Bal Paterson's wreath "Ua Piha Ka Honua I Kona Nani" was named overall best in show in the City and County of Honolulu's 21st Annual Holiday Wreath Contest, winning him the Mayor's Holly Award. The wreath depicts a scene of 'i'iwi birds in a forest of 'ohi'a lehua trees at Christmas.

Other winners were: Adult Wreaths — first place, Marshall Fergerstrom; second, Jamie Barut; third, Kathy Tosh; judges' choices, Paddie Eguires and Larley Nishino. Youth Wreaths: first place, The Early Education Class of Manukai Two; second, Ahvar Emperado; third, Stevenson Middle School Video Art Computer Tech Class; judges' choices, Damien Santiago and 'Iolani Lower School grades 1-6. Theme category, "Plantation Holiday": first place, Andrew Tang; second, Seagull Schools at Kapolei Building 3; third, Davina Sanders; judges' choices, Marian Bernal and Angie Santiago.

ADULT FRIENDS FOR YOUTH HONORED

Hawai'i Psychological Association has awarded Adult Friends for Youth the Po'okela Award for promoting educational achievement and fostering hope that poverty can be overcome and destructive behavior curbed among gang members.

HEAD OF MENTORING PROGRAM RETIRING

Dr. Sidney Rosen, CEO and president of Adult Friends for Youth, has announced his retirement effective July 2, 2007. He founded the agency 20 years ago after a federally funded volunteer mentoring program for at-risk youth was initiated at University of Hawai'i's School of Social Work. AFY's mission has been to help socially and emotionally troubled teenagers and youth gangs to back away from self-destructive and dangerous behaviors.

Also retiring will be Terry Fisher, chief operating officer and 17-year veteran of AFY.

Deborah Spencer, senior master practitioner, will succeed Rosen as CEO and president. She has dedicated 18 years to the agency's efforts.

DOH prevention efforts best in U.S.

The federal government has honored the state Department of Health with the Innovation in Prevention Award, naming it the best state agency in the nation to address the issues of tobacco use, obesity, lack of physical activity and improper nutrition. Using tobacco settlement funds, DOH created the long-term, statewide initiative to reduce chronic ailments such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

CASE MIDDLE TAKES ENERGY-USE AWARD

Case Middle School at Punahou School has been named Energy Project of the Year in the 7th Energy Efficiency Awards sponsored by Hawaiian Electric Co. Case Middle School complex was lauded for use of photovoltaic technology to generate electricity, a chilled-water plant to service air conditioning needs, architectural elements of sustainable design, lighting efficiencies, and the creative use of recycled components in the building's construction.

UH-MANOA SENIOR A RHODES FINALIST

University of Hawai'i-Manoa senior psychology major Eli Tsukayama is a finalist in the process to select American university students to be Rhodes Scholars for graduate study at the University of Oxford in England. In 2004 he was awarded a UH Presidential Scholarship and transferred to Manoa from Leeward Community College, where he graduated as a valedictorian.

Tsukayama is an honors student with a 4.0 grade point average at Manoa. He credits the fact that he was home schooled. He was also a state judo champion.

FUNDRAISERS LAUD COMMUNITY GIVERS

The Association of Fundraising Professionals recently honored individuals and groups who have served the community to an extraordinary degree.

Honorees were: Outstanding Philanthropist, Dr. Lawrence K.W. Tseu, a dentist who has donated millions to various educational and nonprofit charitable organizations and is establishing a $1 million endowment to aid talented underprivileged students in becoming dentists; Outstanding Fundraiser, H. Mitch D'Olier, who, as president and CEO of both Kaneohe Ranch Co. Ltd. and the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, has helped local organizations in the areas of education, marine resource conservation and community building; Outstanding Professional Fundraiser, S. Terry Wells, assistant vice president for development of Shidler College of Business at UH-Manoa, who has raised more than $30 million over the past three years for the college; Outstanding Corporation, Central Pacific Bank, which provides support to more than 350 trade, service and charitable organizations; and Outstanding Small Business, Fine Wine Imports, which, for the past 11 years has sponsored Maui Arts & Cultural Center's major fundraiser.

FOUNDATION GIVES $1M TO KUAKINI ER

The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation has donated $1 million to Kuakini Health System to help fund the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Emergency Services facility at the hospital. The 16-bed facility is 50 percent larger than Kuakini's previous ER. It will have more private-treatment and triage rooms, a larger visitor waiting area, two trauma stations, a centrally located nurses' station and direct elevator access to the intensive care unit.