01252019 WEEKEND

Friday, January 25, 2019

art books film fashion music food history entertainment puzzles

Weekend

‘UP-CYCLE’ YOUR FASHION’ Page 8

Suited up for success

Designer meets ladies’ bespoke needs page 9

02 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, January 25, 2019

entertainment

Local and US entertainers join forces for ‘Love That Child’ concert Event to benefit Ranfurly Home

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unique collaboration of local and US entertainers will converge in New Providence this Sunday for a special cause. More than 50 American dancers and their families will join local dancers, choreographers and celebrated Bahamian performers, including Funky D, Lady E, rising star Jay Shephard and the Bahamas’ own Emanji Circus, for the ninth annual Love That Child benefit concert.

Sponsored by the Bank of the Bahamas and Aliv, the Love That Child concert is set to thrill audiences, starting at 3pm at the University of the Bahamas’ Performing Arts Centre.

The star-studded event not only raises funds for the Ranfurly Home for Children, but more importantly, raises awareness of the number of children living in crisis on the island.

The Ranfurly Home is currently home to 30 children and teens ranging in ages from eight 8 to 18. These children come from homes where their parents are unable to take care of them for various reasons. Many have been saved from traumatic and abusive situations yet these children still have hopes, dreams and goals. And with the guidance of the staff and volunteers at Ranfurly, the children of Ranfurly have been able to thrive and flourish.

According to Alexandra MaillisLynch, president of Ranfurly Homes for Children, their mission is to provide comprehensive child care services for children who have been displaced due to death, separation, abuse, abandonment, illness or other unfortunate circumstances.

As Ranfurly receives only $106,000 in government grant funding each year, the home is dependent on the

Tiara Josey and company

Dancer and choreographer Samantha Pratt will teach a master class in African dance.

generosity and donations of corporate sponsors and individual donors.

“While we are grateful for the government’s support, our home must raise the difference each year to provide housing, food, education, school uniforms, tutoring, counselling,

extracurricular activities and so much more… It is only through private and corporate donations that our doors are able to stay open for these children,” said Mrs Maillis-Lynch.

In recognition of this need, the Bank of the Bahamas sponsored the first Love That Child concert in 2010. The concert was named after a song written and performed by Damien Davis, a former resident of the Ranfurly Home, while the idea for a concert to help Ranfurly was brought to the Bank by Diane Phillips of DPA and Associates, Alexandra Maillis-Lynch and Karen Rawlings, a long-time visitor to the Bahamas who serves as the executive producer for the event.

The Bank of the Bahamas continues to help along with Aliv. “These two power houses on the island have proven over and over again with their constant support to be corporations with a heart. Also, our special guest host Funky D has volunteered his time and talent to the show from the beginning and I am just overwhelmed by the commitment from the dancers and dance teachers for this wonderful cause,” said Ms Rawlings of The Philly Connection.

The Love That Child concert also brings together the young aspiring

dancers of New Providence with American dancers for a cross cultural experience where they can learn firsthand what it means to give back and what it means to make a difference.

The dancers gather together each year the day before the concert at The Philly Connection workshop to learn a huge production number, taught by award-winning choreographers, which they perform at the concert.

This year, Bahamian dancer and choreographer Samantha Pratt will teach the American dancers a master class in African dance which they will perform. Ms Pratt, who has previously participated in the workshops as a student, said she has been inspired by Karen Rawlings’ efforts.

“I started out as a student and now I am a dance studio owner and now each and every show I produce also picks an organisation in need to give back,” said Ms Pratt, who also volunteers her time working with the Children’s Emergency Hostel and support groups for children with Down syndrome.

Tickets for the concert can be purchased at the door; $20 for adults, $15 for students and $10 for children six years old and under.

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Friday, January 25, 2019

Inside Weekend Interview 4-5 At 11 years old, Tia-Isabella Adderley is a budding swim champion who wants share her love of the sport with underprivileged kids

Books 7 Bahamian author shares her experience of living with a parent suffering from mental illness in ‘Don’t Despise Your Broken Pieces’

Fashion 8 - 9

Learn to ‘up-cycle’ with luxury handbag designer, plus the evolution of the power suit

Art 10 Dolphin Encounters fights marine pollution with new poster competition for students

Music 11, 13 Avvy has a ‘Sugar Sweet’ comeback, plus the Nassau Music Society celebrates its 50th anniversary season

Community 12 Teen entrepreneur quenches her thirst for success

Food 14 - 15

A new monthly dinner series brings the world to your table

Celebrity 16 The fashion highs and lows of the Producers Guild Awards

Film 17 - 18 ‘The Kid Who Would Be King’ offers a sweet, modern take on Arthurian legends, plus Oscar nominations 2019 are out

Gardening 19 Nourishment for the soil

Literary Lives 20 - 23 The unusual tale of the Bahamian snow goose

Forgotten Facts 24 - 25 Nothing but facts about Bahamian history

Puzzles 26

Animals 27 Dental care for your dog, plus Pet of the Week

My perfect Bahamian weekend Aisha Nesut Ani Photographer and business coach Q: Saturday breakfast or Sunday lunch?

“I’m definitely a Sunday brunch kind of girl. Early enough for waffles and late enough for a cocktail.”

Q: Wine, rum, cocktail or Kalik?

“That’ll be a glass of Bollinger Rosé, s’il vous plaît.”

Q: Beach or sofa?

“Ahhh... beach! Or should I say a sofa in the shade on the beach with my favourite magazines?”

Q: What is the one thing that

you can’t live without?

“At this point in my life, I can’t imagine not having access to the worldwide web.”

Q: Weekend away, where

would you go?

It depends on the experience I’m going for. Exuma if I plan on doing a lot of beaching and boating, or Harbour Island if I want that chic island charm.

Things 2 Do this weekend Friday

Saturday

Time: 10am - 4pm (continues Saturday and Sunday)

Time: 9am Venue: The National Art Gallery of the Bahamas

• Stepping Stone Quilters Exhibit For over 32 years, the Stepping Stone Quilters have kept the unique art of quilting alive in the Bahamas. Each year, the group has an exhibit where they showcase their work: traditional quilts for beds, baby quilts and mats, wall hangings, cushion covers, table runners and many more practical and useful items.

• People to People Tea Party

Time: 3pm Venue: Government House

The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism is sponsoring a complimentary tea party hosted by various prominent Bahamian women. You can enjoy local bush teas, live music, view a fashion show by local designers, and sample locallymade sandwiches and pastries.

• Health and Wellness Happy Hour

Time: 6pm Venue: Bahamas Co-Operative League Building Find out how you can have a healthy mind and body in 2019 at this informative event.

• Teen Portfolio Workshop

This free workshop is designed to help aspiring young artists applying for entry into college/ universities create a successful portfolio and gives helpful tips on the application process.

• Introduction to Wine Time: 11am - 2.30pm Venue: 1er Cru Prepare your palates for an incredible wine-tasting class with resident wine experts Rusty Scates and Kyle Stubbs.

Tickets available at 1er Cru for $50. Spaces are limited.

• 47th Annual Bahamas Red Cross Ball

Time: 7pm Venue Baha Mar

Bahamas Red Cross invites guests to experience ‘Touche de Rouge’ during ‘An Evening in Paris’ for its 47th annual ball. Cocktails are at 7pm, dinner at 8pm.

• Burns Supper hosted by Rotary East Nassau and the Nassau Yacht Club

Time: 7pm

Venue: Nassau Yacht Club

You are invited to celebrate the famous poet Robert “Rabbie” Burns with a traditional Scottish dinner and premium whisky for the toast. There will be a bagpiper and enough “water of life” to have a merry time, as well as a grand raffle. Tickets are $85 per person.

Sunday

• Strut Your Mutt 2019

Time: 2.30pm - 5.30pm Venue: Goodman’s Bay

The event works like a walkathon, fun for both two-legged and fourlegged participants. You collect sponsors and the people who collect the highest amount wins fantastic prizes. There will also be a raffle, with more great prizes to win. All proceeds go towards Baark! spay and neuter efforts.

Registration on the day is $25 for adults and $15 for children (under 16). The walk is approximately 1.2 miles along Baha Mar Boulevard.

• Sunday Cool Down

Time: 7pm - 11pm Venue: Balmoral Club

Enjoy good music and good company before you start your week. The Tingum Dem band will be performing and have huge surprise in store.

04 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, January 25, 2019

interview At only 11 years old she is already a budding swim champion and an exemplary student. Now, she tells Cara Hunt, she wants to share her love of the water with underprivileged youth through her new charity

Tia-Isabella Adderley

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ia-Isabella Adderley may be only 11 years old, but she has already made quite the name for herself.

Not only is she a competitive swimmer who has represented the Bahamas abroad and made the Prinicipal’s List at Summit Academy, she is also the founder of Tia’s Swim Dreams, a charity designed to introduce her sport to underprivileged kids and to encourage people of all ages to embrace water safety.

She learned to swim at the age of five after she discovered she loved being in the pool.

“I decided that ditching the glass slippers and putting on flippers was something I wanted to do from a very young age. I developed a love and passion for swimming at the age of five years old,” she said.

She started the basic learn-to-swim programme and quickly moved up to competitive swimming two years later.

The sixth grader is now a competitive swimmer with the Mako Aquatics Club and has received numerous swim and academic awards as well as medals throughout her school years and at the RBC Bahamas Nationals Championship

She has also made her mark as a member of Team Bahamas, having recently represented the country at the 2018 Goodwill Games which were held in Barbados. She won five medals while there.

As a competitive swimmer, Tia has had to learn to juggle school with her intense practice and competitive schedule.

“The hardest part about being a competitive swimmer is the extensive swim schedule which entails swimming every day as well as waking up for morning swims that begin at 5.45am,” she said.

“My practice schedule is six evenings a week from 5pm to 7pm and two morning swims a week from 5.45am to 7am.”

As if that weren’t enough, on Tuesdays and Thursdays land training is also added to that schedule. Additionally, Tia plays the drums at the Noo School of Arts.

“Staying focused to swim requires a lot of discipline as I’m also a Principals List student. I have to balance my time wisely,” she explained.

“The most enjoyable part of swimming is doing well at swim meets and winning medals. I also enjoy the competition.”

The Tribune | Weekend | 05

Friday, January 25, 2019

“I decided that ditching the glass slippers and putting on flippers was something I wanted to do from a very young age.”

While Tia has mastered all four swim strokes, her specialties are the breaststroke and freestyle.

“I mainly compete in the 50m and 200m breaststroke and freestyle. My upcoming goal is to make the 2019 CARIFTA team and my long-term goal is to compete and medal in the Olympics.”

While the quest for Olympic glory is ambitious enough in itself, Tia doesn’t want to stop there. She has added yet another venture to her already full plate – creating her own charity.

“Tia’s Swim Dreams was established in 2017. This came about as I thought it was extremely important for everyone to learn how to swim, as we live on an island surrounded by water. It is quite important that everyone should at least know the basics of swimming to get to safety in the event that they are in trouble,” she explained.

“My love for swimming allows me to share my talents with underprivileged children. I’ve received sponsorships from companies that have allowed me to supply them with basic swim equipment to give to kids who are unable to afford them.”

One of the latest contributors came from another young lady who started her own charity, Ribbons of Life by Teja Munnings.

“In the near future, my goal for Tia’s Swim Dreams is to start summer swim camps for underprivileged children. So far, I have given presentations on tips, organised swim drives to collect gently used items for underprivileged kids as well as given customised Tia’s Swim Dreams towels and swim equipment to a local children’s home,” said Tia.

Two young community leaders: Teja Munnings (left), founder of Ribbons for Life, and Tia-Isabella Adderley, founder of Tia’s Swim Dreams.

“The kids at the home are eager to get in the water and learn how to swim.

They are also very attentive and ask many questions when I give my presentations. I’ve also given presentations to younger kids and they all enjoy them.

I’m glad to spend time with them and share my knowledge on swimming.

“My favourite quote is, ‘If you never try, you’ll never know’, and I want to prove to all kids that trying new things can bring positive results. I’m super excited about giving back and look forward to assisting kids one swim at a time,” she added.

Tia’s mother, Dania Ferguson, told Tribune Weekend that she is extremely proud of her daughter.

“I’m grateful. To see a child at such a young age wanting to give back makes my heart smile and reminds me that I’m doing something right. Tia-Isabella has the kindest heart. She is such a dedicated, determined and disciplined young lady, I’m sure this is just a glimpse of all the amazing things that she will do in the future,” she said.

If you would like to donate to Tia’s Swim Dreams, gently used items such as swimsuits, swim trunks, swim caps, goggles, prescription goggles, kick boards, pull buoys and fins are all appreciated. Check out ‘Tia’s Swim Dreams’ on Facebook.

06 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, January 25, 2019

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APP

Take us with you Everywhere you go!

The Tribune | Weekend | 07

Friday, January 25, 2019

books

How to love the broken

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

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t her lowest point, Daliesha Murray once contemplated suicide, overwhelmed by feelings of hurt and shame. But tomorrow, the young author will experience one of her life’s high points when she officially debuts her book “Don’t Despise Your Broken Pieces”. The book tells her story, the challenges she faced, and overcame, growing up as the daughter of a woman suffering from mental illness.

“Every time I pick up the book and look at the cover I remember the girl that was running from who she was because she was embarrassed to know what people think of her or accept her for what she is going through,” Daliesha told Tribune Weekend.

“While visiting my mother regularly at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre and waiting to see her doctor along with other family members who were waiting also, at times I would engage in friendly conversations. We would talk about the struggles with dealing with either a mother, sister, or daughter at the centre and I found myself encouraging others even though I was faced with my own situation. Everything in the book is real, this is my personal testimony that I never thought I would share with the world. Hiding behind a mask, I am reminded daily that it is

not about me, it is for the will of the Lord to be done.”

During her darkest hours, she said, she felt as if she had nowhere to turn to, until she felt a divine presence.

“Unfortunately, the hurt, shame, pain and worries were just too much for me where I was at a point contemplating suicide, but for the grace of God. He kept me together,” she said.

Working on the book, Daliesha explained, gave her a new perspective on her life with her mother and opened up “a whole new world” which until then she had not fully understood.

She had always envisioned herself helping other young women around her, but never dreamt about

becoming an author. Not until one day, after attending church, her pastor spoke to her, telling her that whatever she was going through was not meant to hurt her, as she had been equipped by the Lord to be able to overcome. Although she was nervous to pursue writing a book about her personal experiences, she trusted God to guide her. And she decided to follow her motto: “Humble myself under the Almighty God and watch Him do the lifting.”

Daliesha’s book, “Don’t Despise Your Broken Pieces”, will officially to be released this Saturday at the Bible Book Store in Palmdale Shopping Plaza. The launch event will held from 12noon to 3pm.

“The book will encourage the readers and the audience the Lord has for me to reach that your broken pieces will be the vehicle that will take you where you need to go,” she said.

The top 10 books on Apple’s iBooks-US

By The Associated Press

1. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens 2. Becoming by Michelle Obama 3. Educated by Tara Westover 4. No Second Chance

by Harlan Coben 5. An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen 6. Liar Liar by James Patterson and Candice Fox 7. Deal with the Devil

by Meghan March 8. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo 9. The Perfect Girl by Gilly MacMillan 10. The Reckoning by John Grisham

08 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, January 25, 2019

fashion

Learn to ‘up-cycle’ at new bag-making workshop Londonbased luxury brand comes to Nassau

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

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F you have ever wanted a bag that can be re-used as many times as possible, local designer Anya “Willique” Pratt will show you how to create one yourself.

Anya, who launched the Londonbased brand of high-end bags called “Willique”, is hosting a special handson workshop at the Craft Cottage in Nassau on February 16. She will teach participants how to craft their own beautiful re-usable shopper bags using eco-friendly materials as well as a T-shirt to get started. Additional décor accents will be given to participants so they can add personality and a “unique spirit” to the bag.

The workshop is designed to teach how simple everyday items can be reused. It will also help to create a space to speak on issues of sustainability and introduce the concept of re-using and minimising the carbon footprint, said Anya.

“Fast fashion has made us forget the idea of repairing and up-cycling our clothes. Millions of clothing worldwide has been thrown away and is sitting in landfills which are can add to the greenhouse effect,” she said.

Willique is part of the slow fashion, or conscious fashion, movement that has arisen in recent years in opposition to fast fashion, which often introduces new styles to stores every few weeks.

The conscious fashion movement blames fast fashion for pollution – both in the production of clothes and in the

Local designer Anya Pratt and her London-based luxury brand “Willique” are coming to Nassau to host a special workshop at the Craft Cottage next month.

decay of synthetic fabrics – shoddy workmanship, using foreign sweatshops, and emphasising very brief trends over more enduring styles.

Anya’s hope is that the workshop not only connects with Bahamians and educates, but gets people to put the concept of up-cycling into practice.

“I was inspired by my a client actually. She had suggested a workshop that was based around eco-fashion and educating others after having a conversation with me on the ‘True Cost’, a great bio on the fashion industry and the effects it has on the

“Fast fashion has made us forget the idea of repairing and up-cycling our clothes. Millions of clothing worldwide has been thrown away and is sitting in landfills which are can add to the greenhouse effect.” environment. My love for design and educating others has now become a passion, thus the creation of the workshops. It also is a great way to meet and connect with others while on island,” she told Tribune Weekend.

The workshop will explore the concept of up-cycling; creating something from a common classic fashion item and re-using it.

Anya said participants will create a bag that can be versatile, one that can be taken to the beach, can be used for shopping, but will have a hint of style.

“They can use what they have learned to have a positive impact on the environment. They can also learn how to use the bag for everyday use.

Rethink and up-cycle before throwing away an item or clothing. Up-cycling she said is the new wave of gifting,” she said.

“It is the perfect blend of creating, learning and exploring whilst upcycling fashionably. Up-cycling, also known as creative reuse, is the process of transforming by-products, waste materials, useless, or unwanted products into new materials or products of better quality or for better environmental value.”

Those interested in craft, DIY projects, or with a desire to learn about sustainability and networking are all welcomed to join the workshop. Tickets can be found on eventbrite.com by searching ‘WILLIQUE WORKSHOP’. Spaces are limited.

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Friday, January 25, 2019

fashion

The evolution of the power suit

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

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HEY were once limited to professional wear, but now women’s suits are having their time in the style spotlight and are quickly becoming the go-to ensemble for just about any occasion.

Women are sporting suits at cocktail parties, banquets, and most recently, even weddings. And with celebrities wearing them to almost every red carpet event, it is clear women’s suits are no longer a peculiar or eccentric pick.

Local designer Gustavus Cox, founder of the Gustavus Augusta lifestyle brand, said he could not ignore the reality that women’s fashion is changing and wanted be a part of this evolution.

As a result, he recently launched a new venture: tailoring ladies’ bespoke suits.

The designing of womenswear has been something on the agenda since the brand’s inception, but it was only recently Gustavus decided to delve into suit-making for women.

Currently, the brand has access to hundreds of types of fabric in all colours and patterns, including plaids and stripes.

“My idea when I think of a woman wearing a suit, I imagine her being able to go from a more reserved look, hair-pulled-up day look, to a relaxed, loose curl night look, without having to change her outfit; pairing her suit with a steamy pair of stiletto heels and a must-have clutch in hand,” he told Tribune Weekend.

And depending on what kind of look a woman is aiming for will determine if she forgoes undergarments all together, he said.

“Depending on the cut of her lapel and how sexy of a look she is going for determines her choice of undergarment or lack there of. Depending on the look she’s trying to achieve also determines whether the suit calls for

a statement neck piece or maybe a large but more simple hoop earring.”

Several Bahamian women have who are keen on having a versatile suit as part of their wardrobe have already reached out to the designer.

As he grows his womenswear collection, Gustavus will still being paying equal attention to his male clientele, who are also seeking his services for bespoke suits.

Since 2015, Gustavus has been a provider of custom-tailored suits for men in the country. Two years ago, he launched a special collection of blazers to commemorate the 44th anniversary of Independence. The blazers were created under the theme “Skyline of Paradise” and depicted major

Bespoke women’s suits by Gustavus Augusta landmarks in Grand Bahama and New Providence.

As far as his process is concerned, the designer noted that his garments are precisely crafted, based on 25 measurements taken from the client’s body, ensuring a perfectly tailored fit.

Currently, the brand offers three types of suits, including a business fit, formal and formal brocade suits. All fabric used is made from top quality Italian wool, cashmere and brocade.

“There is a lot in store for the Gustavus Augusta brand. I see a bright future with major expansion,” he said.

10 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, January 25, 2019

art

Stop trashing our treasure!

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very piece of trash that makes its way into the ocean threatens the life of the animals that call it home and in a country with more than 3,400km of coastline. That trash, known as marine debris, also threatens the Bahamas’ livelihood.

To cultivate awareness of the importance of properly disposing of all garbage and encourage Bahamians to reduce, reuse and recycle, the Dolphin Encounters – Project BEACH 19th Annual Marine Education Poster contest challenges kindergarten through grade 12 students to creatively depict the topic “Marine Debris – Trashing our Treasure.”

“With our emphasis here at Blue Lagoon Island on protecting the

environment and taking care of marine animals, it’s only fitting that we use this year’s poster contest to further educate young Bahamians on the role we all play when it comes to keeping the ocean that surrounds us clear of trash,” said Te-Shalla Clarke, education supervisor at Blue Lagoon Island. “We are a tourist destination that relies on sun, sand and sea, so while it is critical that we keep our oceans clean so that marine animals have a safe environment to live in, doing so also ensures that we remain a place that tourists want to visit and that we as Bahamians can enjoy living in for generations to come.”

The most common types of trash that make their way into the waters surrounding the Bahamas are

cigarettes, food wrappers and fast food containers, cups, lids, straws, plastic bottles and utensils, aluminium cans, glass bottles and fishing nets. The debris is mostly a result of garbage being left behind by beach-goers and people who enjoy their lunch along the shore, however the Bahamas’ narrow islands mean that garbage not properly disposed of inland can also end up in the ocean.

Some trash – particularly plastics and fishing line – can last up to 600 years in the ocean, meaning countless mammals like dolphins and whales, as well as turtles, fish, crustaceans and even seabirds die as a result of entanglement or ingestion.

Students compete in four age group categories – kindergarten - grade 2; grade 3 - grade 5; grade 6 – grade 8 and grade 9 – grade 12. A panel of judges who are recognised for their work in the marine environment will select the top three entries in each grade category.

National prizes for winning entries include passes to exciting activities at Blue Lagoon Island, including Swim with the Dolphins, Sea Lion Encounter, Stingray Encounter, Beach Day, Segway Safari and even the Seaventure Summer Camp.

This year, to recognise the importance teachers play in educating and encouraging students on these critical topics, Dolphin Encounters Project BEACH will award the teacher of each first place student a choice of four Blue Lagoon Island beach day passes or two adult only VIP beach passes.

Another exciting addition to the Marine Education Poster Contest is the chance to compete

internationally for a trip to Cancun, Mexico. The original artwork of the qualifying finalists (ages 6-15) will be entered in the International Festival of the Oceans Drawing Contest hosted by Delphinus in Mexico. Winners of the international poster contest will win a free trip to Cancun.

The deadline for entry is March 1 and is open to kindergarten through grade 12 students throughout the Bahamas. National winners will be announced March 8, 2019 and hosted at an awards ceremony on Blue Lagoon Island on March 30.

Entries must be the student’s original freehand artwork and must represent this year’s theme - “Marine Debris – Trashing our Treasure”.

Entries must be submitted on 11x17 sized paper and designed using only pens, pencils, coloured pencils markers, crayons, watercolours or paints.

Charcoal, pastels, chalk, glitter, sand or paste-ons are not permitted. Stencil, tracing and computer graphics are also not permitted. Student names, ages and schools are not to be written on the artwork and instead, a completed application form must be attached to the back of the entry poster.

The 2019 Marine Education Poster Contest fact sheet and entry form can be downloaded from http://www.dolphinencounters.com/ education-programs/marine-educationposter-contest/. Teachers can also call Blue Lagoon Island Education at 363-7180 extension 303, or e-mail education@dolphinencounters.com.

Entry forms can also be picked-up at the Dolphin Encounters booth located at the Paradise Island Ferry Terminal.

The Tribune | Weekend | 11

Friday, January 25, 2019

music

The Nassau Music Society

celebrates 50th anniversary season

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ounded by the legendary E Clement Bethel, the Nassau Music Society is celebrating its 50th Anniversary Season with a programme of concerts and events highlighting its historical roots while also aiming to become even more relevant and connected to the local community.

NMS is a non-profit, charitable organisation, and its founding mission statement still rings true now: “To promote and encourage the art of music by organising concerts and other musical activities, and to provide financial and other assistance to students of music.”

Since then, with support from its membership, corporate sponsorship and private donations, NMS has consistently presented world-class concerts, offered hundreds of free master classes by visiting artists, extended its education and outreach initiatives, and provided scholarships and grants to many Bahamian music students for study abroad as well as at the University of the Bahamas.

The 50th anniversary concert series showcases a diverse programme of musicians and genres, ranging from a night at the opera and a jazz café, to classical flute and piano four hands. In recognition of one of its past presidents, NMS participated in the Bahamas National Youth Choir’s tribute to Cleophas Adderley last October.

In November, they presented a documentary film screening in partnership with the Bahamas International Film Festival (BIFF). A special concert for 400 primary

Duo Turgeon, a renowned husband and wife team, are the featured guest artists for January.

school children sponsored in part by the Charitable Arts Foundation and a jazz concert in the gardens of the Bahamas National Trust (BNT) round off the anniversary season.

Each visiting artist generally performs two concerts.

Concerts at St Paul’s Church Hall are generally classical and traditional, while The Current: Baha Mar Gallery & Art Centre features more contemporary and slightly alternative performances. Many top Bahamian musicians feature in NMS programming, with talented students opening each concert and local professional

musicians collaborating and performing alongside our visiting international artists.

JANUARY SCHEDULE The performing artists this month are Duo Turgeon, a husband and wife team from Canada who perform piano four hands. Renowned for playing with technical virtuosity, the duo enthrals audiences with 20 fingers united in perfect synchronicity on one piano.

During their stay in the Bahamas, they will perform in three separate events: a special concert for primary school children today, a fundraising concert at a private

home this Saturday, as well as the traditional Sunday afternoon concert at St Paul’s Church Hall, Lyford Cay. The concert for the primary students is called “Classical Sonic Safari!” and will take place at the University of the Bahamas Performing Arts Centre. It is designed to be an educational and engaging piano four hands concert that introduces age-appropriate classical music, including “Carnival of the Animals” by Camille Saint-Saens, to the youngsters.

Students and their teachers will be taken on a ‘sonic safari’ inspired by fantasies, animals and stories beloved

by generations of adults and children. Duo Turgeon will provide lively commentary about the pieces and a slide show of artwork created by local children will be projected during part of the concert providing a visual as well as aural experience that highlights the connection between music and art. Prior to the concert, students will be given lessons on the pieces as well as concert etiquette so that the experience is as meaningful as possible.

Well-known Bahamian actor and educator Dion Johnson will narrate part of the performance.

The concert, made possible in part with a grant from the Charitable Arts Foundation, is free for participating schools.

For Sunday’s concert at St Paul’s, starting at 5.30pm, Duo Turgeon has lined up classical favourites, hand-picked from 30 years of concerts around the world.

The programme will include “Carnival of the Animals” with the slide show of student-created artwork as well as selections from a diverse repertoire that ranges from Rachmaninoff to Gershwin.

Organisers are promising a “spectacular evening of classical music performed with hypnotic intensity by one of the top piano duos of our time.”

A complimentary glass of wine or soft drink will be served at intermission. Tickets are available online at www. thenassaumusicsociety.org or at three Custom Computers locations (Old Fort Town Centre, Cable Beach and Cotton Tree Plaza just before Harbour Bay).

12 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, January 25, 2019

community

Teen business owner quenches her thirst for success

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

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t 17 years old, Zaria Cleare found herself in the predicament where she was fired from a job that she was considered too young for.

After weeks of completing application forms and many interviews, she became frustrated hearing the words “we’re looking for someone with experience.” Zaria vented to her mother, asking her how she was to gain experience without anyone giving her a chance to.

Her mother encouraged her to not give up and suggested she focus on cooking and mixing drinks since these were things she enjoyed. If there

Zaria Cleare started her lemonade business at age 17. wasn’t a job out there for her, the best option was to create one.

“We talked about baked goods, we talked about lemonade, and we settled on lemonades. She showed me a few recipes online but I didn’t really like any of them. Instead, I used them as inspiration and created my own flavoured recipes with a twist. With that, Tirsty was born,” said Zaria, now 19 years old.

Tirsty currently offers 12 flavours of fruit-infused lemonades, from the more common strawberry and ginger to fun flavours like soursop, papaya, and cranberry. All are available sweetened and unsweetened by the gallon.

Further products also include chunky chip cookies, brownies, cinnamon buns, crescents and an assortment of fresh donuts.

“I like so many things about the Tirsty business venture. I like the opportunity to try out new things, meet tons of people from all walks of life, and just to see people enjoying something I created,” said Zaria. “It’s like watching your hard work pay off in smiles and positive comments. We don’t have a location as yet, but we are a pop-up café right now. We pop up at many local festivals and events.”

She said customers are often shocked when they find out how young she is.

“My most memorable client experience was at the two day Tru Tru Bahamian Festival. A Bahamian beauty queen tried my soursop lemonade and went on her Instagram to rave about it. This resulted in a lot of people

coming that same day and the next to try out what she had tried. I sold out of that flavour, and all flavours in fact, on both days,” said Zaria.

Zaria hopes that other young people who hear about her story will feel encouraged to create their own opportunities in life, like she did, especially those fresh out of high school or college.

“I see Tirsty going very far, an establishment that will be well respected, owned and operated by a young team.

I see Tirsty diversifying our products and expanding in ways to create more opportunities,” she said.

“We are going to have fun this year while making money of course. I have partnered with some cool people, including Tasia Jennings for the #staytirsty campaign coming soon, which will give exposure to persons under 25 doing great things.”

Zaria said she is thankful for the people around her, like her mother, whom she describes as a go-getter not afraid to take risks.

“She has a fearlessness about her like she can accomplish anything she puts her mind to. I want to be like that. I also hugely respect Pastor Sarah Jakes Roberts, as her life’s journey and her story is so powerful and inspirational. The modest way she dresses and her practical message, I just love and respect her,” said Zaria.

For more information about Tirsty, check out the company’s Facebook and Instagram pages, or e-mail at tirsty242@gmail.com.

The Tribune | Weekend | 13

Friday, January 25, 2019

music

Avvy has a ‘Sugar

Sweet’ comeback

“In a time where our culture is being somewhat ‘challenged’, this song for me is an all-around reminder of us as a people and my culture.”

“Yet it still carries a new age feel to

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

L

AYING low over the past two years has benefited local musician Avvy, who took the time to work on his production skills so he could release his newest rake n’ scrape track “Sugar Sweet”.

The single is Avvy’s attempt to showcase his new-found love of music production, a skill the artist said he will continue to develop.

“The last two years is what I would call preparation for this particular new year, 2019,” he told Tribune Weekend.

“I didn’t know it at the time but I was in a transformational period of my life where it was best for me to take a step back as an artist and focus on my personal growth so that I could successfully do my thing as an artist.

The thing that made me come back was the timing. I had just experienced a transformation. I feel that I’ve now found a way to bring more to the table and I’m now ready to share with my ever-so-faithful fans,.”

The new ‘Sugar Sweet’ single invokes the traditional rake n’ scrape sound.

“Sugar Sweet” was officially released early this month. It started off as a simple melody and morphed into something much more compelling.

“One day, after freestyling a bit, for some reason I couldn’t get past the ‘Sugar Sweet’ part. It’s like a song about an expression and at the time of writing the song that is how I was feeling. Now of course that feeling was

Music artist Avvy built on by a storyline filled with some very interesting happenings, but by the end of the song I;m sure everyone can relate to it in some way or another,” he said.

One of his favourite things about ‘Sugar Sweet” is that the track remains true to the traditional rake n’ scrape sounds.

it. In a time where our culture is being somewhat ‘challenged’, this song for me is an all-around reminder of us as a people and my culture,” he said.

In addition to his new single, Avvy there is still much more to come this year.

“We are in the early stages of discussing different concepts for an official video. Until the video is released, what we’ve done is created some merchandise that kinda tells the storyline on T-shirts, hoodies, cell phone cases et cetera. It’s a cool way to add a visual layer and also allows the fans to support the effort,” he said.

With Dr Dre behind him, Anderson .Paak is feeling epic NEW YORK (AP) — Getting Dr Dre to produce his entire album had Anderson .Paak feeling like “the prodigal son,” as he put it, since it’s rare that you’ll find Dre overseeing an entire music project these days.

“To see him so inspired and genuinely having fun with a project is really dope, because I don’t feel like he’s been this involved with a project probably since Eminem’s first stuff,” said Paak, now signed to Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment.

That project is “Oxnard,” named after Paak’s California hometown.

Released last month, it’s the third volume in his “beach series,” following

2014’s “Venice” and 2016’s Grammynominated “Malibu.”

Paak, an eclectic musician who blends funk, hip-hop and R&B, was featured on six songs from Dre’s latest album, 2016’s “Compton.”

“I remember when we wrapped up (Dre) was like, ‘Thank you, man. I know this is helping you, but it’s also helping me a lot,’” Paak said. “I feel like it gave him a spark again.”

Dre isn’t the only famous name to appear on “Oxnard,” Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, J Cole, Q-Tip and Pusha T also are on the album.

Paak, a church-grown percussionist, describes his latest work as “fun,” but “same man, new car.”

The musician’s unique sound has been spreading throughout the industry, and he’s well aware of it: “I’m looking at some of these dudes like, ‘Mo-fo, that sounds like me! What the hell?’”

He said though he’s “flattered,” he hopes it creates a resurgence of musicianship in rap.

“I would love to open up a lane for more musician-rappers in hip-hop, more people playing an instrument and performing in hip-hop, which is something you really don’t see too often,” he said.

GARY GERARD HAMILTON Associated Press

Anderson .Paak (Photo/Taylor Jewell/Invision/AP)

14 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, January 25, 2019

The Tribune | Weekend | 15

Friday, January 25, 2019

food

The world at your table New dinner series features foreign cuisines with local ingredients

A

lexandra MaillisLynch has always been interested in sustainable development when it comes to how Bahamians feed themselves.

“I have always been about sustainable development and making sure that we as a country begin to change the way we eat. And if we want to change that then we have to begin with a change in mindset, she told Tribune Weekend.

And she has also sought to use her culinary abilities to encourage Bahamians to expand their palates and to use locally sourced products to create not just native dishes, but to embrace the cultures of other countries as well.

When she first started her culinary company, Events by Alexandra, almost two decades ago, she said people were a lot less adventurous in trying new dishes than they are today.

“But I have seen a change over the last decade or two, they are trying new food, whether because they are travelling more or being exposed in other ways,” she noted.

This year, she is embarking on a new adventure – a series of monthly dinners designed to introduce her patrons to other cultures.

Alexandra partnered with renowned local artist Antonius Roberts to create “A Place at Our Table” – a monthly dinner club where guests can enjoy a culinary adventure through taste, atmosphere and music.

The first event in the series was held on January 18 and was a Vietnamese family-style five-course dinner held at Hillside House.

“I think that it all went down very well, no one was rude or scornful and I

was very pleased with the evening,” she said.

And the event was actually sold out well in advance.

The evening’s tasting menu included traditional Vietnamese dishes such as shrimp toast, crunchy fried squid, roasted duck bites, grilled pork, fresh

(PHOTOS/HILLSIDE HOUSE AND KATHERINE CHISHNALL OF EVENTS BY ALEXANDRA)

Boneless stuffed chicken wings simmered in caramel sauce with pickled bean sprouts

Grilled pork in lemongrass skewers

“I wanted to show diners how you can take the local ingredients available to you and use them in new and tasty ways that you may never have thought of.”

Fried banana and coconut tartlets

Crunchy fried squid

Green papaya salad

spring rolls, a green papaya salad, and a trio of deserts – fried banana, sesame cookies and coconut tartlets.

“A lot of the ingredients used at the dinner were locally sourced. I wanted to show diners how you can take the local ingredients available to you and use them in new and tasty ways that you may never have thought of,” said Alexandra.

For example, she said that while most Bahamians eat papaya as a fruit, in some parts of the world they prepare and serve it like a vegetable, like in a salad at dinner.

Moving forward, Alexandra says they plan to feature dinners featuring the cuisine of Ethiopia, Brazil/ Latin America and New Orleans.

Every dinner will offer a slightly different ambience to reflect the dining habits of the region in question.

She noted that the Vietnamese dinner was served family style, which is how extended families in that region enjoy meals, whereas the Latin American night would probably feature lots of music and dancing, lending itself to a larger event. And she said that when it comes to the New Orleans dinner, she is excited to call on local jazz performers to take part in the event.

16 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, January 25, 2019

celebrity The Weekend Fashion Report 30th Producers Guild Awards

FAIL

FAIL

HIT

FAIL

SPLIT

Regina Hall ”Black Monday”

Amy Adams ”Sharp Objects”

Kate Beckinsale ”The Widow”

Emma Stone ”The Favourite”

Karin says: “That sleeve is all kinds of wrong. It’s too big, too puffy, it’s sheer (which doesn’t work at all), and it looks like it was shabbily sown on. This is not the kinda statement Amy should be making. I’m all for some eccentric touches, but this is just ugly.”

Cara says: “This is a hard one.

I had to look at it a few times because I could not figure out if I liked it or not. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what was wrong, but I think it’s the puff on the shoulder. To me it just dates the dress like ‘Dynasty’ shoulder pads. And I’m not feeling that green snake skin clutch either.”

Karin says: “I can’t believe she has managed to keep that waist after all these years.

Kudos! As for the gown, while it is a bit prom-esque, I do like it. The design on the bodice is very pretty. It’s revealing, but not tacky.”

Cara says: “This dress is sexy and glamorous and I like it a lot. The plunge neckline is tasteful... unlike sooo many we have seen ... and I love the loose updo. It’s classy and fancy. And we always, well mostly, like a big skirt.”

Karin says: “OK, yellow is definitely not Emma’s colour, at least not this shade. I don’t know, the whole thing – the dry looking dark red hair, the makeup, the necklace and the cut of this dress – just makes it look like she’s going to perform at some sad revue show for has-beens.”

Cara says: “I really don’t like this. She looks like a banana.

This dress and the weird hair style and the make-up just really age her. Such a bizarre choice. Self-sabotage, perhaps? This is a complete fail for me.”

Octavia Spencer ”Green Book”, executive producer

Karin says: “This looks like cheap, plastic version of what ladies wore under the voluminous gowns in bygone eras...or like a dress she fashioned from a discarded shower curtain, I can’t decide.

It looks unfinished. And then there is the total lack of bling.”

Cara says: “It may be gold and sparkly, but it still looks like she is wearing a slip one wears underneath a gown. She didn’t even try accessorise it to make it look more appealing.

This is horrid; a terribly lazy attempt.”

Karin says: “She looks like she’s going to a business meeting not an awards show. Maybe she didn’t feel like dressing up; maybe she already has so many other awards shows lined for which big gowns are necessary that she couldn’t be bothered here.”

Cara says: “Very basic and simple and a little boring (like a mature version of the LBD), but it works and she looks nice. But a bit of sparkle never hurt anyone, so if you added some jewellery, Octavia... that’s all I’m saying.”

PHOTOS/CHRIS PIZZELLO/INVISION/AP

With Karin Herig and Cara Hunt

The Tribune | Weekend | 17

Friday, January 25, 2019

film

review

A goofy, sweet and modern spin on Arthurian legend THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING RUNNING TIME: 132 MINS

Louis Ashbourne Serkis stars as “The Kid Who Would Be King”. (Photo/Kerry Brown)

T

more violence, gore and nudity. “The Kid Who Would Be King” reclaims the fantasy genre for actual kids of today.

And it’s not even set in the 1980s.

You can thank writer and director Joe Cornish for the restraint (although the score is pretty heavy on the synths). The film is his follow-up to “Attack the Block,” the cult sci-fi hit that helped put “Star Wars’” John Boyega on the map. Here he introduces audiences to some other young talents to watch, including Louis Ashbourne Serkis, Andy Serkis’ son, as the would-be-king, Alex.

he Arthurian legend gets a modern and more youthful spin in “The Kid Who Would Be King ,” a surprisingly delightful film full of action, heart, a crazy-haired Patrick Stewart (as “old” Merlin) and a few genuinely good gags, and it really couldn’t have come at a better time.

It’s an Amblin-esque movie about fantasy, geek culture and outcasts that’s actually been made for modern kids — not nostalgic adults who crave both the cozy comfort of the things they grew up with, but, like, with way

The top

10

movies on Apple’s iTunes

Alex is a normal and slightly dorky lower-middle class British schoolkid, living with his mom (Denise Gough).

He struggles with everyday stuff — waking up on time, completing his school assignments and protecting his buddy, Bedders (a truly wonderful Dean Chaumoo), from schoolyard bullies named Lance and Kaye, but he’s trying his best.

Then one night, running from Lance (Tom Taylor) and Kaye (Rihanna Dorris), Alex spots a sword in the middle of a construction site and removes it from the stone with ease.

He and Bedders plug the inscription

into Google translate and try to keep their imaginations in check when they realize that it might be real, but, both the audience and the boys will fail at this.

From here, the film just gets grander and weirder, with the introduction of Young Merlin (featuring a brilliant comedic performance from Angus Imrie), and the enemy, Morgana (Rebecca Ferguson). Morgana, we’re told, is Arthur’s power-crazy half-sister who has been waiting for centuries for the perfect moment to rise. Although Brexit isn’t explicitly mentioned, it is the not-so-subtle context for all of this.

When creatures start attacking at night, Bedders and Alex decide to enlist Lance and Kaye to help. They might be bullies, but they’re also the strongest, and Alex figures it’s worth the risk. And what follows is a big, classic quest as the four kids journey through the countryside and learn about sword fighting, the chivalric code, teamwork, trust, and the Lady of the Lake (who can be conjured in any body of water). Although basically unknowns, all the young actors have charm to spare and carry the film admirably.

“The Kid Who Would Be King” really is quite a sweet and well-told reimagining of this story that’s fit for the whole family. And it is refreshing that it’s not trying to be too dark or edgy, although it definitely overstays its welcome, clocking in at over two hours. But it’s a small price to pay for something so enjoyable on its own that might also just get some kids to start reading about Arthur and Lancelot as well.

LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer

iTunes charts up until January 22, 2019 1. Bohemian Rhapsody 2. A Star Is Born (2018) 3. Split (2017) 4. Dr Seuss’ the Grinch 5. A Simple Favour 6. Once Upon a Deadpool 7. First Man 8. Unbreakable (2000) 9. Crazy Rich Asians 10. The Old Man & the Gun Rami Malek stars as Fre

ddie Mercury

18 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, January 25, 2019

film

Fun facts and figures from this year’s

Oscar nominations

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Some fun and interesting facts about Tuesday’s nominations for the 91st Academy Awards:

• After more than 30 years and some two dozen films, Spike Lee received his first Academy Award nomination for best director for “BlacKkKlansman.” It’s also the first time one of his movies has been nominated for best picture.

• Glenn Close’s best actress nomination for “The Wife” is her seventh, and could finally mean her first Oscar. She has more nominations without a win than any other living actor or actress.

• “Black Panther” is the first Marvel movie — and the first superhero film of any kind — to be nominated for best picture. Its $700 million box-office take is more than the earnings of the other

Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga in “A Star is Born” seven best-picture nominees combined.

• “Roma” is the first Netflix film to be nominated for best picture.

• Sam Elliott’s first Oscar nomination — for best supporting actor in “A Star Is Born” — comes 50 years after his first acting credit, on the TV series “Judd for the Defense.”

• Rami Malek, nominated for playing Queen

The nominees for the main categories of the 91st Academy Awards Best picture “Black Panther,” ‘‘BlacKkKlansman,” ‘‘Bohemian Rhapsody,” ‘‘The Favourite,” ‘‘Green Book,” ‘‘Roma,” ‘‘A Star Is Born,” ‘‘Vice”

Best director “Alfonso Cuaron, “Roma”; Spike Lee, “BlacKkKlansman”; Pawel Pawlikowski, “Cold War”; Yorgos Lanthimos, “The Favourite”; Adam McKay, “Vice”

(l-r) Director Spike Lee with actors Topher Grace and Adam Driver on the set of “BlacKkKlansman”.

frontman Freddie Mercury in “Bohemian Rhapsody,” is the only first-time Oscar nominee among the men up for best actor. He’s up against multiple nominees Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Viggo Mortensen and Willem Dafoe.

• Yalitza Aparicio’s nomination for “Roma” comes in her first role as an actress.

• This is the second of Hollywood’s four versions of “A

Best actor Christian Bale, “Vice”; Bradley Cooper, “A Star Is Born”; Rami Malek, “Bohemian Rhapsody”; Viggo Mortensen, “Green Book”; Willem Dafoe, “At Eternity’s Gate”

Best actress Yalitza Aparicio, “Roma”; Glenn Close, “The Wife”; Olivia Colman, “The Favourite”; Lady Gaga, “A Star Is Born”; Melissa McCarthy, “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”

Best supporting actor Mahershala Ali, “Green Book”; Sam Elliott, “A Star Is Born”; Adam Driver, “BlacKkKlansman”; Richard E. Grant, “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”; Sam Rockwell, “Vice” Best supporting actress Amy Adams, “Vice”; Marina de Tavira, “Roma”; Regina King, “If

Star Is Born,” to get a best picture nomination, along with the 1937 original. The 1954 and 1976 versions each got several Oscar nominations, but not for best picture.

• No women were nominated for best director this year. The number of female directorial nominees in the 91-year history of the Oscars remains five.

Black Panther/T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman)

Beale Street Could Talk”; Emma Stone, “The Favourite”; Rachel Weisz, “The Favourite”

Original Song “When A Cowboy Trades His Spurs For Wings” from “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs,” music and lyrics

by David Rawlings and Gillian Welch; “All The Stars” from “Black Panther,” music by Mark Spears, Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, Anthony Tiffith

• Eighty-seven countries submitted movies to be considered for best foreign language film. Five got nominations : Germany, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico and Poland.

• Bob Hope hosted the Oscars a record 19 times. No one is scheduled to host this year’s ceremony.

By The Associated Press

and lyrics by Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, Anthony Tiffith and Solana Rowe; “I’ll Fight” from “RBG,” music and lyrics by Diane Warren; “The Place Where Lost Things Go” from “Mary Poppins Returns,” music

by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman; “Shallow” from “A Star Is Born,” music and lyrics by Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando and Andrew Wyatt.

Documentary feature “Free Solo,” ‘‘Hale County This Morning, This Evening,” ‘‘Minding the Gap,” ‘‘Of Fathers and Sons,” ‘‘RBG.”

Best animated film “Incredibles 2,” ‘‘Isle of Dogs,” ‘‘Mirai,” ‘‘Ralph Breaks the Internet,” ‘‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.”

By The Associated Press

The Tribune | Weekend | 19

Friday, January 25, 2019

gardening

Nourishment for the soil Given the ‘newness’ of the Bahamas in geological terms, it it important to keep our soil nourished if we want to grow anything, says Jack Hardy

W

e use fertilizer to feed our plants, the regular constituents being nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. These are the macro nutrients and are followed in importance by the secondary nutrients magnesium, calcium, sulphur, manganese and copper. Plants also need the micro nutrients iron, zinc, boron and molybdenum that are only required in very small quantities and are often referred to as trace elements.

Gardeners and farmers worldwide grow crops and by so doing deplete the soil of macro nutrients. Before new crops are grown, fertilizer containing these elements is added to the soil to bring it back up to standard. The depletion of secondary and micro nutrients is small and replacement is often unnecessary. Not so in the Bahamas, unfortunately. Most of the Earth’s soil was created over millions of years, but our island home is very new in geological terms, being coral outgrowths on top of huge undersea mountains. Our soil will be fine in another 10 to 20 million years,

but until then we must be a little more circumspect when we replenish our soil than growers in, say, Nebraska.

You can tailor your fertilizer needs to suit your main crop. 6-6-6 fertilizer is fine for most vegetables but giant citrus groves will use fertilizer lighter on the nitrogen and heavier on the potassium; coconut farms will use fertilizer with a higher ratio of magnesium and manganese than usual; and so on. For the home gardener the easiest way to adjust fertilizer is to add the missing elements in suitable amounts to regular 6-6-6. These are called additives and form a huge market.

I checked the internet and found hundreds of different types of additive, a few being liquid seaweed, humic acids, kelp, liquid calcium, chelated iron, Epsom salts, and zinc.

Tucked away amongst these was Superthrive.

Superthrive has been around for a long time, is usually sold in small bottles because the regular dosage is ¼ teaspoon to a gallon of water, and

gets its kick from vitamins. Scientists, however, seem to be undecided on the role of vitamins in plants. Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat soluble.

Vitamin E has been used as a plant supplement and may help plants survive very cold conditions. That leaves Vitamins B (eight of them) and Vitamin C, the water-soluble vitamins. Tests at University of California, Davis indicate Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) does not appear to affect the growth of plants even though claims have been made for it in the growing of marijuana in particular.

University of California, Riverside biologists have tested plants with Vitamin C and say it might improve the processes of photosynthesis within plants. Plants produce vitamins in abundance – just think of all the Vitamin C we get from a vast array of fruits – and you would think if a vitamin was helpful to any aspect of plant health, plants would produce their own.

Bring up the subject of Superthrive at a meeting of gardeners and you will almost certainly have a great

degree of polarisation: those who believe in its attributes and those who think it is phony.

A few months ago I was gifted with a small package (one pound) of Azomite. I had never heard of it before and I found its provenance very interesting. The name Azomite may sound very scientific but is both an acronym and a mnemonic: A to Z Of Minerals Including The Elements.

Azomite is a volcanic dust product that is basically a silica ore produced some 30 million years ago and is mined in Utah. The product is milled to different degrees of fineness, from granular to talc. The fine version allows plant roots and tissue a great degree of absorption.

It is claimed that Azomite contains 67 trace minerals. The obvious question is: Are all of these minerals necessary? The assurance one has is that Azomite will provide traces of any mineral that is missing in local soil. The official analysis, which does not include trace elements, is 0-0-0.2.

I decided to use my Azomite in three large containers holding citrus trees. The accepted procedure for additives is to have the soil in a dry state, mix the additive with water, and apply just enough so the water dampens the soil without running through to the drainage holes. Next day the tubs can be fully drenched with lone water. I did this but cannot tell you if the Azomite is benefitting my trees. Small scale gardening analysis is very subjective.

One feature of Azomite I found very interesting: It can be added to livestock feed up to two percent by weight to provide trace nutrients to living creatures. Can it then be used by human beings? Not according to the manufacturers. To go on sale to the public the product would have to undergo years of testing under the stringent rules set by the FDA. Any indications that the product improves health would have to be scientifically verifiable. You can sell and make all kinds of extravagant claims for plant food, but not for human food.

• For queries and comments e-mail jacktribune242@gmail.com

20 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, January 25, 2019

literary lives

tale Bahamian snowgoose The

of the

Sir Christopher Ondaatje talks about the extraordinary arrival of a snow goose in the Bahamas and its dilemma of whether to stay in its unnatural home or fly away to colder climes.

I

spent New Year’s Day on my favourite two-hundred acre island, Hog Cay, off the northwest coast of Long Island in the Bahamas.

It is a magical paradise, not just because my hosts were the wellknown New Providence lawyer Peter Graham and his charming wife Irene, but because his flock of West Indian whistling ducks – now over a thousand – are an ornithological phenomenon. He feeds them every morning and every evening, and they purposefully make their way onto the “dance floor” or feeding platform to feast on the buckets of corn he sprinkles dutifully for the invading ducks.

The Tribune | Weekend | 21

Friday, January 25, 2019

whistling ducks, once common, are now declining and endangered throughout their entire range, and it is a marvellous sight to see them waddling out from their shady mangrove haunts in the early evening to their recognised feeding ground. The birds are much more common in Cuba.

It is from the duck’s shrilly whistled “chiriria, chiriria” that one of its common Spanish names is derived.

Curiously, the birds now even nest on Hog Cay, cleverly hiding their nests under mangrove bushes, lining a scrape in the ground with fallen leaves and other loose vegetation. If you are lucky enough to find a nest you will notice that the brooding duck will not flush from its nest (where it lays between four to as many as 16 eggs) until the very last instant, making no alarm call.

The birds seem quite at home on the island – and why wouldn’t they be.

They have all the protection and food they need and have only to be wary of the occasional red-tailed hawk or some unwanted trespassing human.

So imagine my surprise when, on New Year’s Eve last year, as we were having our first “sundowner” overlooking the feeding platform on Hog Cay that we saw, among the swarm of brown colourated whistling ducks with their unique black markings and erect stance, an all-white much larger bird with a pink bill and pink legs. Surely it couldn’t be? But it was... a snow goose.

What a surprise! Definitely a snow goose. Its wing tips had distinctive black markings and it waddled dominantly among the smaller whistling ducks that seem to get out of its way as it headed for the “dance floor”. It was a beautiful bird. Curiously, which I did not know, snow geese and whistling ducks are distantly related and are considered as being in the same species of waterfowl. The Grahams had kept their secret from me, and kept it well.

The snow goose is an herbivore. It generally feeds in water-logged soil or shallow water and eats a variety of plant species and parts, from aquatic plants to grasses and sometimes grain.

However the snow goose on Hog Cay was perfectly comfortable eating the corn which Peter Graham provided in such abundance for the whistling ducks. In fact, it greedily scooped up what it could from the feeding platform and away from its smaller cousins. Its pink bill stood out and different from the black bills of the whistling ducks.

Its pink feet too were obviously different from the dark-greenish legs of the whistling ducks – the largest and rarest

The snow goose among a flock of whistling ducks on Hog Cay.

The snow goose and its faithful friend of the eight species of whistling ducks found throughout the world’s tropical regions.

After the ducks’ feeding was over – perhaps a little over half an hour

later – the ducks wandered off into the mangrove bushes where they spent most of the night and day. It was getting dark anyway and it was time for us to have our dinner. But we continued

to watch the snow goose eat the corn – even after the other whistling ducks had made their noisy departure. We also noticed that one whistling duck stayed behind with the snow goose.

They seemed to have formed a bond and - even during the daylight hours – could be seen together. They seemed inseparable and evidently had been together for the month or so after the Grahams had first noticed the goose and its unlikely companion. Eventually they too wandered off into the bushes and were not seen again until the next day. We discussed the pairing – and although it was unlikely – the thought crossed our minds that the odd couple might be a mating pair. Surely this was impossible.

The snow goose breeds north of the timberline in Greenland, Canada, Alaska, and the northeastern tip of Siberia. It does, however, spend winters in warm parts of North America from southwestern British Columbia through parts of the United States and Mexico. They fly as far South as Texas and Mexico every winter, and return to Continues on page 22

22 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, January 25, 2019

Snow geese arriving at their winter destination Continued from page 21 nest on the Arctic tundra each spring.

Geese are a rare vagrant to Europe but are sometimes seen in the British Isles where they mix with flocks of Barnacle, Brent, and Greenland white-fronted geese. Every now and then the occasional snow goose is also seen in Central America. So it may not be strange that the solitary snow goose we saw on Hog Cay in the Bahamas was where it was. It may have become disoriented on its long flight south from the Arctic, or it may have been attracted by the large flock of whistling ducks which it saw as it flew over the islands. Another thing we learned was that the snow goose has two colour plumage morphs: the white – except for the black wing tips, and the blue morph which have a bluish-grey plumage replacing the white except on the head, neck and tail tip. Both white snow geese and blue morph geese have rose-pink feet and legs, and pink bills with black tomia. Both birds are very vocal and can be heard a mile away.

They also interbreed and the offspring can be either white or blue. They were once thought to be two separate species – but they are now considered two colour phases of the same species.

Thus it did not seem impossible to us that the snow goose on Hog Cay might mate with its whistling duck companion. We waited to see and probably hoped for the improbable.

All through the next day – New Year’s Day – we watched the snow goose whenever it appeared out of the shadows or the bushes around the waterhole near the road leading to the Hog Cay harbour. The bird always had its whistling duck partner. They always seemed to be foraging together and paid no attention to the other ducks who congregated together on the stony leeward shore under the few coastal casuarina and sea grape trees that provided the shade that the ducks preferred in the heat of the day. They kept to themselves and were impervious to whatever attractions enticed the other ducks who were always nervous whenever we approached them.

The snow goose and its partner were much more aloof and distant. They were never interested in the other birds – be they ducks, or ospreys, or indeed the smaller blue-winged teal, or even the tiny Bahama woodstar humming bird who flitted laboriously from flower to flower looking for nectar. Very occasional herring or laughing gulls hovered overhead, and

the ventriloquist Northern Mockingbird mimicked other song birds with its clear melodious repetitive phrases.

With its dark grey colouring it was not always easy to see – unless it sang from one of its open perches.

In the evening of New Year’s Day we again witnessed the mass feeding with the solitary white snow goose dominating the flock of birds on the platform – and all the other whistling ducks keeping out of its way – except for its faithful friend who never strayed far from its side.

We left Hog Cay early the next morning and only got occasional reports from the Grahams about the goose, its continued presence on the island, and the bond with its faithful friend. The goose became part of their lives. It was always there and they took it for granted that it was a permanent member of the growing menagerie.

Then towards the beginning of May the snow goose appeared to be sick or injured. It would stagger from side to side, appear completely disorientated, and break away from the other ducks and its constant companion, looking for some other resting place or other haunt. The Grahams were worried. The large white bird didn’t seem to eat as much as it had and

often simply rested on its own away from the feeding floor sometimes staggering, sometimes waddling with purpose away towards the shade of the mangroves bushes. Once in a while the goose would run and then fly in a straight line perhaps 20 or 30 yards across the grassy field in front of the Graham’s house. It would then stop – and its whistling duck companion would make its way noisily along the ground making its shrill “chiriria chiriria” sound until it arrived at an indecent distance from its beloved goose, who continued to appear nonchalant and disinterested. The flying exercises continued – sometimes with longer distances – but never far from the house. In one instance the large goose actually circled above and around the field and feeding ground – but returned to its mate – never far from visibility and never far from the grassy field. These disquieting activities continued for the best part of three weeks. Something was wrong, and something was changing. The Grahams were understandably concerned.

One evening, watching the goose behaved in this unexpected manner, the Grahams thought that perhaps the goose was getting ready to leave them.

Snow geese are known to form longterm bonds with their mates – usually in their second year, although breeding does not usually start until the third year. Female geese are strongly philopatric – meaning that they will return to the place they hatched to breed. But this snow goose did not seem to have a likely mate and snow geese usually nest in colonies – always at the end of May or during the first few days of June, depending on snow conditions – a long way up North of the timberline near the Arctic – perhaps in Alaska or Canada. Maybe even as far away as Siberia. Were the stirrings of breeding and migration causing the strange behaviour of the goose? It was an interesting development. It is the female who invariably selects a nest site and builds the nest on an area of high ground – a shallow depression lined with plant material.

The nest is usually used from year to year, and after the female lays the first of three to five eggs, she lines the nest with down. The natural migratory and breeding pulls are strong and birds migrate in large flocks, very high, and along narrow corridors maybe three thousand miles from their winter areas, to the tundra. Some extraordinary instinct guides them to other flocks of

The Tribune | Weekend | 23

Friday, January 25, 2019

migratory birds making the same long hazardous journey.

And then, one Monday morning in the third week of May, Peter Graham called me. “She’s gone. She isn’t on the island any more. She is nowhere to be seen and either some predator like the Red Tailed Hawk has got her, or else she’s flown away. God knows where.

Probably up to the Arctic breeding grounds. We’re heartbroken. We’ll probably never see her again. She was so much part of our lives.” By now Peter Graham was convinced that the snow goose was female.

And that was the sad story. On May 20 we had a last drink with the Grahams in their house on Ranger Road in Lyford Cay, New Providence, and got back to our house Trade Winds on Clifton Bay Road – also in Lyford Cay. Our winter stay in the Bahamas was over and we packed our bags, caught the British Airways flight to London and didn’t think much more about the Grahams or Lyford Cay during the summer months. We went to the theatre, had dinners with our English friends, saw our grandchildren and went down to Devon where we have one of the oldest pre-Victorian manor houses in the northeast corner of the county overlooking the Bristol Channel. We went for walks on Exmoor, watched Ascot and Wimbledon – always exciting – and flew to Nova Scotia in the middle of August where the family has owned the isolated Meisner’s Island off the front harbour of Chester – which is 62 miles south-west of Halifax. Constant visits throughout the summer from our children and grandchildren in California and Greenwich, Connecticut kept us busy. It was a way of life which has been very much a ritual with our family and which we wouldn’t change for the world. Our lives now seem completely dominated by their demands and their availability – particularly the grandchildren who are in and out of university, or travelling, or getting married or deciding to visit us – usually with lastminute decisions.

When the summer was over, we continued to spend September in our Nova Scotia retreat – relaxing, walking, reading, and doing a lot of writing to meet the demands and deadlines of magazines and newspapers. When it got too cold at the beginning of October we flew to London and then to Sri Lanka, the former island of Ceylon, where we had an extreme experience camping in the Ruhunu jungles chasing leopards and photographing the huge

variety of tropical birds. It was an exhausting trip. We were glad to make the 24-hour flight back to the Bahamas at the beginning of November.

We needed the rest and were glad to insulate ourselves in the sub-tropical paradise we had chosen to spend our retiring years.

Two of the first people we telephoned when we arrived in New Providence were the Grahams. Nothing much had changed in the months we had been away and they seemed unusually keen that we should set a date for an immediate visit to Hog Cay – much earlier than usual. We had hardly become settled, but we gladly accepted the invitation and Marty Fox flew us in his Cessna Aztec aeroplane 150 miles to their island just after the middle of November. Nothing was said about the snow goose or the whistling ducks – and we didn’t bring up the subject or talk about the sad spring story.

We thought it was best forgotten, like a bad dream.

We were met at the Hog Cay landing strip by the ebullient Grahams.

They were talkative and excited to see us. Irene Graham and my wife Valda walked through the sparse island forest across the grassy stretch to the house, and Peter Graham and I took the golf car with bags to our room. We then sat overlooking the glorious Bahamian sea

Snow geese at water’s edge

edging the long curved sandy beach. It was so good to be back on the Island.

We had lots to talk about – particularly our October adventure in Sri Lanka, and then we had lunch, after which Peter retired for his usual afternoon siesta. We did the same – resting and reading. I did a little writing, but I tired quickly and had a nap instead.

Shortly after four o’clock I roused myself and went for a short walk down the rough sandy track to the harbour, and noticed nothing unusual.

At five o’clock, or shortly afterwards, I had a shower, got into some clean clothes and prepared myself for our first evening’s viewing of the whistling ducks being fed on their platform in front of the house. Peter got everyone a “sundowner”, and the four of us sat on chairs and watched the flocks of whistling ducks, chattering noisily to themselves “chiriria, chiriria” intent on getting to buckets of grain which Peter had so generously sprinkled. It was a happy situation.

Unable to contain herself, Irene Graham said, “We have a surprise for you.” “What?” I questioned. She didn’t reply. “Just watch,” she said, and didn’t take her eyes off the advancing flock of whistling ducks. Then ... and it was such a surprise ... out of the shadows of the mangrove shrubs walked not one – but two snow geese. I

couldn’t believe my eyes. They walked together, side by side, and a little way behind them walked the lone whistling duck. I was jubilant, and so were the Grahams. And proud. The story was obvious. The snow goose had made her long migratory journey up to her breeding grounds in the Arctic tundra, and returned to Hog Cay the following winter with her mate, flying through the Central Flyway, across prairies and farmland, down across the southeastern United States, to their chosen wintering destination. We did not know whether they had nested, laid eggs, and brought up their chicks – surviving the predator threats of Arctic foxes and skuas. All we knew was that the snow geese had safely made their way to their Bahamian wintering grounds.

Tears of joy were streaming down Irene Graham’s face. The rest of us were speechless. It was the greatest wildlife-human love story I had ever witnessed. I am not likely to see anything like it ever again.

NEXT WEEK: One of the world’s most celebrated classical pianists of the 20th century • Sir Christopher Ondaatje is the author of The Last Colonial.

24 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, January 25, 2019

history

Facts, facts and more facts Forgotten facts | Paul C Aranha

“C

hronological Highlights in the History of The Bahamas 600 to 1900”, a 56-page booklet written by Patrice M Williams, of the Department of Archives, and published in 1999 by the Bahamas Historical Society, is filled with facts about the history of the Bahama Islands. The author invested 15 years in creating it.

I will try to include one entry from each page of the booklet, but about a dozen more, on each page, will be omitted.

We see that the Lucayan Amerindians, who migrated to these islands from today’s Cuba and Hispaniola about 700 years before Columbus, landed on San Salvador in 1492. Under the Lucayans’ form of government, the leader of each village carried the title of “cacique”. Their staple food focused on beans, cassava, maize and pumpkin.

In 1508, the King of Spain allowed the inhabitants of Hispaniola to hunt down Lucayans and make them slaves, to work (and to die) in the gold mines of Hispaniola and the pearl fisheries of Margarita. Columbus had already been dead for two years, so don’t blame him.

Eight years after the arrival of the Eleutherian Adventures, in 1648, the Bahamas received its first free black people, when seven blacks were banished from Bermuda and sent to Eleuthera.

By 1671, the population had reached 1,097. Of these, 913 lived on New Providence and 184 on Eleuthera; 443 of these were slaves.

In 1684, New Providence was invaded by Spaniards. Charles Towne (the earlier name of today’s Nassau) was burned to the ground and the Spaniards made off with goods and slaves, valued at $20,000. The remaining inhabitants fled to Jamaica, New Mexico and the British colonies in North America, but two years later the

The Magna Carta Court, the chambers of Edward D Roberts, Jr. island was re-settled by people from Jamaica.

The Spaniards invaded the Bahamas 34 times over the next two decades, inspiring Britain to build Fort Nassau in 1695 on the site where the British Colonial Hotel now stands.

By 1713, some 1,000 pirates were operating in the Bahamas. This was two years before Woodes Rogers became governor, the first governor appointed by the King of England.

Rogers died in Nassau in 1732, but nobody seems to know where he was buried.

In 1722, there was a place called Palatine Town, located west of Nassau, that was inhabited by Swiss and Huguenots.

In 1739, Spain and England went to war, because the Spanish coast guard had intercepted the ship of Captain Robert Jenkins trading in Cuban waters and had cut off his ear. Because of this war, known as “The War of Jenkins’ Ear”, Britain built the Fort Montagu.

In 1764, King George III issued an Order in Council making the Turks and Caicos Islands a part of the Bahamas.

In 1848, they were separated from the Bahamas and placed under Jamaica.

In 1776, New Providence was invaded by the American Continental Navy (now the US Navy) and Continental Marines (now the US Marines).

This involved the very first amphibious landing by the Marines.

In 1784, the Bahamas Gazette, the colony’s first newspaper, was started by Loyalist John Wells, whose grave can be seen in the Centre Burying Ground (Eastern Parade). He died in 1799.

In the same year, cotton cultivation started in the Bahamas.

1795 saw a plot by French (Haitian) Negroes to take over Nassau. It failed, but five people were arrested, three of whom were hanged.

Four years later, St Matthew’s Parish was established, covering the eastern area of New Providence. The church building, capable of seating 450, opened on July 18, 1802. It is now the oldest church building in the Bahamas.

1804 saw the birth of the Royal Gazette and Bahama Advertiser, a

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Friday, January 25, 2019

Captain Robert Jenkins, whose ear was severed by the Spanish. The incident became a contributory cause of the “War of Jenkins’ Ear” between Great Britain and Spain in 1739, which resulted in the English building Fort Montagu to fortify Nassau.

The first bicycle (wooden) was imported in 1867, so this scene must be later than that. On the right you see a portion of the wall that enclosed the old octagonal prison (now the Public Library and Museum) on Shirley Street, but was removed in 1879.

newspaper started by Loyalist Robert Wilson and later owned by Neil McQueen.

In 1820, Surveyor General J J Burnside started laying out Grant’s Town, named after Governor Lewis Grant.

Carmichael Road, 3¼ miles long, was built in 1832 by African residents of Carmichael Village, to facilitate their travel to/from Nassau. Two years later, Port Nelson, on Rum Cay, was laid out.

In 1837, Fort Nassau was demolished. Much later, the (British) Colonial Hotel was built on the same site.

The first shipment of pineapples to England took place in 1844, the same year that The Nassau Guardian was established by Edwin Moseley. His newspaper was able to report that the name Fox Hill Village had been changed to Sandilands Village in 1849.

In 1852, the year when St Anne’s church was consecrated, there was a yellow fever epidemic, also a great cholera epidemic that took the lives of 12 percent of the population of Nassau.

This was followed by another yellow fever epidemic.

The first sewing machine was imported by W E Armbrister, in 1857.

Two years later, the first Bahamian postage stamps were issued.

In bad news, yellow fever returned in 1861, followed by another epidemic in 1862. In good news, in 1863 the public debt was paid off, which might account for Nassau’s getting 34 streetlamp posts and lanterns, in 1864, the same year that the police force was officially established.

The first bicycle (wooden) was imported in 1867, and by 1871, the population of the colony had reached 39,162. Of these, 11,410 lived on New Providence. Then, in 1873, Sir

Sir John Pope Hennessy became the first Roman Catholic to serve as governor of the Bahamas in 1873.

John Pope Hennessy became the first Roman Catholic to serve as governor.

That was also the year of the Governor’s Harbour tidal wave that took the life of Edgar Lawrence Minns.

August 1, 1876 saw the inauguration of the lighthouse on Bird Rock, Crooked Island, and November 28, 1879 brought the first telephone, between Government House and the Colonial Secretary’s Office.

The wall that used to enclose the grounds of the old gaol (now the Public Library and Museum) on Shirley Street was removed in 1879. It was not until a few weeks ago that, thanks to Steve Albury, I saw a photo of this wall.

1887 was the year of the first Roman Catholic church in the Bahamas, when St Francis Xavier was consecrated.

Under the foundation stone is a time capsule’containing artefacts of the day, including money and newspapers and an engraved scroll.

Three years later, Queen’s College (formerly Nassau College Institute) opened in Victoria Hall, Charlotte Street. The school has moved to Village Road, but Victoria Hall is still standing.

1892 is significant because the first undersea telegraph cable was laid, connecting Nassau to Jupiter, Florida, and to the outside world. Much later, this cable gave its name to Cable Beach.

The Seventh Day Adventist religion was introduced in 1893. and in 1894, the store A Baker and Sons opened on Bay Street. It is still there!

In 1897, an Act was passed to regulate traffic in the City of Nassau and its suburbs regarding the use of bicycles and tricycles on the streets.

The last entry gave the 1900 population of the Bahamas as 55,512.

• For questions and comments, e-mail islandairman@gmail.com

Excellent: 12 mins Yesterday’s solution: edITs (across) VIVId (down)

26 | The Tribune | Weekend

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

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

CRYPTIC PUZZLE Across 1 Channel without water, we hear (6) 4 In a way it repays harshness (8) 9 Not off upon a visit, but ready to make one (2,4) 10 This time yesterday (8) 12 Villain putting squeeze on the leader (4) 13 Jar - in which to put coal (5) 14 It was in form when very young (4) 17 Upset when given an open transfer (7,5) 20 Harmonious plan to brighten up the home, perhaps (6,6) 23 Bring in a number to help sharp! (4) 24 Sees food in a ship (5) 25 Ruth as an infant? (4) 28 Habits found in one back street (8) 29 Got the wrong part of a city (6) 30 Standard-bearer (8) 31 Employment exchanges? (6)

Down 1 It proves oddly gay (8) 2 Seek help concerning something on the menu (8) 3 Lied about being out of work (4) 5 A moving experience that will not take one far (5,7) 6 His victims lose heart (4) 7 Raid on raid, perhaps (6) 8 Acted sleepily as the new day breaks (6) 11 Scene of military operations? (4,8) 15 Sailor has half a bottle with a male superior (5) 16 Act as a paid informer (5) 18 Act when some come in late (8) 19 Liberal - one urges reform (8) 21 High rise central block in France (6) 22 Where a girl turns up after six (6) 26 Thunderous applause? (4) 27 Burn the fish (4)

Yesterday’s Easy Solution Across: 1 Clasp, 4 Politic, 8 Owl, 9 Orang-utan, 10 Digress, 11 Tabby, 13 Return, 15 Engulf, 18 Egret, 19 Empower, 21 Bald eagle, 23 Age, 24 Wrestle, 25 Elect.

Down: 1 Chowder, 2 Alligator, 3 Prone, 4 Praise, 5 Lighten, 6 Tot, 7 Canny, 12 Blue whale, 14 Retreat, 16 Ferment, 17 Meagre, 18 Elbow, 20 Piece, 22 Lee.

Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution Across: 1 Grass, 4 Go-ahead, 8 Mug, 9 Poorhouse, 10 Eustace, 11 Erupt, 13 Squall, 15 Method, 18 Irate, 19 Alberta, 21 Economist, 23 Ton, 24 Staunch, 25 Elect.

Down: 1 Gimlets, 2 Angostura, 3 Sepia, 4 Glower, 5 Athlete, 6 Emu, 7 Dwelt, 12 Usherette, 14 Lie down, 16 Dragnet, 17 Garish, 18 Items, 20 Bathe, 22 Ova.

EASY PUZZLE

Across 1 Largest Mediterranean island (6) 4 Violet-blue gemstone (8) 9 Elaborately decorated (6) 10 A prehistoric period (5,3) 12 A cooking fat (4) 13 Hushed (5) 14 Depressed (4) 17 Retract what was said (3,4,5) 20 Contentment (12) 23 Prevalent (4) 24 Light meal (5) 25 Doglike predatory animal (4) 28 Abusive harangue (8) 29 Fondle (6) 30 Put at risk (8) 31 Ghost (6)

Down 1 Take responsibility for (8) 2 Deeply sorry (8) 3 Much (4) 5 Unimaginative (6-2-4) 6 Melody (4) 7 Annual (6) 8 Wobble (6) 11 Open to suspicion (12) 15 Constantly available (2,3) 16 Decree (5) 18 Breach of the peace (8) 19 Really (2,6) 21 A card game (6) 22 Frightened (6) 26 Southwest Asian country (4) 27 Dull heavy blow (4)

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The Tribune | Weekend | 27

Friday, January 25, 2019

animals

Dental hygiene and your dog Animal matters | KIM ARANHA

S

PET OF THE WEEK

hould you worry about your dogs dental hygiene? Yes! Of course you should. Dental decay can lead to all sorts of health issues, including diabetes and heart disease. The bacteria can get into the dog’s system.

It is difficult to know if and when a dog is in pain because dogs are experts at hiding pain; you may not even realise there’s a problem. You need to check their teeth regularly and give them aides to keep their teeth healthy.

Lots of dogs are OK having their teeth brushed, especially because doggie toothpaste comes in a variety of flavours such as, but not limited to, beef, chicken and seafood. Fido loves the attention, especially as it means one-on-one time with you, and you are his number one focus.

However, some dogs do not want your hand near their face, let alone poking around inside their mouth with a brush. Nowadays there are quite a few chewies that are designed to help keep their teeth clean, and, of course, the old favourite that I used to give my potcake Friendly way back when: Milk-Bones.

Milk bones are a huge treat in my house and greeted with great excitement, but be careful not to give too many because they are quite high in calories; one of my dogs got quite chubby on them before I realised why he was gaining weight so quickly. One large Milk-Bone has 115 calories in it, a small one 20 calories, and a medium

40 calories. Dogs, on average, need about 30 calories per pound of body weight per day to maintain their current weight. Small active dogs, weighing less than 20lbs can use up to 40 calories per pound per day. So you need to be watchful.

If you want to teach your dog to allow you to brush their teeth, this is not going to necessarily happen overnight. You need to work gradually to get them familiar with the brush without trying to put it in their month.

Slowly you can bring the brush near their face, and after a few days, with the super good tasting toothpaste, you can introduce the brush into their mouth. This may take a few weeks, but no worries; you have all the time in the world, right? When it comes to taking care of Fluffy or Fido, you need lots of patience and love.

I can just see people reading what I have written and they are rolling their eyes in dismay. “Why worry about an animal’s teeth,” they are saying as they roll around on the floor laughing their heads off.

It is for the general health of your dog and for the quality of their life.

Tooth decay can cause unnecessary pain and sensitivity, which in turn can cause suffering. We all know how difficult it is to function with toothache, and animals are not immune to the same kind of pain that we experience.

It is strange that some humans are unable to think of their pets in the same terms that they think of themselves.

Tooth decay can cause heart issues

in humans, so it should not come as a surprise that exactly the same thing can happen in animal lives. We are very similar, just laid out differently, and even that is not quite as different as it seams if you imagine a human on all fours.

When your dog goes in for his yearly check-up and shots (you do take your dog to the vet for his yearly check-ups, don’t you?), your vet should always look at his teeth. If for some reason your vet doesn’t, you can always ask them nicely to do so.

Some dogs do go to the vet to have their teeth cleaned. Unfortunately, this entails pretty heavy sedation or full anaesthesia because Fluffy or Fido just will not sit back and relax and let the vet remove the plaque. Ask your vet if it is necessary to have your dogs teeth

A lady in waiting

By THE BAHAMAS HUMANE SOCIETY

E

vangeline really prefers to be addressed as “M’Lady”, but she’s happy with Evangeline or Vang (soft ‘G’ please!). This five-month-old is sure she’s royalty and would like to be treated as such but she does have a playful side that crops up now and then.

Vang is looking for that perfect forever home, one where she’ll be adored for the royal cat she is and where she’ll have someone to play with, be it cat or human, and some-

one to cuddle with as need be.

Do you have that perfect castle as your home? If so, come in to the Bahamas Humane Society to meet Vang or call 323-5138 for more information. Adoption hours are 11am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, and 10am to 4pm on Saturday. M’Lady Evangeline is ready to receive you.

(Photo/Kymberlee NaluMaluhia)

cleaned. Believe me, it can avoid all sorts of other serious problems, so it may well be worth it.

If your pet is having an elective surgery, ask his doctor if it would be possible to have his teeth cleaned whilst he is under. My Chief had that done when he was undergoing his cancer surgery and now at the age of 13 is sporting some phenomenal pearly whites.

Rule of thumb with teeth, nails and grooming: do unto your pet that which you would do unto yourself/ Watch for tarter build-up, overly long nails and matted fur. Address it at the onset before it becomes an issue.

First step: check online for all these new chewies to keep teeth clean; your dog will enjoy the treat and you will enjoy the results!

•

Tomorrow’s the night!

Come and ‘Party for the Animals’ on Saturday at 7pm at the BNT Retreat on Village Road.

Tickets are $40, available at the BHS, at Fox Hill Nursery and at the door. There will be a cash bar and Le Petit Gourmet’s food truck will be available. The B-Humane Awards will be presented. DJ Slic Vic and Stazzie will be bringing their musical talents, so come out and party with us!

28 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, January 25, 2019