The May 13 issue of The Signature

Vol. 28 No. 18

may 13, 2011

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Behind the scenes of operation Unified protector at sigonella

By Tracie Barnthouse The Signature Editor Picture this scenario: a NATO coalition member’s F16 experiences some technical problems in the air that requires it to make an emergency landing, and decisions need to be made quickly about what to do. In a flurry of activity, the pilot radios the tower at the closest airfield and is almost immediately granted permission from the air traffic controllers to land.

The events that transpire next truly demonstrate the solidarity and the joint efforts being made as a part of the NATOled operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR at Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella.

Through coordination between four different countries,

Illlustration by GM2 Kris Carmody

Sky TV now available at NAS Sigonella

By MC2 Gary Prill NPASE East Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella Base Communications Office (BCO) is continuing to provide great service and bring a little piece of home to Sigonella residents.

As of May 1st, the BCO has introduced two new Sky satellite television packages for Sailors residing in on base bachelor housing and family quarters, at a minimal cost to the member.

Although some of the programs being received through the Sky TV satellite will still be in Italian, the BCO has requested many of the programs and channels be shown in English. There are two packages being offered.

The basic package will provide Sailors and their families’ access to 34 basic

May 13 H: 80 update L: 59

top StorieS

Weather

Do you keep your cool in the middle of a crisis?

How do you react to situtions of great emotional stress? Chaplain Kennedy writes about keeping the metaphorical plane in the air during times of crisis.

iNSide

PAGE 2 Direct Line 2

local channels, including; Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) Drama and Action, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Cable News Network (CNN), and many more.

The premium package will provide Sailors with the 34 basic local channels available through the basic package and will also add 30 new channels including; Discovery, Disney, Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN), and Nickelodeon, just to name a few.

“We are offering the first month free, as a trial period for new users,” said Santino Rizza, director, Base Communications Office. “If participants are not happy with the programming they can cancel their subscription only paying the installation fee.”

SKY, continued on page 12 May 14 H: 82 L: 59

May 15 H: 83 L: 61

Your favorite doll. Lack of responsibility. Freedom to do what you want.

What do you miss the most about your childhood? Find out what some service members from NAS Sigonella miss the most.

PAGE 3 Navy News 3

ween a number of nations currently deployed to NAS Sigonella to support operations ongoing in Libya.

Twice a week, Butler holds a meeting in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) with all of the coalition members’ leadership, first and foremost to discuss any issues relating to the mission, but also to get to know one another and build rapport. “The update meetings we have in the EOC have really been a good forum to facilitate the operations and share in the camaraderie of operating out of Sigonella,” said Capt. Butler. “It’s both fun and morale building, and it’s the way we make sure operations are going to continue to track here.”

The feeling of camaraderie is felt throughout the coalition.

“Since the operation began, we have worked together in a very good manner with the U.S. and all of the coalition,” said Capt. Roberto Mesiti, Italian Air Force Pilot and Liaison of-

this NATO coalition member’s jet was first cleared for landing by the Italians, repaired by the Danish detachment, refueled by Fleet Industrial Supply Command Sigonella’s Fuels department (US Navy), the crew was taken care of with food and drinks by the Turkish detachment, and then the NATO coalition member - who is not even stationed here - was sent on their way to complete their mission.

NAS Sigonella Commanding Officer, Capt. Scott Butler says, “Everyone chipped in. The thing about that is we have no orders directing this kind of cooperation. There’s no MOU (memorandum of understanding); people just picked up and did what they do, helping each other out - and that’s indicative of how things are going here.”

It’s a scene like this that fully embodies the strong spirit of camaraderie, coordination, and cooperation bet-

Order up!

ficer. “Everything is going really well.

We provide everything needed for the coalition and are working very well together. We are at a very good point – everything is going really smoothly and everybody is really happy.”

Colonel Huseyin Fazla, Commanding Officer, Turkish F-16 Detachment echoes that statement: “There are no challenges. [We are] enjoying life and the operations are as we have planned. Things are going smoothly.”

“The coordination between the various nations is quite outstanding,” said Major Derrick Hotte, Canadian CP-140 Detachment Commander.

“The Italian support we get from the base is great. The meetings in the EOC are a great place to meet all of the U.S. department heads and it COOPERATION, continued on page 12

NAS Sigonella Galley serves increased population

By MCSN Cameron Bramham The Signature Staff One year ago, Naval Air Station Sigonella’s galley, Ristorante Bella Etna was awarded the Capt. Edward F. Ney Memorial Award for the best galley at a shore command outside of the continental United States.

Now, Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella Food Service Officer CWO4 Herman F. McCrary, Culinary Specialist Senior Chief Juancho Lucero and the rest of the galley team are stepping up their game once again as NATO personnel continue to come aboard NAS Sigonella in response to Operation Unified Protector.

“Ristorante Bella Etna is a Navy shore galley, which is charged to primarily GALLEY, continued on page 12

May 16 H: 79 L: 55

American writer and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: “The beautiful fables of the Greeks, being proper creations of the imagination and not of the fancy, are universal verities.”

Greek dramas are coming back to Siracusa.

Check it out!

PAGE 7 Community Calendar 4

May 17 H: 71 L: 54

Photo by GM2 Kris Carmody, The Signature Staff

Operations at NAS Sigonella’s galley, Ristorante Bella Etna have increased over the past few months due to an influx of personnel from various NATO coalition partners.

May 18 H:75 L: 53

Even if you’re new to Sigonella, chances are you’ve already been to Taormina. Nestled high in the cliffs overlooking the Med, it’s one of the hot spots in Sicily. There is truly something for everyone. Go explore this weekend!

PAGE 8 MWR Corner 11

Traffic Numbers

May 19 H: 75 L: 54 As part of Armed Forces Day activities in May each year, military dependants in the United States, Bahrain, Greece, Puerto Rico, Germany, Japan, Iceland, England, and here in Italy will participate in America's Kids Run. Get the details for Sigonella’s run on MWR’s page.

PAGE 11 Il Mercato 14

Jan. 11 Apr. 11

Jan. 10 Apr. 10

Accidents

133

104

Injuries

21

15

DUIs

5

2

Traffic Deaths

0

0

please, don’t become a statistic!

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may 13, 2011

DirecT LiNe We received so many questions for May’s Feedback Live that we couldn’t cover them all during the show, so we are devoting this Direct Line and next week’s to answer the remaining questions.

Please keep sending your questions via email, but remember that Feedback Live is a LIVE call in show -- you can get your question answered on the spot. The show is held on the first Thursday of each month, from 6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. To call in live on the show, please dial 624-4265 or 09556-4265.

Q1. With E4 and below moving back into the barracks, is the region also trying to use Base housing more for sailors and their families coming in to Sigonella, and if so are we going to be getting more base housing or open up pre existing ones like Campo Rotondo and 205?

NaS SigoNella CommaNdiNg offiCer, Capt. SCott Butler

A1. Based on your reference to E4s and the barracks, I am assuming that your question is asking if assignment to on base family housing will become mandatory?

The answer is no. Housing continually monitors the balance between Navy leased (on base housing) and local economy housing to ensure that service members and their families are provided with multiple choices for housing. The recent divestiture of Mineo Housing Complex was an adjustment to that balance correcting the requirement for mandatory on base housing assignments.

Q2. This may have an obvious answer, I just always wondered, why does the pool open so late in the season for open swim and why isn't the baby pool heated as well?

It’s in the shade most of the day and usually freezing!

A2. Thank you for your question.

Looking for fi n a n c i a l freedom?

By MAC Nora V. Martin Command Special Assistant for Personal Finances (CSAPF)

This is just a friendly reminder that each command on base has at least one Command Financial Specialist (CFS) designated in writing by their Commanding Officer or OIC. That specialist role is to provide financial education, training, counseling and referral assistance to military personnel and their family members. You can find your CFS on the Plan of the Day or Plan of the Week. If you need any financial assistance or counseling please seek out your Command Financial Specialist first before going over to Fleet & Family Support Center; or contact someone on the below list for assistance or guidance.

Listed below are the Primary Command Financial Specialist for NASSIG and tenant commands: Commanding Officer Capt. Scott Butler Public Affairs Officer Lt. Matt Knight Deputy Public Affairs Officer Dott. Alberto Lunetta Editor Tracie Barnthouse Staff Writers/ Photographers MC1 Christopher Delano MC2 Gary Prill GM2 Kris Carmody MCSN Cameron Bramham The Signature editorial office is located at: Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily PSC 812 Box 3020, FPO, AE 09627 Telephone: 095-86-5440: DSN 624-5440

NASSIG MAC Nora Martin 624-2776 AIR OPS AWV1 Ari Klein 624-2528 SECURITY MA1 Leandro Arcega 624-6063 AIMD PR1 Mark Longacre 624-6595 CTF-67IS1 Fransico Castrejon 624-7003 ETD AWF1 Troy Rudisill 624-5322 FISC LSC Eugene Barto 624-4520 GlobalHawk Tsgt Sean Kulis 624-2160 NAVHOSP HMCS Tiffany Jones 624-4612 NCTS ITC Christopher Hughes 624-2534 PWC CM1 Joshua Secrest 624-5916 Weapons GM1 Carlos McCraken 624-2119 Remember Sigonella, the safest way to double your money is fold it over and keep it in your pocket.

This civilian enterprise (CE) newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the military services overseas. Contents of The Signature are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense (DoD), or the U.S. Navy. The appearance of advertising in this newspaper, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the DoD or Stampa Generale S.r.l., of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. A confirmed violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected. The Signature is published weekly

by Stampa Generale S.r.l., Sig. Bruno

Summer pool hours are right around the corner! Our aquatic staff increases during the summer and consists of many students, both high school and university.

We also coordinate our Monday through Friday openings with the end of the school year. We will be opening on weekends for family swim starting with Memorial Day weekend, May 28 - 30. In preparation for the summer season swim passes will be available for purchase starting May 2nd at Midtown Fit District. Regarding the wading pool, it was originally designed as a splash pad and then converted to its current state. As you stated it does sit in the shade and that contributes to the lack of heat. The good news is there have been recent upgrades to the pool pump and heating systems which should help bring the temperature up. There is also a solar heating

project coming soon, which should save energy and funds. We will continue to monitor pool temperatures and work with the aquatic maintenance personnel to try to keep it warmer.

Q3. I know we are PCSing soon, but I keep meaning to ask and maybe this question will help another family. Our front screen door in Marinai has a lock (out of child's reach) so that we can leave the front door open, yet the screen door closed and locked.

Would it be possible to install these on the back screen doors? It would help conserve energy and keep our children safe. :) A3. Great suggestion! We will look into the feasibility and deve-

lopment of a project to request funding.

The questions, comments and concerns stated in this column do not constitute the official position of the U.S. Navy and are submitted by members of the community.

NASSIG WORSHIP SERVICES Chapel Offices: NAS I 095-56-3975, NAS II 095-86-9049 PROTESTANT ROMAN CATHOLIC Sunday Sunday 1045 Protestant Worship (NAS I) 0900 Catholic Mass (NAS I Chapel) Wednesday 1200 Catholic Mass (NAS II Chapel) 1700 Fellowship Meal Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 1800 Adult Bible Study 1130 Catholic Mass (NAS II Chapel) Youth Group JEWISH LAY SERVICES Children’s Class First Friday CHURCH OF CHRIST LAY SERVICE 1800 Shabbat Service (NAS I Chapel) Sunday sigshalom@yahoo.com 1300 Bible Study (NAS I Chapel) 1330 Worship Service Call 624-5128 or 338-736-3061 OTHER SERVICES/ACTIVITIES POINTS OF CONTACT Muslim Prayer Room, open for daily prayers, NAS II Chapel, x9049.

Latter-day Saints: Sunday 1300 Catania Chapel, shefchik@hotmail.com; 624-1393 AA Meetings: Monday,Wednesday, Friday – 1900, NAS II Chapel, 346-840-7745

“Chaps, It Was Still Flying” Brandi, Publisher, Naval Support Activity, Capodichino (Naples), Italy - Tel. 081568-7884, Fax 081-568-7887.

E-mail: stampagenerale@tin.it. Editorial submissions are welcomed from all Naval Air Station Sigonella departments, divisions and tenant commands. Editorial submissions should be sent to the Public Affairs Office via thesig@eu.navy.mil, guard mail stop #68 or hand-delivered to our office no later than the close of business on the Friday proceeding the expected publication date. All articles submitted by non-staff members will be considered contributing writers. The Signature will not publish any anonymous articles. All advertisements in this publication are the property of Stampa Generale S.r.l. Any reproduction of advertisements in The Signature is unauthorized without the written consent of the publisher.

We all face variegated crises during our lifetime. Usually, a crisis is linked to the loss of something that we value. One author wrote, “A crisis occurs when an internal reaction to an external hazardous even takes place.”

Several years ago while serving with Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11), one of our aviators had a really close call during a difficult night recovery. It was pitch black that night. The USS NIMITZ was rocking up and down and from side to side due to the sea conditions. While he was refueling, a piece of the aircraft broke off and was sucked into one of his engines (FOD damage).

Seconds later he lost the engine in his F/A-18 SuperHornet. This would be a difficult trap. He was low on fuel. It was dark. White lights blinked brightly in his jet. He had one engine. He had to land on a moving runway. Thankfully, he landed the jet safely on the deck of the NIMITZ that evening (evening prayer was very meaningful that night).

Later that night, I met with him in the ready room, and asked him, “How did you hold it together mentally?” His response was classic, “Chaps, it was still

flying.”

When Apollo 12 took off, the spacecraft was hit several times by lighting.

Their entire console began glow with bright orange and red trouble lights.

Retired Captain Alan Bean, USN, said this about the incident, “There was a temptation to do something! We asked this important question ‘Is this thing still flying in the right direction?’ The answer was, ‘Yes, it is still headed to the moon!’” This was a perfect opportunity to lose their heads, in my opinion! This was a real “internal reaction to an external hazardous event.” The crew of Apollo 12 kept their cool. Methodically, they let the lights glow and blink, while they systematically addressed the individual problems, and watched the lights slowly blink out, one by one.

The astronauts responded to this crisis, they didn’t merely react, there is a difference lexically.

But how does a crisis develop? There are certain characteristics that are present in any crisis situation. Firstly, something happens, a stimulus or precipitating event occurs! This is CRISIS, continued on page 12

CNE-CNA-C6F/CNREURAFSEA IG Hotline It’s everyone’s responsibility to report fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement in Navy activities to: Office of the Inspector General, Naples, Italy Leave a recorded message 24/7: DSN 626-2983, Comm: 081-568-2983 Speak to the Investigator: DSN 626-2964, Comm: 081568-2964 Email: ighotline@eu.navy.mil Website: www.cnic.navy.mil/europe/index.htm You can choose to remain anonymous or confidential.

may 13, 2011

page 3

Mu l l e n s ay s SE A L Te a m repres ents a l l of mi lit ar y

By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service

May 9, 2011 – The scene at the White House was “tense” during the assault on the compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, that killed Osama bin Laden, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff told the audience at the Robin Hood Foundation gala here tonight.

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen answered questions posed by Tom Brokaw during the annual fund raiser at the Javits Center, and gave some insights into the operation.

“It really was the culmination of a phenomenal effort on the part of all the government agencies,” the chairman said. He singled out “the best intelligence work I’ve ever seen that enabled those in the military who executed this mission to do so successfully.”

The chairman praised President Barack Obama’s decision to go after bin

Emergency Management Office Be prepared to be on your own for at least three days. Seven is better! The BASIC FIVE: Water, Food, Heat, Cash, Radio; Family Communications Plan: Phone Numbers & Rally Points; Public Protection Strategies: Evacuation and Shelter-in-Place; Web info: Ready.gov; Emergency info: AFN 106.0 FM; Questions? Call the EM Office at 624-2630, 8265 or 2621.

Laden saying it was by no means a sure thing that the al-Qaida leader was in the one-acre compound. “I thought it was a courageous decision on the part of the president,” Mullen said, noting it was only a 55 percent chance that the 9/11 attack mastermind was in the compound.

The president did “100 percent certainty in relying on our military,” the chairman said.

The SEAL team that killed bin Laden “represents 2.2 million men and women -- active, Guard and reserve,” Mullen said. They are part of the best military he has seen in his more than four decades of service that started in Vietnam.

“I’ve spoken to them -- they are proud of what they did; they are proud to represent this extraordinary military,” he said. “They really did make a difference.”

The silent special operations warriors also would like to fade back into the shadows, the chairman said, “and I

hope that we can let them do that.”

Brokaw asked Mullen about what the feeling was like in the White House when word came back from Pakistan that the team had killed bin Laden.

Mullen said he was elated, but he also was still worried.

“It was far from over at that point,” he said. “They were still inside the building. There was the need to get them out and get them out safely.”

They, of course, did make it out safely.

The special operators performed the mission perfectly even when faced with an additional challenge -- one helicopter had a hard landing and had to be abandoned.

“I think tremendous credit goes to a lot of people,” Mullen said. “Not only did we execute this mission, but we didn’t lose anybody, none of our people were injured, and we achieved it in a way that many people didn’t think we could years ago. They are the best of the best.”

Bravo Zulu - Top 5 Large Commands and their Individual Medical Readiness

What do you miss the most about your childhood?

GM2 Christine Aaron "I miss Play-doh and Barbie dolls."

ITSR Russell Hill "I miss not having to work, and having no responsibilities."

BM2 William Garcia "I miss the simple life; just being a kid."

ABF3 Joseph Kincannon

TSgt Matthew Salerius

"I miss chasing after the ice cream truck."

"I miss the Saturday morning cartoons."

Photo from the Fleet

Security 88% NAS Sigonella 82.6% AIMD 93.5% NAVHOSP Sigonella 93.8% EODMU 8 82% Brought to you by your Flight Line Clinic, Medical Home Port

DoD photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley, U.S. Navy.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen, U.S. Navy, pulls away from the Russian World War I era cruiser Aurora in St. Petersburg, Russia, on May 7, 2011. Mullen is on a threeday trip to the country to meet with his counterpart Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia Gen. Nikolai Makarov.

Perrotta Picciolo

Dott. Stella

page 4

may 13, 2011

Healthy Pregnancy, Healthy Baby 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Red Cross Family Friendly Fitness Event 11 a.m.

NEX/Commissary

Successful Parenting 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

FFSC

IA Social Luncheon 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m x4291

Pre-Deployment Brief 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

FFSC Post-Deployment Brief 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.

FFSC

Effective Communication 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.

FFSC

Survive & Thrive 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

FFSC

Cooking Class 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. x4291

10 Steps to a Federal Job 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. x4291

FFSC can be reached at x4291 American Red Cross at x4900 Does your command or organization have an event you’d like to see on the Community Calendar?

Email us at thesig@eu.navy.mil and let us know!

Pantellaro

La Reggia

Oxidiana

Pietro

may 13, 2011

page 5

Fleet and Family Support Center Administration Building Bldg. 319 (NAS I) Monday–Friday 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

DSN 624-4291 Commercial 095-56-4291

Marchi

Empower. Enrich. EDUCATE.

Get Rich!

It's Simpler Than You Think Article provided byFFSC Sigonella Blend three ingredients - a paycheck, discipline and time - and you can become a millionaire. It's not always easy, but it is simple and there is no excuse not to do it.

Of the three ingredients, chances are you have two of them, income and time. By adding the third, discipline, along with the following knowledge, you can reach your financial goals.

Here's how it works: Say you start with nothing, invest $500 (of your income) a month (a healthy discipline), and let your money ride (over time) in diversified investments. Long term, the stock market returns at least 10% annually.

Assuming a 10% return, you'd have $102,000 after 10 years, $380,000 after 20 years, and $1.1 million in 30 years. All this happens through the power of regular investing and a simple-but-powerful concept called compound interest.

Compound Interest

Citta del domani

Mojito

Motta

Pentagon

Compounding is the reinvestment of the interest you receive from the money you set aside. For example, if you invest $1,000 and earn 10% interest on your principal at the end of each year, you'll get in $100 interest at the end of the first year. If you reinvest that interest, the second year you would start with $1,100, and thus would earn $110 interest. If you stay with it, you'd more than double your money every eight years. The real magic of investing comes when you combine the surprising power of compounding with continuous and regular investments -- in other words, discipline.

The best way to make these continuous investments happen is by setting up an account with a broker or mutual fund that automatically deducts a fixed amount from your bank account every month. "Automatic" is the operative word here.

Trust me, if you don't set it up that way, it won't happen. Instead, you'll end up pouring money in when the market is soaring and skipping payments when it's heading down. Eventually you'll get discouraged and give

up.

Dollar-cost averaging The process of continuously investing a fixed dollar amount is called dollar-cost averaging.

Through dollar-cost averaging, you'll end up buying more shares when a stock or fund is down, and fewer when it's up. For instance, say you're investing $500 monthly in a stock trading initially at $50 per share; so the first time, you buy 10 shares. If the next month the stock moves up to $62.50 your regular purchase will net you only eight shares. However, if the stock drops to $41.67, you'll get 12 shares (not including any transaction fees). It's easy to set up regular-investment mechanisms, thus harnessing the power of dollarcost averaging. Mutual fund companies are more than happy to do so.

Risk Sure, investing in the stock market has risk. There's always the chance the market will go nowhere for the next 20 or 30 years and you'll end up no better than when you started, but there's risk in everything, even CDs. With CDs, your original investment isn't in danger.

Most CDs are insured, and the federal government will step in and make you whole, even if your bank goes belly up. But a problem crops up when something more sinister surfaces: inflation. At this writing, inflation, running at around 2%, is considered relatively benign. But is it? Let's do some math. Your real return is the interest you receive less the inflation rate. If your CD is paying 3% and the inflation rate is 2%, you're only making 1% in real terms. If inflation takes off, say to 5%, your CD will probably be paying around 4%. In inflation-adjusted terms, you've lost 1%. It can get worse. In the early 1980s inflaRICH, continued on page 12

page 6

may 13, 2011 Alberto Lunetta The Signature Staff

Rome’s Municipal Police turn blind eye to Trevi fountain coin stealers Up to €3,000 thrown in to fountain daily by tourists - Cash is supposed to go to Roman Catholic charity - ree municipal police officers suspended from duty - Trawling coins from fountains is now a the

By The Guardian Rome- The chief of Rome's municipal police is facing calls for his resignation amid a scandal over the illicit removal from the Trevi fountain of coins thrown into it by tourists.

Earlier this week, members of Angelo Giuliani's force stood by as a TV reporter was pushed into the fountain by one of three men who had been filmed as they drained it of thousands of euros.

An estimated €2-3,000 is thrown into the fountain each day. In theory, the money goes to the Roman Catholic charity Caritas. But the reality was disclosed by "Le Iene," (the Hyenas) a weekly program on one of Silvio Berlusconi's channels, Italia 1. A hidden camera recorded a man using a broom to sweep the coins into piles for removal.

He was helped by two accomplices who carried the money off in buckets.

The entire operation was calmly watched, first, by a municipal police officer who was handed something by one of the collectors, and then by two others.

When the program's reporter stepped in to ask the police why they were not taking any action, he was insulted and threatened by the man at work in the fountain and then pushed into the water.

It was only when the cameraman was assaulted that the police intervened.

Even then, however, the officers did no-

thing to prevent the reporter being elbowed in the face by the other accomplice.

The Trevi fountain is famous, not just for its Baroque extravagance, but the superstition that anyone who throws in a coin is assured of returning to Rome.

The legend inspired the romantic 1954 movie, Three Coins in the Fountain, and the song of the same name.

It had long been known that some of the cash was taken from the fountain before it could be gathered by the authorities. In 2002 the man filmed wielding the broom in the Italia 1 program – known as D'Artagnan – was arrested for doing so.

But the program showed the removal taking place on an almost industrial scale – and with the evident complicity of the municipal police.

Following D'Artagnan's arrest nine years ago, much play was made of the police having installed CCTV and sensors around the fountain to prevent coins being taken. But it was an open secret among Romans that the portly D'Artagnan and his fellow "musketeers" had returned to work.

Outraged at the threat to what he regards as an honest living, D'Artagnan – real name Roberto Cercelletta – staged a gory protest on Thursday by repeatedly slashing his stomach and then clambering onto the rocks surrounding the fountain to display his wounds. In 2003

a judge ruled that coins thrown into the Trevi fountain had been discarded by theirs owners and could not therefore be stolen.

The policeman approached by Italia 1's reporter told him there was no legal basis for arresting the coin gatherers.

But, as Italia 1 pointed out, there is a bylaw against entering the fountains of Rome that could have been used.

Rome's mayor, Gianni Alemanno, said the attitude of the three police officers was "intolerable" and that they had been suspended from duty pending an inquiry. But his deputy dismissed calls for the resignation of the Giuliani.

As reported by Italian media, Alemanno’s city administration passed a law last week which makes removal of coins from the fountain an offence.

Last Friday, Le Iene TV program aired a footage showing that, as a result of the scandal, Caritas charity can, at least for now, collect the coins tossed into the fountain without fearing retaliation from Mr. Cercelletta and his friends.

Photo by Rosanna Di Bartolomeo/EPA

Roberto Cercelletta is removed from the Trevi fountain by police after protesting at being stopped from removing coins.

Chichio Wild West

Palermo

may 13, 2011

page 7

Greek Dramas come back to life in Siracusa

Photo by C. Aviello

The 47th edition of the Ancient Drama Festival, which draws thousands of spectators annually, has recently kicked off in Siracusa and will run through June 26 featuring two dramas (“Andromache” by Euripides and “Philoctetes” by Sophocles) and one comedy ( “The Clouds” by Aristophanes).

Kartodromo

New Place

American writer and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote: “The beautiful fables of the Greeks, being proper creations of the imagination and not of the fancy, are universal verities.”

This is actually true. These timeless dramas, a brilliant mixture of ancient myths, complicated tragic stories, religious rituals, and lyric poetry, are still relevant to modern times.

Now imagine what could be more fascinating than watching an ancient Greek drama in its original setting sitting where spectators from all eras have been moved by the predicaments to which human life is prone.

Yet, the magnificent Siracusa Greek Theater still boasts amazing acoustic properties as well.

In ancient Greece, the first "Tragedies" were actually satiric myths that were sung and danced by a chorus during the festival held in honor of Dionysus, the God of wine. According to some historians, the word tragedy seems to derive from Greek word Tragoidia or Goatsong from the goatskins worn by the chorus because this animal was sacred to Dionysus. Besides, goats were given as awards for the best performances.

Over the years, these performances developed a more “serious” form. Instead of gaiety and burlesque the plays dealt with the relationship between man and the Gods. The purpose of these dramas was to attempt to explain questions about the nature of man, his position in the universe and his relationship with the supernatural powers governing his life. These tragic plays were basically aimed at expressing the man’s feelings towards the uncontrollable external forces ruling his destiny despite his will.

Festival Schedule Siracusa’s Ancient Drama Festival boasts a world-renowned tradition dating back to 1914 and drawing over 90,000

attendees every time it is held. The festival, which kicked off on Wednesday, May 11, will run through Sunday, June 26. The 47th edition presents two rarely performed tragedies (“Andromache” by Euripides and “Philoctetes” by Sophocles) and one comedy, “The Clouds” by Aristophanes.

Dramas begin at 6:30 p.m. /6:45 p.m. and are staged at Siracusa’s Greek Theater that is one of the largest in the world. The structure dates from the 3rd century BC, but ancient sources already mention its existence in the 5th century. The Romans altered the theater during their rule to accommodate their circuses.

For detailed festival schedules and tickets visit http://www.indafondazione.org Plots by www.indafondazione.org Andromache by Euripides Dating back to around 427 B.C, the tragedy is set in Thessaly in front of the temple of Thetis close to the palace of Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles.

After the fall of Troy, Andromache has become Neoptolemus’ concubine and had a son by him called Molossos. For this reason the “slave Princess” has incited the jealousy of Hermione, Neoptolemus’ legitimate wife and daughter of Menelaus and Helen, who accuses Andromache of using the arts of magic to render her barren in order to take her place in Neoptolemus’ household. In collusion with Menelaus, Hermione plots to kill Andromache and Molossos. However, with the arrival of Peleus, Achille’s father, their plans are foiled.

Menelaus is stopped and protesting returns to Sparta, cowardly abandoning his daughter to face the sure revenge of Neoptolemus. Hermoine, of out fear and due to the slight she has endured, attempts to kill herself. She is barely held back by the Nurse, when Orestes,

son of Clytemnestra and Agamemnon, arrives. He reveals a plot that he has already put into action against Achille’s son, with whom he had formerly entered into conflict over her hand in marriage. As prior to marrying Neoptolemus, Hermione had been betrothed to him. In revenge, Orestes has turned the inhabitants of Delphi against him by instigating a rumor that he plans to pillage the shrine of the treasures that had been left there in offering to the Gods. Believing the slander, the inhabitants of Delphi lay an ambush for Neoptolemus and wreak havoc upon him, bombarding him with arrows and stones, casting him out of the sanctuary.

Neoptolemus’ corpse is taken to be buried by Peleus who is comforted by his divine wife Thetis. The goddess orders Andromache to move to Molossos’ realm, a land where her son’s descendants will govern and where she will marry Eleno. Thetis renders Peleus immortal.

Philoctetes by Sophocles Dating back to 409 B.C, the tragedy takes place on the Island of Lemnos.

Philoctetes, who had taken part in the crusade against the Trojans, has been bitten by a snake which has left him with an incurable and infected wound.

Unable to bear the company and the shouts of their companion, the Greeks have left him behind on the island with the bow which Heracles had bestowed upon him. However, when a seer reveals Heracles’ bow as the only weapon capable to defeat the strength of the Trojan army, their once abandoned and excluded companion suddenly becomes the pivot in their conquest of the enemies’ city. Thus Odysseus accompanied by the young Neoptolemus, the son of Achilles, returns to the island in order to gain the bow by false means GREEK, continued on page 12

FilipinoA meri can Association supports M otta ch ari ty The Filipino-American (FIL-AM) Association of Sigonella, Sicily contributed to the CARITAS Charity event at Motta Santa Anastasia’s on April 17.

The event was organized by the town councilman Ivan Pellegrino, belonging to the Scelta Giovane Cultural Association and coordinated by former town councilman Giacomo Marzullo, the association’s activities coordinator.

Vovo

Over 15 members and their families came out and brought over 50 used and brand new toys and $200.00 worth of educational material collected from the Association to help for distribution to numerous needy orphans supported by the CARITAS foundation. Volunteers enjoyed and appreciated giving back this service to the community.

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and an absolutely gorgeous view over the water. Food lovers, will enjoy researching and choosing a great restaurant for lunch or dinner. There are restaurants and pizzerias in every direction you turn. I honestly think you could go to Taormina every weekend during your tour here and not even make a dent into the pizza scene. It goes without saying that there are numerous gelato shops around Taormina, as well. If you plan it right, it could be a full day food fest.

The town of Taormina is virtually vehicle free, so if you want to just stroll without worrying about the possibility of being hit by a car, this is the place for you. The only vehicles allowed are motorcycles, taxis, and scooters.

If you are lucky enough to be stationed here during the World Cup, Taormina is the place to be to watch the games. Most - if not all of the restaurants and bars show various matches, and it’s so much fun to be swept into the craziness that is the World Cup atmosphere in Europe.

Get out and enjoy Sicily, and if you’re new here and have never been to Taormina, it’s a great place to start!

By Tracie Barnthouse The Signature Editor It seems like for whatever reason, whenever we want to get out of the house, we end up in Taormina. Mother’s Day? Taormina. Birthday? Taormina.

Random Saturday with nothing to do? Taormina. What can I say - we’re creatures of habit.

Chances are you’ve been to Taormina, too; it seems to be one of the first places most Americans visit when they first move to Sicily. But just in case you haven’t been to this beautiful town overlooking the Med, here are some tips to make your trip an excellent one.

First, getting there. All you have to do is take the A18 north until you reach the exit for Taormina.

You do have to go through a toll booth, and as of May 8, the cost from the first entrance (Acri-

Moroboshi

reale) to Taormina was 1.70 euro - but that figure fluctuates, so make sure you have some euro change handy. As you drive the twisting, windy roads up to the city, you’ll eventually hit a parking garage. You can choose to park there and then take a free city shuttle bus up to the entrance to the city, or you can drive through a tunnel to the other side and park in a parking garage there and walk up to the main road. Take note that you have to pay for parking before you leave to go home, so take your ticket with you, as the ticket booth is located outside the parking garage.

Taormina truly has something for everyone. If you’re into history, you won’t want to miss the ancient Greek amphitheater, which also doubles as a concert hall and plays host to a number of artists throughout

the year (Santana’s coming in July – Google it!). The Greek theater is the most celebrated and famous of its kind in Sicily.

It is second in size, as compared to the one in Siracusa, but the view is stunning and overlooks the water and Etna in the background.

If you’re a shopper, Taormina is the place for you. The streets all intertwine and there are little shops everywhere you turn.

From high fashion to trinkets and souvenirs, you can find them in Taormina – though I will tell you that if you’re looking for a specific souvenir, it’s probably smarter to buy it in a supermarket out in town, due to the fact that prices are bumped up since Taormina is such a touristy town.

If you have young ones, definitely don’t miss the community park, which has a playground

Gelso Bianco

Angela

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Photos by Lt. Matt Knight

Magnolia

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*Breakfast: Rolled Oats, Grilled Sausage Links, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets, Eggs to Order, Roasted Potatoes, Waffles, Asstd Doughnuts, Apple Fritters. *Lunch: New England Clam Chowder, Fried/Baked Pollok Fish, Pasta al Forno , Mushroom Gravy, Steamed Rice, Roasted Garlic Potatoes, Steamed Asparagus, Fried Cauliflower, Lemon Cookies, Cheese Cake, Chocolate Cream Pudding.

Speed line: Grilled Cheese/Hamburger, Baked Beans, French Fried Potatoes. *Dinner: Cream Of Mushroom Soup, Cantonese Spareribs, Sandwich, Pork Fried Rice, Steamed Whole Corn, Seasoned Spinach, Lemon Cookies, Cheese Cake, Chocolate Cream Pudding.

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*Breakfast: Rolled Oats, Grilled Minute Steak, Oven Fried Bacon, French Toast Puff, Asstd Omelets, Eggs to Order, Roasted Potatoes, Asstd Doughnuts, Kolaches. *Brunch: Breakfast Items, Bean & Bacon Soup, Grilled Reuben Sandwiches, Italian Roasted Potatoes, Seasoned Green Beans, Glazed Carrots, Yellow Cake w/ Frosting, Hermits. *Dinner: Split Pea Soup, Turkey Ala King, Aztec Rice, Black-eye Peas, Fried Cauliflower, Yellow Cake w/ Frosting, Hermits.

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*Breakfast: Farina, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets, Eggs to Order, Roasted Potatoes, Waffles, Biscuits and Gravy, Asstd Doughnuts, Blueberry Muffins. *Lunch: Cream of Asparagus Soup, BBQ Spareribs, Southern Fried Chicken, Chicken Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Hopping John, Corn on the Cob, Southern Style Greens, Jalapeno Corn Bread, German Chocolate Cake, Cherry Pie. *Speed line: Chicken Drum, Onion Rings.

Dinner: Beef Rice Soup, Spaghetti w/ Meatballs, Lyonnaise Rice, Vegetable Stir Fry, Steamed Asparagus, Brown Gravy, German Chocolate Cake, Cherry Pie .

*Breakfast: Hominy Grits, Oven Fried Bacon, Corned Beef Hash, Asst Omelets, Eggs to Order, Roasted Potatoes, French Toast, Asstd Doughnuts, Raisin Muffin. *Lunch: Onion Soup, Asian Barbecue Turkey, Beef Stroganoff, Mashed Potatoes, Boiled Pasta, Chicken Gravy, Mix Vegetables, Simmered Cauliflower, Vanilla Cookies, Devil’s Food Cake.

Speedline: Assorted Pizza, Chili Dog. Dinner: Chicken Noodle Soup, Meat Loaf, Oven Browned Potatoes, Corn O’ Brien, Simmered Carrots, Vanilla Cookies, Devil’s Food Cake.

Marina Palace

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*Breakfast: Farina, Grilled Ham Slices, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets, Eggs to Order, Roasted Potatoes, Buttermilk Pancakes, Asstd Doughnuts, Butterhorns. *Brunch: Breakfast Items, Beef Vegetable Soup, Chicken Nuggets, French Fries, Mixed Vegetables, Broccoli, Sweet & Sour Sauce, Chocolate Drop Cookies, Apple Crisp. *Dinner: Manhattan Clam Chowder, El Rancho Stew, Mashed Potatoes, Chicken Gravy, Steamed Rice, Green Kale, Peas & Mushroom, Chocolate Drop Cookies, Apple Crisp *Breakfast: Hominy Grits, Minced Beef on Toast, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets, Eggs to Order, Roasted Potatoes, French Toast, Asstd Doughnuts, Streusel Coffee Cake. *Lunch: Chicken Noodle Soup, Rosemary Roast Turkey, Pasta Chef, Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Seasoned Summer Squash, Steamed Peas, Turkey Gravy, Cranberry Sauce, Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, Banana Cake, Dutch Apple Pie. *Speed line: Baked Italian Sausage W/Pepper & Onion. *Dinner: Pepper Pot Soup, Steak w/ Onions, Baked Chicken Quartered , Baked Potatoes, Collard Greens, Calico Cabbage, Brown Gravy, Oatmeal Raisin Cookies, Banana Cake, Dutch Apple Pie . *Breakfast: Rolled Oats, Creamed Ground Beef, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets, Eggs to Order, Roasted Potatoes, Blueberry Pancakes, Asstd Doughnuts, Bear Claw. *Lunch: Beef Vegetable Soup, Breaded Pork Steaks, Savory Baked Chicken, Potatoes Au Gratin, Oriental Rice, Eggplant Parmesan, Tangy Spinach, Cherry Cheese Cake, Chewy Nut Bars, Cream Puffs. *Speed line: Grilled Cheese/Hamburger, Baked Beans, French Fried Potatoes. *Dinner: Minestrone Soup, Salisbury Steak, Steamed Rice, Brown Gravy, Peas & Carrots, Wax Beans, Cherry Cheese Cake, Chewy Nut Bars, Cream Puffs.

Hours of Operation Mon-Fri: 6 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. (Breakfast), 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. (Lunch), 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. (Dinner) Sat, Sun, Holidays: 7 a.m. - 9 a.m. (Breakfast), 11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. (Brunch), 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. (Dinner)

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Armed Forces Kids Run As part of Armed Forces Day activities in May each year, military dependants in the United States, Bahrain, Greece, Puerto Rico, Germany, Japan, Iceland, England, and here in Italy will participate in America's Kids Run. The annual Event began in 1986 as Junior Bloomsday, the child's answer to the annual Bloomsday race that so captivates the Inland Northwest in early May each year. Mike, whose own boys were too young for Bloomsday in 1986, noticed that despite their ambitions, most children just couldn't manage the 7.46 mile Bloomsday course. So he decided a Run for children would capture the excitement of the annual Bloomsday run; thus Junior Bloomsday was born - an event for children ages 5 to 13.

The younger kids would run ½

mile, with the 7 & 8 year olds running 1 mile, and the older kids running 2 miles. Over the years 120,000 children have earned their own tee shirt by completing the annual spring run.

After 16 years of success, Junior Bloomsday realized a name change was in order to capture the national and international interest it was receiving by Military Bases, thus America's Kids Run reflected its growth beyond Spokane's borders. Erwert explains, "It is time to move forward with a name that truly identifies the wonderful Event Spokane has authored".

In May 2002 the first Summer Fitness Camp for 10-15 year olds was created at the request of Air Force Family Services Agency in San Antonio, Texas.

The Program has opportunities to grow with the Navy Fitness

Centers throughout the country.

The Run has been recognized nationally in National Geographic World, National Road Runners Management, Runner World, USA Today, and voted Best Children's Run by Runner World May 2003.

Come be apart of the World’s larget kids run! Saturday, May 21 at 9 am in Marinai!

Registration for run begins online from May 1st to May 20th.

Here’s how to register online:Visit www.americaskidsrun.org, click “Registration” Select “NAS Sigonella” and click “Get Events” Click on child’s appropriate age group and fill out information per child. Sign up and get a free tshirt! *Same day registration wil also be available*

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ITT Trips Scilia & Reggio Calabria Saturday, May 14 Head to the Mainland!!! After a ferry ride acrosss the straight of Messina, visit the beautiful city of Scilia and its castle. The next stop will be Reggio Calabria and you will see two rare stunning Greek Bronze statutes that were discovered in an anciet shipwreck.

Marzamemi Boat Tour Sunday, May 15 & 22 Spend the day at sea! Enjoy sightseeing, swimming, and snorkeling! After you have worked up an apetite we will enjoy a BBQ on the Boat. Bring, snacks, snorkeling gear, bathing suit, towel, and sunscreen.

Kayak: Catania to Acitrezza Saturday, May 14 Paddle Along the coast from Catania to Acitrezza. We will teach you skills you need along the way.

Tandem Sky Diving

midtoWN moVie theaterS SChedule & deSCriptioNS

FAST FIVE- Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris

Friday, May 13 5:00pm Thor PG-13 PREMIERE 7:30pm Fast Five PG-13 Saturday, May 14 2:00pm Thor PG-13 4:30pm Red Riding Hood PG-13 7:00pm Paul R PREMIERE Sunday, May 15 2:00pm Rio G 4:00pm Limitless PG-13 PREMIERE 6:30pm Paul R Tuesday, May 17 5:00pm Thor PG-13 7:30pm Paul R Wednesday, May 18 5:00pm Limitless PG-13 7:30pm Take Me Home Tonight R LAST SHOWING Thursday, May 19 5:00pm The Adjustment Bureau PG13 LAST SHOWING 7:30pm Paul R Friday, May 20 5:00pm Fast Five PG-13 8:00pm The Lincoln Lawyer R PREMIERE

Since Brian O'Conner and Mia Toretto broke Dom Toretto out of custody, they've blown across many borders to elude authorities. Now backed into a corner in Rio de Janeiro, they must pull one last job in order to gain their freedom. As they assemble their elite team of top racers, the unlikely allies know their only shot of getting out for good means confronting the corrupt businessman who wants them dead. But he's not the only one on their tail. Hard-nosed federal agent Luke Hobbs never misses his target. When he is assigned to track down Dom and Brian, he and his strike team launch an all-out assault to capture them. But as his men tear through Brazil, Hobbs learns he can't separate the good guys from the bad. Now, he must rely on his instincts to corner his prey... before someone else runs them down first. (130 min.)

RED RIDING HOOD- Amanda Seyfried, Shiloh Fernandez, Max Irons, Julie Christie, Gary Oldman

For decades, the people of the village of Daggerhorn have maintained an uneasy truce with the werewolf, who prowls at every full moon, by offering the beast a monthly animal sacrifice to quench its appetite. But under a blood red moon, the wolf changes the stakes by taking the life of one of their own. The victim is the older sister of Valerie, a beautiful, young woman, who has just found out that her parents have arranged for her to marry Henry, the scion of the town's wealthiest family. But Valerie wants only Peter, the poor woodcutter she has loved all her life. Unwilling to be parted, the couple was planning to run away together, but, in a horrifying instant, the wolf changes everything. As the townspeople hunger for revenge, famed werewolf hunter Father Solomon is summoned to Daggerhorn to kill the beast once and for all. But Solomon's arrival brings only more turmoil as he warns everyone that the werewolf takes human form by day and could be any one of them. No one is above suspicion. Panic grips the town as the death toll rises with each red moon, tearing apart the once close-knit village. But it is Valerie who discovers she has a unique connection to the wolf that inexorably draws them together, making her both suspect... and bait. (100 min.)

THOR- Chris Hemsworth, Anthony Hopkins, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba

Thor, a powerful but arrogant warrior, is sent down to Earth as punishment for reigniting a reckless war. But after a dangerous villain from his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth, the hammer-wielding Thor will learn what it takes to be a true hero in order to save mankind. (115 min.)

RANGO- Johnny Depp, Alanna Ubach, Abigal Breslin, Isla Fisher, Alfred Molina Rango is a sheltered chameleon living as an ordinary family pet facing a major identity crisis. After all, how high can you aim when your whole purpose in life is to blend in? When Rango accidentally winds up in the gritty, gun-slinging town of Dirt, a lawless outpost populated by the desert's most wily and whimsical creatures the less-than-courageous lizard suddenly finds he stands out. Welcomed as the last hope the town has been waiting for, new Sheriff Rango is forced to play his new role to the hilt until he starts to become the hero he once only pretended to be. (107 min.)

Movie schedule is subject to change. Please call to confirm.

Movie Hotline: 624-4248

Saturday, May 21 Here is your chance to sky dive in Sicily. We take you to Palermo were you can tandem jump with Skydive Sicilia. We will provide the transportation and reservations for your dive. We take off from the Bocca di Falco Airport. What better way to see Sicily then all at once from the sky.

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COOPERATION, continued from page 1 makes it really easy to find who you need to talk to and how you can get things done. That meeting has been exceptionally helpful. Capt. Butler and I have developed a bit of a banter style that’s going back and forth and we’re enjoying it, so that’s fun.”

Though all of the coalition members are fully engaged in operations with not much downtime, they are still trying to get to know one another through a variety of events hosted by some of the countries.

A few weeks ago, pilots and aircrew from the U.S. Mediterranean Express who fly the C-26 out of Sigonella – held a barbecue for all of the coalition members to attend. During another event, the Italian 41st Stormo invited the members to come and enjoy the Italian tradition of grilling artichokes. “It’s really nice to share the experience, to have the spare time to meet each other,” said Capt. Mesiti.

Additionally, every Thursday, Naval Computer and Telecommunication Station (NCTS) Sigonella hosts an open-invite barbecue between their command and the Danish detachment who are operating in spaces near NCTS. “With a mission like this, there’s not a lot of bureaucracy. Everybody seems to be focused on helping complete the task,” said Colonel Lars Kjøller, Danish F-16 Detachment Commander. “Everybody is chipping in and helping each other. We have had excellent support and I think everyone is doing an excellent job,” he said.

Even the most recent arrivals from the United Arab Emirates are aware of how such events help both the morale, and the operational effectiveness, of the deployed personnel. Within just a few days of their arrival, the UAE sponsored an lunch – catered by the U.S. Galley and hosted at an Italian officers’ club – to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the joining of their Armed Forces. The event was well-attended by coalition members from every nation and set the stage for future events.

Fueled by the success of these social gatherings, Col. Fazla, the Turkish Commander said that the members of his detachment are planning to host a similar type of event with all the nationalities of Sigonella’s air base in the future.

Lt. Col. Stefan Wilson, Swedish Detachment Commander is spending time getting to know the Turkish and United Arab Emirates detachments, as they are all operating out of the same building.

“This is the first real mission for the Swedish detachment since the ‘60s,” he said. “We are not a NATO country, so this is quite new for us. In this hangar, we have Swedish, Turkish, and UAE. In general, I think it works quite well,” he said. And these are just some of the examples of how the different nations are working together.

Capt. Butler has been impressed with how well the coalition members are working together. “We now have an unprecedented collection of forces here, some from NATO nations, some not, and they are all operating here like they have been doing it together for years,” he said.

Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR is the NATO-led mission that succeeded Operation ODYSSEY DAWN, which was originally established to enforce the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 to establish a no-fly zone in Libya. Under UNIFIED PROTECTOR, NATO Allies and other coalition partners have been sent to protect civilians and civilian-populated areas in Libya that are determined to be under a threat of an attack. NATO is implementing all of the military aspects with regard to the UN Resolution.

Whatever the name of the mission, it is clear that the continued sense of shared

responsibility, focus on mission accomplishment and professionalism will ensure that the operations conducted from, and supported by, the NASSIG Community, will continue to be successful…and maybe even a little fun.

SKY, continued from page 1 For further information about offers in your area and what programming options may be available, contact your Base Communications Office.

GALLEY, continued from page 1 feeding young sailors (meal pass holders) and we also feed monthly ration holders,” McCrary said. “In this particular area we also feed local nationals, civilian employees and we also do other things to help out the community such as catering for different events and functions.”

Lucero said that even though the lack of personnel has made the process difficult at times, he is starting to notice that the more people show up the better his team is becoming more comfortable with the mission of support for NATO forces.

“So far, on a monthly basis, I believe the galley has produced 30-40 percent more productivity since the NATO Forces have been here,” Lucero said.

“All the success we’ve had has also been with less manpower than we are used to.”

Lucero added that he has also noticed a tiny trend in the dining area as well.

“Something I have noticed since all this began was when everyone first arrived is that you would have the Swedish sitting with Swedish or Turkish with Turkish,” Lucero said. “Now, I walk out into the dining area and see multiple nationalities sitting together talking to each other which has really been great to see especially with the problem of the galley being overcrowded.”

McCrary said that he would be lying if he said it hasn’t been difficult at times, but that it has been a successful process thus far.

“Since I’ve been stationed here, I’ve never seen this many different servicemembers from so many countries stay at Sigonella for this long,” McCrary said. “It’s bittersweet, sometimes it can be tough when people come in and make demands that you’re not accustomed too, or force you to input radical changes into your work environment.

But the sweet part is that everyone at the galley, including myself, has had a chance to expand our horizons and learn about these different cultures. In the process, it’s helped us provide a better service for them because we learn their likes and dislikes and so we’ve tried to tailor our operation to not only meet our previous existing needs but the needs of our current customers as well.”

Lucero also said he has appreciated the help from the volunteers from different commands here at Sigonella but still believes more help can be used.

“The volunteer help we have been receiving from Sailors here has been great for us as we are under-manned right now which is not changing anytime soon, so we need all the help we can get before my [local] nationals get burned out...,” Lucero said with a laugh. “Our Italian local nationals are extremely tired, but continue to stay motivated and do what they do best. However, with the reduction in force and us losing about 15 bodies since last year, we can use all the help we can get.”

McCrary said for him the most difficult part so far has been trying to adjust the hours for everyone on base including his primary customers, the meal-pass holders. ”We had to change the hours to facilitate feeding for the various nations who are represented here,” McCrary said.

“For example, the UAE (United Arab Emirates) prefer to eat later in the afternoon, so for situations like that we’ve

been trying to mess with the hours and find the right combination. However, we now feel like we have a set baseline in terms of meal hours so there should not be any other changes until NATO forces complete their mission. Once the demands of the NATO forces are complete, we will then report back to our primary customer’s preferences they prefer which does include the omelet line in the morning. Our goal all along has been to become more international for our menu, so there should be a few changes and new items available soon.”

Lucero agreed that once Operation Unified Protector is complete and NATO forces have moved on that the galley will go back to its normal hours of operation, but until then he said that we as a Naval Air Base need to be here to help our allies with their current mission. ”We are here to support them, they are our allies on an important mission and we just need to continue to give them the same support we give to our fellow Sailors and other U.S. branches of service,” Lucero said. “A lot of them have told me when they arrived here they did not expect as good of quality in a galley as Ristorante Bella Etna. Granted it’s not a home cooked meal or what they are used to at home. So, it’s nice to see them enjoying a fresh meal in between hours that they’re working on completing a mission they were sent here to do. It’s great that we are here to help them and we will continue to support our allies however possible. We are ambassadors of the United States and we help and support.”

CRISIS, continued from page 2 typically some sort of external peril— such as loss of a job, death of a loved one, or divorce (an emotionally hazardous event). It is important to note that the precipitating event isn’t the crisis.

Secondly, an appraisal of the situation occurs. What has just happened? Is this clearly a threat to me? Is this a hazard?

Howard W. Stone says this about the appraisal period, “They see it as a very dangerous situation, one that most likely will adversely affect their lives.”

Thirdly, the internal coping mechanisms start searching for internal resources, faith, beliefs, personal resiliency, and external resources such as family, friends, chain-of-command, Fleet and Family, Mental Health, and other institutions. Stone writes poignantly, “The adequacy of such resources and coping methods affects the extent to which an individual will experience the threat as a crisis....the goal of coping is the reduction or elimination of the appraised threat. If the coping methods reduce the threat, a crisis is forestalled.

But if one’s methods do not diminish the threat, a crisis will almost certainly occur.” The astronauts of Apollo 12 were able to keep their cool in this extremely hazardous situation, and thoughtfully coped with the situation. Life is full of existential struggles and trials.

Unquestionably, we’ll all face some sort of potential crisis, that’s life. Stone continued, “The key to the development of a crisis is that the person’s appraisal process (perception) deems the precipitating event a serious threat, and the coping process does not readily ameliorate the threatening situation…The crisis is not the external event, it is a reaction to that event.”

Next time the console lights are blinking, ask yourself, “Is this thing still flying?” Take some time today and consider your internal resources, such as faith and past experiences. How have you coped with problems in the past?

Also, take some time and think carefully about some of your external resources. The chaplains in Sigonella are committed to helping you through dif-

ficult times. There are many other external resources around you. Think about your resources before the “console trouble lights glow!”

GREEK, continued from page 7 and trickery. Pretending to be the enemy of Odysseus and the Greeks, Neoptolemus seeks to earn the trust of the hero (Philoctetes).

Their plot almost goes to plan when Philoctetes suffering a severe attack of pain gives the bow to his young “friend” but, Neoptolemus caught by a pang of guilt, in an act of nobility and out of respect for the suffering Philoctetes thwarts Odysseus by returning the bow.

Instead he tries in vain to persuade Philoctetes to embark and go with them to defeat the enemy. With the intervention of Heracles “ex machine” the decision is made and their fate is sealed; they are all to part for Troy where Philoctetes will be cured and the city will be seized with the help of the bow and its possessor.

The Clouds by Aristophanes First performed in Dionysia in 423 B.C., the old Strepsiades is on the brink of bankruptcy due to debts that his son Pheidippides has incurred with his love of horses. For this reason Strepsiades tries to encourage his son to frequent Socrates’ school in order to learn how to turn inferior arguments into winning arguments and thus should the opportunity arise be able to beat his aggrieved creditors in court. Faced with his son’s refusal, Strepsiades seeks out the famous philosopher himself, who appears to him suspended in the air absorbed in a scrutiny of celestial phenomena. In order to get that which he desires, affirms the master, Strepsiade has to abandon the traditional gods and entrust himself to the Clouds, the only true divinity. These lessons nevertheless work only to confuse Strepsiades’ ideas. He is driven away on the grounds of foolishness and now has to force his son to go to Socrates’ school to learn the two Arguments; the Superior and above all, the Inferior which, working

in the favor of injustice, is able to manipulate the words. The two Arguments, personified, now face each other in a debate which ends with the victory of the Inferior, to whom Pheidippides is thus entrusted to learn to twist the right to his own advantage. Thanks to the teaching of the Inferior Argument the creditors are indeed annihilated. However, this ability now backfires on the old Strepsiades, who gets beaten by his son who justifies his actions with his newly acquired art of the spoken word. If parents beat their children “for their own good”, then they should do likewise and return the favor. Furthermore, it’s right that the old receive such beatings, because they should make fewer mistakes than the young. Pheidippides’ misuse of this power of speech, results in a crescendo that arrives at the point where he even threatens to beat his own mother. Where upon Strepsiades, having repented his actions and having renouncing the Gods, he rushes to set fire to the Thinkery (school) of Socrates.

RICH, continued from page 5 tion hit 14%. In such times, CDs and similar fixed-income investments don't even come close to the inflation rate, meaning you're losing serious money, in real terms.

By contrast, assets such as real estate and stocks tend to move with prices, and, over time, the stock market has outpaced inflation. For instance, in the 20-year period ending Dec. 31, 2001, the cumulative return of the market, as measured by the S&P 500 Index, was 1,606%, compared to 88% cumulative inflation over the same period.

What's the point? Yes, there's risk in investing in the market, but the odds are that continuous, regular investing combined with the power of compounding will make you rich.

The odds If you count yourself a member of the "I want it now" generation, the RICH, continued on page 13

Agricola gambino

Stampa

may

13, 2011

page 13

RICH, continued from page 12 idea of waiting 20 or 30 years to get rich probably sounds like a dumb idea. Sure, there are faster ways to get rich. You could win the lottery or pick the next Intel or Wal-Mart Stores, but don't quit your day job.

Your chances of winning big in the lottery run around 15 million to one.

Naturally you would be sitting pretty if you had had the foresight to plunk significant cash into Intel or WalMart 20 years ago, but consider that you would have lost money if you'd picked Advanced Micro Devices instead of Intel and you would be broke if you had picked Kmart instead of Wal-Mart. In both instances, your retirement plans would be history.

Here's the bottom line. The fate of your retirement, your comfort in older age, probably lies in your commitment to the concepts laid out in the paragraphs above. For the vast majority of us, wealth creation is a slow and steady but powerful process. The tortoise almost always beats the hare. It's not easy. But it's very, very simple.

If this article peaked your interest and you would like to learn more about investment strategies, call the FFSC at 624-4291.

NAS Sigonella’s Joint Reception Center

Maryland

Mandatory check-in for all coalition forces supporting OPERATION UNIFIED PROTECTOR Location: NAS II Chapel (Bldg 742) In the parking lot of the Gateway Inn and Suites Contact Phone: 624-9049 Purpose: To maintain accountability for all coalition personnel affiliated with Operation Unified Protector. The JRC is also a one-stop shop to provide all operational and recreational points of contact that deployed units will need. The JRC maintains up-todate MWR activities, Red Cross contact information, base maps, bus schedules, and information for the Fleet & Family Support Center here at NAS Sigonella.

Announcement for Healthcare contract position at U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella Contracting Office, FISC Sigonella, is soliciting for the following personalized healthcare contract position at the US Naval Hospital Sigonella Italy: one full-time Registered Nurse.

Closing date 20 May 2011.

Sources must be U.S. citizen and be eligible for U.S. employment. For further information please contact Mr. Giuffrida at 095-865725 (DSN 624-5725) or Ms. Randazzo at 095563792 (DSN 624-3792).

Commissary Jobs Two Part-Time Vendor Stocker Positions open at the Commissary.

Looking for U.S. military or spouses.

Please contact Gary Bufalo at Gary.Bufalo@deca.mil or 335706-5400 if you have any questions, or are interested in either of these positions. Experience preferred.