Lewis Legder, August 7

Action Line

An Action Line has been established to allow Fort Lewis community members to express their concerns and ideas directly to the commanding general. Your issues will be addressed by the commander and his staff.

The Action Line number is 967-0093.

Surviving family members

An appreciation day to honor and recognize surviving family members is scheduled today at American Lake Community Center from 7:30 a.m. to noon. Fort Lewis will host the Surviving Members Appreciation Day, providing updates about services and current benefits to surviving family members.

For more information call 966-5881 or 966-5884.

Team Lewis Back to School

Join BOSS Aug. 14 at the Cascade Community Center as Team Lewis gets into the “Back to School” spirit from 3 to 6 p.m. Be sure to dress in your favorite college sports team attire. Enjoy free food, fun games and great prizes. You must be at least 18 to attend and at least 21 to purchase or consume alcohol.

For more information, call the BOSS team at 967-5636.

Enlisted Spouses’ Club

The Enlisted Spouses’ Club is starting its new year Tuesday at 7 p.m at the ESC/OSC Clubhouse, Building 4201 on West Way. The club meeting will include coffee and desserts. Bring your favorite dessert to share.

Also, please bring a picture of yourself. This picture could be a baby picture, prom picture, wedding picture.

The pictures will be put on display for everyone to guess who is who. There will be a prize for the most correct guesses. There will also be a prize for stumping the most people.

Emotions Matter

Join Grandstaff Library Wednesday between 1 and 3 p.m. to celebrate the debut of the Emotions Matter exhibit brought to Fort Lewis families by CYSS, Fort Lewis Libraries and Tacoma Children’s Museum. This exhibit is designed as an interactive tool to help children ages 1 to 8 recognize their emotions through play.

For more information, call 967-5533.0

K-8 online program

Clover Park School District has partnered with Federal Way School District’s Internet Academy to offer online learning to kindergarteners through eighth-graders living on Fort Lewis.

Parents can register students starting Monday. Registration packets for the Clover Park Online Program may be obtained on the district’s Web site (www.cloverpark.k12.wa.us) or picked up in Room 12 at Clover Park School District’s Student Services Center (10903 Gravelly Lake Drive SW in Lakewood). Registration packets can also be mailed by calling 583-5390.

Welcome information from the Internet Academy will be e-mailed to students and parents starting Sept. 1.

Students will complete the bulk of their work from home, but will receive eight hours each week of “face time” with an online coordinator. Specific schedules (dates and times for on-site contact) will be communicated to the parents following completion of the enrollment process.

For more information about online learning, call Deb Shanafelt at 583-5390.

Wounded Warrior career fair

There will be a career fair for wounded service members, their spouses and family members on Aug. 14, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the American Lake Community Center with 70 DOD and private-sector recruiters.

For more information, contact Art Coleman, (703) 696-6134 or e-mail Arthur.Coleman@cpms.osd.mil.

Reunion workshop

Is your Soldier coming home soon? Army Community Service wants to help your reunion be the best possible experience. Join the ACS Reunion Workshop on Aug. 18 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the Family Resource Center.

RSVP by calling Pamela Allen at 967-8430. You can also schedule unit or FRG reunion workshops.

Free child care is available with prior reservations by calling Clarkmoor Hourly Care at 966-2490. Children must be registered with CYSS.

IT Expo

The 12th Annual Information Technology Expo will take place at the American Lake Community center Aug. 18 from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The event will feature displays and demonstrations of the latest advancements in the field from today’s leading IT vendors. Update your DOD sources for current and future projects and requirements. There is no fee to attend. All Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base personnel are invited.

Complimentary refreshments will be served.

West Point Society Picnic

All West Point graduates, families and friends are invited to the annual West Point Society picnic at the Tall Firs site at Russell Landing on American Lake, Aug. 23, from noon until dusk. Bring your favorite dish, bring your family and enjoy the fun, sponsored by The West Point Society of Washington and Puget Sound.

RSVP to Stephanie at (360) 413-0195 or e-mail info@transnorthwest.com/.

Operation Rising Star

The Operation Rising Star local competition will be at American Lake Community Center Wednesday and Aug. 19 and 26 at 7 p.m. The audience will vote for their favorite contestants and win prizes, too. The most supportive unit or family readiness group will receive $300.

The installation competition is to claim $850 in cash prizes and a chance to advance to the televised finals. Singers must be active duty, Reserve, National Guard or military family members 18 and older. The All-Army grand prize winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip for two, vocal coaching, professional arrangements and sound engineering for a three-song demo CD; 2nd place – $1,000; 3rd place – $500.

For more information visit OpRisingStar.com or call 967-2539.

Motorcycle emphasis patrols

Pierce County law-enforcement agencies will conduct a series of concentrated patrols until the end of September aimed at reducing motorcycle fatalities.

The patrols will target risk-taking motorcycle riders and other drivers who endanger themselves and other drivers. The patrols will look for speeding riders as well as those impaired by alcohol or other drugs. Some of the patrols will use aircraft so motorcyclists traveling at high speed can be safely identified and apprehended.

A DUI enforcement unit, along with officers specially trained to recognize and identify drug impairment, will work with the motorcycle enforcement team.

Motorcycles operated by riders without the proper licenses, or who have not been to an approved rider course or passed written and riding tests, will be impounded.

Riders or drivers apprehended for DUI face thousands of dollars in penalties and up to a year in jail. Soldiers can also expect a year’s loss of installation driving privileges and a general officer reprimand.

Predeployment workshop

Are you ready?

ACS has tools and tips to help better prepare you for a deployment. Join ACS at the Wednesday predeployment workshop from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Family Resource Center.

To register for the workshop, call ACS at 967-8430 or e-mail Pamela.j.allen@us.army.mil.

Free child care is available with prior reservations by calling Clarkmoor Hourly Care at 966-2490. Children must be registered with CYSS.

Tutor.Com

The Department of the Army now offers an online tutoring service at www.myarmyonesource.com/CYSStutor designed for kindergarten through high school students of Army service personnel. If there are any problems, call (678) 516-3667.

Stress management

The Fort Lewis Family Advocacy Program is offering a stress-management class on Tuesday, and Aug. 18 and 25 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Building 2013B. Get a better understanding of stress and its impact on health and readiness. Identify physical and emotional reactions to stress. Learn about stress management tools and how to use them effectively. For more information, call 967-5901.

AFAP input

Do you have concerns about Army life?

Since 1983, the Army Family Action Plan has been the driving force behind hundreds of Army policy changes and program improvements. You can play an important role in AFAP. Submit your issues at www.lewis.army.mil/ctr_of_excellence/acs/Survey/afap.htm or call 967-3689. Deadline for submissions is Sept. 11.

Waiting Families Support Group The Waiting Families Support Group is open to family members of active-duty Soldiers on unaccompanied tours or extended TDY. It is a place to exchange ideas on how to cope with unique problems faced during a sponsor’s absence and have some light-hearted fun.

WFSG offers help in many ways. It provides information on community events and ACS programs. It offers short-term crisis intervention services; and when needed, acts as a liaison with military and civilian agencies. WFSG also addresses practical aspects of separation and relocation. Children are welcome.

WFSG meets the first Wednesday of each month at Waller Hall, ACS Room 400, from 6 to 8 p.m. For more information call 967-3633.

WLC graduation

The Henry H. Lind NCO Academy Warrior Leader Course, Class 008-09 will graduate on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. in Carey Theater. For more information, call 967-7294.

WLC in-processing

The Warrior Leader Course, Class 009-09, will in-process on Aug. 19. Students must report to Building 3114 at 5 a.m. Sponsors must be at Building 5996 at 5 a.m. For more information, call 967-7294.

MAMC change of command

Madigan Army Medical Center will host a change-of-command ceremony on Thursday at 10 a.m. for the outgoing Madigan commander, Maj. Gen. Patricia D. Horoho, and the incoming commander, Col. Jerome Penner III. The ceremony will be on Watkins Field, with a reception following in Cascade Community Center. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will move to Soldiers Field House.

For more information, call 968-1901.

Got Health?

Lewis-McChord Communities are partnering with the Fort Lewis/Madigan Army Medical Center Department of Preventive Medicine Community Education Team in support of a new health promotion program, “Got Health? The Choice is Yours!” Starting in August, subject-matter experts will visit neighborhood community centers to offer a series of healthy living classes, including community resources for healthy living, stress management, portion distortion and financial planning. Meet your neighbors, increase your knowledge about basic nutrition and disease prevention and learn all that Fort Lewis has to offer for living a healthier and happier life.

Class No. 1 – Community Resources for Healthy Living:

● Wednesday, 1:30 p.m. in Clarkdale

● Aug. 19, 6 p.m. in Discovery

● Aug. 22, 10 a.m. in Eagleview

Attendees will learn the importance of disease prevention through managing weight, tobacco cessation, stress management and self-care. Also, learn what healthy living programs are available online, on-post or off-post and receive a free self-care handbook.

Parenting skills classes

Do you want to learn how to communicate with your teen? Join Fort Lewis Family Advocacy Program for free parenting skills classes for parents of teenagers. Learn what obstacles threaten the future of your adolescent children and how you can provide them the tools they need to stay on track. Learn how to strengthen communication with your teen. Help your teen develop alternatives to violence when expressing differences.

Classes are held in Building 2014B, on the third floor, Family Advocacy Program Conference Room, on Wednesdays at 2 and 5 p.m. There are four weekly sessions beginning Sept. 16.

For more information call 966-7180.

Public speaking help

An ACS Relocation Readiness presentation Aug. 21 will help you conquer your fear of public speaking. The presentation will be in Stone Education Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

If you occasionally “um” and “ah,” this free seminar is just what you need to ease your nerves and start speaking like a seasoned pro. You’ll learn to turn nervousness into energy and use your voice to establish sincerity, credibility and confidence.

This presentation is open to the entire Fort Lewis community; however, priority will be given to Relocation Assistance committee members, Newcomers’ Orientation presenters and ACS staff. For more information, contact Wanda Abrams at 967-3633.

International Relations Forum

The next International Relations Forum at Grandstaff Library will be at noon Aug. 11. Dr. Andrew Milton, an adjunct faculty member of Troy University, will discuss “Morality and U.S. Foreign Policy – Why everything you thought you knew is wrong!”

Milton will draw on current events and on his research for a graduate-level course he recently taught on morality and international relations. Light refreshments will be served.

The International Relations Forum is a partnership of Grandstaff Library, St. Martin’s University, Troy University, and the Stone Education Center. For more information, contact Troy University at 964-0545 or Grandstaff Library at 966-1314.

Start Smart Sports Camp

Registration for Start Smart Sports Camps runs through today for ages 3 to 5. The next camp is Monday to Thursday. The cost is $15.

Start Smart helps children learn the basic motor skills necessary to play organized sports. The program focuses on teaching children and their parents basic sports mechanics without the threat of competition or the fear of getting hurt. Register at Building 2295, 12th and Bitar. Call 967-2494 for more information.

Poster contest

The Office of Suicide Prevention is currently accepting submissions for the 2010 Suicide Prevention Poster Contest. Posters should be creative and employ specific suicide-awareness messages. Posters are required to be 8 x 12 inches and may be submitted by individuals or teams of up to five members. The winning poster, chosen in early September, will be the lead display for 2010 Suicide Prevention efforts.

Submissions may be sent by e-mail to gary.ouellette@us.army.mil or hand delivered to the Office of Suicide Prevention, Building 2008B, Room B111.

Family communication

If you would like to know more about healthy ways to communicate with your spouse, sign up for a family communication class. Offered by the Family Advocacy Program and the Family Life Center, the class is held on the first Tuesday of each month, in Building 9120, Four Chaplains Memorial Chapel, from 1 to 3 p.m. For more information, call 967-5901.

Basketball camp

Registration for Craig Hodges’ basketball camp runs through Aug. 17. This camp is free for children of deployed Soldiers; the cost is $80 for others. Craig Hodges, an assistant coach for the L.A. Lakers, has won three NBA championships. The camp will be Aug. 17 to 21 at the Youth Center Teen Zone Gymnasium.

Ages 5 to 10 will meet from 9 to 11 a.m. and ages 11 to 18 from 1 to 3 p.m.

Fall soccer

Jump, kick and run into the new school year with fall soccer. Registration for fall soccer will run until Aug. 14, for ages 3 to 15. The season is Aug. 24 through Oct. 17.

Learn the fundamentals while having fun. Register at Building 2295, 12th and Bitar. For more information, call 967-2494.

Japanese spouses’ group

If your husband is deployed or deploying, you are new to the area, you have questions or if you just want to meet and talk with other Japanese spouses, the Japanese Spouse Support Group is here for you. You can join the group for monthly meetings, fundraising events, fun activities, such as barbecues, lady’s night and other events. For more information, contact japanesearmywivesupportgroup@gmail.com.

Walk to Iraq

Registration for all ages is ongoing for “Walk to Iraq.” Track your fitness improvement while you “Walk to Iraq” until your Soldiers return. “Walk to Iraq” meets Mondays and Wednesdays. There is no cost, and everyone is welcome to join in the fun. Register at Building 2295, at 12th and Bitar.

Call 967-2494 for more information.

Calendar

The following holidays and days of no scheduled activities are planned:

● Today, DONSA

● Sept. 4, DONSA

● Sept. 7, Labor Day

● Oct. 9, DONSA

● Oct. 12, Columbus Day

● Nov. 11, Veterans Day

● Nov. 26, Thanksgiving

● Nov. 27, DONSA

● Dec. 24, DONSA

● Dec. 25, Christmas

● Dec. 31, DONSA

● Jan. 1, New Year’s Day

● Jan. 15, DONSA

● Jan. 18, MLK Day

● Feb. 12, DONSA

● Feb. 15, Presidents Day

Firing notices

● 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group will fire mortars in the Fort Lewis Artillery Impact Area, from midnight Monday until midnight Aug. 14, using Mortar Point 4.

Homework help

Fort Lewis Libraries offer free online homework help. Tutors who are specialists in their subject areas are waiting to help every day from 2 to 9 p.m. This service is for any grade level, any subject. Just log on to www.fortlewismwr.com/library/.

For more information, call 967-5533 or 967-5889.

Alcohol awareness

To help promote healthy drinking habits, TRICARE Management Activity has a Web site to combat alcohol abuse and promote responsible drinking.

The Web site, found at www.tricare.mil/alcoholawareness, provides information, links and news about alcohol, underage drinking, alcoholism and substance abuse.

CYSS Youth Fitness

Registration for CYSS Youth Fitness is ongoing. Workout times at the Jensen Family Health and Fitness Center are Monday through Friday, 3 to 7 p.m. and at McVeigh Sports and Fitness Center on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

There is no participation fee. Register with Child, Youth and School Services. A parent or guardian must be present during the on-site assessment with the physical trainer. Proper workout attire is required. Youth fitness is open to ages 13 and older. Visit Central Registration at Building 2295 at 12th Street and Bitar Avenue to register for CYSS Sports.

Bring the following: ID card, sports physical, immunization record and three local emergency points of contact.

For more information, call 967-2494.

Gate hours and locations

Fort Lewis gate hours and locations:

● Liberty (Main), 24 hours, 7 days a week, I-5 Exit 120 to Main Post;

● 41st Division (North Fort), 24 hours, 7 days a week, I-5 Exit 120 to North Fort;

● Logistics Center, 5 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday to Friday (closed on federal holidays), I-5 Exit 123 — Thorne Lane;

● Madigan, 24 hours, 7 days a week, I-5 Exit 122 — Berkeley Street;

● East Gate, 24 hours, 7 days a week, East Gate Road and 4th Division Drive (connects to SR 507);

● DuPont Gate, 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., 7 days a week, I-5 Exit 119;

● D Street (POV), 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., 7 days a week, access to North Fort from DuPont-Steilacoom Road;

● D Street (CVIP), 5 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday to Friday (closed on federal holidays), same as D Street (POV);

● Scouts Out, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., 7 days a week (closed on federal holidays), 2nd Division Range Road;

● Transmission Line (ASP), 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday (closed on federal holidays), Transmission Line Road;

● Center Drive (outbound only), 4 to 6 p.m., Monday to Thursday, 3 to 6 p.m. on Friday (closed on federal holidays), adjacent to the Regional Confinement Facility;

● I Street Gate (North Fort) (inbound only), 5 to 9 a.m., Monday to Friday (closed on federal holidays), 1 1⁄2 miles north of DuPont Exit 119, Just off DuPont-Steilacoom Road;

● Lincoln-Rainier Gate, 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. 7 days a week, from off post — access via Perimeter Road/150th Street; from on-post — access via Rainier Drive and Lincoln Street on the Logistics Center.

McChord gate hours and locations:

● Main Gate, 24 hours, 7 days a week, I-5 Exit 125 (Bridgeport Way);

● Barnes Gate, 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., 7 days a week, Perimeter Road, approximately 1/2 mile from the Lincoln Boulevard gate exit of Fort Lewis;

● Commercial Vehicle Inspection Point 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday (closed on federal holidays), Perimeter Road approximately 1⁄4 mile from the Lincoln Boulevard gate exit of Fort Lewis;

● Woodbrook Housing Gate, 6 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday, I-5 Exit 124 — Gravelly Lake.

Common Sense Parenting

The New Parent Support Program’s Common Sense Parenting is a class that helps form strong and healthy families by building on existing parenting skills and learning new ways to deal with children’s problem behaviors. Classes are free and are led by trained facilitators committed to helping parents create a positive and healthy environment in which both children and parents can thrive.

To register for Common Sense Parenting, call 966-1088. Limited child care is available with three weeks’ prior notice; call 966-1088.

PWOC

Are you new to Fort Lewis? Are you tired of the long days of deployments? Are you looking for a place where you can join other women and be refreshed and renewed? Then join the ladies of Protestant Women of the Chapel every Wednesday morning from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Main Post Chapel.

Check Web site www.pwocftlewis.org, for more information.

Community Resource Guide

A comprehensive tool listing Fort Lewis services is now on the Web. The Community Resource Guide provides contact information on services available for those working or living on Fort Lewis. It also contains links to services near the installation.

Access the guide at http://www.lewis.army.mil/resourceguide/ or by selecting the appropriate link on Fort Lewis public Web sites.

Family life consultants

No-cost, confidential civilian military family life counseling services are now available at local off-post locations. Meet with licensed family counselors to clarify problems, handle crises, develop action plans or prioritize and resolve problems. Locations include Lacey and Lakewood.

To schedule appointments, call 1 (800) 977-7595.

E-cycling waste

Fort Lewis has a free, convenient and environmentally responsible electronics recycling program for computers, monitors, laptops and televisions. The Fort Lewis Recycle Center located at Building 5290 (behind the commissary off Nevada Avenue) is an approved collection site for electronics waste from all persons with installation access. The Recycle Center phone number is 381-5169; the hours of operation are 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday. If you have electronic items that still work, first consider donating them to the Fort Lewis Thrift Store.

American Legion Vetcam

Soldiers and other service members deployed overseas can now use Webcams to talk with their families back home, thanks to the American Legion’s new “VetCam.” This free Webcam service enables face-to-face talk on personal computers by simply registering as a user.

Once registered, each user can connect with two Webcams and use the service 24/7 from any place with an Internet connection.

To initiate the service, users need a Webcam or a computer with a built-in Webcam. Then, just go to the American Legion Web site, click on “VetCams,” register and start communicating. Once registered, simply log in at any time to connect.

Visit http://www.legion.org/ for more information.

Youth fitness training

Child, Youth and School Services youth cardio strength training is open to those at least 13 years of age. Program workout times: Jensen Family Health and Fitness Center: Monday through Friday, 3 to 8 p.m. and McVeigh Sports and Fitness Center: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Register at CYSS Central Registration, Building 2166 (bring ID, sports physical, shot record and three local emergency contacts). Registration is free.

For more information, call 967-2494.

Wounded Warrior Sports

Disabled Soldiers on active duty may participate in the Wounded Warrior Sports Program, where they may compete in a variety of sports at the state and national levels.

For more information, call Dale Eichhorst, DFMWR Sports, at 967-2604.

Education counseling

Army education counseling is available at Stone Education Center (967-7174), Monday through Wednesday, and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; at Madigan Army Medical Center (968-2707), Room No. G-94-6 (the ground floor re-enlistment office), every Tuesday from 8 to 11:30 a.m. and Thursday from 1 to 4:30 p.m. On-site education counseling includes: GoArmyEd, MGIB information, scholarships and financial aid, tuition assistance, college information, chapter counseling and other education matters. No appointment is necessary.

ACS volunteers needed

Do you want to serve your community? Would you like to get free child care while you serve? Become an Army Community Service volunteer. ACS is currently searching for a volunteer coordinator to manage the ACS volunteer program. ACS is also seeking volunteers to provide administrative support to various departments within the ACS office in Waller Hall. For more information go to www.myarmylifetoo.com or call 967-6399.

Giant Campus

Giant Campus, a nationwide leader in technology training, offers free on-site and at-home technology courses, free-of-charge to the Fort Lewis community. You can take Web design, digital photography, programming, EXCEL, Word, PowerPoint, game design, 3D animation, and computer fundamentals and basics. These courses typically cost as much as $699 and are offered exclusively to Soldiers, family members, retirees and DOD civilians. For more information, log on to http://fortlewis.giantcampus.com or, for class information, to http://fortlewis.giantcampus.com/MRMS/Schedule.aspx.

Cooperative preschool

Carousel Parent Cooperative Preschool is located on North Fort Lewis. The preschool provides a safe and caring place for both children and families to grow. In a cooperative preschool, the parents work alongside the teacher to ensure that each child benefits fully from the curriculum. Families who participate in the program will receive a college credit from Clover Park Technical College.

Parents are integral to the success of our program. Your involvement helps your children grow and develop and prepares them for kindergarten. The preschool currently has openings for children who turned 3 by Aug. 31, 2008. The school has a waiting list for those interested in enrolling their children into the class for 4-year-olds.

For more information, call the preschool at 964-8450.

National Resource Directory

The National Resource Directory, the online “yellow book” for wounded, ill and injured service members, their families, veterans and those who care about them, was launched in November.

This resource, a joint DOD, VA and DOL initiative, brings together more than 10,000 programs in Warrior Care, which are organized into six major categories: benefits and compensation; education, training and employment; family and caregiver support; health; housing and transportation; and services and resources.

Go to https://www.nationalresourcedirectory.org.

FAA Written Examinations

The Voluntary Education Testing Center at McChord Air Force Base has been granted authorization by The Federal Aviation Administration to administer all FAA written examinations. It is one of six FAA testing centers throughout DOD to be authorized for this program. Exams include commercial pilot; recreational pilot and private pilot; instrument rating, aviation mechanic general, powerplant, and airframe; and parachute rigger; flight and ground instructor; flight engineer; aircraft dispatcher; airline transport pilot, and sport pilot.

● Fully funded by DOD for eligible active-duty, National Guard and Reserve,

● Common Access Card must say “Armed Forces of the United States” not “United States DOD/Uniformed Services,”

● No civilian testing, including retired military is authorized.

Call the Education and Training Center (982-5695) to be registered in the FAA Airman Knowledge Testing database and then be scheduled for the exams.

TARC

You may use Stone Education Center’s Technical and Academic Resource Center (a high-tech, multi-media, and computer resource facility) to access the Internet, pursue distance learning programs, type term papers, perform official work when unit or office computers are not available, brush up on typing skills, scan pictures or documents, produce slide shows for briefings or classes, prepare assignments, setup and access free e-mail accounts, perform research from the CD ROM library (i.e. encyclopedia, mathematics, English, and computer programs), study from the educational CD-ROM collection (English and mathematics), make photocopies and print documents (please provide your own paper).

The hours of operation are Monday through Thursday 8:15 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Friday 8:15 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.. The TARC is closed on all federal holidays.

For more information call 967-2171.

Tobacco and health

A health-promotion class is available to units or family readiness groups.

The class is about one hour long and covers the effects of secondhand smoke, tobacco industry tactics to keep users addicted, importance of protecting yourself and your children from secondhand smoke, how a tobacco user can create a quit plan and cessation programs available at Madigan.

To arrange a class, call Cynthia L. Hawthorne, MAMC Department of Preventive Medicine, at 968-4387. To obtain a tobacco-cessation appointment, call TRICARE at (800) 404-4506.

Chapel program for children

Kids for Christ, a youth group for children in grades 1 through 6, is now offered weekly at the Main Post Chapel. The group meets every Wednesday from 6 to 7 p.m.

For information on the new program, call Ali at 377-3836.

Reproductive information

Army Public Health Nursing Service provides education to units on pregnancy prevention, family planning attitudes, reproductive cycle, contraceptive options and responsible decision-making. This class is to have Soldiers take control of their reproductive lives and realize that there is a safe and effective method of birth control for each individual. This is a three-hour interactive session at the unit location. Classes may be co-ed. To schedule a workshop, call 968-4382.

Fort Lewis Thrift Shop

For great prices on clothes, furniture and a whole lot more, come to the Fort Lewis Thrift Shop, located in Buildings 2070 and 2071 on Pendleton Avenue across from the old fire station — open for shopping Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and the first Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Consignments are accepted Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the first Saturday of the month. Also, the Thrift Shop accepts donations and needs volunteers (will pay for child care). Call the Thrift Shop at 964-0445 for more information.

Unit tobacco training

The annual Unit Tobacco Training class, “Tobacco and Its Effects on Readiness,” is available to units now. The class can be arranged for 30, 45 or 60 minutes, whatever the unit schedule allows. The federal tax on cigarettes may increase 60 cents per pack, bringing the price of the average pack of cigarettes in Washington state close to $6. Recent research indicates that nicotine addiction can put a significant financial strain on the junior enlisted Soldiers — and that they report financial problems among their leading causes of stress.

Call Cynthia Hawthorne, MAMC Department of Preventive Medicine, at 968-4387 to arrange a class date and time.

School district Web sites

Auburn — www.auburn.wednet.edu/

Bethel — www.bethelsd.org

Bremerton — www.bremertonschools.org

Clover Park — www.cloverpark.k12.wa.us/

Eatonville — www.cruiser.eatonvillewednet.edu/

Federal Way — www.fwps.org/

Fife — www.fifeschools.com

Franklin Pierce — www.fp.k12.wa.us

Lakewood — www.lwsd.wednet.edu/

North Thurston — www.nthurston.k1.wa.us/

Olympia — www.kids.osd.wednet.edu/

Orting — www.orting.wednet.edu/

Peninsula — www.peninsula.wednet.edu

Puyallup — www.puyallup.k12.wa.us/

Renton — www.renton.wednet.edu/

Steilacoom — www.steilacoom.k12.wa.us/

Sumner — www.sumner.wednet.edu/

Tacoma Public Schools — www.tacoma.k12.wa.us

Tahoma — www.tahoma.wednet.edu/

Tumwater — www.tumwater.k12.wa.us

University Place — www.upsd.wednet.edu/

Vashon Island — www.vashonsd.org/

More Information — Puget Sound Educational Service District, www.psesd.org.

Fort Lewis Military Museum

Visit the Fort Lewis Military Museum Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. (closed federal holidays). The Fort Lewis Military Museum collects, preserves, displays and interprets artifacts relevant to Fort Lewis’ history and the units that have served here. The museum features an outstanding collection of uniforms, weapons, military art and memorabilia associated with post and the U.S. Army. Located in Building 4320 on North Fort Lewis, the staff can be reached at 967-4523.

BOSS designated drivers Going out to the clubs on post and need a safe ride? Take advantage of the BOSS Designated Driver Program. Volunteer Soldiers drive the BOSS van on Friday and Saturday nights between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m., transporting Soldiers between the on-post clubs. Call 208-9169 for a safe, no-questions-asked ride.

Web-based refills

Many Madigan patients have already used the call-in refill line at 968-2999 or (800) 544-3298 (Option 4), but there’s also a Web-based refill service. When patients input their request, they will receive real-time feedback on the status of their medications. Go to www.mamc.amedd.army.mil, and click on “pharmacy prescription refills.”

Off-limits

The Armed Forces Disciplinary Control Board places the following areas and establishments off limits:

● Ginseng Spa, 125588 Pacific Highway in Tacoma;

● Royal Steam Bath, 9324 1/2 South Tacoma Way in Tacoma;

● Shanghai Sauna, 12507 Pacific Highway in Tacoma;

● Café Arizona, 2012 South 320th Street in Federal Way;

● Club NAF, 6327 West Marginal Way in Seattle.

● Studio B (formerly Club FX), 333 Elliott Avenue West in Seattle; and

● United State of Consciousness events, P.O. Box 13350 in Des Moines.

● Advance-Til-Payday, 2500 6th Street, Bremerton.

Sergeants Major Association

The Sergeants Major Association of Fort Lewis meets the third Wednesday of each month at 4:30 p.m. at the Cascade Community Center.

All active and retired sergeants major of the U.S. Army, reserve components or equivalent grades of other branches, are eligible for membership in the association.

For more information, call 297-3403.

ACAP Web site

ACAP online is a valuable Army tool that enables Soldiers anywhere in the world to access essential transition information. ACAP online can be accessed at www.acap.army.mil. The Web site has a more modern look and provides eight user paths, each tailored to a specific population. The paths are Army leaders, active, Reserve, retirees, Army veterans, DA civilians, family members and employers.

Attention all tobacco users

Did you know that night vision is affected by tobacco use?

Chemicals from using tobacco products get into your bloodstream and can damage the delicate blood vessels inside your eyes. Nicotine constricts veins and arteries, which reduces blood flow throughout the body.

Circulation is important to the eyes and their function. Nicotine inhibits the production of rhodopsin which is the chemical pigment responsible for adaptation to darkness.

Tobacco users can develop cataracts at an earlier age than non-users. A plaque of whitish material covers the back of the lens, scattering light rays and causing blurred vision and glare, especially at night with oncoming lights.

Ready to quit?

Call Tricare at 1-800-404-4506, Okubo at 966-1991 or Army Public Health at 968-4382. For annual unit training: Tobacco: Effects on Readiness, call 968-4387.

Society of Military Widows Society of Military Widows meets the first Tuesday of each month at the the McChord Air Force Base club.

Please join us for luncheon and vital information you might need. For more information call Liz at 539-5171.

Designated Driver program

Designated Driver is a program supported by volunteer Soldiers, who drive the BOSS van on Friday and Saturday nights, transporting Soldiers to and from the clubs on-post. Call 967-9777 for a safe, no-questions-asked ride, Friday and Saturday nights from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Attention dippers and chewers

Although many people think smokeless tobacco is a safe alternative to smoking, it’s not.

Did you know that a person who uses eight to 10 dips a day receives the same amount of nicotine as a heavy smoker who smokes 30 to 40 cigarettes a day?

Smokeless tobacco is made from a mixture of tobacco, nicotine, sweeteners, abrasives, salts and chemicals.

It contains more than 3,000 chemicals, including about 28 known carcinogens. Harmful chemicals in smokeless tobacco include Polonium 210 (nuclear waste), tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines or TSNAs (cancer-causing agents found in tobacco), formaldehyde (embalming fluid), nicotine, cadmium (used in car batteries), cyanide, arsenic, benzene and lead.

Like smoking tobacco, smokeless tobacco affects the cardiovascular system and may be associated with heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure. Long-term effects of dipping and chewing include leukoplakia, tooth abrasion, gum recession, gum and tooth disease, loss of bone in the jaw, yellowing of teeth, and chronic bad breath.

Other health consequences of using smokeless tobacco include cancer of the mouth (including the lip, tongue, cheek and floor and roof of the mouth) and throat. Want to quit?

Army Public Health Nursing has tobacco cessation clinics on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at 1 p.m. — call 968-4382. Okubo has a clinic every Friday at 9 a.m. — call 966-1991. Or call Tricare for an appointment at Internal Medicine, 1-800-404-4506.

Attention all tobacco users

Did you know — Atherosclerosis is a process that develops over years but is accelerated by tobacco use. When cholesterol and other fats deposit in the arteries, leaving them narrow, blocked or rigid circulation is impaired and blood clots are likely to form. Tobacco use accelerates the hardening and narrowing process in your arteries: it starts earlier and blood clots are two to four times more likely.

Approximately eight out of 10 heart bypass patients use tobacco.

Blood clots in the heart and brain are the most common causes of sudden death.

Tobacco users who have a heart attack are more likely to die and die suddenly (within an hour) than are non-tobacco users.

You’re working hard for your retirement — don’t surrender it to a tobacco caused disease. Call Tricare at 1-800-404-4506 to book an appointment at Family Medicine or Army Community Health Nursing or call Okubo Clinic at 966-1991 to book an appointment in their Friday tobacco cessation clinic.

Does your unit want to conquer their tobacco addiction? Call Cindy Hawthorne at 968-4387.

Attention smokers

Enjoy better health in 2006 — conquer your nicotine addiction! The following program options are available:

MAMC offers a three week in-depth group program, weekly group classes, in-patient counseling and individual appointments because one size does not fit all. Call 968-4487/4387 for program information.

● Option 1: Army Community Health Nursing three week tobacco cessation program. Classes are 2 hours once a week for three weeks, located in the Community Health Nursing Conference Room at Old Madigan, Bldg 9912 B. Book through TRICARE: 1-800-404-4506

● Option 2: Okubo Clinic, North Fort Lewis. Tobacco Cessation Clinic every Friday at 9 a.m. Call 966-1991

● Option 3: Unit Training — we come to you — 968-4387

● Option 4: In-patient, individual or pregnant counseling — 968-2937

● Option 5: Army Community Health Nursing Cessation Clinic, the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at 1 p.m. — call TRICARE at 1-800-404-4506. Individual appointments call 968-4382.

● Option 6: Are you a shift worker or in the field a lot? Call 968-4387.

● Option 7: Washington State Quitline – toll free 1-877-270-7867 — speak with a counselor from the comfort of your home.

Or go on-line to www.smokefree.gov.

Unit tobacco cessation training

Attention all first sergeants and commanders: a tobacco use cessation class for units has been created to discourage use of tobacco products. Unit Soldiers are educated on the progressively debilitating effects of tobacco use and second-hand smoke on physical and mental well-being.

Discussion includes impact on the health of families and units, what causes the tobacco addiction and the impact on the service member’s personal finances.

Civilian employees and family members are encouraged to attend, too. Possible outcomes are increased camaraderie as the unit supports the efforts of tobacco users to stop, increase in overall unit readiness and APFT scores, and an increase in unit productivity due to fewer smoke breaks and decreased sick call.

For more information please call Cindy Hawthorne, MAMC Community Health Nursing, at 968-4387 or 968-4382 or e-mail: cynthia.hawthorne@amedd.army.mil.

POV Resale Lot

New at Fort Lewis? Need a second car? Check out the POV Resale Lot, located at the corner of Kaufman Street and Pendleton Avenue.

You can place your vehicle in the Resale Lot by registering at the Arts and Crafts Center, located in Building 5038.

Attention

Event announcements must be received no later than the Friday before publication. They can be e-mailed to nwgeditor@nwguardian.com.Announcements can be viewed online at NWGuardian.com. The Northwest Guardian office is located in the basement of Building 2026-B.

For more information, call 967-0173.