Members of the Board of Education will hold an open-ended town hall meeting with the Central O'ahu community next Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The meeting will be at Mililani 'Ike Elementary School at 95-1330 Lehiwa Drive.

The public is invited to bring questions relating to the public school system or public libraries.

UH EXECUTIVE STEPPING DOWN

Sam Callejo, the University of Hawai'i vice president for administration, will retire at the end of the year after more than 20 years in government service.

Callejo joined the university in December 2002 as director of capital improvement projects, then became chief of staff in mid-2003. He then became vice president for administration in November 2004.

He helped lead the university's response to the October 2004 flood that caused nearly $100 million damage to the Manoa campus and key buildings, including Hamilton Library.

He also served as the original lead coordinator overseeing the construction of new facilities throughout the university system, including Frear Hall on the Manoa campus and the John A. Burns School of Medicine in Kaka'ako.

Before joining the university, Callejo served as the administrative director and chief of staff to Gov. Ben Cayetano, where he managed 16 state departments and coordinated with UH and the Department of Education on behalf of the governor.

Callejo began his career in public service as director and chief engineer for the City and County of Honolulu's Department of Public Works.

'READ TO A DOG' AT KAILUA LIBRARY

Kailua Public Library will hold its "Read to a Dog" event on Saturday mornings in November and December, to help school-age children gain confidence in their reading skills.

Conducted by Andrea O'Connor of the Intermountain Therapy Animals group, the free program for children in grades 1 through 3 is scheduled for Nov. 15 and 22, and Dec. 6 and 20. For each date, three children, accompanied by a parent or caregiver, will read to a dog for 20 minutes each at 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

Registration is required; call the library at 266-9911 to register for a time slot. Also, call the library if a sign-language interpreter or other special accommodation is needed.

CHRISTMAS TREES TO HELP FUND TRIP

St. John Vianney School fourth-graders are selling Christmas trees to raise money for their annual Hawaiian studies trip to the Big Island.

Hand-picked, fresh cut trees will be shipped directly to the school from the Or-West Christmas Tree Farm in Oregon in a refrigerated container.

Pickup will be from 8 a.m. to noon Nov. 29.

The cost is $65 for a 6- to 7-foot Douglas fir or $75 for a 6- to 7-foot Noble fir.

About 200 trees were ordered and are selling on a first-come-first-served basis.

Presale tickets are available at the school office, 940 Keolu Drive in Kailua, or by calling 261-4651.