03012024 WEEKEND

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Weekend Blessings found him

Bahamian designer fourishes in London

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Nassau-based gospel artist goes viral around the world with new song as he celebrates 40 years in music ministry pgs 04

Keeping a heritage of straw alive

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer | acadet@tribunemedia.net

In an effort to the treasured traditional skill of straw plaiting alive in the Bahamas, a group of like-minded individuals that make up Creative Nassau will be hosting classes for beginners starting on Wednesday, March 13.

The classes are set to take place at Doongalik Studios on Village Road. They will be guided by master Long Island straw plaiter Rosemary Brice.

“We do not realise how unique this skill is. The purpose of the class is to teach others this craft so that it remains an important part of the Bahamian story,” said Rosemary in an interview with Tribune Weekend.

She said the Bahamas is one of the few countries on this side of the world that have kept this tradition

down through the centuries from generation to generation.”

The artisan is very glad to have learned the skill when she was young, as has allowed her to use it as an art form and make a living as an entrepreneur.

“I was greatly inspired by Miss Ivy Simms of Long Island who had a thriving straw factory when I was growing up. She produced beautiful straw products from the straw plaiting that her students did, and provided jobs for many people on Long Island,” said Rosemary.

“It makes me feel very excited and energetic knowing that I am in the position to teach something I have been doing for a very long time and give participants an opportunity to learn a craft with their hands that can keep them occupied for a lifetime, just as I have done in the past and hope to continue to do in the future.”

Rosemary said the straw plaiting classes were started in 2019 by Creative Nassau in collaboration with BTVI to give Bahamians the opportunity to learn a craft they could make a living from. She said many of the country’s straw plaiters, both men and women, are older and are dying out.

interesting history and harvesting of straw from noted Bahamian author and historian Patricia GlintonMeicholas, who is also the vice president of Creative Nassau. They will be taught how to prepare, plait, and finish various straw plait designs that are in high demand, and they will also be treated to several field trips to see how their handiwork can be used. Intermediate and advanced classes will also be offered.

“Participants will get to meet new people and together they will learn and help each other during the class. The classes will be held in a comfortable setting, which will allow them to socialise and talk with one another and form lasting friendships,” said Rosemary.

“Come to have fun and to learn. Be curious and eager to learn how to work with straw. You do not need to have any prior knowledge of plaiting but by the end of the class, you will be amazed at what you have accomplished.”

Rosemary said she is looking forward to meeting the new students.

alive, and it is something unique that locals can be proud of.

“This year, a straw plaiting book was published by a straw researcher named Veronica Main in the United Kingdom. She contacted Creative Nassau and interviewed me to get information about what was happening with straw here. The book describes how this European craft was brought to the Bahamas via Bermuda and became an integral part of our people’s livelihood,” said Rosemary.

“I was born and raised in Long Island and have been plaiting since the age of nine, having learned the skill from my father and grandmother. Plaiting in Long Island is traditional and has been passed

“The young people are not as interested in learning the craft. We need younger people to learn this craft in order to keep the tradition alive. We cannot afford to lose this important part of our heritage, so this is what I continue to do, and I am pleased to be able to pass this skill on to whomsoever is interested in learning it,” she said.

“Furthermore, you can make a very good living from plaiting straw because there are many artisans out there who are making straw products but they cannot get the plaited straw fast enough because there are not enough people plaiting it nowadays.”

During the classes, Rosemary said, the sessions will be divided into several components. Students will learn about the

“Watching their development and how much they progress is also satisfying, and I hope that they are so interested that they would want to learn even more, and maybe even become an instructor like me,” she said.

A taste of Napa Valley in the Bahamas

By ALESHA CADET | Tribune Features Writer | acadet@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMIANS were invited to experience what a rustic retreat to Napa Valley would feel like as the Rosewood’s Library Lounge at Baha Mar was transformed into the famous Cheese Shed.

The historic Napa property was built in the 1870s, but is currently owned by Fraîche Wine, which uses it as their tasting space.

The luxury resort welcomed the founder of the Vin Fraîche Wine Group, Michael Kennedy, as the host for a one-of-a-kind tasting of rare cheeses and exquisite wines.

In an interview with Tribune Weekend, Mr Kennedy said what he was looking forward to the most was interacting with Bahamian guests.

He said it was such a thrill to be out of the Valley and learn the palates of different places.

Mr Kennedy formed the Vin Fraîche Wine Group in 2018 after launching three distinct wineries in Napa Valley, Oregon and Bordeaux.

In 2020, an additional winery was acquired by the group in Tuscany, Italy. His drive to create wines that embody freshness, vibrancy and life has created a thread of commonality throughout the different brands.

He has a passion for wines that are complex, long-lived and built to accompany various dishes. This passion has driven him to assemble a team of winemakers and friends who help create wines of substance. In 2017, he was named in Forbes’ ‘30

Under 30’ list for his work in the wine industry. Mr Kennedy lives in St Louis with his wife Rachel and their three boys.

“I began my career in wine working with luxury hotels as a sommelier working with some of the best chefs in the world like Eric Ripert and Anthony Bourdain. The more I spoke with guests about their favourite wines, I realised many of them had questions I couldn’t answer. I began to travel much more, meet winemakers and dig deep into winemaking. This, as one would expect, caused

me to fall in love with the winery side of the business. My wife Rachel and I started our first small winery in Napa in 2016 and now we are in Napa, Tuscany, Oregon and Bordeaux,” he said.

Explaining the Cheese Shed experience, Mr Kennedy said this iconic property has been a part of Napa since the late 19th century when the valley was still only farmland and forest.

“This original building was used to age meats and cheeses for the dairy farm on which the property stood. When we decided to turn

this into our tasting space on the winery grounds it only made sense to make it an intimate place for not only great wine, but great cheese. Guests arrive on the grounds and are greeted with a special welcome wine, then are taken on a golf cart tour of the vineyards overlooking the valley on our way to the caves where we make the wine. After tasting wine from some barrels, we head back to the Cheese Shed and taste some excellent local cheeses paired with our wines from around the world. Guests often remark,

and so do publications like Decanter, that we are certainly the hidden gem of Napa Valley,” said Mr Kennedy.

At the Cheese Shed, he said, they spend a lot of time curating the perfect local cheeses for guests, as well as wines. When taking this experience on the road, he said they are forced out of the comfort of home and into the domain of another great chef.

At the Rosewood, he explained, they paired four great small production wines with some of the best cheeses from around the world - “mixing in stories, knowledge and fun as we go.”

They helped guests increase their knowledge of wine tasting, wine pairing and hospitality, all while sharing fun stories of their incredible escapades around the world making great wines.

“It is an honour to be included in an event like this. The Rosewood Baha Mar has their pick of the finest winemakers and vintners from around the world, and to be invited to share with their guests is a true honour and delight,” said Mr Kennedy.

Apart from the event itself, Mr Kennedy said his plan was to also enjoy the Bahamas with his family, soaking up the sunshine on the beautiful beaches

“We also hope to visit some local cultural experiences, see more of the island and enjoy some excellent local cuisine,” he said.

MICHAEL Kennedy of the Vin Fraîche Wine Group at the Cheese Shed in Napa Valley

Sherwin Gardner

His new Afrobeat-infused gospel song has gone viral on a global scale and is opening all kinds of doors for him in the international music market. The Trinidad-born, Nassau-based veteran singer-songwriter tells Cara Hunt how the smash hit “Blessings Find Me” came about.

Sherwin Gardner’s song, “Find Me Here (Blessings Find Me)” has garnered over 900 million views and streams in just three short months. The singer, who hails from Trinidad and is the worship leader at the Bahamas Harvest Church here in New Providence, told Tribune Weekend that the success of his latest single is a confirmation of God’s faithfulness. He is excited for the opportunity to share the song’s positive message with the world.

Sherwin grew up in a family filled with ministers and musicians. He himself started singing in the church when he was just five years old.

“I’ve been performing for a long time, but I also use my life as a testimony, because I am the third of seven children, and when my mother was pregnant with me, the doctors suggested that she have an abortion, because she had some medical conditions. But she told them that the Lord gives life and the Lord will take away life. So I would say that knowing that my life is a testimony has been a motivation. I have been blessed to have had international success.”

Sherwin has been a pioneer in Caribbean gospel music since the 1990s and is celebrating 40 years of music ministry this year. He made his way to the Bahamas, where he joined Youth Alive, after living in Antigua.

He said Antigua’s distance from the United States made it difficult to travel for work with his American label, so he jumped at the opportunity to work at the Bahamas Harvest Church.

It made travel back and forth a bit easier, and he fell in love with the Bahamas, and his wife, Dr Kristen Darville-Gardner.

Sherwin said he is happy that did not had to permanently leave the region to find success.

The new hit song “Blessing Find Me”, he said, can be described as the little song that could.

In fact, it was not even a song in its initial stages.

Rather, it was just a snippet of a melody that got stuck in Sherwin’s head before he recorded it and posted it as a New Year’s Day inspiration for his social media followers. The song is his personal prayer that God is able to bring you blessings, prosperity and goodness, if you seek Him and follow Him. It’s message was particularly timely at the start of a new year.

Sherwin had been working on another song which he hoped would become a new single, but there were problems with the recording and so he decided that he would scrap the project for now.

“God was telling me to release this bit of song and so at 11pm on New Year’s Eve in Nassau, which was exactly midnight in Trinidad, I posted it to my social media accounts,” he said.

The next morning, the first day of 2024, he woke up with a viral social media sensation on his hands.

He started out with around 999 followers on TikTok, but the release of the song the numbers started climbing across all platforms to 20,000. “Blessings Find Me” was being shared millions of times around the world.

In just three months, it has garnered over 900 million views. It has received praise from celebrities like Teddy Riley, Yolanda Adams, Tabitha Brown, Alicia Keys, Eve, Michelle Williams, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, and many more. It has also climbed to number two on the Gospel Digital Song Sales Chart (CeCe Winans sits at number one with “Goodness of God”) and claimed the 22nd spot on the Billboard US Afrobeats Songs Chart in its first week. It is now in the top ten in the World Music Charts and still going strong.

“As soon as I realised how popular it was getting, I immediately went and finished the song and released it,” he said.

Sherwin says whether it’s leading worship at a church service, singing at a concert,

this weekend in history

March 1

March 2

March 3

or promoting his songs on the internet, his intent remains the same: to glorify and praise God and allow his audience to do the same.

“I know that people may remember me, but I want God to always be the focus and front and centre of all that I do,” he said.

Earlier this week, Sherwin hosted a special launch event for the hit song’s music video at Sapodilla.

“The music video highlights the beauty of the Bahamas and features an all-Bahamian cast and production team,” the singer-songwriter said.

Sherwin’s success has landed him in the international spotlight, and he’s been making appearances on shows like GetUpErica hosted by American gospel artist Erica Campbell.

He will travelling to the US to take part in pop-up stops on TV, radio and at a few mega churches.

The song’s universal themes of hope and resilience have resonated with people globally, regardless of nationality or faith.

The song is available on all major digital music platforms through a joint venture deal with Tyscot Records, distributed by the Warner Music Group Company.

Sherwin is also set to be an official spokesman for the Bamboo Shack chain of restaurants.

DR Rebecca Lee Crumpler

THE ALPHAPUZZLE

Best described as a number crossword, the task in Kakuro is to fill all of the empty squares, using numbers 1 to 9, so the sum of each horizontal block equals the number to its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the number on its top. No number may be used in the same block more than once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Kakuro increases from Monday to Sunday.

Pea, Renee, Waking, Rob, Vet, Uncle, Renege, Hay. Down (left to right): Age, Val, Heave, Johnston, The Game, Ken, Rise, Neat, Ram, Trite, Ben, Arc, Icy, Eaten, Statues, Tongue, Organise, Nine, Cent, Perch, Nut, Cane, Ola, Sue, Sven, Abbey. Shaded letters: Brian Epstein

WORDS

FORGE

Down: Aground, Shape, Masseur, Baulk, Scrub, Boudoir, Reliquary, Chamber, Spasm, Mitre, Codicil, Reply, Bejewel.

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 1

CRYPTIC PUZZLE

Across

shows people to seats? (5)

Britain, 6 4 Chambers in a Heart

TRIVIA WORDSEARCH

1 Chawton, 2 Simon Baker, 3 Doctor Evil, 4 The Outlaw, 5 Leicester, 6 Porter, 7 Abingdon, 8 Jane Seymour, 9 Texas, 10 Currer Bell

SUMTHING

7x2=14, 4+7=11, 3x9=27

TV CROSSWORD

Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so the each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once. The difficulty level of the Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday

MUDDLESOME

Lord Moynihan

Princess Royal Sebastian Coe

Across: 5 Sean, 7 Dennis, 8 Jodie, 11 Juice, 12 Horrible, 13 Hurt, 15 Seth, 16 Charlie, 17 Hear, 18 Agency, 21 Dara, 22 Swit.

Down: 1 Menu, 2 Bikers, 3 Four, 4 Debbie, 5 Samurai, 6 Aunt, 9 Whittaker, 10 Welch, 14 Coren, 17 Head, 19 Gus, 20 Cat.

SMALL CROSSWORD

1 It makes a place look like a pigsty (6)

4 Frequently out of date (8)

9 Jabbing a petty officer with a ruler (6)

10 Embraces sweetheart and wives (8)

12 Vehicle turns to leave (4)

13 Acquit the prisoner and empty the court (5)

14 The bird is flown (4)

17 Unpleasant comedown for highway travellers (5,7)

20 Strike up a friendship as yokemates? (4,8)

23 Establish the basic cause (4)

24 It’s comparatively bold (5)

25 Performs with wild cats (4)

28 Word for word in Latin (8)

29 Building it’s the custom to be silent going round (6)

30 Sustaining benefits from those who are waiting (8)

31 Well acquainted with the metric system (6)

Down

1 Cosmetic combination of sauce and jam? (8)

2 Select a method to subtract (4,4)

1 x Battleship 4 x Submarine

CLOCK-WISE

2 x Cruiser

Rage, Gear, Arid, Idea, Ease, Sera

3 x Destroyer

QUIZ OF THE WEEK

1 Place, 2 Port, 3 Arkansas, 4 The Old Grey Whistle Test, 5 Bernie Taupin, 6 Plant, 7 Henson, 8 Victoria, 9 Heavyweight, 10 DeForest Kelley.

LAST SATURDAY’S SOLUTION

TARGET SMALL CROSSWORD A 1 B C D E F G H I J

Across: 1 Fantastic, 7 Rise, 8 Dhaka, 10 Fur, 11 Clammy, 13 Testament, 14 Agatha, 16 Ova, 18 Urges, 19 Nile, 20 Sweetener.

Taffeta, 6 Caretaker, 8 Damages, 9 Massage, 12 Inhale, 15 Acne, 17 Lee.

8 Hated act about trial (8)

DOUBT Across: OUGHT Down: UNZIP TV show: The Wheel of Chertsey (6) 24 Fathers displaying anger boarding ship (5) 25 Gun used by fellow in anger (5)

3 A bird watcher never hides it (4)

5 Bound but also not bound to be unreliable (4,3,5)

6 Double figures (4)

7 High level of service provided (6)

8 Decorations in the windows (6)

11 Yet a foghorn may give it (5,7)

15 A note of asperity (5)

16 A spirited harp player? (5)

18 Auditor’s game (8)

19 Supposed it was the piano one had taken up again (8)

21 Wine vaults (6)

22 More unfortunate choice in the marriage ceremony (6)

26 Laid out in Salvador (4)

27 Score a point being clever (4)

18

Were,

FIND where the fleet of ships shown is hidden in the grid. The numbers to the right of and below the grid indicate how many of the squares in that row are filled in with ships or parts of ships. The ships do not touch each other, even diagonally. Some squares have been filled in to start you off.

2 2 1 4 1 2 2 3 1 2 2

Yesterday’s Easy Solution

Across: 1 Cider, 4 Leaflet, 8 Nil, 9 Bona fides, 10 Ascetic, 11 Rugby, 13 Trophy, 15 Aspire, 18 Fixed, 19 Ambient, 21 Come of age, 23 Pea, 24 Symptom, 25 Tight.

Down: 1 Contact, 2 Delacroix, 3 Rebut, 4 Lunacy, 5 As far as, 6 Lid, 7 Tasty, 12 Guinea pig, 14 Hideout, 16 Extract, 17 Napalm, 18 Focus, 20 Bleat, 22 Mum.

Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution

LAST

Across: 1 Wield, 4 Unclear, 8 Eat, 9 Credulous, 10 Tea urns, 11 Sifts, 13 Evilly, 15 Asleep, 18 Steam, 19 Heathen, 21 Capitally, 23 Ida, 24 Strides, 25 Sides.

Down: 1 Wreathe, 2 Extradite, 3 Decor, 4 Uneasy, 5 Courses, 6 Ego, 7 Rasps, 12 Fresh wind, 14 Limited, 16 Punkahs, 17 Chills, 18 Socks, 20 Abyss, 22 Par.

EASY PUZZLE

26

SMALL CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Openly (8)

6 Not at home (4)

HOW many words of four letters or more can you make from the letters shown here? In making a word, each letter may be used once only. Each must contain the centre letter and there must be at least one nine-letter word. No plurals. Verb forms ending in “s” permitted.

Yesterday’s Sudoku Answer

11 Not awake (6) 12 Greek god of war (4) 14 Wrath (3)

9 For a pilot on broadcast, it’s not compulsory (8)

P

14 Worn out volunteers, teetotal, with English socialist (8)

16 A time to get hold of repairmen for alteration (9)

C D

17 Story about learners on island capable of making mistakes (8)

SMALL CROSSWORD

HOW many words of four letters or more can you make from the letters shown here?

19 Ringleader, old lag, moving toy (3,4)

ACROSS

In making a word, each letter may be used once only. Each must contain the centre letter and there must be at least one nine-letter word. No plurals. Verb forms ending in “s” permitted.

NAME ADDRESS

TODAY’S TARGET

21 Person proposed as a candidate gets me in one surprisingly (7)

1 Openly (8)

6 Not at home (4)

24 Fathers displaying anger boarding ship (5)

8 Young person (5)

11 Not awake (6)

22 Stylish girl seen in the outskirts of Chertsey (6)

25 Gun used by fellow in anger (5)

12 Greek god of war (4)

14 Wrath (3)

Story,

15 Indian dish (5)

16 Raised edge (3)

17 Eating plan (4)

19 Flight of steps (6)

Abet,

20 Solid glass shape (5)

21 Small round marks (4)

TODAY’S TARGET

22 Scene rep (anag.) (8)

Good 25; very good 38; excellent 50 (or more). Solution next Saturday.

DOWN

1 Section of text (9)

2 Foundation (4)

3 Frozen treats (3,6)

4 Mouth part (3)

LAST SATURDAY’S SOLUTION

TODAY’S TARGET

16

3

4

5

LAST SATURDAY’S SOLUTION ACROSS 1 Somebody, 6 Thin, 8 Aside, 11 Icicle, 12 Aged, 14 Tom, 15 Towns, 16 Get, 17 Twin, 19 Jerked, 20 Stand, 21 Wren, 22 Prospect. DOWN 1 Strangest, 2 Mice, 3 Backwards, 4 Die, 5 Permanent, 7 Highest, 9 Slant, 10 Dioxide, 13 Dozen, 18 Were, 19 Jar. For today’s solution call: 0907

Indian dish (5)

Good 25; very good 38; excellent 50 (or more). Solution next Saturday.

Good 25; very good 38; excellent 50 (or more). Solution next Saturday.

LAST SATURDAY’S SOLUTION able abler abseil alibi ascribe bail bailer bale baler bare base baser basic basil bear bias bier bile blare brace brae braise caber cable calibre crab crib ibis

7 Fighter (7)

THE BRILLIANT EXPRESS

Weekly Crusader 15-21 October: Please allow 30

CAN you crack the Alphabeater? It’s your mental muscles to the limit. Each in Alphapuzzle, every letter of the the given letters and the given black To add to the fiendish fun, Alphabeater same if you turn the page upside down. So, for example if there is a six-letter a corresponding six-letter word Across Every black square has a symmetrical number. This can help identify other corresponding ‘twin’. Solution next

ACROSS 1 District, 5 Hebrew, 10 13 Dictator, 15 Sidle, 18 Run-up, 26 Learn one’s lesson, DOWN 1 Dollar, 2 Sovereign, 8 Wayfarer, 9 Pedigree, 14 Training, 21 Harness, 22 Pruned, 24 Place,

CAN you crack the Alphabeater? It’s a tough twist on our popular your mental muscles to the limit. Each grid number below represents in Alphapuzzle, every letter of the alphabet is used. But now you the given letters and the given black squares below the main grid

Yesterday’s Kakuro Answer

5 Promote (9)

7 Fighter (7)

9 Listened to (5)

LAST SATURDAY’S SOLUTION able abler abseil alibi ascribe bail bailer bale baler bare base baser basic basil bear bias bier bile blare brace brae braise caber cable calibre crab crib ibis IRASCIBLE rabies risible sable sabre scab scribe slab

(5) 10 Biggest (7)

for (5) 18

To add to the fiendish fun, Alphabeater is ‘rotationally symmetrical’. same if you turn the page upside down.

FIND where the fleet of ships shown is hidden in the grid. The numbers to the right of and below the grid indicate how many of the squares in that row are filled in with ships or parts of ships. The ships do not touch each other, even diagonally. Some squares have been filled in to start you off. I J 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 2 2 in Alphapuzzle, every the given letters To add to the fiendish same if you turn So, for example a corresponding six-letter Every black square number. This can corresponding ‘twin’. 35 16 27 12 14 20 32 4 14 24 18 32 8 27 40 31 22 31 28 7 29 15 7 2 9 36 17 18 38 4 6 32 30 9 18 23 18 32 8 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

10 Biggest (7)

13 Is appropriate for (5)

18 Press clothes (4)

2583 *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge. 1 6 12 16 20 7 11 22 2 15 19 13 3 8 9 17 21 4 14 18 10 5 1 2 3 4 5 21 M 22 23 24 25 3 9 7 8 2 5 4 6 2 1 9 3 5 8 1 6 7 4 7 2 1 3 4 9 5 8 6 3 4 6 8 7 5 9 2 1 1 6 2 5 9 7 8 4 3 8 4 2 6 9 3 7 5 9 1 4 8 3 1 6 7 2 5 8 7 9 3 6 1 2 5 4 9 4 8 7 1 6 5 3 2 3 1 5 4 2 8 6 7 9 BATTLESHIPS KAKURO 3 1 1 8 1 4 5 9 2 6 3 7 2 1 7 9 1 2 3 2 4 1 8 3 1 2 3 1 2 2 4 1 1 4 6 2 5 3 7 8 3 1 3 1 KEIJO 1 3 3 3 1 3 4 2 1 2 4 4 2 2 4 1 TARGET QUICK CROSSWORD Across: 3 Paramount, 8 Iran, 9 Secondary, 10 Exempt, 11 Storm, 14 Weave, 15 Saga, 16 Drops, 18 Keep, 20 Quart, 21 Dusty, 24 Barrel, 25 Outspread, 26 Kiss, 27 Underhand. Down: 1 Wideawake, 2 Barefaced, 4

So, for example if there is a six-letter word Across which starts a corresponding six-letter word Across which ends in the bottom

Every black square has a symmetrical ‘twin’ but the ‘twin’ may number. This can help identify other black squares. Of course if corresponding ‘twin’. Solution next Saturday.

Call 0907 181 2586 for today’s Target solution *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge. All puzzles use

IRASCIBLE rabies risible sable sabre scab scribe slab Call 0907 181 2586 for today’s Target solution *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge. All puzzles use The Chambers Dictionary

35 16 27 12 14 20 32 4 14 24 18 32 8 27 40 31 22 31 28 7 29 15 7 2 9 36 17 18 38 4 6 32 30 9 18 23 18 32 8 17 12 18 19 32 22 10 18 37 12 11 18 13 8 33 20 21 16 13 20 2 39 22 34 3 29 24 34 4 28 4 19 3 40 20 17 24 8 10 28 17 2 19 8 3 8 32 14 11 34 38 12 1 27 20 38 21 29 5 13 8 26 35 2 4 16 4 12 26 6 26 20 28 7 4 18 23 8 11 30 9 22 25 20 10 19 37 34 33 9 35 39 8 38 38 18 2 4 6 20 10 6 14 24 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ■ 12 ■ 13 21 M 22 23 24 ■ 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 14 15 16 17 18 34 35 36 37 38 U F

flm

Bahamian acting, costume and casting talent in the spotlight for new movie

By Arthia Nixon | The Ambassador Agency

Bahamian talent from various segments of the entertainment industry will take centre stage in the soon-to-be released film “Pages Of My Heart 2”.A local comedian, designer and casting agency were used for the new Floridbased production which is already creating buzz on streaming services like Fox Soul, Peacock, Tubi, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.

The sequel welcomes back returning cast members Jarron Webster and Geneva Maccarone, who is also known for playing Sylvia in “A Madea Homecoming”.

Notably, the supporting cast features talented Bahamian comedian Jaquay Adderley.

The project has already won Best Actress, Best Director and Best Feature Film at the Sunshine City Film Festival; Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress at the Tampa Bay Underground Film Festival, Best Romance at the Athens International Monthly Art Film, and was a finalist at for Best Feature Film at the Charlotte Black Film Festival.

Deon Gibson, the co-writer, producer and director, behind this A New Vision venture, said is excited to be making significant strides with his fourth and fifth feature films.

He started exploring the art of photography in 2001 and that opened doors for him to travel to Haiti, Ethiopia and Mexico as a photojournalist. That eventually led to story writing and filmmaking opportunities, which remain his focus today.

“It has been a goal to create family-friendly content with books, films, music and television so that we can reach people from all walks of life and inspire them in a unique and inspiring way,” Mr Gibson said.

“In the past few years, we have been blessed to have gotten awards and grants, and even The St Pete/ Clearwater Film Commission has acknowledged the work we’ve been doing so it is a tremendous blessing.”

For this latest project, Mr Gibson wanted a Bahamian connection and therefore decided to bring local talent to the Florida Gulf Coast.

“We could have created products here or gotten actors in Florida, but I wanted to bring in the best of the best and so we had some costumes in the film by Kache Knowles of (the

online clothing store) iisabahamianbey, and for casting, we had Earlene Camille of Casting Call Bahamas,” he said.

“As for acting, we were thrilled to have Jaquay Adderley come on set. He is an amazing talent and we were happy to have him.”

Jaquay said he was happy to be set with such a professional team and to work with Deon Gibson.

“It was a blessing for an island boy like me to be discovered and given an opportunity to take my talents to another level,” he said.

“I felt super excited when I was contacted to act in Florida. Coming highly recommended from other professionals and entertainment chiefs in the country, it makes me happy to know that my gift and hard work are not only making room for me but expanding them as well. I have the chance to put the Bahamas on the map.”

Mr Gibson, who is also known for his TV series “Church Folks” starring Dorian Wilson who played Professor Oglevee in “The Parkers”, and Chris Martin of hip-hop duo Kid N Play and House Party films, said he already has ideas for other projects which will filmed as early as Summer 2024.

“There are certainly plans for more projects, and we are working on them already,” said he said. “Working on these two films backto-back has been a life-changing experience. It was challenging, enlightening, and most of all, lots of fun. I’m looking forward to shooting the third instalment in my home country, the Bahamas,” he said.

For more information, visit www. anewvisionfilm.com or www.instagram.com/dgibson242.

GENEVA Maccarone and Jarron Webster filming ‘Pages of My Heart’

FILMMAKER Deon Gibson

BAHAMIAN comedian Jaquay Adderley is excited to put the Bahamas on the map

THE AFRICAN violet has attracted a local group of enthusiasts

Whatever tickles your fancy

Good day, gardeners. Today I will ramble. I’ve learned so many wonderful things about gardening from some of you who’ve responded to this column, and I hope to continue to do so!

Please, feel free to contact me with suggestions for topics or with any questions that you may have that you’d like a local opinion on. Sometimes it can be difficult to find pertinent information for our region on the major search engines, and at times a bit of local knowledge can go a long way in finding solutions to any outstanding issues.

Having said that, some days I am stumped as to which topic of an endless myriad of options to write about. I always enjoy branching out, and the deeper the roots, the stronger the tree. OK enough of that.

One more: As corny as it may sound, sometimes I too cannot see the trees for the forest when it comes to specific subjects that might be ‘scribed’.

As broad as my gardening or growing experience may be, there are always folks out there paying attention to sectors that are but a mere passing thought for me. I’ve just learned of a local group of African violet enthusiasts, there are orchid fanatics, bromeliad devotees, desert rose aficionados, palm collectors, native plant dons. The list goes on.

Whatever tickles your fancy, if you’ve not found a way to exercise your curiosity or creativity in the garden, all I can say is this: get growing!

If you’re just starting out, or if you spend most of your time in the office, no matter and no hindrance to entering the joy of growing. There is a plant for every space, and many, especially plants for the indoors, are very easy to keep thriving.

You’ve got no time for that? Yes, you do. Having plants in the office or inside the house is proven to benefit our psychological well-being, and sure, one can read into all of the stories of how a plant will remove benzene or formaldehyde from the

air, I take all that with a grain of salt. There’s simply no downside to adding a plant to the indoors or adding another plant to the garden.

Don’t know where to start? Maybe you’ve not been successful in the past? It would be so much simpler if there was a definitive instruction booklet, but there isn’t.

Living things react differently to different environments. Believe me, I’ve had many failures, especially when trialing new (to me) plant material. Some I gave up on, some I eventually found the particulars with success. In this cold, hard world, dog eat dog, tragic violence occurring in our neighborhoods, and despair that may come upon us at times, nature is there to remind us that we are part of a bigger picture. Breathe in, breathe out.

Without plants we would have no oxygen to breathe. Plants protect our shorelines. Plants filter our water tables. Plants reduce flooding. Plants provide food. And on and on. I applaud all of you who are teaching the joys of gardening to others.

It can be therapy for the immobile, texture to the blind, and inspiration to the growing mind. For those teaching the youth the importance of gardening and farming, you are some the people that our beautiful country needs. Thank you. Keep growing! As always, I wish you happy gardening.

history

Everyday observations of a 19th century Nassau

Originally published in 1888, “The Land of the Pink Pearl” is a firsthand account by LD Powles (1842-1911) of life in the Bahamas, as seen through the eyes of an English barrister.

He had been hired to fill the newly-created post of Stipendiary and Circuit Magistrate that was a part of Governor Henry Arthur Blake’s efforts to reform the Bahamas’ system of lay magistrates.

Having been called to the English Bar on April 13, 1866, Powles arrived in Nassau in 1886 and, although his tenure was short, very short, he is remembered for this outspoken memoir of his time in the Bahamas.

Having run fowl of the local establishment, Powles was offered a choice between formal dismissal or three months medical leave, followed by resignation on health grounds. Not surprisingly, Powles accepted the latter.

I find that his descriptions of New Providence paint a commanding picture of life in the Bahamian community at the time my father was born. His Over-the-Hill explorations, prompted by the writings of William Drysdale (1852-1901), a New York Times journalist, remind me of my own experiences in that part of town in the 1950s. Not much had changed.

Powles wrote: “I want to take you into one of the little shops that abound on this island, and give you a close look at the people who buy things in them, and buy them, generally, in such small quantities that one is struck with wonder and admiration, at the shopkeeper, who has the patience to measure them out.

“Here is the shop we are to visit, just ahead of us. It is only one of a dozen we might have gone to, and I picked it out at random. It is not much of a place, architecturally, as we see, even before we go in. Indeed, it looks very much like some of the small board buildings put up in very young Western towns, not more than twelve feet square, one story high and with holes for windows which, at night, are closed with wooden shutters. But, it is a storehouse of good things, nevertheless.

“Here are hams, hanging from the ceiling, and strips of bacon; and here are barrels of salt pork, tubs of lard, barrels of sugar, caddies of tea, tins full of coffee, rows of bottles of ale and more rows of bottles of Sarsaparilla and ginger beer, bundles of cigars, a plateful of homemade cocoanut candy; and there stands part of a cheese, protected by a wire box and, nearby, a barrel of crackers. There are loaves of bread and tins of canned goods, an open barrel of flour, another of grits and a great

heap of bags of rice, part of a tub of butter, tins of ginger snaps and a big basket of corn. All these things are before and behind the counter, as if all the customers were honest as saints and would never touch anything they hadn’t bought. And, on the counter, are heaps of stalks of sugarcane, ready t be chewed by the first youngster who comes along with a small copper (small coin in Sterling currency).

“But here comes a customer – a bare-headed and bare-footed girl,

with an air, to tell us all that she doesn’t care for anybody or anything. She goes to the counter, takes coins out of her mouth and slaps them on the counter, with a bang.

‘Check lard,’ is all she says.

“New York grocery clerks would be staggered by such an order, but the storekeeper is not. He tears a small piece of brown paper, takes it to the lard tub, and squeezes it up. Handing the lard to the girl, he shoves the coins into the drawer and resumes the conversation with us.

“Another customer comes; a woman carrying a large wooden tray on her head, in which there are sundry parcels. Taking the tray down and resting it on the counter, she smilingly looks around the shop and says, ‘Good evenin’, boss; evenin’, gentlemen. How does you all do this evenin’?

“We all tell her ‘very well’ and enquire about her health/

‘I’s pretty well today, God bless. But it’s de firs’ day in a good while, please God. I’se had de feeber.’

Not a particular fever, but she has been ailing and every sickness is called the ‘feeber’.

“A donkey-cart rattles up to the door and stops with a flourish and a man bounces into the shop, saying, ‘Let me have a check of tobacco’.”

The book describes the lives of Blacks and whites in the Bahamas in forthright terms. It was critical of the sponging trade. Historians Michael Craton and Dr Gail Saunders wrote: “Only LD Powles among nineteenthcentury writers came close to providing an accurate explanation for the less fortunate aspects of Nassau’s social life.”

literary lives - Merle Haggard (1937 - 2016)

From outlaw to country icon

Sir Christopher Ondaatje writes about the iconic American country music singer, songwriter and guitarist. After being released from San Quentin State Prison in 1960 he launched a successful country music career and gained popularity with his songs about the working class. Between the 1960s and 1980s he had thirty-eight number one hits on the US country charts.

“There’s a rumour that there may be an attempt at organising a possible script for a series on my life, which, when you look at my police record, you’d have to have more than one hour to tell the story.”

- Merle Haggard

Merle Ronald Haggard was born in Oildale, California on April 6, 1937.

His parents had moved to California from their home in Checotah, Oklahoma during the Great Depression after their barn burned down in 1934.

They settled with their two elder children in an apartment in Bakersfield while his father was working for the Santa Fe Railroad. A woman who owned a boxcar in Oildale, a nearby town, told Haggard’s father about the possibility of converting it into a house. He remodelled it, and moved in, also purchasing the lot, where Merle Haggard was born.

In 1946, Haggard’s father died of a brain haemorrhage. Nine-year-old Haggard was deeply

affected by the loss and the event remained a pivotal event for the rest of his life. His older brother gave him his guitar when Merle was twelve and he taught himself to play it on his own, influenced by Bob Wills, Lefty Frizzell and Hank Williams. During the day, while his mother was out working, Haggard started getting into trouble. A spell in a juvenile detention centre did not correct him.

“It sounds like something from a Woody Guthrie song, but it’s true. I was raised in a freight car.”

- Merle Haggard

When he was thirteen, in 1950, he was caught stealing and writing bad cheques. He was sent to another juvenile detention centre.

In 1951, he ran away with his friend Bob Teague to Texas and they rode freight trains and hitchhiked through the state. Accused of robbery, they were sent to jail although they were not guilty.

They were released when the real robbers were caught. But the experience did not change them. They were again sent to a juvenile detention centre from which he and his friend escaped and headed to Modesto, California.

There they worked a series of labourer jobs, including potato truck driver, short order cook, hay pitcher and well shooter. His debut

performance was with Bob Teague in a Modesto bar where he was paid $5 and given free beer.

In 1951, Haggard returned to Bakersfield where he was again arrested for truancy and petty larceny and sent to another detention centre. After another escape he was sent to the Preston School of Industry, a high-security installation. He was released fifteen months later but was sent back for beating a local boy during a burglary attempt.

After Haggard’s release he and his friend Bob Teague went to a Lefty Frizzell concert. The two sat backstage and Haggard began to sing along. Hearing him from the stage, Frizzell refused to continue unless Haggard was allowed to sing first. Although unrehearsed, Haggard was well received, and he decided to pursue a career in music. At night he would sing and play in local bars, while working as a farmhand and in the oil fields during the day.

Married and plagued by financial issues, he tried to rob a Bakersfield roadhouse. He was caught, arrested, and sent to Bakersfield Jail. After an escape attempt he was transferred to San Quentin Prison on February 21, 1958. There he was prisoner number A 45200.

When he was in prison he learned that his wife was expecting another man’s child, which stressed

HAGGARD with his first wife Leona Hobbs

him psychologically. He was fired from a number of prison jobs and planned to escape along with another inmate “Rabbit” (James Kendrick) but was dissuaded by fellow inmates.

While at San Quentin, Haggard started a gambling and brewing racket with his cellmate. When he was caught drunk he was sent for a week to solitary confinement where he encountered Chessman, a death-row inmate.

Meanwhile, “Rabbit” James Kendrick had successfully escaped, only to shoot a police officer and be returned to San Quentin for execution.

Chessman’s predicament, along with the execution of “Rabbit” Kendrick, inspired Haggard to change his life. He earned a high school diploma and kept a steady job in the prison’s textile plant. He also played violin in the prison’s country music band.

Upon his release from San Quentin in 1960, Haggard started digging ditches for his brother’s electrical contracting company. Soon he was performing again and recording with Tally Records. The Bakersfield sound was developing over the overproduced Nashville sounds. Haggard’s first record for Tally was “Singing My Heart Out”. It was not a success and only 200 copies were pressed.

In 1962, Haggard wound up performing at a Wynn Stewart show in Las Vegas and heard Wynn’s “Sing a Sad Song”. He asked permission to record it and the single was a national hit in 1964. The following year he had a national hit with “My Friends Are Gonna Be Strangers”, written by Liz Anderson, mother of country star Lynn Anderson, and his career took off.

Haggard recorded “I’m a Lonesome Fugitive” with The Strangers. It was his first number one single written by Anderson.

“I didn’t realise how much his experience at San Quentin did to him. He was in a dark mood, and he never talked about it much.”

- Bonnie Owens Back-up singer who was married to Buck Owens

He eventually married Bonnie Owens and she backed up his singles “I’m a Lonesome Fugitive – Branded Man” (1967), “Sing Me Back Home”, and “The Legend of Bonnie and Clyde”. Producer Ken Nelson took a hands-off approach to Haggard.

“He called me ‘Mr Haggard’ and I was a little twenty-four, twenty-five-year old punk from Oildale. He gave me complete responsibility. If he’d jumped in and said, ‘Oh, you can’t do that – it would have destroyed me’.”

- Merle Haggard

HAGGARD and his second wife Bonnie Owens, who inspired his big hit ‘Today I Started Loving You Again’

SAN Quention Prison in the 1950s (Photo by Paul Popper)

Belles of the Ball

The 58th Annual Heart Ball, held on February 24th at the Baha Mar Convention Centre, saw our belles turned out in some stunning haute couture fashions and elegant frocks to help raise funds for a good cause. The ball was hosted with one idea in mind: “Repairing a child’s heart is a gift for life.”

In addition to an in-house raffle, silent auction and table prizes, there was live entertainment by the Ed Brice Orchestra, the Soulful Groovers, the RBDF Dance Band and DJ Gary “Super” Johnson.

The annual event is the biggest fundraiser for the Sir Victor Sassoon (Bahamas) Heart Foundation, which has been mending hearts since its inception in 1961.

As is tradition, the winner of the Lady Sassoon Golden Heart Award was announced during the ball.

Each year, the award is given to an individual who has given of selflessly of themselves over the years to positively impact the lives of others.

This year that honour went to Henry Dean, who is known in the community for his philanthropy and quiet contributions to those in need.

PATRICIA Umali

MONALISA McPhee Thompson

JASMINE Strachan

GINA DEAN, wife of honoree Henry Dean

DENOR McPhee

CHRISTINE Adderely

ANTONIA Tinker

animals

Animal matters

Kim Aranha

The saga of dogs in the Bahamas

Suddenly, the press has once again shone a beacon of truth on the vast amount of roaming dogs on the island of New Providence.

The Tribune interviewed me (representing the Bahamas Humane Society) and the following day they interviewed Laura Kimble of Baark.

Without consulting each other we both virtually said the same things. The Tribune also wrote an accompanying editorial.

This kind of coverage is wonderful. It brings awareness to a very serious problem that affects all the inhabitants of this country. This problem is a problem caused by humans, and with a little bit of effort, it is a problem that does not need to exist.

The Bahamas Humane Society and Baark formed an alliance, and with assistance from the US-based Animal Balance, under the familiar name Operation Potcake, we spayed and neutered 2,253 animals in eight days.

Yes, this is cause for great excitement; an astonishing accomplishment and we are all very happy about the results.

However, it came at a price.

The expenses were considerable: the food for our volunteers and animals, the medications, the trucks picking up and dropping off of the animals, security to keep out volunteers safe from the rampant crime (and we still had one volunteer be a victim of a carjacking), rental cars and so much more.

This all cost money that we had to raise; money we had to raise from kind and generous people; money spent to fix a problem created and caused by people who do not care.

We allow the general public to do as they wish with their animals.

The Animal Protection and Control Board was created for a reason; to be able to take these problems in hand and to assist to enforce the laws.

PET OF THE WEEK

( PHOTO BY JUDY YOUNG )

Laws you, may ask? What laws?

Oh, there are all the laws we need … and I am being assured that we are now going to enforce them. Really? An epiphany, you might say, Finally, a ray of light at the end of what has been a dreadfully long and dark tunnel for animal lovers and advocates alike.

There is so much that needs to be enforced.

There are cruelty cases that have to be heard in court, and the wicked, evil perpetrators need to get locked up!

The sadist, the bully, the serial killer all start with small animals and progress to humans: kids, the elderly, the homeless, women.

We need to be aware of this fact and stop this behaviour on day one.

One of the big contributors to this problem is the breeding in the

Dazzling Daphne

By The Bahamas Humane Society

Lovely Daphne enjoys going on the Wednesday/Saturday dog walks.

She’s smart and already knows some basic commands. Daphne enjoys the company of other dogs as well as people and would make a great addition to any home. Have you been looking for a smart girl to add to your life? Daphne might be the perfect ft. Come in to the Baha-

Bahamas; every backyard has a pair of breeding dogs.

There are bred and bred and bred, and alas, interbred, and we all know what that does to humans.

Well folks, I am here to tell you that it is the same with animals. They are out there breeding a bunch of very unstable dogs and when it happens to be a pit bull the results can be disastrous.

These breeders appear to have control over the public that is frankly astounding. They put three or four breeds together and give them the most ridiculous name with a couple of letters from each breed, claiming that they have “Doopoogoskys” (my invention, but totally plausible) for sale, purebred no less!

A purebred mongrel in essence, and there are poor unassuming clients pay-

mas Humane Society to meet her or call 3235138 for more information. Daphne looks forward to meeting you.

• The BHS Thrift Shop is open and ready to sell you all kinds of wonderful things! Books, clothing, housewares, giftware, art, and much more! Wednesday/ Thursday/Friday, 11am to 3pm, and Saturday 10am to 2pm. Bring your bag!

ing hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars for a dog with the same lineage as our street dogs

These breeding enterprises are everywhere. The poor females are overbred and are frequently discarded when they are no longer “useful”.

The conditions are disgraceful. The dogs are often kept in box like cages. The puppies are sold, the secret code and word of choice is “rehomed” to the highest bidder.

Many people in positions of authority are benefitting from this practice so it doesn’t end.

The Animal Protection and Control Board has an entire section dedicated to breeders and breeding kennels and we need to start the licencing of breeding kennels. These licences would have to be awarded to kennels that meet certain requirements.

The housing of the dogs, the frequency the females are mated at, the medical papers, the lineage.. so much that is ignored today.

As we move forward with the assurance of our new Minister of Agriculture that things are going to change at last, I hold my breath in hope and vow to work alongside the government in the hopes that we can finally make a difference, this does not need to be a problem. In five years, numbers could reach a manageable amount. Tourists will no longer complain about the roaming dogs everywhere.

It is not rocket science, but it requires the committed involvement of everybody, not just a committed few.

Let’s see what the next few months bring.

The Weekend Fashion Report 30th Annual SAG Awards

With Karin Herig and Cara Hunt

FAIL

Ayo Edebiri (“The Bear”)

Karin says: “She’s the woman of the hour when it comes to television, but you wouldn’t know it from this rather drab ensemble. I actually really like the structure and the flow of the dress, but the black and white pattern makes it look like a reappropriated table cloth.”

Cara says: “The problem that I have with this dress is that it’s just shapeless; there is nothing to really like or dislike. I like the black and white pattern, but it just looks like when you hop off the couch and wrap your favourite blanket around you to head to the kitchen.”

FAIL

Margot Robbie (“Barbie”)

Karin says: “I guess you could say this is something Barbie would wear, and probably pull off as well, but I’m not sure it works in real life. The black Schiaparelli mini dress is, of course, very basic, so you need the voluminous shoulder detail to make it pop, but did it have to resemble a bunchedup bed quilt quite this much?”

Cara says: “We all know that Barbie is wardrobe goals, but this may be one of the items that she should put in the ‘to-go’ pile. I think the most off -putting thing is the pink band around her waist; it cuts Margot in half. I just think that the ruffle detail looks obnoxious rather than stylish.”

SPLIT

Ali Wong (“Beef”)

Karin says: “I welcome celebs taking chances on the red carpet, but sometimes it just doesn’t pay off. While Ali certainly got a lot of attention for wearing this elaborate laser-cut Iris Van Herpen gown, I’m just reminded of a giant exotic bird, or an artistic fountain. She looks a bit mad, to be honest.”

Cara says: “I’m gonna go for it...I love it. Yes, it’s ridiculous, but when you remove the peacock feathers thing the dress is actually really pretty. She brought drama to the red carpet without the drama being nudity. And she has the personality to pull it off. She had the prettiest smile in every picture you see of her in the dress.”

HIT Halle Bailey (“The Colour Purple”)

Karin says: “Bravo! She’s repping both of her big movies. A shade of plum for ‘The Colour Purple’ and a mermaid-tailed silhouette for ‘The Little Mermaid’. And while it’s maybe a bit more of a bridesmaid dress than high fashion, the new young mom looks lovely in it. The colour really suits her.”

Cara says: “Our new momma looks stunning, and yes, she is showcasing both her big films this year. That shade of purple is really pretty on her. I like the dress; it’s not the most amazing dress ever, but it’s simple and elegant. And let’s take a moment to obsess over her jewellery designed by Joseph Saidian & Sons.”

HIT

Brie Larson (“The Marvels”)

Karin says: “I absolutely this hue of pink on her! So pretty. I’m normally not a fan of crop tops on the red carpet, but this shrug-like top really works for some reason. I love how the criss-cross element is echoed in the skirt as well. Plus, this Versace ensemble really allows her to show off her abs.”

Cara says: “Brie looks lovely. That colour is so pretty and the two-piece look really works for her. It has just enough detail that it looks finished and not just like a dress cut in half, if that makes sense.”

(Photos by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)