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Kokua Line
Question: I recently went to the city's farmers' market at Paki and Monsarrat avenues next to Kapiolani Park. Some farmers who sell their products use scales in which the net weight is visible only on their side. Can the scales show the weight on the customer's side? Open Market scales
should be visibleAnswer: The city's People's Open Market requires that scales meet standards and requirements set by state Department of Agriculture's Measurement Standards Branch.
"The scales must be certified annually and displayed in a manner visible to both the vendor and customer," said George Souza, complaints officer with the city's Department of Customer Services.
He said vendors would be reminded of the requirements "and adjust their scales accordingly."
If customers have difficulty in viewing the weight of the product or feel they are not being charged properly, they should question the vendor or contact an open market supervisor.
"They're the guys wearing blue shirts," Souza said.
Q: I notice a city and county vehicle parked in front of a house in Mililani in the afternoons, after work, every now and then. I know it's a take-home vehicle, but I thought workers were just supposed to take the cars straight home, not stop at a friend's house.
A: The driver, assigned to the Leeward District, is authorized by the Department of Environmental Services to take the car home, said George Souza, of the city Department of Customer Services.
The city's policy on take-home cars is that "operators are allowed to make occasional stops along their normal return-home route," he said. That means you wouldn't be allowed to go to Hawaii Kai if you lived in Mililani.
A check of the records of the driver in question showed a "complaint-free" vehicle history, Souza said.
In the future, if you have a question about any city vehicle, call the Customer Services Department at 523-4381.
More on mulch
Mulching operations at the Kapaa Transfer Station remain temporarily on hold (see Thursday's Kokua Line); however, the city's recycling office says it now has mulch available to the public at that site.The mulch offered by the recycling office is separate from mulching operations handled by the city's Department of Environmental Services, said recycling specialist Henry Gabriel.
You can get free mulch at the Kapaa station 10 a.m-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, he said.
Auwe
To the female passenger in the Jaguar traveling east-bound on Nimitz Highway at 2:45 p.m. Monday, March 13. You threw your cigarette butt out onto the street. Have some pride -- keep your butts inside. -- K.S.
Mahalo
To all who stopped to offer assistance and rendered aid to an injured jogger on March 2 in front of Wahiawa Elementary School. She is recovering nicely from surgery. May you always be blessed with good fortune. -- Three Wahiawa Joggers
Auwe
To the many cars now running red lights. Not yellow then red, but RED. Hooray to those of us who are NOT jumping the green. To the red-light runners who cause a tragedy: may it be your own. -- Barbara Hudman
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