Young Mart owner/manager Young Sun Kim and his wife Sun Hee Kim on Wednesday, January 20, made a donation of $2,000 to Feleti Barstow Public Library, continuing their commitment to the community library that began five years ago.

This is the third donation in five years for the Kims, who have, with this donation, given a total of $5,000 to the community library.

Originally from Korea, Kim has called American Samoa his home for the past 20 years. A graduate of Marist High School, he has, for the past 15 years, managed Young Mart in Utulei for his father who is the original owner.

Speaking to Samoa News, the couple said with earnest feeling, “We earned our money here in American Samoa, and we wanted to give something back to the community. We chose the library because it helps the kids ... they may not be able to travel far from the island, but they can go anywhere in books ... it’s their passport to the world.”

Said Kim, “I want the kids to read and learn, and it feels good to make this donation. I don’t feel like I’m donating money, but instead I’m donating knowledge.”

The couple’s little daughter, Annie, who is now five years old spent many Saturdays (since she was just two years old) enjoying the library’s “Saturday ABC’s” program.

The “Saturday ABC’s”— which stands for Activities, Books and Crafts— is conducted in the Children’s Room at Feleti Barstow Library every Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Children of all ages are invited to walk in and enjoy the two hour program.

It was Annie’s enjoyment of the library that gave them the inspiration to donate there. That— and the fact that they were “neighbors in the village of Utulei.”

“It’s important for us to give back to this community, which has been so supportive of Young Mart over the years” said Kim. “We want to be good neighbors here; this is our second home.”

Territorial Librarian Cheryl Morales-Polataivao, in accepting the donation said “It’s because of generous community members like the Young family, that we are able to offer excellent resources here at the library.” She noted the donation will be used to purchase books for the Children’s Room.

She said, “Our Children’s collection accounts for over 70% of our circulation. This donation will go a long way, enabling us to increase the variety of reading material for our young readers.”

Purchased books are duly marked with a stamp recognizing the book as a donation from Young Mart.

(Source: Teri Hunkin, Samoa News Staff Writer)

CLOSE TO $10K DONATED TO NATIONAL PARK EMPLOYEE TSUNAMI RELIEF

Nearly $10,000 in disaster relief funds have been donated by National Park Service colleagues, retirees, and other caring individuals across the U.S. mainland, Hawaii, and Alaska for the benefit of National Park of American Samoa employees who were adversely affected by the recent tsunami.

According to a statement from the National Park, the donations were divided among the National Park employees who lost homes and property during the Sept. 29 tsunami. These employees were also among those who contributed to relief efforts during and in the weeks following the disaster.

National Park crews helped in the efforts in Pago Pago and Leone to search for injured people, survivors and victims. In the weeks following the event the National Park crews helped in the cleanup efforts in Leone, Afono, Fagasa, Vatia and Pago Pago.

The monies are being administered by the Hawaii Natural History Association via an account created for employee disaster relief in response to the September 29 event.

The Hawaii Natural History Association, the organization which runs the National Park of American Samoa bookstore, is a nonprofit  association authorized by Congress to support the interpretive, educational, scientific and historic mission of the National Park Service.

For more information about visiting the National Park of American Samoa, go to: www.nps.gov/npsa.

For more information about the Hawaii Natural History Association, visit www.hawaiinaturalhistory.org.

TEEN CHALLENGE PLANS TO OPEN NEW RADIO STATION

As American Samoa continues in its recovery from the Sept. 29 tsunami, in which Teen Challenge provided counseling and outreach to children adversely affected by the disaster, the ministry says they will be opening a new radio station with the support of KHJ and KULA Radio.

Pastor Vickie Haleck with Teen Challenge notes that their ministry has developed partnerships with numerous government and community based agencies, all working toward the common goal of  strengthening our island community in all areas.

“This radio [station] will target teens with messages that offer faith-based solutions,” says Haleck. “Teen Challenge is also thankful for the parents, families, friends and the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities program for their support and partnership to reach the unreachable.”

Pastor Haleck notes that they “were honored with the privilege of working with the various faith-based groups from across the nation like Save the Children, Southern Baptist Teams, United States Catholic Charities and more,” in response to the Sept. 29 disaster.

“...National and local agencies came and joined forces with some of [our] very own, said Haleck. “Not only did Teen Challenge continue its ongoing peer ministry to other youth and children in government rehabilitation centers and schools, but immediately following the disaster, teams were launched to the villages, shelters and hospital.”

Sponsors and supporters such as McConnell Dowell were key in supporting Teen Challenge, which said they partnered with Congressman Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin and the Kanana Fou Theological Seminary of the Congregational Christian Church of American Samoa (CCCAS) to host a dinner for Samoa Bowl VII athletes and coaches.

“Teen Challenge ministry would like to acknowledge all faith-based groups standing together to build and renew hope and faith in the lives of our youth and children,” says Haleck.

For more information on Teen Challenge, call 699-2635.

ASG ISSUES STATEMENT ON OBAMA’S AMENDMENT

The governor’s office yesterday issued an official statement announcing that U.S. President Barack Obama has authorized additional disaster assistance to American Samoa due to the events of Sept. 29th.

In a letter dated Jan. 15 to the governor, Obama says that he has determined that the damage in certain areas of the Territory resulting from the disasters “is of sufficient severity and magnitude that special cost-sharing arrangements are warranted regarding Federal funds provided under The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act an the Insular Areas Act.”

Therefore, Obama said he is amending his initial emergency declaration to authorize Federal funds for all categories of Public Assistance, Hazard Mitigation, and the Other Needs Assistance portion of the Individual Assistance Program at 90% of total eligible costs, and further authorizes Public Assistance (Categories A and B), including direct Federal assistance, at 100 percent of total eligible costs for 30 consecutive days.

Togiola, who is now in Honolulu on government business after a fishery industry meeting in Thailand, expressed his sincere gratitude to President Obama for the amendment of the emergency declaration and thanked the President for the increase in the level of federal funding.

“I am very grateful for the federal support already offered to American Samoa. We have received much appreciated aid in federal assistance to help rebuild the lives and homes of our people,” Togiola said in a statement released by the governor’s office. This additional assistance benefits our island community and it will help in our recovery.”

See yesterday’s edition of Samoa News for more details on the amendments by Obama.

USEPA REMOVES PESTICIDES, HAZARDOUS WASTE IN A.S.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is completing its removal of hazardous waste and pesticides collected as part of the cleanup efforts in American Samoa following the series of disasters that struck due to an earthquake on September 29.

USEPA personnel were among some of the first response crews on the scene with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in American Samoa following the disaster. FEMA recently assigned USEPA specific additional tasks, including accumulating and preparing for shipment and disposal of hazardous waste and pesticides collected from households and those found as part of the ongoing cleanup effort.

Concurrently, USEPA is conducting a $200,000 Superfund removal of pesticides and hazardous wastes not related to the tsunami disaster.

Keith Takata, Superfund Division Director for USEPA’s Pacific Southwest Region, says the USEPA’s work was focused on collecting and segregating household hazardous waste and pesticides, which are now ready for shipment to a disposal facility.

He says USEPA worked closely with village and community leaders who were instrumental in getting this job done to protect American Samoa residents and their environment.”

USEPA On-Scene Coordinator Chris Reiner and contractor staff arrived in American Samoa and worked with personnel from American Samoa EPA, the Coast Guard, and the Hawaii National Guard Civil Support Team to collect and secure the hazardous waste that was strewn about after the tsunami. “We have since arranged for the packaging and shipment to treatment, recycling and disposal facilities on the mainland,” reports Reiner.

GOV CONGRATULATES MAYOR LANGKILDE KAUTZ

Gov. Togiola Tulafono yesterday extended congratulations to Mayor Elizabeth Malae Faumuina Langkilde Kautz of Burnsville, Minnesota on becoming President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, according to a press statement from the governor’s office.

Togiola said Kautz, the fifth woman and first minority woman to be President in the history of The U.S. Conference of Mayors, is another wonderful example of a successful Samoan who left their island home so that they can help their family financially and pursue collegiate studies.

“I truly respect and admire Mayor Kautz and I am happy to offer my sincere congratulations on her inauguration as President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the voice of America’s mayors in Washington DC,” he said.

The governor said, “I applaud her achievements, leadership and her great passion to help and serve the people of the City of Burnsville with a strong emphasis on community development. Malae has done great things through her intelligence, integrity, strength and perseverance and it is a point of pride for us as Samoans.”

Kautz was first elected Mayor of Burnsville, Minnesota in 1994 and has been re-elected five times since. As President, she will preside over all official meetings and execute the bipartisan political agenda adopted by the nation’s mayors, appoint committee and task force chairs, and will be the global and national spokesperson for the USA mayors’ organization.

Mayor Kautz is the daughter of Joe Langkilde and Odilla Faumuiina Langkilde of Leloaloa. She is the oldest sister of Rep. Vaito’a Hans Langkilde.