Newswatch

Food for Christmas

About 200 volunteers will spend their Christmas morning spreading holiday cheer to 800 homebound seniors in Lanakila Meals on Wheels’ 18th annual Christmas Day event. Volunteers will deliver hot meals, gifts and holiday cards on Oahu. To volunteer for Lanakila Meals on Wheels’ year-round efforts, call 531-0555 or go to www.lanakilapacific.org.

Governor picks 4 advisers

Gov. Neil Abercrombie has named four advisers to head his policy and legislative teams.

Wendy Clerinx, who served as Abercrombie’s legislative director for 10 years when he was a member of Congress, will be his policy director.

Tammi Oyadomari-Chun and Michael Ng were tapped to be the governor’s policy analysts.

Oyadomari-Chun was executive director of Hawaii P-20 Partnerships for Education, while Ng has been the chief budget analyst for the state House Finance Committee the last four years.

Debbie Shimizu will be Abercrombie’s legislative liaison. She has been executive director of the National Association of Social Workers’ Hawaii chapter since 1991.

Tax-help volunteers sought

Several nonprofit organizations are recruiting volunteers, especially people who are bilingual, to help people prepare tax returns.

Volunteers will receive training on preparing basic individual income tax returns. Training classes will be held in January, and volunteers are asked to donate some time during filing season from January to April. Volunteers will help the elderly, disabled, non-English speakers and people with low incomes.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance groups that are seeking help include:

» Hawaii Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development. Contact Susan at 381-0881.

» Legal Aid Society of Hawaii. Call 527-8050 or 398-8060.

» Goodwill Industries of Hawaii. Contact Edwina at 521-8634.

» Leeward Community College Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. Contact Roy at 455-0294 or kamida@hawaii.edu.

Cutter returns to isle base

The Coast Guard cutter Rush has returned to its Honolulu base after a two-month patrol in the southwestern Pacific.

The Rush’s personnel and an aircrew from Air Station Barbers Point helped enforce a Coast Guard campaign to protect fish stocks and deter illegal fishing.

Coast Guard crews conducted patrols throughout various island nations in the region, including the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Kiribati and the Cook Islands.

Crews found 14 vessels in violation of applicable regulations.