Resident Newsletter March 2017

Monthly Resident Newsletter March 2017 Issue 3

Lewis-McChord Communities DISTRICT CONTACTS Call 253-912-2150 Listen to the directory to be connected to your District.

DISTRICT EMAIL DIRECTORY #5 Lewis East Discovery Village, New Hillside and Evergreen lewiseast@lpsi.com #4 Lewis Main Broadmoor, Clarkdale and Town Center lewismain@lpsi.com #3 Lewis North Beachwood I & II, Eageview and Meriwether Landing lewisnorth@lpsi.com #2 Lewis West Parkway, Davis Hill, Hillside and Greenwood lewiswest@lpsi.com #1 McChord Madigan and McChord McChord@lpsi.com District Office Hours Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 8:00 - 4:00 Wednesday 8:30 - 4:00 Saturday & Sunday Closed

TIME TO WIN SOME PRIZES?

You could be one of our grand prize winners.

How You Ask? Be On The

LOOKOUT

For the JBLM Housing Survey

Our JBLM Housing Residents are participating in the 2017 HQDA Resident Survey for a chance to win great prizes.

Surveys will be sent directly to your email by April 27th.

Take a moment to complete the survey and you will be automatically entered into a drawing for one of our Grand Prizes! Don’t Miss Out On This Opportunity.

This is a great time to update your phone number and email address so that you do not miss out on this drawing. Email your District Office to update and or verify your information. See left side of page 1 for direct office contact information.

GREAT PRIZES LIKE APPLE WATCHES, CHROMEBOOKS, PS4S AND MUCH MORE...

Extra chances to win by pre-registering at participating community events one of which is Resident BINGO

LMC Resident

March 24th 6:00 PM

Exclusively For Current LMC Residents All Families must RSVP on our Facebook Page. Click this link to be directed to this event. Please tell us in the notes how many will be attending in your party.

• • • • •

GAMES FOOD FUN FAMILY FRIENDS

In honor of our upcoming HQDA Housing Survey, update your contact information at this BINGO event to qualify for additional chances to win

UPGRADES AND RENOVATIONS MADE POSSIBLE BY YOUR FEEDBACK ON

The HQDA Resident Survey

The HQDA Resident Survey is a valuable tool providing direct feedback from Service Members and their Families about their experience while residing in RCI privatized housing. This tool helps us ensure resident expectations are met and also where we may need to make improvements. Resident satisfaction continues to be very important to you, Senior leaders, OSD, and Congress. Therefore, we ask that you support this important requirement regarding the importance of completing the Survey to help us achieve a good response rate. Listening to feedback from previous surveys has lead to exciting projects such as renovations, window projects, new parks and many more to come in 2017.

Feedback from this survey can lead to enhancements in 2018 and beyond.

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Click here for website.

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FREE ONGOING KIDS PROGRAMS BY MWR Storytime Yoga at Bookpatch Library

Storytime at McChord Library

When: Wednesdays 10:30 AM & 3:00 PM Where: Grandstaff Library JBLM Lewis Main Help kids get fit with literature! A yoga teacher with WarriorOneLewis-McChord, is excited to share yoga with JBLM families! No registration required.

For more information call 253.967.5533 DO YOU KNOW WHAT SCHOOL YOUR CHILD WILL ATTEND? OR WHAT BUS TO TAKE? Welcome to the 2016/17 School Year. Some students are returning to Clover Park School District and some are new to the area. Here are some tools to help you kick off the new school year with ease...

Click on each image to use the school tool, bus tool and the school calendar. Each of these tools may also be located at http://www.cloverpark.k12.wa.us

WATCH OUT FOR SCHOOL KIDS - School is back in session and the sun is rising later. Please watch out for the kids. Slow down, use your lights and beware of your surroundings while driving.

COMING SOON

HQDA RESIDENT SURVEY PARTICIPANTS COULD WIN PRIZES!

When: Thursdays 11:00 AM & 3:00 PM Where: McChord Library JBLM McChord Field This is especially for children 5 years and younger. Stories and Crafts.

For more information call 253.982.3454 PARENT LIFE HACKS 101 TRICKS YOU DIDN’T KNOW COULD MAKE LIFE EASIER

Pool Noodles for Safety Have you ever been pinched by a trampoline spring? If you have, then you know that it is not the most pleasant feeling. You might want to avoid it again in the future right? Well here is a fun and decorative way to prevent trampoline spring pinches. If your trampoline does not have spring covers or if yours have become worn over time, this is a great way to cover those pesky springs and enjoy your jumping fun without worry.

You will need: • Pool noodles

• Box cutter

• Spring Tool (Came with trampoline)

Begin by measuring your spring and deciding what length you would like your sections to be. Then measure and cut your pool noodles into as many sections as it will provide. You will probably end up with little pieces off the ends, save them, they will work for summertime crafts for the kids!

Once you have them all cut, it is time to put them over the springs. Using your nifty tool, remove one spring at a time, sliding the pool noodle onto the spring before replacing it.

This isn’t hard, just monotonous. There you have it! A bright, cheerful trampoline makeover that will be fun all summer long!

St. Patrick’s Day Tips Ideas

15 Fun Facts About Saint Patrick’s Day

1. WE SHOULD REALLY WEAR BLUE Saint Patrick himself would have to deal with pinching on his feast day. His color was “Saint Patrick’s blue,” a light shade. The color green only became associated with the big day after it was linked to the Irish independence movement in the late 18th century.

2. SAINT PATRICK WAS BRITISH Although he made his mark by introducing Christianity to Ireland in the year 432, Patrick wasn’t Irish himself. He was born to Roman parents in Scotland or Wales in the late fourth century.

3. THE IRISH TAKE SAINT PATRICK’S DAY SERIOUSLY As you might expect, Saint Patrick’s Day is a huge deal in his old stomping grounds. It’s a national holiday in both Ireland and Northern Ireland. SO DO NEW YORKERS. New York City’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is one of the world’s largest parades. Since 1762, 250,000 marchers have traipsed up Fifth Avenue on foot – the parade still doesn’t allow floats, cars, or other modern trappings. CHICAGO FEELS LUCKY, TOO. New York may have more manpower, but Chicago has a spectacle all its own. The city has been celebrating Saint Patrick by dumping green dye into the Chicago River since 1962. It takes 40 tons of dye to get the river to a suitably festive shade!

Top 10 Irish Films to watch on St. Patrick’s Day Leprechaun Rated (R)1993

The Secret of Kells Rated (G) (2009)

The Commitments Rated (R)1991

Gangs of New York Rated (R) 2002

Far and Away Rated (PG13) 1992

The Departed Rated (R) 2006

Boondock Saints Rated (R) 1999

Michael Collins Rated (R) 1996

The Quiet Man Rated (G) 1952

P.S. I love You Rated (PG13) 2007

4. IT USED TO BE A DRY HOLIDAY For most of the 20th century, Saint Patrick’s Day was considered a strictly religious holiday in Ireland, which meant that the nation’s pubs were closed for business on March 17. (The one exception went to beer vendors at the big national dog show, which was always held on Saint Patrick’s Day.) In 1970, the day was converted to a national holiday, and the stout resumed flowing.

Crock Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage Ingredients 10 Baby red potatoes, quartered 1 onion, peeled cut into pieces 4 cups of water 4 pounds corned beef brisket with spice packet 6 ounces of beer (we used an IPA but you can use any of your favorite beers 1/2 head of cabbage, coarsely chopped

5. THERE’S A REASON FOR THE SHAMROCKS How did the shamrock become associated with Saint Patrick? According to Irish legend, the saint used the three-leafed plant as a metaphor for the Holy Trinity when he was first introducing Christianity to Ireland.

6. COLD WEATHER HELPED SAINT PATRICK’S LEGEND In Irish lore, Saint Patrick gets credit for driving all the snakes out of Ireland. Modern scientists suggest that the job might not have been too hard – according to the fossil record, Ireland has never been home to any snakes. Through the Ice Age, Ireland was too cold to host any reptiles, and the surrounding seas have staved off serpentine invaders ever since. Modern scholars think the “snakes” Saint Patrick drove away were likely metaphorical.

7. THERE’S NO CORN IN THAT BEEF Corned beef and cabbage, a traditional Saint Patrick’s Day staple, doesn’t have anything to do with the grain corn. Instead, it’s a nod to the large grains of salt that were historically used to cure meats, which were also known as “corns.”

8. THERE ARE NO FEMALE LEPRECHAUNS Don’t be fooled by any holiday decorations showing lady leprechauns.

In traditional Irish folk tales, there are no female leprechauns, only nattily attired little guys.

9. BUT THE LEPRECHAUN ECONOMY IS THRIVING Another little-known fact from Irish lore: Leprechauns earned that gold they’re guarding. According to legend, leprechauns spend their days making and mending shoes. It’s hard work, so you can’t blame them for being territorial about their pots of gold.

10. THE LINGO MAKES SENSE You can’t attend a Saint Patrick’s Day event without hearing a cry of “Erin go Bragh.” What’s the phrase mean? It’s a corruption of the Irish Éirinn go Brách, which means roughly “Ireland Forever.”

Build a Leprechaun Trap with your kids.

Leprechauns are super tricky and really fast, so if you want to find out the secret about where their gold is hidden you must set a trap! Gather items around the house and be creative. Remember Lucky Charms and Gold make great Leprechaun bait.

Click here to see our St Patrick’s Day Ideas on Pintrest

Directions 1. Place onions and potatoes in the bottom of the CrockPot. 2. Add water and place brisket on top 3. Pour beer over brisket.

4. Sprinkle brisket with spices and set Crock Pot on high.

5. Cook 8 hours on high.

6. 1 hour before serving, stir in cabbage pieces and recover crock pot.

Spring Tips and Resident Reminders Extended Leave or Vacation Away From Your Home...

When leaving your home for an extended period of time (more than two (2) weeks), a Vacation and Extended Absences Form must be completed and given to your District Office. This form can be picked up at any of our District Offices.

Before leaving your home, we strongly recommend that you: • Stop mail and newspaper delivery.

• Leave pets with friends or at a kennel (pets are not allowed to stay in your home during your absence. ANIMAL CONTROL WILL TAKE PETS LEFT IN HOME DURING YOUR ABSENCE. • Unplug all unnecessary appliances such as a TV, coffee maker, or computer.

• Lock and secure all doors and windows.

• Turn off water supply line to washing machine.

Holiday Decoration Reminders

• Winter Seasonal decorations must be removed by March 19th Winter decorations consist of snowmen, snowflakes and winter wreaths etc.

Please note, immediate removal may be required of any decorations, alterations, additions or fixtures which are made or installed without Agent’s prior written consent. * Holiday decorations are restricted to first story gutters.

Garbage Pick-up Schedule: Have garbage curbside by 5:30 a.m. on your designated day.

Monday: Evergreen, Madigan, New Hillside Tuesday: Broadmoor, Davis Hill, Greenwood, Parkway Wednesday: McChord Field Thursday: Beachwood, Beachwood II, Eagleview, Meriwether Landing Friday: Clarkdale, Discovery Village, Hillside, Town Center Centralized Garbage Container Service: Tuesday: Parkway and Town Center Friday: Parkway and Clarkdale

Prepaid Trash Bag Program • • • •

Avoid a monthly fee of a second trash can by purchasing a one- time use trash bag from Lewis-McChord Communities.

Prepaid trash bags can be purchased from your District Office for $4.70 for those times you have extra trash.

Place the bag next to your trash can and LeMay will pick it up on your normal trash day.

It’s quick and it’s easy!

LMC trash bags can be purchased Mon - Fri, 8am to 4pm. For more information please call or visit your District Office.

Pet Responsibilities

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Any and all pet(s) and animal(s) approved by Lessor must be kept inside the residence at all times except when on a leash or when securely confined in your fenced backyard, provided the fence is approved by management and is of adequate size and strength to restrain the animal. Pets are not to be tied up and left unattended if there is no fence.

Pet owners are responsible for disposing of their pet’s waste immediately, whether the pet is on a leash or in a fenced area.

Recreational Vehicles

Recreational vehicles are not allowed to be stored in the Lewis-McChord family housing areas or anywhere on the premises. Your neighborhood manager may issue a 72 hour pass to allow you to bring such vehicles to your home for packing and cleaning. There will be a limit of two (2) such passes issued per month to each resident.

A recreational vehicle is defined as any vehicle that is not designed primarily as a passenger vehicle and includes motor homes, travel trailers (self-contained and pop-up), 5th wheel trailers, campers (mounted on trucks and not mounted), motorboats, sailboats, jet skis, ATVs, any type of trailer and boat trailers of any kind.

Fire Pits and BBQ’s

Only commercially purchased, above ground fire pits are allowed in family housing, must be used at least 15 feet from your home and within your own yard. BBQ Grills Town Center may only use a gas grill on their designated patio. You may use the BBQ area in the Town Center park for charcoal grilling. Meriwether Landing/Westcott Hill communities have a common area BBQ/fire pit area. Once pit is used it needs to be covered when it is completely cooled. All residents are responsible to remove all trash/debris from the area for the next resident use. For all other communities, BBQ grills must be used at least 15 feet from your home to prevent damage to the siding. BBQ grills/fire pits are not to be used under overhangs, eaves in garages or carports. All neighborhoods need to properly store flammable materials, keep a fire extinguisher or water source readily available and supervise all fires by an adult until extinguished.

and Resident Responsibilities

Landscaping services are currently included in your rent. On your lawn service day, you will need to ensure that your lawn is free of toys and personal belongings so the mowers can cut your grass. You can have one large non movable item in your yard such as a swing set or trampoline.

Please see your District Office for Outdoor Policies. The mowers will cut within two (2) feet of the item. You will be responsible to cut the grass under and the two (2) feet around the item. You may choose to maintain your own lawn if desired. Contact your District Office for a sign to put in your window. If the home you live in has a fence either provided or installed by you, you are responsible for the maintenance of your yard. ***All flowerbeds adjacent to your home are your responsibility to maintain weed-free. Failure to maintain may result in fines.

Fire Hazard Reminders and Tips:

During the year there can be many potential fire hazards. From the use of portable heaters to fire places and misuses of extension cords there are increased risks. Be safe by following all the labeling requirements on these types of appliances and accessories. Another line of defense is your smoke detectors. All of the homes in Lewis-McChord Communities are equipped with smoke detectors on every floor of the home and in bedrooms. Some smoke detectors will be battery operated only and some are hard wired directly into the home with a battery back up. You are responsible for maintaining the smoke detectors in good working order. Please test your detectors regularly and change batteries when it is needed. If you are ever concerned or would like to have your smoke or carbon monoxide detectors checked, just simply call in a work order. *** Tip: A good way to remember batteries is to change them every time you set your clock forward or backward in conjunction with Daylight Savings time and Standard time.

The Armed Forces Family Action Plan provides a way for Service members, Families, Civilians, Youths, and Retirees to let Army and Air Force leadership know how they think their quality of life can be improved and suggest a way to make this happen.

The JBLM AFCS Armed Forces Family Action Plan is seeking issue submissions. If it’s an Army or Air Force program or service, AFFAP can improve it. If it’s an Army or Air Force, policy or regulation, AFFAP can change it. Improving the quality of military life, one issue at a time.

What has AFFAP done for you? Here are a few examples: • • • • • • • •

TRANSFERABILITY OF MONTGOMERY GI BILL (MGIB) BENEFITS TO FAMILY MEMBERS FAMILY CARE PLAN PROVIDER ACCESS TO INSTALLATIONS PATERNITY LEAVE FOR SERVICE MEMBERS TRICARE FOR LIFE TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI) REHABILITATION PROGRAM IN-STATE COLLEGE TUITION AUDIO / VISUAL SURVEILLANCE IN CHILDCARE CENTERS CHIROPRACTIC CARE FOR ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS

Submit your AFFAP issues at: Web Link: http://jblmmwr.com/acs/other_pages/acs/afap/afap_ic_form.html Email: usarmy.jblm.imcom.list.dfmwr-armed- forces-action- plan@mail.mil In Person: Family Resource Center, 4274 Idaho Ave., Lewis-Main Want to be part of the process to help make these changes, you can volunteer to be part of our focus groups or annual forum. To volunteer, or for more information, please contact our office at 253-967-3689. Thank you!

Hiring Our Heroes will be in your area for A GREAT EVENT! Mark your calendars now and see the link below for more information and registration!

For more information and to apply for AMPLIFY, please visit: http://bit.ly/ MarAMPLIFY March 1-2: Hiring Our Heroes’ In Gear Career program is bringing AMPLIFY to the Starbucks HQ in Seattle!! AMPLIFY is an exclusive two-day career intensive customized event for military spouse professionals!

LMC SPOUSES CLUB CRAFTING & BUILDING FRIENDSHIPS Lewis-McChord Communities

Home Pride Program Do you know of a home on JBLM that demonstrated pride both on the inside and on the outside?

NOMINATE NOW! By visiting your District Office

March 21st 6:00 - 9:00 PM

Framed Name Art

For more information follow the Facebook link below

All Quarterly Winners have a chance at becoming our Grand Prize Yearly Winners!

OPEN TO ALL LMC RESIDENTS 16 AND OLDER

You Must RSVP Within the Facebook Event Next Craft Night April 18th

Join The Conversation On Facebook

Here you can view and RSVP for our all upcoming events, read about current topics and maybe even find or share a few new recipes. New information posted daily.

www.facebook.com/lewismcchord.communities