Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018 Volume 11, Issue 5 Published for members of the SHAPE/Chièvres, Brussels and Schinnen communities Benelux News Briefs LRC closures The Chièvres Central Issue Facility office (Hangar 3) will be closed Feb. 12 to 16 for their annual internal inventory. ALL of LRC Benelux to include Schinnen/Brussels/SHAPE/ Chièvres Maintenance, Supply (CIF,PBO,SSD), Transportation (PPPO & TMP), and Plans & Operations will be closed Feb. 15 for an LRC Benelux Stand Down/training. Shuttle service on Feb. 15 will run as scheduled. Chili cookoff There will be a chili cookoff during the Total Army Sponsorship Program Rodeo Feb. 23 at the Community Activity Center on Chièvres Air Base. Participants and volunteers are needed. For more information, please contact Richard Smith by Feb. 13 at DSN 366-6192 or [email protected]. The TASP Rodeo will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is an informative event for those who plan to sponsor incoming personnel to USAG Benelux or want to learn more information about the community. Table of Contents The Gilles are ready to dance in Binche The Carnival of Binche is one of the most famous Belgian celebrations. It draws thousands of tourists from News...........................2-8 all over the world to the Walloon city of Binche. The festival happens three days before Ash Wednesday. This Inside the Gate.............9-12 year, it will occur from Feb. 11 to 13. The central figures are the Gilles, who wear a spectacular costume Outside the Gate........13-17 decorated with red, black and yellow symbols of lions, crowns and stars. (U.S. Army photo by Tim Clark) See Page 13 February 8, 2018 New First Sergeant Simms assumes responsibility at HHC By Julie Piron USAG Benelux Public Affairs First Sergeant Natalee C. Simms took responsibility as the First Sergeant of Headquarters and Headquarters Company at U.S. Army Garrison Benelux during a ceremony Feb. 5 at the Caserne Daumerie Chapel. Capt. Curtis Radoff, company commander, highlighted the great work and dedication of Master Sgt. Shauna Richardson serving as the Brussels provost sergeant and the first sergeant for the last few months. During the ceremony, Richardson passed the company guidon to Radoff who himself handed the guidon to Simms, demonstrating his confidence in her being the backbone of the company. Simms recently arrived from the Pentagon where she was the supply NCO for the Joint Improvised- Threat Defense Agency. “HHC Benelux has a history Capt. Radoff, HHC Company Commander, passes the company guidon of great leadership, and I will continue that history to 1st Sgt. Natalee C. Simms during her assumption of responsibility ceremony Feb. 5, 2018, in Chièvres, Belgium. (U.S. Army photo by Julie as the first sergeant,” Simms said. u Piron) Official opening of the tax assistance office in Schinnen From left to right: Gertrudis The tax assistance office in Schinnen will Guanga, tax volunteer, Noel be open for free federal and state income van Zandvoort, Walter tax preparation Monday to Thursday from Linden, Maj. David Trainor, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call Staff Sgt. Randell Butman DSN 360-7688 or +31 (0)46-4437688. and Staff Sgt. Efrain Valencia cut a ribbon during the For current information and required official opening Feb. 6 in documents, please visit the Netherlands Schinnen. (Courtesy photo Law Center Facebook page. u by Clarence Grant) To submit or subscribe, email [email protected] The Gazette is an unofficial publication published under the provisions of AR 360-1 for members of the Commander.....................Col. Kurt Connell Department of Defense. Contents of The Gazette are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of the Army or the USAG Benelux. The Gazette is a free weekly publication Public Affairs Officer......Marie-Lise Baneton distributed via email every Thursday, except when that day is an American, Belgian or Dutch Holiday, then The Gazette is published on Wednesday. The editorial content of this publication is prepared, edited, provided, Editor..............................Christophe Morel approved and published by the USAG Benelux Public Affairs Office, Unit 21419, APO AE 09708. Telephone (0032) 068-275419/DSN 361-5419. Everything advertised in this publication will be made available for purchase, Staff Writers....................Kristin Ellis use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, Rita Hoefnagels political affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. If a violation or rejection of this Julie Piron equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the publisher will refuse to print advertising from that Jessica Ryan source until the violation is corrected. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement of the products or services advertised by the U.S. Army. Submit content or story ideas to [email protected] by Monday at 3 p.m. [2] February 8, 2018 Community hosts first Harry Potter movie night By Jessica Ryan USAG Benelux Public Affairs Community members came to the Prior to each screening, one contestant theater is Fantastic Beasts and Where SHAPE Cinema – Alliance Auditorium from that week’s drawing will win a copy to Find Them,” said Jackson. “We want Tuesday night for a screening of the of the book corresponding to the movie. to be a part of this community event.” Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Fans are also encouraged to dress Another parent Cat Harrington came to on SHAPE, Belgium. The screening is a up in costumes, Gault added. Before the screening with her five-year-old son. part of the Army Community Service’s the screening, fans can participate in “We really like Harry Potter, and we “Eight Nights of Harry Potter,” a special a costume contest. One lucky winner haven’t seen it [together] on the outreach event where each movie of from each screening will be in a drawing big screen,” said Harrington. “I like the Harry Potter series will be the series’ message that shown to families in the U.S. children are being accepted Army Garrison Benelux and for being different and can NATO communities. find comradery within their The event was more than differences.” an opportunity for Harry Potter The remaining screenings are fans to watch the film on the big scheduled Tuesdays at 6 p.m. screen. It was about bringing at the SHAPE Cinema from the geographically-dispersed Feb. 13 to Mar. 6 and Mar. 27 and international community to April 10. Admission is €2 per together while educating them person. For more information, about resources provided by call ACS at DSN 366-6824 or Army Community Service, Army +32(0)6532-6824. Family and Morale, Welfare and For a chance to enter AFN Recreation, SHAPE’s Morale Benelux’s trivia contests, Welfare Branch and other listeners can tune into community organizations at 107.9 FM (Chièvres), 106.5 SHAPE and the Army garrison. Cosplayers pose during a costume contest at the inaugural Eight Nights of FM (SHAPE), 101.7 FM “We do our best work Harry Potter event Feb. 6 at the SHAPE Cinema Alliance Auditorium. U.S. Army (Brussels), 99.7 FM and by promoting a healthy Garrison Benelux’s Army Community Service partnered with American Forces 96.9 FM (Tri-Border Area) environment for families,” Network Benelux, SHAPE International Library, and SHAPE Morale and Welfare or AFN360 Internet Radio at said Bill Gault, victim advocate Branch to organize a multi-week Harry Potter themed marathon to boost www.afneurope.net/Stations/ morale, present family resources to the audience, and use a popular story to at the ACS’s Victim Advocacy bring the SHAPE NATO community together. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Benelux from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Program and one of the lead Airman Brycen Guerrero) and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. u organizers for the event. “We hope to get a diverse population to attend to win a special prize, which will these events. In addition to watching be given at the final screening on a great family film, they will be able to April 10. meet with organization representatives Among the crowd during the and put a name to a face.” first event was Army Lt. Col. Amy Fans can also enjoy Harry Potter themed Jackson, deputy commander for activities at the cinema. administration for the SHAPE During the first night’s event, Dan Army Healthcare Clinic, and her O’Riley, library technician, set up an arts daughter Kaitlyn, who is in fifth and crafts table and helped participants grade. A huge fan of the series, with coloring Hogwarts’ house crests Kaitlyn began reading the books Three children color their Hogwarts house crests during and making sorting hats. He also played in second grade and just finished the inaugural Eight Nights of Harry Potter event Feb. 6 at music from the movie, such as “Hedwig’s the series this school year. the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) theme,” on the electric piano. It was a special night for the Cinema Alliance Auditorium. U.S. Army Garrison Benelux’s There are special giveaways at each mother and daughter duo, since Army Community Service partnered with American Forces screening, according to Gault. Fans it was their first time seeing the Network Benelux, SHAPE International Library, and SHAPE Morale and Welfare Branch to organize a multi-week Harry can listen to Armed Forces Network The “Sorcerer’s Stone” in a movie Potter themed marathon to boost morale, present family Benelux’s radio shows in the morning theater together.