KIUC members to vote on fee for old meters

A group of Kauai Island Utility Cooperative members has gathered enough signatures to challenge the KIUC board’s decision to impose a fee on utility customers who chose not to have a wireless smart meter installed.

The Hawaii Public Utilities Commission on Oct. 31 approved the fee KIUC proposed, describing it as "reasonable." The fees took effect Nov. 4. Customers without a smart meter pay $10.27 per month for the extra costs of manually reading and servicing the old meters.

Board policy enables petitioners who gather at least 250 valid signatures to put to a vote any action of the elected, nine-member cooperative board. KIUC officials said Wednesday they had verified the authenticity of the signatures.

The next step is for the board to meet the petitioning group to discuss the method of submitting the challenged action to the members for a vote and to develop the wording of the ballot.

Clinic opens for urgent orthopedic injuries

The state’s first urgent care center specializing in orthopedic injuries opens today on the corner of Beretania and Keeaumoku streets.

All Access Ortho at 1401 S. Beretania St. will be manned by physician assistants as well as orthopedic doctors Darryl Kan and Gary Blum for patients with injuries that need urgent care but aren’t severe enough for more costly emergency care. The clinic is open Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome.

For more information, call 356-5699.

Queen’s donating 60 motorcycle helmets

The Queen’s Medical Center is donating motorcycle helmets to 60 people at two road safety presentations that will be presented by former patients who crashed while riding.

The educational presentation will be Tuesday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the University of Hawaii at Manoa Shidler College of Business.

Seating will be available for the first 200 people who show proof of ridership (either a current motorcycle drivers license or moped registration card) and agree to complete surveys. Of the 200 audience members, 30 from each presentation will be chosen at random.

About 330 college-age motorcycle and moped riders are seen in Hawaii’s emergency rooms with serious injuries from crashes each year, the hospital said.

Other schools (public and private) may request the presentation by calling Cora Speck at 691-7059.

Liliha Bakery 15th among top 50 in U.S.

Liliha Bakery, soon to expand to the former Sam Choy’s location on Nimitz Highway, has been ranked 15th among the nation’s best 50 bakeries.

Online food site The Daily Meal reported that of the 6,000 retail bakeries in the country, it reviewed 1,400 to formulate its list of what it considers America’s 50 Best Bakeries.

The site’s coverage gives a brief history of Liliha Bakery, explaining that it opened in 1950 and that it is now best known for its coco puff pastries, which had a less-than-stellar debut in 1970. Since a recipe adjustment in 1990, the coco puff has become one of Liliha’s most popular products.

The site called the bakery a "local favorite" and a "must-visit" for those traveling to Hawaii.

The top five in the U.S., according to the site, are No. 1 Tartine Bakery, San Francisco; No. 2 Dominique Ansel, New York, famous for its trademarked "Cronuts," or doughnuts made from croissant pastry; No. 3 Flour Bakery + Cafe, Boston; No. 4, The Standard Baking Co. in Portland, Maine; and No. 5, Macrina Bakery, Seattle.

AT&T opening store at Ala Moana Center

AT&T is opening a new retail store in Ala Moana Center at 9:30 a.m. today. A grand-opening event will be held Saturday from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. and will feature a Hawaiian blessing.

Store hours will be Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The store is located on the street level 1-C close to Nordstrom and adjacent to Nature Republic and Ala Moana Golf Shop.

ON THE MOVE

Hawaii Medical Service Association has announced two new members of its leadership team: 
>> Dr. George Bussey is chief medical officer and senior vice president of its health services division.
>> Elena Kambitsi is senior vice president of its consumer strategy division.

San Diego-based industry veteran Tammi Terrell has been promoted by AT&T to vice president general manager for the Southwest and Hawaii markets from vice president general manager for the Paradise market (San Diego, Hawaii and Las Vegas). Terrell is doubling her territory by picking up two additional markets — Arizona and New Mexico — and will oversee sales and operations for more than 1,500 employees, 90 AT&T-owned retail locations and more than 600 national retail partners and authorized resellers across the region.

SHIP AHOY!

Today’s ship arrivals and departures