November 9, 2017 | Subscribe to win at mccsokinawa.com/spotlight
Celebrate Thanksgiving with Us!
From top to bottom: ingimage, Roderica Mathis
Scrambling for Ham
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his year, celebrate Thanksgiving in maximum style with minimum toil. Your greatest challenge of the morning, afternoon or evening (depending on when you wish to dine) is what outfit to wear. Looking for an early meal? On Camp Courtney, gobble-gobble-gobble up a sumptuous Thanksgiving buffet at Tengan Castle. The award-winning Butler Officers’ Club will also be serving a Thanksgiving buffet along with Camp Kinser’s Surfside and the Habu Pit aboard MCAS Futenma. Reservations are highly recommended for these buffets. All run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and are $19.95 for adults, $9.95 for children 5–11 and FREE for kids under the age of five. Looking for something a little later in the day? A Thanksgiving buffet will be served at The Palms on Camp Hansen from noon to 4 p.m. And, at Camp Schwab’s BeachHead, diners can enjoy a glorious spread from 4 to 8 p.m. Thanksgiving meals at The BeachHead
inside
are $17.95 for adults, $8.95 for children 5–11 and FREE for kids under the age of five. At The Palms, the Thanksgiving buffet costs $14.95 for adults, $7.95 for children 5–11 and FREE for kids under the age of five. The Veranda inside Ocean Breeze on Camp Foster will be serving a Thanksgiving dinner buffet from 5 to 9 p.m. This dinner will be $19.95 for adults, $9.95 for children 5–11 and FREE for kids under the age of five. Finally, those wishing to accentuate their holiday with a few rounds of golf at Taiyo Golf Club can enjoy a Thanksgiving a la carte brunch at Taiyo Steakhouse from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m. For more details on offerings or to make a reservation for a Thanksgiving meal, contact a participating facility. Visit MCCS Clubs and Restaurants online at mccsokinawa.com/clubs.
Scrambling for Ham | 1 & 3 Thanksgiving Family Fun Nights | 3 Camping Time! | 5 Japanese Phrase of the Week | 5
Like golf? Feeling like a ham? Then attend the Taiyo Golf Club Holiday Ham Scramble on December 9! Although summer golf is great, there’s no better time to play the game on Okinawa than early winter when the air is cool and crisp. The entry fee for the Ham Scramble is $30 per player. Prospective participants need to register by December 6. This event will be a four-person scramble played with 10 percent of the team’s combined handicap. What's a four-person scramble you ask? Team players will hit from the tee and the best shot will be selected. The players will then play the next shot from the position of the selected ball, placing each ball within 12 inches of where the selected ball lies (no closer to the pin). This procedure is continued until the completion of each hole. Make sense? (cont. on page 3)
Black Friday Aerobathon | 7 Kinser Half Marathon | 9 MCCS Tours+ | 11 Semper Fit Events | 11
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livingatlarge Scrambling for Ham
(cont. from page 1)
Winning teams will receive great prizes, including an overnight stay for two at Moon Ocean Ginowan Hotel & Residence. This luxurious hotel is conveniently located near Camp Foster facing the beautiful East China Sea. Rooms are fully equipped with kitchens and the hotel features
delicious restaurants and an outdoor pool. Moon Ocean Ginowan is within walking distance of Ginowan Marina—a perfect spot for a sunset stroll. It’s also a short walk away from a local shopping mall. As this is a Ham Scramble, prizes will also include a ham that you can roast for your Christmas dinner!
The Taiyo Golf Club Holiday Ham Scramble will be a tee time event. Green and cart fees are not included in the registration fee. For more information, call 622-2004 (098-9542004) or visit Taiyo Golf Club online at mccsokinawa.com/golf.
Questions? Comments? Please e-mail OLW@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.
events&happenings
From top to bottom: Roderica Mathis, ingimage
Thanksgiving Family Fun Nights
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hy not enjoy two Thanksgiving dinners with the family this year? Consider the first one the pregame to the feast and an extra day to show special gratitude towards those you love. Don’t worry, you’ll have about a week to recover for the main turkey-eating extravaganza. Who could say no to a great meal and family fun anyway?
Enjoy a family-friendly Thanksgiving buffet, paper turkey crafts, prize giveaways and fun for all at a Thanksgiving Family Fun Night. The themed-family fun night will be hosted on Camp Foster at The Veranda in Ocean Breeze on November 15 from 5 to 9 p.m. On Camp Courtney, Tengan Castle will have their Thanksgiving Family Fun Night on November
CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER | Jim Kassebaum MANAGING EDITOR | Mike Daley ART DIRECTOR | Hector Nieves CULTURAL RESEARCH SPECIALIST | Ayako Kawamitsu GRAPHIC ARTS MANAGER | Henry Ortega GRAPHIC DESIGNERS | Margie Shimabukuro, Lisa Miyagi, Catherine Newquist, Jongeun Spencer EDITOR-IN-CHIEF | Mike Daley WRITER/EDITOR | Amanda Carrasquillo DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER | Thomas Alan Smilie SOCIAL MEDIA | Shelbie Thilmony PHOTOGRAPHER | Roderica Mathis AD/SPONSORSHIP MANAGER | Roy Forster AD SALES | Yoshihiro Shinzato, Yoriko Yamashiro, Angela Neal, Athena Garcia DISTRIBUTION | Kelli Kreider, Desiree Adams MARKETING ACCOUNTS MANAGER | Andrew Menges ACCOUNTS & RESEARCH | Ashley Herring, Kristen Wong, Secoya Holmes, Ashley Snipes, Allison Dixon BROADCAST | Kathlene Millette, Gabriel Archer, Emi Komiya INTERNS | Koby Karl, Bailey McLauren
16 from 5 to 6 p.m. Adults are $7.95, children 5–11 are $3.95 and children under 5 are FREE. Sounds reasonable when you’re stuffing your belly and spending quality time with your family. MCCS Thanksgiving Family Fun Nights are sponsored by Moon Ocean Ginowan Hotel & Residence and Mattel Toys. For more information, visit mccsokinawa.com/clubs.
To advertise in Okinawa Spotlight, call 645-2245, fax 645-0975 or email sales@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org. MCCS is not responsible for designing and editing outside ads. No Department of Defense, U.S. Marine Corps or Marine Corps Community Services endorsement of commercial advertisers or sponsors implied.
This publication printed with
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japanese phrase of the week
Daietto wa ashita kara. Diet starts tomorrow.
ingimage.com, Thomas Alan Smilie
For details about FREE Japanese language classes, please call Marine & Family Programs-Resources at 645-2104/2106.
islandadventure
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Camping Time!
s the temperature cools on Okinawa, there’s no better time to put away the swimming gear, snorkel, mask, fins as well as the giant inflatable flamingo that have served you well on your beach adventures and replace them with camping gear. Wait, you left it in storage back home! Space is at a premium here, and what often gets left behind during a PCS move are those bulky items you couldn’t find room for such as your trusty eight-person tent, a mega cooler perfect for barbeques and even those collapsible camp chairs. But don’t let this keep you from hosting an outdoor party or taking a camping trip over the weekend. MCCS Outdoor Recreation has all the gear you need. Large canopies are available for rent for $20 per day (plus a $15 delivery/pickup fee), as are tables ($3 per day) and chairs. Three sizes of ice chests are also on hand. For the out-
door enthusiasts looking to spend some quality time in nature, Outdoor Recreation provides lanterns, two-burner stoves, collapsible picnic tables, cooking kits, small grills and several sizes of tents (from $3 to $8 per day). Head on over to equip yourselves for an adventure in Okinawa’s great outdoors!
MCCS Outdoor Recreation Centers are located on Camp Courtney and Camp Hansen in the camps’ respective gyms and on Camp Foster in Building 5913 behind Gunners Fitness Center. Visit mccsokinawa.com/outdoor_ recreation for more information.
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pickoftheweek
didyou know?
Black Friday Aerobathon
T The average Thanksgiving meal has over 3,000 calories.
hanksgiving is a day to get together with loved ones and show appreciation for all the good things in your life. It can also be a perfect time to shamelessly bury yourself in a mountain of turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, casseroles and pies. Fortunately, MCCS Health Promotion has a solution to help you enjoy your Thanksgiving feast without fear of Santa dropping off extra inches around your midsection as your gift
this year. Burn the calories from your second (okay, maybe fourth) helping of pumpkin pie (piled high with whipped cream) and jumpstart the most infamous (and joyous) foodladen season with the Black Friday Aerobathon at Gunners Fitness Center on Camp Foster on November 24 from 8 to 11:50 a.m. Take part in four different classes (MixxedFit, Muscle Madness, Cycle and Yoga) to either get back into
the fitness groove or maintain your healthy habits. Just because you enjoy some delicious holiday treats doesn’t mean that you should quit exercising. No registration is necessary for this FREE event, but space is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants should bring adequate hydration, a towel and be ready to sweat. For more information, call 645-3910 or visit mccsokinawa.com/healthpromotion.
Ingimage, Thomas Alan Smilie
photooftheweek
On November 10, the United States Marine Corps celebrates 242 years of honor, courage and commitment. Happy birthday Marines!
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more
indepth
information
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Ingimage
For more information, call 637-1869 or visit mccsokinwa.com/adultsports.
Kinser Half Marathon
t’s the day of the half marathon. Adrenaline races through your body as you approach the crowded starting line. You shake your legs to keep them ready, but it feels as though your entire body is shaking with nerves. You remind yourself of all the training you’ve done just to be where you’re at that very moment. There’s struggles that lie ahead, but you won’t let them get in your way. You’re there for the most triumphing feeling in the world—crossing the finish line—and you won’t leave without it. Completing a half marathon takes great vision and incentive. This is why those who finish one feel as though they can conquer anything. It’s a great achievement, whether someone participants to win, reach a new personal best or simply have fun. Therefore, it’s an exciting and rewarding experience that can’t be replaced.
Inspired to run? Good. Put on your running shoes and accomplish something many wouldn’t even dare consider. Run in Camp Kinser’s annual half marathon on November 19 and humblebrag to everyone who decided to sit on the couch instead. The starting time is at 8:05 a.m. at Camp Kinser Fitness Center. See you there! Register by November 13 (1 p.m.) online at mcccsokinawa.com or at any MCCS Fitness Center for $30. No-
vember 14 through 17, registration will only be accepted at the Camp Kinser Fitness Center. Same-day registration will be available from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. for $40. This event is open to participants island-wide. Awards will be given to the first, second and third place finishers in each category, as well as overall female and male winners. All participants must attend a mandatory brief at 7:45 a.m. on the day of the event.
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tours+
adventure begins here Battle Sites Tour November 10, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Adults $28, Children (3–11) $18, (Under 3) FREE Visit Hacksaw Ridge, the Battle of Okinawa Historical Society Museum on Camp Kinser and the Japanese Naval Underground Headquarters. End the day at Peace Memorial Park in Mabuni. Bring dollars for lunch and yen for admission. Valley of Gangala & Okinawa World Tour November 11, 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Adults $47, Children (5–12) $20, (3–4) $11 Hike through the Valley of Gangala and enjoy the beautiful scenery and caves. The hike will be about 80 minutes, so wear comfortable clothes and bring water. Afterwards, enjoy lunch at Okinawa World while watching eisa dancing. Bring yen for lunch and spending. Children under the age of 2 are not allowed on tour.
Polynesian Dinner Show November 24, 4:30–8:30 p.m. Adults $73, Children (6–11) $40, (3–5) $28, (0–2) FREE Enjoy flavorful Pan Pacific foods and World Dinner Buffet at the opulent Renaissance Okinawa Resort’s Sailfish Café while watching the dancers showcase unique Polynesian cultural dances. Bring yen for spending. Exploring the Northern Kingdom Tour November 25, 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Adults $42, Children (7–15) $35, (3–6) $25, (0–2) FREE Start with a visit to Ufuya and enjoy traditional Okinawa soba. After lunch, explore the Nakijin Castle ruins and then head to the Nakijin Village History & Culture Center. Admissions and lunch are included in tour price. Bring yen for spending.
*Bring yen for additional food, drinks and/or purchases. For more information, contact MCCS Tours+: Camp Foster 646-3502 | Camp Hansen 623-6344 | Camp Kinser 637-2744
upcoming semperfitevents
Thomas Allen Smilie, Tatomm/bigstock.com
Kinser Half Marathon November 19, 8:05 a.m. Camp Kinser Fitness Center Register by November 13 online at mccsokinawa. com, at any MCCS athletic facility or at the Kinser Fitness Center by November 17 (1 p.m.) for $30. Same-day registration will be accepted on-site (6:30–7:30 a.m.) for $40. This event is open to all participants island-wide. Individual awards will be given to first, second and third place in each category, as well as overall female and male winners. For more information, call 637-1869 or e-mail kinsersports@ okinawa.usmc-mccs.org. 6-on-6 Open Soccer Tournament November 24–26 Camp Courtney Bowl Field Register by November 20 (1 p.m.) at any MCCS athletic facility for $100. This event is open to all participants island-wide. A group trophy and individual awards will be given to first, second and third place. By-laws and a tournament bracket will be e-mailed November 20. For more information, call 622-7297 or e-mail courtneysports@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.
Softball Tournament November 24–26 Camp Schwab Softball Field Register by November 20 (1 p.m.) at any MCCS athletic facility for $120 per team. This event is open to all participants island-wide. A group trophy and individual awards will be given to first, second and third place. By-laws and a tournament bracket will be e-mailed November 20. For more information, call 625-2654 or e-mail schwabsports@okinawa. usmc-mccs.org. Turkey Bowl Flag Football Tournament November 24–26 Camp Foster Gunners Fitness Center Fields Register by November 20 (1 p.m.) at any MCCS athletic facility for $120. This event is open to all participants island-wide. A group trophy and individual awards will be given to first, second and third place. By-laws and a tournament bracket will be e-mailed November 20. For more information, call 645-4866 or e-mail fostersports@okinawa.usmc-mccs.org.
classof theweek
Yoga for Beginners A class designed for the yoga novice. If you’ve always been intrigued by yoga but have never taken the first step to attend a class, this is the class for you. For a full group fitness schedule, visit mccsokinawa.com/groupfitness.