Pacific briefs: Marines plan two-day, 230-mile run on Okinawa
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Bases Okinawa, will host the 230-mile USMC Birthday Commemorative Run this year to honor the Marine Corps’ birthday.
The event will be held on Camp Foster and consist of individuals running one-mile increments, culminating in a formation run for the final two miles. Interested runners will be able to sign up for a time slot and will have 10 minutes to run the one-mile segment.
The run begins at 5 p.m. Nov. 8 and continues until 7 a.m. Nov. 10.
This event is open to all Defense Department personnel, civilian employees, family members and local nationals with base access. No base access will be granted to participate in this event.
For more information and details on registering, contact Capt. Butts at DSN 645-5389 or e-mail companyofficeh&sbn@mcbbutler.usmc.mil.
Blank rounds dropped on Seoul building
SEOUL — A U.S. helicopter dropped about 30 blank M-60 rounds onto a commercial building at about 8 p.m. Friday.
Park Min-su, a police sergeant with the Pangyo police station, said the building’s owner inspected the roof Saturday morning and discovered some damage.
U.S. Forces Korea officials, contacted Monday, confirmed an investigation is being conducted but had no further comment.
DODDS educator is given retirement party
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Yokota West Elementary School threw a going-away party Sept. 23 for a longtime Department of Defense Dependents Schools administrator, complete with gifts and a taiko drum performance.
Dave Crittenden, the school’s assistant principal, is retiring after a 42-year career spent entirely in the Pacific region. His career covered stints on Okinawa; Misawa Air Base, Sasebo Naval Base, Camp Zama, Sagamihara Housing Area, Yokosuka Naval Base and Iwakuni Marine Corps Air Station in Japan; Osan Air Base and Seoul in South Korea; and the Philippines.
Crittenden, who spent 25 years as a principal and another 17 as an assistant, said he plans to retire in Hawaii with his wife, Fawn, and daughter, Ava. He’s worked at Yokota West for three years. His last official day is Friday.
“Yokota is a great community atmosphere,” he said. “DODDS will be a leader in many changes, which will be coming up in the near future for math, science, foreign languages, length of the school day, school year and much more. West School is a wonderful place for kids.”
Hindu holidays to be celebrated on Okinawa
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Okinawa’s Hindu community invites everyone to join in the celebration of two Hindu holidays in October at the Camp Foster Chapel — the Dasserra Festival on Oct. 16 and the Diwali Festival of Lights on Oct. 30.
Regular Hindu services are held every Sunday at noon at the Camp Foster Chapel. Each regular service includes the invocation of deities through chants and prayers, readings from the Bhagavad-Gita and a DVD discourse by Swami Chinmayananda.
For more information about the services, celebrations and to learn more about yoga, meditation and other spiritual activities, contact Anuja Sabnis, the new lay leader of Chinmaya Mission West, at commercial 956-4820 or by e-mail at: anujasabnis@yahoo.com.
Everclear to sign autographs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — The rock band Everclear will sign autographs Thursday from noon to 1 p.m. at the Base Exchange prior to its free concert that evening in Hangar 15 near the Yokota flight line.
Doors to the show open at 6 p.m. The Japanese band babamania is the opening act.
The concert, open to all ranks, is presented by the 374th Services Division. Concessions will be sold.
Eagle 810 is giving away 12 pairs of backstage passes this week during its Morning, Retro Café and afternoon Traffic Jams radio shows.
Yokota Idol 4 registration
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — Registration continues through Friday for Yokota Idol 4, an annual talent contest patterned after the popular television show “American Idol.”
Community members 18 and older may sign up at the Yokota Enlisted Club’s Customer Service Counter. The field will be narrowed to a group of finalists during an upcoming audition, and the show takes place Oct. 8 at 8 p.m. in the facility’s Ohsawa Ballroom.
Yokota’s top vocalist wins $500. The second-place finisher receives $300, while $200 goes to the third-place entry.
Visit the Enlisted Club or call DSN 227-8820 for more information.
