Community Briefs – June 7, 2017

Chamber meeting today
The Saipan Chamber of Commerce will gave a general membership meeting today, June 7, at the Saipan World Resort’s Royal Taga Ballroom. The group will also hold its annual scholarship awarding. Luncheon begins at 11:30am and the meeting starts promptly at noon. There will also be a brief presentation from Northern Marianas Business Alliance Corp. The day’s speakers will include Cathryn Javier, 2016 scholarship recipient; Glen Hunter, SYP mentor and The Shack owner; Rosalyn Ajoste, Saipan Southern High School librarian and SYP member; and Kristal Johnson, SYP member and 2016 Koblerville Elementary School Teacher of the Year. (PR)

2017 Pistang Pinoy this Sunday
In celebration of the 119th Philippine Independence Day, the United Filipino Organization, in collaboration with the office of Philippine honorary consul to the CNMI, will be hosting the Independence Day festival, Pistang Pinoy, on Sunday, June 11, starting from 7pm to 10pm, at the Marianas Business Plaza. The festivities will include live entertainment, game contests, a Pinoy photo gallery, a bounce house for the children, a boodle fight-eating area, and more. There will be a raffle drawing on the night of the festival, with the grand prize winner getting a roundtrip ticket to the Philippines Food vendors will also be present at the festival. There will also be vendors for novelty items. The highlight of the night will be the awarding of “Batang Pinoy, Batang Saipan.” During this segment of the festival, 14 young achievers will be recognized and awarded.

Comments sought on marine monument
The U.S. Department of the Interior secretary has been tasked by President Donald Trump under Executive Order 13792, issued on April 25, 2017, to conduct a review of national monuments. Public comments are being sought regarding the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument. Deadline for comments is due July 10, 2017. To submit online comments, go to https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2017/05/11/2017-09490/review-of-certain-national-monuments-established-since-1996-notice-of-opportunity-for-public-comment. Click on the “Submit a Formal Comment” green box on the right column. (PR)

Free business seminar
The Small Business Development Center will be offering a free business seminar about business structures at the Commonwealth Development Authority boardroom on Tuesday, June 20, 2017, at from 8:30am to 9:30am. It will be presented by Gregory J. Koebel, a partner of the O’Connor Berman Dotts & Banes law firm. This seminar is supported by the CNMI Department of Commerce and CDA. To register, contact the SBDC office at (670) 664-3018 or visit http://pisbdcn.ecenterdirect.com/events. (PR)

Cancer survivors, caregivers support meeting
All people facing cancer, their family members, and caregivers are invited to the next Commonwealth Cancer Association, Inc. support meeting on Thursday, June 8, starting at 5:30pm at the Hyatt Regency Saipan Giovanni’s Room. To RSVP or for more information, call the CCA at 682-0050 or email at ccamarianas@gmail.com. (PR)

Air Force training at Farallon de Medinilla
ASAN, Guam—The U.S. Air Force will conduct training at the island of Farallon de Medinilla during the following dates and times:
• June 6-7, from 8:30am to 4:30pm
• June 8, from 7:30am to noon
• June 9, from 9:30am to 1:30pm

The public—especially fishermen, commercial pilots and marine tour operators—are advised to stay clear of the areas during the dates and times indicated. The general location of the training on the island of Farallon de Medinilla will be in a 12-nautical mile radius of the island. (PR)

Notice to Prior Service Trust Fund beneficiaries
This notice applies to the Prior Service Trust Fund beneficiaries who are having their monthly benefit checks directly deposited to their account at Bank of Guam. Effective yesterday, June 1, 2017, Bank of Guam will no longer perform this service for you. In the interim, until PSTF can establish an automatic deposit clearing, PSTF will be mailing your benefit check to your mailing address on file. Contact the PSTF Administration Office at telephone number 322-9753 to confirm your current mailing address by June 1, 2017. The PSTF office is open on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8am to noon and from 1pm to 5pm. (PR)

One-day Task & Management training
The Saipan Chamber of Commerce and Island Training Solutions invites the public to a Task & Time Management seminar on Thursday, June 15, from 9am to 12pm at the Chamber’s conference room at the Marianas Business Plaza Suite 315. The training will help you establish goals, communicate effectively, and meet deadlines, attain skills to balance home and work and learn effective techniques to increase productivity. Training fee is $50 for Chamber member and $55 fore non-member. Seats are limited. For more information call 234-7150 or email coordinator@saipanchamber.com. (SCC)