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Blood donors are sought islandwide

The Blood Bank of Hawaii has scheduled these blood drives around Oahu next month:

Donors must be in good health, 18 or older, weigh 110 pounds or more and provide a valid photo ID. To make an appointment or get more information, call 845-9966 or see www.bbh.org.

Medicare drug information available

An informational session on the new Medicare prescription drug benefit will be held by Hawaii Meals on Wheels from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Manoa Valley Church, 2728 Huapala St.

The new drug benefit will become available to all Medicare members in January.

Up-to-date information about enrollment and options will be presented by a speaker from the Executive Office on Aging Sage PLUS program. For more information, call 988-6747.

Health advice for travel is offered

"The ABCs of Healthy Traveling" will be discussed in the Queen's Medical Center's Health Community Lecture Series from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Queen's Conference Center Auditorium, corner of Beretania and Punchbowl streets.

Dr. Ted Leon and Patricia Polgar-Bailey, family nurse practitioner, from Queen's Travel Clinic will describe steps to ensure safe and healthy travel, pre-travel preparation and immunizations, common ailments such as diarrhea, jet lag and motion sickness, traveling with children or seniors, and post-travel illness.

Reservations are required. Call 537-7117 to register or for information. Parking is $5 in the Miller Street garage.

Cancer patients get more support

The American Cancer Society has received $2,000 from the Hawaii Community Foundation's Hartwell and Rebecca Carter Fund to support expansion of "Road to Recovery" services in West Hawaii.

The program will provide services to ensure that patients in the area are able to complete cancer treatment, such as volunteer drivers and mileage or taxi reimbursement for doctor appointments.

The gift will expand services for cancer patients to include transportation to the radiation treatment center at Kona Community Hospital in Kealakekua.

For more information, call the American Cancer Society at 595-7500 or the ACS West Hawaii Office at 808-334-0442.

Hepatitis epidemic to be discussed

"HIV, Hepatitis B & C and Substance Users, the Silent Epidemics in Hawaii" will be discussed at a free dinner meeting from 7 to 9 p.m. July 13 at the First Unitarian Church, 2500 Pali Highway.

Guest speakers will be Kenneth Akinaka, executive director and co-founder of Hepatitis Prevention, Education, Treatment and Support Network of Hawaii, and Joseph Rattner, founder and president of West Oahu Hope for a Cure Foundation.

Entertainment will be provided by Danny Lopes Sr., composer of "A Part of Me, a Part of You."

The presentations will be followed by a meeting of the sponsoring organization, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

NORTH SHORE

Brush fire shuts roads, jams N. Shore traffic

A brush fire closed Kaukonahua Road between Wilikina Drive and Weed Junction, backing up traffic going to and from the North Shore.

More than 20 firefighters worked for about an hour yesterday to extinguish the fire, which started about 11:55 a.m. on a grassy lot near Kaukonahua Road. About an acre was burned, but no property was threatened.

The cause of the fire was being investigated.

HONOLULU

Man, 33, allegedly beats his girlfriend

Police arrested a 33-year-old man who allegedly beat his girlfriend and kept her at their apartment for a day before she escaped.

The assault took place Monday and police said the victim, 22, was unable to leave the couple's Moanalua Road unit until the suspect fell asleep the next day.

Police arrested the suspect for investigation of kidnapping and abuse of a household member.

CENTRAL OAHU

Boyfriend arrested in break-in and assault

Police arrested a 38-year-old man who allegedly broke into his estranged girlfriend's apartment in Wahiawa and assaulted her.

The victim, 25, said the incident took place Sunday at 5:45 a.m. Police said that after breaking into the victim's apartment, the suspect choked her, pulled her off the bed by her hair, then broke her cell phone by throwing it against the wall.

Police said the victim screamed for help and the suspect fled. He was arrested Thursday for investigation of first-degree burglary.