Lewis Ledger, Oct. 16

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.

Correction

In last week’s coverage of the Extreme Mountain Bike Race, one of the racers in a photograph was misidentified. A picture of Rich Rosenblum was mislabeled as James Wayenberg. We regret the error.

Job opening

The Fort Lewis Thrift Shop has an opening for a full-charge bookkeeper. Interested parties can send their resumes to the Thrift Shop, P.O. Box 33274, Fort Lewis, WA 98433. For more information, call 964-0445.

Real heroes

The American Red Cross needs your help to identify and recognize the extraordinary people who may have saved lives, performed heroic acts or made extra efforts to lend a hand. These heroes might be your friends or family members, firefighters, military service members, police officers or even your next-door neighbors.

The nominees may be professionally trained or simply a good Samaritans. Nominations are being accepted for but not limited to the following categories: 911 dispatch, animal rescue, fire safety, youth humanitarian, adult humanitarian, law enforcement, medical rescue, military, spirit of the Red Cross, wilderness rescue and workplace safety. The deadline for nominations is Oct. 23.

Each year, the American Red Cross Mount Rainier Chapter recognizes local heroes from the community during the Red Cross Real Heroes Awards Breakfast. More than 500 business and civic leaders attend this community celebration and fundraiser for the Red Cross. This year’s event is scheduled for Dec. 4, at the Hotel Murano, Bicentennial Pavilion.

For more information, visit www.rainier-redcross.org or contact the American Red Cross Mount Rainier Chapter at 474-0400.

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.

Santa’s Castle open house

Santa’s Castle is hosting its annual open house on Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. All family readiness support assistants, and brigade and battalion leaders, are invited to tour Santa’s Castle and meet some of the benefactors and supporters who help provide gifts for Soldiers’ children.

Santa’s Castle is located in building T-6191 on the corner of N. 21st Street and Pierce Avenue. For more information, contact Michelle Wood, president of Santa’s Castle, at 964-0635 or Ft.LewisSantasCastle@yahoo.com/.

Celestial observation bash Together with the Tacoma Astronomical Society, the Olympic Flight Museum will host the annual Celestial Observation Bash on Nov. 20, from 7:30 p.m. to midnight. In celebration of the International Year of Astronomy, there will be a celestial scavenger hunt, hands-on exploration of how telescopes work and a short film, “There Once Was a Night Full of Stars.” In the event of rain, other activities will be provided indoors, including make-and-take solar systems and a bonus movie, “400 years of the Telescope.” Complimentary cocoa and popcorn will be provided. The event is suitable for both youths and adults. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 7 to 12; children under 6 are free. For more information, call the Olympic Flight Museum at (360) 705-3925 or visit the Web site www.olympicflightmuseum.com/.

‘Dear Me’

The Washington State Department of Health’s Tobacco Prevention and Control Program has launched a new online tobacco cessation campaign, called, “Dear Me.”

Washington State folks who smoke were taped writing and reading letters to themselves saying why it’s time to break free from tobacco. The motto that emerged from these sessions – “No one can make me quit but me” – is used in each of the ads. The ads encourage people to call 1-800-QUIT-NOW for help in quitting tobacco.

The Dear Me ads were originally created to run on television, but budget cuts and a “no paid media” special order from the Washington Legislature pushed the campaign onto the state’s cessation Web site – www.quitline.com. Visit the site and click on Dear Me, then scroll down to the eight ads and background videos, all shot at the homes of the smokers featured in the ads.

The new Quitline.com offers information and practical tools to encourage and support quit attempts. Features in addition to the Dear Me ads include:

● Videos of quit coaches talking about what happens when people call, and offering quit tips for those not ready to call.

● An interactive quit plan that allows people to submit personal information and print out their own quit plan.

● Quizzes designed to test knowledge of the quit process and tips for quitting successfully.

● Information and quit coach videos in Spanish.

● Key information for health care providers.

● Facts about the dangers of tobacco use and secondhand smoke.

More than 125,000 people have called the quit line for help since its inception in late 2000. And since 2004 there have been more than 716,000 visits to www.quitline.com.

Bunco Spook Fest

Fort Lewis Officers Spouses’ Club is having a Bunco Spook Fest as its monthly members-only function on Oct. 20, hosted by McChord Officers’ Spouses’ Club. The cost is $10 for Bunco and heavy appetizers. The event will take place at the McChord Club on McChord Air Force Base. Social hour is from 6 to 6:30 p.m., with Bunco to follow. Please RSVP: those with last names beginning with A through M e-mail a-mreservations@fortlewisosc.org; those with names beginning with N through Z e-mail n-zreservations@fortlewisosc.org. For more information see the Web site at www.fortlewisosc.org/.

WLC graduation

The Henry H. Lind NCO Academy Warrior Leader Course, Class 001-10 will graduate Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in Carey Theater. For more information, call 967-7294.

WLC inprocessing

Henry H. Lind NCO Academy Warrior Leader Course, Class 002-10, will inprocess on Oct. 28. Students report to Building 3114 at 5 a.m. Sponsors must report to Building 5996 at 5 a.m. For more information, call 967-7294.

Green Wheel Options

A new commute could have you saying, “Arrivederci” Washington and “Buon giorno, Rome.”

Try any green Wheel Options (including compressed work schedule) at least twice during the period from Sunday through Oct. 31 and you are eligible to win a vacation to Rome and many other great prizes. Plus you’ll save your money, your sanity and you’ll help save the quality of life in our community ... and on our planet.

Simply go to www.piercetrips.com, log in to the Commute Calendar and enter your trips by Nov. 6.

Statewide Prizes include the grand prize: a trip to Rome. Airfare, full-time service of a professional Rick Steves guide, all tours and admissions, covering at least a dozen sightseeing events, six nights’ accommodations, all breakfasts and half your dinners, all group transportation, all tips; and a Rick Steves’ Rome guidebook, Italian phrase book, map, money belt and earplugs. Other statewide prizes include $100 Gift Cards at local retailers.

Pierce County Prizes include a grand prize of a relaxing stay at the Enzian Inn in Leavenworth, complete with a $100 VISA gift card. Other county prizes include $100, $75 and $50 gift cards and certificates at local restaurants and businesses. Visit www.PierceTrips.com for the complete list of prizes.

UFC Fight 104 If you like mixed martial arts, combatives or just like a good fight, come out on Oct. 24 to watch UFC Fight 104 at Cascade Community Center. Doors open at 6, and fights start at 7 p.m. Order a cold beverage and watch the undercard fights before the big matchup. For more information call 964-0331.

Bethel School District Join Bethel School District for a celebration of talented students and a great community on Saturday 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.

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.

Holiday bazaar

The Officers’ Spouses’ Club’s 29th Annual Holiday Bazaar is Nov. 7 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Nov. 8 from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $2 (children 15 and younger are free) in the FMWR Expo Tent, outside American Lake Community Center on North Fort Lewis.

Vendors galore will be set up, ready to sell and take orders.

The popular raffle includes a spectacular quilt, designed and created by the Quilting Club. The quilt will be on display at various locations around the Fort Lewis Community, at which time raffle tickets can be purchased for $2 each.

This year the OSC is also holding a raffle for a print entitled “Lord Grant Me the Strength...” by Marc Wolfe. It was donated by America’s Gallery, located in the Mini Mall. There will also be a silent auction featuring various local, and not so local, items for you to bid on.

Door prizes will be awarded throughout the event.

Come out and support the OSC’s biggest fundraiser of the year. All proceeds go back to Fort Lewis and surrounding area organizations.

For more information, contact OSC at holidaybazaar@fortlewisoscorg/.

BOSS 20th Anniversary

Join Team Lewis today 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 Sunday 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.

Fall Flea Market

Recycle your unwanted items at the Fall Flea Market Saturday 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.

● Discovery Community Center, Wednesday, 6 p.m.

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

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

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.

Calendar

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

● 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

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 japanesearmy

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.