President Jimmy Carter and the whole Carter clan rang in the New Year at the newly renovated Comanche Hotel in Christiansted. As nearly everyone in the Virgin Islands knows by now, the 85-year-old former president, wife Rosalynn and 29 other Carters and kin — 31 in all — are spending the holiday week on St. Croix. Spotted touring and sampling the treats at the Crucian Christmas Festival’s Food, Arts and Crafts Fair Wednesday, he graciously agreed to take a pause from vacation and take the microphone for a moment during the opening ceremonies.

Every year, they take a vacation with the whole clan, Carter said Thursday in a pre-New Year’s chat with the press at the Comanche Hotel. Past years have taken them to Costa Rica, Panama, Key West, Disney World, Skiing in New Mexico and Caribbean Cruises, to name a few. It is the one time a year when everyone gets together and gets a chance to get to know everyone, he said. It is always the week after Christmas, so everyone still gets to spend Christmas with their families and the in-laws, but afterwards they also get to spend the holidays with the Carters.

This year, son Chip (James Earl) Carter persuaded them to give St. Croix a try. Chip is an old friend of Jack Pickel, owner of the Comanche and has been coming to the island for years.

Since arriving, the family has been busy, finding time to snorkel at Buck Island, visit the Crucian Rum factory, go up to the Domino Club to feed the hogs beer and sample the foods of the island at the Food Fair. Carter himself said he loved Crucian potato stuffing.

"It’s sweet and a little tart, with paprika," he said. "It reminds me a bit of the sweet potato soufflé we have at home, but with a little spiciness to it."

He is still hoping to get the recipe.

"If any of you has any pull with your governor, maybe you could put in a word," he said.

Thirty-one is a sizable group, but it is not quite the whole clan. One of his grandchildren just had a baby girl so they could not make it this year.

"It was 22 years since the last girl child so we’re very excited," he said.

Thoughts on the New Year? He said he’s glad to see the decade end and has high hopes for the future.

"I think next year will have a chance to be better for peace, for human rights, for the environment and to help alleviate human suffering in the world," Carter said.

Happy New Year.