Community Briefs

DEADLINE SET FOR 2004 TAX FILINGS

The Division of Revenue and Taxation is informing all CNMI residents that the deadline for tax filing of the 2004 Individual Income Tax Return is Friday, April 15, 2005.

Tax filings should be done at the office of the Division of Revenue and Taxation located at the Joeten Dandan Commercial Center.

The Division of Revenue and Taxation will be open from 7:30am to 7:30pm from April 4, 2005, to April 14, 2005, to assist taxpayers needing window assistance.

On April 15, 2005, the Division of Revenue and Taxation will open up to 9:30pm.

ROAD CLOSED TODAY, TOMORROW

The Department of Public Safety is informing the public that on April 1, 2005, at about 7pm, the Chalan Pale Arnold highway in front of the Army Reserve Center north to the Stevedore container yard would be closed until the following day, April 2, 2005 at about 6pm. The purpose of this closure is for the upcoming Ride 2 Cure entertainment and contribution.

All traffic flow heading north or south directions are advised to utilize the secondary roadway located west of the main highway of Puerto Rico.

If you have any questions or concern, contact the Traffic Section at 664-9085/84.

MEGASKILLS TRAINER HOLDS SESSION

A trainer from the Home and School Institute, Dr. Tonisa Ward, is currently on-island to conduct mentor training with 11 public schools from March 28 to 31, 2005.

The training will be in the MegaSkills Character Development Program and will take place daily in the Garapan Elementary School cafeteria.

This is the first time in seven years that MegaSkills will be on-island for the training.

KICK-OFF EVENTS FOR CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

The Department of Community and Cultural Affairs- Division of Youth Services and the For the Children campaign committee has once again joined efforts to organize activities that would be held throughout the month of April to help promote child abuse prevention in the Commonwealth.

Kick-off events will begin on April 2, Saturday, with a proclamation ceremony at 10:30am during which Gov. Juan N. Babauta will sign a proclamation declaring April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. This will be preceded with a parade starting at 9am at the fishing base area across Kristo Rai Church and culminate with the ever-popular Big Truck Day at the American Memorial Park, from 11:00-3:00pm.

For further information, contact DYS at 664-2565 for Laura T. Ogumuro or 664-2584 for Vivian Sablan.

CHUUK RUN-OFF ELECTION FOR GOVERNOR ON APRIL 5

All eligible Chuukese voters in the CNMI are requested to come out and participate in the run-off election for the governor of the State of Chuuk. The election will be held at the Hon. Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe on April 5, Tuesday. For more information, contact your regional leaders.

PENNY DRIVE FOR CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

For participants in the annual Penny Drive sponsored by the Division of Youth Services/For the Children Committee, the drive will officially end on April 29. For further information, contact Millie Pialur or Jennider Tanaka at 664-2595.

SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE SET

June 30 Public Law 14-37 Scholarship application and all supporting documents

July 1 EAP Fall 2005 (Application only is due)

December 15 EAP for EAP Winter/Spring (Application only is due) For those who did not submit an application for Fall 2005

Supporting documents:
* Acceptance letter into the institution/College (EAP & P.L. 14-37)

* Most recent official sealed transcript (EAP & P.L. 14-37)

* U.S. Passport and/or birth certificate issued by the court (EAP & P.L. 14-37)

* 2003 & 2004 CNMI 1040 for proof of residency (EAP)

* Six years proof of residency for P.L. 14-37 graduating on-island. (Proof must show that you have attended school within the CNMI for a period of six years. Two of the years must be from your 11th and 12th grade CNMI high school.

* Eight years proof residency for P.L. 14-37 graduating off-island. (Must provide parents’ eight years proof of CNMI residency prior to the date of application)

* SAT/ACT test score (for P.L. 14-37)

* Two letters of recommendation for P.L. 14-37

Application will not be reviewed without the proper documents.

WANTED: HS STUDENTS FOR CULTURAL EXCHANGE

The Wakai Nekko No Kai Committee is currently seeking high school students who are interested in participating in cultural exchange activities with Japanese high school and college students on May 4 and 5.

The Japanese students will be visiting Saipan aboard the Fuji Maru Ocean University and a number of activities with local high school and college students are being planned for the two days that the group is here.

This year marks the 37th consecutive year that the Wakai Nekko No Kai group has been coming to Saipan as part of its student cultural exchange program.

For more information, contact Val Tenorio at MVA at 664-3200, or Larry Lee at NMC at 234-5498 Ext. 1814.