The July 29 issue of The Signature

Vol. 28 No. 30

July 29, 2011

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Motorcycle safety emphasized at NAS Sigonella

Vice Adm. Vitale visits NAS Sigonella

By MCSN Cameron Bramham NAS Sigonella Public Affairs

Photo by MCSN Cameron Bramham/NAS Sigonella Public Affairs

Marcus Ochoa prepares participants for the obstacle course during the Basic Rider Course offered at Naval Air Station Sigonella in this file photo from last year’s training. The course is offered to military members wanting to learn basic skills or refresh their current skills.

It’s summer time and that means service members stationed at Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella will be gearing up their motorcycles for rides across the Sicilian country side.

The Sigonella Safety Department wants the community to understand the risks of accidents that are caused while riding motorcycles and how to have fun on your bike while remaining safe.

According to studies, motorcycle accidents have increased every year since 1997. During that time, motorcycle sales have increased about 91 percent.

The Sigonella Safety Department offers a monthly Basic Riders Course (BRC) to teach anyone who is interested in obtaining a permit to drive motorcycles in Sicily.

“They need to have a proper license SAFETY, continued on page 12

U.S. Navy Photo by MCSA Brian Glunt

Capt. Scott Butler, Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella, escorts Vice Adm. Michael Vitale, Commander, Navy Installations Command, around NAS Sigonella during a visit here.

The tour also included a quick stop at ‘tent city’ a temporary housing complex of coalition partners.

Rear Adm. Gaiani accepts check for Combined Federal Campaign

U.S. Navy photo by IC1 (SW) Brian Teneyck/ Released

Rear Adm. Tony Gaiani, Commander Navy Region Europe Africa Southwest Asia, left, and Command Master Chief White accept a check for $36,513 from Renee Acosta representing the total money pledged to European installations during the Combined Federal Campaign, July 22.

Weather

toP StorieS

July 29 H: 90 uPdate L: 64 NASSIG’s Health Promotion and Nutrition Department has combined efforts with the MWR Department, Commissary and the Navy Exchange (NEX) Sigonella to begin a healthy weight-loss challenge for service members and their families stationed here.

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iNSide

Direct Line 2

July 30 H: 88 L: 63

July 31 H: 91 L: 65

The Navy announced July 12 the U.S. Naval Academy's admissions cycle for the class of 2016, entering in July 2012, is open to enlisted Sailors.

PAGE 3 Navy News 3

Aug 1 H: 90 L: 68

Organizers of the top quality Mascalucia Ballet Festival announced the final lineup for the third edition of this successful dance event. Check out the schedule and plan on attending!

PAGE 6 Community Calendar 4

Aug 2 H: 95 L: 70

Aug 3 H: 92 L: 67

"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.

PAGE 8 MWR Corner 11

Aug 4 H: 94 L: 71 The town of Forza D’Agro has been a mustsee location for years, featuring beautiful terraces, a breathtaking castle, and a view to die for. ITT is taking a trip there soon. Find out how to sign up and explore Sicily!

PAGE 11 Il Mercato 14

Traffic Numbers Jan. 11 July 11

Jan. 10 July 10

Accidents

174

168

Injuries

24

33

DUIs

5

5

Traffic Deaths

0

0

Please, don’t become a statistic!

pAge 2

July 22, 2011

Direct Line Buon giorno Sigonella!

Wow, how time flies when you are having fun. It’s been just over a year now since I took command and I can say it has been a pleasure to serve alongside you each and every day.

I’ve been so fortunate to witness the incredible efforts of the Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and all of our coalition friends who are working so effectively together to make NAS Sigonella operate so successfully. I have seen some amazing changes occur in the past 12 months and each of you should take pride in your personal accomplishments and collective achievement. From renovations and facelifts on NAS I, to the generosity of everyone in the entire community as reflected by support to an Air Force Global Hawk family in need, it has been an incredibly humbling experience to watch how we take care of one ano-

NAS SigoNellA CommANdiNg offiCer, CApt. SCott Butler

ther. I can tell you that this point was not lost on VADM Vitale, the Commander of Naval Installations Command, during his recent visit to NASSIG. He was visibly impressed by everything he saw and everyone he met. My congratulations to you all.

There is another ongoing commitment made by many in the form of donating their important and often scarce free time to volunteer and help out others by assisting the local community in clean-up projects in the surrounding towns and donating clothes and other items to charity organizations and fellow service members in need. As Mohammed Ali once said, “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”

Although most of us enjoy two or three year tours in Sicily, others are simply deployed here. It is important that

Naval Radio Transmittal Facility Niscemi part of the Natura 2000 Network

By Antonella Grillo Environmental Division NAVFAC EURAFSWA Maybe not everyone knows that the NRTF Niscemi area is listed as a Site of Community Interest and as a Zone of Special Protection under the Natura 2000 network.

The management of Natura 2000 in Sicily is a result of the project “Bio Italy”, the goal of which is to acknowledge both ‘Birds and Habitats Directives’ in Italy.

Sicily was once covered by abundant woods and Mediterranean macchia, reduced to only small areas during various foreign dominations.

There currently are 19 reserves in Sicily established under the provision of a 1981 Regional Decree: one of the nature reserves resulting from this law is the “Sughereta di Niscemi”.

The area is protected for the presence of scattered remnants of Cork Oak Forest intermingled with maquis and garrigue a community which is habitat to many rare and/or endangered plant and animal species.

The most mature plant community is dominated by the cork oak, an evergreen oak characteristic of the Mediterranean area. It grows oan siliceous soils with an acid reaction and in basically dry climatic conditions, Commanding Officer Capt. Scott Butler Public Affairs Officer Lt. Tim Page Deputy Public Affairs Officer Dott. Alberto Lunetta Editor Tracie Barnthouse Staff Writers/ Photographers MC1 Christopher Delano MC2 Gary Prill GM2 Kris Carmody MCSN Cameron Bramham MCSA Brian Glunt 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

and for this reason it can grow together with generally evergreen plants which have adopted survival strategies to resist dehydration.

Many of the characteristic species are extremely rare and/or threatened at a regional and national level.

Among them, lots of rare endemic species are listed among the priority plants of the Natural habitats, wild flora and fauna conservation European Community Directive.

The quite high plant species richness in Niscemi protected area, currently estimated at 577 species, is due to the heterogeneity of its landscape. According to the Regional Plant Red List there are more than 50 plant species which are rare and/or threatened at a regional or even at a national level; among them, 15 are Sicilian endemics.

The diversity of habitats suitable for animal life allows the occurrence of high animal species richness, even if the number of individuals within each population is often quite low.

Considering only the breeding species which are rare on the European level, some of them experienced a recent expansion because they meet their ideal habitat in the fragmented landscapes rich of clearings of the natural reserve. One of this is the PWD, 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.

all of us, regardless of our time on the island, take pride in our surroundings -- both inside and outside the gate. It is a unique opportunity to be a part of the NAS Sigonella community and it is an even greater responsibility to be a member of the Sicilian society.

I applaud those organizations that have stepped up and made a commitment to not only be good guests, but to be good neighbors and members of the community.

Another way that Sigonellans give back is through sponsorship. We’ve all heard the saying, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression” – this is especially true for those of you that are chosen to represent the command in the Command Sponsor Program. It is absolutely critical that we assist the newest members of our community by reaching out to them early, ma-

king sure that they know they’re expected here, and by being available to answer any questions they may have. Transferring between commands can be stressful, but with the excellent personnel we have onboard in Sigonella, I am convinced that we make this transition as smooth as possible by simply being a good shipmate.

For those that have recently arrived – Welcome! I enjoy the opportunity to speak with you during Indoc and it is exciting to see the new faces and talents that will be propelling this installation to new heights. I can never stress enough how important it is to being a good shipmate. As you arrive and get adjusted to the change of scenery, be selective and

choose your friends wisely and stick together when you go out. A good shipmate will step in or come to your aid should a dangerous situation arise. Bottom-line, do what is right, make the right decisions, and be a good friend and a good shipmate. Benvenuti!

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) Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 1130 Catholic Mass (NAS II Chapel)

PROTESTANT Sunday 1045 Protestant Worship (NAS I)

JEWISH LAY SERVICES First Friday Shabbat Service (NAS I Chapel) 1800 sigshalom@yahoo.com

CHURCH OF CHRIST LAY SERVICE Sunday 1300 Bible Study (NAS I Chapel) 1330 Worship Service Call 624-5128 or 338-736-3061

OTHER SERVICES/ACTIVITIES POINTS OF CONTACT Muslim Prayer Room, open for daily prayers, NAS II Chapel, x9049.

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

Homeschooling the child who dislikes math!

Article from Homeschooling the Child Who Hates Math www.homeschool.com/articles/ aleks2/default.asp

Your child breezes through spelling, social studies, and art, but when it comes to math, your child’s attitude quickly sours. This can result in anxiety, acting out, struggles and outright refusal to do a lesson – a situation we have all been in. Additionally, many of us are intimidated by math ourselves, this can add to overall frustration with the subject. This doesn’t have to be the case!

Math utilizes logical skills and creativity, and your child can grow to enjoy it regardless of the initial level of interest. Numerous studies have 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 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.

suggested that students learn math best in a supportive learning environment that includes: • practice problems with explanations that break down challenges • flexibility to review previous math exercises, or move on to new exercises • encouragement • assessment/feedback As parents and teachers, we hope to help our children understand how they will use math in their everyday lives. How then, do we get past our nightmarish math memories so that we too can overcome the hesitations and learn to enjoy math along with our children? Here are some suggestions on how you can overcome your own math phobias in order to help your children discover the joy of mathematics: 1. Don’t let your fear of math come across to your kids Parents must be careful not to perpetuate the mathematical myth - that math is only for “math types.” Try not

to make comments like, “I don’t like math” or “I have never been good at math.”

When children hear comments like these from their primary teacher, they begin to dread math before giving it a chance. It is important to encourage your children to explore the rich world of mathematics without imparting negative biases.

2. Don’t immediately associate math with computation It is very important to realize that math is not just numbers and computations, but a realm of exciting ideas that touch every part of our lives.

Take your children outside and point out real objects that display math concepts. For example, show your children the symmetry of a leaf or the angles on a building; take a close look at the spirals in a spider web or the intricate patterns of a snowflake.

3. Help your children understand why math is important Math improves problem solving MATH, 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: 081-568-2983 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.

July 22, 2011

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Mwr

Midtown Movie theaterS Schedule & deScriptionS

HARRY POTTER & THE DEATHLY HALLOWS (7) pt. 2 - Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Carter In the epic finale, the battle between good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort. It all ends here (118 min.)

KUNG FU PANDA 2- Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen

Friday, July 22 5:00pm Kung Fu Panda 2 PG 8:00pm Priest R PREMIERE Saturday, July 23 2:00pm Cars 2 PG 4:30pm Harry Potter 7pt. 2 PG-13 PREMIER 7:30pm Priest R 9:00 pm Yogi Bear G FREE - MOVIE IN THE PARK Sunday, July 24 2:00pm Harry Potter 7 pt. 2 PG-13 4:30pm Transformers 3 PG-13 7:30pm The Hangover 2 R Tuesday, July 26 5:00pm Zookeeper PG 8:00pm Priest R Wednesday, July 27 5:00pm Pirates of the Caribbean 4 PG-13 8:00pm Horrible Bosses R Thursday, July 28 5:00pm Harry Potter 7pt. 2 PG-13 8:00pm Bridesmaids R Friday, July 29 5:00pm X-Men: First Class PG-13 8:00pm The Conspirator PG-13 PREMIER

Po is now living his dream as The Dragon Warrior, protecting the Valley of Peace alongside his friends and fellow kung fu masters, The Furious Five. But Po's new life of awesomeness is threatened by the emergence of a formidable villain, who plans to use a secret, unstoppable weapon to conquer China and destroy kung fu. He must look to his past and uncover the secrets of his mysterious origins; only then will Po be able to unlock the strength he needs to succeed. (91 min.)

PRIEST – Paul Bettany, Karl Urban, Can Gigandet, Maggie Q, Lily Collins A legendary Warrior Priest from the last Vampire War now lives in obscurity among other downtrodden human inhabitants in walled-in dystopian cities ruled by the Church. When his niece is abducted by a murderous pack of vampires, Priest breaks his sacred vows to venture out on an obsessive quest to find her before they turn her into one of them. He is joined by his niece’s boyfriend and a former Warrior Priestess who possess otherworldly fighting skills (87 min.)

CARS 2 – Larry the Cable Guy, Cheech Marin, Owen Wilson, Michael Cain Star racecar Lightning McQueen and the incomparable tow truck Mater take their friendship to exciting new places when they head overseas to compete in the firstever World Grand Prix to determine the world's fastest car. But the road to the championship is filled with plenty of potholes, detours and hilarious surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage.

Torn between assisting Lightning McQueen in the high-profile race and towing the line in a top-secret spy mission, Mater's action-packed journey leads him on an explosive chase through the streets of Japan and Europe, trailed by his friends and watched by the whole world. Adding to the fast-paced fun is a colorful new all-car cast that includes secret agents, menacing villains and international racing competitors (112 min.).

ZOOKEEPER – Kevin James, Rosario Dawson, Leslie Bibb, Donnie Wahlberg, Ken Jeong The animals at Franklin Park Zoo love their kind-hearted caretaker, Griffin Keyes.

Finding himself more comfortable with a lion than a lady, Griffin decides the only way to get a girl in his life is to leave the zoo and find a more glamorous job. The animals, in a panic, decide to break their time-honored code of silence and reveal that they can talk. To keep Griffin from leaving, they decide to teach him the rules of courtship – animal style (104 min)

Movie schedule is subject to change.

Please call to confirm. Movie Hotline: 624-4248

Alcoholics Anonymous Alcoholic Anonymous meeting will be held on Monday evenings from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the NASII Chapel.

If additional meetings are needed or for more information please call x3267