Nov. 11 The Signature by NAS Sigonella Signature

http://www.cnic.navy.mil/sigonella

Vol. 28 No. 40

November 11, 2011

Sicily-based Marines climb Europe's tallest active volcano By Cpl. Jad Sleiman

Renovated barracks open at NAS Sigonella By Tracie Barnthouse/NAS Sigonella Public Affairs NAS Sigonella Commanding Officer, Capt. Scott Butler cuts the ribbon to officially open Building 623 on NAS II. The large barracks renovation project was completed in a feverish 113 days from start to finish. "It was the right thing to do for the coalition and is certainly the right thing to do for the future of Sigonella and the Navy. This will be home to hundreds of thousands of U.S. Navy Sailors for generations to come; in high quality barracks, in great living conditions, on the best base on the planet," said Butler.

Local Mayor Awards Certificate to NAS Sigonella Sailor By MCSA Brian Glunt NPASE ACITREZZA, Sicily – Culinary Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Christopher Lizzio, a resident of Acitrezza, received a certificate of appreciation from Filippo Drago, mayor of Aci Castello, in Aci Castello’s City Hall, Nov. 3. Lizzio received the commendation for organizing two community relations (COMREL) projects to pick up trash at a local beach and fish market in Acitrezza. “For the past 20 years, this community has not been respecting the environment the way they should,” said Drago. “It is now my job as mayor to give the example of how things should be done. I am extremely grateful to the

Americans for having shown respect for the environment.” Members of Lizzio’s division and Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella representatives were present to the meet with the mayor and observe the award being presented. “I felt very honored to get this recognition from the mayor,” said Lizzio. “I didn’t expect it. I don’t need an award or anything like that, but just the invitation was really nice.” Mayor Drago also presented a certificate of appreciation to Cmdr. Eric Vosler, executive oﬃcer of NAS Sigonella, to thank all of the volunteers from NAS Sigonella who participated in the two COMREL projects. “Volunteering is something

NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA, Sicily - On the evening of Oct. 23 the peak of Mount Etna burned a deep red, spewing streams of flame and lava hundreds of feet in the air. On the morning of Oct. 25, about 20 Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force 12 scaled its slopes. "This is definitely one of the coolest things I've ever done in the Marine Corps, climb a volcano," said Cpl. James Bailey, a Security Cooperation Team Tactics-2 motor transport assistant chief from Baltimore. SCTT-2 is one of four specialized Marine teams in Italy as part of a newly formed unit tasked with mentoring African militaries dealing with regional terror threats. Their time spent in between missions, leaders have stressed, doesn't have to go to waste. The hike was designed to teach the Marines a lesson in the rigors of operating in a mountainous environment. Small groups of Marines continue to tackle the climb as operational demands allow. “It's definitely more strenuous than doing marches at low elevation on level ground," said Gunnery Sgt. David C. Ash, a Charlotte, N.C., native and assistant team leader. It's a winding four-mile hike to the top, relatively short by Marine Corps standards, but the Marines step off on the movement already on level with normal cloud cover with a 3,600 foot climb ahead of them. Petty Officer 1st Class Ian Anderson, a team corpsman from Murrell's Inlet, S.C., warned the Marines that their breaths wouldn't count for as much on the stratovolcano as they would closer to sea level. The oxygen is diffuse, so your body has to work harder to perfuse your red blood cells," he explained, noting that U.S. Olympic runners typically train in Rocky Mountain states to make their work outs more challenging. Making matters worse were

Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force 12 Marines trudge through the black sands of the slopes of Europe’s tallest active volcano, Mt. Etna, Oct. 25. The hike was designed to teach about 20 Marines with SPMAGTF-12’s Security Cooperation Team Tactics-2 a lesson in the rigors of operating in a mountainous environment. the hefty loads each Marine carried. During one rest break, a group of French retirees on vacation easily passed the team. "How many kilos?" asked one, pointing to a Marine's bulging pack. After fumbling with the English to metric conversion: "About 40," he replied. The trail itself, at times hardly recognizable as such, presented its own challenges. Smiling tourists waved eagerly from passing suspended ski lifts as they floated eﬀortlessly upwards while the Marines slipped and stumbled for footholds in shifting black sand and rock. Snow clung to shadowy crevices

along the route. Still, one corpsman made his way past them in a shortsleeve collared shirt, warmed only by his own constant exertion. When you take one step forward and slide two steps back," said Bailey. "You just look up and think, 'it's never gonna end." At 8,800 feet Sicily disappears under a carpet of clouds, providing the Marines with a view usually reserved for ascending airline passengers. It’s at this elevation that the team dropped their packs and established satellite HIKE, continued on page 12

AWARD, continued on page 12

Celebrating Culture of Kindness Sigonella MS/HS compete in Amazing Race style event to raise awareness for bullying.

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Catania Opera Season kicks oﬀ Are you an opera buﬀ? Check out the prestigious Catania opera schedule in this week’s Italian News.

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PowderPuﬀ Football is back Come support the women of NAS Sigonella on Nov. 18 at 5 p.m. at the Land Annex on NAS I. See you there!

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Scan for direct links to NAS Sigonella

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NoVEmbEr 11, 2011

Direct LiNe With the holiday season fast approaching and as we celebrate Veteran’s Day today, I want to first thank all of you for your service. As a third generation Sailor, I understand the sacrifices that you make; not only as the service member but the family as well. It takes a special person to deploy on a moments notice or go into harms way with no questions asked. For that, I am grateful to have the privilege to serve with each and every one of you. During the holidays, many people use this opportunity to travel for vacation or to visit family and friends. Understand that for many, the holiday season may be a stressful time as well. Please take the time to make sure we are taking care of our shipmates and helping one another remain safe while enjoying the long weekend. While I’m on the topic of safety, I want to remind everyone that there is a Mandatory Safety Stand Down in the base theater from 15-18 November. There are two sessions each day, 08301130 and 1230-1530, so make plans to attend.

NAS Sigonella Executive Cmdr. Eric Vosler Thank you for the questions we receive for Feedback Live. As a reminder, Feedback Live is a LIVE call in show and it is your opportunity to get questions answered live on the air by the CO and CMC Graham. We can’t get to all your questions on the air so, I’ll include a few of them in this Direct Line. Q1. Most of showers in male bathroom at NAS II gym have been broken for some time and it creates a wait in the morning, making people wait for 4 or 5 good shower heads. Is there an estimate when this issue will be resolved? A1. A trouble call has been placed with Public Works for several of the showers at the NAS II gymnasium; PWD assessed the showers on November 1st and installed all new shower heads. Due to the hard water, we are having problems with the water conservation heads getting clogged frequently. There are also some challenges with the water pressure, which is being addressed. Please do not hesitate to let the front desk fitness staﬀ know if something is broken as over the past several months only two service calls have been received for shower issues. PWD has been proactive and used this question to initiate

another service call for the PWD Shops to schedule repairs on the showers. Q2. Is there any possibility that the Post Office on NAS I could be opened on Mondays instead of Saturdays? Also, is there any possibility that the monthly audits could be accomplished outside of normal working hours so that the Post Office would not have to close to its customers? A2. Thank you for your questions concerning Postal Operations. The professionals at the Fleet Logistics Center Sigonella strive to provide the community with the finest in customer service. When asked, the majority of the community prefers the current postal hours. Additionally, by having the NAS 1 Post Office open on Saturday, rather than Monday (when there are already limited services open on NAS I), customers are provided with 6 consecutive days a week in Postal Finance Operations. The Post Office on NAS II is open Monday to meet your mailing needs, and our current operating hours at that location is Mon - Fri, 0900-1600. The NAS community should know that internal postal audits are meant to support both the postal operation and ultimately the

officer, customer, and are not intended to inconvenience them. By regulation, postal audits need to be random, and are not to be predetermined or known by the oﬃce. The auditing process only occurs once a month, and usually takes two hours to complete. Per instruction, audits conducted during the last three working days of the month are not considered random, and only upon completion of the audit can normal customer service resume. We appreciate your patience for these short durations, and if you have any additional questions regarding NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center Postal operations, we invite you to contact the Postal Oﬃcer at 624 2023/4520. Q3. We have 2 children that were in the CDC during indoc and really enjoyed that assistance. However, we have tried to use hourly care at the CDC for my spouse's doctor’s visits, etc. and most of time it is not available. Is there anyway to allow for more providers or times so we can use this service? A3. We are able to give priority to children for INDOC but for

hourly care it is on a first-come firstserve basis. Currently, we have limited spaces for hourly care in some of our age groups. Our Child Development Home (CDH) providers are also available for hourly care. Please call the CDC at 6243736 for reservations at the CDC or contact information for our CDH providers. Again, I appreciate each of the service members here at NAS Sigonella and I appreciate all the support the community provides to keep NAS Sigonella the best military base in the Navy!

Sigonella MS/HS Culture of Relay Health – A new way to communicate Kindness kick-oﬀ with your healthcare team By Sabrina Sabel Junior at Sigonella MS/HS

The Signature

This year, Oct. 31 was not just Halloween for the kids of Sigonella Middle/High School, it was also the Amazing Race/Culture of Kindness Kick-oﬀ Event! The race started at the end of lunch in the Jag (the school gym) where all the students were divided into twenty (20) teams consisting of both middle and high school students. Every team had to complete a series of activities in a certain order. The activities ranged from making up songs and solving math problems to making your way across a sea of lava without touching the ground.

Ms. Schelecter’s team, members Haylee Gagnon, 6th grade, Tyler Simpson, 7th grade, Scott Barton, 8th grade, Austin Bay, 9th grade, Dontay Graham, 11th grade and Olivia Crumpacker, 12th grade, was the first group to finish all station activities. Mr. McCarthy’s team, consisting of Ethan Bowling, 6th grade, Emilee Maldonado 6th grade, Mason Youberg, 7th grade, Isabel Allen, 7th grade, Joshua McKissick, 7th grade, Stephanie Shattuck, 8th grade, Jared Hinton, 9th grade, Halie Gasporra, 10th grade and Davonte Stevenson, 11th grade, won the overall “Amazing Race Spirit and Leadership Award” for KINDNESS, continued on page 12

By Your Medical Homeport Teams

In an eﬀort to improve the quality of your healthcare, the Medical Homeports at Naval Hospital Sigonella and the Flight Line Clinic are utilizing a web-based patient communication system called Relay Health. With Relay Health, wherever patients have internet access, they also have access to their healthcare team. Patients login to their Relay Health account and then use the system to request an appointment, a refill of their medication(s), lab results or medical advice. Those who are using the sy-

Commander U.S. Naval Air Station Sigonella Capt. Scott Butler

Deputy Public Affairs Officer Dott. Alberto Lunetta alberto.lunetta.it@eu.navy.mil

Executive Officer Cmdr. Eric Vosler

Writer/Editor Tracie Barnthouse tracie.barnthouse@eu.navy.mil

Command Master Chief CMDCM David Graham

Public Affairs Officer Lt. Tim Page timothy.page@eu.navy.mil

Staff Writers/ Photographers MC1 Christopher Delano MC2 Gary Prill GM2 Kris Carmody MCSN Cameron Bramham MCSA Brian Glunt

stem are very satisfied, noting that they neither wait on the phone when requesting an appointment nor play “phone tag” with their provider and nurses when asking for their lab results or medical advice. “I really love this system,” says one user, “it makes it so much easier to communicate with my provider.” Patients who want to register with Relay Health, send an email to: RelayHealthSig@med.navy.mil . Patients are asked to include each family member’s full name and primary care provider in order to be linked to the correct provider. If you don’t

know who your primary care provider is, include that information and whether you receive your primary care at the Flight Line Clinic or the Hospital. If easier, you may also register in person at the Medical Homeport front desks at the Naval Hospital or Flight Line Clinic. Those who already have a Relay Health account established at another military treatment facility can login to their account and reassign themselves to their primary care provider at Naval Hospital Sigonella.

This civilian enterprise (CE) newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the military services overseas. Contents of The Signature are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense (DoD), or the U.S. Navy. The appearance of advertisingin this newspaper, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the DoD orStampa Generale S.r.l., of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publications hall 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 factorof the purchaser, user or patron. A confirmed violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policyby an advertiser will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source until the violationis corrected. The Signature is published weekly by Stampa Generale S.r.l., Sig. Bruno Brandi, Publisher, Naval Support Activity, Capodichino (Naples), Italy Tel. 081-568-7884, Fax 081-568-7887. E-mail: stampagenerale@tin.it. Editorial submissions are welcomed from all Naval Air Station Sigonella departments, divisions and tenant commands. Editorial submissions should be sent to the Public Affairs Office via thesig@eu.navy.mil, guard mail stop #68 or hand-delivered to our office no laterthan the close of business on the Friday proceeding the expected publication date. All articles submittedby non-staff members will be considered contributing writers. The Signature will not publish anyanonymous articles. All advertisements in this publication are the property of Stampa Generale S.r.l. Any reproduction of advertisements in The Signature is unauthorized without the written consentof the publisher.

The Signature editorial office is located at: Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily PSC 812 Box 3020, FPO, AE 09627 Telephone: 095-86-5440 • DSN 624-5440

Email thesig@eu.navy.mil to place your classified advertisement or community announcement.

NoVEmbEr 11, 2011

Carrier Classic allows players to support troops By MC3 Shannon Burns Defense Media Activity - Navy FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (NNS) -- The upcoming inaugural Quicken Loans Carrier Classic basketball game will kick oﬀ the National College Athletic Association (NCAA) 2011 season aboard USS Carl Vinson on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. The University of North Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels will face oﬀ against the Michigan State University (MSU) Spartans in this unique opportunity to support the troops. "When I first heard about the whole big idea of the carrier I was kinda nervous because this is a game that puts you to the test," said Branden Dawson, Michigan State Spartans Guard. "This is something big for the program and the players. We're hyped and excited [to be in] this big atmosphere with the troops, the press and the millions of people that have a chance to watch the game." Both teams expressed their gratitude to be among the first players to participate in the classic. "I'm so honored that they chose UNC to be able to go out there to San Diego and not only represent our school but also support the troops," said Harrison Barnes, UNC Tar Heels Forward. "They do so much for us. They go out there and put their lives on CARRIER, continued on page 12

traffic Numbers Jan. 11 Oct. 11

Jan. 10 Oct. 10

Accidents

267

286

Injuries

DUIs

Traffic Deaths

Please, don’t become a statistic!

Tremor

Page: It's amazing how close the standings are this many weeks into the season (except for one of our panelist - I don't think I need to name names...) GM2 must have become humble at the top or he has already ran through his repertoire. Good luck to the rest of the panelists this week, I'd like to see everyone go 0-6. Now for the picks! Heisman Trophy frontrunner Andrew Luck and the Stanford Cardinal have been impressive and can rack up a ton of points. Averaging almost 50 points a game, it will be difficult for the Ducks to keep up. I think this will end in another shootout as the Stanford vs. USC game did back on the 29th of October (only without the Overtimes!) Florida State is starting to get back on track after the tough stretch losing to Oklahoma, Clemson, and Wake Forest in consecutive games, although 2 of those 3 were on the road and the other was against the #1 Sooners at that time. Miami simply can't do anything "well" and on the road it's only going to get rougher. As an SEC fan, the home team always starts out with the advantage. Add that with Auburn's terrible (and that is being kind) passing game, the Dogs will take advantage early. Drew Brees and company have some explaining to do and days of getting back to the drawing board after really getting THUMPED by the 0-6 Rams at the time. The Saints only scored in trash time after the Rams set back in a Prevent letting the time run out. Stephen Jackson ran for 159 yards. Unless they figure something out, Michael Turner will have his way. Turner turned in a 122 yard day against the stout Lion defense so it doesn't look that good for "who dat" nation. How are the Giants winning? It seems like they just find a way to get it done. However, not this week as Frank Gore and company shut down Manning. Another issue is the health of Ahmad Bradshaw. Can they overcome it? I think not. Prior to week 7, Oakland seemed to be on pace for a great season and a playoff run. Then RunDMC got hurt and it went to crap losing to the Chiefs....YES the Chiefs, 28-0. Nuff said! McHenry: Well, sports fans, another successful week of mediocrity from the one panelist leading from the back. Four missed field goals by Alabama? Really?? And why is it when I pick the favorites, they decide to suck? Thank you Pittsburgh and Buffalo. Okay, enough moaning about last week...on to this week.

First to college. Oregon vs. Stanford. If a tree falls on a duck and no one is around to hear it, does it still quack? Let's face it, Andrew Luck is probably one of the best quarterbacks in the college game today. Touted as the perennial favorite to be the number one pick in the draft, Luck will show scouts why he should remain there by lighting up the Oregon defense. Granted Oregon scores a lot so this should be a high scoring affair (unlike that snorefest last week between numbers one and two), but Stanford will pull this out in the end for the victory. Miami vs. Florida State. In this instate rivalry between cheaters, um, I mean, Florida athletes (what's the difference?), Florida State will come out on top. Miami has been up and down all season while Florida State is riding a fourgame winning steak, absolutely destroying the competition during this period. This week will be number five in a row for Florida State as they take down the Hurricanes of Miami. Auburn vs. Georgia. Georgia started the year with two back-to-back losses and fell out of the rankings. The Bulldogs have reeled off seven wins in a row since then, are in the top 15, and look to continue their winning streak against a very streaky Auburn team. Auburn has a few good wins, but they have a horrible passing game that will doom them against Georgia. Look for Georgia to win this one going away. Now for the pros. Two division rivals and a cross-country affair is on tap this for this week's picks. The New Orleans Saints have been a little suspect over the past few weeks so it's hard to determine which team will show up against Atlanta. Atlanta is on a roll and looks to knock off the Saints at home for first place in the division. This will be a tough one, but Atlanta will prevail at home and send the Saints to playing second fiddle. Maybe because it's that I don't like them or maybe because it's that I need them to lose in order for Philadelphia to move closer to first, but I'm going to pick the NY Giants to lose to San Francisco in this week's contest. I just don't believe Eli is that good and I don't think he can carry this team if their running game goes south, which is what will happen against the best run defense in the league in the Niners. This won't be a runaway, but San Francisco will win in the end (I hope). San Diego is smarting from two tough losses in a row (although the first one was all on Rivers) and looking to bounce back. What better team to bounce than the hated Oakland Raiders? San Diego is so much better than its record suggests, but it's only the result on

GM2 Bryan Silveri CMAA Oﬃce

the field, not on paper, that matters. This will be a good contest between division leaders (at 4-4, go figure), but at home, San Diego will give its fans what it wants most - a win. San Diego over Oakland (sorry Chaplain Kennedy). And that's it for now, sports fans. Hope your picks are better than mine! Dembinski: NCAA: #7Oregon @ #4Stanford: PAC 12 elite match-up at Stanford under the lights. These two teams have played impressively, and will provide a good game. I think Stanford will move to 10-0, remain #1 in PAC 12, and remain top 5 in the nation. Miami (FL) @ FSU: FSU #20Auburn @ #15 Georgia: Georgia wins at home, knocking Auburn down in the polls. NFL: New York Giants @ San Francisco 49ers: These teams are well balanced, when you compare their positions on offense and defense yardages in the NFL. The Giants prefer the pass, while the Niners prefer to run; both are 6th in the league, respectively. San Francisco definitely has an edge on defense, being #1 against the run, which will force Manning to throw. Also, on the 49ers offense is impressive RB, Frank Gore. Gore has amassed over 100ypg rushing in all of the last 5 games. Against the #25 rushing defense, I have a feeling he'll be able to find gaps and get another 100+ yards. Another thing I am factoring in is the margin of victory. 100+ The Giants have been merely eking out victories in the past 3 weeks, by only 3-4 points. Meanwhile the 49ers have been winning with a consistent TD+ margin over their opponents. If not for the Cowboys OT field goal in week 2, the Niners would be undefeated. I see these teams playing a good game, but San Francisco will keep their streak and win at home, moving to 8-1 for the first time since the 90s! Oakland @ San Diego: Tied for #1 in the AFC-West, these two teams will fight hard for the lead. The Raiders were embarrassed by a shutout loss to the Kansas City Chiefs two weeks ago, followed by a loss to the Broncos. This put them to 4-4, equal with the Chargers. And oh, those Chargers! They are on a 3 week losing streak! Not that these two don't have potential, with top 5 offenses in the nation, Chargers #4 passing and Raiders #3 rushing. I think San Diego will be able to perform better on defense, stopping any chance for the Raiders to switch it up and throw. That slight edged, as well as being at home will give them

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just enough to win. I see San Diego winning over Oakland for this in-state, divisional rivalry. New Orleans @ Atlanta: New Orleans leads the NFC-South with Atlanta hot on their heels. The Saints passing game is going to be too tough for the Falcons D to overcome. New Orleans moves on to 7-3, remains #1 in the division. Squall: NCAA Oregon vs. Stanford Stanford= Andrew Luck is one of the best players in college right now. Stanford has so much fire power on offense and their defense is fast enough to keep up with Oregon. Even though Oregon has a great offense, their defense is very suspect and Luck will pick it apart. Let’s go get em Stanford. Miami (FL) vs. Florida State Florida St. to me, but this will be a close game. I feel that Miami does not have the fire power to beat FSU on the road. Miami is a very exciting team but FSU will not lose this rivalry at home. Trust and believe this will be one for the ages. Let’s go FSU. Auburn vs. Georgia Georgia is fighting for respect and the SEC East bid to the SEC championship. They will not lose this game at home and will dominate Auburn during the while game. It will be a tough fight for the Bulldogs but between the hedges is a hard place to win. NFL New Orleans vs. Atlanta New Orleans. We all know that my favorite team the SAINTS will walk away with this win with ease. I mean it is a rivalry game but let’s be serious the Saints are areal. Our running game is so prolific I mean Sproles, Ingram, Thomas, Ivory... just pick one. Tight ends in Thomas and my man Graham. We can not forget about the defense that will blitz you so much that you will be on pins and needles the whole game. SAINTS will take this one big. NY Giants vs. San Francisco Giants. San Fran to me is a fluke and the G-men are here to stay. Eli will have a great game and the Giants defense will prevail and make a statement. San Fran has a great team but still have not proven to me that they are the top in the league. G-men stand up Giants Oakland vs. San Diego San Diego is too powerful for the Oakland Raiders and will man power them at home but it might be a scary game so watch out but Oakland has a long way to go.

Lt. Tim Page NAS Sigonella PAO

Ashley Dembinski WIC oﬃce admin. assistant

LSSN Nathaniel Squall

LSC Sigonella

Lt. Chris McHenry NAS Sigonella Admin Oﬃcer

New Orleans vs. Atlanta

New Orleans

Atlanta

New Orleans

Atlanta

NY Giants vs. San Francisco

NY Giants

San Francisco

NY Giants

San Francisco

Oakland vs. San Diego

San Diego

Oregon vs. Stanford

San Diego Oregon

Stanford

Miami (FL) vs. Florida State

Florida State

Auburn vs. Georgia

Georgia

Overall Record: 41-18 NFL: 18-9 NCAA: 23-9

Overall Record: 40-19 NFL: 20-7 NCAA: 20-12

Overall Record: 40-19 NFL: 18-9 NCAA: 22-10

Overall Record: 39-20 NFL: 18-9 NCAA: 21-11

Dott. Stella

Overall Record: 31-28 NFL: 14-12 NCAA: 17-15

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NoVEmbEr 11, 2011

Veteran’s Day

Safety Stand-down

Ricotta Cheese Workshop 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. x4291

Survive & Thrive 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. x4291 Great American Smoke-Out

Thanksgiving

Marine Corps Ball

Sig Safe 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. x4291 Dodgeball Tournament

No newspaper

FFSC can be reached at x4291 American Red Cross at x4900 Does your command or organization have an event you’d like to see on the Community Calendar? Email us at thesig@eu.navy.mil and let us know!

Piccolo

Palermo

Oxidiana

Happy Wok

NoVEmbEr 11, 2011

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Fleet and Family Support Center Administration Building Bldg. 319 (NAS I) Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. DSN 624-4291 Commercial 095-56-4291

Gambino

Empower. Enrich. EDUCATE.

We’re tooting our own horn By Dr. Marlene Casel

itation visit. treatment of their clientele. I am pleased to report that For those of you who Every three years all your Sigonella FFSC passed accredprovided support during our acNavy FFSC’s are required to renew their accreditation rating. As small itation with “no findings”. The accreditation preparation process— as we are, we are still held to more creditation team noted the following thank you for helping the FFSC than 150 standards covering 29 program strengths: (1) a highly suc- prepare for this inspection. For separate program areas. The ac- cessful marketing approach captures those of you who participated in creditation visit includes an in- the attention of a large percentage of the accreditation focus group— depth inspection of SOP’s, the population; (2) Internal evalua- thank you for taking the time to operational processes, adherence tions of feedback provide the mech- share your thoughts with the acto CNIC and OPNAV instruc- anism for continuous program creditation team. While all of us at the tions, reporting processes, finan- improvement; (3) ICR youth programs provide a unique introduction FFSC are proud of this accreditacial and human resource to the local community; (4) focus tion outcome, we are very aware management, quality assurance, group feedback indicates program that our customers have the greatwork climate, and customer feedflexibility with Command requireest influence on FFSC program back. The three areas that are the ments, and the customers’ ability to development. Your continued most vulnerable for high-risk identify individual FFSC staff with input allows us to always meet deficits in operations are clinical specific program areas; (5) New Paryour needs. Please keep your comcounseling, FAP, and SAPR. Even ents Support program provides a ments coming in! Our job is to with all the preparation tools availpro-active, creative approach to supsupport this population—and, it’s able, we understand that only porting young families; (6) counselyour feedback that creates the about 1% of the FFSC’s actually experience a “no findings” accred- ing and advocacy program staff are guidelines for us to do just that! highly skilled and invested in ethical The Fleet & Family Support Center oﬀers a series of workshops to help ease your transition: Intercultural Relations (ICR) Survive & Thrive History of Sicily Seminar Customs and Traditions Seminar

Motta

Oxidiana

F.lli Chiechio

Pentagon

Marchi

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NoVEmbEr 11, 2011 Alberto Lunetta The Signature Staff

Catania Bellini Opera announces new season plans After announcing the 201112 symphonic season, the Catania Bellini Opera has recently unveiled the new lineup for the upcoming operatic season. Whether you are an opera fan or just want to enjoy the pleasure of listening to an opera in a breathtaking venue, you should not miss the chance of enjoying some overwhelmingly powerful and romantic music. Last week, the Catania Opera Company has announced its 2011/2012 International Season, which opens in January with Bizet’s Carmen. The season will oﬀer five full operas and two ballets. It will open on January 15 with Georges Bizet’s Carmen that will be performed on Jan. 15, 17, 18, 19, 22, 24 and 25. Carmen will be followed by the following operas /ballets: Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca (Feb. 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, 23 and 25) ; Sinfonie in Danza (ballet: March 20, 21, 22, 22, 23, 24 and 25) ; Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro (May 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13) ; Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake Ballet (May 26, 27, 29, 30, 30, 31, June 1) ; Gioacchino Rossini’s L'Italiana in Algeri (Oct. 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, Nov. 2 and 3); Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata (Nov. 29, 30, Dec. 2, 4, 5, 7 and 9). “Despite the budget constraints and the recession, we managed to oﬀer once again a high-quality opera and ballet lineup to opera lovers,” Bellini Opera Superintendent Gari Cin-

Michael Nyman performs at Catania Bellini Opera On Sunday, Nov. 13 internationally acclaimed British composer Michael Nyman and his band will perform a special concert at the Catania Opera House at 9 p.m. "As one of Britain's most innovative and celebrated composers, Michael Nyman's work encompasses operas and string quartets, film soundtracks and orchestral concertos. Far more than merely a composer, he's also a performer, conductor, bandleader, pianist, author, musicologist and now a photographer and film-maker. Although he's far too modest to allow the description 'Renaissance Man', his restless creativity and multi-faceted art has made him one of the most fascinating and influential cultural icons of our times (http://www.michaelnyman.com)." Michael Nyman and his band will perform music from the following most

Photo by Bellini Opera House Press Oﬃce

Sigonella opera buﬀs will be happy to know that the new Catania Opera 2011-12 season, which was presented at a last week’s press conference, will open in January with Bizet’s Carmen and will include five full operas and two ballets. quegrana said during the press conference. The enchanting Bellini Theater is named after Vincenzo Bellini, one of the most important opera composers in the history of music, who was born in Catania in 1801. Architect Carlo Sada (1809-1873) designed this amazing teatro that was inaugurated in 1890 with one of Bellini’s masterpiece: “Norma.” It features a 105-member orchestra, 1,200 seats and a choir of 84 singers. This elegant building is located in the historic hearth of Catania representing the “heart” of the city’s artistic

life. The auditorium has an excellent acoustics thanks to the concave shape of the ground under the floor of the theater. Ernesto Bellanti painted the frescoes, on the ceiling, that represent the “Triumph of Bellini and scenes from four of his famous operas. For more information, subscriptions packages or single tickets call 095-7150921 or visit the following website where you can purchase tickets on line: http://www.teatromassimobellini.it/

popular and unforgettable award-winning soundtracks: Wonderland, The Piano, Drowning by Numbers, The Libertine, Peter Greenaway’s films The Draughtman’s Contract and Prospero Books. This concert will follow the two concerts dedicated to his music which will be held on Nov. 11 and 12 at the Catania Opera House kicking oﬀ the new symphonic season. For more information and tickets call 095-7150921 or visit www.teatromassimobellini.it

cord is the first of its kind, and Guinness organizers had stipulated that the baristas must make at least 300 cups of coffee in order to be awarded the first world title. Cocco and Torres far exceeded organizer’s expectations and averaged about one coffee every 6 seconds. The Guinness World Record judges insisted on caffeinated perfection. 74 coffees were excluded for failing to be filled to at least 20 mm, or sloppy execution, bringing the final record-setting count to 623. The judging event was held at Fieramilano on the 23rd of October 2011, but Cocco and Torres trained for months beforehand. The two baristas, who work in downtown Milan, spent 4 months practicing their techniques at least 3 times a week- carrying out 350 machine tests to get their coffee-making speed up to par. VIDEO : http://www.tgcom.mediaset.it/magazine/articoli/1025557/italiani-i-baristi-piu-veloci-del-mondo%3Cbr%3E62 3-tazzine-di-espresso-in-unora.shtml

Milan Baristas Set World Record: 623 Coﬀees in 1 Hour Story by Italy Magazine Gianni Cocco and Danilo Torres make quite the pair behind the bar. The two baristas managed to serve up 623 tiny cups of espresso in just 60 minutes to set the Guinness World Record for most coﬀees made in an hour. The re-

Angela

Mojito

NoVEmbEr 11, 2011

PAgE 7

A dead dictator who draws tens of thousands in Italy By www.nytimes.com PREDAPPIO, Italy — The dress code was rigorously black. The chants nostalgic, a medley of Fascist truisms peppered with clipped bursts of “Duce, Duce, Duce” that was sharply shushed when the straggly parade entered the cemetery in this central Italian town late last month to arrive at its mecca: the tomb of the former Fascist dictator, Benito Mussolini. “Why, why do you come here, who is this man Mussolini?” asked the celebrant, Giulio Tam, a traditionalist Catholic priest. “We come to thank this man for the most European, most Mediterranean, most original of ideas,” answered Father Tam, a familiar figure in right-wing circles, before he began reciting the rosary. So it goes in Predappio, three times a year, to commemorate the day of Mussolini’s birth (on July 29, 1883, in a house not far from the cemetery), his death (at the hands of partisans on April, 28, 1945) and the so-called March on Rome, which brought Mussolini’s party to power in Italy in October 1922. “I’ve been coming here, at least once or twice a year, since Aug. 31, 1957, the day they brought the corpse of the Duce here,” said Marcello, a personable 85-year-old veteran who asked that his last name not be used. “My faith in him has remained intact.” They came in busloads, from Turin to Palermo, on a pilgrimage of sorts. “Like Christians going to St. Peter’s, except that here some wear a fez,” said Gianni, a man from Turin, of the black felt hat in the shape of a truncated cone that became part of the uniform of the Fascist black shirts worn here by a handful of meticulously groomed young men. “But we’re not anachronistic; we have credit cards. We don’t want to restore that era, we just don’t want to deny it either.” Still others came to signify an epoch in which they believe that Italy, in contrast to today, counted for something in the world. “Italy needs a distinct change, we’re in the hands of politicians who are unworthy to have been voted,” said Enrico Cozzani, the owner of a security firm based in Lucca.

DAO

Photo By Mandel Ngan, AFP/Getty Images

Giulio Tam, a priest with the Society of St. Pius X, a traditionalist Catholic sect that broke with the Vatican 20 years ago, recited the rosary at the tomb of former Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini in Predappio, Italy.

President Obama... "ama" l'Italia By Italy Magazine/USA Today

“We’re the laughingstock of Europe.” Angelo Aquilani, the Florence-based coordinator for central Italy of the Nuova Destra Sociale, a right-wing group, was more succinct. “We love the Duce,” he said. “He is our faith.” Such veneration weighed on Italy’s leaders in 1945. After Mussolini was killed, a decision was made to obscure his grave site, much the way military oﬃcials in the Transitional National Council of Libya chose to bury Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi in a secret location last month and American commandos buried Osama bin Laden at sea in May, to avoid creating a shrine for their supporters. After Mussolini’s corpse was hung up on meat hooks on April 29, 1945, in Piazzale Loreto in Milan, where citizens vented their fury at their former leader, he was buried in an unmarked grave in a nearby cemetery. A year later, neo-Fascist loyalists dug up his body and hid it in a convent in Lombardy until 1957, when the remains were returned to Mussolini’s widow, who buried them in the family crypt in Predappio. In fact, Italian authorities’ efforts to hide the burial site backfired on them, as its location rapidly became a matter of intense interest. “The vitality of Mussolini’s afterworld life was great as long as the mausoleum didn’t exist. A corpse that is nowhere is everywhere,” said Sergio Luzzatto, a historian at the University of Turin who wrote “The Body of Il Duce,” about the corpse’s vicissitudes. The documentary “Il

Corpo del Duce,” inspired by the book, will be shown at the Turin Film Festival this month. “Italians lived the absence of the body as a presence, so continuing the love story between Italians and their leader, which was very carnal in many ways,” Mr. Luzzatto said. That story ended when the body was returned to the family and “it became fixed and sepulchral,” primarily in the guest books at the tomb, where visitors can sign and leave comments. Those books are now archived in a room on the top floor of the House of Memories, the museum of Duce memorabilia opened in 2001 by Domenico Morosini, a successful Lombardy businessman, in what was once a Mussolini summer home. The registers are shelved under a beam inscribed with what Mr. Morosini said was a Mussolini citation: “It is not impossible to govern Italians, merely useless.” The museum gets between 2,000 and 3,000 people a year and might attract more, but Mr. Morosini has found it hard to advertise. Road signs to the museum “constantly get knocked down by left-wingers,” he said. On Predappio’s main street, a handful of shops do brisk business in Fascist memorabilia, like the Predappio Tricolore store, which hawks everything from truncheons to Mussolini calendars. The calendars are also distributed through newsstands, “where they sell better than sexy calendars,” said one shop owner, Pierluigi Pompignoli, giving a straight-arm salute to a group of German visitors who replied, “Sieg heil.” Mussolini’s tomb gets between 80,000 and 100,000 visitors a year, with peaks during the three commemorations, which in recent years have been presided over by Father Tam. On Sunday, during a rosary recital interspersed with commentary, he warned of the imminent Islamic invasion of Europe, accelerated by the events in North Africa this year and abetted by a liberalist political class in Europe and an “Americanized youth” open to heresies like gay marriage. “ Mussolini was right; he’d be crying in his tomb to see that Italy has been reduced to this,” Father Tam said (though gay marriage is in fact illegal in Italy). “We’re proud of the Crusades,” he said, drawing loud cheers and applause from the crowd. This is just the kind of tourism that Predappio’s center-left mayor, Giorgio Frassineti, would rather avoid. “We refuse a vision of Predappio of the few, of the people who attend the commemorations, but also of those from the extreme left who want to cancel its history,” Mr. Frassineti said. “These people just keep another kind of tourism at large.”

On the 29th of October, President Barack Obama delivered the keynote address at the 36th annual National Italian American Foundation Gala, in Washington, DC., an annual event that attracts some of the nation’s top political and entertainment luminaries of Italian descent. President Obama praised the contribution of Italian Americans in the United States and reminded the over 2,000 Italian Americans gathered at the venue, that Italians weren’t always welcome in the U.S., and that the history of the U.S. Italian-American community oﬀers lessons on how to regard the struggles of today’s immigrants. The President also joked he wasn’t lucky enough to have Italian ancestry. "I do not, in fact, have any Italian ancestry," Obama said. "Not all of us are that lucky. "I can't sing like Frankie Avalon," Obama said, honoring the former teenage idol who was in attendance. "Where's Frankie? ... He looks the same! Unbelievable!" "I can't cook as well as any of your grandmothers," Obama then told the entire crowd in Washington. "Michelle won't let me have seconds or thirds anymore." "So all I've got to oﬀer is a last name that ends in a vowel," Obama said. "That's all I've got." We would add that the President surname ends in "ama" which in Italian means "he/she loves".......Italy of course! Obama also read out an honor roll of Italian Americans: "I am biased, but I think Nancy (Pelosi) was one of the best Speakers of the House this country ever had. She was no doubt the best Italian American Speaker of the House we ever had. And I believe that she will be the best Speaker of the House again in 2013. ... Nevertheless, it is good to see so many amici. (Laughter.) I see many proud sons and daughters of the old country. I see a couple dozen proud Italian American members of

Congress here tonight. ... I've also made sure to keep close the advice of Italian Americans by asking some of them to serve in my Cabinet. And as Nancy mentioned, we could not be prouder of Janet Napolitano, who is keeping us safe every single day. And my outstanding Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta. And, as was mentioned, even though she's not here these evening, Jill Biden is proud to come from a long line of Giacoppas. And so she sends her regards. Tonight, I think it's also important for us to honor the proud service of the countless Italian Americans who have fought for this country since our founding, and who wear the uniform today, from the Chief of Staﬀ of the Army, General Ray Odierno, to a hero whom I was proud to bestow our nation's highest military decoration, and was the first one in a very long time to personally receive the Medal of Honor, staﬀ sergeant Salvatore Giunta. So in a sense, every American joins us in celebrating this anniversary of Italian unification. What would America be without the contributions of Italy and Italian Americans? What would we be without the daring voyages of Columbus, and Verrazano, and Vespucci? What would our science and technology be without not just DaVinci and Galileo, but Fermi? What would movies and music be without the magic of Capra, or Sinatra, or Sophia Loren -- my favorite ... I'm just saying. What would sports be without the guts and the grit of DiMaggio and Lombardi –- and LaRussa? ... What would this city be without the influence of Roman thought and architecture, the Piccirilli Brothers who -- their work on the Lincoln Memorial; Brumidi's magnificent touch on the Capitol? Although, I must say, it might be nice to know what our politics would -- like without the contribution of Machiavelli. That's been internalized a little too much here in Washington."

PAgE 8

NoVEmbEr 11, 2011

“Time flies” is such a cliché and the saying has proven to be no truer than a tour in Sicily. I remember arriving here like it was yesterday; attending INDOC classes with people who have long PCS’d, or who are clinging onto their last few months, having extended in the hope of seeing more of Europe, or exploring the charming towns dotting the Sicilian landscape. It’s funny, in the last few months here, I got a sense of urgency – there was so much to see that I hadn’t seen, countries I had on my list to visit becoming less and less of a reality, and just an underlying current of “I need to do this NOW.” I’m sure everyone who PCS’s goes through the same thing. They get here with every intention of seeing Europe, being totally immersed in another culture and learning their way of life, but then get sidetracked by the everyday. Travel gives way to deadlines, work obligations, and life, and before you know it, it’s time to

leave. “Don’t get stuck in the triangle” is a typical phrase repeated in INDOC, and I’m here to repeat it again. As tempting as it is to go from work to home- home to work, don’t do it. Go wander the mall after work, pick up a slice of pizza or arancini, drink a café, and people watch. Soak in the Italian lifestyle and embrace the uniquely Italian experiences. I’ve done my fair share of travel over the past 3.5 years, and here’s a run-down of my favorite places on Sicily, and in the surrounding region. 1. Taormina. On weekends, if we had nothing planned, chances are, we ended up in Taormina. The restaurants, the views, and the atmosphere are all wonderful, and I would highly suggest you make it your “go to” destination in Sicily. Insider tip: don’t take the bus up into town, instead, drive through the tunnel, park in the parking garage on the

other side, and walk up into town. 2. Fontana Bianche. This sand beach down past Siracusa is amazing in the summer, and is well worth a visit. Grab a chair at a lido and enjoy the clear water. You can choose from a number of lidos, and I honestly don’t think you can go wrong with wherever you choose to park your beach chair. 3. Monti Rossi. This is a pinecone forest that’s full of trails and places to wander. There are grills down at the bottom for you to cook on, and you can easily make a day exploring. It’s located in Nicolosi, which is in and of itself a highly recommend town to visit. The pasta al pistacchio at da Alfio is the best in Sicily, in my honest opinion. 4. Malta. Only a 30-minute flight from wheels up to wheels down? This is a no-brainer. There’s so much history and so much to do in Malta. I recommend visiting the walled city of Mdina. It’s amazing. Stay in St. Julian’s

Bay and you’ll be smack dab in the middle of the action, or go further inland for a little peace and relaxation. You can’t go wrong. 5. Oktoberfest in Munich. This is a must do when you’re stationed here. I took a direct flight from Catania to Munich and met some friends, and it was such an amazing time. A tip: in order to get a beer in a beer tent, you have to have made reservations, and tents are booked very quickly. If you plan on going to Oktoberfest in Sept. 2012, book your table in a tent (we had reservations in Lowenbrau) by Jan. or else you’ll be hard pressed to find availability. 6. Santorini. During the summer, you can find direct flights from Catania to Santorini, and I would recommend this as an adult’s only getaway. We stayed in the town of Oia, which has the most amazing sunsets of all of Santorini. Take a catamaran boat

tour to the beaches, enjoy fresh feta cheese and Greek yogurt, and spend your days soaking in the sun. You won’t be sorry! 7. The northern Italian cities: Florence, Rome, San Gimignano, Venice, Verona. Do them all. You’re in Italy -visit Italy! With the exception of Santorini above, the oﬀ-island trips listed were done in four days or less. With a little pre-planning and research, you can see so much of Europe during your tour here. Take advantage of your location so you don’t end up scrambling to see as much as you can when the end is in sight. Thank you, NAS Sigonella community for the past 3.5 years. My family and I leave here with a maximum olive oil shipment, a few handy Italian phrases, and most importantly – life-long friendships. Take care of each other. Ciao!

Santorini

Taormina

Pietro

Gelso Bianco

New Place

NoVEmbEr 11, 2011

Munich

Malta

Monti Rossi Fontana Bianche

Magnolia

Moroboshi

PAgE 9

PAgE 10

NoVEmbEr 11, 2011

Friday, Nov. 11 *Breakfast: Rolled Oats, Grilled Sausage Links, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets, Eggs to Order, Roasted Potatoes, Waffles, Asstd Doughnuts, Cinnamon Rolls. *Lunch: Cream of Mushroom Soup, Lasagna, Tempura Fish, Baked Fish, Steamed Rice, Calico Cabbage, Herbed Broccoli, Strawberry Cake, Lemon Meringue Pie, Fruit Gelatin. Speed line: Grilled Cheese/Hamburger, Baked Beans, French Fried Potatoes. *Dinner: Egg Drop Soup, Chicken Cacciatore, Rice Pilaf, Southern Green Beans, Savory Squash, Strawberry Cake, Lemon Meringue Pie, Fruit Gelatin. Sunday, Nov. 13 *Breakfast: Rolled Oats, Grilled Minute Steak, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets, Eggs to Order, Roasted Potatoes, French Toast, Asstd Doughnuts, Italian Croissant. *Brunch: Breakfast Items, Knickerbockers Soup, Steamed Rice, Pork Chops W. Mushroom Gravy, Corn O’Brien, Green Beans, Marble Cake, Sugar Cookies. *Dinner: Nutty Split Pea Soup, Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Rice, Mixed Vegetables, Steamed Asparagus, Natural Pan Gravy, Marble Cake, Sugar Cookies. Tuesday, Nov. 15 *Breakfast: Farina, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets, Eggs to Order, Roasted Potatoes, French Toast, Biscuits and Gravy, Asstd Doughnuts, Blueberry Muffins. *Lunch: Egg Drop Soup, Sweet & Sour Pork, Chicken Chop suey , Egg Foo Young, Chinese Fried Rice, Chow Mein Noodles, Oriental Fried Cabbage, Corn Kernel, Fruit Cocktail Upside Down Cake, Blueberry Pie. *Speed line: Frankfurter on rolls, Onion Rings, Macaroni & Cheese. Dinner: Cream of Broccoli Soup, Beef Stew, Seasoned Boiled Pasta, Spanish Style Beans, Carrots Slices, Fruit Cocktail Upside Down Cake, Blueberry Pie. Thursday, Nov. 17 *Breakfast: Hominy Grits, Corned Beef Hash, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets, Eggs to Order, Roasted Potatoes, French Toast, Asstd Doughnuts, Raisin Muffin. *Lunch: Vegetable Supreme Soup, Roast Pork loin, Baked Chicken, Steamed Rice, Roasted Garlic Potatoes, Seasoned Mix Vegetables, Club Spinach, Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, Cherry Cobbler. Speedline: Italian Sausage W/Onion & Pepper. *Dinner: Tomato Bouillon Soup, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Rice Pilaf, Natural Pan Gravy, Green Beans, Corn Kernel, Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, Cherry Cobbler.

Saturday, Nov. 12 *Breakfast: Farina, Grilled Ham Slices, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets, Eggs to Order, Roasted Potatoes, Buttermilk Pancakes, Asstd Doughnuts, Crumb Cake. *Brunch: Breakfast Items, Chicken Gumbo Soup, Roast Pork, Cottage Fried Potatoes, Tossed Green Rice, Peas w/ Carrots, Cauliflower Au Gratin, Brown Gravy, Velvet Pound Cake, Vanilla Cream Pie. *Dinner: Zesty Bean Soup, Veal Steak W/Mushroom Gravy, Steamed Rice, Home Fried Potatoes, Glazed Carrots, Savory Style Beans, Chicken Gravy, Velvet Pound Cake, Vanilla Cream Pie. Monday, Nov. 14 *Breakfast: Rolled Oats, Grilled Sausage Links, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets, Eggs to Order, Roasted Potatoes, Waﬄes, Asstd Doughnuts, Cinnamon Rolls. *Lunch: Chicken Gumbo Soup, Beef Yakisoba, Veal Parmesan, Steamed Rice, Oven Browned Potatoes, Green Peas, Seasoned Summer Squash, Spice Cake w/ Frosting, Vanilla Cookies, Fruit Gelatin.. *Speed line: Assorted Pizza , Chili Dog. *Dinner: Minestrone Soup, Savory Baked Chicken, Pork Fried Rice, Lima Beans, Broccoli Parmesan, Spice Sake w/ Frosting, Vanilla Cookies, Fruit Gelatin. Wednesday, Nov. 16 *Breakfast: Rolled Oats, Creamed Ground Beef, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets, Eggs to Order, Roasted Potatoes, Blueberry Pancakes, Biscuits, Asstd Doughnuts, Bear Claw. *Lunch: Beef Noodle Soup, Lasagna, Fish w/ Cherry Tomato Sauce, Steamed Rice, Franconia Potatoes, Cream Style Corn, Mix Vegetable, Almond Cookies, Carrot Cake, Chocolate Pudding. *Speed line: Grilled Cheese/Hamburger, Baked Beans, French Fried Potatoes. *Dinner: French Onion Soup, Baked Chicken, Steamed Rice, Potatoes Au Gratin, Club Spinach, Steamed Peas & Carrots, Almond Cookies, Carrot Cake, Chocolate Pudding. Friday, Nov. 18 *Breakfast: Rolled Oats, Grilled Sausage Patties, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets, Eggs to Order, Roasted Potatoes, Waﬄes, Asstd Doughnuts, Cinnamon Rolls. *Lunch: Chicken Corn Chowder, Baked Fish, Meat Loaf, Paprika Buttered Potatoes, Glazed Carrots, Fried Okra, Spiced Cake w/ Frosting, Crisp Drop Cookies. Speed line: Grilled Cheese/Hamburger, Baked Beans, French Fried Potatoes. *Dinner: Chicken Noodle Soup, Baked Fish W. Cherry Tomato Sauce, Tossed Green Rice, Corn O’Brien, Lima Beans, Spiced Cake w/ Frosting, Crisp Drop Cookies.

Global Impact

NoVEmbEr 11, 2011

PAgE 11

Shop at Caleca with ITT By Jamie Andrews

Okay gentlemen, there’s something you need to know. Every woman in Sigonella is making a list. You may not be aware of it, but she’s making a list in her mind of all the purchases she wants to make in Sicily before the next PCS. These lists may include but are not limited to: a lava table or kitchen island, a tile nameplate for the front porch, a wine collection and wine rack, and a full set of Caleca Pottery. She most likely has already chosen her Caleca pattern and she’s planning for you to take her to the Caleca factory for a day of shopping. But maybe you won’t have to. ITT is going to Caleca this month! Caleca is possibly the most well known name in Sicilian pottery. They create works of art for your tabletop from place settings and serving platters to bakeware and canister sets. They’ve also recently introduced a new line of beautiful ceramic wall tiles. It’s sold all over the world and used by some of the most prominent chefs in Italy. Williams-Sonoma even carries the Marisol pattern. These famous pieces

are all manufactured by hand in Patti, Sicily, a small town North of Mount Etna in the Messina Provence. Caleca pottery is named for the family who has been making the ceramics

for over 250 years. The Caleca family takes pride in the fact that their products are made entirely in Italy by Sicilian artisans. It’s a 2hour trip to Patti from Sigonella. Don’t drive yourself! ITT is going there on Thursday, November 17th, just in time for holiday shopping. Save money by buying direct from the factory at wholesale prices! Sign up at ITT or call 624-4777 for more information. For more on Caleca, visit www.caleca.org.

Base 2 Base Series Run #3

Turkey Trot

midtowN moViE thEAtErS SChEdulE & dESCriPtioNS

WARRIOR – Tom Hardy, Joel Edgerton, Nick Nolte, Jennifer Morrison

An ex-Marine haunted by his past, Tommy, returns to his hometown of Pittsburgh and enlists his fathers help to train him for a MMA tournament awarding the biggest purse in the history of the sport. As Tommy blazes a violent path towards the title, his brother, Brenden a former MMA fighter unable to makes ends meat as a public school teacher, returns to the amateur ring to provide for his family. The three have been bitterly estranged, and when Brenden’s unlikely rise as an underdog sets him on a collision course with Tommy and his father, the three must finally confront one another and the things that tore them apart; waging the most intense, winner-takes-all battle of their lives.(139 min.)

Friday, November 11 5:00pm Footloose

PG-13

5:30pm Abduction

PG-13

7:30pm Warrior

PG-13

8:00pm Killer Elite

Saturday, November 12 2:00pm Puss in Boots

FOOTLOOSE – Julianne Hough, Kenny Wormald, Dennis Quaid, Andie MacDowell, Miles Teller

2:30pm Spy Kids 4

4:30pm Apollo 18

PG-13

5:00pm Tower Heist

PG-13

7:30pm Moneyball

PG-13

Sunday, November 13 2:00pm Puss in Boots

2:30pm Apollo 18

PG-13

4:30pm Drive

5:00pm Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark R 7:30pm Killer Elite

Monday, November 14 2:00pm Cars

G FREE SHOW

Tuesday, November 15 5:00pm Moneyball

PG-13

5:30pm Abduction

PG-13

7:30pm Tower Heist

PG-13

8:00pm Shark Night

Ren MacCormack is transplanted Boston to small town America where he experiences a heavy dose of culture shock. A few years prior, the community was rocked by the tragic loss of 5 teenagers after a night out and the town’s councilmen and beloved minister responded by banning loud music and dancing. Not one was to bow to the status quo; Ren challenges the ban, revitalizing the town and falling in love with the minister’s troubled daughter, Ariel (118 min). CONTAGION – Matt Damon, Marion Cotillard, Gwyneth Paltrow, Brayan Cranston, Kate Winslet

The worldwide medical community races to find a cure to a deadly epidemic and control panic that spreads faster than the virus itself (102 min.) PUSS IN BOOTS – Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Zack Galifianakas, Billy Bob Thornton, Amy Sedaris

Way before Puss ever met Shrek, our suave and funny feline hero goes on a swashbuckling ride, as he teams up with mastermind Humpty Dumpty and the streetsavvy Kitty to steal the famed Goose that lays Golden Eggs (90 min.)

Wednesday, November 16 5:00pm Puss in Boots

5:30pm Warrior

PG-13

7:30pm Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark R 8:00pm Shark Night

Thursday, November 17 - LAST SHOWS!!! 5:00pm Contagion

PG-13

5:30pm The Debt

PG-13

7:30pm Apollo 18

PG-13

8:00pm Shark Night

Friday, November 18 5:00pm Warrior 5:30pm Moneyball

PG-13 PG-13

7:30pm What’s Your Number 8:00pm Drive

Movie schedule is subject to change. Please call to confirm. Movie Hotline: 624-4248

Remember, if you complete four out of the six Base 2 Base Series runs you get a limited edition t-shirt. If you haven’t done one yet, this is your last chance to get in on the shirt! Mark your calendar and come out for this scenic orange grove run!

Emergency Management Office Be prepared to be on your own for at least three days. Seven is better! The BASIC FIVE: Water, Food, Heat, Cash, Radio; Family Communications Plan: Phone Numbers & Rally Points; Public Protection Strategies: Evacuation and Shelter-in-Place; Web info: Ready.gov; Emergency info: AFN 106.0 FM; Questions? Call the EM Office at 624-2630, 8265 or 2621.

PAgE 12

NoVEmbEr 11, 2011

HIKE, continued from page 1

CARRIER, continued from page 3

communications equipment with Naval Air Station Sigonella and a team in Africa before starting the final push. As the first of the Marines reached the highest point in the path at about 9,600 feet they saw the smoldering, sulfur yellow crater that marks volcano's peak. They also saw something none of them expected: grandparents and their grandchildren, young couples, dozens of cheerful, clean visitors bundled tightly in winter coats streaming out of the monster-truck wheeled busses that shuttled them up. Speckled with black sand and sweating through warming layers, the Marines took the road less traveled. KINDNESS, continued from page 2

the line every day." This opportunity will give the players from both teams the opportunity to interact with Sailors and learn more about the military culture. "We as basketball players get so much press so I think it's kinda nice to realize what this game is really about," said Barnes. "It's not UNC versus Michigan State. It's about showing appreciation for our troops. A lot of wounded warriors are going to be there and I want to say thank you to them. To watch interviews with players and coaches of the teams go to http://www.navy.mil/swf/mmu/mmp l y r . a s p ? i d = 1 6 4 1 4 , http://www.navy.mil/swf/mmu/mmp lyr.asp?id=16415, and http://www.navy.mil/swf/mmu/mmp lyr.asp?id=16406. Quicken Loans Carrier Classic will be aired live on American Forces Network. Visit http://myafn.dodmedia.osd.mil/ for details. For more information go to www.navy.mil.

completing the race with the greatest amount of teamwork, cooperation and citizenship. The focus of the Amazing Race was not only to bring students together and unite the middle and high school, but to assist students with learning valuable teamwork and leadership skills. This event was the kick-oﬀ to the school’s anti-bullying initiative. Once all tasks were complete, kids were treated to ice cream in celebration of finishing the race. Sigonella junior, Deeanna Brown, a member of the Culture of Kindness group, said “It’s really cool to see the middle and high school doing something together for once. At first you could see the students were a little confused, but once they got over it, everyone worked really well together.” Sydney Moore, freshman, commented “It was so much fun and I got to meet a lot of new people that I normally wouldn’t have talked to.” The event would not have been possible without the help of our kind community members from all over Sigonella, who volunteered to run the activities for the students. A big thanks to our PTSO for the generous supply of ice cream, as well. The Amazing Race was a huge success. Stay tuned for more events sponsored by the Culture of Kindness. AWARD, continued from page 1

Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are back in Sigonella. For information on Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, please call 340-6082140.

that I really enjoy. Especially here,” said Lizzio. “My division has really influenced me to volunteer. I absolutely feel we’ve made an impact.”

Culinary Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Christopher Lizzio shakes hands with Filippo Drago, mayor of Aci Castello, while receiving a certificate of appreciation, Nov. 3, in Aci Castello's City Center. The meeting took place to honor Lizzio for his outstanding contribution in organizing two community relations projects to clean-up trash from Acitrezza's beach and fish market.

Parent-Teacher Conferences Fall 2011 Provided by Sigonella MS/HS

Sigonella Elementary School Parent Teacher Conferences will be Thursday, November 10 and Monday, November 14, 2011 Sigonella Middle High School Parent Teacher Conferences will be Monday, November 14, 2011 Parent-teacher conferences are an opportunity to build trust and understanding between the home and school environments. Parents and teachers have common goals for their children/students. Both want children to: succeed; progress at the rate best for them; and feel that expectations at home and school complement each other. Both parents and teachers believe that learning takes place at school and at home and both believe that the school curriculum is the beginning that leads to much more that is worthwhile for children to learn. These common goals establish equal footing for both parents and teachers as they enter the parent-teacher conferences. Below are some great questions for parents to ask teachers at the conferences. • Is my child doing as well as he/she should be? Is

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he/she working to his/her ability? • What are the curriculum standards? • What kinds of books are you using? • What is your teaching philosophy or style? What are your creden• tials? Have you taught this grade/subject before? May I see some of my • child’s work? How are things going • in class this year? Are there any discipline problems? What have you done about them? • What are my child’s strengths? Weaknesses? • What is your homework policy? • What kinds of tests can we expect and what is the grading policy? • How can I best reach you if we have questions? • Have you noticed any behavior problems? • How can I help you at home? • If I sense my child is struggling, what should I do? • If I think my child is gifted, what should I do? • How about GradeSpeed? What information may be available to me? (Grades 412)

Teachers might ask parents questions too. Below are some questions teachers often need to ask to learn more about their students. • What is your child’s reaction to school? What are his/her likes/dislikes about school? • How is your child’s health? Are there any problems with sleep, bad dreams or awakening early? How is your child’s • emotional adjustment? Is there anything troubling him/her? Is the child worried or fearful of anything? Are there any issues with self-confidence? How does he/she react when he/she doesn’t get what he/she wants? • How does your child spend time out of school? What are his/her hobbies, interests and abilities? • How does your child respond to rules at home? What discipline techniques work best? • Does your child have any at-home responsibilities? • Does your child have a suitable place to read and do homework? Parent-teacher conferences are an opportunity to dialog to help students achieve their potential.

NoVEmbEr 11, 2011

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NMCRS: Aiding Marines, Sailors & Their Families Don’t let the holidays gobble up your savings this year plan early to save big for anksgiving dinner! Provided by NMCRS Sigonella

Hosting a big Thanksgiving dinner and don’t want it to be a budget buster? Here are some tips to help you save!

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1. Plan early and set a theme, budget, expectation. To begin to save you need to understand what you hope your thanksgiving dinner is going to be like. Be realistic about your budget. 2. Make a list of what you need. While you make a budget jot down the items you need and what you have, this will help you get a better picture of how to set your budget. 3. Make a list of what you need to do. If you understand what you need to do to accomplish your desired thanksgiving dinner this will help you get a good understanding how long it will take you to accomplish it all and help from spending money irrationally as we all sometimes do when we get stres-

sed and overwhelmed. 4. Shop early. Halloween is over so now is the best time to pick up tableware that can be used for your thanksgiving feast at clearance prices. Be creative and use your imagination on how you can utilize Halloween items for thanksgiving. 5. Shop clearance. After thanksgiving most of the fall/ harvest items will be around 75 percent oﬀ so think of next year and some of those staple items. 6. Shop sales. I know this is not the best to say but often stores will run extreme sales on turkey and thanksgiving dinner items the week of thanksgiving but you run a huge risk waiting this long to prepare for your dinner so I don’t recommend it but it is a great way to save on items. 7. Look for disposable and reusable items make the cleanup easier. It may not be ideal but if you are serving a large group of people especially kids then the easier clean up may be a better

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time and money saver for you. 8. Have guests pitch in by bring something. A quick way to cut the dinner cost down is have each guest bring an item to contribute to the meal or deviations this way no one family is footing the cost for the full meal. 9. Clip Coupons. Coupons are a great way to add on to your savings. Print them online or pick some up from the NMCRS oﬃce. 10. Shop end of season clearance. Think of the items you can use from Halloween that can be used for thanksgiving and thanksgiving items you can use for Christmas. Better yet if you have a birthday party to plan coming up think of what you can use available now for those events. To find out about more saving tips or to make a budget appointment, call the NMCRS oﬃce at 624-4212.