This item has the following downloads:

00009-30-2009 ( PDF )

Vol. 65 No. 39 Wednesday, September 30, 2009

NWS Proclaims Whiting Field "Storm Ready"
By Jay Cope, NAS Whiting Field to Milton, Fla. to present the plaque
Public Affairs and the signs recognizing the base's
Hurricane season is still in full new status to the base commanding of-
swing, and Naval Air Station Whiting ficer Capt. Enrique Sadsad.
Field has the National Weather Ser- "This is a great accomplish-
vice's vote of confidence that the base ment for Whiting Field," Sadsad said.
is prepared if a major storm should "We have been training and preparing,
occur. NWS assigned their "Storm and if something were to hit us, we
Ready" designation to the base dur- know we would be as prepared as we
ing a short presentation Wednesday, can be."
Naval Air Station Whiting Field Emergency pting S aon E c e"
Manager James Walsh, Commanding Officer Sept. 23. NAS Whiting Field is the The "Storm Ready" designa-
Capt. Enrique Sadsad, National Weather Ser- first military installation in Northwest tion began in 1999 with the intent to
vice Warning Coordination Meteorologist Jeff Florida and only the ninth nationwide help ensure communities had the com-
Garmon, and Steve Newborn with the Santa to receive "Storm Ready" approval. munication procedures and storm pre-
Rosa County Emergency Management Office
Roisa County Emergency Mianagement Oice Representatives from the re- paredness structure in place to respond
display the "Storm Ready" sign and plaque for
Whiting Field. U.S. Navy photo by Jay Cope. gional NWS office in Mobile travelled (Cont. on Page 5)

HT-8 Renews School Partnership
By Jay Cope, NAS Whiting Field Public Affairs
Volunteering at schools is nothing new for military members at Naval Air
Station Whiting Field, but after the Helicopter Training Squadron EIGHT / Hobbs
Middle School partnership lapsed for several years, it was important to re-invigo-
rate the program.
With that in mind, Hobbs' principal, Stephen Shell and members from the
aircraft squadron agreed to a flagship contract focused on helping the kids.
"I am very excited about the process we are undertaking today," Shell
said before signing the agreement. "We are very connected to the military here.
It is a big part of Hobbs Middle School and we are excited by a renewal of this
partnership."
The agreement was signed by Shell, HT-8 Commanding Officer Cmdr.
Michael Fisher, and the squadron's
volunteer coordinator Lt. Stephen
Skinner. It delineates the volunteer
needs of the school and areas where
HT-8 can help promote school goals.
Planned commitments include helping
with: individual and classroom tutors,
student mentors, school beautification
projects, field trips, student athletic
Helicopter Training Squadron EIGHT Com- fitness, substance abuse prevention
manding Officer Cmdr. Michael Fisher signs a programs, and more.
school partnership agreement with Lt. Stephen The agreement is a one-year
Skinner and Hobbs Middle School Principal partnership, but with an intention to
Stephen Shell. U.S. Navy photo by Jay Cope. (Cont. on Page 4)







BBB Warns of Buying Flood Damaged Vehicles
Pensacola, Fla. (September 28, 2009) Ask to see the title. Check the Check the trunk, glove compart-
- Following every major flood or date and place of transfer to see if the car ment, and beneath the seats and dash for
hurricane, scam artists try to pawn off came from a flood-damaged state and if signs of mud, rust or water damage. Look
flooded vehicles as standard second- the title is stamped "salvage." If you are for open drainage holes in the vehicle's
hand cars. Flood-damaged vehicles will still suspicious, purchase a history report floor.
be popping up at auto auctions, used car of the vehicle, which should tell you if a Look for discolored, faded or
dealerships and in classified ads. Unsus- car has ever been tagged as "salvage" or mildewed upholstery and carpeting. Re-
pecting consumers, particularly those liv- "flood damaged" in any state. cently shampooed carpets may be cause
ing in regions of the country unaffected Carefully check the dashboard, for concern. Carpeting that has been re-
by hurricanes or flooding, are led astray Examine all gauges to make sure they are placed may fit too loosely or may not
by fresh upholstery, new carpeting and accurate, and there are no signs of water. match the interior color.
bargain prices. Look for indications that the dashboard Look for standing water, mud or
The Better Business Bureau may have been removed, grit in the spare tire wheel well or around
urges used car buyers to be cautious of Test the lights, windshield wip- the engine compartment under the hood.
unscrupulous businesses and individuals ers, turn signals, cigarette lighter, radio, Always check out the reliability
who may try to sell flood-damaged cars heater and air conditioner several times of the dealer by getting a free report; start
without revealing the vehicles' history. to make sure they work. Also, flex some with bbb.org. Also before buying any
To determine if a used car is wires under the dash to see if they crack: used car, you should get a pre-purchase
flood-damaged, auto shoppers should: wet wires become brittle upon drying. inspection by a trusted mechanic.


Fire and Safety

(Cont. from Page 1)
Following the parade, numerous events will be held to help ed-
ucate housing residents on fire, crime, and mishap prevention
techniques, such as: fire extinguisher training, drunk driving
goggles, fingerprinting for children, car seat inspections, Ident-
A-Kid photos, bicycle registrations, and more. The fair will
continue until 7 p.m.
Special visits by Smokey the Bear, fire prevention
clowns, Sparky the fire fighting dog and McGruff are also ex-
pected.
Grilled hot dogs, chips and drinks will also be served,
and there will be games for the kids. The event is free for all
military, family members, and housing residents to attend. Call
623-7639 if you have any questions or would like to volunteer
for the event.


2008 Fire and Crime Prevention Night how to use a fire extinguisher. That
is just one of the many activities available at the 2009 event Oct. 6 at Whit-
ing Pines. U.S. Navy file photo.


Monarch Madness Is Here

Join the Panhandle Butterfly House in celebrat-
ing "Monarch Madness!" The Third Annual Butterfly
Festival will be held Friday through Sunday, Oct. 9-11
from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Located at 8581 Navarre Park-
way on Highway 98 in Navarre, Florida the festival
offers fun for the entire family.
Monarch Madness highlights includes edu-
cational exhibits, larger-than-life bug displays and
guest-speaker workshops that provide an insight into
the world of bugs and butterflies and the benefits they
provide.
Kids can make and take fun butterfly-related
crafts and have an opportunity to release a live but-
terfly. The entire family will enjoy strolling through
the vivarium- a screen structure housing hundreds of
butterflies and the plants they love.
Carefully timed to highlight the seasonal mon-
arch migration, kids will also be able to participate
in tagging monarch butterflies. "The overwintering
population this winter is expected to be small due to
below normal rainfall in south Texas and northeast-
ern Mexico. Monarchs are highly dependent on nectar
and sources of water to fuel their migration. Learning
how to help monarchs during this critical migration is
extremely important" said Theresa Friday, Extension
Agent in Santa Rosa County.
Admission is free but donations are encour-
aged and appreciated.
For more information visit our website at www.
panhandlebutterflyhouse.org







News and Notes
Splash & Dash MWR is hosting a "Splash and Dash" Biath-
lon at 8:00 a.m. at the NAS Whiting Field Training Pool Saturday,
Oct. 3. The Biathlon will consist of two legs, a 500 yard swim
and a 5K run. Prizes will be awarded for First, Second and Third
Place winners in the Men and Women Divisions. This event is
free and refreshments will be provided after the event. If you are
interested, signups are being taken through the day of the event at:
Liberty Center, Wings Club, Fitness Center and MWR Athletics
Office. For more information, please call (850) 665-6102.
Run the Bridge The 2nd Annual Mediacom Garcon Point
Bridge Run/Walk is seeking participants for the 4.8 mile trek across
the bridge Oct. 17. The event will begin at 7:30 a.m. and post race
activities will include hamburgers, hot dogs, and drinks. Entry
fees are $25 for adults and $20 for those under 18. After Oct. 13th,
all registration fees are $30. The first 300 registered participants
will receive an official T-shirt. Registration is available at www.ac-
tive.com or forms may be downloaded from www.santarosa.kl2.
fl.us/sref. For information call 850-983-5043.
Haunted House Walking and Trolley Tours The Pen-
sacola Historical Society hosts its annual Haunted House and Trol-
ley Tours Oct. 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, and 31. Walking tours leave
every 30 minutes from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Trolley Tours leave at 6:30
p.m, 7:30 p.m, and 8:30 p.m. All tours will leave from the Pen-
sacola Historical Museum (115 E. Zaragoza St.) and will last one
hour. Tours go on rain or shine! Walking Tour tickets are $10
for adults and $5 for children 12 and under. Trolley Tour tickets
are $16 for adults and $8 for children 12 and under. Please call
the Pensacola Historical Museum to reserve tickets or to get more
details at 850-595-1559.
Electronic Recycling Expo The Greater Navarre Beach
Arts Association and Santa Rosa Clean Community System are
teaming up to offer an electronic recycling event on Saturday, Oc-
tober 24 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Navarre Park located at 8513 Na-
varre Pkwy. The event will include informative tips on recycling,
and art created from recycled material by local artists and crafters,
oc nrll oc fnr on A an-l micin ncrlntc riha ra nnt otton- tho -xront


Giving Him the Shirt Offl Their Backs
Morale Welfare and Recreation employees Traci Vinson and Kelsey
Holmes present Mike Ognian with an MWR shirt signed by all the
employees. Ognian retired Sept. 30, but the department had a fare-
well party for him Sept. 25. U.S. Navy photo by Jay Cope.


Seeing Red
Arnold Ochoa stands next to the 2009 Chevy Camaro he won in a
Defense Commissary Agency drawing this summer. The contest was
sponsored by Dr. Pepper, so Ochoa ordered his in Dr. Pepper red.
U.S. Navy photo by Ens. Robert Hooper, Jr.
are invited to bring their used electronics to the central landfill lo-
cated at 6337 Da Lisa Road in Milton, Monday through Saturday
between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. For details call (850) 623-1930.
First Friday Night Historic Downtown Milton, will stay
open late Oct 2 from 5 8 p.m. for a First Friday Night celebration.
Shop, dine, or stroll the retail shops galleries and historic homes
around Historic Milton. North Willing Street will be closed to
through traffic for the evening. Live musicians will performa at
Camelot Junction, Blackwater Bistro, Old Post Office Antiques,
First Presbyterian Church and Main Street Cafe. Free parking and
free admission. Call (850) 626-6246 or visit www.MainStreetM-
ilton.org for more information.
Running the Trail The Rotary Club of Milton will host its
3rd Annual "5k Running the Trail for Education" Oct. 24, on the
Blackwater Heritage State Trail in Milton. Check in will start at
7 a.m. at Milton City Hall and the runners will be bussed to the
starting point at 8 a.m. The run will start at 9 a.m. There will be
an awards ceremony at the Blackwater Bistro immediately after
the race. This 5k run/walk is open to adults and children of all
ages. Entry fees are $20 for adults and $15 for students 18 and
under if signed up by Oct. 23. Free food, drinks and t-shirts will
be provided to all entries (while supplies last). You can register at:
http://www.active.com/eventdetail.cfm?event id=1794677
Festival of the Arts Navarre will host their 4th annual Fes-
tival of the Arts Oct. 10 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Artists, crafters,
food vendors and entertainers will gather for the annual event. Ev-
ery year the city present new and different artists, showcasing the
wonderful local talented people in the area. This year the festival
will be held in Navarre Park on Hwy 98. It is FREE and open to
the public. For more information go to: www.gnbaa.org
Fire Prevention The Holley-Navarre Fire District is host-
ing a Fall Fire Prevention Festival and chili cook-off on Saturday,
Oct. 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Days Inn & Suites Navarre
Conference Center, 8700 Navarre Parkway. The public is invited.
Emergency personnel from various area fire and rescue services,
along with displayed equipment, will be on hand for the event. At-
tendees will be able to watch live demonstrations, learn safety tips
and enjoy the food and festivities. For more information, please
contact the Holley-Navarre Fire District at (850) 936-5236.














Fleet and Family Support Center Classes
Resume Writing Tuesday, October 5, 1000 1200
This class will assist you in efficiently creating an effective resume. Learn how to handle sticky resume situations like military-to-civil-
ian transition, age, employment gaps, layoffs, and career change. Learn to use your resume as a marketing tool. Class will be held at
the FFSC conference room. For more information, contact a Work and Family Life Specialist at 623-7177.
How to Survive the Holidays Financially Tuesday, October 6, 1300 1500
It's that time of year when stores display holiday decorations, increase their inventory, and gear up to convince you to spend money.
Attend this class to learn techniques to control your holiday spending. Class will be held in the FFSC conference room. For more in-
formation, contact a Work and Family Life Specialist at 623-7177.
Time Management Tuesday, October 7, 1300 1400
At the end of the day, do you ask yourself "where did the day go?" and feel like you have accomplished very little on your list of "things
to do?" If you answered "yes" to these questions, this class is for you. The information provided in this class will provide you with tools
that will help you make the most of your busy and demanding days. Class will be held at the FFSC conference room. For more informa-
tion, contact a Work and Family Life Specialist at 623-7177.
Pick a Partner Session 1: Wednesday, Oct. 7, 1800 2000 & Session 2: Wednesday, Oct. 14, 1800 2000
Learn about the warning signs of a difficult partner, relationship skills essential for a healthy relationship, five key areas that you need to
explore during the dating process, the difference between "acting like a jerk" and "being a jerk", and how to follow your heart without
losing your mind. For more information, contact a Work and Family Life Specialist at 623-7177.


TRICARE Note
ACHIEVE SOLUTIONS:
ASSISTANCE FOR EVERYDAY PROBLEMS

Achieve SolutionsR is a secure online be-
havioral health web site offered by ValueOptions,
Inc., the administrator of your behavioral health
benefit in the TRICARE South region.

To access the Achieve SolutionsR site, visit
www.humana-military.com and click on "Behav-
ioral Health" under "Health and Wellness." Then
click on "Achieve Solutions."

The main navigation categoriz-
es more than 200 different topics as follows:

--Alcohol and Other Drugs
--Anxiety
--Depression
--Family Care and Education
--Health and Wellness
--Relationships
--Work







"Storm Ready"
(Cont. from Page 1)
to a weather related emergency. According to NWS statistics,
90 percent of all presidentially declared disasters are weather
related leading to nearly $14 billion in damages annually.
Military bases are qualifying communities, and Whit-
ing Field's emergency manager Jim Walsh worked for more
than six months to ensure the program requirements. Guide-
lines include having a 24-hour warning point and emergency
operations center, providing multiple methods for informing
the community of potential weather problems, having a system
for monitoring local weather conditions, promoting weather
preparedness through community seminars, and developing
and training a formal severe weather plan.
"It was a pleasure working with Jim (Walsh) and from
the moment we walked on the base there was no doubt that ev-
erything was in order," John Purdy, senior meteorologist with
the Mobile office of the NWS said. "The base exceeded quali-
fications in every area and you can be justifiably proud of your
program."


Jeff Garmon presents Capt. Enrique Sadsad and James Walsh with
a plaque recognizing Whiting Field's status as a "Storm Ready"
community. U.S. Navy photo by Jay Cope.
and activities which the bases perform as a part of their normal
routines.
However, having just passed the anniversary of Hur-


NAS Whiting Field's home county, Santa Rosa County, ricanes Ivan and Dennis, Walsh sees the added emphasis of the
Fla., is also a "Storm Ready" community, and seeing the signs "Storm Ready" designation as being valuable.
for the designation along the road was the impetus for Walsh's "I believe this is a good time to reflect on the turmoil
effort. A little research indicated military bases qualified and those storms caused and to ensure we are prepared for the next
he followed up by completing the application process. Accord- one," he said. "This designation recognizes the commitment
ing to Walsh, Navy bases already have much of the structure we have made to our populace that we are doing everything
in nlncpr ann i i mnetlx7 n mnattnr nf rlnnimnntina thi nrnarnme nnccihl tfn lh nrnnnrrla fnr nnxr ftnm tflit mnxr anri- "







School Partnership
(fant frnM Paoop 1


Lt. Stephen Skinner, AWSC Sage Mathis, Cmdr. Hans Sholley, Cmdr. Mi-
chael Fisher, Hobbs Middle School Principal Stephen Shell, Maj. Warren
Bair, School Superintendent Tim Wyrosdick, and School Liaison Officer
Chris Hendrix gather around the cake to celebrate the school partnership
between Hobbs and HT-8. U.S. Navy photo by Jay Cope.
renew it annually. The school and the squadron have actually had
agreements dating back 10 or fifteen years according to Shell, but
following Hurricane Ivan, other priorities took precedence and the
partnership faded.
Fisher is looking forward to getting back on track.
"I want us to be a positive influence on you," he said to the
30 or so students in attendance. "Thank you for giving us the oppor-
timnit7 tn roronr in thick imninrtnnt nnrtntrchin "


Local Festival Sure to Offer

Fun to Kids and Adults Alike

Celebrating our multicultural family, the 28th
Annual St. Rose of Lima International Fall Festival
promises to keep alive the best of a quarter century of
happy memories! Beginning with a 5 K Sunset Run
and Fun Walk on Friday afternoon (5:30 p.m. starting at
the church with prizes to be awarded from the Festival
stage later that evening). Carnival rides, games, nov-
elties, crafts, pet contests, and the best array of foods
with an international flavor draw visitors to a lineup of
continuous musical entertainment and chances for big
cash prizes.
Twenty different games for the youngsters vie
with Bingo for the adults and carnival rides for every-
one. Whether its is German bratwurst, Polish perogies,
Cajun gumbo, Filipino shish-ka-bobs, Rose Bowl Clam
Chowder, All American BBQ and hamburgers, or Latin
quesadillas, there will always be room for those crispy
Elephant Ears, Sno Cones and ice cream to go with the
luscious baked cakes, cookies, candies and preserves
from the Heavenly Bakery Booth! Plenty of parking
behind and around St. Rose of Lima Church, and folks
ready to hand you a Festival Program Map and activi-
ties schedule. For information and applications for the
Sunset Run and Walk, call Dan Arndt, 850-626-6213.
Your "Best Dressed Pet" could win a prize, call
850-477-8220 or 850-623-8493 for information about
this and other Festival events. The Petting Zoo, "Roots
and Bloom" Plant Booth, "The Hop" Coffee Diner with
'50's Happy Days memories, "Rose Cottage Crafts"
and Raffle Baskets of Cheer are only some of the other
Festival opportunities.
St. Rose of Lima Church is located at 6451 Park
Avenue, Milton, Florida, between Hwy. 87 and Hwy.
89, within cheering distance of Milton High School.
Bring family and friends to enjoy an old fashioned Fes-
tival with plenty of good food and fun! Hope to see you
there!
Additionally, the Sunset Run and Walk 5K will
be held Oct. 9. Runner and walkers are urged to get an
application today to participate in this popular 28th An-
nual St. Rose of Lima International Fall Festival event.
The first 100 applications received before Oct. 8 will
receive the Sunset Run T-shirt for $15 ($10 no shirt op-
tion). Applications day of the race are $20 ($15 no shirt
option). Prizes will be awarded Friday evening on the
Festival stage. Race starts promptly at 5:30 p.m. at the
Church -- 6451 Park Ave., Milton, FL. Applications
available at the Parish Office or call 850-626-6213 or
850-261-1779. Tree-lined course for walkers and run-
ners. Plenty of great food and games to enjoy at the
Festival after this event.