Herald Union, March 26, 2015

Herald UnionVol. XXII, No. 12 Wiesbaden: Your home in Germany March 26, 2015

InsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideInsideFirst fun run

Runners of all ages and species showed up for the first fun run of the

series. See page 10.

First fun runFirst fun runRunners of all ages and species showed up for the first fun run of the

series. See page 10.

Photo by Shayna Brouker

Lightweight roundIsaiah Fuller, 7, tries to pin a Stuttgart wrestler during the Installation Management Command-Europe Child, Youth and School Services Junior Wrestling Championship March 14 at the Wiesbaden Fitness Center. See more on page 10.

Garrison Wiesbaden ‘a world-class organization’Story and photo by

Shayna BroukerU.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden

It took signatures from the garrison commander all the way up the chain of command to the Secretary of the Army, two years’ worth of paperwork and thousands of hours of manpower to recognize excellence at the highest level. With a flourish, it was done and there was no doubt: U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden is a “Superior Unit.”

Adding to “Your Home in Ger-many’s” designations as an Army Community of Excellence in 2011 and a Sustained Excellence Community in 2012, the garrison was awarded the esteemed Army Superior Unit Award during a ceremony March 18 at the

Tony Bass Auditorium, with past and present garrison commanders present.

The Army Superior Unit Award was established by the Secretary of the Army to recognize units that display outstanding meritorious performance during a difficult and/or challenging mission carried out under extraordinary circumstances, said Michael Formica, Installation Management Command-Europe region director, who spoke at the ceremony. For USAG Wiesbaden, this meant excelling at providing the highest quality services to its Soldiers, Families and civilians while support-ing numerous deployments and U.S. Army Europe’s move from Heidelberg to Wiesbaden.

Wiesbaden was nominated for the

Superior Unit Award by former U.S. Army Europe Commanding General Lt. Gen. David Campbell, who wrote in his endorsement letter that the garrison’s previous awards “provide ample evidence thereof and underscores this gar-rison’s status as the garrison of choice to live, work and raise families.”

Some of the awards amassed by the garrison workforce include Secretary of the Army’s Army Substance Abuse Program Coor-dinator of the Year; USAREUR Award for Best Installation Bet-ter Opportunities for Single Soldiers Program in the medium category; European Youth Development Excel-

lence Award for Overall Programming; Best in Europe Child, Youth and School

Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Roy Rocco pins the Superior Unit Award ribbon on the Wiesbaden colors with Garrison Commander Col. Mary Martin.

‘Stalwart’ employeeACS director wins esteemed award

By Shayna Brouker

U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Public

Affairs Office

She’s a mother to two boys, spouse to an Army officer and director of U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Army Community Service, providing care to her own family and more than 19,000 Soldiers and Families in the Wiesbaden community.

With almost 20 years of experience as a Department of Defense civilian, Jan Meert knows how to take care of people — and now

she’s got the creden-tials to prove it.

Meert received the esteemed Stal-wart Award during a ceremony at Instal-lation Management Command Headquar-ters in San Antonio, Texas, March 25. The IMCOM Stalwart Award recognizes in-dividuals from more than 70 Army garri-sons around the world who d is t inguish themselves among their peers and super-visors as outstanding IMCOM Soldiers and civilians.

“Jan has been the most deserving of

See Stalwart on page 3

See Award on page 3European Youth Development Excel

Literate learnersHainerberg students

and parents get extra credit for reading

workshop. See page 6.

Literate learnersHainerberg students

and parents get extra credit for reading

workshop. See page 6.

New citizensWiesbaden commu-

nity members became part of the “American family.” Read more on

page 15.

Page 2 Herald Union March 26, 2015 ..................................................................... www.wiesbaden.army.mil

Commentary

Herald Union published by Command and newspaper staffUSAG Wiesbaden Commander......................Col. Mary L. Martin

USAG Wiesbaden Command Sergeant Major

......................................Command Sgt. Maj. Roy L. Rocco

Public Affairs Officer............................................Anemone Rueger

Editor..................................................Chrystal Smith (mil 548-2003)

Reporter...........................................Shayna Brouker (mil 548-2004)

The Herald Union, printed exclusively for members of U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden, is an authorized, unofficial Army newspaper published under the provisions of AR 360-1. Contents are not necessarily the official views of, nor endorsed by, the U.S. government or the Department of De-fense. The editorial content is the responsibility of the USAG Wiesbaden Public Affairs Office. No payment is made for contributions. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for sale, 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. This is a biweekly newspaper published by AdvantiPro GmbH and printed by Oggersheimer Druckzentrum. Circulation is 6,000 copies. For display advertising rates call Jaque-line Samad at civ (0631) 3033 5537, email [email protected]; classified advertising rates call Janina Wuttke at civ (0631) 3033 5531 or post at www.class-world.com. Editorial offices are in Building 1205 on Clay Kaserne. Address: USAG Wiesbaden, Herald Union, Unit 29623 Box 60, APO AE 09005-9623; Telephone: mil 548-2002; civ (0611) 143-548-2002; Email: [email protected]; Home page: www.wiesbaden.army.mil.

Editor’s note: Have some-thing you’d like to share with the commander? Visit the garrison’s Facebook page (Garrison Wiesbaden), send an ICE comment or contact the Commander’s Hotline (click the Feedback link on the garrison home page).Hainerberg traffic

Amy B. wrote: The Hainerberg traffic situation is causing major traffic issues not just for those getting on to Hainerberg, but the rest of the Wiesbaden community as well. There are simply too many cars coming in dur-ing the morning and afternoon commute to allow for just one entry point. There are almost 2,000 school children on Hainerberg and not all take the bus in the morning. I urge you to do a traffic impact study. There are many frustrated parents and community members and having this issue addressed would be appreciated.

Response: I would like to assure you that the mitigation of the resolu-tion to close Hainerberg area is cur-rently being discussed in the command channels and all suggestions and recommendations will be taken into consideration. However, regardless of possible inconvenience community members may experience, the safety of our Soldiers, civilians and Family members remains the top priority for the garrison and its leaders.

Any changes or modifications to the current situation will be commu-nicated with the community using our standard communication channels, to include operations channels, the gar-rison homepage, Facebook, the Her-ald Union, AFN and the Community Information Exchange. Chapel parking

Roswitha T. wrote: On Tuesday all of the parking by the chapel was coned off. This is already inconvenient as teach-ers often carry bags full of heavy books to and from home. I appreciate that the Protestant Women of the Church group needs parking, but we at the high school are working under tough conditions. We have portable classrooms — all of this due to the construction — and beyond your scope, but could we please get some consideration and respect for what we do?

Thanks for your help.Response: We have

great respect for what teachers/educators do to provide a great educa-tional experience for the children in the USAG Wiesbaden community. Parking in the Hainer-berg area is very limited due to construction and one-way traffic for the safety of children. In that, the chaplain has a very viable mission for

our community and there will be times when parking spaces will require blocking to allow parking for chapel volunteers to attend necessary meet-ings to ensure for the mission of the chapel. Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Kaiser is to ensure educators are notified when such meetings take place and he is monitoring to ensure the least amount of parking spaces are utilized. We appreciate your continued patience as we continue to make great progress in our community.

Nicole D. said: I really appreciate having parking available right outside the chapel. I have three children and used to have to walk from the hotel every Tuesday morning. It’s a lot easier to get my two-year-old safely inside the chapel now. Thank you for reserving the parking spots on Tuesday mornings.

Response: Nicole, thanks for your comment.Recycle/Reuse Center

Mike E. wrote: I have heard com-ments from various people on how items are displayed in the Reuse Center so I thought I would at least use this process to make a comment. 1. Why do we not employ military spouses at least in an oversight position so we know where the items being dropped off are going? 2. I can see items in the downstairs office but upstairs is completely out of the oversight by the government approved user com-munity. It makes us wonder what else is upstairs and not placed on the shelves. 3. Can items in the large orange containers be taken for reuse? 4. What about the items that are stacked behind the orange recycle bins? Can a user take any of those items?

Response: Thank you for taking the time to raise your concern regarding the

Recycle/Reuse Center operations. The Reuse Center is managed by the Director-ate of Public Works and is open to U.S. ID card holders residing in the USAG Wiesbaden community. Currently, there are no authorizations to allow for the placement of Army civilians or military spouses in the Recycle/Reuse Center and volunteer programs explored have been unsuccessful. The deficiencies you mentioned regarding oversight will be reviewed by management for correction. Regarding the second floor, it is used as an office, storage and break room area for the staff and therefore is not open to custom-ers. Regarding why it is not permitted to retrieve items from the recycling containers, items placed in the contractor-owned ELW containers for re-cycle purposes become the property of ELW and are recycled by them. This has allowed the government to negotiate reduced contract prices/container costs. ELW has identified this to us and requested we inform patrons not to sift through the containers. Addition-ally, while I understand you are not climbing into the containers, sifting through waste contain-ers, especially those with electronics which tend to contain sharp items, is not supported because it poses an increased risk to personal safety.POV shipping information

Dennis W. wrote: The link to the POV shipping information in the levy brief is dead, is there an updated link?

Response: I’m sorry for the inconvenience. Please use this link to gain information regarding vehicle shipping: http://www.wiesbaden.army.mil/

sites/directorates/wiesbadendolinternet/index.htm. We will be sure to fix the link on the levy briefing as soon as possible.Wi-Fi at golf course

Charles S. wrote in regards to the Rheinblick Golf Course: Great facility but public Wi-Fi is needed for such train-ing and public functions.

Response: Thank you for your com-ment during your recent visit. Currently we have limited capability but hope to have Wi-Fi capability by summer at Rheinblick Golf Course.

Col. Mary Martin, U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden com-mander

Ask the commander

Welcome to WiesbadenU.S. Army Europe Commanding General Lt.

Gen. Ben Hodges has named Sgt. Maj. Sheryl D. Lyon as his new senior enlisted advisor.

Lyon is currently assigned as senior enlisted leader, Joint Functional Component Command for Global Strike, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska.

The Tompkinsville, Kentucky, native, who is replacing Command Sgt. Maj. David Davenport Sr., began her Army career in 1991. During her career, Lyon has held enlisted leadership positions at every level of the Army. She has served two previous tours in Europe, with the 718th Military Intelligence Group in Bad Aibling, Germany, and with the Multinational Battle Group-East, Kosovo Force 17, in Kosovo.

Lyon is scheduled to assume her new duties as the USAREUR command sergeant major in May. (Courtesy of USAREUR Public Affairs Office)

www.wiesbaden.army.mil ........................................................................March 26, 2015 Herald Union Page 3

News and features

News flashCustoms fines Kinder egg mailers

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents will remove Kinder Surprise chocolate eggs from baggage or any package mailed stateside, and those who ship these eggs or similar products can be fined as they are deemed a choking hazard by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Ship-pers have an obligation to declare items they are mailing on the customs declaration forms to avoid penalties. However, other Kinder brand candy products that do not contain the small toy can be mailed without restriction. Contact the local U.S. military customs office for more information or visit CPSC’s website at www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml06/06140.html.Closures for Easter holiday

Due to German federal Easter holidays on April 3 and April 6, the following services will be closed: Driver’s Testing, Transportation Motor Pool, Personal Property Processing Office, Installa-tion Property Book, Central Issue Facility, Quality Control/Quality Assurance and Personally Owned Vehicle Inspection. For more information call mil 546-6002 or civ (0611) 143-546-6002.Postal Service Center survey

The Wiesbaden Postal Service Center officials are conducting a survey to assess customer satis-faction regarding the facility’s operating hours and services. Patrons of the service are asked to participate in the survey to ensure as many opinions are submitted and considered by managers toward making adjustments. Log onto https://www.sur-veymonkey.com/s/WiesbadenPostalServiceCenter to take the survey.New license plate restrictions

U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Vehicle Regis-tration office will only issue or renew registrations for the “WI” license plates. Personnel who have license plates from other communities or have license plates previously issued through the USAG Wiesbaden Vehicle Registration office that begin with letters other than WI will be required to switch to the WI plates when renewing their registrations. Those personnel with a current exception to policy to have license plates beginning with other than WI will have to go to the U.S. Army Europe Vehicle Registry office in Sembach after they have had their vehicle inspected to renew their registrations. The USAG Wiesbaden Vehicle Registration office no longer has access in the registration system to process any registrations other than those that begin with WI. This policy has been put in place by USAREUR Vehicle Registry and all requests for exceptions to policy must be requested through and approved by them. Visit http://www.eur.army.mil/rmv/Vehicle_Registration/ for more information. Housing survey

U.S. Army Europe is asking service members in Germany who live off-post in privately leased or rental housing to take part in the annual housing survey. The survey is instrumental in ensuring ac-curate housing allowance rates for military families living off-post. The survey is active March 1-31 and can be found at https://www.defensetravel.dod.mil/site/oha-util-mar.cfm.

Stalwart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . this award almost since she’s been here,” said Robert Schloesser, director of Wiesbaden Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation. “She builds a team that is loyal and has the same quest for excellence that she has.”

Over the past year, Meert enforced tough standards and ex-pectations of her team resulting in hundreds of training opportunities across the full spectrum of social services, training more than 27,000 customers.

Under her leadership, the Wi-esbaden ACS averages more than 35,000 customer contacts monthly and maintains a consistent customer satisfaction rate above 98 percent with a 100 percent on-time follow-up rate. In July 2014, the ACS team was once again accredited, earning another perfect score of 100 percent out of 208 standards that were inspected; this was the second perfect score for Meert and her team.

Her accomplishments include increasing the number of volunteers from 1,933 registered volunteers to 2,859 to mitigate the impacts of sequestration, thereby increasing

the number of German language classes offered; introducing two extremely successful volunteer resiliency-focused programs; and implementing the garrison’s first “Holiday Food Bank,” which provided cost-free nonperishable food items to any garrison ID cardholder in need; the program touched nearly 100 families in its inaugural year.The Angel Tree gift program ensures 304 children in the community received gifts for the holidays.

Meert mentored the Survivor Outreach Services (SOS) program manager to transform the program. A partnership with the University of Maryland University College to use its art room allowed Survivors to meet and express themselves through painting together. She ad-dressed issues with TRICARE that prevented Survivors in Europe from receiving their authorized health care benefit, which was particularly important for surviving children of the fallen.

Finally, a memorial garden was dedicated in memory of fallen Sol-diers and to honor their surviving Families.

“It’s the capstone in my career with Army Community Service and USAG Wiesbaden. I’m very humbled for even being nominated for the award, let alone actually receiving it, but I certainly couldn’t have won it without the support of the ACS team, Dr. Schloesser and the garrison command,” she said. “It’s been an honor serving this great community and working alongside the fine professionals of Army Community Service.”

Meert will depart Wiesbaden with her family in June for a post

Continued from page 1

Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Services Evaluation; and numerous other team and individual awards.

“I am extremely proud of the garrison’s many accomplishments during this time of transformation, and especially pleased that the sense of community remains high as you continue to deliver the Army’s Soldier for Life promises to our constituency,” said

Formica. “My challenge to you is to continue to sus-tain practices and past achievements that led to this recognition, and to never be satisfied that we have accomplished all that we can in our mission to take care of Soldiers and their Families.

“Congratulations on a job well done,” he con-cluded. “You are a world-class organization, and now recognized as such.”

Continued from page 1

Meert has served as Wiesbaden ACS director for seven years.

On the (job) hunt

A jobseeker talks to a prospective employer at

Army Community Service’s Career Fair held March

13 at the Wiesbaden Entertainment Center.

Approximately 120 people attended, 202 interviews

were conducted and 53 of-fers were made. Feedback

from fairgoers and employ-ers was positive, including

“The fair has helped me find prospective employ-

ers. I have been given four job offers” and “A lot of selection. Very friendly

and courteous. Kept the process professional but

comfortable.” Photo by Shayna Brouker


News and features

From the blotterCompiled by the U.S. Army Garrison

Wiesbaden Directorate of Emergency Services

March 3Aggravated assault: An NCO is being charged with ag-

gravated assault.March 4Traffic accident: A Soldier is being charged with a traffic

accident: Failing to judge proper clearance causing property damage.

Traffic accident: An NCO is being charged with a traffic ac-cident: Following too closely causing property damage.

March 5Traffic accident: A Soldier is being charged with a traffic

accident: Inattentive driving causing property damage.Traffic accident: An officer is being charged with a traffic

accident: Improper backing causing property damage.Failure to obey order or regulation: A Soldier is being

charged with failure to obey order or regulation: Owning an unregistered vehicle.


accident: Improper backing causing property damage.March 8Traffic accident: A Soldier is being charged with a traffic

accident: Failing to judge proper clearance causing property damage.

Failure to obey order or regulation: An NCO is being charged with failure to obey order or regulation: Owning an unregistered vehicle.

Traffic accident: A Soldier is being charged with a traffic accident: Inattentive driving and operating a vehicle while using a cell phone causing property damage.

March 9Traffic accident: An officer is being charged with a traffic

accident: Improper backing causing property damage.March 11Failure to obey order or regulation: An NCO is being

charged with failure to obey order or regulation: Owning an unregistered vehicle.


accident: Inattentive driving causing property damage.Aggravated assault: An NCO is being charged with

aggravated assault and wrongful damage to private property.

Traffic accident: An officer is being charged with a traffic accident: Improper backing causing property damage.

Traffic accident: An NCO is being charged with a traffic accident: Improper backing causing property damage and failure to report involvement.

March 13Traffic accident: An NCO is being charged with a traffic

accident: Improper backing causing property damage.March 17Traffic accident: A Soldier is being charged with a traf-

fic accident: Improper lane change causing property damage.

Traffic accident: An NCO is being charged with a traffic accident: Improper backing causing property damage.

March 18Traffic accident: An officer is being charged with a traf-

fic accident: Improper lane change causing property damage.

Failure to obey order or regulation: A Soldier is being charged with failure to obey order or regulation: Owning an unregistered vehicle.

Wiesbaden’s Best WarriorsStaff Sgt. James Bagby, a military policeman with U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden, puts the winning hold on Staff Sgt. Apollo Stoewer, USAG Vicenza, during the combatives portion of the 2015 Installation Management Com-mand-Europe Best Warrior Competition March 12 in Grafenwoehr, Germany. Photo right: Pfc. Chase Rapp of USAG Wiesbaden Headquar-ters and Headquarters Detachment, navigates the obstacle course portion March 10. Bagby and Rapp were pitted against 10 other Sol-diers from garrisons around Europe, pushing themselves physically and mentally through marksmanship, land navigation, essay writing and combatives tests. They also completed a 12-mile foot march with a 35-pound rucksack and 25 pounds of combat gear, and met a board of command sergeants major. Staff Sgt. Jacob Kasarda and Spc. Shane Sital, two military po-licemen based in Schinnen, the Netherlands, were named the region’s Best Warrior Noncom-missioned Officer and Soldier of the Year.

Photo by Andreas Kreuzer

Photo by Chelsea Bissell

Ready to rockBassist John DeServio and members of the heavy metal band Black Label Society sign items for fans dur-ing a meet-and-greet at the Warrior Zone on Clay Kaserne March 19 before their concert later that night at the Tony Bass Multi-use Center. More than 200 people attended the concert sponsored by USO Rhein Main. The band was formed by Zakk Wylde, a former guitarist for Ozzy Os-borne. Photo by Shayna Brouker


USAG Wiesbaden — Wackernheim, Wiesbaden

Story and photo by Shayna Brouker

U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Public Affairs Office

With the Hainerberg Housing area access control point becoming active March 15, it was necessary to ensure the community’s “most precious resources” remained inside the gate. So on March 13, the Hainerberg Child Develop-ment Center closed and March 16, the children cared for there were provided care at other CDCs on Hainerberg and Clay Kaserne.

Garrison Commander Col. Mary Martin and CDC administrators held a townhall meeting at the School Age Care Center in Hainerberg March 11 to explain the move to affected parents.

Almost two dozen parents attended to express their concerns about lack of timely transportation from Hainerberg to Clay Kaserne, the effect the changes would have on their children and ques-tions about why the Hainerberg CDC was renovated and then closed.

The city of Wiesbaden repaired flood damage that had occurred several times before, as the building was susceptible to flooding, Martin explained. The building was not planned to be reopened. But after terrorist attacks occurred in Paris, it was deemed necessary to hasten the ACP by one month and ensure child care was behind an ACP.

“I will apologize a thousand times for inconveniences before I apologize for the loss of a child,” said Martin. “I

made a plan and I’m sticking to it. This is about your safety, and moreover, your children’s safety.”

Child, Youth and School Services and the garrison are making efforts to accommodate children being displaced, she continued.

“I didn’t want to tell you we were closing with no hope,” she said.

Four Child Development Homes are being developed from empty stairwell housing in Hainerberg. As soon as the homes have passed inspection, they will be used as space for part-day toddlers

currently cared for in the existing CD Home. Children displaced from the Hainerberg CDC will have first priority for these homes, said Martin.

In the meantime, part-day toddlers are being cared for in the Child Develop-ment Home (Building 7785) at 33 Texas-strasse; part-day preschool children are in Clay Kaserne CDC (Building 1502) a n d s h a r e space with the Strong Begin-nings morning class, but still

receive preschool lessons. The room is large enough for the Strong Beginnings and preschool children to move as a group from one side of the module to the other. (Army regulations state that different age groups may not be mixed, and CDCs must abide by this rule in order to maintain accreditation.)

Hourly care reservations are being honored in another CDC. Parent Central Services staff will contact parents if a toddler or preschool hour care reserva-tion was made for March 2015.

Martin added that in 2012, there was a plan to build a new CDC, but then sequestration was enacted and the plans had to be abandoned for budget-ary reasons. She has asked her staff to relook at the plans and is planning to present them to the Army staff, but bears no promises.

Parents were appreciative of the opportunity to present their concerns in an open forum and expressed praise for the CYSS staff and the CDC – “the best CDC in our 17 years in the Army,” said one mother.

“You have resilient children and they bounce back better sometimes than adults,” concluded Martin.

For questions about the CDC devel-opments, contact Coordinator Cecilia Kandler at mil 548-9300 or civ (0611) 143-548-9300 or cecilia.j.kandler.naf@

CDCs reorganize to accommodate children

Kim Formica, wife of Installation Management Command-Europe Region Director Michael Formica, smiles at children during a tour of the Clay Kas-erne CDC with its director, Melissa Crawford (right) March 18.

Outstanding Ody

Vera Garcia (right), Civil-ian Personnel director

for U.S. Army Europe G-1, presents the Outstanding Civilian Service Award to Ministerialrat Hans-Josef

Ody on the occasion of his retirement from the

Rheinland-Pfalz State Ministry of the Interior for Sports and Infrastructure

March 6 at Clay Kaserne. The award was presented

in recognition of Ody’s commitment to sup-

port U.S. armed forces in Rheinland-Pfalz in mat-

ters concerning personnel administration of the host

nation work force from October 1979 to January

2015. Photo by Sgt. Jesiah Dixon


Schools page — Partners in education

Schoolbits ... Schoolbits ... SchoolbitsSchool buses

The Department of Defense Dependents School buses that receive priority access to the installation are currently being utilized by less than 50 percent of those registered to ride them. For questions about

acquiring a bus pass for your child, please call mil 337-2240 or civ (0611) 705-2240 or email [email protected]. If buses are parked around schools in Hainerberg Housing area, dropping off or picking up students, drivers may pass them.

Dependent IDsWiesbaden students leaving campus

during the school day must carry their Department of Defense dependent ID cards on- and off-campus with them. Guards will conduct checks periodically.

CLEP-a-thonUniversity of Maryland University

College-Europe hosts a CLEP [College Level Examination Program]-a-thon April 22-23 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the

Wiesbaden National Test Center in Building 1023E, Room 103. Attendees may take as many computer-based exams as they would like and receive scores immediately. Testing is free for active-duty service members and $100 for civilians. Contact UMUC Wi-esbaden at mil 548-1316 or civ (0611) 143-548-1316 or email [email protected] for details.

You Made the GradeThe Army and Air Force Exchange Service is re-

warding military students who excel in the classroom with its You Made the Grade program, now in its 15th year. Students in first through 12th grades who maintain a B average or better are eligible to receive a coupon book filled with free offers and discounts. They can also enter the seminannual sweepstakes for gift cards worth $500, $1,500 or $2,000. For more information visit www.shopmyexchange.com.

5th Signal visit bolsters supportStory and photo by

Will King5th Signal Command Public Affairs Office

Unit sponsorships of-fer a military boost to schools, and 5th Signal Command’s support of Wiesbaden High School is no exception.

The command’s mis-sion is to “build, oper-ate, defend and extend network capabilities to enable mission com-mand and create tactical, operational, and strategic flexibility for Army, Joint, and Multi-national forces in the European Com-mand and Africa Com-mand areas of responsi-bility,” lending a unique technical expertise. Com-

mander Col. Jimmy Hall Jr. and Command Sgt. Maj. Harry Mercado took an opportunity to tour the school’s classrooms and facilities with administra-tors March 11.

5th Signal Command not only sponsors the high school, but also provides technical assistance with computers, judges for competitions and mentors and volunteers to assist with school needs.

“I’m very pleased. This is a very pleas-ant situation to be in as an administrator of the school,” said Principal Greg Hatch. “I know that I’ve got just a wide variety of skills or numbers of people when I need them.

As we identify needs where we could use as-sistance from outside the building, we just contact one of the senior NCOs from 5th Signal and it just gets done,” Hatch said.

The partnership is especially beneficial for the school’s science, technology, engineering and math classes and its RoboWarriors Club.

“I’ve been doing this a long time and I’ve never seen a commander take such an active interest,” said Peter Witmer, school liaison officer.

“It’s a good school and a good program, and I’m glad that we’re a part of it,” Hall said.

Col. Hall speaks with Peter Witmer in the robotics lab during a tour of the school’s facilities. Photos by Meg Cambon

Partners in Print

Teaching and learn-ing were in full swing

after school at Hain-erberg Elementary

School March 19. First-grade teachers

and Tammy Williams, a literacy specialist,

offered a “Partners in Print” workshop for

parents and students to improve read-

ing skills. Williams shared tips, tricks

and strategies, and then students and

parents put them to the test through a

variety of activities.

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Community notes ... Community notesReligious holiday observation

In observation of Roman Catholic Lent, Catholic Mass will be held March 27 and 30 at noon in Hainerberg Chapel. Stations of the Cross will be observed March 27 at 6 p.m. at Hainerberg, followed by soup and bread in the activity room. For the Roman Catholic Holy Week, the Clay Chapel will hold Palm Sunday Mass March 28 at 5 p.m.; Hainerberg Chapel will hold Mass March 29 at 9 a.m. For Holy Thurs-day, Hainerberg Chapel will hold Mass April 2 at 7 p.m., followed by veneration of the Blessed Sacrament until 10 in the Blessed Sacrament chapel. Good Friday service will be April 3 at 3 p.m. in the Hainerberg Chapel. Easter Vigil Mass will be April 4 at 8 p.m., with a reception follow-ing and no 5 p.m. Mass at Clay Chapel. Easter Sunday Mass will be held April 5 at 9 a.m. in the Hainerberg Chapel.

Jewish Passover will be celebrated with Seder April 3 and 4 at 8:30 p.m. at Capt. (Chaplain) David Ruderman’s home. Contact him at (0162) 234-2292.

Protestant Christian services will observe Maundy Thurs-day with a worship service April 2 at noon at the Clay Chapel. Good Friday will be celebrated April 3 at noon at Clay. There will be an Easter sunrise service April 5 at 6:30 a.m. at Clay Kaserne in building 1669 (near the Truck Gate) with a reception afterward. There will also be Easter services at Hainerberg Elementary School at 10 a.m.; Gospel service at Clay Chapel at 10:30; and tra-ditional service at Hainerberg Chapel at 11 a.m.Baby Fair

Army Community Services New Parents Support Program hosts its seventh annual Baby Fair at the Wiesbaden Enter-tainment Center March 27 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. for expectant parents and parents of infants up to six months of age. There will be presentations on community resources, prizes and refreshments. For more

information call mil 548-9201/2 or civ (0611) 143-548-9201/2. Community Information Exchange

The next Community Infor-mation Exchange will be held April 1 at 10:30 a.m. in the Community Activity Center on Wiesbaden’s Clay Kaserne. Community members are wel-come to attend in person or follow it live on the Garrison Wiesbaden Facebook page.

KinderFestThe 2015 Community

KinderFest will be held April 4 at the Wiesbaden Entertainment Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The hourly egg hunts will begin at 10, 11, noon and 1 p.m. Visit www.wiesbaden.armymwr.com/europe/wiesbaden/ for more information.Tell Me a Story

Tell Me A Story – Parent to Parent will host Tell Me A Story 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, April 19 at Hainerberg Elementary School. Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, commanding general of U.S. Army Europe, will read “Gi-raffes Can’t Dance.” The book celebrates the differences in us all. Families will receive a copy of the book, and activities and snacks will be provided. Reserve your space by contact-ing [email protected] by April 16. Heidelberg commuter bus

The community-funded “Barney bus” provides no-fills, round-trip transportation from the Park & Ride behind Patrick Henry Village in Heidelberg to the Clay Kaserne Fitness Center and back for U.S. government employees on all non-U.S. holi-days, with scaled-back service over the Christmas through New Year holiday season. Departure times are 6:45 a.m. and 4:45 respectively — no exceptions. The cost is €10 per day, one way or both, payable in cash. Contact Randy Barnes at mil 537-3300 or civ (0611) 143-537-3300 for more information. SHIP Store class

Per Army regulation, hous-ing residents are required to perform certain basic self-help tasks and improvements at their

assigned family housing quar-ters and associated grounds. To be eligible for use of Self Help Issue Point Store items and supplies, sponsors and/or family members must first at-tend an orientation class, which is free of charge and held every Thursday from 10-11 a.m. ex-cept on German and American holidays. After attending the class, residents will receive a SHIP Store card. For more information call 01622-704315. Reconnection workshops

The Wiesbaden American Red Cross offers free and confi-dential reconnection workshops for military families going through redeployment. Work-shops address communicating

clearly and focus on topics such as exploring stress and trauma, identifying depression, relating to children and working through anger. For information about holding a workshop for your family or group call the Red Cross at civ (0611) 143-548-1760, email [email protected] or stop by the office in Building 1206 on Clay Kaserne.MS support group

Army Community Service offers a multiple sclerosis sup-port group every second Thurs-day of the month at Hainerberg Housing Building 7790 (Texas-strasse 57, Apartment 1) at 5:30 p.m. Call (0611) 143-548-9201 for more details. USO seeks volunteers

USO is seeking volunteers

to help with various programs around the Wiesbaden military community. Volunteers must be 18 and older and possess a Depart-ment of Defense ID card. Go to www.usovolunteer.org to apply. Contact USO Rhein-Main volun-teer coordinator at mil 548-5103.Fellowship, Bible study

The Protestant Women of the Chapel host fellowship, worship and Bible study every Tuesday from 9-11:30 a.m. and 6-8 p.m. at the Hainerberg Chapel. Child care is provided. BOSS gets busy

Wiesbaden’s Better Op-portunities for Single Soldiers features free BOSS movie night Mondays at 6 p.m. Call civ (0611) 143-548-9815 for more information.


Sports and leisure

Things to do ... Things to do

Take a hike: A guide to volksmarching in the Kaiserslautern/Wiesbaden area

By Donald SeltzerVolksmarch Editor

R Many thanks to volks-marchers James Meredith, Pat and Cheryl Patterson and Johnette Scott for providing event brochures.R Take a moment to

grab a set of brochures from the Werber table and send them no-cost via MPS to Donald Seltzer, PSC 2 Box 10684, APO AE 09012.

Weekend of March 28-29

Kappel (55483) — This event is in the scenic Hunsrück region west of Bingen, not far from

Hahn airport. From Wiesbaden, use Autobahns 643 and 60 toward Bingen, and 61 toward Koblenz. Exit at Rheinböllen (45), take B50 toward Simmern and Kirchberg, and use B421 to reach Kappel. From Baumholder, take secondary roads to Birkenfeld and pick up B269 headed north to Morbach. Connect with B327 and B50 to Kirchberg, then take B421 to Kappel and the start. From the KMC, use Autobahns 6 and 62 north toward Trier, exit at Birkenfeld (4), and take B269 and B327 through Morbach. Continue onto B50 to Kirchberg and connect with B421 to the start at Kappel.Start: Gemeindehalle Saturday and Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2

p.m. (5, 10 and 15 km) and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (20 km) Trail: Somewhat hilly trails, fields and woods Award: From previous events.

Mossautal-Hüttenthal (64756) —This event is in the beautiful Odenwald southeast of Darm-

stadt and offers 33- and 42-km trails in addition to the usual distances. Good weather will make this a pleasant trip. From Wiesbaden, use Autobahns 671, 60 and 67 to Darmstadt, then connect with Autobahn 5 toward Basel. Exit at Heppenheim (31) and take B460 toward Erbach. From the KMC, use Autobahn 6 toward Mannheim, then continue southward on A6 at Viernheim. Connect with A659 to Weinheim, then continue onto B38 to Lorzenbach and B460 to the start at Hüttenthal. Start: Sporthalle at Güttersbacher Strasse 4 Saturday and

Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (5 and 10 km), 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (20 km), 7-11 a.m. (33 km) and 6:30-9 a.m. (42) Trail: Very hilly, mostly woods Award: None or patch, certifi-cate and beer glass (marathon).

Waldems-Bermbach (65529) — This walk is north of Wiesbaden in the Naturpark

Hochtaunus. From Wiesbaden, use Autobahns 66 toward Frankfurt and 3 toward Koblenz, exit at Idstein (45), and follow B275 toward Waldems. Pick up a secondary road leading to Bermbach and look for IVV signs.

Start:Sängerhalle at Hauptstrasse 62 Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (5 and 10 km) and 7 a.m. to noon (20 and 30 km) Trails: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (6 and 10 km) and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (20 km) Award: None.

Wednesday, April 8

Mainz-Gonsenheim (55124) — This midweek walk is easily reached via autobahn and is just

north of Mainz. From Wiesbaden, use Autobahn 643 to cross the Schiersteiner Bridge (if it’s been reopened; otherwise, I don’t know what to tell you) and exit at Mainz-Gonsenheim. Follow IVV signs or tape leading to the start.Start: Karl-GeiBHaus at Kapellenstrasse 44 Wednesday:

8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (6 km) and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (10 km) Trail: Flat, mostly stroller-friendly trails, woods Award: None.

Weekend of April 11-12

Rhaunen (55624) — This walk is in the Hunsrück region west of Bingen, an area well known for its

scenic beauty and year-round series of walking trails. Trail lengths of 42- and 50-kilometers are offered to challenge-seeking wanderers as are three Mountain Bike trails (which do not offer IVV credit). From Wiesbaden, take Autobahns 60 and 61 toward Bingen and Koblenz. Exit at Rheinböllen (45) and follow B50 and B421 to Kirchberg, then continue through Dickenschied, Rohrbach and Woppenroth to reach Rhaunen on a secondary road. From Baumholder, use the minor roads skirting the training area to reach B420 at Rathsweiler. Head in the direction of Bad Kreuznach to connect with B270 toward Fischbach. Continue on secondary roads through Gerach, Herrstein, Weiden, and Hottenbach to reach Rhaunen. Start: Idarwaldhalle at Am Sonnenschlicher 5 Saturday and

Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (6 and 10 km), 7-11 a.m. (21 and 30 km), 6:30-9 a.m. (42 km), 6:30-8 a.m. (50 km) and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (25, 35 and 50 km mountain bike without IVV credit)Trails: Hilly, mostly woods Award: From previous events (shorter routes) or patch and certificate (marathon trails).

Sprendlingen (55576) — Look for this event south of Bingen. From Wiesbaden, Mainz and points

east use Autobahns 60 to Bingen and 61 south toward Ludwigshafen. Exit at Gau-Bickelheim (52) and follow

IVV signs to the start. From the KMC, use Autobahns 6 toward Mannheim, 63 toward Mainz,

and 61 toward Koblenz. Exit at Gau-Bickelheim (52) and follow signs to the start hall.Start: Wissberghalle at Stettiner Strasse 1 Saturday and

Sunday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (5 and 10 km) and 7 a.m. to noon (20 km) Trails: Stroller-friendly on 5 km; otherwise hilly, woods Award: None. Note: Dogs are not permitted in the start hall.

Wiesbaden-Kohlheck (65199) — The Polizeis-portverein Grün-Wiess Wiesbaden plays host

to this annual walking and swimming event on the Po-lizeiakademie Kaserne. The visit is always interesting for children and Americans are welcomed. Assuming the Schiersteiner Bridge has reopened, use Autobahns 3 and 66 to reach Wiesbaden’s Schiersteiner Kreuz. Take A643/Schiersteiner Straße north to the 2. Ring, turn left on Dotzheimer Straße and cross the railroad tracks. Turn right on Schönberg Straße and follow it to the suburb of Kohlheck and the police school.Start: Hessische Polizeiakademie at Schönbergstrasse

100 Sunday: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. (6 and 10 km), 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (20 km) and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (swim) Trails: Some-what hilly, neighborhoods and woods Award: Pendant without chain (walk).

Weekend of April 18-19

Obershausen (35792) — This event is about an hour’s drive due north of Wiesbaden in the pretty

Westerwald region. From Wiesbaden, use Autobahns 66 toward Frankfurt and 3 toward Koblenz. At Lim-burg, take the B49/B54 exit toward Limburg-Nord, then exit onto a minor road at Löhnberg. Head north on a secondary road through Niedershausen to the start.Start: Dorfgemeinschaftshaus at Hauptstrasse 8 Satur-

day: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (6 and 11 km) and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (17 km) Sunday: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (6, 11 and 17 km) Trail: Hilly, woods Award: From previous events.

Wiesbaden-Frauenstein (65201) — This event is billed as the Cherry Blossom Walk. With its

location near the Wiesbaden Garrison’s Rheinblick Golf Course, consider tossing your clubs in the trunk and get some practice in at the driving range or put-ting green after walking the trails. Use Autobahn 66 to reach Wiesbaden; continue westbound on A-66 to the Frauenstein exit (2). Follow IVV signs on the minor road leading to Frauenstein and Alfred-Delp-Strasse.Start: Alfred-Delp-Schule at Alfred-Delp-

Strasse 53 Sunday: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (5 and 10 km) and 8 a.m. to noon (20 km) Trail: Unknown but expect somewhat hilly, wooded areas and neighborhoods Award: None.

Frankfurt spring fairFrankfurt’s spring fair, or

Dippemess, takes place March 27 through April 19. One of the largest in the Rhein-Main area, it offers rides, fun and games for fun lovers of all ages. Every Tuesday is children’s day and Thursday is family day. For more information visit http://www.frankfurt-tourismus.de/en/Discover-Experience/Events/Festivals-in-Frankfurt/Spring-Dippemess.

USO travel Join the USO for trips to Bern, Swit-

zerland and Chocolate Factory March 28, the American Army Crosses the Rhein March 28, Trier Easter Market by Train April 4, Easter Sunday Rhein River Cruise April 5, Spring Break

Space Adventure April 8, Idar-Ober-stein Gems and Prospecting April 9, Hidden Heidelberg by Train April 11, Bargain Hunter: Porzellanhaus Kaefer April 16, Salzburg and “The

Sound of Music” April 18, Wiesbaden Magic History Walking Tour April 18, Black Forest: Triburg and the Glass Works April 18, Riesling Route April 19 and Keukenhof Gardens and Flower Parade April 25. Stop by any area USO or call civ (0611) 143- 548-5106 for more information. Trips and tours

Wiesbaden Outdoor Recreation of-fers trips to Copenhagen March 27-29, Spring Break Adventure in Calella, Spain April 2-10, Europa Park April 11, Paris Express April 18, Brussels Express April 25, Keukenhof Tulip Pa-rade April 25 and Strasbourg, France

April 25. Call civ (0611) 143-548-9801 for more information. Call civ (0611) 143-548-9801 for more information.

Heidelberg International Music Festival

Ring in spring with classical music from all over the world. The Heidelberg International Music Festival offers more than 130 world-class music events now through April 25. Visit http://www.heidelberger-fruehling.de/ for tickets and information. 2000s party

The Mainz dance club KUZ offers a 2000s party twice a month, spinning the best hits from everyone from Usher to Kid Rock and the White Stripes. Visit www. kuz.de for more information.

The ferris wheel is a favorite fea-ture at the Frankfurter Dippemess.

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www.wiesbaden.army.mil ....................................................................... March 26, 2015 Herald Union Page 9


Sports and leisure

Sports shortsFreedom Run

Family and Morale, Welfare and Rec-reation hosts a 10-mile Freedom Run April 18 at 10 a.m. as part of their 2015 Run Series. There will also be a five-kilometer fun run starting at 10:15 a.m. and a half-mile children’s run at 10:30 a.m. Those competing in the 10-miler must register no later than April 17. The 10-mile run is $15. Visit wiesbaden.armymwr.com for more information. Community softball team

The Wiesbaden Eagles softball team is looking for dedicated players who wish to represent the community. Contact Ray Domenech at (0179) 9186492 or Joe Valois at (0152) 28514225 or send an email to [email protected]. Free golf

The Rheinblick Golf Course offers free golf March 1-31 as part of its annual membership drive. All ID cardholders will receive green fees. Call the Pro Shop for tee times at mil 537-7002.

Dragon boatLooking for fun and fitness outdoors?

Join the Lazy Dragons dragon boat team. No experience necessary and all fitness levels are welcome. Contact Shayna Brouker at [email protected] for details.

Going for the greenMore than 200 com-munity members walked, jogged, biked and ran in Wiesbaden Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation’s first five-kilometer fun run of the season March 14, despite chilly weather.

Photos by Johnny Herring

Youth wrestling rounds up successStory and photo by

Shayna BroukerU.S. Army Garrison

Wiesbaden Public Affairs Office

Victory at the Installation Management Command-Europe Child, Youth and School Services Wrestling

Tournament March 14 was measured not in points, but in other factors instead.

Zero injuries, “superb” volunteer participation and learning abound for junior wrestlers around Europe marked success at one of the

biggest meets of the season. More than 240 wrestlers ages six to 15 from Stuttgart, Kaiserslautern, Sembach, Grafenwoehr, Hohenfels, Ansbach and Baumholder gathered at the Wiesbaden Fitness Center to test their

wrangling skills. Each wrestler

went three rounds, and the young-er ones did not keep score. Par-ents cheering in between giggles from the sidelines, watching as un-developed bodies struggled to pin each other, lent a lighthearted mood to the packed gym.

“We’re about skill development, making sure ev-eryone learns and develops proper-ly,” said Ronnie Pineda, a CYS cli-nician. “Kids keep

their own records.”With high school wres-

tlers serving as the officials and volunteers ensuring rounds run smoothly and safely, the fully staffed tournament was deemed a success.

“It’s a great mentoring program, our coaches were great and Dr. Jeremy Schro-eder from the clinic was a huge asset,” he added. “He was able to help out with skin checks [for skin diseases on athletes] and went to every meet.”

Registration for CYS spring sports is closed but coaches for baseball, soc-cer, softball, tennis and track are still needed. All coaches are required to at-tend mandatory training and certification March 28, April 11 or April 18. Stop by the CYS Services Youth Sports and Fitness office located in Building 1213 on Clay Kaserne.

Official Alfred Freed announces both Isaiah Fuller, right, and his opponent winners during a round in the six-year-olds age group during the IMCOM-E Wrestling Tournament.

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Direct repair shop with most major insurance companies. Climate controlled paint booth and prep station. Drive-on frame and unibody straightening rack for both full frame and custom made vehicles. We have our own paint mixing system to match even the toughest colored vehicles. We offer a complete line of repair including alignments. 24 hour towing at 0171-6538059 (USAA 5 Star Shop) + We offer repairs on all makes and models + Lifetime warranty on all workmanship + Inexpensive transportation/loaner vehicle + Accurate Measuring System + All OEM Parts shipped directly from USA (US Warranty) Deliveries each week + We offer many more services + We work for all major insurance companies

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www.wiesbaden.army.mil ...................................................................... March 26, 2015 Herald Union Page 11

For your health

Special to the Herald UnionLandstuhl Regional Medical Center Public Affairs Office

Telehealth is paving the way for the future of mili-tary medicine in Europe Regional Medical Command . Telehealth bridges the geographical distances between patients and specialty care providers, increases patient access to care and supports mission readiness.

This innovative approach to military medicine al-lows specialty care providers at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center to cross commands, countries and continents to provide high-quality, patient-centered care to beneficiaries residing in or deployed to Europe.

Telehealth is the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, and public health and health administration.

LRMC established its Telehealth Program Office in January 2014 as part the Defense Health Agency’s desired end-state to seamlessly integrate telehealth into routine patient care by the year 2020. Since its inception, LRMC telehealth has steadily proven its relevancy in today’s military healthcare system in Europe.

Using telehealth has allowed a variety of LRMC medical specialists to treat patients at outlying Army Health Clinics in Belgium, Germany and Italy, all the while decreasing the need for patient travel to LRMC and reducing time away from work.

Video-teleconferencing technology and advanced medical devices such as stethoscopes allow LRMC providers to listen in real-time to patient heart and lung sounds. Other examples, such as otoscopes to perform real-time ear exams, and general exam cam-eras to provide dermatology quality skin exams, are helping telehealth providers to successfully transition from the traditional tele-behavioral health era into a tele-comprehensive specialty care era.

Full-time telehealth nurses have been hired at Vilseck, Wiesbaden and Stuttgart Patch Army Health Clinics to support these high-quality, synchronous ap-pointments between patients and their specialty care providers. Telehealth is also available at other Army Health Clinics in Europe but not currently supported with full-time nurses.

Telehealth nurses are highly trained and qualified to conduct appointments and act as surrogates to assist in the examination for providers and ensure there is no degradation in quality of care when using telehealth.

“I often find that my patients are initially curious about their telehealth appointment, but by the end they are surprised and impressed with the quality of their examination and encounter with their provider,” said Robin Smith, a telehealth nurse at Vilseck Army Health Clinic. Smith is well-versed in telehealth as both a practitioner and a beneficiary.

“I have also experienced telehealth as a patient and as the mother of two children that received care via telehealth,” said Smith. “Receiving care from special-

ists at LRMC via telehealth meant my children and I were able to stay in the U.S. healthcare system while living overseas, and it is also minimized the number of trips we needed to make back and forth to LRMC.”

What once may have required a patient to travel multiple times to LRMC may now be reduced to just one trip. With the use of telehealth, patients can complete their pre-operative and post-operative ap-pointments in the comfort of their own clinic, and only need to travel to LRMC for their scheduled procedure. Additionally, telehealth supports a variety of patient care needs such as nutritional counseling, sleep study counseling, and educational classes for procedures such as vasectomies.

“Telehealth essentially takes the outlying Army health clinics, with otherwise limited access to spe-cialty care providers, and turns them into their own Regional Medical Centers,” said Erica Taylor, Nurse Director of the Telehealth Program.

If you receive a referral for a healthcare specialist, ask your doctor or nurse about telehealth as an option or call the LRMC Telehealth Program Office at mil 590-4600 or civ (06371) 9464-4600.

Telehealth brings long-distance specialists to you

Erica Taylor, nurse director of the LRMC Telehealth Program, uses the telehealth cart otoscope to conduct a real-time tympanic membrane exam for Physician Assistant Steven Cain to evaluate on his own computer monitor and provide an appropriate plan of care.

Photo by Philip Jones

“...by the end they are surprised and impressed with the quality

of their examination and en-counter with their provider.”

Page 12 Herald Union March 26, 2015 �� www�wiesbaden�army�mil

Bulletin board

Movie plots

At the movies March 26-April 8

Divergent Series: Insurgent (PG-13) — In the “Divergent Series: Insurgent,” the stakes are raised for Tris (Shailene Wood-ley) as she searches for allies and answers in the ruins of a futuristic Chicago. Tris and Theo James as Four are now fugitives on the run, hunted by Jeanine (Kate Winslet), the leader of the power-hungry Erudite elite. Racing against time they must find out what Tris’s family sacrificed their lives to protect, and why the Erudite leaders will do anything to stop them. Haunted by her past choices but desperate to protect the ones she loves, Tris, with Four at her side, faces one impossible challenge after another as they unlock the truth about the past and ultimately the future of their world.

Get Hard (R) — When millionaire hedge fund manager James (Will Ferrell) is nailed for fraud and bound for a stretch in San Quentin, the judge gives him 30 days to get his affairs in order. Desperate, he turns to Darnell (Kevin Hart) to prep him for a life behind bars. But despite James’ one-percenter assumptions, Darnell is a hard-working small business owner who has never received a parking ticket, let alone been to prison. Together, the two men do whatever it takes for James to “get hard” and, in the process, discover how wrong they were about a lot of things — including each other.

Furious 7 (PG-13) – After defeating Owen Shaw and his crew, Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel), Brian O’Conner (Paul Walker) and the rest of the crew are able to return to the United States and live normal lives again as they had wanted. However, Owen’s older brother, Deckard Shaw (Jason Sta-tham), is after Dom and his crew, seeking revenge for his brother’s death and putting the entire crew in danger once more. After learning of Han’s death, the crew sets out to find the man who killed one of their own, before he finds them first.

The DUFF (PG-13) — Bianca (Mae Whitman) is a content high school senior whose world is shattered when she learns the student body knows her as “The DUFF” (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) to her pret-tier, more popular friends (Skyler Samuels and Bianca Santos). Now, despite the words of caution from her favorite teacher (Ken Jeong), she puts aside the poten-tial distraction of her crush, Toby (Nick Eversman), and enlists Wesley (Robbie Amell), a slick but charming jock, to help reinvent herself.

Tony Bass AuditoriumMarch 26 — The Divergent Series: Insurgent

(PG-13) 7 p.m.March 27 — Get Hard (R) 7 p.m.March 28 — Home (PG) 4 p.m.Get Hard (R) 7 p.m.March 29 — Home (PG) 4 p.m.Get Hard (R) 7 p.m.March 30 — ClosedMarch 31 — ClosedApril 1 — ClosedApril 2 — Get Hard (R) 7 p.m.April 3 — Furious 7 (PG-13) 4 p.m.Furious 7 (PG-13) 7 p.m.April 4 — Home (PG) 4 p.m.

Furious 7 (PG-13) 7 p.m.April 5 — Home (PG) 4 p.m.Furious 7 (PG-13) 7 p.m.April 6 — Furious 7 (PG-13) 7 p.m.April 7 — ClosedApril 8 — The DUFF (PG-13) 7 p.m.

Editor’s note: Renovations of the Taunus Movie Theater began Jan. 12, and until mid-July movies will be shown at Tony Bass Auditorium (Clay Kaserne Building 1043).

The movies listing was the most current at the time of publication. Visit http://www.herald-union.com/movie-schedulewiesbaden/wiesbaden-taunus-theater/ for the most up-to-date showings.

Home (PG) — Oh, an alien on the run from his own people, lands on Earth and makes friends with the adventurous Tip, who is on a quest of her own.

To save her senior year from turning into a to-tal disaster, Bianca must find the confidence to overthrow the school’s ruthless label-maker Madison (Bella Thorne) and remind everyone that no matter what people look or act like, we are all someone’s DUFF.

James (Will Ferrell) and Darnell (Kevin Hart) do whatever it takes for James to “get hard” and, in the process, discover how wrong they were about a lot of things — including each other.

www.herald-union.com ............................................................................. March 26, 2015 Herald Union Page 13

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www.wiesbaden.army.mil................................................................. March 26, 2015 Herald Union Page 15Page 14 Herald Union March 26, 2015 ............................................................ www.wiesbaden.army.mil

Wiesbaden community members become U.S. citizens

Story and photos by Shayna Brouker


Some fought for their country before they officially belonged

to it. Another was a military spouse whose toddler is the only natural-born citizen in their family.

Sgt. Robert Blair, a combat medic at the Wiesbaden Army Health Clinic and a native Canadian, and Thandeka Mthana, a 1-214th Aviation Regi-ment spouse originally from South Africa, were among a group of nine candidates from eight countries who became naturalized citizens during a ceremony at the Frankfurt Consulate March 12. With an oath followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, it was done.

U.S. Ambassador to Germany John Emerson was on site to personally congratulate the new citizens.

“This is a special moment for me; my wife Kimberly and I specifically asked to participate in this ceremony,” said Emerson, whose mother was a naturalized citizen from Canada. “They say you are born into your family but you choose your friends; by the same token, you were born into your native country but you chose to become citizens of the United States. Beyond that, some of you chose to fight in the military before you were even a citizen. That is an extraordinary accomplishment.”

Blair moved from Canada to Lyn-den, Wash. when he was six years old and always knew he wanted to follow his grandfather and great-grand-father’s footsteps and serve in the military. As a child, he would proudly tell strangers he was an American, and his mother would quietly correct him. Now a seasoned Army medic with combat experience in Afghanistan, he can say it loud and proud.

“I’ve always felt like I was American,” he said with no trace of the idiosyncratic Canadian lilt. “This is amazing. I’ve worked hard and fought for the country I love.”

Both Mthana and her husband are naturalized citizens. Only their daughter is a natural-born citizen, born in Fort Hood, Texas.

“It feels great. As a cyber security student, I feel like it will open up doors for me; I will be able to get a decent job,” she said. “And I will be able to travel.”

Citizenship candidates must be a permanent resident of the U.S. for five years or be a spouse for three, serve as a member of the armed forces,

“be a person of good moral character, attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and well-disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States during all relevant periods under the law,” according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website, and finally, pass a test that covers English language,

U.S. history and civics.“I know how hard it was and how long it took

to know the answers to the those questions,” Em-erson acknowledged, going on to thank the family members of the candidates for their support during

the citizenship process.He added that while in Germany (and Europe

at large, for that matter), the topic of immigration has become unpopular, “There is no question in my mind that what makes America strong — the strongest country in the world — is how we have embraced immigration and immigration culture.

“Very shortly after arriving they feel that they are American. They call themselves Irish-American, Filipino-American and so on. We have somehow figured out the secret sauce of how to maintain a sense of our native land but at the same time be fully American,” he said.

“Welcome to your American family,” said Karen Fitzgerald, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Field Office director, con-cluding the ceremony. “We’re very proud of you. Congratulations.”

Sgt. Robert Blair stands proudly with his certificate of citizenship with Ambassador John Emerson and his wife, Kimberly. Photo above: Blair, far left, and Thandeka Mthana, second from right wearing a black coat, swear the oath of allegiance during a ceremony March 12. Photo right: Mthana’s daughter, a natu-ral-born American citizen, waves American flags after the ceremony.

‘Welcome to your American family’

“There is no question in my mind that (immigration is)

what makes America strong.”

CultureshockReturning to America after 26 years abroad

Story and photos by George Smith

Special to the Herald Union

When I first came to Southern California after living 26 years in Germany, I heard questions from tanned guys in shorts that went something like, “Dude, how does it feel to leave a land of constant moisture for the land of perpetual sun?” “Well,” I’d say, “Park the tofu and the skateboard and I’ll share my wisdom, young one.”

I arrived in California right after Thanksgiving in 2013, feeling like I had landed in an exciting new foreign country. But the U.S. overwhelmed me with choices. There were so many detailed and confusing TV, Internet and phone plans that I felt to figure them out I needed a teenage lawyer with a minor in accounting.

Outdoors, differences are even greater. California smells like heat and Germany smells like rain. Ger-many offered green forests and lots of clouds. Southern California gives me blue skies and golden hills. Sure, a cynic might call the golden hills “dead brown vegetation scorched by constant sun.” But when it comes to too much nature, I’ll take the wind storms and snow of Germany over California’s earthquakes, wild fires and mud slides.

As you might expect in a desert climate, Southern Californians battle with lines of ants trying to breach house defenses, rattlesnakes behind bushes and black widows waiting in ambush in the garage. But I prefer Cali’s crawlers over Germany’s fly-ers. Germans rarely use screens, so mosquitos and house flies constantly buzzed into our off-post home for dinner, just to bug us.

When it comes to larger wildlife, in Germany I often found deer, rabbits and wild pigs on the menu. In Southern California, I’m on the menu. I’d go for walks and imagine the mountain lions and coyotes whis-pering to each other, “I’m starving.

He’ll do.”I do relish

the diversity of the people in Southern Cali-fornia. His-panic, Asian, African, Indian and traditional American cul-tu res b lend into one place, yielding an ex-citing mix of food and en-te r ta inment . While both the United States and Germany h a v e g r e a t food and drink choices, I feel American di-versity gives its cuisine the edge. Give me an American steak or an In-N-Out hamburger over the German version.

But I still haven’t found an American restaurant that can beat German schnitzel. I stopped by a place called “Wienerschnitzel” that didn’t serve any schnitzel — just hot dogs on a stick and hot dogs on a bun. When it comes to drinks, I’ll take a German Pils over an American beer, and a German Riesling over a Chardonnay, but California wines beat German Dornfelders and other German reds.

When it comes to traffic, it’s a draw. While I like driving as fast as I want on a German autobahn without tolls, the multi-hour traffic jams are not fond memories. Traffic jams in my part of California are slow-downs, not two-hour complete stops. I don’t enjoy the California law that allows motorcycles to pass between full lanes of cars, or the toll roads. And while seven-lane high ways help, I don’t like the “all lanes equal” concept where drivers pass you on the left or right.

Other comparisons? When I left Germany, I traded my overseas hous-ing and post allowances and largely tax-free status for California’s taxes on just about everything except floss-ing. In Germany I’d shop and wonder

if anyone worked there other than a cashier. In the United States I walk in and two or three “associates” battle to be my new best friend.

There is another side to the courtesy thing. When I first came to California I thought the people were more respectful than they were in Germany. They called me “sir” a lot. But, as I now know, “sir” is just code for “Wow, I’ll bet you’re older than the golden hills.”

So how do I think Germany compares with California? Well, for me, life is about experiencing the now, not missing the yesterday or dreaming of the tomorrow. You should totally and completely throw yourself into enjoying wherever you are. Sure, I miss Germany. I wish I could take the parts of Germany I love and mix them into California.

Part of the reason I stayed 26 years and would have stayed longer is that I picked up the ultimate souve-nir: my German wife, Brigitte. Add to that my then 14-year-old daughter and 19-year-old son who were both going to German schools.

While it has been challenging for the kids to leave life-long friends and learn in English, they’re doing fine. We’re happy to be together in the exciting “foreign” land of California

and its multitude of new adventures, whether it’s the beaches of San Diego, Sequoia National Park, the high desert of Death Valley or a city like San Francisco.

While I won’t give Californians the comic relief of seeing me on a skateboard and the closest I’ve come to tofu is typing the word, I

do wear shorts or a bathing suit at the beach. Unveiling my legs repels seagulls. But you still won’t catch me saying, “Dude.” (Editor’s note: George Smith served as chief of operations and public affairs officer for Armed Forces Network Europe. He is currently AFN Broadcast Center Chief of Affiliate Relations in Riverside, Calif.

The author’s 15-year-old daughter basks in a Southern California beach sunset. Photo above: Sometimes slower traffic is a good thing in Southern California.

www.wiesbaden.army.mil................................................................. March 26, 2015 Herald Union Page 15Page 14 Herald Union March 26, 2015 ............................................................ www.wiesbaden.army.mil

Wiesbaden community members become U.S. citizens

Story and photos by Shayna Brouker


Some fought for their country before they officially belonged

to it. Another was a military spouse whose toddler is the only natural-born citizen in their family.

Sgt. Robert Blair, a combat medic at the Wiesbaden Army Health Clinic and a native Canadian, and Thandeka Mthana, a 1-214th Aviation Regi-ment spouse originally from South Africa, were among a group of nine candidates from eight countries who became naturalized citizens during a ceremony at the Frankfurt Consulate March 12. With an oath followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, it was done.

U.S. Ambassador to Germany John Emerson was on site to personally congratulate the new citizens.

“This is a special moment for me; my wife Kimberly and I specifically asked to participate in this ceremony,” said Emerson, whose mother was a naturalized citizen from Canada. “They say you are born into your family but you choose your friends; by the same token, you were born into your native country but you chose to become citizens of the United States. Beyond that, some of you chose to fight in the military before you were even a citizen. That is an extraordinary accomplishment.”

Blair moved from Canada to Lyn-den, Wash. when he was six years old and always knew he wanted to follow his grandfather and great-grand-father’s footsteps and serve in the military. As a child, he would proudly tell strangers he was an American, and his mother would quietly correct him. Now a seasoned Army medic with combat experience in Afghanistan, he can say it loud and proud.

“I’ve always felt like I was American,” he said with no trace of the idiosyncratic Canadian lilt. “This is amazing. I’ve worked hard and fought for the country I love.”

Both Mthana and her husband are naturalized citizens. Only their daughter is a natural-born citizen, born in Fort Hood, Texas.

“It feels great. As a cyber security student, I feel like it will open up doors for me; I will be able to get a decent job,” she said. “And I will be able to travel.”

Citizenship candidates must be a permanent resident of the U.S. for five years or be a spouse for three, serve as a member of the armed forces,

“be a person of good moral character, attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and well-disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States during all relevant periods under the law,” according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website, and finally, pass a test that covers English language,

U.S. history and civics.“I know how hard it was and how long it took

to know the answers to the those questions,” Em-erson acknowledged, going on to thank the family members of the candidates for their support during

the citizenship process.He added that while in Germany (and Europe

at large, for that matter), the topic of immigration has become unpopular, “There is no question in my mind that what makes America strong — the strongest country in the world — is how we have embraced immigration and immigration culture.

“Very shortly after arriving they feel that they are American. They call themselves Irish-American, Filipino-American and so on. We have somehow figured out the secret sauce of how to maintain a sense of our native land but at the same time be fully American,” he said.

“Welcome to your American family,” said Karen Fitzgerald, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Field Office director, con-cluding the ceremony. “We’re very proud of you. Congratulations.”

Sgt. Robert Blair stands proudly with his certificate of citizenship with Ambassador John Emerson and his wife, Kimberly. Photo above: Blair, far left, and Thandeka Mthana, second from right wearing a black coat, swear the oath of allegiance during a ceremony March 12. Photo right: Mthana’s daughter, a natu-ral-born American citizen, waves American flags after the ceremony.

‘Welcome to your American family’

“There is no question in my mind that (immigration is)

what makes America strong.”

CultureshockReturning to America after 26 years abroad

Story and photos by George Smith

Special to the Herald Union

When I first came to Southern California after living 26 years in Germany, I heard questions from tanned guys in shorts that went something like, “Dude, how does it feel to leave a land of constant moisture for the land of perpetual sun?” “Well,” I’d say, “Park the tofu and the skateboard and I’ll share my wisdom, young one.”

I arrived in California right after Thanksgiving in 2013, feeling like I had landed in an exciting new foreign country. But the U.S. overwhelmed me with choices. There were so many detailed and confusing TV, Internet and phone plans that I felt to figure them out I needed a teenage lawyer with a minor in accounting.

Outdoors, differences are even greater. California smells like heat and Germany smells like rain. Ger-many offered green forests and lots of clouds. Southern California gives me blue skies and golden hills. Sure, a cynic might call the golden hills “dead brown vegetation scorched by constant sun.” But when it comes to too much nature, I’ll take the wind storms and snow of Germany over California’s earthquakes, wild fires and mud slides.

As you might expect in a desert climate, Southern Californians battle with lines of ants trying to breach house defenses, rattlesnakes behind bushes and black widows waiting in ambush in the garage. But I prefer Cali’s crawlers over Germany’s fly-ers. Germans rarely use screens, so mosquitos and house flies constantly buzzed into our off-post home for dinner, just to bug us.

When it comes to larger wildlife, in Germany I often found deer, rabbits and wild pigs on the menu. In Southern California, I’m on the menu. I’d go for walks and imagine the mountain lions and coyotes whis-pering to each other, “I’m starving.

He’ll do.”I do relish

the diversity of the people in Southern Cali-fornia. His-panic, Asian, African, Indian and traditional American cul-tu res b lend into one place, yielding an ex-citing mix of food and en-te r ta inment . While both the United States and Germany h a v e g r e a t food and drink choices, I feel American di-versity gives its cuisine the edge. Give me an American steak or an In-N-Out hamburger over the German version.

But I still haven’t found an American restaurant that can beat German schnitzel. I stopped by a place called “Wienerschnitzel” that didn’t serve any schnitzel — just hot dogs on a stick and hot dogs on a bun. When it comes to drinks, I’ll take a German Pils over an American beer, and a German Riesling over a Chardonnay, but California wines beat German Dornfelders and other German reds.

When it comes to traffic, it’s a draw. While I like driving as fast as I want on a German autobahn without tolls, the multi-hour traffic jams are not fond memories. Traffic jams in my part of California are slow-downs, not two-hour complete stops. I don’t enjoy the California law that allows motorcycles to pass between full lanes of cars, or the toll roads. And while seven-lane high ways help, I don’t like the “all lanes equal” concept where drivers pass you on the left or right.

Other comparisons? When I left Germany, I traded my overseas hous-ing and post allowances and largely tax-free status for California’s taxes on just about everything except floss-ing. In Germany I’d shop and wonder

if anyone worked there other than a cashier. In the United States I walk in and two or three “associates” battle to be my new best friend.

There is another side to the courtesy thing. When I first came to California I thought the people were more respectful than they were in Germany. They called me “sir” a lot. But, as I now know, “sir” is just code for “Wow, I’ll bet you’re older than the golden hills.”

So how do I think Germany compares with California? Well, for me, life is about experiencing the now, not missing the yesterday or dreaming of the tomorrow. You should totally and completely throw yourself into enjoying wherever you are. Sure, I miss Germany. I wish I could take the parts of Germany I love and mix them into California.

Part of the reason I stayed 26 years and would have stayed longer is that I picked up the ultimate souve-nir: my German wife, Brigitte. Add to that my then 14-year-old daughter and 19-year-old son who were both going to German schools.

While it has been challenging for the kids to leave life-long friends and learn in English, they’re doing fine. We’re happy to be together in the exciting “foreign” land of California

and its multitude of new adventures, whether it’s the beaches of San Diego, Sequoia National Park, the high desert of Death Valley or a city like San Francisco.

While I won’t give Californians the comic relief of seeing me on a skateboard and the closest I’ve come to tofu is typing the word, I

do wear shorts or a bathing suit at the beach. Unveiling my legs repels seagulls. But you still won’t catch me saying, “Dude.” (Editor’s note: George Smith served as chief of operations and public affairs officer for Armed Forces Network Europe. He is currently AFN Broadcast Center Chief of Affiliate Relations in Riverside, Calif.

The author’s 15-year-old daughter basks in a Southern California beach sunset. Photo above: Sometimes slower traffic is a good thing in Southern California.

Page 16 Herald Union March 26, 2015 ........................................................................ www.herald-union.com

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Bianca and Skylar learn a variety of skills and have fun playing at Ms. Jane’s FCC Home.

Bianca and Aryanna brought some snow inside to play at Ms. Jane’s FCC home.

Andii (left) Skylar (right) work on a color mixture ex-periment in Ms. Jane’s FCC home.

CYS Services, Family Child CareAll photos are courtesy of USAG Wiesbaden CYS Services, Family Child Care.

www.herald-union.com ............................................................................... Mar. 26, 2015 Herald Union Page 19

Youth Activities

Wiesbaden: Point your children in the right direction ... and w

hen they’re older they won't be lost!

Skylar, Andii, Bianca and Aryanna enjoy the learning process. What happens when you mix red cabbage and water?

Annabelle enjoys “tummy time” in Ms. Shonde’s FCC home.

Briana combines exercise with fun, learning about shapes and colors at Ms. Shandi’s FCC home.

Page 20 Herald Union March 26, 2015 �� www�herald-union�com

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EVENTS

Shoe outletThu, Mar 26Wiesbaden, MarktgewölbeOn March 26 you can purchase shoes, handbags, and even some beauty prod-ucts. Find great deals between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. You will fi nd up to 500 brands with some products up to 70% off. For more information visit www.fashion-fl ash.de

Farmer’s marketFri, Mar 27Mainz, LiebfrauenplatzEvery Tuesday, Friday and Saturday in Mainz the streets are fi lled with stands selling seasonal vegetables, fruits, fl ow-ers, freshly baked bread, cheeses and so much more. Market hours are Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. until 2 p.m. Around the market you will fi nd tex-tile stores, specialty shops and outdoor cafes with a view of the cathedral. For more information about the market visit www.mainz.de

Easter exhibition/marketNow - Mon, Apr 6Kronberg im Taunus, Burg KronbergBeautifully decorated eggs will be on display at the Easter exhibition/market at Castle Kronberg until April 6. Find deco-rated eggs with detailed paintings, as well as other artistic creations. Culinary bites will be served as well. For more information about the market go to www.burgkronberg.de

Spring fairFri, Mar 27 – Sun, Apr 19Frankfurt, Festplatz am RatswegFrankfurt’s Spring Dippemess Fair will be open from March 27 to April 19. This fest is one of the largest folk festivals in the Rhine-Main area. Fun and games will be available for the whole family to enjoy. Every Tuesday is children’s day and Thursday is family day. For more infor-mation see www.frankfurt-tourismus.de

Musical: All you need is LoveSat, Mar 28Frankfurt, Alte OperAre you a Beatles fan? If so, don’t miss out on this extraordinary musical in Frankfurt on March 28. Listen to songs such as “Yesterday,” “Hey Jude” and “Love me do.” This Beatles tribute will set you back in time. The show starts at 8 p.m. Ticket prices start at €47.85. For more information go to www.alteoper.de

PilobolusSat, Apr 4Fulda, EsperantohalleBe fascinated by the American dance group Pilobolus showing their shadow theater on April 4. With acrobatic tricks the dancers create the strangest fi gures with their bodies from elephants to cas-tles behind moving canvases. Hurry to get tickets at the starting price of €48.90 at www.shadowland-show.de

Casino tourMon, Apr 6Wiesbaden, Kurhaus

Have you been to the casino in Wies-baden yet? Here is your chance to take a tour of what is to be considered the most beautiful casino in Europe. The tour will be on April 6 at 11 a.m. It is about 90 mins long. Otto von Bismarck and Richard Wagner were said to have played here. Tickets for the tour cost €9.50. Contact the Wiesbaden Tourist Information about tours in English at 0611 1729-930 or visitwww.wiesbaden.de

Wiesbaden city tourMon, Apr 6Wiesbaden, city centerTake part in a relaxed tour with a small city railway throughout the city of Wies-baden. Starting at the Marktkirche, you will see the most important sights like the Nerobergbahn, the Greek Chapel and many more. With an English audio guide you will be informed about the most signifi cant facts of the Hessian capital. Price is €8 for adults and €5 for children up to age 14. Tours take place every day. Booking season is April to October. For more information and a timetable see www.thermine.de

CONCERTS

Rock Meets ClassicSun, Mar 29Frankfurt, JahrunderthalleThis year’s Rock Meets Classic tour combines well-known rock hits with classical music performed by the

original band members of Deep Purple, Status Quo, Asia and many more. The show starts at 8 p.m. For more info and tickets from €44 visit www.eventim.de

The Australian Pink Floyd ShowTue, Apr 7Frankfurt, JahrunderthalleThe Australian Pink Floyd Show, more frequently referred to as the Australian Pink Floyd, are a tribute band formed in 1988 in Adelaide, South Australia. They will be performing on April 7 at 8 p.m. For more information and tickets from €47.50 visit www.eventim.de

SPORTS

Ice hockeyTue, Mar 31Mannheim, SAP ArenaCome to an exciting game of ice hockey on March 31. Adler Mannheim are play-ing against Grizzly Adams Wolfsburg. The game will start at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices start at €13. For more informa-tion visit www.saparena.de

1000km raceSat, Apr 4Hockenheim, Hockenheim RingThe 1000km endurance challenge motorbike race will take place on April 4. Approximately 200 riders will be competing for the trophy. There will also be other exciting entertainment for the spectators. Tickets cost €10, children under 14 are free. For more info see www.1000km-hockenheim.de

More events on: www.militaryingermany.com

Have fun with the localsNight of the MusicalsSun, Mar 29Köln, Theater Am TanzbrunnenEnjoy the best of all-time greats of musicals like Sister Act, Tarzan, The Lion King, Les Miserables, Mamma Mia, Elizabeth, The Phantom of the Opera, Cats, and many more! Over two hours of great music will delight you on March 29 starting 8 p.m.! For many years now, the Night of Musicals has been a great success. You should not miss it. Get your tickets at www.eventim.de.



It’s about as fast as you can go without having to eat airline food.

Experience.The 911 Carrera

PORSCHE MILITARY SALESHauptstr. 189 A | 70563 Stuttgart – Vaihingenwww.cars-intl.com | [email protected]

The 911 Carrera

Kindsbacher Str. 47• 66877 Ramstein-Miesenbach

EASTER FUN DAY

SAT, MARCH 28

at PENTAGON CAR SALES

www.PentagonCarSales.com/lexus

• WARM BUFFET • DRAWING FOR A WEEKEND IN PARIS• EASTER EGG HUNT • EASTER GOODIE BAG

2011 BMW 328i Sport Sedan,$24,495-, US Spec, Automatic,Leather, Cruise Control, HeatedSeats, Alloy, Park, Excellent Con-dition, Free Home Shipping, Call:0176 22730967, Email: [email protected], Web: www.europeanmotors.org

2011 Ford Fusion SE AutomaticSedan (S824), $14,999, Take amoment to view this 2011 FordFusion SE with a 2.5l, 4 cylinderautomatic [email protected],

2011 Nissan Altima "S" SportCoupe, $14,995, US Spec, Auto-matic Transmission, AlcantaraSport Bucket Seats, Cruise Con-trol, Alloy Wheels, Perfect Conditi-on, Call:0176 2273 0967, Email: [email protected], Web:www.europeanmotors.org

2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI w/BlueMotion Tech. Diesel Automa-tic 4-door sedan, Euro Spec,49000km, outstanding fuel econo-my. Fully serviced at local VWdealer w/ documentation, $15000OBO, 017684261294. PCSing, ve-hicle must stay here.

2012 BMW 525D Xdrive Wagon,Fully Loaded, Navigation, Panora-mic sunroof, Heads Up Display(HUD), Xenon Headlights, WellMaintained, Garage Kept, EuroSpecs, 69,600 Kilometers,€32900. Please contact 0172 4824051 for more info.

2013 Mini Countryman S All4,$26,495-, US Spec, Automatic,Leather, Cruise Control, AlloyWheels, All Wheel Drive, HeatedSeats, Excellent Condition, Call:0176 2273 0967, Email: [email protected], Web: www.europeanmotors.org

2013 Volkswagen GTI AutobahnSeries push start, day-time LEDrunning lights, heated seats andmirrors, leather interior, navigati-on, 18" Premium Wheels, TouchScreen Dynaudio sys, sport shif-ters, automatic, power roof, blue-tooth & more. [email protected]

A-Class Merc, 4 Door, 5 Speed ,ABS , Elec Windows, Elec Locks,Remote Controll, Year 1998, 1 Ye-ar German TUV , 2nd Motor MyPh Is 0175-3213199, $2300,[email protected],

Opel Astra, White, 4 Door, 5Speed, $ 1450, [email protected], German TUV Till Aug2015, And We Deliver Anywhere,My Ph Is 0175-3213199

BMW 318 I, 4 Door, Black Met, 5Speed, ABS , Power Stering, AllWeather New Tires , Radio Cas-sette and we delicer anywherewith cash in hand My Ph 0175-3213199 Price, $1799, [email protected],

For Sale Nissan 350Z, $9,800,2005 base model, 3.5L, V6,287HP/274TQ, black & gray interi-or, 6 speed, manual, 77,000 mi(very low mileage), garage kept,no dings & dents. Used as a sum-mer car only. PCSing, c:01751011315, [email protected]

Ford - Ka, €1500, 015206786080- [email protected],2004, 41.000 miles5 speed, veryclean, nosmoke, no pet, 60 hp, 2.owners, no rost, new parts frontand backmuffler, new clutch, newwinter tyres, also 4 summer tyreson alurims,

Mercedes Automatic 230 CLKKompressor Model black, PowerSeats, Power Windows, AlloyWheels (winter & summer), Auto-matic Climate Control, LeatherSeats, Excellent Condition.€2900.-Please call 0157-56328611

New Set of 4 Tires, $800,[email protected], MichelinLTX M/S P255/65R17 108T,Purchased/Shipped the Wrong Si-ze Tires so looking to sell locallyvice ship back to the dealer. Va-lued over $900 for the set, notcounting shipping costs.

Your classified ad portal!l!

www.class-world.comFor more cars check out:

Buy.Sell. Trade.Finance.




MOTORCYCLESAll ads and pics on class-world.com

ADOPTIONAll ads and pics on class-world.com

ELECTRONICSAll ads and pics on class-world.com

FOR SALE

SALE

All ads and pics on class-world.com

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Nissan-Almera-Tino-Diesel,€2800 015206786080 [email protected],2002 Miles: 100.000dark green, 5speed, very clean has 5 seat onecan be a table, only 2 owner, AC,new winter tyres, a full tank goes920 km.

Opel Vector White, $1799, 4Door, Automatic, Elec WindowsFT, German TUV Till Dec 2015,1.8 LTR, Very Clean Inside AndOutside, No Rust, My Ph 0175-3213199 [email protected],

Saab 900 Coupe , 2.0 LTR 1996,5 Speed, Kms 169,000, Black, AliRims Elec Windows Air Cond,ABS, Air Bags, $1600, And My PhIs 0175-3213199 [email protected],

See Europe in Style, $34,990,Mercedes-Benz, Marco Polo Pop-Top camper, w/Activity Package,auto, air, diesel, stereo, garagekept, dealer maintained, underwarranty, 10 year rust warranty,60,000 miles: [email protected],

VW Golf 111 , 1.6 LTR , BlackMet, 2 Door, 5 Speed, 1.6 ltr, Ger-man TUV Till 07/2015 Very GoodRunning, We Deliver Any WhereWith Cash In Hand , My Ph Is0175-3213199 Price, $1550,[email protected],


Lookin for Sportster parts or a bi-ke which needs some work, bas-ket case or sittin longer time too.BT Ultra Classic perhaps too. Justmake me your offer what you ha-ve and we will [email protected]

Vespa vnb5t - year 1963, 125 cc,4 speed, full restored, €3000,[email protected]

Adopt while stationed overseas!www.adopt-abroad.com Adopti-on Intl & foster care, home stu-dies. Hague accredited. Casewor-kers in Germany. US 001-888-526-4442

2 each 120V Cisco Wireless-G In-ternet Home Monitoring CamerasModel WV54GCA, with manualand CD. $40.00, [email protected]

Hitachi Model 42PD9500TA 42"Plasma TV for Sale. $150 or bestoffer. Multi-system, dual voltagewith wall mount included. Pede-stal and user manual not inclu-ded. Stolen from basement. Wies-baden area & cash only! [email protected]

Metal Slug Anthology, Wii game,played once, perfect condition - li-ke new!, €15, [email protected] **See pics on class-world.com

Rayman Raving Rabbits, Wii ga-me, perfect condition, like new!€10, [email protected],**See pics on class-world.com

SmackDown vs. Raw 2010, Wiigame, like new!, €12, [email protected] **See pics onclass-world.com

Stearing wheel "Microsoft Side-winder Force Feedback" for yourPC! Love to play auto games?Wanna feel like yr r driving for re-al? Then dont miss this!, pics onclass-world.com, €20, [email protected] **See pics onclass-world.com

Super Mario Galaxy, Wii game,perfect condition, like new! €15,[email protected] **Seepics on class-world.com

T-Eumex 220PC, for fast andcomfortable internet communicati-on. Isdn $15, [email protected],

The Bigs Baseball, Wii Game,perfect condition, like new! €8,[email protected] **See picson class-world.com


2011 Suzuki Hayabusa, $9,500,[email protected], Excellentcondition, well maintained, 13,000Stateside miles. Have another bi-ke so need to sell this one.

220 volt transformer. 1 X 75 wattfor $20. Contact Eric and Mia at063759949674.

37 Movies for Sale (35 DVD, 2Blu-Ray) No rental discs. All invery good condition. However, nojewel cases or literature. $75.00Work in Mainz-Kastel, but canmeet on Clay or Hainerberg. [email protected],

Aeropostale long sleeve. Pink.On the front are pictures of pea-ces signs and the label name isshown. Size M. Barley worn.Good condition. For pics seewww.class-world.com. €9. [email protected]

Baby Buggy, Baby Buggy ingood condition, with additionalbaby carrier, $50.00, [email protected]

Bar w/2 cushion Stools, $200.Black, mirror back, glass doorsboth sides, lights built in, standbehind bar, glass and wood shel-ves 2m wide Bar slides into backto make one unit picture in Classi-fied World.de Ph 015789279346,

Enlist our tax expertise.

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Check out ourJOBS section!


FOR SALE

SALE


FURNITUREAll ads and pics on class-world.com

JOBSAll ads and pics on class-world.com

Excellent Autobahn

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Bible study books etc, $20,[email protected]

Black knitted pullover. Size XSbut fits also for size M. €5. Seewww.class-world.com for pictu-res. [email protected]

Bracelet - Brown, handmade! Be-autiful accessory for any ocation,any outfit. Treat yourself to some-thing nice or bring a smile to yourbest girl friends. €10, [email protected], pics on class-world.com

Bracelet - Gray/Black, handma-de. Beautiful accessory for any oc-cation, any outfit. Treat yourself tosomething nice or bring a smile toyour best girl friends. €10, [email protected], pics on class-world.com

Dark green Roxy Jeans. Size 30.Find pictures at www.class-world.com. €10. [email protected]

Engleby from Sebastian Faulks!Great book., €2, pic on class-world.com, [email protected]

For That Special Collector a Be-autiful The United States Comme-morative Presidential Collection,$90.00, [email protected],

GAP Sweatshirt: Perfect conditi-on, like new. Size small., €5, [email protected]

Handbag: Classy black leatherbag. Hardly used, perfect conditi-on!, pics on class-world.com,€15, [email protected]

Handbag "Alexander": Brown,leather bag, hardly used, perfectcondition! €8, pics on class-world.com, [email protected]

Handbag "Esprit brand": Smallbad, black leather, ideal if you on-ly need to carry few things aroundwith you like purse, cell phoneetc., €5, pics on class-world.com,[email protected]

Hollister strapless top. White co-lor, size M. With ribbons to tie abow on the back. €15. For picssee www.class-world.com. Con-tact [email protected]

Org. Thomas Sabo Charm, pricenew was 49€, never used, was abday present, selling price €20,for pics please see class-world.com, [email protected]

Oversized Cardigan from Re-view. Black and white stripes. Forpictures visit www.class-world.com. €10. [email protected]

Pumps, black, hardly worn, greatcondition, size 9M!, €5, pics onclass-world.com, [email protected], pics on class-world.com

Sandals "Anne Klein": Classys..., Sandals "Anne Klein": Classyshoes, brown leather, great to we-ar at work or for going out atnight. Only slight signs of usage.Size 9M, €5, pics on class-world.com, [email protected]

Sports officials are needed forBasketball, Volleyball, Baseball,Softball and Soccer. Income vari-es per sport. For more informationcontact Doswell Makle at [email protected] or 015152587457

Shamballa Bracelet - Black/Gray,handmade, adjustable in size, fitsalmost every wrist. Beautiful ac-cessory for any ocation, any out-fit. Treat yourself to something ni-ce or bring a smile to your bestgirl friends. €12, [email protected]

Shamballa Bracelet - Brown/Cre-me, handmade, adjustable in size,fits almost every wrist. Beautifulaccessory for any ocation, anyoutfit. Treat yourself to somethingnice or bring a smile to your bestgirl friends. €15, [email protected]

Shamballa Bracelet - Lilac/white,handmade, adjustable in size, fitsalmost every wrist. Beautiful ac-cessory for any ocation, any out-fit. Treat yourself to something ni-ce or bring a smile to your bestgirl friends. €10, [email protected]

Shamballa Bracelet - Purple/whi-te, handmade, adjustable in size,fits almost every wrist. Beautifulaccessory for any ocation, anyoutfit. Treat yourself to somethingnice or bring a smile to your bestgirl friends. €10, [email protected]

The Notebook from NicholasSparks - wonderful book!, €2, picon class-world.com, [email protected]

T-Shirt "America", perfect condi-tion, like new, size small! €5, [email protected] ***pics onclass-world.com

Various music CDs for sale, allfrom the 2000er years. SingleCDs from Nelly Furtado, ChristinaAguilera etc. for €3, music samp-lers like Bravo Hits and The Dome€4. For a picture of the selectionsee www.class-world.com. Con-tact [email protected]

Amoire, $1000, 015206786080 [email protected],beautiful, handmade, solid wood,by hamilton furniture california,cell 0152-06786080

Antique 100 y.o. German chinacabinet, matching dining tablewith 4 chairs. See photo on KAclassifieds web page. ContactEric and Mia at 063759949674.,€950, [email protected]

Antique Bench, Antique benchwith cushion seat, storage spaceand wheels. See photo on KAclassifieds web page. ContactEric and Mia at 063759949674.,€600, [email protected]

Antique corner desk. See photoon KA classifieds web page. Con-tact Eric and Mia at063759949674., €150,[email protected]

Antique reproduction secretarydesk. See photos on KA classi-fieds web page. Contact Eric andMia at 063759949674., €120,[email protected]

Beautiful China cabinet with twoadjustable glass shelfs and twodraws. [email protected]

Art Deco Mirror from Napier, NewZealand. A beautiful mirrow fromearly 20th Century. Beveled glass.Very good condition. Please seethe on-line ad for more detailsand pictures. €75 firm. [email protected]

Clock, $150.00, [email protected],

Couch - Black Real Leather -,$499, 015206786080 [email protected],

Hand-Carved Beverage Bar. Be-autiful detail. Unique and sure toplease. Please see on-line ad forpictures. Personal showing anyti-me, in Wiesbaden. Buyer pick-uponly. €300 firm. [email protected]

Wooden bookshelf. See photoon KA classifieds web page. Con-tact Eric and Mia at063759949674., $150,[email protected]

Wanted: Full-time RegisteredDental Hygienist for busy Ameri-can practice in Ramstein andWiesbaden. If interested pleaseemail resume to: [email protected]

Wanted: General Dentist for busyAmerican practice in Ramsteinand Wiesbaden. 3-4 day workweek. If interested please email re-sume to: [email protected]


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PROFESSIONALSERVICES


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Harley friends, Lookin for friends,female/male who likes harleys,works on them, who are into Rockmusic, good food, havin fun,BBQ, beeing outside and enjoyinga good time together. Just emailme and we will see when we canmeet. [email protected]

Lookin for friends, female/malewho likes harleys, works on them,who are into Rock music, goodfood, havin fun, BBQ, beeing out-side and enjoying a good time to-gether. Just email me and we willsee when we can [email protected]

Looking for the right guy, smart,interesting woman in her mid40's, independant, cute, is loo-king for a SWM 40 & up to spendtime together and see where itgoes.Contact me...I dare [email protected],

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Professional Services are of-fered by registered busines-ses as well as private peo-ple. To ensure a satisfactoryservice experience, please al-ways ask for credentials anddeny payments up front. Forcleaning services, arrangefor payments after a finalwalk-through and inspectionof the clean house.

Ace cheapest house Cleaning,pcsing, regular, one time deepcleaning carpet cleaning, trashhauling, yard work. 015211530356

Looking for Vinyl records Spea-kers: Klipsch Forte, Chorus,KLF20 or KLF30 Turntables byThornes, Denon, Yamaha Recei-ves & AMPS: Yamaha, Carver,DBX, Onkyo...And more.....Tell mewhat you have0160 9753 8888 [email protected]

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Documents

Herald Union, March 26, 2015