Learn About Tobacco's Effects on Your Health PAGE 4
November is Military Families Appreciation Month
Congratulations to All Those Who Advanced!
PAGE 7
N A S SIG O N E L L A
PAGE 8
NOVEMBER 30, 2018
Vol. 35 No. 45
MCPON Smith Visits Sigonella for Thanksgiving
SIGONELLA, Sicily (November 21, 2018) Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Russell Smith speaks with service members at an all-hands call during a visit to Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella, Italy Nov. 21, 2018. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Jessica Vargas) By Janine Scianna NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
It’s not often that Sailors get to hear directly from the most senior enlisted member of the Navy. Especially when Sicily is a far cry from the Pentagon, in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Yet at an all-hands call on Nov 21, the day before Thanksgiving, Sailors got to add one more item to their list of things to be thankful for—asking questions directly to their leader, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Russell Smith, . Smith offered some short opening remarks by discussing his primary focus on improving the Navy’s manpower issues. He also gave a nod to the OCONUS audience by suggesting that an overseas tour should be a requirement of all Sailors. Smith then reserved almost the entire time allotted for the all-hands call to answer questions, bringing the crowd closer to be more conversational. While a few of the questions were specific to individual commands, many of them were questions about larger Navy policy. One Naval Supply Systems Command Sailor voiced his frustrations with manpower at many duty stations, not just at Sigonella. Smith bluntly acknowledged that staffing billets adequately is a problem and one he is making a priority to fix. “Institutionally, we have never been honest about paying for manning,” said Smith. But Smith outlined in detail the plans that are going into place to address the manpower problem. In addition to increasing the Navy’s investment to fully fund its manpower accounts, work is now happening behind the scenes to actually fill those positions.
Policies are going into place to increase recruitment and retention rates. Navy-wide, the improved results are started to become evident—billet capacity has already increased from 87.9 to 90.6 percent, and it is on track to reach 96-97 percent by FY 2021. Yet, Smith explained, manning at shore installations like Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella will likely remain lower than the overall average because deployable billets are considered a higher priority to fill. Nonetheless, Smith urged Sailors to be patient as the manning situation is on the mend, and NAS Sigonella will eventually see results. “We will continue to talk about [manpower issues]. Keep asking the question, keep holding us accountable,” Smith advised. Another major issued that was address was initiated by NAS Sigonella’s commanding officer, Capt. Brent Trickel. He asked Russell to elaborate on the new personnel evaluation system that is being tested. “The current system is one that we know and understand,” said Smith. “But each ‘tribe’ works the system differently, and this makes it very subjective and frustrating.” The new evaluation system would measure a Sailor’s competency against a standard, not against each other as happens now. And evaluations would only occur after a Sailor has had one year to be observed in their current job. The new system also will greatly shorten the amount of time supervisors have to spend on generating evaluations. There will be nine “bins of goodness” which a supervisor can select from to mark their level of satisfaction with a Sailor’s performance, and the process should take 10 minutes or less.
In early 2019, the next phase of testing will expand from 10,000 to 100,000 personnel as a counseling tool and full implementation is expected by the end of the year. Feedback from users during the final pilot is encouraged and critical to evaluating the new system’s effectiveness, Smith noted. Dovetailing with personnel evaluation modernization, Smith also discussed the Navy’s response to last year’s problem with a selection board when a few board members intentionally colluded to promote a friend. “For all of you going in front of a board, that is your worst nightmare,” said Smith. “Now, we’ve changed the process to make it more like an officer’s board, where every record is screened by the entire panel, not just a few people.” There was also extensive discussion on the new Sailor 360 program. One chief asked how Smith envisioned the program being run. Smith responded by saying that unlike the Sailor 365 program, which was focused solely on first class petty officers, the Sailor 360 program is designed to also focus training and development on junior Sailors. As the program grows, the Navy will be deploying more training specialists to help commands implement it. Other questions spanned the spectrum of issues from beard regulations to cross-rating to expanding military training institutions overseas. Towards the end of the all-hands call, one Sailor lamented about how she has faced hostilities from other commands about the value of her type of work. Smith took the opportunity to comment on the supportive role each Sailor plays in the overall Navy mission, regardless of rate.
“MCPON” continued on Page 14
PAGE 2
NOVEMBER 30, 2018
THE SIGNATURE
Direct Line
Lt. Joe Green, NAVSUP Fleet Mail Center Postal Officer Greetings Sigonella Family, I am Lt. Joe Green (no relation to Steelers legend Mean Joe Greene), and I have had the pleasure of being your Postal Officer for the past year. I am incredibly honored to speak with you today about the Fleet Mail Center (FMC) and the support we provide to Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella and the deployed units in the U.S. 6th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR). Our team here at the FMC aims to display the Chief of Naval Operations’ attributes of integrity, accountability, initiative and toughness every day—which align directly with those of the Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center Sigonella’s commanding officer, Capt. Dion English. We aim to get the mail to its final destination, whether that be to a ship deployed in the AOR or an individual stationed at our installation here. At NAS Sigonella, operational units are critically important, but the service members and civilians charged with the task of supporting the warfighter are also very important. As English counsels, the FMC’s most important assets are our Sailors, civilians, local nationals, and their families. And to that end,
the FMC acts as a U.S. Post Office to serve all of you stationed in Sigonella. In order to get mail to the deployed units in the AOR, we work very closely with U.S. 6th Fleet and Commander, Task Force (CTF) 63 in particular to ensure the mail can be delivered to the customer once it arrives in Europe. That teamwork and cooperation is displayed in the incredible amount of mail we move on a day-to-day basis. During an average week, the FMC at Sigonella handles 22,000 kilograms of incoming mail 14,000 kilograms of outgoing mail. When there is a carrier strike group operating in the AOR or it’s the holiday season, those figures balloon to 50,000 kilograms in and 45,000 kilograms out per week. Most of Sigonella’s mail is routed through the Rome Mail Control Activity (MCA). Rome MCA will then put mail on flights from Rome to Catania throughout the day. The Navy has a contract with Delta (Alitalia) to move mail on flights in Europe. Each morning, our contracted Italian truck driver will travel to the Catania airport and pick up all the mail destined for Sigonella from the previous day. During periods of time with high volume, like a carrier strike
group operating in the AOR or during the holiday season, there could be several trucks per day. Once we unload the mail from the truck, we x-ray it for security and separate it into two categories, NAS Sigonella mail and mail for deployed units in the AOR. We further segregate Sigonella mail by command and contact each command’s mail clerk to come in and pick up their command’s mail. For deployed unit mail, we follow the CTF routing guidance along with the flight schedule and the truck schedule to get the material where it needs to go. As we quickly head into the holiday season, please remember that mailing times for packages destined for the U.S. will take some time to arrive, and you’ll want to budget sufficient time for transit. If you mail packages by Dec. 1 via first class or priority mail, they should easily arrive by Christmas. At this point, there is no guarantee that packages mailed via space available mail would arrive in time. Again, it has been my pleasure to serve as your Postal Officer. I am very happy to introduce our new Postal Officer, AJ Chesterfield. He is a retired Postal Clerk and chief, so he brings over
20 years of experience in postal operations. You are more than welcome to contact the FMC leadership team at any time with your postal questions comments and concerns at: Postal Officer AJ Chesterfield Ajaka.Chesterfield@eu.navy.mil DSN: 314-624-5558 Postal Leading Chief Petty Officer LSC Christopher Strehl Christopher.strehl@eu.navy.mil DSN: 314-624-2023 We wish everyone a very happy holiday season, and cannot wait to deliver your packages!
Commanding Officer's Suggestion Box The ICE/CO Suggestion Box is for our community and Commanding Officer to discuss, with an eye toward constant improvement, how we are excelling* and how we can improve**. The community is strongly encouraged to leave contact information when submitting comments. This ensures that a response will come directly to you. The Signature and NASSIG Facebook Page typically publish comments and responses for the benefit of the Sigonella community. Comments/suggestions are useful when objective, constructive, and specific. ICE/CO Sug-
gestion Box is NOT a forum for mean-spirited attacks. Anonymous comments will be published only if they benefit the greater community at large. * If you submit a "BZ" about a specific person or department, PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR NAME in order to ensure comment authenticity and therefore publicly recognize employees or organizations. ** The Commanding Officer will ensure a response to all signed comments/suggestions and the vast majority of anonymous ones but reserves the right to disregard
those comments/suggestions disinterested in the spirit of the program! There are two ways to submit; go to: 1) Interactive Customer Evaluation (ICE) home page on a One-Net computer at: http://ice.disa.mil, All Sigonella services are found under the Navy Europe Listing in the scroll-down menu. – or – 2) NAS Sigonella's website www.cnic.navy.mil/Sigonella, go to the "About" drop down menu and click on "CO Suggestion Box".
Interactive Customer Evaluation Comment Regarding Gym Hours:
Comments Regarding Gym Equipment:
I work in Security and live on NAS I and when I’m on day shifts I can’t make it in the gym in time after work before they close. I’m hoping we can make the gym hours longer or work hours shorter. Anthony Hollis
Can we please get a stair stepper machine in the NAS II gym? There are far too many bikes and elliptical machines that don’t get as much use. Two stair steppers machines would be more beneficial.
Response:
Thank you for your patronage and feedback about the NAS II fitness facility. I agree, a Stairmaster machine is a staple piece of equipment in a fitness facility; however, there isn’t sufficient ceiling clearance in the building on NAS II to accommodate a standard size Stairmaster. A similar piece of equipment, the Jacob's Ladder, is located on the first floor of the building. If you have any other questions or concerns about the fitness program, please contact our Fitness Director, Elizabeth Leonard at 624-0504.
We are currently working on some possible options to expand the hours of service in our fitness centers. Unfortunately, 24 hour fitness centers are not seeing high utilization numbers in the Navy right now, which makes it even more difficult to justify establishing a new one here at Sigonella. Using volunteers to staff fitness centers outside of normal hours is a proposal that is often offered as an alternative. At first glance, it seems like a great idea – people want to use the gym at night and there are people willing to volunteer at the gym at those times. Unfortunately, there are some major issues when it comes to using volunteers at a fitness center to include training, liability, and scheduling. How do we make sure the volunteers are properly trained in both CPR and proper use of gym equipment? Who is liable if something happens to a customer (injury/death) and who is financially liable (theft/damage to equipment) with volunteer workers? A third issue with a volunteer work force is scheduling. As my wife can tell you it is very difficult to schedule a weekly volunteer work force with even the most dedicated of volunteers. Another solution that is sometimes brought up is to loan out gym equipment to departments that have shift workers who cannot make the current gym hours. I am sorry to say that Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) regulations prohibit us from giving departments MWR fitness equipment unless they have already been established as an unmanned fitness center through the CNIC waiver process outlined in CNICINST 1710.1. We are currently discussing extending the gym hours on NAS I on a trial basis, possibly as early as January. If the gym sees little to no patrons during the trial period, then we won’t be able to justify the extended hours. Nevertheless, thank you for reaching out to me on this matter. Once again, we hope we can make something happen in the future that will support our customer base with more options for fitness facilities. If you have any other questions or concerns about the fitness centers, please contact our Fitness Director, Elizabeth Leonard at 624-0504.
Response:
Comment Regarding Marinai Security:
After multiple break-ins at the Marinai housing complex, I would like to request that some type of sensors or even alarms be installed to secure the complex. Several residents had items stolen and nothing has been done to further secure the fence line. Phillip Scott
Response:
Thank you for contacting us in regards to the vehicle break-ins that recently occurred on Marinai housing. I want to start by ensuring everyone that the safety and security of the residents in housing is one of my top concerns. Since the same incident occurred April, the Sigonella Navy Security Forces (NSF) have increased the frequency at which they patrol the interior perimeter fence line, both mounted and dismounted. The Security leadership and liaisons have worked with local Carabinieri to provide interior and exterior patrols, with lights, along the fence line. Additionally, the perimeter lights have been upgraded on the fence line to deter this type of activity. Base and Security leadership have also been working with the local Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and they have agreed to provide some added security features which I unfortunately can0’t elaborate on in a public forum.
"ICE" continued on Page 3
NOVEMBER 30, 2018
THE SIGNATURE
PAGE 3
THE SIGNATURE U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA
Name: Logistics Specialist Seaman Christopher Coronel Department: Housing Hometown: West Palm Beach, FL The logistics of moving to an overseas location like Sigonella are challenging for anyone. Whether you are an unaccompanied service member, a military family, a deployed Marine, or a civilian, securing adequate and comfortable housing for the duration of your tour of duty is always at the top of the list of must-do tasks for incoming personnel. It takes Sailors like Logistics Specialist Seaman Christopher Coronel to ensure that the housing stock meets quality standards and is maintained properly. Overseeing the housing operations of Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella, the Housing Department is in charge of providing lodging for all military personnel. They provide housing to unaccompanied and junior service members on base, work with a private contractor to provide military family housing, and help secure off-base housing for senior service members, civilians, and others. Coronel works in the NAS II barracks and helps operate the unaccompanied housing (UH) program for E-1 to E-4 personnel. His primary duties involve coordinating the maintenance of the buildings, conducting routine room inspections, and logging all the information from them into a central database. He also supports incoming Marine groups that are newly deployed to Sigonella, and makes sure they have accommodation in the barracks, too. With so much turnover and movement of service members, it is a lot of work. Sigonella is the first tour of duty for Coronel and he arrived in July 2017 on his birthday. He chose the Logistics Specialist (LS) rate because the idea of ordering supplies sounded good to him and he heard that is was a really good work environment to be in. He enjoys his job so far and especially likes his predictable work hours and co-workers. He anticipates staying in the LS rate for the entirety of his career. Coronel must be doing a good job, because he was recently recognized as Bluejacket Sailor of the Year. When asked why he think he won, Coronel said that he suspects his extra efforts outside the workplace helped separate him from other hard workers. He has spent a lot of time listening to the advice of senior Sailors and has taken advantage of the multi-
"ICE" continued from Page 2 NSF and Carabinieri will continue to increase roves of the interior and exterior perimeter to try and prevent this type of activity. It is difficult to modify existing structures in Marinai, as this is leased property belonging to Pizzarotti and not under direct control of the installation. Unfortunately, this is not the only installation that has instances of unauthorized access. It is a problem across the CNIC enterprise. Perimeter fence lines are designed to keep people out and as we have seen, they can be defeated. Additionally, with the raised berm on the interior of the fence line, it is difficult to detect activity past the fence. It is unknown what the perpetrators were after this time around, but please be reminded that the residents of Marinai should always lock their vehicles and homes. This episode was yet another instance where there was no forced entry upon vehicles; all reports and investigations concluded that each vehicle broken into was left unlocked. You must do your part to protect your belongings. It is important for all to understand that the Marinai housing complex is considered a Required Operational Capabi-
tude of volunteering opportunities available on base. So far, he has primarily supported the MWR program, helping to set up and break down venues for events. Coronel has been enjoying his work there and plans to expand his efforts to support USO events, as well. “It’s pretty fun. You get to know a lot of people. It’s nice to know that you played a role with an event that everyone else can enjoy,” said Coronel. As a bonus for his accolades, Coronel got to meet Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Russell Smith when he visited Sigonella last week. Although they didn’t get to speak for long, he was able to pose for a group photo with the rest of the Sailor of the Year winners and got congratulated for his service. “It was an honor to meet MCPON, a great opportunity,” said Coronel. Prior to enlisting, Coronel took a few college courses in IT systems and plans to start taking online courses, working toward a Bachelor’s degree. Eventually, he wants to get into computer networking after his time in the Navy is over. Coronel plans to continue serving in the Navy as long as it makes sense. He is hoping to be stationed in Japan next, which would be his “dream tour.” Until then, he has been enjoying Sicily, especially the cuisine. His favorite hobby, other than relaxing in his barracks after work, has been trying out the multitude of restaurants the area has to offer.
lity (ROC) Level 5 installation according to OPNAVINST 3400.12. ROC levels are assigned based on the criticality of assets assigned to, and the functions performed and supported on that particular entity. NAS Sigonella is meeting and exceeding the security requirements for a ROC Level 5 facility at Marinai. The Navy has established Unified Facility Criteria (UFC) requirements for fences/perimeters and this installation meets those standards (UFC 4-022-03). There are no standards for fence protection assets like intrusion detection or electronic security systems. These standards are derived from NTTP 3-07.2.3 (Law Enforcement and Physical Security Manual) and OPNAVINST 5530.14E (Navy Physical Security and Law Enforcement Manual). At this time, everything is being done within our capabilities in regards to resources, manpower, and higher headquarters guidance to ensure the protection of personnel and assets onboard NAS Sigonella. I thank you for your comment and if you have any further questions/concerns pertaining to this topic, please contact the Assistant Security Officer, LTJG Kentzell, at 624-2491 or the Security Operations LCPO, MACS Ramos, at 624-2783.
Commanding Officer Capt. Brent Trickel Executive Officer Cmdr. Patrick J. Moran Command Master Chief CMDCM Nancy Estrada EDITORIAL Public Affairs Officer Lt. Andriana Genualdi andriana.genualdi@eu.navy.mil Assistant Public Affairs Officer Janine Scianna janine.scianna@eu.navy.mil Community Relations Officer Dott. Alberto Lunetta alberto.lunetta.it@eu.navy.mil Editor MCC Jessica Vargas Jessica.Vargas@eu.navy.mil CONTACT US Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily thesig@eu.navy.mil DSN 624-5440; 095-86-5440 PSC 812 Box 7, FPO, AE 09627-0001 PUBLISHER Stampa Generale S.r.l., Sig. Bruno Brandi, Publisher, Naval Support Activity Capodichino (Naples), Italy stampagenerale@tin.it Tel. 081-568-7884 Fax 081-568-7887 This civilian enterprise (CE) newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the military services overseas. Contents of The Signature are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense (DoD), or the U.S. Navy. The appearance of advertising in this newspaper, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the DoD or Stampa Generale S.r.l., of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. A confirmed violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected. The Signature is published weekly 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 preceeding 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.
PAGE 4
Be Smart—Don’t Start By Lt. Mark Knutson and Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Jada Compton U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella
The use of tobacco products is a serious health concern for yourself and the people that surround you every day. There are many forms of tobacco, and producers are only coming up with more ways to profit. Products such as water pipes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and electronic cigarettes have a serious impact on readiness and the successful completion of military training. The effects of using tobacco products can cause health issues such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. In the United States alone, they kill 480,000 people each year and seven million worldwide. Not only is this problem effecting individuals directly, but the second hand smoke that is produced can have devastating effects as well. In children, second hand smoke causes asthma attacks, bronchitis, middle ear infections, and other breathing problems. Babies born to mothers who smoke are more at risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) than those who don’t. Tobacco use is the single largest preventable disease and death in the United States. Quitting smoking is possible with encouragement and self-discipline. Surrounding yourself in an environment that promotes a tobacco free lifestyle can help shake the habit. Find a reason that inspires you to quit. Do you want to save money, or live a healthier lifestyle? Recognize your triggers and plan in advance how you will handle them without using tobacco. Stay motivated and don’t get discouraged if you give in. Every attempt to quit is a step towards becoming tobacco-free. Resist cravings by using the four D’s: deep breaths, drink water, do something else, and delay. Quitting provides immediate health benefits! Just twenty minutes after quitting, your pulse and blood pressure will begin to drop. After twelve hours, the carbon monoxide levels in your body return to normal. Breaking the habit will boost your attitude and provide positive health benefits to your body. If you need help getting started on your journey to quit smoking there are many options available. If you would like self-help, try the app SmokefreeTXT. It provides texts messages with tips and encouraging worlds to help you overcome challenges and stay motivated. Just message the app when you are in a crisis and the users will be there for you. QuitGuide is another suitable app that helps you understand smoking patterns and build skills to stay smoke free. If you would like personalized tobacco cessation counseling, U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella’s Health Promotion and Wellness Center provides tailored individual and group counseling sessions. Call 095-56-4710 and make today your quit day. Remember that there is always someone there to help with your battle. Whether you are thinking about quitting or supporting someone else who is, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for tips, considerations, and actions you can take.
THE SIGNATURE
NOVEMBER 30, 2018
NOVEMBER 30, 2018
THE SIGNATURE
PAGE 5
Challenge Yourself to Cross Train Adapted by MWR Fitness
Cross training is typically defined as an exercise regimen that uses several modes of training to develop a specific component of fitness. Here are few of the numerous documented benefits cross training has to offer that are sure to convince you to give it a try: Reduced risk of injury: By spreading the cumulative level of orthopedic stress over additional muscles and joints, individuals are able to exercise more frequently and for longer durations without excessively overloading particularly vulnerable areas of the body (e.g., knees, hips, back, shoulders, elbows and feet). Enhanced weight loss: Individuals can effectively achieve a reduction in body weight and fat stores by combining two or more physical activities in a cross-training regimen. They can, for example, exercise on an elliptical trainer for 20 to 30 minutes and then cycle for an additional 20 to 30 minutes. Improved total fitness: Cross training can include activities that develop muscular fitness as
well as aerobic conditioning. Enhanced exercise adherence: Research indicates that many individuals drop out of exercise programs because they become bored or injured. Cross training is a safe and relatively easy way to add variety to an exercise program. So how can you get started? The essential fundamentals of cross training are the same whether you are exercising for improved health and fitness or for competition. Try varying your exercise program from workout to workout by engaging in different types of activities, or simply add a new form of exercise (e.g., resistance training, Pilates, a boot-camp class) to your existing workout routine. One of the easiest ways to incorporate cross training is to alternate between activities. You can also alternate activities within a single workout (e.g., walk on a treadmill for 10 minutes, exercise on an elliptical trainer for 10 minutes and cycle for 10 minutes). The moral of the story is that cross training can offer you a refreshing physical and mental challenge. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and give something new a try!
PAGE 6
THE SIGNATURE
NOVEMBER 30, 2018
Sigonella SAPR Team Attends Acireale International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women Event By Alberto Lunetta NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
ACIREALE, Sicily – As part of the Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella’s Community Relations program, on 24 Nov. a delegation consisting of members of NAS Sigonella’s Sexual Assault and Prevention Response (SAPR) team and Marines assigned to SPMAGTF CF-AF 19.1 participated in Acireale’s "La Coperta per Palmina.” Translated in English as “The blanket for Palmina,” this event is one of numerous initiatives that were held across Italy last weekend to mark the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The initiative—which was launched by the Acireale chapter of FIDAPA (Italy's branch of the Business and Professional Women's Foundation) to combat violence and harassment against women— featured an artistic installation of over 1,000 blankets made by domestic violence support groups and schools as well as a panel including a local psychologist who is an expert on domestic/gender violence issues, a missionary nun from an Acireale shelter for needy families, Sigonella SAPR Coordinator Shannon Harden, as well as Victim Advocate Master-at-Arms Third Class Serena Jeffries. On the second day, the event featured another panel discussion featuring the Acireale Bishop, domestic violence response center volunteers, and local police force representatives and magistrates. There were also poetry readings and musical performances. On their panel, the Sigonella SAPR team explained their program's mission in preventing and responding to sexual assault in the Navy with education, comprehensive response, advocacy, and fair adjudication. In attendance at the event were the mayors of Acireale and Aci Sant'Antonio as well as numerous representatives of the towns of Viagrande, Acicatena, and local organizations supporting women's rights. Over the past few years, Sigonella female volunteers have participated in several initiatives and events focusing on supporting women’s professional and personal growth, domestic violence, and annually celebrating Italian Women’s Day on 8 Mar. If you are interested in attending these events and sharing your story, please contact the NAS Sigonella Community Relations Director at alberto. lunetta.it@eu.navy.mil. Femicide in Italy According to Eures, a European Union agency that monitors social affairs and employment issues, in the first ten months of this year there were 106 victims of femicide in Italy, or one every 72 hours on average. Femicide is defined as the intentional murder of women and girls, usually by a partner or husband, specifically due to their gender. A recent study by Italian Security and Criminology website IPS found that there was one femicide every two days in Italy between 2006 and 2016, averaging 174 a year. In addition, one in three women between the ages of 16 and 70 have experienced physical or sexual abuse for a total of 6,788,000 women, the study said. Similarly, the United Nations estimates that 35 percent of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual violence at some point in their lives. The Italian parliamentary investigation Committee on Femicide and Gender Violence, instituted at the Senate on January 18, 2017, has issued the first Italian report on violence against women. The report, unanimously approved on February 6, 2018, was presented in New York during the 62nd session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. According to the report, the Italian laws preventing gender violence are generally adequate. Several measures recently taken have gradually addressed the initial gaps in the regulation. The final report, however, underscored the possibility of introducing new measures. In regards to sexual harassment, the combination of soft punishments and the fact that they are statute-barred limit the ability to deter this crime. The same holds true for domestic abuse (punishable with two to six years in prison) and persecution (from six months to five years). As for violence committed in the presence of minors, the committee recommends elevating the offense from an aggravating circumstance to a crime per se and advocates the removal of the perpetrator from the family home. For “identity murder” crimes, the committee recommends stricter punishments for felonious assault that permanently disfigures or slashes the face. Under cur-
"ITALIAN NEWS" continued on Page 15
To mark the United Nation’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25 Nov., the Acireale chapter of the FIDAPA Business and Professional Women's Foundation organized a two-day event aimed at drawing attention to the increasing violence against women in Italy and in the world. Representatives from NAS Sigonella attended the event to showcase SAPR efforts in the Navy. (Photo by Fabio Consoli)
NOVEMBER 30, 2018
THE SIGNATURE
PAGE 7
November is Military Families Appreciation Month
Understanding the Military Family-Researching the Impact of Military Life By Naval Health Research Center
“If the Navy wanted you to have a family, they would’ve issued you one in your sea bag.” This statement sums up the old way of viewing military families. Providing support for the challenges they faced was an afterthought or an inconvenience. Today, the Navy, along with the Marines, the Army, and the Air Force, have come to understand that families play an essential role in the readiness of their service members. “A deployed service member worried about their family back on the home front is not 100 percent focused on the mission,” said Valerie Stander, Ph.D., and principal investigator for the Millennium Cohort Family Study at the Naval Health Research Center (NHRC). “That’s why the Department of Defense (DoD) is making quality of life for military families a priority.” In June 2011, the DoD’s largest population-based study in military history, the Millennium Cohort Study, began enrolling spouses from all services, including the Reserves and National Guard, as part of a new Family Study. Since then, approximately 10,000 spouses have been enrolled. “We have known for a long time that military spouses play a critical role in supporting our military personnel,” said Stander. “In many ways the military counts on spouses to be the other half of our military readiness equation. Yet, for too long we haven't understood enough about how military life affects the lives of service members' partners.” The overarching goal of the Family Study is to understand how military service impacts family members, spouses and children alike. This study, the first of its kind, seeks to get a better understanding of the long-term association between military experiences and deployments and the health and well-being of families. Information is collected from participating spouses using a web-based survey that focuses on a variety of topics, including physical and mental health, the quality of marital and family relationships, work/family balance, deployment and reunion experiences, and protective factors and coping mechanisms. The study is longitudinal and seeks to follow spouses for 21 or more years, with follow-up surveys requested approximately every three years. Even if enrolled spouses become separated or divorced from their service member or the service member separates from the military, follow-up will continue to capture the changes in military families’ experiences over time. “Through the Millennium Cohort Family Study we hope to get a bird's-eye view of how military life plays out for our families over the long haul,” said Stander. “We know that most families are resilient in the short term, but how does military life impact spouses and kids who stay in the military for 20 years compared to those who serve a single term and then move on to civilian life? And, we know deployment and other military-related family separations are stressful, but most families bounce back once they have the chance to reunite and reintegrate. But, what factors predict the difference for those that do continue to struggle for some time?” Researchers want to answer these questions and more. They are also interested in studying the cumulative impact of deployments, frequent training assignments away from home, and extended unaccompanied assignments. “The only way to get our arms around those outcomes is to take a really long, hard look at how people are doing over the years,” said Stander. To date, key findings from the Family Study include: • 89% of participants are younger than 35 • 12% of participants are male • 71% of participants have been married five years or less • 63% of participants have children • 10% of participants are dual military families • 74% of participants’ spouses have deployed • 3% of participants represent Reserve and National Guard families
Photo courtesy of Naval Health Research Center
“The military family policy, support, and research communities have all expressed considerable interest in the Family Study as it has evolved and progressed” said Stander. “All of these groups potentially look to the results of the study to understand how they can do their jobs better.” The team at NHRC also partners with military family researchers at multiple locations, including Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and civilian universities, who are all helping to analyze and interpret the data. “Our internal team here, in turn, is connecting with military policy makers and service providers to ensure we communicate the results of this work to those who can make a difference,” added Stander. “The Millennium Cohort Family Study research team is profoundly grateful for the dedication of all of our research participants,” said Stander. “Without family members who take time out of their busy schedules to tell us about how things are going for them and how they feel military life has impacted them and their families, this study would not be possible. I think most of our participants are motivated to help the military community improve programs and services for future generations of service members and their spouses and children. I think they see it as a chance to help build that future military community.”
Graphic courtesy Defense.gov
PAGE 8
THE SIGNATURE
NOVEMBER 30, 2018
Fall 2018 Advancement List Naval Air Station Sigonella
VP-26
HT1 Corbin Cooney ABH1 Mapaula Fuerte ABH1 Cortnee Gibbs ET1 Michael Macaluso MA1 Andrew Matthews HT1 Jenna Towers MA2 Andrew Albritton YN2 Alonzo Brantley ABH2 Kevin Castro MR2 Kyle Drummond YN2 Jayme England MA2 Raelin Enloe MA2 Manuel Figueroa GM2 Juan Fiscal, Jr. MA2 Danny Flores ABH2 Brandon Follett AC2 Arturo Gourentchik MA2 Jaclyn Hoobler LS2 Zahrina Hutchins MA2 Jonathon Ingles ABH2 Tyler McClinton ABH2 Hannah Overby ABH2 Taira Prewitt MA2 Nicole Rivera MA2 John Villielm MA2 Marcus Williams MA3 Christian Cropper AC3 Justin Doherty MA3 Korbin Fraasch AC3 Dylan Kolberg MA3 Jordan McGee AC3 Kevin Moreno MA3 Ronald Peterson, Jr. MA3 Napolean Ramsey
AT1 Joshua Morales MC1 Sean Morton AT1 Andrew Turner AT2 Nicole Agee AT2 Haleigh Erickson AE2 William Gabay AWO2 Christopher Gonzalez LS2 Brian Hubbard PR2 Charles Jacobs IS2 Robert Joslin AZ2 Iris Knight AZ2 Ariauna Sellers AM2 Brittany Thomas AME2 Derek Trodglen LS2 Ruthann Warren AE3 Jonathan Spahr AD3 Eric Steiner AD3 Adeline Vowels PR3 Tommy West
Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Detachment AZ1 Kirk Leonard LS1 Randa Mortellaro AT2 Brandon Ainsworth AT2 Caitlyn Brucker AD2 Cody Chapman MM2 Lucas Dustal LS2 Richard Gilmore AS2 Karla Mariscal PR2 Ederson Medina AO2 Ariane Norton YN2 Shyanna Smith MM2 Anthony Thomas
Public Works Department EO1 Samantha Barth SW1 Rosa Troxell EO1 Ian McCormack EO2 Shane Bettenhausen CE2 Dontavius Brooks EA2 Bradley Mower II CE2 Katie Moynihan CE2 Gabrielle Justiniano CE2 Tyler Lewis BU2 Sasha Pabon CM2 Johnny Vo CE2 Ernest Russell BU3 Caleb Culberson CM3 Bhritney Dabideen UT3 Victoria McMoran BU3 Andrew New CM3 Hannah Ploeger UT3 Daijah Price CE3 Noah Smith UT3 Jacob Stoffel MR3 Lori Williamson American Forces Network MC2 Matthew Young Tactical Operation Center Sigonella IT1 Emmanuel Coble IT2 Tristan John IT3 Kenneth Millman
Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station IT1 Benjamin Larkin ET1 Jason Manning IT1 Aaron Marte LS1 Johnny Muldrow YN2 Laeree Gordy IT2 Gene Kreis ET2 Nicholas Shashaty Defense Courier Service Sigonella LS1 Andrea Gonzales YN1 James Sorrentino Aviation Support Detachment LS2 Calvin Brown LS3 Kendaniel Peyao NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center Sigonella LS3 Kayla Boykins LS3 Keyla Laborderivera LS2 Julianna Contreras YN2 Auriele Lard Commander Task Force 67 YN2 John Flores YN2 Brandon Miller Personnel Support Detachment Sigonella PS2 Taylor Anderson PS2 Liang Fu PS2 Benjamin Nunez PS2 Michael Rodriguez PS3 Tyesha Worrell U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella HM1 Glenn Higgins HM2 Darren Cason HM2 Joshua Ibanez HM2 Brandon Lehtinen HM2 Rodel Macatangay HM3 Celeste Bollinger HM3 Jessika Mondowilkins HM3 Brian Plewinski HM3 Brandon Richardson HM3 David Snuffin, Jr. HM3 James Stephenson
NOVEMBER 30, 2018
PAGE 9
THE SIGNATURE
Thanksgiving Traditions Overseas AOSC Serves Unaccompanied Service Members By Ashley Terpstra All Officers’ Spouses Club Member
Lt. Steven Hervey, chaplain onboard Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella, leads galley staff in prayer prior to serving Thanksgiving dinner at Ristorante Bella Etna. (Photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Jessica Vargas)
Capt. Brent Trickel, commanding officer of NAS Sigonella, serves service members Thanksgiving dinner at Ristorante Bella Etna. (Photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Jessica Vargas)
A spread of food is displayed at Thanksgiving dinner hosted by Ristorante Bella Etna. (Photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Jessica Vargas)
The All Officers’ Spouses Club (AOSC) served a Thanksgiving-themed dinner for single and unaccompanied service members living in the Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella barracks at NAS I on 15 Nov. Thirty-five members of the AOSC prepared and donated food and an additional 23 volunteers served the home cooked meal. The feast was comprised of typical homemade Thanksgiving foods including turkey, ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetable casseroles, rolls, and of course lots of pies! The event was led and organized by AOSC Service Committee Chair Amanda McArthur, who estimated that around 100 people were fed during the meal. McArthur shared that her favorite part of coordinating the dinner was seeing how happy everyone was to participate. “This is a ‘pay it forward’ event. It’s so nice to be able to give to those who aren’t able to be home for the holiday,” said McArthur. Helping to coordinate was Lead Resident Advisor Hospital Corpsman Adam Hart who said “I thought we had a very nice turn out on Thursday. People were able to get an amazing, warm, Thanksgiving style dinner, sit down and enjoy each other’s company, play games and get to interact with different clubs and personnel on the base.” Jeremy Sorrell, 24, who has been stationed here in Sigonella for slightly over a year, said that his favorite food of the night was the ham and that he enjoyed holiday atmosphere, especially while being so far away from home. AOSC President Rikki Ryan explained why the organization spends time and resources putting together community service activities such as this dinner. “The AOSC recognizes that there are many Sailors here without families to spend the holidays with. Our members love to give those Sailors support as often as possible, and one way we can do that is by spending some time making home-cooked meals for them. We hope that by putting on small events like this dinner, we are able to provide a little holiday comfort away from home,” said Ryan.
All Officers’ Spouses Club members serve a Thanksgiving meal to single and unaccompanied service members aboard Naval Air Station Sigonella. (Photo by Melissa Grady)
PAGE 10
NOVEMBER 30, 2018
THE SIGNATURE
NAS SIGONELLA COMMUNITY PAGE All Hands News Bulletin: ORGANIZATIONAL COMMAND CLIMATE SURVEY
HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING AND BREAKFAST WITH SANTA
Command, Department or Organization: NAS SIGONELLA Date of Event: November 28- December 18, 2018 Location of Event: NAS Sigonella Point of Contact Name: CSC (SW/AW) Marco Guevarra /ETC William Marshall Point of Contact Phone Number: 624-2585/624-5964 Point of Contact Email Address: marco.guevarra@eu.navy.mil/ william.marshall@ eu.navy.mil Additional Information: All personnel within the NAS Sigonella command (only UIC 62995 and UIC 46131) are encouraged to participate in the ongoing Command Climate Assessment. The CCA is a Commanding Officer's (CO) management tool that proactively assesses critical organizational climate dimensions that can impact the organization's mission readiness. The data collection happens through the DEOMI Organizational Climate Survey (DEOCS). Please check your all-hands email for the website link and password.
Command, Department or Organization: MWR Date of Event: 30 NOV (Tree Lighting); 1 DEC (Breakfast with Santa) Time of Event: 1700-1830 (Tree Lighting); 0900-1200 (Breakfast with Santa) Location of Event: Midtown, NAS I (Tree Lighting); NAS I Fitness Center (Breakfast with Santa) Point of Contact Name: Vanessa Ogletree • Point of Contact Phone Number: 624-0511 Point of Contact Email Address: Vanessa.ogletree@eu.navy.mil Additional Information: Kick off the holiday season at our Annual Tree lighting Ceremony at the Midtown Piazza this Friday, 1 December. Starting at 5:00 p.m. we'll have a special performance from the US Naval Forces Europe Band, followed by music from the Sigonella Elementary School Choir, cookies and hot chocolate from the USO, and a Christmas Market. By the way, this is a FREE event! Once the tree is lit, there will also be a guest appearance from the Jolly One himself - SANTA!! On Saturday, 1 December the fun continues with our Breakfast with Santa event in the NAS 1 Fitness Center. Bring the family out for a FREE breakfast, photos with Santa, music from a live band, kid crafts and a Christmas Market!! For more info please visit www.navymwrsigonella.com.
Sigonella Religious Ministries Department Worship Services NAS 1 Tuesday Protestant Women of the Chapel: 0900-1100 Daily Mass: 1130-1200 1445-1615 Chapel Youth Middle School: AWANA: 1645-1900 Wednesday Protestant Men of the Chapel: Daily Mass:
0600-0700 1130-1200
Thursday Chapel Youth High School: 1330-1500 Choir Practice: 1545-1700 The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults: 1800-2030 Friday Daily Mass: 1130-1200 First Friday Mass and Holy Hour: 1700-1830
Phone Numbers: NAS I 095-56-3975, NAS II 095-86-9049, Chaplain Duty: 335-831-4493, RP Duty: 335-786-1950. Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Naval Air Station Sigonella Chapel
Saturday First Saturday Rosary and Mass:
1100-1200
Sunday Catholic Mass: 0900-1000 Catholic Religious Education: 1045-1200 Protestant Service: 1100-1200 Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: 1330-1600
NAS 2 Tuesday AA: 1730-1830 Wednesday Protestant Women of the Chapel: 1830-2100 Thursday Daily Mass:
1130-1200
Weekly Traffic Report: November 20 - November 26, 2018
As a reminder to everyone: There are no PTUs allowed at the Galley. Appropriate athletic gear is authorized at the discretion of the Galley staff. Please remember that for sanitation purposes and for the consideration of other customers, if you have been out for PT, been working out at the gym, or have just been engaged in any physical activity where you and or your clothing has become soiled or sweaty you will be asked to turn around.
NOVEMBER 30, 2018
THE SIGNATURE
PAGE 11
PAGE 12
THE SIGNATURE
NOVEMBER 30, 2018
NOVEMBER 30, 2018
THE SIGNATURE
GAMEZONE ELECTRONICS FLOWERS GAME GIFT BASKET GIFT CARD HERBAL TEAS JEWELRY MONEY MOVIE MUSIC NECKLACE NECKTIE PANTS PENDANT PERFUME
PLANT SCARF SHIRT SLIPPERS SNEAKERS SOCKS STUFFED ANIMAL SWEATER TELEVISION TOOL SET TOY TREE ORNAMENT WATCH WINE
MEDIUM
BAKING BELT BOOK BRACELET CANDLES CANDY CHOCOLATES CLOTHES COFFEE MAKER COFFEE MUG COLOGNE COOKIES DOLL EARRINGS
EASY
Find and circle all of the words that are hidden in the grid. The remaining 13 letters spell an additional Christmas gift idea.
DIFFICULT
Christmas Gift Ideas
PAGE 13
PAGE 14 “MCPON” continued from Page 1 “Everybody we have, we need, and has value,” Smith declared. “98 percent of war is about the movement of parts, material, and people. Only two percent are actually involved in combat. You win or lose a war based on logistics. Everyone provides a valid function, whether it is appreciated by others or not.” At the closing of the all-hands, Smith reminded all Sailors with less than 12 years of service as of December 2017 that they only have until 31 Dec. to make a decision whether to opt into the new blended retirement system (BRS). Sailors who enlisted in 2018 are automatically enrolled in the BRS, but those with service prior to 2018 (and less than 12 total years) will be automatically grandfathered into the legacy retirement system unless they intentionally make the switch in MyPay. Smith reminded Sailors that the onus is on them to do their research and make an educated, deliberate decision. And as NAS Sigonella heads into the holiday season, Smith urged Sailors to look out for each other’s mental health. “It’s not easy to be here without the comforts of home. There are lots here without family. Check in on each other. This is a team sport, and we need everyone for the fight,” said Smith.
THE SIGNATURE
NOVEMBER 30, 2018
Sailors Celebrate by Giving Back By. LT Mark Knutson U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella
in which we live. Thank you very much, especially to the Americans who joined us in this important initiative.” Lt. Cdr. Corinne Devin, an orthodontist at USNH Sigonella, also participated, representing her title as Mrs. Earth. “Every person here will make an impact and is actively deciding to make a difference. The natural beauty of this island gives life to everything and everyone on it, and today we give back” said Devin. “What better way to celebrate the Navy’s birthday by taking care of our host country,” said Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Johnson, the USNH Sigonella’s command COMREL director.
On the commemoration of the U.S. Navy’s Birthday on 13 Oct., Sailors from U.S. Naval Hospital (USNH) Sigonella joined in a street clean-up project in the city of Taormina. They partnered with the Mayor of Taormina, Mario Bolognari, the President of the Taormina Lions Club, Dr. Daniela Randazzo, and UNCESCO chapter representative, Dr. Salvo Brocato in focusing on developing community relations and preserving the environment. The participants came out despite the wet and unfavorable weather. They cleaned a stretch of street filling bags with trash, working together in the rain. “Volunteering on the Navy’s birthday ties in with our core values. We have people out here doing a good job giving back to the community, which is what really matters,” said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Fernandez, a COMREL organizer and participant. Bolognari thanked everyone for their participation and time in this act of generosity and SIGONELLA, Italy (Oct 13, 2018) Lt. Cdr. Corinne Devin puts kindness. Randazzo, one of the trash in a bag held by Sophia Knutson during a community cleanmain organizers of the up COMREL in the city of Taormina. U.S. Naval Hospital Sigoevent, commented “We nella is a community hospital located in the heart of the Mediterorganized this special ranean in Sicily, Italy. It is comprised of a local satellite clinic and event to preserve the en- two branch health clinics located in Bahrain and Greece. (U.S. vironment and the earth Navy photo by Lt. Mark Knutson.)
NOVEMBER 30, 2018
"ITALIAN NEWS" continued from Page 6 rent law, this crime is punishable with 6 to 12 years in prison and can often become even softer with fast-track proceedings. Finally, for homicide, current law already prescribes hefty sentences, whose length ultimately depends on a number of aggravating circumstances (abuse, sexual violence, persecution and/or committed by family members). However, the report advocates adding a specific mention of the term “femicide” to make a relevant cultural impact.
Saint Barbara Festival in Paternò Next Week By Alberto Lunetta NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
The annual Santa Barbara festival will be held in Paternò next week from Monday through Wednesday and will feature religious processions, arts and crafts, and music entertainment. The town’s devotion to Santa Barbara originated in 1576 when she saved the town from a terrible plague epidemic. Legend has it that Saint Barbara had appeared in a dream to a nun and promised to save the town if townspeople proclaimed her as the patron saint. The nun disclosed the dream to the community, who immediately hailed her as the Santa Patrona (patron saint). A few days later, the plague ended, so Santa Barbara became the official protector of the Paternò community and the townspeople erected a cathedral to honor her. According to legend, Santa Barbara also intervened to stop a terrible eruption of Mt. Etna in 1780. The miracle occurred after Paternò townspeople carried her relics in procession near the town of Ragalna on the slopes of the volcano. Saint Barbara is still invoked to grant safety from lightning, thunderstorms, and fires. Since the Middle Age, she has been regarded as the patron saint of those who are in danger of fire or explosions. She is also as-
THE SIGNATURE
sociated with artillerymen, fire fighters, and ordnance disposal personnel; historically, her image was placed on arsenals and powder magazines. In Italian, the ammunition magazine on a war ship is still called “Santabarbara.” She is the patron saint of the Italian Navy and it is customary to have a statue of Saint Barbara at the magazine to protect the ship or fortress from suddenly exploding. As reported by Catholic.org, the Spanish word “santabárbara,” and the obsolete French term “Sainte-Barbe” also signify the powder magazine of a ship or fortress. Saint Barbara’s Day, officially on 4 Dec., is also celebrated by artillery and explosive ordinance units in other military forces across the world including the British, Australian, Canadian, Irish, Norwegian, New Zealand, and American armed forces. These units celebrate the day with church parades, sports days, cocktail parties, dinners, and other activities. Several mining institutions also celebrate it. Although they do not celebrate her saint day, she is also the patron saint of U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Aviation Ordnance men. Festival Schedule Highlights December 3 0800: Blank cannon shots announce the beginning of the festival 1100: Holy Mass is celebrated 1900: A holy procession featuring the saint’s relics leaves from the Chiesa Matrice (the one located on the hill near the Norman castle) and arrives at piazza. S. Barbara. 2100: A children’s choir will sing traditional religious chants (Cantate delle corporazioni cittadine) by the “Mulinari” and “Muratori” religious clubs in piazza Indipendenza. A firework and music show will follow at the end of the celebrations. December 4 (the primary day) Dawn: Cannon shots and bell ringing at dawn.
PAGE 15 0730: The statue depicting the saint and her holy relics will be unveiled (Svelata del Simulacro di S. Barbara). 1000: The saint’s statue will be carried in procession throughout the town center, with bell ringing and a spectacular fireworks show, leaving from via S. Caterina and arriving at the Church of Idria (Uscita del Simulacro e delle Reliquie di S. Barbara). 1015: A music show by the local city band will be performed at the piazza Indipendenza (the concert will be repeated in the evening at 1830) 1230: The fercolo (carriage carrying the reliquary and the statue) will make its triumphant entry in piazza Vittorio Veneto. After that, an amazing firework show will be performed in piazza Vittorio Veneto. 1630: The holy relics of the saint will be brought in procession throughout the historic center for several hours. The procession will leave from the Church of Saint Antonio Abate and arrive at piazza S. Barbara. A firework show will be performed at the end of this procession in front of the Church of Saint Biagio. 2330: A spectacular fireworks show will take place in piazza Santa Barbara. The carriage of the saint will return to its church. December 5 1100: The Catania Archbishop Salvatore Gristina will celebrate a solemn holy mass at the church of Saint Barbara. 1700: The saint’s relics will again be carried on the devotees’ shoulders throughout the town’s historic heart. A group of about ten varette (baroque-style carts containing a tall wax candle decorated with lights, small flags, and statues of angels, saints, and flowers) will join the procession around 2130. Midnight: The afternoon procession will return to the Church of Saint Barbara and a breathtaking fireworks show by the medieval castle will end the festival. For more information and detailed schedule visit www.parrocchiasantabarbara.org
PAGE 16
THE SIGNATURE
NOVEMBER 30, 2018