Fun Events Support Good Causes

So many great events are coming up, starting next week and continuing through September, and whether you turn out to support a noble cause or just to have some fun, both are good reasons to participate.

On Aug. 1, tickets go on sale for the fifth annual Kaua’i Historical Society Victorian Tea. Cochairwomen Lori Marston and Cherril Sparks, along with their hardworking volunteer committee, are busy putting the final touches on this year’s gala event and are pleased to announce the wahine-only event will be held at Makanalani Ranch in Kilauea. Makanalani, or “heavenly gift,” is an unspoiled haven with a sprawling ranch house nestled in a unique Hawaiian atmosphere. As with past events, adult ladies will be treated to a savory menu of scrumptious high-tea delights as well as entertainment and activities that harken images of the past. For information, call 245-3373^…

The Friends of the Children’s Justice Center – a nonprofit that helps local children who have been abused – will host its seventh annual pau hana fundraiser Aug. 2 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Kaua’i Marriott Tennis Courts in Lihu’e. Cost is $40. A silent auction has offerings ranging from a Capt. Andy’s sailboat cruise and National Tropical Botanical Garden tours to a horseback ride tour for two. Funds raised will support the center, which also assists in forensic interviews of child victims, to avoid the additional trauma of being interviewed more than once by prosecutors, police and advocates …

In 2011, the Kaua’i CJC interviewed 78 young victims of abuse. In April, joining in a statewide effort, the CJC of Kaua’i collected 80 pairs of slippers ranging in sizes for 1- to 17-year-olds to represent the island’s child victims of abuse, in the hope of raising awareness of child abuse on Kaua’i, with a focus on sexual abuse. Fundraiser tickets are available for purchase at the Wine Shop in Koloa, Pictures Plus in Lihue, Costuless in Kapaa, Vicky’s Fabric in Kapaa and Island Soap and Candle Works in Kilauea. For more information, email cjcfriends@yahoo.com, call 246-6214 or go to cjcfriendskauai.com …

What a great turnout the Tree Tunnel cleanup had this year. Aunty Stella Burgess says 125 volunteers came to help. No Kai Oi landscaping offered a hand too, offering use of its equipment, and a full County of Kaua’i crew took advantage of the road being closed to get major tree trimming done. Mahalo! …

In anticipation of a large turnout at the public hearing for Bill No. 2491 (relating to pesticides and GMOs), Kaua’i County Council will hold the public hearing July 31 at 1:30 p.m. at Kaua’i Community College Performing Arts Center (instead of the Historic County Building Council Chambers). Bill No. 2491 proposes to establish provisions governing the use of pesticides and GMOs by requiring applicable entities to make various disclosures related to all pesticides and all GMOs, and also would require buffer zones for applicable entities and a temporary moratorium regarding GMOs, as well as create an Environmental Impact Statement, permitting, and open-air testing of experimental pesticides and genetically modified organisms. All other business will be handled earlier in the morning at the Historic County Building Council Chambers. The council will recess at approximately 12:30 p.m. before commencing with the public hearing on Bill No. 2491 at 1:30 p.m. at the KCC Performing Arts Center. Comments will be accepted at the public hearing, but written testimony prior to the meeting also is welcome and may be hand-delivered to the Office of the County Clerk, Historic County Building, 4396 Rice St., Suite 209, Lihue, 96766, faxed to 241-6349 or emailed to counciltestimony@kauai.gov. Visit the County Council’s Web page at kauai.gov for information on submitting written testimony. For more information, call 241-4188 …

The Open Space Commission will host a community meeting tonight (July 24) from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Hanalei at Hale Halawai ‘Ohana ‘O Hanalei, also known as Hanalei Community Center. Over the past two months, the Open Space Commission has hosted community meetings around the island gathering input from the public regarding places on Kaua’i that they feel should be preserved and protected. The Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Fund Commission will begin to draft biennial recommendations to the County Council on which sites should be acquired using the Open Space Fund. To complete the Open Space Survey online, go to: kauai.gov/OpenSpaceSurvey. Ideas expressed in the survey will be taken into consideration and may be incorporated in the commission’s biennial recommendations to the County Council on which sites should be acquired using the Open Space Fund. Completed surveys can be emailed to openspace@kauai.gov, dropped off or mailed to the County of Kaua’i, Planning Department – Open Space Commission, 4444 Rice St., Suite 473A, Lihu’e, HI 96766…

The County Planning Department has established a new policy on requests for determinations on potential and existing permit or zoning requirements that will take effect Aug. 1. The new process includes filling out the determination request form, which can be accessed on the county website (kauai.gov/planning), writing a letter stating the request and providing documentation, scanning all documents and submitting in PDF format to planningdeterminations@kauai.gov. Those without Internet access can call 241-4050 for assistance … agregg@civicmindedbylines.com