Organisers happy with 12th staging of Wesley Powell meet

THE 12th Staging of the Wesley Powell/Heart Institute of the Caribbean Invitational Track and Field Meet, which took place at Excelsior High School last Saturday, was deemed a huge success by organisers.

The meet saw over 1,700 athletes representing 53 teams, participating in 40 track events and 29 field events in various age groups for schools, colleges, clubs and unattached individuals.

There were approximately 100 officials and 40 volunteers, thus providing good entertainment for hundreds of spectators, including Racers Track Club head coach Glen Mills, who gave the proceedings high marks for its organisation and quality.

Also in attendance were two prominent Excelsior High past students in Ruby Harrold-Claesson from Sweden and Donna Myrie from New Jersey, USA.

The highlight of the meet, from a spectator’s perspective, was the running of the 150-metre races simultaneously from different ends of the track. This was possible as the organisers employed two finish lines, two automatic timing systems, and two sets of starters. Before one race was completed another was on its way and this enabled the meet to be completed on time.

The meet honoured three persons in Frank Brown, former national football captain and many-time winning coach of Excelsior’s Manning Cup and softball teams;Vinton Powell, former national track and field representative and current JAAA starter; and Lorna Vernon, national junior track and field coach and coach at Convent of Mercy Alpha.

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Organisers happy with 12th staging of Wesley Powell meet

Jennifer Aniston happy to prove critics wrong

Jennifer Aniston focuses on what makes her and Justin Theroux happy. The 45-year-old actress, who has been engaged to the Leftovers actor since 2012, insists she no longer cares about rumours that their relationship is on the rocks. She claims she is trying to let negative energy roll off her back.

The former Friends star said: “I think I used to really (care). There was a period where I was hell bent on saying, ‘That’s not true. That’s not right. That’s not fair, but now, I just think you have to let it roll off your back and you realise. I think everyone knows it’s all B S, and like a soap opera on paper.

“The main thing is to try to just keep refocusing on what you know is true and what makes you guys happy. We know what our truth is. That’s all just static.”

Meanwhile, Jennifer is thrilled she has been nominated for both a Screen Actors Guild Award and Golden Globe for her portrayal of a suicidal woman addicted to painkillers in her latest film Cake. She feels she has finally proved critics that suggested she should stick to romantic comedies, wrong.

She told CBS Sunday Morning in an upcoming interview, airing January 4, 2015: “A little part of me saying, “I told you so?” … Maybe a teensy one. “This felt for me … I was really ready to, you know, just disappear and really go into the depths of a character. “We were a little teeny weensy movie made for four dollars and we poured our hearts into it, and everyone worked so hard, so that this [the nominations] is happening on top of that, it’s just like a huge giant juicy cherry on top.’

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Jennifer Aniston happy to prove critics wrong

Western Ja happy with TSO

BY MARK CUMMINGS AND HORACE HINES Observer West reporters

Friday, October 10, 2014    

MONTEGO BAY, St James — Retailers and shoppers in the parishes of St James and Westmoreland hailed last Thursday’s staging of the Jamaica Observer Takes Style Out (TSO), saying they have benefited greatly from the five-hour shopping discounts.

“It was excellent. Sales were very good. We really appreciated it,” said Ann-Marie Barnes, a supervisor at MK Mart on St James Street in Montego Bay.

Barnes was among scores of persons who gave the thumbs up to TSO in Montego Bay.

The initiative saw many shoppers benefiting from massive discounts on a wide variety of merchandise, while retailers enjoyed increased business, at a time when sales are usually sluggish.

From early Thursday, shoppers flocked the MK Mart, which sells a wide variety of merchandise, including clothing and appliances.

Georgett Scott of Falmouth, who shopped at MK Mart and Fashion Parade on St James Street in the resort city, said she was blown away by the huge discounts offered.

“The discounts were excellent and I got quality goods for very, very, reasonable prices,” said Scott, who admitted that it was her first time shopping during the Jamaica Observer’s Take Styles Out initiative.

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Western Ja happy with TSO

Knutsford Express posts $17-m profit, happy with new leg of Highway 2000

BY STEVEN JACKSON Business reporter jacksons@jamaicaobserver.com

Friday, October 10, 2014    

LUXURY bus company Knutsford Express has voiced approval of the Mount Rosser bypass of Highway 2000 amid posting $17.1 million in profit, or 20 per cent higher than year-earlier levels.

The company also expanded the number of departures on offer while increasing travel options to passengers along the South Coast by 50 per cent.

“The much-anticipated middle phase of the North-South Highway which bypasses the hilly and windy Mount Rosser roadway opened. This has allowed for a reduction in the travel time on the North Coast route and resulted in a more comfortable ride for our passengers,” the company said in a joint note prefacing the financial results

signed by directors Oliver Townsend and Anthony Copeland.

“With this reduction in time and with our fleet being improved by the addition of new luxury coaches on that route, our customers will have an even better travelling experience,” the directors said.

The Caribbean Business Report was unable to contact the company for further clarification on the benefit of the bypass.

Total revenues hit $103 million, or 30 per cent higher than a year earlier based on increased passengers resulting from the company’s expansion of the South Coast route. Cash and equivalents stood at $48.5 million at August compared with $12.8 million a year earlier.

Knutsford Express operates bus routes that connect Jamaica‘s south-eastern city of Kingston to northern and western parishes. It offers scheduled coach transportation, courier service, private hire, and special-event shuttles.

The company raised just under $100 million through an initial public offer (IPO) of 20 million shares or 20 per cent of the firm last December. The listing on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market allowed the company to qualify for a five-year break on income tax.

The company now has 105 departures weekly and has expanded its reach to Falmouth, Negril, Savanna-la-Mar, and Mandeville, having acquired competitor South Coast Express last year.

It started operations in 2006 with 28 departures weekly between Montego Bay and Kingston.

Earlier this month, the State body, the National Road Operating and Construction Company (NROCC), admitted that use of the recently opened Mount Rosser bypass dipped by more than a third since it started collecting a toll last month.

During the period prior to the toll collection, the road attracted approximately 5,000 to 6,000 vehicles per day, as motorists took advantage of the moratorium implemented to encourage use of the new road. But the numbers fell to 3,000 to 4,000 vehicles per day with the introduction of toll charges.

Toll rates implemented were $200 for Class 1 vehicles (cars), $420 for Class 2 vehicles (SUVs) and $1,000 for trucks.

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Knutsford Express posts $17-m profit, happy with new leg of Highway 2000

Western Ja happy with TSO

BY MARK CUMMINGS AND HORACE HINES Observer West reporters

Friday, October 10, 2014    

MONTEGO BAY, St James — Retailers and shoppers in the parishes of St James and Westmoreland hailed last Thursday’s staging of the Jamaica Observer Takes Style Out (TSO), saying they have benefited greatly from the five-hour shopping discounts.

“It was excellent. Sales were very good. We really appreciated it,” said Ann-Marie Barnes, a supervisor at MK Mart on St James Street in Montego Bay.

Barnes was among scores of persons who gave the thumbs up to TSO in Montego Bay.

The initiative saw many shoppers benefiting from massive discounts on a wide variety of merchandise, while retailers enjoyed increased business, at a time when sales are usually sluggish.

From early Thursday, shoppers flocked the MK Mart, which sells a wide variety of merchandise, including clothing and appliances.

Georgett Scott of Falmouth, who shopped at MK Mart and Fashion Parade on St James Street in the resort city, said she was blown away by the huge discounts offered.

“The discounts were excellent and I got quality goods for very, very, reasonable prices,” said Scott, who admitted that it was her first time shopping during the Jamaica Observer’s Take Styles Out initiative.

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Western Ja happy with TSO

Heineken Happy Hour reboots

Contributed

DJ Jubby served up the hits.

Contributed

These friends enjoy the vibe at the Play Pen Bar during the Heineken Happy Hour.

Contributed

Owner of the Play Pen Bar, Winston Knot, relaxes with Heineken ladies Toni Jean Lawson (left) and Shantol Holness.

Contributed

This consumer takes full advantage of the Heineken deals.

Contributed

The Heineken Star bus rolled up to Play Pen Bar and it was an instant party vibe.

The Heineken Happy Hour campaign kicked off recently in Grange Hill, Westmoreland, at the Play Pen Bar, amid much excitement and anticipation, following the tremendous success of the promotion last year.

Consumers took full advantage of the two-for-one specials and bucket deals as well as the amazing musical selections emitting from the Heineken Star Music bus.

There will be 13 participating bars that will be hosting this campaign throughout the parishes of Westmoreland, Trelawny, Mandeville, St Ann, St Catherine, St James and Kingston.

According to Nasha Douglas, brand manager for Heineken, the decision to embark on another Happy Hour campaign was due to the feedback that was received from consumers and the participating outlets last year.

“The feedback we received from both consumers and participating outlets was overwhelmingly positive. We love giving back to our consumers so we are moving all across the island with our great deals,” Douglas said.

The Heineken Happy Hour campaign will run for several weeks and ends on December 19, 2014 in Waterloo, St Andrew, at Jo Jo’s.

“Look out because we may just drop in to the outlet nearest you on our next Happy Hour tour,” Douglas said.

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Heineken Happy Hour reboots

Riddim guru does it again - Happy Boulevard rhythm a hit

Seanizzle – Contributed

Multitalented producer, Seanizzle, has done it again with his Happy Boulevard rhythm.

The rhythm features artistes such as I’Octane, Kapri, Lukie D, T’nez, Bryka, Mr G, Seanizzle himself with the title single, Happy Boulevard, along with many more artistes.

The rhythm, released less than two months ago, has been getting heavy rotation on local and international airwaves.

Seanizzle has nothing but high hopes for the project. “The feedback as been great; everywhere I’ve been to promote the riddim, everyone instantly places the riddim in their juggling, saying the riddim gave them a happy vibes – just what was intended by Happy Boulevard,” he said.

The first video for the rhythm, Kapri’s Bad by Myself, shot in Pennsylvania, will be released monthend.

Recently a video of Kevin Hart dancing to the Seanizzle-produced Beenie Man song, I’m Ok, on the 2010 One Day rhythm, was posted on social media. The video got more than 25,000 likes on Instagram.

“It’s a great feeling knowing my music is appreciated by people of different cultures not just the reggae/dancehall community,” Seanizzle said of the video.

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Riddim guru does it again - Happy Boulevard rhythm a hit

"Tuffy" happy with recognition

Sport

THE RJR SPORTS FOUNDATION 2013 PEOPLE’S CHOICE PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR AWARD NOMINEEBY HURBUN WILLIAMS Observer writer Friday, January 03, 2014

JERMAINE ‘Tuffy’ Anderson, one of the five nominees for the RJR Sports Foundation 2013 People’s Choice Performance of the Year Award nominees, is extremely pleased to be recognised for his efforts, even as he praised the organisers.Anderson, 34, who was scheduled to leave the island yesterday after securing a contract in El Salvador, was nominated for his goal against Costa Rica that kept alive the Reggae Boyz’s World Cup hopes in September.“Yes, I really feel good about it and would even be better still to know say on the day it is announced that Jermaine Anderson has won it,” he told the Jamaica Observer recently. “I know I will be proud and make my mother even prouder,” added Anderson.The bustling forward, who won the hearts of many Jamaicans for his goal-scoring exploits with local club Waterhouse over the years, was never selected by former head coach Theodore Whitmore for the World Cup Qualifiers, but new German coach Winfried Schäfer introduced him in the second half and he delivered with a 90th minute goal, which earned Jamaica a 1-1 draw.“Let me say this. I believe that once you work hard things must come through,” he added.Anderson has been nominated alongside fellow footballer, National Under-17 and Under-20 midfielder Khaija Shaw, track athletes Javon Francis and Yanique Thompson, and jockey Dane Nelson.“To know that you have been nominated for Sports Personality People’s Choice of the Year Award is a good feeling as it comes as a big recognition,” said Anderson.Anderson, or ‘Tuffy’ as he is affectionately called, believes the country has seen the good in him and the award should now serve to inspire others to succeed in spite of hardships, trials and tribulation.The Jamaican public is again being invited to be involved in the selection process by voting for the winner from a list of top five nominees for the People’s Choice of the Year award. This year voting will take place by either text messaging or voice calls on a voting platform established by Digicel and also through voting on the Jamaica Observer social media Internet pages, its online platform, or a purpose-built e-mail address. Voting information will be available on a regular basis in the pages of the Observer.ANDERSON… I know I will be proud and make my mother even prouder

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"Tuffy" happy with recognition

PHOTO: Happy children

News

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Two children dash across Patrick Drive in Kingston on Tuesday, while two others walk calmly beside a woman. (PHOTO: KARL MCLARTY)

HOUSE RULES

1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper – email addresses will not be published.

2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.

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4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.

5. Please don’t use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed:mailto:advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.

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PHOTO: Happy children

WICB happy with success of Limacol CPL

St John’s, Antigua — President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron says he is very pleased with the success of the inaugural Limacol Caribbean Premier League (LCPL) T20 Tournament so far, and impressed with the response the league has received both regionally and internationally.

The WICB signed an agreement with LCPL with the goal of further developing and strengthening West Indies cricket by expanding the global fan base, as well as increasing the number of West Indian cricketers under regional retainer contracts, and showcasing the talent and beauty of the Caribbean internationally. Cameron says he believes these objectives are being met.“The support of the Limacol CPL by the West Indian fans has been overwhelming and this is evidenced by the sold-out crowds at each and every match so far. That says to me that the interest and passion for the game is still there, and it’s our responsibility to continue to nurture that love which is what the LCPL is all about,” said Cameron.“In addition, the entire world has come to play through the global reach and appeal that the tournament has achieved. The combination of some of the best regional and international T20 players with the amazing carnival, party-like atmosphere for which the Caribbean is renowned has turned the eyes and ears of the world to our shores, and we could not be more pleased about that exposure.”The Limacol CPL is being broadcast on television in India, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, the Caribbean and the USA, reaching millions of viewers through such networks as ESPN3, Fox Sports, BT Sports and Sony. ESPN Caribbean also produces a weekly highlights show of the tournament, which airs on the ESPN Caribbean television network and online at ESPN Play. In addition, the Line and Length Radio Network offers live ball-by-ball commentary of all the matches, which airs on 22 radio stations in the English-speaking Caribbean and reaches over 850,000+ listeners.The Limacol CPL has also developed a strong presence on social media networks Facebook and Twitter, with thousands of fans and followers keeping up to date on the latest news and match information from the six franchise teams. Celebrities such as actor Mark Wahlberg – part-owner of the Barbados Tridents – and Virgin Group Chairman Sir Richard Branson – sponsor of the Antigua Hawksbills team – who tweet about the tournament have added to the interest.Cameron said that he is impressed by the hidden talent that is emerging as a result of the league.“Players like young Nicholas Pooran (Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel) and the likes of Rayad Emrit (Barbados Tridents), Sheldon Cotterell (Antigua Hawksbills) and Steven Jacobs (Guyana Amazon Warriors) to name a few, that may have flown under the radar or been overshadowed by the bigger names in the region have now been given their time to shine, and they are indeed taking advantage of that opportunity. I expect that the Limacol CPL will open many doors for these young men to play cricket all over the world and it’s satisfying to know that it all started with the LCPL.”Limacol CPL Chief Executive Officer Damien O’Donohoe agrees. “As the governing authority for cricket in the region, the WICB have shown great foresight and support in how they have partnered with us to develop the LCPL. While in our inaugural year of the tournament we recognise we have a long way to go to build and achieve all our mutual goals, we are warmed by the reception that the WICB and all local territorial boards have provided throughout, and the passion with which they have interacted with us concerning our future development programmes, which we think will yield far-reaching results for the sport in the region.”The Limacol Caribbean Premier League T20 Tournament began on July 30 and was scheduled to conclude yesterday in Trinidad and Tobago.Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron (left), president of the WICB, and Kieran Foley, director of Limacol CPL, enjoying the moment.

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WICB happy with success of Limacol CPL