Lewis Ledger, Oct. 9

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.

Halloween

Fort Lewis Police and crime prevention will be out in force on Halloween to make sure we have a fun and safe evening of trick or treating. Extra patrols will be conducted in housing areas. Crime-prevention teams will be handing out bags full of goodies and safety items such as chem’ lights.

Trick or treating on Fort Lewis is open only to those with normal access to the installation: children of service members, military retirees or Fort Lewis civilian employees.

Drivers are asked to practice extra caution as they watch out for costumed children darting into the street.

Domestic Violence Awareness

Army Community Service is hosting the 2009 Domestic Violence Awareness Conference at North Fort Chapel on Wednesday 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.

Bethel School District

Join Bethel School District for a celebration of talented students and a great community on Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Graham-Kapowsin High School, 22100 108th Ave. E, in Graham.

There will be free entertainment by Bethel School District students, interactive booths, information on military resources, family, health and social services and fabulous food. For more information visit bethelsd.org.

Child care provider training

Fort Lewis kids need you. Earn up to $2,000 a month working from home as a family child care provider. Receive free business training and have a fun, rewarding career.

Family child care providers on post must be certified by attending mandatory training. FCC classes are in Building 2013-B on the second floor in Room 233. Due to space availability and the importance of the meeting, please do not bring children to the orientation. Child care will be provided during the provisional classes.

● Orientation: Oct. 27 from 6 to 8 p.m.

● Provisional classes: Nov. 2 to 6 and Nov. 9 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For more information call 967-3039.

Make a Difference Day

Share your community spirit by getting your unit, organization or co-workers involved in “Make A Difference Day.” Make a Difference Day, scheduled for Oct. 24, is the nation’s most encompassing day of community service. Adopt or register a project with the Army Volunteer Corps office.

For more information or to receive a copy of the current Make A Difference Day project list, contact the AVC office at 967-2324 or e-mail lori.parker@us.army.mil.

Abandoned vehicles

The Provost Marshal Office is observing an increase in the number of vehicles being left unattended on Fort Lewis for extended periods of time in areas such as unit parking lots, common areas, or the lodge parking lot. These areas are not authorized for long-term vehicle storage. When that happens, they draw the attention of the Provost Marshal as possible abandoned vehicles and a concerted effort is made to contact the registered owner to resolve the situation. When the registered owner cannot be located or the vehicle registration is no longer valid, the vehicle is marked for potential towing.

According to Lt. Tom Martin, chief of the Provost Marshal Office Traffic Section, “once vehicles are marked, the registered owners have 72 hours to contact the Provost Marshal Office Abandoned Vehicle Section at 967-3107 with plans for how to correct the deficiencies (i.e., registration, post decals, repairs and removing the vehicles).

Once the 72 hours has passed and attempts to locate the registered owners, their units or their families have failed, the paperwork is turned over to the contracted towing company for removal. Once the tow company has the vehicle, it is bound by Washington state law to adhere to disposal protocol.

Notice is sent by certified mail to the registered owners and legal owners. Vehicles will go to auction 30 days after receiving the return receipt of the notice. The towing company receives payment from the auction of the vehicles or payment for storage of the vehicles, if the registered owners arrive to claim them.” Typically, vehicle owners pay approximately $180 to get their cars back.

The Provost Marshal Office makes every reasonable attempt to locate car owners and give them an opportunity to remove the vehicles. Once those attempts fail, the remaining option is to have the vehicles towed off post.

Members of the Fort Lewis community who have had cars towed or have questions about authorized long-term vehicle storage options are encouraged to contact the Abandoned Vehicle Section.

Telephone prescription scam

The Department of Veterans Affairs is warning veterans not to give credit card numbers over the phone to callers claiming to update VA prescription information. VA does not call veterans and ask them to disclose personal financial information over the phone. Callers perpetrating the scam are misrepresenting the VA to gain personal information. They say VA recently changed procedures for dispensing prescriptions and ask for the veteran’s credit card number. This is not the case.

Veterans with questions about VA services should contact the nearest VA medical center or call, toll-free, 1-877-222-8387.

Transit prizes

Instant rewards are available for riders of Pierce Transit Route 207. Take a convenient form of transportation and get prizes. It’s simple: Ride the bus and write your name, phone number, and e-mail on the back of the transfer you are given.

Redeem your transfer at Carey Theater for a free movie and be automatically entered into the Grand Prize Drawing for 18 holes of golf for two at Eagle’s Pride Golf Course, or drop it off at Carey Theater or at Battle Bean (located across from Waller Hall) for entry into the Grand Prize Drawing. Entries must be submitted by Oct. 23. There will be different prizes every other month.

For bus route information visit www.piercetransit.org/schedules/207/207.htm. For more information, call 966-1734.

BOSS 20th Anniversary

Join Team Lewis Oct. 16 at the Cascade Community Center for BOSS’ 20th Anniversary celebration from 3 to 6 p.m. Enjoy complimentary gourmet pizza from Garlic Jim’s, fun games and great prizes. You must be at least 18 to attend and 21 to purchase/consume alcohol.

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

ACS Holiday Assistance Program

Army Community Service traditionally offers commanders a holiday dinner program to assist Army families in need during the holidays. ACS will provide commanders with cash vouchers for identified Soldiers: Vouchers are redeemable at the Fort Lewis commissary for food purchases only.

Commanders determine which Soldiers within their commands will receive assistance. Basic guidelines for establishing need will be provided to command sergeants major.

Fort Lewis does not have a program to connect Soldiers and families with people off-post. Those who want to support Soldiers and their families during the holidays can make donations to the Army Community Service Holiday Assistance Program by calling (253) 967-9917.

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.

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.

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.

Hispanic heritage

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage at American Lake Community Center from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday. 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.

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-foot squares 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 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.

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.

● Clarkdale Community Center, Wednesday, 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.

Calendar

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

● today, DONSA

● Monday, 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.

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.

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.

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 problems, call (678) 516-3667.

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.