About Town | 2-28-15

IRS reminds filers of online payment option

With the Monday tax deadline approaching for many farmers and fishermen, the Internal Revenue Service is reminding these and other individual filers that the new IRS Direct Pay tool offers taxpayers the fastest and easiest way to pay the taxes they owe.

Available at irs.gov/directpay, this free tool allows individuals to securely pay their income tax from checking or savings accounts without fees or pre-registration. Taxpayers can use Direct Pay to pay the amount due on their return or tax bill or make quarterly estimated tax payments. Payments can also be scheduled up to 30 days in advance. Direct Pay cannot be used to pay the federal highway use tax, payroll taxes or other business taxes.

Farmers and fishermen who chose to forgo making quarterly estimated tax payments for 2014 generally must file their 2014 federal return and pay any tax due by Monday.

Rotary clubs announce upcoming speakers

The Rotary Club of Kona Mauka will welcome Bill Walsh from the Department of Aquatic Services from noon to 1 p.m Tuesday at Teshima’s restaurant. For more information, contact Larry Kniffin at 557-1178 or maukarotary2014@gmail.com.

On Wednesday, the Rotary Club of Kona Sunrise will host Richard Taaffe from the West Hawaii Community Health Center. The meeting is from 6:45 to 7:45 a.m. at Humpy’s on the second floor of Coconut Grove Marketplace. For more information, contact Bev Fraser at 936-9965 or rotarybev@gmail.com.

In Waimea, the Rotary Club of North Hawaii will hold its monthly board meeting from noon to 1 p.m. at Anna Ranch. For more information, contact Joyce Riggen at 640-1930 or jmriggen@gmail.com.

The Rotary Club of Kona will hear from Alaia Leighland from U.S. Servas, an organization that brings foreign hosts and travelers together with the goal of promoting peace through cultural understanding. The meeting is from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday at King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. For more information, contact James Resor at jcresor@yahoo.com.

VASH receives grant from Young Brothers

VASH Hawaii Island recently received a $1,000 grant from Young Brothers, Ltd. through Young Brothers’ Community Gift Giving Program.

VASH Hawaii Island is a nonprofit that cares for visitors facing adversity during their travels on Hawaii Island.

Students at select schools to receive free dental exam

The state Department of Health is launching a new dental surveillance program at 64 public and charter schools across the state. The Hawaii Smiles program conducts voluntary oral health assessments of 3,300 third-grade students this school year. Screenings began Feb. 4 on Hawaii Island and will continue through May.

The Hawaii Smiles program will monitor the dental health of Hawaii students by gathering population-based data. To obtain a representative snapshot, the department has offered the Hawaii Smiles Program to 64 randomly pre-selected elementary schools, out of 203 schools.

Findings will be used to measure the effectiveness of preventive oral public health initiatives. Results will be published and used to prioritize dental health needs and form planning and policy decisions.

All participating students with a signed consent will be given a free dental screening to identify both treated and untreated tooth decay and preventive dental sealants. Parents and guardians will be informed of the screening results and whether their child requires urgent dental care. The screening will take about one minute per student. No X-rays will be taken and no dental treatment will be provided.

Funding was provided by three federal grants and a grant from the Hawaii Dental Service Foundation.

Contest awards funds to student projects

Teachers and adults who coach or lead youth groups are encouraged to join the seventh annual E Ola Pono Campaign, a locally sponsored effort to promote respect, peace and making pono choices. The campaign encourages student groups to create projects and activities that make their school or community a place where everyone feels safe and welcomed.

Any project or activity done during the 2014-15 school year qualifies. Groups who submit needed documents by May 15 are considered for prizes of up to $1,000.

More information about the E Ola Pono Campaign can be found at the Growing Pono Schools Project website, growingponoschools.com.

Restaurants raise money for schools through locally sourced meals

The Hawaii Agricultural Foundation is holding its second annual Localicious Hawaii promotion from March 1 through 31 to raise awareness of restaurants that are committed to sustaining the local agricultural industry.

More than 126 restaurants will participate in the campaign statewide by asking patrons to order a “localicious” dish which will be made with a locally grown, caught or raised product. Each time the dish is ordered, restaurants will donate $1 to the foundation’s Veggie U educational program.

Participating Hawaii Island restaurants include Annie’s Island Fresh Burger, Huggo’s, Lava Lava Beach, Pueo’s Osteria, Roy’s Waikoloa, The Three Fat Pigs and Zippy’s.

Last year, 58 restaurants participated throughout Hawaii and raised $31,000 for 65 fourth-grade public school classes using the 25-lesson Veggie U curriculum.

As part of the campaign, Hawaii Agricultural Foundation and Hawaii Gas will also sponsor an art and essay contest, “My Favorite Dish and Where it Comes From,” for students in kindergarten through sixth grade. There are two categories, an art contest for kindergarten through third-graders and an art and essay contest for students in fourth- through sixth-grades. A winner will be selected from each category and will receive a class party with a celebrity chef and an Apple Ipad mini. Entry forms and contest rules are available at localicioushawaii.com/agcontest.

Training program offered to small business executives

The U.S. Small Business Administration has launched recruitment cycle for the 2015 Emerging Leaders executive-level training initiative. Applications are due on Friday.

To be eligible for the program, the small business must have been in business for a minimum of three years, be a “for profit” entity, have at least one employee and generate annual revenues above $350,000. The Hawaii program offers enrollment to qualified small business owners through a competitive application and interview process.

The seven-month executive leader curriculum includes approximately 100 hours of classroom time per participant and provides the opportunity for small business owners to work with experienced mentors, attend workshops and develop connections with their peers, business and government leaders and financial communities.

Classes begin in April. For more information, contact SBA Hawaii District office at 541 2990 or hawaiigeneral@sba.gov.