It’s hard to believe that such a small amount of snow can cause such havoc. Last Monday morning around 9, everyone at NAS Whidbey Island was surprised to see a light but continuous snow falling outside. The temperature dropped below freezing and the winds picked up. Didn’t take long before the snow plows were hauled out and Security was assessing road conditions and setting safety barriers. Snow plows scraped paths for a couple of planes that curtailed training operations and taxied back to the hangar. Flight schedules were cancelled as commands shifted into “snow” mode. Before they had a chance to clear and sand Charles Porter Ave., a semi-truck skidded out of control, blocking the inbound lane. Langley Blvd., well-known for its steep and treacherous incline, was quickly blocked off, leaving families who live on Apache wondering how they were going to get to and from their homes and the Home Connection and Head Start teachers, staff and students who use the former Clover Valley Elementary school, wondering how to get off the base.

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For Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class Joe Napier, it means getting to do “guy stuff” again. For Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Jacob Brooks, it’s a chance to feel like being at home again. All it takes for both of the NAS Whidbey Island Sailors is giving up two to four hours a month. During that time, both Napier and Brooks have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of young boys and in turn feel very enriched being a part of Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Island County.

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Sailors from Navy Recruiting District (NRD) Seattle volunteered at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Puget Sound Medical Center in Seattle Nov. 17. “Each year we hold a Thanksgiving dinner, hosted by the Community Living Center staff and physicians,” said Anne Peterson, recreation therapist. “This is the first year we have active duty service members participate at our event. It’s wonderful to have Sailors here so they can get a glimpse of what we do for our veteran patients, and the veterans really enjoy the interaction.” Eight Sailors visited the hospital to help serve food during the Thanksgiving dinner. Each volunteer was assigned to a designated table and prepared meal plates for the veterans and their guests. “This is my passion — to help give back to our veterans in the community, and I think its so important to bridge the gap of generations between today’s service members with the veterans who served in past wars,” said Lt. j.g. Joanna Callahan, medical program officer recruiter, NRD Seattle. “My mission is to connect Sailors with veterans so they can learn from each other.

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Suffering from buyer’s remorse? If you made your purchase from a door-to-door salesperson at your home, you may have the right to cancel the contract. A federal regulation provides a “Cooling-Off Rule” which gives you three business days to cancel purchases of $25 or more for some consumer services or goods. The Cooling-Off Rule also applies to sales made at locations that are not the seller’s usual place of business. These include sales at your work place, facilities rented by the seller on a temporary basis (such as a hotel room), convention centers, fairgrounds, restaurants, and even at a “sales party” in a private home. Under this Rule, the salesperson must tell you about your cancellation rights at the time of sale. The salesperson also must give you two copies of a cancellation form and a copy of the contract or a receipt at the time of sale. The contract or receipt must be dated, show the name and address of the seller, and explain your right to cancel.

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USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN 730) became the first Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine to complete 75 Trident strategic deterrent patrols when its Gold Crew returned to Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor. The first Ohio-class strategic deterrent patrol was performed by USS Ohio (SSBN 726, now SSGN 726) from October through December 1982. Since then, more than 1,000 strategic deterrent patrols have been successfully conducted by Ohio-class SSBNs. Culinary Specialist 1st Class (SS) Jonathon Miller was proud to help Henry M. Jackson write a new chapter in the submarine community’s storied history. “Submariners have a proud history of service, sacrifice and being the tip of the spear in defense of our nation,” said Miller. “To be able to serve on the first boat to reach 75 patrols will be something we can all look back on and be proud of.”

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Staff members from Naval Hospital Bremerton (NHB) Health Promotions and Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Program (SARP) teamed together to raise Sailors’ awareness of the harmful effects of tobacco use and of the programs and support system available to successfully quit nicotine addiction at NHB during the Great American Smokeout Nov. 18. “I’d like everyone to know how to get help, who to go to for help, and to grow confident that they can end their addiction to tobacco,” said NHB Tobacco Cessation Facilitator and SARP Substance Abuse Counselor, Patrick Graves. The celebration of the nicotine-free lifestyle began at a breakfast where honored guests who were beginning or had recently begun their serious commitment to the Navy tobacco cessation program gave testimony to those in attendance.

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Statistical evidence shows that many Sailors are now using the annual Great American Smokeout to stop using tobacco products. Naval Base Kitsap Command Master Chief Joseph D. Fahrney quit his tobacco habit months earlier and has continued to be nicotine-free in distancing himself from an addiction that spanned over two decades, almost as long as his current Navy career of almost 21 years. “Culturally as a country and as a Navy, we’re finally stamping this habit out,” Fahrney stated. “It’s so destructive. We have an obligation to set the standard and we are. There are advantages beyond the fiscal benefits and health rewards that anyone can realize by quitting.” Fahrney knows that he’s just a dip of chew tobacco away from commencing a habit that was slowly rotting away who he was. But with the candid wisdom of a child, and self-referred assistance from Naval Hospital Bremerton’s Tobacco Cessation Facilitator, he has found the necessary self-determination, discipline, and dedication to embark upon a successful tobacco cessation program that is well into its’ 13th week. Additionally, he has also started an ambitious work-out regimen and weight loss program that has had him drop 42 pounds since April.

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A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Nov. 12, officially opening the renovated Admiral Boorda Center. The new space is divided into two parts — housing the Forest City Residential Management staff responsible for West Family Housing on base as well as Bremerton and Keyport housing, and the Fleet & Family Readiness Youth & Teen Program on Bangor. When Forest City Residential took over the management of family housing operations three years ago, the plan in place was to relocate the Teen Program out of the building and have the Boorda Center only serve PPV housing operations. However, in an effort to keep a youth facility on base and located in the housing area, Forest City and Navy Region Northwest staff collaborated on a plan to allow both functions to use the building without relocating either party. This involved Forest City staff working out of two construction trailers until the Boorda Center renovations were completed.

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In celebration of Com-manding Officer, Capt. Michael Coury proclaiming Nov. 15 “America Recycles Day” at Naval Station Everett, and to raise awareness on the benefits of recycling, Sailors and employees enjoyed recycling demonstrations and refreshments at the base recycling building Nov 15. Many people are unaware of how important recycling is, and the effects it can have in protecting our environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), recycling just one plastic bottle can save anywhere from 100 to 1,000 years in the landfill as well as protect the environment from the emissions in producing new bottles. Recycling also helps to conserve natural resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. According to the EPA, recycling one ton of aluminum cans saves the energy equivalent of 36 barrels of oil or 1,655 gallons of gasoline.

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November 1990 and every November since 1994 has been named national American Indian Heritage Month, a time set aside for the entire country to remember the first true Americans. Naval Station Everett had a small ceremony Nov. 16 to celebrate American Indian Heritage Month with a couple speakers, including a local Native American princess. “It is celebrated not only in recognition of the contribution of the many intertribal cultures but to educate us about the rich history, heritage, art and traditions of the original American people,” said Master at Arms 2nd Class Sharice Elmore, NAVSTA Everett Security. To start off the ceremony, Elmore gave a small speech about the history behind and the purpose of American Indian Heritage Month. She also explained exactly who it is recognizing.

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