A6 APG News • Thursday, November 9, 2017 Top comedians coming to APG Comedy Tour By Yvonne Johnson popular stand up in a new and exciting APG News crossover market, bringing both Latino and non-Latino audiences out to the biggest Three top-tier comedians will grace the comedy clubs and theaters in America. In APG North (Aberdeen) recreation center addition to Last Comic, TV audiences will stage when Morale, Welfare and Recreation know Felipe from “The Arsenio Hall Show,” presents the Army Entertainment Comedy BET’s “Comic View,” and “The Shop.” Tour Wednesday, Nov. 15. Felipe’s most popular credit to date, though, Finesse Mitchell, best known for his work is his massively successful Showtime special on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” Felipe “They’re Not Gonna Laugh at You” which Esparza, of BET’s “Comic View” and “The has propelled him to sell-out crowds across Shop” and Seaton Smith, from FOX’s “Mu- the country, including two sold-out shows at laney” and Comedy Central’s “The Nightly Nokia Live in Los Angeles in February 2016. Show,” will launch nonstop jokes and Learn more about Felipe at anecdotes to convulse listeners in laughter. www.felipesworld.com/tour. The doors open 5 p.m. and the show starts 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $15 in advance; $20 at Seaton Smith the door. Buy tickets online at www.eventbrite.com or at the MWR ticket Having honed his material in the comedy office in the APG North (Aberdeen) recre- PHOTO COURTESY OF WWW.FINESSEMITCHELL.TV PHOTO COURTESY OF WWW.FELIPESWORLD.COM/ clubs and bars of New York City, Smith got ation center, Bldg. 3326. This show is for Finesse Mitchell headlines the Army Enter- TOUR his first big break in 2014, landing the role of adults, 18 and older, only. For more informa- tainment Comedy Tour set for Wednesday, Felipe Esparza brings his creative comic ‘Motif’ on FOX’s “Mulaney.” tion, call 410-278-4011/4907. Nov. 15 at Aberdeen Proving Ground. style to the Army Entertainment Comedy Since “Mulaney,” Smith has appeared on Tour at APG, Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. hit shows likeComedy Central’s“Inside Amy Finesse Mitchell ons.’ Schumer,” “Girls,” and “The Nightly Show.” More recently, he starred in the 2016 HBO and “Tyra.” He has also performed stand up on NBC’s Mitchell is best known for his work on pilot “Brothers in Atlanta” and in the For more about Finesse Mitchell, visit “Late Night with Seth Meyers.” NBC’s ‘Saturday Night Live,’ 2003-2006, but Showtime TV series “Roadies.” Mitchell has www.finessemitchell.tv. In September 2015, Seaton released his the actor, stand-up comedian, and writer has also appeared in the recent hit comedies debut album, “Bologna Meat,” which Laugh many other impressive comedy credits to his ‘Think Like a Man’ and ‘Ride Along.’ Felipe Esparza Button called: “…smart, energetic, and re- name. After ‘Saturday Night Live,’ Mitchell Mitchell tours regularly, and his stand up freshingly clever.” branched out into stand up – from comedy sets have received national attention on Since coming to national attention as a Seaton Smith is a regular headliner at clubs across the country to Shaq’s 2013 All NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” finalist on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” in some of the best comedy clubs and comedy Star Comedy Jam – and hosted TV shows “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” “The 2010, Felipe Esparza has built a comedy festivals across the country. Get to know including the FOX series ‘Beat the Champi- Arsenio Hall Show,” B.E.T’s “Comic View,” empire one fan at a time. Esparza is the most Seaton at www.seatonsmith.com. Power mission in Puerto Rico set to be largest ever in U.S. By Patricia Fontanet Rodriguez The road to repairing the grid is a process U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that includes four main lines of effort: Provide temporary emergency power for After the most devastating hurricane in critical facilities, ensure adequate genera- 89 years hit Puerto Rico, all 3.4 million tion at the power plants, reinstall and repair residents were left without power. Though transmission lines, and restore and repair uncertainty remains as to how much it will distribution lines, ultimately providing take to repair the electric grid, restoring power to local residences. power in Puerto Rico is quickly becoming The mission for Task Force Emergency the largest power mission to ever take place Power is to accomplish the first step in the on U.S. soil, according to Lt. Col. Daniel process, which is to supply temporary Kent, Commander of the 249th Engineer power. Remaining steps fall under Task Battalion, Prime Power. Force Power Restoration, where Delta The 249th Engineer Battalion, Prime Company, a unit within the 249th Engineer Power, is one of the teams in the power Battalion, is currently working to repair the mission. The battalion is a versatile power electric grid. generation battalion assigned to the U.S. Delta Company is an Army Reserve unit Army Corps of Engineers, or USACE, that comprised of linemen. The unit deployed to provides large-scale power to military Puerto Rico on October 13 on what they call units and federal relief organizations their largest mission to date, according to1st during full-spectrum operations. When Lt. Kieran Davis, Operations Officer for the Federal Emergency Management Delta Company. Agency assigned the power mission to Twenty-three personnel from Delta USACE, the agency was quick to include Company -- the most to ever deploy for a the 249th Engineer Battalion in its efforts. single mission -- are currently on the As of early November, the 249th Battal- ground repairing distribution lines in the ion had mobilized 90 team members on the San Juan area in collaboration with the ground in Puerto Rico. The battalion is Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority. tasked by two separate power missions: The process begins with Delta Company Task Force Temporary Emergency Power, receiving new poles from PREPA, which which involves installing generators in are then firmly secured in place. Fallen U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO BY MASTER SGT. JOSHUA L. DEMOTTS critical facilities, and Task Force Power distribution lines -- usually tangled and U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. 1st Class Jitu Whitehead, a transmission and distribution specialist Restoration, which involves repairing the covered in debris -- are then "fished" from with the 249th Engineering Battalion, D-Company, repairs power lines in Rio Grande, power grid. the ground and placed in the power pole. Puerto Rico, Oct. 19, 2017. The Federal Emergency Management Agency and its federal The lines are not energized when in place, partners continue 24-hour operations to conduct missions in support of those affected by Task Force Temporary and will remain as such until transmission Hurricane Maria. lines come back online. Delta Company Emergency Power completes an average of 10 power poles per Despite the long road ahead, Delta installs temporary generators at critical day, and so far has repaired more than Company is grateful to be part of the efforts facilities, and continues repairs on distri- "Three times as many generators have 27,000 feet of distribution line. to restore power in Puerto Rico. They're bution lines. When asked to about 249th, already been installed in Puerto Rico than Delta Company is currently scheduled motivated by the Puerto Rican people, who the battalion's commander, Lt. Col. Kent, in Texas and Florida combined," says Capt. for at least 90 days in Puerto Rico, but often wave and honk at them as they repair said it's ultimately about teamwork. Jaime Cabrera, Commander, Bravo Com- stressed they will not leave until their power lines along the street. "When they "Power missions are a team effort," he pany, 249th Engineer Battalion. mission is complete. "We want people to get see us, they know good things are happen- said. "I'm equally proud of our planning As of Nov. 1, Task Force Temporary homeand turn the light switch on," says Sgt. ing," says Whitehead. "It gives them hope." and USACE employees and contractors Emergency Power had installed 365 gen- 1st Class Jitu Whitehead, the Non-Commis- The 249th Engineer Battalion, Prime that are working side-by-side with 249th erators, a number that increases every day. sioned Officer in Charge. "We want to bring Power, has proven indispensable in the Soldiers. The people of Puerto Rico are Already, the battalion has installed more the comfort back." power mission. Every day the battalion counting on us." generators in Puerto Rico than have ever been installed anywhere in the U.S. during an emergency power mission, according to Capt. Cabrera. Capt. Cabrera mentioned 249th is fol- lowing the prioritization list set forth by FEMA and the Government of Puerto Rico, which includes hospitals, emergency shel- ters, water facilities, and wastewater facili- ties. Once those are complete, priority shifts to police stations, fire stations, and schools. The generators the battalion are in- stalling are not the same as those found in a house; most are high-capacity generators that can produce 250 times the amount of electricity of a typical home generator. Installation can take an entire day and requires certified electricians to connect the distribution line directly to the genera- tor. When complete, they serve as an essential source of temporary power to hospitals and other critical facilities. The battalion's efforts don't stop once installation is complete. Long-term use of generators, which is anticipated in Puerto Rico, requires rou- tine maintenance to keep functioning. For each installation, the 249th needs to calculate how many hours each generator has left in order to schedule maintenance.