Hemmadi, Jul 18: Newly-opened branch of Syndicate Bank at Hemmadi near here, was inaugurated by ex Udupi MP and Syndicate Bank director Vinay Kumar Sorake on Wednesday July 16. ATM of the branch was inaugurated by Vanaja, president of Hemmadi gram panchayat.

This is the 21st ATM in Udupi region of the Bank. Syndicate Bank Udupi regional office deputy general manager Sujir Prabhakar presided over the function. V K Kamath, bank customer and branch premises owner, zilla panchayat member Sadhu S Billava, Sadhana Maravante president S Janardan, Vasant Nayak and branch manager Satish Padiyar were present.

Kundapur, Jul 17: Louis J Fernandes, teacher of St Mary's High School near here inaugurated the school parliament of Holy Rosary English Medium School here on Wednesday July 16.

Speaking on the occasion, he called upon the students to make the best use of the available facilities and to actively take part in all the activities the school conducts.

School headmistress Connie Menezes presided over the function. Shannon Fernandes welcomed the gathering. Elrita Lewis proposed vote of thanks. Ancilla Almeida compered the programme. At the students’ parliament, Tessica Pinto took over the role of the speaker. Monica Carvalho donned the role of the opposition party leader. ASPL Anup acted as a ruling party leader.

Kundapur, Jul 17: A beautification drive has been launched by the town municipality, under which the majestic trees that lined up the town streets have not been given a chance to survive. Accordingly, these towering trees were felled in an operation that lasted all through the day on Wednesday July 16, disrupting traffic that could move only at a snail's pace, only on one side of the road.

It may be recalled, that most of these trees were planted by the late Kota Laxminarayan Karanth, brother of the late K Shivaram Karanth, who championed the cause of planting trees throughout Udupi district with the object of cooling the environment and providing shade to the passers by.

The trees used to remind the people of the generous gesture of the late Karanth. The trees which used to be a part and parcel of town landscape, have now become a thing of the past. The old guard will continue to cherish the memories of the trees and also the person who planted them. It would have been good if the trees were made a part and parcel of the municipality's beautification programme and given a chance to live on, said some of them while speaking to this correspondent.

Kundapur, Jul 16: The new office-bearers of Lions Club Hangloor were sworn in, at an investiture ceremony on Sunday July 13 evening held in Hotel Sharon Hall at Kundapur.

Wilfred D’Souza, the newly-elected president of the club and other elected members of the club were formally invested with different offices for the Year 2008-2009.

The Lion Dist former Governor Prakash T Soans administered oath of office to the office-bearers and called upon the Lions Club members to take up programmes for helping the less fortunate.

Past president Thangappan welcomed the guests. Past secretary Wilfred D’Souza read out the annual report. Newly-elected secretary Balakrishna Shetty proposed vote of thanks. Archibald Quardros and Selma D’Mello presented the programme.

Pramod Kumar, student who scored highest marks in the recently held SSLC examination, was given cash award for pursuing higher education.