the friendly city gazette - aramco expats...2 abqaiq the friendly city gazette | november 2019 taken...

Abqaiq

the friendly city gazette

November 2019 | volume 19, issue 10

On Thursday, October 17, 2019, the Southern Area/Central Region Community Services Department (SA/CR CSD) hosted a “Together Stronger” event at the Qurayyah GC11+ Beach in recognition of all Saudi Aramco and contractor employees’ continuous hard work and dedication in 2019.

SA/CR CSD hosts a

“together stronger”

gathering. by ARSU photo by Ibrahim F Khayyat

2 Abqaiq the friendly city gazette | November 2019

taken at the Qurrayah beach using Samsung Note 10+

sent by Alexandra G. Pap-Anghel

photo of the month Be our photographer!

Have you clicked a nice shot in KSA that you would

like to share? Send us your photos and you could be

the next contributor for the photo of the month.

With the good weather, several Abqaiq self-directed groups have gotten busy! Sports clubs like tennis club, bowling group, and

golf club held fun tournaments, while the art group organized creative classes and horse stables held ladies coffee and ride mornings.

There has been a renewed focus on healthy lifestyle with health awareness campaigns and packed fitness classes. The women’s

group held several fantastic events for all ages and the Spotlight group cheered up an evening with a fun karaoke night.

Events like the Southern Area/Central Region Community Department’s “together stronger” gathering to show appreciation to

their staff and Abqaiq School’s gratitude project have once again demonstrated that Abqaiq is a united and strongly bonded

community.

Hope you enjoy reading a bonded gazette!

Shama Egbe

The next issue is released on

December 1.

submission deadline: November 15

The FCG is also available on the Saudi

Aramco intranet here.

© Saudi Arabian Oil Company, 2019

All rights reserved.

Abqaiq Community Information Center (CIC)

Al-Remal Mall, Building 25-400

Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to noon.

Telephone: 572-0821, 572-0825

Mail: Box 190, Abqaiq 31311, Saudi Arabia.

the friendly city gazette

address:

is a free monthly publication published

by the Southern Area/Central Region

Community Services Department for

Saudi Aramco employees and

dependents in Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia.

editor: Shama Egbe

email: [email protected]

photo editing: Samrina Ali

contact us:

https://sharek.aramco.com.sa/orgs/30002961/Recreation/Pages/Abqaiq/City-Gazette-Archive.aspx

Abqaiq the friendly city gazette | November 2019 3

in this issue volume 19, issue 10

cover: SA/CR CSD

SA/CR CSD: together stronger….4-5

ARSU: playground fun…………….6

ARRSD: Luxury Bakery opening…..7

JHAH: probiotics……………….….8

JHAH: trans fat ............................. 9

JHAH: infusion, technology .........10

JHAH: faculty on-site visits………11

SA/CR CSD: health awareness .....12

ARRSD: special food stations .......13

ARSU: story time…………………13

wellness schedule .......................14

ARSU: meet the fitness trainer….14

ARSU: protein intake…………….15

AGS: become a girl scout……….15

kennel club ............................ ….16

AWG: shuf shop advert...............16

ask Abqaiq ..................................17

prayer schedule ...........................17

AJTC: begins second half………..18

ARSU: Nemo dance school………19

ATC: mini tournament…...……...20

ANGC: eventful October..……….21

ACBA: quad area tournament22-23

ANGC: golf lessons advert……...23

AWG: keeps everyone busy….24-25

ARSU: make time for swimming..26

Spotlight: fun karaoke evening....27

School: beach day, gratitude…28-29

AAHA: back to the future…….30-31

AAHA: barn festival advert……….31

AACHG: fun October……….……32

AACHG: Rodriguez brings first….32

comings and goings……………...33

Abqaiq babies ............................33

Abqaiq: a look back ....................34

knowledge boost ........................34 23 ANGC

28 school

27 Spotlight

12 ARRSD

20 ATC

24 AWG


On Thursday, October 17, 2019,

the Southern Area/Central Region

Community Services Department

(SA/CR CSD) hosted a “Together

Stronger” event at the Qurayyah

GC11+ Beach.

This event was held in recognition

of all Saudi Aramco and contractor

employees’ continuous hard work and

dedication shown throughout 2019,

especially with the recent support

provided toward the September 14

incidents.

collaborative effort from Abqaiq

and ‘Udhailiyah

The Abqaiq Recreation Services

Unit (ARSU) collaborated with the

Abqaiq Residential and Recreation

Services Division (ARRSD) and

‘Udhailiyah Recreation Services Unit to

put up an exciting event for everyone.

kabsa cooking competition,

obstacle course, kites

More than 2,000 employees and

family members enjoyed the variety of

entertainment provided to attendees

of all ages throughout the evening.

The event contained many exciting

features, such as fun stage activities, a

“Kabsa” cooking competition, an

obstacle court, splash ‘n’ spray area,

and a food court. The children were

also entertained with kites that were

provided as gifts and the sand castle

building area.

by ARSU photos by Ibrahim F Khayyat

SA/CR CSD hosts a “together stronger” gathering Southern Area/Central Region Community Services Department


“This was truly

an event to bring

everyone

together to show

the strength and

resilience we

have as a

community.” - SA/CR CSD manager Mohammad Al-Hajri (A)

appreciation

“This was truly an event to bring

everyone together to show the

strength and resilience we have as a

community, as well as appreciate

those who went above and beyond

their duties to support the

community,” said SA/CR CSD

manager Mohammad Al-Hajri (A), as

he thanked all the employees and

their families profusely for their

dedication and support with the

restoration of Abqaiq Plant.”


As the weather is getting pleasant

with that lovely fall breeze, it is the

perfect time to enjoy time outdoors in

our beautiful parks in Abqaiq.

To facilitate this, the Abqaiq

Recreation Services Unit (ARSU)

organized weekly playground activities

every Wednesday starting from

October 10. These activities will

continue until November 14, 2019.

As part of the playground fun,

children are treated to fun games,

bouncy castles, face painting, and

refreshments like cotton candy,

popcorn, ice cream, and water and

juices.

by Shahid Shah photos by Shahid Shah

weekly playground fun at Abqaiq parks

Abqaiq Recreation Services Unit


The much awaited Luxury Bakery

opened in the Abqaiq Community on

Sunday, October 27, 2019.

lots of delicacies

The bakery offers lots of delicacies,

such as hot sandwiches, pastries,

desserts, and a variety of healthy juices

and salads.

The opening was a good start to

this new eatery as many community

members flocked there to grab their

first bite at the new place. As an

opening treat, the place offered free

food to everyone on Sunday.

by Shama Egbe photos by Ibrahim F Khayyat

Luxury Bakery opens in Abqaiq

Abqaiq Residential and Recreation Services Division

Sundays to Saturdays

7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Building 14-412 (The Old Carlton Lounge)

opening times


by Ghada Al Habib, MS, R. NutR, Director, JHAH Clinical Nutrition Services Dr Basem Futa, Advisor, JHAH Clinical Nutrition Services

importance of probiotics for health

Our bodies contain around 100

trillion bacteria. Most of them are

located in our intestines. Some are

beneficial to health; others are

harmful. It is, therefore, important to

increase the number of good bacteria

and decrease the bad. JHAH Clinical

Nutrition Services offers the following

but health information and tips.

What are Probiotics?

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria

that live in our digestive tract. They

help our body by:

Absorbing nutrients

Helping our immune system fight

infection

Assisting our body in producing

nutrients such as vitamin B12,

vitamin K, folic acid, and short-

chain fatty acids

Creating enzymes that destroy bad

bacteria and reduce damaging

fungi in the digestive system

Tips to improve the beneficial

bacteria in your digestive

system

Eat a well-balanced, healthy diet

with lots of fruits, vegetables, and

dried legumes (lentils, beans, and

chick peas). This provides the

nutrients good bacteria need and

hinders the growth of harmful

bacteria.

Include fermented food in your

meal plan. Fermentation involves

good bacteria or yeast converting

sugars into organic acid that fights

inflammation and irritability of the

digestive system. Plain, natural

yogurt is best.

Consume whole grain foods for

fiber and non-digestible

carbohydrates that promote good

bacteria and reduce inflammation.

Consume more plant-based foods

and limit animal-based food as

plant-based food supports the

growth of good bacteria and

reduced the risk of inflammation

and oxidation. Plant-based food

rich in polyphenols are good as

well. These include almonds,

broccoli, blueberries, onions, green

tea, dark chocolate, and coco

powder.

Consume food rich in prebiotics.

These include oats, bananas,

asparagus, lentils, beans, chick

peas) onion, garlic, and nuts.

Avoid the following:

Foods containing refined

carbohydrates, including sweets,

sugary drinks, noodles, cornflakes,

and white bread.

Alcohol as it reduces the number

and functionalities of the beneficial

bacteria in the gut in addition to

causing multiple health problems

to many organs in the body

including the digestive system.

Excessive use of antibiotics as they

cause a short-term reduction in

beneficial bacteria and long-term

complications such as microbial

resistance to antibiotics.

Smoking as it increases the risk for

intestinal inflammation.

Not getting enough sleep.

Inadequate sleep disturbs your

internal body clock and may

promote night eating, which are

both harmful to good bacteria.

Stress. Excessive stress reduces

blood flow and a reduction in the

number and types of good

bacteria in your gut. Regular

exercise, deep breathing, and

meditation help reduce stress.

Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare


Trans fat acids are formed when

liquid oil is turned into solid fat. This

is done by putting liquid fats under

high temperature and pressure and

adding hydrogen molecules. Thus,

trans fats are also referred to as

hydrogenated fat.

This chemical process is done to

extend the shelf-life of the liquid oil

and to enhance the taste, flavor, and

texture of the food these trans fats

are used in. Cost is also a factor as

trans fats are cheaper than liquid

plant oils.

The danger is that trans fats have

been found to harm the heart and

brain and increase your risk for some

types of cancer. Thus, trans fats have

been banned in many countries and

will be banned in the Kingdom in

2020.

tips to reduce or eliminate your

consumption of trans fats

The Clinical Nutrition and Food

Services at Johns Hopkins Aramco

Healthcare provides the following

tips:

When shopping, read food labels

and look for trans-fat. If trans fat

(or hydrogenated fat) is an

ingredient, look for a trans fat-free

alternative. Most commonly trans

fats are found in cookies, donuts,

sausages, commercial pizza, chips,

muffins, ghee, samboosas,

hamburger buns, margarine,

chicken nuggets, coffee whitener,

and fried fast food.

Replace hydrogenated fats with

healthy oils when cooking. Canola,

corn, sunflower, and olive oils

when consumed in moderation are

all considered to be healthy oils

Purchase dough that is prepared

with whole grains and healthy oils

when you are preparing, such

foods as samboosa, pizza, and

cake.

Consume heart-friendly foods to

support health. These include fresh

or dried fruits; vegetables; nonfat

or low-fat dairy products; whole

grains and cereals; lean red meat;

seafood; skinless poultry; healthy

oils; unsalted nuts; and legumes,

such as beans, hummus, and

lentils. These foods contain

antioxidants that support the heart

and brain, enhance immunity, and

reduce the risk for some types of

cancer.

by JHAH Clinical Nutrition & Food Services

facts on trans fat and tips to reduce consumption


four reasons to get the flu shot

October 24, 2019 - January 31, 2020

Sunday - Thursday

8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

No appointment necessary

Immunization Room P2-01, Abqaiq Health Center


by JHAH Marketing and Communication

infusion, technology, and patient safety at JHAH


Infusion pumps are an important

means of providing patients with

needed fluids, nutrients, and

medicines. These pumps were

developed more than 30 years ago,

and the technology behind them has

steadily become more reliable and

sophisticated. With today’s

technology and communication

systems, these pumps have become

much “smarter,” which enhances

patient safety and improves clinical

efficiency and healthcare quality.

new Plum 360 infusion system

“We are replacing our current

infusion pumps with the Plum 360

system, which has received the

highest rating in IV pump

performance for the last two years,”

said Hatem Alabdali, JHAH Clinical

Engineer and Plum 360 project

manager.

Training of all nurses and

clinicians was conducted in

preparation for a JHAH-wide rollout

of the Plum infusion system that

began on August 29 in the Dhahran

Health Center 1B Surgical Ward.

The Plum 360 project is a

collaborative effort between Nursing,

Clinical Engineering, Pharmacy, and

Information Technology. Rollout of

the pumps is scheduled to be

completed across all of JHAH,

including the inpatient and

outpatient clinics in Dhahran, the

districts and all remote area clinics

across the Kingdom by the end of

the year.

Uninterrupted flow, air

management, automatic access

to centralized drug library

In caring for patients, doctors

prescribe specific instructions on the

fluids and medicines each patient

should receive. The Plum 360 has

numerous features that ensure those

fluids are delivered as the doctor

ordered. The pump knows the

primary and secondary lines, thus

ensuring a patient receives an

uninterrupted flow. It also has an air

management system that reduces the

number of administration alarms that

disrupt the rest of the patient.

Via a secure wireless connection

with the JHAH network, each pump

automatically accesses an extensive,

centralized JHAH Drug Library. The

library includes 2,500 medications

and products and is structured so

that each department has its own

Clinical Care Area. The library is

designed to assist users and protect

patients by providing nurses with

upper and lower dosing limits, thus

ensuring that only medications and

products intended for use in that

area are available.

These limits are based on JHAH’s

specific IV administration policies and

cannot be overridden. Multiple limits

have been defined for each

medication, allowing further

refinement of the infusion

parameters and improved safety. For

example, the same medication might

be given across JHAH but the limits

for a neonatal patient would be very

different than those for an adult

patient.

delighted with the new features

“Change is always challenging,

but all of the nursing staff adapted

quickly and without issue,” says

Mandy Quinn, 1B Nursing Supervisor.

“Staff are delighted with the new

features that allow us to provide

safe, more effective care to our

patients.”

“These pumps enhance patient

safety, improve medication

dispensing, and provide a source of

valuable information for our ongoing

quality improvement (QI) activities.”


Dr. Alison R. Moliterno Associate Professor of Medicine,

Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Anemia is a condition in which a

person lacks enough healthy red blood

cells to carry adequate oxygen to the

body’s tissues. It comes in many forms,

from iron deficiency to chronic disease.

Dr. Alison Moliterno, a JHM

hematologist, recently gave a

comprehensive and consumer-friendly

lecture titled “Anemia: Causes and

Consequences of Low Iron” to about 90

members of the Johns Hopkins Aramco

Healthcare (JHAH) community.

Dr. Moliterno was at JHAH as part of

the Distinguished Faculty Visitor

program, initiated in 2015 to foster

relationships between physicians at Johns

Hopkins Medicine (JHM) and JHAH. She

was on-site at JHAH August 24-27, 2019

and met with colleagues in JHAH’s

Oncology Institute and its Blood

Disorders Center. They discussed the best

diagnostic/treatment options for patients

with myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative

disorders, a group of diseases in which

the body makes too many white or red

blood cells. This overproduction of blood

cells in the bone marrow can create

problems for blood flow and lead to

heart attacks, strokes, and blood clots.

by JHAH Marketing and Communication

Johns Hopkins distinguished faculty on-site visits Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare

Dr. Matthews Chacko Assistant Professor of Medicine, Johns

Hopkins School of Medicine

Dr. Matthews Chacko, a JHM

interventional cardiologist, recently

offered his support and expertise during

the final push to launch a new

transcatheter aortic valve replacement

(TAVR) practice at JHAH. TAVR is a much

less invasive alternative to open-heart

surgery in which cardiologists insert a new

valve by threading a catheter through

vessels in the leg into the aorta.

JHAH and JHM have been working

together extensively to prepare to offer

TAVR and other complex cardiac

treatments. Dr.Mohammed Mudhki,

JHAH’s lead cardiac catheterization

technologist, completed TAVR training in

Baltimore last year, and the partners have

had regular case conferences regarding

the procedure.

During this visit, from August 25-27,

Dr. Chacko also worked with Dr. Faisal

Turkey Al Qoofi, an interventional

cardiologist, and JHAH’s cardiology team

to review patient cases and proctor his

colleagues in direct patient care.

Dr. Michael Schweitzer

Assistant Professor of Child Neurology

& Nursing, Johns Hopkins School of

Medicine

Dr. Christopher Oakley, Neurologist

and director of Johns Hopkins Pediatric

Headache Clinic, visited JHAH

September 7-10, 2019.

During his visit, he recently presented

a Grand Rounds on pediatric headaches to

his clinical colleagues at JHAH. He

cautioned that headaches are the most

frequent reason for referrals to pediatric

neurologists and yet patients and

providers continue to under-recognize

their seriousness.

Dr. Oakley, a longstanding migraine

sufferer himself, frequently speaks to the

general public and to healthcare providers

to bring attention to migraines and other

headaches, especially in the pediatric

population.

Dr. Oakley also met with JHAH’s

pediatric and adult neurologists, nurses,

and hospitalists. He also saw patients in

the Neurology Clinic and participated in a

roundtable discussion at JHAH’s Botox

Clinic, where Botox is used for adults with

a variety of neurologic disorders.


by Sharooq Y Muhaini photos by Abqaiq Concession Group

health awareness campaign attracts large numbers

Southern Area/Central Region Community Services Department, Abqaiq IT, and Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare

The Abqaiq Concessions Group

from the Southern Area/Central

Region Community Services

Department in collaboration with

Abqaiq IT and the Johns Hopkins

Aramco Healthcare, successfully

conducted the Health Awareness

Campaign at Al-Remal Mall in

Abqaiq on October 30 and 31, 2019,

aim of the campaign

The aim of the campaign was to

inform the employees and the

community members about healthy

shopping, healthy cooking,

managing food waste, and learn

about devices for food recycling.

positive feedback

Around 230 customers

participated in the campaign and

there were gifts handed out to

everyone.

There was a lot of positive

feedback from the customers,

particularly regarding the detailed

body mass index measurements.


Thursday, November 7 Indian appetizer

Tuesday, November 12 Sweet station

Thursday, November 14 Sushi

Sunday, November 17 Mexican Taco

Tuesday, November 19 Egyptian Hawawshi

Thursday, November 21 Caesar Salad

Sunday, November 24 Whole Lamb with Arabic Rice

Tuesday, November 26 Koshari

Thursday, November 28 Sayadyah

November

Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Oasis Dining Hall

Abqaiq Residential and Recreation Services Division

For more information and queries, please get in touch with Amira Al-Harajin, Concession Rep. at

[email protected] or 572-6989.

story time Abqaiq Recreation Services Unit

Thursdays

4:15-5:25 p.m.

Oasis Library - Children’s section

Volunteers are welcome to conduct the

story telling.

For more information, please contact the library at 572-2228/572-8106 or [email protected].

fiction Fly away Kristin Hannah

Origin Dan Brown

The Outsider Stephen King

The President is missing Bill Clinton

Island of Glass Nora Roberts

non-fiction

Ego is the Enemy Ryan Holiday Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup

John Carreyrou

Better than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives

Gretchen Rubin

I'll be gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer

Michelle McNamara

Indianapolis: The True Story of the Worst Sea Disaster in U.S. Naval History and the Fifty-year Fight to Exonerate an Innocent Man

Lynn Vincent

Get hold of the best sellers!

mailto:[email protected]


For more information, please contact Recreation at 574-4088. All classes are for GC 11+ employees and their dependents only.

wellness schedule

Meet our fitness trainer Athar MD

Irshad, who is part of the Fitness

Team, Abqaiq Recreation Services

Unit (ARSU).

Athar is a certified fitness

instructor, National Skills Level 4 (Skill

India) and currently studying to

become a certified personal trainer

under American Council on Exercise

(ACE). He has been part of the

fitness industry for more than

7 years.

Athar is assigned to the Male

Gym Facilities in Abqaiq. Apart from

fitness, he also enjoys reading and

playing video games.

meet the fitness team Abqaiq Recreation Services Unit

by Alexandru L. Pap-Anghel photo by ARSU

Athar’s favorite fitness

quote:

“Workout! Eat well! Be

patient! Your body will

reward you.”

sun mon tue wed thu 6-6:30 a.m. . 8:30-9:30 a.m. 6-6:30 a.m.

Healthy Walk

(Al-Sa’adah soccer field)

Aqua aerobics

(Oasis pool)

Healthy Walk

(Al-Sa’adah soccer field)

Ritesh/Akram Rizza/Ladies Rizza/ladies Jan/Akram

8:30-9:30 a.m. 8:30-9:30 a.m. 8:30-9:30 a.m. 8:30-9:30 a.m. 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Circuit Training

(Aerobics Center)

Resistance

(Aerobics Center)

Spinning

(Aerobics Center)

Abs Blast

(Aerobics Center)

Power Pump

(Aerobics Center)

Ayah/ladies Rizza/ladies Janice/ladies Ayah/ladies Rizza/ladies

11:45-12:20 11:45-12:20 11:45-12:20

Fat Burn

(Aerobics Center)

Fat Burn

(Aerobics Center)

Fat Burn

(Aerobics Center)

Alex/mixed Alex/mixed Alex/mixed

5:30-6:30 p.m. 5:30-6:15 p.m. 5:30-6:30 p.m. 5:30-6:15 p.m. 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Full-body conditioning

(Aerobics Center)

Circuit Training

(Aerobics Center)

Steps

(Aerobics Center)

Circuit Training

(Aerobics Center)

Aero Kick (Aerobics

Center)

Janice/mixed Alex/mixed Vicky/mixed Alex/mixed Vicky/mixed

6:15-6:45 p.m. 6:15-6:45 p.m.

Foam Rolling

(Aerobics Center)

Foam Rolling

(Aerobics Center)

Alex/mixed Rizza/mixed Alex/mixed


increase your protein intake!


by Alexandru Ludovic Pap-Anghel

How much protein per day to

lose your weight?

It is recommended a daily intake

of 1.6 and 2.2 grams of protein per

kilogram to lose weight. Athletes

should consume 2.2-3.4 grams of

protein per kilogram if aiming for

weight loss.

While many different diets can be

successful for weight loss, the

protein content of a diet is one of

the important factors to consider

when planning a diet. Protein has

been shown to promote satiety, help

maintain lean body mass, increase

the thermic effect of food slightly,

and can reduce how efficient the

body is at storing extra calories as

body fat. (Source: National Academy

of Sports Medicine, Nutrition, 2019).

exercise vs. arthritis

Two-thirds of those with arthritis

are younger than 65. Research

conducted at Ohio State University

shows that exercise can trigger

physiological changes that decrease

inflammation and lessen the impact

of the condition. Researchers say

exercise stimulates anti-inflammatory

effects over a 24-hour period, which

highlights the need for regular,

frequent workouts. (Source:

European League against

Rheumatism Annual Congress,

2014).

>12,000

Steps per day required to erase

the full physiological effects of

drinking two servings (roughly two

12-ounce cans) of fructose-

sweetened soda. This is about what

the average American drinks each

day, which can result in increased

low-density lipoproteins and

inflammation. (Source: Medicine &

Science in Sports & Exercise

(November 2014)/European Journal

of Clinical Nutrition (September

2014)).

November 12, 6-7 p.m.

Al-Remal Mall

November 13, 3:30-5 p.m.

Girl Scouts hut

Membership free: SAR300

Optional: Additional SAR200

to be affiliated with the Girl

Scouts USA with worldwide

membership

Abqaiq Girl Scouts

Contact Abqaiq Girl Scouts at

[email protected].

Friends today. Change-makers

tomorrow.

Lots of new exciting stuff!



11 and 25 3-5 p.m.

Arabian Kennel Club Abqaiq veterinary visits by appointment only

To schedule an appointment, please phone

876-3517. Email: [email protected].

Note: Visits are conditional and based on previously booked

appointments, barring an emergency.

Ralph Lauren Adi is a 10-month-old German Shepherd dog. He is from

Poland and I have owned him since April 2019. He is learning his obedience

commands and loves to fetch ball and find sticks on the golf course! He is

amazingly smart and is a part of the AKC Herding Group.

King Arthur is a 11-year-old Pembroke Welsh Corgi. We bred him and

have had him since a baby. Arthur too loves to fetch ball and looks for stray

golf balls and sticks on our walks. He too is part of the AKC Herding Group.

He is a gentle and loving breed and has a natural smile when at rest.

- Lorraine MacQueen

Send your pet’s photo to the Friendly City Gazette!

“Ralph Lauren Adi” and “King Arthur”

Mondays

November

4 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

18 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Shuf Shop

is open!

Abqaiq Women’s Group

For more information, email

[email protected].

Mondays

2-5 p.m.

Donations are accepted

throughout that week.

In order to drop off donations,

please contact

Zineb Zimran at 050 945 8250 /

[email protected] or

Enesh Rejepova at 055 198

8874 / [email protected].


by Delight Deiparine Ask Abqaiq

What is a new hobby you would like to learn?

Amy Diefendorf (USA)

Counselor (elementary), Abqaiq School

In Abqaiq: 3.5 years

“I would like to learn how to make

cheese so that I can have a large

variety of cheese to choose from.”

“Chess game because not only will

it sharpen my mind with every

game, but I also like learning new

techniques.”

Jehad Al Seraj (Saudi Arabia)

Statistical Asst. I, Southern Area Well

Completion Operation Department

In Abqaiq: 15 years

Abqaiq prayer

schedule

“Reading is one hobby I want to

develop for sure! There are millions of

great books out there that will impact

my knowledge. And it will also

encourage my children to be good

readers.”

Ejiro Ombe (Nigeria)

In Abqaiq: 10 months

(moved from ‘Udhailiyah)

day Nov. 2019

3/1441 Hijri Fajr Sunrise Dhuhr Asr Maghrib Isha

Fri 1 4/3 4:30 5:49 11:25 2:37 5:00 6:30

Sat 2 5/3 4:30 5:49 11:25 2:37 5:00 6:30

Sun 3 6/3 4:31 5:50 11:25 2:36 4:59 6:29

Mon 4 7/3 4:32 5:51 11:25 2:35 4:58 6:28

Tue 5 8/3 4:32 5:52 11:25 2:35 4:58 6:28

Wed 6 9/3 4:33 5:52 11:25 2:34 4:57 6:27

Thu 7 10/3 4:34 5:53 11:25 2:34 4:57 6:27

Fri 8 11/3 4:34 5:54 11:26 2:34 4:56 6:26

Sat 9 12/3 4:35 5:54 11:26 2:33 4:56 6:26

Sun 10 13/3 4:35 5:55 11:26 2:33 4:55 6:25

Mon 11 14/3 4:36 5:56 11:26 2:32 4:55 6:25

Tue 12 15/3 4:36 5:56 11:26 2:32 4:54 6:24

Wed 13 16/3 4:37 5:57 11:26 2:32 4:54 6:24

Thu 14 17/3 4:38 5:58 11:26 2:32 4:53 6:23

Fri 15 18/3 4:38 5:59 11:26 2:31 4:53 6:23

Sat 16 19/3 4:39 5:59 11:27 2:31 4:53 6:23

Sun 17 20/3 4:39 5:59 11:27 2:31 4:52 6:23

Mon 18 21/3 4:40 6:01 11:27 2:31 4:52 6:22

Tue 19 22/3 4:41 6:01 11:27 2:30 4:51 6:22

Wed 20 23/3 4:41 6:02 11:27 2:30 4:51 6:21

Thu 21 24/3 4:42 6:03 11:28 2:30 4:51 6:21

Fri 22 25/3 4:42 6:04 11:28 2:30 4:51 6:21

Sat 23 26/3 4:43 6:04 11:28 2:30 4:50 6:21

Sun 24 27/3 4:44 6:05 11:28 2:30 4:50 6:20

Mon 25 28/3 4:44 6:06 11:29 2:30 4:50 6:20

Tue 26 29/3 4:45 6:07 11:29 2:30 4:50 6:20

Wed 27 30/3 4:46 6:07 11:29 2:30 4:50 6:20

Thu 28 1/4 4:46 6:08 11:30 2:30 4:50 6:20

Fri 29 2/4 4:47 6:09 11:30 2:30 4:50 6:20

Sat 30 3/4 4:47 6:10 11:30 2:30 4:50 6:20


Junior Tennis begins second half with a bang

Abqaiq Junior Tennis Club

The Abqaiq Junior Tennis Club

(AJTC) kicked off second half of the

year by organizing a general body

meeting along with t-shirt and water

flask distribution event for their

members on October 3, 2019.

The event was well attended by

AJTC kids and their parents. The kids

were very happy to receive their club

t-shirts along with a water bottle/

flask. This is the first time the AJTC

has distributed t-shirts with an

embroidered club logo and flask with

printed club logo to all their

members free of cost.

revised coaching schedules

The club executive laid out the

plans for the rest of the year activities

and interacted with the parents for

the concerns. The AJTC have also

revised their coaching schedules to

suit the varied needs of kids as per

their skill and availability.

upcoming tournament

The AJTC will host an annual

tournament for all kids playing in

beginners, intermediate, and advance

categories on November 15-16,

2019. In this tournament, games will

be played in single format with ATP

rules for intermediate and advance

players, while the beginners will be

playing fun games.

year-end plans

The awards for the annual and

spring tennis tournament will be

given to all the winners and

runner-ups during the annual award

function by end of the year. The

Annual General Meeting along

with award function is planned to

be held first week of December

2019.

appreciation

The AJTC President Sharib Khan

along with the AJTC board

appreciated the parents and kids

who attended the meeting and

gave their excellent feedback.

They also emphasized the support

given by the Abqaiq Recreation

Services Unit (ARSU) with special

thanks to ARSU Supervisor Mark

Khoury and Advisor Stuart Reid for

their continued support.

The ARSU has recently upgraded

both the tennis courts at Al-Sa’adah

and Oasis Complex with new flood

lights as well new tennis court nets. For more information, please

contact the AJTC at

[email protected].

by Sharib A. Khan photos by Sharib A. Khan

AJTC tournament

November 22 and 23

upcoming


Get your groove on at the Nemo dance school!


by Shama Egbe

photos by Enesh Rejepova

The Nemo Dance School has been

recently launched by our community

resident Masuma Aliyeva.

With the support of the Abqaiq

Recreation Services Unit (ARSU), this

much awaited dance school opened

mid-October. The school name was

originally “Nero” and later changed

to “Nemo” for rebranding purposes.

“Nemo reminds me of a small

active smart fish, just like my

students,” says Aliyeva.

three groups: kids, juniors,

teens

With three groups divided as

Nemo kids group (KG-grade 2),

Nemo juniors group (grades 3-5), and

Nemo teens group (grades 6-9), the

club has a total of about 30 students

as of today.

hip hop and modern dances

The classes are held at the

Aerobics Center on a bi-weekly basis

and taught by certified dance

instructor Aliyeva. Her focus is on

teaching hip hop and other modern

dances, and seeming quite popular

with the little ones.


A bit hot and humid day on Friday

September 6, 2019, when Abqaiq

Tennis Club (ATC) welcomed its

members for a mini tournament

organized for its members. Two

balanced and well organized teams,

including players from beginners to

intermediate and advance levels made

this mini tournament very interesting

and competitive. The ATC tournament

director accomplished his task with

great professionalism.

welcome note from ATC

President

ATC President Rosalio Marcos

thanked the participants for taking

part in the mini-tournament and

commended their commitment and

enthusiasm. This tournament was

dedicated to one of Saudi Aramco

core value of “Empowerment.” The

objective behind this was to empower

the players to take strategic decisions

in making their team lifting that

winning trophy. Later, Tournament

Director Anil Rane shared the game

rules and games schedule with all

tennis players. Every player had to play

at least two matches (1 normal set per

match) against their opponent team

players within the same category.

closing ceremony

It was indeed a great day for tennis

lovers playing with competitors

handling their superb shorts and tricks

in court. At the end, a short ceremony

was conducted in which trophies were

presented to the winner and runners

up. Team A under the captaincy of

Sharib A. Khan lifted the winner’s

trophy, while Team B led by Jose Luis

Delgado stood runners-up. A delicious

BBQ dinner followed the presentation

ceremony.

special thanks to North Ghawar

Injection Division

The ATC extend its gratitude and

special thanks to Hendi M. Utaibi,

Superintendent, North Ghawar

Injection Division in Sea Water

Injection Department (SWID), for his

financial and moral support in

organizing this event. Without his

interest and enthusiasm, this event

would not have been possible, which

wrapped up with great success. On

behalf of the ATC, Reynaldo Mercado

presented the plaque of appreciation

to Utaibi, for promoting the game of

tennis and providing sponsorship.

appreciation to ARSU

The ATC also extend their special

thanks to the Abqaiq Recreation

Services Unit for their support. The

facility was reserved with all the

required utilities in safe and secure

manner.

by Javed, Muhammad Imran photos by Rosilio Marcos

ATC mini tournament promoting “empowerment” Abqaiq Tennis Club

Winning team of the tournament under the captaincy of Sharib A. Khan. Runners-up team led by Jose Luis Delgado.

Reynaldo Mercado (R) presenting plaque of

appreciation to Utaibi (L).


by Bridgie Ryan photos by Paul Stent

an eventful October for Abqaiq golfers Ain Nakhl Golf Club

The first of many junior golf

programs came to an end in October

and coach Paul Stent was very happy

to see such a great turnout. Juniors

from ages 6-14 came for a 6-week

program and Stent taught the basics

of the game to set everyone on their

way to becoming superstars.

Individual 30-minute lessons are

extremely popular and the driving

range is busy every evening and with

the addition of the ladies group on

Wednesday mornings and evenings, it

gives everyone in the community a

chance to come and learn or improve

at this challenging game.

golf course maintenance

Ongoing work continues on the

golf course to keep it in good playing

condition and with the new addition

of black sand being added to the

surrounding of the putting surfaces, it

will help the golfers see the browns

and not get any unwanted bounces

when playing. All of the posts and

markers are getting a makeover with

new paint, which will bring the course

to life and help you see where not to

hit the ball.

fun tournaments

An eventful October with the

Monthly Medal 4 held on October 4,

our Annual Club Championship held

over two weekends on October 11

and October 18, and finally a Club visit

for Abqaiq members only to the Riffa

Golf Club in Bahrain, organized by the

Ain Nakhl Golf Club (ANGC) President,

followed by a meal for all those who

participated.

Well done to all the prize winners

and thank you to all those who

participated and continue to support

our club.

To avail of the more temperate

climate, we have a full schedule

organized for November. For further

information relating to Cross Country

or Night Golf, please see Information

Hyperlink on our November Calendar

on the website www.abqaiqgolf.com.

President’s message

“Finally the weather and humidity

are easing and the golf is more

enjoyable as we head to the glorious

part of the year weather wise.

Congratulations to the competition

winners for the month. Some very

good scores out there and this can

only be achieved due the efforts of the

Safari grounds team led by our golf

consultant Paul Stent. I would also like

to recognize that we can see the

significant improvement at the driving

range where Paul holds his golf

lessons available to all residents. Now

we just need to transition those novice

golfers onto the course in due time

and build their confidence and passion

in the game. It’s a good time to take

up the sport and enjoy the accessibility

of the course, the services, and the

facilities Recreation continues to

support and provide, for our wellbeing

and leisure. Members are low so we

hope to have more residents take up

the sport in the cooler season. I would

also like to inform our members, we

will be holding our Annual General

Meeting in November so please try an

attend. We will notify you via email

and on our website,” says Derrick

Smith, ANGC president.

“If it goes right, it’s a slice, if it

goes left, it’s a hook, if it goes

straight, it’s a miracle”

“If it goes right, it’s a

slice, if it goes left,

it’s a hook, if it goes

straight, it’s a

miracle.”

Bi-Monthly Medal (Stableford)

November 1

Turkey Shoot November 8

Alternate Shot November 15

Cross Country November 22

Night Golf November 28

upcoming events


On the weekend of October 4

and 5, 2019, bowling enthusiasts from

the major Saudi Aramco districts

namely Abqaiq, Ras Tanura, and

Dhahran, flocked to the Dhahran

bowling lanes to compete in the 2019

Annual Quad Area Invitational Bowling

Tournament - “Bowling for

Citizenship” hosted by the Dhahran

Bowling Association (DBA). It is the

objectives of the bowling associations

to promote the Company’s mission to

build a positive influence that

connotes a transcendental meaning of

real connection to each employee in

the Saudi Aramco communities.

tournament opening

DBA President Adee Sipin thanked

and welcomed all participants and told

everyone to bowl safe and to enjoy the

exciting matches. Aziz H Khazaei,

Dhahran Recreation representative,

formally graced the opening of the

tournament and impressed upon all

the continued support and

commitment by Central Community

and Recreation Services Department.

Rey Caraig, League Tournament

Director, laid out the tournament

rules. While Russel Torres, DBA Vice

President, enthusiastically administered

the oath of sportsmanship. A

ceremonial throw, undertaken by

association representatives from

Abqaiq, Ras Tanura, and Dhahran,

formally opened the tournament.

winning teams

All the scores were tabulated by

Caraig with the presence of

tournament directors from Ras Tanura

and Abqaiq. As a result, Team Ras

Tanura Bowling Association (RTBA)

were declared champions for Men’s A

and Women’s B category respectively

and Team ACBA were declared

champions for both women category

A and men’s category B, respectively.

Individual awards went to

Raymond Lota from ACBA for Men’s

High Handicap Series (698), Ritzie

Hope from ACBA for Women’s High

Handicap Series (656). Men’s High

Scratch Single Game went to Chris

Aeschlimann from RTBA (236) and

Tess Cabais from RTBA for Women

(221).

by Nestor Villaruel photos by ACBA

bowling for “citizenship” at Quad Area tournament Abqaiq City Bowling Association

Abqaiq Team “B” Men’s Division – Rami Latonio, Archie De Guzman, Rey Caraig Jr., Raymond Lota,

Medhat Elalaily & Abdullah Al-Hawalah ( 4th Times Champion)

Abqaiq Team “A” Women Division – Liz Smith (Team Captain), Ritzie Hope, Cristy Oanes, Beng Mungcal,

& Kathy De Guzman


North and south bowling

exchange meet

On October 18, the ACBA went

on to participate in the North and

South Bowling Exchange meeting

held in Ras Tanura Surf Lane Bowling

Alley for both Abqaiq and Ras Tanura

bowling enthusiasts. Two of the

ACBA bowlers were able to get a

high awards: Nestor R. Villaruel got

the High HCP Series in Men’s Division

and Dr. Anil Rane bagged the High

Scratch Series.

Archie De Guzman, ACBA

President, extended his sincere thanks

to RTBA and Marine Department, for

a very successful event, a fine sporting

day of bowling, and an excellent

gesture of hospitality and camaraderie

by the RTBA.

Dr. Anil Rane bagged the High Scratch Series.

Nestor Villaruel bowled in Ras Tanura as he grabbed the High HCP Game Series of 694 pin falls in three

set of games, with only one open frame missed.


All lessons at the Abqaiq Golf

driving range.

For bookings, please email

Paul Stent at

[email protected].

It is never too late to learn

to play golf!

ladies group golf lessons Wednesdays, 8-9 a.m. and 5-6 p.m. No registration required. All levels are welcome. Equipment provided.

individual golf lessons 30 minutes individual lessons Registration required. Equipment provided.



AWG keeps everyone busy in Abqaiq Abqaiq Women’s Group

Little Chef

The Abqaiq Women’s Group

(AWG) hosted its second Little Chef

event of the year on October 12,

2019. Twenty-five kids made their

own pizza with their favorite topping

and a delicious cookie topped with

their favorite treats.

breast cancer awareness

In line with the breast cancer

awareness month of October, the

AWG also hosted a coffee evening on

October 15. A certified health

professional was present to talk about

the subject, and answered questions in

both English and Arabic. Informative

booklets were handed out at the end

of session. Ladies were treated with

delicious pink refreshments, such as

pink cupcakes, and pastries, including

a special pink tea.

AWG Biggest Loser Program

The AWG launched the 12-week

biggest loser program in September,

with the aim of helping the Abqaiq

ladies make simple changes toward a

more healthy lifestyle. Ladies who have

enrolled in the competition are

grouped into teams of four and

receive weekly fitness sessions and tips

for healthy weight loss. Their weight is

also checked on a regular basis to aid

them reach their goals. Gifts and

certificates will be handed out in

December to the winning team.

by Nadia Shah

photos by AWG


AWG Fall Souk

On October 19, the AWG hosted a

large Souk in the Abqaiq School gym

in which more than 25 vendors

displayed their items for sale at

reasonable prices. The vendors came

from Dammam, Khobar, Abqaiq, and

even Riyadh. From — Indonesian

Balinese and Tunisian handicrafts,

antiques, precious stones, pashminas,

abayas, silver jewelry, bed spreads,

table cloths, wooden items — to

antique furniture and beautiful

handmade Persian carpets, the AWG

Souk had it all. Home-cooked baked

goods was also provided by the finest

cooks in the Abqaiq Community.

AWG coffee afternoons

The AWG holds biweekly coffee

afternoons in which the members are

treated to tea/coffee and delicious

snacks and the ladies get to chat with

their friends in a relaxed environment.

To make the coffee afternoons fun,

the AWG has had many activities for

its members including games, cooking

demonstrations, small exhibitions,

fitness talk, make up tutorial, and

there is more planned for rest of the

year.

Friday, November 1, 2019

6 p.m.

Large Majlis

AWG Arabian Nights

Ladies only

Dress to impress! Food provided by Leen Cuisine.

members SAR60

nonmembers SAR120


by Richard Pawlak

Why everyone should make time to swim?


Swimming is great all-round

exercise. The benefits of swimming

are almost endless. It’s a great way to

tone up, a proven method of relaxing

your mind, and can even help turn

back the aging clock. Here’s why

everyone should make time to swim.

almost everyone can swim

30 minutes of swimming can burn

up to 350 calories

Swimming helps build lean muscle

Many swimmers say it eases aches

and pains

Swimming can help you get to

sleep

Regular exercise helps improve

your mood

Swimming has a low risk of injury

Can anyone swim?

Swimming is great for everyone

from pregnant women and the

elderly to injured athletes and those

looking to get back in shape. If

you’re at all unsure, or you’re coming

back after a long break, consult your

doctor before you start to help avoid

overdoing it.

Why is swimming such good

exercise?

Swimming is one of the best

forms of cardiovascular, or aerobic

exercise, because it uses almost every

muscle in your body and raises your

heart rate. According to one study,

12 weeks of swimming can improve

the efficiency of blood being pumped

through your body by 18% and

because water is around 800 times

denser than air, it’s great for toning

up without putting stress on your

joints. It can even slow down the

ageing process – scientists have

shown that swimming three to five

times a week dramatically reduces

the risk of an early death.

What muscles do you use when

you swim?

Every time you swim is like doing

a mini-resistance workout. Each kick,

pull and push work your muscles

more than you might imagine,

especially your arms, shoulders, and

glutes the muscles that lie dormant

all day when you’re at your desk.

Swimming also works your core and

will reduce your waistline and hips.

So, along with building fitness, it’s a

fabulous full body exercise.

Can swimming improve your

mood?

According to researchers, regular

swimming can reduce stress, lower

anxiety, and combat depression,

whatever your fitness level or ability.

Being surrounded by water helps

diffuse your senses and lets your

body relax far more than being in a

gym full of mirrors and loud music.

Does swimming help you lose

weight?

Yes. Swimming torches calories

and is great for weight loss and

reducing body fat. By swimming

steadily for just 30 minutes, you can

expect to burn up to 350 calories and

an all-out hour in the pool can

crunch more than double that.

What’s more, because swimming

builds lean muscle, which in turn fires

up your metabolism, you’ll keep

burning calories as you shower, dry

off, and head for home.

Can swimming prevent injury?

Swimming has a lower risk of

injury than many other forms of

exercise because the buoyancy of the

water takes stress off your joints. It’s

a natural painkiller too in one study

of people with chronic lower back

pain, 90% said that their pain had

improved after six months of regular

swimming. What’s more, swimming

has been shown to help reduce

inflammation and help people

suffering from osteoarthritis.


Spotlight hosts a fun karaoke evening

Abqaiq Spotlight Group

by Tiziana Girolamo

photos by Tiziana Girolamo

Abqaiq Spotlight held a fun

Karaoke event for the Abqaiq

Community on October 10, 2019.

The word Karaoke comes from

the Japanese words "kara" meaning

"empty" and "oke" meaning

"orchestra." It first became popular

in England in 1979. Now, new

technology has made it possible to

host karaoke performance just about

anywhere.

Karaoke empowers one to sing

Karaoke is a form of

entertainment, people take it in turns

to sings the words. The karaoke

patron is empowered to sing the

melody any way he or she sees fit.

The singer can change the words,

change the melody, or simply put a

bit of a different spin on a song`s

interpretation.

united for the love of music

On the evening in Abqaiq, people

demonstrated their singing abilities,

shared their voices, and together

made a wonderful night.

There was a variety of music to

sing to - Turkish, Indian, English,

Spanish, and even different

interpretation and languages - but all

united for the love of music. We are

privileged.


Abqaiq Middle School students

spent a fun-filled afternoon at the

HMYA beach for their Middle School

Beach Day social. They enjoyed

swimming, playing soccer, and

football and making S'mores. A big

thanks to Ms. Charles, Mr. Mendoza

and Mr. Sanal for making this annual

event a success.

Did you know? Gratitude:

opens the door to more

relationships

Improves physical health

Improves psychological health

Enhances empathy and reduces

aggression

Helps aide health sleep patterns

Improves self-esteem

Increases mental health

(www.psychologytoday.com/intl/

blog/what-mentally-strong-people-

dont-do/201504/7-scientifically-

proven-benefits-gratitude)

To leverage this phenomenon,

the Abqaiq School staff, parents, and

students are planning events and

activities to express their gratitude

for those who make our community

special.

Our first activity was collecting

donations from parents (baked

goods and treats) and delivering gift

baskets to the employees of the

Abqaiq Plant, Khurais, and the Fire

Protection Department. The students

and families wished to appreciate the

hard work that these groups have

done in getting life in Abqaiq back to

normal so quickly after the

September 14 incidents.

Saudi Aramco Expatriate School

by David Kristjansen

photos by David Kristjansen

middle schoolers’ beach day, gratitude project

Students are already

coming up with additional

ideas for the numerous

departments that work so

hard to make life in Abqaiq

great.


At Abqaiq School, every October

is nutrition awareness month. During

this month, students from

kindergarten through grade 5 take

part in a nutrition challenge. To win

this challenge, they must have the

highest level of participation in eating

fruits or vegetables for their school

snacks. Although they may bring

other items as part of their snack,

they must eat the fruit or vegetable

first, before the rest of their snack to

get their nutrition points. This

ensures they are getting the “good

stuff” in before anything else!

This year is one of the closest

challenges so far. Almost all classes

have recorded well over 90%

participation during the first two

weeks of the challenge. We are

looking forward to see who will be

the nutrition champions this year!

October 31 will mark the final day of

the challenge.

triathlon t-shirt design

challenge

November 16 will be the Abqaiq

School Student Triathlon. Students

from grades 2-9 will take part in a

race that includes swimming, biking,

and running. They may join as teams

or as individuals.

In preparation for this event, the

school held a triathlon t-shirt design

challenge. This year’s winner was

Waniya Mohsin from grade 3.

Congratulations Waniya on a

fantastic t-shirt design!

Congratulations Waniya on a fantastic t-shirt design

Saudi Aramco Expatriate School

by Liana Amy

photos by Tom Whitaker

nutrition month and t-shirt design challenges!

The Abqaiq School

staff, parents, and

students express

their gratitude to

those who make

our community

special.


The Abqaiq horse stables

welcomed back its members after a

long summer break, with classes

going full steam to ensure our riders

in Abqaiq have a great time, and

their skills improving with each class.

ladies coffee and ride mornings

Abqaiq Horse Stables Consultant

Ryno Verster hosted the ladies coffee

and ride mornings in October, an


(ARSU) event that was very successful

before the summer season. With

great attendance by the Abqaiq

ladies coming together to enjoy an

early morning social ride.

plaque presented to the SA/CR

CSD manager

The Abqaiq Arabian Horse

Association (AAHA) Vice President

Lori McQueen gifted a plaque in

commemoration to Southern Area/

Central Region Community Services

Department Manager Mohammad

Al Hajri for all his ongoing support of

the horse stables here in Abqaiq.

“back to the future” at Abqaiq Stables Abqaiq Arabian Horse Association

by Ryno Verster

photos by Ryno Verster


horse of the month: Scarlet

The Abqaiq Arabian Horse

Association (AAHA) is proud to

announce the arrival of Scarlet to

the Abqaiq stables. She moved

from Dhahran stables in

September to start her new life in

Abqaiq for our Community kids.

Scarlet has the sweetest

personality and will do a fantastic

job in teaching our kids all about

riding and pony care.

Remember to visit Scarlet at

the horse stables and bring along

your carrots or apples. She would

love to see all of you soon.

by Ryno Verster

photo by Ryno Verster

AAHA rider’s profile of the

month

The AAHA has introduced a new

monthly special of rider’s profile from

the Abqaiq stables. Each month, a

rider’s name is drawn out of a bowl.

The winner for the month of

September is Logan Blevins! Logan is

5-years-old. He has been an AAHA

member for about a year. His favorite

horse to ride for lessons is Spirit

because “she is tall and has a

beautiful color” and his favorite part

about being an active rider at the

stables is “riding horses together with

his best friend Koah.”

November 14

6 to 10 p.m.

Abqaiq horse stables

Games and prizes

Photo booth

Music and dance

Catered dinner included

Hobby horse contest

Abqaiq Arabian Horse Association

adult SAR100

child SAR50

aged 2 and under free

Tickets on sale at the

Abqaiq stables!

Logan Blevins bags the rider profile of the month

for September.


by Robin Owen

photos by AACHG

Abqaiq Art, Craft, and Hobby Group

What a fun October the Abqaiq

Art, Craft, and Hobby Group

(AACHG) had! Hopefully, you were

able to join us in making fun rag

quilts with Sheri Fox! They turned out

so nice.

Ramil Vaquilar guided our hands

in making drawings and portraits

more realistic. It was a thought

provoking and informative class!

little store in the Art building

We also have a little store in the

art building to fill some of your

sewing and card making needs.

Come by on Monday nights from

6:30-7:30 p.m. to have a look

around. You may save yourself a trip

to town.

a fun October at the AACHG

This year, for the Dhahran

Annual Art Show, artists were

invited to submit up to seven pieces

of artwork. They varied from oils,

acrylics (paintings) and drawings to

mosaics, sculpture, and jewelry.

Personnel from Ithra museum were

invited to jury the art show. Each of

the above mentioned categories

were awarded a first, second, and

third place. A large number of

artists submitted their work.

Thomas Rodriguez won the first

place in the category of drawing for

his drawing of the camel in the

moonlit sky.

“I am very thankful for the

strong encouragement that each of

you has given and continue to

give,” said Rodriguez. “I will keep

creating!”

by Thomas Rodriguez

photos by Thomas Rodriguez

Rodriguez

brings first

place to Abqaiq

Abqaiq Art, Craft, and Hobby Group

Mondays

November 4, 11, 18, 25

6-8:30 p.m.

quilting for charity

For more information, email the AACHG at [email protected] or Lauren Pollock at [email protected].

Join us to create lap quilts which will be donated to children as a lifelong keepsake!

Come to all 4 nights, or just 1-2.

All ability levels are welcome.

Asking for donations of fabric, thread, batting, or cash to purchase supplies.

All community members welcome to participate. Only middle school students and above may participate.

Making simple square quilts - a perfect opportunity to try out quilting!

No registration required Just turn up!

Rodriguez wins for the

“camel in the moonlit

sky!”


Abqaiq comings and goings

Abqaiq babies

A warm welcome to the Saars

who moved to Abqaiq from

‘Udhailiyah.

“Abqaiq is a very nice community

and only slightly bigger than

‘Udhailiyah. It has nice facilities, such

as the horse stables and lot of parks.

We are happy to be part of the

Abqaiq community.”

Muhammad Saar is a drilling

engineer. He moved here with his

wife (Ira) Utia Kemalawati and two

children Aysha (15) and Chadeeja

Medina (Ina) (11).

From Indonesia, the family have

previously lived in UAE, Qatar, India,

and in ‘Udhailiyah for 4 years.

The family now lives in H-208.

welcome to Abqaiq, Saars

baby Mason

Introducing Joseph Lee Mason

(4 kg, 57 cm), a son born to Brian and

Tamara Mason on September 29,

2019, at 3:48 p.m. in Dhahran, Saudi

Arabia. Joseph is brother to Lily Amira

(5).

Share your news!

To submit comings and goings

information, and birth announcements

to the Friendly City Gazette, please

email [email protected].


2019

11 Abqaiq: a look back photo courtesy of Abqaiq Women’s Group (AWG)

fun facts

compiled by Samrina Ali

knowledge boost

use picnic markers

Ideally, use reusable cups/

plates/cutlery. If you choose to use

disposable ones, use a different

color marker pen for each person

so only one of each is used, rather

than getting them mixed up and

having to get fresh ones.

safety tip

pet harness

It is not just people who should

be buckled up when in the back seat.

Having a dog in the car is a common

sight in many parts of the world.

While many consider a dog to be a

best friend, this may not be the case

in an accident if your pet is not

buckled up. Special car harnesses are

available for dogs of all shapes and

sizes to help keep all car occupants

safe while on the road.

Abqaiq Women’s Group

Blood type 'O' is the most

common blood type in the world.

The body heat you produce in

half an hour is enough to boil half

a gallon of water.

Lips are reddish due to a large

number of capillaries hidden

under the skin.

The only part of the body that

can't repair itself is the tooth.

More than 9 out of 10 diseases

are caused or aggravated by

stress.

Identical twins have the same

natural smell.

environmental tips

the friendly city gazette - aramco expats...2 abqaiq the friendly city gazette | november 2019 taken...

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