Mondays launch a new work week. This one also kicks off the community conversation about the proposed amendments to the City Charter.

All meetings start at 6 p.m., including the first tonight in the City Council Committee Meeting Room, Honolulu Hale’s room 205.

There are two more this week: Wednesday at Mililani High School cafetorium; and Friday in room 115, Hale Kuhina, Windward Community College. Then, University of Hawaii at West Oahu will host the final meeting on July 6 in multipurpose room C-208.

Think of the great pile of ballot questions you will confront in the election. Wouldn’t it be nice to understand the issues, this time around?

It’s needling to know that spray vaccine didn’t work

Sorry kids, but looks like it’s back to the old-fashioned flu shot, instead of the nasal squirt.

For the last few years, the nasal spray version of the annual flu vaccine has been widely offered; in fact, Hawaii’s public schools have offered kids the option of spray or shot. For the needle-averse, the squirt was a popular and welcome choice.

But now comes word that the nasal spray vaccine has performed dismally for the third straight year, failing to protect kids again last year, prompting an expert panel to recommend that doctors stop giving it to patients.

Just remember: An ouch of prevention is worth a pound of cure.