The White Falcon - 05.02.1999, Blaðsíða 1

White Falcon
Vol. 58 No. 5
February 5, 1999
NAS Legal’s tax
center set to open
By J03 Mike C. Jones
Calculators, pencils, W-2s, 1040 EZs ... tax
time is fast approaching. Filing federal and
state taxes can be a tedious and confusing
process, however, to help service members sta-
tioned aboard NAS Keflavfk file federal tax
returns, the NAS Legal Office has established
the NAS Tax Center, set to open Monday.
The tax center, located in the Navy Campus
building (Bldg. 349), will be open Mondays
through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will
feature walk-in services for tax forms and 1040
EZ filing. Other services will be made by
appointment.
Electronic filing will be one of the appoint-
ment-based services offered, according to LN1
Teri Hartford, command legalman. “Through
electronic filing, you receive your refunds
quicker,” she said. “If you have direct deposit,
you should receive your refunds within nine
days.”
Continued on page 2
The Pelicans Have Landed ... On Feb. 3, the first P-3C Orion of Patrol
Squadron FORTY FIVE (VP-45) Pelicans arrived at NAS Kefiavik, signaling the
start of their six-month deployment. By tommorrow, VP-45 will have five aircrews,
four Orions, and maintenance and support equipment and personnel in place in
Iceland. VP-45, from NAS Jacksonville, Florida, relieves VP-8, Fighting Tigers, who
return to NAS Brunswick, Maine. VP-45’s main mission will be to detect, classify
and track submarine and surface vessels in the region. (Photo by J03 Mike C. Jones)
NAS presents local schools with new book
Story and photo by
J02 Christopher E. Tucker
Concern for the
environment is some-
thing that crosses all
cultural, geographi-
cal and political
boundaries. Base
officials have seen
the environment not
only as something
Americans and
Icelanders care
about, but as a topic that can be used to bring
the two cultures closer together.
NAS Keflavfk’s Environmental office has
been working on an environmental handbook
for the past three years that is designed to
“foster goodwill with the local communi-
ties,” according Johanna Turner, NAS
Keflavfk’s deputy director of the
Environmental office.
Exploring Sudurnes Iceland covers the
Sudurnes peninsula’s environment and histo-
ry. Funded by CINCLANTFLT’s
Environmental Division, the book is intend-
ed to help educate Americans and Icelanders
about the region they both live on.
“The book was conceived to be a supple-
ment primarily for the schools,” Turner said.
“They didn’t have a lot of information on
geology, history and natural resources.”
Exploring Sudernes Iceland is in English
and Icelandic, so Americans and Icelanders
can use the book as a tool in the classroom.
Already, A.T. Mahan High School has incor-
porated the book into their teaching curricu-
lum, A.T. Mahan Elementary School is cur-
rently looking at doing the same, and NAS
Keflavfk officials hope that Icelandic schools
will soon follow.
CINCLANTFLT spent $80,000 to devel-
op, write, edit and publish 3,000 copies of
Exploring Sudurnes Iceland.
On Feb. 1, NAS Commanding Officer,
Capt. Allen A. Efraimson officially presented
copies of the text to the mayor of Keflavfk
and other Icelandic officials.
“We had a tremendous reception.
Everybody came to me and commented on
how well the book looked and thanked us for
having it in both languages,” Turner said.
With chapters on climate, soil and vegeta-
tion, and animal life, Exploring Sudurnes
Iceland is a wealth of information, that up
until now, was primarily found in Icelandic,
making it difficult for American students to
study this region of Iceland.
According to Turner, base schools will use
the book in their Icelandic classes. Icelandic
teachers will use it to teach American stu-
dents about their surroundings and introduce
them to the Icelandic language.
“We wanted to focus on the Sudurnes
peninsula, which is the area the students live
on ... they’re a part of that community,”
Turner said.
The book includes a chapter on the history
of the peninsula, with a page devoted to the
development and current status of the NATO
Base.
Turner said that letters informing seven
Icelandic school principals about the book
went out this week, and she’s hoping to hear
back from them soon. She added that 50
copies will be delivered to the NAS library
this week for base residents to check out, and
plans include distributing copies to base res-
idents.
Serving the joint-service community since 1941