Heads Up! If you’re headed to Brussels tomorrow…

Could be a nightmare day for driving/parking/walking in Brussels as there will not only be the Zinneke parade, but also an organized protest along part of the same route.  Over 500 members and participants of the Sharia 4 of Belgium will be protesting proposed anti-full-faced-veil laws in Belgium.

The protest will take place along this route:  Starting at the Bourse along Boulevard Anspach to boulevard Lemonier and ending at the South Station.

The Zinneke parade covers a large circle including the protest route and also loops through the Grand Platz.

Local Insurance Scam

WE NEED YOUR HELP: The Dutch KMAR and the USAG Schinnen Military Police seeks information about any Soldier or civilian who may have taken out a car insurance policy with “Jassen”, “Winkens” or “Insurance Bureau De-goudse” so they can gather evidence and put a stop to an alleged fraudulent scam. If you have any information that can assist, please call +31(0)46-443-7323 or send an email.

 

A lady by the name of “Jassen” is selling car insurance for a company called “Winkens” with a listed address of “DropStraat 125, Brunssum”. Instead of placing a real policy in force, she is pocketing the money and leaving the unsuspecting client uninsured AND out the money. The scam includes the issuance of a  green insurance card under an insurance company called “De-goudse Insurance Bureau”.

 

Local Dutch KMAR were made aware of this scam when an American Soldier who had purchased insurance through Jassen was involved in a traffic accident; when the Soldier tried to make a claim, the Insurance Bureau De-goudse stated that they never heard of him and he didn’t have any insurance with them.

 

Thank you.

 

USAG Schinnen Public Affairs

Mail Delays

From Schinnen’s PA office:  Expect mail delays to your APO boxes.

“The closure of airports due to the spread of volcanic ash across Europe halted incoming and outgoing mail transported by air to U.S. patrons in the Benelux region, Germany, Italy and Kosovo. Mail that entered the postal system on or after April 15 is likely affected. Postal operators will quickly work through the backlog as conditions permit, but patrons are advised to make alternate arrangements to minimize personal impact, particularly with such time-sensitive matters as credit payments, prescription medicines, etc. Items that were mailed by surface (space available) mail, which is transported by sea and ground transportation, has not been affected.”

Warning!

Most of us don’t read the papers in Dutch or German.  We watch our AFN instead of the local news.  It’s quiet here.  It feels so safe here.  We don’t hear about the crime, so it must not be bad, right?  But robberies happen quite frequently and our children aren’t safe from predators either.  Be aware.  Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security, especially now.  Read below.

“Recently, Dutch police sent out a warning for parents of children in the Tri-border community area, with respect to incidents involving a male approaching a 10yr old male boy in the Kerkrade (NL) area and attempting to entice him with candy/sweets. In a separate incident, another boy was approached and it is believed, the same individual attempted to entice him with candy/sweets into his vehicle. The individual was described as a colored male with short black hair, aged between 30-40yrs, approx 1.75m tall, black short hair, wearing light blue winter coat, large nose with no other distinguishing features.  He was described as speaking Dutch with a foreign accent.  The vehicle is described as blue in color, with no further details.  Parents are reminded to always be aware of where their children are and who is around them, and be watchful when outside with their children.  Any information pertaining to this person or similar incident should be passed onto your local police or IMP.”

IYA News

Information and registration at the IYA Office in Bldg 95 on NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen, 0049 2451 63 4955.

IYA Trip to Augustusburg Castle and Seven Mountains with Rhein Cruise and Winegrowers Market in Königswinter
On Saturday, 3 October, 0830 – 2000, we will first travel to the famous Augustusburg Castle and Gardens in Brühl, which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage. From the former capital Bonn a cruise boat will take us to the beautiful town of Königswinter. On the market place in the old town the local winegrowers are celebrating the annual Winzerfest with music, wine booths and traditional food. If you like, you can visit the Drachenfels with its remnants of a 12th century castle, from where you have a spectacular view of the Rhein valley and Seven Mountains. Take the historic train up and/or down the hill or hike. Afterwards you may want to explore the big Sea Life Aquarium with its 360° glass tunnel. The bus departs from the parking lot outside the Front Gate. Cost is € 23 for ages 14 and up, € 21 for ages 5 – 13, and € 12 for ages 4 and under, including guided tour through Augustusburg Castle and boat fare.

IYA Trip to Toverland Indoor and Outdoor Amusement Park
On 28 October the IYA is offering a trip for ages 6 and older to Toverland, a large amusement park boasting an amazing variety of small and big rides and beautiful playgrounds both indoors and outdoors. The bus departs at 0830, and gets back at about 1730. Cost is € 30,50 per child, chaperones go free.

IYA Fall Break Program
From 26 to 30 October the IYA is organizing a session for children aged 6 and older. The children can be dropped off at 0800, and picked up no later than 1730. The program offers fun games, arts & crafts, sports, free play, special projects and movies. Cost is € 72,50 for one child, € 145 for two children, and € 181,25 for three or more children, including field trip to Toverland Indoor and Outdoor Amusement Park on Wednesday and lunch on Friday.

IYA Basketball Season
The IYA Basketball season for international boys and girls between 6 and 15 years is coming up. Children and teenagers of all nationalities are invited to learn and play this sport together in our international community. The season – full of fun-filled and exciting games and tournaments – will run from December to February. Fee for the season: € 27 per player. Registration from 2 to 27 November.

Volunteers Wanted for IYA Basketball Season
As usual the IYA can only offer its Basketball program with your dedicated volunteer help. Call x 4955 right now to get further information, and to sign up as coach, assistant coach or referee for any of our leagues!

IYA Dance Classes

The IYA Dance program under the experienced and certified instruction of Mrs. Stella Schinagl is starting again at the IYA Multi-purpose Room. Cost is € 14 for 4 lessons. Register in class. The following classes are offered:

Tots (age 3) – Wednesday, 1515 – 1600,
Pre-primary Ballet – Monday, 1500 – 1600,
Pre-primary Ballet and Tap – Thursday, 1600 – 1700,
Primary Ballet and Tap – Monday, 1600 – 1700.

Ballet
Grade I – Tuesday, 1500 – 1600, and Wednesday, 1600 – 1700,
Grade II – Wednesday, 1700 – 1800,
Grade III – Monday, 1700 – 1800.

Tap & Jazz
Grade I – Tuesday, 1600 – 1700,
Elementary – Tuesday, 1700 – 1800,
Grade II –Thursday, 1700 – 1800.

Volkshochschul Language Courses

The fall session of Volkshochschul language courses is starting the week of 7 September. Classes are held in Bldg 141. Basic price for intensive courses: € 77,00 for 24 mornings / evenings. Registration in class. Further information at x 4954. The following courses are offered:

GERMAN
A1 – Beginners – Intensive Courses, Schritte 1, Lesson 1
Mon & Thu, 0830 – 1000, instructor: Tanja Rzeppa, Room 118
Tue & Thu, 1730 – 1900, instructor: Christine Mertens, Room 118

A1 – Advanced – Intensive Courses
Mon & Wed, 0830 – 1000, instr.: Marita Brinker, Schritte 1, Lesson 5, Room 109
Tue & Thu, 1900 – 2030, instr.: Meral Alkan-Oncu, Schritte 2, Lesson 8, Room 109

A2 – Schritte 3
Mon & Thu, 1000 – 1130, instructor: Tanja Rzeppa, Lesson 1, Room 118
Tue & Thu, 1900 – 2030, instructor: Christine Mertens, Lesson 1, Room 118

The basic price for the following course is € 115,00 for 24 mornings:
Mon & Wed, 1000 – 1215, instructor: Marita Brinker, Lesson 4, Room 109

The basic price for the following course is € 58,00 for 12 evenings:
C1
Mon, 1800 – 2030, instructor: Christine Mertens, Room 118
This course directly prepares you for the C1 exam (Mittelstufenprüfung Deutsch), an internationally acknowledged degree. You will have the opportunity to take this exam.

ENGLISH
A1 – Beginners – Intensive Course
Tue & Thu, 0830 – 1000, instructor: Janet Budzyna, Room 109

A2 – Intensive Course
Tue & Thu, 1015 – 1145, instructor: Janet Budzyna, Room 109

B1 – Intensive Course, Headway, Intermediate, Lesson 1
Tue & Thu, 1000 – 1130, instructor: Aileen Porter, Room 125

The basic price for the following courses is € 38,00 for 12 mornings/evenings:

B1 – Advanced Conversation
Mon, 1000 – 1130, instructor: Aileen Porter, Room 125
Texts will be provided by the teacher.

SPANISH
A1 – Beginners
Wed, 1730 – 1900, instructor: Nuria Martin, Room 125

ITALIAN
A1 – Beginners
Mon, 1730 – 1900, instructor: N.N., Room 109

IMPORTANT!! WARNING!!

UPDATE! Last night this made the German National News!

If you live in the Randeratth area, it is advisable not only to be aware of what’s going on in your neighborhood, but to also take precautions with your children. Do not allow them to play on the streets unsupervised.

Reader Contribution:

This is something I think our community needs to know about:

One of the big headlines in the Geilenkirchen Zeitung was concerning a convicted child molester who has moved to Randerrath-Geilenkirchen. Landrat Pusch (government head of the county, Heinsberg) has assigned a 24-hour police car to the house where Karl D. is living. Today’s paper announced that the Secretary of State for Nordrhein-Westfalen will be taking over the responsibilty of police protection.

Karl D. has been convicted twice for raping and torturing teenage girls. He is 57 years old. The German papers are not alowed to post his picture or name. He was released on Friday from prison in the Muenchen area. Officials in Muenchen do consider him dangerous, but he has served his term.

Residents in Randerrath are walking/driving their children to school and other activities.

There was a demonstration in Randerrath on Tuesday and more demonstrations are planned.

http://www.az-web.de/lokales/euregio-detail-az/828315?_link=&skip=&_g=NRW-Innenministerium-entlastet-Heinsberger-Landrat.html

Warning.

Most of us don’t listed to the local news or thoroughly read the German/Dutch newspapers, so if there’s something going on, we’re blissfully in the dark. Sometimes that’s a good thing. But, stuff happens.

Here’s something Snopes knows nothing about, but it is something that happened just last week to someone here at GK that many of us know. This isn’t a hoax. It is a reminder to all of us to be aware and careful always. Accident or not, both accidents and crimes happen everywhere.

“Yesterday, I bought some berliners from Real. This morning [my husband] was eating one before work and found a NEEDLE in the middle of it! I am so thankful that [my daughter] wasn’t eating it or that one of us swallowed tha thing! I wanted to send a warning out since I can’t see that be an accident! We will no longer be buying bakery items at the Real. Please pass this along. We want as many people warned as possible!”