PDM Promoter's - Christmas Trees, Ribbons & Recycling

Incredible activity at the Paseo de Marianas last Thursday (12/2) night as the Christmas Tree project is in full swing. Students from various schools par-taking in the contest to decorate trees with recycled materials. The winners will be announced on December 16th.

Then there was the Jumbo Tree Lighting and Ribbon tying ceremony. Different colored ribbons represent different causes or charities. Beautify CNMI! and partners are represented by Green Ribbons. After a brief introduction at the main stage, we took our buckets of ribbons to a cental table where anyone who wanted to write a message on a ribbon and tie it to the tree could do so.

In fact, if you missed the opening event, you can still visit Kinpachi Ice Cream shop any time to request a ribbon to tie on the tree!

Beautify CNMI!'s Laurie Peterka with PDM Promoter's Horiguchi-san - comrades in in supporting all efforts to help inspire the all peoples of the CNMI to take care of our beautiful island and each other!

Planting Flame Trees With Kanagawa Truckers Association of Japan

Our friends from Isa CNMI, led by Aya-san Matsumoto and Horiguchi-san, led some members of the Kanagawa Truckers Association of Japan to this afternoon's flame tree planting at American Memorial Park. Beautify CNMI's Cinta Kaipat, Angelo Villagomez, Gus Kaipat, and the Kaipat boys (Marvin, AJ, Jun, and Dusty) along with my other nephew Peter Angui, joined the group. Brad Doerr of MINA was also there and brought the flame trees that were planted.

The flame trees that Herminia Fuscho donated, which had been growing under the Ylang Ylang tree at my Mom's house were loaded into the Beautify CNMI! trailer that Gus and the boys hauled to American Memorial Park. The rest of the flame trees will be planted as soon as the Park staff decide the most appropriate places to plant them. Ranger Nancy is off island, so we got to meet Ranger Rianna (I hope I spelled her name right). I was going to shake her hand when I introduced myself, until I saw how muddy her hand was (you'll see it in the slideshow), so...never mind. :) Anyway, thank you, good folks at American Memorial Park and Park Rangers Nancy and Rianna!

The Kanagawa Group makes a living driving trucks. It is remarkable and commendable that they came to Saipan to plant trees to do their part to help reduce the carbon footprint we humans have left on Earth. Thank you SO much! Arigato gozaimasu!