Community Briefs

VETERANS DAY MEETING RESCHEDULED

We would like to remind and invite all concerned and interested parties that the Office of the Military and Veterans Affairs will meet starting Oct. 14, 2004 at 3pm for the upcoming Veterans Day celebration. Meetings will be held every Thursday at 3pm at the Office of the Military and Veterans Affairs on Capital Hill, Bldg. #1364. All are welcome. For more information or questions, call the office at 664-2650/2651.

OWWA SETS TRAINING ON FOOD HANDLING, CULINARY ARTS

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, in conjunction with the Dai-Ichi Hotel Saipan Beach, is sponsoring a training on Basic Food Handling and Culinary Arts on Oct. 10, 17, 24, and 31, 2004, 1pm to 5pm, at the Filipino Workers Resource Center of the Nauru building in Susupe.

Interested members of the Filipino community are requested to register at the OWWA office, ground floor, Nauru building no later than Oct. 6, 2004. The training shall be limited to 30 participants only, hence registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

OPA WORKSHOP RESET

The Office of the Public Auditor would like to announce that the Government Accounting Training Workshop scheduled for Sept. 29 through Oct. 1, 2004, has been postponed.

The new schedule for the workshop will be Oct. 18 through 20, 2004. OPA will contact all participants and provide notice of venue.

ADA TRAININGS POSTPONED

The scheduled Americans with Disabilities Act trainings for Sept. 27 and 29 at the World Resort Hotel has been postponed to Nov. 2 and 3. Organizers of the trainings, called “Symposium: Independence Day for People with Disabilities,” apologized for the short notice and thanked everyone for their patience

REV & TAX REMINDS OF THE NEW AMNESTY PROGRAM

The Division of Revenue and Taxation is informing taxpayers that Public Law 14-28 became effective on Sept. 22, 2004, providing an amnesty period for delinquent taxpayers.

Special return forms will be available beginning Oct. 05, 2004. Delinquent taxpayers are encouraged to file a special return as soon as possible once the forms are available.

Taxpayers who need assistance on delinquent tax payments should contact collection and remittance branch manager Lisa A. Aldan at 664-1065/664-1067. Taxpayers who need assistance to file a special tax return should contact compliance branch manager Piding B. Camacho at 664-1043/664-1040.

The Division of Revenue and Taxation is located at Joeten Dandan Commercial Center, 1st floor. If you have any question(s), call 664-1000.

CHUUKESE ELECTIONS IN OCTOBER

This is to inform all Chuukese who are eligible voters in the CNMI that there will be a special election on Oct. 14, 2004 from 7am to 7pm, at the Garapan Central Park (Round House).

Please contact your regional leaders for more information.

PALAUAN VOTERS IN NMI URGED TO CAST VOTES

All Palauans who are registered voters in the Republic of Palau and are currently residing in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands are being encouraged to participate in their country’s presidential election.

The general election will be held on Nov. 2, 2004 and any voters who requested absentee ballots for the primary will automatically receive ballots for the general election.

For those who did not request the primary election’s absentee ballots may request their absentee ballots for the general election at the consulate. However, if the polling boxes going abroad is granted, then the general election for Saipan will be held on Oct. 30, 2004 and the venue will be announced later on before the general election.

For those needing more information or clarification about the primary and general elections, contact the consulate at 235-6804.

SNISWCD MEETING IN OCTOBER

The Saipan & Northern Islands Soil and Water Conservation District would like to inform the public of their monthly meeting on Oct. 6, 2004 at 1:30pm at the Natural Resources Conservation Service Office. For more information, contact 234-6170.

LOCAL ARTISTS SOUGHT FOR CNMI DIRECTORY

The Department of Community and Cultural Affairs-Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture will be creating a publication of CNMI visual and performing (folks and contemporary) artists.

The publication will provide one page per artist for a photo of the artist(s), and up to two photos of artwork or performance. Additionally, each page will include a short biography of the artist(s) and their work and contact information.

“If you would like to be included in this publication, you will need to submit a clear photo of yourself or your group, two photos of your artwork or performance, short biography and contact information to Sinforosa Pinaula at the Arts Council Office no later than Oct. 8, 2004,” DCCA said in a statement.

One copy of the publication will be provided to every artist included in the publication. The publication will be disseminated to the public and private sectors, and will be made available to individuals and entities seeking artwork or arts services.

For more information, contact Pinaula at the Arts Council at 322-9982/3.

E-FORM FOR SHEFA SCHOLARSHIP NOW AVAILABLE

Applications for Saipan Higher Education Financial Assistance are now available online and can be downloaded by accessing its website: www.saipanshefa.com.

This option is especially helpful for those students who are currently abroad, and qualified to avail of this assistance.

The scholarship, which is under the Municipality of Saipan, Office of the Mayor, aims to provide supplementary financial assistance pursuant to Saipan Local Law 13-21, to qualified residents of Saipan (inclusive of the Northern Islands) in pursuing postsecondary education on Saipan or abroad.

Under the rules, ongoing applicants need to submit official sealed transcript, valid Saipan municipal ID No., and official class registration. New applicants are asked to submit acceptance letters into a higher education institution, proof of one-year residency on Saipan, most recent official sealed transcript, and valid Saipan ID.

Completed application and supporting documents must be submitted to SHEFA at the Mayor’s Office.

For inquiries, call 234-6208/234-6280 or email jbtmayor@vzpacifica.net.