Community Ledger, Feb. 26

Green corner

Eat healthy, save money and get outside. These are among the many benefits of gardening, soon to be made more convenient with the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Community Garden. The garden is located between the horse stables and the RV parking lot on JBLM Lewis North, and plots can be rented for a minimal fee at the JBLM Northwest Adventure Center. You can rent them out starting in April but you can help with its development now. Work parties will be cleaning up the area and lining beds to prepare for this growing season.

Eat healthy

Studies have shown that community gardeners and their children eat healthier diets than do non-gardening families. Eating locally produced food also reduces asthma rates, because children are able to consume manageable amounts of local pollen and develop immunities. Gardening is also a great way to burn calories: Watering plants alone burns 120 calories per hour and harder labor, such as tilling, burns 400 calories per hour.

Save money

The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that every $100 spent on vegetable gardening can yield $1,000 to $1,700 worth of produce. The key is to buy smart and don’t feel the need for all of the fancy gardening gadgets. Get a good pair of gloves, a good trowel, some healthy plant starts and get growing! If you grow more than you can use, consider giving to a local food bank, canning for low-cost vegetables in the winter, or dropping off a basket of fresh produce to your neighbor. Community gardens donate thousands of pounds of fresh produce to food pantries and involve people in processes that provide food security and alleviate hunger.

Get outside

Community gardens help to develop a sense and spirit of community and provide opportunities to meet neighbors. It’s also a great place to bring your children for them to have fun and learn through gardening. The lifecycle of food and where it comes from; practical math skills; the importance of community and stewardship; issues of sustainability; and job and life skills are all things that can be taught through gardening.

Don’t feel limited to growing vegetables. You can grow flowers so that you can have a fresh-cut bouquet in your house all the time; grow this Halloween’s jack-o-lantern; grow your own hops or grapes; cultivate a medicinal garden so you can have a cup of fresh peppermint tea to cure your stuffy nose. The possibilities are endless, so dig in!

For more information contact the JBLM Sustainability Outreach coordinator at 966-1734.

Action Line

An Action Line has been established to allow Joint Base Lewis-McChord community members to express their concerns and ideas directly to the commanding general. Your issues will be addressed by the I Corps commander and his staff. The Action Line number is 967-0093.

Free screening of Vietnam movie

There will be a free showing of “21 and a Wakeup” at Carey Theater Tuesday at 7 p.m. This is the first American motion picture about the war filmed on location in Vietnam.

This is a fair and balanced look at the war seen through the eyes of doctors, nurses, Soldiers and newsmen at the 24th Evacuation Hospital, the last major Army hospital in the south to close in fall 1972.

“21 and a Wakeup” dramatizes the heroic daily lives of men and women stationed on major military bases who were not slogging through rice paddies. The movie contains shots from the Vietnamese national archives never before seen in the west.

The cast of respected actors includes Amy Acker, Danica McKellar, Faye Dunaway, Tom Sizemore, J.C. Chasez, Wes Studi, Ed Begley Jr., Ben Vereen, Andre Royo and Tim Thomerson.

You can see the movie trailer and read more about the film at http://21andawakeup.com.

Night firing notice

The 3rd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group will fire 60 mm and 81 mm mortars in the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Artillery Impact Area, from midnight March 24 until midnight March 25 using Mortar Point 4. The battalion will train with demolitions from midnight March 5 until midnight March 6 using Range 58.

Induction ceremony

The 16th Annual McChord Field Chief Master Sergeant Induction Ceremony will take place March 5 at the McChord Field Colocated Club. The social hour will begin at 6 p.m.

The following chief master sergeants and chief master sergeant-selects will be inducted:

Jennifer L. Kersey

Felica F. Noil

William F. Smith

Anthony M. Locke

Steven E. Rector

Saudi A. McVea

Karilyn J. Schmidt

Kevin Whalen

For more information, call Chief Master Sgt. Jim Cronk at 982-7071, or Chief Master Sgt. Fred Wade, 982-4078.

Family Night

Family Night is Thursday at Cascade Community Center from 5 to 8 p.m. Enjoy an all-you-can-eat spaghetti buffet and ice cream bar for $4.25 per person for adults and $3.25 for children ages 3-10. Join in the free games and fun for the entire family. For more information call 964-0331. Reservations are suggested.

Travel fair

Indulge in your travel fantasies at Leisure Travel Services “Passport to Travel” fair at the American Lake Community Center, March 10 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Find out how you can save on hotels, cruises, vacation packages, resorts and getaways from more than 40 travel vendors. For more information call 967-3085.

Military widows

You are cordially invited to attend the meeting/luncheons for the Society of Military Widows, the second Tuesday of each month at the McChord Club. Call Jean at (206) 922-1326 or e-mail at bluespader1946@yahoo.com for a reservation or information. All you need is a valid military ID card that reads “URW” or “DB.”

Care team training

Army Community Service needs volunteers to serve on care teams. Care teams are made up of ACS-trained volunteers who support and assist the primary next of kin of a fallen Warrior, filling the gap between notification and arrival of a personal support system.

The next care team training will take place Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the ACS Annex, Building 2166 (Liggett and S. 12th St.). To register, e-mail pamela.j.allen@conus.army.mil or call 967-8430.

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

Help for parents

Are you tired of having to ask your child three times to do something? If so, then give Common Sense Parenting a try.

The New Parent Support Program’s Common Sense Parenting class 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 positive and healthy environments in which both children and parents can thrive. Common Sense Parenting classes are held every Wednesday for seven weeks from 10 a.m. to noon, and sessions are March 17 through May 7. To register for Common Sense Parenting, call 967-7409.

Child care is available for CYS Services-registered children with five weeks’ notice by calling Clarkmoor Hourly Care Center at 966-2490.

Communications for relationships

If you would like to know more about healthy ways to communicate within your marriage, sign up for a relationships communication class. Brought to you by the Family Advocacy Program and the Family Life Center, the next six-class session begins Tuesday in Building 9120, Four Chaplains Memorial Chapel, from 9 to 11 a.m. and continues each Tuesday, March 9, 16, 23, 30 and April 6. For more information call 967-5901.

Military Spouse Career Advancement Account

Learn about eligibility for free tuition for military spouses. The Military Spouse Career Advancement Account has funds to assist with tuition, books, certifications or other credentials. The meeting is on Tuesday, March 2, at 2 p.m. in the Employment Readiness Program, Building 2166, 12th Street and Liggett Avenue, Joint Base Lewis-McChord Lewis Main. For more information, call 967-3538, 967-7287 or 966-8325.

Education grants

Time’s running out ... The application deadline for the 2010-2011 General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant Program is March 12. You can get the application from the Air Force Aid Society’s Web site at www.afas.org. Just look under Education and Arnold Grant. Fill out the application, print it, attach the required documents and put it in the mail today. Don’t pass up this chance to help pay for your family’s education with a $2,000 grant.

Children and deployment workshop

The Children and Deployment Workshop is designed to help parents minimize stress, enhance resiliency and ensure the well-being of children during deployments. Parents will learn how to tell their children about the deployment, about possible reactions their children might have and will provide 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 Thursday workshop at the ACS Annex (Liggett and S. 12th St.) 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 reservations by calling Clarkmoor Hourly Care Center at 966-2490. Children must be registered with CYS Services.

Reunion workshop

Is your Soldier coming home soon? If so, then ACS has a workshop to walk you through the reunion process Tuesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the ACS Annex at Liggett Avenue and South 12th Street. Discussions cover how to prepare for reunion day, what to do to help the transition and some possible expectations. Call 967-8430 to register or e-mail pamela.j.allen@us.army.mil. You can also schedule unit and family readiness group reunion workshops.

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

Performance workshop

Calling all kids ages 7 and older for the spring break performance workshop. This year’s workshop is March 29 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Bowl Arena Lanes. The cost is $40. Learn acting, singing, songwriting, joking and dancing from children’s entertainers Cowboy Buck and Elizabeth. Children will show off their new talents at Kids’ Fest on April 1. Space is limited.

Call 967-5776 for more information.

I Corps deployment book

Own your piece of I Corps’ “America’s Corps” deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. For the first time in more than 50 years, the Army’s most decorated corps was back in the fight. Always remember your role with this historic mission by owning the Multi-National Corps-Iraq deployment book. This archive-quality hardbound book is available for purchase — for you, your Soldiers and anyone interested in owning this chapter of U.S. Army history.

You can order your copy online and have it sent directly to your home address at http://store.entourageyearbooks.com/product_p/mnc.htm. Order until March 1. Allow four to six weeks after the deadline for delivery.

For more information, contact Sgt. 1st Class Raymond Piper at 485-4120 or raymond.piper@iraq.centcom.mil.

JBLM McChord Field Legal Assistance Office

Legal assistance on McChord Field for client services such as notaries, powers of attorney, wills and personal issues, will move to Room 1037 in Building 100. Mission support services will remain on the third floor, Room 3031.

For more information call JBLM McChord Legal Assistance at 982-5512.

Calendar

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

● 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

Family child-care provider training

Military 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. Pick up an application for FCC classes in Building 2013-B, Room 127, on the corner of 3rd Street and Pendleton Avenue.

An orientation will take place March 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. (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.) Provisional classes are March 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 15 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For more information call 967-3039.

Spring sports

● Registration for Child, Youth and School Services Spring Baseball runs until March 11 for ages 5 to 15. The participation fee is $50.

● Registration for CYS Services Girls’ Fast Pitch runs through April 1 for ages 16 and younger. The participation fee is $55.

● Registration for CYS Services Special Olympics Swimming, and Track and Field for ages 8 to 18 ends Thursday. The participation fee is $45.

● Registration for CYS Services track and field begins Monday and continues through March 25 and is open to ages 6 to 18. The cost is $70.

● Registration for the spring break soccer clinic begins Monday and runs through March 26. Learn the fundamentals while having fun. The camp is March 29 from 10 a.m. to noon for children 5 to 8 years and from 1 to 3 p.m. for ages 9 and older. Participation fee is $10.

Register for sports at CYS Services Central Registration, Building 2295, at 12th and Bitar Ave. If you have a full CYS Services registration on file and a sports physical that is current through the entire sports season, you can use the sports-only lane. For a full CYS Services registration, bring current shot record, military, DOD or contract ID card, three local emergency contacts and a sports physical that will need to be updated yearly. Call 967-2494 for more information.

First Swings golf clinics

Child, Youth and School Services is holding golf clinics for children of deployed Soldiers. Children must be registered with CYS Services and provide a copy of deployment orders. Registration for children ages 5 through 15 runs until March 19. Clinic dates are Saturdays, March 6, 13 and 20 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m. to noon and 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. One clinic per child. Waiting lists are available. For more information call 967-2405.

Massing of the Colors

The 2010 Massing of the Colors ceremony will be March 7 at Carey Theater. The ceremony begins at 3 p.m. Participating colors report by 2 p.m.

Board members needed

The Officers’ Spouses’ Club is looking for people to be members of the 2010-2011 board of directors. Being an OSC board member is a great way to meet and network with a lot of people and to really get to know your community. Applications will be accepted until March 15. The vote for the 2010-2011 Governing Board will be held April 20 at the monthly luncheon. If you are interested in serving, contact Susan Moore at susan.moore9@us.army.mil or www.fortlewisosc.org.

OSC welfare applications

The Officers’ Spouses’ Club is currently accepting applications for its annual welfare distribution. Applications are available online at the OSC Web site. They must be completely filled out and postmarked no later than Monday for consideration. Three categories are available — military and private organizations based on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, organizations within the JBLM community that directly or indirectly benefit the military community and all national organizations. For more information visit the club Web site at www.fortlewisosc.org.

Gate hours and locations

JBLM Lewis Main and North gate hours and locations:

● Liberty (Main), 24 hours, 7 days a week, I-5 Exit 120 to Main Post;

● 41st Division (Lewis North), 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 Lewis North 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 (Lewis North) (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.

JBLM McChord Field gate hours and locations:

● Main Gate, 24 hours, 7 days a week, I-5 Exit 125 (Bridgeport Way);

● Barnes Gate, 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., 7 days a week, Perimeter Road, approximately 1/2 mile from the Lincoln Boulevard Gate exit of Lewis Main;

● Commercial Vehicle Inspection Point, 6 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 Lewis Main;

● Woodbrook Housing Gate, 6 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday, I-5 Exit 124 — Gravelly Lake.

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.