Those who have submitted an eligible application will be asked to present an overview of their request to the Legislature and to be available for questions.

One thing that your articles neglected to include is that the state administration also reviews all grant applications and provides information and comments to the Legislature. This is an important part of the process and complements the eligibility requirements currently in place.

Last year, we received 311 applications, and generally each one of them was worthy of consideration. There are many factors that must be weighed, and we do apply broad criteria in the selection process such as whether a project fills a void in our community, how much a project receives from other public and private sources, and whether a project contributes to the state's best interests and public good.

We acknowledge The Advertiser's review of some of the problems and concerns in the grants-in-aid process.

These new procedures are a start to improving that process by making it more transparent and ensuring that the public and the nonprofit agencies are better served.

BHUTTO

WORLD LOSES GRACEFUL, INTELLIGENT LEADER

It is with sadness that the world lost courageous and brave Benazir Bhutto.

She was simply buried in a wooden coffin according to the Islamic tradition, with no public fanfare except for her supporters attending the services.

Looking back to our former presidents' funeral services, the Pakistan ex-prime minister's burial was a study of contrasts. Ours was one with millions of tax dollars spent on public fanfare.

The world has lost a very intelligent and graceful leader. I sure wish that someone of her level will rise up to the occasion.

PARKING LOT ASSAULT

SAFETY WARNING — BE ALERT TO SURROUNDINGS

As Christmas Eves go, this past one has been my most disappointing. I'm simply grateful the majority of holiday shoppers got home safely, unlike my younger sibling.

That afternoon in the parking lot of a museum, she was robbed and assaulted. Someone grabbed her hair from behind, slammed her head against the car door and shoved her to the ground, kicked her under the car, and stole her handbag. He took her rent money, priceless homemade tapa belt and iPod, and ran.

Do not get me wrong, the police, ambulance, and security arrived on the scene. She went to the hospital. Eventually, the doctors cleared her with a bruised head, legs, bank account and pride.

Luckily, she could walk away from this with her health, yet how could this have happened?

So, the next time you go out shopping — even in broad daylight — make sure you are not alone. Be safe.

VILLAGE PARK

HIGH-POWERED PELLETS FIRED THROUGH WINDOW

Something is really eating away at me that I need to get off of my chest. On Monday evening, Christmas Eve, someone drove by my home in Village Park and shot two high-powered pellets through my dining room picture window while my wife and two grandchildren were sitting at the dining table.

Luckily, the louvers were down, which deflected the flying glass and projectiles.

What kind of inhumane idiot(s) would even think about doing something of that nature in the name of fun?

I'm sure whoever did it, saw the shadows behind the louvers, and still knowingly shot.

Thank goodness no one was hurt or blinded from the flying debris.

Although both grandchildren were traumatized initially, they're both better now. A police report was filed, but that's it, just a report.

I hope whoever did it had a much more "Merry Christmas," than that you gave to us!

FIREWORKS

THINK OF PEOPLE WITH MEDICAL CONDITIONS

Before people make the decision to set off firecrackers, they should think about the many in our cities who suffer from chronic lung conditions.

Is this fun thing really necessary? Is it not selfish? Most everybody knows at least someone who cannot breathe well, even in the best of conditions.

How about going to see the public fireworks, which are offered in several places for everyone to enjoy?

FIREWORKS SET OFF NIGHTLY IN WAIPAHU

I agree with Mark Barnes (Letter, Dec. 24): There are too many illegal fireworks in Waipahu.

In our neighborhood, you would think there is a war going on, with "bombs" going off every night, every day.

As I write this at 12:06 a.m. Christmas morning, there are "intelligent" people out there who do not care about their neighbors; their acts of disturbance are irritating to the max.

They know it is illegal, but their attitude is "too bad, catch me if you can."

HAWAIIAN HOUSE

REVIEW OF DESIGN BOOK SIMPLY MISSED MARK

Professor Karl Kim's Dec. 26 review of "The Hawaiian House Now," in your Island Life section simply missed the point.

The article begins with a misspelling of the author's last name, even though it appears on the front cover.

Next, Professor Kim makes much of the book's omission of issues regarding traffic congestion, suburban sprawl, and "squatter camps and temporary shelters." It seems that he mistook this book for a textbook from one of his courses in urban and regional planning at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa. Why should a book about inspiring home design in Hawai'i tackle such complex and controversial social issues?

His overly ambitious expectations draw away from the enjoyable, diverse and lovingly described homes that are featured in this book.

I found that this book captured all the beauty and warmth that a Hawaiian house should provide.

Apparently a lot of other people agree. As I was ordering the book for a Mainland friend, I saw that it was the fifth best-selling residential design book in the nation on Amazon.com.

That a book on Hawai'i design is competing on a national level is something that should be applauded.

GOVERNMENT SPENDING

TAXPAYERS CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHERE MONEY GOES

Government spending in Hawai'i is out of control.

In the aggregate, the people of Hawai'i had income of $34.6 billion in 2006. The government took enough revenue from us last year to pay a whopping $12 billion in wages, salaries and benefits to our bureaucrats.

If we are going to shell out more than a third of our income to buy Hawai'i government "services," it might be nice if we could actually get something in return for our investment.

Our roads and highways are a shambles, our schools are a national disgrace and other infrastructure constantly fails.

It's pretty hard as a taxpayer to figure out where all this money is going.

CONCERT HALL

MOVE FORCED OUT MANY SYMPHONY PATRONS

The Honolulu Symphony can't pay musicians largely because the city Department of Enterprise Services deprived the symphony of the concert hall to make way for "The Lion King," which yielded the city a lion-sized financial feast.

The cramped confines and limited musical options in Hawai'i and Mamiya theaters cost the symphony many patrons.

The least the city can do is give the symphony $100,000 in assistance to help stop the flow of red ink.

SUGAR BOWL

WEAR YOUR WARRIORS T-SHIRTS TOMORROW

On Jan. 1, all Hawai'i residents who have University of Hawai'i Warriors T-shirts should wear them to show support for our football team.

Go Warriors.

GRADUATION

COLT BRENNAN DESERVES ALL THE MEDIA COVERAGE

In response to the letter by Kim Schauman, "Other graduates also deserved coverage" (Letter, Dec. 25): Let Colt Brennan enjoy his senior year.

He alone has made millions for the University of Hawai'i and the state. I agree with you about celebrating the accomplishments of other graduates, but let's examine Colt's story.

He went to a couple of schools, got arrested, transferred to UH as walk-on, broke records, had a third-place Heisman finish, will be quarterback in UH's first BCS bowl and graduated with his degree. What a great story.

It does not get better than that. No other single person on the UH campus has made such an impact on the state this year.

My wife just received her doctorate degree, and no one talked about her story and the work she is doing in the community. But, she did it for her family and not the media attention.

All I know is that if I had to sell a million T-shirts, then Colt would be my man. Oh, that's already happening at UH with the Warrior logo and the No. 15 jerseys and all the proceeds going to the University of Hawai'i. Now, who really deserves coverage?

BRENNAN A ROLE MODEL FOR OTHER STUDENTS

Although I do agree with Kim Schauman's opinion (Letter, Dec. 25) on lack of coverage of other University of Hawai'i graduates, I can also see a reason to focus on Colt Brennan.

Although the percentage of student-athlete graduates varies from school to school, many see college as a stepping stone to a pro career and graduating is not a priority. In covering Colt's achievements, the kids that look up to him learn that graduating is an important part of being a student athlete.

TRAFFIC

OAHU'S ROADWAYS IN DEPLORABLE CONDITION

Regarding Laverne Higa's very defensive response to the spate of recent letters to the editor concerning the condition of our roads on O'ahu, I think perhaps she should get out of her office and do some driving.

Despite her protests to the contrary, our roads are no better off than before the Hannemann administration took office — if anything, they are worse.

The condition of the roads in downtown Honolulu (i.e. Maunakea from Kukui to South King) are anything but "smooth."

Frankly, I don't care who is responsible for the condition of our roadways. Nor, I suspect, do the other folks who have written in with their concerns. Bottom line, it's like a third-world country out there.

Could it be possible that the condition of our roads is in part responsible for our deplorable traffic situation? Maybe some attention to the condition of our roads, rather than all the resources being spent on a rail system that doesn't even serve a simple majority of our citizens, would help to ease the traffic situation a bit.

The money I've spent on tires over the past couple of years tells me that whatever the city and/or state are doing to fix our roadways is not working!

Make a difference. Donate to The Advertiser Christmas Fund.