Feb 25 The Signature

Vol. 28 No. 7

february 25, 2011

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Sledge-O-Matic in Sigonella

By MC2 Gary Prill NPASE East

Photo by MC2 Gary Prill, NPASE East The Gallagher show came to Sigonella on Feb. 16. Along with his smashing antics, Gallagher also cracked the crowd up with his signature style comedy.

Sailors attached to Naval Air Station Sigonella welcomed the comedian Leo Anthony Gallagher for a comedy show in the Midtown Complex gymnasium Feb. 16.

Gallagher, noted for his signature “Sledge-O-Matic” sketch involving smashing objects with a large mallet, made a long journey as part of a European tour with Navy Entertainment.

“I’m happy to be here to put on a show for the kids and GALLAGHER, continued on page 13

Photo by MCSA Cameron Bramham. The Signature Staff

Lizeo Spedalieci School (located in Catania) English teacher Anna Reifano discusses health questions with some of her students Feb. 16 in the Connections Conference Room located above Connections on NASI. The Italian English class was brought on base for a special health nutrition class taught by Registered Dietitian Cmdr. Alice Whitley.

Italian students Sigonella hits the stage for Annie visit NAS Sigonella

By MCSA Cameron Bramham The Signature Staff

Since the beginning of the New Year, the Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella community has been working nonstop rehearsing and preparing for the Sigonella School-Community Production of Annie, the classic onstage musical based on the old comic strip created by Harold Gray, Little Orphan Annie.

The curtains open Friday, March 4 at six p.m. at Knight’s Hall on NAS I. Before the performance, the NAS Sigonella Latin Club will be serving dinner in

Weather

top StorieS

Feb. 25 H: 60 update L: 33 In case you have not heard, it is time for the annual Information Awareness Training that is required for all DoD Personnel. Military and US civilians should access this training via TWMS or NKO.

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the high school cafeteria to benefit the Sigonella High School Senior Class. There will also be two performances on Saturday, March 5 at two p.m. and six p.m.

Sigonella High and Middle

School chorus teacher, Elementary School music teacher, and director of Annie Lynn Soeby said she’s very pleased with eveFeb. 26 H: 55 L: 38

Feb. 27 H: 61 L: 44

MCPON(SS/SW) Rick D. West, along with Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus recognized actor/comedian and former Sailor, Bill Cosby, as an honorary chief petty officer in a ceremony held at the U.S. Navy Memorial and Naval Heritage Center Feb. 17 PAGE 3 Navy News 3

ryone’s effort and is excited to see how the performance will turn out next weekend.

“We have amazing talent in this community and the fact our cast consists of over 70 people is simply wonderful,” Soeby said. “I encourage everyone who can make it to come out and see it.

Living overseas as we do, we have so few opportunities to view a live performance such as this one.”

Soeby added that even though she had a wonderful time working with everyone on this performance, it wasn’t always easy putting it together.

“I think the most challenging

ANNIE, continued on page 13

Feb. 28 H: 58 L: 49

Carnival fun continues across Sicily! So make sure you see the 111th edition of the “Carnevale di Sciacca,” one of the most ancient merrymaking festivals in the island. Get ready for two weeks of blast running through Shrove Tuesday, March 8th.

PAGE 6 Community Calendar 4

Mar. 1 H: 57 L: 43

By MCSA Cameron Bramham The Signature Staff

Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella opened its gates for an English class from Lizeo Spedalieci, an Italian school located in Catania, Sicily for a class designed to teach and interact with Italian youth about the differences between American and Italian nutrition.

The class was arranged by Emily Antenucci, a Westchester, New York native who teaches an English class at Lizeo Spedalieci as part of a study abroad program.

“My students are always asking me questions about American eating habits and

Mar. 2 H: 58 L: 48

Check out Sigonella’s young artists! The local winners of the Boys and Girls Club of America’s National Fine Arts Exhibit move on to Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany for the next round of competitions.

PAGE 8 MWR Corner 11

why we always eat fast food,” Antenucci said. “I’m always telling my kids that not all Americans eat McDonalds and Burger King all the time so having this kind of class can really help them understand American nutrition.”

The class was taught by U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella’s Registered Dietitian Cmdr. Alice Whitley and discussed many similarities and differences between American and Italian nutrition, health, dieting, eating habits and restaurants.

“One thing I would like you to take away from our brief is HEALTH, continued on page 12

Traffic Numbers

Mar. 3 H: 64 L: 41 Sigonella’s favorite run is back! Registration is now open; pre- register by 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 1 to receive a discount on your registration.

PAGE 11 Il Mercato 14

Jan. 11 Feb. 11

Jan. 10 Feb. 10

Accidents

32

31

Injuries

3

4

DUIs

3

1

Traffic Deaths

0

0

please, don’t become a statistic!

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february 25, 2011

DirecT LiNe

Whether leaders are born or made has been a long-standing debate. I believe that effective leaders are made, not born. They learn from trial and error and from experience, because when something fails, a true leader learns from the experience and puts it behind them.

In the past, the Navy has recognized the need for further professional leadership throughout the ranks, and have instituted programs for enlisted and officers such as the Work Center Supervisor (WCSLC) and Leading Petty Officer Leadership Courses (LPOLC).

Since those days the need for top notch management has only grown greater with technological advances requiring a smarter Navy overall.

There are several ways that Sailors can receive leadership training: Through a classroom setting, through on the job training and through correspondence courses.

My personal favorite, for up and coming Sailors, are the classroom courses which allow petty officers to step out of their work environment and discuss lead-

NaS SigoNella CommaNd maSter Chief, lelaNd moore

ership issues which occur regardless of what rank they are. There are a variety of courses open to Sailors who need the tools and skill sets to effectively manage his or her responsibilities.

All Sailors should be aware of the courses that are required for petty officers selected to advance.

- POSLC (PO3) which is a three day long course that is held prior to the frocking ceremony.

- PO2 selectees must complete phase one of the PO2SLC at their respective command prior to frocking. PO2's will then complete phase two of the PO2SLC prior to the date of the first advancement pay increment of the examination cycle.

PO1 selectees must complete phase one of the PO1SLC at their respective command prior to frocking. PO1's will then complete phase two prior to the date of the first advancement pay increment of the respective examination cycle.

As per NAVADMIN 272-08.

These courses are offered at command level and through BETD. These classes seek to train the pro-

Reminder from NAS Sigonella N6 ITD Information Assurance Awareness V9.0 Training

By Theresa Currie NAS Sigonella Deputy N6

In case you have not heard, it is time for the annual Information Awareness Training that is required for all DoD Personnel. Military and US civilians should access this training via TWMS or NKO. For Local Nationals (LNs), training can be accessed at the following DISA URL: http://iase.disa.mil/eta/iaav9 /iaa_v9/index.htm.

Training should be completed no later than 15 MAR 2011. The command will be able to pull statistics from TWMS including names and departments of those who have not yet completed the training. Until the technical issues are resolved with the TWMS site, LNs will need to provide a copy of the training certificate to their departmental IAO. If you have questions, Commanding Officer Capt. Scott Butler Public Affairs Officer Lt. Matt Knight Deputy Public Affairs Officer Dott. Alberto Lunetta Editor Tracie Barnthouse Staff Writers/ Photographers MC1 Christopher Delano MC2 Gary Prill MC2 Kris Carmody MCSA Cameron Bramham 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

please talk to your IAO or call the NAS Sigonella Information Assurance Manager at 624-6633.

Evolving online dangers You may already be familiar with “phishing” – the tactic used by criminals to lure unsuspecting email recipients or online users to a fraudulent web site in order to obtain passwords and other personal information. Compromised bank accounts and identity theft could cost you more than you imagine. But are you aware that the ways that criminals work at acquiring data to obtain money and stolen identities continues to evolve?

One new type of malicious software being distributed is known as Ransomware - malicious software that once installed on your computer encrypts all of your data. A pop-up message will then TRAINING, continued on page 12 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 advertising in this newspaper, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the DoD or Stampa Generale S.r.l., 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. A confirmed violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected. The Signature is published weekly

moting petty officers on how to become a good leader, because let's face it; good leadership in a department has a domino affect all the way into customer service.

The second option is on the job training (OJT), which occurs on a daily basis.

Sailors learn leadership skills that are passed on through the guidance and example of the senior crew. Every one mentors the person under them; in professional, military and leadership skills.

The third option is through correspondence courses. The Navy provides a number of self paced correspondence courses that gradually focus more on leadership as the sailor advances. The Military Requirements for PO3 and PO2, for example, has some leadership training but the Military Requirements for Chief Petty Officer has significantly more. The professional manuals also reflect the same difference.

Continuing with the theme of leadership, I'm sure that you've heard that there has been several more DUI's bringing us to a total of 3 DUI's and 46 traffic acci-

dents for the year. Leadership is not just a khaki or first class trait. It's everyone's job to stop your friends and shipmates from doing something stupid, like drinking and driving. As one sailor expressed, "Every Sailor has the potential to lead. I don't care if it's a seaman recruit or someone higher ranking ..." Basically, I expect all of you to be leaders.

With that in mind, there are several new programs on base that are looking for influential young leaders who want to create a positive environment for their command: JEA and CSADD. JEA - "Junior Enlisted Association" is looking for motivated Sailors who want to represent the Navy and our command in a positive way. JEA does a lot of community volunteering and supports programs like CSADD. For more information contact MC2 Prill at 6246530.

CSADD - "Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions" is the Navy's new peer mentoring program which encourages positive influence and behavior while at the same time bringing

together on-line and in-person networking with peer interaction. This peer group is only for service members 18-25 for more information about CSADD contact MC2 Prill at 624-6530.

I'll close with this thought, leadership is a set of skills that can never be mastered, but leadership development is a lifelong quest to get better.

NASSIG WORSHIP SERVICES Chapel Offices: NAS I 095-56-3975, NAS II 095-86-9049 ROMAN CATHOLIC Sunday 0900 Catholic Mass (NAS I Chapel) 1200 Catholic Mass (NAS II Chapel) Monday-Thursday 1200 Catholic Mass (NAS II Chapel) JEWISH LAY SERVICES First Friday 1800 Shabbat Service (NAS I Chapel) sigshalom@yahoo.com

PROTESTANT Sunday 1045 Protestant Worship (NAS I) Wednesday 1700 Fellowship Meal 1800 Adult Bible Study Youth Group Children’s Class CHURCH OF CHRIST LAY SERVICE Sunday 1530 NAS I Chapel Call 624-5128 or 338-736-3061

OTHER SERVICES/ACTIVITIES POINTS OF CONTACT Latter-day Saints: Sunday 1300 Catania Chapel, shefchik@hotmail.com; 624-1393 AA Meetings: Monday,Wednesday, Friday – 1900, NAS II Chapel, 346-840-7745

Outdoor Fire Pit Safety

By John G. Burgess, Jr. NAS Sigonella Assistant Fire Chief And the Headlines read; Investigators Say Fire Pit Starts House Fire In Nashua N.H. Family Escapes Unharmed, Thanks To Observant Neighbor NASHUA, N.H. -- Investigators said they believe a house fire in Nashua began in a portable fire pit on the home's back porch. Neighbors said they spotted the flames coming from 83 Peele St. just before 9 p.m. Thursday. "I just

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 later than the close of business on the Friday proceeding the expected publication date. All articles submitted by non-staff members will be considered contributing writers. The Signature will not publish any anonymous 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 consent of the publisher.

had to get a glass of water, and I spotted the flames shooting out the back," said neighbor

Norm Jambard.

Jambard said he called 911 while his wife, Pauline, ran across the street to get their neighbors out of their burning home. "She definitely saved our lives, I think," said homeowner Jason Forbes. Forbes said he had no idea his back porch was on fire and that fla-

mes were quickly spreading up the side of his house. "It was amazing," he said. "The flames were above my roof."

Fire officials said a portable fire pit the family was using on the porch was cause, but Forbes said he thought it was out before he and his wife and child went inside for the night. "We probably waited about an hour in front of the fire," he said. "It was out we thought, no embers. We went inside the house." Forbes said his home is unlivable until renovations are completed that could cost more than $250,000. But given how fast the fire spread, he said he's just grateful his family is safe.

"When I went back in five minutes later to get my cat, I couldn't even enter the door, NEW, continued on page 12

CNE-CNA-C6F/CNREURAFSEA IG Hotline It’s everyone’s responsibility to report fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement in Navy activities to: Office of the Inspector General, Naples, Italy Leave a recorded message 24/7: DSN 626-2983, Comm: 081-5682983 Speak to the Investigator: DSN 626-2964, Comm: 081-568-2964 Email: ighotline@eu.navy.mil Website: www.cnic.navy.mil/europe/index.htm You can choose to remain anonymous or confidential.

february 25, 2011

MCPON designates Bill Cosby honorary Chief

Bravo Zulu to the following Commands leading in Individual Medical Readiness: Executive Transport: 100% Navy Munitions: 95% Naval Hospital: 91.7% CNE DET MAST: 92% FISC: 90.4% Percent of Staff Fully Medically Ready (Commands >10 personnel) Brought to you by your Flight Line Clinic, Medical Home Port

By MCCS Sonya Ansarov

Chief Hospital Corpsman service dress blue jacket and SECOffice of the MCPON NAV presented Cosby with a WASHINGTON (NNS) -- MaChief 's cover. ster Chief Petty Officer of the "I will tell to you like I tell all Navy (MCPON)(SS/SW) Rick of our new chiefs … when I pin D. West, along with Secretary of these anchors on you, your job the Navy (SECNAV) Ray isn't over and your journey is Mabus recognized actor/comejust beginning," said dian and former West. "There is no greater Sailor, Bill Cosby, honor than having earas an honorary ned the title "Chief " and chief petty officer the responsibility to our in a ceremony held Sailors and our Navy that at the U.S. Navy comes with it and we will Memorial and expect more of you."

Naval Heritage "Thank you all," said Center Feb. 17.

Cosby. "The years I spent Cosby began his in the Navy and so many relationship with moments remembering the Navy in 1956 that the Navy gave me a when he joined as wake-up call. The Navy a hospital corshowed me obedience psman and attenU.S. Navy photo by MC2 Jason M. Graham and that's the thing that ded recruit Honorary Chief Hospital Corpsman Bill Cosby delivers remarks du- pushed me to realize the training at Naval ring his pinning ceremony at the U.S. Navy Memorial in Washington, mistakes I had made in Training Center D.C. my young life at 19-yearsBainbridge, Md. old and that I could do During his four-year tour, he he's pretty good at both, he's something with myself and bewas stationed at Marine Corps also been a tireless advocate for come somebody."

Base Quantico, National Naval social responsibility and educaCosby was honorably diMedical Center Bethesda, Naval tion – and a constant friend to scharged in 1960 as a Hospital Hospital Argentia, Newfounthe Navy," said Mabus. "Last Corpsman 3rd Class. His dland, USS Fort Mandan (LSD year was the highest compliawards included Navy Good 21), and Philadelphia Naval ment I've ever received – being Conduct Medal and National Hospital. made an honorary chief petty Defense Service Medal. He also During his time at Quantico officer, and now Dr. Cosby – yo- received the 2010 Lone Sailor and Bethesda, Cosby worked in u're about to get the same Award from the U.S. Navy MePhysical Therapy helping to rehonor." morial. habilitate Korean War veterans, MCPON and SECNAV plaFor more news from Master a duty he liked and excelled at. ced the Chief anchors on Cosby Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, He was also an athlete for the in front of a huge gathering of visit Navy playing football, basketChief Petty Officers and Sailors. www.navy.mil/local/mcpon/. ball, baseball, and running track MCPON helped Cosby don a and field.

page 3

Cosby said that the Navy transformed him from an aimless, uneducated kid into a man with drive, discipline and self-respect.

"Bill Cosby is not just a comedian and an actor, although

How would you boost morale at NAS Sigonella?

MA2 Jennifer Collins

GM2 Bryan Silveri

“I know it would be hard to do, but they could “I guess more MWR actistart selling “weekly no vities out in the towns.” shave chits” for MWR fundraising. I know I would pay $50 not to shave for a week.”

MR2 Robert Rutkowski “I would like to see a better gym here on NAS II, most of us work on NAS II and it would be nice to cut out for lunch and go work out at a decent gym.”

Lt. Cmdr. Annette Watkins “More team PT, rather LSSN Ashley Diem/Rivera than once a week, have more group PT exercises.” “I would offer more things on NAS II, because they only allow things on NAS I like yoga, and I live on NAS II.”

New Hope Picciolo

Dott. Stella

page 4

february 25, 2011

Tobacco CessaCruise into shape tion Class sign-up deadline 9 a.m. x4710 Flight Line Clinic

Dr. Seuss Read Across America Parade 9 a.m.

Breastfeeding Basics Class 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

PCC Hospital

Budget for Baby Class 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Crews Into Shape. Runs through April 2

Arriverci class 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Nearly New Shop Open 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

NMCRS New Volunteer Orientation 10 a.m.

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!

Pantellaro

Chiechio

Oxidiana

Gelso Bianco

february 25, 2011

page 5

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

Motta

Empower. Enrich. EDUCATE. Post Deployment/Reintegration Submitted by FFSC References: Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury

Kartodromo

Dr, Riccardo Milici

Initially, returning home after a deployment can be a time of joy, celebration, and relief for both the service member and the people who care about him/her.

Yet, it doesn’t take much time before returning home also begins to pose challenges for nearly every combat veteran and family member.

The reintegration period can be used as a great opportunity to reflect upon what’s working well in your life and relationships and what could work even better.

The skills needed to be successful during deployment can be used to help with this reintegration process as well. Drawing upon the strength it took to succeed during the deployment process will help you now adapt to the different demands that come into

Pentagon

play after your service member is back home. Expect the transition to be difficult at times. It will require the same level of commitment and effort that you made to do your best during deployment.

Reintegration is not just about your service member’s adjustment back to living at home—it’s also about his reunion with you and his family.

This reunion is followed by its own readjustment as the service ember and his loved ones get to know one another all over again.

Relationships Spouse/ Partner, child Getting to know each other again: The reintegration period is really a period of relearning.

Both you and your partner have grown and changed as individuals while you were apart. You were both affected by your separation. Therefore, the task that lies ahead is to reestablish the lines of communication with each

other. There may be some disagreements at this time as both spouses or partners struggle with the changes inherent in their service member’s return—particularly if there is parenting involved.

The key to a smooth transition is patience, by both parties.

There may be some speed bumps in this process, but so long as you are both committed, you can do it.

Sorting out family roles: During the service member’s absence, The family has likely shifted significantly in how it operates to compensate for the parent’s absence.

Many military families find they have trouble re-sorting the way household responsibilities are divided—who makes what decisions and who takes care of which household tasks. You or your spouse may want to move quickly to get back to the way you had split those DEPLOYMENT, continued on page 12

page 6

february 25, 2011 Alberto Lunetta The Signature Staff

Sciacca’s Carnival, an ancient tradition of merry-making Carnival fun continues across Sicily! So make sure you see the 111th edition of the “Carnevale di Sciacca,” one of the most ancient merrymaking festivals in the island. Get ready for two weeks of fun, running through Tuesday, Mar. 8.

Sciacca, an ancient coastal town in the Agrigento province, is mainly famous for its thermal baths, but also for its anchovy and sardine industry and ceramic and coral craftsmanship. Sicilian clergyman Mario Ciaccio was the first historian to describe the Carnival of Sciacca in 1890, however, historic sources tell us that the carnival has been actually celebrated since the 17th century.

At the beginning, Sciacca’s Carnival was mainly a celebration of country life with food and wine. Peasants, fishermen and herdsmen with painted faces and funny hats, played pranks and exchanged insults, played role reversals and made political satire. This was called

“lu gabbu” (the mockery).

Nobody was offended because that was what carnival was all about.

The grand finale for the celebrations was the burning of “lu Nannu,” (today named “Peppi ‘Nnappa”) a straw dummy that represented the manifested spirit of carnival.

Doing so, bad luck and sins were burned away, leaving the town pure and filled with hope for good things to come.

Today, the allegorical “Carri” or floats are the highlights of the celebrations. Associations including amateur musicians, ceramists, costume designers, poets, craftsmen and decorators begin creating these majestic parading papier-mâché floats after the summer. At the end of every working day around midnight, everyone who is involved in building a float gathers for the “Schiticchio (dinner among friends).

This is an important social moment as it enhances group cohesion. The “carri allegorici” (allegorical floats) depict

political and social satire. Ballets and performances are held during the parades.

In Sciacca food is always a big deal and especially at carnival. Traditional foods and dolci (sweets) associated with Carnevale include “cucchitelle” (cookies made with pumpkin and covered with frosting), cannoli , chiacchere, (irregularly shaped pieces of dough, fried and dusted with powdered sugar) “Maccaruna di zitu” (maccheroni pasta with pork ragu sauce) and “pasta con le sarde” (pasta with sardines) among others.

During the festival, stands selling typical carnival food are open all day long at the villa comunale (public gardens).

Float Parades Schedule Here are some of the mustsee events of this amazing carnival running through March 8. Amazing parades of dazzling masqueraded groups and allegoric floats will tour the city’s historic heart at on Thursday, March 3, Friday, March 4, and Saturday, March 5 star-

Photo by sciaccainmymind.blogspot.com7 Bring the entire family out to enjoy the 111th edition of the Sciacca Carnival, one of oldest merrymaking traditions in Italy which features dazzling allegoric floats and costumes’ parades, entertainment street-artists performances and food.

ting at 6:30 p.m.

On Sunday, March 6, a band concert will open a spectacular folklore parades at 10:30 a.m. Masqueraded groups and allegoric floats’ parades will follow until late night.

On Tuesday, Mar. 8, celebrations will begin at 4 p.m. and will come to a spectacular symbolic end around 2 a.m. with the burning of the “Peppi ‘Nnappa” puppet in piazza La Rosa. I know it’s late but re-

ally, it's worth it!

Sciacca is about two and a half hours from Catania. It is fairly easy to reach. Exit Caltanissetta on the Catania-Palermo highway. Take the Agrigento-Caltanissetta national road. Once you get to Agrigento. Take the Agrigento-Sciacca and follow directions for Sciacca.

For more information and detailed schedules visit http://www.carnevaledisciacca.it

Roberto Vecchioni wins 2011 edition of Sanremo Music Festival Story and photo by ilkar.blogspot.com

Sanremo (Italy) - Roberto Vecchioni, 67, aka Il Professore (the professor) or the poet won the 61st Sanremo festival with his beautiful song "Chiamami ancora amore."

Quite a change after the last two editions won by reality-TV stars Marco Carta (26) and Valerio Scanu (21) a needed change to restore the credibility of the contest. He also won the critic's Mia Mar-

tini award.

Roberto Vecchioni released his first album in 1971 and his

latest, 31st this week. He has also released eight books so far and written songs for other artists since the 1960's. He is of Napoletan origin but grew up in Milan. He hit it big in

mid 1970's with Samarcanda.

In Sanremo he participated only once before as an artist, in 1973 with "L'uomo che si gioca il cielo a dadi" but he has written two other entries: in 1968 Sera for Gigliola Cinquetti (8th) and in 1985 "A lei" for Anna Oxa. He won with 48% of the “televotes” against 40% of "Arriverá" by Modá and Emma. Albano came third with 12% for his "Amanda è libera." The final night scored over 52,12% share or 12.136.000 viewers. A success!

Magnolia

february 25, 2011

Italy charges Amanda Knox's parents with libel Couple indicted aer father said in 2008 interview his daughter had been physically, verbally abused by police

Venice water alert sirens silenced by budget cuts, First 'acqua alta' of year went unannounced Story by ANSA

Venice - Venice's special sirens alerting citizens to high water levels were unable to warn of the first 'acqua alta' of the year Thursday because municipal budget cuts hit computer maintenance work.

Venetians could find out if they would need their wellies by text message, but the service is available to subscribers only.

Technicians worked overtime on the glitch and the sirens are back working, said Tide Control Centre Director Paolo Canestrelli. Explaining the hiccup, he said: "We received 500,000 euros (from the

city council) in 2010 for the Tide Centre and at the end of the year we expected the municipal authorities to fork out the budget for 2011. "But nothing has been earmarked so far and, although we have machines worth millions of euros, we haven't any money to carry out maintenance.

"After repairing last night's outage, we still have three sirens that aren't working and can't be fixed".

The latest generation of acqua alta horns were installed in 2007, replacing a notoriously mournful set that dated back to WWII air raid warnings.

Members of the family of Amanda Knox give an interview after visting her in Perugia Prison on December 5, 2009 in Perugia. (Reuters Images) Story by CBS/AP

PERUGIA, Italy - A lawyer said the parents of Amanda Knox, the American student convicted of murder in Italy, have been ordered to stand trial for alleging that Italian police abused their daughter.

The Italian news agency ANSA said Curt Knox and Edda Mellas were indicted Tuesday in Perugia for libel.

Lawyer Luciano Ghirga confirmed the indictment and said the trial was set for July 4.

He said the couple did not attend the hearing.

The charge stems from an interview they gave Britain's Sunday Times years ago in which the father alleged that

police had physically and verbally abused his daughter during questioning after Meredith Kercher's 2007 slaying but before Knox was arrested.

In the Sunday Times interview published June 15, 2008, Curt Knox said, "Amanda was abused physically and verbally. She told us she was hit in the back of the head by a police officer with an open hand, at least twice. The police told her, 'If you ask for a lawyer, things will get worse for you' and 'If you don't give us some explanation for what happened, you're going to go to jail for a very long time.'"

Edda Mellas told the paper

that Amanda was told she would never see her family again, and gave a description of the officer who allegedly struck her.

The Sunday Times said that could not be published for legal reasons.

Police have denied harming Knox.

A Knox family representative said they would have no comment.

Palermo Mobili

Italy approves unity holiday Story by REUTERS ROME -- The Italian government recently approved plans to mark the 150th anniversary of national unification with a public holiday, despite objections from Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's prodevolution coalition allies.

Defense Minister Ignazio La Russa said the cabinet had voted to declare a national holiday on March 17 -- the date on which Vittorio Emanuele II was declared King of Italy by the newly constituted national parliament in 1861.

But in a sign of how sensitive the issue remains even a century and a half later, he said the two ministers from the Northern League party present at the meeting had voted against the move, which has been hotly debated for weeks.

"It's pure madness," said Roberto Calderoli, one of the two Northern League senior ministers who voted against it. "If we want to really kickstart growth in this country, we would have done the exact opposite wtih today's decree."

The Northern League has campaigned for the creation of a separate region for the prosper-o us north, which it says has been held back by the inefficient and frequently corrupt south. Party leaders make a tradition of sniping against the capital Rome.

The party, whose support is vital to the

survival of Berlusconi's centre-right coalition government, is pushing for federalist reforms that would boost regional powers.

Even outside the ranks of the League, enthusiasm for the holiday has been lukewarm with the education minister fretting over schoolchildren missing out on lessons for the day and business groups worried about lost production.

To make up for the working day lost on March 17, armed forces day on Nov. 4, which marks the end of World War One for Italy, will not be a holiday, La Russa said.

The squabbling was briefly overshadowed by an outpouring of national praise for Oscar-win-n ing actor Roberto Benigni, whose moving rendition of the national anthem at the San Remo music festival on Thursday was credited with awakening patriotism.

The Vatican newspaper, the Italian president and politicians from the right and left hailed the performance, which drew more than 18 million television viewers.

It began with Benigni riding in on a white horse and waving the Italian flag.

"I have never loved the anthem. I always thought it had gone out of fashion, a song that smelled of mothballs," said leftist leader Nichi Vendola. "But yesterday Benigni made me understand that there's real civic passion in those gloomy verses."

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Wild West

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Moroboshi

Pietro

Ange

ela

february 25, 2011

Days Inn

Alphio

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february 25, 2011

Go Green Sigonella!

Are You D o i n g Your Part?

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*Breakfast: Rolled Oats, Sausage Links, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets, Eggs to Order, Roasted Potatoes, Waffles, Asstd Doughnuts, Apple Fritters. *Lunch: New England Clam Chowder, Lemon Baked Fish, Grilled Pork Chops w/ Mushroom Gravy, Steamed Rice, Garlic Roasted Potatoes, Asparagus, Creole Green Beans, Sugar Cookies, Cheese Cake, Vanilla Cream Pudding.

Speed line: Grilled Hamburger/Cheeseburger, French Fries, Baked Beans. *Dinner: Vegetable Supreme Soup, Teriyaki Chicken, Oven Browned Potatoes, Spinach, Oriental Stir Fry, Sugar Cookies, Cheesecake, Vanilla Cream Pudding.

Choice hamburger or hotdog by order.

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*Breakfast: Farina, Grilled Ham Slices, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets, Eggs to Order, Roasted Potatoes, Buttermilk Pancakes, Asstd Doughnuts, Butterhorns. *Brunch: Breakfast Items, Logging Soup, Baked Tuna and Noodles, Pork Fried Rice, Cajun Oven Fries, Steamed Broccoli, Glazed Carrots, Almond Cookies, Blueberry Pie. *Dinner: Cream of Mushroom Soup, Beef Stir Fry, Steamed Rice, Fried Okra, Corn Whole Kernel, Almond Cookies, Blueberry Pie. Choice hamburger or hotdog by order

Quick tips for saving energy in the kitchen Article submitted CE2 Jade Mooteb

NAVFAC Sigonella

Let's save some energy in the kitchen! Some of the biggest energy hogs in your home are in your kitchen. Modifying some of your current cooking habits and getting into conservation mode can help you prepare food more efficiently. That's good for your wallet and the environment.

Here is a collection of quickand-easy tips for trimming your monthly utility bill.

Dishwasher Energy Tips • Check the manual that came with your dishwasher for the manufacturer’s recommendations on water temperature; many have internal heating elements that allow you to set the water heater in your home to a lower temperature (120°F).

• Scrape, don’t rinse, off large food pieces and bones.

Soaking or prewashing is generally only recommended in cases of burned-on or dried-on food.

• Be sure your dishwasher is full, but not overloaded, when you run it.

• Avoid using the “rinse hold” on your machine for just a few soiled dishes. It uses 3 to 7 gallons of hot water each time you use it.

• Let your dishes air dry; if you don’t have an automatic airdry switch, turn off the control knob after the final rinse and prop the door open slightly so the dishes will dry faster.

Refrigerator/Freezer Energy Tips • Don’t keep your refrigerator or freezer too cold. Recommended temperatures are 37° to 40°F for the fresh food compartment of the refrigerator and 5°F for the freezer section. If you have a separate freezer for longterm storage, it should be kept at 0°F. • To check refrigerator temperature, place an appliance thermometer in a glass of water in the center of the refrigerator.

Read it after 24 hours. To check the freezer temperature, place a thermometer between frozen packages. Read it after 24 hours.

• Cover liquids and wrap foods stored in the refrigerator.

Uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder

• Regularly defrost manualdefrost refrigerators and freezers; frost buildup decreases the energy efficiency of the unit.

Don’t allow frost to build up more than one quarter of an inch.

• Make sure your refrigerator door seals are airtight. Test them by closing the door over a piece of paper or a dollar bill so it is half in and half out of the refrigerator. If you can pull the paper or bill out easily, the latch may need adjustment, the seal may need replacing, or you might consider buying a new unit.

Other Energy-Saving Kitchen Tips • Be sure to place the faucet lever on the kitchen sink in the cold position when using small amounts of water; placing the lever in the hot position uses energy to heat the water even though it may never reach the faucet.

• If you need to purchase a natural gas oven or range, look for one with an automatic, electric ignition system. An electric ignition saves natural gas because a pilot light is not burning continuously.

• In natural gas appliances, look for blue flames; yellow flames indicate the gas is burning inefficiently and an adjustment may be needed. Consult the manufacturer or your local utility.

• Keep range-top burners and reflectors clean; they will reflect the heat better, and you will save energy.

• Use a covered kettle or pan to boil water; it’s faster and it uses less energy.

• Match the size of the pan to the heating element or burner.

• Use small electric pans or toaster ovens for small meals rather than your large stove or oven. A toaster oven uses a third to half as much energy as a fullsized oven.

• Use pressure cookers and microwave ovens whenever it is convenient to do so. They will save energy by significantly reducing cooking time.

For more information on energy conservation and energy saving tips, visit the Department of Energy’s website at http://www.energy.gov/.

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*Breakfast: Rolled Oats, Grilled Minute Steak, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets, Eggs to Order, Roasted Potatoes, French Toast, Asstd Doughnuts, Kolaches. *Brunch: Breakfast Items, Bean & Bacon Soup, Cheddar and Chicken Broccoli, Rosemary Potato Wedges, Steamed Brussels Sprouts, Glazed Carrots, Hermits, Velvet Pound Cake. *Dinner: Pepper Pot Soup, Jaegerschnitzel, Rice Pilaf, Cauliflower Polonaise, Seasoned Succotash, Garlic Bread, Hermits, Velvet Pound Cake.

Choice hamburger or hotdog by order

*Breakfast: Hominy Grits, Minced Beef w/ Toast, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets, Eggs to Order, Roasted Potatoes, French Toast, Asstd Doughnuts, Butterfly Rolls. *Lunch: Beef Noodle Soup, Pasta Carbonara, Yankee Pot Roast, Southwestern Rice, Parsley Buttered Potatoes, Calico Cabbage, Sprouts Superba, Almond Cake, Peach Crunch, Butterscotch Pudding. *Speed line: Assorted Pizza. *Dinner: Cream of Potato Soup, Salisbury Steak, Brown Rice w/ Tomatoes, Collard Greens, Lyonnaise Wax Beans, Almond Cake, Peach Crunch, Butterscotch Pudding.

Choice hamburger or hotdog by order

*Breakfast: Farina, Oven Fried Bacon, Baked Sausage Patties, Biscuits and Gravy, Asstd Omelets, Eggs to Order, Roasted Potatoes, Waffles, Asstd Doughnuts, Butterfly Rolls. *Lunch: Arroz Caldo Soup, Chicken Adobo, Beef Caldereta, Steamed Rice, Cut Green Beans, Steamed Carrots, Fruit Cocktail Upside Down Cake, Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Speed line: Italian Sausage W/ Pepper & Onion, Oven Fried Potatoes. *Dinner: Manhattan Clam Chowder, Lasagna, Cream Style Corn, Baked Hubbard Squash, Fruit Cocktail Upside Down Cake, Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Choice hamburger or hotdog by order

*Breakfast: Rolled Oats, Creamed Ground Beef, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets, Eggs to Order, Roasted Potatoes, Blueberry Pancakes, Asstd Doughnuts, Danish Diamonds. *Lunch: Mulligatawny Soup, Roast Turkey, Meatloaf, Steamed Rice, Mashed Potatoes, Chicken Gravy, Peas & Carrots, Steamed Cauliflower, Sweet Potato Pie, Shortbread Cookies, Peach Gelatin. *Speed line: Grilled Cheese/Hamburger, Baked Beans, French Fried Potatoes. *Dinner: Chicken noodles soup, Fishwich, Steamed Rice, Lima Beans, Vegetable Stir Fry, Sweet Potato Pie, Shortbread Cookies.

Choice hamburger or hotdog by order

*Breakfast: Hominy Grits, Corned Beef Hash, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets, Eggs to Order, Roasted Potatoes, French Toast, Asstd Doughnuts, Pineapple Carrot Muffin. *Lunch: Corn Chowder Soup, Pineapple Chicken, Beef Sauerbraten, Orange Rice, Mashed Potatoes, Steamed Asparagus, Summer Squash, Devils Food Cake, Fruit Nut Bar. *Speed line: Assorted Pizza, Chicken Drum. *Dinner: Beef Noodle Soup, Chicken Parmesan, Steamed Rice, Steamed Broccoli, Seasoned Carrots, Devils Food Cake, Fruit Nut Bar. Choice hamburger or hotdog by order

february 25, 2011

oN

the

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With

Rock the Base 2 Base!

Sigonella’s favorite run is back!

Registration is now open; preregister by 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 1 to receive a discount on your registration. You can register up until the day of the race at regular price. Registration includes special edition t-shirt and lunch. The race is a 7.6 mile run/walk from NAS II to NAS I. This once a year event will take place on Saturday, March 12. Same day registration starts at 8:30 am, walkers start at 10 am, and runners will start at 10:30 am. Live entertainment will follow the event. For more information call 624-4483.

midtoWN moVie theaterS SChedule & deSCriptioNS

UNKNOWN- Liam Neeson, January Jones, Diane Kruger, Aidan Quinn, Frank Langella

Friday, February 25 5:00pm Megamind PG

Dr. Martin Harris awakens after a car accident in Berlin to discover that his wife suddenly doesn't recognize him and another man has assumed his identity. Ignored by disbelieving authorities and hunted by mysterious assassins, he finds himself alone, tired and on the run. Aided by an unlikely ally, Martin plunges headlong into a deadly mystery that will force him to question his sanity, his identity, and just how far he's willing to go to uncover the truth. (109 min.)

5:30pm The Social Network PG-13 7:30pm Unknown PG-13 PREMIERE 8:00pm The Fighter R Saturday, February 26 2:00pm Despicable Me PG 2:30pm Megamind PG 5:00pm Unknown PG-13 5:30pm Tron Legacy PG 7:30pm The Social Network PG-13 8:00pm The Fighter R Sunday, February 27 2:00pm Yogi Bear PG 2:30pm Despicable Me PG

SEASON OF THE WITCH- Nicolas Cage, Ron Perlman, Stephen Campbell, Claire Foy, Ulrich Thomsen

A medieval knight undertakes a mission pitting him against a devious witch and making him the last hope for the world against an ancient and dark force. His faith broken by years of battle as a crusader, Behmen returns to central Europe to find his homeland decimated by the Black Plague. While searching for food and supplies at the Palace at Marburg, Behmen and his trusted companion, Felson are apprehended and ordered by the dying Cardinal to deliver a young peasant girl - believed to be the witch responsible for the Plague - to a remote abbey where her powers can be destroyed. Behmen agrees to the assignment but only if the peasant girl is granted a fair trial. As he and five others set off on this dangerous journey, they realize with mounting dread that the cunning girl is no ordinary human, and that their mission will pit them against an evil that even in these dark times they never could have imagined. (95 min.)

THE FIGHTER- Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Melisa Leo, Amy Adams, Jack McGee

4:30pm Season of the Witch PG-13 6:30pm Unknown PG-13 Tuesday, March 1

Life story of boxer "Irish" Mickey Ward and his trainer brother Dick Eklund, chronicling the brothers' early days on the rough streets of Lowell, Massachusetts through Eklund's battle with drugs and Ward's eventual world championship in London. (116 min.)

5:00pm Season of the Witch PG-13 5:30pm Just Go With It PG-13 PREMIERE 7:30pm Little Fockers PG-13

JUST GO WITH IT- Adam Sandler, JenniferAniston, Nicole Kidman, Nick Swardson, Brooklyn Decker

8:00pm The Fighter R Wednesday, March 2 5:00pm Despicable Me PG

A plastic surgeon, romancing a much younger schoolteacher, enlists his loyal assistant to pretend to be his soon to be ex-wife, in order to cover up a careless lie. When more lies backfire, the assistant's kids become involved, and everyone heads off for a weekend in Hawaii that will change all their lives. (110 min.)

5:30pm Unknown PG-13 7:30pm How Do You Know PG-13 LAST SHOWING 8:00pm Season of the Witch PG-13 Thursday, March 3 5:00pm Yogi Bear PG LAST SHOWING 5:30pm Just Go With It PG-13 7:30pm Tron Legacy PG LAST SHOWING

THE SOCIAL NETWORK- Jessie Eisenberg, Justin Timberlake, Andrew Garfield, Joseph Mazzello, Armie Hammer

On a fall night in 2003, Harvard undergrad and computer programming genius Mark Zuckerberg sits down at his computer and heatedly begins working on a new idea. In a fury of blogging and programming, what begins in his dorm room soon becomes a global social network and a revolution in communication. A mere six years and 500 million friends later, Mark Zuckerberg is the youngest billionaire in history, but for this entrepreneur, success leads to both personal and legal complications. (120 min.)

8:00pm The Fighter R Movie schedule is subject to change. Please call to confirm.

Movie Hotline: 624-4248

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mWr

Family Challenge

Think your family has what it takes to be #1? Come join us for our First Ever Family Challenge and show us what your family is made of! The “Family Challenge” will be held on Saturday, April 2 at the NAS I Land Annex.

Pre-registration is required.

Pre-register from March 9th to 12 p.m. on April 1st. A “Family” must consist of at least four adults and four children, with one adult and

one child being female. You may have more than eight “members” in your “family”.

The minimum age is 5, and everyone has to be able to compete in events and individuals can only compete in one “family”. Show your team spirit by having a team color, song, and name. Get creative and make your family stand out! For more information call 624-3785.

Sigonella Youth Check out what is going on with Sigonella Youth Teen & Tween Centers (6th – 12th graders). On Saturday, March 5, they will be heading to Carnevale in Acireale. If you have never experienced Carnevale in Italy, this is your opportunity! Don’t forget your silly string and confetti! Register

by Tuesday, March 1. On Friday, March 25 they will be having Chinese food in Catania.

Register by Monday, March 21. You can register for these trips at the CDC, Marinai Community Center, or at the Youth Center. For more information call 624-1750 or 6244018.

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february 25, 2011

TRAINING, continued from page 2 provide you with the web site where you will be required to pay to get a code to access your own computer! Be extremely careful about which links you click on especially if you receive it in an email no matter who is on the ‘From’ line. Even links that appear legitimate in search results of respected search engines such as bing, google or yahoo can lead to malicious sites. Keep your anti-virus and operating system patched with the latest updates.

DoD employees can get free anti-virus protection for home computers from the Navy INFOSEC web site: https://infosec.navy.mil/av/i ndex.jsp. For Microsoft OS users, you can get a free copy of Microsoft Security Essentials at www.microsoft.com.

Learn more about cyber security and how to protect yourself at the US Computer Emergency Response Team (US-CERT) web site: http://www.uscert.gov/cas/tips/.

Stay informed and be alert!

HEALTH, continued from page 1 that Americans do have a problem with obesity,” Whitley said. “We are fighting it though, through teaching our youth proper diet and exercise.”

Antenucci said she was really happy that the base was able to accommodate her students and teach them something different while making it interesting for them as well.

“I thought this would give them a chance to experience some American lifestyle and culture while gaining knowledge in the process,” Anteucci said. “I could tell they were really enjoying the experience which, as a teacher, all you want to see is your students learning and having fun in the process.”

Following the class, the students were given a tour of the base by NAS Sigonella Public Affairs Officer (PAO) Lt. Matt Knight, including a chance to see the food-court located on NAS I.

DEPLOYMENT, continued from page 5 roles before the deployment or make changes to how the roles or divided. It easy to realign goals and responsibilities, but it starts with open communication.

Differences and problems can arise over children, too.

Indeed, probably the single greatest are of adjustment during post-deployment is felt in the area of parenting. Returning service members sometime reassert their role as a parent by spoiling the children or by disciplining them too strictly. For months, one spouse has been running the household and taking care of the children in the manner that works best for the family in the service member’s absence. For the harmony of the family, it’s important that the service member not return home expect to automatically resume the role they had when they left. This is not to imply that the service member should forfeit his say in how things are done in the home; however, he/she should be prepared to be flexible and engage in a conversation with his spouse about how things are being done differently now.

The Fleet and Family Support Center offers the Post deployment classes the 3rd Tuesday of the month. This is an informational class for service members and their spouses to discuss expectations, changes, operational stress, and local resources to provide a successful reintegration with friends, family members and their fellow service members.

If you are returning from a deployment this class is highly recommended. To register for this 2 hour course please contact Sonya Bey at 624-4291.

FIRE, continued from page 2 so it would have taken only five more minutes," he said.

Backyard fire pits are growing in popularity, and it's important to think safety when burning a fire outdoors, just as you would when starting a fire in the living room fireplace. A blazing fire pit is a delightful comfort on cool nights—unless the fire flares out of control.

For safety's sake, take these precautions before striking the match. Never place a pit closer than 15 feet from any structure, including your house and overhead tree branches or “patio roofs” (pushing it out from under your patio roof to the middle of your driveway and setting up your lawn chairs there is usually acceptable). Never place a pit closer than 50 feet from any fuel storage. Combustible engines are prohibited within 30 feet of fire pits. With gas pits, make sure all vents are clear to avoid smoky flare-ups. And only use the fuel that the pit is built to burn. For traditional wood-burning pits, that means using dry, well-seasoned sticks. Also, don't load in so many that there's a danger of some falling out. Once the pit is lit, keep the following close at hand, just in case your merry bonfire suddenly starts burning a little too bright.

Water or sand. Extinguishing a flare-up might be as simple as keeping your garden hose nearby, with the water turned on and the nozzle set to "spray." (A focused stream of water could spread burning embers.) Check ahead of time to see if your pit can withstand a dousing; water can crack ceramic pits and even some metal ones. If it can't get wet, or if you're not sure, keep a bucket of dry sand nearby to dump on the flames. For a gas

or propane pit, turn off the supply before attempting to extinguish any fire.

Fire extinguisher. It should be a dry-chemical extinguisher with a Class B and C or multipurpose rating, such as the one you have in your kitchen.

Be ready to follow the PASS procedure: Pull the pin; Aim at the base of the fire; Squeeze the trigger slowly; Sweep the nozzle from side to side. Remember that most portable fire extinguishers have a range of just 6 to 10 feet and last for 8 to 10 seconds.

Portable or cellular phone.

If fire spreads beyond the confines of the pit or flares above your head, or prevents you from switching off the propane tank or natural-gas valve, calmly evacuate everyone from the area and call 911 from a base phone or 095861-911 from a cell.

As with all types of fireplaces, portable fire pits can be a fire hazard, maybe more so because of their less permanent nature. Rather than with a fireplace built to existing building codes, with portable pits, it's up to the homeowner to ensure their fire pit is used in such a way as to keep the house safe.

Other Tips: When burning wood in bowl-shaped fire pits, keep the sticks no longer than

three-quarters of the bowl's diameter. Fires should be extinguished completely before you retire for the evening.

They certainly should never be put on top of a combustible surface. Another factor to take into consideration is wind.

Here at NASSIG when it happens to be windy, it is best to not even light a fire under these conditions, especially if it is in the dry season. This is why you should always use a mesh spark screen/cover, which usually comes with most portable fire pits.

Lastly, remember, if there is a fire and it is determined upon investigation that YOUR fire pit started the fire, YOU are responsible!

Mojito

Eno

Agricola Gambino

U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella’s Dietician, Cmdr. Alice Whitleyspeaks to students from an Italian school about the difference between Italian and American diets.

february 25, 2011

GALLAGHER, continued from page 1 service members” said Gallagher during the opening for his show. “I’m not the best looking but I’m a proud American.”

Prior to the show, Gallagher made a quick tour around base, and stopped by American Forces Television Sigonella’s studio where he shot skits for television commercials. He also took a trip to the market in Sicily’s second largest city Catania to complete his shopping list for the evening’s events.

Prior to the shows start, Gallagher signed autographs and took pictures with Sailors and their families the had lined up through the Midtown Complex, awaiting entry.

Gallagher began his show in a completely filled auditorium by introducing his act, along with a new line of clothing he designed involving cutting the crotch out of a men’s pair of boxers and wearing them like a halter top.

Shortly following, he introduced his laws on food for flight, a description of how to build your own stunts and what food you should use to achieve maximum velocity.

“You want to use the squishy stuff in the middle like mashed potatoes and cream corn, and then put the solids on the outside,” he explained.

“When you crush the mash potatoes and rice the potatoes will propel the rice.”

After telling a few more jokes, one involving the crowd being covered in canned pumpkin representing bear and rabbit feces, he moved onto his signature stunt of crushing varies foods for entertainment.

“Tonight was great, the turnout was excellent, and I’m sure everyone enjoyed it,” said Antonyo McCall. “I didn’t know exactly what to expect, but he didn’t disappoint me To close out his show, Gallagher invited kids up to the stage and allowed them to join in the act by crushing a piece of watermelon.

“He got the kids all into it and they got all dirty and messy. All-in-all it was a great event,” said McCall.

For more information about future show and events sponsored by Navy Entertainment visit www.mwr.navy.mil/mwrprograms/entertainment/ent_ho me.

Before his show, Gallagher poses with fans at NAS Sigonella. Gallagher treated the crowd to a show of watermelon smashing and comedy.

Showing off some of his signature smashing tricks, Gallagher hits a plate full of rice, mashed potatoes and other edible items, sending food into the crowd. Plastic bags were handed out to the first 12 rows of seats.

ANNIE, continued from page 1

Ben Turner

thing has been getting all the members of the cast together for scenes they have together, Soeby said. “We have ages that range from five year old kids to people who work in shifts on the base, so we had to work around school, work, high school sports and academic trips as well as vacation time and scenes don’t work unless you have everyone there.”

DoDDS Elementary School kindergarten teacher Thea Burke who plays Daddy Warbuck’s secretary, Grace Farrell said it has been wonderful to be a part of a musical like Annie and to watch how it’s all come together over the past few months.

“It’s a unique opportunity and a chance for our community to see live theatre,” Burke said. “We get so use to watching movies at theatres or television in our house but live theatre is like nothing else.”

Burke also said it was a long process getting everything just right in time for the curtains to open.

“It can be a long process, we started thinking about what play we wanted to do last year, then we start looking at what kind of talent we have to work with when school starts up,” Burke said. “For something like Annie, you have to find the right kind

page 13

of girl to play to cute, likeable orphan and I believe we have the right girl for the part. Once we figured out that we wanted to do Annie and started putting together a cast, our next move was to design a set, create our own props and wardrobe while making it as realistic as possible,” Burke said. “This included searching the web for ideas and trying to create an illusion of what we want to portray onstage. We don’t have the luxury of going to a Target or a WalMart here, so what we gave some volunteers lists of props we needed, and they went out and located what we were looking for.

They went to the Nearly New Shop, scrounged around the NEX’s, put out emails at work and even ventured out to Catania to search at the local markets. They deserve a lot of credit. After we figure out what the scenery will look like, we begin rehearsals which began on Jan. 3 and will continue to run all the way to Mar. 3 where we will have our full dress rehearsal. Once we figured out how we were going to make the scenery realistic our next order of business was learning the musical scenes, dance moves and songs. When we have that down, we combine it with the dialogue and the scenery to create a full scene. When we had all the scenes ready to go we put them together to create a full act. Once we have all our acts rehearsed, we will put them together and create the musical performance, Annie.”

Soeby also said now that the whole process is finally over, she impatiently waiting for opening night.

“It was like running a 23-ring circus,” Soeby said. “It was a lot of fun but at times very challenging and at times kept me up for long periods of the night thinking about the details for the performance, but I’m excited to see the end result next weekend.”

Burke added that watching the musical come together was like a puzzle being put together.

“We work on rehearsals every weekday from two p.m. to seven p.m. and on the weekends we worked constantly on the set,” Burke said. “It pretty much became a seven-day-a-week operation. Right now we’re at the point where we’re putting together the final pieces and getting ready for our final rehearsals. It’s all part of the building process, but what happens when the process finally comes together is amazing. I would hope that everyone could come to at least one of the three performances,” Burke said. “This is for our community and our families to see something different and really enjoyable.”