Bee Winnerâ€™s Kin Can Take Flight

on April 10, 2013 at 12:01 am

Akira Takabayash. David Croxford photo

Kudos to Grove Farm, which is contributing roughly $4,000 to Kaua’i eighth-grader Akira Takabayashi, so additional family beyond the standard chaperone could join him at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. Takabayashi was named the 2013 Hawaii State Spelling Bee champion March 23 after correctly spelling “lamentation.” Grove Farm contributed the two additional plane tickets and an extra hotel room so his dad and sister can travel to D.C. to cheer on Akira. Kudos to Akira, for whom English is a second language. He moved to Kaua’i from Japan and already is the best youth speller in the state. Says Grove Farm’s Mike Tressler of Akira, “We are very proud of him and wish him luck.” Well said …

With Mother’s Day coming up, the Dillbergs of Dillberg Integrated Care are hoping that moms, who usually put everyone they love ahead of themselves, will get some much-deserved wellness attention. “When mom is healthy, she is energetic and has so much more to give to the people she loves,” Michelle Dillberg says. “But when mom is not feeling well, everyone suffers.”

With that in mind, DIC is offering $3,000 worth of donated care. The deadline to apply is April 15, and the Dillbergs plan to award the scholarship May 10, just before Mother’s Day. For more information call 742-9326 …

Congratulations to the teachers, principals and librarians recently honored for their work. Several resolutions and public presentations were sponsored by House Education Committee chairman Rep. Roy Takumi (D, Pearl City-Manana- Waipio) and vice chairman Rep. Takashi Ohno (D, Liliha-PuunuiAlewa Heights-Nuuanu).

Honorees included one administrator from Kaua’i: Debra Lindsey, now the Kaua’i High School principal, who was the recipient of the 2012 Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award for her work as the principal of Koloa Elementary School – her leadership, hard work and vision in transforming the school into a model learning institution. Way to represent Kaua’i …

Chief Perry with officers Whitman McCallum (left) Anthony Abalos and Deputy. Chief Michael Contrades | Photo from County of Kaua‘i

Kaua’i Police Chief Darryl D. Perry, along with the County of Kaua’i Police Commission, recognized three officers for their outstanding service in March. Officers George Laccone and Whitman McCallum were recognized for their vigilance when responding to a report of an assault in progress. Upon arriving on the scene, the officers stopped a vehicle attempting to flee the area and identified the driver as the suspect involved in the alleged assault. The officers charged one of the suspects with family abuse and third-degree assault, and also noticed contraband in the vehicle, including drug paraphernalia, methamphetamine and a substantial amount of cash.

Officer Anthony Abalos was the third officer to receive a commendation for observing marijuana in a car during a routine traffic stop. He also recovered a firearm, ammunition, drug paraphernalia and methamphetamines, which resulted in additional felony charges for the offender.

“These officers exercised diligence in what were seemingly routine calls,” Assistant Chief of the Patrol Services Bureau Ale Quibilan said. “Their attention to detail resulted in firearms and a substantial amount of illegal narcotics being taken off our streets.” Well done, officers …

It may be stinky business, but it sure helps the environment. Kaua’i County, in partnership with Kekaha Community Garden, is offering free backyard compost bins to residents, and in addition KCG also will offer a free 30-minute session of compost training, Sunday, April 14 at 3 p.m. at 4552 Auku’u Road, behind St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Kekaha. Reservations are limited to 24 people. Call 651-5197 or email kekahagarden@gmail.com to reserve a bin. For future bin distribution events, workshops and youth field trips, or to learn more, go to kekahacommunitygarden.org, or “like” them on Facebook: facebook.com/KekahaCommunityGarden …

The cast and crew of ‘Anything Goesâ€™ | Photo from Dennis McGraw

National Tropical Botanical Garden and Kaua’i Community College will host a free lecture series titled “Around the World of Plants” April 23 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the KCC cafeteria in Campus Center, featuring a film about famed botanist, anthropologist, and explorer Joseph F. Rock. Rock, who famously botanized in Hawaii in the early 20th century, also was a leader in documenting the cultures and languages of southwest China in the 1920s and ’30s. NTBG director Chipper Wichman will offer an introduction about botanical explorers and background on Rock’s role in documenting plants and people around the world …

Anything Goes, a musical comedy with music and lyrics by Cole Porter, plays April 19-21 and April 26-28 at Kaua’i War Memorial Convention Hall. Showtimes are Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. Hailed as a timeless classic, its catchy tunes include, I Get A Kick Out Of You, You’re the Top and Anything Goes. The revival is the winner of three 2011 Tony Awards, including Best Musical Revival and Choreography. The Kaua’i cast is made up of students from Kaua’i, Kapa’a and Waimea high schools. Dennis McGraw directs this production with choreography by Marc Sicignano and Sarah Smith, and musical direction by Nina Saraos. Tickets cost $10 in advance, $12 at the door for adults; $8 in advance, $10 at the door for students and are available from cast members and ticket outlets around the island …

Bee Winnerâ€™s Kin Can Take Flight

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