Lolo, Eni pledge open, frank co- operation in DC - Samoa News

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Page 18 samoa news, Thursday, February 28, 2013 Where it’s at in American Samoa Salon Sophia Let us get you looking and feeling your best. COME IN FOR A WHOLE NEW LOOK! CHEMICAL NEW SERVICES ARRIVALS Highlights, Perms, Blow Dryers, Curling Irons, Straighteners, Straightening, Color, ect. Plus many more Items! Call us at 699-4091 or 258-6188 • Located in Nu’uuli FRESH BAKED GOODS in the morning @ both locations J-Mascot Auto Parts Nu’uuli • 699-0707/733-6980 “Across from Wakamuli Gas Station” We sell: Sualua’s Cafe Fagatogo - 633-2399 Malaeimi - 733-7195, 699-0911 Hours: MONDAY - THURSDAY 6:30am to 3:00pm BREAKFAST & LUNCH only SPECIAL Special! Enjoy 1 hour Full Body Massage 688-1999 FRIDAY - SATURDAY: 6:30am - 9:30pm BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER Well Being Being Zone! Zone! • ENGINES • TRANSMISSIONS • AUTO PARTS We Also Do Repair Jobs and Special Order on Car Parts! CALL US NOW!! Vt. lye victim gets new face at Boston hospital BOSTON (AP) — Loved ones knew it was her at the hospital when they saw her teeth. Carmen Blandin Tarleton’s face was unrecognizable after the lye attack, burned away in the frenzy of an estranged husband’s rage. Nearly six years later, the Vermont nurse is celebrating a gift that has given her a new image following a full facial transplant this month. Doctors at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston said at a Wednesday news conference that the 44-year-old’s surgery included transplanting a female donor’s facial skin to Tarleton’s neck, nose and lips, along with facial muscles, arteries and nerves. “I know how truly blessed I am, and will have such a nice reflection in the mirror to remind myself what selfless really is,” Tarleton wrote on her blog Wednesday. She did not attend the news conference but watched it during a live web broadcast. The hospital said it was not releasing a current picture of her. Tarleton’s sister, Kesstan Blandin, shared a statement from Tarleton that said she felt “really good and happy.” “I want to convey to the donor’s family what a great gift they have given to me,” the statement said. “...I feel strong and I am confident that I have the strength to deal with whatever comes my way.” The Thetford, Vt., woman suffered burns on more than 80 percent of her body and was left blind after her attacker beat her with a baseball bat and doused her with the industrial strength chemical in June 2007. Tarleton, who once worked as a transplant nurse, has undergone more than 50 surgeries since then. The operations included skin grafts and work that has restored vision to one eye. The latest surgery took 15 hours and included a team of more than 30 medical professionals. The lead surgeon, Bohdan Pomahac, called her injuries among the worst he’s seen in his career. “Carmen is a fighter,” the doctor said. “And fight she did.” The flight is timed to take advantage of the once-in-a-generation close approach of the two planets’ orbits. The timeline calls for launch on Jan. 5, 2018, the Mars flyby on Aug. 20, 2018, and a return to Earth on May 21, 2019. It involves huge risk, more than a government agency like NASA would normally permit, officials concede. For example, the spaceship will fly during a period when galactic cosmic rays will be high because of the sunspot cycle. That will increase the crew’s cancer risk by about 3 percent, which is more than on any NASA mission, Clark said. The ship would also re-enter Earth’s atmosphere at twice the speed of ordinary space capsules, something Tito said still needs to be worked out. “Life is risky,” said Clark, a former NASA flight surgeon whose astronaut wife died in the 2003 space shuttle Columbia accident. “Anything that’s worth it is worth putting it all at stake for.” What may be most at stake is the crew members’ marriage. The couple will be selected within a year. MacCallum and his wife, Jane Poynter, hope to be picked. They were a couple when they participated in Biosphere 2, a sort of giant terrarium that was supposed to replicate a mission on another planet. Poynter said it was such a fraught experience psychologically that some participants wouldn’t talk to each other for most of the two years. But MacCallum said it brought him and Poynter closer together. He said the right couple Pomahac’s team has performed five facial transplants at the hospital. He said his team’s latest patient is recovering well and is in great spirits as she works to get stronger. Before the transplant, Tarleton drooled constantly because of scar tissue in her mouth. She also couldn’t turn her head from side to side or lift her chin. Pomahac said Tarleton was pleased when she saw her new face for the first time. Her appearance will not match that of the late donor’s face, he said. “I think she looks amazing, but I’m biased,” the surgeon said with a smile. The donor’s family wants to remain anonymous now, but released a statement through a regional donor bank saying that her spirit would live on through Tarleton and three other organ recipients. In 2009, Tarleton’s now ex-husband Herbert Rodgers pleaded guilty to maiming her in exchange for a prison sentence of at least 30 years. Police previously said Rodgers believed his wife was seeing another man and went to her house to attack him. Tarleton mistook the intruder for a burglar at first and told him he could have whatever he wanted. Then Rodgers launched into a fury, fracturing one of Tarleton’s eye sockets and breaking her arm with the bat. He had brought lye with him in a squeeze bottle and he poured it on Tarleton. When police arrived, the brunette’s heartshaped face already was distorted, her skin turning brown. She was trying to crawl into a shower to wash away the chemical. But now, the mother of two daughters talks about forgiveness and has a newly-published book called “Overcome: Burned, Blinded and Blessed.” “Forgiveness is about helping ourselves, not the people who hurt us,” read an image on a website Wednesday that promotes her book. ➧ Tycoon wants to send couple to Mars… Continued from page 16 going to Mars, if screened and counseled ahead of time, would come back with a stronger marriage. Poynter said the husband and wife need to be even-tempered. Clark said they should be postchildbearing age because of exposure to radiation. Poynter is 50, MacCallum 48. For the 30 years NASA has been flying men and women, it has avoided the question of sex in space. MacCallum said it will happen: “It’s a man and wife. Private time. Let your imagination run wild.” In a statement, NASA spokesman David Steitz said the venture validates President Barack Obama’s decision to rely more on private sector ingenuity to explore space, and is “a testament to the audacity of America’s commercial aerospace industry and the adventurous spirit of America’s citizen-explorers.” He said “NASA will continue discussions with Inspiration Mars to see how the agency might collaborate on mutually beneficial activities.” Stanford University professor Scott Hubbard, NASA’s former Mars mission chief, said the team’s technical paper outlining the flight is “long on inspiration, short on technical details. What is there is correct.” Other outside experts praised the expertise of the team but worried about the lack of testing. Former astronaut and current MIT aerospace engineering professor Jeff Hoffman said: “Since they don’t plan to land on Mars, it’s really a question of keeping people alive for 501 days in space, which is not an impossible task.” Inspiration Mars: http://www.inspirationmars.com
Puerto Rico addressing its collapsing pension system SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rican officials on Wednesday proposed what they called “severe” cost-saving measures designed to help rescue one of the U.S. territory’s public pension systems that is on the brink of collapse. Treasury Secretary Melba Acosta called for increased employee contributions, a higher retirement age and reduced benefits and monthly pensions for certain workers. “The problem is very severe and the problem is very large,” she said. “We have to take quick and forceful action.” The proposal was endorsed by Javier Ferrer, president of the Government Development Bank of Puerto Rico, who said it urgently needs to be approved by the legislature. “The reality is that the government does not have the resources to keep contributing additional funds to the system,” he said. The plan would raise employee contributions from about 8 percent to 10 percent, and increase the retirement age from 58 to 65 for some workers and from 65 to 67 for others. It also would transfer certain employees from a defined-benefit plan to a hybrid plan that included a defined contribution component. Acosta and Ferrer also want to reduce bonuses and medical plan contributions, but say minimum monthly pensions should rise from $400 to $500. The proposal is to be submitted to legislators this week. Gov. Alejandro Garcia is expected to sign it if lawmakers approve the plan. Acosta said that even if the plan is approved as it currently stands, the Caribbean island’s nearly depleted general fund would still have to contribute $100 million a year for several decades to ensure the pension system keeps operating. ➧ GOVERNMENT BRiEFS… Continued from page 2 oVs enhanCed With 2 neW database systems According to the FY 2013 first quarter performance reports of the Office of Vital Statistics (OVS) and the AS Department of Homeland Security (which oversees the OVS), the implementation of two important database systems now allow for more accurate and verifiable record data to be accessed by authorized users — both local and federal. The contract for the OVS database system was awarded to WEI Incorporated, and initial work allowed for the issuance of identification cards beginning October 2011. The cards passed a trial and error period and the public has been receiving their ID cards upon verification of pertinent information with supporting documentation by OVS staff. The second phase is extensive and requires careful scrutiny and attention to details when transferring hard copies to digital images of all original records and copies of certificates documented by the OVS. The second database system installed is the OVS Electronic Verification of Vital Events (EVVE) Database that was undertaken by the AS Department of Homeland Security. The project is in conjunction with the National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems (NAPHSIS) for the procurement, installation and commission of the EVVE database. Hardware and necessary equipment for this project have been installed and tested. oVs perFormanCe in 1st quarter During the first quarter of FY2013, the OVS issued to the public 1,037 birth certificates and received from the AS Medical Center Authority for registering 199 birth certificates. This is in addition to the registration of 58 death certificates. The OVS also handled/issued 23 (new/old) copies of death certificates and issued 268 ID cards (new, renewal, replacement) during that same time period. They also handled/issued 111 marriage certificates/license copies/registration and 295 requests for birth certificate verifications for social security purposes from the US Passport Agency- Hawaii, the US Embassy – New Zealand, the Attorney General’s Office, and via the ASG government website email. The OVS also processed 12 registrations for ministers/pastors and facilitated over 2,418 visitors/vital requests in the office for the reporting period. Altogether, the OVS collected a total of $14,175 through the provision of vital records and identification cards between October and December 2012. According to their performance report, the OVS had a balance of $15,369.72 at the close of the FY2013 first quarter. Their budget was for $37,875 and total expenditures for that time period amounted to $22,505.08. The announcement comes amid stern warnings from economists and credit rating agencies that the pension system is buckling under a more than $37 billion unfunded liability. Experts previously recommended that the government reduce benefits, raise the retirement age and increase contributions from current employees. Most of the problem centers on two pension systems set up for teachers and for government workers that stopped accepting new beneficiaries in January 2000. Those plans cover more than 273,000 active and retired government workers. The systems initially allowed employees to retire at age 55 after 25 years of service or at age 58 with 10 years of service. In 1990, legislators amended the law to reduce benefits and increase the retirement age from 55 to 65 years for newly hired workers. But liabilities kept growing, and legislators scrapped that system in 2000 and created a new one similar to a 401(k)-type plan in which workers must make their own contributions. While the new system is considered financially secure, the old system’s financial problems remain. In 2010, then Gov. Luis Fortuno warned that the overall state pension system was paying $679 million more a year than it received in contributions. The problems with the original system have damaged Puerto Rico’s bond ratings, which remain significantly lower than any U.S. state, raising the island’s cost of borrowing. Puerto Rico is emerging from a six-year recession and still has an unemployment rate higher than any U.S. state at 14 percent. The island also is trying to reduce its $69 billion public debt and a $1.2 billion deficit. samoa news, Thursday, February 28, 2013 Page 19 Development Bank of American Samoa DBAS COMMERCIAL LOANS The Development Bank of American Samoa (DBAS) is currently accepting commercial loan applications for local businesses. Funding is available under 3 programs: the Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund (EDRLF) , Community Service Block Grant Revolving Loan Fund (CSBGRLF) and the Community Development Block Grant Revolving Loan Fund (CDBGRLF) . Applications will be reviewed and approved based on DBAS loan guidelines. Current available funding per individual program are as follows: Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund (EDRLF) $473,137 Community Service Block Grant (CSBGRLF) $158,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBGRLF) $61,283 Total Available Funding: $692,420 Eligible Projects: Manufacturing, Transportation, Agriculture, Tourism, Fisheries, Professional Services, Specialty Retail, Renewable Energy, Information Technology Services, and Resort & Recreational business activities. Eligible Activities: Machinery and equipment costs, Inventory, Working Capital, and Building Renovations (Note: New Construction is not eligible). For more information or questions, please contact Antonina Su’e or Ruth Matagi at 633-4031 or email at antonina@dbas.org and ruth@dbas.org. Also, please visit www.dbas.org for commercial loan details. Approved By: Jason M. Betham Sr., Acting President FA’ASALALAUGA Suafa Tuana’itau E muamua ona ou faatulou atu i pa’ia o Samoa mai Saua se’i o’o atu i Falealupo. Pa’ia fo’i i le Aufaigaluega a le Atua i fata faitaulaga e fia. Tulou, Tulou, Tulouna lava. Ia fa’ata’alolo atu la’ia o pa’ia na. A’o lenei fa’asilasilaga, e faasino tonu i le Suafa o TUANA’ITAU o Pava’ia’i. O le pa’ia lava lea i le Afio o le Sa’o, Afifio ai Tei, Afio ai Le-Na-Mua-I-Malae, Afifio ai Taumafalofi, Fetalaiga i Matua, Susu ai le Nofo Tualauta, faapea le Lufilufi ma le Salemeana’i. E taalo atu ai, i le tatou aiga potopoto, ma suli uma, o le a faia se talanoaga a lo tatou aiga, i Fale-o-le-Alatea, i Pava’ia’i lava, i le aso 2 o Mati, 2013, i le itula e sefulu i le taeao. Faamolemole, ia tatou auai i lea aso ua atofaina. O lou le auai, o le a le taofia ai le finagalo o le aiga. Sainia, AIGA POTOPOTO SOIFUA! NOTICE FOR SEPARATION AGREEMENT TO Members of the IULI Family and to all whom these present may come! NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that ISAIA ADRIAN LUALEMANA of TULA has offered for recording in this office an instrument in writing which seeks to separate a certain structure which is or to be erected, on land SI’UPAPA allegedly belonging to IULI FAMILY of the village of TULA. Said land SI’UPAPA is situated in or near the village of TULA in the County of VAIFANUA, Island of TUTUILA, American Samoa. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that any interested person may object to the recording of such instrument by filing in the Territorial Registar’s Office in Fagatogo, a written objection to the recording of said instrument. Any objections thereto must be filed with in 30 days from the date of posting of this notice. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that if no such objections are filed within the said 30 day period, the instrument will be recorded and shall be valid and binding on all persons. The said instrument may be examined at any time at the Territorial Registrar’s Office. POSTED: FEBRUARY 21, 2013 thru MARCH 25, 2013 SIGNED: Taito S.B. White, Territorial Registrar FA’AALIGA O LE FEAGAIGA MO SE TU’U’ESEINA I tagata o le aiga sa IULI, ma i latou uma e silasila ma lauiloaina lenei fa’aaliga! O le fa’aaliga lenei ona o ISAIA ADRIAN LUALEMANA o le nu’u o TULA ua ia fa’aulufaleina mai i lenei ofisa se feagaiga tusitusi e fa’ailoa ai se mana’oga fia tu’u’eseina o se fale ua/po o le a, f a’atuina i luga o le fanua o SI’UPAPA e fa’asino i le aiga sa IULI, o le nu’u o TULA. O lenei fanua e totonu pe latalata ane i le nu’u o TULA, itumalo o VAIFANUA, ile motu o TUTUILA, Amerika Samoa. O le fa’aaliga fo’i e fa’apea, so o se tasi e iai sona aia i lenei mata’upu e mafai ona fa’atu’i’ies e ile fa’amauina o lenei feagaiga pe a auina mai i le ofisa ole Resitara o le Teritori of Amerika Samoa i Fagatogo, sana fa’atu’ese tusitusia. O fa’atu’iesega uma lava e ao ona fa’aulufaleina mai i totonu o aso e 30 faitauina mai i le aso na faíaalia ai lenei fa’aaliga. Afai ole a leai se fa’atu’i’esega e fa’aulufaleina i totonu o aso 30 e pei ona ta’ua i luga, o le a fa’amauina loa lenei feagaiga e taualoaina ma ‘a’afia ai tagata uma. 02/28 & 03/14/13
Page 1 and 2: C M Y K C M Y K american public yaw
Page 3 and 4: y Joyetter Feagaimaali’i-Luamanu
Page 5 and 6: American public yawns at budget cut
Page 7 and 8: C M Y K C M Y K samoa news, Thursda
Page 9 and 10: ➧ NEWS iN BRiEF… budget Cuts to
Page 11 and 12: ‘Allure of mystery’ helps reclu
Page 13 and 14: C M Y K C M Y K In Loving Memory of
Page 15 and 16: O le lua vaiaso talu ai na faamanat
Page 17: C M Y K C M Y K Tusia: Akenese Ilal

Lolo, Eni pledge open, frank co- operation in DC - Samoa News

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