September 30, 2011Vol. 28 No. 37

Pet care andresponsibility

Page 2 Page 8

It’s OttobrataFest time inZafferana!

This sleepy town comesalive during the monthof October, with afestival every weekendhonoring a specific deli-cacy from that area.Don’t miss one of thebest festivals in Sicily!

Page 11

Navy bidsRougheadgoodbye

With 38 years of service,Adm. Gary Rougheadsteps down from theposition of Chief ofNaval Operations.

http://www.cnic.navy.mil/sigonella

This week’s HealthWatch focuses on strayanimals in Sicily andrabies.

Scan for direct linksto NAS Sigonella

NAS Sigonella conducts Mass Casualty Drill

Get healthy, SigonellaBy Tracie Barnthouse

NAS Sigonella Public Affairs

BM2 William Garcia signs up for MWR’s fitness challenge during the He-alth Fair on Sept. 21 on NAS I. The Health Fair is an annual event designedto get all of NAS Sigonella’s health-related programs in one spot so thoseinterested in bettering their lifestyle can get the information they need.

Though we are still a couplemonths away from 2012 and New Yea-r’s Resolutions, it’s never too early tomake the decision to overhaul your se-dentary lifestyle and get healthy.That’s why on Sept. 21, the U.S. NavalHospital Sigonella Health PromotionDepartment joined efforts with va-rious organizations from Naval AirStation (NAS) Sigonella to put toge-ther a health fair designed to jump-start and encourage the Sigonellacommunity to make healthy lifestylechanges.

The event, held outside the Com-missary and Navy Exchange on NASSigonella’s support base, drew a largecrowd throughout the day, and provi-ded participants the opportunity tolearn more about topics pertaining totheir health. Naval Hospital Sigonella’sRegistered Dietician, Cmdr. AliceWhitley said that the event was desi-

HEALTH, continued on page 12

Roller Hockey - Sicilian style

There is a hockey team on thisisland. Yes, it sounds crazy but be-lieve it or not there happens to bethree teams in Sicily, including theCatania Flames which has been as-sociated with Naval Air Station(NAS) Sigonella for over a decade.

“The Flames are in the A-2 divi-sion, which is a division two Italianin-line hockey team,” Lt. Cmdr. JoeBonvie, Head Coach of the CataniaFlames said. Sicily has one divisiontwo team (Flames) and has two B-league teams (Palermo and Mes-sina). Most A-2 teams are in thenorth on mainland Italy.

The Catania Flames Sports As-sociation was founded in 1999 by

current President Antonio Messinaand two other men named Stanca-nelli Mario and Valeria Gugliel-mino who together, decided to puttogether an association.

However, the work of this asso-ciation does not stop at the team asone of the main goals of the associa-tion is to spread the practice of ska-ting and hockey into the province ofCatania. Over the years, the teamhas grown and developed a closefriendship with service memberswho were or still are stationed atNAS Sigonella. For awhile, therewas a base team here called the Si-gonella Devils which used to scrim-mage the Flames on a weekly basisin Marinai and Catania before theteam was dismantled years ago.HOCKEY, continued on page 12

By MC2 Gary Prill

NPASE

Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigo-nella Fire and Emergency Services(FES) Team, Security and NavalHospital Sigonella participated in amass casualty drill involving a colli-sion of a 12 passenger van on theoperational base, Sept. 22.

The drill consisted of nine simu-lated victims involved in a traffic col-lision. Each victim showed adifferent injury ranging in levels ofseverity in order to fully test NAS Si-gonella’s emergency room and onscene teams.

“The drill today was very impor-tant, we used it to integrate everyoneon the base from fire, security, andmedical,” said Chief Gunner’s MateJeremy Elmore. “Integration is im-portant in the event that somethingwere to really happen, we need toknow that those three players canwork together with ease.”

NAS Sigonella’s FES team wasfirst to show up on scene. After as-sessing the initial situation and sta-bilizing the vehicle, they began toflank out hoses and determine theseverity of the situation along withthe best route to access the injuredpersonnel within the vehicle.

“The drill allowed each player totrain on their specific skill set,” said

Elmore. “Medical chose what theywanted to train on from minor inju-ries to fractured skulls and brokenlegs. The fire team was able to pullout the extraction tools like the“Jaws of Life.” Finally security wasable to secure the scene and controlaccess through the perimeter.”

This drill was just one of manyscheduled and run through NAS Si-gonella’s training department. Each

drill assessed capabilities, allowingfor an environment conducive fortraining to ensure that NAS Sigo-nella is ready for any incident thatmay occur.

“We let the teams build their ownscenarios inside the drill, and thenwe integrate it all together to make atraining environment,” added El-more. “I believe that this base is ab-solutely ready to handle anything.”

Members of the Naval Air Station Sigonella Fire and Emergency Service teamprepare to move a simulated victim during a drill on Naval Air Station Sio-gnella Sept. 22. The drill was part of a mass-casualty exercise involving a si-mulated vehicle collision requiring each team to work together to assessvictim statuses, and ensure their safety.

Photo by MCSA Brian Glunt/NPASE

By MCSN Cameron Bramham

NAS Sigonella Public Affairs

pAge 2 September 30, 2011

Direct LineIt’s hard to believe the summer is

winding down and the fall season iskicking into high gear. I want tothank each of you for your height-ened awareness while out on thebeaches and roads this summer andI hope you had a great few monthsin the sun.

Mother Nature gave us a peek atwhat we can expect for the Winterwith the rain this week. Needless tosay, we are fast approaching therainy season, this means a wholenew set of precautions need to betaken, especially when out on Sicil-ian roads. The combination of Mt.Etna ash, oil and wet roads con-tributes to multidimensional defen-sive driving. For those of you on theWorld renown “learn Italian in 365days” course, your best defense is,“RALLENTARE! For those of youwho missed this in Indoc, thismeans: slow down; reduce speed;slacken; slow; die down; decelerate;check your speed. Seriously, give

yourself plenty of time to get to yourdestination and always stay alert.

The first of October signals thebeginning of a new Fiscal Year andwe have many base improvementprojects planned. From expansionand repair of our MWR facilities torenovation of children’s play areasand NAS II Pool and Gym up-grades. These opportunities willcontinue throughout the year andwill enhance the community andquality of life. Please be patient withthe construction and report unsafepractices and vandalism.

You may have heard the TeenCenter is moving to the MarinaiYouth Complex. Please join Capt.Butler and myself for the grandopening on Saturday October 1st.Plans are underway to make it astate of the art facility, with comput-ers, a mini-theater, video games andsnack bar on the inside. Future out-side plans include a multi-sportcourt for basketball, volleyball, ten-

nis and soccer. There are also plansto expand programming for boththe Teen & Tween Center to in-clude more dances, classes, games,clubs and field trips. Come and seewhat the buzz is about.

I was inundated with All Handsmessages this past week, but justwanted to reiterate in case someonemissed the big news. AFN Sigonellamade history last week when theyswitched their signal from 106.0The Eagle to 105.9. Doing this hasenabled those who drive Americanvehicles to get the AFN radio signal,which was impossible before due toAmerican radio stations falling onlyon odd numbers. On that note, don’tforget to tune in to Feedback Livenext Thursday, Oct. 6 for anotherepisode of Feedback Live. To submita question, go to sigonella.afneu-rope.net and click on the FeedbackLive link. I look forward to hearingyour questions next week!

It may seem as though opera-

tionally, the base has qui-eted down and OperationUnified Protector is all butover, and that is not thecase. The continuing role ofour coalition partners isbeing redefined based oncurrent needs, which stillincludes protecting thecivilian population in Libya.“NATO is still committedto continuing its mission inLibya for as long as threatsagainst civilians endure, butis determined to end theoperation as soon as condi-tions allow,” NATO’s Secre-tary General Anders FoghRasmussen said in a meet-ing on 20 September. I want to com-mend the NAS Sigonellacommunity for your steadfast sup-port for those currently deployedhere, and for making this entire op-eration - from Odyssey Dawn toUnified Protector, now Odyssey

Guard, and finally Odyssey Horizonor whatever name in the future –seamless and efficient. There havebeen challenges, but as a commu-nity, we have come together and I’mproud to serve alongside you on thefinest U.S. base in the World.

NAS SigoNellA executive officer, cmdr. eric voSler

Health

WWaattcchh

Who let the dogs out?ENS Michael Bowe-Rahming

Preventive Medicine Officer,USNH Sigonella, Italy

How often as a spouse or parenthave we heard these words - “Oh,he’s so cute, can we keep it?” or “CanI pet it?” How about this one? Youcame over to Sicily to enjoy the tra-vel and various cultures of Italy &Europe and take in some of the cy-cling, hiking and additional outdooractivities, to realize the place is over-ridden with stray dogs. Some ofthese dogs appear healthy and tohave a pleasant disposition. Onesuch dog is “Molly” the stray thatroams about on NAS II. Others havean appearance that we can say, leaveslittle to be desired. However, there’sjust one problem – the bite!

Some of the dogs you see aroundSicily have homes/farms in whichthey are cared for and they just hap-pen to roam around freely. Then the-re’s the Sicilian strays – the “K-9

mafiosos”, which are questionablemiscreants. Many of these dogs arenot cared for and they roam the is-land scavenging what food they canto stay alive. Among not being caredfor or receiving proper vaccinations,these animals are prone to many di-seases harmful to themselves as wellas humans. One disease in particularis rabies!

Rabies is a preventable viral di-sease of mammals most often tran-smitted through the bite of a rabidanimal. Transmission of rabies virususually begins when infected salivaof a host is passed to an uninfectedanimal. The most common mode ofrabies virus transmission is throughthe bite and virus-containing salivaof an infected host. Hosts are usuallyincluding dogs (responsible formore than 99% of all human deathsfrom rabies), foxes, coyotes, wolvesand jackals; also cats, skunks, racco-ons, mongooses, bats and other

Members of ExecutiveTransport Detachment(ETD) Sigonella posewith children and careproviders at LibrinoTalita Kum.ETD spent Sept. 23helping to clean theCatania facility.

ETD participates

in Community

Relationsproject

DOGS, continued on page 12

page 11SepteMber 30, 2011

Friday, September 30

5:00pm Crazy, Stupid, Love PG-138:00pm Final Destination 5 R PREMIERE

Saturday, October 1

2:00pm The Smurfs PG 4:30pm The Change Up R 7:30pm 30 Minutes Or Less R PREMIERE

Sunday, October 2

2:00pm Cowboys & Aliens PG-134:30pm 30 Minutes Or Less R 7:30pm Final Destination 5 R

Tuesday, October 4

5:00pm Rise of the Planet of Apes PG-138:00pm Final Destination 5 R

Wednesday, October 5

5:00pm 30 Minutes Or Less R 8:00pm The Change Up R

Thursday, October 6 – Last Showings!!!

5:00pm Cowboys & Aliens PG-138:00pm Friends With Benefits R

Friday, October 7

5:00pm Rise of the Planet of Apes PG-138:00pm Fright Night R PREMIERE

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

Movie Hotline: 624-4248

Midtown Movie theaterSSchedule & deScriptionS

THE SMURFS - Neil Patrick Harris, Jayma Hayes, Hank Azaria, Sofia Vergara, Katy Perry

When the evil Gargamel chases the tiny blue Smurfs out of their village, the tumblefrom their magical world into ours - in fact, right into the middle of Central Park!Just three apples high and stuck in the Big Apple, the Smurfs must find a way to getback to their village before Gargamel tracks them down. (118 min.)

FRIGHT NIGHT – Anton Yelchin, Colin Ferrell, Toni Collette, David Tennant, Imogen Poots

Charlie Brewster finally has it all; running with the popular crowd and dating thehottest girl in school. But trouble arrives when an intriguing stranger, Jerry, movesin next door. He seems like a nice guy at first, but there’s something not quite right– and everyone, including Charlie’s mom, doesn’t notice. After witnessing somevery unusual activity, Charlie comes to an unmistakable conclusion, Jerry’s a vam-pire praying on his neighborhood. Unable to convince anyone that he’s telling thetruth, Charlie has to find a way to get rid of the monster himself. (112 min)

CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE - Steve Carrell, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone,Julianne Moore, Kevin Bacon

Cal Weaver is living the dream - good job, nice house, great kids and married to hishigh school sweetheart. But when Cal finds out that his wife, Emily, has cheatedon him and wants a divorce, his perfect life quickly unravels. In today’s single world,Cal is the epitome of unsmooth. In an effort to help Cal get over his wife and startliving his life again, Cal’s friend Jacob opens his eyes to the many options beforehim; flirty women, manly drinks and a sense of style that can’t be found at Supercutsand the Gap. Despite Cal’s makeover and his many new conquests, the one thingthat can’t be made over is his heart, which seems to keep leading him back to wherehe started(103 min.)

THE CHANGE UP - Ryan Reynnolds, Jason Bateman, Leslie Mann, Olivia Wilde, Alan Arkin

Mitch and Dave were inseperable best friends when growing up, but as the yearshave passed away they have slowly drifted apart. Mitch has remained a single, quasi-employed man-child with no responsibility while Dave has it all; beautiful wife.kids and a high-paying job at a law firm. To Dave, Mitch’s life woul be a dream. Fol-lowing a drunken night out together, Mitch & Dave’s worlds are turned upsidedown when they awake in one another’s body’s and they freak out. Despite the free-dom from their normal routines and habits, the guys soon find each other’s livesare nowhere near as rosy as they expected. With time not on their side, Mitch andDave struggle to avoid completely destroying each other’s lives. (112 mins.)

Navy Bids Roughead Farewell, Greenert Takes HelmBy MC2 Kyle MalloyChief of Naval Operations Public Affairs

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (NNS) --With 38 years of service, Adm.Gary Roughead steps down fromthe position of Chief of Naval Ope-rations during the change of com-mand ceremony at the U.S. NavalAcademy, Sept. 23.

Secretary of the Navy RayMabus was the keynote speaker forthe ceremony and highlighted Adm.Roughead's accomplishments du-ring his naval career while thankinghim for his leadership.

"I don't think anyone can everfully express how much we're goingto miss Gary Roughead's counseland absolutely unwavering com-mitment to the Navy [and] the Uni-ted States," said Mabus. "AdmiralRoughead has had the genius andthe skill to turn so many of the chal-lenges he's faced into opportuni-ties."

Mabus reviewed Roughead's ca-reer milestones including being oneof only two admirals in the UnitedStates Navy to command both thePacific and Atlantic fleets.

"As Chief of Naval Operations,his leadership has helped to reshapethe Navy into the 21st Centuryoperationally and strategically," saidMabus. "Gary Roughead's leader-ship skills follow great officers anda willingness to innovate while re-specting the deep traditions of the

sea service."Mabus spoke about Roughead's

commitment to his Sailors and al-ways making them his first priority.Mabus said, "He never lost sight ofthe primary responsibility of lea-dership - taking care of the peopleentrusted to you and to the officeyou hold."

As Roughead took the podiumfor the last time as Chief of NavalOperations, he thanked his coun-terparts, both foreign and dome-stic, friends, and his family for thecontinued support and guidanceduring his tenure. He spoke abouthis unique experiences in thearmed service, especially in the re-lationships built.

"There has been a lot of changebut throughout there has been thedecisive, constant and the aspect ofthe Navy that will be my enduringmemory - our Sailors," said Rou-ghead.

In an emotional conclusion,Roughead did the best he could tosummarize his naval career.

"To echo what another Navyman said nearly five decades ago atthis academy, when asked what Idid to make my life worthwhile Iwill respond with a great deal ofpride and satisfaction, I served inthe United States Navy."

Mabus spoke about the transpa-rent transition the Navy will gothrough when Adm. Roughead isrelieved by Adm. Greenert as thetop Navy officer.

"Adm. Roughead's contributionsmay be hard if not impossible tosurpass but I am confident that ifanyone can match them it is JonGreenert," said Mabus.

Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, the

newly appointed 30th Chief ofNaval Operations, took the podiumafter Roughead, thanking him forhis service and bringing the Navy towhere it is today.

Greenert said Roughead hasdone a magnificent job and the planwould be to keep it that way.

"My priorities, our course, areone we've got to remain ready tomeet the current challenges today,we've got to build a relevant and ca-pable future fleet, and we have gotto continue to care for our Sailors,our civilians and their families, andrecruit and nurture a motivated, re-

levant and diverse force," said Gree-nert.

Greenert then went on to talkabout the three tenets he will focuson during his time in office whichinclude warfighting first, operateforward and be ready.

"We will approach our challen-ges and we will implement ourchanges that will have to be donein the future with three tenets inmind," said Greenert. "They willbe effective [and] efficient. OurSolutions will be joint and the Ma-rine Corps will remain our pri-mary partner."

U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Shannon E. Renfroe/ Released

Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead is relieved by Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert as the Chiefof Naval Operations during a change of command ceremony at the U.S. Naval Academy.