Caribbean American Passport News Magazine - December 2019

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Your Passport to the Caribbean American Community

Dec 19/Jan 20

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What is Kwanzaa and When is it Celebrated?

Toni-Ann Singh, Ms. Jamaica Makes History as 2019 Miss World She is a Former Ms. Florida Caribbean Students'Association

Jamaica’s Toni-Ann Singh was crowned Miss World 2019 at the 69th annual beauty pageant, but many have known her since her debuts as Miss FSU, CSA and Miss FCSA (Florida Caribbean Students Association).

Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach, created Kwanzaa in 1966. After the Watts riots in Los Angeles, Dr. Karenga searched for ways to bring African-Americans together as a community. He founded US, a cultural organization, and started to research African “first fruit” (harvest) celebrations.

Karenga combined aspects of several different harvest celebrations, such as those of the Ashanti and those of the Zulu, to form the basis of Kwanzaa.

Kwanzaa is a seven-day cultural holiday celebrating African and African-American heritage and culture. Celebrations begin on December 26th and go on through January 1st.

The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits” in Swahili. Each family celebrates Kwanzaa in its own way, but celebrations often include songs and dances, African drums, storytelling, poetry reading, and a large traditional meal. On each of the seven nights, the family gathers and a child lights one of the candles on the Kinara

cont'd on on pgpg 45 Cont'd

Singh’s win comes just days after Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa was crowned Miss Universe, marking the first time in history that Black women hold the titles for Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, Miss America, Miss Universe, and Miss World.

Singh nabbed the crown after earning a standing ovation from her vocal performance of Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing.” Post-pageant, the 23year-old psychology and women's studies graduate of Florida State University celebrated her win on Twitter, sending a message of purpose to little girls around the world.

including Miss World France, Ophély Mézino, and Miss World India, Suman Rao, to become the fourth title holder from the Caribbean country. Jamaica previously won Miss World titles in 1963, 1976, and 1993.

As far as what’s next for the new Miss “To that little girl in St. Thomas, World, Singh said she couldn’t be Jamaica and all the girls around the more excited to “get out there and world — please believe in yourself,” work.”

Singh wrote. “Please know that you are worthy and capable of achieving your “So honored and grateful for this dreams. This crown is not mine but opportunity but most of all I’m yours. You have a purpose.” thinking about the work that needs to be done and that I have the platform Singh was born in St. Thomas, Jamaica, and the means to do it,” Singh said and aspires to be a medical doctor. She following her win. “I’m ready to get out there and work. I’m excited!” beat out 111 other contestants,

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L I F E S T Y L E W

Guenet Gittens-Roberts, Publisher/Editor

This is the Season for Family and Friends

hether you are celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa this December......

Owner/Publisher/Editor our wish from our family to yours is to enjoy family and and friends.

Samuel J. Roberts

This Christmas we go into it feeling proud of the work we have done...two years ago, due to our sponsorship of the Florida Caribbean Students Association Conference in Daytona Florida, we were in the audience the night Toni-Ann Singh took home the title of Queen of FCSA. We were able to hange out with her that night and from the time we met her, our assessment was that she was going places.

To see her go from that stage to representing Jamaica on the world stage as Ms. World only two short years later is heartwarming. It reminds us that this is what we do. We help to lift our community up. It may not always be perfect, sometimes it is darn hard, but our work is worth it. We are able to make our community a little prouder of themselves.

Thank you for supporting us, thank you for picking up this paper, thank you for attending our events. This support helps us to support events where our communities grow and thrive.

We hope that you have enjoyed reading and attending our events throughout 2019 and we look forward to seeing you next year.

Next year our festival calendar starts in January and we are involved in cultural festivals every month from January to August.

January - Back to Business Expo February - Black History Month Celebrations March - Soca Reggae 5K & Wellness Fair March - Holi-Phagwah Festival April - CAFA'S Caribbean Fusion Festival May - Orlando Carnival Downtown June - CAHM Festival August -Rum & Reggae Festival

1969 Alafaya Trail • Orlando, FL 32828 Office: 407-427-1800 Fax: 407-386-7925 Toll Free: 877-220-8315 For Media Information email: Publisher: sroberts@caribbeanamericanpassport.com Info: .Info@caribbeanamericanpassport.com

Should you desire to review past copies of the publicationgo to http://caribbeanamericanpassport.com and click on the 'Print Archive'.

Follow us on on our website and on our social media pages www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com to stay involved as we head to a celebration of our 10th year in business in September.

We are a family owned and operated company with a love of our Caribbean people, food, music and culture. From our family to yours Merry Christmas and may your New Year be healthy, wealthy and blessed.

Editor & Publisher................................................................................... Sam Roberts Publisher ............................................................................. Guenet Gittens-Roberts Graphic Design & Layout .....................................................................Aleia Roberts Contributing Writers: ................................................................................ Tony Dyal .......................................................................................................................Ryan Davis ...................................................................................................................Sandra Fatmi .......................................................................................................................Gail Seeram .................................................................................................................Sasha Watson ..................................................................................................................Aleia Roberts Contributing Photographers ............ .......................................................Ted Hollins .....................................................................................................................Dilia Castillo .............................................. .............................................................Nancy-Joe Brown Central Florida Distribution........................................................Kadeem Roberts South Florida Distribution .............................................................Norman Williams NorthFlorida Distribution .....................................................................Theo Jack Jr. Tampa Distribution ..................................................................................Julian Pina Copyright (C) 2016 GGR Marketing & Public Relations. All rights reserved.

Lots of Love from,

Sam, Guenet, Aleia, Kadeem Roberts www.caribbeanamericanpassport.com

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What is Kwanzaa and When is it Celebrated? cont'd from front page

(candleholder), then one of the seven principles is discussed. The principles, called the Nguzo Saba (seven principles in Swahili) are values of African culture which contribute to building and reinforcing community among African-Americans. Kwanzaa also has seven basic symbols which represent values and concepts reflective of African culture. An African feast, called a Karamu, is held on December 31.

The candle-lighting ceremony each evening provides the opportunity to gather and discuss the meaning of Kwanzaa. The first night, the black candle in the center is lit (and the principle of umoja/unity is discussed). One candle is lit each evening and the appropriate principle is discussed.

Seven Principles The seven principles, or Nguzo Saba are a set of ideals created by Dr. Maulana Karenga. Each day of Kwanzaa emphasizes a different principle.

Unity: Umoja (oo–MO–jah) To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.

Self-determination: LEE–yah)

Kujichagulia

(koo–gee–cha–goo–

To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.

Collective Work and Responsibility: Ujima (oo–GEE– mah) To build and maintain our community together and make our brother’s and sister’s problems our problems and to solve them together.

Cooperative Economics: Ujamaa (oo–JAH–mah) To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.

Purpose: Nia (nee–YAH) To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our peopleto their traditional greatness.

Creativity: Kuumba (koo–OOM–bah) To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

Faith: Imani (ee–MAH–nee) To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

Seven Symbols The seven principles, or Nguzo Saba are a set of ideals created

by Dr. Maulana Karenga. Each day of Kwanzaa emphasizes a different principle.

Mazao: The Crops (fruits, nuts, and vegetables) Symbolizes work and the basis of the holiday. It represents the historical foundation for Kwanzaa, the gathering of the people that is patterned after African harvest festivals in which joy, sharing, unity, and thanksgiving are the fruits of collective planning and work.

Mkeka: Place Mat The mkeka, made from straw or cloth, comes directly from Africa and expresses history, culture, and tradition. It

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5 Indications That You Could, in Fact, Afford to Buy a House Now So you're ready to ditch your landlord and the noisy neighbors who live above you. But instead of seeking out another place to rent, have you considered (like, seriously considered) buying?

For many people, purchasing a home is one of those bucket-list items—something you'll accomplish down the road—so the idea of starting the process here and now may seem out of the question. But there's a chance you're actually in a better position than you think.

Of course, every local real estate market is different, and your dollar will stretch further in certain cities. Therefore, it's important to be realistic when choosing between renting or buying. Take a look, though, at the average home price in your neighborhood—maybe you can afford to buy after all!

1. Your salary qualifies you for a mortgage When determining if you can buy a house, your salary is one of the first figures you should take into account. But don't trick yourself into thinking that you can't afford a house simply because you don't make a six-figure salary! Use this quick equation from Lauren Anastasio, a certified financial planner with SoFi in San Francisco, to determine a realistic mortgage amount: Multiply your annual income by 2.5, and then add your down prohibited from handing out mortgages that are the equivalent of payment amount to that figure. Your total amount is the max more than 35%. mortgage you should shoot for. For example, if you make $80,000 a year, you're looking at a safe bet of a $200,000 mortgage, plus 4. Your credit score is over 580 whatever you think you can save up for that down payment. You Another number lenders look at to determine your should also take into account the regular housing expenses that creditworthiness is your credit score. A perfect credit score is 850, come after the deal is done, including taxes, insurance, and any score over 740 is considered to be great, but you don't need to fall in this range to be approved for a loan. maintenance and repair, and homeowners association fees.

2. You can afford to put down at least 3% Most first-time home buyers are intimidated by the idea of having to put down a large chunk of change. However, the traditional 20% down isn't your only option.

"The ideal down payment amount is 20% of the price of the home, because that's the minimum amount required to avoid paying private mortgage insurance (PMI). But that's not realistic for most home buyers, and shouldn't stop them from pursuing homeownership," says Candice Williams, a real estate agent with Re/Max Space Center in League City, TX.

You can "absolutely" get a mortgage, Helling says, "as long as your credit is above 580—the cutoff for most loans—and you have enough money left over to make the mortgage payments and the debt payments."

If your credit score falls below 700, lenders will start to question whether you’re a risky investment as a potential borrower, and getting a mortgage will be more challenging. But, if your score is above 580, there's still hope in the form of an FHA loan or another type of conventional loan. The FHA requires a minimum 580 credit score (and other requirements) to qualify. Having a poor credit

Other paths to mortgages include conventional loans, which require a minimum of 3% down, and Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans, which can go as low as 3.5% down.

And if you're a veteran, you can qualify for a VA loan with no down payment. So take a look at your savings account and browse the home listings in your area. You might just find that your years of saving have actually put you in a position to qualify for a mortgage.

3. You have a little bit of debt Another common misconception among first-time home buyers is that future homeowners must be debt-free in order to get approved for a mortgage loan. But don't worry—you can still buy a home even if you're still paying off your student loans.

"Lenders like to see a little debt. By paying down a car loan on time, you're showing the bank that you are a responsible borrower," says Andrew Helling, editor at REthority.com.

That being said, Williams points out that while it's fine to have current debts, first-time home buyers shouldn't be looking to add a mortgage if their current debts exceed 7% of their monthly income. That's because most lenders won't approve loans of more than 28% of a borrower's monthly income, and they're legally

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What is Kwanzaa and When is it Celebrated? cont'd from pg 4 symbolizes the historical and traditional foundation for us to stand on and build our lives because today stands on our yesterdays, just as the other symbols stand on the mkeka.

Vibunzi: Ear of Corn The stalk of corn represents fertility and symbolizes that through the reproduction of children, the future hopes of the family are brought to life. One ear is called vibunzi, and two or more ears are called mihindi. Each ear symbolizes a child in the family, and thus one ear is placed on the mkeka for each child in the family. If there are no children in the home, two ears are still set on the mkeka because each person is responsible for the children of the community. During Kwanzaa, we take the love and nurturance that was heaped on us as children and selflessly return it to all children, especially the helpless, homeless, loveless ones in our community.

Mishumaa Saba: The Seven Candles Candles are ceremonial objects with two primary purposes: to re-create symbolically the sun’s power and to provide light. The celebration of fire through candle burning is not limited to one particular group or country; it occurs everywhere. Mishumaa saba are the seven candles: three red, three green, and one black. The back candle symbolizes Umoja (unity), the basis of success, and is lit on December 26. The three green candles, representing Nia, Ujima, and Imani, are placed to the right of the Umoja candle, while the three red candles, representing Kujichagulia, Ujamaa, and Kuumba, are placed to the left of it. During Kwanzaa, on candle, representing one principle, is lit each day. Then the other candles are relit to give off more light and vision. The number of candles burning also indicate the principle that is being celebrated.

Kinara: The Candleholder The kinara is the center of the Kwanzaa setting and represents the original stalk from which we came: our ancestry. The kinara can be many shapes – straight lines, semicircles, or spirals – as long as the seven candles are separate and distinct, like a candelabra. Kinaras are made from all kinds of materials, and many celebrants create their own from fallen branches, wood, or other natural materials.

The kinara symbolizes the ancestors, who were once earth bound; understand the problems of human life; and are willing to protect their progeny from danger, evil, and mistakes. In African festivals the ancestors are remembered and honored. The mishumaa saba are placed in the kinara.

Kikombe Cha Umoja: The Unity Cup The kikombe cha umoja is a special cup that is used to

perform the libation (tambiko) ritual during the Karamu feast on the sixth day of Kwanzaa. In many African societies libation are poured for the living dead whose souls stay with the earth they tilled. The Ibo of Nigeria believe that to drink the last portion of a libation is to invite the wrath of the spirits and the ancestors; consequently, the last part of the libation belongs to the ancestors. During the Karamu feast, the kikombe cha umoja is passed to family member and guests, who drink from it to promote unity. Then, the eldest person present pours the libation (tambiko), usually water, juice, or wine, in the direction of the four winds – north, south, east, and west – to honor the ancestors.

The eldest asks the gods and ancestors to share in the festivities and, in return, to bless all the people who are not at the gathering. After asking for this blessing, the elder pours the libation on the ground and the group says “Amen.” Large Kwanzaa gatherings may operate just as communion services in most churches, for which it is common for celebrants to have individual cups and to drink the libation together as a sign of unity. Several families may have a cup that is specifically for the ancestors, and everyone else has his or her own. The last few ounces of the libation are poured into the cup of the host or hostess, who sips it and then hands it to the oldest person in the group, who asks for the blessing.

Zawadi: Gifts When we celebrate Imani on the seventh day of Kwanzaa, we give meaningful zawadi (gifts) to encourage growth, selfdetermination, achievement, and success. We exchange the gifts with members of our immediate family, especially the children, to promote or reward accomplishments and commitments kept, as well as with our guests. Handmade gifts are encouraged to promote self-determination, purpose, and creativity and to avoid the chaos of shopping and conspicuous consumption during the December holiday season. A family may spend the year making kinaras or may create cards, dolls, or mkekas to give to their guests.

Accepting a gift implies a moral obligation to fulfill the promise of the gift; it obliges the recipient to follow the training of the host. The gift cements social relationships, allowing the receiver to share the duties and the rights of a family member. Accepting a gift makes the receiver part of the family and promotes Umoja.

Excerpted from the book: The Complete Kwanzaa Celebrating Our Cultural Harvest. Copyright 1995 by Dorothy Winbush Riley.

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Black Women Now Hold Crowns in 5 Major Beauty Pageants

From left, Kaliegh Garris, Miss Teen USA; Nia Franklin, Miss America; Cheslie Kryst, Miss USA; Zozibini Tunzi, Miss Universe; and Toni-Ann Singh, Miss World.

For the first time, top beauty pageants — Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, Miss America, Miss Universe and now, Miss World — have crowned black women as their winners at the same time.

gender-based violence.

And that’s a big deal if you know pageant history.

“It is my hope that these pledges will start, and continue a conversation around gender-based violence,” Tunzi wrote.

“We have to start the narration where right-thinking people act as role models for those who think it’s okay to mistreat women.”

Beauty pageants early in their histories, some dating back to the 1920s, barred women of color from participating. Even after organizations began changing their rules to accept women of all races, there was still a lingering frustration and opposition to join.

Only in the last 50 years have black women become more prevalent in these competitions. Janelle Commissiong was the first black Miss Universe in 1977, Vanessa Williams was the first black Miss America in 1983, and Carole AnneMarie Gist, the first black Miss USA contestant, was crowned in 1990. The following year Janel Bishop became the first black Miss Teen USA. When Toni-Ann Singh of Jamaica was crowned as Miss World on Saturday, she joined a historic group of black women, along with 2019 Miss USA Cheslie Kryst, 2019 Miss Teen USA Kaliegh Garris, 2019 Miss America Nia Franklin and 2019 Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi.

Here’s what you should know about these five women: Miss World plans to be a doctor Singh, 23, from Morant, Jamaica, graduated from Florida State University with degrees in psychology and women’s studies. She plans to enroll in medical school soon, according to the Miss World website.

“I will continue to be an advocate for women,” she said, after winning the Miss World Jamaica crown in September. “I believe women are the lifeblood of our community. So, I will continue to inspire and work with them, so they understand just how great their potential is.”

In a recent Instagram post, she called on her fellow South Africans to write love letters pledging support for women in her country.

At the Miss Universe pageant, Tunzi spoke about how conventional beauty standards haven’t typically included skin and hair like hers, encouraging women to embrace themselves and love who they are.

“I grew up in a world where a woman who looks like me — with my kind of skin and my kind of hair — was never considered to be beautiful,” she said in her last response before she was crowned. “I think it is time that that stops today. I want children to look at me and see my face and I want them to see their faces reflected in mine.”

Miss USA works on behalf of prisoners Receiving three degrees from two universities, Kryst is a 28year-old attorney with a mission to help reform America’s justice system.

Hailing from North Carolina, Kryst practices civil litigation for a law firm and has a passion for helping prisoners who may have been sentenced unjustly get reduced punishments, free of charge.

Kryst, who is licensed to practice in two states, earned both her law degree and MBA from Wake Forest University and completed her undergraduate work at the University of South Carolina.

Miss Universe fights against gender-based violence

In a video played during this week’s competition, Kryst told a story about how a judge at a legal competition suggested she wear a skirt instead of pants because judges prefer skirts.

Tunzi hails from the town of Tsolo in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. Along with English, the 26-year-old speaks Xhosa and has launched a social media campaign against

“Glass ceilings can be broken wearing either a skirt or pants,” she said. “Don’t tell females to wear different clothes while you give the men substantive feedback on their legal

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Five Tips to Keep You Feeling Good During the Holidays ‘Tis the season of navigating through work and social parties, Exercise family gatherings, and leftovers. Here are five strategies to help Normal routines seem not so normal this time of year. Exercise you feel great and stay healthy during the holidays: sessions may need to be shortened or the frequency during the week may need to be lessened. But it doesn’t mean your exercise Manage Your Stress plan is torn to shambles. Maybe you get three days in a week and It's listed here first because we believe it is the foundation of what not your normal five, or maybe it’s a 20-minute total-body shorteverything else is built on. There’s good stress and bad stress and break workout versus your normal 45-minute to one-hour many forms of both. For example, bad stress could result from workout. It’s all good. Something is always better than nothing. financial stress, toxic relationships, lack of sleep, exercise (too Sleep much), and poor nutrition (high sugar or alcohol).

As the stress in your life goes up, so too will your cortisol levels, and high cortisol levels can lead to fat storage around the midsection and muscle breakdown. Last minute shopping, overspending, hustling from place to place, and party foods and drinks definitely qualify as stress to your body. Try some yoga, deep breathing, a nice walk outside, and a fun activity with friends to manage the chaos of this time of year.

Drink water

Shoot for seven to eight hours of sleep if possible. Lack of sleep will increase your cortisol levels (see the first tip!), will have you making poor diet choices, looking for stimulants, and leave you with a short fuse on an already hectic day.

Indulge Smartly and Be Prepared It is the holidays, so enjoy with everyone else. Choose low-sugar and low-calorie options when faced with a choice. If not, go with a smaller portion of the real thing. The key word is smaller and portion (being one portion). That way you’ll get your fix. Even if you do find yourself going a bit overboard on the sweets, don't beat yourself up about it. A healthy lifestyle isn't created in one day, and it isn't ruined in one day either. The most important thing is to maintain your healthy habits long turn, so keep that in mind and try not to feel too guilty after indulging.

Our body is made up of more than 60-percent water, so to say drinking water is important is an understatement. Energy levels, nutrient distribution, digestion, and more all depend on water.

Everybody's heard of the 8 glasses a day rule, and this is the perfect place to start. Start drinking water as soon as you wake up, and try to keep a water bottle with you that you can refill throughout the day. If you aren't a fan of the taste, try infusing Bonus Tip: your water with things such as lemons, mint, and cucumber. If Even if you aren't working towards a healthy lifestyle yet, you don't that still isn't enough for you, try out some additives such as Mio need to wait until the New Year to begin making changes to your or Crystal Light. daily routine. Why not get a couple weeks head start?

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Bahamas Tourism Ministry and Aviation BTO Sales Team host Christmas 'Jingle & Mingle'

Bahamas Tourism of Ministry & Aviation BTO Sales Team hosted the inaugural Orlando Christmas Jingle & Mingle event on Tuesday, December 10, 2019 at Eddie V’s on Sand Lake.

This partners appreciation event included almost 100 specialty travel agents, travel industry professionals and community leaders who had an opportunity to learn about Islands of the Bahamas updates and developments from BTO executives and Consul General Linda Mackey.

Guests were treated to authentic Bahamian hospitality and entertainment by an Orlando Junkanoo band that shook the building. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings joined the festivities for one of his favorite vacation destinations and everyone left with handmade Bahamian ornaments from the island of Freeport.

The BTO Sales Team reminded everyone that the Islands of the Bahamas is #StillRocking and one lucky guest won a Bahamas vacation package complete with two roundtrip BahamasAir tickets and hotel stay at the brand new Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau. An additional vacation package was given away via social media when attendees posted photos with the #BahamasMingleOrlando.

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Fusion Fest 2019 was "Diversitastic" in so many ways!!!

Fusion Fest 2019 was a tremendous success as we continued to build on the diversity of Orlando and our expanding community. Orlando is truly becoming one of the largest melting pots of International culture and that is what Fusion Fest is working to showcase. "It's not just the diversity that makes us one of the greatest Cities in America, but the transformation of our individual cultures into a melting pot of a truly 'Diversitastic'

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culture that represents us all by our engagement, our exposure, our relationships and our personalities." said Sam Roberts one of the original members of the steering committee. If you open your mind, your heart and live your life in the community of Orlando, over time you will slowly become a part of the Diversitastic culture that we call our own...you will become an Orlandian...no other place like it!!!

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Fusion Fest 2019 ...Continued from page 10

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Jamaican-born Dale Holness elected Broward County Mayor Jamaican-American Dale VC Holness was on Tuesday elected mayor of Broward County in Florida.

Holness, the first Jamaican-American to hold the position, received a unanimous vote from the Broward County Commission which is required by charter to elect a mayor and vice mayor each year in November.

Prior to the vote, Holness served as vice mayor.

He was first elected in 2010 to represent residents of Broward County's District 9, which includes a population in excess of 200,000 and covers more than eight municipalities in Broward County.

Prior to being elected a Broward County commissioner, he served as a City of Lauderhill commissioner from 2004 to 2010. During his terms in office he served as vice mayor twice — 2007 and 2010 — started the Lauderhill Chamber of Commerce and established the Lauderhill Business Incubator.

A practising real estate broker for more than 30 years, he is the president and CEO of All Broward Realty. He is a wellknown advocate for small, minority and women-owned businesses, fair wages for workers, improving and providing economic development opportunities for all, and homeownership.

His global advocacy includes positioning Broward County as the centre for international trade with the recent success of the annual Florida International Trade and Cultural Expo held October 9-10, 2019 with representation from 60 countries and nearly 2,000 people in attendance, the largest to date.

Start the New Year with writing workshops, plus a special visit from author Debbie Macomber This January, the Orange County Library System invites all aspiring writers to Learn, Grow and Connect during one of many writing workshops hosted at library locations. Visit the Alafaya Branch on January 8 for Top 10 Mistakes New Fiction Writers Make, in which author Kerry Evelyn will share common blunders new writers make and how to avoid them. On January 25, Orlando Public Library hosts the annual OCLS Writers Conference. During this daylong event, writers of all genres can learn to achieve their writing and publishing goals.

Authors and publishing professionals will teach workshops on a wide range of topics.

Visit ocls.info/writersconference for more information.

Two library branches celebrate anniversaries in January. On January 11 the Hiawassee library hosts its 10-year anniversary with crafts, storytelling and a performance by saxophonist Don Black. On January 25, the Eatonville library turns 15 years old and celebrates with face painting, prizes and a performance by Orlando freestyle group FREE

DAPS. Bring your family and friends for these two special occasions.

The library is excited to host two New York Times bestselling authors on January 31. At 10:30 a.m., young adult author Nic Stone will be at the Eatonville Branch, then at 7:30 p.m., author Debbie Macomber will appear at the Orlando Public Library for a special ticketed after-hours event.

Workshop topics include: Getting Started with Blogs, Money Talks for Women, Cooking Made Easy with MasterClass, Top 10 Mistakes New Fiction Writers Make, Melrose in the Mix – Christopher Belt, Melrose in the Mix – SKIP & DiViNCi, NO PASSPORT REQUIRED – Screening & Food Tasting, Money Matters: Creating Better Spending Habits, The Write Mindset, Art 101: Manga, and much, much, more!

If you have any questions about the upcoming events contact us as 407-835-7323. Check us out online at ocls.info for a complete listing of all library events.

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718-227-7357 OR www.Laparkan.com

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5 Indications That You Could, in Fact, Afford to Buy a House Now cont'd from pg 5

score means you'll probably be required to pay PMI, but the benefits of owning a home will far outweigh the negatives.

5. A starter home (if not a forever home) is within reach Some first-time home buyers make the false assumption that the first home they invest in needs to be their forever home. But don't let that idea deter you from purchasing a modest starter home, even if you soon outgrow your new digs.

After a few years of homeownership, you will hopefully start to build equity, either through an increase in your property's value or by reducing your debt. Then, when your family expands and you need to buy a bigger house, you will have a quantifiable asset that you can use on your next property purchase.

What you shouldn't do is buy a house that you can't yet fill, hoping that your lifestyle later catches up. That can be a recipe for disaster.

Black Women Now Hold Crowns in 5 Major cont'd Beauty Pageants from pg 5 arguments.” Since then, she’s built a blog for women’s workwear fashion and volunteered for Dress for Success.

Miss Teen USA defies pageant beauty norms When Garris took the Miss Teen USA stage Sunday, she did it with confidence as she wore her natural hair.

“I know what I look like with straight hair, with extensions,

and with my curly hair, and I feel more confident and comfortable with my natural hair,” the 18-year-old from Connecticut told Refinery29.

When she began competing in pageants, Garris said she had to fight against beauty standards suggesting that straight hair was better than her natural curls.

There were people who told her how they thought she should style her hair, she said. But she ignored their criticism and went on to win the title of Miss Connecticut Teen USA with her natural hair and then Miss Teen USA. Miss America says music helped her find herself Franklin remembers what music did for her. Now she tries to inspire children in the same way.

An opera singer, Franklin discovered her identity through music, she explained during the Miss America competition in September.

“I grew up at a predominately Caucasian school, and there was only 5% minority, and I felt out of place so much because of the color of my skin,” the 23-year-old North Carolina native said. “But growing up, I found my love of arts, and through music that helped me to feel positive about myself and about who I was.”

Representing New York, Franklin showed her passion for music when she sang “Quando m’en vo'” from Puccini’s “La Bohème.” Wowing the judges, she was crowned the 2019 Miss America.

This past year, she has been an advocate for the arts. She works with Sing for Hope, a nonprofit focused on helping people, including children and artists, through the power of music.

If there's one thing that we're learning as pageantry takes on this new look, it's this: representation matters. We can't wait to see diversity across all stages in the future.

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When Lies Start at The White House - By Roger Caldwell As President Donald Trump is impeached in the House, and gets off in the Senate, the system is broken.

There is no explanation on how the president can use the power of his office to break the law, while his party accepts and supports his lies. It is very difficult to determine which party is telling the truth, when Trump is not removed from office.

This is a strange time in America, when the president is incompetent, dismisses and ignores diplomats and intelligence reports, because he is too lazy to read. The Democrats and the Republicans understood that the President from the very beginning was unfit for the job. It seems as though the majority of Americans are not smart, or educated when it comes to politics.

Respect is something that is earned, and it is never given.

From the very beginning of President Trump’s campaign, he was disrespectful to everyone, and operated as a criminal god-father. The leaders in his campaign operated as shady characters, and six associates were convicted for breaking the law. The Republicans and the Democrats act as if this never happened, and our President thinks these criminals were good choices.

“Since taking office Washington Post fact checkers have tallied roughly 6,500 false claims by Trump. He learned exactly the wrong lesson from winning the election. He became even more convinced that his approach had been right,” says Chris Megerian – LA Times.

As a businessman, Donald Trump was long known for grandiose exaggerations, often false statements about the height of his buildings and the size of his wealth. Many of his businesses were fraudulent, and no one knows the correct number of times he has filed bankruptcy.

thought, and there is a constitutional crisis in the country.

A new Fox poll this Sunday contradicted President Trump, who boasted major support in favor of “No Impeachment.”

“But a fresh Fox News poll conducted last week and released Sunday found that a majority of the American electorate wants Trump impeached. Fifty percent are in favor of impeaching and removing, and 41 percent oppose impeachment all together,” says Fox News.

America is at a crossroads, and the majority of the Republicans are conservative and White. It is time for integrity and intelligence to lead Americans on a moral path back to sanity. Lies must be exposed and President Trump must be impeached and removed from office.

This is the way President Trump has managed his life, with an assortment of criminals, gangsters, prostitutes, and international celebrities as his friends. His father was worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and there were very few things that he was not able to buy.

Many will argue that Trump bought the position of the President of the United States, and others will argue that Trump is a political genius, but in November 2016, he became the most powerful man on the planet. Some will say he tricked people into voting for him, others will say he used an effective form of promotion, and his strategy worked.

Nevertheless, President Trump has been the leader of the free world for three years, and he wants only loyalists who will do what he says, and donate millions of dollars to his presidential campaign and businesses.

Many of his appointees, ambassadors and secretaries are untrained and incompetent, and many of the prestigious post are up for sale. Law professor Barbara McQuade says, “The conduct described in the Mueller report constitutes multiple crimes of obstruction of justice. It’s supported by evidence of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.”

With this information, it would appear that President Trump would be removed from office, but the Republican Party is 95% supportive of the president. They agree with everything he says or does, and no one challenges his authority and policies. There is this lack of independent

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Parang: The Sounds of Christmas in Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago is best recognized as the land of Calypso and Steelpan, however during the Christmas season, the music is Parang.

Parang comes from the Spanish word know as "parranda" (action of merry making, group of serenaders). In Trinidad it refers to folkloric music of Hispanic American origins. In Dominican Republic the music is called "arguinaldo". Parang's origin are controversial.

First theory of parang music originted during Christianity of Amerindians by French Clergy Indians in (Spanish) Missions. This does not explain the frequent references to Venezuela and the second theory is that parang music was introduced by Venezuelans imported to work in the cocoa estates which has some merit.

Definitely, the close interactions with Venezuelans where parand is also played has matured to a popular form of music not only in Trinidad & Tobago but throughout the Caribbean.

Traditional parang bands often refer to as "Parenderos" consisted of four to six singers accompanied by musicians who played guitar, cuatro, mandolin (bandolin) , violin, cello (violoncello), bandol (bandola), box bass, tambourine, clapper, toc-toc (claves), wood block pollitos, tiple, scratcher (gĂźiro) and maracas (chac-chac or shak-shak).

Parang bands would move from house to house in neighbourhood serenading to family and friends during festive seasons. It would be customary for families to greet the Paranderos with drinks and food, following specific steps or rituals that accompanied the entry to a home, the dedication of songs to a host, the eating and drinking, and the departure. The festive season begin in mid October and goes approximately to January 6 which is the feast of Epiphany. The resulting

atmosphere would be that of happiness, togetherness and the joy of good Christmas lime that continue to the early hours of the morning.

The traditional lyrics of parang which was sung in Spanish were mainly Religious and Christian songs. Today there are new and different styles and categories of parang called Aguinaldos (also known as Serenales), Guarapos and Despendidas. In the last several years Soca and Calypso have fused with parang creating Soca-Parang with lyrics in English which appeal to the North American Christmas with Santa and lots of gifts. In addition, in recent times Indian drumming and Chutney melodies mixed with parang has evolved into a whole new revolution of parang.

Some top parang entertainers include the late Daisy Voisin who was consider the Queen of Parang and entertainers Lara brothers, Los Ninos del Mundo, Sharlene Flores, Marcia Miranda and Scrunter.

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Undocumented immigrants can now apply for driver's licenses in New York state Undocumented immigrants in New York will be able to apply for driver's licenses this week after the state's socalled "Green Light Law" went into effect Monday.

out of the shadows to sign up as legal drivers in our state," she said.

The law, which was signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in June, expands the forms of identification that can be used by applicants to obtain a driver's license in the state, including foreign passports and a foreign driver's license.

Unless required for federal ID purposes, the law also stipulates that "the commissioner, and any agent or employee of the commissioner, shall not disclose or make accessible in any manner records of information that he or she maintains, to any agency that primarily enforces immigration law or to any employee or agent of such agency, unless the commissioner is presented with a lawful court order or judicial warrant."

At the time of it's adoption, the law was heralded by supporters as a way to allow undocumented immigrants a way to live and work in the state without having to fear deportation

"I am disappointed, and hopefully, this is only a setback," Rensselaer County Clerk Frank Merola said in a statement posted on the county's Facebook page Friday.

On Monday morning, Merola told CNN the county was referring undocumented applicants to the state Department of Motor Vehicles, citing a lack of training.

"We've never accepted foreign documents, and never had to," he said.

Merola said only three of the 17 Rensselear County DMV employees that needed to be trained in how to process such requests and documentation had been trained so far. He said they would be referring undocumented individuals to the state office, "until everybody is up to par."

He added that one person had arrived at the county DMV on Monday morning with foreign identification documents.

The law applies to noncommercial driver's licenses and learner's permits.

Since taking effect, this law has caused crowd surges in New York DMVs.

Legal challenge "As New Yorkers, we have an obligation to defend other New Yorkers," Gustavo Rivera, D-Bronx, said from the state Senate floor in June. "And every one of these individuals, whether they're documented or not, are New Yorkers."

The law comes into force after a last-minute legal challenge brought by the Rensselaer County Clerk was thrown out by a federal court judge Friday.

"The Green Light law is legal and enforceable, and two separate federal courts have now already dismissed the meritless claims of two county clerks," New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement Friday, referencing challenges to the law.

"Beginning Monday, the law will help make our roads safer, our economy stronger, and will allow immigrants to come

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Go Fake Yourself ‘World Bank says poor need money’, ‘Federal agents raid gun shop, find weapons’;,‘Woman missing since she got lost’; ‘Homicide victims rarely talk to police’, ‘Cows lose their jobs as milk prices drop’, ‘Breathing oxygen linked to staying alive’, and the media question of the day in, of all places, Polk County, Florida, ‘Are prostitutes getting screwed?’

These are all fine examples of what we know as media screw-ups, and we not only expect them, but, in my case, at least, I thrive on them. For example, we pronounce the name ‘Cockburn’ as ‘Coburn’, but when after the wedding the headline reads, ‘Cockburns Off On Wedding Trip’, it might cause, or be caused by, some serious friction.

Just like the headline ‘One-armed man applauds the kindness of strangers’, so, too, I commend the media for getting it right occasionally. History has shown that to err is human. We all make bad decisions and mistakes, and even in proofreading our own work, we see what we think we wrote and not what is actually on the page or in the paper.

This might explain ‘Drunk driver fails blow job test’, ‘Condom truck tips, spills load’, ‘Psychic arrested again – still didn’t see it coming’, and ‘Statistics show that teen pregnancy drops off significantly after age 25’. I definitely won’t make a big thing of a baseball headline about the games’ stars, ‘A-Rod goes deep, Wang gets hurt’.

The real tragedy is something that has been around since the devil gave Eve an apple to eat after assuring her that it would give her all the powers of God. This is Gospel truth to many, although there are some misguided people who assert it is “fake news”.

Scientific American says, “History is littered with examples where the facts were altered to suit a specific purpose.”

In the 8th century, the Catholic Church came up with ‘The Donation of Constantine’, which it claimed was proof that in the 4th century, Emperor Constantine had transferred vast tracts of land to Pope Sylvester I for curing him of leprosy. The Church was able to maintain this hoax until the 15th century.

DIDN’T START WITH TRUMP Fake news in America did not start with Donald Trump, although he popularised it by dismissing all media criticisms of his presidency as “fake news”. In 1782, Benjamin Franklin created a fake issue of a Boston newspaper that claimed that American forces had discovered bags of money and goods that appeared bound for the king but included among them the scalps of soldiers and civilians. The bag of scalps featured a letter addressed to the king asking him to accept the scalps as a token of friendship and loyalty. The public was outraged. Franklin’s ‘news’ added to the animosity directed against Native Americans and caused them not to be trusted or accepted in the “new” America.

In a very real sense, people believe what they want to believe. As late-night comedian Conan O’Brien, said, two-thirds of the country believes that fake news, however defined, causes confusion. The other one-third said, “Why are we talking about this when we’re being invaded by killer dolphins?”

In a very real sense, people believe what they want to believe. As late-night comedian Conan O’Brien, said, two-thirds of the country believes that fake news, however defined, causes confusion. The other one-third said, “Why are we talking about this when we’re being invaded by killer dolphins?”

Caribbean newspapers have embraced the term “fake news” like the old man in the Bible with his prodigal son, fatted calves and all.

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by Tony Deyal

I got 210,000 results in .40 seconds in a Google search of The Gleaner for ‘fake news’ and the one that led the way was about ‘Tertiary students peddling fake news for fun’.I found 1,430,000 in the Barbados Nation, including stories about “fake” schools, advertising, smart cards, and a fake voters list in Dominica. The St Lucia Star had 13,700,000 results in .48 seconds, and they included a headline ‘Fake news from the police no different from social media fake news!’

However, the media cannot be blamed for reporting an increasingly troubling phenomenon. An interim report from the British Parliament on ‘Disinformation and fake news’ states, “There are many potential threats to our democracy and our values. One such threat arises from what has been coined ‘fake news’, created for profit and other gain, disseminated through state-sponsored programmes, or spread through deliberate distortion of facts, by groups with a particular agenda, including the desire to affect political elections.”

Earlier this year, an Observer article by Dr Greg Hill, director of the Idaho Policy Institute, warned , “Dishonest reporting is undermining trust in media worldwide” and confirmed that “due to the rise of digital technology, false news stories are more pervasive and, even more alarming, harder to identify.” The paper cited a case in which The Daily Mail was caught publishing a blatantly false ‘bombshell’ piece regarding global leaders being duped into spending billions of dollars to combat global warming based on manipulated data.

MISTRUST OF THE MEDIA The biggest problem with this and other examples of fake news is that they can lead to total mistrust of the media – something that is already happening. Recent polls show that a majority of Americans believe that mainstream news outlets produce inaccurate reports, UK adults feel that the news media isn’t doing a good job, and Canadians (71 per cent) worry about fake news.

At the same time, there are honest journalists working hard each day to provide their readers with a sense of what is happening in their countries and the world, the implications and consequences of these events.

There will always be genuine errors of fact by professionals as well as with tight daily deadlines and operate in an extremely stressful environment. Some recruits are handicapped from the start.

Journalism in the region is ongoing proof that the freedom of the press belongs to who owns it, because it is a buyer’s market for labour, many of the people who come into the profession lack the basic skills, knowledge, and education to cope with the challenges.

I don’t mind reading ‘Midget sues grocer, cites belittling remarks’, ‘Most earthquake damage is caused by shaking’, ‘Marijuana issue sent to a joint committee’, ‘Diana was still alive hours before she died’, and even ‘Woman in sumo wrestler suit assaulted her exgirlfriend in gay pub after she waved at man dressed as a Snickers bar’.

What I mind is what seems to be a constant echo of the English satirist Peter Cook: “I have learned from my mistakes, and I am sure I can repeat them exactly.”

Tony Deyal was last seen being thankful for his name after he read a concession in a paper that apologised for the “incorrect spelling of a name. Pastor Dick Bigelow was incorrectly identified as Dick Bigblow”.

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