AIRPORT ROAD PROJECT ON THE RIGHT TRACK

The long awaited Airport Road Project is progressing well and according to Chief Engineer Reuben Siatuu of the Civil Highway Division of the Dept. of Public Works; everything is on track to be completed by mid-January 2015.

After months of mix-ups with contracts and having to switch contractors from Whitehorn Construction to McConnell Dowell, the Airport Road Project started this year in February and is slated to be completed within 330 days.

Siatuu explained that the project will include a total of 8700 feet, beginning 250 feet from the main intersection in Tafuna, all the way to the airport entrance, looping around to cover the area from the Konelio Pele Army Reserve Center heading west near the McConnell Dowell office.

A total of four roundabouts will be in the finished product— one at the Fagaima intersection, one at the Industrial Road intersection across from the ASPA compound, one in front of the PX, and the existing one next to McDonalds.

The size of the road will remain the same throughout, except for the area from the Fagaima intersection to the PX, where a wider, two-lane road with a median in the middle will be constructed.

Siatuu thanks the public for their patience and says they are trying to carry out repair work on the Industrial Road to make it better for motorists who will use it as a detour.

“We would like to caution the public to continue to be mindful of the road crews and other motorists, as well as pedestrians, as we try to upgrade the Airport Road and get it up to standard,” Siatuu said.

CHILDREN’S CULTURAL MAINTENANCE SUMMER PROGRAM BEGINS

A total of 50 boys and girls ranging in age from 7 to 17 years old are currently enrolled in the Children’s Culture Maintenance Summer Program, which is being held at the Jean P. Hayden Museum in Fagatogo.

Classes started yesterday and will be held everyday from 8 a.m. - 12 noon until July 25.

During the month-long program, local youngsters will be taking part in many fun and educational activities including upeti carving, weaving, singing, and elei making, as well as learning how to perform the traditional Samoan siva, how to play an ukulele, and receiving lessons on the history of the Samoan islands.

As with previous years, classes are being taught by local artists and everything created by the young participants will be theirs to keep at the end of the program.

The American Samoa Council on Arts, Culture, and Humanities is sponsoring the Children’s Culture Maintenance Summer Program.

In a telephone interview with Samoa News yesterday, Arts Council Program Manager Rexx Yandall explained that their enrollment number this year is low compared to prior years, and this is because there are many other summer programs being held at this time.

Yandall said the classes are aimed at helping kids understand ways to preserve the Samoan culture through different traditional art forms.

More information on the summer program can be obtained by calling Rexx Yandall directly at 633-4347/4490/5613 or by visiting the Arts Council main office in Fagatogo across from the Lumana'i Building.

CATHOLIC CHURCHES CELEBRATE SAINT'S FEAST DAY

This past week, various Catholic churches in the territory held special mass and prayer services, as well as games and celebrations to mark the feast day of different saints.

The Catholic Church sets aside one day out of the year for each and every canonized saint - known as the Saint’s Feast Day, during which the saints are remembered with special mention and prayers.

Last week, the Parishes of Alao (Sacred Heart), Laulii (Sts. Peter and Paul) and Pago Pago (Sacred Heart) celebrated their church’s feast day in different ways. Some held a novena (continuous reciting of the rosary) while others celebrated with spiritual songs, skits, and evangelical dances, as well as games and family activities - all culminating with a special Mass.

A Saint’s feast day is either the day of the saint’s actual death or the day assigned by the Roman Catholic Church.

Because the number of canonized saints is greater than the number of days in a calendar year, it is not unlikely that two or more saints share the same feast day.