WHAT ’ S NEWS IN MONROEVILLE
Melissa Adams
GATEWAY GRAD SERVES IN JAPAN ABOARD FORWARD- DEPLOYED SHIP
A 2013 Gateway High School graduate and Pittsburgh native , Melissa Adams , is serving the U . S . Navy in Japan aboard USS Germantown — a ship operating out of Sasebo , Japan .
A Navy seaman apprentice performs many essential functions to run a ship , including serving as a helmsman and lookout , standing security watches while in port or underway , paint and rust removal , compartment cleaning and numerous other deck-related responsibilities .
“ I ’ m very new to this command ,” says Adams . “ Right now we ’ re learning a lot about Japan . They ’ ve been teaching us do ’ s and don ’ ts , a bit of the language , we took a tour around Sasebo , learned some of the history of Japan .”
With more than 50 percent of the world ’ s shipping tonnage and a third of the world ’ s crude oil passing through the region , the U . S . has historic and enduring interests in that part of the world .
“ Our alliance is rooted in shared interests and shared values ,” says Adm . Harry Harris , U . S . Pacific Command Commander . “ It ’ s not hyperbole to say that the entire world has benefited from the U . S . -Japan alliance . While our alliance helped stabilize the region after the Second World War , it also enabled the Japanese people to bring about an era of unprecedented economic growth . And for the last six decades , our Soldiers , Sailors ,
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Airmen , Marines and Coast Guardsmen have worked side by side with the Japan Self Defense Force to protect and advance peace and freedom .”
Commissioned in 1986 , Germantown is the second Navy ship named after the Revolutionary War Battle of Germantown . With a crew of more than 900 Sailors and Marines , Germantown is 609 feet long and weighs approximately 16,000 tons . Designed specifically to operate landing craft air cushion small craft vessels , Whidbey Island-class dock landing ships have the largest capacity for these landing craft out of any U . S . Navy amphibious ship .
“ It ’ s very different here , but I feel very safe here ,” says Adams . “ I take pride in the fact that I ’ m helping provide some of that security .”
Sea duty is inherently arduous and challenging but it builds strong fellowship and esprit de corps among members of the crew . The crew is highly motivated and quickly adapts to changing conditions . It is a busy life of specialized work , watches , and drills .
“ The Navy has offered me a way out of the life that I was living and has given me a great step ahead in building a career for myself ,” notes Adams .
The Navy ’ s presence in Sasebo is part a long-standing commitment .
“ The U . S . -Japan alliance remains the cornerstone for peace and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region ,” says Harris .
UPCOMING EVENTS AT THE MONROEVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Be sure to check out the following upcoming events at the Monroeville Public Library ! The library is located at 4000 Gateway Campus Blvd . For more information , call 412.372.0500 , or visit monroevillelibrary . org . n New Year ’ s Eve EVE Can ’ t stay up until midnight on New Year ’ s Eve ? The Monroeville Public Library will hold its annual ball drop early on the EVE of New Year ’ s Eve , Saturday Dec . 30 , beginning at 11:30 a . m . Party hats , favors , crafts and refreshments will be part of the festivities for all ages at this free event . n Lunar New Year Celebrate the Lunar New Year at the Monroeville Public Library on Saturday , Feb . 17 , from 10:30 to 11:30 a . m . All ages are welcome to join in this free special event with an indoor dragon parade , crafts and refreshments . Red is a symbol of good luck for the New Year — so participants are encouraged to wear red .
TIANI ' S EVENTS 2017 HOLIDAY MARKET
Tiani ’ s 2017 Holiday Market will take place on Sunday , Nov . 26 , from 12 to 4 p . m . at the Monroeville DoubleTree Hotel . The event is free and open to the public , and will include over 50 vendors , visits with Santa , photo opportunities , refreshments , face painting , balloon artists , free massages , raffles and more . One lucky shopper will be drawn to win a Fingerling Monkey !
Search Tiani ’ s Events on Facebook for more information .
THE PITTSBURGH CONCERT CHORALE 2017-2018 SEASON
Pittsburgh Concert Chorale ’ s 2017- 2018 concert schedule offers a varied sampling of music from around the globe . “ The Pittsburgh Concert Chorale is excited to present musical selections from various parts of the world . The season began with our sixth annual Pittsburgh Sings : Pittsburgh Concert Chorale ’ s Festival of Choirs at Carnegie Music Hall , which showcases high school choirs from the Greater Pittsburgh region . Our December Sounds of the Season concert features American favorites and classics from around the globe . Our March concert , Bella Musica !, will take audiences on a breathtaking journey through Italy with music that has resonated in cathedrals , piazzas and opera houses for centuries . Rounding out the season , in May , the PCC goes to Tinseltown for Hooray for Hollywood !, a concert of