planet with a distinctly different culture from our own. A great learning experience!
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