The AARP and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance groups are seeking volunteers to provide free tax assistance this coming filing season in Hawai'i.

The volunteers will prepare federal and Hawaii state individual tax returns for the elderly, disabled, non-English speaking, and those with limited incomes.

Volunteer training classes are tentatively scheduled for December and January.

For more information contact: AARP Tax-Aide prospective volunteer coordinator, 955-5776; Hawaii Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development, 381-0881; Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, 527-8050 or 398-8060 or cljavie@lashaw.org; Goodwill Industries of Hawaii,521-8634, ext. 1131; Leeward Community College Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, 455-0294 or kamida@hawaii.edu.

NORTH HAWAII NURSES AGREE ON CONTRACT

Unionized nurses at North Hawaii Community Hospital on the Big Island have reached an agreement with management on their first labor contract.

The three-year agreement covers 85 registered nurses at the Waimea hospital and is effective from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, 2012, according to a news release from the Hawaii Nurses' Association, which represents the nurses.

North Hawaii Community Hospital is a community-owned, nonprofit hospital managed by Quorum Health Resources.

WINDWARD MALL FOOD COURT SET TO REOPEN

The first tenants in an expanded food court at Windward Mall in Käneohe are scheduled to open Nov. 1, 10 months after the food court was closed as part of an expansion project.

The new Päina Koolau Food Court was enlarged from 7,983 square feet to 18,590 square feet, mostly to expand the dining area from 202 seats to 408 seats while also increasing the number of tenant spaces by one from nine to 10.

Among the lineup of tenants will be Papa John's Pizza, Yogen Fruz and Bull Kogi.

Most of the tenants are expected to open next month, including several on Nov. 1. A few are projecting opening dates in December and early next year.