A 51-year-old lawyer has been suspended from the practice of law for failing to cooperate with the Office of Disciplinary Counsel's investigation of her conduct in four cases, according to the office.

The Hawai'i Supreme Court suspended Jameelah Peer pending a further order of the court, the office said.

REHAB CENTER GETS ACCREDITED

The Salvation Army Family Treatment Services has received its fourth three-year accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.

The accreditation covers programs such as case management, services, treatment and housing for adults who need help with alcohol, drugs and mental-health problems; day treatment for children with mental-health issues and community services for youth.

HPU GRADUATES CELEBRATE JAN. 10

Hawai'i Pacific University will graduate nearly 600 students at its Jan. 10 Winter Commencement at the Waikiki Shell.

HPU's nursing program also will confer bachelor's and master's degrees to nearly 100 students.

Alissa Arp, HPU vice president for Research and Dean of the College of Natural Sciences, will deliver the commencement speech and receive the Fellow of the Pacific Award.

Valedictorians Kyle Galdeira, Kathleen Wilson and Master Chief Petty Officer Ace. S. Tufu also will give presentations.

The ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m.

FEMA HELPLINE CHANGES HOURS

The Federal Emergency Management Agency's toll-free helpline hours have been changed.

Although the disaster agency's registration period closed Dec. 22 for victims of October's earthquakes on the Big Island, the Helpline will remain open for 18 months for those who have questions about their claims.

The Helpline will be open today from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., but will be closed Monday.

Starting Tuesday, the new hours will be 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The number is (800) 621-3362; or (800) 462-7585 (TTY) for hearing- and speech-impaired.

GRANT WORKSHOPS OFFERED TO GROUPS

The University of Hawai'i Center on the Family will offer informational workshops in January for grassroots, community service and faith-based organizations interested in obtaining training, technical assistance and grants to build social services for Hawai'i's low-income and underserved populations.

Up to 18 organizations will be selected to participate in the Compassion Capital — Hawai'i Moving Forward Program, a capacity-building and grant-funding project. The program will include organizational assessments, technical assistance and the opportunity to apply for grants.

The workshops will be held in Kona, Hilo, Kaua'i, Maui and O'ahu.

Visit www.uhfamily.hawaii.edu or call 956-3844 for more information.

MOCHI POUNDING AT WAILEA VILLAGE

HAKALAU, Hawai'i — Wailea Village will host its ninth annual New Year's mochi pounding celebration from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Akiko's Buddhist B&B in Wailea, Hakalau, at the 15-mile marker on Highway 19.

Visitors are asked to park at the baseball field and walk to the village. In addition to mochi pounding and sampling, there will be Hawaiian entertainment, taiko drumming, fortune telling and crafts. A chicken hekka lunch will be sold for $5.

ROAD CLOSURE TO PROTECT NENE

HILO, Hawai'i — Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park has closed a portion of a backcountry road to protect nesting nene.

"There are only a few breeding pair in the area. So protection of each individual nene is vital for the survival of the population there," said ranger Mardie Lane.

The endangered nene, or Hawaiian goose, is Hawai'i's state bird. Its population in the Islands numbers about 1,400.

The first four miles of the nine-mile Hilina Pali Road will remain open. Hikers seeking to make overnight trips to the area may apply for a permit to travel the closed portion of the road, Lane said.

However, dogs will not be allowed on Hilina Pali Road, the park said.

The restrictions will remain in effect until further notice.