Lewis Ledger, Oct. 23

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 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.

Harvest festival

Child, Youth and School Services will host a Harvest Festival at Shoreline Park on Oct. 31 from 4 to 7 p.m. There will be hay rides, a corn maze, a pumpkin patch, bounce houses, face painting and a costume parade. For more information call 967-4441.

Recycling extravaganza

The Fort Lewis PX will be hosting a recycling event on Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Services provided will include personal document shredding, electronics recycling, light bulb exchange (bring in your incandescent, get a compact flourescent), refrigerator recycling (sign up to have yours picked up and receive $30), book donation to The Reading Tree; and personal goods donation to Tacoma Rescue Mission. Bring something to recycle and learn about the recycling process. For more information, call 966-1734.

Toastmasters

The Melting Pot Group on Fort Lewis is affiliated with the Toastmasters organization. The group strives to sharpen every aspect of members’ communication skills. These include preparing and delivering speeches, speaking off-the-cuff during meetings, running meetings, and becoming excellent listeners. These meetings provide a comfortable and fun environment to grow and network.

The group meets every Wednesday from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. at the 191st Infantry Brigade headquarters, Building 4290, Room 1025, 9th Division Drive, (across from the Family Resource Center). You must be 18 years or older; there is no cost to attend.

For more information, go to http://meltingpot.freetoasthost.cc/directions.html.

Zombie Walk

Meet in the parking lot of Raindrops & Rainbows Parent and Child Play Center on North Fort Lewis on Oct. 31 at 6 p.m. for the Zombie Walk to Shoreline Park. For more information call 967-6772.

Night of prayer

Grace Women of the Chapel will host a special prayer night service at North Fort Lewis Chapel Tuesday, from 6 to 9 p.m. The prayer service will provide encouragement in these trying economic times, bring hope to the families of Soldiers in harm’s way and build the faith.

Child care service available, upon request. Call Deborah or Doris, at 301-4374.

Free dinner offer

On Veterans Day — Nov. 11 — all Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants will honor U.S. veterans and active-duty military with a free meal. All guests with proof of current or former U.S. military service will enjoy a free entrée from a selection of six signature favorites. This special offer will be available lunchtime through the dinner hours for dine-in guests at all Applebee’s restaurants, nationwide. For complete details visit www.applebees.com/vetsday.

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.

Amnesty Day

Ammunition can be turned in Nov. 17 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the C-5 mock-up on East Gate Road, without fear of prosecution or investigation. No appointment or paperwork is required. Other amnesty boxes are located at the Ammunition Supply Point parking lot; at Range 2 on Jecelin Avenue; at the corner of A Street and 17th Street on North Fort; at the Ranger Compound; at Slone and S. 20th Streets (the main wash rack); and at A and 8th streets (the North wash rack).

International forum

The Grandstaff Library will host an international forum Nov. 10, from noon to 1 p.m. The topic of discussion is “Climate Change and National Security” presented by Dr. Jonathan H. Harrington of Troy University. Participants may bring their own lunches. Refreshments will be provided.

Physical Therapy Month

Join the Madigan Physical Therapy Clinic staff as they celebrate National Physical Therapy Month in the Madigan Medical Mall Tuesday, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be several interactive booths, including core-stability training, running shoe selection, amputee care, performance assessment, and Wii-habilitation. The clinic staff will also showcase research projects in which they have been involved and will give away candy and other prizes to those who can correctly answer fitness quiz questions.

For more information, call the Physical Therapy Clinic at 968-0780.

Care Team training

Care Team training will take place Nov. 3 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Waller Hall in the main briefing room.

Care Teams are groups of two or three trained individuals who volunteer to assist families that have lost loved ones. Care teams assist and support families immediately after their loss, filling the gap between notification and arrival of personal support systems.

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.

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 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 today.

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.

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.

WLC inprocessing

Henry H. Lind NCO Academy Warrior Leader Course, Class 002-10, will inprocess on Wednesday. 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.

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/.

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 by 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 Saturday 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.

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: Tuesday 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.

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 today. 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.

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.

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 Monday, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Cascade Training Annex Rainier Room. To be considered, 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 until midnight Sunday, 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.

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

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 allows service members 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.

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.