Fatheread course

(JKPL) — CNMI Motheread/Fatheread is conducting a fatheread course at the Children of Our Homeland Cultural Center of the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library.
The course is held every Tuesday for five weeks for about one and a half hours.
The course is for any male interested in improving and learning about reading with children.
If you have questions, contact Mary Binauea at 235-7322/9 or e-mail binauea@hotmail.com.

Marianas March meeting

(MMAC) — The 2007 Marianas March Against Cancer Committee will hold a meeting for team captains at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 2, at the Hyatt Regency’s Sui Lian Room.
Note the change in room location. Immediately following this meeting, the MMAC committee meeting will be held at the same location.
For more information, call 682-0050 or e-mail mmacsaipan@gmail.com.

Oleai PTSA meeting

(OES) — The PTSA of Oleai Elementary School will meet on Tuesday, May 8, 6 p.m., in the school cafeteria.

SHRM scholarships

(SHRM) — The CNMI Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management will be awarding two $500 scholarships to eligible students in the commonwealth.
Scholarship applications are available at the Marianas Visitors Authority, the Office of Personnel Management, the Office of the Public Auditor and the Division of Immigration. All applications must be postmarked by May 31.
For more information, e-mail francestsalas@gmail.com or call Frances T. Salas at 234-6925 or 234-6958.

Live fire training on FDM

(EMO) — The Emergency Management Office and U.S. Naval Forces Marianas are informing the general public that a military unit will conduct live fire training on Farallon De Mendenilla.
The schedule is as follows:
• May 1-2, 7 p.m. to 12 midnight.
• May 1-4, 8 a.m. to 12:30 noon.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial is advising the public, especially fishermen, commercial pilots and marine tour operators, to stay away from this area during the time of dates indicated.
For more information, call the Emergency Management Office, at 322-9528 or 322-9529.

NMC holds business concept competition

(NMC) — Northern Marianas College’s Small Business Development Center and School of Business have teamed up to sponsor a business concept competition that awards substantial cash prizes to the top five student teams with the best business ideas for the CNMI.
Fifteen teams, which were comprised of students studying business at NMC on Saipan and Tinian, submitted their written business concept papers for initial judging on April 27.
Of the original 15 teams, five finalists were selected to present their business concepts to a panel of three judges from the local banking industry.
The presentations will be made this Friday, May 4, at NMC’s room D-1, located across from the NMC Bookstore.
The public is encouraged to attend this free event.
The three judges are Oscar Camacho, acting executive director for the Commonwealth Development Authority; Vicente Agulto, loan officer for the Bank of Guam; and Lillian Pangelinan, banking administrator for the CNMI Department of Commerce.
The five finalist teams are “Adrenaline Rush” comprised of Donald C. Blanco, Raymond Zapanta, Rabbi Romero, Sabrina Dela Cruz, Justo Quitugua, Francisco Blas and Vidal J. Camacho; “Dream Catcher Advertising” — Roxane Marian Alvarez, Evita Norita and Marryann Borja; “FamCare” — Serlin Marlik and Zack Diaz; “Grant Specialists LLP” — Regina E. Andres and Max Wang; and “Jamn Games” — Joshua Gibson, A. J. Deleon Guerrero, Margelyn Biscocho and Noemilenn Serrano.
For more information, contact Eric Plinske at 234-5498 ext. 1830 or e-mail ericp@nmcnet.edu.

Energy grant application deadline fast approaching

HILO (USDA) — U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Hawaii State Director Lorraine P. Shin has announced that the agency is accepting energy applications.
There is $176.5 million that is available in loan guarantees and $11.4 million in grants to support investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency improvements by agricultural producers and small businesses.
Energy efficiency improvements include installing energy efficient electric motors, adding insulation, upgrading windows and doors, improving HVAC, refrigeration and lighting.
Renewable energy systems include solar, wind, biomass, biogas and geothermal. 
Costs incurred before submitting an application for both grants and loan guarantees are not eligible.
Funds are not available for residential use.
Loan guarantees cover up to 50 percent of a project’s cost, not to exceed $10 million.
Grants are available for up to 25 percent of a project’s cost, not to exceed $250,000 for energy efficiency improvements, and $500,000 for renewable energy systems. 
In Hawaii and the Western Pacific, applications for grants must be completed and submitted to the USDA Rural Development State Office, Attn. Rural Energy Coordinator, Room 311 Federal Building, 154 Waianuenue Avenue, Hilo, Hawaii  96720.
Grant applications must be postmarked no later than May 18, 2007.    
The deadline for submitting loan applications, as well as for loan and grant combinations is July 2, 2007.
Additional information can be located in the March 22, 2007 Federal Register or by visiting USDA’s Web site at www.rurdev.usda.gov. 
For more information on USDA Rural Development’s renewable energy programs, contact Tim O’Connell, rural energy coordinator, at 808-933-8313 or at tim.oconnell@hi.usda.gov.