07282023 WEEKEND

Trends to try

Men’s must-haves for the Summer

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

While the fashions seen on the international runways can influence local trends in menswear to a certain degree, the deciding factor in a subtropical country like the Bahamas will always be the hot weather.

Men want to be stylish, but also comfortable. Therefore, two of this season’s must-have items for the modern Bahamian man are the “short shorts” and the “boxy, breathable shirts,” according to a local boutique owner.

“The heat of our Bahamaland requires it of us. Those two items can be styled up and down for a sophisticated or very casual look,” said Ryen Robinson Fox, co-owner of Bonneville Bones – a popular fashion house that has kept its finger on the pulse when it comes to men’s fashion for decades now.

“But my advice will always be to put comfort first,” she added.

Ryen feels men’s fashion is in a unique place at the moment, with more variety and styles to choose from than before. This can be credited to the fact that Bahamian men have become more outgoing and adventurous with their personal style.

“Depending on one’s age group and personal preference, the trends lean from one extreme

– ‘old money classic’ – to the next: ‘very casual, thrifted and athletic’,” she said.

Silhouettes, prints and hairstyles from the ’90s have had a big influence on current trends.

Some of those examples, Ryen said, are oversized, short and fitted bottoms, matching lounge sets, double-breasted suits, modern-fit suits, solid neckties, vintage T-shirts, full-length scrunch athletic socks with vintage sneakers.

And when it comes to colours, she said neutrals, pseudo-neutrals (shades like dark navy, forest green, pale yellow) and vibrant abstract prints are what’s hot right now.

Ryen has seen Bahamian menswear evolve in interesting ways.

“In recent times, the culture of men’s fashion in the Bahamas has evolved tremendously. Bahamian men have become more exposed and therefore more adventurous,” she said.

“This evolution has opened up individual expression through fashion for our men, and this open-mindedness is ever-increasing.”

But no matter what new styles are introduced, some things won’t ever change, said Ryen.

“Technology has made everything more accessible and therefore more variety is to be expected. However, the staples for men’s fashion will be here forever. We can comfortably hold on to the

concept of T-shirts, button-downs and pants for men - the variety mostly begins and ends at the colour, fit and length,” she said.

Bonneville Bones recently rebranded to also feature women’s fashions and has opened a new location in Harbour Bay.

Since 1970, Bonneville Bones has been a premier retailer of men’s fashion in the Bahamas, and with the help of Ryen, who is the daughter of the brand’s founder, the fashion house is currently undergoing a renaissance.

Previously known as The London Boutique, Bonneville Bones has transitioned into a store that offers a comprehensive selection of men’s apparel, from stylish streetwear to classic suits and accessories. More recently, ladies’ casual wear has been introduced to satisfy a growing demand for trendy women’s fashion.

Ryen said she is excited to continue her family’s legacy of providing quality menswear.

“Our brand is more than just clothing; it’s a representation of our culture and heritage. We’re proud to be a Bahamian brand, and we’re excited to continue offering the best in men’s fashion to our loyal customers,” she said.

FASHIONS by Bonneville Bones

Chef Simeon Hall Jr’s Summer Series - Sauces

Welcome back, my fellow grilling enthusiasts, to the eagerly awaited second installment of my sizzling Summer grilling how-to series.

This week, get ready to elevate your grilling game even more as we dive into the decadent world of sauces!

But before we move forward, let’s address this culinary truth: in the Bahamas, we’re all about grilling, not barbecuing.

For the purpose of this article, we’ll be referring to these sauces as BBQ sauces, but in reality, we as Bahamians tend to cook food quickly over direct heat on a grill, which is grilling, not true barbecuing. Barbecuing involves slow-cooking food over indirect heat, often with smoke, on a grill.

Bite-sized history: The art of barbecuing is believed to have its roots in the Caribbean, originating from the indigenous Taino people. They mastered the art of ‘barbacoa,’ slow-cooking meat over wooden frameworks. So, while grilling and barbecuing are often associated with the Southern belt of the US, their true origins lie in the Caribbean.

The significance of a great, wellbalanced BBQ sauce cannot be overstated. Beyond marination, complementing your grilled meat with the perfect sauce is a vital step in achieving maximum flavour and juicy tenderness.

Although I personally prefer a dry-rubbed barbecue, in the Bahamas, we tend to opt for a wet, saucy, caramelised type of barbecue - oops - grill-out. We slather our grilled meats with simple, store-bought tomato-based sauces, which we may enhance with sugar, honey or fruit preserves. But what if I told you that you could create the most incredible BBQ sauces right from the comfort of your own home?

In this article, we’ll be exploring three types of mouth-watering sauces: the classic tomato-based BBQ sauce, the zesty mustard-based BBQ sauce and the tangy white BBQ sauce.

The tomatobased BBQ sauce, just like my ‘ScratchMade Rum BBQ Sauce,’ reigns as the most popular and versatile type of BBQ sauce. It brings together the goodness of rich tomato sauce or paste, harmoniously balanced with a tangy kick of vinegar, and infused with ultra-sweet notes from sugar, honey, or even molasses. The result is a true crowd pleaser and perfect complement to pork ribs, grilled chicken, and hamburgers.

While not as common as tomatobased BBQ sauce, but certainly not less flavourful, mustard-based BBQ sauce will give your grilling experience a refreshing twist, with its bold combination of mustard, tangy vinegar, and a touch of sweetness from honey or sugar. The result is

a tangy, zesty sauce that pairs exceptionally well with grilled chicken, grilled vegetables and grilled sandwich meats like hamburgers, hotdogs and bratwursts.

If you’re eager to explore a non-traditional and truly unconventional BBQ sauce, you’d be in for a treat with white BBQ sauce! Originating in Alabama, this creamy and tangy sauce boasts a velvety blend of mayonnaise, tangy vinegar, and a spicy kick of horseradish or hot sauce. It’s an undeservedly underrated BBQ sauce compared to the aforementioned sauces, but it packs a potent punch of flavour when slathered on grilled chicken, grilled turkey, grilled shrimp, and even vegetables.

Recipes Basting Sauce

Basting sauce can be anything from apple juice, to vinegar, or even a thinner version of your finished BBQ sauce. Whenever I grill or slow BBQ, I always use this recipe to base my meat dishes.

Chef tip: Use a foodsafe spray bottle to evenly coat the meat with the basting sauce.

Ingredients:

1 cup of apple juice

1 cup of distilled water

1/2 cup brown rum (I use One Drop, Ricardo, or Bacardi Gold)

1 tin of Coca-Cola

Instructions:

1. Combine the ingredients until smooth.

2. Use the mixture to baste the meat according to your preference.

Scratch-Made Rum BBQ Sauce

Ingredients:

1⁄2 lb butter

1⁄2 yellow onion

2 cups ketchup

1⁄4 cup apple cider (or similar) vinegar

2 oz light brown sugar

1 heaping tsp kosher salt

1 heaping tsp fresh ground black pepper

1 light tsp chili powder

1 tsp garlic powder

Juice of half a lime

1⁄2 cup local rum

Instructions:

1. Sweat the onions in butter.

2. Add the remaining ingredients, except the rum, and simmer for 35-40 minutes.

3. After removing from heat, add the rum immediately, then cover the mixture.

4. Allow it to come to room temperature and let it sit for at least 4 hours.

White BBQ Sauce

Ingredients:

3 cups premium mayonnaise

3⁄4 cup white vinegar

4 tablespoons liquid smoke

3 tablespoons freshly milled black pepper (please make sure you mill it fresh)

1⁄4 cup sugar

10 splashes of your favourite hot sauce

Chef Tips:

1. For this sauce, you will need to buy premium mayonnaise.

2. An ingredient called liquid smoke is available at any local market; I always find it.

3. When mixing mayonnaise-based sauces, always whip the mayonnaise smooth before anything else to avoid lumps.

4. Always mix your BBQ sauces the day before; the flavors mesh together better.

Instructions:

1. Whip the mayonnaise until smooth and then combine all the remaining ingredients.

2. Let the mixture sit for at least 4 hours.

CELEBRITY chef and restaurateur Simeon Hall Jr

(Photo_Aneris Photography)

Preserving culture and forging legacy:

The transformative power of the arts in the Bahamas

By Rowena Poitier-Sutherland and Rupert Hayward

Culture has undergone a profound evolution over the past 75 years. As the world deepens its understanding of our collective existence, one enduring truth remains unchanged: art is a timeless vehicle that both preserves our heritage and shapes our understanding of the world. Art shapes our narratives, ensuring the passing down of our histories and culture, ultimately leaving a lasting legacy.

Remarkably, despite the Bahamas’ small size of 0.01 percent of the world’s population, we have garnered international acclaim in various fields. Team Bahamas’ athletes have earned numerous Olympic gold medals in track and field, highlighting the country’s athletic prowess. Additionally, artists involved in our oral traditions of storytelling have made significant contributions to the cultural landscape. These individuals embody the diverse artistic talent that resides within The Bahamas. Performance arts have long been intertwined with cultural preservation, serving as vibrant vessels that convey narratives, rituals, and customs, shaping collective memory. In the Bahamas, the power of storytelling and the performing arts played pivotal roles in shaping the nation’s identity and history. One such example is the remarkable oratory skills of Sir Randal Fawkes, a renowned Bahamian orator whose speeches left a lasting impact. His ability to captivate audiences with his words and rally support was a testament to the transformative power of performance. The general strike of 1958 stands as a testament to Sir Fawkes’ influence, as he used the power of one word, “enough,” to unite workers across the nation in a stand of solidarity.

The Bahamas also had vibrant performance spaces, such as nightclubs like The Jungle Club in Fox Hill, The Silver Slipper on East Street, The Cat & Fiddle on Base Road, and Ronnie’s Rebel Room on Nassau Street. These venues became breeding grounds for talented artists like Bert Cambridge and “The Chocolate Dandies,” as well as Maureen Duvalier, “the mother of Junkanoo” a trailblazing singer and entertainer. Duvalier’s contributions to the performing arts in The Bahamas cannot be overstated. As a founding member of the Dundas Repertory and Cultural Group, she played a pivotal role in promoting theatre and providing a platform for Bahamian artists. Her performances and artistic endeavours contributed to the preservation of Bahamian storytelling traditions.

In Grand Bahama, the Regency Theatre stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of the performing arts. Founded by Sir Jack Hayward, the theatre has been a beacon of artistic expression and community engagement. Sir Jack’s vision and contributions have transformed the Regency Theatre into a state-of-the-art cultural hub, fostering creativity and artistic vibrancy. Today, his grandson Rupert Hayward continues this work, ensuring that the Regency remains at the forefront of artistic innovation in The Bahamas. With its world-class facilities, the Regency Theatre can be positioned as the artistic hub for the Caribbean and Latin American

region, attracting artists and audiences from near and far.

Beyond their entertainment value, performance arts play a crucial role in fostering a sense of identity and community. They create spaces for

cultural exchange, where individuals can come together to honour their shared heritage and forge connections. For young Bahamians, engagement with the performing arts offers an opportunity to learn about their roots, develop a deeper appreciation for their cultural identity, and contribute to the ongoing preservation of their heritage.

In a world that is becoming increasingly melded, the performing arts hold the power to anchor communities and celebrate their distinctiveness. They provide a platform for Bahamians to share their stories, struggles, and triumphs with the world, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the rich cultural tapestry that defines the nation.

According to the UNCTAD report on the creative economy, the creative industries can significantly

ROWENA Poitier Sutherland as Joan of Arc in Erik Ehn’s ‘The Saint Plays’ at the California Repertory Theatre Company

RUPERT Hayward addresses members of the Freeport Players Guild at the reopening of the historic Regency Theatre in Grand Bahama in 2022.

MAUREEN DUVALIER, the ‘Mother of Junkanoo’, a trailblazing entertainer

contribute to economic growth and job creation. In 2019, the global creative economy generated $2.25 trillion in revenue and employed over 30 million people. The Bahamas, with its vibrant artistic talent and cultural heritage, has the potential to harness the economic benefits of the creative industries.

The creative industries encompass a wide range of sectors, including film, theatre, music, visual arts, design, and more. These sectors can attract investment, foster entrepreneurship, and contribute to the overall economic diversification of the Bahamas. For instance, the film industry can generate revenue through the development of international productions, creating job opportunities and boosting tourism as films showcase the country’s natural beauty and cultural richness. There exist other unique opportunities in film, such as attracting Hollywood and the like to bring licenced properties to our soil, that they may film on location in the Bahamas, giving an economic boost to our economy while creating jobs for Bahamians.

Similarly, the music industry, with its live performances and festivals, can attract domestic and international audiences, driving tourism and supporting local businesses. Theatre as an industry enjoys a rich legacy around the world, with huge stages and robust shows seen by hundreds of people per night, creating superstars.

The Bahamas may be the perfect paradise to attract big-ticket theatrical performances, attended by both foreign and domestic crowds. By nurturing and supporting the creative industries, The Bahamas can fully tap into the unrealized financial potential of this sector.

As the Bahamas celebrates its 50th anniversary of Independence, let us seize this opportune moment to not only preserve the invaluable photographic and film archives of cultural institutions but also delve into the

stories and experiences of individual artists and communities alike. By documenting their journeys and the impact of their work, we can safeguard their immeasurable potential for future generations.

In this journey of preserving our cultural heritage, organisations like the Bahamas Artist Movement (BAM) play a vital role. Recognising the importance of passing on these art forms to the next generation, BAM provides training, leadership and opportunities for young

Bahamians to explore and excel in various artistic disciplines. By nurturing and supporting emerging talent, BAM ensures the continuation of our artistic legacy and the preservation of our cultural heritage.

The Bahamas continues its journey of cultural preservation, and the performing arts will undoubtedly remain a life-sustaining force, weaving together the threads of identity, community, and pride in a tapestry that speaks to the hearts and minds of all Bahamians. Through collaboration, support, and investment from all sectors, we can ensure that the transformative power of the arts continues to shape our collective narrative, forging a legacy that will resonate for generations to come.

As we advance into the future, let us embrace the profound impact of the performing arts in shaping societies, fostering understanding, and building bridges across cultures. The Bahamas stands as a shining example of the transformative power of artistic expression. Through our commitment to the arts, we will continue to stake our claim as a vibrant people of significant cultural achievement and truly global worth.

Rowena Poitier-Sutherland is the founder of the Bahamas Artist Movement (BAM) and has taught hundreds of students in the Bahamas and internationally in Theatre Studies. She has developed performing arts curricula at various institutions, from the primary school to the Bachelor’s level, and has contributed to the development of the first acting course at the University of the Bahamas. She has also served as the youngest Executive Director of Culture for the Ministry of Youth, Sports & Culture.

Rupert Hayward is founder and president of Blue Action Lab and Blue Action Ventures, organisations dedicated to nurturing entrepreneurial efforts to build coastal climate resilience solutions. He is an executive director of the Grand Bahama Port Authority and the Grand Bahama Disaster Relief Foundation and holds a government appointed board seat on The Bahamas Protected Areas Fund and is an advisor to the University of The Bahamas on climate resilience. Rupert’s family has a long history of supporting the performing arts in The Bahamas. His grandfather, Sir Jack Hayward,

was president of the Freeport Players Guild and helped create the celebrated Regency Theatre in Grand Bahama.

ROWENA Poitier Sutherland with her uncle, renowned Bahamian-American actor the late Sir Sidney Poitier, at his Beverley Hills home in 2011

ROWENA Poitier Sutherland (front, centre) performing with the Troubadour Theatre Company’s adaptation of ‘Hamlet, The Artist Formerly Known as

ROWENA Poitier Sutherland (centre) performing with the Trobadour Theatre Company’s adaptation of ‘Hamlet, The Artist Formerly Known as Prince of Denmark’

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

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

CRYPTIC PUZZLE

Across

1 Uriah’s mate is terribly unprofessional (10)

6 Pound note remains (4)

10 Restrictions for members in clubs (5)

11 Took the main course but possibly not a sweet (4,2,3)

12 Team not assumed to be of star quality (8)

13 Inter perhaps when lifeless (5)

15 Brings together a thousand donkeys (7)

17 Take a trip? (7)

19 Got down to making a proposal (7)

21 Playthings for unbalanced children (7)

22 They may be held in revulsion (5)

24 Settler in Panama? (8)

27 The paints set before us? (2,3,4)

28 The advantage in having good Latin (5)

29 Sovereign included in the takings (4)

30 One problem resolved about a sailor? Unlikely! (10)

Down

1 Eager to behead the king of Israel (4)

2 Detest having a crowd up in to tea perhaps (9)

3 Follow directions and engage in litigation (5)

4 Inexperience produces the wrong answers (7)

5 Records set in tennis matches (7)

7 Religious passage - a tissue of lies (5)

8 A flower will transform these areas (6-4)

9 It may be assumed it’s struck theatrically (8)

14 Used by the teacher when correcting papers? (7,3)

16 Vendors possibly nameless (8)

18 Robs banks in order to get a door fitting (5,4)

20 Hold forth on medical reform (7)

21 One who shows rank subservience? (7)

23 Repress it in male offspring (3,2)

25 Article sent up by Roberta rich man (5)

26 It has no earthly connection with the mainland (4)

12345678

Yesterday’s Easy Solution

Across: 1 Inhibit, 5 Blaze, 8 Phenomena, 9 Hop, 10 Yoga, 12 Go to town, 14 In a row, 15 Devise, 17 Dead duck, 18 Melt, 21 Lot, 22 Rationale, 24 Every, 25 High-hat.

Down: 1 Imply, 2 Hoe, 3 Blow, 4 Tremor, 5 Blazoned, 6 Aphrodite, 7 Expense, 11 Guarantee, 13 Corduroy, 14 Indulge, 16 Scotch, 19 Treat, 20 Long, 23 Ash.

Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution

Across: 1 Fatigue, 5 Ashes, 8 Limelight, 9 Moa, 10 Oafs, 12 Animated, 14 Essays, 15 Annual, 17 Exposure, 18 Thea, 21 Ass, 22 In the dark, 24 Theme, 25 Release.

Down: 1 Folio, 2 Tom, 3 Gala, 4 Engine, 5 Antimony, 6 Home truth, 7 Scandal, 11 Fishpaste, 13 Ayrshire, 14 Elegant, 16 Grater, 19 Ankle, 20 Well, 23 Ada.

EASY PUZZLE

Across 1 A genealogical table (6,4)

6 Competent (4)

10 Comparatively unimportant (5)

11 At risk (2,3,4)

12 Annoyance (8)

13 Two-masted sailing boat (5)

15 Archbishop (7)

17 Betrayal of allegiance (7)

19 To praise (7)

21 Unfriendly (7)

22 A return from investment (5)

24 A delusional mental disorder (8)

27 Sincere (9)

28 To wake (5)

29 Behindhand (4)

30 Indian Ocean islands republic (10)

Down

1 Celebrity (4)

2 Idiosyncrasy (9)

3 Immature form of an insect (5)

4 To double-cross (3-4)

5 No longer existing (7)

7 Constructed (5)

8 Impartial (4-6)

9 Foolhardy (8)

14 Of doubtful authority (10)

16 Interesting short account (8)

18 Religious (9)

20 To exhaust (7)

21 Holder of unorthodox opinion (7)

23 Demand and get (5)

25 Tend in illness (5)

26 Part of the eye (4)

G P I R Y A D N O

● The Target uses words in the main body of Chambers 21st Century Dictionary (1999 edition)

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

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

TODAY’S TARGET

Good 20; very good 30; excellent 39 (or more). Solution on Monday

Yesterday’s Sudoku Answer

Call 0907 181 2585 for today’s Target solution

THE ALPHABEATER

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

34

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

2345678910

A 1 B C D E F G H I J

Yesterday’s Kakuro Answer

Extra

TARGET BATTLESHIPS 27 28 2 3 4 1 2 2 1 1 2 1 4 4 3 3 4 3 Place the the grid four different numbers different appear in and column. Solution Monday KEIJO 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 21 22 23 24 ■ 25 26 27 28 29 C 30 31 32 33 14 15 16 17 34 35 36 37 ■ ■ M D A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 17 38 14 26 1 21 22 4 13 27 17 15 39 14 18 32 11 5 34 10 39 3 11 9 34 24 30 37 33 23 22 13 10 18 31 22 12 18 21 34 30 33 32 11 22 3 35 7 24 37 28 4 18 39 9 35 33 37 19 32 34 5 2 22 6 20 12 23 28 40 18 12 2 26 36 3 39 22 25 23 36 18 14 36 30 30 31 11 22 35 29 5 13 7 34 3 11 4 34 17 22 17 21 15 29 30 34 16 32 22 6 39 1 13 27 37 11 7 6 12 32 13 17 12 11 30 29 18 25 22 35 33 39 5 34 29 8 7 15 38 31 40 20 Inspiring one another in medium backhander (7) 27 Name one, generating gas (4) 28 Liking quiet mention (10) Please guests, containing smooth transition (5) Across: 1 Classroom, 7 Operas, 9 Stomach, 10 Hews, 12 Pie, 13 Priests, 14 Elm, 15 Sigh, 17 Vehicle, 19 Ethnic, 20 Postpones. Down: 1 Cashmere, 2 Late, 3 Ago, 4 Spaceship, 5 Recess, 6 Oasis, 8 Stephens, 11 Silent, 13 Pluto, 16 Glue, 18 Can. THE ALPH TARGET CROSS SUMMIT Across: BOOTH Down: SHOPS 89 and 107 Black squares: 25, 26, 32, 37, Across: Glass, Shop, Tutu, Gnocchi, Bamboozle, Down: Scarab, Surf, Undo, Poked, Ululating, Know, GLIMMERED deem deme dime dimer dimmer elemi emir germ gimme glimmer GLIMMERED grim grime grimed idem lime limed meld mere merge merged midge mild milder mile miler mime mimed mimer mire mired regime rime rimed rimmed

Natasha Turnquest presents a ‘Painted Poem’ in new exhibit

It has been a circuitous path to this inaugural art exhibition by Natasha Turnquest, as her entire professional career has been spent in the world of foreign policy analysis. What she is now embracing, among other pursuits, is the world of colour and how the subconscious informs everything.

This exhibition is called “The Painted Poem” and will open on Saturday, August 5, at the Doongalik Studios Art Gallery.

Natasha’s acrylic paintings tell a story, not so much a literal one, but one that rests in whispers and nuances. Each painting is an interpretation of a poem either written by Ms Turnquest, or one she considers a favourite.

The piece she is most connected to emotionally is a 6-foot by 7-foot acrylic on canvas entitled “No man is an island but you live on one”. It is a riff on the famous John Donne poem “For Whom The Bell Tolls”.

This has always been one of her favourite poems of all time, and in the last few years it has taken on a deeper meaning for her because within the span of two years she has lost two most treasured members of her family: her largerthan-life father who died at the age of 80, and her larger-than-life aunt who died at the age of 94.

She considered it a privilege to be able to care for both of them. It taught her the valuable lesson that no matter how vibrant and vital we are in the prime of our lives, if we live long enough, we will be dependent upon someone. Hence, this concept of interconnectedness is woven throughout the art show.

An artist’s talk will be held at the Gallery on Sunday, August 6, from 3pm to 5pm, and part proceeds from the sale of artwork will be donated to the Garvin Tynes Centre for Autism.

The exhibit will be on display until August 16.

For further information, contact the gallery at 394-1887 or via email at pam.burnside@ doongalik.com.

‘Ode to Joy’

‘Pompey’

ARTIST Natasha Turnquest poses with her son, Benjamin, in front of one of her paintings. Part proceeds of the sales will be donated to the Garvi

Tree pruning, again!

Good day, gardeners. As we all know, hurricane season is upon us again. As I write this, there are three yellow patches on the map in the Atlantic ocean.

As a gardener, the most important thing that I can do in the garden to prepare for hurricane season, is to prune trees.

Yes, I have written about this before and I will write about it again. But I must be honest, we are not very good about pruning trees. Some people choose to top their trees, cutting the tops off, this is not good practice.

When trees are topped, it only serves to make them weaker in the long run. The first thing that ought to be looked at when pruning a tree is the dead or damaged wood.

There will always be dead or damaged wood, especially if the tree has not been pruned correctly in the past. next, I always look for branches that are pointing inward, growing inwards, pointing away from the outside of the tree to the interior of the tree canopy. Best practices recommend that the branches of a tree lead upwards or outwards.

Any branches that are not growing vertically upwards or between 45 and 90° outwards, ought to be removed entirely.

In theory, the only branch that should be growing perfectly vertically is the centre leader, if there is one. Low-hanging branches that may get in the way when mowing the lawn, for example, ought to be removed.

One particular mistake that I often notice is poor technique when cutting larger branches. Large branches are to be cut in three steps. The mistake typically is that the branch is cut using one cut on the top of the branch.

What happens when this is done, is that the weight of the branch will separate at the cut and the bottom of the branch gets torn and damaged.

The first cut should always be on the underside, cutting no more than 1/3 of the way into the branch, several inches up the branch from where the second and third cut will be. The second cut will be on the top side of the branch a few inches toward the trunk from the first cut.

This cut is the one that goes all the way through, and separates the branch to be removed from the portion of the tree that is staying.

The third cut will be at the collar of the branch, the collar is the swollen bit between the branch itself and the trunk, this portion when cut correctly will heal over to avoid any further rot or damage. This method of cutting large branches helps to avoid the tearing on the underside of the branch, and reduces damage to the tree, which intern increases the health of the tree in the long run, as there is less wood to rot.

When a branch is incorrectly cut, and a piece of branch is left to rot, that rot can continue into the trunk of the tree, and eventually kill out the heart of the tree which leads to nothing but a shell, and a very weak tree which will become a liability to structures, foot traffic, or vehicles for example. Using the correct methods to prune a medium or large tree the first time around, will lead to a strong tree that can last for a generation after generation.

Let us remember that most trees will outlive you, me, our children, their children, and our progeny for generations to come. To plant a tree is to leave a legacy to the people that follow us.

To plant a tree is to give back to the Earth that sustains our lives. To plant a tree is a gift to all people. I beg of you, reason sure to use proper and correct pruning practices to lessen damage to trees in high winds,, and to ensure a strong tree to continue to grow and thrive.

One thing I must point out is do not put a volcano of mulch around a tree trunk. There ought to always be a little bit of root flare showing on any tree, especially and particularly on fruit trees that have been grafted. The root flare is the top of the roots where they begin to grow outward from the trunk, it is always best to leave a little bit of that exposed.

Do not put soil or mulch around the trunk of a tree to cover the trunk. To do so only encourages entry points for disease, pests and rot.

That’s all I have to say today regarding pruning of trees, there is

(Pexels_Anna Shvets)

a lot more that I could see about the same but I’m out of space for now. I wish you all a wonderful weekend, and please, if you are in doubt about your pruning skills or if a tree is too large for you to handle, call a professional. As always, I wish you happy gardening.

A tribute to a very gutsy gal

By KIM ARANHA Animal Matters

If you have ever gone to Fox Hill Nursery in the past years you may have noticed a big potcake who had trouble walking. This lovely lady was Roxy, keeper and protector of all things and people within the business.

Fifteen years ago, Roxy was just a little pup and she walked through the door of the shop and sat firmly in front of Amanda until she noticed her.

Amanda is firmly convinced that Roxy was “sent” to her, and their union was absolutely meant to be. And she is probably correct.

Previously, about a year before her Mr Bojangles had passed on and everybody urged Amanda to get another dog, but she humorously answered, God would send her one.

And true to her prophesy, one sunny day this little two-month-old puppy walked in and looked up at her wagging her tail. She took her home and named her Roxy.

That simple gesture was the start of a very long companionship and bond between dog and human. They loved and respected each other, oh so very much. Talk about having each other’s back. You have never seen a finer example of that, and you may never see it again to the limits it was pushed.

Both Roxy and her human mum Amanda possessed that indomitable quality called “feisty” in the Bahamas. A strength of devotion that fed off each other. And together they could face any challenge thrown their way, and poor Roxy was most definitely tested by fate.

Many years ago, Roxy had a freak accident that ended in disaster. Her back legs became paralysed after

she slipped chasing a rat (I hope I remembered that correctly).

Amanda was not about to give up on her loyal friend, and after numerous consultations with veterinarian Dr Valentino Grant she was moved to the Hollywood animal hospital for further care.

When she came back, Roxy had made a huge improvement and after that she slowly regained some use of her back legs. She could go up and down a flight of stairs; she could walk around the nursery conducting important canine inspections. Only dogs can understand the complexities of the leaf inventory that some of our fur friends insist on updating on a daily basis in our gardens. Just imagine Roxy; she had an entire landscaping nursery to keep tabs on.

Roxy had friends – canine, feline and human – and received them all gracefully. As the years crept up on

her, her dignity never lessened; she remained the doyenne of Fox Hill Nursery.

I think the most essential part of Roxy’s tale is not just how she coped as a handicapped dog, but how her owner never gave up on her for a moment. We all hear the expression of responsible animal ownership, but do we know what that really means?

Once you get a dog, it is for life; the dog’s life or yours.

Never did anybody give up on Roxy; she was still young, she received help and therapy; she was assisted as she got older. There was always a helping hand to guide her, a loving word to encourage her; tolerance and patience. Roxy set the pace. She in turn gave her love and support, understanding and companionship.

Those of us fortunate enough to have had a bond with a special dog

understand the pain of loss, the feeling is a vacuum in our hearts and lives.

I love going to Fox Hill Nursery because you invariably see an animal perched up on a stack of dog food, or bags of soil. If you are very lucky, you will run into Bella, the cat who likes to snooze in the office out-box tray on the counter.

Before Roxy became handicapped, if somebody came into the nursery with a threatening manner, she would leap up and rush over, placing herself between the intruder and her family. She was a vigilant and brave potcake guard dog who never needed to be trained, because it comes naturally to them if they love you.At the beginning of July, already 15 years old, which is a grand old age for a big dog, Roxy crossed over to the rainbow bridge. She left many people shedding tears, because her loss will be noticed all around the nursery.

But it was her time. One of the most essential things an owner can do is know when to let their beloved friend go. It is a dreadfully difficult decision, and it hurts like hell, but it is the greatest last gift you can give.

They provide us with unconditional love; they give us reason to smile.

Roxy and her mum faced all the hardships of being disabled with their mutual stubbornness and determination, and a shared sense of humour. Roxy would laugh at life in her own way. She performed in movies, she made commercials, she travelled; she was a star.

I have written too many of these tributes lately about remarkable dogs.

personality will be appreciated. She’d also like to remind you that she’s part of the Summer Adoption Special where adult dogs are $20 and puppies $25, so now’s a great time to adopt.

Come in to the Bahamas Humane Society to meet her or call 821-4121 for more information. Roxy Moxy looks forward to meeting you! -

Roxy

THE REMARKABLE Roxy

The lovely Roxy Moxy is a five-year-old potcake who is very enthusiastic about going on the Wednesday and Saturday walks! She doesn’t even mind when other dogs come along as well.

Moxy is looking for a loving home where her outgoing

Radiant Roxy Moxy ByTHEBAHAMAS HUMANESOCIETY

ROXY Moxy with walker Maggie Crouch (Photo/Julian Jakusz)

literary lives

Inside Peter O’Toole – Part I The beginning of a great adventure

“I will not be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon … If I can I will stir the smooth sands of monotony. I do not crave security. I wish to hazard my soul to opportunity. I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed…to refuse to barter incentive for a dole…I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence, the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopias.”

– Peter O’Toole

Peter Seamus O’Toole was born on August 2, 1932, the son of Constance Jane Eliot, a Scottish nurse, and Patrick Joseph “Spats” O’Toole, an Irish metal plater, ex-footballer, and bookmaker.

He was born in St James’s University Hospital in Leeds, Yorkshire, England. He had an elder sister, Patricia, and they grew up in the south Leeds suburb of Hunslet.

He spent the first five years of his life with his family, touring the major racecourse towns in Northern England. At the outbreak of the Second World War, he went to the Catholic St Joseph’s Secondary School in Hunslet.

“I used to be scared stiff of the nuns: their whole denial of womanhood – the black dresses and the shaving of the hair – was so horrible, so terrifying. Of course, that’s all been stopped. They’re sipping gin and tonic in the Dublin pubs now, and a couple of them flashed their pretty ankles to me just the other day.”

– Peter O’Toole

When he left school, he was hired as a trainee journalist and

photographer on the Yorkshire Evening Post, until he was called up as a signaller in the Royal Navy. Questioned by an officer, he said he would like to be a poet or an actor.

After he was rejected by the Abbey Theatre’s drama school in Dublin, he was admitted to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) from 1952 to 1954 on a scholarship. At RADA he was in the same class as Albert Finney, Alan Bates and Brian Bedford.

O’Toole remembers his time there “as the most remarkable class the Academy ever had, though we weren’t reckoned for much at the time.” The school thought they were crazy – but they fed off each other.

Early in the 1950s, O’Toole gained recognition as a talented Shakespearean actor at the Bristol Old Vic, before making his TV debut in

1954 playing a soldier in The Scarlet Pimpernel.

During the three years at the Bristol Old Vic, O’Toole appeared in King Lear, The Recruiting Officer, Major Barbara, Othello, and The Slave of Truth in 1956. He was the lead in Pygmalion, in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Oh, My Papa, and Look Back in Anger in 1957; Tanner in Shaw’s Man and Superman, Hamlet, The Holiday, Amphitryon ’38, and Waiting for Godot in 1958. During the production of Holiday, he met his first wife, the Welsh actress Sian Phillips. These were O’Toole’s formative years, and he learned his craft well.

“Life turned out much better than I thought: I knew after a little while that I could act.”

– Peter O’Toole

He continued to appear on television – in episodes of Armchair Theatre - The Pier (1957) and the BBC’s The Laughing Woman (1958).

He made his London debut in a musical Oh, My Papa, and gained considerable fame in The Long and the Short and the Tall at London’s Royal Court Theatre in January 1959, before transferring to the West End in April.

O’Toole won Best Actor of the Year in 1959.

He was much in demand and received several long-term contracts, but turned them all down, preferring to play in Disney’s version of Kidnapped (1960); The Savage Innocents (1960) with Anthony Quinn; and Siwan: The King’s Daughter (1960) with his wife Sian Phillips, for TV.

He also spent a season with the Stratford Royal Shakespeare Company in 1960 as Petruchio in The Taming of the Shrew; as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice; and as Thersites in Troilus and Cressida.

He formed a company with the producer Jules Buck who cast O’Toole in The Day They Robbed the Bank of England, and appeared in several episodes of the TV series Rendezvous.

But he lost the film role of the film adaptation of The Long and the Short and the Tall to Laurence Harvey, which greatly disappointed him.

However, in November 1960, he was chosen to play the war hero TE Lawrence in Sir David Lean’s epic film Lawrence of Arabia (1962).

It was a major break for O’Toole which introduced him to a worldwide audience and earned him the first of eight nominations for the Academy Award Best Actor.

He received the BAFTA Award for Best British Actor, and his performance was ranked in Premiere magazine as being among the ‘100 Greatest Film Performances of All Time’.

Later, in 2003, Lawrence, as performed by O’Toole, was selected as being the tenth greatest hero in cinema history by the American Film Institute.

“To be perched nine feet up in the air on a camel, covered in vermin, at a hundred and thirty in the nonexistent shade, trying to be Lawrence of Arabia and speak – I thought, ‘Well, this is not exactly the Old Vic. I mean, how am I gonna do this?’ And

we lived in tents, and David Lean came up to me – on the very first day, Robert – and he said, always smoked with a cigarette holder, and he said, ‘Pete, this is the beginning of a great adventure.’”

– Peter O’Toole to Robert Osborne

And it certainly was a great adventure. The film is now listed as one of the ten greatest film epics in cinema history.

O’Toole played Hamlet under the direction of Laurence Olivier at the Royal National Theatre in 1963; and performed in Baal (1963) at the Phoenix Theatre.

In November 1961, O’Toole and Jules Buck formed a production

history

company called Keep Films (also known as Tricolor Productions).

Their first film Operation Snatch starred Terry Thomas. They also planned to produce Waiting for Godot, but the film was never made.

Instead, their first production was Becket in 1964, where O’Toole played King Henry II opposite Richard Burton.

The film was a financial success, and it was followed by Lord Jim (1965) based on the Joseph Conrad novel, directed by Richard Brooks. Plans did not always work out, for example The Charge of the Light Brigade, but they did produce What’s New Pussycat? (1965), starring Peter Sellers which went on to be an enormous success.

O’Toole and Buck helped produce The Party’s Over (1965) before he returned to the stage with Ride a Cock Horse at the Piccadilly Theatre in 1965 – which didn’t get good reviews. He then made a charming film How to Steal a Million with Audrey Hepburn (1966) – a heist film directed by William Wyler; followed by The Bible: In the Beginning directed by John Huston.

That year he also acted in the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin: Juno and

the Paycock and Shaw’s Man and Superman, and the next year filmed The Night of the Generals (1967) – a box office disappointment.

He joked: “I am human, all too bloody human.”

CHARLES Best (left) and Sir Frederick Banting discovered insulin in 1921

OMAR Sharif (left) and O’Toole in ‘Lawrence of Arabia’

O’Toole and Wendy Williams in ‘Hamlet’ at the Old Vic

Towards a democratic franchise – Part II

After its introduction in 1939, the secret ballot had led to elections appearing to be more orderly. It therefore had met some of the main expectations that had been placed in it.

Nevertheless, the general election of 1949, once again, returned a House of Assembly dominated by Bay Street.

Whitehall’s hopes that with a liberal franchise and the secret ballot the political affairs of the Colony ought to right themselves, were dashed.

Of course, by democratic standards of the mid-twentieth century, the franchise did not really deserve being characterised as liberal any longer, although it is also true that of the colonies of the British Caribbean, at this point in time only Jamaica had universal adult suffrage. However, it is prudent to revisit the General Assembly Elections Act of 1946. It marked the final victory of the secret ballot throughout the entire Bahamas. Yet, as would be

the case in almost all other instances, where new democratic principles were to be enshrined in the election laws of the Bahamas, Bay Street compensated for the potential effects of this concession by including other new features in the same law that were arguably less than democratic, but that were designed to reinforce the status quo instead.

At first glance, the Act left the qualifications for the suffrage unchanged. The core criteria were that voters had to be male British subjects, aged twenty-one years or older, who had been resident in the Bahamas for at least twelve months prior to the election, and who either owned real estate worth at least £5, or who rented real estate at a minimum rate of either £2.8s. a year in New Providence or £1.4s. a year in the Out Islands.

The 1946 Act retained these figures from the 1919 Act, which had retained them from the 1882 Act. This meant that their real value had decreased considerably with inflation.

As had been the case with the General Assembly Elections Act of 1919, the property qualifications of the 1946 Act continued to allow some men multiple votes, but deprived others of their votes altogether. A man got one vote in each constituency in which he met the property qualification. However, if he owned multiple properties in a single constituency, he could only cast a single vote. Also, if a property was owned by more than one man, or if a qualifying rental property was rented by more than one tenant, only one man could exercise the vote for that property and his co-owners or co-renters were disenfranchised, even if the value of the property in question was multiple times the required minimum amount.

More consequential, however, was a new kind of qualification through which a voter could gain additional votes: “When the owner or tenant of real property within the Colony is a company, one of the officers or directors of such company, nominated for the purpose by the directors thereof,

provided he is otherwise qualified under section 15 of this Act, may become a registered voter in respect of such real property.”

This provision would gain notoriety as the company vote, which, unlike the traditional plural vote based on real property, allowed voters not merely to vote in multiple electoral districts, but to cast multiple votes in the same district. Curiously, the significance of the above passage that amounted to the introduction of a company vote went virtually unnoticed. Some – particularly the non-white Members of the House of Assembly, parts of the Bahamian media, and, to an extent, even the British authorities, had fought for the secret ballot, ostensibly to make Bahamian elections more democratic, yet the sources are silent on the introduction of the company vote.

PAUL C ARANHA FORGOTTEN FACTS

Restaurant Fest returns to showcase best of Grand Bahama

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

For those curious about what Grand Bahama’s culinary scene has to offer, a special restaurant festival this August aims to serve up some tasty answers.

The island’s leading restaurants will once again deliver the flavour and the flair for the second annual Grand Bahama Island Restaurant Fest.

Foodies will have a whole month, from August 1 to 31, to partake in the event. This year’s festival also celebrates the start of the crawfish (also referred to as the Bahamian lobster) season.

There will be lots to choose from as the menus are expected to feature a number of dishes which include freshly caught lobster as well as other fresh seafood, Bahamian classics and internationally inspired options.

Each participating restaurant will offer a prix fixe menu inclusive of an appetiser, entrée and dessert.

Grand Bahama has over 120 restaurants, beach-front eateries, and unique food stalls.

Acting Chairman of the Grand Bahama Island Board Ian Rolle said there will be a myriad of food options available that people may not have tried before.

“There is no shortage of diverse, authentic and unique cuisine on Grand Bahama,” he said. “Not only is the island home to the oldest fish fry in the Bahamas, which is located in Smith’s Point, but Grand Bahama diners can enjoy a wide range a Bahamian, international, fine dining or casual beachfront options.”

Mr Rolle also made a point to mention the range of culinary skills and abilities that can be found on the island.

“Grand Bahama has some exceptionally talented and world-class chefs. We hope that the Restaurant Fest will allow local restaurants to get creative and flex their culinary expertise, while also making it as easy as possible for visitors and residents to try something new,” he said.

Also as part of the festival, cultural events will be taking place until the end of Summer.

“This year, the Bahamas is celebrating 50 years of Independence, and there will be lots of events happening throughout the island in honour of this milestone. Goombay Summer has also been taking place every Thursday in July. And, Wednesdays at the Smith’s Point Fish Fry are a must, in addition to a visit to West End on the weekend for a bowl of freshly made pickled conch salad, conch fritters or some fried fish and panny cakes,” he said.

The inaugural event drew not only Grand Bahamians but also people from different islands to the various participating restaurants.

This year’s lineup of restaurants will include The Brass Helmet, Pisces Seafood Haven & Pizzeria, Sabor’s Restaurant, Off the Deep Edge, Flying Fish GastroBar, Green Gamut Bistro, The Stoned Crab, Oceans Blue, Zorba’s Restaurant, Upstairs on the Bay, Portobello’s Restaurant, and the Margarita Villa Sand Bar.

MARGARITA Villa Sand Bar

GARDEN Café

GREEN Gamut

OUT Da Sea

FLYING Fish

TAINO By The Sea Photo