Around the Islands

The Marianas March Against Cancer is one way of recognizing loved ones who are fighting the disease and remembering those who have lost the battle.

At 7 p.m. on May 22, at the Marianas March Against Cancer event, luminary candles will be lit to honor those who have battled cancer at some point in their lives.

The candles will illuminate the field for the entire 12-hour duration of the event and will be decorated with the names of those you would like to honor.

If you would like to make a $5 donation for a luminary, e-mail Kimberly A. Concepcion at [email protected]. You may also contact the numerous teams that are participating in the event. If paying by check, make checks payable to Marianas March Against Cancer.

Luminary forms are also available online at www.ccamarianas.org.

NMC English placement test

(NMC) — Northern Marianas College has scheduled an additional English placement test date for Tuesday, May 19, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Room A-9.

No admittance to the testing room will be allowed after the starting time.

Those who wish to take the test must bring a valid photo ID — driver’s license, passport or school ID — and pencils.

There is a $25 fee that must be paid in advance at the NMC cashier.

Registration for the Summer 2009 semester will start on Wednesday, May 20, and will continue until Friday, May 22.

FUN RUN. Tinian High School Teen Talk volunteers participate in the First Annual Tinian Moonlight Fun Run held Saturday evening. In the photo are Jesse Ray Borja, Hainy Borja, Raina Reyes, Edward Hofschneider, Alana Takasi, Becky Ann Evangelista, Alisha Shrestha, Marisa Untalan and Sherry Dosalua. Not pictured: Chelsea Manglona. Contributed photo

Water outage in Koblerville, San Antonio

(CUC) — The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. announces a water outage scheduled in Koblerville and San Antonio on Saturday, May 16, from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The water division distribution maintenance crew is scheduled to work on the Koblerville Sump tank to seal all holes and openings, inspect, clean and disinfect the storage tank.

This work is necessary to protect treated stored water and provide improved overall water quality for public consumption.

This enables water division to comply with the stipulated order concerning drinking water operations and maintenance in correcting major sanitary deficiencies cited during storage tanks inspections.

Water service will be restored to affected customers as soon as the work is completed.

For more information, contact Bruce Megarr at 235-7025 through 235-7032 ext. 172.

DPS to conduct checkpoints

For more information, contact Sgt. Paul Ogumoro 664-9084-5. 

Red flag at 1 Rota  site, 5 on Saipan

(DEQ) — The Division of Environmental Quality has raised the red flag at one site on Rota and five  on Saipan and advises the public not to fish or swim within 300 feet of these locations for the next 48 hours or until otherwise notified.

Samples collected from Teweksberry on Rota and Unai Dangkulo, Obyan Beach, CK District #4 Drainage, Garapan Fishing Dock and DPW Channel Bridge on Saipan contained excessive concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria — enterococci — that exceeded the CNMI’s marine water quality standards.

These bacteria can indicate the presence of human and animal waste in the water.

However, studies have shown that storm water runoff in tropical environments may also contain these bacteria from the natural environment, which may not be directly associated with public health concerns.

Marine Water Quality Reports are also provided at  www.deq.gov.mp/section.aspx?secID=4 and http://www.cnmicoralreef.net/wq/beachcloseweeklyresults.htm.

Call DEQ at 664-8500 for more information.