Stories for Ft. Lewis
Saunders joins Lakewood Historical Society board
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Larry Saunders, former Lakewood Police Chief, has joined the board of directors of the Lakewood Historical Society. He is filling out the term of Gary Hess, who has resigned due to business commitments. Society President Becky Huber said she feels Saunders will be a strong addition to the growing historical society and museum. The organization recently employed a professional director on a part-time basis and is currently involved in its annual fund raising campaign.
Spring 2010 AARP Driver Safety Class filled
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Bridgeport Place welcomed 20 guests to the Spring 2010 AARP Driver Safety Class, which is an eight-hour course spanning two days’ time, and is geared toward drivers who are 50+. The class was taught by Merrie Sullivan, certified instructor, who is already scheduled to return again September 24 & 25 for another session. The Suburban Times graciously carried the announcement about the Spring 2010 Class. Drivers who complete the course receive a certificate that can be utilized for a discount on their auto insurance premiums. The class members were treated to coffee and pastries each morning and a complimentary lunch buffet each of the days. They expressed not only their appreciation for the use of facility as a meeting place for the class, but were also pleased by the hospitality and warmth of the staff and residents who welcomed them in, and the range of amenities. Some of the comments they penned included “Kudos to the chef!” … “This is a very warm and friendly facility. It’s like a country club. Thank you for the wonderful meals and snacks” … “The two meals broke my diet, but it was worth it” … “What could have been a grind turned into a great experience thanks to your hospitality and generous buffet. Have talked to some residents and they are so positive and happy here.” More than half of those who attended the class requested a tour of Bridgeport Place.
Spring Event at Bair Bistro
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Forty-three members and guests of the Steilacoom Chamber of Commerce enjoyed a “Spring Evening at The Bair” on Thursday, April 22. Representing the Port of Tacoma, Connie Bacon was the featured guest speaker during the dinner. She stated that the Port is currently conducting a “nationwide search for a new CEO who is trustworthy, who will tell us the right story in business for the Port of Tacoma, who understands strategic thinking, and is a go-getter.” According to Bacon, the Port of Tacoma is “beginning to see a tiny rise in activity, but anticipates steady growth over the next five years.” She added that the Port has spent $170M to clean-up Puget Sound and Commencement Bay. There are ongoing negotiations with the Puyallup Tribe about possibly operating a terminal, as well. Bus tours of the Port of Tacoma are available to the public and scheduled every couple of months.
50+ Driver Safety class April 23 and 24
Posted by | CommentsMerrie Sullivan, AARP Driver Safety instructor, returns to Bridgeport Place to teach the eight-hour AARP Driver Safety class. The course materials are geared toward senior drivers who are 50+. Bridgeport Place is hosting the AARP class, as it did earlier this year; another session is slated in the fall. The class will span two days. The class will be given beginning on Friday, April 23 with the second half of the program given on Saturday, April 24. Class begins promptly at 10 a.m. each day. Each day’s session is approximately four hours with a short break hourly and a lunch break at noon; sessions are expected to end by 2:30 daily.
Each person who attends the Driver Safety class will receive a free lunch each of the two days courtesy of Bridgeport Place, 5250 Bridgeport Way West, University Place. Upon successful completion of the course, each driver will receive a certificate, which may result in a reduced premium rate for auto insurance. Course fee is $12 for AARP members and $14 for nonmembers. Seating is limited. Pre-registration is required. Call 253.565.1960.
McChord 32nd Annual Military Retiree Dining Out
Posted by | CommentsThe McChord Retiree Activities Office (RAO) is busy planning the 32nd Annual Military Retiree Dining Out, which will be held on Friday, April 23, 2010, at the McChord Community Club.
Military Retirees, as well as active duty military, from ALL BRANCHES OF THE MILITARY, AND THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, are welcome and encouraged to attend! Meet old friends and make lots of new ones – share a few memories and “war stories!” Retired Military are encouraged to wear their uniform, if these still fit! Uniforms of all the services, and from World War II and forward have been an anticipated tradition. Dress is semi formal / formal.
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The Historical Archeology of Greene Park
Posted by | CommentsThe Historical Archeology of Greene Park: A Forgotten Chapter in History of Fort Lewis and WWI is the title of a lecture to be delivered by Dr. Bret Ruby on Sunday March 7 at 2pm at DuPont Presbyterian Church (502 Barksdale Ave, DuPont).
Join Fort Lewis archeologies, Dr. Bret Ruby as he reveals what happened to Greene Park, DuPont’s city next door. This is first in a series of lectures for 2010 by the DuPont Museum and Historical Society. The lecture is Free and Open to the Public. For more Information call 253-964-2399 or download this flyer.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord goes live Jan. 31
Posted by | CommentsJOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – On January 31, 2010, Fort Lewis and McChord Air Force Base will consolidate, creating “Joint Base Lewis-McChord” or JBLM. As a result, JBLM is requesting traffic reporters to refer to the base as “Joint Base Lewis-McChord.” For those us listening to the reports, it will be wise to keep this in mind.
Combining Fort Lewis and McChord AFB comes from the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commission decision which recommended the establishment of Joint Base Lewis-McChord. To help the news media, JBLM Public Affairs has sent out a stylebook (PDF download). Since civilians share the area and support the military, I think it appropriate to share what JBLM Public Affairs sent us.
Operation Care Fair to provide morale boost
Posted by | CommentsFort Lewis, Wash. – The Directorate of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation will sponsor Operation Care Fair for the Soldiers and Families of the Fort Lewis community on Saturday. This all-day event will provide Soldiers and Family members a morale-boosting experience designed to help with the stresses of the long winter season, and to aid families who are in the midst of a deployment.
The fair will offer a variety of services beginning at 10 a.m. in the American Lake Community Center and includes chair massages, facials, paraffin hand treatments, makeup application, reflexology, Reiki fork sessions, and hair styling. Other events scheduled for the fair include healthy cooking, eating and easy living demonstrations, musical performances, a presentation on alternative healing, and a fashion exclusive.
Operation Care Fair is a DFMWR program developed under the Army Family Covenant to improve quality of life for Soldiers and their Family members.
Spc. Wright, Stryker Soldier, dies in Afghanistan
Posted by | CommentsFORT LEWIS, Wash. – The Department of Defense announced today the death of a Fort Lewis Soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Spc. Kyle J. Wright, 22, of Romeoville, Ill., died Jan. 13 at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered earlier that day when
insurgents attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device in Kandahar Province. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division.
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Pvt. Bennitt General Court-Martial begins Jan. 19
Posted by | CommentsFORT LEWIS, Wash. -The General Court-Martial case of U.S. vs. Pvt. Timothy E. Bennitt, is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, January 19.
Charges of involuntary manslaughter against Private (E-2) Timothy E. Bennitt were referred to trial by General Court Martial following an investigation into the February 15, 2009 death of Leah King, 16, in a barracks on Fort Lewis.
Bennitt was charged March 10, 2009 under the following articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice: Read More→
Release: ‘Surprising’ facts regarding people found not guilty by reason of insanity
Posted by | CommentsFifty-one percent of individuals charged with a crime who are found not guilty by reason of insanity in Washington come from King County, yet only 35 percent of them are released back to King County when treatment is finished. Those figures are among a number of intriguing statistics disclosed Thursday by Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood.
“I think the people of Pierce County would find it not at all surprising that our county contributes only 13 percent of the total population of our state’s mental health facilities, yet 41 percent are released onto our streets,” Carrell said. “It’s yet another example of how Pierce County has long been the dumping ground for not only sane criminals, but as we’ve just learned, those found not guilty by reason of insanity as well.” Read More→
Memorial for 5-2 Division Soldiers Jan. 11
Posted by | CommentsFORT LEWIS, Wash. – Family, friends, Soldiers and the Fort Lewis community will remember a Fort Lewis Soldier who died while deployed is support of Operation Enduring Freedom with a ceremony to be conducted Monday, January 11, at 2 p.m. in the North Fort Chapel.
Staff Sgt. David H. Gutierrez, 35, of San Francisco, Calif., died Dec. 25, 2009 at Kandahar Air Field, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his dismounted patrol with an improvised explosive device in Howz-e Madad. He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st
Infantry Regiment, 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. The brigade deployed to Afghanistan in July, 2009.
