The Consulate General of Grenada in NY in collaboration with the 2009 Grenada Independence Anniversary Committee of New York will be celebrating the nation’s 35 independence anniversary from Jan. 31 through Feb. 7, 2009, with a series of activities. The commemoration commences on Saturday, Jan. 31, with a Health Fair, from 10.00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., at St. Gregory the Great Parish School, 991 St. Johns Pl., Brooklyn. At that event, there will be FREE screenings in: Diabetes, HIV, hearing, foot, high blood pressure, dental, cardiovascular, hepatitis, chlamydia, syphilis and obesity. There will also be Mental Health education. At 4.00 p.m., at the same venue, a Youth Fest will take place, featuring the talent of our young people. A variety fashion show, modeling, drama, recitals, music and singing will also be showcased. Admission is also free. On Sun., Feb. 1, an Ecumenical Service of Thanksgiving will also take place at St. Gregory the Great Parish Church, at 3.30 p.m. The chief celebrant will be His Lordship, Bishop Vincent Darius of Grenada. This service will be broadcast live to Grenada and on the Internet, compliments spiceislander.com. On Mon., Feb. 2, a reception and Arts & Crafts Exhibition will take place, at 10:00 a.m., at the Consulate of Grenada, 800 2nd Ave., Suite 400K, in Manhattan. Exhibits will run daily from 10.00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. until Feb. 6. On Thurs., Feb. 5, a Senior Citizen’s Tea Party will be held at Bethany United Methodist Church, 1208 St. Johns Pl., Brooklyn, from 3.00 p.m. – 5.00 p.m. On Fri., Feb. 6, Brooklyn Borough Hall will celebrate Grenada’s 35th anniversary of Independence with a flag-raising ceremony on the steps of 209 Joralemon St., from 11.30 a.m. Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and other local elected officials will make remarks during the ceremony. On that same day, a Social Gathering, an evening of games fun and laughter, will take place at St. Gregory the Great Parish School, from 7.00 p.m. – 10.00 p.m. On Sat. Feb. 7, Independence Day, the 35th Anniversary Independence Gala & Awards Ceremony takes place at the elegant ANTUNS, 96-43 Springfield Blvd., Queens Village, N.Y., from 9.00 p.m. – 3.00 a.m. In addition to the main Independence activities on Sun., Feb. 8, there will be a cultural show, dubbed “35/40,” at George Wingate Campus, 600 Kingston Ave., Brooklyn, from 5:00 p.m. sharp. The event will pay tribute to Elwyn McQuilkin, the “Black Wizard,” on his 40th anniversary as a calypsonian. Black Wizard, Mr. X, Flyin’ Turkey, Lord Slim, Quake USA, Val Adams, and Quako will be featured at the cultural show, as well as poetry reading by Anthony Wendell Deriggs. Grenada’s #1 comedian, Fatman George, will also be on hand. Special guest for the evening: Jennifer Hosten, “Miss World 1970.” The cultural show is a production of Dee Vee International. INSIDE GRENADA NEWS