COMMUNITY BRIEFS – May 11, 2017

Legion of Mary to hold prayers

The Legion of Mary on Saipan will hold prayers in honor of Our Lady of Fatima on Saturday, May 13, 2017 from 8am to 4pm (estimated time) at the Kristo Rai Parish. The 8am to 11am prayers will be at the Adoration Chapel, then will transfer inside the church to continue. Attendees may come and pray anytime within the schedule or they may choose to stay for the entire duration. May is traditionally dedicated to Mary. This year marks the 100th Year of the first apparition of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal. (PR)

Taste of the Marianas

The 19th Annual Taste of the Marianas International Food Festival & Beer Garden will be held every Saturday in May at Garapan Fishing Base from 6pm to 10pm. This Saturday will feature a “Kadun Pika” Cookoff co-sponsored by Twin’s and Hannam supermarkets, with hundreds of dollars in cash, shopping gift certificates, and Taste tokens for the top 3 winners. This Saturday’s entertainment includes: Man’amko fashion dhow, Hopwood Dance and Music Production, Blue Dragon, Pacific Flowers, Poksai Guma Chamorro, and Northern Star Band. Cookoff registration forms and rules are available at www.mymarianas.com, and the last day to register is May 12. (PR)

HANMI meeting about CW1, visa waiver

There will be an urgent meeting for all general managers of hotels in the CNMI on Friday, May 12, at 1:30pm at Fiesta Resort & Spa, Sablan boardroom. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss a joint government and private sector initiative to address the issues of the CW1 visas and the visa waiver program with the federal government. For more information, contact HANMI chair Gloria Cavanagh at gm@marianaresort.com or 322-0770 or 989-7075. All hotels are welcome. (PR)

Weightlifting Federation meeting set

The CNMI Weightlifting Federation will hold a meeting on Saturday, May 13, starting at 1pm at the NMPASI conference room. All weightlifters and persons interested in supporting the sport of weightlifting in the CNMI are invited. We will be discussing upcoming competitions and fundraising. (PR)

Training in Agat Bay

ASAN, Guam—Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 will conduct training in the vicinity of Agat Bay on May 9 from 4pm to 6pm. Aircraft will fly over Agat Bay, between Orote Point and Agat, about two miles from the shore at an altitude of 500 feet. The helicopters will conduct training with a small Navy boat. This notice is to inform residents in surrounding areas of this training activity. (PR)

Tourism Month graphic art design contest

The Marianas Visitors Authority and Marianas Tourism Education Council are holding a Tourism Month 2017 Graphic Arts Design Contest for CNMI students in grades 6-12. Submissions must be an original digital design with the words “See My Marianas” featuring a site/location in the Marianas that the artist would encourage people to visit. The deadline to submit entries is May 12, 2017. Prizes begin at $150 cash plus $150 Taste of the Marianas tokens for first place. The deadline to submit entries is May 12, 2017. For contest guidelines, visit www.mymaianas.com. (MVA)

Notice to Prior Service Trust Fund beneficiaries

This notice applies to the Prior Service Trust Fund beneficiaries who are having their monthly benefit checks directly deposited to their account at Bank of Guam. Effective June 1, 2017, Bank of Guam will no longer perform this service for you. In the interim, until PSTF can establish an automatic deposit clearing, PSTF will be mailing your benefit check to your mailing address on file. Contact the PSTF Administration Office at telephone number 322-9753 to confirm your current mailing address by June 1, 2017. The PSTF office is open on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8am to noon and from 1pm to 5pm. (PR)

Storyboard 16 to Launch May 12

MANGILAO, Guam—The 16th issue of the University of Guam’s literary journal Storyboard features a collection of poetry, prose and visual art exploring the unique identity, culture and history of the people of Guam and the greater Micronesian region. The University of Guam Press and the UOG Division of English and Applied Linguistics will launch the journal tomorrow, May 12, from 6m to 7:30pm in the atrium of the UOG English and Communications building.
An editorial board of UOG faculty members reviewed 143 submissions and selected 25 pieces. Many of the writers and artists featured in Storyboard 16 will be present at the launch to share and discuss their work. The current and past issues of Storyboard will also be available for sale. (PR)

VA benefits counselor visiting Saipan

The U.S. Department of Veterans benefits administration will be visiting Saipan. A VA benefits counselor will be at the Saipan VA Outreach Clinic on May 24, 2017, from 9:30am to 3:30pm to answer benefits questions, and assist with the claim process. The Saipan VA Outreach Clinic is located at the MH II Bldg., Suite 206, Marina Heights Business Park in Garapan. To request an appointment, contact Ruth Coleman at 322-0035. (PR)

Register now for Chamber’s Corporate Challenge

The 17th annual Corporate Challenge will be held on May 28, 2017, at the Minatchom Atdao Pavilion in Susupe. The Saipan Chamber of Commerce is inviting Chamber member businesses to join in the competition to win the title of Corporate Challenge champions. The Chamber is now accepting company team registrations. Space is limited to the first registered teams. The deadline for registration will be on Friday, May 19, 2017, at 5pm. To register now, or for more information, call 234-7150 or e-mail administrator@saipanchamber.com for more information or visit www.saipanchamber.com. (PR)

Call for historical papers

The Northern Marianas Humanities Council, University of Guam, Northern Marianas College, and Guampedia are calling for papers for the 3rd Marianas History Conference. The conference will be held on Saipan on Sept. 1-3, 2017, at a venue to be announced later. The deadline for abstracts is April 28, 2017. Conference presenters will be allotted 20 minutes to present. For more information about the conference, contact council staff at 235-4785 or visit the council’s website at: www.northernmarianashumanities.org. (PR)

Family reunion meetings today

The family of Leonardo Muna Camacho and Maria Padilla Campos (Naddu family tree) will be holding a family reunion on July 28 and 29, 2017. Meetings are currently being held every Thursday at the kiosku, across the U.S. Post Office in Chalan Kanoa. Gathering time starts at 5:30pm with the official beginning time at 6pm. (PR)