About Town 9-11-12

Police officers to be honored Wednesday

The Kona Crime Prevention’s Officer of the Year celebration and buffet is set to begin at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday at King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. The group will acknowledge all officers honored as Officer of the Month from July 2011 through June and announce and honor the Officer of the Year.

The following officers are being honored and one will be selected Officer of the Year: July, John McCarron; August, Paul Mangus; October, Aron Tomota; November, Shea Nactor; December, Darren Cho and Scott Aloy; January, Kaeo Drummondo; February, Jason Foxworthy; March, Jami Harper; April, Sharon Yoon; May, Darren Cho; and June, Brad Resureccion.

The committee is also seeking donations to be added to a gift basket for the Officer of the Year. Donors names will be listed in the program.

For reservations, contact to Liz Holey at 326-7787 or email Lholey@aol.com. The cost is $35 per person and may be paid with cash or a check made out to the committee.

Chamber seeks volunteers for build

The Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce is putting together a team to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity West Hawai’i’s 2012 Blitz Build at Lai Opua. The group will work from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Friday. No building experience is necessary.

Volunteers are needed in many categories, including registration, greeters, traffic/parking, security, office and medical. Of course, volunteers are also needed in all phases of construction, such as carpenter, drywall, electrical, landscape, painting, plumbing, roofing, termite treatment, etc. Skill levels can range from amateur to expert and all are welcome.

Meals will be provided for the volunteers each day and lunch sponsorships are also needed. Monetary donations are also accepted.

To join the chamber’s Blitz Build team, contact the office at 329-1758, email Carrie@kona-kohala.com or visit kona-kohala.com. All volunteers will need to complete the volunteer information form.

Amateur radio group meeting Sunday

The Kona Amateur Radio Society meets from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the south end of Wawaloli Beach Park at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority. All members, friends and those interested in amateur radio are invited. A potluck picnic featuring a Mediterranean theme will take place during the meeting; attendees are encouraged to bring a dish to share.

For more information, contact Van NH7IT at nh7it@arrl.net.

Farm Bureau
hosting candidate forum Sunday

The Kona County Farm Bureau will host a candidate forum at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Christ Church Episcopal meeting hall in Kealakekua.

Candidates seeking to represent West Hawaii both at county and state levels will answer questions ranging from economic development, land use, resource management, product development and protection, with agriculture being the common theme.

Doors open at 5:45 p.m. For more information, call 324-6011.

Ballroom dancers planning party

The Kona Ballroom Dance Club hosts a dance party from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the Elks Club in Kailua-Kona. The public is invited to attend. No partner needed.

All types of dance, including rhumba, cha cha, waltz, salsa, foxtrot, samba and more, are planned. A free introductory dance lesson is offered at most Sunday dances. The club is a nonprofit and a small donation is requested at the door.

For more information or directions to the site, contact Franz or Joanna at 326-9190 or Trisha at 325-2245.

Cemetery group gets funds from Elks

The West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery Development and Expansion Association was a recent recipient of $1,700 from Kona Elks Lodge 2616.

The money was part of a $2,000 Gratitude Grant from the Elks National Foundation.

The remaining $300 was used to partly fund the cost of postage for care packages of sunscreen and other items sent to U.S. military personnel stationed in Afghanistan.

Earlier this year, lodge members were responsible for raising and donating an additional $2,000 to the cemetery.