Rare, Original Copy of The Declaration of Independence on Exhibit at Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, April 19 and 20
The community is invited to view one of only 25 remaining, original copies of the Declaration of Independence. This rare artifact will be on exhibit at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, April 19 and 20, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. The exhibit also features an entertaining and educational video hosted by actor Reese Witherspoon explaining the history of the Declaration and its relevance to contemporary America. Also showing is a 14-minute film, produced by Norman Lear and Rob Reiner at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. This film, which is powerful theatrical presentation of the document, features Mel Gibson, Benicio Del Toro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman and Rene Zellweger.
Admission is free. Visitors will also have access to the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center’s new museum, exhibits, expanded bookstore, audio tour and USS Arizona Memorial public tour. Free tickets for the USS Arizona Memorial public tours are distributed daily on a first-come, first-served basis, with tours available from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
This rare copy of the Declaration of Independence was one of approximately 200 copies printed on the night of July 4, 1776 by Philadelphia printer John Dunlap. As of 1989, only 24 copies of the Dunlap broadsides were known to exist, until a flea market shopper bought a framed painting for four dollars. While inspecting a tear in the painting, the owner discovered a folded Dunlap broadside behind it.
This 25th copy of the Dunlap broadside was authenticated by Sotheby’s and an independent expert.
In June 2000, producer Norman Lear and his wife Lyn purchased the document on Sotheby’s online auction for $8 million and formed the Declaration of Independence Road Trip. Lear’s goal for the ten-year, cross-country tour was to exhibit in all 50 States, bringing the “People’s Document” directly to Americans – especially young people – to inspire them to participate in civic activism, to exercise their rights and, above all, to vote.
Hawaii will be 44th State on The Declaration of Independence Road Trip tour.
For more information on the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, contact the National Park Service at (808) 422-3300 or visit www.nps.gov/valr/
– Submitted by Ontai-LaGrange –
Kauai Tax Fraud Sentencing on Federal Tax Day
The U.S. Department of Justice announced today that a tax preparer on Kauai was sent to prison for falsifying return information. The statement says:
US District Court Judge J. Michael Seabright on Monday sentenced Kauai tax preparer Dennis Nimkie, age 66, to 18 months imprisonment for falsifying information on an income tax return he prepared for another person. Nimkie pled guilty to one of 26 charges but agreed that the conduct on the remaining charges could be considered in determining his sentence and the amount of restitution owed the government.
Judge Seabright ordered Nimkie to pay restitution totaling $165,117.46 to four of his former clients and the United States. Florence T. Nakakuni, United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii, said that according to the information presented to the court, Nimkie had several businesses which performed bookkeeping and tax preparation services, one of which was Kauai Bookkeepers and Tax Preparation. Nimkie admitted to the court that he prepared individual tax returns for clients which he knew contained false expenses in order to obtain tax refunds or reduce their tax liability. The indictment alleged 26 such offenses from 2003 to 2005, with tax losses of up to $18,300 for each count.
United States Attorney Nakakuni said that today, the national deadline for filing federal income tax returns for the calendar year 2010, is a reminder that we all have a responsibility not only to file income tax returns but to present accurate information to the Internal Revenue Service, and that professional tax preparers who deliberately and systematically falsify material information for their clients can expect vigorous pursuit from authorities.
The case resulted from an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation. The prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Ronald G. Johnson.
Balancing Act: House GOP and ALEC Team Up
House Republicans, in conjunction with the American Legislative Exchange Council, will hold a Balanced Budget Summit on Wednesday, April 20, 2011, from 10-11:30 a.m. at the Hawaii State Capitol auditorium “to continue the dialogue between the public and your legislators about how to best solve the State’s $1.3 billion budget shortfall.” The public is invited to attend at no charge.
Rep. Kymberly Pine said the agenda will cover: Active dialogue and solutions; Toolkits and worksheets; Why most State budgets don’t balance; Revenue and expense options; Live demonstrations; Balance the Hawaii State budget online.