03242023 WEEKEND

Conch creations

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

As a student of interior design, Keena Herious found a new use for one of the Bahamas’ national symbols. She now specialises in bejewelling and painting conch shells to be used as unique décor pieces.

In hindsight, it seems only natural that her path in life led her to this moment where she owns her own arts and craft brand, K-Create.

“From I was a child, I was always making something, sewing or putting pieces of things back together. That side of me died off in college where I studied Business Administration.

Although I kept with the business route after college, owning a few fashion stores, I had an eye for decorating so my creative side started to flourish again, and I did that periodically for friends and family small events,” Keena told Tribune Weekend

She said her signature conch shell designs came about after she experimented with decorating a coral rock. About four hours later, although the work was somewhat tedious, she had beautiful bejewelled conch shell in her hands. The printed conch shell designs followed soon after.

“I would look at a cool pattern or design, mostly anything nautical, and picture it on the conch shell. Some designs, however, do not work out, and that becomes a learning process of what not to use,” she said.

“Customers are in love with the unique design of the conch shells, mostly because they haven’t seen anything like it,” said Keena.

What she enjoys most about her work process is the fact that it allows her to retreat into a peaceful mind

space, away from all the outside noise.

“When someone buys a handmade piece from me it motivates me even more to make the next one even more special. My constant question is, ‘What can I do with this that I haven’t seen before?’

“I mostly enjoy creating things not only because it is a passion, but when I am investing time and energy into doing the things that I am gifted at, my life feels a little bit freer and more fulfilled,” she said.

Just before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Keena was taking an interior design course, which got her creative juices flowing and led her to launch her K-Create brand.

“During the lockdown period I found myself re-purposing some of my furniture and re-creating my old artwork. I was making some really good transformations, so I got the idea to start a social media page to show my before and after work. From there, K-Create was born, and that took me into a whole new world of other creative ideas which got me a lot of attention,” she said.

“It’s just getting started and I plan on offering a lot more creative designs and ideas using more natural materials. I love the idea of staying a little bit more organic with my art, also making it unique enough for someone to see it as a collectible piece. It is in my vision to have my pieces in stores, homes and hotels around the world.”

Currently, her focus is mainly on conch shells, hanging art and driftwood, because those are her best-sellers. But from time to time, she also incorporates flowers, sea shells, and different kinds of natural pieces into her art, making platters, coasters, pizza and cutting boards.

“I am now completely invested into learning more about art styles and design. I do work a little with a saw and a drill for some of my sculptural pieces, so learning more about the structural part of artwork and 3-D designs would also take me to the next level. I am working with pressed flowers, dried fruits and things of that nature, so expect more pieces involving flowers and fruits in the coming months.’

Her pieces are currently sold at a few different stores around Nassau. Until her website is up and running, Keena can be contacted at 242-8024410 and kcreate242@gmail.com, or visit her on Instagram and TikTok at kcreate242.

Get ready to have a ball at major cancer fundraiser

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

BIGGER, better even more glamorous than previous editions is what organisers are promising for this year’s Cancer Society Ball.

“The Met Gala: Golden Celebration” event, slated for May 27, will be held at the Atlantis Grand Ballroom, starting at 7pm.

Organisers are hoping to attract many more guests than in previous years so that the Society can reach its fundraising goals and continue the work it does throughout the year.

Nicole Leary, co-chair of the Cancer Ball, encourages everyone to “not forget the Cancer Society” and mark their calendar for what she said will be an exciting night.

First, there will be a cocktail party, during which several local designers will send clothing down the runway in celebration of the colours of the Bahamian flag.

this weekend in history

March 24

• In 1603, Queen Elizabeth I of England dies at age 69 at Richmond Palace. She is believed to have died from pneumonia, although she had also displayed possible symptoms of cancer, streptococcus and mercury poisoning. A few hours after her passing, her chief advisor Robert Cecil and the council set their previous plans in motion and proclaimed James VI of Scotland, son of Mary, Queen of Scots, as King James I of England.

• In 1989, the supertanker Exxon Valdez runs aground on a reef in Prince William Sound in southern Alaska, spilling some 11 million gallons of oil into the water and

In addition to enjoying the fine dining and live entertainment, guests can also participate in a silent auction, a raffle and a spin-the-wheel game.

The last ball was attended by about 450 guests. This year, the Society is aiming for 600, which would make it the biggest ball to date.

“In 2021, we had a virtual ball and that would have been a lower number than we usually have. It was a great contribution and we appreciate corporate Bahamas for their contribution. In 2022, post-pandemic. people wanted to make sure it was safe to go out… balls were not going on at the time…we were the only ones hosting the ball. For that event we got about 450 patrons,” said Ms Leary.

The more people contribute, the more the Cancer Society will be able to assist those in need, she added.

The non-profit organisation is also inviting anyone looking for a dress to attend the ball or

creating the largest oil spill in US history up to that time. The captain, Joseph Hazelwood, was drinking at the time of the accident and allowed an uncertified officer to steer the vessel. In 1991, the oil giant reached a settlement to pay $25 million, less than four percent of the cleanup aid promised by Exxon earlier that year.

March 25

• In 421, according to tradition, Venice is officially founded at the stroke of noon with the dedication of the city-state’s first church; San Giacomo on the islet of Rialto.

Built on a group of 118 small islands, the name is derived from the ancient Veneti people who inhabited the region by the 10th century BC. It was a major financial and maritime power during the Middle Ages and Renaissance, as well as an important centre of commerce, especially for silk, grain, and spice, and of art from the 13th century to the end of the 17th.

any other special event to peruse its luxurious selection of gowns on consignment.

Last year was the first time the Cancer Society held a gown showcase. As it was deemed a success, they are continuing this new tradition for 2023.

“If you need something to wear to the ball, do pay us a visit,” said Ms Leary.

All proceeds from the ball will go towards the Cancer Caring Centre, which provides a home away from home for Family Island patients during treatment in Nassau.

The Cancer Society remains committed to the fight against all cancers, continuing to provide education to increase awareness and to assist individuals and families through various housing and support programmes.

For information about sponsorship and ticket pricing, contact the 323-4482 or 323-4441 or email at cancersocietyball@hotmail.com.

States to better protect the safety of factory workers.

March 26

• In 1911, a massive fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company in New York City kills 146 workers – mostly recent immigrant Jewish women aged 16 to 23. The 10-storey Asch Building in Manhattan was a cramped space, packed with workers, and with only one fully operational elevator (of four), one unlocked staircase (of two), and no sprinkler system.

The tragedy led to the development of a series of laws and regulations in United

• In 1812, the Boston Gazette publishes a satiric cartoon in opposition to state election districts newly redrawn by the Massachusetts’ Jeffersonian Democratic-Republican Party, led by Governor Elbridge Gerry. The cartoon graphically transforms the districts into a fabulous animal, “The Gerrymander”; hence the term “gerrymander” enters the lexicon.

• In 1953, Dr Jonas Salk announces on a CBS radio show that he has successfully tested a vaccine against the crippling disease of polio. He had tested the vaccine on former polio patients, as well as on himself and his family. Of the three strains of the wild poliovirus (type 1, type 2 and type 3), type 2 was eradicated in 1999 and type 3 in 2020. As of 2022, type 1 remains in two countries: Pakistan and Afghanistan, according to WHO.

“The Gerry-Mander”cartoon, 1812

Wyclef Jean rocks Atlantis’ Jerk Jam; talks new music, electric cars, and his love of conch and the Bahamas

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

“Ithink I could eat conch day and night,” hip hop’s foremost global citizen Wyclef Jean told Tribune Weekend before taking the stage last week.

He also revealed that he is working on an “amazing” new album with Lil’ Wayne and talked about entering the automotive market with a new electric car.

The three-time Grammy Award winner, producer, actor and philanthropist was in town last Saturday to perform at the inaugural Nassau Paradise Island Wine and Food Festival, held by Atlantis.

He specifically took part in Jerk Jam, hosted by award-winning celebrity chefs JJ Johnson and Alex Guarnaschelli as a part of the festival’s long list of culinary events.

Jerk Jam was featured as a signature Bahamian-inspired celebration, highlighting the most flavourful grilled meats and seafoods the country has to offer.

In addition to the flames and flavours that came alive at the beach-side party during the live cooking demos, guests were also treated to the hottest sounds of Wyclef Jean.

Just before he took the stage, Tribune Weekend got a chance to chat with the former Fugees rapper.

Since he was performing at Jerk Jam, we of course had to ask him about his favourite Caribbean dishes.

“Oh man, so this is like putting a fish in water right, so it is very easy,” he told us.

“I would say fish dishes are very important to me. Just naturally keeps you light. Snappers, cod fish and conch; it is literally my favourite thing in the world. I think I could eat conch day and night, with mango, banana and anything.”

“My favourite rice… is mushroom rice; like the black rice. I think that is pretty amazing. We could talk food all day,” he joked.

Tribune Weekend last interviewed the HaitianAmerican artist in May 2013. At the time, he was taking part in Unity Fest and expressed much love for the Bahamas.

“Make sure you keep me in the hotels for at least like a month, I need a vacation,” he joked about his stay 10 years ago.

And Wyclef seemed to enjoy last weekend’s visit to the Bahamas just as much, if not even more, than last time.

It was obvious to all that he was having a great time at Jerk Jam, singing on and off the stage, in the crowd, performing way beyond his allotted time. He also paid homage to some of his favourite music colleagues and their music genres.

“What I like about this is. As you can see, it seems to be not just a job for him. That man is putting on a show. My legs are tired, my voice is gone, but this was a ‘worth it’ experience. I did not expect to be having so much fun,” said one attendee.

Wyclef said when it comes to his work, originality is key, and he encouraged young musicians to also become songwriters, because that is where the money is.

“When I get on stage, I could literally play until the lights come on, because I am the one who writes the songs. So, I always encourage the youth to not just want to be on the radio, but write the music. When you write the music, you have more power. So, when y’all be like we ain’t heard a song from Wyclef in a minute, but you’d heard DJ Khaled’ s ‘Wild Thoughts’, and that’s all my music,” he said.

“So, you see it on Super Bowl; I don’t have to be there, but I collect all the big cheques. And that is the position you want to be in; you want to write music that is going to out-live you. If you can do that, then you are going to have a chance. If you are going to do what everyone else is doing, then you are going to come and go,” he said.

Wyclef said the Bahamas is very important to him, as music from the islands inspired him growing up in the US.

“As a musician coming up at a very young age, and I am digging in the crates at 15 years old in Brooklyn New York, and then I hear (a song) like ‘Funky Nassau’, so I am like what is that, where is that? So as a youth of the Caribbean, the Bahamas is very important and I think it is one of the leaders in the Caribbean in…laying a blueprint for a lot of what the Caribbean could be…a model of investments, tourism, etiquette and different things like that,” he said.

Wyclef said his fans can look forward to some big moves from him in the near future.

“I started the first Blue Chip car,” he said. Earlier this month, he tweeted: “Attucks Apex AP0, the lightest-ever electric Supercar, has officially launched in the US! Meet the UK-designed and USA-built EV supercar, acceleration from 0-60 mph in 2.3 seconds; my dream car!”

“In my culture,” he told Tribune Weekend, “you have Diddy with the Ciroc, Ye with the Yeezys, so I am like the first rapper that entered into a venture of automotives…and I am also working on a restaurant chain,” he said.

“Music-wise, I am just going to tell y’all like this, me and Lil’ Wayne, we in the studio, and we gonna pick up where we left over, which was ‘Sweetest Girl’; that was the last one. We are working on a joint album together, so it is going to be pretty amazing.”

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.

CRYPTIC PUZZLE

Across

1 The mating game (5,5)

6 Curry or honey (4)

10 Find the start to the event (5)

11 Stupidly I led a riot as an expression of feeling (9)

12 Things thrown at the match (8)

13 It’s expensive and going up all the time (5)

15 Sort of exercise drill in CIA gets backing (7)

17 ‘I’ gets so used by them (7)

19 He can just about stand up for himself (7)

21 Runner allowed to enter the re-run heat (7)

22 Composer of regal disposition (5)

24 Quality land (8)

27 Classical equivalent of Tom, Dick and Harry (3,6)

28 Correct signs (5)

29 An act of duplicity? (4)

30 Joint accompaniment? (10)

Down

1 Maybe a capital place to raise capital (4)

2 Fascinated by an unusual demeanour (9)

3 It’s bound to be a bit of a shock (5)

4 Cast pie out though it’s germ-free (7)

5 French style of cooking (7)

7 Oil producer under pressure (5)

8 He will stick at his job (10)

9 No doubt it was used in bygone days (8)

14 A neat farm structure (6,4)

16 Where everybody goes in to sweep around the floor (8)

18 Unwilling to give credit (9)

20 About to be given beans? Push off (7)

21 Mix a tonic noted for its deadly properties (7)

23 Soundly ridicules appearance (5)

25 Special edition surcharge (5)

26 Takes advantage of customs (4)

Across

SmAll CROSSWORd

SmAll CROSSWORd

ACROSS

TARGeT Good 17; very good 26; excellent 34 (or more).

Solution next Saturday.

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 Sudoku increases from Monday to Sunday

For today’s solution call: 0907 181 2583 *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.

lAST SATURdAY’S SOlUTION

ACROSS 1 Plumbing, 6 rasp, 8 Arose, 11 Penned, 12 Gore, 14 Obi, 15 Exact, 16 Ate, 17 Hail, 19 Around, 20 Cedar, 21 Stet, 22 Adhesive. dOWN 1 Pregnancy, 2 User, 3 Bangalore, 4 Nod, 5 Legislate, 7 Apostle, 9 reach, 10 Subside, 13 Extra, 18 Anti, 19 Add.

Yesterday’s Easy Solution

Across: 1 Benefit, 5 To wit, 8 Elbow room, 9 Run, 10 Duty, 12 Showdown, 14 Poster, 15 Dreary, 17 Eyesight, 18 Stir, 21 Ask, 22 Of no avail, 24 Lofty, 25 Sorcery.

Down: 1 Breed, 2 Nub, 3 Fawn, 4 Trophy, 5 Time-worn, 6 Work of art, 7 Tenancy, 11 To speak of, 13 Derisory, 14 Prevail, 16 Thanks, 19 Rally, 20 Fair, 23 Ape.

Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution

Across: 1 Distaff, 5 In bed, 8 Fireguard, 9 Tap, 10 Rife, 12 Proceeds, 14 Sarong, 15 Utmost, 17 Observer, 18 Afar, 21 Cog, 22 Namesakes, 24 Lethe, 25 Derides.

Down: 1 Defer, 2 Sir, 3 Argo, 4 Fiacre, 5 Indicate, 6 Better off, 7 Deposit, 11 Foresight, 13 Entrance, 14 Stoical, 16 Beamed, 19 Roses, 20 Tsar, 23 Kid.

EASY PUZZLE

1 Author of The Forsyte Saga (10)

6 Small storage building (4)

10 Long-tailed animal of Madagascar (5)

11 So as to make an impression (3,6)

12 Straddle (8)

13 Reduce drastically (5)

15 Rich deep red (7)

17 To hone (7)

19 Stingy person (7)

21 Out of the ordinary (7)

22 Temperamental (5)

24 A stinging arachnid (8)

27 Central American republic (5,4)

28 Deep sound expressing pain (5)

29 Coming after due time (4)

30 Considering what is usual (2,6,2)

Down

1 Wide difference in opinions (4)

2 Heavy-footed (9)

3 To defeat (5)

4 Thug (7)

5 Equipment for draught animal (7)

7 A carrion-feeding carnivore (5)

8 Benevolent but critical mentor (5,5)

9 Behind the scenes (8)

14 Operating at a saving (10)

16 Short-legged breed of terrier (8)

18 Toxic (9)

20 Treat summarily (7)

21 Endure (7)

23 An attack (5)

25 Heathen (5)

26 Nullify (4)

1 Natural illumination (8)

6 Side (4)

8 Naming words (5)

THE ALPHABEATER

11 Casualty (6)

12 Lubricates (4)

14 Small green vegetable (3)

15 Songbirds (5)

16 Procure (3)

17 Exchange for money (4)

G e

I r N N L U d

19 Part of a shirt (6)

lAST SATURdAY’S SOlUTION elite geeing

caN you crack the alphabeater? each grid number represents a letter – or black square. as in alphapuzzle, every letter of the alphabet is used. But you have to complete the grid too! Use the given letters and black squares below the grid to start. the grid is ‘rotationally symmetrical’ – in other words, it looks the same if you turn the page upside down. Solution tomorrow

GelIGNITe genie gentile gilt glint ignite inlet legit liege lien lignite line ling lint lite niggle teeing tile tiling tine ting tinge

tingle

20 Navigate (5)

21 Not as much (4)

HOW many words of four letters or more can you make from the letters shown here?

22 Scientific investigation (8)

DOWN

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. Verb forms ending in s permitted.

1 Most mighty (9)

TODAY’S TARGET

2 Metal tack (4)

Good 29; very good 43; excellent 57 (or more). Solution tomorrow

3 Meddle (9)

4 Sing with closed lips (3)

Yesterday’s Sudoku Answer

TARGET BATTLESHIPS

5 Hate bliss (anag.) (9)

call 0907 181 2585 for today’s target solution

7 Readily apparent (7)

*Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.

9 Makes a noise like a pig (5)

10 Knitting tools (7)

13 Animal fur (5)

Yesterday’s Kakuro Answer

Call 0907 181 2586 for today’s Target solution

18 Always (4)

19 Observe (3)

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.

*Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge. All puzzles use The Chambers Dictionary

● Alternatively, for six Extra Letter clues to your mobile, text DXBEAT to 64343. Texts cost £1 plus your usual operator

WORD BUILDER

Brazilian luxury brand partners with SLS Baha Mar

Inspired by the vibrant hues of the Caribbean, the Brazilian luxury fashion label PatBO has partnered with the SLS Baha Mar resort to create a special limited-time collection.

To celebrate the collaboration, they have teamed up to host a two-week long poolside pop-up shop from March 31 through April 16 that offers fashion aficionados the opportunity to purchase and experience the collection in person. The collection is also available online.

Designer Patricia Bonaldi, founder and creative director of PatBO, began designing and making clothes as a child.

Growing in Uberlandia, Brazil, buying new clothing was not accessible to her family, so her mother taught her to sew and soon Patricia was making her own dresses. She fell in love with the process of creating and felt pride in bringing beauty and craftsmanship to a family necessity.

After a few detours, including a period of studying law, Patricia created her eponymous label of couture, evening wear in Sao Paolo, Brazil.

In 2002, she founded PatBO, bringing her penchant and skill for fit, craftsmanship and print to ready-to-wear and swimwear. She also established a school in her hometown, along with PatBO’s atelier, where local women are taught craftsmanship skills that enable them fulfilling work as artisans.

Now, she is bringing a curated edit of 30 swimwear pieces to the Bahamas. These pieces were hand-selected to complement the beauty of the islands with vibrant hues of pinks, greens, blues and yellows, include beach dresses, bodysuits, swimwear, cover-ups and matching sets.

“I am thrilled to partner with SLS Baha Mar in the beautiful Bahamas on an exclusive poolside pop-up store. SLS Baha Mar is the perfect setting for our current resort wear collection – vibrant, refined and fun,” said Patricia.

“This partnership is the latest addition to SLS Baha Mar’s string of high-profile collaborations,” said Danyelle Montgomery, Director of Sales and Marketing of SLS Baha Mar. “We are excited to be working with a brand that embodies the perfect blend of sophistication and playful designs that truly evoke the look and feel of the resort. We can’t wait to showcase this stunning collection to our guests.”

Following the pop-up shop, guests of Baha Mar will be able to purchase the edit on-property from Rosewood Baha Mar’s retail boutique or Tropic of Luxury.

Literary lives – Glen Campbell (1936 -2017)

The Rhinestone Cowboy

Sir Christopher Ondaatje reveals the remarkable career and sad end of the American guitarist, singer, and television host who was raised in a humble sharecropper’s home near Delight, Arkansas, and sold over forty-five million records worldwide.

“We had no electricity and money was scarce. A dollar in those days looked as big as a saddle blanket. I picked cotton for $1.25 a hundred pounds. If you worked your tail off, you could pick eighty or ninety pounds a day.”

– Glen Campbell

Glen Travis Campbell was born on April 22, 1936, in Billstown, near Delight, Arkansas, to John Wesley Campbell – a sharecropper – and Carrie Dell Campbell. He was the seventh son of 12 children. The family lived an impoverished existence on a farm growing cotton, corn, watermelons and potatoes.

Campbell’s father bought him a five-dollar Sears guitar when he was four years old, and his uncle Boo taught him the basics of how to play. By the time he was six he was playing on local radio stations. He developed his talent by listening to local radio stations and records, and considered Django Reinhardt as his most admired guitarist. When he was fourteen he dropped out of school to work with his brothers installing insulation and working at a gas station. He started playing music at fairs and church picnics and made a few appearances at a local nightclub.

In 1954, when he was seventeen, he joined his uncle’s band in Albuquerque, New Mexico – Dick Bills and his Sandia Mountain Boys. He played on his uncle’s radio show and met and married his first wife Diane Marie Kirk in 1955. He was eighteen years old and she was sixteen. They had two children and divorced in 1959. In September 1959 Campbell married Billie Jean Nunley, an Albuquerque beautician. They had three children before they divorced 17 years later. But by then he was merging on superstardom and had another love in his life.

He formed his own band, the Western Wranglers, in 1958.

In 1960, Glen Campbell moved to Los Angeles to become a session musician. He found a job at publishing company, American Music, writing songs and recording demos that showed his amazing talent. He could play any genre of music, could learn a song in two seconds, and he could both play it and sing it. He had a voice from heaven and he could sing like anybody. His ability as a guitarist and as a mimic were beyond belief. He was soon in demand as a session musician – part

of a group called the Wrecking Crew. He played on recordings by the Beach Boys, Bobby Darin, Frank Sinatra, Ricky Nelson, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, the Monkees, Nancy Sinatra, Merle Haggard, Bing Crosby, Phil Spector, Sammy Davis Jr, Doris Day, The Everly Brothers, The Cascades, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Wayne Newton, The First Edition, The Kingston Trio, Roger Miller, Lou Rawls, Claude King, Lorne Greene, and Elvis Presley. He helped record the soundtrack for Viva Las Vegas for Presley in 1964.

“Elvis and I were brought up in the same humble way – picking cotton and looking at the south end of a north-bound mule.”

– Glen Campbell

In May 1961, Campbell signed a recording contract with Crest Records, a subsidiary of American Music. His first solo release, a song he partially wrote himself, “Turn Around, Look at Me” peaked at number 62 on the Hot 100 in 1961. He formed a group called the Gee Cees and

performed at The Crossbow Inn in Van Nuys. A single on Crest Records, “Buzz Saw”, did not chart.

Capitol Records signed Glen Campbell in 1962. His first two singles, “To Late to Worry, Too Blue to Cry” and “Kentucky Means Paradise” (issued by The Green River Boys featuring Campbell), were followed by a series of unsuccessful singles and albums which were heard on 585 otheer recorded songs. He played by ear, and never learned to read music. In 1964, he began to appear regularly on TV on Star Route, a syndicated series hosted by Rod Cameron. From December that year to March 1965 he sang with the Beach Boys, filling in for Brian Wilson playing bass guitar and singing falsetto harmonies. Bruce Johnston then replaced him. In 1965 he sang Buffy Sainte-Marie’s “Universal Soldier” which reached number 45 on the Hot 100 – his biggest hit so far. He continued as a session musician and played guitar on the Beach Boys 1966 album Pet Sounds. In April 1966 he joined Rick Nelson on a tour through the Far East.

Campbell’s relationship with Capitol Records was not going well and they considered dropping him, but he teamed up with producer Al De Lory in 1967 and together they collaborated on “Burning Bridges” which became a Top 20 country hit. Campbell and De Lory collaborated again in 1967 on “Gentle on My Mind”, written by John Hartford, which was an overnight success. It was followed by the even bigger Jimmy Webb hit “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” later the same year. “I Wanna Live” and “Wichita Lineman” came out in 1968, the latter by Jimmy Webb, remaining on Billboard’s Top 100 charts for fifteen weeks. He won four Grammy Awards for “Gentle on My Mind” and “By the Time I Get to Phoenix”. In 1967 Campbell was also the uncredited lead vocalist on “My World Fell Down” by Sagittarius, a studio group, which reached number 70 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Things were changing, and changing fast. He was invited to co-star in the film “True Grit” with John Wayne and Kim Darby, and the title song “True Grit”, composed by Elmer Bernstein and lyricist Don Black, sung by Campbell, received nominations for The Academy Award and Golden Globe Best Song.

In 1968, Campbell was invited to host the summer replacement for television’s The Smothers

Brothers Comedy Hour variety show. When they were taken off the air, Campbell was given his own weekly variety show The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, which ran from January 1969 to June 1972. Steve Martin and Rob Reiner were among the show’s comedy writers and Campbell was at the height of his popularity. A biography The Glen Campbell Story was published by Freda Kramer. Campbell’s Goodtime Hour allowed him to use all his “session-work” connections, and he hosted major names in show business including the Beatles, David Gates, Bread, the Monkees, Neil Diamond, Linda Ronstadt, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Roger Miller, and Mel Tillis. He also helped launch the careers of Anne Murray and Jerry Reed, who were regular guests on his Goodtime Hour programme.

After the cancellation of Campbell’s Goodtime Hour CBS series in 1972, Campbell still remained a regular on network television. He co-starred in the TV movie Strange Homecoming in 1974 with Robert Culp and teen idol Leif Garrett. He hosted a number of TV specials including Down Home, Down Under with Olivia Newton-John, and co-hosted The American Music Awards from 1976 to 1978e continued, and headlined the 1979 NBC special Glen Campbell: Back to Basics with guest stars Seal and Crofts and Brenda Lee. He was a guest on many network talk and variety shows, including Donny and Marie and The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, where he performed “Rhinestone Cowboy”. He also appeared on Cher, The Redd Foxx Comedy Hour, The Merv Griffin Show, The Midnight Special, DINAH!, Evening at Pops with Arthur Fiedler, and The Mike Douglas Show.

In the mid-1970s, he had hits with “Rhinestone Cowboy” and “Southern Nights” – both number one hits, “Sunflower” – US number 39, written by Neil Diamond, and “Country Boy” – US number 11. “Rhinestone Cowboy” was Campbell’s largestselling single with over two million copies sold. It continues to be used in TV shows and films, and was the inspiration for the 1984 Dolly Parton/ Sylvester Stallone movie Rhinestone. In January 1975, Campbell was awarded four Gold Records, along with a platinum award for wholesale sales in excess of $1,000,000 in Australia.

But with all the fame and popularity, the devils were beginning to creep up with him. He developed a taste for alcohol, divorced his wife of seventeen years, Billie Jean Nunley in 1976, and married Mac Davis’s second wife Sarah Barg Davis in Carson City, Nevada. He also started using cocaine. But the hit records kept coming.

“Southern Nights”, by Allen Toussaint, was generated with the help of Jimmy Webb and Jerry

Reed. It was the most-played jukebox number of 1977. From 1971 to 1983 Glen Campbell was the celebrity host of the Los Angeles Open, an annual professional golf tournament on the PGA tour. After his divorce from Sarah Barg Davis in 1980 Campbell began a steamy rebellious relationship with fellow country artist Tanya Tucker. The high profile relationship was marked by frequent tabloid gossip and press articles. They recorded a number of songs together including the popular single “Dream Lover”. They performed the national anthem together at the 1980 Republican National Convention.

Campbell made a cameo appearance in the 1980 Clint Eastwood movie Any Which Way You Can, for which he recorded the title song. From 1982 to 1983 he hosted a 30-minute syndicated music show, The Glen Campbell Music Show.

Campbell married Kimberly “Kim” Woollen in 1982. The couple met on a blind date in 1981 when Woollen was a Radio City Music Hall “Rockette”. They had three children together and the marriage lasted for thirty-four years. But it wasn’t an easy marriage. “Kim” Woollen’s memoir, published after the charismatic singer died in 2019 after a six-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease, documents his years-long struggle with alcoholism and cocaine, and the tough road to sobriety.

“Sometimes it made me angry because I felt it was something you should be able to control. I’m telling him: ‘You’re hurting me, you’re hurting me. If you love me, stop.’ And he just couldn’t.

–

Campbell eventually realised that he did have a problem. He was always open about everything he was going through when he quit drinking. He would tell audiences: “It’s been three years, two months, seven days and thirty-nine seconds since I’ve had a drink.”

And then, when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2011, he invited documentary filmmakers to come and document the sickness.

“Most people retreat from the public eye and hide away because there is a lot of stigma related to that disease. But Glen didn’t do that. He wanted the world to know what Alzheimer’s was like.

– “Kim” Woollen Campbell

Glen Campbell embarked on a final “Goodbye Tour”, with three of his children joining him in his backup band. His final show was on November 30, 2012, in Napa, California. At the end of the tour he entered the studio in Nashville to record what would be his final album Adios, which would not be released until five years later. In January 2013, Campbell recorded his final song, “I’m Not Gonna Miss You”, during what would be his last recording session. The song, which was featured in the 2014 documentary Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me, was released on September 30, 2014, with the documentary following on October 24. On January 15, 2015, Campbell and fellow songwriter Julian Raymond were nominated for Best Original Song at the 87th Academy Awards. Campbell’s final album Adios, featuring 12 songs from his final 2012 – 2013 sessions, was released on June 9, 2017.

Glen Campbell died in Nashville, Tennessee on August 8, 2017. He was 81 years old.

• Sir Christopher Ondaatje is the author of The Last Colonial. The author acknowledges that he has quoted liberally from Wikipedia.

“Kim” Woollen Campbell

CAMPBELL with his wife Kim in Malibu, California, in 2011 afer he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. (AP Photo_Matt Sayles)

Arrival of the Loyalists

To continue with excerpts from George Burbank Shattuck’s 1905 book ‘The Bahama Islands’, published by the University of Baltimore:

“March 3, 1776, Esek Hopkins, (1718-1802) Commodore of America’s new Continental Navy, captured Nassau (It was the first amphibious landing in marine history!), evidently expecting to secure possession of the gunpowder stored there. Failing in this, owing to the vigilance of the Governor, Hopkins sailed away a few days later, taking the Governor and a few others as prisoners of war.

In 1781, the Spaniards appeared at Nassau again, defeated the British, and kept a large garrison there, for nearly two years. After the conclusion of the treaty of peace between Great Britain and Spain in 1782, but, before it had been announced in the Southern States, an expedition, organised by Loyalists from the Carolinas and Florida, took Nassau from the Spaniards. This expedition was undertaken as a private enterprise by Colonel Andrew Deveaux and Captain Daniel Wheeler, Commander of the brig Warrior. A few recruits had been picked up at Harbour Island and several vessels, that were met on the way, joined with the party. By this small party, of not more than 335 men, the Spanish Governor was taken by surprise and induced to surrender his force, nearly three times the size of the invaders. With a garrison of fifty men, Deveaux, restored the Bahamas to Britain.

Upon the separation of the Thirteen Colonies on the continent from Great Britain, many of their inhabitants preferred to remain British subjects, rather than become citizens of the United States.

The unpleasantness of their situation, among the successful revolutionists, was increased by the bitterness of the latter toward them.

For these and other reasons, many emigrated from the United States to territories that still remained British.

This exodus was encouraged by the favourable conditions offered to those who wished to settle in the Bahamas. Vessels were also provided by. the Crown to bring to the Colony all who desired to leave the Southern States for British territory.

On September 10, 1784, instructions were issued to Lieutenant-Governor Powell to grant unoccupied lands in the Bahamas, as follows: To every head of a family forty acres, and to every white or Black man, woman or child in a family, twenty acres, with an annual quit rent of 3 shillings per hundred acres.

But in the case of the Loyalist refugees from the continent such lands were to be delivered free of charges and were to be exempted from the burden of the quit rents for ten years from the date of making the grants.

At about this time, Governor Patrick Tonyn of east Florida gave public notice that the last vessel transport would leave the port of

St Mary’s, Florida, on March 1, 1785. He advised all persons of English blood to leave Florida for the Bahamas before the Spanish Governor took possession.

It was

not, however, without regret that some of the Loyalists left the continent. Fears were expressed that the Islands were not as productive as

they were represented to be. It was a choice between the evils and dangers of living under Spanish rule and going to a colony whose resources were doubtful. Many, however, chose the latter, and came over, bringing with them their slaves. The white population of the Bahamas was doubled by these immigrants, and the black population was nearly trebled. Many of the newcomers were cotton planters, who set to work at once, with their slaves’ clearing lands and planting crops, and soon brought the Colony to some importance as a producer of cotton.”

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

PAUL C ARANHA FORGOTTEN FACTS

Spring has sprung!

By KIM ARANHA Animal Matters

Most definitely it has, it is springing absolutely everywhere.

My garden is awash with buds and flowers, green leaves, and extremely busy birds flying back and forth, establishing where they plan to build their new home to welcome their babies into and probably, most importantly, choosing a partner in order to have these precious babies with.

We have elaborate courting dances on the patio as Mr Mockingbird tries to woo Ms Mockingbird. For the longest time she ignores him and looks away while he looks relatively embarrassed dancing a rather ludicrous one-man ballet, which was clearly choreographed to be a “pas de deux”, but Mademoiselle is having nothing to do with him until a third mockingbird swoops in. Now that changes the plot completely. Our fickle lady suddenly turns her attention to the two men putting on an amazing performance to catch her eye. She watches, flies to a nearby bush as the boys swoop and dive, wings out, bobbing away at each other. After what seems to be a very long time, she flies in and rather like a lady at a dinner party, indicates to her fellow that she is ready to go home, having chosen the original one who was trying to catch her interest at the very beginning of this entire performance. Mr Mockingbird number two flies away, scorned but none the worse for wear, probably to dance another dance around the corner, to yet another girl…ain’t nature grand?

I will be on the lookout for our elegant black Ibis to start nesting. The glossy Ibis apparently builds a tower of sticks and twigs. That is a bit worrisome with all the cats and raccoons out there ready and eager for an egg snack, and not to mention a proliferation of curly tail lizards and unidentified, majestic and enormous iguanas that are known to roam this island now.

I can only imagine that a baby Ibis would be comically unattractive with an oversized beak and scrawny and gangly legs… before tuning into the belle of the ball. I hope they will

choose my garden to construct a tower and I will do my best to protect them and watch my little flock grow.

Alas, it is not just the birds that are falling hopelessly in love and multiplying. It is every stray cat and dog on the island. Litter upon litter upon litter is born as unscrupulous owners allow their pets to wander and do not fix them. Once the kittens and puppies are born, the solution for all and sundry is to put them in a box and unceremoniously dump them at the Bahamas Humane Society shelter.

Oh Manda!

By THE BAHAMAS HUMANE SOCIETY

Manda is a three-year-old pit mix with an awesome smile awaiting adoption at the Bahamas Humane Society. She’s currently on treatment for heartworm but that can be continued at home. She’s a very sociable girl, enjoying the time out of her cage with the volunteer dog walkers.

Along with a monumental influx of unwanted pets to find homes for, there also comes the spring rains, and with the spring rains come the bugs, and with bugs come all sorts of things that can hurt your pet.

Now is the time to make sure your pet is up to date with his or her Nexgard and Heartgard, you don’t want mosquitos to carry heartworm and bite your dog, you don’t want tick disease either and these things can be avoided easily by taking the correct precautions. If you are in any doubt what to buy for your family friend just check with your veterinarian.

As spring rushes forward, a gentle reminder that it will get hotter and the sun will get stronger so that shade and shelter is more important than ever .If you are going to leave animals outside you need to be sure that there is somewhere for them to be out of the sun and dry. A raised area so they do get flooded with the strong rains we can expect.

No, stop, leave the babies with the mothers to grow strong. We cannot bottle feed them all. It is a gruelling task and we do not have the manpower. Babies have to stay with their mothers. If you see a litter of tiny kittens or puppies alone, do not move them, watch, the mother may have just gone looking for food. If they stay unattended for many hours and start crying, then she may have been hurt or killed. If you bring kittens or puppies to the shelter, be sure to always provide a very exact location as to where you found them so we can go and look for the mother.

She already knows how to walk on a lead!

Manda wouldn’t mind sharing a home with just the right dog(s) but please no cats. Do you need Manda by your side for walks? And snuggles by the TV? If so, come in to the BHS to meet her or call 323-5138 for more information. Manda looks forward to meeting you!

If you can’t adopt, foster. If you can’t foster, volunteer. If you can’t volunteer, donate. If you can’t donate, educate! Help make a difference!

Meanwhile let’s enjoy this absolutely amazing time of the year full of life, foliage and song… listen to the birds at dawn as they sign loudly to each other as if confirming the existence of a new day.

I am hoping that we may see some butterflies too. There are too few now and they are so wonderful in a garden full of flowers…and the busy bumble bee performing his duty from stem to stem, carrying pollen back and forth.

(Photo by volunteer dog walker Isabel Alzate)

pet

Coconut? Marshmallows? Feelings run hot for ambrosia salad

By LEANNE ITALIE Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — “My name’s Joyce,” drawls a neighbour to Edward Scissorhands, “and I noticed that you have not tasted any of the ambrosia salad that I made especially for you.”

Johnny Depp’s character in the 1990 cult film opens wide to receive a giant spoonful of the fluffy pink-tinged fruit confection.

He manages an “mmm” as he chews, but not before viewers are treated to a food-sexy little scene involving Joyce’s disembodied hands laboriously preparing the dish, which has a long history and passionate protectors.

Mostly a holiday treat for Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, ambrosia of yore was a humble delight.

In 1867, Maria Massey Barringer of Concord, North Carolina, provided a recipe in her “Dixie Cookery; or, How I Managed My Table for Twelve Years.” She counseled readers to stick to fresh grated coconut, sweetened with a little sugar in alternating layers with pulped oranges.

Godey’s Lady’s Book and Magazine, founded in Philadelphia, agreed with Barringer’s take on ambrosia in 1870, but offered pineapple as a worthy alternative. “Some use both,” the magazine noted, “but it is better with only one fruit.”

Joyce’s version, on the other hand, is far busier, involving pineapple, peaches, oranges, heavy cream, yoghurt, cherry juice, toasted coconut and chopped pecans. She tops the pile with marshmallows and cherries.

The whole shebang, say purists, is nothing less than an abomination.

“Classic ambrosia consists of oranges and coconut, then sugar to taste,” said James Beard Award-winning chef Virginia Willis in Atlanta. “Ambrosia isn’t retro. Ambrosia has never gone out of fashion in the South. I’ve probably had ambrosia every year of my 56 years.”

Aficionados like Willis feel strongly about their ambrosia, sometimes relying on recipes passed down within families for generations.

Among her most cherished childhood memories, she said, “was my grandfather boring a hole in the coconut and turning it upside down to let the water drip into the glass.”

Feelings run hot all along the ambrosia spectrum, starting with the name. It’s ambrosia if it’s a dessert. It’s ambrosia salad when it takes a prideful spot on the table during the main course. There are other debates.

• Coconut: Use it or forget it? Fresh or preshredded? Toasted or not?

• Fruit: Canned or fresh? One type or several? Drain or use the juices?

• Maraschino cherries: Dump in wet, risking a pink tinge to the end result? Drain and pat dry? Hard pass altogether?

• Marshmallows: The big ones or the miniatures? The white ones or the multicolored pastels? Leave out because they’re gag-inducing?

• Whipped cream, cream cheese, sour cream, yogurt, mayo?

Ambrosia was so named for the food of the Greek and Roman gods. Its region of origin is lost to history. Its ties to the South are strong, though some believe it began in Vermont or elsewhere in New England. David Shields, a culinary historian, author and professor at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, has another theory.

“Ambrosia starts popping up in newspaper stories on local parties,” he said. “In the latter 1870s, the earliest of those sorts of stories actually all come from Missouri for some reason. The idea that Missouri is the first hotbed of ambrosia is a kind of odd one, but there are lots of reports on usually all women’s celebrations having a supper in which ambrosia and ice cream are being served.”

The dish can be a gross-out for some, with its unusual look and texture, but it began as an exotic luxury using hard-to-find ingredients.

Shields said key to the spread of ambrosia was the invention of a machine to process coconut

meat. Fresh oranges, meanwhile, were considered a winter treat until the orange belt began mass distribution.

“It started as one of the Gilded Age dishes,” he said.

Ambrosia quickly trickled down to the middle classes with the rise of easily obtainable processed coconut and year-round access to oranges and pineapples.

Jamie Johnston, who runs the food blog My Baking Addiction, recreated her childhood ambrosia salad for the site. It’s loaded with pineapple, mandarin oranges, coconut and those bagged miniature fruit-flavoured marshmallows.

Multiple Beard-winner Nathalie Dupree, who has written 14 cookbooks and appeared on numerous food TV shows, grew up in Virginia. The 83-year-old’s strongest girlhood ambrosia memories are from the fall and winter holidays, when it was served as a side dish.

“We had a relative who sent us fresh oranges,” she said. “I did the cutting up.”

Dupree has included tweaked versions of ambrosia in some of her books, including one with coconut, cherries and bananas. For her own table, she has added pecans, but never a binder (whipped cream, etc).

AN AMBROSIA salad for the food blog My Baking Addiction (Photo/Elena Vaselova for My Baking Addiction via AP).