fort meade soundoff nov. 29, 2012

Soundoff!́vol. 64 no. 48 Published in the interest of the Fort Meade community november 29, 2012

‘tis the season

Come out and support Fort Meade’s yule-tide spirit and enduring rivalries. over the next week, the post will host its Holiday Tree lighting, the U.S. Army Field Band Concert Band and Soldiers’ Chorus holiday concert, Picerne’s “December in the City,” and the annual Army-navy flag football game and free tailgate party. See Page 2 and 7 for more infor-mation on event dates and times.

waterloggedDHR relocates some services due to pipe burst

page 3

UPCoMINg eVeNtSFrIdaY, 1-5 P.M.: Children’s Holiday Party - CYSS Youth CenterSUNdaY, 5 P.M.: “Elf Man” Movie Screening & Meet and Greet - Post TheaterdeC. 10: Dump Your Plump registration begins - Gaffney Fitness CenterdeC. 15, 8 a.M.: Reindeer 5K Run/1-Mile Walk - Murphy Field HousedeC. 15, 11:30 a.M., 1 P.M.: Brunch with Santa Claus - Club Meade

Crowd PleaSerFreedom Inn’s Thanksgiving meal a real holiday treat

page 12

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil� SOUNDOFF! November 29, 2012

Commander’s Column

Cont ent sNews............................. 3 Sports..................................14

TroubleTicket............... 4 Movies.................................18

Community................. 17 Classified.............................19

Editorial StaffGarrison Commander Col. Edward C. rothsteinGarrison Command Sgt. Maj. thomas J. latterPublic affairs officerChad t. Jones [email protected], Command informationPhilip H. Jones [email protected] Editor & Senior Writer rona S. Hirsch Staff Writer lisa r. rhodesStaff Writer Brandon Bieltzdesign Coordinator timothy davis Supplemental photography provided by Patuxent Publishing Co.

advErtiSinGGeneral inquiries 410-332-6300

allison thompson 410-332-6850 [email protected]

Michele Griesbauer 410-332-6381 [email protected]

If you would like information about receiving Soundoff! on Fort Meade or are experiencing distribution issues, call 877-886-1206 or e-mail [email protected]. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Printed by offset method of reproduction as a civilian enterprise in the interest of the personnel at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, by the Patuxent Publishing Co., a subsidiary of The Baltimore Sun Media Group, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21278, every Thursday except the last Thursday of the year in conjunction with the Fort Meade Public Affairs Office. Requests for publication must reach the Public Affairs Office no later than Friday before the desired publication date. Mailing address: Post Public Affairs Office, Soundoff! IMME-MEA-PA, Bldg. 4409, Fort Meade, MD 20755-5025. Telephone: 301-677-5602; DSN: 622-5602.

Everything advertised in this publication must be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, marital status, handicap or sex of purchaser, user or patron. A confirmed violation or rejection of this policy of equal opportunity by an advertiser will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source.

Printed by Patuxent Publishing Co., a private firm, in no way connected with the Department of the Army. Opinions expressed by the publisher and writers herein are their own and are not to be considered an official expression by the Department of the Army. The appearance of advertisers in the publication does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of the Army of the products or services advertised.

www.ftmeade.army.milYou can also keep track of Fort Meade on Twitter at twitter.com/ftmeademd

and view the Fort Meade Live Blog at ftmeade.armylive.dodlive.mil.

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I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.The holiday reminds me of a great Native Ameri-

can saying:“Give thanks for unknown blessings already on

their way.”What I love about this saying is instead of being

thankful for what we already have, we can be thank-ful for blessings we will receive in the future — even if we’re not aware of what they might be right now.

It’s good to know there are always surprises wait-ing to show up, perhaps just at the perfect time in the future.

Now that the holiday season has officially started, there are several events happening on post over the next week that I hope you can find time to come out and support.

Dec. 8 in Philadelphia will mark the 112th meeting of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis in their college football rivalry game.

The Army-Navy game is one of the most tradi-tional and enduring rivalries in college football.

We have our own Army-Navy tradition at Fort Meade. It’s the installation’s version of this historic college football rivalry.

Fort Meade will host the game on Wednesday beginning at 4 p.m. on Mullins Field.

The game is a fun time for all who attend. It starts with a tailgate party sponsored by the West County Chamber of Commerce. There will be free food and prizes.

The annual event is a fun way to support our ser-vice members and athletes representing Fort Meade’s Army and Navy units.

On Saturday, Fort Meade residents will have an opportunity to enjoy the annual holiday celebration, “December in the City,” hosted by Picerne Military Housing.

The event will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Potomac Place Neighborhood Center. The holiday

fun includes pho-tos with Santa, candy cane train rides through the ne ighborhood and creating crafts with the kids.

On Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. at Meade High, the U.S. Army Field Band will present its annual Concert Band and Sol-diers’ Chorus Holiday Celebration. The event is free but tickets are required. Call 301-677-6586 to reserve your tickets now.

On Dec. 7, the installation will celebrate its annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony at McGlachin Parade Field near the gazebo. The event will feature the U.S. Army Field Band Brass Quartet, a sing-along with the Fort Meade community’s Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, a visit by Santa and refreshments.

There are plenty of other holiday activities vying for your attention. These are just a few of our tradi-tional events that I wanted to bring to your attention because I know they have become favorites at Fort Meade.

One last thought: As we start this year’s holiday season, many of us will have to make a choice - to drink or not drink alcohol at a holiday parties.

My wish is for everyone to have a happy holiday season. If you plan to drink alcohol, plan ahead. It’s not OK to drink and drive.

Service members, in particular, need to keep in mind that the No. 1 cause of off-duty deaths is traffic fatalities.

As we take time off to enjoy the holidays and spend time with families and friends, we must do so safely.

Have a great week!

Holiday season ushers in celebrations on post

COL. Edward C. rOthstEin

Garrison Commander

Commander’s Open DoorGarrisonCommanderCol.EdwardC.Rothsteinhasanopendoorpolicy.All service members, retirees, government employees, family members

andcommunitymembersage18orolder are invited toaddress issuesorconcerns to thecommanderdirectlybyvisitingRothstein’sofficeonMon-daysfrom4to6p.m.atgarrisonheadquartersinHodgesHall,Bldg.4551,LlewellynAvenue.

Visitors are seen on a first-come, first-served basis. No appointment isnecessary.

Formoreinformation,call301-677-4844.

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil November 29, 2012 SOUNDOFF! �

News

By Philip H. JonesCommand Information Chief

A water pipe burst Sunday at approxi-mately 11 a.m. in Building 2234 on Huber Avenue, forcing the closing of most installation services provided by the Directorate of Human Resources.

Some of those services are being relo-cated to other buildings on the installa-tion.

“Our primary goal is to get DHR personnel moved as soon as possible so we can continue to take care of service members and their families,” said Wendy Messick, director of DHR.

The Directorate of Public Works is coordinating the building’s cleanup. The total damage to the building is still being assessed.

Services provided in Building 2234 include the Defense Military Pay Office, the Military Personnel Division, Army Career and Alumni Program, Military Reassignment and Transition Section, and the Administrative Services Divi-sion, which includes identification cards and passports, services to retirees and family members, and transportation and joint travel services.

The Defense Military Pay Office and the ACAP are being relocated to Build-ing 4216 on Roberts Avenue. Other ser-vices, including the Casualty Assistance Section, Military Personnel Automation and Retiree Services, are being relocated to Building 219, the Resource Manage-ment Office on Chisholm Avenue.

The ID Card Section and Navy Per-sonnel Service Detachment will remain in Building 2234 and are expected to reopen as early as next week, Messick said.

The damaged pipe, located on the sec-ond floor ceiling, caused extensive dam-age to three of the building’s four floors. Water damaged carpeting, ceiling tiles and insulation as well as office electronic equipment and furniture, said Messick.

Although the Directorate of Emergen-cy Services was alerted Sunday to shut

DHR closed due to water damage

off the water, Messick said the damage had already been done.

Part of the process to restore full services to Building 2234 includes daily indoor air-quality checks.

“The dehumidifying process has start-ed,” said James Brueggemeyer, an indus-trial hygiene technician at Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center. “Fans, heaters, dehumidifiers are located throughout the building and working. All readings were within standards, and no health hazards were noted.”

Updates regarding restorations of ser-vices are posted daily on the Fort Meade Facebook page.

Fort Meade Firefighter Ryan Gentzler clears out water after a pipe burst Sunday on the second floor ceiling at the Directorate of Human Resources at 2234 Huber Road. Several services at DHR have been temporarily relocated.

photo CoURtESY DiRECtoRatE of EmERgEnCY SERviCES

Connect with fort meade atfacebook.com/ftmeade


News

Story and photo by Philip H. JonesCommand Information Chief

Reports from police departments across the nation have detailed how automated external defibrillators have saved lives.

Thanks to the availability of year-end funds, the Fort Meade Directorate of Emer-gency Service now equips each of its patrol vehicles with an AED, putting the DES in a better position to save lives.

According to the American Red Cross, an AED is a device about the size of a laptop computer that analyzes the heart’s rhythm for any abnormalities and, if neces-sary, directs the rescuer to deliver an electri-cal shock to the victim.

This shock, called defibrillation, may help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm of its own.

Lt. Col. J. Darrell Sides, Fort Meade Provost Marshal and director of the DES, said Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein originally tasked the DES to put the AEDs in all government buildings on post.

However, in the request for funding, Sides included adding an AED for each patrol vehicle in the DES fleet.

The request for AEDs totaled more than $100,000, he said.

While the cost of an AED varies by man-ufacturer and model, the average price for a

single AED unit is about $2,300, according to the American Red Cross.

Sides said he included the patrol vehicles in the request because a police officer is often the first responder to a 911 call, fol-lowed by fire department personnel and then an ambulance.

“Having an AED on the scene increases the potential to save a life,” Sides said.

According to the American Red Cross, statistics show that more than 200,000 Americans die of sudden cardiac arrest every year. Up to 50,000 of these deaths could have been prevented if someone had initiated the Cardiac Chain of Survival and if an AED had been available for immediate use at the time of the emergency.

Sudden cardiac arrest cases are usu-ally due to abnormal heart rhythms called arrhythmias, the vast majority of which are ventricular fibrillation. Ventricular fibrilla-tion is a condition in which the heart’s elec-trical impulses suddenly become chaotic, causing the heart to cease pumping blood effectively.

Victims of sudden cardiac arrest collapse and quickly lose consciousness, often with-out warning.

Automated external defibrillation must be started within minutes of the onset of the sudden cardiac arrest because every minute that passes increases the likelihood of brain

damage or death. If the first emergency per-sonnel on scene are equipped with an AED, precious time is saved and the chances of survival are increased.

DES personnel annually receive CPR training, which includes learning defibrilla-tion skills, said Wray Kinsley, DES assistant chief of training and prevention.

“Over the past three years, DES person-nel have saved two lives because an AED was on the scene,” he said.

Police officers are expected to be able to respond to a variety of situations that may arise while they are on duty, Sides said. Training that allows police officers to perform basic first aid and CPR are part of the job.

“A police officer is more likely to per-form CPR than fire his weapon during his career,” Sides said.

What is the cardiac chain of survival?

The cardiac chain of survival is a series of four critical steps. All four steps of the chain must be present to help ensure survival from sudden cardiac arrest.

• Step one: Early access to care (calling 911 or another emergency number)

• Step two: Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR

All DES patrol vehicles now equipped with defibrillators

Traffic Chief Lt. George Manning of the Directorate of Emergency Services inspects an automated external defibrillator stored in the trunk of a patrol vehicle.

• Step three: Early defibrillation• Step four: Early advanced cardiac life

support, as neededThe third step, delivering an electrical

shock to the heart, which is known as defibrillation, is recognized as the most critical step in restoring cardiac rhythm and resuscitating a victim of SCA.

Information provided by the American Red Cross.

By Brandon BieltzStaff Writer

A heavy foot on the gas pedal can trans-late into a lighter wallet or even the need to find alternate ways of getting around Fort Meade.

From the residential areas to security gates, police officers from the Directorate of Emer-gency Services are tracking down drivers speeding on Fort Meade roads and issuing citations that begin at $110.

Adding to the risks of speeding, Army regulations can ban frequent speeders from driving on post.

Through residential complaints and offi-cers observing speeding trends, DES has identified hotshots on post while officers continually patrol the areas in an effort to manage speeders.

“They’ll find the people that are speeding

and tend to sit there until [the officers] settled the problem that day and come back the next day to do the same thing,” said Fort Meade Police Lt. George Manning, DES traffic chief. “They sit there and write tickets until they settle the problem down.”

Speeding hotspots also are identified through complaints from the community.

“We’ll send somebody out there and do a little more enforcement in that area,” Man-ning said. “Most of speeding complaints are coming from residents. Unfortunately, it’s more or less somebody who lives in that residential area that’s speeding.”

Some of the top speeding locations are in Normandy Bluffs on Reece Road and at secu-rity gates and near schools where the speed limit drops to 15 mph.

While speeding tickets begin at $110, the lowest fine for speeding in a school or con-

struction area increases substantially.Tickets in one of these areas begin at

$290.“People tend to not want to follow that

speed limit because it’s so slow,” Manning said. “It’s 15 mph for a reason. There’s school-age pedestrians that are walking in the area.”

Manning said speed limits are strictly enforced at the gates where people speed in and out of the installation. While most of the enforcement is done before vehicles exit the actual gates, officers can chase down speeders after they’ve passed through the gates.

“We do have a pretty large zone where you’re still on federal property,” Manning said. “We can still pull you over and issue a citation.”

DES follows Maryland motor vehicle laws for citations but also incorporates Army Regulation 190-5. Using a point-based sys-

tem, the regulation takes note of repeated offenders, which can result in revoking driving privileges on post.

For example, a speeding ticket issued for no more than 10 mph over the posted speed limit is three points. Six points in six months result in a letter to the offender’s command.

According to the regulation, more than 12 points in 12 consecutive months or 18 points in 24 consecutive months can result in the sus-pension or revocation of driving privileges.

To track down speeders, all patrol cars have a mobile radar unit that can catch speeders at the press of a button.

Lasers and radar guns are also used by the more than 30 officers who have been trained to use the high-tech equipment.

“Folks need to just abide by the speed limit or they’re going to get a ticket,” Manning said. “That’s the bottom line.”

DES continues to crack down on speeders on post


News

Story and photo by Lisa R. RhodesStaff Writer

As the holiday season draws near, Queen Waddell, Fort Meade’s USO-Metro coordi-nator, is grateful for the organization’s new building.

“I’m really excited,” Waddell said at the new center. “We can continue all our good work in the community.”

The Fort Meade USO-Metro is scheduled to open its new facility, located at 8612 6th Armored Calvary Road on the corner of Mapes Road, on Wednesday.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held in January.

The 2,200-square-foot building is expected to be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

USO-Metro, which will share the facility with Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers, moved from 7007A Baker St. in Midway Commons.

“It was a small townhouse and wasn’t set up for the type of activities we run,” said Pamela Horton, Warrior and Family Center manager for USO-Metro.

Although the former center was donated four years ago by Picerne Military Housing, Horton said there was no parking for USO-Metro’s clientele nor was it located on a bus route.

“It was hard to get to,” Horton said.Two years ago the organization started

looking for an alternative space on post. The larger facility, which was previously occupied by the Defense Information Systems Agency, was donated by the installation and garrison

command.The facility will open following an inspec-

tion by the Directorate of Emergency Ser-vices.

The Fort Meade USO-Metro serves all active-duty service members and their family members within the community.

Horton and Waddell said they are excited to be located near the Defense Information School student barracks and the barracks for single Soldiers to reach out to a new clientele.

“We can tap into a new population,” Wad-dell said. “Everyone can get a piece of the USO in a greater capacity.”

Horton said the new building will serve as a “community center and drop-in center” where students and single Soldiers can come to “hang out and relax.”

In preparation for the USO-Metro, the building was gutted and rebuilt by Harkins Builders, based in Marriottsville, as a pro bono project. DINFOS students and Soldiers painted the exterior.

The interior features freshly painted walls, two new bathrooms, a new heating system, a nine-seat theater room, two offices, wireless computer space, a snack bar and a stoveless kitchen.

The building is furnished with leather couches and wooden tables and chairs.

There is also ample room for the orga-nization’s food pantry. In the back of the building, there is space for patio furniture and umbrellas.

Waddell and the organization’s 45 volun-teers will use the outdoor space to hold its annual barbecue in the spring and for other

Post USO-Metro moves into new center

activities.Several sponsors, including Computer Sci-

ences Corporation, Northrop Grumman and SAIC, donated funds to cover the cost of the furniture, two televisions and two gaming monitors.

Anthony Perry, a former Army sergeant and USO volunteer, visited the facility on Monday.

Queen Waddell, the Fort Meade USO-Metro coordinator, chats with Anthony Perry, a USO volunteer, on Monday as the organization restocks the food pantry at its new center on 6th Armored Calvary Road. The 2,200-square-foot building includes a nine-seat theater room, snack bar, wireless computer space and an outdoor patio.

“I just wanted to see the new [center] and see how I could help out,” said Perry, who has volunteered with the organization for a year. “It looks really good.”

USO-Metro is recruiting volunteers to help the organization operate during its new eve-ning and weekend hours.

Editor’s note: To volunteer or for more information, call 410-305-0660.

By Lisa R. RhodesStaff Writer

Fort Meade’s USO-Metro will spon-sor its fourth annual Project USO Elf from Dec. 10 to 13 at McGill Training Center.

The three-day event is designed to help military families facing economic hardships provide toys for their children during the holidays.

This year, USO-Metro has absorbed the Angel Tree project that has been a long-time tradition for Army Commu-nity Service.

“We’ve been given the opportunity to expand our services,” said Pamela Horton, Warrior and Family Center manager for USO-Metro. “We realize that for many families, resources are

limited.”Doris Tyler, division chief for ACS,

said the USO and ACS discussed the prospect of combining Project USO Elf and the Angel Tree since February.

“ACS has transferred our holiday assistance program this year to the

USO,” Tyler said. “They can do it big-ger and better for our families.”

Tyler said that ACS Financial Readi-ness counselors were the primary coor-dinators of the Angel Tree project.

With the transfer of the program to USO-Metro, ACS has saved 600 man hours that Financial Readiness coun-selors can now dedicate toward helping economically distressed military fami-lies improve their situation.

For Project USO Elf, garrison senior enlisted advisors identified families who needed assistance and referred them to the USO-Metro website to register for the program.

Members of the Fort Meade com-munity who wanted to donate a gift also registered at the website. Individuals

were given a minimum spending limit of $50 for at least two gifts.

Queen Waddell, the Fort Meade USO-Metro coordinator, said people can drop their gifts off at McGill Train-ing Center from Dec. 10 to 12. Volun-teers will sort and tag the gifts.

Military parents who registered with the program and have their confirma-tion letter can stop by Dec. 13 from 4 to 7 p.m. to pick up their gifts. Volunteers will be available to wrap gifts. A hot beverage station will be available.

Waddell said Project USO Elf “real-ly does alleviate some financial stress around the holidays. We’re happy to serve those who serve others.”

Editor’s note: Registration for Project USO Elf has closed.

Project USO Elf brings families holiday cheer


News

By Capt. Adam PettyFort Meade Legal Assistance

Most individuals are aware that the recent housing crisis has led to wide-scale foreclosures across the nation.

Homeowners all over the U.S. have turned to renting their home in order to secure additional income and stay cur-rent on the mortgage. Unfortunately for some, their efforts have fallen short and they still find themselves face-to-face with foreclosure.

But what about the tenants? Are they just left out in the cold?

A federal law known as the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act and similar laws in various states, including Mary-land, offer some protections.

You may be asking yourself, “How do I know that my landlord is falling behind on the mortgage and possibly facing foreclosure?”

By law, tenants should receive three separate written notices if a landlord is facing foreclosure. That includes a notice that a foreclosure complaint has been filed; information regarding the date, time and place of the foreclosure sale; and notice from the new owners of their right to possession of the home.

All of these notices must be sent first-class mail and contain details regarding who may be contacted for further infor-mation.

For current tenants, this means keeping a sharp eye on incoming mail. Tenants should open all mail addressed to “occu-pant,” “current resident” or “tenant,” especially if the correspondence appears to be from a court, law firm, bank or finance company.

As a general matter, a new owner of a rented home must allow the tenant to remain in the property until the original lease expires, or for a period of 90 days in the case of a month-to-month lease. After that point, the new owner may decide to live in the property himself or just con-tinue to rent the property to the tenant.

If the owner wishes to occupy the resi-dence, he must give the tenant a 90-day notice to vacate. Beware of “cash-for-keys” incentives, which are cash pay-ments that the owner offers to the tenant in order to get the tenant to vacate the premises.

Often, as part of these incentives, ten-ants may be required to waive any rights they may have against the original or new

Tenants have legal protection in rental foreclosure sales

owner, including the return of the security deposit, recovery for utility shutoffs or other maintenance violations. Tenants are advised to consult with an attorney before waiving any rights.

What happens if the new owner does not move in and the tenant remains in the home?

The new landlord is required by law to honor the original lease until its term expires. Tenants must make their rent payments payable to the new owner and abide by the terms of the lease, as if the foreclosure never happened.

However, once the old lease expires, the new owner is free to name his own lease terms. He will not be required to honor any of the provisions of the old lease.

For more information regarding tenant rights, call the Office of the Maryland Attorney General at 410-576-6300 or visit the Public Justice Center online at publicjustice.org.

To schedule an appointment with a Fort Meade Legal Assistance attorney, call 301-677-9504 or 301-677-9536.

Nov. 25, Larceny of private prop-erty: An unknown person(s) by unknown means removed a vehicle license plate from a vehicle as it was parked secured and unattended.

Nov. 21, Simple assault consum-mated by a battery: An investi-gation revealed that the victim was walking on a trail through a wooded area. The subject struck him on the right temple with a jacket containing a hard unknown object, causing a laceration to the upper-right forehead near the hair line.

CommunityCrime Watch

Compiled by the Fort Meade Directorate of Emergency Services

Follow Fort Meade on Twitter.com/ftmeademd

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News

By Amanda GlennFirst Army Division EastPublic Affairs

In May 2008, Sgt. 1st Class Samantha Green was busy. A geographical bachelorette with a 3-year old child, Green had her hands full preparing for a change-of-duty station.

She forgot about her annual women’s exam until the day before she was driving away. She would have liked to have canceled it, but the exam was required before she could sign out of her unit. Green fully expected it to be the same old-same old exam she always received. She didn’t have time for anything else.

Unfortunately, the first words the doctor said was, “How long has this lump been here?”

“I didn’t want to hear a word she said,” said Green, who now works at First Army Division East. “I was driving away the next day and I didn’t have time to deal with a lump. I didn’t want to deal with a lump. I went into full denial mode immediately.”

The only thing Green said she remem-bered about the rest of the visit was her insistence that she’d have to take care of the lump when she arrived at her new duty sta-tion. She refused any literature because there wasn’t room in the car. She didn’t even want the doctor to make a referral.

“I told her that since I was headed to a new area, I didn’t know the doctors or who my primary care physician would be,” Green said. “The truth was, I just didn’t want to think about it. If it thought about it or made

plans, it would be real. I didn’t want it to be real.”

Green drove to her new duty station the next day. She forced herself not to think about the lump, focusing instead on finally reuniting with her husband, finding a house, finding a school for her child, and visiting family she hadn’t seen in a while.

“I thought about everything I could to keep it off my mind,” Green said. “I decided that as long as I didn’t think about it, I didn’t have to do anything about it. I didn’t want my husband to worry, so I didn’t tell him. I didn’t want my family to worry, so I didn’t tell them either.

“When I arrived at my new unit, I didn’t want them to think I was a slacker, so I didn’t tell them. I pretty much made it go away for about three months.”

Waiting is not good, said Lt. Col. Andrew Doyle, First Army Division East surgeon.

“First, it may not be cancer and knowing sooner is a huge relief for everybody,” he said. “But if it is cancer, the earlier it is evaluated and treated before it grows or spreads, the better the outcome.

“Most cancers are now found before they spread, and in these cases, 98.4 percent of patients survive. If the cancer is not detected until it has spread to other parts of the body, survival drops to as low as 23.8 percent.”

Green finally realized she had to tell her husband.

“That was when it became real,” she remembered. “That was the minute ‘lump’

went from being a word to being something that could potentially kill me.”

Green’s husband insisted she go to the doctor the next day. The lump was still there. Next stop: her first mammogram. Green was 35 years old.

“It was surreal,” Green said. “I was so happy my husband was there even if he had to stay in the waiting room. He had held my hand the whole time up until that point. I had to walk down the hall to the exam room by myself, though. That was hard. I just kept thinking I was too young for all this. And the room was so cold. ... To this day, that’s what I remember the most — how cold I was, inside and out.”

When it was over, Green and her husband, still holding hands, left the doctor’s office. Two weeks later, she was back for the results, her husband at her side.

“I almost cried when they told me it wasn’t cancer,” Green said. “Then the doctor read me the riot act for waiting months to come get checked out. I can’t believe I did that. I was so lucky that it wasn’t something more serious.

“I was so lucky,” Green said. “I did every-thing exactly wrong. I know what could have happened. I’ve lost friends and family members to breast cancer. If I could have any wish, it would be that my daughter would never have to live with the fear of hearing a doctor say the word ‘lump.’ It’s such a little word, but it can bring your world crashing down.”

October was Breast Cancer Awarneness Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breast cancer is second only to non-melanoma skin cancer as the most common cancer among women in the United States and is also one of the lead-ing causes of cancer death among women of all races.

According to the American Cancer Soci-ety, breast cancer will kill one in 36 women. More than 2.9 million breast cancer survivors reside in the U.S.

“Over 90 percent of cancers are found in the early stages, either localized or involving a regional lymph node,” Doyle said. “Up to 98 percent of women survive when detected at the earliest stage, and 84 percent survive if it has only spread to a regional lymph node.”

Women should conduct a monthly breast exam and report any changes to their doc-tor, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation website.

“Early detection is the most important step to fighting breast cancer, and the best detection starts with monthly self-exams,” Doyle said. “Each woman knows their body the best and they will be the first ones to notice as soon as something is not normal, such as a lump or other symptom.

“In general, living a healthy lifestyle will help prevent breast, and all types, of cancer. Don’t smoke, get regular exercise and have a healthy diet. Do your monthly self-exams and, if older than 40, get your regular mammograms.”

Soldier shares her breast cancer scare

By John PrizerChief, Business & Plans DivisionNetwork Enterprise Center

The hallways of the Network Enterprise Center seem a bit quieter theses days now that Lovie Hen-son’s shuffling footsteps and cheery good mornings are no longer heard.

Last month, Henson retired as an information systems specialist at NEC — formerly the Directorate of Information Management.

A retirement luncheon for Henson was held Nov. 13 at a local restaurant, with many co-workers and friends attending.

Terry Isbell, the director of NEC, presented Hen-son with many accolades for her service and a Cer-tificate of Appreciation.

Henson also received the White House Certificate of Appreciation signed by President Barack Obama; a Maryland Certificate of Appreciation signed by

Gov. Martin O’Malley; a Certificate of Retire-ment from Col. Maria A. Biank, commander of the 93rd Signal Brigade; a commander’s coin from Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Roth-stein; and a retirement plaque from the Fort Meade Civilian Welfare Fund.

As a parting gift, co-workers presented Hen-son with a Kindle Fire

HD and gift card.Henson’s 42-year career began in March 1971 when

she was employed as a GS-4 key punch operator with the First Army headquarters at Fort Meade. Within a

year, she accepted a position with the then-U.S. Army Information Systems Command, Fort Meade.

Although the organization changed many times, and saw its good eras and bad, Henson remained a constant, loyal team member, always projecting a smile and a kind word for her co-workers.

Henson has always strived to help the less fortu-nate. For many years she volunteered at the Civilian Welfare Organization on post. She also has been known to open her home to entire families in need of shelter, food or medical assistance.

An avid piano player, Henson has played on Sun-days for church services and taught at the Odenton Christian School for 18 years. She had even made a valiant attempt to teach a number of her co-workers at the NEC.

Henson’s future plans include spending more time visiting with her daughter Camille, an attorney, and son Delroy, a finance analyst.

NEC staffer retires after 42 years of federal service

Lovie Henson

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil10 SOUNDOFF! November 29, 2012

News

Story and photo by Spc. Jacquelyn R. Slaughter200th Military Police Command

“I live, breathe and eat it.”That’s how Spc. Zachary McDavid

describes his passion for cooking.McDavid and his fellow Army Reserve

cooks assigned to the 200th Military Police Command take their passion from the menu to the more than 100 Soldiers working dur-ing the weekend battle assembly on Nov. 3 at the Army Reserve Center on Annapolis Road.

The sweet aroma of homemade lemon bars drifted from the small kitchen tucked in the corner of one of three buildings through the compound under the command of Maj. Gen. Sanford Holman, Command Sgt. Maj. Kurtis Timmer and a large staff in charge of more than 14,000 Soldiers in 42 states.

“We are a small community during battle assembly weekend,” said Timmer, the senior enlisted Soldier of the 200th MPCOM. “The cooks here do a phenomenal job. They pro-vide a great service, and I look forward each month to visiting with our cooks wherever my travels take me.”

Holman and Timmer waited until the line was vacated and all the troops were fed before grabbing an empty tray and plastic utensils. With their plates filled with food and a quick stop at the salad bar, the senior leadership grabbed an empty spot at a nearby table with the Soldiers.

“They definitely help build the morale

200th MPCOM cook with pride for battle assembly weekend

of our troops,” Holman said. “We may be a military police command, but our forma-tions are filled with Soldiers of all skill sets, and our cooks are an important member of the Champion team.”

After an early morning formation, the small team of seven Soldiers went right to work.

The gatekeeper to the weekend’s meal was Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Kinderknecht, a human resources NCO for the 200th MPCOM.

While checking identification and col-lecting a small payment for the meal, Kinderknecht said serving good, hot meals builds morale, saves money and allows Sol-diers to sit down and catch up without the distractions of work.

As one Soldier straggled in at the last minute, cooks were busy cleaning the tables, washing dishes and returning the makeshift restaurant to an Army training facility.

Unknown to most, when the cooks have down time, they participate in a bit of friendly competition. Each cook prepares a dish, which is judged by their peers. It’s a way of having fun and it also exercises their cooking skills, said Hurlston.

“The competitions are fun; I like them,” McDavid said. “It’s a little bit of something different for us to do.”

McDavid recently competed in the Marine barracks food service competition and won a first-place medal.

With the kitchen closed for the weekend, the cooks discussed the busiest day of the year — the command’s holiday party. The December feast is the highlight for many Reserve units across the formations.

“It means a lot for Soldiers and their fami-lies,” Hurlston said about the holiday event.

Timmer said cooks are the backbone of a unit.

“Sometimes they may think their efforts go unnoticed, but they don’t,” he said. “I would much rather have a meal cooked by Army cooks than something catered.

“Call me old school, but there is nothing like grabbing a tray and seeing an Army cook smiling back at you with pride in what they accomplished that day. I know it’s always going to be good.”

Led by Sgt. Toni Hurlston of Suitland, Soldiers ensured the kitchen was sanitized before any work began. Hurlston said nutri-tion is important for the health and welfare of the formations.

“I think people are happier when they have good, nutritional food,” she said.

Using the U.S. Army Reserve Command’s 21-meal plan, the cooks select from an assortment of meal options and are kept within certain nutritional standards to allow for a healthier option than found in fast food restaurants.

Keeping dozens of busy senior officers and NCOs fed between meetings and confer-ence calls is no easy task, but it’s a welcome challenge to the small team.

Spc. Zachary McDavid, a cook assigned to the 200th Military Police Command at Fort Meade, prepares a pastry. The Baltimore native helped to prepare lunch for the 200th MPCOM Soldiers during battle assembly weekend on Nov. 3.

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Join Meade TV in the blogosphere!Log on and check out the latest

edition of Meade Week to find out what’s going on at Fort Meade. Our blog is located at www.meadetv.wordpress.com. Log on, view recent posts and tweets, then leave com-ments and suggestions. Together we can make a difference.

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil November 29, 2012 SOUNDOFF! 11

News

By Amanda GlennFirst Army Division East

At the First Army Division East prayer breakfast held Nov. 20, Chap-lain (Lt. Col.) Harry Huey used the story of the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving to illustrate the power of spiritual resilience.

“The Pilgrims are a vivid picture of spiritual resiliency in the face of long-term adversity,” he said. “Their story is a critical aspect of the founding of America.”

During his presentation, Huey encouraged everyone to look closely within themselves during the Thanks-giving holiday and think about resil-ience overall and what role spiritual resilience plays.

“I want to make the case that spiri-tual resiliency is absolutely critical to our overall resiliency as human beings,” Huey said. “As we look around us and see people struggling with different types of issues from moral failures to tragic losses and sickness, I think that spiritual resilience is one of the key components that enables us as human beings to not only cope with life, but to live life in a way that is good for us.”

Huey chose the Pilgrims as an exam-ple because they are foundational to our history as Americans and are the originators of Thanksgiving.

“In my mind, individually and col-lectively, they stand the test of time as examples of rugged spiritual resiliency

Pilgrims’ story illustrates spiritual resiliency

Photos by staff sgt. stePhen Crofoot

Members of First Army Division East make their way through the breakfast line during a prayer breakfast held Nov. 20 at Fort Meade. During his presentation, Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Harry Huey discussed the strength of Pilgrims who used a robust and dynamic religious faith to survive their first year in America.

Prayer breakfasts are one of the ways the Army emphasizes spiritual resil-ience. Attendance is typically voluntary and can be nondenominational.

Unit commanders and chaplains together determine the theme for prayer breakfasts; chaplains determine the content.

“I think it’s important to have spiri-tual resilience events for a couple of reasons,” Huey said. “First, they raise awareness of the spiritual dimension of Soldier Fitness. My observation is that this is the least addressed of the five dimensions of Comprehensive Soldier Fitness.

“Second, they serve as opportunities for the audience to do an internal inven-tory regarding their spiritual fitness.”

The Pilgrims, Huey said, didn’t just inventory their spiritual fitness; they incorporated their spirituality into every element of their lives, drawing on it to overcome hardships and dangers. Their success led not only to the first Thanksgiving but laid the foundation for the American character today.

Huey listed six key points of their spiritual resilience that allowed them to continue to persevere:

They had a strong religious faith that was both coherent and personal. They regularly practiced their faith both individually and as a group. They had a strong sense of community. They had a very strong sense of mission. They accepted that faith included adver-sity. They had a strong sense of God’s providence.

Huey also read from the memoirs of Plymouth Gov. William Bradford, “Of Plymouth Plantation.”

“It was answered that all great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties, and must be enter-prised and overcome with answerable courage.”

At the conclusion of the prayer breakfast, Huey encouraged those in attendance to be like the Pilgrims with a spiritual resilience that would carry them through the ups and downs in their lives.

“I think the prayer breakfast was a huge success,” said Master Sgt. Billie J. Suttles of First Army Division East. “It was a great turnout, and the history lesson connected Christians from the 1600s to Christians today. Chaplain Huey prepared his lesson well, and I truly enjoyed listening to it.”

in the face of extreme adversity,” he said. “When you think about their odyssey — migrating twice within a 15-year period, a near 50 percent death rate for their first year on American

soil, suffering financial setbacks … living through storms at sea while crammed below deck in a small ship, malnutrition, starvation, exposure to cold, violent winters, and isolation — and then think about how intact they remained as individuals and as a group, you have to ask, ‘How did they do it?’ ”

But they did, said Huey, through a robust, specific, coherent and dynamic religious faith and practice — attributes that remain relevant today, he said.

“The Army’s Comprehensive Sol-dier Fitness program identifies spiritual resiliency as one of five dimensions of resilience,” Huey said. “CSF defines it as this: one’s purpose, core values, beliefs identity and life vision. CSF says that spirit resiliency draws upon other things, religious teachings that form the basis of their character.”

Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Harry Huey speaks to members of First Army Division East during a prayer breakfast held Nov. 20 at Fort Meade. His presentation focused on the importance of spiritual resilience.


Cover Story

PHOTOS BY NOAH SCIALOM

Retired Col. Bert Rice, who served side dishes, hugs kitchen staffer Maryann Johnson in appreciation of her hard work.

RIGHT: Members of the Center for Service Support Navy Detachment at the Defense Information School chat over Thanksgiving dinner. The menu featured turkey, roast beef and pork, ham, Cornish hens, stuffing, side dishes, cheesecake, pies and beverages.

this year.”In anticipation of the large crowds, the

menu featured 360 pounds of turkey, 140 pounds of roast beef, 120 pounds of ham, 80 pounds of Cornish hens, 120 pounds of shrimp, 30 pounds of bread for stuffing and 30 pounds of corn bread for stuffing, 40 pounds of macaroni and cheese, 30 pounds of green beans, 30 pounds of corn, 140 pounds of yams, 28 pounds of cranberry sauce, 48 cheesecakes, 48 cherry pies, 48 pumpkin pies, 48 sweet potato pies, 12 pecan pies and eight cases of assorted wines.

“Even on Christmas we don’t serve a menu like this,” Mountain said. “Not very much is left over.”

Unlike typical meals at the Freedom Inn, Thanksgiving diners are permitted to order any combination of entrees and return for seconds. “We try to make sure they have as much as they want,” Mountain said.

There is also more flexibility with the menu. “For Thanksgiving, you get to show your skills, to depart from the standard menu,” Mountain said. “I don’t even put out

calorie cards. We’re required to do it every day, except Thanksgiving.”

Sgt. Christian Palermo of 55th Signal Com-pany (Combat Camera), who was deployed in Afghanistan for the last two years, said he was surprised at the variety. “I wasn’t expecting it to be like this,” said Palermo of Redlands, Calif. “I was just expecting turkey and stuff-ing and that’s it. It’s been great.”

But it was the pair of whole 40-pound pigs with apples in their mouth, marinated 24 hours earlier and roasted for four hours, that drew smiles — and gasps.

“He was able to live his Thanksgiving destiny today,” Command Sgt. Maj. Marion J. Travis of the 742nd Military Intelligence Battalion said of the piglet he carved and served.

Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein and his wife, Audrey, offered plastic glasses of wine, eggnog and sparkling cider. Their teenage children, Emily, 16, and Sam, 13, served side dishes.

“We’re busy, busier than last year,” said Rothstein, who manned the roast beef sta-

By Rona S. HirschStaff Writer

They stood behind the counter in their tall white chef hats and dress blues, entic-ing hungry diners with roast beef and roast pork, turkey and Cornish hen, side dishes and wine.

“Any suckling pig for you today, sir? There’s never too much food on Thanksgiv-ing,” beckoned Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Latter as he waved a plate of sliced pork.

Few could resist.“I’ve never had pork before,” said William

Chillous of Montgomery, Ala., as he sampled a slice. “It’s excellent.”

Participating in a long-standing Army tradition, Latter took his place in a long line of senior and noncommissioned officers who served Thanksgiving dinner to junior-ranked service members at the Freedom Inn Dining Facility.

“It’s important for a leader to serve the Soldiers and families a holiday meal, to see them relaxing, to let them know I appreciate what they do,” Latter said. “And then to serve families — that’s great, and to see retirees

sharing their meal with young active-duty service members is wonderful. I’m glad I’m able to do this. It’s a privilege.”

Freedom Inn provided a formal Thanks-giving meal with all the fixings from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and leftovers from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

“I’m surprised how it transformed from a chow hall to almost like a fancy restaurant,” said Staff Sgt. Sean Harp of 55th Signal Company (Combat Camera). “And it’s nice to see senior leadership behind the serving counter. They take time from their families to serve.”

This year, 527 service members, retirees, DoD civilians and their guests celebrated Thanksgiving at the dining facility.

“We get more civilians and family mem-bers than Soldiers, lots of retirees — all for $7.50 a plate,” said Howard Mountain, proj-ect manager/chef for Son’s Quality Food for the Freedom Inn.

He had an inkling that the number of din-ers would surpass last year’s crowd of 350.

“I was getting more calls than usual,” said Mountain as he surveyed the long line of diners that reached to the door. “We always prepare for 400 to 500. I prepared for 600

Thanksgiving celebrated lavishly at Freedom Inn


tion in 2011. “It’s a great facility and a great community.”

Retired Col. Bert Rice, former director of transformation on Fort Meade, served collard greens, strings beans, corn and sweet potatoes.

“This is an opportunity to give back and to recognize service members and the retirees and their families,” he said. “I like to serve the families and see the big smile on their faces. And they appreciate us serving them. ... We had a nice turnout. The dining facility is No. 1. All the people here work hard and are proud of their work.”

A flexible vegetarian who indulges on Thanksgiving, Harp waited on line for roast beef after it was removed from the oven.

“Normally, I’m a ‘flexatarian’ all year,” said Harp of Tampa, Fla. “But it’s Thanksgiving, so I’m going all out. It’s sure a lot better than eating a Hot Pocket and burrito.

“It’s better than Mom made, but not better than Nana’s green-bean casserole and des-serts. I [just] wish all the TVs had on football. And there is no couch to crash on. Otherwise,

it’s awesome.”But the holiday fare isn’t the only lure for

service members and retirees.“I came to be with the Soldiers,” said

retired Sgt. 1st Class Robert Drake, 87, who served during World War II with the 65th Infantry Division. “I love to see all the officers serving. It’s all really nice.”

Pulling a 12-hour shift and far from his Atlanta home, Maj. Jason Rogers of First Army Division East found solace in the com-pany of Soldiers.

“I enjoy being around Soldiers,” he said. “They’re my second family.”

After filling his plate, William Chillous joined his wife, Starsha, their 5-year-old daughter Shamya, and his in-laws including retired Sgt. 1st Class Mike Harley and his wife, Jessica.

“My wife and I come every year,” said Harley, who resides in Patriot Ridge. “There’s a lot of food, a lot of Soldiers. It brings back feelings of being around Soldiers. The food is great. I could cook myself, but I like coming here better. This is the spot for me.”

Garrison Commander Col. Edward C. Rothstein and his wife, Audrey, hand out eggnog as well as wine and sparkling cider during the annual Thanksgiving festivities at the Freedom Inn Dining Facility. In keeping with Army tradition, senior and noncommissioned officers serve Thanksgiving dinner to junior-ranked service members.

Spc. Caston Schneider dines with his grandfather retired Lt. Col. Louis Schneider. A record number of 527 patrons feasted at the dining facility.


SportS

By Brandon BieltzStaff Writer

For years, old gold of Meade High School football was nowhere to be found come late November as the team was plagued with annual losing seasons.

But after more than a decade since its last appearance in the playoffs in 2001, the Mustangs snapped their playoff drought and made its mark with a deep run in the postseason that ended with a regional title and a spot in the state semifinals.

Even with the team’s underdog run coming to a sudden halt with Saturday’s 40-0 loss to Henry A. Wise High School in the semifinals, players and coaches completed one of the team’s most suc-cessful seasons.

“We were excited about the season, but we were kind of hoping to still be playing right now,” said Mustangs head coach Rich Holzer. “It is what it is. They had a good run and I’m proud of the kids.”

When Holzer arrived at Meade High last year, he led the team to its first win-ning season in 10 years with a 6-4 record and narrowly missed a playoff spot. Hol-zer said a new philosophy helped create the improvement.

“I think it was just instilling discipline, accountably and a better work ethic,” he said. “There’s a lot of talented players here. It’s just getting them to do what’s necessary in today’s sports world to be successful.”

Holzer’s biggest hurdle in turning the team around was changing the losing culture that had formed.

“It’s just getting them to believe in themselves,” he said. “Losing for over a decade, I think they saw themselves as inferior to some of the other teams in the county. It’s just getting them to believe that they’re just as good, if not better, than everybody in this county.”

Prior to the 2012 season, Holzer knew he had a strong team with several key players returning and a few transfers that filled out the roster.

Despite the talent, Holzer still thought it would take another year to create a winning atmosphere.

“I’d be lying if I thought we’d make a run at the state title,” he said. “I expected a very good season. I just wasn’t sure if the mental aspect had taken hold yet. But apparently it had, and the kids really did

Riding highMeade High Mustangs make playoffs, end season with 10-3 record

a great job.”The Mustangs opened the season with

two shutouts over Southern High School and Annapolis High School. While a strong defense overpowered opponents, the team’s offense racked up points, blow-ing opponents out.

“If a team can’t score, they can’t win,” Holzer said. “That’s our philosophy. We want to put up a lot of points, but the big thing is we want to shut people down. When you can’t move the ball, it just leaves them like, ‘What do we do now?’ ”

The team then lost to Arundel High School 40-8 and Old Mill 28-18. The Old Mill loss would serve as a turning point.

“We made a ton of mistakes in that Old Mill game, turned the ball over five times and still only lost by 10 points, and had a touchdown called back and three two-point conversions called back,” Holzer said. “Despite all of that, we still should have won that game. That was a big turn-ing point. That opened their eyes.”

All-county defensive tackle Malik Dorsey said the Old Mill game gave the

team motivation for the remaining five games.

“It was a real eye-opener for all us,” the senior said. “We realized we could have beat those guys, and we knew the next time we saw them we would beat them. We were waiting for them.”

Following the loss, the Mustangs ran through the competition on a five-game win streak in which the defense only allowed 26 points while the offense scored 228 points. The late-season push earned the Mustangs a No. 3 seed in the playoffs, breaking their 11-year absence from the postseason.

In the playoffs, the team faced the only two blemishes on its record. But this time the Mustangs defeated Arundel 36-28 in the semifinals and defending state cham-pions Old Mill 28-21 in the finals for the Class 4A East Regional title.

“We had gotten on a roll,” Holzer said. “When you get a team that’s talented on a roll, they’re tough to stop.”

The team played the role of underdogs through its playoff run, a mentality play-

ers and coaches thrived in.“Underdog or not, Meade Mustangs

don’t strap up their helmets to lose,” Dorsey said. “We’re playing to win, regardless.”

With few expectations, practices were shorter and lighter, with an emphasis on having fun.

“We have no pressure, we’re just play-ing to play” said junior linebacker Rob-ert Hogan. “If we beat them, we beat them.”

The team’s run ended in Saturday’s 4A State Semifinals. But coaches and players have started looking forward to a prom-ising 2013, with 35 letterman returning — including most of the starting unit.

“Our theme will be unfinished business next year,” Holzer said. “We have to get the run going earlier and finish the run.”

Hogan said the goals are already clear and set high for next year.

“I have a good feeling with the players we have coming back,” he said. “I think we can set up a good squad to continue on, hopefully to a state championship.”

Meade High School’s Davonte Vincent stiff-arms D’Angelo Niler of Henry A. Wise High School during the Class 4A State Semifinals on Saturday at the Upper Marlboro school. Despite losing 40-0, the Mustangs completed one of the school’s best seasons, breaking its 11-year playoff drought and finishing the season with a 10-3 record.

photo by noah scialom


SportS

Sports ShortsArmy-Navy football game, tailgate

The Soldiers and Sailors of Fort Meade will compete in the annual Army-Navy flag football game on Wednesday at 4 p.m. on Mullins Field.

A pre-game tailgate, sponsored by the Fort Meade Alliance, will begin at 3 p.m. with free drinks and barbecue.

Both events are open to the public.

Reindeer 5K Run and 1-Mile WalkThe installation’s annual Run Series will conclude with the Reindeer 5K Run and

1-Mile Walk on Dec. 15 at 8 a.m. at Murphy Field House.The pre-registration cost for individuals is $15. Cost on the day of the run is $25.The pre-registration cost for groups of seven to 10 is $85.The pre-registration cost is $40 for a family of three to six people. On the day of

the event, the cost is $60 per family.All pre-registered runners will receive a T-shirt.For more information, call 301-677-7916.

Dump Your PlumpRegistration for the 5th annual Dump Your Plump weight-loss competition

will be held Dec. 10 to Jan. 4 at Gaffney Fitness Center.Participants can compete as an individual or a team.The free competition runs from Jan. 7 through Feb. 28.For more information, call 301-677-7916.

Ski clubThe Sun, Snow, Surf Ski Club at Fort Meade is seeking new members for

its 2013 trips.The club, which organizes a variety of athletic activities including ski trips,

bicycling, hiking and social activities, travels across the country and Europe.The club also sponsors activities in the area.For more information or to join, call Bill Bishop at 301-604-2113 or email

[email protected].

NFL SundayThe Lanes’ lounge is a showing venue for NFL games this football season,

with the exception of local blackouts, on eight, 42-inch high-definition flat-screen televisions. Food service and full bar are available.

For more information, call 301-677-5541.

Texas Hold ‘emTexas Hold ‘em no buy-in games are played Mondays at 7 p.m. at the Lanes.Games are free and open to the public.For more information, call 301-677-5541.

Dollar DaysThe Lanes offers Dollar Days every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Bowlers receive a game of bowling, shoe rental, a hot dog, hamburger,

small fries, pizza slice or small soda for $1 each.For more information, call 301-677-5541.

You know I think I’m getting old.It’s been a recurring theme in this col-

umn ever since my weak Achilles sent me to physical therapy a few years back.

Together, we’ve discussed the perils of moving into middle age, the slight depression that comes when your favorite athletes are sent out to pasture, and even the wonders of ear hair.

But one area I’ve avoided is how aging has affected my fandom. To put it bluntly, I’m not the fan I used to be.

And not just because my Facebook sta-tus a few months ago asked the question: Thursday Night Football or the “Grey’s Anatomy” season premiere? Or the fact that I chose Grey’s. Or the fact that I’ve chosen to watch Grey’s and “Scandal” over every Thursday night game this season.

That might actually be more of a case of me losing my man-card as opposed to my fandom. But who cares because Grey’s is the bomb, and OMG, have you seen how saucy “Scandal” is?

Besides, there are other aspects of my life that are no longer dominated by sports.

For example, growing up, the only two programs I’d ever fall asleep to were “Little House on the Prairie” you-tube.com/watch?v=EEGg9di7ZKI and “SportsCenter.”

Now my morning snooze is being done to “Morning Joe,” and I seem to be more concerned with the local traffic report than whatever Mike and Mike have to say in the morning.

When I do watch “SportsCenter’ (more on that in a bit), I find myself sound-ing like a geezer because I just don’t get today’s athletes.

Seriously, what’s up with white line-backers growing long locks? Also, who in the world authorized bringing back the high-top fade? The do wasn’t cool when Kid N’ Play did it, and it’s not cool now.

I also find myself focusing on the negatives involved with sports - perfor-mance equalizing, hypocrisy in college athletics, punk athletes, and the stupid rules that guide our games - instead of beautiful things like 6-4-3 double plays and Randy Moss. youtube.com/watch?v=pux4T75rKO4

Now I know the above makes me sound like a crotchety old sports fan, but let’s be real for a moment. It’s not all my

fault.The entire

sports industry is more than par-tially responsible for my waning fandom.

“SportsCen-ter” has stunk ever since it decided to push its agendas - BCS championships, quarterback ratings, and faux controversies - instead of just cover-ing sports in an entertaining manner.

Plus, ESPN’s mantra of “embrace debate” has made me embrace the History Channel because I’m sick of analysts who can’t even agree without arguing, i.e. Skip Bayless and Stephen A Smith. youtube.com/watch?v=6FeujTA15n0

But most of all, rule changes are killing the product on the field. Did you know the NBA had to implement a rule against flop-ping? And did you see the call that went against the Lions on Thanksgiving Day?

Apparently, you can’t challenge a play that is already up for review, even if the call on the field was wrong. And don’t even get me started on these nonsensical contact penalties.

If the NFL wants flag football, then here’s an idea: Give the players flags and be done with it instead of making us watch the greatest game in the world go through this slow demise.

My angst does have some benefits. I’m reading more. The Cowboys still send me into near cardiac arrest, but I seem to recover quicker, and I’ve realized there may be more to life than what’s on TV.

But the fact of the matter is I went two weeks without checking my fantasy roster, and my wife actually had the nerve to ask if she could cut the sports package from our cable.

Back in the day, that was the one ques-tion she knew she couldn’t ask. But now, she brought it up as casually as if she was asking me to pick up some milk.

Worse yet, I agreed to it, and now I’m left to ask myself: What kind of fan have I become, and will I ever be half the fan I used to be?

If you have comments on this or any-thing to do with sports, or Grey’s, contact me at [email protected].

Not the fan I used to be

Chad T. Jones, Public Affairs

Officer

Jibber Jabber - OpiniOn


Religion

Fort Meade 2012 Holiday Religious services, activitiesDATE SERVICE TIME LOCATIONDec. 2-6 Reconciliation Services (Catholic) 5:30-6:30 p.m. Post ChapelDec. 2-6 Advent Retreat (Catholic) 7-9 p.m. Post ChapelDec. 7 Fort Meade Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony 5 p.m. Parade Field (near gazebo)Dec. 9 Episcopal Service of Lessons & Carols 4 p.m. Post ChapelDec. 11 Hanukkah Luncheon Celebration 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Chapel CenterDec. 24 “Happy Birthday Jesus” Mass (for children) 5 p.m. Chapel CenterDec. 24 Christmas Eve Midnight Mass 10 p.m. Chapel CenterDec. 24 Episcopal Christmas Eve Candlelight Service 7 p.m. Post ChapelDec. 24 Episcopal Christmas Eve Carols/Service 10:30/11 p.m. Post ChapelDec. 25 Christmas Day Mass 12:15 p.m. Post ChapelDec. 31 New Year’s Vigil Adoration 4-4:45 p.m. Post ChapelDec. 31 New Year’s Vigil Mass 5 p.m. Post ChapelDec. 31 Gospel Watch-Night Service 10 p.m. Chapel CenterJan. 1 Mary, Mother of God 12:15 p.m. Post Chapel

Times of the regular weekend Protestant and Catholic services during the day will remain the same (if not noted).

For more information about religious services, call the Garrison Chaplain’s Office at 301-677-6703.

Chaplain’s Word: REAL JOY

“Real joy comes not from

ease or riches or from the

praise of people, but from

doing something worthwhile.”

— Wilfred Greawell

By Garrison Chaplain (Col.) Carl RauReligious Support Office

For the past 10 years, the Gos-pel Service at Argonne Hills Chapel Center has sponsored a “Harvest for the Hungry” outreach event to pro-vide Thanksgiving baskets to military members and their families and others in the surrounding Fort Meade com-munity.

This event, which was started by six volunteers in the Gospel Service, began by providing Thanksgiving baskets to

50 families. Over the past several years, the number of families in need has increased significantly.

This year, preparations were made to feed 125 families. However, when the last basket was picked up, the Gospel Service was able to provide 157 families with complete Thanksgiving baskets consisting of a turkey, ham, vegetables, eggs, milk, dessert and other food items.

This project not have been possible without the generous support of vol-

unteers from the Main Post Chapel, the Catholic Service, Calvary Cha-pel, Fort Meade Commissary staff, Defense Information School students and members of the 902d Mililtary Intelligence Group.

With the blessings of God and the generous tithes and offerings from members, the Gospel Service plans to continue this event each year along with its monthly outreach activities believing that “To whom much is given, much is required.”

Harvest for Hungry provides 157 families with food baskets

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Community news & notes

The deadline for Soundoff! community “News and Notes” is Friday at noon. All submissions are posted at the editor’s dis-cretion and may be edited for space and grammar. Look for additional community events on the Fort Meade website at www.ftmeade.army.mil and the Fort Meade Facebook page at facebook.com/ftmeade.

For more information or to submit an announcement, email Philip Jones at [email protected] or call 301-677-5602.

Kimbrough holiday closings

Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center will be closed on the following days for the Christmas and New Year’s holiday period:

• Dec. 14 at noon for staff holiday parties

• Dec. 24 and 25 for Christmas• Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 for New Year’s.

Commissary holiday closings

The Fort Meade Commissary hours on Dec. 24 will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The store will be closed Christmas. It will reopen Dec. 26 at 7 a.m. for early-bird shopping and at 9 a.m. for regular store hours.

For more information, call the commissary at 301-677-7465.

‘December in the City’Picerne Military Housing will sponsor

“December in the City,” its 9th annual holiday season celebration for all Fort Meade residents, on Saturday from 2 to 5 p.m. at Potomac Place Neighborhood Center.

The event will feature photos with Santa, candy cane train rides through the neighborhood and children’s crafts.

Hot chocolate and festive treats will be available.

For more information, contact your neighborhood center.

Soldier’s Christmas DinnerSalute The Veterans Inc. is sponsoring

its 6th Annual Soldier’s Christmas Dinner on Dec. 16 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the American Legion Post 175 at 832 Manhattan Beach Road, Severna Park.

The free event for service members and their family or guest is held to give thanks to those who are serving our

country. The dinner will feature Italian foods, desserts and gifts.

Seating is limited. Registration is required by Friday.

Santa may visit, so he needs the names, ages, gender, rank and branch of service of those attending.

For more information, email [email protected] or call 443-255-6690.

Tree lightingFort Meade’s annual Holiday Tree

Lighting Ceremony will be held Dec. 7 at 5 p.m. at McGlachlin Parade Field, near the gazebo.

The event will feature the U.S. Army Field Band Brass Quartet; a sing-along with the Fort Meade community’s Cub, Boy and Girl Scouts; a visit by Santa; and refreshments.

Crafters neededCrafters and local artisans are needed

for a Christmas bazaar on Dec. 7 from 5 to 8 p.m. and Dec. 8 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Seven Oaks Elementary School.

Cost is $35 for a 6-foot table.For more information, call 337-718-

1776 and leave a message.

Pershing Hill bazaarThe Winter Bazaar at Pershing Hill

Elementary School will be Dec. 7 from 6 to 8 p.m.

The school, located at 7600 29th Division Road, is sponsoring the fundraiser for the fifth grade’s field trip to Philadelphia.

The bazaar will feature games, crafts, vendors, food, a silent auction and photos with Santa,

For more information, call Pershing Hill at 410-222-6519.

Garden club classThe Meade Area Garden Club is

sponsoring a class on the art of pressing flowers on Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Jessup Community Hall at the corner of Wigley Avenue and Route 175.

The class will be led by Barbara Hallman of Nature Gifts.

Cost is $20. Participants will take home the pressed flower bookmark or ornament they design.

For more information or to register

Thursday, December 6th 7:00 PM

Concert Band & Soldiers’ Chorus

1. Clip and send this coupon with a stamped, self-addressed envelope to:

2. Provide a phone number in the event we need to contact you regarding tickets: Phone: _____________________________

Circle number of tickets requested: 1 2 3 4 (Limit four tickets per coupon)

(301) 677-6586

Visit us online for more holiday concerts in your area.

for the class, call Dawn Bleess at 410-674-2017.

EFMP stress-reliever program

The Fort Meade Exceptional Family Member Program will present “Sanctuary Away From Stress” on Dec. 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Army Community Service, 830 Chisholm Ave.

Learn to strengthen your emotional resilience and manage your energy during the holiday season through power journaling, positive thinking and relaxation exercises.

Registration is required.To register, call Kelly Gibson at

301-677-4473 or email [email protected].

UMUC information session

An information session on the University of Maryland University College will be offered on post on Dec. 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Army Education Center, 8601 Zimborski Ave.

Advisors will be available to discuss transfer credit and help you assemble a degree plan. Bring transcripts.

During the session, participants may apply, register for classes and learn how to maximize education benefits.

The $50 application fee will be waived if you apply at the event. (The $100 application fee for Doctor of Management is not.)

For more information, call 301-621-9882.

Couples evening studyProtestant Women of the Chapel is

offering to couples a free evening study of the book, “The Marriage You’ve Always Wanted,” on Thursdays at 6:45 p.m. through Dec. 20 at Argonne Hills Chapel Center.

Free child care is provided.For more information, call 301-677-

6035 or email [email protected] or visit ftmeadepwoc.org.

Auto care coursesThe Automotive Skills Center at 6530

Taylor Ave. offers monthly courses from 1 to 3 p.m.

An FMWR card is required. New patrons must first view a safety video.

The following courses are offered:• Sunday: Proper procedures for

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

NEWS & EVENTS

EDUCATION


Community news & notes

replacing timing belts• Dec. 16: Basic Welding 101For more information, call 301-677-5542.

‘Elf Man’ free screeningA free movie screening of the family

comedy “Elf Man” and a meet and greet with the star, Jason “Wee Man” Acuna, will be held Sunday at the Post Movie Theater.

The meet and greet will be from 5 to 6 p.m. The movie starts at 6 p.m.

Tickets for the show will be distributed via USO-Metro’s Ticketline.

Information about the event and how to register for tickets will be sent to those in the Ticketline database who have indicated they either work or live on Fort Meade.

To register on Ticketline, visit http://usometrotickets.eventbrite.com/ or call 703-881-8490.

Story TimeThe Medal of Honor Memorial

Library offers pre-kindergarten Story Time on Thursdays from 9:30 to 10 a.m. or 10:30 to 11 a.m.

• Today: “Hungry for a Good Book” - stories, songs and fingerplays about food

For more information, call 301-677-5522 or 301-677-4509 or visit ftmeademwr.com.

‘Trip to North Pole’The Enlisted Spouses Club is hosting

“A Trip to the North Pole” on Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Youth Center, 909 Ernie Pyle St.

Everyone is invited.The free event will feature games,

entertainment, crafts and a visit with Santa from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Every child receives a gift.

Parents’ Night OutParents’ Night Out is offered the third

Friday of each month from 6:30 to 10 p.m.

The next event will be Dec. 21. Enrollment closes Dec. 14.

The fee is $10 for the first child and $5 for each additional child ages 6 weeks to 12 years old.

The program is open to active-duty service members and Reservists on active-duty status, DoD personnel, retirees and Fort Meade DoD contractors.

For more information, call 301-677-1149 or 301-677-1156.

Out & About• The 29th Annual Merry Tuba

Christmas will be presented Saturday from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Harborplace Amphitheater in Baltimore. The free performance will feature 200 festively dressed tuba and euphonium players who will capture the spirit of the holiday as they blend their unique styles, rhythms and progressions. For more information, call 410-332-4191 or visit harborplace.com/events/.

• Harbor Holiday Festival will be held Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the National Harbor, 6710 Oxon Hill Road, Oxon Hill.

The family festival features more than 200 specialty boutiques in a holiday village setting and handmade crafts, holiday decor, entertainment, wines and foods, and children’s activities.

Admission for adults is $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Children attend free. For more information, visit mdholidayshow.com/ or call 800-830-3976.

• Symphony of Lights Military Appreciation Night will be held Dec. 13 from 6 to 10 p.m. at Symphony Woods in Columbia.

Service members with military identification receive $10 off admission.

The exhibit features a 1.4-mile drive-through of 70 larger-than-life holiday light displays.

The display, benefiting Howard County General Hospital, is open nightly through Jan. 6 from 6 to 10 p.m., but is closed Dec. 31.

Admission is $20 per car or van (up to eight passengers). Coupons for $5 off are available at hcgh.org/symphonyoflights and facebook.com/symphonyoflightsfestivities.

For more information, call 410-740-7840 or visit hcgh.org/symphonyoflights.

• Families Dealing with Deployment meets the first and third Monday of every month

from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Meuse Forest Neighborhood Center. The next meeting is Monday. For more information, call Rikki Ford, Parent Support coordinator, at 301-677-3617 or email [email protected].

• Retired Officers’ Wives’ Club will sponsor a holiday buffet luncheon on Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Club Meade. The event will feature the Retro-Rockets. Reservations required today. Cost is $20.

Invite your family and friends to share in this program as the ROWC ushers in the holiday spirit with music, gifts and prizes.

Reservations for members and guests must be made by calling your area representative or Betty Wade at 410-551-7082. For more information, call Lianne Roberts, president of the ROWC, at 301-464-5498.

• Monthly Prayer Breakfast, hosted by the Garrison Chaplain’s Office, is held the first Thursday of every month at 7 a.m. at Club Meade. The next prayer breakfast is Dec. 6.

All Fort Meade employees, family members, and civilian and military personnel are invited. There is no cost for the buffet; donations are optional. For more information, call 301-677-6703 or email [email protected].

• Meade Rod and Gun Club meets the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at Perry’s Restaurant and Odie’s Pub at 1210 Annapolis Road, Odenton. The next meeting is Dec. 6 in the banquet hall in back of the building. Dinner is served at 6 p.m. For more information, call 410-674-4000.

• National Alliance on Mental Illness of Anne Arundel County conducts a free support group for families with a loved one suffering from mental illness on the first Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Odenton (West County) Library, 1325 Annapolis Road. The next meeting is Dec. 6. For more information, visit namiaac.org.

• NARFE Chapter 1519 will meet Dec. 11 at 1 p.m. at Holy Trinity Parish Hall, 7436 Baltimore-Annapolis Blvd., Glen Burnie.

The meeting will be the chapter’s potluck Christmas Party. Everyone brings a food to share. All dues must be paid by Monday to Barbara Jacobs. Installation of officers for the new year will be held at the meeting.

For more information or to join, call Diane Shreves, publicity chairman, at 410-760-3750.

• Enlisted Spouses Club meets the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at Potomac Place Neighborhood Center. The next meeting is Dec. 10. For more information, visit ftmeadeesc.org or email [email protected].

movies

The movie schedule is subject to change. For a recorded announcement of showings, call 301-677-5324. Further listings are available on the Army and Air Force Exchange Service website at www.aafes.com.

Movies start Wednesdays to Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. NEW PRICES: Tickets are $5 for adults (12 and older) and $2.50 for children.

Today through Dec. 15 (CLOSED Dec. 17-Jan. 3)

Today & Saturday: “House at the End of the Street” (PG-13). A mother and daughter move next to a house with a deadly past. With Jennifer Lawrence, Max Thieriot, Elisabeth Shue.

Friday: “End of Watch” (R). Police partners form a close bond, and also share a challenging life on the street. With Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Peña.

Sunday, Wednesday & Dec. 6, 7: “Argo” (R). In 1979, after Iranian revolutionaries storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran, a CIA “exfiltration” special-ist concocts a risky plan to free six Americans trapped. With Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston and Alan Arkin.

Dec. 8: Studio Appreciation – Free Screening. Tick-ets available at the Exchange Food Court. Seating open to non-ticket holders 30 minutes prior to showtime.

Dec. 12, 14: “The Man with the Iron Fists” (R). On the hunt for a fabled treasure of gold, a band of warriors, assassins and a rogue British soldier descend upon a village in feudal China, where a humble blacksmith looks to defend himself and his fellow villagers. With RZA, Lucy Liu, Russell Crowe.

Dec. 13: “Cloud Atlas” (R). In this science fiction drama adapted from the book of the same name, six different stories become intricately related over generations as one person’s action influences the next, and the next and the next. With Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Bae Doo-na, James D’Arcy, Zhou Xun, Keith David, Susan Sarandon and Hugh Grant.

Dec. 15: “Paranormal Activity 4” (R). In this suspense thriller, sinister occurrences surround a creepy neighbor boy. With Katie Featherston, Brady Allen and Kathryn Newton.

EDUCATION

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17

YOUTHRECREATION

MEETINGS

fort meade soundoff nov. 29, 2012

News & Politics