02 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, July 22, 2022
community
Chef Simeon Hall hosts popup kitchen to feed kids Event honours late sous chef
By JEFFARAH GIBSON | Tribune Features Writer | jgibson@tribunemedia.net
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IFTEEN gallons of dumpling soup, 10 gallons of vegetable and ham soup, and 15 gallons of vegan split pea and locka vegetable soup was prepared for the kids in the Kemp Road community – a give-back initiative executed by Chef Simon Hall, Jr, and the Hands for Hunger organisation. This year’s a pop-up soup kitchen was held to not only feed kids in the Kemp Road, but also to honour the life of Hiram Kemp, the late sous chef who partnered with Chef Hall on this event for the past five years. “This was held to honour my brother and sous chef who passed away from lung cancer recently,” Chef Hall said. He said this year presented a great opportunity to honour their eight years of working together. “To anyone who has ever lost a close friend, the process is unique to us all. And even as I struggle with the recent passing of my former close friend, and brother, Hiram Kemp, I look to honour him with this event,” he said. “Hiram struggled with addictions, other issues, and at one point, homelessness. However, he was one of the kindest persons I ever met and he opened my eyes to truly being kind to the less fortunate. To that end, one week several years ago we decided to randomly make a large pot of soup, go by the foot of the old bridge and give away soup. We did it at our own expense, but when the word got out, many of my supporters begged to help next time. So, we started taking donations and the Hiram’s Soup Kitchen Pop-up was born.” Joining Chef Hall for this year’s initiative was Hands for Hunger, a non-profit he has worked for many years. “They are known to be the most reputable food recovery and distribution non-profit on the island,” he said.
CHEF SIMEON HALL, Jr, cooked and distributed many gallons of soup to kids in the Kemp Road area with the help of Hands for Hunger.
Chef Hall was assisted by Dereck Sawyer. He said engaging in activities like this warm his heart, especially because they benefit kids in the community. He said he will be hosing more events like this in the future. “Have you ever been hungry? I know I haven’t. In fact, I can clearly hear my grandmother scolding any of us that ever used the word hungry in her presence. And she’s right. I don’t know what it means to be hungry. So, to be a chef and know that there are people around me that have no reference of what it means to have food whenever they want, it hurts me. To that end, I plan on doing one event every quarter or so and to also have less food waste. If we all could cut down on spoilage and donate a plate of food to someone in need every time we cook, imagine how much we could do in our communities? “I do this with no expectations, just to share. I do hope to inspire more chefs and food and beverage persons to donate more,” he said.
The Tribune | Weekend | 03
Friday, July 22, 2022
community
Keeping the legacy of Beverley’s Kitchen alive
Newly added grocery mart offers Jamaican brands By JEFFARAH GIBSON | Tribune Features Writer | jgibson@tribunemedia.net
W
HEN a matriarch or patriarch of a family passes away, often the businesses they established over their lifetime fade away as well. If not for the concerted effort and commitment of family members, their vision will often not be kept alive. However, the family of the late Beverly Duncan Moncur Walkes is determined to keep the legacy of their matriarch alive. Beverley’s Kitchen in the Carmichael community has enjoyed 25 years plus years of serving customers delightful Bahamian, Jamaican and West Indian dishes. But like many local establishments, Beverley’s Kitchen hit a roadblock during the pandemic. The family has since been pulling out all the stops to ensure the restaurant survives and stays faithful to the spirit of Beverley, who died in 2017. To ensure this, restaurant has diversified its offerings, mainly with the opening of a grocery mart where patrons can purchase Caribbean food brands while they wait on their orders to be prepared in the kitchen. Beverley, who was known in her community as “Mama Beverley” or “Mum Bev”, was the proprietor of the restaurant. She migrated from Jamaica to the Bahamas in the early 1970s. It was not long after that she started using her cooking talents and opened the popular Beverley’s Kitchen. Her idea was for people to experience the combination of two cuisines - Jamaican and Bahamian – in one place. “My aunt came here over 50 years ago from Jamaica. She died August 2017. She adopted me when I was younger and moved here,” said her niece Marcia Duncan, co-owner and one of the founders of the restaurant. “Many people thought she was my mom, which she was technically. She got invited here to the Bahamas when she was very young. Her late brother invited her to Freeport.
“She died and we decided as a family to continue the legacy. It has been a struggle, especially with COVID-19. The dining room was closed so we decided to open up a Jamaican Caribbean mart. People were receptive to it.” This was the family’s way of finding new ways to expand Beverly’s Kitchen and keep the business going. “You can get your cooked food, grab n’ go, and while you’re waiting on that, you can shop,” said Marcia.
That was where she got her business acumen.” But the love for cooking was always in her genes, Marcia said. “My great-grandmother was a great cook.” “Mother Beverley”, along with her husband, Kenneth Walkes (affectionately known as “Sir K”), decided to marry their two styles of cooking to create “mouthwatering soul food”. From the steamed oxtail to Sir K’s down-home boil fish and stew fish, the menu to this day is full of beloved Bahamian and Jamaican staples. “We made oxtail popular. When we were selling it, no one was. Now everyone is selling it,” said Marcia. “I think we’ve fed at least three prime ministers.” While Beverley enjoyed being in the kitchen for two decades, there came a point when she had to stop cooking, on her doctor’s orders. “The doctor ordered her to stop cooking about 10 years prior to her passing. Her husband was cooking, however, the day-to-day operations,
THE LATE Beverley Duncan Moncur Walkes who founded Beverley’s Kitchen that was her thing. If you knew Beverley, she was full of flare and was customer service-oriented. If you came in there and she did not have something or it was frozen, she would say, give me half an hour; she would defrost that and cook that for you. She just wanted to please her customers,” said Marcia.
She said they decided to concentrate on offering popular Jamaican brands. One brand offered is Jamaica’s biggest export, “Juici Patties”, of which the restaurant has now become a distributor. “Our family was very close with the number one patty producers in Jamaica called Juici Patties; the brand is all over the world and they have a phenomenal factory in Jamaica and they are growing every day. We were able to ink a deal to be the authorised distributors,” said Marcia. “It has been very well received. We have had great support from the Centerville Food Market. They have been the oldest Jamaican grocery stores in the Bahamas. We have some other smaller companies that we wholesale to as well.” And as the small grocery mart at Beverley’s Kitchen continues to take off, the family is also hoping to soon incorporate outdoor dining into its space. “Patrons would come to meet friends, sit, talk, spend hours and just enjoy the place. Of course, they come to eat and drink and enjoy the space,” said Marcia. “We are working on a project to see how we can create some kind of outdoor dining because most of our business was dining and now we have lost that, so we are trying to figure out how we can renovate and come back.”
04 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, July 22, 2022
interview
Ashawnté Russell Passionate about the environment, this university student is well on her way to becoming a leader in the field of conservation, both here at home and on the international stage. She tells Cara Hunt about her upcoming work in Abaco and with the UN.
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shawnté Russell may consider herself a small fish in a big pond when it comes to her conservation efforts, but the 24-year-old is already establishing herself as a major player in the field both here at home and aboard. She is currently a student at the University of the Bahamas where she is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry and a concentration in Maritime Studies. It is the fulfillment of a long-time dream of being an environmentalist. “I’ve always been drawn to the water and nature, probably because so many of many family members loved it as well. So growing up we always had access to the outdoors and we were encouraged to go outside and that sparked my interest.” Ashawnté soon realised that she could combine her natural aptitude for science with her love for nature. “I had the academic aptitude that many people in my family thought that I would go into medicine. I did consider becoming a neurologist, because growing up I had some issues with my nerves, but I realised that medicine was a curiosity rather than a passion.” Instead, she followed her heart and planned for a career in the field she loved. First, it led her to attend the Island School in Eleuthera after graduating from C V Bethel. She has also participated in several internships with various conservation and environmental groups such as the Bahamas National Trust, the Perry Institute for Marine Science and the Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation (BMMRO), where she assisted in a campaign to develop sustainable seafood. Her time at the Island School and her involvement from her internships gave her a plethora of first-hand experience and also gave her the opportunity to work with other passionate young environmentalists “I was able to apply for several opportunities through the Island School and the places I did my internships with,” she explained. The process also showed her how important combining the practical experience was with gaining a degree in the area of her interest. “A lot of times at these conferences and events I would meet people who have multiple degrees while I am still working on my first degree. And being asked to speak in front of these people sometimes (has me) feeling like a small fish in a very big pond.” But instead of being intimidating, she said its inspiring and encouraging to be included. Ashawnté has quite a lot going on in the next few weeks and months, events which will make her known to the wider community and allow her to share her passion for protecting the environment for future generations.
The Tribune | Weekend | 05
Friday, July 22, 2022
“As of this week, I have been working on participating in a webinar for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFNCCC) and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO),” she said. The UN has been hosting a webinar series each month in the lead-up to COP27, which is the United Nations Climate Change Conference. It will take place in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, in November. Ashawnté said she will be discussing intertwining climate change preparedness and education into youth engagement. She is also in deliberations with the UNFCCC about participation in the Youth for Climate 2022 conference, which will be happening under the theme “Power in Action” in New York in September. But before those events, she is off to Abaco today to participate in a whale camp sponsored by the Bahamas Marine Mammal Research Organisation. It is an annual camp which focuses on researching the whales and dolphins that pass through the channels between Abaco and Grand Bahama. Ashawnté also recently participated in the Bahamas Conference of Youth on Climate Change, held earlier this month. The conference allowed Bahamians to interact with their international peers to discuss issues surrounding climate change and
particularly those issues that plague at-risk nations like the Bahamas. She feels optimistic about the country’s environmental conservation efforts, although much more needs to be done. “I feel as if young people do get it. They realise what is at stake and what we have to protect. I see that when you see groups of young people express their passion at these conferences,” she said. And while that passion is vital, she said policy is really where the difference will be made. “In ten years, I would love to see more protected spaces. I would love to see our various sectors such as agribusiness better regulated and more Bahamians get involved in this sector. People pay money to come from all over the world to do research here in our own backyard. So I would love to see more of a sense stewardship about our environment which comes from educational development,” she said. And as the effects of climate change continue to increase, she said she would like to see more focus on preventative measures, such as planting more mangroves to stabilise shorelines. She said one only has to look at the flooding which occurred last week to know that the country is impacted. “There are areas that didn’t flood as much which are now flooding,” she said.
this
weekend in history
July 23
July 22 THE FORD Model A (1903)
“There is a lot of talk about goals for 2025 and 2030, and if we continue to expand on the small steps we have already taken, those goals can be achieved.”
06 |
Idols, Sage, Adamant. Down: Eczema, Fates, Neon, The Tribune Weekend Becoming, Badinage, Larder, Jilted, Naturism, Sexually, Horn, Sedge, Nudism.
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SUMTHING
SPEND
5x7=35, 3x4=12, 8x3=24
MUDDLESOME The Sound of Music, Les Miserables, The Phantom of the Opera
SMALL CROSSWORD
Across: 1 Different, 7 Anti, 8 Cadge, 10 Ion, 11 Mellow, 13 Armistice, Across: 1 Penny, 6 Peel, 8 Olyphant, 14 Tutors, 16 Ian, 18 Agape, 19 Epee, 10 Raine, 11 Blunt, 12 Ashley, 20 Nectarine. Best described as a number crossword, the task in CLOCK-WISE Kakuro 15 Alma, 16 Richie, 17 René, Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle on a 9x9 grid Down:based 1 Dalmatian, 2 Intern, 3 Fill, is to fill all of the empty squares, using numbers 1 to 9, so Rear, Arlo,with Lore, Real, given Also, numbers. Sore several The object is to place the 19 each Estelle, 21 Dana, 22 equals House. the number 4 Ran, 5 Edition, 6 Tennessee, the sum of horizontal block to its numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so the each row, Down: 3 vertical Yootha,block 4 Rhea, left, and the sum2ofEarl, each equals the number 8 Closure, 9 Almanac, 12 Screen, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number on its top.5 No be used in the same block more Stillnumber Game, may 6 Prairie, 7 Lie, Apt. only once.WEEK The difficulty level15 ofTier, the 17 Conceptis Sudoku THE than once. The difficulty level the Conceptis QUIZ Kakuro OF 9 Yeatman, 13 York, 14ofNicholas, increases from Monday to Sunday increases from Monday to Sunday. 17 Reid, 18 Emma, 20 Two. 1 Iceberg 2 Head 3 1970s 4 Mount CROSS DOUBT Kilimanjaro 5 Republic of Ireland TV show: Come Dine With Me 6 Scott 7 Cricket 8 New York Across: STAMP 9 Tears for Fears 10 Pineapple. Down: DATED
TV CROSSWORD
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TWO F PO R L E
TODAY’S TARGET Good 16; very good 25; excellent 33 (or more). Solution tomorrow
Yesterday’s Call 0907 181 2585 for today’s Target solution Sudoku Answer
*Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.
BATTLESHIPS Down 1 Endure - strange to relate (8) 2 A word of praise (8) 3 Cut short the harvest (4) 5 Cheerless prospect of a Dickensian house? (5,7) 6 Is including two names for hotels (4) 7 It may give me this belief in God (6) 8 One who deserves what he gets (6) 11 Dogs hunted as boss ordered (6,6) 15 Works in which the unwary get caught (5) 16 A doctor required - about to turn yellow (5) 18 Guiding line about two similar points (8) 19 Retort about lumbago? (8) 21 Plant entirely consumed by a greedy creature (6) 22 Diminish value of childbearing (6) 26 Ring a girl to come round soon (4) 27 Ringing to get the cost (4)
Across 1 Do a rush job on the roof? (6) 4 This bean is used to make a liqueur (8) 9 See an election return in the lounge (6) 10 Control what sounds like highly valued beast (8) 12 Government as usual (4) 13 Bets on footballers and retires (5) 14 Piece of land is approaching half a mile (4) 17 Suitable sucker? (7,5) 20 One small crowd actor suggests what we’d all like (1,6,5) 23 Objects to excellent piece of handwriting (4) 24 Drive from tee in open country (5) 25 Dress having selection of four suits (4) 28 Erudition - obtained by this? (8) 29 European may be French (6) 30 After no peace I head for caution (8) 31 A sorry state but showing promise (6)
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Yesterday’s Easy Solution Across: 1 Cello, 4 Sharpen, 8 Man, 9 High jinks, 10 Correct, 11 Dusky, 13 Lunacy, 15 Heroic, 18 Clear, 19 Scatter, 21 Wideawake, 23 Ago, 24 Romance, 25 Tally. Down: 1 Comical, 2 Long-range, 3 Ochre, 4 Sights, 5 Adjudge, 6 Pan, 7 Nasty, 12 Shortfall, 14 Certain, 16 Cursory, 17 Escape, 18 Cower, 20 Adept, 22 Dim.
Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution Across: 1 Point, 4 Braille, 8 Imp, 9 Slaughter, 10 Oatmeal, 11 Earns, 13 Fresco, 15 Steals, 18 Tatum, 19 Holy war, 21 Anomalies, 23 Rat, 24 Salutes, 25 Epsom. Down: 1 Pair off, 2 Impatient, 3 Taste, 4 Beagle, 5 Augment, 6 Let, 7 Earls, 12 Rearwards, 14 Compact, 16 Stratum, 17 Choirs, 18 Traps, 20 Lisle, 22 Owl.
EASY PUZZLE
Across 1 Dear (6) 4 A summary (8) 9 Fight (6) 10 Assume control of (4,4) 12 Large brass musical instrument (4) 13 Complete trust (5) 14 At liberty (4) 17 Autonomy (12) 20 One’s native language (6,6) 23 A tuberous herbaceous plant (4) 24 Discourage (5) 25 Grim fate (4) 28 Rashness (8) 29 In league (6) 30 Fence of stakes (8) 31 Deep gorge (6)
Down 1 Mixed alcoholic drink (8) 2 Person of importance (8) 3 Heavy soft metal (4) 5 Suffer the main impact (4,3,5) 6 In that case (4) 7 A part of speech (6) 8 English painter, 1775-1851 (6) 11 Timid (5-7) 15 A parody (5) 16 Large ladle (5) 18 Dishonour (8) 19 Closely confined (6,2) 21 Very best (3-3) 22 Gloomy (6) 26 Greek god of love (4) 27 Defendant’s answer to charge (4)
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● The Target uses Across: 1 Congregation; 7 Sweet; 8 Eaten; words in 9 Rug; 10 Woebegone; 11 Lethal;the main 12 Porous; 15 Attribute; 17 Den; body 18 Large; of Chambers 19 Foyer; 21 Conservative. 21st Down: 1 Controllable; 2 Rue; 3 Gather; Century 4 Therefore; 5 Outdo; 6 Unseasonable; Dictionary 7 Sight; 10 Weariness; 13 Order;(1999 14 Duffer; 16 Torso; 20 Yea. edition)
QUICK CROSSWORD
HOW many words of four letters or more can you make from the letters shown here? In making a word, each letter may be used once only. Each must contain the centre letter and there must be at least one nine-letter word. No plurals. Verb forms ending in S permitted.
CRYPTIC PUZZLE
FIND where the fleet of ships shown is hidden in the grid. The numbers to the right of and below the grid indicate how many of the squares in that row are filled in with ships or parts of ships. The ships do not touch each other, even diagonally. Some squares have been filled in to start you off. Solution tomorrow 1
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CAN you crack the Alphabeater? Each grid TARGET
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● Alternatively, for six Extra Letter clues to your mo text DXBEAT to 64343. Texts cost £1 plus your usual op
WORD BUILDER Answer the clues so that each word contains the same letters as the previous word, plus or minus one.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Solution 1 Pub
2 Endu
3 Cour
4 Rela
word
5 Blas
6 A pe
7 Beer
The Tribune | Weekend | 07
Friday, July 22, 2022
music
Robin Thicke and Ashanti light up Atlantis stage Bahamian man proposes to girlfriend during concert By ALESHA CADET | Tribune Features Writer | acadet@tribunemedia.net
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etting up on a Bahamian stage and performing some of his biggest hits was a “cathartic” experience for R&B superstar Robin Thicke. The “Blurred Lines” singer performed live at Atlantis last Saturday along with Grammy Award-winning singer Ashanti as part of the Paradise Island resort’s Music Making Waves festival. And although the event had to be moved indoors at the last minute due to inclement weather, both the artists and the fans still had a good time. Robin, a five-time Grammy Award-nominated and diamond-selling performer and songwriter, spoke with local media about how much he was enjoying his Bahamian vacation. “Everybody knows the Bahamas is all about love and culture, food, and beautiful beaches, so we really got to appreciate everybody: the people, culture and the beaches since we got here,” he said of his family’s stay. “It’s actually cathartic (getting back on stage after the pandemic), especially having little kids at home. I don’t get to feel like Robin Thicke all the time, so when I get on that stage you know I really get to appreciate the many years of music that I have.” The 45-year-old singer said he is always working on new music, so hopefully his fans can look forward to a new album soon. In the meantime, he is preparing to return to his job as judge on the popular reality singing competition show “The Masked Singer”. “We start filming ‘The Masked Singer’ as soon as I get back to LA. I always have stuff in the works and ready to release, but I like to make sure each moment is the right one,” said Robin. He noted that his kids were “having the time of their lives” in the Bahamas during their week-long stay.
(Photos by Rachel Murray/Getty Images for Atlantis Paradise Island)
ASHANTI cheers as audience member ‘Ray Ray’ proposes to his girlfriend on stage. “Everywhere I’ve gone all week long, everybody (local and international guests) was so excited about tonight, so were definitely gonna make it rock. It’s been fun after two years of not many shows. We have been hitting it every week for the last few months and just having the
time of our lives; very appreciative, ” he said. Before Robin took the stage at Atlantis’ Convention Centre, singer and actress Ashanti performed her set. Wearing a turquoise blue bodysuit, Ashanti drove the crowd to its feet as she sang her popular hits like “Rock with You”, “Foolish” and “Down For You”. She even showed a little bit of her Caribbean side as she performed her Machel Montano collab song “The Road”. One of the highlights of the show was a marriage proposal during Ashanti’s set. Aware of what was about to happen, the R&B artist stopped her performance to call up to the stage a Bahamian man whom she addressed as “Ray Ray”. Ashanti then called a woman by the name of Piadia to the stage as the crowd cheered. Ray told the audience: “So everyone knows Ashanti is my girlfriend’s favourite person in the world. She posts her every day. I couldn’t find no other way to make this night special for her then to give her one of the things she has been wanting for a very long time, in front of one of her favourite people. Y’all help me out. Will you marry me?” Piadia’s answer was a resounding “Yes”.
Jason Spencer, vice-president of On-Island Marketing and Events at Atlantis, said the decision to bring both singers to the Bahamas was a challenge they set themselves as they want to keep improving on their entertainment offerings. “If you think about it, there are no better two from an R&B perspective that fit that mould for us right now than Ashanti and Robin Thicke. He has incredible songs and is an incredible performer…and Ashanti, who is right now, I believe, having a great renaissance of doing amazing things with her performances and her social media profile. We thought it would be a very fun collaboration and both of the artists agreed. I do believe I think this is their first time performing together like this in the Bahamas,” said Jason. Next up for Atlantis is Country Week, which will open with a concert by the singer-songwriter and chart topper Jake Owen on August 20, who will be followed by the Grammy Award-winning group Little Big Town on August 27. There will also be events like a country brunch, BBQ and Beers, line dancing and country karaoke. Jason said Atlantis also has something else up its sleeve for October which they can’t reveal yet.
10 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, July 22, 2022
gardening
Mulch vs rocks
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ood day, gardeners! A while back I mentioned that the practice of raking everything up in the garden does more harm than good and damages the soil health, but it does somewhat give an appearance of cleanliness. There are several ways to maintain soil health without raking up leaf debris, a popular one being the application of mulches on garden beds to give a natural look to things. Mulch is usually composed of recycled organic material like tree bark or used wooden pallets, but it all really depends upon the region one resides in as to what materials will be available as mulch. Melaleuca, eucalyptus, cypress or pine are commonly used as mulch materials, although the cypress is becoming frowned
upon because they only grow in certain limited regions and the harvesting of them causes damage to the ecosystems that they grow in. Pine is a managed forestry product and is much quicker to be renewed than Cypress. Melaleuca and eucalyptus are both fast growing and tend to be pests in certain regions, and both use a lot of groundwater to grow, which is harmful to the ecosystem. The harvesting of these pest trees is more beneficial than letting them be to cause damage to the native ecosystems. Locally, we do not have enough of a managed forestry product to use as mulch. This is why wood pallets or landscape debris is used. Putting mulch on garden beds helps in weed control and moisture retention while gradually breaking down to add organic material to the
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ROCKS are great for weed-prevention and can also add to the aesthetics of a property. soil base to build and condition the garden soil. Rocks do not help to build or condition the soil, but they do give an appealing aesthetic to gardens. There are many types of rock that are used in landscape design and gardens. Rocks used to dress garden beds ranges from river rocks, to crushed marble, to Mexican beach pebbles, and 20-something or more other options depending upon the region, and locally we sometimes use the worst of the worst, crushed limestone. Why is crushed limestone the worst of the worst? Well, for one thing, it raises the pH of garden soil. This would be fine if one lived in a region with overly acidic soil. We don’t. Our region typically has alkaline soil to begin with due to the calcium carbonate base. When crushed limestone is used, other than raising the pH of the soil, it tends to degrade very quickly and creates a paste like, very fine and difficult powdery consistency for water or nutrients to penetrate. I would never suggest using native limestone for a garden rock aesthetic. Most every other rock on the market does not break down like our native limestone. They remain consistent and cause no changes to the soil structure, and simply provide a lovely aesthetic. The use of rocks
helps reduce weed growth and can help maintain some moisture in the soil, but not nearly as much as natural mulch does. It is often suggested to install a landscape fabric underneath rock, to prevent them from sinking into the soil over time. Installing landscape fabric underneath mulches defeats the purpose of a natural mulch to begin with. I personally enjoy seeing a garden with river rocks or similar as a groundcover, it provides a very clean and detailed look in my opinion. Mulch needs to be added to and amended once or twice a year to maintain its effectiveness, as it does break down. Rocks are forever, albeit a bit more expensive up front as they weigh a lot, they’re bulky, and they cost a lot to ship. Mulch too is bulky, and the greatest expense come in the shipping as well, which is one reason we do our best to promote the use of locally produced mulch. It is more cost effective and less of a carbon footprint to move it around. Whichever one chooses as a groundcover, mulch and rocks both add to the aesthetic of the garden, and in the case of mulch, can benefit the garden soil in the long run. By using either, it also eliminates the raking and scraping of topsoil from the garden, which has no benefit whatsoever. I cannot say that either mulch or rocks are better, they’re just different in both aesthetics and benefits to the garden. As always, I wish you happy gardening.
The Tribune | Weekend | 11
Friday, July 22, 2022
entertainment
New York’s cosmopolitan jazz scene comes to the Bahamas
S
ophisticated New York City nightlife is coming to the Bahamas this summer. The iconic Bemelmans Bar is popping up at the Rosewood Baha Mar for several nights of jazz and art. This event marks the first time in history that Bemelmans is bringing its iconic murals and cocktails to a venue outside of New York City. The original venue, located inside the Upper East Side hotel The Carlyle, opened in 1947, and some of New York’s greatest jazz pianists have graced the bar’s piano over its 75-year history. The iconic bar features the witty murals of Ludwig Bemelmans, the creator of the classic “Madeline” children’s books. The location draws socialites, politicians, movie stars and moguls with its extensive drink menu and live entertainment. Now, the famous murals, its unique ambience and the drinks are making a guest appearance in the Bahamas. From Tuesday, July 26, to Saturday, July 30 the Rosewood at Baha Mar will present nightly jazz, from 6pm to 10pm, in its Conservatory.
BEMELMANS Bar at The Carlyle Inspired by the jazz greats of Bemelmans Bar, the Jazz Cats are performing classic jazz standards and more from the Great American Songbook. There will also be a special performance by young Bahamian jazz artist Giveton Gelin. No reservations are required.
BAHAMIAN jazz trumpeter Giveton Gelin
New this week: Beyoncé, Shark Week and ‘The Gray Man’ MOVIES gest bets yet on “The Gray Man,” a globe-trotting action thriller starring Ryan Gosling, Chris Evans and Ana de Armas. One of the streamer’s most expensive films, “The Gray Man” is directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, the brothers who presided over one of the biggest box-office smashes ever (“Avengers: Endgame”) before they started churning out blockbusters for
way star and red-carpet doyen, he -
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his hometown to make his directorial debut, a trans coming-of-age comedy. The film, which debuts Friday on
— AP Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy
TELEVISION ward were acclaimed actors and a long-married couple. They were also “The Last Movie Stars,” according to the six-part documentary of that title new on HBO Max. The docuseries, directed by actor Ethan Hawke, promises a definitive account of their “dedication to their art, philanthropy and each other.”
Reign as a Black transgender girl in a relationship with a boy (Abubakr Ali) that causes a high school-wide stir. — AP Film Writer Jake Coyle
MUSIC new album “Renaissance”, out next week, are available but the lead single is performing well. Her “Break My Soul” became the first song to debut in the top 10 in 26 years on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. Of the 16-track album
Your Lovin ” and “La Grange.”
journey of exploration.”
oldest continually run dance hall in
album, called “Raw,” with several of the band’s hits like “Gimmie All
the band’s original lineup of electric guitar player Billy Gibbons, drummer Frank Beard and the late Hill on bass.
Channel for its 34th year, with stars including tiger sharks with a taste for pork and “monster” hammerheads. The Bahamas’ Exuma Islands and new spots visited during the extravaganza airing from Sunday, July 24, Johnson as its first emcee. — AP Television Writer Lynn Elber
12 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, July 22, 2022
Literary lives – Adelaide Hall (1901 -1993)
Queen of the Harlem Renaissance
Part II
Sir Christopher Ondaatje continues to write about the American born UKbased jazz singer and entertainer, whose long career spanned more than seventy years from 1921 until her death. She was a major figure in the Harlem Renaissance, and released material over eight consecutive decades.
and Ted Koehler, which had been introduced by Ethel Waters earlier that year in the Cotton Club.
“Adelaide Hall, attractive young colored singer, dominates a Vaudeville of staggering proportions. Miss Hall has the sort of “blues” voice that gets you, and she has a fine dramatic sense.”
Adelaide Hall went to Paris in the fall of 1935, and remained there until 1938. Her husband Bertram Errol Hicks opened a nightclub for her at 73 Rue Pigalle in Montmartre called La Gross Pomme where she often entertained. The club held about 200 people, and Hall had to make a dramatic entrance down a spiral staircase from the attic.
In 1935, George Tyler, of the AfroAmerican Newspaper, asked Hall about her forthcoming tour, which would take her into the deep South. “My experience of a couple of years ago ... should serve me well. Being a member of the oppressed race, I think I will be able to accustom myself to conditions, as they exist. However, there are many details I would rather not go into.” – Adelaide Hall
– The Milwaukee Sentinel January, 25, 1932
“Nobody knew that all the boxes of wine and tinned food were stored up there with me. I came down the stairs in the most gorgeous costumes you’ll ever see, floating in feathers and plumes.”
When Adelaide got back to New York in the fall of 1932, she and her husband purchased the lease on an exclusive freehold residential estate in the village of Larchmont, in the New York suburb of Westchester County. She immediately began to encounter racial opposition from her white upper-middle-class neighbours who threatened court action to have her evicted. There were attempts to set her home alight, and to break into the property. The attack made headlines in the press, and she received countless letters from the American public advising her to “stick it out”. Hall stood her ground and asked her white neighbours: “What’s your grandfather’s name?” She also issued a press statement insisting that she was a true American citizen and that her ancestry could be traced back to the Shinnecock Indian tribe of Long Island and that she had every right to reside where she wished.
journalist from the Pittsburgh Courier reported that he was so thrilled to be at the show that he forgot to write down all the songs that Hall performed. On August 19, 1933, at the Chicago World Fair, Hall took part for one week in the Bud Billiken Parade and performed in the Washington Park evening concert in front of an estimated fifty thousand people, together with Cab Calloway, Earl Hines, and the Sioux Tribe of Native Americans.
In January 1933, she returned to New York to perform in a musical revue produced by Leonard Harper at the Harlem Opera House. A
“Miss Adelaide Hall, the darling girl with the guitar and the mellifluent voice, again stole into the hearts of an analytical public ... She charmed
– Adelaide Hall HALL was the first Black artist to have a long-term contract with the BBC and worked tirelessly with them over the decades them with her voice, her poise and her beauty. She has a style of singing “Stormy Weather” all her own. Chicago belonged to Adelaide for one whole week. And her majesty reigned supreme.” – Pittsburgh Courier August 19, 1933 Returning to New York she starred in Stormy Weather Revue on November 29, 1933, and then led the entire Harlem Cotton Club floor revue on tour to theatres in principal cities across the US. The show contained the hit song “Stormy Weather” written by Harold Arlen
Early in 1936, Hall starred in the Black and White Revue. Fifty performers travelled to Switzerland on a tour produced by Ralph Clayton, choreographed by Albert Gaubier who had danced for Serge Diaghilev in the Russian Ballets Russes. During 1936, the Summer Olympics were held in Berlin. Hall appeared at Berlin’s Rex Theatre singing jazz. Her performance is notable for her contravening Adolf Hitler’s ban on jazz music. *
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After many years performing in the US and Europe, Adelaide Hall went to the United Kingdom in 1938 to take a starring role in the musical stage-adapted musical version of Edgar Wallace’s The Sun Never Sets
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Friday, July 22, 2022
at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. She was so successful and became so popular with British audiences that she and her husband decided to stay there, becoming one of the most popular singers and entertainers of the era. Hall lived in London from 1938 until her death.
In the 1950s, she and her husband opened the Calypso Club in Regent Street, London, to which Royalty flocked. Princess Elizabeth was a frequent visitor and it is fairly wellknown that Hall taught the Princess the Charleston. She appeared in London’s West End shows Kiss Me, Kate and Love From Judy, and in 1957 returned to New York at the request of Lena Horne to appear with her in Jamaica in Philadelphia. In 1958, she was cast as one of the lead characters in Rogers and Hammerstein’s Flower Drum Song.
But things were not always easy. On September 1, 1939, her scheduled broadcast Variety at 9pm from RadiOlympia Theatre was shut down by the government because of the threat of war. The service went off the air for seven years.
Hall continued to work tirelessly for the BBC in the 1960s and 1970s, and sang at Duke Ellington’s Memorial Service at St Martin-in-the-Fields in 1974. She also participated in a live recording and concert in 1982 titled The Sacred Music of Duke Ellington hosted by Rod Steiger and narrated by Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
During World War II, Hall entertained troops in Europe and in October 1939 starred in the first ever live radio broadcast by the BBC around the world. Hall later recalled in vivid detail the challenges she faced during World War II. “Sometimes I had to sing without music, but it was a challenge, and so rewarding to get all the people to sing with me ... even though we could hear bombs exploding outside ... we carried on ... I had sung fifty-four songs until the all-clear sounded at 3.45 am in the morning.”
As late as 1990 Hall starred in Sophisticated Lady, a Channel 4 TV documentary about her life. Her final US concert appearances took place in Carnegie Hall in 1992 in Cabaret Comes to Carnegie. That same year she was presented with a Gold Badge Award from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.
– Adelaide Hall Hall was one of the first entertainers to enter Germany before the war ended. She travelled with troops as they advanced towards Berlin, dismissing the dangers such bravery entailed. Adelaide Hall’s career was almost an uninterrupted success. She made more than 70 records for Decca, had her own BBC Radio series, Wrapped in Velvet, and was the first Black artist to have a long-term contract with the BBC. She appeared on the stage, in films, and in nightclubs which she owned with her husband in New York, London and Paris. She became one of Britain’s highest paid entertainers. The Old Florida Club, owned by Hall and her husband, was destroyed by a landmine in 1939. Her husband was in the club cellar when the landmine exploded but survived the attack. Hall made cameo appearances in films, notably the Oscar-winning The Thief of Bagdad (1940), produced by Alexander Korda. She was featured in British Vogue magazine, and her recording of There Goes That Song Again reached the BBC hit charts. She sang and danced throughout the
“I was so proud to be acknowledged. They said I looked like a Queen, and that I didn’t look more than fifty or sixty. I ate everything that came along.” – Adelaide Hall Adelaide Hall died in the early hours of November 7, 1993, aged 92, at London’s Charing Cross Hospital of natural causes – old age. Honouring her wish, she was buried at the Cemetery of the Evergreens in Brooklyn, New York. A memorial service was held for her at St Paul’s, Covent Garden. There is little doubt that she is still regarded as the greatest black music hall artist who ever lived. She never stopped – and she never grew old.
HALL sang at Berlin’s renowned transvestite club, the Eldorado Café. 1940s and 1950s, and appeared in the British movie A World is Turning which highlighted the contribution of Black men and women to British society when they were struggling for
visibility on the screens. She was the first black female to take part in the Royal Variety Performance at The Victoria Palace Theatre in 1951.
14 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, July 22, 2022
history
Curious names
I
have always been amazed by some of the place names in the atlas “Maps of the Bahama Islands – With Statistics and Index, published by Authority,
1926.” Those maps were drawn by my father when he was deputy surveyor in the Surveyor General’s Office, under William Miller, the then surveyor general (1861-1934). I still have my father’s personal copy, plus one for each of my children. As a child, I did not understand the importance of Daddy’s atlas, but in the 1950s and ‘60s black and white copies of the maps were a necessary piece of equipment for every seaplane pilot in the Bahamas. My good friend Captain John Lee, of Bahamas Airways, prized his copy and was reluctant to believe that I owned one of the originals. Recently, I combed through the pages on this atlas, looking for strange place names, and found the following:
PAUL C ARANHA FORGOTTEN FACTS
CENTRE Burying Ground
Abaco – Centre-of-the-World Rock; Cooling Temper Bay; Don’t-ye-may; No Name Cay.
Acklins – Bob’s Nose; Kettle Bottom.
Andros – Far-for-nothing. Castle Island – a nearby Abaco channel called Mira-Por-Vos.
Cat Island – Coffin Hills; Labour-in-vain
Eleuthera – Face and Eye Bay; Ignomalus Rock.
Grand Bahama – Set and be Damned
Inagua – Mount Misery Mayaguana – Mount Misery
(Yes, another one.); Troublesome Hill.
New Providence – Stoney Battey
Less puzzling, but still interesting, are family surnames. Former slaves, most of whom had only one name,
often took the surnames of their former owners, and the best example to this is Rolle. Hills, roads, settlements have been named for various governors of the colony, including Woodes Rogers. The waterfront road that bears his name is, however, a modern addition to Nassau Harbour, built some 200 years after his terms as governor. Woodes Rogers died in Nassau, but nobody knows where he was buried.
The hill on which Government House stands is called Mount Fitzwilliam, after Richard Fitzwilliam. Gambier is a very interesting name. John Gambier served as lieutenant governor from 1758 to 1760. His wife is buried in our Centre Burial Ground, at the eastern end of Dowdeswell Street. Their son, James (1756-1833), born in Nassau, joined the Royal Navy at the age 11 and worked his way to the very top –including admiral and, later,
first naval lord of the Admiralty Board. In 1807, he became Baron Gambier of Iver, in the County of Buckinghamshire. In the United States, Gambier was a founding benefactor of Kenyon College and the town Gambier, Ohio. Around the world, places bearing his name include the city and the dormant volcano in South Australia, Gambier Island in British Columbia and let’s not forget Gambier Village on West Bay Street. Street names, in Nassau include George Street, named after George III (1738-1820); Charlotte Street, named after his wife; Frederick Street named after George’s father (Prince of Wales, lived 1707-1751; also known as Friedrich Ludwig of Braunschweig-Lünenburg), and Augusta Street, named after George’s mother (Augusta of Saxe-Gotha). Shirley Street is named after William Shirley, Deveaux Street after Colonel Andrew Deveaux, and McQueen’s Settlement in southern Cat Island is named after Alexander McQueen, my mother’s three times great-grandfather.
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Friday, July 22, 2022
animals
The wonderful world of cats (as seen through the eyes of a self-professed dog person) By KIM ARANHA Animal Matters
T
he cat: that magnificent aloof, regal and selfcomposed companion animal who shares many homes around the world, or should I say: rules many homes around the world. They come in many shapes and styles, mostly the same size, though some tend to be larger; the difference is not as exaggerated as the Chihuahua verses the Great Dane. The average street cat will weigh 10 12 pounds. What varies incredibly is their colouring and their fur. There are species of cat that grow larger, particularly the Manx cat that can grow to a whopping great 25 pounds! Though they are generally in the 13 – 15 pound range. The Manx originates from the British Isle of Man. They have a naturally stubby tail with long back legs and a round head, they appear to come in all colours and variations. The cats here in the Bahamas are significantly smaller and are all descendants of domesticated cats, the word “feral” being used very freely to describe any cat that has not benefitted from being tamed by human hands. Mostly all our feral cats have been born in the bush and are naturally afraid of humans. Some can be taught to trust humans and create a bond, others keep their distance forever. Cats have a very definite sense of self, and like to give us the impression that they do not need us, or is that a trait that humans have simply read into a cat’s demeanor? I suspect that one of the reasons that cats have the reputation of been distant and aloof is because they are so frequently compared to our other beloved companion animal: the dog. They most certainly are not obedient as dogs are and are much harder to teach to do tricks. They tend to learn their own tricks and then we can pretend that we taught them. It is very unusual to meet a cat who knows how to fetch for example.
However, is the cat really mysterious and standoffish? Maybe not, it might just be because they are solitary hunters (dogs hunt in packs) and they are not as demonstrative in their affection, (cats don’t jump up on you as you come through the door or cover your face with kisses) though they are more subtle, any cat parent will tell you that their cats show them love and affection regularly. Whether they are really disinterested in their human families or not, one indisputable fact is that a cat requires a lot less attention than a dog, and if you are wanting a pet but have a demanding lifestyle, a cat is probably better suited for you. Their ability to use a litter box and that they find climbing all over the furniture in your apartment thoroughly entertaining makes outdoor walks less essential. In fact, some people have cats who never ever go outside. I do not know enough about cats to know how fair that is. I understand that it is very difficult to monitor or control where you cat is once they venture outside and their natural predilection for hunting is so strong that they will wander. I somehow can’t imagine never being allowed to go outside but I appreciate the danger and risks involved
Recently a friend of mine in the UK had a beloved cat killed on the road, and shortly after she took in another foundling, who subsequently also got hit by a car, but thank goodness not killed. She discovered a system that can be installed on your wall or fencing that stops your cat from crossing that boundary. It is a system that includes trellises, boards and a roller system above the
trellis that supposedly keeps kitty in the garden where he belongs. I am hoping to receive positive reports because it would be great if it truly works. Maybe we have to blame the motion picture industry for the reputation cats have: So many cats are featured in films, especially animated films, as the diva animal, totally disinterested in what their human wants, whilst the goofy dog is climbing up on to their owner’s laps, the fussy, picky cats sits a distance away surveying her kingdom - or so they are made out to be. I actually suspect that this is a masquerade and actually behind that aloof facade there is a really sweet pussycat who just wants to roll on his back and be loved and stroked so that he can get his purring machine to sound like a well tuned outboard engine! Love comes in all shapes and sizes, it purrs or woofs, we all need a friend and now is the time to adopt from the shelter as there are lots of animals needing homes.
pet of the week
“Hi I’m Kyra!!
18lbs! I’d love some older kids to play with. Gotta go - it’s time for zoomies!” If you are interested in adopting Kyra please come to the shelter and fill out an application form. Alternatively call the shelter on 3235138!Kyra looks forward to meeting you!.
By THE BAHAMAS HUMANE SOCIETY I’m ready to find my forever family. I’m 5 months old, fully vaccinated, spayed and microchipped. I’m a terrier mix - high energy, happy and intelligent. I’d do best in a home where I’ll get lots of attention as I’m always up for an adventure. I am cheeky and pretty rambunctious even though I’m only
PHOTO of Kyra by Steph Hickman
If you can’t adopt, foster. If you can’t foster, volunteer. If you can’t volunteer, donate. If you can’t donate, educate! Help make a difference!
16 | The Tribune | Weekend
Friday, July 22, 2022
books
Swimming pugs take over the spotlight
Launch of new children’s book to feature meet-and-greet with the pups
W
e’ve all heard of the world-famous swimming pigs, but now it’s time for the swimming pugs to take the spotlight. Bahamian author Gabriella Suighi is sharing the colourful and lively adventures of Pugsley and Penelope in her new children’s book, “The Swimming Pugs Explore the Islands of the Bahamas.” Pugsley and Penelope are pups who love to swim and enjoy the beauty of the islands. It was their fascination with the stunning turquoise waters around the country that inspired the creation of “The Swimming Pugs” book, which is a collection of short stories featuring the pair travelling around the different islands of the Bahamas, meeting new animal friends and learning fun facts about the country. “Move over swimming pigs; the swimming pugs are here,” joked Gabriella when asked about the book. “Pugsley and Penelope bring me so much joy, that I wanted to be able to share that joy with young readers and showcase the beautiful place that we call home.” In addition to being an author, Suighi is a Marketing Director, host of The Sip television show, and an avid traveler. Despite her busy schedule, this dog-mom is happiest when exploring the country with her pups. “The Bahamas is a marvelously diverse and unique place, with so many stories to tell. Through the eyes of The Swimming Pugs, I wanted to share these stories with the world” added Suighi. “The Swimming Pugs” book became an instant hit ahead of its official launch, with children and their parents reaching out for copies as soon as Gabriella teased the book on the official Instagram page. The official Bahamian launch of the book will take place this Saturday, July 23, at the National Art Gallery, from 11am to 2pm. In addition to an in-person meet and greet with Pugsley and Penelope, there will be treats for both children and parents at the event, inclusive of a wine sampling courtesy of Caribbean Wines and Spirits, colouring books from BAARK, and other surprises and popups from The Pawshe Shoppe, Kendal Rose Designs, and Skin 2 Art. Ahead of the vibrant picture book’s official release, “The Swimming Pugs” can be found
locally for purchase at the Logos Bookstore, the National Art Gallery Gift Shop, My Wish List, Bookworld, Island House, Down Home Bahamas, Bahama Art and Handicraft, The Current - Bahamar, Paradise Blue Surf Shop on Paradise Island, and Harbour Island Canvas in Eleuthera. It is currently also available via sites like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Target and Walmart. Gabriella, Pugsley and Penelope will also be taking part in a series of meet and greet events around the country this summer. The first confirmed event will be at the Showman Restaurant on July 19 from 6pm to 9pm. Penelope and Pugsley will be the night’s special guest for the restaurant’s Chef Series, and Gabriella will feature one of her favourite dishes – a red curry snapper sandwich with Asian peanut sauce and coconutdusted fries.