The Big Island Press Club announces its annual Christmas Luncheon and Torch of Light Award Ceremony, Saturday, Dec. 8 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hilo Bay Café restaurant. Brian Black, president and executive director of the nonprofit Civil Beat Law Center, will be honored as the Big Island Press Club’s 2018 Torch of Light award winner.
BIPC is honoring Black for his commitment to transparency and responsiveness in government. “Open government is a cornerstone of democracy and critical to an informed electorate,” is Black’s motto, and he’s always been a great resource for journalists all over the state.
“The Law Center strongly believes that government business should be conducted as openly as possible because secrecy only fuels distrust of public officials,” according to its website. “Anyone with questions about access to government information or meetings in Hawaii may contact the Law Center for advice.”
Tickets are $30 for club members, $35 for non-members and may be purchased on Eventbrite.com (https://bit.ly/2Q7SYeL). Deadline to register is Dec. 1 and attendees must choose their entree, either Hawaiian Fresh Catch Nicoise with mixed organic greens/ market beans/tomatoes/fingerling potatoes/nicoise olives/white balsamic vinegar/remoulade or the Maui Rum BBQ Ribs with cheesy scallion biscuit/lilikoi slaw.
For more information, go to www.BigIslandPressClub.org.