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Navy News

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Community Calendar

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MWR Corner

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Il Mercato

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All DOD installationsOCONUS are required byeach host nation’s Envi-ronmental Final Gover-ning Standards (FGS) toensure they are meetingall Hazardous Waste cha-racterization, storage,transportation and di-sposal requirements.Learn what NAS Sigo-nella has to do to meetthese qualifications.

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MCPON Rick D. West te-stified for the first timebefore the PersonnelSubcommittee of the Se-nate Armed ServicesCommittee, April 13.West spoke about moraleand quality of life issues.

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Easter is coming up thisSunday! It’s a time to in-dulge your sweet toothand celebrate after thesacrifices of Lent. Findout what events are hap-pening off base this wee-kend.

PAGE 6

Get out and explore Sira-cusa, one of the most his-torical cities in Sicily. Seecatacombs, caves, and aGreek theater, and ordersome fantastic seafoodfor lunch or dinner.

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Sigonella will be visitedby a certain rascally rab-bit on Saturday, April 23,from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. atthe NAS I Land Annex Ba-seball field. Come outand meet the EasterBunny!

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april 22, 2011

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e Piper Reed Book Club:reading  and  connectingwith military kidsBy Tracie Barnthouse and Lucia Saperstein

The Signature/DoDDS

Photo submitted by Lucia Saperstein

Life as a military kid can be tough, andno one understands that more than theauthor of the popular book series PiperReed, Elizabeth Willis-Holt, who grewup in a military family. Willis-Holt isbringing her series to Naval Air StationSigonella for a special Family StoryHour on Thursday, Apr. 28 at 6:30 p.m.at the Marinai Community Center, andthe NAS Sigonella community is invi-ted and encouraged to attend.NAS Sigonella Department of DefenseDependents Schools and parent volun-teer Lucia Saperstein have organizedthe event to go along with their PiperReed Book Club, a club made up of 50students from grades two to five whohave been meeting since early Januaryto read and do projects related to thePiper Reed series. The students holdmeetings during lunch and recess to di-scuss the books, and are actively prepa-

ring for Willis-Holt’s visit. Margaret Russo, Sigonella ElementarySchool Librarian believes that the PiperReed books are especially well suitedfor military kids. “There are actually notthat many children’s books out therethat explore the experience of growingup as a military kid, but the Piper Reedbooks do an excellent job in filling thatvoid,” Russo said. Through the series, children learnabout Piper and connect with her fee-lings when her dad deploys, or the fa-mily moves. “During our book clubmeetings, the students really connectedwith Piper. Reading about Piper’s fee-lings when her dad left for ship duty, forinstance, generated a great discussionabout how our own students deal withdeployments,” said Russo. Willis-Holt will be at NAS Sigonella forthree days. During her stay, she’ll beleading writing workshops and presen-tations with the elementary school

Students from DoDDS Sigonella are actively preparing for Kimberly Wil-lis-Holt, the author of the Piper Reed book series, to visit NAS Sigonella.Willis-Holt will be here April 26-28 and is holding a Family Story Timeat the Marinai Community Center on April 28 at 6:30 p.m.

PCSing with your pets

NAS Sigonella hosts USS Kearsarge

By Capt. Sarah Cooper

NAS Sigonella Veterinarian If you are in the military and have pets,you will eventually have to PCS withthem. There are several requirementsfor flying and importing/exportingyour pet that you need to be aware of asyour PCS time gets closer. As a generalrule, you should always keep your pet’svaccinations up to date and have themmicro chipped. To travel back to thecontinental United States with yourdog or cat, their rabies vaccine must beless than a year but more than 30 daysold. Many countries do not accept thethree year rabies vaccine. They mustalso be micro chipped. Other countries(and Hawaii) have very strict regula-tions concerning rabies quarantine andblood work showing their rabies titersis required (FAVN). This processshould be started at least six monthsbefore the travel date to avoid long qua-

rantine periods for your pet. If you areleaving Italy on a military flight (MAC),please call the Sigonella Veterinary Cli-nic at 624-4258 to schedule an appoin-tment for a health certificate within 10days of travel. If you are leaving Italy viaa commercial flight, you will need tohave a health certificate completed byan Italian government vet within 6 daysof travel. Please contact our office formore details. Traveling with pets can be especiallychallenging during the winter and sum-mer due to temperature restrictions.Whenever possible, book a nonstopflight and avoid plane changes and busyholidays. During warm weathermonths, choose early morning or lateevening flights. In colder months,choose midday flights. The Federal Ani-mal Welfare Act prohibits airlines fromaccepting dogs and cats for shipment ifthe airline cannot prevent exposure ofthe animal to temperatures less than 45

degrees F (7.2 C) or more than 85 de-grees F (29.5 C) for more than 45 mi-nutes when the animal is transferredbetween the terminal and the plane, orfor more than four hours when the ani-mal is in a holding facility. However, theprohibition against exposure to tempe-ratures below 45 degrees F is waived ifa veterinarian provides an acclimationcertificate stating that the dog or cat canbe exposed to lower temperatures. Yourveterinarian cannot issue a certificate al-lowing exposures to temperaturesabove 85 degrees F for more than 45minutes. Certain breeds such as bra-chycephalic (short-nosed) dogs andcats may have difficulty with air travel.Commercial airlines may ban themfrom flying at all during summermonths. Some airlines also have weightrestrictions, so keep that in mind beforeyou buy that cute little Cane Corso

FIDO, continued on page 12PIPER, continued on page 12

By MC2 Gary Prill

NPASE East

U.S. Navy photo by MC1 Nathanael Miller/Released

The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) is reflected in a si-gnal lamp aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS Ponce (LPD15) during a leap frog navigation exercise. Leap frog allows the ships topractice maneuvering around one another in a restricted space. Ponce ispart of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group and is en route to sup-port humanitarian relief efforts for flood victims in Pakistan.

With an increased operations tempocurrently at Naval Air Station (NAS)Sigonella, the Masters-at-Arms at thefront gate have seen a influx of dailytraffic, the Galley has nearly doubled itdaily patrons, and the Navy Exchangehas changed their hours to accommo-date the base’s temporary residents.One of these new temporary residentsis the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) curren-tly ported for repairs at Augusta Bay,Italy. With only a day notice, NAS Sigo-nella was asked to host many of theships’ company and also their aircraftcompliment. One of the major entitieson base that fielded the request wasMorale Welfare and Recreation(MWR) Sigonella.“Within a day of being notified of theUSS Kearsarge arrival in Augusta Bay,our Information Tours and Travel officehad a full tour package out to the shipwith a schedule of four to five tours perday,” said Robert Froelicher MWR

KEARSARGE, continued on page 12

page 2 april 22, 2011

Commanding OfficerCapt. Scott Butler

Public Affairs OfficerLt. Matt Knight

Deputy Public Affairs OfficerDott. Alberto Lunetta

EditorTracie Barnthouse

Staff Writers/ PhotographersMC1 Christopher DelanoMC2 Gary Prill

GM2 Kris CarmodyMCSN Cameron Bramham

The Signature editorial officeis located at:

Naval Air Station Sigonella, SicilyPSC 812 Box 3020,FPO, AE 09627Telephone: 095-86-5440:DSN 624-5440

DirecT liNe NaS SigoNella executiVe officer, lt. cmdr. Scott hotteNSteiN

NASSIG WORSHIP SERVICES

Chapel Offices: NAS I 095-56-3975, NAS II 095-86-9049

ROMAN CATHOLIC

Sunday

0900 Catholic Mass (NAS I Chapel)

1200 Catholic Mass (NAS II Chapel)

Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri

1130 Catholic Mass (NAS II Chapel)

PROTESTANT

Sunday

1045 Protestant Worship (NAS I)

Wednesday

1700 Fellowship Meal

1800 Adult Bible Study

Youth Group

Children’s ClassJEWISH LAY SERVICES

First Friday

1800 Shabbat Service (NAS I Chapel)

sigshalom@yahoo.com

CHURCH OF CHRIST LAY SERVICE

Sunday

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

This civilian enterprise (CE) newspaper isan authorized publication for members ofthe military services overseas. Contents ofThe Signature are not necessarily the offi-cial views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Gov-ernment, the Department of Defense(DoD), or the U.S. Navy. The appearanceof advertising in this newspaper, includinginserts or supplements, does not constituteendorsement by the DoD or Stampa Gen-erale S.r.l., of the products or services ad-vertised. Everything advertised in thispublication shall be made available for pur-chase, use or patronage without regard torace, color, religion, sex, national origin,age, marital status, physical handicap, po-litical affiliation or any other non-meritfactor of the purchaser, user or patron. Aconfirmed violation or rejection of thisequal opportunity policy by an advertiserwill result in the refusal to print advertisingfrom that source until the violation is cor-rected. The Signature is published weeklyby Stampa Generale S.r.l., Sig. Bruno

Brandi, Publisher, Naval Support Activity,Capodichino (Naples), Italy - Tel. 081-568-7884, Fax 081-568-7887.E-mail: stampagenerale@tin.it. Editorialsubmissions are welcomed from all NavalAir Station Sigonella departments, divi-sions and tenant commands. Editorial sub-missions should be sent to the PublicAffairs Office via thesig@eu.navy.mil,guard mail stop #68 or hand-delivered toour office no later than the close of busi-ness on the Friday proceeding the ex-pected publication date. All articlessubmitted by non-staff members will beconsidered contributing writers. The Sig-nature will not publish any anonymous ar-ticles. All advertisements in thispublication are the property of StampaGenerale S.r.l. Any reproduction of adver-tisements in The Signature is unauthorizedwithout the written consent of the pub-lisher.

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: 081-568-2964

Email: ighotline@eu.navy.milWebsite: www.cnic.navy.mil/europe/index.htm

You can choose to remain anonymous or confidential.

Sparky the Fire Dog

“If I never have to go to another memorial service here at NAS Sigonella, that’d beperfectly fine with me. But I need your help to make that happen.”It’s an awful thing to admit, but I’ve lostcount of how many memorial servicesI’ve been to in the three plus years I’vebeen here. There have been at least threetraffic deaths and three suicides that Ican recall off the top of my head. Noneof these deaths were without pain to fa-mily, friends, and shipmates. I think thatall of them could have been prevented.Here are some facts:- We are averaging one traffic accident aday so far this year. With that frequency,the odds are that we’ll have a really se-rious injury or death at some point.Given the aggressive and challengingdriving in Sicily an accident can happento you. I would put my driving skills upagainst anyone’s on the base. Still, oneafternoon about a year and a half ago, Ihad to avoid a car coming at me in mylane. Luckily, I was unhurt, but avoidingthe oncoming vehicle ended with my ve-hicle totaled and balancing on two tiresin a ditch alongside an orange grove.

- We continue to have DUIsand near-DUIs. Absolutely nothinggood can come out of drinking and dri-

ving.- Decisions are still being

made around base that favor shortcutswhich save time at the expense of doingit right and safely. At the Safety Com-mittee meeting this month, there werereports of people working aloft withoutthe proper safety gear such as helmets oreven harnesses. I’m sure this saved a fewminutes time, but the results could havebeen deadly.

- With OPERATION ODYS-SEY DAWN/UNIFIED PROTEC-TOR, our operations tempo is not goingto slow down for awhile. We will havemore stress in our professional and per-sonal lives in the next few months.

- Across the Navy, we “lose”about 10 Sailors a day to accidents,DUIs, Family Advocacy issues, sexual as-sault, and suicide. When I say “lose,” Imean either charged with a criminal of-fense, seriously injured, or dead.Here are some experiences that I’ll neverforget:

- Showing up at the frontdoor of a mother and father in upstate

New York to tell them that their son,who they had just spoken to fifteenhours before, was dead. Having to makethe choice of coffin for the family be-cause they just couldn’t process the factthat their son was gone. Showing up themorning of the funeral only to learn thatthe Sailor’s father had had a heart attackearly that morning. Seeing a two milelong procession of cars behind the he-arse as we drove down to Saratoga Na-tional. Utterly failing at trying not toflinch as the first rounds of the 21 gun sa-lute were fired after taps was played. Pul-ling the Sailor’s mother away from thegrave because there was no one else todo it at the end. I never met him, but I’llnever forget Petty Officer Joseph E. KingIII.

- Standing in a darkened li-ving room while delivering an autopsyreport to a widow, including pictures ofher dead husband’s naked, mangledbody, while two of her four little girlsslept on the sofa, home from school withstrep throat. Listening to family andfriends share stories of what an exceptio-

nal Sailor her husband was, how he wasan outstanding police officer who hadbeen decorated numerous times, how hehad volunteered for the Navy Reserveless than a month after 9/11, and thenalmost immediately volunteered for mo-bilization to Kuwait - which is where helost his life in a vicious car accident whilefive of his Shipmates looked on helple-ssly. Escorting the widow and four dau-ghters to the ceremony where the newbarracks building at Naval Weapons Sta-tion Yorktown was named after him.Hugging the widow and her daughters atthe end of the ceremony. I never methim, but I’ll never forget Petty OfficerMichael Gray.If these experiences made such an im-pression on me, imagine how the fami-lies and friends of these Sailors felt. Wecan’t let this happen to anyone in our Si-gonella family, we just can’t.The good news is that there is plenty ofhelp here in Sigonella. Just two exam-ples:We have an excellent Fleet and FamilyService Center staff who is dedicated to

providing the services you need to gethelp: transition assistance, financial ma-nagement, clinical counseling, and so on.Think it will adversely affect your career?I went to get help after returning frommy Individual Augmentee deploymentin 2007 – and it helped!We have an outstanding group of Cha-plains, any of whom will minister to youregardless of your faith. Think they don’tknow what’s going on in your lives? Oneof them is a former Chief Petty Officerwho wears the Meritorious ServiceMedal, which he did not earn from be-hind a desk. Believe me, they get it andthey can help.I need your help in preventing anothermemorial service. Each of the 5,000 Si-gonellans is a shipmate to one another.It doesn’t matter if you are an active dutySailor, a U.S. civilian employee, a familymember, or one of our Italian emplo-yees. Talk to each other. Do the rightthing.Thank you for your help. I’ll see youaround the base!

Sigonella  Hazardous  WasteProgram “TOPS” in EURAFSWAArticle by Wayne C. HagwoodCECM

All DOD installations OCONUS arerequired by each host nation’s Environ-mental Final Governing Standards(FGS) to ensure they are meeting allHazardous Waste characterization, sto-rage, transportation and disposal requi-rements. NAS Sigonella Environmental Divisionhas gone above and beyond this requi-rement by implementing into its hazar-dous waste program Best ManagementPractices (BMP), as outlined by the En-vironmental Protection Agency (EPA),specifically the Resource Conservationand Recovery Act (RCRA).The Hazardous Waste Program Mana-ger (HWPM) and Daily OperationsManager ensure on a daily basis that allhazardous and non-hazardous wastegenerated at NASSIG is properly cha-racterized, stored, and shipped for di-sposal. They ensure this is done bybeing in close contact with seven Tem-porary Deposit of Waste (TDW) and17 Accumulation Point (AP) wastesites located at NAS I, NAS II, Niscemi,Weapons, and Piano Tavola. They alsoensure each site has a trained primary

and secondary Coordinator to ensureeach site is properly maintained on adaily basis. The HWPM conducts rou-tine inspections of each site and pro-vide required annual training to allCoordinators. One of the main toolsused to achieve this is a comprehensivewaste tracking database. The HazwasteTracking Database allows each contai-ner of waste to be tracked from its ori-gin or start date, to each containers’final disposal. It also tracks each con-tainers’ maximum storage time of 60days to ensure proper disposal in a ti-mely manner.As shown above, the NAS SigonellaHazardous Waste Storage Facility is de-signed to allow hazardous waste per-sonnel to control the proper storage,segregation, and compatibility of allwaste that is generated and stored. Aproperly designated cell is provided foreach hazard class and has lined rows toallow every pallet of waste to be given aspecific storage area which is loggedinto the Hazardous Waste OperatingRecord as required by the Italian FinalGoverning Standards. All cells are se-parated by a 10 foot wall to ensure nocomingling of waste.NAS Sigonellas hazardous waste trac-

WASTE, continued on page 12

By Sandra S. Basile

NAS Sigonella FES Assistant Chief of Prevention

Sparky the fire dog is a Dalmatian whohas been the official mascot of the “Na-tional Fire Protection Association”,(NFPA) a United States organization incharge of creating and maintaining mi-nimum standards and requirements forfire prevention, suppression training,and equipment since 1951. Sparky not only hosts his own website,www.Sparky.org, to teach childrenabout fire safety and other importantsafety topics, but has also starred in hisown series of television public serviceannouncements.

On March 18, Sparky turned 60 yearsold and the NASSIG Fire Departmentcelebrated his birthday by hosting a bir-thday party for him at the elementaryschool. All the kinder and sure start kidswere on hand to celebrate the occasionwith Sparky. Chocolate cake was servedat the cafeteria. The children sang happybirthday to Sparky, made him birthdaycards and took pictures with him.Sparky is the key representative in mes-

sages to childrenabout fire hazardsand pre-cautionarysafety measures.Today, the image ofSparky has becomesynonymous withhelping childrenfrom Kindergartento Grade 6 becomeaware of what to doin the event of fire.Most children

never out grow their fondness forSparky. The NASSIG high school/mid-dle school students always enjoy a visitfrom Sparky. We find that the lessonsthey learned from him as young chil-dren are still with them in their youngadult lives. Sparky the Fire Dog has hel-ped millions of children be better

SPARKY, continued on page 12

NAS Sigonella Environmental Department

page 3april 22, 2011

Picciolo Dott. StellaNew Hope

Bravo Zulu - Top 5 commands improving inIndividual Medical Readiness:

FISC SigonellaRLSODWSF

NISCEMINCTS

These commands showed the greatest im-provement with Medical Readiness

Brought to you by your Flight Line Clinic,Medical Home Port

What  is  one  thing  you  couldnever give up?

Staff Sergeant Clinton Duclos"My wife and kids. Fa-mily is important."

AD3 Derek Hanson"My kids"

CS1 Nicholas Harmes"I could never give up myfiancé"

PR2 Aaron Gray

"Self respect"

ABAN Andres Rosado"My family"

MCPON testifies before Senate on quality of lifeBy Chief Mass CommunicationSpecialist (SW/AW) Sonya Ansa-rov

Office of the Master Chief Petty Officerof the Navy Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Ma-ster Chief Petty Officer of theNavy (MCPON)(SS/SW) RickD. West testified for the firsttime before the Personnel Sub-committee of the Senate ArmedServices Committee, April 13.West, along with the other topenlisted leaders from the Mari-nes, Army and Air Force, appea-red before the committee todiscuss the health of their forces,quality of life programs, familyreadiness, continuum of care,Reserve force, and family hou-sing."Current operational demandsand high operating tempo haveplaced added stress on theforce," said West. "Our manypersonnel and family readinessprograms remain one of our Na-vy's highest priorities."Navy's Homeport Ashore pro-gram, bachelor and Navy familyhousing, childcare, and Conti-nuum of Care were importantissues that were brought up tothe congressional subcommit-tee."One area that has had recent si-gnificant impact on quality oflife for our families that I feel theneed to highlight is the Conti-nuing Resolution (CR) for Fi-scal Year 2011," said West.West detailed for the committeehow the spending restrictions

under the CR resulted in consi-derable delays in permanent-change-of-station (PCS) ordersand more than 20,000 sets of or-ders were deferred. He saidunder the CR, the Navy has nothad sufficient manpower fun-ding to allow for normal leadtimes for Sailors to receive PCSorders, and the result is the ave-rage lead times have been redu-ced from four to six months totwo months or less."While relief is on the way, lin-gering effects of the CR will con-tinue to place emotional andeconomic strain on our Sailorsand their families as they at-tempt to sell homes, seek followon employment for family mem-bers, enroll children in schools,and complete necessary scree-ning and training requirementsprior to transfer," said West.West continued to explain thatthough our leadership continuesto be resourceful in mitigatingthe impact, the CR has affectedfunding for new constructionand facility sustainment in bar-racks and base operating sup-port.West gave the committee a glo-bal snapshot of the Navy's cur-rent operations withapproximately 60 percent of theNavy's ships underway, 40 per-cent being on deployment wor-ldwide, and more than 28,000Sailors are on the ground and atsea in the U.S. Central Com-mand area of responsibility insupport of operations in Iraq

and Afghanistan. Naval forcesare providing direct support ofongoing operations in the Medi-terranean Sea, executing coun-ter-piracy missions off the coastof Africa, and continuing to pro-vide humanitarian assistanceand disaster relief to the peopleof Japan.Greater demand on Navy forceshas lead to longer deploymentsand shorter dwell, or turnaroundtimes, which increases strain onSailors, Navy civilians and theirfamilies, West explained. Westsaid he firmly believes that howthe Sailors sent to war, the fami-lies they leave behind and thosewounded and retired shipmatesare supported, truly defines us asa Navy and a nation."Despite these challenges, ourleadership remains focused onproviding support to our Sailorsand their families to foster resi-liency as well as family readi-ness," said West.In closing, West thanked thesubcommittee for their steadfastsupport of our men and womenin uniform.West periodically testifies beforeCongress along with the seniorenlisted leaders of the other ser-vices. This was his first appea-rance before the SenateCommittee on Armed Services.

For more news from MasterChief Petty Officer of the Navy,v i s i twww.navy.mil/local/mcpon/.

page 4 april 22, 2011

Pantellaro

Oxidiana

FFSC can be reached at x4291American 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!

Marina Palace

Chiechio

Healthy Pregnancy, Heal-

thy Baby8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Red Cross

Arrivederci Class8-11:30FFSC

Tobacco Cessation Class

9 a.m.x4950

Tobacco Cessation Class

9 a.m.x4950

page 5april 22, 2011

Pentagon

Fleet and FamilySupport CenterAdministrationBuilding Bldg. 319 (NAS I)

Monday–Friday7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. DSN 624-4291 Commercial095-56-4291

Empower. Enrich. EDUCATE.The impact of sexual assault and steps to recoveryArticle adapted from Military OneSource

Mojito

Motta

Marchi

Everyone copes with problemsdifferently. You may or may not havethe reactions to sexual assault de-scribed below. The most importantthing to remember is that help frommany sources is available. After asexual assault, a victim may feeloverwhelmed by emotions such asfear, anger, or anxiety. These arecommon reactions to a traumaticevent. Other reactions can includethe following:

-nightmares and flashbacks(sudden, intense memories of the in-cident)

-appetite disturbances, such asovereating or eating too little

-poor concentration and re-duced ability to stay on task

-problems with memory -trying to avoid thinking or

talking about the incident -feelings of shame and self-

blame, such as feeling responsiblefor the attack

-feeling sad, lonely, betrayed,

or hopeless about the future -increased problems with or

withdrawing from friends, family, andenjoyable activities

-fear of going to places that mightcause disturbing memories of the inci-dent

-being easily startled or fright-ened

-excessive concern about the se-curity of one's environment

-mood swings -- sudden, markedshifts from one emotional state to an-other

-feeling numb or disconnectedfrom others, physically and emotion-ally

-flashes of irritation, impatience,or rage -- even in people who don't usu-ally get angry

-increased use of alcohol, nico-tine, and other drugs

-loss of interest in or avoidance ofsex, or an increase in sexual behavior

It is common for everyone tohave one or more of these symptoms tosome extent after experiencing or wit-nessing a traumatic event. However,most people's symptoms resolve intime and with help. Severe reactions,

such as thoughts of self harm, shouldbe reported immediately to a medicalor mental health care provider.

One way to feel more in con-trol after a sexual assault is to makeyour own decisions about what feelscomfortable at each stage of your re-covery. You may want to considermaking choices about the following:

-Everyday routines. Some peo-ple find that keeping up their usualwork or other routines gives theirlives structure at a difficult time. Oth-ers find it more helpful to cut back onsome activities and take things a littleslower for a while.

-Other kinds of counseling andsupport groups. Face-to-face or tele-phone counseling may reduce yourrisk of developing post-traumaticstress disorder (PTSD) or anotherhealth condition after an assault.

You may also want to considerthe following:

-Take a self-defense class. Theskills taught in self-defense classescan help you feel more in control.The workouts in these classes arealso good for relieving stress.

Citta del domaniASSAULT, continued on page 12

Easter is coming up this Sundayand it’s a time to indulge yoursweet tooth and celebrate afterthe sacrifices of Lent. As the Sicilian saying goes"Aviri cchiu' chiffari di lu furnudi Pasqua," (being more busythan an oven during Easter),during the Easter Sicilians bakea lot of scrumptious pastriesthat are still prepared accordingto secret ancient recipes han-ded down from Sicilian nunsand Moorish bakers. There iswide variety of Sicilian treats,which are basically made witheggs, flour, almonds, candiedfruits and ricotta cheese.Although chocolate Eastereggs, which come in assortedsizes, are big sellers in Sicily, tra-ditional dolci (treats) are stillvery popular in the island.Among the most famous treatsthere is the "Cuddura cu l'ovu"that is a cookie with hardboiledeggs placed in the middle.The marzipan "Agneddu Pa-squali" (which in Sicilian meansEaster Lamb) is undoubtedly,the most peculiar Easter cake. Itcomes from a Jewish tradition,and it is made with sugar andclove paste. It is shaped as the"Agnus Dei" (Lamb of God),whose bronze prototype is inPalermo's National Museum.The lamb is always set in agrassy background with a ban-ner placed in the back. The ban-ner is a small reproduction ofthe medieval symbol of theFrench kings who ruled Sicily.

The tantalizing "Agneddu diPasta di Zuccaru e Jarofulu,"which is still made by hand

with sugar and clove paste is apretty traditional variety of Ea-ster lambs. The most valuablelambs are indeed the "Agneddidi Pasta Riali," or marzipanlambs, made with ground al-monds and sugar, covered withicing and painted like the Mar-torana fruit. These particularlambs are often filled with ci-tron jam and are a specialty ofthe towns of Erice and Acireale,where they're made close to lifesize. Pasta Riali in Sicilianmeans royal paste because itwas made in the kitchens of thegreat nobles and nuns of theMartorana Convent in Pa-lermo. Another essential Easter

cake is "Cassata," one of theworld's most famous Sicilianpastries. It is made with ricotta,

coated with icing and decoratedwith candied fruit. Cassata isalso available in smaller and dif-ferently shaped versions named"Cassateddi." Eating Cassata isa must for any good Sicilian, asthe saying tells, "Tintu cu nunmancia cassati la matina ri Pa-squa," which in Sicilian means:"Bad is the one who doesn't eatCassate on Easter morning."Cassata was first prepared in998 at the palace of Emir Yussufin Palermo during the Arabrule. Its name derives from"Quas'at," which in Arabicmeans round bowl. Historiansbelieve that this cake was prepa-red in a round bowl 33 cm in

diameter and its inventor usedall the delicacies available at thetime.

Over the centuries,this cake became sopopular that in 1575,the EcclesiasticalCouncil of Mazara(province of Tra-pani) banned its pro-duction in conventsand monasteries toprevent the nuns,who were very skil-led and popular con-fectioners, frombeing disturbed du-ring the Holy Week'sprayers.According to scho-lars, the first proto-type of modernCassata, which inclu-ded sophisticated de-

corations with candied fruits,was prepared in the second halfof the 16th century by the nunsof the Valverde Monastery inPalermo."Viscotta di casa." (home madecookies) and “Cuddure cul’ova” (wreaths with eggs) areanother type of Sicilian Easter

sweets worth mentioning. Theyare still prepared according toancient recipes.As reported by www.thewor-ldwidegourmet.com, the recipeof “Cuddure cu l’ova” or “Pupicu l’ova” goes back to ancientGreece, to the time when theGreeks colonized Sicily some2,500 years ago. They used tomake a pastry with the ingre-dients of that time, which theycalled Coulloura and whichthey offered to the gods. Afterthe Christianization of Sicily,the Catholic Church adaptedthe custom to its Easter celebra-tions. The sweet pastry is al-ways served with a hard-boiledegg, held in place by two stripsof dough formed into a cross.The shape varies according tothe cook or region: it may be abell to announce Christ's resur-rection, a basket to symbolizeabundance, a dove, a hen forboys, a doll for girls. If there areengagements in the air at thistime, the future couple may bepresented with cudduras in theshape of rings.

page 6 april 22, 2011

Alberto Lunetta

The Signature Staff

Agricola Gambino

Eno

Sicilian Easter sweet temptations

Photo by www.regione.sicilia.it

“Cuddure cu l’ova” (wreaths with eggs) are among the most scrumptious sweets youmay sample during Easter time in Sicily.

Agricola Gam-bino

page 7april 22, 2011

Wild West

Palermo

New Place

U.S. Naval Hospital Sigonella  leadership attends Catania FIDAPA Candle Light Ceremony

On Apr. 12, the Commanding Officerof the U.S Naval Hospital Sigonella,Capt. Cynthia M. Feller and Execu-tive Officer, Capt. Gina M. Jaeger at-tended the Catania FIDAPA chapterCandle Night Ceremony. The event marked one of the mostmeaningful annual celebrations of FI-DAPA, a branch of the International

Federation of Business and Professio-nal Women (BPW). Catania FIDAPA President CarmenD'Avola Saguto welcomed all the di-stinguished guests, including FI-DAPA national President Prof.Giuseppina Seidita and all the organi-zation’s delegates from the surroun-ding areas, as well as the Catania

Catania historic center store ownersopen on Sundays tochallenge shoppingmall competitionCatania - As reported by Sicilianmedia, the Catania chapter of Con-fcommercio (the Italian General Fede-ration of Commerce, Services andSmall and Medium-sized Enterprises)launched a new initiative last Thursdayto fight the new competitive pressurescoming from the new “giant” malls andshopping centers that have opened inthe Catania outskirts. Catania historic center store owners in-deed argue that shopping malls havebeen slowly killing retail in the city's hi-storic heart. Therefore, they decided tostay open on Sundays through July(from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 5to 8 p.m.) in an attempt to try to keepretail shopping business in Cataniaalive and at the same time promote theartistic beauty of the historic center.Catania store owners, who claim thatretail sales in town have been falling la-tely, said they are “very worried” by therecent change of Sicilian shopping pat-terns. "Shoppers who come to the Catania hi-storic center on Sunday will find a lot offree parking space because they won'thave to pay the blue lanes fee," a storeowner said.

Florence  cathedral  reopens  aerfive year restorationStory by ANSA

Florence - One of Italy's most renow-ned Gothic cathedrals, the Santa CroceBasilica, has reopened in Florence afterfive years of restoration. But the cathedral, which is the burialplace of famous Italians including Mi-chelangelo, Galileo and Machiavelli,has reopened with a difference. The scaffolding used for the restorationworks has been left inside the basilica

to give visitors, and art lovers in parti-cular, the opportunity to see the impactof the restoration which covered 850square metres of frescoes in the basili-ca's main chapel. "The most fascinating thing about thiswork is that those who enter can havevery close contact with the material,"said restorer, Mariarosa Lanfranchi. "A brushstroke, a carving, a correction,a line of color, minute things that youdon't normally see, that even escape therestorer, add a kind of intimacy andcommunity with those who created thework". "Sometimes you can feel or understandwhat is behind it, what might have oc-curred to produce it and as a conse-quence, an example of life from somany centuries ago." A small number of visitors will be per-

mayor representative, City Transportand Mobility Assessor Alberto Pa-squa and local civilian and militaryauthorities. Before the beginning Candle LightCeremony which symbolizes “theambitions and endeavors of dedicatedwomen in every country around theworld,” the evening guest speaker, Dr.Franca Stivala, Professor of Pathologyat the University of Catania FacultyOf Medicine, gave an interesting pre-sentation on the development of wo-men's emancipation movementsthroughout the centuries. “I am deeply honored and grateful toshare once again this important cere-mony with US Navy representatives,”President D'Avola Saguto said. Capt. Feller and Capt. Jaeger, whowere accompanied by NASSIG Ho-spital Assistant to Tricare PreferredProvider Network Coordinator Cin-zia Vincenza Giordano, said theywere honored to receive the invita-tion from the Catania FIDAPA Presi-dent to attend the ceremony. “Asfemale Naval Officers, the organiza-tional aims of BPW to develop profes-sional and leadership potential ofwomen at all levels of society resonatewith us. The candle-lighting cere-mony commemorated the historyand the accomplishments of the orga-nization, including advocating equalopportunity and status for women,and also provided the opportunity to

develop international friendships,”they commented at the end of theevent. The mission of the International Fe-deration of Business and ProfessionalWomen (BPW International) is “towork for equal opportunities and sta-tus for women in the economic, civiland political life in all countries, andto work for the removal of all discri-mination.”As reported by http://www.bpw-in-ternational.org, more then 77 yearsago, BPW was founded by Dr. LenaMadesin Phillips from the United Sta-tes of America and a few years latershe conceived the idea of the CandleLighting Ceremony. The members ofthe United States of America madegoodwill tours to Europe to sharetheir interests and their beliefs withwomen of Europe. Through their ef-forts and influence, groups were orga-nized in several countries. In 1930,women from 16 countries met in Ge-neva where a long cherished dream –the forming of the International Fe-deration – became a reality. The Sigonella USNH leadership’spresence at the event was coordinatedand facilitated by NASSIG PAOCommunity Relations Officer Dott.Alberto Lunetta. Service members in-terested in volunteering for similarCOMREL events are welcomed tocontact the PAO Community Rela-tions Officer at 624-5229.

mitted to climb the scaffolding and ad-mire the 600-year-old frescoes ofAgnolo Gaddi, considered the last heirof famous Florentine painter, Giotto. "We hope we can keep the scaffoldingopen to the public for at least a year,"said the project's coordinator, CeciliaFrosinini. "It is really a unique opportunity for vi-sitors to look at details like these upclose, and also because this is an artisticperiod very rich in particular decorativearts." The Santa Croce Basilica is the largestFranciscan church in the world and has16 chapels. Constructed in 1294, it is believed to bethe work of Arnolfo di Cambio, whowas financed by wealthy Florentine fa-milies.

Photo by Orietta Scardino (ANSA)

From left to right: Capt. Gina M. Jaeger, Sigonella USNH Executive Offi-cer; Mrs. Cinzia Vincenza Giordano, Sigonella USNH ; Capt. Cynthia M.Feller, Sigonella USNH Commanding Officer; Prof. Giuseppina Seidita,FIDAPA National President; Prof. Carmen D'Avola Saguto, Catania FI-DAPA President and Prof. Franca Stivala, University of Catania, Facultyof Medicine Department of Pathology Department of General Pathology.

page 8 april 22, 2011

Moroboshi Pietro Gelso Bianco

If you know me at all, you knowthat I’m really not much of a hi-story buff. I mean, I’m intere-sted in it to an extent, but tendto be distracted by things likecute little souvenir trinkets!And old doors that are callingout for me to photographthem! And random Sicilianhand gestures (what do theymean?)! So, when I was invitedto join a group of friends for ahistorical tour of Siracusa, I wasthe first to RSVP yes. I’m a les-son in contradictory messages,of this I know. This article willbe for the non-history lover,and how you can learn to love -or at least tolerate - the centu-ries of history that surroundyou on a daily basis. Let’s dothis!Siracusa is about one hour awayfrom Sigonella, and an easyshot down the A19, due to thenew road that opened a year or

so ago. There are no windingroads, and signs are clearly mar-ked, so getting lost is unlikely.Just follow the signs and you’llbe good. One thing to note, yo-u’ll see signs for Siracusa Nordbefore the actual city center ofSiracusa. Don’t take the Nordexit; just stay on the A19 untilyou reach the main ramp to thecity. Siracusa is known for its Greekhistory, and was the birthplaceof the mathematician and engi-neer Archimedes. The townplayed a big role in ancienttimes, and was once consideredone of the major powers in theMediterranean. One of the first stops on yourtour should be to the Archeolo-gical Park of the Neapolis andthe Greek Amphitheater, whichis one of the largest ever built bythe Greeks, with 67 rows thatare divided into nine sections.The Romans modified thebackdrop, and the theater wasused for different activities, in-

cluding circus games, dramas,and comedy shows. Located inthe same area are stone quarriesthat were used as prisons in an-cient times. Located nearby is what isknown as the Ear of Dionysius,which is a deep, man-made cavethat’s famous for its acoustics. Ifyou are visiting during slow sea-son, feel free to walk into thecave and sing your favorite littleditty. I was tempted to do the“Riiiiiicola” one from the popu-lar commercial, but thoughttwice about it, so as to not em-barrass myself around my inter-national friends. We were luckyenough to hear an English-speaking tour guide sing a cou-ple verses of an Italian song inthe cave, and it was amazing.Sound is amplified up to 16times, and is bound to give yougoose bumps. If not, checkyour pulse. According to le-gend, the Ear of Dionysius allo-wed Dionysius, the local tyrant,to hear the whispers of the pri-

soners that were being held inthe cave. Creepy.Also located on the parkgrounds is the Roman amphi-theater and the Altar of HieronII, which was a sacrificial sitewhere at one time 400 bullswere sacrificed. Even a historynon-buff like myself has toadmit that that’s pretty cool, ifnot a little gory. Definitely check this park out ifyou’re in the area. There is anentrance fee of nine euro (kidsare free), and you buy ticketsacross the street in a little buil-ding with a sign with the wordbiglietti on it. After visiting the park, walk tothe magnificent cathedral in thearea - Our Lady of Tears Basi-lica and Shrine, located veryclose to the Necropolis. You’llsee it; trust me. It’s the bigspace needle looking building,which for Sicilian churches isvery uncharacteristic. You can’tmiss it. It’s worth a little walkthrough, just to see the interior

and how the light plays with theshadows. Another site not to miss are thecatacombs of San Giovanni,which are across the street fromthe basilica. The catacombs areopen daily from 9:30 a.m. until12:30 p.m. and then again from2:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. It’sopen every day and there is a sixeuro entrance fee and an En-glish-spoken guided tour.During Roman rule, Christianswere not allowed to bury theirdead within city limits. Becauseof this, they went outside thecity limits of Siracusa to createchambers that had once beenused by the Greeks as under-ground aqueducts. The land onwhich the catacombs are loca-ted houses what remains of theChurch of San Giovanni, andSt. Paul is said to have preachedthere, so Christians view it asholy ground. Underneath thechurch is the Crypt of St. Mar-cian. There are frescoes on thewalls that can still be seen, aswell. It’s a little eerie, but defi-nitely a cool thing to check outif you’re in Siracusa. Siracusa is known for its sea-food, and there are many re-staurants around for you to bechoosy. Pick one – I’m sure it’llbe great. Get out and explore Sicily, andmake Siracusa high on your tosee list.Do you have a good travel storyidea? Email me at tracie.bar-nthouse@eu.navy.mil and tellme about it!

Article and photos by Tracie Barnthouse

The Signature Editor

page 9april 22, 2011

Magnolia Alphio

page 10 april 22, 2011

22

*Breakfast: Rolled Oats, Grilled Sausage Patties, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets, Eggsto Order, Roasted Potatoes, Waffles, Asstd Doughnuts, Cinnamon Rolls.*Lunch: Chicken Corn Chowder, Baked Fish, Meat Loaf, Paprika Buttered Potatoes,Glazed Carrots, Fried Okra, Spiced Cake w/ Frosting, Crisp Drop Cookies.Speed line: Grilled Cheese/Hamburger, Baked Beans, French Fried Potatoes.*Dinner: Chicken Noodle Soup, Baked Fish W. Cherry Tomato Sauce, Tossed Green Rice,Corn O’Brien, Lima Beans, Spiced Cake w/ Frosting, Crisp Drop Cookies.

23

*Breakfast: Farina, Grilled Ham Slices, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets, Eggs toOrder, Roasted Potatoes, Buttermilk Pancakes, Asstd Doughnuts, Crumb Cake.*Brunch: Breakfast Items, Creole Soup, Teriyaki Chicken, Fried Rice, Asparagus,Calico Corn, Cherry Pie, Abracadabra Bars.*Dinner: Vegetable Soup, Baked Lasagna, Steamed Rice, Seasoned Asparagus,Steamed Cauliflower, Garlic Bread, Cherry Pie, and Abracadabra Bars.

24

*Breakfast: Rolled Oats, Grilled Minute Steak, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets, Eggs toOrder, Roasted Potatoes, French Toast Puff, Asstd Doughnuts, Italian Croissant.*Brunch: Breakfast Items, Puree Mongole Soup, Cheddar Chicken Broccoli, Onion Rings,Eggplant Ratatouille, Southwestern Rice, Club Spinach, Almond Cake, Crisp Toffee Bars.*Dinner: Chicken Vegetable Soup, Sauerbraten, Spring Garden Rice, Mashed Potatoes,Natural Pan Gravy, Steamed Cut Green Beans, Seasoned Carrots, Almond Cake, Crisp Tof-fee Bars.

25

*Breakfast: Hot Hominy Grits, Minced Beef on Toast, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets,Eggs to Order, Roasted Potatoes, French Toast, Asstd Doughnuts, Streusel Coffee Cake.*Lunch: Creamed of Broccoli Soup, Roast Beef, Lemon Baked Fish, Steamed Rice, MixedVegetables, Squash, Brownies, Yellow Cake w/ Icing, Fruit Ambrosia.*Speed line: Turkey/Ham & Cheese Sandwich.*Dinner: Vegetable Supreme Soup, Cajun Meatloaf, Rice Pilaf, Brown Gravy, Peas &Onions, Corn on the Cob, Brownies, Yellow Cake w/ Icing, Fruit Ambrosia.

26*Breakfast: Hot Farina, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets, Grilled Sausage Patties, Eggs toOrder, Roasted Potatoes, Waffles, Biscuits and Gravy, Asstd Doughnuts, BlueberryMuffins. * Lunch: Chicken Vegetable Soup, Roast Turkey, Pasta al Forno, Steamed Rice, MashedPotatoes, Turkey Gravy, Carrots and Orange Amandine, Club Spinach, Fruit Cocktail Up-side Down Cake, Oatmeal Cookies.*Speed Line: Roast Beef Sandwich, French Fried Potatoes.Dinner: Zesty Bean Soup, Chicken Quartered, Orange Rice, Southern Greens, SeasonedMixed Vegetables, Fruit Cocktail Upside Down Cake, Oatmeal Cookies.

27

*Breakfast: Rolled Oats, Creamed Ground Beef, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets, Eggs toOrder, Roasted Potatoes, Blueberry Pancakes, Asstd Doughnuts, Bear Claws.*Lunch: Beef Rice Soup, Baked Fish w/ Cherry Tomato Sauce, Baked Chicken, GarlicCheese Potatoes, Rice Pilaf, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts Polonaise, Cheese Cake, Choco-late Pudding.*Speed Line: Grilled Cheese/Hamburger, Baked Beans, French Fried Potatoes.*Dinner: Cream of Chicken Soup, St. Louis BBQ Pork Ribs, Steamed Rice, Greens BeansNicoise, Steamed Peas, Cheese Cake, Chocolate Pudding.

28

*Breakfast: Hominy Grits, Corned Beef Hash, Oven Fried Bacon, Asstd Omelets, Eggsto Order, Roasted Potatoes, French Toast, Asstd Doughnuts, Raisin Muffins.*Lunch: Corn Chowder Soup, Roast Pork, Chinese Five Spice Chicken, Mashed Pota-toes, Brown Gravy, Steamed Rice, Seasoned Carrots, Asparagus, Peanut Butter Cookies,Cherry Pie.*Speed Line: Hot dogs,Chili Macaroni.*Dinner: Minestrone Soup, Salisbury Steak, Ginger Rice, Mexican Corn, Steamed Car-rots, Cherry Pie, Peanut Butter Cookies.

Marina Palace

Hours of OperationMon-Fri: 6 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. (Breakfast), 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.(Lunch), 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. (Dinner)Sat, Sun, Holidays: 7 a.m. - 9 a.m. (Breakfast), 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. (Brunch), 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. (Dinner)

page 11april 22, 2011

oN the go With mWr

midtoWN moVie theaterSSchedule & deScriptioNS

Friday, April 225:00pm Beastly PG-13 PREMIERE7:30pm Take Me Home Tonight R PRE-MIERE

Saturday, April 232:00pm Hop G4:30pm The Adjustment Bureau PG-13PREMIERE7:00pm Take Me Home Tonight R

Sunday, April 242:00pm Gnomeo and Juliet G4:00pm Diary of a Wimpy Kid: RodrickRules PG6:30pm The Adjustment Bureau PG-13

Tuesday, April 265:00pm Beastly PG-137:30pm Take Me Home Tonight R

Wednesday, April 275:00pm The Adjustment Bureau PG-137:30pm Hall Pass R

Thursday, April 285:00pm I Am Number 4 PG-137:30pm Take Me Home Tonight R

Friday, April 295:00pm Mars Needs Moms PG PRE-MIERE7:30pm The Adjustment Bureau PG-13

JUSTIN BIEBER: NEVER SAY NEVER- Justin Bieber, Usher, Miley Cyrus,Boys II Men, Sean Kingston

Director Jon Chu's 3D fan cut is an exclusive, one-week limited release with 40 min-utes of new Bieber footage! As he began the editing process several months ago, andupon realizing the significant amount of great footage he had obtained, Chu began todevelop with the studio an idea for a second, and more fan centric, edition of themovie. While promoting the film's initial release, he spent dozens of hours on Twitterand Facebook engaging with fans to learn more about what they were most anxious tosee. Some scenes contained in the new cut include: more of Justin’s friends andhometown life, new songs and performances, and special footage shot at fan pre-mieres across the country. (105 min.)

GNOMEO AND JULIET- James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Maggie Smith,Michael Canie, Jason Statham

Two garden gnomes, Gnomeo and Juliet, try to avoid tragedy and find a happy end-ing to their star-crossed love affair when they are caught up ina feud between neighbors. (84 min.)

Movie schedule is subject to change. Please call to confirm. Movie Hotline: 624-4248

JUSTIN BIEBER: NEVER SAY NEVER- Justin Bieber, Usher, Miley Cyrus,Boys II Men, Sean Kingston

Director Jon Chu's 3D fan cut is an exclusive, one-week limited release with 40 min-utes of new Bieber footage! As he began the editing process several months ago, andupon realizing the significant amount of great footage he had obtained, Chu began todevelop with the studio an idea for a second, and more fan centric, edition of themovie. While promoting the film's initial release, he spent dozens of hours on Twitterand Facebook engaging with fans to learn more about what they were most anxious tosee. Some scenes contained in the new cut include: more of Justin’s friends andhometown life, new songs and performances, and special footage shot at fan pre-mieres across the country. (105 min.)

I AM NUMBER 4- Alex Pettyfer, Timmothy Olyphant, Teresa Palmer, DiannaAgron, Kevin Durand

An extraordinary young man, John Smith, is a fugitive on the run from ruthless ene-mies sent to destroy him. Changing his identity, moving from town to town with hisguardian Henri, John is always the new kid with no ties to his past. In the small Ohiotown he now calls home, John encounters unexpected, life-changing events -- hisfirst love, powerful new abilities and a connection to the others who share his in-credible destiny. (110 min.)

SANCTUM- Alice Parkinson, Richard Roxburgh, Rhys Wakefield, LoanGruffudd

Master diver Frank McGuire has explored the South Pacific's Esa-ala Caves formonths. But when his exit is cut off in a flash flood, Frank's teamincluding 17-year-old son Josh and financier Carl are forced to alter plans. Withdwindling supplies, the crew must navigate an underwaterlabyrinth to make it out. Soon, they are confronted with the unavoidable question:Can they survive, or will they be trapped forever? (109 min.)

EggstravaganzaSigonella will be visited by a certain rascally rabbit! Hop on downto the Easter Eggstravaganza Saturday, April 23, from 10 a.m. to1 p.m. at the NAS I Land Annex Baseball field. Kids 0 – 12 can se-arch for eggs in our giant egg hunt. Parents, don’t forget to bringthe camera because there’ll be a special visit by Mr. and Mrs. Ea-ster Bunny. For more information call 624-3736.

CChheecckk oouuttwwhhaatt ii ss ggoo iinnggoonn wwii tthh MMWWRR

Family story hourThursday, April 28 6:30 pm in the Marinai Community CenterPut on your pjs, grab a cozy blanket, and join us for a very special Family StoryHour! In honor of the Month of the Military Child, the Sigonella Elementary PTOand Sigonella’s Premier Library are please to host an evening with the award win-ning children’s author, Kimberly Willis-Holt. Cookies, milk and autographs to fol-low.

Single & Mingle Costume PartySaturday, April 23Join Liberty for a single & mingling costume party at Connections at 9 pm. Comedressed to impress and who knows, you might even take home a prize for best co-stume.

Guys Only Golf TripJoin Liberty for a day of golf at the II Picciolo Golf Club. II Picciolo is perched onthe side of Mt. Etna, a slightly narrow course that offers amazing views from all 18holes. Need Golf Clubs? Stop by ITT Gear-n- Go to reserve your gear. Sign uptoday at Take 5 space is limited, for more information call 624-5602.

Enna on Good FridayFriday, April 22Celebrate Good Friday on top of the world, or at least on top of Sicily. Sicily’s hi-ghest town has one of the most unique traditions. The lady of the seven sorrows iscarried in a procession to the Cathedral where the Um of the Dead Christ awaits.The procession is led by thousands of hooded brethren wearing capes of differentcolors. Don’t forget to bring you camera on this trip you will be very disappointedif you don’t.

“Holy Saturday” to Ferla for the “Sciaccariata” (tochesby fire) The Holy NightSaturday, April 23At 9 p.m. the town’s church bells will signal the beginning of the celebration startingwith a fireworks display. Church’s are illuminated, the town band plays and theprocession begins. Those who dare continue through out the night carrying Christ’sbody around the town in a torch-lit vigil.

Easter in San Biagio Platani & Sant’ Angelo MuxaroSunday, April 24Come see two religious parties deck the town in colorful decorative arches madefrom all sorts of materials including vegetables and cereals. Each groups work isprepared in absolute secrecy during the weeks leading up to Easter and each at-tempts to out-do the other. The competitive spirit is, however, just a back drop tothe catholic celebration of Easter.

What’s going on at Splashers!!!New Lap Swim HoursMonday – Friday5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.2:45 p.m. to 6 p.m.Summer 2011 Splashers Season Passes go on sale Monday, May 2. Weekend Seasonstarts Memorial Day Weekend, Summer hours begin Saturday, June 18! HappySwimming everyone!

ITT has many trips to offerfor Easter!

page 12 april 22, 2011

Angela

CDR

Stampa

Hospital JobVacancy

Contracting Office, FISCSigonella, is soliciting for

the following personalizedhealthcare contract posi-tions at the US Naval Ho-spital, Sigonella: two full

time "Certified Medical As-sistants" and one full time

"Registered Nurse".Sources must be eligible forUS employment. For fur-

ther information pleasecontact Mr. Giuffrida

(DSN 624-5727) or Ms.Randazzo (DSN 624-

3792).Closing date 29 April 2011.

WittenbergFIDO, continued from page 1

puppy!Another concern found in the Mediter-ranean area for pets is a parasite calledleishmania. This parasite is usuallytransmitted by the sandfly with a peakseason from April to October. Whenan infected sandfly bites an animal host,the parasite is transmitted to the blood-stream. Depending on the immune sy-stem response, your pet may or may notdevelop clinical signs. The parasite canlay dormant in your pet for up to sevenyears and can be very difficult to detect!Signs include skin problems, especiallyhair loss around the nose or ears,weight loss, increased urination andthirst, enlarged lymph nodes, or abnor-mal nail growth. There is currently noapproved vaccination for leishmaniasis,so the best method of prevention is re-ducing exposure to sandflies. Using aproduct such as a Scalibor collar or Ad-vantix will help prevent fleas, ticks, andsandflies from feeding and transmittingdisease. A Scalibor collar can be pur-chased at the Veterinary Clinic on NASI and lasts for six months. You shouldavoid getting the Scalibor collar wet asit can cause skin irritation. Advantix isalso sold at the Veterinary Clinic and isa topical product applied to the skinbetween your animal’s shoulder blades.Advantix should be used every threeweeks during the summer for maxi-mum efficacy.

Remember when you decideto get a pet, you are accepting respon-sibility for that life. Moving is not anexcuse for getting rid of your pet. Also,many military and civilian housingareas have banned what they considerdangerous breeds, so do your researchbefore buying a pet. The out-proces-sing checklist from PSD does includethe Veterinary Clinic, so if you have apet, you must make travel arrange-ments for them before check out can becompleted. If you have given your petaway, you must come to the VeterinaryClinic to complete a transfer of owner-ship to show that you no longer ownthat animal. Your pet is micro chippedand if found, you will be responsible forthat pet, even if you have moved. Withproper planning and flexibility with tra-vel plans, a smooth move is possible foryour whole family. Please contact theVeterinary Clinic on NAS I for more in-formation regarding pet travel. Please contact the Veterinary Clinicwith any questions at 624-4258.

ASSAULT, continued from page 5

-If it feels right, connect withtrusted friends or family members whocan provide support. If you'd rather beby yourself for a while, that's OK, too.But it's important to get support fromloved ones.

-Consider meditation or yoga tohelp reduce stress. You might also setaside extra time for hobbies or activi-ties. This can distract you from un-pleasant thoughts and help to ease anystress you feel.

Recovery from sexual assault is avery personal matter. It doesn't occuron a strict timetable. Some people evenhave delayed reactions to an assault andgo on for a while as though nothinghappened. However, at some point theymay encounter a reminder of the eventand then feel upset. Try to rememberthat healing does not happen in astraight line. It's perfectly normal tostart to feel better and then have a set-back. Sometimes, setbacks can makeyou feel as though you've made littleprogress. Nevertheless, you are likely tosee a gradual improvement over time.

Keep in mind that recovery is anongoing process. Your goal is to moveforward -- little by little if needed -- sothat the assault no longer influencesyour life.

PIPER, continued from page 1students, and will cap off her visit withStory Time with an autograph sessionfollowing. “Military children are my favorite au-diences,” said Willis-Holt. “Speaking tothem gives me an opportunity to sharemy own military childhood experien-ces and how those experiences have alot to do with the writer I am today.”Through Piper’s eyes, young readerscan relate to her and the experiencesshe has as a part of a military family.“Piper loves being a Navy brat,” saidWillis-Holt. “She thinks of her dad’s mi-litary assignments as adventures. WhenI was growing up, I didn’t appreciatemy military childhood. I was shy and itwas difficult for me to make friends. Itwasn’t until I became an adult that Irealized what a rich childhood I had. Bythe time I was 14, I had lived and trave-led to more places than most civilianadults. A military childhood broadensyou as a person, makes you open-min-ded to others, and gives you copingskills. You can put someone with a mi-litary childhood in almost any situationand they will adapt. Being adaptable isone of our strengths. We grew up ha-ving to adjust to new situations, andthat’s the beauty of having to be thenew kid. You gain a lot from those awk-ward experiences.”For military children at NAS Sigonella,Willis-Holt says, “Enjoy your adventu-res. Right now, you may not realize howlucky you are to have experienced pla-ces you’ve lived or to have the kind oflife you have. One day, you will. It iswhat will make you unique from a lotof people. Embrace that difference.Who knows? One day that childhoodmay be the source of books you write.”

WASTE, continued from page 2

king database was recognized by theNAVFAC EURAFSWA Region 2011Environmental Assessment audit teamas setting a precedent to be followed byother installations in the region. Theaudit team further stated PW Environ-mental management of the programhas led to the NAS Sigonella hazardouswaste program being one of the top inthe CNREURAFSWA AOR. If youhave any questions concerning disposalof hazardous waste please call: 624-2463 or 624-2707.

SPARKY, continued from page 2

informed about what to do in the eventof a fire through his image on activitybooks, clothing and other informationmaterials.The legend of Sparky:Once upon a time, there lived a smallDalmatian puppy that used to sit near afence at a school. The puppy enjoyedwatching the little children of theschool play outdoors. One day, thepuppy decided to follow two of thechildren to their home. Tired from thetrot, the puppy lay near a tree to rest hisweary feet. Upon awakening, the shoc-ked little puppy realized that the chil-dren’s' home was on fire. The puppyscampered to the local fire station towarn the firemen. The firemen heardthe puppy's plea for help and rushed tothe fire scene to douse the flames.When the raging fire was finally extin-guished, the firemen noticed the poorlittle worried Dalmatian shiveringunder a tree. The firefighters took the Dalmatian andbrought him to the children’s family, inhopes that he could cheer them up.Once there, the firefighters informedthe family that the dog had ran all theway to the fire station to inform the fi-refighters of the raging fire. The firefi-ghters realized that the dog was a heroicanti-fire dog. Thus, the firefighters cal-led the Dalmatian “Sparky the fire dog”,and Sparky found a new home at thefire station from then on.

KEARSARGE, continued frompage 1

Recreation Director.Along with hosting tours for the Sailorsand Marines, whose operations tempohas prevented them from visiting a li-berty port in more than 60 days, MWRwas also asked to set up temporaryquarters for a small conglomeration ofthe ships company. They accomplishedthis by converting the gymnasium onNAS Sigonella’s operational base to aopen bay filled with 300 cots in orderto allow the personnel to have in portberthing. “The entire recreation branch was dee-ply involved in the coordination of basesporting events, golf tournaments andcommand functions, said Froelicher.MWR also worked through the wee-kend remodeling a new recreationannex facility on the pier to accommo-date a ship of such size. “We brought live music along with foodand refreshments to the pier and havebeen providing this service to hundredsof people since the night of the shipspull in,” said Froelicher. The Kearsarge is scheduled to departfrom Augusta Bay to continue its rou-tine deployment, but as for the emplo-yees of MWR recreation branch,Kearsarge are just a small group of thetemporary base residents MWR areproviding for.For more information on what MWR isproviding in your area visitwww.mwr.navy.mil.

Alcoholics Anonymous

Alcoholic Anonymous

meeting will be held on

Monday evenings from

5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

at the NASII Chapel.

If additional meetings

are needed or for more

information please call

x3267

page 13april 22, 2011

Exchange new car sales

Photo by AOC John Zink, NMC DET Sigonella

NMC DET Sigonella, RDAF work together for missions in Libya

NMC DET Sigonella and RDAF personnel have been working together on ordance assembly for missions inLibya. By Tracie Barnthouse

The Signature EditorSince the beginning of Opera-tion ODYSSEY DAWN, NavyMunitions Command Deta-chment Sigonella (NMC) andthe Royal Danish Air Force(RDAF) have been workinghand-in-hand, around the clockon ordnance defined for key tar-gets in Libya. Ordnance havebeen continuously flown in onC-130’s from Denmark and

have been off-loaded in a jointeffort between Algese (Italiancontractors that work withFlight Line support), RDAF,and NMC.“The whole thing has and conti-nues to be a great orchestra ofevents,” said NMC DET Sigo-nella Leading Chief Petty Offi-cer John Zink. “The Danish havedone most of the work and de-serve great credit for it. Theyhave followed our procedureswithout worry or complaint.”

Assets such as components tobuild laser and GPS-guidedbombs were loaded onto NMCtrucks and transported to theNMC compound to ensure pro-per storage and for assembly.After assembly, the componentswere escorted back to the flightline on Naval Air Station Sigo-nella and loaded onto RDAF F-16’s for delivery.In a show of gratitude as theRDAF detachment switchesover teams, Danish Chief of Ar-

mament and Flight SergeantThomas and the Danish F-16Sigonella Team 1 presentedNMC with a hand-signed pho-tograph of an F-16 and a case ofDanish beer. “From day one, the Americanhelp has been outstanding,” saidThomas. “The support theyhave given us couldn’t havebeen matched by anyone, andwe are very, very grateful. Thissupport has made the difference

between success and failure du-ring the Danish mission - wecouldn’t have done this withoutthem.” He added, “In the first week, weworked around the clock - thefirst five days, our armamentteam worked for 96 hours, andthe Americans were alwaysthere to help, always with asmile on their faces. As I said:They’ve been outstanding!”