Community Briefs

FRG MEETING TODAY

The Echo Company 100th Battalion 442nd Infantry Family Readiness Group wishes to inform the spouses and family members of our soldiers that there will be a General FRG Meeting at the Reserve Center in Puerto Rico, Saipan today, Oct. 21, at 6:30pm. The agenda for the meeting are as follow: Thanksgiving, Concert, Pageant of Peace, Family Day, and the Yellow Ribbon Campaign.

WANTED: DESIGNATED DRIVERS

The Department of Public Safety Traffic Section will again implement its Designated Driver program this December to promote road safety during the holiday season.

The program provides transportation for intoxicated individuals. Instead of driving while intoxicated, individuals may contact the Traffic Section and a driver will be provided for transportation home.

Those interested in taking part in the program are encouraged to contact Rose Ada-Hocog or Sgt. Sylvan Rangamar at 664-9084/5/6.

NMHC BOARD MEETING RESET

The Northern Marianas Housing Corp. says that the Special Board meeting scheduled for Oct. 20, 2:30pm, at the Commonwealth Development Authority’s Conference Room has been postponed to Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2:30pm at the same venue. For more information, call the office at 234-6866.

VETERANS DAY MEETING TOMORROW

We would like to remind and invite all concerned and interested parties that the Office of the Military and Veterans Affairs will meet today, Oct. 21, 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, call the office at 664-2650/2651.

CHUUKESE ELECTION POSTPONED

This is to inform all eligible Chuukese voters in the CNMI that due to Typhoon Nock-ten conditions, the special election is again rescheduled for Oct. 26, from 7am to 8pm, at Garapan Central Park (Round House).

For more information, call Mithasy Mark at 868-7030.

DUI CHECKPOINTS THIS FRIDAY

The Department of Public Safety Traffic Section said that it will hold two sobriety checkpoints this Friday, Oct. 22, as part of its efforts to deter and detect drunk and intoxicated drivers, as well as ensure that all vehicle occupants are protected.

The first checkpoint will be held along 2W Garapan in front of the Garapan Central Park, beginning at 7pm and ending at 8:15pm.

The second setup will be along Beach Road Chalan Lau Lau by the New BJ Garden Restaurant between 9pm and 10:15pm.

Officers will also be performing highway criminal interdiction, saturation patrols, aggressive driver interdiction, and laser activities.

Traffic Section is required to conduct a minimum of 12 sobriety checkpoints per year.

LEARN TO SCUBA DIVE FOR FREE

The Youth Alliance Dive Program announced that it is currently accepting applications for its Fall Open Water Dive Program.

The program is available for local residents between 15 and 24 years of age at no cost but only 12 slots are available and will be filled on first-come-first-serve basis.

Dive instructor Joe Paran said half of the slots are already filled, and registration will cease as soon as all slots are occupied.

Paran said participants in the program will learn to scuba dive, and those enrolled in college may get credit for their participation. Further, he said participants could earn certification for open water diving through the program.

The program started in March this year. Paran said the program would be available during each college semester of every school year. For more information, contact Paran at 287-4196.

ADA TRAININGS ON NOV. 2-3

The Americans with Disabilities Act trainings at the World Resort Hotel will be held on Nov. 2 and 3. The training is called “Symposium: Independence Day for People with Disabilities.”

HOUSE OF MANHOBEN OPENS REGISTRATION

The House of Manhoben Center is open for registration in the following areas: tutoring, mentoring and other sports team areas. Children from ages 5 to 18 who may need assistance with their school work, guidance or who doesn’t have the chance to participate in sports team at school are encouraged to participate.

Registration days and time are from Monday-Friday 2:30pm-5:30pm at the House of Manhoben Center in Chalan Kanoa. Parents or guardians are asked to provide prove of birth (birth certificate/passport) upon registering their child(ren).

TEST TO ENTER US ARMY SET

The United States Army will hold two Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery—ASVAB—tests this month as part of recruiting interested individuals to the armed forces.

According to U.S. Army recruiter SFC. Albert Abadam, the first test will be conducted on Oct. 22 at 4pm while another will be conducted the following day beginning at 8am. Both will be held at the U.S. Army Reserve Center on Puerto Rico.

Interested individuals between the ages of 17 and 34 years are urged to take the test. Those eligible must be citizens of the U.S., Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, or is a permanent resident. A photo identification card is required prior to the tests.

For more information, contact SFC Abadam or SGT. Benavente by calling collect (671) 477-7666. Abadam may also be reached at cell number (671) 687-3540 and Benavente at cell number (671) 687-3660.

PALAU VOTERS IN NMI URGED TO CAST VOTES

All Palauans who are registered voters in the Republic of Palau and are currently residing in the CNMI are encouraged to participate in their country’s presidential election on Nov. 2, 2004.

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.