Community Briefs

VETERANS DAY MEETING TOMORROW

The Office of the Military and Veterans Affairs will hold its first meeting for the upcoming celebration of “Veterans Day” on Sept. 22, 2004 on Capital Hill, Bldg 1364 at 9am. Meetings will be held every Wednesday. All are welcome.
For more information or questions, call the office at 66402650/51.

VETERAN REP TO VISIT TINIAN, ROTA

A representative from the CNMI Office of Military and Veterans Affairs will visit Rota on Sept. 22 and 23. All veterans and families of veterans who are interested in applying for Veterans Administration benefits are encouraged to meet with Ruth Coleman, veterans representative from Saipan at the Paris Café on Rota from 8am to 4pm. Coleman will also give an overview of Veterans Administration programs and services, as well as conduct/assist current disabled veterans open or follow up on their VA cases.

For more information, call the Office of the Military/Veterans Affairs on Saipan directly at 664-2650/51.

ASVAB TEST SET THIS FRIDAY, SATURDAY

The U.S. Army Reserve will be administering the Armed Service Vocational Aptitude Battery examinations, or ASVAB, this week.

Individuals 17-34 years of age, a citizen of the United States, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau or have an I-551 (permanent resident) are urged to take the exam.

The ASVAB test will be administered on Sept. 24, Friday, 4pm, at the U.S. Army Reserve Center; and on Sept. 25, Saturday, 8am, also at the U.S. Army Reserve Center

Interested people must bring a picture I.D. to process. If there are any question call collect (671) 477-7666 and ask for SFC Carnate (cell 671-687-3640) or SSG Fernandez (cell 671-687-3940)

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.

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.

FEMA ADVISES PATIENCE WHEN TELEREGISTERING

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Commonwealth government advise those who sustained damage as a result of Supertyphoon Chaba to be patient when attempting to register for assistance.

The agency said that teleregistration is still the best and quickest way to register but due to the many disasters in the U.S. mainland, “the wait may be longer than normal, but we will get to you.”

FEMA recommended that those affected by the typhoon should call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) and TTY 1-800-462-7585 between 5pm and 8pm local time to register for assistance.

Attempting to register at the Disaster Recovery Centers will result in a longer waiting period and less efficient service. Registrants may still call between 7am and 8pm, seven days a week.

INTERPRETERS NEEDED

The Emergency Operations Center is seeking volunteer interpreters to assist individuals seeking typhoon assistance at the Disaster Recovery Centers. Interpreters for Chinese, Korean, Tagalog and Japanese are needed. Hours are flexible. To volunteer, call Juan T. Camacho at the Emergency Management Office at 322-8001/2.

SEPTEMBER EVENTS AT THE WSR

Events to remember for Sept. 2004 at the William S. Reyes Elementary School:

Sept. 21 1st WSR Spelling Bee Competition
Sept. 22 PeaceBuilders® Diner’s Club
Sept. 28 WSR STUCO Election
Sept. 29 Final examinations begin

One of the major events for the month of September is the Annual WSR STUCO (Student Council) Election. WSR will hold its STUCO election for school year 2004-2005 on Sept. 28. All students from 3rd to 6th grade will choose their leaders on that day. The official candidates will be presented to the student body on Sept. 13 during the flag ceremony, followed by a weeklong campaign period, followed by the STUCO election on Sept. 28. The STUCO officers will then be sworn in to office by the Judge Alex Castro of the Supreme Court at an induction ceremony on Oct. 4.

For more information, contact the school at 664-3971 or 664-3976.

SEPTEMBER EVENTS AT GES

Cultural Heritage Month ends with Cultural Day at the Garapan Elementary School. If parents would like to prepare booths or presentations, call GES at 664-3955.

* The week of Sept. 20, 2004 will be school picture week.

* Sept. 30, 2004 is PTA Night at 6pm in the school cafeteria.

More information regarding these activities will be disseminated as the month progresses, the school said in a statement.

The school also extended its gratitude to 99 Cent Supermarket, which donated rakes to teachers for the campus clean up after Supertyphoon Chaba, and to the Saipan Mayor’s Office for property disposing of debris from the typhoon.