COMMUNITY BRIEFS

FARMERS’ MEETING ON AUG. 25

All farmers are invited to a meeting next week to discuss the commitment to supply the PSS school meal program with locally grown fruits and vegetables.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 9am, at the Northern Marianas College-CREES Bldg. F. This is the 2nd meeting with farmers on Saipan.

Other topics for discussion include the survey result of production capacity of local farmers; regulation on purchase of local produce vs imported produce; and contract for supply of fruits and vegetables to school meal program

For more information, contact NMC-CREES at 234-5498 Ext.1709 or 1713.

WORKSHOP ON SLUGS AND SNAILS CONTROL

All farmers and ranchers on Saipan are invited to attend a workshop that would identify and present the findings, including the biology and methods to control slug and snails on CNMI.

The workshop will be held on Aug. 24, 1:30-3:30pm, at Room D-1 of the Northern Marianas College-Saipan campus.

Workshop presenters are Dr. Robert Hollingsworth, a biologist from the U.S. Department of Agriculture; and Dr. David Robinson, a malacologist from the USDA/APHIS.

For more information, contact NMC-CREES at 234-5498 Ext. #1709 or Isidro Cabrera at 287-0571.

DES OPEN HOUSE NEXT WEEK

This is to inform all parents and guardians of Dandan Elementary School that we will be having our Open House on Thursday, Aug. 26, from 5:30pm to 6:30pm, followed by our first PTA meeting for school year 2004-2005 at 6:30pm in the school cafeteria. Your presence at our PTA meeting is very much appreciated.

SBA DISASTER APPLICATIONS’ DEADLINE TODAY

The U.S. Small Business Administration will officially close its disaster office on Saipan at 1pm today, Aug. 21, so all disaster victims who have received an SBA application are urged to return it before that deadline.

The SBA disaster office, located in Susupe at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center on Beach Road, has been open since July 30 to provide one-on-one assistance to island residents and businesses that suffered losses from Typhoon Tingting.

SBA disaster area director Alfred E. Judd said the center will be open today from 9am to 1pm.

Individuals and businesses unable to visit SBA’s disaster center may obtain information and loan applications by writing to SBA at P.O. Box 419004, Sacramento, CA 95841-9004, or by calling toll-free (800) 488-5323. Hearing impaired individuals may call (916) 735-1683.

Applications for property damage must be returned to be returned by April 20, 2005.
For more information visit SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster.

YOUTH LEARNING CENTER REGISTRATION TO START

The Garapan Youth Learning Center announces its open-house/registration beginning Aug. 30, 2004 to Sept. 3, from 9am to 4:30pm. Interested parents are encouraged to visit the center. The center provides services on tutoring in general subjects, computer lab, sports, guidance and counseling and other related educational activities. Services are free of charge and available to youth from grade levels 1st through 12th. For more information contact 664-7883.

CHECKPOINTS UP ON TUESDAY

The Department of Public Safety’s Traffic Section and Bureau of Motor Vehicle will be conducting several vehicle insurance roadblocks and checkpoints Tuesday next week.

The first set up will be conducted on Beach Road, Susupe, in front of the Multi-Purpose Center. It will be in operation at approximately 9am and will be terminated at about 10:15am.

The second set up will be on Beach Road, Susupe, in front of Minatchom Atdao. Operation will start at about 4pm and will be terminated at about 5:15pm.

The road block/checkpoint will be terminated should it rain.

For more information, contact Traffic Public Information Specialist Rosa T. Ada-Hocog, Sgt. Sylvan M. Rangamar or Sgt. Joseph A. Flores at 664-9084/5.

EMO WEBSITE NOW ONLINE

This is to inform the general public that the Emergency Management Office website is back in service as of Aug. 17, at 9:30am.

If you have any questions or concerns, call 322-8001/2/3.

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.

Saipan Mayor Juan Borja Tudela and the members of the SHEFA board said the website is now up and running and the application form for the SHEFA scholarship can now be downloaded electronically.

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 letter into a higher education institution, proof of one year residency on Saipan, most recent official sealed transcript, and valid Saipan ID. No.

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.

SHEFA board members include Jose C. Leon Guerrero, Howard I. Macaranas, Max Olopai, Felicidad T. Ogumoro, and Mayor Juan B. Tudela (ex-officio).

MY WAVE BEACH CLEANUP TODAY

The Marianas Tourism Education Council said the MY WAVE Clubs will continue their beach cleanup drive today, Aug. 21, from Kilili Beach across Ada Gym to the World Resort Hotel. Assembly time is 7: 30am.

MY WAVE Clubs were formed by MTEC in coordination with the Public School System to help promote tourism from the grassroots. Supporters include the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands and other members of the private sector, among them DFS-Saipan, Tan Holdings Corp. and Ernst & Young.

MOTHEREAD/FATHEREAD SCHEDULE OUT

The CNMI Motheread/Fatheread® schedule for its upcoming classes is as follows:

• 6pm Mondays starting Aug. 23
at Garapan Youth Learning Center

• 6pm Tuesdays starting Aug. 24
at Tanapag Head Start Center

• 6pm Wednesdays starting Aug. 25
at San Roque Head Start Center

• 6pm Thursdays starting Aug. 26
at Kagman II Head Start Center

• 10am Saturdays starting Aug. 28
at Kagman III Head Start Center

The classes run for eight weeks and meet one time a week. They are free. They are open to anyone wanting to learn how to read effectively with children as well as improve their own reading skills.

For more information contact the Motheread/Fatheread coordinator at 235-4785 or 235-7323.