“The CNMI’s economic problems began prior to the 110th Congress taking up legislation to normalize our immigration, and our economy simply cannot withstand additional negative impacts caused by that normalization process,” he said. “Saipan should not be the only barometer of economic impact for the implementation of U.S. Public Law 110-229. Rather, Rota and Tinian with their unique challenges, including the economic potential of their gaming industries, should be at the forefront when it comes to impact and economic diversification consideration.”
He added, “I have repeatedly stressed to Congress and the Department of Homeland Security how crucial the Chinese tourist market is to Tinian, and how the insufficiency of essential air service has affected Rota’s economy. While there is hope that the military build-up on Guam will bring economic benefit to Tinian and Rota, that whisper of economic promise is years into the future.”
Tenorio expressed his gratitude to the chairwoman for sending the staff delegation to visit Saipan to follow up on last month’s meetings with Homeland Security personnel.
“However, the trip was just too short — they weren’t able to meet everyone they needed to, and again, they did not visit Rota or Tinian,” Tenorio said.
He added, “I have consistently stressed the importance of keeping the House Resources Committee and the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee involved in the implementation process of Public Law 110-229. I will also be writing to Chairman Bingaman and Ranking Member Domenici on the Senate side, as I have learned that they may also be sending a staff delegation to the CNMI later this year.”
NMC alumni meeting
(NMC) — There will be a general membership meeting at the Hard Rock Café on Aug. 21, Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
All NMC alumni are invited to attend. The group will be signing up alumni, selecting the official NMC alumni logo, presenting alumni ID card benefits, and more.
NMC launches new financial aid system
(NMC) — Northern Marianas College students can now have their financial aid awards processed more quickly and efficiently as NMC launches a software module that fully automates the financial aid process.
The software, named PowerFAIDS, manages student eligibility for financial aid, verifies student information, helps manage Pell Grant disbursement, prepares award packaging, and simplifies financial aid reporting and research.
PowerFAIDS also enables the College to electronically and simultaneously communicate with a large number of students to follow up, for example, any missing information in a financial aid application.
“The software also makes it possible for financial aid office staff to have online access to real-time financial award information,” said NMC President Dr. Carmen Fernandez. “The instant access to timely information about eligibility and award forecasts will play an important role as students and their families make important decisions about the future.”
Another advantage of PowerFAIDS is that it integrates with NMC’s main student information system, PowerCAMPUS.
As such, NMC information technology director Adrian Atalig anticipates that importing student academic and demographic data into PowerFAIDS will occur seamlessly.
Training sessions for the new software module took place from Aug. 12 to 15.
They were conducted by SunGard Higher Education consultant Angelina Bryant.
“The next upgrade to the financial aid system will allow students to have the same instantaneous access as the staff have now,” Fernandez said.
“The deployment of the software is part of NMC’s aggressive efforts to streamline and automate many tedious tasks to increase staff productivity and expand services to our students,” Fernandez added.
HONOLULU — Carlsmith Ball LLP, in a media release, announced that Christopher J. Cole has rejoined the firm as partner in the Honolulu office effective July 14.
Cole specializes in the areas of civil litigation, with an emphasis in labor and employment law, real estate litigation, professional liability, environmental litigation and complex commercial litigation.
Cole first joined Carlsmith Ball as a summer clerk in 1991 when the firm was known as Carlsmith Ball Wichman Murray Case & Ichiki.
Upon receiving his law degree, Cole became an associate in its labor and employment section.
In 1994, Cole left to join McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon, where he later became a partner and member of the law firm’s hiring committee.
Carlsmith Ball LLP is a leading law firm in the Pacific region with close to 100 lawyers in eight offices in Saipan, Guam, Honolulu, Kapolei, Maui, Kona, Hilo and Los Angeles.
For more information, visit www.Carlsmith.com.
Seminar on fiduciary services
THE Asia Pacific Association for Fiduciary Studies is coming to the CNMI for the fifth in a series of regional Institutional Funds Management Country Conferences, on Friday, Aug. 22, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Azucena I & II of the Fiesta Resort & Spa.
The Saipan conference with its focus on the theme, “Defining a Global Fiduciary Standard of Excellence,” instructs anyone involved in the investments process such as trustees, committee members, advisors, attorneys and others on how they can improve fiduciary services.
For more information, you may directly access the Web site at www.apafs.org.
Summer interns’ final presentations
(DEQ) — On Aug. 27, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. the coral reef interns will present the work they have done this summer in the Coastal Resources Management Office conference room.
The community is invited to attend this celebration and witness the tales of the 2008 Coral Reef Initiative summer internship program.
For more information, call Reina Camacho at 664-8500.
Great animals up for adoption
(PAWS) — PAWS has two unique animals that are in need of loving and responsible homes.
The first animal is Apollo, a dog that was rescued from As Matius on Wednesday evening after a neighbor called to report that the dog had a plastic cookie bucket stuck on his head for at least five days.
“Though the image may sound funny at first,” said PAWS president Katie Busenkell, “I assure that this was no laughing matter. Had the neighbor not helped this animal, he would have died from starvation and dehydration. A miserable and prolonged way to die.”
The animal was taken to a foster home where the bucket had to be removed with dull-point scissors.
“Apollo is recovering beautifully. PAWS would like to place him with a family that will appreciate his past and provide him with a loving home in the future,” Busenkell said.
Apollo is a male boonie dog, thought to be about 1 year of age. He is good with children, cats, kittens, and dogs.
According to Busenkell, “He is just happy to be around anyone that is willing to pat his head and talk to him. He’ll make a great companion for someone or some family.”
If you or someone you know is interested in adopting or fostering Apollo and providing the animal with a loving home, contact PAWS at 285-PAWS. Foster families will be provided with one bag of dog food per month.
The second animal is Chin Chin, a kitten thought to be about six weeks of age.
Nine days ago, this kitten was found in the middle of the road, just in front of DPS, bleeding from the mouth.
The rescuer thought a car had hit this kitten, so they took it to Paradise Island Animal Hospital for an examination.
According to Dr. Tudor, the kitten only had a chin injury that had removed the skin from the bone.
A full recovery is expected, though the kitten is expected to have some scarring.
According to her foster family, she is a healthy, playful, and incredibly affectionate little kitten that is oblivious to her healing chin wound.
She gets along with dogs and other cats, and would make a great family pet.
If you are interested in adopting or fostering Chin Chin, please contact PAWS at 285-PAWS.
Again, foster families will be provided with $20 a month for cat food and/or kitty litter.
Busenkell noted, “It is always important that the community help us find responsible homes for unwanted or abandoned animals. Without the eyes and ears of the community, we would not be able to place these animals in good homes and our foster families would cease offering their help and support. Therefore, we are asking everyone in the community to help us find responsible and loving homes for these animals.”
Power outage on Friday
(CUC) — There will be a schedule of power outage on Friday, Aug. 22, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.
CUC needs to replace the defective air break system in Feeder 3 by the entrance of the Upper Gualo Rai. The outage is required for the safety of the line crew.
The following areas will be affected: Quartermaster Rd. to Msgr. Guerrero, Pale Arnold Rd., Upper China Town, Falipe, Taro Sue, Upper Gualo Rai, and Lower Gualo Rai.
Red flag raised at 5 Saipan, 2 Tinian sites
(DEQ) — The Division of Environmental Quality says water samples collected from Saipan’s Jeffries Beach, Marine Beach, Tank Beach, Hidden Beach and Unai Dangkulo, as well as Tinian’s Leprosarium Beach I and harbor contained excessive concentrations of fecal indicator bacteria.
DEQ advises the public not to fish or swim within 300 feet of these locations for the next 48 hours or until otherwise notified.
