VOL. 53 NO. 43 OCTOBER 30, 2014
SERVING NAVAL AIR STATION OCEANA, DAM NECK ANNEX, AND NALF FENTRESS During the Military Family Festival, Ronald McDonald demonstrates the fine art of spinning plates to a group of girls, who were willing to test their skills at the restaurant’s booth at the Virginia Beach Convention Center on Sunday. Sponsored by Military Newspapers of Virginia, the annual festival was free and brought together military members and their families with the local nonprofits and businesses that support them.
JET
INSIDE
DAM NECK GALLEY CELEBRATES DISABILITY AWARENESS MONTH —Page 3
Photo by Harry Gerwien
Super heroes, large and small, turn out for Military Family Festival BY CATHY HEIMER Jet Observer Thirty minutes before the doors opened to the annual Military Family Festival Oct. 26, a crowd of “super heroes” of all shapes and sizes had already formed inside the Virginia Beach Convention Center. Batman and Robin, Superman, Captain America, The Incredibles and youthful soldiers in camouflage, were joined by Ninja Turtles, princesses in all pastel colors of costumes, and a family of Dr. Seuss characters, among others. And by the time the doors opened at 11, a line of children and their parents snaked across the center’s entrance for the free event bringing together military families with local nonprofits and businesses that serve them.
Previously hosted by the Tidewater Military Family Services Council (TMFSC), 2014 marks the first time it was hosted by Military Newspapers of Virginia (MNV), publisher of the Flagship and Jet Observer newspapers. “In addition to producing weekly papers, we also put on a number of important events that support the military community … We saw this as opportunity to step up and take on the family festival this year.We’re proud to host this year’s Military Family Festival,” explained Laura Baxter, publisher and general manager of MNV and The Flagship Inc. “This is designed as an opportunity for military families to have a chance to come to a very military-family-friendly event, where they can bring their children.They can learn a little bit about military support organizations
at the same time they are here. At the same time, they can interact with the community partners that support them,”said Russell Ariza, TMFSC chairman and executive director of the Armed Services YMCA. The festival has drawn 6,000 in each of the past two years, and to accommodate its growing popularity has meant moving it to larger spaces.Although held in the convention center for the third time, the exhibit halls were used to make it easier for young families with strollers and those with wheelchairs. One of the youngest super heroes attending had to be Henry Powers, just 2 weeks old.“We came to check things out,”explained new mom Natalie, as a sleeping Henry was carried by his dad,Machinist’s Mate 2nd ClassAndrew Powers from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Dressed as Mrs. Cat in the Hat, Brandy Jemmott and her husband Miljan, who was the Cat in the Hat,brought their six children for the second year in a row.Four of the kids were dressed as “Things 1 – 4” and the remaining were two little“whos”from“Horton Hears a Who.” “We came last year and we loved it,” said Brandy, who retired from the Army, as Miljan, a — See Military Family Festival, page 8
COMMISSARY STAFF PROMOTES BREAST CANCER AWARENESS —Page 10
FALL FESTIVAL OF SAVINGS SALE The Oceana commissary is hosting a “Fall Festival of Savings Sale” Oct. 30 through Nov. 2. There will be great deals on frozen food and holiday needs. There will also be a haunted house, trickor-treating, free hotdogs, hamburgers and chili. A costume contest will be held Oct. 31 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.