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PEBBLE CREEK - The road to success has been bumpy for the co-owners of Khaas Baat, a New Tampa-based newspaper catering to the state's growing Indian-American population.

When Nitish Rele and his wife, Shephali, launched the media enterprise five years ago, they had full-time jobs and were raising two young sons.

With a $3,000 investment and a 2-year-old home computer, the Reles premiered an eight-page inaugural edition in August 2004.

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	The Indian Cultural Society in Jacksonville will celebrate Independence Day on Aug. 15.

Here are some of the activities being held throughout Florida to celebrate India's Independence Day: TAMPA BAY AREA: About 1,500 people are expected to attend an India Independence Day Charity Festival Sunday, Aug. 16 at India Cultural Center, 5511 Lynn Road. "We are holding a charity drive so people can bring non-perishable food items and children's books to the event," said Ram Reddy, president of Federation of Indian Associations of Tampa Bay.

Benefiting charities are The Children's Home and Metropolitan Ministries. "We also are accepting money for the two charities," said Reddy. Another charity effort is an Asian Indian Cookbook that FIA will publish with well-diversified recipes from the various parts of India. (If you would like to submit a recipe, e-mail Sheila Narayanan at [email protected])

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For the first time ever in Florida, the National Fogana competition takes place Sept. 6 (Labor Day weekend) in Clearwater. You will want to be a part of at least 2,000 people expected to come and witness the annual Gujarati folk dance competition. Winners of the regional finals from across the United States will compete for the national Fogana title.

FOGANA stands for the Federation of Gujarati Associations of North America. Founded in 1980, the group seeks to promote the cultural heritage of Gujarat among the younger generation through raas, garba and Gujarati folk dance. Participants are grouped into categories by age, ranging from age 6 to adult.
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When we first began planning Khaas Baat, we hoped for it to grow. But five years later, we could not have imagined it would grow into the publication that it is today, reaching Indian Americans throughout Florida.

One of our original goals was to make Khaas Baat a valuable resource for the Indian American community and we hope to continue that effort with the help of community members from cities around the Sunshine State.

We would like to thank our children for their understanding around deadline time every month, and Shephali's father for all of his help. We know her mom would have been proud of our efforts.

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"The Art of Ganesh" exhibit is now open at the Webber Center at Central Florida Community College in Ocala.

"We are pleased to offer this exhibit in conjunction with the Asian Cultural Association of Florida," said Dr. Jennifer Fryns, CFCC's instructional manager of Visual and Performing Arts. "The exhibit examines celebrations of Ganesh from all regions of India mostly through sculpture and photography."

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More than 450 store owners and decision-makers representing over 1,500 stores and gas stations and liquor stores are expected at the Asian American Convenience Stores Association of Central Florida (AACSA) Expo 2009 Aug. 22 in Titusville.

At the free event, attendees will attend workshops, and gain an understanding of new markets, opportunities and technologies. The turnout will include 50 wholesalers, manufacturers and suppliers.

AACSA 2009 will be from 1 p.m. to midnight at BCC Titusville Campus Gym, 1311 N. U.S. 1, Titusville.

All attendees must register at www.aacsacfl.com For more information, call Tino Patel at (407) 579-5050 or Dr. Kanti Bhalani at (321) 298-5531.

	Braham Aggarwal

His passion is to bring Indian heritage, which is to teach the art of living, to the universe. "All our teachings are a dialogue, a question-and-answer," says Braham Aggarwal, chairman of Park Square Homes in Orlando, as we sit and chat in his home office, surrounded by photographs of family and world-renowned personalities. And books, dozens of them since he is an avid reader.

"There are no Commandments in our teaching," he continues. "In Mahabharata, Lord Krishna gives an explanation for every question posed to him but leaves it up to Arjuna to make the decision."
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Some may ask: Why the HS 250h? Heck, why not? After all, it fills in the gap between the IS and ES entry-level sedans quite nicely. The four-door, five-passenger gas/electric hybrid compact car is equipped with an Atkinson-cycle 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine that offers a total of 187 horsepower. It is mated to a slick Continuously Variable Transmission.

Like the Prius, the hybrid system employs a four-cylinder gas engine and two electric motors. At higher speeds, power comes primarily from the gasoline engine. During deceleration and braking, the vehicle uses regenerative braking to apply much of the wasted energy toward recharging the hybrid battery. Fuel is saved by using electric motors at low-to-mid-speed acceleration, where a gasoline engine is much less efficient.
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Have you opened a new store or restaurant in the last six months? Expanding or relocating? Has your business won an award or a mention in your local newspaper? We want to hear from you. Call Nitish S. Rele at (813) 758-1786 or e-mail us at [email protected]

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