Community Ledger, Nov. 11

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 Thursday. 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 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:

• Today, 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 today at the end 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.

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 closed 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 Saturday, 7 p.m. at Nelson Rec Center (ages 18 and 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.

Am. Indian Heritage

The George Amiotte of the Lakota Sioux tribe will be the guest speaker at the National American Indian Heritage Observance, Nov. 22, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the McChord Co-located Club. The event is sponsored by 4th Bde., 2nd Inf. Div. POC is Sgt. 1st Class Rodney C. Stone, 967-6823.

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. Tuesday 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.

Teen Zone donations

The Teen Zone’s Keystone Club is asking for your donation of toys, canned and boxed food, baby blankets and baby formula as part of National Family Week. Drop off your donations by Nov. 21 at the Teen Zone, Bldg. 2295, 12th and Bitar. Bins are located by Parent Central.The high school youth will donate the items to Families and mothers in need around the community. Call 967-4441 for information.

2011 Reindeer Dash

Dress up in your favorite holiday outfit for the JBLM Santa’s Reindeer Dash at Eagles Pride Golf Course Dec. 10. The first 300 to register and pay by noon Nov. 29 will receive a Run-Dri Technical shirt. Awards will be given to first- through third-place finishers of 5K and 10K runs and everyone finishing the 2K youth dash.

Register online at JBLMmwr.com; click on WebTrac to view the race schedule. There will be no sign-ups on race day. For information, call 967-4768.

Holiday caroling

The 56th Army Band would like to fill your office party with musical cheer by caroling around Joint Base Lewis-McChord in anticipation of the upcoming holidays. If you would like some holiday cheer for your office party, contact our operations office at 966-2227. Happy holidays from your I Corps Band.

Join the Soldier Show

The Army is looking for active duty, Reserve and Guard performers and technicians for the U.S. Army Soldier Show 2012. Nominations are due to Army Entertainment by Dec. 31. To apply, visit http://www.armymwr.com/recleisure/entertainment/seeking.aspx (or visit the armymwr.com main page and click on the “Experience Army Entertainment” ad for the Soldier Show application information).

Click on the “download application” button, save and complete the form, attach it to an email message and send to ArmyEntertainment@conus.army.mil. Additional requirements for performer and technician applicants are detailed at the website.

Thanksgiving meals

Thanksgiving meal hours in JBLM dining facilities.

201st BfSB Bldg. 3119 Nov. 23,11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 4th Bde., 2nd Inf. Div. Bldg. 3420 Nov. 23, 11a.m. to 2 p.m. 1st SFG Bldg. 9197 Nov. 23, 2:30 to 6 p.m. 17th Fires Bde. Bldg. P12638, NFL Nov. 23, 11a.m. to 2p.m. 593rd Sust. Bde. Bldg. 12340, NFL Nov. 24, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 504th MP Bn. Bldg. 3165 Nov. 24, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 3rd Bde., 2nd Inf. Div. Bldg. 3757 Nov. 24, 11 a.m.to 2 p.m. I Corps Bldg. 2026C Nove. 24, 11 a.m.to 3 p.m. Madigan Healthcare System Nov. 24, 11a.m. to 2 p.m.

Escape Zone hours

The Escape Zone at McChord Field is extending its hours to Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon. The Escape Zone offers a place to parents and their children 5 and younger to learn and play together. The Escape Zone is in Building 841 on Fairway Road. For information, call 982-8590/2695.

Clarkmoor hours

Clarkmoor Hourly Child Development Center is now open Tuesdays until 9 p.m. and Fridays until 10 p.m. Your child must be enrolled in CYS Services. For more details or reservations, call Parent Central at 966-CYSS (2977).

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.

SJA Caims Div. hours

The Joint Base Lewis-McChord Staff Judge Advocate Claims Division has changed its hours of operation to 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (Closed on weekends and federal holidays.) For more information, call 477-1878.

Local military history

Alan Archambault, former curator of the JBLM Lewis Army Museum will be presenting an illustrated program of “The Soldiers of Fort Steilacoom,” Sunday, 2 p.m. at the fort located at 9601 Steilacoom Blvd., Lakewood.

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.

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 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 this November specials at Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities: 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.

Learn eBook basics

Do you have a new eReader and want to learn how to borrow and use an eBook? Join the McChord Library Tuesday 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.

Symphony date night

It’s Date Night at the Seattle Symphony Nov. 19. Ride for free to see an evening with Leila Josefowicz performing Knussen’s violin concerto. Only 20 seats are available; sign up by Nov. 14 by calling the McChord Community Center at 982-0718/0719.

Force protection

Force protection conditions for Joint Base Lewis-McChord are now posted on the JBLM public website at http://www.lewis-mcchord.army.mil/. This will allow commanders to keep their Soldiers, Airmen, DOD civilians and Family members aware of the current FPCON to raise security awareness.

The FPCON can be raised in the event of a specific threat to the installation or upon direction of higher headquarters. For current FPCON implementing instructions visit the Protection Division website at https://ft.lewis.army.mil/fpat/.

For questions contact JBLM ATO/Protection Division Chief Thomas R. Rudd, mailto:thomas.r.rudd@conus.army.mil at 966-9614/677-9752 or JBLM Protection Division deputy chief.

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.