Lewis Ledger, Oct. 2

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.

Domestic violence awareness

Army Community Service is hosting the 2009 Domestic Violence Awareness Conference at North Fort Chapel on Oct. 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The guest speaker is Ben Atherton-Zeman. For more information or to register, call 967-5940.

Free test-prep programs

Military family members looking forward to moving on to higher education can now get free help in preparing for standardized tests: eKnowledge Corporation, the leading supplier of interactive learning software for college test preparation, is donating $200 test-prep programs free to military families worldwide through 2010. Active-duty, Reserve, retired, National Guard and and their family members may order the software by visiting eKnowledge.com/military.

For more information, contact Lori Caputo, vice president of Military Donation Programs at (770) 992-0900.

Fire Prevention Week

Fort Lewis Fire and Emergency Services are hosting an open house and fire prevention fair Saturday, at Fire Station 5, the old Fort Lewis Fire Station, on Pendleton Avenue. The event begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m., and is the official kickoff for Fire Prevention Week, which runs Oct. 4 to 10.

There will be plenty of free giveaways, complimentary chili dogs, chips and soda, an automobile extrication demonstration, special visits by Smokey the Bear and Sparky the Fire Dog, entertainment for the kids and so much more, including an interactive smoke house to teach children how to safely evacuate in the event of a fire. For more information call 967-5776.

Impact Aid surveys

The time is coming soon to complete and send in Impact Aid Surveys. It is important for parents to turn in the surveys to their children’s schools. The funding provided to school districts helps to offset the monetary loss of property tax received because of federal property. School districts use Impact Aid for a wide variety of expenses, including the salaries of teachers and teacher aides; purchasing textbooks, computers and other equipment; after-school programs and remedial tutoring; advanced-placement classes; and special enrichment programs.

Payments for children with disabilities must be used for the extra costs of educating these children. Take the time to fill out your survey. From the students, to the schools, to the parents, and the educators, everyone is affected by the funding that is received based on the information provided in these surveys.

Instructor training courses

The Henry H. Lind NCO Academy offers the Army Basic Instructor Course and the Small Group Instructor Training Course in Building 5995, at the ITC Classroom. The mission is to train current and future leaders and civilian instructors in those skills and traits necessary to lead, train, coach and mentor Soldiers to United States Army standards.

ABIC is an 80-hour course teaching basic instructor techniques and assisting future instructors in obtaining the “8” identifier. SGITC is a 40-hour course providing insight to group development and teaching methods to facilitate small groups in achieving training objectives. Space is limited.

To secure a seat in these courses, submit your name, rank, phone number and e-mail address to Douglas Adams, 967-4879, or send an e-mail to douglas.adams@us.army.mil. Current class dates are on the NCO Academy Web site https://ftextra.lewis.army.mil/ncoa/index.asp/.

West Point admissions

Want to be one of the 150 Soldiers admitted to the U.S. Military Academy next year? Attend a West Point admissions presentation Oct. 26, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Cascade Training Annex Rainier Room.

To be considered for admission, Soldiers must be U.S. citizens, unmarried, have no legal obligations to support dependents, be high school graduates, be younger than 23 prior to July 1 the year entering, be of high moral character, and have a sincere interest in attending the Academy and becoming Army officers.

To apply online, go to www.admissions.usma.edu. For more information, contact Maj. Brian Easley, (DSN) 688-5780, (845) 938-5780, or by e-mail at jeffrey.coulon@usma.edu.

Night firing notices

● 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment will be training in the Fort Lewis Artillery Impact Area, using demolitions and mortars, from midnight Oct. 18 until midnight Oct. 25, using Range 50.

● 14th Engineer Battalion will train with demolitions in the Fort Lewis Artillery Impact Area, from midnight Nov. 22 until midnight Nov. 24, using Range 57.

Care Team training

A Care Team is a group of two to three trained volunteers who assist families that have lost loved ones. Care Teams are designed to assist and support families, during the time between notification and arrival of their own support systems.

Care Team training will take place on Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Waller Hall in the main briefing room. To register, e-mail pamela.j.allen@conus.army.mil or call 967-8430. Child care is available with prior reservations by calling Clarkmoor Hourly Care at 966-2490. Children must be registered with CYSS.

1st SFOD-Delta

The 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta is conducting recruiting briefings for its Assessment and Selection Course. Because of DELTA’s unique mission and operations, all MOSs are encouraged to apply. For more information on DOD’s highest-priority unit and possible career opportunities, attend one of the DELTA Force briefings scheduled at Fort Lewis.

Interested Soldiers should be males; in the ranks of specialist through master sergeant (officers at the rank of captain); have at least 2.5 years time in service; be 21 years or older; and have GT scores of at least 110 or be able to raise their scores to that level.

The next briefing on Fort Lewis is today, at 1 p.m., in Stone Education Center, Room C-215. If you have questions, e-mail sof2.recruiter@us.army.mil. The briefing will last no more than an hour. Ensure your chain of command is aware that you will be attending.

Play Morning relocates

The New Parent Support Program’s Play Morning is now held at Sheridan Sports and Fitness Center (Building 3759) on Stryker Avenue. Play Mornings take place every Friday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Bring your young children, infants to 6 years of age, to play while you meet other Fort Lewis moms and dads. For more information call 967-7409.

Looking for vendors

The Officers’ Spouses’ Club’s 29th Annual Holiday Bazaar at Fort Lewis will be held Nov. 7, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Nov. 8, noon to 5 p.m. The bazaar will take place in the FMWR Expo tent, outside American Lake Community Center, on North Fort Lewis.

The club is still seeking vendors to participate in the fair. All applications must be received no later than Oct. 15.

Booths are 10 feet squared for $90. Vendors may not share space with other bazaar participants. Applications are taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Space is limited. The club reserves the right to refuse items deemed inappropriate for sale at this Bazaar, so photographs, brief explanations of the items to be sold and price lists are helpful.

Applications are available on the Fort Lewis Officers’ Spouses’ Club web site, http://www.fortlewisosc.org.

For more information contact the Melissa at holidaybazaar@fortlewisosc.org.

Fall Flea Market

Recycle your unwanted items at the Fall Flea Market on Oct. 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the American Lake Community Center. Space is available for ID card holders on a first-come, first-served basis. The cost is $12 for a six-foot table and two chairs. Garage sale items only. Commercial resale not allowed. Call 967-6772 for more information and payment.

WLC in-processing

The Henry H. Lind NCO Academy Warrior Leader Course, Class 001-10, will in-process Wednesday. Students must report to Building 3114 at 5 a.m. Sponsors must report to Building 5996 at 5 a.m. For more information, call 967-7294.

Family Connections

The Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, in collaboration with Sesame Street Workshop, recently unveiled the “Sesame Street Family Connections” Web site: www.sesamestreetfamilyconnections.org/. This interactive Web site, similar to social-networking sites, will allow Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and their families to stay connected in a safe and nurturing environment surrounded by their favorite Sesame Street friends.

Whether the distance between service members and their loved ones is due to deployment or recovery from an injury suffered while deployed, the “Family Connections” Web site offers young children an online environment to stay connected, while offering tools for the entire family, to aid in the recovery of the visible and invisible wounds of combat.

Got Health?

Learn how to eat healthier and practice portion control by attending October’s Portion Distortion class in your housing area Community Resource Center. Want to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight? Practicing portion control will ensure you don’t supersize your servings and help you maintain control of the amount of food you eat. You’ll also learn about “food synergy,” combining certain food types for optimal nutrition absorption. We’ll also discuss nutrition labels. Come alone, bring a friend or bring the family and learn new, healthy eating skills together.

● Greenwood Community Center, Saturday, 3 p.m.

● Clarkdale Community Center, Oct. 14, 1:30 p.m.

● Discovery Community Center, Oct. 21, 6 p.m.

● Eagleview Community Center, Oct. 24, 10 a.m.

For more information, call Army Public Health Nursing, at 968-4382

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.

Tailgate party

Come out to Cascade Community Center on NFL Game Day Sundays and watch multiple games on six 42-inch hi-definition plasma TVs inside Heroes Sports Lounge. Cook your own hamburgers and hot dogs (hamburger, bun, cheese, condiments and potato salad are $2.50 and a jumbo hot dog, bun, cheese, condiments and potato salad are just $2), and wash your lunch down with happy hour drinks from 1 to 3 p.m.

For more information, call 964-0331.

Hispanic heritage

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage at American Lake Community Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 14. Come learn about Hispanic heritage by listening to music, watching dance performances and sampling food. Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Lourdes Alvarado-Ramos is the guest speaker.

For more information call 966-3988.

Calendar

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

● 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

Warrior Hourly Child Care Center

The Warrior Hourly Child Care Center is located adjacent to the Madigan Army Medical Center parking area in Building 9037 on Gardner Loop. The mission of the Warrior Center is to provide quality child care for Soldiers assigned to the Warrior Transition Battalion; however, all families registered with CYSS may use the facility on a space-available basis.

Child care reservations can be made two weeks in advance. The staff provides child care for children from 6 weeks to 12 years old while Soldiers or family members attend medical appointments or use Army Family Covenant respite-care hours.

The center hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. To use the facility, families must complete a free registration at the CYSS Central Registration, Building 2295 at 12th and Bitar.

Call 967-2494 to make a registration appointment.

New patrons are offered the initial hour of child care free. There is a minimum reservation of two hours.

Warrior Hourly Care Center also offers an early-bird special through Oct. 31. Cost is 50 percent off from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. with a minimum two-hour reservation.

To make hourly child care reservations at the Warrior Center, call 968-5656.

Clarkmoor Hourly Care Center

Clarkmoor Hourly Care Center is located at Building 2094 on Bitar Avenue. All families registered with CYSS may use the facility on a space-available basis. Child care reservations can be made two weeks in advance. The staff provides quality hourly child care for children 6 weeks to 6 years old (kindergarten) and may use Army Family Covenant respite care hours.

Hours:

Monday: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday: 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday: closed

New patrons are offered the initial hour of child care free. There is a minimum reservation of two hours.

The center also offers an early-bird special through Oct. 31. The cost is 50 percent off from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. with a minimum two-hour reservation. Families must complete a free registration at the CYSS Central Registration, Building 2295 at the corner of 12th and Bitar. Call 967-2494 to make a registration appointment.

To make hourly child care reservations, call 966-2490.

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 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.

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.

Fall SKIES registration

SKIES Unlimited stands for Schools of Knowledge, Inspiration, Exploration and Skills. It is an Army program that offers instructional programming in academics, arts, life skills and sports for children ranging in age from infants through teens. The SKIES goal is to offer inspiring classes to nurture the development of Fort Lewis children, youth and families while creating opportunities for community and connection. Registration is under way for the fall season.

For a full class listing, visit fortlewismwr.com/SKIES_Unlimited.htm.

Register for SKIES classes at Central Registration, Building 2295. Children must be registered for SKIES classes by the fourth Friday of each month.

For more information, call 967-2494.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

CYSS Youth Fitness

CYSS Youth Fitness 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.

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

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.

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.