Nominations can be submitted online beginning Jan. 7 and ending Feb. 8.
The program seeks to recognize individuals and groups outside of the U.S. EPA who made significant contributions to improve the environment in the year 2008. Anyone can be nominated, such as scientists, teachers, journalists, citizen activists, young people, organizations, business representatives, public officials and others committed to protecting public health and preserving our natural surroundings.
Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
• promotion of innovative ideas, techniques, and/or technologies
• ability to address an environmental problem or need
• accomplishment of stated goals
• ability of the program/activity to be replicated or widely shared
• collaboration with others
• clarity and effectiveness of the presentation
• long term benefits for the environment
The deadline to submit nominations online is Feb. 8. An EPA panel will review all of the applications and select this year’s winners, who will be notified by mid-March. Winners will then be recognized at a ceremony to be held in San Francisco mid-April.
For more information and to submit a nomination online, visit: http://www.epa.gov/region09/awards. For questions regarding the program, please call the Environmental Information Center toll-free at (866) EPA-WEST or Wendy Chavez at (415) 947-4248.
(DPW) — The Department of Public Works’ Energy Division will be giving away free compact fluorescent light bulbs on Friday, Jan. 16, at the Honorable Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Building Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Energy Division will give away two fluorescent light bulbs per consumer as part of its Energy Star Awareness Project and the CNMI’s participation in the “Change the World, Start with Energy Star” national campaign
The cornerstone of this campaign is “Energy Star — Change a Light Pledge,” which encourages everyone to participate by taking small steps that make a big difference and by challenging people to “do more” to help fight global warming with more energy-efficient choices at home and at work
This promotion is available to all residential paying customers of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. but they must provide a copy of their CUC utility bill to receive the two free CFLs.
Thelma Inos, the director of Energy Division, encourages everyone to be a part of the solution in protecting our environment by simply changing at least one Energy Star qualified CFL.
By making one change, you can save about $30 or more in electricity costs over the bulb’s lifetime.
The Energy Star qualified CFL bulbs use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer.
For more information regarding the free CFLs, you may call the Energy Division at telephone nos. 664-4480/1.
If you need more information regarding Energy Star, visit the Web site at www: energystar.gov/change the world.
This project is made possible through a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s State Energy Program.
NMI ranchers submit agricultural grant proposals
(NMC) — With the aid of Northern Marianas College’s Cooperative Research Extension, and Educational Service, ranchers and farmers from Saipan, Rota, and Tinian recently submitted grant proposals to fund projects aimed at sustaining agricultural profitability and promoting environmental stewardship.
The proposed projects include sweet potato wine production, sustaining deer production, cultivating Tinian hot pepper, aerobic composting, alternative poultry production, pineapple production, solar energy, abalone production, “weed for feeds,” and aquaculture professional development opportunities.
“We’re extremely proud that ranchers and farmers are taking advantage of the funding opportunities that are available,” said Tee Abaham, acting NMC president. “The projects, if funded, will significantly contribute to the diversification of farming methods and practices that will ultimately strengthen the local agricultural industry.”
The grants are made available by the Western Sustainable Agricultural Research and Education Program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
According to its Web site, Western SARE has funded more than 1,000 grants worth over $40 million.
Farmers, ranchers, researchers, educators, students, and other interested parties are invited annually to submit proposals under the grant.
(PTI) — Beginning today, CNMI residents will see a new look but a familiar name when driving by the PTI offices in Chalan Laulau and Garapan as PTI will now be known as IT&E. All products and services will remain unchanged except for the new brand name.
“IT&E and PTI are now one company, and placing all of our telecommunications products and services under one brand is the right thing to do for our customers,” said Ricky Delgado, president and CEO of IT&E. “We want our island residents to know that no matter where they are in the Marianas, IT&E is here for them,” he added.
Just as with PTI, the main color of the IT&E logo is blue, symbolizing the company’s continued commitment to the local CNMI community.
The blue button, in which the name IT&E is inscribed is about the sleek, clean and progressive image of technology.
The brushed silver frame symbolizes a window to the future and the fact that IT&E will constantly bring the latest technology to its customers.
It is classic and simple, rendered in a manner that also reflects the company’s corporate tradition.
Also unveiled was IT&E’s new tagline, “Life in Motion.”
“It was chosen because of the constant advancement in technology that allows people to do more than ever from their home, office or on the go,” said Larry Knecht, executive vice president and CFO of IT&E. “The tagline ‘Life in Motion’ means that as a company we recognize our customers’ need to communicate in an ever-increasing variety of ways and places,” he added.
EVDO technology and mobile broadband service are just two of the innovations that IT&E and the PTI group of companies have brought to the region in the last several months.
“Introducing new products and making the world’s finest high speed mobile broadband technology immediately accessible in the CNMI and Guam is in keeping with the IT&E tradition that started three decades ago,” Knecht said.
IT&E’s EVDO high speed network is the same used by US telecom giants Verizon Wireless and Sprint, who have well over half of the US wireless market.
IT&E is the only wireless carrier with high speed wireless coverage and 100 percent network redundancy in the CNMI and Guam.
When asked why the IT&E name was chosen over PTI, Delgado said the IT&E brand name is close to 30 years old with a strong market presence in the both the CNMI and Guam.
He added, “PTI is a little over three years old with limited exposure in Guam. We felt that there was a great deal of value to the IT&E brand since they were instrumental in bringing affordable and reliable communications to our region, they have a long track record of supporting the local community, and are well known to all the customers we serve.”
“PTI is still very much alive,” said Delgado. “Our Yellow Pages Ink directory business remains under the PTI brand and PTI will continue to be very active in the prepaid long distance card market in the region. PTI is known for offering quality products and services and will continue to be a part of the business landscape in the Marianas and beyond.”
IT&E is also updating its offices in Tinian and Rota with the same interactive wireless displays found in the CNMI and Guam that allow customer a chance to try a device prior to purchase.
The new brand look and feel will also be a part of the improvements that are in progress.
With over 75,000 total subscribers on Saipan, Tinian, Rota and Guam, the PTI Group of Companies, of which IT&E is a part, is the largest telecommunications company in the Marianas.
THE Friends of the Arts will hold auditions for their Valentine Day performance “Let’s Fall in Love,” on Sunday, Jan. 11, 4 to 6 p.m., in Room 101D at Marianas High School Room.
The Friends need singers who can perform duets, solos and belt out songs.
