Tester 121814

TESTER Naval Air Station Patuxent River

The next issue of Tester will be Jan. 8, 2015 Vol. 71, No. 49

With the GPS tracking collar evident around his neck, this “ghostly” image of NAS Patuxent River’s long-lost buck was captured one evening by a motion-activated trail camera in Calvert Cliffs Park, just days before his final encounter with a hunter.

Oh, deer GPS collar tracks one buck’s intrepid journey

T

he buck stopped here, and a few other places. But let's start at the beginning...

In August 2013, as part of ongoing auto and airfield safety efforts, six deer from across NAS Patuxent River were safely immobilized by the Natural Resources Department, fitted with tracking collars and marked with bright yellow ear tags.

“We wanted to know where the deer were roaming, how far they travel around base and where they go,” explained Jim Swift, natural resources specialist.

That information is helpful to Swift and the installation’s Bird/Animal Strike Hazard (BASH) program by pinpointing hot spots of activity.

“For example, if we find that deer are funneling into one particular area, we can put up signs alerting drivers,” he said,” or, if they’re moving

Page 2

Accolades Around the Air Station Page 4

Center Stage Movie Schedule Page 6

Celebrating 71 Years of Community Partnership

Courtesy photo

By Donna Cipolloni NAS Patuxent River Public Affairs

Upgrades to Mobile Radar System

Installation deer strikes 2013

14 deer vs. auto Two deer vs. aircraft

2014

13 deer vs. auto Zero deer vs. aircraft Courtesy of NAS Patuxent River Natural Resources Department. across the airfield in a specific area, we can determine why.

We figure out what is attracting them and then determine how to adjust it [to change the pattern] and reduce deer auto and aircraft strikes.”

Of the original six deer collared — two more have been added since then — data collection stopped on some when one doe was killed by a car; another was hit by a car and survived, but the collar broke; and one buck’s collar fell off that December.

See Deer, Page 3

December 18, 2014

Gate schedule for the holidays NAS Patuxent River will observe the following schedule at its gates during the holiday season:

Gate 1

Normal hours of operation, 24/7, during the holiday period. Lane usage and manning during the holiday period is as follows: Dec. 15-19: Four inbound lanes; each inbound lane will have one sentry Dec. 20-21: Normal weekend operations Dec. 22-24: Four inbound lanes; each inbound lane will have one sentry Dec. 25-26: Normal operations; no rush hour configuration Dec. 27-28: Normal weekend operations Dec. 29-31: Four inbound lanes; each inbound lane will have one sentry Jan. 1: Normal operations; no rush hour configuration Jan. 2: Four inbound lanes; each inbound lane will have one sentry Jan. 3-4: Normal weekend operations

U.S. Navy photo by Gary Younger

Jan. 5-9: Four inbound lanes; each inbound lane will have one sentry Jan. 10-11: Normal weekend operations Jan. 12-13: Four inbound lanes; each inbound lane will have one sentry

each inbound lane will have one sentry Jan. 10-11: Gate closed Jan. 12-13: Three inbound lanes; each inbound lane will have one sentry

Gate 2

Open 5:30-8:30 a.m. for inbound and outbound traffic, and 3:30-5:30 p.m. for outbound traffic. Gate 3 is closed on weekends and holidays, to include Dec. 2426, and Jan. 1. Morning traffic will have two inbound lanes with one sentry per lane.

Normal hours of operation, 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. weekdays, during the holiday period. Gate 2 is closed weekends and holidays. Lane usage and manning for the morning rush during the holiday period is as follows: Dec. 15-19: Three inbound lanes; each inbound lane will have one sentry Dec. 20-21: Gate closed Dec. 22-24: Three inbound lanes; each inbound lane will have one sentry Dec. 25-28: Gate closed Dec. 29-31: Three inbound lanes; each inbound lane will have one sentry Jan. 1: Gate closed Jan. 2: Three inbound lanes; each inbound lane will have one sentry Jan. 5-9: Three inbound lanes;

Gate 3

Webster Field main gate Open and manned as normal through the holiday period. The back gate is closed from Dec. 15 through Jan. 13.

Navy Recreation Center Solomons Open and manned as normal during the holiday period.

All gates resume normal operations Jan. 14.

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Thursday, December 18, 2014

US Naval Test Pilot School celebrates Class 146

From the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School

A

fter an intense 11-month course of instruction, 33 students of Class 146 successfully completed the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and celebrated during a graduation ceremony Dec. 12 at the River’s Edge Conference Center. The students are now designated as Engineering Developmental Test Pilots, Test Flight Officers and Test Engineers.

Graduates included members from the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Australia, Israel and Italy, as well as civil service engineers from both the Departments of the Army and the Navy.

Rear Adm. Paul Sohl, Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers and Assistant Commander for Logistics and Industrial Operations at NAVAIR; Rear Adm. G. Dean Peters, Commander, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division; Capt. Brett Pierson, Commander, Naval Test Wing Atlantic; and Army Lt. Col. Gregory Fortier, Commanding Officer, USNTPS, handed out diplomas and congratulations to the new “testers.”

Master’s degrees in Aeronautical Engineering Lt. Timothy J. Beebe Lt. Daniel J. Bellinghausen Lt. Douglas S. Elkins Lt. Jacob E. King

Lt. Jared M. Wolcott The master’s degree program is conducted in cooperation with the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif.

Outstanding Developmental Phase II Award Italian Air Force Capt. Antonio Ciotola This award recognizes the individual in the class who produced the best final report and is symbolic of the long standing and mutually supporting relationship between the Empire Test Pilots’ School in the United Kingdom and the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School.

Commander Willie McCool Outstanding Student Award Italian Air Force Capt. Antonio Ciotola This award recognizes the top performing student in the categories of academics, flight performance and technical report writing. The Willie McCool Award is sponsored by the Association of Naval Aviation and named after Commander Willie McCool, a U.S. Naval Test Pilot School alumnus who was tragically lost in the space shuttle Columbia accident.

Syd Sherby Leadership Award Marine Corps Maj. Ryan Curry The award is named after Capt. Sydney Sherby who estab-

Photo courtesy of U.S. Naval Test Pilot School

The U.S. Naval Test Pilot School graduated 33 students from Class 146 on Dec. 12. lished the test pilot training division, now the USNTPS, in 1945.

It is presented to the student who displays exemplary leadership in the class.

Engineering Test Pilot Course Lt. Timothy J. Beebe Lt. Daniel J. Bellinghausen Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Sokol Cela Lt. Francis C. Chapelle Marine Corps Maj. Ryan K. Curry Marine Corps Capt. Luke D. Delaney Lt. Joseph M. Dugan Lt. Douglas S. Elkins Lt. Steven W. Helmer Israeli Air Force Maj. Yuval Inbar Lt. Jacob E. King

Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jonathan M. Mihalka Italian Navy Lt. Luca Moro Lt. Brady D. O’Neal Marine Corps Maj. Aaron W. Pridgen Marine Corps Capt. J. Travis Stephenson Royal Australian Navy Lt. Martin J. Stiles Air Force Maj. Kevin G. Storm Lt. Michael J. Umholtz Lt. Jared M. Wolcott Army Chief Warrant 3 Jason N. Wyatt

Engineering Test Flight Officer Course Lt. Robert G. Beauchamp Lt. Andrew C. Floro

Lt. Alex R. Halberstadt Lt. Anthony J. Palladino Lt. Christopher E. Wells

Test Project-Engineering Course Brent D. Cannon, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division Italian Air Force Capt. Antonio Ciotola Alicia M. Conrad, NAWCAD James J. DiOttavio III, Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate Andrew B. Ellison NAWCAD Royal Australian Air Force Flight Lt. Michael A. Olsen Italian Air Force Capt. Raffaele Quartucci

Marines upgrade obsolete mobile radar system with lighter gear

By Emily Strotman NAWCAD Public Affairs Communication Support

NAVAIR's Marine Corps Expeditionary Air Traffic Control (ATC) Systems Integrated Product Team completed the demilitarization of its Marine Air Traffic Control and Landing Systems (MATCALS) this fall.

Since its initial fielding to the fleet in the 1980s, MATCALS was used to help Marine ATC detachments guide aircraft in remote locations that had no such capability.

The system began the decommissioning process in 2007, with the roll-out of the Air Traffic Navigation Integration and Coordination System (ATNAVICS).

“The MATCALS legacy equipment is beyond its effective life cycle performance period,” said Chip Hibner, expeditionary air traffic control integrated product team lead for Naval Air Traffic Management Systems Program (PMA-213). PMA-213, under the Program Executive Office for Tactical Aircraft Pro-

grams (PEO(T)), is responsible for equipping these systems.

A smaller footprint “Obsolescence issues and the Marine Corps mandate for a light and mobile force allowed PMA213 to pursue the ATNAVICS system, which provides the same services but uses today’s technology and has a much smaller footprint,” said Hibner. “It would take three C-5 Galaxy aircraft — each with a 270,000-pound payload capability — to move one suite of MATCALS legacy equipment, but we can transport the ATNAVICS system using only one KC-130 Hercules aircraft — requiring only a 42,000-pound payload capability.”

ATNAVICS consists of a radar vehicle, an operations control vehicle and two tactical power generator trailers and can be set up in less than an hour. Currently, it has an airport surveillance range of 25 nautical miles, but it’s getting an upgrade.

$13 million in savings In 2009, ATC along with indus-

try partner Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems, began developing an engineering change proposal (ECP) — the management tool used to propose a configuration change — that will extend its airport surveillance range from 25 nautical miles to 60 nautical miles. The ECP will be implemented as part of the ATNAVICS depot restoration process that modifies or refurbishes the radar every five years, resulting in $13 million in cost savings and enhancing the detachments’ mission effectiveness.

Increased surveillance capability The increased surveillance capability will allow the needed range and altitude for Marine Air Traffic Control Detachments (MATCD) to provide continuous services in support of main air bases, expeditionary air fields, forward operating bases, forward arming and refueling points, and disaster and humanitarian response locations around the world.

The improved system reached

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Jon McNeil

Members of U.S. Marine Air Control Squadron One set up an AN/TPN-31A Air Traffic Navigation Integration and Coordination System (ATNAVICS) at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz. The mobile all-weather radar system that provides air traffic control capabilities to Marine air traffic controllers is replacing Marine Air Traffic Control and Landing Systems (MATCALS), which has been used since the 1980s. initial operational capability in September at a U.S. Marine air control squadron in Yuma, Arizona. The last suite of MATCALS is scheduled to be shipped back to the In-Service Engineering Activity, Space and Naval War-

fare Systems Command Systems Center Pacific in San Diego, for demilitarization.

Emily Strotman provides contract communication support as an employee of Bowhead Professional Solutions, LLC.

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Thursday, December 18, 2014

Congratulations to the newly frocked petty officers on a job well done 1st Class

Air Traffic Controller 1st Class Marilyn J. Brewer Air Traffic Controller 1st Class Mary E. Cline Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Jason P. Costell Electronics Technician 1st Class Kyle C. Harris Air Traffic Controller 1st Class Joshua A. Redding

2nd Class

Air Traffic Controller 2nd Class Stephen M. Sawyer Air Traffic Controller 2nd Class Levi Matthew E. Springer Air Traffic Controller 2nd Class Orlando T. Washington

3rd Class

Air Traffic Controller 3rd Class Justin M. Cano Air Traffic Controller 3rd Class Jason T. Daugherty Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Zachery J. Farrell Air Traffic Controller 3rd Class Shawn A. Dilimone Air Traffic Controller 2nd Class Anthony L. Jenkins Air Traffic Controller 3rd Class Tyler J. Mohnacky Air Traffic Controller 2nd Class Michael A. Lopez Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handler) 3rd Class Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Lauren E. McKeown Faith M. Phillips Air Traffic Controller 2nd Class Rosalinda B. Orio Air Traffic Controller 2nd Class Michael C. Rhoads Air Traffic Controller 3rd Class Wyatt A. Vowell Air Traffic Controller 2nd Class Samrendar Sahra Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Jonathan G. Weber

NEWS BRIEFS Holiday Hours: Clinic Dec. 24: Urgent medical care and dental services available until 4 p.m. The pharmacy, laboratory, immunizations and radiology close at noon.

Dec. 25-26: Closed; normal operations resume Dec. 29.

Dec. 31: Urgent medical care, dental services and pharmacy available until 4 p.m.

Jan. 1: Closed Jan. 2: Urgent medical care, dental services and pharmacy available until 4 p.m.

Normal operations resume Jan. 5.

Commissary Dec. 22 and 23: Open Dec. 24: Closes at 4 p.m.

Dec. 25 and 26: Closed Dec. 27: Normal operating hours resume MiniMart Dec. 25: Closed Dec. 26 and Jan. 1: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pumps available 24/7 NEX Dec. 18-20: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Dec. 21: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Dec. 22-23: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Dec. 24: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Dec. 25: Closed Dec. 26: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Dec. 27-Dec. 31: Normal hours Jan. 1: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Jan. 2: Normal hours resume Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Closed for Holidays Dec. 24 to Jan. 5 For emergency needs, such as emergency travel, contact the NAS Command Duty Office at 301-342-1095 and ask for assistance from the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society After Hours Assistance Chiefs.

River's Edge Catering and Conference Center and all Eddies Dec. 20 through Jan. 4: Closed

On Base: Pass Office Hours Change Beginning Dec. 19 The pass offices at NAS Patuxent River, Webster Outlying Field and Navy Recreation Center Solomons will close at 1 p.m. every other Friday, for training. The building will remain open for CAC and ID card services only.

Bldg. 2272 Food Court Closed Through Jan. 7 The food court at building 2272 is closed for renovations and will tentatively reopen Jan. 7. The coffee operation is offering food service options during the closure.

Pax River Clinic Flu Vaccine Active-duty military: 8-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Preventive Medicine Department. Eligible beneficiaries and DOD civilians: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays at the Immunization Clinic. TRICARE beneficiaries enrolled off base can receive the influenza vaccination from their Primary Care Provider.

To find a participating pharmacy, search http://express-scripts. com/TRICARE/pharmacy/ or call 877-363-1303.

Counterintelligence Awareness Briefs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 22 Bldg. 2109, Eagle’s Nest Conference Room These NCIS briefs are mandatory annual training for all Department of Navy military and civilian personnel. Each brief is 50 minutes in duration and begins every hour on the hour.

Navy Energy Warrior App The Navy has launched the Energy Warrior app, a look at some of the Navy’s most pressing energy

challenges, available for iOS and Android devices. Energy is critical to the Navy’s mission: it is our greatest enabler and our greatest vulnerability. The Navy’s ability to keep ships and aircraft on station and in the fight is directly tied to the choices we make every day. Download Energy Warrior from your favorite app store on iOS, https://itunes.apple.com/ us/app/energy-warrior-navy/ id892260374?mt=8, and Android, https://play.google.com/store/ apps/details?id=com.splice.energywarrior, devices.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day event

1-3 p.m. Jan. 13 Building 1489, rooms 101-102 This year’s event features a diverse panel of NAVAIR employees speaking about King, “the man before the speech,” the events leading up to his accomplishments and the effect he had on their personal and professional lives. Registration required. Contact Brittani Murphy or Michele Conigliaro at brittani.m.murphy@navy.mil or michele.conigliaro@navy.mil.

Where’s Gnorman?

Somewhere in this issue we’ve hidden Gnorman the gnome. Anyone spotting Gnorman can email tester@dcmilitary.com or phone 301-342-4163 now through 5 p.m.

Friday, and include a brief description of where he’s located. All correct answers are entered into a drawing and one name is chosen to win a Center Stage Theater movie ticket. The same person cannot win more than once per month.

Last week’s winner, Skip Schneider, found Gnorman in the fairy godmother front page photo.

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DEER

Continued from 1 Also, there was a fourth buck that had simply disappeared.

“He was collared that August but

by October, we had no idea where he went,” Swift said. “We were no longer receiving his signal, so we figured he was shot, died or that his collar had failed. I assumed it was a loss.”

Then came the unexpected phone call last month from a Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) deer project manager. A collared buck had surfaced in a Calvert County butcher shop, after being shot by a hunter. Photos of the numbered collar and ear tag were emailed to Swift, who confirmed it was Pax River’s long-lost buck.

“The hunter and butcher wondered what to do when they saw the collar and tags, so they contacted the field biologist from Maryland DNR and that set the ball in motion,” Swift said. “He knew about my project, so he called me. I went to the butcher and picked up the collar to download the data from it.”

Turns out, the young buck was quite the wanderer.

He had spent time near the skeet range, where he was collared, Swift noted. He also liked to spend time in the wooded area behind the Drill Hall. Eventually, he traveled to the other end of base over by the golf course and spent a little time there.

By late September 2013, he made his way to another side of the installation, moving to the wooded area behind the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum.

“He didn’t spend a lot of time there,” Swift said. “He moved up and down the northern edge of the perimeter fencing for a few days.

Then, around 8 p.m. on Oct. 14, he left.”

Exactly how he maneuvered the 8-foot fencing that surrounds Pax River remains a mystery, although jumping over it is not out of the realm of possibility.

“He could jump it with a little

effort,” Swift said. “I’ve heard from hunters who say they’ve seen it done.”

From there, the recovered data — which tracked the buck’s whereabouts every hour via satellite — showed that he trekked north through Town Creek and spent the daylight hours of Oct. 15 in a patch of wooded land next to the Thomas Johnson Bridge. When it got dark again, he crossed a couple creeks and reached Greenwell State Park, once again staying put in the daylight. Sometime in the evening on the 16th, he arrived at Sotterley Plantation.

But it’s what happened on the evening of Oct. 17 that really shows our buck’s determination.

“The last GPS point we have on the St. Mary’s County side is at 8 p.m.,” Swift said. “The next point shows up at 10 p.m. in Calvert County. Sometime between those two hours, that buck swam 1.5 miles across the Patuxent River.”

Once on the other side, the deer moved through Jefferson Patterson Park and trekked over to Calvert Cliffs, where he spent the rutting season. But there must have been something he liked about Jefferson Patterson Park, because he returned there and stayed from December 2013 to September 2014.

“He took a couple runs out of the park, but the majority of his time was spent in a very tight area,” Swift said. “At some point, around Sept. 16, 2014, the collar quit working and stopped taking GPS points.”

For whatever reason, between mid-September and the beginning of November, the buck traveled back to Calvert Cliffs and sealed his fate. That’s where he encountered the hunter.

While the buck’s dispersal from the area where it was born was not abnormal, the 17-mile distance it traveled between Pax River and Calvert Cliffs is on the high end of that range, Swift said.

“It’s kind of a shame he was shot,” he added, “but if he wasn’t, I’d never have recovered the collar, we wouldn’t have the data, and we wouldn’t know his story.”

St. Nicholas Chapel Service Schedule Catholic Services Mass 5 p.m. Sundays Continuing Catholic Development (CCD) Postponed until further notice Christmas Eve Mass: 5 p.m. Dec. 24 (tentative)

Protestant Services Worship 11 a.m. Sunday Christmas Eve Service: 7 p.m. Dec. 24

Men’s Discipleship 6-7:30 p.m. Sunday Religious Programming Center Women’s Study 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday and 10-11:30 a.m. Thursday Religious Programming Center

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Thursday, December 18, 2014

ACCOLADES AROUND THE AIR STATION

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Kenneth Abbate

VX-1 Sailors of the Year Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 1, recently selected its Sailors of the Year. They are, from left, Aviation Structural Mechanic 2nd Class Efhril Elomina, Blue Jacket of the Year; Aviation Structural Mechanic (Equipment) 2nd Class Brandon Chovanec, Junior Sailor of the Year; Navy Counselor 1st Class Joshua Jordan, Senior Sailor of the Year and Aviation Machinist’s Mate 1st Class William Childree, Maintainer of the Year.

U.S. Navy photo by Shawn Graham

NAS Commanding Officer, Capt. Heidi Fleming, presents Cassandra Glover, NAS Security Department, with a Bravo Zulu for going above and beyond as a lead security assistant. See more BZ photos from the NAS’ December awards quarters at www.flickr.com/NASPaxRiver.

NAS Commanding Officer, Capt. Heidi Fleming, presents Dawn Simpson, School Liaison Officer, with a Bravo Zulu for her success leading a recent “Paying for College” seminar. See more BZ photos from the NAS’ December awards quarters at www. flickr.com/NASPaxRiver.

U.S. Navy photo by Shawn Graham

U.S. Navy photo by Shawn Graham

NAS Commanding Officer, Capt. Heidi Fleming, presents Terry Davis, Child Development Center (CDC), with a Bravo Zulu for her efforts during the lead in priority area water testing at both CDCs, youth center and Mattapany Day Camp. See more BZ photos from the NAS’ December awards quarters at www. flickr.com/NASPaxRiver.

U.S. Navy photo by Shawn Graham

U.S. Navy photo by Shawn Graham

NAS Commanding Officer, Capt. Heidi Fleming, presents Denise Reichard, Public Works Department, with a Bravo Zulu for her efforts during the lead in priority area water testing at the child development centers, youth center and Mattapany Day Camp. See more BZ photos from the NAS’ December awards quarters at www.flickr.com/NASPaxRiver.

NAS Commanding Officer, Capt. Heidi Fleming, presents Jim Walsh, Fleet and Family Support Center, with a Bravo Zulu for his success leading a recent “Paying for College” seminar. See more BZ photos from the NAS’ December awards quarters at www.flickr.com/NASPaxRiver.

members and their family by addressing the stressors facing today’s military. To make an appointment with a counselor, call 301-342-4911 or 202-685-6019.

needs such as a medical or educational disability — are encouraged to enroll in the EFMP so the Navy can do its part in caring for EFM needs.

Email James Lettner at james. lettner@navy.mil.

term goals. Take control of your finances and make an appointment with a counselor by calling 301-342-5442.

Financial Counseling Services

Find out who your Ombudsman is. Visit www.ombudsmanregistry.org, click on “Contact Your Ombudsman” and follow the prompts, or call 301-757-1861 to speak with the NAS Patuxent River Ombudsman Coordinator.

FFSC All classes are held at the Fleet and Family Support Center in Building 2090 off Bundy Road unless otherwise noted. Classes are open to active-duty and retired military and Reservists. Reservations are necessary and can be made at FFSC or by calling 301-342-4911.

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• Playgroup: 10-11 a.m. Dec.

• SAPR Refresher: 1-3 p.m.

Dec. 30

Ready Navy www.ready.navy.mil Hazardous weather is possible any time. Get a free information packet on how to prepare for hurricanes, severe weather and other potential emergencies at the Fleet and Family Support Center.

Clinical Counseling Services Clinical Counseling services can directly improve the quality of life of service

Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)

EFMP is a DOD program that addresses the special needs of military families.

Sailors with an exceptional family member — a family member with special

The Personal Financial Educator can help individuals and families in managing their finances, resolving financial problems and to reach long-

Find Your Command Ombudsman

See more FFSC classes on Facebook.

Naval Air Station Patuxent River • tester@dcmilitary.com • www.facebook.com/NASPaxRiver The name Tester is a registered mark in the state of Maryland.

This paper is published by Comprint, Inc., 9030 Comprint Ct., Gaithersburg, Md. 20877, 301-9481520, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Navy, under exclusive written contract with Naval District Washington.

This commercial enterprise newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the military services. Contents of the Tester are not necessarily the official views of, nor endorsed by the U.S. Government, the DoD, or the Department of the Navy. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the DoD or Southern Maryland Newspapers and Printing of the products or services advertised.

Everything advertised in this publication shall

be made available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron. If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the publisher shall refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected.

Editorial content is edited, prepared, and provided by the Public Affairs Office. News copy should be submitted by Friday to be considered for the following week’s edition. All material is edited for accuracy, brevity, clarity, and conformity to regulations. To inquire about news copy, call 301342-4163 or fax the Tester at 301-863-9296.

Commercial advertising may be placed with the publisher by calling 301-862-2111.

Capt. Heidi Fleming

Shawn Graham

Commanding Officer

Public Affairs Specialist

Capt. Scott Starkey

Donna Cipolloni

CMDCM Jeffrey Owejan

Breton Helsel and Deirdre Parry

Executive Officer

Command Master Chief

Connie Hempel

Public Affairs Officer

Staff Writer

Copy/layout editors

Stay up to date with us on Facebook

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Thursday, December 18, 2014

MWR For all MWR news, visit www.cnic.navy. mil/Patuxent and click on the Fleet and Family Readiness tab.

Special Events Fourth Annual Holiday Whobilation 6-9 p.m. Dec. 19 and 20 Mattapany Day Camp A celebration of the most wonderful occasion in the Whoville calendar, the Holiday Whobilation. This year your presence is most important as we will also be holding the NAS Patuxent River annual Tree Lighting. Come and enjoy the lights and activities in a setting only the Who’s can provide. Cost: $4 per person.

Customized Creations White House Christmas Ornaments

Rassieur Youth Center Youth Cross Training Fitness Classes 6-7 p.m. Wednesdays in January Rassieur Youth Center Cost: $50. For youths ages 6 and older.

Cross training fitness classes focus on increasing speed, agility, flexibility, proper running techniques, circuit training, core, explosive first step, improved balance and stability, increased vertical leap, hand and eye coordination, nutrition and staying fit.

Drill Hall Lifeguard Certification Class: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 12-16 Cost: $225

Winter Intramural Sports

The 2014 White House Christmas Ornament is a two-piece set depicting the locomotive and Pullman car commonly referred to as the “Presidential Special” of the 29th U.S. President, Warren G. Harding. Limited quantities are available.

Cost: $22.

Basketball Organizational Meeting: 1 p.m. Jan. 5 Bowling Center Volleyball Organizational Meeting: 1 p.m. Jan. 6 Bowling Center

ITT Tickets available

6-8 p.m. Thursdays, beginning Jan. 8 Cost: $48 per person. Register at the Sports and Fitness Office. .

• Washington Capitals • Harlem Globetrotters at the Royal Farms Arena, formerly the Baltimore Arena. Noon or 5 p.m. Dec. 26. Tickets: $21.75 to $27 each

Energy Zone Ballroom Dancing

Belly Dancing

7-8 p.m. Tuesdays, beginning Jan. 13 Cost: $60 per person. Register at the Sports and Fitness Office.

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Thursday, December 18, 2014

CENTER STAGE MOVIES Movie Line: 301-342-5033 l Reservations: 301-342-3648

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l Ticket Prices: E-1 to E-5 category: adults, $3.50 and youths ages 6-11, $2.50. All others: adults, $4.50; youths ages 6-11, $3.50. l 3-D glasses: $1 l Authorized ID required for admission

Thursday, Dec. 18 6:30 p.m., Beyond the Lights

(Rated: PG-13, 1 hr. 56 mins.) Noni is the music world’s latest superstar, but not all is what it seems, and the pressures of fame have Noni on the edge. She meets Kaz Nicol, a young cop who’s been assigned to her detail.

Noni and Kaz fall fast and hard, despite the protests of those around them. But it is ultimately Kaz’s love that gives Noni the courage to find her own voice and break free to become the artist she was meant to be.

Friday, Dec. 19 6:30 p.m., The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

(Rated: PG-13, 2 hrs. 3 mins.) Katniss Everdeen is

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in District 13, after she literally shatters the games forever. Under the advice of her trusted friends, Katniss spreads her wings as she fights to save Peeta and a nation moved by her courage.

9 p.m., Birdman

(Rated: R, 1 hr. 59 mins.)

This film tells the story of an actor as he struggles to mount a Broadway play. In the days leading up to opening night, he battles his ego and attempts to recover his family, his career, and himself.

Saturday, Dec. 20 4 p.m., Big Hero 6

(Rated: PG, 1 hr. 48 mins.)

Hiro Hamada finds himself in the grips of a criminal plot that threatens to destroy the high-tech city of San Fransokyo. With the help of his companion, Hiro joins forces with a reluctant team of first-time crime fighters on a mission to save their city.

6:30 p.m., The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

(Rated: PG-13, 2 hrs. 3 mins.)

9:30 p.m., Birdman

(Rated: R, 1 hr. 59 mins.)

Sunday, Dec. 21 2 p.m., The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

(Rated: PG-13, 2 hrs. 3 mins.)

Dec. 22-25 Theater is not open

Friday, Dec. 26 6:30 p.m., The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

(Rated: PG-13, 2 hrs. 3 mins.)

Saturday, Dec. 27 4 p.m., Penguins of Madagascar

(Rated: PG, 1 hr. 32 mins.)

6:30 p.m., Horrible Bosses (Rated: R, 1 hr. 42 mins.)

9 p.m., Birdman (Rated: R, 1 hr. 59 mins.)

Sunday, Dec. 28 2 p.m., Penguins of Madagascar (3D)

(Rated: PG, 1 hr. 32 mins.)

4:30 p.m., The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1

(Rated: PG-13, 2 hrs. 3 mins.)

Dec. 29-30 Theater is not open

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SHOP LOCAL. SHOP OFTEN. 7th District and Lower Potomac Bushwood, Abell, Avenue, Colton’s Point, St. Clement’s Island Callaway, Valley Lee, Drayden, Tall Timbers, Piney Point, St. George’s Island Festive lights and garlands are strung everywhere and holiday music is in the air. There’s little time left to complete your holiday shopping and then comes all that wrapping! It’s well worth the effort for a loving family and dear friends.

Did you remember to order stuffed ham for your holiday feast? If not, you better get a move on to McKay’s conveniently located in Leonardtown, Hollywood and Charlotte Hall; Linda’s Café in Lexington Park, W. J. Dent & Sons in Tall Timbers and Ridge Market in, you guessed it, Ridge for some of the best stuffed ham in Southern Maryland.

In all this last minute scurrying, you still have time to find nautical gifts, historic memorabilia and books in abundance at the St. Clement’s Island and Piney Point Lighthouse museums. While the drive to reach these locations will take you off the beaten path, both are treasure troves for the gift hunter with a flair for the personal and unexpected.

Shopping local is more than a once a year excursion. It’s about getting to know your community and supporting the businesses that are here year round supporting you.

So, Shop Local and Shop Often!

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301-475-5381 Fax 301-475-0337

Next To Leonardtown True Value • 40845 Merchant’s Lane Tues. – Fri. 9am - 6pm • Sat. 9am - 3pm Closed Sundays and Mondays

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AROUND TOWN St. Mary’s County:

www.visitstmarysmd.com/events-entertainment/

Decompression Night at PRNAM 5-8 p.m. Dec. 18 Patuxent River Naval Air Museum A great time to come decompress before the holiday frenzy really gets into action. Bring your friends and co-workers to hang-out. Food, beer and wine available.

Regular admission fees apply.

Holidays at Sotterley 6:30-9 p.m. Dec. 18-20 Sotterley Plantation Celebrate the season at Sotterley’s 300 year-old plantation house decorated in different historical periods for the holidays. Experience Sotterley’s 2014 interactive living history tour, “Common Lives, Shared Sentiments”

candlelight tours are every 15 minutes. Advance reservations are required at www.sotterley.org. Cost: $15.

Christmas Village 3- 9 p.m. Dec. 19 and 20 Noon to 9 p.m. Dec. 21 St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds A winter wonderland of Christmas sights, sounds, tastes and memories. Fun for the entire family. Shop the Christmas Market; be entertained at three live venues; share activities like ice skating, snow tubing and pony rides. Admission and parking are free; some activities will have a cost.

For more information, visit www.somdchristmas.com.

Military Holiday Exhibit at Piney Point Lighthouse Through Jan. 4 Military exhibits fill the lighthouse keeper’s quarters and feature the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, War of 1812,

Thursday, December 18, 2014

World War II and the U. S. Civil War. Admission fee. Call Museum Division office at 301-769-2222 for complete holiday schedule.

Christmas by the Bay Through Jan. 4 St. Clement’s Island Museum This holiday exhibit features special doll collections from the Black-eyed Susan and Southern Maryland Doll Clubs. Dolls are arranged to depict Christmas scenes and vignettes of Chesapeake coastal living in the early 20th century. Admission fee. Call Museum Division office at 301-769-2222 for complete holiday schedule.

Calvert County: www.calvertcountymd.us

Holiday Concert Sing-a-long 7-8 p.m. Dec. 18 Calvert library, Prince Frederick Bring the family for hot cocoa and glorious holiday music with popular vocalists Emily Bowen Mudd, Nate Bowen and others, as they share some of their favorite holiday tunes .

TUBACHRISTMAS 4 p.m. Dec. 21 Our Lady of the Sea Catholic Church, Solomons Local musicians from Southern Maryland look forward to TUBACHRISTMAS every year and invite the public to this unique holiday celebration. All low brass players in the area are welcome to play (details @ www.tubachristmas.com). TUBACHRISTMAS, which is open to the public and free of charge, features traditional Christmas carols arranged for tuba and baritone horn players, as well as opportunities for the audience to sing along. For more information, contact Bill White at 443 975-4421.

Noon Year’s Eve Party 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 31 Calvert Marine Museum Harms Gallery Make a party hat and a New Year’s wish ornament, hear a special story and join the dance party. Toast the Noon Year with sparkling ginger ale and fishy snacks when the ball drops at high noon. Fee is $2 per child with museum admission. For all ages.

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