COMMUNITY BRIEFS – Nov. 29, 2016

Hopwood sets PTSA meeting

Parents and guardians of Hopwood Middle School students are being informed that that their PTSA meeting and 2nd Quarter Mid-Progress Report Day is on Nov. 30, 2016, from 4pm to 5pm. The administration and PTSA officers will be sharing reports about important school updates, and other vital information. From 5pm to 6pm, parents and guardians will report to their child’s teachers for a conference meeting and distribution of the 2nd quarter progress report cards. This will be an opportunity for both to discuss the academic and behavioral progress of the student with the teachers. (PR)

USCIS officer at SHRM’s December meeting

The CNMI Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management will meet on Thursday, Dec. 1, at the Pacific Islands Club’s Charley’s and will feature Kamana Mathur, the community relations officer of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services-Pacific District. Mathur will provide an opportunity for questions. CW visas and H-2B visas will not be discussed at this meeting. All members of the community are invited to attend the meeting, which is from 11:30am to 2pm.  The attendance fee is $20 for SHRM members and $30 for non-SHRM members. Register with Penny Jones by email at penny.jones@hyattsaipan.com or contact Penny or Lany at 323-5867 or 323-5867. Seats are limited, but still available. (PR)

FOA to hold board meeting

The Friends of the Arts will hold a board meeting tomorrow, Nov. 29, 6:30pm to 9pm, at the Canton Restaurant, across the Mobil station/McDonald’s branch in Garapan. The meeting will include musical and thespian entertainment. There will be a detailed discussion regarding the 2017 season and the opportunity to renew membership and purchase season tickets. For more information, contact Frank Gibson at flgibson@yahoo.com. (PR)

Military training on FDM

The U.S. military will conduct training on the island of Farallon de Medinilla until Dec. 2, from 8am to 11:55pm. 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)

Chamber to host career exploration day

The Saipan Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its “2016 Career Exploration Day” on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2016. High school juniors and seniors will choose a field of business they are interested in and will be paired with a participating chamber business. Students will be recognized at the Saipan World Resort’s Royal Taga Hall during the chamber’s membership meeting on Dec. 7 at 12pm. For more information, call the chamber office at (670) 234-7150 or email administrator@saipanchamber.com. (SCC)

SHEFA deadlines

The SHEFA deadline for new application only is on Dec. 1, 2016 .The deadline for all supporting documents is on Feb. 28, 2017. All documents must be complete and submitted at once. (SHEFA)

Wage and salary statement workshop

The Division of Revenue and Taxation, Department of Finance will be conducting a workshop for the Annual Wage and Salary Statement, Form (W-2CM) for tax year 2016 and other 2016 yearend filing requirements. The workshop will be on Friday, Dec. 16, 2016. The first seminar will be from 8am to 11am and the second will be from 1pm to 4pm at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center. Businesses, employers and all payroll service companies are encouraged to attend. Please confirm your attendance by calling the Division of Revenue and Taxation at 664-1000 and 664-1098 or fax at 664-1015. (PR)

Holiday closures at Visitor Center

The American Memorial Park Visitor Center will be closed on Dec. 25, 2016, Christmas Day, and on Jan. 1, 2017, New Year’s Day. Park staff would also like to encourage the public to visit the Visitor Center. With the exception of the holidays closed, the VC is open every day from 9am to 5pm. If you have any questions, contact park ranger Brooke Nevitt at 234-7207 or 2020 or email brooke_nevitt@nps.gov. (NPS)

Holiday bazaar on Dec. 4

The annual Brilliant Star School Holiday Bazaar will be held Sunday, Dec. 4, from 9am to 4pm at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe. The event is an opportunity for artists and other vendors to showcase their arts, and for residents and visitors to get an early start on buying unique and beautiful gifts for the holidays.  Interested vendors may contact the school at 323-STAR (323-7827). For parents who would like to have a little alone shopping time, the event features an arts and crafts area for children. The daylong event is also graced by performances throughout the day by various community cultural and arts groups. There will also be raffles. (PR)