Through the selfless efforts of New Yorkers, relief supplies collected by the Queens-based Haiti Relief Effort are flowing steadily to needy survivors of Tropical Storm Fay and Hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike.
The next relief shipment is being assembled and donations are welcomed.
Community leader and businessman David Duchatellier, of Duch Travel Productions, a travel agency in Cambria Heights, said last week that organizations aiding storm victims in Haitian cities and towns such as Croix-des-Bouquets Mariani, Mirbalais and the capital Port-au-Prince, have received much-needed supplies in the group’s most recent shipments.
When food shortages reached crisis proportions in Haiti last spring, Duchatellier teamed with state Assemblymember Tom Alfano (R-Nassau County), state Senator Dean Skelos (R-Nassau County), the Haitian-Americans United for Progress and Vertus Financial Services to start a collection drive. However, in the wake of the destructive storms, the initiative has turned into a relief effort.
The School District of Elmont, L.I.; Public School 181 in Springfield Gardens, Queens; St. Basil Church of Franklin Square, L.I., and St. Boniface of Elmont, L.I. are also staunch supporters of the relief drive.
Food and articles of clothing will be collected and shipped in order to arrive by Christmas. Donations of nonperishable food items [especially rice and beans] can be brought to Haiti Relief Effort headquarters at 221-09 Linden Blvd. For a full list of accepted clothing and other items, call 718-527-8594 or send e-mail to duchcjc@hotmail.com.
Jonestown revisited
A new documentary looking at the Jonestown massacre in Guyana will air next Sunday on the MSNBC cable TV channel at 9 p.m.
A debut work from MSNBC Films, “Witness to Jonestown” is a two-hour program coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the disastrous collapse of the Jim Jones-led Peoples Temple cult, in which more than 900 Americans died, including NBC journalists and the only murder of a U.S. Congressmember to die in the line of duty.
“Witness to Jonestown” is enhanced by the use of exclusive, rarely seen footage, archival and present-day interviews, including talks with former Peoples Temple members and the first journalists to witness the aftermath of the incident.
For a sneak preview of “Witness to Jonestown” and access to archival footage, visit www.jonestown.msnbc.com.
Music leader Lee dead at 73
Popular ska, calypso and soca bandleader Byron Lee, who brought worldwide attention to Jamaican music, died last week at 73. Lee died of cancer at the University Hospital of the West Indies on Tuesday, November 4, according to Olivia Grange, Jamaica’s information minister.
In 1957, the band Byron Lee and the Dragonaires was founded, playing ska and calypso in the wake of popular solo Caribbean singers like Harry Belafonte and Sir Lancelot.
Early in their career, the band signed with the West Indies Recording Limited label, run by Edward Seaga, who would become Jamaica’s Prime Minister decades later. They performed much of the soundtrack and appeared in the 1962 James Bond movie “Dr. No.” The band also performed at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York, where they backed a showcase of Jamaican performers, including Jimmy Cliff.
Gala for St. Lucian United Association
Members and supporters of the 88-year-old St. Lucian United Association New York will be attending the organization’s “Dinner and Dance Gala” on Saturday in Queens.
The formal affair, which includes a cocktail hour, open bar, dinner and entertainment, will be held at Riccardo’s by the Bridge, 21-01 24th Avenue in Astoria, from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tickets are $75 per person. For tickets and information, call 917-604-8206 or 347-526-8753.
Golden Krust founder to speak
Lowell Hawthorne, founder, president and CEO of Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill was the featured speaker at the next segment of the CIN Caribbean Lecture Series, Wednesday, November 12 in Manhattan.
The session will be held at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 515 Malcolm X Boulevard at 135th Street at 6 p.m.
Hawthorne’s firm is the largest manufacturer, distributor and franchiser of Caribbean baked products in the United States. For information about the lecture series or Caribbean International Network TV programs, visit www.cintvjamaica.com.
Conference that means business
The current national and international financial crises have brought greater significance to the Black Church Means Business Conference, scheduled to be held for Monday, November 17 at the Marriott New York at the Brooklyn Bridge.
The one-day community development conference for church and business owners will network with government and corporate leaders to explore a range of topics, from business opportunities to foreclosure and mortgage information. For information about the conference, visit www.BlackChurchMeansBusiness.com or call 718-638-6397.
Another serving of Tea
Cocoa Tea, whose hit single “Barack Obama” helped drum up support for the Democratic contender’s successful presidential bid, has released a new album.
The reggae star’s new album, “Yes We Can,” is out and it includes his hit single “Barack Obama,” which debuted earlier this year. Zojak World Wide distributors and Cocoa Tea’s Roaring Lion Records label released the album, which includes performances by reggae stars Marcia Griffiths, Shabba Ranks, Cutty Ranks, El General, Prezident Brown, Dean Fraser and the Firehouse Band.
This column is reprinted from the November 9 Sunday editions of The New York Daily News. If you have items suitable for this column please e-mail them to jmccallister@nydailynews.com.
