Straight Talk: Upcoming events and traffic lights Published April 19, 2012 By Col. Stacy L. Yike 66th Air Base Group commander HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- Welcome back from spring break! It was certainly quiet around here with so many of you enjoying a holiday week with your family. We did, however, manage to do a bit of celebrating with the 100th Anniversary of Fenway Park Heritage Flight. Many thanks to the Air Force Heritage Flight Foundation and the Air Force Association for assisting us in providing tours of the P-51s and F-16s for many of our Airmen. Upcoming events Next week brings the return of the Hanscom retreat ceremony on Thursday, April 26, at 5 p.m. in front of Building 1606. This retreat will be led by Lt. Gen. CR Davis, Electronic Systems Center commander, and is organized by our Top III Association. Friday, April 27, Hanscom will host Navy SEAL Cmdr. Travis Schweizer at our quarterly Heritage of Freedom event at the Hanscom Conference Center. I encourage all of you to come out at 3 p.m. and hear about his deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and how the SEAL teams are utilizing our ESC systems in theater. We are also in the midst of our Earth Day celebrations. One of the things the Air Force is focused on this year is pollution prevention, by identifying how to reduce, reuse and recycle resources to reduce overall pollution and waste. You can read more about many Air Force programs at www.af.mil/earthday.asp. Hanscom will help the earth, and also celebrate Arbor Day, by planting two pear trees along Eglin Street on Friday, April 27, at 1 p.m. And don't forget about Walk 'n' Talk on Saturday, April 28. We will close out our Month of the Military Child celebrations with this nature walk through Castle Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Stop Lights I have received lots of positive comments about the implementation of the flashing yellow and red lights during evening and weekend hours here on the base. I know it took us a little while to get the pedestrian lights worked out, but I think everything is functioning properly now. Thank you for your patience there. Interestingly, we have had several people confused over the new traffic signals -- either stopping at the flashing yellow light or pulling out in front of someone who has the right of way. Just in case you were curious, a flashing red signal light means stop. After stopping, you may proceed when it is safe and you must observe the right of way rules. A flashing yellow signal light warns you to proceed with caution. You do not need to stop for a flashing yellow light, but you must slow down and be especially alert before entering the intersection. Drive safe and have a great weekend!