School Lunches: Price increase for overseas
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RWB:
Italy:
More than just fireworks!
Things to see and do
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N A S SIG O N E L L A
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July 8, 2016
Vol. 33 No. 27
NAS Sigonella Hosts Red, White and Boom By mc2 ramon go NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
NAS Sigonella, Sicily – Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) brought a little bit of home to service members and their families this Fourth of July with its annual Independence Day celebration Red, White and Boom held July 2. The event featured a day filled with fun activities which began on a colorful note with the Firecracker 4K Color Run on Marinai. Runners navigated the course, attempting to dodge volunteers who sprayed colored powders at the runners at various stations around Marinai. At the finish, runners refueled with refreshments including a red, white and blue chocolate volcano provided by Pizzarotti. After the run, kids and adults rinsed off in a giant slip-nslide. "It's a great event to start the day with some color," said Logistics Specialist 3rd Class Bailey Oostenryk, a volunteer. "It's a lot of fun and the reaction on some of the kids’ faces is just priceless." The next event started at 11 a.m.
at the NAS 1 Gymnasium with the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Africa (SP-MAGTF-CR-AF) in combat gear versus the avengers in a NERF battle. Children ages six through 18-yearsold dressed in costumes took on the Marines and both teams shed a few battle cries as the competition grew more intense. Following the NERF battle, there was a cardboard boat race, lip sync battle, unveiling of a 20-year-old time capsule, pie and watermelon eating contest, cornhole tournament, the Italy vs. Germany soccer game, Kelly band performance, and the highlight of the event, a spectacular fireworks show. "Being overseas, you get homesick, especially during the holidays. Having events like these help to ease that," said Oostenyrk. "Normally back at home, we would have a BBQ, music and fireworks, and so MWR made it feel like home." Events such as these are catered to the Sigonella community and aim to bring a little bit of home to those stationed overseas.
Naval Air Station Sigonella celebrates Fourth of July with fun-filled activities including the Firecracker 4K Color Run, NERF battle and cardboard boat races. The event culminated with a 30-minute firework display at NAS 1 Midtown, July 2. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ramon Go/Released)
Quick and Courageous Action by Local Sailor Saves Two Lives By Nicole Ybarra NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – Monday, June 20, was an ordinary day for Air-Traffic Controller 2nd Class Amy Colak. She had just finished a shift at the bustling NAS Sigonella Air Terminal where she provides ground control, working behind the scenes to coordinate the movement of aircraft and people. As she headed home, she entered a dimly lit tunnel on the autostrada in the direction of Siracusa and remarked to herself how dramatic the transition was from blinding daylight to pitch darkness. In the tunnel, Colak noticed that traffic had slowed to a single lane and as she drove on, she noticed a car, pushed to the side and crashed into the sidewall. “I slowed down and as I came closer, I noticed a man and woman embracing. It was apparent from their body language that they had just experienced trauma,” said Colak. “I saw that the air bags had deployed and realized I had to stop and offer my assistance.” Ironically this was not the first time that Colak
had been first on the scene of a traffic accident. She grabbed the reflective safety triangle from her backseat and placed it behind the wrecked car to increase visibility of the accident for oncoming traffic. It was at that time that Colak noticed a small fire and a puddle of liquid dripping from the underneath the car. “At that point I was immediately concerned because I realized I was walking toward a car that could potentially blow up. I didn’t know if the liquid dripping from the car was gasoline or just water,” stated Colak. She began to yell “Fire!” and tried to get the attention of the victims who were both in shock. Colak led the couple toward her car and drove them away to safety where the man called Italian emergency services. “I stayed with them until the ambulance arrived. The woman was bleeding from her arm and had bit through her tongue and was hyperventilating. I did my best to calm her down, speaking to her in my limited Italian,” said Colak. The couple suffered non-life threatening injuries and credit Colak for saving their lives. She said they
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Daniele Bellomia, left, Concita Aiello, center, and Amy Colak pose for a photo at Days Inn days after the incident. (Photo courtesy of Amy Colak)