Furthering the rich and respected Caribbean traditions of learning and excellence is the goal of Saturday. October 25’s American Foundation for the University of the West Indies‘ Radiothon 2008.
The 12-hour event, beginning at 9 a.m., will raise funds to provide scholarships and other financial assistance for students attending the Caribbean university.
Through tax-deductible pledges, individuals, businesses and organizations help students with living expenses and tuition. Last year, the Radiothon raised about $20,000, and organizers - working with radio stations in the metropolitan area, Washington, D.C., Atlanta and cities in Florida - hope to greatly surpass that figure this year.
The University of the West Indies, founded 60 years ago as University College of the West Indies at Mona in Jamaica, now has branches in the region, including three main campuses in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica, and 12 university centers in Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Belize, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Harry Belafonte, Mighty Sparrow, entertainer Doug E. Fresh and VP Records artist Gyptian are some of the stars who will assist the scholarship effort.
On the day of the event, the Radiothon will be carried live on Irie Jam Radio on WRTN (93.5 FM) from 2 to 6 p.m.; LinkUp Radio on WRTN (93.5 FM) from 7 to 9 p.m; and on WBLS (107.5-FM) from 7 to 9 p.m.
For information on the AFUWI Radiothon and a list of participating radio stations, call 212-759-9345. To make a pledge on Saturday, call 800-437-0488 or 800-440-6785.
Jazz all-stars in Anguilla
Outstanding is one way to describe the heavyweight lineup for this year’s Anguilla Tranquility Jazz Festival, to be held November 6-9 at selected venues around the picture-perfect island.
Grammy-winning singers Patti Austin and Dee Dee Bridgewater, trumpeter Christian Scott, saxophonist Dean Fraser, Grammy- and Emmy-award-winning trumpet and flugelhorn player Arturo Sandoval, and a number of talented Anguillian musicians, including trumpeter Jelani Banks, will highlight the festival.
The four-day event kicks off at the CuisinArt Resort and Spa with a performance by Austin. Other festival locations are the National Bank of Anguilla, the Temenos Golf Club and the beach at Sandy Ground.
Special travel packages, including festival tickets, are available for an island-wide range of accommodations. Visit www.anguillajazz.org for package information. Learn more about Anguilla at www.anguilla-vacation.com.
Haitian artist on display
Engels, the talented Haitian multi-media artist, will open his Brooklyn studio and display his latest creations from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, October 26 as part of AGAST – the Annual Gowanus Artist Studio Tour.
A wide range of artistic styles – including photography, drawing, printmaking, mixed-media, video, ceramics, glass, installation, paintings and sculpture – can be seen in the studios of artists taking part in the free event.
Engels’ studio is at 98 Fourth St., Studio #312 (site #26 on the studio tour map). For information, visit the web site www.agastbrooklyn.com/index.html.
Riley remains for interim
While the search for a new head of the Caribbean Tourism Organization continues, veteran tourism maven Hugh Riley will remain at the helm.
Riley, who had been serving as director of marketing for the Americas for the Caribbean Tourism Organization, became interim secretary general of the international body following the death of interim secretary general Arley Sobers. Sobers, who died August 14, was named to the position after CTO secretary general Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace became Minister of Tourism and Aviation for the Bahamas.
Riley will hold the position until the CTO’s executive committee selects a new secretary general. Sylma Brown Bramble, deputy director for projects and administration, will hold the director of marketing for the Americas position during this transitory period.
For information on the CTO, visit www.onecaribbean.org.
Everybody’s honors
The recent Everybody’s Magazine Gala Concert and Awards ceremony at Brooklyn College – part of the magazine’s 30th anniversary celebration – paid tribute to some distinguished staffers.
The honorees included editor Patricia Boothe, design artist Lennox Robinson, photographers Roger Hayden Celestin, Clyde Jones, Kwame Brathwaite, Lloyd Patterson and Mervyn Bamby; writers Glenda Cadogan, Basil Wilson and Vinette Pryce; Mike Malcolm in distribution and Ron Campbell of advertising and marketing.
Awards were also presented to Yvonne Graham, founder of Caribbean Women Health Association and special assistant to the Brooklyn borough president; Sybil Chester, marketing specialist for Moet-Hennessy; and Transport Workers Union Local 100 president Roger Toussaint.
Everybody’s publisher Herman Hall donated $2,500 to the American Foundation for the University of the West Indies to aid needy students from Grenada to attend the UWI.
Visit www.everybodysmag.com for information.
Church’s anniversary party
St. George’s Episcopal Church in Brooklyn held its 139th Founder’s Day Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, October 19, at the church, located at 800 Marcy Ave. Thirty parishioners, with more than 50 years of continuous church service, were honored at the event - the high point of a week of anniversary events. Call 718-789-6036 for information.
This column is reprinted from the October 12 Sunday editions of The New York Daily News. If you have items suitable for this column please e-mail them to jmccallister@nydailynews.com.
