10 St. John Tradewinds, November 9-15, 2009 St. John Tradewinds On October 18 a party was hosted at Fred’s for Mr. Guy Benjamin, who is celebrating 96 years on this Earth. I dropped by to wish him well. He continues to inspire me because he comes from a time when people were focused on helping each other and living in an interdependent community. Back then, friendship and family were more im- portant than money. The work that he has done to document life on East End St. John before the “money revolution” of the 1960s is a treasure. Mr. Benjamin continues to live a life of grace, service, and success, and he is a role model to us all. Health Care on St. John The Legislative Committee on Health, Hospitals, and Human Services met October 29 on St. John and took testimony from Myrah Keating Smith (MKS) Community Health Center Administrator Harold Wallace, as well as other officials from our Clinics and Hospitals. When is a St. Johnian not a St. Johnian? I raised the issue of birthing on St. John. explained to Dr. Watson, medical director for the RLS Hospital, that for many St. John residents, it is important from a spiritual and convenience viewpoint for our children to be born on St. John. Dr. Watson said that the standard for care cannot be met on St. John, which is why most St. John ba- bies are born on St. Thomas. She did agree that we can perform most perinatal care on St. John, and will PROP] Senator-at:'Large Reports By Senator Craig Barshinger Benji Makes 96 work to expand these services. At present, the only way to have a baby on St. John at the MKS Clinic is when the baby comes fast and it’s too late to go to St. Thomas. This may be fine if it is routine delivery, but if there are complications, RLS Hospital is the place to be. More and more babies are being born at home, with the help of a trained nurse-midwife. If you do have baby at home, completing paperwork to record the birth is necessary. If you encounter problems with recording a birth, please contact our office and we will guide you. We have heard reports of undue red tape. New Medical Equipment in the Works Administrator Wallace testified that significant pieces of medical equipment at MKS are wor out. Some of it dates from before hurricane Marilyn. Therefore I am sponsoring an appropriation bill for $1 million to upgrade this equipment. Mr. Wallace is preparing an itemized list. Senator Sprauve, chairman of the committee, is co-sponsoring the measure. We want St. John to have modern, fully-functional equip- ment. Long-Awaited Ambulance Boat The ambulance boat is still not purchased, and the members of the Department of Health (DoH) who are responsible for this did not attend the hearing. Your legislature funded the purchase of a new ambulance boat. The DoH must get the job done. Melee is afoot about the DoH going on a multi- Continued on Page 17 w IKJING" LANDSCAPE DESIGN & INSTALLATION Need a landscape design or just refreshing deck plants? We can work with your budget! Beautiful tropical plants arriving weekly. Call us with your plant needs. Get a tour and review our portfolio of satisfied clients. Tel. 340-643-6348 www.propertykingusvi.com lonski@propertykingusvi.com Fax 340-715-3313 You've tried the rest... now hire the BEST! Fhaauye on St HOME ohn & PROPERTY MANAGEMENT mu.carefrectelaways.com P.O. Box 1626 St. John, USVI 00831-1626 info@carefreegetaways.com (888) 643-6002 / (340) 779-4070 St. John Tradewinds News Photo by Beth Jones Evan Jones continues to run ahead of the pack. Evan Jones Dominating Field in Elementary Cross Country By Jaime Elliott St. John Tradewinds No one can catch Evan Jones — at least they haven’t yet. The 10-year-old has led the pack at every single elementary cross country meet this year. Jones, a Gifft Hill School fifth grader, won his fifth straight elementary cross coun- try meet last week on St. Thom- as, completing the mile in 6 minutes and eight seconds. The young runner, who won his age group in the 2009 and 2008 8 Tuff Miles Road Races, travels with GHS’ cross coun- try team each Tuesday to the SELLING? BUYING? RENTING SEEKING? GET RESULTS! St. John Tradewinds Classifieds e-mail: advertising@ Timer eal or call 340-776-6496 University of the Virgin Is- lands’ St. Thomas campus golf course for meets — where he has consistently dominated the competition. Under cross country coach Peter Alter, Jones has held his own for five straight weeks now against about 85 other boys at each meet. With 50 points under his belt — out of a total of 60 possible points for the season — Jones secured a spot in the territo- rial elementary cross country championships on St. Croix, where he'll represent the St. Thomas/St. John district. ve Att ¥ SS Center AT MAHO BAY CAMPS Offering art classesin.. 7% @OvEOVEO Glass Blowing Pottery ,Tie Dye Paper Making, Water Color learn to make recycled art! Visit Maho Bay Art Gallery (next to restaurant) Open for breakfast & dinner daily 340-776-6226 www.maho.org