KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa — The University of Phoenix will host "Everyone Appreciation Day" from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Kadena Commissary.

The event will celebrate the military community and the renewal of the university’s contract, according to a news release.

The event will feature food, music and giveaways.

For more information, call DSN 959-0123.

Free seminar to discuss special education needs

KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa — Charles Crissey, chairman for education at the University of Phoenix-Okinawa, will discuss special education in the schools June 17 during a lunch seminar, a news release said.

The free seminar, "Special Education for our Kids Today," starts at 11:30 a.m. at the USO Social Hall on Kadena Air Base, near Gate 2, the release said.

Doors open at 11 a.m.

Crissey will discuss ways parents can address special needs education in their child’s schools and build relationships with the schools and teachers.

The seminar is part of the University of Phoenix and USO smart lunch series.

For more information, call DSN 959-4938.

Japan briefsCamp Fuji gets new commander

Col. David L. Coggins assumed command of Combined Arms Training Center at Camp Fuji from Col. Robert G. Golden III in a ceremony Monday.

Golden, who served as the base commander since June 2008, will be heading to I Marine Expeditionary Force G-3 operations at Camp Pendleton, Calif, according to a news release.

Coggins’ previous assignment was head of NATO training support in Norfolk, Va.

Yokota to end taxi service

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — The on-base taxi service at Yokota will cease operations June 30, according to a letter sent out to base personnel by Maj. Joseph A. Ericson Jr., deputy for the 374th Force Support Squadron.

In the letter, Ericson said the 374th FSS is aggressively searching for a new contractor to provide the service, but no date was given for when services would resume.

For more information, call DSN 225-7720.

South Korea briefsTwo S. Korea schools get new principals

Two new middle school principals were announced Tuesday for Department of Defense Dependents Schools in South Korea.

Doug Kelsey, superintendent of DODDS-Korea, announced in a news release that Jennifer Smith has been named principal of Osan American Middle School at Osan Air Base. Smith’s most recent job was principal of Ashley Park University Learning Center in Charlotte, N.C. She has a doctorate in educational leadership from Fayetteville State University and master’s degrees in administration and supervision and in English education and curriculum.

Kelsey also named David Dinges as principal of Seoul American Middle School at Yongsan Garrison. Dinges is assistant principal at Ramstein Intermediate School in Ramstein, Germany. He has a master’s degree in education from the University of Phoenix.

Upcoming facility closures in Area I

Several facilities in Area I will be affected by upgrades in the following weeks:

The commissary at Camp Red Cloud will close from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday for employee training.At Camp Stanley, the Department of Public Works will replace a deteriorated power pole Saturday between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. The Community Bank and Stanley PX will not have power during that time.The back gate at Camp Red Cloud is undergoing upgrades through July 10. Travel is restricted to one lane as follows: Weekdays — inbound only, except from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. for outbound only. Weekends — inbound traffic only.Civilian retirement briefings offered

Representatives from the Army Benefits Center-Civilian will visit Area I on Thursday and Friday to conduct briefings on the Civil Service Retirement System and the Federal Employees Retirement System.

They will also provide information on using the Employee Benefits Information System and Interactive Voice Response System for processing benefits.

Briefings will be conducted in Camp Red Cloud’s CPAC Training Room, Building T-909. The CSRS briefing will be Thursday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; the FERS briefing will be Friday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For information, call DSN 732-9060.

Sinise, Christian artist to perform at Yongsan

Two free concerts are scheduled this month at Yongsan Garrison.