♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE HOME FOR THE AGE.

TODAY WE CELEBRATE OLD AMERICAN'S MONTH WITH OUR CULTURAL ACTIVITY HERE.

WE'RE VERY HAPPY TODAY THAT WE PARTNERED WITH CHANNEL 12 AND ALSO WITH OTHERS.

LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR BEING OUR CULTURAL AMBASSADORS AND KEEPING OUR CULTURAL MUSIC ALIVE.

TODAY WE ARE VERY HAPPY BECAUSE EVEN THOUGH WE ARE GOING TO A PERILOUS TIME WITH COVID-19, NEVERTHELESS WE'RE NOT GOING TO LET THAT DEFEAT THE PURPOSE OF US CELEBRATING OUR ANCESTORS AND OUR ELDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN HERE TODAY.

SO, WE'RE VERY THANKFUL.

AND I ALWAYS WANT TO SAY TO PEOPLE BEFORE I EVEN STARTED THAT I HAVE TO COMMEND THE STAFF HERE AT THE HOME FOR THE AGE BECAUSE WE'VE NOT HAD ANY COVID ISSUES, AND ALL OUR RESIDENTS ARE FULLY INOCULATED AND VACCINATED.

SO, THAT'S A PLUS FOR A HOME OF THIS MAGNITUDE.

SO, MS. ANNIE MARTINEZ AND HER STAFF HERE, AND THERE'S A LOT OF THEM.

YOU HAVE NURSES.

YOU HAVE ALL THE INSTITUTIONAL STAFF.

YOU HAVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF.

YOU HAVE THE NUTRITION STAFF.

SO, IT'S JUST NOT ONE SET OF PEOPLE.

SO, TOGETHER COLLECTIVELY, THEY HAVE MADE THIS A SAFE HAVEN FOR OUR ELDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.

SO, MY NAME IS ALVIN MILLIGAN.

I AM THE ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE DIVISION OF SENIOR CITIZENS HERE ON ST. CROIX.

TODAY WE HAVE IN OUR MIDST, WE HAVE MS. ANNIE MARTINEZ, WHO ARE OUR RESIDENT MANAGER -- RESIDENTIAL MANAGER HERE AT THE HOME FOR THE AGED.

AND SHE'S GOING TO BRING US INFORMATION AT THIS TIME AS WELL.

SO, MS. MARTINEZ, CAN YOU COME FORWARD AND BRING US SOME DETAILS.

WE'RE JUST GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF FUN TODAY, OKAY?

IT'S ALL ABOUT HAVING FUN.

>> GOOD MORNING EVERYONE.

AND WELCOME TO THE SOON TO BE SKILLED NURSING FACILITY WITH A 60-BED FACILITY.

SO, WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.

I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT HERE, CHANNEL 12, MY STAFF, AND EVERYBODY WHO HAS PUT THIS TOGETHER TO MAKE IT ALL ONE ON A SPECIAL DAY.

AS WE CELEBRATE SENIOR CITIZEN DAY, EVERY YEAR IS ALL ABOUT ACKNOWLEDGING AND APPRECIATING THE CONTRIBUTION OF ELDERLY PEOPLE ARE MAKING INTO OUR LIVES.

AGE IS JUST A NUMBE FOR THOSE WHO KNOW HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR LIFE.

AND REMEMBER GRAY HAIRS HAVE PROVEN THAT YOU HAVE TURNED THE MOST TERRIBLE THINGS IN LIFE.

I KNOW SOMETIMES I WANT TO PULL OUT THOSE GRAYS, BUT IT IS OUR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE.

SO, I WANT TO SAY WELCOME TO EVERYONE.

I WANT TO SAY WELCOME TO MY RESIDENTS WHO ARE LOOKING OUTSTANDING IN THAT DRESSED OUTFIT THERE AND MY STAFF WORKING HEART, THE DIETARY DEPARTMENT, INSTITUTIONAL DEPARTMENT AND SENIOR CITIZEN DEPARTMENT HAS REALLY PUT THIS TOGETHER.

OTHER MEMBERS AND STAFF THAT ARE VISITING ALSO FROM ST. THOMAS.

SO, AGAIN, THIS IS YOUR DAY, SENIORS.

ENJOY IT.

AND THOSE WHO ARE HERE ALSO, MAKE THE BEST OF THIS DAY.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MS. MARTINEZ.

AND BEFORE WE GO FORWARD, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS BEST TO WORK IN A PLACE WHERE YOU'RE SUPPORTED BY YOUR ADMINISTRATORS OR EVEN THE HIGHER EXECUTIVE STAFF BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE SUPPORT OF YOUR STAFF OR YOUR MANAGERS, IT WOULD NOT WORK.

AND I MUST SAY WE HAVE A GOOD SUPPORTIVE MANAGEMENT STAFF HERE IN THE DIVISION OF SENIOR CITIZENS STARTING WITH OUR ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER MS. BROWN.

UNFORTUNATELY SHE COULD NOT BE HERE WITH US THIS MORNING.

IN HER ABSENCE WE HAVE OUR ADMINISTRATOR.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE MS. PENNY TO COME GIVE US A FEW WORDS.

THE THING ABOUT IT TOO, I MENTIONED THAT IT HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR 50 YEARS, AND I BELIEVE EVERY YEAR FOR THOSE 50 YEARS -- 51 YEARS, THEY HAVE PLAYED AT SOME POINT EVERY YEAR AT HARBOR GREAT HOME FOR THE AGE.

YES?

I THINK SO.

>> YEAH.

>> I REMEMBER AS A YOUNG LAD, AS I WOULD SAY, WHEN STANLEY WAS WORKING UP HERE.

MY AUNT WAS IN CHARGE OF THE LANDRY, AND I REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS OVER ON THE OTHER SIDE.

YOU HAD MR. ADAM PETERSON HERE WAS A GRAND QUADRANT MANAGER AND A CULTURE ACTIVIST.

AND SINCE THEN AS LONG AS I KNOW, EVERY EVENT THAT THEY'VE HAD HERE.

SO, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT BEING IN EXISTENCE FOR 51 YEARS BUT CONTRIBUTING TO THE COMMUNITY FOR 51 LONG YEARS AND ESPECIALLY THIS COMMUNITY.

SO, THANK YOU AGAIN.

>> [ INAUDIBLE QUESTION ] >> NO -- WELL, YEAH.

>> GOOD MORNING.

GOOD MORNING.

I AM ERNIE.

I'M THE ASSISTANT -- I AM THE ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE DIVISION OF SENIOR CITIZENS AFFAIRS.

MR. ALVIN MILLIGAN IS MY LEFT AND RIGHT HAND.

HE IS MY ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR.

I BRING YOU GREETINGS FROM OUR ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER ON ST. THOMAS.

SHE WOULD HAVE LOVED TO BE HERE TODAY AND LOVE TO SEE OUR SENIORS.

THEY LOOK AWESOME IN THEIR DRESS OUTFITS THAT WAS JUST MADE, LIKE, YESTERDAY, RIGHT?

Y'ALL DO A PHENOMENAL JOB HERE WITH PUTTING TOGETHER DRESS OUTFITS LIKE THIS.

SO, I DON'T KNOW HOW COME I DON'T HAVE MINE YET.

HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?

OKAY.

MEASURE ME TODAY.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO CHANNEL 12 FOR BEING HERE TODAY AND TO RECORD THIS AWESOME EVENT.

AND THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU TO STANLEY SLEEPING NIGHTS.

I'VE BEEN LIVING IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS SINCE 1988.

AND LET ME TELL YOU, WHENEVER I HEAR Y'ALL, I CAN'T HELP BUT TO MOVE.

ALVIN, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GOOD TIME TODAY.

I AM GOING TO DANCE TODAY, OKAY?

SO, WE ARE CELEBRATING MAY MONTH, OLDER AMERICAN MONTH.

AND THIS MONTH HAS BEEN CELEBRATED BY THE ADMINISTRATION FOR COMMUNITY LIVING.

THEY LEAD THIS NATIONALLY EVERY YEAR.

AND THE TEAM THIS YEAR IS COMMUNITIES OF STRENGTH.

WHEN YOU THINK OF WHAT WE'VE JUST BEEN THROUGH IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS WITH COVID-19 WHERE WE QUICKLY HAD TO ADJUST MAKING SURE THAT OUR SENIORS' MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION SAFE AT EVERY LEVEL, NOT JUST IN THE HOME BUT ALSO THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE HOME BOUND AND TOTALLY DEPENDENT ON THE DIVISION OF SENIOR CITIZEN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO PROVIDE CARE.

SENIOR CITIZENS AFFAIRS DIVISION HAS NOT SLEPT ALL THROUGH COVID.

WE DIDN'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO SIT AND DO TELEWORK.

WE HAD TO BE UNDERGROUND DOING WHAT WE DO BEST, TAKING CARE OF OUR VULNERABLE SENIORS.

AND LET ME TELL YOU, WE'RE A RESILIENT SET OF PEOPLE.

OUR SENIORS, IF YOU JUST HAVE THE TIME TO SIT AND TALK WITH THEM, YOU'LL BE AMAZED OF THE STORIES YOU GET OUT OF THESE INDIVIDUALS.

MAKE YOU REALIZE THAT WITH ALL THE FAILURES, ALL THE UPS, THEY STILL ARE A RESILIENT SET OF PEOPLE.

SO, TODAY I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE HARBOR GREAT STAFF.

I USED TO BE RIGHT WHERE MS. MARTINEZ IS, THE DIRECTOR FOR RESIDENTIAL SERVICES AT THE QUEEN LOUIE'S HOME ON ST. THOMAS.

AND BOTH OF US WERE COLLEAGUES DOING THE SAME THING.

WE'RE STILL COLLEAGUES.

I JUST ADVANCED UP, BUT WE WORK TOGETHER FOR THE GREATER GOOD OF OUR SENIORS.

AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL THAT YOU DO.

THIS MONTH WE ALSO CELEBRATED THE NATIONAL NURSES' WEEK.

AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE NURSES FOR DOING SUCH AN AWESOME JOB 24 HOURS A DAY EVERY DAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

OUR SENIORS ARE HEALTHY.

THEY LOOK GOOD.

WHEN YOU SAY GOOD MORNING OR GOOD AFTERNOON, THE SMILE MELTS YOUR HEART.

SO, THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND THANK YOU CHANNEL 12 AND STANLEY AND THE PEOPLE OF SLEEPLESS NIGHTS.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I HAVE MY ABLE ASSISTANT HERE.

I KNOW SHE WANTS TO SAY SOMETHING IN SPANISH.

MY HOPE IS SHE WOULD.

NEVERTHELESS TO THE NURSING STAFF, WE CAN'T PUT THE CAMERA ON YOU, BUT WE APPRECIATE YOU.

WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO, ALL RIGHT?

AND WE'LL HAVE A GOOD DAY.

WE HAVE STANLEY SLEEPLESS NIGHTS.

WE HAVE THE THEATER CENTER IS GOING TO BE DOING SOME CULTURAL PRESENTATIONS FOR US.

WE HAVE MS. PETERSON FOR US GOING TO BE DOING SOME.

WE HAVE MS. ESTHER WILLIAMS -- I TOOK AWAY YOUR JOB JUST NOW.

>> HI.

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.

HOW IS EVERYBODY DOING TODAY?

I CAN'T HEAR YOU.

OKAY.

THERE YOU GO.

THANK YOU.

MY NAME IS MARIA CLARK, AND YES I AM THE OFFICE MANAGER AT HERBERT GREG.

AND I WANTED TO WELCOME YOU AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS DAY POSSIBLE.

CHANNEL 12, STANLEY AND HIS GROUP.

IT WAS NURSES' WEEK.

WE WANT TO THANK THEM FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION.

WE ALSO WANT TO THANK NOT ONLY THE NURSES BUT THE KITCHEN STAFF WHO PUT TOGETHER A WONDERFUL MEAL.

STANLEY KNOWS EVERY TIME THEY COME HERE THEY GET TAKEN CARE OF, RIGHT STANLEY?

GOOD JOB.

AND WE HAVE THE HOUSEKEEPING AT LANDRY.

WE WANT TO THANK THEM FOR EVERYTHING.

WE HAVE PEOPLE FROM ST. THOMAS HERE AS WELL.

AND MS. MARTINEZ MENTIONED HOW BEAUTIFUL OUR RESIDENTS LOOK AND HOW WE OVERNIGHT GETTING THEM READY AND GETTING THEIR CLOTHING READY.

I KNOW WE HAD A LITTLE INCIDENT BECAUSE NOW WITH THE COVID, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALWAYS IN THEIR BEDRESTING AND WE'RE TAKING CARE OF THEM AND SOME OF THEM GAINED SOME WEIGHT.

SO, WE HAD TO REDO SOME OF THEIR CLOTHING.

AND I WANTED TO THANK OUR FORMER EMPLOYEE, MS. PHILLIP, WHO IS HERE WHO ASSISTED US.

EVEN WHEN SHE WAS HERE AS A LAUNDRY WORKER/HOUSEKEEPER, SHE WOULD STILL BE THE ONE SEWING ALL THE CLOTHES FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

PLEASE GIVE HER A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

SHE'S IN THE BACK WITH THE RESIDENTS.

THANK YOU, MS. PHILLIP.

WITH THAT SAID.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GREAT TIME TODAY.

LET'S KICK IT.

>> AS YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SAYING, TIME FOR THE PLACE.

NOW WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ADO FROM DR. STANLEY AND THE TEN SLEEPLESS NIGHTS.

AND WE'LL HEAR FROM OTHER PRESENTERS THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ /M ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> THANK YOU.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >>> ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR ASPECTS OF MY JOB IS BEING ABLE TO OVERSEE THE MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM, WHICH IS WIDELY POP NOT ONLY IN ST. CROIX BUT WITHIN THE TERRITORY.

ON ST. CROIX WE SERVE ABOUT 400 PEOPLE, ON ST. THOMAS ABOUT 350 AND ST. JOHN APPROXIMATELY 100 INDIVIDUALS ARE SERVED WITH THE MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM.

THE IMPACT NOT ONLY AS JUST THE SENIOR BUT ALSO THE FAMILY MEMBERS BECAUSE IF YOU CAN IMAGINE, YOU HAVE A LOT OF FAMILY MEMBERS THAT ARE WORKING, THAT HAVE -- THEY HAVE THEIR OWN FAMILIES.

AND UNFORTUNATELY THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE THAT TIME TO REALLY TAKE CARE OF THE SENIOR, ALTHOUGH THEY WOULD WANT TO.

SO, THE ONE MEAL THAT THEY GET PER DAY FROM THE MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM REALLY ASSISTS NOT ONLY THE SENIOR BUT THE FAMILY MEMBER AS WELL.

FAMILIES ARE ABSOLUTELY DOING THE BEST THAT THEY CAN UNDERNEATH THESE CIRCUMSTANCES.

WE'VE ALL BEEN AFFECTED BY THE CORONAVIRUS IN THESE TIMES.

SO, FAMILIES, UNFORTUNATELY THEY HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES ALONG WITH THE SENIOR MEMBER, WHETHER IT'S FATHER, MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, GRANDFATHER, WHOEVER.

THEY'RE TRYING THEIR BEST.

WE'RE ALL TRYING OUR BEST.

SO, WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, WE HAVE SO MANY PROGRAMS THAT CAN HELP THE SENIOR.

BUT WE'RE ALL DOING OUR BEST WITHIN THESE TIMES.

IT'S MY BELIEF THAT EVERYBODY SHOULD BE INTERACTING WITH SENIORS TO LEARN SO MUCH FROM THEM.

THERE'S NO FEAR ABOUT GETTING OLDER.

YOU GET SO MUCH WISDOM, SO MUCH KNOWLEDGE, SO MUCH INSIGHT INTO HOW THE TERRITORY USED TO BE, HOW THE ISLAND USED TO BE, HOW LIVES USED TO BE.

AND YOU GET SO MUCH INSIGHT FROM THEM.

UNFORTUNATELY A LOT OF THE TIMES WE DON'T LISTEN.

BUT I'VE GOTTEN SO MUCH INFORMATION AND POSITIVE VIBES FROM SENIORS WORKING WITH THEM ON A DAILY BASIS.

WORKING WITH SENIORS ON A DAILY BASIS, SEEING WHAT THEY GO THROUGH WITH THEIR FAMILIES SOMETIMES, IT REALLY GIVES YOU A SENSE OF COMPASSION.

YOU REALLY DEVELOP A SENSE OF COMPASSION, HUMILITY, EMPATHY.

THERE'S A LOT OF HURT OUT THERE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.

THERE'S A LOT OF POSITIVITY, DON'T GET ME WRONG.

BUT SO MANY OF OUR SENIORS NEED OUR HELP.

AND THE DEPARTMENT OF SENIOR CITIZENS IS ONLY SO BIG, AND THERE'S A LOT OF SENIOR CITIZENS OUT THERE THAT NEED OUR HELP.

I IMPLORE YOU IF YOU HAVEN'T STARTED WORKING WITH A SENIOR THROUGH YOUR CHURCH, THROUGH A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, JUST GET INVOLVED.

YOU'LL BENEFIT FROM IT JUST WORKING WITH THAT SENIOR AND SEEING HOW YOU GROW AS A PERSON, YOU'LL BENEFIT FROM IT.

SO, I ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY OUT THERE, IF YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN INVOLVED IN SOME WAY WITH A SENIOR WITHIN YOUR COMMUNITY, PLEASE DO SO.

THE MAIN THING I LOVE MOST ABOUT MY JOB IS THE POSITIVE IMPACT WE HAVE ON SENIORS.

THERE ARE SO MANY STORIES WE HEAR ON A DAILY BASIS ABOUT SENIORS THAT WE'VE HELPED, FAMILIES THAT WE'VE HELPED THROUGH THE MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM.

LIKE I SAID, UNFORTUNATELY NOW WE DO HAVE A WAITING LIST.

BUT FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN ACT 725-6275 OR 642-6289 AND WE CAN PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION FOR YOU.

>> WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON.

IT'S ALMOST AFTERNOON.

STANLEY, BACK TO YOUR PEOPLE, OKAY?

ANYWAY, YOU KNOW, WE SIT DOWN AND WE PLAN OUR WHOLE AGENDA FOR THE DAY AND THINGS HAPPEN THAT, YOU KNOW, OUR AGENDAS CHANGE.

PEOPLE COME, PEOPLE GO.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO WHAT WE CAME TO DO TODAY, AND IT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY HAS FUN.

SO, AT THIS TIME, I'M HERE TO INTRODUCE TO YOU MS. KIMBERLY GOMEZ, THE COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

>> GOOD MORNING, STANLEY.

WAY TO WAKE UP, RIGHT?

I MEAN, I'VE BEEN UP SINCE 4:00, BUT, YOU KNOW, WELCOME, WELCOME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

ON BEHALF OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, IT IS OUR PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU IN OUR HOUSE, WHICH IS AMAZING.

IF WE CAN HAVE THIS EVERY DAY, I THINK THAT WE -- OUR DAYS WOULD BE BETTER.

OLDER AMERICANS MONTH.

TODAY IS COMMUNITIES AND STRENGTH IS OUR THEME FOR THIS MONTH.

AND I WANT TO SAY A SPECIAL SHOUTOUT TO OUR STAFF.

SO, HUMAN SERVICES, SENIOR CITIZEN AMERICA, SENIOR CITIZEN AFFAIRS, PENNY FEATHER, MILLIGAN, MARIA, ALL THE STAFF, CONGRATULATIONS FOR SUCH A WE WORK VERY, VERY HARD TO ENSURE THAT OUR COMMUNITY GETS THE BEST SERVICE 24 HOURS A DAY 7 DAYS A WEEK 365 DAYS A YEAR.

SO, WELCOME.

I HOPE WE HAVE AN ENJOYABLE TIME.

I KNOW OUR RESIDENTS LOOK ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL IN THEIR DRESS TODAY.

AND WE HAVE SOMEONE SPECIAL WHO MADE ALL OUR DRESS FOR OUR RESIDENTS.

YOU CAN'T SEE THEM, BUT I CAN.

AND THEY'RE VERY MUCH ENJOYING ALL OF THE MUSIC AND THE FESTIVITIES TODAY.

SO, OUR CULTURAL DAY IS A LITTLE BIT OF A REPRIEVE FROM OUR COVID-19 TIMELINES AND THE NORMALCY.

SO, WE'RE SUPEREXCITED THAT WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THIS TODAY IN A SAFE, SOCIAL DISTANCING, VACCINATED ENVIRONMENT.

SO, TRULY, TRULY APPRECIATE EVERYBODY BEING HERE TODAY.

AND ENJOY THE FESTIVITIES.

THANK YOU, MARIA.

>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER, FOR BEING PART OF OUR FESTIVITIES.

AND THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING ELSE TO DO OUR BEST EVERY DAY.

I WILL WANT TO BE IN YOUR SHOES EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T USE THE SAME SHOES.

TO KEEP IT GOING, I KNOW THE CAMERAS AT THIS TIME AREN'T ABLE TO CATCH THIS, BUT WE HAVE SOME POP-UP TENTS WHERE OUR EMPLOYEES FROM HERBERT GREG WERE ASKED TO BRING, YOU KNOW, TO SIT DOWN AND COOL DOWN WITH THE STAFF AND BRING SOMETHING TO EAT AND ENJOY THE DAY.

BECAUSE OF CONFIDENTIALITY, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO SEE THE RESIDENTS.

ALSO THEY ARE DANCING AND THEY ARE ENJOYING THEMSELVES BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HEAR FOR TODAY, TO ENJOY OURSELVES.

SO, WITH FURTHER ADO NOW, I WANT TO INTRODUCE TO YOU PETERSON.

>> GOOD MORNING -- OR AFTERNOON, RIGHT?

AFTERNOON?

>> STILL MORNING.

♪♪ CARISSO IS A MELODIC MEMORY OF THE AFRICAN PAST.

WHEN THE AFRICANS WERE SNATCHED AWAY FROM THEIR HOMELAND, THEY WERE STUCK LIKE CATTLE ON SHIP TO FAR AWAY LAND.

SOME WERE KINGS AND QUEENS, PHILOSOPHERS, DOCTORS, ENGINEERS.

YOU COULD IMAGINE THAT DREADFUL AND SEAS.

THEY BROUGHT WITH THEM THEIR FOOD, THEIR HISTORY, THEIR CULTURE AND TRADITIONS.

AND IT WAS ON A PLANTATION CARISSO WAS BORN.

IT WAS USED TO TELL A STORY.

IT WAS USED TO SEND MESSAGES FROM PLANTATION TO PLANTATION.

IT WAS USED FOR FREEDOM SONGS OF LONG AGO.

IT WAS USED FOR THE PAIN AND SUFFERING THAT THEY ENDURE.

AND IT WAS USED FOR GOSSIP.

IT WAS THE WOMEN WHO SANG CARUSO ACCOMPANIED BY THE DRUMS AND THE FLUTE.

THERE WERE MANY, MANY CARUSO SINGERS BEFORE ME.

WE HAD MARY CATHERINE, QUEEN OF CARUSO, MARY RICHARDS, ETA McINTOSH, IDA JOSEPH, AND MY MENTOR, LEONA BRADY WATSON.

THERE WERE MANY, MANY EVENTS THAT HAPPENED HERE ON THE ISLAND OF ST. CROIX.

ONE OF THEM WAS EMANCIPATION DAY, JULY 3rd, 1848.

UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MOSES GOTTLIEB, BETTER KNOWN AS GENERAL.

FATHER TIMOTHY REILLY AND THE DANISH WEST INDES GOVERNOR.

BUT WE CELEBRATE JULY 3rd, 1848, EVERY YEAR REMEMBERING THE LEADER OF THE REVOLT.

A SONG WAS CREATED THAT DAY.

THE SONG IS -- ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ WE'RE COMING FOR OUR FREEDOM ♪ ♪ SUFFERING AT NIGHT ♪ ♪ NO ONE EVER HELD ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ THEY BRING ME UP FROM SLAVERY ♪ ♪ TO THE LAND CALLED SANTA CRUZ ♪ ♪♪ YOU KNOW, THERE'S A STORY ABOUT THAT DAY, EMANCIPATION DAY.

IT WAS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ISLAND OF ST. CROIX.

THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF ENSLAVED AFRICANS WERE MARCHING TO THEIR FREEDOM.

THE SICK, THE LAME, THE BLIND MARCHING, MARCHING, MARCHING.

SOME IN CARTS.

WOMEN, CHILDREN WITH NO SHOES MARCHING.

YOU WOULD THINK THAT THEY WERE GETTING A GIFT WRAPPED IN A PACKAGE, BUT YOU WOULD HEAR THEM SAY, WE ARE GOING FOR OUR FREEDOM.

♪♪ YOU KNOW, YEARS PASSED, AND WE STILL HAD TEARS HERE ON THE ISLAND OF ST. CROIX.

YEARS STILL WANTING BETTER PATH FORWARD, NEW WAGES, AND THEY WOULDN'T GIVE IT TO THEM.

BUT FOUR WOMEN, QUEEN MARY, QUEEN AGNES, QUEEN MATILDA DECIDE THEY'RE GOING TO PLAN AN UPRISING HERE ON THE ISLAND OF ST. CROIX.

THERE WERE TWO MEN ALSO.

JOSIAH ADAMS.

ALL OF THEM GATHERED DOWN BY THE FORT IN FREDERICK, EVERYBODY LOOKING FOR QUEEN MARY.

QUEEN MARY!

YOU KNOW SHE HAD A SONG, AND IT SAYS -- ♪ QUEEN MARY ♪ ♪ WE'RE GOING TO BOND ♪ ♪ JUST GIVE ME THE MATCH AND TRASH BAGS ♪ ♪ AND JAILHOUSES WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BOND ♪♪ SO YOU KNOW THEY WENT FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE BURNING DOWN THE PLACE.

WENT ALL THE WAY UP TO LORRAINE WHERE THEY WERE WAITING FOR THEM.

WE REMEMBER THAT DAY.

OCTOBER 1st, 1878.

♪♪ ♪ JUST GIVE ME THE MATCH AND TRASH ♪ ♪ BAGS AND JAILHOUSES WHERE WE'RE GOING TO BURN ♪ ♪ THEY WERE HEADED ALL THE WAY UP TO TRIANGLE ♪ BUT YOU KNOW CARUSO WAS ALSO USED FOR ENTERTAINMENT.

I'M SURE MOST OF YOU, EVEN THE PEOPLE RIGHT OVER THERE, THE SENIORS WOULD KNOW ABOUT THE MON GOOSE.

THEY BROUGHT THE MON GOOSE HERE AND A SONG WAS CREATED FOR THE MONGOOSE, AND IT GOES LIKE THIS.

♪ SLY MONGOOSE ♪ ♪ THEY KNOW YOUR NAME ♪ ♪ SLY MONGOOSE ♪ ♪ OH, WHAT A SHAME ♪ ♪ THEY TELL YOU WHERE MS. MARY ♪ ♪ CAN EAT UP ONE OF OUR BIG FAT CHICKENS ♪ ♪ HIDE IT UNDER THE KITCHEN TABLE ♪ ♪ MONGOOSE ♪♪ ♪ SLY MONGOOSE ♪ -- HE KNOW HIS NAME THOUGH.

♪ SLY MONGOOSE ♪ ♪ I KNOW YOUR NAME ♪ ♪ SLY MONGOOSE ♪ ♪ OH, WHAT A SHAME ♪ ♪ THEY TELL YOU MS. MARY ♪ ♪ EAT UP ONE OF HER BIG FAT CHICKENS ♪ ♪ HIDE IT UNDER THE KITCHEN TABLE ♪ ♪ MONGOOSE ♪ ♪ REMEMBER I TOLD YOU CARUSO WAS DONE BY THE WOMAN.

YOU COULD HEAR THEM CREATE SONGS RIGHT ON THE SPOT.

THIS PARTICULAR SONG HAS TO DO WITH DAVID HAMILTON JACKSON, A GREAT LABOR LEADER, A JUDGE, A MINISTER.

HE WOULD GO TO DENMARK TO BRING BACK INFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE.

AND ONE TIME DOWN BY THE FORT IN FREDERICKS STEAD, THEY HEARD THAT A SOLDIER WANTED TO KILL DAVID HAMILTON JACKSON.

AND SO YOU KNOW THE WOMEN WERE READY.

THEY HAD THE CONCH SHELL.

THE MAN HAD THE BLUE RIBBON.

THEY WAITED.

AND MARY CATHERINE SAYS -- ♪ I WANT TO KNOW ♪ ♪ AND WE REALLY WANT TO KNOW ♪ ♪ I WANT TO KNOW ♪ ♪ THE EDITOR IS HE TROUBLED ♪ ♪ COME, COME ♪ ♪ I WANT TO KNOW ♪ ♪ AND WE REALLY WANT TO KNOW ♪ ♪ I WANT TO KNOW FROM THE EDITOR ♪ ♪ IS HE TROUBLED HOME SWEET HOME ♪ ♪ ♪ WE'RE WAITING ♪ ♪ YOU BETTER DON'T TOUCH ♪♪ DAVID HAMILTON JACKSON, WE CELEBRATE NOVEMBER 1st, 1917 EVERY YEAR IT COMES AROUND.

YOU KNOW THE WOMAN, THEY WOULD BE IN THE FISH MARKET, IN THE VEGETABLE MARKET TALKING ABOUT EACH OTHER, GOSSIPING.

THIS SONG IS ABOUT A GUY WHO DIDN'T WANT A WOMAN FROM THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

HE WANTS SOMEBODY FROM AWAY, SO THEY CREATE A SONG FOR HIM.

AND IT GOES LIKE THIS.

♪ ♪ I'VE GOT SOMETHING TO TELL YOU ♪ ♪ I GOT SOMETHING TO TELL YOU, MAN ♪ ♪ WHAT THE PEOPLE TIRED YOU ♪ ♪ SOME SAY YOU'RE FOOLISH, MAN ♪ ♪ SOME SAY YOU'RE STUPID ♪ ♪ SEND TO AMERICA TO GET A DARLING ♪♪ HE GOT TO GO AWAY.

MAN, THEY WOULD CREATE SONGS RIGHT ON THE SPOT.

♪ SOMETHING TO MIND ♪ ♪ YOU'VE GOT ME SOMETHING TO MINE ♪ ♪ ONE MAMA, 11 DADDY, YOU GOT ME SOMETHING TO MINE ♪ ♪ GOT TOO MUCH CHILDREN ♪ ♪ DON'T KNOW WHO THE FATHER IS ♪ ♪ SOMETHING TO MIND ♪ ♪ OH, YOU GOT ME SOMETHING TO MIND ♪ ♪ ONE MAMA, 11 DADDY, YOU GOT ME SOMETHING TO MIND ♪ ♪ SOMETHING TO MIND ♪ ♪ SOMETHING TO MIND ♪ ♪ WE'RE MOVING TO RIVER BAY ♪ ♪ ♪ WE'RE MOVING TO RIVER BAY ♪ ♪ ♪ CARUSO, CARRY IT SOUL.

HERE WITH ME HELPING ME OUT WITH THE DRUMMING AND THE FLUTE.

♪ WE'RE MOVING TO RIVER BAY ♪ ♪ ♪♪ >> SO, I AM THE SPECIAL SERVICES COORDINATOR FOR THE HOME MAKE UP PROGRAM.

AND WHAT WE DO IS WE PROVIDE SERVICE TO OUR CLIENTS THAT ARE IN THEIR HOMES.

SO, WE PROVIDE CARE FOR THE DISABLED AND THE ELDERLY COMMUNITY.

WE ASSIST WITH LIGHTHOUSE COPING, COMPANIONSHIP, FEEDING AND SO FORTH.

I'M ONE OF THE FRONTLINE, WORKERS WHO SEE THE SUFFERING IN THE HOME.

SO, I FEEL THAT IN ORDER TO BUILD A JOB, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A THREAD OF COMPASSION.

AND THAT'S WHAT OUR SENIORS NEED.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK WE CAN DO MORE AS A COMMUNITY FOR THE SENIORS.

BUT MY STAFF AND I, WE GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE COMFORTABLE, TO HELP MAKE SURE THEY MAINTAIN THEIR INDEPENDENCE AND TO AVOID THEM BEING INSTITUTIONALIZED.

IN SOME FAMILIES, WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT GO AROUND AND WE JUST NEED A LITTLE ADDITIONAL CARE.

THEY NEED SOME RESPITE.

AND THEN THERE ARE FAMILIES THAT NEED MORE FOR THEIR LOVED ONES.

THERE'S A MIXTURE OF WE CAN DO MORE AS A COMMUNITY.

WELL, THEY HAVE GRATITUDE, APPRECIATION.

LIKE YESTERDAY THE PROGRAM ASSISTS WITH SPONSORSHIP.

WE DID FLOWERS AND A MEAL AND THEY WERE GRATEFUL.

SOMEBODY CARES.

THAT'S ALL THEY'RE ASKING, JUST SOMEBODY TO CARE, REMEMBER THEM, YOU KNOW, THE WAY THEY TOOK CARE OF US.

I THINK IT BROUGHT OUT A SIDE OF ME THAT RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR COMPASSION, TO CARE, TO LOVE THEM.

AND WHEN THEY'RE GRATEFUL AND APPRECIATIVE, IT MAKES YOUR JOB MUCH, MUCH MORE REWARDING.

SO, THAT IS THE BEST THING FOR ME.

I DO WANT TO SAY CURRENTLY OUR PROGRAM IS ON FREEZE.

WE HAVE STAFFING ISSUES THAT WE ARE WORKING ON CURRENTLY.

SO, HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WE'LL BE ABLE TO BE BACK AND FORTH AND BE ABLE TO CARE AND PROVIDE MORE SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYBODY, ONCE AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THE FESTIVITIES TODAY.

AS YOU KNOW, WE'RE CELEBRATING OLDER AMERICANS MONTH IN THE COMMUNITY.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MS. PETERSON FOR BEING PART OF THE PROGRAM TODAY.

HERE TODAY WE HAVE ANOTHER LOCAL ICON, MS. ESTHER WILLIAMS WITH HER STORY TELLING.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> OKAY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I AM VERY HAPPY.

I'M A SENIOR CITIZEN ALSO.

SO, DOING TWO WORKS AT ONE TIME.

I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT STORY TELLING.

STORY TELLING HAS BEEN HERE BEFORE MY TIME.

LONG BEFORE.

THAT'S THE WAY PEOPLE TALKED, PEOPLE CARRY ON NEWS ABOUT ONE ANOTHER.

THEY USED TO GO FROM ESTATE TO ESTATE, AS MY MOTHER TOLD ME, IN ORDER FOR PEOPLE TO TELL MESSAGES IS LIKE STORY TELLING.

LONG AGO THEY WOULD GO FROM ESTATE TO ESTATE AND FOLLOW EACH OTHER, TELL STORIES, MAYBE IN A GROUP.

AND THIS IS ONE STORY THAT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT MY MOTHER TOLD ME BECAUSE SHE USED TO TELL ME A LOT OF STORIES.

AT ONE TIME THERE WAS A FARMER.

THIS FARMER HAD COLD AND WAS GETTING OLD AND A HORSE.

IT WAS IN A BARN, WE'LL CALL IT, A SHED.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, JUST AS WE'RE GETTING OLD, WE CAN'T GO TO THE PLOW NO MORE.

SO, THE COLT SAID, OKAY, AND THE HORSE SAID, OKAY.

WHEN MAN COME, GUESS WHAT?

THE OLD MAN FOR THE FARM CAME AND HE PUT THE HORSE IN THE CART AND HE GONE IN THE FIELDS.

BUT THE COLT WAS STUBBORN AND HE WOULDN'T MOVE.

SO, NIGHT CAME IN AND THE HORSE CAME BACK AND THE COLT SAID TO HIM, SO, THAT'S HOW WE ARE FRIENDS.

WHAT HAPPENED?

WE TALKED LAST NIGHT THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO CARTS.

YOU ARE GETTING OLD.

I AM GETTING OLD.

WE CAN'T DO THIS NO MORE.

THEY NEED TO GET FRESH ANIMALS.

AND YOU TAKE YOUR TAIL AND GO OUT THERE AND EMBARRASS ME?

BUT YOU SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT?

I'M GOING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING ABOUT YOU.

HE SAID, I KNOW YOU WENT OUT THERE AND YOU DO WHAT YOU HAD TO DO.

BUT THEY'RE GOING TO CARRY ME TO THE BUTCHER.

THEY'RE GOING TO KILL ME.

BUT YOU KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN?

THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE MY HYDE AND MAKE A WHIP TO BEAT YOU TIL YOU'RE DEAD.

AND THAT'S ONE STORY THAT MY MOTHER TOLD ME.

I LIKE STORIES I'M GOING TO CHIP IN HERE AND THERE.

BUT LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THIS OLDER CAT.

THIS CAT DIDN'T WANT THE MOUSE ANYMORE, SO THEY HAD A LOT OF RATS AROUND THIS HOUSE.

SO, THEY DECIDE TO LAY ON HIS BACK, CLOSE HIS EYE AND PLAY DEAD.

SO, THE LITTLE MICE, THEN THE YOUNG MICE DECIDE, AHA, GUESS WHAT, HE'S DYING.

SO, THEY WENT, HE SHUT ONE EYE AND HE CLOSE IT UP LIKE HE DYING.

AND THE YOUNG MICE -- NOT THE OLD ONE.

THE YOUNG MICE RUN UP AND DOWN.

THE CAT IS DEAD, THE CAT IS DYING.

EVERY TIME SOME MICE ARE WATCHING, GUESS WHAT?

HE GRAB ONE OF THEM.

AND HE DID THAT FOR A LONG TIME TIL A LOT OF LITTLE MICE WAS MISSING AND THE CAT WAS NOT DYING.

THE CAT HAD A WAY OF FINDING HOW TO GET MEALS WITHOUT EVEN EXACTING HIMSELF.

SO, THAT IS ONE OF MY STORIES.

THE OTHER ONE IS SIMILAR TO THAT WHERE THIS OLD LION WENT INTO A CAVE.

HE WENT INTO THE CAVE AND HE GROAN IN THE MORNING LIKE HE'S DYING.

BUT THERE'S A LITTLE LAMB OUTSIDE WATCHING AND WATCHING AND WATCHING THIS LION.

SO, EVERYBODY THAT COMES SAYS, YOU'RE COMING IN TO VISIT ME?

THEY DON'T COME BACK HOME.

SO, THE LION WATCHING AND THE LION WATCH THE LITTLE LAMB WATCHING THE LION.

AND SEE WHAT HAPPENED.

SO, ONE DAY THE LAMB CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE, KING LION, YOU'RE GROANING AND YOU'RE GROANING AND YOU'RE NOT COMING OUT OF THE CAVE.

SO, LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING.

YOU'RE REALLY SICK OR WHAT?

HE SAID, YOU CAN COME VISIT ME.

SO, THE LITTLE LAMB SAID, ME VISIT YOU?

LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING?

I DON'T WANT TO COME IN AND CAN'T COME OUT.

AND THE LION RUN AFTER THE LITTLE LAMB BUT HE CAN'T CATCH HIM BECAUSE HE WAS TOO FAT, TOO FAT FOR THAT.

AND LIKE I SAID, STORY TELLING WAS ONE OF THESE THINGS.

IT'S ONE OF OUR AFRICAN STORIES.

AND I REALLY DO LIKE MY AFRICAN STORIES.

WE CAN TELL A LOT OF TALES AND A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON.

AND NANCY ALWAYS IS WILLING TO FARM A CHICKEN.

SO, HE WENT INTO ALLIGATOR HOUSE AND ALLIGATOR HAD AT LEAST 12 EGGS.

AND HE SAID, I'M GOING TO HAVE THAT.

THERE WERE A LOT OF EGGS THE ALLIGATOR HAD.

SO, HE DECIDED, OKAY, PUT THEM IN A BASKET AND WE'RE GOING BY THE RIVER AND YOU SCRUB THEM UP SO THEY CAN BE CLEAN AND WHATEVER.

SO, THEN HE WENT, TAKE THE BASKET, ALLIGATOR, AND HE WASHING THESE EGGS.

BUT MEANTIME, ALLIGATOR TRUSTED HIM AND HE LOVED EGGS.

SO, EVERY TIME THE ALLIGATOR WATCH HIM, HE POP ONE IN HIS MOUTH.

IT WOULD BE LIKE 11 DAYS.

SO, THERE ONLY ONE EGG LEFT.

SO, NOW EVERY TIME ALLIGATOR -- AS WE WATCHED PUT IT BACK IN THE BASKET, HE PICK UP THE SAME EGG, PUT IT BACK.

WATCHING ONE EGG FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.

BUT ALLIGATOR NOT PAYING ATTENTION THAT IT WAS THE 12 EGGS.

SO, NOW THE DAY WHICH IS THE 12th DAY, HE SAYS, ALLIGATOR, YOU DON'T CARRY THE BASKET.

I KNOW IT WAS ONLY ONE EGG.

HE SAID, I DON'T CARRY THE BASKET INSIDE.

WHEN ALLIGATOR, YOU WASH YOUR HAND AND DO EVERYTHING OUTSIDE.

I DON'T JUST PUT HIM OUTSIDE AFTER YOU.

SO, HE CARRY THE BASKET INSIDE, ONE EGG ALONE.

SO, ONE ALLIGATOR GOING TO CHECK.

NO, IT'S JUST ONE EGG.

WELL, BY THAT TIME, GUESS WHAT HAPPENED.

ALLIGATOR HAD GOT SOME FRIENDS WITH A BOAT AND EVERY TIME HE SAID SOMETHING, THE BOAT ROW A LITTLE FASTER.

HE SAID TAKE THAT.

THEY WERE TELLING ME TO ROW A LITTLE BIT FASTER.

AND SO ALLIGATOR HAD ONE EGG AND WENT ABOUT THE BUSINESS UP THE RIVER.

THEY WOULD NEVER BE FRIENDS AGAIN.

WE HAD ANOTHER STORY ABOUT -- NOW, WE KNOW THAT ANIMALS CAN BE FRIENDS IN NO WAY.

THEY CAN NEVER BE FRIEND BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE EACH OTHER.

THE CAT -- THAT'S WHY CATS CATCH RATS.

SO, THESE TWO DECIDE TO HAVE HOUSEKEEPING.

THE WAY WAS IN THE CHURCH.

SO, WHEN THAT GO, EVERY MINUTE CAT SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT?

SOMEBODY TOLD ME NICE LITTLE CAT, LOOKING REALLY NICE.

I CAN'T TELL THEM NO.

SO, THEY ALL SAID, OKAY.

YOU GOT FATHER OR GOT MOTHER, WHATEVER, TO THIS LITTLE CAT.

SO, EVERY TIME HE GO INTO CHURCH, HE'D TAKE HIS PAW, THE CAT, AND EAT OUT SOME OF THE BUTTER.

SO, WHEN IT COME BACK, HE ASK -- THE MOUSE ASKS WHERE YOU GET THAT?

THAT'S A FUNNY NAME FOR A LITTLE CAT.

TABBY, NOTHING?

NO.

DON'T BE ASKING ME A LOT OF QUESTIONS BECAUSE YOU KNOW NOTHING.

SO, THE NEXT TIME HE WENT AGAIN, A FEW WEEKS LATER, HE SAID, MAN, YOU KNOW THEY KEEP CALLING ME, I MUST BE COLD BECAUSE THEY'RE ASKING ME TO STAY AGAIN.

THEY DO TO THE CHURCH BELFRY AND HE EATS TO HIS HEART CONTENT.

HE RUN AROUND THE ROOM AND EVERYTHING AND HE WENT BACK LATE IN THE AFTERNOON.

HE SAID, MAN, WE HAD A GOOD TIME.

WHAT YOU GOT?

BUT THAT'S A FUNNY NAME FOR, YOU KNOW, PETE OR TABBY, BUT -- OKAY.

DON'T BE ASKING ME ALL THESE QUESTIONS BECAUSE YOU'RE IN THE HOME YOU'RE IN, NOT GOING NO PLACE.

THAT WAS THE SECOND TIME.

A LITTLE WAY DOWN, HE SAID, YOU KNOW THIS IS THE LAST TIME I'M GOING TO STAY FOR ANY MORE CAT TO CALL ME AGAIN.

BLACK PATCH IN THE BACK.

THIS IS SO CUTE.

THIS KITTEN -- THIS CAT IS SO CUTE.

BUT WE'RE GOING AND IT'S THE LAST TIME.

SO, HE WENT INTO THE BELFRY AND WENT TO -- HE WENT INTO THE BELFRY AND HE EAT ALL THE BUTTER.

SO NOW SUMMER COME, THE MOUSE ASKED, WELL, YOU WILL HAVE SOME BUTTER IN THE BELFRY, EVERYTHING.

SO, EVERYTHING IS ALREADY.

LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING, WHAT ARE YOU STAYING FOR?

HE SAID WHAT IS THE NAME OF THIS LAST ONE?

HE SAID -- YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THAT'S THE MODEL THAT WAS IN THE BELFRY?

NO.

GUESS WHAT.

THE CAT POUNCED ON TOP OF THE MICE AND THE STORY ENDS.

>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU, MS. ESTHER WILLIAMS.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR STORIES.

IN CLOSING, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVEN'T CLOSED CLOSED, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY.

AND I WANT TO SAY ALTHOUGH HERBERT GREG IS THE HOME FOR THE AGED, WE ALSO HOUSE SENIOR CITIZEN AFFAIRS AND WE GO FROM OLD TO YOUNG BECAUSE WE ALSO HAVE THE HEAD START PROGRAM APPEARING.

THEY ARE PART OF OUR PROGRAM TODAY.

AND I WANTED TO WELCOME THEM AND TELL THEM THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF OUR PROGRAM AND SITTING DOWN AND TELLING ME I LOOK GOOD.

SO, WITH THAT SAID, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU.

I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

WE DO HAVE SOME EATS.

WE HAVE SOME DRINKS.

AND WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING OUR FELLOWSHIP AS USUAL.

SO, AT THIS TIME, THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE STAFF AND MANAGEMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.

GOD BLESS YOU.

HAVE A GOOD DAY AND ENJOY.

AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE -- WE'RE GOING TO ENJOY SOME FOLKLORIC CULTURAL MUSIC BY MR. EUGENE DOC PETERSON.

AND WE'LL FINISH WITH STANLEY.

SO, GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE DAY.

AND THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF OUR PROGRAM.

>> ALL RIGHT.

GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYBODY.

TODAY, I WANT TO DEDICATE THIS -- THESE MUSICAL SELECTIONS TO MS. MARY RICHARDS.

MARY RICHARDS, A NURSE AND IT'S QUITE APPROPRIATE BECAUSE THIS WEEK IS NURSES' WEEK, I THINK.

I HEARD THEM SAY THAT EARLIER.

AND SHE WAS A NURSE AND SHE WAS AN ELDERLY WOMAN.

AND SHE RETIRED AND SHE LIVED RIGHT NEXT TO THE KINDERGARTEN WHERE I ATTENDED AT ST. PATRICK'S SCHOOL.

AND SHE WOULD COME OVER, SHE WAS A CARUSO SINGER, AS YOU HEARD A LITTLE EARLIER WHY, AND ALSO SHE WAS A POET.

AND OF COURSE A HISTORIAN.

AND SHE WOULD COME OVER TO THE KINDERGARTEN AND DO HER PERFORMANCES FOR US.

AND I ALWAYS REMEMBER MS. MARY RICHARDS FOR DOING THAT.

VERY NICE LADY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OVER THE YEARS, I DO THIS AS A KINDERGARTEN.

SO, I DIDN'T REMEMBER WHAT HER VOICE SOUNDED LIKE, BUT I DID REMEMBER SOME OF THE SONGS THAT SHE SANG.

AND I REALLY APPRECIATED IT.

AND AS I GOT OLDER, RECENTLY SOMEBODY GAVE ME A RECORDING THAT WAS PROBABLY DONE BACK IN THE LATE '40s, EARLY '50s.

AND WHAT A BEAUTIFUL VOICE SHE HAD.

AND ON THAT RECORDING, SHE HAD SOME SONGS, SOME CARUSO SONGS AND SOME SONGS BECAUSE SHE PLAYED A GUITAR TOO.

SHE HAD SOME SONGS AND I REALLY WANTED -- I REALLY LIKE THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE SONGS ABOUT FOOD AND ANIMALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO, I STUDIED THE SOUNDS AND I ADDED ON A LITTLE BIT TO THEM.

AND WHILE I DON'T REALLY KNOW THEM BY HEART YET, I FELT THAT IT WAS QUITE APPROPRIATE TO PERFORM SOME OF THEM TODAY.

I'M GOING TO START WITH A MEDLEY OF SONGS.

I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT MY GUITAR.

I HAVEN'T BEEN PLAYING MUSIC FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF BECAUSE OF THE COVID VIRUS, AND I REST THE GUITAR DOWN AND I THINK IT'S A MATTER WITH ME BECAUSE WHEN YOU PICKED IT UP TO PLAY TODAY IT WOULDN'T WORK PROPERLY.

SO, WE'LL TRY TO MAKE DO WITH WHAT WE GOT.

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