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“Shebada Goes to School”

SHEBADA returns to SFlA with big hit play

Sunshine Theatre Company   are at it again as they  present  a four city tour with Jamaica’s superstar comic actor Shebada  in  Michael Holgate’s  sensational  new Jamaican comedy play  “Shebada Goes to School. 

The tour which will kick off on Saturday November 19, 2016 at Miramar High School, in Miramar, will also feature a performance at the Coral Springs Arts Center, in Coral Springs on Sunday, November

20th, before moving to Riverdale High School, in Fort Myers on Saturday, November 26th, culminating with a performance at Palm Beach Lakes High School, West Palm Beach on Sunday November 27th.

The story centers on a class of troublemakers led by Keith Ramsay as Shibby and also includes budding gangster, Trevor (Garfield Reid), livewire Suzie (Suzette Barrett) food lover Flooms (Taunia Flowers)and bookworm Babette(Monique Ellis). The overworked Principal, Mr. Blacks (Luke Ellington) has his work cut out for him to turn these mischievous dunces into bright sparks.

Things only grow more complicated when Mr. Brown (Junior Williams) an education official with a vengeful streak, starts breathing down the principals neck threatening to have the school shut down. Mr. Blacks vows to give the students an opportunity to prove themselves thereby giving the school a fighting chance. But when the students plan to cheat by stealing their test papers in advance, things takes a gruesome turn as the future of the school and the lives of everyone involved fall into jeopardy.  

This will be Sunshine Theatre’s final presentation for 2016 as the company pulls the curtain down for the season. For a preview or more information visit www.sunshinetheatrecompany.com.

 

 

Press Release

National Weekly November 3, 2016

Voting Guide

6 VOTE

FBI clears Clinton aide of wrong doing; completes investigations

Hello to our viewers in the United States and around the world today is Monday, November 7th, across your Caribbean-American community in South Florida, this is CNW 90.
Today’s news is brought to you by Grace Aloe, Aloe Vera Drink, Refreshingly Delicious.
Here’s a look at our top stories:
Florida’s Early voting ended yesterday and data obtained from the Florida Division of Elections indicated a record 3 point 9 million Floridians casted votes early… In the South Florida tri-county region of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach early voting indicated a record turnout of some 1.1 million voters. When combined with mail-in votes, some 6.4 million Florida  voters have cast their ballot as of this morning. The data also indicates some 80,000 more registered Democrats have cast votes as compared to registered Republicans. Election Day is tomorrow! Make sure to visit Caribbean National Weekly.com for our election recommendations to get informed before you vote.

Miami-Dade Public Schools Police locked down and arrested four students at Miami-Norland Senior High School, after authorities said a loaded gun was discovered on school grounds Friday morning. The teens, which included 3 males and one female, were charged with possession of the firearm after officers received an anonymous tip through the “See Something, Say Something” program.

Members of Broward County’s Caribbean American community celebrated the Galleon Foundation’s 7th Annual Scholarship gala, this past Saturday at the Plantation Renessainse Hotel. The annual  event raises funds for the foundation’s educational programs, including scholarships for students at Florida Memorial University, the Impacts Girls after school program in Pompano Beach, the Caribbean Village Cultural Arts and Wellness Expo, in addition to supplying school equipment for students in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Jamaica.
In Sports:
Yesterday at the Ladies Professional Golf Tour at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Florida, Trinidad and Tobago golfer, Monifa Sealy shot an even-par 72 to qualify for the third and final round of qualification…. Sealy ended with a four-day total of 291 to finish tied for 20th and is the first Trinidad and Tobago female golfer to get to this stage. Sealy is also aiming to become the first West Indian to play on the LPGA tour.
Now, here’s what’s trending:
Us FBI Director James  has released another report to congress, just 2 days before the presidential elections. Yesterday he announced the FBI had completed an investigation of some 650,000 thousand emails found on a computer owned by Anthony Weiner, estranged spouse of Hillary Clinton’s top aide, Huma Aberdin. Comey said the extended investigations confirmed Clinton was not guilty of a crime in using a private email server while she served as US secretary of state.
For today’s weather forecast. Mostly Cloudy in Broward County with a high of 80 and a low of 69. Cloudy in Miami-Dade, with a high of 79 and a low of 72.
For more information on these and other stories, visit
Caribbean national weekly.com. Remember to pick up this week’s copy of our Caribbean National Weekly at your nearest Caribbean – American outlet. Today’s news is brought to you by Grace Aloe. Aloe Vera drink, Refreshingly Delicious.”
You’ve been watching CNW90, I’m Suzette Speaks.

REGGAE SOULCHILD – TANICE MORRISON

TANICE MORRISON

Kingston: Reggae Soulchild, Tanice Morrison, is a strong affirmation of all that’s positive, enduring and uplifting about the music genre called reggae.

Passionate about her craft, the singer boldly identifies herself by using her given name as her stage name – no alter egos, no masks — she’s simply Tanice Morrison, a talented artiste whose time has come.

For Tanice, the preparation has been long and arduous, starting from in the early 80’s when she was just a little girl going to the studio with her mother, Studio One recording artiste, Keturah Duffus. Her mother has always been her strongest supporter and the little girl inside Tanice has never forgotten the many challenges she faces growing up and always does her best to make her mother proud.

Being surrounded by a lot of music, Tanice took her singing quite seriously. She entered several competitions including the Red Label Wine Song Competition (1997), where she advanced to the finals as the sole female contestant but never won. But that only served to strengthen the young singer.

Tanice always believed in the value of a good education and while pursuing the music, she pursued further studies as a teacher in music education. While in college, she was introduced to highly respected musician, Jon Williams, for whom she recorded some radio jingles, one of which was Red Stripe Light’s first radio advert. In 2002, another opportunity came for her to audition for Sir ‘Coxsone’ Dodd at Studio One Records. Very impressed with this new talent, Coxsone gave Tanice the opportunity to record her first original song, Old Hurt, which was officially released on the Studio One label in 2003.

Shrugging off all negatives concerning women in the business, Tanice, instead, has deliberately chosen to take up issues that define women and the youth and fervently hopes that her songs will be the catalyst for change. One of her recent (2013) singles, Rather Be Me, speaks specifically to the whole idea of empowerment and the preservation of values.The follow up song, All In The Mind, is yet another inspirational and uplifting offering which defines Tanice as an artiste and a woman.

Still playing a vital role in the performing side of the business as one of the professional cabaret acts on the coast, Tanice has performed at major events including Studio One’s 50th Anniversary show, in 2004. In November2005, she was one of the opening acts for the “Kenny Rogers in Concert”, held at King’s House. Another major concert was the (2011, 2013 resp.) staging Powerful Men and Women in Concert.

In 2010, she released an album, No Limitations, which, as the title suggests, is a full course meal which explores the totality of this vibrant and multi-talented singer christened Tanice Morrison.

Her 2014 “MISSING PIECES (BROKEN) has received positive reviews from fans and media critics as it hit the airwaves.

Trinidad and Tobago visas still needed to enter US

US visa

Trinidad and Tobago visas still needed to enter US

The U.S. Embassy has issued a report on its official website in response to the reports being shared on social media claiming that Trinidad and Tobago is on a list of countries which no longer require a visa to enter the United States.

The Embassy said they “would like to remind travelers using Trinidad and Tobago passports, wishing to visit the United States, of the continued requirement of a valid visa. Please visit our website at tt.usembassy.gov for official information regarding application instructions and requirements. Recent reports on social media advising that the Department of State has placed Trinidad and Tobago on the Visa Waiver Program are inaccurate. Citizens of Trinidad and Tobago are required to possess a valid visa to enter the U.S. We take this opportunity to remind applicants to exercise caution with their personal information and to refrain from paying anyone who promises to process their ‘visa’ or to expedite the application process.”

This Day in History: Brigitte Foster-Hylton was born

On this day in Caribbean history, November 7, 1974, Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Jamaica’s 100 meter hurdler was born in Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica. She was the World Champion over 100 meter hurdles in 2009.

Like fellow Jamaican hurdler Delloreen Ennis-London she was not a successful hurdler until 2000, when she lowered her personal best by 65/100. Having improved greatly, she finished 8th at the 2000 Olympics. In Athens 2004 she pulled out of the semi finals.

Foster-Hylton won the silver medal at the 2003 World Championships and the bronze medal at the 2005 World Championships.

At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing Foster-Hylton finished 6th in the final, but was only two-hundredths of a second behind the silver medallist.

Foster-Hylton’s greatest achievement came in 2009 when she became World Champion at 100 metres hurdles at the World Championships in Berlin. She had previously won the 100 metres hurdles titles at both the Pan American Games in 2003 and the Commonwealth Games in 2006.

 

 

 

 

wikipedia.com

Monifa Sealy becomes first TNT female golfer in LPGA

Sunday during the Ladies Professional Golf Tour at the Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice, Florida, Trinidad and Tobago golfer, Monifa Sealy, shot an even-par 72 to qualify for the third and final round of qualification. Sealy ended with a four-day total of 291 to finish tied for 20th and is the first Trinidad and Tobago female golfer to get to this stage. Sealy is also aiming to become the first West Indian to play on the LPGA tour.

A total of 193 female golfers from all around the world played in the Stage II event with the final qualifier will be played from November 28th to December 4th at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Florida. The top 20 players get their LPGA Tour Cards and the Top 40 get status on the LPGA.

Stephen Ames, the 2006 Players Championship winner, is the only professional golfer from Trinidad and Tobago to make it to the elite ranks of world golf.

Sealy is becoming the first woman and the second T&T professional golfer to do so. She was named the Symetra Tour Rookie of the Year in 2016 after a stellar college career in Orlando at the University of Central Florida.

Record early voting in Florida

Early voting in Miami-Dade County begins today

Record early voting in Florida

Garth A. Rose

Early voting ended with a big bang in Florida yesterday. Data obtained from the Florida Division of Elections indicated a record 3,9 million voters casted votes. In South Florida tri-county region early voting also saw a record of some 1.1 million votes. When mail in votes are added, some 6.4 million Floridians voted as of Monday morning. The data also indicates some 88,000 more registered Democrats have cast votes compared to Republicans..

Votes already cast also include 1,2 million independent voters. It will not be known what party or which candidate these voters cast their votes for until the votes are counted after 7:00 pm on Election Day, tomorrow Nov 8.

In the first week of early voting although voting was steady there was concern, especially with signs of a dip in turnout after FBI Director James Comey announced the FBI would be investigating a batch of emails indirectly related to Hillary Clinton misuse of a private server when she was secretary of state. There was also concern Black voters were not showing enthusiasm in the elections. However, as the second week of early voting progressed early voting spiked. On Sunday, the last day of early voting some 44,219 votes were cast in Broward County a record for a day’s voting since early voting commenced in 2004.

In the last days of early voting a surge in both Hispanic and black voters was noticeable. While, according to the prevailing data, the black vote was down some 3 percent in South Florida compared to 2012 when Barack Obama was seeking reelection as president, this decline was compensated by an increase of some 7 percent in the Hispanic votes, most of whom are believed to have voted for Clinton.

It’s projected the tremendous interest generated during the last days of early voting will carry over to Election Day. There’s still expectation that a record number of black voters will turn out.

With some 60 percent of Floridians having voted it should be much easier and faster for voters to vote on Tuesday. This would be unlike the situation in the 2012 elections when voters especially in Miami-Dade where still in voting lines long after the polls officially closed at 7:00 pm.

In all three South Florida counties voters expressed satisfaction with the electoral operations during early voting which reduced voting-wait time to an average of 20 minutes compared to 45 minutes in 2012. Moreover, aiding early voting turnout in this election is that early voting days were extended from 7 to 14 days and there were some 20 more polling places in the region, compared to 2012.

For Election Day, Christina White head of Miami Dade’s Election Department has assured voters the operations will be as smooth as during the early voting period. The county has brought in more voting equipment and added more voting places that should enhance the voting process on Election Day.

 

 

3 tips for a more flavorful holiday meal

3 tips for a more flavorful holiday meal

Holiday gatherings and backyard barbecues have a lot in common as they are occasions for gathering and for eating. And for both, successful execution of a shared meal means preparing what everyone likes and preparing it perfectly.

While holiday staples such as turkey, ham and brisket create the centerpiece for many of our holiday dinners, it is important to remember that the way they are prepared need not be limited to the printed instructions on your meat’s plastic wrapping.

“Famous Dave” Anderson is the founder of the popular Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que Restaurants and has won over 700 awards for his expertise on smoking and grilling meats. He was recently crowned “Smoked Champion” on the TV show Smoked, taking home the top honors for being “The Best of the Best” when it comes to smoking meats. Anderson shares his expert tips for adding flavor to your holiday meal.

“To elevate the taste of your ham, turkey, brisket or other meats, consider applying the lessons learned during the warmer seasons,” Anderson says. “I’ve always wondered why smoking seems to be forgotten as soon as the holiday decorations come out. Holidays are a time to bring joy to the table. And if you want to see joy, watch your guests take their first bites of cherrywood smoked turkey, or hickory smoked ham!”

In order to help you bring out the best flavors in your meats for your next family gathering, Anderson offers these three important tips:

Smoke it low and slow.

Holidays are a time to escape the hustle that consumes us the rest of the year. Why not apply the same relaxed approach to your holiday meal? As Anderson explains, rushing the process can rob your meats of both texture and flavor. “Slow smoking under low heat allows the meat to relax, and for the fat to properly render,” Anderson says. “It doesn’t matter what piece of meat you are cooking, it’s all about temperature and time.”

He suggests cooking temperatures of between 225 and 250 degrees Fahrenheit for the tastiest and juiciest final product.

Skip the wood chips.

Wood chips are popular and convenient, but you will never get the same satisfying smoke flavors out of wood chips that you will from using a small log. “Wood chips are a shortcut. And who takes shortcuts when preparing the perfect holiday meal,” Anderson says. Wood chips also have the tendency to catch fire, which can negatively impact your cooking temperature and cooking time.

Though a fan of the flavors derived from oak and applewood, Anderson takes a different approach when the weather turns colder. “I like cherrywood for Turkey. And for ham, nothing beats the smokey aromas that come from hickory,” he says.

Season(ing)s greetings.

In order to treat your guests to the most vibrant, mouthwatering flavors, Anderson insists that you check the dates on your spices. Spices greater than 6-months-old will lose much of their flavor, robbing your meal of the holiday’s signature tastes. “At home, I grind my own spices. There’s no better way to achieve the best possible flavors,” he says. For the rest of us, Anderson suggests we refresh our aging spice racks in order to bring real flavor to the table.

Smoking the meats you typically serve over the holidays takes the best of tradition and introduces a new level of flavor. “This is the time when treating the people who are most special to us really matters. A little extra effort can make a holiday meal more meaningful and memorable than ever before,” Anderson says.

To learn more about Famous Dave’s and how you can make your holiday meal even better, visit FamousDaves.com/Holiday. There, you can also find Anderson’s recipe for his famous bread pudding.

3 ways schools are redefining mealtime

3 ways schools are redefining mealtime

What’s the most important part of a child’s school day? Is it math? Reading? History? How about lunch? Research shows that children who eat breakfast and lunch are more attentive, have a better attendance rate and ultimately do better in school. But getting children to partake in school meal programs is a challenge on its own, and with changes in government regulations, schools, working together with food companies, find themselves working to meet a new set of principles.

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 changed regulations around what could and could not be offered for school lunch. Grains are now required to be at least 50 percent whole grain, sodium levels must be reduced, and cafeterias are required to offer an increased number of fruit and vegetable options.

All of this supports a healthier lifestyle, but it leaves schools and food companies with a new challenge — getting kids to eat what is offered.

To comply with new federal guidelines and still create meals that students enjoy, schools across the country are employing solutions like the following:

* Starting right. Schools understand the importance of healthy breakfast to jump-start learning. Some schools are using to-go items with protein-packed ingredients like Cargill’s Sunny Fresh individually packaged egg and cheese whole-grain wraps. These portable meals are offered to kids as they walk off the bus. For many students, this is their first meal of the day. Secondary schools are finding success appealing to older students by offering new omelet stations to encourage students to eat a healthy breakfast.

* Lowering the sodium. As part of the 2010 act, schools are looking for ways to lower sodium in their menu offerings and still provide meals kids enjoy. For example, many schools are incorporating a new line of turkey deli meats that are lower in sodium, taste great and are grown on family farms without growth-promoting antibiotics and verified by the USDA. This small change ensures a popular cafeteria staple remains on the menu for students in the future, delivering the nutrition they need.

* Increased transparency. More focus is being placed on the origins of school lunch ingredients. Because of that, schools and food companies are working to increase transparency for students, parents and community members alike.

“We work with schools to share information about the farmers who provide the foods used in school lunches so people get to know the story behind the food they eat,” said Suzanne McCarty, business development director for Cargill Foodservice. “We know kids and parents increasingly want to understand the journey of their food from farm to fork.”

Going forward

“It is important to partner with food companies as we work to meet the demands of feeding our students,” says Joanne Kinsey, director of school nutrition services for Chesapeake Public Schools. “We all share in the same mission of providing our students quality, nutritious food that tastes good.”

To learn more about how schools and food companies are working to improve school lunches, contact your local school or visit cargill.com/products/foodservice.

How to qualify for a home loan without that big down payment

An affordable way to qualify for a home loan without that big down payment

For many Americans, the biggest hurdle in buying a home is the 20 percent down payment they think is required for mortgage approval. According to a recent survey by the National Association of Realtors, 34 percent of respondents believe they need more than 20 percent. Meanwhile, low down payment mortgages account for a significant amount of home buying annually.

Families with down payments as low as 3 or 5 percent have been able to purchase a home thanks to private mortgage insurance (MI) for 60 years. Since 1957, MI has helped 25 million families become homeowners. In the past year alone, MI helped more than 795,000 homeowners purchase or refinance a mortgage. Nearly half were first time homebuyers and more than 40 percent had incomes below $75,000.

How MI works

Mortgage insurance is simple. In addition to the other parts of mortgage underwriting process — such as verifying employment and determining the borrower’s ability to afford the monthly payment — lenders traditionally required 20 percent down to ensure the borrower had some of their own money committed before the bank would provide a loan. This is where MI enters, bridging the down payment divide to qualify borrowers for mortgage financing.

Benefits of MI

* It helps you buy a home, sooner. For the average firefighter or school teacher, it could take 20 years to save the typical down payment. Private mortgage insurers help borrowers qualify with as little as 3 percent down.

* It’s temporary, leading to lower monthly payments. MI can be cancelled once you build 20 percent equity, either through payments or home price appreciation — typically in the first five to seven years. This is not the case for FHA loans, the federal government’s form of MI. The majority of which require MI for the life of the loan.

* It provides several flexible payment options. Your lender can offer several options for MI payment; the most common is paid monthly along with your mortgage.

* It’s tax-deductible. Subject to income limits, MI premiums are tax deductible — similar to interest paid on a mortgage. In 2014, 4 million taxpayers benefited from this deduction with the average being $1,402.

MI is a stable, cost effective way to obtain low down payment mortgages, and offers distinct benefits to borrowers. It’s been a cornerstone of the U.S. housing market for decades, providing millions the opportunity to own homes despite financial barriers. Ask your lender for low down payment options using MI. Visit www.USMI.org for more information.

Broward School Superintendent awarded Superintendent of the year

Broward School Superintendent awarded Superintendent of the year

Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Robert W. Runcie was recently recognized by the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE) with the organizers 2016 NABSE Joseph E. Hill Superintendent of the Year award.  The award honors school district superintendents who have demonstrated a quality of leadership that resulted in significant positive outcomes for students of African descent.

 Superintendent Runcie is being recognized for his efforts to close achievement gaps, create the Black Male Taskforce and the Office of Equity and Academic Attainment to develop plans and processes for addressing black male success in school, and – with the support of the Broward County School Board and in collaboration with numerous community stakeholders – spearhead efforts to redefine school discipline to eliminate the schoolhouse to jailhouse pipeline and increase positive outcomes for students. This has included implementing appropriate, targeted interventions and mentoring programs to address the root causes of student behavior issues, particularly for boys and young men of color.

 

 

Ministry of Health reports significant increase in dengue fever

BARBADOS  

Barbados is reporting a significant increase in dengue fever this year as compared to the same period last year. However there are no deaths associated with the illness.

The Ministry of Health said that for the week ending October 8, the island had recorded 467 confirmed cases and 1,378 suspected cases as against 70 confirmed cases, 309 suspected cases and one death last year. In 2014, there were 1 858 suspected cases reported to the Ministry and 337 confirmed. No deaths were recorded.

The Ministry of Health said the majority of confirmed cases were recorded during January, February, August and September, when outbreaks occurred.

The figures also show that there were 625 suspected Zika virus related cases with 30 being confirmed. Three of the confirmed cases occurred last year.

It said that the authorities here continue to work closely with the Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) on laboratory confirmation of the mosquito borne Zika virus and urged Barbadians to do everything in their power to reduce the Aedes aegypti mosquito population on the island.

Government announces anti-corruption case against former government officials

Prime Minister Rowley

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO 

The Trinidad and Tobago government has filed its first anti-corruption case against former officials of the former People’s Partnership government that was removed from office in the September 7 general elections last year.

Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, says the case is against persons “who have improperly removed public monies for their own benefit through conspiracies.

“The Government will make the public’s claim in the court and the matters will be adjudicated there, and those against whom the allegations are made will defend themselves there,” Rowley said.

While Rowley did not name the persons or state institution involved in the matter, Attorney General Faris Al Rawi said that the matter involves nine former government officials and public officers from the last administration.

Al Rawi said the matter involved 10 months of continuous work in keeping the commitment, which the People’s National Movement (PNM) gave when it campaigned for the general election.

Local Government election to be held November 28

JAMAICA 

The long over due Local Government elections will be held in Jamaica on November 28.

The announcement was made on Thursday by Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie as he addressed Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) parish councilors and candidates at a meeting in Downtown Kingston.

Nomination Day will be on November 11.

Local  government elections are constitutionally due every three years and have been constitutionally due since March 2015.

The last elections were held on March 26, 2012 , directly electing 228 divisional councillors and the mayor of the municipality of Portmore.

In the last  the main opposition People’s National Party (PNP), secured a landslide victory, winning 151 divisions to the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) 75, in addition to the mayorship of the city of Portmore in the central parish of St. Catherine.

The PNP is currently in control of all 13-parish councils.

Two hundred and 28 candidates are expected to contest the upcoming poll

Jamaicans will go to the polls in a Local Government election on the same day as Local Government elections in Trinidad and Tobago.

Solid Caribbean-American support for Hillary Clinton

Solid Caribbean-American support for Hillary Clinton

Garth A. Rose

It’s no secret that the majority Caribbean immigrants to the USA who are registered. A 2015 survey conducted in the Tri-State region of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina states with large Caribbean-American communities, indicated that 82 percent were registered Democrats.

Another survey conducted in April this year, months before Hillary Clinton was formally nominated as the Presidential nominee of the Democratic party, 74 percent of Caribbean-Americans who are registered Democrats indicated they would vote for Clinton in the presidential elections.

Caribbean-Americans are not only showing their support for Clinton as voters, but several are directly involved in her presidential campaign.

In South Florida, hundreds  of Caribbean Americans are working as volunteers knocking on residents doors and manning phones encouraging residents to vote for Clinton; others have volunteered to transport people to the polls to vote, and involved in various other get out the vote activities.

According to the website newsamericanow.com, in Clinton’s national campaign there are two Caribbean American women, Maya Harris and Neisha Blandin, who are among several Caribbean-Americans who have key roles.

Harris, of Jamaican heritage, is the sister of another influential Jamaican-American, Kamala Harris, California attorney general and current Senate candidate, Kamala Harris. An attorney who graduated from Stanford University, Maya is instrumental in shaping the policies Clinton focus on in her campaign speeches, and the policies she outlined during the primary election and presidential election debates.

Blandin, a native of Trinidad and Tobago has been functioning as the Clinton campaign Deputy Director of Grassroots Engagement since last July.

One of the strongest themes why Caribbean Americans continuously support the Democratic Party and Democratic presidential candidates is immigration reforms.

Of course, the Caribbean American community is an immigrant community. Caribbean migrants have been coming to the American from the 17th century, and although there have been fluctuations in the wave of incoming immigrants, Caribbean people have never stopped from seeking to migrate to America. Caribbean-Americans eagerly support policies supported by the Democratic Party to reform America’s immigration laws to provide and easier path to work in America and eventually become US citizens.

America remains a dream to Caribbean people, as they migrate America seeking a better standard of living including higher paying jobs, advanced higher education for themselves and their children, and purchasing a home.

The Caribbean Diaspora in America is critical to the economic welfare of the Caribbean region. The diaspora remits billions of dollars to the region annually, and provide a very critical export market to Caribbean businesses.

There’s great concern among Caribbean-American voters that the persistent anti-American rhetoric of Donald Trump from the first day he announced his presidential candidacy n 2015, threatens the advantage immigrants from the Caribbean and elsewhere have gained in America. It is feared that not only would his policies have a negative impact on the Caribbean-American community, but would have a negative impact on the Caribbean region.

 

Community Leaders Talk Hillary

Chef Showdown heats up Jerk Fest

Chef Showdown heats up Jerk Fest

Mouthwatering fun awaits you Sunday, November 13 at Markham Park in Sunrise where families, friends, celebrities, chefs and jerk lovers will gather for the 15th Annual Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival!

The Publix Culinary Pavilion will be featuring a line-up of chefs providing cooking demonstrations and exciting, must-see cooking competitions. Amateur and professional chefs, celebrity chefs and personalities will go head to head to see who emerges with the best jerk dishes.

Included in the lineup is two-time Food Network’s Chopped Champion Chef Andre Fowles. Demonstrating his cooking chops with a demonstration at the event he will be the special guest at Publix Aprons Cooking School in Plantation on November 10. Chef Fowles was named “Chef on the Rise” by the Jamaica Observer and is well-respected in the kitchen. Patrons will also have a chance to watch cooking demos with Golden Krust’s Chef Odean, who was featured on CBS’s Undercover Boss.

Guest can also expect to see, and perhaps even taste, the culinary prowess of acclaimed chefs and celebrities in the Celebrity Chef Throwdown and the Celebrity Quick Fire Challenge. This year’s Celebrity Chef Throwdown will see Chef Eddie Jackson, former cornerback in the NFL and The Next Food Network Star Season 11 winner, going up against Chef Maxcel Hardy who was the full-time personal chef for NBA All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire. Chef Eddie’s quite at home in the kitchen, and after retiring from the NFL, he took his cooking to another level with everything from family recipes to culinary creations influenced by his travels while in the NFL. He’s launched his own food truck, “The Caribbean Grill,” and hosts The Food Network’s Kids BBQ.

Chef Maxcel is no pushover in the kitchen, with some 12 years of culinary experience and celebrity clients. He co-authored the cookbook, 100 Easy Recipes for Pros and Rookies in the Kitchen with Stoudemire and is currently co-authoring Marley Cookbook with entrepreneur and former University of Miami football player Rohan Marley. When Chef Maxcel is not cooking, he’s creating chef apparel for his line Chef Max Designs and working to end hunger in America through his organization, One Chef Can 86 Hunger. With this much star power, there’s sure to be sparks flying in the kitchen as chefs Eddie and Maxcel vie for the top spot in this prestigious competition.

Organizer, June Minto encourages patrons to come early to participate and partake of all the offers over at the Publix Marketplace. “We’ll have a presentation informing patrons on just about everything they need to know about using the right combination of fresh spices and herbs to create delectable dishes. Plus, there’ll be lots of giveaways, Publix Gift Cards, Grace gift baskets, aprons, T-shirts, Publix Greenwise products and so much more.”

 

5 smart ways parents save time and money with a boss mindset

5 time-saving tips to become a ‘total boss parent’

When it comes to parenting, there are as many styles as there are stars in the sky. It doesn’t matter if you’re a known helicopter parent or you prefer detachment parenting methods, there’s one thing everyone can agree on: You want to parent with compassion and confidence.

Every mom knows that managing a family can be a full-time job. Throw in your career and a social life and you might find yourself asking: how do some parents make it look so easy? There’s no magic formula, but there are a few strategies that these ‘Total Boss Moms’ implement to manage those hectic days. Take it from an expert:

“Being a total boss mom means juggling a chaotic schedule with ease – like a boss,” says Tamera Mowry, actress and host of ‘The Real’ talk show. “When I’m running a mile a minute, I rely heavily on my smartphone to help me manage my days.”

Here are five tips for parenting like a total boss that will help you stay organized, cut wasted time and save money:

Prep early and often

Packing lunches, organizing backpacks, prepping dinner – staying on top of all the day’s to-do’s can be overwhelming. The best way to reduce stress and stay organized is to do as much as you can early. That means use Sunday night to chop vegetables for the week’s lunches and dinners. Pack backpacks and pick out clothes the night before. Finally, parents who get up before their kids have a few moments of silence to shower, read the paper and get a cup of coffee down before the little ones wake.

Stay connected to stay in charge

Being connected is essential to being a boss. Fortunately, that doesn’t require an expensive mobile plan. Starting at $35 a month, Total Wireless offers unlimited talk and text plus 5GB of 4G LTE† data with no contracts or hidden fees. Plus, with nationwide coverage on America’s largest and most dependable network, you have confidence you’re always connected. Learn more at www.totalwireless.com.

Stay organized with a central calendar

When parents and kids all have different obligations, it means schedules can get chaotic. Set up a shared electronic calendar that both you and your partner can access to see what the day holds. If possible, use color coding and other sorting tools to designate items for each family member. Then set alarms and always make sure you can access this calendar on your smartphone throughout the day.

Use group texts to save time

Save time and stay up-to-date by using group texts to communicate quickly with multiple people. “I have a group text with the girls from ‘The Real,'” Mowry says. “A busy mom doesn’t have a lot of time, so being able to streamline those conversations about work and personal life is a real time-saver. This way everyone is on the same page and we can plan things outside of work easily, too.”

Stay healthy with the help of your smartphone

It can be easy to overlook your own needs between everything you manage, but they’re just as important. “I use the fitness apps all the time. As a busy mom, I need to make sure I’m staying healthy,” says Mowry. “I can keep track of the calories I’m burning on my phone. I can also make sure all the food items I’m buying at the store are healthy for my family.”

 

 

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4 easy ways to pest-proof your home

4 easy ways to pest-proof your home

It’s late and you’re in your favorite, cozy pajamas. You get in bed and pull up the warm comforter. You turn out the light and are just about to drift off to sleep when you hear a noise coming from the attic. You sit up to listen, but it quickly goes quiet again. You lay back down and close your eyes, and just as you fall asleep, the noise is back, this time it’s coming from inside the wall.

You have a visitor — an unwanted visitor.

As much as we all enjoy our cozy homes, they are also the perfect setting for pests like rats, mice and raccoons to snuggle up and escape the cold air, too.

“There’s nothing more unsettling than knowing you and your family may not be the only ones enjoying this season indoors,” said Buck Hempel, manager of wildlife services at the pest control company Terminix. “Luckily, there’s still time to prepare your home to prevent critters from finding their way in.”

Whether you’ve already noticed signs of pest activity or just want more peace of mind at home, use these four preventative tips to eliminate and prevent potential pest infestations.

1. Seal off entry points to stop rodents from squeezing in.

Rodents can enter through holes as small as a dime, and will use any vulnerable opening to get in—from your foundation to your roofline. To keep these unwelcome intruders out, start by checking the perimeter of your home and repairing any small cracks or holes. In order to prevent rodents from chewing through these sealed areas, layer your sealing work by stuffing it first with a metal mesh, such as steel wool, and then sealing it down with caulk. This can also help keep summer pests such as spiders and ants at bay.

Don’t forget to check for gaps around conduit pipes, worn-out door sweeps and garage seals, as well as torn screens behind gables and roof vents. And, avoid leaving your doors open unnecessarily—even between trips to the car for groceries.

2. Secure food sources to eliminate the attraction.

Pests are not picky eaters. Once they find a food source, they are notorious for overstaying their welcome (and inviting friends). While critters can thrive in even the cleanest of houses, homeowners should remove any temptations by sweeping up spills and crumbs immediately. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends storing food in airtight containers made of thick plastic or metal. This is especially important when storing pet food or bird seed in the garage.

3. Clear up clutter in your yard.

Stacks of firewood, old tires or other debris leaning against your exterior walls are a perfect, protected pathway around your house. Leave at least a foot of space between these items and your home, and move mulch away, too. Then, clean out your gutters and remove any dead leaves. Not only do piles of colorful fall foliage make for the perfect autumn Instagram photo, but raking these away from your home can help prevent pests like earwigs and snakes from finding warmth and building nests.

Homeowners with green thumbs should also thoroughly clean out planters before bringing them in for winter, as spiders will often lay eggs at the bottom of pots to hatch next spring.

4. Know when to call in the pros.

As with most home improvement projects, there are great do-it-yourself methods available to prevent pest control issues in your home. However, waiting until it’s too late to call in a certified professional can be dangerous and lead to major damage, costing you money and time. Pest control companies like Terminix offer free pest inspections to assess your home, and if needed, can remove any critters that may have settled in. To keep your family worry-free, they will seal any entry points to ensure winter pests can’t return.

Minority coalition will assure Hillary Clinton victory

Minority coalition will assure Hillary Clinton victory

Garth A Rose

On the eve of US presidential elections there are a lot of nervous Clinton supporters. The combination of negative email leaked by Wikileaks, the protracted FBI investigation into Clinton’s use of a private email server and the treatment of classified information by Clinton and her staff, and the fluctuating results of multiple political polls, are eroding the once solid confidence of those who just a few weeks ago took Clinton’s election for granted.

However, those who are growing nervous and losing their confidence are urged to not be dissuaded. Hillary Clinton will win the election. Her victory will be announced on Tuesday night, Nov 8.

There’s confidence in her victory because it will be assured by the coalition, the minority coalition of Black, Hispanic, Asian, women and youth voters. On the eve of Election Day there is reason for concern because data derived from early voting and returned mail-in ballots in Florida and other states have revealed decrease in votes by black voters, and young voters compared to early votes cast in 2014.

However, there are still strong indications that the components of the minority coalition will turn out heavily on November 8.

In Liberty City, a 90 percent populated Black community in Miami, Florida, six registered Democrats of the Levine household were yet to vote as of Friday morning, November 4. However, the six voters all said they will vote, but like “the atmosphere of voting on Election Day” and will vote then.

Surprisingly, other black voters in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, said it is more convenient to vote at their assigned Election Day voting sites than any of the designated early voting locations, and are waiting to vote on November 8.

Boosting Clinton chances of winning the presidency is her chances of winning Florida. The minority coalition is particularly strong in Florida with evidence of a strong swing towards her by Hispanics including voters originating from Puerto Rico, women voters, and the prevailing potential from Black voters in South and Central Florida to elect her once they turnout heavily to vote.

The Hillary for America campaign has been particularly strong in Florida, but returns from early voting and returned mail-in ballots still show the race too close to call as of Friday, Nov 4. However, since November 2, there has been evidence of a welcome surge of Democrat voter. This surge is likely to continue up to Election Day as the election campaign fever rises.

Another reason why a Hillary Clinton win is predicted is that the minority coalition is being indirectly boosted by a large percentage of Republicans. On Friday it was estimated that 28 percent of Republicans have already voted do not support Trump’s candidacy, although voting for down-ballot Republicans. Voters who are not voting for Trump are indirectly voting for Clinton.

While, admittedly, not as strong as the coalitions that helped elect Barack Obama in 2008 and 2014, the minority coalition, once they turn out to vote as anticipated, will again be pivotal to putting another Democrat in the White House.

On the eve of the elections, the environment remains too toxic in several so-called battle ground states to predict the outcome in those states, but it is predicted Clinton will win Florida. This win will ensure she amass in excess of 270 electoral votes to be elected the next president of the United States of America.

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Boo-Ville event with a family dressed as Batman and Batwoman

Ending of DST on November 5 frustrating for some

Ending of DST on November 5 frustrating for some

Twice a year some Americans become frustrated in changing the time to adjust to or from Daylight Savings Time (DST). Every year, in recent years, Americans are required to turn their time devices one hour forward on at midnight on the second Saturday in March to advance from Eastern Standard Time (EST) to DST and gain another hour of daylight. Then eight months later, on midnight on the first Saturday in November they are requested to turn their time devices back one hour losing one hour of daylight as they revert to EST.

The frustration in advancing time devices forward then backward is primarily based on the adjustments people have to make in their personal lives. When people advance to DST in March they lose a hour sleep. The mornings are darker, and some people, including students, have to leave home in darkness, although most people welcome the longer hour of evening daylight.

Then when they revert to EST in November, although people gain another hour of sleep, and the time to leave for school and work, especially in Florida, covered in more daylight, some people are not fond of the earlier darkness in the evenings.

Several studies on DST show that most people take a few weeks to adjust to the change in time in March, but grow to like the longer daylight in the evenings, and become very frustrated as they readjust to the darker evenings starting in November.

These studies have also indicated that as people adjust to the time changes there’s a trend of increase in motor vehicle accidents in the dark morning when the change is made to DST and the darker evenings when the change is made to EST.

“We find that it takes a while for people’s mentality to adjust to the time changes, and the adjustment period is a time when motorists are more vulnerable to make mistakes that sometime results in accidents,” said Miami psychiatrist Dr. Ben Malone.

Miramar resident Vilma Anderson says she would rather EST remains unchanged all year.  As a mother with young children she says she prefers earlier daylight hours, as “I hate to send them off to school in dark mornings during DST.” She says she also hates “running around” her house changing the time on clocks, and equipment like the microwave and stove when the time changes.

On the other hand, her neighbor Danny Phipps says he much prefers DST. “I love the longer evenings. I can come home and work in my flower and vegetable gardens. I can’t do this in the darker EST evenings.” Phipps says he doesn’t bother changing clocks when DST arrives or ends. “I keep my clocks on EST all the time, and when the time changes “simply think one hour ahead.”

Hillary’s message for the Caribbean American community

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