Community Briefs – September 8, 2014

International Festival of Cultures kicks off Sept. 13
The Marianas Visitors Authority kicks off its newest annual signature event, the International Festival of Cultures, on Sept. 13, 2014. Organized in conjunction with the Commonwealth Council for Arts & Culture and PDM Promoters, the festival will be staged for four consecutive Saturdays—Sept. 13, 20, and 27 and Oct. 4, 2014—at the Paseo de Marianas pedestrian mall in Garapan. A parade of cultures will be held on Oct. 4 at 5:30pm in Garapan from the Carolinian Affairs Office north along Beach Road to American Memorial Park, ending at Coral Tree Avenue. Booths will open at 5pm. Performances begin at 6pm and the event will run until 11pm. Admission is free. (MVA)

Navy training on Farallon de Medinilla
The U.S. Navy will conduct training on the island of Farallon de Medinilla on Sept. 5, from 7pm to 11:59pm. The U.S. military will conduct training on the island from 5am on Sept. 8 to 11:59pm on Oct. 6. The general public—especially fishermen, commercial pilots, and marine tour operators—are advised to stay clear from the area during the times and date indicated. The general location of the training is on the island of Farallon de Medinilla 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)

Japan Consulate offers class on Japanese culture
The Consular Office of Japan on Saipan will host a class about the Japanese culture on Friday, Sept. 19, 2014, from 3pm to 4:30pm, at the conference room of the Consular Office of Japan, second floor of the Bank of Hawaii Building, Mariana Heights Business Park, Puerto Rico, Saipan. The lecture will focus on the nature of Japanese culture, haiku (Japanese poetry), and Japan video topics. Any interested person is requested to register by Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014, by contacting the Saipan Secretariat at cojsf@ag.mofa.go.jp. The class will be limited to 10 people and will be on a first-come, first-served basis. (PR)

Free workshop on project planning and development
The Administration for Native Americans Pacific Region Training and Technical Assistance Center will be conducting a Project Planning & Development Training workshop at Northern Marianas College from Sept. 8 to 10, from 9am to 4pm, in room N-5. The training will be held on Saipan but will be broadcast through videoconference live to Rota (NMC campus) and Tinian (NMC campus). The three-day workshop is free, and you can register on the first day (Sept. 8, at NMC, Room N-5) or register online at www.anapacificbasin.org. (PR)