COMMUNITY BRIEFS January 22, 2009

The Marianas March Against Cancer Committee have had their first meeting and is announcing that this year’s “March Against Cancer” event will be held on May 22-23, 2009. With only a few months away, the first “Team Captain’s Meeting” is set for Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009 at 5:30pm. This meeting will take place at the Department of Public Health Deputy Secretary’s Conference room (across from the gift shop at CHC). For more information regarding this event, email Catherine Attao (attao20@yahoo.com), Chris Concepcion (chrisaconcepcion@gmail.com) or visit www.ccamarianas.org. You may also call 682-0050. The committee is encouraging all who are interested in participating to attend next week’s meeting. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B] [B]SVES 3rd Annual Canary Walkathon[/B]

The Parent, Teacher, Students Association (PTSA) of San Vicente Elementary School will be hosting the 3rd Annual Canary Walk-a-thon this Saturday, Jan. 24, at the SVES baseball field, from 7am until noon.

Proceeds from the event will go toward the expansion of the walkways from the main highway and the covering of stairway going to the school cafeteria.

Members of the PTSA have been soliciting support for the event and welcome all donations both monetary and in-kind. For more information, call the school at (670) 237-3791/3 or 237-3761. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B] [B]New CPA telephone numbers[/B]

The Commonwealth Ports Authority has changed its phones to a new system, which resulted in having to change its telephone numbers for the CPA offices at the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport. The new system is part of efforts to streamline operations and at the same time enhance efficiency. The new number sare:

Main Telephone numbers:
-(670) 237-6500
-(670) 237-6501
Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) DISPATCH: (670) 237-6551
Ports Police DISPATCH: (670) 237-6529
All other CPA numbers remain the same:
-Port of Saipan: (670) 664-3550
-CPA Tinian: (670) 433-9294
-CPA Rota: (670) 532-9497

The Zoning Office phone numbers have changed. Direct all phone calls to 670-234-9661. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B] [B]Veterans’ briefing[/B]

On Jan. 28, 2009, Gregory Reed, director of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Honolulu Hawaii, and David Larson, veteran service representative for Guam and the CNMI, will be on Saipan to give a briefing and survey of veterans’ benefit needs. They will also be entertaining questions. The input of CNMI veterans is crucial for the establishment of a local Federal Veterans Benefit Office.

The briefing will be held Jan. 28, 2009, 9am-12 noon, at the Office of Military/ Veterans Affairs on Capital Hill, Building 1364. Any questions or further information, call Ruth Coleman at the Office of Military/ Veterans Affairs at 664-2650.[B][I] (PR)[/I][/B] [B]Guam Vet Center to hold session on Saipan[/B]

The Guam Vet Center will be hosting an information and counseling session for all combat veterans and their dependents on Jan. 28 and 29, at the Office of Military and Veterans Affair on Capital Hill, Building 1364. Catherine Illarmo, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Team Leaders/LCSW from the Guam Vet Center, will be available on Jan. 28, 2009, from 9am to 4pm and on Jan. 29, 2009, from 9am to 12 noon.

There will also be a limited number of individual counseling appointments available. For those interested in counseling, call Illarmo at 1-671-472-7160/1 or Office of Military and Veteran Affairs executive officer Ruth Coleman at 664-2650. Any questions or for further information, call Coleman at 664-2650.[B][I] (PR)[/I][/B] [B]Nepalese passport found[/B]

A community resident has found a Nepalese passport. Anyone who lost a Nepalese passport may contact 287-4536. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B] [B]Aetna members welcome in the Philippines[/B]

The Northern Mariana Island Retirement Fund’s health insurance, as provided by Aetna Global Benefits (Aetna), is now being accepted in the following hospitals in the Philippines:

-Asian Hospital & Medical Center
-Makati Medical Center
-Cebu Doctors’ University Hospital

In addition, although St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City is not officially contracted with Aetna, they have on occasion allowed for one-time direct settlements, the Fund said.

All government employees and retirees receiving a pension from the Fund covered by Aetna are advised to make the necessary arrangements with these hospitals prior to traveling for medical treatment. For more information, contact Aetna at 1-800-231-7729.

The 9th MSC Family Programs Office is inviting dependents of deployed soldiers of Echo Company 100th BN 442nd and 368th MP Det. 1 for a free one-day Family Deployment Workshop and Youth Mini Camp on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2009, at the Pacific Islands Club from 9am to 5pm. You must register no later than Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009. For more information or to register, contact Marcela Moody, Family Program Assistance at (671) 344-5012, Saipan RDO Maj. Gregorio Sablan at 322-6671 or FRG leader Rita L. Chargualaf at 322-7814.[B][I] (PR)[/I][/B] [B]Tobacco vendors’ workshop set[/B]

There will be a Tobacco Merchant Education Workshop for all Class-2 Retail Dealer license holders on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2009, from 8:30am to 11:30am at the Pacific Islands Club, Napu Room. The workshop is limited to only 80 participants. To confirm one’s participation or for more information, call David R. Maratita at the Alcoholic Beverage and Tobacco Control Division at 664-3065, or Ed Camacho at the Community Guidance Center 323-6586.[B][I] (PR)[/I][/B] [B]Attention to families with disabilities on Rota[/B]

The Family Hope Center under the CNMI Council for Developmental Disabilities and Northern Marianas Protection & Advocacy Systems, Inc. would like to inform the community that the System Navigators would be traveling to Rota to conduct interviews and follow up(s) with families with disabilities on Jan. 22-23, 2009.

We are encouraging families with disabilities on Rota to contact NMPASI at 234-7273/4 for Frances Torres or Dorian Camacho or CNMI DD Council for Lillian Ada at 664-7005/7000 or cell phone no. 287-5643 for an appointment. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]