06152018 weekend

Friday, June 15, 2018

culture books pageants film fashion gardening food puzzles

Weekend

POUR SOME ACRYLIC Page 14 &15

A voice for the silenced Artist honours US school shooting victims pages 8&9

02 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 15, 2018

community

Zonta gives back to women and children

T

he Zonta Club of New Providence last Saturday hosted its second Tapas N Jazz, all-white mini concert series to showcase local jazz talent in an effort to raise funds for two major causes: the empowerment of women and children.

This year’s proceeds will be split between the Ranfurly Home for Children and the Zonta Workforce Readiness Programme, which funds the training of more than 20 unemployed women every year.

Set to the music of house band Adrian D’Aguilar and the Jazz Cats, this year’s concert, held at Sapodilla Estate, included ballads from wellknown jazz artists like Osano Neely, Teddy Russell with Almika Cates, Cherelle Cartwright and Tanisha Sweeting. The event saw more than 150 guests in attendance – all partying for a cause.

“We had such a lovely night as everyone enjoyed sultry tunes being played by some of the most talented musicians we have in the country,” said ZCNP President Claudine Farquharson. “This event is growing every year as we partner with the dedicated staff and board of the Ranfurly Home to meet this goal of a transition home for young adults who have aged out of the home and need to be eased into adulthood.

“We look forward to continuing our contributions to this Home as well as to our very own Workforce Readiness Programme that provides skills training and scholarships for women in New Providence that have been unemployed for a significant period of time. But we realise that we cannot do it alone and through the public’s support of our events we are able to be impactful.”

Ms Farquharson added that the support of corporate Bahamas – through companies like Baptist Health Hospital, First Caribbean Bank, the Leonie Brown foundation and Cakes By

PHOTOS/TERREL W CAREY

Guests enjoy Tapas N Jazz at Sapodilla Estate.

Adam, among others – was also key to the event’s success.

President of the Ranfurly Home Alexandra Maillis-Lynch said there is vital need for a transition home, as many children who pass through the doors of Ranfurly do not have the backing of family and security to help them better ease into adulthood.

Artwork by the children from the Ranfurly Home was on sale and many guests secured some of the abstract

pieces painted during a master class with artist Steffon Grant. There was also a live painting session by Allan Pachino Wallace, who painted a haunting image of a young woman whom he said represented the causes of the Zonta Club of New Providence. There was also a silent auction and many giveaways throughout the night, provided by much of corporate Bahamas like Sandals Royal Bahamian, Stuarts Cove, John Bull, and many more.

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Friday, June 15, 2018

Inside Weekend

My perfect Bahamian weekend Ryan Knowles Luxury property specialist Q: Saturday breakfast or Sunday lunch?

Interview 4-5 Sofia Whitehead talks about the inspiration about her new photo book celebrating the ‘Bahama Mamas’ of the islands

Food 7 Six n’ Four takes customers on a cultural journey

Art 8 - 9 A Bahamian student gives those silenced by school shootings a voice

Pageants 10 A new organisation seeks to reveal ‘beauty in peace’

Dance 11 Eurhythmics Studio hosts 24th annual showcase

Entertainment 14 - 15 Enjoy an unusual outing with ‘Acrylic Pouring’ Entertainment

Books 18 New Stephen King and Cinderella yarns

Gardening 19 Jack Hardy on summer fruits and vegetables

Films 20 - 21 ‘Incredibles 2’ and the ‘scariest movie of the summer, ‘Hereditary’

Literary Lives 22 - 24 Sir Christopher Ondaatje on the wizard who conjured up Oz

Forgotten Facts 25 Remembering Elyse Walise’s ‘Bahama Plates’

Puzzles 26

Animals 27 Exploring the power of the people, plus the Pet of the Week

“Saturday breakfast, followed by a painting class with Keisha Oliver. Creating art is my latest obsession.”

Q: Wine, rum, cocktail or Kalik?

“Gérard Betrand Rosé. I love how fresh and light it is.”

Q: Beach or sofa?

“These days, the beach.

There’s no better place to

de-stress and relax, and it’s the one place where I don’t miss my phone.”

Q: What is the one thing that you can’t live without?

Love.

Q: Weekend away, where would you go?

“New York City. I’ve been at least a dozen times and it’s still the greatest city in the world to me.”

Things 2 Do this weekend Friday

• The Sons of Thunder Concert Time: 7pm Venue: St Gregory’s Anglican Church Under the patronage of Bishop Laish and Joann Boyd, the Annual ACM Sons of Thunder Concert will be held featuring special guests Archdecon James Palacious, The Magi Singers, The Dice Doh Singers and The New Dynamic Features. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children.

• ‘Too Young to Understand’ – Matthew Pinder live Time: 8pm Venue: Hully Gully (next to Syrah), East Bay Street Matthew Pinder and his band will be playing live. Sweet n’ Good Fox will be opening the show. There is a $5 cover charge at the door.

• “We Seh Family” – Popcaan live in concert Time: 9pm Venue: Sports Centre grounds The Jamaican dancehall star returns to the Bahamas. Also featuring music by Dru and Alexis.

Tickets start at $40.’

The Bahamas’ most popular Zumba instructors come together to host the country’s first and biggest Zumba “dance-out”. Tickets are available at Jemi Fitness East, Club One Fitness and Evolve Functional Fitness for $25, or $35 at the door.

• Sixth Grill Master Competition Time: 12noon Venue: Southwest Plaza, Carmichael Road Presented by CBS Bahamas, the events offers fun, food and games.

• Movie Night at The Barn Time: 6.30pm - 9.30pm Venue: Camperdown Riding Club Kids can enjoy a pony ride between 6.30pm and 7.30pm, then visit the concession stand for pizza and popcorn before its showtime for “Pete’s Dragon” at 8pm. Tickets are $10 for the movie and $5 per pony ride.

Bring a blanket, cushion or chair.

All Night Disco Summer Soirée Time: 8pm - 1am Venue: Graycliff, Mountbatten House Dance the night way to music

by DJ Pratt. There will be party favours and treats. Tickets start at $35.

• Zumba Fitness Concert Time: 10am - 12noon Venue: Meliá Nassau Beach All-Inclusive

• The Show: All-Star Survival Time: 7pm Venue: Freedom Farm, Yamacraw Beach

Saturday

The BAP Softball Organisation presents its first annual all-star weekend, featuring the top 19U players and coaches.

• Summer Fling: Me, You & Hennessy Time: 9pm - 3am Venue: Sharkeez, Woodes Rogers Walk.

Presented by FY Production, the event features music DJs Onetime, Bash, Redz and Sammy. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door.

Free shots upon entry.

Sunday

• Lite Vibes – Open Air Day Party Time: 2pm - 8pm Venue: Hillside House Art Gallery A fun day out for young professionals, creatives, trendsetters and tourists, featuring House music, Afrobeats, hip-hop, reggae and EDM by resident deejays Tristan “Trizz” Douglas and Todd Stylez.

• End of year Party at Children’s Emergency Hostel Time: 3pm - 6pm Venue: Emergency Hostel, McKinney Drive (off Carmichael Road) The Rotaract Club of East Nassau will be hosting a party with food, drinks, ice cream, face painting and a bouncing castle.

As it is Father’s Day, the Club is asking men in particular to participate and celebrate with kids who don’t have a father in their life.

04 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 15, 2018

interview She has travelled throughout the Bahamas to capture the saltof-the-earth matriarchs of the Family Islands, before they are lost to time. The photographer tells Cara Hunt how she wants to celebrate the lives and wisdom of these extraordinary women through her new book.

Sofia Whitehead

S

ofia Whitehead’s new coffee table book is a beautiful and inspiring symbol of the resilience and strength of Bahamian women and is aptly named “Bahama Mama – Portraits and Wisdom from the Mothers of Bahamian Society”.

The 300-plus page book is described as a photographic journey through the faces and wisdom of the women that hold the Bahamas together.

It features inspirational quotes from more than 50 older women from almost every island in the country.

Collectively, they create a compelling look at exactly what it means to be a Bahamian woman. “ ‘Bahama Mama’ is photography book comprised of colourful portraits and quotes from the Bahamas’ matriarchs. It reflects the flamboyant colours and vivacious spirit of the women that hold the country together.

It looks to capture simple portraits of the raw aesthetic of these women through photographs that accentuate their long lives through the lines on their faces, the bright backgrounds of their environment and powerful gazes that connect with the viewer,” said Sofia.

“The quotes focus on revealing the humour, anecdotes and timeless wisdom of this generation, which will soon be lost as technology overtakes the islands. They highlight experiences about love, relationships, work and how life in the Bahamas used to be compared to the present as well as home grown wisdom.”

Sofia said she embarked on the journey to create this book about two years ago.

“They have survived hurricanes and economic difficulties, and they have great faith. They have always been the foundation of their homes...”

PHOTO/TERREL W CAREY

“The idea was to commemorate and highlight this older generation of women before they leave us. On weekends I would travel to different Family Islands, either by plane or by boat, sometimes by myself and sometimes with family or friends, to spend time interviewing the ladies,” she said.

“Sometimes I would call ahead to maybe the Ministry of Tourism or someone on the island and ask if they could make recommendations for women to talk to, or sometimes I would just go up to a porch and introduce myself and ask if I could interview them. I only had maybe two or three people who weren’t sure about it and it may have taken a while for them to open up, but once we got started they were so open and revealed so much.”

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Friday, June 15, 2018

Sofia said that the only criteria she followed was that the women featured had to be at least 60 years old.

“They were all just very authentic real women, not necessarily women who you would say had made some huge achievement, but they were strong women who had raised great children to have family values and become professionals like doctors, lawyers, pilots, politicians. They have survived hurricanes and economic difficulties, and they have great faith. They have always been the foundation of their homes, just real salt of the earth women and I just really wanted to highlight that.”

In addition to capturing her subjects in their native environments, Sofia also included their words of wisdom and advice on topics such as love, relationships, God and religion and work in her book.

“None of the women are dressed up for the pictures.

Some are in house dresses and some of their children and grandchildren were on hand to help them get ready, and I really wanted them to be shown in that interesting way.”

Sofia noted that compiling the data for the book was a spiritual experience for her.

“I was really inspired by how strong their faith was, and really when I talked to them it brought me closer to God than going to church. I think it also gave me a new appreciation of my country. I have lived away for 10 years, so it helped me rediscover my Bahamian identity.”

And just as every island in the country has its own unique characteristics, Sofia found that the women on each island also had their own special mannerisms.

“Long Island women have no filter, they talk quickly and have a great sense of humour, while Cat Island women are very spiritual and soulful. San Salvador women are very authentic. Exuma women are too, and women from Inagua are very intelligent,” she noted.

Sofia said she really enjoyed hearing the ladies talk to her about their life experiences.

“There were so many stories. Like this one lady who had 14 biological children with her husband and then he had an outside 15th child, and she took the child in and raised it as her own.”

Sofia said that there are three things she hopes readers take away from the book.

“One, I hope that this will show the more human side of the Bahamas rather than the tourist side. Two, I would like people to see the strength and faith of these women who are so nurturing and giving and who just go and get what needs to be done, done. Also, I hope it inspires women to embrace their natural selves and find their own strength.”

Sofia will host a book launch on June 28 at 6.30pm “The book launch will be held at this old building that used to be the Sunday school building for the Bethel Baptist Church, which is the oldest church in Nassau, and they have agreed to let me hold the exhibition there. I wanted somewhere that not only had a certain aesthetic look, but it is in the centre of Nassau and has such history behind it.

It is a little bit abandoned, a little bit forgotten, and I want to decorate it in such a way that it shows that what may seem abandoned still has value, just like the women in this book, who still have value and who are still extraordinary.”

The book is $85 and will be available at book stores and Bahamian craft and art stores around the country.

Interested persons can also contact Sofia personally via Bahama Mama Project on Facebook, e-mail projectbahamamama@gmail.com or by visiting www. bahamamamacoffeetablebook.com.

A portrait of 90-year-old Alma Knowles, taken in Mangrove Bush, Long Island, by Sofia Whitehead.

Sofia Whitehead captured 76-year-old Emmaline Charleton Moss in Abrahams Bay, Mayaguana.

06 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 15, 2018

section

MOBILE

APP

Take us with you Everywhere you go!

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Friday, June 15, 2018

food

A mural by Allan P Wallace PHOTOS BY RASHAD PENN PHOTOGRAPHY

Go on a cultural journey with Six n’ Four

By CARA HUNT cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

S

ix n’ Four is one of the newest restaurants to hit the evergrowing Carmichael Road area. And its owners are determined to serve up huge doses of Bahamian culture as well as tasty food.

“Our mission is to inspire bold cultural connections through a fusion of food, music, history and the arts,” said Wayne Wilson, whose family owns the new eatery.

“Being Bahamian means many things to many people – from our distinct dialect and vocabulary to our unique history as the gateway to the new world – whatever your interpretation is, it is undeniable that a certain spirit existing within these 700 islands and cays that flows through all of us that proudly proclaim ‘It’s better in the Bahamas’.”

One defining characteristic of Bahamians, he said, “is that while we love to travel and often temporarily assimilate to our surroundings, there is an internal compass which always seems to guide us back to home sweet home.”

“This phenomenon is at the heart of the Six n’ Four concept, which features chef-inspired recipes consisting of international favourites infused with local flare,” Mr Wilson told Tribune Weekend.

The menu features slow-simmered homemade sauces, fresh baked breads, exquisitely seasoned meats and creative flavour combinations.

“This make our offerings unique and a far cry from the items on a typical fast food menu. “I call it fast casual,” he said of the menu which includes

assorted burgers, hotdogs, tacos and wings.

“As much as possible, our products are sourced locally, firstly for optimal freshness, but equally as important because it is our stance that we have a responsibility to contribute to the local economy where we do business.”

Mr Wilson added that he wants the restaurant to be more than just a destination to grab a meal.

“Six n’ Four is about our journey – a Bahamian cultural journey, undefined and unabashed. We identify with our roots within the African diaspora, celebrate the giants of our contemporary past and promote the advancement of all forms of cultural expression by the icons of the present,” he said.

The restaurant is a family owned and operated establishment.

In fact, the restaurant gets it’s name from a famous family member, Patrick Rahming, who is a legend in Bahamian music, poetry and philosophy.

“Our name was born from the wellknown chorus to his 1979 classic ‘Der Racetrack Song’, which many Bahamians still affectionately, but mistakenly call ‘Eight piece a six ‘n four,” said Mr Wilson.

Enter the space and you will see a huge mural of musicians that was specially created for Six n’ Four by local artist Allan P Wallace.

“It is really a great representation of what the vision of the brand is,” said Mr Wilson.

08 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 15, 2018

art

Giving a voice to silence Bahamian student honours Parkland shooting victims with exhibit

By CARA HUNT cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

L

ike so many others, Bahamian student Symone Hall was horrified by the Valentine’s Day mass shooting that occurred at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, this February.

Seventeen people – 14 students and three staff members – were fatally shot and 17 others were wounded when 19-year-old Nikolas Cuz went on a shooting rampage in one of the deadliest school shootings in US history.

At the time of the shooting, Symone was completing her final semester at the University of Tampa and decided to use her final thesis for her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree to pay tribute to the victims of the massacre.

“This tragedy hit home for me,” said Symone, who graduated from St Augustine’s College in Nassau before going off to school in Tampa.

“It made me very emotional, first because it happened right in Florida where I am, but they were students just like me who had dreams for the future and now won’t live to see them,” she said. “As part of your final requirements in the fine arts programme, you have to produce a body of work that then has to be displayed. It can be on any topic of your choice. I wanted my project to have meaning and so I decided to create a series of drawings of the victims.”

Symone created 18 charcoal drawings, each taking about ten hours to complete, for an the exhibit she called

Artist Symone Hall

Symone Hall’s “The Silenced Series: Parkland Shooting Victims” on display at the University of Tampa.

“(The shooting) made me very emotional, first because it happened right in Florida where I am, but they were students just like me who had dreams for the future and now won’t live to see them.”

Friday, June 15, 2018

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“The Silenced Series: Parkland Shooting Victims.”

“The first 17 were portraits of each of the victims drawn with duct tape over their mouths which symbolised that their voices had been silenced. The final portrait was of a blank face which symbolises that we do not know who the next victim will be. Even though their voices are silenced, I really wanted to share their stories through my art,” she said.

The collection of charcoal portraits was displayed at the Scarfone/ Hartley Gallery at the University of Tampa for a month.

Symone’s work was also featured in the Tampa Bay Times newspaper.

“I also reached out to the principal of Parkland and told him about the exhibit, which unfortunately he was not able to attend, but he did forward my e-mail to the parents of the victims and I had one parent who tweeted about it,” she said.

Symone graduated magna cum laude.

“Even though their voices are silenced, I really wanted to share their stories through my art.”

“It took a lot of dedication and doing work night and day,” she said.

“But overall my college experience was great. I was motivated to do well, because I was the youngest in my family (she has two siblings) to go straight off to college, and although I didn’t know what to expect, I was motivated to do well.”

Symone was originally a biology major before she switched to fine arts with a concentration in drawing.

“From the time I was a little girl I always had a passion for art and wanted to pursue it, but a lot of people discouraged me because they said, ‘Oh, you won’t make money as an artist’, but I decided to follow my passion. “ Eventually, Symone wants to use her degree for a career in art education or art therapy.

10 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 15, 2018

pageants

New pageant seeks to reveal ‘beauty in peace’ Cornesha Colebrooke

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

T

he Miss Bahamas Grand Pageant has made it its mission finally bring an international crown home to these shores. The organisation this week took a further step towards this goal by unveiling the contestants for its inaugural season, which is being held under the theme “Quest for Peace”.

“On the international pageant stage, the Bahamas isn’t too high in ranking.

Our goal as a franchise for the Miss Grand International Organisation is to nurse the pageant system in the Bahamas so that we can increase our ranking internationally and eventually bring a crown home,” said fashion designer Navado Dawkins, the pageant’s founder.

The seven contestants vying for the title are Cornesha Colebrooke representing Andros; Alexandria Pennerman representing Eleuthera, Lakeira Wright representing Exuma, Moñice Nazon representing Grand Bahama, Jacoya McPhee representing Inagua, Sharnae Fernander representing San Salvador, and Dannise Bain representing New Providence.

They made their debut during the official contestant launch and preliminary round at the Botanical Gardens.

The finale will be held on Sunday, July 1, at the Meliá Nassau Beach AllInclusive resort.

Mr Dawkins said they combining the themes of beauty and peace, because the focus of the organisation is to bring awareness to ending wars and violence around the world.

“The Miss Bahamas Grand Pageant will host a beauty pageant annually with the mission of revealing the beauty in peace,” he said. “Many lives are affected by wars and violence, starting in the home, and we believe by addressing the matter with the support of the pageant will decrease crime, and that will eventually decrease wars and violence. Each contestant will choose a platform based on a specific

Alexandria Pennerman

Sharnae Fernander

Lakeira Wright

Dannise Bain

Jacoya McPhee

Moñice Nazon

type of violence and create speeches to speak to the public. This is a way of being a voice for the affected,” said Mr Dawkins.

He is proud that is organisation is hosting its first full pageant this year.

Last year, a casting call went out to help select the reigning Miss Bahamas Grand Bahamas Rejean Bosh.

“We are one big family, and we help to polish each delegate into becoming a more sustainable, well-rounded and productive citizen, redefining charity and duty. When competing in

the Miss Bahamas Grand Pageant, delegates will be given countless opportunities, international exposure, quality training and breath-taking essential amenities to better mould each potential beauty ambassador into a better woman of purpose. (We are) involved with charitable entities, law enforcement agencies, speech and vocational workshops, leadership courses, and provide proper international pageant training,” said Mr Dawkins.

“I always had a passion for the betterment of individuals. Pageantry has been a passion of mine from I made my first gown as a fashion designer...I’m looking forward to the future.”

Leading up to the pageant’s finale, there will be swimsuit, national costume and platform speech competitions. For more information, visit missbahamasgrand.org.

The Miss Grand International pageant will be held in Myanmar on October 25.

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Friday, June 15, 2018

dance

Stepping to it Eurhythmics dance students host 24th showcase

Scenes from last year’s showcase.

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

F

OR more than two decades the Eurhythmics Dance Studio has delighted audiences with its elaborate annual showcases.

The studio returns with yet another entertaining production – its 24th instalment – to be held at the University of the Bahamas Theatre on Saturday, June 23. The very concise theme is “I Wanna Dance”.

“It’s been no easy journey, but it’s quite rewarding. Twenty-four years of existence speaks to the invaluable contribution dance has made in our students lives. It’s truly the unconditional love towards dance that motivates the team to keep the event for so long. Every year, we decide to push the bar higher when we put on a show,” said Gabrielle Szabo, Eurhythmics Dance Studio owner and performing arts instructor.

“We go over every detail with tons of precision, from lighting, choreography, to costumes. The entire studio puts forth a fantastic effort to give our viewing audience not just a show, but an experience.”

Ms Szabo is thrilled to know that she has given so many young Bahamians a creative outlet over the years, and in some cases, even inspired careers.

“I’ve had students receive scholarships to various universities and some even landed spots in dance companies throughout the United States. Some people say that creative art is an arena that’s dying in the Bahamas but I

wholeheartedly disagree. The best is yet to come,” she said.

From classical ballet to jazz, tap, modern and tap dance, Eurhythmics offers its students hour-long classes in many genres at its studio space on Rosetta Street. On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, Ms Szabo said, the students skip and jump into the dance studio with boasts with floorlength mirrors.

Adjacent to the studio is a play area decked out with video games, toys, a kitchenette and dolls for the little ones. For the older children, there is a homework table and a cozy movie area with lots of DVDs for their enjoyment. “ ‘I Wanna Dance’ is going to be an exciting event; a dance show where all of our students display all of their hard work for the year. They’ve worked tremendously hard to give an amazing

show and it’s incredible to see their growth from a performance and technical perspective. I’m extremely proud of them,” said Ms Szabo.

“We like to stay on the cutting edge when it comes the emergence of new choreographic styles of dance but remaining true to classic way of movement and training. My absolute favourite thing about my students is their healthy efforts to adapt to a new style and execute choreography flawlessly. I stand by my claim that I truly have the best students in the world.

We will introduce genres of dance that we never had before, which will satisfy the expectations of our fans” “We are looking to continue establishing ourselves as the innovators and pioneers of dance in the Bahamas. An example of this was in 2012, we were the first dance school to introduce the addition of the light technology to the genre of dance. This set the bar high for all the other dance schools to follow, which they attempted. The following year, at our ‘Neon Music’ show, we evolved the technology and placed ourselves at a level that’s hard to compete with. And to this very day, no other studio has surpassed or even come close to our advancement within that genre of dance. At this year’s show we are taking it even higher.

This is why we are the innovators and not imitators of dance here in the Bahamas.”

Ms Szabo’s favourite selection in this year’s show is a new choreography called “New Rules”.

“It is a must-see because my primary crew is about to take it to another level and I know it will be a Eurhythmics fan’s favourite this year,” she said.

Tickets for the ‘I Wanna Dance’ are available at the Eurhythmics Dance Studio, Rosetta Street, at a cost of $25 per person.

12 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 15, 2018

community

BTC connects neighbourhoods

L

ast Saturday, BTC took its signature “Neighbourhood Connect” event to two communities in New Providence and Grand Bahama.

BTC brought its products and services directly to the customers in Elizabeth Estates and in Eight Mile Rock.

Vice President for Marketing and Consumer Sales Marcian Cash said, “Our ‘Neighbourhood Connect’ programme was initially introduced to bring our products and services directly to our customers. We know that sometimes it is difficult for our customers to come to us, so this programmes allows us to bring BTC to them. We were happy to spend our Saturday in two communities with our customers. Both eastern New Providence and Eight Mile Rock are fully ‘fiberised. At this particular event, we walked door to door to customers, encouraging them to ‘grab life by the bundle’, by signing up for our new bundles which include TV, internet and home phone together.

“Neighbourhood Connect” is a family-oriented event, and included face painting, bouncing castles, food and entertainment. At the event, customers were able to sign up for FTTH and Flow TV services. Just recently, BTC introduced new triple-play bundles for fixed line customers. The bundles – Spark, Flame and Fire – all include HD channels, FTTH services with local and international calls at one low flat monthly rate. Additionally, with the new upgrade customers receive the Flow to Go app with more channels, allowing them to take their entertainment with them, anywhere they go.

“We were also able to address some concerns of our customers, and we also received direct feedback on some of the things they would like to see us do.

Events like this allows us to meet our customers in a more relaxed environment, where they have more time to talk. We’ve been doing this event for over ten years, and we will definitely continue it,” said Mr Cash.

BTC rolled out its FTTH services in Grand Bahama earlier this year. The company continues to make improvements throughout the country.

DJ Big L entertains the crowd in Elizabeth Estates.

Team BTC at the Elizabeth Estates ‘Neighborhood Connect’ event.

Face painting at the Elizabeth Estates Park

Team Grand Bahama in Eight Mile Rock

Kids enjoy the BTC ‘Neighborhood Connect’ event.

Kids enjoy the event in Eight Mile Rock, Grand Bahama.

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Friday, June 15, 2018

celebrity

PART

I

The Weekend Fashion Report 72nd Annual Tony Awards

HIT

FAIL

HIT

SPLIT

Sara Bareilles ”Waitress” musical

Kerry Washington ”Scandal”

Taylor Louderman ”Mean Girls” musical

Uzo Aduba ”Orange is the New Black”

Karin says: “I thought she did great as the show’s co-host, and she looked fantastic as well. I’m normally not a fan of multiple tiers of chiffon, and burnt orange isn’t really a Spring colour, but it works. I love the metallic bodice and the true waist on this gown.”

Cara says: “I think that this colour is really nice actually. It’s not something you see all the time on the red carpet and I think the gown itself is lovely.

She did look every inch the host.

Fabulous.”

Karin says: “Poor Kerry looks like she is auditioning for a knock-off Marvel movie. Seriously, what is this poor man’s superhero get-up? The cut of this jumpsuit just makes her look boxy.

The cut-outs at the waist are a tragedy.

And the train, well...the less said, the better.”

Cara says: “What in the world is Kerry wearing? It’s like some tacky ‘Project Runway’ creation for an out space theme....or something. Either way it needs to be thrown on the reject pile.

It’s simply horrid.”

Karin says: “I really like this Christian Siriano design, even though colour block is so 2012. So yes, while it feels a teensy bit dated, I do love the combination of pink, orange and white. I even like the strange cape. She may be playing Regina George, but there is nothing plastic about her; she looks radiant.”

Cara says: “OK, this is really interesting actually. I like the colour blocking and the neckline of the dress, as well as the really fresh colour combo. And check out that split! She looks very summer-y. I would wear this.”

Karin says: “I love, love, love this rich shade of yellow. It looks absolutely fantastic on Uzo. And I love the crisscrossed halter neck. This dress is so deceptively simple, yet so classy. The only thing I’m not crazy about is her hair. Those two buns are giving me Princess Leia vibes.”

Cara says: “Wow, that yellow is really bright! I have to say that the halter looks likes it’s strangling her and it makes her look very boxy on top.

Also her hair makes her look like a little girl, so not my favourite look of Uzo’s.”

• For more Tony Award fashions, check out page 16

PHOTOS BY EVAN AGOSTINI/INVISION/AP

With Karin Herig and Cara Hunt

16 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 15, 2018

celebrity

PART

With Karin Herig and Cara Hunt

HIT

FAIL

SPLIT

SPLIT

Condola Rashad ”Saint Joan”

Tina Fey ”Mean Girls” musical

Ashley Park ”Mean Girls” musical

Tiffany Haddish ”Girls Trip”

Karin says: “So dramatic...I love it!

OK, I love the cut of this dress – the off-the-shoulder sleeves, the big skirt – and I love the bright red on her. I just wish it had been made from less wrinkly material. She looks like she just rolled around on the red carpet before posing for pics. Her hair, however, is fantastic.”

Cara says: “Yes, it is very wrinkled, but I still really like it. It has lots of stage presence and she wears it well.

The tousled hair works as well. So it’s a hit for me definitely.”

Karin says: “The big, square shoulders kinda ruin this dress for me. They just make her look too stiff, like she can hardly move. I also wish it were less buttoned up, so to speak. A different neckline might have saved this look.”

Cara says: “This is what happens when your little girl decides that your work dress is too plain and so she decides it needs glitter and feather bits at the end. I really don’t like it.”

Karin says: “Another big gown. You don’t see that shade of purple often on the red carpet, which is a shame. I like the dress and the almost see-through chiffon, and I understand she needed some bling, but those creeping vines just look like they were randomly thrown on without much thought.”

Cara says: “The fact that this dress is two-toned really annoys me for some reason. I just wish it was all one colour, because yes, I am matchy-match like that. But the two colours just distract me from the dress potential.”

Karin says: “I love them, but not all jumpsuits are created equal. This one just seems to be a bit much...too much pattern. It either needed some solid black or silver elements, or it needed to be short-sleeved. This looks like she’s auditioning as a disco queen for the new Donna Summer musical.”

Cara says: “Kerry take note, this is the way you wear a metallic jumpsuit. I love this. If I had to be critical I would say it’s maybe a little too casual for the Tonys, but its a fun look for a fun girl.”

PHOTOS BY EVAN AGOSTINI/INVISION/AP

The Weekend Fashion Report 72nd Annual Tony Awards

II

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Friday, June 15, 2018

culture

The return of Bahamiangrown entertainment

By CARA HUNT cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

P

opular Bahamian fire dancer and cultural promoter Countess Pepper has recently partnered with the Tiki Hut to put on the Island Beats Cultural Show designed to help showcase the nation’s talent.

The show, which will now be held every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evening, will also include dinner and drinks.

“I really thought it was a shame that there really are no more truly native cultural shows for the public like back in the day when there were shows such as The King and Knights,” Countess Pepper told Tribune Weekend.

“I have been performing for almost 30 years and we do a lot of private events, and when people see us going to those events, they always show interest, but unless they are invited to the event there is no way the public can see and so I really wanted to change that.”

She has partnered with limbo dancer Sweet Boy Leroy, steel panner Anthony Lowe and singer Alia Coley, as well as other performers to create the show.

“All of the performers in the show are veteran entertainers and we are eager to showcase our talents. It is sad when you think that there are children in the Bahamas who may never have seen a fire dancer, and so we wanted to have something where people could become acquainted with our culture all over again,” she said.

Countess Pepper said the show was extremely well received by locals and visitors alike when they did a preview run last week.

“We are very excited about the show,” she said.

Tickets for the show are $50, including a grilled dinner by Tiki Hut, which will be served at 6.45pm before the show begins at 7.30pm each night.

Countess Pepper

18 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 15, 2018

books

Stephen King goes inside mind of new evil in ‘The Outsider’

S

attorney with the conviction of an innocent man. So the police do their work, hoping to quickly run down his alibi.

And that’s when this Stephen King novel really begins. It seems Mr Maitland was indeed at a Tri-State Teachers of English conference in another city at the time of the murder. Fellow teachers confirm it, there are fingerprints and, yes, even video. In a nice little wink, the English teachers are listening to real-life mystery author Harlan Coben speaking at the conference when Maitland appears on the footage, asking, “Do you always know who did it when you sit down to write Mr Coben, or is it sometimes a surprise even to you?”

Fast forward to the arraignment and the story kicks into another gear. The victim’s older brother guns down Terry Maitland on the courthouse steps and with his dying breath the coach again denies the crime and asks Detective Anderson how he’s going to clear his conscience.

Enter Holly Gibney. Yes, that Holly Gibney — the cinema-loving,

tephen King’s new novel, “The Outsider,” opens with witness interviews in a typewriter font, laying out the details of a grisly crime and setting the scene for a detective story.

And for the first hundred or so pages, that’s what readers get. Detective Ralph Anderson arrests the respected Little League coach of Flint City, Oklahoma, based on a mountain of evidence that he murdered — maybe even ate? — an 11-year-old boy in a town park. Detective Anderson has the full support of the up-for-re-election district attorney and seemingly enough DNA in the perp’s van (white and windowless, naturally), all over the crime scene and on the murder weapon.

But wait — this is Stephen King, not Raymond Chandler, and there are still 500 pages!

Our first clue that the case isn’t all it seems is the suspect himself. Coach Terry Maitland is incredulous at his arrest and speaks to the police and his

review

Author unravels new view of Cinderella story HAVE you ever considered the beloved fairy tale of Cinderella from the perspective of the evil stepmother?

What if she wasn’t wicked at all, but a loving woman who cared deeply for all of her children? Danielle Teller’s

debut novel, “All the Ever Afters: The Untold Story of Cinderella’s Stepmother,” answers this question with a fascinating reimagining of the original tale.

Before Agnes was an “evil” stepmother, she was a laundry girl and a housemaid. Agnes is strong, independent and a hard worker, but that doesn’t stop her from being seduced by a young man who has no intention of marrying her once it’s evident that she’s pregnant.

Agnes is asked to leave her housemaid job and finds sanctuary in a nearby village. Even though her “travelling husband” is barely around, she eventually makes a home for him and their two daughters. Her determination

to survive pushes her forward in life.

When tragedy strikes on all fronts, Agnes is forced to send the girls to school while she takes a job as a nursemaid to the infant daughter of the manor’s Lord and Lady. The child’s name is Elfida. Everyone calls her Ella.

Agnes develops a sweet bond with Ella and treats the young girl as her own. She raises Ella to be kind, gentle and full of compassion. Sadly, after Ella’s mother suddenly dies, her father checks out from life and Agnes is left running the household, as well as raising the Lord’s daughter. It only makes sense for the two to eventually marry. Agnes doesn’t want to be a spinster. The Lord doesn’t

somewhere-on-the-spectrum, detectivein-training from King’s recent Bill Hodges Trilogy (”Mr Mercedes,” ‘‘Finders Keepers,” ‘‘End of Watch”). She gets called in to check out a lead in Dayton, Ohio, and the stage is set for the rest of the novel — a clash between the Skeptics and the Believers. Holly carries the torch for the latter group, having gained some perspective on the matter thanks to the horrific crimes of Brady Hartsfield in that aforementioned trilogy.

To reveal much more of the plot wouldn’t be fair. Let’s just say that Holly’s arrival marks the real heart of the book.

You can almost hear King — through her — addressing critics who dismiss the Evil Incarnate that permeates his novels.

More than many King novels, this one tries hard for that understanding. You’ll probably see it in a few years as a Hulu Original or a five-part miniseries on a channel you’ve never watched before, but until then, do yourself a favor and read the book.

By ROB MERRILL Associated Press

want to raise a young girl on his own.

With Ella already attached to Agnes, the union seems logical.

After they marry, Agnes brings her daughters back to live at the manor.

Ella is threatened by the unique bond between Agnes and her other daughters. She broods in the attic, befriends rodents and whines when Agnes suggests that Ella isn’t grateful for all her father has given their family. As punishment, Agnes makes her do laundry for an entire day. Soon after, rumours begin to swirl that Agnes forces Ella to live in the attic and do the cleaning for the entire manor. What’s worse is that Agnes has refused to let Ella go to the king’s ball.

“All the Ever Afters” provides a unique view of Ella’s circumstances and how the young girl was far from perfect. Readers will feel empathy for Agnes, consider various misunderstandings and think twice before labelling her as wicked.

LINCEE RAY Associated Press

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Friday, June 15, 2018

gardening

Summer vegetables and fruits Weather patterns may have become unpredictable, but June is still the month to grow long beans, peppers and more, says Jack Hardy

T

he weather experts have promised us an interesting hurricane season. Wouldn’t it be nice to return to the days of the 1970s and 1980s when hurricanes were rare and not particularly destructive.

Those of us doing a little summer vegetable growing will have our okras, long beans, eggplants, peppers and collards to look after. I have decided to start calling snake beans long beans, because that is the terminology that seems to have been settled upon following the adoption of the beans by the US restaurant world. There are many people who cringe at the slightest reference to a snake and another name – yard long – seems out of place in a decimal world.

Long beans should be planted now in good soil, an inch or so deep and several inches apart. The vines will need support so grow them against a wire fence or trellis. Lacking these, make a tepee with three or four ninefeet fibre poles bound with duct tape at their apex. Plant about five seeds in the ground between the poles and one near each pole. I find that an inverted wire

Long beans can be used for many dishes, including in a Szechuan-style stir fry.

tomato tower gives the inner seeds something to grasp and grow on.

The vines are fast growing and produce long pods within days after flowering. Your long beans will need checking every day in order to harvest at the optimum time. When the beans are a mere six to eight inches long they can be used as French filet beans, an epicurean delight. The regular picking size is between 12 and 16 inches. When you have an overload you can blanch the pods in boiling water for a minute or two, dry and freeze. Now and then I like to top and tail the pods then wind them into quoits. Drop these into boiling water for five minutes and serve as a very special vegetable side dish.

I am often asked if ornamental peppers are safe to eat. Peppers – and tomatoes, tomatillos and Irish potatoes – are related to deadly nightshade but the only one of these that is poisonous is the potato, and then only when green.

Our hot peppers in particular are attractive when there are lots of fruits on the tree; think bird, goat, habanero, tabasco or scotch bonnet. The problem

is that most pepper trees slow down their metabolism when laden with fruits. Some even die. No matter how lovely our pepper trees look we must remove the fruits (and their stems) in order to keep the harvest coming.

Ornamental peppers are attractive, of course, but also do not mind having lots of fruits on display. This is the property that makes them ornamental.

The most popular ones have fruits that grow vertically in abundance and show the colours of their growth stages: green, yellow, orange and red (sometimes purple). A classic ornamental in the west is the Japanese shishito, which is a desirable edible pepper in the east.

On the subject of peppers: Last year I planted seeds from a supermarket bag of small sweet peppers and was rewarded with fruits that were true to type. The peppers are three to four inches long and about 1½ inches in diameter, thick walled with all the seeds packed close to the stalk end.

They come in three colours: red, yellow and orange.

I call my peppers ‘Lunch’ because they are designed for snacking while

at work. They are perfect for making pepper rings that can decorate many meals and pizza in particular. When making a soup or souse I throw a handful of Lunch peppers into the pot shortly before serving time. Boiled peppers taste fine and it is handy to leave the stalk on to make handling easy.

I am now on my second generation of Lunch peppers – orange ones – and they are growing true to form. The plants are small – about 18 inches tall – but bushy and very productive. It is possible that the peppers are open pollinated. Although commercial crops are usually hybrids there has been a trend to using open pollinated plants as hybrids are labour intensive and more expensive. Seed packets always denote when the contents are hybrid but that is not the case with fresh produce.

Our vegetable season is at a low point but our tropical fruit season is kicking into high gear. The small fruits like Suriname cherry, Barbados cherry and grumichama have already produced in my yard. We have to wait another month or so for the first mangoes and annonas – sugar apples, cherimoyas and soursops.

Carambolas will flower in July and fruit from August to next January or February, one of the heaviest bearing and longest fruiting trees of all. I cannot understand anyone loving tropical fruit and not having a carambola tree in the yard. It is generally accepted that fruit trees bearing fruit should not be fertilized and that means most of our summer bearers will miss the seasonal applications of tropical fruit and citrus fertilizer, Sequestrene 138 and minor elements. I do recommend you treat your carambolas, however, because of their upcoming long bearing season.

This year has been very confusing weather-wise. We had a wet dry season, a warm winter and cool spring. Mango trees are easily confused and hardly any of my trees is bearing well. Wax jambu trees are usually laden at this time of year but I see no flowering or fruiting activity. I hope your fruit trees are doing better than mine.

• For questions and comments, please e-mail jacktribune242@gmail.com

20 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 15, 2018

film

review

Family fun and insight in sprightly ‘Incredibles 2’ FILM TITLE RUNNING TIME: 118 MINS

Bob (voiced by Craig T Nelson) with his younger son, Jack-Jack, whose superpowers are emerging.

“T

he Incredibles” writer/director Brad Bird has said that his characters’ powers are all born of stereotypes. Dad is strong, mom is stretched in a million directions, teenage girls put up shields, little boys are full of boundless energy and babies are unpredictable. It’s why he decided that for the sequel, “Incredibles 2 ,” a buoyant and quick-witted romp, he’d pick up right where we left off, in that parking lot after Dash’s track meet where a new threat emerges from underground.

No matter that in reality, 14 years had actually passed. Animation is not bound by time or aging actors.

For the rest of us, however, 14 years is still 14 years. And in the past 14 years, the business of Hollywood has become the business of superhero movies.

It’s hard to remember a time when there weren’t a dozen a year. But when “The Incredibles” came out in 2004, they were still a bit of an anomaly at the multiplex — its cheeky, mockumentary realism, its jokes about capes, secret identities, “monologue-ing” and the dangers of toxic, obsessive fandom was the perfect introduction (and indoctrination) to superheroes for those who couldn’t care less. Pixar magic made superhero believers out of the skeptics. And by 2008, we all thought, sure, let’s see about this Tony Stark fellow and someone called Iron Man. In “Incredibles 2,” it seems like Bird himself is wrestling with a culture he helped facilitate — not totally dissimilar to what Steven Spielberg did earlier

this year in “Ready Player One.” But instead of nostalgia on trial, it’s superheroes and screens.

The villain here is called Screenslaver, who uses screens to hypnotise anyone watching. It’s both the most retro plan of all (keeping with Bird’s love of the 60s aesthetic) and still somehow utterly modern.

Annoyed by how blindly and wholly consumerist everyone has become at the mercy of screens and simulated experiences in lieu of real ones, from movies to video games, Screenslaver has set out to end that, and squash Municiberg’s dependence on and obsession with superheroes. As with the first, there are a million ideas at play here (not a flaw, by the way), including evolving family dynamics.

Most of the original voice cast has returned, including Craig T Nelson as Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible, Holly Hunter

as Helen Parr/Elastigirl, Bird as Edna Mode, Sarah Vowell as Violet Parr and Samuel L Jackson as Lucius Best/ Frozone. And once again, superheroes are still on shaky ground in Municiberg and are put on ice after the Parr family accidentally damages some public property while trying to take down a criminal.

But a wealthy heir and superhero appreciator Winston Deavor (Bob Odenkirk) and his tech savvy sister Evelyn (Catherine Keener) have a plan to rehabilitate their image. Right now, the public only sees the destruction.

The Deavors propose outfitting superheroes with body cams to get exciting footage of their feats.

“Incredibles 2” provides a bit of a corrective on a micro level to the first film’s gender politics by sending mom off to work and making dad stay home (although wasn’t that a little antiquated

35 years ago?). The animation is also a heck of a lot better. “The Incredibles” looks downright primitive and even a tad ugly in retrospect.

Although it gets off to a slow start, ultimately it’s also quite a bit of fun, from the absurd (Jack Jack’s burgeoning powers) to the grounded (Dad helping Dash with his math homework or trying to make up for getting in the way of Violet’s date and embarrassing her even further in the process).

Like “Ready Player One,” however, “Incredibles 2,” kind of loses the thread by the end. A villain is a villain no matter how salient their point, and Mr Incredible, Elastigirl and their offspring are our heroes and thus we must root for them even while thinking that Screenslaver might be on to something.

LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer

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Friday, June 15, 2018

film

Inside ‘Hereditary,’ the scariest movie of the summer LOS ANGELES (AP) — The first thing writer-director Ari Aster felt after “Hereditary’s” midnight premiere at the Sundance Film Festival was relief that people didn’t hate it. Then headlines started popping up in the early hours of the morning declaring that the film had restored faith in the genre, that it was the most traumatically terrifying horror movie in ages, and that star Toni Collette should even get an Oscar nomination. The relief quickly turned to gratitude.

While film festival exaggeration is often real, “Hereditary” is living up to the hype. It has a 98 per cent “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes and is primed to become a breakout summer hit for the first-time feature filmmaker.

Told with an assured precision, this story about the death of a matriarch and how her remaining family is affected is that unique brand of scary movie that doesn’t quite end when you leave the theatre or sit down for dinner, or try to go to sleep. It’s the kind of movie that makes you wonder if you’ll ever be able to sleep again.

Perhaps it’s because Aster doesn’t think of his first feature as a horror film at all. He likes to describe it as a “family tragedy that curdles into a nightmare,” a statement that is somehow more bone-chilling than “horror.”

The soft-spoken 31-year-old had been struggling to get one of his scripts produced since he graduated from the American Film Institute in 2010.

He made a few shorts that got some attention, but he was quickly burning through savings and starting to get bitter about his chosen industry.

“Hereditary” was born out of this cynicism.

“I endeavoured to write a horror film because I figured it would be easier to get made,” Aster said with a laugh.

It wasn’t a bad strategy. Horror films are one of the few solid financial bets in the unstable business of making movies no matter what the quality, but even more so when they’re good

Milly Shapiro as Charlie Graham

“It’s the kind of movie that makes you wonder if you’ll ever be able to sleep again.”

Toni Collette has been getting rave reviews for her performance as Annie Graham. (think: “Get Out,” ‘‘It,” ‘‘A Quiet Place”).

“I love the genre, I love what it can do but I feel like so many are produced so cynically and most of what comes out is not very good,” Aster said. “I thought, ‘What do I want from a horror film and how do I make something more substantial?’”

For Aster, that meant making sure people care about the characters: Annie Graham (Collette), an artist whose mother dies at the outset, her husband Steve (Gabriel Byrne), their son Peter (Alex Wolff) and daughter Charlie (film newcomer Milly Shapiro, who won a special Tony honour

at age 10 for her role in Broadway’s “Matilda”).

“I wanted it to become a nightmare in the way that life can feel like a nightmare when disaster strikes — especially in succession,” Aster said. “All the horror elements are established in the first hour. Instead of these people serving as devices for the horror, the horror is always growing out of them and their experience and what they’re suffering through.”

The script came to Collette after she’d just told her agent that she didn’t want to do anything heavy for a bit.

“The murky, heavy stuff started to accumulate and I just wanted to make

comedies and then he sent this and I was like, ‘aww (expletive),’” Collette said. “(Ari’s) a brilliant writer and it was just undeniable ... I just had to.”

A24, the studio behind “Hereditary,” ‘‘Moonlight” and “Lady Bird,” has already agreed to make Aster’s next film too, which he’ll start shooting later this summer — another genre film about death and strange happenings, this time in a remote Swedish town with “unique midsummer traditions.”

LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer

22 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 15, 2018

literary lives – l frank baum

The wizard who conjured up Oz Sir Christopher Ondaatje writes about the children’s book writer who created the popular ‘Wizard of Oz’ series and followed the Yellow Brick Road to success.

L

yman Frank Baum was born on May 15, 1856 in Chattenango, New York, one of nine children of a barrelmaker, enriched in the 1860s by the Pennsylvania oil business. He enjoyed a comfortable childhood, but timid by nature and born with a weak heart, he was prohibited from rough physical activity and would never enjoy good health. He hated his name “Lyman” and chose to be called by his middle name “Frank” instead.

“In his early years he loved fairy stories and developed a passion, with the rest of America in the 1870s, for Dickens, whose ‘Christmas books’ – notably that about Ebenezer Scrooge’s imaginary voyages, made a manifest

impression. He was less taken with the German gothic school (the Grimms’ tales, specifically), which contained ‘horrors’. Easily frightened himself, he believed that children should not be terrified with their bedtime entertainment.”

– Lives of the Novelists (2011), John Sutherland

When he was 12 his parents mistakenly sent him to the Peekskill Military Academy. After suffering a heart attack which almost killed him he was sent home and after that was educated at home with tutors. He never earned a high school degree and spent his teenage years writing for a printing press his father had given him. Before he was 17 years old he was editing and producing his own magazine for

“The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” was first published in 1900.

Baum’s first first collection of stories for young readers, “Mother Goose in Prose”.

The Tribune | Weekend | 23

Friday, June 15, 2018

Oliver Hardy (of Laurel and Hardy fame), Dorothy Dwan and Larry Semon starred in the 1925 film version of “The Wizard of Oz”.

Baum in 1868 as a cadet at the Peekskill Military Academy, where he suffered a heart attack in his teens.

Judy Garland, who played Dorothy Gale in 1939’s “The Wizard of Oz”, with Baum’s widow, Maud Gage Baum.

Baum’s mother-in-law, famed suffragist Matilda Joslyn Gage, urged him to commit his stories to paper.

fellow philatelists. Stamp collecting was another of his passions. Another curiously was rearing chickens. His first book, “A Book of Hamburgs: A Brief Treatise upon the Mating, Rearing, and Management of the Different Varieties of Hamburgs”, was published in 1886.

Frank Baum’s third and most enduring passion was the stage. He inherited his love of theatre from his father who had invested in New York theatres without any notable or profitable results. Frank Baum’s first theatrical creations were musicals in which he wrote, directed and starred. He met his wife Maud Gage when on tour with one of his productions. She was then a student at Cornell University. They married in 1882. Gage was the daughter of the famed suffragist Matilda Joslyn Gage. After Baum’s marriage, in an effort to settle down properly, he ran the family firm. However, bad financial times and rumoured embezzlement brought the firm to virtual bankruptcy. After his father died, the young Baum, now 32 years old, sold the Castorine Oil Company and moved west to Dakota, where he ran a general store. That, too, collapsed in 1890.

Baum then tried his hand at journalism starting a provincial newspaper The Aberdeen Saturday Pioneer – a sometime virulent anti-aboriginal paper that promoted the extermination of the Sioux Indians – later to be an embarrassment for his family. The publishing endeavour also went bankrupt and Baum moved his family in 1893 to Chicago where he sold crockery from door to door as a travelling salesman, making a meagre living.

Curiously, it was Baum’s motherin-law – a strong feminist like his wife – who, after hearing Baum’s gifted storytelling to his children – urged him to put his stories down in writing in the hope that they might make some much needed money.

In 1897, Frank Baum published his first collection of stories for young readers, “Mother Goose in Prose”, illustrated by Maxfield Parrish. He followed this book with the enormously popular “Father Goose, His Book”, which became the top-selling children’s title of 1899. This latter book featured the illustrations by William W Denslow. Sadly, the publication of his books coincided with another collapse in his health and he could no longer carry on the strenuous life of a travelling salesman. Thus writing for the children’s market became his prime

Continues on page 24

24 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 15, 2018

“The Wizard of Oz” (1939) is widely considered to be one of the greatest films in cinema history.

Continued from page 23 and full time occupation. Again he teamed up with the illustrator of the successful “Mother Goose” stories, and together they collaborated on the incredible and much more successful “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” in 1900.

The fantastical story of a land filled with witches, munchkins and a girl named Dorothy from Kansas first started as a story told to his children.

They were spellbound and wanted more. The name “Oz” did not come from the short version of a person from Australia – “Aussie” which is pronounced “Ozzie”. It is much more likely that it came from Baum’s filing cabinet containing his papers “O – Z”. It would become the children’s imaginative and most travelled Wonderland.

Baum’s story made his family rich again. Originally his fable was called “The Emerald City” and it spawned a number of Oz sequels which made the Baums even richer. A stage version came out two years later, and he was asked to adapt his work for the screen. He moved his family to Hollywood and founded the Oz Film Manufacturing Company in 1914 – later taken over by Universal Studios.

Sadly the great storyteller died after a prolonged illness in 1919 – at the height of his popularity. He spent the last years of his life confined to his

Maud Baum’s wedding picture in November 1882 bed, never fully recovering from a gall bladder operation he had in 1918. His last book, “Glinda of Oz” was published posthumously in 1920.

There were many attempts to make films and other creative works during the 1920s of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”. However, the only completed and humorous silent film was directed

by Larry Semon who also appeared as that of a farmhand disguised as a Scarecrow. The film features Oliver Hardy as the Tin Man. Dorothy was portrayed by Dorothy Dwan.

Now, however, more people have seen the MGM 1939 movie “The Wizard of Oz” than have read Baum’s innovative story. The film, starring Judy Garland, was produced 20 years after his death and became one of the most watched movies in cinematic history. The film’s outline is very faithful to what Baum wrote during a time of serious depression in America. Realism is at the heart of the fantasy about an impoverished farm in Kansas, where an orphan Dorothy is looked after by her uncle Henry and her aunt Em. The bleak sharecropper landscape is pictured in black and white, while Dorothy’s dream explodes into brilliant Technicolour. Bert Lahr (the Cowardly Lion), Jack Haley (the Tin Man), and Roy Bolger (the Scarecrow) were Garland’s co-stars.

The film is marvellously creative escapist entertainment, but hides a deeper more relevant inspiration.

Baum had been very impressed, in 1894, by a hunger march on the White House organised by the political activist Jacob Coxey. “Coxey’s Army” was broken up in Washington and the leaders arrested on charges of trespassing on the White House lawn.

The phoney Wizard of Oz has been read as representing the president of the United States – the 1900 President William McKinley, who was assassinated the year after “The Wizard of Oz” was published. On their epic march up the yellow brick road (taken to be an allusion to the gold standard which Coxey and other populists wanted abolished), Dorothy, the farm girl, represents the decent working classes, while the Scarecrow represents the rural poor. The Tin Man represents the toiling masses in the factories, and the Cowardly Lion the terrified American public.

Whatever the political subtexts, Frank Baum’s “The Wizard of Oz” continues to enchant movie audiences all over the world and, when the book came out of copyright in 1969, became one of the richest franchises in the history of American entertainment.

NEXT WEEK: The riddle of Lewa Downs

• Sir Christopher Ondaatje is the author of ‘The Last Colonial’. He acknowledges that he has quoted liberally from ‘Lives of the Novelists’ (2011) by John Sutherland and ‘To Please a Child: A Biography’ of L Frank Baum (1961) by E J Baum.

Last surviving ‘Wizard of Oz,’ munchkin Jerry Maren dies

Jerry Maren (centre) was the oldest surviving Munchkin

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jerry Maren, the last surviving munchkin from the classic 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz,” has died at age 98.

The actor’s niece, Stacy Michelle Barrington, said Wednesday that Maren died May 24 at a San Diego nursing home.

Maren, who stood just 4-feet3, was one of more than 100 little people recruited to play munchkins in the movie.

He stood out among the others, however, as the “Lollipop Kid” who sang, danced and then famously handed Judy Garland’s Dorothy an oversized lollipop.

Maren would go on to appear in scores of other films, as well as TV shows and commercials, in a career that spanned more than 70 years.

But he said “The Wizard of Oz” always held a special place in his heart.

JOHN ROGERS Associated Press

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Friday, June 15, 2018

history

Remembering Elyse Walise’s Bahamian porcelain plates Forgotten facts Paul C Aranha

H

ow many times have you been asked to recommend a suitable souvenir for a visitor to take home with them? I tend to suggest straw work and/or art and, in the 1980s I favoured a porcelain plate by Elyse Wasile. It was small and beautiful and depicted a well-known Bahamian scene.

Over the 12-year period from 1982 to 1993, a dozen different Elyse Wasile plates were produced by world-famous Kaiser Porzellan (founded in 1872 in Bad Staffelstein, Germany) and each plate came with Kaiser’s certificate of authenticity.

These eight-inch plates were sold individually, but collectors, of which there were many, signed up for limited edition sets. Each set was assigned a serial number from one through 5,000, and over the years I bought the sets 1889 and 4462.

Elyse Wasile (1920 - 2013) was an American artist who spent some 25 years in Nassau, where she painted Bahamian scenes. In 1971, the Bahamas government invited her to design a new, definite set of Bahamian postage stamps. The 1985 Bahamas Handbook & Businessman’s Annual, in their article about philately, quoted Elyse as believing herself to be the first artist, in philatelic history, to design a nation’s entire definitive set of 15 stamps.

A stamp-collecting acquaintance believes that the late Graham Cooper, an avid collector of Bahamian stamps, while a member of the Philatelic Selection Board, deserved much of the credit for this choice.

Although Elyse painted ceramic tiles, murals, miniatures, stamps, watercolours and other forms of artwork, here she is best remembered for her fine porcelain plates.

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

The full set of Elyse Walise’s ‘Bahama Plates’.

The ‘Quincentennial’ plate from 1992.

Artist Elyse Walise

n o n u r E TarGeT THe aLPH

Yesterday’s solution: FraUd (across) CoUrT (down)

26 | The Tribune | Weekend

have to chambers 322 you 5607 0901 322 5601 0901 grid too! us

Friday, Halve your Target Time!

21st Both today’s words in a moment June 15, 2018

letters and

century company’s *Calls cost 75p plus your telephone below the g network accessDictionary charge. grid is ‘rota (1999 edition)

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

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

Dmu n o n u r E

HOW many words of four letters or more can you make from the letters shown here? In making a cAn you crack the word, each letter may be used The Target Alphabeater?

Each the grid must contain usesonce only. Each represents a letter centre letternumber and there must be at words in one nine-letter least noAs in – or blackword. square. the main plurals or verb forms ending in letter “s”. of Alphapuzzle, every

symmetrica words, it lo you turn th down. solu

yesterda Black A squ 8, 12,1413, 1 B 36, 37 30, Monetary C 25Wa Hiked, Axe, Baza D body of the alphabet is used. But Slept, Caj Today’s TarGeT you have to complete the Baptises. chambers E 32 17 verygrid good 26; excellent 34 down: Blo too! use the given 21st Good F (or more). solution tomorrow.

Panorama letters and black squares century Fiasco, G below the grid to start. The 18 Ne yesTerday’s soLUTIon Told, Refl Dictionary grid is ‘rotationally H You Togs, amity calm claim clam intimacy (1999 symmetrical’ – inmainly other Indict. lima limit limy mail main

I 13 JExtra l 0907 K(Deduct 35 th each L extra M 15full 0907 N*Calls cos plus your O network 27 tel P Slept, Cajole, Oval, Q 6 Today’s TarGeT Baptises. *SP: Spoke – Helpline 0333 202 3390 PLay R Good 17 very good 26; excellent 34 down: Blocky, (or more). solution tomorrow.

Panorama, Job, Moth, S 3 Fiasco, Neckwear, Sett, T yesTerday’s soLUTIon Told, Reflexes, Quartz, U 21 Togs, You, Sunbeams, amity calm claim clam intimacy Indict. lima limit limy mail main mainly V malic malt malty manic manly Extra letter clues W 10 many matily mica MILITanCy 0907 181 2560 X milt mina mini mint minty myna (Deduct three minutes for Y 27 each extra clue letter heard) Z edition) words, manic it looksmanly the same if malic malt malty

turnMILITanCy the page upside many matilyyou mica HOW many words of four letters down. solution milt mina mini mint mintytomorrow. myna or more can you make from the yesterday’s solution letters shown here? In making a Black squares: 1, 2, 4, word, each letter may be used Yesterday’s 8,Yesterday’s 12, 13, 2585 16, 19, 24, once only. Each must contain the call 0907 181 for28, 30, 36,Answer 37, 39. across: Sudoku Answer Kakuro centre letter and there must be at today’sMonetary, Target solution Unit, Liquid, *Calls cost 80p per minute least one nine-letter word. no yourHiked, telephone company’s Waffle, Rarest, plurals or verb forms ending in “s”.plusnetwork access charge. Fazing, Axe, Bazaar,

CRYPTIC PUZZLE Across 1 Holy water in which an egg’s cooked (6) 4 Just look at the lads running amok - they’re disgraceful! (8) 9 No notice is required should you wish to do it (6) 10 Cinerama developed in the States (8) 12 A catch one is delighted to exhibit (4) 13 A rich sort of job for a professor (5) 14 Fight probably rigged (4) 17 She provides maternal care for a small charge (6-6) 20 Profession in which people are sure to take an interest (12) 23 Ordered without water (4) 24 Finally refusing employment (5) 25 Repeat after some reflection (4) 28 Completely out of port and unable to explain why? (3,2,3) 29 An opinion to contradict loudly (6) 30 Two music-makers dance (8) 31 Not many people with a dog will keep one indoors (6)

Yesterday’s Easy Solution

Down 1 Exploding exit? (5,3) Across: 1 Alias, 4 Copious, 8 Rip, 2 Negative poles 9 Admirable, 10 Painful, 11 Elgar, seen to change?

13 Shaken, 15 Turn up, 18 Trend, Absurd! (8) 19 Reserve, 21 Major-domo, 23 Lie, 24 Torrent, 25 Tryst.

3 Learning Heather Down: 1 Apropos, 2 In private, goes out to work for 3 Staff, 4 Comely, 5 Parvenu, a living (4) 6 Orb, 7 Sneer, 12 Generally, 5 Inherit property like a pilot 14 Endorse, 16 Pretext, 17 Try may do? (4,4,4) out, 18 Tempt, 20 Short, 22 Jar. 6 The emperor is back in Florence (4) 7 Take what you’re given (6) 8 He guards the southern gate (6) 11 He may have stacks of Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution work to do (7,5) 15 Devil doctor in his Across: 1 Clamp, 4 Enlarge, study (5) 8 Rag, 9 Overseers, 10 Fall guy, 11 Godly, 13 League, 16 Designed by Manet, 15 Ceased, 18 Crete, 19 Genteel, perhaps (5) 21 Diversion, 23 Pit, 24 Ratchet, 18 Playfulness shown by 25 Erred. the head of military Down: 1 Careful, 2 Angel cake, intelligence? (8) 3 Prong, 4 Evelyn, 5 Lasagne, 19 Not many virtuous? Quite 6 Rue, 7 Essay, 12 Distemper, a lot in fact (1,4,3) 14 Unearth, 16 Deleted, 21 How the witness 17 Egoist, 18 Cedar, 20 Nonce, appeared to Noah in new 22 Vat. guise (2,4) 22 Rialto’s broken sewer (6) 26 Stay and finish (4) 27 A state of pure chaos (4) Down Across 1 Implored (8) 1 Small restaurant (6) 2 Chinese port (8) 4 Outstanding 3 Part to play (4) feature (4,4) 5 Out of 9 Horseracing reach (12) establishment (6) 6 Large, unwieldy 10 Liable to err (8) ship (4) 12 Strong impulse (4) 7 People in general (6) 13 Small amount (5) 8 Threefold (6) 14 Herb used in pickling (4) 11 Thriving business (5,7) 17 Unreservedly (5,3,4) 15 Secret store (5) 20 Specialist in 16 Out of mental practice (5) disorders (12) 18 Painting, 23 Spoken (4) sculpture etc. (4,4) 24 Mound (5) 19 Boost (8) 25 Layer of coal (4) 21 Breeding 28 Recently ground (6) introduced (5-3) 22 Central 29 Reconnaissance American force (6) republic (6) 30 Time limit for 26 Revered activity (8) person (4) 31 Academic 27 Over-hasty (4) dissertation (6)

EASY PUZZLE

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

*SP: Spoke – Helpline 0333 202 3390

full solution

0907 181 2558

1

*Calls cost 80p per minute 21 plus your telephone company’s network access charge.

■

2 22

● Alternativ

PLay More Crosswo

The Tribune | Weekend | 27

Friday, June 15, 2018

animals

The power of the public

T

hese are good and interesting days where the public has so many different ways to make itself heard and dissatisfied citizens can voice their opinions and displeasure.

Social media has reached a frenzied high. Many people post what they are doing every hour. As one person said, “If it’s not on Facebook then it didn’t happen.”

Much of the social media hype is extremely good and helps disburse information to all corners of the globe.

However, what makes social media such a wonderful tool also makes it a very serious enemy and dangerously alarming if used for the wrong purposes and for destructive reasons.

I frequently have to step in on Facebook discussions and correct people who make inaccurate comments about the Bahamas Humane Society.

Most of these comments and the subsequent corrections take place in a pretty harmonious manner and the parties involved remain respectful of each other. On occasions, however, it can get downright mean and dirty.

Of late we have been inundated with animals. People have finally understood that if they find an animal you can bring it to the Bahamas Humane Society where it will find a safe haven. On occasion I have to respond to random comments such as, “Please don’t let them put it down” or “Oh no, don’t take it there it will be euthanised”… Stop right there. For the past four or five years the Bahamas Humane Society has been operating as a NO KILL shelter. This means that the only time a surrendered animal will be put to sleep or euthanised is if that animal is badly injured beyond our capabilities to mend them or if they are very sick and suffering and are dying slowly.

I do not know how many times I have to tell and reassure people that we do not just put dogs and cats to

sleep. We give them a safe haven when they are brought in. We give them food and shelter and we try to give them love, but sometimes there is little time and too few volunteers to have the time for hugs and cuddles. We do make sure that kindness is spoken at the shelter, at times it is the first time the surrendered animal has encountered kindness and at first they really do not know what to make of it. But with time they open up and become more trusting.

This is all wonderful and in a perfect world there would be no need for the word, but as we all know there is nothing perfect in this world and quite certainly very little perfect about an animal’s lot in this country of ours.

I am thrilled to pieces that social media has enabled us to reach most people and educate them to the extent that we are there to receive unwanted animals, we are there to guide owners, we are there to deal with animal

cruelty cases, we are there to help, help, help….BUT (there it is) what about some help in return. All these animals who come in, must go out to make room for the next batch. Where are the social media inspired adopters hiding out, why do we not have more people coming to us to adopt and take animals out of our care and into their homes and yards.

I was shocked the other day, when speaking to somebody who wants another dog. I immediately suggested adopting at the shelter, but no, they were looking for a a mixture of two highly unlikely breeds. It will undoubtedly cost them a small fortune, and because of a significant size differential between the breeds could cause all sorts of birthing difficulties and defects. I pointed this out and also pointed out that at the very best they would end up spending a ton of money for a mongrel. So is life in the Bahamas!

By The Bahamas Humane Society

“D

o you want to build a snowman?”

Oh, wait. Olaf WAS the snowman, wasn’t he? Well, this Olaf is no snowman, but he’s a very lively, kind of goofy larger potcake of about two years old.

Olaf has been at the Bahamas Humane Society for a few months now, and with their no-kill policy, he’s welcome to stay as long as need be, but Olaf would rather it be a shorter time rather than a longer one. Olaf says he’d be happy to share his new home with other dogs, but no cats, please.

He’d be a great family yard dog, and with the right training (potcakes are wicked smart, you know!), he’d even be happy in and out of the house, too. Who knows? Olaf might even like to try building a sandman at the beach with you! Looking for a fun companion? Come in to the BHS to meet Olaf, or call 323-5138 for more information. Adoption hours are 11am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, and 10am to 4pm on Saturday.

• Summer camp time is almost here! Are you registered? The BHS is running two camp weeks. June 25 to June 29, and July 9 to July 13. Registration is $150. Camp runs from 9am to 12noon each day. Children learn about animals and have a chance to interact with the BHS adoption animals. Spaces fill up quickly so sign up at the shelter today.

We have people coming to the Bahamas willing to spend hundreds of dollars to rescue one potcake and we at the shelter are having trouble getting the residents of this little island to adopt our own popular (in other countries) dog, the potcake, The power of the public has certainly assisted in getting people to bring in their unwanted animals, the puppies that should never have been born if the owners had bothered to spay their female dogs.

We are reaching the public, they are responding, but we absolutely have to go one step further and get people to see us as the first destination to get a dog or cat from, not the last spot they think of.

I will continue to hope that people will be motivated to visit our shelter and see the amazing selection of animals we have and think twice before spending a fortune on a mongrel rather than adopting a potcake for a song.

PET OF THE WEEK

Open-hearted Olaf

PATRICIA VAZQUEZ

Animal matters Kim Aranha

28 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, June 15, 2018