COMMUNITY BRIEFS – October 14, 2011

The Division of Environment Quality has red-flagged eight beach sites on Saipan and two on Rota and is advising the public not to fish or swim within 300 feet of these locations for the next 48 hours or until otherwise notified.

The affected Saipan beaches are adjacent to the Tanapag Meeting Hall, DPW channel bridge, south Puerto Rico dump, American Memorial Park drainage, Micro Beach, Hafa-Adai Hotel, Garapan Fishing Dock, and Sugar Dock. The affected sites on Rota are the Rota West Harbor Marina and the Swimming Hole.

DEQ said that samples collected from these locations had excessive concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria (enterococci) that exceeded the CNMI Marine Water Quality Standards. These bacteria can indicate the presence of human and animal waste in the water. Water samples were taken from 38 locations on Saipan and 12 locations on Rota this week. For more information, contact DEQ at 664-8500. (DEQ)

It is time once again to have a Library Friends meeting. If you know of anyone that is interested, please encourage them to come to the meeting on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, at 11am, at the Joeten Kiyu Public Library in the annex room across the IT center. More people in attendance means more chances of electing a new board.  There are a lot of grants out there that we qualify for but cannot apply until such time as we have all officer positions filled. (PR)

Tomorrow, Oct. 15, 2011, Marianas Agupa will feature Lorenzo Cabrera, president of the Commonwealth Retirees Association, between 10am and 10:30am. The show is from 9am to 11am on Magic 100.3FM. The discussion will be on the newly enacted derivative law and other issues to protect the retirees, including the proposed legislative initiative to float a pension obligation bond.

The Chamorro radio talk show is hosted by Glenn H. Manglona. Featured reports are: World report and program review by former mayor Joseph S. Inos and a report from Rota by Thomas D. Mendiola, a special segment called Hafa Mohon with Juanita Mendiola and a report from Tinian by former senator David M. Cing. Simultaneous Internet streaming via www.magic100radio.com will be available. (PR)

The 8th Annual Sengebau Poetry Competition will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011, at the American Memorial Park Visitors Center Theatre. The competition was re-scheduled to take place during CNMI Humanities Month. Participating students and schools are asked to confirm their involvement by Friday, Oct. 21, 2011. For more information, contact Merced Ada at 235-4785 or mada@pticom.com. (PR)

Micronesian Legal Services Corp. has already held the parole-in-place workshop for immediate relatives of Freely Associated States citizens. Those who didn’t attend can pick up the folder with forms at its office in Civic Center, Susupe, Saipan.

MLSC will be having a parole-in-place workshop for IRs of U.S. citizens on Saipan on Oct. 16, 2011, Sunday, at 1pm at American Memorial Park.

They will also be holding a similar workshop on Tinian today, Oc t. 14, 2011, Tinian Elementary School at 3pm.

They will have a final parole-in-place workshop for CNMI permanent residents and for those born between 1974 and 1978 on Sunday, Oct. 23 at 1pm at American Memorial Park.

There is no charge for these workshops. However, space is limited and when the auditorium is full, the doors will be closed. Please do not bring minor children to the workshops. Please do not leave minor children unattended in the Park, museum or gift shop or at the Rota or Tinian venues. (MLSC)

TWPI will hold cast auditions for Treasure Island, an adaptation by Phil Willmott of the classic novel by Robert Louis Stevenson. Auditions are scheduled today, Oct. 14, 2011, at 4pm at T building, MHS. All students in grades 6 through 12 are invited to audition. The play is set in 1772 and starts in England. We need pirates for the trip to tropical Treasure Island…aargh! (PR)