Frank Camacho continues his work as a Champion

See the story at Marianas Variety: Campaign against illegal dumping launched

Pictures that follow are of Frank B. Camacho receiving his Environmental Champion 2010 award at the Flametree Festival on Saturday, April 24, 2010. The awards presentation also marked the beginning of the 5th year for the Beautify CNMI! coalition.







THANK YOU FRANK - FOR ALL THAT YOU DO AND FOR BEING A ROLE MODEL, AN INSPIRATION!

Neighborhood Watch to clean up old airfield

Reported and reposted from: Marianas Variety
Wednesday, April 28 2010 - By Junhan B. Todeno - Reporter

THE Koblerville Community Coalition Neighborhood Watch Group will conduct a cleanup operation on Saturday, starting at 10 a.m., at the old airfield behind Tottotville that has become a dumping ground for trash.

Task force block captain Rose Ada-Hocog said the project, which is their first, aims to make Koblerville a beautiful, peaceful and crime-free place.

She said they want their village to become a “place that they can be proud of — a sanctuary where families don’t need to worry too much about being victims of senseless crimes.”

In Kagman, task force block captains Eric Magofna and Glenn Dikito will meet with community members, parents and teachers at Kagman High School at 6 p.m. today.

Dikito said they will discuss their upcoming community cleanup and recruitment program.

During a recent meeting with parents and teachers, 14 individuals joined the task force, he said.

Today, the block captains and other task force members are planning to discuss the Neighborhood Watch Task Force program with Head Start parents and teachers.

Dikito said they will also help the Kagman Kommunidat Association in its campaign to remove poker arcades from their village.

On Saturday, Ada-Hocog expects a lot of community members to join their cleanup campaign.

Their group’s motto is, “Moving in to kick crime out.”

They also plan to conduct community meetings, events, and other activities aimed at bringing village residents together.

“This group will serve as a support or backbone for families, businesses and most especially the schools and church groups,” Ada-Hocog said.

She has approached members of the Koblerville community individually and many have expressed interested to join the group.

“However, interest alone does not accomplish anything. Interest, involvement and action, together, are the keys to making Koblerville a better and safer place to live in,” she said.

Their group has requested the Youth Affairs Office to allow them to establish their headquarters at the Koblerville Youth Center.

Their presence, Ada-Hocog said, will be beneficial to the center and will make them more accessible to the Koblerville community.

She said they have also sought help from Precinct 1 House members and Sen. Ralph DLG. Torres, R-Saipan.

They also asked the mayor’s office to provide equipment, backhoe, water, manpower, bush cutters for the cleanup drive.

Those interested to join the group may call 287-0818 or e-mail rosetada@yahoo.com.

Junk Cars Program

Some people have been calling lately asking about the junk cars program.

There was an article in the Marianas Variety today - Zoning Office: Junk vehicles to be removed this month

It gives an update on the CNMI Zoning office's progress. It is our understanding that the Saipan Mayor's office is also getting involved.

Please contact Therese Ogumoro at the CNMI Zoning office for more info: tee.ogumoro@gmail.com or call (670) 234-9661

PAWS WARS a Success

PAWS WARS Episode 3: Revenge of the Boonie was an overwhelming success. We had three animals up for adoption and they were adopted. Dogs won prizes. Spectators were entertained. A good time was had by all.

Barbie wins dog show
MONDAY, 15 JUNE 2009 00:00 BY RAQUEL BAGNOL - VARIETY NEWS STAFF

A FIVE-YEAR old Pomeranian named Barbie is this year’s winner of the Best of the Worst Dog Show at the CPA airport grounds on Saturday.

Barbie’s owner, MC Torregoza, said she also entered her dog in last year’s event.

Second place went to two-month-old Pepa, a Maltese Poodle owned by Alverick Alvarez.

Named the third place winner was Kui, owned by Ken Baer.

The three judges — Brad Ruszala, Cinta Kaipat and PO2 Jason Tarkong chose the winners in each of the six different categories.

This year’s contest drew 26 dog contestants.

PAWS president Kathleen Busenkell said the contest was a success, and they will be organizing another dog show next year.

“We would like to thank our sponsors and supporters who had been helping us come up with this show, but the main thing is we would like to emphasize the importance of taking care of our dogs and other pets,” Busenkell said.

She said they may have to hold the show a little earlier next year as most of the dog owners are off-island.

“We have few repeaters this year, but we have several newcomers, too,” she said.

Some of the dogs in the show were up for adoption, stray dogs that PAWS found and is taking care of.

At the end of the show, two of the dogs found new owners.

The other winners in the dog show:

Fattest

First place: Lucky — Amanda Lorenz

Second place: Missy — Bruce McMillan

Third place: Pepper — Wendy Lorenz

Booniest

First place: Yoda — Andres Buitrago

Second place: Rossi — Kathleen Herman

Third place: Jake — Adam Hardwicke

Most Disobedient

First place: Chloe — Jillian Ferrer

Second place: Jake — Adam Hardwicke

Third place: Charlotte — John Blanco

Most Talented

First place: Dima — Scott Hayden

Second place: Meatball — Kathy Pagapular

Third place: Dirk — Liza Eller

Star Wars Award

First place: Meatball — Brad Ruszala

Second place: Snowhite — Edz Blanco

Third place: Yodu — Andres Buitrago

Sponsors for the show were Seafix, Hyatt Regency Saipan, HANMI, Pacific Trading, Price Costco, Palms Resort Saipan, Fiesta Resort Hotel &Spa, Pacific Islands Club, the Kikbak Band, Gus Kaipat, Trench Tech and Expressions.

Environmental Camp wrapup in the Variety

Members of the press attending our Flame Tree planting on Friday morning. This article appeared in the Marianas Variety today. The print edition had a picture of the students, but does not appear on the online edition.

Summer camp student eyes career in environmental protection
By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

AT least one of the 15 middle school students who participated in the summer camp last week will pursue environmental protection as a career when she graduates from high school.

Sami Birmingham Babauta, 13, who will be with Hopwood Junior High School in the coming school year, is vice president of the Students Action for Viable Environment.
According to counselor Doug Reynolds, Babauta has decided to pursue a career in natural resource conservation.

Babauta, during the final day of the summer camp sponsored by the Mariana Islands Nature Alliance, said the activity aims to educate the youth “about the importance of every effort to protect the environment.”

The students planted flame trees at American Memorial Park before they went to Managaha on Friday afternoon.

They spend the final day of their camp on Managaha Island where they get to learn more about marine life resources.

Babauta added that since camp started on June 25, presenters from MINA, Coastal Resource Management and the Division of Fish and Wildlife discussed with them the importance of tree planting, coral reefs and wet lands.

They also learned about traditional fishing methods and how wastewater is treated at the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s wastewater treatment plant and the Division of Environmental Quality’s laboratories.

CRM natural resource planner Kathy Yuknavage told them about the Micronesia Challenge which aims to conserve 30 percent of the region’s near-shore marine resources and 20 percent of terrestrial resources by year 2020.

After the summer camp, which she said gave them a great learning experience, Babauta will have an internship with Beautify CNMI! and plans to hold club meetings at school.

Hopwood science teacher Bree Reynolds said the children had fun while getting hands-on training on a lot of things related to environmental protection.

Marianas Resource Conservation and Development Council’s Angelo Villagomez said they ended the summer camp with barbecue on Managaha.

Beautify CNMI in the News

The Variety wrote a very good article today about yesterday's planting of Flame Trees. They picked up on the damage being done to our trees by unskilled bushcutters:

Bush-cutters are flame trees’ worst enemies
By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

MARIANA Islands Nature Alliance executive director, Angelo Villagomez says unskilled bush-cutters are the flame trees’ worst new enemies, compared to typhoons and the fungus Phellinus noxious.

Recent typhoons have toppled flame trees along Beach Road and other areas on Saipan while Phellinus noxious is responsible for killing several flame trees along Airport Road and four other places on island.

But Villagomez yesterday said flame trees are also getting killed “not by nature but mismanagement or bad care.”

Villagomez, together with Rep.Cinta Kaipat, Covenant-Saipan, were among the Beautify CNMI! volunteers who planted flame trees along Beach Road yesterday morning in celebration of the first anniversary of the coalition’s tree planting activities.

Among the 2,000 native trees that Beautify CNMI! has planted since last year are 27 flame trees.

At least 83 people who have adopted flame tree seedlings will join the coalition in planting 150 more flame trees, Villagomez said.

Flame trees killed by improper trimming have recently become a concern of the Marianas Resource Conservation and Development Council, MINA and Beautify CNMI!
A tree trimmer training workshop was conducted recently.

During the tree planting yesterday morning, Villagomez showed how bush-cutters harm newly planted flame trees.

He pointed to an affected portion of a young flame tree that was hit by a bush-cutting equipment due to carelessness.

He said there is a need to educate the people performing bush-cutting jobs.
Newly planted flame tress must be protected from careless bush-cutters, he added.
Ken Kramer of the Marianas Resource Conservation and Development Council said they want to replace the flame trees that were killed by the fungus, but not in the areas where the soil is still infected with the fungus.

Eleven infected flame trees along Airport Road will be cut down.

At least 10 percent of the 600 flame trees planted on Saipan in 1978 have already been killed by this fungus which can be dormant for many years.

Brad Doerr, MINA’s organic gardener who grows flame trees, said the affected soil has to be sterilized before planting new flame trees which take 10 years before they can bear flowers.

Those who also participated in yesterday’s flame tree planting were Capt. Carl Brachear, Isa-CNMI’s Aya Matsumoto, Walt Goodridge, Julian Aguon, Joyie Lam and John Griffin, a visitor from Pennsylvania.

We also made the front page of the Saipan Tribune:

The caption reads:

MARKING A MILESTONE: Ken Kramer of the Marianas Resources Conservation & Development Council plants the first Adopt-a-Flame Tree sapling during the kickoff the Beautify CNMI tree planting for 2007 on Beach Road Tuesday morning. The planting was done in celebration of the first year anniversary of Beautify CNMI's tree planting drive. The hardworking volunteers and members of Beautify CNMI, MRC&D, Rep. Cinta Kaipat's Office, Isa CNMI, and Mariana Islands Nature Alliance planted five trees yesterday, replacing trees damaged by typhoons, bushcutter, or disease over the years.

Walt Goodridge also mentioned us in his weekly column today:

I suggest, therefore, that the necessary response in the face of change, and what the New Saipan ActionTank is committed to doing is to

1. Envision the change

2. Spark the change

3. Lead the change

4. Document the change

The strategy above, and the questions which follow can be used by anyone who wishes to participate in the New Saipan.

Envision the Change

What is your vision of what a new Saipan can look like? What’s your ideal scene? What can be improved?

Spark the Change

What can you do to be a catalyst for change? How can you get the ball rolling? How can you encourage or inspire others to bring about the change you envision?

Lead the Change

The best way to change the world is to be the change you’d like to see, and lead by example. What can you do to show others how it should be done?

Document the Change

In this time of distraction, it’s not enough to simply respond to change, it is important that your response be documented and exposed. This is vitally important, because without adequate documentation and coverage, people are left at the mercy of fear-based, passivity-inducing, daily "news" that neither empowers nor appropriately informs. How can we expose our efforts and accomplishments to the greatest number of people?

Evidence of Change

The strategy above is not unique to the ActionTank. There are examples and evidence of people already using it:

BeautifyCNMI!, concerned about the appearance of this island, took matters in their own hands and envisioned, sparked, led and continue to document the change on their website (www.beautifycnmi.com).

Watersheds in the News

Saipan Tribune, Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Learning center for wetlands officially opens
By Marconi Calindas
Reporter

The Kagman Education Island Wetland learning center is now officially open to the public for education tours.

The federally funded learning center held its ribbon cutting ceremony at the site in Chacha Road, Kagman yesterday morning.

Marianas Resource Conservation and Development Council vice-president Ike Cabrera, who presided over the ceremony, said the center was built to help schoolchildren with their research on wetlands.

Agriculture Division staff member Ben S. Borja said the learning center would be locked up for security reasons and would be opened only upon request. He said the site is also a sanctuary for migratory birds that seasonally fly from neighboring countries such as Taiwan.

USDA RCD coordinator Ken Kramer said the project was in collaboration with the Coastal Resources Management Office and the Department of Lands and Natural Resources. It was funded through the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Signs have been put up around the site that answer several questions such as: What is a Wetland?, What is a Wetland’s Function?, Endangered Species and Wetlands and Wetlands in the Landscape.

Kramer said the signs would help inform students and the public about the role that wetlands play in the environment.

“Wetlands are important for many reasons. They provide flood protection by slowing and holding stormwater runoff, allowing the water to slowly infiltrate into the ground, where it is naturally filtered by the silt and sand. This process cleanses the water and replenishes the aquifers from which many of us get our water,” Kramer said.

Sediment-laden runoff destroys marine habitat by smothering the corals, which deprives them of oxygen and sunlight. Wetlands trap sediment and other pollutants that would otherwise flow to the ocean, home of the green sea turtle and other marine life. Fish depend upon corals for food and shelter.

Wetlands also provide wildlife habitat for many types of animals that include insects, birds, reptiles, and fish.

“Come observe the wildlife at the Kagman Education Island wetland and see for yourself what the wetland signs have to say. Schedule your visit with DLNR by calling 256-7923,” Kramer said.

Saipan and Northern Islands Soil and Water Conservation District chair Isidoro T. Cabrera commended the realization of the learning center. “The Kagman Education Island serves as a reminder to all of us that effective resource conservation, is based on a strong combination of knowledge and cooperation,” he said.

Rep. Cinta Kaipat said she was “pleasantly surprised” to learn that the center was beautiful and would truly be useful for CNMI students.

At least 30 Kagman High School students participated in the event led by KHS student Chelsea Ruluked and faculty Allan Davis. The students unveiled the signs installed within the wetland center.

For more information on the Kagman Education Island Wetland contact, Ignacio V. Cabrera, vice president, MRC&DC at (670) 236-0894, Fax: (670) 236-0895; web sites: www.hafa-adai.org or www.hafa-adai.blogspot.com or e-mail Kramer at ken.kramer@pb.usda.gov. Interested schools and organizations can also contact Diane Gabaldon of the S&NISWCD 256-7923.

Marianas Variety, Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Conservation council wants more ‘education islands’ in NMI
By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

THE Marianas Resource Conservation and Development Council is looking for more wetlands that can be converted into “education islands,” says its vice president, Ike Cabrera, during the inauguration of the Kagman wetland project yesterday.

Students from Kagman High School were the first ones to learn more about wetlands at the Kagman Education Island on Chacha Road.

“We want kids to do more studies about wetlands,” Cabrera said.

Council president Roland Quitugua said turning wetlands into educational venues helps spread awareness of the need to protect the environment.

The seven acre Kagman Education Island is the latest component added to the wetland which also provides flood control and irrigation to the surrounding farmlands.

Four educational signs have been installed in the area.

Coastal Resources Management Office’s Tim Lang said the signs are federally funded and cost $7,000.

The signs provide information about wetlands, how they works, their locations, and the endangered species that can be found in these areas.

Kagman is a farming area for Saipan, according to Scott Crocket, a district conservationist of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Services.

“So the wetland also plays an important role in irrigation,” he added.
Quitugua said the purpose of the education island project is to mitigate some environmental impacts.

“This is a living laboratory not only for the students but for the community as well,” he added.

According to Ken Kramer of the Marianas Resource Conservation and Development Council, “what we do with land management affects the quality of our marine environment.”

He said wetlands filter water that runs to the beach and the ocean.

Looking forward to the rest of 2007

Marianas Variety, Tuesday, January 16, 2007

More Beautify CNMI! events this year
By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

BEAUTIFY CNMI! is planning more activities this year.

During a meeting at the Division of Environmental Quality, the coalition’s committee chairpersons gave updates on ongoing projects and activities, and revisited their original mission and goals.

Recycling committee chairwoman Tina Sablan said Tasi Tours will sponsor a Managaha recycling contest.

She also announced a plan for the most beautiful village contest, the details of which will be discussed in the next meeting on Jan. 22.

The restoration committee’s Angelo Villagomez discussed the government’s plan for events involving the Micronesian Challenge which aims to conserve 30 percent of the region’s nearshore resources and 20 percent of its forest resources by 2020.

There will be more cleanup drives and tree plantings this year.

Villagomez also announced tree-trimming training for 12 personnel from the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., the Division of Parks and Recreation Division and the Saipan Mayor’s Office on Jan. 30.

The litter and junk committee gave an update on the junk car removal project and identified the old Hawaiian Rock Quarry as a possible site for scrap processing.

The meeting also discussed the Pet Assistance and Welfare Services’ plan to promote responsible pet ownership in light of the island’s stray dog and road kill problems.

A good idea

Marianas Variety, Friday, January 5, 2007
By Zaldy DandanVariety Editor

BEAUTIFY CNMI! has expanded its cleanup efforts to include stray and dead cats ad dogs. This has been a long ignored, but troublesome and problematic issue that can be successfully managed with coordination, consistency and the leadership of ordinary citizens and other community groups.The government, lest we forget, enacted a stray dog control measure almost 12 years ago, but like most CNMI laws, it has yet to be implemented because the same lawmakers who passed the legislation never bothered to appropriate the required funding.

Letter to the Editor and other News

Saipan Tribune, Wednesday, January 3, 2006

Important partners, too!

Your Person of the Year article forgot to mention that the Saipan Tribune and your parent company, Tan Holdings Corp., are two of the most important partners of Beautify CNMI! Your weekly (and sometimes daily) reports of our various activities and campaigns have been essential in our goal "to enhance the CNMI’s natural beauty and foster community pride in its residents and visitors." You heap too much praise on us without recognizing your own involvement. Through your written words and photos, your paper has brought our vision to the people of the CNMI. We couldn’t have been as successful as we have been without your involvement. The honor you bestowed on us is as much yours as it is ours.

As for Tan Holdings, your company has been involved in everything we have done. Tan Holdings’ employees, friends, and family members have participated in cleanups, donated supplies, contributed ideas in meetings, and donated cash contributions.

What more can I say?

Thank you.

Angelo O’Connor Villagomez
Restoration Committee chair, Beautify CNMI!
Marianas Resource Conservation & Development Council

Other News:

>>>Beautify CNMI was mentioned in Walt Goodridge's weekly commentary

>>>We got a tongue in cheek reference by Sour Grape's Bruce Bateman

>>>The Saipan Tribune is also reporting that Beautify CNMI! is taking on responsible pet ownership (This is partially true; we are taking on the stray and dead dog issue, of which responsible pet ownership is a part)

>>>Four litter bugs have recently been busted

>>>We've also been asked by one of our partners to do something about the supposed "stench" eminating from the Garapan sewers:

Marianas Variety, Wednesday, January 3, 2006

Garapan sewer stench driving tourists away
By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News
Staff

A STENCH said to be coming from the drainage system at the Paseo de Marianas in Garapan is driving tourist away, according to one of the restaurant owners in the area.

Kinpachi Restaurant and Paseo De Marianas Promoters general manager Misako Kamata said businesses in the area have been complaining about the foul odor for quite some time now.

She said tourists and residents who visit the Paseo have also complained about the sewer stench that “seems to be coming from all directions.”

Although people who work in the area seem to be used to it, the stench still poses serious problems for businesses, especially restaurants and bars, Kamata said.

She added that customers may lose their appetite and decide to eat somewhere else when they smell the disturbing odor from the sewer.

Kamata said she has already reported the matter to the proper authorities but nothing has been done about it yet.

She said Beautify CNMI! shares her concern and told her in a letter dated Dec. 23 that the group may either request the contractor to deploy a half-day cleaner in the area seven days a week, “or perhaps add a little money for the additional task.”

Beautify CNMI!’s junk goods committee also told her that the contractor hired to get rid of the problem will be given a stern warning to keep the site clean, or else the contract will be terminated.

Kamata said the Paseo de Marianas Promoters have already done all they can to enhance the area.

Now she said, the sewer stench is the only problem left and it’s creating a bad image for the area.

“We can clean this place ourselves. In fact we’re doing that already,” Kamata said, adding that they are willing to help whatever government agency will take action on the sewer stench problem.

“I hope (Beautify CNMI!) will include a solution to this problem in their program,” she said.

Garapan in the News

Marianas Variety, Thursday, December 28, 2006

NMI needs more community volunteers
By Gemma Q. Casas
Variety News Staff

AS the government’s financial condition continues to worsen, public and private sector officials are banking on volunteers to help clean up Garapan, the center of business activitys in Saipan.

Rep. Cinta M. Kaipat, Covenant-Saipan, said volunteers are needed in these difficult times to help promote the Northern Marianas as a major tourism destination in the Pacific.

Kaipat is part of a newly formed group spearheaded by the Hyatt and Tan Holdings Corp. whose goal is to transform Garapan into a more family-oriented place.

Dave Sablan of Tan Holdings, who presided over a meeting yesterday at the Tan-owned Fiesta Resort & Spa, said they want Garapan to be a more tourist-friendly area.

A team of volunteers will survey various business establishments and private property in the area.

The teams will then report to an advisory council which will ask the establishments to take action on suggested changes.

Sablan said their project will not be costly for business owners.
“We don’t want to impose costs (on business owners or the government) so we’ll try to round up more volunteers,” he said.

The volunteers will be asked to plant more flowers around the area; help install signs written in Japanese, English, Korean and Chinese; and paint facades, among other beautification projects.

The group aims to finish transforming Garapan by June 30, 2007.

MVA Chairman and Tan Holdings CEO Jerry Tan said one of the things they want to see is improvement in Garapan’s street lights.

“(Having more street lights) does a lot of good. Tourists feel safer walking around and it drives away prostitution activities,” said Tan.

Beautify CNMI! in the News

Marianas Variety, Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Sister Remedios wins Christmas tree contest
By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

Students from the Sister Remedios Early Childhood Development Center won the Christmas tree decoration contest at the Paseo De Marianas in Garapan.

The students decorated their tree with recycled materials and were awarded 50 points and the grand prize of $500.

Saipan Community School won second prize and $300 scoring 48.2 points followed by Oleai Elementary School which won $200.

Students from Garapan Elementary School and Tanapag Elementary School, who tied for fourth and fifth places, won passes to the water park at the World Resort Hotel and gift certificates from DFS.

Sixth place went to Kagman Elementary School which received the same prizes.

The contest, which was staged in partnership with the Beautify CNMI! coalition, aimed to instill in the minds of participants and spectators the importance of recycling as a means of proper and effective solid waste management.