Early childhood education conference planned April 19, 20
Positive relationships with significant adults are a strong determining factor in a child’s future success. This concept is the theme for the sixth annual Hawaii Island Early Childhood Conference, set for April 19 and 20 at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.
The conference is open to anyone who works or has interest in early childhood education.
Organized by Baby STEPS to Stronger Big Island Families, the conference features keynote speakers Steven Choy and Mervlyn Kitashima.
Choy will present “Healthy Brains … Healthy Children; Healthy Children … Healthy World,” April 19. His message focuses on how educators can help develop healthy brains and help children cope with an ever-changing world. The event includes a light buffet.
Kitashima will present “No More ‘Children at Risk’: ‘Children at Promise,’” April 20. Kitashima will share a personal account of the factors that contributed to her ability to overcome the odds.
The early registration deadline is March 15. The cost for the April 19 session is $50; cost for the all-day April 20 session, which also includes 10 thematic workshops, continental breakfast and lunch, is $75. After March 15, sessions cost $60 and $85, respectively. To register, visit babystepshawaii.org. For details, call Gail Judd at 987-8710 or email athomas@babystepshawaii.org or gcjudd@babystepshawaii.org. The Waikoloa Beach Marriott is offering a special conference room rate; visit resweb.passkey.com/go/HIECC2013.
For more about Baby STEPS to Stronger Big Island Families, contact Angela Thomas at 887-1228.
Malaai farm market resumes Wednesday
Beginning Wednesday from 1:30 to 3:15 p.m., the Waimea community is invited back to Malaai: The Culinary Garden of Waimea Middle School for a weekly student-run farm stand. Located in the back — or south side — of the school campus near the entry to the ¾-acre organic Malaai learning garden, the stand will offer a variety of fresh produce — most of which is grown by students.
Produce offered for sale will include a variety of leafy greens, kabocha squash, potatoes, herbs, organic eggs and cut flowers, as available. There may also be some produce donated by local farmers.
The farm stand was conceived to provide students with the real experience of growing, harvesting, cleaning and preparing produce to sell, and then handling sales and learning all the steps and entrepreneurial skills required to manage a small business. Funds raised will be used by sixth through eighth grade middle school students for a specific project to enhance their outdoor garden classroom.
For more information, visit malaai.org or contact Alethea Lai at 989-7861 or alethea@malaai.org.
Landrum speaks at Rotary meeting
Vivian Landrum, Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, will be the guest speaker at the Wednesday Rotary Club of Kona Sunrise meeting. Landrum will provide an update on chamber activities and initiatives, including legislative issues it is tracking.
The meeting is from 6:45 to 7:45 a.m. every Wednesday at Hale Halawai on Alii Drive in Kona. Breakfast is $10 per person. Rotarians and interested individuals are welcome to attend.
For more information, call Bev Fraser at 936-9965.
Marketing publication workshops slated
Hawaii TechWorks, a program of the East Hawaii Community Development Corp., is sponsoring a series of three Effective Marketing Publications workshops that will each build upon each other:
c Workshop 1: Designing a postcard reminder, is scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday.
c Workshop 2: Designing eye-catching flyers is from 1 to 4 p.m. March 13.
c Workshop 3: Designing an effective brochure is slated from 1 to 4 p.m. March 20.
Each workshop is $30. Participants may register online at: easthawaii.org/hawaii-techworks-creating-effective-marketing-publications-workshops.
The workshops are being held at Hawaii TechWorks, 230 Kekuanaoa St., south of Hilo Shopping Center, in Hilo.
Attendees are encouraged to bring jump drives so that they may take their final products with them for publishing or printing. Promotional photos should be brought on the jump drive to insert into the publications created in the workshops.
The workshop series is presented by Mililani Hughes, an educator with more than 20 years of teaching experience who currently resides in Volcano.
For more information, participants may email community@easthawaii.org or visit easthawaii.org.
Suicide intervention training offered
Applied suicide intervention skills training will be offered from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the West Hawaii Civic Center. The free two-day class provides parents, friends, teachers, caregivers and professionals with the information and skills necessary to recognize those at risk of suicide and effectively intervene.
Register online at 123signup.com/register?id=bvspm. For registration assistance, contact Maricel at Maricel@hysn.org or 531-2198, ext. 6.
For information about the class, call 333-8988.
Kona Masons meet Wednesday
Kona Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons meets Wednesday at the Kona Masonic Center, 73-5577 Kauhola St., No. 7. Activities begin with dinner at 6 p.m. followed by a 7 p.m. meeting, then dessert.
All resident or visiting members of the craft may attend. For more information, call Lee Meyerson at 326-5661.
Cancer group meets Thursday
Cancer support group “You’ll Never Walk Alone” meets from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday. Cancer survivors and co-survivors are invited to attend the free meetings held the first and third Thursdays of every month; light refreshments are served.
For more information and directions to the meeting site, call Michele Robinson at 333-5328.
