Community Briefs – July 4, 2019

Water service interruption in Garapan

There will be a scheduled water service interruption in the Garapan Hotel Street area on Friday, July 5, 2019, from 8:30am to 3:30pm, particularly for Commonwealth Utilities Corp. customers between Hanamitsu Hotel and GIG Disco & Bossano Bar.

This will allow CUC’s water operations personnel to perform repairs on a damaged water line located on Date Street in Garapan (behind GIG). Water operations personnel will begin the necessary repairs the morning of July 5 and expect to be done by midafternoon. Customers in the affected areas should expect restoration of services soon after. As a result of the repair, a more reliable water system will be provided to the community.

Both lanes between Hanamitsu and GIG will be closed.

For more information, contact the CUC Customer Call Center (664-4282) or monitor its Facebook page for the latest updates (https://www.facebook.com/CommonwealthUtilitiesCorporation/). (PR)

USCIS reps at July SHRM meeting

The next general membership meeting of the Society for Human Resource Management NMI Chapter will feature U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services representatives who will talk about the E-Verify program and form I-9.

Rea Bisa, USCIS management and program analyst, Kamana Mathur, USCIS community relations officer, and Jennifer Lane, regional community relations lead, will be at the meeting, which will consist of a 30-minute presentation followed by a 30-minute question-and-answer session.

The SHRM meeting will take place on Thursday, July 11, 2019, at the Hyatt Regency Saipan’s ballroom beginning at 11am.

This meeting is open to the public. The presentation includes a lunch buffet at the cost of $20 for SHRM members and $30 for non-members. Seats are limited, so reserve your seat by contacting Penny Jones by e-mail at penelope.jones@hyatt.com or Denise Montenegro at denise.montenegro@hyatt.com or by telephone at 323-5867/68. (PR)

CHamoru commission meetings

The Kumisión i Fino’ CHamoru yan i Fina’nå’guen i Historia yan i Lina’la’ Taotao Tåno’ (Commission on CHamoru Language and the Teaching of History and Culture of the Indigenous People of Guam) will hold its monthly meetings on July 11 and 25, 2019, 12:30pm to 3pm at the Kumision office, The Garden House, Plasa de Espana, Hagatna.

A work session will be held on Thursday, July 18, 2019, from 12:30pm to 3pm, at the same venue to discuss the GDOE CHamoru Language Teachers CHamoru Language Orthography.  

For further information call commission chair Hope Alvarez Cristobal at 483-0097 or secretary Rosa Salas Palomo at 727-5522. (PR)

One month left to apply for SBA disaster loans

Small businesses in the CNMI only have until July 26, 2019, to apply for a U.S. Small Business Administration federal disaster loan for economic injury caused by Super Typhoon Yutu that occurred Oct. 24-26, 2018. Small nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations of any size may apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. The interest rate is 3.675 percent for businesses and 2.5 percent for private nonprofit organizations with terms up to 30 years. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and are based on each applicant’s financial condition. Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hardofhearing may call (800) 877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX  76155. (PR)

SCC meeting next Wednesday

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce will have its monthly general membership meeting next Wednesday, July 10, at Hyatt Regency Saipan ballroom, featuring Kamana Mathur of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The luncheon begins at 11:30am and with the meeting portion starting promptly at noon. Cost is $25 for Chamber members/$35 for non-members. To RSVP six or more attendees, email Mercilynn Kaneshi Palec at administrator@saipanchamber.com, call 234-7150, or visit the third floor of the Marianas Business Plaza, Suite 315 in Susupe. (PR)

Bank of Guam Saipan branches will be closed July 13, not July 6

Bank of Guam’s Saipan branches will be closed for one day on Saturday, July 13, 2019, rather than earlier announced for July 6, 2019. The bank’s ATMS, online banking and customer support centers remain available. (PR)

Military open ocean training

ASAN, Guam—The U.S. Navy will conduct open-ocean exercises today, July 4, from 7am to 2pm, within a 10-nautical-mile radius of the following coordinates: 15˚00”N/148˚44”E. It is recommended the public, fishermen, and marine tour operators monitor the Coast Guard broadcast notice to mariners for advisories. (PR)