Violette Boutique reopened in the town of Frederiksted. (Source photo by Diana Dias) Just in time for Valentine’s Day, it’s a new era of fragrance for Violette Boutique which officially reopened its doors at its new location in the town of Frederiksted. Violette Boutique has been the go-to spot for fragrances since part-owner Christine Hilty’s mother originally opened Violette Boutique in 1962 in Frederiksted. Violette Boutique then relocated to the town of Christiansted in 1964 and was there ’til 2020 when it closed its doors during the pandemic. Guests at the reopening of Violette Boutique in Frederiksted. (Source photo by Diana Dias) “It’s a beautiful gift,” said Hilty referring to perfume. “It’s elegant, the bottles are beautiful and it’s very personalized depending on the scent you are interested in.” Violette Boutique owners Eric Lejeune and Christine Hilty take a moment to snap a picture. (Source photo by Diana Dias) The...

Wayne “Bully” Petersen of Bully and the Musical Kafoonaz has been knocking people down with quelbe since 1991. (Photo by Anne Salafia) Fifteen years after he was born in Frederiksted, Wayne “Bully” Petersen picked up his first ukulele. It was a life-shaping gesture. By the time he passed away on Wednesday, Petersen had become a bandleader, musician, author, and promoter of Crucian culture. Gov. Albert Bryan, Jr. and Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett led those paying tribute to Petersen in condolence statements issued since then. The governor called Petersen “a guardian of our Crucian heritage, a passionate storyteller, and an unwavering preserver of the traditions that define us as a people.” Bryan also called Petersen “an outstanding human being.” Many of those who enjoy V.I. folk music has heard the sounds of Bully and the Musical Kafoonaz. In an article appearing in the Source, Petersen explained the word “kafoon” meant...

It’s with heavy hearts, the family announce the passing of Annette A. Wade also known as “Annie” who passed away on January 21, 2025. Annette A. Wade Annette Wade was born on St. Thomas Virgin Islands on March 25, 1967, to Berecia “Bea” Gumbs and the late Allen E. Wade. Annette survived by her mother Berecia Gumbs; son, Adante Martin; daughter, Adajah George; sisters, Angela Wade-Smith and Rena Wade; brothers, Alvin “Bello” Richards and Alvin “Mingle” Wade; aunts, Lorraine Branford and Beryl Innis; uncle, Randolph “Randy” Innis, Sr; nieces, April Milliner, Jakeema and Caprisha Richards, LaNeel, Jenell, Latisha, Reniqua, Kloe-Rose, Ryasia, Nefetari, and Solara Wade; nephews, Jamal and Jareem Richards, Halik and Kadeem Wade; great nieces, Aniya Lincoln and Ja’Reya “Bella” Richards; great aunts, Lillian Greaux, Mae Odlum, Harriett Canton, Clarice Canton-O’Connor, and Hortense Innis; great uncle, Alvin Canton; brother in-law, Roylando Smith, Sr; special cousins, Debra “Debbie” Williams, Nilka...

Valerie Poleon passed Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. She was preceded in death by: Valerie Poleon Father: Emmanuel Edmee Mother: Mathilda Edmee Son: Travis Poleon Brother: Joseph Edmee She is survived by: Spouse: James Poleon Children: Travis Poleon, Mandy Poleon, Donell Poleon, Elroy Poleon Grandchildren: Bernaige Poleon, Devina Poleon, Kingsley Poleon, Kyng Poleon Brothers:Joseph Edmee, James Edmee,Vernon Edmee, Jacob Edmee Sisters: Mary Henry, Lucy Jn Marie, Halea Edmee, Merlyn Edmee Brother In-Law: Alphonse Poleon Sisters In-Law: Flora Poleon, Rachel Henry, Williana Poleon, Myrtle Poleon, Valerie Poleon, Shirley Poleon, Jeffrina Poleon, Sandra Lorde, Cryslida Leon The Celebration of Life Service: First viewing 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Feb. 14 at Blyden Memorial Chapel. Second viewing starts at 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Feb. 15 at Blyden Memorial Chapel Service starts at 10 a.m.  Interment private funeral arrangements are entrusted to Turnbull Funeral Home and Crematory.    

Elio Villafranca will set the night to music at Prior Jollek Hall Saturday. (Photo by Kasia Idzkowska) Acclaimed Afro-Cuban jazz pianist Elio Villafranca is set to take the stage Saturday at Prior-Jollek Hall on the Antilles School Campus. Presented by The Forum, the performance will feature a blend of solo piano compositions and a jazz sextet, celebrating the legacy of Cuban classical composer Ernesto Lecuona alongside the innovative sounds of jazz legend Horace Silver. A Night of Cultural Fusion Villafranca, a Grammy-nominated Steinway Artist, has been a leading force in Afro-Cuban jazz since arriving in the United States in 1995. Born in Pinar del Río, Cuba, he seamlessly fuses African, European, and Pan-American influences into his music. His performances have earned international acclaim, including a 2010 Grammy nomination for Best Latin Jazz Album and a Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik nomination. Joining Villafranca onstage will be Mark Gross on alto saxophone...

Siara Abbott performs at Carnegie Hall. (Submitted photo) Siara Abbott, a 12th-grade student at Charlotte Amalie High School and a flutist in the Marching Hawks, performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City on Sunday, Feb. 9, as part of the WorldStrides High School Honors Performance Series. Selected through a competitive nomination and audition process, Abbott played under the direction of Curt Ebersole, a renowned conductor and music director, according to the press release. The Honors Performance Series brings together outstanding young musicians from across the United States, the Virgin Islands, and international locations such as New Zealand. Finalists participated in intensive training, including three rehearsals per day, and had the opportunity to experience New York City’s cultural landmarks, including Broadway performances, the Broadway Museum, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the press release stated. Abbott’s musical journey began at Calvary Christian Academy, where she first learned the flute. She...

Arturo Alfonso Schomburg (Photo courtesy Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture/New York Public Library) Black history is human history. If we are celebrating Black History Month, which is every day, then let us start from the beginning of human history. According to the Holy Bible, “the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and became a living being” Genesis 2:7. Why celebrate Black history? The answer is simple: because no matter what your race, your very own great, great, great ancestors came from Africa. Olasee Davis (Submitted photo) Like so many of us growing up in the Western educational system, we were never taught about ourselves and the greatness of our ancestors. Black people in the Western world were basically taught that they were inferior and that they never contributed anything to humankind. As a result, so many...

The V.I. Justice Department has asked for a stay in Richardson Dangleben Jr.’s murder case, citing a Feb. 5 memorandum from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi reviving the death penalty and lifting the moratorium on federal executions. Dangleben faces first-degree murder, assault and gun charges in the July 4, 2023 shooting death of V.I. Police Detective Delberth Phipps Jr. in Hospital Ground on St. Thomas. He has pleaded not guilty, and federal prosecutors signaled in February that they would not seek the death penalty. However, following a Jan. 20 executive order by President Donald Trump entitled “Restoring the Death Penalty and Protecting Public Safety,” Bondi notified all Justice Department employees that a “Capital Review Committee” would be evaluating all decisions to not seek such punishment in eligible cases charged between Jan. 20, 2021 and Jan. 19, 2025, that have not yet resulted in a conviction. Bondi’s memorandum states that “absent...

Just in time for tax season 2025 Bureau of Interanl Revenue Director Joel A. Lee is pleased to announce the launch of VI Quick File, IRB’s new online portal for filing income tax returns. The creation of the digital tool is the latest example of the Bryan-Roach Administration delivering on its long standing commitment to modernizing how the Government of the Virgin Islands serves its citizen’s, and its unwavering support of transparent finances. Since the platform went live this tax season, over 100 Virgin Islanders have taken advantage of the convenience inherent in uploading their tax documents remotely. Filers who have completed their 2024 Individual Income Tax Return (Form 1040 or Form 1040SR), or Form 4868 Automatic Extension of Time, can upload pdf versions of these documents to the platform for processing. As well as use their credit card to pay any outstanding tax obligations via our online payment portal....

Delegates from the Sixth Constitutional Convention met Tuesday. (Source photo by Diana Dias) Fifteen delegates to the territory’s Constitutional Convention took the oath of office two weeks ago. After a few false starts, they convened Tuesday and clashed while hammering out a procedural framework for drafting a sixth attempt at a U.S. Virgin Islands Constitution. Tuesday’s session, which was held in person and virtually over Zoom, was plagued by technological issues, but communication problems between delegates appeared to extend further. As members began discussing the adoption of rules, some delegates questioned whether they had the most up-to-date copy, which was sent out at 10 a.m. Tuesday — the same time the meeting started. A motion to adopt those rules was immediately met with objections. “The rules are very important, and I think that’s why, over the last three months, the St. Thomas-St. John delegation has reached out to all of...