Highland "Dobby" Dobson has been one of Jamaica's top crooners, with hits such as "Sweet Dreams." His latest project however shows off another creative side of the Jamaican star, with the release of his excellently written novel, The Misadventures of Saucy and her Mama.

This is a very Jamaican book written by a dedicated Jamaican, who eloquently depicts life in rural Jamaica and the misadventures many Jamaicans encounter on their quest for the American dream.

The Misadventures of Saucy and her Mama tells the story of young Jamaican single mother, Beatrice, who, like so many Jamaicans, comes to America seeking a better life. Faced with financial struggles on her arrival, Beatrice, aka "Mama," unabashedly uses her beauty to woo male admirers and climb the social ladder in a new country. Meanwhile, her daughter Saucy, still in Jamaica, suffers at the hands of her cruel grandmother. Mama however works all the while to make sure the young, well behaved teen comes to America.

As Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago celebrate their 50th anniversaries of independence, much debate has sparked over the evolution of the two countries' fate. In honor of the golden jubilee debate, the Florida International University (FIU) Libraries' Special Collections Department is hosting a lecture, "50 | 50 The Road to Independence: Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago," on February 28, at 5.30 p.m. in the Green Library, room 220, at FIU.

The lecture and discussion session will be led by FIU professor of sociology Dr. Percy Hintzen and founder of the Eric Williams Memorial collection Erica Williams Connell. Dr. Percy Hintzen is a Caribbeanist known for his work exploring political upheavals in Trinidad and Tobago and on West Indian migration to the United States. The daughter of Trinidad and Tobago's founding father, Eric Williams, Erica Williams Connell has become a champion of her father's legacy and extensive research on Caribbean history and society.

Poet and FIU English professor, Donna Weir-Soley, will also be performing poems by iconic Jamaican poet and performer, Louise "Miss Lou" Bennett-Coverley, whose work often voiced the pride and anxieties of Caribbean cultures seeking independence. Admission to the event is free and open to the public.

"A cheerful heart is good medicine" claims the old proverb. Lauderhill family-owned Ramil Pharmacy lives by this motto, helping patients maintain their health throughout life's journey.

"Healthy lifestyle means looking at the total person – what they eat, their exercise," says pharmacist and owner of Ramil Pharmacy, Dr. Raymond Ramsay. "Medication is my last choice. You only use medication when the good effects outweigh the bad."

Ramil Pharmacy takes a wholistic approach to patient care. The pharmacy provides personal counseling and includes a detailed leaflet description with every prescription. Patients also enjoy free local delivery services and complimentary glucose meters and blood pressure tests. Ramil Pharmacy also guarantees the most affordable prices in the area for a wide selection of medications.

An integral part of Ramil Pharmacy's dedication to the community is providing free services at many local health fairs. Dr. Ramsay himself has also preached about the close connection between health and spiritual wellbeing for many congregations, including the Maranatha SDA Church in Miami and the Lauderhill SDA Church in Lauderhill. One of his most popular sermons reflects on the biblical journey from Jerusalem to Jericho, and how it "mirrors life on earth and the struggles we have to go through and how we must maintain our health so we can complete our journeys."

If you hear Dr. Michael Douglas speak about Jamaica and its athletes, the passion in his voice shows his love of the island and its world class athletes. From sprint queen Merlene Ottey to world's fastest man Usain Bolt, this American chiropractor has worked with the Jamaican Olympic team since 1994, witnessing their triumphs, tragedies and overwhelming determination.

Dr. Douglas' commitment to Jamaican athletes is a satisfying mix of sacrifice, passion and privilege. At the recent IAAF Championships in Daegu, South Korea, Dr. Douglas served as one of the team doctors, helping Jamaicans and other Caribbean athletes prepare for the grueling competition.

In an interview with the National Weekly, Dr. Douglas said it all began in 1994 when he was on a mission to deliver nerve testing equipment to Dr. Amza Ali to the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) in Jamaica. He met the then minister of sports, Portia Simpson Miller who introduced him to the Jamaica Amateur Athletics Association  (JAAA) board, where he discussed working with the team. "They had no medical team, only one doctor would travel with them," Dr. Douglas said.