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[ TAKING NOTICE ]

» The American Heart Association, Oahu Division, has honored five volunteers at the Queen's Medical Center who help in the fight against heart disease and stroke. Pearl Whittacker, a senior cardiovascular sonographer, was given the Gold Heart Award, the group's highest honor, awarded to the volunteer who has served most admirably and made a remarkable impact. Dr. Cherylee Chang received the Operation Stroke Chairman Award; Beth Freitas, the Speaker's Bureau Chairman Award; Donna Ready, the Outreach Award for her involvement in the Heart Walk Health Fair; and Jackie Leonard, the Oahu Heart Walk Top Walker Award, for raising more than $9,000.

» Duke's Waikiki restaurant has recognized Brian De Orio with its Coast Guard Sailor Award and Ronnie Galapan with its Civilian of the Quarter Award for the third quarter of 2004. Both were selected for their hard work, dedication and commitment to the U.S. Coast Guard.

» The March of Dimes Hawaii Chapter has selected the Hawaii Medical Service Association as recipient of the 2004 Franklin Delano Roosevelt Award for Distinguished Community Service. The March of Dimes specifically noted the support that HMSA case managers provided to members whose babies were born prematurely or with birth defects. The group also lauded HMSA's Care Connection disease management program.

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Disabled kids invited to technology camp

Children ages 8 to 13 with disabilities and their siblings are invited to a technology day camp from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today.

Camp Cool is sponsored by the Assistive Technology Resource Centers of Hawaii at its computer laboratory in Iwilei to expose children to an array of technology. Co-sponsor is the United Cerebral Palsy Association.

Campers can work with video, digital photography, computer-based applications or Web site development. They will have access to state-of-the-art iMac and Pentium computers, broadband Internet connections, a range of assistive technology for computer access and an adaptive work environment.

The $10 fee to participate includes lunch and a Camp Cool T-shirt. Enrollment is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis.

More information may be obtained by calling 532-7110.

Assistive Technology Resource Centers of Hawaii is a statewide, nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring access to assistive technology for persons with disabilities.

Grants aid education on invasive species

The Hawaii Invasive Species Council has granted more than $107,000 to groups that aim to educate the public on how they can help fight invasive species.

Projects being funded include the state Health Department's $10,000 "Fight the Bite" West Nile virus prevention campaign, which included radio and city bus ads. Leeward Community College's Educational Media Center also received $10,000, and will use the grant to produce a series of programs on invasive alien species.

Other grants include:

» $10,000 to the University of Hawaii-Manoa's Office of Research Services to produce a radio ad on the coqui frog.

» $9,800 to the Moanalua Gardens Foundation to update lessons on native and invasive species.

» $9,735 to the local weekly show "Outside Hawaii" for five-minute vignettes on the dangers of invasive species.

For more information on the council or the grants awarded, go to its Web site at www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/HISC.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

HONOLULU

Waialae woman struck by car is in critical condition

A 79-year-old Waialae woman was critically injured after she crossed Kaimuki Avenue outside a marked crosswalk, police said.

A Ford Explorer, driven by a 37-year-old Kapiolani area man, struck the woman at about 5 p.m. yesterday roughly 20 feet outside the crosswalk in front of Kaimuki High School, police said.

The woman was initially taken to the Queen's Medical Center in serious condition but was later downgraded at the hospital to critical condition.

Police said speed appeared to be a factor in the accident.

16-year-old girl accused of burglary

Police arrested a 16-year-old homeless girl Thursday afternoon for allegedly burglarizing a Moiliili home.

Police said the burglary occurred at 12:15 p.m. yesterday on Bingham Street.

A 25-year-old woman arrived home to find a girl climbing into an open window, police said. The woman called 911 and the suspect fled.

Police caught the suspect on Dole Street and arrested her on suspicion of first-degree burglary.

2 arrested, 1 sought in Kakaako robbery

Police arrested two men and were looking for a third in connection with a robbery in Kakaako early today.

Witnesses said the three suspects approached a 20 year old man near Auahi and Keawe streets at about 12:10 a.m. and demanded money. When the victim refused, one of the suspects punched him twice then reached around and took cash out of the victim’s wallet, police said.

Police caught two suspects, ages 22 and 20, near Auahi and Coral streets at 1:15 a.m. and arrested them for investigation of second degree robbery.

LEEWARD OAHU

Mentally retarded man reported missing again

Police are asking for the public's help in finding a 48-year-old mentally retarded man.

Randell Young was last seen at about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at his Lumiloke Street care home in Waipahu, police said.

Young has disappeared several times before and was found in the Kaimuki and Ala Moana Park areas, police said.

He is described as Chinese in ethnicity, 5 feet 5 inches tall, 180 pounds, with a heavy build, bald, and with brown eyes and a tan complexion. He was last seen wearing a red T-shirt and black pants.

Witnesses should call Investigator James Vasconcellos at 529-3064, or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300, *CRIME on a cell phone.

Police arrest man, 27, in sex assault of girl

Police arrested a 27-year-old Waipahu man who allegedly raped and fondled a 16-year-old girl over a period of several months.

The alleged sex assaults took place between Oct. 31 and Jan. 1 on three separate occasions. Police arrested the suspect Thursday at 6 p.m. at his Maikai Place home under suspicion of four counts of first-degree sexual assault and four counts of third-degree sexual assault.

Boy allegedly pushes student down stairs

Police arrested a 17-year old Pearl City High School student Thursday for allegedly pushing another student down a flight of stairs last month.

Police said that at about 9:20 a.m. on Dec. 13, the victim, a 15-year-old boy, accidentally bumped into the suspect, who in turn shoved the victim repeatedly until he fell down the stairs.

The case was originally classified as a third-degree assault, but doctors have determined since then that the victim broke a wrist bone during the fall, police said.

The suspect turned himself in at the main police station and was arrested for investigation of second-degree assault.