YMCA program for furlough days to start sign-ups

Parents looking for child care options on the upcoming public school teacher furlough days can register starting Monday for one-day programs at the YMCA of Honolulu and its branch locations.

Parents can register their child online or in person at any local YMCA branch.

All-day programs will include homework time, enrichment projects and recreational and sports-related activities.

Programs will be available at Central, Kaimuki-Waialae, Kalihi, Leeward, Mililani, Nuuanu and Windward branches and YMCA Camp Erdman on the North Shore. Rates and hours will vary from site to site.

The YMCA is also working with the state Department of Education to expand its programs to school sites.

For more information, go to www.ymcahonolulu.org or call 531-9622.

Professor nets top astronomy award

Germany's most prestigious award for an astronomer has been presented to Rolf-Peter Kudritzki, director of the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy.

The Karl Schwarzschild Prize for 2009 was given to Kudritzki at the annual meeting of the German Astronomical Society in Potsdam, Germany.

As the prize recipient, Kudritzki gave a lecture on “;Dissecting Galaxies with the Brightest Stars in the Universe,”; explaining how studying very bright stars in distant galaxies can increase understanding of the chemical composition of galaxies and their distance from Earth.

Kudritzki was an astronomy professor and director of the Munich University Observatory before moving to the Institute for Astronomy in 2000.

He is a member of the German National Academy of Sciences and was designated a highly cited author of the Science Citation Index in 2006. His research focuses on the largest, hottest stars in our galaxy and beyond.

Hawaii facilities ordered to comply

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered two Honolulu companies to comply with Clean Water Act requirements for storm-water runoff at their facilities.

Hawaii Stevedores Inc. operates marine cargo handling facilities at Honolulu Harbor. Honolulu Marine LLC operates a boat building and repair facility on Ahui Street that discharges storm water into Kewalo Basin.

The EPA said Hawaii Stevedores must obtain a storm-water permit and comply with all conditions of the permit. The company also has 30 days to contain all pollutants stored or used at its location from being discharged in storm-water runoff.

Officials say Honolulu Marine needs to inspect its facility to ensure no pollutant sources enter into storm-water discharges.