Thankful Especially For Health

There’s nothing like a blast of the flu to put a regularly healthy life into perspective. After a 24-hour bout of misery, I’m having a newfound appreciation for the health-filled life I normally enjoy. Funny how I take such things for granted until something like that hits me, reminding me of all I have to be thankful for. There are so many things to be grateful for, including our health, and I hope that we each remember that not only as we celebrate Thanksgiving Day this week, but throughout our lives …

Before filling your bellies with Thanksgiving Day yummies, consider a little morning workout at the Old Town Kapaa Turkey Trot. Work It Out presents the annual event in which participants may walk, run or bike 5K or 10K on Ke Ala Hele Makalae. The informal “race” begins at 7:30 a.m. and starts and ends at Kapaa Beach Park. Nonperishable food for Hale Ho’omalu and donations for Kauai Path will be accepted. Registration is on site. Call 822-2292 for more information …

Make a difference in someone’s life this holiday season and help those who are hungry by donating to the annual Check-Out Hunger campaign presented by Hawaii Foodbank-Kauai branch and Kraft. You can purchase tickets of varying values at checkout counters at Safeway, Times and Big Save to help feed hungry families across the island. A little bit goes a long way …

A big congratulations to Marly Madayag of Kalaheo Elementary School, who was nominated as one of seven District Teachers of the Year. Monetary awards were presented to each selected teacher at a recent ceremony held at the state Capitol Auditorium that included a special performance by Polynesian Cultural Center

Wailua-Kapaa Neighborhood Association hosts Tyler Green, managing partner of Coco Palms Hui LLC Saturday (Nov.29) from 2 to 4 p.m. at Kapaa Library. He will preview the proposed 350-unit rebuild of the Wailua landmark prior to the Jan. 27, 2015, Planning Commission presentation. Visit wkna.org for more information …

Another big congratulations goes to recently sworn-in Kauai Police Department officers Kristopher Breyer, Mitchell Collier, Melissa Kiser, Richard Love, Katharine Mesanko, Blake Moura, Clayton Silva Jr., Matthew Tavares and Chantel Villatora. The 85th Police Recruit graduation ceremony was held earlier this month in the Jasmine Ballroom at Kauai Beach Resort, where Deputy Police Chief Michael Contrades introduced the incoming officers. Special awards were presented to Kiser, who won the Physical Fitness Award for showing the most improvement during training; Breyer, who received the Top Shot Award for demonstrating firearms proficiency and technical abilities; Villatora, who clinched the Academic Award for scoring the highest on all written exams; and Collier, who accepted the Leadership Award for his ability to unite the group by providing direction and a sense of purpose …

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