The Tribune
Friday, September 30, 2016
recreation shopping theatre film fashion relationships food
Weekend
silver slipper revival Pages 8&9
Get fit fast Fun workouts to burn fat Fitness, pages 14&15
02 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, September 30, 2016
life through a lens
242 Caribana Music Festival focuses on violence against women
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ormer Haitian President Michel “Sweet Mickey” Martelly, together with a host of other Bahamian and Caribbean music stars lit up the stage last Saturday for a good cause. Performing at the 242 Caribana Music Festival in the Botanical Gardens, the artists sought to raise awareness of domestic violence against women throughout the world.
Have you taken a selection of photographs that might make a Life through a lens feature page? If so please submit it to weekend@ tribunemedia.net for consideration
Former Haitian President Michel “Sweet Mickey” Martelly takes the stage.
The Bahamas’ Julien Believe
Bahamian rake n’ scrap star D-Mac
Audience members enjoy the Caribana Music Festival at the Botanical Gardens.
Jamaican dancehall and reggae star Demarco
Fresh #1 perform
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Friday, September 30, 2016
Inside Weekend
My perfect Bahamian weekend Holly Bynoe Chief Curator, National Art Gallery of the Bahamas
Interview
4-5 Cara Hunt talks to Erica Knowles-Darville about surviving Hurricane Joaquin one year on.
Food 7 Chicken tikka masala, easy and full of flavour
Entertainment 8 - 10 Legendary Silver Slipper nightclub experiences one-night gala revival, plus Nassau’s Italian community invites to dinner, and Bahamians party Carnivalstyle in South Florida
Recreation 11 Nassau has a new archery club Theatre 12 Two established playwrights offer aspiring writers a boost
Shopping 13 New Bella Mia boutique offers high-end products at low-end prices
Fitness 14-15 Regina Smith on how to burn fat fast and in a fun way
Relationships 17 True intimacy is more than just sex Film 19 - 21 BIFF gives Bahamian students an opportunity to shoot a movie, plus latest cinema releases reviewed Literary Lives 22 - 25 Andrew Robinson on waiting for the next seismic shock
Forgotten Facts 25 Paul Aranha on “Royal Readers” Puzzles 26 Animals 27 B-Humane Awards 2016
Gardening 28 Jack Hardy on planting root crops Cover photo | Shawn Hanna
Q: Saturday breakfast or Sunday brunch? “Sunday brunch with slow mimosas, wholesome food and good company. It is a trifecta.”
Q: What could you not do without? “My family, loved ones and friends. They continue to lift me up.”
Q: Wine, Kalik, rum or cocktail? “I am partial to the spirit of rum. Nothing beats a good mojito.”
Q: Weekend away, where would you go? “Havana. It is a mecca of culture and romance. Strolling through the old city and witnessing the resilience of the people along with the vibrancy and the architecture makes this historical city a hard act to follow in the region.”
Q: Beach or sofa? “The beach. I have always been drawn to the water. #saltwaterhealing is real.”
Things 2 Do this weekend Friday • BahamasLocal.com Health & Fitness Launch Party Time: 6pm -8pm Venue: Club One Fitness Join BahamasLocal.com for free fitness demos, health screenings, food samples and more. The Walk-In Clinic will be there providing info on breast cancer awareness, preventative care, and offering discounts on women’s health procedures. • Team BTC Fun Day Time: 7pm Venue: BTC JFK grounds Special performances by Julien Believe, Da Spank Bank, Christian Massive, Ricardo Dru, Farmer Nappy, Stileet, Avvy, Rik Carey and Tonash, Najie Dunn and the BTC Fam Fest Gospel Voice finalists. • Island Rock Concert Series Time: 9pm Venue: Hard Rock Café Hosted by Sawyerboy TV, this weekend’s instalment features a performance by Tebby. This six-month long concert series will culminate in the patrons’ favourite band winning a trip to an international Hard Rock to play live. Admission $10 at the door. Proceeds go to Royal Nassau Skate Park.
Saturday • ‘Paint Da Streets Pink’ fun run/walk
Time: 5.30am registration; 6am start Venue: Arawak Cay Join Rotary Southeast Nassau Centennial for an event in aid of the One Eleuthera Foundation. The route goes from Arawak Cay to Goodman’s Bay. A donation of $15 is required. • Celebrity makeup artist presents “The Master Class” Time: 12noon Venue: Meliá Nassau Beach Resort Presented by Polished Makeup International, offers presentations and certifications by New York celebrity makeup artist Renny Vasquez. Visit polishedmakeupintl.com, e-mail info@polishedmakeupintl.com or call 544-7824 and 556-1023 for more information. • Paradise Plates 2016 Time: 7pm - 11pm Venue: Grand Ballroom, Atlantis Paradise Plates is a unique evening of gourmet food, wine, beer, and cocktail tastings, complemented by an assortment of live entertainment, and a thrilling live and silent auction. In a casual setting of elegant décor, chefs from the island’s top restaurants will feature the best of their culinary treasures and signature creations to the delight of hundreds of guests. • World Class Cocktails in the Courtyard Time: 7pm Venue: One&Only Ocean Club
Enjoy great cocktails, food and entertainment. The dress code is white attire. • Brasscination – M5 live in Nassau Time: 7.30pm (and Sunday 5.30pm at St Paul’s Church Hall, Lyford Cay) Venue: COB Performing Arts Centre The Nassau Music Society Presents M5 Mexican Brass – Mexico’s leading brass quintet – in their first-ever Bahamian performance. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased from the Logos Bookstore, the Custom Computers Cable Beach location and Buy-The-Book at Saunders Beach. Refreshments will be served. • #MenSpeak Conversation Social Time: 8.30pm Venue: Meliá Nassau Beach Resort Join in “Expressions & Confessions: From The Heart of A Man”, featuring panelists Harrison Thompson, Gregory Collie, ScharadL, Simeon Hall Jr, Mario Almanzar, Kedar Clarke, and Adrian Lovebook Carter, with a comedic performance by Naughty and live magic by Edwourral Daxon. Tickets are $25 and include a drink. • SawyerBoy TV’s Sumtin Stew-pid 2 Time: 9pm Venue: Pirate Republic Don’t miss Sumtin Stew-pid 2 in celebration of SawyerBoy’s birthday. Enjoy free henna tattoos, a PicMe photo booth, and lots of free giveaways. Music by DJ XTra Large.
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Friday, September 30, 2016
interview This weekend marks one year since Hurricane Joaquin wreaked havoc on the southern islands of the Bahamas and left widespread devastation in its wake. Erica Knowles-Darville, whose family lost all their belongings in the storm, tells Cara Hunt about their harrowing ordeal and how they are finally rebuilding their lives.
Widespread flooding in south Long Island
Erica Knowles-Darville
I
t has been one year and Erica Knowles-Darville stills cries when she describes what it felt like to see the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Joaquin. “No words could have prepared me for what I saw; everything was gone,” she told Tribune Weekend. Like most residents in hurricanesavvy Long Island, Erica and her husband Andre had made all their
preparations in advance of Joaquin’s approach. “Everyone on the island put up storm shutters and got water and food. We were pretty confident that we would be able to ride out the storm because they were saying that we would not have much rain, and so we weren’t that worried about flooding,” she said. However, on Thursday, October 1, 2015, they saw the first inches of water
seep into their home in Hamiltons, and conditions rapidly declined. “On Thursday night we were mopping up water because some of the shingles had blown off, but by early Friday morning the sea water came.” Erica, Andre and their daughter Aiyanna, who is confined to a wheelchair, as well as Erica’s parents all fled to the attic as the water poured into their home.
“We spent the night in the attic. My husband found some old tents and cut them up and put it on the ground so we had somewhere dry to sit. I was holding Aiyanna and we were all jammed up,” she recalled. “Fortunately, we were able to grab some food and water, a flashlight and supplies before we went up, because we had no idea how long we would have to stay up there.” They ended up spending a very
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Friday, September 30, 2016
long, anxious and prayerful night in the attic. “We spent the entire Friday night in the attic, and oh my God the wind. All the time I could hear the face boards of the roof shaking and the whole house felt like it was going to collapse. And all I could do all night was pray, ‘Lord let the plywood on the roof hold’, because I knew if it blew that would be it.” Erica and her family were also worried about other family members and friends on the island. “I knew we were all safe, but I didn’t know how everyone else was, if our neighbours were dead or if they were OK. We didn’t know if we should make a run for my uncle’s house or stay put, but we knew if we tried to get out, then that would be it,” she said. Finally there was a lull in the storm, which Erica said was probably the eye passing over. Her uncle was able to get to their house and helped the family get out. “When we got out there was about five feet of water in the yard. All we were able to do was grab what we could and get out,” she recalled. The family was able to make it to a vacation property Erica’s uncle managed on the top of a hill. “The doors were blown out and so they had to fix the doors to make sure they would close,” she said. The men then went back out to try check on their neighbours and were able to assist another family with a wheelchairbound child. “They put him in one of those Tupperware storage containers and floated him to safety,” Erica said. While the men were still out, the storm began to pick back up and Erica was once again struck by fear. “I don’t know how long they were out there, but it seemed like at least five hours to me.” They also had to deal with rumours that there had been multiple fatalities. “We had heard that my aunt and her whole family had been killed and the Thursday night before the storm a family in Roses had asked for help and they were thought to be dead. It was so horrible that you didn’t want to believe it could be true, but yet it was so bad that you knew that it was probably true.” Erica said that she also prayed that the storm would not hit New Providence. “I just kept thinking that Nassau can’t handle a storm like this.” When the storm finally moved on, Erica said the rescue mission started in
Relief supplies arrive in Long Island
Erica Knowles-Darville with her husband Andre and their daughter Aiyanna.
“...Yes, we lost everything, but I had made up my mind when we left that attic that I was not going back to my house and that I would just move forward. Going back is not an option; you have to focus on the future.”
earnest. “It was so amazing that they were able to get there so fast. I have never seen so many seaplanes in the air. People thought of everything, from boat fuel to underwear and everything in between. It was overwhelming to see the amount of stuff that came and is still coming,” she said. The relief efforts were spearheaded by the Facebook group HeadKnowles – one of the founders, Gina Knowles, also happens to be Erica’s sister-in-law. But while Erica heard from her husband that the aftermath from the storm was bad, she said she had no idea just how devastated the island was. “It is a true miracle that no one died. There was a woman with a mentally challenged son who had to hide in a closet while their house collapsed around them and somehow they were able to get to the neighbours,” she said. “But when I left the house on the hill to go to the airport after four days, that was my first time actually seeing it for myself and I cried the whole way to the airport. Buildings were just washed completely away, people’s clothing was in the trees, people had lost everything, there were houses with no doors, no windows,” she said. While Erica’s own home stood firm, she lost everything due to the flooding. And though it was a huge loss, she said she chooses not to focus on what was. “It didn’t really bother me, probably
because we were all alive, and so yes, we lost everything, but I had made up my mind when we left that attic that I was not going back to my house and that I would just move forward. Going back is not an option; you have to focus on the future,” she said. A year later, Erica said Long Island is getting back to normal thanks to the resilience that Family Islanders have displayed for years. “People got back to normal as quickly as they could,” she said. When she returned to Long Island a few months after residing in Nassau with relatives, the island was well into the rebuilding process. “You can still see signs of the storm, but you have to remember that this storm was massive. I think every single person had some damage of some sort,” she said. The Darville family is now in the process of building a new home on higher ground, and despite the ordeal that was Joaquin, Erica said that she would stay in Long Island, even if it were to be by another hurricane. “I wouldn’t stay in the valley, but on Long Island at least we have hills. Nassau is so flat that even after 15 minutes of rain you have major flooding,” she said. While she admits that some people became a bit greedy when the relief supplies arrived, Erica said for the most part the rebuilding process has brought the island’s residents together.
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Friday, September 30, 2016
food
Make a chicken tikka masala that’s easy and full of flavour
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’m a big fan of saving takeout and delivery food for true cravings, not convenience. Even the healthiest of eaters has a few culinary vices — for us, it’s Indian and Thai food and pizza delivery. The key to fending off the temptation to order in takeout as a convenience on a busy weeknight is to have a few easy recipes in your toolkit that you can whip out at a moment’s notice. And, it has to be easy enough to execute, even if I don’t think of it until 5pm. For me, bonus points if it’s ethnic food. Since we don’t have an Indian restaurant within a 20-minute radius of my house, I’ve been recreating the flavours at home. Today’s recipe, Weeknight Chicken Masala, is a bit of a recipe hack; not fully authentic, I’ll admit. But the spices are easy to keep on hand (and truth: if you are missing one of them, make the recipe anyway and the world will continue to spin), the recipe is fast to prepare since it uses boneless, skinless chicken breast, and it can be made totally non-spicy or loaded up with whatever spice I have on hand, from sriracha to fresh serranos, or even just cayenne pepper. Frozen chicken breasts won’t slow you down either: microwave for a minute or two until the meat is thawed enough to cut into cubes small enough to thaw quickly. I indulge in a small amount of cream added at the end, which brings a lushness that is worth the few extra grams of fat, but feel free to sub plain Greek yogurt if you wish. This dish hits all the marks — full of flavour, easy, inexpensive, healthy and quick. Serve it over brown rice, zucchini noodles, cauliflower rice or just plain raw baby spinach leaves for extra nutrition.
WEEKNIGHT CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA Start to finish: 1 hour Servings: 4
Marinade: 1/4 cup plain yogurt (Greek or regular) 1 tablespoon lime juice 1 teaspoon lime zest 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons fresh ginger 3 chicken breasts, cut into 1 1/2 inch cubes 3/4 cup chopped onion 1 tablespoon vegetable or olive oil, divided 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 teaspoons paprika 1 1/2 teaspoons coriander 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (or cinnamon) 3/4 teaspoon smoked paprika 1 teaspoon sriracha (optional) (or dash cayenne) 1/4 cup tomato paste 1 14-ounce can crushed tomatoes 3 tablespoons heavy cream (or 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt) Chopped cilantro, for garnish Lime wedges, for garnish
Directions: In a medium bowl, whisk together all the marinade ingredients, and stir in the chicken cubes to coat. Let sit for at least 10 minutes or refrigerate up to a few hours. In a large heavy sauce pan, cook the onion in half the oil over medium high heat until onion begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Add the ginger and garlic and stir. Add in the dry spices and stir with a wooden spoon until very fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the sriracha and tomato paste and cook until tomato paste has deep color and aroma, stirring, about 2 minutes. Add the crushed tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Meanwhile, in a large nonstick saute pan, heat the remaining oil over medium high heat and brown the chicken (remove any excess marinade). Cook the chicken on all sides until golden — it will not be fully cooked in center. Pour the chicken cubes into the bubbling sauce, add between 1/3-3/4 cup water and let it all cook together for 10 minutes, or up to 30 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat, stir in the heavy cream or Greek yogurt and
serve with chopped cilantro and lime for garnish. MELISSA D’ARABIAN Associated Press
• Food Network star Melissa d’Arabian is an expert on healthy eating on a budget. She is the author of the cookbook “Supermarket Healthy.”
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Friday, September 30, 2016
entertainment
Recreating the magic of a bygone era
The Count Basie Band was a staple at the Silver Slipper. Here, they are performing at another famous Nassau nightclub, The Cat & Fiddle.
Legendary Silver Slipper nightclub shines again for one night only By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net
W Raphael Munnings Sr
ith the goal of bringing back the gaiety and splendour of Nassau’s entertainment scene in the 1950s and 60s, a unique event will seek to conjure up the magic experienced at the legendary Silver Slipper nightclub. The event is called “The Final Curtain: A Magical Evening” and will be held on
October 9. Organisers said guests will witness the revival of the long-lost Bahamian nightclub culture in this one-night-only gala event. Recreating the entire Silver Slipper experience means the showcase will take place at its original location Over-theHill. And for the first time in decades, the venue will come alive with the sights and sounds of its golden era, with a 16-piece Silver Slipper big band paying homage to entertainers like Maureen “Bahama Mama” Duvalier, Nat King Cole, Freddie Munnings Sr, Sweet Richard, Peanuts Taylor and others. On stage, conductor “Duke” Errol Strachan will lead a mix of the best Bahamian musicians, while Raphael “Ray” Munnings is expected to give a world-class tribute to the stars. The one-night rebirth of the Silver Slip-
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per came about after a group of private citizens consisting of Ray Munnings, John Bostwick, Kay Kay Tong and Ulrich Voges met to discuss the possibility and best way to commemorate the legendary nightclub. The current owners of the property, Kay Kay Tong and her family, are in the process of redesigning the area as a warehouse facility. The family felt pressed to create a mural, a plaque to not only commemorate the nightclub, but to keep its memory alive as an important aspect of the country’s musical culture. “We had only a very, very small window of time, since the construction deadlines for the building are firm, and we looked at the only day possible as October 9,” Mr Voges told Tribune Weekend. “In every scenario to put together a gala event of this quality and magnitude in such a short period of time would be more than daring, and yet we moved ahead, and the first and most important thing was to secure the music and musicians.” Music and magic will intersect on this night as guests travel back in time, the organisers promise. The guests will arrive at the Post Office/Ministry of Health parking lot on East Hill Street, where the Silver Slipper team will greet them. From there, horse-drawn carriages will take them Over-the-Hill in style. The streets on the way to the club will also be prepared and filled with surprises, including dressed-up characters who will help give the impression of a journey back in time. The night will also feature a special dinner created by Chefs Simeon Hall Jr and Jamaal Petty. The Silver Slipper was housed at a 40ft tall, twostorey building featuring a courtyard area where the legendary performances took place. It was able to accommodate hundreds of patrons at a time. The club was open six days a week and was considered “the spot” for locals and visi-
Peanuts Taylor
“In every scenario to put together a gala event of this quality and magnitude in such a short period of time would be more than daring, and yet we moved ahead, and the first and most important thing was to secure the music and musicians.”
Maureen “Sweet Mama” Duvalier
Nat King Cole tors alike who wanted to enjoy good, clean fun and excellent music. Bahamians flocked to the club, sometimes clad in their best attire, to enjoy the late Freddie Munnings Sr and the 18-piece orchestra that performed a diverse selection of hits. Freddie Munnings Sr performed at the Silver Slipper along with the orchestra for almost 15 years. The band was one of its main attractions. The upcoming revival of the Silver Slipper therefore has special significance to the son of the late entertainer, Raphael Munnings Sr, who grew up listening to the band when it performed at the nightclub. “I got into the music business because my father worked there at the nightclub and we didn’t live too a far away. When my parents thought I was asleep, I was actually listening to the band. I couldn’t go sleep until the band was finished. I knew all the songs they performed,” he said. “When I was about four years old, I went there for a matinee dance which would start at 3pm and end at 7pm. So my father said if I got up and sang during the matinee
he would give me a tricycle. You know that was a no-brainer and he didn’t have to ask me twice. I got up there and sang, and I was impressive. That was the highlight of my memory of the Silver Slipper,” Mr Munnings said. He said he looking forward to reliving this spectacular part of history which was a significant part of the country’s nightlife and musical culture. Mr Munnings said he is anticipating the performance which will pay homage to a number local musical giants. “The whole idea is that my father Freddie Munnings Sr wanted to have a band perform. There was also a show that accompanied the band. Then there were strong entertainers at the time like Blind Blake, George Symonette, Peanuts Taylor. We are going to incorporate their music, because it was during the 40s, 50s and 60s when the club flourished,” he told Tribune Weekend. Profits from the gala event will be donated To the Charitable Arts Foundation, the Silver Slipper Travel Grant for Bahamian Musicians and go towards the Silver Slipper mural.
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Friday, September 30, 2016
entertainment
Bahamians party Carnivalstyle in South Florida By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net
B
AHAMIANS living in South Florida and looking to connect with others will have the opportunity to do so when Phat Groove Entertainment hosts the 242 Linkup: Miami Carnival Edition. 242 Link Up is an event held two times a years for Bahamians residing or visiting South Florida to socialise with one another. The upcoming social is scheduled for October 8 at 1st Klass Cafe & Lounge in Pembroke Pines, Florida, from 10pm until. It will feature Miami’s dream team, Sinister & Steelie Back, as well as DJ Bravo, DJ Mekka Rose, a Junkanoo rushout and more. Levin Wilson, CEO of Phat Groove, said the event will coincide with the “I Love Soca – Miami Carnival” and will offer a great experience for Bahami-
DJ Mekka Rose will help set the tone for a Bahamian party in South Florida ans. “We are working along with Junkanoo Carnival as well as some of the other Junkanoo Carnival bands includ-
ing Enigma, Fusion, Reckless Pirates and several others,” said Mr Wilson. “It’s an opportunity for all of us to promote Bahamian culture in South
Italian community hosts dinner in support of earthquake relief By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net THIS Saturday, the Italian community is inviting locals to join them as they host a buffet style dinner at Graycliff in support of the Italy earthquake relief efforts. The event starts at 7pm. Members of the Italian Honorary Consulate in the Bahamas are looking forward to doing what they can to raise funds to help communities struck by the earthquake in Central Italy last month. Massimo Liusso, event organiser, said the many photos of the aftermath and the devastated communities were heartbreaking, and the Italian Honor-
ary Consulate thought it would be best to try and do something to help. This is also a response to a call for solidarity which came from the Italian embassies around the world. “The entire country is mobilising to send in as much help as possible, and we thought we would be a part of this effort, even if we live abroad. I am helping in advertising this event amongst all the people I know or those who I think might be interested in attending, as I am under the impression that many Bahamians have a real passion for my country, its culture, and of course its food and wine. The idea to organise a fundraising event in every consular district was promoted by the Italian embassies around the world,” said Massimo.
For the second year, the Italian community will be taking part in the International Culture Wine & Food Festival. He believes tomorrow night’s effort will also help to increase the presence of the Italian community in the Bahamas. Since last year, the Italian Consul in Nassau has been very active in organising events to promote the Italian culture. The group is looking forward to taking part in the upcoming International Culture Wine & Food Festival for the
Florida and at the same time gather a lot of awareness for the Bahamas Junkanoo Carnival next year.” He said the event will also see the merging of several Caribbean cultures. “We are just about bringing the Bahamian culture to South Florida’s nightlife, and we are blending it along with other cultures, like Trinidadian, Bajan, which are big cultures,” he said. “A lot of the Junkanoo Carnival groups are going to be representing their bands here in South Florida. As far as I know there are going to be about 300 persons from the different bands coming here to participate in carnival, because a part of this event is to promote their band so that they can get a following in Nassau. It’s a great partnership between us, the bands and Junkanoo Carnival, and we are excited about.” Mr Wilson said the last event attracted an audience of about 700 and they are expecting around 1,000 people this time around. For more information, contact 786242-2985 or 242-357-8337. second year in a row. Mr Liusso said this will also assist in providing assistance and help earthquake victims. “I am a personal friend of the Consul and I like to do as much as I can to help in many efforts to organise these events. Also, the owner of Graycliff, Enrico Garzaroli, is an Italian as well and he has already hosted a buffet dinner for the Italian community in April. Speaking of which, a raffle was held during that event in favour of the Ranfurly Home for the Children,” he said. While there will be no specific entertainment or activities planned the dinner, Mr Liusso said all nationalities are welcome to attend and enjoy themselves as they sample Italian food and wines. “In the case of a tragedy, there is no indifference, only unity and solidarity. There is not a set target for funds raised, but whatever is collected will be forwarded through the Italian consular organisation as directed by the Italian Ministry of Interior,” said Mr Liusso.
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recreation
Hitting the bullseye Archery in the Bahamas By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net
A
RCHERY is not your typical Bahamian sport, but one young man is hoping to change that by promoting the unique skill with bow and arrow here in Nassau. “I’ve been waiting for archery to come to the Bahamas all my life,” said Antonio Abraham, an avid archer and instructor. “Having been acquainted with David Rahming’s Archery Club, before I knew it I was a regular at the range, shooting more arrows than Robin Hood. After shooting with David’s crew for just over a year, I decided to get certified as a Level 1 archery instructor.” Mr Abraham’ objective was to then locate a vacant property to host his very own archery training programme. After months of searching for the ideal spot, he finally landed a deal with the Bahamas Youth Camp on Gladstone Road and opened what is now called the LIAN Archery Club. “I’ve always been the type of personality to see something being done and see ways in which I can improve it, even if it’s slightly,” said Mr Abraham. “I’ve also had the honour of being able to work with schools, media, IT and in product sales for several years, so it just made perfect sense to start a world-class archery programme and build a world-class team starting with students.” The company offers archery coaching, training, practice and fitness to persons interested in archery on a competitive and recreational level. They also host archery events for churches, birthday parties, fairs, and other special events.
“Having our Bahamian athletes find scholarships, travel opportunities and life-long careers in the sport, and giving this country an overall sports tourism boost, would definitely put a smile on my face.” Mr Abraham’s goal is to see the first Bahamian gold medallist in archery to come from the LIAN Archery Club. “Our after-school programme was built specifically for students. We encourage parents to also enroll with their kids, particularly young kids under 11 years old. We have a weekend programme designed for adults, considering most people work during the hours of 4pm-5pm, so it works out nicely. We have something for the whole family,” said Mr Abraham. He believes the LIAN Archery Club has the potential of breaking new ground and writing a new chapter in the history books for the Bahamas on the world’s sporting stage. He also hopes to see world-class archers travel to the Bahamas for archery tournaments in future. “Having our Bahamian athletes find scholarships, travel opportunities and life-long careers in the sport, and giving this country an overall sports tourism boost, would definitely put a smile on my face,” he said.
Young Bahamians enjoy testing their skills with bow and arrow
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Friday, September 30, 2016
theatre
New competition boosts aspiring playwrights By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net
T
o extend the same opportunity they were once afforded to others, two popular Bahamian playwrights have launched a competition for budding writers to help launch their careers. Gea Pierre and Kerel Pinder, who have made people laugh, cry and feel inspired over the years, have teamed up for the “Playwright Competition”, where they will critique scripts and offer advice to aspiring writers.
Ms Pierre is the founder of Out of Ashes Entertainment, the production company behind the Bahamian Icon-winning play “Crazy Love” and the heart-wrenching drama “Perfect in Weakness”. She is a staple when it comes to theatre in the Bahamas. Ms Pierre started performing poems during a playwright competition at the age of 12 and has been bringing hit plays to stages in Grand Bahama and Nassau ever since. Meanwhile, Ms Pinder is the founder of the production company SisBro Productions that brought audiences the Bahamian Icon-nominated play “Sarah’s Wedding” and the recent
summer hit “New Rules of Sex and Dating”. “I, too, got my start during a playwriting competition. I was chosen as a finalist in a young playwright competition back in 2011 and from then the ‘Behind the Scenes’ (series) was born,” said Ms Pinder. Those interested in the upcoming competition are to submit a one-act script, with a length of 25 to 30 pages. If chosen as a finalist, they will then be required to work with a mentor to cast, stage and perform their written piece for a live theatre audience. The Pierre and Pinder playwright competition officially launched last week with a writer’s workshop. The workshop, which is a crucial component of the competition, allowed all applicants to get first-hand knowledge about what it takes to pen a structured script as well as the fundamentals of directing and producing. Submissions can be made until October 10. Scripts should be sent to the Kevin Tomilson Academy. The scripts will be judged on structure, character development, staging and realistic dialogue. Three finalists will be chosen for the high school division and three will be chosen for the adult division of the competition. The chosen finalists will be assigned a mentor in order to prepare them for the finalist live competition at the Regency Theatre in Grand Bahama on November 20. “Over the years, Gea and I have both been constantly approached by aspiring writers wanting to know how does one get their start. I also remember feverishly wondering how I would ever get someone to see and provide feedback on my work. We believe there are so many undiscovered talents in the Bahamas, so we want to be able to give them the opportunity that the generation before gave us – an introduction, a guideline, a path towards their dreams,” said Ms Pinder. “Our application fee is $25 dollars, so we are asking them to simply invest $25 dollars into making their dream a reality, compared to the thousands one
Kerel Pinder
Gea Pierre must invest when seeking to enter a venture like this on their own.” Ms Pierre and Ms Pinder have become skilled at evoking emotions with the stories they tell through live theatre. They hope to see the same kind of stories in the scripts submitted by aspiring playwrights. “Gea shared it so eloquently in her presentation this past weekend: ‘The goal of a writer is to tell a story that is able to evoke one’s emotion.’ Therefore, we want stories that force the audience to get involved. The awesome thing about live theatre is that you are instantly able to see how your audiences respond to your work. So we hope that our writers give us something unique, tell us stories that have never been told before, and do their best to seek out genres that are often shied away from, but most importantly, we want them to give us that emotion that will keep us coming back for more. This is their time to launch their names into the community and we hope that they give it everything they got,” said Ms Pinder. Persons that have not attended the workshop, but are still interested in entering their play, should send a message to kerelpinder@gmail.com or geapierre@gmail.com.
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Friday, September 30, 2016
shopping
New boutique aims to be one-stop shop By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net
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small business that was once operated from the trunk of a car has evolved into a dream come true for a Bahamian businesswoman. Deniece Knowles began selling Bath & Body Works and Victoria’s Secret products in early 2015 to family, friends and co-workers. Working from home, by summer 2015 her clientele had grown to exceed all of her expectations. The entrepreneur needed a new plan, and with the encouragement from loved ones, she opened her very own fashion store – the Bella Mia Boutique. “My husband, Jermaine Knowles, and I decided that even though business was good, we were putting ourselves at risk as I started doing business with persons who were technically strangers and we weren’t comfortable having lots of different people coming to our home to collect items. Neither did we feel safe going out during the evenings and nighttime dropping off items. Most store spaces we found were very expensive, so once we landed a deal with our current location in December 2015, we obtained our licence in January 2016 and began putting the store together. We officially opened to the public on April 16, 2016,” said Ms Knowles. Bella Mia, located at #40 Jerome Avenue, offers clothing and footwear for the entire family, jewellery, fragrances, authentic designer handbags, household items, giftwares and more. “We strive to be the ultimate destination for fashion, catering to fashion-forward consumers looking for a combination of sophistication and glamour through the seasonal trends, mixed with classic pieces. Our (target) market consists of a wide range from beautiful babies to terrific toddlers, to youthful tweens and teens, young club-goers to established professionals and everyday fashionistas,” she said. Ms Knowles believes a person’s home should be just as beautiful as they are, so she decided to offer a variety of bedding, home décor, candles and accent pieces to help beautify living spaces. And with the cost of living continuously on the rise, Ms Knowles said she wants to offer quality items to customers at reasonable prices, so that anyone can afford to shop at Bella Mia. “What I like most is that fact that I can offer people top-of-the-line products at reasonable prices and still make a profit. We aim to have a good mix-
“What I like most is that fact that I can offer people top-of-the-line products at reasonable prices and still make a profit. We aim to have a good mixture of items in stock so as to provide a true one-stop experience.”
Bella Mia offers clothing, footwear, jewellery, fragrances, authentic designer handbags, household items, and more. ture of items in stock so as to provide a true one-stop experience. As Bella Mia is a brand-new business venture, we have decided to use Facebook as a means of introducing ourselves to the community with hopes of growing our clientele. The page will be used to provide updates with reference to new stock, sales and promotions and VIP showcase events,” said Ms Knowles. “My overall goal is to keep Bella Mia going and be able to turn the business over to my daughter once she is of age. She is all for fashion and is the selfappointed Bella Mia diva.”
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fashion The Weekend Fashion Report With Karin Herig and Cara Hunt
HIT
HIT
FAIL
HIT
FAIL
Kristen Stewart “Personal Shopper”
Lily-Rose Depp “Planetarium”
Milla Jovovich “Resident Evil”
Phoebe Tonkin “The Originals”
Karin says: “She needs to let go of that awful brassy shade of blonde (and the hideous orange eye makeup). Otherwise, the top is cute and stylish. It’s a relatively simple look, so I don’t fault her for keeping it somewhat basic with the black pants. The hair and the top are enough of a statement.” Cara says: “This is such a fun rocker girl look. Kristen is all grown up and has graduated from her awkward Twilight red carpet misses. In fact, she has been looking very cute lately. This crop top is blinged to perfection. She looks relaxed and awesome.”
Karin says: “First of all, wow what a waist. She is tiny! Now the outfit: I love it! The black/gold sandals, the leather pants with the golden chain belt and the cropped jacket are perfection together. I especially love the big earrings. This is just an allaround winning ensemble. I certainly never had that kinda style sense at age 17 (nor the resources...).” Cara says: “So this is how ‘punk’ Chanel looks – a very couture looking jacket with a youthful twist. It’s fun. I like the leather pants and the killer gold heels. Yep, she looks good.”
Karin says: “Yeah, she’s older than the other ladies in attendance, but that is no reason to serve us with the ‘mumsy’ version of Chanel. The outfit is just so awkwardly put together. None of the pieces gel. At first look, I hated the jeans, but now I see paired with another top or jacket they could actually be quite nice.” Cara says: “This is another case of me liking all the individual pieces of this ensemble, but as a whole unit I don’t know. Something about it is just off. I can’t tell if it’s the black shirt or the baggy sweater. I think the shoes are darling though.”
Zoe Levin “Relationship Status”
Karin says: “This is just a perfect throwback to 1920s Chanel, particularly Coco Chanel. I might criticise that it’s a bit too demure, but it’s so pretty and sleek...if a little innocent. I like that she kept it simple with the hair and makeup as well. It’s makes a quiet, elegant statement.” Cara says: “OK, the real shoe fanatics among us would have immediately noticed that Zoe and Milla are rocking the same shoes. I need them in my life! But shoe envy aside, this is a cute 1920s flapperinspired dress. I like that it fits her perfectly and does not overpower her frame. Cute, cute, cute.”
Karin says: “This is basically just a boring sweater dress that is trying to distract us with a shiny pattern. I bet you could pick up this kind of dress at any department store. Nothing here screams ‘Chanel’. It’s just a boring look that doesn’t have the fun throwback element that Zoe’s dress has. It’s not hideous, but it has me yawning.” Cara says: “This is like a sparkly, oversized T-shirt. I am sure its claim to fame is that it’s super comfy, and hey, sparkles always help. But at the end of the day she’s wearing an oversized sweater with really horrid, clunky shoes.”
Photos by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP
Chanel dinner for fragrance L’EAU with Lily-Rose Depp
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Friday, September 30, 2016
relationships
True intimacy is more than just sex By DR EDRICA RICHARDSON
H
ollywood has dramatically distorted our notions of romance and what makes passion burn. Real-life romance is fuelled by staying connected; it is kept alive each time you let your partner know their value during the ups and downs of everyday life. Comical as it sounds, romance actually grows when a couple is in the supermarket and one partner says, “Are we out of bleach?” and the other responds, “I don’t know. Let me go get some just in case”, instead of shrugging apathetically. It grows when you know your spouse is having a bad day at work and you take 60 seconds out of your own workday to leave an encouraging message on their voicemail. In relationships, people are constantly bidding for their partner’s attention, affection, humour or support. This increases the likelihood your partner will turn toward you and increase the emotional connection, romance, passion, and improve your sex life. Rather than turn away from you – “I’m in a big hurry, hun, I don’t have the time” – they will turn towards you. Couples who are emotionally engaged and stay together longer are storing up cushion for when high times of stress arise in a relationship. These couples maintain a positive sense of each other and their relationship, even during hard times. It creates an emotional bank account, the key to longlasting romance. But the real secret is to turn toward each other in the little ways every day by engaging in brief exchanges at constantly, which keeps you connected. Intimacy is always building if you are working on it. Let’s remember that intimacy is not just sex. True intimate relationships are characterised by closeness, honesty and love. True intimacy will lead to
Intimacy grows when a couple faces everyday life together and supports one another
“True intimate relationships are characterised by closeness, honesty and love. True intimacy will lead to comfortable relationships and a sense of commitment, safety and care.” comfortable relationships and a sense of commitment, safety and care. Avoiding intimacy, fearing commitment and relationships can lead to isolation, loneliness, and sometimes depression. To be able to experience intimacy you need to have a firm sense of identity. Only after you have a solid sense of self can you then move on to merge your identity with your roman-
tic partner’s. Ask yourself, who is the first person you want to call when something good or bad happens in your life? Physical intimacy can be hard for many couples to discuss because of fear, societal stigmas, and not knowing what to say. But if you feel like your relationship’s physical intimacy is lacking, you must find a way to negotiate your needs. You can start with expressing your needs, trying new positions, incorporating gadgets, and the easiest to increase is the foreplay. Believe it or not, foreplay is where the real physical intimacy starts, either through conversation, touch, or other forms of stimulation. If you are someone whose sexual desires need no boosting, but this does not apply to your partner, that doesn’t mean that you need to sit back and wait for him or her to change. You are equally responsible for changing how you handle this issue. Each partner in a relationship needs to take personal responsibility for making things better. When both of you make more of an effort to understand each other’s needs and feelings, you will undoubtedly feel closer and more connected emotionally and physically. Just like sex, start
slow and work your way to the climax. Because at the end of the day, isn’t that what healthy relationships are all about?
• Dr Edrica D Richardson is licenced marriage and family therapist in multiple states in the US and an AAMFT approved supervisor. She currently runs private practice in Nassau and the US. Her clinical specialities include relationship issues, stress management, family conflict and life coaching, to name a few. She works with adolescents, couples and families. For more information, visit her website at www.dredrich.com.
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Friday, September 30, 2016
books
Winning in the kitchen: Ayesha Curry cooks up career with new recipes
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yesha Curry remembers the first meal she cooked for her ultra-popular NBA player-husband Stephen Curry: a baked chicken dish. But the meal Stephen whipped up for his chef-wife wasn’t as tasty. Or edible. “The one time he cooked for me, it was awful. It was salty, cream of wheat, gushers lined up on a plate as garnish,” Ayesha, 27, said in an interview Tuesday. “It was cute, but I couldn’t eat it.” Ayesha said the Golden State Warriors point guard loved the first meal she made, which included “his dad’s famous seasoning.” “So maybe that’s the reason why we’re still married,” she laughed. “I don’t know. I hope it’s more than that.” Food has played a large part in the family’s life — and Ayesha’s career. She just launched her first cookbook, “The Seasoned Life”, and she cooks all the meals for her family — including daughters Riley, 4, and Ryan, 1 — without the help of a chef. “No discredit to the people that do — I’m always watching and looking on social media at the stuff that they make — but at home I think I’m so prideful with my food and so I make everything,” she said. For the book, she also worked independently: “I food styled and cooked all the food for the photos myself, so it was just the photographer and I.” Ayesha says the recipes are quick, easy and accessible. Some reflect her multicultural background — her mother is Jamaican and Chinese and her father is black and Polish. “It’s a big part of the way I cook, the way I flavour my food, and I think it helped me growing up to be able to play around with my food and experiment,” she said. Ayesha said she turned to food
The cover art for “T he Seasoned Life: Food, Family, Faith , and the Joy of Eating Well” by Ay esha Curry.
The top 10 books on Apple’s iBooks (Week ending September 25) The Associated Press
“Stephen’s five-ingredient pasta” by Ayesha Curry professionally after starting her cooking blog. Some of the standouts in her book include her Mama Alexander’s brown sugar chicken, Stephen’s five-ingredient pasta (for game days) and her honey-peppered cast-iron biscuits. She came up with her “pancrepes” by accident. “I just threw stuff together, put it in a pan and then realised I left out the thickening agent, what was going to fluff that pancake up, and it was the consistency of a crepe, but they were so delicious,” she said. “The whole family loves them. They’re great. It’s my happy accident.” She says she enjoys cooking with
her daughters, and getting Riley involved has helped expand her palette: “The way that I get her to try stuff is by making it with me because then she’s seeing what’s going into (it) ... and she’s feeling like she’s accomplished something.” Fame has impacted Ayesha, who, while being a fan-favourite, has taken some criticism. She’s hoping that her new cooking show, “Ayesha’s Homemade,” will help deliver her true personality. It premieres October 22 on the Food Network and was filmed at the Currys’ home in Alamo, California. MESFIN FEKADU AP Entertainment Writer
1. “The Girl on the Train” by Paula Hawkins 2. “Home” by Harlan Coben 3. “The Couple Next Door” by Shari Lapeña 4. “Commonwealth” by Ann Patchett 5. “Killing the Rising Sun” by Bill O’Reilly & Martin Dugard 6. “Just Friends” by Billy Taylor 7. “Apprentice in Death” by JD Robb 8. “The Kept Woman” by Karin Slaughter 9. “Razor Girl” by Carl Hiaasen 10. “The Bonesetter’s Daughter” by Amy Tan
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Friday, September 30, 2016
film
Sitting in the director’s chair BIFF gives Bahamian students a shot at filmmaking
This Fall, young film fans will once again get the chance to produce their own movies with the help of BIFF and the University of Georgia
I
T’S “lights, camera, action” for young amateur and novice filmmakers in four educational institutions in New Providence next week as the Bahamas International Film Festival’s (BIFF) annual Youth Film Workshop opens its three-week run. This year’s workshop will feature a series of the pre-production and postfilm making tutorials. BIFF Founder and Executive Director Leslie Vanderpool said “each session aims to further the knowledge and skill of amateur and novice filmmakers, with tutorials and discussions led by an industry professional on topics such as the history of filmmaking, selecting movie themes, film script writing, casting and character selection, the elements of cinematography and film editing and presentation, giving attendees working insight and expertise”. Akhepran International Academy, Government High School, St Andrew’s International School and the Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute are the participating institutions and the programme runs from October 2 to 22. Students will produce their own film throughout the duration of the programme and the short films will be shown during the 2016 BIFF, which features from December 5 to 8 in Harbour Island and December 8 to 11 in Nassau. Additionally, BIFF will open the programme to the public for a fee on October 8, 15 and 22. The University of Georgia’s
renowned Department of Entertainment and Media Studies will assist with the instruction at the annual Youth Film Workshop , which is sponsored by RBC Royal Bank, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority (URCA), Verandah House and Sandyport Beaches Resort. “We are pleased to support BIFF’s mission in raising awareness of the film industry,” said Deborah Zonicle, RBC Royal Bank’s Market Manager for Products, Marketing and Channels, Northern Caribbean. “This medium contributes to important youth devel-
opment by offering young Bahamians access to expert knowledge on film making and cinematography from industry professionals from around the world. URCA said it welcomed the opportunity to support the further development of the ICT sector through the work of the workshop. “By encouraging the development of innovative and quality content production by young persons in the Bahamas, we are fulfilling one of our key objectives under the Communications Act, and the Government’s Electronic Communications
Policy,” an URCA spokesperson said. BIFF is a non-profit organisation “dedicated to providing the local Bahamian community and international visitors with a diverse presentation of films from around the world”. In addition to offering films that might not otherwise be released theatrically in the Bahamas, BIFF aims to provide a unique cultural experience and set of educational programmes and forums for exploring the past, present and future of cinema. For more information call 242 6981800 or visit www.bintlfilmfest.com
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Friday, September 30, 2016
film and television PHOTO/JAY MAIDMENT
The “Peculiars” – (l-r) Olive (Lauren McCrostie), Bronwyn (Pixie Davies), Millard (Cameron King), the twins (Thomas and Joseph Odwell), and Emma (Ella Purnell).
review
Wee, Weird Heroes Star in ‘Miss Peregrine’s Home’ MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME 127 MINUTES
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all has officially just started, but there’s still one more superhero flick sneaking in just before all the summer heat vanishes completely. But if you want muscled torsos and capes, you’ll be sadly disappointed. After a steady stream this year of Batman, Superman, Captain America, X-Men and even Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, it’s time now for a group of kids who float, are invisible, who spark fire, manipulate plants, control bees and give life to inanimate objects. Not really, X-Men exactly. Call them
X-Tweens. They’re the unlikely young heroes and heroines of “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children,” the Tim Burton-directed 3-D film loosely based on the novel of the same name by Ransom Riggs. Sweet, with some mind-blowing visual effects, it’s the perfect film for your young disaffected mutant friends. Asa Butterfield (Martin Scorsese’s “Hugo”) plays a young adult who stumbles upon a secret refuge for supernaturally gifted youngsters hiding in a time loop in 1943. Our hero befriends the mysterious schoolmarm Miss Peregrine (a delicious Eva Green, channeling a sexy Mary Poppins by way of Helena Bonham Carter) and learns that the children are in danger from ever-growing malevolent forces. Burton is a natural choice to direct:
The material already has that gloomy, Victorian vibe, a stylised dreamlike quality, and a sort of Goth-punk look, which is catnip to the director of “Edward Scissorhands.” He also famously adores misfits; here, the screen is filled with them. No surprise the job of turning the book into a film was handed to Jane Goldman, who is familiar both with mutants and the 1940s, having been the screenwriter for “X-Men: First Class.” A somewhat ponderous first half leads to a hard-charging second, filled with ingenious fight-scenes, glorious ocean liners and sublime underwater moments. The peculiar children of the film’s title are certainly unique but you can find plenty of other films in the DNA of “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children,” particularly skeleton sol-
‘Bull,’ ‘Designated Survivor’ have promising ratings starts NIELSEN’S first “most likely to succeed” list is out, and it includes Michael Weatherley, Mandy Moore, Kiefer Sutherland and Kevin James. They are among the stars in new series that performed well during the first week of the new TV season, the Nielsen company said. The best performer was “Bull,” CBS’ series starring Weatherley as a trial consultant in a story loosely based on Dr Phil McGraw’s life. Its audience of 15.6 million made it the most-watched debut of the week. The pilot episode’s prelude featured a sequence shot in the Bahamas.
Mandy Moore is in the ensemble cast of NBC’s “This is Us,” and Kevin James in the CBS comedy “Kevin Can Wait,” which both finished among Nielsen’s Top 25 for their debuts. All three series, however, had the advantage of following more popular returning series on the schedule: CBS’ “NCIS” and “The Big Bang Theory,” and NBC’s “The Voice.” That’s the television equivalent of beginning a 100-yard dash 50 yards ahead of your opponent. Kiefer Sutherland’s critically acclaimed “Designated Survivor” on ABC, however, was the only one of
diers from “Jason and the Argonauts,” the X-Men franchise for making freaks lovable and “Groundhog Day”. Hyper-stylised films like Burton’s usually create stiff performances, but Terence Stamp is grounded as a knowing grandfather and Chris O’Dowd is perfectly oafish as a clueless dad. Other cameos are by Judi Dench, Allison Janney and Rupert Everett (blink and you miss them). So stretch your definition of heroes to include, say, a cute little girl with razor-sharp teeth on the back of her head. “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” has all the making of a super franchise — the call of destiny, the making of heroes and the embrace of kinship. Plus, of course, coming to terms with your inner freak. MARK KENNEDY AP Entertaiment Writer PHOTO/ABC/IAN WATSON
the four newcomers to gather a bigger audience than the show immediately preceding it on the schedule. ABC’s “Black-ish” had 6.4 million viewers for its premiere, and “Designated Survivor” followed it with more than 10 million — a positive sign that many viewers specifically sought it out.
Kiefer Sutherland stars as Tom Kirkman in “Designated Survivor”.
After finishing the summer months behind NBC in the ratings, CBS returned to the top spot last week. It also was the only one of the top four networks to gain in viewers compared to the first week of the 2015 season. DAVID BAUDER AP Television Writer
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Friday, September 30, 2016
film PHOTO/DAVID LEE/SUMMIT VIA AP
review
Riveting ‘Deepwater Horizon’ captivates throughout DEEPWATER HORIZON 107 MINUTES
Mark Wahlberg stars as engineer Mike Williams.
W
e all know how “Deepwater Horizon” ends. When the BP oil rig exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, 11 people died and millions of gallons of oil spewed into the waters and up against the Gulf shores in the worst environmental disaster in US history. The story of the aftermath, even six years later, is still being written. The how-did-it-happen is another thing, and the point of director Peter Berg’s intensely thrilling indictment of the greed and gross negligence that contributed to the horrific outcome. Like the best true stories translated to film, this well-known ending works for Berg, not against him. He and writers Matthew Sand and Matthew Michael Carnahan know, as Ron Howard did with “Apollo 13” and James Cameron knew with “Titanic,” that it’s not about whether they live or they die or if the ship goes down or all are saved. It’s about the process and those decisions, big or small, corrupt or wellintentioned, that made this disaster inevitable. Based on a New York Times article, “Deepwater Horizon’s Final Hours,” the film is about the crew — the men and women aboard just doing their jobs. Mark Wahlberg anchors as Mike Williams, a no-nonsense engineer, who leaves his wife (Kate Hudson) and precocious daughter at home for
The BP oil rig explodes in a scene from “Deepwater Horizon”. his dangerous job on the rig. An early scene with a school science project spells out exactly what he and his coworkers do and foreshadows what will go wrong. It’s the kind of set up that on paper likely seems too cutesy, but here, it not only works, it actually builds tension rather effectively. “Deepwater Horizon” rises above expectations of what a movie like this is capable of at every turn — restrained where you think it might go too big or sentimental, and genu-
inely affecting when you think you’re gearing up for an eye-roll. Wahlberg may be an easy punchline, but he’s an underrated everyman and at his subdued best here. Even Hudson, in the generally thankless concerned-wife role, makes it seem worthwhile. It’s a welcome step up for Berg, too, whose patriotic bombast and cliché romanticism overwhelmed “Lone Survivor.” Here, you really internalise the plight and rage of the workers, even though most people in the audi-
ence aren’t likely to ever set a foot on an oil rig. When Kurt Russell’s crew leader Jimmy Harrell gets angry at the corporate brass for having neglected to perform some critical safety tests, you’re angry right along with him. The execs like Don Vidrine (a perfectly slimy John Malkovich) see only that they’re behind schedule and over budget and are cutting corners with abandon even as the rig seems to be faltering underneath them. Jimmy and Mike eventually convince them to run a few tests — a white knuckle endeavor for everyone involved and, well, you can torture a statistic until it talks and it seems it might be the same for a pressure test. So they proceed, and, of course, things go spectacularly wrong. It is a spectacle indeed — a must-see horror of fire and oil as this unbelievably massive structure explodes and crumbles around all the people we’ve gotten to know. I would have liked to have seen more of the rescue efforts from the Navy, more of the aftermath, but Berg keeps things focused, and the movie is likely better off for it. “Deepwater Horizon” achieves that impossible balance of being a tribute to the workers who both perished and survived that day and a searing critique of the rotten system that put them there in the first place. LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer
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Friday, September 30, 2016
literary lives andrew robinson
Waiting for the next seismic shock Earthquakes are unpredictable, terrifying and inevitable. Sir Christopher Ondaatje examines the warnings in a noted science author’s latest scholarly work
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ndrew Robinson is the author of more than 25 books issued by leading general and academic publishers in the United Kingdom and United States. They have covered three main areas: science and the history of science; archaeology and scripts; and Indian history and culture. His books have been
People walk through the devastation left by the 1904 San Francisco earthquake. translated into 13 European languages, as well as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese. A few months ago, his important document warning the world of the dangers of coming great earthquakes, ‘Earth Shattering Events - Earthquakes, Nations and Civilization’, was published by Thames & Hudson in England. It is a studiously structured book examining how humans and earthquakes have interacted, not only in the short term but in the long perspective of history. In some cases physical devastation has been followed by cataclysmic decline. The probability of this happening again is quite likely as people, in search of attractive landscapes and economic prosperity, seem to have made a Faustian bargain with the risk of ruin and destruction. Interestingly enough, even in the 21st century, earthquakes are “acts of God”, inherently totally beyond human control, and seismologists have not been able to monitor the impending probability of earthquakes with any degree of certainty. Andrew Robinson’s stimulating study, published in May, puts earthquake impact on history into proper perspective, and the case studies he has chosen to write about lead us not only to a better understanding of how seismology has developed as a science but also to the very real probability
A tsunami hits Thailand in 2004
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Friday, September 30, 2016
A map showing the seismic zones of the world?s land masses that these terrible disasters can happen again. The world’s most famous earthquake occurred on the San Andreas Fault in northern California soon after five o’clock in the morning of April 18, 1906, in two shocks separated by a pause of between 10 and 12 seconds, lasting between 45 and 60 seconds in all. The lower part of San Francisco’s City Hall collapsed almost instantaneously, as did many other buildings. But it was the fire that started after the earthquake had disabled the main water supply, which destroyed the city. Despite heroic efforts from firefighters and dynamiting of buildings to create fire-breaks, the blaze burned for three days until it was at last deprived of fuel around seven in the morning on April 21. By then it had devoured 508 blocks and more than 28,000 buildings, extending over 12.2 square kilometres -
“From earliest times, humans have cohabited with seismicity in a ‘fatal attraction’ because the advantages of living in many earthquake-prone regions, such as Greece, Italy, California and Japan, easily outweigh the disadvantages.”
three-quarters of the city and about eight times the area destroyed by the Great Fire of London in 1666 - and killed more than 3,000 people and cost at least $500 million. Combined with the earthquakes, it left 225,000 people - more than half of San Francisco’s population - homeless. In 1923, the Great Kanto earthquake struck Tokyo and its nearby international port, Yokohama, just before lunchtime on September 1. They were subjected to between four and five minutes of shaking, followed shortly after by a tsunami. The energy released was equivalent to some 400 Hiroshima-sized atomic bombs. Charcoal and gas braziers were then cooking the midday meal in a million wooden houses. Soon multiple small fires started in panic-stricken
Continued on page 24
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Continued from page 23
nalist Andrew Author and jour onathan Bowed) /J Robinson (Photo
The cover of Andrew Robinson’s “Earthquake – Nature and Culture” showing the San Andreas Fault.
A boat on top of the house in Banda Aceh, northern Sumatra, as a result of the Indian ocean tsunami in 2004.
“Charcoal and gas braziers were cooking the midday meal in a million wooden houses. Soon multiple small fires started in panic-stricken kitchens. Feeding on the congested houses, they merged to form terrifying firestorms that burned through the night.”
kitchens. Feeding on the congested houses, they merged to form terrifying firestorms that burned through the night. By the morning of September 3, 18 square kilometres of Tokyo had been incinerated (one and a half times the burnt area of San Francisco in 1906). At least 140,000 people died. In 1976, Tangshan in eastern China was a sprawling industrial city, 150 kilometres roughly to the east of the capital, Beijing. It had a population of over one million people: a thousandth of the whole of China, but responsible for a hundredth of the country’s economic output, so it was often said. The city was the home of China’s first modern coal pit, its first standard-gauge railway (built to haul coal), its first steam locomotive and its first cement works, all of them originally constructed by foreigners in the later 19th century. In 23 seconds, in the middle of the night on July 28, an earthquake wrecked almost the entire city; less than three per cent of the buildings in the centre survived. The official death toll was eventually announced as 242,000, but it is widely thought to be as high as 750,000, including migrant workers, visitors and those in the surrounding area: the most deadly natural disaster of the 20th century. Strangely enough, the safest place to be was underground; only 17 coal miners out of the 10,000 at work perished in the shaking. On December 26, 2004, an area of seabed off Sumatra of staggering dimensions – similar in size to half of California – slipped about 10 metres. The tsunami it produced created havoc in several countries around the Indian Ocean, as far away from the earthquake’s epicentre as Sri Lanka, and caused about 230,000 deaths. The country worst affected was Indonesia, especially the province of Aceh at the northern end of Sumatra, where the coastal regions were flattened by a wall of water and almost 170,000 people perished. Perhaps the most famous photograph of the disaster shows a ship lying on top of a ruined house in Banda Aceh. From earliest times – at least as far back as the ancient Indus civilisation of the third millennium BC – humans have cohabited with seismicity in a “fatal attraction” (the evocative phrase of geophysicist James Jackson) because the advantages of living in many earthquake-prone regions, such as Greece, Italy, California and Japan,
The Tribune | Weekend | 25
Friday, September 30, 2016
Forgotten facts Paul C Aranha easily outweigh the disadvantages. In the 21st century, more than half of the world’s largest cities – as many as 60 – lie on plate-tectonic boundaries such as California’s San Andreas Fault, in areas of major seismic activity. They include Ankara, Athens, Beijing, Cairo, Caracas, Delhi, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Jakarta, Karachi, Kathmandu, Lisbon, Lima, Los Angeles, Manila, Mexico City, Naples, Osaka, Rome, San Francisco, Santiago, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei, Teheran and Tokyo. Some of them – notably Caracas, Kathmandu, Lisbon, Lima, Los Angeles, Manila, Mexico City, Naples, San Francisco, Teheran and Tokyo – have suffered major destruction from earthquakes during the past two or three centuries. Could such earthquake disasters occur in the future? The short answer is yes. None of the above four earthquakes was predicted, and at present there is no realistic possibility of seismologists predicting the timing of great earthquakes, despite more than a century of scientific research. Earthquake forecasting is like weather forecasting would be, if all the clouds were hidden miles deep underground. Even the world’s leading scientists and technologists working in Silicon Valley and the California Institute of Technology (home of Charles Richter, famous for his Richter scale) - both of which lie right by the San Andreas Fault - have made little progress with successful earthquake forecasting. As Andrew Robinson wisely points out in his contemplative book: “This neglect of future earthquakes by the general public is not simple to explain, especially when we recall that archaeologists and historians, too, generally neglect earthquakes.” Earthquakes tend to be forgotten and subsumed into wars, economic cycles, epidemic and environmental abuses. Also large earthquakes are infrequent events, but they are no less dangerous or inevitable. And people wrongly suppress their awareness of earthquakes out of anxiety at their helplessness. They strike with only minimal if any warning, and no effective protection. Perhaps that is why we do not think too much about them. We think, quite incorrectly, that we are in control of our own destinies. Yet “amnesia makes for poor history”, as Robinson says. Nevertheless, by paying some attention to earth-shattering events and how they have affected history and modern civilisation, we could perhaps learn how to co-exist more securely and creatively with seismic hazard. After reading Robinson’s intriguing but ominous book we cannot say that we have not been warned. • Sir Christopher Ondaatje is an adventurer and writer resident in the Bahamas. A Sri Lankan-born Canadian-Englishman, he is the author of several books, including “The Last Colonial”
Royal Readers and the tale of the spider
R
oyal Readers played an important role in the education of Bahamian children. These books were a part of the Royal School series, produced in Britain and used in schools in all corners of the British Empire from the 1870s until well into the 20th century. What a pity we discontinued using them. There were eight books - ‘The Infant Reader’, ‘The Royal School Primer’ and six numbered ‘Royal Readers’. They covered the subjects of reading and spelling, from the day a child started school to the day of matriculation (graduation). They were intended to “cultivate the love of reading, by presenting interesting subjects, treated in an attractive style”. Each of these six books is wellillustrated and contains stories, poetry, spelling and pronunciation lessons, reading with comprehension questions and writing exercises. Book 1 concentrates on monosyllabic words. Book 2 introduces words of two syllables and is extensively illustrated. There is extensive use of natural history as a subject and history starts in book 4. Each book is more demanding and moral guidance is a common theme throughout. My three older siblings were educated on ‘The Royal Readers’, as were many of my friends. We all attended Queen’s College and I, the youngest, was sent to boarding school, in England. We escaped ‘The Royal Readers’. I have no doubt that my eldest sibling knew as much about the world as I did and, possibly more about the Bahamas, yet one of her dying wishes was that I buy her a set of ‘Royal Readers’. I was off to the Stop n’ Shop. Another graduate of the government’s school system was a man who I taught to fly. Often when the going got tough, he would recite Eliza Cooke’s poem ‘King Bruce and the Spider’, adding that it was
“Royal Readers” books were always illustrated from ‘The Royal Reader’: “King Bruce of Scotland flung himself down In a lonely mood to think; ‘Tis true he was monarch, and wore a crown, But his heart was beginning to sink. For he had been trying to do a great deed, To make his people glad; He had tried, and tried, but couldn’t succeed; And so he became quite sad. He flung himself down in low despair, As grieved as man could be; And after a while as he pondered there, “I’ll give it all up,” said he. Now just at that moment a spider dropped With its silken cobweb clue; And the King in the midst of his thinking stopped To see what that spider would do. ‘Twas a long way up to the ceiling dome, And it hung by a rope so fine, That how it would get to its cobweb home, King Bruce could not divine. It soon began to cling and crawl Straight up with strong endeavour; But down it came with a slippery sprawl, As near the ground as ever. Up, up it ran, not a second it stayed To utter the least complaint; Till it fell still lower, and there it laid, A little dizzy and faint. Its head grew steady - again it went, And travelled a half-yard higher; ‘Twas a delicate thread it had to tread, A road where its feet would tire. Again it fell and swung below,
But again it quickly mounted; Till up and down, now fast, now slow, Nine brave attempts were counted. “Sure,” cried the King, “that foolish thing Will strive no more to climb; When it toils so hard to reach and cling, And tumbles every time.” But up the insect went once more, Ah, me! ‘tis an anxious minute; He’s only a foot from his cobweb door, Oh, say, will he lose or win it? Steadily, steadily, inch by inch, Higher and higher he got; And a bold little run at the very last pinch Put him into his native cot. “Bravo, bravo!” the King cried out, “All honour to those who try; The spider up there defied despair, He conquered, and why shouldn’t I?” And Bruce of Scotland braced his mind. And gossips tell the tale, That he tried once more as he tried before, And that time did not fail. Pay goodly heed, all ye who read, And beware of saying, “I can’t.” ‘Tis a cowardly word, and apt to lead To Idleness, Folly and Want. Whenever you find your heart despair, Of doing some goodly thing, Con over this strain, try bravely again, And remember the Spider and King.” I finish by adding that the Brazilian word for spider is...Aranha. • islandairman@gmail.com
AH I TARGET H Y TTHE
26 | The Tribune | Weekend
Chambers
Friday, September21st 30, 2016
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.
Century Dictionary (1999 edition)
section
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 Conceptis Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday
L L E AH I H Y T
you have t grid too! U letters and below the g grid is ‘rota symmetric words, it lo you turn th down. Solu
HOW many words of CAN four letters you crack the The Target or more can you make from the Alphabeater? Each g Yesterda letters shown here? In making a uses Black sqa word, each letter maynumber be used represents 11, 12, 13, 1 words inEach must–contain once only. the or black 30, 34,As 3 centre letter and there must be at square. the Across: lB leastmain one nine-letter word. No Alphapuzzle, every Gizmo, Et plurals of or verb forms ending in “s”. body Piff the alphabet isWho, used Deacon, E Chambers TODAY’S TARGET you have to complet Step, Sca Good 15; very good 22;grid excellent Altitude. too! Use the giv 21st 29 (or more). Solution tomorrow. Third, Up letters and black squ Rightful, Century YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION below the gridNymph, to staV Jade, Tra airing argil garni girl glair grain Dictionary grid ‘rotationally User, Abo gran grill grin lair liar lira is rail (1999 railing rain rang ranisymmetrical’ raving rial – Extra in oth riling rill ring rival RIVALLING edition) words, it looks the s 0907 riving viral virga virgin virginal
you turn the page up each extra HOW many words of four letters down. Solution tom Yesterday’s Yesterday’s Ful or more can you make from the Sudoku Answer Kakuro Answer 0907 Call 0907 181 2585 for Yesterday’s*Calls solu letters shown here? In making a today’s Target solution cos cost 80p perBlack minute squares: 1 plus your te word, each letter may be usedplus*Calls your telephone company’s network 11, 12, 13, 16, 19, 22 network access charge. once only. Each must contain the 30, 34, 38, 40. centre letter and there must be at *SP: Spoke – Helpline 0333 202 3390Boarding PLAY Across: least one nine-letter word. No Gizmo, Etch, Hea plurals or verb forms ending in “s”.
(Deduct t
CRYPTIC PUZZLE Across 1 It retains its faculties (10) 6 Ones that become experts (4) 10 Submit to delay, perhaps (5) 11 Its message is a grave one (9) 12 Standards are judged by them (8) 13 There’s a moral in the thickness of thieves (5) 15 Gives away a secret fruit (7) 17 Generous provision for Braille (7) 19 Aims to show where campers are to be found? (7) 21 Unwritten maxims (7) 22 Brush or brushwood (5) 24 It controls the movement in a tank (4,4) 27 He works his fingers to the bone (9) 28 Went to pieces when penniless (5) 29 Exhaust seen on American car (4) 30 Likely candidates are named on them not long before contests (5,5)
1
2
3
4
Down 1 Free from any sound of disturbance (4) 2 He doesn’t keep his intelligence to himself (9) 3 Regret the flier doesn’t have a head start (5) 4 Fields of activity he gets a mixed press about (7) 5 A number walk wearily around it’s hard work (7) 7 Fabric of the church? (5) 8 Quiet address is smaller (10) 9 New order may bless the meeting (8) 14 He ruins the drink and the game (10) 16 Palmistry manual? (8) 18 Rush over to meet (3,6) 20 Workers may break it (7) 21 Matchmaker (7) 23 It’s essential to a helicopter coming up or down (5) 25 Intriguing bunch of politicians (5) 26 Olympian getting up for port (4)
5
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9 10
11
12
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14 15
16
17
19
22
20
23
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18
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25 26
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29
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30
Yesterday’s Easy Solution Across: 1 Alleged, 5 Track, 8 Detriment, 9 Try, 10 Safe, 12 Scenario, 14 Direct, 15 Humane, 17 Mushroom, 18 Shot, 21 Nag, 22 Eccentric, 24 Catty, 25 Rightly. Down: 1 Andes, 2 Lot, 3 Grim, 4 Drench, 5 Titanium, 6 Aftermath, 7 Keynote, 11 Foresight, 13 Scarcely, 14 Demonic, 16 Concur, 19 Tacky, 20 Snag, 23 Rat.
Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution Across: 1 Cyclone, 5 Radar, 8 Bestrides, 9 Lop, 10 Arcs, 12 Triangle, 14 Farrow, 15 Scythe, 17 Amateurs, 18 Idea, 21 Own, 22 Trappists, 24 Tapes, 25 Stratum. Down: 1 Cobra, 2 Cos, 3 Oars, 4 Endure, 5 Research, 6 Delighted, 7 Replete, 11 Curtain up, 13 Rosettes, 14 Flat out, 16 Breaks, 19 Assam, 20 Spar, 23 Sat.
EASY PUZZLE
Across 1 Unlikely (3-7) 6 Demonstrate (4) 10 Illuminate (5) 11 Volatile (9) 12 Unfailingly loyal (8) 13 Manage to hear (5) 15 Included in (7) 17 A deadly poison (7) 19 Talk over (7) 21 Understand wrongly (7) 22 Evident (5) 24 Fleeing (8) 27 Careful observation (9) 28 Declare invalid (5) 29 Pull with effort (4) 30 Objectivity (10)
Down 1 People (4) 2 Morally good (9) 3 Laud (5) 4 Fitting into small space (7) 5 Unpredictable (7) 7 Raise with tackle (5) 8 Wealthy (4-6) 9 Be much superior to (8) 14 At close quarters (4-2-4) 16 Excessive eating (8) 18 Beforehand (2,7) 20 Be enough (7) 21 Deep purple-red (7) 23 Crowd-scene player (5) 25 Rubbish (5) 26 Uninspiring (4)
TODAY’S TARGET Good 15; very good 22; excellent 29 (or more). Solution tomorrow. YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION airing argil garni girl glair grain gran grill grin lair liar lira rail railing rain rang rani raving rial riling rill ring rival RIVALLING riving viral virga virgin virginal
Call 0907 181 2585 for today’s Target solution *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.
*SP: Spoke – Helpline 0333 202 3390
Who, Piffle, Teak, Deacon, Eve, Que Step, Scale, Omit Altitude. Down: B Third, Upon, Owe Rightful, Skim, W Nymph, Vocal, Ox Jade, Transept, A User, Abode, Pok
Extra letter c
0907 181 2
(Deduct three minu each extra clue lette
Full solutio
0907 181 25
*Calls cost 80p per plus your telephone co network access ch
PLAY MORE
The Tribune | Weekend | 27
Friday, September 30, 2016
animals Animal matters Kim Aranha
B-Humane Awards 2016 to be handed out tonight
• Amanda Lightbourn
The daughter of Barry and Linda Lightbourn, Amanda was schooled at Mount Carmel Preparatory Academy; where she was also head girl. As a child, Amanda was always rescuing animals and has all her life. At 12, she started working at a pet shop on weekends, and that was where her passion for animals started. Her first rescue, Ebony, was one of many. Amanda has placed many dogs into happy loving homes. She drives around town with buckets of water and bags of food, and many animals depend on her daily visits. Now the proprietor of the newest pet-grooming salon in town – “Pawfection” – Amanda credits BAARK! and the BHS as being part of the big family that helps her with her rescues. She donates her time regularly to groom the shaggy, found, animals who come into our shelter for adoption.
• Lindsay Panning
A hugely successful businesswoman in Canada, Lindsay and her husband
Amanda Lightbourn, recipient of the New Providence B-Humane Award Toby have a holiday home in New Providence and visit our island frequently. Lindsay has helped rescue and foster many potcakes over the years. She has several potcakes living on their farm in Ontario. Generous to a fault, Lindsay has assisted the BHS in many ways and recently graciously gifted the shelter a state-of-the-art digital X-ray machine.
• Angela Pattusch Dovel
Brought up in Nassau, Angela now lives in Abaco, where she manages a
Lindsay Panning, recipient of the International B-Humane Award
Angela Pattusch Dovel, recipient of the Out Island B-Humane Award
private island with her husband. Over the years, Angie has rescued many abandoned dogs, pups and cats on the mainland of Abaco. Every day, she takes her boat to Marsh Harbour and travels around the area distributing food and helping people who can’t afford to care for their animals. She is a frequent visitor to the dumps where there are always puppies and momma dogs who need rescuing. She works in connection with Abaco Rescue, and is quite the angel for the poor and neglected animals
• Bahamas Wholesale Agency
Eager Bimini By The Bahamas Humane Society
“G
ood morning! Would you like to go for a walk with me? My name’s Bimini and I’m about five years old. I’m a fluffy chow mix who’s available for adoption from the Bahamas Humane Society. I’ve been waiting for the right human to come along and I do hope you’ll be the one! I get along well with kids and am always happy to share my space with another dog. While not technically a house dog as yet, I’m smart and willing to learn. I’d love to go for some long walks while we do the house training. Are you my person? If so, please come in to the BHS to meet me and my kennel mates, or call 3235138 for more information. Adoption hours are 11am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, and 10am to 4pm on Saturday. I am looking forward to meeting you!”
PET OF THE WEEK
PATRICIA VAZQUEZ
T
his evening, the Bahamas Humane Society is having a party at John Watling’s Distillery on Delancy Street. Doors open at 6pm and we are hoping for a good turnout. You can pay at the door and tickets are $20 for an adult and $10 for kids. There will be lots of entertainment during the evening as the Photo competition winning photographs will be on display and the winners will receive their awards. Also to be presented during the course of the evening are the very sought-after and precious B-Humane Awards given to persons who have gone above and beyond the normal level of caring. There are four awards this year and they go to:
Their management team is comprised of principal shareholders Jeffrey Robertson (president), John Robertson (vice president and CFO), together with Diane Robertson, Robin Pinder, Jason Robertson and Wayne Russell (Freeport manager). The company started in 1997 in Nassau with 12 employees occupying a 3,000 sq ft office/ warehouse. BWA now has 85 employees, with two warehouses, a 55,000 sq ft office/ warehouse in Nassau and a 30,000 sq ft space in Freeport, Grand Bahama. They offer free delivery service within Nassau and Grand Bahama, and for Family Island customers they deliver to the freight boats that carry the cargo. There is so much to be said of cooperate responsibility. Without that support the BHS would really find itself between a rock and a hard place. BWA is the recipient of our first corporate award, and we hope that they will inspire other businesses to be like-minded. Caring for, rescuing, protecting and helping animals is a tall task and one that also benefits the human quality of life. There is no doubt that it “takes a village” and the winners of this year’s awards are integral members of that village. We salute them. Won’t you come out tonight, enjoy the party and help us celebrate?
28 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, September 30, 2016
gardening
Root crops Beets, carrots and potatoes can be undemanding and delicious additions to your garden. Jack Hardy explains which species to plant and how to get started.
I
ntensive gardening is more used in Europe than in the US, and involves growing vegetables closer together and in efficient groupings. The rows in a tradition garden are wasteful. They can be justified by farmers who use machinery but not by home gardeners. A garden plot that is four to five feet wide allows easy access and can be as long as you like. Smaller leafy vegetables such as lettuce are easily grown in grids or blocks and once they are established you cannot see the soil in which they grow. Most root vegetables are candidates for growing in grids, beets and carrots in particular. Figure out how large your individual plants will grow and allow them that amount of space in all directions, plus one inch. When it is seed sowing time, I like to press the bottom of a plastic milk crate into the soil to give something like graph
Modern beets are not all red; some are yellow or pink or white. paper markings that are really useful to encourage precision and neatness in the layout. Beets are usually picked at the three-inch diameter stage so should be allowed four inches each. The beet seeds are contained within a lumpy casing and will need some thinning at the seedling stage. Modern beets are not all red; some are yellow or pink or white. Cylindrical beets are becoming popular and are easy to slice into uniform rounds. Most root crops are undemanding when it comes to soil type and need only light applications of fertilizer and water. Remember with beets that the leaves are delicious and should never be thrown into the compost pile. Pull your beets when they reach the desired size then wash and refrigerate them if you are not using them right away. Beets left in the soil will turn corky and inedible. To keep your beets coming, plant a few seeds every two weeks or so rather than sow a whole package one time. Beets are traditionally boiled, peeled, sliced, and dressed with a vinaigrette. In recent years the tendency has become to roast beets for a deeper flavour. Carrots are easy to grow and it is
handy to have a block or two on hand. Bahamians in general do not use carrots as much as Europeans but they find their way into many dishes, from salads to soups. The type of carrot you grow depends on your soil. If you have heavy clay soil you should grow Danvers. If you do not have good depth of soil, try Nantes. If you like fairly slim tasty carrots, Chantenay should be your choice. Lots of room and good deep soil? Grow Imperator. Carrots like fairly rich loamy soil but tend to produce side roots if there is recent compost present. Pulling carrots is always fun. Sometimes a carrot with massive foliage turns out to be the size of a wiener but that is counteracted by the satisfaction of a plump and handsome specimen. It is wise to run a finger around the top of a carrot and into the soil an inch or so to get a good idea of its size before pulling. Carrots can stay in the soil for about a month after maturity before deteriorating significantly. Sow as many as you need every month or so in order to always have carrots on hand. We get away from the grid system when we grow sweet potatoes. They are normally grown in their own area and love sandy soil. The sweet potato
of choice is Boniato, large and white, but there are many delicious heirloom varieties that fellow home gardeners may share with you. Sweet potatoes are grown from slips. Buy a potato from the store that has begun to produce sprouts at one end. Cut off the end – at least 2 inches – and put the base into a saucer of water. When the sprouts - the slips - are long and leafy, cut them from the potato and bury the ends about 4 inches deep and at least 18 inches apart. In short order the area will be covered in foliage. Within three or four months you can start probing the ground with your fingers to locate supper. Use a fertilizer for sweet potatoes that is low in Nitrogen or is at least balance, such as 6-6-6. Too much Nitrogen encourages dense foliage and small tubers. Regular potatoes - called Irish locally – are usually grown in winter after the solstice. Seed potatoes are hard to get hold of so your best bet is to buy potatoes from the store that have incipient ‘eyes’. First of all, consider the choice. Regular red potatoes are much cheaper than gourmet spuds such as fingerlings and Klondike. It therefore makes sense to grow the more expensive types. I am sure you have seen potatoes that are covered with sprouting eyes at one end. These are useless for our purpose. The potatoes you use as seed potatoes should have the eyes well spaced so you can cut a chunky wedge with only one eye. Dunk these chunks into a dilute solution of bleach (4:1 water/bleach) and allow them to dry for a day or four. Irish potato plants develop tubers above the seed potato and roots below. Dig a hole about one foot deep. Replace half the soil and firm in your chunky wedge, eye up. As the eye develops into a leafy stem, push in soil to just cover it. It will soon be above ground and you can mound more soil around its base. After the plant matures and flowers it begins to die. This is the stage when you can fork up the plant and run your hands through the soil to locate your harvest. If you have children (or grandchildren) try to get them involved in pulling carrots and picking potatoes. They are growing up in a world that is more complex and confusing than the one we grew up in and need to be aware of the basics of life.
• For questions and comments e-mailj. hardy@coralwave.com.