Community Briefs – October 10, 2019

Water service status update
All water tank service areas throughout the island of Saipan are now online, except the Dandan and As Falape Tank service areas.

Affected areas are Chalan Monsignor Martinez Road, Airport Road Dandan, Lower Dandan, As Lito, portions of As Perdido and Koblerville (Tottotville to ABCD Market) and residents of As Falape.

After pressurizing the Dandan TSA transmission line Wednesday night, high pressure occurred, causing the transmission line to break. Water operations personnel of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. made the necessary repairs and expected to complete their work by 4:30pm yesterday. Customers in the affected areas should expect restoration of water services soon after.

As for the As Falape TSA, CUC water operators are currently troubleshooting the booster station’s pump. Updates will follow as soon as they are available.

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)

Club 200 is postponed
Due to the impact of Typhoon Hagibis on the community, the American Red Cross-NMI Chapter has decided to postpone its Club 200, which was scheduled for this Saturday. While the damage from Hagibis was relatively small, we need to consider the following:

1. Hundreds of families living in tents were impacted;
2. 130-plus individuals still in school shelters as of yesterday morning;
3. Islandwide power and water outages over the past 36 hours;
4. Some flooding in low-lying areas;
5. U.S. presidential disaster declaration was approved;
6. Red Cross volunteers out in the community doing assessments on vulnerable families. (including providing tarps and cleaning supplies).

The Club 200 co-chairs met yesterday to consider alternative dates. (PR)

All FHB Saipan branches are back open
All First Hawaiian Bank branches on Saipan opened for business as usual yesterday, Wednesday, Oct. 9, from 9am to 4pm. First Hawaiian Bank customers with Internet connectivity may also access their account information 24/7 via FHB Online and the FHB Mobile app or contact the bank’s Customer Service Center at 1-888-844-4444.

FHB’s Saipan branches are at the Gualo Rai Commercial Center on Middle Road and Oleai Center on Beach Road. (PR)

Bank of Hawaii resumes normal schedule
Bank of Hawaii’s Gualo Rai Branch on Saipan resumed normal operating hours starting yesterday, Wednesday, Oct. 9.

Normal branch hours: Monday through Thursday: 9am to 4pm; Fridays: 9am to 6pm; Saturdays: 9 to 1pm; Sundays: closed. (PR)

FOA forms youth choir
Katie Hoyt welcomes anyone ages 12-17 to join the Friends of the Arts Youth Choir. The cost to join is free. The group meet Tuesdays, from 6pm to 7:30pm in Dandan at Hoyt’s home. Call or message her if you’re interested at (670) 287-6028. If you don’t know the location of Hoyt’s home, give her a call for directions. (PR)

The Superior Court will be hearing all traffic arraignments set for today, Oct. 10, 2019, at 9am at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi- Purpose Center in Susupe. For additional information or assistance, contact the CNMI Superior Court’s Office of the Clerk of Court at (670) 235-4258 or 234-4253 or email patrick.diaz@justice.gov.mp. (PR)

Public invited to USNBG Fire Prevention Week open house
SANTA RITA, Guam—The public is invited to the U.S. Naval Base Guam Fire and Emergency Services Fire Prevention Week Open House on Oct. 12, from 10am to 2pm, at the NBG Fire Station 6.

Fire Station 6 is located off base next to the Navy Federal Credit Union. No military ID or visitor pass is required.  

Fire Prevention Week is a national campaign that runs Oct. 6-12 and this year’s theme is “Not every hero wears a cape. Plan and practice your escape!”

The open house will offer fun, educational and family-oriented activities that provide information on the potential risks of fire and how to prevent fires. The open house will provide an opportunity for the public to tour NBG Fire Station 6 and meet the firefighters. Children of all ages will have an opportunity to meet Sparky the Fire Dog and climb aboard the fire engines. 

The event will also feature face painting, a photo booth, a mannequin pull, static displays and a children’s firefighting course.