$7M to battle minors' drinking

The state is providing more than $7 million in federal money to the four counties to reduce and prevent underage drinking in Hawaii.

Honolulu is getting $2.3 million, while the Big Island will receive $2.1 million. Maui County's share is $1.4 million, and Kauai will get $1.2 million.

Through a 2006 federal grant, the state committed $10.4 million over five years to address the public health concern of underage drinking.

The program calls for developing a comprehensive strategic prevention plan, expanding the Hawaii Epidemiological Profile for Substance Abuse Prevention, and distributing funds to each of the four county mayor's offices to coordinate activities at the community level.

h3>Aiea Gym reopens after 3 months The Aiea Gym has been reopened after a fix-up that included replacing the electrical system and spending more than $27,500 to repair damage caused by vandalism, when floors were flooded by a fire hose after a break-in Nov. 8.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann called the vandalism a selfish act and asked everyone to do what they could to prevent damage to the gym in the future.

The closure forced the relocation of international badminton and gymnastics tournaments, disrupted basketball league play and displaced hundreds of gym users, the city said.

Transportation plan up for comment

The public can submit comments on a proposed revision to the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program document, which identifies projects for federal funding.

The revision adds the city's Kamokila Boulevard restoration project, which is expected to use federal stimulus funds this year, as well as other backup projects for stimulus funding.

New project information and a summary of the changes are available on the state Department of Transportation's Web site at hawaii.gov/dot/highways/STIP/fy2008-2013-revisions.htm.

Hard copies of the proposed STIP can be obtained by calling 587-6355. Comments can be submitted to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), faxed to 587-1787 or mailed to Highway Planning Branch, 869 Punchbowl St., Room 301, Honolulu 96813.

Free event talks about heart disease

Hawaii Pacific Health will host a free community event Saturday featuring a panel of experts to help the public learn how to prevent heart disease, the leading cause of death in the state.

“;Valentine in Paradise: Take Care of Your Heart”; will be from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Ala Moana Hotel, Hibiscus Ballroom. Leeward/West Oahu residents may participate via videoconference from Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi.

To register or obtain more information, call 522-3469. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. Seating is limited.

UH regents might rename Maui CC

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents will consider changing the name of Maui Community College to UH Maui College since the school now offers four-year bachelor's degrees.

In a memo to the regents, Maui Chancellor Clyde Sakamoto said the name change will help the college in marketing efforts to recruit students for both the four-year and two-year degrees. If approved, the name change will take effect this spring.

“;The name University of Hawaii Maui College would more clearly identify an institution where they (students) would choose to earn a baccalaureate degree,”; Sakamoto wrote.

Last May the regents approved a second bachelor's degree in applied science in engineering technology. The college also offers a four-year degree in applied business and information technology and 15 two-year associate degrees.

The regents meet tomorrow at the John A. Burns School of Medicine.