Last weekend, the Zebbug Local Council organized an End of Summer Fest, with a veritable feast of local talent, on the promenade at Marsalforn. A large audience attended the event, which was also visited by many tourists who were staying at this popular resort. Special guests of the evening were the Saint Mary Band Club of Zebbug, who played marches through the main streets of Marsalforn. Afterwards Mayor Carmel Saliba presented a memento to George Cefai, President of the Saint Mary Band Club. Read more...

A set of five stamps depicting beautiful scenic aspects of Gozo and Malta is being issued by the Philatelic Bureau of Maltapost on Monday, the 1st of October. The stamps are the work of watercolour artist John Martin Borg and include Gozo's Mgarr Harbour with the Gozo ferry leaving the harbour, with it's famous church landmark in the background, and also an idyllic scene of Xlendi Bay. Scenery is defined as "a view or views of natural features, especially in open country". A country's scenery is as individual as a fingerprint. No two fingerprints are alike, and likewise, scenes are as different as chalk and cheese. A gentle pastoral scene, a seascape, a mountain scene, verdant valleys, roaring torrents... the variety is limitless. Read more...

Speaking at a Press Conference held at Marsalforn, Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson Dr Harry Vassallo said that the absence of a clear plan for tourism in Gozo left operators and their employees with an uncertain future. "In order to create long term employment not subject to seasonality both public and private investment investment must be made." Dr Vassallo said. "Any long term plan on which such investment must be based, cannot be threatened by opportunistic developments allowed to some and not to others and completely contrary to existing laws and policies." "Under pressure from the public the development permit at Ramla l-Hamra which should never have been issued has now been withdrawn. Alternattiva Demokratika has had a prime role in averting disaster by drawing public attention to the threat to Ramla. This U-turn narrowly averts disaster". Dr Vassallo said. Read more...

The MEPA board have decided that there was sufficient evidence to consider the application of the provisions of Article 39A on permits pertaining to the re-development of the Ulysses Lodge. Their legal office has found inaccuracies in the ownership declarations submitted with the applications which had a material bearing on the decisions of the Authority. It is understood that they have advised that the permit should be revoked. The MEPA Board will decide this issue at a sitting in public on Thursday the 4th of October 2007. Full details from MEPA of the permit issues involved are available by clicking the full story link below: Read more...

The Government has released a draft development plan for the port of Mgarr. The plans include the construction of a cruise liner berth on the outer part of the Mgarr breakwater that would accommodate a 200 metre ship. Another proposal covers catering for cruise liner operators wishing to visit Gozo. Xlendi is one such favourite destination point with medium size cruise liners berthing on anchors, and the Government is considering the placing of a 10,000 ton mooring buoy just outside the port of Xlendi. Read more...

A car boot sale in aid of the Friends of the Sick and Elderly will be held this Sunday, the 30th of September, between 8am and 1pm, at the Marsalforn Car Park. The Friends of the Sick and Elderly have invited anyone and everyone to "take their unwanted treasures and turn them into cash!" The charge for a selling pitch is LM4 per car, payment can be made on the day, or bookings can be made by email to admin@fsegozo.com.... Further information is also available on the Friends of the Sick and Elderly website at www.fsegozo.com....

Josette and Brandon Ryan, emigrants from San Lawrenz to Australia, but currently living in London, have donated an educational gift for the benefit of the children who attend the Child Care Centre provided by the San Lawrenz Local Council. The gift, a set of Educational DVDs specifically made especially for this age group, will help to enhance the services of the centre and will also offer the children a greater opportunity to learn. Read more...

The Philatelic Bureau of Maltapost is issuing an Occasion Card tomorrow, the 29th of September, during the major exhibition of nine paintings by Caravaggio being organized by Heritage Malta. This exhibition will be held at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta between the end of September and the end of November. The Occasion Card, No. 19 in this series, commemorates the 400th anniversary of the brief but eventful stay of Caravaggio in Malta. Read more...

Alternattiva Demokratika has challenged the government to adopt the proposals it has made for assistance to families in the next budget. Party chairperson Dr. Harry Vassallo said that "in the last two budgets we have strongly recommended that more government resources should be dedicated towards families raising children as we have identified that this is a sector of society that is in most need of assistance. The Government chose to ignore our proposals for two years, but now seems to have realised that what we were saying was correct. We are satisfied that now government is apparently planning to heed our suggestions, and make family policy a corner stone of this budget. This is a move in the right direction. However from what the Prime Minister is stating, it appears that the assistance to be provided is not as much as we have recommended." Read more...

The Vodafone Malta Foundation is once again supporting the Edenfest marathon fundraising event with the donation of Lm10,000 and the participation of Vodafone employees. The Edenfest, now in its fourth year will be held on 30 September 2007 at Studio Seven, Birkirkara. "The aim of this marathon is to achieve enough funds so that the Eden Foundation can continue with its continuous work with children and adults to give them a better chance at living independent lives. This year, we felt it necessary to take our commitment one step further and offer our time together with the funds. Some of Vodafone employees will be helping out voluntarily on the day by answering calls coming in with monetary pledges. We augur the Edenfest a ... Read more...