December 2018 NIH R&W Digital Newsletter

Visit our website at www.govemployee.com

What You’re Looking For… • NIH R&W Fitness & Wellness Program……………..…………………………….…….pages 3 - 4 o Holiday Membership Special & Fitness Holiday Hours..………….……...page 3 • R&W Holiday Bazaar: The Remix, Snowed INN…………………..………………...page 5 • Music from NIH Philharmonia, Community Orchestra, Chamber Singers….page 7 • R&W Community Market………………………….……..................……………………..pages 8 - 9 o Farmers Market Corner, Recipe ……………………………………………………page 8 o Farmers Market Vendors………………………………………………………………page 9 • Collective Goods Fair, Holiday Gift Wrapping...…………………........................page 11 • Home Buyer Education…………………………………..…………………………………....page 12 • R&W Holiday Gift Guide………………………………………………………………………page 13 • NIH Vanpool, Costco Membership, Business Cards ………………………………..page 14 • CFC……………………………………………………………………………………………………..page 15 • Tickets………………………………………………………………………………………………….pages 15 - 17 o Monster Jam, Paw Patrol, Baltimore Aquarium……………………………….page 15 o TicketsAtWork (Movie Tickets, Sporting Events, Conerts)……………….page 16 o Local Holiday Parks (Six Flags, Kings Dominion, Hershey Park, etc)...page 17 o National Holiday Attractions (Biltmore Estate, Disney World)………….page 18 • Calendar……………………………………………………………………………………………….page 20

Visit our website at www.govemployee.com

NIH R&W Montgomery Aquatic Center (MAC) Corporate Membership

Eligibility for MAC Corporate Memberships apply to any NIH staff member who has both a valid NIH ID badge, current NIH email address, and a current R&W membership. This offer doesn’t extend to family members. MAC memberships under this promotion are $150 (savings of over $200), paid by check or cashier’s check. This group membership provides joiners with full access to the MAC, ONLY. The MAC is located at 5900 Executive Blvd; North Bethesda, MD. To join NIH employee can sign up for their membership directly at the MAC. You must present your NIH ID badge, as well as a copy of your R&W membership registration. We suggest purchasing your R&W membership online and taking a copy of the confirmation to the MAC. Call the MAC at 240-777-8070 if you have questions about swim schedules, swim hours, classes, etc. This opportunity is not part of any official federal fitness program, so neither R&W, NIH, nor any other part of DHHS can take responsibility for injuries or related problems that may develop from using this facility. Use of the MAC must also be on employee's personal time only. Neither R&W, NIH more broadly, nor DHHS is necessarily endorsing the MAC. Before increasing your current level of physical activity, consult with your physician. The need for medical guidance also applies to the use of saunas and whirlpools, since some medical conditions or effects of certain medications could be worsened by sudden changes in body temperature and/or fluid levels.

Get Glammed Up by Groomed and Polished at the Beauty & Barbershop

Groomed and Polished in partnership with AhhCandles is offering natural nail manicures and pedicures for men and women, hydrating facials and free complimentary hand massages this summer at the Beauty and Barbershop in Bldg.10, by appointment only. Learn more about Groomed and Polished wellness services or schedule an appointment with Alison by calling 301-706-6719.

Join the R&W and Fitness ListServs

Get the latest on all things R&W related delivered to your Inbox. Be the first to hear about upcoming events, R&W store specials, travel opportunities, special ticket offers, early bird offers and much more. Everyone is welcome to join, and membership is not required to receive the listserv emails. Go to https://list.nih.gov/archives/r_w_assoc_list-l.html and “join the list” with your name and email and the info will begin to flow. Also join our new Fitness Center listserv to get information on specials, upcoming classes, and any emergency closures at https://list.nih.gov/archives/nih-rw-fitness-l.html.

R&W Holiday Bazaar: The Remix

The R&W will be hosting its annual Holiday Bazaar on Thursday, December 6th from 10am - 2pm in Bldg. 10 South Lobby featuring vendors offering crafts, jewelry, art, clothes, sweets and more. Visit popular vendors including B.L.A.C.K., The Chocolatier’s Palette, Ahh Candles, Bracelet For Cancer, and Cupcakes Lounge, and new Diana Shutt Designs, Thru Sherri’s Eyes Studio, Rayhart Artwork, Name Brand Chic, and Nexus Travel. On-site engraving will be offered by Thru Sherri’s Eyes Studios. This is a great opportunity to get some of your holiday shopping done.

R&W Notary Services to Assist NIH Employees

Visit https://govemployee.com/nih/notaries/ for a list of NIH employees who are notaries and can assist you with getting documents notarized. If you are notary you’d like to offer your services, free of charge, contact David Browne with your contact information and a copy of your notary certificate.

Become a notary public.

Are You Looking to Save Some Money?

GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) was founded in 1936 and is the second-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States according to the 2016 A.M. Best market share report, published May 2017. It provides auto insurance coverage for over 15 million policy holders. NIH R&W Members could save even more on auto insurance with a special discount from GEICO. Go to the special GEICO R&W discount page to see how much more you could save today!

Get Snowed INN on February 23, 2019!

Put on your favorite blue jeans and finest flannel or sweater and get Snowed Inn to support the Children’s Inn at NIH on Saturday, February 23 rd from 8pm – midnight at the Ronald Regan Building and International Trade Center. This inaugural winter-themed event is a more casual reinvention of The Children’s Inn’s A WINNter Affair, promising plenty of fun and dancing with a live DJ, an open bar featuring winter cocktails mixed by the area’s top bartenders, heavy hors d’oeuvres, a variety of new games and activities and a silent auction. Proceeds benefit children with rare or serious illnesses whose best hope is a clinical trial at the NIH and who depend on The Children’s Inn for free lodging, meals and educational, recreational and therapeutic activities.

Get your tickets before they sell out!

• Government employees: $75 • Early bird special: $100 (thru Jan. 4th) • Regular ticket: $125 For more info visit the event or contact Lindsey Perreault at 301-827-6073.

Convenient and Affordable Dry-Cleaning Service thru R&W

Use the dry-cleaning service offered at the Bldg. 31 and Rockledge R&W stores. Dry cleaning is picked-up from and delivered to the stores every Monday and Thursday. Laundry service is $2.20 per item and dry cleaning is $6.75 and up.

Visit our website at www.govemployee.com

Holiday Music**Holiday Music**Holiday Music

Manchester String Quartet Concerts in Building 10

Please join us for the 30th annual seasonal performance of the Manchester String Quartet & Friends concert series. This year’s performance is titled “Greatest Hits” and is dedicated to the memory of Hyun Woo Kim, violin. The concerts are free and begin at 12:30pm in the Masur Auditorium of Bldg. 10.

The Quartet will perform Haydn Quartet D Major, Opus 20 #4 and Haydn Quartet B flat Major, Opus 76 #4 "Sunrise".

Future concert dates: Monday, December 10th Monday, January 28th Monday, February 25th Monday, March 25th Monday, April 29th Monday, May 13th This series is made possible by The Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences (FAES). Contact Sharon Greenwell at sg115f@nih.gov for reasonable accommodations.

NIH Philharmonia Orchestra Concert

The orchestra will be performing “Shall We Dance” on Saturday, Dec. 1st at St. Elizabeth Church in Rockville (917 Montrose Rd. between Rockville Pike and I-270). The concert includes Tchaikovsky – Swan Lake Suite and Stravinsky – Petrouchka (1947 version). Most members of the orchestra work at NIH, NASA, FDA and other government agencies. For more info, check the orchestra’s website www.nihphil.org.

NIH Chamber Singers Present Holiday Inspirations

The NIH Chamber Singers, under the direction of Dwight Brock, will celebrate December with its winter concert series, Holiday Inspirations featuring music inspired by the Christmas and Hannukah traditions, both sacred and secular. The first concert takes place on Saturday, December 1st at 3pm at the Marilyn J. Praisner/Fairland Library (14910 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville, MD). The second concert will take place at the Rockville Nursing Home (303 Adclare Rd., Rockville, MD 20850) on Tuesday, December 4th at 6pm. The final concert takes place at 12:30pm on Thursday, December 6th in the Bldg. 10 CRC Atrium. All concerts are free of charge and open to the public. For more info, call 301-827-0174 ext. 3.

The NIH Community Orchestra & Chorus Winter Concert

Come enjoy a winter concert presented by the NIH Community Orchestra and Chorus. The concert will take place Sunday, December 9th at 7pm at Cedar Lane Unitarian Church, 9601 Cedar Lane, Bethesda, Maryland. This free performance will feature the work of Beethoven, Brahms, Gounod, and Bennett.

This is the 23rd year of the Orchestra’s performance of a holiday concert. The performance is sponsored by the NIH R&W and the NIH Charities. There are no tickets however donations are welcome to benefit the NIH Charities. Parking is free and a reception will immediately follow the concert. For more info visit www.nihco.org.

Holiday Music**Holiday Music**Holiday Music

Christmas Revels 2018

Spend a festive holiday evening with the Queen — Elizabeth the First, that is! The year is 1599, England is swept up in a flowering of music and drama, and master Shakespearian actor and fool Will Kemp has become an overnight sensation

by Morris dancing from London to the town of Norwich in just nine days! Queen Elizabeth herself is also on the way to Norwich, and the locals enlist Kemp’s help as they prepare a Winter play worthy of Her Majesty. But Elizabeth has left the trappings of court far behind — and she has much more rustic entertainment in mind. Mummers plays meet A Midsummer Night’s Dream in this boisterous blend of high and low, city and country, art and folk, along with timeless Revels favorites: rousing carol sing-alongs, dancing in the aisles, children’s singing games, the eerily hypnotic Abbots Bromley horn dance, and the glorious tones of the Washington Revels Brass.

Experience the magic of the season this December with Mark Jaster as Will Kemp, Sabrina Mandell as the ringleader of some very Rude Mechanicals, Katrina Van Duyn as Queen Elizabeth, the world-renowned early music ensemble Piffaro: The Renaissance Band, the Rock Creek Morris Women, and Washington Revels’ cast — ages 8–88 — of courtiers, villagers, and some would-be thespians as we celebrate the Winter Solstice in true Elizabethan style. Welcome Yule! The Revels will perform Saturdays, Dec. 8th and 15th (2pm & 7:30pm), Sunday, Dec. 9th (2pm), Friday, Dec. 14th (7:30pm), and Sunday, Dec. 16th (1pm & 5pm) at the GW Lisner Auditorium in Washington, DC. Purchase tickets at www.revelsdc.org.

There’s great music this holiday season. Don’t miss it!

Visit our website at www.govemployee.com

Eat Healthier, Be Healthier Try New Recipes Every Month

Every month, and a variety of weeks and days each month, has its own designated food awareness. Every month the R&W highlights these dates and includes recipes and highlights which Community Market vendor you can purchase ingredients from.

Look for a variety of new recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, desserts and snacks every month in the Fitness Section of our website at www.govemployee.com/nih. Commit to get fit by eating healthier and working out.

National Food Days

• • • • • • •

Eat a Red Apple Day (December 1st) Pie Day (December 1st) Cookie Day (December 4th) Brownie Day (December 8th) Ice Cream Day (December 13th) Oatmeal Muffin Day (December 19th) Pumpkin Pie Day (December 25th)

National Food Weeks •

Handwashing Awareness Week (1st Week)

National Food Months • • •

Egg Nog Month Fruit Cake Month Pear Month

Baked Ham with Honey Mustard and Apples

Easy (and Gorgeous) Baked Ham with Honey Mustard and Apples will be the perfect centerpiece of your holiday meal!

• • • • • •

White Chocolate Reese's Christmas Trees

•

INGREDIENTS • 12 White Reese’s peanut butter cups • 12 Mini white Reese’s peanut butter cups • 1 cup powdered sugar • 2 Tablespoons warm water • sprinkles • Toothpicks

• •

White Chocolate Reese's Christmas Trees - a simple holiday treat which make a fun addition to your holiday plate.

DIRECTIONS • Place a mini Reese’s onto plate. Top with 2 regular peanut butter cups. Then top with another mini Reese’s. Place toothpick thru all 4 peanut butter cups to secure together.

•

Mix together the powdered sugar and water in a small bowl. It should be thick, yet smooth. Place the frosting into a zip top bag and snip the very tip off. Drizzle frosting onto the edges of the peanut butter cups. Next add the sprinkles and allow to try. Top with a star if desired.

• •

INGREDIENTS 8-10 pound spiral-cut smoked ham 3 granny smith apples ¼ cup whole grain mustard 2 tablespoons dijon mustard ¼ cup honey ½ teaspoon ground cardamom, or substitute cinnamon DIRECTIONS To fit the standing ham in your oven, remove one oven rack and lower the other rack to the lowest position. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil and set the spiral ham on top.

Peel and core the apples, then slice into paper-thin rounds.

Tuck the apple slices between the slices of ham, skipping a row here and there, and spacing them out all the way around the ham. Once the ham gets too full of apples to hold its shape, turn the ham flat-side-down.

Whisk the mustards, honey, and cardamom together in a small bowl. Brush over the entire surface of the ham. Bake for 1 hour.

Brush the pan juices over the ham, and bake for 1 more hour, until crispy on the outside. Brush the pan juices over the ham again before serving warm.

Al-Anon Provides Help for Those Involved with Substance Abuse - Al-Anon, an organization for family members of people with alcohol abuse, now welcomes family members of individuals with narcotic abuse problems to attend weekly group meetings. Al-Anon holds two weekly group meetings; Mondays and Thursdays at noon in Bldg. 31, Room 1B50.

The R&W Community Market Moves Indoors for the Winter

The R&W Community Market is back indoors! Join us Tuesdays from 10am – 2pm in the South Lobby of Bldg. 10.

Participating vendors are as follows: RavenHook Bakehouse offers the highest quality of artisan breads, from Cheddar Jalapeno to Rustic Italian, and all-natural sweets like cookies, scones, and pound cakes as well as specialty items for different occasions. From grain forward breads and seasonal sweets to special jams there is something for everyone. Look for special holiday products this month.

Cash/Check/Charge Linda Vista Farm: Purchase a variety of in-season produce thru the fall. Cash/Check/Charge Cupcakes Lounge: Purchase delicious cupcakes, pound cakes, granola and other baked goods. Products contain as much local eggs and fruits as possible. Gluten-free options available.

Cash/Charge The Chocolatiers Palette offers delicious gourmet fudge and Belgian chocolate. Fudge is preservative, gluten, corn syrup and artificial flavor free. Cash/Charge Chocolate Moonshine offers a variety of fudge and over 40 flavors of Artisan Chocolate Bars, each hand painted with French Cocoa Butter. Create their own personalized 10-piece or 20-piece gift box assortment. All are low in sugar, gluten-free, made with Belgian and French chocolates with natural and organic ingredients, including fresh fruits and roasted nuts.

Apple Valley: Purchase apples, apple butter; sauce; ciders, jam and other produce. Cash/Check/Charge M&M Plants: Purchase locally grown flowers (annuals, bedding plants, perennials, and cut flowers). Cash/Charge Randalia Bee Hives: Purchase local raw and cream honey, pollen, hand crafted beeswax candles, bar soap, infused botanical liquid soap, beeswax body salves body lotions, lip balms, tints, salt scrubs and natural deodorants from the Eastern Shore. Cash/Check/Charge Phil’s Dills: Offers a variety of different pickle flavors including fire garlic, sweet and spicy, wasabi, Old Bay and black pepper, and kosher dills. Cash/Charge (bi-weekly) Ahh...Candles produces highly scented and long burning hand poured candles, aromatic wax beads and therapeutic neck wraps made with essential oils. Cash/Check/Charge Favor Ceylon Tea: A variety of high quality and affordable Ceylon-grown teas, imported directly from the producers. Teas are all-natural, pesticide-free, and bio-sustainably grown in Sri Lanka. Cash/Charge (bi-weekly) District Spice: All blends are made in DC, and contain no salt, no anti-caking agents, and no preservatives. A full list of ingredients and recipes can be found on http://www.districtspice.com/. Cash/Charge (Bi-weekly) All Things Olive: The Washington areas source for real, fresh extra virgin olive oil. Shop from a wide variety of extra virgin olive oils, barrel-aged wine vinegars from Napa Valley and 18year old balsamic vinegars from Italy. Cash/Charge

Market Vendors cont…

PINKAVA Coffee Company is a coffee micro-roastery and coffee bar in Capitol Heights, Maryland, founded by a young breast cancer survivor. Built upon one simple principle - Drink great coffee. Do greater things™ and driven by their mission of bringing awareness to the challenges faced by young women impacted by breast cancer and inspiring STRONGER, BOLDER, BETTER™ living. Cash/Charge Miscellaneous: Look for jewelry and craft vendors, NIH protocols, corporate sponsors and more.

Food Trucks Return Next Spring

The food trucks will return to the R&W Community Market in March. You can expect to see some of our current truck return and some new trucks join the program.

Visit our website at www.govemployee.com

Collective Goods Gift Show December 13th & 14th – Bldg. 10 S. Lobby

Just in time for the holidays Collective Goods, formerly Books Are Fun, will return to the Bldg. 10 South Lobby on Thursday, December 13th (10am – 3pm) and Friday, December 14th (9am – 2pm). Shop from a variety of books, toys, electronics, gadgets, kitchenware, stationary and more. It’s a one-stop shopping bonanza. A portion of sales comes back to R&W to allow us to continue offering great programs to the NIH community.

FedAdvantage

When it comes to benefits, the biggest challenge you may face is understanding what you have and knowing what you need.

FedAdvantage was founded in 1992 with the purpose of assisting federal employees in understanding their benefits and educating on how to "fill the gaps” present in their benefits. We are experts in federal benefits and use our knowledge to develop insurance programs that make sense and offer peace of mind to federal employees. What we offer: Long Term Disability Insurance designed to "fill the gaps" in your leave and disability retirement benefits, providing peace of mind in knowing you can protect your income through a comprehensive disability insurance program. An accident can happen to anyone, and recovery can be costly. Accident Insurance provides benefits for covered accidental injuries, related services, and treatments. Critical Illness Insurance provides lump-sum payment for a covered illness such as cancer, a heart attack or stroke. Contact Fed Advantage at 866-973-6605, info@fedadvantage.com or visit www.fedadvantage.com.

Holiday Gift Wrapping at Westfield Montgomery Mall is Back!

On Friday, December 14th the Holiday Gift Wrap Center will open with 100% of proceeds will go directly to two wonderful and important NIH charities, Friends of Patients at the NIH and Special Love. We need your help to make this happen. To learn about volunteer opportunities and/or to sign-up or contact Therese Draddy. Learn more about both of these wonderful organizations on page 15.

Winter Is HERE Buy an NIH Ice Scraper

Your morning routine will take a little longer because you’ll need to get the frost, even ice and snow, off your car windows.

Rather than allowing carbon monoxide to build up as you wait for the windows defrost, scrape and brush those windows clean with an ice scraper, available for $5 at the R&W gift shops.

Purchase Your R&W Membership Today

If you haven’t already make sure to join the R&W, for only $9!

Memberships are good for 365 days. R&W Members can purchase tickets, join R&W clubs, join Costco as a new member, get discounts in R&W stores and more. Join at the Bldg. 31 or Rockledge R&W stores, or preferably online at www.govemployee.com/nih. After adding a membership to your cart, click on the Cart icon in the menu bar, proceed to checkout, and once you’ve entered the appropriate information on the next screen click Proceed to PayPal to make payment.

You do not need a PayPal account to purchase a membership, they will handle the payment transaction with your credit card.

Visit our website at www.govemployee.com

Homebuyer Education and Counseling is a Great Step for Aspiring Homeowners

The desire for homeowner-ship in America remains high. In a 2017 NeighborWorks America survey, 93 percent of respondents said homeownership is important, very important or the most important. Homeownership is important to our economy, our families and our communities and a key vehicle for wealth accumulation. Census data cited in the 2017 National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB) State of Housing in Black America report says that 69 percent of an American house-hold’s net worth is attributable to the net equity in their home. Becoming a homeowner is an exciting journey, and preparation is a key to success. Home-buyer education and counseling agencies are important resources to help aspiring homeowners prepare for and navigate the homebuying process to be-come sustainable homeowners. Through education and understanding of what to expect, homebuyers can get in a home and be successful homeowners over their lifetime. Homebuyer counseling offers one-on-one sessions with a HUD-approved counselor who tailors interactions to the prospective homebuyer’s situation and homeownership needs. Counseling helps prospective homebuyers gain confidence and information needed to take the next step toward buying a home with activities that include budgeting, identifying credit challenges and guidance to improve their credit score, debt reduction strategies and helping to determine afford-ability based on income and debt. Counseling also helps to dispel common myths about obtaining a mortgage loan, like “a 20 percent down payment is required to own a home.” That is not true and holds many homebuyers back from making the step forward and actually applying for a mortgage.

Homebuyer Education continued…

Homebuyer education focuses on the basic concepts of homeownership but is not specific to a transaction. Also provided by a HUD-approved agency, topics covered in these classes include the homebuying process, how to maintain a home and the importance of good credit. Homebuyer education classes can be helpful for aspiring homeowners who have been approved for a loan but need information on better understanding the process to achieve and sustain homeownership. At Wells Fargo we believe in the value homebuyer education and counseling can bring to those seeking homeowner-ship. It’s a significant component of our $60 billion lending commitment to increase African-American homeownership by 2027. In the commitment we pledged to dedicate $15 million to support initiatives for homebuyer education and counseling for African-American families. In our first year, we have provided more than $1.8 million toward this goal in the first year. Wells Fargo also collaborates with a number of agencies to bring homebuyer education and counseling into communities across the country. Here in Washington, D.C., Wells Fargo has been a sponsor of the DC Housing Expo hosted by DC Housing and Community Development and the Greater Washington Urban League for the past eight years. Homebuyer education is a requirement of the NeighborhoodLIFT program, a national collaboration between Wells Fargo and NeighborWorks America that also provides down payment assistance grants. It’s important to us at Wells Fargo that our customers are successful homeowners.

And we believe that homebuyer education and counseling should be components of the homeowner-ship journey, especially for first-time homebuyers.

Visit our website at www.govemployee.com

Vanpooling Is Economical and Environmentally Friendly

Join Costco and Start Saving Today

Join Costco through the R&W for $55 and receive 3 free items plus over $55 in coupons. This offer is for new Costco members only and exclusive to R&W members. Sign into your account on www.govemployee.com/nih and visit the Member Discounts section to take advantage of this offer.

Discount Coupon for Luray Caverns

Luray Caverns is the most popular cavern in Eastern America with guided tours along well-lighted, paved walkways lead visitors through cathedral-sized rooms with ceilings 10-stories high, towering stone formations, and natural wonders at every turn. R&W Members can receive $6 off up to six adult admission tickets to Luray Caverns by going to the Member Discounts page at www.govemployee.com/nih.

Eric Sofranko has openings in his vanpool. The vanpool departs the Jefferson, MD Park-n-Ride/Firehouse at 5:30am and arrives at Campus/Bldg. 31 by 6:30am. The van departs Campus/Bldg. 31 at 4:15pm and arrives in Jefferson at 5:15pm. If you are interested in this Jefferson-to-Campus vanpool, contact Eric at 240-627-3585.

Kathy Manigo-Lewis has openings in her vanpool. The van is scheduled Monday - Friday, 9-hour days, with AWS. It departs the Route 17 Commuter lot in Fredericksburg, VA, at 4:40am and arrives at Campus by 5:40am. The van departs campus at 3:45pm and arrives at Route 17 Commuter lot in Fredericksburg, VA by 5:15pm. Those interested contact Kathy at 301-451-1205.

Tripp Wray has openings in his vanpool. The van departs Trinity United Methodist Church in Mount Airy at 5:45am and arrives at Campus by 7am. The van departs campus at 4:30pm (flexible) and arrives at Trinity United Methodist Church around 6pm. Those interested should contact Tripp at 301-496-9539.

Richard Buckland has openings in his vanpool. The van departs the Sharpsburg Pike Park-n-Ride, by the outlet mall at 4:30am and arrives at Campus by 5:30am. The van departs campus at 4:15pm and arrives at Sharpsburg Park-n-Ride at 6pm. If interested should contact Richard at 304-582-3113.

Stacy Coleman has openings in her vanpool. The van departs from the Oxon Hill Park-n-Ride at 6:30am and arrives at Campus and Bldg. 10 by 7:10am. The van departs campus at 4:05pm and arrives in Oxon Hill Park-n-Ride at 5pm. Those interested should contact in Stacy at 301-435-4693.

There are three openings in the vanpool from Ellicott City. The van leaves at 6am from Long Gate Park-and-Ride in Ellicott City and leaves at 3.30pm from Bldg. 10. South Entrance parking lot. Please contact Mukesh Garg 443-803-1234.

Are You Having Trouble Controlling Your Drinking?

Closed (only open to people who have trouble controlling their drinking) Alcoholics Anonymous meetings occur at noon for one hour on Monday & Friday at NIH in Bldg. 31 Rm. B4BN09 (near the NIH Fitness Center). The meetings are free and confidential. For more info call the EAP at 301-496-3164.

Tickets make great stocking stuffers.

Get some ideas starting on page 15.

Discount on Gifts and Gift Baskets from Our Gift Biz

Our Gift Biz, located in Rockville, MD, is pleased to offer NIH employees, family and friends a discount of 5% off every day on all orders, gifts and baskets (not including tax and shipping). Gift baskets can be customized to suit your needs.

Use code “NIH 2019� to receive the discount. View their selection online at https://www.ourgiftbiz.com/ and call their gift gurus at 240-406-8701 to help you place your order.

Order Your Business Cards Thru R&W

The R&W has offers Business Cards, produced by AAA Color Card Company, who has provided quality business cards for government and military employees since 1976. Order business cards online at http://govemployee.com/nih/business-cards/ and have them mailed directly to you. Prices start at $38.

Give to the CFC!

Your CFC donations make a positive impact on people’s lives!

By donating thru the CFC, you are making a difference in your community; starting a ripple effect across the nation. You are making a splash, and collectively, we can bring a wave of positive change around the globe. Charities and those in need will be grateful for the joy and comfort and relief brought to them by YOU when you Show Some Love this year. If you haven’t had a chance to complete a pledge this year, Show Some Love thru the CFC this season and encourage your colleagues to join you in giving. YOU can give to multiple, vetted charities at once, make a big difference over time with a small contribution per paycheck, and have full control over your personal info. Visit the NIH CFC website to donate to your favorite cause.

Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)

NIH is one of the leading CFC contributors in the area, but we still need your help. We can’t meet our goal without you! Any amount you can give helps those in need! Federal employees are encouraged to designate their contributions to as many as five charitable CFC organizations. Support the NIH Charities!

Special Love/Camp Fantastic #49642 Special Love provides recreational programs, financial assistance, and a community of support to children with cancer and their families in the Mid-Atlantic region. Through programs like the week-long Camp Fantastic and BRASS Camp, young patients, siblings, and parents discover they’re not alone in their battle against cancer. Program highlights are available at www.facebook.com/SpecialoveCamps.

The Children’s Inn at NIH #10324 The Inn is a private, nonprofit residence for families and their children who are participating in pediatric research at the National Institutes of Health's Clinical Center. The Inn enhances the opportunities for groundbreaking medical discoveries by providing a free "place like home" that reduces the burdens of illness through a supportive environment including therapeutic, educational, and recreational programming. If you would like someone from The Inn to speak to your employees, contact Laura King.

Friends of Patients at the NIH #85994 Friends of Patients at the NIH provides financial, logistical and social support to patients while they are receiving groundbreaking and life-saving treatments at the NIH Clinical Research Center. We cover unmet needs so that the patients can focus on recovery, healing and fulfilling their crucial role partnering with the NIH researchers in advancing knowledge, discoveries and breakthroughs.

The Foundation for the NIH #29165 Donors to the FNIH help advance breakthrough biomedical discoveries and improve the quality of people’s lives in support of the mission of the NIH. As a 501(c)(3) charity chartered by Congress, the FNIH convenes scientific leaders, individuals, not-for-profits, and corporations around biomedical research goals in an effort to respond to the most urgent priorities in human health, domestically and around the world. Visit fnih.org for more details about how the Foundation is turning discovery into health.

Monster Jam® rolls into the Capital One Arena Saturday, January 26th and Sunday, January 27th with adrenaline-charged family entertainment providing jaw-dropping displays and gravity-defying feats that promises to leave fans entertained.

Monster Jam events feature some of the most recognizable trucks in the world including Grave Digger®, Scooby Doo®, Dalmatian and many more. World-class drivers push these perfectly engineered Monster Jam trucks to their limits in Freestyle, 2-Wheel Skills and Racing competitions that will put families on the edge of their seats and leave them craving more of this unexpected, unscripted and unforgettable event!

Paw Patrol Live! Race to the Rescue comes to Eagle Bank Arena Feb. 1st – 3rd. It's the day of the Great Adventure Bay Race between Adventure Bay’s Mayor Goodway and Foggy Bottom’s Mayor Humdinger, but Mayor Goodway is nowhere to be found. PAW Patrol to the rescue! Ryder summons Marshall, Chase, Skye, Rubble, Rocky, Zuma and Everest to rescue Mayor Goodway and to run the race in her place. Using their unique skills and teamwork, the pups show that “no job is too big, no pup is too small,” and share lessons for all ages about citizenship, social skills and problem-solving as they make several heroic rescues on their race to the finish line.

Discount Tickets to the National Aquarium in Baltimore Available Online Thru R&W

The R&W provides its members the ability to purchase tickets to the National Aquarium in Baltimore. Discounted admission tickets are available to R&W Members thru the R&W website at www.govemployee.com/nih. Save up to $8.

Visit our website at www.govemployee.com

Tickets Make Great Gifts at the Holidays

Don’t break your budget this holiday season when purchasing that one special gift for a loved one. Through the partnership between the R&W and TicketsAtWork, R&W members can purchase tickets to a variety of amusement parks, concerts, sporting events, movies, and more. Once you register to be an R&W member or have logged into your account, click on Member Discounts and then click on the TicketsAtWork ad.

Upon registering for TicketsAtWork you will have access to a variety of different entertainment options. Whether your loved one is a fan of wrestling or concerts, Broadway or comedy, you can find tickets to pretty much anything and even better at a discounted price.

Before purchasing tickets or offers thru TicketsAtWork.com make sure to completely read the instructions for how the tickets work and if they are name specific.

Attractions Discounts Across the US

As an R&W member you can see the biggest blockbusters at a discounted price. Movie Tickets are available to a variety of movie theaters across the country. Purchase tickets at www.ticketsatwork.com. Save 15% - 45%!

Did you know that you can purchase tickets to most Sporting Events through TicketsAtWork? Catch the Cubs play at Wrigley Field or the Red Sox play at Fenway, attend the NBA or Stanley Cup Finals, watch the Williams sisters dominate in any tournament.

Traveling abroad? How about seeing Manchester United in the English Premiere League or going to the World Cup! You can do any of these and so much more.

Discounts vary!

Visit the R&W Local Restaurant Guide for local restaurant sponsors. Some offer discounts to NIH employees and some do Fundraisers for R&W. Visit www.govemployee.com/nih.

R&W Members, Join TicketsAtWork for Savings on Tickets

Are You Ready to Rock?

Did you miss out on getting your child, though secretly yourself, Taylor Swift tickets? Want to go “on the run” with Jay-Z and Beyonce? Need a laugh and want to catch Martin Lawrence or Gabriel Iglesias on tour? Want to rock out with Bono and U2 or be told you’re amazing just the way you are by Bruno Mars? Tickets are available to concerts all over the world, even if they’re sold out. Surprise that special someone in your life and be their Enrique Iglesias by being their hero baby. Discounts vary!

Rental Car discounts providers such as Enterprise, Hertz, Dollar and National. Save up to 25%

R&W members can reserve a hotel stay through TicketsAtWork at over 225,000 hotels around the world. Get advanced booking savings and last-minute deals. Be on the lookout for the Best Rate Guarantee symbol! Save 10% - 60% off their hotel reservation.

Al-Anon Provides Help for Those Involved with Substance Abuse - Al-Anon, an organization for family members of people with alcohol abuse, now welcomes family members of individuals with narcotic abuse problems to attend weekly group meetings. Al-Anon holds two weekly group meetings; Mondays and Thursdays at noon in Bldg. 31, Room 1B50.

Kings Dominion transforms into a winter wonderland full of

enchantment and holiday cheer! Become immersed in the season's spirit with spectacular holiday lights and decor, live entertainment, savory treats and fanciful experiences. Millions of lights and falling snow adorn the midways and uniquely themed areas. International Street is a winter wonderland with a 70-foot tall Christmas tree decorated with over 40,000 ornaments while the Eiffel Tower is converted in to a 300-foot Christmas tree featuring a state-of-the-art light show. Catch performances of Cool Yule Christmas, Jingle Jazz and Snoopy and the gang in Snoopy’s Ice Show. Go ice skating on Snowflake Lake, visit the North Pole Post Office where elves will help the kids mail a letter to Santa, decorate cookies in Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen and more. Select rides and attractions will also be open to enjoy! Save over 45%!

Holiday in the Park is a dazzling winter spectacular featuring over one million glittering lights, holiday entertainment, seasonal treats, visits with Santa and many park rides combining holiday traditions with a thrilling family experience. Six Flags America will open weekends and select weekdays thru January 1st, for this one-of-a-kind magical event. Roast marshmallows near a cracking wood fire before you catch one of our many holiday shows. There is fun for the whole family and it’s all included with your ticket! Save over 45%!

The world’s most beautiful theme park is aglow with eight million lights, one of the largest light displays in North America. Festive food and drink, holiday shopping and heartwarming shows make the season come alive at Busch Gardens. Visit select dates thru January 1st.

Save over 40%!

A Slice of Brooklyn Christmas Lights Tour is a 3.5 hour bus tour that includes an audio-visual presentation, mechanical reindeer, glowing nativity scenes, dazzling lights, 30-foot toy soldiers and old-fashioned holiday cheer while visiting the famous Christmas lights and decorations of the Dyker Heights section of Brooklyn, made famous in the PBS documentary “Dyker Lights” and featured on TLC’s “Crazy Christmas Lights”. Guests will also visit the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn for their incredible Christmas lights. On the way back to Manhattan watch a video montage of Christmas specials and variety shows from throughout the years including Abbott & Costello, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, Sonny & Cher and many more. Save over 10%!

Make your holidays bright and happy with a visit to Hersheypark® Christmas Candylane® – select dates thru January 1st. Enjoy over four million twinkling lights, festive entertainment, Christmas Carols, hot chocolate, holiday shops, and a visit with Santa and his nine reindeer. Plus, enjoy Hersheypark favorites including four thrilling roller coasters, plenty of family rides, fun games, and more! Save over 10%

Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes

Share the joy of the holidays with your loved ones this year at the Christmas Spectacular starring the Radio City Rockettes®.

Experience Radio City Music Hall® as it transforms into an immersive, magical wonderland and discover what’s new in this iconic New York City tradition. Make time for joy this holiday season and create lasting memories with the legendary Rockettes®. Get your tickets and choose a date that fits into the hustle and bustle of your holiday schedule. Save over 40%

Visit our website at www.govemployee.com

Biltmore Estate Candlelight Christmas Evenings

Immerse yourself in the holiday spirit at America’s Largest Home®. The timeless beauty of Biltmore House, its collections of art and historic Vanderbilt family treasures are enchanting with dozens of exquisitely decorated Christmas trees, miles of garland, hundreds of poinsettias, and more lights than you can count. For a different experience, delight in the joy and the wonder of Candlelight Christmas Evenings as the gentle glow of candlelight and firelight and live performances of holiday music make for a magical evening. Admission includes a selfguided evening visit to Biltmore House; live music by choirs and soloists; daytime admission to Antler Hill Village & Winery, gardens, shops, restaurants, and The Biltmore Legacy on the day of your Candlelight visit or the day after; evening illumination displays in Antler Hill Village and complimentary wine tastings at the Winery where a stunning ornament display adorns the Tasting Room ceiling. Save up to 30%

Christmas Shows in Tennessee

The Christmas at the Smoky Mountain Opry is a multimillion dollar Christmas production featuring flying sugar plum fairies, soaring angels, dancing elves, enchanted reindeer, Jolly ol’ Saint Nick, and most importantly, the celebration of the birth of Christ with the area’s largest living nativity! The incredible cast includes talented singers, dancers, comedians, live animals, and a huge band. Beautiful costumes, incredible special effects and lavish sets round out this first-class Christmas experience!

Don’t be a Grinch, make plans now to see Christmas at the Smoky Mountain Opry. Save 20%!

The Magic Beyond Belief Christmas Show starring Darren Romeo brings the holidays, magic, and music together for an incredibly festive magic show! The only protégé of Master Illusionists Siegfried and Roy, Darren Romeo creates a fun-forthe-whole-family show featuring magical illusions, musical tributes, levitations, and more! Darren is the only magician in allowed to perform Harry Blackstone’s famous legacy of the floating light bulb! You must see it to believe it! Save 40%!

The Comedy Barn® will put you in the Christmas spirit with A Comedy Barn Christmas. Experience a Christmas show like only the Comedy Barn can bring you as you listen to Christmas music, see Christmas costumes (they’re not all overalls), and laugh at special Christmas acts you’ll only see on this stage.

Brand-new acts, combined with favorites from the past bring you the Funniest Christmas show in the world! Save 30%!

Celebrate the magic of the season in Magic Kingdom® Park at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. Gather with loved ones for this festive Christmas-themed event, select nights thru December from 7pm to 12am, and encounter familiar Disney friends as you come face-to-face with beloved Characters decked out for the holiday celebration!

Christmas fun awaits as Mickey invites his pals over for an unforgettable party. Get swept up in the holiday spirit when Queen Elsa transforms Cinderella Castle in A Frozen Holiday Wish. At the Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, wave to Disney friends during a holiday parade brimming with magic and cheer! Light up your night with holiday fireworks over Cinderella’s Castle. Bust a move during a mega-fun dance party at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café. Jingle your bells with delicious dinner options during a holly-jolly jubilee! Indulge your senses in seasonal delight from the comfort of priority seating on the Tomorrowland Terrace for the Fireworks Holiday Dessert Party or enjoy sweet treats and spectacular fireworks from a reserved area with Plaza Garden viewing.

Discover “Dreaming of a Disney Holiday” while staying at a Disney Resort hotel with personalized gifts from Mickey & Minnie! Save 20% or more.

Think your family fights during the holidays? Come spend the holidays with ours! We put the FUN in dysFUNctional! At the Join Pa Hatfield and Ma McCoy, at the Hatfield & McCoy Christmas Disaster Dinner & Show, as they try to set aside their differences in the spirit of the Season. Watch as they bring their two famous feudin’ families together for a night of AllYou-Can-Eat food and entertainment guaranteed to make you feel better about spending the holidays with your in-laws!

Happy Holidays y’all! Save 30%!

Visit our website at www.govemployee.com

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

R&W Memberships Buy at R&W stores or online for $9 a year.

Commit to be FIT! R&W Fitness Center Membership Special See page 3.

New gift arrivals at R&W stores just in time for the holidays.

See page 7 for a schedule of upcoming holiday concert performances.

NIH Community Orchestra & Chorus Cedar Lane Unitarian Church @ 7pm

Tickets make great holiday gifts. Find a list of holiday ideas and destinations

Wednesday Swim Membership Discount available for R&W Members at the Kennedy Shriver Aquatic Center.

See page 4.

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

NIH Philharmonia Shall We Dance St. Elizabeth Catholic Church 7pm

Discount Insurance through R&W. See page 7.

NIH Community Market Tuesdays Bldg. 10 S. Lobby 10am – 2pm

R&W Holiday Bazaar Remix Bldg. 10 S. Lobby 10am – 2pm See page 5.

Schedule your appointment at the NIH Blood Bank 301-496-1048!

Try recipes on R&W’s website.

Some ingredients available at Bldg. 10 Market.

Collective Goods Gift Show Bldg. 10 S. Lobby See page 11.

Collective Goods Gift Show Bldg. 10 S. Lobby See page 11.

R&W Fitness Centers closed today thru December 25th.

Last Bldg. 10 Community Market until January 8th.

R&W Fitness Centers closed today thru January 2nd.

R&W Stores Closed Until January 2nd.

Cheers to 2019!

Snowed INN Coming February 2018 Details on page 5.

New Year, New You Start your New Year’s Resolution by joining the NIH R&W Fitness Center.

Have you donated to your favorite charity yet?

Show Some Love by January 11th!

B.L.A.C.K. is coming to NIH every week before Christmas.

See page 14 for gift ideas.