Island Snapshots – December 2022

By Press Release

Posted on Dec 29 2022

: HYATT USHERS IN THE HOLIDAY SEASON-Joined by members of the Glushko Girls Ballet, 500 Sails, Boonie Babies Saipan, and hotel guests and visitors, Hyatt Regency Saipan employees led by general manager Guillaume Delemarle celebrate their traditional lighting of the Christmas Tree yesterday at the hotel’s main lobby in Garapan. The event coincided with the celebration of Hyatt’s 42 years of being on Saipan. (CHRYSTAL MARINO)

: ANTI-CANCER DONATION-Mount Carmel School’s National Honor Society chapter recently donated $835 to the Commonwealth Cancer Association. Throughout the school’s fall semester, the MCS NHS chapter coordinated a variety of fundraisers in an effort to support the CCA’s revitalization efforts of cancer awareness and community outreach. In the photo, from the left, are MCS business manager John S. Blanco, MCS school counselor Tobed Smith, MCS NHS member Kristin Torres, MCS NHS member Brissa Hunter, CCA interim executive director Lynn F. Tenorio, CCA Social Media and Marketing coordinator Viveka P. Castro, CCA board of directors member Nicolette V. Inos, MCS NHS members Kayannie Peter, Jill Millari, and Yuri Sasamoto, NHS adviser Keiko Yamagata, and MCS president Frances T. Taimanao. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

: PRACTICE RUN -Right to left, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Benjamin Pall and Airman 1st Class Riley Henagar, both 36th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron C-130J loadmasters, confirm a location route over the Northern Mariana Islands, Dec. 1, 2022, during Operation Christmas Drop 2022. Yokota’s C-130J crew members practice skills that enable effective dynamic delivery in support of future operations. (U.S. AIR FORCE/YASUO OSAKABE)

: Yokota’s C-130J makes practice drop runs on Managaha Island. (MARK FARMER)

: Left to right, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Benjamin Pall and Airman 1st Class Riley Henagar, both with the 36th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron C-130J loadmasters, conduct a simulated dynamic airdrop delivery over Tinian, Dec. 1, 2022, during Operation Christmas Drop 2022. (U.S. AIR FORCE/YASUO OSAKABE)

: Left to right, U.S. Air Force Capt. Maddie Atkinson and Capt. Eichard Armfield, both with the 36th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron C-130J pilot, fly over Saipan, Dec. 1, 2022, during Operation Christmas Drop 2022. (U.S. AIR FORCE/YASUO OSAKABE)

: PRACTICE DROP-U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Benjamin Pall and Airman 1st Class Riley Henagar, both with the 36th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron C-130J loadmasters, discuss airdrop operations over Saipan, Dec. 1, 2022, during Operation Christmas Drop 2022. Events like OCD 2022 deliver assistance to remote populations while also offering aircrew an opportunity to maintain preparedness for real world emergencies. (U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO BY YASUO OSAKABE)

: CHRISTMAS IN THE MARIANAS-People check out the different sculptures and installations on display at the Christmas in the Marianas event at the Garapan Fishing Base during the kickoff celebration last Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (KIMBERLY B. ESMORES)

: GMS FALCONS SOAR HIGH-For the second time in a row, Green Meadow School students, who refer to themselves as the GMS Falcons, soared high in the Primary Grade Forensic Conference held last Nov. 19, 2022, at Francisco M. Sablan Middle School in San Antonio Village. GMS students participated in both K-2 and 3-5 divisions. This photo shows the school’s 3-5 Division participants. (GMS)

: Photo shows the Green Meadow School’s K-2 Category participants. (GMS)

: NMC VISIT-Students from the Tasi-to-Table organization visited the Northern Marianas College-Cooperative Research, Extension, and Education Services’ Aquaculture and Natural Resources Facility on Dec. 3, 2022. During their visit, the students learned about the aquaculture industry and the ongoing Forktail Rabbitfish research projects from NMC-CREES A&NR program leader Michael Ogo. More information about the program can be found at crees.marianas.edu. (NMC)

: PUSH CEREMONY-Right to left, Col. Kyle Benwitz, 515th Air Mobility Operations Wing commander; Bruce Best, University of Guam researcher; Brig. Gen. Paul Birch, 36th Wing commander; and Col. Andrew Roddan, 374th Airlift Wing commander, push a box of humanitarian goods into a C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 36th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron during the Operation Christmas Drop push ceremony at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, last Monday Dec. 5, 2022. Operation Christmas Drop is an annual event that delivers aid to island communities in the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau. (U.S. AIR FORCE/YASUO OSAKABE)

: MERRY CHRISTMAS, PACIFIC!-Staff Sgt. Chase Porter and Airman 1st Class Caleb Williams, 36th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron mission loadmasters, push bundles filled with supplies, equipment and gifts out of a C-130J Super Hercules during Operation Christmas Drop last Dec. 4, 2022. The aircraft, call sign Santa 12, delivered seven bundles to the islands of Lukunor and Onaep in Chuuk in the Federated States of Micronesia. OCD is the longest-running Department of Defense humanitarian and disaster relief mission that includes dropping donated supplies, equipment and gifts to islands in the Pacific. (CAPT. KATIE MUELLER)

: ‘THANK YOU’-Outgoing treasurer Michael S. Johnson of the Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands, third from left, is thanked for his service and presented with a plaque of appreciation by the HANMI board of directors on Dec. 9, 2022, at Crown Plaza Resort Saipan. Johnson served as HANMI treasurer for over a decade. From left, legal counsel Marcia Schultz, board member Robert Coates, Johnson, chairman Ivan Quichocho, vice chairman Seo, and board member Guillaume Delemarle. (HANMI)

: OPERATION CHRISTMAS DROP-U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Lucus Crouch, Japan Air Self-Defense Force exchange officer and C-130H instructor pilot, writes on a package before an Operation Christmas Drop flight at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, last Dec. 6, 2022. The weeklong international effort allows Pacific Air Forces airmen from the 374th Airlift Wing from Yokota Air Base, Japan; the 36th Wing, Andersen AFB, Guam; and the 515th Air Mobility Operations Wing from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, to work with partner nation airmen to plan and execute low-cost, low-altitude air drops, improving critical interoperability and communication for future real-world humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions. (U.S. AIR FORCE/AIRMAN 1ST CLASS ALLISON MARTIN)

: Japan Air Self-Defense Force Chief Master Sgt. Tatsuhiro Kurimoto and Staff Sgt. Ikkei Ono, C-130H Hercules loadmasters, and civilians prepare to push a package out over the island of Ruo during Operation Christmas Drop, Dec. 6, 2022. Operation Christmas Drop is an annual U.S. Air Force tradition of packaging and delivering donated supplies such as food, fishing equipment, school books, and clothing to more than 20 thousand islanders across 56 remote islands throughout the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau. (U.S. AIR FORCE/AIRMAN 1ST CLASS ALLISON MARTIN)

: BOOGIE DOWN- The CNMI’s best surfers perform different maneuvers in the first surfing competition in the Marianas dubbed as Boogie Down at Obyan. Sixteen surfers joined the two-day event at Obyan Beach that kicked of Saturday and ended Sunday. Boat captain Frank Ramon was declared champion. Masaki Kitami grabbed second place and received the Wave of the Day award. Solomon Castro got third place. (FERDIE DE LA TORRE)

: HEALTHY NUTRITION TRAINING-Thirteen parents from the Family-to-Family program under the Northern Marianas College – Cooperative Research, Extension, and Education Services’ Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program recently completed nine lessons focused on nutrition, physical activity, healthy recipes, and food safety. EFNEP offers free nutrition classes to help families and the youth cook healthy meals at home, be more active, save money on food costs, and handle food safely. EFNEP is free and available on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. Community members who would like to enroll in the program are asked to visit bit.ly/EFNEPReg02, call (670) 237-6852/3, or email efnep@marianas.edu. (NMC)

: MSP AMBASSADORS-The Governor’s Council of Economic Advisers Marianas School Pride Ambassadors from Kagman Elementary School recently spruced up the sidewalk curbs outside their school as part of their Campus Beautification project under the MSP Program. (GCEA)

: TINIAN DELEGATION-Maj. Gen. Esther Aguigui, rightmost, joins Tinian Mayor Edwin Aldan, center, and Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider (R-Tinian), leftmost, get food during a reception at the Guam National Guard Barrigada Readiness Complex last Dec. 19. In addition to discussing partnerships in regional security and other issues, the guests were treated to a mirenda with tinala katne, titiyas, and various kinds of kelaguen including fish, chicken, and shrimp.(CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

: TINIAN DELEGATION-Maj. Gen. Esther Aguigui and Command Sgt. Maj. Celso Leonen host the CNMI delegation’s visit to the Guam National Guard Barrigada Readiness Complex last Dec. 19. The CNMI delegation included Tinian Mayor Edwin Aldan and Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider (R-Tinian). “We wanted to thank Mayor Aldan for visiting us and sharing ideas on how our islands can work together, because we really are One Marianas,” Aguigui said. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

: SINMI DONATION-Soroptimist International–NMI Chapter donates 34 gifts to Karidat Social Services’ shelter last Dec. 21, 2022, at the Karidat office. The gifts are intended for shelter clients, from infants to adults aged 21. From left, Soroptimist member Yijia Zhao, Soroptimist president Mauren Sabangiol, Karidat executive director Lauri Ogumoro, shelter staff Grace Santos, Soroptimist secretary Pam Brown, Karidat shelter supervisor, and Soroptimist member Jessy Loomis. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

: THE FRIENDLY ISLAND-Rota, or Luta in the Chamorro language, is the southernmost island of the CNMI and the second southernmost of the Marianas archipelago after Guam. It’s also known as the “Friendly Island” for its people’s sincere hospitality and waving at total strangers is a way of life.(MARK RABAGO)

: CHRISTMAS DONATION Just in time for the holidays, Paradise Realty Saipan and Juan Mako Torres Properties donate $2,500 to Karidat Social Services. Photo shows, from left, Mario Espeleta, case manager; Jesse Torres, Paradise Realty broker, and Calvani Deleon Guerrero, case manager, turning over the check yesterday at the Karidat Social Services office. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

: VISIT Rota’s iconic Wedding Cake Mountain is seen at a distance from the Rota Seaport. (MARK RABAGO ROTA )

: CHRISTMAS DROP-Some 400-to 600-lb bundles of donated food, educational materials, tools, clothing, toiletries, toys, and other supplies are dropped to thousands of people living on tiny, palm tree-covered islands in the Southeastern Pacific as part of this year‘s Operation Christmas Drop. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

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