Lolita Nazaire

Our long-time friend and miracle-worker secretary of the Marianas Office, Lolita Enano Nazaire, died on September 4, 2014. May she rest in peace.

2014 Back-to-School Project

78 backpacks, 15 mini-packs distributed; 24 lawyers/law offices and one school organization donating.  There is not enough thanks to cover how I feel.

End of the Year Celebration

The Marianas Office of MLSC held its annual "End of the Year" party on January 11, 2013, officially closing out 2012!  The photos below (shown in no particular order) were taken during a very short moment after I had completed my part of the set-up and before the socializing really began in earnest. They show a small glimpse of the event, but we had more people, more food and more fun than captured in these photos!

Juanette's angel food cake with cherries.



Juanette's angel food cake with blueberries.

Deviled eggs, cookies, candy canes and more

Maria's Chamorro salad

 

Maria's platter of mussels
 

Maria's sushi platter

 

 

Paralegals Maria and Polly Anne with the roasted pig
 

 

The kids start arriving after school, waiting patiently.

Early guests, including former MLSC secretary Maggie Cabrera (in blue) and long-time friend and Karidat social worker, Julie Temaungil (in black & white).

Ken Kramer (now at the immigration court) with Lee Pliscou (our new Executive Director) and Dimitri Varmazis (staff attorney)

 

Lee chats with Linda Wingenbach (staff attorney)

 

Waiting for the festivities to start (Attorney and former judge, Ed Manibusan in red)

 

Secretary Lolita Nazaire and Techie Bong Robles share a laugh.

With Elizabeth Pliscou

The Pliscou girls and others get some food.

 

 

Thanks to all our friends and family who came to help us relax for a moment after another year of service and dedication.

Handicap Ramp Completed

The Marianas Office has finally, finally gotten a handicap ramp for our clients. We are in a government building, but the government would not pay for or install the ramp at their expense.  We tried to get the other offices that are in our same complex to contribute--the criminal division of the Office of the Attorney General and the Public Defender's Office. Although they were cooperative with meetings and expressed interest and desire in our attempt to get a handicap ramp that could be used by all of our offices, when it came to the bottom line of paying, they said no.

So we paid all of it ourselves. The bids from various contractors were obtained by NMPASI for us, who coordinated the entire project at the request of a mutual client.

Part of the project also included breaking down at the back by the Office of the Attorney General's premises a very steep, short and dangerous ramp that had been added and sometimes used with detrimental effect.

And here are photos of the final paint touches being added to the railing of the new ramp about November 24, 2012.

On December 4, 2012, MLSC had its first client who used the ramp!  R.A. came in to see his attorney, Linda Wingenbach, and gained access to our premises through the handicap ramp.

A Farewell and A Welcome

Our long-time MLSC Board Member representing the CNMI has resigned.  Lucia Blanco-Maratita submitted her resignation from the MLSC Board of Directors by letter dated September 4, 2012.  She wrote:

It has been a pleasure serving and working with such honorable gentlemen on the Board for the past ten years. I know that this Board truly has its clients' best interests at heart and takes their responsibilities to both clients and staff very seriously.  I have no doubt it will continue to always remain focused on them. I will definitely miss the camaraderie and collegiate respect that my fellow members have given to me and to each other.

MLSC will miss Lucy, who has been such a great friend to all of MLSC, but especially to the Marianas Office.

MLSC took the opportunity of a recent CNMI Bar Association meeting to present Lucy with a plaque of appreciation.  Jane Mack, Directing Attorney of the Marianas Office, presented the plaque of appreciation resolved by the MLSC Board. MLSC's Acting Executive Director Ben Weber and Marianas Office staff attorneys Dimitri Varmazis and Linda Wingenbach also joined in the presentation.



Ben Weber, Lucia Blanco-Maratita, Lillian Ada Tenorio, Linda Wingenbach (partially hidden), Jane Mack and Dimitri Varmazis.

CNMI Bar Association President Sean Frink named Lillian Ada Tenorio as Lucy's successor. Lillian will represent the CNMI on the MLSC Board of Directors.  MLSC thanked her for accepting the position and welcomed her to her new duties.

Marianas Office Staff

The Marianas Office staff:



Frank Rogopes, Maria Muna, Polly Anne Sablan, Linda Wingenbach, Lolita Nazaire, Juanette Sablan, Dimitri Varmazis. (not in photo: Jane Mack--photographing group!)

Short-Handed

MLSC will be short one attorney for a while. Staff Attorney Ed Peterson resigned recently.


He will be missed.
Here are some photos from our farewell barbecue.



Maria P. Muna, Lolita Nazaire, Nerita Peterson



Maria & Frank Rogopes work the grill.


Juanette Sablan, Lolita and Maria.



Juanette, Omar Calimbas, Erik Brown, Polly Anne Sablan, Frank,
Ben Tured, Ed Peterson, Nerita, and Lolita.

Omar presents the first (cool-headed) award.







I (Jane) present the second (adventure) award.


Ed is overcome by it all.