Community Ledger, Nov. 4

JBLM gate and road construction

Liggett Avenue

Public Works has shut down Liggett Avenue between Division and 12th Streets for 45 days of construction. The closure includes the intersection of Liggett and Division, but 12th Street and the intersection at Liggett and 12th will remain open.

Parking areas along that length of Liggett Avenue will be blocked. Most of the parking areas have access from other directions, but parking will be blocked completely in front of and west of McVeigh Sports and Fitness Center and across the street from I Corps Headquarters, Building 2025.

Parking for McVeigh will be in the rear and on the north side of Liggett, which can be accessed from Pendleton. While Liggett is under construction, the contractor is required to provide access from the parking area north of Liggett to McVeigh at, or near the location of the current McVeigh crosswalk.

Pendleton Avenue The first phase of construction to upgrade the road substructure under Pendleton Avenue near the Town Center on JBLM Lewis Main is nearing completion. Pendleton between 8th and 12th streets will be closed daily from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. for construction until Nov. 17. Liggett Avenue is also under construction, so traffic should detour onto Bitar Avenue to 9th Division Drive. Drivers can also turn onto Nevada Avenue from 41st Division Drive and follow the road to Pendleton Avenue. Officials are working to mitigate noise impact to Town Center residents. This is the first of several projects on two miles of Pendleton Avenue during the next 18 months, as crews widen the road and upgrade communication, power and water lines underneath.

The widened avenue will result in better traffic flow, parking and facility access, creating a friendlier environment for bikes and pedestrians. For more information, visit the Pendleton Avenue website at www.jblmpendleton.com.

Lewis North Gate Directorate of Public Works crews are updating and replacing the bollards at JBLM North Gate at 41st Division Drive South. The repairs are part of anti-terrorism/force protection measures. Construction is scheduled to end about Nov. 30.

The inside two lanes at the gate will be closed from 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Traffic will be detoured to the outer two lanes.

Railroad Avenue

Railroad Avenue will be closed starting Tuesday through Jan. 16, 2012 for road construction. Westbound traffic will be rerouted starting at Mann Avenue. That traffic, along with the local access traffic will flow around Railroad using West Way. Signs eastbound traffic will be warned before Alder Avenue to reroute via West Way. Local access down Alder and Incinerator Road will be available.

The construction is part of the first phase of the Perimeter Road repair, lasting until August 2012.

Calendar

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

• Nov. 11, Veterans Day • Nov. 14, DONSA • Nov. 24, Thanksgiving Day • Nov. 25, DONSA • Dec. 23, DONSA • Dec. 25, Christmas Day • Dec. 26, Christmas holiday • Dec. 30, DONSA • Jan. 1, New Year’s Day • Jan. 2, New Year holiday

Towing to begin

All trailers, boats, RVs and nonfunctioning vehicles illegally parked on Joint Base Lewis-McChord will be towed at the owner’s expense starting Nov. 11 — the final day of the installation’s weeklong “Fall Cleanup.”

Army Regulation 190-5 says all trailers, boats and RVs must be kept on storage lots or elsewhere off of the installation. The same applies to abandoned and nonfunctioning privately owned vehicles.

Nonfunctioning vehicles are not authorized to be parked on JBLM, except at the auto craft shop. The Provost Marshal’s Office has been identifying and tagging these items for some time. Moving the boats and vehicles from one place to another on the installation is not an option.

ACSF-PREP seminar

Comprehensive Soldier Fitness, Performance and Resilience Enhancement Program is offering a one day, Performance Seminar, Nov. 30 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Albanese Hall, Building 1240 on Railroad Avenue, south of the DuPont Gate. Develop a foundation in mental and emotional skills based on applied sport psychology techniques which include goal setting, confidence building, energy management, attention control and imagery. Use state-of-the-art technology and apply these techniques during this seminar. Call 968-7642 to reserve your seat.

Art museum trip

Are you a military Family who wants a free afternoon at the museum? Sign up by Monday for a ride to downtown Tacoma to see the Tacoma Art Museum Nov. 12. Check out what you’ll be seeing by visiting http://tacomaartmuseum.org for current exhibits. Call 982-0718/0719. Only 20 seats are available.

Vets Day celebration

City of Lakewood Mayor Douglas G. Richardson will be keynote speaker at Bates Technical College’s annual Veterans Day Celebration Thursday, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the college’s Downtown Campus Auditorium, 1101 S. Yakima Avenue, Tacoma.

Richardson is a retired Army Reserve brigadier general with 32 years of active and reserve service. Other area veterans will address the event theme of transitioning from corps to community.

The celebration is free and open to the public. Coffee and cake will be served to veterans and audience members can purchase two slices of pizza for $1.

For information, contact LeMont Lucas, diversity center assistant, at 680-7113 or visit www.bates.ctc.edu/Diversity.

Puyallup Vets Day

The public is invited to Puyallup’s 2011 Veterans Day salute to the armed forces in the Pavilion in Pioneer Park Thursday at 7 p.m.

A free concert of patriotic music performed by Puyallup’s The Tapestry Singers and the Puyallup Valley Community Band highlights a program in tribute to veterans of all services, and includes a special presentation by Meeker Elementary School students.

The Pioneer Park Pavilion is at 330 South Meridian in the city center next to the public library. Free parking is readily available. The Veterans Day observance is sponsored by the Puyallup Valley Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, The Fleet Reserve Association and the City of Puyallup.

Tops in Blue coming

Join the JBLM community for a free evening of song, dance and performance by the U.S. Air Force’s Tops in Blue Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Hangar 9 at McChord Field. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. The 2011 tour, “Rhythm Nation,” brings to life the music of America from the early 1900s through today.

Holiday hours

Both Joint Base Lewis-McChord commissaries, Lewis Main and McChord Field, will be closed Nov. 24 (Thanksgiving), but open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 25.

Both will open Dec. 24, Christmas Eve, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and close Christmas Day, Dec. 25. The JBLM Lewis Main Commissary will be open Dec. 26 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; the McChord Field Commissary also will open at 9 a.m., but closes at 8 p.m. the day after Christmas. Both will close on New Year’s Day.

Ride Polar Express

Hop aboard a vintage train for the Polar Express ride Nov. 26 with the McChord Community Center. Sign up by Nov. 18; only 12 seats are available. The $30 for adults and $20 for youth; cost includes transportation and admission. Call 982-0718/0719 for sign-up details.

Sell crafts at bazaar

Are you a crafter or artist looking to sell your items? Sell your handmade gifts at the McChord Community Center’s Holiday Bazaar Dec. 1. Call 982-0718/0719 for entry cost.

LOL Comedy Tour

Get in on the free Laugh Out Loud Comedy Tour Nov. 12, 7 p.m. at Nelson Rec Center (ages 18 & older only). See Danny Cho, A Pair of Nuts & Cerrome.

Open seating is first-come, first-served. Call 967-2539 for more details. Nelson Rec is in Bldg. 3168, 2nd Division Dr., Lewis Main.

Ammo, pyro amnesty

Ammunition and pyrotechnics may be turned in on Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the C-5 mock-up, East Gate Road. No questions are asked, no fear of prosecution or paperwork required.

Other turn-in sites are: ASP parking lot; Jecelin Ave., Range 2; Joint Base Lewis-McChord Lewis North, A Street and 17th Street; Mastin Ave., 3rd Street and 4th Division Drive (Ranger MP); Slone Street and South 20th Street (main wash rack) and A Street and 8th Street (north wash rack).

Emergency prep fair

The Puyallup Emergency Preparedness Fair Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Puyallup Fairgrounds Expo Hall will help you prepare for all types of emergencies. Free admission and free bike helmets for the kids.

The fair will include children’s activities, National Weather Service updates, emergency kits, blood pressure checks, pet emergency care information, special need and disabilities preparedness and more. Guest speakers will discuss the winter weather outlook and “How to Survive in the Wilderness” among other topics. Contact Carolyn Cockrum, Puyallup Emergency Management ccockrum@ci.puyallup.wa.us or 770-3348.

Vets appreciation

The VFW is sponsoring a Veterans Appreciation Hockey night, with discounted tickets from $18 to $22 for a Seattle Thunderbirds game vs. Tri-City Americans, Nov. 18, 7:35 p.m. at ShoWare Center, Kent. Go to http://tickets.seattlethunderbirds.com to the Nov.18 game and click “Buy tickets”; click apply discount, type in “vfw” and change ticket price to $18.

Public Lands Day

JBLM will be participating in Public Lands Day with two volunteer events. Nov. 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., help JBLM Fish & Wildlife plant native prairie species, build planter boxes and bee boxes at Earthworks; Nov. 18 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., help improve the JBLM Community Garden. Activities may include building garden boxes, planting winter crops, and general cleanup. All are welcome. To register or for more information contact 966-1734 or miriam.easley@us.army.mil.

Special Oly hoops

Register by Nov. 25 for CYS Services Special Olympic basketball. The participation fee is $45 for youth ages 8 to 18. The parents’ meeting is Dec. 1; the season ends Feb. 12.

Register at CYS Services Parent Central, Building 2295, 12th and Bitar. You’ll need a full CYS Services registration on file, a current sports physical, shot record, military, DOD or contractor identity card, and three emergency contacts.

Download and fill out forms from JBLMmwr.com under WebTrac/online registration, CYS Services. For more information, call CYS Services at 967-2977.

Freebies at Express

The McChord Express will be celebrating its customers Nov. 19, with demos, tastings and prize drawings between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Beginning at 11 a.m., the first 500 customers will receive one 750 ml. bottle of Meier’s Non-alcoholic Sparkling 100% Juice.

Drawings of prizes will occur every hour, but the winners will need to be present. Examples of prizes include bottles of wine, $25 Exchange gift cards and many others. The McChord Express is located at 545 Barnes Boulevard, JBLM McChord Field.

Fall back Sunday a.m.

Standard time begins Sunday at 2 a.m. Turn clocks back one hour before you go to bed Saturday night. National Geographic quotes author David Prerau’s claim that Benjamin Franklin originated Daylight Savings Time to conserve “midnight oil.”

Pay at Express pump

Drivers with General Services Administration fleet vehicles can now find it much quicker to fuel up at the Express as the Army & Air Force Exchange Service now accepts the Wright Express fleet card at the pump. Previously, drivers using the Wright Express card had to go into the Express to pay. Now, GSA fleet vehicles are now able to pay for fuel at the pump.

Last mail to Iraq

The U.S. Postal Service will stop accepting outbound mail to military postal offices in Iraq effective Nov. 17. Due to the drawdown, only mail received through that date will be processed and delivered as addressed to personnel in Iraq.

Join the Turkey Trot

Join runners, walkers and inline skaters at the annual Turkey Trot at Cowan Stadium Nov. 19. Walk the 5K course or inline skate or run the 10K course. Awards will be presented for first- through third-place in each age group and category. Also enter the door prize turkey drawing. The first 300 who register and pay by Nov. 8 will receive a Run-Dri technical shirt.

Register online at JBLMmwr.com; click on WebTrac to view the race schedule. Packet pickup begins at 7:30 a.m. on race day; the race begins at 9 a.m. For information, call 967-4768.

Wacky Nov. lunches

While you’re out for lunch, have a little fun with these November specials at Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities: Thursday is Sesame Street Day: Name any Sesame Street character for a free flavor shot at Battle Bean, Buster’s or Café Lancelatte. Hello Day is Nov. 21: Say “hello” in any language for a free fountain drink with lunch purchase at Globemaster Grill or the Cascade Community Center.

Teen Zone show today

The Joint Base Lewis-McChord community is invited to a performance of “Can You Hear Me Now?,” the voice of teens through music, poetry and scripted monologues. Hear from teens in their own words about bullying, deployment, music, sports, abuse and “being me” today at 5:30 p.m. at the JBLM Lewis Main Teen Zone.

Following this community event is a CYSS high school dance from 8–11 p.m. (CYSS-registered youth may bring one guest). Snacks will be provided, and a shuttle will depart the Teen Zone at 10:30 p.m. for those eligible to ride. Call 967-4441 for more details.

Outgoing spouses’ jobs

The Recruitment meetings will be held Monday for jobs for those who want to work from home or prefer flexible work schedules. TropSwap.com, a veteran-owned company, is seeking 10 to 12 talented, motivated military spouses in the greater Olympia to Seattle area with backgrounds in sales and marketing and strong interpersonal and analytical abilities. To apply for a position or to find out more, attend one of two meetings Monday, either from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the ACS Annex, Bldg. 2166, 12th St. and Liggett Ave, JBLM-Main or 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the Airman & Family Readiness Center, Building 551 Barnes Ave., JBLM-McChord Field. Bring a resume. For more information, contact Employment readiness staff member Rick Morrison, ACS Annex at 966-8325, or Bernie Leon-Guerrero, A&FRC at 982-0260.

Learn eBook basics Do you have a new eReader and want to learn how to borrow and use an eBook? Join the McChord Library on Nov. 15 at 1 p.m. or Grandstaff Library Nov. 29 at 1 p.m. to learn eBook basics. Call 982-3454 or 967-5889 for more details.

Feats of strength

Enter the 2011 JBLM Arm Wrestling Championship Dec. 3 at Soldiers Field House. Entry deadline is Nov. 21. Admission is free for the 11 a.m. start time.

Competitors must be active duty servicemembers, Family members, Reserve, National Guard, retirees or DOD civilians associated with JBLM. The contest complies with the official rules and regulations. Awards will be given to first, second and third place in men’s and women’s weight classes.

Turn in entries to McVeigh Sports & Fitness Center, Building 2160, front desk. Call 967-5869 for details.

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 477-0183.