Community Ledger, Jan. 8

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.

Martin Luther King Jr. birthday events

Rev. Samuel B. McKinney, a friend of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., will be the guest speaker and provide some historical insights about the civil rights movement on Wednesday, 10 to 11 a.m. at Carey Theater. There will be a cake cutting ceremony at 11:30 a.m. at Waller Hall and dining facilities across Fort Lewis will serve birthday observance meals. This celebration is sponsored by the Soldiers of the 62nd Medical Brigade.

Dear John Books-to-Movies

On Monday, 51 Army libraries will begin “Dear John Books-To-Movies” promotions featuring latest Nicholas Sparks’ latest romantic novel, coming to the big screen Feb. 5.

The promotion offers authorized FMWR patrons at least 18 years old opportunities to win movie-related prizes. Those who visit Grandstaff or Crittenberger libraries and check out books between Monday and Feb. 14 can enter for a chance to win a Dear John T-shirt or movie poster. Call 967-5889 for details.

Join the online virtual book club at ArmyMWR.com, read the book and answer questions for a chance to win an autographed movie poster or copy of the novel each week. While online, enter for a chance to win the grand-prize sweepstakes trip for two to Charleston, S.C.

Birth announcements

The following births were reported at Madigan Army Medical Center: to

Duran, Elizabeth and Charles, a girl, Sept. 26;

Meniskis, Katelyn and David, a girl, Oct. 3;

Stewart, Elizabeth and Brandon, a girl, Oct. 4;

Hoxit, Danielle and Joshua, a boy, Oct. 5;

Towell, Sandra and Dee Jay, a girl, Oct. 5;

DeVore, Talia and Michael, a boy, Oct. 6;

Correll, Maria-Teresa and Daniel, a girl, Oct. 7;

Wilkins, Suzanne and Steven, a girl, Oct. 7;

Cournic, Sabrina and Malcolm, a boy, Oct. 8;

Bynoe, Shalisha and Matthew, a boy, Oct. 9;

Fields, Karen and Edwin, a girl, Oct. 9;

Crsak, Meghan and Scott, a girl, Oct. 15;

Rivera, Irma and Reynaldo, a girl, Oct. 17;

Adams, Casey and John, twin girls, Oct. 18;

Coaker, Brynne and Brian, a girl, Oct. 21;

O’Laughlin, Misty and Sean, a boy, Oct. 25;

Morris, Nichole and Thomas, a boy, Oct. 26;

Carr, Brandy and Christopher, a girl, Oct. 27;

Petro, Alexis and Timothy, a girl, Oct. 27;

Wade, Aubrie and Casey, a boy, Oct. 27;

Ward, Abigail and Adam, a girl, Oct. 27;

Morales, Megan and Edwin, a boy, Oct. 28;

Bell, Nancy and Brandon, a girl, Oct. 30;

Mecum, Maria and David, a boy, Oct. 30;

Richard, Samantha and Shane, a girl, Oct. 31;

Kuykendall, Mary Anne and James, a girl, Nov. 1;

Cain, Bethany and Jeffrey, a boy, Nov. 2;

Burghardt, Michelle and Patrick, a boy, Nov. 6;

McGrath, Sara and Timothy, a girl, Nov. 9;

Campbell, Jennifer and Brandon, a girl, Nov. 10;

Weber, Lyndi and Ryan, a boy, Nov. 11;

Bush, Elizabeth and Lee, a boy, Nov. 14;

Tisserand, Paige and Clint, a girl, Nov. 16;

Smith, Rebecca and Jeffery, a girl, Nov. 25;

Calhoun, Clara, a girl, Nov. 26;

Knipe, Yurelki and Richard, a girl, Dec. 2;

McGowen, Kristin and Jared, a boy, Dec. 2;

Deloutuh, Marquita and Cornelius, a girl, Dec. 4;

Leach, Tiffany and Mark, a boy, Dec. 4;

Thompson, Brea and Joshua, a girl, Dec. 5;

Steele, Susan and David, a girl, Dec. 6;

Jacobs, Kyra and James, a boy, Dec. 7;

Heyman, Ashleigh and Raymond, a boy, Dec. 8;

Livermore, Marlena and Stephen, a girl, Dec. 8;

Sogge, Anne and Michael, a girl, Dec. 8;

Heimbigner, Angela and Brian, a girl, Dec. 10;

Little, Shannon and Dustin, a boy, Dec. 10;

Campbell, Danielle and Xaviour, a girl, Dec. 11;

Balmer, Deidra and Adam, a girl, Dec. 14;

Andres, Larra and Benjamin, a girl, Dec. 15;

Sawdy, Brandi and Floyd, a girl, Dec. 15;

White, Michelle and Anthony, a girl, Dec. 15;

Walgate, Mae and Kevin, a girl, Dec. 16;

Mizell, Tempest and Nathan, a boy, Dec. 17;

Bruner, Stephanie and Maurice, a girl, Dec. 19;

Spencer, Cynthia and Scott, a girl, Dec. 19;

Dixon, Rebekah and Joshua, a boy, Dec. 20.

Army Center for Enhanced Performance

The Army Center for Enhanced Performance is offering a one-day seminar Jan. 27 from 8:30 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. You can develop a foundation in mental and emotional skills based on applied sport psychology techniques that 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. Call 968-7642 or e-mail LewisACEPWebmaster @conus.army.mil to reserve a seat. Space is limited.

Reproductive information

Army Public Health Nursing Service provides education to units on pregnancy prevention, family planning attitudes, reproductive cycle, contraceptive options and responsible decision-making. This class is to have Soldiers take control of their reproductive lives and realize that there is a safe and effective method of birth control for each individual. This is a three-hour interactive session at the unit location. Classes may be co-ed. To schedule a workshop, call 968-4382.

Waiting families

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.

Parenting help

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.

Stay connected to your teen

Join Army Community Service for a workshop on how to stay connected to your teen. There will be five sessions: Jan. 18, 25, Feb. 1, 8 and 22, from 1 to 3 p.m.

The workshop will be held in the third floor FAP conference room of Building 2013B. The program is designed to help you guide your teenager successfully from childhood to adulthood.

Learn how to identify and reduce risks, how to bond with your teen and strengthen resiliency, how to work with your family to solve problems and how to supervise without being invasive.

For more information, call 967-5901

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 separation 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.

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.

Children and deployment workshop

There will be a Children and Deployment Workshop Tuesday, designed to help parents minimize stress, enhance resiliency and ensure the well-being of children and youths during their parents’ deployments. Attendees will learn how to tell their children about deployments, about possible reactions their children might have and will receive suggestions on how to handle situations that might arise. Attendees may come any time throughout the deployment cycle.

If you would like to attend the Tuesday workshop at the ACS Annex (Liggett and South 12th Street) from 6 to 7:30 p.m., call ACS at 967-8430 or e-mail pamela.j.allen@us.army.mil to register.

Child care is available with prior reservations by calling Clarkmoor Hourly Care at 966-2490. Children must be registered with CYS Services.

Recycling changes

Fort Lewis recycling is “Mixing It Up!” In an effort to make recycling easier, the section is converting to single-stream recycling. Residents can now mix paper with their plastic bottles (No. 1 to 7), aluminum cans, tin cans and milk and juice cartons. Continue to put cardboard in the blue, grated bins. LeMay, Inc., is in the process of delivering new, gray containers throughout the installation to replace the existing two-can system. Glass products are, unfortunately, out of the mix, but these items can be taken to the recycling center for recovery. More glass drop-off locations will be coming soon. For these locations, call 967-3803.

Crime Snapshot

The top five crimes on Fort Lewis from Dec. 4 to 17 were: driving while license suspended (33); larceny/theft (22); assaults (8); drug offenses (7); and driving under the influence (2).

Most of DWLS offenses were identified at Fort Lewis gates.

Of the larceny and theft cases, 11 were shoplifting at the PX, five occurred in unit barracks, four occurred in housing areas, one offense occurred in the training area and one occurred at a restaurant.

Most of the assaults were cases of domestic violence. For questions about domestic violence, contact Family Advocacy at 966-SAFE (7233). The most commonly detected illegal drug was marijuana.

Individuals convicted of DUI lose their on-post driving privileges for one year for the first offense.

Tip of the week: Keep your windows and doors at home locked at all times, even when you’re home. You just never know — it pays to be safe!

CYSS cross country

Registration for Child, Youth and School Services cross country (ages 9-15) ends Jan. 22. Training begins Jan. 25 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 5 p.m. There is a $25 registration fee. Train for the following FMWR races: the St. Patrick’s Day 5K and 10K, the Airfield Challenge, the 5K and 7K Mud Runs and the Army Half-Marathon. For more information call 967-2405.

Register for sports at CYSS Central Registration, Building 2295, at 12th Street and Bitar Avenue. If you have a full CYSS registration on file and current sports physical, you can use the new FAST lane. For a full CYSS registration, bring current shot records, military, DOD or contract ID cards, three local emergency contacts and sports physical (must be updated annually). Call 967-2494 for more information.

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.

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.

Calendar

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

● Jan. 15, DONSA

● Jan. 18, MLK Day

● Feb. 12, DONSA

● Feb. 15, Presidents Day

● March 12, DONSA

● April 9, DONSA

● May 28, DONSA

● May 31, Memorial Day

● June 11, DONSA

● July 2, DONSA

● July 5, Independence Day Holiday

● Aug. 13, DONSA

● Sept. 3, DONSA

● Sept. 6, Labor Day

Hourly child care

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 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. 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.

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.

Free test-prep

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.

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, youths 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.

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.

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.