The Signature, May 20, 2016

MilitaryChildCare: DoD launches new program PAGE 4

Rome:

Conflict:

Enjoy the ancient beauty

Tips to manage conflict

PAGEs 8-9

N A S SIG O N E L L A

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May 20, 2016

Vol. 33 No. 20

World War II Veteran Visits Sigonella “Family”

Otis Montgomery (Uncle Otis) stands for a photo while visiting NAS Sigonella for the second time to visit Lt. Will Hensiek, May 9. Uncle Otis, 91 years old, travels around the world with the network of friends he has built during his lifetime. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Luke Askew/Released) By mc3 luke askew NAS Sigonella Public Affairs

NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – The first thing I noticed during my conversation with Otis Montgomery was his warm, welcoming smile and the lines in his face that hinted to a lifetime of travel and experience. He spoke with a deep, resonant voice that had me hanging on to every word of his story, and what a story it was having traveled the world and served in three wars.

After 91 years “Uncle Otis” has built a family of friends all across the world whom he visits regularly. One such friend is Lt. Will Hensiek, Avia-

tion Maintenance Duty Officer at Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella who considers “Uncle Otis” as a friend and mentor. Recently Otis came to Sicily for the second time to visit Hensiek.

During this trip, Otis and Hensiek traveled around Sicily visiting the Catacombs in Palermo, Elephant Square in Catania and driving through the countryside while talking about everything from life, service and the differences between Sicilian candy and sweets from the states.

Otis recalls that 20 years in the Army was just the beginning of his world travels. During his time he fought throughout Europe during WWII, making it from the beaches

in France, through Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and back again. He also served in Japan during the Korean War and in Vietnam.

Once his career in the military came to a close he changed his focus and joined the Peace Corps to fight disease in Malaysia. Otis has a passion for people and a strong will to make the world a better place. He gained a love for the Far East and chose to make Japan and Taiwan his home for many years. Even now he returns yearly to celebrate Chinese New Year with members of his vast multicultural family.

Otis is still a Nomad to this day.

He makes a point to travel every

year on his birthday to a place he has never been before. He hopes to visit places like Turkey and Egypt in the future but will stay away for now due to safety concerns. “Many years ago these places were very nice places to go but in today's environment it won't happen,” said Otis.

One thing you will surely notice about anyone from his generation is an almost stubborn sense of pride that pushes them to continue enjoying life and challenging themselves even in old age. It is no wonder they have earned the title “The Greatest Generation.” I have no doubt that this man’s travels will continue for many years to come.

Ready, Set, Move! Tips for Preparing for Upcoming Permanent Change of Station

By Sutten Thomas NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center Sigonella

Ready For many DoD personnel, moving leads to heightened anxiety. However, it does not have to be this way. “Failing to plan, is a plan to fail.” Chances are, if you are emotionally and physically ready throughout the entire move process, from pack out to delivery, you will minimize anxiety levels and have a well managed move. It is important to become and stay involved in your entire move. Far too often, customer satisfaction comments reflect their expectations were not met.

However, when investigated by household goods professionals, it’s quickly realized customers could’ve done more to affect the outcome of the move but failed to do so.

Experience has shown that being ready for a move starts more than three months before the moving trucks show up at your residence. Don’t wait until you get your orders to educate yourself about the upcoming move. First, contact your assigned sponsor at your next assignment. You’ll be surprised about the wealth of information peers may have. More than likely, your sponsor can offer an insider’s perspective about the area or experiences they had

during their move to the new duty station.

Fleet and Family Support Centers (FFSC) are another excellent resource. Normally, FFSC online websites provide excellent information about base resources, to include important contact information about onbase support.

Secondly, start getting rid of “stuff ” you no longer need. Not only will this house cleaning allow you to get rid of unnecessary items before your next tour, it ensures that you only ship items needed and reduces the possibility of exceeding your household goods weight entitlement. Paying “excess cost” for being over the weight allowance on a government arranged move can be very cost prohibitive. Experience has shown service members typically ship approximately over 10% of weight entitlement that should’ve been placed in long term, non-temporary storage at origin or discarded prior to the move.

Third, provided you’ve done the research needed upfront to help in organizing a smooth move, involving your spouse in the entire process is paramount. Spouses need to know as much about the move as the sponsor so that, in the event their partner is unavailable prior to the move, the spouse can be better informed in coordinating the move, if required. During

Planning is key to a successful PCS. (Photo courtesy of NAVSUP FLC Sigonella)

a move, good communication is essential among key players such as members and their spouses, along with Transportation Service Provider (TSPs), local agents and Personal Property Shipping Office (PPSO) counselors. If communication breaks down, the potential for an unsatisfactory move increases exponentially.

Beginning May 15 through July 31,

each year presents unique challenges for the moving industry, service members and their families, especially moves made during the peak of the peak season (June 16 through July 4). Due to competing demands on commercial industry resources and DoD requirements during peak

"PCS" continued on Page 14

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May 20, 2016

Direct Line

Commanding Officer Capt. Brent Trickel Buongiorno Sigonella, I am extremely happy and excited to be the new Commanding Officer of NAS Sigonella and to join this wonderful community. I am coming from the staff of Carrier Strike Group 15 which is located on North Island Naval Air Station in Coronado, Calif.

I will be here solo for a couple of months as my wife and daughter won’t be able to join me until July.

Out of the 21 bases I had to choose from as a possible duty station I put Sigonella at the top of the list. My wife and I have always wanted to do a tour in Europe and I have heard many good things about Sigonella so we feel fortunate to have the chance to live and work here.

I am a Naval Flight Officer and have flown E-2C Hawkeyes for most of my career. My squadron tours have included VAW-123 in Norfolk, VA; VAW-115 in Atsugi, Japan; and VAW-117 in Point Mugu, CA. My other tours have been at the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (twice) in Fallon, NV; a year at the Naval War College in Newport, RI; two years at U.S. Northern Command in Colorado Springs, CO; and the aforementioned Carrier Strike Group-15.

My wife Marla and I are both from Trenton,

Mo. which is a small farming community 90 miles northeast of Kansas City, Mo. We graduated from the University of Missouri in 1993 and I received my commission via Naval ROTC. Our son turns 21 soon and is currently a junior at the University of Missouri. Our daughter graduates High School in Coronado, Calif. next month and will spend part of July and August in Sicily with us and will then go back to the U.S. to start college (also at University of Missouri).

My priorities will be directly in line with Captain Dennis – security, resource conservation, and health and welfare. I want all Sig’ citizens to be safe and secure but I also want you to be able to get out and enjoy all that Sicily, Italy, and the rest of Europe has to offer. The summer season is fast upon us so I want everyone to think about safety with all of the activities that go along with summer - water safety, BBQ/fire safety, heat exhaustion, sports injuries, etc.

With summer comes a busy PCS season so please make sure you have planned in advance and have everything accounted for. Pet movements take prior planning and coordination with the veterinarian and moving companies are maxed out

in the summer so make sure your paperwork and DPS applications are done as soon as possible.

It is an honor and a pleasure to be here and I look forward to working with my fellow military members, Italian friends and allies, and family members to make Sigonella a better place.

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 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 Suggestion Box is NOT a forum for mean-spirited attacks. * If you submit a "BZ" about a specific person or department, PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR NAME in order to ensure comment authenticity and therefore publically 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 scrolldown 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 "Sigonella employee":

Mr. XXXXX has way too much power as a civilian, and uses his power to force us to perform tasks that do not pertain to the mission. He lacks leadership and has been seen just walking around or hanging out at the other base during working hours.

Response:

I appreciate you taking the time to voice your concern. However, without additional information (e.g. your contact details, your department, etc.) we are unable to identify “Mr. XXXXX.” I would be happy to address the issue with additional information. Thank you.

Comment regarding "NAS 2 gym":

I’m writing in regards to multiple machines that have been out of service for months on end at the NAS 2 Flight Line Gym. There are not enough bars for the different squat and bench press racks to where they have to be shared in between the various stations one at a time. In light of the high number of personnel that use the small gym every day, it would be prudent to have a faster turnaround in fixing the broken equipment.

Sincerely, Robert Rivard

Response:

Thank you for your feedback and patronage of our MWR Fitness Centers. You are correct that we have several machines that are currently awaiting parts and repairs.

The MWR Fitness Director has been working with the vendor to determine the delay on receiving parts and has verified they have been shipped after being delayed.

An Olympic bar has recently been relocated from the NAS 1 Fit District to support the patrons on NAS 2. The week of May 9th the leg extension and Jacob's Ladder were both repaired.

The Fitness team's goal is to reduce downtime for our equipment and we are working to improve in this area. We do realize the shifting of berthing to NAS 2, along with extending the hours of operation has had a significant impact on fitness center operations, and management staff is working to replace several pieces of dated equipment. For you convenience, the MWR Fitness Director, Mr. John Lenz, can be reached at 624-0504 (or +39-095-56-0504) or via email at

fitness_sigonella@eu.navy.mil. Thank you once again for your feedback and patronage of the MWR fitness facilities.

Comment regarding "Marine barracks":

The Marines stationed on NAS 2 are packed in rooms to the point I believe it’s becoming a health hazard. Most of the washers and dryers are broken. I have personally seen Marines using Axe body spray and a lighter in their room to exterminate ants.

The Marines here on NAS 2 are living in filth and tight conditions. The barracks are unsecured at all times and I have witnessed the DNCO let women into the building with Marines. I have seen vermin running through the halls several times.

Response:

Thank you for bringing the material condition of one the barracks buildings to my attention. Based on your description I assume you are talking about Bldg. 562.

Today, May 16, I walked through the building with LtCol Parker and SgtMaj Wilson and I agree the barracks are not up to standards. I apologize that you have had to endure substandard living conditions and I will do what I can from a capability and financial standpoint to alleviate the problem.

In this case I am happy to report that all of the deployed Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force personnel have moved into the newly renovated barracks which were paid for and are now owned by our USMC partners - all new furniture, washers/dryers, kitchenettes, etc. A four-phase renovation of Bldg. 562 has already begun and it will be brought up to the standards of the recently renovated barracks.

Unfortunately, due to capacity issues some personnel who visit Sigonella on a temporary basis will still have to reside in the current Bldg. 562 until renovated portions become available. Am I happy about Sig’ Citizens having to live in Bldg.

562 prior to renovation? Absolutely not. But outside of putting up tents or other temporary structures there isn't an alternative. Please bear with us as we bring the building up to a condition befitting our Warfighters.

If you are assigned to Bldg. 562 and there is an issue regarding your accommodations, please have the Building Monitor make a trouble call to Public Works at 624-6013. If it is a safety issue (lights not working, live bare wires, major water leak, etc.) it should be dealt with immediately. If it something less serious (minor water leak, hole in wall, etc.) it will be dealt with on a priority basis or may be deferred due to the upcoming renovation.

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May 20, 2016

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10 Safety Tips for Cyclists 1. Cycling Citizenship Along with the right to cycle come responsibilities. Familiarize yourself with all applicable traffic laws and cycling rules. Each state has its own set; be aware of them. Motorists will be much more willing to accept cyclist’s rightful place on the road if cyclists act lawfully and respectfully. Do not run stop signs or red lights or use the wrong side of the street.

It is best and safest to ride single file. If you are not blocking traffic and if the laws in your state permit it, there are times it is safe to ride two abreast. However, on narrow curvy canyon roads it is always best to ride single file. Riding responsibly will do wonders towards easing tensions and fostering a more harmonious environment between motorists and cyclists.

idea to take a lane and join traffic before an intersection to make your presence known—especially for right-turning drivers who may not see you as they start their turn.

When you do join traffic, make sure you never pass on the right. This is always dangerous, but particularly so in an intersection. By waiting directly behind a vehicle, you can see a car’s signals; otherwise, you never know if the motorist is about to make a right turn and hit you.

2. Right On It is generally either illegal or unsafe to ride on a sidewalk or on the road towards oncoming traffic. As a rule, it is best to ride in the direction of traffic, staying as far to the right as is practical. However, make sure there is room to handle emergencies and that you do not ride so close to the right that you run the risk of hitting the curb and being thrown into traffic. There are times when you simply cannot stay to the far right—whether it’s to overtake another cyclist or vehicle, to make a left turn, or to avoid a hazard. Be sure to wait for a safe opportunity and use the proper hand signals when you take a lane.

5. Seeing Eye to Eye Make eye contact with drivers whenever possible. This ensures that the motorists see you and helps you assert your rightful place on the road. This “personal connection” reminds motorists that you are indeed real LIFE in need of attention and protection. Once you make that connection, motorists may give you more respect on the road.

3. Join In If you are traveling at the same speed as other traffic, it may be safer to jump in and ride with traffic; because, this may make you more visible to motorists. Joining traffic is sometimes necessary because the road is simply too narrow for both a bike and a car. It is a particularly good

Name: MC3 Luke Askew Dept: American Forces Network Sigonella, TAD to Public Affairs Hometown: Plano, Texas Askew originally joined the Navy to be an Aviation Electronics Technician (AT) but was given the opportunity to become a Mass Communication Specialist (MC) in boot camp. As he was going through "A" school, he realized he was where he wanted to be. Being an MC played well into in his life experiences and personal interests.

Arriving to NAS Sigonella for his first command, Askew immediately saw Italy as a way to return to Europe and do more traveling. "When I was

4. Use Your Head Regardless if you’re going to the corner store or heading out on a marathon ride, always wear a helmet. Make sure it is properly fastened and fitted. (The helmet should fit snugly and not move when you shake your head.)

6. The Road Straightly Traveled Try to ride consistently and predictably.

For instance, at an intersection, do not veer into the crosswalk and then suddenly reappear on the road again. Don’t thread through parked cars. With such erratic behavior, motorists will not be aware of your presence when you try to reemerge into traffic. (Inconsistent conduct increases your chances of being squeezed out of traffic or, worse, getting hit.)

7. Playing Defense Make sure you are always aware of your surroundings. Know what is behind

about four years old, I lived in England for two years and I've always wanted to come back, so here I am. I appreciate all the opportunities to travel and experience different cultures, food, people, history and art.

My favorite spot has been Budapest because it has everything I was looking for. Things to see, friendly faces, great food, and a patchwork city of architecture from all ranges of time in history."

"I enjoyed my time as DJ Lucky Luke, where I got to remind everyone tuning in to the opportunities they have here to travel and experience something different. My favorite time in AFN was during the Baltic operations (BALTOPS) exercise 2015, where I got to use the skills I learned and apply it to a multinational exercise representing AFN and Sigonella." It was an experience not to be taken lightly as

THE SIGNATURE U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA Commanding Officer Capt. Brent Trickel Executive Officer Cmdr. Charles G. McKinney II Command Master Chief CMDCM Mike Kaszubowski EDITORIAL

you and watch out for what is in front of you. Always be on the lookout for road hazards; sand and gravel, glass, railroad tracks, parked cars, snow and slush can wreak havoc on you and your bike. Sewer grates and cracks in the road can catch your wheel and cause you to be thrown from the bike. Watch for parked cars where people may be opening doors on the driver side of the vehicle without looking. Always wait until you have ample time to make your move, whether you are changing a lane or turning a corner. Do not expect to be granted the right of way in any instance.

8. Flaunt It Make your presence felt. Wear bright color clothing. At night or in inclement weather, it is important to use reflective lights in the front, side and rear that make you visible from all directions.

9. Helping Hands Emergencies happen. Be prepared.

Always make sure you have at least one hand on your handlebars, no matter what.

Know and use your hand signals whenever you are changing lanes or making a turn.

10. Brake Away Make sure your brakes are always in top-notch condition. Be aware of how weather and road conditions can affect your ability to brake.

Askew learned his way around the ship along with other military groups from Sweden and Finland. "I was able to learn and capture how different and similar NATO members operate from us."

Lastly, Askew will depart from Sigonella after three years of dedication to AFN and Sigonella that he will not soon for-

get. At the end of Capt. Dennis' tour, he was congratulated for picking himself up and owning up to a bad decision, accepting the circumstances and rising to the challenge as Askew was pinned 3rd class for the second time by Capt. Dennis. "He told me that I bounced back from a mistake with a very positive attitude."

Public Affairs Officer Lt. Andriana Genualdi andriana.genualdi@eu.navy.mil Assistant Public Affairs Officer Lt. Jake Barreiro jake.barreiro@eu.navy.mil Editor Nicole Ybarra nicole.ybarra@eu.navy.mil Community Relations Officer Dott. Alberto Lunetta alberto.lunetta.it@eu.navy.mil PAO Staff Writers \ Photographers MC1 Tony D. Curtis anthony.curtis@eu.navy.mil MC2 Ramon Go ramon.go@eu.navy.mil MC3 Luke Askew lucas.askew@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 nonmerit factorof 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 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.

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THE SIGNATURE

May 20, 2016

DoD Launches MilitaryChildCare.com at Sigonella Child and Youth Programs

By Jennifer Hodges NAS Sigonella Youth Programs

NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – Families at NAS Sigonella will have access to a new Department of Defense (DoD) website on June 15, designed to simplify and improve the request for care process.

MilitaryChildCare.com (MCC) provides a single online gateway for families to access military-operated or militarysubsidized childcare options worldwide

across all services. The site enables families to create a household profile, conduct childcare searches, submit requests for care, and manage their requests at any time and from any location.

The new DoD site – which is being introduced worldwide in phases – offers a more streamlined approach to finding and requesting care, expedites placement through a standardized request process and waitlist management tools, and provides reports that help programs better

plan for future placement needs.

According to Jennifer Hodges, NAS Sigonella Youth Programs Director, “This cutting edge online initiative is designed to be user-friendly and offers families an opportunity to research all care options available to their children. Families that are PCSing will have the chance to review care options not only located on naval installations, but can also research available care on Air Force, Army and Marine bases located near their geographical location.”

Through MilitaryChildCare.com, eligible families can search and request care for full day and part day options in facility-based and home-based programs for children from birth through age 12. Families may remain on a preferred program’s waitlist even after being offered care or enrolling in another program.

Families at NAS Sigonella who are currently on waitlists will be automatically transitioned to the new web-based system. These families will retain the original date of their request(s) for care, and all program enrollment processes will remain the same.

For additional information, go to MilitaryChildCare.com or contact the Child Development Center at DSN 624-3736 or the School Age Care program at DSN 624-3712.

Need an appointment at the hospital?

Call DSN 624-CARE (2273) or commercial: 095-56-2273, M - F: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.

For non-emergent medical questions that arise over the Weekend, Holidays, or after office hours, please call the Nurse Advice Line at 800-877-660 (local/Italy only) Need a medication refill or results from your Provider?

Create an account with Relay Health using your PCM... www.relayhealth.com (click: register, patient, then add PCM)

May 20, 2016

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Ray Charles Leonard, Jr. Visits Sigonella

Ray Charles Leonard, Jr., the son of world famous boxer “Sugar” Ray Leonard, shared his story about overcoming and preventing domestic violence and sexual assault at NAS 1 Midtown theater, May 10. Ray Charles Leonard, Jr., visited NAS Sigonella for one day. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Lucas Askew/Released)

Ray Charles Leonard, Jr., the son of world famous boxer “Sugar” Ray Leonard poses with service members at the NAS 1 Midtown Theater during a one-day visit to NAS Sigonella. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Lucas Askew/Released)

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May 20, 2016

Ancient Greek Drama Festival Begins in Siracusa

By Alberto Lunetta NAS Sigonella Public Affairs

What could be more fascinating than watching an ancient Greek drama in its original setting? How about discovering how the natural acoustics of Siracusa’s Greek Theater amplifies the voices of the actors? American writer and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: “The beautiful fables of the Greeks, being proper creations of the imagination and not of the fancy, are universal verities.” This is actually true. These timeless dramas – a brilliant mixture of ancient myths, complicated tragic stories, religious rituals, and lyric poetry – are still relevant to modern times.

In ancient Greece, the first "tragedies" were actually satirical myths that were sung and danced by a chorus during the festival held in honor of Dionysius, the God of wine. According to historians, the word “tragedy” seems to derive from Greek word "tragoidia" which in Greek means "goat song" from the goatskins worn by the chorus because this animal was sacred to Dionysius.

Goats were given as awards for the best performances.

Later on, these performances developed a more serious form. Instead of gaiety and burlesque the "plays" dealt with the relationship between man and the Gods. Their purpose was to ask questions about the nature of man, his position in the universe, his relation to the supernatural powers that govern his life. Thus, the prime function of these dramas was the expression of the feelings and reflections caused by man's encounters with the external forces that appear to rule his life despite his will.

As it happens every other year, all plays are staged at Siracusa’s Greek Theater, one of the largest of its kind in the world. The structure dates from the 3rd century BC, but ancient sources mention the existence of a theater in Siracusa from the 5th century.

The Romans altered the theater during their rule to accommodate their circuses.

The 52nd edition of the festival kicked off the week of May 13 before an audience of about 3,000 spectators with Electra by Sophocles that will be staged through June 29 just like the other play: Alcestis by Euripides. Phaedra by Seneca, the third play of this year festival’s lineup, will be staged from June 23-26.

For more information, detailed schedules and tickets, visit http://www.indafondazione.org

“Electra” by Sophocles May 13 - June 29

By Alberto Lunetta NAS Sigonella Public Affairs Electra is a Greek tragedy by Sophocles. Its date is not known, but various stylistic similarities with the Philoctetes (409 BC) and the Oedipus at Colonus (401 BC) lead scholars to suppose that it was written towards the end of Sophocles' career.

Set in the city of Argos a few years after the Trojan war, it recounts the tale of Electra and the vengeance that she and her brother Orestes take on their mother Clytemnestra and step father Aegisthus for the murder of their father, Agamemnon.

Orestes arrives with his friend Pylades, son of Strophius, and a pedagogue, i.e. tutor (an old attendant of Orestes, who took him from Electra to Strophius). Their plan is to have the tutor announce that Orestes has died in a chariot accident, and that two men (really Orestes and Pylades) are arriving shortly to deliver an urn with his remains. Meanwhile, Electra continues to mourn the death of her father Agamemnon, holding her mother Clytemnestra responsible for his murder. When Electra is told of the death of Orestes her grief is doubled, but is to be short-lived.

After a choral ode Orestes arrives, carrying the urn supposedly containing his ashes. He does not recognize Electra, nor she him.

He gives her the urn and she delivers a moving lament over it, unaware that her brother is in fact standing alive next to her. Now realizing the truth, Orestes reveals his identity to his emotional sister. She is overjoyed that he is alive, but in their excitement they nearly reveal his identity, and the tutor comes out from the palace to urge them on. Orestes and Pylades enter the house and slay Clytemnestra. As Aegisthus returns home, they quickly put her corpse under a sheet and present it to him as the body of Orestes.

He lifts the veil to discover who it really is, and Orestes then reveals himself. They escort Aegisthus off set to be killed at the hearth, the same location Agamemnon was slain. The play ends here, before the death of Aegisthus is announced.

Alcestis by Euripides: May 13 – June 29 Alcestis is an Athenian tragedy by the ancient Greek playwright Euripides. It was first produced at the City Dionysia festival in 438

"ELECTRA" continued on Page 15

The 52nd edition of the Ancient Drama Festival began at the enchanting Siracusa Greek Theater last week with the play “Electra” by Sophocles. The event, which attracted about 3,000 spectators, will run until June 29 and will also feature Alcestis by Euripides and Phaedra by Seneca. (Photo by INDA Fondazione Press Office)

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May 20, 2016

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Navy Wounded Warrior-Safe Harbor Enrollees Excel at Invictus Games 2016

By Lt. j.g. Marissa A. Cruz Navy Installations Command Public Affairs

ORLANDO, Fla. (NNS) -- Navy wounded warrior athletes brought home more gold for the U.S. team as the Invictus Games came to a close in Orlando, Florida, May 12.

All Navy athletes who competed in the Invictus Games also are enrolled in Navy Wounded Warrior- Safe Harbor-the Navy's sole organization for coordinating the nonmedical care of seriously wounded, ill and injured Sailors and Coast Guardsmen--and providing resources and support to their families.

"I'm super excited because I made so much progress with the program," said retired Navy Electrician's Mate 3rd Class Michael Roggio, who swam in the finals of the 100-meter freestyle. "When I first started, I couldn't even push off the wall or anything and now I'm competing in the hardest classes."

Roggio was one of approximately 500 military competitors from 14 nations who competed in this year's Paralympic-style games. The U.S. team took home a total of 51 gold medals and even more silver and bronze medals during the competition.

Other athletes such as retired Navy Fire Controlman 3rd Class Jason Reyes, retired Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Adam Hygema and retired Navy Chief Yeoman Javier D. Rodriguez Santiago helped clinch gold for the U.S. in wheelchair basketball against the United Kingdom 48-16.

"I couldn't feel more proud or happy to be able to represent my country and bring home the gold," said Reyes, first-time Invictus Games competitor. "It meant everything in the world."

To learn more about the Navy Wounded Warrior program, visit http://www.safeharbor.navylive.dodlive.mil/ or www.facebook.com/navywoundedwarrior/.

For more news from Commander, Navy Installations Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/cni/.

Members of team USA compete in track and field during Invictus Games 2016. The international competition, Invictus Games 2016, brings together wounded, injured and ill service members in the spirit of friendly athletic competition. Over 500 competitors from 15 nations take part in the event held in Orlando, Fla., May 8-12. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nicolas C. Lopez/Released)

Retired Hospital Corpsman Adam Hygema participates in the gold medal wheelchair basketball game against team United Kingdom (UK) during Invictus Games 2016. Team USA beat team UK for the gold. The international competition, Invictus Games 2016, brings together wounded, injured and ill service members in the spirit of friendly athletic competition. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Charlotte C. Oliver)

Are You Planning Your Retirement Through Thrift Savings Plan?

By mc3 David A. Cox USS Stennis (CVN 74) Public Affairs

SOUTH CHINA SEA (NNS) -- Sailors have many investment options when it comes to retirement; one of those is the Department of Defense's Thrift Savings Plan.

Chief Aviation Maintenance Administrationman Rhoda Rothwell, USS John C. Stennis' (CVN 74) lead command financial specialist, has spent the last year ensuring Sailors understand the various options for investing, including the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).

"TSP is not like a regular savings plan where it's just sitting in an account with very little [return on investment]," said Rothwell. "You can keep track of where your money is going and how much return on investment it's accruing. It's a better way to get more for your money."

TSP is the equivalent of a civilian

401(k) retirement plan. Service members can contribute dollars from their paycheck before taxes are taken out. The service member then decides where to allocate the money based on six different mutual fund options.

The safest fund in the TSP is the G fund, which invests in government bonds. The S, I and C funds are riskier, because they invest in shares of stocks of publicly traded companies. Higher risk means that the funds have the potential for higher investment returns. The F fund is a mix of bonds and stocks, and the L fund invests in all of the funds previously mentioned. Which fund the service member decides to invest in depends on their own personal retirement goals.

"If you put it all into the G fund you won't be getting the most bang for your buck, but if allocated well to all the funds, you could be making a decent return on investment in a few years," said

Rothwell. "Six percent each paycheck could very well turn into a million dollars by the age of retirement."

Rothwell said that the L fund is probably the best fund for a young Sailor just joining.

Investing in the TSP also has several other advantages including: being able to borrow against the amount available in your account for personal loans or home loans and being able to roll the amount over into a private 401(k) or individual retirement account (IRA).

If a service member decides to withdraw all of their TSP before the age of 59 1/2, the amount will be subject to a 20 percent federal income tax in addition to a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty.

When an individual separates from the military they are allowed to keep their investment in TSP however they must withdraw the full amount or roll it into a different account by age 70 1/2.

Rothwell said Sailors should put money in the TSP, because it is an account you do not see every day, like your savings account.

"Your first thought when you look for money for an emergency isn't to take your money out of your TSP, it's to take it out your savings," said Rothwell.

"A good quote by Warren Buffet is 'Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after savings,' which is easy when you have a TSP, if you budget and finance correctly you won't have a problem," said Rothwell.

Providing a ready force supporting security and stability in the Indo-AsiaPacific, John C. Stennis is operating as part of the Great Green Fleet on a regularly scheduled 7th Fleet deployment.

For more news on USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) visit http://navy.mil/ local/cvn74/ or www.facebook.com/ stennis74.

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By Lt Andriana Genualdi NAS Sigonella Public Affairs

I was excited to visit Rome, though I had been before as a teen, and experience the city in a new way as an adult. Getting there from Catania is cheap and easy with direct flights going right to the main airport by Rome (Fiumicino) from Fontanarossa.

Over the course of a three-day weekend we were able to see most of the main tourist highlights of Rome: the Colosseum and Arch of Constantine, the Roman Forum, the Pantheon, the Trevi Fountain, Saint Peter's Basilica, and the Vatican Museums.

On our first day we got started early and headed over to the Colosseum to try to beat some of the lines that tend to form there. The wait didn't end up being too bad and we were able to spend a good amount of time inside enjoying the views and imagining what it might have looked like during ancient Roman times. The Arch of Constantine is right next to the Colosseum and you can get some great views of it from inside.

After we had lunch we decided to walk through the Roman Forum; we definitely could have spent a lot more time there! The forum is right in the city and there are so many different ruins inside that have portions intact. It was amazing to see how the modern city of Rome was built right alongside and on top of the ancient buildings.

I will probably go back and spring for a guided tour of the Forum sometime in the future.

Later in the afternoon we made our way over to the Trevi Fountain to see how it looked after the completion of recent restorations. I have to say, it is beautiful and very popular; there were quite a lot of people there enjoying the mild weather.

The following day we spent quite a lot of time in the Vatican Museums. They are located within the boundaries of Vatican City and are quite extensive. Of course one of the main attractions inside is the famous Sistine Chapel, but there is so much history and art to take in before you even get there. You easily lose track of time while you are inside!

On the morning of our final day in Rome I decided to climb to the top of the dome of Saint Peter's Basilica. I showed up at eight when it opened and there was absolutely no line at all. The stairs aren't too hard, and you can always opt to pay a bit more and take an elevator part of the way up. The views from the top of the dome are magnificent! You can see so much of Rome and into the grounds of the Vatican City.

Overall my impression was that Rome is a beautiful city with so much to offer and so much more to see, I look forward to going back!

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All Hands News Bulletin: HEALTHY WEIGH SUMMER CLASS U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella Health Promotion Department Date of Event: 8-9 Jun 2016 Time of Event: 0830 - 1430 Location of Event: Midtown Classroom NAS 1 Point of Contact Name: Giuseppe Licari Point of Contact Phone Number: +39-314-624-4946 Point of Contact Email Address: giuseppe.licari.ln@mail.mil Any Plans for the summer? Join "The Healthy Weigh," U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella's multi-disciplinary weight management program to make changes that last!

The Healthy Weigh is a weight loss program, based on the latest medical recommendations. Beginning with two days of introduction and education, our team of experts will help you navigate the many facets of weight loss. Learn about the health benefits of maintaining a healthy weight, psychology of eating,

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proper nutrition, fitness, and goal setting, and how to successfully incorporate them all into your life! Your Healthy Weigh team consists of the hospital's Registered Dietitian, healthcare providers, wellness coach, personal trainer, and behavioral health consultant. They will help you find strategies each step of the way that work for YOU to be successful.

The summer session of the Healthy Weigh begins June 8th and 9th, 8am2:30pm in the Midtown classroom on NAS I. Sign up by June 1 by calling U.S. Naval Hospital Health Promotion at 624-4710.

PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE AT MARINAI HOUSING This is to inform Marinai Residents of upcoming preventive maintenance inspection (PMI) in their homes. PMI will start on April 15 through June 13 and will be performed on A/C system, washer, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, smoke, gas/carbon monoxide detectors by the Pizzarotti contractor.

Flyers will be e-mailed and placed at the resident's door indicating date and time frame of their scheduled PMI. Residents are reminded to be home since PMI is mandatory and appointments cannot be rescheduled. PMI will only be canceled if inclement weather should arise.

Sigonella Religious Ministries Department Worship Services 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 ROMAN CATHOLIC • Sunday - 9 a.m. Catholic Mass at NAS 1 Chapel • Tuesday - Friday - 11:30 a.m. at NAS 1 or NAS 2 Chapel

CLUB BEYOND • Middle School Club & Small Group - Tuesday - 2:45 - 4:45 p.m. at NAS 1 Chapel • High School Club and Small Group - Wednesdays - 6 - 8 p.m. at Marinai Home

PROTESTANT WORSHIP SERVICE • Sunday - 11 a.m. Traditional Worship at NAS 1 Chapel; 6 p.m. Non-Denominational Sunday at NAS 2 Chapel • Wednesday - 7 p.m. Bible Study at NAS 2

Catholic Religious Education • September - June - 10:30 a.m. at DoDDS

PROTESTANT MEN OF THE CHAPEL • Wednesdays 6 a.m. @ NAS 1 Fellowship Hall PROTESTANT WOMEN OF THE CHAPEL • Tuesdays - 9 a.m. at NAS 1 Fellowship Hall; Thursdays 5 p.m. @ NAS 1 Fellowship Hall LATTER-DAY SAINTS • Sunday - 1:30 p.m. at NAS 1 Chapel Contact: sigonellalds@gmail.com or 624-9049

Knights of Columbus • First Wednesday of the month - 5 p.m. at NAS 2 Chapel NIGHT STUDY • AA Meetings - Monday - 5:30 p.m., 2nd Floor at NAS 1 Chapel; Thursday - 7 p.m. at NAS 2 Chapel • AA Family Group - Tuesday - 7 p.m. at NAS 2 Chapel • Tuesday - Italian Class - 7 p.m. at NAS 1 Chapel Classroom • Tuesday - Awana Club - 4:45 p.m at NAS 1 Chapel

Weekly Traffic Reports: May 9 - 16, 2016

Ristorante Bella Etna

Breakfast: $3.45 Mon - Fri: 6:30 - 8:30 a.m.

Weekend / Holiday: 7-9 a.m.

Lunch: $5.55 Mon - Fri: 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Weekend / Holiday: 11 a.m. -1 p.m.

Dinner: $4.85 Mon - Fri: 4 - 6 p.m.

Weekend / Holiday: 4-6 p.m.

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.

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The Secret Treasure Buried in Conflict

By Breana Pritchard LCSW, Work & Family Life Educator Managing conflict, whether in your job or family life, is an imperative skill. Most people tend to automatically view conflict in a negative light.

Conflict is not negative; instead it’s an inevitable part of work and family life. If handled appropriately, arguments have the potential to enhance understanding, trust, and connection.

Some couples avoid conflict at all costs and fail to notice the potential “diamonds” or benefit just under the surface. Some of the potential benefits of healthy conflict in a relationship include: • Provides an opportunity to empathize with your partner • Helps couples face their issues instead of avoiding or denying them • Gain insight into your own personal issues • Helps you anticipate how to resolve future conflict • Improves levels of marital satisfaction each time you successfully manage a conflict • Healthy conflict helps a marriage to grow and evolve Similar to conflict being a vital tool in maintaining a strong marriage, using conflict resolution strategies effectively in the workplace will help maintain a healthy work environment. Work conflict can present the opportunity to either improve a situation or make it worse. When work conflicts go unaddressed, they can potentially have a negative impact on productivity and teamwork. 6 Simple Workplace Conflict Resolution Techniques (adapted from the University of Notre Dame website) include: 1) Listen, before speaking: Simply listening to an employee’s concerns is the primary and most important step in resolving conflict. You should listen to all parties involved to better understand the exact nature of the conflict.

2) Gather the entire Group: As a leader, it is

necessary to arrange a meeting with all parties involved to discuss the issue. Give all parties an opportunity to speak to allow everyone to hear all sides and gain a better understanding of the conflict. Having a group meeting may help expedite a resolution that will satisfy everyone.

3) Be Impartial: Avoid taking sides. Try to look at the situation from all sides to come up with a fair and reasonable solution for all parties involved.

4) Do not Postpone Conflict Resolution: Address the conflict as expeditiously as possible to avoid the situation escalating and thus affecting the employee’s job performance. Just make sure not to “jump to conclusions” or address the situation too quickly or without careful consideration, as you decision will directly affect the work environment and performance of your staff.

5) Broadcast Praise: The power of encouragement and motivation can be multiplied when those who are modeling teamwork and cooperation are recognized.

6) Promote Teamwork: Encouragement and motivation are extremely powerful. Remind staff of their previous successful projects that required teamwork to complete. This is one of the most effective conflict resolution techniques that can help employees consider the importance of teamwork.

Whether in your interpersonal relationships at work or at home, conflict can be extremely damaging if not handled effectively. On a work team, if not handled effectively, it can stem into personal dislike, a breakdown of teamwork, and may result in wasted talent as people disengage from their work and leave (or feel unappreciated). Thus it is important to make relationships a priority, focus on the problem instead of the person, explore options together, listen carefully to different ideas, eliminate ambiguity and clarify assumptions.

To learn more conflict management strategies, sign up for the next Conflict Resolution Class on May 26 from 1000-1100. Call FFSC at 624-4291 to reserve your spot.

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GAMEZONE Chocolate

INGREDIENT MILK MOUSSE PUDDING SEMISWEET SUGAR SWISS SYRUP TREAT TRUFFLES UNSWEETENED WHITE

MEDIUM

CREAM PIE CUPCAKE DARK DECADENT DELICIOUS DESSERT DRINKS FILLING FONDUE FOOD FUDGE ICE CREAM ICING

EASY

ADDICTIVE BAKING BARS BITTERSWEET BROWNIES CAKES CANDY CHIPS CHOCOLATIERS COCOA CONFECTIONERY COOKIES

DIFFICULT

Find and circle all of the words that are hidden in the grid.

The remaining 55 letters spell a secret message.

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"PCS" continued from Page 1 moving season, government moving service providers are stretched to capacity and often times are required to perform services with limited packing crews, trucks in short supply, and full storage facilities. Service members should remain flexible and communicate changes as they occur to the PPSO counselors and TSPs. Setting up the Move By now, most service members know about Defense Personal Property System (DPS). Before you decide to start your upcoming move application in DPS or contact the local PPSO, visit the Navy’s official Portal at http://navsup. navy.mil/household for updated information, customer information videos and articles, regarding shipping entitlements, claims, privately owned vehicles and much more.

Provided you’ve done all the leg work upfront, your next step is to visit the www.move.mil to set up your DPS account in order to create and submit your move application. Although “self-counseling” is highly encouraged, you must contact the personal property shipping office if you’ve submitted a self-counseled application and received no response from a household goods counselor. Although an application was submitted, it is not complete until you’ve signed the application forms and returned them to the servicing PPSO. Too many times, service members claim they submitted their application and thought they had an arranged move set up only to find out their plans have to change because the application was not finalized and the moving dates they wanted are no longer available.

Counseling is by far the most important part of a successful move. Customers must ensure they have all the information they need. Carefully read all DPS application instructions. Do not just skip screen pages without fully understanding the information or following the instructions. Having valid and updated contact information (phone numbers, e-mail, etc.) in DPS is the key to a service member’s successful move. Customers should arrange early, remain flexible with their pack out or pick up dates, and try to schedule before or after the height of the peak season whenever possible. Initial pack out or pick up dates are your “desired” pack or pick up and are not confirmed until official orders are turned into the PPSO and the moving company contacts the service member to finalize the pack and pick up dates, conduct the pre-move survey and establish the Required Delivery Date (RDD). DPS will generate a Desired Delivery Date (DDD) during self-counseling, or the PPSO will inform the member of the DDD on the ship-

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ment application during counseling. Remember, in each case the DDD is only an estimate and the “actual” RDD will be printed on the government bill of lading (BOL) for the shipment. If, during the pre-move survey, the service member and the TSP or Local Agent negotiates a different DDD, that new date becomes the RDD. The service member should inform PPSO of any date changes or renegotiated RDD. The moving company will provide the member with a copy of the final BOL, reflecting the correct RDD, either electronically or hard copy, no later than the pickup date. If any information on the BOL is incorrect, notify the servicing PPSO. Weight allowances are determined by the member’s grade in accordance with the Joint Travel Regulation. Ultimately, members are responsible for keeping personal property items within their weight allowances. To avoid possible excess costs, take the time early in advance of the move date to estimate your shipment weight. Dispose of personal things you no longer use to reduce your potential excess costs. Should you decide to keep all your household goods and possibly ship above your weight allowance, you will be subject to pay any excess cost.

Estimating your household goods is fairly easy. Start with the net weight of all shipments from your last move.

Normally your shipment documents from the previous move will indicate the total weight shipped to your current duty station. Be sure to include all shipments at government expense still in storage, locally or elsewhere, if applicable, as well as weights for any personally procured moves (formally DITY moves). Add weights for all household items you acquired during your current tour, such as furniture, hobby equipment, tools, books, collectables and electronics.

To conduct an estimate, use the “1,000-pounds-perroom” formula. Unfortunately, families often forget to include rooms such as storage sheds, large closets, yards, garages, carports, basements, and other hidden areas. This is why it’s best to start your move estimates with all weights from your last move, and then adjust for what you recently acquired. Remember, an estimate is simply that: your best guess estimate of what you intend to ship. Your estimate is not an official weight until the movers provide an official certified shipment weight to the PPSO and a Government Bill of Lading is created. If your weights are close to authorized maximum after pack out, request an official reweigh through your DPS account, servicing origin or destination PPSO. Another way to control your shipment weight is to estimate weight for the member’s and spouse’s Professional Books Papers and Equipment (PBP&E) or “PRO-gear,” if any. Service members and employees pro gear allowance is limited to 2,000 pounds (no waivers) maximum. An employee’s pro gear is part of weight allowances for shipment purposes. Civilian spouses are not entitled to spousal progear (S-PRO) shipment entitlement in accordance with the Joint Travel Regulation (JTR). PRO-gear includes articles in a member’s possession needed for the performance of official duties at the next or later destination. All S-PRO gear must be inventoried and certified by the sponsor.

Some examples of PBP&E are: reference materials; equipment peculiar to technicians or mechanics; specialized clothing such as diving suits, astronaut suits, flying suits and helmets, band uniforms, chaplains' vestments, and other specialized apparel or unusual uniform or clothing item in the member’s possession needed for the performance of official duties. The weight of M-PRO is not counted against the member’s weight allowance. In order

May 20, 2016 for pro gear to be validated the sponsor must complete the following: a) declare pro gear during counseling; b) separate pro gear during packing by the movers, and c) ensure movers weigh pro gear separately, clearly mark boxes as pro gear, inventory each pro gear item on the shipment inventory before signing final shipping documents.

Spousal pro gear (S-PRO) is limited to a maximum of 500 lbs. S-PRO gear are those items for the spouse’s professional employment, such as ombudsman, lawyer, doctor, nurse, teacher, chef or community support activities at the next destination. Spouse pro gear does not include commercial products for sale or resale used in conducting business; sports equipment or offices; household or shop furniture and fixtures such as desks, cabinets, and racks etc.

A complete inventory list of all S-PRO gear items must be completed during pack out.

Privately Owned Vehicle (POV) This time last year, the big headlines were chronic delays of DoD shipped POVs. However, to date the POV contractor, International Auto Logistics (IAL) has shown improved performance metrics of delivering POVs on-time to service members worldwide. Current trends indicate contractor performance is much better overall. Before setting up a counseling session to ship or store a POV, check to see if your POV is on the list of recalled vehicles at https:// vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/ . If the vehicle is listed as having an active safety or operational recall notice, immediately contact your servicing Vehicle Processing Center (VPC) to determine if your vehicle will or will not be accepted for shipment or storage. If VPC will not accept for shipment or storage, immediately take your vehicle to a certified mechanic or vehicle dealership (authorized by the manufacturer) for the required repairs. Proof of repair from a certified mechanic or dealership (authorized manufacturer) will be required by VPC before shipping or storing your vehicle. Some destinations do have restrictions on POVs or certain POV features. Consult your “It’s Your Move” shipping responsibilities brochure for more information or visit the POV shipping contractor, International Auto Logistics (IAL), website at www.pcsmypov.com. If your POV is not delivered on the required delivery date, talk to a PPSO counselor or visit IALs website for POV tracking, claims information and claims processing on missed required delivery date of POV shipments.

Creating Your Move Application Contact your local personal property staff or “self-counsel” within DPS. If you plan to move soon and have your official Permanent Change of Station orders, don’t wait! Get started now. DPS online is available 24/7 for you to initiate your moving application. Just go to the DPS website at http://www.move.mil/index.cfm . A username and password is required for self-counseling access. DPS has been extremely innovative in that it allows the member to manage their move from origin pickup to destination delivery.

Additional features of DPS include online claims functionality, frequently asked questions, and the Customer Satisfaction Surveys. Of course, traditional appointments can be coordinated with your local PPSO. Make your move, a stress free move this summer. Additional resources can be found at the official Navy’s Household Goods & Personal Property website at http://navsup.navy.mil/household or www.move.mil .

Contact your local PPSO at email: ppso-sigonella@ eu.navy.mil, phone DSN: 624-9440 or commercial (095) 86-9440 for additional information.

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"ELECTRA" continued from Page 6 BCE. Euripides presented it as the final part of a tetralogy of unconnected plays in the competition of tragedies, for which he won second prize; this arrangement was exceptional, as the fourth part was normally a satyr play. Its ambiguous, tragicomic tone—which may be "cheerfully romantic" or "bitterly ironic"—has earned it the label of a "problem play." Alcestis is, possibly excepting the Rhesus, the oldest surviving work by Euripides, although at the time of its first performance he had been producing plays for 17 years.

Alcestis presents the story of the wife of Admetus, who – according to Greek mythology – sacrificed her own life in order to bring her husband back from the dead. The King of Pherae in Thessaly, Admetus, marries Alcestis, the daughter of Pelias, King of Iolcus. On their wedding day, Admetus offends the goddess Artemis, and is, thus, condemned to an early death.

Apollo, indebted to Admetus, intervenes, extracting a promise from the Fates that at the appointed time of death, they will accept a willing substitute in Admetus's place. With no one else willing to sacrifice themselves on Admits' behalf, Alcestis prepares to give up her life for her the man she has just recently married. Luckily, Heracles shows up just in time to wrestle with Death, defeating him and, allowing the Alcestis and Admetus to live happily ever after.

Phaedra by Seneca: June 23 through June 26 Phaedra, is a play by philosopher and dramatist Lucius Annaeus Seneca, which tells the story of Phaedra, wife of King Theseus of Athens, and her consuming lust for her stepson, Hippolytus. Based on Greek Mythology and the tragedy Hippolytus

by Greek playwright Euripides, Seneca's Phaedra is one of several artistic explorations of this tragic story. Seneca portrays the title character as knowing and direct in the pursuit of her stepson, while in other iterations of the myth she is more of a passive victim of fate. This Phaedra takes on the scheming nature and the cynicism often assigned to the Nurse character.

Seneca wrote Phaedra during the Roman Empire before 54 C.E., and the play has influenced drama over the centuries since then, particularly the works of Shakespeare and dramas of 16th and 17th century France.

Phaedra opens with Hippolytus, son of Theseus and stepson of Phaedra, setting off on a hunt. He prefers the woods to the palace, and invokes Diana, goddess of the hunt, to help his luck. After his departure, Phaedra appears, racked with despair. Her wet-nurse inquires what it is that ails her; Phaedra confesses that she is in love with Hippolytus, and recalls her own mother

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Pasiphae’s lust for a bull – a lust that gave birth to the infamous Minotaur, which Theseus himself slew. She claims she is cursed by Venus, who is angry against Apollo, Phaedra’s ancestor, for having exposed Venus’ love for Mars.

The nurse pleads to Phaedra to control her passion and check her emotions, but it is no use. Phaedra speaks of herself as though of a ship caught in a storm and heading for the rocks: try as she may to change course, the waves will inexorably pull her toward her doom. Realizing the hopelessness of the situation, the nurse resolves to try to help her mistress.

Hippolytus, biological son of the Amazonian Antiope (former wife of Theseus) is known to detest all women and forsake the pleasures of civilization. When he returns from the hunt, the nurse attempts to soften his heart, arguing that he should make use of his good fortune and enjoy fine food, wine, and the company of women. Hippolytus roundly rejects the idea, proclaiming that nature is where man is at his most free and innocent and that womankind is the cause of much evil.

At that moment, Phaedra appears, and swiftly collapses in a swoon. Hippolytus wakes her, then asks why she is so ill at ease. Unsure how to proceed at first, Phaedra summons the courage to tell Hippolytus the truth, hoping he may reciprocate her feelings and lend her “success” to cover up her “sins.”

As it turns out, however, Hippolytus flies into a rage, railing against Phaedra and declaring her worse than her “monster-bearing mother.” He draws his sword on her, but when she says she hopes to die, he casts the weapon away and flees into the woods.

Phaedra’s nurse hatches a plan to conceal Phaedra’s guilt by accusing Hippolytus of attempting to rape his stepmother. His abandoned sword will serve as evidence. Shortly thereafter, Theseus returns, freshly escaped from the underworld. He sees Phaedra in distress, seemingly prepared to kill herself, and demands an explanation. Phaedra tells him someone he would least expect tried to rape her; she then points to Hippolytus’ sword. Theseus is aghast, and immediately calls on his father Neptune to kill his son.

A Messenger arrives, bearing news of Hippolytus’ death. As we learn, a monster emerged from the windswept sea and pursued Hippolytus’ horses; caught up in the reins, the young man was dragged and torn limb from limb. Seeing Hippolytus’ mangled corpse, Phaedra confesses the truth to Theseus, then falls on her sword and dies.

Theseus curses himself for his foolhardy decision, then orders Hippolytus’ remains be gathered for a proper burial. “As for her,” he says, turning to Phaedra’s body, “let her be buried deep in earth, and heavy may the soil lie on her unholy head!”

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