Fourth of July Safety Message
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American Red Cross
Blood and Guts
Pet Appreciation Day
Powerhouse Competition
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N A S SIG O N E L L A
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JUNE 30, 2017
Vol. 34 No. 25
Sigonella Student Named DoDEA Europe Athlete of the Year By MC2 Christopher Gordon NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
NAS SIGONELLA, Sicily – Kisiah Chandler, a high school senior at Sigonella High School on Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella, was named Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Europe Female Athlete of the Year for 2017. To be named the Athlete of the Year, Kisiah had to be not only an outstanding athlete, but also participate in a wide range of sports as well as maintain an excellent GPA. “Kisiah has been an integral player and team captain of the three Sigonella championship teams with which she has played this school year,” said Michelle Chandler, Athletic Director and Girls’ Basketball Coach for Sigonella High School. “She is the Student Council and Student Body President all while participating in Model US Senate and maintaining a 4.0 GPA. She will graduate with honors with a cumulative 3.82 GPA for her high school career.” Kisiah led her teams to the Division III championship titles in volleyball, basketball and softball. During the fall season, she earned the Division III volleyball MVP award and was selected to the All Tournament team, 1st Team All Europe and 1st Team All Region for Region IV. “It is my pleasure, on behalf of Dr. Dell McMullen, Director of Student Excellence, to announce the 2017 DoDEA Europe Female Athlete of the year, Kisiah Chandler,” said Karen Seadore, DoDEA Athletics Coordinator. “Over the course of this school year, in all three seasons, Kisiah has been recognized at all levels for her outstanding athletic ability.” During the fall season, Kisiah earned the Division III volleyball MVP award and was selected to the All-Tournament team, 1st Team All
Kisiah Chandler, DODEA Europe Female Athlete of the Year and Sigonella High School, participates in a volleyball match against Naples American High School. (Photo by Ed Lucio)
Europe and 1st Team Region IV. This is the second year in a row Kisiah was named MVP and the second consecutive year as champion.
While earning these titles, Kisiah maintained a 4.0 GPA while taking three AP courses. Kisiah repeated her superb perfor-
Kisiah Chandler (#23), the DODEA Europe Female Athlete of the Year, shoots the ball during a basketball game". (Photo by Ed Lucio)
mance in basketball during the winter season, earning MVP honors, All Tournament, 1st Team All Europe and 1st Team All Region-Region IV recognition. She continued the year with a 4.0 GPA with three AP courses. “Kisiah has been a versatile athlete doing what is best for her team, which this year, resulted in 3 DoDD’s European championships,” said Michelle Chandler. “She is a humble leader who has encouraged her teammates to give their best, which is evident in the team's results this school year.” As the year came to a close, Kisiah was on the softball field playing in multiple positions, earning 1st Team All-Europe recognition and 1st Team All Region for Region IV. An as you may have guessed, Kisiah kept her 4.0 average the entire time. According to the dodea.edu/Europe/athletics the Athletics Program is an integral part of the total learning experience. To allow each student to excel in their unique gifts they created a wide variety of athletic options designed to help each student grow physically, mentally, and socially.
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JUNE 30, 2017
Direct Line
FFSC Director, Regina Fivella Bojourno Sigonella, You’ve received soft copy orders telling you what duty station you’ll be assigned to next and may start feeling anxious, excited, and overwhelmed. You’re either thinking, “I’ve got plenty of time, I’ll start preparing later ” or “I need to get the kids registered into their new school, find out what the pet requirements are, prepare to move out of housing, and so much more.” The good news is there are many tools available to assist in ensuring your move is a smooth one no matter where you and your family are headed. Arrivederci (Smooth Move) is a MANDATORY class offered twice a month to all service members and DoD Civilians who will be PCS’ing to their next duty station or transitioning out of the military. To ensure you have ample time to process all required actions, it is highly recommended to attend between six to four months out. In this class, you will receive all nec-
essary information from PSD, MVRO, Personal Property, Housing, Legal and more to help you successfully process out of NAS Sigonella. Be sure to register months in advance as there is limited space and seats fill up fast. Orders are not required to register and attend. Moving to a new community can be a stressful event for the entire family. ‘Plan My Move’ is the next generation of DoD's Military Homefront tools to provide an integrated "e-moving" solution. In the Arrivederci class, you will receive step by step instructions on how to use the ‘Plan My Move’ tool at http://planmymove.militaryonesource.mil on the Military One Source website, which will generate a customized calendar of steps specific to your PCS date and location, as well as put you in direct contact with those who can help every step of the way. Special features of Plan My Move include: -- A planning calendar with useful
information that can be customized to meet the unique needs of each move. -- Decision tools, such as best communities to live in, best schools, and affordable housing, based on data from military and civilian comparative community studies. -- "Smooth move" tips. -- Special calendars for moving to or from an overseas location -- Information about moving with a special-needs family member. In addition, families will be able to access 55 directories of programs and services on installations worldwide, from the barber shop to DoD schools to the family center; maps and driving directions to most locations on the installation; overviews, photo galleries and must-know information for each installation included in the database; current local weather conditions; and extensive local community point-ofinterest information. Lastly, be sure to take advantage of
the Fleet and Family Support Center’s Loan Locker. Our Self Service Loan Locker contains basic dishes and kitchen essentials for single and married Active Duty Military, DoD Civilian, Reservist, and Contractor personnel for up to 30 days after pack out. All that’s required is a copy of your orders. Change is always challenging, but the FFSC is here to help make it easier.
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 Suggestion 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 “Marinai Drinking Water”:
I am having a personal issue with my tap water in Marinai Housing, I was advised to seek information from Occupational Health/Preventive Medicine. I told them my issue and how other residents of Marinai have mentioned experiencing the same things. The questions I had concern about include the following: ”What is the water treated with and how often it is tested?” I understand I cannot speak on behalf of other residents but I was more or less told I wasn’t the right person to be asking such questions and was provided with no help in this situation. As a resident of Marinai, this information should be publicly posted on a routine basis for our reference, please advise. I will continue to reach out to any sources or contacts I can find who may be able to assist with me with the answers to my questions.
Response:
Thank you for your comment. You are absolutely right to ask questions about your water quality when you move in to a new community, and I'm sorry that you were discouraged from doing so. The safety and wellness of our Navy families is of the utmost priority to all of us here at NAS Sigonella. NAS Sigonella has a dedicated Drinking Water Program Manager who ensures that all of the drinking water produced and distributed at our facilities, including at Marinai, meet the established water quality standards for overseas drinking water. These
water quality requirements either match or exceed the U.S. drinking water standards in protection of the community. The drinking water at Marinai is sampled multiple times a day for operational parameters like chlorine residual and pH by the Pizzarotti water plant staff. The water is tested monthly to ensure it is meeting the full complement of drinking water requirements by a professional laboratory hired by Pizzarotti. In addition, the Drinking Water Program Manager conducts compliance testing on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis as prescribed by the regulatory requirements. Any exceedance of the water quality standards would be quickly communicated to the community through the Signature and through Urgent All Hands emails. The drinking water at Marinai is in full compliance with our water quality standards. In addition, in any community you move to--in any U.S. city or on any military base overseas--you can request to see a copy of your community's Consumer Confidence Report. Most are available online now, but any community should provide the latest version on request. These are completed annually for the previous calendar year and are required to be published by July 1st. As a matter of fact, our four Consumer Confidence Reports will be published online any day now. These reports describe how the water is treated and provide the sampling results. The link to view this year's report and previous reports
"ICE" continued on Page 3
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THE SIGNATURE U.S. NAVAL AIR STATION SIGONELLA
Name: MA2 Hope Owens Department: Security Hometown: Baltimore, Md. Master at Arms (MA) is one of the most easily recognizable rates on base. With a badge on the uniform and a gun on the hip, it’s hard to get them confused with anyone else. Master at Arms 2nd Class Hope Owens is a patrolman and focuses on keeping base personnel safe while enforcing all Department of Defense rules and regulations. “My favorite part about being an MA is helping people – that’s what I want to do and it’s something I’ve found a lot of pleasure in doing,” said Owens. “Being the person that people know that they can go to and trust that they’re going to get help feels great.” On top of all of her usual work, Owens likes to help out at local orphanages and also volunteers her time as a Field Training Officer, signing off qualifications and helping new Sailors learn their job. “Helping people is really important,” said Owens. “Not only those on the outside but the inside of your job as well. When you help them get to where they want to be it’ll also help you.” After work and volunteering,
Owens likes to get everything off her mind by running, doing schoolwork toward earning her Associates, and being with her friends. She’s been at NASSIG for almost three years and has made lifelong friendships with people from all walks of life. “I may be away from my family in the States but I have a whole new family over here,” said Owens. “We work, hang out together and we’re there for each other. All of that is extremely important to me and I think it plays a big part in being
"ICE" continued from Page 2 going back several years follows: https://www.cnic.navy.mil/ regions/cnreurafswa/installations/nas_sigonella/om/environmental_support.html If you have any further questions about water quality here at NAS Sigonella or any other environmental issue, you can contact Ms. Kristen Bass, the Installation's Environmental Program Director, at Kristen.bass@eu.navy.mil. DSN 6242725, Commercial: 095-86-2725.
Comment regarding “Bravo Zulo for Housing/ ITT Employee”:
Today I would like to highly commend Monica Drago from Housing and ITT tour guides. I have been here two years and on multiple occasions Mrs. Drago has gone above and beyond
successful.” Owens also likes to squeeze in travel to her busy schedule, and has fallen in love with living in Europe since she arrived in Sicily. “Travelling is amazing here,” said Owens. “I love Sicily; it’s like my home now! I tell my mom I’m not going back to the States. I’m moving to London or Germany because I just love Europe in general. It’s a great place to be and I’m very lucky to have had the experiences I’ve had here.”
Commanding Officer Capt. Brent Trickel Executive Officer Cmdr. Charles G. McKinney II Command Master Chief CMDCM Mike Kaszubowski EDITORIAL Public Affairs Officer Lt. Andriana Genualdi andriana.genualdi@eu.navy.mil Community Relations Officer Dott. Alberto Lunetta alberto.lunetta.it@eu.navy.mil Editor MCC Jessica Vargas Jessica.Vargas@eu.navy.mil PAO Staff Writer \ Photographer MC2 Christopher Gordon Christopher.Gordon@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
her jobs in helpful skills and professionalism with a wonderful attitude. Her tours are informative, interesting, and well prepared. She has a reputation on base as the one people want to have as their tour guide or work with in housing. I sincerely thank her for helping the transition to Sigonella flow that much easier for many families. She is a fantastic asset to our base. Recognizing good people that do excellent work will hopefully encourage others. Thank you! Sincerely, Heather Wilson
Response:
Dear Heather, Thank you for your kind words regarding Housing and ITT associate Monica Drago. She works hard and strives to ensure that every Sig’ Citizen receives only the best customer service. Again, thank you for your comment I will be sure to pass your praise along to Monica Drago.
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 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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NAS Sigonella Teens Regional Winners in National Art Competition By Jennifer Hodges Youth Programs Director
The Naval Air Station Sigonella Child and Youth Programs hosted its local chapter of the Boys and Girls Club of America (BGCA) Fine Arts, Digital Arts, Imagemakers Photography competition earlier this year. Competitions such as this are intended to recognize the artistic talents of local youth and teens. It also
helps them to develop their creativity and cultural awareness through knowledge and appreciation of visual arts, crafts, performing arts and creative writing. Participants entered original works in 10 different categories including monochromatic, pastels, acrylic, watercolors, sculptures, collages, mixed media, multi-colored drawings, print making, photography and group projects. The com-
petition is divided into four different age groups including: 6-9 years, 10-12 years, 13-15 years, and 16-18 years and all participants were limited to one original entry per category. Once local judging was complete, one winner per age group per category was selected to go forward and compete at the Regional Competition, hosted by Aviano Air Force Base, Italy. At the Regional Level, youth and teens competed with other participants from around Europe and representing all branches of the Armed Forces. During this phase of the competition, two NAS Sigonella Teens, David Clark and Alexa Patmor, received top honors and were selected as Regional Fine Arts/ Alexa Patmor
David Clark
Digital Arts Winners. David Clark had two photographs selected, titled "Me" and "Blossom", while Alexa Patmor had her pastel original, titled "Roses", selected. Both teen's artwork moved forward to the BGCA National Competition that was recently held in Dallas, Texas during the National BGCA Conference. There a panel of distinguished judges select works for inclusion in the National Fine Arts Exhibit, which is displayed the ensuing year at BGCA events, including the annual National Conference. Results of the National competition are expected at the beginning of July.
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2017 FOURTH OF JULY SAFETY MESSAGE
1. July 4, 1776, was an historic day when our patriotic forefathers committed their individual colonies to take up arms and win their freedom from a colonial power. They came together as representatives of individual colonies, but left as proud citizens of a new nation unique upon this earth, dedicated to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. 2. The Navy, Marine Corps, and Army, established by continental congress, then and now continue to defend our freedom at home, and across the globe, even here at NAS Sigonella. Take pride in the legacy you have inherited and cherish the freedom and democracy which keeps us one nation, under god, indivisible, with libery and justice for all! 3. As Americans everywhere celebrate the Fourth of July holiday with backyard barbecues and fireworks evoking the red glare of rockets and bombs launched during the battles winning our freedom, I ask you to remember our commitment to the nation. Enjoy the holiday with your family and friends, but do so in a safe and responsible manner. Whether at home, at the beach, at the park, or on the road, incorporate the concepts of operational risk management in all you do to insure your safety and that of your family and shipmates. Have fun, be safe, look out for one another!
B.A.Trickel
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Italian airport relaxes flight liquids ban for pesto Story by The Independent
Italian airport relaxes flight liquids ban for pesto Just when you thought the days of merrily stuffing your cabin bag with wine and oil from your holiday were well and truly over, one Italian airport has relaxed its strict liquids regulations – for customers buying local pesto. Under Genoa airport’s new scheme, “Il Pesto è Buono” (pesto is good), the 100ml limit on liquids has been relaxed for passengers carrying pesto in their carry-ons – as long as they make a donation to local children’s charity, Flying Angels. The suggested donation is at least 50 cents (44p) per item, paid at either the airport ticket office or the place of purchase. Passengers can then take either one-pesto pot of up to 500g or two of 250g on board. To avoid any cheating, passengers are given ‘Il Pesto è Buono” stickers to put on their purchases. Only pesto pots with the stickers are allowed through security. The pesto is then checked with the same anti-explosive equipment as is used to check medicines and breast milk. The scheme launched on 1 June and in the first three weeks, more than 500 pots have been taken through security, raising over €500, according to the airport. "We consider it an amazing result", airport press officer Nur El Gawohary told The Independent. Genoa is of course the birthplace of pesto – the combination of basil, pine nuts, garlic, cheese and oil is called “Pesto Genovese” in Italian. The airport is at pains, on its website, to specify that the new scheme only applies to pesto genovese. Passengers who’ve been repeatedly caught out by the rules on liquids will surely welcome the scheme. “Every year we were confiscating hundreds of pesto jars at security control, and throwing them away," El Gawohary says. "It was a waste of food and an annoyance for our passengers. So we started to think about how we could allow people travelling with hand baggage only to take pesto with them." The airport worked with ENAC, Italy’s civil aviation authority, El Gawohary told The Independent, to find a solution which “guarantees safety and promotes our excellent local cuisine.” They chose pesto for two reasons: “Firstly because jars of pesto were among the most commonly confiscated objects at airport security, and also because pesto is the most famous food product of Genoa - it’s one of the symbols of the city, every Genoese family has their own recipe, and it’s one of the most famous sauces in the world. “To allow tourists to take it home in their hand luggage, as well as allowing Ligurians to bring it to friends and family when they visit them, is a way of serving our clients, helping Flying Angels, and promoting our Ligurian cuisine. “It’s true that you can buy pesto in the airport, but for the Genoese, traditional pesto – made at home or by your favorite company, has a special value. Every family has their own recipe, and to be able to take pesto made by your mother or grandmother, as a gift is really something that we felt important. “The first people to thank us were Genoese kids studying abroad – lots of them in the UK. They always travel without checking a bag, so to be able to take their mamma’s pasta home to London and get their friends to taste it has been something they really appreciate.” Local pesto producers are also delighted by the move. Davide Faravelli of Baico Pesto Lab in the Cinque Terre region of Liguria, told The Independent, “I think it’s a great opportunity for everyone – for us producers, who’ll be able to sell our products more easily, and for our clients, who are finally able to take home a piece of our culinary tradition." Faravelli started his company three years ago, but noticed that, with luggage weights vigorously enforced; tourists were reluctant to buy pesto. "Right from the start I came up against this difficulty with products that are considered 'liquid'," he says. "Luckily this wonderful news has arrived, without us putting any kind of pressure on the airport." Favarelli – who also sells wine and oil in Vernazza – hopes the scheme might go further. “I think it’d be great to do the same for other products, as long as it’d be scrupulously controlled,” he said. There are no plans to do so, said El Gawohary: “Guaranteeing security is our first objective.” However, he was
at pains to point out that the airport duty free stocks many local products. Flying Angels is a non-profit organization born in Genoa whose global mission is paying air transfer to all children who are seri-
ously ill and in need of lifesaving treatments that are not available in their home countries. Flying Angels offers support to families, doctors, agencies, hospitals, associations, foun-
"PESTO" continued on Page 14
Genoa airport is waiving the strict liquid rules as long as it's local pesto. Passengers who want to take pesto through security will be asked to donate to a Genoa-based charity that arranges free air transportation for seriously ill children who need urgent and life-threatening medical support. Pesto, a mouthwatering world-renowned sauce made with olive oil, basil, parmigiano and pecorino romano cheeses and pine nuts, is considered a local specialty of Genoa. (Photo by Genoa Airport Press Office)
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Fleet Activities Yokosuka Honors Uss Fitzgerald By Jim O'Donnell, Fleet Activities Yokosuka Public Affairs
YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- The Fleet Activities (FLEACT) Yokosuka community showed their respect to
the families and crew of USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) during a memorial ceremony June 27 for the seven Sailors who died tragically June 17 when their ship collided with a merchant vessel southwest of Yokosuka.
More than 2,000 members of the Yokosuka community lined the streets waving flags and rendering salutes for the crew and their family members as they traveled the onemile route in a "Line of Honor" be-
Sailors assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) fold American flags during a memorial ceremony at Fleet Activities Yokosuka for their seven shipmates who were killed in a collision at sea. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Peter Burghart (Released)
tween FLEACT Yokosuka's Chapel of Hope and the Fleet Theater where the private memorial service was held. "I wanted to show my support to military families in this time of need," said Karen Sobba, joined the Line of Honor. Sobba, whose husband is on USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), said coming out was a way to show her encouragement to the families. "This hits close to home, it could happen to any one of us," added Sobba. Showing respect to the crew and families was a common theme along the line. "I wanted to show my support to the families who lost loved ones," said Robert James, a civilian employee at Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Far East. James' children accompanied him on the line as he said he wanted them to see the importance of honoring the Sailors and their sacrifice. The seven USS Fitzgerald Sailors perished when the Arleigh Burkeclass guided-missile destroyer collided with the ACX Crystal in the early morning hours of June 17, causing extensive damage to the ship, flooding compartments where the Sailors slept. The 650-seat Fleet Theater was filled to capacity for the somber ceremony honoring the seven Sailors:
"YOKOSUKA" continued on Page 15
Final Countdown to 2017 DOD Warrior Games From Commander, Navy Installations Command Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- After two years of planning and preparation, the 2017 Department of Defense (DoD) Warrior Games will kick off in Chicago, Friday, June 30 and run through Saturday, July 8. Nearly 265 seriously wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans representing the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force and Special Operations Command, and international teams from the United Kingdom and Australia will compete. The Navy is proud to host the Warrior Games for the first time off of a military installation or U.S. Olympic training center. The 2017 Warrior Games will be held in world-class venues in downtown Chicago, including McCormick Place, Soldier Field and the United Center. Team Navy is comprised of 36 Sailors and four Coast Guardsmen and will be pitted against oth-
er military teams to compete for gold, silver and bronze medals in archery, cycling, field, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and wheelchair basketball. Opening Ceremonies will be held Saturday, July 1, at Soldier Field with Jon Stewart as emcee and entertainment by Grammy award-winning artists Blake Shelton and Kelly Clarkson. The Navy honors the sacrifices of wounded warriors from the Navy and Coast Guard by providing top-notch non-medical support through the Navy Wounded Warrior (NWW) - Safe Harbor. All enrollees in NWW are encouraged to make athletics a key component of their recovery efforts. By promoting wounded warrior participation in competitions like the DoD Warrior Games, NWW helps enrollees heal through adaptive sports. For more information about this year's Games, visit www.dodwarriorgames.com For more information about the Navy's warrior care program, visit www.navywoundedwarrior. com/
WASHINGTON The official logo of the Department of Defense Warrior Games 2017. Nearly 265 seriously wounded, ill and injured service members and veterans representing the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force and Special Operations Command, and international teams from the United Kingdom and Australia will compete in the paralympic-style multi-sport event, June 30-July 8, in Chicago. (Dept. of Defense graphic/Released)
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Congratul NAS Sigonell
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lations to la Awardees
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NAS SIGONELLA COMMUNITY PAGE All Hands News Bulletin: Water Quality Reports for 2016 Now Available The annual water quality reports, also known as the Consumer Confidence Reports, for the 2016 calendar year are now available on the Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella CNIC webpage, located here: http://cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnreurafswa/installations/nas_sigonella/om/environmental_support.html. NAS Sigonella is proud to support the Navy’s commitment to provide high quality and reliable drinking water to our service members and their families. These annual reports include general and mandatory information to educate everyone about our water sources, treatment processes, standard requirements, and other details to assure you that our water is fit for human consumption. A
Sigonella Religious Ministries Department Worship Services
separate report is available for each water system: NAS I, NAS II, Marinai, and Niscemi. The reports are available in both English and Italian at the link above. The Consumer Confidence Reports will not be mailed to customers. For more information or if you would like a copy, please contact the NAS Sigonella Drinking Water Program Manager, Rachel Methvin, at 095-86-7220 or by E-mail at rachel.methvin@eu.navy.mil. Per la versione italiana di questo annuncio si prega di consultare il seguente link: http://cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnreurafswa/installations/nas_sigonella/om/environmental_support.html
Weekly Traffic Report: June 19 - June 26, 2017
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
NAS 1
Mondays AA Meeting: . . . . . 1800-1900 Tuesdays Protestant Women of the Chapel: . . . . . . . . . . 0900-1100 Daily Mass: . . . . . . . 1130-1230 AWANA: . . . . . . . . . 1645-1900 Youth for Christ (YFC) Youth Meeting: . . . . . . . . . 1200-1430 Wednesdays Protestant Men of the Chapel: . 0600-0700 Daily Mass: . . . . . . . 1130-1230 Catholic Ladies' Guild (3rd Wednesday): . 1600-1800 Thursdays Daily Mass: . . . . . . . 1130-1230 Youth for Christ (YFC) Youth Meeting: . . . 1200-1530 Choir Practice: . . . . 1630-1800 The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA): . . . . . . . . . . 1800-2030 Fridays Daily Mass: . . . . . . . 1130-1230 First Friday Mass and Holy Hour: . . . . . . . . . . . . 1700-1830
Saturdays First Saturday Rosary and Mass: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1100-1200 Sundays Catholic Mass: . . . . 0900-1000 Catholic Religious Education (DoDDS): . . . . . . . . 1045-1200 Protestant Service: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1100-1200 Latter-Day Saints Service: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1330-1600
NAS 2
Wednesdays Knights of Columbus (1st Wednesdays): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1700-1800 Protestant Women of the Chapel (PWOC): . . 1800-2100 Thursdays AA Meeting: . . . . . . 1800-1900 Sundays Protestant Service and Fellowship: . . . 1800-2000
Ristorante Bella Etna
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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American Red Cross Sigonella’s Annual Pet Appreciation Day 2017
Marine Sergeant Christian Loza educates participants on how to keep pets safe and healthy during the summer months during Pet Appreciation Day at Marinai Housing. (Photo by Madison Kim) By Madison Kim, American Red Cross Media Relations Volunteer
Every year the American Red Cross Sigonella Chapter hosts an Annual Pet Appreciation Day Event in collaboration with the Sigonella Veterinary Treatment Facility. The purpose of the event is to have fun while educating owners on how to keep their pets safe and healthy. More than 40 participants attended this year’s Pet Appreciation Day. There were various pet contests such as the cutest, the most talented, and who sits the longest. The local youth acted as judges and scored participants on a scale of one-to-ten scale. Each winner received pet accessories such as groom-ing sets and special portable bottles. After the contests, Marine Sergeant Christian Loza from the Sigonella VTF educated the community on how to keep pets safe during the hot weather in Sicily. While it is always important to take pets on annual check-ups, during the summer months pets tend to spend more time outside and come in contact with species other than animals and humans. Thus it is im-
portant to implement a flea and tick protection plan and ensure vaccinations are up to date. Most importantly, measures should be taken to prevent Canine Leishmaniosis, which is nonexistent in the United States but is very common in Europe. The disease is commonly found in street dogs and once transmitted, it is not completely curable. Infected pets are unable to receive a health certificate which is needed to PCS and travel. There are currently no vaccines or drugs to cure the disease. The best way to prevent infection is to protect pets from sand fly bites. Owners can do this by using active ingredients such as Deltamethrin, Flu-methrin, and Permethrin (i.e. Scalibor, Surest and K9 Advantix not Frontline). For more information on country requirements for PCSing, evacuation plans, and other concerns on pet safety, please contact Sigonella VTF at 624-4258. And as always, ARC Sigonella would like to extend the sincerest thanks and appreciation for the time you take to not only participate in our organization and events, but also to volunteer and partner with us to support its mission.
JUNE 30, 2017
JUNE 30, 2017
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GAMEZONE
Capital Cities of Europe
ROME (Italy) SAN MARINO (San Marino) SARAJEVO (Bosnia-Herzegovina) SKOPJE (Macedonia) SOFIA (Bulgaria) STOCKHOLM (Sweden) TALLINN (Estonia) TBILISI (Georgia) TIRANE (Albania) VADUZ (Liechtenstein) VALLETTA (Malta) VATICAN CITY (Vatican City) VIENNA (Austria) VILNIUS (Lithuania) WARSAW (Poland) YEREVAN (Armenia) ZAGREB (Croatia)
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EDINBURGH (Scotland) HELSINKI (Finland) KIEV (Ukraine) LISBON (Portugal) LJUBLJANA (Slovenia) LONDON (England) LUXEMBOURG (Luxembourg) MADRID (Spain) MINSK (Belarus) MONACO (Monaco) MOSCOW (Russian Federation) NICOSIA (Cyprus) OSLO (Norway) PARIS (France) PRAGUE (Czech Republic) REYKJAVIK (Iceland) RIGA (Latvia)
EASY
AMSTERDAM (Netherlands) ANDORRA LA VELLA (Andorra) ANKARA (Turkey) ATHENS (Greece) BAKU (Azerbaijan) BELFAST (Northern Ireland) BELGRADE (Serbia/Montenegro) BERLIN (Germany) BERN (Switzerland) BRATISLAVA (Slovakia) BRUSSELS (Belgium) BUCHAREST (Romania) BUDAPEST (Hungary) CARDIFF (Wales) CHISINAU (Moldova) COPENHAGEN (Denmark) DUBLIN (Ireland)
DIFFICULT
Find and circle all of the European capital cities that are hidden in the grid. The remaining letters spell a secret message.
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"PESTO" cont'd from Pg. 6 dations, non-profit organization and worldwide NGOs working in the field of childhood, by purchasing and donating tickets that allow children to be treated in health facilities that can save their lives. For more information on this initiative, visit http://www.airport.genova.it/en/pesto/
Summer sales season begins in Sicily Story by Alberto Lunetta The sales or saldi season is finally here! Due the economic crisis, many Italian shoppers are ready to strike good bargains! The “sconti di fine stagione” (end-of- the-season sales), one of the two official discount seasons, will begin this Saturday (July 1) in Sicily, as well in the rest of the country, and lasts until September 15. Some shops will continue offering discounts until the end of September. During the first days, Italian shoppers flock to stores for good deals. So expect long lines. While you’re in search of big bargains, make sure you keep in mind some tips suggested by all the Italian Consumer Associations and tax police (Guardia di Finanza) to avoid rip-offs and especially disputes with merchants that would be difficult to handle if you don’t speak Italian. Consumer Associations officials also warn that some unfair retailers might try to sell shopworn or damaged items as “promotional sales” just to reduce the quantity of merchandise in stock. The first rule of thumb is to check prices before the discount season begins to be able to make price comparison. Besides that, according to Italian law, retailers must lower the prices of goods sold during the current season not the one of the new collections. Here are some tips to survive the sales season: 1) First of all, do not trust discounts higher than 50 per cent from the initial price. A “sensational” 80 or 90 per cent discount might sound like a tempting offer but it is probably a rip-off. 2) Remember that, during the discount season, defective merchandise could definitely be exchanged or returned as usual. There is no “special return policy” when you shop at sales. Therefore, always keep your “scontrino” or receipt and distrust the shops that display signs saying: “la merce venduta non si cambia,” (purchased merchandise cannot be exchanged) or “all sales are final.” You have the right to change any defective fabric or shoe that is not up to sample within two months. Retailers can either refund you or give you a coupon that should be spent in the same shop. 3) Be sure to look an item over carefully before you buy it. Check different shops to compare prices. If you have already visited a store you might be able to evaluate if a product was over-priced and then marked down. As a general rule, if you just arrived in Sicily and you have not been around a lot, be oriented toward buying at big department stores, luxury outlets or malls (there are plenty of them in the Catania province!), where sales are usually fair. 4) Stores must display on the tags
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the initial “prezzo” (price) and the reduced price, both in ciphers and in percentage. 5) Finally, remember that you can use any way of payment. Mistrust shop owners displaying signs saying “non si accettano carte di credito e bancomat” (credit cards and ATM cards are not accepted) because of the sales season. That’s illegal. If you don’t see any signs around, and the sales clerk tells you about it upon paying, tell them you know they are supposed to accept your credit card or ATM card.
State of emergency declared as Italy gripped by drought Story by The Italian Insider ROME- Last week, the Italian government has declared a state of emergency in the northern provinces of Piacenza and Parma, in the EmiliaRomagna region, due to a drought that threatens the supply of drinking water available to the population. The capital also faces its worst drought in recent years, with Mayor Virginia Raggi issuing a decree to regulate water use in an attempt to limit waste. As a result of the crisis in Emilia-Romagna, the government has issued 8.65 million euros in order to help secure a steady supply of water to those at breaking point. The whole country has been affected by the drought, with Sardinia requesting to be placed in an official state of natural disaster and the region of Piedmont also facing grave danger due to a 65 percent decrease in rainfall compared to average levels recorded in recent years. Consequently, extreme measures are being enforced in order to limit the amount of water wasted across the country. The Mayor of Bassano del Grappa, in the droughtstricken region of Vicenza, has signed a decree banning the use of drinking water on gardens, filling up private swimming pools, or cleaning outside spaces. The drought has been caused due to an aggravated water shortage, brought on by unusually low rainfall since autumn of last year, meteorologists say. This factor, coupled with the waves of tourists that sweep the nation during the summer months, has put a strain on the water supply, which then has a damaging effect on agricultural production. Rome is not exempt from the crisis, with Virginia Raggi following in the footsteps of other mayors by issuing an order instructing residents to limit water waste. “The amount of rainfall, or rather the average in six months is 300 millimeters and with 50 rainy days,” explains Franca Mangiati, the director at the Roman College Observatory. “Practically, in 2017, a third of the rain has fallen that normally falls in Rome. A case of this kind, with six consecutive months of a scarcity of rain, is not remembered in Rome,” he added. The consequence of this drought may have a dire effect on the nation, with agricultural production to be hit the hardest. “We must save best the agricultural sectors of the regions hit by this drought this week,” said Maurizio Martina, Minister for Agricultural and Forestry Affairs. “It’s about a few areas that are most important for production levels of our agriculture. As a ministry, we a monitoring the situation closely in direct communication with the Environment Ministry,” he added.
"YOKOSUKA" continued from Page 7 Gunner's Mate Seaman Dakota Kyle Rigsby, 19, from Palmyra, Virginia; Yeoman 3rd Class Shingo Alexander Douglass, 25, from San Diego, California; Sonar Technician 3rd Class Ngoc T Truong Huynh, 25, from Oakville, Connecticut; Gunner's Mate 2nd Class Noe Hernandez, 26, from Weslaco, Texas; Fire Controlman 2nd Class Carlos Victor Ganzon Sibayan, 23, from Chula Vista, California; Personnel Specialist 1st Class Xavier Alec Martin, 24, from Halethorpe, Maryland; Fire Controlman 1st Class Gary Leo Rehm Jr., 37, from Elyria, Ohio.
JUNE 30, 2017 Admiral Scott Swift, Commander U.S. Pacific Fleet was aboard USS Fitzgerald surveying the damage and commented on the ship's crew and their actions to save their ship. "It's stunning, absolutely stunning, while we mourn the loss of the seven Sailors, that more were not lost, and it was the heroism of the entire crew that ensured that was the case," said Swift. "There was no understanding of what had happened at the moment of impact," said Swift, reflecting on the actions of the crew following the collision. "But there was complete understanding of what needed to be done. We fight the ship to save ourselves. Every time we go to sea, the ship is our sanctuary and all Sailors have to come together as a crew and fight their ship, and that is exactly what Fitzgerald did."
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Marines, Sailors Participate in "Blood and Guts" Powerhouse Competition By Lance Corporal Benjamin D. Guess
Marines and Sailors at Naval Air Station Sigonella recently participated in a “Blood and Guts” Powerhouse competition of endurance and strength. “Blood and Guts”, sponsored by the Moral, Welfare, and Recreation, tested individuals in three events including: The “Powerhouse” strength event, the “3-2-
1” endurance event, and the “All In” strength and endurance event. Marine 1st Lt. Van Eerden, the LCE Theater Security Cooperation Coordinator for SPMAGTFCR-AF 17.1, assisted with organizing and planning the event. “This is all about providing an outlet for Marines and Sailors who enjoy weight lifting,” said
Blood and Guts Powerhouse competitors (From Left to Right) 1st Lt. Ziaire O'Brien, Lance Cpl. Ricardo Durand, Hospitalman Jacob Stansburry, 1st Lt. James Van Eerden and Lance Cpl. Benjamin Guess pose for a group photo. (Photo by Marine Sgt. Samuel Guerra)
Erden. “It’s a friendly competition where Marines and Sailors compete together, push each oth-
er, and build unit cohesion.” The powerhouse competition consisted of the three main power
lifts: Squat, Bench, and Deadlift, in that order. The points determining the placing are calculated by utilizing the “Wilks Calculator,” which factors in bodyweight and total pounds lifted for each of the three main lifts. The results of the competition were as follows: Lt. Christopher Hill (USN) weighed in at 211lbs, squatted 340lbs, bench press NO REP, and deadlifted 315lbs, putting him at a total of 655lbs and 184.2 points on the Wilks Calculator. HM3 Jacob Stansbury weighed in at 204lbs, squatted 325lbs, bench pressed 285lbs, and deadlifted 425lbs, giving him a total of 1035lbs and 295.62 points. In fifth place , Marine 1st Lt. Ziaire O’Brien weighed in at 187lbs, squatted 330lbs, bench pressed 235lbs, and deadlifted 455lbs, totaling 1020lbs and 304.94 points. In 4th place, Marine Lance Cpl. Benjamin Guess weighed in at 207lbs, squatted 365lbs, bench pressed 275lbs, and deadlifted 500lbs, giving him a total of 1140lbs and 323.39 points. In 3rd place, Lance Cpl. Hernandez (USMC) weighing in at 159lbs, squatting 365lbs, bench pressing 260lbs, and deadlifting 385lbs, giving him a total of 1010lbs and 335.72 points. Taking the runner up position was 1stLt Van Eerden, weighing in at 165lbs and squatting 365lbs, bench pressing 300lbs, and deadlifting 405lbs, giving him a total of 1070lbs and 346.34 points. The winner of the event was Lance Cpl. Ricardo Durand, weighing in at 178lbs and squatting 385lbs, bench pressing 255lbs, and deadlifting an astounding 565lbs giving him a total of 1205lbs and 370.02 points on the Wilks Calculator. All of the events are open to anyone with a military ID. All that is required is to contact Brandon Muna, the Fitness Director at Brandon.Muna@eu.navy.mil and schedule an appointment to complete one of the fitness challenges. The top five finishers in each event will have their pictures placed on the wall at the NAS l and NAS ll gyms. Until someone breaks one of the top five positions, the current leaders will remain on the wall.
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