Community Briefs – Sept. 6, 2011

Eat Out For the Environment on Friday, Sept. 9

To help preserve our precious natural resources, residents of Saipan are encouraged to eat out on Friday, September 9, 2011 at select restaurants who have agreed to donate a portion of their revenue from that day to the Mariana Islands Nature Alliance. In this first ever “Eat Out for the Environment” event, participating restaurants include Aoi (at the Saipan Grand Hotel), Chambre Restaurant (at the Fiesta Resort), Shirley’s Restaurant, 360 Restaurant, Shenanigan’s and Naked Fish.

The Mariana Islands Nature Alliance is a community-based, nonprofit organization that was formed by a group of people whose dedication and compassion for the environment felt the need to promote and advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural resources in the Commonwealth. Some of the projects that MINA has been involved in include the Marine Debris Program, the Environmental Teach Camp, Obyan Revegetation Project, the Tasi Watch Program, the No-Need Bag Campaign, and other projects. (MINA)

August meeting of the Autism Society

The Autism Society of the CNMI will be holding its monthly meeting on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011, at 10am at NMPASI. Information regarding the group and future meetings will be available at this meeting. All families and friends of individuals with autism and autism-related spectrum disorders or other disabilities are invited to attend. For additional information, call 235-7274 or send an email to as_cnmi@yahoo.com. (PR)

OIA supports USVI Bureau of Internal Revenue

WASHINGTON, D.C.-The Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs issued a $1.125 million grant to the U.S. Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue to bolster existing efforts in administering and enforcing internal revenue tax laws. Funds will go toward improving the BIR’s capacity to purchase new technical equipment, hire new consultants and increase additional senior management staff.
“The new tools purchased with this funding should increase efficiency, provide greater transparency, and reduce fraud,” said Assistant Secretary Tony Babauta. “Governor deJongh and I have been working closely to address many issues which face the USVI and I am pleased to be able to support this effort which strengthens and supplements the BIR’s efforts to improve the delivery of services while ensuring tax responsibilities are met and done so equitably.” (DOI)

Air Force, Navy training on FDM, Warning Area-517

SANTA RITA, Guam-The U.S. Air Force will conduct training on the island of Farallon de Medinilla on the following dates and times:

Sept. 6, from 9 am to 3:30pm and 5:45pm to 9:30pm
Sept. 7-8, from 10am to 9:30pm

The Navy will conduct training at Warning Area 517 on Sept. 6 and 7, from 8:30am to 4:30pm.

The general public, especially fisherman, commercial pilots and marine tour operators, are advised to stay clear from the area during the times and dates indicated.

The general location of the training on the island of Farallon de Medinilla training area will be on a 10 nautical mile radius on all quadrants.

W-517 is an irregular shaped polygon comprising of 14,000 nautical square miles of airspace that begins south of Guam and extends south-southwest in international waters. This will affect fishing in the vicinity of Santa Rosa Reef and Galvez Bank. (USN)

TES sets opening day schedule

Tanapag Elementary School has published its schedule for the start of classes today, Sept. 6. TES said school bus pickup begins at 6:45am, gates open at 7am (no supervision before 7pm), and breakfast starts at 7:30am.

Classes begin at 8am and end at 3pm with parents and guardians required to pick up children no later than 3:15pm.

Kindergarten is a full day session from 8am to 9pm. TES will also have a Back-to School Night on the evening of Sept. 6 at 5:30pm at the campus cafeteria.

For more information, contact the TES main office at 664-3425/26/27 or direct at 237-3161. (PR)

Veteran outreach in September

This is to let all veterans and all concerned know that Tina San Agustin, Department of Veterans Affairs legal administrative specialist from Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, will be on Saipan on Sept. 28-29, 2011 for a veterans outreach on veterans federal benefits. She will be also entertaining questions and assisting with claims. The outreach will be held at the Military & Veterans Affairs Office on Capital Hill, Bldg. No. 1364, Saipan. If you wish to make an appointment or for further information, contact Bernie B. Dela Cruz at the Office of Military & Veterans Affairs at 664-2650. (PR)