soundoff april 30, 2015

Family FunAnnual community fair focuses on Meade families

page 12

uPCOminG EVEnTSFriday, 6:30 a.m.: Fort Meade Army Ten-Miler Qualifier - Murphy Field Housemay 7, 4-6 P.m.: Right Arm Night - Club Meademay 8, 11 a.m.-1:30 P.m.: Military Spouse Appreciation Lunch - Club Meademay 9, 9 a.m.-9 P.m.: Fort Meade Exchange Patriot Pet contest - The Exchangemay 10, 11 a.m.-1 P.m. & 2:30-4:30 P.m.: Mother’s Day Brunch - Club Meade

nEVEr FOrGETHolocaust survivor recalls war horrors, personal resiliency

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Soundoff!́vol. 67 no. 17 Published in the interest of the Fort Meade community April 30, 2015

photo by daniel kucin jr.

Five-year-old Atticus Strange takes in the pleasures of fishing during the annual Youth Fishing Rodeo sponsored by the Meade Rod and Gun Club on Saturday at Burba lake during the Family Fun Fair. Competition for prizes was open to three age groups. For more photos, see 4.

hooked on a feeling

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil� SOUNDOFF! April 30, 2015

Commander’s Column

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

CrimeWatch............... 10 Movies.................................18

Community................. 16 Classified.............................21

Editorial StaffGarrison Commander Col. Brian P. foleyGarrison Command Sgt. Maj. rodwell l. forbesPublic affairs officerChad t. Jones [email protected], Command informationPhilip H. Jones [email protected] dijon [email protected] Editor & Senior Writer rona S. Hirsch Staff Writer lisa r. rhodesdesign Coordinator timothy davis Supplemental photography provided by the Baltimore Sun Media Group

advErtiSinGGeneral inquiries 410-332-6300or email [email protected]

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Printed by offset method of reproduction as a civilian enterprise in the interest of the personnel at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, by 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.

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Printed by The Baltimore Sun Co., LLC, 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.

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In a previous life, as a writer and editor for a Jewish community newspaper, I received a call one afternoon from a man who identified himself as a World War II veteran who helped liberate Hitler’s concentration camps.

He wanted to suggest that my publication consider running an article about Jewish vets like himself who witnessed firsthand the end-results of humanity’s genocidal tendencies, at places with names like Ber-gen-Belsen, Mauthausen, Dachau and Auschwitz.

I asked if I could interview him, but he politely declined. When I pushed a little, he said I could come over and chat with him, but it was off the record.

I dropped by the northwest Baltimore condo he shared with his wife, and the veteran was cordial and welcoming but steadfast in his refusal. Finally, after his wife started prodding him, the man suddenly began weeping uncontrollably and lashed out at her.

“Please, stop!” he cried. “You don’t understand! Those people were walking around like skeletons, naked, like the walking dead. The world needs to know about this, but I just can’t talk about it! It’s too painful!”

I tell this story often because for some people, even members of my own family, the Holocaust was too difficult, visceral and dreadful a topic to discuss under almost any circumstance.

Fortunately, the heinous crimes and atrocities of the Nazi regime between 1933 and 1945 — against Jews, the Roma, gays and lesbians, the handicapped, political prisoners and so many others — is one of the most documented events in world history.

Of course, there are many people concerned that as we lose more of our Holocaust survivors and those who liberated the death camps, the testimonials and eyewitness accounts will be forgotten.

Already, we’ve seen armies of Holocaust deniers, debunkers and skeptics crawl out to make their grand statements.

Something like this is inevitable, given that there are those who also challenge whether such historical events as the moon landing or even 9/11 took place. Naturally, the folks who question and challenge the Holocaust have other agendas based on anti-Semitic or anti-Zionist sentiments.

The sad fact is, the naysayers will always rear their ugly heads. But the evidence, unfortunately, speaks for itself.

After all, I’ve never seen an enslaved person in my lifetime. But history — and tons of evidence — have demonstrated to me, as a logical, thinking person, that Africans were abducted, endured the Middle Passage (or sometimes didn’t), and brought to this country as enslaved people, to live existences of absolute misery and horror.

Let the facts speak for themselves. Fear not; history and the truth are on our side.

I have a dear friend named Rubin Sztajer, a Polish-born sur-vivor of six con-centration camps. For years he has traveled across the region — like other Holocaust survivors such as David Bayer who spoke at Fort Meade on April 23 — and has bravely spoken in public and private schools about his experiences.

Afterward, many young people have come up and told him his words of surviving the unfathomable have given them a new lease on life. Some even later wrote to him that his talks made them reconsider taking their own lives.

“I don’t have to make up stories or exaggerate,” Rubin has told me many times. “My stories are bad enough; they don’t need any creativity or embellish-ment.”

Those stories — through films, books, museums and testimonials — will live on long after the survivors and liberators still in our midst are gone.

As Garrison Commander Col. Brian P. Foley said while presenting Bayer with a plaque at last week’s Holocaust Days of Remembrance observance:

“As a human race, we should never forget. That’s our responsibility, as survivors pass on, and we pledge to you we will never forget.”

The challenge for the rest of us, and those who come after us, is to remember and continue telling these stories. Their stories are our stories, because our fate now rests on preventing genocide from happening again in this world.

You see, in our own way, we are eyewitnesses as well.

Holocaust remembrance is everyone’s responsibility

Commander’s Open DoorGarrison Commander Col. Brian P. Foley

hasanopendoorpolicy.Allservicemembers,retirees,government

employees, family members or communitymembersage18orolderareinvitedtoaddressissuesorconcernstothecommanderdirectlybyvisitingFoley’sofficeonMondays from4to6p.m.atgarrisonheadquartersinHodgesHall,Bldg.4551,LlewellynAvenue.

Visitors are seen on a first-come, first-servedbasis.Noappointmentisnecessary.

Formoreinformation,call301-677-4844.

AlAn H. Feiler Special to Soundoff!

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil April 30, 2015 SOUNDOFF! �

News

By Alan H. FeilerSpecial to Soundoff!

Sgt. 1st Class John Bentley had a simple but profound question for David Bayer.

During the Q&A segment following Bayer’s talk for Holocaust Remembrance Day, Bentley, a Defense Information School instructor, asked the 92-year-old Silver Spring resident how the lessons of the Holo-caust should be remembered when survivors like himself are no longer with us.

Bayer thought about it for a moment and held up his fist.

“Don’t just make a fist — use it,” he advised. “I’ve felt guilty all my life that I didn’t use my fist against the Germans. Use that fist.”

Bayer served as keynote speaker at Fort Meade’s 14th annual Holocaust Days of Remembrance observance hosted April 23 at McGill Training Center by the Equal Opportunity Office and the Defense Media Activity, in conjunction with the U.S. Army Field Band.

The 90-minute event also featured kosher sandwiches catered by the Knish Shop of Baltimore and musical selections per-formed by two members of the Field Band before and after Bayer’s presentation.

In his remarks, DINFOS Commandant Air Force Lt. Col. John Hutcheson thanked Bayer for speaking at Fort Meade.

“I can think of no greater resiliency

Holocaust survivor recalls horrors of war, genocide

than the men and women like Mr. Bayer who emerged from the darkness and spoke to future generations about inaction and indifference,” he said. “I hope our cer-emony honors the dead, remembers the survivors, defends the defenders and eases human suffering.”

A native of the Polish town of Kozienice and a survivor of Auschwitz-Birkenau, Bayer is a volunteer at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C.

He spoke to the audience of approxi-mately 150 about growing up as the son of a shoe factory owner and a homemaker.

“My father had a big business and traveled all over Poland. We had a maid, a good life,” Bayer said. “We thought we had it made.”

But his family’s world was turned upside down when the Germans captured Kozienice on Sept. 9, 1939. Bayer was 16.

“We ran away, into the woods, and the Germans came and plundered our house, took whatever they could,” Bayer said. “We came back and my mother was cry-ing. They took all of her jewelry and pots and dishes that were in our family for 300 or 400 years. They took everything they needed.”

Soon, Bayer’s family was identified by their Christian neighbors as Jewish to the Nazis. “Christian boys who went to school with me pointed their fingers at me,” he recalled.

At first, the Nazis painted a Star of David on his house; then, the family was forced into a one-room apartment in the Kozienice Ghetto.

Bayer was coerced by the Germans to work on an irrigation canal project in town. One September day in 1942, he snuck back into the ghetto and discovered his family and everyone else there had been taken away.

“They gassed everyone — my father, mother, grandfather, sister, brother,” Bayer said. “They took everything, including their lives, and I had nothing. I was left alone and didn’t know what to do.”

Bayer was soon deported to a labor camp and forced to work in a munitions factory for two years. “This was a hell,” he said. “The guards used to beat everyone up.”

As the war turned against Germany, the workers were deported to Auschwitz-Birke-nau. On the journey there, Bayer recalled there were no seats on the train and some

people died standing up.After reaching Auschwitz, Bayer was

selected for slave labor while other prison-ers “went to take baths and never came out.” After being forced to endure medical experimentation, Bayer was sent to work in the Jaworzno coal mines. The work was highly dangerous.

“I didn’t expect to come out alive,” he said.

In January 1945, with Soviet troops marching closer, the Germans evacuated Jaworzno and sent the prisoners on a death march. Eventually, Bayer escaped into a forest near Auschwitz with two Russian prisoners and was liberated by Soviet forces after six days and nights.

After returning to his family home and finding it abandoned, Bayer traveled to the Forenwald displaced persons camp in the American sector of West Germany and recuperated.

“They gave us milk and honey,” he said, “everything we needed.”

In 1947, Bayer immigrated to Panama for a short while before relocating to Pal-estine to fight in Israel’s War for Indepen-dence. After that conflict, he returned to Panama where he manufactured shoes.

In 1955, Bayer immigrated to the U.S. and settled in the Washington, D.C., area. A retired liquor store owner, he and his wife of 57 years, the former Adele Abramowitz, have two children and two grandchildren.

“Now what I do is talk,” Bayer said with a laugh. “I’m lucky to be here. There was not one day of peace [during the war]. There was no food, no peace.”

After the speech, Garrison Commander Col. Brian P. Foley presented Bayer with a plaque.

“As a human race, we should never for-get,” Foley said. “That’s our responsibility, as survivors pass on, and we pledge to you we will never forget.”

Bentley, who lives in Severn, said he was deeply moved by Bayer’s talk.

“One day he came back and his whole family was gone. It’s hard to imagine,” he said. “How do you stay resilient in that situation? It means a lot to me that he came here and told us his story.”

Staff Sgt. Rachel Rose Farber, a vocal-ist and violinist with the Field Band, said singing the national anthem and perform-ing Jewish melodies at the event was an honor.

“His story is such a treasure,” the Columbia resident said of Bayer. “I’m just humbled by him. To sing at something like this was amazing.”

PHOTOs BY DANIEL KUCIN JR.

David Bayer, a volunteer at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., discusses his experiences as a slave laborer at Auschwitz and the murder of his family by the Nazis, at Fort Meade’s 14th annual Holocaust Days of Remembrance observance held April 23 at McGill Training Center. The 90-minute event was hosted by the Equal Opportunity Office and the Defense Media Activity, in conjunction with the U.S. Army Field Band.

‘Don’t just make a fist — use it. I’ve felt guilty all my life that I didn’t use my fist against the Germans. Use that fist.’

David Bayer Holocaust survivor


News

Story and photo by Lisa R. RhodesStaff Writer

For Capt. Isaac Rodriguez, com-mander of the 310th Military Intel-ligence Battalion, the arrival of spring was the best time to have his unit assessed at Fort Meade’s Army Well-ness Center.

“As it starts to warm up outside and we adjust our unit Physical Readi-ness Training program for the warmer months, we felt that this was the perfect time to show our Soldiers where they stand physically,” Rodri-guez said.

“As we set our goals for the detach-ment and our PRT program, we felt it was important that our Soldiers make their own individual goals, which start with the AWC assessments.”

Twenty-five Soldiers from the bat-talion were assessed by AWC health educators and health technicians April 21-22. The assessment included a body composition analysis, metabolic test-ing and fitness testing.

The unit learned the results of the assessment during a briefing on Wednesday.

Allison Smith, project lead for AWC, said unit assessments help command-ers promote sustainable, healthy life-styles and empower service members to “take a proactive approach to their own health and wellness, and provide an opportunity for the various assess-ments to be completed together as one unit.”

Since AWC opened in September 2013, 10 military units have been assessed.

Sgt. Joyce Galiki, who was assessed on April 21, said she had a lot of expectations for the process.

“Being Samoan, I love to eat,” the 29-year-old said.

Losing weight and learning about proper nutrition were two of her health and fitness goals. Galiki said the body composition analysis, which was per-formed in a Bod Pod, was “awesome and weird at the same time.”

“The Bod Pod was scary, but amaz-ingly cool,” she said. “The employees made sure we were comfortable during the assessment.”

Rodriguez said his goal for the detachment is to improve each Soldier’s overall physical fitness and reduce the risk of injuries.

“We encourage our Soldiers to be

Army Wellness Center assesses Soldiers

healthy and we plan on revisiting the AWC, as a unit, later this year to assess if we have reached our goals to help us set new ones,” he said.

Smith said unit commanders find the assessments to be helpful.

“The response of unit commanders has been overwhelmingly positive,” she said. “Many unit commanders and civilian supervisors have expressed interest in scheduling a unit assess-

ment as a training opportunity for their units and teams.”

For this battalion, the Soldiers received their assessment results in an individual packet distributed at the briefing. They also were given nutri-tional and exercise guidelines.

“Big thanks to our unit first ser-geant and commander for encouraging the whole unit to schedule appoint-ments for this assessment,” Galiki

said. “After this assessment, I realized that taking care of your body is the most important part of being in the military. ... I am more than happy to work with AWC to achieve my goal.”

Editor’s note: Health assessments can be scheduled for service members, family members, DoD civilians and retirees. Commanders or supervisors interested in scheduling a unit assess-ment should call 301-677-2006.

Sgt. 1st Class Sean Blair of the 310th Military Intelligence Battalion undergoes a fitness test conducted April 21 by NIcole Giganti, a health educator at the Army Wellness Center. Blair was one of 25 Soldiers to participate in a unit assessment, which included body composition analysis and metabolic testing.


News


More than 155 people came out on April 21 to socialize, enjoy a leisurely walk on a sunny afternoon, and make a simple but profound statement about human dignity.

In observance of Sexual Assault Aware-ness and Prevention Month, Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center hosted its second annual 1.5-mile SHARP Walk.

Attended primarily by Soldiers, civilians, employees and family members affiliated with Kimbrough and the 902nd Military Intelligence Group, the walk began in front of Kimbrough, winded past the Post Theater, continued to the Staff Judge Advocate office area, coursed through Burba Park and ended in the back of Kimbrough.

“We’re here to take a nice walk through Fort Meade for a good cause,” Kimbrough Command Sgt. Maj. Reginald D. Crosby told the assembled group shortly before the

walk. “This issue is a disease and a detri-ment to teamwork and camaraderie. We’re all going to stamp it out.”

Among those participating were Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, commanding general of the Joint Force Headquarters-National Capi-tal Region of the Military District of Wash-ington; Col. John J. Bonin, commander of the 902nd MI; Kimbrough Commander Col. Laura R. Trinkle; Garrison Commander Col. Brian P. Foley; Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Rodwell L. Forbes; and Command Sgt. Maj. Gordon Walker of the 902nd MI.

Also among the walkers were Laurel resi-dent Veronica James and her 15-month-old grandson Acion Carter.

“Sexual assault awareness is so important, in all walks of life,” said James, who learned of the walk from her friend, Kimbrough SHARP coordinator Sherry L. Williams. “That’s why we’re all here. It’s such an important issue.”

Sexual Assault Awareness

Walking the walk, talking the talk

Photo by NAVy MASS CoMMUNICAtIoNS SPC. 2Nd CLASS ZACh ALLAN

Service members and civilians participate in the second annual 1.5-mile SHARP Walk hosted April 21 by Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center in observance of Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. The walk continued along Llewellyn Avenue and coursed through Burba Park back to Kimbrough.

VISITING REECE

CROSSINGSChief Master Sgt. of the Air Force

James A. Cody and Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Rodwell L. Forbes discuss the amenities

available to residents at ReeceCrossings, Fort Meade’s first privately developed, on-post

apartment community for unaccompanied service members,

DoD civilians and contractors.As the Air Force’s highest

enlisted service member, Cody visited Reece Crossings to

learn more about this privatized, unaccompanied housing project.

Photo by SteVe eLLMore


News

By Lisa R. RhodesStaff Writer

Several third-graders from Manor View Elementary School were fascinated by a Volt Ride Elk, a bicycle powered by an electric motor, that was on display at Fort Meade’s annual Earth Day celebration held April 22.

“I like the driving wheel. It looks like a bike,” said Larissa Watson, 9.

“I liked that it looked like a car. It’s cool. It has a bike inside it,” said Mariah Robinson, 9, as she peeked inside the bicycle-vehicle.

The Volt Ride Elk, represented by Volt Ride, a Columbia-based company, was one of more than 50 exhibitors at the four-hour event held at the Pavilion.

Hosted by Fort Meade’s Environmental Division, the Earth Day celebration fea-tured two seminars on the importance of recycling old electronic equipment to help preserve the environment.

Mick Butler, chief of Fort Meade’s Environmental Division, spoke to an audience of school-age children about the importance of properly disposing cell phones, iPads and other popular electronic devices.

“Most of the participants were students and since they own a large number of elec-tronic devices over the course of their life-time, I hope to have made an impression on them so they will hold to the promise and recycle their devices,” Butler said after the event.

The Environmental Protection Agency, he said, estimates that only 18 percent of cell phones are recycled, with 82 percent dumped into landfills.

“Our homes and landfills are being filled with unused electronic devices that contain precious metals such as gold, silver, copper, palladium and platinum,” Butler said. “When these devices are not recycled, the electronic companies have to look for other sources of these precious metals to make their products.”

As a result, Butler said, market forces “are destroying land in other countries to dig these metals out of the ground to sat-isfy the need of the electronic companies because there is not enough recycled metal to meet the need.”

After the seminars, Butler recognized fourth-grader Melina Guth and second-grader Grace Jackson, both students at Pershing Hill Elementary School, for their winning entries in the Fort Meade Recy-clable Bag Art Contest.

A popular exhibit at the event was spon-

Earth Day celebration highlights recycling, wildlife

sored by Echoes of Nature, a wildlife edu-cational program that featured endangered and threatened species of wildlife.

On display was a spotted turtle, which is native to Maryland; a black-footed weasel; a crested gecko; an Argentine-horned frog; and a chinchilla.

“This is our second year at this event,” said Echo Uzzo, founder of Echoes of Nature. “We wanted to point out endan-

gered and threatened species from the world’s habitat to show how we’re all con-nected.”

Another group of third graders from Manor View were captivated by a Red Tail Hawk, a bird of prey protected by the federal government.

“I like his feathers,” said Amerie Mirabel, 8. “He’s very big, but I’m not scared.”

Other exhibitors included Fort Meade’s

Public Health Command, Fort Meade Wastewater Treatment Plant, Anne Arun-del County Recreation and Parks, Mont-gomery County Beekeeper Association, Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center’s public health nursing division, Watershed Stewards Academy and the Jefferson Pat-terson Park and Museum.

Students from Monarch Academy, a public charter school in Glen Burnie, sold recycled bags designed by a fellow student and made from recycled materials.

Eight-year-old Darby Von Berg said the recycled bag was useful to families.

“It’s helping to save the earth by not using plastic bags that just go to waste,” the youngster said.

Laurel Harrison, a park ranger from the Patuxent Research Refuge, showed passersby an exhibit of pelts from animals who live at the refuge but were struck by vehicles and killed such as a gray and red fox and a raccoon.

The Anne Arundel County Farm, Lawn and Garden Center, based in Glen Burnie, displayed several locally grown vegetables and flowers including tomatoes, peppers, corn, herbs, watercress squash, petunias, marigolds and geraniums.

“We enjoy it here,” said Cory Stephens, manager of the garden center. “It’s a way to get kids interested in gardening. Many kids don’t know where fresh vegetables come from. This is a good way to get families involved in planting and eating fresh produce.”

Vanessa Corralejo, wife of Air Force Tech Sgt. Frank Corralejo of the 94th Intelligence Squadron, came to the event with her daughter Isabella, 3, and 15-month-old son Santiago.

“This is extremely important,” Cor-ralejo said of the celebration. “I brought some plants, and we’ll go home and plant them. It’s a good way to teach children how to protect the earth.”

Editor’s note: To view more photos from this event, visit the Fort Meade Flickr page at flickr.com/photos/ftmeade.

photo by daniel kucin jr.

Third grade students from Monarch Academy, a public charter school in Glen Burnie, greet Orp, the mascot of the Oyster Recovery Partnership, at Fort Meade’s annual Earth Day celebration held April 22 at the Pavilion. The nonprofit conservation group was one of dozens of exhibitors at the four-hour event.

‘This is extremely important. ... It’s a good way to teach children how to protect the earth.’

Vanessa corralejo

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil10 SOUNDOFF! April 30, 2015

News

lations nationwide, offered a compelling program in his “Can I Kiss You?” presenta-tion to military and Department of Army civilian members of the 780th MI on April 14 at McGill Training Center.

Domitrz revealed a new and fun approach toward respect as he kept the Soldiers and civilians engaged while they learned new and realistic methods for making better decisions about sexual assault awareness: consent, bystander intervention, healthy dating and support to survivors.

“Sexual assault awareness is our number one priority, and this type of training works,” said Col. Joe Hartman, commander, 780th MI. “This was the best SHARP training I’ve had since I’ve been in the Army.

“The leadership session was great, Mike was brutally honest.”

Through role-playing with audience members and his portrayal of intriguing characters on stage, each of the following topics were demonstrated with realistic and thought-provoking solutions:

Asking first for consent; making smarter choices with partners; supporting survivors of sexual assault; and intervening when danger is present at parties and group set-tings with alcohol.

Domitrz gave the precise words and skills to ensure that both partners’ boundaries are respected at all times.

“Most people simply ‘make their move’ with sexual intimacy,” Domitrz said. “Ask-ing first makes all the difference.”

Domitrz held the audience’s attention throughout the entire presentation and made a powerful impact.

First, the room was filled with laughter. Moments later, it was completely solemn and the audience mesmerized as Domitrz shared the personal story of why he began his program as a result of the rape of his sister.

The audience also learned how to appro-priately intervene in potentially danger-ous situations, including with their friends, whether involving alcohol, parties or at clubs.

In addition, Domitrz taught how to “Open the Door” and offer proper support to all survivors of sexual assault — in and out of the military.

Through his demonstration, Domitrz provided the audience a greater level of admiration and respect for survivors of sexual assault.

“I think [sexual assault awareness is] an important message and you can never have enough of this type of training,” said Dave Watkins, paralegal specialist, 780th MI.

After the roller coaster of hilarious scenarios and hard-hitting questions and answers each person could use personally, Domitrz closed the presentation by ask-

Story and photo by Tina MilesPublic Affairs Officer780th Military Intelligence Brigade

April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, a subject the U.S. Army takes very seriously.

During this month, training sessions for the Sexual Harassment and Assault Response Program, or SHARP, takes place

Army-wide.But rather than raising sexual assault

awareness of its members through the usual and often unmemorable manner, the 780th Military Intelligence Brigade took a differ-ent approach and enlisted the services of an expert who would make a positive and long-lasting difference — Mike Domitrz.

Domitrz, who tours units and instal-

‘Can I Kiss You?’ takes innovative spin on SHARP training

ing volunteers how they planned to “take immediate, positive, important actions.”

Their answers were rewarded with a copy of one of his books or a T-shirt.

“I plan to completely change how I approach this subject when talking with my daughter,” 1st Sgt. Dwayne Smith said.

One Soldier vowed to call three people and talk to them about support when needed. A newlywed Soldier found the information learned to be sound marriage advice, while another planned to use it as good dating advice.

“I think this information will be very useful for future dates,” Spc. David Primm said.

A female Soldier proposed to be more proactive regarding intervention.

“I was proud of the female Soldier who stood up at the end of the program and stated she was going to ‘step in and speak up,’ especially in the workplace when con-versation becomes inappropriate,” Watkins said.

“That made the training worthwhile in itself.”

April 21: Exceeding speed limit by 10-19 miles per hour, driv-ing with suspended registration, driving while under influence of alcohol, driving while impaired by alcohol, possessing more than one driver’s license at any one time:While conducting stationary radar, Fort Meade Police noticed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. Police conducted a traffic stop. The driver had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage. He was asked to exit his vehicle to perform standardized field sobriety tests, which he refused. He was appre-hended for suspicion of DUI and transported to the station for further processing. The driver failed to submit to testing of his blood alcohol content.

April 22, Shoplifting: The subject was observed via closed circuit TV at the Exchange concealing a bottle of weight loss supplement and exiting the store without rendering proper payment.

April 23, Wrongful possession of marijuana: While conducting a traffic stop, police found the driver to be in possession of marijuana. The suspected marijuana was tested using a narcotics identifica-tion system kit.

CommunityCommunityCrime Watch

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Cover Story

PHOTOS BY DANIEL KUCIN JR.

Among the many youngsters getting her face painted is 4-year-old Evanthia Castro.

RIGHT: A group of youngsters take a spin on one of the amusement park rides at the Family Fun Fair held April 25 at Burba Lake Park.

Services and the Fort Meade Police Mobile Command.

The fair also offered three entertain-ment stages with performances by the U.S. Army Field Band’s The Volunteers, Meade High School’s dance company, Pershing Hill Elementary School’s General Chorus, and dancers from Child, Youth and School Services’ Schools of Knowledge, Inspi-ration, Exploration and Skills (SKIES) program.

“We try to come out to most base events, especially when they’re free,” said Odenton resident Andrea Miskimen whose husband, Airman Bill Miskimen, serves with the 7th Intelligence Squadron at Fort Meade.

Miskimen attended the fair with her 3-year-old son Gideon.

“He really wants to go to the Bounce House and do the inflatable things, and

of course eat some food here,” she said of Gideon. “It’s a lot of fun. I just wish it was warmer out today.”

That sentiment was echoed by Meuse Forest resident Karen Bincarowsky, who came to the fair with her husband, Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Shaun Bincarowsky, and their daughters Brooke, 7, and Bailey, 4.

“We’re having a blast,” Karen Bincarowsky said. “It’s a little cold, but we’re still enjoying ourselves. So far we’ve mainly been fishing, but we’ll get around to doing everything.”

The Bincarowskys’ daughters were among the approximately 50 youngsters who participated in the Youth Fishing Rodeo sponsored by the Meade Rod and Gun Club. The free event was open to ages 3 to 15.

Participants in three age categories com-


Standing on the muddy, grassy banks of Burba Lake, John Schultz of Farmerville, La., watched with pride as his 6-year-old granddaughter Arele Anthony cast her fishing line into the calm waters.

“We decided to come here for the fish-ing,” said the retired Navy officer, who was visiting his son-in-law Airman Justin Anthony and his family who live on Fort Meade. “We’re having a wonderful time here. We haven’t caught any fish yet, but just being with the family is great.”

Schultz was one of 3,500 to 4,000 peo-ple who braved the chilly morning weather

and attended the Family Fun Fair on April 25 at Burba Lake. The six-hour free event, which was open to the public, was billed as “A Day in the Park” and held in conjunction with “Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month,” celebrating the Month of the Military Child.

The fair featured informational displays and tables offered by multiple on-post and off-site organizations as well as amusement and inflatable rides, face painting, games and activities, animal balloon artists, raffle drawings, a scavenger hunt, storytime ses-sions and food vendors.

Giving safety demonstrations at the fair were the Fort Meade Fire and Emergency

‘A Day in the Park’

Family Fun Fair celebrates

military children

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil April 30, 2015 SOUNDOFF! 13

A revved-up Robertsha Metzger, 8, tinkers with race cars at the six-hour festival. The Family

Fun Fair featured informational

displays, safety demonstrations, kiddie rides and inflatables, face

painting, games and activities, animal

balloon artists, raffle drawings, a scavenger

hunt, storytime sessions, food

vendors, and a variety of musical and dance

performances.

peted for prizes.“It was really fun catching a fish,” said

Natali Barfuss, 4, of Normandy Bluffs who is the daughter of Spc. Jason Barfuss of the 704th Military Intelligence Brigade and his wife, Nicole.

Dr. Jen Crockett manned a booth at the fair for the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Howard County. The wife of retired Army officer Ken Romaine, Crockett, a psychologist and Laurel resident who previously lived at Fort Meade, has been attending the fair for several years.

“It’s always a great event,” Crockett said. “Fort Meade is a great community. There’s just a great community feeling here.”

Sherry Barton helps her 3-year-old son Josiah Barton with an arts and crafts project. Nearly 4,000 people attended the six-hour free event, which was billed as “A Day in the Park” and held in conjunction with “Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month,” celebrating the Month of the Military Child.

RIGHT: The U.S. Army Field Band’s The Volunteers perform classic rock, folk, blues and other musical selections at Stage Three of the Family Fun Fair.


Cover Story

Photos by Daniel Kucin Jr.

Tackling BurBa lakeAbout 50 children and teens participated in the Youth Fishing Rodeo spon-

sored Saturday by the Meade Rod and Gun Club at Burba Park Area No. 5 dur-ing the Family Fun Fair. The free event was open to ages 3 to 15. Competition for prizes was open to three age groups.

ABOVE: Normandy Bluffs resident Natali Barfuss, 4, daughter of Nicole and Spc. Jason Barfuss of the 704th Military Intelligence Brigade, proudly shows off the Largemouth Bass she landed.

RIGHT: Sgt. 1st Class Chris Wright of Satellite Communications who resides in Seven Oaks helps his 7-year-old daughter Keira with her fishing tackle during Saturday’s Youth Fishing Rodeo.

Six-year-old Jerry Bernier takes first place in the 3 to 6 age division at the annual Youth Fishing Rodeo.

Sgt. 1st Class Winston Boddie helps 10-year-old Sean Reuling look for fish on the banks of Burba Lake.


SportS ShortS

Compete in qualifierThe Army Ten-Miler Qualifier

will be held Friday at 6:30 a.m. at Murphy Field House.

All active-duty service members are invited to compete in the qualifying run to become a member of the Fort Meade Army Ten-Miler Team.

For more information, call 301-677-3318.

Free bowlingA free bowling event will be held in honor of Armed Forces Day on May 16

from noon to 5 p.m. at the Lanes, 2788 MacArthur Road.Free bowling and shoe rental will be offered for all active-duty service

members.For more information, call 301-677-5541.

Youth Sports registrationRegistration for fall sports will begin Monday.Fall sports being offered include: tackle football, NFL flag football, soccer,

cheerleading and swim team.To register or for more information, go to ftmeademwr.com or call 301-677-

1179.

Football referees wantedCYSS Youth Sports is looking for volunteer NFL flag football referees for ages

6-12.If interested or for more information, call the Youth Sports office at 301-677-

1329 or 301-677-1179.

Wanted: Group fitness instructorsThe Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation is seeking

group fitness instructors to work within the sports and fitness departments at Gaffney Fitness Center.

Professionals are needed who:• Are responsible, attentive, highly-motivated and energetic• Can teach a variety of fun and productive group-fitness classes at various

times and dates• Are interested in a career that allows you to make your own schedule and be

your own boss• Possess a national certification for the discipline you are looking to teach

such as BootCamp; Insanity/P90X blends; YogaFit; Zumba; Aqua Zumba; the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America or American Council of Exercise group fitness; and CPR/AED (Automated External Defibrillators)

• Are older than age 18These are contracted positions. However, certified volunteers wishing to serve

the community are also also welcome.Volunteers will be registered through Army Community Service.For more information, call Lauren Williams at 301-677-5822 or email Lauren.

[email protected].

Youth summer sports registrationRegistration for summer sports is underway.Summer sports include tennis and dodgeball.To register, go to ftmeademwr.com.For more information, call 301-677-1179.

EFMP walking groupExceptional Family Member Program families are invited to join the EFMP

walking group on the second and fourth Monday of each month from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at the Arundel Mills Mall, at the entrance between Best Buy and Old Navy.

Registration is required.To register, call 301-677-4473.

Personal trainers availableGaffney Fitness Center offers personal training programs for those eligible to

use the facility.Individual or two-person sessions are available.For more information, call 301-677-3318.

Youth Sports seeks volunteer coachesVolunteer coaches are needed for baseball, softball, tennis, lacrosse, basketball,

track, NFL flag football, and soccer.All volunteers will receive free training and will be certified through the

National Youth Sports Coaches Association.All volunteers must complete a background check.Apply at the Child, Youth and School Services’ Youth Sports & Fitness Office

at 1900 Reece Road.For more information, call 301-677-1179 or 301-677-1329.

Dollar DaysDollar Days at the Lanes are offered every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Bowlers receive a game of bowling, shoe rental, a hot dog, hamburger, small

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

Tae kwon doChild, Youth and School Services offers tae kwon do classes for youths of all

ages Tuesdays and Thursday at the Youth Center.Classes are broken into different age groups. Cost is $45 for ages 4 to 6 and

$85 for ages 7–17.For more information, call 301-677-1149.

Texas Hold ‘Em Tournaments All service members and civilians are invited to play in the Texas Hold ‘Em

Tournaments held Mondays and Wednesdays at 7 p.m. at the Lounge at the Lanes.Tournament is free to enter. Prizes are awarded for the top winners.Food and beverages are available for purchase.For more information, call 301-677-5541.

Fort Meade Run SeriesThe annual Fort Meade Run Series continues with the Army Birthday Summer

Sizzler 5K on June 13 at 8 a.m. at the Pavilion.Other runs in the series include:• Football Fanfare 5K: Sept. 19, 8 a.m., Constitution Park• Ghosts, Ghouls & Goblins 5K: Oct. 24, 8 a.m., Pavilion• Turkey Trot 5K: Nov. 21, 8 a.m., Murphy Field House• Reindeer Run 5K: Dec. 19, 8 a.m., Murphy Field HouseAll runs are open to the public and include a 1-mile walk.Pre-registration for individuals costs $15. Registration on event day costs $25.Preregistration costs $45 per family of three to six people and $60 on the day

of the event.Pre-registration for groups of seven to 10 runners costs $85.All pre-registered runners will receive a T-shirt.For more information, call 301-677-3318.


Community news & notes

The deadline for Soundoff! community “News and Notes” is Friday at noon. All submissions are posted at the editor’s discretion 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 [email protected] or call Editor Dijon Rolle at 301-677-6806.

Passport office temporarily closed

The Fort Meade Passport Office is closed for initial issuance of passports today and Friday.

The passport office will reopen Monday.

Hours of operation will be Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to noon. The office is closed Wednesday mornings.

Patrons will be notified when their passport arrives if their application has been sent for processing.

Alternate locations for processing expedite applications are located in Bethesda at 301-295-1067 and Andrews Air Force Base at 301-981-4408 (or email [email protected]) or Sgt. Vinson at 301-981-7981.

Farmers market vendors wanted

The Fort Meade Farmers Market is seeking a variety of vendors of produce, prepared food, flowers, crafts and lunch trucks.

The farmers market is held every Wednesday from June 10 to Sept. 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fort Meade Pavilion.

For more information, call 301-677-3579 or 301-252-8688.

Exchange pet contestThe Fort Meade Exchange is

sponsoring a Patriot Pet contest on May 9 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Shoppers are encouraged to bring a photo of their family pet to customer service. Photos will be displayed, and a panel of judges will select the best photo.

The first-place photo will win a $100 Exchange gift card. The second-place

photo will win a $75 gift card; third place will win a $50 gift card; and fourth place wins a $25 gift card.

Hours are: Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.


Reece Crossings widens eligibility

Reece Crossings has expanded eligibility to unaccompanied military personnel of all ranks who receive Basic Allowance for Housing; DoD civilians; and DoD contractors.

This change is due to the recent completion of more than 100 new apartments now available for lease.

While Corvias Military Housing has opened eligibility to DoD civilians and DoD contractors at this time, active-duty service members will always receive priority.

Women’s Health DayKimbrough Ambulatory Care Center

is sponsoring “Women’s Health and Wellness Day” on Saturday.

Services to be offered to Kimbrough beneficiaries include: well-woman exam, Pap test, mammography, immunizations, visual acuity exams and Army Wellness Center assessments.

Appointment required. For more information, call 301-677-8487.

Veterans Resource FairThe Howard County Veterans and

Military Families Commission will host a Veterans Resource Fair on May 19 from 5-8:45 p.m. at the Miller Branch Library, 9421 Frederick Road, Ellicott City.

All veterans are invited. Admission is free.

The resource fair will offer participants the opportunity to talk face-to-face with representatives of more than 25 busi-nesses, organizations and nonprofits dedi-cated to providing services, support and jobs to veterans.

Representatives from the following organizations will attend: U.S. Depart-ment of Veterans Affairs Mobile Vet Van; Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; Maryland’s Commit-ment to Veterans; Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulations; One Stop Career Centers; Maryland Depart-ment of Veterans Affairs, Outreach and Advocacy Program; Howard County Department of Social Services; Easter Seals; Wounded Warrior Project; Neigh-

bor Ride; American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars; Maryland State Bar Association; Veterans History Project; and the Small Business Administration.

The Howard County Veterans and Military Families Commission was estab-lished in 2011 to enhance public aware-ness and support to veterans and military families who reside and/or work within Howard County.

For more information, call Lisa Terry of the Howard County Office of Military Affairs at 410-313-0821.

Appreciation lunchClub Meade will honor military

spouses with a Military Spouse Appreciation Lunch on May 8 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The event will feature a free lunch buffet for spouses of all active-duty service members. Menu includes shrimp scampi, spaghetti and sauce, pork loin and gravy, rice pilaf, a salad bar, beverages and dessert.

ID as an active-duty military spouse is required.

Reservations are recommended and required for groups of eight or more. Children’s pricing is available.


Mother’s Day brunchClub Meade will offer two seatings for

a Mother’s Day brunch on May 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

The brunch will feature various breakfast and lunch items including a waffle station, omelet station, carving stations, cheese, fresh fruit and vegetables.

Cost is $26.95 for nonclub members and $21.95 for members. Children’s pricing is available.

Reservations are recommended.For more information, call 301-677-

6969.

BOSS barbecue, paintballBetter Opportunities for Single Service

Members is offering two events in May:• A free barbecue will be held May 16

from noon to 4 p.m. at Burba Lake Park.• Paintball will be held May 30 from 9

a.m. to 3 p.m.Cost is $25.For more information, call 301-915-

5389.

‘Military hero’ nominations

The Bowie Baysox, a minor-league affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, is

file photo

RIGHT ARM NIGHTCelebrate Right Arm Night on May 7 from 4-6 p.m. at Club Meade.Bring your right-arm service member, co-worker or employee for a fun evening

of free food, music, dancing, prizes and camaraderie.The event is open to all military ranks and services, and civilians. Reserve your

table at 301-677-6969.

NEWS & EVENTS



seeking military hero nominations to be used in the Military Heroes Card Set presented by Andrews Federal Credit Union that will be given away during the game on July 31.

Fans living in the area who know active or retired members of the U.S. Armed Forces are encouraged to fill out the nomination form online at baysox.com.

All nominations must be submitted by May 14 at 5 p.m.

The Baysox will attempt to select an even number of nominations from each service branch while including military heroes who have served in different decades.

The Baysox will honor these veterans and/or their families in ceremonies before and during the game on July 31 at 6:35 p.m. Each selected nominee will receive four box seat tickets to the game.

During Military Heroes Appreciation Night, the Baysox will distribute a 25-35 card set, featuring photographs and information about the service members’ military careers, to the first 1,000 fans age 18 and older.

Nomination forms can be found online at: http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?ymd=20150412&content_id=72248234&fext=.jsp&sid=t418&vkey=.

For more information, email [email protected].

New NCOER system briefing

Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh approved revisions to the Noncommissioned Officer Evaluation Report system.

These revisions are scheduled for implementation on Sept. 15.

In order to comply with the directive, the Fort Meade Military Personnel Division along with train-the-trainers NCOs will provide an information briefing and hands-on computer training session on the dates and time listed below.

The selected professional must be able to articulate impact to promotion, professional development, schools, etc.

A confirmed reservation is required for the four-hour computer training.

• May 26, 9-11:30 a.m., McGill Training Center main ballroom:

Executive briefing (master sergeant

and above; GS-12 and above)• May 26, 1-3:30 p.m., McGill

Training Center main ballroom:Information briefing (open seating)• May 27, 9-11:30 a.m. McGill

Training Center main ballroom: Information briefing (open seating)• May 27, 1-3:30 p.m., McGill

Training Center main ballroom:Information briefing (open seating)Computer hands-on training (four

hours)• May 29, 8 a.m. to noon or 1-5

p.m.• July 6, 8 a.m. to noon or 1-5 p.m.• July 7, 8 a.m. to noon or 1-5 p.m.• July 10, 8 a.m. to noon or 1-5 p.m.• July 20, 8 a.m. to noon or 1-5 p.m.For reservations, call 301-677-9634

or 301-677-4209, or email [email protected] or [email protected].

Cooking Matters Commissary Tours

The next Cooking Matters Commissary Tour & Challenge is Friday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the commissary.

Tours are free and open to all eligible commissary patrons.

Hands-on store tours are offered every hour and teach participants the skills to compare foods for cost and nutrition.

Select tours will receive a $10 coupon.

To sign up for the event, go to http://cmatscommissaryfm.eventbrite.com.

For more information, email [email protected].

Prostate cancer progrmThe next quarterly program for men

and families dealing with prostate can-cer will be held May 7 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Walter Reed National Military Medi-cal Center in Bethesda in the America Building, Room 2525.

Dr. Timothy Donahue will discuss “Rise in PSA After Treatment for Pros-tate Cancer.”

Family and friends are invited. No registration required.

Military ID is required for base access. Those without a military ID should call the Prostate Center at 301-319-2900 at least four business days prior to the event for base access.

For more information, call retired Col. Jane Hudak at 301-319-2918 or email [email protected].

Financial, Employment Readiness

Army Community Service offers Financial Readiness classes to all ranks and services and to DoD civilian employees at the Community Readiness Center, 830 Chisholm Ave.

Registration is required for each class.

• Dollars and Sense: Tuesday, 9 a.m. to noon

Topics include: Basic budgeting, financial goals and priorities, saving and investing, and managing your credit.

• Banking Basics: May 12, 9-11 a.m.Topics include: Banking and credit

union services and checking account management.

This class serves as refresher training for personnel who have abused and misused check-cashing privileges.

• Car-Buying: May 19, 9-11 a.m.• Credit Management: May 26, 9-11

a.m.• First Term Financial Readiness

(online): May 26, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.To register or for more information,

call 301-677-5590 or go to fortmeadeacs.checkappointments.com.

Free classesThe Navy Fleet and Family Support

Center offers a variety of classes at its facility at 2212 Chisholm Ave.

The free classes are open to DoD ID cardholders including active-duty service members, retirees and their family members, DoD civilian employees and contractors.

Registration is required for each class.

• TGPS Workshop (Transition, Goals, Plans and Success): Monday to May 8, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Resume Writing Workshop: Tuesday, 9 a.m. to noon

• Stress Management: May 7, 9:30-11:30 a.m.

• Retirement Brief: May 11, 8-11:30 a.m. (If within two years of retirement)

Information will be provided on Tricare, Johns Hopkins Family Health Plan, and Navy Mutual Aid Financial Planning/Survivor Benefit Plan.

To register, call 301-677-9014.• DTAP Brief: May 11, 1-2:30 p.m.• Deployment Brief: May 14, 10-11:30

a.m.• Medial Record Review:

Appointment requiredTo register or for more information,

call 301-677-9017 or 301-677-9018.

StorytimeThe Children’s Library offers pre-

kindergarten Storytime on Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. at Kuhn Hall, 4415 Llewellyn Ave.

• May 7: “Hooray for Mother’s Day!”• May 14: “Reading Grows Your Mind!”

- Stories about gardens and gardening• May 21: “Don’t Be Square!” - Stories

about shapes• May 28: “D is for Dinosaur” - Stories

about dinosaursFor more information, call 301-677-5677.

Cinco De Mayo celebration

The Teen Center is sponsoring a free Cinco De Mayo celebration for grades nine to 12 on Tuesday from 5:30-7 p.m.

Learn to make a traditional Mexican feast consisting of fajitas, charro beans, rice and pico de gallo.


Youth Center eventsThe Youth Center is offering several

free activities in May for grades six to eight:

• May Day Field Day: Friday, 4:45 to 6:30 p.m.

• Cinco de Mayo: Tuesday, 5-7 p.m.Learn fun, traditional dances and

how to make Mexican foods and beverages.

• Mother’s Day Craft: May 7, 5-7 p.m.Participants will make a gift for mom.• Spa Day: May 8, 5:30-7 p.m.Military Spouse Appreciation Spa

Day will be hosted by the staff and youths to offer pampering treats and a gift.

• Asian-Pacific Islander American Adventures: May 22, 5:30-7 p.m.

The event will feature a lumpia and pansit cooking lesson and karaoke.


Out & About• Step aboard Harbor Queen for a

narrated cruise of historic Annapolis Harbor and the banks of the U.S. Naval Academy.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

EDUCATION

YOUTH

RECREATION


movies

The 40-minute cruise is offered through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and weekends from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The ship departs every hour on the hour from 1 Dock St., Annapolis.

Cost is $15 for general admission and $6 for children ages 3-11.

For more information, call 410-268-7601 or go to http://cruisesonthebay.com/annapolis-and-baltimore-day-cruises/annapolis-cruises.

• The ninth annual “Sundance for the Troops” GI Film Festival, dedicated to presenting the veteran experience through film, television and special events, will run from May 18-24 in Washington, D.C., and Fairfax, Va.

The seven-day program features 60-plus films, interactive Q&As with filmmakers and on-screen talent, embassy soirees, live music, stand-up comedy and awards ceremonies.

The diverse lineup encompasses drama, action and comedy through specialty categories including documentary, animation and science fiction.

Films include: “KAJAKI. The True Story” about bravery and brotherhood on the Kajaki Dam during the Afghanistan conflict; “War Pigs”, a World War II action movie starring Mickey Rourke, Dolph Lundgren and Luke Goss; and Melissa McCarthy’s satirical CIA thriller “Spy.”

For the 2015 GI Film Festival Trailer, go to https://vimeo.com/124823007.

• Leisure Travel Services is offering its next monthly bus trip to New York City on May 16, with discounts to attractions. Bus cost is $60. For more information, call 301-677-7354 or visit ftmeademwr.com.

• Swinging Squares Square Dance Club dances the first and third Saturday of the month from 7:30-10 p.m. through May at Meade Middle School. The next dance is Saturday. Admission is $6. Square dance attire is optional.

Dance classes are offered Thursday nights at 7:30 p.m. at Meade Middle School. Each class costs $6.

For more information, call Darlene at 410-519-2536 or Carl at 410-271-8776.

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

month from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Family Advocacy Program, 2462 85th Medical Battalion Ave. Children welcome. The next meeting is Monday.

The group is for families experiencing an upcoming or current deployment, or who have recently returned from deployment. For more information, call 301-677-5590 or email [email protected].

• Calling All Dads meets the first and third Monday of every month from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Family Advocacy Program, 2462 85th Medical Battalion Ave. The next meeting is Monday.

The group is for expecting fathers, and fathers with children of all ages. Children welcome. For more information, call 301-677-5590 or email [email protected].

• Retired Officers’ Wives’ Club will hold its next luncheon meeting Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Club Meade for the installation of officers for the upcoming year.

ROWC also will celebrate “Everybody’s Birthday” with music and fun.

Bring your family and friends.Cost of the luncheon is $18.

Reservations are required by noon today.Call your area representative or Betty

Wade at 410-551-7082.Members may bring guests at any time

to the luncheons, which are held on the first Tuesday of each month, except June, July, August and January.

For more information, call Genny Bellinger, president of the ROWC, at 410-674-2550.

• Fort Meade Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America will hold its next luncheon meeting May 7 at 11:30 a.m. at the Conference Center.

Guest speaker is retired Col. Kenneth O. McCreedy, the CEO of the Maryland Therapeutic Riding.

Cost of the luncheon is $15. Reservations are required.

The public is invited.For reservations, call T. Wayne Hobbs at

410-799-8331.• 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 May 7. There is no cost for the buffet.

Donations are optional. All Fort Meade employees, family members, and civilian and military personnel are invited.

For more information, call 301-677-6703.• 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, in the banquet hall in back of the building. The next meeting is May 7. Dinner is served at 6

p.m. For more information, call 410-674-4000.

• National Alliance on Mental Illness of Anne Arundel County offers 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 May 7. For more information, visit namiaac.org.

• Fort Meade E9 Association meets the second Friday of every month at 7 a.m. in the Pin Deck Cafe at the Lanes. The next meeting is May 8.

The association is open to active, retired, Reserve and National Guard E9s of any uniformed service. All E9s in this area are invited to attend a breakfast and meet the membership. For more information, go to e9association.org.

• Meade Branch 212 of the Fleet Reserve Association meets the second Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. at VFW Post 160, 2597 Dorsey Road, Glen Burnie. The next meeting is May 9. Active-duty, Reserve and retired members of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard are invited.

For more information, call 443-604-2474 or 410-768-6288.

• AARP Chapter 606 will meet May 11 at 12:30 p.m. in the Glen Burnie Improvement Association Hall.

This month’s guest speaker is from Life Reimagined.

Members are reminded to bring food for the North County Emergency Outreach Network, box tops for schools, loose change for charities and used toner cartridges to be reconditioned.

For more information, call Judy Litke at 410-760-6253.

• NARFE Chapter 1519 will meet May 12 at 1 p.m. at the Holy Trinity Church Hall, 3436 Baltimore-Annapolis Road, Glen Burnie.

Those interested in joining this chapter or finding out more information concerning the National Active and Retired Federal Employee Association, should attend this meeting. Personnel are needed to become active members of the chapter and attend meetings.

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

• Women’s Empowerment Group meets Wednesdays from 2-3:30 p.m. to provide a safe, confidential arena for the support, education and empowerment of women who have experienced past or present family violence.

Location is only disclosed to participants. To register, call Samantha Herring, victim advocate, at 301-677-4124 or Katherine Lamourt, victim advocate, at 301-677-4117.

RECREATION

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17


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 Fridays and Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

PRICES: Tickets are $5.50 for adults (12 and older) and $3 for children. 3D Movies: $7.50 adults, $5 children.

Today through May 17

Friday & Sunday: “Insurgent: The Divergent Series” (PG-13). Beatrice Prior must confront her inner demons and continue her fight against a powerful alliance, which threatens to tear her society apart with the help from others on her side. With Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Theo James.

Saturday: “Cinderella” (PG). When her father unexpectedly passes away, young Ella finds her-self at the mercy of her cruel stepmother and her daughters. Never one to give up hope, Ella’s fortunes begin to change after meeting a dash-ing stranger. With Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden.

May 8 & 9: “Home” (PG). Oh, an alien on the run from his own people, lands on Earth and makes friends with the adventurous Tip, who is on a quest of her own. With the voices of Jim Parsons, Rihanna, Steve Martin.

May 10: “Get Hard” (R). When millionaire James King is jailed for fraud and bound for San Quentin, he turns to Darnell Lewis to prep him to go behind bars. With Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart, Alison Brie.

May 15 & 16: “Furious Seven” (PG-13). Deckard Shaw seeks revenge against Dominic Toretto and his family for his comatose brother. With Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham.

May 17: “The Gunman” (R). A sniper on a mercenary assassination team, kills the minister of mines of the Congo. Terrier’s successful kill shot forces him into hiding. Returning to the Congo years later, he becomes the target of a hit squad himself. With Sean Penn, Idris Elba, Jasmine Trinca.

MEETINGS

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