06102016 weekend

The Tribune

Friday, June 10, 2016

books film fashion music tourism food fitness relationships

Weekend

BELLES OF THE BALL Page 13

Get fit, kids!

Exercise tips for youngsters Health & Fitness, pages 20&21

02 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 10, 2016

life through a lens PHOTOS/WWW.BAHAMASLOCAL.COM

On watch with the Navy A

LMOST hidden among the giant cruise ships in Nassau’s Prince George Dock this week has been HMS Mersey, one of the Royal Navy’s River Class offshore patrol vessels.

Tasked with providing security and assurance to the UK’s past and present overseas territories in the Caribbean, Mersey is suited to boarding operations such as countering drug smuggling, has the ability to visit smaller islands and ports and can play a part in humanitarian and disaster relief efforts if required.

While in Nassau the ship’s company will conduct training with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and on Tuesday Acting Commander Captain Tellis Bethel was welcomed aboard by Mersey’s Commanding Officer Lt Cdr Richard Hewitt. On a tour of the ship, its weaponry, storage capacity and pair of fast Pacific 22 Rigid inflatables, Executive Officer Lt Martyn Mayger (left) said Mersey would also welcome local Cadets and schoolchildren for tours while in the Bahamas, reinforce trade agreements with Central America and reaffirm relationships with other foreign partners, including the Mexican Navy.

Mersey left the UK in early January and will be deployed on Atlantic Patrol Task (North) until July.

Have you taken a selection of photographs that might make a Life through a lens feature page? If so please submit it to weekend@ tribunemedia.net for consideration

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Friday, June 10, 2016

Inside Weekend Interview 4 - 5 Cara Hunt talks with Julia Browning, who has returned to the Bahamas after undergoing ground-breaking stem cell treatment in Russia Food 7-9

My perfect Bahamian weekend Dr Graham Cates Family Medicine Centre

Q: Saturday breakfast or Sunday lunch?

“Definitely Saturday breakfast! Boiled grouper, grits and Johnny cake.”

Smooth Moves Café offers healthy, but flavourful options, plus Taste of the Bahamas hosts successful preview event

Q: Wine, Kalik, rum or cocktail?

“Red wine – Cabernet.”

Music 10 -11 Teen singer and multi-instrumentalist set for big debut, plus new band The Collie Greenes celebrate the “242”

Q: Beach or sofa?

The Beach! Way more fun!

Film and television 12 Summer TV premieres, plus “The Conjuring 2” reviewed Belles of the Ball 13 Belles of the Cancer Society’s 15th annual gala ball

Q: What could you not do without?

My beautiful wife and kids!

Q: Weekend away: where would you go?

New York for dinner, wine and a Broadway play.

Fashion 14-15

Things 2 Do this weekend

Defence Force Marine turns fashion designer

Friday

this weekend. Tickets are $25.

• Rhythms En Mas Time: 7pm Venue: National Art Gallery The NAGB is hosting a cowbelling and drumming competition in promotion of its current temporary exhibition, “En Mas’: Carnival, Junkanoo and Performance Art of the Caribbean”.

The evening will feature bellerdrummer combo competition; a beller line vs beller line competition; a drum section vs drum section competition, and a drummer vs drummer competition.

Admission is $1 for children 12 and under, and $3 for older kids and adults. Members see the action free of charge.

• Island Rock Concert Series Time: 9pm Venue: Hard Rock Café Join SawyerBoy TV, Foreign Sound, and Truth for some rock music with an island twist.

Books 17 Salt Cay Writers Retreat is a success, plus new release ‘Ink and Bone’ is a tale of horror and mystery

Relationships 19 Dr Edrica Richardson asks, “When did ‘sweethearting’ become the norm?”

Health and fitness 20-21 Regina Smith talks fit kids

Design your lifestyle 22 Flower arrangements for Father’s Day Mailboats 23-25 Eric Wiberg on versatile vessels rich in history

Forgotten Facts 25 Paul Aranha looks at Nassau’s Jewish Cemetery

Animals 27 Kim Aranha applauds new animal wardens

Cover Photo | Shawn Hanna

• Chris Wiles and Shane McConnaghy at Jokers Wild Time: 9.30pm (doors open at 8.45pm; until June 12) Venue: Jokers Wild, Atlantis Chris Wiles, known for his diverse style comedy, ranging from improv to over 25 impersonations, and Shane McConnaghy, who according to LA Weekly, is one of the funniest comics in America, take over Jokers Wild

Saturday • “Write That Book!”

Time: 10am-1.30pm Venue: Global Worship Centre, Summer Winds Commercial and Industrial Park Author and youth minister Felicia Archer hosts a workshop that seeks to help aspiring writers with getting started, how to get published and to market their work.

Speakers will include Bahamian authors Sherika Brown, Sharell Carroll, Malcolm Foulkes, Davrielle Burrows, Paul Ellis, and Dr Dave Burrows.

Participation is $35 per person following registration at One Rib Publications on Robinson Road.

• Curly Fest Bahamas Time: 2pm –8pm Venue: Doongalik Studios, Village

Road The first ever celebration of its kind in Nassau will offer live hair demonstrations, a naturalista runway, as well as hair, art and style vendors.

Admission is $5 for adults; $3 for kids.

• Mystical Summer Time: 7.30pm Venue: The Dundas Centre for the Performing Arts Enjoy a live performance presented by the Dance Bahamas School in conjunction with the National Dance Company of the Bahamas, Saturday.

Tickets are $15 children; $20 adults.

For more information please call 242328-7588.

Sunday • Summer Sixteen Platinum Booze Cruise Time: 1pm boarding; 2pm departure Venue: Prince George Wharf DJ Tank, DJ Blink, Selecta Playboy and Unruly DJs will be providing entertainment on board the Yellow Bird. Tickets are $20 in advance at Airbrush Junkies and Moss Computers.

04 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 10, 2016

interview A few months ago, Julia Browning was faced with being confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life as a result of multiple sclerosis. But after a ground-breaking stem cell transplant in Russia, she has been given a new lease on life. The entrepreneur tells Cara Hunt all about her long journey back to health and how she hopes the Bahamas can one day become a leader in stem cell treatments in the region.

Julia had to travel to Moscow, Russia, for her stem cell transplant

Julia Browning

W

hen Tribune Weekend first met Julia Browning she was faced with a harrowing decision – undergo a ground-breaking, but risky treatment, or face the probability that she would be confined to a wheelchair within two years as her body was steadily declining due to her relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).

With two young sons, aged 14 and 11, this was her worst nightmare. “The day I can’t play with my kids and someone has to wipe my mouth and help me with basic hygiene and push me

around, I would rather be dead,” she said.

Not willing to resign herself to that fate, Julia said goodbye to her husband, who serves as the CEO of Palm Cay, her children and her beloved dog, and travelled Russia to have an autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplant to stop the progression of RRMS, accepting the risk that the procedure could kill her.

In preparation for the journey, she first shaved her head – a prelude to the chemotherapy she would have to undergo.

After getting her Russian visa in London, she arrived in Mos-

cow on March 22 where she met temperatures of 19 degrees.

“I was treated at AA Maximov Hospital, Pirogov National Surgical Centre in Moscow. My doctors were Denis Fedorenko and Nikolay Faddeev. Their assistant in all non-medical matters was Anastasia Panchenko. All the staff, from doctors right down to the cooking and cleaning staff, were so kind, caring and compassionate,” she said.

The next few weeks would be filled with intense medical treatments.

After taking a day to rest, Julia underwent three days of Julia has her hair cut off ahead of her chemo therapy.

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Friday, June 10, 2016

extensive medical testing on almost every part of her body.

The tests included nose and mouth swabs, two urine tests, ultrasounds of her heart, stomach and her legs to ensure that her veins could cope with the chemotherapy. She also had to under go three X-rays session and an MRI, which showed that she had active lesions on her brain and cervical spine, as well as and breathing and blood tests.

All of these tests had to be completed before she could even be approved for the treatment.

“They are very strict in their testing and approval, and only approve people who they believe will see benefit from the treatment and who are not at any risk from having the chemotherapy done,” she explained.

“There were a few people who were not approved during their process. I am glad that they didn’t tell me that while I was testing because I was already nervous.”

After Julia was approved for the procedure, she was given Neupogen shots twice a day over a four-day period to break down her bone marrow.

She also received steroid infusions and was given anti-acid pills before breakfast and dinner.

Doctors then installed a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) for her aphaeresis – a procedure where her blood was filtered through a special machine, separating the stem cells into a collection bag, before being returned her body). She then had four days of chemotherapy and was placed in isolation.

“I went into isolation where they monitored my blood pressure, temperature and blood work every day. They were watching my haemoglobin, leukocytes and platelets, which had to drop right down before climbing again with the building up of the new immune system. A normal reading for leukocytes is between four to 10, mine dropped to 0.2 before climbing again. I had to have everything

Julia at the AA Maximov Hospital, Pirogov National Surgical Centre in Moscow

Back home, Julia reunites with her sons, Josh and Luke sterilised: crockery, cutlery in a special wash; my body had to be scrubbed down with clorhexidine solutions and I was not allowed to brush my teeth, but I had to use a special mouthwash. Any staff entering my room wore masks and gloves. I had to wear clothes supplied by the hospital, and they, along with the bedding, were changed daily,” she said.

Julia remained in isolation for nine days until her blood work returned showing normal levels, although she still had to wear a mask.

“I had three days of recovery before getting my final dose of chemo in one infusion of Rituximab which took

almost six hours. Just before I left Russia I was given a steroid injection to tide me over for my trip home. I had to wear a mask flying home and sterilise everything around my seat (TV screen, seat belt, arm rests). I also was not allowed to use the airplane pillow or blanket and had to keep using hand sanitiser. I was also limited to the food I was allowed to eat, but I did enjoy a glass of champagne to celebrate,” she said.

Despite her fears going in – the potential fatally risk and the pain and discomfort of some of the procedures – Julia said the entire process went so much better than she could

have imagined.

“I had absolutely no side effects from the treatment other than a lack of sleep and putting on weight from the steroids. It hurt when they put the tube in my neck, which was really the thing that I was freaking out the most about, but the rest of it was fine,” she said.

“After chemo I had two days of rest before my stem cells were re-infused, which was an amazing experience.

Directly after this we had my new life birthday party. I am 56 days old today with my new immune system. My new life birthday was April 7, 2016, and we had a ceremony in Russia to mark it. I was also given a badge to celebrate my new MS-free life. Dr Fedorenko told me I would leave Moscow MS-free and I have every faith in him and his treatment. I must admit, that I cried every day I was there.

I realised just how privileged I was to be receiving this treatment. My family had to sacrifice a lot in order for me to receive a rebooted immune system. I used to chat to them every day on Skype.”

Julia also praised British Airways for being fantastic on her journey home.

“I had one layover in the UK where I stayed in a hotel at the airport before flying home. BA were fantastic, delivering me to my hotel room and collecting me in the morning again with a wheelchair. I flew back first class so that I had space and could rest. The staff on BA 253 on April 22 were absolutely amazing, assisting me with all my needs. Phillip Sturrup, BA’s representative in the Bahamas and one of his staff were at the door to meet me with a wheelchair and I was taken through passport control, collecting luggage and customs to our waiting car. My family were thrilled to see me and have been very supportive of me right through my treatment. Joy from Premier Travel sorted out all my travel and accommodation and kept in touch with me while I was in

Russia to make sure everything was OK,” she added.

Now that she is back at home, Julia is looking forward to the future. Her hair has started to grow back and she said she is feeling much better.

Now, when hears the phone ringing in her house, she is able to run down the stairs to get to it, and she finds it has been easier to do everyday tasks like dressing herself.

“Since I have been home I am having to watch everything I eat, as I am not allowed and raw fruit and vegetables for three months and no raw fish like sushi for a year. I was under house quarantine until Dr Fedorenko was happy with my blood work. Kelso Labs have been superb in arranging for their staff to come to our home to take my blood. I have now been approved to leave home and have been out once to date. Hand sanitiser has become my best friend and if the children come home with any illness from school I mask up and stay in my room,” she said.

“Recovery will take approximately two years until I am fully healed, but I am already noticing improvements. My bladder and bowel are back to normal, my balance is good again and I am starting to walk longer distances. I had to wear reading glasses before my treatment and now I do not need them any longer. I have been warned that it is a roller coaster journey to recovery, but so far so good, and I am remaining positive. I go for my MRI in August to check whether my disease has been halted and whether my active lesions have shrunk at all. The aim of this treatment was to halt the disease and any improvements are a bonus over and above expectations.”

Julia said she wants to share her story because she would love to see the Bahamas become a centre for stem cell treatments in this region. She also hopes that her experiences can help others who face the ravages of the disease.

06 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 10, 2016

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Friday, June 10, 2016

tourism

Tour company shows the Bahamas’ ‘tru tru’ colours

By CARA HUNT cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

C

olours of the Bahamas is a new tour company which hopes to paint a more in-depth picture and offer a true Bahamian experience for visitors to the country.

“With over 50 years combined experience in the tourism industry, we’re firm believers that life’s greatest experiences are made better by the people you share them with,” said Gina Knowles, the founder of the company.

“Since high school, I always had a love for tourism. I am a strong patriot and proud to be Bahamian. The first job I had I worked as an entertainment coordinator in a hotel and I realised tourism was my calling.

I love to talk and tell stories to guests about who we are as a people. Then I said I need to do tours for a living and let the tourists know that we as Bahamians are still friendly and we do appreciate them coming to our island.”

Mrs Knowles enlisted the help of fellow Bahamians who are equally passionate about showing off their country to create a tour that she describes as “a tru tru” look at Bahamian life.

She said the name of her company, Colours of the Bahamas, stands for everything she wants to express about the country.

“Originally, I was going to name it Flavours of the Bahamas, then I changed it to Colours. When I think of everything I want to express about us as a people and country, I would say we have a variety of cool things, and we are colourful,” she told

“...Guests will learn the history about the landmarks shown to them, as well about us Bahamians.

From what we eat, to how we speak, even to how we name our children.

It’s all about us Bahamians and the Bahamas of which we live.”

Guests enjoy a thoroughly Bahamian tour.

Tribune Weekend.

The Colours of the Bahamas’ boat tour lasts for about 90 minutes on a 40-passenger vessel cruising Nassau Harbour.

“This keeps it up close and personal so everyone can see and hear the persons speaking. The vessel is completely shaded so everyone can enjoy the beautiful sea breeze, have a cocktail and relax while learning about us,” she said.

“Besides just cruising the harbour and pointing out buildings, guests will learn the history about the landmarks shown to them, as well about us Bahamians.

From what we eat, to how we speak, even to how we name our children. It’s all about us Bahamians and the Bahamas of which we live. No two travellers are the same and we know that, which is why we offer entertaining, unique ways, both fun and factual, with a little bit of Bahamianised spice and colours to describe our Bahamas.”

Mrs Knowles said she hopes guests finish the tour with a deeper understanding of Bahamian history.

“I want them to know and understand where we as Bahamians have come from and our culture. We want them to leave with the spirit of the Bahamian people, knowing the bona fide colours of the Bahamas.”

The boat tour starts and ends at the Woodes Rodgers Walk. The tours will be offered Monday to Saturday at various times starting at 9am.

The company also plans to expand to offer land-based tours within the next few months and can accommodate group tours or private functions.

08 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 10, 2016

food

Taste the Bahamas Food Festival off to a good start

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

L

aying a foundation for the 2017 Taste the Bahamas Food Festival, organisers hosted a special preview event at the Bahamas National Trust Retreat last Friday to introduce new ideas, entertainment and education – all centered around food.

Next year’s festival is expected to recognise and promote people, companies and products that are responsible for a renaissance of Bahamian cuisine.

At the preview event, a Burger Battle showcased the talents of amateur and professional chefs, as well as local restaurants. There was also a Food Fight competition for 11th and 12th grade students to allow them to display their culinary skills by transforming plantain into a creative dish.

Winners included Tanai Miller, who placed first in the Food Fight, and Jewel Brown and Hazen Rolle, who came in second and third, respectively.

The Burger Battle was judged by a blind tasting done by visiting chefs.

The overall winner was Chef Jamall Petty’s 8oz patty, “Nut Burger”, which he made with beef and turkey.

Chef Petty also organised the culinary aspect of the festival. He said it was a unique and unforgettable experience.

“Taste the Bahamas Food Festival is for people who are obsessed with flavour; it is that kind of event for them.

It offers whatever is the next cutting edge thing as it relates to food. For me, personally, I just want to see the growth and development of our food culture,” he said.

Chef Petty, who has been professionally cooking for more than 20 years, said it has always been a desire of his to merge food and entertainment.

“I created something called ‘Island Flare’ a few years ago for a television show I was a part of locally, and wherever entertainment and food meet,

PHOTOS/SHAWN HANNA

Student chef Dana Tucker of LN Coakley prepares a meal my name would be somewhere in the details. I do food events and appeared on a number of shows pertaining to food and entertainment. That is kind of my niche,” he said.

He said the Taste the Bahamas festival will create a platform for people to show off their “hidden gems” when it comes to recipes and culinary creations.

“That was really the whole thought process behind doing this. I believe it is important because people who visit our country want to experience the food and the culture, and I think we

have a very rich flavour profile, but we just don’t show it off enough,” he said.

“Separate and apart from that there was a time when food entertainment was more present, not just going out to a fish fry or things like that. Food entertainment is growing all around the world and we have an incredible opportunity to showcase what we have to offer, so Bahamians can develop a better appreciation for things done here, outside of conch fritters, so the rest of the world can do the same as well.”

In recent months, Chef Petty shared

with the public his version of “pop-up dinners”. He visited places like the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas, the Pool Deck at Junkanoo Beach, and scheduled visits for John Watling’s Distillery and Bristol Wine and Spirits to transform these places into midnight barbecue style restaurants.

“Doing this I realised that people are hungry and have an appreciation for something different as it relates to cuisine, and I am proud and I feel happy to know that I am a part of the development of something that I know is going to be very great,” he said.

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Friday, June 10, 2016

food

Making ‘Smooth Moves’ towards healthy eating

The ultimate vegetarian mushroom burger

By CARA HUNT cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

B

ringing out the natural, wholesome flavour of food is the mission of the Smooth Moves Café, said Keshlah Smith, the restaurant’s owner.

The café, which is situated inside the Jemi Health & Wellness gym in Caves Villages, features a rotating menu of healthy meals on weekdays.

“This café is open to the public and we offer freshly made food items that are made from scratch – from our breads to the dressings, to freshly roasted turkey, to grilled salmon and tuna steaks. We offer fresh rotisserie chickens with a menu that changes daily. We use as many local products as possible and are always looking for more farmers to partner with,” Ms Smith told Tribune Weekend.

“Our focus is on wholesome food.

You won’t see our food drenched in condiments, but the food will always be flavourful. You will be able to taste the garlic, the basil, the seasonings. We want to show people that healthy food can still be tasty and enjoyable, and not bland.”

Before relocating to the café last October, Ms Smith worked as a chef in private settings for more than two decades. The desire to offer healthy food options stems from her own personal

Grilled chicken salad

Albacore tuna wrap with chickpea mayonnaise weight loss journey, and led her to start Healthy Concepts, the company that manages Smooth Move Café.

“We produce healthy fare for retail, meals for those on specials diets – such as diabetics and those who want to want to lose weight. A lot of time,

Lemon Basil chicken with red quionoa grilled vegetables people want to stick to their diets, but they may not have access to healthy options or may be tempted to cheat, and so we will prepare the meals and deliver them to them. She said at the moment more than 60 persons have signed up for daily delivery,” she said.

Ms Smith said she decided to set up a permanent space at the request of many friends and clients who would come to her home for lunch. When the space at Jemi became available, she gave in to their wishes and now has a vibrant following of lunch customers.

10 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 10, 2016

music

Teen singer and multi-instrumentalist set for big debut

By CARA HUNT cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

T

anisha Sweeting has always had a love for music. As a young girl, she sang in local talent shows and as a teenager she taught herself to play the keyboard, ukulele and guitar.

Now at 19, Tanisha is on the brink of launching her singing career and has already produced two singles ahead of her first planned concert. She is also preparing to release a full EP this August.

The aspiring singer recently stopped

by The Tribune to discuss her dreams of one day becoming a famous musician.

She said she first discovered her talent in the sixth grade when she entered a singing competition. The first song she ever wrote was called “Alive”, and now she is moving full steam ahead toward her ultimate goal – to appear on the VMAs and to win a Grammy Award.

“I started singing when I was about 10, but it was at 15 when I decided to get really serious about beginning my music career,” said Tanisha.

Tanisha started playing the keyboard at 14 and then taught herself how to play both the electric and acoustic guitar last year. She also learned how to play the ukulele.

“I was inspired to play the electric guitar because I have always been into alternative rock and to learn the electric I had to know how to play the acoustic,” she said.

Her desire to play the ukulele came from her favourite band, Twenty One Pilots “One of the members played the ukulele and I thought it was cute,” she said.

To polish her other instrument – her voice – Tanisha started voice lessons with renowned vocal coach Lee Callen-

der. The teen also writes her own lyrics and creates instrumental pieces on her computer.

Since launching her career with her first singles, she has been eager to share her deep, soulful voice with the world.

Tanisha describes her sound as a mixture of alternative rock, jazz and R&B. Her versatile sound and lyrics are inspired by her experiences.

“Sometimes the words just come into my head and I write them down like poetry,” she said.

Tanisha said she wrote the lyrics for her single “Treason” in about an hour, and then singer/producer Padrino put down the instrumentals. The song tells the story of a tyrannical king and how the people in his kingdom eventually take him down. The song was released last summer.

Her latest song, which she is about to release, is called “Royalty”.

“It’s a song about inspiring black people no matter what their skin tone and about how we treat people,” she explained.

Tanisha said her lyrics and signature sound are partially inspired by her eclectic musical taste. Some of her favourites include Coldplay, Maroon 5, One Republic and the Neighborhood.

“I really enjoy Twenty One Pilots, because their lyrics are so deep,” she said. “They started out as a Christian band, but now their lyrics have expanded from just gospel music to a wider, different type of audience.”

At present, Tanisha is busy writing new music ahead of her August debut concert.

“I had a concert at my home for family and friends when I first recorded ‘Treason’, but this upcoming concert will be my first official concert and we will also have a few other performers who I have invited to come and perform as well,” she said.

The concert is scheduled to take place at the National Centre for the Performing Arts.

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Friday, June 10, 2016

music

Bahamian rapper says ‘Aloha’ to Hawaiian audiences

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

W

HILE living out of suitcases and finding himself far from home may at times have been a bit stressful, Bahamian rapper Megaton said it was all worth it to be able to perform his music in front of an international audience.

Megaton has just wrapped a tour in faraway Hawaii and feels this was another step in taking his musical career global.

This was the second year in a row that he has participated in the IntraIsland Music Tour (IIMT) in Hawaii.

The tour, which visits Honolulu, Kauai, Hilo, Maui and Guam, seeks to provide concert-goers with a fun and lasting multi-genre musical experience.

During this year’s tour, fans heard Megaton perform singles such as

Rapper Megaton wraps his Hawaiian tour “Island Summer” and “Don’t Take Your Love”, which was a favourite with concert-goers last year. He also included a his song “Lover’s Holiday” in this year’s setlist and covered a few

other popular songs.

Megaton told Tribune Weekend that he was invited to perform on the tour after IIMT representatives discovered him on a website for musicians.

“IIMT found me through a site called Sonicbids where you can audition your music for tours and festivals all over the world. I think with the impression I left with the promoters (last year), I wasn’t surprised that they reached out to me to come back this year,” he said.

And as was the case during his first appearance in Hawaii, Megaton said his music was embraced by the concert-goers.

He believes his unique style is what makes his music appeal to people of different backgrounds and cultures.

“It’s a fusion of diverse and Caribbean sounds. I’m relatable, realistic and that’s what people look for in music these days. There’s something almost for everyone with my music,” he said.

Performing at multiple concerts and following a hectic travelling schedule has also taught the artist some valuable lessons.

“It really taught me the lesson of conditioning and being in shape.

Travelling and being in one place for a minute and moving on the another without a second to catch yourself is a touring experience every Bahamian artist should go through. I got sick before my first show but I still went on and did my thing,” he said.

Now that the tour has come to a close, Megaton said he will continue working on his goal of reaching people all around the world with his music.

“Why do something if you’re not trying to do it big? Do it and get it to reach the four corners of the planet.

I’ve been doing it for a while and I’m just getting started. My name is gonna be around for a long time, so don’t think I’m going anywhere. Music is the universal language, and I speak it very well,” he said.

has had some awesome times together.

For example, placing third in the first annual Junkamania competition for the Bahamas Carnival 2015. We performed with local artists such as Exec and Qpid, and opened for two concerts: a Cuban concert and one of our very own, the Willis and the Illest band,” said Ri’Shaad.

The band plays various genres of music, including jazz, soca and rake n’ scrape, but for the most part they enjoy reggae selections. They cover songs from artists like Bob Marley, Ronnie Butler, Adele, Bruno Mars and others.

Right now, they are working on a album which they hope will be released in 2017.

“Supporters can expect some original songs, good music, good shows and positive vibes. We as a band are only trying to be recognised in the Bahamas. We would like Bahamians in the Bahamas and abroad to support their own and lets big up the 242. As we progress we hope we could represent the Bahamas for not just regatta festivals and big events, but also internationally, because we love what we do,” said Ri’Shaad.

New band The Collie Greenes celebrate the “242”

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net IT is always gratifying to discover new local talent during a night out on the town. And one of those discoveries just may be The Collie Greenes Band, a fairly new group of young musicians who are hard at work making a name for themselves in the Bahamas.

Band members include singer Pheromone “Phlo” Thompson, Ryan “Meatball” Bodie on the keyboard, drummer Devante “Bam” Rolle, Tamar Greene on the guitar, and Ri’Shaad Collie on the bass. Together, they are determined to strive for excellence. So far they have appeared at the recent “Unplugged on Bay Street”

event at the Hard Rock Café, the 2016 Junkamania concert and at private functions.

As the band’s leader, Ri’Shaad said it is important to always stay focused and treat every member like family.

“We can’t do it without each other and I get a lot of help from Tamar and Devante. We help push each other to get better. The band is still young and growing, but we strive for the best.

It is always a way to improve,” said Ri’Shaad.

When the band was formed last year, it initially started with just two members: Tamar playing the guitar and Ri’Shaad on bass. The duo later met with drummer Devante, who brought a one-of-a-kind rhythm to the mix.

“Since we were formed the band

12 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 10, 2016

review

‘Conjuring 2’ scares but not as well as the first CONJURING 2 133 MINS

I

f “The Conjuring” was a chilling whisper, the sequel is a deafening shriek.

That might not be a bad thing for some, but the shock jumps and cheesy-looking demons in “The Conjuring 2” were a definite departure from the first, and not necessar-

A summer bounty of TV drama, comedies and even a ‘Hamilton’ SUMMER travel packing list: swimsuit, sunblock, television.

In this portable TV era, there’s no reason to leave small-screen entertainment at home when cable channels, streaming services and networks are eager to keep you connected online with top-notch fare from, among others, Oscar-owning filmmakers.

So hit the road with your smartphone, laptop or tablet — or, heck, stay put in front of an actual TV set — and check out this steamy-weather menu of hot picks: — “BrainDead,” CBS, 10pm

ily for the better. The brilliance of director James Wan’s elegant original film was how it used our own horror savvy against us. “The Conjuring 2,” however, goes all out. It’s even louder, somehow. And there are more demons, more jump scares, more creepy antique toys and, thankfully, more Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga), the most delightfully campy couple of supernaturally sensitive marrieds ever to grace the screen.

The story deals with the Enfield Poltergeist — a highly documented 1977 case about a single mother, Peggy Hodgson (played here by Frances O’Connor); her four children; and the strange and terrifying happenings in their small home. As with most stories about haunted houses, it starts small — bumps and voices and knocks, mysterious bites and sheets that fly off of children in the middle of the night — and escalates quickly to demonic possession of an 11-year-old girl, Janet (Madison Wolfe), by a 72-year-old Bill Wilkins (Bob Adrian).

This time, though, the Warrens have their own issues. In a prologue about the Amityville murders, Lorraine sees something that scares her so deeply,

Vera Farmiga, Simon McBurney, Abhi Sinha, Frances O’Connor and Patrick Wilson in “The Conjuring 2”. she has no choice but to put her foot down and demand that she and Ed stop this business of paranormal investigation. Meanwhile, the whole industry of paranormal investigation is being picked apart by naysayers in the press, so when the Enfield situation springs up, the Catholic Church basically asks the Warrens to go ahead and try to get proof first to save the church from another embarrassing hoax situation. While interesting, the constant skepticism and wavering trust also

work to dull the fun of the scares. The film is also way too long and the tricks end up feeling a little repetitive and obvious, although there’s a really great sequence in the Warrens’ home with a creepy picture that Ed painted.

But, for better or worse, the first movie was just too good and “The Conjuring 2” can’t hold a candle to its predecessor.

Barkin) and her offspring in the drama series based on the Australian movie of the same name.

friendly series enlists the narration and tunes of Christina Aguilera, Usher, Joan Jett and others to educate us about wild animals and their habitats.

— “Queen of the South,” USA, 10pm Thursday, June 23. Drawn from the best-selling novel “La Reina Del Sur,” which already spawned a hit telenovela, the drama stars Alice Braga (“I Am Legend”) as a woman on the run in the U.S. from a drug trafficking ring after her boyfriend’s murder.

Disco and hip-hop collide in the new Netflix show “The Get Down” Monday, June 13. A different political show from “The Good Wife” creators Robert and Michelle King, with Washington beset by brain-eating bugs and a bipartisan coalition out to stop them.

Tony Shalhoub and Broadway and TV “Grease” heartthrob Aaron Tveit are among the comic thriller’s stars.

— “Animal Kingdom,” TNT, 9pm Monday, June 14. A teenager (Finn Cole) loses his mother to a heroin overdose and gains a violent family that includes a tough matriarch (Ellen

—”Dancing On the Edge,” PBS, 8pm.Sunday, June 26. An eight-part drama about a black jazz band that finds success and tragedy in 1930s London. Chiwetel Ejiofor (“12 Years A Slave”) and Matthew Goode (aka Lady Mary’s squeeze in “Downton Abbey”) are part of the cast.

— “Alexander Hamilton,” History Channel, 9pm Sunday, June 26.

Finding tickets to the Broadway hit musical “Hamilton” too pricey? This two-hour documentary detailing his national legacy may leave you singing the founding father’s praises.

— “Hello World!” Discovery Channel, 8pm Saturday, July 9. The family

AP PHOTO/WARNER BROS.

film and television

LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer

— “The Night Of,” HBO, 9pm Sunday, July 10. A start-to-finish murder case as created by one Oscar-winning writer, Steven Zaillian (“Schindler’s List”) and one Oscar-nominated one, Richard Price (“The Color of Money”), with an assist from Peter Moffat, whose original UK series it’s adapted from. John Turturro, Riz Ahmed star.

— “The A Word,” SundanceTV, 10 pm Wednesday, July 13. Both autism and adultery figure in this series, described as both thoughtful and humorous, about a 5-year-old boy and his extended family.

— “The Get Down,” Netflix, Friday, August 12. New York circa 1970s is the setting for this music-saturated drama about South Bronx teenagers in a harsh and changing world. Extravagant filmmaker Baz Luhrmann (“Moulin Rouge!”) directed and produced the series with young actors (Justice Smith, Shameik Moore) and veterans (Jimmy Smits, Giancarlo Esposito).

The Tribune | Weekend |13

Friday, June 10, 2016

society PHOTOS/SHAWN HANNA

Bridgette Musgrove

Dr Christine Chin

Lisa Bellot

Belles of the Ball Ashley Hamilton

Cancer Society of the Bahamas’ 15th annual gala ball

“H

old My Hand. Touch my Life” was the theme of this year’s gala ball hosted by the Cancer Society of the Bahamas as its biggest fundraiser.

The black-tie event, held at the Meliá Nassau Beach Resort, saw all the ladies attend in the latest and most elegant styles.

While floor length was universal when it

Mitzi Sanchez

Richenda King

Esaura Roker

came to the gowns, our Belles were not afraid to express their own, unique tastes in their fashion selections. There was sparkle, there was lace and there was bling. Some chose bright, happy colours like blue and green, while others decided on more classic shades like plum and cream.

Organisers of the ball said the night was a complete success, with some 450 persons in attending.

Ruby Farquharson

Tamika Watson

Tiffany Turnquest

16 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 10, 2016

fashion The Weekend Fashion Report CFDA Fashion Awards

With Karin Herig and Cara Hunt

FAIL

SPLIT

FAIL

SPLIT

SPLIT

Beyoncé

Jennifer Hudson “Empire

Claire Danes, Homeland

Naomi Campbell

Lena Dunham Girls

Karin says: “It’s sparkly and it’s different. But it’s also a bit showgirly. And I’m not thrilled with the exactly matching shoes. Also, I saw what it looks like when she lifts her arms, and it’s like a shiny onesie with bat wings.

It’s cute, but nothing one should be wearing to a fashion designer event. I was hoping for something edgier.”

Cara says: “It’s different and very appropriate for the night; it’s fashionable, even if it’s not edgy or taking a risk. I think it is a fun, sexy outfit. Also, Jen has lost so much weight; she looks teeny tiny.”

Karin says: “I just don’t know what this is. I’m baffled. Is that thing at her belly supposed to be an oyster or something racier? Either way, it looks terrible. The dress also makes it look like her torso is extra long and her legs very short.

It makes her look stocky.

Terrible choice, even if it’s Calvin Klein.”

Cara says: “OK when I saw this dress, my first thought, honestly, was that it looks like she is pregnant and giving us a sneak peak at her foetus.

Seriously, what is that in the middle of the dress? And the whole thing is just so frumpy.

Why would you choose that dress to wear to a fashion award event?”

Karin says: “Bey feeling reckless rocking her Givenchy suit. And yet, she doesn’t look rockin’. She’s the CFDA Fashion Icon 2016, but I’m not convinced. She’s a fantastic performer, but her style has always needed some work.

Which is evident here. The sparkly suit is OK, but the bigbrimmed hat is just too much.

She doesn’t pull it off.”

Cara says: “Lawd, Bey looks like a 70s pimp who fell into some glitter. It’s way too much and the hat is sooo big; it just overpowers the whole outfit.

Not quite sure what look she was going for. I’m not wowed, I am just confused.”

Karin says: “Naomi has been around for aeons in terms of fashion industry years, and yet she still looks this fab? How? The dress is not the most awe-inspiring, and the deep plunge is not great, but she is still rocking it. I wish the dress had maybe been in a bolder colour, but she still manages to look stylish and all slinky. I especially love the long braid.

I bow down to one of the original 90s’ supermodels.”

Cara says: “Naomi is too old for this, I’m sorry, even though she most definitely still has the figure for it. I really like the braid and the dress is very slinky, but we’ve seen it all before. So my verdict is, it’s not horrible, but it’s boring, but she still looks great in it.”

Karin says: “This at least looks like someone is trying to be a bit more fashion-forward in honour of the event. She still looks like she ripped off a nun’s habit and paired it with some of Barbie’s boudoir bunny slippers, but at least an effort was made. And it’s not a total failure; it’s actually interesting to look at.

However, I hate the initialled purse. Now that’s just tacky.”

Cara says: “I want her shoes, I really do. I don’t know where I would wear them, but they are so cute and remind me of the ones I wore as a little girl. I loved them so much I would sleep in them. I like her handbag as well, and the large initials make it very easy for it to be returned to her if she loses it. The rest of the outfit is classic Lena – a hot mess.”

The Tribune | Weekend | 17

Friday, June 10, 2016

books

Writers retreat is a success

T

review

Ink and Bone’ is a tale of horror and mystery LISA Unger returns to the small town of The Hollows with “Ink and Bone,” another gut-wrenching tale of horror and mystery.

Finley Montgomery has been visited by ghostly figures and ex-

and five total who were here last year as well. Just the fact that so many come again tells you how much they really love the island and the format of the retreat. One person has published a book. Another returning student signed with an agent here last year and he’s working on his next novel.”

On Saturday, May 28, aspiring authors in search of guidance on their works in progress were invited to a day at Salt Cay complete with panel discussions on need-to-know skills, such as fine-tuning novel taglines, as well as the writing practices of well-published writers. Discussions also covered the process of becoming a published writer, from manuscript to publica-

perienced prophetic visions for as long as she can remember. She left her life in Seattle to live with her grandmother, Eloise Montgomery, who has the same gift. When Finley starts hearing sounds she knows are important, part of her wants to ignore them and focus on her studies.

If only she could.

Merri Gleason has been living a lie for some time. Her husband is cheating, and the rest of her family is imploding. Almost a year earlier, she stayed home while her husband, son and daughter went hiking. Her daughter was abducted, and the others were shot and left behind.

They survived, but the pain still lingers.

Merri is tired of having no answers, so she makes a last-ditch

tion. The day’s pièce de résistance, though, was the exclusive “two pages, two minutes” workshop, which gave day registrants the chance to read their first two pages aloud to a group of their writing peers and literary agents, with the agents treating the material as they would a formal submission. Reading authors got meaningful feedback on their works in progress with tips on maintaining voice and captivating the reader.

For Shenique Moxey, a teacher on New Providence, the single-day offering packs so much of a punch it was worth returning to attend a second time.

“It was awesome,” she said. “I

effort by hiring Jones Cooper to uncover the truth. His background as a police officer turned private investigator should help, along with the assistance of Finley’s grandmother and her visions.

As Jones starts to investigate, it’s clear that something far worse is happening in the small town. Finley realizes she is the one destined to help Jones, not her grandmother.

When everything starts to unravel, winter arrives, bringing more than snow.

Strong characters and stellar writing make this a wonderful mix of small-town life with the supernatural.

JEFF AYERS Associated Press

TOUCHSTONE VIA AP

he third annual Salt Cay Writers Retreat (SCWR) ended on a resoundingly positive note and with special Bahamian flair on Saturday, May 28.

The six-day retreat, hosted on Salt Cay – better known as Blue Lagoon Island – catered to emerging writers with a full programme of workshops, panel discussions and one-on-one reviews with published, best-selling authors and literary agents. Since 2013, SCWR participants have come from near and far to learn from the retreat’s seasoned faculty. This year, many of them returned with improved manuscripts and renewed energy.

“This year is really fantastic,” said SCWR co-founder and published author Karen Dionne. “We have a smaller group but I’m hearing so many comments from students and faculty that they’re really enjoying the smaller size because it’s a more intimate retreat and people are learning a lot and retaining more.”

She added: “We have two students here who have come all three years,

learned a whole lot that I didn’t know before. I was working on a book and the last retreat inspired me to finish my book. So this year I’m here to share and learn some more.”

Sarah Appleton, an informatics officer at Doctors Hospital, has been working on her novel for four years, but registered for the single day in search of professional guidance.

“I feel I need the support and the direction of editors and publishers to say, ‘Yes, you should continue in that vein’, or ‘No, you need to write this from a different angle’. I’m hoping to be able to take their suggestions and make my book more attractive to a greater audience,” she said.

This book cover image released by Touchstone shows, ‘Ink and Bone,’ a novel

by Lisa Unger.

18 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 10, 2016

podcasts

Horror in your headphones This week’s column puts the focus on horror.

So put your headphones on, turn up the volume – and prepare for a good scare...

“We’re Alive: Lockdown” – audio theatre for the mind

By STEPHEN HUNT

We’re Alive: Lockdown Last year, I reviewed the excellent “We’re Alive”, a podcast telling the story of a zombie virus breaking loose and bringing about the end of the world...mostly. That followed the story of a few survivors as they tried to make their way in this post-apocalypse world. For those wanting to take a dip into the same world but without the huge number of episodes, there’s now a new spin-off, “Lockdown”, six episodes long and following the view of the end of the world from inside the walls of a prison.

The show drops you straight into the action, before flashing back to the moment when things started to go wrong inside the jail, just as two prisoners are about to be released and back to the freedom they’ve yearned for. Suddenly, the bars that kept them in might just be the thing that keeps them alive. The production is excellent, great voice actors and some genuine scares even in this slow beginning. If you want a horror story on the radio, here’s a great place to start.

Website: werealive.com

Behind the scenes of “The Night of the Living Podcast”

The Black Tapes “The Black Tapes” is a docudrama following host Alex Reagan as she sets off on a paranormal investigation, starting with Dr Richard Strand, a ghost hunter who doesn’t believe in ghosts. She uncovers his store of VHS tapes and the horrors that lurk within.

Fictional, of course, but the show presents itself as a documentary, with Reagan detailing her investigation as she goes along in the fashion of a radio show, with interviews with a medium and other individuals she encounters along the way.

There’s two seasons of the show so far, and bear with the first episode, it takes a while to get going – until a door on a video tape slowly creaks open all

by itself. Then, things get weirder... and scarier.

Another show with excellent production, this is for those who are fans of ghosthunting shows on TV, who wonder what would happen if it all turned out to be real...

Website: theblacktapespodcast.com

Night of the Living Podcast Away from the scary stories themselves, there’s a wealth of podcasts chatting about the horror genre, and “Night of the Living Podcast” is one of the longest established of those.

It’s great fun, its format is essentially a bunch of friends sitting around and

chatting about horror – then picking a straight to video movie to praise or pillory before moving on to something more mainstream.

A recent show focused on the movie Trace, which is about a group of young people experimenting with electronic voice phenomena (EVP) when everything goes wrong, including – according to the NOTLP team – the script, the characters and everything else with the movie. They gleefully rip apart the movie, with spoilers galore because, as they say, if it’s a rubbish movie, they’ll tell you everything to save you the trouble.

They then move on to the Louis Gossett Jr classic “Enemy Mine” and share what they loved about the movie, plus lots of little nuggets of information about the movie. Bad Guy #2 in the movie who we can’t remember his name? He ends up being executive producer of the “Paw Patrol” cartoon.

Parents, you know you’re singing that theme tune now.

There’s a great love and affection by the hosts for their genre – and this particular show was also filmed in front of a live audience too, so there’s plenty of banter. Just beware of some fruity language from time to time.

Website: http://www.notlp.com/

The Tribune | Weekend | 19

Friday, June 10, 2016

relationships

When did “sweethearting” become the norm?

By DR EDRICA RICHARDSON

T

he term “sweethearting” has been accepted for many years now across the Caribbean as a euphemism for the painful and oftentimes destructive problem of infidelity.

Infidelity has been the cause of divorces, broken homes, and even murder. In fact, infidelity is the only Commandment that is repeated twice in the Bible – for doing it and for just for thinking about it. Somehow in our culture it has become to be seen as a rite of passage for many. But it is not normal relationship behaviour. While monogamy may not be natural (as countless authors and even Christian families have displayed), the conscious decision to be faithful is an intentional choice that can be made on a daily basis.

What is sweethearting?

Infidelity used to simply be defined as breaking a promise to remain faithful to a sexual partner. That promise can take many forms, from marriage vows sanctified by the state to privately uttered verbal agreements between lovers. But the definition of infidelity keeps expanding. Today it can include sexting, watching porn, staying secretly active on dating websites, so there is no universally agreed upon definition of what constitutes infidelity. As a result, the estimated percentage of people who cheat varies widely between 26 per cent to 75 per cent.

What does sweethearting do to us?

It threatens our emotional health.

Infidelity threatens our emotional security, our romantic ideal of being the unique, indispensable, the ‘one’.

Infidelity tells us we are not irreplaceable. It is seen as the ultimate betrayal.

Infidelity shatters the grandiose idea of love. Even though infidelity has always been painful, today it is often traumatic, because it threatens our sense of self.

You thought you knew who you were, who we were as a couple, who your partner was; now you question everything. So infidelity becomes not only a violation of trust, but a crisis of identity. However, the bigger problem is that we live in an era where we feel we are entitled to pursue all of our desires, because this is the culture where I deserve to be happy. Just remember ‘I’ is not in ‘we’, which is needed in a relationship.

Why do we still have affairs if leaving is possible?

Now the typical assumption is that either there’s something wrong in your relationship or wrong with you. But everyone can’t be pathological. Because even happy people cheat. But most people find themselves in a conflict between their values and behaviours.

At the heart of an affair you often find a longing for an emotional connection, for novelty, for freedom, autonomy, sexual intensity, or a wish to recapture lost parts of yourself.

While most believe that affairs are about our partners turning away from us, most of the time it is about our partners running away from the person they have become. It isn’t so much that they were looking for another person as much as they are looking for another self. As a therapist, infidelity tells me that some affairs are an attempt to beat back deadness, an antidote to death. And contrary to what you may think, affairs are way less about sex, and a lot more about desire – desire for attention, desire to feel special and a desire to feel important.

So how do we heal from “sweethearting”?

The fact is, the majority of couples who have experienced affairs stay together because they are able to turn a crisis into an opportunity. Each partner gets to claim more, and they no longer have to uphold the status quo that may have not been working for them that

“Sweethearting” can destroy a relationship and sense of self well to begin with. Couples will have in-depth conversations with honesty and openness that they may have never had; partners who were sexually indifferent find themselves lustfully voracious. Something about the fear of loss will rekindle desire and make a way for an entirely new kind of truth.

What are some specific things that couples can do?

We know from trauma that the healing begins when the perpetrator acknowledges their wrongdoing. But what is essential besides ending the affair is the important act of expressing guilt and remorse for hurting your partner. The perpetrator now becomes the relationship protector of boundaries. It is their responsibility to bring it up, relieve the partner’s obsession. This is the first step in restoring trust.

For the deceived partners it is essential to do things that bring back a sense of self-worth, to surround yourself with love and with friends and activities that give back joy, meaning and Identity. But even more important is the need to curb the curiosity for the details of the affair; questions that only inflict more pain and keep you awake at night. Instead, switch to investigative questions, ones that mine the meaning and motives: • What did this affair mean for you?

• What were you able you express that you could no longer do with me?

• What is it about us that you value?

To be clear, I am not pro-affair, but pro-healthy, conscious relationships.

As I have seen, the victim of the affair is not always the victim of the marriage. So ask yourself more importantly: • What it did the affair do to you?

• What did the affair mean for you?

Every affair will redefine a relationship, you get to decide how.

• Dr Edrica D Richardson is licenced marriage and family therapist in multiple states in the US and an AAMFT approved supervisor. She currently runs private practice in Nassau and the US. Her clinical specialities include relationship issues, stress management, family conflict and life coaching, to name a few. She works with adolescents, couples and families. For more information, visit her website at www. dredrich.com.

20 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 10, 2016

health and fitness

Fit kids

By REGINA SMITH

C

hildhood obesity is a global and public health challenge. The World Health Organisation reports that childhood obesity is growing at an alarming rate. Research has concluded that childhood obesity is more prevalent in developing countries. In developing countries with emerging economies the rate of childhood obesity is 30 per cent higher than in developed countries.

A body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 classifies an individual as obese. Two of the greatest contributors to obesity are increased intake of high-calorie foods that are high in sugar and fats, and an decrease in physical activity.

We have the power to put an end to this global epidemic. We can make it a point to choose healthier eating options for ourselves and in turn for our families. We can get our kids moving more. Exercise is beneficial to young children, adolescents and teenagers.

Teaching kids the importance of physical activity and nutrition at a young age sets the stage for health consciousness and more physical activity in adults.

Most of our values and habits are formulated at a young age. The environment in which we are raised greatly affects our lifestyles, decisions and perceptions. If we are taught at a young age to see food as fuel for the body, to see the importance of nutritional balance and an active lifestyle, then the chances are higher that we will carry that awareness into adulthood.

Trainer tips: • Become a smart shopper. Choose food stores that offer fresh options. Visit your local farmers’ market as a family and educate your children about the benefits of fresh food options. You can also ask the farmers to give their insights as well.

• If it is perishable, eat it. If you can’t pronounce the ingredients, avoid it.

• Exercise as a family at least once a week: walking, cycling, paddle boarding etcetera. These are all healthy activities that can be done as a family. Children follow by example. Make engaging in some sort of physical activity as a family a priority.

The more of a conscious shopper you become, the better you and your family will eat and the better you will feel!

Exercise helps to encourage

self-esteem in young people Particularly during the adolescent stage of life, young people struggle with self-esteem issues. Peer pressure and societal expectations distort confidence and self-efficacy.

Engaging in a regular exercise programme gives young people the opportunity to find things they are good at. Whether the goal is weight loss, improved drill times or an increased height in box jumps – the little successes are encouraging and empowering.

Trainer tip: Enrol your son or daughter into a fitness programme. Record their starting point and track their progress along the way. Choose a prize that you know they would like to receive as a result of accomplishing their goals. Not only is this empowering, but its also a teaching moment for goal setting.

Exercise fosters discipline Mindset is a large component of a sustained exercise regimen. Young people need to be a part of something where they are expected to perform. Showing up, being involved, and committing to doing the best they can during the activity helps kids to develop a mindset of discipline and commitment. Kids also learn that if you are persistent you will achieve your goals, and if you are consistent you will be able to keep

The Tribune | Weekend | 21

Friday, June 10, 2016

PHOTOS/SHAWN HANNA

Gabriella Francis and Sarah Ratcliffe, two Bahamian youngsters, enjoy staying fit with a variety of exercise options and sustain your results. These are excellent virtues that can be applied to other areas of their lives.

Additional benefits of youth fitness are: • Exercise is a vital link in combatting childhood obesity • Resistance training in youth has also been shown to improve motor skills such sprinting and jumping, body composition and bone mineral density

Where do I start?

• The mode of exercise when it comes to youth fitness can be: walking, jogging, running, games, dance, sports, water activities, and/or resistance training.

• The recommended frequency is five to seven days per week.

• The duration of the session should be no more than 60 minutes/ • Find a trainer or instructor that your child feels comfortable around and that you can develop a good rapport with. This will help you with tracking your child’s progress as well as gaining insightful information that might enhance progress outside of the session.

• Find a physical activity or a youth

exercise programme that offers activities that your child enjoys. When it comes to youth fitness, exercise should be fun!

Fun family fitness challenge: Exercise as a family three days. This is a great bonding opportunity. Give it a try!

• Monday Personal activity

boarding

• Sunday Rest

Conclusion Summer vacation is just around the corner; no school, sleeping in a little later and more television time. Be proactive in finding an activity-based summer programme for your kids. Get fit! Get healthy! Stay active!

• Tuesday 60-minute walk as a family

• Wednesday Personal activity

• Thursday 60-minute walk as a family

• Friday Personal activity

• Saturday Beach day with swimming, beach volleyball, beach soccer or paddle

• Regina Smith is a certified personal trainer by the National Academy of Sports Medicine. She can be reached for personal training and consultations at regina.tonia.smith@gmail.com.

Follow her on instagram: ginag_cpt or her fitness tips and tweets on Twitter @ginagcpt.

22 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 10, 2016

design your lifestyle

It’s official: it’s Father’s Day

By VICTORIA SARNE

T

he third Sunday in June is celebrated as Father’s Day in many countries around the world.

It is believed that the tradition was started less than 100 years ago, around 1909, mainly because of the efforts of a woman named Sonora Louise Smart Dodd in Washington. It seems she had the best of motivations and a stellar example of fatherhood in her own father, William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran.

Sonora’s mother died in childbirth leaving her father to raise the newborn and the five other children in the family. She was similarly inspired by Anne Jarvis who had also started a campaign to honour fathers in the US. It seems both women felt that if there was a Mother’s Day then there should also be one for the other parent, the father. It seems they may have had a stronger sense of equality then, albeit in a small non-political way, and without the need for a referendum.

However, politicians did get involved when the idea seemed to have caught on in a big way, President Woodrow Wilson approved it in 1916 and was later supported in this by President Calvin Coolidge in 1924. He based his support on the premise of family values and said it was to be observed “to establish more intimate relations between fathers and their children and to impress upon fathers the full measure of their obligations”.

Words to be remembered and followed in today’s topsy-turvy world where roles and responsibilities sometimes get blurred or obscured altogether. Eventually, President Lyndon B Johnson issued an official proclamation in 1966 further declaring that

the third Sunday of June would be the recognised day which was later also confirmed as a permanent national observance in the US by President Richard Nixon.

As frequently happens, there is usually more than one version of events floating around and there is rarely anything new under the sun. Some scholars believe that the tradition of Father’s Day, while it may not have been in the month of June, was established roughly 4,000 years previously with the discovery of a card in the ruins of Babylon.

The “card” was made from clay and a young man called Elmesu had carved a message on it to his Babylonian father wishing him good health and a long life.

The tradition of gifts of flowers to fathers has now established itself world wide in many countries, not only in the US, and similar to Mothers Day being denoted by a special flower. Carnation, roses or lilies are symbols for Father’s Day. A lot of people prefer more robust flowers to give a distinctive masculine look.

We use a lot of colourful tropicals, such as Birds of Paradise, ginger and heliconia, and create various containers for them as an alternative to glass, wrapped with hessian and highlighted with shells – perfect for his desk where he can see a demonstration of your love and thoughtfulness every day. Let us customise an arrangement for you which will be as unique as your father or husband. To order please call The Nassau Florist at 242 302 6121 or stop in and see us at The Villa Flora on Dowdeswell Street.

• Victoria Sarne is a certified wedding and event planner with Jim Whitehead at The Nassau Florist, located on Dowdeswell Street. For consultations and questions, call 302 6121 or e-mail designyourlifestyle@tribunemedia.net

The Tribune | Weekend |23

Friday, June 10, 2016

mailboats ABOUT THE AUTHOR

CAPTAIN Eric Wiberg is a marine and naval historian, author and a maritime lawyer who grew up in Nassau in the 1970s and 1980s and is a regular visitor to The Bahamas.

In 2009 Capt Wiberg began the first of three books on U-Boats in the Bahamas and Bermuda and in 2012 began a blog focusing on mailboats and their contribution to Bahamian history. He is the author of ‘Tanker Disasters’, ‘Round the World in the Wrong Season’ and ‘U-Boats in the Bahamas and Turks & Caicos’ and is working on a book about mailboats in the Bahamas.

He is writing a series in The Tribune on the glorious history of mailboats, their place in island life, the characters that define them, the variety of craft, the dozens of islands they serve, the mailboat ‘dynasties’ and the challenges facing the modern fleet.

Versatile vessels rich in history Captain Eric Wiberg selects his favourite stories of wooden mailboats, which started the interisland service over 200 years ago in the Bahamas

T

hree basic but distinct types of mailboats have served the Bahamas over 200 years: wooden, European and modern, meaning purpose-built, steel, twin-screw vessels.

For each epoch we will look into the colourful histories of a half-dozen or so vessels, starting today with wooden boats built between 1867 and 1977, many of them sail, some of the later ones fitted with engines.

Specifically let us take a look at nine summaries of the career histories of the Dart (c.1867), Kate Sturrup (1890), Endion (1898), Arena (c.1910), Content S. (1920), OId Horseye (1930), Selma Rose (1947), Spanish Rose (1977), and Current Pride (c.1980).

Dart The Dart was built as a 35-foot harbour pilot boat around 1867, for speed and agility in crossing the Nassau bar and placing and retrieving pilots aboard

visiting ships.

Sporting two masts, the schooner was enlarged twice. Believed to have been built in Harbour Island, she served that community and Spanish Wells, setting a record at the time of eight hours for the passage.

Owned by John Saunders Harris of Eleuthera, the Dart is credited with providing the first regular inter-island mail and freight service, as opposed to those vessels shuttling mail from steamship depots on Fortune Island (Long Cay) and Crooked Island to Nassau.

Dart Dart won a number of racing regattas under the command of various members of the Harris family.

According to the Taylors of Mayaguana, there was a “coloured deck hand” nicknamed Old Blarney who would fire a small cannon from the foredeck to announce her arrival at the Harris Wharf, at the foot of Pine Street, in Dunmore Town. According to historians the cabins were reserved for white passengers.

The historic little vessel served for over 55 years and is believed to have been lost in a hurricane in 1922.

Kate Sturrup The 51-ton schooner Kate Sturrup was likely built in Harbour Island

in 1890. Two years later she briefly replaced the Dart on the Nassau-Harbour Island run for just a year.

She was owned by Henry William F Sturrup, and one of her later captains was Arnold Ingraham. The Tribune of May 10, 1916, records that the Kate Sturrup served its civic duty in delivering members of the Third Bahamas Contingent on the first leg of their long journey to Europe to fight in the First World War. Captain Dillet followed the contingent as far as Jamaica, writing in The Tribune: “The Police Band discoursed a variety of music in fine style from the deck of the “Colonia” while she was towing the “Zellers” and the “Kate Sturrup,” and when a rag time item was on, many people, both on the boats and on the land, swayed themselves to the time thereof in rhythmic fashion. Those who witnessed the scene will not easily forget it, and many who would scorn to weep loudly found a strange choking sensation at the throat as this new body of soldiers left our shore ...

Those of the contingent who sailed on the “Zellers” were under the care of Capt Cole, while Capt Dillet had the control of those who embarked on the “Kate Sturrup.”

Forty years later Kate Sturrup left the Bahamas permanently for Jamaica.

Endion The Endion was 103-feet built in 1898 in Boston as a private yacht, with an oil-burning engine and capacity for 18 passengers in two staterooms. After a stint as a US Navy vessel (SP-707) in World War I, she was purchased at auction by the Harbour Island Steamship Company (Albert Sweeting, Director, value set at US$7,000) in 1921 to replace the Dart.

After a refit in New York in October of that year, Endion was delivered to the Bahamas by Captain E B Sweeting, with crew Gerald Johnson, Roy Sweeting, Percy Bethel, Frank

24 | The Tribune | Weekend

Endion Johnson, Nick Sawyer and Albert Sweeting. Her other captains included Albert Sweeting and William G Harris. The Guardian noted that “every 10 days, for the price of 8 shillings cabin or 5 shillings steerage, tourists and locals could visit historic and picturesque Dunmore Town - the ideal health resort of the Bahamas.”

Arena The diminutive 50-foot sailing sloop Arena began its career as a humble sponger on the Bahama Banks in the late 1800s.

With the demise of that industry in the 1920s, she was put to work by the indefatigable Captain Sherwin Archer, of Abaco, as the last of the winddriven mailboats serving that island from Nassau.

In her classic photo-essay of the northern Bahamas entitled ‘Out

Friday, June 10, 2016

for a boat. His small miracle: everything delivered in good shape and weather permitting - on time.”

The motorised mail boats Stede Bonnett and Prescilla had been plying the trade from Nassau to Abaco and there was even an air service in the form of a 21-seat Catalina amphibious plane. Captain Archer and his son Bobby, the relief captain, supplemented the service. His sloop was to ply the traditional trade for a decade from 1940 to 1950. Then, it was upgraded and an engine was installed. Ultimately Arena was supplanted by the motor vessel Tropical Trader - and thus ended the days of sailing merchants between Abaco and the colony’s capital. Archer went on to become a senator representing Abaco.

Content S The mailboat Content S began its career as the 110-foot wooden motor yacht Percianna II in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1920, where a researcher recently discovered the original slipway of the J M Densmore boatyard where she was built.

For 16 years the yacht served various owners, from a socialite member of the New York Yacht Club named Percy, then a Mr Spaulding from inland Vermont, before she languished in Miami under the name Content until Carl Sawyer, of R W Sawyer in Nassau, found and purchased her in 1936, adding an “S” to her name, presumably for Sawyer.

Two of her Bahamian captains were

Content S

Arena Island Portraits’, Ruth Rodriguez described Archer as “Man-O-War’s Sears Roebuck. He cheerfully entered each order in his notebook, whether it was a packet of needs or a new engine

Stanley Weatherford, of Green Turtle Cay, and Roland Roberts, of Eleuthera. Grover Theis, Waterfront Reporter for The Miami News, wrote on March 27, 1940: “now with a converted yacht in the service offering deluxe accommodations, it is not unlikely at all that lots of folks who hesitated about taking the “tramp” trip will slip off on the Content for a little vacation excursion and see for themselves what lies in our front yard.”

Content S had ccommodation for

12 passengers and she was originally put on the run from the northern Bahamas to Miami. According to “Pappa” Floyd Lowe, patriarch of Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, as well as Patrick J Bethel, of Cherokee Sound, the vessel was more of a yacht than a cargo carrier and never did particularly well as the latter.

Underutilised in Nassau, the Content S was chartered by the Duke of Windsor to sail from Nassau, first to Cross Harbour, Abaco, to rescue survivors of the Norwegian tanker O A Knudsen on March 8, 1942, then about a week later to Hope Town, Elbow Cay, Abaco, to rescue survivors of the British tanker Athelqueen. She dutifully carried - most likely under the command of Capt Weatherford, the many passengers on deck to Nassau. One of them, Alan Heald, still living in Preston, England, was so impressed that he thought they were rescued by the royal yacht Victoria and Albert, which at the time was in the UK. Whilst serving as a banana carrier from West Indies, she was rammed and sunk by Foundation Aranmore off Cuba in 1946.

OId Horseye The mixed sail and power 87-footer Old Horseye began its career as the motor vessel Patricia K in 1930, in the slipway of Berlin Albury at Dunmore Town, Harbour Island. Almost 100 gross tons, the motor was 165 horsepower. The original owner was Kelly’s Lumber Yard, and Allan H Kelly named it for his daughter, Patricia.

After 1940 John Percy Sweeting, of Harbour Island, owned her. While she may not have strictly carried the mail contract, this colourful vessel with an unforgettable name nevertheless added to Bahamian maritime trade.

Author Dave Gale, of Island Marine, Parrot Cay, Abaco, recorded in ‘Ready About: Voyages of Life in the Abaco Cays’ that “in 1956 she was leading an equally hard life as an inter-island freighter, smelling of old wood, flaky paint, and diesel fuel. Her helmsman turned her wheel in the protection of a pilothouse, perched tugboat style, at her bow. She rolled, but she didn’t heel. Her helmsman could not hear her bow wave because of the insistent diesel engine that plunged her headlong into each wave without a care for easing her over it, and its throb was felt as well as heard throughout her hull. The vibrations worked their way up through the

OId Horseye helmsman’s feet and occasionally set a wheelhouse window to sympathetic rattling ... As a Bahamian boat, it was easy to assume she had been named for the Horse Eye Jack. [She] had a charter with a hardware and lumber company to carry freight from Miami to Nassau.”

Selma Rose Benjamin Roberts, of Marsh Harbour, writes that his father built the Selma Rose (also spelt Zelma) in 1947 in Abaco.

She was a 30-ton wooden motor vessel under the command of Captain Edison Higgs. Though little is known about her early life, with the help of Mrs Eldwith J Roberts and a copy of the St Petersburg Times, we know that six persons drowned when, at 2.50am on June 1, 1952, whilst transporting passengers from Nassau to Spanish Wells, she was overwhelmed by 15-foot seas near Fleeming Channel.

Among the dead were a 23-year-old nurse, Oona Newbold, her 18-yearold sister Carol, a 61-year-old Sunday school teacher from the UK, Welbourn Pinder, and Ephram, crew members, and Charles Algreen (44) of Current. The cargo of lumber, furniture and canisters of gasoline shifted in the momentous seas and she capsized quickly. A sloop named Sally managed to rescue 17 survivors clinging to flotsam.

Remarkably 18-month-old Terrance Lightbourn survived. His father, Paul, managed to find the infant in a submerged cabin and pull him out by his little foot. Nurse Newbold directed the parents in successfully resuscitating the child, then she herself drowned shortly thereafter. The survivors then clung to the wreck and a dinghy until some eight hours later, when the boat sank and rescue arrived. It was rumoured that Captain Higgs swam all the way to Current to summon help; however given that it was 10 miles away, and rescue arrived in eight hours, this is unlikely. A folk song recounting the wreck of the Zelma Rose

The Tribune | Weekend | 25

Friday, June 10, 2016

was released around 1954, popularising awareness of the incident.

Spanish Rose The 75-foot Spanish Rose II was built in 1977, most likely by shipwrights in her home port of Spanish Wells. Her owners were the brothers, Captains Gurney Elon and Stephen Pinder, of that port.

Her primary purpose was to replace the first Spanish Rose (from 1965) running frozen crawfish tails to Nassau so that they could be shipped to the US market in Florida. The boat was available to passengers, as evidenced by an article in the LA Times by Jerry Hulse on May 12, 1985, reading in part: “If you’re in no hurry, it’s a bargain - only $18 for the five-hour ride, which includes a soft drink and a sandwich and a world of untroubled waters.

Don’t get me wrong, [Spanish Rose II] isn’t the Queen Elizabeth 2. Sometimes an errant chicken will run squawking along the deck in a flurry of feathers,

a dog hot on its spurs. But there are compensations. If the seas are smooth, it’s a pleasant journey, and occasionally someone will break out a guitar and strum calypso melodies.”

In a 2013 article in The Eleutheran, Capt Gurney Pinder relates in the laconic style characteristic of mariners, that sometime in 1997 “Gil Pinder said to me, I have 26,000 pounds of lobster tails to go to Nassau … I said no problem and loaded them … We got into Nassau 8.30am - off loaded and left to return between 3pm and 3.30pm that afternoon. At 4pm I had to put out a Mayday call - the boat was sinking and rapidly. We were in the ocean, and in the engine room the water was up four feet, but no lives were lost. We launched a lifeboat, paddled off, and we didn’t even get wet.

Current Pride Very little is known about the 88-ton motor mailboat Current Pride, except that she is still operating, and believed

Current Pride to be the last of her tree-derived breed plying the islands of the Bahamas on a commercial basis, carrying the mails as her brethren have for over 200 years.

Her master is said to be Captain Patrick Neilly. For a relatively diminutive vessel, she has a busy schedule, con-

necting Nassau with the entire western and most of the northern coasts of 120-mile-long Eleuthera, from Upper and Lower Bogue, The Bluff, Current Island and Gregory Town, to James Cistern and Hatchet Bay/Alice Town, a produce-exporting port which was blasted through the coast to provide a lagoon protected 350-degrees around.

For those that wish to ride this historic vessel (built circa 1980), they can do so in a few days. She departs Nassau every Thursday at 7am and returns from Hatchet Bay on Tuesdays at 11am. The voyage lasts for five hours and this unforgettable experience costs $30. Call the Potter’s Cay Dock Master ahead of time to be sure!

Through the Current Pride the tradition of transporting freight and passengers amongst the Bahamas aboard wooden boats enters its third century.

NEXT WEEK: the European boats Comments and responses to eric@ ericwiberg.com

Forgotten facts Paul C Aranha

The Jewish Cemetery in Nassau T

Randy Hoffer’s grave, “the most splendid on New Providence,” according to Paul Aranha

The Myers family plot. The gateway in the background leads into the Eastern Cemetery.

HE Jewish Cemetery in Nassau is a small but very well-maintained cemetery with its entrance on Shirley Street, opposite Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church.

The site used to be the property of James Minns, a churchwarden at St Matthew’s and my father’s granduncle, who donated it to St Matthew’s Church to serve its present purpose.

Until 1949, it looked unloved and neglected. Then, in 1952, Donald Louis Victor Myers, of the Myers Rum family, died and was buried in a family plot in the northwest corner. After that, the Myers family has paid to maintain the entire cemetery, though this may have changed in recent years.

In the southwest corner are the graves of Dr and Mrs Meyer, who founded the Rassin Hospital, known now as Doctors Hospital. Dr Rassin came to Nassau with the Royal Air Force during World War II. But the most splendid grave on this island, in the northeast corner in the Hoffer family plot, is that of Randy Hoffer (19892005), who lost his life in a road accident at the age of only 16.

I could detect only 20 graves in this small cemetery, with the oldest inscription in the southeast corner - that of Samuel Henry Benjamin, who died in 1864. The words are almost unreadable.

• islandairman@gmail.com

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The Tribune | Weekend | 27

Friday, June 10, 2016

animals

Animal Wardens

PET OF THE WEEK

Adventurous Coral

By The Bahamas Humane Society

C

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n Thursday, June 2, the first ever Ministry of Agriculture animal wardens graduated after participating in a three-week course sponsored by the Bahamas Humane Society.

The students studied the Animal Protection and Control Act in great detail so as to have a comprehensive knowledge of the laws protecting animals in the Bahamas. These laws are well written and were created with the well-being of the animals in mind, but few people have actually familiarised themselves with this protection tool.

The students visited a magistrate’s court in session, so as to see how court is actually conducted, and to learn to appreciate the importance of accurate evidence taking and how essential it is to get clear and comprehensive statements from a witness. They had a lecture from an officer of the Royal Bahamas Police Force to appraise them of how to conduct an investigation, and what kind of evidence is required.

During the course of the three weeks, various other field trips and training took place to complete their knowledge of what is required of an animal warden.

Jim Crosby, a long time advisor of the Bahamas Humane Society, was present for the last week of training, which was predominantly hands-on.

During this last week, humane trapping techniques were shared, and the general accepted ways to handle difficult or frightened animals whilst remaining safe.

Mr Crosby is the world’s leading expert in canine aggression and dog attacks. His knowledge of dog behaviour is essential in teaching these animal wardens how to handle an aggressive dog humanely and in such a way as to not get hurt themselves.

Two of the students are already based in Harbour Island, the rest are currently in New Providence, but it is thought that they might be deployed to other islands.

This is a great step forward, having

Coral with BHS staff member Raquel Whyley

PHOTO/LINDA GILL-ARANHA

Animal matters Kim Aranha

oral’s story is one that many Bahamian street dogs experience.

However, hers will have a happier ending. This young lady was found at Coral Harbour beach where a resident of the area had spotted some very sickly pups. By the time a BHS staff member arrived, on a quiet holiday, Coral was the only pup still alive.

She still has a bit of a skin condition, but is improving daily with lots of sunshine and a great deal of TLC. Coral is about four

Chief BHS Inspector Percy Grant, BHS Vice President Charlotte Albury, BHS President Kim Aranha, and BHS Advisor Jim Crosby with the new animal wardens.

16 people whose mission it is to ensure that animals are treated humanely.

The Act calls for dogs to be kept on their owner’s property and to wear a Bahamas government license. These wardens also have the authority to remove an animal that is being neglected or mistreated.

There is a wealth of animal neglect and cruelty in the Bahamas that needs

to be addressed with urgency and has to be taken very seriously indeed by mental health workers. The aggression and violence that plagues our country is increasing yearly. Aggression directed towards small animals is but a stepping stone to violence directed against children and spousal abuse.

Over the years, the Bahamas Humane Society inspectors who have respond-

months old and is ready for her forever home.

Do you have the energy and enthusiasm to welcome an adventurous young pup into your family? Are you willing to give Coral the love she will need? If so, please come down to the Bahamas Humane Society in Chippingham to meet her, or call 325-6742 for more information. Adoption hours are 11am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, and 10am to 4pm on Saturday.

Coral is anxious to meet you.

ed to cruelty to animals complains have frequently seen kids and women with bruises and marks that are often dismissed as an accident on the stairs (in a home with no staircase).

It is my most sincere hope that these first animal wardens will be followed by more recruits; by people who respect animals and realise and endorse the right we all have, including animals, to the five freedoms: freedom from hunger and thirst; freedom from discomfort; freedom from pain and injury; freedom from fear, and freedom to express normal behaviour.

The wardens sat an exam on June 2 at the BHS, and it was with great pleasure that as an NGO we were allowed the privilege to reach out and train these people who have the power and wherewithal to make life better in the Bahamas for all animals.

I believe that this is actually the first time such training has taken place and the Bahamas Humane Society is happy to have done our part in the community and to be part of the history of our country.

I pray that this is a first step in a very long road to helping us become a kinder and more compassionate nation. Once again, the words of Mahatma Gandhi are ringing in my ears: “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”

Time to step up to the plate, Bahamas.

28| The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 10, 2016

gardening

The June garden The heat of summer is almost upon us, and while letting your garden rest is an option, Jack Hardy explains that there are still many different fruit-bearing plants that be raised during this season.

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any of us will soon have to make up our minds whether we will grow summerloving vegetables over the next few months or give our gardens – and ourselves – a well-earned break.

I have grown snake beans for the past five years and will certainly continue with a few stands this year. My onions have all been pulled and their sandy soil area is tempting me to sow watermelons. The rest of my vegetable gardens will be covered in clear plastic and solarised for the summer.

Resting gardens are best covered in plastic in order to prevent weeds growing. Black plastic sheeting or black plastic mulch can be used but clear plastic is recommended for solarisation purposes as the sun’s rays have a ster-

Serrano peppers, well suited to the heat, can be used salsas and barbecue sauces. ilising effect and clear plastic retains heat better overnight. Black plastic will basically keep the area clear of weeds. Black mulch will allow rain to penetrate. Clear plastic will have to be lifted every week or so in order to water the garden and increase the ability of heat to penetrate to greater depths.

The choice is yours.

When October comes, the plastic can be rolled away and you will have a weed-free garden ready to be fertilized and prepared for the coming vegetable season. Weed seeds will have been baked and harmful insect life – like nematodes – very much reduced.

Besides snake beans and watermelons, what else can we grow during the summer months? The classic summer crop is okra, beloved by some, hated by others. Okra comes in two growing forms: bush or pole, rather like snap beans. Greater volume and a longer productive season are guaranteed by using pole okra but bush okra will be fine if you have a small space. Pick okra pods early, before they develop fibrous strands. Too many at any particular time? Try pickling them.

Collard greens really come into their own in hot weather conditions.

Although they can be enjoyed after merely boiling the leaves, collards lend themselves to wonderfully tasty – and deliciously unhealthy – combinations with ham hocks, bacon fat and pork belly. As members of the cabbage clan, collards need plenty of fertilizer and regular watering. The leaves can be cut from the stalk as required.

Eggplants also thrive in warm weather. Plants established during the tomato growing season often grow healthily but are reluctant to fruit. All

Okra is a classic summer crop that changes in summer and you can expect good harvests in July, August and September. The standard eggplant is Black Beauty, but there are Asian and European varieties with white skin and purple markings that may appeal to you. Always clip fruit from the parent plant using secateurs and harvest just before the fruit reaches full advertised size when the seeds will be a little short of maturity.

Some people avoid eggplants because of the ritual of salting and rinsing. Try skipping this stage and fry thick slices in butter and oil until tender. Add your favourite toppings (real Parmesan cheese is a must) and enjoy the quick and simple preparation. Take the hassle out of eggplants and you will use them more often.

Peppers grow well in summer, with a few caveats. They like the hot weather but the fruits can be scorched by direct sunshine. I like to grow my summer

peppers in 4-5 gallon containers so I can position them where they receive shade during the heat of the afternoon.

The plants should be watered lightly every day because even heavy rains add very little moisture content to the soil in the pots.

When it comes to hot peppers a bird pepper plant is a necessity because bird peppers are by far the favourite of most Bahamians. If you like real heat you can raise habanero, scotch bonnet or goat peppers – all of them very productive. Poblano (ancho when smoked) is also a high yielder and lends itself to stuffing and grilling. Serrano peppers have medium heat and are prolific. Although often used green, I like my serranos bright red and with full sweetness. The most popular hot pepper in the US is the jalapeno. It is usually picked green and pickled.

A brief word on pickling. Pickled cucumbers, peppers and such were once a winter staple born of necessity.

The laying up of pickles was a long and arduous task. But do we need strong pickles? The modern approach is to pickle peppers (and cucumbers and onions) for only a few hours, or maybe a few days under refrigeration. Make them as you need them, along with your favourite flavourings.

Sweet peppers are even more subject to sun scald than hot peppers.

I have found Chinese Giant to be a great performer in the bell pepper category. For everyday use I grow banana peppers because of their prolific production. Cubanelle and other Italian type sweet peppers are even more rewarding because of their size and flavour, beautiful just pan fried in a splash of olive oil.

Then there are the in-betweens.

There is a huge selection of large long peppers called Fresno, NuMex, Anaheim and such that are large and long and have a range of heat from barely noticeable to scalding hot. These are great producers and can be used for flash pickling, dicing, and stuffing.

With the exception of local peppers such as bird peppers, I would advise you to always buy your pepper seeds in a packet from your local nursery or a seed catalogue. Peppers cross pollinate tremendously easily and it is almost impossible for a home gardener to stop this happening. Sweet peppers take on pizzazz and – more disappointingly – muscular peppers turn wimpy.

• For comments and questions e-mail j.hardy@coralwave.com.