Mar 27, 2013

WIESBADEN, Germany - Boxing, parking on Clay Kaserne and a host of other topics were on the agenda at a gathering of senior noncommissioned officers at the Strong Teams Cafe March 7. The monthly get-togethers, hosted by U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Command Sgt. Maj. Sa'eed Mustafa, bring Wiesbaden Army and Air Force NCO leaders together to share information and discuss issues of concern.

Mar 27, 2013

Twelve women from the Vicenza Military Community participated in a Candle Lighting ceremony March 14 hosted by the International Federation of Business and Professional Women, known as BPW, at the Oratorio del Gonfalone in Vicenza.

Mar 27, 2013

Some of Susan Wong's colleagues kid her by calling her "the godmother of Del Din." But the epithet fits. Chief of USAG Vicenza's Transformation Construction Management Office, Wong has been a leader on the engineering team responsible for the largest American Military Construction project ever undertaken in Europe since its inception, and simultaneously built a career as solid as the buildings she has left along the path that a career in engineering has made possible.

Mar 26, 2013

Helsinki and Tallinn offer culture and good times in Europe's Great White North

Mar 25, 2013

The regional director of Army garrisons in Europe directed garrison commanders to cease towel service at all fitness centers, including the ones here, beginning April 15.

Mar 25, 2013

Local Soldiers vie to represent the Bavaria Military Community in the IMCOM Soldier and NCO of the Year next month

Mar 24, 2013

Army Sgt. Souder is one of three Army Medical Soldiers attached to RAF Lakenheath, the largest U.S. Air Force base in England. He is an animal care specialist and is used to being surrounded by Air Force and Navy personnel. For this assignment, however, the nearest Army unit is 500 miles away.

Mar 22, 2013

Members of the USAG Ansbach community toured the Memorium Nuremberg Trials exhibit and Courtroom 600 March 16, 2013. The trip marked the culmination of the traveling book club's activities for this quarter, which included a viewing of the film "Judgment at Nuremberg" and William F. Buckley Jr.'s book "Nuremberg: The Reckoning." The Traveling Book Club, organized by the community libraries at Storck and Bleidorn, are planning more trips.

Mar 22, 2013

Transformation continues to change the face of the Wiesbaden military community in Germany. Scores of projects are changing traffic patterns, creating new facilities and upgrading existing facilities.

Mar 22, 2013

Army library patrons can access more than just a catalog of what books their library has on hand, but they may access many ebooks almost instantly.

Mar 21, 2013

Math and science aren't just taught out of textbooks for students at the middle school here. That's because Soldiers assigned to the 72nd Expeditionary Signal Battalion brought the subjects to life in an effort to give a boost to a DoDEA initiative aimed at invigorating science, technology, engineering and mathematics in the class room.

Mar 20, 2013

A push to ensure that family pets are not abandoned has been thrust into high gear here as waves of families begin PCSing due to a garrison closure set for the fall of 2014.

Mar 20, 2013

On March 29, education center staff at U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern will host a financial aid workshop to help answer questions and point Soldiers toward scholarships, grants and other benefits they may be eligible for, said Ramona Kausch, an Army education services officer. The workshop will be at Kleber Kaserne, building 3205, in the transition center classroom. It will be offered in two sessions, one at 9 a.m. and a second at 1 p.m., Kausch said. The focus will be the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Mar 19, 2013

Big savings to come with discontinuation of towel service at fitness centers

Mar 18, 2013

A small team of six Soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team traveled to Livorno, Italy, last month to train with the 1st Tuscania Special Operations Regiment.

Mar 18, 2013

Warrior Transition Battalion-Europe Soldiers introduced adaptive sports to the Soldiers of the 44th Expeditionary Signal Battalion and the 2nd Cavalry Regiment.

Mar 18, 2013

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany -- The sounds of cash registers and customers' chatter mixed with cutters swiping fabric and speakers pulsing salsa music gave art enthusiasts reason to celebrate. Even before the official March 15 opening of the Kaiserslautern Arts and Cultural Center, people at U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern were coming out to the Kaiserslautern Community Activity Center on Daenner Kaserne to shop, said Ed Codina, the center's director. The garrison's directorate of Families, Morale, Welfare and Recreation, opened the doors in early March, followed by a two-day grand opening event.

Mar 15, 2013

18th MP Brigade tests professional law enforcement proficiency

Mar 15, 2013

More than 120 service members and community members attended a "Life After the Military" panel discussion at the Golden Lion conference center Feb. 28 as guests of the Vicenza Military Community Female 2 Female program.

Mar 15, 2013

Few can say they travel the world, engage in new cultural ways of life and leave their mark on those they have visited, but for three Soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, it's all in a day's work.

Mar 15, 2013

Service members and families stationed in Italy have the opportunity to enjoy skiing in the Alps. Vicenza Outdoor Recreation offers free lessons to help novices find their feet in snow.

Mar 15, 2013

A month after their first face-off at Caserma Ederle, the Mestrino Raptors basketball team from nearby Padova hosted the Vicenza CYSS Yellow Jackets for a re-match at the Lissaro Gym Feb. 27.

Mar 15, 2013

The U.S. Army Installation Management Command has recognized USAG Vicenza for having the best Family and MWR Community Recreation Program in the Army for 2012.

Mar 15, 2013

Some of us grew up drinking out of the garden hose. Many of us grew up without using seat belts, car seats or helmets. However, we have come a long way in our society. The next generation is more educated on the value of injury prevention and making better choices.

Mar 15, 2013

March 8 is known in Italy as the "Festa della Donna" celebration or International Women's Day. To mark the occasion, more than 100 women from the Vicenza Military Community gathered for the annual combined Italian-American organization Ciao Conference, enjoying a variety of classes and cultural opportunities at Dai Gelosi, a restaurant in nearby Valproto.

Mar 15, 2013

About 150 families with approximately 250 students joined together during Math Night held at the Villaggio school complex March 6, where the PTSA and faculty offered an evening of fun and engaging mathematical games and activities for children of all ages.

Mar 14, 2013

Automobile accidents come in all shapes and sizes. U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach is spread over several kasernes in and around the Ansbach area, and its residents usually by necessity spend time driving between the different kasernes. Because of this normal road usage, the garrison's safety office has noticed several trouble spots that could cause various vehicular vexations, if not downright dangers.

Mar 14, 2013

WIESBADEN, Germany - V Corps Chaplain (Capt.) Andrew Spriensma could have given a big pep talk on rock climbing before hitting the walls with a group of spouses at T-Hall Indoor Rock Climbing, but it was not necessary. Instead, Spriensma presented Strong Bonds training, much of which was right on target for indoor rock climbing as well as life as a whole.

Mar 13, 2013

A final school configuration for the 2013-2014 school year here is out.

Mar 13, 2013

Schweinfurt's CYSS junior basketball team defeats Vicenza 37-34, to win the 2013 Installation Management Command-Europe East Division Championship.

Mar 13, 2013

The garrison in Schweinfurt continues to focus efforts on the community even as the post draws down in preparation for closure by the fall of 2014.

Mar 13, 2013

The Main Exchange here at Ledward Barracks increases selection for customers with its shuttle program, an initiative that transports merchandise in between Exchange facilities to fulfill specific requests.

Mar 13, 2013

WIESBADEN, Germany - The Soldier at Fort Drum, New York was ready to take off on a winter trip with his wife and children with no snow tires because he could not afford them. Thanks to Army Emergency Relief, the Soldier was able to receive assistance from the program and buy the tires he needed to keep his family safe, said retired Col. Eldon Mullis, deputy director for administration/secretary of AER. Fort Drum is famous for the amount of snow that falls there.

Mar 13, 2013

WIESBADEN, Germany - The garrison launched the first in a series of new Leadership and Workforce Development Seminars Feb. 27. Managers and supervisors participated in a daylong training session aimed at enhancing their communication, time management, team building, resiliency and organizational skills.  

Mar 13, 2013

WIESBADEN, Germany - Pvt. Nathaniel Barnd had not been inside a boxing ring for four years when someone told him he could be more than a spectator at the 2012 Hispanic History Boxing Tournament - he could box. So he did, and the rest is history.

Mar 13, 2013

The Deutsch-Amerikanischer Wanderclub Ansbach (or Ansbach German-American Wanderclub) organized an Ansbach-area Volksmarch March 9 and 10.

Mar 13, 2013

In honor of National Engineers Week, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Europe District employees presented structural engineering, alternative energy and fire-protection concepts to Department of Defense Dependents Schools-Europe students, Feb. 19-21, 2013, at Wiesbaden Middle School, Germany.

Mar 13, 2013

Caring for a pet requires a lot more than simply feeding the animal. That's one of the lessons several younger participants learned in the Wiesbaden American Red Cross' Pet First Aid class.

Mar 13, 2013

Helping Soldiers plan for their lives after the military is the aim of Army Career and Alumni Program staff at the garrison's new center. The center's resources can help Soldiers transition out from federal service to become a productive member of the workforce.

Mar 13, 2013

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- As U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Robert Carpenter walks around the twin-engine C-20 Gulfstream, he glances at his safety checklist -- a routine he's done every time he's flown. Soldiers and civilian maintenance workers stop to talk to him as he boards the jet plane and climbs forward into the cockpit. "It's bittersweet that this will be my last flight in the Army," Carpenter said "I'm going to miss the camaraderie.

Mar 12, 2013

Soldiers of the 541st Engineer Company deployed from USAG Bamberg to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom March 11.

Mar 12, 2013

Welcome Home!

Mar 11, 2013

U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach spouses tested their mettle through the Army Physical Fitness Test, taking the test initially in January, training for six weeks and then retaking the test Feb. 28.

Mar 11, 2013

There are two things you need to do before you begin to ride your motorcycle this spring: Inspect your bike and take a motorcycle refresher training course.

Mar 11, 2013

Amy Ney, science teacher and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) proponent at Vicenza High School, has been an educator for 20 years. She started out in Great Falls, Mont., and earned a BA at Montana State University in Bozeman with majors in English and science.

Mar 11, 2013

New Parent Support Program helps parents face the challenges of having a baby.

Mar 11, 2013

Staff Sgt. Latanya Foster works in two worlds; she is both a civilian employee of the Department of the Army and an Army reservist. In addition to being the property book officer and manager of the Central Issue Facility at Barton Barracks (her civilian job) she is now a unit supply specialist with the Special Operations Command Africa, or SOCAFRICA.

Mar 8, 2013

The Italian, American and NATO flags were hoisted for the first time ever at Caserma Del Din March 1 in Vicenza, Italy.

Mar 8, 2013

The Vicenza Military Community expanded its emergency response capability, Feb. 28, 2013, as 14 recently hired firefighters graduated from a month-long certification course. These Italian firefighters are assigned to Caserma Del Din, the Army's newest installation in Vicenza, Italy.

Mar 8, 2013

Parents and children compete together and take first place as a team at a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tournament, recently.

Mar 8, 2013

With budget cuts and possibly furloughs around the corner, one thing that will not be reduced in the Vicenza Military Community is a positive emphasis on customer service.

Mar 6, 2013

WIESBADEN, Germany -- Young ladies and their dolls turned out in force for a giant tea party at the Wiesbaden Library Feb. 16. The 27 girls, ages 6 and older, were on hand to inaugurate the first of a new series of "American Girl" socials to be held every third Saturday of the month at 10 a.m. at the library.

Mar 6, 2013

Inaugural Rugged Terrain Obstacle Run set for April 13 in Grafenwoehr

Mar 5, 2013

Getting involved in healthy group activities helps build a strong community.

Mar 5, 2013

The Darby Military Community honored the African-American Heritage Month celebrations Feb. 21 with a food-tasting event at the Darby Community Club and a Gospel music concert by the Livorno Jubilation Gospel Choir. During his opening remarks at the African-American Heritage celebration, DMC Chaplain (Capt.) Regino Hernandez, read a famous line written by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: "We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now."

Mar 5, 2013

The Vicenza military community member's reenacted the March on Washington Feb. 21 as part of the community Black History Month celebration. When the marchers arrived at the Golden Lion Conference Center, Col. Jonathon Johnson, U.S. Army Africa Command Inspector General, shared his experience in the remarks below.

Mar 5, 2013

The Vicenza High School Cougars basketball squad made the trek to Wiesbaden, Germany, last weekend and fought their way to a third place finish in the DoDDS-Europe Basketball Finals.

Mar 5, 2013

Bonamego is an Italian family name that means "good friend." Rita Bonamego has lived up to her namesake by truly being a good friend to the Vicenza Military Community over the years. With more than three decades of experience between the American Red Cross and the U.S. government, Bonamego retires this month from Army Community Service, where she has served as the director of Mobilization Deployment and Master Resiliency programs since 2004.

Mar 5, 2013

The first building of the new Del Din installation is now 100 percent complete, and was officially delivered to the Vicenza, Italy, garrison, Feb. 22, 2013.

Mar 5, 2013

The Vicenza Military Community is serious about caring for the environment: U.S. Army Garrison Vicenza was selected as the Fiscal Year 2012 Army Environmental Awards Winner in the Environmental Quality--Overseas category. Environmental programs here have been named the best overseas in the U.S. Army and are now in competition for Department of Defense honors.

Mar 4, 2013

U.S. Army Garrison Ansbach held a length-of-service ceremony at the Von Steuben Community Center at Bismarck Kaserne Feb. 25. The most enduring of the honorees, Fred Haverly, has been a part of the Army for more than 60 years now.

Mar 1, 2013

WIESBADEN, Germany -- This summer the Army & Air Force Exchange Service will launch Exchange CONNECT, a new prepaid high-speed Internet service for military customers in Germany. The new, on-base service is being launched in partnership with TKS and in collaboration with IMCOM Europe starting in June.

Feb 28, 2013

Teams from across Europe go head-to-head in Garmisch

Feb 28, 2013

WIESBADEN, Germany - Back in the 1970s as this writer worked to earn a degree in journalism, a common prediction was the swiftly approaching demise of newspapers. Industry experts warned that most periodicals would disappear within the next decade as people turned to newer forms of media. While it has taken a little longer than predicted for printed media to vanish completely from the popular culture, there's no denying that with fewer natural resources and much faster ways of communicating available to more and more people around the globe, printed media's days are numbered.

Feb 27, 2013

German law provides strict regulations for importing medicine into Germany from other countries. Prohibited medicine products identified by U.S and German customs officials can either be destroyed or returned to sender,Prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins/minerals, and herbal & dietary supplements are not allowed to be mailed through an Army Post Office to Americans living in Germany. DOD pharmacies offer assistance for medicine mailing restrictions in Germany

Feb 27, 2013

Command Sgt. Maj. Boom of the 172nd Infantry Brigade explores the past with Hall of Fame legend Rollie Fingers

Feb 27, 2013

WIESBADEN, Germany - The call to action for most victim advocates often comes too late, regrettably after one has suffered a severe injury or a life has been taken. For that reason, the local advocates are making extra efforts to ensure the community knows that the Family Advocacy Program is a resource to turn to for help to prevent situations of abuse or to deliver one out of violent and abusive circumstances.

Feb 27, 2013

WIESBADEN, Germany - A year ago the Wiesbaden Chamber of Commerce (Industrie und Handelskammer) hosted members of the U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden as they addressed a room bursting at the seams full of business leaders and interested citizens curious about the influx of U.S. military community members to the Hessen capital. The information outreach was aimed at providing a better understanding of the U.S. Army Europe transformation effort in Wiesbaden and a platform for better connecting Germans and Americans and local business support.

Feb 27, 2013

WIESBADEN, Germany - During their combined U.S. Army service of 73 years, Lt. Col. Ivory Freeman, 1st Sgt. Rodney Hargus and Master Sgt. Matthew Coulter have seen and experienced it all. They've been through deployments and separations, leading and following, push-ups and sit-ups and a whole host of acronyms that include AARs, VTCs, MREs, and of course, PT, said Col. Tony Sarver, 5th Signal Command chief of staff, during the trio's retirement ceremony Feb. 21 at the Wiesbaden Entertainment Center.

Feb 27, 2013

WIESBADEN, Germany - Engineers encounter unique challenges every time they take on a project. Finding solutions to those challenges may be the most important lesson learned by the aspiring engineers on Wiesbaden High School's RoboWarriors team, according to engineering and technology instructor (and RoboWarriors sponsor) Frank Pendzich.

Feb 27, 2013

WIESBADEN, Germany - Wiesbaden Wahoo Tyler Peng, 8, won gold medals in all eight races available in his age group at the 2013 European Forces Swim League championships this year. Not only that, but he broke records in the 8-and-under boys' 200-and-100-meter freestyle races. He swam the 200-meter race in 3:05.60 and the 100-meter race in 1:26.23.

Feb 26, 2013

VES fourth- and fifth-graders lunch in grace and style

Feb 26, 2013

Significant funds to help maintain vital Army programs like family services may be hiding out in your office.

Feb 26, 2013

Hohenfels celebrates with an evening of song, dance and great food.

Feb 26, 2013

WIESBADEN, Germany - Officials broke ground for the new Exchange shopping center in Hainerberg Housing Feb. 22. "Today we take a further important step in providing support for our growing community of service members, civilians, families and retirees with arguably the most eagerly anticipated project in the entire Wiesbaden transformation process -- the new Exchange," said Col. David Carstens, U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden commander, during the groundbreaking ceremony.

Feb 22, 2013

As Del Din prepares to open in the second half of this year, outfitting of the facilities is in full swing and goes well beyond the singular structures. Providing Soldiers an attractive, well-organized landscape design plays an important role in the sustainability strategies of an installation that aims at being a model for the stewardship of natural resources.

Feb 22, 2013

The Italian 2 class at Vicenza Middle School had a chance to practice their Italian while combining a photo scavenger hunt with Carnevale in Venice Feb. 7.

Feb 22, 2013

Thirty-seven Vicenza High School students rang in the New Year with fireworks in the Austrian Alps while attending a weeklong Military Communities Youth Ministries-sponsored camp, Winter Blitz 2012-2013, at the Olympia Hotel in Innsbruck, Austria. About 350 Air Force, Navy and Army teenagers attended along with Club Beyond staff and volunteers. Club Beyond Vicenza was represented by its largest number of participants ever, a turn out due at least in part to 30 students receiving scholarship support through MCYM donors.

Feb 22, 2013

The microphones are switched off, the soundboard no longer glows with life and the red "On Air" light has ceased flashing -- telltale signs of the end of an era on Camp Darby. After nearly 30 years of live local broadcasting to the military community in northern Italy, American Forces Network Livorno signed off for the final time Feb. 14.

Feb 22, 2013

Cupid was doing his best to warm things up for the St. Valentine's Day Warrior Challenge, but Jack Frost put a definite chill in the air Feb. 14 at the Sports and Fitness track on Caserma Ederle. Sixteen 2-member teams took part in this sixth Warrior Challenge event put on by the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation for Soldiers and Families. Competitors in five categories charged through 9 Valentine's-themed obstacles and challenges.

Feb 22, 2013

Your breathing can be a powerful ally in coping with temporary physical and emotional states during stress. The Army's new Tactical Breather mobile application, available through T2 Health, the National Center for Telehealth and Technology, is a great tool for initiating the body's relaxation response

Feb 22, 2013

Science, math and history, English and Italian, may seem like vastly different school subjects, but for 16 Vicenza High School students and 22 students from Vicenza's Liceo Scientifico "G.B. Quadri," all of these subjects and skills came into play during a joint school trip to the "Colle Pennar" planetarium-observatory and war memorial in Asiago Feb. 5.

Feb 22, 2013

The Vicenza Cougars capped a stellar season by taking the Division II title in DoDDS-European Wrestling Championship play in Wiesbaden, Germany, Feb. 15-16. The Cougars amassed a total of 108 points for their first-place finish, followed by SHAPE in second place with 89 points and Aviano in third with 62.5 points

Feb 22, 2013

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany -- When Staff Sgt. Joe Kibe recently vacationed with his family in Spain, his mind rested easy knowing his finances were in order. That wasn't the case a year or so ago, before Army resources helped him tackle debts.

Feb 20, 2013

This year's formal affair is the most popular dance yet

Feb 20, 2013

Spc. Monique Moore wasn't supposed to be a broadcast journalist, but that hasn't stopped her from excelling

Feb 19, 2013

Hohenfels Middle/High School junior Jackson Pierce earns high honors with his answer to the question "Is our Constitution still relevant."

Feb 15, 2013

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany -- Soldiers at U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern commemorated the 60th Anniversary of the National Prayer Breakfast this year at Vogelweh's Armstrong Club. U.S. units in the Kaiserslautern Military Community regularly hold such events in early February. Guest speaker for this year's Army event was Chaplain (Col.) Christopher Wisdom, chaplain for Installation Management Command, Europe.

Feb 15, 2013

Culinary students from throughout Europe came to Baumholder American High School to compete in the second European Culinary Arts Faire Feb. 13 and 14. Nine teams from eight Department of Defense Dependent Schools in Europe competed in team and individual categories during the intense two-day event.

Feb 15, 2013

Commanders and other leaders got a close look at what the Baumholder Dental Clinic provides to the community during a command focused open house Feb. 1. The open house was a first for the Baumholder Dental Clinic and the idea originated from the clinic staff, who suggested it would be a good idea to reach out to the community.

Feb 14, 2013

A cornucopia of artistic talent was on display at Vicenza Elementary and Middle Schools Friday on a day that saw classical music performances by renowned Italian pianist Davide Franceschetti and the recognition of student artists for their submissions to the National PTA-sponsored Reflections: The Magic of a Moment competition.

Feb 14, 2013

WIESBADEN, Germany - It was an evening that offered something for everyone -- knockdowns, slugfests, giveaways and sheer bravado in the ring.   "We're here as part of our Black History Month Celebration -- we've got a great evening planned for you," said U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Command Sgt. Maj. Sa'eed Mustafa.

Feb 14, 2013

WIESBADEN, Germany - Winning is nothing new for U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Youth of the Year Natalia Lynch. The recipient of a slew of honors, including the Young Georgia Author Award in 2006, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America Talent Search (for her involvement with the Wiesbaden band Volition) in 2012 and now Runner-Up in the Installation Management Command-Europe BGCA Military Youth of the Year competition, takes it all in stride.

Feb 14, 2013

Four Sky Soldiers of the Vicenza, Italy, based 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team graduated from a three-week land navigation course taught by the 1st Tuscania Parachute Regiment, a division of the Italian Carabinieri Police Force. The Tuscania are a special operations-capable unit that can deploy anywhere in the world, and the only airborne group within the Carabinieri.

Feb 13, 2013

Schools channel curriculum while getting into the Carnival spirit

Feb 12, 2013

Sgt. Caquan "Cue" Palmer of the 9th Engineer Battalion, middle, documents Hurricane Sandy damage in a New York structure. He served as a team leader in an emergency response organization to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy--this, during a time of personal anguish and crisis.

Feb 12, 2013

WIESBADEN, Germany - Just as individuals play a role in saving energy, organizations also have ways of better using available resources. That's one of the reasons why the Army's Installation Management Command regularly audits installations to see how energy use is monitored, to eliminate inefficiencies and to seek ways to reduce costs.

Feb 12, 2013

WIESBADEN, Germany - There must be something in the water in Wiesbaden that breeds excellence. After a host of accomplishments in the past two years -- Housing Manager of the Year, Installation Management Command Stalwart Runner-Up, Army Community of Excellence Gold and Sustainment Awards and IMCOM-E Youth of the Year Runner Up among other honors, the U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden can now also celebrate having the best Army Lodging Supervisor of the Year.

Feb 12, 2013

WIESBADEN, Germany - When Sgt. 1st Class Adam Martinez was growing up, his father taught him how to box so he could protect himself and his sister from bullies. These days, Martinez is the U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Combat Sports head coach, and he not only teaches children about boxing, but also how to stop bullying without resorting to violence.

Feb 12, 2013

WIESBADEN, Germany - It all started when Owen Machuta's friends Dante and Logan wanted to join the Music Club at School Age Services at Hainerberg Housing. Machuta, 10, would not have joined the club otherwise, and as a result he created an electronic song that won first place in the Boys and Girls Clubs of America Digital Arts Festival. To win, he competed against children at military installations overseas, and then with children throughout the United States.