05242024 WEEKEND

Preacher’s Kid serves up ‘island soul food’ at Nassau Cruise Port

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

BAHAMIAN celebrity chef Simeon Hall, Jr, compares the menu at his first brick-andmortar restaurant, Preacher’s Kid, to a music album with enough quality that it can be enjoyed in its entirety.

“You do not want to create a record and people only listen to about two songs. When I created the menu, my goal was to create a

menu that people want to eat all of,” he told Tribune Weekend.

And Chef Hall feels he has accomplished this at the casual dining eatery located at the newly revamped Nassau Cruise Port.

The restaurant was in the works for a long time. It has been fully operational for about a month now; luring cruise ship passengers in with enticing scents of dishes being whipped up in the open kitchen.

Patrons can choose to enjoy their meals at the tables outside under the umbrellas, feeling the cool ocean breeze.

The name, Preacher’s Kid, not only teases its soulful menu options, but also pays homage to an influential figure in Chef Hall’s life: his father, Bishop Simeon Hall, Sr.

Chef Hall and the team at Preacher’s Kids are happy to satisfy the cravings of those who have big

appetite for what they’ve dubbed “island soul food”.

The restaurant menu boasts an eclectic mix of island-infused comfort food items, including offerings such as a meatloaf burger, fried pork chops, and the signature sticky Johnny cake, stew crunch sandwich and more.

CHEF Simeon Hall Jr

CHICKEN n’ Da Bowl

New TV drama highlighting Bahamian talent receives ‘Rising Star Award’

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

The story of a Bahamian musician’s climb from the very bottom to the top and the pitfalls he encounters along way is at the heart of a new limited TV series called “Struggles and Dreams”.

Created by Bright Light Productions, the show recently premiered at the University of the Bahamas.

“Struggles and Dreams” started out as a stage play which has now been reworked into a TV series. Producers said transitioning the story from stage to film was a difficult task, but a beautiful one at the same time.

“What I love most about telling the story through film is that the creative possibilities are endless,” said Jonico Pratt of Bright Light Productions.

From the aerial shots to the super close ups - every angle, colour tone and piece of music for the soundtrack has its own compelling way of setting the mood and evoking emotions in viewers, he said.

The story follows the life of a young, gifted Bahamian artist named Craig who dreams of using his music to free not only himself, but his single mother and younger brother, who reveres him, from a povertystricken life.

Despite his level-headed girlfriend encouraging him to stay the course, the temptations of easy money and attractive women cause the artist to soon hit at rock bottom again; leaving him struggling to remain faithful to both the girl he loves and his dreams.

“Struggles and Dreams” also pays homage to some of the most talented and influential artists in the country today. Every episode contains a cameo and/or a special performance by a Bahamian artist.

“There are six episodes in the series. The first episode opens up with our main character, Craig,

for hire and have done numerous commercials, documentaries, music videos and more for clients from all around.

Jonico is delighted with the response to their latest project, “Struggles and Dreams”.

“The support (at the premiere) was real. We had our live premiere at the University of the Bahamas’ PAC Theatre and the house was packed,” said Jonico. “There’s nothing like seeing your project being so well received. From the room being filled with laughter to the heartbreaking gasps; the live reactions from the audience are confirmation that we have something special on our hands.”

“The director of the Bahamas Film Festival, Celi Moss, also took the time to attend the premiere and present us with the ‘Rising Star Award’, which was another humbling moment. We can look at the heavy hitters and established directors and say that they’re where they are because of money, recourses and/ or connections, but I’ve come to the realisation that none of that matters as much as your ability to see it, believe it, and make it happen.”

Jonico said whenever he starts a new undertaking, money is the last thing on his mind.

“Almost every time I’ve put pen to paper, I’ve done it without knowing how the script would be funded. But once you write with purpose, put the project in God’s hands, and do everything in your power to bring it to life, He’ll show up and handle all of the logistics,” he said.

He believes “Struggles and Dreams” is a prime example of the above.

literally dreaming big. He’s on the biggest stage of his life headlining a concert with fans in awe of him. Performing right before him and making a special guest appearance in the show is a popular Bahamian artist who I won’t reveal just yet,” said Jonico.

“Craig comes out and the crowd goes crazy. His dream, however, quickly takes a sharp left as everything that could go wrong does, leaving fans laughing and dismissing him. He awakes to his life of poverty and to his optimistic young brother, who is always being picked on for the hand-me-downs he wears, telling him

how much he believes in him and his music. His brother convinces him that things can only go up from here, not knowing that it’s about to get a whole lot worse.

Jonico himself plays the antagonist in the show; a drug dealer who takes Craig under his wing and shows him how to make “real money”.

Bright Light Productions is a company geared towards creating high-quality and impactful productions, he said.

They have already created and produced a number of sold-out stage plays, short films and TV series. They are also a production company

Jonico said he, along with his team, created a story worth telling and investors such as the Fincastle Media Group and the Ministry of Culture saw the value in the production and decided to lend a helping hand. And for that, he is forever grateful.

Jonico said the series will be airing on Cable Bahamas in the very near future. Readers are asked to follow Bright Light productions on Facebook and Instagram for updates.

“Our next project is a hybrid production and is in the works as we speak. The story will be told both through film and live theatre. It’s a story that so many Bahamians can relate to and it’s one that me and the entire cast are excited to tell,” said Jonico.

Shania Adderley

This teen track and field sensation won the hearts of Bahamians when she helped her country qualify for the 2024 Olympics earlier this month. The 12th grader from Grand Bahama tells Cara Hunt how it feels to be part of the next generation of star athletes.

It’s been a busy few weeks for 16-year-old Shania Adderley.

In addition to preparing for her BGCSEs and graduating from the Tabernacle Baptist Academy in Grand Bahama, she was also instrumental in helping the Bahamas secure an Olympic qualification for the Paris Games this Summer in the mixed 4x400 metre relay at the recent World Relays held here in New Providence.

Shania joined her idol Shaunae Miller-Uibo, wellknown track star Steven Gardiner and fellow Grand Bahamian Alonzo Russell to win the final.

But to hear Shania tell the tale, it was just another day on the track.

While she may not have ran quite the race she wanted in the qualifying rounds the day before (she couldn’t maintain the lead on her anchor leg and team Bahamas finished fourth in their heat), she showed a champion’s ability to ignore the noise and get the job done when it came to the final.

In that race she ran leg two; receiving the baton from Steven and taking the lead. She got around the track still in front to hand off to Alonzo, who passed to Shaunae, who then cruised to the finish line to win the race - much to the delight of the home crowd and in a new national record time.

Steven Gardiner ran an opening split of 45.08 and passed the baton to Shania for her split of 53.12 to keep the Bahamas in contention. Alonzo Russell clocked 45.07 to put the baton in Shaunae Miller-Uibo’s hand first and she electrified the crowd as she maintained her position in 49.54.

Their time combined - three minutes and 12.81 seconds - shattered the national record of 3:14.42 that was set by the quartet of Miller-Uibo, Gardiner, Anthonique Strachan and Michael Mathieu in 2017 when the last World Relays were held here in the Bahamas.

“It felt amazing to come back and win the race and to be running with world-class athletes” Shania told Tribune Weekend.

“I just tried to stay very positive about the whole thing and ignore some of the negative things that people said.

This piece of advice came from her sports idol, Shaunae, ahead of the race.

“She just told me that there was no pressure and to go out there and run my race,” said Shania.

The entire team was nothing but supportive of their youngest member.

“I just told Shania to give me something to work with and she gave me the lead, so all I had to do was go with

it,” Alzono said. “Thank God we got the victory and we qualified.”

Steven added, “We gave her a chance and she came through. We couldn’t ask for more. She’s now a part of the senior national team national record.”

And Shaunae said: “Shania ran so well…she got me all excited about running my leg. She came in and she did what she had to do.”

It has not yet been determined if Shania will be on Team Bahamas for Paris this Summer, but even if she doesn’t get to go, the teenager is rooting for the mixed relay team to do well.

“I think they will bring home a medal,” she said.

Before it’s potentially time for the Olympics, however, Shania has the excitement of graduation to look forward to, although she said she isn’t quite sure what her plans will be after reaching that milestone.

“I’m not sure what I will be doing, but I really want to focus on training,” she said.

It has been challenge to spilt her focus between graduation requirements and her training, but Shania said it’s just about finding the right balance.

“I know when I travel for track, when I come back, my teachers expect me to catch up on what I have missed,” she said.

She also knows how important training is.

this weekend in history

May 24

• In 1884, American inventor Samuel Morse demonstrates his telegraph with a message sent from the US Capitol to Alfred Vail at a railroad station in Baltimore, Maryland. The message, “What Hath God Wrought?”, was telegraphed back to the Capitol a moment later by Vail.

• In 1883, New York’s Brooklyn Bridge, a feat of 19th-century engineering which spans the East River from Brooklyn to Manhattan Island, opens. Designed by German-American

civil engineer John Augustus Roebling, it was the largest suspension bridge to date. Construction took 14 years. Thousands turned out for the dedication ceremony, which was presided over by US President Chester A Arthur.

May 25

“I have track practice about four or five times a week, and one of the hardest parts about that is sometimes keeping the motivation to go out there and train, because sometimes your body just doesn’t want to go out there and do the physical stuff,” she said.

Her coach was the one who honed on her skills as a 400 metre runner and made that her signature race.

“My coach basically says you are running the 400 and there was no negotiation,” she said.

The 400 metre is a gruelling race and Shania said the hardest part of that run for her is around the 300 metre mark.

“That is when the lactic acid starts to build up, everything starts to tighten up and you just really have to push through to the end,” she explained.

Shania started running track in primary school, but she really focused on the sport once she entered high school and started regularly training.

“One of the things that I love about track is the bond that you form with your teammates and the way you can encourage each other,” she said.

She offers this advice to future track and field stars:

“I would say, just stay motivated. People are always going to have something to say, whether it be positive or negative; just always put your faith in God.”

• In 1787, the US Constitutional Convention opens in Philadelphia. It’s four years after the US won its independence from Great Britain, and 55 state delegates, including George Washington, James Madison and Benjamin Franklin - who were initially charged with amending the Articles of Confederation - convene to compose a new US constitution.

• In 1977, “Star Wars” premieres in a small number of theatres in the US. The epic space opera film, written and

directed by George Lucas, quickly becomes a surprise blockbuster hit, leading to a much wider release. It grosses $410 million worldwide during its initial run and spawns a multi-billion dollar, decades-spanning franchise.

May 26

• In 1521, German priest and theologian Martin Luther is declared a heretic

by the Edict of Worms. The edict bans the writings of the cleric whose efforts to change the church led to the Protestant Reformation (a religious and political challenge to the papacy and the authority of the Catholic Church). Today, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Western and Christian history.

• In 1897, Irish writer Bram Stoker sells his first copies of the horror classic “Dracula” in London bookshops, creating the basis for an entire genre of literature and films about vampires. Upon its release, the Victorian-era Gothic novel enjoyed only moderate success, and it wasn’t mentioned by name in any of his obituaries when Stoker died in 1912. It wasn’t until the 1920s that sales picked up. In 1931, “Dracula” finally became truly famous thanks to Universal’s blockbuster film starring Bela Lugosi in the title role.

A CHROMOLITHOGRAPH of the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge.

SHANIA with teammates for the 4x4 relay

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.

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

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.

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

targEt thE alphapuzzl across: Pronoun, Squadron, Paddle, Jaundice, Trickle. down: Upbeat, Potency, Tousle, Induct, Prefix, Devoid, Lather.

Yesterday’s Kakuro Answer Yesterday’s Sudoku Answer

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 tomorrow

New exhibit embraces mental health

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

CHRISTINA Wong’s latest body of work is a love letter to people battling with mental health; not written in pen, but in the strokes of a paintbrush on canvas.

“Embrace” is the name of her new exhibit at Hillside House, and it’s a hug from the artist for those who are currently wading through the rough waters of the mental challenges.

The exhibition presents an opportunity to explore Christina’s deeply personal and thought-provoking work which focuses on the importance of mental health in the Bahamas. Given that May is also Mental Health Awareness Month, this is a very timely exhibition that shines a light on important conversations surrounding mental health through the medium of art. It runs until June 14, 2024.

“The theme, ‘Embrace’, is a love letter to all those who are battling with their mental well-being,” said Christina. “This is a hug from me to those in need of affirmation, encouragement and hope. With May being Mental Health Awareness Month, it was very important for me to open the show during this time and also to have it at Hillside House, a sacred space. I would like the audience to leave with feelings of joy, peace, wholeness, and an immeasurable amount of love, knowing that they are not alone.”

As someone who studied psychology, Christina has always been interested in human behaviour. However, she hopes her work in this exhibition goes beyond the science and reaches people’s hearts.

“I have always been fascinated with human behavioural science. As I studied psychology in university, I developed a love for the topic. I feel it is important to bring more awareness to this subject given the current climate, especially after COVID-19,” she said.

There are six mixed-media artworks and five paintings in the show. All depict different forms of affection.

“Each colour is chosen to evoke feelings of tranquility and a sense of belonging,” the artist said.

Christina said this body of work is especially important to her because it is her first solo show and she is able to spread a positive message which she hopes can change perspectives on mental health.

“We are all dealing with various traumas, and we can all overcome them. Once you are still breathing and are cognisant of that breath, things can change, and you can change,” she said.

“Since the opening, people have had various emotional experiences. I have had people have deep connections to the work; it brought tears to their eyes. Some have felt confident in expressing their struggles and others have left feeling great love and peace. I am proud of myself for overcoming my fears, and I hope that will encourage someone to start and push through till they overcome.”

“Embrace” will be showcased at Hillside House until June 14, 2024. For further details, visit hillsidehousegallery.com

Christina describes herself as a mixed-media artist and painter. She has been a part of the Bahamian art community for roughly a decade and is still very active in making art, community building and gallery work.

Her career and art undergraduate education started at the former College of the Bahamas, where she was first given the opportunity, through Transforming Spaces Bahamas, to co-curate an exhibition at Popop Studios along with Heino Schmid (University of the Bahamas lecturer) for the ProSociety art students.

“The advancement of artists became a new passion for me, and I focused most of my creative energy on gallery administration,” she said.

She then worked at the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas under former director Amanda Coulson and former curator Holly Bynoe before completing her undergraduate degree at Lee University in Tennessee.

After returning home she has had the privilege to work with John Cox at The Current Baha Mar Gallery and Art Centre for five years.

Currently, Christina works with art dealer Jose Mestre as the gallery director and marketing coordinator at Mestre Projects, a gallery based in the Albany community.

“Thus far, my journey in the art community has been nothing short of bliss. I have a deep commitment to the Bahamian art community and the advancement of it. Outside of my duties, I am an artist, and finding that balance can be challenging, but it is worth it. My practice has progressed from creating work about Black women’s empowerment to advocating for mental health awareness. I enjoy pushing the boundaries in my work, discovering new things, and doing research on a particular theme,” she said.

ARTIST Christina Wong

‘EMBRACE’

‘For The Love Of Self, I Am Healing.’

‘I Will Always, In All Ways Love You’

Saddle up for the new murder mystery dinner ‘Gone With the Dust’

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

GET READY to dust off ya boots and gather ‘round, because “Gone with the Dust: A GunSlinging Whodunit” will be kickin’ up a storm in your neck of the woods real soon.

The winds of mystery are blowing through the Mad Dog Saloon, and organisers reckon you won’t want to miss this Wild West spectacle which is set to take place at the Prime One Seafood & Steakhouse from June 22 to August 15.

Secure your spot for a night filled with mystery, laughter, and a touch of the extraordinary, paired with a three-course spread that will knock your spats off.

The is the second instalment of the “3-Course Murder” series by Real Laughs Network, which had a smashing success with the murder mystery dinner “Jazzed to Kill” in February this year.

The show’s founder, Rakel Rolle, is a well-known Bahamian playwright and producer, who has many successful stage plays under her belt and who is now trying her hand at the mystery dinner show genre.

“It is an immersive event that combines a gourmet dining experience with a thrilling murder mystery storyline,” she told Tribune Weekend. “Guests are treated to a three-course meal while being actively involved in solving a fictional murder mystery that unfolds during the evening.”

She said the idea originated from a desire to create a unique and interactive entertainment experience that would appeal to both food enthusiasts and mystery lovers. By combining fine dining with a murder mystery narrative, Rakel aims to offer guests a memorable and engaging event that stimulates their senses and keeps them entertained throughout the evening.

The show, she said, also provides people with a different perspective on what the Bahamas can offer

Bahamian cast bring the Wild West to life in immersive experience

entertainment wise while showcasing the country’s rich cultural heritage, vibrant culinary scene and immersive offerings beyond its renowned beaches and waters.

Dusty has a soft heart and often dreams of settling down with someone who loves him for who he truly is.

Rakel said “Jazzed To Kill” received outstanding feedback for its immersive storytelling, captivating performances and delicious dishes. Guests praised the talented cast, the intricate plot twists, and the seamless integration of the murder mystery theme into the dining experience. There were memorable character interactions, unexpected plot developments, and the opportunity for guests to actively participate in solving the mystery.

She and her team are now preparing to launch “Gone With The Dust”.

Rakel said the thrilling Western murder mystery will transport audiences to the rugged landscapes of the Old West, where secrets are as plentiful as the tumbleweeds.

Set against the backdrop of a dusty frontier town, the play follows a diverse cast of characters, each with their own motives and agendas, as they navigate a web of deception, betrayal and revenge.

The main characters include Jackson “Six-Shooter” Smith, Wendy the sharp shooter and Dusty the charismatic conman, as well as Lily Rose, the assistant to the Wild West town’s mayor.

Jackson is a notorious outlaw who leads the Rustlin’ Renegades. He has grudge against the mayor for cracking down on his gang’s illegal activities. Wendy is Jackson’s right-hand woman and the best sharpshooter in the West. Raised in the harsh desert, she learned to fend for herself from a young age. Her quick reflexes and keen eye make her a formidable opponent.

Wendy is fiercely loyal to Jackson, seeing him as the brother she never had. Beneath her tough exterior, she harbors a deep-seated desire for a peaceful life away from the constant danger and deception of the outlaw world.

Dusty is the smooth-talking charmer of the Rustlin’ Renegades. With a silver tongue and a knack for deception, he excels at getting the gang out of tight spots. He is a natural-born actor, able to assume any identity to achieve his goals. His past is filled with cons and schemes, making him a valuable asset to the gang. Despite his roguish ways,

Meanwhile, Lily Rose, as the mayor’s assistant, is privy to many secrets and schemes. She plays a crucial role in managing the mayor’s plans, but her own agenda is never far from her mind. Throughout the story, she navigates the complex web of alliances and betrayals, using her knowledge and influence to her advantage. Her loyalty will be tested as tensions rise, and her true intentions may surprise even those who think they know her best.

“It’s amazing how personal experiences and cherished memories can fuel creativity,” said Rakel. “Drawing from a love of Westerns and the nostalgia of watching them with my grandfather adds a heartfelt touch to ‘Gone with the Dust’. It’s a testament to the power of storytelling to connect us to our past and create something new and exciting.” When it comes to her role in the show, the playwright has transitioned from playing characters to becoming a supportive resource for her team. Her focus is on providing them with the necessary tools, opportunities and guidance to excel in their roles and thrive within the production environment. She believes her role now is about fostering a collaborative and empowering atmosphere where everyone can learn and grow together, ultimately contributing to the success of “Gone With The Dust” and creating a memorable experience for audiences.

For all those interested, “Gone With The Dust” will be hosted at Prime One Steakhouse, with plans to expand to other local restaurants in the future.

“We’re eager to bring the spirit of the Wild West to the Bahamas and see how our audience will embrace the opportunity to dress up and immerse themselves in the thrilling world of the Old West. Get ready to saddle up for a wild ride this Summer,” said Rakel.

For more information, follow @ threecoursemurder on all social media platforms or visit www. threecoursemurder.com. Tickets are now on sale for the “Gone With the Dust”.

JACKSON “Six-Shooter” Smith with his righthand woman, Wendy the sharp shooter.

LILY ROSE, the mayor’s clever assistant

Chores for the rainy season

Good day, gardeners. How does your garden grow? It seems there’s been some rain!

Where does the water go in your yard? If it’s well designed, there will be areas that collect water and absorb it quickly, including features that direct water to the lower spots.

How many of us think about making the most of the rain in our garden design?

One beautiful plant that the rain tends to nurture is the rain lily (Zephyranthes).

They’re a favourite of mine and they tend to simply pop up when they’re ready, but if you’re one of those that consistently mows and maintains the wider open spaces in the garden, you’ll be unlikely to be gifted with any rain lilies.

Birds tend to spread them around, and moving water can do the same. It’s a treat when the rain lilies bloom, and of course the wildlife adores them. Does your garden promote wildlife, or is it a sanitary wildlife desert?

A pink rain lily in bloom

blades rather than tearing them. If you’d like a very nice lawn, sharpen the mower!

It’s also a good time to sharpen the blades of clippers, shears, hedge trimmers, and chainsaws. Efficiency increases productivity and sharp tool create cleaner cuts, which limit the opportunities for disease and rot to take hold. It’s soon time for sod webworm, fungus, and cinch bug. Oh, the joy!

I enjoy creating different features in a garden, and one thing is to consider where the water will go. In the lower areas where water gathers, is an excellent place to plant moisture living plants, gingers, bananas, heliconias, ornamental grasses, and many others that can suit the conditions.

Plants that prefer dryer conditions are best planted on higher ground, the aloe, yucca, agave, et al.

If there’s a problem spot in the garden that collects water that doesn’t drain, get rid of that horrible lawn grass and plant in some flowering or fruiting plants that will help absorb the water and distribute the runoff.

The vegetable-growing season is winding down, but remember that there are many edible plants that can still be grown through the Summer: sweet potato, cassava (yuca), yucca, eddo, pigeon peas, etcetera, as well as any of the fruit trees. Productivity is still a thing through the summer months.

Back to that horrible lawn grass. You know, the kind that itches when one lays on it, commonly called crab grass, but correctly called St Augustine grass. At least it ought to be greening up if it hadn’t been being irrigated.

Water waste is a real thing, but hey, the grass is green right? My loathing is showing. You’ll want to be sharpening those lawn mower blades and having the two cycle engines maintained as soon as possible as that lawn grass will be growing like wildfire very soon.

A maintained engine and sharpened blades will help maintain the grass in a cleaner fashion, and the mower will be cutting the grass

It’s a great time to rent or buy a spreader, along with some triple action lawn pesticide, herbicide, fungicide, and fertilizer. If you’d like that lovely, wasteful, green lawn to thrive, that is. Stocking up on it is a good idea too. The price of fertilizer and pesticide is always on the rise, and by the looks of it, inflation isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. My distaste for lawn grass aside, anything green in the garden ought to be jumping after the rain. Nitrogen is the main macro nutrient for green leaves and growth, and it will leach from the soil very easily in the rain. While the rain does replace some nitrogen, the wholesale trade off is often insufficient, especially for heavy feeders such as citrus or hibiscus, and as mentioned a few weeks ago, ixora. If the leaves on your citrus plant/tree are not medium to dark green, if they’re pale or yellow in any way, then the plant/tree is not healthy and not growing optimally. Consult with a professional for any queries, as theories abound but many are inaccurate. It’s also a good time to take some weight off of coconut palms and to thin trees in the middle to allow for increased air and light penetration.

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.

Former Tribune editor and author releases new book about Muhammad Ali’s twilight years books

AFORMER Tribune editor who spent seven years as a boxing writer in the Muhammad Ali era has published a book about his ringside adventures.

Called “Spittoon Blues”, the book describes John Marquis’s experiences as he travelled in Asia, Europe and America to record the twilight years of Ali’s phenomenal career.

Mr Marquis, now 80, who was The Tribune’s managing editor from 1999 until 2009, followed Ali’s fortunes as

London Sports Editor and Chief Boxing Writer of the Thomson newspaper chain during the 1970s and early 1980s.

He saw Ali win the world heavyweight title for the third time against Leon Spinks in New Orleans, and witnessed the champion’s last meaningful fight against Larry Holmes in Las Vegas in 1980.

He covered seven Ali fights altogether, and was at ringside to see other greats of the time like Sugar Ray Leonard, Ken Norton, Earnie Shavers, Alexis Arguello and Wilfred Benitez.

“It was a wonderful age in which to be a boxing writer,” he said. “I felt I had to get these stories into print for my children and grandchildren. It was a special period in boxing history.”

During his 51-year career, Mr Marquis was a British Press Award winner, editor of a West Country newspaper group, and a Reuters journalist in Fleet Street before taking up his Tribune post for the final decade of his fulltime career. He continued writing

a weekly Tribune column until he was struck down by illness in 2012.

Since then, he has written several books, including an account of his life as a journalist in the Bahamas called “Long Hot Summer”.

He lives in Cornwall, England, with his wife Joan, an arts graduate and former teacher. They have eight children and 19 grandchildren.

By The Associated Press

1. “Discovering Daniel” by Amir Tsarfait

2. “This Summer Will Be Different” by Carley Fortune

3. “Chainsaw Man, Vol. 15” by Tatsuki Fujimoto

4. “King of Sloth” by Ana Huang

5. “Just for the Summer” by Abby Jimenez

6. “Happy Place” by Emily Henry

7. “Murder Your Employer” by Rupert Holmes

8. “The Teacher” by Freida McFadden

9. “When the Moon Hatched” by Sarah A Parker

10. “Murder, Vol. 1” by GT Karber

JOHN Marquis

Literary lives - Halle Berry

From prom queen to first Black ‘Best Actress’ Oscar winner

Sir Christopher Ondaatje writes about the American model who became one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood during the 2000s.

Halle Berry was born Maria Halle Berry on August 14, 1966, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Judith Ann Hawkins, an English immigrant from Liverpool, England, and Jerome Jesse Berry.

Her mother was a psychiatric nurse, and her father a hospital attendant, and later a bus driver. They divorced when she was four years old. She and her older sister Heidi Berry-Henderson were raised exclusively by her mother. Halle stated in 1992 that she did not even know if her father was still alive. She has recalled witnessing her father abusing her mother.

Berry grew up in Oakwood, Ohio, and graduated from Bedford High School, where she was editor of the school newspaper and prom queen. She worked in Higbee’s Department Store, and then studied at Cuyahoga Community College. In the 1980s, she entered several beauty contests, winning Miss Teen All American 1985 and Miss Ohio USA in 1986. She was the 1986 Miss USA first runner-up to Christy Fichtner of Texas and she was the first African-American Miss World entrant in 1986 where she finished sixth.

In 1989, Berry moved to New York City to pursue her acting ambitions – but ran out of money and had to spend time in a homeless shelter. However, by the end of 1989 she got a part as Emily Franklin in the ABC TV series Living Dolls. She collapsed on the set and was diagnosed with diabetes. Living Dolls was cancelled and Berry moved to Los Angeles.

She was luckier in California and got a small role in Spike Lee’s Jungle Fever (1991) in which she played a drug addict. That year she got her first co-starring role in Strictly Business. The following year she portrayed a career woman who falls for the lead character played by Eddie Murphy in the romantic comedy Boomerang. In 1993, she played a biracial slave in the Emmy-winning TV adaptation of Queen: The

Story of an American Family, based on the book by Alex Haley. She followed this by playing a sultry secretary based on Sharon Stone who attempts to seduce Fred Flintstone.

Berry played another drug addict in Losing Isaiah (1995) in the role of a woman trying to regain custody of her son. In Race the Sun (1996) she co-starred with Kurt Russell in Executive Decision – filmed in Australia.

Beginning in 1996, she started a seven year contract as a Revlon spokeswoman, and renewed her contract in 2004.

Halle Berry starred with Natalie Deselle Reid in the 1997 comedy film B*A*P*S, and then in 1998 she received praise for her performance in Bulworth where she played a woman raised by activists who gave a politician, Warren Beatty, a new lease on life. She also played the singer Zola Taylor, one of the three wives of pop singer

Frankie Lymon in the biopic Why Do Fools Fall in Love?

In the 1999 HBO film Introducing Dorothy Dandridge she played the part of Dorothy Dandridge, who was the first African-American woman to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. It was a prophetic role and she won a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award.

Berry played the mutant superhero Storm in the film adaptation of the comic book series X Men (2000), and its sequels X2 (2003), X Men; The Last Stand (2006) and X Men: Days of Future Past (2014). In 2011, Berry featured in her first topless scene in Swordfish. She was paid an additional $500,000 to do the scene. She was quoted as saying that her then husband Eric Benét encouraged her to do it.

Berry then played in her most famous and controversial film Monster’s Ball in which she played the troubled wife of an executed murderer (Sean Combs) in the 2001 feature film. Her performance was awarded the National Board of Review and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actress, and she also became the first African-American woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress. The role generated much controversy as her graphic nude love scene with racist co-star Billy Bob Thornton raised much criticism among African-Americans who thought she should not have taken the part.

“I don’t really see a reason to ever go that far again. That was a unique movie. The scene was special and pivotal and needed to be there, and it would be a really special script that would require something like that again.”

-Halle Berry

Advertising for Revlon, Berry asked for more money from Ron Perelman, the cosmetics firm’s chief executive. However, he stomped off in a rage.

As Bond girl Giacinta “Jinx” Johnson in Die Another Day, Berry recreated a scene from Dr No emerging from the surf to be greeted by James Bond as Ursula Andress had done forty years earlier. Berry wore a bikini and knife as a homage to the scene. “Jinx” Johnson was voted the fourth toughest girl on screen of all time.

She starred in the psychological thriller Gothika with Robert Downey, Jr, in November 2003. He twisted her arm in a scene and accidently broke it. The film grossed $60 million in the US, and

HALLE Berry becomes the first Black woman to win the ‘Best Actress’ Oscar for 2002’s ‘Monster’s Ball’

another $80 million abroad. She appeared in Limp Bizkit’s music video for the motion picture Behind Blue Eyes, and was voted No 1 in FHM’s 100 Sexiest Women in the World poll.

Halle Berry starred in the title role in the film Catwoman and was paid $12.5 million. The film is now regarded as being one of the worst films ever made. She was awarded the Worst Actress Razzie Award. She accepted the award – and laughed all the way to the bank.

In the Oprah Winfrey-produced ABC television movie Their Eyes Were Watching God (2005) Berry portrayed a free-spirited woman whose unconventional sexual mores upset her 1920s contemporaries. For this she received her second Primetime Emmy Award nomination – but didn’t win. That year she also served as an executive producer in Lackawanna Blues, and used her voice for the Cappy character, one of the mechanical robots.

Berry made two films in 2007: Perfect Stranger with Bruce Willis, and Things We Lost in the Fire, co-starring Benicio de Toro. The first film grossed US $73 million, but the second one only $8.6 million globally. She was as good as she’d ever been, by the end of the decade establishing herself as one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood. She was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In Frankie and Alice (2010) Berry played a multiracial American woman who struggled with an identity disorder:

“… is a well-wrought psychological drama that delves into the dark side of one woman’s psyche.”

-The Hollywood Reporter

Berry earned the African-American Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress, and a Golden Globe Award nomination. She then went on to be part of a large cast in New Year’s Eve (2011) with Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert de Niro. Despite being panned the film made $142 million worldwide. She continued to have box-office appeal, and the next year she played alongside her then husband Olivier Martinez in Dark Tide, and another science fiction film Cloud Atlas with Tom Hanks and Jim Broadbent.

Movie 43 and The Call followed in 2013, and in 2014 Berry was co-producer on the CBS drama series Extant. She appeared as herself in the concert film Kevin Hart. What Now? about a poker game that goes horribly wrong; and then Kidnap (2014).It grossed $24 million. Next she performed opposite Colin Firth, Julianne Moore and Elton John in Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017). It was a huge financial success grossing US $414 million. With Daniel Craig she starred in Kings (2017). Of the film Variety noted:

“Berry has given some of the best and worst performances of the past quarter-century, but this is

perhaps the only one that swings to both extremes in the same movie.

-Variety

However, her screen popularity was still strong. She played an assassin in the Lionsgate film (2019) John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, and was executive producer in the TV series Boomerang – also in 2019. She made her directorial debut in Bruised (2020) later released on Netflix.

In 2008, Berry was forty-two years old but Esquire magazine still named her the “Sexiest Woman Alive”. She was also named that year by Access Hollywood as the “Sexiest Black Woman”. She stated that her biracial background was “painful and confusing”.

Berry’s personal life was equally painful and confusing. She borrowed $82,000 from John Ronan, her boyfriend in the late 1980s. The judge dismissed the case when he sued her before he went bankrupt in 1992. She married baseball player David Justice in January 1993, but they divorced in 1997. She married her second husband, singer-songwriter Eric Benét in January 2001. He underwent treatment for addiction in 2002. They separated in 2003 and divorced in 2005.

In November 2005, Berry began a relationship with French-Canadian Gabriel Aubry, and

gave birth to their daughter in March 2008. There followed a highly publicised custody battle following Berry’s desire to move with their daughter to France and the home of French actor Olivier Martinez whom she had met while filming Dark Tide in South Africa.

In November 2012, the judge denied Berry’s request to move the couple’s daughter to France. Aubry and Martinez were both treated at a hospital for injuries following a physical altercation at Berry’s residence.

Following the domestic violence incident an emergency protection order was issued preventing Aubry from coming within one hundred yards of Berry, Martinez and Berry’s daughter. Eventually later in November Berry and Aubry reached an amicable custody agreement. In 2014 a Superior Court ruling called for Halle Berry to pay Aubry $16,000 a month in child support, as well as a retrospective payment of $115,000, and a sum of $300,000 for Aubry’s attorney fees.

Berry and Martinez married in France on July 13, 2013, and in October 2013 she gave birth to their son. In 2015, after two years of marriage, the couple announced that they were divorcing. The divorce was finalised in December 2016.

In 2020, Halle Berry began a relationship with American musician Van Hunt. Today, the two are inseparable and the actress considers him to be the love of her life.

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

BERRY plays Bond girl Giacinta “Jinx” Johnson in ‘Die Another Day’

IN 1986, Berry was the first runner-up in the Miss USA pageant

animals

Animal matters Kim Aranha

The puppy chronicles

Oh boy, oh boy! A new puppy in the family.

This is invariably a sentence that causes a great rush of delight and excitement, and then follows a flurry of organisation and preparation for this new puppy.

Lists of beds and bowls, collars, leashes toys and puppy food…substantial dollars later your home is ready to receive the “new baby”

The first few days this sleepy little angel snuggles up to you and behaves with the timidity that accompanies the unknown surroundings.

You spend your time telling everybody how perfectly well behaved the newest family member is, how she never puts a paw out of place. They wag their tail every time they see you, roll over on their little backs, give you gentle love bites and lull you into a total false sense of security…. wham, just when you least expect it, they unleash their “inner terrorist” and they start chewing everything in sight, including your feet, arms, fingers, and shoes.

Nothing teaches you quicker to keep a relatively tidy house than a new puppy. If you leave it on the floor, you may not find in in the same condition that you left it in. Your fault. You should have picked it up and put it away.

In these chronicles of Peanut, I invite you to experience the puppy months alongside me and enjoy and groan at the more ridiculous moments of sharing your home with a puppy, and also the least expected moments of comical terror.

Peanut has now shared our home for seven weeks. Any form of uncertainty in her surroundings has long gone. She sees this house as her home, and we are her family. She came to us under sad circumstances as she had been recently adopted by my stepdaughter Joei Aranha, who just three weeks after bringing her home passed away completely unexpectedly. We adopted her that very day and brought her to our house. She was a little Peanut;

Hermione casts her spell

By The Bahamas Humane Society

Bonny brindle Hermione is about two years old and has spent her entire life at the Bahamas Humane Society Shelter.

She’s hoping that staring deep into your eyes will cast a spell that encourages you to come in and adopt her. Hermione gets along well with other dogs and could be trained to be around cats.

Like many potcakes, she’s extremely smart and sociable. She says, “Don’t mistake that other brindle for me, though. I have a distinctive white spot on my back!”

To find out more, come in to the BHS or call 323-5138 for more information. Hermione looks forward to meeting you.

PET OF THE WEEK

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

needy of snuggles and rather timid. I had no time to prepare for her arrival, so she had to cope with big dog beds, water bowls and biscuits.

We had an almost 14-year-old pot-

to be an only dog (I believe) and when sweet Garmin left us on December 23 last year, Bella was quite happy to be the only dog on Christmas Day. And I promised her that we would get no more puppies as long as she lived… an ironclad guarantee that didn’t take into consideration the most dreadful and unexpected turn of events in early April.

So broken promise indeed, we brought Peanut home to an unsuspecting Bella, who quite simply used the old adage of ‘If I don’t see it, it’s not there’. Bella kept her distance, had nothing good or bad to say; she had nothing to say. Peanut clearly could feel the frigid reception, and we were patient. We made sure Bella had her sanctuaries; her space was essential, and she relished it.

As the weeks went by, an inch or two here and there, we saw a “rapprochement”; like two hostile nations gradually cooperating with each other. There was no olive branch, but Peanut grew bolder and Bella grew more motherly.

They now can sit beside each other when we watch TV. If Peanut starts chewing on Bella’s leg or tail, she gets “corrected” with a growl or a yap and is immediately contrite. Puppies need to be corrected by their mothers; Peanut left her mother at a very young age, so Bella is doing the job.

The chewing gets a bit out of hand at times. One pair of shoes have bitten the dust (fortunately, old ones); coconuts and fronds get dragged into the house. She is a good girl and sleeps through the night without making any mistakes; she does not cry, and Bella still has our bedroom as her sanctuary.

When she greets us in the morning it is as if she hasn’t seen us for weeks. She is so delighted that her joy makes her do zoomies around the house at high speed. She loves being around us, but if we go out to dinner she can be left in the house, and so far, so good.

cake (spotcake) Bella who we rescued off the road in Love Beach when she was very small. Bella had grown up as one of a pack of five, the only girl and always a bit aloof. She always wanted

Almost all those sharp little puppy teeth are gone, so the teething stage should be over soon, but that doesn’t mean the chewing will be over. I find that puppies have their baby stage for the first six months, then childhood for the next 18 months, and at two they enter that terrible teenager and young adolescent period until they age of four when they emerge as mature and considerate adults….. sound familiar?

(PHOTO BY LINDA GILL-ARANHA)

Bella (left) slowly getting used to little Peanut

food

Preacher’s Kid serves up ‘island soul food’ at Nassau Cruise Port

From pg 02

“We had the task of creating a unique Bahamian experience here at the port,” said Chef Hall. “I have been (promoting) food culture for a very long time. I have been immersed in making the dishes at the restaurant different but relatable. So we came up with the phrase ‘island soul food’. And this basically means comforting Bahamian food with a twist.”

All of the dishes at Preacher’s Kid are recognisable, but may have a unqiue twist.

“But it depends on who you ask,” said Chef Hall. “A stew fish crunch, which is a sandwich, was something that came about because we wanted to challenge what was already being done. We did not want to do the typical peas and rice and coleslaw, but we wanted the soul of peas and rice and coleslaw.”

“We are in the cruise port where we cater to both locals and internationals, so we need them to both recognise the food so that it doesn’t

have to be over-explained. For example, everyone knows what a fried pork chop is, but they may not particularly understand a snack. That is why we have all the components of a snack,” he explained.

One of the signature items on the menu is the sticky Johnny caketraditional Johnny cake topped with caramel and nuts.

“I like to challenge myself and the sticky Johnny cake was one of those challenges,” said Chef Hall. “To be honest, I wanted to do a sticky bun but I knew that it was going to be extremely difficult to consistently make something that is such a laborious task.

I love to make Johnny cake, so I decided to create this with the toppings.”

Then there is the ‘Hamwich’, which reimagines the classic native sandwich the ‘Slam Bam’ with succulent rotisserie ham, quick pickles, and beer mustard, all nestled within a pillowy island brioche bun.

So far, there is no dish in the lead as the most requested. Chef Hall

believes this is due to the constant change in clientele on a daily basis.

“The most requested dish changes every day because we are catering to different people every day… some days it’s the meatloaf burger; some days it’s the cookies, and some days it’s the sticky Johnny cake,” he said.

“I do not think there is any dish that led the way because we have created a menu that people want to eat everything on.”

All dishes at the restaurant are prepared by up-and-coming culinary stars. Chef Hall sourced talent from the University of the Bahamas’

School of Hospitality & Tourism Studies; hiring gifted students.

“Right now we are working on adding a new burger to the menu where people can build their own burger. We are going to work on a build-your-own-burger festival. We are working on the logistics right now,” he said.

SURF & Turf Bowl

STEW Crunch

STICKY Johnny Cake

BAHAMIAN Pork Chop Snack

HAMWICH