DEQ Monthly Cleanup Brigade - International Coastal Cleanup

The Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Cleanup Brigade will deviate from its regular first Saturday of the monthly beach cleanup brigade in order to join the Coastal Resource Management’s (CRM) celebration of the 28th Annual International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) which is scheduled for Friday, September 20th and Saturday, September 21st on Saipan. Rota will be participating on September 20th and Tinian will be hosting theirs on September 18th.

DEQ encourages all regular volunteer individuals or groups to sign up and take part in this very good deed. If you would like to volunteer your time to clean and beautify our island by participating in the ICC, please contact a CRM ICC coordinator to sign up.

Saipan Coordinator: Nicole Schafer, 664-8312
Rota Coordinator: Bill Pendergrass, 532-0466
Tinian Coordinator: Edwin Hofschneider, 433-0494

Last month’s Aquarius Beach Cleanup was successful with 27 volunteers participating. Thanks to, NMC, WSR, KHS, HJHS, SSHS, Zoning, KKMP, and other volunteers about 300 pounds of trash was removed from the beach and properly disposed of.

The DEQ is looking forward to a repeat success, so join DEQ’s monthly cleanup brigade and “Pick It Up!” Let us work together for the health of our coral reefs and cleanliness of our beaches for everyone to enjoy.

For more information about volunteering, please contact the DEQ office at 664-8500/1.

Rob Stewart Cleans Up Saipan

Photo: Aya Matsumoto

'Sharkwater' director, volunteers conduct Sunday beach cleanup
Saipan Tribune

Rob Stewart, the acclaimed director of the documentary Sharkwater, joined some 30 volunteers during the beach cleanup behind Aquarius Beach Towers in Chalan Kanoa yesterday morning.

The volunteers collected a truckload or about 120 lbs of trash from the beach down by the Sugar Dock and all the way to the Aquarius beach.

Beautify CNMI!: Cinta Kaipat, Rob Stewart, Shawn Heinrichs, and Aya Matsumoto

Having participated in a recent beach cleanup in Hong Kong, Stewart noted the importance of doing beach cleanups regularly.

“It shows a great sense of care and investment in your land,” Stewart told Saipan Tribune.

Shirley's Coffee Shop First Clean Up for 2011

Monday, January 17th, for the MLK holiday, Shirley's staff and family gathered at Sugar Dock behind the Aquarius Beach Hotel for their first clean up of 2011. A total of 21 people participated and collected about 85 lbs of trash. Shirley's adopted the Aquarius/Sugar Dock area in 2009. In recognition of their commitment, Beautify CNMI! awarded Shirley's Environmental Steward award in 2010.

THANK YOU SHIRLEY'S STAFF AND RELATIVES --- keep up the great work! We really appreciate your continued efforts and we know that the families that frequent the beach in that area are ever so grateful!

Celebrity Beach Clean Up!

This just in from MINA (Mariana Islands Nature Alliance):


Greetings! Next week, Saipan will be host to an amazing individual. Rob Stewart, the acclaimed filmmaker and director of the documentary, "Sharkwater" will be participating in a MINA sponsored beach clean up for youth volunteers on January 23rd from 9am - 12pm, at the beaches behind Aquarius Hotel.

MINA will be providing trash bags and gloves to aid in garbage collection, as well as coolers and ice. Volunteers are asked to help with a case of water per group so that everyone could stay hydrated throughout the days events. Everyone is welcome to come!

For any information please call Sam Sablan or Jon Igitol at 233-REEF.

Visit MINA on the web at http://www.minapacific.org/

Shirley's Coffee Shop maintains its adopted site

Shirly's conducts regular clean ups at Sugar Dock/ Aquarius Beach Tower side. Below are some photos of their volunteers hard at work on March 15, 2010.

Getting the volunteers organized

Before
Volunteers hard at work!













Over 1,200 lbs of trash collected - OMG! Where does it come from?

Great job TEAM!

...and after...

19 Shirley's employees with some relatives participated in the clean up. Collected approximately 120lbs. of trash that day. Their next clean up will take place on Wednesday, June 16, 2010.

KUDOS TO SHIRLEY'S COFFEE SHOP AND ITS VOLUNTEERS FOR BEING THE STEWARDS for one of Saipan's most loved beaches! Please keep up the great work...your efforts are an inspiration and much appreciated by all in our community!

Aquarius Beach Tower

The staff at Aquarius Beach Tower staff teamed up with Max Aguon and boys, last year's Beautify CNMI Steward Award winner, to clean up the area south of Sugar Dock. Thank you!

THANKS, MAX AGUON AND CREW!

Thursday March 13, 2008

Volunteers clean up Sugar Dock, Aquarius Beach
By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

FIVE individuals volunteered to “transform” the stretch of the beach area from Sugar Dock all the way to Aquarius Beach as part of their ongoing cleanup efforts.

Led by Max Aguon, who used to work in a private company, about five to six local residents also put up barriers to prevent people from driving on the beach.

Coastal Resource Management Office Director John Joyner said the area is now totally different from how it looked like two months ago, and the residents who cleaned it up should be commended.

This shows that the spirit of Beautify CNMI! is still alive among members of the community, he added.

The small structure at the end of Sugar Dock which was badly littered before is now clean.

Joyner said volunteers continue to pick any litter they find in the area.

CRMO wants to highlight the activities of volunteers because the agency is also in the business of “catching people for doing right and not only for doing wrong,” he added.

CRMO at the same time will work with the Department of Public Lands, the Marianas Visitors Authority and the Department of Public Works in getting rid of the concrete structure at the end of Sugar Dock, Joyner said.

This structure is being used by children as a “playground” and sometimes a “diving board” even tough it poses danger to them, he added.

“We don’t want to see children diving from that structure. People should dive under safe conditions,” he said.

Sugar Dock Group

Sugar Dock Group Cleanup Leaders: (left to right) Joe Cabrera, Ben Barcinas and Max Aguon at Sugar Dock before a cleanup.

Last week a number of the Sugar Dock Group members cleaned the entire area from Sugar Dock to Aquarius Beach Tower Hotel. According to Aquarius Beach Tower Hotel manager, Will Hunter, it looked fantastic after they were done.

According to Hunter, Max Aguon is out on the beach almost daily cleaning the area. Hunter provides them with bags and drinks.

This is a great example of businesses and the community working together. I hope to see more of this in the coming months.