Public Access Room to provide legislative info

Hawaii Island residents looking for more informantion on the Legislature and how to follow along with the state’s legislative procedures may attend one of five Big Island Public Access Room training sessions.

The sessions begin at 6 p.m. Monday with an event at the Mountain View Public Library. Other sessions are 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Hilo Public Library, noon Wednesday at the North Kohala Public Library, 6 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Thelma Parker Library in Waimea, 6 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Naalehu School cafeteria and noon Dec. 14 at the West Hawaii Civic Center’s Liquor Control conference room.

Suzanne Marinelli, the public access coordinator, said she initially didn’t schedule a Kona session, but added one after several requests from the public.

Marinelli and a co-worker take the outreach program to the neighbor islands in advance of the legislative session that begins each January, she said, “to help our citizens develop a deeper understanding of Hawaii’s legislative process. Our workshops provide an easy path to helping people become more effective advocates for the issues that concern them. They demystify the goings-on at the Capitol; they help people understand that their perspectives, their experiences, are crucial to the development of good laws for Hawaii.”

For more information, call 587-0478. The toll-free number from the Big Island is 974-4000, ext. 70478.