O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
WINDWARD
Rabbit show to be held
A Hawai'i all-breed rabbit show will feature 12 of the 45 breeds known in the world, including the largest rabbit and the smallest rabbit, from 1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 12 at the VCA Kaneohe Animal Hospital, 45-608 Kamehameha Highway.
The contest, sponsored by the American Rabbit Breeders Association, will have up to 80 contestants.
The show is free.
Hospital's market grows
Kahuku Hospital's farmer's market, where residents can buy fresh produce and get medical attention, has expanded to Windward Mall in Kane'ohe.
The program, which draws people to the hospital grounds on the second and fourth Saturday of each month to offer free blood pressure and diabetes screening, will hold a farmer's market from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month near Sears on the mall's lower level. The program began last month; it will be at the mall again tomorrow.
The goal of the program is to reach people who have no medical insurance or who don't see their doctors regularly, said Jeanette Baer, program director.
"A lot of people don't go to their doctor until they're sick," Baer said. "But diabetes and high blood pressure don't have any symptom to draw people in."
Participants can also receive a cholesterol test for $5. Informational brochures will be available as well.
Recently the hospital received an award for its diabetes program, which identifies at-risk people and educates them about living with and managing their disease.
The Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations BALANCE diabetes program recognized the hospital, giving it $1,000 and the Neighbors Who Care Diabetes Education Achievement award.
HONOLULU
Police looking into ATM case
Police said they are investigating a case involving a 40-year-old man who went on an ATM withdrawal spree across the island with a woman's ATM card.
The 78-year-old victim said the man took her card without her knowledge and made daily withdrawals exceeding $20,000 between April 6 and May 31. The suspect faces first degree theft and felony charges.
State sends juror surveys
The state has mailed juror questionnaires to 194,000 Hawai'i residents. They will be used to select people as jurors next year, state officials said.
The state said 85,000 surveys were mailed to O'ahu homes, 46,000 to Maui, 46,000 to the Big Island and 17,000 to Kaua'i.
Those sent the surveys were randomly selected from their driver's license, voter registration and state income tax lists.
People are required to complete and return the questionnaires. Failure to respond may lead to legal action, state officials said.
LEEWARD
Career skills program slated
The Boys & Girls Club of Honolulu is offering a career skills program to Leeward Coast teens at its Wai'anae clubhouse.
The federally paid for program, called the Youth Career Development Center, offers hands-on workshops and other activities to help teens find jobs and make decisions about careers, health and life skills. Call 696-2754.
NORTH SHORE
Schofield base work awarded
Honolulu-based Dick Pacific Construction Co. was awarded a $65.9 million contract for construction projects at Schofield Barracks.
The contract is for work on Phase 2A of Schofield's Whole Barracks Renewal program.
The work includes construction of two multi-story barracks for 400 soldiers, two battalion headquarters buildings and six company operations buildings.
The construction is expected to be completed by September 2004.
The contract includes options that, if exercised, would raise its value to $81.2 million.
"This contract represents a very significant influx of federal dollars into Hawai'i's economy," Rep. Neil Abercrombie, D-Hawai'i, said this week in a news release issued by his Washington office.
"The paychecks it generates will pay the bills for hundreds of Island families," Abercrombie's statement said. "Long-term investment in infrastructure projects like these also helps ensure that the military will remain a presence in Hawai'i for many years to come."
