04182023 WEEKEND

Festival to fight hunger SoundWaves aims to raise $15,000

By JEFFARAH GIBSON | Tribune Features Writer | jgibson@tribunemedia.net

FIGHTING hunger through a celebration of music, art and entertainment is the goal of the upcoming SoundWaves Festival which is inviting people to enjoy local talent for a worthy cause.

The Festival to Fight Hunger is slated for April 22 from 3pm-1am at The Palm (formerly Philosophy Smokehouse) on Nelson Road, near the Serenity housing development. The event is also being hosted in partnership with The Palm.

The event will support the efforts of Hands For Hunger and the Bahamas Feeding Network - both organisations that help fight hunger in the country.

SoundWaves, in partnership with the Rotary Club of East Nassau, seeks to raise $15,000, which will be equally shared between both organisations.

This is the first time that SoundWaves is teaming up with Hands For Hunger and the Bahamas Feeding Network.

“We are very excited to support such a worthy cause,” said Tim Daniels, founder of SoundWaves.

The festival will feature 20 musical acts as well as local visual artists and vendors. The musicians who will be featured in this unique showcase

come from a wide variety of genres, including rock, soca, reggae, R&B, hip hop, punk and pop.

Artists expected to perform include Patrice Murell, SoundWaves veterans such as Pineapple Down, Foreign Sound, Sherwood Rahming, and Tanisha Sweeting, who have been perfecting their performances and have new music to bring to the stage this year.

Artist ZAAFiRA is also returning from performing in Europe.

During the event, several newcomers who are making waves in the music industry will also take to the stage: the jazz ensemble The Village Band; the soulful acts Tonique and Kezia Noriega, and Shad Fer with his unique sound and energy.

Other entertainment will be provided by DJ BGinns and DJ Rinsa.

As SoundWaves is all about melding the arts, there will be artwork on display from Durelle Williams, Navarro Newton, Justin Moultre, Nameless Dylan and others.

Food will be available from local vendors including The New Duff, Kneady Pizza, the Rotary Hamburger Truck and Eat Meh Taco.

The event is a kid-friendly event, as there will also be face painting and a balloon artist/magician.

Tim said they are hoping to raise much more than $15,000 to help eradicate hunger in the Bahamas.

“We feel that supporting Hands For Hunger and the Bahamas Feeding Network is extremely important at the moment. Many are still suffering from the economic downturn from COVID lockdowns. Inflation is skyrocketing, causing the cost of food and other goods to rise rapidly. As a result, people are suffering and need our support. We are excited to do what we can to help,” he told Tribune Weekend.

SoundWaves is an events company that promotes original music, art and poetry made in the Bahamas. Its series include the annual SoundWaves Original Festival, SoundWaves Café (mini festivals held several times a year), SoundWaves Presents, Acoustic Brunch (weekly), and Fire and Flow Hip Hop/Reggae (currently on hiatus). However, it also offers support and community for local musicians and artists.

Giving back is nothing new for SoundWaves, as past concert series have been held to support those impacted by Hurricane Dorian, victims of the Jennie Street fire and other causes.

Tim hopes Bahamians will come out and enjoy the intersection of music, art and entertainment that the event will feature.

“SoundWaves is much more than just a concert. It is a festival that celebrates all forms of art and entertainment. What makes us unique is the variety of acts and vendors you will get to experience. We aim to create an atmosphere where all are welcome and there is something for everyone,” he said.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to be exposed to something new and exciting.”

SoundWaves is aiming to make this festival “the best yet.”

“We have an incredible lineup of musicians and the biggest and best staging we have had yet for them to perform on,” said Tim.

“People should jump at the chance to attend a fantastic and unique experience where they can see twenty musical acts, check out some fantastic art, support local vendors, and grab some delicious food and drinks.”

For more information, visit the website www.SoundWavesOriginal. com.

PATRICE Murrell

PINEAPPLE Down SHAD Fer

Bahamas Bridal Show still helping to make wedding dreams come true

By JEFFARAH GIBSON | Tribune Features Writer | jgibson@tribunemedia.net

With wedding season kicking into gear, the Bahamas Bridal Show could not be occurring at a better time. The event, scheduled for April 16 at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, seeks to arm discerning brides and grooms with all the tools and right vendors needed to pull off a uniquely personalised wedding day with minimal headache or overspending.

It’s no secret; planning a wedding is a huge undertaking and without the right knowledge of where to begin, the task can seem insurmountable.

Breaking down the wedding planning process into manageable and bite-sized segments by putting couples right in front of all the vendors who can make their wedding wishes come true, is what the Bahamas Bridal Show aims to do.

And one of the main reasons the team at Buttons Bridal and Formal Wear keep bringing the event back – it is now in its 33rd season – is because it eases the burden of planning for couples.

Considered the longest-running social event in the Bahamas, the Bridal Show boasts of more than 40 of the country’s most distinguished wedding and home suppliers. The event will also feature the highly anticipated bridal and formal wear fashion showcase.

The best way to make the most of the experience is to come armed with many questions, according to Tommy Stubbs, executive producer and founder of the event.

“As couples plan to attend the show, it’s time to compile questions. Where’s the best venue, cake designer, florist, caterer, DJ and musicians, MC, videographer, wedding planner? When to make deposits and final payments?,” he said.

It is even helpful before attending the event to consider the look and feel of the wedding you want, he advised.

Mr Stubbs suggests thinking about the formality of the wedding, the time of day you want to host your wedding, whether it will be indoor or outdoor, the budget considerations, and the number of guests are great starting points.

Waiting to greet couples, their families and friends will be Sapodilla Estate, Fusion Superplex, Liquid Courage, Courtyard by Marriott, BTC Business, Bertha’s Catering, Warwick Paradise Island, Allure Jewels International, Buttons Bridal & Formal Wear, Bristol Wines & Spirits, Sandyport Beach Resort and others.

“Again, we have done our due diligence to assemble many of the finest retail businesses in

the Bahamas to participate in the bridal show,” said Mr Stubbs.

“Engaged couples deserve nothing less. They’re going to love what we’ve planned for them.”

Under the theme “All My Love,” this year’s Bridal Show is dedicated to helping couples and their families focus on financial responsibilities, and of course, love.

“We know how excited couples feel when begin preparing to take the big steps to becoming husband and wife, which is a very honourable gesture,” said Makeva Wallace, the show’s coordinator and wedding planner.

“But planning a wedding can be overwhelming for most.”

While the expense of a wedding is majorly influenced by guest count, another aspect of weddings that can get expensive is formal wear. The fashion show, she said, will showcase affordable formal wear and wedding gowns for couples to choose from.

It will also feature this year’s poster couple Dorese and Taffie Darling.

“We plan to present a variety of styles and colours to give couples choices from which to decide for the bridal parties, men and women. Our fashion show will feature the latest trends in wedding attire for the whole wedding party,” said Ms Wallace.

“Before shopping for gowns, brides need ideas of what styles they like. Whether they like short gowns or long trails, lace, sheer and tulle. The men’s attires are often decided on by the bride.”

During the fashion show, brides will see different colour schemes. Learn how to hold bouquets, and learn the difference between a processional and a recessional in the traditional wedding ceremony.

At the end of the event, one lucky couple will walk away with the grand prize.

“We pride ourselves on giving away $30,000 in gifts and prizes, and this year is no exception,” said Ms Wallace.

“We know the struggles of most couples wanting to wed, and that’s part of the reason we do the show.”

Organisers hope that the event will inspire brides and groom to also shop at home and help boost Bahamian businesses.

Couples are encouraged to register their weddings online at buttonsformalwear.com to win their share of the gifts and prizes.

Dinetia Dean

After starring in several local ads and a few TV productions, this young actress is about to hit the big time in Hollywood. She tells Alesha Cadet about meeting Tyler Perry and getting to work with a noted filmmaker on an upcoming movie about a boxing legend.

Over the years, Dinetia Dean has tried her hand at acting, singing, writing and modelling. She has worked with notable brands such as Toyota, Motorola and Ole Henriksen Skincare for national commercials.

However, it seems she is now about to experience her biggest break to date.

Dinetia will appear in the upcoming Sony film “Big George Foreman” , which is being touted as the true story behind the greatest boxing comeback of all time.

The biographical sports drama , which debuts in theatres on April 28, focuses on the life of world heavyweight boxing champion George Foreman, played by Khris Davis. It also stars Oscar winner Forest Whitaker, Sonja Sohn (The Wire), and Lawrence Gilliard, Jr (The Wire, The Walking Dead).

Before embarking on her remarkable journey that led to Hollywood, Dinetia dazzled in commercials, talent showcases, theatre plays, pageants, and ad campaigns.

Fearlessly exploring new horizons, she relocated to the United States, where her tenacity and determination opened doors for her to work with acclaimed filmmakers such as George Tillman Jr, the director of her upcoming film, and Tyler Perry in his comedy show “Bruh”.

She describes herself as a spirited globetrotter with an insatiable thirst for exploration, adventure, diverse cultures, and a deep love of storytelling. With an infectious zest for life, she constantly pushes boundaries to experience life’s thrills. As a health and wellness enthusiast and entrepreneur, Dinetia seeks to inspire others to embrace their own audacious journeys.

Growing up in Nassau, she attended Prince William Junior High and Queen’s College High School. She them studied Film and Television at the prestigious Savannah

College of Art And Design. In her senior year, she took a summer film course at the New York Film Academy and landed an internship at BET, working as a production assistant on the iconic hip hop and R&B music video show “106 & Park”.

This was her very first experience working in TV.

Since moving to Los Angeles, Dineta said she has to sometimes stop herself and think: there were literally hundreds of people that auditioned for roles that she ended up booking.

“I used to have a hard time celebrating my wins, but luckily, I have good friends who keep me in check and remind me to put things into perspective. I’m doing better at it now,” she told Tribune Weekend.

“But speaking of wins, right before the pandemic, I booked my first ever co-starring role on TV for the show called ‘Bruh’ on BET, created and directed by Tyler Perry. To this day, I remember sitting in my Nana’s house in Great Harbour Cay watching Madea with my aunt and Nana, so to walk in the room and have him say yes to my audition and then ultimately direct me in the show was a really surreal moment,” said Dinetia.

Dinetia said she was so nervous to watch herself when the show aired. She said it is a very peculiar feeling when you realise that everything you’ve dreamed of is possible and within reach.

But her episodes on ‘Bruh’ gave Dinetia the assurance to keep going, to know that she does have what it takes and that she is definitely on the right path.

Landing her biggest role to date, in the film “Big George Foreman”, also shows her that she is on her way.

Talking a bit about her role, she said: “In the film, I get to steal George’s heart for a moment during the time of his historical fight against Joe Frazier in Jamaica. It’s a pivotal moment in his life, and definitely one of the shining moments in my career.

When I got the initial audition, I was told that they wouldn’t be filming in Los Angeles but in New Orleans instead, and they wanted someone who was local for the role.”

Not to be deterred, Dinetia still sent in her audition tape to the casting director.

When she received a call-back after a second audition, Dinetia said she assured the casting team that she was based in New Orleans – a harmless deception to help her get the part.

“Girl, I had never even been to New Orleans,” she joked. “But I booked the job and got the role. So, I flew myself there and put myself up in a hotel to shoot the film. Unfortunately, one of my scenes was an outdoor scene that got rained out, so production had to reschedule the entire week of shooting, which meant I would have to hang around until they needed me again, which could’ve been weeks later, but my pockets weren’t set up for that. Thankfully, after a few days, they finalised the alternate shooting dates with my manager. I flew back to LA and told them that I’d recently moved there. Long story short, production was happy to fly me back and put me up, but I basically fought for the role and bet on myself, and it paid off,” she said.

Dinetia said is incredibly grateful for the experience.

“As actors, we devote hours and hours of not just physical work and exercise, but emotional labour as well. Then we have to look the part; that could mean getting an entirely new wardrobe if it’s super specific like a period film or TV show you’re auditioning for; that’s hair and makeup. Sometimes it’s working on an accent too. We’re memorising

this weekend in history

April 14

• In 1895, US President Abraham Lincoln is shot in the head at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, DC , just after the effective end of the American Civil War. The assassin, actor John Wilkes Booth, shouted, “Sic semper tyrannis! (Ever thus to tyrants!) The South is avenged.” Lincoln died the next morning. He was 56.

the lines and doing deep character analysis. Not to mention, if you’re brave enough to do the self-tape at home, which is the standard for auditions since COVID-19, you then have to get all of the technicalities right. Light, sound, and more. Do that several times a week and sometimes multiple auditions a day, and sometimes you don’t hear anything, which obviously means you didn’t get the role. Or you can even get a callback and have a director’s session – which has happened to me several times – and still not book the job for whatever reason, it can take a toll on you mentally and physically,” she said.

So to get a “yes” for a role in a project of this magnitude, in a Sony film starring Forest Whitaker, directed by George Tillman Jr, who directed notable films like “Soul

• In 1939, American author John Steinbeck publishes his classic “The Grapes of Wrath”, which set during the Great Depression and traces the migration of an Oklahoma Dust Bowl family to California.

April 15

• In 1912, at 2.20am, the luxury ocean liner Titanic sinks to the bottom of the North Atlantic Ocean after hitting an iceberg two and a half hours before. More than 1,500 people went down with the sinking ship or froze to death in the icy waters.

• In 1947, Jackie Robinson breaks baseball’s racial barrier by becoming the first African American player

Food”, “Notorious,” and “Men of Honor”, and to know that everyone in the chain of command, from the casting director to the director and the producers, agreed to casting her, feels very gratifying, she said.

“Hollywood is a small town. This is a historical film. I’d like to think that many people will see the movie, and this role would only add to my portfolio of work that can be leveraged to open doors for even more opportunities.”

When asked what advice would she give to young Bahamian women with aspirations of pursuing an acting career, Dinetia said, “Build a portfolio: one that showcases your work as an actor.”

“Have your headshots, resumes, demo reels and clips from performances. Put yourself on tape doing scenes. Shoot a web series. Do Instagram acting reels. Leverage social

media. Get creative and create your own opportunities.”

Dinetia said it’s important to always be persistent, professional and prepared: “Show up on time, know your lines, and be respectful to everyone on set. Do background work when the major production companies come down to shoot. Be a production assistant even. Just get the experience of being on set.”

But most importantly, she said: “Stay true to yourself. Don’t compromise your values or beliefs for a role. Be true to yourself and choose roles that align with your values, and take calculated risks when necessary. Believe in yourself and your abilities as an actor. It takes a lot of courage to pursue a career in the entertainment industry, but with hard work, dedication, persistence, and surrounding yourself with the right people on your team professionally and personally, you can achieve your goals. It is possible and it’s yours for the taking.”

She is excited to announce that a pilot she booked and worked on in Vancouver, Canada, for NBC, got picked up and is now moving into production. The drama series is called “The Irrational” and follows a world-renowned professor of behavioral science as he lends his expertise to an array of high-stakes cases involving governments, law enforcement and corporations. The show is inspired by Dan Ariely’s novel “Predictably Irrational”. Dinetia plays the younger version of one of the lead FBI agents.

She is also working on her own projects, which she is looking forward to sharing with Tribune readers in the near future.

and playing in his first major league game for the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field.

April 16

• In 1912, American aviator Harriet Quimby becomes the first woman to fly across the English Channel, guiding her French Blériot monoplane from Dover, England, to Hardelot, France.

• In 1943, the hallucinogenic effects of LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide) are discovered by Swiss chemist Dr Albert Hofmann after he accidentally takes a dose. He created the synthetic psychedelic drug in 1938.

JOHN Wilkes Booth

DINETIA in Tyler Perry’s ‘Bruh’

14 Furious, 16 Escort, 17 Sleep, 20 Muse.

THE ALPHABEATER

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

O S L S I U A A C

●

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.

TODAY’S TARGET

Good 7; very good 11; excellent 14 (or more). Solution tomorrow

Yesterday’s Sudoku Answer

Target solution *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.

CRYPTIC PUZZLE

Across

1 Failing of trendy company (6)

4 Charming Arab about to swindle the French? (8)

9 Notes clever point made (6)

10 Surely and firmly the lady ties a knot (8)

12 Worker hurt back in part of industrial Germany (4)

13 They come to light (5)

14 She has a hole in a sandal perhaps (4)

17 Close call from a steppedon piglet? (6,6)

20 Capital cover for hunters (12)

23 Part of the church in a pseudo Gothic style (4)

24 Pick up something exclusive (5)

25 Thought I’d half of each (4)

28 A number claim it is changeable like the weather (8)

29 V sign shows one is not in agreement (6)

30 Cry and sing about housework (8)

31 It introduces a wrong denial (4-2)

Down

1 Taking cover (8)

2 Down here fast changes are required (8)

3 Utterly wrapped up in something? (4)

5 Where one buys at the lowest prices (5,7)

6 Stroked we hear in a way (4)

7 Note superficial pollution (6)

8 Rarely seen part of the French president’s residence (6)

11 It’s a put-up job (12)

15 Adores an anagram to solve (5)

16 Posts a slim package (5)

18 A blow that has to be faced (8)

19 He’ll kill animals in the end (8)

21 Reels perhaps or takes certain steps (6)

22 Have ambitions for a high place in the church (6)

26 Beheaded it would be even more venomous (4)

27 Speed unions insist upon to get the job done (4)

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. Across 1 Contemptibly small (6)

Yesterday’s Easy Solution

Across: 1 Awful, 4 Cabbage, 8 For, 9 Two shakes, 10 Intense, 11 Abbey, 13 Toss-up, 15 On hold, 18 Opera, 19 Address, 21 Third-rate, 23 Pal, 24 Rapidly, 25 Money.

Down: 1 Afflict, 2 Foretaste, 3 Latin, 4 Clover, 5 Bahrain, 6 Ask, 7 Essay, 12 Be one up on, 14 Unaided, 16 Display, 17 Vagary, 18 Otter, 20 Dream, 22 Imp.

Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution

Across: 1 Cells, 4 Suppose, 8 End, 9 Strapping, 10 Tackles, 11 Erred, 13 Spoors, 15 Assail, 18 Costs, 19 Sapling, 21 Pointless, 23 Bye, 24 Impress, 25 Sides.

Down: 1 Creates, 2 Ludicrous, 3 Sisal, 4 Stress, 5 Peppers, 6 Obi, 7 Edged, 12 Read in bed, 14 Rosette, 16 Luggers, 17 Aspens, 18 Capri, 20 Pests, 22 Imp.

EASY PUZZLE

Down

1 Reduction in price (4-4)

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. Solution

4 Good-natured friendliness (8)

9 Yield to compassion (6)

10 Directly (8)

12 Cold and damp (4)

13 Take keen delight in (5)

14 Knock senseless (4)

17 Justifiably (6,6)

23 Implement (4)

2 Comprehensively (2,6)

3 Short letter (4)

5 In a mood for a fight (2,3,7)

6 To cure (4)

7 Powerful (6)

8 Magnitude (6)

11 Person’s deepest emotions (12)

15 Obstinately opinionated person (5)

16 Chocolate drink (5)

18 Ponder (8)

19 Breakdown (8)

21 Workroom of painter (6)

22 Pamper (6)

26 Frustrate (4)

27 Extended in duration (4)

targEt thE a

CAN you crack the Alphabeater? Each grid number represents a letter – or black square. As in Alphapuzzle, every letter of the alphabet is used. But you have to complete the grid too! Use the given letters and black squares below the grid to start. The grid is ‘rotationally symmetrical’ – in other words, it looks the same if you turn the page upside down. Solution tomorrow

polygraph apply aryl galop gaol glop glory glyph goal halo holy largo opal oral palp play plop ploy polar poly POLYGRAPH polyp poplar propyl royal

across: Jackboot, Hooray, Pontoon, Ado, Awe, Cherry, Nausea, down: Hooligan, Bravado, Atishoo, Devotee Manifest.

Yesterday’s Kakuro Answer

● Alternatively, for six Extra Letter clues to your mobile, text DXBEAT to 64343. Texts cost £1 plus your usual operator

New on shelves this week

• The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson

Jason Bourne meets epic fantasy in this adventure that throws an amnesiac wizard into time travel shenanigans—where his only hope of survival lies in recovering his missing memories.

A man awakes in a clearing in what appears to be medieval England with no memory of who he is, where he came from, or why he is there. Chased by a group from his own time, his sole hope for survival lies in regaining his missing memories, making allies among the locals, and perhaps even trusting in their superstitious boasts. His only help from the “real world” should have been a guidebook entitled The Frugal Wizard’s Handbook for Surviving Medieval England, except his copy exploded during transit. The few fragments he managed to save provide clues to his situation, but can he figure them out in time to survive?

• The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda

Seven hours in the past. Seven days in the present. Seven survivors remaining. Who would you save?

A decade ago, two vans filled with high school seniors on a school service trip crashed into a Tennessee ravine—a tragedy that claimed the lives of multiple classmates and teachers. The nine students who managed to escape the river that night were irrevocably changed. A year later, after one of the survivors

dies by suicide on the anniversary of the crash, the rest of them make a pact: to come together each year to commemorate that terrible night. Their annual meeting place, a house on the Outer Banks, has long been a refuge. But by the tenth anniversary, Cassidy Bent has worked to distance herself from the tragedy, and from the other survivors. She’s changed her mobile number. She’s blocked the others’ email addresses. This year, she is determined to finally break ties once and for all. But on

‘Game of Thrones’ prequel and ‘Harry Potter’ series are a go

The Associated Press

Warner Bros Discovery is sticking with safe bet franchises that will likely lure viewers, including a “Harry Potter” series and a “Game of Thrones” prequel for its rebranded Max streaming service. Executives touted Max and made original Warner Bros. Discovery programming announcements on Wednesday during a presentation for journalists and investors. The $16-per-month service will be released May 23 in the US and automatically replace the company’s existing HBO Max.

The “Harry Potter” series is described as a “faithful retelling” of the books about the boy wizard by J K Rowling, featuring a new cast.

Each season is intended to focus on one of the seven books, though Max anticipates stretching the series to a decade-long run.

Max also announced it is that has ordered a “Game of Thrones” prequel called “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight,” set in Westeros 100 years prior to the events of “Game of Thrones.” It’s based on fantasy novellas by George R. R. Martin, which follow the adventures of a knight named Ser Duncan the Tall (known as Dunk) and Aegon V Targaryen (called Egg). Martin will serve as an executive producer and writer on the series alongside Ira Parker.

“House of the Dragon” also a “Game of Thrones” prequel, has

begun production on its second season for HBO.

the day of the reunion, she receives a text with an obituary attached: another survivor is gone. Now they are seven—and Cassidy finds herself hurling back toward the group, wild with grief—and suspicion.

• The Nanny by Lana Ferguson

After losing her job and being on the brink of eviction, Cassie Evans finds herself with two choices: get a new job (and fast) or fire up her long-untouched OnlyFans account. But there are no jobs to be found, and as for OnlyFans. . . . Well, there are reasons she can’t go back. Just when all hope seems lost, an ad for a live-in nanny position seems the solution to all her problems. It’s almost too perfect—until she meets her would-be employer.

Aiden Reid, executive chef and DILF extraordinaire is far from the stuffy single dad Cassie was imagining. She is shocked when he tells her she’s the most qualified applicant he’s met in weeks, practically begging her to take the job. With hands that make her hindbrain howl and eyes that scream sex, the idea of living under the same roof as Aiden feels dangerous, but with no other option, she decides to stay with him and his adorably tenacious daughter, Sophie.

Other announcements included a series based on the Penguin character in “The Batman”, which is now in production with Colin Farrell resuming his role and another comedy set in the “Big Bang Theory” universe from Chuck Lorrie, both for Max.

When, how and why to prune

Good day, gardeners!

The rain is doing us lots of favours and it is very much needed to replenish our water cisterns and the groundwater.

With these rains we’ve had a bit of breeze and I’d like to touch on the importance of tree maintenance again. Living in a region prone to powerful storms, including hurricanes, requires diligent tree maintenance to mitigate potential wind damage.

Pruning trees is a crucial aspect of tree care that can help protect them from wind damage and ensure their health and longevity in the face of adverse weather conditions.

The Bahamas, like many other coastal regions, experiences the full force of tropical storms and hurricanes that can bring strong winds and heavy rains. These powerful weather events can cause significant damage to trees, including broken branches, uprooting, and even complete tree failure. Pruning trees in preparation for the windy season is an essential practice that can reduce the risk of damage and help trees withstand the powerful forces of nature.

One of the main objectives of pruning trees for wind resistance is to reduce their vulnerability to breakage. Trees with dense canopies are more susceptible to wind damage as the wind can get trapped in the foliage, exerting excessive force on the branches and the tree as a whole.

Regular pruning can thin out the canopy, allowing wind to pass through more easily and reducing the risk of branch breakage or uprooting. Did anyone see the massive pines come down in The Masters golf tournament? It happens.

When pruning for wind resistance, it’s important to focus on removing weak, dead, or diseased branches. These branches are more likely to break or become dislodged during strong winds, potentially causing damage to property or posing a safety risk to people. Pruning should also involve removing branches with narrow crotch angles, as these are prone to splitting under pressure. By removing these weak branches, the tree’s overall structure is strengthened, making it more resilient to wind damage.

Another crucial aspect of pruning for wind resistance is to raise the crown of the tree. The crown is the upper part of the tree that includes the branches and leaves. Raising the crown by removing lower branches can help reduce the risk of these branches breaking or being uprooted during a storm.

In addition to pruning for wind resistance, it’s also essential to choose the right species of trees for planting in the Bahamas.

Native tree species are often better adapted to the local climate and soil conditions, making them more resilient to wind and other environmental stresses. Trees with a sturdy and deep root system are also preferable as they can better anchor the tree to the ground and reduce the risk of uprooting during high winds. This can be impossible to achieve in some situations where the native soil is very shallow. It’s recommended to rip up the rock to allow roots to penetrate deeper to get a better hold. It’s crucial to follow proper pruning practices, such as making clean cuts,

avoiding unnecessary pruning, and not topping trees, as improper pruning can weaken the tree and increase its vulnerability to wind damage.

Pruning trees for wind resistance is not only a practical measure to protect against potential damage, but it also promotes overall tree health and vitality. Pruning helps improve air circulation and sunlight penetration, which can reduce the risk of diseases and pests. It also stimulates new growth and helps maintain the natural shape and form of the tree, enhancing its aesthetic appeal. I cannot stress enough the importance of correct tree maintenance. If practiced, a strong tree can last for countless generations, providing shade and shelter for birds, as well as food for the birds and in

the case of fruit trees, food for your family and your friends!

On another note, indoor plants will respond wonderfully if they are moved outside and put into the rain.

Be sure to move them back in before the sun reappears to avoid scalding the leaves that are acclimatized to low light. Whatever you’re growing, be sure to prune properly, especially the larger trees! You’ll avoid many headaches down the road in doing so.

As always, I wish you happy gardening!

• Adam Boorman is the nursery manager at Fox Hill Nursery on Bernard Road. You can contact him with any questions you may have, or topics you would like to see discussed, at gardening242@gmail.com.

By The Associated Press MOVIES

— “Cocaine Bear” was technically inspired by a true story — a 1985 plane crash that scattered some $2 million worth of cocaine across Georgia hillsides and resulted in the death of a 175-pound black bear, who overdosed. The film, however, is pure fantasy about what might have happened if the bear went on a coke rampage instead of dying. After its wild trailer went viral, the R-rated pic directed by Elizabeth Banks and starring Keri Russell and O’Shea Jackson Jr. left audiences somewhat divided. Some thought it a B-movie delight, others were left cold by the excess. And today, via Peacock, you can access it at home to decide for yourself.

— Katie Holmes directs and stars in “Rare Objects,” an adaptation of a novel by Kathleen Tessaro about a woman with a traumatic past trying

to rebuild her life starting with a new job at a New York antique shop. Holmes has been working on making this film since 2016, and her adaptation moves the story from its Depression-era Boston origins to contemporary New York. In an interview with Variety, Holmes said she was drawn “to the female friendship and this metaphor of ‘you are more beautiful for having been broken.’” The film opens in theaters and on demand on Friday.

— Also on demand is “Linoleum,” a science fiction drama starring Jim Gaffigan as a children’s television host who dreams of being an astronaut. The film, which premiered to favorable reviews at South by Southwest last year, turns into fantasy when a satellite lands in his backyard and he starts to try to build it into a rocket of his own. Rhea Seehorn co-stars.

– AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr

TELEVISION

— Four months after surviving a serious snowplow accident in Nevada, Jeremy Renner’s four-part series “Rennervations” debuts on Disney+ on Wednesday. The twotime Oscar nominee, who plays Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, will repurpose, and refurbish vehicles, to assist local communities. Examples include making a water treatment facility out of a delivery truck and transforming a tour bus into a mobile music studio. He’s assisted by celebrity friends including fellow Marvel star Anthony Mackie and Vanessa Hudgens. Renner is so passionate about “Rennervations” that he plans to attend a red carpet on Tuesday in Los Angeles for the show’s premiere.

— It’s never too early to teach children about protecting the planet and a new educational series coming to Apple TV+ called “Jane” aims to do just that. “Jane” aims to introduce kids to the ideals and work of primatologist and conservationist, Dr Jane Goodall. The series is a combo of live action and CGI and stars Ava Louise Murchison as nine-year-old Jane Garcia, who is passionate about protecting the

environment and saving endangered animals. Using her creativity and imagination, Jane takes her best friends David and a chimpanzee named Greybeard on adventures around the globe to help rescue wild animals. “Jane” premieres globally today on the streaming service.

– Alicia Rancilio

VIDEO GAMES

— The 1982 movie “Tron” wasn’t a huge success, but it seems like everyone who did see it became a computer game designer. One such acolyte is Mike Bithell, creator of the award-winning indie games Thomas Was Alone and Subsurface Circular. His Bithell Games studio is behind Tron: Identity, a new cyberpunk adventure from Disney. In an abandoned sector of the Grid that’s evolved in weird ways, your character is a “detective program” named Query assigned to investigate a break-in and robbery. It’s a dialog-driven mystery broken up by defragging puzzles, and its neoninfused look is bound to appeal to anyone who grew up on PC games of the 1980s and ’90s. Plug in Tuesday on Nintendo Switch and PC.

– Lou Kesten

New this week: Jeremy Renner, ‘Jane’ and ‘Cocaine Bear’

(IFC Films_Shout Factory_Disney+_Universal via AP)

literary lives – Eartha Kitt (1927 - 2008)

Beyond Catwoman –Singer, actor, activist

Sir Christopher Ondaatje delves into the enigmatic career of the American singer known for her distinctive singing style, who had six Top 30 hits in the US including “C’est si bon” and “I Want to be Evil”, as well as and the Christmas novelty song “Santa Baby”.

“I Wanna be evil, I Wanna spit tacks

I Wanna be evil, and cheat at jacks

I Wanna be wicked, I Wanna tell lies

I Wanna be mean, and throw mud pies”

– Eartha Kitt I Want to be Evil

Eartha Mae Keith was born on January 17, 1927, in the small town of North, in South Carolina. Her mother Annie Mae Keith was of Cherokee and African descent. Although she had little knowledge of her father, it was alleged that he was the son of the owner of the farm where she was born and that Kitt was conceived by rape.

British journalist John Williams claimed that Kitt’s father was a white man – a local doctor named Daniel Sturkie. Kitt’s mother soon went to live with a Southern man who refused to accept Eartha because of her fair complexion. She was raised by a relative named Aunt Rosa where she was abused. After the death of Annie Mae Keith, she was sent to another relative named Mamie Kitt, who may have been her biological mother, in Harlem, New York City, where she attended the Metropolitan Vocational High School.

A talented singer with a distinctive voice, she started her career as a member of the Katherine Dunham Company in 1943 and when she was only a teenager recorded the hits “Let’s Do It”, “C’est si bon”, “Monotonous”, “Love for Sale”, and “Under the Bridges of Paris”. Her most recognisable early hit was “Santa Baby”, released in 1953.

She was fluent in many languages, including French achieved during her years performing in Europe, and German and Dutch from her stepfather. Her style was enhanced as she sang in several dialects. Diana Ross said that she based her look and sound on Eartha Kitt.

Orson Welles gave Kitt her first starring role as Helen of Troy in his staging Dr. Faustus. In 1952, she participated in the revue New Faces and sang “Monotonous” and “Bal, Petit Bal”. Twentieth

Century Fox issued a filmed version of New Faces. “C’est si bon”, “Monotonous” and “Santa Baby” were the most popular hits. It was alleged that Orson Welles and Kitt had an affair during the performance of Shinbone Alley in 1957, but Kitt denied this in an interview with Vanity Fair in 2001 with George Wayne.

“I never had sex with Orson Welles. It was a working situation and nothing else.”

– Eartha Kitt

Other films in the late 1950s included The Mark of the Hawk (1957), St Louis Blues (1958), and Anna Lucasta (1958).

She was busy and popular and worked on recordings, films, and in nightclubs. She also performed on Broadway in Mrs Patterson (19541955), Shinbone Alley (1957), and Jolly’s Progress (1959). In 1967, she took over the role of Catwoman in the Batman series with Adam West for the show’s third season. Though she only appeared in five episodes, she remains one of the show’s most recognisable figures to this day.

That same year she also played a contortionist in Mission Impossible. She published an autobiography “Thursday’s Child” – the inspiration for David Bowie’s song of the same name.

Kitt was always an exotic performer, especially after she sang one of her most famous and popular hits “I Want to be Evil”. Most of her admirers

considered her to be a promiscuous entertainer – whether she liked it or not. In fact, she rather enjoyed the publicity, and fanned the fire.

“I want to wake up in the morning with that dark brown taste

I wanna see some dissipation in my face

I wanna be evil, I wanna be mad

But more than that, I wanna be bad”

–

Eartha Kitt

I Want to be Evil

During Lyndon Johnson’s presidency, she was invited to a White House luncheon and was asked by the First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson, what she thought about the Vietnam War. She replied:

“You send the best of this country off to be shot and maimed … The children of America are not rebelling for no reason … They are rebelling against something. There are so many things burning the people of this country, particularly mothers. They feel they are going to raise sons –and I know what it’s like, and you have children of your own, Mrs Johnson – we raise children and then send them to war.”

–

Eartha Kitt

Her remarks caused Mrs Johnson to burst into tears, and it is generally believed that Kitt’s career in the United States ended following her comments about the Vietnam War. She was branded “a sadistic nymphomaniac” by the CIA. A defamatory CIA dossier on Kitt was discovered by Seymour Hersh in 1975 which he published in the New York Times, which contained information on her sex life and family history. Following the incident Kitt devoted her life to performing in Europe and Asia.

In the 1970s, Kitt appeared several times on the BBC’s long running variety show The Good Old Days, and in 1987 took over from Dolores Gray in the West End production of Stephen Sondheim’s Follies, and then starred in a very popular one-woman-show at the Shaftesbury Theatre. In both shows, she sang the show-stopping “I’m Still Here”. She was as popular as ever and returned to New York City on Broadway in 1978 in Timbuktu!

where she sang a recipe for mahoum, a preparation of cannabis, stirring a large bowl with a long wooden spoon. It was another show-stopper and she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance.

“I wanna be evil, and trump an ace

Just to see my partner’s face

I wanna be nasty, I wanna be cruel

I wanna be daring, I wanna shoot pool”

– Eartha Kitt I Want to be Evil

In the 1990s, Eartha Kitt appeared as the Wicked Witch of the West in the North American touring company of The Wizard of Oz. Kitt again returned to Broadway in the short-lived run of The Wild Party by Michael John LaChiusa, and then as the Fairy Godmother in the US national tour of Cinderella (2000). In 2003, she replaced Chita Rivera in Nine. She reprised her role as the Fairy Godmother as a special engagement of Cinderella at the Lincoln Centre in 2004.

“Where is My Man” was her first gold record of her career in 1984, and reached the Top 40 in the UK Singles Chart, where it peaked at No 36. It became a standard in discos and dance clubs, and made the Top 10 on the US Billboard dance chart, where it reached No 7. She found a whole new set of gay male fans in the late 1980s when she was in her 60s, but they continued to request her old singles. She replaced Dolores Gray in the West End production of Stephen Sondheim’s Follies as Carlotta and got standing ovations when she sang “I’m Still Here”. She went on to perform her own one-woman-show at the Shaftesbury Theatre in 1989.

As usual, she always sang “I Want to be Evil” for her encore. People still remembered it. It seemed to be her theme song.

After romances with Arthur Loew Jr, cosmetics magnate Charles Revson, and banking heir John Barry Ryan III, she married John William McDonald in 1960. She had one daughter, Kitt McDonald, in 1961. Kitt separated from McDonald in July 1963 and divorced in March 1964. She lived in a converted barn in the Merryall section of New Milford, Connecticut for many years. She later moved to Pound Ridge, New York, but returned to Weston Fairfield County in Connecticut in 2002.

Kitt died of colon cancer on December 25, 2008, only a few weeks before her eighty-second birthday.

• Sir Christopher Ondaatje is the author of The Last Colonial. He acknowledges that he has quoted liberally from Wikipedia.

KITT and Orson Welles in Time Runs

EARTHA Kitt with Adam West on the Batman TV set

Debates in Parliament

On the floors of the English Parliament, the question of the periodical registration of slaves called forth serious debate. On the one hand, William Wilberforce (1759-1833) pressed the matter without questioning, in his own mind, the right of Parliament to take action, or the expediency of acting at once, to suppress the trade; on the other hand, Lord Castlereagh (British foreign secretary 1812–22) suggested that it would he well to ask the cooperation of the colonial legislatures, in excluding the slave-trade from the British possessions, stating that “nothing short of absolute necessity should urge the assertion of the right of Parliament to legislate for the colonies, and especially on a measure that would subject them to a tax without their own consent.

There was no change in the view, of the leading spirits in the movement, as to the power of Parliament to go ahead and make regulations, as demanded by the extreme members, but the milder counsels prevailed, so far as to determine the Commons not to act at once. The experience of the year that had Just passed was sufficient to prove the folly of attempting to compel the slaveholding colonies to accept imperial regulation of so vital an institution as slavery. Parliament decided to defer, in this matter, to the colonial legislatures, each to act for the colony under its jurisdiction.

The principles on which this legislation was to be based were to be laid down by the home government and sent to the colonies, as recommendations for the laws they were expected to pass. These recommendations

were, at first, mere outlines of the principal points on which it was desirable to obtain action from the legislatures; in time, they grew to greater proportions and the program developed with the experience of the Ministry in dealing with the question, until finally they were brought to the necessity of sending out for the legislature exact detailed models of the statutes, which the latter was expected to pass.

Here began a struggle between the local governments of the colonies, supported by the Ministry and the moral influence of Parliament, on the one hand, and the local legislatures on the other which, in the Bahamas, continued for nearly 15 years.

At first, the principal emphasis was laid on the need of registration, and, within a few years, a satisfactory registration system was secured in

this Colony. The greater controversy, however, was over the remainder of the program of amelioration, a matter of much greater importance to the Bahamas, and it was not finally settled until the abolition of slavery by the imperial Parliament in the year 1833.

Now that the duty of laying the question of a reformation of the colonial institution of slavery before the colonial legislatures devolved upon the Cabinet, it was taken up at once, and recommendations were pressed upon the attention of these bodies.

In the Bahamas, the Colonial Department found an instrument to do its bidding in the governor, Charles Cameron. Drawing from the instructions sent to him, he urged upon the legislature, with skillfully presented arguments, consideration

ROBERT STEWART, Viscount Castlereagh, also called (from 1821) 2nd Marquess Of Londonderry, (June 18, 1769 - August 12, 1822; death by suicide)

WILLIAM Wilberforce (August 24, 1759 – July 29, 1833), a British politician, philanthropist and leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade.

of, and action upon, measures for the exclusion of commerce in slaves, and for general amelioration.

In the first place, it was necessary to clear away the unfounded misapprehensions of the colonists, as to the intentions of the leaders in the movement in the mother country, and especially as to the African Institution, in which the colonists could see every form of evil intention towards the colonies.

The welcome intelligence that the manumission of the slaves was not intended by the authorities, was distinctly set before the legislature. It was admitted that the character of the West Indian slaveholders and planters had been grossly misrepresented, but it was urged that the colonies now had a most favourable opportunity to redeem their bad reputation; that the intention of the King and the Ministry was to enforce the acts and treaties for abolishing the slave-trade, and that a refusal on their part would only serve to confirm the suspicions of their bad character. It was also represented that the determination of the home government to permit local legislation in each colony for itself was a great concession and the legislatures ought to act the more cheerfully, since

the legislation was to be by voluntary action of the colonies.

But the strongest reason for pressing these measures on this particular Colony was that it was necessary to include it in a general registration system for all the West Indian colonies of Great Britain. These colonies were not allowed to trade with the colonies of foreign nations, although they could trade among themselves, and if any one of them, such as the Bahamas, were left out of the registration system, it might become an entrepot for traffic in slaves, and thus, the whole of the British West Indian colonies could obtain a constant supply. This was the final and conclusive reason for the inclusion of the Bahamas in the general system of registration in the British colonies.

THE HOUSE of Commons in Wilberforce’s day by Augustus Pugin and Thomas Rowlandson (1808–1811)

Wolves and bears, oh my! The delicate balance of nature and the human world

By KIM ARANHA Animal Matters

Much of Europe is involved with the reintroduction of native bears and wolves into the Alps. The Alps do not restrict themselves to Switzerland, but meander through many European countries.

In the Alto Adige in northern Italy there lies an area called the Val di Sole (the sun valley). If you look at a map of Italy the Trentino area is not very far from the spectacular cities of Verona, Padova, and Venice. Very recently, in March, a man was walking his dog one morning and came face to face with a bear. They suspect that the bear was troubled by the presence of his dog, and was perhaps protecting cubs.

Whatever the cause, after a very short stare down, the bear covered the 20 metres between them and launched an attack on the man, biting his head and arms to then release him with one final look. Sadly, that was not the last of the bear attacks in Treviso.

On April 10, a young man out running was tragically killed whilst on one of the many trails through the woods. These two attacks were but a few weeks apart.

There can be little doubt that the bear was a female and somewhere out there probably had cubs that she was protecting. Such is the gigantic problem of fine-tuning the existence

of wild animals in nature and humans encroaching on their habitat.

They have been able to identify the bear in the April 5 death by DNA found on the injuries of the runner.

She is 17-year-old brown bear, JJ4, daughter of Joze and Jurka, who were both relocated from Slovenia. She had been involved in another attack a few years ago and could well have been the same bear in the March attack.

This is an Alpine area where the reintroduction of feral bears and wolves is in progress as it is in Switzerland. The presence of these indigenous animals has gradually been diminishing, so there has been a move to reintroduce them into areas where they used to be thriving in healthy numbers.

In past centuries, bears inhabited all of Europe, with the exception of some European islands, but the pillage of them was excessive and by the start of the 20th century the numbers had decreased dramatically.

In 1935, Slovenia introducemeasures to protect the bears. In the 1960s, the Trentino region endeavoured to follow suit, using the same Slovenian plan, but failed. From 1999 to 2002, another effort was made to

pet of the week

Georgie girl

By THE BAHAMAS HUMANE SOCIETY

“It’s me, Georgette. Think you’ve seen me before? It’s entirely possible, though the last time I appeared on these pages I was George! That error has been remedied, but I’m still awaiting my forever home, and I’m hoping it will be with you. I’m about four years old.

I’m very sociable and love to communicate with humans. I get along pretty well with the other cats here at the Bahamas Humane Society, but a cage just isn’t a home no

introduce bears to the Trentino region and the introduction of 10 bears of Slovenian origin was successful.

In 2019, there were estimated to be 53 bears in that sector. There are thought to be about 17,000 brown bears in Europe now.

In 2021, the wolf numbers were increasing significantly across Europe and were estimated to be 12,000. If they are comfortably settled in their habitats, as we must assume they are, those numbers would have increased significantly over the past two years.

The successful reintroduction of wolves and bears in Europe is a prime example of how delicate the balance of nature is. The local community in Treviso called for bear number JJ4 to be destroyed. The environmental groups have blocked that and wish to simply relocate her. They will have to find her and her cubs. Until she is caught, the community will live in fear.

Her removal does not solve the problem. There will be other attacks as long as humans encroach on the wild animals’ domain.

In Switzerland, farmers could once leave their flocks of sheep to graze

unattended. Now, many sheep are being killed by the reintroduced wolves. The farmers are understandably upset.

This past Wednesday a woman walking her dog was attacked by a wolf in the Tuscany region near Lucca.

The dance between humans and the wild, the balance between urban and rural – this is a dilemma that communities face the world over.

The violent conflict between the expansion of urban areas into pastoral zones is pushing the wild animals in to restricted areas and they are becoming bolder, spending more time foraging for food and seen walking through towns.

This is not a solution for human nor animal. Somehow there needs to be a control on how much natural habitat is left for nature to exist unthreatened.

I understand that we want to be able to embrace the wild, untouched nature, and run through the trails, forests and fields. We want to become one with nature. We do not want to recognise that this comes with a price. The presence of the animals who are indigenous to the area is essential to the well-being of these natural areas.

I do not have a solution. I recognise the grief when a human is killed by a wild animal, but I question if that person should have ever been there.

Would you walk unprotected through the African savanna where there are known to be lions?

It is a very complex situation.

matter how large it is! Please come into the BHS to meet me. I’m sure you’ll fall immediately in love.”

Adoption hours are Monday to Saturday, 11am to 3pm, or you can call 325-6742 for more information.

• The BHS Thrift Shop is open and ready to sell you all kinds of wonderful things, from housewares to giftwares, to books, clothes, and much more. Open Wednesday/ Thursday/Friday, 11am to 3pm, and Saturday from 10am. to 2pm. All proceeds go to the BHS. The next jewellery sale is on Saturday, May 6.

(AP Photo_Doug Smith)

(Photo/Linda Gill-Aranha)