COMMUNITY BRIEFS – Dec. 30, 2016

MVA to host ‘Marianas-chan’ auditions

The Marianas Visitors Authority will hold open auditions on Jan. 7, 2017, on Saipan for “Marianas-chan” (Marianas child) to help promote the Northern Mariana Islands in Japan. The contest is open to U.S. citizen children ages 4-6 who reside in the CNMI. Additional details and applications are available at www.mymarianas.com, and the deadline to apply is extended to 12pm, Jan. 6, 2017. Interested contestants from Tinian and Rota are invited to submit an application with a 1-2 minute video of the contestant to info@mymarianas.com for call back to the audition. For more information, contact the MVA at 664-3200/01. (MVA)

Advocacy to be expanded in 2017

Another successful Glow Walk, Run or Wheel event hosted by the Voices of the CNMI Tinian Chapter and Team Koka. Voices of the CNMI is a self-advocacy group for individuals with disabilities and Team Koka is a non-profit organization focusing on muscular dystrophy awareness. Next year, 2017, both organizations will put in motion plans to make the community on Tinian accessible to all and to ensure that people with disabilities are recognized and acknowledged, as well as, being in the workforce. For information on Voices, contact Jan Barcinas or Monika Diaz and for Team Koka, contact Mikaela Diaz or Patricia Aguon. (PR)

CUC schedule on Dec. 30

The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. would like to inform the public that its offices will be closed on Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, 12pm, in observance of New Year’s Day. However, the Customer Center will be open for purchasing of tokens, payment slips and reconnections until 5pm. For emergencies, contact the CUC Call Center at 664-4282 (4CUC). (PR)

Mobil Kagman reopens

The Kagman Mobil service station re-opened on Dec. 19, 2016, after the completion of upgrading works. Kagman Mobil was previously closed for a planned forecourt canopy upgrade that started on Nov. 13, 2016. (Mobil)

Saipan sobriety checkpoints

The Department of Public Safety’s Traffic Section will be conducting sobriety checkpoints on Saipan otomorrow, Dec. 31, 2016, on Beach Road, Garapan to Beach Road, Chalan Kanoa, from 6pm to 8pm,and along Chalan Pale Arnold, Garapan to Chalan Pale Arnold, Chalan Lau Lau, from 10pm to 12am. Checkpoints will be terminated when it rains. Traffic and patrol officers will be actively conducting speed enforcement, aggressive driving interdiction program and will be conducting highway criminal interdiction. (DPS)

Tinian sobriety checkpoints

Tinian’s Traffic Section will be conducting sobriety checkpoints today, Dec. 30, 2016, along the west- and eastbound lanes of Grand Street between JJ Mart and Department of Commerce, from 6:30pm to 7:45pm, and along the west and eastbound lane on Canal Street between Queen’s and Tinian Hardware, from 8pm to 9:15pm. Each checkpoint will last at least 75 minutes (1 hour and 15 minutes). (DPS)

NMPASI closed today

The Northern Marianas Protection & Advocacy Systems, Inc., or NMPASI, will be closed today, Dec. 30, 2016, at 12pm for Professional Development training. It will reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017, for normal business hours: 8am-5pm. (PR)