May 2016 by Bandra Buzz newspaper

BandraBuzz creating community connect since 2010

22nd May 2016 | Vol. 7 (II) Issue 5 |

BandraBuzz.Newspapers |

@Bandra_Buzz |

BandraBuzzNewspaper | bandrabuzz.com | Price: Rs. 4/-

World Environment Day 2016 to feature ‘Chaka Chak Bandra’ at Carter Promenade Even as we push vital global issues like deforestation, industrial pollution, global warming, mangrove destruction, open spaces grabbed for construction, etc.; on a local level these issues will be meaningless, if our surrounding environment is not kept clean. Hygiene is imperative to promoting good health – and cleanliness is key. Chaka Chak Bandra is a youth group who are committed to keeping our neighbourhood environment clean. And... it is not just slogans or speeches. This passionate young student group have started their clean-up campaign from Bandra (E) Station one of the most neglected & dirtiest areas. We all need to support & help them in this noble cause. They will have an informative presentation on 5th June at Carter Promenade. More about them on page 11.

EVENT: On 5th June 2016, the Carter Promenade’s amphitheatre will once again witness World Environment Day – with a huge LCD panel stage opp. CCD – the perfect ambience setting, with the lapping waves of the Arabian Sea in the background. This is the United Nations' most important day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the protection of our environment & Bandra leads the way. This initiative is organized by Bhamla Foundation & Ministry of Environment (Govt. of Maharashtra) Darryl D'Monte - Chairperson, Forum of Environmental Journalists of India (FEJI) has compiled ‘Bandra Environment Quiz 2016’ – on page 14 – entries to be sent online only. Great prizes await the winners. Event sponsors eagerly expect more mileage, with an estimated 8,000 crowd. Excite-

ment is building up, as solid support for this worthy cause is pouring in from Sachin Tendulkar, Farhan Akhtar, Tiger Shroﬀ, Imran Khan, Riteish Deshmukh, Adnan

Sami, Jacqeline Fernandez, Poonam Mahajan, Priya Dutt, Adv. Ashish Shelar, Shyama Kulkarni and many more. TURN TO PAGE 14 >>

02 MAY 2016

NEWS

BANDRA BUZZ

Bandra's iconic shrine takes a leap of faith, fly's off to the LA CineFest awards Based in the ‘Queen of the Suburbs’ Bandra; the Mount Mary Basilica on which a 40 min documentary film titled ‘The Mount of Faith’ has now achieved an international recognition as it has been officially selected for the Los Angeles CineFest Awards. ‘The Mount of Faith’ reflects a rich and colourful history of the 400 year old Basilica which takes the viewer on a pilgrimage to experience peace, where thousands flock, 'to be in the presence of the Holy Mother'. We bring you an all-round perspective of what went in making this film, its journey from shooting at different locations to editing the videos, the movie being dubbed in vernacular languages as well as the five awards that it has won till date. DIRECTION: Conceived and directed by multi-talented, film and theatre director and fine art painter; Etienne Coutinho, the films director must be appreciated and given a thunderous applause for his direction. Bandra’s very own son Etienne has won numerous awards as a creative director of commercial advertising and design projects, films and multimedia presentations. While it was the best of cinematographers, editors, musicians that worked upon this project; it’s the director's vision that turned the film into an historic and grand reality known as ‘The Mount of Faith’. When asked what his experience was like as the director of the film, Etienne states: “It was exciting and challenging to make a film on the Basilica of the Mount. To preserve the legacy of this historic location and the faith invested by millions of people from various religious backgrounds and undistinguished by class and caste differences. My aim was to create tapestry of history, culture and capture on film the journey of the pilgrim’s soul” SCRIPTING: With a thorough research team; Joan Dias (Director, Heras Institute), Fleur Dsouza (Head, Dept. of History, St Xavier’s College), Fr Francis Correa (Church Historian), Sir

Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy (Philanthropist), the film explores an in-depth background to the origins of the shrine and its colourful history. The architectural perspective by David Cardoz, the biblical portrait of Mary – Mother of Jesus is expounded by Mariologist Bishop Agnelo Gracias. The director took into account the history, culture, lifestyle of Bandra, its rich heritage and Bandra’s landmark shrines prominence in this little suburb. Thus as a viewer not only are we left out with words for this film but it reflects the heart and soul of Bandra perfectly. CINEMATOGRAPHY: Award winning cinematography captured the slices of Bandra life, the riveting portraits of people in prayer, sweeping camerawork covering the grandeur of the Basilica shot by the cinematographic team: Kavya Sharma, Sudeep Sen Gupta, Amogh Pant and Manoj Lobo. Many of the shots of the Basilica that you see in the film are shot in natural lights and that’s the beauty of the cinematographers that won them two awards for Best Cinematography.

MUSIC: The prize winning musical background was scored by Ronit Chaterjee. Rhys Sebastian D'souza Jazz Saxophonist essays Bandra’s Joie de vivre culture. Salve Regina, Ave Maria was arranged by music composer Merlin D’Souza, Salve Regina sung by Vivienne Pocha. Tara Sutaria lent her voice to Ave Maria with Hindustani alaaps by Hamsika Iyer. The soundtrack for the ﬁlm was mastered at Media Minds Studio (Bandra) by Darren Vandrine with sound engineer Reuel Fernandes. EDITING: The ﬁlm was edited digitally at Fractal Studio (Bandra) by editor Davis Curry and video graphics and animation by Michael Crasto. “Working on the edit of The Mount of Faith was a learning experience. It was amazing to see the connections between the various testimonies as we intercut them” says Davis Curry. PRODUCERS: ‘The Mount of Faith’ has been produced by St. Pauls Publication in association with

Sandhya Films & Creations. The producers of the film are Lavy & Andrea Pinto and Daniel Meinrad of Chapel road. Bandraites such as Romeo Fernando, Zaffar Ali , Fr. Aniceto Pereira, David Cardoz, Laxmi Vishwanathan, Brian Tellis, Dr. Russel Pinto, Salman Khan all share the experiences on why the shrine holds a special place in each of their lives. The film has been shot in English and has been dubbed into Hindi, Marathi and Konkani languages as well. AWARDS: 1. 2015 - Jaipur International Film Festival Best Cinematography 2. 2015 - Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival Best Music 3. 2014 - 2nd Shorts Online Film Festival Best Documentary 4. 2014 - Indian Cinefest Film Festival - Best Cinematography 5. Nominated For Navi Mumbai International Film Festival 2015 And now it’s on its course to the Los Angeles CineFest awards.

Invest in the future of your business today. Advertise with us!

Sunny Rodricks

BandraBuzz creating community connect since 2010

3rd April 2016 | Vol. 7 (I) Issue 4 |

• Reach over 20,000 afﬂuent, educated and locally connected consumers across Bandra & Khar. • As the voice of the community, Bandra Buzz has been a central force in helping connect the residents with local businesses for more than 5 years. • Readers of Bandra Buzz rely on us to provide them with local news on restaurants, health care concerns, business features, sports, real estate, local business organizations, schools, & news about local politics and government. • Bandra Buzz readers can become your customers, and come back to your business throughout the year. Research shows that citizens who are connected and involved are apt to become loyal consumers.

For advertising information call: 9820783686 / 9920299787

BandraBuzz.Newspapers |

@Bandra_Buzz |

BandraBuzzNewspaper | bandrabuzz.com | Price: Rs. 4/-

DANGER SPOT Wrong-side Driving becoming the norm to refill petrol at the HP Petrol Pump on Turner Road

An Audi breaks the traffic rule by entering the HP Petrol Pump on Turner Road from the wrong side (official exit) All Bandraites (at least the pedestrians if not the vehicled-ones who break the traffic rules), will appreciate this. Many of our readers have called in and requested us to take up this issue, as they have been nearvictims of what could have been tragic mishaps. The ‘Danger Point’ referred to in the header is the HP petrol pump at the signal of the S.V. Road and Linking Road junction, a very central spot in Bandra (West), where five roads fork at the signal. The petrol pump stands on a corner plot at this signal

between the road coming from South Mumbai (from Bandra Talao) and Turner Road (leading towards Carter Road). The only official entrance for vehicles into this pump is on the road coming from South Mumbai, wherein vehicles need to rightfully enter to get petrol/diesel filled. Once filled, the exit for these vehicles is on the Turner Road side of the pump, whereby vehicles need to exit the pump premises. The above is the correct entry and exit procedure. But some vehicle-drivers who

are in a hurry, or who have made it a bad habit, prefer to take short-cuts and make their own rules. Many vehicles coming FROM Turner Road, who would otherwise have to get on to the road coming from South Mumbai to enter the pump, PREFER TO ENTER THE PUMP FROM THE EXIT OF THE PUMP ON TURNER ROAD. They do this by driving on the wrong side of the divider on the road and then entering the pump from what is official the exit. Naturally this is extremely dangerous for pedestrians walking on that stretch of

the road near the pump’s exit, as they would not expect a vehicle to come from BEHIND them from the wrong side. It is also very dangerous for those vehicles exiting the pump or those vehicles taking the left turn from the South Mumbai road to come on to Turner Road, as none of them would be expecting a vehicle to be coming at them from the wrong side of the road.

Cyrus Gonda Contd. on Page 11 >>

NEWS

BANDRA BUZZ

Citizen Bank – St. Andrew’s Branch shifts to Turner Road Citizen Credit Co-operative Bank (CCCBL) had a branch operating from St. Andrew’s School building since 1997. Now, this branch has shifted its new location to ‘Darvesh Royalé’, shop 5 – 6, opposite Kotak Mahindra Bank on Perry Road – a very central spot. The opening of this new branch took place on 15th May 2016 - with the ribbon being cut by Ex-Director John Lobo. The inauguration was well attended by the banks’ loyal customers. While addressing the gathering, Ms Geeta Andrades, the Managing Director and CEO declared that Citizen Credit would continue to serve its customers with dedication & commitment towards their prosperity. This has been the hallmark of the bank, which has been built on the triple foundation of: Character, Capital and Credit. Mr. Anthony D'Souza, Chairman of the Board, expressed his gratitude for the support provided by the loyal cus-

tomers of the branch and also the staff, while shifting to the new location. Mr. D'Souza further emphasized how he valued immensely the customers' patronage toward CCCBL. He assured everyone, that the bank will continue to provide excellent & efficient customer service. At the Customers’ Service – An Expanding Range CCCBL offers myriad banking services like: Forex Exchange Services, Bancassurance, a variety of loans (Consumer, Home, Renovation, Vehicle, Education, Business, SME, Gold, Travel) Reverse Mortgage, e-Tax Payment, eSBTR, RuPay ATM & PAN Card Services, any branch banking, NEFT / RTGS , NRE Account, Junior Accounts, Foreign Exchange, Zero Balance Accounts. Thanks to the friendly cooperation of the bank’s staff, availing of the loans and

MAY 2016 03

services on easy terms and conditions is a completely hassle-free experience. The bank also looks to facilitate local entrepreneurship through its business loans. These are offered to individuals / firms, professionals and self-employed persons. Management – The Driving Force The MD & CEO - Ms. Geeta Andrades, has spent over three decades in the field and is a force to reckon with. It’s no surprise, then, that she can call on the loyalty of a management team of rock-solid professionals with years of experience behind them. Headed by managers who motivate and lead their teams by example, CCCBL branches are known and appreciated for their sterling efforts & prompt service. The friendly neighbourhood CCCBL branch serves as a focal point for retail customers in the vicinity to drop in, network, seek assistance or simply say “hello”! Where Dreams Take Flight While it focuses on serving its customers with right products, the bank also aims to build efficiency, integrity, ethics and trust. These qualities are reinforced, visually, in the bank’s logo which, in addition to the 3Cs in the wings of the dove, is evocative of a palm stretched out in service. Financially empowered citizens can form a prosperous society & thus build a strong nation with

economic might. The achievement of its customers dreams is their topmost priority Operating since 1984, this multi-state co-operative bank has its head oﬃce at ‘Helena’, Mt. Carmel Road, Bandra (w). Besides multiple branches operating successfully throughout Mumbai & other Indian states, they have a total of 3 branches in Bandra: Mt. Carmel, Hill Road & now Turner Road. The working hours of this branch will be: Monday to Saturday – 9:15am to 1pm and 2:30pm to 5pm. An ATM booth is attached for RuPay Card Holders (any Bank) only.

04 MAY 2016

LIFESTYLE

BANDRA BUZZ

Transform your Life with Feng Shui Expert Ever thought about using Feng Shui Principles to improve your current life situation or certain areas of your life? My clients come from various walks of life. I want to share with you a fact. Over the hundreds of consultations that I have reviewed in the last decade, here are the 10 common reasons why people seek help with Feng Shui: 1. To increase money and overall wealth 2. To ﬁnd love and romance 3. To improve career & work relationships 4. To experience peace and harmony at home and work 5. To improve marriage or an existing relationship 6. To improve health 7. To seek help with children/teenage issues 8. To improve family relations 9. To create prosperity in the oﬃce or work place 10. To understand their personality analysis

Are you experiencing any of these diﬃculties? Are there other areas of your life that you would like to seek help with using Feng Shui? Fed up stressing month after month? Desperate to gain the control and outcomes you know maybe possible? Send in your questions to Maria Hussain & you will receive replies individually or through this column. On entering my home, my hallway feels dark and gloomy. This really bothers me. Please tell me what to do? Mrs. F. Gomes In Feng Shui, the entrance of your home is the “mouth of chi” This is where you welcome new opportunities & positive energy into your home. Please create a Bright Hall eﬀect: change the color to a brighter shade, add good lighting, maybe - a water feature (preferably only after consultation), and bright rugs that lead you into your home. Most importantly, no clutter as you enter.

Invest in the future of your business today. Advertise with us! • Reach over 20,000 afﬂuent, educated and locally connected consumers across Bandra & Khar. • As the voice of the community, Bandra Buzz has been a central force in helping connect the residents with local businesses for more than 5 years. • Readers of Bandra Buzz rely on us to provide them with local news on restaurants, health care concerns, business features, sports, real estate, local business organizations, schools, and news about local politics and government. • Bandra Buzz readers can become your customers, and come back to your business throughout the year. Research shows that citizens who are connected and involved are apt to become loyal consumers.

For advertising information call: 9820783686 / 9920299787 or e-mail: advertise.bandrabuzz@gmail.com

BandraBuzz

Ensure there is no junk, especially near the entrance of your home since this blocks the flow of energy & opportunity. I read your articles regularly with much interest. I find them very informative. My son is always so restless at night since we moved into our new home last year. Any Feng Shui solutions? Mr. Jimmy Thanks Jimmy. Well, honestly need to see the home layout with the directions. But broadly I can advise to make sure his bed is not directly in front of the door - this can be disturbing. His bed should face the wall with the door. Are the colors in his room soothing? Too much red can create restlessness - too dark can be depressing. Violent pictures & posters can also result in poor sleep. Make sure the images that he sees first thing in the morning are soothing. A mirror that reflects the bed can be the source of poor sleep.

Mouth of Chi Unleash your true potential in your health, wealth & relationships today! Call 9867711021 for a personal consultation or visit our website www.bhcfengshui.com or email bhcfengshui@gmail.com

Maria Hussain Feng Shui Expert

NEWS

BANDRA BUZZ

MAY 2016 05

Experimenting with your career will ruin future Students looking forward to study abroad often get lost in the application complexities and lack of information while applying for international universities. They also end up paying more instead of saving on tuition fees and academic credits as well. The start point is of course finding the right course or course combination and the right university. Internet has brought us a whole world of information at our fingertips. The point lies in fishing out what one require from this vast sea of information. Even if you figure out what's required, the second most important step involves meticulously preparing your application. Your dream university may slip out of your hand just because of a single mistake.

Even if you cross all this hurdle, you may still get stuck with the visa process. In a nutshell, securing admission in an international university is easy, provided you have the correct information and conversant with the nitty-gritty in application and visa. Study abroad consultants can be a life saver for aspiring students who don't want to take chance. Those who want to make it in a single go and don't want the hassle should look forward to expert consultants in study abroad. Aliﬀ Overseas, countries premier study abroad consultant has helped thousands of students with their dream courses in dream universities. Founder, Director of Aliﬀ Overseas Mr. Aslam Shaikh, an avid

Trusted since - 1986

Consulting Engineers & Contractors Guranteed Solutions for: Waterproofing Systems, Anti Corrosion Treatment, Expansion Joint Treatment, Epoxy Coating, Heat Insulation cum Waterproofing, Grouting Systems, Membrane Technology

WE-FIX COMPUTER SERVICES • • • • •

Fix Slow or Hanging Computers Windows OS Re-installation Virus and Spyware Removal Hard Disk Data Recovery Home and Office Networking Please Call or WhatsApp: Dennis Mendonca 77386 47535 / 90047 30695 Over 15 years of experience in PC service

ent university criteria. Aliff Overseas also prepare you for your visa interviews, brief you on what the officer might ask you. Another important point is pre-departure counseling. Often students face hurdles overseas, they are not used to the culture, people, language, climate and most importantly the rules and laws of that country. Aliff Overseas arranges pre-departure seminars and prepare students to gel with their country of study. Mr. Shaikh concluded by adding a thought full sentence, "when you can study abroad at the same or less cost as in India, why leave this on chance. Doing trial and error with your career will only ruin your future."

Dr. Meghna: Dental Implants for FREE

PERMATECH CONCRETE SOLUTIONS

26441630, 26510146, 9833961631 www.permatech.in / info@permatech.in WE DO NOT PROMISE, BUT WE PERFORM!

educationalist and career counselor, shared his experience of over a decade. He cherishes the happy faces of students that get admission into top universities across the world. He emphasizes that you should only go for the courses and the university that is best to you. Information is available everywhere but one should be able to filter out only the relevant information. Aliff Overseas has every required information on courses, specializations, universities and countries. They can pick the right course or specialization that will help you in your future career. Having placed thousands of students in universities across different countries they are well versed with different application processes and differ-

Terrace Waterproofing Coating

MIRACLE PEST SOLUTION Spl. in: Bed Bugs, Cockroach Gel, Termite, Rodent & Other Pest Treatment. Herbal Odorless & Non Odorless Treatment AMC for: Flats, Office & Society premises, Bungalows, Godowns, Hospitals, Hotels, Churches and Schools. Contact: Mr. Raymond Miranda 9820241321/9819594482 Our Konkan Div Govt Licence no 101/17112/ P/E

Bandra Buzz provides a platform to showcase your writing, photography, marketing & designing skills Give us a call  or  to be a part of the Bandra Buzz team

As part of their endeavour to make dental implants available to people of low socio-economic groups; Dr. Meghna Dang - in collaboration with 'Smile USA' is now offering patients dental implant surgery for FREE or at low costs, as part of their educational curriculum. People can benefit by getting 'fixed teeth' and advanced surgeries at minimal / no costs, depending on the case. This helps to improve your self-confidence - and face people with a ‘sweet smile’. This small surgery can be all the difference between you being successful or unsuccessful in life. Do not compromise on something that creates the ‘first impression’ about you which is very important. For more information and registration call 99207 70726, 022 6535 0666 Treatment would be carried at 1004, Panchratna Bldg, Opera House, Mumbai 400004 (Dr. Meghna Dang maintains her private practise in Bandra, Colaba, Opera House) Laxmi Karanjia

06 MAY 2016

SPORTS

BANDRA BUZZ

Mumbai Customs and Central Railways win the Bandra Gym 30th Open Rink Hockey Tournament 2016

Central Railways - Winners of the Women category Mumbai Customs won with ease over Sea View S.C. 8-1, in the ďŹ nals of the 30th Bandra Gymkhana Open Rink Hockey Tournament 2016, played on the tennis courts of the Bandra Gymkhana on 21st May, Saturday evening. Man of the tournament

Jayesh Jadhav - Mumbai Customs scored seven goals including a hatrick. The other goal scorers were Stanley Fernandes (1). Jayesh Jadhav was well supported by Joshua Vesavkar and Stanley Fernandes. Inspite of crowd support Sea View just could

Mumbai Customs - Winners of the Men category not combine well to score more goals Shelton Carvalho (1) scored for Sea View. In the Women Section Central Railways overran F. United 8-2. Women of the tournament Sarita Mine of Central Railways played a stellar role in their convincing win

3UHVHQWHG E\

Chasing Fireflies is a project that engages kids (ages ď&#x153;´-ď&#x153;ąď&#x153;°) in the delightful world of stories & hands-on activities for young kids in Bandra. The stories are always interesting & different. Children are made to feel as much a part of the telling as they are of listening. Sessions are conducted in English, which supports both English speakers & children who speak another language through good language role models and natural interaction with other children. One hour storytelling workshops are highly interactive & great fun! They are designed to inspire creativity in young children as well as understand the plot and characters a. It gives young children a way into a story which they may struggle to find otherwise. Activities are carefully designed to support the understanding & appreciation of the stories. The benefits of these sessions are, they improve language skills such as vocabulary, prediction, sequencing, comprehension, story structure and recall as well as stimulates their imagination. These skills also help children become better writers. Contact Details Email: nolencia@gmail.com Tel: ď&#x153;šď&#x153;°ď&#x153;˛ď&#x153;˛ď&#x153;˛ď&#x153;¸ď&#x153;ąď&#x153;˛ď&#x153;ąď&#x153;ł

by scoring 2 goals. The other goal scorers were Jamila Bano (2), Soundra (2), Rajneeta (1) and Rashmi (1). The prizes were given by Chief Guest Fr. Maggi Murzello, Principal St. Andrews School. Derrick Drego

9HQXH 3DUWQHU

0HGLD 3DUWQHU

. ,Q DVVRFLDWLRQ ZLWK

:KHQ WK -XQH 7PLQLQJ SP :KHUH /LQN 5RRP /LQNLQJ 5RDG %DQGUD :HVW )RU 'HWDLOV 6SRQVRUVKLS 6WDOOV FDOO _

JUST OPENED

MAY 2016 07

BANDRA BUZZ

What’s your Cool Story this summer? There are people in this world who prefer savoury, rich or spicy dishes. And then there are the people who have a sweet tooth the size of Mumbai. The Cool Story cafe is for the latter amongst us. The latest addition to the tree-lined 16th road, this cosy little café is beating the blistering Mumbai heat in its own sweet way. Indulging in their i n c o m p a ra b l e slushes is probably one of the best ways to keep your cool in the rising temperatures. Cool Story serves, with a lot of love, an array of frozen beverages & desserts, cold brewed teas along with organic dips and sides. Their signature frozen beverage offerings are Frocktails (Frozen Mocktails) which is a combination of real fruit bits, fruit purees, herbs & condiments with a tangy frozen lemonade base. They have included emotions that come along with each drink. These emotions vary from nostalgia to happiness to swag! They also offer the Fratte range which is a dairy based creamy Frozen Latte that pairs up chocolate, coffee, caramel, oreos or fruits. Both of these frozen beverage lines also include desi versions which have their own quirks & twists. The first thing that hits you is the sheer originality of the concept; something that is very close to Chief Mixologist, Saurabh Malhotra’s heart, “We have all grown up relishing the after school golas and chuskis. We love them even though the hygiene is questionable. Even now, the only options that we get are the thella walas or the cheap synthetic slushes outside the station. We wanted to evolve this concept and approach it in a delicious yet clean, organic and adult friendly manner. After tireless research and numerous taste tests, we’ve perfected our favourite flavours and recipes. Each ingredient is handpicked. For the most authentic taste in our drinks, we source the best ingredients from Malaysia, Italy and French Polynesia.”

Innovation in their menu is visible in their every offering. One such option is the revitalizing cold brewed teas. These teas are a tea lover’s dream come true due to their special brewing process. India’s finest organic tea leaves are brewed over 12 to 15 hours at 4 degrees which ensures that there is no astringency and the subtle notes of the tea shine through. Creamy and velvety gelatos are made fresh at the café are sure to make you go weak in the knees. To balance the sweet with the savoury they offer a range of fresh and organic artisanal dips with your choice of crisps. And to complement your drink, you can choose from their range of organic artisanal dips with your choice of crisps. A special mention goes to the Fratte Overload which is a five layered scrumptious dessert. It’s like a jar of condensed happiness. (For a detailed look at the menu, check their Zomato page) Even though the café is a fairly new entrant, their offerings already

have scores of loyal fans. They have received tremendous success and rave reviews in The Lil Flea, Kitsch Mandi at Celebrate Bandra, Stylecracker Borough, The Kingﬁsher Derby and many more festivals. “We have people coming from all corners of Mumbai, from Fort to Thane. They tell us that they had our drinks at one of the pop-ups and are glad that we now have a permanent address. Now, they have a clear destination when they have a craving for our frozen beverages or desserts. Many of our customers who are in love with our spiked frozen beverages also call us over, for their private events & functions.” adds Operations Incharge, Venkey G, who goes by the title ‘Wizard of Chill’.

When y o u enter t h e quaint little store in its bright but homely colours, you ﬁrst notice the herb garden. And it is commonplace for the Chef-inService to excuse themselves to pick out a fresh sprig of herbs to add that

extra dash of flavour to your drink. Go further & all bookworms are in for a fantabulous treat with books of all variety and genres. You can also put your gadgets away and re-live your childhood memories with some classic board games. Or, you can sit and work in peace as they offer free WiFi. All this while you sip into your pick from the menu, a difficult task for sure, considering you will be spoilt for choice. Did we mention, the hosts are the perfect antithesis to the frozen beverages, warm. Saurabh also let us in on their latest additions to the menu, the cold pressed juices, which are all set to be launched soon. A cold pressed juice enthusiast will probably tell you that its the healthiest way to have a fruit juice as the technique used to make these ensure retention of all the vitamins, enzymes and minerals which are

otherwise lost. And unlike other companies who bottle their products for consumption at a later date, Cool Story juices are as fresh as it gets. They make it right in front of you. The good news is that they will soon be rolling out home delivery and a subscription based model, wherein they deliver these fresh juices right to your doorstep. All in all, great ambience, superb taste, friendly staﬀ and pocket-friendly prices make this café quite a ﬁnd and worth watching out for. Check out this concept café at Shop no. 2, Villa Queenie, 16th Road, Mini Punjab lane, Bandra (West).

What makes Cool Story a hidden gem in Bandra’s by-lanes: - Frocktails are hands down the best slushes in town. - Quaint little herb garden, free Wi-Fi, diverse collection of books & board games give it a homely feel. - Friendly, passionate and enthusiastic crew add up to a happy vibe. - The run-of-the-mill coffee shops will cease to interest you once you have tried their lip-smacking Fratte. - Cold Brewed Teas & Cold Pressed Juices are a treat for the health conscious. - Fratte Overload - A five layered foodgasmic dessert leads to a genuine “Aha!” moment.

08 MAY 2016

BANDRA BUZZ

LOCAL INFOCUS

Michelle Ribeiro: It’s not just about hair dressing but the bond you build with clients “Hair dressing is not just about the hair; it about the relation that you create with your clients. The way you talk, what you talk, how you relate and connect to them. I build a relation with my clients and enjoy every bit of hair dressing and see to it that my clients are comfortable and enjoy it too,” exults Michelle Ribeiro, a well known professional hair dresser from Bandra. Mastering the art of hair dressing, Michelle got her hands on haircuts, hair colour, highlights, straightening, pumps & all sorts of hair styling. She admits, “I have had my basics right so I can now play with anything in hair. I can fix it and mange to create something beautiful out of nothing.” So, how did Michelle get her basics right? Living her youth mostly travelling across the world as a dancer, Michelle choreographed and performed at various places for around 12 years. It is when she used to dance that she would help all the performers in their makeup, hair dressing and hair styling. “I used to like dressing and styling my co-dancers hair and I was good at it. Everyone would come to me and ask me to do it for them. That’s how it all started and I was inclined towards hair dressing. In fact, my mother helped spot this quality in me and encouraged me to groom it ahead,” she recollects. Shifting her career from dancing to hair dressing was quite a difficult task for her but she knew that she had to leave dancing one day as her age would catch up. She was interested in hair dressing and therefore did a four month course in the basics of hair dressing. She says, “Training is not enough, you have to work on your own and apply. You need a proper base. If you don’t get a proper base you are never going to reach anywhere in life.” Starting her career by working for Asif at his salon, where she got hands on experience to try and apply whatever she had learnt. She did very well at her job and Asif got her name printed in the newspaper in the first year itself. Working there for three and a half years, she received proper guidance which she cherishes till date and treats Asif as her guru for he effectively guided her on the right path. Michelle then went to Dubai where she worked at Juice Salon for another four years and mastered all the tricks of the trade. As she didn’t like it in Dubai, she returned back to India. “You don’t need to be in one place to learn. You can learn everything on your own if you have the willpower & interest,” she exclaims. After gaining so much of experience, Michelle felt that she should start something of her own and work on her own as a freelancer. She continues, “I had gained experience and build my clients. So I started working from home and freelancing for Asif too. I used to juggle 2-3 hours in

the morning at Asif the Salon and then return home & work from home too.” After striving like this for almost a year, Michelle finally decided to be all on her own and work independently. “I started working only from home and I really liked it. I had my own clients and I could treat them the way I wanted. I made them completely comfortable and relaxed and they enjoyed coming home,” she explains. Some people don’t like to go to the parlour often but prefer a calm & comfortable environment like a home. This worked in her favour as clients preferred coming to her house rather than spendin at a parlour. “Hair dressers are kind of psychiatrists. For we listen to our client’s worries, tensions, difficult times in their family or relations and thus, build a bond with them and make them feel light,” says Michelle. Her one on one interaction and bonding with her clients made her friendly with them and helped build a trust factor. “It is one good hour of balanced conversation and healthy advice. I don’t just cut the hair of my clients and take the money. I advise them on what shampoo to use, conditioners to apply, how they should take care and maintain their hair, what they should avoid and what will be better for them,” she explains. So, if you go to Michelle you will definitely find a full packaged return gift in terms of knowledge and also make a new friend in her. When it comes to work, Michelle Ribeiro is just phenomenal at what she does. She cuts hair of the famous actor Sanjay Dutt's wife & kids. Also, actors Ashmith Patel and Amisha Patel are her clients. “After reaching a certain point in life, you feel like sharing your knowledge with others,” she admits as she now imparts her knowledge and experience to others. Michelle teaches hair dressing and styling to aspirants, conducts classes on one student at a time basis, helps mothers who are interested in this field and want to set up something of their own. Moreover, she also helps her students find a job or get various orders by using all her contacts and cliental. “If you are interested in learning then I will help you to any extent. If you don’t want to learn then I don’t want your money for I don’t want to become a big thing but just share my knowledge,” she expounds. Life is funny as it is said & she believes that life is all about positivity. She is what she is today because she has made herself that way with her own hard work & efforts and support from her parents. “Life is not always going to be straight line. There are going to be crooked lines; there are going to be ups and downs. But take it positively. Learn from everything, pick up your lessons and move on,” encourages Michelle. “First you make rules then you break them. Learn everything and then do not

settle for anything that you don’t like. Keep yourself updating constantly and grow concludes higher,” Michelle Ribeiro as she encourages young entrepreneurs to follow their heart and do what they love. Ronald Rodrigues

ced conversation and “It is one good hour of balan t cut the hair of my healthy advice. I don’t jus advise them on what clients & take the money. I rs to apply, how they shampoo to use, conditione their hair, what they should take care & maintain be better for them” should avoid and what will - Michelle Ribeiro

LOCAL INFOCUS

MAY 2016 09

BANDRA BUZZ

Hey Bugger, What’s Up Men! We at Bandra Buzz caught up with our favorite Bandra Bugger, VJ Jose Covaco or better known as HoeZaay. While we sat down and had a deep conversation about the universe and his life, we got to know him better and guess what, beneath the funny exterior lies a genius! Jose was born and brought up in Bandra and as he says, he’s as Bandra as it gets. He stayed opposite Supari Talao and studied in St. Stanislaus High School. He continued his studies at National College on Linking Road and majored in Physics. As Jose explains it, college days were spent chilling and eating sandwiches at Jai Sandwich and watching random people pass by. It was during his ﬁnal exams in his third year of Degree College that a friend called up and said that a music station, Red FM, was looking out for interns. So he went ahead for the interview, made a couple of demo tapes and was selected as an intern for Red FM. During that time, radio stations were just setting up and within 2 months, Jose was asked to go on air. This was his founding stone and from where he kickstarted his career. As a Radio Jockey, Jose says that no matter how you look, you can do a fantastic job. He worked in radio from 2002 up till 2012 and says it was a super fun job which he never considered quitting. It was like; you walk into work every day expecting something new and fun to happen. However, t h e r e came a t i m e when there was

transition in languages, where the radio station shifted from an English one to a Hindi one overnight and proved to be a bit diﬃcult for him since H i n d i wasn’t his

forte. Jose got the support he deserved and started mimicking the people around him who spoke Hindi fluently. He’s now stopped doing radio for a while, although he would still choose radio over television. It was during his time, in Red FM, that he started making short video clips like ‘Misheard Lyrics’ and other funny vine-like videos. A lot of people in Bandra began to recognize him after the Bandra Buggers (Shit Bandra Boys Say), video he made. He also doesn’t want to stay away from brands that pay him, since there’s nothing wrong in getting paid for making videos that companies themselves want him to make. However, he does not endorse products that are bad for health or harmful, since those are ethically wrong, he says. The essence of some his videos is that they’re shot right there and then, not after long sessions of planning and formulation. Many of the videos are shot on mobile phones, which saves him the hassle of carrying a DSLR camera and running around. As Jose says, he gets a kick out of spending a hundred and fifty rupees on stuff he could use in a 6 second video than spending lakhs of rupees on equipment for a video that no one might watch; this makes him happy. Even ‘KaanMasti’, a hilarious show hosted by Suresh and him, began at the radio station when he was faffing around. Jose now has a daughter whom he wants to spend all his time with. He laughs & says, “I want someone to pay me so that I can go play with her. That’s it.” He always wanted to become a Radio Jockey & his major inspiration came from a guy named Mikel who hosted a show on pagers on All India Radio back then. He used to send Mikel jokes & Mikel would read

them out. Eventually, he ended up meeting him & learnt a lot about radio & how it functioned. He would let Jose sit around & watch how the show went. Another one of the shows Jose loved was one which was hosted by Mikel and Ravi Iyer. It was a hilarious show and the content was well edited. He’s the author of a book called Ladies

Please!: Dating Truths by a Man. Although, he feels sad to admit that in this modern era, a person can tweet about something & it will have ten times more reach than a book. Jose’s also done stand-up comedy along with Saurabh Pant & the East Indian Comedy guys. When asked about Bandra, he says we’re still really fortunate to have Bandra the way it is. Bandra Fair used to be a very messy affair earlier but of late, it’s being managed and controlled well. A lot of rowdy bikers and people jumping out of cars in the middle of the road to fight with auto-drivers or other motorists, which ends up causing traffic blocks, is still an increasing problem. One of the biggest problems

in Bandra is the double parking; there would be ten times more space if people parked their vehicles properly. This is something that’s been bothering him a lot, especially people who park their cars where no-parking signs are put up. Jose uses his cycle or walks most of the time. He sends out a message to the youth saying, don’t stress too much, just live your life & avoid all the bad habits. Stay Crazy! So here ends one of the most chilled out interviews with the most happening guy around Bandra! Keep an eye out for HoeZaay and all his awesome, hilarious videos and posts.

DANCEZONE DancerCize

Nayan Sreenivasan

presents

The fun way to lose weight. Learn the hottest moves to the latest tunes and groove your way to fitness. This winter let’s burn calories at Mint Everest Classic, Linking Road, Bandra | Daljit Gym, Versova

Book a slot for your FREE trial class NOW

Contact: Jane - 9323599450 | 8689884939

10 MAY 2016

BANDRA BUZZ

ENIVRONMENT

‘Eco Responsibility’ taken seriously 5asec nominated by CINET, Frankfurt, Germany for Award of Best Practices in Textile Care 2016 The effects of pollution in every medium today are adverse. We humans are responsible for every act that impacts our ecosystem. Our precious environment is getting from bad to worse, if we do not act now. Ever wondered how the washing of your clothes, at your dry cleaner, dhobi or even home washing of clothes could be such an act of responsibility towards the Mother Earth? At ‘5asec – Textile expert’ we take this responsibility very seriously. With India’s first and only ‘In-Store Dry Cleaning Concept’, our customers’ experience the brilliance of automation and transparency in all our stores. They can see how their precious garments are cleaned and finished to perfection – without ever leaving the store. Little do they know that each of our process involves rigorous research and refining, to make sure we have minimal impact on nature. With a global quest to conserve water, 5asec ensures that 40% less water is used per garment washed, as in comparison to any home washing machine. All the 5asec patented detergents and solvents used are certified by the World Health Organisation (WHO), to ensure minimal harm to the quality of water in the drain - and are also ‘100% Skin Friendly’ for the safety of our staff & our dear customers. For the process of dry cleaning, the advanced machinery and specialised solvents at 5asec are carefully designed to have NO CHEMICALS drained into the drainage line of

the city. The air quality around the machinery is also carefully measured to ensure minimal eﬀect. With the 5asec – Eco responsible program, 5asec India carefully monitors and measures all such parameters in its shops and benchmarks these values globally, with all its

partner countries to ensure best practices are maintained. In a recent event, 5asec India has been nominated by the CINET global textile care foundation in Frankfurt Germany for the award of best practices in textile care 2016. Still awaiting the results for the award.

ENIVRONMENT

BANDRA BUZZ

MAY 2016 11

What is ‘Chaka Chak Bandra’?

Team Chaka Chak Bandra stages a street play outside Bandra Station (W) ticket counter to create awareness about the importance of cleanliness

Volunteers from various part of the city including children from adjoining slums help out in the cleanliness drive conducted by Chaka Chak Bandra at Bandra Station (E) Bandra Buzz had many queries for this team Chaka Chak Bandra, who are doing a great job for society. Here is a summary of what they are – what they do and have done – and what they plan to do. Their spokesperson told us: “This project was born out of the desire to see a change. All our lives, we’ve have been preached to be the change we’d want to see - and now we have decided to indeed act, in order to bring about that change. Our project primarily focuses on cleaning the East side of the station. Bandra station has been hailed as a Grade-1 property by the UNESCO. Even though the West side of the station is maintained, the East side remains neglected. Plastic wrappers, paper waste, bottles strewn on the stairs leading to the ticket counter. Metal panels on the foot over bridge covered with ’paan’ stains. The ﬁlth is unbearable.

December 19th, 2015: Armed with relevant data and after having approached the competent authorities, we sought permission to organize our ﬁrst cleanliness drive at Bandra Station (E). We received a phenomenal response with across 90 volunteers coming forth from diﬀerent parts of the city to help us in this noble cause. We swept and cleaned the areas adjoining the slums and the streets leading up to the station. We received maximum response from little children living in the slums who came forward to help our volunteers by bringing brooms from their homes. The BMC had deployed two trucks to collect the garbage. Our volunteers worked alongside the volunteers from the BMC. The metal panels on the foot over bridge of the station which were initially stained with ‘paan’, were painted in fresh coats of blue and white color. The team is extremely grateful to Fr. Savio Silveira from Greenline, Mrs. Shyama Kulkarni from AGNI, Mr. Haresh Shah from M.A.D. & Mr. Narayan Iyer (IDF) for being a constant source of support & encouragement and helping us in our endeavor. Chaka Chak Bandra organized a fundraising garage sale at the Hive, Khar to raise funds for our next cleanliness drive. Team members collected items which were old but in a relatively usable condition to be sold at the sale.

We are very systematic in what we do. Survey: The team started the project by conducting a survey at the Bandra Station (on the East side) and the adjoining areas. We interviewed daily commuters and the residents of the Garib Nagar slums. The purpose of the survey was to gain an idea of the current situation, so as to plan and chalk out our further course of action. We interviewed over 90 people and compiled our results. May 14th, 2016: After weeks of hard work-

ing & seeking permissions, we organized the second cleanliness drive at the Bandra Station (E). We started the day by staging a street play outside the ticket counter on the west side. This play created awareness about the importance of cleanliness. We cleaned the dumping grounds adjoining the station, again receiving support from the BMC. We received a whopping response of 100 plus volunteers this time. We painted the metals in dark maroon color. As observed from our previous experience, painting the panel did not deter commuters from spitting on them. So, this time we chose a color that would camouﬂage the stains. We collected the bottles and cartons after the drive and gave it away to a

YOGA - AEROBICS ZUMBA - KICKBOXING LOOSE WEIGHT & INCHES FASTER. 100% RESULTS GROUP CLASSES AND PERSONAL TRAINING • MEDITATION & PRANAYAM • CULTURAL ASANAS OF YOGA • POWER YOGA • EYE EXERCISE `500 • AEROBICS per month • KICKBOXING • WEIGHT TRAINING • LEGS & ABS SHAPING & TONING

( A L L- I N - O N E S E S S I O N )

RAAJAANI 9322436447, 9220571395

waste management/ recycling organization. We also highlighted the law which imposes a ﬁne for burning garbage, by stopping a few locals who were in the process of doing so. Plan of action for the future: The motive of our project is a cleaner and greener Bandra Railway Station. We are currently working on establishing a 100 percent sustainable model which can be implemented at the station. Also, we are in talks with scrap dealers to chalk out modes of recycling the cloth waste, which is generated from the tailoring units in the station’s eastern area. Karim Mustafa

Beat the Summer Heat

Come to ‘CABANA’ beach resort, Ferreira Wadi, Gorai beach, & enjoy the breathtaking view of the sea. Enjoy some lip-smacking authentic East Indian cuisine!!

Special Summer Holiday Discounts!!

For bookings, contact Sharmila: 9821469610 (9am-9pm) or Roger: 9967570197 (after 7 pm) Hurry, what are you waiting for ......

12 MAY 2016

CLASSIFIEDS

BANDRA BUZZ ADVERTISE

KINDERGARTEN

REPAIRS & SERVICES

To advertise your business/services in the Classiﬁed section of Bandra Buzz kindly Call/WhatsApp us on 9820783686 or 9920299787

Let your child develop their observation, general knowledge, social skills, reading, writing and singing. Monday to Friday 10 to 12 noon. B-10 Mount Nirmala Colony, St. John Baptist road, Bandra (W), Mumbai 50. Kindly contact Babyland Nursery on 9769722593 / 7506609236 to enroll your child today! Admissions in full swing. Tuitions for Primary section also available.

Refrigerators / Air Conditioners / Splits / Frost Free Refrigerators / Indian / Imported. Guaranteed Repairs / Installations / AMC - FRIZARE, 30th Road, Bansari Apartments, opp. H2O, Pali Naka, Bandra (W) Mumbai 98201 97439 / 654 4903

Ad Agent for The Examiner & all leading newspapers. East Indian Bottle Masala @ 900/- per kilo. Buses to Tabor on First Fridays. Contact Adlord: 9702085823, 26005536 Helen: 88798 75918 Arun: 94200 85849

FOR LIMITED PERIOD BABY SITTING Are you and your husband oﬀ to work with no one trust worthy to look after your newborn baby. Call us on 9819427965 for baby sitting in Bandra & Khar

BAKING & COOKING CLASSES Learn cakes, brownies, cupcakes, dessert, christmas sweets, sugarcraft, chocolate making & diﬀerent cuisines like mughlai, chinese, italian, mexican, ramzan special, biryani's, sandwiches, lebanese, starters, pizzas, etc. We also undertake orders for cakes, chocolates, brownies & cupcakes. Call 9821310728 / 26422689 or www.facebook.com/Chocolate mania 9821310728

BEAUTY CARE Create a new you - Hair & Skin Treatment : Hair Styling, Ironing, Colouring, etc. All Types of Facials, Waxing (Egyptian, Herbal, Chocolate), Manicure, Pedicure, Threading, Body Polishing/Bleach, Nail Art/Extension, Bridal Package. Call Rekha’s Salon So9833562171 At your Doorstep; Experienced Beautician, All Natural, 0 percent Chemicals: Clean Ups, Facials, Manicure, Pedicure, Head Massage, Foot Massage – Ladies only. Call Judie – 9820729983 / 9833519848.

14% dividend paying Malaika Credit Society (managed by Catholics since last 15 years) is oﬀering 11% interest on Fixed Deposits to general public and half percent more to senior citizens. Interest is paid every month without deduction of TDS. For more details call Moses Cardoz on 8976537375.

FREE FIRST TRIAL SESSION For restore, rejuvenate and revive your any health problems with Alternative Healing Therapy without medicine. Stress, insomnia, weight control, negative thinking, anxiety, sinus, headache, laziness, backache, vertigo, slip disc, sprain, tonsils, infertility, stiﬀ neck, frozen shoulder, poor memory, knee/joint pain, detoxiﬁcation body, acidity/gas, menstrual disorder. At SMC Medical Centre behind KFC. Contact 9833624025 /8652244353

INCOME TAX CONSULTANT Income tax Consultant available for eﬁling of income tax returns and also attending to notices issued to individuals by the income tax department. Mobile: 09323244906 / 09930532533. 30th Road Bandra West. Email: lionsunilkhosla@gmail.com

LOST PHYSICAL SHARES/DIVIDENDS CAREER COUNSELLING Confused about your Career? What after 10th / 12th / Graduation? Evaluate your abilities with Aptitude Tests & get expert Career Counselling. Call 9833971773

COMPUTER SERVICES For prompt and reliable service of home computers, laptops, notebooks & home networks, kindly call or send a Whatsapp message to Dennis Mendonca on 77386-47535 Sales & Repairs of Desktops, Laptops, Networking, Data Recovery & AMC. Call Luke Almeida on 80970 44010

Get doorstep personal service for your lost physical shares/dividends. Duplicate procedure & FIR & notary all in-house. We also oﬀer services in insurance of cars/buildings/mediclaim and other ﬁnancial consulting services. Contact 9821172450 or meet at B/34 Elco Arcade with prior appointment.

MATHS TUITIONS Do you have a phobia of Maths? Does your mind go blank when you see a Maths paper? Get all your concepts cleared & learn the right way to attack problems at all levels & classes with Ritu Sharma, alumnus of IIT KANPUR, ex-faculty The Scindia Sschool, Gwalior. Also over SKYPE. 08056143523.

COURIER SERVICES

NEEDLE WORK & CROCHET

MUMBAI EXPRESS - We deliver your feelings for personalised deliveries of your cakes, chocolates, ﬂowers, bouquets, personalised gifts, fragile gifts, etc. anywhere in Mumbai. Call 65502345 / 7208002345

LADIES Knitting, Crochet, Embroidery, Dressmaking courses. Rs 1500 each. Visit www.handson.makes.it. Kindly contact Mrs. D'silva on 9820451695 for more information. Girls dresses stitched. Muﬄers & baby sets available Rs 320.

DANCE - JIVE/ ROCK & ROLL Learn social dancing in 8 easy & fun sessions. Timings: Mon & Wed 7-8 pm (Jive/Waltz/Foxtrot) & 8-9 pm (Salsa/Chacha). Venue: St. Peters KG School, Bhaba Nagar, Oﬀ Hill Road, Bandra (W). Cost: 1800 per head for 8 hours. Contact Marlon 9820344010.

EAST INDIAN ITEMS For all your requirements of East Indian Lugras and other accessories, contact: Gaothan Kala, Mumbai Gaothan Panchayat Oﬃce, 3A Benny Jacinto House, Kolovery Village, Near CHRIS Chinese Corner, Next to St. Roque's Grotto, Santacruz (E) or call: 7045022631

NOTARY Do you need a notary public for attestation of docs such as agreements, passports, wills, sale deeds, etc. Call Mr. S. De. 9820113923.

PASSPORT CONSULTANT Passport Consultant available for online ﬁling of passport in Mumbai and also taking appointment for Lower Parel / Andheri / Malad oﬃce. Total Cost Rs 3000. Mobile: 09323244906 / 09930532533. 30th Road Bandra West. Email: lionsunilkhosla@gmail.com

Repairs: Washing Machine, Gas Stove, Microwave, Fridge, & A.C. Contact: Ramesh 98923 87330. Bharat Service Centre, Pali Naka. 24 hrs Home, Sales & Service (Bandra only) Gas Stoves, Hobs, Table Tops & Chimneys. Contact: Mahendra Sales Shiv Asthan, Shop no. 7, Plot No. 31, 16th road, near Shiv Sagar, Bandra (w). Call: Amrut 9323431633

SOCIETY SUPER MARKET Get Best Rates for all your Household Groceries. Wide Range. We accept SODEXO Coupons & Cards, Ticket Restaurant Coupon & Cards and all Major Credit & Debit Cards. Visit Society Super Market, Shop # 6 & 7, Beach View Apts., 77, Chimbai Road, next to Chimbai Police Chowki, Bandra (W). Call 26403027/84, 26401829 or 9930665121

SPANISH CLASSES Hispanic Horizons is an Institute for teaching Spanish language. We have weekday and weekend courses suitable for both college students & working professionals. We are an accredited examination center to conduct international Spanish exams like DELE, DIE and specialized spanish exams for Business, Tourism and Medicine. We have a placement cell as well through which we help our students to get Spanish related jobs. There is no age limit for the Spanish courses; a person of any age is welcome to do our courses. Hispanic Horizons, Vas Chambers Building, 1st Floor, Hill Road, Bandra (West), Mumbai 400 050, Telphone: +91-22-26409039, Mobile: +91-8082647938, Website: http://www.hispanic-horizons.org

SUMMER CAMPS Put on your thinking caps! Summer camps for general knowledge, origami, language building skills, quizzes 4 to 7 years - May 16th till 27th (4pm - 6pm) Fees; 4,000/- Contact: Jyoti on 9820288502

TUITIONS Tuitions for all subjects from std 8th-12th (Arts, Science, and Commerce). Call S.S. Tutorials 9821121982. Waroda Road, behind St. Stanislaus High School, Bandra (W), Mumbai 400050 Professional Coaching tuitions in all subjects VII, VIII, IX, X (S.S.C. and I.C.S.E.) Cavin Almeida on 9324259375 / 9769206294 / 7666738135 Save time & energy on travelling with 100% Success Tuitions. Group/Individual tuitions for Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi, English & French for ICSE, CBSE, IGCSE, IB & SSC at your place (Bandra, Khar & Santacruz). Crash course for boarding students and creative writing in Hindi and English. 40 years of teaching experience & M.A. in Hindi & Sanskrit. Contact Usha on 9892063221

YOGA CLASSES Combo package of Yoga, Power Yoga, Aerobics, Kickboxing, Weight training, legs & abs shaping & toning. (All in one session). Loose weight & inches faster. Guaranteed 100% results. (Group Classes & Personal Training). Call Raajaani on 93224 36447 / 92205 71395

EDITORIAL

BANDRA BUZZ

Letters to the Editor SAVE OUR MANGROVES Citizens and the activists who are fighting to save pristine belts of mangroves across city of Mumbai wants corrupt and inefficient BMC to deploy dedicated staff for mangroves which will not only add more teeth but also go a long way for better protection as well as management of the mangroves and wetlands in the city. The appeal to Municipal Commissioner that there is an urgent need of dedicated officials to be appointed zone-wise in the wards with mangrove cover, who will attend to cases of environment violations as Mumbai is constantly witnessing rapid destruction of wetlands and mangroves. It is always observed that the initial corrective steps from BMC is delayed due to lack of trained manpower, dedicated staff and corruption to tackle environmental violations. Former Mayor & Councillors Shubha Raul, who is involved in raising the issue of mangrove land being reclaimed by dumping debris, supported the demand. What is the harm if BMC also cracks a whip on those found destroying mangroves? In fact, Chennai has set up a fullfledged team dedicated to protect mangroves. So, why can’t BMC have one. It is high time BMC must take this issue very seriously and act fast rather than ignore it to have disastrous situation which is going to happen any time. Bhagwan Thadani DEVELOPMENT OR DISASTER? 'This place will soon become an iconic address' says a big billboard on Hill road. Behind it stands a towering white monster of concrete. In front of it is an ugly building that will disappear shortly. There will be umpteen space for road widening. If that happens Hill road pedestrians will at least have some respite sans hawker menace and illegal parking. These things of space have become a necessity for Bandraites. Unless people stress the importance of these little mercies, things will stand where they are. Already we are like orphans waiting for the slow pace of development (read 2034). There was an ex-CM who wanted to make Mumbai another Shanghai. That was just a dream which fizzled out like an aerated soft drink. Mumbai's environment of cramped living affects stress levels. No wonder bikers are going bonkers. Honking and driving recklessly has become a forceful habit. Man invented the wheel, now the headache has come full circle. Amar Singh IS BANDRA RAIN READY? A day after Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray expressed his apprehension over the desilting of drains and that Mumbai may flood, a defensive Brihan-

mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has made tall claims that it is rain-ready and the desilting work done is satisfactory which is nothing but bogus and lie. Chronic flooding spots in the city have been reduced to 40 compared to last year’s 66. However, the city still has three major chronic flooding spots for which the civic body has no solution. There are at least 44 outfalls which are below mean sea level and 124 below hightide levels. This makes all these spots vulnerable if it rains heavily. The Municipal Commissioner has claimed that this time the civic stormwater drains department has worked hard and ensured that the drains are cleaned properly and silt is deposited at the nine designated spots. Until now, the BMC has cleaned major nullahs up to 66.23%, minor (done at ward level) up to 35%, while Mithi and Vakola rivers are up to 76.02% clean. At present, the civic administration can handle 50mm rain in one hour as the water accumulated on road will start receding after 15 to 30 minutes. They are trying to reduce this time by keeping portable pumps. The BMC has made a provision of 293 pumps for 214 locations across the city. The chronic flooding spots will have more pumps on stand-by as per report. However, if the same amount of rain coincides with high tide, which would be more than four meters, then the civic administration can’t do anything to stop the roads from getting flooded, which happened on June 18 last year. Parel (Hindmata cinema), Nair hospital gate in Mumbai Central and road number 24 in Sion are the three major chronic spots that get flooded with the slightest of heavy rain. “Though this year they must try their level best to provide shortterm measures as they do have long-term measures planned for these areas. Vikram Ahuja SAVE MUMBAI'S GAOTHANS Save Mumbai's Gaothans. Builders are demolishing century-old beautiful heritage structures to put up high-rise monstrosities illegally. At Pali, one such village and one, man who stands out for his love for his old home. Vera Alvares

Email your letters to news.bandrabuzz@gmail.com

DISCLAIMER: The opinions expressed in this paper, are of the authors - and do not reﬂect the opinion of the publishers and editors, unless otherwise stated. Readers should act on the information provided, only after consulting with their own independent advisors.

MAY 2016 13

THE HEAT IS ON Dear Reader, May is care free time. Summer holidays are here – and the temperatures drive us to cooler climes. Many Bandraites are already on vacation to higher altitudes, just to escape the unbearable heat. With your mind free from routine work, this is a good time to bond with family and friends – picnics, treks, re-unions or even your local club. It is indeed Hot Hot Hot... However, with hope of an early monsoon – and signs of gusty winds; let’s make the most of what summer has to offer. Blooming trees flowering along our roads make a pretty sight. Juicy seasonal fruits fight the heat and help to cool us down, naturally. Blue skies beckon us to the great outdoors – and Bandra can boast of some superb open spaces, especially on our coastline. And yes...swimming camps, vacation workshops, health check-ups, detox programmes, spa massages, social activities, etc. can make us actually forget about the heat and enjoy summer – the ideal time to get rejuvenated. With an eye to the countdown to the BMC Elections around 9 months away – our ‘friendly politicians are building up their ‘goodies’: solar lighting, subsidized

fruits and vegetables, free medical camps, PAN voting & Aadhar cards, roads re-surfaced, drains cleaned, traﬃc signals added or repaired, hawkers cleared... the list goes on. Municipal wards in Bandra, Khar, Santacruz are ‘premium spots’. This is prime time to avail these oﬀers. Bandra Buzz would like your inputs on the initiatives of locals who have started growing their own small home vegetable garden, using homemade compost from kitchen waste. Maybe, you are using a small window sill, balcony, backyard or terrace. Do shoot us an email about your experiences and challenges. Bandra Buzz is your very own neighbourhood newspaper. Use us to highlight what’s happening around you – news, views, reviews, issues. Till next, time, take care.

Regards, Merck N. D’Silva Editor-in-Chief 9820783616

14 MAY 2016

BANDRA BUZZ

ENVIRONMENT

Some prominent personalities who supported World Environment Day All are welcome – get your family and friends along to participate in propagating awareness about ‘The Green Revolution’

Sachin Tedulkar Brand Ambassador for Bhamla Foundation

Sunday, June 5 th 2016 5pm onwards, Carter Amphitheatre, Opp. CCD

L to R: Ashish Shelar, Poonam Mahajan, Majid Memon, Anandani Thakur, Asif Bhamla

Asif Bhamla alongside Mr. Ramdas Kadam - Cabinet Minister for Environment

Asif Bhamla alongside Vivek Oberoi and Priya Dutt - Ex - MP

NEWS

MAY 2016 15

BANDRA BUZZ

Come Together, Lets Connect Bandra AasPaas - a path breaking mobile app. Pilot project to be launched in Bandra, soon! Not just another food delivery or taxi app! AasPaas is a ‘neighbourhood engagement platform.’ The objective of the platform is to help build better & stronger communities; through enhanced social interaction, positive news sharing, quicker resolution of civic issues, participation in governance, more eﬀective delivery of programs by NGOs, etc. AasPaas works like a ‘Mohalla Social Media’. It is an easy to use smart phone application - very similar to other social media sites except that the focus is purely on the neighbourhood. There is something for everyone in the app: • For the youth, this is the place to ‘hang out with friends in neighbourhoods’, check out what's fun and entertaining in the vicinity. And while having fun, there is a good opportunity to learn & also help the community by volunteering in areas of their interest. • Career executives will ﬁnd it an easy and non-intrusive platform to stay connected and abreast with ‘happenings’ in the neigh-

bourhood, without having to spend too much time. • Homemakers have a unique opportunity to do even more with their skills, by selectively working on ‘areas of their interest’ as per the flexibility that they want. • For grand parents, this is the most exciting thing. They can contribute significantly with their experience and skills, without having to physically stretch themselves. Not only citizens, all other stakeholders will find it very useful. Authorities can reach out to citizens directly and very quickly - whether it is to do with simple information sharing, or managing disasters like the recent 26th July floods! NGOs can garner voluntary (and monetary) support from neighbours. Also, they can interact and engage with citizens as well as authorities; in a more effective manner. AasPaas is a platform ‘for the people, by the people’. The content and engagement and

various AasPaas initiatives are driven by the neighbours themselves. This free digital platform can significantly enhance the effectiveness of existing citizen bodies like RWAs, ALMs, NGOs etc. through better engagement with citizens, quicker identification & resolution of critical neighbourhood problems, real time communication of local initiatives, etc. Umesh Jain is the founder of AasPaas. Till recently he was Chief Technology Officer (CTO) & Chief Information Officer (CIO) at National Stock Exchange. Prior to that he was CIO at YES Bank, and earlier worked with Citibank, in various technology-based leadership positions. He told us, “This is a revolutionary app. And we chose Bandra as pilot, precisely for this reason. Bandra has a very active and evolved community of residents who not

only are aware and vocal, but also very willing to come forward to pitch in for making better communities. It is uniquely positioned to be the melting pot of cultures & religions – with its demographics.” Devdip Purkayastha, who is the AasPaas advisor, commented, “This can be a huge step to heighten the ‘Spirit of Neighbourhood’ - leveraging cutting edge technology for everyone. We will start in Bandra – then spread throughout Mumbai, Maharashtra, India and ﬁnally go global. For more info visit: aaspass.org” Merck D’Silva, Bandra Buzz Editor, added, “We reviewed AasPaas - and I must confess it gave me goose pimples. It seems to be a very well thought through community engagement platform to create community connect in ‘real time’ - and I feel proud that Bandra has been chosen as pilot for this app.”