MEDIA RELEASE

Historical video footage of WWII military training that occurred in what today is known as the Former Waikoloa Maneuver Area —which encompasses a large portion of Waimea, Waikoloa and the coastline — is part of a new safety video that will be shown the by Army Corps of Engineers at the 5:15 p.m., Thursday, March 7 Waimea Community Association Town Meeting in Waimea School Cafeteria.

Everyone is welcome to WCA’s Town Meetings and there is no charge for membership or to participate, though donations to support the association’s activities are welcome.

Topping the agenda will be an update on the massive ongoing federally funded cleanup of unexploded ordnance (UXO) by the Army Corp of Engineers and their local contractor, Environet.

The new film to be shown includes interviews of Waimea community members about this critical cleanup effort and an intense companion educational program about UXO public safety protocols.

Environet will provide an update on the work that they are doing in the region.

Participating in the Army Corp of Engineers/Environet presentation will be a number of experts including:

* Walter Nagai, ACE Project Manager
* Gary Wolover, ACE Ordnance & Explosive Safety Specialist
* Jackie Conant, ACE Community Outreach Coordinator
* Paul Chong, State Dept of Health, Hazard Evaluation & Emergency Response Branch
* Chuck Sheppard, Environet, Inc. Field Project Manager
* Clayton Sugimoto, Wil Chee Planning, Inc., Institutional Controls Project Manager

Also on the meeting agenda will be:

* A brief update by Kevin Balog of Edwin DeLuz Trucking & Gravel LLC, about the transport of eucalyptus logs from the Hamakua Coast to a Kawaihae Log Yard for Grantham, Mayo and van Otterloo Renewable Resources.

Grantham, Mayo and van Otterloo Renewable Resoures division is often called simply GMO RR, but the GMO stands for the initials of the three partners who founded the privately-held investment firm in 1977, when genetic modification wasn’t a reality, or if anything, it was still a research project in biology labs.

The RR also might cause consternation but rather than standing for “Roundup Ready,” it’s about “Renewable Resources” because the division that the company formed in 1997 focuses on forestry.

* News and “next steps” for West Hawaii’s long dreamed of Palamanui community college campus now that UH Regents have “re-purposed” funds to complete the first phase of construction in partnership with Charles Schwab.

* A brief recap on the status of several key Legislative bills supported by the Waimea/North Hawaii community including urgently needed funding for Waimea District Park, North Hawaii Community Hospital and Kahilu Theatre, and also bills to transfer the 10-acre Mauna Kea Recreation Area and Hapuna Beach State Park from the State Department of Land and Natural Resources to the County of Hawaii.

All who attend WCA monthly Town Meetings are asked to continue the association’s commitment to help Waimea’s food pantries by bringing a donation – preferably cash or a check – or non-perishable food items.

Cash or checks are given to the Waimea pantries to purchase foods or gift certificates from local grocery stores and farmers markets so that recipients are able to buy fresh items such as vegetables, fruit and milk as well as diapers and other essentials. Checks may be payable directly to a food pantry so the donation is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.

As usual, Starbucks-Waimea will again contribute hot coffee to the meeting, and those enjoying it are urged to express their gratitude by making a donation on the spot to the food pantry collection drive.

For information, call WCA President Sherman Warner at 885-1725 or go to www.WaimeaTown.org.