About Town | 11-8-14
Bridge League | Oct. 1 to 31
Bridge League | Oct. 1 to 31
Results of the American Contract Bridge League play at the Kona Bridge Club:
Oct. 1: First place went to Peter Golitzen and Stuart Vance; second, Sally Bobb and Walt Bobb.
Oct. 3: First place winners were JoAn Hill and Ann Inaba; coming in second place were Susan Brown and Pat Bauman.
Oct. 6: Tied for first place were Dorothy Case and Kathy Golitzen and Shirley Decker and Gerald Mitchell, tied for second were Butchie Hayward and James Elstran and Chuck Clark and Beth Reid.
Oct. 8: First place winners were Paul Schommer and John Schommer. Susan Brown and Pat Bauman took second.
Oct. 10: First place went to Kathy Golitzen and Dorothy Case; second, Walt Bobb and Sally Bobb.
Oct. 13: North/south first place winners were Dorothy Case and Kathy Golitzen; in second place were Pat Bauman and Susan Brown. East/west first went to Karen Lopossa and Lynn Puri. Shirley Decker and Gerald Mitchell took second.
At the Oct. 15 Swiss team game, first place went to Mary Lean, Norman Lean, James Elstran and Butchie Hayward; second, Liz Holey, Mike Kimball, Kathy Golitzen and Mary Dee Overton.
During the Oct. 19 unit championship, north/south first place went to Mary Dee Overton and Richard Gittleman. Philip Richter and Ruth Richter won second. East/west first place winners were Shirley Decker and Sharon Bolton; second, Allan Young and Harry Messenheimer.
Oct. 20: Ruth Richter and Philip Richter won first place. Second place winners were Mary Lean and Norman Lean.
During the Oct. 22 Swiss team game, Norman Lean, Mary Lean, Butchie Hayward and James Elstran won first place. Second place winners were Jean Cole, Virginia Scott, Karen Lopossa and Robert Cole.
Oct. 24 first place winners were Gail Mullen and Shirley Decker; second Chuck Clark and Beth Reid.
Oct. 27 North/south first went to Mary Lean and Norman Lean. Second place winners were Dan Sabo and Marlene Sabo. East/west first place winners were Shirley Decker and Gerald Mitchell; second went to Lynn Puri and Karen Lopossa.
At the Oct. 29 Swiss team game Joan Hill, Gail Hadovsky, Shirley Decker and Sharon Bolton won first place. Second place winners were Kathy Golitzen, Mary Dee Overton, Mike Kimball and Colette Pirie.
Oct. 31: First place went to Kathy Golitzen and Peter Mitchellopolis; second, Jean Cole and Lynn Puri.
For more information about the Kona Bridge Club and schedule of games, visit konabridge.org.
National park releases environmental review for emergency access route
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is seeking public comment on the environmental review and decision regarding construction and use of an emergency access route along the lava-covered section of Chain of Craters Kalapana Road. The use of the emergency access route will only last as long as there is no viable alternative route for the residents of the affected area to use to gain access to the rest of the island.
The public is invited to read the environmental review and submit comments at parkplanning.nps.gov/havo. Select the emergency access route along the lava-covered section of Chain of Craters Kalapana Road link. Written comments may be addressed to Superintendent, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, PO Box 52, Hawaii National Park, HI 96718-0052; or via email nps_havo_planning@nps.gov. The deadline for submitting comments is 11:59 p.m. Mountain Standard Time Dec. 5.
Public comments sought on changes to Conservation Stewardship Program
As the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s rapid implementation of the 2014 Farm Bill continues, agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack has announced proposed changes to the Conservation Stewardship Program, one of USDA’s largest conservation programs for working agricultural lands.
USDA is seeking public comment on the rule through Jan. 5. Public comments will be used to finalize the interim final rule.
The Conservation Stewardship Program interim final rule can be viewed at nrcs.usda.gov. USDA will publish a final rule, which will establish the program’s policy for the life of the 2014 Farm Bill.
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service administers the program, which pays participants for conservation performance — the better the performance, the higher the payment. Vilsack said NRCS is working to simplify the administrative complexity of the program by streamlining the regulation.
For more information on technical and financial assistance available through conservation programs, visit nrcs.usda.gov/getstarted or a local USDA service center.
Rotary Clubs announce upcoming speakers
The Rotary Club of Kona Mauka welcomes Mayor Bill Kenoi at their noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday meeting held at Teshima’s Restaurant. For more information, call Larry Kniffin at 557-1178 or email maukarotary2014@gmail.com.
From 6:45 to 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, the Rotary Club of Kona Sunrise welcomes Wil Murakami, Kealakehe High School principal at Humpy’s, second floor in Coconut Grove Marketplace. For more information, call KC Mahoney at 769-8148 or email kc.mahoney@employment-experts.com.
Also Wednesday at noon, the Rotary Club of North Hawaii will meet at Pukalani Estates to work on the rescheduled Oktoberfest fundraiser, now being held Saturday, Nov. 15. Meetings are normally held at Anna Ranch from noon to 1 p.m. For more information, call Joyce Riggen at 640-1930 or email jmriggen@gmail.com.
On Thursday, the Rotary Club of Kona will be having a vocational event. Thursday meetings are held from noon to 1 p.m. at the King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. For more information, call James Resor at 930-6252 or email jresor@pmghawaii.com.
Visitors are welcome at all Rotary meetings.
Community forum focuses on higher education
Community Enterprises will hold a community forum at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Makaeo Pavilion at the Old Kona Airport Park. The doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Pupu and beverages will be served.
Dr. Sandra Scarr will deliver a presentation on the need for post-high school educational opportunities for the residents of West Hawaii. Dr. Walter Kunitake, first director of the West Hawaii Center in Kealakekua, will describe the early years and the community’s hopes and dreams for a University of Hawaii facility in West Hawaii. Dr. Marty Fletcher, current director of the school’s West Hawaii facilities, will explain the current status of the West Hawaii center and his understanding of future plans for higher education at Palamanui. Pete Hoffmann, who was recently appointed to represent West Hawaii on the University of Hawaii Board of Regents, will provide an update to the community on the school’s plans to improve access to higher education for West Hawaii residents.
Questions must be submitted in writing before or during the program.
For information about Community Enterprises, visit konatownmeeting.org. For more information about the meeting, call John Buckstead at 326-9779 or email jbuckstead@hawaii.rr.com.
Community members needed to plan Project Grad
The next Project Grad meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Kealakehe High School library side room. Volunteers are needed to help plan the event for Kealakehe High School and West Hawaii Explorations Academy graduates. A video from the 2014 event is available at khsprojectgrad.com.
For more information, call 896-1866.
College planning event scheduled
Hawaii Association for College Admissions Counseling and Hawaii USA Federal Credit Union will host a free College Planning: A Family Affair seminar from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Kealakehe High cafeteria. All students grades 9 through 11 and parents are invited. A presentation about college preparation, selecting colleges and paying for college is planned, as well as time for questions.
Hawaii Island Conservation Forum to discuss environment
The topic for the upcoming Hawaii Island Conservation Forum will be, “Working together for the environment on Hawaii Island.” The forum will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at Kahilu Theatre, Waimea.
Registration fee $10. For more information or to get involved email coordinator@kohalawatershed.org.
Program trains new farmers and provides on-farm mentorship opportunities
The Kohala Center’s Beginning Farmer-Rancher Mentorship Program is taking applications for a classroom and on-farm mentorship initiative. The course covers soil management, irrigation and the business side of farming. Upon successful completion of the course and creation of a viable farm and business plan, students will be eligible for additional support from The Kohala Center including access to leasable farmland, technical assistance in agricultural businesses development and guidance through additional support programs administered by the USDA.
The program consists of 10 full-day classroom and hands-on sessions held one Saturday each month in Honokaa and 160 hours of on-farm mentorship with a farmer or rancher and is available to farmers and ranchers who are socially disadvantaged or U.S. veterans. No previous farming or ranching experience is required. Prospective applicants who have questions about their eligibility are encouraged to contact The Kohala Center. More information and application materials are available online at kohalacenter.org/farmertraining/mentorship or by calling The Kohala Center at 887-6411. Deadline to apply is Friday.
