Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
Isle lawyer suspended 3 months for neglect
The Hawaii Supreme Court has suspended Honolulu lawyer Valerie A. Vargo from practicing law for three months beginning Sept. 13.Vargo, 48, was suspended for neglecting a civil rights action for about four years, according to a press release from the Office of Disciplinary Counsel. The negligence, according to the ODC, led to the court's dismissal of the case.
Vargo failed to reasonably communicate with her client and failed to withdraw from the case, "although she did not know how to prosecute such an action," the ODC said.
Vargo's motion to set aside the dismissal was denied, and her client was unable to revive the lawsuit.
The high court found Vargo violated her ethical duties to promptly deliver the case file to the client.
Vargo will not be eligible to practice law until she is reinstated. She cannot accept any new retainers, clients or legal matters, according to the ODC.
Vargo, a graduate of the University of Michigan law school, was admitted to the Hawaii bar in 1981. She could not be reached for comment.
Fund-raiser to help ill Pearl City girl, 12
A benefit fund-raiser for a 12-year-old Pearl City girl battling a rare bone cancer will be held Sept. 20 at the Treetops Restaurant in Manoa.Alyson Rod, a student at Highlands Intermediate School, has been afflicted with osteosarcoma for two years. Doctors reported the surgery she underwent was highly successful, removing 100 percent of the tumor.
"Overall, Alyson's doing really well," said her father, Robert. "There are a lot of wonderful, caring people out there."
The fund-raiser will help defray more than $500,000 in medical expenses. The event will include food, entertainment and prizes. Tickets are $25 each.
For more information, call Myra Abelaye at 258-3295.
Ghosts of Moiliili past are coming to festival
The Moiliili Community Center will host a festival from 3 to 9 p.m. Sept. 27, featuring a $7 spaghetti dinner, craft fair, country store, farmer's market, children's games and free entertainment."Discover Moiliili" will highlight a presentation of the Moiliili History Project, "The Lay of the Land: Moiliili and the University of Hawaii," at 4 p.m. At 6 p.m. a "Tribute to Glen Grant: Ghost Storytelling Contest" will also be held.
The center is at 2535 S. King St. For more information, call 955-1555.
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[Taking Notice]
Academic awards
>> Recipients of the 2003 Frances Davis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching at the University of Hawaii include David Cleveland, a professor of sociology at Honolulu Community College; Barbara Hotta, a professor of information and computer science at Leeward Community College; Linda Middleton, an assistant professor in the UH-Manoa Department of English; Brian Yamamoto, an associate professor of biological science at Kauai Community College; and Brandon Ledward, a doctoral candidate in the UH-Manoa Department of Anthropology.>> Cullen O'Neill, of Iolani School, took part recently in the 10-day National Youth Leadership Forum on Technology, joining 1,500 high school students from around the country in San Jose, Calif.
>> Joanna Alimaza, of Honolulu Community College, has received a career advancement scholarship from the Business & Professional Women's Foundation.
>> The Honchew Hee Estate Foundation has awarded its art scholarship, the Golden Callus Award of $1,000, to Sean W. Connelly. A recent graduate of Castle High School, Connelly will attend California Polytechnic State University.
>> The Filipino Chamber of Commerce awarded $1,000 scholarships to Marygrace Simeon Barba, of Waipahu High School; Joice Marlee Castillo, of Lahainaluna School; Sean Connelly, of Castle High; and Cleofins Ramos, of Waimea High.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffWEST OAHU
Display of rifle replica lands pair in custody
Police arrested two male suspects in Aiea for allegedly carrying a realistic-looking fake gun in public and for suspicion of first-degree terroristic threatening yesterday morning.Two women were traveling south on the H-2 freeway when they saw a passenger armed with what appeared to be a rifle in another vehicle following them, police said. The Mililani women drove to a police portable building in the Aiea Safeway parking lot. The two Oahu males, ages 21 and 14, followed the women into the parking lot and were arrested by police at about 9:15 a.m., police said. The rifle was actually a replica gun that resembled a Colt M-16. A city law bans carrying unconcealed replica guns in public.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
