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Month: December 2025
Producers of the Jamaica Strong Relief Concert are aiming to raise US$1 million at their star-studded benefit event, slated for Friday, Dec. 12, at the UBS Arena in New York.
“This is New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania – the whole USA coming together,” Kacy Rankine, co-producer of the show and CEO of Roadblock Radio, told Caribbean Life on Monday.
“We’re going to send something big to Jamaica,” he added.
Rankine’s comment came just days after Jammins Entertainment CEO George Crooks declared, at the recently held “Jamaica Strong” relief radiothon in Queens, that his goal also is “to make at least a US$ million for the Jamaica Strong Relief Concert.
“That is the minimum we’re looking for at this event,” he said, stating that the goal reflects the scale of the devastation in Jamaica and the strength of the Diaspora to answer the call.
Organizers announced that the New York relief concert at UBS Arena will feature GRAMMY-winning artist Shaggy, Sean Paul, KES, Inner Circle, Ky-Mani Marley, Aidonia, Chronic Law, T.O.K., Gramps Morgan, Richie Stephens, Mikey Spice, Reggae Queen Marcia Griffiths, I-Octane, and gospel singer Kevin Downwell.
Rankine said NBC TV Voice Season 5 winner Tessanne Chin is also slated to perform at the event.
He recalled that during Chin’s reign, she was actually invited by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama to perform at the White House.
The historic event, produced under the “I Love Jamaica Concert Series” in partnership with the Government of Jamaica, will raise critical funds for the nation’s official Hurricane Relief & Recovery Fund and other registered charity organizations. The specific goal is to assist families and communities devastated by Hurricane Melissa.
It’s not too early to start planning for 2026, and registration is officially open to bring in the new year the Brooklyn way — at the Coney Island Polar Bear Plunge.
Thousands of people are expected to join the Coney Island Polar Bear Club for their annual New Year’s Day swim in the frigid Atlantic Ocean. The event is free and open to the public, and swimmers can sign up online through New Year’s Eve or in-person on New Year’s Day, but advance sign-up and donations of at least $30 are encouraged. While supplies last, participants who raise more than $50 will receive a limited-edition Polar Bear Plunge beanie.
Money raised at the Plunge is donated to local nonprofits — last year, the event raised $60,000 for seven groups, including the New York Aquarium, Coney Island USA, and the Coney Island library.
“The Plunge is more than a tradition; it’s a lifeline,” said Cindy Vourderis, public relations manager for the Alliance for Coney Island, in a statement. “Every dollar raised helps support things like free public programming, youth education, job training, and other initiatives that keep Coney Island thriving. We depend on the generosity of our plungers to make this impact possible.”
The Coney Island Polar Bear Plunge has been a beloved local tradition since 1903. While the Polar Bears plunge year-round, most of their events are closed to the public, and the New Year’s Day swim is the only time New Yorkers can join them. Though the weather in recent years has been warmer-than-average, ocean temps usually hover around 40 degrees Fahrenheit — well below the temperature usually considered comfortable for a dip in the sea.
Below-freezing temps don’t dissuade dedicated swimmers, who flock to the beach in thousands every year, many dressed up in costumes and festive attire. The cold waves are a good way to “wash off the old year” one swimmer, Laura, told Brooklyn Paper in 2023. It can also mark new beginnings in a new year.
“This year I want to be kinder to myself so that I can also be kinder to others,” another 2023 swimmer, Jose, told Brooklyn Paper at the time. “I think [the Polar Bear Plunge] is a good way to start that since I’m doing something fun for me but also I donated to the charities as well.”
For some, the Plunge is just good clean fun.
“It was a really good time,” said 2024 swimmer Joshua North. “Everyone was in good spirits having a good time just enjoying themselves and no one seemed to be too cold or struggling with it. I definitely think it’s going to be a new tradition.”
Online registration is open now, and will remain open up until New Year’s Day. In-person check-in and registration begins at 10 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2026, on Stillwell Avenue near the Riegelmann Boardwalk. Swimmers of all ages and experience levels are open, though participants under age 18 must have a completed waiver signed and have a parent or guardian present at check-in. As of Dec. 1, one month before the plunge, more than 1,000 people had signed up, per the Polar Plunge website, and had raised $11,103 of the event’s $150,000 fundraising goal.
“In legendary NYC tradition, the Coney Island Polar Bear Club will once again open our den to the public for our New Year’s Day Plunge,” said Jarred Lustgarten, President of the Coney Island Polar Bear Club, in a statement. “We invite all weird and non-weird folks to be baptized into 2026 with heart-pounding fun in the frigid Atlantic. No experience needed, just bring a towel, a friend, a stranger… anyone! Expect live music, hot cocoa, and epic vibes. And don’t forget to dig that paw deep in your wallet to support local charities. Swim safe, smile big!”
A roundup of Brooklyn’s cultural offerings this week, from comedy to theater to music to art, and what critics are saying about them.
The post ✰PREMIUM <br> What They’re Saying: live arts in Brooklyn this week, Dec. 1 appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.
Assembly Member Jaime Williams, chairwoman of New York State Emergency Response and Disaster Preparedness, and Assembly Member Monique Chandler-Waterman, co-chair of the Caribbean American Delegation, led an “urgent packing day” at TriniJam BK Restaurant in Canarsie, Brooklyn, on Sunday, Nov. 16, uniting the community to support Jamaica after Hurricane Melissa’s devastation. Their effort was described as a powerful display of unity, service, and Caribbean pride.
Calvin Sennon, the Trinidadian-born co-owner of TriniJam BK, told Caribbean Life that volunteers streamed into his restaurant, “transforming the space into a bustling hub of compassion.
“Tables overflowed with essential supplies: sheets, nails, flashlights, batteries, hygiene kits, diapers, canned goods, and more,” he added. “Families, students, seniors, and local organizations worked side-by-side, forming assembly lines to box critical items destined for relief centers in Jamaica.”
Williams, the Trinidadian-born representative for the 59th Assembly District in Brooklyn, long recognized for her leadership in emergency response efforts both locally and abroad, once again stood at the forefront of the mobilization.
With years of experience guiding disaster recovery support across the Caribbean, she emphasized the importance of “swift, collaborative action. The need is urgent. Jamaica is facing tremendous hardship,” Williams said. “I am proud of our Caribbean Diaspora and this Brooklyn community for stepping up.
“This is what service looks like,” she added.
Chandler-Waterman, the daughter of Jamaican and Barbadian immigrants, who represents the 58th Assembly District in Brooklyn, said: “This is what we do.
“When our Caribbean family hurts, Brooklyn shows up,” said Chandler-Waterman, who helped coordinate the relief initiative. “Our community knows the meaning of resilience and solidarity.”
Sennon said other local elected officials, nonprofit groups, faith leaders, and small-business owners also joined the initiative, “underscoring the wide-ranging support behind the relief mission.”
He said many noted that the turnout reflected not just concern for the current crisis, but gratitude for the deep cultural and familial ties that bind New York’s Caribbean communities together.
“We came together from different islands, different backgrounds — but today, we’re one Caribbean family,” said one volunteer as she packed flashlights into a supply crate. “If one of us is in pain, all of us feel it.”
As the first shipments are sent to Jamaica, leaders stated that support for recovery will continue, highlighting the community’s ongoing commitment.
Williams also posted on Facebook that Sunday’s hurricane relief efforts in Canarsie were marked by “an outstanding display of love and support, with attendees traveling from as far away as New Jersey, Harlem, and Long Island.”
She extended “sincerest gratitude to TriniJam BK for hosting and participating in this vital relief mission, as well as to my colleagues, Assembly Member Monique Chandler-Waterman, Sen. Roxanne Persaud, Gardy Brazela, Sandra Frances Nau-Brazela, East Flatbush Village Inc., Clover Dewar, Jean Joseph, Judy Newton, Shamila Pantaleon, Jennifer Viechweg Horsford, Sandy Miller, Canarsie Lions, young scholars, neighbors, for their crucial roles in the event.
“Consulate General Office of Jamaica, District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, 67th and 69th Police Precincts also merit special recognition,” Williams added. “Every effort counts because it’s a long road to recovery.”
She said, though the focus is currently on Jamaica, “let us remember our sister islands that were affected by Hurricane Beryl last year – Carriacou, Petite Martinique, and the (St. Vincent) Grenadines, who are still rebuilding.”
1 minute ago
Today’s top news stories for Sunday, December 1, 2025, include developments in the
National Guard shooting investigation, severe weather and flooding in the U.S. and Asia, and updates on the Ukraine-Russia peace talks.
U.S. News
- National Guard Shooting Investigation The suspect in the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., was reportedly experiencing mental health issues and spent weeks in isolation, according to 2024 emails from a case worker. The U.S. is tightening immigration reviews following the incident, and advocacy groups have urged parents to avoid AI-powered toys after the shooting.
- Severe Weather A powerful winter storm is causing significant travel disruptions across the Midwest and Northeast U.S., with reports of heavy snow, canceled flights, and a 45-car pileup.
- California Shooting Four people, including three children, were killed in a shooting at a birthday party in California, with authorities searching for a suspect and urging witnesses to come forward.
- Political and Legal News
- An appeals court upheld the ruling disqualifying President Trump’s former lawyer, Alina Habba, from serving as an interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey.
- President Trump stated he would release the results of an MRI he underwent in October, though he mentioned he didn’t know which part of his body was scanned.
World News
- Deadly Flooding in Asia More than 1,100 people have been killed in severe flooding and landslides across Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Malaysia, caused by record rainfall and cyclones.
- Hong Kong Fire The death toll from a massive apartment complex fire in Hong Kong has reached at least 151. Authorities have made 13 arrests on suspicion of manslaughter and noted that substandard renovation materials and building code violations contributed to the blaze.
- Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Ukrainian President Zelenskyy met with French President Macron as peace talks continued. U.S. officials are heading to Russia as diplomats work on a peace plan, but “tough issues” remain.
- Israel Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally requested a pardon in his ongoing corruption trial, sparking protests in Tel Aviv.
- “Rage Bait” is the Oxford Word of the Year Oxford University Press named “rage bait,” a social media tactic used to provoke outrage for increased engagement, as its word of the year for 2025.
POPE LEO XIV JOINED ORTHODOX PATRIARCHS AND ECUMENICAL LEADERS in commemorating an important moment in Christian history.
The post Pope Leo XIV, Orthodox Christian leaders sign joint declaration during Istanbul visit appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.
share.google/aimode/31ypMdY0…
news today
1 minute agoNational Guard shooting investigation, severe weather and flooding in the U.S. and Asia, and updates on the Ukraine-Russia peace talks.Today‘s top news stories for Sunday, December 1, 2025, include developments in the
U.S. News
National Guard Shooting Investigation The suspect in the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., was reportedly experiencing mental health issues and spent weeks in isolation, according to 2024 emails from a case worker. The U.S. is tightening immigration reviews following the incident, and advocacy groups have urged parents to avoid AI-powered toys after the shooting.
Severe Weather A powerful winter storm is causing significant travel disruptions across the Midwest and Northeast U.S., with reports of heavy snow, canceled flights, and a 45-car pileup.
California Shooting Four people, including three children, were killed in a shooting at a birthday party in California, with authorities searching for a suspect and urging witnesses to come forward.
Political and Legal NewsAn appeals court upheld the ruling disqualifying President Trump’s former lawyer, Alina Habba, from serving as an interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey.
President Trump stated he would release the results of an MRI he underwent in October, though he mentioned he didn’t know which part of his body was scanned.World News
Deadly Flooding in Asia More than 1,100 people have been killed in severe flooding and landslides across Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Malaysia, caused by record rainfall and cyclones.
Hong Kong Fire The death toll from a massive apartment complex fire in Hong Kong has reached at least 151. Authorities have made 13 arrests on suspicion of manslaughter and noted that substandard renovation materials and building code violations contributed to the blaze.
Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Ukrainian President Zelenskyy met with French President Macron as peace talks continued. U.S. officials are heading to Russia as diplomats work on a peace plan, but “tough issues” remain.
Israel Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally requested a pardon in his ongoing corruption trial, sparking protests in Tel Aviv.
“Rage Bait” is the Oxford Word of the Year Oxford University Press named “rage bait,” a social media tactic used to provoke outrage for increased engagement, as its word of the year for 2025.
For more in-depth reporting, you can visit major news outlets like ABC News, BBC News, CNN, or NPR.— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Dec 1, 2025
share.google/aimode/31ypMdY0…
news today
1 minute agoNational Guard shooting investigation, severe weather and flooding in the U.S. and Asia, and updates on the Ukraine-Russia peace talks.Today‘s top news stories for Sunday, December 1, 2025, include developments in the
U.S. News
National Guard Shooting Investigation The suspect in the shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C., was reportedly experiencing mental health issues and spent weeks in isolation, according to 2024 emails from a case worker. The U.S. is tightening immigration reviews following the incident, and advocacy groups have urged parents to avoid AI-powered toys after the shooting.
Severe Weather A powerful winter storm is causing significant travel disruptions across the Midwest and Northeast U.S., with reports of heavy snow, canceled flights, and a 45-car pileup.
California Shooting Four people, including three children, were killed in a shooting at a birthday party in California, with authorities searching for a suspect and urging witnesses to come forward.
Political and Legal NewsAn appeals court upheld the ruling disqualifying President Trump’s former lawyer, Alina Habba, from serving as an interim U.S. attorney for New Jersey.
President Trump stated he would release the results of an MRI he underwent in October, though he mentioned he didn’t know which part of his body was scanned.World News
Deadly Flooding in Asia More than 1,100 people have been killed in severe flooding and landslides across Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Malaysia, caused by record rainfall and cyclones.
Hong Kong Fire The death toll from a massive apartment complex fire in Hong Kong has reached at least 151. Authorities have made 13 arrests on suspicion of manslaughter and noted that substandard renovation materials and building code violations contributed to the blaze.
Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Ukrainian President Zelenskyy met with French President Macron as peace talks continued. U.S. officials are heading to Russia as diplomats work on a peace plan, but “tough issues” remain.
Israel Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally requested a pardon in his ongoing corruption trial, sparking protests in Tel Aviv.
“Rage Bait” is the Oxford Word of the Year Oxford University Press named “rage bait,” a social media tactic used to provoke outrage for increased engagement, as its word of the year for 2025.
For more in-depth reporting, you can visit major news outlets like ABC News, BBC News, CNN, or NPR.— Michael Novakhov (@mikenov) Dec 1, 2025
THE NYC FIRE DEPARTMENT GATHERED MONDAY MORNING AT ST. PATRICK TO MOURN DEPUTY CHIEF JIM RICHES, who died on Thanksgiving Day.
The post FDNY, Bay Ridge mourn with Brooklyn family who lost members to 9/11 appeared first on Brooklyn Eagle.