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4th Annual Hop Into Health Spring Extravaganza and Easter Egg Hunt
DCMILITARY.COM
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Celebrating the 44th Annual Earth Day
AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION OF COMPRINT MILITARY PUBLICATIONS AT JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MD.
Morningside youth programs change direction BY CHRIS BASHAM STAFF WRITER
The Town of Morningside features one of Prince George’s County’s more than 20 recreation councils, in partnership with the Prince George’s County Department of Parks and Recreation. It is run by four board members and a small group of volunteers, some of whom have participated on the Morningside Recreation Council for the past 30 years. “(The other recreation councils in the county) just dried up over the years,” said Regina Foster, a Recreation Council member and former Town of Morningside council member, who explained that the Morningside Recreation Council receives no financial support from the Town of Morningside, and no funding from Prince George’s County, either. They exist with a friendly relationship between county and town government, able to use county-owned equipment for events such as the annual Independence Day parade, or to
BY AIMEE FUJIKAWA
The National Capital Region is not the first place people may think of when it comes to the entertainment industry. But one Department of Defense agency here is Armed Forces Entertainment, the official agency within the DoD that facilitates entertainment outreach which is similar to companies in the civilian world. The Armed Forces Entertainment agency is a jointly-manned team of five, comprised of two civilians, and an Air Force, Navy and Marine officer who focus on sending entertainment to the troops, both at home and in the most-remote global locations. “We work with the artists, recruit entertainment and communicate with them,” said Navy Lt. Max Mayer, originally a pilot, now an AFE circuit manager for the Pacific and Western Hemisphere regional manager. The AFE program started in 1951 where its former mission was to support the United Service Organizations as an entertainment liaison by providing assistance for the USO to get to
FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 2014 | VOL. 3 NO. 16
YOUNGEST PLAYER IN NBA HISTORY SIGNED TO ONE-DAY CONTRACT
host some events in the Morningside Town Hall, but funding everything through their own efforts: Ticket sales from one event provide the funding for the next event, and often are not enough to do even that, were it not for the families of Recreation Council members offering their own time and money to make things work. Parks and Recreation Prince George’s County Public Affairs Officer Kira Calm Lewis said that many of the county’s Recreation Councils participate in a monthly meeting at the Parks and Recreation Administration Building in Riverdale, Md. “Some of them are extremely active, and give a lot of input into the types of things that we bring to the community centers in their area,” said Calm Lewis. “We consider them really good resources. The monthly meetings give them the opportunity to share input about what their community wants.” Running a zero-budget, volunteer-only organization is not
see YOUTH, page 7
Coming to a theater near you 11TH WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Musical Tuition
PHOTO/BOBBY JONES
Al Harrington, Wizard forward, leads Amaris onto the court after her name is called as part of the starting lineup. Story and more photos on page 4.
Food forest in Greenbelt to provide fruits, education
military installations. “Originally, the USO couldn’t get to all the places we could, and they didn’t have the appropriate funding, so we supplemented,” said Brian Burke, AFE business and marketing analyst. Since then, they have developed into an entity of their own. The Air Force has been the executive agent for more than 16 years. “As the program grew, we became our own animal and now we are just partners,” said Burke. Armed Forces Entertainment now serves 371 U.S. military installations worldwide and is categorized into five regions: the Mediterranean, Southwest Asia, the Pacific, Europe and the Western Hemisphere. Armed Forces Entertainment also works with American entertainers who are both well-known and up-and-coming, ensuring shows are not only entertaining, but wholesome and family-friendly. The AFE team scouts talent and books a variety of tours such as sports personalities,
Greenbelt residents may one day be able to enjoy the fruits of their labors with a quarter-acre community “food forest” of edible plants. Located on city land near the Springhill Lake Community Center, the Greenbelt Food Forest, now in its second year, is a project undertaken by the Greenbelt-based nonprofit Chesapeake Education, Arts and Research Society, or CHEARS. The goal of the 20- to 30-year project is to create a self-sustaining, environmentally friendly wooded area on a quarter acre of land, which will produce food for foraging, as well as mitigating stormwater runoff and improving biodiversity, explained Kim Walsh, executive director of CHEARS.
see THEATER, page 5
see FOOD, page 8
BY JAMIE ANFENSON-COMEAU PRINCE GEORGE’S GAZETTE STAFF WRITER
GREG DOHLER/THE GAZETTE
Members of the Chesapeake Education, Arts and Research Society and volunteers begin preparing the ground for planting on the site of the planned Greenbelt Food Forest on Cherrywood Lane in Greenbelt on April 19. The project, which is being funded by the Chesapeake Bay Trust, will feature a mix of environmental beneficial shrubs and trees that are also edible for people and wildlife.
Naval Health Clinic dogs out stress BY AMBER J. RUSSELL
11TH WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS
COURTESY PHOTO
Commander Joe is ready to work on command at the Joint Base Andrews Md., Naval Branch Health Clinic, April 22.The mental health dog takes on the mission of identifying a prevalent condition — severe stress.
Bills pile up. Kids act up. Cost of living goes up. And these are just a few of the stress-inducing challenges everyday citizens can face. Service members and their dependents can have additional stressors to boot. Deployments separate them from family members; some lose friends and loved ones in support of overseas operations; and many can be affected by post-traumatic stress disorders from experiencing life in war zones. As unavoidable as stress is, it can go undetected by those affected by it, said Lieutenant
William B. Pokorny, JBA Naval Branch Health Clinic osteopathic physician and flight surgeon. Stress is the body’s response to physical, mental and emotional pressure and it does not discriminate against gender, age, ethnicity or rank. A scientific study at the University of Vienna found that man’s best friend can feel emotion coming from their human counterparts. Dogs can sense fear, sadness, anxiety, happiness and stress. Since Jan. 2013, the JBA NBHC has been applying this intuition, intrinsic to dogs’ nature, to mental health care at their facility. A black-and-tan Labrador retriever named Commander Joe, trained by South Eastern
Guide Dogs as a medical facility dog, takes on the mission of identifying a prevalent condition many people tend to keep under wraps — severe stress. “Commander Joe is a vital asset in identifying psychiatric issues in ongoing patients with anxiety or depression,” Pokorny said. While on duty, this four-legged friend has a demeanor that is far from frisky. His professionalism speaks as he operates on command alone. When Joe’s longtime handler, Lt. Cmdr. Tracey Krauss, NBHC mental health manager, gives him the command, “go visit,” Joe is on the
see STRESS, page 2
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Andrews Gazette
HOT TICKETS
Retiree Corner COURTESY OF THE RETIREE ACTIVITIES OFFICE
Around Town April 26
Wool & Fiber Day Old Maryland Farm, 301 Watkins Park Drive, Upper Marlboro, Md. 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Watch llama and sheep shearing, wool spinning and natural dye demonstrations amd take a hay ride. For information visit www.pgparks.com.
April 26
Montpelier Festival of Herbs, Tea and the Arts Montpelier Mansion, 9650 Muirkirk Road, Laurel, Md. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Vendors will offer herbs, art and handmade items while you enjoy live music and an elegant tea time. Hands-on history art, animal exibits and play will entertain the kids. For information visit www.pgparks.com.
April 26
Julio Iglesias Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, Md. 9 p.m. The Spanish legend performs as part of the 2014 Spring Gala at Strathmore. For information visit www. strathmore.org.
COMPRINT MILITARY PUBLICATIONS
Andrews Gazette is published by Comprint Military Publications, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, Md., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force or any branch of the United States military. The appearance of advertising in these publications, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or the products and services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, martial status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non merit factor of the purchases, user or patron.
Maxine Minar, president
Deirdre Parry, page design dparry@gazette.net
mminar@dcmilitary.com
Bobby Jones, photographer bjones@dcmilitary.com
John Rives, publisher
jrives@dcmilitary.com
1041824B
Friday, April 25, 2014
National Retiree Council meets
The Air Force Retiree Council meets May 5-9 at Randolph AFB, Tex., only the second meeting in four years. Scheduled annually, budget considerations canceled meetings in 2011 and 2013. Representatives of the Chief of Staff, Surgeon General, Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Army and Air Force Exchange Service, Defense Commissary Agency, TRICARE Services and the Department of Veterans Affairs will present information. Status reports gained from the presentations help work more than 20 retiree issues submitted to the council from base Retiree Activities Offices. Subjects include anticipated increases in TRICARE reimbursements, Survivor Benefit Plan and Casualty Assistance. Recommendations are forwarded to the Chief of Staff and/or members of the Air Staff. The council was established in 1972 to serve as the Chief of Staff ’s liaison with the
STRESS, from page 1 job to seek stressful souls in need of comfort. Equipped with 2 billion olfactory receptors, Joe makes his way through a waiting room to sniff out stress pheromones. “Joe walks through the office first thing in the morning before the clinic opens to get a sense of the neutral smell,” Krauss said. “As the day goes on, we go through the waiting room every 45 minutes to an hour.” Once his handler puts a leash in his mouth, Joe walks through the clinic looking for somebody who is putting off that stress pheromone. If he detects it, he drops his leash and lies at their feet and won’t move until she tells him it’s ok. “If Joe identifies that you’re stressed, we look to see why you checked in,” Krauss stated. “So if patient ‘Bob’ checked in for stress then
retiree community. Members represent 13 geographical areas within the continental United States and one representative each from the Pacific and European areas. Currently, one member at large shares his expertise in health care matters. Current co-chairs are Lt. Gen. Steve Polk and CMSAF Rod McKinley. Representing Andrews, Bolling and Dover AFBs is Chief Master Sgt. Chuck Lucas, a volunteer in the Bolling RAO.
Red Box comes to the Exchange
releases are added every Tuesday. Online rentals are available as well. Shoppers select their favorite movies and games at redbox.com, pick them up from the kiosk at the Exchange store, and return movies and video games to any Red Box kiosk location.
Dover welcomes C-5
The Air Mobility Command Museum at Dover AFB, Del., has added an historic C-5 Galaxy, the only plane to successfully launch an intercontinental ballistic missile in flight, to its inventory. It is the only C-5 accessible to the public.
Military families can turn the lights down, grab a bag of popcorn and prepare for movie night; the Army & Air Force Exchange Service and Red Box have rolled out a new way to rent the hottest movies and video games. Some 167 Red Box vending machines, deployed by the Exchange, provide affordable and convenient opportunities to rent DVDs, Blu-Ray discs and video games. Red Box rentals are charged at a daily rate. New releases start at $1.20 for DVDs, $1.50 for BluRay discs, $2 for video games. New
The Retiree Activities Office is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Visit the office in Building 1604 at California and Colorado Avenues or call us at 301-981-2726. Our e-mail address is rao@andrews. af.mil. Call the office before your visit to ensure a volunteer is on duty. The RAO has a website at www.andrews. af.mil; Under “Helpful Links” click on “Retirees Activity Office” for information on retiree subjects, including past copies of “Retiree Corner.”
we’re golden. We just let the doctor know that Joe confirmed they were really stressed. If patient ‘Bob’ didn’t sign in for stress we formally introduce him to Joe.” Commander Joe’s story is on the waiting room wall so everybody knows it is not a trick or hidden agenda. When Joe is sensing that you’re under stress we just want to check with you to see how things are going, Krauss said. “I think it’s a really neat idea because a lot of people don’t want to admit the stressors that they have or go to a counselor to get seen about it,” Petty Officer 3rd Class Kathryn Smith, JBA VR53 air framer and client of the facility. “Commander Joe brings you out of your shell and helps you confront the issues.” Sometimes, people check in and self-identify they are stressed and Joe doesn’t sit with them, Krauss said. They may just be having a bad day. The people that Joe does sit
with have all admitted to be stressed enough to need a mental health referral. The comfortable presence of the loyal and compassionate companion has proved to make a life-saving difference. “Joe recently sat with 22 people, 4 of which admitted to having a suicide plan and one actually gave us their suicide note,” Krauss said. The Labradors’ sweet nature makes him an excellent therapy dog and his intelligence makes him an ideal assistance dog, according to an article on dogtime.com. The obedient dog breed excels in search-and-rescue and makes a wonderful companion and friend. “He helps nervous patients identify issues that are difficult to discuss by providing comfort,” Pokorny said. “A good-trained physician can identify many symptoms but, Joe can be a great tool for comforting the person.”
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Andrews Gazette
Friday, April 25, 2014
4TH ANNUAL HOP INTO HEALTH SPRING EXTRAVAGANZA AND EASTER EGG HUNT
Councilmember Karen Toles, (D-Dist. 7) co-hosted the 4th Annual Hop into Health Spring Extravaganza and Easter Egg Hunt along the Hillcrest Heights Community Center in Temple Hills, and the Maryland-National Park and Planning Commission Apr. 19. Prince George’s County residents were treated to free train rides, roller skating, games, face painting, music, food and refreshments during the annual event.
Clarise Ward, Maryland National Parks and Planning Commission employee, paints a butterfly on Skylar Randall’s cheek in free face painting station. Children were also treated to an Easter Egg Hunt, free photographs with the Easter Bunny, rides, food and refreshments.
Destiny Bell, 4, of Suitland, Md., has fun riding a pony during a 4th Annual Hop into Health along the Hillcrest Heights Community Center in Temple Hills April 19.
1036450B
PHOTOS/BOBBY JONES
A Temple Hills youth rotates a Zorbs Ball by walking inside the cavity.
A Temple Hills youth scoops up a red hen at a free Petting Zoo provided for the children.
1034020B
A local resident gets a photo opportunity with Super Why from the animated television series that helps children ages 3-6 learn key reading skills, alphabet, rhyming, spelling and reading. Elmo was also among the TV personalities on hand.
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Andrews Gazette
Friday, April 25, 2014
PHOTOS/BOBBY JONES
Amaris Jackson signs a one-day contract with Wizards owner Ted Leonsis, right, and Wizards General Manager Ernie Grunfeld.
Wizards partner with Make-AWish to fulfill fan’s dream BY BOBBY JONES
STAFF PHOTOJOURNALIST
Amaris Jackson, 10, lit up the Verizon Center arena as she led the Washington Wizards onto the court as the youngest player in the NBA and the newest edition to the Wizards roster prior to a season game with the Milwaukee Bucks April 12 in Washington, D.C. The youngster’s dream was made possible due to a collaboration between the Washington Wizards franchise and Make-aWish Mid-Atlantic Foundation. In May 2013, Amaris was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma, a kidney cancer normally found in adults. Her mother, Parris Jackson, said that there have been only nine case studies in the U.S. on children with the disease. “Amaris is actually the ninth case study. At first it was just on the left side of her stomach. But within three days it spread really quickly to other side. It’s a really strong cancer,” said Jackson. “But Amaris has had it for a year now and hasn’t cried one time, not even after the operations. I’ve been the one who’s been upset and crying. She’s the one telling me it’s going to be OK.” The bright-eyed 10-year-old was all smiles as she received the once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet and practice with her teammates, especially John Wall. Jackson arrived with her family and was immediately welcomed into the Wizards locker room and presented with new shoes and a team jersey with her name emblazoned on the back. Upon entering the team practice court, Jackson smiled and waved to her new teammates, while members of the media shot video and snapped photos. Before hitting the pregame shoot-around, Jackson discussed play strategies on the sidelines with assistant coach and former All-Star Sam Cassell. Excited about hitting nets, the miniature star’s face was full of determination as she made passes to her towering new friends John Wall, Marcin Gortat, Martell Webster and Kevin Seraphin. The young hot shot said she would take back some of the plays she learned for use in practice with her school teammates. After the practice session, the young basketball enthusiast handled the onslaught of media queries with a calm demeanor while sipping from a water bottle. “John Wall is my favorite player because he’s a point guard like me,” said Jackson, who plays point guard at Takoma Elementary School, Washington, D.C. Jackson seemed to love all the media attention, but, “The best thing today was meeting all the players,” said Jackson. She even giggled as Kevin Seraphin, forward, playfully shielded her
Amaris Jackson gets a lift to dunk from Wizards center Marcin Gortat, before Saturday night’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Amaris fields media queries after a practice session.
Amaris Jackson, 10, the Wizards’ newest player, leads Kevin Seraphin, center, Marcin Gortat, and other team members onto the court April 12 during the opening moments of a shoot-around at the Verizon Center, prior to a game with the Milwaukee Bucks.
from media coverage while following her out of the practice court area. Later that evening, Jackson was all smiles as her name was announced and her image appeared on the Jumbotron as she led the team onto the court prior to the game against the Milwaukee Bucks. The towering, seven-foot center, Marcin Gortat, gave Jackson a momentary lift to the rim to dunk a basketball during the specialized shoot-around opportunity. She even got some one-on-one game warm-up tips from her favorite player, John Walls, before a filled arena. Jackson seemed to stand as tall as her teammates during the singing of the national anthem. But the best moment of her debut was when she joined the team huddle, shouting the team mantra to rally her teammates for the impending game. Jackson and her family were then invited to sign an official, one-day contract with Wizards owner Ted Leonsis and Wizards General Manager, Ernie Grunfeld. After Jackson signed the contract, Leonsis welcomed her to
the team and added, “now if one of the players is not doing so well, that doesn’t mean for you to come off the bench and help.” Later Jackson and her family shared a VIP box with Leonsis and Grunfield during the game. Throughout the entire day Jackson showed no signs of fatigue. During pre-game interviews, Jackson’s parents were amazed at their daughter’s stamina in playing with the Wizards and handling the ensuing media frenzy. “To see her go through surgery, then bounce back and watch her play here tonight, it’s just crazy how strong she is, being so young,” said her father, Jose Guevara. Her mother looked back at Amaris’ medical journey during the past year. “I remember when Amaris was in the hospital and had gone through her second surgery. People on the staff were asking her if she could just get one wish what it would be,” said Parris Jackson. “She just kept on saying she wanted to play basketball with the Wizards, ‘because I live up the street and I’m sure that all
Jackson bumps fists with assistant coach and former All-Star Sam Cassell while discussing play strategies on the sidelines.
of them live down the street from me,’” said Parris, laughing. Amaris questioned her mom about the probability of her wish coming true. “I told her, yeah maybe one day, honey. I’ll see what I can do.” Unbeknownst to the family, a representative from Make a Wish Mid-Atlantic found out about Amaris’s wish. “They said they wanted to meet my daughter. When they talked with her they asked the same questions about meeting the Wizards and Amaris answered the same - and here we are,” said Parris. “It’s all so surreal. On the outside Amaris has been cool, but when she gets back to school she’ll definitely have some stories to tell.” The parents were unanimous in just wanting to see their daughter happy and smiling at the end of the day. “It was exciting, meeting all the players,” Jackson said. “It was awesome. She’s like my little miracle baby. She’s amazing.”
John Walls, Wizard forward, and Amaris Jackson give each other a high five during a pre-game shoot-around.
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Andrews Gazette
Friday, April 25, 2014
CELEBRATING THE 44TH ANNUAL EARTH DAY
Gravel is placed into the bed of a machine to be delivered to various locations on a trail. Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970.
U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTOS/AIRMAN 1ST CLASS RYAN J. SONNIER
Team Andrews volunteers pick up trash and spread gravel on a trail here to recognize the 44th Annual Earth Day, April 22. The trail is primarily used by team members for walking and running.
JB ANDREWS INTRAMURAL VOLLEYBALL STANDINGS Team
Wins
Losses
Total games
Win %
PAG
4
0
4
100%
WSA
3
1
4
75%
89OG
3
1
4
75%
11 SFG (1)
2
1
3
67%
NGB
2
2
4
50%
744 COMM
2
2
4
50%
FRC MA
2
2
4
50%
11 LRS
2
2
4
50%
89 APS
0
4
4
0%
11 SFG (2)
0
3
3
0%
JBA Buzz What choices in your life helped to shape who you are today?
Navy Yeoman 2nd Class Devon Dimmitt, Information Dominance Corps Region, Washington, D.C.
“The choice of being a husband and a father has shaped me because I’m not only responsible for myself, but my wife and kids. Learning responsibility has been key in shaping me.”
“Joining the military has completely shaped who I am today.”
Staff Sgt. Jetzemani Galicia, 11th Security Support Squadron group
“I could have been at home working in a grocery store, but making the choice to join the military will make a difference in my lineage for generations to come.”
Senior Airman Jeroyd Gobert, 779th Surgical Operations Squadron surgical technician
“I definitely would have to say joining the Air Force has been a choice that has helped me to succeed in life.”
Senior Airman Tarick Gray, 811th Security Forces Squadron protective services
THEATER, from page 1 cheerleaders, dance troupes, motivational speakers, comedians and musicians from various genres. They have the capability to customize tours and bring acts to many secluded areas. Before an act is chosen, each location and audience is taken into consideration. The performance stages can vary, either built to accommodate Cirque du Soleil acrobats, to a beach side concert or a meet and greet on a ship at sea. “A lot of the sites don’t have the lodging or facilities to support a big tour, but they can have somebody fly in on a helicopter to say hi and sign autographs,” said Air Force Lt. Col. John Ponton, AFE chief. Armed Forces Entertainment team members play an active role in each stage of a tour’ s development. When covering so much ground, they rely on each location’ s points of contact, the regional and circuit managers. The regional manager takes an in-house role and is the person on the ground escorting new acts. The circuit managers take care of the overall, big picture responsibilities and paperwork. “It’s a lot of e-mailing back and forth, working within different time zones,” said Mayer. Moreover, to produce a tour takes a lot of planning and preparation, an aspect of the business often unseen by the audience. “The regional managers usually travel with the talent,” said Mayer. “We work with the artists, recruit entertainment and communicate with them, then put the contract together.” An AFE regional manager travels an average of 2.5 months out of the year. “Getting to go on tour has a huge reward,” said Mayer. “After all the time spent preparing, to see it unfold and to see the troops really enjoying it, pays off in the end.” Before an act is chosen, each location and audience, no matter how big or small, is taken into consideration. “In one of my bases in the Bahamas if we have 100 percent attendance, 37 people would show, that’s how many are on the base,” said Mayer. One key point that drives the development of a tour is audience feedback. The extended AFE team on the ground collects data after every performance, either face to face or through an after action report. The data is compiled, and then the process begins again. “One of the big questions we ask is do you want them again? And 95 percent say yes,” said Brian Burke, AFE business and marketing analyst. “There is an effort to make that happen.” Additionally, the AFE website, http:// www.armedforcesentertainment.com, is a source for service members to communicate with AFE and check for upcoming tours. “If members are not happy, we hear about it too,” said Burke. “If we aren’t sending entertainment to the proper locations and we remedy that as soon as possible.” In spite of their efforts, when a performance or an upcoming show is advertised , AFE is not the first brand that comes to mind. When it comes to military entertainment production, AFE is the dark horse. “I think it happens to every tour that goes to a military base,” said Burke.. “When they see a tour, it’s automatically assumed that it’s the USO.”
Members of Joint Base Andrews gather to spread gravel on worn areas of a trail as part of an Earth Day celebration which focuses on environmental clean-up and awareness.
The difference between the USO and AFE is how they are funded. The USO gets funding through large corporations, while in contrast, AFE is solely funded by the DoD. “The USO gets large donations from household named corporations,” said Elmo Gladden, financial manager. “We don’t generate money from the tickets or merchandise sold.” Working to serve a military audience, AFE faces an additional set of challenges; competing in the marketplace, coupled with changes in the weather and global conflict. The challenges we face are related to world tension,” said Elmo Gladden, financial manager. “Some regions have to deal with weather, especially during hurricane season.” “Safety is paramount,” said Gladden. “We have been blessed that there have not been any major incident from a security standpoint.” An AFE tour may not be the most lucrative for entertainers, but AFE has many repeat acts that tour for the opportunity to give back to the troops. “A lot of them come back to say thank you, and that’s really why we’re here,” said Burke. “It’s so that we can provide those kinds of experiences to folks.” In addition, since the closure in Iraq, there has been a decrease in demand and the restriction of funds has put a squeeze on the operation. “When we were operating at our requested funding levels, we were sending out about 120 tours a year. Now, we’re hovering around 70,” said Burke. With the federal cutbacks, like everyone else, AFE is doing more with less but still strives to get the most value for the money. “A tour with travel and production will average about $70k,” said Burke. When looking at cost and value, the return on investment for a tour is gaged in a couple of ways. The cost is estimated by the projected attendance and is compared to the dollar value of what service members would be able to get outside of the base. “For one of our larger tours, AFE sent One Republic to Japan and Hawaii and the average cost per attendee was roughly $4, compared to $60 if you were to go off base,” said Burke. “So to be able to provide something with that kind of cost to the troops is a no-brainer to me.” Marine Capt. Marc Bucks, AFE circuit manager for the Mediterranean, Southwest Asia and Europe regions. Having deployment experience as a combat engineer, he knows first-hand what it was like to serve in a remote area. “I deployed twice to Afghanistan and I didn’t see any entertainment the entire time, so morale was a very big issue for the troops,” said Bucks. “And for us, it was very tough.” Buck served in a location that was so inaccessible, that their food and supplies had to be convoyed in. “The more remote and isolated sites we can hit, the more important it is to get there and break away from the daily grind. They can forget about what they’re doing and just have fun,” said Bucks. “You can’t put a dollar amount on that.” To see featured artists and for scheduled tours, visit: http://www.armedforcesentertainment.com.
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Andrews Gazette
Friday, April 25, 2014
Security Forces Police Blotter The Security Forces Blotter is intended to keep members of the Joint Base Andrews Community informed and aware of the crimes and offenses that occur throughout the base each week. If you have any information that may help the Security Forces solve a crime or prevent a criminal act, please contact BDOC (Base Defense Operations Center) at 301-981-2001, CRIME STOP LINE 981-2677 (COPS, or the investigations section at 301-981-5656). April 11 at 3:27 p.m.: A report was filed with Security Forces for Damage to Government Property at CDC #2. A individual entered the adult bathroom and etched in a swastika symbol. The symbol was four inches by four inches in depth and five feet off the ground. Further investigation revealed there were no witnesses. April 12 at 2:05 p.m.: Security Forces responded to the Presidential Inn for possession of Marijuana. The complainant stated while conducting daily room cleaning services Marijuana was discovered. The Marijuana was tested and displayed positive results. The individual was charged accordingly. April 12 at 9:08 p.m.: Security Forces escorted an active duty military member for confinement in Charles County MD. April 13 at 8:31 a.m.: Security Forces responded to Damage to Government vehicle at Bldg 1845. The individual stated at 5:40 a.m. changeover was conducted with the off going shift and at 0745 hrs he discovered damage
consisting of a six inch by six inch dent in the center rear bumper. Security Forces obtained statements and contacted the VCO. April 14 at 8:39 a.m.: A contractor was struck by a vehicle on West Perimeter Road while conducting his landscaping services. The vehicle side view mirror struck the blower motor on the contractor’s back. The contractor was transported to Malcom Grow Medical Center for further evaluation. April 14 at 9:18 a.m.: A contractor was apprehended at Hanger 19 for possession of a loaded firearm. The individual was charged for transporting a weapon on the installation. April 14 at 2:01 p.m.: Security Forces responded to a residence on Tucson Ave. for a report of a unattended child. Family advocacy was contacted and the welfare and security of the child was provided. The individual was charged accordingly. April 14 at 8:55 p.m.: An individual requested assistance from Security Forces for a possible breaking and entering. Security Forces arrived on scene and swept the residence and deemed the residence was secure. Patrols discovered damages to the residence consisting of a cracked rear patio door and a broken window. Patrols classified damage to residence due to wind. April 15 at 8:35 a.m.: A contractor attempted to enter the Pearl Harbor Gate while in possession of Marijuana.
During a vehicle inspection the Marijuana was discovered. The Marijuana was tested and displayed positive results. The individual was charged accordingly. April 15 at 10:15 a.m.: Security Forces rendered medical assistance at the Base Exchange for an individual having breathing problems. Medical personnel were contacted, arrived and transported the individual. April 15 at 10:22 a.m.: Three contractors attempted to enter the Pearl Harbor Gate while in possession of Marijuana. During a vehicle inspection the Marijuana was discovered. During the person search of one of the contractors more Marijuana was discovered. The Marijuana was tested and displayed positive results. The three individuals were charged accordingly. April 16 at 2:31 a.m.: Security Forces responded to damage to non-military property at the hospital parking lot. A vehicle was struck by an a object causing damages to the driver’s window. There were no injuries and medical attention was not needed. April 16 at 7 a.m.: A individual was apprehended at the base commissary for theft. The individual was observed departing the commissary without rendering proper payment. The individual was charged accordingly. April 17 at 5:20 a.m.: There was a loud noise complaint at building 1690 on Colorado Ave. The individual did not adhere to the Security Forces officer’s instructions. The individual was apprehended and charged accordingly.
Ask the Lawyer
But, I said no search! BY MATHEW B. TULLY
Q. Can military police search my home if my roommate approves to a search over my objections? A. Generally, military police or commanders cannot search a service member’s home or body without a search warrant or authorization from a competent military authority to conduct a probable cause search. For there to be probable cause, there must be “a reasonable belief that the person, property, or evidence sought is located in the place or on the person to be searched,” according to the Military Rules of Evidence Rule 315. However, under Rule 314, military police, commanders, officers and other authorities can conduct a search of a residence without probable cause when a person who “exercises control over that property” voluntarily consents to the search. When exercise of control over the property the police want to search is tied to more than one person, and they do not agree on whether to consent to a search, the police may or may not be able to proceed with a search without probable cause. Much depends on where the objecting roommate is when the other roommate consents to the search. “[A] person who shares premises with another ‘assumes the risk’ that, in his absence, the other party will consent to a search,” the U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals said in U.S. v. Darrel A. Weston (2008), citing a U.S. Supreme Court case. In Weston, the NMCCA examined multiple situations where two occupants of a residence had different opinions as to whether to consent to a search. It noted that in a situation where a husband stands at the threshold of his house and refuses to consent to a search – and his wife consents to the search – the wife has “no recognized authority in law or social practice to prevail over her husband’s contemporaneous objection.” It said her “disputed invitation, without more, gave police no better claim to reasonableness in entering than they would have had in the absence of any consent at all.” So, in situations where consent is disputed, it is crucial for the dissenter to have a physical presence at the residence. When the objector is not physically present, “[t] he consent of one who possesses common authority over premises or effects is valid as against the absent, nonconsenting person with whom that authority is shared,” the NMCCA said in Weston, quoting the Supreme Court. However, a search may not be legal if the police improperly remove the dissenting occupant from the residence so to “deprive him of the opportunity to object to the search,” the court added. Service members asked to consent to a search of their property, or who have already had their property searched, should immediately contact a military law attorney. Depending on the circumstances, an attorney could help prevent an unlawful search or block the admission of any evidence derived from illegal searches. Mathew B. Tully is an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran and founding partner of the law firm Tully Rinckey PLLC. E-mail questions to askthelawyer@fedattorney.com. The information in this column is not intended as legal advice.
MUSICAL TUITION
Bryce Reese, a Bowie State University student, entertains passing patrons by playing ‘When the Saints Come Marching In’ to earn financial aid for college just outside of a grocery store in Clinton April 21.
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PHOTO/BOBBY JONES
YOUTH, from page 1 for the casual resident. It takes a dedication to the community and to the events that uphold that community’s traditions. In today’s litigious times, it also requires liability insurance. Three years ago, “the lawyers said we could not be insured (against injuries occurring at a Recreation Council-sponsored event) if we were not covered by the Town,” Foster said, “So, we asked if we could have a ‘hold harmless’ clause, and the (Local Government Insurance Trust) lawyer, the Town lawyer, said ‘absolutely not.’ Prudential (Insurance) would not even give us a quote, because Recreation Councils and Civic Associations are no longer recognized.” Community events such as the annual Haunted Hayride and a “We Care” program which offered visits to elderly town residents on special days have been cut back, while the Recreation Council has maintained annual holiday gatherings, breakfasts with Santa and the Easter Bunny, movie nights and other programs with low cost and liability. Two years ago, the Recreation Council asked for donations from the Town Council to purchase equipment including folding tables and chairs and a Sno-Cone machine, and was rejected in those requests as well. “They told us we had to get several bids on the tables and chairs and Sno-Cone machine, and when we came back with those bids they still didn’t provide a donation,” Foster said, adding that the Morningside Recreation Council has not asked the Town of Morningside for funding since then. Without insurance provided by either the county or the town, the Recreation Council has backed away from many events that might have once been part of their program. Youth sports, for example, are limited to a
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karate class taught inside the Morningside Town Hall by an instructor who carries his own liability insurance to cover participants. “We had softball, T-ball, basketball (in the past),” said Recreation Council member Susan Frostbutter. “And coaches were of the plenty,” added Foster, but the lack of insurance and funding has limited many of those type of events in recent years. “Things have changed. People have changed. It’s not fun, anymore,” said Recreation Council member Sharon Fowler. Foster said that over the years the Recreation Council has, “begged and begged for other people to join us,” in putting on events for local residents, with little response. “Even some members of the Town Council don’t come to any events,” Foster said. Lack of interest, funding and fresh volunteers raises concern, each year, that the July 4 parade and other festivities will not continue. “We’re always looking for groups to volunteer or join the parade, and would love to see the Air Force Honor Guard participate,” Foster said. At the March 19, 2014 Town Council meeting, members of the Recreation Council were surprised by what seemed to be the sudden involvement of a flag football team, run by coach Darnell Franklin of Capitol Heights, who requested a donation from the Town of Morningside of $3,085 to be used for adult flag football uniforms and league and registration fees. Franklin has repeatedly said that in return, his team, the Morningside Monarchs, would provide youth sports, recreation and community service projects at no cost to the town or to participating youth. Members of the Morningside Recreation Council are not convinced. “If you want to help kids, why do you want money for an
CAPTION THIS
Send your silly captions for this week’s photo to cbasham@dcmilitary.com. The funniest ones will be used in a future edition of The Andrews Gazette.
And from the April 11 edition: “We too want to drive like Justin Bieber.” --David Anspach 11th Wing, AFDW
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adult league?” asked Recreation Council Treasurer and Secretary Katie Frostbutter, daughter of Susan Frostbutter, in a recent interview. “What happened in Capitol Heights that he’s not (running a youth program) there?” Franklin had participated in (but not run) youth programs in his hometown of Capitol Heights in the past, but recognizes that youth from Capitol Heights are already heavily involved in established sports programs. His adult flag football team practices at Morningside’s Douglas Patterson Park. “All of those kids are already at Peppermill and Seat Pleasant. I want to go somewhere that doesn’t have a youth sports program, and Morningside doesn’t have one at all,” Franklin said. “But they sure do have a delinquency problem. You see the kids walking up and down to the liquor stores and the 7-11 and smoking weed on the corners. And no one is doing anything about that..” Morningside Chief of Police Amos Damron called youth delinquency, “a little problem, it might be worse later, but we’re working on it. Any time that you have a group of (teenagers), 15 or 20 of them walking in the street, it’s a concern.” Sometimes, drivers sound their car horns at the groups of wandering youth, “and gets cussed out by juveniles. A few years ago, we had a kid who said he was assaulted by police; he resisted arrest.” Damron said that loitering laws; the Prince George’s County youth curfew of 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, 11:59 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and issuing citations to youth walking in the street instead of on the sidewalk is part of the department’s effort to control juvenile delinquency in the town. Starting in late May, Morningside’s seven-officer police department will bring back a bike patrol for the summer months.
“The bike patrol is coming, starting late May, early June, as long as we have two officers on, one for emergency responses and one for community policing,” said Damron. “I’m very committed to community policing and the best way to do it is to be out on the bikes.” Franklin’s request for a donation to support his team, which practices at a field in Morningside, initially seemed welcome, Franklin said. After conversations with several members of the Town Council, Franklin has participated in several Town of Morningside work sessions and attended the town’s monthly town hall meetings, only to be rebuffed during contentious Town Council votes marred by the repeated and conspicuous absence of Council Member Sheila Scott. At the March 19 town meeting where Franklin made his request for funding, Vice Mayor James O. Ealey interrupted Code Enforcement Officer Recreation Council member) Regina Foster’s monthly code enforcement report to pull several townspeople aside, including Recreation Council President Susan Mullins, wife of Town Council Member Todd Mullins, to ask about the Recreation Council’s stand on Franklin’s request. “Mr. Ealey’s vote (against funding Franklin’s request) did not have to do with (pressure from) the Recreation Council,” said Susan Mullins. Franklin said he is pressing forward with plans to create a youth program in Morningside for area children. Though discussions with the Town Council have stalled, he sees a bright future. “We’re in the process of registering as a nonprofit sports organization with an emphasis on youth, but also offering adult flag football, coed softball and coed kickball. Because of all the stuff that’s been said. We went to the town’s work session last week, and now the Recreation
Council wants to work with us. (Mixed signals from the Town Council are) not their fault,” said Franklin. “We’re still in the beginning stages and I don’t care who doesn’t want it to happen. It’s gonna happen. We’re not asking for money. We’re only asking for their time (as fellow volunteers with the youth program) and the ability to use their building.” By operating as a nonprofit, Franklin hopes to encourage involvement from the broader community, beyond the limits of the Town Council. He has enlisted Stacie Wade, wife of Mayor Kenneth “Chrys” Wade, to oversee the nonprofit’s financial operations. “We’d like to have one member of he Recreation Council to be one of our nonprofit board members,” Franklin said. “I’ve been forcing myself on the Recreation Council: There are things that have been said about you that are not true, thinks that have been said about me that are not true, there are things we can learn from each other. When you want to do something for youth, come to us.” For now, Franklin is working on registering as a nonprofit organization, looking for a gym to use for basketball and cheerleading practices, and finding insurance coverage for the organization’s programs. In the meantime, he is recruiting volunteers among his adult league team to participate in Morningside’s Spring Clean-Up efforts April 17 and 18. “It’s going forward. All I was told from the beginning (by Morningside Town Council members) was, ‘This is a good idea. We’re gonna get you the money.’ I thank the town for turning us down, because it’s turning it into a bigger thing. We’re hoping to get some of the military people who want to play off base to participate, too.”
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FOOD, from page 1 “It will hopefully be a long-term gain in food production with only minimal care,” Walsh said. Walsh said the food forest was started with a two-year, $15,000 grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust, an Annapolis nonprofit grant-making organization created by the Maryland General Assembly. The intention, Walsh said, is to eventually turn the food forest over to the care of local residents from nearby Franklin Park Apartments because it borders the food forest. Eventually, the site will produce elderberries, figs, cranberries and other fruits, Walsh said. Logs have already been placed to form a border, which have been treated to grow shiitake mushrooms as well. Walsh said fiddleheads, an edible fern, and black raspberries should be ready for harvesting next year. An additional goal of the food forest is also to provide an educational opportunity for the public, said Robert Cahalan, CHEARS co-founder. “A large part of this is about raising awareness of how we do depend on nature,
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and we think we get more awareness by inviting people to these kinds of places, and not getting all our food from Safeway or Giant, but get at least some of it direct from where it comes from,” Cahalan said. Cahalan, who works as a climate scientist at NASA Goddard in Greenbelt, said part of the project involves changing the way people think about gardening. “You don’t always need to plant in an open area that gets lots of sun. You also want to be at the edge of a forest, so that you can also have a diversity of shade,” Cahalan said. “Some plants grow better with shade.” The site will also include non-food producing plants, such as New Jersey tea shrubs, which will allow the food forest to be more self-sustaining. “It’s a nitrogen-fixing plant. So what it does is it provides nitrogen, food and other minerals for these other plants without using fertilizer,” Walsh said. “The food forest is not just for human use, it’s also a self-fertilizing, regenerative system.” As the Food Forest is located on city property, Walsh said CHEARS has worked with the city of Greenbelt on all design stages of the project. This story originally appeared in the April 22 edition of The Prince George’s Gazette.
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