Deborah Cassar recently represented Malta at the Asterisks International Singing Festival in Macedonia.

The 14-year-old from Ghajnsielem participated with the song One day at a time, which she wrote and composed herself.

The festival was held over two days, with 22 participants in each session. Deborah presented her song on Friday, where she classified fourth to make it to the finals. During the final session on Sunday she gave an excellent interpretation and was awarded a diploma and declared Princess of the Festival.

The first experience at international level can also be considered as the threshold for the young singer from Gozo. On her return home, she soon got another invitation to participate at another youth festival in Spain, which she plans to take up, school permitting.

In Macedonia, Deborah was accompanied by her mother and a group of friends, led by Anthony Grech, executive director of the Golden Cross International Singing Festival.

2005 Chicco Juvenile collection

Vivian Corporation Limited exclusive marketers and distributors for Chicco presented the 2005 Chicco Juvenile collection recently at Villa Bighi in Kalkara. Chicco Area Manager Francesco Vergani presented the event.

Mr Vergani stressed how Chicco products aim to combine style, innovation, quality, practicality and safety, to give consumers the benefit of the experience gained from producing baby and nursery products for over 40 years.

He also explained how Chicco have carefully examined the needs of parents and children, and by identifying their specific requirements have developed a range of products to meet their everyday needs. Thanks to this philosophy the Juvenile collection which consists of pushchairs, car seats, highchairs, walkers etc. have all been designed to be practical, stylish and innovative and all conform to ECE norm R44/03.

Therefore "there is no doubt that you will find a Chicco product that is ideal for both parents and their babies", continued Mr Vergani.

Vivian Corporation has been the sole agents for Chicco for the last four years during which, thanks to the strong relationship they have with Artsana Spa, who are the manufacturers of all Chicco products, have established a strong clientelle making Chicco one of the leading brands in Malta.

Chicco is not just a leading brand in purely numerical terms in Italian and European baby products. It is an essential landmark for mothers and fathers of more than 300 million children who have grown up with Chicco.

It is an assurance of products designed and manufactured with love and care, extreme specialisation and skill.

Chicco has a string distribution network in a number of baby shops spread over the island. Anyone wishing to receive further information about this new collection is to call at Vivian Corporation Ltd on 2132-0338 or free phone 8007-3101.

Singers of the year awards

Anthea Bonavia, Analise Psaila, Bjorn James Cassar, Kimberly Grech and Audrey Marie Bartolo were the winners of the Models-1 international singers of the year awards held recently. During 2004 Models-1 successfully organised three singers' festivals on a national scale.

Participants were judged by 11 judges on the basis of vocal ability, interpretations and stage presence. These singers managed to obtain the highest aggregate score druing the year and were awarded commemorative trophies.

Those singers who wish to participate in festivals should phone Martin on 2166-3763 or 9986-0654 or visit the Models-1 Website, www.modelsone.net.

Maltese photographers' exposure in Berlin

Maltese photography has been gaining exposure in Berlin in recent weeks. As part of the Cultural Year of the New Ten, an exhibition by photographers from the new EU member states was held at the Martin Gropius Building on December 16, and is to remain open until February 19.

Works by Maltese photographer Agostino Baldacchino, a member of the Malta Photographic Society, on the theme Smile, you're in the picture, are included in the exhibition.

Also within the framework of the Cultural Year, Darrin Zammit Lupi, a staff photographer of The Sunday Times and The Times, is exhibiting a collection of his works entitled A Touch of Malta at the Representation of the State of Saarland in Berlin. The exhibition opened last Monday and will run until Friday.

The choice of venue for Mr Zammit Lupi's exhibition is a reflection of the excellent relations between the Embassy of Malta in Berlin and the Saarland State Mission in the federal capital.

Last November, on the initiative of Malta's Ambassador in Berlin, William C. Spiteri, and with the co-operation of Malta Enterprise, a Maltese business delegation, together with the president of the Maltese-German Chamber of Commerce, visited Saarbrücken, Saarland's capital, where meetings were held with local business leaders in a bid to attract trade and investment to Malta.

On December 4 Ambassador Spiteri was the guest speaker at a dinner organised at the Saarland Representative Office, during the annual meeting of Saar parliamentarians and parliamentarians from the French Moselle District.

On the initiative of the Embassy of Malta in Berlin, on March 17. Maltese pianist Anne Borg will give a concert at the Saarland Representation in Berlin. Anne Borg has been living in Saarbrücken for many years, where she is Professor of Music at the Saarbrücken Academy.

The Prime Minister of Saarland, Peter Müller, is expected to attend this concert.

Dr Michael Refalo steps down as president of Mount Carmel Band Club

At their annual general meeting held recently Mount Carmel Band Club, Gzira elected Joseph Spiteri as president; Dominic Chircop as secretary; Conrad Borg Manchè as treasurer; Tony Bonnici as director; Malcolm Debono as Band Delegate; Joseph Ian Attard as vice-president; Gabriella Zerafa as assistant secretary; Joseph Cocks as assitant treasurer; Robert Bartolo as assistant band delegate; Marvin Scerri and Joe Bonnici as assitant directors; and Krista Karla Mercieca as choir director.

After 33 years as president, Dr Michael Refalo, former Minister of Tourism, has decided to call it a day. Members unanimously approved a motion to appoint him honorary president emeritus in recognition of the sterling services rendered to the club.

Maltese industrial designer featured in Italian magazine

Gordon Guillaumier, a Maltese freelance product designer living and working in Milan, is featured among prominent architects and designers in this month's issue of Casamica, a popular monthly design magazine published by the newspaper Corriere della Sera.

Mr Guillaumier, who has been based in Milan for 16 years, has gradually succeeded in building a reputation within the Italian design scenario by securing his products, particularly furniture, lighting and objects, for leading Italian design firms such as FontanaArte, Minotti, Montina, Foscarini, De Vecchi among others. He is also active as art director for a Moscow based company manufacturing design kitchens.

Middlesea Group supports philanthropic organisations

As part of its commitment to support philanthropic organisations, the Middlesea Group recently presented two financial contributions to the Community Chest Fund and Caritas.

The donations were presented by Middlesea Group Chairman and CEO Mario C. Grech to President Eddie Fenech Adami on behalf of the Community Chest Fund and Mgr Victor Grech on behalf of Caritas Malta. The presentations were made during the annual Middlesea Christmas reception at Middlesea House.

Mr Grech said that, "The Community Chest Fund and Caritas, together with the people involved in the running of these philanthropic organisations, should be commended for their work. Our contributions form part of our support for these organisations, which strive to improve the well being of our society."

The President and Mgr Grech thanked the Middlesea Group for its support, which will assist both organisations sustain their valuable work within the community.

People

Margaret Briffa, founder of the London law firm Briffa and Co, intellectual property lawyers, has been awarded the European IP Award for 2004, for "her law firm's dedication to meeting the IP needs of small business".

Ms Briffa was also received on November 22 by HM the Queen at Buckingham Palace at a reception for British Design. Ms Briffa is the wife of Dr Patrick Gompertz, consultant physician at the Royal London Hospital, and is the daughter of Dr J.V. Briffa and Dr Dorothy Burgess.

Happy Christmas in January

"Malta is the only country outside Russia where the Russian Christmas in January is celebrated officially in the national President's palace."

Ambassador Valentin Vlasov made this observation yesterday week in the Russian Chapel at San Anton Palace, Attard, during his address of thanks at the conclusion of this year's very enjoyable Russian Christmas celebrations.

It has in fact become a tradition for the President of Malta to celebrate Christmas twice a year, once according to the Latin and again according to the Eastern Christian rite followed by the Russian Orthodox Church. President Ugo Mifsud Bonnici began it. President Guido de Marco continued it. Now, President Edward Fenech Adami, who assumed office last April, has kept it, thus setting his seal on what has become an established tradition.

This year, the Eastern rite celebrations of Christmas at San Anton Palace, hosted by the President of Malta together with the Russian Embassy and the Russian Centre for Science and Culture were conducted in a new style, bringing out both its Russo-Maltese and international character.

Reuben Gauci recited in Russian Joseph Brodsky's poem, The Christmas Star, while Reuben's Russian wife, Olga, read out her husband's Maltese version.

There followed a very impressive recital of Russian choral singing by Clear Voices, including both Orthodox Church religious music and traditional songs. The Belarus choir is composed of conductor Ludmila Chistyakova and singers Alexander Kostitsyn, Valery Prigun, Andrei Pyzhik, Yuri Rudevich, and Akim Tyshko.

President Fenech Adami in his concluding address stressed how the Russian Christmas celebrations at San Anton showed not only the close friendship between the people of Malta and the people of Russia, but also the unity of the human race.

77 & PM's Stolichnaya NYE Waterfront event

NYE events are organised by Carl, Andrew, Malcolm, Philip and Michael. This year's venue was the 250-year-old vaults at Valletta Waterfront.

77 & PM added yet another successful New Year's Eve party to their portfolio. Apart from admission to the event, the tickets included a parking space, cloakroom ticket, buffet and beverages. L'Oreal packs, chocolates, cigars and party items were thrown in for good measure.

This year's innovation was the Mateus Vault hosted by Ian and David.

Special thanks go out to their corporate partners: Charles Grech & Co., General Soft Drinks, P. Cutajar, Barron's Bulldog and Baci.

Photos of the event may be viewed on www.nyemalta.com.

PnK Soda Fashion show at Bay Street

The Bay Street clothing retail store PnK Soda, last week hosted its annual fashion show at the complex Rotunda.

A total of 14 models, 12 females and two males, exhibited a large variety of PnK Soda's latest fashion-wear for the winter season. The fashion show also coincided with the start of the January sales and the prices of a number of items worn by the models on the catwalk were reduced.

The President and Mrs Fenech Adami's engagements - January 17-23

Tomorrow
10.30 a.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami leave Malta International Airport for a state visit to the Czech Republic.

Wednesday
10.25 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami arrive at Malta International Airport.

Thursday
5.15 p.m. The President is presented with a donation in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund by the vice-president of Oracle Europe at the Palace, Valletta.

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

Friday
11 a.m. The President presides over a Drug Forum meeting at the Palace, Valletta.

7.30 p.m. The President attends a reception on the occasion of the feast of St Publius organised by the mayor and councillors of Floriana at the local council's premises.

Sunday
7 p.m. The President inaugurates the Maltese Australian Cultural Week at St James Cavalier, Centre for Creativity, Valletta.

8 The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend a reception hosted by the president and committee members of the La Vallette Band Club on the occasion of the feast of St Paul Shipwrecked at the club's premises in Valletta.

For your diary

Tungaska - The Russian Roswell. A talk and video presentation, conducted by David Pace, of the Society for Investigating the Credibility of Extraordinary Claims, will be held at the Youth Travel Circle, 227, Merchants Street, Valletta, on Thursday, about the mysterious story of a 40-megaton explosion that laid to waste nearly 200 sq km in Siberia. Was it an asteroid? Could it have been extraterrestrial craft? Or is there a more prosaic explanation?

For further details visit http://sicec.krayz.info.

Ward u Zghar is organising a get-together at Mtarfa, on Saturday, from 7.30 p.m. onwards. For further information phone 9947-2868.