The fee is $75 (both days) or $50 for one day and 13 hours (6.5 hours/day)
The training will be conducted by Evangeline Abriel (Santa Clara University School of Law) and Lauren Gilbert (St. Thomas University School of Law). It is based on a training by the Catholic Legal Immigration Network Inc., and will have relevant CLINIC materials available at a nominal cost of copying/reproduction.
Subjects covered include: crime-based inadmissibility and deportability; waivers; representation strategies; and practice pointers for representing an immigrant with a conviction or a pending criminal charge.
The trainers will discuss the impact of domestic violence and DUIs, as well as aggravated felonies and crimes of moral turpitude.
The trainers will present an overview of removal proceedings and rights in removal, and relief from removal for clients with crime issues.
The trainers will also include a brief discussion on T and U Visas and VAWA. One hour is devoted to ethical issues, as well.
Space is limited to 75 participants.
Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. The training is now open to non-lawyers. To reserve your place at the conference, please complete the attached registration form and return to MLSC in person or by mail (Box 500826, Saipan), fax (670-235-6101) or e-mail attachment (janemack@mlscnet.org). MLSC prefers payment in advance of the conference, so registration will run smoothly at the door. For more information, call Polly Anne at 234-7729.
5th year for Tinian donation center’s Christmas give-away
TINIAN (Helping-Hands Books & Donation Center) — For the 5th consecutive year, maïa will provide gifts for children at her Helping-Hands Books & Donation Center on Tinian.
Intended to help the island’s most in-need parents, who can’t afford to buy much for their little ones, toys and games donated by local businesses and individuals will brighten the holiday for them again, according to the lady who founded the year-round center and has been running it out of her home since shortly after she arrived in CNMI just before Christmas of 1995.
Still in the duplex behind the mayor’s office after more than three years, despite some temporary enforced closings and almost-closings, the center has been able to continue providing clothing, shoes, household items, books and school supplies to all on Tinian, thanks to the help of maïa’s landlord, Edward Villagomez and her project’s long-time benefactor, Connie Manglona.
“There wouldn’t be a donation center if it weren’t for this generous couple,” maia said. “They’ve been providing a rent-free building for the center for the past four years, since despite my many pleas for official support the local officials have never recognized the center’s existence publicly. In fact, the current mayor hasn’t even bothered to step out his back door to see the place where his people are helping each other.”
Starting Sunday, December 12 and every day till Christmas Eve, the Donation Center will be open for all in-need parents to come and choose a gift for each child in the family, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 to 6 p.m. If some need to come before or after those hours, maïa will be happy to make special arrangements, she said, if they call her at 433-9993.
“I’m sad that this year there will be more need than ever for this, due to all the lay-offs,” maïa added, “but I’m hoping that local businesses and those individuals who can afford it will help me to make it a Merry Christmas at least for our island’s children.” She badly needs more gift items and asks that anyone who can donate new or like-new toys and games please call or email her to arrange for pickup or delivery.
Contact her at: maia3maia@hotmail.com or 433-9993, or Connie Manglona at 287-3285.
Holiday fire safety
(DPS) — The holidays should be a magical time for children. Yet each year in the states, hospital emergency rooms treat about 8,7000 people for injuries, such as falls, cuts and shocks, related to the holiday lights, decorations and Christmas trees.
Keep the season merry with this list of safety tips.
Safer Trees and Decorations
• Any string of lights with worn, frayed or broken cords or loose bulb connections should not be used.
• Always unplug Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to sleep.
• Never use lit candles to decorate a tree, and place them well away from tree branches.
• Try to keep live trees as moist as possible by giving them plenty of water daily. Do not purchase a tree that is dry or dropping needles.
• Choose a sturdy tree stand designed not to tip over.
• When purchasing an artificial tree, be sure it is labeled as fire-retardant.
• Make sure the tree is at least three feet (one meter) away from any heat source and try to position it near an outlet so that cords are not running long distances.
• Do not place the tree where it may block exits.
• Safely dispose of the tree when it begins dropping needles. Dried-out trees are highly flammable and should not be left in a house or garage, or placed against the house.
Bright Ideas for Lights
• Indoors or outdoors, always use lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory that indicates conformance with safety standards.
• Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed of bare wires, or loose connections, and throw out damaged set.
• Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord.
• Never use electric lights on metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
• Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use.
• Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.
Red flag at 3 Saipan sites
(DEQ) — The Division of Environmental Quality says water samples collected from Jeffries Beach, Old Man By the Sea and Unai Dangkulo contained excessive concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria that exceeded the CNMI’s marine water quality standards.
DEQ has given these locations a red flag and advises the public not to fish or swim within 300 feet of the locations for the next 48 hours or until otherwise notified.
Holiday bazaar this weekend
THE annual Holiday Bazaar, organized by Brilliant Star School, will once again open the holiday season this year, its media release said. This sixth annual event will be held Sunday, Dec. 5, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the multi-purpose center, Susupe.
The event is an opportunity for artists and other vendors to showcase their arts, and for island residents and visitors to get an early start on buying unique and beautiful gifts for the holidays. The day-long event is also graced by performances throughout the day by various community cultural and arts groups, as well as raffles with prizes generously donated by community businesses.
“We’re looking forward to another year of showcasing our island’s arts, crafts and gifts. We still have a couple of tables available for any interested artists or vendors,” said Carol Auther, one of the event organizers. Interested vendors may contact the school at 323-STAR (323-7827).
In the past, shoppers have commented on the convenience and comfort of finding such a variety of island gifts in a single place ahead of the holidays.
The Holiday Bazaar has been likened to a mini-Flame Tree Arts Festival with air-conditioning.
Some of the arts shoppers can expect to find this year include the ceramics of Ben Wood of Saipan Southern High School, photographs of Jack Hardy, the artwork of Joe Weaver, Monika’s Gallery items, handmade jewelry of artists Kathryn Fuller, Nava Khorram, Kim Peterson, Jill Vanderkin and Leila Staffler, the island jams of DC Revilla, island crafts and jewelry of Tokie Mojica, and much more.
The event will include a crafts area for children, a bouncy tent and entertainment throughout the day from local performers.
This year, performers will include DoReMi School of Music, Saipan Southern Manta Ray Band, Larry Lee’s Ukelele Band, Glushko’s Academy of Performing Arts, Keynotes School of Music and Angel’s International School of Dance.
Raffle prizes have been donated through the generosity of various island businesses, and this year the lucky winners can expect to take home some beautiful handmade jewelry, local artwork, Marianas coffee, gift certificates from local hotels and stores, and much more. Drawings will be held hourly.
“We look forward to once again hosting this event at the multi-purpose Center,” said Lina Villagomez, a member of the organizing committee. “We expect a vibrant crowd from our school community and island-wide because this event provides quality shopping and enthusiastic holiday spirit,” she added.
Of course at this all day event, bento box lunches, snacks and drinks will be available for purchase. “We look forward to welcoming the community, once again, to this wonderful event which opens the holiday season on Saipan,” said Auther.
Rev & Tax workshop
(Division of Revenue and Taxations) —The Division of Revenue and Taxation of the Department of Finance will conduct a workshop for the Annual Wage and Salary Statement Form, or W-2CM, for tax year 2010 and other 2010 year end filing requirements. The workshop will be on Friday, Dec. 10, starting at 8 a.m. at Joeten Dandan.
For more information, call 664-1000 or fax 664-1015.
REACHING OUT.
Angelray T. Guerrero, left, and Toni Villagomez of the CNMI Medical Referral Office in Honolulu, Hawaii hold the bags of bread and cookies he provided to CNMI patients. He says this is one way of showing them that “we care about them especially that the Christmas holiday is just coming up.” The 16-year-old, a recovering cancer patient, is in Honolulu for medical checkups. He will undergo an MRI of the brain, spinal and the lumbar areas.
