Beautify CNMI! in the news

Saipan Tribune, Wednesday, November 8, 2006

12 CNMI groups 'adopt' a beach
By Marconi Calindas
Reporter

Due to the success of the recently held Beautify CNMI!'s 1020 on 10/20, at least 12 private groups and non-profit organizations have already adopted their own beaches for regular cleanups.

Division of Environmental Quality public information officer and Beautify CNMI! officer Reina Camacho said that 12 groups have signed up for the “Adopt-A-Beach” program.

Camacho said these groups were inspired by the islandwide cleanup held last Oct. 20 where over 3,000 CNMI residents pulled together to beautify the island.

Marianas Islands Nature Alliance has adopted Wing Beach, while Hyatt Regency Saipan went for Micro Beach. Others are the Marianas Visitors Authority, Samoa Housing/Makaka Beach; McDonald's Saipan, Aboni Beach-Horiguchi Bldg. and the Garapan Fishing Base and Chalan Pale Arnold; Saipan Unity Lions Club, 13th Fisherman, Quartermaster Road and Chalan Piao traffic light to San Antonio; Marianas High School's Production Club, San Jose Beach; Marianas Lioins Club, Civic Center Beach; CNMI Yapese Organization, Sugar Dock to Pacific Gardenia Hotel; Pacific Islands Club, PIC Beach; American Red Cross, South Laulau Beach; MOVER, Laulau North and South and Garapan Tourist District; and acting Gov. Tim Villagomez and family, Shell Dandan to Guangdong Hardware.

10/20's success

A total of 4.56 tons of trash were collected during the 1020 on 10/20 islandwide cleanup last month, according to Beautify CNMI! restoration committee chair Angelo Villagomez

He said the event gathered over 3,380 volunteers. He said this figure is an understatement since there were more people that didn't have time to sign up but helped during the cleanup.

Rep. Cinta Kaipat acknowledged all community members that supported the group in its mission to beautify the CNMI. “Thank you for making the event a super-mega-success,” she said. She warned, though, that it is not over yet, “so keep those cleaning gloves!”

Beautify CNMI! is also calling all those that participated and took photos of their adopted sites during the cleanup to submit these pictures online for the group's documentation.