Brooklyn: Though 2018 was a “challenging” year for Central Brooklyn Lions Club, Inc. (CBLC), it can still take comfort from its rich history and the fact that it continues to make a big difference in the community. Comment

Jamaica: Prominent Jamaican-born immigration attorney Winston Tucker continues to make a huge impact on the Caribbean community in New York. Comment

Arts & Theater: She’s got the moves. Manhattan-based dancer Marielis Garcia has an enlightened approach to dance. The professional performer, enjoys exploring the many different forms and movements, and one of her greatest ambitions is to illustrate the vast world of dance. She said many of the considerations that go into performing and creating, are commonly misunderstood. Comment

St Vincent: As he prepares to be honored this Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday weekend, by the Brooklyn-based St. Vincent and the Grenadines Ex-Teachers Association of New York, a retired Vincentian judge on recall in New Jersey is issuing sound words of encouragement to all on their career path. Comment

Trinidad and Tobago: Antigua The Antigua and Barbuda government says the state-owned Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APU) will spend EC$80 million dollars in upgrading its facilities so as to make it more competitive in the telecommunications sector. Comment

Bronx: Two local elected officials recently attended the inauguration of the governor of the United States Virgin Islands on Jan. 7. Bronx Councilman, Andy King (D–Baychester) and Mount Vernon City Council President, Andre Wallace, were present for the swearing-in ceremony of Albert Bryan Jr., and Lieutenant Governor, Tregenza A. Roach, on the multi-island territory’s capital city of Charlotte Amalie on St. Thomas Comment

Arts & Theater: Jamaican sculptor Basil Watson was recently commissioned to create a monument in honor of Civil Rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Comments (1)

Haiti: In tandem with Barbados’ acknowledgement of the rights of Haitians to enter the island like any the CARICOM citizen, crooks have begun defrauding the already bedevilled nationals of this Caribbean territory. Comment

The Queens-based Team Jamaica Bickle (TJB) this week began celebrating 25 years of supporting Jamaican and other Caribbean athletes at the prestigious Penn Relays Carnival at the University of Pennsylvania (UPENN) in Philadelphia. Comment

Brooklyn: As the ninth anniversary since the launch of Temporary Protective Status (TPS) for Haitians approaches, many recipients would have been preparing to apply for their final renewal and awaiting its impending termination on July 19. But since a federal judge in California granted a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration’s decision to end the program for Haiti and three other countries — the deadline dates are indefinitely delayed. Comment

Barbados: The literary arts in Barbados is now on a firmer footing thanks to a Bds$1,000,000 donation dedicated to writers and their development. Central Bank of Barbados Governor, Cleviston Haynes over the weekend announced the gift, that equates to US$500,000, that will be used as an investment trust fund to supplement work of the island’s premier scheme for annual writing competition and writer’s development, the Frank Collymore Literary Endowment, (FCLE) which will receive all dividends. Comment

Sports: The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) on Wednesday, Dec. 19 unveiled the dates and kickoff times for the Round of 16 matches of the 2019 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League, the region’s premier club championship. Comment

Guyana: GEORGETOWN, Guyana — Neither the company nor authorities are publicly admitting it, but Guyana is set to become one of the world’s newest oil producers as early as the last quarter of 2019, not in 2020 as official pronouncements have been indicating for almost four years. Comment

Brooklyn: Caribbean legislators in Brooklyn rallied on Monday as a United States federal trial began to protect more than 50,000 Haitian immigrants and their families from being forcibly separated by deportation. Comments (1)

Arts & Theater: It’s a shed of light on their fight. A new exhibit on display at Arts East New York is showcasing the stories of domestic workers now until Jan. 12. The “Domestic Worker’s United History Exhibition (Art)ifacts from DWU’s Archive and Worker Stories Kiosk!,” is a brief timeline of the organization’s battles and successes. Comment

Arts & Theater: A new off Broadway play is set to debut at The Theatre at St. Clement’s Jan. 15–Feb. 16. The play titled “Eco Village,” is somewhat based on the life of young playwright Phoebe Nir, and her experiences at the well-known Vermont-based puppet theater — Bread and Puppet Theatre. Comment

Music: They’re thinking big! A Caribbean restaurant in Park Slope welcomes jumbo jazz ensembles and oversized orchestras to play new tunes each Monday night. “The Living Large Ensemble Series” takes place at the Slope Lounge, opened last September by husband-and-wife Omari Clarke and Nicole Price-Clarke. Comment

Guyana: Thursday, Jan. 3 was the perfect day for cricket, lovely cricket. The five-hour event that started with a score of 100 runs — the combined birth number of batsman, Dr. Terrence Blackman, Dean, School of Science Health and Technology, Medgar Evers College / CUNY, and batsman, UK Banker, Keith Alexander, who celebrated their milestones with a match between their alma mater, and a Georgetown team. Comment

Sports: West Indies Captain Jason Holder has ended 2018 as the number two-ranked all-rounder in Tests and in the top ten of the bowlers rankings. Comment

New York: Caribbean American legislators Councilman Jumaane Williams and Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte on Tuesday welcomed Mayor Bill de Blasio’s unveiling of “the largest, most comprehensive plan” in the United States to guarantee health care for every New Yorker, including undocumented Caribbean and other immigrants. Comment

Music: The world famous VP records celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. The Queens-based independent reggae music label is going to commemorate the milestone with a year of musical releases, and celebrations spanning from North America, the Caribbean, and the United Kingdom. Comment

Haiti: My name is Christina Ponthieux. I am 11 years old. I attend JFK Magnet Middle School. First Speaker Pelosi, let me congratulate you for being voted Speaker of the House for the second time! I feel extremely happy for you. Speaker Pelosi, I came to talk to you when you came to Miami to help Congresswoman Donna Shalala, but I could not get in because a group of angry people were making a lot of racket. I was scared but not too much because my dad, Rony Ponthieux was there and my mentor and second mom: Ms Marleine Bastien. The Secret Service was nice, but they closed the doors, and no one could get in. I was very disappointed, but I did not cry. Comments (1)

Music: For starters Rhythm & Blues singer Marvin Gaye who asked the musical query in a song titled “What’s Going On?” will be getting his own Forever postage stamp this year. According to the United States Postal Service, a commemorative Forever stamp will be introduced with his image to be added to the music icon series. Comment

Sports: Cricinfo has reported that Englishman Richard Pybus has accepted the job as interim head coach of the West Indies team until the end of the Indian tour of the Caribbean this year. Comment

Sports: Former West Indies Test off-spinner Shane Shillingford has been suspended by Cricket West Indies (CWI) for an illegal action, ruling him out of the third round of the Regional Four-Day Championship, which started last week. Comment

“I’m not tired!” That’s what you might say when it’s time for bed. You want to stay awake for awhile. Who can shut their eyes when fun might be happening? You’re not tired, but in the new book “Stop That Yawn!” by Caron Levis, illustrated by LeUyen Pham, you might act like you are. Comment

Sports: Barbadian all-rounder Deandra Dottin was the only West Indian player chosen on the ICC’s team of the year when the ruling body’s for cricket announced its top awards for the year in women’s cricket on Dec. 31, 2018. Comment