COMMUNITY BRIEFS – March 31, 2017

Memorial service and Judiciary schedule today

A special proceeding of the courts will be held today, March 31, 2017, at 3pm. A memorial service will be held for Probation Officer II John Peter Duenas Del Rosario, who passed away on Saturday, March 25, 2017. Del Rosario faithfully served the Commonwealth under the Superior Court’s Office of Adult Probation and Supervision.
All are welcome to attend the special proceeding of the courts set for 3pm in the Supreme Court courtroom.
Business hours for the CNMI Judiciary and all its divisions on Saipan for today, March 31, 2017, will be 8am to 2:30pm. On Rota and Tinian, business hours will remain at 7:30am to 4:30pm.
For additional information, contact Nora V. Borja at 236-9715 or Nora.Borja@justice.gov.mp or Patrick V. Diaz at 236-9765 or Patrick.Diaz@justice.gov.mp. (PR)

High surf advisory in effect

Based on information received from the National Weather Service in Tiyan, Guam, and compiled at the CNMI Emergency Operations Center State Warning Point, a large north swell is causing hazardous surf in the Marianas. A strong north to northeast winds associated with a shear line is causing a north swell to build across the Marianas.
The National Weather Service has issued a high surf advisory, which is in effect until 6pm today, Friday.
Along north facing shores., hazardous surf of 8 to 10 feet is expected through tonight. Surf will begin to decrease today and could fall below hazardous levels this evening.
EOC encourages the public to continue being proactive in keeping their families and community safe. (EOC)

Power outages on April 1, 4

There will be a scheduled power interruption tomorrow, April 1, 2017, from 5:30am to 10:30am and on Tuesday, April 4, 2017, from 9am to 2pm.
In the first outage, it is intended to de-energize the primary lines to allow Commonwealth Utilities Corp. line crew to safely replace eight wooden power poles with concrete poles along Alageta Rd. in Kagman 2. This will affect CUC customers in Kagman 2. Water wells to be affected include KG-7, KG-8, KG-9, KG-14, and KG-15. The whole Kagman village will also be without water services throughout the power interruption
On Tuesday, CUC line crew will replace five wooden power poles with concrete poles along Chalan Tun Herman Pan in front of Sky Chefs. Areas to be affected are POI Aviation, Delta Cargo, United Cargo, Sky Chefs, CUC Sand Filtration, Airport Mobil and Red Cross. Water wells to be affected include IF-4, IF-7, and IF-8.
For more information, contact the CUC Customer Call Center (664-4282). (CUC)

Saipan chamber meeting on April 5
The Saipan Chamber of Commerce will hold its next general membership meeting on Wednesday, April 5, at the Seaside Hall, Kanoa Resort. Guest speakers are Oscar Camacho of the Commonwealth Development Authority regarding the State Small Business Credit Initiative program and Jenny Heglund, with an update on the efforts of the CARE organization. Luncheon begins at 11:30am, with the meeting portion starting promptly at noon. (PR)

Partial water outage on Tinian

There will be a scheduled partial water outage on Tinian today, April 1, 2017, from 6am to 7pm, and this Sunday, April 2, 2017, from 8am to 7pm to install the necessary upgrades on the PRV system for the waterlines. Areas affected by these outages include San Jose, Carolinas Heights, and portions of Marpo Valley. For more information, call 433-9261/9264/9265. (CUC)

GTC Elementary sets Kinder registration

Kindergarten registration at Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School for school year 2017 – 2018 is scheduled to begin on April 3, 2017, from 8:30am to 11:30am and from 1pm to 3:30pm. Registration will take place in the school’s main office (in the cafeteria). There are only 40 slots available, and registration will be on a first come, first serve basis. Please note that children entering Kindergarten must be 5 years of age on or before Sept. 30, 2017. All required documents must be submitted and received by a certified staff in order for your child to be on the roster. For more information, feel free to call 664-3400. (PR)

Participants sought in research

Those who participated in the Pacific STAR Center for Young Writers project in 2006 are being invited to take part in a research project conducted by a CNMI resident Jennifer Furey Maratita. 
In 2006, young writers were asked to contribute to a book, titled We Drank Our Tears: Memories of the Battles for Saipan and Tinian as Told by Our Elders (Tuten-Puckett, 2004). Maratita’s research questions will focus on the understanding of the impact this project had and its relevance in your life nowadays.  The impacts of shared narratives across generations in the CNMI are of special concern.  For more information, email Maratita at jennifer.maratita@waldenu.edu or call/text (670) 483-3879. (PR)

Navy training at FDM, Warning Area 517

ASAN, Guam—The U.S. Navy will conduct training at the island of Farallon de Medinilla on March 31 from 10am to 3:30pm. The public—especially fishermen, commercial pilots and marine tour operators—are advised to stay clear of the areas during the dates and times indicated. (PR)

Call for historical papers

The Northern Marianas Humanities Council, University of Guam, Northern Marianas College, and Guampedia are calling for papers for the 3rd Marianas History Conference. The conference will be held on Saipan on Sept. 1-3, 2017, at a venue to be announced later.
The deadline for abstracts is April 28, 2017. Conference presenters will be allotted 20 minutes to present. For more information about the conference, contact council staff at 235-4785 or visit the council’s website at: www.northernmarianashumanities.org. (PR)