Newswatch Star-Bulletin staff and wire service

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Stress relief is topic of physician's free talk

Thomas Williams, director of cardiac noninvasive services at the Queen's Medical Center, will discuss stress relief from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at St. Francis Medical Center-Liliha.

His talk will be in the conference room, fifth floor of the Harry & Jeannette Weinberg Building. It is free for members of the Network of Volunteer Leaders. The cost is $5 for others. Parking will be available in the parking structure with validation at the meeting.

Call 625-6429 for more information or e-mail arlenekoike@hawaii.rr.com.

Health talks planned by Harvard doctor

"Stop Cancer Before It Starts" is the topic of a free talk at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Ala Wai Golf Course Clubhouse.

Speaking will be Dr. Paulette Chandler, who practices internal medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital and teaches at Harvard Medical School.

Chandler will speak on "Truth or Dairy" at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Cameron Center, 95 Mahalani St., Wailuku, and "Healing Power of Kindness" at 7 p.m. Thursday at Castle Medical Center in Kailua. Call 263-5400 to register for the Castle talk. For more information, call the Vegetarian Society of Hawaii at 944-8344 or see www.VSH.org.

AARP Driver Safety Course now online

The AARP's popular Driver Safety Course now is available online.

The eight-hour course presents the same information that is taught in the classroom by AARP-trained volunteers.

"AARP is committed to keeping the roads safe for everyone, and encourages people to practice safe driving habits as they grow older," said AARP Hawaii State Director Barbara Kim Stanton.

The Federal Highway Administration recently reported that there are 75 million licensed drivers age 50 and older in the United States -- 38 percent of all drivers, a share that is expected to increase significantly as the population ages, along with the need for safe driving practices, AARP said.

The same information is available in the self-paced online course, which costs $15.95 for AARP members and $19.95 for nonmembers.

To enroll in the Driver Safety Online Course or obtain more information, visit www.aarp.org/drive/ online. For information about classroom courses taught throughout the year in Hawaii, call 888-227-7669 toll-free.

Queen's gets grant for nurses

The federal government is giving the Queen's Medical Center $1.15 million to address its nursing shortage. The five-year training grant is designed to boost nurse retention and to enhance patient care.

Arthur Ushijima, president of the Queen's Medical Center, said the grant application was part of a larger effort to counter the nursing shortage. "We have some of the best nurses in the profession here at Queen's, and my goal is to keep them here," he said.

TAKING NOTICE

Honokaa students run cancer fundraiser

» Forty Honokaa High and Intermediate School students on the Big Island have mobilized their community of 5,000 in the recent American Cancer Society Relay for Life fundraiser. The students organized and coordinated the entire event, which drew more than 1,500 participants.

For their efforts, the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation contributed $5,000 to help cancer patients along the Hamakua coast, an economically disadvantaged area. The gift was part of the foundation's Educating the Heart program to encourage service projects among students.

» State Rep. Brian Schatz, House Speaker Calvin Say, Rep. Ezra Kanoho and state Sen. Russell Kokubun have been recognized by the Hawaii Conservation Alliance with its Conservation Innovation Award. They received the award at the recent 2006 "Sustainability: Mauka to Makai" conference for their leadership in developing and passing the Legacy Lands Act during the 2005 legislative session.

The law established a permanent funding source for land conservation and the preservation of open space and scenic resources through an increase of the conveyance tax which is expected to generate $36 million per year.

» Goodwill Industries of Hawaii was given $75,000 by ABC Stores to support its Ohana Career and Learning Center Building project in Leeward Oahu.

The center, to open in 2008, will consist of a 30,000-square-foot building in Kapolei with classrooms, a community resource room and retail store. It will provide employment and training services and learning opportunities for the entire family. According to a release, the center will create more than 150 jobs and hire from the community and Goodwill's current employee base, enabling residents to become less dependent on public support.

» Dr. Alissa J. Arp has been appointed vice president for research and dean of the College of Natural Sciences at Hawaii Pacific University.

She will implement a research program and integrate HPU faculty, students and staff at the Oceanic Institute, and develop new graduate programs in the marine sciences. Arp is a 24-year veteran and has explored the ocean floor during eight deep-sea dives in research submersibles.

Police, Fire, Courts Star-Bulletin staff

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WAIKIKI

Alleged spree ends once the boss is back in town

Police arrested a 40-year-old man after he allegedly drove his boss's vehicle without permission and stole items from his boat.

Police said the victim, a 62-year-old man, hired the suspect to do work on his boat docked at the Waikiki Yacht Club. While the victim was out of town between July 28 and Thursday, police said, the suspect used the victim's vehicle without his permission. Witnesses also observed the suspect taking items from the victim's boat.

Police said the victim found out about the suspect driving his car when his insurance company called him to report a motor vehicle collision that involved his car.

On Saturday the victim observed the suspect driving his car on Windward Oahu. Police were called, and the 40-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, first-degree theft, and on an $11,000 contempt warrant.

LEEWARD OAHU

Alleged shakedown lands teen in custody

Police arrested a 16-year-old boy after he allegedly robbed another boy at Pearlridge Center.

At about 3 p.m. Saturday, police said, the suspect robbed the victim, 13, of an undisclosed amount of money.

Security was alerted. Police said security located the suspect before officers arrived.

Police said the victim did not suffer any injuries, and the stolen money was returned to him. The 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of second-degree robbery. He was released pending investigation.

Man held in alleged assault on co-worker

Police arrested a 23-year-old man after he allegedly sexually assaulted his co-worker in Nanakuli.

The victim, a 17-year-old girl, told police that the assault happened at their workplace at about 7:40 p.m. Saturday.

The 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of second-degree sex assault.

Charges are being sought with the Prosecutor's Office.