Heard in The Hive

The Sliema Youth Band of the Sliema Band Club, conducted by Mro Sigmund Mifsud, Mr Sliema Band's assistant director, recently held a concert at the Auditorium Sir Temi Zammit, University of Malta, in aid of the mission of the Daughters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Kenya.

The concert also featured well-known singers Fabrizio Faniello, Giorgina and Ryan Abela together with the Choir Cantores Sancti Juliani directed by Lino Attard.

All proceeds will go towards the building of a school for abandoned street children of Kenya.

The concert reached its climax with the popular song We are the World sung by all singers together with the choir, and came to an end with the playing of the Inno Sliema by Mro Cardenio Botti.

Anton Cassar turns 80

Former Allied Newspapers journalist Anton Cassar received kudos from Labour Leader Alfred Sant and friends on the occasion of his 80th birthday, which was celebrated by members and friends of the local publishing house Sensiela Kotba Socjalisti (SKS).

Mr Cassar started working as a journalist for the now defunct daily Il-Berqa, published by Allied Malta Newspapers. For the last 20 years he has been chairman of SKS. Mr Cassar reminisced on the early years when in 1982 Dr Sant nominated him as a member of the Information Department of the MLP. Mr Cassar spoke about the long years of close collaboration which resulted in the SKS becoming one of the leading publishing houses in Malta.

Dr Sant, thanking Mr Cassar for his unceasing contribution towards Maltese journalism and publications, said: "I have learned a lot from Anton Cassar, particularly from his modus operandi and his personal relations."

Dr Sant wished Mr Cassar a longer fruitful life within the Labour movement. Mr Cassar's involvement in journalism and publications was acclaimed by those present including Frans Sammut, Felix Agius, Charles Mahoney, Joe Attard, George Glanville, Joe Borg, Mario Vella, Tony Preca and Carmelo Penza.

Anton Cassar started his journalistic career in 1946 with Il-Berqa. In December 1960, Joe Attard Kingswell, GWU general secretary, invited Mr Cassar to join It-Torca.

In November 1962, Mr Cassar became the first editor of the daily l-Orizzont. In 1963 he was appointed head of publications at Union Press. In 1967 he became administrative secretary of publications and Union Press, a post he occupied for 21 years. Mr Cassar retired from the Union Press on March 31, 1988.

Lucky in love with 89.7 Bay

The 89.7 Bay Valentine's Day Competition, in collaboration with the Westin Dragonara Resort, was won by 22-year-old Rachel Mugliett.

By listening to the Bay Breakfast show with Jonathan Abel, Ms Mugliett has won a trip to Florence, to enjoy a two-night stay at the Westin Excelsior with her partner, Mario Chant.

Listeners of 89.7 Bay were asked to guess the correct answers from Valentine's Day-related surveys. Three of those who guessed the correct responses (and their partners) were invited to breakfast at the Westin Dragonara Resort where the final competition took place. DJ Gianni asked the couples to guess how much men usually spend on their partners on Valentine's Day - Rachel and Mario were the couple who came closest to the correct amount, and therefore won the trip.

The runners-up won an overnight stay at the Westin Dragonara Resort and meals at The Compass Rose and Palio's.

Log on to www.bay.com.mt for information on current competitions.

Italian Under-Secretary for Culture's visit

The Italian Under Secretary for State within the Italian Ministry for Cultural heritage and activities, Dott. Nicola Bono, paid a two-day visit to Malta as guest of the Valletta Rehabilitation Project (VRP) within the Ministry for Resources and Infrastructure.

Dott. Bono inaugurated the start of two prestigious projects of St John's Co-Cathedral, which are being undertaken in collaboration with St John's Co-Cathedral Foundation, and sponsored through the Italian Protocol and funds from the VRP.

During his visit he met President Guido de Marco with whom he discussed Italo-Maltese relations. Both the President and Dott. Bono supported VRP's efforts to increase cultural links between Malta and Sicily.

During his stay, Dott. Bono also met Minister for Resources and Infrastructure Ninu Zammit and Minister for Youth and the Arts Jesmond Mugliett.

Car rentals competition winner

Meli Car Rentals Ltd recently announced the winner of the lottery held at the their stand during the Weddings Fair.

Sandra Lebrun, of Xemxija, chose Meli Car Rentals to book the wedding cars she required for her wedding day. This entitled her to participate in a lottery for two tickets to Paris, and when the draw took place at the Department of Public Lotto, her name came up.

"I thought it was a letter to advise me of a possible VAT increase on my bill," Ms Lebrun said. "Imagine my surprise when it turned out it was an unexpected honeymoon trip!"

HSBC branches win customer service awards

HSBC's Zejtun and Bugibba branches have won the Bank's Branch of the Year Customer Service Awards for 2003.

At the same time, HSBC's Home Loans Division won the Department of the Year Customer Service Award. The awards were presented to the respective staff members by HSBC Bank Malta's chief executive officer, Chris Hothersall.

HSBC's branch and area awards, which are divided to differentiate between branches which are located in very densely populated towns or commercial areas and others located in much smaller villages, are based on feedback from customers. The best department award, however, is based on feedback from HSBC employees nominating the departments, which offer them best assistance and service internally.

"I am delighted to have presented these awards to the Zejtun and Bugibba branches as well as to the Home Loans Division, who have all achieved great success during 2003. I am sure that they will continue to strive to offer HSBC's customers the highest possible level of service in the months ahead. Reaching a high standard of service is one thing but maintaining it over a period of time is even more difficult, especially when there is such stiff competition from all the other departments within HSBC," said Mr Hothersall.

Mr Hothersall, together with HSBC's head of Personal Banking Ray Briffa, and senior communications manager, Marco Grech, presented the awards. The cash prizes were presented to the respective managers, Zejtun branch manager Godwin Cachia, Bugibba branch manager Michael Tabone and Emmanuel Sammut, head of HSBC's Home Loans Division. The employees of the winning departments can use the award money to organise any social event they choose.

People

Dawn Alison Aquilina, M.Sc., B.Educ. (Hons), 23, was recently awarded an M.Sc. in Sports and Leisure Management at Loughborough University, Leicestershire.

She defended her thesis on "Women and Olympic Governance: A Qualitative Analysis of Responses by General Secretaries and Female NOC Executive Committee members".

Professor Ian Henry of Loughborough University commented: "We have been hugely impressed with Dawn, both as an individual and as a post-graduate student. She is a great reflection on her home institution."

In 2002, she obtained a B.Educ. (Hons) in Physical Education from the University of Malta.

Ms Aquilina plays for the Ladies' National Basketball Team. Last June, the team won a gold medal in the Small Nations Games. She also plays for Hibernians Basketball Club.

At present, she is a research assistant at the Insitute of Sports and Leisure Policy at Loughborough University. Ms Aquilina is the daughter of Ruth and Paul Aquilina of Zebbug.

Camilleri - Hart

Married recently at St Bernard's parish church in Newton, Massachusetts, US, were Sandy Camilleri, BA (Hons) Philosophy, daughter of Joseph and Maria Camilleri, of San Gwann, and Daniel Hart, BA History, son of Patrick Sr and Elizabeth Hart of Waltham, Massachusetts.

Fr Moren officiated the ceremony, while Eric Stolman witnessed the ceremony. Patrick Hart Jr, the groom's brother, acted as best man. Danelle Hart acted as maid-of-honour, and Jennifer Stolman was bridesmaid.

The couple have taken up residence in Massachusetts.

President and Mrs de Marco's engagements - February 23-29

Tomorrow
9.30 a.m. The President is interviewed by Mr James Debono for the programme Xarabank at the Palace, Valletta.

10.30 The President receives Mrs Shelley Tayar and is presented with a copy of the book I am Jewish.

11 The President receives the chairman and board members of the Foundation for Information Technology Accessibility.

11.45 The President is presented with a CD on the National Library by the Maltese National Commission of UNESCO.

1.30 p.m. The President is hosted to a luncheon by British High Commissioner Vincent Fean at his residence in San Pawl tat-Targa.

6.30 The President and Mrs de Marco preside over a board meeting of the Malta Community Chest Fund (MCCF) at San Anton Palace.

Tuesday
9 a.m. The President receives a group of students from Erin Serracino Inglott School at San Anton Palace.

10.30 The President receives Mr Fritz Bolkestein, EU Commissioner for the Internal Market, Taxation and Customs Duties at the Palace, Valletta.

12.30 p.m. The President is interviewed by Mr Sandro Mangion for L-Orizzont.

1 The President receives Dr Joseph Cassar, Ambassador of Malta to Russia.

Wednesday
10 a.m. The President visits the 100 Years of Museums history exhibition, set up by Heritage Malta, accompanied by Youth and the Arts Minister Jesmond Mugliett at the Auberge de Provence, Valletta.

11.30 The President receives the committee of the Ghaqda Hbieb Sptar Monte Carmeli at the Palace, Valletta.

12.30 p.m. The President is interviewed by Mr Jan Kanter for the German newspaper Die Welt.

6.30 The President presides over a meeting of the Commission for the Administration of Justice.

Thursday
9.15 a.m. The President receives the Prime Minister at the Palace, Valletta.

Noon The President receives Palestinian Ambassador Awad Yakhlef.

6.30 p.m. The President delivers an inaugural lecture entitled "My vision for Malta" at the Institute of Maltese Studies at the University of Malta, Msida.

Friday
10 a.m. The President receives Dr Robert Mangion, president of the Chamber of Advocates, at the Palace, Valletta.

11 The President receives the mayor of Qormi accompanied by the winners of the Irrid Nikber fit-Tjubija competition organised by the Qormi council.

Sunday
11 a.m. The President attends an activity organised by the Marsa Scout Group on the occasion of their 75th anniversary and unveils a commemorative plaque at the Marsa Scouts' headquarters.