Virgin Islands roaring back
An amazing display of teamwork and resolve — well underway by residents of the U.S. Virgin Islands, the federal government and even visitors — is restoring the hurricane-damaged American territory. “The USVI is open for business” was the main message carried by Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty, who was in New York recently with an list of the major recovery accomplishments made since Category 5 Hurricanes Irma and Maria hit the islands last September.
Items on the update list include all cruise ship ports open; power restored to all eligible customers; major, secondary and tertiary roads cleared; St. Croix’s Henry Rohlsen Airport and Cyril King Airport on St. Thomas open; and 40% of accommodations open with others actively being repaired and rebuilt.
Nicholson-Doty, who is a member of USVI Gov. Kenneth Mapp’s cabinet, noted that normalcy in the tourism sector greatly impacts the overall economy of the territory.
Realistically, she says, “The rebuilding of our islands will go over several years” and will be “very strategic in terms of hardening the infrastructure and building resiliency,” noting the determination of residents and tourists who support the restoration efforts by continuing to visit.
For information, see the islands website at www.VisitUSVI.com.
’Wash Day,’ for your hair
For Caribbean and African-American women, the agony and ecstasy of their hair is too-often a sizable slice of life — that's now being captured in the new comic “Wash Day.”
Through May 4, “Wash Day” writer Jamila Rowser, who has Puerto Rican and Dominican roots; and Vermont-based Jamaican cartoonist are running a Kickstarter campaign to support the self-publishing of a 27-page comic. The book's script edits were done by J.A. Micheline.
Twenty-six-year-old Kimana, a thickhaired Bronx resident, is the lead “Wash Day” character, who grapples daily with her complex head of hair - in addition to the daily complexities of life.
For more information on the comic and an array of Kickstarter donation options, visit www.washdaycomic.com.
Haitian business expo
The 14th Annual Toussaint L’Ouverture Symposium Business Expo returns Friday at Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon St., from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., presented by the Habnet Chamber of Commerce and Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. For information and to RSVP, email info@habnet.com or call (718) 360-5971.
Comedy in ’Paradise’
March Tracey’s “Paradise Plum,” a Jamaica-set stage work rife with comedy, patois, obstacles and romance, comes to the Black Spectrum Theater Friday, Saturday and next Sunday.
The Black Spectrum Theatre in Roy Wilkins Park, 177th St. and Baisley Blvd. in Jamaica. For show times and tickets, call the box office at (718) 723-1800, or send email to info@blackspectrum.com or marchatracey@gmail.com.
VP’s vinyl comeback
Marking the hey days of vinyl records and their current resurgence, VP Records/Greensleeves hosted its Record Store Day 2018 event Saturday at its Jamaica, Queens, retail store, featuring a lineup of top sound system music stars and exclusive vinyl releases such as “Phantom Dancehall” by DJ Spooky and ’Ganja Smuggling’ by Eek-A-Mouse. Visit www.vprecords.com.