Amy is a "Super Mom" by any standard. ‘Super Mom’ needs
By Pat Gee, Star-Bulletin
bunk beds, school supplies
for her three kidsShe works two jobs to make ends meet and is the single mother of three children, 13, 8 and 6 years of age. But somehow, she finds the time to give each child individual attention and emotional support.
Because she came from the "school of hard knocks," she says, Amy wants to make sure her children won't be bounced around from one home to another the way she was when growing up.
As one of eight children raised amidst domestic violence in a rough neighborhood, Amy was still determined to make a productive life for herself.
She was the only one of her brothers and sisters to graduate from high school, then she put herself through trade school. She had her first job when she was only 15.
Because Amy's children have to sleep in the living room, she would like bunk beds or a sofa bed for them. The three children could also use school supplies and clothing.
If you would like to help, send a check to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin's Good Neighbor Fund, P.O. Box 2019, Aiea 96701.
Or you can donate items to the Community Clearing House in Building 914 at the Kapalama Military Reservation on the left of Sand Island Access Road, about a half-mile beyond Kilgo's.
Call 845-1669 for information.
While the American Red Cross struggles with a difficult year, the Hawaii chapter has gained more volunteers as a result of extensive news coverage of natural disasters that swept across the mainland and elsewhere, said spokesman Russell Fujita. Disasters create awareness
of Red Cross’ missionBut monetary donations decreased by $3,000 this fiscal year, amounting to a 6-percent dip, he said.
"We've seen a positive impact. For one thing, we've seen increased awareness of the Red Cross, and more people have signed up as volunteers," Fujita said.
The number of Hawaii's volunteers grew from 139 last year to 165 this year.
"And, the volunteers we have are gaining more experience, which is important if another Iniki comes through here again," he said.
Hawaii sent 37 staff and volunteers to help victims of Hurricane Georges, which has become the national agency's most expensive disaster, costing $104 million in relief money.
The national organization has had to spend more money on disaster relief than ever before because of Hurricanes Georges and Bonnie, Tropical Storm Charley and other natural disasters.
Since Jan. 1, the Red Cross has responded to 239 disasters affecting 300,000 families in 41 states, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The agency is expected to spend a total of $160 million in relief this year.
A silent march will begin at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Honolulu Hale in tribute to Jennifer Jean Malvey, 30, who was bludgeoned to death on the Big Island. Honolulu march to pay tribute
to Big Island murder victimHer boyfriend, a 35-year-old from Kailua-Kona, has been accused in the killing, which is believed to have resulted from a domestic quarrel.
Malvey's body was discovered Nov. 7 by owners of the Other Side Bar, where she was employed, in the old industrial area of Kailua-Kona.
Concerned citizens, representatives of social service agencies and others are holding the march for Malvey as part of a series of organized marches after every suspected domestic-violence murder in Hawaii.
Objectives are to pay tribute to victims, to call community attention to the problem of domestic violence and its effects, and to generate community support for efforts to reduce such crimes.
"Remember the Dead, Cherish the Living" is the theme of the effort, held in cooperation with the city, domestic-violence prevention and education groups, and social service agencies.
Aiea Gym will host more than 1,500 teen-agers from 28 local high schools in a Hawaii Youth for Christ "gym-night" competition from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Dec. 4. 28 school teams seek
'Super Club' trophyCalled Super-Club '98, the event features athletic, intellectual and school spirit competition.
A perennial Super-Club trophy will go to the school whose students win overall in the Cheering Contest, Basketball Shoot-out, Super-Joust, Super-Bout, Super-Quiz Bowl and Best Banner Contest.
Keli'i Akina, Youth for Christ executive director, will speak. Music and teen testimonies also will take center stage.
Master of ceremonies will be Tuese Ah-kiong, 1998 U.S. Golden Gloves Super-Heavyweight Champion and full-time worker for Hawaii Youth for Christ.
Property tax assessments will be mailed to residents on Dec. 15, said Roy Amemiya, director of the city Department of Budget and Fiscal Services. Real property tax assessments
out next monthAmemiya warned residents that "property tax reduction" forms were recently sent out by a business that offered, for a fee, to help prepare an appeal of the assessments.
Amemiya said the assessments used in the mailing were as of Oct. 1, 1997, and are irrelevant today. Property owners cannot appeal last year's assessment, he said.
"We suggest that homeowners review the upcoming assessment before determining if an appeal should be considered," he said.
Amemiya said all of the services offered in the solicitation, except for the sales report, are provided by the city. A sales report can be obtained through the real estate industry, Amemiya said.
Earlier this week, the Office of Consumer Protection also issued a warning about the official-looking forms, alerting homeowners that they were not sent out by the county.
Preliminary investigations indicate the Honolulu address listed on the materials is that of a mail-forwarding service, according to the Consumer Protection office.
Mary Jane Center moves to Kaneohe temporarily
The Mary Jane Center, a Catholic Charities Family Services program, is moving temporarily to St. Stephen Diocesan Center on Pali Highway in Kaneohe.Ten Marines from the Kaneohe base were expected to help move the transitional group home and office today.
The residential program has been located for 21 years at the St. Anthony Retreat Center in Kalihi Valley.
It will occupy permanent renovated quarters in the spring at 215-A N. Kalaheo Ave. in Kailua.
The Mary Jane Center has operated a residential program as an alternative to abortion for more than 600 young women and teens with unplanned pregnancies.
Residents receive counseling, information about adoption and classes on childbirth, infant care, parenting, self-sufficiency and independent living.
Because of community and church donations, the center is able to provide mothers with baby clothes, diapers and cribs.
Narcissus contestants to visit McCully center
Fifteen contestants competing for the title of Narcissus Festival queen will make a public appearance at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow at the McCully Shopping Center.The festival's goal is to promote and preserve Chinese culture and heritage in the state. The theme of this year's event is "Remembering the Past and Imagining the Future."
The festival queen pageant will be held Jan. 16 at the Neal Blaisdell Center Concert Hall.
TV program showcases Queen's teams in action
The Queen's Medical Center emergency services team will appear in the TV series "Trauma: Life in the E.R." at 8 p.m. Tuesday on The Learning Channel (cable channel 36).The episode, called "Aloha Spirit," will show trauma surgeon Kris Gebrowski and Dr. Steve Nishida handling a variety of emergency cases while Don Fancher, a veteran emergency room physician, and nurse Cate Neal attend to less serious patients in the Convenience Care Clinic.
Two Learning Channel cameramen filmed emergency room activities 24 hours a day for several weeks earlier this year with small digital video cameras.
Goodwill Industries earns accreditation
Goodwill Industries of Hawaii has received a three-year accreditation for "quality services to individuals with disabilities."The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities commended Goodwill for efforts to train, place and support people with disabilities and remove employment barriers.
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffJealous man allegedly threatens wife with knife
Police arrested a 38-year-old man yesterday who allegedly had threatened his wife with a hunting knife.The man reportedly threatened his wife, 35, with a knife at their Oneula Street home in Ewa Beach at 3:14 p.m. after accusing her of having an affair, police said.
The man was booked for first-degree terroristic threatening and domestic abuse.
Driver in fatal crash accidentally hit the gas
A 62-year-old Waipahu woman died from injuries received when a car she was in went out of control and struck a wall yesterday in Waipahu.The woman has been identified by the medical examiner's office today as Gloria Domingo.
Police said the accident occurred just before 4:43 p.m. at Hina and Paiwa streets.
The 1990 Honda Civic four-door sedan was driven by a 55-year-old Waipahu woman, police said.
The driver was injured, but details on her condition were not available, police said.
The car was southbound on Paiwa Street and was making a left turn onto Hina Street. The driver's foot slipped off the brake and hit the gas pedal, police said.
The front-seat passenger, initially listed as critical, was pronounced dead on arrival at St. Francis Hospital West.
Her death was the 56th traffic fatality of the year on Oahu, compared with 69 at the same time last year.
Burglary suspect shoots at cops, sets house afire
HILO -- A Big Island burglary suspect shot at police early yesterday, then tried to burn the house down while he was inside it, police said.The 22-year-old Hilo man finally gave himself up after a four-hour standoff and is being held in Hilo pending charges.
The incident began at 6:08 a.m. with a call of a burglary in rural Hawaiian Acres subdivision south of Hilo. As police arrived, the suspect fired a pistol at them, forcing them to take cover in underbrush.
As the standoff progressed, the suspect set fire to the house, then tried to put the fire out, leaving it smoldering. He also threatened to kill himself and the half-dozen police officers at the scene.
Officers finally talked the man into giving up without incident and recovered his gun.
The smoldering fire burst into flames again, but volunteer firefighters were able to put it out.
After he was arrested for burglary at 10:05 a.m., police learned that the suspect was also wanted for violating probation.
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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