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| Photographer Robert Frutos teaches a course on the healing power of light, color and sound tomorrow in Volcano. Waipio, New Dawn by Robert Frutos |
COUNTY COUNCIL CANDIDATE Bradley Westervelt submitted testimony this week opposing the proposal for the County Corporation Counsel - the county attorney - to become an elected official with a four-year term. He wrote to council members: "The County Council has its very own pilot comprehensive funding program designed to provide an alternative to money influenced elections. Some of you helped create this 'clean elections' program.”
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| Bradley Westervelt, District 6 County Council Candidate. Photo from Bradley Westervelt |
Westervelt contended that it is "highly disingenuous for three-term veteran council member Brenda Ford, who has served during these recent years of County Charter Commission review, to introduce this proposal of Bill 211 so recently after she approved the completion of the once every 10 year Charter review project." He called the move "political posturing at its heart, and adopting Bill 211 will bring changes to the County Charter which will make our County Government less efficient, and also make our defense attorneys far more open to financial manipulation and corruption."
Westervelt is running against Ford and others for the County Council in the newly redrawn District 6 from Volcano to South Kona.
The proposal to put the corporate counsel bill on the ballot as a Charter Amendment goes before the council today for a final vote.
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| EcoTipBlog suggests locating hidden leaks by shutting off all taps, take the reading, wait overnight and take it again to see if there are leaks. If there is a leak, look for wet soil along the water line going from the meter to the house. If a leak is in a pipe in its slab foundation, the water could cause the floor to deteriorate and start an escalation of mold and rot in the house. Photo from EcoTipBlog |
THE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF WATER SUPPLY will no longer warn homeowners when their water use is higher than normal. From June 8, according to a message in the latest water bills: “Important Notice - We will no longer issue courtesy abnormal reading notices. All customers are responsible for monitoring and maintaining all plumbing on their side of the meter.” The water department will still allow for overage in water use when their private water lines break or leak, crediting the user a portion of the higher bill when they make immediate repairs. Such credits are allowed once in every three years.
In the past, overage notices were sent out after the meter was read, only a few days before the bill was mailed. Now the consumer needs to look at the bill to see if there is an unusually high use of water.
The water department has also steadily increased fees over the last year and a half as the cost of electricity it uses to pump water has soared. In February 2011, the water department posted on its bills a power cost charge increase from $1.66 to $1.75 per thousand gallons, retroactively charging consumers from Jan. 1.
On May 1, 2011, the power charge rose to $1.89; on August 19, bills stated that the power charges rose to $2.23 retroactive to June 1. On Dec. 16, 2011 bills, it was announced power charge increase to $2.31, retroactive to Sept. 1. On April 13, 2012, power bills notified customers of an increase to $2.35 per 1,000 gallons retroactive to March 1.
Electric bills go up with little notice from Hawai`i Electric Light Co., a water department employee explained. The water bill includes increases only from the date of the increased power charge, not for the entire water-billing period, she explained.
Questions can be addressed to the water department at 961-8060.
In the past, overage notices were sent out after the meter was read, only a few days before the bill was mailed. Now the consumer needs to look at the bill to see if there is an unusually high use of water.
The water department has also steadily increased fees over the last year and a half as the cost of electricity it uses to pump water has soared. In February 2011, the water department posted on its bills a power cost charge increase from $1.66 to $1.75 per thousand gallons, retroactively charging consumers from Jan. 1.
On May 1, 2011, the power charge rose to $1.89; on August 19, bills stated that the power charges rose to $2.23 retroactive to June 1. On Dec. 16, 2011 bills, it was announced power charge increase to $2.31, retroactive to Sept. 1. On April 13, 2012, power bills notified customers of an increase to $2.35 per 1,000 gallons retroactive to March 1.
Electric bills go up with little notice from Hawai`i Electric Light Co., a water department employee explained. The water bill includes increases only from the date of the increased power charge, not for the entire water-billing period, she explained.
Questions can be addressed to the water department at 961-8060.
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| Keoki Kahumoku has been teaching children `ukulele for years in Ka`u. This session was in 2007 with Boys & Girls Club. Today free classes start in Na`alehu. Photo by Julia Neal |
FREE `UKULELE & SLACK-KEY GUITAR LESSONS are offered by Grammy Award Winner Keoki Kahumoku today in Na`alehu at the Methodist Church Social Hall. Beginner `Ukulele from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m., Advanced `Ukulele from 2 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., and Slack-key Guitar from 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. The same class schedule is available on Wednesdays in Pahala at the Olson Trust Building on Maile & Pikake Streets. The classes are sponsored and made possible by the Center for Hawaiian Music Studies, Inc. For more info or to register, call 938-6582.
KEOKI KAUMOKU plays at Hana Hou Restaurant in Na`alehu tonight. Call 929-9717 for more.
KEAIWA plays at Shaka Bar & Restaurant in Na`alehu tonight. Call 929-7404 for more.
VOLCANO ART CENTER POETRY SLAM is held at the Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village tonight, starting at 8 p.m. Up to 15 poets, chosen at random, compete for prizes awarded to the top three finishers chosen by judges. $6 per person; drinks and snacks available for purchase. For more, contact Dave Wallerstein at 967-8222 or visit volcanoartcenter.org.
IMAGES FROM THE EDGE are displayed tomorrow at Volcano Art Center Gallery within Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The finalist photographs from the Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park photo contest will be displayed everyday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Sunday, June 17. An opening reception is held tonight from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Park entrance fees apply.
SUNDAY WALK IN THE PARK is led by Nick Shema from Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park this weekend from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This five-mile hike explores Kilauea Iki, Na Huku, Escape Road, Crater Rim, and Byron Ledge trails. Free to Friends members; non-members are welcome to join the nonprofit in order to attend. Park entrance fees apply. For more, call 985-7373 or email admin@fhvnp.org.
KEOKI KAUMOKU plays at Hana Hou Restaurant in Na`alehu tonight. Call 929-9717 for more.
KEAIWA plays at Shaka Bar & Restaurant in Na`alehu tonight. Call 929-7404 for more.
VOLCANO ART CENTER POETRY SLAM is held at the Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village tonight, starting at 8 p.m. Up to 15 poets, chosen at random, compete for prizes awarded to the top three finishers chosen by judges. $6 per person; drinks and snacks available for purchase. For more, contact Dave Wallerstein at 967-8222 or visit volcanoartcenter.org.
ENTRANCE FEES ARE WAIVED at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park tomorrow in celebration of Get Outdoors Day. Kilauea Military Camp, within the park, hosts an Open House, in which the facilities and services are available to the general public. Call 967-8371.
IMAGES FROM THE EDGE are displayed tomorrow at Volcano Art Center Gallery within Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. The finalist photographs from the Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park photo contest will be displayed everyday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Sunday, June 17. An opening reception is held tonight from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Park entrance fees apply.
THE HEALING POWER OF LIGHT, COLOR AND SOUND, taught by Robert Frutos, is tomorrow, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus. The course teaches principles used to promote openness, clarity and radiant well-being that are effective in supporting energy balance, inner calmness and deep relaxation. Includes a simple art project; no artistic experience necessary. $55 for the general public and $49.50 for VAC members. Call 967-8222 for more.
RECYCLABLES ARE ACCEPTED in Ocean View tomorrow, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Atlas Recycling at South Point U-Cart.
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| Pottery by Emily Herb. Photo from Ryh Pottery |
THE FOURTH ANNUAL VOLCANO POTTERY SALE takes place tomorrow and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani. Eleven Big Island potters and ceramicists will present their art for this annual show and sale: Clayton Amemiya, TR Andrews, Jan Bovard, Birgitta Frazier, Ron Hanatani, Emily Herb, Shannon Hickey, Timothy Johnson, Chiu Leong, Jamie Stokes and Carol Yamashita. The sale will be in Hale Ho`omana, the VAC education building at 19-4074 Old Volcano Road. More information is available by calling 985-8530 or visiting the website, http://ryhpottery.com/volcano_pottery_sale.
SUNDAY WALK IN THE PARK is led by Nick Shema from Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park this weekend from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This five-mile hike explores Kilauea Iki, Na Huku, Escape Road, Crater Rim, and Byron Ledge trails. Free to Friends members; non-members are welcome to join the nonprofit in order to attend. Park entrance fees apply. For more, call 985-7373 or email admin@fhvnp.org.
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| Alma Gorali learned knotting and macrame as a child in the Philippines. Photo from Ka`u School of the Arts |
SUMMER CREATIONS is hosted on Monday, King Kamehameha Day on Monday, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., on the grounds of the Pahala Plantation House. This Ka`u School of the Arts’ free event is for all ages to engage in guided activities in a safe encouraging environment. The artists Alma Gorali, Jym Duncan, Betina Wajar, Terri Chapot, Bobbie Beebe, Suzshi Lang Iris Bishoff and others will guide participants in art activities during the event. Some activities may have a modest materials fee. For more, call 929-7544.