Monthly Archives: February 2021

Plate & Cork: Coffee shop offers brews straight from mountains of India

Coffee News, World Opinion

Haven Café is a cozy space inside Haven Palm Beach, a recently opened experiential design center at 211 Royal Poinciana Way. It is the perfect venue for meeting up with friends and enjoying one of the most exceptional cups of coffee on the island.

Nandini Jayaprasad and David Bell serve Chik Monk Coffee at the Haven Cafe inside Haven Palm Beach. (Meghan McCarthy. / Palm Beach Daily News)

The café features Chik Monk coffees and Chik Monk specialty coffee products made from beans grown on barista Nandini Jayaprasad’s family coffee estates in the lush mountain range of Chikmagalur, India.

Nandini Jayaprasad is shown with the coffee berries which are left in the open air to dry. This releases the green coffee beans. Courtesy of Nandini Jayaprasad.

It is coffee with a conscience. The beans are tended, hand-picked, sun-dried by the local community and are Rainforest Alliance Certified. This part of southern India is known as the garden of the sub-continent. It has a microclimate, with a dense rain forest canopy and is home to large agricultural estates that grow some of the most coveted coffee beans in the world.

The coffee blossoms have their own scent but the closest comparison would be Jasmine. Courtesy of Nandini Jayaprasad.

Most of the production is presold to France, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Italy, the Scandinavian countries and marketed under well-known brand names.

Jayaprasad is currently in India overseeing this year’s harvest.

David Beil, Jayaprasad’s husband and business partner, is running the day-to-day operations at home. Beil grew up in Grosse Pointe, Michigan but his family  has deep roots in Palm Beach. His father, Leo Beil, was an associate of Chuck Muer and Harold Kaplan, the team that opened the former Chuck and Harold’s and Charley’s Crab restaurants.

As children, the Beil family took extended vacations throughout Europe. This gave  Beil a view of the world that tweaked his interest in developing countries. While studying in Germany for his doctorate in economics, an opportunity to attend a seminar in India came up.

The welcome reception, held at a coffee bar in downtown Bangalore, was hosted by Jayaprasad. Beil was smitten by the hostess, fascinated by the country and found excuses to go back to India often. The couple began a trans-continental romance that culminated in a three-day traditional wedding on the estate attended by 600 friends and family.

They are passionate about their coffee. The beans come into the country green and are locally roasted in small batches to their specifications by Oceana Coffee in Tequesta.

The Haven Cafe sells estate-grown Chik Monk Coffee from India / Megan McCarthy / Palm Beach Daily News

Chik Monk’s style is coffee with low acidity, smooth on the tongue with balanced flavors. Medium roast, whole or ground, has hints of caramel, citrus, fruits and spices. Dark roast also comes whole or ground, and has notes of chocolate, caramel and nuts with a touch of spice. French roast, whole or ground, has roasted nuts and dark chocolate accents. Espresso, whole bean only, is well-balanced with caramel, chocolate and fruity tones.

The 12-ounce bags of coffee are $15 to $17. The company offers free local delivery.

The coffee is also is sold at Amici Market.

***

IF YOU GO

Haven Café is inside Haven Palm Beach

211 Royal Poinciana Way

Open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

561-247-2178.

www.chikmonk.com 

***

ICED LATTE

½ cup ice cubes

2 shots of hot espresso or 2 ounces of hot strong brewed coffee

2 or 3 tablespoons milk, oat milk or other non-dairy milk

Place the ice in a cocktail shaker, pour hot coffee over the ice and shake for about 10 seconds.

Pour the iced coffee into a cup and top with milk.

Makes one serving.

An iced beverage with two shots of single-origin Chik Monk espresso, oat milk, almond milk and coconut milk is served at Haven Cafe (Meghan McCarthy , Palm Beach Daily News)

source: http://www.palmbeachdailynews.com / Palm Beach Daily News / Home> Lifestyle / by Roberta Sabban, Special to Daily News / February 23rd, 2021

Kodava Samaja Sports Club Team

Records, All, Sports

A group photo of the new Management for Kodava Samaja Cultural and Sports Club, Vijayanagar, Mysuru, for the year 2020 – 2022.

(Sitting from left) Aramanamada M. Ponnanna, Hon. Treasurer; Iychanda Ashwath Chengappa, Vice-President; Kuttimada D. Muthappa, President; Mechanda S. Bopanna, Hon.Secretary; Meederira K. Prakash, Hon. Joint Secretary; (Standing from left) Committee Members Alemada M. Ponnanna, Alemada K. Nanjappa, Iychettira M. Dilip Kumar, Ayylapanda A. Pemmaiah and Mundotira C. Kavin Kushalappa. 

All of them were elected unopposed in the recently held Annual General Body Meeting of the Club.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> PhotoNews / February 25th, 2021

Drill tests floods, landslip preparedness in Kodagu

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All
Deputy Commissioner Charulatha Somal watching the drill at Talacauvery in Kodagu on Tuesday.  

A drill was staged at Gajagiri hills in Talacauvery in Kodagu on Tuesday to demonstrate the steps taken for rescue during landslips and floods. The demonstration displayed the preparedness of the forces in case of emergencies.

An effort of the Kodagu district administration and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the drill was conducted in the presence of Deputy Commissioner Charulatha Somal, Superintendent of Police Kshama Mishra and other senior officers.

The personnel of the NDRF, the Fire Department, Home Guards, the police and other agencies aiding rescue operations jointly carried out the exercise on how rescue efforts have to be carried by the teams amidst the calamities. Various types of rescue operations were demonstrated mocking a situation of landslips at the hills. The demonstration was carried out at the same site where a major landslip had occurred at Talacauvery last year.

Ms. Somal said the district administration was preparing itself for handling emergencies in the wake of three successive floods and landslips since 2018. The rescue teams were staging the drills at vulnerable sites, demonstrating the preparedness.

Ms. Mishra said the police would extend all support to the NDRF, SDRF and other rescue teams and coordinate with them on handling emergencies.

Importantly, the district administration has prepared the District Disaster Management Plan for bringing into effect preventive and mitigation measures whenever necessary, and chalked out an action plan for the reconstruction and rebuilding of Kodagu.

The ‘template’ of handling disasters and lessons learnt from the experience came in handy for also handling the pandemic in the district, with the district administration working and coordinating with the police, and other key departments during floods for reaching out rescue and relief to the affected.

The coordination that was displayed in handling the crisis last year was notable with the elected representatives, elected bodies and the officials working together as teams to manage the disasters. The administration, in 2019, had estimated ₹1,700-crore for rebuilding Kodagu after the calamities. The loss suffered by the coffee industry was over ₹53-crore while the black pepper industry’s losses had been pegged at ₹83 crore.

Minister in-charge of Kodagu district V. Somanna had said last year that a loss of ₹415 crore had been estimated based on the damage caused to roads, bridges, and other infrastructure facilities across Kodagu during floods and landslides in 2020. As many as 91 villages bore the brunt of floods and nearly 28 villages witnessed landslides.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – February 24th, 2021

Grant Rs. 5 Crore For Kodava Hockey Festival: MP To CM

Leaders, Sports

Mysore/Mysuru:

Following various Kodava Samajas and Kodava families submitting memorandums to MLAs and MLCs from the district to urge the State Government to earmark Rs. 5 crore in the State Budget for the annual Kodava Family Hockey Festival, Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha has reiterated the demand and has written to Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa urging him to allocate at least Rs. 5 crore in the ensuing budget. 

The Kodava Hockey Festival is projected as a promotion of Kodava culture and tradition. The Government should earmark Rs. 5 crore in the budget, he urged. The rich hockey culture ingrained in Kodagu has culminated into producing an arsenal of players who have time and again represented India at global hockey tournaments and many of them had been a part of the Olympics, the MP noted. 

In Kodagu, the sport runs in the veins of Kodavas and that is why they give a befitting tribute by organising the Kodava Hockey Festival every year. The Festival has been a true revelry of the sport that has been an expression of passion. It is a celebration of the Kodava families who come together, irrespective of their age, gender and profession to simply devote time to their core value of sportsmanship, he said. 

The Kodava family hockey had even entered the world records and has been contributing to the sports arena of the country. More than 500 hockey players from this tiny district have played in the State, National and International tournaments and the festival is a platform for youngsters to display their talent and rise to State, National and International levels, the MP said. 

More than 6,000 players take part during each Kodava family hockey tournament and Kodava families spend crores of rupees to host the month-long tournament. To promote the Kodava culture and tradition, the Government should earmark Rs. 5 crore for the tournament in the budget every year, he stated. 

The festival was the brainchild of late Pandanda Kuttappa who started the tournament with just 60 teams. Now, more than 350 teams of different families participate in the tournament. This festival is recognised as one of the largest field hockey tournaments in the world that has entered the Limca Book of Records, Pratap Simha noted. 

Each year, the tournament is organised by a different Kodava family (okka) and the name of the family is given as the name of the tournament. The opening and closing ceremonies are held with pomp and splendour. Many locals set up food and merchandise stalls around the venue to do brisk business because of the large crowds that gather to watch the matches, he said. 

Kodava Samajas submit memorandum to CM

Several Kodava Samajas under the leadership of Bengaluru Kodava Samaja submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa to allocate Rs. 5 crore for Kodava Family Hockey Festival. The delegation was led by Kodagu District BJP Executive Member Thelappanda Shivakumar Nanaiah and Bengaluru Kodava Samaja President Mukkatira T. Nanaiah. The delegation also urged the CM to establish a Sports University in Kodagu.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / February 23rd, 2021

Hail Rolls Out White Carpet

Agriculture, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All
  • Joy for some; sorrow for others
  • Major coffee crop damage, says GSI Scientist

Madikeri/Somwarpet:

Parts of North Kodagu were swathed in a white carpet yesterday with ice left behind after a hailstorm.

Heavy rains and hailstorms lashed villages of Nidtha, Ankanahalli, Mullooru, Dundalli, Doddalli and Gudugalale near Shanivarsanthe of Somwarpet taluk in Kodagu district yesterday, taking residents by surprise. In Chamarajanagar too it rained hail last evening, throwing traffic out of gear. 

In Kodagu, due to rain of hail, villages resembled snowing Kashmir plains. Children and women cheered the hail storm and they rushed outside homes to fistfuls of hailstones. Photos and videos of the hail went viral, inviting reactions of awe and delight in social media. 

While the hail rain looked attractive with white carpet spread and with visuals of people holding the hailstones in their hands, it worried the farmers and coffee growers of Kodagu as this is the season of coffee blossoms and if it rained hail, it would damage the flowers resulting in low-yield next year. The growers are already tormented by unseasonal rains and, lack of support from the Government and less pricing for coffee.  

Heaps of hailstones were found on the roads, coffee estates, roof of the houses and coconut plantations. The Ankanahalli Government School and a veterinary clinic were covered with hailstones. Along with hailstones and rains, the gusty winds also damaged the standing crops including coffee, paddy, green chilli, mango and arecanut in the district as there is high moisture content. This also will dent the product quality. 

As the weatherman has predicted rains for two or three more days, coffee growers have said that due to rain, ripe coffee berries have fallen onto the ground and the drying process has been affected as it rained in the second and third week of January — a crucial month for drying. The rains also resulted in early flowering before the annual harvest, they said. 

Ice formation in static clouds

Giving a scientific perspective to the hailstorm, former Deputy Director General of Geological Survey of India (GSI) told Star of Mysore this morning that though the hailstorm looks beautiful with white ice cubes all over, it is bound to cause major damage to standing crops. 

“There was a dip in the temperature in January this year and the average temperature ranged between 12 to 13 degrees Celsius. And there was no cloud movement for more than 15 to 20 days after the cold spell. This caused ice to form in the static clouds and now due to rise in temperature and Rathasapthami, the ice has melted and it has resulted in the rain of hail. While in Kodagu small white ice cubes fell onto the ground, in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh large cubes even weighing about 500 grams fell from above,” he explained. 

The Kodagu District Administration must send a team to the affected villages and assess the damage that will be severe. Farmers and growers are entitled for Government compensation, he added. 

The Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC) has predicted scattered to widespread light to moderate rains with isolated heavy rains likely over South interior Karnataka and Malnad districts and isolated to scattered very light to light rains likely over Coastal and North interior Karnataka districts for three more days.

The rains are a result of a weather system — a trough in Arabian Sea from Kerala to Gujarat coast. The weather system which was over Vidarbha as a cyclonic circulation has now shifted towards Madhya Maharashtra and adjoining areas. A trough is also extending from this cyclonic circulation to Kerala. These two weather systems — resulting low level moisture feed from Bay of Bengal in the form of South-easterly winds and humid winds from Arabian Sea at a height of three kilometres — are causing rains and hailstorms, says weatherman.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / February 21st, 2021

Kodagu Medical College Gets Permission To Start B.Sc Nursing Course

Education, Records, All

Madikeri:

Years after it was formed, the Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences at Madikeri, the District Headquarters, has been granted permission by the Government for introducing B.Sc Nursing Course. The course was a long-standing demand from the people of Kodagu, which did not have any medical institute until 2014, when the Medical College  was announced.

Following the sanction for starting the much in demand B.Sc (Nursing), the Medical College has begun preparations for admitting  100 students in the current academic year. As all the 100 seats are under Government quota, the students have to get admission through counselling from Karnataka Examinations Authority.

The  construction of the building for Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences began in 2014 and was completed in 2016. At  present, there are 750 students in the College studying for MBBS course and the District Hospital, which has been attached to the Medical College, has been recently upgraded. 

Medical College Dean Dr. Cariappa said that with the Government granting permission for B.Sc Nursing, the classes will begin from this year itself. Pointing out that there are 100 seats for B.Sc Nursing, he said that this is a four-and-half-year course. The College has recruited teaching and non-teaching faculties and classes are expected to commence soon, he added.

Madikeri MLA Appachu Ranjan said that the Government was appealed last year to start Nursing Course in the Medical College. The Government has now granted permission and the course will commence this year itself. However, a meeting of Medical College authorities and Health Department officials will be held shortly to decide on the place where classes will be held, he added.

Virajpet MLA and former Assembly Speaker K.G. Bopaiah said that the Health Minister was appealed to start B.Sc Nursing when he last visited Kodagu. This apart, the Chief Minister too was appealed to start the course.

Now, responding to our appeal, the Government has granted permission for Nursing course and classes are expected to commence soon, he pointed out.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / February 22nd, 2021

Study spots 84 odonate species in WWS

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All

A four-month dragonfly survey that concluded at the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS) recently spotted 84 species of odonates (order of insects comprising dragonflies and damselflies) belonging to 59 genera under 11 families.

The survey was jointly conducted by the Forest Department and Ferns Nature Conservation Society (FNCS). Of the 84 species, 49 were dragonflies and 35 damselflies. Muneer Tholpetty, secretary, FNCS, told The Hindu.

A previous survey by the Malabar Natural History Society (MNHS) in the sanctuary in 2016 had identified 75 species of odonates belonging to 50 genera under 11 families.

“Since odonates are amphibiotic insects, the study focused on waterbodies in the sanctuary. Ponds were the richest in terms of species, but streams had the most number of endemic species,” Mr. Muneer, who coordinated the survey, said.

The four-month-long study was held from August to November 2020 when waterbodies in the sanctuary were full after the southwest monsoon.

“This is the time when large number of adult odonates can be seen flying around, jostling, mating, and laying eggs in water. They live as aquatic nymphs for a few months and later emerge out as aerial predators we commonly see,” he said. The team covered 33 ponds, 28 streams, and 12 swamps of the 344.44-sq.km sanctuary spread over four forest ranges.

“The spotting of Coorg False Spreadwing [Indolestes pulcherrimus] in the sanctuary is a first for the State. The rare damselfly was earlier thought to be restricted to the Coorg region of Karnataka,” Mr. Muneer said.

“Restless Demon (Indothemis limbata) and Azure Dartlet (Amphiallagma parvum) were the other rare odonates we were able to record,” Vivek Chandran of the Society for Odonate Studies, who extended technical assistance for the study, said. Odonates are good bio indicators and help the scientific community assess the health of freshwater ecosystems, he added.

“The Forest Department has plans to extend the study on odonates across all seasons to document their diversity in the sanctuary and give training sessions to field staff and students on odonates,” WWS warden S. Narendra Babu said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Kerala / by E.M. Manoj / Kalpeta – February 22nd, 2021

Row Over Cauvery Statue On Mysuru-Kodagu Border

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All

Bengaluru-based advocate sends legal notice to clear the Statue near Kushalnagar; Kannada activists oppose move

Kushalnagar/Periyapatna:

The Statue of Cauvery on the border of Mysuru-Kodagu near Kushalnagar has become a flashpoint with a Bengaluru-based advocate sending a legal notice to Periyapatna Tahsildar to clear the Statue as it obstructs smooth traffic. 

This legal notice has, however, irked Kannada activists who have demanded that the legal notice must not be considered and the Statue must be retained in as-is where-is condition. 

The notice has been issued by High Court advocate Amruthesh to Periyapatna Tahsildar under Mysuru District Administration. The Statue, however, is situated in the land that comes under Kodagu District and a banyan tree near the Statue is considered as the actual border area and belongs to Koppa, under Mysuru District.

Whoever travelling from Mysuru to Kodagu via Bylakuppe and Kushalnagar can see the big Statue of Cauvery that has been established by the side of the road. The Statue was installed at this point to convey a message to tourists that they are entering Kodagu the birthplace of River Cauvery that is a lifeline of people of Mysuru, Bengaluru, Mandya and Tamil Nadu where the river is considered holy. 

The notice has, however, stirred a hornet’s nest as the advocate has claimed that the Statue obstructs traffic on National Highway 275 and it must be cleared. Many rituals including pujas, homas and havanas are held near the Statue frequently and this obstructs traffic. As per the norms of National Highways, the Statue must be cleared, advocate Amruthesh said in his notice. 

The Statue was constructed in 2013 by Baravi Kannada Abhimanigala Sangha at an estimated cost of Rs. 16 lakh. Later, protective walls were built around the Statue. In his notice, Amruthesh further argued that as per Supreme Court guidelines, no religious structures should come up beside National Highways and this Statue on NH 275 violates the Supreme Court orders. 

Amruthesh basically hails from Somwarpet in Kodagu District and is at present settled in Bengaluru. His notice has ruffled the feathers of Kannada activists who alleged that Amruthesh was doing this to gain cheap publicity. The Karnataka Kaavalu Pade has urged the Mysuru District Administration and Periyapatna Tahsildar not to give importance to the legal notice. They have submitted memorandums in this regard. 

Periyapatna Tahsildar Shwetha confirmed that the legal notice has been sent. “We will have to examine the notice first and then take a call. Also, it is a Statue, not a religious place. We will make this point clear to the advocate,” she said. 

Meanwhile, Baravi Kannada Abhimanigala Sangha President Babindra Prasad said that the Statue was a public property and the Sangha is pained to hear about the legal notice. 

“The land on which the Statue stands comes under Kodagu District and Periyapatna Tahsildar has no jurisdiction over it. Permission to construct the Statue was obtained from the Kodagu and Mysuru Public Works Department and 13 other Departments including Karnataka State Pollution Control Board in 2008 and officials from Mysuru and Kodagu districts have done spot inspection and cleared the Statue. It was constructed and inaugurated in 2013 and there is no illegality in this,” he said. 

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / February 05th, 2021

Villages in Kodagu swathed in white after sudden hailstorm

Amazing Feats, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All
A woman crosses the road through the pouring rain, in Bengaluru on Friday. Many parts of the city received unseasonal showers | AshishKrishna H P

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials in Bengaluru were surprised on learning about hailstorms in Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru during this time of the year.

Madikeri : 

It was a surreal experience for many in parts of Kodagu district on Friday.

A sudden, heavy hailstorm, lasting over half an hour, left several villages across Shanivarsanthe wearing a snow-capped look.

While youngsters in the villages frolicked with chunks of ice, the farmers were worried about crop losses.Villages including Nidtha, Mulluru, Gudugalale, Ankanahalli and Dundalli in Shanivarsanthe hobli were swathed in about 1.5 inches of white.

Many students of Mulluru Government Primary School had their first experience with a hailstorm. “Hail stones had collected on a tarpaulin we had put up outside the classrooms for conducting classes. All the students brought buckets and collected ice chunks. It was a unique experience for them,” explained Satish, a teacher at the school.

“I have not witnessed such a hailstorm in the last 45 years of stay at Shanivarsanthe,” said M P Mohanraj, an agriculturalist. He grows pepper, coffee, orange and lemon and expressed concern that this was not good news. “Such rains are always disastrous for farmers and growers. Following the coffee picking season, the coffee plants have to dry till March. On March 31, the farmer’s much sought-after rain – the ‘rathi’ rain – enables blossoming of the crops. This hailstorm will damage the crops and will affect the next year’s crop,” he felt. 

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials in Bengaluru were surprised on learning about hailstorms in Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru during this time of the year. The IMD-Bengaluru, Director in-charge, Geeta Agnihotri, told TNIE that thunder and lightning, coupled with light rainfall, was the forecast following the formation of the easterly system. 

“There was no forecast of a hailstorm. It has come as a shock. The conditions were also not favourable for it to occur as there was no rise in temperature and sufficient moisture in the air,” she explained. She added that they have been getting inputs from across districts about hailstones and damage that have occurred.  The IMD has forecast rainfall and thunder showers for the next three days.

As per the IMD, Bengaluru received 5.7 mm rainfall and HAL airport recorded 5.8 mm rainfall till 8.30 pm on Friday. Most parts of Karnataka received rainfall because of a trough over north Kerala to south Gujarat coast. The rainfall and dip in temperature is also because of easterly winds, explained an official.


Heavy rains lashed Chitradurga district on Thursday and Friday, inundating low-lying areas. Several parts of Chikkamagaluru district also received moderate rainfall on Friday. A 20-year-old youth died after he was struck by lightning at Nidgal village in Khanapur talluk on Wednesday evening.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / February 20th, 2021

K Nidugane Premier League cricket tourney today

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, Records, All, Sports
KPL tournament logo.

Vismaya Cricketers of Hebbettegeri will organise K Nidugane Premier League (KPL) cricket tournament at Field Marshal K M Cariappa College ground in Madikeri on February 7. 

K Nidugane Gram Panchayat member Kokkalera K Ayyappa will inaugurate the tournament, while Field Marshal K M Cariappa College lecturer Dr Major Raghav will preside. The valedictory of the tournament will be held at 5 pm. 

A total of five teams will take part in the tournament. During the valedictory, the newly-elected members of K Nidugane Gram Panchayat will be felicitated.

In addition, Covid warriors like Asha worker Nalini, staff nurse Usha and lab technician Nanditha Gonsalves will be felicitated.

The top scorer in SSLC, M G Dhanush, will also be felicitated on the occasion. 

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / February 07th, 2021