Game on!

RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Chief Master Sgt. Antonio Hickey lines up a shot at the reopening of the Game Zone Aug. 5. The Game Zone, located at the Bob Hope Community Center, received $78,000 worth of upgrades from U.S. Air Forces in Europe quality of life improvement funds. The room is open for everyone 18 and older during normal community center operating hours and to teenagers aged 13 to 18 years from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Thomas Trower)

Game on!

RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Col. Michael Winters, 100th Air Refueling Wing vice commander, tests new equipment at the Game Zone at the Bob Hope Community Center Aug. 5. The gaming room was reopened after four months of renovations and the use of $78,000 of U.S. Air Forces in Europe quality of life improvement funds. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Thomas Trower)

Game Zone open for business at a community center near you

Published Aug. 17, 2009
By Senior Airman Thomas Trower
100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Game on!

The Bob Hope Community Center game room is once again open for everyone 13 and older with base access to unwind and have some fun.

Formerly known as the Beach Club, the $78,000 quality of life improvement project was funded by U.S. Air Forces in Europe and reopened Aug. 5 as the Game Zone.

Col. Eden Murrie, 100th Air Refueling Wing commander, officiated a short ribbon cutting ceremony before being challenged to a game of Wii bowling by the community center director.

"It took a lot of people and work to make this possible," said Stephanie Lown, community center director. "It's been under construction since April."

The 100th Civil Engineer Squadron completed the flooring and painting projects, while the community center's own director of programs, Tony George, undertook assembling the furniture.

"We tried to pick games that everyone would enjoy, and I think we did a good job," said Ms. Lown. "We have everything from X-Box 360s and a Wii to a jukebox and free WiFi for laptops."

The game room also offers two pool tables, two classic-sytle arcade systems and gaming seating with built in speaker systems.

The room is open for everyone 18 and older during normal operating hours: Monday through Thursday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Teenagers aged 13 to 18 years may use the facility from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.