County hiring for Winter Fun Program The county is accepting job applications for its Winter Fun Program. High school students, age 16 and older, college students as well as adults can apply for recreation aide positions, the county stated in
County hiring for
Winter Fun Program
The county is accepting job applications for its Winter Fun Program. High school students, age 16 and older, college students as well as adults can apply for recreation aide positions, the county stated in a news release, and site manager positions are open to college students and adults.
The term of the temporary Winter Fun Program positions is 12 days, from Dec. 19 to 30.
Applicants may complete and submit an application online or download it at the county’s website, www.kauai.gov. Applications are also available at the Department of Parks and Recreation office at the Lihue Civic Center, Mo‘ikeha Building, suite 105.
The deadline to apply is Dec. 2. Those selected for employment will be required to pass a drug-screening test and successfully complete a fingerprinting and/or criminal history record check, the release states.
If additional support or an auxiliary aid is required for employment, contact Melanie Okamoto at 241-4462 no later than Nov. 18. For more information, visit that county’s website, www.kauai.gov, or call Parks and Recreation at 241-4460.
Garden Island FCU celebrates International Credit Union Day
Garden Island Federal Credit Union celebrated International Credit Union Day with its members, Thursday, at its Lihu‘e office.
“Garden Island FCU looks forward to ICU Day every year to remind members that they own and belong to a credit union and to show appreciation for their membership,” Keith Uyeno, president of GIFCU, said in a news release. “ICU Day is special to our members and staff because of the camaraderie and appreciation that exists between them.”
The intent of ICU Day is to bring people together to reflect upon credit union history and achievements and promote the credit union philosophy across the country, the release states. “Credit Unions Build a Better World” was this year’s ICU Day theme, acknowledging the economic and social contributions credit unions make to communities worldwide.
This year, GIFCU provided a table of rice-based refreshments to coincide with its ongoing “Have a Rice Day” promotion for the Hawai‘i Food Bank, Kaua‘i. Members who donate a 20-pound bag of rice or $12 will receive a custom-designed rice paddle from the credit union. In addition, the public can enter for a chance to win a three-night stay in a Waikiki hotel, plus a $200 dining credit, with no purchase necessary. Promotion continues until Nov. 10. Call 245-2712 for more information.
Councilman Rapozo
solicits public input
Councilman Mel Rapozo will hold public town hall meetings throughout November to solicit input on matters pertaining to communities throughout the island, a county news release states. The first round of meetings is to hear from the public and document comments and concerns. Follow-up meetings will be held on a quarterly basis.
Meetings schedule: Koloa Neighborhood Center on Nov. 3; Kapa‘a Neighborhood Center on Nov. 7; Hale Halawai Center, Hanalei, on Nov. 8; Kekaha Neighborhood Center on Nov. 14; Kalaheo Neighborhood Center on Nov. 10; Lihu‘e Neighborhood Center on Nov. 15; Kilauea Neighborhood Center on Nov. 18; and Hanapepe Library on Nov. 22. All meetings will be held from 7 to 9 p.m.
Grants available
to benefit Kekaha
Kekaha Host Community Benefits Citizens Advisory Committee announces the availability of funding to support projects that will benefit Kekaha and its residents. The county established the Kekaha Host Community Benefits Fund in 2008 to compensate the Kekaha community for the location of the landfill in their area, a news release states.
An information workshop for those interested in applying for funding will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Nov. 7 at Kekaha Neighborhood Center. Facilitators will offer a presentation to assist participants in understanding how to complete the Short Form Application for funding and will describe the proposal evaluation and selection process.
Proposed projects must solely benefit Kekaha and its residents, the release states. Proposals will be accepted from community groups and not-for-profit organizations, corporations or unincorporated associations, chartered or otherwise engaging in charitable activities in the county. Proposed projects should cover one or more of the following areas: community improvements, economic revitalization, environment/sustainability, education/culture/arts, human services, and health/wellness.
The Short Form Application and the Powerpoint presentation to be given at the workshop are available to download from the new Kekaha Host Community Benefits website www.kekahahcb.net.
Special accommodations, sign language interpreters and interpreters for non-English speaking persons are available upon request five days prior to the workshop by calling the Kauai Planning & Action Alliance project facilitator at 632-2005 or by emailing dzachary@kauainetwork.org.
State offers funds for
on-the-job training
The Hawai‘i State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is seeking employers who are hiring and training new employees who were laid off from their previous employers, a news release states. Employers are encouraged to take advantage of this rare opportunity to receive 50 to 90 percent reimbursement of the wages paid to these new workers.
Hawai‘i obtained $601,873 through a competitive grant from the U.S. Department of Labor for the period June 30, 2010 to June 30, 2012, the release states. Interested employers should contact the One-Stop Center in each county.
“On-the-job training programs are proven public-private strategies designed to encourage job growth through small businesses while also giving an opportunity for unemployed workers to gain new skills,” stated Workforce Development Division Administrator Elaine Young in the release. “We urge employers to contact their local One-Stop Centers to see if this program might be a good fit for them.”
The grant will provide training for up to 70 individuals for a period of up to six months. The goal of the program is to provide an incentive to employers to hire individuals who need hands on experience and who are likely to remain with the employer.
For more information, contact Kaua‘i’s local One-Stop at 4444 Rice St., suite 302, in Lihu‘e, call 274-3056 or email dlir.wdd.kauai@hawaii.gov.
Lihu‘e Business Association meeting Thursday
Lihu‘e Business Association will meet at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday at Duke’s Canoe Club, Kalapaki Beach. The focus of this month’s meeting is farmers’ markets.
The discussion panel will include: Laurie Ho, moderator; Melissa Mc Ferrin, executive administrator for Kaua‘i Farm Bureau; Terry Phillips, monitor of Kaua‘i County Sunshine Market; and Dharma Wease, market manager/operations director for Hanalei Sunshine Market.
The panel will discuss both public and private markets and how they have increased the availability of locally grown fresh produce and revenues for growers. It will also explore how they differ, their impact on sellers, buyers, distributors and commercial markets, their current challenges and promises, and what’s on the horizon.
For more information, contact Pat Griffin at 639-1019 or lba96766@yahoo.com.
Customers throw virtual tomatoes at supermarkets over farmworker exploitation
Supermarket shoppers are using the world’s first-ever anti-human trafficking iPhone app to throw virtual tomatoes at corporations accused of profiting from farmworker exploitation, according to a news release.
The app, Angry Tomato, is part of an ongoing series of campaigns on Change.org asking Trader Joe’s, Publix, Kroger, Giant, Stop & Shop and other supermarket chains to participate in the Coalition of Immokalee Workers’ Fair Food Program, which would protect farmworkers from abuses such as modern-day slavery and raise wages a penny per pound of tomatoes picked, the release states.
Nearly 40,000 people have already signed the online petition campaign targeting Trader Joe’s, according to Change.org.
Angry Tomato is the first app developed by the Student/Farmworker Alliance for the purpose of promoting consumer advocacy on behalf of farmworkers, the release states.
