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| Police encourage people to label and keep records of their property so it can be returned if stolen. Photo from leadsonline.com |
LABELING PRIVATE PROPERTY can help police solve theft cases and return stolen goods to rightful owners, Community Policing Officer Dane Shibuya told the Ocean View community at a Neighborhood Watch meeting last night. He said the execution of a search warrant in Ocean View recovered about 30 items that could be traced to about ten burglary and theft cases. More than 100 other items at the scene, however, were unmarked, and police are having difficulty tracing them back to owners, he said.
Property can be better protected by labeling items with identifying marks that are not only visible but also hidden IDs. Each item and identifiable mark should be recorded and photographed by the property owners, Shibuya recommended.
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| Community Policing Officer Dane Shibuya |
Keep this record separate and in a safe location for access in case of theft, he said. The ID marks are part of the police report and can be accessed when stolen properties are found. He noted that an engraver is available at the Ka`u Police Station in Na`alehu for marking personal property. Police suggest that property owners spray paint large items for easy, far away visibility. Mark or engrave an ID, using such codes as a drivers license number, but not a Social Security number, in one or more hard-to-see locations on the item. Police note that some thieves will try to remove or cover those ID marks that they discover.
Shibuya reported that community members in Na`alehu alerted police to the possible location of stolen items a very short time after thieves left. The items were marked with ID, recovered, and persons were arrested. “This is a wonderful example of the community helping police to help the community,” said retired police officer Bill Doar, who attended the meeting. For more information, call Dane Shibuya at 939-2520.
THE TEACHERS UNION is asking its members to vote again on the recent contract they rejected. The revote would be taken in order to attempt to save $75 million in federal Race to the Top funding. Hawai`i State Teachers Association president Will Okabe told union members that they would unlikely achieve any bargaining gains if he goes back to the negotiating table. Gov. Neil Abercrombie wrote to the union, saying he wants the contract rewritten to be “clear, current and correct.” He said the contract rejected by the union no longer has legal standing.
Shibuya reported that community members in Na`alehu alerted police to the possible location of stolen items a very short time after thieves left. The items were marked with ID, recovered, and persons were arrested. “This is a wonderful example of the community helping police to help the community,” said retired police officer Bill Doar, who attended the meeting. For more information, call Dane Shibuya at 939-2520.
AGRITOURISM SITES that welcome no more than 15,000 visitors a year would receive approvals without site inspections and with fewer county requirements under a measure approved by the Windward Planning Commission yesterday. The commission set up a new “minor” category of business on ag lands that supports marketing only the crops and livestock grown on the land where visitors could see the operation. The measure goes to the Leeward Planning Commission and then to the County Council for final approval. The minor agritourism designation allows a maximum of 350 visitors a week in order to become exempt from a plan approval by the county planning department. The measure has support of Planning director Bobby Jean Leithead Todd, who said, “This will allow farmers to help supplement their agricultural business, especially on a monthly basis so they don’t have to wait for the crop to come in,” according to a Nancy Cook Lauer story in West Hawai`i Today this morning.
The measure also addresses larger agritourism operations, eliminating limits on square footage of the operations but setting maximum annual visitor counts of 30,000. The larger agritourism operators will be able to receive plan approval within 30 instead of 60 days. However, a grace period of one year will be eliminated and subject to the new rules as soon as the County Council adopts them, the story said.
THE TEACHERS UNION is asking its members to vote again on the recent contract they rejected. The revote would be taken in order to attempt to save $75 million in federal Race to the Top funding. Hawai`i State Teachers Association president Will Okabe told union members that they would unlikely achieve any bargaining gains if he goes back to the negotiating table. Gov. Neil Abercrombie wrote to the union, saying he wants the contract rewritten to be “clear, current and correct.” He said the contract rejected by the union no longer has legal standing.
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| Rep. Calvin Say |
THE HAWAI`I LEGISLATURE WRAPPED yesterday by approving a supplemental state budget with new funding for human services, education and agriculture. House Speaker Calvin Say declared: “As we come out of the Great Recession, the House focused on economic recovery, assisting new industry and job creation.” The budget “supports programs and services vital to serving Hawai`i’s people, as well as other legislation that supports long-term planning and accountability to improve government services,” said the speaker.
House Finance chair Marcus Oshiro said the state budget moves to “reprioritize, rehabilitate, and renew” the character and delivery of government services. Here are some of the items funded:
$250,000 to develop an Early Childhood Obesity and Diabetes Prevention Program for the state, one of the governor’s initiatives;
$250,000 to develop an Early Childhood Obesity and Diabetes Prevention Program for the state, one of the governor’s initiatives;
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| Rep. Marcus Oshiro |
$1.4 million and 19 positions for staffing shortages – electricians, carpenters, plumbers, and housing specialists – who will repair uninhabitable rental units for waitlisted applicants without a roof over their heads;
$2.5 million to launch the Watershed Initiative, a program to protect priority watersheds throughout the state;
$3.3 million for Hawai`i’s adult education program to provide GED, English as a second language, and competency-based programs necessary to attain a degree;
$3.4 million for the Justice Reinvestment Initiative to bring prisoners home from out of state, provide rehabilitation services, and strengthen victims assistance programs at both the state and county levels;
$22.9 million for Medicaid capitation payments to maintain critical access to health care for those in need of a safety net;
KA`U COFFEE MILL VISITOR CENTER opens to the public on Sunday. Gates open at 1 p.m. The event features the Triple C Recipe Contest along with entertainment by Ka`u `Ohana Band, Ka`u Community Chorus and Keoki and Moses Kahumoku. The recipe contest is an official event of the annual Ka`u Coffee Festival, which begins this weekend and continues with the ho`olaule`a next Saturday at Pahala Community Center.
SEE OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.
$2.5 million to launch the Watershed Initiative, a program to protect priority watersheds throughout the state;
$3.3 million for Hawai`i’s adult education program to provide GED, English as a second language, and competency-based programs necessary to attain a degree;
$3.4 million for the Justice Reinvestment Initiative to bring prisoners home from out of state, provide rehabilitation services, and strengthen victims assistance programs at both the state and county levels;
$22.9 million for Medicaid capitation payments to maintain critical access to health care for those in need of a safety net;
$700,000 for the statewide institutionalization of the Na Pua No`eau Program, a successful program that provides educational opportunities for Native Hawaiian children and emphasizes a college education within the University’s system, and
$14.0 million for the weighted student formula will ensure student support in the classroom.
ST. JUDE’S CHURCH on Paradise Cove Circle in Ocean View celebrates Cinco de Mayo tonight. Doors open at 6 p.m., with dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tables may be reserved for parties of six and more. Tickets are $12 each or two for $20. Call Elaine at 808-561-6900 or Cordelia at 939-7555.
SPRING FLING Arts & Crafts Fair takes place tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Punalu`u Bakeshop Pavilion & Gardens. The event features local art and entertainment, with Ka`u `Ohana Band starting the festivities at 9 a.m. See kauarts.org.
$14.0 million for the weighted student formula will ensure student support in the classroom.
ST. JUDE’S CHURCH on Paradise Cove Circle in Ocean View celebrates Cinco de Mayo tonight. Doors open at 6 p.m., with dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tables may be reserved for parties of six and more. Tickets are $12 each or two for $20. Call Elaine at 808-561-6900 or Cordelia at 939-7555.
SPRING FLING Arts & Crafts Fair takes place tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Punalu`u Bakeshop Pavilion & Gardens. The event features local art and entertainment, with Ka`u `Ohana Band starting the festivities at 9 a.m. See kauarts.org.
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| Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo. Photo from Wikipedia |
KILAUEA MILITARY CAMP’S Lava Lounge And Crater Rim Café in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park celebrate Cinco de Mayo tomorrow. The Lava Lounge features a soft taco and chicken fajita buffet from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Crater Rim Café offers Chef’s Special house nachos along with the regular ala carte menu starting at 5 p.m. These events are open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. For more, call 967-8371.
KA`U COFFEE MILL VISITOR CENTER opens to the public on Sunday. Gates open at 1 p.m. The event features the Triple C Recipe Contest along with entertainment by Ka`u `Ohana Band, Ka`u Community Chorus and Keoki and Moses Kahumoku. The recipe contest is an official event of the annual Ka`u Coffee Festival, which begins this weekend and continues with the ho`olaule`a next Saturday at Pahala Community Center.
SEE OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM.