Question: Are there any of those e-waste events before the end of the year? I don’t mind driving, but I do appreciate the help unloading the car. I would like to make these donations before the end of the year.

Answer: Yes, the Going Green community recycling program has drive-thru, drop-off events scheduled for Saturday and Dec. 8. You are like many readers who appreciate these events because of the variety of items accepted and because volunteers unload the donors’ cars. Here are the details:

>> Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Kapolei High School, 91-5007 Kapolei Parkway

>> Dec. 8, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Mililani Hongwanji, 95-257 Kaloapau St.

The events will accept e-waste such as computers, monitors, printers and scanners (no limit); one TV per car; plastic or aluminum HI-5 beverage containers (no glass); lead-acid batteries; used household items and clothing in good condition, particularly prom dresses and women’s business attire; used eyeglasses and hearing aids; and towels and blankets for animal rescue. Unexpired canned goods and pet food also will be accepted.

They will not accept tires; metal (other than aluminum HI-5 containers); cooking oil; paint; motor oil or other hazardous fluids; paper (including cardboard); plastics (other than HI-5); wood; bulky items; toner and ink cartridges; and lithium, nickel cadmium and nickel hydride batteries.

Q: I am trying to help my grandmother after my grandfather’s death, but she is confused about locating certain paperwork. I recall you mentioning a clearinghouse that could be helpful but don’t recall details.

A: You may be thinking of the life insurance policy locator provided by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners; I have written about it before.

“The NAIC can assist consumers in locating life insurance policies and annuity contracts of a deceased family member or close relationship,” according to the locator’s website, 808ne.ws/insloc.

There’s no fee to use the service, which may be requested by beneficiaries, executors or legal representatives of a deceased person. You’ll need information from your grandfather’s certified death certificate to help your grandmother submit the request.

Once it is received, NAIC will ask participating companies to search their records for a life insurance policy or annuity contract in your grandfather’s name. Any company with policy information would respond to the requester directly (in this case your grandmother), as long as that person is a designated beneficiary or authorized to receive information.

It might take 90 business days to receive a response. So be sure to scour your grandfather’s financial records, safety deposit boxes and any other place he may have stored relevant documents, including in digital form. You might find the name of an insurance company you can contact directly, and more quickly.

Auwe

Auwe to all those people who think it is such great fun to explode illegal fireworks to the disrespect of the law as well as to the people of this island. — R.M.K.

Mahalo

We Windward folk are fortunate to have Straub Clinic Kaneohe. It’s an asset to all ages of our community, from babies to fellow seniors.

Upon entering the clinic the ladies at check-in greet with a demeanor of aloha.

Proceeding to the waiting room, congenial nurses administer pre-exams.

Lab work, if needed, is done efficiently by other very caring nurses. A staff of doctors, like the two I recently saw, Dr. Shun and Dr. Kim, are exceptional, attentive physicians!

Mahalo, Straub, for providing such exemplary medical care on our Windward side. — Patient Paul

Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.