About Town: 3-13-16

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Committee on People with Disabilities meets

Committee on People with Disabilities meets

The Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the ADRC Training Room, 1055 Kinoole St., Hilo.

The meeting is open to the public. The agenda will be posted on the county’s website.

Info: Kalen Koga, 961-8600.

Presentation explains how to avoid Medicare fraud

The public is invited to the third in a series of six monthly free informational presentations titled, “Why it’s important to read your Medicare Statement.”

The talk is from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Regency at Hualalai, 75-181 Hualalai Road, Kailua-Kona. Attendees will learn to protect themselves and loved ones from medical ID theft, fraud and scams and understand the basics of Medicare and Advantage Plans. The talk is given volunteers for Senior Medicare Patrol in partnership with Regency at Hualalai.

Info: Laurie Paleka: laurel.paleka@doh.hawaii.gov, (800) 296-9422

Nose flute workshop planned

Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site will present a workshop on the craft of ohe hano ihu, or nose flute, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the park’s visitor center. The event is free.

Edward Shiinoki, Master Voluntter in the Park at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will teach the class.

Health and resource fair planned in Naalehu

The Imua Ka’u Splash Bash Community Health and Resource Fair, sponsored by the Big Island Substance Abuse Council, will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Naalehu Community Center and field.

Free bus transportation will be provided to and from the event starting from 9:30 a.m. with 2:15 p.m. being the last pick-up from Naalehu Community Center. The bus stops will be at the Park-n-Ride gravel lot across from Ocean View Shopping Center and the Pahala Community Center.

Activities include a bubblicious family fun walk, balloon battle, photo booth, water slides, sames, music and informational booth. Cotton candy, shave ice, hot dogs and water will be sold for $1 each. Prizes include a new bike and a razor scooter.

Info: facebook.com/BISAChawaii/.

North Kohala library book and bake sale coming up

The Friends of North Kohala Public Library will hold its annual spring book and bake sale from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in the Kohala High School cafeteria.

All books will be sold for $1 or less. Buyers may fill a reusable grocery bag for $7. Shoppers should bring their own bags. True bargain hunters will want to be on hand from noon until 1 p.m. when the remaining books will be given away.

Volunteers are needed to set up beginning at 4 p.m. Friday and clear remaining books Saturday afternoon.

Books, CDs, and DVDs in good condition may be dropped off at North Kohala Public Library until March 18. Baked goods can be delivered to the Kohala School cafeteria on the day of the sale.

Donations are tax deductible. Proceeds from the sale fund programs and materials at North Kohala Library.

Info: 889-6655.

Landscape maintenance training offered

The Hawaii Island Landscape Association and University of Hawaii Cooperative Extension Service are offering both the 2016 Landscape Maintenance Training Program and the Landscape Industry Certification Testing Program to landscape professionals and home gardeners.

The training is a 10-week series of classes that may also be taken individually. Topics include: basic botany, tropical plant identification and selection, plant nutrition, soil health, turf care, irrigation basics, pruning, establishing and managing a landscape, pesticide use, pest ID and control and landscape plan reading and calculations.

Classes begin April 7 and will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Thursdays through June 9 at the Hawaii Community College – Palamanui campus.

Cost for each class is $35 for HILA members and $40 for nonmembers. The fee for the entire series is $325 for members and $375 for nonmembers. Space is limited and early registration is suggested.

Certification tests will be in June in Kona for ornamental maintenance, softscape installation and irrigation. Additional costs apply.

Tuition assistance is offered through the Department of Labor’s Employment Training Fund is available for both programs. Qualified applicants pay half price.

Info and registration: hilahawaii.com, Ty McDonald at 322-4884, tym@hawaii.edu.