Final Library seminar features top immigration officers
Scammers and,
English language
challenge immigrants
STAFF REPORT
U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services District 23
Director Susan M. Curda, Field
Office Director Nancy J. Alby,
and Community Relations Officer
Graciela Arreola—Munoz presented
clarification and correct infor—
mation to Catalina residents on
Friday, Feb. 26 at St. Catherine
of Alexandria Catholic Church as
part of the Friends of the Library
matching grant series “Learn at
the Library.”
“Please be careful,” said
Arreola—Munoz to the audience of
more than 20 Catalina residents.
“People get confused. To get to
our website, use dot GOV (.gov):
http://www.uscis.gov./ It’s got to
be dot GOV——org or com or net
looks the same, but are scams.”
Often people who need help
with immigration or naturalization
download forms, but need to be
sure it is the official website.
"We do not charge for these
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forms. If it asks for money, you are
in the wrong website,” said Alby.
Scamming people who want to
become citizens is only one of the
topics covered in the two—hour pre-
sentation.
Part of citizenship is taking a
test in English.
There are particular questions
where English is important, and
studying these is helpful.
“Would ESL classes help?”
asked Mayor Anni Marshall, who
had joined Val Schafer to provide
transportation for the three govern—
ment officers and all their equip-
ment and materials.
“There are sections of the test
that would be important to learn,”
Said AITCOIa-MUIIOZ- “ESL W0111d Community Relations Officer Graciela
Arreola-Munoz with some of the audience. Courtesy photo
certainly help.”
“Also,” said Alby, “there is an
exemption for age. But, if you’re
younger than 49, study!”
Marshall noted that there used
to be English as a second language
classes on-island and maybe these
, would be useful to Start again.
The Friends of the Library plan
to write another grant and will
consider this idea as one of the
options to present. '
Another idea came from a res—
taurant owner who asked how
Stage 2 Mandatory Water Conservation and Rationing Update - February 2016
The ongoing. severe drought continues to result in a reduced water supply
in Catalina‘s Middle
Ranch Reservoir. Based on water levels in the reservoir, Southern
California Edison (SCE) received
authorization from the California Public Utilities Commission to activate
Stage 2 Mandatory
Water
Conservation and Rationing, which is triggered when the reservoir falls
below 300 acre feet. Stage
2 began on Aug. 11, 2014 and requires a 25 percent reduction from your
historical baseline water
usage for the duration of the drought emergency. Additionally, Stage 2 has
restrictions on the use of
water to for drinking.
Island residents, who already had some of the best water use practices in
the state, responded
when asked to cut back even more, and by working together we have been
effective in reducing our
water use. Please continue to use water wisely.
Water Supply Status and Stage 2 Restllts
.
As of February 11, 2016 the Middle Ranch Reservoir water level was 197 acre
feet.
In January, 2016, water use declined 40.43 percent; 12.48 acre feet of
water was used
com
pared to 20.95 acre feet in January, 2013.
Between February, 2015 and January, 2016, water use declined 42.82 percent
even with a
27.90 percent increase in visitors to the island; 218 acre feet of water
was used compared to
382 acre feet in June, 2012 — May, 2013 (baseline).
'
' ' wiflfiifitor Counts
For More Information
Commercial and residential customers can call 1-800-367-8851. For dedicated
Catalina
Island customer support call Monday through Friday, 9 am. to 5 pm.
0 To report potential water use violations, call 1-800-367—8851.
o Visit SCE‘s web page for Catalina Island customers at scecom/gtalina.
o For water conservation tips, visit Save Our Water’s website at
saveogrh2gorg.
greasy; March '4, 501's ”
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employers could help their people
to attain visas, green cards or citi-
zenship.
The directors suggested they
would be available to return and
talk to employers. Schafer and
Alison Osinski of the Friends
group suggested coordinating with
the Chamber of Commerce to find
interested employers and specific
topics.
Regarding citizenship and visas,
Curda cautioned the audience:
“Don’t send original documents.
Send copies of your paperwork.
If they need originals, they will
ask you to bring them to an inter-
View.”
And with the interview, “Just
show up,” said Alby. “You have
two chances to pass any part of
the test.
If you are in traffic or miss the
boat or something, just come in.
We’ll make adjustments.”
“Also,” said Curda, “if you miss
some part of the test, you can go
home, study more and come back
in a few days to take it again.”
In the two—hour power point
presentation, Arreola-Munoz trans-
lated and reviewed the material.
All three directors answered
questions and gave out materials in
‘IHE WRITE SlllFF’
District Director Susan M. Curda, Community Relations Officer Graciela
Arreola—Munoz and
Field Office Director Nancy J. Alby. Courtesy photo
English and Spanish.
They emphasized that the
Department of Homeland Security
is divided into 1 three” areasethe
area they represent DOES NOT
deal with enforcement and does
not report or arrest people.
Arreola—Munoz concentrated a
lot on the sad fact that many people
are scammed and lose precious
money and time because they talk
to the wrong people.
,Are you a writer, or would like to be one for the Catalina Islander. The
paper is seeking to expand its
editorial horizons. New reporters and guest columnists are welcome. For
more information, contact
the editor at editor@thecatalinalslander.com or call (310) 510-0500.
“We want to thank Father
Pirrone for offering the use of
the church and being available 'to
translate,” said Judy Grear, prégi
dent of the Friends of the Library.
“The suggestion for this seminar
was given to us several times and
we were worried about space.
Father Pirrone was kind to offer
assistance.”
“I hope everyone will remember
the website: http://www.uscis.gov,”
said Grear. “A list of reputable,
attorneys is there as well as all
the forms and information anyone
needs. The library also has tons
of materials. Stop in to pick them
as
up.
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