Heard in the Hive

Over 160 members and guests of the Maltese American Association recently celebrated Thanksgiving Day at the Seabank Hotel, Mellieha.

Before lunch, a Thanksgiving Mass was said at the hotel by Fr J. Debono. Guests included Erik Holm-Olsen, public affairs officer at the American Embassy, and American consul John Mariz, his wife Cynthia and their children.

In a brief speeck Mr Holm-Olsen wished everyone a pleasurable Thanksgiving Day on behalf of the ambassador and his collegue Mr Mariz, and expressed satisfaction at seeing so many people enjoying the traditional lunch, being an occasion of homecoming family gathering in the US. He also expressed his appreciation to the Maltese-American Association for contributing to the good relation present between the two countries, remembereing the late Dr Joe Calleja as former president of the association.

After lunch, all present watched an outstanding Latin American dance performance by talented youngsters Daniel Cauchi and Virginia Bajada.

Maltese Diabetes Association annual fundraising dinner

The Grand Ballroom of the Radisson SAS Bay Point Resort was recently the venue for the annual fund-raising dinner organised by the Maltese Diabetes Association.

This event was attended by 350 guests from all walks of life. They were treated to a sumptuous buffet dinner prepared by Island Caterers Limited, flowing wines and water courtesy of Emmanuel Delicata Winery and Simonds Farsons Cisk plc, and liqueurs courtesy of Anthony Caruana & Sons Limited. Entertainment was provided by Conrad Briffa and his band.

A raffle was also organised and over 15 gifts were drawn as prizes. The first prize consisted of two airline tickets to any Air Malta destination courtesy of Air Malta plc.

Other prizes were generously donated by K.D. Travel Services Limited, Kenneth V. Zammit Tabona, Go Mobile, Jokate Group of Companies, Jos. Debono Jewellers, V.J. Salomone Group, P.J. Sutters Limited, P. Cutajar Limited, Vodafone Malta Limited, Barracuda Restaurant, Travellers, Intercontinental Hotel, Barcelò Riviera & Spa, Sol Suncrest Resort, Coastline Hotel, Miranda Publishers Limited and Dr Alexander Cachia Zammit.

The guests were addressed by Anna Zammit McKeon, president of the Maltese Diabetes Association, and Chris J. Delicata, vice-president of the association and organiser of the dinner. Both spoke about the importance of such events and the activities the association organises in its endeavours to promote awareness of this condition.

Miss Industry pageant

Over 40 leading firms and companies, importers, exporters and local manufacturers recently participated in the 36th annual Miss Industry International Pageant, organised by George Gatt Mangion, director of GM Productions, at the Buskett Nightclub Restaurant.

After GM Productions personality girls paraded in elegant dresses, the panel of judges, composed of foreign personalities, chose Chantelle Enriquez of Ghaxaq as Miss Industry. Ms Enriquez, a former Miss Tourism winner, represented Banju Boutique of Paola.

The presentation took place at Banju Boutique's premises, where proprietor Paul Tabone was presented with the Award of Achievement.

Malta's participation in Tunis diplomatic bazaar

Round about this time each year the wives of ambassadors accredited to Tunisia organise a bazaar in aid of charitable institutions in Tunisia and the money collected is distributed to organisations which carry out worthy causes.

This event usually lasts a whole morning and is held on a Sunday when hundreds of people use their free time to buy products which are produced by the countries taking part, thus taking the opportunity to exhibit their products, very often donated by producers of the country for this special occasion.

This year, some 42 countries took part, including Malta. It was the first time Malta participated in such an event since the embassy was established in 1995.

The ambassador's wife, Mrs Anna Maria De Barro decided to use her cooking talents to produce Maltese sweets such as biskuttini tar-rahal (village biscuits) and biskuttini tal-maghmudija (christening biscuits).

The sweets, which were much in demand, were sold in no time mostly to Tunisian visitors at the bazaar who were eager to taste sweets made by someone from "Malta hanina", as the Tunisians like to call neighbouring Malta, thereby helping towards the Maltese food stand's collection of Lm500 in a matter of three hours!

People

Ing. Marco Cremona, an environmental consultant with Sustech Consulting, recently participated in a JRC (Joint Research Centre) 'Waste and Biomass to Energy' workshop for EU candidate countries held recently in Bled, Slovenia.

The workshop was organised by the Institute of Energy of the JRC as part of the activities of the CleanWeb Project within the Institute of Energy. The JRC is a service of the European Commission; it provides customer-driven scientific and technical support for the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of EU policies.

The CleanWeb Project addresses issues related to safe, clean and efficient production of energy from waste and biomass and brings together waste and biomass plant operators, associations of plant operators, inspection organisations and specific research organisations.

The workshop was one of a series of meetings aimed at bringing together organisations in the waste management field, particularly those with the task of providing solutions to the rapidly changing needs of the new member states. Minimising the harmful effects of waste and utilising waste and biomass as fuel sources is a key challenge of today.

The workshop brought together those facing the challenges in the new member states with key international experts from relevant areas of Waste Management in the EU to assess the various technical options currently used or under development.

Since November 2002, Sustech Consulting has been undertaking research and development on the production of biogas from biomass (pig slurry) at its premises in the Kordin Business Incubation Centre (KBIC).

The results are very encouraging - a typical pig farm with 500 heads would be able to produce 200,000 kWh of electricity a year, and generate just as much energy in the form of heat. Discussions are currently under way to promote biogas generation on a national level, also with a view to meeting Malta's renewable energy target of five per cent by 2010.

Britannia Tours celebrate in style

The now traditional annual dinner-dance organised by Britannia Tours Ltd of Merchants Street, Valletta, was very well attended. It gave everyone present the opportunity to meet up with the all those who have joined one of their numerous tours and cruises during last year.

The Portomaso Suite at Hilton Malta was an excellent venue with singers Enzo Gusman and Mary Rose Mallia keeping everyone entertained.

The excellent cuisine complemented a very entertaining evening.

Noel Farrugia, Britannia Tours' CEO, thanked all present for their support and regaled his guests with information on an array of tours and cruises planned for this year.

Information on the Britannia Tours programme can be obtained from their offices or by visiting their Website at www.bsl.com.mt and requesting a brochure.

For your diary

Ward u Zghar is organising a picnic at Ghar Lapsi, Siggiewi, today at 11 a.m.

Birthday celebrations are being held at the Centru Hidma Socjali, St Venera, on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

On Sunday, the group will be meeting for a picnic in Buskett at 2.30 p.m.

For more information call 2141-8174.

A card party in aid of the Little Sisters of the Poor is being held at the Preluna Hotel, Sliema, on January 14 at 10 a.m.

For bookings phone Blanche Martin on 2133-0387.

The President and Mrs de Marco's engagements - January 5-11

Tomorrow
11 a.m. The President receives the president and council members of the Malta Federation of Industry at the Palace, Valletta.
6.30 p.m. The President presents the credentials to Mr Saviour Gauci, ambassador-designate of Malta to the People's Republic of China.

Tuesday
10 a.m. The President is presented with a donation in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund (MCCF) by Mdina Lions at the Palace, Valletta.
1 p.m. The President visits the Museum of Fine Arts in South Street, Valletta, and views Giuseppe Grech's Christ driving the Merchants from the Temple.
7 p.m. The President and Mrs de Marco host an activity on the occasion of the Russian Christmas organised by the Embassy of the Russian Federation and the Russian Cultural Centre at the Russian Chapel, San Anton Palace.

Wednesday
10 a.m. The President is presented with a donation in aid of the MCCF by Thos. C. Smith Group of the proceeds collected during a charity swim, at the Palace, Valletta.
11 The President and Mrs de Marco present various donations on behalf of the MCCF to those who suffered damages in the September 15 floods.

Thursday
9.15 a.m. The President receives the Prime Minister at the Palace, Valletta.
11 The President receives the president and council members of the Confederation of Maltese Trade Unions.
Noon The President receives Dr Tonio Borg, Minister of Justice and Home Affairs.
4 p.m. The President attends a reception hosted by the president and committee of the Physically Handicapped Rehabilitation Fund in Paola.
6 The President receives Ms Filiz Dincmen, Ambassador of Turkey, on a farewell call at the Palace, Valletta.

Friday
10 a.m. The President addresses foreign ambassadors accredited to Malta during the official New Year's greetings ceremony to the diplomatic corps at the Palace, Valletta.