Tuesday, August 17, 2004     Navigate Back To main page

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Blood on The Empire- Book written By Eleuthera author George Major- Cover art by Painter Mal Flanders

 

 

 

 

 

News, Articles and Poetry

A New Day Dawning

 

Another morning has come

Yet I am not done

With yesterday.

New orders, questions to realize

Critics, new bills to analyze.

Yet I am not done with yesterday.

New faces to oppose

New challenges to engross

Wonders never cease

A new desire to release

I’ll be lucky if I loose my Mind.

The sun has come with all its fears

Friends with worries friends with cares

Select the ones that care and

Make the morning bright.

 

 

Monday, August 16, 2004

Eleuthera Weather:

Todays weather was warm and pleasant. The high today got up to 91 degrees Fahrenheit with a low tonight of 80 degrees. There was rain last night. The awesome drought is officially over. We are getting frequent rain these days. Hopefully that’s a good sign and will be a positive turn around in the weather.

We sympathize with Florida but are glad we did not get the hurricane. Hopefully this year will be like last year without any major hurricanes coming our way. We hope for the best.

Today was a fantastic day for the outdoors. No rain, pleasant are the features that are typical of our summer days.

Enjoy our Eleuthera weather today.

News, Articles and Poetry:

Letter To Myself

 

How do you feel?

I thought you’d never ask.

It’s been too long since

I felt that special feeling.

It’s been too long in seeing your smile.

I’ve contemplated every thought that

Comes to mind and still I’m nowhere

But here in this pleasant place that sooths me.

The sun, the sea, the stars this earthen womb

Created me, I did the rest.

Tis a way to go till I’m home

So still I have to acknowledge the powers that be.

I’m still here making ends meet

Sleeping , eating, loving, feeling special

And finding space for my dreams.

So many they are.

I have a large imagination and much

Time to foresee the future.

I’ll get there in the end

Saturday, August 14, 2004    

Weather:

A cool partially overcast morning this morning in Eleuthera. There is a 60% chance of rain today. The high today will be 91degrees Fahrenheit with a low tonight of 81. The weather is typical for a summer day in Eleuthera.

Enjoy our Eleuthera weather today. It’s a fantastic day for the outdoors or a picnic.

News, Articles and Poetry:

 

Bahamian Royalty

 

From Royalty I came

A lineage of the deceased and free

Men like Joseph Spence, Mal Flanders and McMillan Hughes

All Icons and legends of time in music and in art

Living on a big island with green forests and tropical sea

Like the chick charney and the flamingo

Come see me, happy, free and proud

Beneath the canopy of acqua sea and clouds

As close a tribute to paradise as can be

The happy home for you and me

Friday, August 13, 2004    

Eleuthera Weather Forecast For Today:

Our weather today is bright and sunny. A slight breeze over the landscape with a 30% chance of rain today. Its nice outdoors and a great day for the beach. The high today should get up into the low 90’s. Its gonna be a warm one in the afternoon.

So get out there on the beach or the sea and enjoy our Eleuthera weather today.

News, Articles and Poetry:

What ZNS Talk Shows Have To Do With Democracy.

 

 

Do you remember the good old days of Radio in the Bahamas? This recent one I mean, when ZNS radio opened to a new, free public in the Bahamas after the 1992 Elections ushered in a new freedom of speech and democracy into the country?

 

It is apparent to me as an Out Islander that the talent pool at ZNS is dead. The Home Town Boy from Andros has disappeared. The only remaining good time radio show is the daily call in show by Announcer Daryl Miller.

 

Our nights used to be like that too with speak up. You see, these items are important especially to the Out Islands where there is little entertainment other than the TV and a few nightspots. Listening to the radio remains a passion for people like myself and many others in the Out Islands. We depend on night time radio to take up most of our lonely, evening waiting hours before bed. We want to be stimulated by lively, current debate and discussion of the issues of the day.

 

Let me tell you if you don’t know,  it was so interesting and important to me and others to sit down with the radio in the house or in the jeep and listen to the nation call in to Speak up and vent their frustrations and share their triumphs with the Home Town Boy.

 

Where have those days gone? Will there be a new revival in nighttime talk radio at 1540AM? We in the Out Islands need to know because our nights are long and some times lonely. Night time talk brings passion into our lives. It gives us something meaningful and comforting to look forward to in the evenings.

 

Here people gather around the radio and listen to the interesting talk shows. Gone are the days of listening to old proven, popular music. We get enough of that in the day time when Daryl’s not on.

 

We would like to listen once again to the shows of Steve Mckinney, Pysewell Forbes and others who have the talent and the drive to entertain us and move us into new areas and an appreciation of Out Island life. Crab and dough, down home ways have a proper place in the memory of we Out Islanders.

 

These guys used to do us so well. We miss them and we want them back on the radio at night. We planned our week around Tuesday and Thursday nights call in shows. Perhaps some new talent can be chosen to do a nightly call in Talk show from the studios of ZNS.

 

You still are important to us talk shows or has our freedom of speech and democracy weaned?

Fishing Report:

Last evening under Travelers rest there was a discussion. A local fishing enthusiast made an alarming prediction based on his fishing activity and results. The man predicted that in a few years to come there will be no fish in the seas of Eleuthera. This is an alarming prediction but it is based as he said on his personal experience.

Cookie is a local fisherman although he does not sell fish, he fishes for his own subsistence and enjoyment.

Cookie says that in his many years of fishing from the sea shore rocks outside of the village toward Savannah Sound he has caught many fish.

It used to be he said that he could catch as many as 22 yellow tail fish a night in one of his popular spots along the coastline. Now adays he says he can’t even see a fish in these areas and it has curtailed his fun fishing activity dramatically. Is it time for more conservation? According to Cookie we are already in drastic trouble with fishing and we could loose all habitats and species of fish if we are not more conservative and careful.

Lets hope for the best in this matter.

More News From Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera Tomorrow

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 Thursday, August 12, 2004      

Eleuthera Weather Forecast For Today:

Overcast and breezy this morning in Tarpum Bay. There is a tropical depression moving in the area causing these conditions. We’ll have to monitor these conditions in order to see how that depression progresses. Otherwise today’s high will be less warm than yesterday with as much as 87 degrees Fahrenheit. Tonight’s low is expected to be around 78 degrees.

It’s a wonderful day for the outdoors although there is a 50% chance of rain today.

Do enjoy Eleuthera’s weather today.

 

News, Articles and Poetry,

Once again tragedy has struck the settlement of Tarpum Bay,Eleuthera again as we report the loss of one of our great sons. Dead is world renown artist Mr. Mal Flanders of Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, formerly of Miami Florida.

Mal Flanders immigrated to the Bahamas during the early seventies when Eleuthera was a buzzing tourist paradise with more than eight major hotel properties in operation in South Eleuthera. Mr. Flanders and his wife, Kay, made Eleuthera their home for many years until their separation in the early eighties. Mal Flanders stayed on in Eleuthera in order to practice his unique treatment of Bahamian art and subject matter.

Mal Flanders was very well known for his unique brand of Bahamian Caricature artistry.

Since its inception in the early seventies the Mal and Kay Flanders Art studio attracted thousands of locals and tourist visitors in to see his signature artwork.

Those people familiar with the artist returned and told friends and colleagues of his outstanding paintings.

Mal was a quiet man who reserved his time for developing and creating his unique brand of art. Each piece of the artists work depicts some local or national Bahamian symbol or caricature.

During his early years on the island Mal Flanders brought to Eleuthera the artistry of films. Back then very few locals had televisions and depended on Mals weekend film shows in the local schoolhouse as a source of entertainment on the weekends. Many Tbaymen will remember Mals taste for films like the three stooges and other comedy films which he piled on in the local school room cinema collecting only a token twenty five cents from each customer for his sharing of films.

Mal Flanders went on to become one of the villages most influential people as he plied his talent in the art studio next to his home, top of the hill Bernard hill, Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera. Many visitors got a chance to prize the talented artists work by purchasing or simply taking a tour of the artist’s studio.

Some people may not know but Mal Flanders began in art at a News Paper in Miami Florida, possibly the Miami Herald, as a cartoon artist. Until his move to Eleuthera in the early seventies Mal was an important member of the news paper circuit in South Florida. He was a much sought after commodity in the art world both during and after his cartoon caricature days.

Mal Flanders will be sadly missed by the community of Tarpum Bay. In addition to being on of the main attractions on the tourist circuit in Tarpum Bay with his art studio Mal Flanders became an international celebrity of sorts with his unique brand of Bahamian Art work.

His natural inclination to be in the background working on his craft resulted in his not being much of a publicity seeker he rather chose to remain a low key, friendly artist with a wonderful smile and disposition I know everyone in Tarpum Bay will remember for a life time.

It is not known exactly on a global scale at this moment what kind of impact Mal Flanders had on the art world in general but one thing we in Tarpum Bay all knew was that he was one of the most humble, friendly unassuming, talented, characters we have ever come across.

Mal Flanders will be most sadly missed in Tarpum Bay. Who will replace such fantastic Artistry?

 

In other news today a meeting of the minds took place at the local government administration building last night. A very important meeting since the Commissioner of police flew in from Nassau for the meeting.

Mr. Paul Farquason flew in from Nassau to introduce a committed police officer assigned by the heads of the police in Nassau to police the community of Tarpum Bay.

Mr. Farquason made it know to the attendees that the police is getting certain alarming reports about the situation in Tarpum Bay and that they would like Tarpum Bay to remain the quaint, pleasant little community that it presently is. Therefore certain police work must be done in order keep the communities crime situation from slipping.

The officer, a corporal in the Royal Bahamas police force attended the closed meeting with local government officials and other community leaders.

The police will be housed in Tarpum Bay and given transportation in order for him to carry out his duties of patrolling the community at large. A motor scooter is provided for the job presently and in the future a police car will be presented with the Tarpum Bay Logo printed on it.

Tarpum Bay has long complained about the presence of police officers in the community. Presently there are nine police officers living in Tarpum Bay but are assigned to other police stations.

This meeting marks the close connection and impact the present Commissioner of Police is having on our Out Island communities. In fact this procedure will be repeated in other Out Island communities. This comes as the attendees were told that a police at Harbour Island had just been reassigned because of reported, repeated improper conduct becoming a police officer. That police will be reassigned to a different community in the country.

Fishing Report

Fishing continues in Tarpum Bay and other areas of the island. It is reported that the lobster harvest is good this year. That means that lots of lobster will be available for consumption of lobster lovers throughout the country at certain fish ports.

The current price for lobster is $10.00 a pound.

More News from Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera tomorrow

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Wednesday, August 11, 2004  

Weather

Todays weather is partially overcast with a 30%chance of rain today. The high today will reach 90 with the low tonight down into the mid to upper seventies.

It’s a gorgeous day. A nice day for out door sports.

See you on the Beach in Eleuthera.

News

Road work continues in Rock Sound, Eleuthera today. The road work began in the extreme southern end of the island and continues on today. Watch out for wet slippery roads under construction in Rock Sound and beyond.

Slowly the island is being prepared for the big economic boom that is promised by government to take place. Rumors abound that construction will soon begin at Jacks Bay next month by a Bahamian consortium of investors. We’ll have to wait and see.

Other sources say that the dredging and construction of the Kemps point hotel is further delayed because of funding issues till January 2005.

More News from Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera tomorrow

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Monday, August 09, 2004     

Weather

Todays weather is sunny, partially cloudy and bright. The high today should reach up into the lower 90’s with a low tonight of around 79 degrees. It’s another beautiful day for the outdoors.

Enjoy the Beach and outdoors in Eleuthera today.

News

Major road works are under way in Eleuthera today. A government road construction contract was granted to Symonettes Enterprises to pave roads and side streets in Eleuthera a few months ago. Thus far the road works have reached Rock Sound and the southern end of the island.

This contract award is in keeping with the government’s intention to keep the roadways of the Bahamas in a constant state of preparedness. The government realizes the need for continual upkeep of the roadways of the Bahamas and Tourist islands like Eleuthera and other Bahamian Islands.

The Government is to be saluted for their continued commitment to the upkeep of the roadways in our islands. As a tourist destination this work is a necessity in order to maintain a top quality destination for our visitors and Tourists.

Monday Morning Poetry:

An Island Boys Sea

 

From the distance of the native shore

An islander looks out to sea

The dreams of the sea

“What a day this sea may have in store for we”

The sea and its calm speaks silently

An ancient invite for the needy travelers within her grasp

As the sea gears up her disguise

A charming cap of calm summer resolution

As the sea shore rolls out its ancient autonomy

Mangled by the search of days see fish

For consumption in the school boys eyes

As he prepares to fish for millions some lucky day

The sea brings in it dreams

Dreams come true for the weary fishermen of a thousand years

What would we do without the sea?

The sea announces with a wide open invitation

“Come in,” There’ll be no closure today.

 

Sunday, August 08, 2004   

Article Request:

Hello & greetings to you,

 

          My name is Arjay Alkire, I grew up in Eleuthera as a child then my family moved back to the states. During my years in the states my highschool sweetheart had our little girl who we put up for adoption :-(. The mother & I have gone our seperate ways. I wrote a book for my daughter in the late 90's titled: whoever wherever you are. My place here in North Florida USA I call wahooranch which is being built for my daughter whom I do not know & when the day comes we meet, I will tell her wahooranch is hers. I am not a millionaire, just a good ole boy who works very hard. Please see my story & take the tour at the left top of home page at my site here> http://www.geocities.com/wahooranch which is http://www.geocities.com/gatorbait_32060

 

An Eleuthera Native searches for his lost daughter. If you can assist Arjay Alkire in finding his daughter please contact him through the page links listed above.

Poetry:

The Worker

 

 

When I see his work

I sit and pine

To wonder why

My inclination is to decline

Though this might be a beautiful sin

I contemplate the time to begin

I contemplate the time to begin

The work that is quintessential of my life

The search to find a beautiful wife

With children running into the field

And time to finally use a fishing reel

Declining brings a beautiful time

To search the world and free your mind

In search of some overwhelming dream

To assist humanity with the work we bring

Don’t give up the futures near

Just keep declining and learning to care

Saturday, August 07, 2004   

 

Eleuthera Dead

 

A time to live

A time to mourn

To contemplate the times that scorn

The many men that passed away

So suddenly, their deeds they say

I do not know if this is true

But here is what I’ll say to you

Remember them in beauteous light

We’ll meet again on this great flight

Forever born and forever die

When we return to beauteous sky

There’ll come a day we know for sure

Our time and place on this fair shore

Remember them as best we know

One day will come when too we go

From Eleuthera shores into the sky

They’ll ponder questions as to why

 

Friday, August 06, 2004    

Weather

Some rain today with cloudy skies and scattered showers. The rain is back in Eleuthera. The long six month drought is now over. We’re receiving some rain. Our farmers are very happy. Crops will begin to come. Summer watermelons will soon be here.

Today’s high was 89degrees Fahrenheit. Tonight’s low will be around 77degrees.

Enjoy our Eleuthera weather today.

 

News, Articles and Poetry

Today in the news, some sad news. A young man belonging to the community of Tarpum Bay lost his battle with life last evening after suffering an apparent stroke or heart attack. Gone but not forgotten is Mr. Franklyn Carey who is sadly missed by family and friends. You will remember that his brother Gary Carey unfortunately passed away some five months ago with a massive coronary.

We pray for the caring of their souls and pay our condolences to the family of these two close brothers who made a significant impact on the state of business affairs in Nassau, Bahamas.

The younger brother Gary was a very successful construction company owner. His brother Franky owns one of the largest auto body/mechanic shops in Nassau.

Both very lively citizens of our Bahamas had lots of friends and well wishers in their time. Their contributions to the community will be sadly missed.

In other news there will be a meeting tomorrow in the settlement of Rocksound concerning the possible effects of the FTAA and proposed changes to the island economies as a result of these international initiatives. Government MP Mr. Leslie Miller, our local MP Mr. Oswald Ingraham and other government officials will be in attendance.

See you there to discuss the coming expected changes to our local economy.

 

Fishing report

Fishing continues daily at the docks at Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera. Come on out and purchase your supplies of fresh fish daily at the docks right here in Tarpum Bay.

More News from Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera tomorrow

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Thursday, August 05, 2004     

Weather

A rainy day in Eleuthera today. The skies are overcast with occasional showers today. The high is 88 degrees. Tonights low will be 78 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s nice weather, cooler than usual.

Enjoy our Eleuthera weather today.

News, Articles and Poetry

 

Melancholy Days

 

It takes time to examine a life

Rainy days and cool lonely nights.

It takes time to assist

The items you have missed

The tragedy of judgment sets in.

Don’t ruin a friendship

Don’t rush and take out the whip.

Its time to sit and talk

Not judge in an instant and walk.

People hurt but some don’t show

Holding on for those they know

Giving them strength and time to decide

Whom they will their strength and pride.

Hold on, take time to know

The person who you need to show

The emotions you seek,

The knowledge you need

To say that they are of human breed.

 

Its another beautiful day in Eleuthera. For the past few days the rain has held up. It rained again today. Thank God for the rain. It is badly needed by the farmers especially. It just feels good to know that it still can rain in Eleuthera. We had such a drought earlier in the year. One would wonder about such things.

Eleuthera is back to our usual sometimes burdensome days. The holidays are over, the heat of the day is back and we are on our usual path of creativity and survival.

Yesterday was mail boat day, a day later than usual due to the August holiday on Monday. All consumer goods come in by mail boat and it is important to shop as soon after the arrival of goods in order to get the freshest products.

Enjoy Eleuthera today.

Fishing report

The lobster season is back. Reportedly lots of lobster is beginning to be caught along with lots of grouper.

Get your supplies of fresh fish products in Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera today. At times you can purchase fish in other settlements in Eleuthera as well.

Get your Daily Eleuthera News here. More Daily News tomorrow

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Sunday, August 01, 2004 

Weather

Another warm overcast day for Eleuthera. Lastnights homecoming event unfortunately got rained out in this the first instances of drought breaking rain for Eleuthera. This event was somewhat expected since it started raining drastically lately.

The high today will get up to 88 degrees Fahrenheit with a fair chance of rain later today or tonight. Farmers are quite happy for the rain. The mango crop is ripening due to the rain lately, the hog plum fruit as well.

It’s a great day for the outdoors and outdoor boating and other sports.

Enjoy our Eleuthera weather today.

News, Articles and Poetry

In the news today lastnights events on Eleuthera were rained out due to the recent rainy weather on the island. A visitor to Governors Harbours Homecoming told us today that the events was rained out since early in the evening before 9pm. Around that time significant amounts of rain caused a stoppage of the Home coming event in Tarpum Bay as well.

These events all were predicted to be rained out by local theorists since the frequent drought breaking rain was taking place on the island.

It is not known at this time whether Hatchet Bay or Whymms Bights Family reunion were rained out as well but we are assuming so because the rain was so plentiful and wide spread. Our farmers and people are thankful for the rain since it officially ends the island wide drought since January this year.

Many people are on the island for the Homecoming events on the island. Most of these people originate from Nassau, The United States and other parts of the world. All are having a great time enjoying the food, music, drinks and local entertainment. These events end tomorrow evening during which time all tourists will be scrambling for the ferries and planes to get back to their places of work and residence in good time for Tuesday morning.

Eleuthera will be quiet again after that time. The entire island goes dead again causing a sense of loss for the local residents. We are very happy to be the center of attention to our visiting family members and friends.

HomeComing Tarpum Bay

I wish it were more than once a year

To show you all how much we care

To take the time out to be here

During Tbays, exciting homecoming season

I wish it were another town to experience

The times to which we’re bound this pleasing time of year

I wish you knew what we go through

The thoughts and times to which we’re due

In seeing others have theirs too,

The laughter and the thrills of coming home

I wish this were more than a trend

A season which had no end

A pleasant time when we all could spend

The loving nature of this time of year

Yet with it all we follow through

The drinks, the food, the laughter too

Were photos able to be more true

We love this pleasant time of year

Visitors who made the treck

Locals from Nassau who buy and peck

Delicious harmony and much respect

To Tarpum Bay Homecoming every

August this time of year

 

More News from Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas tomorrow

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Friday, July 30, 2004  

Weather

Warm, mild weather today in Eleuthera. Some chance of rain today, some scattered clouds that formed but the story is that there is no rain today. Nothing in sight to interfere with Homecoming holidays here in Tarpum Bay and Eleuthera. The high today still a warm 89 degrees Fahrenheit. Tonight’s low will be in the lower eighties.

So for today in Eleuthera some nice warm weather. Today is a great day for the outdoors, sports activity and fishing.

Enjoy our Eleuthera weather today.

News, Articles and Poetry

In the news today an Eleuthera man takes sick with a mild heart attack during the holiday season and is hospitalized in Nassau, Bahamas.  All are wishing for better health and a speedy recovery.

Good health is an important consideration these days especially with middle age men. Over the last year there has been an epidemic of  Eleuthera men literally dropping dead from massive heart attacks. More than six men over the past year in Eleuthera have fallen suddenly and died from massive coronary desease. The lack of adequate medical facilities on the island of Eleuthera makes this a lethal medical condition for many Eleuthera men who are not able to get the simple routine checkups without spending time and money to make the trip to Nassau for this necessary diagnosis and treatment. If the necessary treatment and analysis were done these deaths could be avoided leaving the men able to work and further contribute to the development of their families and Eleuthera.

Eleutherians have to further petition government to see the necessity to build adequate medical facilities here on Eleuthera. In the area as a whole Eleutherians are not adequately treated. The cost in time and funds seems to be too much of a barrier for Eleutherians to take in order to save themselves and their health.

Each settlement on Eleuthera has within it a local medical clinic where treatment and diagnosis is done by the local assigned nurses. Each of the two districts on Eleuthera are attended to by one doctor who rotates his location at a different local clinic in  the district each day. In addition there is presently only one government dentist serving the entire island. She does the same by moving into a different settlement each day.

Routine, simple diagnosis is done by these medical practitioners who are only armed with the most basic medical equipment. Any lab tests done in the district has to be sent into Nassau by mail boat or by aero plane for further analysis. If the condition is urgent, like a broken limb or similar condition a charter plane is ordered whether day or night by the doctor. The patient is at risk and is continued on to Nassau for further priority emergency treatment.

This is a critical situation. The government is aware that the Bahamas, especially the Out Island are tourist havens and why there are not more adequate medical facilities to protect our visitors from emergency tragedy is a mystery to most Eleutherians and Out Islanders.

All of the emphasis and expertise in these areas are developed and housed in Nassau and Grand Bahama. Why the government has not moved in more than thirty years of consideration to amend this major medical catastrophe is beyond belief.

We on Eleuthera are prayerful and live in hopes that no tragedy may meet us in our life times and that the need for more professional medical care in the islands does not arise.  All too often however the prayers of too many are not answered.

In other news

Homecoming is here and the crowds of people are turning out nightly when events are organized to enjoy the local flavor of Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera. Already it is seen that the event will not be as large this year for several reasons. Firstly, too many events going on on the island at the same time. Hatchet Bay, Governors Harbour and Whymms Bight are all having major advertised holiday events. This did not happen in years gone by. There is more necessity and demand for the homecoming buck.

Secondly, the economy of the island are so bad that not many people have disposable income to spare. Lastly, these events are becoming too routine and the newness and excitement of such events seems to be fading. Some changes and local alternatives have to be discussed in order to rejuvenate the process.

Fishing Report

The lobster season is almost here. Only a few more days remain before Eleuthera fishermen can know for sure what the lobster season will be like. Hopefully it will be a fruitful one with lots of commerce coming out of the hard work and major risks by our fishermen.

Come get your supplies of fresh fish from the docks at Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera every day in the afternoon.

See you there.

More Daily News from Tarpum Bay, Eleuthera tomorrow