RC&D in the News

Saipan Tribune, Saturday, December 23, 2006

DEQ awards prizes to recycling winners
By Marconi Calindas
Reporter

Recycling heroes gathered once more at the Division of Environmental Quality Conference Room yesterday to receive their prizes for winning the recycling competition held in November.

The Northern Marianas Academy, a private school in the Commonwealth, topped this year’s CNMI Recycles Day competition. The school collected a total of 50,380 lbs of recyclable materials. There were 34 NMA students who participated in the contest, bringing in 1,481.8 lbs of trash per student.

Marianas Visitors Authority director Perry A. Tenorio joined DEQ officers Tina Sablan and Reina Camacho in presenting the prizes to the winning schools yesterday.

NMA won $600 cash prize, plus 30 waterpark passes to Pacific Islands Club and 20 seedlings, courtesy of the CNMI Forestry.

Eucon International School ranked second, with a total of 22,459 lbs of recyclable materials. This means the109 students who participated brought in an average of 206 lbs of trash.

Public school Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School placed third after each of its 221 student brought in 166.7 lbs of trash for a total of 36,837 lbs.

San Antonio Elementary School ended up with 115.6 lbs per 239 participating students for an overall total of 38,020 lbs.

Grace Christian Academy ranked fifth with 75 lbs per student (total of 360 students). The private school accumulated a total of 27,220 lbs of trash.

Saipan International School, William S. Reyes Elementary School and Koblerville Elementary School followed the ranking with 63.9 lbs, 36.7 lbs, and 33.3 lbs per student respectively.

There were 24 private and public schools that participated in this year’s Recycles Day competition.

The competition based its scores on the recyclable wastes gathered by each student that participated in the competition.

This year’s CNMI Recycles Day partners and supporters included Ericco (provided free recycling collection for the schools); Ginen Saipan; Pepsi; Pacific Islands Club; Hotel Nikko Saipan; Hafadai Publishing; Saipan Shipping; MS Villagomez; and Java Joe's as corporate sponsors.

Government supporters were the Office of the Governor; Office of the Lt. Governor; Marianas Visitors Authority (prizes, logistical support); DPW; DEQ; Department of Lands and Natural Resources, Forestry Division (for the seedlings of all participating schools); and Office of Rep. Cinta Kaipat; Office of Rep. Absalon Waki. Nonprofit partners: Saipan Chamber of Commerce; Marianas RC&D; MINA; and MOVER.

This year’s contest committee members were Camacho, Angelo Villagomez, Steve Hiney, Barrett Ristroph, Bree Reynolds, Frank Tudela, Ed Diaz, Elly Stoilova, Ken Kramer; Cinta Kaipat; Absalon Waki, Gus Kaipat, Viola Kaipat, Nina Rivera, Marites Castillo, Merced Ada, and Sablan.

Hopwood Junior High School Tree Planting

This afternoon 27 students from Hopwood Junior High School, with a little help from Marianas Resource Conservation & Development Council, planted 75 Da'ok trees (Calophyllum inophyllum) around their campus. When they are taller, the trees will provide shade for students who have classes outdoors or who choose to go outside during breaks.

Just ask any number of students sitting under the short supply of tall trees on Hopwood's campus if they prefer sitting in the shade or in the sun. The temperature in the shade can be 10 degrees cooler than the temperature in the sun (Click here for a student science project comparing soil temperatures in sun and shade).

We planted trees around the perimeter of the playing field and in the area around the flagpole. The trees around the playing field will play the dual purpose of providing shade and blocking out some of the noise from Beach Road.

The students who participated in today's planting will probably be in college by the time these trees are tall enough to provide considerable shade, but I'm sure they'll remember the Monday afternoon that they spent digging and planting in the sun. Hopefully they'll come back to Hopwood with their younger brothers and sisters and point out the Da'ok trees they planted way back in 2006.

The Da'ok trees were donated by Caesar and Ignacia Villluz. The shovels and picks were donated by Marianas RC&D. The students are in Mrs. Bree Reynolds 7th period Science Lab.

Wing Beach

From Kathy Yuknavage, Mariana Islands Nature Alliance Secretary:

Today was a great success and a lot of fun. Marianas Resort staff and Mr. Jim Phillip’s Marine Science class from Marianas High School were already at the beach picking up when Ted and I arrived at 7:45. They informed us that there was very little trash. The dumpster is working marvelously.

We only had to use one truck to haul the limited amount of litter collected. In fact we included the bags of garbage removed from the dumpster; all told weighing less than 120 lbs.

Given that we had very little to do to clean up, the 35 volunteers, including representatives from Aqua Resort Club, Beautify CNMI!, and the Church of Latter Day Saints, headed towards the main road to plant trees. Our newly elected Executive Director, Angelo Villagomez from Beautify CNMI! and RC&D brought a total of 30 Do’ak trees. The volunteers cleared brush, ignored their boonie bee stings and planted the trees along the south side of the access road. They have all been flagged so MINA and our co-adopters, Marianas Resort, can trade off keeping the brush cut back around them. It feels wonderful to actually have time to enhance the natural habitat of this pristine beach, rather than just remove litter. I hope we can continue to keep this and some of our other undeveloped beach fronts in their “primitive” state for those that like to have open sky and stars overhead.

Hope to see all of you next month to work on MINA Drive.

Cheers,

Kathy

Name that fish!

Whoever correctly names this fish gets an autographed 8x10 of the RC&D Executive Committee!

Micronesian Challenge meeting this week

The Restoration Committee of Beautify CNMI, chaired by RC&D's Angelo Villagomez, will be discussing and implementing Education and Outreach plans for the Micronesian Challenge this Thursday, December 14 at 7:30 PM at Cafe at the Park in Garapan. Everyone is welcome to attend, but we especially want you there if you are a local fisherman, diver, teacher, or student.

We will disseminate the findings from last week's meetings in Palau and then begin the process of implanting the Micronesian Challenge into the hearts and minds of the people of the CNMI.

RC&D in the News

Saipan Tribune, Wednesday, December 06, 2006

The Saipanpreneur Project: Creating economic success for the CNMI
Saipanpreneur Profile: Angelo Villagomez of Beautify CNMI!

By Walt F.J. Goodridge
Special to the Saipan Tribune

Like the island nation he calls home, Angelo Villagomez has his feet and his future planted in two worlds. Born here in 1978, Angelo left for Massachusetts at age 3, spent a year in England when he was 13 (the family indulged his mom’s adventurous streak), went to high school in Florida, graduated from the University of Richmond in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in Biology, and then got a second degree in Environmental Policy. In November 2005, he went to Japan on his own adventure.

It was shortly afterwards, in December 2005, that he got the call that brought him back to Saipan to say a final earthly goodbye to his father. Then, after a brief return to Japan, he moved back to Saipan in March 2006.

"You can either call me a Chamorro-born American, or an American-educated Chamorro," he says of his unique perspective. It’s this straddling of two cultures, two sets of values, two worldviews, two life experiences that makes him uniquely qualified to pursue his passion and share his vision.

"The cultural lines of identity and separation that others may see are invisible to me," he adds. "But some things ARE visible. Like many people who spend enough time off island, I’m able to recognize some of our shortcomings from a different perspective. I’m not the first or the only person to see the need for change. It’s just my special calling to do something about it."

And that he has! Angelo works for the Marianas Resource Conservation and Development Council to organize volunteers to help with tree plantings, water quality and dive surveys. In addition, his volunteer participation as the energy behind the restoration committee of the "Beautify CNMI!" coalition has earned him tremendous public support and recognition. He, along with volunteers and fellow visionaries Tina Sablan, Cinta Kaipat, Reina Camacho and Steve Hiney form the heart and soul of this unique group-defined on their website as "a coalition of concerned citizens, private groups, and government entities united to enhance the CNMI’s natural beauty and foster community pride in its residents and visitors." (www.BeautifyCNMI.com)

It was at a meeting in June 2006, at what was then called The Beautification Group, which had started meeting a month earlier, that Angelo lit a fire of forward motion and set a new pace with his "do it now" approach to getting things done.

"At the meeting, we were all planning a tree planting project. I got an idea, so I said, ’Who’s got four trees? I mean, like, right now? Parks & Recreation had the trees. Ok, who’s got some shovels? No one had shovels, so I got them. Public Works said they’d dig the holes. We painted them gold, organized a little media event on short notice and we went out four days later, and planted four trees! The next meeting-same thing: ’Who’s got more trees?’ This time, P&R had seven, and we did it again...and it just snowballed from there."

His commitment, steeped in the character-building experience of a presidential campaign trail in the U.S., which honed an already innate persistence, brought and infused a new energy to the group. Since then, that small group of core volunteers, which eventually became Beautify CNMI has achieved an impressive record:

- 2,000 trees have been planted since June;

- 260,000 lbs of recyclable material have been collected in just two months;

- 3,380 volunteers showed up for the islandwide cleanup on Oct 20.

"Think about it," Angelo explains. "One in 20 people who call Saipan home cared enough to stop the normal routines of their lives to come out in the hot sun for the single purpose of making this a cleaner place to live and raise their families."

That IS impressive. Beautify CNMI is galvanizing the community in a way that’s never been done. Chamorros, Carolinians, Filipinos, Chinese, Koreans, Japanese, and many others are all uniting every week with a common goal. (Imagine. No, better yet, come out and experience it!).

Indeed, veterans of volunteerism, pundits of public activism, and equally important givers of grants are likewise impressed.

"As a non-profit coalition, we depend heavily on grants from foundations and the federal government to help us in what we do," Angelo explains. "But the reality is that ’money follows success’ in the grant world, and we are 'successful' since we have overwhelming public support for what we do, an unlimited supply of volunteer labor, and people who are coming out and working together. Foundations love to see people working together. That translates into money in the form of federal grants which will help us promote and grow environmental stewardship in the CNMI."

"Our environment is our economy," Angelo explains. "Who we are has been defined by our environment. We can afford to have and feed big families because of our geography and access to fishing.

"What we do is also defined by our environment. We can use tourism as an economic booster because of the beauty of our natural environment."

"Based on the impact you’ve been having, it’s hard to believe that you’ve been here as an adult just since March of 2006,” I remark. “So what brought you back to Saipan?"

"Oh, without a doubt, chicken kelaguen! That’s the number one reason I came back!" he jokes. "The truth is Saipan is magical for me. My childhood memories are here. I can remember going fishing here. Just being here brings back those memories. If I go someplace, knowing that my father was here, and his father was here, it’s a powerful feeling."

With a tear in his eye, Angelo speaks nostalgically about his passion for Saipan, the environment and its preservation, and of other childhood memories that fuel his passion.

"I’ve always loved nature," he recalls. "There was nothing greater...nothing greater than being out there with my dad, fishing, hiking...."

As the power of the feeling overcomes him, the thought is left unfinished, and unheard-at least for those who listen only with ears. But for those who read men’s hearts and souls, one immediately senses that Angelo’s mission to honor the CNMI’s beauty is about his tribute to the land of his birth, and perhaps the fulfillment of a personal promise-one that he uses to maintain a deeper private connection to a past filled with memories that a son and his father shared.

“What's the greatest lesson you've learned from this?” I ask.

"That you can’t do it alone," he immediately replies. "From day one this has been a team effort. At Beautify CNMI!, we always say everyone in the community is a member, they just don’t know it yet. I’ve had the pleasure of working with people who are competent, and in all honesty, usually exceed expectations."

“And what's the next step?”

"Well, we’ll continue our projects, do more beach cleanups, anti-littering, tree planting, but the next big long-term project is The Micronesian Challenge. (The Challenge, first proposed by Palau President Tommy Remengasau Jr., and taken up by the leaders of the CNMI, Guam, Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia, is to "effectively conserve 30 percent of "near shore" resources, 20 percent of forest resources" by 2020.) Beautify CNMI!’s mission is to get the vision of this challenge into the heads and hearts of the people of the CNMI.

It’s a vision that mirrors and complements Angelo’s own-for Angelo’s vision for the CNMI includes more than the necessary first steps of clearing the streets of trash and repainting buildings and bus stops. It’s a vision national in its implementation, regional in its overall effect, global in its long-term impact, and universal in its respect of our shared human experience.

"We have more coral reefs than any place in the world,” Angelo offers. “So when this challenge is successful we will have protected larger swaths of reef than any other. We can be the shining star of Micronesia in that regard. The CNMI can, should and will be THE place for people to witness and experience coral reef conservation in action. The CNMI also can, should and will be known for industries, opportunities and based on our natural resources.

“So, when a Chamorro starts a locally-owned dive shop here on island, when a Carolinian starts a touring and trekking company, when a young person of any background starts a website design business, or some sort of Internet-based product and service for tourists who’ve come to experience our environment and culture, it will be because we've taken the time to preserve and beautify it. We will become known for the best aspects of our culture, traditions and natural resources. So that when a child is asked by any visitor what are we known for, she can say

1. latte stones

2. traditional navigation

3. Coral reefs...

...and, of course, chicken kelaguen!

“My grandfather was a fisherman. My father, even though he was a judge, still caught fish off the reef to feed his family. And I’m employed by an organization that focuses on reef conservation. So, in effect, I’m still making a living through the coral reef. I’m just doing it in a different way.

“There’s more than one type of activity that can be supported by the existence of our reefs and natural resources.”

And that is why this week’s Saipanpreneur column is a profile in passion that is paving the way for employees to get jobs, entrepreneurs to launch profitable businesses, and for children not yet born, the children of today who will be their parents, and the grandparents they will become tomorrow to enjoy the beauty and benefits from the foundation being laid today by average citizens.

"So, what’s the one thing you want people to know? I asked Angelo finally.

"Well, I’d like people to remember that it’s not the government’s responsibility. This is OUR home. It’s my home and YOUR home. It’s only 3 miles by 17 miles and if WE don’t take care of it, no one is going to take care of it for us. Whether it’s picking up trash or improving our economy, we can’t wait for the federal government. What I love about Beautify CNMI! is that it embodies a traditionally independent spirit and a belief that we are self-sufficient and that we CAN do it ourselves. Help from the outside can supplement, but we really should strive to be helping ourselves. The success of Beautify CNMI! shows that we’re ready and that we ARE doing it!"

* * *

I hope you enjoyed today's profile. Now you'll understand why when I thought about launching a website to capture the passion of those who proudly call the CNMI home, Angelo was the first person I contacted. Read Angelo's and other profiles at www.WeLoveSaipan.com . And keep up-to-date with Beautify CNMI's events and volunteer projects at www.BeautifyCNMI.com

* * *

Until next week, remember, success is a journey, not a destination!

(Walt F.J. Goodridge is author of 12 books including Turn Your Passion Into Profit. Walt offers coaching and workshops to help people pursue and profit from their passions. Originally from the island of Jamaica, Walt has grown several successful businesses in the US, and now makes his home here in Saipan. To learn more about the Saipanpreneur Project and Walt's philosophy and formula visit www.saipanpreneur.com and www.passionprofit.com. Send article suggestions, entrepreneur nominations and feedback about this article to walt@passionprofit.com.)

Marianas RC&D takes on the Micronesian Challenge

The Micronesian Challenge seeks to effectively conserve 30 percent of near shore marine resources and 20 percent of forest resources by 2020.

The Challenge was first proposed by Palau President Tommy Remengasau Jr. and has been taken up by the leaders of the CNMI, Guam, Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia. The Saipan Tribune reported on the Micronesian Challenge in August 2006.

Beautify CNMI! and RC&D officially took on the Micronesian Challenge today. Some of our partners from Division of Fish & Wildlife, Division of Environmental Quality, Coastal Resource Management Office, and the Acting Governor are in Palau this week meeting with the four other Micronesian nations to work out some of the details of the Challenge.

They are looking for answers to some of the following questions:

What is meant by Effective Conservation?
What uses will be allowed in Effectively Conserved areas?
How will we pay for Effective Conservation?
What is a near shore resource?
Does it include mangroves?
How far from the shore do you go?
How deep do you go?
How do you quantify 30%?
What is a forest resource?
Does a forest include wetlands?
How do you quantify 20%?
Are these areas interconnected?
How about endangered species?
How about migrating species?

The answers to these questions might seem simple, but we are trying to come up with a long term solution for sustaining our natural resources, the cornerstone of our economy. This will require among many things, laws, regulations, and enforcement, all which have to be very specific and very precise.

The discussion to find the answers to these questions will themselves undoubtedly lead to another round of questions. Other agenda items to be considered during this week's conference in Palau are:

• Designating a regional body to coordinate the Challenge
• Reviewing existing conservation strategies and plans in each nation's jurisdiction
• Establishing specific, quantifiable targets
• Establishing a process for regular review of the Micronesian Challenge's goals and accomplishments

Keep in mind that this is a long term Challenge. We have been mandated to have the goals of the Challenge accomplished by 2020. This project is going to take a considerable amount of planning and public input. Our goal over the next few months is to explain the Micronesian Challenge and to start the process of bringing the community together to find ways to make this Challenge a success.

Undoubtedly, all the nations involved in the Challenge will undergo administration changes, economic challenges, and any number of unforeseen events. The Challenge strives to rise above all that, to galvanize conservation efforts in all of Micronesia, in much the same way that Beautify CNMI! has galvanized environmental stewardship efforts in the CNMI.

That gives us 14 years to discuss, disagree, examine, and reexamine how we will make the Micronesian Challenge a success. When we succeed in this endeavor, Micronesia will find a place on the map as a world class success story for coral reef and forest conservation.

My challenge to you is to help make the CNMI the success story for Micronesian coral reef and forest conservation. Are you with me?

RC&D in the News

Saipan Tribune, Tuesday, November 21, 2006

NMA wins Recycles Day contest
By Marconi Calindas
Reporter

The Northern Marianas Academy, a private school in the Commonwealth, topped this year's CNMI Recycles Day competition.

Division of Environmental Quality Waste Reduction and Recycling coordinator Tina Sablan said the school collected a total of 50,380 lbs of recyclable materials. There were 34 NMA students who participated in the contest, bringing in 1,481.8 lbs of trash per student.

NMA won $600 cash prize, plus 30 waterpark passes to Pacific Islands Club and 20 seedlings, courtesy of the CNMI Forestry.

Eucon International School ranked second, with a total of 22,459 lbs of recyclable materials. This means the109 students who participated brought in an average of 206 lbs of trash.

Public school Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School placed third after each of its 221 student brought in 166.7 lbs of trash for a total of 36,837 lbs.

San Antonio Elementary School ended up with 115.6 lbs per 239 participating students for an overall total of 38,020 lbs.

Grace Christian Academy ranked fifth with 75 lbs per student (total of 360 students). The private school accumulated a total of 27,220 lbs of trash.

Saipan International School, William S. Reyes Elementary School and Koblerville Elementary School followed the ranking with 63.9 lbs, 36.7 lbs, and 33.3 lbs per student respectively.

There were 24 private and public schools that participated in this year's Recycles Day competition.

Sablan said the competition based its scores on the recyclable wastes gathered by each student that participated in the competition.

The Beautify CNMI!, in collaboration with the DEQ and the Department of Public Works Solid Waste Management, held the culminating activity for the CNMI Recycles Day on Saturday at the Lower Base Transfer Station.

The event celebrated the “phenomenal effort of schools, families, and businesses in the CNMI whose combined efforts during the two-month contest resulted in the collection of over 200,000 lbs of recyclable cardboard, paper, glass, plastic, and metals.”

The 200,000 lbs of materials can now be processed and converted into useful products, said Sablan, instead of dumping them all into the CNMI landfill.

PIC's Elly Stoilova also put up a booth with two other organizations showcasing environmental awareness. Stoilova showcased arts and crafts made of recyclable materials found in the CNMI.

This year's CNMI Recycles Day partners and supporters included Ericco (provided free recycling collection for the schools); Ginen Saipan; Pepsi; Pacific Islands Club; Hotel Nikko Saipan; Hafadai Publishing; Saipan Shipping; MS Villagomez; and Java Joe’s as corporate sponsors.

Government supporters were the Office of the Governor; Office of the Lt. Governor; Marianas Visitors Authority (prizes, logistical support); DPW; DEQ; Department of Lands and Natural Resources, Forestry Division (for the seedlings of all participating schools); and Office of Rep. Cinta Kaipat; Office of Rep. Absalon Waki. Nonprofit partners: Saipan Chamber of Commerce; Marianas RC&D; MINA; and MOVER.

This year's contest committee members were Reina Camacho, Angelo Villagomez, Steve Hiney, Barrett Ristroph, Bree Reynolds, Frank Tudela, Ed Diaz, Stoilova, Ken Kramer; Cinta Kaipat; Absalon Waki, Gus Kaipat, Viola Kaipat, Nina Rivera, Marites Castillo, Merced Ada, and Sablan.

Front page news and a few more pictures

Yesterday's 1020 on 10/20 went better than I could have ever hoped. When we first floated the idea of recruiting 1020 volunteers to clean our island on one day it seemed like an insurmountable challenge. I never expected to meet our goal three times over. And oh yeah, we were on the front page of the Saipan Tribune.

It was a really exciting day. I drove around visiting as many of the cleanup sites as I could.

I started out at 7 AM. My first stop was with the Marianas Eye Institute volunteers picking up trash along Beach Road. They were led by their CEO Russ Quinn.

My next stop was Java Joe's for a hot cup of black coffee. Along the way I saw volunteers from DPL and I think NMC cleaning up the road

After that I drove to Kagman. Along the way I saw volunteers from MOVER cleaning up Isa Drive and the Lt. Governor's office and family cleaning up As Lito Road.

The Kagman Komunidat Association, along with the Lao Lao Bay Golf Resort, Kagman Highschool, Kagman Elementary School, and Cha Cha Oceanview Junior High School, were cleaning up the Kagman Peninsula.

Here are pictures of some of the participants:

After Kagman I drove to Koblerville to visit with Cinta Kaipat, her office, her family, and CNMI Forestry. They were continuing with the Beautify CNMI! project to build a public park at the old substation and abandoned airfield.

Here is a picture of Cinta with her sister Vi, nephew Kyle, and Ben Cepeda from CNMI Forestry:

After that I headed North, passing by the Mayor's Office working in San Antonio. Then I stopped to visit with the Aquarius Hotel, the Hunter family and DPH cleaning up the beach in Chalan Kanoa (where they planted over 40 coconuts), before heading to 13 Fisherment to visit with DEQ.

DEQ, in addition to cleaning up the beach and the road, planted 25 coconut trees and painted one of the pala palas with paint donated from Sherwin Williams.

After that, I visited with Hopwood Junior High School cleaning up their school and their adjacent beach and then PIC cleaning up the beach south of their hotel.

It was truly an amazing day! I didn't get pictures of everyone I saw, but I'm expecting all of the adopting groups to send me pictures along with reports of their cleanups. I'll post those stories and pictures on the Beautify CNMI! website when I get them.

The total right now for the number of participants stands at 3210, but that number should increase as other volunteer groups get back to me with their number of participants.

The 1020 on 10/20 cleanup was coordinated by Marianas RC&D, a proud partner of Beautify CNMI!

1020 on 10/20 Update

Click HERE to download the 1020 on 10/20 Signup Forms

Please participate in the island wide destination enhancement day TOMORROW!

The 1020 on 10/20 packet is online. Click on the above link to download it. Beautify CNMI has to keep track of several thousand individuals for this event, so please submit the "1020 on 10/20 Interest Sheet" ASAP.

3157 and CLIMBING!!!

Several community groups, businesses, and government agencies have already submitted their pledge to adopt spots for our islandwide destination enhancement day.

I have recieved paperwork from:

NEW! Lieutenant Governor Villagomez and Family - Chalan Monsignor Martinez from traffic light at gas station to traffic light at hardware company
Volunteers expected: 45
Time: 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Contact: Margaret Keene, 234-3751

The Lieutenant Governor and his family will pick up litter along the road and will paint the bus stops and plant trees. They have adopted this road for the entire year! This will be an ongoing project for the Villagomez family.

NEW! DPS Crime Prevention - Kilili Beach
Volunteers expected: 10
Time: 3:30 - 4:30 PM
Contact: Officer Tricia M. Seman, 664-9030

DPS and Leep will pick up trash on the beach and in the public park.

NEW! Hopwood Junior High School - Hopwood Junior High School Campus and Beach
Volunteers expected: 1200
Time: 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM, 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Contact: Bree Reynolds, 237-3477

All of the students at Hopwood Junior High School are participating in 1020. They are cleaning the beach from 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM and they are cleaning the campus from 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM.

NEW! McDonald's of Saipan - The road in front of both McDonald's
Volunteers expected: 10
Time: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Contact: Jose C. Ayuyu, 235-8761

McDonald's will pick up litter on the road in front of the McDonald's on Middle Road and the McDonald's on Beach Road. McDonald's donated several boxes of trash bags and rubber gloves for cleanups throughout the island of Saipan. Please contact Angelo Villagomez if you still need gloves and bags at 483-1078.

NEW! Northern Marianas Housing Corporation - Garapan Area
Volunteers expected: 20
Time: 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Contact: Joshua T. Sasamoto, 234-7670

NMHC will pick up litter along the road from the corner of Beach Road and American Memorial Park up to the NMHC office and then down to the intersection of Middle Road and Garapan Street.

NEW! Marianas Visitors Authority - Beach Road
Volunteers expected: 20
Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Contact: Martin Duenas, 664-3200

MVA will adopt Beach Road from National Office Supply down to the MVA office. MVA is also adopting this stretch of road and Makaka Beach for one year.

NEW! Saipan Stevedore Company, Inc - Lower Base
Volunteers expected: 15
Time: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Contact: John S. Dela Cruz, 322-9240

Saipan Stevedore Company will clean the area between the SSC yard and American Memorial Park.

NEW! Saipan International School - As Lito
Volunteers expected: 200
Time: 1:55 PM - 2:30 PM
Contact: Amanda Armstrong, 288-9660

Saipan International School will clean up the area around their school.

NEW! Department of Public Works - Pao Pao Beach
Volunteers expected: 150
Time: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Contact: Steve Hiney, 322-2745

Public Works will clean up the beach and the public park.

NEW! Marianas Eye Institute - Beach Road - South Garapan
Volunteers expected: 13
Time: 7:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Contact: Russ Quinn, 235-9090

Marianas Eye Institute will clean up the road and the beach in front of their office.

NEW! Children's World Daycare & Preschool - Atmayas Street - Koblerville
Volunteers expected: 14
Time: 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM
Contact: Frannie/Vangie, 288-5162

The kids and adults will clean up Atmayas Street in Koblerville.

NEW! GTC Elementary School - San Roque Beach
Volunteers expected: 50
Time: 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Contact: Martin Dalsasom, 664-3400

The kids and adults will clean up San Roque Beach.

NEW! Kagman High School Freshman Class - Kagman High School Area
Volunteers expected: 45
Time: 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Contact: Mr. Ada, 234-5498 ext. 101

The KHS Freshman Class will clean up the school and the street near the school.

NEW! Kagman Elementary School - Kagman Elementary School Area
Volunteers expected: 700
Time: 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
Contact: Ignacia T. Demapan, 237-3967

KES will clean up the school and the surrounding streets.

NEW! Cha Cha Ocean View Junior Highschool 6th Grade - CCJHS Area
Volunteers expected: 130
Time: 8:10 AM - 8:40 AM
Contact: Betty Ann P. Cabrera, 234-5498 ext. 1011

CCJHS will clean up the school and the surrounding streets.

Northern Marianas Academy - Obyan Beach
Volunteers expected: 20
Time: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Contact: Brooke Nevitt, 235-5597

NMA will clean up the beach.

MOVER - Isa Drive, San Vicente Elementary to Post Office
Volunteers expected: 20
Time: 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Contact: Marites Castillo, 234-9769

MOVER will pick up trash along the side of the road.

Office of Public Auditor - Marine Beach
Volunteers expected: 15
Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Contact: Merced Ada, 322-3937

OPA will paint over the graffiti on the pala palas, plant trees on the beach, and pick up trash. They are having a bbq afterwards.

Department of Public Lands - Chalan Monsignor Guerrero from NMC Traffic Light to San Vicente School
Volunteers expected: 20
Time: 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Contact: Evelyn Techur, 234-3751

DPL will pick up trash along the side of the road.

Saipan Community School - Saipan Community School/Church Beach Area
Volunteers expected: 100
Time: 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
Contact: Bobby Winkfield, 235-7007

Saipan Community School will pick up trash along the beach.

Aquarius Beach Tower Hotel & Public Health - Lally 4 Beach, from Sugardock to Pacific Gardenia Hotel
Volunteers expected: 30
Time: 7:30 AM - until they are finished
Contact: William Hunter, 235-6025

Aquarius Beach Tower Hotel has pledged to pick up litter along the beach and to plant coconuts along the beachfront.

Rep. Absalon Waki's Office & Tan Holdings - Paseo de Marianas and Garapan Tourist District
Volunteers expected: 40
Time: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Contact: Rep. Waki's Office, 664-8965

Rep. Waki's Office has pledged to pick up litter in the city block encompassing the tourist district and to plant trees and landscape along Coral Tree Road. They also have equipment and trash trailers to assist in the cleanup event. Please contact Rep. Waki for assistance.

Tan Holdings has donated 1000 T-shirts to Beautify CNMI!, but they will not be ready in time for 1020.

Rep. Cinta Kaipat's Office & Koblerville Community - Koblerville Substation
Volunteers expected: 30
Time: 8:00 AM - until they are finished
Contact: Rep. Kaipat's Office, 664-8974

Rep. Kaipat's Office has pledge to pick up litter in Koblerville around the substation, cut grass, and paint over graffiti. This project is part of the Beautify CNMI! plan to turn the old substation and airstrip into a public park. Rep. Kaipat is also donating water.

Kagman Kumunidat Association & Lao Lao Golf Resort - Kagman Main Road
Volunteers expected: 50
Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Contact: Betty Ann P. Cabrera, 234-5498 ext 1011; Greg Camacho, 236-8888

Lao Lao Golf Resort and the Kagman Kumunidat Association have pledged to clean the road leading into Kagman from the top of the road near the gas station down to the schools. The are donating water and refreshments.

Hyatt Regency Saipan - Micro Beach
Volunteers expected: 20
Time: 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Contact: Lin Seman, 234-1234

Hyatt Regency Saipan will clean up litter along Micro Beach in Garapan. They are donating food.

Coastal Resource Management Office - Tank Beach
Volunteers expected: 10
Time: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Contact: Kathy Yuknavage, 664-8311

CRMO will be picking up litter and planting trees on Tank Beach.

Construction and Material Supply, Inc - Gualo Rai Intersection
Volunteers expected: 10
Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Contact: Melvin J. Malvar, 234-6136

CMS will be cleaning up litter in Gualo Rai. They are donating a dump truck (5 cy. capacity) for collecting garbage in their adopted area and nearby cleanup areas. Please contact them for pickup.

Marianas Resource Conservation & Development Council - Beach Road between 13 Fishermen and Gold Beach Hotel
Volunteers expected: 10
Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Contact: Angelo Villagomez, 483-1078

RC&D will pick up trash on the beach and along Beach Road.

Division of Environmental Quality - Beach Road, north of 13 Fishermen
Volunteers expected: 30
Time: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Contact: Tina Sablan, 664-8500

DEQ will cleanup the road, the pathway, and the beach. They are also going to plant trees and paint over graffiti.

Hotel Nikko Saipan - Pau Pau Beach, fronting Hotel Nikko
Volunteers: 35
Time: 7:30 AM - 8:00 AM
Contact: Ray de la Cruz, 237-5322

Hotel Nikko will clean litter from the beach.

A few groups wanted to do their cleanups on Saturday instead of Sunday. Saturday Cleanups:

MINA - Wing Beach
Volunteers expected: 30
Time: 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Contact: Kathy Yuknavage, 664-8311

NOTICE: THE MINA CLEANUP WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 21, NOT FRIDAY OCTOBER 20.

MINA is cleaning up Wing Beach for the fourth consecutive third Saturday of each month. They will be picking up litter on the beach and cutting the grass along the access road. Cutting the grass should cut down on the amount of illegal dumping in the area.

MINA members, in addition to cleaning Wing Beach on Saturday, are taking a leading role in other 1020 on 10/20 cleanups with their respective families, businesses, and government agencies.

Herman's Modern Bakery, MITA Travel, and Juan T. Guerrero & Associates - Airport Football Field Area
Volunteers expected: 25
Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Contact: Kyle Calabrese, 234-1726

NOTICE: THE HERMAN'S BAKERY AND OTHERS CLEANUP WILL TAKE PLACE ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 21, NOT FRIDAY OCTOBER 20.

The cleanup will take place beginning at the north from the "Francisco C. Ada Airport" sign southerly along both sides of Tun Herman Pan Road and Flame Tree Road until the intersection of Tun Herman Pan Road and International Terminal Loop (the road to CTSI), including the football field area and the slightly wooded area just south of it. The companies will provide trash bags and gloves. They are going to have a bbq for the employees afterwards.

Arbor Day Poster Contest Winners

At the Arbor Day Proclamation signing this morning we announced the winners of the 2006 Arbor Day Poster Contest. There were two categories: high school and elementary school.

In the high school category, honorable mentions went to Earllon Granada, Francine Santos, Desiree Yamada, Jashlie Camacho, Joseph Cruz, Mark Reyes, Joseph Villela, Nancy Pecsan, Mia Aguon, and Kay Park of Marianas High School. First place and a $200 gift certificate to National Office Supply went to Jeff V. Serrano of Marianas High School.

In the elementary school category, honorable mentions went to Andrew Alfeche and Keena C. Leon Guerrero of Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School (GTC), Keenah Guerrero and Cassandra M. of Koblerville Elementary School, Jennycka Bery, Clariza M. Magat, and Florentina Cordero of Oleai Elementary School, J. Roberto's 6th Grade Class of Tanapag Elementary School, and Jackyln Garote of San Vicente Elementary School. Third place and a $50 gift certificate to National Office Supply went to Lance Y. Garon of GTC, Second place and a $150 gift certificate to National Office Supply went to BingJane V. Serrano of Oleai Elementary School, and First place and a $200 gift certificate to National Office Supply were awarded to Michael Y. Garon of GTC.

Each of the winners and honorable mentions received a tree to take home, an Arbor Day button, and a Beautify CNMI! bumper sticker. Trees were donated by CNMI Foresty and the gift certificates were sponsored by DNLR Secretary Dr. Ike de la Cruz, Representative Cinta M. Kaipat, Representative Edwin P. Aldan, Marianas Resource Conservation & Development Council, and National Office Supply.

Landeran Tangke Trail

This past Sunday, Beautify CNMI! volunteers from MINA, MOVER, Marianas RC&D, DEQ, and Representative Cinta Kaipat's Office cleared and remarked the Landeran Tangke Trail in Marpi. This weekend's activity was lead by Laura Williams of Division of Fish & Wildlife (DFW).

The path was slightly overgrown, so volunteers remarked the trail with pink flagging tape and cut back some of trees that were growing over the trail. The volunteers also picked up all of the trash along the trail. The trail is completely pristine right now. If people stop littering up there, we'll be able to keep it like that.

The Landeran Tangke Trail was originally created by CNMI Forestry about 20 years and was improved just a few years ago by DFW. Recently DFW created and published a trail guide in four languages: English, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. The trail guides can be picked up at the American Memorial Park museum.

The trail guide will take you through the different points of interest along the trail. The trail goes in a counter clockwise loop, so you finish your hike where you started. You can expect to see most of Saipan's forest bird species on your hike. You'll very likely hear a Marianas Fruit Dove, and if you get lucky, you might even get to see one. You might also run into a coconut crab or a monitor lizard. I didn't see any, but I did find this guy clinging to a tree, Gehyra oceanica, the "Big Daddy" gecko of the CNMI:

Throughout the trail you will see lots of sharp rocks. Although they are now atop one of the higest points in Saipan, these limestone rocks were formed during the days when Saipan was underwater.

During the pre-World War II days, Japanese soldiers used these rocks as hiding places and fox holes. There are several well camoflauged fox holes along the trail. They are over 60 years old now, but with a little imagination you can envision a Japanese soldier hiding inside.

As we were finishing up our trail clearing activity, a vanload of Japanese tourists pulled in to the parking area. The local company that takes the tourists here charges them $65 for a day long outing that includes a hike, some siteseeing, lunch, snorkling, and time at their spa (it costs $40 for just the hike). The trail is inside the Saipan Upland Mitigation Bank, so this is a perfect example of environmental protection providing economic benefit.

It is also a perfect example of how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful place. While tourists have to pay thousands of dollars to fly here, stay at a hotel and then for a guide to take them on a nature hike, the people living on Saipan get to visit the Landeran Tangke trail for free.

Lao Lao Reveg 2006

The GIS specialists at CRM finished the map of the Lao Lao Reveg for 2006. Looks great!

RC&D in the News

Marianas Variety, Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Cleanup yields toilet, sinks, washing machine
By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

THE cleanup drive carried out Sunday by volunteers and litter control officers resulted in the retrieval of a toilet, old sinks and even a washing machine from a drainage area in the Garapan tourist district.

The cleanup started at 8 a.m., and was part of Beautify CNMI!’s ongoing islandwide campaign.

Despite the rain, the group of Sunday Beach Baggers which was composed of recently appointed litter control officers and a growing number volunteers collected garbage along a stretch of beach between two hotels.

The Division of Environmental Quality’s Beach Brigade and representatives from the office of Rep. Absalom Waki, Covenant-Saipan, also took part in the cleanup drive.
They started the cleanup at American Memorial Park before proceeding to the beach.
They collected plastic, cigarette butts, candy wrappers and beach debris washed ashore during last week’s weather disturbance.

The group trimmed trees and distributed garbage bags to people at the beach. The beach baggers also informed them about the anti-litter campaign.

Angelo Villagomez of the Marianas Resource Conservation & Development Council is urging the public to join their cleanup efforts and adopt areas for a cleanup drive even for a single hour.

Bird Island Blogging

I took this picture this afternoon. Don't you wish you knew where this was? I'll give you a hint...it was underwater.

OK, it was the Bird Island Reserve...and sorry to have to tell you this, but you're not allowed to fish, hunt, or gather any species there.

That didn't stop someone from illegally harvesting and eating these trochus (locally these guys are called aliling):

The fine for taking any species from the Bird Island Reserve is $500 and up to one year in jail. That is one hefty fine for just a scooby snack. I recommend not fishing there; bring a sandwich.

I also want to share this photo of a small pandanus tree:

When we were planting pandanus up at the Lao Lao Revegetation site, the CNMI Forestry guys told us that coconut crabs like to hang out in these trees. I guess they were right. (Coconut crabs are the largest species of hermit crab; these guys may or may not be coconut crabs, we won't know until they are larger).

Stream Sampling

We have had a very dry rainy season, but it is finally raining. It has rained a couple of times in the last six weeks, but never on the days that we are allowed to bring water samples to the DEQ lab.

I finally got some samples today and hopefully the rest of the Stream Team will be able to get a few over the next few days. (Thank you to Scott and Bree, who both collected samples last week)

I chose to sample down at Lao Lao today. Man, was it raining hard.

In some places the water ran along the side of the road, but in many places the road was just completey covered in running water. About half of the road leading down to the beach was underwater and the entire stretch of road between stream 2 and stream 3 was a torrent of fast moving mocha colored water. Gross.

All of the streams, which are normally dry, had running water. The two photos above are of our sampling site for Stream 1. Notice how high the water reads.

This photo was taken about halfway between stream 1 and stream 2. We don't have this marked off as stream, but that didn't stop the water from running over the road here.

I took three short videos of the water running in Stream 1,2, and 3. Here is a video of Stream 1, which drains the road leading down to the beach:



Notice the beautiful milky mocha color of the stream water.

Here is a video of Stream 2:



Stream 2 was dumping out onto the road. Some of the water was going over the road and back into the stream, but about 80% of the water kept on flowing down the road. It ran along the road like this for about 300 meters.

Here is a video of Stream 3:



When we were mapping potential sampling sites a few months ago, we couldn't follow the path of the flow of water. Well, today I found it. It goes right over the road.

Hopefully it will continue raining Sunday-Tuesday over the next several months. We'll continue to gather data and I'll report on it as it comes in. In the meantime you can read our QAPP.

Click HERE to read our Quality Assurance Project Plan

RC&D helps Beautify CNMI launch their website!

Saipan Tribune, Monday, September 25, 2006

Beautify CNMI Website Launched

Beautify CNMI's new website is now online and it can be found at http://www.beautifycnmi.com.

Beautifycnmi.com has photos, stories, newspaper articles, and videos of Beautify CNMI's activities over the last several months. There are also links to the Beautify CNMI members, donors, and supporters.

Angelo Villagomez, Coral Reef Public Involvement Coordinator with the Marianas Resource Conservation & Development Council said, "The format of the new website is a blog, which is short for web log. A blog is great format for an action-oriented group like Beautify CNMI. We are always bringing in new members and working on new activities and a blog allows us to use words, pictures, and video to showcase our coalition in ways that a traditional, more static website can not."

He added, "A blog also allows us to have several people contribute content to the site, much in the same way that multiple people contribute to the success of Beautify CNMI. Right now the contributors are Tina Sablan and Reina Camacho from DEQ, Congresswoman Cita Kaipat, and myself, but we are on the lookout for more people."

Beautify CNMI is a coalition of concerned citizens, private groups, and government entities united to enhance the CNMI's natural beauty and foster community pride in its residents and visitors.

Beautify CNMI member Bali Steel is paying for the hosting of the website. (PR)

That's what the GIS specialist is for

Yesterday, with the help of Coastal Resources Management, we finished mapping out the areas we revegetated this year up at the Lao Lao Revegetation Project. This is just a little video of Tim Lang, CRM Non Point Source Manager, and me trying to look like we know how to use the GIS backpack.

NMC Students

Yesterday I brought 10 Northern Marianas Students, 2 teachers, and a GIS specialist up to the Lao Lao Revegetation Project. These field trips are a lot more fun now that there are over 700 saplings to look at. The students could already identify a lot of the tree species. I was impressed.

We brought 14 trees with us and planted them on the hillside. It was a small scale planting, intended to just give the students an idea of what a tree planting at Lao Lao involves.

After our site visit we drove down to the dive site and cleaned up the litter on the beach. The students picked up 40 lbs of trash. Again, this was a small scale trash pickup, intended to give the students an idea of what a trash pickup is like.

It is amazing how much illegally dumped trash and litter we have removed from the streams and the beach in the Lao Lao watershed.

During our first Stream Team cleanup with the Hopwood Jr High School students we removed 440 lbs, then with our Stream Team cleanup with MOVER and Beautify CNMI we removed 1820 lbs, and with DEQ's monthly Cleanup Brigade we helped removed 820 lbs from the beach...and there's still more there!

Grand Prize: $500

Marianas RC&D has been heavily involved in the activities of Beautify CNMI. As such, we will be one of the judges for the upcoming logo contest.

First prize is $500. Please click on the link below for the contest rules.

The Beautify CNMI logo contest has been extended until September 21. Please pass this link along. The contest is open to all residents of the CNMI.

Click HERE for the Beautify CNMI logo contest rules

Lao Lao Finished!

We finished the scope of work for 2006 for the Lao Lao Revegetation Project over the weekend. 35 volunteers and staff from various CNMI Watershed Group agencies planted 120 trees on the deforested hillsides.

While this planting should have been the most difficult to date (because we were hiking to an area of the project that is down a steep hillside), it turned out to be our smoothest planting yet because we are all now experienced tree planters. Instead of forming a human chain to get the trees up the mountain (and then down the steep slope), we made the guys carry six trees each. Although it was slightly more difficult than passing a single tree along at a time, it ended up being much more efficient. We were able to get all of the trees up the mountain in one trip.

CNMI Forestry has already started growing the trees for next year's plantings. We will plant them during the onset of next year's rainy season. In the meantime, we won't have to hike up the mountain trail for another year...unless of course we want to bring more students up there for Outdoor Classrom Experiences.

And pictures from the final day of the project:

Beautify CNMI has a busy month of August

Saipan Tribune, Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Over the last few weeks, Beatify CNMI members have been busy making the island a more beautiful place to visit and live.

On Aug. 13, Beautify CNMI members Marianas Resource Conservation & Development Council, MOVER, and CNMI Forestry planted 64 Daok trees along the road leading to the Grotto. When these trees are taller, they will provide a beautiful canopy for people driving, riding bikes, or running along the road.

On Saturday, Aug. 19, Beautify CNMI member MINA held their monthly beach cleanup at Wing Beach. The members, along with four new student members from Saipan Southern High School, picked up over 300 lbs of trash on the beach.

On Sunday, Aug. 20, volunteers from MOVER, Marianas RC&D, and Rep. Cinta Kaipat's Office participated in a stream cleanup in Lao Lao Bay. People are using the streams draining the Lao Lao watershed as illegal dumping sites. When it rains heavily all of that garbage is washed out onto the reef flat, where it pollutes the water and has the potential to kill wildlife.

Volunteers pulled out 1,820 lbs of trash, including three washing machines, an old sofa, and a mattress.

On Aug. 19 and 27, Beautify CNMI members Marianas RC&D, MOVER, Board of Parole, Church of Latter Day Saints, Koblerville Elementary School and Rep. Cinta Kaipat's Office cleaned up the area around the Koblerville substation. Volunteers used machetes and sickles to cut down the brush choking out the plumeria trees, then they cut the grass along the road using bush cutters. They also painted over all of the graffiti on the Koblerville Substation. The paint and paint supplies were donated by Kaipat and Marianas RC&D. The yard waste was picked up by the offices of Reps. Absalon Waki and Kaipat.

Beautify CNMI is always looking for volunteers to help with their island improvement efforts. This weekend Beautify CNMI will be working in Lao Lao Bay.

"On Saturday we are partnering with DEQ for a beach cleanup along Lao Lao Beach. Please contact DEQ at 664-8500 for details. On Sunday we are partnering with the CNMI Watershed group to plant native trees on the Lao Lao hillsides. We are meeting at the Santa Soledad Church at 8am. Contact Angelo Villagomez at Marianas RC&D at 483-1078 to volunteer," the group said in a statement.

Beautify CNMI is a coalition of various agencies, private sector, non-profit organizations, private citizens, and visitors. Its mission is to foster community pride through a comprehensive beautification campaign aimed at enhancing the beauty of the island environments and the people's quality life through public education on recycling, restoration, waste management, and enforcement of laws.

Beautify CNMI has planted 1547 trees on Saipan since June. Beautify CNMI also collected thousands of pounds of recyclable bottles and cans at the Micronesian Games, Liberation Day Festival, and Garapan Street Market (PR)

RC&D in the News

Saipan Tribune, Saturday, September 02, 2006

Villagomez applauds beautification efforts

Acting Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez is putting his hands together for community groups that have been lending a hand to beautifying the islands.

"I'd like to express my overall appreciation for the widespread support of the beautification groups that have been helping to make our islands more attractive," said Villagomez yesterday. "From beaches to roadsides to public buildings, you can see the results of their hard work."

Last Sunday, Aug. 27, the coalition Beautify CNMI completed the second week of cleanup in Koblerville, topped off with a fresh coast of paint for the Koblerville substation.

Beautify CNMI is a group of various agencies, private sector, non-profit organizations, private citizens, and visitors. Its mission is to foster community pride through a comprehensive beautification campaign aimed at enhancing the beauty of the island environments and the people's quality of life through public education on recycling, restoration, waste management, and enforcement of laws.

"It's about taking pride in our neighborhoods," said Villagomez about the upswing in beautification projects. "Every tourist and every resident deserves to enjoy a clean neighborhood and environment in our islands, and we are fortunate to have community groups setting the example in these areas."

Earlier this month Beautify CNMI organized approximately 30 restoration volunteers who hauled 1,820 lbs. of illegally dumped garbage from the streams of Laulau Bay. The haul included two washing machines, a couch, a mattress and other assorted trash.

"It's more than a little shocking, the kind of stuff that people deliberately dump in some of the most beautiful and remote spots on our island," said Environmental Specialist and Beautify CNMI member Tina Sablan of the Division of Environmental Quality. "But what a great demonstration of community involvement and care from our volunteers who responded to the call for help."

Groups participating in recent Beautify CNMI projects include MOVERS, Marianas Resource Conservation & Development Council, Representative Cinta Kaipat and staff members, students of Koberville Elementary and Saipan Southern High, and other volunteers. The Division of Environmental Quality and Department of Public Safety are also collaborating to step up enforcement of littering and illegal dumping laws. Violations should be reported immediately to the authorities. (PR)

Beautify CNMI Update

Marianas Variety, Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Beautify CNMI continues to build pride, make the island a better place
By Cherrie Anne E. Villahermosa
Variety News Staff

SINCE the establishment of Beautify CNMI in June, the group has been cleaning beaches and planting trees along Beach Road, Laolao Bay and the Grotto area.
The group has planted 1,547 flame trees, coconut trees and daok trees in various places around the island.

Angelo Villagomez, public involvement coordinator of the Marianas Resource Conservation & Development Council, said the trees they have planted will one day provide a beautiful canopy for people driving and riding bikes or running along the roads of the Grotto area and Beach Road.

Villagomez said members of MOVER, volunteers from the forestry division, the Division of Environmental Quality, the Marianas Resource Conservation & Development Council, the Mariana Islands Nature Alliance, the offices of Reps. Cinta Kaipat, Waki Absalom, students and other private individuals have been active in Beautify CNMI’s cleaning and tree planting activities.

On Aug. 13, the group planted 65 daok trees along the road leading to the Grotto.
On Aug. 19, the group conducted its monthly beach cleanup at Wing Beach. Students from Saipan Southern High School helped pick up over 300 pounds of trash from the beach.

The group also conducted a stream cleanup at Laolao Bay.

Villagomez said some people are using the Laolao watershed as an illegal dumping site.

When it rains heavily, garbage is washed out into the reef flat which pollutes the water and can kill wildlife, Villagomez said.

He said they hauled out 1,820 pounds of trash including three washing machines, an old sofa and a mattress from Laolao Bay on Aug. 20.

On Sunday, Aug. 27, the group was joined by volunteers from the Board of Parole, the Church of Latter Day Saints and Koblerville Elementary School in cleaning up the area around the Koblerville substation.

Villagomez said volunteers used machetes and sickles to cut down the brush choking the plumeria trees, and they cut the grass along the road using bush cutters.

The group also painted over the graffiti at the Koblerville substation.

The paint supplies were donated by Rep. Kaipat, Covenant-Saipan, and the Marianas Resource Conservation & Development Council.

The yard waste was picked up by staffers from the offices of Kaipat and Waki, Covenant-Saipan.
Beautify CNMI also collected thousands of pounds of recyclable bottles and cans during the Micronesian Games, the Liberation Day festivities and the Garapan Street Market.

Beautify CNMI is a coalition of government agencies, the private sector, non-profit organizations, private citizens, and visitors.

Its mission is to foster community pride through a comprehensive beautification campaign aimed at enhancing the beauty of the island environment and the quality life through public education on recycling, restoration, waste management, and enforcement of laws.

Villagomez said Beautify CNMI is always looking for volunteers to help with their island improvement efforts.

This weekend, Beautify CNMI will be working at Laolao Bay and will be joined by volunteers from DEQ.

The group will plant native trees on the Laolao hillsides.

The meeting place will be the Santa Soledad Church at 8 a.m.

For more information call DEQ at 664-8500 or Angelo Villagomez at 483-1078.

In the news again

Saipan Tribune, Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Governor supports ocean observatory for NMI

The Executive Branch has expressed its support for the construction of an ocean observatory in the CNMI.

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial said that the NSF-MARGINS Steering Committee has the CNMI's full support for the proposed ORION Global Ocean Observatory Project located on the Big Blue Seamount in the Marianas.

"We support this project for multiple reasons. ORION's observation results have anticipated geophysical, chemical, and biological significance for both the worldwide scientific community and for the people of our islands," he said.

Fitial further said that the proximity of the proposed observatory location would mean that any results generated would have immediate impact for the residents of the CNMI, including advance warning for "tsunamigenic" events.

"I am pledging the full assistance of the CNMI government agencies in facilitating this project, should you choose to place the observatory in the Marianas," Fitial said, adding that as a Commonwealth of the United States, the CNMI could offer a stable political, economic, and legal platform for this project.

He said this opportunity would expand the CNMI's existing relations with Japan through this endeavor to further include the scientific community. "We would consider it an honor to have this prestigious international scientific project undertaken in the Marianas and will work diligently with the MARGINS Steering Committee and regional partners to ensure its success."

A letter sent last week to MARGINS, an organization concerned with plate tectonics, geology, and volcanoes, which sought for public comments on the proposal to build a Global Ocean Observatory in one of two places-Costa Rica or the Marianas.

Resource Conservation and Development Council's Angelo Villagomez earlier said if the CNMI could convince this organization to build their observatory in the Marianas, it would help the local economy as well as build the international prestige of the islands.

"We really want this project to come here, so could you please take the time to add a comment to the MARGINS online Discussion Board," he said. Villagomez had sought the community's assistance to tell MARGIN why this project would be better in the Marianas versus Costa Rica.

Villagomez added that the CNMI community should further inform the group that they could depend on local support among many others. "If you have the scientific background to add to the discussion on why the Marianas are a better choice scientifically, please do so."

The website is at http://www.margins.wustl.edu/OrionComments.html. Click on the link in the third paragraph and use the username "orionforum" and password "observatory."

That will pull up a new web browser. The online discussion forum is about halfway down. At the bottom of the page are some articles discussing the pros and cons of doing this project in the Marianas or in Costa Rica. "The articles will be helpful for those who are scientifically inclined, but for the rest of us, myself included, a show of local support should suffice," Villagomez added.

For further inquiry, contact Ken Kramer at RC&D 236-0893.

Psst....he's talking about us!

Saipan Tribune, Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Kudos to those who keep our islands clean

Si Yu'us ma'ase'-Olomwaay indeed to those volunteers who continue to show their sincere care for the welfare of our islands' serene and pristine eco-beauty through many different ways.

This startling revelation is unfortunately not new to us, especially illegal trashing on public lands. The continued occurance of illegal dumping in our islands underscores the unequivocal fundamental problem that we all face and which need immediate solution:

1. Blatant and utter lack of enforcement to punitively punish those who have no regard for our people's health and our islands tourism wealth (people are naturally prone to behaving within the constraints of the law ONLY IF and ONLY IF we get fined, arrested, publicized on TV/newspaper/radio, and be subjected to "public disgrace" that is punitive and strong enough to wake the hell out of the rest of us so that we would not end up being disgraced ourselves, esp. in our small tight knit island community);

2. Lack of convenience centers and/or municipal collection services aimed at capturing the bulk of residential solid waste at the household level in each of our villages, principally those that are frankly "too far" (and too costly in terms of time and gas) from the Lower Base Refuse Transfer Station or the Marpi Landfill.

I remain optimistic that someday, somewhere, someday in my lifetime someone will soon heed the call to (1) ENFORCE and ASSESS PUNITIVE fines and publicly disgrace those "litter-ers" ONCE AND FOR ALL; and (2) consider constructing either convenience centers OR institute municipal solid waste collection services for the sake of our people's health and our tourism's wealth.

Meantime, we need only be and remain individually compassionate and collectively forceful as a small group one day at a time and hopefully someday, somewhere, someday in our lifetime someone hears and does something to spare our children soon.

John O. Gonzales
Via E-mail

Letter to the Editor by DEQ

Saipan Tribune, Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Laulau Bay cleanup a success

Just wanted to share the phenomenal news that I received from Public Involvement Coordinator Angelo Villagomez yesterday morning-two Sundays ago (Aug, 20), approximately 30 restoration volunteers hauled out a whopping 1,820 lbs of illegally dumped garbage from the streams of Laulau Bay. This included two washing machines, a couch, a mattress, and other assorted trash items. It's more than a little shocking, the kind of stuff that people deliberately dump in some of the most beautiful and remote spots on our island-but what a great demonstration of community involvement and care from our volunteers who responded to the call for help that day.

Special thanks goes to Cinta Kaipat and her staff, MOVER president Marites Castillo, and the MOVER volunteers, Angelo Villagomez, and Marianas RC&D, and all our terrific volunteers who pitched in to clean up Laulau!

Tina Sablan
CNMI Division of Environmental Quality

Community Project

Over our barbeque potluck lunch yesterday, some of us got to talking. Wouldn't it be nice to turn the old abandoned airfield into a neighborhood park? There is already a community center and a basketball park, all we'd have to do is to fill in the spaces with park benches, a playground, and lots of trees and picnic tables.

Well, should we decide to work with our Beautify CNMI partners and turn it into a park, we've already got a pretty good headstart. On Sunday, 76, yes 76, volunteers spent 9, yes 9, hours cleaning up the Koblerville substation and old airstrip.

This continues the project that we started last week, where we cut back brush and grass. This week we finished clearing the area along the road. We also washed off and painted over all of the graffiti on the substation.

Paint and paint supplies were donated by Rep. Cinta Kaipat and Marianas Resource Conservation & Development Council.

The kids did a fantastic job of washing off the old paint. This ensured that we had a nice clean surface for us to paint over.

While the kids picked up litter around the site and painted the first coat of paint over the graffiti, the adults were hard at work using bushcutters and machetes to cut back the brush:

I wish this picture was in better focus. You can see from the photo that the number of boys far outweighed the number of girls. The kids weren't motivated on their own to pick up trash because they all wanted to paint and/or use the chainsaw. So how do you get 20-30 kids pumped up to pick up garbage? Easy, just make it a contest! I challenged the boys to pick up more trash than the girls and vice versa. In this picture we are deciding who the champions are...then I discovered that instead of picking up litter, the boys were stuffing their bags with yard waste. Cheaters!

So 15 seconds later I said the contest was still on and I challenged the boys to actually beat the girls, even though there were far fewer girls than boys. The kids immeadiately charged off to pick up more trash. Can you guess who won? The girls, of course!

The previous two pictures are of our chefs. They prepared the food that we feasted on.

After luch it was time to get back to work. We finished painting the substation, effectively removing ALL of the graffiti. We also finished up cutting the grass and clearing the brush, then we spent a considerable time picking up the yard waste afterwards.

What a difference a day makes! At the end of the day we were all a little sunburned and really tired. Rep. Cinta Kaipat bought ice keiki for the kids to thank them for a hard days work.

This weekend's activites were planned and supoorted by Rep. Kaipat's Office and the Marianas Resource Conservation & Development Council. Most of the volunteer labor was provided by MOVER and students from Koblerville Elementary.

While this project does not directly protect coral reefs, it engenders community pride and environmental awareness in the residents of Koblerville. When we asked the kids why this project was important, many of them answered that this was "our island" and we "have to take care of it."

Correct answer, kids.

I'll see you at next week's beach and stream cleanup and planting.