Governor Togiola Tulafono attended the December Toa o Samoa church service held at the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa in Taputimu, on Sunday, Dec. 20, where he noted that the monthly Marist St. Joseph Old Pupils Association-sponsored gathering brings people together to share similar interests.

He also said that it fuels fellowship and love because those who attend are there for the same purpose.

“The Toa o Samoa monthly church service brings us together because we are a part of the same vigil; we come together to support our collective prayers for our loved ones who are serving in areas that are in harm’s way,” he said. “The Fellowship is where you go to feel a sense of belonging; to experience that warm feeling of harmony and peace. It is where go to find support and good counsel.”

The Governor said he thinks it is a good time for the people of the Marist St. Joseph Old Pupils Association, the hardworking committee that coordinates the monthly Toa o Samoa church service from village to village, to incorporate into each gathering a way to meet each other.

In offering his Christmas wishes to Toa o Samoa and their families, Togiola said may the Christmas season bring true peace for all.

“As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we pray for all of our loved ones—our men and women—may their efforts bring the true blessings of peace; May their sacrifice be always appreciated. And may we always meet in prayer, especially during this Christmas. May God grant us, as one family, the peace of Jesus. God bless Toa o Samoa,” said the Governor.

(Source: americansamoa.gov)

SWINE FLU VACCINATION FOR NEW PRIORITY GROUP NEXT WEEK

The Department of Health director Tuiasina Dr. Salamo Laumoli has reminded the community that the next priority group for H1N1, or swine flu, vaccination is set to begin early next week.

Swine flu vaccination for children six months and youngsters up to 24 years old is completed at the close of business today Dec. 24th.  DOH official say the vaccination drive has been going very well at health care clinics islandwide.

Starting Monday, Dec. 28, the next priority group to be vaccinated are caregivers or people who care for infants less then 6 months old. That drive for that vaccination group ends on Jan. 8.

Then on Jan. 11 vaccination begins for people with chronic medical conditions—like high blood pressure, diabetes, etc.—up to Jan. 22.

According to the DOH, pregnant mothers are still welcome for vaccinations. Although their vaccination schedule has ended, there are always newly pregnant women who need to be vaccinated.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has shipped out 5,000 doses for American Samoa, and we have been allocated a total of 25,300 doses, as of Dec. 21, 2009.

BILL CALLS FOR A COMMISSION TO REVIEW U.S. HOUSE MEMBERSHIP

Congressman Faleomavaega Eni and four other delegates from the U.S. territories are co-sponsors of a federal legislation, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Hastings (D-Fla.) calling for the establishment of a commission to make recommendations on the appropriate size of the US. House membership and the method by which members are selected.

The bill (H.R. 3972), which may be cited as the ‘Congress 2014 Commission Act, was introduced in October and assigned to the House Committee on the Judiciary for review.

Among the duties of the commission, is to “examine methods of providing greater representation in the House of Representatives for the people of the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands.”

Additionally, to provide consideration to the continuing dissolution of adherence to the platforms and candidates of the Nation’s two major political parties as well as to the reduction in electoral participation by the citizenry.

The commission will have 17 members and the bill specifies the individuals, who will appoint the commission members.

LOCAL FILM SET TO BE SHOWN AT INTERN'L FEST

Local broadcaster Bill Hyman, owner of PCT-TV Ch:11 is happy to learn that his film “From Reservation to Revelation,” has been selected for showing at the Zurich Dawnbreakers Film Festival.

The organizing committee recently sent Hyman a letter that his entry has been selected, saying that the 2009 Take 3 Dawn Breakers International Film Festival received a number of films with great content and quality and “we are proud that your entry was chosen amongst an array of great projects.”

“We hope that this inspires you to continue making ‘dawn-breaking’ films and we look forward to screening them in the future,” the letter says.

Hyman told Samoa News on Tuesday that his film is the story of how Winona Lineberger, a former teacher at Samoana High School, became a member of the Baha'i Faith, after being a nun for 45 years.

“Winona is presently living in Los Angeles and does volunteer work on the archives at the Los Angeles Baha’i Center,” said Hyman via e-mail. “She lives with many other retired nuns, and is involved with their social work.”