The Citizen - 1st Quarter 2023

Winner, “Best Printed Publication” Award (Unit Category) 2021 AMC David G. Harris Public Affairs Competition

Vol. 52, No. 1, 1st Quarter 2023

Serving the Greater Stuttgart Military Community www.stuttgartcitizen.com

Guten Rutsch into 2023! #WhyYouMatter art show Pages 10-11

The Herdweg Fire — Restaurateurs persevere Pages 8-9

The garrison guide to better fitness Pages 18-19

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d e t i c x e e r ’ e w t r a g t Stu oming year, and for the c you are too! we hope

UNITED STATES ARMY GARRISON STUTTGART Commander Col. Matt Ziglar Senior Enlisted Adviser Command Sgt. Maj. Billy Norman Public Affairs Officer John Campbell Managing Editor Marcus Fichtl Contributors Chaplain (Maj.) Eric Bryan, Bill Butler, Bardia Khajenoori, Balmina Sehra, Joel Wasko USAG STUTTGART PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE Building 2949, Panzer Kaserne Army Post Office Mailing Address Unit 30401, APO AE 09107 German Mailing Address Panzer Kaserne Geb. 2949, 3rd Floor, Panzerstrasse, 70032 Böblingen Telephone 09641-70-5962485 DSN (314) 596-2485 Website www.StuttgartCitizen.com Facebook www.facebook.com/ USAGarrisonStuttgart PUBLISHER/VERLAG AdvantiPro GmbH Europaallee 3 67657 Kaiserslautern Telephone +49 (0) 631-30 3355 30 Website www.AdvantiPro.com Managing Director Bret Helenius Concept, design & layout: Alexander Pütz, Marina Richter ADVERTISING/WERBUNG Contact Jennifer Holdsworth Telephone +49 (0) 631-30 3355 37 Email Ads@StuttgartCitizen.com The Stuttgart Citizen is an authorized magazine, produced in the interest of the U.S. Army community in Stuttgart by the U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart Public Affairs Office. Contents of the Citizen are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government or the Department of the Army.

The Stuttgart Citizen is printed by AdvantiPro, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Govt., under exclusive written agreement with U.S. Army Stuttgart. It is published monthly using the offset method of reproduction and has a printed circulation of 5,000 copies. Everything advertised herein shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron.

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Photo by Blue Planet Studio/Shutterstock.com

A letter from the editor

The Stuttgart Military Community marches on Washington (Square) in celebration of Martin Luther King Day. Photo by Balmina Sehra

TABLE OF

CONTENTS 2 4 5

6&7 8&9

Letter from the editor At the Patch Library Chaplain’s Corner: Sentiments from a Man Turning 50 New year, a new ready you The Herdweg Fire — Restaurateurs persevere

Cover image: A young Robinson Barracks resident sleds down a hill.

Cover image by Bardia Khajenoori

10 & 11

RB Elementary hosts #WhyYou Matter art show

22 & 23

The 2023 Spring Bazaar set to delight shoppers

12 14-16 18 & 19 20

Garrison Construction for 2023

24 & 25

Stay in the know with the USAG Stuttgart app

26

Not just smoke Stuttgart firefighter named Europe’s best

27

The Big Question: A place you’ve been to that feels like home

A year in review 2022 The garrison guide to better fitness From the historian A Longtime Military Town

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From the Patch Library: New Perspectives for a New Year than ever. Filled with fun graphics and illustrations throughout.

With 2022 in the books – so to speak – a new year provides a fresh start and an opportunity to do things differently. Whether you’d like to learn new skills, change your thinking for the better, or improve work/life balance, the following selections available at the Patch Library can help you start your journey.

Creativity: A Short and Cheerful Guide

By John Cleese Creativity is usually regarded as a mysterious, rare gift that only a few possess. John Cleese begs to differ, and in this short, immensely practical and often very amusing guide he shows it’s a skill that anyone can acquire. Drawing on his lifelong experience as a writer, he shares his insights into the nature of the creative process, and offers advice on how to get your own inventive juices flowing.

Storey’s Curious Compendium of Practical and Obscure Skills: 214 Things You Can Actually Learn How to Do

By Storey Publishing Ever wanted to learn to speak “chicken”?

Capture a swarm of bees?

Treat aches and pain with herbal remedies? Sharpen a knife? From Storey’s vast library of expertly-authored how-to books comes a compendium of valuable skills covering every area of interest and presented through clear, colorful how-to illustrations and custom photography. Skill-o-pedia celebrates the diverse ideas and knowledge that enable a self-sufficient lifestyle. The wisdom in these pages covers the small, the substantial, and everything in between.

Wake Up Grateful: The Transformative Practice of Taking Nothing for Granted

By Kristi Nelson What does it mean to truly live gratefully, every day? In Wake Up Grateful, Kristi Nelson, executive director of A Network for Grateful Living, unlocks the path to recognizing abundance in every moment, and gives readers the tools to bring this transformational shift in perspective into their daily lives. Nelson goes beyond the proverbial question of whether the glass is half full or half empty, and encourages readers to awaken to the gift of having a glass at all.

13 Things Strong Kids Do: Think Big, Feel Good, Act Brave

By Amy Morin Do you worry that you don’t fit in? Do you feel insecure sometimes? Do you wish your life looked as perfect as everyone else on social media? Do you have anxiety about things you can’t control? Being a tween can be really hard, especially in today’s world. The internationally bestselling author of 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do, Amy Morin, empowers tweens, teaching them how to think, feel, and act stronger 4

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The Joy of Movement: How Exercise Helps Us Find Happiness, Hope, Connection, and Courage

By Kelly McGonigal The bestselling author of The Willpower Instinct introduces a surprising science-based book that doesn’t tell us why we should exercise but instead shows us how to fall in love with movement. Through her trademark blend of science and storytelling, she shows how movement is intertwined with some of the most basic human joys, including self-expression, social connection, and mastery — and why it is a powerful antidote to the modern epidemics of depression, anxiety, and loneliness.

Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything

By B.J. Fogg When it comes to change, tiny is mighty.

In Tiny Habits, B.J. Fogg brings his experience coaching more than 40,000 people to help you lose weight, de-stress, sleep better, or achieve any goal of your choice. You just need Fogg’s behavior formula: make it easy, make it fit your life, and make it rewarding. Change can be easy — once it starts, it grows.

Professional Troublemaker: The Fear-Fighter Manual

By Luvvie Ajayi Jones Luvvie Ajayi Jones is known for her trademark wit, warmth, and perpetual truth-telling.

But even she’s been challenged by the enemy of progress known as fear.

She was once afraid to call herself a writer, and nearly skipped out on doing a TED talk that changed her life because of imposter syndrome. As she shares in Professional Troublemaker, she’s not alone. This book is about how to live boldly in spite of all the reasons we have to cower.

Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness

By Qing Li As a society we suffer from nature deficit disorder, but studies have shown that spending mindful, intentional time around trees – what the Japanese call shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing – can promote health and happiness. In this beautiful book, Dr. Qing Li, the world’s foremost expert in forest medicine, shows how forest bathing can reduce your stress levels and blood pressure, strengthen your immune and cardiovascular systems, boost your energy, mood, creativity, and concentration, and even help you lose weight and live longer.

Summaries and covers courtesy of Goodreads and/or publishers

Graphic by David Prado Perucha/Shutterstock.com

Compiled by Bardia Khajenoori USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs

Chaplain’s Corner: Sentiments from a man turning 50

By Chaplain (Maj.) Eric Bryan USAG-Stuttgart Family Life Chaplain

By the time the Stuttgart Citizen publishes my article, I will have turned 50 years old. I share my birthday with Ronald Reagan and Babe Ruth (not bad company) in February each year. As I think back over birthdays past, thoughts turn to my grandmother and mother. Sadly, the two people who best modeled how to celebrate a birthday are no longer living. How I wish they could see me at 50.

As a person who has lived a half-century, I sense new value to my words. To all who have crossed this 50-yard line, you are like good wine. At 60, even 70 years, you are a refined Brunello di Montalcino; your words have a robust taste.

To all who have stumbled upon this letter, I hope you receive my words with the humility I intend.

I bridge two generations. One side of the bridge: The last three decades has brought unprecedented change to our culture through technology and access to information. The other side of the bridge is the slower life I remember: the morning newspaper to check Sunday football scores, road atlases, front porch time.

All generations have bridged technology and you will do the same. But each generation perhaps has a duty to both celebrate and warn the upcoming generation. To my younger friends, I see how phones have become so necessary. On the bus, in the Food Court, I wonder if you will look up. I wish so much more for your eyes, your heart and soul.

With you I celebrate technology and the ease of learning. When you have time, YouTube “The Still Face Experiment,” by Dr. Edward Tronic. Watch how a frozen face (like the stillness of our face while we watch our screens) affects the well-being of child. In-person, face-to-face warmth, please give it priority.

Speaking the truth (in love) to the next generation, I am convinced the next 50 years of research will prove smartphone-usage to be significantly correlated to one’s health. I am also concerned that smartphone, if we are not careful, can prevent the maturity of our souls. When we walk untied to phones, we think deeper and longer about the mysteries of life. A life tied to headlines, posts, and images, as I have experienced, keeps my soul shallow.

Ecclesiastes 1.18 has been etched in mind, “He who increases knowledge, increases sorrow.” We would do well to pace and limit our consumption of information. So put that phone down. Go for a walk in that spectacular, glistening German forest. Become acutely aware how your body craves your phone. If you are on the bus, in the Food Court, look up and look around at life happening now. As the Still Face Experiment cautions us, be very attentive to others (especially your children).

Leave your phone at home for a day and discover what freedom feels like. Trust me, and trust those over 50 – life will go on – and you will be just fine without a phone.

And while your phone is down, I need your prayer. Pray for me as I begin my 50th year. Pray I will be a good steward of my days, my words, my soul, and my phone. Let’s model a new standard of good phone usage to the generation smartphones have been thrusted into their lives. To my friends in Stuttgart, it begins with me and you.

J. Eric Bryan

Chaplain Eric Bryan is the USAG-Stuttgart Family Life Chaplain, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. He offers confidential counseling to individuals, couples, and families among the DOD/DA Civilian community. He is a pastor at the humble Patch Protestant Chapel, 1100-Sundays. For more information how you might connect with your faith community, locate us through the USAG-APP, Religious Support Office.

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New year, a new ready you

By Jeanette Mitchell Community Readiness and Resiliency Integrator

As the holiday season comes to a close, many started this New Year with resolutions and goals. We strive to start the New Year with an improved version of ourselves.

A great starting point is to practice self-awareness by considering your level of personal readiness.

Personal readiness consists of five dimensions: physical, spiritual, behavioral health, family, and social.

Each dimension contributes to the overall wellbeing of an individual. While each dimension is important, the activities to boost a dimension can be different for each individual.

• Physical readiness includes proper sleep, activity, and nutrition and has the ability to enhance self-confidence.

• Spiritual readiness is a self-directed process where core values that define one’s sense of identity, purpose, motivation, and character are developed to enable an individual to foster peace and a balanced life.

• Behavioral Health readiness enhances mental harmony and resiliency by promoting help-seeking behaviors.

• Family readiness works towards building and maintaining healthy relationships while learning communication and bonding skills.

• Social readiness strives to create lasting and meaningful connections that increase self-worth and purpose.

Strengthening personal readiness is a holistic

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approach since many of the dimensions are interconnected. For example, conducting physical activity helps improve positive mental health. Or, attending a spiritual function compliments multiple dimensions: spiritual, behavioral health, and social readiness.

Practicing self-awareness to enhance personal readiness can begin with identifying values within each dimension. This will help define the things that are important to you in the way you live and work.

These values will also help determine your priorities with enhancing a dimension of personal readiness.

Then identifying what initiative could be done to boost your readiness in that dimension.

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The Herdweg Fire — Restaurateurs persevere Story and photos by Marcus Fichtl USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs

Ionel Dobrita stands in the remains of his Monte Cassino kitchen.

When two large explosions rang out near Panzer Jan. 6, Ionel Dobrita and Angelica Prioteasa thought nothing of it. They were using the German holiday as an opportunity to spruce up the kantine they ran, an Italian joint just inside gates of the post, and the nearby training area was notorious for the random snap, crack and even the occasional thud.

But then the calls came in, and they kept coming in.

The Monte Cassino Restaurant was on fire.

They rushed out of the Kantine, past the Exchange and Marine Corps headquarters. Through the fence line they could see their restaurant burning.

Ristorante Monte Cassino is born Dobrita’s story begins 34 years ago beside the brick ovens of La Romantica, then Sindlefingen’s only pizza parlor. The Romanian-born Dobrita’s mastery of romance languages and German made him a liaison between the Italian speaking chef and the German front of the house.

“They put me in the back making pizzas because I could speak Italian and German,” he laughed.

Through the years Dobrita would work his way through the kitchen, hitting all the food stations and perfecting Italian cuisine. He moved over to a nearby restaurant called Joe’s Pub, where he eventually became the restaurant manager. A dispute over the new location sparked Dobrita to stake out on his own. just arriving and about to leave – was just down That’s when he found a small place nestled the road. between the Panzer Main Kaserne and the Panzer In 2014 Dobrita invited Prioteasa, a pâtissier (pasHousing Area at Herdweg try chef) from Romania.

168. Many a restaurant “I flew on a one way had failed at the locaticket from Romania, interviewed on Sept. 29, tion but Dobrita had a trick up his sleeve. So and began working Oct. in 2005, Dobrita pulled 1,” she laughed. up chalks and chrisSoon Prioteasa would tened his new restaurant become Dobrita’s right Monte Cassino - named hand, and a key fixture of their endeavor takafter the hometown of his wife. ing over the kantine on Panzer Kaserne.

“Brother!” belted out Dobrita. “That’s what I Kantines play a call everyone who walks unique role on U.S. bases in Germany; into my restaurant – they exist to ensure well, ‘Sister!’ if they are a woman.”

Local Nationals (nonAmerican workers) on Unlike the predecessors at his new locapost a place to eat at an tion, he embraced his affordable price. Dobrita had an opportunity to American clientele, Ionel Dobrita take over in 2013, but because to him they were family. Just like his since they were opening their other restaurant, the Alte Kanne in Schönaich, American brother back in the states.

The rustic Monte Cassino restaurant soon they passed. Butin 2018 another opportunity arose – became the local German-American stammtisch. and they took it.

That’s where they were on January 6 the day of Even reporters would swing by the restaurant to get the fire, at their Italian food oasis on Panzer. his take on U.S. current events.

“We would be the first place Americans interacted with Germans, and the last,” Dobrita said alluding to Aftermath “We had just left the restaurant for the Kantine the fact the garrison’s major hotel – home to those

“The fire happened, there’s nothing we can do to change that, but our German-American friendship, that only grew stronger.”

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one hour before the fire, we were incredibly lucky.” said Prioteasa.

The fire began at a neighboring structure used to host clubs and meetings, when a faulty refrigerator sparked. The blaze quickly jumped to the roof and across to Monte Cassino where it sparked the restaurant’s gas canisters, obliterating the kitchen.

“We don’t have any windows and the kitchen is noisy, I don’t know what would have happened if the fire started during dinner service,” Dobrita said.

Dobrita said his knees buckled the first day he walked through the kitchen, where he had built his life almost became his coffin. The kitchen was gone, the building’s cross beams burnt and warped, and smoke had seeped into every corner of the main dining room. The rows of fine grappa had turned – now undrinkable. And, almost mockingly, pristine white snow covered the restaurant grounds.

A sooted black hat laid on the bar table. “We can wipe the ash away from that,” quipped Prioteasa.

Dobrita and Prioteasa said they have received dozens of texts from his patrons, including Americans who left three or four years ago – his “brothers” and “sisters.” Even the mayor of Böblingen offered his support “The fire happened, there’s nothing we can do to change that,” said Dobrita. “But our GermanAmerican friendship, that only grew stronger.”

Dobrita hopes to reopen the Monte Cassino restaurant in six to seven months, but in the meantime you can find him at the Panzer Kaserne Kantine near the main gate, first floor of bldg. 2913

Ionel Dobrita serves up a pizza at the Panzer Kaserne Cantina.

USAG Stuttgart Directorate of Emergency Services teams up with their German counterparts to ensure safe movement near Panzer Kaserne, Jan. 6.

Ionel Dobrita points at the gas

Ionel Dobrita and Angelica

tanks, now covered in snow, that

Prioteasa stand in front of the

caused his kitchen to erupt.

Monte Cassino restaurant.

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RB Elementary hosts

#WhyYouMatter art show Story and photo by Bardia Khajenoori USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs

The writing was on the walls at Robinson Barracks Elementary School.

But far from being foreboding, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement and pride on Nov. 16 as students, parents, and staff explored hallways lined with hundreds of portraits and personal messages of why each individual member of the school community felt they mattered.

“I really liked the art show — it made me think of a museum,” said RBES fifth grader Christion Habersham, whose own statement referenced his quirkiness and sense of humor. “It’s everyone’s voices. It shows their personalities, what they are, how they want to live.”

Faculty members drove the point home clad in matching black t-shirts emblazoned with the phrase “You Matter” as they served pizza and oversaw a selfie station, writing wall, and other activities set up for the event. One-by-one, proud parents eagerly positioned their children next to the poster bearing their image to create their own keepsake.

The show was the culmination of a campaign called #WhyYouMatter, which originated in 2017 as a Michigan high school’s response to the tragic losses of three students, including two by suicide, in less than a year. It has since been adopted by dozens of schools worldwide as a way for students to consider their unique qualities and build positive self-image.

Art teacher Maggie Holloway introduced and spearheaded the project at RBES. She first heard about #WhyYouMatter through a conference presentation in the fall of 2021 by the two women who started it.

“When I heard their story, I just had tingles everywhere,” she said, recounting recent personal experiences with anxiety and depression among children at the elementary and middle school levels. “Knowing that’s on the minds of the young kids in our community, it just seemed like [#WhyYouMatter] needed to happen here.”

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The art show included opportunities for anyone to write their own #WhyYouMatter response in front of a themed backdrop.

A young visitor points to a poster she wants read to her by a parent.

Holloway mentioned her idea to colleague and RBES school counselor Kristin Abel the following spring. Abel loved the idea and, in turn, brought it to the attention of Principal Lisa Bell. With the enthusiastic support of Bell, fellow staff members and the school’s Parent Teacher Student Association, which provided assistance with materials, the vision came to life.

In addition to the portraits, Holloway and Abel taught lessons on self-worth, and related themes were integrated into work that students would create in Holloway’s art classes.

“It was really interesting, beginning to talk to them about this campaign and why they matter, and having them brainstorm why they thought they mattered, with practice times of writing it down until they found what they wanted to say and had their picture taken,” Abel said.

Holloway photographed each individual holding a small whiteboard with their response in front of a backdrop and later inserted each striking monochrome image into a poster template. Children too young to write for themselves held up a blank whiteboard and had their personal responses superimposed on it during the editing process.

Eventually, nearly everyone on campus would participate, including kitchen staff, gardeners, and bulldog mascot Boris.

“The best part was seeing the looks on kids’ faces, seeing their smiles and hearing their thank yous” as the posters were displayed, Holloway said.

“I really liked the art show — it made me think of a museum,” said RBES fifth grader Christion Habersham.

School mascot Boris the Bulldog shows why he matters.

Members of the RBES community applaud during the opening of the show.

Students were eager to pose with their posters as their parents captured the moment.

Garrison Commander Col. Matthew Ziglar also took part in the project.

Young visitors prepare #WhyYouMatter statements before their turn at the photo booth.

Abel felt the overall experience helped teach empathy through exposure to others’ perspectives, and that you aren’t alone when you experience negative feelings.

Fourth grader Ainsley Guinnup agreed, characterizing the initiative as “amazing” and explaining that even some of the youngest children were taking away those insights. “I think the first graders really started to understand it by realizing that other people matter too,” she said.

While the prompt was the same for all, participants could be creative in how they responded.

The result was a diverse array of short and long messages, funny and serious ones, and some which included drawings or poems representing how the respondents saw themselves.

“My experience on this project was remarkable, because it’s not every day you get to reflect on yourself,” said student Arjun Abichal.

“It was like the key to unlock the door.”

The eleven-year-old was initially unsure of what to write but settled on creating an acrostic poem of his name with descriptors such as ‘artist’ and ‘respectful.’

“It made me think, ‘Am I all these things? Am I always these things?’ and made me reflect on who I was,” he said. He added that teachers and administrators’ passion for the project made it clear that they truly believed in it – and in their students.

The level of support was “unbelievable” to Holloway, “I think I partly wanted the parents to see that their kid is important to each of the teachers here, and that even when they’re not with their mom or dad, they’re in good hands,” she said.

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There’s an old Jeff Foxworthy joke that goes: “If you know all four seasons as almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction season, you may live in ______ . “ And if he were touring the garrison, he’d fill that blank in with “Stuttgart” to probably an equal amount of chuckles and groans.

There’s no getting around the fact that the garrison has its fair share of construction projects, and that they may be an inconvenience when commuting or parking. But these renovations, refurbishments and new builds are integral to bringing a post that plays a central part in U.S. military presence on two continents into the 21st Century.

We’re refurbishing sewer lines that date back to the 1950s, upgrading gyms to accommodate our growing population, centralizing our heating so that it’s more efficient and consistent, and building 21st Century Schools so our children can receive the best education possible. The way our garrison receives money for projects coupled with German bureaucracy can sometimes create a perfect storm of congruent projects,, but our team of engineers is constantly looking for ways to minimize impacts to our community while also hitting that big red button marked “progress.”

PATCH BARRACKS Floridastrasse Sewer Project Expected Start: Currently Ongoing Expected Completion: March 2024 Why: To upgrade 1950s era sewer lines.

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Photo by Luis C arlos T orres /Sh utte rsto ck

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Garrison Construction for 2023

By Marcus Fichtl USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs

Photo by ABCDstock/Shutterstock.com

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Patch Gym HVAC Repairs Expected Start: Currently Ongoing Expected Completion: April 2024 Why: Improve facility ventilation system

Why: To provide the community an upgraded and modern commissary.

Husky Field Upgrades Expected Start: April 2023 Expected Completion: March 2024 Why: Improved lighting coverage allowing for more varied use.

Family Housing District Heating Expected Start: Currently ongoing Expected Completion: August 2023 Why: Upgrade heating and hot water system infrastructure.

Community Club to CDC conversion Expected Start: Currently Ongoing Expected Completion: February 2024 Why: Increased space for Patch’s Child Development Center

Kelley Gym Expansion Expected Start: November 2024 Expected Completion: July 2024 Why: To increase available space in the gym.

PANZER KASERNE Panzer Auto Skills Expected Start: Fall of 2023 Expected Completion: March 2025 Why: A new 12,000 square feet center with automatic car wash, 12 service bays with ten hydraulic lifts, storage and welding shop.

Patch on Panzer School conversion into Youth and School Ages Center Design: 2023 Expected Completion: 2028 Why: Additional space for youth and child services.

New Commissary Tentative Start: October 2023 Expected Completion: Spring 2027

KELLEY BARRACKS

ROBINSON BARRACKS Valley Building Demolition/RBES Construction Expected Start: Demolition in February 2023, School Construction Fall of 2023 Expected Completion: November 2027 Why: Creation of a new 21st Century School at Robinson Barracks.

RB Sewer Project Expected Start: Currently Ongoing Expected Completion: 1st Quarter 2024 Why: To upgrade 1950s-era sewer lines.

RB Post Office and CMR consolidation Expected Start: February 2023 Expected Completion: November 2023 Why: Upgrade and consolidation of RB APO and CMR

A year in review 2022

By Balmina Sehra USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs

The year 2022 brought along many mixed emotions, the freedom of moving past COVID and once again exploring the world was met by catastrophic weather and Europe seeing its largest war since World War II. During the summer, many countries experienced heatwaves and monetary crises with temperatures and inflation soaring.

But although it may seem a bit grim, there were also a lot of positives that happened during the year. It was also a year that showed great humanitarian spirit and amazing historical discoveries. So let’s dive in and take a look at the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of 2022.

MARCH

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Î After a long search, scientists find Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance, which sank in 1915. The ship was found in excellent condition in the Weddell Sea off the coast of Antarctica and lies at a depth of about 10,000 feet.

The expedition was led by John Shears, a veteran geographer. He hopes that people would be inspired by “what human beings can achieve and the obstacles they can overcome when they work together.” Î Prog-rock pioneers Genesis finish their farewell tour (The Last Domino?) in London. The band originally formed in 1967 in England, but 55 years later songs like the “Land of Confusion” hold relevance in today’s world of climate change.

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Î The world’s first airport for flying cars and drones opened up in Coventry, England. It was named “Air-One” and was completed by Urban Air-Port Ltd (UAP) within 18 months. The hope is that this will demonstrate how urban air mobility can reduce air pollution and congestion on the roads, therefore creating a sustainable public transport network. It is said that the first passengers could be transported in 2025. Î Shehbaz Sharif is elected Pakistan’s new Prime Minister by the country’s parliament, replacing Imran Khan after the no-confidence motion against the former Pakistani president. Î Italian women footballers turn /Shuttersto ug i ni professional after the Italian P er li iam l Football Federation changes y W the status of the top division. Previously female players would earn capped salaries at €30,000 a year due to their amaetur status.

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Î Russia invades Ukraine, igniting the largest war in Europe since World War II. A war Russian officials believed would take only three days has caused thousands of deaths and millions of refugees. Russian aggression is widely condemned by world leaders. Î Australia reopens its international border to vaccinated tourists after their 18 months long travel ban.

Many people have not been able to visit their friends or family since the harsh lockdown in Australia caused by the coronavirus.

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FEBRUARY

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Î State Funeral is held in Cape Town, South Africa for anti-apartheid leader Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Desmond Tutu was known for his non-violence approach though strong will to fight for what he believed was right including his support for the LGBTQ+ community. In 1984 Desmond Tutu received the Nobel Peace Prize for his anti-apartheid activism, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor,” Desmond Tutu, 1984 Î Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok resigned due to political deadlock after a rejection of his deal with the military by pro-democracy forces. Abdalla Hamdock served as prime minister from 2019-2022 in Sudan, taking over after the 2019 Sudanese transition to democracy. In 2021 however he was arrested when the Sudanese military took control of the government in a military coup.

When he resigned he said that the country was at a dangerous turning point and that a roundtable discussion was needed to come to a new agreement for Sudan’s political transition to democracy.

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Î Extreme flooding left Pakistan in a devastating humanitarian crisis, leaving nearly 10 million children in need of lifesaving support.

Hundreds of thousands of homes are damaged or destroyed including public health facilities, water systems and schools. The monsoon rain was much heavier than it had been before affecting 75,000 square kilometers of the country. Î Germany and Nigeria sign an agreement to return ownership of Benin Bronzes, back to Nigeria. The Benin bronzes were looted during colonial times 125 years ago by British soldiers. This is part a larger effort by Western nations to seek reparation of stolen artifacts from Africa. Although Germany was not effectively part of colonization it did benefit largely from it. Some artifacts will remain on loan to the German government by Nigeria.

Î 48 percent of Mexico’s states experiencing drought and due to the extreme lack of water residents have blocked highways and kidnap municipal workers to demand more supply. People have become so desperate that violence has flared up causing people to fight over the little water there is. The government distributed a total of nine million liters of water daily to 400 neighborhoods. Î Period Product Act comes in to force making Scotland the first country in the world to make period products free for all. Access to free period products is fundamental to equality and dignity. In Scotland 10% of menstruating people have struggled to afford period products, resulting in them either having to borrow period products from a friend or have had to improvise.

Nearly half of women globally have not been able to afford both food and period products in the 2022. Î European drought uncovers river ‘hunger stones’ that once warned of famine, including Děčín stone. The earliest readable inscription 1616 on Elbe River, with carving “if you see me, then weep”. “Hunger stones” are a common landmark in Europe and serve as famine memorials and warnings for future generations of the famine and hardship that is likely to follow each time they become visible. During the summer Europe had seen its temperatures skyrocket causing some of its rivers to run dry.

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Î Heatwaves continue across North and Central India with temperatures reaching 115.34 F, devastating those without access to air conditioning. Scientists blame global warming for the high temperature so early in the year, and say this is just the beginning for the subcontinent. Î According to economic experts, Zimbabwe is in the midst of a severe economic crisis with unemployment at 90 percent, hyperinflation and falling Zimbabwe dollar. Agriculture has taken a hit, as the climate is becoming more unpredictable, making it difficult for the people of Zimbabwe to be able to make a living for themselves or cultivate enough food for its own nation.

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Î Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Platinum Jubilee after 70 years of service to the people of the United Kingdom. Festivities were held all over the country as the people got a day off work to celebrate. People set up benches in the middle of the road and celebrated together drinking and eating and dressed in the Union Jack Flag. Î 30,000-year-old intact remains of a baby wooly mammoth is found frozen in permafrost in Klondike gold fields in the Yukon, Canada, by miners. After further inspection, scientists have found out that the baby mammoth is female and is one of the “most incredible mummified Ice Age animal ever discovered” according to paleontologist Grant Zazula. The baby mammoth was named Nun cho ga, which means “big baby animal” in the Hän language.

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Î Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro, a far right leader, loses the election to left leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Lula is returning to presidency after having served as the 35th president from 2003-2011. There were two rounds of votes, Lula won both rounds but needed to achieve a minimum of 50 percent of votes in order to win the election, which he managed to do very closely at 50.90 percent making this the closest election results in Brazil’s history.

Because of Lula’s lead in the pre-election polls, Bolsonaro made several allegations of electoral fraud. Î UK Prime Minister Liz Truss announces that she will be resigning after only 44 days in office, making her term the shortest in the country’s history. She resigned due to her own Conservative Party rebelling against her caused by her failed tax-cutting budget that shook the financial markets. She was succeeded by Rishi Sunak, also from the Conservative Party and the first Indian Prime Minister in the United Kingdom.

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Î After two years of conflict Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) sign peace deal. It will allow for humanitarian aid deliveries and protect civilians. The war has left millions of people displaced and many near famine. After many peace talks during the summer the conflict started up again after both sides accused each other for not taking the peace talks seriously.

After the war had grown to become more violently, killing more than 100,000 people within a few weeks the United Nations and the African Union became more alarmed and pushed for another peace talk.

After meeting in South Africa, both parties sent out a joint statement, stating that they had “agreed to permanently silence the guns and end the two years of conflict in northern Ethiopia”. Î The World population succeeds 8 billion people. According to the United Nations this is a sign for major improvements in public health. Î Archaeologists find bronze statues of the Etruscan and Roman age, perfectly preserved for over 2,300 years in Tuscan Spa. It is believed that the statues were given to the waters in a form of ritual.

Researchers do not know the exact reason for them being drowned in the water however this has helped the statues to still be in such great condition, showing details such as jewelry.

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Î Queen Elizabeth II passes away peacefully at the age of 96. She was the longest reigning monarch, having only just celebrated 7 decades on the British throne.

Her death brought up many mixed feelings amongst the public of Great Britain and the rest of the world. Including the heated argument of the need for a monarchy and colonialism. Î Protests in Iran start following Mahsa Jina Amini death in police custody. The 22 year old was accused by the moral police of not wearing her hijab (headscarf) correctly and was taken to the police station. It was stated that she had just collapsed and died but the people in Iran had feared that she may had been tortured to death which sparked fear and anger within the public. People took to the street and protested against the violation of women’s rights, the imposition of Islamic law and the lack of freedom and expression.

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SEPTEMBER

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Î Argentina’s male soccer team wins the FIFA World Cup for the third time in its tournament history. Having won the tournament back in 1978, 1986 and 2022.

They defeated the French soccer team in the finals in Qatar. Î New Zealand is trying to become smokefree by 2025 by passing world’s first tobacco ban, by banning born after 2009 from buying cigarettes. The hope is that smoking will fade away as a social construct. Î A German construction crew struck an unexploded World War II-era phosphorous bomb during sewer repairs on Patch Barracks.

A backhoe penetrated the casing of the bomb, releasing some phosphorus vapor. A German explosive ordnance disposal team arrived on scene and safely removed the bomb.

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17 1st Quarter 2023

The garrison guide to better fitness

By Balmina Sehra USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs

The beginning of the year is often spent setting goals you want to achieve in the future. And fitness goals usually top that list. It can be very difficult however to know where to begin and how to start. So we sat down with some of the garrison’s fitness experts to find out all their helpful tips and tricks to help you stick to your fitness goals this year and hopefully help you achieve a healthier future.

THE WELLNESS CENTER

Before hitting the gym, we first recommend heading to the Wellness Center to measure your baseline fitness. The Wellness Center will strap you into the ‘bod pod’ testing everything from your metabolic rate to your body fat percentage. Then the center’s team will design your nutrition plan not only helping you shed weight but shedding many of the misconceptions surrounding the C-word — Calories. For healthy change, nutrition and exercise go hand in hand making the Wellness Center a fantastic source to check out!

Olivia Phillips, a health educator at the Stuttgart Army Wellness Center, administers a test.

FITNESS CLASSES

Another great motivator to get you into moving more are fitness classes. Many people have the misconception that you have to get fit first before attending a HIIT class (High Intensity Interval Training).

From the outside they may seem intimidating, and often people feel like they have to get into shape before even attending such a class. However, the classes are specifically designed to help beginners so don’t be afraid! It’s also a fantastic way to introduce you to some of the equipment found at the garrison gyms. There are a wide range of fitness classes that Family and MWR offer, such as Zumba (a Latin dancing class) to Power Cycle and Yoga. Not only will you build muscles, you’ll build friendships as you motivate each other during class.

Community members greet the new year with a Zumba class. Photo by Balmina Sehra.

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Kurmärker Str. 30 70569 Stuttgart And they’re off! Stuttgart residents race in the 2022 Pumpkin Run. Photo by Family and MWR Marketing.

FUN RUNS

Having something to work toward can help with motivation and staying consistent with your workouts, and there may be no better fitness milestone than a “Fun Run” (no that’s not a typo). Fun Runs are friendly themed races, usually no longer than 5 kilometers (3.2 miles). This year Family and MWR hosts will bring back favorites like the “Be a Hero Run” – where runners dress as their favorite superhero – and the “Pumpkin Run” – that takes runners through haunted woods. Bring your family to motivate you or run/walk alongside you! the distance at your own pace.

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PERSONAL TRAINER

Need that personal touch? Look for a personal trainer on the Family and MWR website. The fitness center can be a very daunting place, whether you have never worked out before or are looking into getting back into fitness. A personal trainer is also a great way to help you with your fitness goals, stay consistent and learn how to use all the equipment properly. It’s recommended that you reach out to multiple PTs at once and see who you get along with best. It is very important you find someone you like and trust. Remember the key is not fast results but rather consistency when looking at your fitness goals.

BE STRONG INITIATIVE

A new year, a new way to “BE STRONG.” As we head into the New Year, take advantage of the opportunities and incentives being provided by the Stuttgart fitness centers to increase your physical activity. “Activity is important for our physical and mental health,” said Annie-Marie Harcrow, Family & MWR fitness coordinator. The “BE STRONG” program powered by Healthy Army Communities is an 8-week program that offers classes, like weight room introduction, and prizes that can be earned through a point system. The goal is to introduce or reintroduce community members to the fitness centers and make them feel comfortable to return regularly.

Participants can register at any Stuttgart Fitness Center and earn points by swiping at fitness centers, submitting weekly step or active minute counts, and participating in various classes starting January 9, 2023. Prizes can be earned randomly throughout the program, and at the end, most points earned will receive a $600 gift certificate for MWR Tours for first place, and a $400 gift certificate for Outdoor Recreation for second place.

For more details on all of the abovementioned events, programs and activities, visit Stuttgart.armymwr.com You can schedule an appointment with the Army Wellness Center by calling +49(0) 6371-9464-1601.

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19

From the historian — A Longtime Military Town the fall of the Roman Empire, Frankish and later Germanic kingdoms soon sought to establish their own control over the fruitful river valley and surMany centuries before American troops arrived, rounding farmland. Castles with their retinues of the Stuttgart area had long hosted military forknights and armed footmen sprang up to protect mations and their associated communities. The the various land holdings of their respective lords.

Romans were among the first to establish a notable In the year 950, the Duke of Swabia, as this martial presence in the region when they built region of Germany was known then, established a stud farm, or stutt-garten, across the Neckar from the former Roman encampment. By providing warhorses for the duke’s knighted cavalry, it was from this generally military function that Stuttgart grew. A few centuries later, the German noble family of House Württemberg made the local castle and surrounding village into a primary seat of power.

As it grew from town into city, Stuttgart remained a key administrative and military center for the Württembergs well into the 19th century.

It was in the period of German national unification that some of the installations where Americans would later serve first took shape. During the Napoleonic era, the former ducal province was elevated into the Kingdom of Württemberg. Its rulers were keen on shaping their small army into a professional military force modeled after that of the fellow Germanic state of Prussia. A more centralized command structure, modern military weapons, and specialized units required dedicated facilities and training areas. Construction of new garrisons, or kasernes, began during the mid-1800s and accelerated after the kingdom’s incorporation into Imperial Germany in 1871.

Regiments of the Württemberg army evolved from home-grown units into more standardized organizations, which in turn were incorporated into larger Prussian-inspired formations.

Kasernes sprouted up across the Stuttgart region and especially in neighboring Ludwigsburg, where impressive military demonstrations and The Württemberg coat of arms, with the lion representing the historical region of Swabia and the stag representing the ruling parades were conducted near its royal palace. house. Photo is public domain The posts often bore the functional names of their units, such as Dragoner Kaserne in Ludwigsburg, which first housed a dragoon regiment and still stands today as part of a local school.

This period of military development also witnessed the rapid evolution of Stuttgart into an industrial center known most especially for the early automotive work of Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler.

Together these historical trends were also propelling the region and its military establishment into a time of traumatic upheaval as Wilhelm II was the last King of Württemberg, reigning from 1891 the modern era of the to 1918. Photo is public domain 20th century dawned.

By Bill Butler USEUCOM Command Historian

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a fortified encampment along the Neckar River where Bad Cannstatt sits today. Its purpose was to protect the many villas and associated vineyards blanketing the river valley and to guard the main Roman road connecting the key frontier towns of Mogontiacum, today’s Mainz, and Augusta Vindelicorum, now known as Augsburg. Although the area briefly sank into a period of decline after

1st Quarter 2023

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2023 Spring Bazaar set to delight shoppers

The entry to 2022’s Spring Bazaar.

Story and photos by Joel Wasko Family and MWR Marketing

The moment you walk through the large doors, your eyes dazzle with exhilaration as you pause to take it all in: cheeses and chocolates, wines, soaps and oils, cured meats, balsamic vinaigrettes and olive oils, cuckoo clocks, jewelry, antique furniture, artwork, home décor, Polish pottery, rugs, kitchenware, and more! Where do you begin? Enjoy a tour of the senses through Europe-all while visiting one

Meats!

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convenient location: the 2023 Spring Bazaar at U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart.

“The Spring Bazaar is more than just shopping, it’s an experience. It gives our community a chance to see a wide variety of European culture and merchandise in one location,” said Corrie Schwab, Operations Officer, Stuttgart Family and MWR. This annual shopping extravaganza is a four-day event hosted by Harriet R. Tubman in partnership with Stuttgart Family and MWR, and it is one of the most popular in the USAG Stuttgart community.

Pottery!

ID cardholders, NATO Forces, civilians, and reservists with TDY orders will have the opportunity to explore more than 70 vendors from across Europe at the Spring Bazaar held May 4-7 at Panzer Parade Field and the Panzer Fitness Center.

• • • •

Thursday, May 4, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Friday, May 5, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Saturday, May 6, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Sunday, May 7, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Baked goods!

Gnomes!

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Visitors will meet new vendors participating at the Spring Bazaar for the first time, and purchase from returning popular vendors that bring many crowd favorites, as well as many new items, unique to Europe.

Private organizations from the community will ensure that everyone can refuel during their shopping tour with delicious food and beverages for sale.

A convenient bus shuttle will be available throughout the day and will make frequent rounds stopping at the Exchange parking lot, Panzer Hotel, Stuttgart High School parking lot (outside of school hours) and the Panzer Fitness Center.

Parking is encouraged at either the Exchange, Galaxy Bowling and Entertainment Center, or Stuttgart High School parking lot (outside of school hours); of course, all regular legal parking spaces can be utilized.

Credit and debit cards are the only form of payment accepted at the Spring Bazaar, including: American Express, Mastercard, and VISA.

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Stay in the know with the USAG Stuttgart app Story and photos by Bardia Khajenoori USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs

The USAG Stuttgart Mobile App brings together the garrison and community information you need at the touch of a button. The app is maintained by the garrison’s Public Affairs team and is constantly improved based on community feedback. Here are some examples of features you should know, or might have missed: Bolded text references specific menus or features.

Employment Opportunities and Preference Info Looking for a job, volunteer opportunities, or information on how to start a home-based business? Among the highlights of the Employment menu are direct links to open positions across the garrison and an explanation of the hiring preference options available to eligible spouses and family members. You can find out all about the homebased business (HBB) approval process and find a list of approved HBBs here too.

Hospitals and Specialties Local hospitals offer a wide range of services, but in non-life-threatening circumstances, not every hospital offers care in every specialty. The ‘Hospitals and Specialties’ button, accessible through the Emergency and Healthcare menus, includes a map of medical facility locations relative to the garrison’s residential installations along with a list of specialties for each facility. The phone number for the on-call Patient Liaison is also listed in this section. If conditions allow, always contact them for advice and assistance before traveling to a hospital.

Acronym Glossary Military life is full of acronyms and abbreviations, and even seasoned individuals may find some unfamiliar ones in a joint community since different Services sometimes have different names for the similar functions or processes. The ‘Acronym Glossary,’ housed in the Garrison Info menu, provides a handy reference (or even study guide) to help improve understanding. Where appropriate, it’ll also show approximate equivalents (such as ‘Airman and Family Readiness Center’ for ‘Army Community Service’).

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Trash and Recycling Guides Germany takes recycling seriously, and the number of different ways to sort trash may seem overwhelming at first. But with just two taps in the USAG Stuttgart app (Housing  Trash & Recycling), you can access comprehensive yet easy-to-understand guides produced by the garrison’s Environmental Division that explain which kind of materials go into which container.

The guides cover both on-post waste sorting and off-post, where procedures and bins may vary by community.

Maintenance The Maintenance button is your one-stop shop for getting things fixed in on-post housing, an office building, or with government-issued appliances in off-post living quarters. A banner at the top directs you to the right place to submit your request based on the type of service needed. The 24/7 emergency hotline is a tap away if needed — just check the provided guidance on qualifying situations first. For issues you can fix yourself, Housing residents can also find the locations of the SHIP (Self Help) stores and a list of available items.

Get to know the area Within the ‘Things to Do’ menu are two items to help answer some of the most common questions newcomers have about leisure time: ‘what is there to do here?’ and ‘what’s an easy day trip?’ Compiled from prior editions of the Stuttgart Citizen, these eight pages highlight local parks, museums, and palaces as well as day trips of less than two hours which are easily accessible by public transit.

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Tel. 0711-912 55 913 mail@ptm-office.com www.ptm-apartments.com

A U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart firefighter took top honors in Europe during the 2022 Fire and Emergency Services Awards recently.

Tobias Heumann, a firefighter with the garrison’s Directorate of Emergency Services, was named “Installation Management Command - Europe’s Top Civilian Firefighter,” besting candidates from more than seven other garrisons across the continent. “[Heumann] demonstrated resourcefulness and the ability to overcome challenges within each of their functional areas,” IMCOM-E said in a statement. “Each candidate has contributed significantly to Tobi IMCOM-E’s mission as Heumann rap and had a positive impact h ic by wha on the communities they serve.” tstoc k/Shutterst k.com oc His teammates said they nominated him for his “uncommon courage, dedication to USAG Stuttgart stakeholders, steadfast leadership attributes, and his commitment to excellence above and beyond the standards.”

Winning the award came as a sur-

Stuttgart firefighter named Europe’s best

G

prise to Heumann, he said that “it was a great honor” and shows that his work and efforts are being recognized.

The 35-year-old from Ansbach joined the garrison in July 2020, but has been living what he calls “the best job in the world” since 2011 when he began as a volunteer firefighter in Bechhofen.

Heumann said he’s passionate about having a job that can help people in distress and make meaningful contributions to his community.

“Usually when we get to the scene, the people there are having the worst day of their life,” he said. “We get to help them feel immediately better, and I love having a job that can do that”.

While he’s proud of his recent award, Heumann is not hanging up his bunker gear anytime soon. He plans to get more training, improve his skills and be there for people in need.

“I want to engage more with the community and find different opportunities to do so,” he said “I love engaging with the community and helping out wherever I can.”

Heumann will next compete at HQ IMCOM level. If selected, he would next go against peers at Army Materiel Command before potentially competing at the Department of the Army and Department of Defense levels.

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Photo by Gorodenkoff/Shutterstock.com

Not just smoke

By Balmina Sehra USAG Stuttgart Public Affairs

Brian Lloyd, 23, 554th MP Company: My barracks room, I am PCS’ing soon and even with all my stuff gone my room still feels like my home.

Lindsey, 48: My home, I came straight from the desert area, so Stuttgart and its trees and its foliage is very much the opposite of what I’m used to. It’s very cozy and the community is great. I love the walking areas and that’s what I like to do during my time off.

UT !

O W NO

The Big Question: A place you’ve been to that feels like home

2023 EDITION

Anna, 38, Clothing Sales Assistant: My home, I have many candles that I light when I get home as it makes everything feel cozy and warm and I love the scent. I just feel comfortable when I’m at home.

Joshua Lampert, 37, Navy Supply Officer: Prague or Dublin because the people are really nice and the food is good. I’m a huge foodie and there’s also so much to do there as well.

Paige Sayer, 40, Executive Assistant: Lake Constance as I love the water. There are also some great burger places around here that kinda feel like the places at home.

William, Maintenance: Italy, the beach side. I grew up on the beach so I loved it there and they have great seafood.

Bridget Owen, 23, Manager at Dunkin Donuts, Beuren, almost 50 kilometers away from here. They’ve got some great thermal baths there. That’s where home is for me.

Aisha Abdhul Rahim, 43, DOD Civilian: Portugal, because of the seafood, I’m a huge seafood eater.

Prague Photo by Bardia Khajenoori

Dublin Photo by Bardia Khajenoori

Porto, Portugal Photo by Bardia Khajenoori

THE

Schlossgarten Stuttgart Photo by Bardia Khajenoori

2023 EDITION IS

OUT NOW! Photo by Marcus Fichtl

Lake Constance Photo by Bardia Khajenoori

Get your own copy at: • Army Community Service • FMWR • Commissaries 27 1st Quarter 2023