O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
LEEWARD
Wai'anae plans sale of books
The Friends of the Wai'anae Library will hold their annual book sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the library's meeting room, 85-625 Farrington Highway.
A variety of books will be sold at bargain prices, and all proceeds will be used to buy new materials and support library programs.
For more information, call 696-4257.
Mayor's budget to be explained
Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris will discuss his proposed city budget for fiscal year 2001-2002 at the next Kapolei Rotary Club meeting, 7:30 a.m. Thursday in the Kapolei High School faculty/staff lounge.
The budget is currently before the City Council.
The meeting costs $7 and includes a buffet breakfast.
For information, call Keola Lloyd at 674-3167.
Diesel fuel spill ties up traffic
A diesel fuel spill briefly closed Lualualei Homestead Road yesterday after a rolling Dumpster hit the fuel tank of the truck dropping it off, rupturing the tank.
Firefighters from Nanakuli responded to the call at about 12:30 p.m. and stopped the oil from spilling onto the road by stuffing an towel into the puncture.
The fire department's hazardous materials unit arrived and put absorbent on the spilled fuel.
By 2 p.m., the oil was cleaned up.
CENTRAL
Waimalu golfer worries police
Police said someone is hitting golf balls into the Waimalu Valley neighborhood, and they're looking for finding the culprit.
Pearl City officers have noticed a number of instances in which golf balls are landing on the homes and yards deep in Waimalu Valley, police said.
The balls probably are being hit from the Kaonohi Ridge area.
Officers in that area are concerned that the person responsible may not even realize the danger of breaking windows or striking people.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911, or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
HONOLULU
Tips offered on spotting fraud
A state Office of Consumer Protection official will talk about fraud and deceptive trade practices — and how to avoid them — tomorrow at a Lunch n' Learn the Law program.
Stephen H. Levins, acting executive director of the Office of Consumer Protection, will speak about unfair and deceptive advertising, door-to-door sales, refunds and exchanges, charitable solicitations, credit transactions, and Internet and mail fraud.
Instruction also will be given on how to file a complaint, and what happens after a complaint is filed.
The free bring-your-own-lunch program, sponsored by the state Judiciary, is scheduled for noon in the Supreme Court courtroom on the second floor at 417 S. King St. For more information, call 539-4910.
Three who escaped prison charged
Three inmates who orchestrated an escape from the O'ahu Community Correctional Center on Wednesday night have been charged with first-degree escape, kidnapping and second-degree assault, police said.
Bail was set at $200,000 each.
Officials said Kerbert Silva, 37, and Eric Vance, 31, escaped the facility with the help of inmate Paul Damas, 43, who unlocked the holding cells through a control box.
The breakout was Silva's second since Jan. 17.
Foot-and-mouth advisory issued
The state veterinarian is asking residents who have traveled recently in Britain, Northern Ireland and Argentina to take steps to avoid spreading foot and mouth disease.
James Foppoli, veterinarian with the Hawai'i Department of Agriculture, advises travelers who visited the three countries within the past 30 days to stay away from farms, ranches and zoos. He also suggested that those who plan to travel abroad also avoid contact with animals or areas where animals have been held for at least five days before and five days after their return to Hawai'i.
Foot and mouth disease is a highly communicable viral disease of cattle, swine, sheep and other cloven-hoof animals. Humans are not susceptible to the disease but can serve as carriers.
Emergency sirens test to be Monday
The state Civil Defense, will conduct its monthly test of sirens and the Emergency Alert System at 11:45 a.m. Monday. The steady, 45-second tone is used to alert the public in the event of a threat to life or property.
In an actual emergency, radio and television stations would broadcast instructions. An explanation of what the siren means will be broadcast by participating stations during the test. The tests are conducted on the first working day of each month.
Child abuse group needs teddy bears
Prevent Child Abuse Hawai'i and Partners for Prevention are seeking a few good teddy bears for the fourth annual Teddy Bear Roundup on April 7 at the Ala Moana Center Center stage.
The event kicks off a month-long series of events to observe Child Abuse Prevention Month. Prevent Child Abuse Hawai'i is encouraging residents who are concerned about child abuse to donate a new or slightly used teddy bear that day.
The goal is to collect 2,935 teddy bears, the same number of confirmed reports of child abuse in the state last year, said Prevent Child Abuse Hawai'i executive director Chuck Braden. The bears will be distributed to family shelters, children's hospitals and other organizations that help families and children in crisis.
The April 7 event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Center stage and feature top local entertainers.
EAST HONOLULU
Closing park topic for board
Closing Koko Head District Park at night, airing board meetings on Olelo Channel 54 and allowing the state to use a portion of Maunalua Bay as a staging area while it works on Kalaniana'ole Highway will be discussed at the Hawai'i Kai Neighborhood Board at 7 p.m. today at Haha'ione Elementary School cafeteria. Also up for discussion is removing a water tank from Koko Head, upgrading tennis courts and reports from elected officials.
For more information, call 527-5578, or to obtain an agenda, go to www.co.honolulu.hi.us.
WINDWARD
Kidney testing offered for free
Free kidney screenings will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at the Longs Drug Store in the Windward City Shopping Center.
The screening are provided by the National Kidney Foundation of Hawai'i and included a blood pressure check, a free take-home urine test and and health information. No blood is drawn.
Glen Hayashida, executive director of the group in Hawai'i, said the rate of kidney failure in the Islands is 30 percent higher than the national average. He said early detection and intervention will save lives.
For more information, call 593-1515.
