A talented journalist & a great friend dies
Hayden “Roger” Celestin — a phenomenally talented Trinidad-born New York photojournalist and a great friend — died early Saturday morning in Brooklyn at age 64. He died at Maimonides Medical Center after suffering a debilitating stroke at New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital earlier this year.
From calypsonians to Hollywood celebrities and fast-moving breaking news assignments, Celestin captured all this and more with film and digital cameras for close to 40 years.
A scholastic triple jumper before moving to the U.S., he remained devoted to track and field and loved covering the Penn Relays track meet in Philadelphia. But his interests were many — including the United Nations General Assembly and U.S. Open tennis, in addition to the many happenings in Caribbean communities in New York and the U.S.
Memorial services are being planned, and there will be more on his accomplishments and achievements detailed in a future Caribbeat column.
Alix Jacques’ kompas coming
Composer-musician Alix Jacques and the Compas Messengers — veterans of the spicy Caribbean dance music known as kompas in Haitian Creole — are returning to the New York area for a performance Dec. 28 in Westbury, L.I., at Mirelle’s Restaurant, 170 Post Ave.
RC and LM Production are presenting the show, which has a twofold purpose — a year-end celebration and the popular ensemble’s second anniversary. The doors open at 9 p.m. and the show starts at 10 p.m. Contribution is $45 in advance and $50 at the door. Call (917) 414-4986 or (516) 369-2377 for information and reservations.
2020 biz ‘Opportunities’
It’s time to look ahead, say the executives of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which will host its “2020 Vision Business Opportunities in New York for Small Business Owners” session on Friday at 9 a.m. in Brooklyn.
The city Small Business Services agency is co-hosting the event, a segment of the Monthly Business Networking Power Breakfast Membership Meeting at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Enter at 63 Flushing Ave., at Cumberland St.
For information, call (718) 834-4455 or visit caribbeantradecenter.com.
Get the ‘Green Card’ series
The “Green Card: A Love Story” series — B. Nandi Jacob’s entertaining web-based saga about the trials, tribulations, high, lows, laughter and tears of immigration — continues on YouTube.
Jacob — while celebrating the series — is asking viewers to sign on as subscribers when they watch the show.
The series follows a Caribbean-born immigrant who has been living in the U.S. illegally, “but won’t give up on her American Dream.”
Directed by Roderick Warner, the show stars Asha John, Cameron Bhola, Susan Kennedy, Alia Pierre, Marvin George and Derek Noel.
Jacob is seeking 1,000 new subscribers “and countless viewing hours, so check out my channel and hit that red subscribe button.”
Visit youtube.com and search for “Green Card: A Love Story.”
She’s a holiday star
There’s a bit of the Caribbean in the New York City Ballet’s presentation of “George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker” and its 11-year-old dancer, Charlotte Nebres.
The School of American Ballet student — whose mother has roots in Trinidad — is one of two performers playing the lead role of Marie in the decades-old holiday show. Charlotte’s father’s family is from the Philippines.
A standard of the New York City Ballet since 1954, the current version of show will run now through Jan. 5. For tickets and information, visit nycballet.com.
Her 60 amazing meters
St. Lucian sprinter Julien Alfred’s star is shining brighter after she ran a blazing 60-meter dash while representing the University of Texas track team in its season-opening meet.
The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, coach Terry Finisterre of St. Lucia’s Morne Stars Athletics Club and the University of Texas Longhorns track team enthusiastically shared the news — Alfred ran a personal-best of 7.18 seconds in the 60-meter preliminaries at the FasTrak Collegiate Opener on Dec. 7 at the University of Houston’s Yeoman Fieldhouse.
The 7.18 time made her the fifth-fastest 60-meter sprinter in university history, according to the school. The university reported that Alfred’s run was the fastest over the past 10 years by an NCAA Division I competitor in the month of December, according to FloTrack’s Travis Miller.
Alfred — who is already a tough international competitor at 18 years old — went on to win the finals event in 7.23 seconds. The psychology major was one of nine Texas Longhorns who logged personal bests in their first meet of the 2019-20 indoor season. Overall, the team won eight individual events and one relay — the women’s 4x400-meter relay, which included Alfred.