FISH TRAP
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                            2002 2003  2005

From the St. John Tradewinds, February 16-22, 2004

   The fun was at the Fish Trap restaurant in Cruz Bay for the eighteen members of the Blazin' Vibes, an after school enrichment program for 11-12 year old students at the Julius E. Sprauve School. 

   Actually you wouldn't think it was school at all, if you saw the grinning faces of the students gathered around the Fish Trap table last Wednesday, savoring Chinese cuisine. 

   Chef Aaron Willis and co-owner Lonnie Willis and general manager Christopher Gagnon of the Fish Trap took turns slipping in facts about Chinese cuisine, as each of the four courses was presented.

   "The Chinese developed a style of cooking that was quick and used very little gas - because they were so poor," said Chef Aaron Willis, as he presented the egg drop soup.  The meal also included vegetarian spring rolls (which the students got to roll), sweet and sour chicken with steamed rice, and concluded with a fortune cookie.   The fortunes inside the cookies were created by the young students the previous day, and inserted by cookie chef, Lonnie Willis, who also presented the students with real chopsticks from  Beijing.  "Remember, don't eat your fortune!" someone yelled out with a laugh.

   Students in the enrichment program are studying Asian cultures this term, and each week the children are exposed to some aspect of Asian culture such as T'ai Chi, acupuncture, karate, and reading and writing Haiku poetry. "I like the field trips best," said Bria Drew as she finished her fortune cookie.  Her friend, Karina Simon, who was shy about photographs, agreed with a wide smile.

   The program is funded through a Community Block Grant Program for the Law Enforcement Planning Commission and First Bank, and is administered by the St. John Community Foundation under program coordinator Mary Blazine.