Virgoans set to party

Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

My dears, it's that time again, when the Leos celebrate their last hurrahs and the Virgoans are all set to take centre stage.

And so we extend happy birthday to the following Leos: the lovely Patricia Henry; Jumaine Remikie; the lovely Georgia Phoenix Bonner, over in Montego Bay; Alex Hill, now in Lake Park, Florida; and Wayne Rowe, now in Decatur, Georgia; who all celebrate their birthday today.

Tomorrow will see: Al Niazi; socialite and oenophile the lovely Marilyn Bennett; the charming Nicola Wan; twin-brothers chef Mark Cole of Breezes Runaway Bay, and Andrew Cole, formerly of Hedonism III; the fab Jackie Bird, in Montego Bay; the lovely Tashien Willson, of Sandals Grande Ocho Rios; and the dapper Howard Barton, in the Big Apple sharing the same birthday.

On Sunday: ace sprinter Usain Bolt; NCB's Patrick Hylton; the fabulous Terry Shoucair; fashion designer Courtney Washington; the lovely Dawn Smikle; Knut Borstad; the lovely Kimberly Durham, in Gulf Breeze, Florida; David 'Squeeze' Annakie, in New York; and Nick Sanchez, in Redlands, California, celebrate their special day.

On Monday: Andrew Seaga; the lovely Barbara Robinson; the fab Christine Smith; the charmingly lovely Joyceline Easy-Shakespeare; Patricia Housen, over in Montego Bay; the stunning Jasintea Walters, in Miami Beach; Sandy Johnson, in London; and the fab Rebecca Mendelsohn, in Mallorca, Spain, will be partying up a storm.

Then belated birthday greetings to the fab Collette Garrick, who opted for a Port Antonio getaway; and the fab Yasmin Spiro, who both celebrated on Wednesday, and to Sandra Ochoapita, who celebrated on Tuesday.

Come Tuesday, Virgo rises to the fore and luvs, celebrations there will be aplenty, as those who will be celebrating birthdays include: singer/entertainer Papa Michigan; musician Maurice Gordon; the fab Melissa von Frankenberg; Kevin Sean Bourke; the charming Gracia Thompson; Damian Wilson; the lovely Donna Bell, formerly of Linstead, St Catherine, now in Atlanta, Georgia; and Ajay Chauhan, in Bhopal, India.

On Wednesday, celebrating are: the charming Ann McNamee; Maurice Green; and the lovely Lisa McHayle, in Mandeville. The following day: businessman Guy Morris; Rajee Jackson, in Linstead, St Catherine; artist Litina Egungun, now in Chapel Hill, North Carolina; and motivational speaker and wellness coach, the lovely Janese Shakur, in Atlanta, Georgia, make it a special day. Many happy returns y'all, with champagne toasts and beluga treats!

And speaking of fabulous people, events and places, it's all about the St Ann Homecoming and Heritage Foundation, as they get set to host their annual homecoming and cultural extravaganza this weekend.

This year, the annual showcase is more of a monthlong event, in which members of the foundation, under the baton of the Custos Radcliffe Walters and wife Norma, the organisation will use the celebration to highlight the achievements, contribution to national development and the cultural diversity of the 'Garden Parish', to sensitise the nation and members of the diaspora to the foundation's role in spearheading renewed interest in the parish and its many roles and contribution.

This year, instead of the usual annual banquet as the culminating, celebratory event and hoopla and black-tie format, the foundation will host 'Celebrate Throughout The Ages' in the garden park of the popular Mystic Mountain Rainforest tomorrow, starting around 7 p.m. The objective of the format change will be for a wider appeal and attendance at the signature event, the venue is far more people friendly and hospitable to an informal yet official occasion, with the ability to attract a larger cross section of 'St Annians', as well as supporters from neighbouring parishes and visitors.

The stellar event will attract a nominal fee of $3,000 per person for general admission, while the contribution for VIP patrons will be a modestly higher $4,000.

And with live premium entertainment, and the usual non-stop dancing expected, plus a delicious Jamaican fare on offer, the mode of this year's festivities will be the celebration of the past several decades of both the local and global experience. And dears, it promises to be the outing of the season, and then some!

Entertainment coordinators' do

And my daahlings, if y'all have ever guested at the fabulously racy Hedonism II in Negril, then y'all know that the experience of the hotel's guest is made that much more pleasant by the entertainment coordinators who have, over the years, worked tirelessly as goodwill ambassadors of the tourism industry, to promote and present not just the resort's activities, but all things Jamaican.

Now, many of these employees have gone on to many successful careers, due largely to the training and exposure garnered during their tenure as coordinators. Well my dears, last year, they staged their first annual Hedonism II Entertainment Coordinators reunion, and pumpkins, we are talking a fabulously happening event that saw a number of guests joining in the fray by booking their vacation to party with their favourite coordinators.

This year, the event is slated for August 28 to September 4, and luvs, with the diva of Fab Entertainment, Michelle Facey, being the event coordinator for the reunion, y'all know it promises to be off the hook, and then some! Not only is this a must-attend, it promises to be a thriller of the fabbest order, so see y'all in Negril next week!