Q. I would like to know if there will be another free public shredding event anytime soon. I read about one last year at the state Capitol. I bet after people complete their taxes they begin thinking about getting rid of old paperwork that they wouldn't feel comfortable throwing away or putting in the recycling. What do you suggest?

A. The Hawai'i office of AARP is happy to help again this year, according to spokesman Bruce Bottorff.

You weren't the only one who valued the free service. "We've had a lot of people asking about it," he said. "We need volunteers to do it."

There are some guidelines. "We are asking that people bring no more than about four boxes of papers to the event — about as much as can be fit in the trunk of an average car — in order to discourage businesses from loading up truck loads of paper they want destroyed," Bottorff said.

AARP Hawai'i is getting assistance from the company Shred-it, which offers its mobile shredders and staff free of charge on that day as a public service. Bottorff said the company's shredders are "so strong they'll even destroy compact discs with no problem."

This year, folks who want free shredding can get that service from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 14. He said AARP Hawai'i will return to the state Capitol, and use the Beretania Street drop-off area near the Father Damien statue.

The same service will be offered on the same date and time in Kapolei in the parking lot of Home Depot, Bottorff said.

Last year the organization got some help from the Leo Club at Roosevelt High School.

For more information and to volunteer, please call 545-6006.

Q. I noticed that more people seem to be raising chickens in their yards. In Honolulu, how many chickens can a person have in a residential neighborhood? The chickens can be loud, and I believe there is a limit?

A. You're right, there is a limit. In Honolulu, city ordinance limits the number of chickens to two per residential household, according to police. If you believe a neighbor owns more than that, you may call police to report the violation. If a violation is found, owners can be subject to a series of escalating fines.

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