COMMUNITY BRIEFS – November 23, 2020

DYS offers home rental assistance

The Division of Youth Services is offering nine months’ worth of rental assistance to 16 qualifying families: eight on Saipan, four on Tinian, and four on Rota. Deadline is Dec. 7, 2020, 4:30pm.

In obtaining or retaining suitable housing, the following eligibility criteria must be met:

Home was destroyed by Typhoon Mangkhut;
Home was destroyed by Super Typhoon Yutu;
Did not receive funding from FEMA or SBA loan as a result of Typhoon Mangkhut or Super Typhoon Yutu;

No claims received from any private insurance due to Typhoon Mangkhut or Super Typhoon Yutu;

To pick up an application package, stop by the Kagman Community Center, DYS Admin, DYS Tinian or Rota Offices. You may download the form from www.dys.gov.mp.

For more information call (670)237-1015/1016/1018 or email Jennifer Tanaka at jtanaka@dys.gov.mp or Nina S. Nekaifes at nnekaifes@dys.gov.mp. (PR)

Hot lunch fundraiser

The Saipan Teens Unity Leos Club did their first fundraiser last Nov. 21, 2020. The hot lunch fundraiser was held at Kilili Pavilion in front of the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. The Leo members packed and sold 200 hot lunches. The purpose of this fundraiser is for Saipan Teen Unity Leo’s training and development.

This fundraiser was led by Saipan Teen Unity Leo president Vicky Ancheta, with the help of Saipan Unity Club.

Thanks to Chowtime for sponsoring and providing the food for the fundraiser. (PR)

Micro Beach and tennis court parking lots temporary closed

The Micro Beach parking lot loop and the tennis court parking lot area at the American Memorial Park will be temporary closed between the hours of 8am and 5pm today and tomorrow, Nov. 23 and 24. The work is part of a larger effort to replace solar lighting throughout the park damaged during Super Typhoon Yutu. While the park waits for the arrival of the new lights for installation, the Micro Beach parking lot will have areas that are not lit at night. The community is asked to exercise caution when visiting after dark. (NPS)

Webinar on filing business taxes online,

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce has joined with the CNMI Department of Commerce and their partner LocalGov for a step-by-step, online session to explain how to file your CNMI BGRT, hotel occupancy tax, and bar tax online.

The webinar will be on Tuesday, Nov. 24, from 10am to 11am and is limited to the first 100 registrants. For more information and to register, go to https://tinyurl.com/cnmifileonline.

For more information, visit online at www.saipanchamber.com, call 234-7150, or visit the fourth floor of the Marianas Business Plaza (Room 413). (PR)

DOD POW/MIAAA underwater survey in Guam

ASAN, Guam—The U.S. Department of Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Accounting Agency is conducting underwater surveys in the vicinity of Guam’s coastal waterways.

A U.S. Navy vessel will support a portion of the DPAA team’s diving operations to locate missing airmen from World War II.

Potential underwater survey areas around Guam include Asan Point, Hagatna Bay, Pago Bay, Pati Point, and Jinapson. The public is advised to be aware of DoD personnel operating in the areas. (PR)

USCIS updates naturalization policy

On Nov. 18, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services updated policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify the circumstances when we would find applicants ineligible for naturalization because they were not lawfully admitted for permanent residence. 

Applicants are ineligible for naturalization if they obtained lawful permanent residence status in error, by fraud or otherwise not in compliance with the law.

The update also clarifies that we review whether applicants have abandoned their LPR status when we adjudicate their naturalization application. If an applicant does not meet the burden of establishing that they maintained LPR status, we generally deny the naturalization application and place the applicant in removal proceedings by issuing a Notice to Appear. The update also provides that we generally deny a naturalization application filed on or after the effective date if the applicant is in removal proceedings pursuant to a warrant of arrest. (PR)

Military trainings

ASAN, Guam—The U.S. Navy is conducting training in Asan Point today, Nov. 23, from 6am to 11pm at the following coordinates: 13˚29’’N/144˚42’’E. The public is advised to be aware of military personnel training in the area.

The U.S. Navy will conduct training in Agat Bay and Outer Apra Harbor on Nov. 23-24 from noon to 11:55pm. Blank ammunition will be used for this training. Mariners and residents in surrounding areas should not be alarmed if they hear or see increased activity.

The U.S. Navy will conduct training in Radio Barrigada on Nov. 23-24, from noon to 11:55pm The use of blank ammunition is authorized for this training. Residents in surrounding areas should not be alarmed if they hear or see increased activity. 

The U.S. Navy will conduct live fire exercises in open ocean on Nov. 23-24, from noon to 11:55pm at coordinates: 13˚26’’N/145˚08’’E, 13˚42’’N/144˚36’’E. Marine vessels are advised to remain clear of the area for the duration of these events and to monitor the U.S. Coast Guard broadcast Notice to Mariners for advisories.

The U.S. Navy will conduct training in Hagatna Bay on Nov. 24-27, from 6am to 11pm at the following coordinates: 13˚29’’N/144˚45’’E. The public is advised to be aware of military personnel training in the area.

The U.S. Navy will conduct training in the vicinity of Agat Bay on Nov. 25, from 8am to 5pm. The public is advised to be aware of military personnel training in the area. 

The U.S. Navy will conduct training in Pago Bay on Nov. 28 to Dec. 1, from 6am to 11pm. The public is advised to be aware of military personnel training in the area.

These trainings support readiness and are critical to developing the skills needed to respond to operational missions throughout the region to ensure a stable, free, and open Indo-Pacific. (PR)

Upcoming SHEFA deadlines

The Saipan Higher Education Financial Assistance is reminding the public of its upcoming deadlines:

Deadline for spring 2021 application only is Dec. 1, 2020.

Deadline for spring 2021 supporting documents is Feb. 28, 2021. (Make sure all documents are complete before submission). (PR)