O'ahu briefs
Advertiser Staff and News Services
HONOLULU
U.S. attorney at conference
U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo is among nine Hawai'i delegates attending the national Project Safe Neighborhood conference in Philadelphia.
The conference, "America's Network Against Gun Violence," brings together more than 1,300 law enforcement and community leaders to coordinate efforts to reduce and prosecute gun violence.
This year, Project Safe Neighborhood has awarded more than $117 million through five grant programs to hire new law enforcement officers, and researchers and community outreach workers.
The state attorney general in Hawai'i was awarded $150,000 in grants and the Young Men's Christian Association was given $170,000.
Award awaits child advocate
Good Beginnings Alliance is seeking nominations for its sixth annual Ho'olaulima No Na Keiki Awards.
The awards honor early childhood professionals who have had a positive influence on the development of children. The award ceremony will be held on April 4.
Nominees must meet the following criteria: work in early childhood care or education in Hawai'i for at least three years; have 75 percent of responsibility providing care to children between birth and 5 years; provide care in a licensed or legally exempt facility; and demonstrate a commitment to professional development in early childhood education.
The deadline to submit nominations is Friday. For information, call 531-5502.
Valentine dance for seniors
The city's annual senior citizens valentine dance will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Feb. 12 at the Neal Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall.
About 2,500 people are expected to attend this year's event, which has the theme "Hearts of Hearts."
The free dance, now in its 33rd year, is presented by the city Department of Parks and Recreation Senior Citizen Program Section and brings together members of senior citizens clubs and soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division who volunteer as dance partners.
The event is open to all seniors and is co-sponsored by Bank of Hawaii.
CENTRAL
Mililani team in robotics test
A team from Mililani Middle School won the "Rookie Award" and placed 11th out of 35 teams at the First Lego League Robotics Competition held recently in Carlsbad, Calif.
The team included Nicolas Hamamoto, Jasmine Pang, Jaclyn Pang, Jarrick Hayashi, Megan Watanabe and Spencer Wong.
The competition tested their team building, problem solving, creativity and analytical thinking. The Mililani students followed the construction plans for a 4-by-8-foot cityscape and then had to figure out how to build and program a robot that could perform various tasks: removing "boulders" from a soccer field, making a windmill spin to create energy and picking "food" from Lego palm trees.
