With the United States' 2012 Presidential Elections approaching, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires John Dinkelman released a Public Service Announcement (PSA) on the U.S. Embassy's official website, Facebook page and Twitter feed encouraging Americans residing in The Bahamas to vote using an absentee ballot.

The U.S. Chargé stressed how important it is for every American, even those residing overseas, to influence the direction of the country by exercising their right to vote. The PSA also provides information on the U.S. absentee voting process and the voting resources available through the U.S. Embassy in Nassau.

The Bahamas' efforts towards World Trade Organisation (WTO) membership won commendations from the United States Embassy during a four-day WTO technical training programme which began Tuesday at the British Colonial Hilton. "This nation has made considerable progress since it began laying the ground work for WTO accession more than 10 years ago," said Embassy Charge d'Affaires, John Dinkelman.

At the second meeting of the Working Party on the Accession of The Bahamas, in Geneva in June, The Bahamas' trade regime and trade-related reforms were assessed and its conformity with WTO rules examined.

The wedding ceremony is complete and it's time to celebrate your union with family and friends, starting with delectable selections created by your catering team. Whether you have a morning, noon, or evening reception a major factor will be the food and the presentation of the food at your event. Therefore ample attention should be placed on your menu choice and the caterers selected to perform this ostentatious task.

Are you tired of going to weddings that serve cold food, undercooked beef, tasteless fish, or rock hard vegetables? Do something about it for your event! Start by requesting references from your caterers and follow up with phone calls. Simply ask the referrals how they enjoyed the meal, were there any glitches, and how was the timing. When selecting your caterer, the type of service, the level of service, and the type of clientele they have worked with in the past will help tremendously in determining which catering service best fits your needs. (Make sure the references are not just family members).

One week after Mario Carey Realty hosted a formal Baha Mar Residence presentation in The Bahamas, the firm's founder reported the first local sale of a residential unit in the $3.5 billion resort enclave "We're very excited about this sale," said Carey, "because all of the sales prior to this were made abroad and this sale reflects a quick response to the appreciation of Baha Mar's investment value for Bahamian citizens and residents."

Carey has called for an urban development plan to be created around the Baha Mar area, a planned zone with CCTV security, attractive lighting, landscaping and commercial zoning to create what he believes can be a vibrant town-like atmosphere with Bahamian entrepreneurs meeting the needs of Baha Mar guests, residents, staff and the local population.

The progressive firm of Halsbury Chambers will hosts its 8th Annual Free Legal Clinic, under the theme "Information You Need for the Life You Want" on Saturday the 15th September 2012 at its law office located on Village Road from 9am to 4pm.Launched in 2004 as a community outreach effort to provide free legal advice and bridge the gap between the legal community and the public, the free clinics in the past have attracted hundreds of persons.

Nerissa Greene, Partner at the law firm, said that, "attorneys will be available from 9am to 4pm to give free legal advice on a wide range of legal issues such as mortgages, conveyances, wills, probate, divorces, adoption, personal injury, wrongful dismissal, immigration applications, trade marks, copyright and formation of companies."

The Hon. Jerome Fitzgerald, Minister of Education, Science and Technology interatcs with students of Albury Sayle Primary School at the opening of their computer lab September 11.

The more than 50 computers were donated by Cable Bahamas' Cable Cares Foundation.

(BIS Photo / Patrick Hanna)

The Princess Margaret Hospital is in the process of acquiring two new digital mammography machines to enhance the detection of breast cancer amongst Bahamian women, the Hon. Dr. Perry Gomez, Minister of Health announced as he officially re-launched the Breast Cancer Programme.

The ceremony was held Wednesday September 12, 2012 at the British Colonial Hilton, where Dr. Gomez also revealed that one of the machines will be in place by September 21 at the Princess Margaret Hospital in New Providence and the other, in early October 2012 a the Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama.

I like to pride myself on finding a great deal on something that is of great value. A few years back, I took courses from the International Sommelier Guild that allowed me to take my prudent nature and find some great value wines at a great price. The thousands of dollars achieving Sommelier status has paid itself back in the bargains I have found because of my knowledge!

One of my favorite no-fail "bargains" is a classification in Italy called Indicazione Geografica Tipica or IGT. IGT denotes a wine that is a typical indication of a certain geographical area. Prior to 1992, there were three classifications for Italian wine: table wine, Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC), Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG). The DOC and DOCG are very specific to appellations.

We are really asking a lot of our supporters, and the Grand Bahama community as a whole this week. It seems we are always asking for help for our shelter animals. And we are - we must; if we are to continue to help the helpless animals for whom we are the absolute last resort. We can't do what we do without a great deal of support. We have never asked for help for an owned animal before, but we are asking now on behalf of a beloved dog whose family desperately needs help for him.

We responded to an emergency call at around 8:30 p.m. last Wednesday night from Queens Cove. (GB residents will know that Queens Cove is a quiet, sparsely populated subdivision, and most residents do not speed through those streets, as it an exceptional animal and kid friendly neighborhood). Manchas had been struck by a speeding car while attempting to cross the street to go back to his home possibly in response to his little boy calling his name.

Grand Bahama Island Cleanup is a part of the 26th annual International Coast Cleanup, the world's largest volunteer effort to help protect our ocean, lakes and rivers. Each year, hundreds of thousands of volunteers from around the world spend a few hours removing trash and debris from beaches, lakes, and rivers keeping track of every piece of trash they find. Ocean Conservancy uses that information to produce an annual snapshot of the problem of marine debris.

"We want to make Grand Bahama Island cleaner, healthier place to live by taking part in a programme that offers public recognition and financial incentives in exchange for implementing environmentally beneficial actions and improving the quality of life", said Karen Seymour, Director, Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, Grand Bahama Island.

Minister for Housing and the Environment, the Hon. Kendred Dorsett on September 3 applauded the efforts of Grand Bahama's two leading oil companies, BORCO and Statoil for their efforts in empowerment of young people. Mr. Dorsett was in Grand Bahama for the official launch of the Petroleum Products and Measurement Course Pilot Programme, being sponsored by the two oil giants.

The petroleum industry is said to be one of the few striving industries both locally and internationally, and training of young people will be beneficial to the island for career building within the industry and also aid with supplying the industry with knowledgeable applicants.

As thousands of students across the island headed back to the classroom last week, students of the Lewis Yard Primary School, were greeted by a newly refurbished campus at the former St. Vincent DePaul Catholic School to welcome them into the 2012/2013 school year. The relocation initiative, came as a result of Government and private sector partnerships, and according to Mr. Ian Rolle, President of The Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited (GBPA) was a move that will benefit the entire community.

The tour included a walk-through of classrooms, administrative areas, computer and music rooms, as well as pre-school areas. "To date, GBPA has committed well in excess of $100,000 financially to the project and sees this initiative as an investment in the island's youth," said Ian Rolle, President of The Grand Bahama Port Authority.

Located in New Plymouth on Green Turtle Cay the Albert Lowe Museum features exhibits that chronicle the rich, 217-year history of the town. The Bahama's oldest historical museum is dedicated to Albert Lowe, a renowned model shipbuilder and a direct descendant of the original settlers. Through pictures and illustrations, visitors learn of the fight for survival against nature in the 1700s. Displays examine New Plymouth's role as a port-of-safety for Confederate blockade runners during the American Civil War in the 1860s.

In the museum one can see the recorded picture of the history and discover the distinguished artwork of Alton Lowe, Albert's son. The lower floor of the Museum is dedicated to the pre-Columbian period with some artifacts donated by Byron Ellison and Peter Barratt.

Wednesday September 5th, 2012 signified the official launch of Grand Bahama Gospel Fest. Armed with a vision and a desire to build; under the theme "THANK GOD FOR LIFE" GB GospelFest 2012 will be held on Thursday October 11th, 2012 at the St. George's Gym on the island of Grand Bahama. It is more than just an event but rather an experience!

GB Gospel Fest will attract visitors from around the archipelago of islands, Turks and Caicos and North America to the island of Grand Bahama. International Worship Leaders and guest artists Jonathan Nelson, Shana Wilson and Tasha Cobbs, from Grand Baham, Pastor Simeon Outten, and out of New Providence, Minister Nadene Moss along with the Grand Bahama's combined Praise & Worship Team, Musicians and Fine Arts Ministers will be the headliners.

Minister for Youth, Sports and Culture the Hon. Dr. Daniel Johnson told Junkanoo leaders on Grand Bahama September 7 that they now have a new minister and that he wants to present them with a new vision for Junkanoo. Dr. Johnson was in Grand Bahama to present $42,000.00 in Seed Money to the 11 groups participating in the upcoming 2012 Annual Junkanoo Parade on Grand Bahama.

The list in the (A Division) includes defending champion, Superstar Rockers, Swingers, Majestic Crusaders, Kingdom Culture, Classic Dancers, Bayshore Warriors, Harbour Boys and Showtime. The (B Division) lineup includes the Invaders, Rotary Club International, Bushwhackers and The Victory Boys.

Dark Shadows - One of the taglines for this movie: Every Family Has Its Demons. A young man is turned into a vampire and imprisoned in a coffin for two centuries. When he is accidentally freed, he returns to his estate to find it has fallen on hard times. As he acquaints himself with his dysfunctional descendants it becomes clear that each harbors their own dark secrets and that he must lead them into a brighter day even if he is destroyed in the process.

Barnabas Collins is an 18th-century vampire who has been awaken in the 20th century and must now bring together what is left of his family to restore the Collins name and their canned fish business to the juggernaut it once was in the town of Collinsport. Elizabeth Collins Stoddard is the matriarch of Collinwood Manor and is doing her best to keep what is left of the family together in the midst of dwindling prospects and a specter of misfortune that seems to haunt the family for generations. Victoria Winters is the new governess of Elizabeth's nephew who has a secret of a tortured past due to her ability to see what others could not, but the kindred spirit she finds in Barnabas may be what she needs to free herself of that sorrow.

It's September, the birders are back from vacation and the birds are coming in as well, making their long journey to spend the winter with us or simply stopping off on Grand Bahama on the way to their wintering grounds further south. Join certified Bahamas Birding Guide Erika Gates and an enthusiastic group of birders of all ages this Saturday, September 15th, for the first fall birding fieldtrip.

The group will meet at the Reef Golf Course at Thompson's Real Estate parking lot at 8am. Call Garden of the Groves at 374-7778 for more information.

Fast Track Athletics in conjunction with the Grand Bahama Cancer Association presents the first annual 'Relay for Cancer' Road Race to be held the morning of Saturday, October 6th, 2012. Who will you relay for in the 4 x 1 mile event?

The event will begin bright and early at the Grand Bahama Cancer Association building with warm-up excerices commencing at 6am and the race hitting the streets at 7am. Awards will be given to the top three teams in each division and for the company or organisation with the most participants.