Question: Does the lady in Kailua still collect used Christmas cards? I have mine from last year because I saved them to update my address list before sending out this year’s Christmas greetings. Now that I’ve updated my list I am ready to let them go, but of course I’ve misplaced the Kokua Line column I cut out last year with the information.
Answer: Yes, and rest assured that you are not the only reader asking.
We checked in with Marilyn Gilbert, who said her church group continues to collect any type of greeting card — Christmas, birthday, Valentine’s Day, Easter, graduation, etc. — throughout the year.
“I do appreciate receiving only the fronts of used cards. I also love getting the new cards with envelopes — you know, the type that we all seem to receive in the mail from various charities,” she said. “Folks have been sending these along, with the small notepads and stickers. We use everything!”
Mail items to Gilbert at 247 Akiohala St., Kailua, HI 96734. Email her at gil.aloha@hawaiiantel.net if you have any questions.
Gilbert and others from Calvary Chapel Kaneohe cut images from used card fronts (in good condition) to decorate shoeboxes filled with basic necessities, new toys and other gifts that are sent to needy children around the world. Gilbert also uses the card fronts to make small puzzles. Donations of new stationery (complete sets), notepads and stickers are added to the shoeboxes as gifts.
Gilbert, who works on the project year-round, expressed thanks to all who have sent card fronts and new items for the shoeboxes, which are distributed through Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, an evangelical Christian relief organization.
“The Lord has truly blessed us this year. So far we have packed 6,400 boxes with one more packing party this weekend where, God willing, we will pack another 1,000 boxes. God bless you for your amazing Kokua Line, which opened Samaritan’s Purse to all of your kind and generous readers,” Gilbert said.
In this digital age, readers who exchange traditional Christmas cards seem to cherish the custom even more, and hate simply discarding cards they receive. We’ve heard from several readers asking for recycling ideas, as we do every year, and about Gilbert’s collection specifically. They will be happy to hear it continues.
Q: There’s a person on our street who parks their car on the street and their car alarm is way too sensitive. I don’t know what is setting it off every night, but something is. I talked to them but they do nothing. What’s the rule on this?
A: Motor vehicle alarms are covered in Chapter 41, Article 29 of the Revised Ordinances of Honolulu, which you can read at 808ne.ws/roh4129.
To summarize, it’s against the law for a motor vehicle alarm “to emit any audible sound for more than five continuous minutes.” Police may order the offending vehicle silenced and towed from public or private property if the vehicle’s alarm is “activated” for at least 10 minutes and noise persists intermittently or continuously during that period, including for more than five minutes straight.
Q: When they turn on the Christmas lights outside Honolulu Hale, are they left on all night?
A: Yes. “The city’s 55-foot holiday tree and other outdoor decorations are lighted nightly at approximately 6 p.m. and remain on until dawn, switching off at approximately 6 a.m.,” according to the city’s website.
This year, the tree and other holiday lights will be illuminated Dec. 2.
Mahalo
Mahalo to all those wonderful people who helped this senior citizen when I fell down Nov. 3 near the Pearlridge Bank of Hawaii. A very big mahalo to everybody who assisted. I am OK. — Grateful senior from Aiea
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.
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