Island Snapshots – May 2021
- DISASTER DRILL-Two firefighters carry an “injured plane crash survivor” from a “plane crash” site during the Commonwealth Ports Authority’s full-scale Triennial Airport Disaster Drill at a demonstration site near the airport runway last Friday. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
- TASI TO TABLE GOES TO TINIAN-Walter Mendez of the CNMI Public School System’s Mental Health Team demonstrates a stress and anxiety management technique at Tasi to Table Tinian’s first program meeting on April 24 at the Tinian Junior/Senior High School. TTT Tinian’s four-month pilot program aims to give high school students an opportunity to earn elective credit hours toward graduation while learning the joys of fishing. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
- DFEMS/NMC FIRE ACADEMY-Northern Marianas College interim president Frankie Eliptico, seated left, and Department and Fire and Emergency Medical Services Commissioner Dennis Mendiola, seated right, sign a memorandum of agreement on Monday that identifies how the agencies will work cooperatively to carry out the DFEMS/NMC Fire Academy. Those who complete the academy will be able to earn college credits that can be used toward the completion of their associate degree. (NMC)
- DRUG COURT MONTH-May has been declared CNMI Drug Court Month. In this photo, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, fourth from right, signs the proclamation yesterday at the CNMI Drug Court’s office at the Karidat Social Services Center in Chalan Kanoa. Torres was joined at the event by Senate President Jude Hofschneider (R-Tinian), House Speaker Edmund Villagomez (Ind-Saipan), U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona Manglona, first lady Diann Torres, Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, CNMI Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexandro Castro, and associate justices John Manglona and Perry Inos. (JOSHUA SANTOS)
- OHALA WARRIORS-Ohala Foundation co-founder Phillip Mendiola-Long, farthest right, poses with Ohala Foundation Warriors (volunteers) and their roadside donation signs last Saturday at the pavilion across Modern Office Supply. The food, drinks, clothes, and money collected over the weekend will go toward helping the Ohala Foundation launch its Rota office at the end of May. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
- COW TALK NMC Members of the Tinian leadership and the Tinian Cattlemen’s Association meet with representatives of the Commonwealth Development Authority and Northern Marianas College-CREES and Community Development Institute at the Mayor of Tinian and Aguigan’s Office to discuss progress with the Tinian Kualidåt Meat Processing Center certification and the needs of ranchers. (NMC)
- TREVALLY HUNTERS DERBY Organizers and participants of the Kristo Rai Trevally Hunters Derby pose for a group photo at the Gov. Froilan Tenorio Beach Pathway during their recent fishing event at a beach near the Atkins Toyota in San Jose/Oleai. Participants have been vying for the third prize as the first and second prizes had already been won. The friendly fishing derby started last Feb. 1. (Ferdie De La Torre)
- SOLAR FLOODLIGHTS-Governor’s Council of Economic Advisers member Alex Sablan, rightmost, presents the solar flood lights that were installed yesterday at the Koblerville Basketball Court to House of Representatives minority bloc members, from left, Reps. Joseph Flores, Lee Pan Guerrero, John Paul Sablan, Patrick San Nicolas, Roy Ada, and Angel Demapan. This project is a collaboration between the House minority bloc and Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
- LOOKING GOOD!-The revitalized Civic Center in Susupe sports a spanking new coat of paint, thanks to the efforts of the members of the House of Representatives minority bloc. This project is the 10th in a series of community beautification projects hosted by the minority bloc. The group has future plans of beautifying the basketball court in San Antonio and doing a project on Rota. (JOSHUA SANTOS)
- 18th BIRTHDAY Terilynn Jose Paragados, a senior high school student in Guam, celebrated her 18th birthday party at the Mango Suites in As Lito, Saipan last May 8. Paragados was born on Saipan, where she completed her elementary and middle school studies. Also in the photo are Paragados’ family and grandparents. (Ferdie De La Torre)
- NEW JUDICIARY SEAL-Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, ninth from left, is joined by judges and justices from the CNMI Superior Court, CNMI Supreme Court, U.S. District Court for the NMI, first lady Diann Torres, and other guests during the unveiling of the Northern Marianas Judiciary Seal last Friday. (JOSHUA SANTOS)
- WINNING ARTWORK -Chosen by a panel of artist-judges, the artwork of Agape Christian School sophomore Yurong Ruth Zhang is the winner of the 13th annual Northern Marianas Congressional Art Competition, according to Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) in a Facebook post. He said that Zhang’s artwork, called “Dancing with Moon and Waves,” will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year, alongside the artwork from congressional districts across the nation. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
- FALUN DAFA DAY-Falun Dafa adherents celebrate World Falun Dafa Day by doing roadside waving in front of the San Jose intersection near Atkins-Kroll Toyota Saipan last Thursday. Falun Dafa, or Falun Gong, is a religious movement that was formed in the early 1990s by U.S.-based religious leader Li Hongzhi. The Chinese government cracked down on Falun Dafa in 1999 and the group has been protesting against the Chinese government since then. (JOSHUA SANTOS)
- BEACH CLEANUP As part of Mount Carmel School’s commitment to the Public Private Partnership Program with the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisers, members of the school’s Sacred Heart Chapter of the National Elementary Honor Society and National Junior Honor Society sponsor the school’s second cleanup of Sugar Dock Beach, which the school has adopted, along with the Lions Club, as part of the GCEA PPPP. (MCS)
- BEACH CLEANUP Members of Mount Carmel School’s National Junior Honor Society clean around the pavilions at Sugar Dock Beach during their recent beach cleanup with the National Elementary Honor Society. (MCS)
- NEW GRADUATE Congratulations to Marc Christian Artillaga Venus, who is graduating today from the Northern Marianas College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management (Accounting Emphasis). Greetings come from Abner and Cristy Venus, Jul, and James. (Contributed Photo)
- NEW GRADUATE Congratulations to Phi Theta Kappa member Tianna Thalia Borja Villagomez, who is graduating today from the Northern Marianas College with magna cum laude honors. She’s receiving her Associate of Arts degree in Education, and will be graduating with her Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in Education in 2022. “Life has been full of blessings because of you, precious Nani. Now that you have transformed into a young successful woman, may the sky be the limit. You have made us all proud and know we will support you all the way. Congratulations on your graduation!” From the Borja and Villagomez families. (Contributed Photo)
- NEW PROA SETS SAIL 500 Sails co-founder Peter Perez, fourth from right, helps with raising Auntie Oba’s sail during the canoe’s launch at the beachside in front of the Guma Sakman Sunday. (JOSHUA SANTOS)
- NEW GRADUATE-Congratulations to Angel Chungi W. Santos on your graduation from Kagman High School! The youngest of the Chungithai fam is ready for success! We love you and we are truly proud of your achievements. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)
- SALVAGE OPERATION-Work to remove the derelict fishing vessel Lady Carolina from the Saipan Lagoon has started. The Saipan-based environmental organization called Pacific Coastal Research & Planning is overseeing the project, which is expected to take about two months. The Lady Carolina is an 83-foot, 54-ton, steel-hulled fishing vessel that has been grounded in the lagoon since August 2015 during the onslaught of Typhoon Soudelor. The vessel was further damaged during Super Typhoon Yutu in 2018. Photo taken by licensed commercial drone pilot BJ Eddy. Check out his YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/mydiGis7xwY. (BJ EDDY)
- Justin Achas, Princess Joy Galzote, and Cyrill Achas smile as they receive their graduate gift from McDonald’s managers Jerica Bartolome, far left, and People Department manager Angelica Darlucio, far right.
- Marianas High School graduate Mayralyn Maras smiles with McDonald’s Garapan branch manager Marcos Darlucio.
- Northern Marianas College graduate Lloyd Javier smiles with McDonald’s Garapan branch manager Narlou Achas
- MCDONALD’S GRADUATES-Northern Marianas College School of Business graduates Nadyne Achas, second from left, Kyle Garcia and Beah Sebio smile as they are presented with their graduate gift by McDonald’s managers Mikel Morales, far left, and Melba Camacho, far right. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS)
- CAUTION!-The Department of Public Lands and Natural Resources is warning to public to beware of this tree located along the Beach Road Pathway north of the 13 Fishermen Monument in Garapan as it is in danger of falling. The public is advised to avoid the area marked with caution tape until the tree has been safely removed. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)