02212020 WEEKEND

Friday, February 21, 2020

art books entertainment film fashion music history animals puzzles

Weekend

Viva vintage!

New fashion label bets on ‘upcycling’ pages 14 & 15

JEANS FOR CURVES Page 13

02 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 21, 2020

entertainment

'Ferl & Fork' show to highlight mom and pop eateries

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

T

his Summer, a new cooking show is set to shine a spotlight on mom and pop takeaways and small business food vendors that are contributing to the Bahamas’ varied culinary landscape but which the general public may be overlooking.

Spearheading the “Ferl & Fork” show is event planner and local entrepreneur Stefphen Sands who recently landed a position as operations manager for a food festival.

He is the executive producer for the web-based show that will highlight creatives and influencers while cooking, eating and drinking all the tasty delights the country has to offer.

“The inspiration behind the show is really from thinking about the exposure the show would bring to those who wouldn’t ordinarily get exposure, like the mom and pop takeaway, vendor trucks, small business owners, et cetera, and also the young millennial’s who continue to make indelible marks in the country.

So we thought infusing conversation with food would be a great idea,” he told Tribune Weekend.

The show will feature those in the food and beverage industry who normally stay behind the scenes, for example pastry chefs, sauce and spices creators.

STEFPHEN SANDS, executive producer for “Ferl & Fork”

“In light of the recent drastic hurricane season we just came out of, most of the small businesses have taken a hit on the Family Islands, so a little

exposure to those who have endured will go a long way. We wanted to bring an awareness to the incredible talent Bahamians have in the food

and beverage area as well,” he said.

At the end of the show’s season, producers will host the Foodie Fest 2020 in late Summer. There will be food competitions, entertainment and a performance by an international recording artist.

Meanwhile, the pilot episode of “Ferl & Fork” is set to hit the internet in the Summer months and will be hosted by “Mo and O” – Maurisa Glinton and Oral Neely.

The show is looking for food and beverages entrepreneurs who want the opportunity to

have their products or businesses highlighted.

“Foodie Fest 2020 will feature all of the individuals we have interviewed or featured on the show during its first season as well as other vendor trucks, food trucks, chefs,” said Mr Sands.

“The show is designed to give them an opportunity to bring in income while giving back to a charity to be announced nearer to the time.”

Those interested in being part of the show can e-mail weeatzgood@gmail.com or contact 242-819-9017.

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Friday, February 21, 2020

Inside Weekend

My perfect Bahamian weekend Stanya Davis Life coach

Q: Saturday breakfast or Sunday brunch?

Interview 4 - 5 An American-Bahamian war veteran finds solace in music

Fashion 7, 14-16 New label goes vintage and out of old makes new; bespoke jeans for all figures, plus Bimini gets stylish

Food 8 - 9 Cook with the professionals at Atlantis and enjoy brunch on ‘Cloud 9’ at Baha Mar

Photography 10 A Rose-Coloured Lens takes a closer look at a unique Nassau garden

Art 11 Transforming Spaces is about to celebrate a significant year

Entertainment 12 ‘Story Slam’ continues with tales of modern day dating

Celebrity 13, 17 The hits and misses of the BRIT Awards, plus ‘To All the Boys’ stars grab Hollywood’s attention

Calendar 19 Things to do around town this weekend

Film 20 A new take on Austen’s Emma is ‘humanised, not modernised’

Literary Lives 22 - 24 A composer who wrote the soundtrack of the 20th century

History 25 How black names came into being

Puzzles 26

Animals 27 - 28 The killing of a rescued coyote, Baark! celebrates 10 years, plus Pet of the Week

“OMG, that is a tough one! Sunday brunch because there is such a variety to be enjoyed.”

Q: Wine, Kalik, rum or cocktail?

“I don’t drink beer; wine is more for when I am by myself or feeling romantic, so it’s cocktail for me.

A good margarita is for when I’ve a hard day and a ‘don’t care’ attitude.”

Q: Beach or sofa?

“I left my good government job so I could go on the beach every day. The beach is calming, it soothes me, and it is also the place where I feel closer and connected to God.”

Q: What could you not do without?

“I cannot do without my journals. I have two – one for work and a personal one. I probably write in my work one much more than my personal because it’s has my ‘takeover the world’ plan. My personal journal is for my children and those who will come after me so that they may get a sense of who I am.”

Q: Weekend away: where would you go?

“I’m going to South Eleuthera and staying at The Cape. I am from Eleuthera; it is such a beautiful place. It is also the place where you can get the best food and the best massages.”

This weekend in history February 21 • In 1613, Mikhail Romanov, 16, was unanimously chosen by Russia’s national assembly to be czar, beginning a dynasty that would last three centuries.

• In 1862, Nathaniel Gordon became the first and only American slave-trader to be executed under the US Piracy Law of 1820 as he was hanged in New York.

• In 1965, black Muslim leader and civil rights activist Malcolm X, 39, was shot to death inside Harlem’s Audubon Ballroom in New York by assassins identified as members of the Nation of Islam. (Three men were convicted of murder and imprisoned; all were eventually parolled.)

Today’s birthdays: Actor Anthony Daniels (C-3PO) is 74. Actor Kelsey Grammer is 65. Actor Tituss Burgess is 41. Actress Jennifer Love Hewitt is 41. Comedian-actor Jordan Peele is 41. Actress Ellen Page is 33. Actor Corbin Bleu is 31. Actress Sophie Turner is 24.

February 22

• In 1984, David Vetter, a 12-yearold Texas boy who’d spent most of his life in a plastic bubble because he had no immunity to disease, died 15 days after being removed from the bubble for a bone-marrow transplant.

• In 1987, iconic pop artist Andy Warhol died at a New York City hospital at age 58.

• In 1997, scientists in Scotland announced they had succeeded in cloning an adult mammal, producing a lamb named “Dolly.”

(Dolly, however, was later put down after a short life marred by premature aging and disease.)

Today’s birthdays: Actress Julie Walters is 70. Basketball Hall of Famer Julius Erving is 70.

Actor Kyle MacLachlan is 61.

Actress-singer Lea Salonga.

Singer James Blunt is 46. Actress Drew Barrymore is 45.

February 23

• In 1836, the siege of the Alamo began in San Antonio, Texas.

• In 1945, during World War II, US Marines on Iwo Jima, Japan, captured Mount Suribachi, where they raised two American flags (the second flag-raising was captured in the iconic Associated Press photograph) • In 1962, John Glenn became first American to orbit Earth.

From Cape Canaveral, Florida, he was successfully launched into space aboard the Friendship 7 spacecraft on the first orbital flight by an American astronaut.

Today’s birthdays: Former NFL player Ed “Too Tall” Jones is 69.

Actress Kristin Davis (”Sex and the City”) is 55. Actress Niecy Nash is 50. Actor Josh Gad is 39. Actress Emily Blunt is 37.

Actress Dakota Fanning is 26.

– The Associated Press

04 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 21, 2020

INTERVIEW

Seeing men he considered brothers shot dead before his eyes in the chaos of war put an immense emotional strain on this AmericanBahamian veteran. Now retired from the US Army, he tells Jeffarah Gibson how music helped him to de-stress. Through his songs, he also hopes to advocate for an end to crime and violence here in the Bahamas.

Angelo Smith

A

s little boy growing up in the quiet community of South Andros, Angelo Smith could have never imagined that life would one day lead him to war-torn deserts of Iraq, flying missions from which was never sure he would return.

But it seems like fate may have had this path planned out for him from the start. Due to his mother experiencing serious complications during her pregnancy, she had to travel

to the United States and give birth to Angelo in Florida.

Thus, granting him American citizenship and making it possible for him to later enlist in the US Army.

“I spent most of my young childhood years in South Andros with my grandmother, where I attended primary school and a portion of high school before moving to Nassau at the age of 12,” he told Tribune Weekend.

In Nassau, he attended and graduated high school from CI Gibson. It was during this

time he discovered his love of music.

“I started writing music at the age of 14, which was inspired by listening to artists like Bounty Killer, Buju Banton, Beenie Man and Garnet Silk. At the time there was a heavy reggae influence in the Bahamas and I started practicing reggae.”

Later in life, writing music would help him work through the trauma of war.

Angelo left the Bahamas and joined the US Army in December of 1998. He was stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky for five and a half years. He served as a soldier in the 101st Airborne Division for two years and then joined

the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) where he got promoted to the rank of sergeant.

The 160th SOAR is a special operations force of the US Army that provides helicopter aviation support for general purpose forces and special operations forces. Its missions have included attack, assault,

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Friday, February 21, 2020

and reconnaissance, and these missions are usually conducted at night, at high speeds, low altitudes, and on short notice.

In 2003, his unit was deployed in missions during the first year of the Iraq War. “My job in the military was a helicopter crew chief. As a crew chief I was responsible for aircraft repairs, inspections and also door gunner and aircrew duties on flight missions,” he said.

“As soldiers we trained how we fight so in combat it was a replication of training. The only difference was it was a real mission fighting a real opposition. Most soldiers wondered if they would make it out alive, which created war stressors for many of my comrades.”

As part of 160th SOAR, Angelo had certain security clearances and he said there is not much he can reveal about specific missions. However, he said he sadly had to witness many fellow soldiers being shot and killed in action.

“Being a soldier is the height of being disciplined. You go through daily routines to include repetitious training that keep you alive in the heat of battle. Your unit and squad is a very tight-knit family because we put our lives in each other’s hands. Each member of a team is expected to pull their weight efficiently. Any weak link can be detrimental.”

And the friendships he forged during his time in the army are life-long.

“Serving in the military is also like joining a life-long fraternity. Once you have signed on the dotted line and have laced up a pair of military boots, that experience cannot be paralleled in the civilian world. Hollywood has done a decent job in depicting military life in movies. However, it is hard to depict what goes through the mind of a soldier when they put their lives on the line in battle, knowing that there is a chance they might return home in a body bag,” he said.

The emotional pressure he experienced being in battle needed an outlet.

And Angelo found that outlet in his music and in relying “in faith in the Most High to bring me out safely. I was grateful that I made it out alive,” he said.

Soon after Iraq, in 2004, Angelo left the military.

“Transitioning from life in a war zone back to civilian life took some adjustments. You go from the desert environment back to green vegetation; from always having your rifle on your body to not needing to have a gun on

THE COVER art for Angelo’s new EP.

ANGELO with fellow soldiers of US Army you at all times; from being away from your loved ones to again seeing them every day. There are a lot of adjustments you experience on the way back to having a normal life,” he said.

To help him adjust to everyday civilian life, Angelo decided to pursue music seriously, without any sponsors or a manager for guidance.

“When I was able to financially make some moves to better myself and progress, I began taking the music seriously. I started going to Jamaica in 2011, where I began working with Grammy engineers and other producers in a quest to better my craft. My

goal was to push myself internationally rather than being a limited act,” he said.

Angelo, who now goes by the stage name Ibru, said his time in the military has impacted his music in a major way.

And now he sing songs about putting an end to war and violence.

“I released a song in 2018 called ‘War and Violence’. Also in December 2019, I did a collaboration with Sizzla called ‘Stop the Violence’. After seeing so much bloodshed and families adversely affected by war, I understand that gun and violent crimes are closely connected to wars and combat. They

share one thing: when a life is lost it greatly affects a family. Sometimes the affected ones are young children, spouses and parents who feel the brunt of the loss,” he said.

To spare people the pain of losing a loved one, Angelo said he will do his part to help fight the crime epidemic here in the Bahamas.

“I will continue to be an advocate musically against crime and violence because I want to see a change in the Bahamas, especially in the streets of Nassau. I am tired of seeing the WhatsApp weekly posts of gunshot victims laying in a pool of blood.”

Under his stage name Ibru he has released his new EP, “I’m So Focused”.

“My last performance at home was last November at the South Andros Goodstock Music Festival. I have received bookings for Jamaica and a small European tour, but haven’t had anything lined up for Nassau as yet for 2020. I am expecting that to change as my music gets more rotation by the local radio stations,” he said.

Last year, his internationally acclaimed single “Pinnacle” was featured on the “Tropical House Cruises to Jamaica Deluxe Edition” album released by Amada Records and featuring prominent artists like Capleton and Mykal Rose. The album placed in the top five on the reggae Billboard charts.

06 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 21, 2020

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Friday, February 21, 2020

fashion

Designed to fit Feel like a ‘baddie’ in custom-made jeans

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

S

hopping for a pair of jeans can often be an odious, even depressing task, especially if you are a curvy, full-figured woman.

And no one knows this better than Bahamian designer Kendia Laramore, who used to find it extremely difficult to find a pair of jeans that fit right and looked good.

Ongoing searches proved fruitless.

But instead letting it get her down, Kendia came up with a creative solution to her problem: KLamor Jeans, her own line of denim wear that caters to the curvy women.

The aim was to create jeans that not only kiss a woman’s curves, but which are also comfortable and affordable.

Every fabric used for KLamor designs,

Kendia told Tribune Weekend, is handpicked.

The latest collection of denim wear the designer launched is called “She Bad”.

“It features styles inspired by life,” she said. “You’ll see something China inspired, Paris inspired, Barbie doll inspired, Bahamian inspired, beach inspired. It’s just a really fun collection of different aspects and experiences of one who’s lived.

But above all, she said the line is inspired by the “way we see ourselves.”

“If you look around and observe, nine out of 10 Bahamians are wearing denim in some article of clothing.

It’s our national fabric choice. I was asked to be a part of the inaugural Top Model Bahamas competition that took place on February 9 and the models were all so different. Their personalities were style predictable, but I wanted to dress them in designs that would make them comfortable, but also allow them to see themselves for a moment in a different comfort zone style wise. Just because you don’t live in China doesn’t mean you can’t dress up as though you do, or indulge in the culture. As a designer, I’ve travelled the entire world through my imagination and I’m looking forward

to bringing those experiences to life in the collections to come so that Bahamians can continue to dress up in denim every day with extra style,” she said.

The collection features 14 pieces that Kendia said are as unique as the women who will wear them. She is also looking to expand.

“I’m currently working on my children’s collection and I’m very excited to launch KLamor Kids,” she said.

“At KLamor we don’t just design jeans, we design clothes and we design them with you in mind. “Our aim is to inspire people to express their whole selves.”

And when it comes to selecting the best pair of jeans for your body, Kendia said there is no right or wrong way to make this choice.

“Denim is such an enigma. The truth is there’s no ‘best way’ to choose a pair of jeans. Don’t believe what you read about size and shape and all that other fluff. If there was a ‘best way’, I’d say to choose your denim based on the weight of the denim and comfort and style you desire,” she said.

“I am a firm believer though that denim should be customised. At KLamor we do that. Jeans are a lifestyle, (a piece of clothing) that was meant to be lived in,” she said.”

08 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 21, 2020

food

Cooking with the professionals Atlantis offers new culinary adventure

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

F

aithful Tribune Weekend readers probably know that we enjoy dining out around town, being served at beautiful sit-down establishments, but last Saturday it was time to do things a little differently and actually get involved in the food preparation process.

Taking part in the first session of the new cooking class hosted by Fish by José Andres at The Cove Atlantis was an exciting and informative experience. The concept is simple: while you enjoy tasty bites and sip unique wines, you learn how to prepare some of Fish’s signature dishes like the tuna tartare and grilled grouper.

Upon arrival, our group of 10 guests was invited to hang out at the bar and enjoy oysters with an assortment of sauces. These were served with a Segura Viudas Brut Cava wine. Soon after we were shown over to the raw bar where the cooking class experience really got interesting.

Displayed on ice were oysters, tuna, pineapples, and grouper. This course called for the preparation of tuna tartare.

Guided by Chef Stephan Holland, we got the opportunity to slice the tuna pieces and plate the dish. Ingredients included egg yolk, Dijon mustard sauce, anchovies, along with Parker House rolls; all served with plantain chips. This dish was paired with a glass of Joseph Mellot Sincérité Sauvignon Blanc.

Next up was preparing the famous grilled grouper. I was called upon to join in on the process. Alongside Chef Deja Rutherford, sous chef at Fish, I seasoned the grouper in preparation for it being placed on the restaurant’s popular

PARTICIPANTS of the first cooking class.

charcoal grill. Ingredients for this dish included black garlic, fish sauce, grated tomato, bay leaf, thyme, paprika, extra virgin oil, sherry and rice vinegar.

Before placing the grouper on the grill, an oil towel was applied to the grate. Chef Deja advised us to always grill the grouper skin side down, as

this will make it super crispy.

With the grouper, we had Fish’s famous Salt Air Margarita.

The evening ended with the Chocolate Paradise dessert, a spiced chocolate cream with

cacao, passion fruit caramel and meringue ice cream, paired with Graham’s 20 Year Tawny Port wine.

“There are a lot of things persons can look forward to from this cooking experience; coming in here and having the whole restaurant closed for you. You can enjoy the décor, day drink and learn from professional chefs in an intimate event. There are fresh ingredients and you can get involved if you want,” said Chef Holland.

Chef Sean O’Connell, general manager and vice president of Atlantis’ Food, Beverage and Culinary Operations, added: “There are a lot of really talented chefs and people on the culinary team, and what we are realising is that we need to have a lot more lifestyle experiences. And this is a great opportunity to take advantage of the raw bar and the beautiful bar that we have here in Fish, as well as the team here.

“With this, we wanted to focus on the raw bar because it is a beautiful part of the restaurant that not everybody really understands. They want to know what is the engaging factor. So in doing this with Deja and Stephan, they are here to say hello and bring all of these ingredients off the ice to life, to you.”

He believes the cooking classes are an amazing start to what’s to come in 2020 at the resort. He hopes both visitors and locals will take part in the experience, which takes place every Saturday afternoon.

Atlantis also hopes to expand the cooking class concept to include their sushi restaurant Nobu. Chef Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa himself will be present for the launch of this class.

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Friday, February 21, 2020

food

Brunch on 'Cloud 9'

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

B

runch is increasingly becoming a favourite weekend activity of Bahamians, be it for an outing with friends on a Saturday or an after-church treat on Sundays.

The latest restaurant to get in on the brunch craze is the Skybar at SLS Baha Mar. Here, guests can go to “Cloud 9” every Sunday for Nassau’s only rooftop lounge brunch.

The brunch, set up under an ivy-covered pavilion, is held from at 12noon to 3pm. It offers a buffet featuring dishes inspired by the menus of the

Baha Mar restaurants Cleo, Carna, Katsuya and Fi’lia.

While you take your time sampling the buffet’s many offerings, you can enjoy live musical entertainment.

Febe Forbes, a guest who enjoyed brunch on “Cloud 9” last Sunday, said: “I mean, what fancier way to brunch than in the sky? I am taking in the views, taking pictures of the views and having a good time. There is sun but there is also a cool breeze today. I am enjoying the live entertainment and it is just a good space to enjoy great food and conversation.”

Armin Asceric, associate director of Sales and Marketing at the SLS Baha Mar said: “With this brunch, we really thought of how could we display the SBE restaurant offerings in an amazing spot, and make it super attractive and easy for people who have never eaten at one of the SBE outlets here to come now and enjoy all at once.”

For the weekly brunch, Fi’lia brings to the table a Caesar salad cart, meatballs and ricotta; The Cleo Mediterraneo offers a station of dips and more that includes guacamole, crudité, lavash

chips, pita bread, corn chips, and chopped salads. Katsuya’s live station serves up assorted maki rolls in California, spicy tuna, avocado and vegetable options, as well as a chef’s choice of assorted sashimi.

At the Carna station, patrons can enjoy charcuterie and cheese boards. Dario’s Umami Burger station is in the form of a live grill. The Choripan grill offers Argentinian chorizo, brioche buns, and skirt steaks, with chimichurri sauce.

There is also an omelette station offering a selection of fillings, a raw bar that with

shrimp cocktail, tuna tartar, conch salad, grouper ceviche, oysters and sauces, crab legs and caviar.

For dessert, there are pastries, assorted danishes and muffins, scones, sliced fruit, butters and jams.

“This is a foodie brunch.

Our general manager, Axel Gasser, came up with the concept where you can have your mimosas and cocktails while you enjoy these foods,” said Mr Asceric.

“So far, thank God, everyone is loving it, they are loving the food, and it has just been a gorgeous day.”

10 | The Tribune | Weekend

PHOTOGRAPHY

A Rose-Coloured Lens A unique Bahamian garden

B

eauty is all around us in the Bahamas, on land and in the sea.

But many of us are too busy with everyday life to pause and really see and enjoy the astonishing sights that surround us.

Veteran photographer ROLAND ROSE captures both the ordinary and extraordinary and puts it in frame for us so we can see our environment in a new light.

This garden was the property of Sir Stafford Sands. The father of post-war and modern tourism in the Bahamas. The man on the $10 dollar bill. Designed

by Henry Melich in an Italian ornamental style, Sir Stafford called it Waterloo.

CAPTION: Top left: Wine pots border the lake; top middle: alcove statues; top right: walkway with flowered borders; bottom view across the lawn.

Friday, February 21, 2020

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Friday, February 21, 2020

ART

Transforming Spaces returns for 'highly significant' year The Bahamas’ premier art festival, Transforming Spaces (TS) returns this Spring for its 16th year, offering art enthusiasts, collectors and visitors alike another unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the contemporary Bahamian art scene.

Last week, the TS committee announced its plans for the annual event, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, March 28 - 29, 2020. Although the event’s highlight is the art bus tour weekend, this year will also include a series of events hosted by participating galleries leading up to the weekend, from curated walking tours to private and public openings and artist talks, all culminating with a celebratory closing event.

For those unfamiliar with the TS experience, this year all roads lead once again to Atlantis, a TS2020 sponsor, where guided bus tours will depart promptly at 9am. Each bus transports patrons to and from the participating galleries which will include: The D’Aguilar Art Foundation, Doongalik Studios Art Gallery, the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas, University of the Bahamas, The Current Gallery & Art Centre at Baha Mar, and the newest addition to the route, Project ICE Last year, TS celebrated its 15th anniversary under the theme “Sustainability – I Have A Dream – I Am the Dream - We are the Dream”.

In partnership with Lend a Hand Bahamas and its Neville and Nora Dorsett Community Centre, TS facilitated the execution and completion of the “Dream Wall of Respect”.

This community mural project located in historic Lewis Street, adorned the walls of

TRANSFORMING Spaces 2019 Tour, “TS15 Sustain”, stops by the D’Aguilar Art Foundation. (Photos/ Travon Patton)

ART enthusiasts visit Popopstudios and hear from artist and founder John Cox during last year’s tour. the neighbourhood where Dr Martin Luther King resided on a trip to the Bahamas some 60 years ago.

As an extension of this project and drawing on the power of art to transform communities in a positive way, TS has

committed to expanding on this theme in 2020 by highlighting the mission statement of the late Jackson Burnside,

one of TS’s founding members. Mr Burnside envisioned that “by the year 2020, more persons will visit the Bahamas because of its art, culture, and heritage, rather than merely for its sun, sand, and sea.”

“This is a highly significant year for us,” said Mr Burnside’s widow, Pam Burnside, who is the secretary of TS. “We formed Creative Nassau (CN) in 2008 in order to showcase Bahamian art, culture, and heritage to the world, and although Jackson was no longer with us in 2014 when CN obtained the highly respected designation for the City of Nassau to become a City of Crafts and Folk Arts in the prestigious UNESCO Creative Cities Network, we have continued to work towards making Jackson’s prediction a reality. His prediction has reverberated throughout the creative community. This is the year to celebrate, promote, and fortify our position and TS2020 will reflect this.”

With less than two months to go, the energy is high as the local art community has mobilised in preparation for TS2020. Ticket box offices will be open at the end of February, and will be available at Doongalik Studios, NAGB, and The Place for Art. For more information visit the TS website www.tsbahamas.com.

CAPTIONS TS 1 Transforming Spaces 2019 Tour ‘TS15 Sustain’ at D’Aguilar Art Foundation.

Photography by Travon Patton TS 2 Transforming Spaces 2019 Tour ‘TS15 Sustain’ at Hillside House. Photography

by Travon Patton TS 3 Transforming Spaces 2019 Tour ‘TS15 Sustain’ at Popopstudios. Photography by Travon Patton

12 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 21, 2020

entertainment

'Story Slam' continues with tales of modern day dating

N

ext Thursday, take part in a unique “Story Slam” event, share your story about modern day dating, and you may just win a prize.

In 1987, country music superstar George Strait twanged “All my exes live in Texas and that’s why I hang my hat in Tennessee”, but just over 30 years later, we can’t escape the ghosts of our past in the 24/7 online lives we lead, no matter where we call home.

Whether through WhatsApp, eHarmony, Tinder, or other social media platforms, chances are you have a compelling story in your DMs to share about relationships.

The Illiterati Story Slam, which continues its monthly night of storytelling on February 27 at Doongalik Studios, will give people a chance to highlight those stories.

Under the theme “All of My Exes Live Online: Stories About Dating in the 21st Century,” people are invited to break out those receipts and tell their story in under

Audible fiction bestsellers

CANDIS MARSHALL, winner of the January 2020 Illiterati HOST of the Illiterati Story Slam, Orchid Burnside, shares a short story of Story Slam, shares her story on the theme “Clean Slate: Sto- her own between introducing performers. ries About Starting Over.” (Photos/ Dominic Duncombe/Stop Motion Productions)

by DJ Ampero spinning his storytelling are completely 10 minutes to vie for the top erate with storytellers while “Music to Tell Stories To” free, but organisers recomprize and a chance to take sipping on the monthly mix inspired by the theme, mend you sign up in advance part in the Grand Slam at the specialty cocktail “The Ex”, said Sonia Farmer, the Illitto secure a spot on stage by end of the year. a spiked bittersweet switcha erati publicist noted that e-mailing illiteratibs@gmail.

Or, people can just finished with rose petals, The Illiterati Story Slam come out and commisand listen to featured music starts at 6.30pm. Entry and com.

1. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens 2. Watchers by Dean Koontz 3. The Alice Network by Kate Quinn 4. The Murmur of Bees by Sofia Segovia, Simon Bruni 5. American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins 6. The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes 7. I Found You by Lisa Jewell 8. The Handmaid’s Tale: Special Edition by Margaret Atwood 9. The Dutch House by Ann Patchett 10. If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin

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Friday, February 21, 2020

CELEBRITY The Weekend Fashion Report BRIT Awards 2020

SPLIT

SPLIT

SPLIT

FAIL

FAIL

Lizzo (”Truth Hurts”)

Mel C (Spice Girls)

Jorja Smith (”Be Honest”)

Billie Eilish (”Bad Guy”)

Anne-Marie (”FRIENDS”)

Karin says: “I actually really like this. The colours of this Jean Paul Gaultier jumpsuit are just sooo bright and fun.

No wonder she made all the best dressed lists. This Drake collaborator knows how to make a splash on the red carpet.”

Alesha says: “This reminds me of a candy bar wrapper, but I can’t put my finger on which one. The outfit doesn’t do anything for her, like, at all.

The one positive is the hair; can’t really go wrong with a body wave press.”

Karin says: “Hmmm...The Handmaid’s Tale meets Native American chief with a dash of Burberry? I know she prefers to cover up and not show much skin, but why does she have to look like this?

There are better ways to dress ‘modest’. I guess it’s a look.”

Alesha says: “I’m beginning to think I am missing a theme or something. Like some sort of costume theme that I’m unaware of. The outfit looks hot, as in heat, as in sweat... not as stylish or pretty.”

Karin says: “I think she was going for the trashy, pink, cupcake princess look. I’m glad she was having fun with this ensemble – and I like it when stars get daring with their fashion choices at music award shows – but this looks like it should not have been worn outside of a bachelorette party.”

Alesha says: “Oh man, I was really trying to like one of these outfits, but it’s not happening. This reminds me of a Cinderella dress, but not the one she got from her fairy godmother. No, it’s one of those gowns her stepsisters rejected. And Anne-Marie is so cute with the pink hair and all, but the dress just needs a redo.”

Karin says: “Lizzo was literally dressed up as chocolate bar on the red carpet. I kinda love it. (I hope Hershey’s was paying her) It’s a fun dress, even though I could have done without the barcode and nutrition info on the print. I love her matching clutch and high updo.”

Alesha says: “I don’t hate it, but at the same time, there is just too much going on with this ensemble. It looks cheap, and of course I don’t have to state the obvious, but it looks costume-y. I do however, love the hair, makeup, accessories and the clutch.”

Karin says: “Embodying her nickname, she looks, well, ‘Sporty’. I don’t know if that cross is a real tattoo or temporary, but together with the cincture-esque rope belt, she looks like she’s wearing a sexy version of a monk’s robe.”

Alesha says: “I mean, it’s a normal black maxi dress; nothing special. But it suits her casual, sporty style. I haven’t seen Mel C in a while so I’m happy to see she is still looking as youthful as in her Spice Girl days.”

AP Photos

With Karin Herig and Alesha Cadet

16 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 21, 2020

fASHION

From Bimini with love

B

imini, known for its big game fishing and as Hemingway’s “island in the stream”, is looking to be put on the map for an entirely different reason: it’s fashion.

And the team at the Bailey Town Company think they are just the ones to make this happen.

The web-based business released their new line of Bimini-inspired clothing, merchandise and accessories last week. The new designs are part of the label’s three Winter 2020 collections and include T-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies. Each collection speaks to what the brand stands for: The BT Original collection centers around the brand itself with logo and symbol designs. The Social Starr collection shows off popular sayings from island natives. And the Rep Ya ‘Hood collection gives everyone the opportunity to show off the particular area of the Bimini they either grew up in, have

visited, or still reside in today. There are over 11 Bimini “neighbourhoods” represented in this collection.

Additionally, the brand has launched their #LoveBimini flip flop with imagery by island native Antonio Scantlebury, and the “Where Ya From” coffee mug which is decorated with a map of Bimini.

Bailey Town, which inspired the fashion company’s name, is the largest settlement on the island of Bimini, which lies just 50 miles off the coast of Florida. Bimini is often called the “Gateway of the Bahamas” and has a rich, exciting history, from shipwrecking and rum-running, to Ernest Hemingway and Martin Luther King Jr, to famous Bahamian residents like Yama Bahama and Piccolo Pete.

Bimini is also a famous worldwide for its big game fishing. It is made up of two islands, North Bimini and South Bimini. Each year, thousands of visitors come to Bimini to vacation, fish

and enjoy its beauty and people.

The Bailey Town Company said its merchandise is for everyone who loves Bimini and fun, quality clothing.

“The brand is meant to foster a deeper connection to the island by the people from there and who visit there as well,” said a company representative.

“We’ve encompassed some of the best details of the island, it’s people – and what they say – and the neighbourhoods they frequent to bring a fresh take to branded clothing lines.”

The label plans to release more collections for future seasons, starting with its Spring/Summer line in

mid-April which is expected to include tank tops, hats, bags, beach towels and more.

For more information, check out the Bailey Town Company on Facebook at “baileytownco”.

The Tribune | Weekend | 17

Friday, February 21, 2020

CELEBRITY

Success of 'To All the Boys' puts stars on Hollywood' s radar NEW YORK (AP) — The 2018 release of the Netflix teen rom-com “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before,” changed the lives of its stars, Lana Condor and Noah Centineo, by putting them on Hollywood’s radar.

“People are taking me more seriously,” said Condor, a 22-year-old Vietnamese American. “I feel like I can take up way more space, and I really, really appreciate being part of the conversation of representation. That’s something that I feel so passionate about.”

And Centineo, 23, has become a leading man. He will star as He-Man in “Masters of the Universe,” due out in 2021.

A sequel, “To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You,” is now playing on Netflix. In it, Condor and Centineo reprise their roles as Lara Jean and Peter, who are embarking on a real romance after falling in love in the first film.

The first movie introduced Lara Jean, a Korean American teen whose younger sister mails out a stash of hidden love letters to former crushes that were never intended to be read. To mask her embarrassment, Lara Jean fakes a romance with one of those recipients, Peter, who is looking to make his ex-girlfriend jealous. Things grow complicated when the pair falls in love. In the sequel, another love letter recipient (Jordan Fisher) surfaces. “To All the Boys” is adapted from a young adult book trilogy by Jenny Han. “When we made the first movie, we didn’t even know if anyone would see it,’’ Condor said. “Netflix hadn’t bought it yet and it was just kind of like, ‘Oh, I love the movie. I love

LANA Condor as Lara Jean and Noah Centineo as Peter in a scene from “To All The Boys: PS I Still Love You.” (Bettina Strauss/Netflix via AP)

LANA Condor as Lara Jean and Jordan Fisher as John Ambrose

the story, but I hope people will even see this.’”

Centineo is quick to admit that he’s learned it’s not all smooth-sailing when you become famous.

“It’s hard to not be grateful when you’ve done something that’s given you so much access to so many amazing creators and professionals,” he said.

“There are days where I think I’m a fraud and I suck and I’m (expletive) shallow and I get anxiety attacks,’’ Centineo said. “But, I like to think that ... bravery is despite being afraid to do something, you still have the courage to do it anyway.”

The cast has already completed filming the third chapter in the franchise.

Condor says she was “in denial” on her last day of

filming, and choked up speaking about what the Lara Jean role has meant to her.

“Lara Jean has been such a huge part of my life and it’s only been like two years, but I’ve spent so much time with her,” said Condor, her voice cracking. “She’s given me so many opportunities that I’m so grateful for and so kind of closing that chapter was very hard for me.”

Centineo says it wasn’t sad for him to walk away because his goodbye was only to the character, not his co-stars.

“I poured everything I could into this character and this film and this whole project — all three films — and we made a family out of it and I think we were successful on a personal level in creating a lot of connection. So when it was over it was OK. I didn’t have any regrets. I didn’t feel like I didn’t do something. I didn’t feel like I could’ve done something better.”

Han says the experience of bringing her books to life has been so exciting that she’s now doing screenwriting and wants to introduce more diverse characters.

“People often think of stories about non-white characters as niche or that people will not be able to relate to them for whatever reason and there’s so many different ways to be an all American girl, to be a teenage girl.”

“To All the Boys” is opposite of what’s going on now, Condor said. The world is rigid and scary, but “this movie is soft and sweet and gentle and kind.”

ALICIA RANCILIO Associated Press

18 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 21, 2020

COMMUNITY

IVAN MILLER, Leader of the Year

ANTONIO JOHNSON, Manager of the Year

BRIDGETTE MACKEY, Employee of the Year, Heart of House

BYRON ATTENBOROUGH, Employee of the Year, Front of House

PHILECE DORSETT, Manager of the Year

all the time and I think that’s what sets me apart from my colleagues.”

Antonio Johnson referred to his win as Manager of the Year as a “completely overwhelming” experience as this was the first Crystal Award for the Special Events and Entertainment Department in the past 30 years.

“I was also nominated last year and lost, however, through God’s grace and mercy I actually won this year. I’m so thankful and overjoyed,” he said.

The Employee of the Year winner, Front of House, was Byron Attenborough who works in Uniform Services as a bellman.

“It makes me feel great; hard work pays off,” said Byron who has been employed at Atlantis for 21 years.

He said he plans to use his cash award to pay college fees.

Bridgette Mackey took home the Heart of the House Employee of the Year.

“To think that I can come in every day and do what I genuinely love and to be recognised for that, it is truly an honour,” she said.

Giving advice to her colleagues, she said: “You’ll make mistakes, that’s all a part of the journey, but the thing to do once you make a mistake is just to keep on going. There are always other opportunities to make a difference and to have an impact and I think I proved that here tonight.”

Glenroy Cunningham, a 50-year-employee at Atlantis was also honoured at the Crystals for his long service to the company. Some of his prizes included a cruise vacation and a weekend stay at The Cove.

Atlantis honours team members at annual Crystal Awards gala

A

tlantis Paradise Island rolled out the red carpet to show its appreciation for employees who were nominated for its annual Crystal awards.

The event is a culmination of three awards held each quarter: The Quartz, the Amethyst and the Emerald awards, which recognises the stellar performance of employees.

A few winners from these quarterly awards are later selected by their department as nominees for the Crystal Awards Diamond Gala, where five lucky employees are chosen as Leader of the Year, Manager of the Year or Employee of the Year, Front of House and Heart of House.

Winners receive a cash prize and the opportunity to take home the bragging

rights, not only for themselves, but also for their respective departments.

“The nominees for this prestigious recognition represent who we all aspire to be in order to achieve our mission, vision and core values as an organisation at Atlantis,” said Audrey Oswell, president and managing partner at Atlantis.

The red carpet affair for the Crystal Award nominees began at Café Martinique, where they were served a gourmet dinner. Following dinner, they were escorted to Club Crush where the pulsating sounds of Junkanoo were playing.

As nominees sat on pins and needles, Michelle Liu, senior vice president of Marine and Water Park Operations, announced this year’s winners.

Ivan Miller of the Food and Beverage Department won Leader of the Year.

“This is an awesome feeling of accomplishment, after being at the company for almost 15 years,” said Ivan of his win. “I spend a lot of hours here. I work some weeks six to seven days a week, I put in a lot of time to ensure that things run smoothly in Food and Beverage operations.”

The two winners of the Manager of the Year were Philece Dorsett, associate director of Security Administration in the IT Department, and Antonio Johnson, assistant director of Entertainment and Special Events.

“I’m so excited, I feel so honoured and I’m very, very grateful. This is a great opportunity and I’m excited,” said Philece about her win.

Asked what gave her the edge, she said: “I would say my drive. I push every single day.

I try to be forward-thinking

The Tribune | Weekend | 19

Friday, February 21, 2020

FRIDAY 2/21 • Teen J’ouvert Midterm Break Edition Time: 8pm Venue: Botanical Gardens More paint, more powder and more water for the ultimate teen midterm break party.

work as a natural stimulant to set you up for a productive day and weekend.

Participants have to sign up by 9pm the night before.

Wear something comfortable, bring water or your preferred cup of brew, your mat/towel and an open mind. Call 434-2706 for more information.

SATURDAY

• Coffee + Yoga Time: 7.45am - 8.45am Venue: Fort Montagu All levels are welcome to join this one-hour awakening beginner morning flow.

This class is an energising morning practice that can

The Tribune Established 1903

• Watercolour Painting with Christina Wong Time: 10am - 1pm Venue: National Art Gallery Learn how to create beautiful layers in your paintings using classic watercolour techniques. Under the

|100 Jamz | Y98

What's going on this Being Bound To Swear To The Dogmas Of No Master

weekend

tutelage of “Refuge” artist Christina Wong, participants will be led through the process of rendering an image from observation and gain a basic understanding of the fundamentals of painting with watercolour.

This workshop is most suited to artists/painters relatively new to watercolour or complete beginners. Adults are $25, students and children are $10.

• Miss Bahamas World Interest Meeting Time: 2pm - 4pm Venue: Mario’s Bowling & Family Entertainment Palace Attention all Miss Bahamas World hopefuls! You are invited to attend an interest meeting to learn more about the requirements for this year’s competition.

Required attire is skinny jeans or leggings, a tank top and heels. Natural makeup is to be worn.

• Pony Rides & Movie Night – “Frozen 2” Time: 4pm - 8.30pm

Editior’s Voice

SATURDAY & SUNDAY

• Bahamas Junkanoo Art & Music Festival Time: 11am - 8pm Venue: Botanical Gardens Immerse yourself in all things Junkanoo. Taste the colours of Junkanoo with cocktails from Bahama Capris and popsicles from Paradise Pops; enjoy native fruit with a zinger from Saucy Gal; sip Anji’s Delightful Teas or Black Pearl’s bubble teas; savour Kneady’s woodfire signature pizzas, and more. There will be live bands, roving artists, a children’s corner and cardboard manipulation demonstrations. Adults are $5, children and senior citizens $2.

Venue: Camperdown Equestrian Centre An evening of fun with the children. Take a pony ride for $5 at 4pm and stay and watch a movie under the stars for $10 at 6.30pm.

There will be food and drinks on sale. Bring a chair or a blanket for the movie.

SUNDAY

• Fourth Sundays at the NAGB Time: 12noon - 5pm Venue: National Art Gallery Let knowledgeable NAGB staff guide you through “Refuge”, featuring the

work of over 45 artists who speak to their experiences and thoughts post-Dorian, Sue Katz’s “Home” in the Project Space, and the permanent exhibition “TimeLines”, which explores the history of Bahamian art.

Tours are held every 30 minutes.

• The Geek Out – Heroes vs Villains Time: 2pm Venue: Scouts Association Headquarters, Dolphin Drive Watch anime with a silent headphone experience.

Compete against your comrades in “Injustice”or “My Hero One’s Justice”.

Win PSN Codes all day and watch Batman go on trial for being a bad superhero.

Food and drinks on sale.

Tickets are $6 in advance and $12 at the door.

Call 428-4830.

• Matters of the Heart: For Lack or For Love – The Stage Play Time: 4.30pm - 7.30pm Venue: Miracle Life Global Outreach Ministries The Youth Initiative presents a comedic play about the ups and downs of relationships.

20 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 21, 2020

FILM

Austen's 'Emma,' humanised but not modernised

T

EMMA | 124 minutes

here’s beauty to spare in the new screen adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Emma,” from its palatial country estates with their art-filled galleries and manicured lawns, to the exquisitely detailed costumes (those feathered bonnets!), to star Anya Taylor-Joy, whose porcelain skin and blonde ringlets look like they belong in a Botticelli painting.

But wait, what’s the unsightly red gush from her nose that emerges during a climactic romantic scene? Is Emma, um, having a nosebleed, amid all this pristine beauty?

Why, yes she is.

That nosebleed, director Autumn de Wilde has said, is an effort to show that no matter how elegant and refined we may be, we’re composed of flesh and blood.

And that our bodies intruded and betrayed us back in the early 19th century, when the novel was written, just as they do now.

It’s a way of humanising this new “EMMA.” — the title contains capital letters and a period, for some reason — without exactly modernising it. Unlike, say, Greta Gerwig, who in “Little Women” played with both structure and contemporary plot elements, the filmmakers hew pretty close here to Austen’s original 1815 tale of a rich, well-meaning but self-involved young woman who meddles in everyone’s affairs of the heart, and basically mucks it all up.

Not that the film doesn’t have flashes of modern sensibility. Warming herself by the fire, Emma at one point bares

MIA GOTH, left, as Harriet Smith and Anya Taylor-Joy as Emma Woodhouse (Focus Features via AP)

ROMANCE is in the air: Emma (Anya Taylor-Joy) and Mr Knightley (Johnny Flynn) her bum. George Knightley, her eventual love interest, first appears in his birthday suit.

And there’s plenty of millennial cred here, onscreen and

off: Screenwriter Eleanor Catton, 34, was the youngest person to win the Man Booker prize (at 28, for “The Luminaries.”) Director de Wilde

is known for her music video work and rock photography.

The quietly magnetic Johnny Flynn, who plays Knightley, is also a singer-songwriter (he sings during the closing credits) and will soon portray David Bowie onscreen. The soundtrack is by Isobel WallerBridge and David Schweitzer — yes, that Waller-Bridge.

(She also wrote music for sister Phoebe’s “Fleabag.”)

And OK, he’s not a millennial, but it’s high time we mention the film’s most delectable delight: Bill Nighy, playing Emma’s hypochondriacal father, Mr. Woodhouse, with such marvellous comic flair that you wish the movie were called “Emma’s Dad.” Nighy teaches a master class in delivery. Give him a line, any line — say, “Do you feel a draft?” — and watch what he does with it.

But back to our heroine, whom Austen herself called “a heroine whom no one but myself will much like.” Actually, that seems a bit harsh.

Certainly Emma’s a spoiled young thing, but even when she’s at her worst, she’s never mean-spirited — just clueless, as the 1995 incarnation starring Alicia Silverstone was named. (Other famous Emmas: Gwyneth Paltrow on the big screen and Kate Beckinsale on TV).

We meet her as she’s just completed a successful match, for her governess. Next on the list: her impressionable orphaned friend, Harriet (a poignant Mia Goth) who pines for a young farmer, but is convinced by Emma to eschew him in favour of a man of higher social status, the vicar Mr. Elton (a slapstick-funny

Josh O’Connor.) Problem is, Mr Elton pines only for Emma. And Emma thinks she’s interested in the wealthy Frank Churchill (Callum Turner), who turns out to be secretly engaged to Jane Fairfax (Amber Anderson), the niece of Miss Bates (an excellent Miranda Hart), the garrulous woman who Emma thoughtlessly insults along the way.

The misunderstandings are too numerous to describe. But the proceedings are beautifully paced, and the movie feels light and airy, like a pleasant dream. There’s one strange element, and it’s hard to tell if it’s intentional: The schoolgirls, of which Harriet is one, periodically walk through the village in hooded red capes and white hats, looking very familiar to anyone who’s seen “A Handmaid’s Tale.” Is this a coincidence, or is de Wilde making a statement about the limited choices women have in 19th-century England? In any case, the costumes by Alexandra Byrne are terrific throughout.

Of course, the real romance here is between Emma and George, and it’s a slow burn — but it sure has heat. The spark begins at a ball, with long glances and tentative touches, and is ultimately revealed in a climactic scene both delicious and, well, a little bloody, like we said.

But George has a handkerchief, and, in the spirit of all the rom-coms that have descended from “Emma,” everything somehow irons itself out just in time.

JOCELYN NOVECK AP National Writer

The Tribune | Weekend | 21

Friday, February 21, 2020

books

New releases

hitting shelves

this week The Queen’s Fortune

by Allison Pataki

Saint X

by Alexis Schaitkin

A

C

(literary fiction)

s the French revolution ravages the country, Desiree Clary is faced with the lifealtering truth that the world she has known and loved is gone and it’s fallen on her to save her family from the guillotine.

A chance encounter with Napoleon Bonaparte, the ambitious and charismatic young military prodigy, provides her answer. When her beloved sister Julie marries his brother Joseph, Desiree and Napoleon’s futures become irrevocably linked. Quickly entering into their own passionate, dizzying courtship that leads to a secret engagement, they vow to meet in the capital once his career has been secured. But her newly laid plans with Napoleon turn to sudden heartbreak, thanks to the rising star of Parisian society, Josephine de Beauharnais. Once again, Desiree’s life is turned on its head.

(mystery/thriller)

laire is only seven years old when her college-age sister, Alison, disappears on the last night of their family vacation at a resort on the Caribbean island of Saint X. Several days later, Alison’s body is found in a remote spot on a nearby cay, and two local men – employees at the resort – are arrested. But the evidence is slim, the timeline against it, and the men are soon released. The story turns into national tabloid news, a lurid mystery that will go unsolved. For Claire and her parents, there is only the return home to broken lives.

Years later, Claire is living and working in New York City when a brief but fateful encounter brings her together with Clive Richardson, one of the men originally suspected of murdering her sister. It is a moment that sets Claire on an obsessive pursuit of the truth–not only to find out what happened the night of Alison’s

death but also to answer the elusive question: Who exactly was her sister?

At seven, Claire had been barely old enough to know her: a beautiful, changeable, provocative girl of eighteen at a turbulent moment of identity formation.

As Claire doggedly shadows Clive, hoping to gain his trust, waiting for the slip that will reveal the truth, an unlikely attachment develops between them, two people whose lives were forever marked by the same tragedy.

Of Curses and Kisses

by Sandhya Menon (young adult)

W

ill the princess save the beast?

For Princess Jaya Rao, nothing is more important than family. When the loathsome Emerson clan steps up their centuries-old feud to target Jaya’s little sister, nothing will keep Jaya from exacting her revenge. Then Jaya finds out she’ll be attending the same

elite boarding school as Grey Emerson, and it feels like the opportunity of a lifetime. She knows what she must do: Make Grey fall in love with her and break his heart. But much to Jaya’s annoyance, Grey’s brooding demeanour and lupine blue eyes have drawn her in. There’s simply no way she and her sworn enemy could find their fairy-tale ending…right?

His Lordship Grey Emerson is a misanthrope. Thanks to an ancient curse by a Rao matriarch, Grey knows he’s doomed once he turns eighteen. Sequestered away in the mountains at St. Rosetta’s International Academy, he’s lived an isolated existence—until Jaya Rao bursts into his life, but he can’t shake the feeling that she’s hiding something. Something that might just have to do with the rose-shaped ruby pendant around her neck…

As the stars conspire to keep them apart, Jaya and Grey grapple with questions of love, loyalty, and whether it’s possible to write your own happy ending.

22 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 21, 2020

literary lives

A songwriter for the ages

– Part I

Sir Christopher Ondaatje reminds us of the brilliant American composer and songwriter whose witty scores became standards on Broadway and in the movies.

C

ole Porter was born in Peru, Indiana, on June 9, 1891 to Samuel Fenwick Porter, a druggist, and Kate Cole – the daughter of James Omar “JO” Cole – the richest man in Indiana – a coal and timber speculator. His parents lived in a house built on his grandfather’s property.

Porter’s strong-willed mother doted on him and encouraged his musical learning when he was very young.

He played the violin when he was six; the piano when he was eight, and wrote his first operetta when he was ten. His father – a shy and reclusive man – did not have much to do with his son’s upbringing, but may have influenced his son’s gift for rhyme and meter. He was an amateur poet and did not have a close relationship with his son.

The wealthy “JO” Cole was insistent that Cole become a

lawyer, and in 1905 sent him to Worcester Academy in Massachusetts. Porter took an upright piano to school and quickly learned that music was an easy way to make friends.

He never looked back. He was popular, rarely came home for visits, and became class valedictorian. His grandfather praised him, and rewarded him with a tour of France, Switzerland and Germany.

He went to Yale College in 1909 and majored in English, taking minors in music and French. He was a member of Scroll and Key, and Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. He wrote for The Yale Record. He was also a member of Whiffenpoofs – a singing group, as well as other music clubs. In his senior year he was elected president of the Yale Glee Club and was its principal soloist.

Cole Porter wrote 300 songs while he was at Yale, including

COLE Albert Porter (June 9, 1891 – October 15, 1964) the football fight songs “Bulldog”, and “Bingo Eli Yale” (”Bingo, That’s The Lingo!”) that are still played and sung there.

During his years at Yale Porter became addicted to New York City’s vibrant nightlife. With his classmates, he would take the train to New York for dinner, theatre and nightlife, before returning to New Haven in the early hours of the morning. He wrote musical comedy scores for the Yale Dramatic Association.

After graduating from Yale in 1913, Porter enrolled in Harvard Law School. At the suggestion of the dean of the Law School, who realised he was not likely to be a success as a lawyer, he switched to Harvard’s music department.

This was kept secret from his grandfather.

In 1915, Porter’s song “Esmeralda” appeared on

Broadway in the revue “Hands Up” – his first Broadway success – but it was short-lived.

After two years of failure in New York in 1917, when the United States entered World War I, he moved to Paris with the Duryea Relief Organisation. It is possible that Porter may have spent some time with the French Foreign Legion or with the French Officers School at Fontainebleu teaching gunnery to American soldiers. In an eventual obituary notice in The New York Times it reported: “... he had a specially constructed piano made for him so that he could carry it on his back and entertain the troops in bivouacs.”

Porter maintained a luxury apartment in Paris where he entertained lavishly.

“His parties were extravagant and scandalous, with much gay

and bisexual activity, Italian nobility, cross-dressing, international musicians and a large surplus of recreational drugs.”

– The Cole Porter Biography

by J X Bell (coleporter.org)

In 1918, Cole Porter met Linda Lee Thomas, a wealthy divorcée from Louisville, Kentucky, who was eight years older than he was. She was beautiful and socially wellconnected. They shared a love of travel, and she became Porter’s confidante and companion. The couple married in 1919. She was in no doubt about Porter’s homosexuality, but it was advantageous for them to marry. For Linda Lee Thomas it offered continued social status and a partner who was the antithesis of her abusive first husband. For Porter it brought a respectable heterosexual front in an era when homosexuality was

The Tribune | Weekend | 23

PORTER as a Yale College student in 1913

ALTHOUGH he was homosexual, Porter married wealthy divorcée Linda Lee Thomas in 1919; they remained married until her death in 1954.

When the little bluebird Who has never said a word Starts to sing “Spring, spring” When the little bluebell At the bottom of the dell Starts to ring, ding ding When the little blue clerk In the middle of his work Starts a tune to the moon up above It is nature, that’s all Simply telling us to fall in love And that’s why birds do it, bees do it Even educated fleas do it Let’s do it, let’s fall in love In Spain the best upper sets do it Lithuanians and Letts do it Let’s do it, let’s fall in love The Dutch in old Amsterdam do it Not to mention the Finns Folks in Siam do it Think of Siamese twins Some Argentines, without means, do it People say in Boston even beans do it Let’s do it, let’s fall in love Romantic sponges, they say, do it Oysters down in Oyster Bay do it Let’s do it, let’s fall in love Cold Cape Cod clams, ‘gainst their wish, do it Even lazy jellyfish do it Let’s do it, let’s fall in love Electric eels, I might add, do it Though it shocks ‘em, I know

e

Let’s Do It

Why ask if shad do it?

Waiter, bring me shad roe!

In shallow shoals, English soles do it Goldfish in the privacy of bowls do it Let’s do it, let’s fall in love Mosquitos, heaven forbid, do it So does every katydid do it Let’s do it, let’s fall in love Dragonflies in the reeds do it Sentimental centipedes do it Let’s do it, let’s fall in love The most refined ladybugs do it When a gentleman calls Moths in your rugs do it What’s the use of moth balls?

The locusts up in the trees do it Even over-educated fleas do it Let’s do it, let’s fall in love The chimpanzees in the zoo do it Some courageous kangaroos do it Let’s do it, let’s fall in love I’m sure giraffes on the sly do it Heavy hippopotami do it Let’s do it, let’s fall in love Sloths who hang down from the twigs do it Though the effort is great Sweet guinea pigs do it Buy a couple and wait!

The world admits bears in pits do it Even Pekingeses in the Ritz do it Let’s do it, let’s fall in love

Pa g

commissioned by E Ray Goetz after considerable persuasion by his wife Irène Bordoni. She originally wanted Rodgers and Hart to do the songs for the show, but they were not available. When the show opened on Broadway on October 8, 1928 it included “Let’s Misbehave” and one of his best-known songs, “Let’s Do It”.

ex t

not publicly acknowledged.

They were, however, genuinely devoted to each other and remained married from December 19, 1919 until her death in 1954. She tried hard to direct Porter to the more prestigious classical music but was unsuccessful. Porter did, however, enrol at the Schola Cantorum in Paris where he studied orchestration and counterpoint with Vincent d’Indy. His first big hit was the song “Old Fashioned Garden” from the revue “Hitchy-Koo” in 1919. In 1920 he contributed the music of several songs to the musical “A Night Out”.

The Porters lived in extravagant luxury on the Rue Monsieur in a palatial house with platinum wallpaper and zebra skin chairs.

In 1923 Porter came into an enormous inheritance from his grandfather and, with his bride, they lived in rented palaces in Venice. He once hired the entire Ballet Russes for a party at Ca’Rezzonico which he rented for $60,000 (in today’s value), with 50 gondoliers as footmen and a troupe of tightrope walkers performing in a blaze of lights.

Despite the exuberant lifestyle he continued to write songs.

Porter did not receive many commissions for songs in 1920 and 1921, but he did compose a short ballet with his American friend Gerald Murphy, eventually titled “Within the Quota”, which lasted for 16 minutes and was one of the earliest jazz-based compositions. It opened in the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in October 1923 and was performed in New York in November. It toured the US, performing 69 times the following year. He had less success with contributions for “The Greenwich Village Follies” (1924), which dropped most of his songs during the Broadway run and all of them in the post-Broadway tour of 1925. He very nearly gave up songwriting as a career. In 1928 his father died.

When he was 36, Porter finally had a hit on Broadway with the musical “Paris”

N

Friday, February 21, 2020

24 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 21, 2020

What is This Thing Called Love?

IRÈNE BORDONI, the star of Porter’s “Paris”, which featured the song “Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall In Love)”.

Porter could not attend the opening of “Paris” because he was supervising “La Revue” – another show actually in Paris – in a nightclub. This was also a success, and the demand for Porter’s songs and music accelerated. “Wake Up” and “Dream” ran for 233 performances in London, after which it was transferred to New York in 1929. The 1929 Wall Street Crash seriously affected spending, and despite the show only running for 136 performances, Porter’s song “What is This Thing Called Love?” was an immediate hit.

IN 1928, Porter’s first Broadway hit, “Paris”, opened at the Music Box. The theatre still exists today.

CA’ Rezzonico in Venice, leased by Porters in the 1920s.

I was a humdrum person Leading a life apart When love flew in through my window wide And quickened my humdrum heart Love flew in through my window I was so happy then But after love had stayed a little while Love flew out again What is this thing called love?

This funny thing called love?

Just who can solve its mystery?

Why should it make a fool of me?

I saw you there one wonderful day You took my heart and threw it away That’s why I ask the Lord in Heaven above What is this thing called love?

What is this thing called love?

This funny thing called love?

Just who can solve its mystery?

Why should it make a fool of me?

Cole Porter was now ready for Hollywood.

NEXT WEEK: Cole Porter composes the soundtrack of the 1930s, 40s and 50s • Sir Christopher Ondaatje is the author of The Last Colonial. He acknowledges that he has quoted liberally from Wikepedia; Noël & Cole: The Sophisticates by Stephen Citron (Hal Leonard Corporation 2005); and The Complete Lyrics of Cole Porter (1992) by Robert Kimbal (DeCapo Press, 1992)

The Tribune | Weekend | 25

Friday, February 21, 2020

HISTORY

A brief history of black names, from Perlie to Jamal

By Trevon Logan The Ohio State University (THE CONVERSATION) – Most people recognise that there are first names given almost exclusively by black Americans to their children, such as Jamal and Latasha.

While fodder for comedians and social commentary, many have assumed that these distinctively black names are a modern phenomenon. My research shows that’s not true.

Long before there was Jamal and Latasha, there was Booker and Perlie. The names have changed, but my colleagues and I traced the use of distinctive black names to the earliest history of the United States.

As scholars of history, demographics and economics, we found that there is nothing new about black names.

BLACK NAMES AREN’T NEW Many scholars believe that distinctively black names emerged from the civil rights movement, perhaps attributable to the Black Power movement and the later black cultural movement of the 1990s as a way to affirm and embrace black culture. Before this time, the argument goes, blacks and whites had similar naming patterns.

Historical evidence does not support this belief.

Until a few years ago, the story of black names depended almost exclusively on data from the 1960s onward. New data, such as the digitisation of census and newly available birth and death records from historical periods, allows us to analyse the history of black names in more detail.

We used federal census records and death certificates from the late 1800s in Illinois, Alabama and North Carolina to see if there were names that were held almost exclusively by blacks and not whites in the past. We found that there were indeed.

For example, in the 1920 census, 99 percent of all men with the first name of Booker were black, as were 80 percent of all men named Perlie or its variations. We found that the fraction of blacks holding a distinctively black name in the early 1900s is comparable to the fraction holding a distinctively black name at the end of the 20th century, around 3 percent.

WHAT WERE THE BLACK NAMES BACK THEN? We were interested to learn that the black names of the late 1800s and early 1900s are not the same black names that we recognise today.

The historical names that stand out are largely biblical

such as Elijah, Isaac, Isaiah, Moses and Abraham, and names that seem to designate empowerment such as Prince, King and Freeman.

These names are quite different from black names today such as Tyrone, Darnell and Kareem, which grew in popularity during the civil rights movement.

Once we knew black names were used long before the civil rights era, we wondered how black names emerged and what they represented. To find out, we turned to the antebellum era – the time before the Civil War – to see if the historical black names existed before the emancipation of slaves.

Since the census didn’t record the names of enslaved Africans, this led to a search of records of names from slave markets and ship manifests.

Using these new data sources, we found that names like Alonzo, Israel, Presley and Titus were popular both before and after emancipation

among blacks. We also learned found that roughly three percent of black Americans had black names in the antebellum period – about the same percentage as did in the period after the Civil War. But what was most striking is the trend over time during enslavement. We found that the share of black Americans with black names increased over the antebellum era while the share of white Americans with these same names declined, from more than three percent at the time of the American Revolution to less than one percent by 1860.

By the eve of the Civil War, the racial naming pattern we found for the late 1800s was an entrenched feature in the US.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? Black names tell us something about the development of black culture, and the steps whites were taking to distance themselves from it.

Scholars of African American cultural history, such as Lawrence W Levine, Herbert Gutman and Ralph Ellison, have long held that the development of African American culture involves both family and social ties among people from various ethnic groups in the African diaspora.

In other words, people from various parts of Africa came together to form black culture as we recognise it today. One way of passing that culture on is through given names, since surnames were stolen during enslavement.

How this culture developed and persisted in a chattel slavery system is a unique historical development.

As enslavement continued through the 1800s, African American culture included naming practices that were national in scope by the time of emancipation, and intimately related to the slave trade.

Since none of these black names are of African origin, they are a distinct African American cultural practice which began during enslavement in the US. As the country continues to grapple with the wide-ranging effects of enslavement in the nation’s history, we cannot – and should not – forget that enslavement played a critical role in the development of black culture as we understand it today.

• This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com.

Across: 1 Apathetic,277 Saline, 24 Mark followed daughter 9 Waltzer, 10 Ends, 12 Rep, and lived (5)

developing acne (7) 27 Starts to nod off, expecting little festivity (4) 28 Bad habit concerning fellow deputy (10)

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.

l E D t f o o i D

● The Target uses words in the main body of Chambers 21st Century Dictionary (1999 edition)

HOW many words of four letters or more can you make from the letters shown here? in making a word, each letter may be used once only. Each must contain the centre letter and there must be at least one nine-letter word. no plurals or verb forms ending in “s”.

TODAY’S TARGET Good 19; very good 28; excellent 37 (or more). Solution on Monday

Yesterday’s call 0907 181 2585 for today’s target solution Sudoku Answer *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.

BATTLESHIPS CRYPTIC PUZZLE Down 1 The sort of speech that gets reported (8) 2 Say no to getting a record by mail order (8) 3 Outstanding feature of one’s disposition (4) 5 Where you might go in America if you have time (12) 6 The knot sailors avoid (4) 7 Expresses requirements for a choir (6) 8 Monster in women’s clothing? (6) 11 Drops from hard work (12) 15 Look well on (5) 16 American needs time for practice (5) 18 Our haste ruined the distribution (5-3) 19 Wise step in the present era (5,3) 21 Conducted an examination in favour of retirement? (6) 22 Blamed for an uproar (6) 26 A study about a distinguished academic (4) 27 Is unable to play the hypocrite (4)

Across 1 I ring Enid back for a healing application (6) 4 A piano tested and given the OK (8) 9 Discontinuation of issued order (6) 10 Very good article for cake decoration (8) 12 List a waiter may be asked for (4) 13 Goddess of light? (5) 14 Vote cast by objector? (4) 17 It doesn’t become a grown-up (12) 20 A craft school for youngsters (8,4) 23 Felt sorry about union leader being bolshie (4) 24 Worry results when Harold gets short (5) 25 If there’s a man around, he’s from the U.S. (4) 28 Conditional statement? (8) 29 A deity father found outside a Chinese temple (6) 30 Masterful man I don’t have to replace (8) 31 Work of a man who is good at figures (6)

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Yesterday’s Easy Solution Across: 1 Slump, 4 Stadium, 8 Odd, 9 Overjoyed, 10 Giraffe, 11 Usury, 13 Prolix, 15 Sniper, 18 Creep, 19 Miserly, 21 As a result, 23 Awl, 24 Stetson, 25 Piety.

Down: 1 Stopgap, 2 Undertone, 3 Proof, 4 Sweden, 5 Adjourn, 6 Ivy, 7 Muddy, 12 Upper case, 14 Impress, 16 Royalty, 17 Impugn, 18 Class, 20 Sit-up, 22 Awe.

FIND where the fleet of ships shown is hidden in the grid. The numbers to the right of and below the grid indicate how many of the squares in that row are filled in with ships or parts of ships. The ships do not touch each other, even diagonally. Some squares have been filled in to start you off.

Solution on Monday 1

2

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9 10

A

2

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1

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3

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1

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1

Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution

H

2

Across: 1 Sprag, 8 Lei, 9 Totem pole, 10 Essence, 11 Tower, 13 Traits, 15 Amatol, 18 Liege, 19 Feather dusters, 21 Beardless, 23 Och, 24 Screech, 25 Tides.

Down: 1 Solvent, 2 Reinstate, 3 Get on, 4 Duties, 5 Symptom, 6 Ego, 7 Shear, 12 Watchword, 14 Treadle, 16 Larches, 17 Afresh, 18 Lobes, 20 Asset, 22 Air.

I

2

J

3

EASY PUZZLE

Across 1 Uproar (6) 4 Immaculate (8) 9 Equality in status (6) 10 Tonic (4-2-2) 12 Assign a value to (4) 13 Shade of pink (5) 14 Railway branch line (4) 17 A boost (4,2,3,3) 20 Enthusiastically (4,4,4) 23 Intense enthusiasm (4) 24 Lukewarm (5) 25 Long steady look (4) 28 Economic upturn (8) 29 A cotton cloth (6) 30 Surreptitious (8) 31 Really (6)

Down 1 High-ranking officers (3,5) 2 Long-distance race (8) 3 Long delayed (4) 5 East US city and port (12) 6 Select (4) 7 Grant immunity to (6) 8 Grand (6) 11 Be very expensive (4,3,5) 15 Polite (5) 16 Candid (5) 18 Imaginative (8) 19 Minor planet (8) 21 Portuguese Atlantic islands (6) 22 Lacking social grace (6) 26 Wickedness (4) 27 Daybreak (4)

2

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black squares: 3, 23, 25, 27, 32, 34, Across: Traffic, Li Disown, Shard, Qu Paprika, Killer, Flo Down: Topaz, Squ TArgeT cAn you crack the Alphabeater? Each grid Polyester, Ibex,lett Un Extra number represents a letter – or black square.

Chin, Abrasive, As geNuFLeCT 0907 18 Ascent in Alphapuzzle, every letter the alphabet (Deduct three clef cleft cleg clue cuteofelect each extra clue is elute used. engulf But youfeel have to complete CroSS Dou feet felt fencethe fetegrid too! use given letters andflute black squares below full sol fleethefleet flue fluent fuel Across: ARROW the grid togene start.genet the grid ‘rotationally Down: SWORD 0907 18 fulgent gentis gentle symmetrical’ in other looks the *Calls cost 80p p GENUFLECT– glee glenwords, glue it gluten your telephon same if you turn the page upside down. left lent lucent luge lunge lute SuMMiT u network acce Solution Monday neglect on teen tune uncle 90 and 97 A 33 25 34 8 31 1 28 6 39 18 26 B C 18 2 24 5 9 38 36 4 29 34 17 D E 2 8 15 29 2 6 29 32 34 32 11 F G 38 7 26 4 29 14 3 30 8 2 19 H 11 2 38 18 I 23 14 37 24 27 16 9 J 16 9 12 34 17 35 32 31 20 K 22 2 L 1Yesterday’s 12 33 5 36 11 20 8 25 M 31 8 N 18 Kakuro 16 30 Answer 26 12 37 2 12 3 24 O 5 P 6 36 4 36 28 10 Q 26 13 20 33 9 R 33 22 S 23 14 19 37 12 27 12 36 3 T 28 21 5 2 29 25 U 24 17 16 38 8 V 40 29 29 3 11 21 26 8 4 20 W 8 X 40 38 22 9 16 32 29 39 17 36 Y 4 Z

THE ALPHABEATER

TARGET 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

28

13 Retreat, 14 Loo, 15 Neon, 21, Friday, February 17 Prolong, 19 Status, 20 Reassures. Down: 1 As well as, 2 Plan, 3 Ail, 4 Hazardous, 5 Eleven, 6 Inset, 8 Expunges, 11 Starts, 13 Route, 16 Once, 18 Oar.

1

4

1 x Battleship

3 x Destroyer

2 x cruiser

4 x submarine

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34 35

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15

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37

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● Alternatively, for six Extra Letter clues to your mobil text DXBEAT to 84901. Texts cost £1 plus your usual opera

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Solu Mo

The Tribune | Weekend | 27

Friday, February 21, 2020

animals

The killing of a rescued coyote Animal matters | KIM ARANHA

C

ongratulations America, and more precisely Florida, for showing us what heartless, inconsiderate and lacking in compassion towards wildlife their people really are.

A couple of weeks back a coyote was spotted swimming off the port of Miami. A whole bunch of people jumped in to save this poor animal. The rescuers were afraid that he would get badly hurt or even killed by a passing boat. The rescue was not a simple event, and the skills of the fire rescue team were required.

The team that rescued the coyote were elated to be able to save him and one firefighter who sat with him in the boat said that he appeared to be in good shape just very tired from swimming for such a long time.

“I think he’s resting, and he knows we’re not here to hurt him,” said Javier Perez with the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue.

“We’re here to help him.”

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials first said the animal would be taken to the Wildlife Rescue of Dade County in Homestead.

The director of the wildlife rescue shelter had everything ready for the incoming coyote.

They were prepared to treat his superficial wounds that he probably got from scraping up against barnacles on a dock.

They were ready to give him his vaccines and allow him time to recover from the trauma of nearly drowning before releasing him back into the wild.

They had constructed a special enclosure that was coyote-proof because, as a species, they are well-known escape artists.

Wow, what a wonderful story…so far. But no, my friends, this story sadly does not end here and does not have a happy ending.

A CHANGE.org petition is seeking an explanation from South Florida officials for the euthanising of a rescued coyote.

After all the efforts, care and heart put into his rescue, some insensitive and poorly informed official from “high up” made the call that the coyote must be killed. Here is a perfect situation where people hide behind the politically correct term “euthanised” when in all reality it is plain and simple killing. The rather pathetic reason given was that the animal was a non-native species to Florida, but not everybody agreed with that statement.

Zoo Miami wildlife expert Ron Magill said that’s not accurate. “This is an animal that has over the years migrated down to the state. It’s one of the most adaptable animals in the world.

There’s 600 in Chicago so they can adapt to almost any environment so they are naturally occurring here now.”

Magill was baffled and very disappointed about the needless killing of this animal. He went further to say that the coyote is actually not a nuisance animal;

he actually contributes to environment as he hunts down rodents.

Rescue employee Lloyd Brown said: “The reason I was given was coyotes are considered to be a nuisance animal.

We’d love the opportunity to save this guy and put it back in the wild.”

Are all nuisance animals to be killed now?

Allegedly the instructions to kill this animal came from somebody in a very powerful

Eeny, meeny, miny, mo...

By THE BAHAMAS HUMANE SOCIETY

“E

eny, meeny, miny, mo... which little kitten shall we show?” How about two of them? Eeny and Meeny are sisters and would love to be adopted together.

These eight-week-old cuties are snuggly and playful, as many kittens are. When you adopt two, they help keep each other occupied. Have you been considering your adoption options? Then, add Eeny and Meeny to your list!

Adoption hours are 11am to

4pm, Monday to Friday, and 10am to 4pmon Saturday, or you can call 323-5138 for more information. Make the right choice and come out to adopt! Eeny and Meeny look forward to meeting you.

• It’s almost time for Party for the Animals! Saturday, February 29, at 7pm at The BNT Retreat on Village Road.

Tickets are $40 and available at the shelter and the Fox Hill Nursery. Prepare to have fun with adult hoop-la and more!

EENY and Meeny with BHS staff member Jessica Fowler (Photo/Patricia Vazquez)

position who was probably elected and doesn’t know very much about wildlife. I would venture to say that this person was probably afraid of coyotes and in their own little mind felt that the world would be better off with one less coyote. If they didn’t want the animal in South Florida, why not release him somewhere else in the wild?

There are hundreds of programmes that do just that.

Small-minded bureaucrats bustle into places where they would be better off not to venture. Leave it to the experts, buddy, and mix another martini.

I am hardly surprised at this poorly thought out and ridiculous decision taken by the South Florida powers when you look back to the disastrous decision to make it “open season” on killing iguanas because they decided that the state had too many. This badly constructed decision led to the maiming, torturing and suffering of countless iguanas until the less than environmentally educated higher powers climbed back into their boxes and allowed the experts in wildlife take over.

What is it about certain people in positions of power that makes them feel that they know it all and do not need to listen and take advice from those that actually know better?

The entire world is plagued with men and women who terrorise, destroy, maim and extinguish wildlife in the name of human advancement.

So much nonsense happens that hundreds of wildlife species go extinct at the hands of these dangerous people and it will and does affect the balance of nature and our fragile human existence on earth. Do they care one iota? Heck no, as long as they are OK they do not waste a nano-second considering the future or the world they are leaving behind for their grandchildren to cope with.

Shame on you South Florida.

28 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, February 21, 2020

animals

Baark!

celebrates 10 years with a ‘Dance through the Decades’

A

decade of work

by Baark! and its volunteers was recently celebrated by its members and supporters with a fun-filled party and a “Dance Through the Decades”.

The special event took place at the Old Fort Bay Club and was a huge success, according to organisers. Out of the six decades showcased during the party, the 1970s proved the most popular, which guests dressed up in Since its launch in 2009, the Bahamas Alliance For Animal Rights and Kindness (Baark!) has completed more than 11,000 spays and neuters and saved more than one million animals born into a life of suffering.

Spay and neuter leads to a happier and healthier animal population and a significant drop of stray dogs roaming the streets. Baark! works with local and international non-profits and volunteers and are grateful for the support and contributions from the organisations and communities.

Chairperson Laura Kindle said: “We cannot operate

without the amazing support and the donations we receive. A massive thank you to our corporate sponsors for this event – Jack Pot Joy, Graham Real Estate, Odyssey Aviation, Think Simple and International Animal Care.”

The work of Baark! recently focused on Abaco.

When Hurricane Dorian struck the Abacos and Grand Bahama last September, hundreds of animals were affected. Baark! sprang into action with an initial rescue and relief effort in the Abacos. In November and December, Baark! hosted five one-day spay/neuter clinics and fixed 189 dogs and cats. Five months later, Baark! is still assisting with food distribution in Marsh Harbour.

“The last 10 years of Baark! have been a journey for animal welfare and a rewarding experience for the people who are able to assist,” said Vice-President Lissa McCombe, who has been with the non-profit since its inception.

“We started as a small team of naive citizens looking to help the animals who

BAARK! chairperson Laura Kimble (left) and vice-president Lissa McCombe (right).

WINNERS of the best costumes and best dancers of the Baark!

‘Dance Through the Decades’ party PARTYgoers have a great time on the dance floor.

couldn’t help themselves.

However, the Hurricane Dorian experience was one none of us could imagine and there were so many emotional moments since we were the first responders for the animals, and more so when we were able to reunite families with their pets.”

Through the assistance of international partners and local support, Baark! was able to help evacuate over 320 animals from a devastated Abaco, shelter them in pup tents in Nassau, and later to bring together many animals with their families.

Today, Baark! continues to assist animals in Abaco with a coordinated food distribution programme to ensure the animals that remained have access to food. This helps to assist their owners as well who are still recovering from Dorian.

Major fundraisers like the “Dance Through the Decades” party, helps Baark! continue their mission.

The décor for the party was completed by Equilibrium and there were a variety of raffle prizes including a three-night stay at Kamalame Cay for two and round-trip airfare for two on LeAir. Other supporters were Pazo Pegullal and Youngs Fine Wine and Aquapure.

The cocktails hour was sponsored by Purina One and powered by Tito’s Vodka (the Dog Friendly Vodka).

Guests were treated to a special vodka cocktail, a Tito’s American Mule.

“We were more than happy to partner with Baark! when we learned that their organisation also strived to carry out spay/neuter and education projects to reduce the homeless animal population and to end the suffering of dogs and cats in the Bahamas,” said Susan Warren, wine and spirits specialist at Jimmy’s Wine and Spirits.

For more information on Baark!, visit www.baarkbahamas.com