Cottonera Local News

Belfast, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle have been added to Malta’s amber travel list

On the list remain Austria, Belgium (now including all airports), Bulgaria, Czech Republic , France (all Paris airports, Marseille), Hungary, Ireland, Netherlands (all airports), Poland (Gdansk, Krakow), Portugal (Porto), Spain (Madrid, Barcelona and Girona airport), Tunesia and Switzerland (now all airports) t

- starting from Friday 23 October at midnight -

Travellers from these countries must present a swab test taken within 72

hours of their arrival in Malta. Those who do not present the negative swab result may be swabbed on their arrival in Malta or put into mandatory quarantine

Malta's budget for 2021was unveiled on Monday in parliament.

Here are some details: The Government voucher scheme will be extended with a further €100 in vouchers per person. Wage supplement given to pandemic-affected businesses will continue until March 2021. People hiring a carer to look after a person with a disability will be eligible for a €6,000 yearly grant. Tallinja card will be given free for all those aged 70 or older, instead of 75 or older. Tax incentives for first-time buyers to be improved to up to €200,000 on property value (before €175,000). NGOs to be exempt on tax if their income is under €50,000. Car scrappage scheme rise up to €7,000.

Malta Artisan Markets sets up at Couvre Porte in Birgu for an unmissable daytime event. Some of your fave artisans & brand new traders will be there to welcome you!

Next Sunday!

2020 IS THE 41ST EDITION OF THE ROLEX MIDDLE SEA RACE

Three people were arrested on Tuesday in a raid on three properties in Cospicua for criminal activities. Seven dangerous dogs were kept at one of the locations. Officials from the Animal Welfare Department helped with the operation. After days of observation, drugs, police radio scanners and other items were found.
The operation was headed by the Major Crimes Unit and also included the Special Intervention Unit, the Drugs Squad and the Dogs Section.

The Għaddi project guides through the history and culture of Kalkara. Participants can imagine what life there was like in the past, can explore the residents’ stories through conversation, create their own art and, finally, think about how science, technology, engineering, art and maths are so tightly integrated into every part of our lives, both in the present and the past.

In order to make everyday school life in Covid-19 times a little more pleasant, all students at the Cospicua primary school received a personalized Covid-19 protective mask. The Bormla Local Council gave them to every child at school together with pens and key fobs.

The Explora Center starts the coming days with a free ticket campaign for Cottonera residents. Every household in the Cottonera will receive a letter with a free ticket to visit the Esplora for one adult and one child. We think this is a wonderful initiative!

Another camera was installed to monitor the area next to the council. Unfortunately, people still throw away a lot of garbage in this area. The new camera is filming in the direction of the square in front of the Savior's chapel. This camera not only monitors waste abuse, but also abuse, vandalism and violations. The camera is guarded by the local council and LESA

29-year-old Melvin Debono from Paola was identified as a shooter while shooting in Senglea last Sunday. He was charged yesterday and denied bail. A Walther P99 pistol, an iron bat and around 18,700 euros in cash were found in the defendant's Mercedes. The gun was not licensed. Two shots are said to have been fired. A bullet was found in a wall near the scene, while a cartridge case was discovered on the spot.

His girlfriend, who the gunshots were aimed at, has not yet been found. According to the police, the alleged victim was not injured.
A request for bail was denied by prosecutors on the grounds that the shooting took place in an inhabited area and that a number of witnesses are yet to testify.

Bulky refuse service suspended

Five Wasteserv employees tested positive for Covid-19, so that almost half of the workforce is now in quarantine. For this reason, all services have been temporarily suspended and the facilities closed.
The Wasteserv plant in Luqa was closed on Friday evening. Richard Bilocca, CEO of Wasteserv, asked the public to wait a few days before it could safely resume service. Until then, the Bulky Service in the Cottonera cities will be suspended.

Another project that was successfully completed at Xatt Juan B. Azopardo in Senglea

Work on the project on September 4th is in full swing and is expected to be completed in October.
The Local Council Senglea thanks the residents for their cooperation during the work.

The floating platform next to the Macina Bastion in Senglea has been completed. The platform will serve as an extension for the catering of guests of the Cugo Gran Macina Hotel

(also for non-hotel guests).

As part of the restoration and regeneration work on the Senglea entrance, the clock and bell tower are making great strides. This project is carried out from GHRC with an investment of € 2 million.

Last weekend an activity of the Kalkara Regatta Club took place on the shores of Kalkara to attract more members to the Kalkara Regatta Club. You can become a member for just € 10. The Kalkara Mayor visited this initiative and was accepted as a new member.

Parts of the renovation from the Senglea entrance project are completed. This includes, for example, the stone work in the underpasses of the archways.

One of the most beautiful buildings in Kalkara, Villa Bighi, lit up in October to raise awareness about breast cancer as part of the Pink Oct - Mov 2020 campaign by The Marigold Foundation - Malta.
Thanks to the Malta Council for Science and Technology under the leadership of Dr Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando who immediately collaborated when Kalkara Mayor Wayne Aquilina came up with the idea to illuminate this historic building.

In a dispute in Senglea in the Triq Zewg Mini on Sunday evening, a 29-year-old man tried to shoot a woman. The man missed his target and fled. He was arrested a short time later. Upon arrest, the police found the gun, as well as an iron truncheon and a large amount of money. The previously fired bullet was found on the street and seized.

The incident occurred around 10 p.m.

We wish everyone a nice weekend with this 300 year old representation of the Cottonera by the painter J.Kenhelm

Get your influenza vaccine

check opening times for all Cottonera locations here

More than 60 turtles have hatched in Ghadira Bay from the last recorded nest this year. 17 turtles hatched from another nest in Għadira Bay last month, along with others in Golden Bay (76) and Ramla l-Hamra (141). Malta has had more than 300 hatchlings so far this year.

Congratulation to all Nature trust volunteers and the Environment Authority !

Malta has won the competition to host Europe’s biggest gay pride event, EuroPride, in 2023.

Malta’s bid, titled Equality from the Heart, was selected during the annual general meeting of the European Pride Organisers Association (EPOA). The Maltese bid was selected over bids from Belfast in Northern Ireland and Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The event will be spread out over 10 days in September 2023 and will include a human rights conference, a queer arts and culture festival, an LGBTIQ+ at work conference, a pride village, an inferfaith dialogue, a pride march and concert, parties and social gatherings.

A funnel fell on the roof of the Maritime Museum around 8 a.m. this morning when the cable of a crane failed. Nobody was injured and no exhibits were damaged.

According to Heritage Malta, two flagstones that were part of the roof were damaged when the funnel fell on the former naval bakery on the Birgu waterfront.

The accident happened while working on restoration and structural upgrading of the Malta Maritime Museum.

For the month of October the Inquisitor's Palace in Birgu will be open for the public on Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays from am 10am until 4.30 pm.

Santa Margerita Windmill

Built by Cotoner in 1674. In use till appr. 1916. For the last 30 years in a very bad state. Its mechanism was dismantled to restore the Ta' Xarolla windmill in Zurrieq during the 1970s. The windmill is located near Firenzuola Bastion (part of Cottonera Lines) and is now going to be restored by the Restoration Directorate.

After flowers were given to all residents in Kalkara, some of the flowers from the Valletta Green Festival have now gone to Birgu. Here, however, they were not given away to the residents but planted with the help of several volunteers in various public places in the city.

Tonight in Kalkara!

On the initiative of Powerhouse - Audiovisuals & Events, Mayor Wayne Aquilina gave a suggestion to join Kalkara tonight in the #lighttheskymalta campaign so that as a village we can say a symbolic thank you to those who are working against the Covid19 pandemic. Thanks to Dr Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando who immediately accepted the proposal. On behalf of the Maltese council for science and technology the colors of hope will be light up at the historic building Villa Bighi

Senglea Community Music Project

"When you are smiling the whole worls smiles with you"

created by residents from Senglea

FORT ST ANGELO during Covid-19

Some of the jobs being done by Fort St Angelo's staff behind closed doors are cleaning, grass-cutting, wooden apertures maintenance, paintwork, stocktaking, conservation of exhibits ...

with the support of the maintenance and repair team at Heritage Malta!

INQUISITOR's PALACE during Covid-19

While the doors of the museum are closed to the public, work continues inside the museum. In the past few weeks, museum staff have been busy with maintenance work and restoration programs that have been carefully implemented as part of the necessary health measures.

The restoration work on the rear facade of the palace is currently underway with the support of Heritage Malta

"Tieqa fuq l-Istorja" - "A Window on History"

In view of Covid-19, Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna has launched a new initiative to adapt its museums and the attractiveness of cultural heritage to the new situation. One of the doors to the street at the Malta at War Museum in Birgu will be transformed into a permanent exhibition window that passers-by can view free of charge without having to enter the museum. The new exhibition space enables exhibitions to be held that focus on certain aspects of Maltese heritage. In this case, a focus is placed on the connection with Cottonera.

The new initiative was called "Tieqa fuq l-Istorja" - "A Window on History" and funded by the Kottonera Foundation. The first exhibition takes place already in May and lasts four months. It is then replaced by other exhibitions, each of which focuses on different topics related to Cottonera.

The visitor area of the L-Isla Local Council has been redesigned. The room divider made of glass in the office is not a temporary measure because of Covid-19 Its a general permanent redesign which in this case will also help with Covid measures & security.

(photo: council members Mrs Gellel and Mrs Baldaccino)

A boundary wall is being built for one of the beach entrances in Rinella bay Rinella. This access was previously a danger without this wall, so measures have been taken to change it, and this work is being carried out by Clean Malta - Cleansing and Maintenance workers, led by Ramon Deguara, supported by the Deo Debattista Parliamentary Secretariat at the Ministry of Tourism and consumer protection led by Julia Farrugia Portelli.

-Valletta Green Festival Flowers go to Kalkara-

The Kalkara Local Council is giving a flower plant to each household in Kalkara, after Mayor Wayne Aquilina collaborated with Valletta Cultural Agency for giving away some of the plants from the "infjorata" event held at Valletta, last weekend.

Senglea Day 2020

Dear residents today we cannot meet as we do every year. But I would like to take this opportunity to thank the previous Mayors and Councils for the work they have done. Personal thanks to Guiseppe Casha former Mayor of Senglea for his work and that I was fortunate to be a grateful Deputy Mayor who is building on his good.

Thanks to Deputy Mayor Twanny Bonavia, Councilor
Joeline Attard, Malcolm Gatt, Corinne Buhagiar and Council employees working to pull one rope to see the results.
I am proud to be the Mayor with a team that today I consider like a family that where there is unity there is a big heart.

We look forward to achieving success for Senglea together.

Clive Pulis (Mayor L-Isla)

Please note the risk of confusion

Due to some complaints we have received today, we would like to point out that our website www.cottonera.info and also our facebook page are in no way related to the facebook groups "Friends of Cottonera" or "Real friends of Cottonera". Please send any complains about the behavior of group members to the relevant group itself or the group administrator directly.

We very much regret that such differences arise within the community and hope that the members of both groups will calm their minds again, even if different points of view are represented. Ultimately, we all want only the best for the Cottonera region. Thanks!

In 2021 Senglea celebrates the 100th anniversary of the ceremonial crowning of the statue of Maria Bambina. Here is some detailed historical information about how the statue was crowned.

Three 100 years old documents unveiled. These documents are:

1) the dossier prepared by Mgr Francesco Marengo

2) the petition made by the Archpriest Rev. Can. Joseph Adami to Bishop Mauro Caruana and

3) the plea made by the bishop to the pope, asking for the beloved statue of Our Lady to be crowned with the Holy See’s approval.

The documents provide information about new details and complement the history of the city.

Translation provided for the announcement

from L-Isla Local Council and Parocca Senglea

OFFICIAL STATEMENT Kalkara Local Council

The official statement (on the left) is saying that the Council does not agree with the standard of works being done by the Water Service Corporation and that the council shows its disapproval regarding the maintanance work in Triq il-Missjoni Taljana, Triq Joseph Calleja and parts of Triq Temp f 'Santu Rokku during the last few days. The local council contacted the company several times, but they didn't rectify the situation. Therefore, the council publish this press release, which sets out these facts.

More restoration work scheduled in Senglea.
This Friday the Senglea Local Council presented the application with the Planning Authority for the restoration of the niche of Our Lady of Porto Salvu at Gardjola Gardens.

On behalf of the Senglea Local Council I would like to thank Connie Coleiro who has voluntarily made masks for those who need some help.

Anyone wishing any help should contact me or directly the Local Council. L-Isla Mayor Clive Pulis

For the first time, the Local Council will be taking part in an Erasmus program co-financed by the European Union. This program will be called "Once Upon a Time" and we will be working hand in hand with two groups from Italy and Croatia.

The assigned workers thanks to Ozo Group started their fourth week in Kalkara by painting public railings in the village

From today, May 4th, 2020, several shops will reopen. In the coming days, the Senglea Local Council will distribute a disinfection machine in every store.
Thanks to Bad Boy Cleaning Constructors, who provide a number of free hand sanitizer dispensers and who work with us to take care of our residents.
In addition, the local council will put up 2-meter distance signs, which are now mandatory.
We ask for your full cooperation.
Thanks a lot

The Senglea Local Council would like to send its condolences to Mario Mizzi, a former Senglea local councilor, for the loss of his wife Maria Mizzi.
We pray for all their families in this time of grief.

This is a call to those who can sew. I want to put together a group of tailors who can volunteer to help with a project I plan for Kalkara. I would be happy if there are tailors (preferably Kalkarizi) who would like to help. Please call 79790100 or write to me on Facebook. This will be a joint project to take care of each other together.

Kalkara Mayor Wayne Aquilina

One of the new measures that will come into force on Monday across Malta is the marking of distances in waiting areas (for example, in front of shops or bus stops).

Acknowledgment and congratulations to the Local Council Kalkara for pioneering this idea, which was implemented in Kalkara already

3 weeks ago.

For all other new measures check our Covid-19 News page.

We are extremely happy with the increasing response rate ever since this festival was launched in 2018. This year we are proud to announce we have received a total of 19 original scripts in Maltese & English out of which a panel of judges will be selecting 6. Whilst wishing success to all scriptwriters, we kindly advise that the 6 scripts that will make it to the final will be announced on the 1st of June at midday.

Bormla Local Council

Apart from the regular cleaning and the additional fumigation of areas, the Local Council Bormla is currently carrying out intensive maintenance exercises in several areas. Maintenance work was carried out on bollards along the Dok 1 promenade and road markings are carried out along St.George's Street. Additional initiatives such as those by Clayton Bartolo and the Ozo Group in Bormla, which clean and renovate on a voluntary basis, improve cleanliness and safety.

A private contractor has started to implement a three-year contract signed with the Bormla local council for the maintenance and care of parks and gardens. Scope of the contract € 100,000
We urge residents to contribute refraining from littering and getting in touch with us whenever they witness any sort of vandalism.

On Thursday, April 9, a letter of intent was signed between the Mayor and Executive Secretary of the Isla Local Council and the Ministry of the Environment. This agreement includes the regeneration and planting of trees in various areas, including Triq il-Ħabs l-Antik, the opening to the sea promenade along with the Terraced Houses, Dawret ix-Xatt, Pjazza Andrea Debono and the Gardjola garden. With this agreement, which consists of a fund of € 30,000, we will work to leave a better place in the coming years.

All Local Councils in the Cottonera wish their residents a HAPPY EASTER!
Stay Safe - Stay Home!

IMPORTANT NOTICE
regarding the Easter
Resurrection Celebrations

No one should go outside.
Everyone should just go out
to the balconies and windows!
Thanks for the cooperation

Senglea residents:

Organic Waste Collection will be tomorrow

The Bormla Local Council informs all residents that an agreement has been signed today to deploy 20 people to disinfect public spaces and urban areas. These staff will be in Bormla daily and will ensure that all areas are reached through this service. This is an additional service to that provided by the central government through the cleaning and maintenance department.

With immediate effect, due to the present situation, the local council L-Isla is operating with certain restrictions.

Violations of the quarantine conditions of COVID 19 will be fined € 3,000. The police conduct around 400 inspections a day with the help of health authorities and the civil protection department. A total of 65 fines have been imposed since the mandatory quarantine period for the coronavirus came into force. One of them is a house owner in Senglea. The fine was imposed here because no one opened the door when the inspection was carried out. In the case of the Senglea house owner, two of the house owner's visitors were in self-quarantine, but had left the country within the 14-day quarantine period and therefore could not be found in the home. It has not yet been clarified why the police subsequently issued the penalty order against the house owner (who was not living in the house).

What this case shows us is that penal orders are issued not only when someone in a self-quarantine is found in the public space, but also when he does not open the door during an inspection. And it can also happen that a punishment is imposed on a wrong person who is not in self-quarantine at all. In the case mentioned, both apply.

continues next page

The Senglea house owner had to make several calls to the police and prove the return flight of the guests (copies of the boarding passes). After one week, it was announced in writing that the fine had been canceled.

Two weeks later (3 weeks after the visitors left and their self-quarantine would have expired a long time ago) the police stood at the door again and wanted to check whether the visitors' quarantine had been met. Apparently the actually closed case was still registered as an active case in the documents.

This is for sure not an isolated case, as thousands of registered visitors in self-quarantine had started their return journey before the 14-day period expired.

It is certainly not easy to manage around 400 inspections every day. However, several mistakes were made in the present case. Among other things, it is mandatory that the full name (and not "house owner") be given on the criminal order as well as the reason for the misstep.

It is certainly important and necessary to carry out the inspections, however, at a time that is difficult for everyone, should be avoided to stress innocent people. Dealing with each other should be particularly careful in times of crisis. Throwing a penalty order of € 3,000 into the mailbox without a name and without giving a reason and threatening an additional € 3,000 if you do not report immediately - just because nobody is at home - should be avoided. There can be several reasons why someone does not open the door - this alone is not evidence that someone has broken the quarantine rules.

In the past few months we have intensively evaluated our analysis tools and have been able to better take into account the interests of our website visitors. During the last month we launched 22 new subpages with new topics. The gratifying result can already be seen in our March statistics. The number of our website visitors has more than quintupled in the last month.

Since its launch only 6 months ago, the Cottonera website had 12,000 visitors and is currently on 2,500 UNIQUE visitors a month. Our facebook page was launched one month later and reached now 1,000 followers. Our social media posts in March reached more than 80,000 people.

A big THANK YOU to all new website members of www.cottonera.info and each and every one of you who has followed, liked or supported our facebook page!

First entries from our

Coloring competition

We love them :)

If you like to participate

than you find here the

Free downloads for all templates:

www.cottonera.info/color-up

Local councils will temporarily stop accepting rent and ground rent payments owed to the Housing Authority, to help reduce the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
All such payments that used to be made at local council offices must now either be made online or else by cheque.

Pharmacies open on sunday 5.4.2020

Temporary electricity supply disruptions in Kalkara 2.4.2020 between 7.00-14:00

Time schedule for the daily Live streams includes all liturgy of the hour, liturgy for children, mass and rosary worship. The schedule can be found here: https://www.cottonera.info/kalkara-churches

April`s Fools Day - Tunnels stay open

(for now) ;)

Gas cylinder prices to go down from today. 12kg gas cylinders, previously priced at €16 will now cost €15 while 25kg gas cylinders, previously priced at €33.30 will now cost €31.25. This was announced by the Energy and Water Management Minister.

Event though the 31st of march is a public holiday, the recycling bag will be collected as usual in Bormla, Senglea, Birgu and Kalkara

We are very happy to announce that our new website www.cottonera.info has made the leap into the Maltese media landscape. The first broadcast was on Television Malta (TVM) this week and we are on Maltarti on the social networks.

Many thanks to Sarah-Lee Zammit, Sharp Shoot Media Ltd., Luke Borg, Dorian Cassar, Raisa Mifsud and the entire Maltarti team!

We are releasing the Maltese version today, an English version will be released later. You find the TV broadcast on our start page when you klick the Home button in the top menu

The St Teresa Church in Cospicua, which is run by the Discalced Carmelites will be closed to the public until further notice.

The church has been closed to the public until further notice because of a friar who had recently returned from travel to Italy.

He is a member of the Order of Discalced Carmelites, who run St Teresa Church. The friar had returned from overseas travel a few days ago and observed self quarantine following the recommendations of health authorities. The rest of the order has since followed suite.

In view of the current situation, we would like to point out that the current Maltese for Foreigners language courses will be deferred for the next two weeks. The postponement also affects the new courses that should start in April. We will let everyone know when the courses resume.

For our students, here are a few phrases to repeat :)

The restoration work on two projects has been completed, first project the statue of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception at Triq il-Kuncizzjoni in Bormla and second the Clock Tower at the Capuchin Monastery in Kalkara. Works carried out by Restoration Projects Office within the Restoration Directorate. Our Congratulations!

Women have deserved so much than just a day in a year.

The power they have inside is enormous. Today is a reminder for every human being in the world to love and admire women, for they deserved it.

Happy Women’s day!

Since its launch only 5 months ago, the Cottonera.info website had 4000 visitors and is currently on 1200 UNIQUE visitors a month. Our facebook page was launched one month later and reached now 700 followers.

A big THANK YOU

to each and every one of you who has followed, liked or supported www.cottonera.info and our associated facebook page www.facebook.com/www.cottonera.info

FAURE REQUIEM

Entrance FREE!

Seating will be on a first come first served basis.

If you like to be informed about more classical music events than Sign up as website member (its free) or follow our facebook page

The return of T͟h͟e͟ ͟P͟a͟v͟i͟l͟i͟o͟n͟ ͟E͟a͟s͟t͟e͟r͟ ͟S͟u͟n͟d͟a͟y͟ was an absolute certainty, after a mind blowing success last year. It is has undoubtedly been one of the most talked about events of 2019, which has put this event straight to one of Malta's favorites!!

This event is every Easter and it’s very well known for the people of Cortonera

The venue, the sun, the sunset, the people and of course the music, generate an incredible vibe that is just impossible to miss!!

This year we are once again featuring one of the hottest acts right now Black Onyx alongside The Element and other top local DJ’s:

RYZ // DYLAN DECK// P!ERRE // WAYNE WORKS // TPSY // TONY TONY

Date: Sunday, 12th April

Duration: 3:00pm - 2:00am

>>> FREE ENTRANCE <<<

For VIP table reservations (ONLY 4 AVAILABLE) contact the venue directly

Be there early to avoid disappointments at the door!!

Young Warriors is a 1 mile adventure and obstacle course race for kids ages 5-15, with 13-15 fun and challenging obstacles, and mud. The course gives kids the chance to work as a team, challenge themselves and experience the thrill of adventure. The first adventure and obstacle course event series for kids in Malta is also a FAMILY adventure - parents are able to run with their kids. Kalkara Local Council is pleased to announce that it will sponsor a number of children and young Kalkariżi at the age of 5 and 15 years to participate in the race which will held on Sunday 3 May. Parents / guardians of those children / young people are interested, apply immediately in the offices of the local council or call and leave their name on 21665500.

Availability, Functions, how much disk space is needed on my mobile, where exactly it can be downloaded? We will soon tell you more details about the app and keep you updated

In February we got the opportunity to present our new community website project www.cottonera.info for the Maltese TV audience.
Our interview representative was Dorian Cassar (Magic Malta) and our Maltese language teacher Raisa Mifsud. Leading cameraman was Luke Borg and it was filmed at "The Lodge", an event space in Cospicua. We are looking forward to the result and will keep you up to date :)

We are pleased to announce that Cospicua Short Play Festival is nominated for BEST PROJECT IN THE COMMUNITY art prize in 2020. Thanks to all who contributed.

Festivals Malta and the Carnival organising team have announced the results of the competitive contests for Carnival 2020 and we dont wanna miss to let you know that Sengleani Ronald Ghiller and Redeemer Casha with their Ta’ Nena Carnival Group won the 1st prize in Category B of Triumphal Floats.
Our Congratulation!

Sengleani Ronald Ghiller and Redeemer Casha are winner of the 1st prize in Category B of Triumphal Floats with their Ta’ Nena Carnival Group.
Our Congratulation!