Portie MxBk(mixbook) VOl I: Riding High

Beez

I-Glori

Our first tap of the wellspring of musical talent that is Port Antonio takes into the SommersTown area and the yardKore music studio, which while perched on a sloping rise and not occupying a huge space (yet) is making a big noise in music spheres.

Singer I-Glori (right) is eyeing a summer take over with tracks like "Party", while Beez, who left the relative safety of office employment to trod the music path, is increasing rotation for his "girls anthem "Over and Over Again"

The two are committed to consistent high quality musical output and are each looking to spread their sound and influence far and wide over the coming months.

Bay View by day, [Tim] Bamboo by Night: Portie Mothers Get Fetedy

Lukie D thrilled at Tim Bamboo

"Lust" is listed as one of seven deadly sins, but it took only one-quarter of L.U.S.T. the pop-reggae harmonizers, to put a scintillating stamp on a Mother's Day Sunday of entertainment in Port Antonio. Lukie D, the "L" showed that he was well capable of thrillin an audience all by himself as the featured act on Hotel Tim Bamboo's programme (which actually saw brunch and dinner offered on the day).
The performer unapologetically set the tone for the night with a suitably stirring rendition of Josh Groban's "You Raise Me Up" the audience immediately joininig in.

Thereafter, a thoroughly energetic and professional set , backed impeccably by the Natural Vibez band, saw the seasoned performer romping through ska, gospel and roots reggae classics as well as dipping into the L.U.S.T. catalogue

All of which helped the full house of patrons dig into a sumptuous four-course meal.


Earlier in the day, at Bay View Eco Resort, the reception/dining hall upstairs the pool deck (the latter marked by sweeping views of  Dolphin Bay/Turtle Crawle as well as the hotel's lush greenery and installed solar panels

Upstairs, patrons feasted on hotel fare which included chicken ham and fish all in a tangy sauce and pistachio ice cream for dessert, a repast made palatable by the ultra smooth selections of Stone Love legend Rory 9supported by Jaabo Sound), and the  striking African-oriented fashions of Aya Wear whose proprietor/designer Arlene Passley is an enrtertainment all-rounder herself.

Jah 9 will soon release debut album

After the visual stimulation Jah9 took the room and delivered for the brain and the heart, offereing cuts from her upcoming debut album, "New Name" a video for which the artiste recently shot in the scenic Blue Mountains (more on that in a later post).

At Tim Bamboo (on the eastern edge of town), ladies were presented with a rose upon arrival and ushered into the dining hall.

Boston catches painter's eye in new show

Wandeka Gayle's rendition of Boston beach

Among painter Wandeka Gayle's inspirations, as this Gleaner piece shows, is the famous Boston beach (her impression of it anyway).

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120513/arts/arts4.html

Gayle opened her exhibition and launched a short volume of poetry, at Kingston's Red Bones art gallery

Portie Small Biz: May 31 is "Your Day"

 Plans for a day-long “Small Business Day” have been unveiled by Chamber of Commerce President Daney-Ann Thomas for Friday, May 31 at four separate Port Antonio venues. The day will kick off at the Portland Parish Council Chambers at 10 a.m. with a Chamber of Commerce address presented by President Thomas. 

This is followed by a “Meet the Mayor” session and address for small business operators at 10:15 a.m. A question and answer session for taxi drivers, various hospitality providers, hairdressers, barbers and “corner shops” will follow at 10:30 a.m. At 10:45 a.m. there will be a transport authority update covering new rules, dress code and safety measures. At 11:45, the venue moves to the Chamber of Commerce secretariat at 2 Harbour Street. The intention is for the Chamber of Commerce offices to serve as an information centre for all types of information on the parish. The intention is for this office to take up the slack of the Jamaica Tourist Board and TPDCo offices that have closed in Port Antonio.

 At noon, the venue switches to adjacent Neville Antonio Park where lunch will be available and a variety of demonstrations and addresses are slated. At 12:30 p.m. there will be a mixology demonstration sponsored by Lascelles. MSME (Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise) Alliance Chairman Dr. Rosalea Hamilton will be the guest speaker from 1 p.m. addressing such topics as partnership, networking, alliances and affiliates. From 1:30 p.m., the Heart Trust/National Training Agency
will have various skill displays and outline their certification requirements. At 2:15 p.m.there will be various merchandising booth displays in the park. From 3 p.m. there will be an open air concert on the park stage.

An evening venue will be held at the Hotel Tim Bamboo at 5 p.m. with a forum including both the Jamaica Stock Exchange and Chamber of Commerce focusing on investments. Working refreshments will be included and the session will end at 7 p.m. There is no change to participate in the day‟s event and it also presents an excellent opportunity to meet other enterprising business operators from the community. For additional details, call 873-0882 or 378-6542. 
- from the Portland Tribunal

R.I.p. Dr Manley west - Canasol pioneer

Portland has produced its fair share of outstanding Jamaicans, and one of them was laid to rest on Saturday last, in the church yard in his native district of Friendship. A prior engagement kept this writer form attending the service, but it had been the talk of the area all that week, and no doubt will remain so for a while.

An alumnus of Portie's Titchfield High School, Prof. Manley West was later Professor Emeritus in the department of Pharmacology at the University of the west Indies. Beginning in the late 70s West, and Dr. Albert Lockhart, overcame loads of scepticism by successfully formulating a topical treatment (eye drop) for the degenerative disease glaucoma. The drug’s name Canasol, belied its source material, the cannabis, or ganja plant. The United States Food & Drug Administration, in its “great wisdom” has decided that Canasol – developed in 1983 and successfully used around the world – can be sold as a prescription item in the US, even though it has no demonstrable side effects.

They also developed Asmasol, another cannabis-derived pharmaceutical useful, as the name suggests in combating the respiratory disease now fairly widespread in Jamaica nad indeed many other countries.


West, was by all accounts, an assuming yet affable man, a "country gentleman" who possessed a mind sharper than many sophisticates, yet did not let his lofty status as a an academic and pioner go to his head.

CheapS talkpread your wordfectivTalk CTC - ely

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151596643260486&set=t.100000913126903&type=3

the above was designed (at least its initial iteration) by Portie's CTC

and in addition to all manner of design and digital printing, their handiwork also encompasses:

- phone accessories;
- internet cafe;
- photo restoration;
- CD & DVD covers
and a host of other services

They're open late and ready to serve

reach them at graphixwizz@yahoo.com;

Call 876-5367/437-1435;

or drop by at 19 West Street (across the road form the KFC) when next you're in Portie

The recently concluded JMA-JEA EXPO trade show attracted enterprises, companies and delegations from across Jamaica and overseas.

The Portland Chamber of Commerce, led by president Daney-Ann Thomas (left), was very much present at the National Arena, co-ordinating the biz advocacy for the parish.