Kokua Line
Kokua Line
I have some children's books to donate. I understand there was a girl who started a book drive for a library in Palolo. How do I get in touch with her? Center still accepting
books for Palolo kidsYou can drop off books at Palolo Valley Community Center. Call 732-1795.
The girl you are referring to is Maryknoll High School student Rona Yap, who organized a book drive when she found out that many children living in Palolo Valley public housing had no books of their own to read. She organized the drive last year as part of a Girl Scout project, but is no longer involved.
She had drummed up enough books to give each child attending Palolo School two or three books, said Principal Velma Omura. The overflow went to a small library already started at the Palolo Valley Community Center by the Palolo Tenants Association, said association president Dahlia Asuego.
"When the tenants association has a lot of donations, we pass (books) out to the other housing projects," such as Mayor Wright Housing and Kuhio Park Terrace, she said.
Storybooks, as well as reference books for students from elementary to high school and even college age would be appreciated, Asuego said. However, the center is inundated with encyclopedia sets and she asks that encyclopedias not be donated.
(Kokua Line gets many calls asking if there is any group or organization that wants old encyclopedias. The answer basically is no, unless the sets are relatively new -- not more than 10 years old.)
I noticed a state vehicle in Hawaii Kai that had blue lights mounted inside the rear window. Is that legal?
Apparently not. The lights were to be removed.
Based on the license number you provided, the car was found to be a law enforcement vehicle assigned to the state Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement.
It was obtained after the Marine Patrol, formerly with the Department of Public Safety, was placed in the division.
"The blue lights were permanently affixed in the vehicle prior to our acquisition," an official with the division said.
"A directive instructing all enforcement officers to remove and turn in any blue light has been issued," he said.
Regarding the Mayor's Millennium Ball held in January: it was my understanding that our contribution was tax-deductible and a receipt would be issued. I have made several inquiries but to date haven't received any receipt or advisory about which portion of the contribution is tax-deductible. I need to file tax returns soon and would appreciate a response from the mayor's office.
Contact Lynette Char, deputy director, city Department of Enterprise Services, 527-5437, if you haven't received anything yet. Letters were mailed earlier this month to all corporate and individual hosts that provided information on the amount that was tax-deductible. That would serve as the receipt, Char said.
Char said she was surprised to hear of your query because her name and number were listed on invitations and RSVP cards as the contact person and no one ever called her office.
Please check your phone bill in detail each month for cramming (unauthorized charges) or slamming (unauthorized change of long distance phone company). It might save you a few dollars, which mean much to senior citizens like me. -- D.I. Auwe
Need help with problems? Call Kokua Line at 525-8686,
fax 525-6711, or write to P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu 96802.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com
