Westbury celebrates holidays in Caribbean style

  • 2015-12-17
Residents of Westbury who are looking for a way to shake up their holiday traditions this season will have the chance to do so in a few days.

It has long been the goal of Patrick Payne, a local businessperson, professor, and philanthropist, to introduce the colorful and rich culture of Jamaica to an American audience. To do that, he will be sponsoring The Jamaican Christmas Special.

The daylong programming is set to take place at Westbury High School and will feature a wide variety of events, each designed to introduce people to the culture and traditions of the island.

One highlight of the day is a cooking workshop, during which people will learn more about popular Jamaican gifts. To give attendees something to take home, Payne could consider using booklet printing to create small cookbooks with recipes for dishes featured in the workshop.

When asked about choosing Westbury for the program, Payne, who has lived in town for 13 years, told the Westbury Times that he likes "the mix and character” of the town, since it is strategically located near the airport and sufficiently suburban. Although he has called Long Island home for years, Payne continues to visit his home country and has even brought a taste of Jamaica home, by growing Scotch Bonnet hot peppers and other vegetables commonly found on the island.

Taking place December 19, the day will begin with a Jamaican culture and gift expo at noon, and conclude with a concert starting at 7:00 pm.