Beautify CNMI! 2016

Happy New Year!

Man, time flies. Has it really been 10 years since we created Beautify CNMI? And how is that we haven't posted a blog in two full years? Well, some of us got to thinking over the Christmas break and we've decided to get the band back together and reinvigorate our Beautify CNMI campaign in the new year. We're organizing ourselves right now and will have our first meeting in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, could you sign up to our email list? Click on the JOIN button above or RIGHT HERE.

Lots of good stuff coming to you this new year. Stay tuned!

Hello, Everyone!

Every year, one of Beautify CNMI!'s premier partners--PDM Promoters, Inc.--invites schools to participate in the Tree-Decorating Contest at the Paseo de Marianas using recycled materials. This has become a *favorite* annual event and we are grateful to the nice folks at PDM Promoters for the generous opportunity it grants the schools to raise funds (prize money) for their school activities.

As part of the on-going holiday festivities, PDM Promoters also invites the public to the JUMBO Christmas Tree Ribbon Decoration. Tie a ribbon on the tree to represent your favorite cause. Of course, don't forget to include a green ribbon or two to represent Beautify CNMI! and the other environmental groups. Thank you! Everyone is welcome to participate in this. Please see below for details. Arigato Gozaimasu, Olomwaay and Si Yu'us Ma'ase, PDM Promoters!

* * * *

A new Jumbo Christmas tree is up at Paseo de Marianas...It will be ready for visitors there to tie ribbons of their choice with their wishes written thereon, beginning on this coming week's Street Market night on Thursday, December 1. The lighting ceremony program begins at 5:30 p.m. on that evening.

We have once again prepared ribbons as listed below (with the names of the supporting organizations in the past years):

Green - for environmentalists' causes (Mariana Island Nature Alliance (MINA), DEQ and Beautify CNMI!)
Pink - cancer prevention awareness (Commonwealth Cancer Society)
Blue - autism awareness (Autism Society of the CNMI)
Yellow - "Support Our Troops" (Operation CNMI Homefront Support)
Orange - "For Brighter Future of Our Children" (Luta Cares)
Red - for general purposes
See also last year's report attached.

Those who like to make brief appeals for their causes on behalf of their organizations at the lighting ceremony to the gathering audience, please advise me.

Thank you for your usual understanding and cooperation.

horiguchi.
(volunteer advisor to PDM Promoters, Inc., a CNMI non-profit corporation)
tel: 234-2067
fax: 234-7530
cell: 287-9233

PDM Promoters, Inc. (purposes):
To provide for and act as a forum or an avenue for the promotion, coordination and/or collaboration of collective activities by the businesses located on the Paseo de Marianas pedestrian mall, Puntan Muchot, Garapan, Saipan, and any other locations in the CNMI designated by the Board of Directors from time to time, all within the confines of exempt purposes in order to lessen the burdens of the government, lessen neighborhood tensions and/or combating community deterioration and juvenile delinquency, as set forth in NMTIT Section 501(c)(3) .

Meeting Reminder! Tonight at 5:30pm

The highlight of this meeting is to present the opportunity to sign an MOU with Marianas RC&D that would create a partnership mutually beneficial to all Beautify CNMI! partners. We want your input!

For additional meeting information, please refer to the original blog post for this meeting.

See you tonight!

You're All Invited to the Tree-Lighting Ceremony Tonight

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, Beautifyers!

Please come to the tree-lighting ceremony led by PDM Promoters at the Paseo de Marianas tonight, Thursday, Dec. 2, at the Paseo de Marianas. You will get a chance to pin different color ribbons representing different worthy causes on the giant tree. Beautify CNMI!'s color is GREEN, so let's show everyone our GREEN Beautify CNMI! spirit! Other GREEN-ribbon coalition partners, such as DEQ, MINA, FMI, and others, will also be there. So, come one, come all. This is an annual event that's not to be missed. So, all you Beautifyers out there -- come out and join us!

But, don't just stop at the color GREEN (even if it's our favorite color), show your support by pinning the other different color ribbons on the tree, too!

Also, we'll have fun watching the school children decorate their trees! This has become a much-anticipated fun tradition!

Ceremonies will start at 7 p.m. and the ribbon-pinning ceremony will follow shortly after.

So, bring friends and family and see you all there!

SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL COASTAL CLEANUP UPDATE, AS OF 9-13-10

The community is coming out en masse to combat CNMI's marine debris! We have 33 registrations in and more coming every day.

Currently, the open beaches are: Bird Island, Forbidden Island, Jeffries Beach, Old Man By The Sea, San Roque and the Dandan pocket beaches. As so many of the beach areas are covered, the Coastal Cleanup Team is encouraging groups to adopt school compounds, neighborhoods, roadsides and known illegal dumping sites. All trash on land will end up in the sea - let's cover the entire island.

Registered Groups (as of September 13):
Rotary Club of Saipan - Fishing Base
Shirley's Coffee Shop - Sugar Dock heading South
Fiesta Resort and Spa - Makaka Beach
MINA - Paupau Beach
Saipan International School - Coral Ocean Point
Friends of the Mariana Islands - South Laolao Beach(Pavillion)
Saipan Mayor's Office - Wing Beach
CTSI Logistics - Susupe Park
Hyatt Regency Saipan - Micro Beach
Pacific Marine Resource Institute - Quartermaster to 13 Fishermen
Saipan Swim Club - Marine Beach
Brabu Pharmacy - Brabu Pharmacy on Middle Road, 13 Fishermen
Winzler and Kelly - Quartermaster South to MVA
D & Q Co. Ltd and Cosmos Distributing - Tanapag Beach (across church)
Office of Representative Antonio P. Sablan - north of PIC to San Antonio Elementary School Beach
Marianas Baptist Academy - Pakpak Beach
Saipan Seventh Day Adventist School - San Antonio Beach from SDA School, North and South
MVA/NMDOA - North Laolao Beach (dive site)
NMC Environment and Natural Resources Organization - Kilili Beach
Port Users and Operators Committee - Unai Sadog Tasi (Lower Base)
PDM Promoters - Hafa Adai to Garapan Fishing Base
Pacific Oriental, Inc. dba POI Aviation - Obyan Beach
Century Group of Companies & Saipan Tribune - back of TSL plaza to OPM
DLNR - Ladder Beach
PTK (Phi Theta Kappa) - 13 Fishermen to Garapan Fishing Base
PIC Saipan - Agingan Point to PIC
Saipan Grand Hotel - Sugar Dock heading North to Saipan Grand Hotel
Marianas Water Works Corporation - Cow Town Beach
SSFM International Inc. - Garapan
Kagman Elementary School - Tank Beach
SSHS JROTC Manta Ray Battalion - Lally 4
CNMI WIC Program - TBA
The Office of Representative Kilili - Kilili Beach

**All volunteer groups, please note that the Coastal Resources Management office will be open on 22-23 September for group leaders to pick up trash bags, gloves and marine debris data sheets.

See you all then!

Group of Tan Holdings Companies Give Back to Our Community

Companies stationed at JP Center (Saipan Tribune, L&T, CIC & Tan Holdings Support Team) gathered again for the 6th Adopt-A-Pavilion activity and to hold the month of August's birthday bash.

A total of 33 volunteers showed up as early as 6:30 a.m. and collected about 35 bags or approximately 536 kilos of trash from the coastal area/shorelines at the back of TSL Plaza, McDonald's, and Office of the Personnel Management on Saturday, August 28. To date, the team has already collected an estimated 125 bags or 1,868 kilos of trash since it started the project in March of this year.

Cecil Ramores of Tan Holdings said "We are committed to giving back to our community and look forward to continuing our drive through our monthly clean ups and pavilion rehabilitation project."

CTSI also had their regular monthly clean-up the same day at the Susupe Beach Park. The 17 volunteers were able to gather 68 bags or 618 kilos of trash.




GREAT JOB, EVERYONE! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Volunteers Step Up for 2010 International Coastal Cleanup!

CRM and DEQ are calling motivated groups to volunteer for the International Coastal Cleanup on 24-25 September, 2010.

Registered Groups and cleanup locations:

Big thanks out to the groups already registered, we're looking forward to the event!

Rotary Club of Saipan - Fishing Base
Shirley's Coffee Shop - Sugar Dock heading South
Fiesta Resort and Spa - Makaka Beach
MINA - Paupau Beach
Saipan International School - Coral Ocean Point
Friends of the Mariana Islands - South Laolao Beach
Saipan Mayor's Office - Wing Beach
CTSI Logistics - Susupe Park Beach
Hyatt Regency Saipan - Micro Beach
Pacific Marine Resources Institute - Quartermaster Road to 13 Fishermen
Saipan Swim Club - San Roque Beach


Beaches Still to be Adopted:

This is a lot of beaches folks - spread the word about the International Coastal Cleanup and let's have one group at each one! All people in government, we'd love to see a better showing of government agencies. Private organizations and clubs, this is great way to spend a couple hours giving back to the community that you're working in.

Forbidden Island Beach
Bird Island Beach
Obyan Beach
Ladder Beach
Tank Beach
Marine Beach
Dandan Pocket Beaches
North Laolao Beach (Dive Site)
Old Man by the Sea Beach
Jeffries Beach
Agingan Point to PIC
Micro Beach (Hyatt to Smiling Cove)
Coral Ocean Point
Lally 4
Sugar Dock heading north to Grand Hotel
Kilili Beach
Quartermaster south to MVA
13 Fishermen to Garapan Fishing Base
Garapan Fishing Base to Hafa Adai Hotel
Cow Town Beach

Last year volunteers diverted hundreds of bags of trash from Saipan's coastal areas. Let's make an even larger impact in 2010!

To sign-up for the event, please fill out the sign-up sheet and email it to rachel.zuercher@crm.gov.mp or fax it to 664-8315. For more information, contact Rachel Zuercher at 664-8305.

For more information about the cleanup or to request a registration form, please call 664-8305 or email rachel.zuercher@crm.gov.mp. Thanks!

Beautify CNMI's Monthly Mtg for August Cancelled

Sorry for the late notice, but this month's Beautify CNMI! monthly meeting which was scheduled for today (August 12) has been postponed. We will resume our regular monthly meetings after our summer break next month.

I'd appreciate your spreading the word.

Thank you for your understanding.


---Cinta M. Kaipat
Volunteer PR Coordinator
www.beautifycnmi.org

Fiesta Saipan's 3rd Makaka Beach Clean Up

Fiesta Saipan, a Tan Holdings company, held their third Makaka Beach clean up on Saturday, June 26.

The 41-strong volunteers picked up 20 bags/200 lbs of trash and helped restore their adopted site to its natural beauty.

THANK YOU FIESTA SAIPAN FOR ANOTHER JOB WELL DONE!

POI Beautifed Tun Herman Pan Road

Cecil Ramores of POI, a Tan Holdings company, shared the following pictures and reported that POI staff held a clean up of Tun Herman Pan Road, their adopted spot, on June 1, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The 31 volunteers picked up 18 bags/ 56 kilos of trash.

THANK YOU POI and Tan Holdings for keeping Tun Herman Pan Road clean and beautiful for all of us who call Saipan home and for all our visitors who travel this Road to and from the airport.

ONCE AGAIN, A JOB WELL DONE BY ALL!

4th of July Parade Clean Up - nearly 20,000 lbs of trash!

Getting ready to set off on our second annual post-parade cleanup, a few of the volunteers stop for photo at STaR Water parking lot. Others joined the cleanup along the way making the event a total success! All in all we figure their were about 25 volunteers more than doubling last year's numbers.

Founding member Cinta Kaipat organizing with other volunteers as we all waited for the parade to get moving.

Abe "Utu" Malae and Capt Robert Lorenz from the CUC set out as we begin to move.

Several volunteers set out down the beach path. Keeping garbage out of our lagoon goes a long way towards preventing future marine debris.

And we are off! Everyone is excited to see how many total pounds of trash will be collected along the parade route.



MINA's Kathy Yuknavage is the project manager for a marine debris prevention project. Under her direction, MINA has placed nine recycling and mixed waste bins at a number of Saipan beaches and parks over the last several months. A grant from NOAA provides funding for this project.

Long time supporter and former Beautify CNMI! award winner Ken Kramer joined in the clean up.

Heidi Yelin and Bryan Jones collecting trash from parade watchers and campers.

Laurie Peterka donated her truck and time to help out again this year passing out over 200 garbage bags, many gloves and hauling a number of bags back to the waste bin at STaR Water.

DEQ staff helped distribute supplies and interacted with parade watchers asking them to help dispose of their trash properly.

DEQ's Max Simian drove one of the two trucks pulling trash collection trailers and helped take full bags of trash from campers.

Both trash trailers were full by the time we finished!

Slowly making our way along the parade route. It was hot, but occassionally we found respite under the trees while still picking up trash.





As we got closer to the end of the parade route, we found more volunteers working well ahead of the trash trailers and supply trucks!





So, how much is 20,000 lbs of trash? It's kind of hard to imagine, but this full bin gives you an idea! The height of the bin is about 5-feet tall and the length is about the same as a big Ford truck.

Joe Kaipat, event organizer, is most pleased with the accomplishment of the day! Trash is now in a bin and headed for proper disposal instead of littering our beaches --- thanks to all the Saipan parade go'ers who did their part to keep our beaches clean and our island beautiful! You did an awesome job and you have contributed to keeping our island healthy...good job!

Special thanks to STaR Water for letting us use their parking lot as our launch point and their neighbors for letting us park a 20,000 lbs disposal bin in their lot. A big thanks too goes out to Artman for donating 200 garbage bags and to Saipan Ice & Water for their donation of water and ice for volunteers!

The Northern Marianas Badminton Association Joins Beautify CNMI!

Volunteers/Members of The Northern Marianas Badminton Association at the Oleai Sports Complex. Community Service Committee chair and Board member Puy Macario was among the 22 volunteers/members who participated in the June 19 inaugural clean up of the Oleai Sports Complex, the group's adopted site. The volunteers/members pictured are: Christy Villaflor, Merlie Tolentino, Shirley Kim, Ezekiel Macario, Annarose Omori, Manatsu Omori, Kanata Omori, Vic Regis, Hapi Gabriel, Gigi Zapanta, Emily Vargas, Toshiko Obata, Rob Harrel, Loyda Ito, Angie Ito, Lucelle Lampera, Mika Lampera, Ella Lampera,Heo Insook, So Young, & Dick Guinto.

A hearty WELCOME to The Northern Marianas Badminton Association, the newest member of the Beautify CNMI! family.

The Northern Marianas Badminton Association, through its Community Service Committee headed by Puy Macario, held a clean-up project on June 19, 2010, at the Oleai Sports Complex. The clean up was held in time for the preparation of the Marianas Cup which was held the same day in the afternoon.

The clean up was NMBA's first community project this year and the group has adopted the Oleai Sports Complex as their regular clean-up project.

Thank you and welcome, again, to the Beautify CNMI! coalition of volunteers!
Members strike a pose during the clean up.
The family that cleans together stays together. NMBA Mom Lucelle Lampera is joined by her twin daughters Mika and Ella.
NMBA Board members Gigi Zapanta and Hapi Gabriel
NMBA Board member and Community Service Committee Chair Puy Macario
NMBA Beauties with Vice President Rob Harel
NMBA Board Members Shirley Kim and Merlie Tolentino are all smiles
NMBA Junior Member Ezekiel Macario
NMBA Junior member Manatsu Omori
NMBA junior player rakes the dry weed
NMBA members busy cleaning outside the Ada Gym





GREAT JOB NMBA! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!