Island Wide Cleanup in the News

Islandwide cleanup volunteers now over a thousand
BY RAQUEL BAGNOL - VARIETY NEWS STAFF

MORE than a thousand individuals have volunteered to join the second islandwide cleanup slated for April 17, 2009, and their number is still increasing.

Event co-organizer Angelo Villagomez said during last week’s Rotary Club of Saipan meeting at the Hyatt

Regency that 22 groups had already confirmed participation and 19 sites had been adopted for cleanups.
The volunteers are from businesses, government agencies, schools and organizations.

“We are inviting everyone to join us in this year’s islandwide cleanup. You can adopt a spot, either your favorite beach, a tourist attraction, or the road in front of your home, business, or office, or you can join another group at their cleanup,” Villagomez said.

He is optimistic the organizers can reach their goal of recruiting 5,000 volunteers for the cleanup.
As of yesterday, 1,201 volunteers had signed up.

Adopted sites include Beach Road from Afetnas to Koblerville, Garapan Fishing Base Complex, Coral Tree Avenue and Paseo de Marianas, Susupe area around Shirley’s including the Mt. Carmel Church and School area, 13 Fishermen Memorial, Laulau Beach dive spot, Micro Beach, Isa Drive to Botanical Garden, Laly 4 Beach, Chalan Kanoa, Garapan main streets, Kagman III, Phase IV, Manga Street, Beach Road from Rainbow Photo to Hard Rock, Garapan McDonald’s to Carolinian Utt, Middle Road, Garapan, Obyan Beach, Navy Hill Lighthouse, and Grand Hotel to Sugar Dock.

The co-organizers of the cleanup are the Division of Environmental Quality, the Rotary Club of Saipan, the Marianas Visitors Authority, and the Marianas Tourism Education Council.

Villagomez said MTEC is setting aside $900 for the Public School System to be divided among the top schools with the highest percentage of student turnout for the cleanup.

For more information, contact Joe Kaipat at 664-8500, Angelo Villagomez at 285-6462 or e-mail him at angelovillagomez@gmail.com .