The Tribune
Friday, July 8, 2016
art books education film fashion celebrity fitness food podcasts
Weekend
ICON AWARDS Pages 14&15
Badge of pride Fashion and passion for Independence Fashion, page 13
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Friday, July 8, 2016
tourism
Going full hog with a sea safari By CARA HUNT cbrennen@tribunemedia.net
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hile some countries can offer safaris to see such majestic animals as lions or elephants, here in the Bahamas we have a unique type of safari to meet some of the country’s most famous residents – the swimming pigs of Exuma. The new tour company Harbour Safari provides both visitors and locals with the opportunity to zip across the beautiful Bahamian waters in a speedboat to see and interact with the swimming pigs in their natural habitat. The idea behind the boat tour came about unexpectedly as Harbour Safari owner Lee McCoy was researching options for his honeymoon. “I was planning my honeymoon in the United Kingdom and was looking at all the tour options that they had and noticed the speed boat tours you could do on the river Thames and was really intrigued by them. My focus then shifted from honeymoon planning to how I could start my own version of tours here,” said Mr McCoy. He started the tour company in October of last year after acquiring a 900 Baltic Parker RIB vessel. “It is a very specific type of boat; it is a rigid inflatable boat where the passengers straddle the seats,” he explained. “It is used a lot in search and rescues.” Due to the high speed and motion of the boat, it is not suitable for pregnant women, children under 12, persons prone to motion sickness or those with back or heart conditions. Due to the tour’s length, it is also not suited for day cruise ship passengers. Originally, the company operated tours around Nassau Harbour, where tour guides would combine adventure with cultural and historical facts about the Bahamas. When the demands for a longer voyage came pouring in, the company switched its itinerary to take passen-
gers to the Exuma Cays to visit the world famous swimming pigs. “The boat can accommodate 10 passengers and two crew and we go out three or four times a week. Usually we depart from Bay Street Marina and we ask guests to arrive by 8.15am, so we can hold a safety briefing and then we depart around 8.30am,” said Mr McCoy. “It takes about an hour to get to Allan’s Cay where our passengers can feed the rock iguanas carrots and swim in the lagoon, then we sail to Big Man Cay (also known as Pig Beach) where guests can interact with the pigs before heading for lunch at Staniel Cay,” he said. “On the return journey there is another stop which is determined by
the captain each day as a bonus.” The feedback from this tour has been amazing, he added. “The Exumas really need no advertising as they are just beautiful and the swimming pigs are an attraction which sells itself. A lot of our business is really word of mouth; from visiting friends of locals.” He noted that the size of the tour ensures an intimate experience. “It feels like a very personal tour. Our captain spent a lot of time in Exuma and so he is able to provide a lot of insight to guests,” he said. While he said that business has been incredible, he admits that they have had their share of challenges. One of those challenges is always out of their control – the weather. It is one of the reasons that they do not offer daily trips so that they can try to accommodate passengers whose original dates have to be cancelled. He
explained that wind plays a major factor and said many times passengers do not understand why they cannot travel on a sunny day. But when everything comes together and the weather is accommodating, Mr McCoy said several of his customers have had magical experiences on his tour. “We have had a couple get engaged and we had one guest who wore a pig onesie when she met the pigs and had someone take a photo of her being fed a carrot just like the real pigs,” said Mr McCoy. Additionally, a UK morning show featured a segment on the swimming pigs as part of their series on how to spend a million pounds. Mr McCoy said the company can also arrange private and custom excursions depending on the interests of their clients.
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Friday, July 8, 2016
Inside Weekend Interview
4-5 Cara Hunt talks with Andrea Sweeting, president of the Sister Sister Breast Cancer Support Group, and now the new Bahamian Icon for Humanitarianism
Food 7 Tortuga Rum Cakes’ new store serves up authentic Bahamian treats
Entertainment 8 Green Parrot celebrates Summer Beer Festival, plus NAGB continues with its summer film series
Art 9 Matthew Wildgoose aims to tell the Bahamas’ stories through art
My perfect Bahamian weekend Clint Watson Journalist and Shaback choir director
“The sofa is the next best thing to the bed.”
Q: Beach or sofa? “Sofa! Weekends are for feeling lazy. The beach is too hot, too crowded and too messy! The sofa is the next best thing to the bed.”
Q: Saturday breakfast or Sunday brunch? “Saturday breakfast because I’m a church guy, so never available for brunch on Sundays. Besides, I get to relax and enjoy the moment more on Saturday.”
Q: What could you not do without? “Gat to have air conditioning and food. Life’s simple comforts.” Q: Weekend away: where would you go? “A nice resort on an island in the Bahamas. Exuma!”
Summer programme encourages at-risk youth to be creative
Q: Wine, Kalik, rum or cocktail? “Neither, as I’m not a
Celebrity 11
Things 2 Do this weekend
Education 10
Bahamian fans welcome YouTube star LaToya Forever
Friday
Lifestyle 12
• Harp & Bowl Encounter Time: 8am (continues on Saturday at 9am) Venue: Meliá Nassau Beach Resort Judah Experiences presents its seventh anniversary and Harp & Bowl Encounter. All intercessors, worshippers, worship leaders, prophetic dancers, psalmists are called on to participate.
Luna’s kitchens are a family tradition
Fashion 13 Bahari is back with a premium T-shirt line for Independence 2016
Society 14-15 Bahamian Icons shine bright on the red carpet
Podcasts 18 Start planning your perfect vacation by just putting on your headphones
Design your lifestyle 19 Victoria Sarne on escaping the summer heat
Health and fitness 20 - 21 Sculpt and shape with isometrics
Mailboats 24 - 25 Eric Wiberg makes a heartfelt plea to save the Bahamas’ pride and joy
Gardening 28 Jack Hardy on container growing
drinker. But if I would have to choose it would be a mocktail so I can enjoy the fruit juices mixed without alcohol or maybe a splash of something sweet.”
Saturday • 9th Annual Bahamas World Cup Time: 12noon Venue: Winton Rugby Centre, Jasmine Drive BahamasLocal.com presents the 9th Annual Bahamas World Cup. The first eight teams to register receive tournament T-shirts. Rules of engagement are six-a-side. The participation cost is $150 per team. All proceeds will be donated to the Damian Neville Medical Fund. • Independence Party at Balmoral Time: 7pm until Venue: The Balmoral Club Enjoy a down-home menu including conch salad shots, conch fritters,
bean soup and dumplings, fried fish, chicken in the bag, steamed mutton, peas n’ grits, pumpkin and rice, fried plantain, benny cakes, and more, with music and dancing all night long. The dress code is Bahamian casual. Tickets are $35 for adults plus VAT and gratuity; and $20 for children plus VAT and gratuity
Sunday • Soaked Pool Party Time: 2pm Venue: Sunset Resort Bahamas Events by AC invites you to drink, play and party poolside with cool cocktails, tasty eats and champagne showers with Moët. The party also features music by DJ AI. The dress code is poolside trendy. Admission is $15. Must be 18 or older to attend. • Strictly For The Ladies Time: 10pm Venue: Bambu Lounge Bay Street Ladies are free until 1am, with the music of DJ Marvelous out of Miami.
Monday • Independence Beach Party Time : 10am - 4pm Venue: Jaws Beach The Coalition To Save Clifton invites you to enjoy a free day of games, scenic tours, food, drinks, music,family fun and boat tours. Bus service is available. Call 328-8984 for more information. • Crab Fest Time: 11.30am Venue: Island Spice at the Fish Fry Enjoy traditional Bahamian favourites such as crab n’ rice, stuffed crab, crab n’ dough, crab cakes and fritters. • Independence at Ardastra Gardens Time: 12noon - 4pm Venue: Ardastra Gardens, Chippingham The “All T’ings Bahamian” family fun day allows guests to enjoy the zoo along with traditional Bahamian games, a scavenger hunt, and lots of Bahamian eats and treats. Admission is $14 for adults and $7 for children. The event is free for members and one senior with a paying adult. For more information call 323-5806 or e-mail Events@Ardastra.com.
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interview A breast cancer survivor who has inspired a generation of Bahamian women tells Cara Hunt about overcoming the disease, the power of positive thinking and becoming a Bahamian Icon.
Andrea Sweeting
“I
live by the words of Helen Keller ‘I thank God for my handicaps, for through them I have found myself, my work and my God’ - says Andrea Sweeting. The president of Sister Sister support group has used her own battle with breast cancer to inspire other members of the organisation to provide hope, comfort and financial support to other women facing the same struggles. Her efforts earned her the 2016 Humanitarian prize at last weekend’s Bahamian Icon Awards. “In December of 2001, I was was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer. When I found out, I was completely devastated, I cried for the entire afternoon,” she tells Tribune Weekend. “My treatment consisted of a mastectomy to remove my right breast, followed by chemotherapy and radiation. I remember one of my girlfriends, Paula Roberts, telling me, ‘you have got to do this’. She did - and she is now a 15year cancer survivor. “When you are diagnosed with cancer you feel alone, like there is no one to call on, so if you can have another woman who is going through what you are going through or has been through it, and they can say ‘see, I am still standing’, that can give you all the hope in the world and hope is one of the most powerful things that there is.” That is the simple yet highly
PHOTO/SCHARAD LIGHTBOURNE
effective premise of the Sister Sister support group. “It is women helping women, she explained. “We want people to know that although cancer is a disease, it is not a death sentence. Positive thinking is a huge part of a the cancer fight.” Sister Sister was founded in September, 2000, by Dr Locksley Munroe and Dr Charles Diggiss and Nurse Charlene Mcphee. Ms Sweeting joined the organisation in March, 2002. “I joined Sister Sister holding the position of secretary and three year later, I became president, a position I still hold today. Sister Sister has provided a platform from which I can heal and also help others with educating and supporting them in their fight to survive not only breast cancer but all types of cancer.” Since its inception, the group has provided invaluable assistance to hundreds of Bahamian woman and their families. One of their primary achievements has been to provide more than 400 port-a-caths - the instrument through which chemotherapy is administered - to needy patients. Each port costs hundreds of dollars. Additionally, Sister Sister has helped more than 50 people pay for PET/CT scans either by scheduling the test, payment and/ or purchasing airline tickets for those individuals that have to travel internationally to take the PET/CT. They have also helped women have access to mammograms and chemotherapy and stipends for families who have
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Friday, July 8, 2016
lost ones. “All of the mentioned services are made possible by the caring, compassionate, generosity of our Bahamian corporate sponsors, civic groups, fraternities, churches and individuals, for which we are most grateful,” she noted. Advocacy and awareness are two areas that are dear to her heart. “Our studies have shown that through the power of continuing education, the encouragement of early detection, the promotion of choices and providing assistance has resulted in more persons surviving breast cancer and more people are willing to talk about their journey.” Mrs Sweeting added that one of the difficulties and tragedies of breast cancer in the Bahamas is that they are seeing it in increasing numbers of younger women. “Before, it used to be that your grandmother got breast cancer at age 60, then it became your mother would get it at age 50 and now you are getting it at age 40. “Not only are younger and younger women getting the disease, but they are being initially diagnosed at more advanced stages. That is why we are seeing the death rate of younger woman increase. A lot of older women, when they feel that something is wrong, they will go and get checked out and that leads to early detection.” One of her biggest challenges and one of the main things that she hopes doctors will consider is to lower the recommended breast cancer screening age. At present it is suggested that women receive testing at 40 unless there are mitigating reasons to test earlier. However, given the high prevalence of the BRCA1 cancer gene in the country along with strong family histories, Ms Sweeting would like to see earlier testing. “I say that woman have it tough and rough in this country. A lot of people say that
PHOTOS/AARON DAVIS
“It is a great feeling for people to notice you, when you are just doing what you think needs to be done. When people come up and tell me, it just brings tears to my eyes. I was so stunned when I won the Icon award.” cancer is caused by diet, but as a woman you are cooking and eating the same food as your family and yet only the women are getting sick,” she added. She also advises cancer patients to treat the cancer aggressively with traditional methods such as chemotherapy, instead of relaying solely on alternative measures.
“They have their place, but you have to rid the body of the cancer first and then you can treat yourself with other methods.” One of the programmes she is most pleased with is the highly successful annual Prayer Breakfast. “I am ecstatic that this is our twelfth year hosting this event, which not only serves as a celebration of survivors but also as an education and health forum that caters to spiritual strengthening, renewal and encouragement for all attendees.” Although her efforts have made a tremendous difference in the lives women all over the country, Ms Sweeting remains humble and grateful. “It is a great feeling for people to notice you, when you are just doing what you think needs to be done. When people come up and tell me, it just brings tears to my eyes. I was so stunned when I won the Icon award. I remember sitting there and I just couldn’t move and my son said ‘Mommy, you have to get up’. It is such an honour and I am so grateful.”
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Friday, July 8, 2016
food PHOTOS/SHAWN HANNA
Under the Tortuga Rum Cakes and Genuinely Bahamian labels, customers can find jams, jellies, cakes, fudge, rum butter, and more.
A taste of the Bahamas New Tortuga Rum Cakes store expands on its locally made treats By CARA HUNT cbrennen@tribunemedia.net
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lready a hit with both visitors and locals alike, the Tortuga Rum Cakes store has found a new home on Paradise Island and is expanding its merchandise to include even more uniquely Bahamians products. The local entrepreneur behind all of this is Linda
Meyers, the owner and manufacturer of both Tortuga Rum Cakes and her own unique line of Genuinely Bahamian food products. This week, Tribune Weekend visited her new store on Paradise Island which has been stocked with a tasty array of native items just in time for the Independence Day weekend. “We like to say our items are picked, cooked and packed by locals so you can take home a taste of the Bahamas,” said Mrs Meyers. In addition to carrying the well known Tortuga Rum Cakes, the new store will stock the Genuinely Bahamian label which includes items such as Eleuthera Steamy Mango Hot Sauce, Rake and Scrape Backyard BBQ Sauce, vanilla rum extract, North Andros honey, guava rum butter and bird pepper jelly.
“I always loved to cook and bake, and one of the reasons why I started the products was that I wasn’t able to get some of the products I loved on a consistent basis. And so I thought I would just make them myself,” said Mrs Meyers. After family and friends raved about her products, she slowly began adding the items that worked to her store, which originally just sold the locally made Tortuga Rum Cakes. “It’s all about what works and what people like. I will try anything if it works great; if not, we just forget it, “ she said. Mrs Meyers said she hopes locals and visitors alike will stop by the new store in the Paradise Island Village which has an interesting feature. “If you look at the handpainted floor, it’s amazing.
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entertainment PHOTO/SHAWN HANNA
Green Parrot celebrates Summer Beer Festival with Ronnie Butler By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net
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HE Green Parrot Bar & Grill on East Bay Street aims to be the “go to” place in Nassau for those who want to celebrate and let their hair down this summer. To this end, the restaurant, in collaboration with Pirate Republic Beers, will host its Summer Beer Festival to feature Ronnie Butler next Saturday beginning at 2pm. “We will be highlighting their brews during the event, and hey, everyone enjoys a great beer, tasty food and awesome live music,” said Lindsay Mulock, marketing manager at Green Parrot. The restaurant has hosted beer festivals for five years now, and Ms Mulock said the goal is to host them twice a year so seasonal beers can be highlighted. “Every year the events become
Ronnie Butler will take the stage at Green Parrot’s Summer Beer Festival The Green Parrot Bar & Grill is partnering with Pirate Republic Beers for its Summer Beer Festival more and more popular and we really love that people turn out and just enjoy themselves. Craft beers have become increasingly popular over the last 10 years and we wanted to bring that to the Bahamas. Our first beer festival was an ‘Oktoberfest’, and we decided to play off of the great beer fest that takes place in Germany every year and is also mimicked worldwide,” said Ms Mulock.
Next Saturday will be the first time the Green Parrot is teaming up with the legendary Ronnie Butler, and the staff members could not be more excited, she said. Mr Butler will take the stage at 8pm. She said the Summer Beer Festival is a great way to enjoy a Summer day with friends at a waterfront location; drinking beer you cannot taste
anywhere else in the Bahamas while listening to the sounds of Ronnie Butler live. “You can’t ask for a better combo. We are so proud to host Ronnie Butler this year as our live entertainment. He is a Bahamian legend and we are honoured to have him play at our establishment. We hope to continue to host the event every year and find more great beers to showcase to the Bahamian public. It is also important to mention that we never charge a cover fee, as we want everyone to be able to enjoy the fun,” she said.
National Art Gallery hosts Summer film series The National Art Gallery of the Bahamas is currently hosting its new curated film series created specifically for the Bahamas. The series began in June and will continue until the end of the year. NAGB Director Amanda Coulson, chief curator Holly Bynoe and Canadian film programmer Francis Litzinger have selected a series of 12 films, five of which are being screened from June to August. The series is intended to reflect on the themes that resonate from the NAGB’s exhibition programming. Next up, on August 11, is the Acad-
emy Award nominated film “Beasts of the Southern Wild”, a film offering a dream-like look at a unique six-yearold Hushpuppy who is trying to find her mother against the backdrop of nature coming undone. “Hushpuppy” is played by Quvenzhané Wallis, who at age nine became the youngest Best Actress nominee in Oscar history. The film will be related to the NAGB’s planned exhibition, “Sustainable Exuma”, which opens on August 4 and examines themes of poverty, the environment, sustainability, and what it means to be a child in difficult circum-
“Beasts of the Southern Wild” will screened at the NAGB on August 11 stances. “Beasts of the Southern Wild” is rated T for viewers who are 15 and older. The summer film series concludes on August 25 with the Cannes Awardwinning “Rosetta”, by the Dardenne brothers. “Rosetta” is a powerful film that follows a poor young woman who
is fighting to hold on to a job to support herself and her alcoholic mother. “Despite the film’s European setting, the themes it presents are universal and speak to the pain and struggles that come along with the day-to-day experience of many here in the Bahamas,” the NAGB said.
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Friday, July 8, 2016
art
Matthew Wildgoose tells the Bahamas’ stories through art By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net
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HILE artists can usually find inspiration in the vibrant and noisy world around them, sometimes it pays off to retreat into a quiet working space specifically designed to get the creative juices flowing. This was exactly what Bahamian artist Matthew Wildgoose did when he participated in an art residency programme at the Carroll House in Atlanta, Georgia. The Carroll House is Atlanta’s only residential creative retreat for artists and writers. It is the home-cum-creative retreat of former NBA star Joe Barry Carroll, who stared painting in his home studio several years ago. Along with Mr Wildgoose, artists were chosen from the US and Germany to receive 2016 fellowships. The two- and four-week residencies began in May and included creating new art, interacting with leaders of the local art scene and attending art events. “Being my first residency, I didn’t have any expectations beyond residing for two weeks and becoming immersed in my craft. That’s pretty much how it went,” said Mr Wildgoose. “The environment itself encouraged creativity. It’s a scenic, 50-acre, gated property, with a five-acre pond, nature trails and indigenous wildlife. I met some good people who will probably be life-long friends.” He said he was told about the programme by his friend, world-renowned Bahamian fine artist Lillian Blades, who resides in Atlanta. “Another thing I learned is just how fast – or slow – I work, especially when that is almost the only thing to do, paint,” he said. Each artist was allowed to create pieces of their liking during their stay. Mr Wildgoose painted one large piece 60”x 60” acrylic on canvas piece that speaks to the rampant drug trade in the Bahamas during the 1980s and 90s.
Matthew Wildgoose displays the artwork he created during his retreat in Atlanta. The acrylic painting speaks to the rampant drug trade in the Bahamas in the 1980s and 90s.
“I am a strong believer of art being reflective of the times. And so now instead of painting elaborate portraits, I want to delve more into the stories, in particular our stories; it is how the world tomorrow will know that we existed.” “I decided to explore a theme that is not talked about normally in the Bahamas but I feel is an important aspect when piecing together the ‘puzzle’ of Bahamian culture. During the 80s, 90s illicit drugs were navigated through our ‘shallow seas’ en route to the US from South America and left an indelible wound in the fabric of our nation. The reason why I think the conversation should be had is so we can remind ourselves not to make the same
mistakes in the future,” he told Tribune Weekend. Mr Wildgoose said his personal experiences over the years have shaped and helped his art to evolve. When he puts brush to canvas it’s always going to be about a story from now on, he said. “I am a strong believer of art being reflective of the times. And so now instead of painting elaborate portraits, I want to delve more into the stories,
in particular our stories; it is how the world tomorrow will know that we existed. So telling good stories in each piece is important to me right now. Each piece will be like a scene in a theatre production frozen in time.” Mr Wildgoose will be a featured artist in an art and jazz concert on July 8, hosted by Grand Bahama at the Yacht Club. In September, the artist will mount his fourth annual solo exhibition at the Central Bank of the Bahamas in Nassau. Currently, Mr Wildgoose’s art is featured in multiple high-end locations throughout the Bahamas. His work is part of two of the largest art collections in his country, the Dawn Davies Art Collection and The D’Aguilar’s Art Foundation. His work is also showcased in exterior wall murals at the Bahamas Humane Society in Nassau and the Junkanoo Museum in Grand Bahama. In addition, his art was also featured in the Atlanta Artist Centre.
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education
Making something new out of something old Summer programme encourages at-risk youth to be creative By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net
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HEN the Mega Mergers Apprenticeship Programme’s summer session comes to a close, participants will be equipped to turn discarded materials into creative and marketable products. The programme aims to teach atrisk youth to think, create and communicate through the arts and media, and also offers training in business and environmental sustainability. The theme for this year’s summer session is “Inciting Evolution”, and participants will learn basic entrepreneurial skills, personal, social and product development skills. All of which will be introduced with a focus on economic, environmental and social sustainability. This year’s programme is being held at the RM Bailey Secondary School on Robinson Road from July 4 to 22, from 9am to 1pm. At the end of the session, students will showcase work during an expo on July 29 that will open to the public. For the projects to be showcased in the upcoming expo, students are divided into teams. The projects submitted must be an improvement on an existing product and no less than 75 per cent of the product must be made from either old tyres, old plastic bottles or a combination of both. Students are also encouraged to do as much research as possible to ensure their product stands out. Activities that are part of the programme include completing a progress portfolio, which includes the name of their group, detailed sketches of their proposed designs, a
Participants in the Mega Mergers Apprenticeship Programme are tasked with creating new products out of recyclable materials like old tyres and plastic bottles.
“If we can change the way they think – to be more community-minded, growth-focused, environmentally conscious and generally holistic – we will have a better chance of changing the declining direction that most of our young people are committed to pursue for various reasons.”
completed success self-assessment, a personal goal map and a combined project goal map, materials and tool list, completed surveys that are designed to get customer feedback on their product before the expo, as well as copies of all the assessments they have completed. Candis Marshall, the organisation’s founder, said she formulated the ideas behind the programme to engage and empower young people, especially in urban areas. Last year, the opportunity presented itself to work with Ministry of Youth in starting an apprenticeship programme. The purpose of the Mega Mergers Apprenticeship Programme, Ms Marshall said, is to expand employment opportunities for at-risk youth and low income youths up to age of 20. “We have more than 10 business owners and managers that are a part of our exchange programme. They come into the classes as mentors for a day. They will give the participants a short talk on what it took for them to reach their level of success. Once the talk is done they will do a demonstration of their process and invite the participants to activity participate in the process. In some cases participants will go to their location and take a tour of their facility and have an opportunity to do that job for the day,” she said. Ms Marshall said this interaction is designed to motivate the participants to explore various career options and to develop a sense of the importance of personal development. “The key way in which all participants will benefit from this programme is that they will have a positive change in mindset. If we can change the way they think – to be more community-minded, growthfocused, environmentally conscious and generally holistic – we will have a better chance of changing the declining direction that most of our young people are committed to pursue for various reasons,” she said.
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celebrity
Bahamian fans welcome YouTube star LaToya Forever PHOTOS/SHAWN HANNA
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HE has more than 1.5 million followers across her personal and comedic YouTube channels combined, and last Saturday it was proven that at least some of those followers are Bahamians. Fans here in Nassau could not wait to meet the vlogging star known as LaToya Forever at a special event presented by REV and Gone Viral TV (GVTV) at the Mall of Marathon. There were cheers and tears of happiness as LaToya posed for photos and handed out autographs. She was accompanied by her husband, marketing specialist Adam Ali, who makes regular appearances in her videos. REV and GVTV also teamed up to give two lucky fans the chance to win a complimentary dinner and one-on-one time with the couple. LaToya, an Ontario-native born to Trinidadian parents, first entered the social media entertainment scene in 2010, and since then she has steadily built her brand which has attracted not only millions of fans but significant corporate sponsorship as well. In her videos, the vlogger focuses on the day-to-day aspects of being a mother, wife, friend and lover. She also takes part in YouTube challenges and gives advice on makeup and fashion. LaToya said she wants to use her evergrowing video platform to uplift, motivate and inspire her followers – the majority of which are young women like herself. “I am certainly blessed by God for allowing me to uplift people’s moods through my fun personality. I am not perfect but that’s cool…At least I’m comfortable in my own skin,” she says on her Facebook. LaToya and her husband not only met with fans while in the Bahamas, they also participated in the “Learn from the Pros” social media seminar on Sunday at the British Colonial Hilton. They were joined by local web personalities Sherice Major of SheSoMajor; Aneka Stewart of Cay to Style, and Timico Sawyer of Sawyerboy TV. Anastarcia Palacious served as the moderator. The web stars shared tips and discussed a range of social media-related topics, including content creation and curation, posting schedules, context, and social tools.
Cable Bahamas REVTV along with GVTV held meet and greet for ans with Social Media Blogger, LaToya and her husband Adam Ali.
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lifestyle
Luna’s kitchens – A family tradition
PHOTOS/EBONI ROBYN
By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net
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O be one of the most soughtafter and respected kitchen and bath cabinetry businesses in the Bahamas is the goal that drives the team behind Luna’s Fine Cabinetry. Meliton Luna, who originally hails from Mexico, and his Bahamian wife Carla started Luna’s Fine Cabinetry in 2003, with modest means and literally “under the tree”. Coming from a family of joiners and cabinet makers, it was only natural that Meliton continued his family’s legacy. Since he was five he spent time at his father’s workshop in Mexico. It was this early training that fostered his desire to become a woodcrafter. After marrying Meliton, Carla said the cabinet making business grew on her. The couple’s big break came when a local construction company recognised their talent and hired them to manufacture interior millwork products for a high-end residential project at the Ocean Club Estates on Paradise Island. With a large percentage of homeowners shopping overseas for kitchen and bath cabinetry, and DIY (do it yourself) and HGTV shows increasing the demand for aesthetically pleasing cabinets at affordable prices, the Lunas saw a business opportunity right here in the Bahamas. Like many homeowners, they were also inspired by popular online sites such as houzz.com and TV shows such as HGTV’s “Fixer Upper” and “Love It or List It”. They said they have received encouraging feedback that motivates them to stay up-to-date with the latest trends in the kitchen and bath industry, and to ensure that the end product meets the company’s standards and clients’ expectations. The couple’s favourite part of the business is being able to take a homeowner’s design ideas and photos, and create a finished product.
The Luna family strives to stay up-to-date with the latest trends in the kitchen and bath industry Luna’s Fine Cabinetry main product is bespoke kitchen and bath cabinetry made from sustainable, furniture grade North American plywood and lumber such as oak, maple and walnut. Cabinets are manufactured in the company’s woodworking shop located on St Albans Drive where they employ a team of carpenters, finishers and installers. “We have been operating from this location for eight years, and opened the doors of our main showroom in February of this year located off Mackey Street, across from the Wendy’s parking lot,” said Carla. Renovating or building a home can be challenging and stressful, so it was the company’s goal to create a showroom environment where the homeowner can find a wide selection of materials for kitchen and bath projects. Inside the Mackey Street exhibit persons will find a one-stop shopping experience, the Lunas said. “We have been told that our showroom is very inspiring – comments such as, ‘It is like walking into HGTV, but only better because we can touch, feel and not have to go to the USA to purchase’. We are proud to be the dealers for internationally recognised brands
such as Viking, SMEG, Liebherr, ULine, Franke and Kindred, to name a few. We have a great business relationship with our suppliers, and as such continue to negotiate affordable prices for our clientele,” Carla told Tribune Weekend. As Meliton’s father taught him the trade, he is now training his two young sons to continue the family’s legacy. Their training consists of recognising local wood species, learning the name of hand tools, sweeping the floor and collecting the trash. Such humble tasks help his sons appreciate the value of their heritage, Meliton said. “Marketing ‘Luna’s kitchens – A family tradition’ as a lifestyle brand is going to be our focus for the remainder of 2016,” said Carla. “The kitchen and bath is ever evolving, and as evidence we are pleased to announce our latest venture which is a wedding and gift registry to be launched this month called ‘Kitchen + Table’. We have partnered with our international suppliers to offer small luxury kitchen appliances and cookware, knives and coffee and tea makers, to name a few. With the internet becoming an integral shopping tool, we want to expand our online presence.”
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Friday, July 8, 2016
fashion
Bahari celebrates ‘One Bahamas’ “There are a lot of persons that aren’t aware that each island has its own crest. We saw this as an awesome opportunity to educate our public, yet still drive home the message of unity and togetherness.”
Clothing label releases new Independence collection
B
ahari burst on to the Bahamian fashion scene two years ago with its stylish and patriotic T-shirts, so it is only fitting that they are back this summer with a brand new Independence-themed collection for 2016. The highly anticipated “Bahamas Independence”, which consists exclusively of premium T-shirts, is right in time for the country’s 43rd anniversary of independence. Inspiration for this year’s design came from the team’s desire to forge a spirit of togetherness and unity; reminding Bahamians that they are one nation, in spite of the current challenges that the country is faced with. “For us, independence is no longer a celebration of our sovereignty from Great Britain necessarily, but it is a reminder of the extent of greatness that we can achieve through togetherness,” said Eduardo Collie, Bahari brand manager. “We wanted to create an aesthetic this year that spoke to unification, while still allowing all islands to be represented individually. This is why we chose to incorporate the coat of arms of each major inhabited island in our design this year. “There are a lot of persons that aren’t aware that each island has its own crest. We saw this as an awesome opportunity to educate our public, yet still drive home the message of unity and togetherness.” For the most part, Bahari usually releases four collections annually and a special collection for Independence. The brand was initially introduced to the Bahamian public through its Independence collection in June 2014. “Our Independence release has really taken on a life of its own,” said Mr Collie. “Customers usually start inquiring about our line months before Independence. We’ve become somewhat of a staple for Independence. “Bahamians have grown to expect a vivid, unique design from Bahari; one that resonates with the emotional and cultural landscape of the country. We’re a passionate people, despite our differences. When it’s time for us to unite and display pride for our nation, we rise to the occasion.” Bahari’s Independence collection is available for purchase online at www.shopBahari.com, at Bahari Bahamas in Freeport inside the Circle Mall, and at Bahari Bahamas in Nassau on Rosetta Street.
Bahari Independence 2016
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society PHOTOS/SHAWN HANNA
Bahamian Icons shine bright
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he red carpet for the fourth annual Bahamian Icon Awards was the place to be last Saturday. Some 75 nominees with their escorts, family and friends posed for the photographers and onlookers as they entered the Meliá Nassau Beach Resort. It was a night of glamour and style, and all those in attendance brought their fashion A game. Among those walking the red carpet were Icon Awards founder Addis Huyler, who was accompanied by his mother Vernice Smith, and The Tribune’s very own senior sports reporter Brent Stubbs and his wife Joan. Other celebs making an appearance were singers like Sammi Star, Wendi Lewis and
MDeez; entertainers King Kloud and Anastarcia Palacious; internet personality Aneka Stewart of Cay to Style, fashion designer LaVonne Alexis, public relations specialist Bianca Bethel-Sawyer, and many more. The Bahamian Icon Awards were created to celebrate the achievements of Bahamians from all walks of life. This year’s categories included Fine Arts, Commerce, Education, Entertainment, Entrepreneurship, Health, Humanitarianism, Live Entertainment Ensemble, Media, Music, Youth Development, Sports, Tourism, Rising Star, and People’s Choice. There was also a Lifetime Achievement Award which went to Janet Bostwick.
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section The Weekend Fashion Report Film premieres
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Vivica A Fox, “Independence Day – Resurgence”
Margot Robbie, “The Legend of Tarzan”
Blake Lively, “The Shallows”
Jourdan Dunn, “Absolutely Fabulous -The Movie”
Jenny Slate, “The Secret Life of Pets”
Karin says: “The problem here is that her awful hair and that stupid fan make her look a bit ridiculous. The dress itself is actually not bad, although with the excessive beading it does almost cross over into ‘sexy grandma’ territory.” Cara says: “Vivica looks pretty OK, all things considered. It could have been hot mess, but it actually looks pretty nice on her. Hopefully she is done with the faux slutty/50 Cent’s girl’s wardrobe and embracing her ladylike self. The fan is confusing though; it must just be really hot on the red carpet.”
Karin says: “No doubt there is a bit of cultural appropriation going on, but she still looks really cute in this Mandarininspired robe by Gucci. Love the matching shoes and the fluffy pink cuffs. I’m not sure why exactly she chose this (Tarzan not really having anything to do with China), but it’s certainly unusual.” Cara says: “This is such a fun and different red carpet look. I really like it. The great thing about it is that it really works on her. It doesn’t look ridiculous or costume-y, even with the cuffs. And those are some amazing shoes.”
Karin says: “I’m not 100 per cent sold on the bustier being made of black latex, but otherwise I really like this dress. I suppose one can argue that the latex offers a contrast to the super feminine chiffon skirt, which is very pretty with the falling flowers motif. It’s a cool dress and suits Blake perfectly.” Cara says: “This dress is like pampered princess meets biker girl, and yes, I am here for it. I love the contrast of fabrics and all the texture of the skirt. It’s a beautiful dress and I really love the length and the sheer sexiness of the it.”
Karin says: “As a model, Jourdan of course has legs for days, and one thing this dress does is show them off. I love the gold brocade pattern, but I just think the front is a bit too short to work with that weird triangle-shaped train at the back. It looks off balance. Also, I’m not crazy about her hair.” Cara says: “I see where this dress is going, but I don’t really think it got there. The print is lovely, but I agree, the front of the dress does not match the back detail. Also, am I the only person who is seeing what looks like two big ugly buttons on the side or is that just a reflection?”
Karin says: “Poor Jenny has been getting enough hate from the fangirls since it was revealed she is dating Captain American himself, Chris Evans, but sadly I can’t be any nicer here. The black loops are just plain ugly, and the dress itself is just an inferior version of a style we’ve seen a hundred times.” Cara says: “I like red and I like lace, however, I do not like this red lace dress. Just what is that black trim? It really ruins what is otherwise an all right dress – not great, but all right. I like the shoes, but she looks really pale and matronly otherwise.”
AP PHOTOS
With Karin Herig and Cara Hunt
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books
‘Fifty-Year Mission’ is compelling ‘Star Trek’ time line
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dward Gross and Mark A Altman have compiled hundreds of interviews to create “The Fifty-Year Mission: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorised Oral History of Star Trek: The First 25 Years.” The saga of a failed TV show growing in popularity after it was canceled in 1969 is the stuff of fairy tales. Conventions featuring the stars of the show were followed by movies, other TV shows, novels and fan-made films. The authors of this oral history have interviewed people directly involved with the franchise, includ-
ing the actors, producers, writers and even famous fans of the series. The result is a compelling and fascinating time line. Fans of the show might worry that this book is nothing more than regurgitated material that has been revealed in earlier works. But “Fifty-Year Mission” gives everyone the freedom to express an opinion without fear of reprisal, creating an honest and eye-opening history. The layout of the book covers the first 25 years of the original series franchise, skipping the creation of “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” which will be covered in the
second volume, scheduled for publication in August and bringing the story up to the present. Revealing insight and honesty showcase the stories of the original series, the creation of the animated series and the feature films up to “Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.” Gross and Altman do a fine job letting the people speak for themselves while also providing pertinent details to provide background. JEFF AYERS Associated Press
Author of ‘Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep’ writing new book THE author of the millionselling bedtime story “The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep” is now hoping to find the same magic with the story of an elephant. American and British divisions of Penguin Random House announced Wednesday that Swedish author and
behavioral scientist CarlJohan Forssen Ehrlin’s “The Little Elephant Who Wants to Fall Asleep” will come out in October. “The Rabbit Who Wants to Falls Asleep” was initially self-published and became a word-of-mouth hit, with grateful parents leading the way,
Harlequin to launch literary brand Park Row Books HARLEQUIN, the publisher synonymous with romance novels, is anxious to show off its literary side. The publisher told The Associated Press last Friday that it is launching an imprint called Park Row Books, dedicated to “thought-provoking and voicedriven novels” that have “mainstream
even before Penguin Random House acquired it in 2015. With the new book, Ehrlin is again drawing upon “childtested, parent-approved techniques” for getting kids to sleep, the publisher said. NEW YORK Associated Press
appeal.” The first books are scheduled for the summer of 2017. Harlequin has previously issued more literary works through its MIRA imprint, notably Jason Mott’s “The Returned,” but sees Park Row as a more effective showcase. “We’ve been growing that part of our business for a very long time,” says Erika Imranyi, Park Row’s executive editor. “It’s a small piece of what we do, but a really important piece.” Park Row is named for the street in downtown Manhattan where Harlequin’s New York office was once located. Harlequin, where imprints range from mystery stories to Christian themes, was purchased by Rupert
Murdoch’s News Corp. in 2014 and now is part of HarperCollins Publishers. Hoping that a successful book can sell tens of thousands of copies, Imranyi doesn’t have the same commercial expectations for Park Row books that she might have for traditional Harlequin fiction, which often sells hundreds of thousands of copies. But she is willing to spend money for the right book. Park Row plans to debut with Benjamin Ludwig’s “The Improbable Flight of Ginny Moon,” acquired earlier this year in a six-figure deal. Formerly titled “Forever Girl,” the novel tells of an autistic teen so anxious to reconnect with her birth mother she plots to be
kidnapped by her. “Improbable Flight” has been billed as a combination of Emma Donoghue’s “Room” and Mark Haddon’s “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.” “We see it as a poignant and uplifting story,” Imranyi says. Other scheduled works include thrillers by Mary Kubica and Heather Gudenkauf, a new novel from prizewinning Canadian author Christopher Meades and British author Elizabeth Heathcote’s “Undertow.” HILLEL ITALIE AP National Writer
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podcasts
Headphones on, destination anywhere ummer is here, and thoughts are turning to travel for many, now that children are out of school. This week, we dip into the world of travel podcasts.
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guidebook, but back it up with some reading to get the most out of your destination. Website: www.tourcaster.com
Cruise Radio
Zero To Travel
For many, cruise ships are a destination in themselves, let alone the ports that they call in at. For would-be cruise travellers, Cruise Radio is a smashing podcast. There are detailed reviews of the many cruise ships available to travel on, news updates on the latest changes to ships and their routes, and a look at some of the destinations the ships visit. It’s a pleasant show, full of expert knowledge by those in their field. If a cruise is on your to-do list, you should easily find a review available of the ship you are due to travel on, and a lot more besides, including more than a few useful hints and tips for the cruise traveller. Website: www.cruiseradio.net
The love of travel is at the heart of the Zero To Travel podcast, which positively evangelises about the possibility of travelling for a living. If ever you’ve dreamed about being able to travel the globe for a job, then this may well be the show for you. However, while the enthusiasm here is boundless, sometimes that comes across as being too pushy. The show I listened to – “How To YouTube Your Way To More Travel + 3 Steps To Getting Anything You Want” – spent way too much time pushing the producer’s “Paradise” Pack that you sign up for just blah blah blah. Seriously, it felt like being subjected to a constant hard sell. Get through the first half hour of the show and you actually get to some good stuff, if you’ve not had enough of someone trying to sell you things by then. The latter part of the show has a guest appearance from a YouTuber who turned her channel into a way of getting to live in her dream destination in Brazil. Making money on the move, she’s happy to share bits of advice to those who might have their own dream. Some of those tips are things such as having a template for your videos to fall back on so you don’t always wrack your brain trying to work out what you’re going to do this week, making sure you get the visuals set up right on your page so you look professional, but more than anything, if you have a passion for something, don’t overthink whether or not you should do something about it, just do it. Just doing it is advice the show itself could have listened to for the first half, rather than just selling it. Stick with the show, though, and you too might feel there are possibilities to live your travel dream. Website: zerototravel.com
Doug Parker, host of Cruise Radio
Tourcaster This appears to be a great idea, but it seems to be hampered by not putting enough effort into it. The show essentially provides a series of short podcasts centered around notable locations to visit around the globe. Think of it as an audio guidebook for cities such as Paris, Los Angeles, and many more. The trouble is that sometimes it comes across as simply reading some facts from some of those guide books. I tried out the show on Barcelona – whose description starts off by saying how the city is nestled on the shores of south-eastern Spain. South-east? Not in my atlas! Listening to the show itself, there is useful material, sure, but pronunciations are off, and it all comes across as lacking in-depth knowledge of the destination. In short, the show is still useful, and certainly lighter to store than a hefty
Plan your vacation with the help of travel podcasts
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Friday, July 8, 2016
design your lifestyle
In the good old summertime By VICTORIA SARNE
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he lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer...although they don’t always feel so good; more like the dog days of summer when you step outside and it’s like being smothered in a wet blanket. It’s hot, steamy and uncomfortable. As there aren’t too many houses with double glazing or thermal glass in the islands, houses can heat up to uncomfortable levels even with air conditioning unless you are lucky enough to have long verandahs, fans and plenty of shady trees in the vicinity. It was surprising to me just how cool those wide verandahs are. If you have ever visited some of the grand older houses you will see that our grandparents certainly knew a thing or two about building and making the most of location and prevailing breezes. The best way to keep a house cool is to invest in heat-deflecting blinds. If you can’t do this at least keep the curtains or shutters closed to keep out as much of the sun as you can. Keep your thermostat on your air conditioner set at a level that this comfortable for you and leave it at that. Don’t turn it off when you go out because you think it will save you money and then turn it back on when you come home. The house will be sweltering and it will take more energy to get your a/c started up; it will have to work overtime to try and cool the house down again. Most domestic a/c units won’t cool much lower than 12 degrees of the outside temperature and tile or stone floors are obviously cooler than carpet. As for our cars, we all know how unbearably hot they are when we first get in them and can’t wait to blast the a/c. Knowing this and unless we are criminally sadistic, we would never put child or pet in an oven, so it amazes me that children and pets are still left unattended “for a few minutes” in a closed car with disastrous results – this despite consistent publicity when the inevitable tragedies occur. A few minutes is a few minutes too long. Just don’t do it! Heat stroke is real, dangerous and potentially lethal. Personal cooling tips: wear light coloured clothing which reflects heat
Victoria Sarne
A cool place in every sense
Some blinds can deflect up to 90 per cent of the heat transferred through the window.
Old-fashioned wrap around verandahs offer lots of shade and make the most of prevailing breezes. away from the body and not black which absorbs the heat as well as attracting mosquitos. Where possible, wear cotton and not synthetic or silk fabrics and keep them comfortably loose. Stay well-hydrated; drink lots of water all day. If you are thirsty you are already beginning to dehydrate. Children and older people need to be especially careful. Babies and young
children will dehydrate very quickly. If you can’t get out of the heat for whatever reasons, or are succumbing to heat stroke, take a cool shower then lie down in a darkened room; try to not move around too much, drink water, take an aspirin and apply ice packs or run cold water over some of your pulse areas such as your wrists, which will have a quick cooling effect on the
whole body. Make cold compresses for the forehead or back of the neck. If you don’t get some relief in an hour or so, or feel nauseous, don’t hesitate to call the doctor. The good days of summer are for fun, family, friends, good food and outdoor living. Put up the garden umbrella, settle into the lounger with a book and enjoy some summer wine. • Victoria Sarne is a certified wedding and event planner with Jim Whitehead at The Nassau Florist, located on Dowdeswell Street. For consultations and questions, call 302 6121 or e-mail designyourlifestyle@tribunemedia.net
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health and fitness
Summer shape and sculpt By REGINA SMITH
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t some point we all felt like a good solid workout required us to drown in sweat, flip tyres into the air, thrust kettle bells into the abyss or just jump around like maniacs. While we all like a good sweat, it’s OK to give your joints a rest. What if I told you that you could build strength without technically moving a muscle? Say what? Yes, it’s possible! It’s called isometrics. This is a form of exercise where the muscles are engaged in a form of tension, but the joint angle and muscle length do not change during contraction. Think of a plank exercise; you feel the tension in your shoulders, arms, chest and abdomen but you really aren’t moving. During isometric exercises the muscle fibres are activated, but since there are equal forces pushing against each other there is no movement. Isometric exercises are great alternatives to high-impact exercises. Give your muscles and joints a break but still get in a good work out. Not only do isometric exercises increase your overall strength, but certain exercises can help to trim your waist line and decrease your blood pressure. Barre fitness is a popular fitness class that has taken the industry by storm. There are several methods of barre fitness, including: Barre Amped, The Barre Method, Pure Barre And Total Barre. All barre fitness classes are constructed and founded on sequenced isometric exercises for a total body workout. Below are six heavy-hitting barre exercises that you can do at home to stay slim, sculpted and strong this summer. All you need is a pair of two, three, four, or five-pound dumbbells and a kitchen or dining room chair. Put on your favourite tunes and get ready to tuck, tremble and burn calories!
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BICEP CURL AND SQUAT How to do it: Stand with feet separated at hip distance apart. Keep your back straight, with your spine neutral. Keep your chest and shoulders up as you bend your knees to take your squat position. With dumbbells in hand, start to bend your elbows and complete a bicep curl. Complete the exercise slowly in four counts and then complete eight repetitions. Repeat this sequence four times.
REVERSE RAISES How to do it: Stand with feet separated at hip distance. Extend your elbows. Begin with arms below the shoulders with the palms facing in. Raise the arms to shoulder level. Lower the arms back down to the starting position. Repeat this in four counts slowly. On the fourth count open the arms out to the side and begin to pulse the elbows up to the ceiling. Complete tiny pulses for four counts of eight. Your shoulders may start to burn. Work through the burn and focus on keeping the spine lengthened. Avoid excessive rounding or extension of the spine, which is typically associated with muscle fatigue. Keep abdominal muscles engaged. This exercise is typically performed with two to three-pound dumbbells, but you are welcome to use the weight of your choice.
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TRICEPS How to do it: Begin with the elbows bent and as close to the rib cage as possible. Bring shoulder blades together. Extend elbows and lift arms up to shoulder level until triceps contraction is felt. From there complete tiny arm lifts for one minute. Complete three sets.
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PHOTOS/SHAWN HANNA
position for 20 seconds. Repeat two or three sets. This exercise can also be completed with your heels flat. The “barre burn”, as we barre instructors like to call it, can be achieved in the comfort of your own home. However, nothing beats the energy, shakes and playlist of an in-studio barre class. Not only will you be able to interact with other barre enthusiasts – which help you work through the burn – but you will also learn proper alignment and technique, which is an important component of all barre methods. A studio class experience will only enhance your in-home workouts. Sign up for a barre class today. Shake. Burn. Repeat.
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FIRST POSITION How to do it: Begin with your heels together and toes apart. Place one hand on a chair or wall to assist with balance during the exercise. Lift the heels all the way up. Keep the knees bent. Hold this position. Bend the knees just enough so that thigh muscles are engaged. Complete tiny pulses with a slight bend of the knees. Pulse down for 20 repetitions. Tuck the hips in for 20 repetitions. Continue to keep the knees bent and start to press the thighs outward for 20 repetitions. After pressing the thighs out, hold the bent knee position for 20 seconds. Repeat this sequence three times without rest.
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SECOND POSITION How to do it: Step out into a wide second position with the legs and feet externally rotated. Bring your shoulders into alignment over your hips. Bend down and check that knees track over feet. Bend your knees and slowly lower your pelvis towards the floor (complete this in four counts). Pulse down for a few inches and up a few inches for 20 repetitions on the last rep, hold the turn out and lift the heels off of the floor. Complete the sequence with the heels off of the floor. Complete two sets of heels down and heels lifted sequence.
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CHAIR How to do it: Stand back eight inches from the chair or ballet barre. Bring your feet and knees together. Begin with your feet flat. Bend the knees so that thighs are parallel to the floor. Ensure that your knees are above your heels. Knit shoulder blades together, and ensure your pelvic floor lifts up and abs are engaged. Lift the heels high. Bend your knees and lower your hips towards the floor. Extend your knees and rise up onto the balls of your feet. Pulse down with a slight bend and stretch of the knee. Complete 20 pulses. Hold the bent knee
• Regina Smith is a certified personal trainer by the National Academy of Sports Medicine. She can be reached for personal training and consultations at regina. tonia.smith@gmail.com. Follow her on instagram: ginag_cpt or her fitness tips and tweets on Twitter @ginagcpt.
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film
Film on black women at NASA shows ‘key part of history’ JANELLE Monae says she’s honoured to be part of an upcoming film that tells the little known-story of three black women who were crucial part of NASA’s history, including one who helped John Glenn become the first American to orbit earth. The Grammy-nominated singer is making her big screen debut in “Hidden Figures,” which tells the story of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson — three women who worked at NASA in the 1960s. “It is so important, that we as women, African-American women, tell our stories,” Monae said. “These three women opened doors for us and literally helped change the world.” “Hidden Figures,” stars Taraji P Henson as Johnson; Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer as Vaughan and Monae as Jackson. The women were mathematicians and Johnson helped calculate the trajectory for Glenn’s orbit around earth, among other accomplishments. The cast also includes Aldis Hodge, Kevin Costner and Kirsten Dunst. Segments of the
Kevin Hart, Louis CK have fun with “The Secret Life of Pets” HAVE you ever wondered what your pets get up to when you’re out? Well, the new movie “The Secret Life of Pets” will try to answer that question. Following their success with the “Despicable Me” and “Minion” franchises, Illumination Entertainment is back with its fifth full-length collaboration with Universal Pictures. “The Secret Life of Pets” tells the story of Max (voiced by comedian Louis C K), a spoiled terrier who en-
film were shown to fans Friday at the Essence Festival, the annual four-day music festival geared toward black women. Monae and Hodge, who plays Noah on WGN America’s hit series “Underground,” spoke afterward. Monae said she cried when she received the script. “I cried because I had never heard of Katherine Johnson or Dorothy Vaughan or Mary Jackson. But I know these women and their struggles,” she said. “I am Mary. I am so honoured to play her. This film is so important because it shows black people and black women in a different light.” The film, which is set for release January 13, 2017, is based on Margo Lee Shetterly’s book, “Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race.” Hodge said he was surprised when he heard about the women’s stories. “I was so surprised to find out that black women worked at NASA. Who
Kevin Hart voices Snowball, a villainous white rabbit joys a comfortable life in a New York building with his owner Katie (Ellie Kemper) and hangs out with other pets like Chloe (Lake Bell), Mel (Bobby Moynihan), and Buddy (Hannibal Buress). One day, Katie adopts a giant dog called Duke (Modern Family’s Eric Stonestreet) who is very sloppy and careless. Max becomes upset about how Duke is treating him. One day when they are being walked by a
“Hidden Figures” tells the story of a group of black women who were a crucial part of NASA’s history. knew? I didn’t and that’s devastating. Something this great should be common knowledge,” said Hodge, who grew up studying engineering and uses his talents to make watches. Monae asked the audience who had seen the movie “Apollo 13.” Several hands went up. “Did you know these women helped on that project too and were not even mentioned in that
A scene from “The Secret Lives of Pets” caretaker while Katie is away, Duke tricks Max into being dragged far into the city. They are attacked by a gang of cats including Ozone (Steve Coogan), but are both caught by Animal Control and are being brought to the pound. Duke reveals to Max that Katie adopted him from the pound and will now be put down. However, they are rescued by a white rabbit called Snowball (Kevin Hart) who tells them to work for him.
movie?” she said. “These women were pioneers. They won and even more important, America won. And that’s huge,” she said. “Without them we might still be trying to figure out how to get a shuttle into space.” CHEVEL JOHNSON Associated Press He brings Max and Duke down into the sewers where they meet his cult of abandoned pets called “The Flushed Pets” who despise humans. They believe Max and Duke hate humans and try to make them join through the initiation which involves being bitten by a venomous snake, a viper. When Max and Duke kill the snake and Snowball finds out they’re domesticated, the Flushed Pets chase them out and Max and Duke escape to Brooklyn. Snowball vows to find them and kill them. The film, which opens in theatres this weekend, is already garnering positive reviews, with Variety saying that although the formula may be familiar, the personalities of the characters are completely fresh and yield a menagerie of lovable cartoon critters. There is even something for Minion lovers, as the now iconic yellow henchmen make an appearance in “Mower Minions”, a short film that accompanies the movie.
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mailboats ABOUT THE AUTHOR
CAPTAIN Eric Wiberg is a marine and navaal historian, author and a maritime lawyer who grew up in Nassau in the 1970s and 1980s and is a regular visitor to The Bahamas. In 2009 Capt Wiberg began the first of three books on U-Boats in the Bahamas and Bermuda and in 2012 began a blog focusing on mailboats and their contribution to Bahamian history. He is the author of ‘Tanker Disasters’, ‘Round the World in the Wrong Season’ and ‘U-Boats in the Bahamas and Turks & Caicos’ and is working on a book about mailboats in the Bahamas. Today he concludes a 15part series in The Tribune on the glorious history of mailboats, their place in island life, the characters that define them, the variety of craft, the dozens of islands they serve, the mailboat ‘dynasties’ and the challenges facing the modern fleet.
A heartfelt plea to save our pride and joy Captain Eric Wiberg says Potter’s Cay Dock must be returned to its place as an economic engine and tourist jewel in Nassau.
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rom looking at the press and applying other models, some basic truths seem to emerge about financing a sector like mailboats. As Captain Ernest Dean’s early experience shows, insurance is very important - and expensive - as boats catch fire and sink, and sometimes people are killed aboard them. They can also cause environmental damage far beyond their economic value. Any shipping or maritime endeavour is cyclical. While the government has sought to stabilise critical national infrastructure such as mailboats, it is impossible to iron out all the troughs and peaks in a global economy ruled by supply and demand. One example is fuel subsidies: neither the owners nor the sponsoring government will always be happy, with one side (say, the owners) claiming it is not enough, and the other (government) claiming at times it is too much - which like today
Potter’s Cay Dock
with low fuel prices, can be true. But without a fuel subsidy, communities like Duncan Town, Ragged Island, or Port Nelson, Rum Cay, which do not have regular air service, would be effectively cut off. Even if the owners operate a route at a loss (not good for anyone in the long term), they still need subsidies to call on those ports. Without them, they might go out of business. One technique is to peg the subsidy to a set price: fuel goes above that price and the government compensates on a percentage basis. Below that price, no subsidy is offered. As for freight and passenger rates, it is my understanding that these are also set by the government and standardised, enabling even those of modest means the opportunity to conduct business, obtain medical care and see family and friends in Nassau and on the islands where they have people. If I were asked whether I would change the fuel subsidies or tariffs for cargo and
passengers, I would suggest leaving them alone. Risk may be managed, not eliminated. The mailboat market place already has a high barrier to entry. The United States is the preferred builder, and financing new vessels requires considerable up-front investment and risk. Because of their own subsidies, US shipyards tend to be very expensive when compared globally. The Bahamian investors who take those risks deserve to be rewarded. And the administrative burden of keeping vessels, crew, safety equipment and certifications up-to-date grows every year. If there is one item I as a Nassuvian would advocate for, it would be wreck removal. It’s not a particularly sexy topic when compared with the colourful vessels and ports; nonetheless, it is a critical one. We have talked about 200 or more vessels, but without a place to tie up in the Continued on page 24
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Continued from page 23
place they consistently congregate, even though it lies beneath bridges heavily trafficked by tourists and is passed hundreds of times a day by various vessels, many of them filled with tourists. Locals and tourists alike drive parallel to it in droves daily. Probably all Bahamians have at some point eaten seafood landed at Potter’s Cay. Yet, as a society, the island and its vital business is virtually invisible to many of us, perhaps even more so the younger generation. Potter’s Cay is three quarters of a mile long and only 75 yards wide. Starting at the western end, there are the ‘ro-ro’ (roll on, roll off) mailboats and open-market ramp-style vessels, some of them owned and operated by Bahamas Ferries, serving most of the islands. Then the Fiesta Mailboat docks on the northwest tip, and beneath the Sir Sidney Poitier (western) bridge is a cluster of mid-size to large fishing boats. Then we have a travesty: a ship was abandoned right between the two bridges, taking up a huge area of roughly an acre which could easily be occupied by half a dozen other vessels, but it is now rendered useless.
If Potter’s Cay is to remain vibrant, relevant and picturesque, the hulk needs to be removed. Recycling of the steel could offset the cost. East of the wreck, also littered by the hulks of Lady Tasha and other boats, lies a small fleet of what appear to be Haitian cargo boats. It seems these are what is left of the sailboat fleet which used to utilise the southeast corner of Arawak Cay. They are loaded to the gills with bicycles, mattresses and other miscellaneous cargo, some of which litters the dockside. Recently the free access to walk around the island has been cut off by a fence erected by one of the warehouse operators. As a result more junk is likely to clutter this area unless something is done. Moving east and out from under the original Paradise Island bridge, the wharf is dominated by mailboats of the modern type, lining the north pier to the northeast corner, which is home to a number of large, long, ‘ro-ro’ type ramp boats. These also dominate the eastern jetty, which is hemmed in by a current-ripped reef marked by a rusting pole. To the southeast of Potter’s Cay a
PHOTO/SHAWN HANNA
capital, their cargo and people could not get ashore. I knew someone who abandoned an old car in the bush in western New Providence, only to be called by the police weeks later and politely asked to move it. But the same does not happen with vessels. Owners and their insurers may wrangle for so long that it costs more to remove a wreck than to abandon it. Then it becomes the government’s problem; to attempt to adjudicate, to order removal and to remove the wreck. On July 28, 2014, ZNS aired footage of the Lady D, a fairly modern 22-year-old mailboat serving seven communities in Andros, sinking at its berth at Potter’s Cay Dock just east of the old Paradise Island Bridge. The channel is fairly shallow there, so most of the vessel was above water and clearly visible. It blocked this invaluable bit of real estate for nearly two years before being lifted - finally - this Spring. No one can claim ignorance of this blemish on our national image and trade. In 2009, a Bahamian salvage company in Freeport I worked for at the time raised a similar-sized vessel which was completely submerged, also at a busy dock-face, in four to six hours. When the casualty occurred, I fail to understand how there were not sufficient crash pumps from other vessels or on shore. The fact is that if someone in authority puts their mind to it, they could have had the Lady D’s hull temporarily sealed, the water pumped out long enough for her to be towed to a nearby boatyard, where she could be hauled out of the water and out of the way of other mailboats and the millions of tourists who had seen her annually from the bridges. In the 1970s and 80s Potter’s Cay was a place which people avoided at night, where crimes occurred, and at times folks even got sick from periodic food poisoning. Compared to those dark days, the area is vastly improved, with Bahamas Ferries re-invigorating the west end, Bladen’s Battery being restored at the east end, and a jumble of old boats and a dilapidated marina all moved. There are even improvements in roadways being undertaken as I write, the Lady D has been removed and hopefully the causeway itself will be re-paved soon. However several buildings would be better razed and replaced with public facilities or eateries or food retailers, and some wrecks - afloat and sunk - remain. Potter’s Cay is indisputably the capital of mailboats nationally, the only
number of conventional modern mailboats line the wharf, then the wooden Current Pride, then an assortment of mid-size to small fishing vessels. The channel they must use, between private yacht slips to the south and the cay itself, is very narrow, sufficient but only barely. If a large yacht is berthed on the outside slip and two or more mailboats are docked side by side on the cay, passage is effectively blocked. The problem can be remedied by removing one of the yacht jetties, or prohibiting yachts from tying at the end, or mailboats from double-docking. On the other side of the causeway are more smallish fishing vessels, a number of them appearing to be no longer actively fishing. These lead to the dock where the Bo Hengy II and others dock. This brings us to the land-side of the cay, where there are two clusters of seemingly derelict containers, a larger one at the western end, between the new bridge and the ocean (I saw Captain Tom Hanna and his team clearing some of these in March). They take up parking spaces and some are used for office and storage purposes. The others are scattered lightly in front of the fort at the eastern end, and some of them, too, are used for storage and office space by owners. Probably this space could be put to better use, and unused equipment cleared away to provide more parking for the many passengers on the dozens of vessels. Finally there are the buildings: a dozen or so mailboat and passenger companies have set up make-shift retail offices in old containers and trailers, the largest of which is the cluster of trailers belonging to Bahamas Ferries. These facilities all offer critical services to passengers regarding tickets, scheduling, luggage and freight. The yellow government building to the east is a warehouse which seems to be clean and well run, and sells farm seed during the day. There are fences separating some of the waterfront from the causeway, but I am not aware of when the fences are closed, as mailboats leave at all hours. To the east are more parking spaces, neatly laid out, a cluster of semi-abandoned containers, then Bladen’s Battery, built in the late 1780s and restored in 1949 and again in 1990, and largely eclipsed by commercial activity. Behind the large dock master’s building is an enclosure on land containing dozens of small vessels, including regatta sloops. Leaving aside the question of the condition and hygiene of the seafood
The Tribune | Weekend | 25
Friday, July 8, 2016
Forgotten facts Paul C Aranha
“In the early 1990s my brothers and friends would stop in Big Daddy’s daiquiri bar at Potter’s Cay Dock in the evenings, and entertain ourselves by trying to hit the rats with empty bottles. In the afternoons it was a nice place to meet the mailboat skippers.” stalls on the causeway (the acres of conch shells prevalent in the 1970s and 80s have been removed, and a good deal of the conch shack business has moved to Arawak Cay, along with container traffic), there arises the final issue of usage of the buildings between the bridges. Most of them appear to have very active tenants: rats. In the early 1990s my brothers and friends would stop in Big Daddy’s daiquiri bar there in the evenings, and entertain ourselves by trying to hit the rats with empty bottles. In the afternoons it was a nice place to meet the mailboat skippers. At one point the Taiwanese government tried to farm shrimp there, and before that I recall seeing sea turtles splayed out, upside down, for sale. But nowadays, aside from some basic warehousing the buildings are mostly derelict and abandoned. Though forklifts busily inject some life, the overwhelming prospect of the area is of abandonment. Potter’s Cay is a major economic engine for locally grown produce, from frozen lobster tails from Spanish Wells and beyond to farmed goods and unique Bahamian products like casca-
rilla from Acklins and Crooked Island. For the small and important few who remain behind on the home islands, raising families, crops and maintaining churches, schools, post offices and clinics for future generations, not to mention manning the ballot boxes, it would seem to be in the government’s best interests to invest in this incubator of progress. Errant vessel owners and their insurers should not be allowed to dump old steel in the waters of our nation’s finest harbour, any more than the government permit a truck to be abandoned in Rawson Square. Either end of Potter’s Cay, while imperfectly maintained, exudes the crisp pace of inter-island trade and travel being conducted fairly and efficiently. Not so the middle sector. Without adequate dockfront and a hygienic, safe platform for operators and passengers, this important commercial hub will remain handicapped. Certainly tourists won’t be attracted to it, which is a pity because Potter’s Cay offers some of the most authentically Bahamian experiences - visually, historically, edibly, and in terms of hands-on travel. Potter’s Cay should be the commonwealth’s pride and joy, connecting the capital and its banking high-rises with Paradise Island, the cradle of our all-important tourism product. Like Prince George’s Dock extending into the western harbour to accommodate cruise ships, Potter’s Cay is home and haven for our island family and the captains and sailors who bring them to and from their communities. Yet new arrivals are greeted by a very slovenly core of Potter’s Cay, one which could be invested in, reinvigorated and turned around with a combination of capital and innovation. After all, Potter’s Cay is not only situated in the centre of Nassau, but serves as the hub and spoke - the economic as well as social heart of the nation. We need to ensure it keeps pumping, keeping the furthest spokes on the hub connected with the capital. While commerce by mailboat remains vibrant, we cannot allow distance from our nautical heritage to grow. Mailboats are more than a lively topic of historical interest - every few hours they sally forth with the government’s steadying hand, to connect the people and islands of the Bahamas not just with each other, but the world economy. • Comments and responses to eric@ ericwiberg.com
The grave of Thomas Pinckney (1702 to 1733) has the oldest inscription in the Centre Burial Ground off Dowdeswell Street.
New Providence’s oldest cemetery
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n one of his many letters to the Editor, Seighbert Russell quoted Sir Etienne Dupuch. “I find a visit to a cemetery a very sobering experience. I read the inscriptions on tombstones of men and women I have known in real life and realise that whatever may be carved in stone does not alter the real truth about the person, whose remains are covered by the dust from when it came.” A sobering experience can, at the same time, be an interesting way to spend time, walking through Nassau’s graveyards and reading some of the inscriptions. Most of them are really down-to-earth (no pun intended) and very moving. The Centre Burial Ground is easy to reach and there you’ll find the oldest inscription (1733). Enter through a gate near the eastern end of Dowdeswell Street (almost opposite Lovers Lane). Once in, walk straight ahead to the far wall, bordering the stretch of East Bay Street that is properly called Mathew Avenue. Look carefully and you will see the grave of Thomas Pinckney, almost underneath the wall: Here lieth interred THOMAS PINCKNEY Late MR & S-Cargo of the Sloop Adventure of Charles Town So Carolina Who living Justly obtained the Character of a Man of strict Honour and Probity and is now as Justly lamented
by all who knew Him. He departed this life ye 6th of May A.D. 1733 in the 31st year of His age TO WHOSE MEMORY This Stone is gratefully Dedicated By His most affect Brother CHARLES PINCKNEY Of Charles Town aforesaid Esq As a MONUMENT Sacred to that friend ship which ever subsisted between them. Vivat Post funera Virtus Pinckney is perhaps the most-prominent family in South Carolina and, when Thomas Jefferson was elected Vice-President, he beat Thomas’ nephew, Charles Pinckney, by just one vote. Not far from Captain Pinckney lies Deborah Gambier, matriarch of the family, after whom Gambier Village is named: Here lies interred the body of MRS. DEBORAH GAMBIER Who was an affectionate wife, tender mother, sincere friend and charitable to the poor She departed this life the 21st October 1766, aged 59 years. At the western end of the cemetery is the grave of John Wells, a very significant personality in Bahamian history. He founded the Colony’s first newspaper - The Bahamas Gazette - in 1784, but I will save him for next week, when we will also go across the street and visit other very early members of the Fourth Estate. • islandairman@gmail.com
The Tribune | Weekend | 27
Friday, July 8, 2016
animals Animal matters Kim Aranha
Well done, Tambearly School!
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ats off to the school who always strikes the right chord at the right time. Tambearly School had their annual student play a short while ago and I was lucky enough to be invited to my kid’s alma mater to enjoy the entertainment. Tambearly always has well-trained theatrical students, so the performances never disappoint. This year’s play was called “The Big Nature Show”, written by Esau McKenzie. Mr McKenzie was a music teacher at Tambearly School quite a few years ago, at the time of the quincentennial celebrations marking Christopher Columbus’s discovery of the Bahamas. This play is an amazing and colourful tribute to the animals of our country, with a huge conservation message for all to hear. Many of our largest animal groups were admirably showcased throughout the play. The Bahamas Humane Society, the Bahamas National Trust, the Nature Conservatory and the Ardastra Gardens were all referred to time and again. This kind of positive coverage is so very important for or-
Tambearly students perform in the informative play “The Big Nature Show” ganisations such as these; it is essential that people know who we all are and what we do. The kids performed many wonderful songs, some that we know well already, some that we don’t know quite as well. The audience was captivated and the facts that these pint-sized animal advocates threw our way were interesting and informative, and in many instances, essential. The school programme described the play as: “A fun musical about nature. The theme centers on the beautiful national parks and endangered species of the Bahamas and of the Caribbean. The music features popular songs with fun characters and targets young people. The show aims at sensitising all about endangered species of the Bahamas, while highlighting ways
to protect them.” Though it may have been written to target children, many of us older folk certainly did enjoy the music and message as much as the kids did, if not more. I am sure that many an adult learned a thing or two during the performance The Bahamian potcake and his walk through the forest, meeting up with various animals, was hugely entertaining. Some of his lines were exactly what a potcake would say if he were to be given speech. There was also a shark who takes a walk through the park and helps to give some general and very useful information about sharks in the Bahamas, including the fact that the shark is now protected in the Bahamas. It is especially important to discuss the plight of the shark in the summer
when they come closer in to shore and people are panicking. It’s their sea, not ours. Invariably, if you leave them alone and you do not have a bleeding fish at the end of a spear or on your belt, the shark will pass you by looking for something tasty like a ray. I was so happy to hear that snakes did not get left out either and that they were also part of the play. The kids pointed out how useful snakes can be when allowed to live in our midst. They are natures own pest control. The children very aptly informed the public that there were no poisonous snakes in the Bahamas. It is really my most fervent wish that the grown-ups in the audience were listening to the wisdom and information being shared on that stage that night. It is not the kids who post comments on social media that sharks or snakes should be killed. It is their parents who make these comments, and their parents who teach them this; because of that attitude the young ones grow up and echo it. Facebook is full of people wanting to kill some animal or other because they are either afraid of it or do not understand it. How I wish more schools would be dedicated to the environment, animals, kindness, tolerance and love as Tambearly School is. The Bahamas would be a happier place for everybody if there were more compassion and understanding. Thank you Tambearly School for trying to direct the students in the right direction, promoting awareness and respect for animal life and nature. Your students will shine as responsible members of our community when they are adults.
A dream of a dog
PET E H OF TEK WE
By The Bahamas Humane Society
T PHOTO/PATRICIA VAZQUEZ
hree-year-old Dream Girl has beautiful black and tan markings and a somewhat shy personality. She will need an attentive owner who is willing to work with her to bring her out of her shell. She promises to be faithful forever once she’s decided you’re hers. Are you the right
person to reach Dream Girl? If so, come down to the Bahamas Humane Society to meet her and the other adoption dogs, or call 325-6742 for more information. Adoption hours are 11am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, and 10am to 4pm on Saturday. Dream Girl looks forward to meeting you.
• Thank you to all
who have supported the BHS Thrift Shop with purchases or donations over the past few months. As you know, all proceeds from the shop go to help the animals at the BHS. Shop hours are 1pm to 4pm, Wednesday to Friday, and 10am to 2pm on Saturday. Donations are always gratefully accepted. Please note that shop will be closed August 3 through August 6, and will reopen August 10.
28 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, July 8, 2016
gardening
Container growing Not all fruitbearing plants or herbs need to be grown in a garden. Jack Hardy gives tips on how to grow everything from tomatoes to lemons in containers.
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eing a man I can only speculate, but I am sure that when a mother first holds her newborn child – especially the first – her thoughts are both joyful and apprehensive. This little creature now depends almost completely on her for food, healthcare, hygiene and company. We men are of little use at this stage and will spend the next few days buying our pals beers and giving them Cuban cigars to celebrate our impressive potency. In a very watered-down way, the placing of a seedling into a pot has echoes of birth. From the moment the plant is bedded in, it relies completely on its owner for water and sustenance. If we neglect our duties the plant will surely die. We must keep to a maintenance schedule come hell or low water; a week off spells disaster. Containers come in many forms, including ski boots, wheelbarrows and toilets. In this article I will stick with conventional containers made of plastic or pottery and sized by gallons. It only struck me when I started writing this article that my tomatoes, peppers and herbs are all in black plastic nursery containers while my flowers, bulbs and shrubs are in lighter coloured and
A potted lemon tree more expensive pots. I guess this was a subconscious distinction between utilitarian and aesthetic purposes. The smallest pots you should consider are three-gallon size; one-gallon pots are mere starter containers. Most herbs do well in three-gallon pots if grown singly. Peppers and tomatoes should be grown in four-gallon to 10-gallon containers, bearing in mind the adult size of the plants and their expected life span. For instance, banana peppers act much like annuals and exhaust themselves after a season or two. Peppers such as wiri wiri, goat and bird are definite perennials and grow into handsome small shrubs if given the root space. Tomato plants that are compact and determinate can be grown in five-gallon containers, but larger indeterminate tomatoes such as most heirlooms need 10-gallons or more. Citrus such as lemon or lime should be grown in 30-gallon or larger containers. Now for the content of the pots. Small pots – that means up to 10 gallons – should only contain the finest potting mix you can buy. If your nursery has a choice, buy the more expensive. There is no such thing as a good cheap hose, or good cheap potting mix.
When it gets to 30-gallon and 50-gallon containers it is obvious that your plant – probably a shrub or small fruit tree – will be a long term resident. For these use potting soil for the lower two-thirds of the container and mix in expanded polystyrene scraps quite liberally. Fill to the top with potting mix, ensuring your transplant has several inches of potting mix immediately below. The polystyrene scraps lighten the potting soil and roots love to entwine them.
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orning coffee, afternoon tea; on the left side of the North Atlantic coffee is informal and is usually drunk out of a mug, while tea is formal and demands a cup and saucer. Pots can also have saucers, the name given to a flat dish with slightly raised sides that the pot sits in. A saucer helps the pot to retain water and reduces the frequency of watering. That said, you cannot put a saucer under every pot because many plants demand fairly dry and well-drained conditions. Most Mediterranean herbs like well-drained soil, as well as petunias, marigolds, geraniums and many more flowering plants. Some peppers and most toma-
toes prefer damp conditions. Roses can take all the water you give them but must have excellent drainage. The larger the container, the less critical the water content because conditions for the plant are close to being in the ground. Frequency of watering is very important. Plants that like dry conditions should be watered every three days or twice a week. Most plants like watering every two days. If you use a hose-end shower attachment you can allow one second of water for each gallon pot size; three seconds for a three-gallon pot, half a minute for 30 gallons. Whenever a thundershower comes along your garden is thoroughly watered. Your plants in pots, however, do not benefit to the same extent. Hours of rain can leave some of your pots quite dry because the leaves of the resident plant often cascade the water outwards. Do not dream of feeding your potted plants with granular fertilizer, which is made for use in fields, orchards and vegetable plots. The fertilizer you need is time-release plant food, as exemplified by Osmocote. There are cheaper brands of plant food but Osmocote sets the standard. If the plant food canister says it is effective for three months, add more after two months. Always add your plant food to the surface of the soil and work it into the top inch or so with your fingers. Never add plant food to the potting mix before transplanting time; the roots can be burned even though the fertilizer is slow release. Every once in a while – every three months for fast-growing plants and six months or so for slow-growing plants – pull your plant and soil out of the pot. If you see lots of roots it is time to move to a bigger pot. Go to the next size up. The diameter of the pot may be only two inches bigger but the volume will be close to twice as much. Babies cry when they are discomfited; plants merely die. If you have a plant dying and there is no evidence of disease, pull the plant and soil out of the container and break into the soil immediately surrounding the roots. You may find it bone dry even though you have watered the dickens out of it. The remedy is to replace the plant into the pot and place the pot into a tub of water. Leave it overnight then drain. Your problem is solved. Cannot find a big enough tub? Use the bathtub.
• For questions and comments e-mail j.hardy@coralwave.com