Archive for November 19th, 2008
Local band to open Jazz Fest at Pdero’s
(CNS):
Mainstream will kick off the festival with their smooth, cool rhythmical sounds on Thursday December 4. The three-day festival takes place December 4-6. The festivities begin at Pedro where alongside Mainstream headliners Gerald Albright, Cassandra Wilson and Terrance Howard will perform. A truly local ensemble all three members of Mainstream can trace their Caymanian ancestry back hundreds of years, Solly and Leonard having been born in Cayman, and Irvin in Liverpool, England of Caymanian parents, arriving ‘back’ in the Island in the early seventies. “Irv” in fact began his musical career as a rock guitarist in the early 60’s playing the same Liverpool and Northern England venues, including the Cavern Club, as the Beatles, and later performed in top UK cabaret clubs with a variety of jazz/rock combos.
Leonard is the only member who is a full-time musician and when not playing gigs, he can be found arranging and developing music for the band; Leonard also plays guitar and bass in addition to keyboards. Solly owns and operates Arabus, a famous local boutique in Georgetown, and Irv is a litigation attorney also in George Town. All three are self taught musicians, Solly explains his powerful and distinctive vocals as being linked to singing in church at an early age, “ I just love singing; all kinds of music’.
The love and dedication these experienced musicians have for their music comes across to the audience who enjoy the band’s unique blend of musical tastes from reggae and calypso favourites to rhythm and blues, soul and jazz standards.
During the three day festival headlined by Anita Baker and Michael Bolton guests can also see artists Robin Thicke, Norman Brown, Esperanza Spalding, KK Alese, Angie Stone, Algebra, Stuart Wilson & Love Culture, Jonathan Ebanks and impulz. The Friday and Saturday events all take place at Pageant Beach from 6:00 p.m. Tickets are available for the whole weekend of for each individual evening and as the Friday and Saturday events are open seating guests are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket.
Rotarians pick up community tips in Jamaica
(CNS): Local Rotarians were inspired over how they can be of even more service to the community following an intense training programme in Jamaica recently. Several representatives from the Cayman Islands clubs attended the specialist training programme as both trainers and delegates and came back brimming with new ideas.
The Senior members of two of Cayman’s Rotary clubs went to the Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) training sessions in Jamaica. The event, which was held at the University of West Indies Mona campus was attended by members of Rotary Sunrise and Rotary Central of the Cayman Islands as part of the prestigious leadership training program offered by Rotary International.
Current Vice President of Rotary Sunrise, Michael Levitt and Past District Governor Alistair Paterson also from Cayman, were trainers at the event while Rotary Central’s incoming President Paul Byles, Rotary Sunrise Director David Watler and Rotarian Claudette Saint-Reid also of the Sunrise club all attended levels 1 and 2 of the leadership training program on Saturday and Sunday.
“In addition to the valuable leadership training the sessions also provide some great ideas about how local Rotary clubs can improve their performance and service to the Cayman Islands community,” said Byles who takes over as President of Rotary Central next year.
Levitt explained that one of the major benefits of the leadership training sessions is the discussions between club members from all around the world who share their insights into a range of community service issues. “Club leaders generally feel invigorated after the sessions and take some useful information back to their local clubs to improve them,” he said.
Watler as well Saint-Reid both said they benefited greatly from the sessions which were carried out by some of Rotary’s most experienced, including District Governor Elect Errol Alberga and other Past Assistance Governors of Rotary.
Gorillas under threat
(CNN): The survival of several hundred rare gorillas is threatened by rebel fighters who have taken over the animals’ sanctuary, a spokeswoman for the Virunga National Park said. The gorilla sector of the park "has been swallowed up in this conflict," said Samantha Newport, communications director for the refuge. She fears for the animals’ safety, not least because mountain gorillas do not always flee the sound of gunfire and mortars. Go to article.