The search is being conducted in preparation for World Marriage Day on Saturday, Feb. 7, 4 to 6pm at American Memorial Park’s amphitheater. The celebration is free and open to all married couples.
If you have been married for over 50 years, or if you know of friends or relatives who have been, and both spouses are still living, e-mail their names, phone numbers and wedding date to Kanae Quinn at [email protected].
The deadline for all entries is Jan. 31.
UOG offers intro to sign language
(UOG) — The University of Guam’s Professional and International Programs is offering a 10-hour seminar entitled Introduction to Sign Language from Jan. 26 to 30, 2009.
The instructor is Allison Masteller and the courses will be held on the 2nd floor of the Computer Center, Emeritus Hall Suite 205 from 4 to 6:30 p.m.
Cost per person is $175 and Continuing Education Units can be included for an additional fee of $22. Upon conclusion of the training, a certificate of completion will be awarded to each student.
Contact 671-735-2600/01/02 if you would like to be a part of this learning experience.
The registration form is available in the UOG Web site, www.uog.edu/pip.
(DEQ) — The Division of Environmental Quality has raised the red flag on 4 sites 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.
On Rota, none of the samples collected contained excessive concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria nor did they exceed the CNMI’s marine water quality standards.
DEQ assigns all of the sampled Rota beach sites a green flag.
On Saipan, samples collected from Jeffries Beach, DPW Channel Bridge, S. Puerto Rico Dump and Garapan Fishing Dock 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.
DEQ analyzes samples of marine recreational and storm drainage water from 50 locations on Saipan, 10 on Tinian, 12 on Rota and a total of 11 samples from the shore surrounding Managaha.
Marine Water Quality Reports are also provided at www.deq.gov.mp/section.aspx?secID=4 and http://www.cnmicoralreef.net/wq/beachcloseweeklyresults.htm .
The agency welcomes all inquiries as to the quality of the beach water.
The public is encouraged to contact DEQ at 664-8500 with any questions concerning this matter.
Friends of the Arts audition call
AUDITIONS for “My Fair Lady,” the musical stage production and final Friends of the Arts production of the year will be held on Thursday, Jan. 29, from 6 to 8 p.m., and on Saturday, Jan. 31, from 3 to 5 p.m., in Room 101-D of Marianas High School.
This is a large cast production and singers and actors from teen years to mature adults are needed.
Principle roles as well as group/chorus scenes are a big part of this musical.
Backstage help is also needed, so even if you don’t act or sing you can still be a part of this production.
Auditions for acting roles will be held at the above times if time allows.
Showtime for the play will be in late April. Rehearsals will be held evenings and weekends.
Those auditioning should be prepared to sing a selection of their own choosing or one of the production numbers.
Anyone interesting in being a part of this productions but unable to attend either of the audition dates should call Susan Fishman-Tudor at 233-2225 — leave a message with a contact number.
Kagman’s Friday night market
PUENGIN Inetnon will begin on Jan. 20 in the Kagman Community Center’s parking lot.
Puengin Inetnon is Kagman’s Friday Night Market that will take place every government payday. It will begin at 4 p.m. and end at 10 p.m.
There will vendors selling food, drinks, snacks, clothing, and crafts.
Puengin Inetnon is a family oriented event. Alcohol will be prohibited from the event. All are welcome.
Interested vendors can call the Kagman Post Office at 256-POST for more information.
System Navigators trip rescheduled
THE Family Hope Center of the CNMI Council for Developmental Disabilities and the Northern Marianas Protection & Advocacy Systems Inc. would like to inform the community that the System Navigators trip to Rota has been rescheduled from Jan. 22-23, to Jan. 27-28, to conduct interviews and follow-ups for families with disabilities.
For more information, call 234-7273/4 and ask for Frances Torres or Dorain Camacho or 664-7005/7000 and ask for Lillian Ada.
Crime of the week: Counterfeit money
(DPS) — Crime Stoppers is seeking the community’s assistance for information on persons involved in producing counterfeit currency or using counterfeit money as a mode of payment.
The Department of Public Safety has recently received a string of complaints from vendors and businesses regarding counterfeit money, which range from small denominations of $5 to larger bills, such as $50 or $100.
Anyone reporting the persons involved in this type of crime is asked to provide Crime Stoppers with a name, physical description of the suspect, vehicle (if used), and place of residence.
Call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 234-7272.
Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.
Caller ID is not used and all calls remain anonymous.
PSS science fair
(PSS) — The Public School System will hold the 2009 Islandwide Science Fair from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1.
The fair will showcase budding public school scientists from grades K-12 who will prepare, present, and defend their projects.
Students are invited to submit their projects to their science instructors.
Each public school may only register five of their school-level winning projects.
There are four categories: (1) Life Science; (2) Physical Science; (3) Earth and Space Science; and (4) Health/Nutrition/Medical Science. Student participants will compete in five grade cluster groups:
(a) Level 1: Grades K-1
(b) Level 2: Grades 2-3
(c) Level 3: Grades 4-5
(d) Level 4: Grades 6-8
(e) Level 5: Grades 9-12
Outstanding individual science projects will compete at the Guam Science Expo.
Projects will be judge and rated based on scientific criteria, creative ability, understanding, clarify, and dramatic value, and technical skill.
Projects must also meet guidelines established by the Science Fair Committee.
Banner sign cleanup underway
(Zoning Board) — Saipan’s commercial areas will soon have a new look.
Wholesale distributors and retailers are removing many banner signs to comply with new zoning requirements.
In November, the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation enacted the Saipan Zoning Act of 2008 and the governor signed it into law in December.
Among other improvements, this law seeks to improve the look of Saipan by restricting the use of advertising banner signs.
“We should see far fewer commercial banner signs and this will enhance the overall appearance of our retail and tourist areas,” said Steve Tilley, zoning administrator.
Banner signs that advertise products will only be allowed when they announce an event but then the advertising space will be restricted to 40 percent of the sign area.
Retailers will still be able to put up banners for sales promotions but they won’t be able to include product advertising.
“Since retailers will have to pay for signs themselves, there should be fewer signs. Banners will be required to include the installation date so the public can easily see how long they have been up,” said Tilley.
Tilley said he was especially pleased at the cooperation from wholesalers in removing existing nonconforming banners.
“We’ve had several meetings with them over the past year and they’ve all agreed with this effort. Marpac has already started taking down their signs and notifying their retailers about the new law.” he said.
The Zoning Office recently sent a memo to users and installers of commercial banner signs on Saipan.
The memo explains more about the law and the types of banners that are and are not allowed.
It is posted on the Zoning Web site at www.zoning.gov.mp.
