Verizon’s 2005 telephone directories are in

The Official 2005 CNMI Telephone Directory by Verizon has just arrived and is now ready for distribution. Fifty-thousand copies are available for CNMI residents and can be found throughout the islands.

Customers who would like to pick up a copy today can go to the following locations where they will be available: the Verizon customer service center in Chalan Laulau, Chalan Kanoa Post Office, Capitol Hill Post Office, Papago Post Office, Joeten Susupe, Commonwealth Utilities Corp., 99 Cents Supermarket, Shell Gas Station in San Roque, Han Nam Market, Dolphin Wholesale, and Kagman Market.

Verizon said there are new and exciting features in this year’s telephone directory, including an easier to read map of Saipan, an attractive calendar, a tide chart to understand the ocean patterns, and an entertainment guide to provide ideas on how to better use the yellow pages.

“We have also added a correction/suggestion form so that our customers can give us feedback on the format and layout of this year’s directory. The input from our customers will be used as a guide to better improve next year’s phone book for the benefit of our customers,” said Carlene Reyes-Tenorio, the marketing coordinator/public relations/communications of Verizon.

The front cover of this year’s phone book is entitled “The House of Taga” and is one of the banana paintings of local artist Douglas Rankin of As Matuis. Rankin has been painting with banana tree parts for more than 10 years and is always amazed at how beautiful the island scene looks using this method. He gives credit to his wife and his children for their support.

Reyes-Tenorio said that about 90 entries were submitted for the directory’s cover art and Rankin’s painting was chosen by the panel of judges.

“Mr. Rankin’s painting of Managaha Island has also been selected for the Verizon calendar and about 20,000 copies are available for our customers on a first come, first serve basis. In return, Mr. Rankin has been awarded over $8,000 worth of advertisements in the 2005 Telephone Directory and we congratulate him for having his artwork featured this year, said Reyes-Tenorio.”

For more information about this year’s telephone directory or if you would like to find out how you can advertise in next year’s phone book, call 682-2896 or 234-7143.