COMMUNITY BRIEFS

BarWars at GIG tonight

Its all systems go for the most talked about showdown of bartenders in the CNMI next month at the premier discotheque on the island, GIG.

The competition, dubbed “BarWars” and slated tonight, Aug. 10, would gather top “mixologists” from different bars, clubs and hotels to shake things up as they vie for supremacy by showing off their agility, speed and panache in mixing cocktails.

GIG will be giving away $200 for the first place, $150 for the second place and $100 for the third place winner. A special prize will go to the Best in Taste winner.

For more details, contact GIG Discotheque office at 234-5050 during office hours or 234-3131 during nighttime. The deadline for registration is on Aug. 6.

Renew well operation permits by Aug. 31

The Division of Environmental Quality would like to remind all Well Operators that applications for Well Operation Permit renewal is due on Aug. 31, 2005. Please refer to section 12.2(c) of the Well Drilling and Well Operators Regulations for clarification.

DEQ would also like to remind well operators to perform routine water quality analysis. Well permit numbers 0051-0100 are due by July; permit numbers 0101-0150 are due by August; and permit numbers 0151-0200 are due by September.

Routine analysis should also include the following parameters: Chloride, Conductivity, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Hardness, Nitrate, ph, and Total Coliform.

Contact Joe Kaipat, Safe Drinking Water program manager, at 664-8500 for questions or concerns.

OWWA workshop on food processing

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office has scheduled a workshop on food processing this Sept. 25 and Oct. 2, 9, and 16, 2005 at the Filipino Workers Resource Center, Nauru Building, Susupe. The workshop is in collaboration with Edgar Cocker, interim director of the USDA Federal Program (Cooperative Research, Education and Extension Service, Northern Marianas College). Interested overseas Filipino workers who plan to become entrepreneurs must register with OWWA no later than Sept. 10, 2005. The number of participants will be limited to 40 hence, registration is on a first come, first serve basis.

Corporate Challenge on Oct. 2

It is not too early to sign up your company’ team for the 2005 Corporate Challenge.

According to the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, eight teams have already registered for the event, which would be held on Sunday, Oct. 2, at Micro Beach at American Memorial Park. Cost of registration is $300 per team and deadline for registration is Friday, Sept. 16.

Don’t have enough employees for a team? If you contact the Chamber office, we will match you up with other businesses looking to form a team.

As you know if you’ve attended a past Corporate Challenge, it’s a fun day that brings together your staff and their families for a day at the beach. It’s a great way to help build morale and team spirit.

For a registration form, call the Chamber or visit our website at www.saipanchamber.com.

Toll free phone service for veterans

The regional office of the Honolulu Veterans Administration announced Saturday that veterans throughout the U.S. territories in the Pacific—the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and American Samoa—and the island of Oahu in Hawaii will be able to dial the national benefits toll-free number, 1-800-827-1000, to obtain general benefits information and the status of benefit payments.

The number will also enable veterans residing on Oahu, Guam, American Samoa, and the CNMI, to access the wide range of benefits information that is available on the national menu. Neighbor island veterans in Hawaii have had access to this national toll-free number for years.

The new number is expected to be operational on July 1, 2005. Medical appointments at the Honolulu VA Medical Center can still be arranged toll-free from most areas by dialing 1-800-214-1306.

Other frequently called toll-free numbers that are available to veterans are:
• VA Education Program 888-442-4551
• Home Loan Eligibility 888-487-1970
• VA Life Insurance 800-669-8477
• VA Health Enrollment 877-222-8387
• CHAMPVA 800-733-8387
• Gulf War or Agent Orange 800-749-8387
• Telecom Device for the Deaf 800-829-4833