Pull Over; Plant That Tree!!!

For those who remember this tv cartoon theme song (and you know who you are!), follow along: "George! George! George of the Jungle. Watch Out For That Tree!!!"

Well, how many of you have heard the Beautify CNMI! version? You haven't? Well, here goes...

"Dave! Dave! Dave Selepeo. Pull Over; Plant That Tree!!!"

On a rainy Sunday morning earlier this month (July), Dave Selepeo was driving south on Beach Road minding his own business when he saw something that caused him to hit the brakes and pull over. No, it wasn't a dead animal! What he saw were a bunch of Beautify CNMI! Coalition members planting coconuts on the beach, just south of the 13 Fishermen Pavilion. When Dave was interviewed by MCV, the local tv news, this is what he had to say:

"I was driving by when I saw a bunch of people planting coconuts and then I saw the Congresswoman (Cinta Kaipat) ... and I decided to pull over and I helped plant a tree."

Thank you, Dave! This is precisely the type of spontaneous act from our community members that the Beautify CNMI! wants to encourage.

In just a few short hours, the Beautify CNMI! Coalition will be at it again. We'll be planting coconuts along Beach Road for the second time. If you happen to read this before 8 a.m. and find yourself in the vicinity of the 13th Fishermen Pavilion (our meeting point), do what Dave Selepeo did and hit the brakes. Pull over and help us plant a tree or two. While it'll only take a few minutes of your time to plant a tree, the joy and benefits you'll derive from this simple act will last a long time.

Can't spare a few minutes to plant a tree? No problem. You can help in other ways, too. We welcome donations of coconuts, drinking water, and food. Normally, I'd ask you to please call Angelo at 483-1078 if you would like to volunteer or donate. But since we'll be meeting at the 13 Fishermen Pavilion in a few hours, why don't you just stop by if you'd like to donate something for today's planting. Si Yu'us Ma'ase! Olomwaay! Thank You!

We also want to thank the following donors who donated coconut trees for our first plantings: Eugenio Sablan, Jack Sablan, Abdon Kaipat, Joe Itibus and Jerry Facey.

Today's collaborative planting efforts will once again be led by Angelo Villagomez, of RC&D and Beautify CNMI!'s Restoration Committee; Tina Sablan, of DEQ and Chair of Beautify CNMI!'s Recycling Committee; and yours truly, Rep. Cinta Kaipat, of the House of Representatives and Beautify CNMI!'s Chair of the Legislation Committee), along with our hardworking partners, MOVERS, other agency staff, and countless community members of our Coalition.

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

P.S. This is my first post, so I hope it works!