COMMUNITY BRIEFS – Aug. 4, 2017

Notice to all Kagman farm plot permittees

This is to inform all permittees that Department of Land and Natural Resource agents will be conducting scheduled visits as well as permitting inspections to all Kagman farm plots to determine whether permittees are in compliance with the rules and policies set forth in the Governing Uses of the Kagman Commercial Farm Plot permit.

In order to address issues with violations, DLNR has already begun issuing eviction notices to any permittee engaging in the subleasing or transferring of farm plot(s) to a corporation or partner. This includes the use of the plots to cultivate forbidden substances.

Please call the DLNR-Division of Agriculture if there are any questions or concerns to this notice at 256-3318/19 or 322-9834. (PR)

Survivors, caregivers support meeting on Aug. 10

All people facing cancer, their family members, and caregivers are invited to the next Commonwealth Cancer Association support meeting on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017, starting at 5:30pm at the Hyatt Regency Saipan’s Chamolinian Room. Guest speaker will be Becky Robles, NCDB director, and her presentation will on NCD Bureau Services. Joining her will be Nikki Sablan, PROA program coordinator and Joyce Songsong, breast and cervical program coordinator. To RSVP or for more information, call the CCA at 682-0050 or email at ccamarianas@gmail.com. (PR)

Military training in waters surrounding Guam

ASAN, Guam—The U.S. military will conduct training in waters around Guam within a five-mile nautical radius of the following coordinates 13° 28″ 60’N/144° 25″00’E, on Aug. 7, from 6:30am to 3pm, and Aug. 8-11, from midnight to 11:59pm. It is recommended the public, fishermen and marine tour operators monitor the Coast Guard broadcast notice to mariners for advisories. (PR)

Saturday Story Time in August at AMP

Youth of all ages are invited to join the American Memorial Park on Saturdays (Aug. 12, 19, and 26) from 2pm to 3pm for story time. During the hour, read Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr. This book tells the story of a young girl from Hiroshima, Japan who becomes sick with leukemia in the years after the atomic bomb was dropped on her city, and her race to fold 1,000 paper cranes. Following the reading, everyone will be invited to make paper cranes, just like Sadako did in the story. Throughout the month, 1,000 paper cranes will be folded and sent to the Children’s Peace Memorial in Hiroshima Japan.

To learn more about this program or other happenings at the park, contact park ranger Brooke Nevitt at 234-7207 or 2020 or email brooke_nevitt@nps.gov. (NPS)

Military training at FDM, Guam waters

ASAN, Guam—The U.S. military will conduct training at the island of Farallon de Medinilla until today, Aug. 4, from 10am to 10pm.

The military will also conduct training in waters around Guam within a five-mile nautical radius of the following coordinates 13° 28″ 60’N/144° 25″00’E, on Aug. 4-5, from midnight to 11:59pm. It is recommended the public, fishermen and marine tour operators monitor the Coast Guard broadcast notice to mariners for advisories. (PR)

US Navy releases new input dates

The U.S. Navy will accept public comments about the Training and Testing Supplemental Environmental Impact statement for the Mariana Island Training and Testing area until Sept. 15, 2017. Comments must be postmarked or received online by Sept. 15, 2017, for consideration in the development of the Draft Supplemental EIS/OEIS. Comments may be submitted online at www.MITT-EIS.com or mail to: Naval Facilities Engineering Command Pacific Attention: MITT Supplemental EIS/OEIS Project Manager, 258 Makapala Drive, Suite 100 Pearl Harbor, HI 96860-3134. (PR)

Free Veterans Choice workshops next week

The office of Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) is hosting next week a series of Veterans Choice workshops that are open to veterans, their families, and members of the public who would like to learn more about veterans’ options for healthcare through the Veterans Administration’s Choice program.  

The workshops are scheduled as follows:

Rota: Aug. 8, 2017, from 9:30am to 11:30am, NMC instructional site, Room A-1

Tinian: Aug. 9, 2017, from 9:30am to 11:30am, Tinian Public Library

Saipan: Aug. 10, 2017, from 5pm to 7pm, Pedro T. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center

Representatives of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and TriWest (the VA’s third-party administrator for the Choice program) will be present to share information and answer questions. (PR)

NMC registration for fall semester ongoing

Registration at the Northern Marianas College for the fall 2017 semester is ongoing until Aug. 18, 2017. Late registration/advising period: Aug. 14 -18, 2017

Placement tests: July 31 to Aug. 3 and Aug. 7 to Aug. 10; to schedule your placement test, call 237-6774 or email date/time preference to isabel.matsunaga@marianas.edu. Proceed to the Office of Admissions & Records (Building N) to obtain a placement test form. Make payment ($25 per test) at the NMC Cashier Window (Building N).

For more information about registering for classes for the upcoming fall 2017 semester or to apply for admission, contact the NMC Office of Admissions and Records at 237-6768/6769/6771 or visit www.marianas.edu. (NMC)

SSHS new student orientation set

Saipan Southern High School will have a new student orientation for Monday, Aug. 7, 2017, at 10am and 2pm at the school cafeteria. Parents of new students attending Saipan Southern High School can attend either session (10am or 2pm). (PR)

VA benefits outreach on Saipan

The U.S. Department of Veterans Benefits Administration will be visiting Saipan on Aug. 31, 2017, and will be conducting a benefits workshop/claims clinic and outreach at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe. The workshop/claims clinic will be from 9:30am to 12:30pm. Veterans will also be meeting one-on-one with the benefit counselor from 12:30pm to 3:30pm.

Workshop topics include VA benefits, loan guaranty, vocational rehabilitation & employment, death benefits & education benefits. Counselors will be available to answer questions and assist with the claim process. (PR)

OES information out

Oleai Elementary School PTSA is inviting all students, parents, guardians, family and the community to the school on Aug. 5, 2017, from 8am to 11:30am to beautify the school campus.

OES would also like to invite all incoming and continuing students with their parents and guardians for orientation and Open House.

• Orientation will take place in the school cafeteria for all grade levels (Kindergarten to 5th grade) on Aug. 10 and Aug. 11, 2017, from 5pm to 6pm. Parents and guardians can choose to come on either night.

• Open House will take place on the following dates for the following grade levels, as follows:

Kindergarten to 2nd grade: Aug. 17, 2017, from 5pm to 6pm

3rd grade to 5th grade: Aug. 18, 2017, from 5pm to 6pm (PR)

BECQ sets Laulau Beach cleanup

The Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality’s Cleanup Brigade will be picking up trash at Laulau Beach on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017, at 8 am.

To volunteer, meet the BECQ representatives on Saturday at the Laulau Beach entrance at 8am. Volunteers will split into groups and clean until 10am and break for drinks and then continue, if needed.

This month, outstanding brigade volunteers who participated in at least 10 monthly cleanups will receive a brigade cap and those who participated in at least three cleanups will receive a brigade T-shirt.

For more information about volunteering, contact the BECQ office at 664-8500/1. (BECQ)

GES Open House, PTSA meeting set

Garapan Elementary School has scheduled the new school year Open House for Thursday, Aug. 17, beginning at 5:30pm, with PTSA meeting in the cafeteria. Ensure that you have submitted the registration form that was sent out prior to the end of school year 2016-2017 as well as your child’s updated documents (school entrance health certificate and updated health insurance). Call the main office at 664-3951 to verify that your child’s registration documents are complete.

The free meal application is available at the GES main office. Each year, families and households must complete a new application to avail of free school meals. Students who were free last school year must reapply. The grace period for free students is 30 days after school year 2017-2018 begins.

To avoid delays in free meal services due to application processing, the PSS Child Nutrition Program should receive all forms and supporting documents on or before Sept. 15, 2017. One application per family.

For any questions or inquires, communicate with the PSS Child Nutrition Program at 664-3901/3902 or the GES main office at 664-3951.

Properly complete the new bus form to avail of bus services. Forms can be picked up at the GES main office. For any questions or support, you may call the Office of Pupil Transportation at 322-9457. (PR)