LANAI MAN STABLE AFTER TREE INCIDENT
LANAI CITY - A 55-year-old Lanai City man was in stable condition at an Oahu hospital Wednesday, two days after he was injured when a large tree branch fell on him, police said.
The man was among Lanai Tree Service workers who were cutting the tree behind the Lanai social hall on Koa Street on Monday afternoon, said Lt. Ernest Soares of the Lanai Patrol District. He said workers were using a pulley system to lower a branch when it fell on the man, who had tried to run out of its way.
The man suffered a fractured collarbone and three broken ribs, Soares said. Police, firefighters and medics responded to the 2:13 p.m. call.
The man remained hospitalized at The Queen's Medical Center.
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CHILD CARE AGENCY GETS STATE CONTRACT
WAILUKU - PATCH, a statewide child care resource and referral agency, was recently awarded a $239,750 annual state contract for three years for the Preschool Open Doors program.
The program offers low-income families the opportunity to send their children to preschool for up to one full school year through state-supported subsidies. The 2010 statewide fiscal year contract is with the state Department of Human Services.
Priority for the program is given to 4-year-old children and 3- and 4-year-olds identified as being in a "special population," such as those living in an at-risk home environment or struggling with homelessness or who are non-native English speakers.
Interested families may go online to www.patchhawaii.org or contact the Maui PATCH office at 249-0101. On Molokai and Lanai, residents can call (800) 498-4145.
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EVENT AIMS TO CUT 1ST-TIME METH USE
KAHULUI - A forum aimed at preventing the first-time use of crystal methamphetamine will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Maui Community College's Multipurpose Room 310, the Hawaii Meth Project announced.
The event is the first Maui community forum for teens and adults, according to the nonprofit group organizing the forum. It will have an overview of the crystal methamphetamine issue on Maui, prevention efforts and discussion of the Hawaii Meth Project and its volunteer program.
Scheduled speakers include Mayor Charmaine Tavares, 2nd Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza, Maui Police Department Capt. Gerald Matsunaga, who heads the vice division, and Cindy Adams, executive director of the Hawaii Meth Project.


