12232022 WEEKEND

culture

Enthusiasts excited for grand return of Junkanoo

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

ANTICIPATION has been building and in just a few short days Bay Street will be brought alive with the sounds of goat skin drums, cowbells and the amazing sights of intricately designed costumes from Junkanooers. Needless to say, the wait is finally over and this year’s Boxing Day will see the grand return of the beloved Bahamian parade.

The clock is winding down, Junkanoo practices have certainly ramped and the groups are more than ready to put on a spectacular display like never before.

Ever more ready, are the thousands of Bahamians spectators who are waiting to feel the rush when the Junkanoo groups hit the streets.

Youth Sports, and Culture Minister Mario Bowleg officially launched the start of the 2022/23 Junkanoo season after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the ministry has expended more than $2m in resources this year to ensure the effective delivery of Junkanoo parades around the country.

The highly anticipated return of the festivities kicks off in Eleuthera on Christmas Day and is expected to be a “very exciting” return to the streets of Georgetown.

The New Providence parade will be broadcast by both the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas and Cable 12. The next scheduled parade is in Grand Bahama on the evening of January 2 - five A groups, five B groups, one fun group and two individuals will participate.

Delana, who attends both annual parades with her family, said the moment tickets went on sale she rushed to secure them for her family.

“There was absolutely no way we were missing out on this. We love Junkanoo and it has been a family tradition of ours for years,” she said. Delana said she felt there was a cultural void in the country over the past two years when the parades were put on pause.

“Now Christmas feels complete for me. Junkanoo, I feel, rounds out the holidays for me and my family.”

Delana said she is looking forward to seeing the performance of all groups.

“We don’t have any horse in the race to be honest, we just love watching the show.”

Demetrius, a former Junkanooer, said he has been making his rounds

to the various practices just to get a glimpse of what groups will be bringing to the streets.

“I have been to watch the Valley Boys, Saxons, Roots and several others practice. I have to say those groups took those two years to really prepare. They will all be coming in hot. It will be a stiff competition coming out on Bay Street. It will all be good fun though,” he said.

Sherry said is excited to hear the music “strike up”.

“That is an adrenaline rush. Not to mention I am a diehard Saxon fan and they will be coming out first.

It is just so exciting to have something that is so special to our culture to be back. Trust me I will not be sitting down when they come out on Bay,” she said.

In 2019, the Saxon Superstars emerged as the official winner of the 2019 Boxing Day parade after a penalty reversal. Then JCNP Chairman Silbert Ferguson cited errors in the allocation of penalties as the reason.

This pushed the Valley Boys, the original winner, into second place. Questions had swirled at the time across social media about the shifting in the results.

The Saxons had placed second in the unofficial tally, followed by Genesis, One Family and the Roots.

The Saxons also won the following 2020 New Year’s Day Junkanoo parade.

Junkanoo Corporation of New Providence (JCNP) chairman Dion Miller revealed that the groups are in their final preparation stages and 85 people were certified to judge the upcoming parades.

Krystal, a Roots dancer, said: “We are ready tear down the streets. We coming out and we coming out with so much energy, we will blow everyone away.”

Due to a minor hand injury Krystal said she will be sitting out this year. However, her support will come through strong from the sidelines.

“I am disappointed that the first time we get to perform since the pandemic I cannot perform. But I will certainly be there watching. We coming for the crown this time around,” she told Tribune Weekend.

SCENES from previous Junkanoo parades

What to do when you dislike a gift from your partner?

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

SOMETIMES the people we love and expect to know us intimately - our likes, dislikes and our tastes - can still err when it comes to gift giving.

If by some chance on Sunday when you pull your gift from under the Christmas tree and you do not like what your significant other bought, our readers have a few tips on how to navigate this very tricky scenario. Some of the advice can spare feelings and maybe even save your relationship in the process.

Unless you have created a wish list or spelt out your request in great detail, Raquel advises to cut your significant other a bit of slack. At the same time, she also said to express

yourself in the most delicate way possible to prevent this Christmas gifting blooper in the future.

“When you get a gift from a man you have recently gotten in a relationship with or just started dating, normally it’s a guessing game. He does not know you that well and he is guessing on what you would want if you failed to hint. And in this instance, he is going off of what he thinks women like,” she said.

In this circumstance, Raquel said after receiving the gift, expressing gratitude is the best first step.

“When you open the gift, you should at the very least say thank you because he doesn’t know you that well. He is trying to make you

happy and just ensure he got you a gift. Try to be grateful.”

And if you are not happy, she said: “Well you can always sell it, if it can be sold.”

The rules of handling this matter changes with someone you have been in a long-term relationship with or married to Jayce said.

“If you are getting a gift from someone you have been with for a very long time, they should know you in and out…they probably already know what you want. There is rarely any suspense in this kind of relationship. So, your partner will more than likely get what you want. If by any chance they don’t and you don’t like the gift that they are giving then there should be a level of

comfort for you to express yourself, he said.

And in expressing yourself, Sherry recommends using delicate language.

“One time, my partner got something for me I absolutely hated. I couldn’t hide the fact that I hated it because he knows me and knows my facial expressions so I could not pretend as though I liked it. Instead of throwing a tantrum I asked him what made him decide on that gift in particular, just to find out what his thinking was. That didn’t make me like the gift more but I got an understanding of his thinking,” she said.

Brandon said he prefers getting the lady in his life the gift she actually wants to avoid giving her something she would not like.

“I do not want to leave it to chance. I prefer to know exactly what she wants to avoid any problems. A past girlfriend of mine did not speak to me for weeks after I have her gift, I thought she would like. It turned out she had something different in mind.

“I learnt from that experience though and I will never purchase a lady a gift without first knowing what she wants. I think spelling things out and making it clear what is on your wish list helps to avoid problems in the future.

He added: “And if you must express yourself about a gift, you do not like, please be gentle because if you don’t you can hurt your man’s feelings and bruise his ego,” he said.

Kendika Campbell Moss interview

She calls herself Mommy Hustler - and she lives up to her nickname day by day. Kendika Campbell Moss speaks to CARA HUNT about the many jobs she does - and how it all started.

Kabout a lot of topics.

Whether it be discussing her love of motherhood, Junkanoo and Bahamian culture, the country’s number one industry of tourism or just hosting forums where others can have their say, the self-proclaimed Mommy Hustler is a force all of her own.

In addition to being a wife and mother, Kendika has an MBA, is a project management profes- sional and is a 24-year veteran in the tourism and aviation industry (sustainable tourism), Public Relations and Communication Specialist,

Strategist and has a background in broadcast journalism.

As if all that was not enough, Kendika is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.

“My hosting and broadcast experience really began with former Minister of Tourism Obie Wilchombe when he asked me to host the Tour- ism Today segment on the radio and that led to several other opportunities and so I really have to say that he gave me the opportunities to nurture my talent.”

She partnered with Aliv to host coverage of the Eleuthera Junkanoo parade and then went on to

host the National Junkanoo Parades - the perfect gig for someone as passionate about Junkanoo as Kendika.

Currently, she serves as the PR manager for the Saxon Superstars.

She has also hosted daily talk shows, forums and other events.

She says a successful host is one who can make guests and participants feel comfortable and relaxed so that a quality discussion can ensue.

“I try to make people relax so that they feel like they are talking to family.”

She also embraced being the MC for private events such as birthday parties, wedding and baby showers, wedding and anniversaries.

“I got into that because my mom was at church one day and they needed an MC for an event and my mom was like Kendika will do it and that was that. She said I would, so I did.”

That event turned into a “mommy hustle”.

“I actually started doing it on the side as a busi- ness venture,” she said.“There is quite a lot of work involved into doing events, that’s the hardest part, people sometimes think you just get up there and start talking, but you have to do research and prepare, what events and games will be suitable for the type of event it is.

“For example, I hosted a Parisian-themed birth- day party and I researched exactly what we should do to remain on theme as much as possible.”

The mommy hustle has also reaped financial rewards.

“I really wanted to develop additional sources of income, because despite my qualifications and despite the number of degrees I have, sometimes the opportunities and the salary you want are just not there.”

But despite the many hats she wears, she says being a mother to her daughter Aniah is her greatest and most fulfilling role.

“I love being a mom and my daughter comes first. I plan my work schedule around her schedule, because whatever event she is in, I have to be in place for her. Because at the end of the day, it is not about how much money I make it, it is about the moments in life that we share. She is by far my greatest achievement.”

She added that a great support team also helps her with her hectic schedule.

“I am fortunate to have a really good support system,” she said.

Kendika is passionate about culture and says her dream hosting/speaking job, would be to to discuss Bahamian culture with a major international news organisation such as CNN.

“I love to discuss a wide variety of topics,” she said.

Kendicka alsoo offered her advice to other moms interested in creating their own mommy hustle. She said:“I would say to them, do what you love and find a way to make it work. If it’s something that you really love, it won’t feel like a job.”

this weekend in history

December 23

On December 23, 1888, Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh, suffering from severe depression, cut off the lower part of his left ear with a razor while staying in Arles, France. He later documented the event in a painting titled Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear.

- One of the greatest plays in NFL history - the “Immaculate Reception”took place in a 1972 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Oakland Raiders. Pittsburgh won 13-7, with rookie running back Franco Harris scoring the famous touchdown in the waning seconds of the play-off game.

- In 1986, the experimental aircraft Voyager landed at Edwards Air Force base in California, completing the first non-stop flight around the world on one load of fuel, piloted by Dick Rutan and Jean Yeager.

- In 2009, Richard Heene, who carried out a hoax in which he told authorities his six-year-old son Falcon had floated off in an out-of-control helium balloon shaped like a saucer, was sentenced

to 90 days in jail. His wife Mayumi received 20 days of jail time.

December 24

- In 1979, the Soviet Union began its invasion of Afghanistan user the pretext of upholding the SovietAfghanistan Friendship Treaty of 1978. The war dragged on for years until the last Soviet soldier crossed back across the border on February 15, 1989. Fifteen thousand Soviet soldiers were killed.

- In 1865, a group of Confederate veterans convened in Pulaski, Tennessee, to form a secret society, and named it the Ku Klux Klan, which became infamous over the years since for its violence, its racism and its terrorism.

- In 1851, a devastating fire ravaged the Library of Congress in Washington DC, destroying about two-thirds of its 55,000 volumes, including most of Thomas Jefferson’s personal library.

- Stephanie Meyer, the author of the bestselling Twilight series of novels, was born on this day in 1973.

December 25

- At the height of World War I, in 1814, there came the famous Christmas truce. The majority of German troops ceased firing their guns and artillery and along the eastern and western fronts, soldiers from Russia, France and Britain heard Christmas

carols being sung, and brass bands even playing. At first light, soldiers emerged from trenches and called Merry Christmas across no-man’s land, shaking hands with one another and exchanging presents of cigarettes and plum pudding. In one case, there was even a game of soccer between opposing sides.

- In 1971, the NFL’s longest game took place between the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs, going to a second overtime period and lasting for 82 minutes and 40 seconds before a 37-yard field goal gave the Dolphins the win.

- In 1941, Bing Crosby debuted his famous song White Christmas, written by Irving Berlin. It was first performed on Crosby’s weekly NBC radio programme, The Kraft Music Hall, and went on to become one of the most successful singles of all time.

- And of course this is the day we celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ. The actual date is uncertain, with the date of December 25 often linked to the festival of Saturnalia, a Roman tradition, and spread worldwide after the Roman emperor Constantine I converted to Christianity in 312. December 23

- At the height of World War I, in 1814, there came the famous Christmas truce. The majority of German troops ceased firing their guns and

artillery and along the eastern and western fronts, soldiers from Russia, France and Britain heard Christmas carols being sung, and brass bands even playing. At first light, soldiers emerged from trenches and called Merry Christmas across no-man’s land, shaking hands with one another and exchanging presents of cigarettes and plum pudding. In one case, there was even a game of soccer between opposing sides.

- In 1971, the NFL’s longest game took place between the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs, going to a second overtime period and lasting for 82 minutes and 40 seconds before a 37-yard field goal gave the Dolphins the win.

- In 1941, Bing Crosby debuted his famous song White Christmas, written by Irving Berlin. It was first performed on Crosby’s weekly NBC radio programme, The Kraft Music Hall, and went on to become one of the most successful singles of all time.

- And of course this is the day we celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ. The actual date is uncertain, with the date of December 25 often linked to the festival of Saturnalia, a Roman tradition, and spread worldwide after the Roman emperor Constantine I converted to Christianity in 312.

Christmas in full Bloom

Flowers are always a signature accent in Christmas decor, and Bloom Bahamas recently helped floral lovers create a personal touch for the holidays.

The floral boutique held two successful Christmas workshops earlier this month.

Participants were able to make their own Christmas wreath and a table sleigh centerpiece with the help of the company’s florists in a fun-filled afternoon of flowers and festivities.

The Christmas floral workshop follows the company’s highly successful fall decor workshop.

Organisers held two back-to-back Christmas workshops. This was to accommodate the huge interest which followed the Autumn event through social media and word of mouth. The first Christmas workshop sold out immediately, prompting organisers to host a second date the next day.

The event was open to floral lovers of all ages and skill levels.

Bloom loves to hold themed events and this year the festivities were extra merry with a “boozy hot chocolate bar” which was an absolute hit.

The company likes to say their students come as strangers, but leave as floral buddies.

Bloom Bahamas intends to hold more seasonal workshops throughout 2023.

By CARA HUNT | Tribune Features Writer | cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

artRediscover a legend

By CARA HUNT Tribune Features Writer | cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

The Amos Ferguson Art Gallery has partnered with the Nassau Glass company to launch a special series of limited reproductions of the world renowned folk artist’s work.

There will only be 200 copies of each of the five images, which have been reproduced as 30x36 giclees on canvas.

Each piece will come with a certificate of authenticity.

Amos Ferguson was a house painter who began painting folk art after receiving a vision from God in a dream. He passed away on October 19, 2009, at the age of 89. In 2005, the street where he lived in Nassau was renamed Amos Ferguson Street.

He is known for his bold, colorful paintings depicting religious and Bahamian nature scenes such as flowers, birds and seascapes.

His work gained international exposure in the late seventies and his paintings are featured in some of the most prestigious galleries and private art collections around the world, including the Smithsonian, the Louvre and in Buckingham Palace.

They are worth tens of thousands of dollars and he is considered to be one of the most famous Bahamian artists in history.

“You have Bahamian artists and then you have Amos Ferguson,” Andrew Rogers, the president of Nassau Glass told Tribune Weekend.

“He is really just in a class of his own. However, there are very few of his original artworks available for purchase and of course there are many fans of his work, who are not in the position to make the financial investment to own an original Amos Ferguson piece.”

He explained that this was why his company was so delighted to partner with the Amos Ferguson Gallery.

“This partnership provides quality authentic reproductions of a selection of his work at a significantly lower price point. These

reproductions are as close to the originals as you will ever get.”

The limited collection includes Family Time ( 1991), Cast Your Net on the Right Side of the Boat (1986), Standing on Apples(Logo Girls) 1989, Match Me if You Can (1987) and Donkey Ride in Nassau Town (1991).

His niece Dr Lorriane Bastian explained they selected a variety of prints that would appropriately showcase the vast body of Mr Ferguson’s work. He typically painted scenes reflecting five genres - religion, floral, fauna, culture and marine.

She said that it is very important to keep her uncle’s legacy alive.

“This is an opportunity to display and share his work with a whole new generation of art lovers, who weren’t alive at the height of his career,” she said.

“This collaboration also shows that he truly is an icon and his work is still worthy of honour and celebration.”

She said that she wants a new generation of art lovers to get a sense of her uncle’s love of the Bahamas’ culture and its natural environment. Additionally she hopes that they will get a glimpse into his spirituality which was a driving component throughout his life.

“My uncle was so kind and loving and he had the ability to sense what people were feeling and he could not bear to see anyone in discomfort.”

She said he was always willing to help those in need whether it be paying rent or school fees, uniform and supplies or buying groceries or a new car.

“He always wanted to inspire people in whatever way he could.”

And she noted there has not really been any other artist who has captured the essence of her uncle’s work.

“His paintings are kinetic and organic all at same time, you look at them and there is movement. His work comes with its own spirit,” she said.

The Amos Ferguson limited edition prints are available at Nassau Glass and other fine art galleries while supplies last.

“He is really just in a class of his own. However, there are very few of his original artworks available for purchase and of course there are many fans of his work, who are not in the position to make the financial investment to own an original Amos Ferguson piece.”

DONKEY Ride in Nassau Town (1991)

MATCH Me If You Can (1987) STANDING on Apples (Logo Girls) (1989) CASTING Your Net on the Right Side of the Boat (1986)

NASSAU Glass is making prints of Amos Ferguson paintings available in a rare opportunity.

Photos: Austin Fernander

Entrepreneur brings wonderful memories to customers

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

WHAT Tyra Duncombe enjoys most about being an entrepreneur is the great satisfaction knowing she is doing something she loves and appreciates it also brings joy to others.

Tyra, owner of Ty’s Craftique, said the brand gives her a sense of independence, adventure and accomplishment as it allows her to relish the opportunity to help people create treasured memories.

She said: “In my opinion, the market for art, crafts and handmade products is becoming more popular in recent years and buyers are more inclined to support local artisans and find unique and personable items. I am grateful to be a part of a developing market that will continue to grow over the years.”

Recalling her Ty’s Craftique inspiration, she said: “Over the last few years, I began to express my natural talent and passion for arts and craft/ design through calligraphy, creation of flyers, paintings, gift wrapping, and other DIY projects. It was not until the end of 2019 when I stumbled upon a few ideas on social media and purchased materials and started utilising my aunt’s cricut machine with the intent to create and design Christmas flair pins and ornaments. I was truly excited about the pins and ornaments that I created.”

Ty’s Craftique was officially established at the end of 2021 and the journey for Tyra has since been exhilarating, she said. Tyra said her most memorable client experience so far has been seeing and hearing the joyful reactions of her clients when they see the finished product.

Tyra said: “The business has definitely progressed over the last year. In order for something to grow, we have to plant a seed and water it. The growth of the business depends on how strategic and consistent I am with branding, marketing and devoting my time amongst other things. Since starting, I have launched social media pages and have expanded my product offerings and customer base through these avenues.

“At Ty’s Craftique we offer personalization of items and products such as ornaments, keychains, wine glasses, glass mugs, tumblers, canvases, wooden hangers and Christmas headbands. Presently, we are a home-based business located in the Eastern district of Nassau, New Providence situated in Monastery Park.”

She said the goal of Ty’s Craftique is to build a brand that provides products and services for those seeking a unique personal touch to their home, business, special event and occasions inclusive of personal items, souvenirs, gifts and more.

Tyra said she intends to continue building the business for many more years to come, with hopes of expanding the brand and possibly bringing on more partners for further development. Moreover, it is her aim to create more exposure, expand the product line, designs and provide products and services on a larger scale.

She said: “My artistic abilities and talents have afforded me the opportunity to establish a business and earn a secondary income. By day, I am a

compliance analyst and by night and on the weekends, I am a self-employed crafter. My experience of becoming a creative business owner has been both challenging and rewarding. Challenging in the way that I assume all of the financial risks and being tasked with learning how to market, brand and develop time management skills while simultaneously working full time.

“Additionally, the reward in undertaking this endeavor is that it has proved to be a great learning experience for me and has challenged me to do more and take more risks. I am super excited about my journey as I am doing something that I absolutely love. I have control over my work and I plan to make it my career in the future which will ultimately provide me the flexibility that I dream of having.”

When it comes to each Ty’s Craftique item, Tyra said the vision of the customer along with her creative ideas and touch, makes each product unique. She takes pride in her ability to challenge herself and bring each customer’s idea, as well as her own, to life.

“To remain innovative and modern with the designs that are offered, I keep abreast of social media outlets to learn what’s new in the creative and craft market both locally and internationally, as well as keep up-to-date with the latest trends and interests. For the remainder of the year, going into the holiday season, I hope to gain more exposure in order to build a greater customer base and craft wonderful memories for those customers through our personalised products,” said Tyra.

TYRA DUNCOMBE, owner of Ty’s Craftique

literary lives- Bing Crosby (1903 - 1977)

More than a Christmas crooner

– Bing Crosby

Harry Lillis “Bing” Crosby Jr was born on May 3, 1903 in Tacoma, Washington.

In 1906, his family moved to Spokane in East Washington State where he was raised. He was the fourth of seven children. His parents were Harry Lowe Crosby, a bookkeeper, and his mother Catherine Helen “Kate” (née Harrigan).

An ancestor, Simon Crosby, emigrated from England to New England in the 1630s during the Puritan migration to New England.

He got his nickname “Bingo” from a local paper, The Bingville Bugle, which the young Crosby liked. It later got shortened to “Bing”.

In 1917, Crosby took a job as a property boy at Spokane’s Auditorium where he saw Al Jolson who held him spellbound.

Crosby graduated from Gonzaga High School in 1920, and enrolled at Gonzaga University – but did not earn a degree. He played on the university’s baseball team.

In 1923, Crosby joined a band of high school students with Al and Miles Rinker but disbanded after two years. He went on to become a member of a vocal trio including Al Rinker – who played piano from the pit, to entertain between films. Crosby and Al Rinker continued at the Clemmer Theatre for several months.

In 1925, Crosby and Rinker travelled to Los Angeles where they were hired by the Franchon and Marco Time Agency and they

“Frank Sinatra is a singer who comes along once in a lifetime, but why did he have to come in mine?”

Sir Christopher Ondaatje remembers the American singer and actor who was one of the most popular musical artists of the 20th century. His intimate crooning singing style influenced many male singers.

performed at the Boulevard Theatre in Los Angeles and then on the Loew’s circuit.

They earned $75 a week and started to develop as entertainers. It was at the Will Morrissey Music Hall Revue that they were spotted by a member of the Paul Whiteman organisation.

Hired for $150 a week they debuted in 1926 for the Whiteman Orchestra at the Tivoli Theatre in Chicago. Their first recording was “I’ve Got the Girl” with Columbia Records.

However, their short stint with fame and the Paul Whiteman Band was followed with disappointment when they reached New York. Whiteman wanted to fire them but when Harry Barris, the pianist and songwriter joined them, The Rhythm Boys were born.

Crosby gained confidence and maturity on the road with Whiteman and made recordings with Bix Beiderbecke, Tommy Dorsey and Hoagy Carmichael. He developed his casual style and was in demand as a solo singer. He became the star attraction of The Rhythm Boys.

In 1928, he had his first number one hit – an uptempo version of “Ol’ Man River”. The Rhythm Boys appeared in the film King of Jazz (1929) with Paul Whiteman.

However, Whiteman was in many ways a control freak, resulting in The Rhythm Boys leaving the band and joining the Gus Arnheim Orchestra, performing nightly in the Coconut Grove at the Ambassador Hotel. Crosby began to steal the show. Harry Barris wrote several of Crosby’s hits including “I Surrender Dear” and “Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams”. When Mack Sennett signed Crosby to a solo recording contract in 1931 it was the end of The Rhythm Boys. Crosby married the actress Dixie Lee in 1930.

The weekly show 15 Minutes With Bing Crosby was broadcast on September 2, 1931, and made Crosby an instant hit in America. He signed with Brunswick Records and CBS Radio.

“Just One More Chance” and “I Found a Million Dollar Baby” were two of the best selling songs of 1931.

Crosby played the lead in a series of musical comedy short films for Mac Sennett, then signed with Paramount Pictures, and starred in his fulllength film The Big Broadcast (1932), the first of 55 films. Eventually he made a total of seventy nine pictures. He signed a contract with Jack Kapp’s new Decca Records in 1934.

“Bing actually saved the record business in 1934 when he agreed to support Decca founder Jack Kapp’s crazy idea of lowering the price of singles from a dollar to 35 cents and getting a royalty for records sold instead of a flat fee. Bing’s name and artistry saved the recording industry ... without

him, Jack Kapp wouldn’t have had a chance in hell of making Decca work and the Great Depression would have wiped out phonograph records for good.”

– Steve Hoffman Audio engineer

Crosby’s first son Gary was born in 1933, with twin boys following in 1934. He replaced his former boss, Paul Whiteman, as host of the weekly NBC Radio programme Kraft Music Hall, where he stayed for the next ten years.

“Where the Blue of the Night Meets the Gold of the Day” became his theme song, and his whistling became a trademark. He was incredibly popular and his “crooning” competed against the more powerful Al Jolson’s act. He was more relaxed.

Louis Armstrong’s traditional jazz music also had a big influence on Crosby’s singing. The two appeared in Pennies From Heaven for Columbia Pictures, although Harry Cohn did not want to pay for the mob-controlled Armstrong manager Joe Glaser. Crosby won, and even insisted that Armstrong received equal billing with white co-stars. They remained friends throughout World War II and made live appearances for American troops fighting in the European theater. In a poll of US troops at the close of World War II Crosby was voted the person who had done the most to boost the morale of troops – ahead of President Franklin D Roosevelt, General Dwight Eisenhower, and Bob Hope. The June 8, 1948 issue of Life magazine stated:

“America’s number one star, Bing Crosby, has won more fans, made more money than any entertainer in history. Today he is kind of a national institution.”

A total of 60 million Crosby discs were sold in the US and Great Britain. His recording contract with Decca ran until 1955; and his film contract with Paramount continued to 1954.

“White Christmas” by Irving Berlin was Crosby’s best-selling record, which he introduced on Christmas Day in 1941. The song appeared in his film Holiday Inn (1942). The song remains the biggest selling single of all time and, according to Guinness World Records, the record has sold over fifty million copies around the world.

Crosby starred with Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour in six of the seven Road to musical comedies between 1940 and 1962. (Lamour was replaced by Joan Collins in The Road to Hong Kong). Crosby and Hope appeared together countless times on stage, radio, film and television.

IRVING Berlin’s _White Christmas_ (1942) as performed by Bing Crosby is the best-selling single worldwide, with estimated sales of over 50 mill

“There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for Bob Hope, and there is nothing he wouldn’t do for me ... we spend our lives doing nothing for each other.”

– Bing Crosby

CROSBY 1932

In 1944, Crosby won an Academy Award for Best Actor in Going My Way, and was nominated for the 1945 sequel The Bells of St. Mary’s. He also received critical acclaim as the alcoholic entertainer in The Country Girl which won an Oscar for his co-star Grace Kelly for Best Actress.

The Fireside Theater (1950) was Crosby’s first television production filmed at Hal Roach Studios. It was syndicated to individual television studios. He was a frequent guest on variety shows in the 1950s and 1960s including ABC’s The Hollywood Palace where he was the first and most frequent host. His last TV appearance was a Christmas special Merrie Olde Christmas (1977) where he recorded a duet of “The Little Drummer Boy” and “Peace on Earth” with rock musician David Bowie. It has since become a staple holiday radio release and the final popular hit of Crosby’s career.

Bing Crosby Productions, affiliated with Desilu Studios and later CBS Television Studios, produced a number of TV Series. The company also produced two successful medical dramas, Ben Casey (1961-1966) and Breaking Point (19631964), Hogan’s Heroes (1965-1971), and Slattery’s People (1964-1965).

“Louis Armstrong is the only musician who ever lived, who can’t be replaced by someone.”

Crosby and Armstrong were friends for decades, and performed together whenever they could –notably “Now You Has Jazz” in the film High Society (1956). Crosby was probably the most popular and successful musical act of the 20th century: 396 chart singles, including 41 number one hits. He had 24 separate popular singles in 1939 alone. According to different sources he sold 300 million or even 500 million records worldwide. For 15 years (1934, 1937, 1940, 1943-1954) he was among the top ten acts in box-office sales, and for five of those years (1944-1948) he topped the world. He sang four Academy Award winning songs: “Sweet Leilani” (1937); White Christmas” (1942); “Swinging on a Star” (1944) and “In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening” (1951).

Crosby was married twice. His first wife was actress and nightclub singer Dixie Lee, to whom he was married from 1930 until her death from ovarian cancer in 1952. After his wife died he had relationships with Pat Sheehan and actresses Inger Stevens and Grace Kelly before marrying actress Kathryn Grant, with whom he had three children including Nathaniel (the 1981 U.S. Amateur Champion in Golf). Particularly during the late 1930s and through the 1940s Crosby’s domestic life was tragically dominated by his wife’s excessive drinking. His efforts to cure her with the help of specialists failed. He had one confirmed extramarital affair in the 1940s with the actress Patricia Neal, and with actress Joan Caulfield in 1948.

Crosby was an avid golfer, He had a two handicap. He competed in both the British and U.S. Amateur Championships, was a five-time club champion at Lakeside Golf Club in Hollywood, and once made a hole-in-one on the sixteenth hole at Cypress Point.

On October 13, 1977 Crosby flew alone to Spain to play golf and hunt partridge. On October 14, at the La Moraleja Golf Course near Madrid, he partnered world champion Manual Piñero against club president César de Zulueta and Valentin Barrios. Crosby, who then had a handicap of 13, won with his partner by one stroke. At about 6.30pm they headed back to the clubhouse.

“That was a great game of golf, fellas. Let’s go have a Coca-Cola”.

They were his last words. About 20 yards from the clubhouse Crosby collapsed and died from a massive heart attack. He was 74 years old.

• Sir Christopher Ondaatje is the author of The Last Colonial. He acknowledges that he has quoted liberally from Wikipedia; Call Me Lucky (1953) by Bing Crosby; Bing: The Authorized Biography (1975) by Bing Crosby with Charles Thompson; Bing Crosby: A Pocketful of Dreams (2001) by Gary Giddins; and Bing Crosby: Through the Years (2012) by James Fisher.

Bing Crosby

(l-r) Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Dean Martin in 1963

The wisdom of African tribes

Iwrite this in the hope that somebody can tell me about a book on the history of the African tribes who came to the Bahamas. It was copyrighted in 1939, by The Coloured League of Youth, of which I have never heard.

The foreword reads: “The Coloured League of Youth is a non-political organisation which has been founded in the Bahamas for the betterment of the Coloured people of these islands. It wishes, by the dissemination of ideals, of education, by moral uplift and by a more considered organisation of local industries and agriculture, to bring on a general improvement in the living conditions of the large Coloured population of these islands.

“Theirs is a land of infinite possibilities, there is no reason that, in time, the majority of the Coloured population should not be possessors of a living wage.

But the League does not incite them to complain, nor attach blame to those in authority. Its message is that they join together in spirit and in mind, to bring about prosperity. That they shall depend on themselves and neither blame, nor depend completely on, the white man. That they should not be ashamed of being Coloured, but should develop a sense of race, and a pride in that race.

The following book, therefore, is offered in the educative phase of the CLY to induce the Coloured people to take an interest in the race to which they belong and the history and fables of their ancestors.”

The 86 pages of the book cover the following subjects:

• THE SON WHO TRIED TO OUTWIT HIS FATHER

• HOW THE ANIMALS IMITATED THE GAZELLE

• HOW THE LEOPARD BOILES HIS MOTHER’S TEETH

• THE RACE OF THE FROG AND THE DEER

• THE MAN THE ELEPHANT AND THUNDER

• HOW ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER

• HOW THE DOGS AND THE LIONS WENT HUNTING

•

WEST AFRICAN WISDOM

The following are examples of this wisdom:

The Hausas say: Terror is a thing of the wilds, shame of the home. God gives blessings. If man gave them, many would do without.

If you are not drinking the pap, stop stirring it.

The Ibos say: Death does not recognise strength. Doctor never killed because his patient died.

Men of the Gold Coast say: We know the place of our birth, but not of our death.

Where a dog finds a bone, there he stays.

Knowledge is the trunk of a big tree; no one man can put his arms around it. Life is the marketplace; heaven is home.

The animal stories remind me of the stories that my family maid used to tell me, but I was most impressed by the opening words of this book: “More than a hundred years ago, when our grandparents were not yet born, an Englishman named Sir Thomas Fowell Buxton wrote in a book on the history of the slave trade. ‘What we find in the African, the Romans found us.’”

And that is true!

When the Romans went to Britain, the islands were inhabited by very primitive people.

They tilled the soil. They raised crops of corn and barley, and they grew a few common vegetables. They kept sheep. The fished in the streams and in the waters around the coast.

They lived in huts that were just as crude and simple as any in the African jungles, and their tools and handicrafts were simple and crude.

Their clothing was more developed, but that is because the climate made clothes more necessary.

Each tribe was like a big family –headed by a chief and the tribesmen went around fighting each other with stones and clubs and arrows.

They were very ignorant. They knew nothing about the outside world.

They worshipped many strange gods, and on the altars, they sacrificed animals and, sometimes, human beings.

To these half savage people, the Romans brought a certain amount of civilisation. Though, for a long time, it had little or no effect on them. And it was not until a thousand years later that they developed a civilisation of their own. In the meantime, many of them had been carried off as slaves.

• For questions and comments, please send an e-mail to islandairman@gmail.com

COLOURED League of Youth

animals

Animal matters

Kim Aranha

Over the past few years, people have strived to have different and original tree decorations and present wrapping options. On many occasions, the traditional has been replaced with the clever and the witty… Lord knows why, when traditional has worked for hundreds of years.

This quest for the unusual is sometimes at the expense of nature.

In the Bahamas, we have never had much regard for the flora and fauna which surrounds us. The importance of keeping the conch, grouper, shark, turtle population healthy, numerous and safe is still an awkward conversation for many. People like me gain the reputation of being difficult, and slightly “nuts” when I climb on my soapbox and preach about the consequences of wanton destruction, overuse and waste.I can practically hear them saying: “There she goes again!”

At Christmas, I have noticed a very popular trend in tree decoration: the use of dead starfish as tree ornaments. They are lovely. I admit readily that they look very elegant in that tree but really? Think about it, is there anything even remotely appropriate about festooning your Christmas tree with dead marine life? Should you actually be doing that, and contributing to the depletion of species?

The beauty of your tree at the cost of killing a beautiful creature? Is that even a trade-off? There are many beautiful handmade Bahamian decorations that involved no destruction available, and would support local artists too.

The starfish used vary in both size and species, they are undoubtedly intentionally killed, cured, bleached, packaged and sold. These are not random sea creatures that wash up dead on the beach… gosh no, quite the contrary, these are “captured”, they can’t escape, picked up and killed for a bunch of mindless people to exploit.

On Etsy you can purchase “100 Real mini sea starfish,, Beach starfish,” for about $20, not much is it? 100 little miracles created by the mystery of nature that once decorated a beach somewhere now a decimated “thing” stuck on a bow or glued to a box, or hung on a tree. Why is it even necessary? That box was just fine to slip

PET OF THE WEEK

Three-year-old Cheryl

By The Bahamas Humane Society

“All I want for Christmas is my own backyard, my own backyard, my own backyard...”

Three-year-old Cheryl has been at the Bahamas Humane Society for several months now. She’s usually good with other dogs, but doesn’t care much for cats. She’s people-friendly and walks well on a leash. For her Christmas wish, Cheryl would love to find a home of her own, one that will appreciate her kind of Bohemian looks (maybe she’s a salukadoo-

dle?) and allow her to settle in over the holidays. If you think you might be Cheryl’s Christmas wish come true, come in to the BHS to meet her, or call 325-6742 for more information. Cheryl looks forward to crooning with you!

BHS Raffle tickets are now available! Tickets are $5 each or a book of 21 for $100. Grand Prize is $10,000 worth of groceries from Super Value. The draw will be held on December 29th. Tickets are available at the BHS or Fox Hill Nursery.

A most inappropriate Christmas decoration

earrings in to, it didn’t need anything glued on it at all - much less a dead creature.

So where are these “decorations” harvested, certainly not from Bahamian seas because we can only boast having killed off most of our starfish by

wonton harvesting in order to kill and cure them for mindless tourists to take home and leave to languish on a bookshelf covered in dust. “A little harsh”, you say? Heck no, brutally honest, the purchasers of artifacts similar to our starfish are mindless and thoughtless of the environment, those that sell them should be fined.

There is a magnificent tree in Nassau, simply stunning but if you look closely you see lots and lots of starfish - you have to look closely to see them; so why bother? I am quite sure that the persons who did an incredible job decorating never even stopped to thing as they placed the starfish lovingly on the branches.

For $5.49 you can buy one Chocolate Chip Knobby Starfish (4-5”) with free shipping, it is a pretty creature but much prettier underwater feeding off small animals buried by the sand.

You can also purchase the exotic and unique Multileg Sunflower Starfish approximately four inches across and can have as many as 40 legs for as little as $5.99. Such a beautiful sight why would anybody want to stick it on a gift or a tree?

I find that most people are willing to look away and forget that that starfish was ever a living creature - but what I

find even more amazing is that these starfish could so easily be reproduced in many mediums.

Research as much as I have been able to I have not been successful finding which country exports the most starfish. I find that on the packages or online most appear to originate from India, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Perhaps that at present these countries feel that they have a multitude, and they can sanction exportation.

The problem with conservation is that frequently by the time you notice that the numbers are dropping, a huge amount of effort has to go into protecting them, sometimes the efforts are tedious and not always successful.

In the Bahamas, our large orange starfish were scattered all over the sand banks, so many that you could not count fast enough to know how many the boat skimmed over. They were not cause for excitement because there were so many.

It is sad to realize that there are most likely more starfish on trees and on presents than there are in the waters around the island of New Providence. What does that say about today’s society?

Merry Christmas to all my precious readers

PHOTO: LINDA GILL-ARANHA

Beautiful, but surely we do not need to put marine life at risk for the sake of a decoration

Breadwinners rising to the occasion

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

FOR EDNEY and Rochelle Gaitor, it’s a funny story how their business Breadwinners came about. They usually refer to the product as “pandemic bread”, as it all started during the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic when persons were all locked down.

“We began growing ingredients outside our home. And we later started to use them to make our own breads and meals. The business really started when we began using our WhatsApp status as our audience to display not only our bread items but other dishes as well,” said Edney.

“We created a menu based on a variety of different breads and flavors. It blew up quickly and we began to invest more into the business and expanded our audience through social media and pop-up events. Our customers loved the idea to see a menu with product online and have ready for pick up or delivered fresh breads.”

Breadwinners, located in South Beach on Oleander Avenue, now offers a variety of breads like sandwich loaves, focaccia flatbreads, continental breakfast breads, dinner rolls or artisan breads.

Edney said: “Our products range from homemade breads, coconut bread made from handmade Andros Coconut Oil, Focaccia Flatbreads with toppings such as Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella, Garlic Herb and Cheese or Spinach Roasted Garlic with Mozzarella. We also offer breakfast breads such as Banana Bread, Pumpkin Spice Loaf or Fun Bun Danish. Then there’s our Johnny Cake Factory that’s a play on the familiar local favorite. We created Johnny Cake flavors such as regular, rum raisin, toasted coconut, cheddar jalapeno or pineapple upside-down. On our offerings as well, there are hand-crafted artisan breads with flavors including two seed spinach or multi-seed cranberry.”

He believes the Breadwinners sandwich loaves add flavor and variety to any sandwich of a person’s choice. He and Rochelle would particularly suggest their cinnamon or Andros coconut for amazing French toast, and for a Umami sensation, make a French toast sandwich with ham, eggs and sour cream spread.

Edney said: “The Cheddar Cheese Rolls or even the Homemade Rolls are wonderful for mini slider buns. Our breakfast bread is the best pairing with your favorite coffee or tea. It’s like a Bahamian continental breakfast at home. The hand-Crafted Artisan breads are the perfect pairing for soups or sandwiches such as Turkey Ranch and Swiss, Roast Beef and Sautéed Onions or Roasted Pepper, Goat Cheese and Aioli Spread. Lastly, our Focaccia Flatbreads are the perfect accompaniment to any pasta dish, pairs well with soups, can

DOUGHNUTS

slice it to a sandwich or use as a snack with some marinara sauce, ranch dip or garlic butter.”

He added: “Our operating days are Wednesdays and Saturdays, currently by pre-orders only. We’re not like big bakery corporations that make breads products for mass production. Once you pre-order, it is made specifically fresh and ready for you.”

He said Breadwinners is a brand that wanted to offer a variety of breads to customers from all walks of life. “We recognized it was difficult to find a one-stop shop for bread variety on the island, and we wanted to utilise our culinary skills and education not just for home cooking but for the entire island, hopefully soon the entire country.”

Edney said they love to see satisfied, happy customers who genuinely love the service and products they provide. It’s a feeling like no other knowing that they built something from the ground up, and people appreciate it. He said being an entrepreneur also allows the team to be a part of the small business community that is slowly becoming the back bone of the country.

“We hope it sets the tone for generations to come. We feel like we’re ingrained in the field of culinary. Being in culinary arts since 7th grade, we’ve been studying and been a part of the industry for over 25 years. We love the gratification from providing a blow away dining experience or providing products customers can truly appreciate at home just as if they were in a hotel restaurant or some international location,” said Edney.

When asked what are some of the popular requests during this time of the year and festive

SPINACH mozzarella focaccia flatbread

season, Edney said Breadwinners has really become synonymous with providing themed gift boxes filled with a variety of delicious breads. It all started with their Down-Home Tea n’ Bread Boxes which include a variety of local favorites such as Potato Bread, Johnny Cake, Banana Bread and Guava Bread.

“It was such a great demand, we started to continuously come up with themed gift boxes during the festive season. Previous years we had international Christmas Treat boxes that contain breads from Italy, Germany, The Bahamas and the United States of America. This season, it’s the Bahamian Tingum Dem gift boxes with the everpopular Guava Duff and Coconut Duff .These boxes are known to be the perfect gift for coworkers, neighbours and colleagues,” he said.

“The feedback has been nothing but positive. We always seek from our customers honest feedback to help improve our brand. We always appreciate it as it has only shown to make us better. Bahamians love the fact that we not only provide “down home” flavors and products, but also international products known to be offered in fancy or chain restaurants.”

Going forward, the goal is to continue expanding the brand with pop-up events, as well as the promotion of holiday gift boxes. Edney said they will also remain available to loyal customers with bread winning favorites throughout the holiday buzz. He said there’s an excited revamped menu planned for 2023 as well.

TOMATO Basil Mozzarella