COMMUNITY BRIEFS – November 29, 2011

[B]Veterans’ outreach today, tomorrow[/B]

Tina San Agustin, the federal Department of Veterans Affairs legal administrative specialist from Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, will be on Tinian and Saipan for a veterans outreach on veterans’ federal benefits. She will also be entertaining questions and assisting with claims.

-Tinian: Nov. 29, from 8:30am to 4:30pm at the Tinian Municipal Council’s office.

-Saipan: Nov. 30 to Dec. 1, from 8:30am to 4:30pm at the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs, Building 1364, Capital Hill.

For those who wish to make an appointment or ask for further information, contact Bernie B. Dela Cruz at the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs at (670) 664-2650. (PR)

[B]WIA automates Tinian office[/B]

The CNMI Workforce Investment Agency successfully automated its Tinian office’s case management system through a technical assistance and support provided by the Guam AHRD Office. This automation enables the Tinian case manager remote access to enter real-time case management information on the main client server that is physically located in the Saipan office while assessing individuals.

Case management automation is one of WIA’s many transformation initiatives bringing the CNMI state, as a grantee of WIA federal employment and training dollars, in compliance with the mandates of the grantor agency, U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration Region 6 San Francisco Office.

CNMI WIA extends its appreciation to Frank C. Roberto, director of Guam AHRD, and to Jaime Rodriquez, systems administrator, GDOL/AHRD, for their continued technical assistance and support. (Office of the Governor)

[B]Immunization Clinic open for student immunizations[/B]

The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.’s Immunization Clinic at the Commonwealth Health Center on Lower Navy Hill will open five days a week, Monday to Friday, from 7:30am to 4:30pm, including lunch hours, to accommodate students in need of their required immunizations for school entrance.

Furthermore, parents of children who are not enrolled in school yet are also urged to make sure their children are up to date with all their immunizations and to visit the Immunization Clinic or any private clinic, including Tinian Health Center and Rota Health Center if their children are not fully immunized with their required shots. No appointment is necessary at the CHC Immunization Clinic and all vaccines are provided at no cost. For more information, contact the Immunization Clinic at 236-8745 or 236-8708/80/81. (PR)

[B]Navy, Air Force set training on WA-517, FDM[/B]

The U.S. Navy will conduct training at Warning Area 517 on Nov. 29 and 30, from 8am to 5pm. The U.S. Air Force, meanwhile, will conduct training on the island of Farallon de Medinilla on Dec. 1, from 7am to 10pm, and on Dec. 2-3, from 7am to 6pm.

The public—especially fishermen, commercial pilots, and marine tour operators—are advised to stay clear from the area during the times and dates indicated.

W-517 is an irregular shaped polygon comprising 14,000 nautical square miles of airspace that begins south of Guam and extends south-southwest in international waters. The general location of the training on the island of Farallon de Medinilla training area will be on a 10-nautical mile radius on all quadrants. For more information, contact the Joint Region Marianas Public Affairs Office at (671) 349-4055/3209. (PR)

[B]Drivers urged to watch out for cyclists[/B]

Motorists are being urged to be particularly cautious when driving on the morning of Saturday, Dec. 3, when the CNMI hosts the 5th Annual Hell of the Marianas Century Cycle.

Pacific Islands Club said that cyclists will be riding in packs from 6:30am to 9:30am on the northbound lane of Isa Drive near San Vicente, Papago, Kagman, and Capital Hill.

There will be cones to indicate the bike lane as well as DPS officers and official media vehicles. If motorists can circumvent these portions of Isa Drive in the morning, it will prevent heavy traffic congestion and enhance safety for all.

For additional safety measures, the public is being encouraged to restrain their dogs in the morning along the route.

“Drivers, please be careful as more bicyclists will be riding on the roads training from now until Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011,” the notice said. (PR)

[B]Palau Community Association meeting Saturday[/B]

Palau Community Association will be holding an important meeting on Dec. 3, 9am at Navy Hill for the 16th state president officers and all Palauans in the islands are invited. For more information, call Felisa Brel at 989-2735 or PCA president Rufino Aguon at 483-6232. (PR)