08302024 WEEKEND by tribune242

GET READY FOR RAKE ‘N SCRAPE EXPLOSION

PGS 02 +03

BEAUTY QUEENS SHINE

PGS 08 +09

The Best of the Best Rake ‘n Scrape Explosion Reloaded

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

GET READY to feel the heartbeat of the islands as The Best of the Best Rake and Scrape Explosion Reloaded returns on Saturday, November 2, 2024.

This highly anticipated event will transform the Super Club Breezes grounds into a vibrant celebration of Bahamian culture, where the soulful sounds of Rake and Scrape will take centre stage.

With a line-up of the country’s top artists and performances that promise to electrify the night, this is more than just a concert - it’s a cultural experience that will resonate with the very essence of T he Bahamas.

Hosted by Keep The Vibe Alive Music Group, along with Alpha Sound Promotions, the event organisers are fully dedicated to preserving and promoting Bahamian music and culture.

“Our organisation focuses on creating platforms for both emerging and established Bahamian artists to showcase their talent and celebrate

“We wanted to bring it back, bigger and better, to give everyone another chance to experience the energy and excitement that deﬁnes Rake ‘n Scrape music.

our rich musical heritage. As the organiser of The Best Of The Best Rake N Scrape Explosion Reloaded, I play a key role in coordinating the event, working with artists, securing sponsors, and ensuring everything

K.B.

SHINE242

runs smoothly to deliver an exceptional experience for our attendees,” said Les Turnquest.

He went on to say the inspiration behind the event’s theme comes from the overwhelming success of previous events, which proved how much the local community values and enjoys authentic Bahamian music.

“We wanted to bring it back, bigger and better, to give everyone another chance to experience the energy and excitement that defines Rake ‘n Scrape music. This is actually the second time we’re hosting the event. The first edition was held on May 11, 2024, and was met with fantastic feedback and a sold-out crowd. It feels incredibly rewarding to bring it back for a second time. The positive response from our first event reinforced our commitment to celebrating and preserving Bahamian music, and we are thrilled to see the continued enthusiasm from our community,” said Mr Turnquest.

He emphasised that the event is important because it plays a crucial role in keeping Bahamian music and culture alive.

For attendees, Mr Turnquest said it offers a chance to experience high-quality performances from their favorite artists and discover new talent. It also provides an

opportunity to connect with others who share a love for Rake ‘n Scrape and Bahamian culture. Additionally, the event supports local artists and contributes to the cultural and economic vitality of the community.

“The idea for this event stemmed from a desire to provide a platform for Bahamian artists and to celebrate our unique musical heritage. We noticed a gap in opportunities for Rake ‘n Scrape artists to showcase their talents on a large scale. The success of our extensive catalogue of Rake ‘n Scrape compilation albums and similar events and the positive feedback from local music fans motivated us to create an event that not only highlights our talented artists but also fosters a sense of community and pride in our cultural traditions,” said Mr Turnquest.

“The overall goal of the event is to celebrate and promote Bahamian Rake ‘n Scrape music, provide a platform for our talented artists, and bring the community together for a memorable night of cultural celebration. We aim to create an environment where attendees can enjoy great music, connect with others, and foster a deeper appreciation for Bahamian traditions.”

Highlights will include performances by an all-star line-up of artists, including KB, DMac, Geno D, Avvy, Shine242, Veronica Bishop, Mama D, Blaudy, Funky D,The Falcons, Shaad Collie and The VIPs, Wilfred Solomon, FanShawn and more. Each artist, Mr Turnquest expressed, will deliver electrifying performances, and there will also be various activities and interactive elements to enhance the overall experience.

“We’re also offering Sky Pods and Sky Boxes for a premium experience, and food and drink vendors will be on-site to keep the energy high. We’re looking forward to hearing how much attendees enjoyed the performances and the overall experience of the event. Positive feedback about the atmosphere, organization, and the quality of the performances will be incredibly gratifying. We hope that the event leaves a lasting impression on everyone and reinforces the importance of preserving and celebrating our Bahamian musical heritage,” said Mr Turnquest.

AVVY

Kenva Strachan interview

For Kenva Strachan, it was her faith that guided her on a journey - a journey she now wishes to share. She spoke to CARA HUNT about her life story of “how God took me from mess to mercy” and the book that it has inspired.

KENVA Stachan’s new book, The Testimony: My Life Story of How God Took Me From Mess to Mercy, details many of the challenges she faced growing up and how her faith helped her overcome it.

“It was around April when God really started speaking to me and telling me that I had a message he wanted me to share,” she told Tribune Weekend.

“I realised that it was just time to tell my story and I started writing.”

“My story really focuses on some of the challenges that come from growing up in a Caribbean household, where family members believe in discipline, but that disclipne is really more abuse than discipline.”

It took her about a month to complete the book.

“The challenge was really what I was going to say and how can I relay the message,” she says.

“I also was concerned about how some members of my family would react,” she admitted.

The book addresses some difﬁcult themes which she wanted to focus on as sensitively as possible.

“My story really focuses on some of the challenges that come from growing up in a Caribbean household, where family members believe in discipline, but that disclipne is really more abuse than discipline,” she said.

“Additonally I grew up in an environment with large levels of poverty and I had to work at a very young age to help support my siblings and so being young and having to also carry that burden was a struggle which I know that a lot of children grow up with that pressure.”

Other issues she discusses in the book include the challenges young ladies can face with people preying on them and offering or encouraging to get involved in the some of the more negative aspects of the world.

A lot of these issues stem are cycled from generation to generation that have been hidden and not addressed over time. For example, I know that mom and my grandmother were both affected with similar issues.

Kenva says her relationship with God was really what got her through some of the more challenging aspects of her life.

“I think that the message I want my readers to take from my story, is that no matter what you are going in life God is still there, He has a purpose for you and it is not to cause you harm. God wanted to use me and my story to help little boys and little girls like me. I would love to see us begin to break some of these generational cycles. I want to use my story for God’s Glory.”

Knowing my God was with me and watching over me was a major part of my life.

Chronicalising her life was a deeply theraputic experience.

“Each chapter felt raw and I found that as I was writing each one, I was also healing,” she said.

And as she wrote, it made her more aware of just how important the message was that God had called her to share.

this weekend in history

August 30

1918 Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin was shot twice in an unsuccessful assassination attempt.

2021 Following a chaotic withdrawal, the last US troops left Afghanistan, some seven years after the war in that country had ofﬁcially ended.

August 31

War, the Confederate evacuation of Atlanta began this day in 1864, shortly before Union troops led by William Tecumseh Sherman occupied the city, providing a much-needed victory for the North.

1997 England’s Diana Princess of Wales was killed in a car crash in Paris.

September 1

1972 Bobby Fischer defeated Boris Spassky to become the ﬁrst native-born American to hold the title of world chess champion.

1985 In a search led by American oceanographer Robert Ballard, the wreck of the Titanic was found on the ocean ﬂoor at a depth of about 13,000 feet. found to the Catholic faith.

like me. I would love to see us begin to break some of these generational cycles. I want to use my story for God’s Glory,” she said.

Kenva’s life has taken her on unexpected but wonderful journeys. She is currently employed as a banking administrator but has also travelled around the world doing missionary work.

“I have had some great experiences being able to witness and feed people all over the world,” she said.

She also has found great fulﬁllment in walking in her purpose as a Bible study leader.

“Growing up, I didn’t think that this was where I would end up in my life at all,” she said. “I thought maybe I would be that more materalstic type of girl but them God called me on this path.”

Kenva says she wants her book to reach young men and young woman alike particularly in The Bahamas.

“It’s important to me to share that even though I live abroad I feel that God has called me to my generation and country with a message to turn back to him.”

FRIDAY’S SOLUTIONS

DITLOIDS

THE ALPHABEATER

Black squares: 4, 5, 6, 11, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 32, 33, 38.

Across: Price, Index, Vowel, Injection, Sky, Whack, Orzo, Agog, Films, Jam, Antiquity, Fluid, Scuba, Pyres. Down: Plonker, Caliph, Winch, Below, Objectivity, Wok, Gas, Ovaries, Mayﬂy, Knock, Squad.

ARROW-WORD

Across: Pamela, Casual, Ian, Tan, Idea, Come, Net, Oil, Aled, Lion, Priests, Ira, Helen, Era, Westenra, Ada, Range, Text, Elf, Rea, Lino, Les, Curly, Hot, Ring, Exile, Ear, Pad.

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.

THE ALPHAPUZZLE

Across: Leapfrog, Onrush, Binary, Snowman, Genre, Nick, Eat, Ray, Hide, Tribe, Liaison, Jitter, Doodle, Reckless. Down: Grizzled, Exile, Equator, Fervent, Over, Suction, Goon (clue), Rethink, Summary, Bless, Handmade.

TV CROSSWORD

Across: 1 Chloe, 6 Carl, 8 Gaultier, 10 Anton, 11 Debra, 12 O’Grady, 15 Tane, 16 Ronnie, 17 Love, 19 Top Gear, 21 Evan, 22 Smith.

Down: 2 Hope, 3 E Grant, 4 Otto, 5 Broadbent, 6 Cynthia, 7 Lin, 9 Ustinov, 13 York, 14 Manifest, 17 Luke, 18 Ewan, 20 Pam.

Down (left to right): Saga, Ripe, Alicia, Sinclair, Son, Nun, Melua, East, George, Animals, Evel, Call, Del, Thin, Flyer, Else, Rat, Andi, Leadership, Over, Axe, Ola, Tin, Nag, Tasted.

shoulder

8 Person from Cairo damaging a tiny peg (8)

9 Dispute involving sweet being included in a payment (8)

14 Narrow passage used by said boxer with means (8)

BATTLESHIPS

1 1897: Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria, 2 Lock, Stock and 2 Smoking Barrels, 3 6 Novels by Jane Austen, 4 13 Countries in the Caribbean Sea, 5 1 Nautical Mile = 1852 Metres, 6 20 Shillings in 1 Old Pound

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

Shaded letters: Aston Villa

MOLAR WORDS

MUDDLESOME

Cinderella Sleeping Beauty The Lion King

CLOCK-WISE

Anti, Tine, Neot, Otto, Tome, Mean

QUIZ OF THE WEEK

1 Lewis Carroll, 2 Mikel Arteta, 3 Pretty Woman, 4 The Jam, 5 1940s, 6 H.G. Wells, 7 Aberdeenshire, 8 Chess, 9 Church Of England, 10 Davies.

TRIVIA WORDSEARCH

1 Garderobe, 2 Pergamon, 3 Concrete, 4 Oenophile, 5 Affray, 6 Rice, 7 Fosse Way, 8 Pont du Gard, 9 Beveridge, 10 Henry Dunant

SUMTHING

9+6=15, 6x3=18, 3x9=27

SMALL CROSSWORD

Across: 1 Permitted, 7 Area, 8 Crane, 10 Nap, 11 Noises, 13 Traveller, 14 Aspect, 16 Nor, 18 Glass, 19 Scar, 20 Somewhere. Down: 1 Paintings, 2 Errors, 3 Mars, 4 Try, 5 Tangled, 6 Departure, 8 Cheeses, 9 Diagram, 12 Nectar, 15 Push, 17 Use.

squares have been filled in to start you off.

16 Complicated procedure agitating a girl more (9)

17 Laces for performing in the open air (8)

19 Saint with selection, unusual (7)

21 Piece of writing in newspaper making us object (7)

22 Delays getting theatre seats (6)

24 Ridicules practice exams (5)

25 Two men with member of the king’s family (5)

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.

Across: 1

CROSS DOUBT

Across: ALARM Down: MAYBE

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

SMALL

SMALL CROSSWORD

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

ACROSS

TODAY’S TARGET

SMALL CROSSWORD

10 Comic; 11 Discomposure; 13 Recess; 15 Cohere; 17 Overstrained; 20 Again; 21 Collide; 22 Skeleton; 23 News. Down: 1 Standard; 2 Crass; 4 Scrape; 5 Occasionally; 6 Immerse; 7 Hack; 8 Remonstrance; 12 Heedless; 14 Caviare; 16 Stucco; 18 Noise; 19 Pass.

SMALL CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Leads a ship (8)

6 Water plant (4)

8 Measure, estimate (5) 11 Memorised (6)

12 Inform (4)

14 _ Direction, band (3)

15 Give in (5)

16 Sealed tin

today’s solution call: 0907

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

1 Leads a ship (8)

ACROSS 1 Leads a ship (8)

6 Water plant (4)

8 Measure, estimate (5)

Yesterday’s Sudoku Answer

6 Water plant (4)

11 Memorised (6)

12 Inform (4)

8 Measure, estimate (5) 11 Memorised (6) 12 Inform (4) 14 _ Direction, band (3)

14 _ Direction, band (3)

15 Give in (5)

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.

16 Sealed tin (3)

17 Always (4)

TODAY’S TARGET

15 Give in (5)

19 Not as shallow (6)

Good 12; very good 18; excellent 23 (or more). Solution next Saturday.

LAST SATURDAY’S SOLUTION

able acne anal anneal annual annul balance bale banal bane bean beau

Yesterday’s Kakuro Answer

20 Severe (5)

Sealed tin (3)

Good 12; very good 18; excellent 23 (or more). Solution next Saturday.

Always (4)

21 Clenched hand (4)

Not as shallow (6)

Severe (5)

22 Example (8) DOWN

LAST SATURDAY’S SOLUTION

For today’s solution call: 0907 181 2583

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

LAST SATURDAY’S SOLUTION

solution

ACROSS 1 Teaspoon, 6 Huge, 8 Lower, 11 Remain, 12 Cast, 14 Pea, 15 Votes, 16 Nib, 17 Drag, 19 Dampen, 20 Smile, 21 Late, 22 Measures. DOWN 1 Thickness, 2 Ages, 3 Playtimes, 4 Own, 5 Triangles, 7 Uranium, 9 Oiled, 10 Elegant, 13 Total, 18 Rear, 19 Die.

LAST SATURDAY’S

1 Thickness, 2 Ages, 3 Playtimes, 4 Own, 5 Triangles, 7 Uranium, 9 Oiled, 10 Elegant, 13 Total, 18 Rear, 19 Die.

SATURDAY’S SOLUTION

Teaspoon,

Uranium, 9 Oiled, 10 Elegant, 13 Total, 18 Rear, 19 Die.

Answers

1 Denigrate (9)

Clenched hand (4)

Example (8)

2 Rind of an orange (4)

3 Green team (anag.) (9)

Denigrate (9)

4 Pistachio, for example (3)

LAST SATURDAY’S SOLUTION able acne anal anneal annual annul balance bale banal bane bean beau cabal cable canal cane cannula caul clan clean elan lace lacuna lance lane lean naan nana nebula nuance ulna unable UNBALANCE unclean unlace

5 Rejoice (9)

Rind of an orange (4)

Green team (anag.) (9) 4 Pistachio, for example (3) 5 Rejoice (9)

7 Stylish (7)

9 Corner (5)

able acne anal anneal annual annul balance bale banal bane bean beau cabal cable canal cane cannula caul clan clean elan lace lacuna lance lane lean naan nana nebula nuance ulna unable UNBALANCE unclean unlace

10 Male geese (7)

13 Organ (5)

18 Blood vessel (4)

Stylish (7)

19 Lair (3)

Corner (5) 10 Male geese (7) 13 Organ (5) 18 Blood vessel (4) 19 Lair (3)

Call 0907 181 2586 for today’s Target solution

TV show: The Night Agent

GOOD day gardeners, how does your garden grow? For me it’s time to thin out trees again, as the combination of the rain and the heat of the summer growing season have together created masses of lush new growth on just about anything and everything that is established. Fresher material that I’ve installed in the last few months on contracts has all hooked in and everything is going bananas with new growth.

This creates a bit of maintenance work. The aim in tree maintenance at this time of year is primarily to thin the branches for weight reduction and to increase airﬂow and light penetration. Same as always, but most needed around now.

I imagine many of you are anxious to get your vegetable gardens going again, to grow material other than the hardier plants that make it through the summer.

While it is a bit early yet in my books, from past years I know there are some folks already looking to get kale, cabbage, herbs, and so on, into the ground. Pumpkins and cassava are two that have been doing well through the summer.

It is always a suitable time to put another crop down, as well as sweet potato. Some of the tougher herbs can go in at anytime, rosemary, thyme, parsley, basil, chives, etcetera. I’m very close to enacting the next phase on my journey, and I’ll be seeking to devote some land to grow on, although not in time for the early crops.

Until I do secure suitable land, I’m partnering with a friend who has space to grow in getting a few perennial things in, different banana varieties, plantain, passion fruit, and so on.

Speaking of passion, my interest in gardening ebbs and ﬂows, but innately it is the passion that exists that sometimes is the only thing that keeps my attention to the garden. Many days I would rather be out ﬁshing or wandering the ocean blue. There is no excellent conch salad without onion, sweet pepper, tomato, lime, or hot pepper though!

Thanks is in order to all of those dedicated folks that farm and grow edible foods. So often the sources of our food are under appreciated and we owe so much to the folks in ﬁsheries, and the farmers of the world. Teach the children to ﬁsh and to farm and none will go hungry.

Lush

An issue with indoor plants that I’ve been dealing with this week is pest control. Scale and whiteﬂy on white bird of paradise and ﬁcus had to be tended to. A simple horticultural oil spray was applied, after which I wiped down each and every leaf, top and bottom, followed by another spray to ensure effective treatment. No harsh chemicals needed.

Mechanical action, removal by hand, is somewhat laborious, but I’ll take a bit of sweat before harsh chemicals any day of the week. Before spraying, I removed the plants from the inside to the outside, keeping them in the shade so as to prevent leaf burn.

Once plants acclimatise to the indoors, they become highly susceptible to leaf burn in the sun. At the same time, I check the soil to see that

none are root bound, if too wet or too dry, and amend as necessary before placing the plants back inside the next day after the spray has all dried and any water applied has had a chance to run out of the pots.I don’t like to have to clean up a mess that was avoidable. Is your garden lush with growth? I did have to point out to someone a comparison of several of the same types of plants in different locations, all of which were growing quite well except for one that was stunted and struggling. Without even having to investigate, I told him, that soil is compacted and nutrient deﬁcient because of it. Loosen and amend the soil and the plant will catch up with the rest.

Even when I’m focused on other things, my attention is drawn to the garden, there’s that unavoidable and never ending passion popping up again. I am a lush for the garden no matter how much I seek to draw attention away onto other things, I can’t help it! I’m hooked. As always, I wish you happy gardening.

pageants

Beauty queens excel overseas

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

MISS Galaxy Bahamas is giving its three beauty queens a rousing applause for their stellar performance during the Galaxy International Pageant this month.

Mrs Galaxy Bahamas Sophia Wallace, Jr Miss Galaxy Bahamas L’Amour Dawkins and Little Miss Galaxy Bahamas Hadassah Kemp all left a lasting impression during the competition held in Orlando, Florida.

The three queens are fresh from the competition and say it was a rewarding experience.

Little Miss Galaxy Bahamas

Little Miss Galaxy Hadassah Kemp walked away from competition at the ﬁrst runner up at the Galaxy International Pageant. She competed in the Little Miss Division alongside Little Miss Canada and Little Miss UK.

“With the help of God, my biggest fan my mom Ferrice Kemp, my international coach Crystal Cavey, Toastmaster Coach Antoinette Fox, my sister queen Sophia Wallace and my director Andrea Knott I was first runner up in the competition and I also walked away with the titles of Miss Congeniality and Miss Photogenic. As first runner up I will be awarded the title of Miss Pre-Teen Caribbean Galaxy and will be competing at Galaxy International Pageants in 2025. In 2023, she competed at the Galaxy International Pageants and was third runner-up and although it was not her first time competing at the Galaxy Pageants the experience she said is always different and better.

“I got the opportunity to meet different people from around the world, get to know them and their personality and become long lasting friends with them.

“I enjoyed meeting new friends, the orientation where I got lots of gifts from the other contestants and I really enjoyed attending the ‘All White Party’. The all-white party is a party where the CEO, delegates, directors, and international committee members all have a fanastic time dancing, singing and socialising with each other.

Hadassah is a honour roll student at Temple Christian where she will be entering the third grade. She hopes to take the experience with her.

“I have learned to always be yourself, be kind to others, have fun and if you don’t get it the ﬁrst time try and try again,” she said.

Jr Miss Galaxy Bahamas

As for 12-year-old L’Amour she is still basking in the overwhelming experience of placing second runner-up in the Junior division of the Galaxy International Pageant.

There were several events leading up to the pageant which allowed all the delegates from all the divisions to interact, get to know each other, build relationships and friendships and share their journey.

“It was awesome to meet delegates from all over the world including the UK, Canada, Australia, Wisconsin and the US.”

“I’m extremely proud of all the young girls and myself who with conﬁdence and poise expressed themselves through their fashionwear, evening gown and interview. I’m forever grateful to God and the Galaxy Pageants for the unforgettable experience.

“All of the events were very memorable. These events included the orientation, the pyjama party, the all-white party and the main event. However, my favorite events were the all-white party which was an all-white dazzling winter wonderland experience. The energy was electric and felt like a fairytale experience and the main event which was the pageant. It was the result of hard work, conﬁdence and determination.

She said the experience representing The Bahamas on stage was “exhilarating and every minute was one to remember”.

“I learned that I can deﬁnitely do all things through Christ who strengthens me. At times it was not always easy but the journey was so worth it. It pays to trust the process, be disciplined, surround yourself with positive family and friends, put your best foot forward and your reward will come. It was also wonderful to know that I wasn’t alone. Everyone shared their experiences and was so encouraging. I encourage everyone to dream big, pursue your dream and follow your heart. With God all things are possible,” she said.

Mrs Galaxy Bahamas

Mrs Galaxy Bahamas Sophia Wallace is “deeply passionate about helping young women discover their identity in Christ and spreading the message of faith, love, and empowerment”. Alongside her role as a beauty queen, she is also an entrepreneur, co-running two businesses with her husband, So Pro and Sophia Michelle Artistry,

where

the duo specialises in wed ding photography, videography, hairstyling and makeup artistry.

Sophia said she was honoured to participate in the Galaxy International Pageant, a prestigious event that brings together women from around the world to celebrate beauty, diversity, and empowerment. She said: “I competed against 21 remarkable women from around the globe, representing countries like India, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, and the United States. These women are doctors, entrepreneurs, soldiers, amazing wives, and mothers. I feel incredibly blessed and in awe to have placed as the 1st runner-up. I was also honoured to receive the title of Most Photogenic. This achievement is a true reﬂection of God’s faithfulness and the unwavering support I’ve received from my husband, Julian

Wallace, my sister, Christi Knowles, my runway coach, Chantel O’Brian, my interview coaches, Nyisha Tilus and Crystal Cavey, the Bahamas Galaxy Team, and all my friends and family.” The experience, she said, was truly an unforgettable encounter.

“The experience was truly unforgettable. Meeting so many amazing, empowered women who have all made a signiﬁcant impact in their communities from all over the globe was incredibly inspiring. What I enjoyed most was the sisterhood and the sense of community among the contestants. We shared laughter, stories, and a deep bond that transcends the competition. It was also a joy to capture many beautiful moments during the event, which I look forward to sharing with others” she said.

JR Miss Galaxy Bahamas L’ Amour Dawkins

MRS Galaxy Bahamas

Wallace

LITTLE Miss Galaxy Hadassah Kemp

Artful greetings Ryan Lewis continues to infuse Bahamian culture into cards

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

WHEN Bahamian artist and designer Ryan Lewis ﬁrst introduced his Valentine’s Day cards earlier this year, they quickly became a hit, celebrated for their unique blend of heartfelt sentiments and vibrant Bahamian ﬂair.

Now, riding the wave of that success, Ryan is back with something new and equally exciting - a collection of Bahamian birthday cards.

This time, he’s teamed up with fellow artist and creator Kevanté Cash, and together they’ve crafted a series of cards that are more than just greetings - they are a celebration of Bahamian culture and creativity.

“The reception of the Valentine’s Day cards was amazing,” Ryan told Tribune Weekend, as he spoke about the feedback received.

“It was so rewarding to see people, laugh, chuckle and read the cards out loud. There were some bulk orders which was nice to know that people were really connecting with the message behind the cards,” he said.

He went on to say the addition of adding cards to his services has been great. It’s allowed him to channel his creative energy into a project that brings joy, embraces culture and is fun to create. One of Ryan’s goals for this year was to create more physical pieces and this achieves that. He has even had some people pick up a few Valentine’s Day cards outside of the season of love.

With regard to the Bahamian Birthday Card Collection, Ryan said it is a series of greeting cards with quirky colloquialisms paired with unique illustrations that celebrates the vibrancy of Bahamian Birthdays.

“In this series, I have collaborated with Kevanté ac Cash (she/they) a Bahamian poet-artist, community organiser, workshop facilitator and movement artist to create phrases, elevate the messaging and craft the messaging for the inside of the cards. Together, we have crafted 11 original designs, that each have two colour options totalling 22 cards to choose from. Each card will be 4” x 5” with a sturdy paper quality,” said Ryan.

Describing some of the cards in detail, Ryan said the card design called “Well seasoned” features the saying “Une ole you just well seasoned” written on a classic seasoning bottle surrounded by peppers. The message on the inside reads, “Hope ya bertday is as good as this peas soup!”

Another design, “Tings”- is a card that features the saying “You deserve all da tings”. The words sit on colorful gift boxes with ornate bows and

ribbons that are precariously stacked. The message on the inside reads, “Eat up all da food n’ drink up all da rum / Happy bertday bey!”

Then there is the card called “First Piece”which features the saying “i gettin’ da ﬁrst piece rite?”. The words are stacked on a heavy slice of cake with a vibrant background. The message on the inside reads, “If not, I takin’ my card back! Happy birthday bey!”

Lastly, the card titled “Ole Nah” - features the saying, “Muddasick, you gettin’ ole nah” on the top of a tasty cake illustration with colourful candles. The message on the inside reads, “Ine watchin’ nuddin’ still/Happy bertday bey!!”

“Bahamian culture was the driving force behind this series. I tapped into familiar phrases, vibrant colors, and cherished traditions that are associated with Bahamian birthdays. For example, the card saying “i gettin’ da first piece rite?” captures the tradition of claiming the first slice (of cake). I wanted the wording to feel like something someone would really say during or surrounding birthday celebrations. I wanted each card to be infused with a joyful and festive dynamic energy so that they fit right in at a birthday party. I was inspired by the receiver of the card, I wanted them to smile and feel seen on their special day.

It’s hard to pick a favourite but I think the “Une ole, you just well seasoned” is pretty fun and spot on. In second place, I would selﬁshly choose ‘you deserve all da tings’ because of the outrageousness of the design and we love a good afﬁrmation,” said Ryan.

He said the cards are all uniquely Bahamian and 100 percent locally made. They were conceived, designed and printed locally. The quality of the paper used is quality and gives them a premium feel. All of the wording and illustrations have been carefully crafted just for these designs and are limited edition giving them an exclusive and personal feel.

“Each person who receives a card will get a card made with love and care that encourages them to have a conversation and connect with their

Sip and paint calligraphy events

Get ready for a night of good food, ﬁne wines and great culture.

On Thursday, the Bahamas China Friendship Association will be holding a calligraphy and wine tasting event.

The event comes as part of the association’s 20th anniversary celebrations, and will be held in the ballroom at Margaritaville, from 6.30-10pm.

The event will include sipping, painting and a silent auction and is hailed as an excellent corporate team-building event.

Tickets are still available costing $100 per person or $1,000 per table.

There will be door prizes, a rafﬂe and a DJ. Organisers say you will be able to learn your favourite Bahamian phrases in Mandarin, such as Bush Crack, Man Gone or Soon TaReckley, Dog Eat Ya Lunch, Conchy Joe, Fix Ya Face, Reverse Back or No Broughtupcy. Ticket are available via the association’s website at www. bcfa242.org or www. ticketboxevents.com.

The wine sponsor is Caribbean Wines and Spirits. Proceeds will go towards the association’s kite ﬂying event for underprivileged youth.

heritage in a meaningful way. The hope is that the cards spark conversations, jog memories and make people smile,” said Ryan.

“The response to the phrases and designs have been great. Considering that I’ve only shared the designs on social media, there has been a lot of engagement so far with people inquiring about preorders and custom cards.”

Moving forward, Ryan said he would really love to continue creating cards and other similar products with the goal of stocking them in retail spaces and gift stores. Ideally, he would like Bahamians to walk into a greeting card aisle and see cards that reﬂect their culture, make them laugh and speak to speciﬁc scenarios that are unique to them.

Currently, for all those interested, Ryan’s Birthday card collection can be ordered online at the link “t.ly/bahamianbirthday” or by reaching out to him directly on Facebook, Instagram at @ RyanDesignerLewis or by sending a message to (242) 829-0509.

“There are plans for the cards to be available at a few retail stores in September, including at Poinciana Paper Press at 12 Parkgate Road in Nassau, and Lignum Vitae Market at 1 King’s Rd in Freeport. Any updates on purchasing location will be posted on my social media channels as it becomes available,” said Ryan.

Back to school with a hand from Vitamalt

CHILDREN ﬂocked to Windsor Park earlier this month for the sixth annual back-to-school giveaway event hosted by Vitamalt.

The community event on Wulff Road is a part of Vitamalt’s commitment to the most vulnerable members of our society.

In a statement, Commonwealth Brewery Ltd said: “The brand is passionate about the students and parents of The Bahamas having the support needed to enjoy a successful start to the school year. Though the day was centered around the distribution of essential school supplies like lunch bags, pencil cases ﬁlled with writing tools and tumblers to carry a refreshing Vitamalt on the go, there was still lots of fun to be had by attendees.

“Parents and returning students had their ﬁll of delicious pizza and hot dogs and also enjoyed a variety of complimentary beverages from Dasani and Minute Made in addition to the vitalizing Vitamalt options that were available.

“Children of all ages could be seen adorning freshly applied face paint designs and joyfully racing down one of the many inﬂatable obstacle courses at the event. Members of the community stood in awe of the dynamic demonstrations facilitated by the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Mobile, K-9, Fire and Trafﬁc divisions ahead of the Urban Renewal Band’s live performance.”

Chief Superintendent Darvey Pratt, Royal Bahamas Police Force Urban Renewal Division, said: “Looking around and seeing the impact

this event has on the children of this community speaks volumes. I am sure this event will be talked about for days. I have already received a call from the Assistant Commissioner of Police who has stated ‘what a job well done and kudos to Vitamalt’.”

Densil Deveaux, senior portfolio manager at Commonwealth Brewery Ltd (CBL), added: “We are happy that people love and embrace the brand. This event is our way of saying thank you for helping us achieve the position as the number one malt in The Bahamas.”

ARAME STRACHAN, Retail Sales Manager at Commonwealth Brewery Ltd (CBL) (left) poses alongside a happy student (right) receiving her school supplies at the 6th Annual Vitamalt Back to School Giveaway on Wulff Road.

A YOUNG student sits patiently as she gets her face painted at the 6th Annual Vitamalt Back to School Giveaway event on Wulff Road.

A CROWD

eagerly gather

Wulff Road.

‘The Crow’ reimagined is stylish and operatic, but cannot outfy 1994 original

By MARK KENNEDY | AP Entertainment Writer

ONE of the first things you see in the reimagined “The Crow” is the sight of a fallen white horse in a muddy field, bleeding badly after becoming entangled in barbed wire. It’s a metaphor, of course, and a clunky one at that — a powerful image that doesn’t really fit well and is never explained.

That’s a hint that director Rupert Sanders will have a tendency to consistently pick the stylish option over the honest one in this ﬁlm. In his attempt to give new life to the cult hero of comics and ﬁlm, he’s given us plenty of beauty at the expense of depth or coherence.

The ﬁlmmakers have set their tale in a modern, generic Europe and made it very clear that this movie is based on the graphic novel by James O’Barr, but the 1994 ﬁlm adaptation starring Brandon Lee hovers over it like, well, a stubborn crow.

Brandon, son of legendary actor and martial artist Bruce Lee, was just 28 when he died after being shot while ﬁlming a scene for “The Crow.”

Lee’s “The Crow” was ﬁnished without him and he never got to see it enter Gen X memory in all its raindrenched, gothic glory, inﬂuencing everything from alternative fashion to “Blade” to Christopher Nolan’s “Dark Knight” trilogy.

Bill Skarsgård seizes Lee’s role of Eric Draven, a man so in love that he returns from the dead to revenge his and his sweetheart’s slayings in what can be best called a sort of supernatural, romantic murderfest. (The tagline, “True love never dies,” clumsily rips off Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera.”)

William Schneider, who co-wrote the screenplay with Zach Baylin, has given the story a near-operatic facelift, by introducing a devil, a Faustian bargain, blood-on-blood oaths and a godlike guide who monitors the limbo between heaven and hell, which looks like a disused,

weed-covered railway station. “Kill the ones who killed you and you’ll get her back,” our hero is told.

The ﬁrst half drags at it sets the table for the steady beat of limbs and necks being detached at the end.

Eric and his love, Shelly (played by an uneven FKA Twigs), meet in a rehab prison for wayward youth that is so well lit and appointed that

heads covered in plastic and his new love calls him “brilliantly broken.” He’s like a Blink-182 lyric come to life.

Shelly is more complex, but that’s because the writers maybe gave up on giving her a real backstory. She has a tattoo that says “Laugh now, cry later,” reads serious literature and loves dancing in her underwear. She clearly comes from wealth and has had a falling out with her mom, but has also done an unimaginably horrible thing, which viewers will learn about at the end.

Part of the trouble is that the lead couple cast off very little electricity, offering a love affair that’s more teen-like than all-consuming. And this is a story that needs a love capable of transcending death.

There are lots of cool-looking moments — mostly Skarsgård in a trench coat, stomping around the desolate concrete jungle in the rain at night — until “The Crow” builds to one of the better action sequences this year, albeit another one of those heightened showdowns at the opera. By this time, Eric has donned the Crow’s heavy eye and cheek makeup. He adds to this ensemble a katana and an inability to die. As he closes in on his target, mowing down tuxedoed bad guys as arias soar, the group movements on stage are echoed by the furious ﬁghting backstage. A few severed heads might be considered over the top at curtain call, but subtlety isn’t being applauded here.

If the original was plot-light but visually delicious, the new one has a better story but suffers from ideas in the ﬁlms built on its predecessor, stealing a little from “The Matrix,” “Joker” and “Kill Bill.” Why not create something entirely new?

it looks more like an airport lounge where the cappuccinos are $19 but the Wi-Fi is complimentary.

Eric is a gentle loner — tortured by a past the writers don’t bother ﬁlling in, who likes to sketch in a book (universal cinema code signaling a sensitive soul) and is heavily tattooed (he’s often shirtless). His apartment has rows of mannequins with their

“The Crow” isn’t bad — and it gets better as it goes — but it’s an exercise in folly. It cannot escape Lee and the 1994 original even as it builds a more allegorical scaffolding for the smartphone generation. To use that very ﬁrst metaphor, it’s like the trapped white horse — held down by its own painful past, never free to gallop on its own.

What to stream this week

NEW MOVIES TO STREAM

— AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr

NEW MUSIC TO STREAM

— AP Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy

NEW SHOWS TO STREAM

animals

Animal matters

Kim Aranha

100 years of kindness

THE Bahamas Humane Society is celebrating its 100th anniversary. 100 years of compassion and empathy, 100 hundred years of showing love and kindness.

The actual birthday was June 24, and we have managed to have various events throughout the year. as you often keep the best for last, our glamourous Gala will be held in November and what a sumptuous event we are planning for our supporters.

1924 was the era of Erté and the art deco movement, and what glamour and beauty it was. The Crown Ballroom at Atlantis just happens to be decorated in a very deﬁnite art deco style and ﬁts right into our theme like a glove. What a lucky coincidence. It is surely a sign of pending success.

We are hoping that many of the ladies will choose to dress to the theme, as it will help make the event even more glamourous and make the atmosphere even more genuine.

Erté was a Russian-born Frenchman called Romain de Tirtoff. He took his initials RT and as in the French pronunciation it sounds like Erté, and that is the name he used as an artist.

Erté was a very well-respected artist and had a most illustrious career, designing clothing and costumes, over 200 magazine covers, limited edition prints, boxes and wearable art.

Just before his death in 1990, he designed seven limited edition bottles for the Courvoisier brandy company, and they were sold (inclusive of the aged brandy) for an enormous $10,000.00.

This man’s life work is our inspiration to make our gala event stand out as a walk back in time to the glamour of yesteryear.

His pieces can be found in museums all around the world. The Victoria and Albert in London. Metropolitan Museum of Art (MOMA) in New York, Los Angelis County Museum to Art (LACMA) and a large collection in Museum 1999 in Tokyo, Japan are but some of them who house collections of

Symphony in black by Erté

his works.

His art symbolises the ﬂuid beauty of an era that can barely be remembered. The Bahamas Humane Society wants to honour the year the Society was established predominantly to care for the badly treated drays on the streets of Nassau.

We at the Bahamas Humane Society invite you to unleash your inner Erté, be as beautiful, ﬂuid and glamourous as his spectacular designs. the gentlemen are preferred to be dressed in tuxedo if at all possible.

Today’s Bahamas Humane Society is still trying to help, support, rescue and rehabilitate poorly treated animals in the Bahamas, though the majority of animals that we rescue are dogs, with cats coming in second.

The need to continue the good work started a hundred years ago continues to escalate as we appear to see and deal with more and more neglected, abused, mistreated and starving dogs.

Barely a day goes by without the shelter receiving a call to come a rescue some poor poor animal, with not food, no water, tied up and left to die, or a dog with a collar imbedded in his neck as some people put on a collar when the animal is small and as the puppy grows the skin grows around the collar and the dog has to have surgery to move the painful object causing breathing and swallowing to become increasingly difﬁcult. The owners neither think to change the collar, nor do they see what is happening to their pet.

We take care of so many problems similar to this and should you wish to contribute to our cause, we would love for you to come to our event and enjoy a wonderful evening whilst supporting our life’s work.

Tickets are $400.00 each for a delicious four-course dinner. The music is being provided by Visa Versa band with some surprise artists joining in to celebrate with us, popular local singers and musicians.

The evening starts at 7pm with a complimentary cocktail hour and dinner is seated at 8pm.

Tickets can be obtained by contacting me at berryislandgirl@gmail.com or by phoning the shelter and asking for shelter manager Percy Grant and leaving a message for me.

Tables are for eight or ten people and there are also sponsorship packages that include additional perks such as free valet parking and special wines, and lots more.

There will be some lovely, and unusual, silent auction and rafﬂe prizes at the gala, as we will be close to Christmas you might consider getting someone special that one of a kind gift.

I am so looking forward to welcoming you to this very special event, a birthday party to remember and a step into a second 100 years of love and caring.

See you there my friends, as you and I, unleash our inner Erté and have the time of our lives.

By The Bahamas Humane Society

The lovely Lilo is one of the friendliest pups at the Bahamas Humane Society. She’s enthusiastic and energetic, and a little wobbly on her feet, so she’ll need someone with the patience to help her up when she falls. Lilo is seven months old and would love to ﬁnd a home where she has a yard to practice her walking, bouncing, hopping skills. If you’ve been looking for an upbeat lover of life, Lilo will ﬁt the bill! Come to the BHS to meet her or call 323-5138 for more information. Lilo looks forward to meeting you.

The BHS Thrift Shop is open and ready to sell you all kinds of wonderful things! Books, clothing, housewares, giftware, art, and much more! Wed/ Thurs/Fri 11 - 3 and Saturday 10 - 2. Bring your bag!

Preacher’s Kid closes its doors at Nassau Cruise Port New location to be announced later

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

TODAY is the last day patrons in the Nassau Cruise Port will get a chance to savoir Preacher’s Kid’s signature sticky johnny cake, its specialty stew ﬁsh crunch or any of the menu item for that matter. The restaurant ofﬁcially closes its doors today… at that location at least.

Preacher’s Kid made the Nassau Cruise Port its home after recently opening its doors back in May. It is the ﬁrst brick and mortar location of notable Bahamian Chef Simeon Hall Jr.

Chef Hall said his move to relocate Preacher’s Kid came after realising “business realities”, though the celebrity Chef chose not to go into greater deal about what led to the decision.

As for a new location, Chef Hall has not yet conﬁrmed a new home for the budding venture.

“We have identiﬁed the demographics and target audience for our concept but an actual address is not as yet but we do have a few options on the table,” he told Tribune Weekend.

The restaurant menu boasted an eclectic mix of island-infused comfort food items, including offerings such as meatloaf burger, fried pork chop, chef’s signature sticky johnnycake, stew crunch and more.

There won’t be any major changes to the menu offerings, he said.

“Revamp wouldn’t be the word I use as our menu here was pretty decent but refresh and streamline would be the words I use to describe our next move.”

Chef Hall pulled talented students enrolled at the University of The Bahamas’ (UB) School of Hospitality & Tourism Studies to work along with him at Preacher’s Kid.

This was the deal the College of The Bahamas alumnus came into agreement with the cruises.

Chef Hall’s aptly-named “Preacher’s Kid” not only teases his soulful menu options, but also pays homage to an inﬂuential ﬁgure in his life: his father Bishop Simeon Hall.

As to when we can see the return of the restaurant he said: “Colloquially speaking, ‘Soon Terreckley’,”.

BAHAMIAN Chef Simeon Hall Jr.