Lewis Ledger, Nov. 6

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.

Native American heritage

I Corps and the 42nd Military Police Brigade invite you to attend the 2009 celebration recognizing National American Indian Heritage Month Nov. 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the American Lake Community Center. The guest speaker will be Craig Bill, director of the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs.

Museum closing

The Fort Lewis Military Museum will close to the public on Nov. 16, for renovation and restoration of the historic building. The Fort Lewis Gift Store — the Cannon Shop — located in the museum, is holding a sale to clear inventory prior to the museum’s closure. The museum will reopen to the public in spring 2011.

This will be the most extensive renovation of the building since its construction was completed in 1919.

The Fort Lewis Museum originally housed the Red Shield Inn and was built and operated by the Salvation Army. Although the First World War ended in November 1918, the post was still very active as thousands of Soldiers returned for demobilization. In 1921 the Salvation Army transferred ownership of the Red Shield to the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps for the nominal fee of $1. Under various names the building continued to be used as a guest house until 1972. In 1973, the inn was converted into the Fort Lewis Military Museum. On Feb. 5, 1979, the Fort Lewis Military Museum building was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Please check the Museum’s Web sites for periodic updates during the construction period:

http://www.lewis.army.mil/ or http://www.fortlewismuseum.com/flm/.

Enhanced performance seminar

The Army Center for Enhanced Performance is offering a one-day seminar on Tuesday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Battle Command Training Center, Building 1240, on Railroad Avenue, south of the DuPont Gate. Just as physical training strengthens the body, mental training strengthens the mind and enhances human performance.

Learn and practice performance-enhancing mental and emotional skills based on applied sports psychology techniques, which include goal setting, confidence building, energy management, attention control and imagery. Use state-of-the-art technology and then apply these techniques during this seminar.

For more information contact Bill Howard at 968-7642 or e-mail LewisACEPWebmaster@conus.army.mil and reserve your seat. Space is limited.

Stress management

The Fort Lewis Family Advocacy Program offers a weekly stress management class, from 1 to 3 p.m. on Tuesdays in the FAP Conference Room, Building 2013B. Get a better understanding of stress and its effects on health and readiness. Identify physical and emotional reactions to stress. Learn about stress management tools and how to use them effectively.

Call 967-5901 to schedule a class for your unit or family readiness group.

UXO destruction

In accordance with the fall 2009 Fort Lewis range-clearance program, 3rd Ordnance Battalion will conduct dud clearing and destruction of unexploded ordnance in the Fort Lewis Artillery Impact Area, Nov. 16 to 20. Time line for actual days for UXO destruction is Nov. 18 to 20. UXOs in the targeted area are mostly 105 mm, 155 mm and some 8-inch artillery high-explosive rounds.

C-4 will be used to destroy the UXOs; therefore, live-fire noise concerns will be as follows: (1) 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 to 5 p.m., C-4 charges of less than 20 pounds; (2) C-4 charges larger than 20 pounds will only be used between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.

WLC graduation

The Henry H. Lind NCO Academy Warrior Leader Course, Class 002-10 will graduate on Thursday, Nov. 12 at 1:30 p.m. in Carey Theater.

WLC inprocessing

The Henry H. Lind NCO Academy Warrior Leader Course, Class 003-10, will inprocess Dec. 2. 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.

FCC amnesty

To decrease the risk of child abuse and neglect in unauthorized care, the Family Child Care Program has initiated an amnesty program allowing individuals who are not certified FCC providers, but are regularly caring for children in privatized housing, an opportunity to register with Child, Youth and School Services without penalty.

If you are currently providing unauthorized child care in your home, call the FCC Program at 967-3039 for information on how you can become certified, or pick up an application in Building 2013B on Pendleton at 3rd Avenue.

FCC provides free training as well as free child care while you become certified. Any training and credit gained through the FCC program is transferable to working in a child-development center.

Healthy living

Learn about the great fitness programs offered at your local fitness centers. Call 966-3757 and ask for a tour. Talk to the experts and learn proper exercise techniques for the best results and to avoid injury.

Arrange a free appointment with a personal trainer and ask about a free MicroFit and Wellness assessment. Did you know that Jensen Family Health and Fitness Center has free child care? What are you waiting for? Call 966-3757 today.

Come alone, bring a friend or bring the whole family and get started on a new, healthy lifestyle together. For more information about the Healthy Living series, call Army Public Health Nursing at 968-4382.

Got Health? The choice is yours.

New Year’s celebration

Celebrate New Year’s Eve with a black-and-white-themed gala at American Lake Community Center Dec. 31 from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m. Ticket prices are $45 for singles and $80 for couples. Dinner choices include prime rib, game hen or vegetarian butternut squash ravioli. There will be a breakfast buffet served at 12:30 a.m. Dance to a variety of music by DJ Eric, and ring in the New Year with party favors and a complimentary New Year’s toast. Reservations are required by Dec. 15.

For more information call 964-1209.

Give thanks luncheon

The Officers’ Spouses’ Club of Fort Lewis is inviting Enlisted Spouses’ Club and Officers’ Spouses’ Club members to attend the monthly members-only luncheon Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. in the the American Lake Community Center Lakeside Room.

Cost is $15 per person for the deli-style buffet menu of roast beef, turkey and ham, with all the fixings. Please RSVP by Tuesday with payment to:

Last names beginning with A through M to A-mreservations@fortlewisosc.org; last names beginning with N through Z, to N-zreservations@fortlewisosc.org.

Payments can be mailed to: OSCFL, P.O. Box 340, DuPont, WA 98327.

For more information visit the Web site at www.fortlewisosc.org.

Job fair

There will be a job fair sponsored by Fort Lewis Employment Readiness Service Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the ACS Annex, Building 2166, on Liggett Avenue and 12th Street, across from Waller Hall.

Attendees will meet many local employers and have opportunities to interview for available positions.

For more information, call 967-7287, 966-8325 or 967-3538.

Skin cancer screening

Madigan Army Medical Center’s Dermatology Clinic will conduct its semi-annual Skin Cancer Screening Clinic Tuesday and Nov. 16. All beneficiaries are eligible. Screenings will be offered on an appointment basis; no referral is needed. Patients will be seen during a five- minute appointment that is strictly for skin cancer screening.

Other dermatologic problems will not be addressed. No treatment will be offered. Patients requiring treatment or further evaluation, including biopsies, will be directed to contact their primary care managers to address the findings or provide a referral for dermatology. There are a limited number of appointments, one patient per appointment. For more information, call the Dermatology Clinic at 968-1365.

New hours

Arts and Crafts and the POV Resale Lot have new hours of operation. Beginning Monday, Arts and Crafts Mat and Frame Shop opens Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the POV Resale Lot will be open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For more information call 967-5001.

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.

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).

Road closure

Fort Lewis will close a 900-foot section of 150th Street SW through Nov. 21 for repair and resurfacing. 150th Street SW is outside the Fort Lewis cantonment area and connects with the Perimeter Road, which runs between Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base. 150th St. SW is used for commuter traffic from I-5 to Spanaway.

This road closure will affect local community traffic. 150th Street SW is the property of Fort Lewis and must be closed during the construction period. The road is too narrow to keep one lane open and safely do the work while traffic passes in the opposite lane. During the road closure the Fort Lewis and McChord AFB gates near 150th Street SW will remain open.

Holiday bazaar

The Officers’ Spouses’ Club’s 29th Annual Holiday Bazaar is Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 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.

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

International forum

The Grandstaff Library will host an international forum Tuesday, 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.

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/.

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.

Night firing notices

● 14th Engineer Battalion will train with demolitions in the Fort Lewis Artillery Impact Area, from midnight Nov. 22 until midnight Nov. 24, from midnight Dec. 2 until midnight Dec. 3, and from midnight Dec. 8 until midnight Dec. 10, using Range 57.

Calendar

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

● Wednesday, 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.

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.

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.

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. Child care reservations can be made two weeks in advance. The staff provides hourly child care for children 6 weeks to 6 years old.

Hours of operation are: 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. Families must complete a free registration at the CYSS Central Registration, Building 2295.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.