Weekend december 22

Friday, December 22, 2017

art film fashion food entertainment fitness puzzles gardening

Weekend

CARDI B PERFORMS Page 7

A force for good Youth given Junkanoo platform Interview, pg 4 & 5 bealiv.com

do you believe in family?

02 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, December 22, 2017

charity

A red kettle army for those in need

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

F

OR more than 85 years, the Salvation Army’s ‘Red Kettle’ Christmas campaign has assisted in funding the organisation’s many services and programmes for the less fortunate.

Whether stationed outside of a local business right here in New Providence or on the

Red kettle volunteers are stationed throughout New Providence and in the Family Islands.

Family Islands, it brings great joy to the volunteers to participate in this worthy cause, which was held under the theme “Christmas Has An Army” this year.

The Salvation Army assists more than 40,000 people each year through donations received.

“We also host a ‘Christmas Cheer’ programme to continue to give hope to the hopeless during the Yuletide season, as the Bahamian economy is still challenged and we see the needs of those

seeking assistance growing. The Christmas parcels, gifts, toys and basic necessities given away are always appreciated by the many recipients each year,” said Melanese Coakley, Salvation Army community relations associate.

Since 1931, the Salvation Army has assisted those in need through initiatives such as its feeding programme, the women and children’s emergency shelter, after-school programmes, hurricane and natural disaster assistance, its School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the social services programme, and with visitations to patients in hospitals and other institutions.

“The work of the Salvation Army is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

And during the Christmastime we strive to give joy, laughter and hope through the kindness and generosity of individuals, families, donors and corporate Bahamas,” said Ms Coakley.

Sharing some of the positive feedback they received from supporters this year, Ms Coakley quoted people like Tonya Farrah, the Rotary of South East Nassau Community chairperson, who said: “We look forward each year to supporting the Salvation Army by volunteering each year.”

Another volunteer, C & E Five Stars, said: “My family and I really enjoyed taking time to bell ring, we had a blast singing and ringing the bell.”

Ms Coakley said the Salvation Army Bahamas Division continues to be grateful for the generosity and kindness of individuals, families, donors and corporate Bahamas.

All interested persons seeking to volunteer are asked to call the Salvation Army office at 393-2340. Donations are accepted online at www.salvationarmybahamas.org or at the many red kettle stations across New Providence and Grand Bahama.

The Tribune | Weekend | 03

Friday, December 22, 2017

Inside Weekend Interview 4-5 Felicity Ingraham talks to Lance Bennons about combining his passion for helping at-risk youth with Junkanoo

Music 7 Rap superstar Cardi B and chart-toppers Migos perform in the Bahamas

Food 8 - 9 Mediterranean, Californian and Bahamian influences converge at Cleo

Entertainment 11-12 A roundup of Christmas events around town, plus ‘Blackout’ to take guests back to the Garden of Eden

Art 13, 20 - 21 Edrin Symonette explores the ‘pure island life’, plus Equity Bank and Trust hosts 15 artists for a good cause

Fitness 14 - 15 More than 400 ‘Santas’ spread cheer during first annual Jingle Bell Jog

Film 17 - 18 “Jumanji”, “Ferdinand” reviewed

Gardening 19 Jack Hardy on the history of the poinsettia

Literary Lives 22 - 24 The rise and fall of a tragic child star

Forgotten Facts 25 Paul C Aranha remembers The Nassau Shop

Puzzles 26

Animals 27 BHS names its Employee of the Year, plus Pet of the Week

Cover Photo | Shawn Hanna

My perfect Bahamian weekend Bradley Watson, Jr Restaurant manager Q: Saturday breakfast or Sunday lunch?

“Sunday lunch. I work at a restaurant and serve food all the time. On Sunday I get to put time into making an enjoyable meal for myself.”

Q: Wine, rum, cocktail or Kalik?

“Cocktail. If I am at the bar and just taking it easy, I would like to have a cocktail to sip on, preferably gin, maybe Hendrick’s.”

Q: Beach or sofa?

“Beach! Always the beach. Go out with friends, have some beers, relax, see what’s out there, just chill and vibe. Beach is better than sofa, man, this the Bahamas!”

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

“I can’t go without music. Music goes straight to your soul. No matter what you are doing, you can always enhance it with some music and make it better.”

Q: Weekend away, where would you go and why?

“If I had a weekend away, I would go to Eleuthera. I would drive up and down the island, stay at different places, eat a bunch of good food, go to the beach.”

Things 2 Do this weekend (For Christmas-themed events, see PAGE 11)

Venue: Botanical Gardens

Friday

Saturday

• The Fourth-Annual Bahamas Bowl | Bahamas Bowl 2017

Time: 12.30pm Venue: Thomas A Robinson National Stadium

The UAB Blazers (Conference USA) face off against the Ohio Bobcats (Mid-American Conference) during this year’s game. Tickets are $50.

• Seafood Market Pop Up at Versailles Terrace

Time: 5pm - 10pm (remains open until Monday) Venue: The Ocean Club, Paradise Island Experience the fresh seafood of the Caribbean and enjoy Bahamianinfluenced dishes conceived by the resort’s culinary artists. To secure your reservation, please contact dining.oceanclub@fourseasons.com

• Blackout 2017: Eden Welcome to the Garden

Time: 8pm

SEE PAGE 12

• 5 Day’s of Delights

Time: 9am - 7pm (continues Sunday, 2.45pm - 7pm) Venue: Quality Home Centre ‘Tis the season to be delighted, so Decorative Delights is offering the best of its sweet treats, including cupcakes, cookies, brownies and more.

• Salsa Night at Studio Café

Time: 9pm - 11pm Venue: Studio Café, Compass Point Studios Join instructor Maydi for some sexy and saucy dancing to the hottest salsa tunes.

Sunday

• Gamer’s Eve: Console Giveaway

Time: 1pm - 7pm Venue: Joystick, Prince Charles Drive East All gamers get a 50 per cent

discount on the all-day passes.

Your name is automatically entered to win a Playstation gaming console with games included.

Monday

• Come to the Mic

Time: 8.30pm Venue: Studio Café, Compass Point Studios The open mic event will feature the Poetic Breeze Band with guest singer Melody. Admission is $5 for the audience; performers are free.

• Boxing Day Parade

Time: 10pm Venue: Bay Street

Tuesday • Migos Unwrapped

Time: 9pm Venue: Beach Soccer Stadium Rap’s hottest trio, made up of Quavo, Offset and Takeoff, take to the stage for a very special Boxing Day party.

SEE PAGE 7

04 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, December 22, 2017

interview He was born on Christmas Day. No, he’s not Christ, but he is living up to some valuable Christian principles that are making an impact on young Bahamians who may have otherwise gone astray. He tells Felicity Ingraham about a new Junkanoo group comprised of at-risk youth and older friends which he will be leading to Bay Street this Boxing Day.

Lance Bennons

L

ance Bennons will celebrate his 70th birthday on December 25, and that night, just hours before Boxing Day, he will be proudly presenting his Junkanoo group, Ultimate Force, to the public. After two years of planning and preparation, gathering at-risk youth and teaming them up with some of his older, wiser friends, Lance is ready to introduce the newest Junkanoo group to the parade on Bay Street.

Ultimate Force will enter the competition in the C category to be evaluated by the judges of the National Junkanoo Committee for entry into the B category. Lance says they are ready to meet the requirements, which means having at least 51 members, including a banner, a lead piece, at least six dancers, and a strong back line.

Lance finds comfort in the fact that the group’s senior members are investing their time and energy into teaching the younger ones the art of Junkanoo, often called the national pastime. Not only are they passing on the tradition of pasting, playing music, dancing and more, these men are also bequeathing confidence, guidance and encouragement to the younger group members.

This is the kind of result Lance lives for. He has dedicated his life to helping young people, and has a special affinity for helping at-risk youth. Combining his passion for Junkanoo with his passion for seeing young people succeed culminated in the formation of Ultimate Force.

“I love young people, and I love decorating costumes, and I have been doing both for more than five decades,” he told Tribune Weekend.

A retired civil servant, Lance worked as a road traffic official for many years before moving to the Ministry of Education, where he poured his heart into Programme Sure. The programme, which began in Andros under the directorship of current Education Minister Jeffrey Lloyd, has been moved to the capital, but is not as big as it was, according to Lance. However, for the years he was there, he made fostered relationships with young people, so much so that three of those young men will be rushing on Bay Street with Ultimate Force this Boxing Day. “Programme Sure is for troubled boys in school that don’t like to behave, smoke dope, fight teachers – they send them there. Joseph Rolle is a very good principal and good man. We got to love these boys being around them. They would say, ‘Mr Bennons, I need pants or a shirt or shoes,’ and I would buy it for them, because I wanted them to be encouraged and keep trying their best.”

Lance sees Junkanoo as a vital instrument in transforming the lives of troubled teens and suggests that the art be implemented in “every single school in the country”.

The Ultimate Force shack is located at the historic Fort Fincastle, at the home of the late Oscar Johnson, former Cat Island Member of Parliament. Mr Johnson’s children opened the doors of their childhood home to Ultimate Force. Lance thanks former Speaker of the House of Assembly Italia Johnson and former Senator Gladys JohnsonSands (who he said goes above and beyond) for orchestrating it. He also thanks former Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Dr Daniel Johnson for seeking out sponsors to assist

The Tribune | Weekend | 05

Friday, December 22, 2017

PHOTOS/SHAWN HANNA

“I tell them follow me. I don’t drink and I don’t take drugs. Keep away from the police, and make a contribution to your country that you can be proud of.” the group in raising funds to purchase instruments for the parade.

Beat Schlagenhauf and Anna Maria Albek of the Children’s Haven of the Bahamas came to the rescue after learning that Lance had gathered children in the Fort Hill area to participate. He also thanked “Hot Pattie” and Skebo Roberts for supporting the group.

“I am happy to see them taking such interest in Junkanoo instead of hanging out on the corner or just riding their bicycles up and down Fort Hill all day,” said Lance.

“There’s a mix of ages in our group, from old to young, and they are teaching the kids and keeping them off the street,” he added, noting that the group is still searching for a title sponsor.

Like so many Junkanoo enthusiasts, Lance puts his personal funds into the

group. He is calling for government to take a closer look at Junkanoo, to “reevaluate it from top to bottom”.

Major groups like the Saxons Superstars and Valley Boys spend more than $100,000 to make it to Bay Street, and for this reason alone the main prize should start at $100,000, he said. He stressed that culture officials should take a closer look at the parade and find ways to make it more profitable to the thousands of people who dedicate their lives to the art form.

The idea to create his own Junkanoo group came from his 15-year-old granddaughter Jade. She grew up knowing him to be an avid enthusiast. He used to rush with the Vikings and the Fancy Dancers before joining the Music Makers, a group which he says he still loves dearly.

“My granddaughter said to me, ‘Papa, aren’t you tired coming fifth and sixth?’ She then told me to start my own group and she gave me the name Ultimate Force.”

“My wife is wondering why I would want to spend my 70th birthday, Christmas Day, in the shack, but this is my Christmas present,” he added, “I want us to put our best foot forward, even if we are not the best on Bay for Boxing Day and New Year’s.”

He is used to dancing on the front line, but this year he has handed that job over to his younger brother. As for the reins of the group, he is already preparing young teenagers to take the lead.

Born in Guyana, Lance came to the Bahamas at the age of seven when his father came to Nassau to serve in the Royal Bahamas Police Force. In those

days, the Bahamian police recruited many officers from nations around the Caribbean. He grew up in the Chippingham area and is happy that he has been able to bring children together from around New Providence for this venture.

Ultimate Force plans to bring an “Old Time Junkanoo” theme to the parade.

When asked what he tells the young men in his group to keep them in line, he replied: “I tell them follow me. I don’t drink and I don’t take drugs.

Keep away from the police, and make a contribution to your country that you can be proud of.”

“I am doing this to build a new Junkanoo dynasty. I will be around, but I want to see young people take the lead.

I am training them to have a love of country and a love of Junkanoo.”

(L-r) Lance Bennons, Beat Schlagenhauf and Anna Maria Albek of the Children’s Haven, Dr Daniel Johnson, Immalasha Johnson, and Jamal Clarke.

06 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, December 22, 2017

section

MOBILE

APP

Take us with you Everywhere you go!

The Tribune | Weekend | 07

Friday, December 22, 2017

music

Rap superstar Cardi B makes Bahamas debut Charttopping Migos to perform on Boxing Day

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

T

HE wait is almost over and Bahamian Cardi B fans will finally get to see “the world’s hottest rapper” live and in living colour when she takes the stage for the “Red Bottoms Affair” tonight.

Presented by Starforce Promotions and MVP Entertainment, the concert will be held at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex in Freeport.

Doors open at 9pm.

Cardi B, who got her start on reality TV, shot to stardom this year with her mega hit “Bodak Yellow”, which garnered her millions of fans around the world, including here in the Bahamas. This was why Starforce decided to have the rapper make her Bahamian debut at tonight’s end-of-year show.

Terrible T, the concert’s organiser, told Tribune Weekend that booking Cardi B for the performance was no an easy task.

“She is the hottest rapper in the world right now. And with her being the hottest that was

Cardi B performs in Freeport tonight. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File) Rap trio Migos will perform in Nassau on Boxing Day, (Photo by Jordan Strauss/ Invision/AP) a challenge. There were about eight other Bahamian promoters trying to get her for a show here,” he said.

However, Starforce’s track record of successfully presenting of some of the biggest hip hop acts in the past is what made the local promotion company come out on top.

“We have a track record.

And we actually had to call industry friends who we have worked with in past times.

They made some calls for us and that was how we were able to get the contract with her,” said Terrible T. The promoter said this event has been in the making

since late Summer, when they received a confirmation from members of Cardi’s camp that she would do the show.

Now that the deal has been signed and sealed, Terrible T said Bahamian fans will get exactly what they have been waiting for – pure, unadulterated Cardi B. She is expected to perform to a crowd of up to 3,000 in Freeport tonight.

Cardi B, real name Belcalis Almanzar, first attracted attention with her unfiltered behaviour on Instagram where she openly discussed her past working as a stripper. The New York native then won the hearts of viewers with her hilarious antics on VH-1’s “Love & Hip Hop”.

The show’s exposure boosted her music career and she released two mixtapes within a year – “Gangsta Bitch Music Vol 1 & 2”. From those she released the singles “Cheap

Ass Weave”, “Foreva” and “Wash Poppin’ “. In early 2017, Cardi signed with Atlantic Records and scored a major hit with “Bodak Yellow”, which climbed to No 1 of the Billboard Hot 100 charts.

The track, inspired by Kodak Black’s “No Flockin”, made her a household name within months. Today, she has hit records, sold-out shows, and even a Grammy nomination.

Though Terrible T could not confirm it, there is a good chance Cardi could be staying in the Bahamas a little longer after her show tonight. And she has good reason to. Her fiancé, Offset, will be the country to perform with the other members of the chart-topping rap trio Migos. The “Migos Unwrapped” concert will take place on Boxing Day at Nassau’s Beach Soccer Stadium.

“This is her first time in the Bahamas and she is super excited. There is a possibility she may stay because she booked her own travel arrangements,” said Terrible T. As to the question of why they did not put on one mega show featuring both Cardi B and Migos instead of two separate concerts, Terrible T said that was just the way things worked out.

Starforce Promotions along with Fresh Entertainment will present event featuring Migos.

“We wanted to have them both on one night, but Migos was already booked for tomorrow night’s date. It has been hectic producing two shows just days apart,” said Terrible T. However, he promises that both performances will be high-energy and spectacular.

08 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, December 22, 2017

food PHOTOS/PRYIA SIMMONS

Award-winning chef creates menu for Cleo Mediterranean, Californian and Bahamian influences converge at SLS

By ALESHA CADET Tribune Features Writer acadet@tribunemedia.net

O

NE of Nassau’s newest restaurants strives to bring the taste of the Mediterranean and the glamour of Hollywood to the shores of the Bahamas.

Cleo Mediterráneo, which made the top 50 ‘hottest restaurants in the US’ on the OpenTable website, is the latest dining option to open at Baha Mar, this time at the SLS. Popular dishes from the Mediterranean region, especially Greece, have been a hit with Bahamians for decades now, and there are many restaurants around Nassau serving up the goodies.

But Cleo wants to bring its own version of Mediterranean cuisine coupled with the laid-back atmosphere of California – the location of the first Cleo – to Baha Mar Boulevard.

The restaurant features floor-toceiling windows, views of the ocean, white on white beach chic décor, whitewashed and sandstone surfaces, accented with plants in low, tall and hanging containers.

And now, as families go out for meals together during the holiday season, Cleo wants the public to know that it embraces the idea of “sharable plates.”

The menu offers everything from dips and mezes served with laffa bread to Greek salads, lamb sliders, ceviches, grilled octopus, tandoori chicken, meatball shakshuka served in hand-painted

tagines (cookware) from Morocco, Maine lobster, and more.

It was created by award-winning Chef Danny Elmaleh who said he wants guests to enjoy these Mediterranean inspired dishes with local ingredients and a Bahamian twist.

Jorgge Colon, executive chef at Cleo, is proud to say that the kitchen his staffed with Bahamian personnel. He said the working environment is one that keeps the team excited and wanting to deliver their best performances.

“The snapper that we have today was caught this morning from a local fisherman. I think this island is full of resources, we just have to utilise them.

The Cleo is a very refreshing concept for the island because you don’t come to have dinner, you come to have an experience. We try to actually take all the steps of proper service from A to Z,” said Chef Jorgge.

He believes the Cleo concept of even allowing the waiter or chef to suggest an order for a guest is fun and creative.

“There a lot of names on the menu that you may not be familiar with, and because you are not familiarised you are not going to be able to actually choose out-of-the-box. It is after you have already tasted the food that you discover new flavours. You get to try things for the first time and find out it’s fantastic. By doing this we know that we did our part and you are satisfied with the new experience of learning something new,” said Chef Jorgge.

Friday, December 22, 2017

For Daniel Diaz, SLS’ director of restaurants, it is a wonderful feeling to see the opening of this new venue for Cleo, a chain of restaurants which started seven years ago in Hollywood, California.

“It has been a food celebration at the table every time for the past seven years, and now we are expanding globally. We have restaurants in Miami, Las Vegas, and now the Bahamas, as our first international Cleo, so we are extremely excited.

The idea of this dining experience is to put everything on the table for the party to enjoy. It is not family-style necessarily, it is not tapas either, but it is somewhere in between,” said Mr Diaz.

As SLS stands for “style, luxury and service”, Mr Diaz said it was only right they incorporated a fun, stylish and funky approach to the Cleo’s dinning appearance at Baha Mar. “People that work here are very friendly and very stylish as to what is going on with the trends. The space is full of colour, the dishes are also full of colour and flavour. The glamour here is the style that we bring out of Hollywood, up to trend of fashion. We don’t force our staff here to be something they are not, and that is pretty much the lifestyle that we have in Hollywood, where everybody can soak in their personality and be themselves at a very high-level restaurant,” said Mr Diaz.

He said the team is also honoured to occupy a space at Baha Mar. “It’s is a great, intimate space to be secluded. It makes you feel like you are in a totally different world on its own.

During dinner time you will see a lot of greens such as plants that bring life into the space itself. It feels like a celebration, the way the tables are even placed, forcing you to interact with other people in the restaurant at other tables. We dim the lights, kick up the contemporary style of music to make sure we always have that energy going,” said Mr Diaz.

If there is one thing he could take back to the Hollywood venue from the Bahamian Cleo, Mr Diaz said it wold have to be the Junkanoo spirit.

“When I see the staff on the floor on a busy night, everybody brings out that fire and that passion of the Junkanoo spirit here in the Bahamas. There is a sense of camaraderie which allows them to create an amazing experience, and it is very contagious; I admire that. If you apply that to restaurants, it would be great; you can’t buy that,” said Mr Diaz.

The Cleo Mediterráneo’s operational hours are currently from 6pm to 10pm for dinner, while lunch will be introduced in the coming weeks from 11.30am to 2.30pm.

The Tribune | Weekend | 09

10 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, December 22, 2017

section

The Tribune | Weekend | 11

Friday, December 22, 2017

entertainment

Christmas around town

By FELICITY INGRAHAM

I

t’s Christmastime in New Providence! Lights, laughter and fun can be found everywhere as the island is abuzz with activity. Homes are decorated inside and out, families have get-togethers planned, and lavish meals will be spread across many a dining table throughout the Bahamas this holiday season.

For those still looking for fun events and activities to get into the Yuletide spirit, Tribune Weekend did some digging to find out what’s going on around town.

The annual Blackout event happens tonight and it’s not too late to purchase tickets. The much anticipated Christmas party will be held under the theme “Eden... Welcome to the Garden”. Sands Beer and KO Productions have teamed up to present another exciting affair at the Botanical Gardens.

Christmas Day will be very special for Cardi B fans as she will be making her debut performance in the Bahamas with the Red Bottoms Affair. She will be performing on Monday night in Freeport.

Rap fans will also be raving over the Boxing Day party with top rap group Migos. Fresh Entertainment and Starforce Productions present Migos Unwrapped. The event will be held at the National Beach Soccer Arena, with tickets starting at $50.

Then, Christmas Carols, Coffee and Chocolate is being hosted by Enue magazine at Starbucks in Palmdale on Saturday, December 23, at 6pm.

Admission is free.

If you like trying unique cocktails, consider visiting the Grand Hyatt resort for their special Christmas drink – tobacco-infused mojitos on December 23 and 24. If you are into wine and cigars, you may not want to miss a Christmas

pairing event at the Lukka Kairi restaurant downtown this Saturday evening, hosted by 19 Crimes.

If you still haven’t done all your gift shopping, you may want to pass by the All Tings Bahamian trade show hosted

by Sweet Sense on Saturday.

Find unique Bahamian handcrafted items at the Tiki Bikini Hut, Junkanoo Beach, from 12noon to 5pm.

Party-hoppers may be intrigued by what promoters are calling “a new party experience” in Nassau. Royal Entertainment is hosting an event called Meltdown at J-Line Fitness on Shirley Street. The party begins tonight at 8pm and includes dance competitions with prizes. DJ King, DJ Hollister, DJ Cannon, Selecta Doughboy and Ovadose will provide the entertainment. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the gate.

The newest restaurant in town, Halcyon on Charlotte Street, will have a live band tonight for happy hour. On Saturday night, the restaurant serves a three-course meal for $55 per person, with a glass of choice Burns House wine. However, with two levels of entertain-

ment, one can choose to have the restaurant experience or chill at the bar and lounge. Halcyon’s Christmas Jam will take place on Wednesday night, December 27.

Revival Faith Mission Church Inc is hosting a Christmas production at the church in Malcolm Allotment East beginning at 7.30pm this evening.

Performers will re-enact the story Christ and inspire others in the true meaning of Christmas.

The British Colonial Hilton Hotel is inviting parents to bring the kids on Saturday morning for Breakfast with Claus. Enjoy breakfast, cartoon character performances, photos with Santa, and more.

Adults will pay $55, kids age two-12 are $28, and kids under two are free.

Tailgaters will love the Bahamas Bowl Tailgate Extravaganza. Enjoy food, refreshments, music and entertainment in an American college footballstyle tailgate before the UAB Blazers take on the Ohio Bobcats in the fourth annual Bahamas Bowl game. For more info, or to purchase tickets, call 445-1731.

12 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, December 22, 2017

entertainment

‘Blackout’ transports guests to the Garden of Eden

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

A

fter arriving at the Botanical Gardens tonight, party-goers will be taken back to the origins of the successful Blackout party

series.

The highly anticipated end-of-year celebration kicks off at 8pm under the theme “Eden”.

This edition of Blackout seeks to take revellers back almost 14 years, to the genesis of the event when KO Productions created Blackout with the sole purpose of wowing guests with an experience that kept them partying even through the rain.

“The theme symbolises the beginning when KO Productions wanted to take their patrons back to its inception where they were just blown away by the party experience, those Blackouts at RIU and the one Fort Charlotte where the rain poured and patrons partied in the rain, that’s the party vibe we wanted to recreate for this ‘Eden’ experience, ensuring that everybody leaves with a good, fun, memorable party experience,” said Princess Pratt of KO Productions.

She said the event will be an “amazing end-of-year party experience with a décor that transforms the Botanical Gardens into nothing you’ve seen before – Eden.”

This time around there will be two levels to choose from to suit the party needs of all guests: the Garden Access, which is the pulse and heartbeat of the party, and the Black Lounge, which caters to the individual who would like to be more exclusive and experience a bit of party and chill.

This year’s Black Lounge will have on-stage access for patrons to feel the pulse of the party as well as a backstage area for the more laid-back who just want to socialise. Black Lounge guests will have their own private parking, separate entrance and international cuisine to dine on.

The Blackout party series has been entertaining Bahamians for 14 years.

As an added feature there will be an international guest DJ from New York, Rico Suave, who is known for his energetic stage presence and being the official DJ for Trinidad artist Skinny Fabulous. He is currently on tour with Caribbean comedian Majah Hype.

Also featured will be Tiko T Destiny from Freeport.

“People should come out to the event to experience ‘Eden’ in all of its glory – in the garden with Adam and Eve – and to be blown away by how each year KO turns up the level of the party experience with each unique

Blackout themed party. People should come out to have the best Christmas party experience of their lives; people should come out to the event to be surprised, because KO Productions always has surprises up their sleeve,” Princess said.

The buzz Blackout creates every year, she said, is due to the reputation the event has gained over the past 14 years.

“Listening to its patrons’ feedback, concerns and expectations, and improving on them each year to create a different experience each time, bigger

and better than before is what makes it so highly anticipated,” she said.

This year, Blackout will also feature a lot of giveaways.

“We’re giving away $20,000 in prizes, inclusive of flat screen TVs, Samsung tablets, PS4 game consoles, as well cases of Sands Beer. Aliv customers can also text PLAY to 2548 for $1 to be entered to win prizes at the event,” said Princess.

Tickets for Blackout are available at Fine Threads, Club One, Airbrush Junkies, and online at www.onlinedealfind.com.

The Tribune | Weekend | 13

Friday, December 22, 2017

art

The ‘pure island life’ explored

B

AHAMIAN artist Edrin Symonette is closing out 2017 with a special exhibition that explores the stillness and sacredness of the Family Islands.

As a “Family Island boy”, Edrin draws from his heritage of Rock Sound, Eleuthera, and his Outer Island roots to explore notions of identity, placement, sustainability and blackness in his work.

“Island-Life” will officially open at the Central Bank of the Bahamas Art Gallery on December 27, from 6pm to 9pm.

“Being raised in Eleuthera, I asked to be transferred to Long Island after completing my Bachelor’s in Education. This transition served as the primary inspiration for this new body of work,” said Edrin.

“Removed from the hustle and bustle of Nassau, I became more aware of my natural surroundings and dissected and analysed the meaning of island life.”

The new collection includes nearly 20 mixed media pieces, including sculptures made from various materials.

“Each island of the Bahamas holds a unique culture, but Family Islands possess a stillness and sacredness about them. Unlike New Providence, which was highly developed to accommodate tourism, Family Islands remain the standard of pure island life with preserved flora, fauna and clean beaches; beaches which provide shells and broken coral pieces to be scavenged.

The shells and coral distort the features of the cast faces and the resulting assemblage attempts to expound on our connectivity to the ocean,” he said.

“From the ocean we eat, by the ocean we travel, and the ocean surrounds us. As islanders, the issue of climate change is an imminent threat to our longevity, these assemblages also paint an image of individuals whose very existence rest precariously in the balance.”

Edrin said this show continues the conversation established in a previous series.

“My recent works, like those done over the past two years, have attempted to ask a personal question, ‘Who am I?’ A question that relates not only to a ethnic or national existence, but a human element as well, as an islander

“Island-Life” by Edrin Symonette includes nearly 20 mixed media pieces.

living within this archipelago region. I am hoping that viewers are able to step back and possibly formulate a personal response to this question, evaluating the weight.”

From a young age, Edrin, who is currently an art educator in Long Island at North Long Island High School, has been drawing and creating. He has been a professional artist for the past 12 years.

Speaking more in depth about the art of sculpting, he said: “I really enjoy the process of creating. The material, like any other medium, has a certain learning curve as it pertains to pot life and cure times. It also requires a little bit of experimentation, as some substrates used to cast positives are extremely sensitive to moisture. This meant that our humid climate sometimes caused issues. I enjoyed the idea

of encountering a problem, and trying to solve it using what resources I had available. I also love the tactile nature of creating a piece of sculpture, the weight and appearance of certain materials, be it plaster, wax, cement, resin; each medium has its own attributes that add or detracts from the final piece.”

The exhibition will be open until January 4.

14 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, December 22, 2017

Friday, December 22, 2017

The Tribune | Weekend | 15

fitness

Jingle all the way...

More than 400 ‘Santas’ spread cheer, promote exercise

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net

A

veritable army of Mr and Mrs Clauses took to the streets last Saturday to take part in Nassau’s first ever Jingle Bell Jog. At promptly 7am, more than 400 joggers took their place at the starting line at Arawak Cay in their Santa suits and beards.

The country’s inaugural Jingle Jog, an annual 5k event in celebration of the Winter holidays, did not offer the usual eventbranded T-shirts of other races, but encouraged participants to get into the spirit of the season by wearing the provided Santa apparel and even jingle bells for the shoes.

“The vast majority of the participants had on some variation of their Santa suit with a

majority having full costume with the exception of the beard,” said Pamela Richardson, organiser.

The route for the Nassau Jingle Bell Jog started at Arawak Cay, on to the Western Esplanade and then the Goodman’s Bay Corporate Centre.

After the 5k, the little elves took a shortened course. Children aged three to 10 participated in distances ranging from 100 metres to 400 metres; broken down into age groups. They were also welcome to participate in the 5K. “Seeing the sea of red at the starting line and along the route, Santa Claus definitely took over Bay Street. The Lil’ Elves Run was truly special,” said Ms Richardson.

“We were very confident that the jingle bell and Santa theme would resonate with the local and visitor population alike. The participants, wearing their Santa suits, surpassed expectations.

Ninety-five percent of the participants collected their Santa suits prior to event date and creativity was evident with every imaginable accessory and suit modification. It was truly electric.”

The event, she said, surpassed their expectations and was “a great way to start the holiday season – full of cheer, fun, camaraderie and exercise, which we hope will carry into the holidays.”

Josh Stern, a life-long runner,and the CEO and founder of WildSide Online Inc USA and Nassau, Bahamas, is the director of the Jingle Bell Jog. After competing in several similar events around the world he decided to host one of his own.

He told The Tribune that he started the first event in Fort Lauderdale and has now expanded to eight cities. He will be adding four more next year.

This year, four Jingle Bell Jogs took place in different cities simultaneously. In addition to Nassau, “Santas” participated in Tampa, Naples and Delray Beach, Florida.

Mr Stern said one of his main reasons for bringing the event to Nassau along with Exclusive Sports Marketing is because “Santa needs to have some fun in the sun also.”

16 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, December 22, 2017

celebrity The Weekend Fashion Report Jingle Balls 2017

With Karin Herig and Alesha Cadet

FAIL

SPLIT

HIT

SPLIT

SPLIT

Demi Lovato

Camila Cabello

Cardi B

Halsey

Karin says: “Demi’s been in a better place mentally in recent months, so I’m not sure what the explanation for this denim cowgirl nightmare is. Are those cut-off sleeves from an old jeans jacket that she’s using for pseudo chaps (and which make her legs look stumpy)? Dear Lord...”

Alesha says: “OMG Demi, why? This is completely tacky.

I just don’t get it. I am all for changing, evolving fashion wise and creating new trends, but this here is truly a denim disaster.”

Karin says: “Ah Camila and her ‘tough’ leather, biker chick look. It’s not a bad look as such, but for some reason I get the impression she’s just playing dress up. She’s doesn’t have to personality to pull it off.”

Alesha says: “I would say lose the shiny costume-y police hat and the stockings, and then the outfit would be fine. She looks cute otherwise.”

Karin says: “OK, I actually like this. Dare I say I was expecting something...errr... trashier from Cardi. I really like the magenta pink hair and sleek bob. They go well with the very festive little silver dress and thigh-high boots (which seemed to have been a must this year).”

Alesha says: “I am loving how there are top designers out there trusting Cardi B to rock their styles. I have yet to see a bad red carpet look on her since 2017 became her year.

Yes, Cardi, live your best life boo!”

Karin says: “Halsey is also going with a look which I don’t think quite fits her personality. It basically looks like Calvin Klein underwear and some stone-washed, torn up jeans. Can I mention that I still hate light blue jeans? I don’t care if this 80s trend is back, they’re awful.”

Alesha says: “This is probably what Demi should have done.

This is playing it ‘denim simple’. I am not a fan of those boots either, but she is rocking them well. I like the braids also, they’re cute.”

Lauren Jauregui Fifth Harmony Karin says: “Yes, this could double for a race trackthemed Halloween costume, but I think it’s actually cute.

It’s perfectly coordinated, even down to her red lips which match the red stripe on her leather (?) pants. I think she looks great in this ensemble.”

Alesha says: “What is up with these white shoes lately?

Definitely a winter trend they can all do without, not matter how well-known the shoe brand is. I don’t have much to say about this outfit; it doesn’t stand out at all.”

The Tribune | Weekend | 17

Friday, December 22, 2017

film

review

‘Jumanji’ sequel serves up stars, good hearted fun JUMANJI RUNNING TIME: 119MINS

M

ore than two decades after Robin Williams conquered that pesky board game, “Jumanji” has been resurrected with more and glossier stars (Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart and Jack Black), a comedy director and a “modern” twist.

The result, “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle ,” is a very sweet, and generally entertaining body swap lark with some nice messages about being, and believing in, yourself.

Why it had to be “Jumanji” is the head-scratcher. Even speaking as someone who was 12 when the first came out, and genuinely enjoyed the Joe

review

Spielberg, Streep and Hanks deliver in ‘The Post’ THE POST RUNNING TIME: 115 MINS

“THE POST “ is kind of like the Yankees of movies. A Steven Spielberg directed film about the Pentagon Papers starring Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep and a murderer’s row of all your favourite television character actors (Jesse Plemons! Bob Odenkirk! Carrie

Kevin Hart, Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan and Jack Black in “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” Johnston-directed adventure and the fantasy of being swept up in a board game come to life, the idea that a diehard “Jumanji” fanbase exists, or that the “brand” is so rock-solid that it needs a reboot, seems dubious at best.

The conceit here is that when you’re transported into the game, you are suddenly a character in the game, in body, voice and skillset but with your earthbound personality pretty much intact.

This is how a group of mismatched teens sharing the same detention, including the nerdy, shy Spencer (Alex Wolff), the football player Fridge (Ser’Darius Blain), the superficial popular girl Bethany (Madison Iseman) and the too-smart for gym class Martha (Morgan Turner), transform into avatars played by Dwayne Johnson (Spencer), Kevin Hart (Fridge), Jack

Black (Bethany) and Karen Gillan (Martha).

It’s a role reversal for everyone — the nerdy girl is hot now (and scantily clad), the hot girl is a soft, middle aged man, the skinny guy is The Rock and the big football player is now tiny and wimpy — and they all have to go through the stages of learning to accept their new bodies, talents and shortcomings.

There is of course a lot of easy comedy in these situations — Spencer admiring his new muscles and Bethany getting used to her new anatomy among them. And all the main actors/ avatars are kind of great at imitating the facial expressions of their teenage counterparts, especially Johnson and Black.

How can you argue with a bunch of movie stars acting goofy and hawking

a “believe in yourself” message? There are some odd beats and choices, especially around Gillan’s Martha, who is costumed in nearly nothing (surely as a send up of what female characters usually wear in video games, but however meta it might have been intended to be, it is still literally her costume). Maybe it’s all in good fun, or maybe one of the four credited screenwriters could have been a woman.

But “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” probably doesn’t warrant that much scrutiny. Its surface pleasures are strong enough for a fun holiday afternoon at the movies.

Meryl Streep stars as Kay Graham (Photo/ Niko Tavernise)

Josh Singer, who also wrote the investigative journalism drama “Spotlight.”

Instead of a deep dive into the reporting that led to the Pentagon Papers being exposed, “The Post” focuses in on the Washington Post executives who risked everything to make it happen.

Streep plays Katharine Graham, the new publisher of The Washington Post, who is taking her family’s paper public in an effort to save it. Hanks is the editor Ben Bradlee, who is trying to elevate it from hometown rag to national necessity on par with The New York Times. We meet them both at an interesting moment, when the most pressing matter is that they’ve been banned from covering Tricia Nixon’s wedding and that the style coverage is perhaps a little too snarky for the sensibilities of DC society ladies. Then The New York Times comes out with their

first story about the damning Vietnam report and, well, everything changes.

The film actually begins with Daniel Ellsberg (Matthew Rhys) in Vietnam, and the moment he decides that he can’t handle the lies of Robert McNamara (Bruce Greenwood), who in private says that things are devolving in the war, but then boasts to the press that things are improving. Spielberg takes us along as Ellsberg steals the reports and starts the long and tedious process of copying them (somehow Spielberg is able to make even a copy machine seem thrilling). Indeed, while “The Post” is not much more than people talking, Spielberg infuses every scene with tension and life and the grandeur of the ordinary that he’s always been so good at conveying.

Coon! Sarah Paulson!)? It doesn’t even seem fair. Is there any way it wouldn’t be great or least very good?

That Spielberg shot and is releasing it in under a year was perhaps the only potential handicap. Would it feel rushed? Unfinished? Eastwood-ian?

The astonishing thing is that while there are a few clunkers, on the whole “The Post” is meat and potatoes Spielberg in the best possible way.

He is directing off of a script from first time screenwriter Liz Hannah and

LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer

LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer

18 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, December 22, 2017

film

review

Children’s book ‘Ferdinand’ jumps to screen nicely FERDINAND RUNNING TIME: 107 MINS

T

his holiday season, there’s all manner of conflict at your local movie theatre — Jedis battling in the stars, Winston Churchill warring in Europe and Olympic athletes dueling on ice.

And then there’s that 2,000-pound bull that refuses to fight.

“Ferdinand “ is a first-rate animated tale adapted from the beloved 1936 children’s book about a pacifist Spanish bull who just loves to sit around and sniff flowers. It’s often dark, sometimes whacky, but true to the heart of the book and beautifully brought to life in modern Spain.

Carlos Saldanha, the director of “Rio” and “Ice Age” movies, and screenwriters Robert L. Baird, Tim Federle and Brad Copeland faced a daunting task turning a spare 66-page book by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson into more than 100 minutes of film.

But they’ve largely succeeded, while adding more serious issues along the way, including animal rights, rigged economic systems, nature versus nurture, cowardice, and the importance of looking out for each other. Not bad for a kid’s flick, huh? It also plunges another sword in the sport of bull fighting.

At its core, “Ferdinand” is an antibullying statement that stars a bull. In a neat twist, that bull who refuses to fight is voiced by professional wrestler John Cena, a man who makes his living with violence.

Ferdinand is bred to fight but won’t.

This image released by Twentieth Century Fox shows a scene from the animated film, “Ferdinand.” (Twentieth Century Fox via AP) His dad and peers at a bull fighting ranch all want to go into the ring and take on a matador. “Is it OK if it’s not my dream?” the young Ferdinand asks.

No, he’s told. “You’re either a fighter or you’re meat.”

After his father disappears, our bullish conscientious objector manages to escape and ends up in a peaceful flower farm, lovingly taken care of by a young girl. Good for Ferdinand, but bad for the filmmakers, who have more than another hour more to fill.

Enter a cavalcade of strange and bewildering creatures: three crafty hedgehogs, three condescending Lipizzaner horses and an unhinged goat called Lupe. Kate McKinnon voices the goat and her performance is Robin Williams-in-”Aladdin” level work. A film that was overly dark suddenly gets an infusion of silliness and comic genius.

We take a few detours — there’s a brilliant dance competition between break-dancing bulls and the prancing horses; an unorthodox running of the bulls, this time with the animals chased by bad guys through the streets on Segways; and an utterly wonderful interpretation of a bull in a china shop.

Ferdinand is the only bull to realise that the entire bullfighting game is fixed and tries to convince his peers to flee (the voice actors include a very good Peyton Manning — yes, that Peyton Manning — as a bull prone to vomiting, and a hysterical David Tennant as a very hairy Scottish bull.)

Ferdinand rescues some of his pals from the “chop shop” — note: seeing this with your kids may become uncomfortable if you promised hamburgers

afterward — then sacrifices himself for the good of the group and ends up facing the meanest matador in all of Spain in the ring in Madrid. Will he finally fight? Will he die for his convictions?

The musical choices are a little odd.

Nick Jonas offers the new soaring ballad “Home” and the Colombian artist Juanes delivers with “Lay Your Head On Me.” But did we really need the unearthing of the 20-year-old “Macarena”? And Pitbull’s overexposed “Freedom” makes little sense here unless it’s because of the pun on his name.

It would have been nice to have a more Spanish-heavy soundtrack.

Still, for all its problems, this is a film with world-class animation, revealing everything from astonishingly rich crowd scenes to rusty details on an old pail. The animators have managed to make wet fur feel tactile and show the headlights of cars bouncing off other cars.

So for the overall message of the film — “Live your own life” — plus the rich animation and the completely looney McKinnon, we have one word: Ole! ___ MPAA definition of PG: Parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children. ___ Online: https://www.foxmovies.com/ movies/ferdinand ___ Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter. com/KennedyTwits MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer

The top 10 movies on the iTunes Store 1. American Assassin 2. Despicable Me 3 3. Elf (2003) 4. Atomic Blonde 5. Logan Lucky 6. Home Alone 7. Kingsman: The Golden Circle 8. The Hero 9. The Hitman’s Bodyguard 10. Wind River (2017)

By The Associated Press

The Tribune | Weekend | 19

Friday, December 22, 2017

gardening

The rise of the poinsettia One of the most striking of all plants, says Jack Hardy, is named Euphorbia pulcherrima – a very beautiful Euphorbia.

N

ow generally called poinsettia, the Euphorbia pulcherrima has had the most prolific rise in popularity and sales of any plant in the last 50 years, with the possible exception of marijuana. Once upon a time, Christmas plants were holly and mistletoe; now poinsettia rules supreme. How did this come about?

Poinsettias come from Mexico in the region around the town of Taxco.

Perennials, they were distinguished by brilliant red bracts – petal-like modified leaves – that appeared in mid to late December each year. The Aztecs prized the bracts for a dye they produced; Franciscan priests later used the bracts as ornaments for religious fiestas and parades around the Christmas season and on towards Easter.

The wild poinsettia was somewhat different to today’s plants. It was a straggly shrub and the bracts were not as broad as they now are. The original poinsettias also sent up cane-like growth with few leaves but with a flowering head at the top, sometimes as tall as 16 feet.

The popular name is in celebration of a most remarkable man. Joel Roberts Poinsett was a botanist and medical man as well as a distinguished diplomat who was brought up in England but lived in Greenville, South Carolina.

He was appointed the first US Minister (Ambassador) to Mexico and while there he studied the local flora and fauna. Poinsett was most attracted to what became E. Pulcherrima and took some back to Greenville in 1828 where he grew them in his greenhouse. He gave specimens to plant experts and friends who in turn agreed that poinsettia was a mighty fine popular name.

Totally independently a Mexican lizard was also named for Poinsett. In the 20th Century a peninsula in Antarctica was also named for Poinsett.

For a century the poinsettia became established as a sub-tropical exotic but sales were not particularly high. In 1923 Mrs. Enteman of Jersey City, New Jersey, developed the seedling cultivar Oak Leaf that was far more compact and tidier than the Mexican originals.

Sales improved but were still not high.

It was in the 1960s that serious attention was paid to the poinsettia by geneticists from several universities and commercial horticultural companies. Instead of one flower head to a stem, multiple-flowering stems were developed, along with stronger stems to support the added weight. Leaf retention was another improvement that helped to set off the red bracts.

The bracts themselves were bred to be larger and showier, and soon there were other colours besides red. All of a sudden poinsettias were very big business and because horticultural

companies could force them into flowering by the end of November they were a natural for yuletide decorations.

There was great competition between horticultural companies – particularly in California and Florida – and the battle was effectively won by the Ecke Ranch in Encinitas, California.

In recent years they have provided 70 per cent of all poinsettias sold in the US and 50 per cent worldwide. The growing of poinsettias at Ecke Ranch has ceased and they are now grown in Nicaragua where lower wages keep prices down. Two years ago the business was sold to the Agribio Group of The Netherlands.

How to keep your poinsettia thriving Your own Christmas poinsettia will last a long time if you care for it well.

Once the immediate holiday season is over you can either dig your plant into the ground or move it into a much larger pot. More than anything else it is the location that is critical. The plant should be gradually introduced to full sun if it has been indoors or outside in shade. The location must be free of artificial lights, as from a street or front porch light that stays on all night. The plant should receive full sunlight once established.

I offer this advice but find that a single poinsettia of the modern type seems to look out of place in a regular garden. On a porch, fine. On a patio, fine. As a specimen shrub, dubious.

Neighbours will think you are cheap to save 2017’s purchase for 2018. But whatever people may think, your poinsettia will have a show of bracts through to about Easter. After this the

plant should be pruned by one-third to encourage bushy growth. Another pruning should done in July at the latest. Do not prune in August or later because the flowering process may well have started by then and could be interrupted by a late pruning.

The cane producing type of poinsettia is another matter altogether. One of these is a treasure and can hold its own in any garden and at any time of year. Also an exception is a poinsettia hedge. Jim and Doris Hall of Marsh Harbour, now both departed, tended a poinsettia hedge in front of their house near the old Key Club years ago. When the plants were green and leafy they formed a regular and unexceptional hedge, but from January to April the show was stunning.

Poinsettia may be the most beautiful of the Euphorbiaceae but some of the other family members are no slouches.

Crotons with their fascinatingly formed and multicoloured leaves are also candidates for a hedge. The chenille plant (red hot cat tail) is one of the most striking of our garden plants with its dark green leaves and bright red blossom spikes.

Copper leaf (match-me-if-you-can) is not particularly beautiful but is striking. Crown of thorns, although prickly, has lovely red, pink or yellow flowers.

All the Jatrophas such as the coral plant are related to poinsettias, as is the snow bush with its red branches and white flowers dotted and mottled with pink and red. The Euphorbiaceae certainly have character.

• For questions and com- ments, e-mail hardy1342@ yahoo.com

20 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, December 22, 2017

art

Creativity unleashed for a good cause

F

ifteen Bahamian artists had a chance to display their talents at the Equity Bank And Trust Bahamas Limited’s second annual charitable art exhibition last Saturday, with a portion of the proceeds donated to the Ranfurly Home for Children.

Held at Equity Trust House in Caves Village, the exhibition called on artists to unleash their creativity. The event attracted more than 100 clients, guests of clients, senior governmental officials and Bahamian art collectors to the philanthropic event.

The exhibition, which took place in the bank’s modern atrium, featured artists Dandreia Bethel, Rebecca Christen, Kevin Cooper, Tina Klonaris-Robinson, Theirry Lamare, Sylvia Krista, Nelly Biche de Bere, Toby Lunn, Theo McClain, Sophie McCarroll, Judith Papillon, Imogene Walkine, Alkanah Cartwright, Allan Wallace, and Alexandro Sarno.

“We are very grateful to the highly talented and socially committed artists and the attending Bahamians who made the Exhibition possible and such a success’” said Ivylyn Caesar, Equity’s chairman. “And at this time of year, Equity and our supporting artists for the event couldn’t think of a more appropriate organisation to support than the Ranfurly Home which gives so much to those in so much need.”

As part of its 30-year anniversary in 2016, Equity Bank And Trust Bahamas Limited sponsored its first annual art exhibition with a portion of the proceeds donated to the Bahamas Hurricane Restoration Fund in the wake of Hurricane Matthew which caused considerable damage to parts of country last Fall.

EQUITY Bank and Trust Bahamas hosted the artwork of 15 artists.

Photos: Terrel W. Carey/Tribune Staff

(Front row, l-r) Kayla Johnson, human resources manager at Equity Bank; artists Dandreia Bethel, Judith Papillon, Tina Klonaris-Robinson, Sophie McCarroll, Sylvia Krista, Thierry Lamare, and Ivylyn Cassar, Equity Bank chair; (back row; l-r) artists Imogene Walkine, Kevin Cooper, Toby Lunn, Allan Wallace, and Rebecca Christen.

Friday, December 22, 2017

The Tribune | Weekend |21

22 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, December 22, 2017

literary lives - judy garland

The rise and fall of a child star Sir Christopher Ondaatje remembers the varied and tragic life of the American singer, actress and vaudevillian.

A PART I

t the end of December 1959, Judy Garland, her tiny body destroyed by alcohol and drugs, lay near death’s door at the Doctors’ Hospital in New York.

She wasn’t expected to live. Somehow she pulled through but was warned that she would be a semi-invalid for the rest of her life, and would never be able to work again. Defying doctors’ orders, and spending the early part of 1960 resting and staying away from Hollywood and from her third husband Sidney Luft, she signed with Freddie Fields and David Begelman to embark on a cross-country concert tour, culminating in a booking in the famed Carnegie Hall on April 23, 1961.

Nobody who was at the event, which had sold out within hours after a small advertisement in the New York Times, will ever forget the experience. It was a thrilling event – more like a revival meeting than a concert.

The Garland myth and the legend were reborn. Encore followed encore until a final show-stopping rendition of “Chicago” caused the packed audience

Judy Garland (1922 - 1969) to charge the stage. A thousand fans stood outside the stage entrance refusing to go home. An hour and a half later they were still there. The once spurned Garland was queen again. The album recording of the live show topped the Billboard charts for 13 weeks in 1961 and has never been out of print since.

It is still regarded as being the greatest single live album by a singer of popular American standards, and is still being sold today – perhaps the most astonishing evening in show business history.

Sadly her reign as the queen of show business would be short-lived.

Judy Garland was born Frances Ethel Gumm on June 10, 1922, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. She was the youngest daughter of Ethel Marion and Francis Avent Gumm – vaudevillians who ran a movie theatre that featured

vaudeville acts. Her first appearance on stage was when she was two-and-a-half years old. She joined her older sisters and brought the house down with a chorus of “Jingle Bells”. From then on she was stage-struck and performed there with The Gumm Sisters for the next few years. The trio toured the vaudeville circuit and made three short film appearances.

In 1934, they performed with George Jessel at the Oriental Theatre. He encouraged the girls to choose a more appealing name and it was Jessel who came up with the name of Garland.

They toured under the title of The Garland Sisters until August 1935, when her eldest sister married the musician Lee Kahn. Frances changed her name to Judy after a popular Hoagy Carmichael song.

“I was born at the age of 12 on a MGM lot.” – Judy Garland

Before the break-up of the Garland Sisters, MGM had given the 13-yearold Garland a screen test but had no idea what to do with the young girl with a marvellous contralto voice. Nevertheless, they signed her to a contract and she went to the Metro School with other young budding stars Lana Turner, Ava Gardner and Elizabeth Taylor.

Judy Garland, only four feet, eleven inches tall, was the ugly duckling of the group and felt increasingly insecure. However, she made the films that made the money despite having to wear removable caps on her teeth and rubberised discs to re-shape her nose.

MGM portrayed her as the girl next door and she was popular. Eventually she was cast opposite Deanna Durbin in the musical Every Sunday – a strange pairing that contrasted Garland’s vocal range against Durbin’s operatic soprano. However when Durbin’s contract with MGM lapsed Louis B. Mayer did not renew it, but Garland survived at the studio.

Judy Garland’s father died on November 16, 1935, further devastating the young teenager, but always the young trouper, she performed the song “Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart” on the Shell Chateau Hour. The song would continue to be a standard in her many future concerts and tours.

She was still very much of a misfit and MGM kept looking for a role that would suit her and her extraordinary talents. They didn’t have to wait long.

She was heard singing “You Made Me Love You” to Clark Gable at a birthday party, and it was such a hit that the studio featured the song in Broadway Melody of 1938, in which she sang to a photograph of him. MGM also produced a string of “backyard musicals” with Mickey Rooney – another talented child star – called the Andy Hardy series: “Love Finds Andy Hardy”, “Babes in Arms”, “Andy Hardy Meets Debutante”, and “Life Begins for Andy Hardy”. The series was enormously popular and involved a hectic production schedule. The frantic work load which involved making one film after another prescribed

The Tribune | Weekend | 23

Friday, December 22, 2017

MICKEY Rooney watches Judy Garland put her handprint in cement at Grauman’s Theatre in Hollywood in 1939. They made a total of 10 films together. that the young Garland take amphetamines to keep her awake and enthusiastic during the day, and barbiturates to help her go to sleep at night.

The constant use of drugs led to serious addiction problems throughout her short life leading to her disastrous demise.

MGM refused to admit that they had ever sanctioned the drugs and her co-star Mickey Rooney also denied the studios involvement:

“Judy Garland was never given any drugs by MetroGoldwyn-Mayer. Mr Mayer didn’t sanction anything for Judy. No one on that lot was responsible for Judy Garland’s death. Unfortunately, Judy chose that path.” – Mickey Rooney

Rooney himself was suspected of using performance drugs to help him keep up with the taxing work schedule.

In 1938, after first considering Shirley Temple, and then Deanna Durbin, MGM cast Judy Garland as Dorothy

Gale in “The Wizard of Oz” (1939). It was the role that would propel her to world-wide stardom and the movie in which she sang “Over the Rainbow”, the song that would always be identified with her. The popularity of the film created more work for the overburdened young singer. She was sent on a nationwide promotion tour with Mickey Rooney, who was already involved in promoting the Busby Berkeley directed “Babes in Arms”.

Although “The Wizard of Oz” only cost $2 million to produce (a high budget in those days) the extra promotional expense cost MGM more than $4 million more making the studio scramble for revenue. They did not manage to make a profit until early in the 1940s. The promotion was successful, making

THE GUMM Sisters – Mary Jane, Dorothy Virginia and Frances, the future Judy Garland.

Judy Garland one of MGM’s most bankable stars, and gleaning for her a special Juvenile Academy Award for her performance in “The Wizard of Oz”.

“I’ve always taken ‘The Wizard of Oz’ very seriously. I believe in the idea of the Rainbow. And I’ve spent my entire life trying to get over it.”

More Andy Hardy films followed: “Strike Up the Band” and “Little Nelly Kelly” – enormously popular money-makers. Garland was also growing up. “Little Nelly Kelly” featured her first adult kiss and she had an affair with bandleader Artie Shaw and then with the musician David Rose who was married to the actress Martha Raye. After Rose got his divorce he wed Garland on July 27, 1941. She aborted a pregnancy with him Continued on page 24

24 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, December 22, 2017

Continued from page 23

JUDY Garland married her first of five husbands, composer David Rose, at the age of 19; he was 12 years her senior.

JUDY, her second husband Vincente Minnelli, and their daughter Liza on the set of “The Pirate” (1948)

(encouraged by the studio who did not want to destroy her virginal teenage image) but divorced him in 1944.

1939 was a busy year for Judy Garland. It was the year that she was given top billing in “For Me and My Gal” with Gene Kelly. The film marked a turning point in Garland’s career where she made the transition from teenager to adult.

Garland and Kelly produced a magical chemistry together which the studio would exploit again in later years.

MGM made Garland look glamorous in “Presenting Lily Mars” (1943) and then “Meet Me in St. Louis” in 1944 – one of her most popular films. Her songs “The Trolley Song”, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “The Boy Next Door” were immediate show-stopping numbers which her growing numbers of fans would always request in her post MGM concert tours.

During this time she was also rumoured to have had an affair with Orson Welles, who had recently directed and starred in one of Hollywood’s greatest films ever – Citizen Kane (1941). Wells was married at the time to Rita Hayworth. Vincent Minelli, the director of “Meet Me in St Louis” developed a relationship with the 22-year-old Garland, which led to her second marriage on June 15, 1945. Their daughter, Liza Minelli, was born the following year, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1951.

“To let a fool kiss you is bad. To let a kiss fool you is worse.”

“The Clock” (1945), and “The Harvey Girls” (1946) were Garland’s next films and her popularity increased. She was overworked and still insecure. By the time “The Pirate” was filmed in 1947 she had to be placed in a sanatorium to recover from a nervous breakdown.

She completed filming but a suicide attempt resulted in further treatment in a Massachusetts psychiatric hospital.

However a fragile, slimmer Garland recovered to star opposite Fred Astaire in “Easter Parade” (1948) – one of her most popular and profitable films. The pairing of Garland and Astaire prompted MGM to

star them again in “The Barkleys of Broadway”, but Garland’s prescription drug addiction and inability to handle the severe shooting schedule caused Arthur Freed, the MGM executive, to suspend her on July 18, 1948. She was replaced by Ginger Rogers. When her suspension was over she sang two songs in the “Words and Music” musical about Rodgers and Hart (the last time she would appear with Mickey Rooney), and then replaced a pregnant June Allyson in “In the Good Old Summertime” with Van Johnson – another box office success.

But Garland was still having trouble both physically and mentally and her next starring role as Annie Oakley in “Annie Get Your Gun” (1949) had to be aborted as she was unable to endure the demanding directional efforts of Busby Berkeley. She was replaced

by Betty Hutton and had to spend some months in the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston being weaned off her addictive medication. Again she recovered to play opposite Gene Kelly in “Summer Stock” (1950) but again she was a problematic performer, causing severe shooting delays. The film, because of these delays, lost money. She was cast in one more film “Royal Wedding” (1950) with Fred Astaire but failed to appear on the set. The studio again suspended her on June 17, 1950, replacing her with Jane Powell. Suffering serious depression she tried to slash her throat with broken glass and failed a second suicide attempt.

“All I could see ahead was more confusion. I wanted to black out the future as well as the past. I wanted to hurt myself and everyone who had hurt me.”

After 15 years, July Garland’s career with MGM was over.

To be continued next week....

• Sir Christopher Ondaatje is the author of “The Last Colonial”.

The author acknowledges that he has quoted liberally from Wikipedia, as well as “Rainbow: The Stormy Life of Judy Garland” (1975) by Christopher Finch; and “Judy Garland: The Secret Life of an American Legend” (1992) by David Shipman.

The Tribune | Weekend | 25

Friday, December 22, 2017

history

The Nassau Shop and John Bull Forgotten facts Paul C Aranha

The interior of the Nassau Shop

O

n the way to Café Matisse for lunch with friends, my wife pulled up in front of Bay Street’s finest store, John Bull, for me to drop off a watch that needed a new battery.

I stopped at one of the watch counters and three very courteous young ladies pointed me to the elevator, toward the back of the store, adding that I would need to go to the second floor.

My eyes were drawn to the Starbucks café that I had not expected to see, so I missed the elevator and had to ask again for directions. Another courteous young lady took the trouble to lead me to the elevator and press the dooropening button, reminding to select the second floor.

So far, a very positive experience – but it kept getting better. In short, I took the watch in and came back a few days later and picked it, with its new battery, up. They had even adjusted the strap. A totally positive experience.

I walked from John Bull to Café Matisse, a route that I have walked thousands of time in my life, and I looked for the Nassau that I used to know. I did not find it.

The closest I came was Cole’s Pharmacy. At least the name is still there, but the establishment is almost totally different. From the sidewalk, I could see pharmaceutical items at the very back of the shop, but most of the store was jam-packed with inexpensive “souvenirs”.

I was tempted to turn around and walk to the eastern corner of Frederick Street, just to look into the windows of the Baker family’s long-established, unchanged, and unchanging store, but I was already late for lunch.

Instead, after I got home, I went to my postcard collection for this card of The Nassau Shop, which used to occupy the same site on Bay Street.

Modest, when compared to John Bull, the Nassau Shop was a “high class” place for tourists and locals to shop, and one of its better-known products was the DAKS line, by Simpson’s of Piccadilly, producers of the world’s

first self-supporting trousers.

According to Wikipedia, the quality of Simpson tailoring was such that the company was commissioned to produce military uniforms for officers in the Army, Navy, Royal Air Force and Women’s Services during the Second World War. After the war, when DAKS started selling to the public again, queues of people formed on the sidewalk of Piccadilly, where Simpson tailors measured them, while still standing in line, and presented

This weekend in world history December 22 • 1808 – Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, considered by many to be one of the greatest pieces of music ever written, has its world premiere in Vienna, Austria.

• 1900 – The first car to be produced under the “Mercedes” name is delivered to its buyer, Emil Jellinek, the Austrian car racer, auto dealer to the rich and famous, and bon vivant.

• 1971 – The Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Baltimore Bullets 127-120 in Baltimore for their 27th straight

victory, breaking the previous record for the longest winning streak in professional sports.

December 23 • 1620 – One week after the Mayflower arrived at Plymouth harbour in present-day Massachusetts, construction of the first permanent European settlement in New England begins.

• 1888 – Famed Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, suffering from severe depression, cuts off the lower part of his left ear with a razor.

• 1993 – “Philadelphia”, the first major Hollywood movie to focus on the subject of AIDS, opens in theatres. It stars Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington.

suitable pairs of trousers to them once they got into the store.

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

A first picture of an Earth-rise over the lunar horizon.

December 24 • 1814 – A treaty of peace between the United States and Great Britain, ending the War of 1812, is signed at Ghent, Belgium. The news does not reach the United States until two weeks later.

• 1963 – New York’s Idlewild Airport is renamed JFK Airport in honour of the murdered President Kennedy.

• 1968 – The first pictures of an Earth-rise over the lunar hori are seen as the crew of Apollo 8 orbits the moon.

I NN SmALL CRoSSwoRd

TODAY’S TARGET Sea (8) D Good 17; very good 25; 9 Contribution from European GET THE BRILLIAnT EXPR E 31 Crusader Cro 26 The Tribune Weekend Friday, December 22, 2017 excellent 33 (or more).

3 4 6 1 2 8 7 5 9 inside, not on call (8) 4 2 31: R Cruse, Tonypandy, SolutionJul Monday.

F M Glam 8 4 2 7 5 9 3 6 1 14 Remaining witnesses heard ACROSS Aug 2: G Bate, Lymm, Cheshire; THE DAILY EXPRESS 30-SECOND CHALLENGE 1 2 3 4 5 7 3 1 2 4 6 9 8 5 6 1 2 4 (8)(8) G 6 EXPrESS EvEry WEEK? 1 Gapabroad in the law YESTERDAY’S Aug 4: J Finlay, Carlisle, Cumbria 1 5 8 4 9 2 6 3 7 TodAy’S AnSwERS: BEGINNER = 60; INTERMEDIATE = 12; ADVANCED = 267. notice finished 6 16 SkinFailure problemto(4) H J Bow Aug 6: SOLuTION 1 3 2 9 5 6 7 4 1 8 2 6 spectacle 6 7 8 9 10 8 Sharp mountain(9) ridge (5) CANagree you crack the Alphabeater?

4 6 7 8 1 3 5 2 9 9 It’s Please allow I30 da agent anger Shortened commercial about 11 17 Pride or arrogance (6) 6 4 crossword, your mental muscles to the limit.J Each 7 described 1 as a number 6 Kakuro 7 5 in 9 8 4 3 2the 1 task Best HOW many words of argon argot eager 12 Cummerbund (4) card game (8) Sudoku is a number-placing puzzle based on 11 a 9x9 grid 2 7using 5 6 numbers 8 4 1 9 13 to 9, so is to fill all of the empty squares, Alphapuzzle, every letter of the alphab LAST SATUR egret enrage 14 19 Sing with closed lips (3)eulogy four letters more can eagre with several given numbers. The object is to place the K 1 10 T Brute – or it ruined (7) 1 5 the sum of each8 horizontal 9 block to its 3 9 7 the 4 2 6 1 equals 5 8number ACRoSS Cinnamon Mosaic given letters and1 the given 5black squar 15 21 Manservant (5) tarts numbers 1 toof 9 Tomorrow in the emptySeason squares Two so the row, ergo garner you make from the in passage mensateaser: Legends oneach DVD Crumbled (7)ergot left,grid andso the sum of each vertical block equals the number Win the that LHated 13 Beetroot 15 Often 18 16 Faucet (3) each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number 8 ForFill To add to the fiendish fun, Alphabea extra clues call:may be used in the same block more only once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis 12 13 14 oncolumn, its top.

No number garnet garret garron every row, and 22 Fuss over socialist, loved (6) letters shown here?

26 Feather one’s Sudoku ● The Bookshop stocks M down 17 Counterpart (4) 19nes DC’s Legends once.

Thealldifficulty level ofExpress the InConceptis Kakuroof Tomorrow: The Complete Second Season the Legends 3x3 than square includes same ifgate youdown turn page2upside garter geanthe gear 24 Ringgiving to friends, 322 5603 numerous books of Sudoku In agiven word, each increases from Monday to Sunday 1 Cutlet Newsagent 3 19 making People blood (6) 70901 increases from Monday to Sunday. the from 1 tonetwork 9. access charge.

N reassemble added members to face off against the first ever team puzzles (from £5.99) and the with some SMALL CROSSWORD SATURDAY *Calls cost 75p plusdigits your telephone company’s So, for example if there is a six-lette gems (5)(5)used once gene GEnERAToR 15 8 Coherent 9 Athletic 14 Overture 20 Tennis term letter may be Answer forDVD Teaser 12/08/17: Ravenous.

Infinite Suduko CD Rom (£9.99).

Level: moderate of DC Super-Villains: the Legion of Doom.

On Blu-ray™ and on August 14.

O 6 genet genoa genre gent Across w Smile,burrow catching right fish corresponding (5) 2 today’s 21six-letter Treason 22word Beaten 24 Eva For full solution To order, please call 21 25 Badger’s (4) only.

Each must contain Target: 24 mins * ** 562310 order online 22 Flimflam (8) For your chance call: 0907 getaEvery gnatblack goatsquare goatee Takeorthe online Mensa workout at www.mensa.org.uk or applytoforwin, a supervised IQ test181 in your2723 area, or text DXMENSA to 83310 P has a symmetric 0907 181 2575 01872 at www.expressbookshop.com. the centre letter and 16 company’s 6Callscall: To order the Rupert annual for 2018 (no.82) at £9.99, please call 01872 562315, *Calls cost 80p per minute yournot telephone network access charge 17 and last18 2.5 minutes.

01902 772771.

Mensaplus does accept hyphenated cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge. UK delivery isemail goer gone goner gore free. bookatest@mensa.org.uk or telephone yesterDay’s solution This can help identify other black Q squa 33 or send a cheque/PO to Rupert Bear shop, PO Box 200, Falmouth, 4WJyour usual network rate. Lines close at midnight on Friday, August 25. For full T&Cs see there must be atBRILLIAnT least GET THE EXPRESS PUZZLES APP OCK no5 29 6 1 3 8 2 7 4 **Text cost TR11 £2 plus DOWN words, andat www.classicrupertbearshop.com. uses the Oxford Dictionary English grant grantee or online UKof delivery is free.(Second Edition Revised) as its official reference. corresponding ‘twin’. Solution onR Mond www.express.co.uk/campaigns/terms/7. SP: Spoke, 0333 1 Physical or mental one nine-letter word. No gran 19202 3390. By responding to promotions, offers 8 4 2 7 5 9 3 6 1 grantor grat grate and competitions you agree that Northern & Shell may contact you by post, SMS and/or email with offers, goods weariness (9) forms “Hi, there!” A sudden shout interrupts plurals or verb S 3 22 A 2 great 23 greater 8 12 1 30 7 3 1 2 4 6 9 8 5 1 grater or services that may be of interest to you. To stop receiving SMS messages please text ‘NS NOINFO’ to 83310.

2 Burden (4) Rollo, turn to see a ending in “s”.

3 7 1 5 8 and 4 9 the 2 6 chums T B greet groan 20 21 green 3 Bad luck (4,5) 3 2 9 5 gentleman 6 7 4 1 8 running towards 1 bearded 4 Boy’s name U 17 32 C 22 It’s groaner groat 39a tough 38grot 38 on25our popular 22 *SP: Spoke – Helpline 0333 202 3390 CAN you(3) crack the Alphabeater? twist TODAY’S TARGET 2 9 whispers Rupert. “I 4 6 7“Who 8 1 3is5 he?” them.

5 Cause to sprout or begin negator ogee below represent V D Each 22 4 have your to thenegate limit. grid number Good 17;mental very good 25; 9 8 4 3 2 1 7 5 6 to grow (9) muscles HOW many words of never seen him before.” The man onager 2 7 5 6 8 4 1 9 3 35 6 W have E alphabet every letter ofogre the isorange used. 14 But now you excellent more).

7 Alphapuzzle, Travesty33 (7) (or 31 4 11 22 35 four letters or more can is panting hard as he reaches the 9 rage rager rang 6 1 3 9 7 5 8 4 2 ● The Express Bookshop stocks a wide selection of puzzle books across Solution 9 given Fastening pin (5) letters and the given organ black squares below the main gridXto sta Monday.

F you make from the chums and mops his brow. “I hope you all crossword puzzle genres. To obtain our up to date list please visit range rangerisreagent ACROSS 10 One 1 2 3 4 5 Towho addtravels to thefor fiendish fun, Alphabeater ‘rotationally all: www.expressbookshop.com, call 01872 562310 or write to Express G 6 regret 33 roger 26 19tang27 symmetric 5Y 34 12 shown two help me,” he says. “I am 1 letters Gap in the law (8)here? pleasure (7) regent ● Thecan Express Bookshop stocks Bookshop, PO Box 200, Falmouth TR11 4WJ. Please enclose an SAE for YESTERDAY’S same if you turn the page upside down.

03 numerous books 6 Skin problem (4) 13 Disorder and confusion (5) Z H In making a word, each looking for of a Sudoku fellow named Sailor Sam. tango toerag toga tong return.

SOLuTION puzzles (from £5.99) and the SMALL CROSSWORD ess charge.

So, for(4) example if there is a Isix-letter word Across which starts in 6 7 12/08/17: Ravenous.

8 9 10 LAST SATURdAy’S 8letter SharpSoLUTIon mountain ridge (5) 18 Songbird may be used once agent AnswerSATURDAY for Teaser I Infinite wantSuduko to find him quickly—there is no CD Rom (£9.99).

9 20 18 31 15 18 36 agree anger 11 6 Pride orRaise, arrogance (6) 19 corresponding Pair of performers (3) Call 0907 181 ends 2586 six-letter word Across which in for the bottom righ ution time To order, please call ACRoSS 1 Ringdove, Agar,Each 8 11 Embalm, must contain lose.

Do online either of you know argon argot eager J ** 12only.

Cummerbund (4)19 Loiter, 01872to 562310 or order 1may 2 no For your chance to win, call: 0907 181 2723* or text DXMENSA to 83310 12 Noel, 14 Mar, 15 Feast, 16 Age, 17 Thud, Every black square has a symmetrical ‘twin’ but the ‘twin’ today’s Target solution 11 575 him?” at www.expressbookshop.com. the centre letter and “Why, yes sir,” says Rupert. “He eagre egretsolution enrage 14Free, Sing22 with closed lips (3) K cost *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge and last 2.5 minutes.

Yesterday’s Yesterday’s 80p19per minute plus 20 Gains, 21 Restless.

1 squares.

38course 38 your 7 30 For today’s k access charge. UK delivery is free.

This can help identify other*Calls black Of if 37 the centre s Manservant (5) there must be at least ergo telephone company’s network ergot garner lives in a little shack on top of this **Text cost £2 plus your usual network rate. Lines close at midnight on Friday, August 25. For full T&Cs see gauge,152 down 1 Rain Name, 3 Dramatist, 4 Vim, 21 22 Lon Monday. call: 0907 181 2583 corresponding ‘twin’.

Solution access charge.

All puzzles use 16 Faucet (3) Sudoku Answer Kakuro Answer www.express.co.uk/campaigns/terms/7.

SP: Spoke, 0333 202 3390.

By responding to promotions, offers 5 Begrudges, 7 Georgia, 9 A list, 10 Stature, 12 13 14 one nine-letter word. No*Calls garnet garret garron hill.” say, “Why,” Rupert says, “I’ll show you where cost 80p per minute plus your telephone The Chambers Dictionary M 19 17 18Counterpart (4) 18 39 7 22 27 33 competitions you agree that Northern & Shell may contact you by post, SMS and/or email with offers, goods 13 Lemon, Here, 19 Lie. company’s access garter gean verb forms Anetwork ay?”

To find Sam’s shack—it’s over there.” © Express Newspapers 2017 and 2gate 23charge.

8 gear 12 1 N30 22 19 19 17 39 5 19plurals People or giving blood (6) or services that may be of interest to you. To stop receiving SMS messages please text ‘NS NOINFO’ to 83310. geneB GEnERAToR ending “s”.

15 20 Tennis in term (5) /lmx O 6 2 23 12 2 33 32 genet genoa genre gent 21 Badger’s burrow (4) C 22 39 38 38 25 22 32 4 11 2 5 11 *SP: Spoke – Helpline 0333 202 3390 TODAY’S TARGET 22 Flimflam (8) geta gnat goat goatee P 16 17 18 D To order the Rupert annual for 2018 (no.82) at £9.99, please call 01872 562315, Good 17; very good 25; goer gone goner gore Q 33 22 19 13 25 3 19 or send a cheque/PO to Rupert Bear shop, PO Box 200, Falmouth, TR11 4WJ DOWN excellent 33 (or more). granE grant 31 4grantee 11 14 22 35 6 10 25 27 39 29 or online at www.classicrupertbearshop.com. UK delivery is free.

R 1 Solution Physical or mental 19 Monday.

F grantor grat grate CRYPTIC PUZZLE weariness (9) shout interrupts ACROSS S 3 21 13 32 18 19 35 1 2 3 4 5 grater G 6great 2YESTERDAY’S Burden (4) 33 greater 26 19 27 5 12 33 35 8 36 7 Yesterday’s Easy Solution 1 Gap in the law (8) turn to see aAcross Down T 20 21 green greet groan 3 Bad luck (4,5) 6 Skin problem (4) H nning towards1 Restriction on entry may be SOLuTION 1 Take off a ring, 4 Boy’s name (3) 5 Dregs, 33 17 27 39 28 33 U 17 groaner groat grot 6 7 8 9 10Across: 18Panacea, Sharp mountain ridge (5) I 20 18ogee31 15 18 36 40 25 27 40 3 hispers Rupert. “Ilifted (10) we hear (4) 5agent Cause agree to sproutanger or begin 8 Galapagos, 9 Too, 10 Nose, (6) 11 Pride or arrogance negate9 negator V 22 12 Sri Lanka, 14 Bureau, (4) to grow (9) argon argot eager J 2 Time to check the lines 6 A melody recalled in before.” The man 12 Cummerbund ogre onager orange 33 37 21 39 9 11 after casting? (9) W 35 9 15 Polish,14 17 Sing Zanzibar, 18 Verb, 7eagre Travesty (7) enrage egret with closed lips (3) opera (4) reaches the K 1rage19rager 38 rang 38 37 7 30 13 8 31 39 9 organ ● The Express Bookshop stocks aMauritius, wide selection of puzzle books across 9 Fastening pin (5) 21 Rue, 22 24 Eaten, X 15 Manservant (5) ergo ergot garner 3 Naturally they raiseall crossword puzzle brow. “I hope10 youMoral principle held by the genres.

To obtain our up to date list please visit L ranger reagent range 25 Scarlet.

10 One who travels for 16 Faucet (3) 12 13 points in www.expressbookshop.com, 14 01872 562310 or write to Express garnet garret garron 34 40 5 28 39 5 24 Y awkward public thick-skinned (5) says. “I am Down: 1callPagan, 2 Nil, 3 Cope, pleasure (7) regent M 19regret 17 TR11 Counterpart (4) an SAE for 18 roger 39 tang 7 22 27 33 20 10 37 20 30 Bookshop, PO Box 200, Falmouth 4WJ. Please enclose gate gean gear activities (5) 11 Ideal trio to arrange daily 4 Angora,19 5 Disallow, 6 Extensive, 13garter Disorder and confusion (5) Z amed Sailor Sam. tango toerag toga tong return.

People giving blood (6) N 7 Stomach, Stringent, GEnERAToR 4 General protection away 18gene Songbird (4) 15 2011 Tennis term (5) LAST SATURdAy’S SoLUTIon ckly—there is no work (9) 13 Talisman, 14 Bizarre, 19genet Pair ofgenoa performers (3) gent CallO0907 6 2 2586 23 12 33 32 37 2 1 15 19 181 for 2 genre from the wind (7) Badger’s burrow (4) ACRoSS 1 Ringdove, 21 6 Agar, 8 Raise, 11 Embalm, of you know12 A self-effacing action of the 16 Maquis, 19 Beset, 20 Diva, 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 10 2216Flimflam (8) 19 Loiter, 15 Feast, Age, 17 Thud, geta gnat goat goatee 5 Beginning a letter (7)12 Noel, 14 Mar, Japanese (4-4) P today’s Target solution 23 Ill. 16 17 18 says “He nual for 2018Rupert. (no.82) at £9.99, please call 01872 562315, *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your C H 20 Gains, 21 Free, 22 Restless.

For today’s solution ■ ■ goer gone goner gore 7 In short, an animal for 13200,He tangles with cop - that Q 33 22 19 13 25 3 19 8 16 7 14 4 o Rupert Bear shop, PO Box Falmouth, TR11 4WJ telephone company’s network on top of this 1 Rain gauge, 2DOWN Name, 3 Dramatist, 4 Vim, 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 which one horn may down be will gran grant181 grantee crupertbearshop.com. UK delivery is free.mean time (5) call: 0907 2583 access charge. All puzzles use R 5 Begrudges, 7 Georgia, 9 A list, 10 Stature, 1 Physical or mental “Why,”for Rupert says, “I’ll show you where 19 Z *Callsgrantor cost 80p per minute plus your telephone The Chambers Dictionary enough (5) 15 Settled having the team grat grate 13 Lemon, 18 Here, 19 Lie.(9) weariness company’s network access charge.

S 3 21 13 32 18 19 35 29 39 17 17 19 papers 2017 8 Nevertheless there’s a lack in To redfind (7) Sam’s shack—it’s over there.” grater great greater 2 Burden (4) T /lmx of variety (3,3,4) 21 17 A girl sent round transport20 green greet groan 3 Bad luck (4,5) Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution 4 Boy’s name (3) 33 17 27 39 28 33 14 28 8 21 3 U 17 9 Conifers oddly suited to for the sailors (7) groaner groat grot Cause to sprout or begin Across: 15Albania, 5 Caper, 19 In this way is bound to be negate negator ogee V 22 the court (8) to grow (9) 8 Ostracise, 9 Imp, 10 Eels, 14 Fasteners one may get comforted (7) ogre onager orange 33 37 21 39 9 13 19 27 33 17 W 35 9 7 Travesty (7) 12 Contacts, 14 Bertha, down to, in aactual factof(5,5) 21 Dandy goes to sign for ● The Express Bookshop organ rage rager rang stocks wide selection puzzle books across 9 17 Fastening pin18 (5)Plea, 15 Graphs, Canister, X all crossword genres. our up to date 16 puzzle Press forToaobtain reduction?

(8)list please cloth (7) range ranger reagent 21visit Eft, 22 10 Magic 24 Stern, One wand, who travels for www.expressbookshop.com, call 01872 562310 or write to Express 28 39 5 24 11 1 31 12 20 Y 34 40 5 18 Willing? That’s nice (9) 22 Furniture 25 Respond. pleasure (7) regent regret roger tang Bookshop, PO Box 200, Falmouth TR11 4WJ. Please enclose an SAE for Down: 1 Anode, 2 Bat, Neat, 13 Disorder and3confusion (5) Z catalogue (5) tango toerag toga tong return. 20 Number I spread out for

return.

4

8

6

5

|

Editorial Ltd. All words appear in

|

Education, Theatre, Udder, Grubs, Expansion, TakeSlow, the online Mensa workout at www.mensa.org.uk or apply for a supervised IQEye, test inEasiest, your area, email bookatest@mensa.org.uk or telephone 01902 772771.

Mensa does notBrew. accept hyphenated Streams, Dearest, Systems, Owner, Pine, words, and uses the Oxford Dictionary of English (Second Edition Revised) as its official reference.

yesterDay’s solution

Rearrange the letters of TEASER ‘NO STAMP’ to give a job title. What is it?

OKU

Lisa Wild Rearrange the letters of ‘NO STAMP’ to give SmALL a job title. What is it?

TARGET

GT I

L E T I NN GT I

THE A

THE ALPHABEA

CRoSSwoRd

Lisa Wild

SmALL CRoSSwoRd

4 Alison, 518Cheaters, Songbird 6 (4)Principal, LAST SoLUTIon showSATURdAy’S (7) 24 Guard dispatched one with 7 Repasts,1911Pair Lorgnette, of performers (3) ACRoSS 1 Ringdove, 6 Agar, 8 Raise, a half-nelson (8) 21 Orchestra was upset by 11 Embalm, 13 Chessmen, 14 Backers, Mar, 15instrument Feast, 16 Age, (7)17 Thud, 19 Loiter, 27 One wouldn’t credit such 12 Noel, 14wood 16 Ledger, 19 Aided, 20 Acts, 20 Gains, 21 Free, 22 Restless. transactions (4,5) 23 Where you’ll find Arabs 23 Ado. For today’s solution down 1 Rain gauge, 2 Name, 3 Dramatist, 4 Vim, call: 0907 181 2583 about (5) 28 It facilitates the movement 5 Begrudges, 7 Georgia, 9 A list, 10 Stature, pert says, “I’ll show you where *Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone of arms (5) 25 Getting in a18wild is 13 Lemon, Here,pet 19 Lie. company’s network access charge. m’s shack—it’s over there.” silly (5) 29 Circus performer with an /lmx act? (4) impressive 26 Is the possessor of topless dresses (4) 30 Seer? (10)

EASY PUZZLE

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9 10

11

12

13

14 15

16

17

19

22

20

23

24

18

21

25 26

27

29

28

30

Across 1 Strange (10) 6 Sudden setback (4) 10 Boring tool (5) 11 Fine painting or sculpture (4,2,3) 12 Heavy rain (8) 13 Slightly mad (5) 15 Impossibly ideal (7) 17 Speak very quietly (7) 19 Waterfall (7) 21 Wild and disorderly (7) 22 Short and thick (5) 24 Boldness (8) 27 Bring into play (9) 28 Anger (5) 29 Deserve (4) 30 Mythical marine monster (3,7)

Down 1 Language of Pakistan (4) 2 Emptyheaded (9) 3 Italian city (5) 4 The inside facts (7) 5 Plane’s personnel (7) 7 Permission (5) 8 A salad plant (10) 9 A bloodsucking gnat (8) 14 Following in order (10) 16 Idleness (8) 18 Prone (9) 20 Deletion (7) 21 Reparation (7) 23 Speak (5) 25 Cringe (5) 26 An attempt (4)

Call 0907 181 2586 for today’s Target solution

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

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

C■ ■

Z

H

K

The Tribune | Weekend | 27

Friday, December 22, 2017

animals Animal matters Kim Aranha

‘Blue skies smiling at me...’

BHS Employee of the Year 2017

By The Bahamas Humane Society

O

n Wednesday, December 20, the Bahamas Humane Society awarded the Employee of the Year award to Linda Gill-Aranha, manager of the BHS Thrift Shop and membership coordinator.

Linda has worked for some years at the shelter, and two years ago she suggested some very significant changes to the little thrift shop next door. She asked us to give her a chance to effectuate a turnaround and was given three months to prove that her ideas could work…and what a difference she was able to make!

The interesting thing is that success most certainly begets success: The more the Thrift Shop got nicer donations and significantly nicer clothing and other items, the more people came and spent money, and funnily the more items were willingly and eagerly donated.

Quite a few people tend to miss the obvious and that is that the thrift shop actually benefits humans: We now have two different markets. We still have mothers looking for jeans and sneakers for their fast-growing kids at bargain prices, and now we have the upwardly mobile consumer who is looking for gently used designer clothing and accessories at a fraction of the original price. Young men and women who need to outfit themselves for that allimportant interview, need but to step into the BHS Thrift Shop and will walk out with the perfect solution and look like a million dollars when they go for

T

his Sky isn’t blue. He is currently more of a grey colour, but with a lovely brown coat expected to grow in over time. Sky is a terrier cross of about two years old who is currently at the Bahamas Humane Society awaiting a home of his own. Sky fancies himself a ladies’ man, so he’d be happy to share that home with a female dog or two, not so much with another male. Sky had a tough time of it at his former residence, so he may take a few days to settle in and warm up to his new family, but once he does he’ll be as loving as any dog could be. Do you have a warm spot in your home this holiday season for Sky? If so, come in to the BHS to meet him or call 3256742 for more information. Adoption hours are 11am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, and 10am to 4pm on Saturday.

Sky looks forward to making your

that job.

Linda’s painstaking organisation and thoughtful displays, and grouping of merchandise, makes shopping easy and browsing a pleasure.

The thrift shop is not limited to clothing, though there is always a large selection in a wide range of sizes. Just recently one lady thoughtfully donated several lovely evening gowns, each one but worn a couple of times. We also have an abundance of baby items, children’s apparel and toys.

There is absolutely no doubt that we house the largest collection of secondhand books in the country.

All displayed alphabetically (after all, Linda is a librarian by trade). We carry all sorts and genres of books, ranging from the latest fiction, to biographies and autobiographies and, history, cookbooks and children’s books.

Frequently you can find some beautiful and pristine coffee table books for just a few dol-

PATRICIA VAZQUEZ

Linda Gill-Aranha makes thrift shop a success

PET OF THE WEEK

acquaintance!

• Please note, the BHS will be closed Monday, December 25, and Tuesday, December 26, for Christmas and Boxing Day. The emergency contact is 323-5138. Regular hours will run the rest of the week.

(l-r) Charlotte Albury, BHS vice president; Kim Aranha, BHS president, Employee of the Year Linda Gill-Aranha, and Percy Grant, shelter manager.

lars that would fetch upwards of $50 in a bookstore.

Some of the most exciting finds are in the household items area. Homeowners clearing up their homes or moving are generous enough to hand over to the BHS Thrift Shop what they no longer want. Linda was just telling me on Wednesday this week that we have a saxophone for sale. A few months ago we had a couple of guitars.

There is no knowing what is available.

It changes daily, which is why regular visits for a browse are definitely required if you want to find hidden treasures.

The small annex immediately adjacent to the thrift shop named the “Minerva Shack” (donated in honour of a potcake who now lives in Switzerland) holds and displays larger items and bulk items that will not fit in the store. Come out with time to explore and simply enjoy the experience.

Every few months there are jewellery sales, and the selection is stunning and so very varied. Keep and eye out for the pop up sales that Linda frequently surprises us with!

Under Linda’s guidance, and with her organised spirit, she has been able to amass quite a team of volunteers who are hard-working and dedicated individuals. A note on this for those who wish to help the shelter and the valuable work done, if you a afraid that working too closely with the animals would prove too emotional than you can handle, then thrift shop work would be perfectly suited to you! Contact the Bahamas Humane Society headquarters at 323-5138 and as to speak to Linda.

The immense success of our thrift shop is due to the vision and hard work displayed by Linda Gill-Aranha. The take during the month of December will exceed ten thousand dollars, not all months are that good, but it is a simply amazing success.

The plaque awarded to Linda GillAranha on Wednesday December 20th reads: “For your success in revitalising our Thrift Shop”. There are no other words. Linda Gill-Aranha breathed life back into a amazing little Thrift Shop with her dedicated service and management skills and we are very happy to congratulate her on her award as Bahamas Humane Society Employee of the Year 2017.

28 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, December 22, 2017