COMMUNITY BRIEFS – May 19, 2017

Learn how to manage tasks and time

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce presents “Task & Time Management,” the second in its “customer service excellence” series of workshops for 2017 in partnership with Jim Arenovski of Island Training Solutions. This seminar will take place at the Saipan Chamber of Commerce conference room (Marianas Business Plaza, third floor, Suite 315) on June 15, 2017, from 9am to 12pm. Registration fee is $50 per person for Chamber members and $55 per person for non-members.  Light refreshments are included. Reservations and advance payment are required, as seating is limited. To register, call 234-7150 or email us at coordinator@saipanchamber.com. (PR)

Election commission meeting next week

The Commonwealth Election Commission will meet at 2pm on May 23, 2017, at its office in Susupe. Additional information concerning this meeting is available at the Susupe office. (PR)

Family Fun Night at Hopwood

The Hopwood Middle School will be having a Family Fun Night Program today, May 19, 2017, from 5pm to 9pm There will be raffle tickets and lots of prizes. Performers include the HDMP Band, Simiyan Marianas, Re-Up, and Saipan Music and Dance Studio. Entrance is free. There will be free games and several food vendors. (PR)

BBQ cookoff at Taste of the Marianas on Saturday

The 19th Annual Taste of the Marianas International Food Festival & Beer Garden will be held Saturday in May at the Garapan Fishing Base from 6pm to 10pm. Registration is open for the first 10 participants in the BBQ Pork Ribs Cookoff co-sponsored by Twins and Hannam supermarkets, with hundreds of dollars in cash, shopping gift certificates, and Taste tokens for the top three winners. This Saturday’s entertainment includes the Out of the Ordinary Band, CAB Dancers, Alana’ai, Saipan Music & Dance Studio, UBSES, and Da Kine. Cookoff registration forms and rules are available at www.mymarianas.com, and the last day to register is May 19. (MVA)

NMC 37th Commencement Exercise will stream live online

Families and friends who are not able to attend the Northern Marianas College’s 37th Commencement Exercise in person on May 20, 2017, at the Koblerville Gymnasium can watch the event live online. The graduation ceremony will be streamed live at http://www.marianas.edu/graduation2017/. The live stream will begin at approximately 4pm (Local CNMI Time) on Saturday May 20, 2017, and will end at about 6pm. (NMC)

Learn basic Chamorro

Are you interested in learning the basics of Chamorro? Or do you speak Chamorro or understand Chamorro, and just want to practice your Chamorro language skills? The CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Family Literacy Program offers a free Beginner’s Chamorro Literacy Class at the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library this summer! Read and borrow books translated into Chamorro from the Motheread/Fatheread curriculum. Classes are held every Thursday from May to July. Class schedule: May 18, 25, and June 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, from 5pm to 6pm. Completion class on July 1(1pm to 2pm). Call 235-7319/783-7678 or email at cnmimotheread@gmail.com and sign up today. (PR)

VA benefits counselor visiting Saipan

The U.S. Department of Veterans benefits administration will be visiting Saipan. A VA benefits counselor will be at the Saipan VA Outreach Clinic on May 24, 2017, from 9:30am to 3:30pm to answer benefits questions, and assist with the claim process. The Saipan VA Outreach Clinic is located at the MH II Bldg., Suite 206, Marina Heights Business Park in Garapan. To request an appointment, contact Ruth Coleman at 322-0035. (PR)