December 2, 2011 The Signature

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

Vol. 28 No. 45

December 2, 2011

MCSN CAMERON BRAMHAM The Naval Air Station Sigonella Military Working Dog Division participated in a joint task force demonstration along with Italian Polizia and Carabinieri k-9 units at Etnapolis Shopping Center in Catania, Sicily.

NAS Sigonella MWD Demonstrates for Local Nationals in Catania MCSN CAMERON BRAMHAM Naval Air Station Sigonella service members gathered with Catania Faro Biscari Lions Club Officials and local nationals at the Catania War Cemetary to honor the Italian soldiers killed in the 2003 terrorist attack in Nasiriyah, Iraq.

NAS Sigonella Honors Italian Fallen Military

By MCSN Cameron Bramham NAS Sigonella Public Affairs Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella service members, Catania Faro Biscari Lions Club Officials, and local national military and civilian authorities, participated in a memorial service held at the Catania War Cemetery, Nov. 19, honoring the 19 Italian Carabinieri, soldiers and civilians killed in the 2003 terrorist attack in which an explosive-laden truck detonated in front of the Italian military headquarters in Nasiriyah, Iraq.

The attack, which took place in 2003, was Italy’s heaviest military loss since World War II leaving 19 Italian Carabinieri, soldiers and civilians dead.

The memorial service, held in their honor, included a Roman Catholic Mass and wreath laying ceremony, and jointly honored the fallen soldiers of World War II, Operation Husky in Sicily.

Retired British Army Maj. Allen Robert Joseph Batty, a local citizen who often visits the Catania War Ceremony to pay his respects, officiated over the wreath laying ceremony. “Today is an incredible day,” Batty said. “We are gathered in this hallow place to remember the fallen of Operation Husky and especially those who were killed in the massacre in Nasiriyah.”

This is the fourth consecutive year the NAS Sigonella Honor Guard members have participated in ceremonies such as this one, and they appreciate the opportunities to represent their country across the island of Sicily “It’s amazing and a great honor in my eyes to represent the Navy and the armed forces,” said NAS Sigonella Honor Guard Co-Captain, MA2 Jeffrey Anello. “[Being a part of the ceremony] gives us the opportunity to show our support and ... show that we’re one of them. To be able to lead this team is one of the many perks to being here in Sigonella.”

By MCSN Cameron Bramham NAS Sigonella Public Affairs

The Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella Military Working Dog Division (MWD) participated in an Italian Polizia and Carabinieri K-9 unit joint task force demonstration for local nationals at the Etnapolis mall on Nov. 19.

Providing the local nationals an opportunity to see what the MWD Division Dog Handlers do on a daily basis, the demonstration included different scenarios between both American and Italian K-9 units.

“We did a detection scenario, followed by explosive and drug search scenarios,” NAS Sigonella Dog Handler, Master-at-Arms Second Class Robert Calabaro explained. “We also did a patrol and obedience show which went very well and seemed to get a strong reaction from the crowd.”

The MWD Division credited their successful performance to the time and training put in by the dog handlers and their dogs.

“We focus on increasing our dog’s proficiency each and every day,” NAS Sigonella Dog Handler, Master-atArms Second Class Michael Fite said.

Belpasso and Siracusa Honor St. Lucia Find out how Sicily honors St. Lucia with special celebrations in Belpasso and Siracusa!

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“We do training in narcotics, explosives and also on the patrol side.” Their hard work is evident in the demonstrations.

Etnapolis Shopping Center Director, Alfio Mosca offered thanks to the commanding officer of the base and of security for participating in this program adding that demonstrations like this are important because they show the activities which are usually unknown by the general public. “This is also a great way to show great interaction between the U.S. Navy security and the Italian Polizia police,” Mosca said.

Dog Handlers for the MWD Division also said they believe it’s very important for them to participate in events like the Etnapolis show and are glad to have had the opportunity to showcase the MWD Division.

“We do a lot of joint training from with the Italian Polizia and Carabinieri K-9 units,”Fite said. “They take stuff from us and we take stuff from them. [Demonstrations like this] show that there is no distance between American military and the local Carabinieri and Poliza. It shows that we can work together as one team.”

Nativity Scenes throughout Sicily

NAS Sigonella’s Newest Petty Officers Congratulations to NAS Sigonella’s Newest Petty Officers! Find out who they are!

Join ITT for trips around Sicily and check out some of the island’s nativity scenes!

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Scan for direct links to NAS Sigonella

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December 2, 2011

Direct Line NAS Sigonella command master chief, cmc david graham The Holiday Season is in full swing. As can be seen throughout the housingareas, families have already started getting into the spirit by putting up lights and other decorations.

JACKIE TREMBATH

US Consul General Visits NAS Sigonella

By MCSA Brian Glunt NPASE

SIGONELLA, Sicily – U.S. Consul General Donald Moore visited service members stationed at Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella and students of the Department of Defense Dependent School (DoDDS) here, Nov. 23.

During the visit, Moore spoke with service members at an allhands call on NAS Sigonella’s flight line to thank them for their efforts during Operation Unified Protector and to wish them a happy Thanksgiving.

The consul general also made a stop at DoDDS Sigonella to speak to the students about the importance of their economic future.

The Signature

“It’s a great opportunity to talk to the youth of the future,” said Moore.

“We need to count on the young generation because the young have the ability to make changes.”

DoDDS Sigonella’s students and teachers also invited students from Niscemi’s Leonardo da Vinci High School to join in celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday.

The Italian students were given the chance to eat some traditional Thanksgiving foods while hearing the history of the holiday.

I look forward to all the upcoming holiday events and am excited that our Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Department stand ready to kick off the festivities starting with the tree lighting and live music (Dec. 2) at 6 pm in the Midtown Piazza.

As always, during this time of year, there are several departmental and tenant command parties occurring over the next couple of weeks. Most areout in town at various restaurants or clubs.

Remember, the magic number is ZERO. Never drink and drive

NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center Sigonella With the holiday season rapidly approaching, the NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center Sigonella Postal team would like to remind everyone of the United States Postal Service and Military Postal Service Agency's recommended mail-by dates for best chance delivery prior to December 25th from addresses stateside to our military FPO AE address here in Sigonella.

For more information on NAS Sigonella, visit the base’s website at www.cnic.navy.mil/sigonella.

We have been diligently tracking our mail transit times and our current average is 11 days from entry into the mail stream. The recommended cut off date for articles sent First Class or Priority Mail is December 10th.

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 Jackie Trembath Jackie.Trembath@eu.navy.mil

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

The holidays are a reason to celebrate and have fun but make sure you do so within reason and remember, historically, many of Sigonella's DUI's were the result of Sailors driving in during the normal morning traffic.

Finally, we all know that the holidays can be a stressful time. With so many planned activities and the additional pressure on your finances, we can easily become overwhelmed.

If you are feeling the stress of the holidays, remember that there are counselors available at the Chapel and at Fleet Family Support Center, who can provide financial advice, relationship advice, or just a friendly ear if needed.

So watch out for your Shipmates.

Identify potential hazards and make the right decisions, so we can all see each other after the holidays.

I could not be prouder to serve with a greater group of people.

Happy Holidays!

Mail Early for a Stress Free Holiday Season

“The banana crème pie that I tried was delicious. I loved it,” said Sabrina Caruso, physics teacher at Leonardo da Vinci High School. “We are very much looking forward to inviting the American kids to Niscemi to reciprocate the hospitality that we have been shown. We believe it is important to widen the cultural horizons of both countries.”

Command Master Chief CMDCM David Graham

and always have a plan. I encourage everyone to use the designated driver program or plan on staying at your location overnight.

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

For the last minute deal shoppers Express Mail Military Service's recommended mail by date is December 17th.

Patrons are also cautioned to be leery of "Free Standard Shipping" as these items are normally shipped via Parcel Post or Standard and will not make it to Sigonella prior to the December 25th holiday, in other words get Priority Mail confirmation prior to ordering.

As a reminder, all outgoing mail requires the use of a customs declaration form.

Additionally, customers are advised that certain mail restrictions apply and some items are non-mailable, such as switchblade knives, pornography, con-

trolled substances and explosive or incendiary devices.

If in doubt as to what can or cannot be sent through the mail, as well as information on size and weight restrictions, contact the military post office.

Parcels found by the U.S. Postal Service with such markings or labels on the outside of the box will not be processed. Instead, they will be handled as "non-mailable matter," regardless of the contents or what is listed on the U.S. Customs form.

Have a Safe and Happy Holidays!

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.

December 2, 2011

SQUALL

SILVERI NFL :

Sailors Reminded to Review Records Online

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Andrea Perez, Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs Office

MILLINGTON, Tenn.— With the announcement of the Fiscal Year 2013 E-7 selection board cycle Nov. 17, leadership reminds Sailors it is their responsibility to ensure their Official Military Personal File (OMPF) is up to date.

“It’s up to the Sailor to make sure that their service records are correct and not missing anything,” said Jim Giger, head of Records Management Policy Branch (PERS-313), Navy Personnel Command (NPC). “If a Sailor finds something is wrong, they should take steps to correct it as soon as possible.”

Sailors should not confuse their OMPF with the Electronic Service Record (ESR). They are two separate records with differing functions.

The ESR is an online version of the old field service record maintained at the command level. Information entered into the ESR is used to update corporate data, create documents for the OMPF, and provide up-to-date human resource information to a Sailor’s local command when the OMPF is not available. It’s not a permanent record like the OMPF. Also, when a Sailor is transferred or separated, temporary information is purged from their ESR. Sailors can review and update their Records, continued on page 12

traffic numbers Jan. 11 Oct. 11

Jan. 10 Oct. 10

Accidents

267

286

Injuries

36

49

DUIs

10

9

Lions @ Saints I'm from Michigan, so I will automatically be picking the Lions. They will be playing without their superstar defensive lineman Suh after his Bron-YAur Stomp against the packers (Led Zeppelin reference for those of you who didn't catch it), but the rest of the D line will pick up the slack and beat down the Saints without a problem. This is a rebound game after a frustrating loss to the Packers, so the Lions are going to come out hungry and ready to deliver a beat down on the Who Dat Nation.

Geaux Detroit!

Atlanta @ Houston Atlanta is playing well right now, and so is Houston, but the Falcons and Matt Ryan are too much for the Texans in the end. ATL by 10.

NCAA : Oklahoma @ Oklahoma State <-- GOTW This is a huge game in the eyes of the BCS. OK State could possibly move ahead of 'Bama in the BCS standings with a big win over the Sooners. This means the Cowboys will have to come out on a mission, which I think they will due to coming off of a tough overtime loss to Iowa State. The gap that OK. State has to overcome in the BCS is pretty large, so even with a big win against the Sooners they still might not slide up to the 2 spot in the rankings, but just knowing it's a possibility should cause their players to come out with a little more moxie than normal. Home field advantage doesn't hurt either. OK State by 20.

Virginia Tech vs. Clemson Virginia Tech will take this game with ease; Clemson can't stand up to their high powered offense. VT by 14 Wisconsin vs. Michigan St. Like I've said before, I'm from Michigan, and if you are from Michigan, you are generally one of two things, a Michigan fan or a Michigan State fan. I happen to back the Wolverines, Maize and Blue through and through. For this reason, I will be picking Wisconsin in this game for two reasons. I don't like MSU, and Wisconsin is better anyways.

Go Badgers!

0

0

Please, don’t become a statistic!

Tremor

Atlanta @ Houston Atlanta will take this one because they just lost Matt Leinart and Yates will not get the job done. Atlanta is in the hunt for a wildcard and they will try to not let this slip away. Even though Atlanta is our rivalry (Saints fan), I say Atlanta all day. Michael turner is a beast and Roddy White and Julio Jones will not be stopped. Atlanta is stacked, watch out.

Oakland @ Miami Oakland is on a roll and is not going to be stopped by the helpless Miami Dolphins. Let’s be real Oakland run game is awesome and they have athletes everywhere. Oakland in a long shot expects 250 yards total rushing as a team by their running backs.

Oklahoma @ Oklahoma St. <-GOTW Oklahoma State will take this one in a close rivalry game. Oklahoma is good but Oklahoma State is playing for something real big here and if they have a blowout win against the Sooners, expect an LSU vs. Okla St. matchup for the title. Let’s go Cowboys. Oklahoma St. WR Justin Blackmon cannot be stopped in Oklahoma will get hit upside the head.

Virginia Tech vs. Clemson <-ACC Champ.

Va. Tech will take this one; their quarterback (Logan Thomas) is a monster. He is big, fast, and strong and they have a powerful run game. Clemson took it to them earlier in the year but Va. Tech is a different squad now. They’re playing for a spot in the national championship and I think if they win big they deserve it over ‘Bama. Va. Tech in a blowout.

Wisconsin vs. Michigan St. <-Big Ten Champ.

Wisconsin lost earlier in the year to them on a lucky play in a hostile environment. But expect a different game this time. Russell Wilson and that running will get trucking early and blow them out of the water. Michigan State is a boring team and cannot win big, so Wisconsin in a party smash. Let’s go Wisconsin!

LSSN Nathaniel Squall

LSC Sigonella

Detroit vs. New Orleans

Traffic Deaths

Detroit @ New Orleans I choose that New Orleans will win this game. I mean you seriously want me to pick the winner of this game; I am a die-hard Saints. Saints in a slumber fest against the lions weak defense that allowed cam to throw over 300 yards.

Drew Brees will have a great game and keep on track of breaking Dan Marino’s record.

NCAA : Oakland @ Miami The Raider Nation will be happy with this pick. Oakland is playing pretty well this season, and Miami is not, so I'm going to go with the safe bet and pick the Raiders for this one.

New Orleans

Wisconsin is this year’s Big Ten Champ.

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NFL :

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MCHENRY

I'm beginning to feel sorry for my friend Lt. McHenry, however, it would be quite humorous if MCSN Bramham would put the Eagles on the list of picks every week. We all know he couldn't resist picking his Eagles...

NFL : Detroit @ New Orleans As I said before there are two teams that I figured would drop off and while the Bills have held true, the Lions are starting to as well. After Suh pulling his stunt on Thanksgiving, and the soon to be suspension along with Stafford seemingly completing more passes to the other team than his own, New Orleans will have their way as the Saints go marching on!!

Atlanta @ Houston As more and more weight is put on Arian Foster's shoulders now that they are down to their 3rd string QB in T.J. Yates?????? Who is that?? He may be able to pull things together but many of his passes against the Jaguars were completely off target. I think the Falcons beat the Texans on the road as Roddy White has a 100-yard receiving game 2 weeks in a row.

Oakland @ Miami In the game between the Raiders and Dolphins, I think the play of Matt Moore has inspired this team and after a 1 point loss to the Cowboys, the will be looking to rebound at home against the Raiders.

I'm going to keep my college commentary to a minimum. It seems as though my logic is forever coming back to haunt me by games end.

NCAA : Oklahoma @ Oklahoma St. <-GOTW The BCS has been put in a cup and shaken up more than a long night of Yahtzee!!! What could make this even more interesting and controversial?? If OSU beats OU. So there you have it, means OSU MUST win!

Virginia Tech vs. Clemson VT had their way with Virginia and will continue that trend when they meet Clemson in the ACC Championship game. With Clemson losing bad to in-state rival South Carolina, and VT shutting out the Cavaliers, I believe it will be a lopsided win for VT.

Like my beloved Eagles, I too have fallen on hard times and can't seem to catch a break in these weekly picks (are we done, yet?). How does the saying go - "It's not how you start, it's how you finish?" So, I'll take that approach from here on out.

It's time to bring it home and finish strong...or at least above .500! Here are this week's picks...drum roll, please...

NFL : Not too much to say about this week's NFL games so I'll just give you the winners. Detroit over New Orleans (I know they're at home, but the Saints will lose this one even though I think they will win...see, I'm using reverse pickology (new word...look it up).

Houston over Atlanta. And the Raiders over the Dolphins. And I'm done...until next week.

NCAA : Oklahoma @ Oklahoma St. <-GOTW Oklahoma State and Oklahoma should be a great game to watch. The pre-season #1 Sooners won't be able to play in the title game this year, but they can and will spoil Oklahoma State's chances of playing for the National Championship. Sooners win a close one over their in-state rivals. Does anyone think the title game won't be between Alabama and LSU?!

Virginia Tech vs. Clemson After losing to South Carolina, Clemson will be looking to redeem themselves in the ACC Championship game against Virginia Tech. Bad time to try to redeem yourself...the Hokies are on a roll. Look for the Hokies to beat Clemson and earn an automatic BCS bid. The great thing about Conference Championship games are that teams that faced one another earlier in the season can end up playing for the title.

Wisconsin vs. Michigan St. In the inaugural Big Ten Championship, Michigan State and Wisconsin are set to square off again. However, unlike the first meeting when Michigan State upset a then undefeated Wisconsin team, the tables will turn and those pesky Badgers will send the Spartans to their third loss and Wisconsin is off to the Rose Bowl to await Oregon.

Wisconsin vs. Michigan St. After Wisconsin totally OWNED Penn State, who could pick against them? Especially when playing a team that only beat 6-5 Northwestern by 14.

It all comes down on how you are playing at the end of the season and I believe

Ashley Dembinski WIC office admin. assistant

Lt. Tim Page NAS Sigonella PAO

Detroit

New Orleans

New Orleans

Detroit

Atlanta

Houston

Miami

Oakland

GM2 Bryan Silveri CMAA Office

Lt. Chris McHenry NAS Sigonella Admin Officer

Atlanta vs. Houston

Atlanta

Atlanta

Oakland vs. Miami

Oakland

Oakland

Houston Oakland

Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma St.

Oklahoma St.

Oklahoma St.

Oklahoma St.

Oklahoma St.

Oklahoma

Virginia Tech vs. Clemson

Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech

Wisconsin vs. Michigan St.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin

Michigan St.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin

Overall Record: 47-24 NFL: 21-12 NCAA: 26-12

Overall Record: 47-24 NFL: 19-14 NCAA: 23-9

Overall Record: 46-25 NFL: 22-11 NCAA: 24-14

Overall Record: 45-26 NFL: 23-10 NCAA: 22-16

Dott. Stella

Overall Record: 37-34 NFL: 18-14 NCAA: 19-20

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FFSC can be reached at x4291 American Red Cross at x4900 Does your command or organization have an event youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to see on the Community Calendar?

Email us at thesig@eu.navy.mil and let us know!

Piccolo

Palermo

Oxidiana

Happy Wok

December 2, 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.

By Fleet & Family Support Center

Holiday greetings from the Fleet and Family Support Center Personal Financial Manager, my name is Fred Cole, and I recently joined the FFSC staff in June of this year. Many of you I’ve met face to face as my predecessor was busy taking me about during our turnover. To the rest of the Sigonella community I look forward to meeting you and letting you in on the great (FREE) services we provide at FFSC.

Motta

Already it’s been an exciting five months and we are gearing up to close the year out in high fashion as we prepare to do even bigger and better things in 2012. I am excited to tell you about a new PFM program coming online but first let me extend an invitation to sign up for the quarterly Command Financial Specialist training course schedule for Dec 5 through 9, 2011 (for specific qualification please see OPNAVINST 1740.5B).

Oxidiana

With the holidays fast approaching I would like say a word about savings and spending. There is no better time to consider developing your spending plan.

Determining how much money comes in and how much goes out is a first step in developing a spending plan; we can help you conduct a budget. Developing a spending plan can assist you in maximizing your financial resources so you can accomplish the things you want financially in life. It will help you live within your means, realize your personal goals, maintain good credit, get more for your money and reduce financial stress.

While we are on the subject of getting more for money, let me ask you a question. What is the busiest shopping day of the year? Answer: The last Saturday before Christmas. Waiting until the last minute to shop can result in spending more than you intend or have available to spend. Getting more for your dollar whether saving or

spending both require planning and we can assist you in developing SMART goals.

We are excited about CNO message 241223ZOCT11 which announced opportunities for participation in the Command Financial Specialist E-4 program. This new program was the focus of FFSC recent quarterly CFS Forum and amplifying information is being drafted in the mean time be sure to watch for FFSC January 2012 flyer announcement of the two day training course.

That’s a wrap for now take good care of yourself this Christmas season. Remember the best gift you can give yourself is to become financially savvy in your spending and saving. For more information on how to develop your spending plan contact your Command Financial Specialist or come by the Fleet and Family Support Center or call me at 624-4291.

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

F.lli Chiechio

Pentagon

Marchi

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December 2, 2011 Alberto Lunetta The Signature Staff

the afternoon at 3:30 p.m., the carriage, weighing 14 tons and the holy relics, on top of which a silver statue of Saint Lucia is placed, are carried in procession for seven hours from the cathedral to the church of Santa Lucia al Sepolcro. Fireworks are performed around 6:30 p.m.

Three groups of 48 men wearing green berets alternate in carrying it. Many devotees, who also come from the neighboring cities, follow the procession barefoot holding torches.

city. One story says that Siracusa’s bishop gathered the starving people in the cathedral to pray and implore St. Lucia for a miracle. Suddenly, a dove flew down from the sky and roosted on the bishop’s shoulders. Right after, a ship loaded with wheat docked at the port.

The wheat was then boiled and eaten by the Siracusa people. Today, the cuccìa is served as a delicious porridge enriched with ricotta cheese, chocolate and candied fruits.

During the festival, the blessing and the free distribution of the cuccìa (cooked wheat) takes place in several houses and churches on Dec. 12 after the Holy mass which begins at 7 p.m. Cuccìa is a typical food that is prepared for the Saint Lucia celebrations. Tradition says it was first cooked in Siracusa in the 17th century as Santa Lucia worked a miracle during a terrible famine that had hit the

On Dec. 20 at 4 p.m., the “ottava” (the eighth day after a feast day) is celebrated with a procession leaving from Santa Lucia to the cathedral which is attended by three Swedish girls represent the saint tradition.

For more information and detailed schedules visit Siracusa Tourist Office web site Belpaso, continued on page 12

ANGELA Decorated floats are among the main attraction of the Belpasso traditional December celebrations honoring St. Lucia, the town’s celestial patroness saint.

The statue depicting St. Lucia, the patroness saint of Siracusa, and her relics are is taken out in procession throughout the streets of the city among crowds of devotees.

Belpasso and Siracusa honor Santa Lucia “ Sarausana è!” (She is definitely from Siracusa!). This is what devotees shout during the Santa Lucia (Saint Lucy) Festival to show how proud they are of the fact that this popular saint is “one of them.” Just as it happens in Belpasso where Santa Lucia is also invoked for protection from natural calamities posed by volcano Etna, this beloved patroness is still regarded as the savior of Siracusa from the terrible tsunami wave that struck Messina on Dec. 28, 1908. According to tradition, the deadly wave stopped right before the outskirts of the city.

Today in Siracusa, there is still an “edicola votiva,” i.e. a votive shrine in piazza delle Poste that remembers the miracle that, according to pilgrims, was worked

by Santa Lucia on that occasion.

On Dec. 13, the communities of these cities remember her through annual spectacular and heartfelt feste religiose (religious festivals).

where she prayed for her healing. While in Catania, Lucy had a vision of St. Agata who assured her that Eutychia was healed because of her strong faith. As a result of this miracle, Lucia asked her mother to give all their properties to the poor and the sick. Eutychia agreed. But this radical decision angered the man to whom she was betrothed who denounced her as a Christian. Lucia was then brought before Paschasius, a pagan governor to whom she opposed giving up her faith. The cruel governor then ordered her to be severely punished. According to tradition, several miracles occurred during her torture. Soldiers tried to set her on fire but she did not burn. Paschasius then planned to force her into prostitution, but when the guards went to drag her away, they could not move her.

Life of Saint Lucia

Legend has it that Lucia’s eyes were plucked out during her torture but God miraculously restored her sight. This explains why she is often represented as a maiden with her eyes on a plate, a book, or a shell and also why she is invoked against blindness and eye diseases. Saint Lucia is also protector against fire, and the patron of people suffering from infection, hemorrhage and sore throat.

Eventually, Lucia was beheaded on the 13th of December in the year 304 AD.

Lucia, whose name means, “light,” was born in Siracusa in a rich and noble family in 283 AD, and raised as a Christian. Although Lucia consecrated herself forever to Jesus, she was pressed by her mother Eutychia to marry a pagan nobleman. Since Eutychia had been suffering from hemorrhage for several years, Lucia took her on a pilgrimage to the tomb of St. Agata in Catania

Saint Lucia body’s remained in Siracusa for many years. In 1039, Byzantine general Maniace took her human remains to Constantinople (Istanbul). Several years later, Venetian crusaders took the relics to Venice where they are still preserved inside a glass-enclosed sarcophagus placed behind the altar of SS. Geremia and Lucia Church. Some relics are scattered in churches throughout Eu-

Belpasso’s townspeople have been venerating Santa Lucia since the second half of the 17th century, when the Carmelite monks began spreading the devotion towards her by organizing a religious festival in 1636, during which a Santa Lucia painting was carried in procession.

rope. Portions of her arms are kept inside the cathedral of Siracusa and in Belpasso’s main church.

Swedish tradition Saint Lucia is also celebrated on Dec. 13 in Sweden. Scandinavian’s Christians celebrate Luciadagen (Saint Lucia’s Day).

It is a festival of “light” symbolizing the end of darkness. According to tradition, on the morning of Dec. 13, the oldest daughter in each family wears a white robe and puts on a wreath of greens with lit candles on her head. Then she awakens the other members of the family serving coffee and goodies. During the festival, a contest to elect “Lucia Bride” is also held. Unlike what it is commonly believed, Lucia Bride is not chosen among the most beautiful girls but among the ones most committed to volunteering.

On the festival’s day, a torchlight a procession of children walks through farms, houses, and schools, singing the Lucia song. “ Lucia” leads the procession followed by her “assistants” including young girls clad in white with glitter in their hair, “star-boys” (wearing white shirts and tall cone-shaped hats decorated with stars) and other children dressed as trolls, demons and old men. The “Swedish Lucia” is usually invited to Sicily to take part in the celebrations held in Siracusa.

Celebrations in Siracusa On Dec. 13, the festival begins at 10:30 a.m. with a solemn Holy Mass celebrated at the cathedral by Palermo Archbishop Paolo Romeo. During the Mass, religious chants are also performed. In

Mojito

December 2, 2011

Italy's President wants law to grant children of immigrants citizenship (Story by AKI)

Inner Wheel Paternò Alto Simeto visits Sigonella Last week, NAS Sigonella opened its gates again for the first PAO-coordinated base tour since the end of Operation Unified Protector.

Maria Teresa Fransoni Ceravolo, Governess of Inner Wheel District 211 (including Calabria and Sicily) and a group of 10 members of Inner Wheel Paternò Alto Simeto, paid a visit to the base on Saturday, November 26. Governess Fransoni Ceravolo came to Sicily to preside over the ceremony celebrating the Paternò Alto Simeto 25th Anniversary.

support NATO. After visiting Midtown and having lunch at the Food Court, the group moved to NAS 2 where it got an up-close look at the VP-45 P3 aircraft.

Inner Wheel Paternò Alto Simeto President Maria Grazia Ronsivalle, who attended along with her Club members last month's NASSIG Autumnfest, thought that one of the best ways to celebrate the Club's anniversary, besides the traditional gala dinner and conference, was taking the Governess to Sigonella to show her how the US Navy and Italian Air Force work hand in hand to

The group also had the opportunity to tour the Italian Air Force 41st Stormo Weather and Radar Stations. “It was a very interesting experience to spend time and learning about the mission of the US Navy and Italian Air Force in Sicily. Coming from a military family, I can relate to the values of duty, honor and country that motivate those young,

"We had a great visit with the Inner Wheel Club. It was nice to be able to interact with another group who makes Community Outreach a priority. The squadron had a good time talking with the IWC Members and showing them our aircraft and hangar spaces,” said LCDR Tom Steffensen.

Paterno, continued on page 12

Happy Wok

Rome- Italian president Giorgio Napolitano on Tuesday described as ''absurd'' a law denying citizenship to the children of immigrants born in Italy.

"It's folly. It's absurd that children born in Italy can't become Italian," he said during an address to the Federation of Evangelical Churches in Rome.

The 86-year-old former communist said the children of immigrants could give new life to an ageing country with a declining birthrate. A trend that if not reversed will cause a deficit in the country's pension system.

Citizenship for immigrant youth "would give new energy in a society that is for the most part old and sclerotic," he said.

Of the 60.6 million people living in Italy, almost 4.6 million are foreigners, and 22 percent of those are under 17 years old, according to national statistics agency Istat.

Napolitano's office is usually ceremonial but is often considered to be above politics and hold the moral high ground above Parliament. During his address he encouraged Parliament to consider changing Italy's citizenship rules.

He was been especially vocal lately amid an economic and political crisis that prompted Silvio Berlusconi's government to resign.

The law that governs Italian citizenCitizenship, continued on page 12

Premier

Italian mathematician prepares to challenge Google

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Mudslides in southern Italy kill 3 people

(Story by IDG News Service)

(Story by The Associated Press)

The Italian mathematician who contributed to the development of Google's search algorithm is preparing to launch his own challenge to the dominant search engine before the end of the year.

Massimo Marchiori, an associate professor at Padua University, recently began talking up the new search engine with videos posted on a promotional website at volunia.com.

Torrential rain battered eastern Sicily on Wednesday, Nov. 23 where mudslides have killed at least three people and muddy torrents have swept away cars and washed out bridges, authorities said.

In a video that shows him sitting on a park bench and writing on a whiteboard, he explains: "It's not just Google plus 10%. It's a different perspective. It's a new radical view of what a search engine of the future could be."

The website allows visitors to sign up for a chance to become "power users," who will test the beta version of the search engine, which is to be launched in 12 languages.

In an interview published in the online edition of the Corriere della Sera Thursday, Marchiori declined to go into detail about what would set Volunia apart from its established competitors.

"For the moment I can't say any more, I'm really sorry ... The fact is that an enterprise like Google, to give an example, would have no difficulty in setting 100 engineers to work day and night on our idea and in coming out before us," Marchiori said.

"If I didn't think it was something big, capable of competing with the giants of Google, continued on page 12

A mudslide in the hamlet of Saponara, near the Sicilian port city of Messina, fatally struck a 10-year-old boy Tuesday as his family fled their home.

Much of Italy's terrain is landslideprone, and many have built homes on steep hillsides in defiance of warnings by geologists.

Muddy torrents of water rushed through the Messina area, sweeping along cars as if they were toys and knocking down part of an elevated roadway.

Heavy rains also lashed Calabria, the southern Italian region across from Sicily. State railways said washed out railway bridges, landslides on track and flooding caused suspension of service on some routes.

About 100 soldiers were sent in to Saponara, one of the worst hit towns, to rescue residents stranded in flooded homes or vehicles, Italian news reports said.

This fall, flash flooding in Genoa, northwest Italy, killed at least six people, and at least nine perished in severe floods in Tuscany and the Cinque Terre tourist area of Liguria.

President Giorgio Napolitano asked Mudslide, continued on page 12

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December 2, 2011

GM2 KRIS CARMODY

Congratulations, NAS Sigonella Newest Petty OďŹ&#x192;cers MASN Justin A. Bouslog MASN Thomas W. Butcher ACAN Kristen B. Carpenter MASN Robert C. Creager CECN Julito C. Dacpanco MASN Joshua W. Desalvo ACAN Pomaikai M. Fortin MASN Alexander C. Frost LSSN Tirth S. Gandhi MASN Kelly J. Hernandez MASN Donald R. Jacobs MASN Shelita M. Johnson MASN Ian S. Macmillan MASN Shelby R. McFarland MASN Daniel Mercado MASN Vanel Olysse MASN Amber L. Schmock

Pietro

ABH3 Christopher G. Bittner MA3 Luis M. Cosme AC3 Mark A. Crittenden YN3 Konrad E. Densmore ABH3 David A. Ford MA3 Kuamain Hamiter MA3 Alejandro Holguin MA3 Alexandra Holguin UT3 James R. Jimmerson UT3 Tice L. Marty MA3 Jovan D. Maxwell CE3 Kevin L. McKeehan MA3 Brandon M. McKnight

PS3 Shuwannia M. Medcalf MA3 Brandon S. Meinbresse MA3 Mark A. Miller SW3 Edgar M. Moreno Jr. ABH3 Reginaldo Rosales MA3 Samuel Santiago ABH3 Melvin J. Steward ABH3 Marcos F. Torres MA3 Willaim C. Shirley MA3 Kevin M. Silli MA3 Travis Sonneborn CE3 Errolanthony B. Viray

Gelso Bianco

ABH2 Zlando Dahn AZ2 Natalie R. Ferguson MA2 Jason A. Hernandez ABH2 Assale K. Pawi MA2 Shawn M. Stewart

New Place

December 2, 2011

The Basilica di San Francesco is the main tourist attraction in Assisi, the city where St. Francis was born and died.

A Day Trip: Assisi, Italy

By Jackie Trembath NAS Sigonella Public Affairs

Assisi [pronounced ahs-see-zee] is easy to miss, but worth the visit.

A small town in the Italian region of Umbria, it is a simple day trip by train from Rome or Florence. I admit, Assisi was not on my list of must-see places to visit in Italy, but I am glad I went. With its stunning Medieval architecture, ancient ruins and welcoming atmosphere, the little town is really quite charming.

A popular tourist destination for those interested in religious heritage, Assisi attracts more than a million visitors each year. It is best known as the birthplace of St. Francis,

patron saint of Italy, founder of the Franciscan order and one of the most popular Catholic saints in history. His tomb and sacred relics can be seen at the 13-th century Basilica di San Francesco, Assis’s main attraction. Even if you are not a connoisseur of religion, the town is well worth visiting for the ambiance alone.

The walled city doesn’t allow outside traffic in so wear comfortable shoes and take advantage of the opportunities for exploring. Assisi is filled with narrow and steep lanes and plenty of hidden surprises, from frescos and passageways to small restaurants tucked away on sidestreets.

Pictured at right: Assisi has many hidden surprises to discover, like the hidden passageway adorned by a frescoe (top right) and the beautiful ruins (bottom right). Assisi is even amazing from a distance (below).

PHOTOS BY JACKIE TREMBATH

Magnolia

Moroboshi

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December 2, 2011

Friday, 02 DEC 11 (cy 12) *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.

Saturday, 03 DEC 11 ( cy 13 ) *Breakfast: Farina, Grilled Ham Slices, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets, Eggs to Order, Roasted Potatoes, Buttermilk Pancakes, Asstd Doughnuts, Butterhorns. *Brunch: Breakfast Items, Cream of Mushroom Soup, Baked Tuna and Noodles, Pork Fried Rice, Cajun Oven Fries, Steamed Broccoli, Glazed Carrots, Almond Cookies, Blueberry Pie. *Dinner: Logging Soup, Beef Stir Fry, Steamed Rice, Peas, Corn Whole Kernel, Almond Cookies, Blueberry Pie.

Tuesday, 06 DEC 11 ( cy 16 ) *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.

Wednesday, 07 DEC 11 ( cy 17 ) *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, Pasta al Forno, 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, Fish Breaded, Steamed Rice, Lima Beans, Vegetable Stir Fry, Sweet Potato Pie, Shortbread Cookies.

Sunday, 04 DEC 11 ( cy 14 ) *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.

Thursday, 08 DEC 11 ( cy 18 ) *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.

Monday, 05 DEC 11 ( cy 15 ) *Breakfast: Hominy Grits, Minced Beef w/ Toast, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets, Eggs to Order, Roasted Potatoes, French Toast, Asstd Doughnuts, Butterfly Rolls. *Lunch: Cream of potato 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: Beef Noodle Soup, Salisbury Steak, Brown Rice w/ Tomatoes, Collard Greens, Lyonnaise Wax Beans, Almond Cake, Peach Crunch, Butterscotch Pudding.

Friday, 09 DEC 11 ( cy 19 ) *Breakfast: Rolled Oats, Grilled Sausage Links, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets, Eggs to Order, Roasted Potatoes, Waffles, Asstd Doughnuts, Apple Fritters. *Lunch: New England Clam Chowder, Fried/Baked Pollok Fish, Pasta al Forno , Mushroom Gravy, Steamed Rice, Roasted Garlic Potatoes, Steamed Asparagus, Fried Cauliflower, Lemon Cookies, Cheese Cake, Chocolate Cream Pudding.

Speed line: Grilled Cheese/Hamburger, Baked Beans, French Fried Potatoes. *Dinner: Cream Of Mushroom Soup, Cantonese Spareribs, Sandwich, Pork Fried Rice, Steamed Whole Corn, Seasoned Spinach, Lemon Cookies, Cheese Cake, Chocolate Cream Pudding.

Global Impact

December 2, 2011

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Italian Nativity Scenes with ITT

By Jamie Andrews

Italy is known for its Christmas Nativity Scenes, and ITT is visiting some of Sicily’s best in December! The nativities, or Presepe in Italian, depict the night Jesus was born. Traditionally, the baby Jesus is at the center lying in a manger, where he is surrounded and adored by his parents, shepherds, wise men, angels, a donkey and an ox. In Sicily, the scenes add different elements, often taking place in a miniature version of the village where it’s displayed. Sometimes there are celebrity cameo appearances in them such as Mother Theresa, Gandhi and the Pope, to name a few. Some have moving parts and others have living creatures. Some are enormous and can take up an entire room.

Setting out to see some of these magnificent displays could be a fun holiday adventure for the whole family. The Nativity Scene is a Christmas tradition that started in Italy and dates back to the 13th century. Saint Francis of Assisi is credited with creating the first Presepio. He travelled to the nearby village of Greccio in 1223 to lead the Christmas midnight mass.

When he discovered that the local church was not big enough for the crowd he expected, St. Francis found a large cave near the town square and set up a pulpit inside. Behind it, he placed a manger and filled it with hay.

He then tied a donkey and ox beside it and used that as a backdrop to his service. There were no shepherds, angels or wise men, not even a baby, but it set the mood and served its purpose. The holy family and other characters didn’t appear in the scene until the 1300s, when Italians began forming them out of marble, wood or terracotta. In Sicily, they began sculpting the figures out of materials like coral, ivory, bone, mother-ofpearl and alabaster.

Today, these scenes are found in churches and city squares all over Italy.

ITT is visiting three cities this month where you can see some of Sicily’s most well known nativity scenes. Call ITT at 624-4777 for more information on these trips:

Mineo Nativity Scene & Borgo Antico Sunday, December 11th

Caltagirone Nativity Scene & City Tour Sunday, December 18th

Live Nativity Scene in the Province of Ragusa Monday, December 26th

See the city’s classic nativity scene and enjoy dinner at Borgo Antico Agriturismo.

Catlagirone has many nativity scenes, including the one on Caltagirone’s famous duomo steps.

The city is also known for ceramics and there will be plenty of time to shop.

This is a famous live nativity scene that uses real people and animals.

miDtowN moVie theAterS ScheDule & DeScriPtioNS

HAPPY FEET 2 – Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Hank Azaria, Alecia Moore, Sofia Vergara Mumble, The Master of Tap, has a problem because his tiny son, Erik, is choreo-phobic. Reluctant to dance, Erik runs away and encounters The Mighty Sven – a penguin who can fly! Erik learns of his father’s “guts and grit” as Mumble brings together the penguin nations and all manner of fabulous creatures to put things right (100 m.)

Tuesday, December 6 5:00pm The Muppets

PG

5:30pm Real Steel

PG-13

7:30pm What’s Your Number R 8:00pm 50/50

R

50/50 – Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Seth Rogen, Anna Kendrick, Bryce Dallas Howard, Anjelica Huston

Inspired by a true story: Adam Lerner has a pretty great life -- with a talented, sexy artist girlfriend and a cool job with NPR, the 27-year old seems to have it all. But when Adam discovers he has a rare and possibly fatal form of cancer, his entire life turns to chaos (99 m.)

Wednesday, December 7 5:00pm Tower Heist

PG-13

5:30pm Dream House

PG-13

7:30pm Twilight: BD part 1 PG-13 8:00pm Ides of March

R

Thursday, Decemer 8 - LAST SHOWS 5:00pm Moneyball

PG-13

5:30pm Dolphin Tale

PG

7:30pm Abduction

PG-13

8:00pm Killer Elite

R

Friday, December 9 5:00pm Happy Feet 2

PG

5:30pm Twilight: BD part 1 PG-13 7:30pm The Thing

R -Premiere

8:00pm 50/50

R

Saturday, December 10 2:00pm Arthur Christmas

PG -Premiere

2:30pm The Muppets

PG

4:30pm The Big Year

PG-Premiere

5:00pm Dream House

PG-13

7:30pm Ides of March

R

Sunday, December 11 2:00pm Hugo

PG -Premiere

2:30pm Happy Feet 2

PG

4:30pm Twilight: BD part 1 PG-13 5:00pm Real Steel

PG-13

7:30pm The Thing

R

THING, THE -- Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Joel Edgerton, Ulrich Thomsen, Eric Christian Olsen, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje A remake of the 1951 and 1982 version of The Thing. Paleontologist Kate Lloyd joins a Norwegian scientific team to a desolate region that has stumbled across an extraterrestrial ship buried in the ice. She discovers an organism that seems to have died in the crash eons ago. But it is about to wake up. When a simple experiment frees the alien from its frozen prison, Kate must join the crew's pilot, Carter, to keep it from killing them off one at a time. And in this vast, intense land, a parasite that can mimic anything it touches will pit human against human as it tries to survive and flourish (103 m.)

TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN, PART 1 – Kristen Stewart, Robert Patterson, Taylor Lautner

Bella and Edward, plus those they love, must deal with the chain of consequences brought on by a marriage, honeymoon, and the tumultuous birth of a child... which brings an unforeseen and shocking development for Jacob Black (117 m.)

Movie schedule is subject to change.

Please call to confirm.

Movie Hotline: 624-4248

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.

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December 2, 2011

Records, continued from page 3 personal emergency contact information and other service record items in their ESR self-service account through the Navy Standard Integrated Personnel System (NSIPS) website at https://nsips.nmci.navy.mil. Sailors afloat can access their ESR self-service account through the ship’s NSIPS server.

If information is considered permanent, the personnel office or personnel support detachment (PSD) will verify, print, sign and send required documents to the OMPF to be retained permanently, said Giger The OMPF is the record reviewed by selection boards and is also used to manage a service member’s assignments, training, advancement and separation.

Per NAVADMIN 349/11, the Fiscal Year 2013 E-7 selection board will review the OMPF of all candidates. If documents are missing from a candidate’s OMPF, they must submit those documents, along with a cover letter to the selection board president, to be reviewed by the board.

Letters sent to a selection board for consideration will not be added to a service member's OMPF permanently.

BUPERSINST 1070.27 outlines all items that should or should not be submitted by officer and enlisted personnel and how to submit those documents.

“The longer a Sailor waits to correct something in their record or add something that is missing, the harder it is for NPC or the Sailor to validate there is an error,” said Giger. “If the error is not obvious, the Sailor has to show the personnel office the mistake and provide supporting documentation. If a Sailor waits too long, getting a copy of something like an old evaluation from a reporting senior could be very difficult.”

To securely review and print OMPF documents, Sailors can use OMPF-My Record on BUPERS Online (BOL) at https://www.bol.navy.mil. The application allows them to view, download and print documents such as Page 13s, performance evaluations, award citations, orders and other service record items.

Downloading or saving documents to shared workstations is not recommended though, because OMPF documents contain personally identifiable information that could be compromised in a shared environment.

“We talk to service members every day that don’t know what’s in their record,” said Giger. “Make it a routine to periodically review your record. Every six months, go online and look at your ESR and OMPF, make sure your evaluations are there and see if anything new has been added. When you look at your OMPF and see that a document was electronically submitted from PSD, go into the record to see if it was accepted, because sometimes documents get rejected and you need to make sure they are resubmitted.”

After separation, OMPF documents are used primarily to protect the legal and financial rights of the government, veterans, their families and survivors, according to Giger.

“At least a quarter of the requests for

records that we get here are from the Department of Labor and the Department of Veterans Affairs looking to see if a prior service member is eligible for some kind of a benefit,” said Giger.

“If we don’t have documents on file in a service member’s record, we can’t provide them the information they’re looking for.”

“Sailors also need to keep a hard-copy of everything that affects their career while in the Navy so if they notice an error in their OMPF, they can go to the personnel office or PSD directly and get it fixed,” said Giger. “No electronic system is fool-proof and even though we have the ability to recover most corrupt files or images, sometimes we cannot, and obtaining a copy from the Sailor is the only way we can retrieve a copy of a lost image.”

If Sailors order a copy of their OMPF on a compact disc (CD) through BOL once new documents are added or their record is updated, the CD becomes outdated. Giger recommends Sailors access their records online via BOL for the most up-to-date service record information, said Giger.

For a complete description of all Navy human resource records or detailed instructions on how to update records, visit the records management and policy Web Page on the NPC website at www.npc.navy.mil/career/recordsmanagement/militarypersonnelrecords/Page s/default2.aspx The OMPF on BOL reflects documents that have been received, reviewed, and accepted as official record documents. Recently submitted documents may not yet appear in the record.

If a document was sent to NPC within the past 60-90 days, it may still be in processing, so do not resend. After 90 days, if the document still has not appeared in the OMPF, contact PERS-313 by e-mail: mill_ompf-chg@navy.mil before resubmitting. For additional assistance, contact the NPC Customer Service Center at 1-866-U-ASK-NPC. Belpaso, continued from page 6 http://www.comune.siracusa.it/ Celebrations in Belpasso On the festival’s eve (Dec. 12) at 6 p.m., the solemn procession of the holy relics in performed along via Roma.

Later in the evening, ancient chants are sung in piazza Duomo at 9 p.m. The centerpiece of this evening is undoubtedly the spectacular unveiling of the amazing 50-foot tall Baroque-styled Carri (mechanized floats) featuring scenes telling of the life of Santa Lucia. They will be on display in the historic center starting at 8:30 p.m. Local mastri (craftsmen) began building these mesmerizing floats in the 19th century to express their devotion to the saint.

On the actual festival’s day, Dec.13, celebrations begin around 11 a.m. at the main church with a procession during which the 18th century silver statue depicting Saint Lucia and her relics tour the historic center. Thirty-minute- fireworks are performed while devotees dressed in a white tunic named Cappa accompany the holy carriage.

After the fireworks, religious chants are performed in piazza Duomo. In the afternoon at 3:30 p.m., the morning religious procession is repeated at 3:30 p.m.

throughout the town. About one hour later, some devotees perform the spectacular Corsa della vara (running while carrying the Santa Lucia statue up to a slope) in via Terza Retta di Levante. On Dec 14, after the solemn Holy Mass celebrated by the Catania Archbishop around 10 a.m., a low-key procession is held in the historic center at 6 p.m. and it is opened by a repetition of the Corsa della vara.

In the late evening, fireworks and music shows are performed.

For more information and detailed schedule visit the Belpasso Tourist Office web site http://www.comune.belpasso.ct-egov.it/ Paterno, continued from page 7 skilled and professional sailors and airmen," Governess Fransoni said.

As reported by www.innerwheelusa.com , one hundred thousand members make up Inner Wheel Clubs today in over 100 countries. Inner Wheel has become one of the largest women’s organizations in the world. Each Club which is formed by Rotary Clubs' spouses, relatives and partners - enjoys close ties with its corresponding Rotary Club and is always willing to support and assist Rotary when invited to do so. The Objects of Inner Wheel are "to Promote True Friendship, To Promote the Ideals of Personal Service and To Foster International Understanding, in brief: "Friendship and Service."

stor in Mindware Studios, a software company in Prague.

Volunia's servers will be based in Sardinia and provided by Tiscali, but Tiscali founder Renato Soru is not an investor, Pireddu said.

"We have sufficient funds to finance the early stages of the venture. It's premature to talk about the possible entry of new investors," he said.

"The market will tell us in a democratic way whether our idea was good. If users like it, it means we have done a good job. If not, we'll correct the product," Pireddu said.

In his interview with Corriere della Sera, Marchiori said Google's founders, Page and Sergey Brin, had always acknowledged his contribution to the Google formula and he had no regrets that he had not participated in their astonishing commercial adventure.

"The idea of a vendetta never even occurred to me," he said. "The truth is that it's such a beautiful idea it would be a shame not to be able to realize it. And now is the right moment to do it."

Mudslide, continued from page 7 local authorities to express his solidarity and closeness to the victims' families and repeated his appeal to Italians to pay urgent attention to their fragile environment.

Some of the flooding has been blamed on failure to regularly clean storm drains.

Former Premier Silvio Berlusconi had been criticized by environmentalists for concentrating his government's efforts on his pet project to build a bridge over the strait dividing Messina from Calabria, instead of devoting financial resources and manpower to more mundane projects like maintaining drainage systems and shoring up hillsides prone to landslides.

With Italy now slashing spending to cut deficit and devote resources to reviving the economy and prevent financial disaster, the plan to build a bridge has fallen by the wayside.

"A dramatic national emergency is before our eyes," said Stella Bianchi, the center-left Democratic Party's point person on the environment. "We are paying a painful price for years of errors, culpable lack of attention" and excessive building, she said in a statement.

Citizenship, continued from page 7 ship is largely formed from the principle of jus sanguinis, or right of blood, meaning that at least one parent must be Italian to be granted citizenship. In many nations like the United States it is enough to be born in the country to have access to citizenship.

In Italy, migrants and their children can apply for citizenship after 10 years of residency.

On 15 November Napolitano said Italy is able to make interest payments on its 1.9 trillion-euro debt thanks to the contributions of immigrants.

Google, continued from page 7 online search, I would never have got involved," he said.

Marchiori said the basic idea was simple and radically different from the current approach of the major search engines. "If Google uses a club, we will work with a fencer's foil. The difference of our search engine is what will enable us to emerge.

And because Volunia will be really useful to people."

Marchiori is a member of the board of Tim Berners Lee's World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and has worked on the Platform for Privacy Preferences (P3P) and the Web Ontology Language (OWL). His Hyper Search algorithm was presented at a conference in California in 1996, which was attended by a 23year-old Larry Page. The algorithm later evolved into Google's Page Rank system.

The new project's headquarters are located in Padua, in northeast Italy. Many of the software developers are Marchiori's former students at the university, and funding is being supplied by Mariano Pireddu, a Sardinian entrepreneur with 20 years of experience in the IT and telecommunications sectors.

"The partners are myself and Massimo, plus all the researchers who have collaborated on the project," Pireddu said in a telephone interview. "None of us is dreaming of creating a better search engine than Google. We think we can create an engine that is different from Google."

Pireddu is the owner of Malloru, a business consultancy located in the western Sardinian town of Oristano, and was formerly the president of Slovenian telecom company Voljatel and an inve-

Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are back in Sigonella. For information on Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, please call 340608-2140.

Stampa

December 2, 2011

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NMCRS: Aiding Marines, Sailors & Their Families

By: NMCRS

Naval Air Station (NAS) Executive Officer Cmdr. Eric Vossler presents NAS Sigonella Operations officer Cmdr. Steven Jaeger with a Shadow Box which included an American flag which flew over Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego during his retirement ceremony, Nov. 18 in a hanger bay on the NAS Sigonella flight line. Jaeger had served as NAS Sigonella Operations officer since Dec. 2009 and leaves the U.S. Navy after 25 years of service.

The Quick Assist Loan Program through the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) Sigonella can provide financial help when Sailors and Marines need money for an emergency.

The loans are designed to help with emergency needs for basic living expenses.

About $238,000 in interestfree loans and grants were distributed locally last year.

“We’re here to help them because they serve us and our country.” NMCRS Director, Esther Scott said.

The quick-loan program makes interest-free loans of up

mojito

POYSEAN

to $300 to active-duty Navy and Marine service members.

The loans are repaid within a 10-month period. The goal is to serve “clients” in as little as 15 minutes. Any Sailor or Marine who has no outstanding loans from NMCRS is eligible to receive this Quick Assist loan.

When applying for a loan, service members should bring their most recent leave and earnings statement and their active-duty ID card. For more information, please call our local office at 624-4212 or stop by our office building 319 above FFSC.