Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Saturday, June 12, 1999

Federal grant to aid blind senior citizens

Hawaii programs to help senior citizens who are blind will be funded by an annual $203,000 grant from the U.S. Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.

Therapeutic services for disabling eye conditions, training in Braille, typing and other communication skills and rehabilitation teaching are among the activities funded, U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink said in announcing the grant.

The state Human Services Department's division of vocational rehabilitation and services for the blind will receive the grant for five years.

Isle lawyers cut fees for AARP members

Several Honolulu lawyers will offer reduced fees for some basic legal services to members of the American Association of Retired Persons and their spouses.

The organization's Legal Services Network has expanded to more than 500 communities in 31 states since it was started in 1996.

The services offered include:

A free legal consultation of up to 30 minutes.
A 20 percent reduction off the usual attorney rates.
Low fixed fees for preparation of simple wills and durable financial and health care powers of attorney.

Information on the participating attorneys is available by writing Legal Services Network Fulfillment, P.O. Box 100084, Pittsburgh, PA 15290.

Information is also available online at www.aarp.org/lsn.

Farrington lane to close for school construction

Construction in front of Waipahu Intermediate School will lead to closure of a Honolulu-bound lane of Farrington Highway on weekdays.

The lane will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays through July 30.

The work includes installing sidewalks, gutters, curbs and a drainage system, according to the state Transportation Department.

Two UH profs awarded for gender research

Two University of Hawaii-Manoa professors have been recognized by a British institution for research that improves lives affected by gender-identity and intersex issues.

Kenneth Kipnis, professor of philosophy, and Milton Diamond, professor of anatomy and reproductive biology in the John A. Burns School of Medicine, won the Gender Identity Research and Education Society's first prize for the best published research.

Their article, "Pediatrics Ethics and the Surgical Assignment of Sex" in the Journal of Clinical Ethics, questions many standards of the pediatric practices applied to infants.

Diamond last summer received the Contributions to Sexual Science award from the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality.

YMCA offers workshop on kickboxing skills

The Central YMCA is offering a free "Tae Kickbox Technique Workshop" from 9 to 11 a.m. next Saturday.

Participants from beginners to skilled will be able to learn techniques based on tae kwon do, kickboxing and aerobics.

The first part of the workshop will focus on proper form and technique, and will be led by Li Cobian, a black belt in karate and tae kwon do.

Heidi Deininger, University of Hawaii cheerleading squad coach and aerobics instructor, will lead the second part with a cardio-workout.

The Central YMCA is at 401 Atkinson Drive. Call 951-1318 for more information.

Japanese chamber to install officers

The Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce is hosting a dinner for the installation of its fiscal year 2000 officers.

The dinner will be held at 7 p.m. July 10 at the Sheraton-Waikiki Hotel. A business suit or jacket is requested. Cost of the dinner is $45 per person or $450 for a table of 10.

See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Search] [Info] section for subscription information.

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Police, Fire



By Star-Bulletin staff

Waianae man arrested in sex assault on girl, 12

An 18-year-old Waianae man was arrested and charged yesterday with multiple counts of sexual assault after he was reportedly caught engaged in sexual acts with a 12-year-old.

Eric Costa was charged with three counts of first-degree sexual assault and three counts of third-degree sexual assault, police said. He is being held on $15,000 bail.

Police said the girl and her older sister were staying over at Costa's Ala Walua Street home when the incident occurred.

The older sister caught the two engaged in sexual acts about 3:30 a.m. yesterday, police said.

Fatalities identified in Haleiwa crash

The two women killed in Thursday's collision on the Haleiwa bypass road have been identified by the medical examiner's office as Lucille Marasco, 76, and Cecelia Marasco, 44, both of Laie.

The two women were killed when their Dodge Caravan, headed north, crossed into the southbound lanes and hit a truck head on, police said.

Police are still investigating why their van went into the southbound lanes.

Hickam boy arrested in assault on another

A 16-year-old boy from Hickam Air Force Base is in police custody for allegedly assaulting and injuring a 14-year-old Hickam boy.

The two boys were playing behind the Hickam theater at 7:30 last night, police said.

When the boys were walking home 15 minutes later, the suspect pushed the younger boy down some stairs, then punched and kicked him in the face.

The younger boy was taken to Tripler military hospital with broken teeth and a fractured jaw.

The older boy was arrested by military police.

Police seize pot plants in Hilo and Puna areas

HILO -- Police seized 18,701 marijuana plants during a four-day eradication operation in the North and South Hilo District and Puna this week, they announced. They also confiscated 29 plants and a small amount of processed marijuana at a home in the Paradise Park subdivision but made no arrests, they said.

Hilo woman held in murder conspiracy

HILO -- Police were holding a 26-year-old Hilo woman after arresting her Thursday for conspiracy to commit murder, they said.

The woman obtained a handgun to commit the act, police said. No other information was given.

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See our [Search] [Info] section for subscription information.