News Briefs – February 6, 2017

Bodybuilding federation to host fundraiser
The Northern Marianas Bodybuilding & Physique Federation will be holding a “Party in the Park” on Feb. 25, 2017, from 6pm to 9pm, at the Garapan Central Park (Roundhouse) to raise funds for our bodybuilders to compete in local and international competitions. The cost is $20 per person.

The federation is preparing for the 3rd Annual Marianas Muscle competition to be held on March 25, 2017, and in July it will be holding the CNMI bodybuilding championships. These events will be officially sanctioned by NMBPF and will determine those competitors who will be eligible to represent the CNMI in international competitions.

For tickets, contact Jeanne Rayphand at 287-9807 or email jeanneesq@yahoo.com or Karen Davis, at 789-9214. (PR)

MMAC team captains’ meeting tomorrow
The Marianas March Against Cancer planning committee’s Subcommittee on Recruitment would like to remind team captains that Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2017, will be their first meeting for the upcoming annual event to be held on May 12, 2017, at Hopwood Middle School in Chalan Piao. The meeting will be held at the Commonwealth Cancer Association office in Gualo Rai at 6pm. For more information, contact the CCA at (670) 682-0050 or email at mmacteams@gmail.com. (PR)

Calling Tinian homestead applicants
Current Tinian homestead applicants interested in finding out the status of their homestead applications can contact Lisa Aguon, DPL Tinian Office, at (670) 433-9245 to book an appointment on Feb. 2 or 3, 2017. (PR)

USCG has new online newsroom
WASHINGTON—The U.S. Coast Guard is scheduled to launch its new, online digital newsroom, http://www.news.uscg.mil, Thursday last week.

The mobile-friendly content management system replaces the service’s previous news site, www.uscgnews.com, and offers an email subscription service that delivers both regional and national Coast Guard news.

Users can click “here to subscribe” to the news delivery service. This new capability will allow users to manage their Coast Guard news preferences through the service’s subscription preferences page.

Users currently receiving Coast Guard news via uscgnews.com will continue to receive news releases via email; however, users can opt out of the emails by clicking the unsubscribe button at the bottom of any Coast Guard email sent from the new system.

For more information, contact 202-372-4630. (USCG)

Naval Base Guam to test Giant Voice System
SANTA RITA, Guam—U.S. Naval Base Guam will conduct routine testing of the vital communication and advance warning system, “Giant Voice system on Feb. 6 starting at 3pm.
Residents in surrounding areas of the GV speakers should only hear short verbal tests of the system, including warning tones. This is a monthly test that typically falls on the first Monday of each month. (PR)

13th Hot Pepper Festival this Feb.
The 13th Tinian Hot Pepper Festival on Feb. 18-19, 2017, will again have ferry service between Saipan and Tinian this year. Festival times will be from 2pm to 11pm on Feb. 18 and from 11am to 11pm on Feb. 19.

Ferry service aboard the Super Emerald will be available on Feb. 17-20, 2017. Round trip cost is $15 (0-2 years old), $30 (3-11 years old), and $35 (age 12 and older). For one way, the cost will be $8 (0-2 years old), $15 (3-11 years old), and $18 (age 12 and older).

Passengers are allowed up to 70 lbs of cargo, including bicycles (a $10 fee will be charged for additional cargo). The ferry schedule will be announced shortly.

To support the festival, Star Marianas Air will also extend scheduled flights to 9:30pm on Feb. 17 and Feb. 18.
For more information, contact the MVA Tinian office at (670) 433-9365 or e-mail at vborja@mymarianas.com. (MVA)

Become a Reading Ranger at AMP
The American Memorial Park is inviting first to third graders on Saipan to participate in this year’s first Reading Ranger selection. Over three days, Feb. 7, 8, and 9, from 3pm to 4:30pm, young readers will be guided through The Unbreakable Code by Sara Hoagland Hunter by a park ranger.

To register your child, call lead ranger Brooke Nevitt or Jovanna Mafnas at 234-7207 or 2020. There are a limited number of spaces and participation will be determined by the date of registration. For more information on events at American Memorial Park, contact Nevitt at 234-7207 x 2020 or via email at: brooke_nevitt@nps.gov. (NPS)