N E W S L E T T E R FROM THE EDITOR ISSUE 1/DECEMBER 2012 1 | Page The Repository For Town Planners and Urban Managers To accommodate the need for efficient dissemination of town planning guidelines and other research materials, the Research and Development Division (R&D), Federal Department of Town and Country Planning (FDTCP) Peninsular Malaysia has taken the initiative to develop its special website, Malaysian Town Planning Research Network, which is known as MyTownNet. This website aims to ensure that users, comprising town planners and other professionals, government agency and local authority officers, academicians, students and the public have easy access online to almost all research materials produced by the R&D Division. The ultimate aim of this website is to be the repository for all town planning research materials produced in Malaysia. MyTownNet has fourteen (14) columns, namely Planning Guidelines, Planning Research Studies, Conference Proceedings, Malaysian Townplan Journal, Selected Planning Articles, Coffee Table Books, Planning Thesis, Book Review, Newsletter, Planning General Info, Research Forum, Research Directory, Research Collaboration and Research Events. All documents contained in this website can be browsed through by users at anytime, anywhere, and it is also free for downloading and printing. Other than being the repository (storage) for research materials, this website also functions as the hub for research sharing and collaboration (through the research forum column that is directly connected to Facebook); reference centre for planning general information and events; and data centre to record the latest status of preparation and approval of planning guidelines. MyTownNet has been recognized both locally and internationally, and will continue to create value and to enrich knowledge of urban planning and development not only among urban planners and managers, but also to the public. MESSAGE … FROM THE DIRECTOR OF R&D Salam and Greetings everyone. Welcome to the third issue of the R&D Division‟s Newsletter. This Newsletter is aimed to disseminate and share information on research works and activities carried out by the R&D Division of the Federal Department of Town and Country Planning, Peninsular Malaysia. It is hoped that this Newsletter can foster better research collaboration and networking amongst planners and other professionals in related to planning and development fields. Happy reading! Dr. Alias Rameli Greetings from R&D and welcome to `The Orange‟, R&D‟s third Newsletter! This Newsletter is aimed to foster closer collaboration between R&D with other divisions in FDTCP, government agencies and researchers from university, professional bodies and research institutions, through sharing our works, information and programs. Research and development often associated with new approaches and methodologies which are experimented in R&D Division. R&D‟s 'business‟ is reflected in its five clusters, where other than focus on formulating planning guidelines, it also involve in exploring and researching various aspects of landuse planning from the aspects of sustainability and the environment, up to the subjects of compact city, ubiquitous city as well as planning for the elderly. I hope this Newsletter shall become a platform for research sharing and enhance friendships. Happy researching town planning! Hj. Muhammad Ridzuan Arshad Acting Director Research And Development Division, Federal Department of Town and Country Planning Peninsular Malaysia, Unit 50-12-2B And Unit 50-13-1, Wisma UOA Damansara, 50 Jalan Dungun, Damansara Heights, 50490 Kuala Lumpur. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (R&D) DIVISION MyTownNet – R&D‟s Innovation for the World of Town Planning
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Festivals thisweekend
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Attention animallovers
Find out how you can help Sigonella
Animal Welfare Society.
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PUBLICNOTICE
Important informationabout your
drinking water.
Religious festivals inMineo and Noto.
Scan for direct linksto NAS Sigonella
AUGUST 24, 2012VOL. 29 NO. 31 cnic.navy.mil/sigonella
SIGNATURETHE
SIGONELLA, SICILY
NAVCOMTELSTA Sicily holds Change of Command CeremonyBY MCSN CAMERON BRAMHAMNAS Sigonella Public Affairs
U.S. Naval Computer and Telecom-munications Station (NAVCOM-TELSTA) Sicily held a change ofcommand ceremony, August 2, in
the NAS I Gym at Midtown Complex on NavalAir Station(NAS) Sigonella.
At the ceremony, Capt. Bruce J. Black tran-sferred command to Cmdr. Jeffery D. Buss ma-king him NAVCOMTELSTA Sicily's 15thcommanding officer.
On October 1,1987, Naval Communica-tion Station Sicily was established followingname changes and locations changes rangingback to 1958. In October 1991 the commandreceived a name change to reflect the manytechnological advances that had taken placeduring the recent years. Today, NAVCOM-TELSTA Sicily provides tactical and strategicCommand, Control, Communications, Com-puters and Intelligence support to Comman-der U.S. Naval Forces Europe, AfricaCommand, Commander 6th Fleet, Comman-
der Fifth Fleet , Commander SubmarineGroup 7 and 8, Commander Task Force 67along with Defense Information Infrastructuresupport for 36 tenant commands while alsoproviding critical global broadcast support tothe fleet.
“Capt. Black is a class act and we’re veryfortunate to have the opportunity to be here,”Buss said. “Sicily is a prime duty station andthis is a great command to come to so we’revery excited.”
The ceremony began with singing of thenational anthems of Italy and the United Sta-tes. Following a benediction from ChaplainStephen A. Labue, NAS Sigonella Comman-ding Officer, Capt. Scott Butler welcomedguest speaker, Commanding Officer, NavalComputer and Telecommunications Area Ma-ster Station Atlantic (NCTAMS LANT),Capt. Danelle Barrett.
“Bruce [Black], as the sun sets on your tourhere today, we thank you for the leadership and
guidance you’ve provided to support and pro-tect the Navy’s most important resource, ourpeople,” Barrett said. “It’s been a pleasure wor-king with you and I wish you the best of luckat your next duty station, Carrier Strike Group3 out in Washington state.”
After Barrett completed her remarks, sheawarded Black with the Legion of Merit for hisexceptionally meritorious conduct in the per-formance of outstanding services and achieve-ments while stationed at NAVCOMTELSTASicily.
“It’s been an honor to be the commandingofficer of NAVCOMTELSTA Sicily for the last26 months,” Black said during his remarks. “Iwish you all well and as I rig sails to head to my
next port of call, I bid you adieu. Thank you.” Following his remarks, Black read his or-
ders and passed command onto Buss who thenread his orders while taking a moment to in-troduce himself to his new Sailors.
“I look forward to the challenge and I cantell you that I’m very excited to have thisopportunity to be here,” Buss said. “This hasbeen the best turnover and the best commandI’ve ever been in.”
The ceremony ended with a closing bene-diction and departure of the official party andreception.
When asked what he would miss aboutNAVCOMTELSTA Sicily, Black simplyreplied, “the Sailors.”
Commander Naval Computer and Telecommunication Station (NAVCOMTELSTA) Sicily Capt. Bruce J. Black transferred command to Cmdr. Jeffery D. Buss as part of a change of command ceremony in NavalAir Station Sigonella's Gymnasium. NAVCOMTELSTA Sicily provides tactical and strategic Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence support to Commander U.S. Naval ForcesEurope, Africa Command , Commander 6th Fleet, Commander Fifth Fleet , Commander Submarine Group 7 and 8, Commander Task Force 67 along with Defense Information Infrastructure support for36 tenant commands while also providing critical global broadcast support to the fleet. (U.S. Navy Photo by MCSN Cameron Bramham/Released)
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Contrary to popular belief, there most certainly IS an ‘I’ in ‘TEAM’. It is the same ‘I’ that appearsthree times in RESPONSIBILITY.”
CONTACT USNaval Air Station Sigonella, [email protected] 624-5440; 095-86-5440
PSC 812 Box 3020, FPO, AE 09627
PUBLISHERStampa Generale S.r.l.,Sig. Bruno Brandi, Publisher,Naval Support Activity Capodichino (Naples), [email protected]
Tel. 081-568-7884 – Fax 081-568-7887
This civilian enterprise (CE) newspaper is anauthorized publication for members of themilitary services overseas. Contents ofThe Signature are not necessarily the officialviews of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government,the Department of Defense (DoD), or theU.S. Navy. The appearance of advertising in thisnewspaper, including inserts or supplements,does not constitute endorsement by the DoDor Stampa Generale S.r.l., of the products orservices advertised. Everything advertised inthis publication shall be made available forpurchase, use or patronage without regard torace, 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 thisequal opportunity policy by an advertiser willresult in the refusal to print advertising from thatsource until the violation is corrected.The Signature is published weekly by StampaGenerale S.r.l., Sig. Bruno Brandi, Publisher,Naval Support Activity, Capodichino (Naples),Italy - Tel. 081-568-7884, Fax 081-568-7887.E-mail: [email protected].
Editorial submissions are welcomed from allNaval Air Station Sigonella departments,divisions and tenant commands. Editorialsubmissions should be sent to the Public AffairsOffice via [email protected], guard mail stop#68 or hand-delivered to our office no later thanthe close of business on the Friday proceedingthe expected publication date. All articlessubmitted by non-staff members will beconsidered contributing writers.
The Signature will not publish any anonymousarticles. All advertisements in this publication arethe property of Stampa Generale S.r.l. Anyreproduction of advertisements in The Signatureis unauthorized without the written consent ofthe publisher.
cnic.navy.mil/sigonella
IT IS NOT OKAY TO DRINK ANDDRIVE! Drinking and driving is a problemthat endangers the safety of everyone onthe road and throughout our community.I challenge you to get involved and take anactive role in the prevention of anotherincident.
Despite sobriety checkpoints across theinstallation and constant reminders, at least12 men and women have decided againsthaving or executing a plan this year and puttheir lives and those of others at extremerisk. The consequences of these poor deci-sions in today’s military are severe and, li-kely, end careers and limit future successes.
Over 99% of the Sigonella Communityfigured it out so far this year. They got themessage- if you intend to drink, have a planin place to get home safely without gettingbehind the wheel. The challenge is quitesimple - enjoy Sicily, enjoy the benefits youget when you do the right thing, enjoy life!Don't drink and drive!
On a brighter note, it is back-to-schooltime. Monday, 27 August marks the begin-ning of the 2012-2013 school year.
School leadership and teachers are anintegral part of the equation of children’seducation. Additionally parents, students,and community make a huge differencein the education of the youth here atSigonella.
Parents – You are the single mostimportant figure in the lives of yourchildren. Their success, in school and inlife depends on you. To give childrenthe best possible chance to succeed, en-sure they get a full night’s sleep and ahealthy breakfast to start the day. En-courage your students to complete ho-mework and be considerate of others.Show you care by volunteering at theschool.
Students – study hard. Apply your-self. There are a lot of fun things outthere to learn. Listen to your teachers,mentors, and parents. They are here tohelp you get the best educational expe-rience you can. If you find that you arehaving problems with your studies, tellsomeone! Your teachers and counselorsare ready to help. Get involved in themany extracurricular activities or sportsprograms that the school has to offer.School can be fun…keep an open mindand it will be!
Sigonella – Make a difference in theeducation of the young people stationedhere. Become a volunteer! The school hasmany opportunities to get involved rangingfrom the annual community theater to hel-ping out in the classroom. You will be bles-sed. As military members each one of us hasa wealth of knowledge and experience from
around the world that can really make a dif-ference in our children’s lives. Get involvedand make a difference.
Finally, the traffic patterns on NAS Ihave changed for the school year and busesare running again. Stop for school buses,SLOW DOWN and practice good drivinghabits not only on NAS I, but also in Mari-nai Housing and all areas in between.
Welcome back to Sigonella and have agreat school year!
NAS Sigonella Executive Officer, Cmdr. Eric Vosler
DR
IVE
SA
FE
LYD
RIV
E S
AF
ELY
Sexual Assault Prevention HotlinesDoD SAFE Helpline: 001-877-995-5247 (From cell phones and off-base telephones)
Service members, family and friends attached to Naval Air Station(NAS) Sigonella joined Italian Carabinieri and Polizia for the 29th annualNational Night Out, August 7. The event helped raise awareness aboutcrime prevention and public safety and commenced with a parade whichbegan at the Marinai Youth Center. The parade included law enforcementcars and motorcycles, fire trucks, military working dogs and horse-moun-ted police units.
After the parade, event goers enjoyed a wide range of activities inclu-ding a "pie-in-the-face" contest, dunk tank, hotdog eating contest, bouncehouses and a tricycle obstacle course. There were also several demonstra-tions from security's K9 team and their host nation counterparts. (U.SNavy photo by MC2 Gary Prill/Released)
Magician Matt the Knife entertainsMagician Matt the Knife visited Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella,
August 18. He entertained the crowd with his comedy, magic and mindreading. He even took Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) PersonalTrainer Erin Work for a piggyback ride while walking over broken glass.(Photo by Missy Brex)
NASSIG participates in National Night Out On August 14, U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella hosted a returning warrior breakfast for three U.S. Naval Hospital Si-gonella warriors who recently returned from deployment.
Commander Paul Pruden (left) from Naval Hospital Sigonella was recently deployed to Landstuhl, Germany insupport of the Warrior Medical Management center located at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. Pruden had theprivilege of leading and working with primarily reserve (Navy, Army, Air Force) staff who expertly coordinated the re-ception and onward movement of approximately 4,000 wounded warriors from CENTCOM, AFRICOM andEUCOM operations.
Petty Officer Peter Raisanen (center) from Naval Hospital Sigonella, was recently deployed to Kabul, Afghanistanin support of the NATO Training Mission in Afghanistan. While on deployment Raisanen helped establish a one yearphysical therapy training program for the Afghan National Security Forces. This program will allow the ANSF to trainphysical therapists and establish quality physical therapy services for the ANSF.
Petty Officer Robert Tindall from Naval Hospital Sigonella was recently deployed to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, in sup-port of the Theater Field Confinement Facility. While on deployment he was responsible for high profile prisoners atthe prison in Arifjan. (U.S. Navy Photo b y MCSN Julie Cox/Released)
Hospital Sigonella honors warriors
Ristorante Bella Etna, Naval Air Station Sigonella’s Galley, participated in the 2012 Captain Edward F. Ney Awardinspection on August 13-14. Members of the inspection team stand with Lt. Scott Bowles (third from left) and MasterChief Juancho Lucero (second from left). The Ney Award, established in 1958 by the Secretary of the Navy and the International Food Service Executive Association, recognizes overall food service excellence and sets up guidelines onhow to become a five-star galley. (U.S. Navy Photo by MCSN Julie Cox/Released)
Ristorante Bella Etna participates in Ney Award inspection
THE SIGNATURE AUGUST 24, 2012PAGE 4
FFSC: x4291American Red Cross: x4900
Does your command or organization have an event you’d like to see on the Community Calendar? Email us at [email protected] and let us know!
C O M M U N I T Y C A L E N D A RFRIDAY
24Midtown 2Matinee
Missoula Children’sTheatre presents:The Frog Prince
6 p.m.
Live musicJox
10 p.m.
ConnectionsInner Tube Water Polo
10 a.m. - Noon
Cosmic Bowling
Movies in the ParkMadagascar 2: Escape
2 Africa9 p.m.FREE
ITTAgrigento: Valley of the
Temples and Beach
LibertyBeach Shuttle
Outdoor RecKayak Catania by Night
25 26
SATURDAY SUNDAY
31Empty Wallet Lunch
Take 5
Midtown 2Matinee
Outdoor RecCamping in Tropea
ITTPalmero and Mondello
Beach
Cosmic Bowling
Outdoor RecCamping in Tropea
LibertyGame Night - Checkers
ITTAlacantara Gorge
Outdoor RecCamping in Tropea
1 2
76Feedback Live
6:30 p.m. on AFNPrime Atlantic, Satellitedecoder channel 20 and
Eligible U.S. service members living in privately leasedquarters in Italy are scheduled to receive $109 more in Uti-lity/Recurring Maintenance Allowance and $31 less inMove-In Housing Allowance (MIHA) starting Aug. 16.
A Department of Defense advisory panel approved thechanges after reviewing results from a voluntary DefenseTravel Management Office (DTMO) survey for Italy con-ducted in April and May.
Service members in Italy who completed the OverseasHousing Allowance (OHA) Utility portion of the surveyreported cost increases in natural gas, heating oil, bottledgas, sewer, trash, maintenance, and insurance expenses.
Reported cost increases for freezers, washers, dryers,space heaters and transformers in the MIHA portion ofthe survey were offset by a decrease in the number of U.S.military personnel who reported costs for telephone andheating installation services.
The next OHA Utility survey in Italy is scheduled forMarch 2013, and the next combined OHA Utility andMIHA survey is slated for 2015.
Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia will co-ordinate survey participation for installations in Italy. Formore information, contact the regional coordinators atDSN 314-626-2551.
Eligible U.S. service members in Italy to receivemore in utility, less in move-in allowancesBY NAVY REGION EUROPE, AFRICA,SOUTHWEST ASIA PUBLIC AFFAIRS
What we choose to do with our time says a lot aboutour personalities. I am a Navy wife, mother to three youngchildren, a friend, chef, driver, nurse, teacher, party plan-ner, play date maker, Ombudsman and Navy-MarineCorps Relief Society (NMCRS) volunteer. I wear manyhats and even though it is a constant juggling act that I amtrying to perfect, I am so privileged and thankful to havethe opportunity to do so.
Prior to moving here, I worked on various United Na-tions causes and accumulated more than a decade of ex-perience in international marketing, public relations,events management and community relations. Being ableto be of service to my community through NMCRS allowsme to keep my skills current while giving me the flexibilityof keeping my own hours. Even though I do not draw a sa-lary, the work I do as the chairman of volunteers comeswith real responsibilities and expectations to perform, justlike any other profession.
I want to applaud a fellow NMCRS Sigonella volunteer,Nicoletta Redman, who, like me, is also a busy mother ofthree. Despite her hectic schedule, she still finds the time
to volunteer at the Nearly NewShop and manage its operationsas the chairman. When asked why she volunteers, Redmansays, “Being a mom is my priority but volunteering givesme the chance to do something for myself and not just be’mom.’” Even though NMCRS covers childcare expensesfor volunteers during the hours they volunteer, it is not un-common for Redman to bring her children and mother tothe Nearly New Shop to keep her company. It is truly a fa-mily affair for the Redman’s. CPO (Sel) Danny Redman isthe after-hours case work chairman for NMCRS.
While we all have different roles to play and differenthats to wear, NMCRS’s commitment to service membersand the community is steadfast. Enriching the communi-ties that they serve in, 3,500 NMCRS volunteers statesideand overseas make a difference every day to help Sailors,Marines and their families. It truly a sense of accompli-shment that money cannot buy.
If you would like to volunteer, call us at 624-4212 orcome by the office, located on the second floor, aboveFleet and Family Services and the Housing office.
More than “just a volunteer”BY RETNA SHAWNavy-Marine Corps Relief Society Chairman of Volunteers
THE SIGNATURE AUGUST 24, 2012PAGE 6
Religious feasts this weekend in Noto and Mineo
St. Conrad Festival in NotoThe annual "Festa di San Corrado" or St. Conrad Fe-
stival will return to Noto on Sunday, August 26 andMonday, August 27. Noto is one of the most beautifulBaroque towns in Sicily.
The summer feast honoring St. Conrad is one of thefour traditional yearly celebrations celebrating the townpatron saint. Saint Conrad has been venerated in Notosince the 16th century. In 1515, Pope Leo X permittedthe town of Noto to celebrate San Corrado with an an-nual festival on the anniversary of his death. One hun-dred and fifteen years later, Pope Urban VIII proclaimedhim a saint.
The Festival starts on August 26 with a solemn HolyMass celebrated by the Noto Bishop at 10:30 a.m. at theCathedral. Later in the evening, the Arca, a silver urncontaining the saint’s remains is carried shoulder highalong the streets of Noto’s historic center. The proces-sion begins at 7 p.m. from the Cathedral and proceedsthroughout the historic heart of the city until the Cro-cifisso Church. A spectacular fireworks show will be heldin piazza Municipio at 10 p.m.
On Monday, August 27, the festival will move to the"Lido di Noto," the coastal district of the town, with aconcert beginning at 9 p.m. Later, at 1 a.m., the festivalwill end with a breathtaking fireworks show on thewater.
Members from the local Confraternite (Confrater-nities) bring the traditional Cilii and banners in proces-sion while they are dressed in traditional costumes. Acontinuous stream of more than 4,000 people follow theprocession. Cilii are decorated iron bowls supported bya tall wooden stick, which contains a candle. They havebeen symbolizing the devotion shown to the saint afterthe fulfillment of a vow or pledge since the 1500s. Somefervent devotees still perform the traditional ViaggiuScausu or "Barefoot Itinerary" both on the night beforethe festival and during the procession. That is a real proofof devotion and physical resistance, as it consists of fol-lowing the main procession barefoot and walking formiles from the surrounding towns to the cathedral.Some residents, leaving from the surrounding cities,walk up to 15 miles to reach Noto and take part in theprocession.
For more information on the festival, contact theNoto Tourist Office at Tourist Office at 0931-573779.
The strong devotion and gratitude shown to SanCorrado by the Noto community is because of the in-tercessions that he granted them throughout the centu-ries. It is said that San Corrado worked a miracle in 1855when Noto residents summoned him to protect thetown against a deadly cholera epidemic. According totradition, San Corrado interceded and the city was spa-red by the illness. Tradition also holds that, in 1943,World War II bombings spared Noto as granted throughthe intercession of San Corrado. The mayor of the timealso promised he would offer a candle every year tothank him.
History of Corrado ConfalonieriAccording to legend, Corrado Confalonieri was a
wealthy aristocrat born in Piacenza in 1290. Corradoloved hunting. His life was changed one particular dayin 1313 when while hunting Corrado ordered his atten-dants to set fire to some bushes to flush out game. Un-fortunately, a prevailing wind caused the flames tospread rapidly devastating nearby fields, forests, townsand villages. Corrado fled panicking.
An innocent peasant was accused of being the arso-nist. He was tortured to confess a crime he did not com-mit, and eventually he was sentenced to death. As thepoor man was ready to be executed, Conrad was strickenwith remorse and confessed his guilt, saving the poorman's life.
Because of his noble origins, Corrado was spared thedeath penalty. But he had to sell all his possessions topay off the damaged property. Thus, Corrado becamepoor and retired as a Franciscan monk to a lonely her-mitage near Piacenza, while his wife entered the Orderof Poor Clares. Later, he went to Rome to meet withPope and eventually to Sicily. There, he settled in theNoto Valley where he led a penitential life for thirtyyears.
Corrado worked several miracles during his longhermitage. A legend tells that the most famous miracleoccurred when the Siracusa Bishop visited Corrado inhis humble home. When the Bishop asked Corrado if hehad anything to offer to his guests, the hermit replied hewould check in his cell. Corrado came back with somefresh bread out of the oven convincing the bishop thathe was a saint.
The procession of the Cilii, decorated iron bowls supported by a tall wooden stick containing a candle, are one of thehighlights of the Aug. 26 Saint Corrado summer feast in Noto. (Photo by Giuseppe Constanzo)
Bring the whole family to see twospectacular religious festivals takingplace on Sunday, August 26 whichcelebrate the patron saints of Noto andMineo. Visitors attending those festi-vals will discover the true soul of Sicily’sreligious and folkloristic traditions.
Don’t miss the cultural experience
JUST SAY IT!Practice your Italian
English: chickenItalian: pollo
English: rabbitItalian: coniglio
Englis : vealItalian: vitello
English: pheasantItalian: fagiano
English: turkeyItalian: tacchino
English: lambItalian: agnello
THE SIGNATUREAUGUST 24, 2012 PAGE 7
Every year, during the last twoweekends of August, Mineo paystribute to Santa Agrippina, (SaintAgrippina) its beloved patron saint,with religious processions, holymasses and a combination of fire-works and music shows.
Saint Agrippina was a princesswho was martyred by Roman Em-peror Valerian in 256 AD becauseshe was a Christian. According totradition, the holy relics of SaintAgrippina arrived in Mineo on May17, in the year 261 AD.
The statue of the patron saint,which is preserved inside the townmain church, will be carriedthrough the city streets for venera-tion on Sunday, August 26 from 8p.m. until midnight. At the end ofthe procession, there will be a spec-tacular fireworks show.
The "Pellegrinaggio dei Nudi"(Pilgrimage of the naked ones),which takes place in the town's cen-ter the night before (August 25) at6:30 p.m., is another highlight ofthis lively festival. Nudi are barefootdevotees dressed in white shortsand t-shirts with a red sash and ablack velvet belt. They are called"naked ones" because in the pastthey attended the processions bywearing only white "causi a tila" (un-derpants) and carrying a holy pic-ture of the saint and a bunch of
flowers. The reason for such a sim-ple dress relates to a legend tellingabout a night when a terrible ear-thquake woke up Mineo's tow-nspeople from their sleep in 1693.Hundreds rushed into the streetswearing only their nightshirts andinvoked Saint Agrippina for the ces-sation of the earthquake tremors.
At the beginning of last century,the bishop of Siracusa prohibiteddevotees from wearing only under-pants during the festival, as he be-lieved it was an inappropriate outfitfor a religious procession. Duringthis fascinating religious parade, de-votees scream in Sicilian: "Viva lanostra patrona Sant'Agrippina!"(Long live Saint Agrippina, our pa-tron saint!).
They also recite the rosary andsing hymns in Sicilian. After theWorld Wars, many Mineo resi-dents who survived the fightingmade a vow to go on a pilgrimageevery year in Mineo for the rest oftheir lives. Saint Agrippina is alsovenerated for having protectedMineo against a devastating ear-thquake that hit the town in 1975.The festival's entertainment willalso include fireworks and musicshows. For more information anddetailed festival schedules, contactMineo town tourist office at 0933-989058/46.
St. Agrippina Festival in Mineo
Rome - Italy's tourism sector, a key driver of eco-nomic growth, is slashing prices to try to lure thriftyItalians to open their wallets and travel this summer.
Some hotels have cut prices by as much as 30% totry to attract guests who are wary of spending as theEuropean economic crisis deepens.
According to reservations website Hotbooking.it,prices set by hoteliers in June were 25-30%, lower onan annual average as hotels reported a drastic drop ofas much as 50% in bookings, compared with previousyears.
Some hotels in southern Italy, excluding Puglia,have delayed their seasonal openings because of slowtourist traffic.
Others have made special offers, including freestays for youngsters under 16.
The situation is not improving as summer conti-nues. Bookings during the first two weeks of July havefollowed the same weak trend as in June, with averageoccupancy running around 50%.
Palermo (AKI) - More than half of stores andforms of retail in the Sicilian regional capital of Pa-lermo didn't give a receipt during checks by Italian taxpolice, indicating that they were keeping the transac-tion off the record to avoid paying taxes.
Seventy percent, or 140 out of 209 checks, resultedin no receipt. Out of 50 coffee bars, pubs, pastry andice cream shops, 26 didn't give a receipt following thesale, while 27 out of 45 restaurants left no financial trail.
The emergency Italian government led by appoin-ted Prime Minister Mario Monti has pledged to fighta war on tax evasion as one way to lower the country's1.95 trillion euros in debt.
Marina di Gioiosa Jonica, August 1 - Police havearrested crime boss Giuseppe Aquino, found hidingin a bunker in his mother's home in the town of Ma-rina di Gioiosa Jonica in Reggio Calabria province.
Aquino, 50, is believed to be one of the leaders wi-thin the powerful 'Ndrangheta group and has been onthe run from authorities for two years. As part of amajor police operation, Aquino was found Tuesdayhiding in a basement bunker reached through a trapdoor.
There, police also found sophisticated technicalequipment used by Aquino to evade arrest. From hishideout, Aquino continued to manage his criminalgang operating in a variety of businesses, includinghotel management, public services and construction,said Deputy Prosecutor in Reggio Calabria, NicolaGratteri.
Authorities say the Aquino clan used the legiti-mate businesses to launder the proceeds from inter-national trafficking in drugs.
Rome - A city ordinance was recently issued forRome forbidding horse-pulled buggies from circula-ting due to the extreme heat gripping the country."A weather alert has been sounded meaning that the40 carriages authorized in the city are banned fromcirculating," said Rome Environmental CouncilorMarco Visconti.
Last week a horse collapsed from heat exhaustionon the capital's Piazza di Spagna, raising concerns forworking animals' well-being.
Internationally acclaimed Italian vio-linist Uto Ughi will perform at the Cata-nia Greek Theater on Tuesday, September4 at 9 p.m. For more information and tic-kets visit http://www.teatrostabilecata-nia.it
Uto Ughi is considered one of themost important violinists of our time. Heis an authentic heir of the tradition of vio-lin schools, which were born and bloo-med in Italy. Uto Ughi has showed anextraordinary talent since he was a child.At the age of seven he played in public forthe first time, performing “Ciaccona”from Bach’s Partita n.2 and some“Capricci” by Paganini. At the age oftwelve critics wrote: “Uto Ughi must al-ready be considered as a mature soloist,artistically and technically”.
He plays a Guarneri del Gesù violin of 1744, whichhas a warm sound and a dark timber and is maybe oneof the most beautiful existing “Guarneri”, and with a
Stradivari of 1701 named “Kreutzer” because it belon-ged to the same violinist to whom Beethoven had de-dicated the famous Sonata (Arien-artists.com).
Uto Ughi concert in Catania on September 4
Suffering Italian tourism sector cuts prices,Hotels offering 30% discounts(ANSA)
Retail receipts rare in Palermo amid war on taxevasion(ANSA)
Police arrest crime boss in basement bunkerin Calabria, Aquino found after two years inhiding(ANSA)
Horse-drawn carriages banned from capitaldue to heat alert, Incident in Rome centerraises concern over animal welfare(ANSA)
THE SIGNATURE AUGUST 24, 2012PAGE 8
Do you animals?
With so many stray animals wandering the streets of Sicily, it can be hard for ananimal lover not to want to bring them all home. While it is impossible toadopt every stray, you can help foster animals in need of care or give them a
home with the help of the Sigonella Animal Welfare Society (SAWS). SAWS is a nonprofit organization which provides animals in the Sigonella area, primarily
cats and dogs, with foster homes until they can find permanent ones. It relies solely on theefforts of volunteers, from event planning to foster care.
"Fostering an animal through SAWS counts as a volunteer service that can be used formilitary evaluations and resumes," says SAWS President Chelsea Humphrey. "Determiningthe number of hours that count as volunteer hours is based on the animal’s needs and requi-rements. Some require more care and more socialization than others. There are so many ani-mals that need our help."
During the SAWS Adopt-A-Thon on August 17, the organization showcased some of theanimals available for adoption, including a litter of adorable puppies. Crowds of people stop-ped by the event to play with the animals.
"I want to personally thank everyone that supported the SAWS Adopt-A-Thon," said RyanTavares, event coordinator. "[From] the volunteers to the people who donated to those whoadopted and even those that came and showed the animals attention, we really appreciateit!"
Animals still available for adoption can be seen on the SAWS facebook page at www.fa-cebook.com/Sigonella.animals. Featured animals available for adoption can also be foundin the The Signature’s Il Mercato section.
At the moment, there are no fees associated with adoption. Thanks to donations, SAWSanimals are able to receive medical and preventative care through the Naval Air Station (NAS)Sigonella's Veterinary Clinic.
"Adopting an animal is a great responsibility," says Humphrey. "Each new owner signs aSAWS adoption form or foster agreement that lists a breakdown of rules for the pet. Oncesomeone adopts a pet through SAWS they are agreeing to the base guidelines and will beheld responsible to take the pet with them to their next duty station. There is a lot ofresponsibility involved with being a pet owner but it is so rewarding."
BY JACKIE TREMBATHNAS Sigonella Public Affairs
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THIS IS A NON-FEDERAL ENTITY. IT IS NOT A PART OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OR ANY OF ITS COMPONENTS AND IT HAS NO GOVERNMENTAL STATUS.
THE SIGNATUREAUGUST 24, 2012 PAGE 9
Leishmaniasis, that sounds scary! If you have a dog and you have been atSigonella for a while, you may have heard people talking about this diseasewith the long scary name. In fact, we have diagnosed several dogs with thedisease in the last couple of years here at the Sigonella Veterinary Clinic. Lei-shmaniasis is a real concern in Sicily, but with the right information and pre-ventive care for your dog, most people never really need to worry about it.
So what do you need to know? Leishmaniasis is a severe, often fatal di-sease of dogs that is caused by microscopic parasites in the Leishmania family.These parasites are carried between dogs and other animals by tiny flies calledsand flies. Although the name might make you think otherwise, sand flies ac-tually do not necessarily have to live near sandy areas and can be found allover our beautiful island. When a sand fly bites an animal that is infected withthe parasites, it can pick them up through the blood it is eating. These parasitesthen reproduce inside the sand fly’s body and can be spread to another animalwhen the sand fly bites again.
The first signs that your dog may have leishmaniasis can take anywherefrom three months to several years to appear. Given this information, it is im-portant to tell your future veterinarians that your dog has a history of livingin Sicily and potentially being exposed to sand flies.
The clinical signs of disease can be quite variable. Most dogs start off byshowing hair loss around the eyes and muzzle, and they can also show lame-ness in one or more of their legs. As the disease progresses, they may loseweight, get sores and ulcers on the skin, and suffer serious damage to otherorgan systems.
If you are concerned about your dog showing these potential signs of lei-shmaniasis, we can do a physical exam and blood test that will verify whetheror not the dog has been infected. Unfortunately, the drugs used to treat thedisease are quite expensive and have not proven to be effective in obtaining acomplete cure. Many dogs must be treated on and off for the rest of their livesto prevent flare-ups of the disease.
Now that I have scared you into taking leishmaniasis seriously, I can sharethe good news that the disease is fairly easy to prevent. The most importantpart of prevention is to keep dogs inside the house from sundown to sunriseduring the warm months. Sand flies are active at night, so this will preventthem from having access to your dogs. Since this is not always possible, ho-wever, the best method is to use a monthly topical treatment and a repellentcollar that together prevent most bites.
Finally, I should let you know that humans can also contract the diseasefrom infected sand flies. This has not been a common problem for the Sigo-nella community, and fortunately the disease is easier to treat in humans thanin dogs. Studies have not shown any increased risk of contracting the diseasefor dog-owners than for people who do not have pets, so this should not bea concern for Sigonella families. The best prevention for both dogs and hu-mans is to avoid those pesky sand flies!
Staff members at the Sigonella Veterinary Clinic are always happy to an-swer further questions about prevention and treatment of leishmaniasis, sostop by next time you are in the area!
CPT Elliott Garber, DVM, MPH is aveterinarian at the Sigonella Veterinary Clinic.CPT Garber and his team provide full-spec-trum medical and surgical care to the militaryworking dogs (MWD) assigned to the secu-rity team, ensure the safety of all human foodsold and served at Sigonella food service loca-tions and provide basic medical and surgicalservices to the pets of eligible personnel whentime and staffing permit.
BY CPT ELLIOTT GARBER, DVM, MPHNAS Sigonella Veterinarian
Leishmaniasis: What you need to knowDo you animals?
We routinely monitor our water systems forthe presence of contaminants. Recently, samplesfrom some of our water systems have beenshown to contain levels of bromate at, or above,the level allowed by Italian legislation and theDoD Final Governing Standards (FGS) forItaly, which is 10 micrograms per liter (parts perbillion), known as the maximum contaminantlevel (MCL).
We intend to keep our community membersinformed about what happened and what we aredoing to fix problems related to the water sy-stem.
Test results from samples taken during thefirst week of August were received on 14 August2012. These results were as high as 10 micro-grams per liter at NAS 1 and 17 micrograms perliter at Niscemi. Bromate was below the MCLin all samples collected on NAS 2 and Marinai.
What happened? What is being done?We continue to seek the root cause for the
presence of bromate in the water. The suspectedsource could be the chemicals used by wateroperators to disinfect and treat the water. We aretaking the following steps to further investigatethe issue:
- Conducting laboratory analysis of ourwater treatment chemicals
- Working with the Niscemi water supplierto reduce the levels for bromate
- Performing additional testing to ensurebromate levels are reduced and, ultimately, re-main below the MCL
As additional information becomes availa-
ble, updates will be provided to you via AllHands messages, Facebook updates, the basenewspaper and other media.
What does this mean?Bromate at the levels measured in the drin-
king water does not cause any symptoms; ho-wever, bromate is classified by the USEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA) as aprobable human carcinogen. Some people whoingest bromate at levels above the MCL for anextended period of time may have an increasedrisk of developing cancer. The MCL of bromatein drinking water is set to prevent cancer fromdeveloping in individuals who daily consumetwo quarts of affected water over the course ofa lifetime.
What should I do?The levels of bromate found at NAS 1 and
Niscemi do not pose a short term health risk. Atthis time, you can continue drinking the water.If the situation changes, you will be notified. Ofnote, filtration systems will not remove bromatefrom the water. If you have specific health con-cerns, you should consult your doctor or theU.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella Medical HomePort at 335-578-8077.
Please share this information with all otherpeople who drink this water, especially thosewho may not have received this notice directly.
Violation Awareness Date: 14 August 2012Date Notice Distributed: 17 August 2012Public Notification Certification: This public
notification has been provided to our communityin accordance with all delivery, content, format, anddeadline requirements per DoD FGS for Italy andOPNAVINST 5090 series.
NOTICE TO THE PUBLICImportant information about your drinking water:NAS 1 and Niscemi have levels of Bromate at, orabove, drinking water standards
Country musician Jeff Harris performed aconcert for service members and their fami-lies stationed at Naval Air Station (NAS) Si-gonella’s Connections, August 10.
The concert was organized by Armed For-ces Entertainment and NAS Sigonella’s Morale,Welfare and Recreation (MWR) department.
According to the Armed Forces Entertain-ment website, they serve as the official Depar-tment of Defense agency for providingentertainment to U.S. military personnel over-seas. Armed Forces Entertainment and its per-formers support Airmen, Marines, Sailors andSoldiers by bringing them the very best inAmerican entertainment.
“I’m very flattered and honored to behere,” said Harris. “I feel it’s important tocome over here and bring you all a little pieceof home. I hope everyone just had a good timeand had smiles on their faces.”
After playing 56 shows throughout Scan-dinavia, Jeff Harris ended his tour with NASSigonella as his final show.
“On behalf of myself and my family, Iwould like to say thank you to every one ofyou for our freedom and what you do,” addedHarris. “You all do something that’s very spe-cial and very important for all of us and I’mjust absolutely thrilled and honored to havebeen here with you.”
BY MC3 BRIAN GLUNTNPASE East Detachment
Country musician Jeff Harrisperforms concert for NAS Sigonella
Country musician Jeff Harris performs during a concert for service members and their families statio-ned at Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella support base here, Aug. 10. The event was organized by NASSigonella’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation department through Armed Forces Entertainment and wasthe last show for Jeff Harris’ European tour. (U.S. Navy Photo by MC3 Brian Glunt/Released)
THE SIGNATUREAUGUST 24, 2012 PAGE 11
Friday, August 24 2:00 PM Shrek PG 5:00 PM The Bourne Legacy PG-13 5:30 PM Brave PG7:30 PM Ted R 8:00 PM Abe: Vampire Hunter R
Saturday, August 25 2:00 PM Madagascar 3 PG 2:30 PM Rock of Ages PG-13 4:30 PM Amazing Spider Man PG-13 5:00 PM That’s My Boy R7:30 PM Campaign RMovie In the Park – Marinai Soccer Field9:00 PM Madagascar 2: Africa PG Sunday, August 26 2:00 PM Brave PG2:30 PM Total Recall PG-134:30 PM Bourne Legacy PG-135:00 PM Ted R7:30 PM Abe: Vampire Hunter R
Tuesday, August 28 5:00 PM The Bourne Legacy PG-135:30 PM Madagascar 3 PG7:30 PM That’s My Boy R 8:00 PM Abe: Vampire Hunter R
Wednesday, August 29 5:00 PM Rock of Ages PG-135:30 PM Ted R 7:30 PM Campaign R 8:00 PM Prometheus R
Thursday, August 30 5:00 PM The Bourne Legacy PG-135:30 PM Brave PG 7:30 PM Campaign R 8:00 PM Abe: Vampire Hunter R
Friday, August 31 5:00 PM People Like Us PG-13 5:30 PM Total Recall PG-137:30 PM Expendables 2 R8:00 PM Ted R
GREEN PREMIERRED LAST SHOWBLUE FREE MOVIE
Movie schedule is subject to change. Please call to confirm.
Movie Hotline: 624-4248
CoMinG soon:Magic Mike, Madea’s Witness Protection, Savages, Seeking a FriendFor The End of The World, Moonrise Kingdom, Step Up Revolution,The Watch, Diary of A Wimpy Kid: Dog Days, Hope Springs.
sUMMer sPeCiaL Matinee
Midtown Movie theaters
SCHEDULE & DESCRIPTIONS
BY JAMIE ANDREWSMorale, Welfare and Recreation, Sigonella
ITT is heading to Romania Co-lumbus Day Weekend for abreathtaking adventure! This is
a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity tospend time in this beautiful coun-try, and visit legendary sites. Here’swhat ITT has in store for you!
City Tour of Bucharest - Ro-mania’s Capital
Arch of Triumph - inspired bythe one in Paris.
Atheneum – Romania’s mostfamous concert hall.
Revolution Square – where the1989 anti-Communist Revoltwent nationwide.
Palace of Parliament – the wor-
ld’s second largest building next tothe Pentagon.
Peles CastlePeles Castle is a stunning exam-
ple of German new-Renaissancearchitecture located in the lovelysetting of Sinaia, Romania. From1883 until 1947, the castle was thesummer home of Romania’s royalfamily. Its 160 rooms are still fur-nished with some of Europe’s fi-nest art, including Murano crystalchandeliers, German stained-glasswindows and Cordoba leather-co-vered walls.
Sinaia MonasteryFounded in 1695, this mona-
stery was named after the greatSinai Monastery on Mount Sinai.This was the royal residence untilPeles castle was finished in 1883.
Brasov City TourBrasov is a medieval city in Ro-
mania’s Transylvania region, full ofgothic, baroque and renaissancearchitecture. The tour will includea large gothic church where we willenjoy a private organ concert.
Bran CastleAlso known as Dracula’s Ca-
stle, it is rumored that this wasonce the residence of Vlad Tepes,the inspiration for Count Dracula.In fact, the castle was a gift to
Queen Mary of Romania from thepeople of Brasov. It contains 60rooms and many undergroundpassageways, furniture collections,weapons and armor. The giantstructure sits on top of a 200-foothigh rock overlooking the medie-val city of Brasov.
This trip includes round triptransportation, to and from theairports, flights and hotel accom-modations. An ITT escort will bepresent for the entire trip. It issure to be an unforgettable wee-kend! For more information,call ITT at 624-4396 or visitwww.sigmwr.com!
Transylvania & Romania Tour
THE BOURNE LEGACY……………………...PG-13STARRING: Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz and Edward Norton
An expansion of Robert Ludlum's novels, centered on a new hero whosestakes have been triggered by the events of the previous three films. (135 m.)
PEOPLE LIKE US………….…PG-13STARRING: Chris Pine, Elizabeth Banks and Michelle Pfeiffer
While settling his recently deceased father's estate, a salesman discovers hehas a sister whom he never knew about, leading both siblings to re-examinetheir perceptions about family and life choices. (114 m.)
THE CAMPAIGN……………….….RSTARRING:Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis and Jason Sudeikis
In order to gain influence over their NC district, two CEOs seize an oppor-tunity to oust long-term congressman Cam Brady by putting up a rival can-didate. (85 m.)
THE EXPENDABLES 2……………RSTARRING:Sylvester Stallone, Liam Hemsworth and Randy Couture
Mr. Church reunites the Expendables for what should be an easy paycheck,but when one of their men is murdered on the job, their quest for revenge putsthem deep in enemy territory and up against an unexpected threat. (102 m.)
During the summer season, catch a 2 p.m. matinee every Friday.
THE SIGNATURE AUGUST 24, 2012PAGE 12
GAMEF
ind
the
wor
ds!
AERO
ALMOND JOY
BABY RUTH
BUTTERFINGER
CARAMILK
COFFEE CRISP
DAIRY MILK
EAT-MORE
KIT KAT
MARS BAR
MILKY WAY
MOUNDS
MR. BIG
NESTLE CRUNCH
OH HENRY!
SKOR
SNICKERS
TWIX
Find the way!
THE SIGNATUREAUGUST 24, 2012 PAGE 13
Sudoku!Did you know?
Italy is said to havemore masterpieces
per square milethan any other
country in the world.
In 2007, a dognamed Rocco
discovered a trufflein Tuscany that
weighed3.3 pounds.
It sold at auction for$333,000 (USD),
a worldrecord for a truffle.
More than50 million tourists a
year visit Italy.
Italy is responsiblefor introducing theworld to ice cream(via the Chinese),
coffee, andfruit pies.
Playgroup will start full-timeschedule in October. Fleet and Family
Support Center (FFSC) will have anew curriculm for your children to
enjoy. Check FFSC October calendarfor more information.
Attention Parents!
4900 or email [email protected] to sign up for more in-formation. Tentative dates arecurrently Sept. 20-21.
Fidel & Phillipo, 4 months, male,black & white and black & brownpuppies. Lloves children, people,and other dogs. Will be visitingthe vet soon.
Mini, 2 years old, medium, tan, fe-
male, a sweet dog that enjoyspeople but prefers larger patientdogs to smaller animals, currenton shots, and microchipped.
Jax and Creeps, 9 months old, fe-male, tortie and tuxedo, sweet,friendly kittens that do well withother cats but not quite friendlywith dogs, current on shots, mi-crochipped, and Jax is spayed.
Chomper, 4 months, black andwhite, male puppy. Loves peo-
ple, children, and other dogs.Should be fine in any home. Cur-rent on shots. Microchipped.
4 kittens, 6 weeks, tuxedo, maleand female, eating soft and hardfood and litter box trained andready to be adopted.
To volunteer, adopt or foster, visitfacebook.com/Sigonella.Animalsor http://sigonellaanimalwelfare-society.webs.com/
2000 silver BMW 318i; manualtransmission; 4-dr; Xenon frontlights; new brakes; A/C; 17" whe-els; alarm system; runs great!Asking 4000 euro (price negotia-ble); call Tommy at 331-954-4486.
2004 Toyota Rav 4; good condi-tion; new tires; current inspec-tion; 5000 euro OBO. Forinformation call Angelo at3394550970.
2007 Euro spec Yamaha FZ6 FZSFAZER 600; 3,500 euro OBO; 9,150km; original owner; no accidents;has "Frame Sliders" and "AlarmSystem" installed; contact Nathanduring working hours at 624-5113 after hours 349-671-2992 oremail at [email protected] forpictures.
2007 Honda VTX1300 motorcy-cle; 12k mi; original owner; newwindscreen; new back tire; seve-ral spare parts; garage kept andcovered; KBB $6000 but will take$5000 OBO. Contact Don @ 339-289-8823.
2005 BMW FS650GS dual purposemotorcycle; ABS; $4200 firm (pri-ced to sell); 1 owner; NADA/Kellyretail $5000; VG to EX condition;low mileage 7986; new battery;new brakes/tires; over $700 in ex-tras; JG Somavilla @ 335-193-8823 before 8pm; 624-8293 work
1999 BMW 318; 118 CV; 1800 ccengine; metallic grey; manualtransmission; all powered, ABS,airbags, A/C, immobilizer; verygood condition. 3000 euro. callDante at 624-5043
Are you interested in becoming aRed Cross Instructor? We are cur-rently taking names down of folksthat are interested in learningmore about the training. Call 624-
AUTOMOB I L E S
NOT I C E
S AWS AN IMA L S
THE SIGNATURE AUGUST 24, 2012PAGE 14
THE SIGNATUREAUGUST 24, 2012 PAGE 15
BY HM2 SHERIKA SMITHJEA Public Affiars
Are you an E-5 or below lookingfor an organization that promotes po-sitivity and development for juniorSailors and proudly represents the corevalues of the Navy, our command andsurrounding communities? Do youenjoy community involvement andserving others? If so, the Naval Air Sta-tion (NAS) Sigonella Junior EnlistedAssociation ( JEA) is for you!
The officers of the NAS SigonellaJEA have successfully completed all re-quired duties to make the JEA an offi-cial organization and we are lookingfor new members. Developed to stren-gthen the ties of junior enlisted assi-gned to NAS Sigonella the JEA offersan opportunity to discuss concerns af-fecting various aspects of military andpersonal life and propose initiativesthat can improve our command andcommunity.
As a JEA member you will have achance to experience leadership rolesthat will prepare you for future appoin-ted positions as you progress in yourmilitary career. You will also be able tomake a difference through communityinvolvement.
If you are interested or know ju-nior Sailors who may be interested injoining the NAS Sigonella JEA, pleasecontact any of the following members:
BM2 Ronnie Davis,JEA president: 624-8283 or 345-244-6256 MA2 Adam Jerscheid,JEA vice president: 624-5047 or 348-582-1352 OS2 Aisling Redmond,JEA treasurer: 624-5668 or 340-926-3105 LSSN Jeremiah Leber, JEA secretary: 624-5180 or 342-128-2136 YN2 Hector Deleon,JEA master-at-arms: 624-5550 ET2 Ryan Carrithers, EA fund raiser: 624-5994 HM2 Sherika Smith,JEA public affairs: 624-4670
Attention E-5 and below:The NAS Sigonella JuniorEnlisted Association isofficial and looking fornew members
Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella’s Religious Ministries departmenthosted a three-day Vacation Bible School (VBS) Aug. 15-17, at the basechapel.
This year, more than 55 children participated in the nondenominationalVBS “Babylon” program.
“We basically have this celebration to give families the opportunity tofellowship together,” said Religious Program Specialist 2nd Class(SW/AW) Belinda Blue, VBS program coordinator. “I think this is some-thing very important for the children as they grow and attend different en-vironments where they can develop friendships.”
The theme for this year’s VBS was inspired by the story of Daniel’s cou-rage in captivity. The children participated in activities involving storytel-ling, craft making, playground time, snack making, and group singing anddancing.
During the program, volunteers wore home-made, biblical costumeswhile role playing and instructing the numerous activities.
“This is a good introduction for young people to understand about theChristian life,” said Lt. Cmdr. Scott C. Cauble, NAS Sigonella chaplain. “It’salso good for our community. This gets a lot of people mixing together, peo-ple you wouldn’t ordinarily see in the same room.”
This VBS is teaching the children about developing courage and trustingin God, added Cauble.
Christopher Lee (center), Vacation Bible School (VBS) volunteer, role-plays asbiblical figure Daniel during the program here Aug. 15, at the base’s chapel. ore than 55 children participated in this year’s NAS Sigonella nondenominationalVBS “Babylon” program. The event’s intent is to bring NAS Sigonella communitychildren together, allowing them to develop friendships during this religiousministries three-day program. (U.S. Navy Photo by MC3 Brian Glunt/Released)
BY MC3 BRIAN GLUNTNPASE East Detachment
NAS Sigonella hosts Vacation Bible School
Recently, a friend told me thatshe had been here at Sigonella for ayear and a half before she even knewthat Protestant Women of the Cha-pel (PWOC) existed! I don’t wantto hear that story again, so we areworking to get the word out aboutPWOC. We desire to meet theneeds of women who are seeking toplug into a Christian group ofwomen. Whether you are new toNaval Air Station (NAS) Sigonellaor have been here awhile, we encou-rage you to attend one of our Biblestudies!
PWOC is an international orga-nization formed to help chaplainsaccomplish their religious programs,and to bring Christian fellowshipand spiritual growth to U.S. militarycommunities. Women from allwalks of life participate in PWOC –single or married women, activeduty service members, spouses, de-pendents, civilians, and local natio-nals. Here at NAS Sigonella, we offerBible studies twice a week as well as
several other opportunities for fel-lowship throughout the year.
Our Tuesday morning Biblestudy meets from 9-11:30 a.m. at theNAS 1 Chapel. Childcare is provi-ded while we enjoy a time of large-group fellowship, worship andprayer, followed by time in our smallgroups to pray for each other and re-view our Bible studies. This fall, weoffer two options for study. Prayersof the Bible by Susan Hunt providesan opportunity to explore prayersfrom the Bible as examples of howwe can pray. Our other option is Lo-ving the Way Jesus Loves by PhilipGraham, which provides an in-depth, biblical look at the love ofChrist and how to love others moredeeply in response. Small groupswill read through a section of thebook each week at home and thendiscuss it together on Tuesday mor-nings.
We also have a group of womenwho meet on Thursday eveningsfrom 5:30 - 8 p.m. This fall, we will
study Priscilla Shrier’s Discerningthe Voice of God: How to Reco-gnize when God is Speaking, avideo-based study that guideswomen to listen for God’s direction.Each week, women will bring abrown-bag dinner to enjoy as theyview the video. The correspondingworkbook provides opportunitiesfor deeper understanding of the ma-terial presented in the video, whichwill then be discussed the nextweek, along with viewing the nextvideo. Childcare is not provided onThursday evenings.
We encourage you to join us forour Fall Kick-Off! Our Tuesdaymorning group will kick-off on Sep-tember 11, and our Thursday eve-ning group on September 13.
Find out more about PWOC:email us at [email protected] oron Facebook at https://www.face-book.com/groups/pwocsig. Youcan also call the NAS 1 Chapel at624-3975. We look forward to mee-ting you!
Protestant Women of the ChapelBY RACHEL PEREZProtestant Women of the Chapel
THIS IS A NON-FEDERAL ENTITY. IT ISNOT A PART OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DE-FENSE OR ANY OF ITS COMPONENTS ANDIT HAS NO GOVERNMENTAL STATUS.
