YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — The ritual Passover Sabbath meal and services will be held at the Chapel of Hope at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

For information or to RSVP, contact the Chapel of Hope at DSN 243-6773.

Relief society yearly fund drive continues through April 15MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — The annual Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society fund drive continues through April 15, according to organizers.

Petty Officer 1st Class Kathryn Prentice said the community is well on the way to helping reach the $40,000 goal set by Naval Air Facility Misawa.

Prentice said events like the bake sale, soft pretzel sale and bowling tournament have helped and that individual Navy units are still running internal events.

NMCRS donations come back to the community in the form of emergency assistance, scholarships and financial counseling, she said.

A $5 monthly donation is less than the cost of a lunch, she said.

"It’s a tiny amount from a single person’s point of view, but when everyone gives a tiny amount, before long you have a good, solid sandbar that will help our shipmates keep their heads out of water," she said.

For more information on donating, call Prentice at DSN 226-5772 or e-mail nmcrs-info@katjo.net.

Volunteers sought for port, beach cleanup at MisawaMISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — Base residents are invited to help clean the Misawa City port and beach as part of Earth Day 2009.

The cleanup runs from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday and is co-sponsored by Misawa City and the base’s 35th Civil Engineer Squadron’s Natural Resources Management Element.

A free lunch of grilled clams and hot dogs will be provided.

Participants are urged to dress for the weather, to wear rubber boots and bring towels.

Call DSN 226-4735 to register.

To get there: Exit the main gate and turn left at the first stoplight. At Route 338, turn right toward Hachinohe. After about a five-minute drive, look for the large blue sign with a swordfish and turn left at the next stoplight. That will lead you to the port.

Officials release few details on vandalism incidentsMISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — Misawa Air Base and local Japanese officials are releasing few details on U.S. airmen under investigation for alleged criminal acts on and off the base.

Japanese police late the week before last confirmed there is an active investigation into alleged vandalism by U.S. airmen from Misawa at an off-base school in nearby Towada city. They refused to provide additional details until the investigation is complete.

A base spokeswoman said Friday that a vandalism incident at the Misawa Air Base golf course also is under investigation, but wouldn’t provide additional details.

Chemical defense mobility bags can be returnedMISAWA AIR BASE, Japan — Air Force personnel at Misawa no longer must maintain chemical-defense mobility bags, according to base officials.

The bags, which were issued upon arrival at the base, can be returned to the 35th Logistical Readiness Squadron from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday in Building 1334.

Officials are using the following schedule:

Through April 10: 35th Fighter Wing staff agencies and tenants.

April 13-May 1: 35th Mission Support Group.May 4-May 22: 35th Medical Group.May 25-June 12: 35th Maintenance and Operations Group.Call DSN 226-4919 for more information.

Seoul embassy issues alert about rocket launchThe U.S. Embassy in Seoul issued a bulletin Friday advising U.S. citizens in South Korea to pay close attention to news reports over the weekend as the country prepared for an impending rocket launch by North Korea.

The bulletin said North Korea is expected to attempt a launch between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday, Monday or Tuesday.

The embassy "sees no potential danger to American citizens in South Korea as a result of the possible launch and does not believe that any special actions are warranted by American citizens other than to pay close attention to local news reports during this time period," the bulletin said.

The embassy said it is closely monitoring the situation and that any further information would be posted at http://seoul.usembassy.gov and www.asktheconsul.org. Americans also can sign up for e-mail updates from the embassy at the consular site.

Won rises slowly against U.S. dollarSouth Korea’s stock market rallied late last week, sending the benchmark Kospi index to its highest point in more than five months, the JoongAng Daily newspaper reported. The Korean won gained against the dollar for three days and then dipped slightly on Friday, closing at 1,338.

The won fell to an 11-year low of more than 1,500 against the dollar in February, giving Americans greater purchasing power on the economy but reducing their cost-of-living allowances. Since then, the won has been slowly rebounding.

Area I begins 100 percent ID check for alcohol

All clubs, bowling alleys and stores selling alcohol on post in U.S. Army Garrison-Red Cloud have begun checking IDs of all buyers.

Chris Bradford, business manager for Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation in Area I, said the command informed FMWR and the Army and Air Force Exchange Service that underage soldiers had been drinking in bars on and off post, according to a Red Cloud news release.

Up to now, Bradford said, bartenders and AAFES clerks had checked IDs only if they suspected the buyer was younger than 21.

Bradford said FMWR clubs would check IDs when a drink is ordered, not at the door, and would issue wristbands to customers whose IDs already have been checked.

Passover events scheduled in Area IIFour Passover observances are planned for U.S. Army Garrison-Yongsan:Seders, 7:30 p.m. April 8 and 9 at the Religious Retreat Center.Shabbos service, 7 p.m. April 10 at the South Post Chapel.Yizkor/memorial service, 10 a.m. April 16 at the South Post Chapel.For more information, contact Larry Rosenberg at 011-9027-3728 or larryrosenberg@yahoo.com or Irving Gussow at 010-8881-3691 or at jewishrok@gmail.com.

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