In a spectacle reminiscent of a night in Havana, Pat Rahming’s Ghosts of Goombay resurrected what was on the verge of becoming a completely forgotten part of Bahamian music history. A cleverly laid out tale, Ghosts of Goombay opens with the death of our fabled Delia and follows the post funeral experience of two local chaps, alcoholics to be sure, who heard music unknown coming from the most unlikely of places—the graveyard. Scared out of their minds yet no more sober for it, they find solace in Memories, a strange yet familiar neighborhood club where a few other unsuspecting Bahamians found themselves to be invited. It was there at Memories that history unfolded through strong libations and the irresistible drive of the Goombay beat. Ghosts of Goombay invoked the spirit of storytelling that true Bahamian music has always been known for. It lies at the intersection of tragedy and comedy, bringing real circumstances to life in a deeply relatable yet magically lighthearted way. A well organized production that blended original recordings with the live backing of the Exodus Band, the music brought nostalgia to those who once knew it, and a new sense of identity to those Bahamians just being exposed. In the most artful of ways, Pat Rahming told us not a story about Goombay, but truly the story of Goombay, carefully incorporating the details of how Goombay music came to be. As the audience learned they soon found themselves captivated by choreography that delighted the eye as much as the music delighted the ear. Dancers flowed across the stage in bright beautiful costumes that brought this colorful part of Bahamian history back to life.  The routines started with a rousing rendition of Charlie Adamson’s Dance the Goombay featuring performers in golden fringes of sequins with sparkling energy to match.  Followed by performances to songs such as Foolish Frog, Conch Ain’t Got No Bone, and Peas and Rice by Blind Blake, Chi Chi Meringue by The Eloise Trio originally featuring the late "Peanuts" Taylor on drums, and more familiar Goombay tracks like Uncle Lou - Lazy Man by George Symonette, the musical review did not disappoint when it came to delivering top-notch entertainment and an authentic Goombay experience. A feast for the eyes and a melodic tonic for the weary Bahamian soul, Pat Rahming’s Ghosts of Goombay reminded us of who we are and from whence we’ve come, ensuring a clearer path to where we wish to go. A treat for all who were there to partake, the show was that which you wish to see again and worthy of a recurring schedule at a local resort where visitors to our islands can experience what it’s like when the libations are strong and the culture even stronger.  Kudos to Pat Rahming and his team including Bahamian songstress Tanya Hanna, for breathing life back into our Bahamian heritage and ensuring the love of Goombay is passed on through the generations. ----- Review by: Vanessa Mott-Williams for Pat Rahming's Ghosts of Goombay, 2025

In a spectacle reminiscent of a night in Havana, Pat Rahming’s Ghosts of Goombay resurrected what was on the verge of becoming a completely forgotten part of Bahamian music history. A cleverly laid out tale, Ghosts of Goombay opens with the death of our fabled Delia and follows the post funeral experience of two local chaps, alcoholics to be sure, who heard music unknown coming from the most unlikely of places—the graveyard. Scared out of their minds yet no more sober for it, they find solace in Memories, a strange yet familiar neighborhood club where a few other unsuspecting Bahamians found themselves to be invited. It was there at Memories that history unfolded through strong libations and the irresistible drive of the Goombay beat.

Ghosts of Goombay invoked the spirit of storytelling that true Bahamian music has always been known for. It lies at the intersection of tragedy and comedy, bringing real circumstances to life in a deeply relatable yet magically lighthearted way. A well organized production that blended original recordings with the live backing of the Exodus Band, the music brought nostalgia to those who once knew it, and a new sense of identity to those Bahamians just being exposed.

In the most artful of ways, Pat Rahming told us not a story about Goombay, but truly the story of Goombay, carefully incorporating the details of how Goombay music came to be. As the audience learned they soon found themselves captivated by choreography that delighted the eye as much as the music delighted the ear. Dancers flowed across the stage in bright beautiful costumes that brought this colorful part of Bahamian history back to life. 

The routines started with a rousing rendition of Charlie Adamson’s Dance the Goombay featuring performers in golden fringes of sequins with sparkling energy to match.  Followed by performances to songs such as Foolish Frog, Conch Ain’t Got No Bone, and Peas and Rice by Blind Blake, Chi Chi Meringue by The Eloise Trio originally featuring the late "Peanuts" Taylor on drums, and more familiar Goombay tracks like Uncle Lou - Lazy Man by George Symonette, the musical review did not disappoint when it came to delivering top-notch entertainment and an authentic Goombay experience.

A feast for the eyes and a melodic tonic for the weary Bahamian soul, Pat Rahming’s Ghosts of Goombay reminded us of who we are and from whence we’ve come, ensuring a clearer path to where we wish to go. A treat for all who were there to partake, the show was that which you wish to see again and worthy of a recurring schedule at a local resort where visitors to our islands can experience what it’s like when the libations are strong and the culture even stronger. 

Kudos to Pat Rahming and his team including Bahamian songstress Tanya Hanna, for breathing life back into our Bahamian heritage and ensuring the love of Goombay is passed on through the generations.

Review by: Vanessa Mott-Williams for Pat Rahming's Ghosts of Goombay, 2025

In many Bahamian households, grandparents, parents, children — even auntie and cousin them — all live under one roof. When a storm is coming, protecting our most vulnerable family members requires extra care, extra planning, and sometimes, extra help.

While younger relatives may ride out a storm with flashlights and snacks, older family members often face more serious risks — from limited mobility and medical needs, to confusion during power outages or sudden evacuations. Add in the emotional weight of displacement, and it becomes clear: prepping for a storm isn’t one-size-fits-all.

Vulnerable family members don’t just mean the elderly — they include anyone with a chronic illness, a disability, or someone who simply moves slower or lives alone. If you have a senior neighbor who doesn’t seem to have anyone checking in, this is the time to reach out. Even a quick call or knock on the door can make the difference between someone being prepared and someone being left behind.

Whether your loved one is staying with you or living on their own, here’s how to make sure they’re truly ready before the winds rise.

📋 Medical Needs Come First

Make sure every elder or vulnerable relative has:

Two weeks of medication, clearly labeled and packed in a waterproof pouch A written list of medical conditions, allergies, and prescriptions Any required devices (like blood pressure monitors or glucose meters) with batteries or chargers Mobility aids, like walkers or canes, ready and near exits

If they rely on services like dialysis, in-home nurses, or oxygen, call those providers early to confirm an emergency plan.

🧳 Prep a Personal Bag Early

Storm prep isn’t just about the house — it’s about the person.
Each senior should have their own grab-and-go bag ready with:

Extra clothes, washcloths, and undergarments Important IDs and insurance cards (in a Ziploc or document folder) Easy snacks and water Emergency contacts written on paper (in case phones die) Any care notes if someone else has to assist

Label everything. In a shelter or someone else’s home, it helps.

🏚️ Is Your Home Safe Enough?

Take a hard look:

Is the house low-lying or flood-prone? Is the roof solid? Is there backup power or ventilation?

If the answer is no — or even maybe — you may need to move them to a shelter or safer home before the storm hits. Not when the wind picks up.

If staying put, assign someone to check in with them regularly and prep their space: clear pathways, stock essentials, and make sure they’re not isolated.

📞 Make the Family Plan Now

Before the storm:

Assign someone to be the point person for senior relatives Confirm who they’re staying with and who’s picking them up if needed Share updates and locations with everyone in the family group chat

Storm prep doesn’t have to be overwhelming — it just takes a little coordination and care. With a solid plan in place, you can make sure the whole family stays safe, calm, and connected, no matter what the weather brings.

 

Charlie Smith aka 'Charlie Bahama', award-winning Filmmaker, Photographer & On-Air Personality film his hit show, the Charlie Bahama show in Dubai for the Expo 2020. Sponsorship by BahamasLocal.com and Escape Pro Travel International.

By: Jhanae Winter 

There continues to be a need for stylish yet affordable prescription eyewear for all ages.

Heidi Munroe, owner of Frame’d Eyewear & Accessories, is doing just that as her business provides men, women and children with various affordable options that suit their eye needs.

“I provide glasses frames which can be taken to your optometrist to have prescription lens added, readers in various strengths, glasses chains and glasses storage cases,” Heidi said.

She started this business because both her and her son wear prescription glasses. The price to have lenses installed and purchase different frames were too expensive for Heidi to maintain even with insurance, so she did her own research and began to supply glasses on her own, she said.

With new knowledge on finding affordable but stylish frames and former business experience under her belt, Heidi started this business venture in December 2020.

“Getting started was pretty seamless. The journey has been exciting. I love shopping so sourcing inventory does not feel like a task, it's fun,” she said.

Heidi mentioned that obtaining a business license and registering through NIB proved to be an easy feat for her business. 

As this is another source of income, before launching, she saved enough funds to properly plan and start the business.

She operates it from her home with options of pickup and delivery available, but she plans to have a storefront in the future for customers to shop and try-on at their leisure, she said. 

“I want Frame’d to be the number one, one-stop for prescription glasses, which includes providing frames and lenses once we have your prescription. I also want to have a storefront to allow people to come in, view, try on, purchase,” she said.

Starting out with only providing glasses for women, Heidi has already expanded her business in less than a year. She also met other goals such as having 500 followers on social media, with 692, to date.

Networking in The Bahamas has proven to be a successful method for Heidi. 

“I often get ‘I got your number from…’ or ‘I saw…. In a frame, do you have it?’ I was at someone else’s open house event, we got into talking about Frame’d and they told me to bring what I had inside for everyone to see. I had several sales that day,” she said.

A sign of good business is seeing her clients continuously support her, anticipate her new releases and be the first to pick from Frame’d’s inventory.  

“Clients often praise me for my business and helping them choose a frame that suits them,” she said.

Throughout her journey she maintains the vision for her business which is to outfit persons with quality stylish eyewear, helping them to see clearly without breaking the bank, she said.

Recognizing her clients needs and sustaining her customer service reputation, Heidi had to make a few changes to her business because of Covid-19.

At first she restricted people from trying on the frames, but soon realized this was taking away from the customer experience. She then changed her policies to allow try-on and would clean and sanitize after each customer. 

She’s noticed an increase in sales, particularly on the weekends, as people can also browse ads and other content on her Facebook page at their leisure and purchase her items, she said.  

Juggling her main and side careers, Heidi admits to the challenge of keeping up with it all and being focused while catering to business.

“Thank goodness for the Facebook Business suite and the ability to combine Facebook and Instagram. I have ads and posts scheduled to run on my pages. My evenings are spent making deliveries, placing orders, creating content, organizing inventory and ensuring we stay relevant,” Heidi said.

Through her own experience, she can say  “entrepreneurship is not for everyone”. However, she believes it is important for all who wish to pursue it. The goal should not solely be about making money, she said. 

Heidi’s love for what she does and providing services to her clients is her daily motivation.

“I love shopping, I love to dress up so I don’t see it as a job. I want people to look good wearing glasses. Gone are the days when you wore a simple black square frame. Let’s get into cat eyes in different colors and prints. Seeing my clients smile when they put on a frame and they love it, keeps me going”, she said.

To find stylish frames that fit your style connect with Heidi on Facebook at Frame’d Eyewear & Accessories and on Instagram @Framedeyewearaccessories

Frame’d Eyewear & Accessories, Quality, Stylish Eyewear for All Ages!