Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer
( L - R ) Pearnel Charles and Cecile Levee - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer
And so, the age of the Leo, is over and we now embrace the darling age of Virgo. The age of the Leo was well spent as fabulous Leos not only threw some swell parties to celebrate the season, they also partied up a storm, and then some!
One Leo who did not party up a storm but opted to celebrate at home with wife and children, was the dapper Richard Francis in Montego Bay. He celebrated his special day on August 10. And Howard Barton celebrated on Monday.
Best wishes all around, and many a happy returns coming at you from your lovely wife Karen Francis, your mom Frances Allison, in the first instance, and tons of relatives and friends. Champagne wishes and caviar treats to you both.
Now sweet-things, it's definitely all about Virgo and children, many a birthdays there are of the fabulous, the well-to-do, and the up-and-coming, who celebrate this sign.
To begin with, the season opened on Wednesday with the lovely Sammille Spence celebrating, in Yallahs, St. Thomas. However, tomorrow being Saturday, August 26, businessmen and brothers Desmond and Donald Panton, will be blowing out the candles on their cakes, as they mark another year. So will be Brenda Belding-Topping; the lovely Sherida Sharp-Dujon; the charming Roseanne Delfosse-Neuman; Dr. Gayle McGarrity; Dawn King; and the charming Gillian Belnavis.
Best wishes all around and remember, living well, is the best revenge!
Celebrating Virgo birthdays
Now, also celebrating Virgo birthdays in the days and weeks ahead, are: the always very elegant Sonja Sutherland-Dumetz (just back from a month-long holiday in Europe) along with Nafthalie Walsh; Paul-Navarro Jackson, 'Che', to his friends, will be celebrating on September 2 and here the partying will be in the Big Apple.
Come September 6, his aunt, the charmingly grand Ena Jackson-Wray, will be blowing out the candles on her birthday cake at her Mandeville residence as she too marks another year of fabulous living. Captain (Ret.) Michael Lyn; and Dwayne Goulbourne, also of Mandeville.
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
On Tuesday, the September 29, one-time JLP powerhouse Pat Stephens will celebrate his special day; as will glamour-puss, Cecile Levee, as this here doyenne of all that's fab will be celebrating her birthday at her très chic Runaway Bay, breach-front residence with the gusto and panache of fabulous society.
So honeys, y'all can expect one almighty to-do here. No, no bashment or anything so exaggerated, just the essence of style and grace here, so wait for it.
Now, on September 3, businessmen Wayne Chen of Super Plus chain of supermarkets and Chris Nakash of Nakash Construction, will be celebrating their special day. There will be candle-blowing engagements and cake-slicing ceremonies also for: advertising icon Robert MacMillan; political contender and trade unionist Pearnel Charles; hotelier Ron Droegmyer, of the Grand Lido Braco; Dr. John McHardy; Dr. John Masterton; Dr. Lee Martin of the Guardsman Group Medical Facility; journalist Wyvolyn Gager; Colombian Ambassador HE Dr. Kent Francis; legal luminary Norman Wright; Harmony Hall's Peter Proudlock; Jamaica National's Sonia Ruddock; Garth Barakatt; the lovely Debbie Hamilton, formerly of the OPM; Dawn Young of the OPM; Pure Class'sR. Christene King; her mom the charming Hazel King and son-in-law Marlon Creary; the elegant Portia Nicholson-Clarke; the JCF's Superintendent Harry Daley; Architect Tony Constantine; Jennifer Armond; J. Wray and Nephew's Christine Thompson; radio personalities Jennifer Grant and Richard Burgess; the fab Nathalie St. Louis; Kaye Spence; young Turk Peter Bovell; the lovely Melsah Riley; Ocho Rios businessman Ravi Daswani; the lovely Sulann Smith, and here the buzz is plans are in full gear for an end-of- year wedding; the lovely Jessica Marzouca; and there will be hell to pay in South Florida, as the fabulous party-momma Michelle Facey lets it rip, Virgo style.
Now, let the partying begin, and many a happy returns, y'all!
And speaking of partying!
My dears, everyone knew the time was fast approaching, but nary a soul wanted to acknowledge it as indeed, if ever there were diplomats who served here with distinction, it would be their Excellencies Claudio and Louise Valle.
My daahlings, this absolutely and wonderfully charming couple will take their leave of Jamaica in a matter of days, as sadly, their tour of duty here as Canada's first citizens has come to and end. Now, not given to spectacles, but being people of great style and substance, there has not been any big hoopla surrounding their imminent departure but there have been a number of quiet and intimate doos, celebrating their tenure here, and their retirement from the Canadian foreign office.
And so, alas, with September 5 being their departure date, Kingston and the diplomatic community, will be the poorer for their departure. In the immortal words of our recently laid to rest cultural giant, The Hon. Louise Bennett-Coverley, we exhort the Valles to "walk good."
And its another girl for the fab couple of Dr. Jonathan Greenland and wife Dr. Rebecca Tortello-Greenland, as the stork, dropped off her bundle of joy at the couple's St. Andrew home a few weeks ago.
Luvs, mother and daughter are just fine and dad, is just over the moon.
And so, Joe Matalon is "out" over there at JAMPRO, as the new Portia Simpson-Miller, team has begun to assert itself in naming one-time politician turned financial power-house, Peter Bunting as the new and "in" chair, at the promotions agency. Also out is Colin Steele, over there at the UHWI, is successor being real estate developer Hugh Scott. And dears, it isn't over yet as indeed, there are many a more heads to roll, so wait for it, the clamouring for new appointments and heads is reaching a crescendo levels.
And people are still talking about the absolutely fabulous little shindig that Serge and Jolly Benghait threw at their Long Mountain town home, last Friday night, to celebrate their 34th wedding anniversary.
Dovecakes, the buzz is: the wife wanted a carat, and was presented with a carrot, much to the delightful amusement of those witnessing the exchange. The party however was a blast and had guests rocking into the wee-hours of Saturday morning as good company, libations and a fine fare, made it happen like everybody's business!
