Legisltaive talk story today
Rep. Nicole Lowen and Sen. Josh Green offer a talk story on the recent legislative session from 6-7:30 p.m. today at West Hawaii Civic Center Council Chambers. Doors open at 5:30.
They will provide an update on funding for projects in West Hawaii, the state budget, and on legislation passed in the 2016 session. Suzanne Case, chairwoman of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, will begin the talk story with an update on departmental issues relevant to West Hawaii.
Info: 586-8400.
Free spay/neuter clinic Thursday
AdvoCats Hawaii is having a spay/neuter clinic Thursday at the Palisades Community Park, about one mile up Kaiminani Drive just above the fire station.
Vetrinarian Dr. April Campbell, DVM, will be doing surgery with vet tech Jennette Rutherford, who does prep and anethesia. Volunteers weigh the cats, microchip, vaccinate, provide flea treatment and clean their ears. They also tip the ear to show it has been spayed/neutered.
Around 100 spay/neuters will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The public is invited to observe. Since 1999, AdvoCats has spayed/neutered more than 18,300 cats. About 14,000 have been in the last five years.
Info: Nancy Hitzemann, AdvoCats vice president, 329-4337, nhtz@hawaii.rr.com.
Budget forum Thursday
Mayor Billy Kenoi and members of his cabinet will explain the new county budget and spending priorities for Hawaii County during a meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the West Hawaii Civic Center, Council Chambers.
Joining the mayor will be Department of Finance Director Deana Sako, along with Susan Akiyama, director, Office of Housing and Community Development, Clayton Honma, director, Department of Parks and Recreation, Warren Lee, director, Department of Public Works and Tiffany Kai, director, Mass Transit Agency.
Karen Eoff, County Council member for District 8 and Chairwoman of the committee on Finance, will explain the budget development process and how spending and revenue priorities are established.
The informational forum will be moderated by Sherry Bracken of KKOA, LAVA, and KOA radio.
Cruise ships greeted Thursday
Destination Kona Coast will host a visit from thw Hawaii Tourism Authority at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday at the Kailua Pier.
Destination Kona Coast plans to highlight its Aloha Pier Greetings Program for the executives from cruise ships, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Holland America and Seabourn. The planned visit is to showcase tourism on the Kona Coast and its surrounding area to these cruise ship executives. HTA’s goal is to increase more cruise arrivals for the Hawaiian Islands.
Kona coffee and handcrafted pastries from area bakers will be on hand.
Accessible voting machine demo planned
A hands-on demonstration of the state’s accessible voting machine will be featured at the Friday meeting of the Low Vision Support Group of the West Hawaii Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind.
If you can no longer see the ballot to vote in a regular voting booth, come learn how easy it is to vote with the audio based machine. The meeting is free and open to the public.
The support group meets monthly to share information, resources and support.
Info: nfb-westhi.org, Sally, 345-7065.
Woodturners welcome guest demonstrator
West Hawaii Woodturners host guest demonstrator Derek Weidman from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the PacGlass building.
Cost is $25 at the door. Visitors are welcome.
Attendees should bring a chair and lunch.
Info: Ralf, 640-0417.