AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy — The annual Bella Befana Bazaar, which draws vendors from all over Europe and thousands of shoppers onto the base, is set for this weekend.

The event, put on by the Aviano Officer and Civilian Spouses Club, will be held in two hangars on the flight line. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

About a dozen new vendors are expected to be among the 90 selling items such as wine, various foods, furniture, jewelry and arts and crafts. For more information, visit: www.bellabefanabazaar.com.

Butler replaces Ostlund in command of the 2-503VICENZA, Italy — Lt. Col. Bill Butler took command of the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment in a ceremony Tuesday at Caserma Ederle.

Butler, who has previous assignments in Vicenza with the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment and Southern European Task Force (Airborne), has most recently served as chief of military training at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

He replaces Lt. Col. Bill Ostlund, who led the unit during its recent rotation in Afghanistan. Ostlund will become deputy commander of the 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Ga.

Command Sgt. Major Lyle Womack takes over as the battalion’s top enlisted soldier from Command Sgt. Major Bradley Meyers. Meyers will serve as the top enlisted soldier in 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment.

Mountain View Lodge again best in small lodgingAVIANO AIR BASE, Italy — The Mountain View Lodge, the Air Force-run motel on base, has won top honors from the service for the second straight year.

The facility received the Innkeeper Award for best small-lodging (285 rooms or less) facility in the Air Force. The service’s motel at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico won honors for the best large facility.

In addition, two employees based in Europe have been nominated for individual awards. Staff Sgt. Souksavanh Souvannavong from Aviano and Ali Eker of Incirlik Air Base in Turkey are among the nominees for small facilities and large facilities, respectively. Four individuals in each category will be presented with awards in November.