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Vol. 27 No. 31
September 3, 2010
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Cesaro Renews Ties With Sigonella
PTO And PTSO Holds Teacher Welcome Breakfast By Sigonella Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization
Photo by MCSA Cameron Bramham
Photo by MCSA Cameron Bramham
Sigonella Sailors were invited to participate in the Catholic Mass before participating in a parade and feast that followed.
Sigonella Sailors were the featured guests of honor as they were paraded through the streets of Cesaro.
Story By MCSA Bramham Signature Staff Sicilians and NAS Sigonella Sailors gathered Thursday, August 19, 2010 in Cesaro, Sicily to recognize and honor the past efforts of Sailors who helped the small town with a giant task in 1996. Fifteen years ago, an MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter, from HC-4, helped move a 21-foot, 7,000 pound statue of Jesus Christ to the top of a mountain overlooking the small town. The
name of the statue is “Christo Signore Della Montagna,” which translates to Christ the Lord of the Mountain. After the statue was in-place, the local Sicilians threw a huge celebration in honor of the Sailors respecting and helping them with their traditions. This time was no different. The Sicilians gathered again and welcomed the NAS Sigonela Sailors back to their small town to celebrate the Sailors who had helped them in the past. The evening started
Catholic Mass at a local church in the middle of Cesaro. After the ceremony concluded the guests proceeded outside where a local marching band along with a group of Sicilians led them for a walk through the tiny town. After walking about a mile to the base of the mountain where the statue sits, the townspeople gathered around a stage set-up for a special ceremony to honor the guests from NAS, Sigonella. There, Mayor Antonio Caputo gave a long
speech on the history of the statue and the friendship between Cesaro and NAS Sigonella. Among the guests honored by the town were Naval Computer and Telecommunication Station (NCTS) Commanding Officer Bruce Black who gave a speech at the ceremony after Mayor Caputo thanking the town for the support. Cmdr. Alfonso Concha, NAS Sigonella Chaplian, was also an honored special guest and helped conduct Catholic
Mass at the church. Concha said it was great to see the entire community come out and show support for the Navy and all the Sailors at NAS Sigonella. “They are very honored to have all the Americans in their town for the celebration,” said Concha. The evening ended with a firework display, a walk up to see the statue, and finally dinner with Mayor Caputo and other prominent members of Cesaro.
American Country Day: Sicilians Enjoy a Taste of American Culture Story By MCSA Bramham Signature Staff Sicilians enjoyed the First Annual American Country Day festival held on Saturday, August 24, 2010 in Belpasso, Sicily. The festival brought many Sicilians out to experience different parts of the American culture. The festival organized by Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department
Weather update
(AIMD) and Harley Owners Group (HOG) kicked off with some music, while citizens from Belpasso and from Naval Air Station, Sigonella set up booths with Alfio Papule(Belpasso Mayor), Captain Butler, many different Guiseppe Pellegrino(CO Base Liason), and styles of food Giovanni Pulvirenti(Assesor Sport Tourism
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Top Stories
Page 2 Warm Ups and Cool Downs With the Navy Physical Fitness Assessment around the corner, and an increasing trend for a healthier lifestyle, everyone is on the move! Although the importance of exercise takes our nation by a storm, there is still an overlooked detail:
Inside
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Belpasso) get together for a photo op.
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New Law Extends 75Day Leave Carry Over 2008 law that increased annual leave carry over from 60 days to 75 days has been extended to 2013. The 2010 National Defense Authorization Act passed by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama in October 2009, extended the planned ...
Navy News 3
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Mobster Undone by Love of Mamma's Cooking A suspected member of the Neapolitan mafia, the Camorra, has been recently arrested by Italian police after being unable to resist his mother's culinary delights.
Community Calendar 4
with dancing and was a great success, according to Victor Gasso, one of the coordinators for the event. “We had thousands of people out here on Saturday, some Italian, and some American,” said Gasso. “It was nice to walk around and see the local Italians out and interested in different pieces Country,continued Page 12
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New Parent Safety Tips To reduce the risk of SIDS and suffocation, place baby to sleep on his or her back in a crib that meets current safety standards.
from Sicily and America. The festival also included games, prizes, and showcased many different and unique Harley Davidson motorcycles. The festival concluded with a two hour performance from various local bands along
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On Wednesday, August 25th the Sigonella Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization (SES PTO) held their annual teacher welcome back breakfast along with the Sigonella High School Parent Teacher Student Organization. Kristin Bertnik, the PTO Hospitality Chairperson, worked alongside Jennifer Bay, the PTSO President, to coordinate this event. Teachers started their first day back on the job by enjoying a hearty breakfast that included items such as pastries, breads, bacon, and egg casseroles. The PTO received many food donations from parents throughout the community which aided in the success of the breakfast! SES PTO would like to thank all of their parent volunteers for their support and for starting the year with such enthusiasm! The PTO is always looking for volunteers to help with events. There are so many ways that parents can get involved in the PTO which benefits the school and the children! Parents can do a wide range of volunteering for the PTO from helping with Scholastic book orders, baking items for events, and helping collect box tops. The PTO will send out forms to all parents during the first couple of weeks of school asking for volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering, simply fill out the form and send it back to your child’s teacher. Membership forms will also be sent out to parents. The cost of membership is $10.00 per person. Membership fees help the PTO host many events throughout the school year. Other news from the SES PTO
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PTSO,continued Page 12
Traffic Numbers
Page 8 Valle Dell Anapo or Valley of Anapo is a beautiful Sicilian reserve that was created through a "tracks to trails" project from the remnants of an old train track which winds alongside and over the Anapo River.
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Jan. 10-
Jan. 09-
Aug 10
Aug 09
Accidents Injuries
204 21
DUIs
5
Traffic Deaths
0
167 22 6
0
Please, don’t become a statistic!