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ENVIRONMENT
April is Environmental Awareness Month is all about protecting and caring for our islands, and this year’s theme is “Our Natural Treasures.” To celebrate, BECQ is hosting a number of activities throughout the month of April. Bring the whole family and help us make EAM 2015 a success!
Contests “Trash-to-Treasure” Tote bag design display (Friday) April 24, 2015 from 6-9p.m. Susupe, Flame Tree Arts Festival fair grounds
Recycled Boat Race Saturday, April 26th at 10.30 am Kilili Beach, across from Ada gym Build your own boat out of recycled materials, and race to the finish! Your boat has to be man powered and cannot sink, or lose parts. There will be 2 races, for 18 and under, and one for 18+, with cash prizes. This event will take place on Saturday, April 26th at 10.30 am at. Contact Cal Westergard at calwestergard@deq.gov.mp for details.
Remade tote bags created by our young designers to be featured at Flame Tree Arts Festival event by turning the garbage back into art. Help save our earth and inspire the habit of using reusable shopping bags! For more information, contact us-the “Trash-to-Treasure” Committee: Olivia Tenorio or Leilani Sablan, at BECQ 664-8500.
events Proclamation Signing April 1, 2015 at 10:00am Governor’s office
Join BECQ’s Environmental Awareness Month Proclamation Signing!
Island Wide Clean Up April 17, 2015 from 2:30pm – 4:30pm
For more information about this event, please contact Robert Deleon Guerrero and Aileen Benavente at 664-8500 and sign up today!
Environmental Expo for all 4th and 5th grades American Memorial Park 8:00am to 2:00pm, April 14-16 (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)
The Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality is inviting all interested public and private agencies to join us this April for the 2015 Environmental Expo. The Expo provides the opportunity for environmental and natural resource groups to conduct widespread outreach efforts to 4th and 5th graders from all public and private schools on Saipan over a three-day period. In past years over 1500 students and 30 organizations have participated.
Native Plant Giveaway April 25, 2015 from 9:00am-12:00pm Flame Tree Arts Festival
The Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality in partnership with CNMI Forestry will be giving out free native trees to the community.
First Friday Films Painting
Coastal Resources Management will be hosting a beach and pavilion cleanup on April 4 at 9 am. Help us make Saipan beautiful by cleaning up the beach of all trash and debris as well as repainting and decorating the pavilions we love to enjoy. See you there! Please contact Tehani Kirby-Joab, 664-8300, for more details.
First Friday Films is showing a free documentary Islands of Sanctuary (celebrating island culture and environment) on April 3rd at 6:30pm at American Memorial Park visitor’s center. Island
Turtle Tagging
of Sanctuary is about Native Hawaiians and Aboriginal Australians resisting threats to their sacred places in a growing international movement to defend human rights and protect the environment. For more information, visit firstfridayfilmssaipan.blogspot.com. To celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd, First Friday Films is inviting the public to view three local short films that explore the CNMI’s environment and natural resources at American Memorial Park visitor’s center on Wenesday, April 22nd, at 6:30pm.
MINA’s Taya Plastic Tuesdays
Community members, families, tourists and locals alike will all enjoy these locally-made movies showing beautiful insight into three aspects of the Northern Mariana Islands. First, engage with volunteers in Talakhaya: the Luta Livelihoods Project where local agencies and community members work together every year to prevent fires from destroying soils and vegetation and ultimately damaging our nearshore marine resources in Rota.
Join staff from DFW’s Turtle Team at Fishing Base at 11 am on April 7, to learn more about these amazing creatures, and how the folks at DFW work to protect them. For more information contact Tammy Summers at tammymaesummers@yahoo.com. Tuesdays are getting greener. Joeten is partnering with MINA to encourage their customers to say no to plastic bags. Every Tuesday, Joeten will not distribute plastic bags and instead will offer boxes, paper bags for 10 cents, or reusable shopping bags for 99 cents. Contact Becky Furey for more information at 233-7333. AND SO MUCH MORE! Contact EAM Chair, Tom Pangelinan at tompangelinan@deq. gov.mp or check www.deq.gov.mp for a full calendar of events.
Next, we will continue to explore Rota to learn with Fanihi: A Cultural Digestto better understand the ever-changing interactions between people and the beloved fruit bat populations there. Finally, we will view Laolao Bay: from Ridge to Reef to learn about the ways that our land is connected to the oceans. Local researchers, managers and marine biologists explain the diversity of Laolao Bay’s heritage and natural rseouces in this film. First Friday Films is a partnership between American Memorial Park, the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality and the Humanities Council with support from other organizations and individuals. As always, our film events are free and open to the public. This event will run approximately 90 minutes.
“The cool thing about being a photographer is the opportunity to see and capture moments in time that may otherwise be forgotten, but the best thing about doing it full-time is that it allows me to have the flexibility to serve the community and, more importantly, have the time to spend with my family.�
– Marco Averion Photographer
COVER STORY
COVER STORY
“Capturing moments” continued from page 9
Photo by Marco Averion
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APRIL 2015
“[. . .] We have had repeat visitors that have traveled to Saipan for the past 25 years. We have seen these repeaters become grandparents, vacationing here with three generations of family.” – Gloria Cavanagh General Manager
Gloria Cavanagh General Manager
Chef William Retardo Party or Meeting Events
“I have been a member since 2005; 10 years already … [Mariana Resort & Spa] is perfect for me. I get my health from Mariana Resort & Spa. My house and business are too far [from each other] so when I take lunch in Mariana Resort & Spa, Chef Will always gives a different menu with enough nutrition for me. And I get my exercise at Mariana Resort & Spa. They have a spa, gym and short-hole golf course and they also have an 18-hole golf course, with a nice nature environment. I do my jogging in there, and my extreme sports in Marpi.”
- Chang Neung-Sik “I am proud to say that I’ve been a happy customer at Mariana Resort & Spa for the past 7 years. I first started going there for Sunday brunch, but through their warm hospitality and professional attitude towards their customers, I started holding parties at their resort and was very satisfied with every event that I hosted for my guests. Chef William is the person I contact for all my events and he has been nothing but helpful, friendly, and accommodating. In addition to private functions with family and friends, for about three years now the Neocatechumenal Way Community of San Jose Parish has held Sunday morning prayer at Mariana Resort & Spa. We are a group of about 18 individuals who come to Mariana Resort & Spa, celebrate morning prayer in the conference room and have brunch in the restaurant together and share the day together, giving thanks to God for his love and mercy towards us always. Because Mariana Resort is located in a very serene area, my family and I occasionally spend the weekend there to get away from our busy lives and just enjoy the beautiful facilities that the resort has to offer us as a family. When friends and family ask for recommendations as to where to go for brunch, parties and weekends, my first response is always ‘Mariana Resort & Spa.’ I am very grateful for Mariana Resort & Spa and their great food, excellent service and beautiful facility.”
- Lorraine Arriola