Soundoff March 19, 2015

end gameLocal schools use multiple tools to battle bullies

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UPCOmIng eVenTSTOday, 11:30 a.m.: Women’s History Month observance - The Conference CenterSaTUrday, 11 a.m.-2 P.m.: Brunch with the Easter Bunny - The Conference CentermOnday, 9 a.m.: Community public listening session, Q&A - McGill Training CenterWedneSday, 2-6 P.m.: Youth Opportunity Fair (ages 14-21) - Club MeademarCh 28, nOOn-2 P.m.: Corvias’ “Spring Into Fun” - Potomac Place Comm. Center

laSTIng legaCyFormer DINFOS commandant reflects on sacrifices, career

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Soundoff!́vol. 67 no. 11 Published in the interest of the Fort Meade community March 19, 2015

photo by paul W. Gillespie, baltimore sun media Group (used With permission)

The Meade High Mustangs celebrate after defeating the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Barons 80-45 to win the 4A Boys State Basketball Championship on Saturday night at the Xfinity Center in College Park. The victory is Meade High’s first basketball crown. It was also the first time a high school from Anne Arundel County has won the state championship since 1990. For the story, see Page 8.

state champs

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil� SOUNDOFF! March 19, 2015

Commander’s Column

Cont ent sNews............................. 3 Sports..................................11

CrimeWatch................. 9 Movies.................................15

Community................. 13 Classified.............................17

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. rhodesStaff Writer Shari rosendesign Coordinator timothy davis Supplemental photography provided by the Baltimore Sun Media Group

advErtiSinGGeneral inquiries 410-332-6300or email [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 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 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.

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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Greetings, Team Meade!Springtime is almost here and, hopefully, we’ve

weathered the last of our winter storms.Thanks for your patience and support through-

out this winter season as we performed snow removal efforts to clear our streets, sidewalks and parking lots.

With the arrival of warmer weather and the availability of the hot-mix asphalt required to fill potholes, we have begun a proactive approach to repair and repave streets and parking lots on the installation.

And while the garrison has identified many streets and parking lots that require attention, there may still be unidentified potholes that are a safety hazard.

To report potholes on the installation, call the Installation Safety Office at 301-677-4231 or email [email protected].

As always, our goal is to provide the Fort Meade community with excellent and timely service.

This week I’m also extending a “thank you” to our partners at AAFES who responded to concerns raised by our community and created additional handicapped parking at the Exchange. This is another example of excellent service pro-vided by Team Meade.

March is Women’s History Month. The Wom-en’s History Movement and National Women’s History Project have selected “Weaving the Stories of Women’s Lives,” as its national theme to rec-ognize and celebrate the many ways that women’s history has been woven into the fabric of our national story.

The theme presents the opportunity for all of us to learn more about the lives of individual women who are exceptionally strong role models and share an expansive vision of what a woman can do.

The stories of women’s lives, and the choices they made, encourage girls and young women to think larger and bolder, and give boys and men a fuller understanding of the female experience. Awareness of women’s achievements challenges stereotypes and upends social assumptions about who women are and what women can accom-plish.

I invite you to join me and Garrison Command-er Col. Brian P. Foley at Fort Meade’s Women’s History Month observance today at 11:30 a.m. at the Conference Center. The guest speaker is Heather Taylor, executive producer of “Breaking Through the Clouds: The First Women’s National Air Derby.”

Let’s all take time throughout the month

of March to remember the women from our past, to thank the women of our present, and to help raise up the girls and young ladies of our future.

To m o r row, Fort Meade will kick off the beginning of spring with a bang as we fire the canon on McGlachlin Parade Field for reveille and retreat. These two military ceremonies are meant to signal the beginning and the end of the official duty day. Reveille and retreat ceremonies are steeped in American history and are times for all to stop and show their respect.

I encourage each of you to be mindful when you step outdoors at 6:29 a.m. or 4:59 p.m. to show a few moments of respect to the flag that symbolizes the nation we pledge our allegiance to protect.

I also want to congratulate our Soldiers, Marines, Sailors and Airmen who competed for the honor to be selected as their respective branch of service Enlisted and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. It takes a committed and dedicated person — one who is willing to spend numerous hours on and off duty — to prepare for this pres-tigious honor. The competition includes a physical fitness test, weapons qualification, a ruck march and an appearance before a review board.

There can only be one winner. However, all of these service members can take pride in knowing the competition makes them better and well-rounded people who serve this great nation.

Have a great Team Meade month!

Celebrate Women’s History Month

Garrison command sGt. maj. rodwell l. Forbes

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.

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil March 19, 2015 SOUNDOFF! �

Story and photo by Maj. Charles BarrettPublic AffairsAsymmetric Warfare Group

Members of the Asymmetric Warfare Group conducted a ceremony March 12 at its Fort Meade headquarters in recognition of receiving the Army Superior Unit Award.

“[The award] is a true testament to your time here,” said Col. John P. Petkosek, AWG com-mander.

The dates of the award span from Nov. 1, 2011 to Aug. 22, 2013, and include actions taken by the unit’s operational advisors and support personnel during Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.

Lt. Gen. Kevin W. Mangum, deputy commanding general for the Army’s Training and Doctrine Com-mand, presided over the ceremony.

“This recognition is long overdue and truly well deserved,” he said. “I salute you and at the same time challenge you to forge a new legacy of contri-bution to the future force as you have done so capa-bly over the past ten years to our deployed forces.

“[AWG] forged an impressive record of rapid solution development to enhance Soldier survivabil-ity and combat effectiveness,” he said. “And critical

to me, is the AWG’s contribution to the Army’s future, informing the concepts and requirements as we shape Force 2025 and as a catalyst to spark innovation across the Institutional Army.”

Since its creation as the Army’s Improvised Explosive Device Task Force in 2003, the AWG has adapted its mission to addressing current and emerging asymmetric threats.

“We identify capability gaps within the Army as well as our adversaries, and then create material or nonmaterial solutions to bridge those gaps,” said Lt. Col. Tommy Broome, the group’s executive officer.

Those gaps are most often identified by the AWG’s operational advisors who work closely with Army units worldwide.

“It’s not uncommon for an advisor to have more than 20 years of experience,” Broome said. “The proximity to the problem, duration of our missions and experience level of our advisors allow us to do that very well.”

When asked what the award means to him, Pet-kosek said, “Any AWG success translates to fewer casualties on the battlefield, and that’s a win in my book.”

For more information on AWG, visit army.awg.mil or go to facebook.com/asymmetricwarfaregroup.

Asymmetric Warfare Group receives top honor

By Shari RosenStaff Writer

Anne Arundel County Public Schools are dealing with an increased number of cyberbullying incidents than in the past, said Lucia Martin, coordinator of school counseling for AACPS.

To combat cyberbullying, AACPS has integrated information about cyberbully-ing into the school’s curriculum through counseling, advisory lessons and cyber citizenship lessons.

“The obvious [answer] to this is that kids have much more access to electronic technology and to online arenas for them to engage in cyberbullying than they have in years past,” said Martin, who over-sees the cyberbullying curriculum for all county public schools.

According to the Cyberbullying Research Center pamphlet “Cyberbully-ing: Identification, Prevention & Response,” cyberbullying is defined as “willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cellphones and other elec-tronic devices.”

Cyberbullies can also use anonymous apps like Yik Yak, Secret, Whisper and chat functions on gaming networks.

“I think for kids it’s always about aware-ness there are consequences for actions,” said Bianca Pilewski, department chair of school counseling for Meade High School. “I think it’s really important for kids to know what constitutes cyberbul-lying.”

Although cyberbullying can occur at the elementary school level, most cases of cyberbullying are reported by middle-schoolers.

“We want our students to report cyber-bullying,” Martin said. “It is very impor-tant to let an adult know that you are receiving electronic communications that are making you uncomfortable.”

The Cyberbullying Research Center lists some of the warning signs that a child may be a victim of cyberbullying. They include: oversleeping or not sleeping enough; feeling abnormally withdrawn from friends and family members; seem-ing depressed; avoiding discussions about what they are doing online; and appearing to be angry, depressed or frustrated after going online.

“The effects of cyberbullying are very much the same as the effects of bullying in general, although it can be more intense

because unless the individual turns off all of their devices, the risk of being cyber-bullied is 24/7,” Martin said. “The targets often feel helpless and afraid.

“The critical feature for us in schools is that it creates a hostile learning environ-ment — the student feels threatened and powerless.”

AACPS uses the Cyberbullying Research Center’s research as supplemen-tal material in its curriculum to educate youngsters about how to identify cyber-bullying victims and cyberbullies as well as how to communicate appropriately in the cyberworld; how to implement cyber stranger safety; and how to be smart about the content an individual posts online.

“Each grade level has a number of lessons, which are grade level appropri-ate and address a wide range of topics,” Martin said.

AACPS also provides resources for stu-dents to report cyberbullying. “The Bul-lying and Harassment Reporting” form is available online at http://www.aacps.org/antibullying/ and in hard copies at all schools.

The Student Safety Hotline, which is

advertised in all Anne Arundel County schools, allows students and parents to report bullying anonymously. The hotline number is 1-877-676-9854.

Parents and victims of cyberbullying have the option of contacting the con-tent provider to show how the bullying post violated the site’s Terms of Service agreement.

Internet users also can set up privacy controls within each platform to block the bully from contacting them.

Martin emphasizes that parents, school faculty and administrators, and police should not overlook the detrimental effects cyberbullying can have on stu-dents.

“It is critically important that we all pay attention to this problem, as it won’t go away without all of us working togeth-er on it,” Martin said.

Editor’s note: For Anne Arundel County Public School information and resources on cyberbullying, visit www.aacps.org/antibul-lying or call Lucia Martin, coordinator of school counseling for AACPS, at 410-222-5280. For cyberbullying resources for parents, visit cyberbullying.us/resources/parents.

Schools combat cyberbullying through integrated curriculum

Lt. Gen. Kevin W. Mangum (left), deputy commanding general, Training and Doctrine Command, and Col. John P. Petkosek (right), commander, Asymmetric Warfare Group, attach a streamer to the AWG guidon during the Army Superior Unit Award ceremony March 12 at Fort Meade.

News


News

By Shari RosenStaff Writer

If you divide the circumference of any circle by its diameter, you get the same never-ending number: Pi, or 3.14159.

Last Saturday, Pi Day events abounded worldwide in celebration of the numerical date of Pi Day — March 14, 2015 — cor-responding to Pi’s first five digits: 3.1415.

This date will not occur again for anoth-er 100 years.

The National Cryptologic Museum cel-ebrated Pi Day on Saturday morning with an array of Pi-themed activities.

“We learned about [celebrating] Pi Day last year,” said Jennifer Wilcox, National Cryptologic Museum educator, who also coordinated the event. “We made it a point this year to make sure we covered it and made a big event of it.”

The three-hour celebration included Pi-themed activity stations, such as creating a color-coded Pi bracelet and measuring head circumference; a Pi scavenger hunt; prizes; and multiple readings of “Sir Cum-ference and the Dragon of Pi” by Cindy Neuschwander.

At 9:26:53, in correspondence to the 10th digit of Pi, Wilcox led the packed room in a Pi Day cheer.

“We want youths to realize that math is fun,” Wilcox said. “There are jobs in math and science, [and you] can enjoy what you’re doing. It’s not all numbers.”

At the “Cutting Pi” station, youths mea-sured the diameter of a can and then com-pared the diameter to its circumference.

“We want to encourage kids to continue to learn in math and science,” said Meise Bunton, while volunteering at the “Cut-ting Pi” station with her husband, Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Andrew Bunton of Navy Information Operations Command Maryland.

During one of the 30-minute readings of “Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi,” images from the book were projected on the whiteboard.

In this mathematical tale, young Radius must discover the magical number that occurs when one divides the circumference of a circle by its diameter so he can undo a curse and transform his father from a dragon back into a human.

“I hope [the event] engages [my kids] and makes them want to pursue a career [in math] — especially my daughter,” said Tracy Bergman, a Department of Defense contractor, who attended the event with her 16-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter.

Cryptologic Museum celebrates Pi Day

PHOTOS BY NATE PESCE

Families explore the National Cryptologic Museum during a Pi scavenger hunt, one of the many activities at the museum’s Pi Day celebration. Saturday’s numerical date corresponded with the first five digits of Pi.

Throughout the event, youths rotated between different activity stations, earn-ing a sticker for completing each activity. Every youngster who completed all of the activity stations received a yo-yo.

“I liked [the event],” said 13-year-old Jeremy Hotchkiss.

The teen was accompanied by his moth-er Linda Hotchkiss, who works as a DoD contractor in software development on Fort Meade.

“I liked the scavenger hunt,” Jeremy said. “[When I grow up], I want to be a software developer like my mom.”

Editor’s note: For more information about the National Cryptologic Museum and its events, call 301-688-5849. The muse-um, located at 8290 Colony Seven Road, is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the first and third Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

To view more photos from this event, visit our Flickr page at flickr.com/photos/ftmeade.

Dean Bone, 3, makes a color-coded Pi bracelet with each colored bead corresponding to a digit of Pi, with his dad Eric Bone at a Pi Day celebration held Saturday morning at the National Cryptologic Museum. The event featured Pi-themed activity stations and story readings.


News

By Celena FlowersFamily Advocacy Program

The Family Advocacy Program at Army Community Service invites the Fort Meade and surrounding communities to make a difference in the life of a child by “Building a Blue Ribbon Tree.”

April is nationally recognized as Child Abuse Prevention Month. The blue ribbon is the symbol for child abuse prevention because it represents the blue color of a child’s bruise and serves as a constant reminder that all of us have a responsibility to help keep children safe.

Schools, churches, government offices and the entire Fort Meade community are encouraged to create a blue ribbon tree to help foster understanding and awareness of the problems of child abuse and neglect,

and the effects it has on the community.The FAP will display photographs of all

the trees online through its electronic tree registry on the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation website.

To “Build a Blue Ribbon Tree,” select any blue materials to create ribbons.

If using a living tree that is not on your property, choose a highly visible location and secure permission.

You also can decorate a Christmas tree or create/draw a tree and decorate it with blue ribbons.

The blue ribbons can represent any of the following:

• The confirmed number of abused and neglected children in your county (stats available from Child Protective Services at 410-421-8400) or the confirmed number of

cases on Fort Meade from FAP treatment at 301-677-8460

• The number of new babies born in your community

• To show your community’s/unit’s sup-port for abused children, and to show your support for child abuse prevention

The Blue Ribbon Campaign is a compre-hensive community-wide effort to promote child abuse awareness in Fort Meade and surrounding communities.

The campaign is led by the FAP and supported by a range of individuals, social service agencies and community partners.

This campaign will not only encourage the community to understand the problems of child abuse, but will also guide efforts in what we can do to help.

A “Tree Registry” form is provided for

individuals and organizations to register their trees.

The registration form is available at the Family Advocacy Program Center.

Mail, fax or email your completed form to the following:

• Family Advocacy Program Center, 2462 85th Medical Battalion Ave.

• Fax: 301-677-6829• Email: [email protected] photos of your completed trees

by March 31 to: [email protected].

Photos will be displayed on a slide show presentation at the Family Advocacy Pro-gram Center during April and on the DFMWR website at ftmeademwr.com.

For more information, call 301-677-4357 or email [email protected].

Build a blue ribbon tree to help prevent child abuse

Copies of the 2015 Fort Meade Welcome Guide

are available now.

Please call 301-677-5602 or email [email protected] to request guides

for your organization.

By Lisa J. YoungHealth Educator, U.S. Army Public Health Command

The ability to speak, smile, smell, taste, chew, swallow and convey our feelings and emotions through facial expressions is an essential part of everyday life, but is easily taken for granted.

These activities are dependent on good oral health.

However, oral diseases cause pain, impaired function and disability for millions of Ameri-cans. One oral disease frequently overlooked is gum disease.

According to the American Dental Asso-ciation, it only takes 24 hours for enough bacteria to form in the mouth to start causing gum disease.

What is gum disease? It is an inflammation of the tissues and bone that support the teeth. It is caused by a buildup of plaque, an invisible sticky layer that forms on the teeth and gums. Plaque contains bacteria, which produces tox-ins that irritate and damage the gums.

If plaque isn’t removed by daily dental care, over time it will harden into a crust called calculus (or tartar). Initially, the plaque and calculus cause irritation of the gums. This is referred to as gingivitis. Over time, if not addressed, the gingivitis can progress until the gums detach themselves from the teeth, forming pockets.

The body’s attempts to fight off the bac-teria also cause the bone that surrounds and supports the teeth to be lost. The irritation has now become gum disease, also known as periodontitis.

Untreated gum disease can cause problems ranging from the embarrassing — such as bad breath — to the very serious and painful, like loose teeth that may fall out.

Gum disease may also be related to dam-age elsewhere in the body. Recent studies indicate associations between oral infections and Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and lung infections.

What makes a person more likely to develop gum disease? Some people inherit an overac-tive immune cell tendency from their parents that makes them more susceptible. Despite genetic contribution, your behavior and envi-ronment can also significantly contribute to gum disease. Poor diet, not enough sleep and too much stress leave your body vulnerable to infection, including the gums.

A poor diet that is low in vitamin C, calci-um, vitamin D or magnesium can compromise gum tissue’s ability to heal and can speed up bone loss. Some medical conditions, including diabetes, and certain medicines increase the risk of gum disease.

Girls have a higher risk of gingivitis due to female sex hormones that can make gums more sensitive to irritation.

However, the most serious culprit is tobac-co. According to the American Dental Asso-ciation, people who use tobacco have more plaque and tartar buildup and are three times more likely to have gum disease than people who have never smoked.

How do you know if you have gum disease? Gum disease can be sneaky, causing little or no pain or irritation before damage is done. Do your gums bleed when you floss or brush

your teeth? This is usually a sign of gingivitis, the mildest form of gum disease.

Other warning signs include gums that are red, swollen or tender; gums pulling away from teeth; bad breath that won’t go away; painful chewing; and loose teeth.

If you are a Soldier, it is especially impor-tant for you to take good care of your teeth and mouth. Dental care may not be readily available when you are in the field or deployed, and a problem that seems small can escalate into a major health issue.

To reduce the risk of gum disease, follow these recommendations:

• Brush twice a day for at least two minutes each time with fluoride toothpaste.

• Floss daily.• Use a toothbrush with a soft bristle brush

and replace your toothbrush every three to four months.

• Eat a healthy diet that includes foods rich in vitamin C, calcium and vitamin D. Avoid in-between-meal snacks and junk foods with sugar and starch that plaque-causing bacteria feed on.

• Don’t smoke or use smokeless tobacco.• Visit your dentist at least annually for

checkups.• Get your teeth cleaned once or twice a

year to remove plaque and stubborn calculus that you might not be removing properly with daily brushing or flossing.

Fortunately, gum disease is preventable. Take care of your teeth and your children’s teeth, to keep gum disease at bay for you and your family.

Prevent gum disease with proper care, diet


Cover Story

FAR LEFT: Meade High’s Bruce Spruell attempts a jump-shot in the first quarter. The Meade Mustangs played the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Barons in the 4A Boys State Basketball Championship game Saturday at the Xfinity Center in College Park.

LEFT: Meade coach Pete Corriero instructs his team late in the game. The Meade Mustangs defeated the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Barons, 80-45, to win the Class 4A Boys State Basketball Championship game.

BELOW: Meade fans cheer on their team in the game’s first quarter of Saturday’s game.

PHOTOS BY PAUL W. GILLESPIE, BALTImOrE SUn mEdIA GrOUP (USEd WITH PErmISSIOn)

Staff reportMeade High secured its place in boys

basketball history with an 80-45 win over Bethesda-Chevy Chase Barons on Saturday night at the Xfinity Center in College Park.

The win in the 4A Boys State Basket-ball Championship was Meade High’s first state championship in boys basketball. It also was the first time a team from Anne Arundel County has won the state title since 1990.

The Mustangs, coached by Pete Corriero, have played most of this season in the spot-light as a front-runner to win the state title.

Meade High finished the season with a 26-2 record, with 25 wins in their final 26 games. The team’s lone loss in conference play was to Annapolis High in the county’s

championship game last month.According to Corriero, the Mustangs

started and finished the season with one goal — playing as a team.

“The whole group here has been about the team,” Corriero said. “All they care about is winning games, winning and hav-ing fun.”

The “one-team” concept was on full display Saturday night as all but one of Meade’s players used in the game scored at least 2 points.

Josh Qualls led the Mustangs with 16 points, while Bruce Spruell added 10 points.

Editor’s note: Information was taken from The Baltimore Sun, The Washington Post and capitalgazette.com.

Meade High wins first state basketball title

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil March 19, 2015 SOUNDOFF! �

News

tenant avoids having to defend against an eviction lawsuit and will establish a record of the property defects during the rent escrow proceedings.

Reporting violations to the county Housing Code Enforcement Section allows the tenant to avoid court alto-gether and might lead to quicker repairs by a landlord who does not want his or her property condemned.

Either way, the tenant gets to handle the matter proactively instead of reac-tively.

For personalized advice and assistance, call the Fort Meade Legal Assistance Office to schedule an appointment with an attorney at 301-677-9504 or 301-677-9536.

By Tanesha Matthews PettyAttorney AdvisorLegal Assistance Division

We frequently have clients with ques-tions concerning what a landlord must do when an appliance or some other feature of a rental property ceases to function properly.

Under Maryland law, a landlord is only required to repair defects to rental proper-ty that affect the health, safety or welfare of the occupants. Such repairs include lack of heat and utilities, remediation of rodent infestation, potential fire hazards and serious structural defects.

In contrast, repairs that are not required include repainting, carpet cleaning, new paneling, and even lack of air-condition-ing.

If a landlord fails to make required repairs, a tenant has a number of options. First, the tenant could go to District Court and establish a rent escrow account in which the tenant would pay rent direct-ly to the escrow account instead of the landlord.

The court would decide when and under what circumstances the landlord would get any portion of the money, if at all. However, in order to establish a rent escrow account, a tenant must first give the landlord proper notice of the defects and adequate time to make repairs.

Second, the tenant may withhold rent without establishing a rent escrow account. A tenant who elects this option is still required to notify the landlord of the property defects and of his or her intention to withhold rent.

As a result, the landlord could petition the court to evict the tenant for non-payment of rent. However, the tenant’s defense in court would be that the land-lord failed to make repairs that adversely impacted the tenant’s safety, health or welfare.

If the court rules in the tenant’s favor, the tenant will be required to deposit the rent payments into an escrow account until the resolution of the matter.

The tenant’s final option is to report the landlord to the Housing Code Enforce-ment Section for the county in which the rental property is located.

If an investigation results in the land-lord being cited for violating the housing code, the landlord will be required to make repairs or risk the property being condemned.

The first and last options are usually best. By creating a rent escrow account instead of simply withholding rent, the

A landlord’s duty to repair

March 14, Shoplifting: AAFES loss prevention personnel at the Exchange stated she observed the subject, via closed circuit TV, conceal merchandise on her person and exit the store without rendering payment.

March 16, Larceny of private property: An unknown person removed a Wells Fargo debit card, Macy’s $50 gift card and a Maryland state lottery ticket valued at $2 from the victim’s wallet, which was unsecured and unattended in his office.

CommunityCommunityCrime Watch

Compiled by the Fort Meade Directorate of Emergency Services

For week of March 9-15:• Moving violations: 24

• Nonmoving violations: 16

• Verbal warnings for traffic stops: 37

• Traffic accidents: 5

• Driving on suspended license: 0

• Driving on suspended registration: 0

• Driving without a license: 0

Connect with Fort Meade at Facebook.com/ftmeade

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http://www.ftmeade.army.mil10 SOUNDOFF! March 19, 2015

News

By Lisa R. RhodesStaff Writer

Thirteen years ago, Col. Jeremy M. Martin traveled to Iraq and Afghanistan every three months on a rotating basis for more than a year.

During that time, he had served as the public affairs advisor to then-Acting Secretary of the Army Les Brownlee.

As a result, Martin missed Thanksgiv-ing dinners and three straight Christmas celebrations with his family.

In a poignant speech during Martin’s retirement ceremony March 12 at the Defense Information School, Brownlee praised the DINFOS commandant for his professionalism and commitment to the Army.

“He’s had an illustrious career in the Army, and a lot of us have benefited from his great service,” Brownlee said.

Martin relinquished command of DINFOS in a change-of-command cer-emony before his retirement ceremony.

He is replaced by Lt. Col. John S. Hutcheson, deputy commandant of DINFOS, who is now serving as the acting commandant.

Martin officially retires from the Army

on July 1 after a 30-year Army career.“I’ve learned so much working along-

side the outstanding civilian and mili-tary members and contractors here at DINFOS,” Martin said in an interview prior to the retirement ceremony. “Being commandant of DINFOS has been one of the most important jobs I’ve ever had and an experience I will never forget.”

Brownlee was the guest speaker at the retirement ceremony. He was joined by Bryan Whitman, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for pub-lic affairs, in acknowledging Martin’s contributions as a public affairs officer who has provided support and counsel to senior Army and DoD leadership in combat theaters of operation.

“You served the Army as one of its finest officers,” Brownlee said. “Thanks for all you’ve done for the Army and our nation. And thanks, most of all, for your friendship.”

Martin was joined at the ceremony by his wife, Ava; son Jeremy, 25; daughter, Rachel, 18; brother Red; and nieces Kala Burrell-Craft and Navy Lt. j.g. Lusi Martin.

Ray Shepherd, director of the Defense

DINFOS leaderretires after three decades of service

Media Activity, presented Martin with the Legion of Merit. Brownlee presented Martin with a Department of the Army retirement certificate. Ava Martin was presented with a Department of the Army spouse’s certificate for her support of her husband’s career and volunteer service.

Ava Martin presented her husband with the Department of the Army retire-ment pin. Whitman presented Martin with a certificate of appreciation from President Barack Obama.

“I’m very proud of my service and what I’ve been allowed to do and the opportunities that I have had to lead and work alongside some of the best and brightest military leaders of both politi-

cal parties,” Martin said in an inter-view before the ceremony. “ ... I never dreamed I would have the opportunities that I’ve been afforded.”

Martin said he is proud of several accomplishments at DINFOS, including the execution of the plan for the school’s Public Affairs Course for International Students, the establishment of the DIN-FOS Hall of Fame and increasing the visibility of the DINFOS brand.

Martin also oversaw the largest expan-sion of DINFOS in recent years. The school was expanded by nearly 80,000 square feet to accommodate an increase in student enrollment from 2,500 to 3,500.

Born in Oak Grove, La., Martin is the ninth of 11 children born to James Tyrone and Helen Ruth Martin. Three of Martin’s brothers have served in the military; Martin is the only officer.

A Distinguished Military ROTC graduate of Grambling State University, Martin earned a bachelor’s degree in

PHOTO BY rOBerT crOckeTT

Col. Jeremy M. Martin, retiring commandant of the Defense Information School, shakes hands with Ray Shepherd, director of Defense Media Activity, after receiving the Legion of Merit during a change-of-command ceremony held March 12 at the school. Martin relinquished command of DINFOS prior to his retirement ceremony. Les Brownlee, former acting secretary of the Army (far left), and Bryan Whitman, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for public affairs (center), look on.

Col. Jeremy M. Martin serves Thanksgiving dinner to service members and civilians last November at the Freedom Inn Dining Facility. Martin was among several senior Army officers who served Thanksgiving dinner as a Fort Meade tradition.file PHOTO

http://www.ftmeade.army.mil March 19, 2015 SOUNDOFF! 11

political science from the university, and a master’s degree in Human Resources Development from Webster University. He has also earned a master’s degree in Strategic Studies at the U.S. Army War College.

Martin began his Army career in the infantry and went on to serve in military intelligence. He graduated from DINFOS in 2002 and then served as the public affairs advisor to Brownlee, who was then undersecretary of the Army.

Martin later served as the deputy chief of the Strategic Communications Division in the Office of the Army Public Affairs, as the Army’s point of contact on detainee operations, and then became the director of communications for the Joint Task Force Guantanamo, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba from 2005 to 2006.

After this assignment, Martin served as the DoD press officer and public affairs advisor for the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness for a year. In the summer of 2007, Martin studied at the U.S. Army War College. A year later, he served as the senior military assistant in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Pub-lic Affairs at the Pentagon.

He became commandant of DINFOS in 2011.

“One of his strengths has been to make each employee, military and civil-ian, feel like a valued member of the DINFOS team,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Emma Krouser, senior enlisted advisor at DINFOS who has known Martin for five years.

“My fondest memory of Colonel Martin is seeing him during one of the school’s morale runs leading the forma-tion, and then falling out to the side of the formation to call cadence,” she said. “That motivated the young service members, as well as the DINFOS staff and faculty.”

Martin said he and his family are still contemplating their future plans, while Rachel is considering local colleges.

“I want to thank my family, certainly my wife and children,” Martin said. “Military life requires sacrifice. ... I thank God that our children seem to have adjusted well. I thank my wife for keeping a stable home while I was on the road.”

Martin said one of the adjustments he must make as a retired Army officer is the transition to civilian clothes.

“I’ll be updating my wardrobe, for sure,” he said.

By Lisa R. RhodesStaff Writer

Air Force Lt. Col. John S. Hutcheson assumed command of the Defense Infor-mation School as acting commandant in a change-of-command ceremony March 12 at the school.

Hutcheson replaces Col. Jeremy M. Martin, who retires July 1 after a 30-year career in the Army. He will serve until July when Col. Martin Downie takes formal command of DINFOS.

Downie is currently the public affairs director at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe NATO in Mons, Bel-gium.

“I am humbled and honored to have the opportunity to be your commandant, if only for a brief time,” Hutcheson said.

Prior to becoming acting commandant, Hutcheson served as the deputy com-mandant at DINFOS for eight months.

Ray Shepherd, director of the Defense Media Activity, praised Hutcheson for his leadership.

“You’re gonna do OK, and I know you wouldn’t be in this position if we didn’t have confidence in the qualities you have already exhibited,” Shepherd said. “It will be a short amount of time, but the time will be significant and you will make a mark on this institution.”

As deputy commandant, Hutcheson led a team of 400 military, civilian and contractor professionals in training nearly 3,000 students in various public affairs and visual information disciplines. He was responsible for overseeing key DINFOS functions, including plans and information technology, human resourc-es, financial management and logistics.

Hutcheson is a career public affairs officer who has served in wing, major command, air staff and field operating agency levels. He has deployed overseas in support of worldwide contingency operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iraq, the Philippines and Afghanistan.

In his most recent assignment, Hutcheson served as commander of the 313th Recruiting Squadron in North Syracuse, N.Y., where he was responsible for the rise of nearly 1,000 new Airmen per year into the Air Force.

Hutcheson earned a bachelor’s degree

New commandant takes helm at Defense Information School

PHOTO BY rOBerT crOckeTT

Air Force Lt. Col. John S. Hutcheson addresses the audience after taking the reigns of leadership of the Defense Information School during a change-of-command ceremony held March 12 at the school. Hutcheson will serve as the acting commandant of DINFOS until July when he will be replaced by Col. Martin Downie.

in Administration of Justice from Penn-sylvania State University, a master’s degree in communication from the Uni-versity of Washington and a master’s degree in National Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School in Mon-terey, Calif.

He also has completed Squadron Offi-cer School, Naval Command and Staff College, and Air War College.

Shepherd acknowledged Martin’s com-mitment to DINFOS and thanked him for his dedication to the school’s staff, faculty and students.

“What you have put in place, what you have done, you carry on a very rich tra-dition that will carry on for a long, long time,” Shepherd said.

In his brief remarks, Hutcheson also thanked Martin.

“Thank you for your leadership, your mentorship and guidance over the past eight months,” Hutcheson said. “Today you are turning over command of a school that is turning out the best and the brightest military communication profes-sionals to serve in the military.

“The tremendous impact that you’ve have had is going to be felt for years to come. And your legacy will live on in the thousands of communicators that have walked the halls during your 39 months in command.”

Following the change-of-command ceremony, Martin was touted in a retire-ment ceremony and reception.


SportS

It’s March Madness, Team Meade, and my bracket is pretty much toast before the real tournament even tips off at noon.

On St. Patrick’s Day, this quarter-Irishman got on our YouTube channel to promote the annual Corvias/Fort Meade Bracket Challenge.

It was a great piece of marketing that is now available on the Fort Meade Facebook page. It included my awesome Irish hat, the PAO’s new smart board, a complete breakdown of how Wisconsin will beat Kentucky in the Final Four, and the BYU Cougars making a run from the first four, play-in game to the Sweet 16.

Things were looking great when BYU took a 17-point lead into halftime against Ole Miss in Tuesday’s play-in game. Then I made the cardinal sin of March Madness: I fell asleep — passed out on the couch, drunk with pride in my prognostication, and sweet dreams of bracket dominance dancing in my head.

I was rested and confident Wednes-day morning when I went to wake up the kids. Like good Joneses, they have dumped their night-lights and now huddle together in YDJ’s room so they can sleep to the sweet sound of sports talk radio.

I was shaking them gently when the broadcaster said Ole Miss will advance after a great second-half rally.

I was baffled for a second because it didn’t seem possible. BYU was hitting everything under the sun in the first half while Ole Miss just looked old.

Of course, if there’s one thing I’ve learned after 30-plus years of watching March Madness, it’s that anything is possible in March. That’s what makes the NCAA Tournament the best three weeks in sports.

Anyone who has filled out a bracket has felt the shame of a poor prediction. Each team I cross off my bracket — I have a mechanical pencil reserved for the ritual — punctures the ego. The further I have the team going, the more lines I create and the more those punctures

become gushing wounds.

The only ban-dage for these wounds is the little check mark I put on top of each winner I pick. The bigger the upset, the bigger the check mark, the better the healing.

Prognosticators, like streaky shooters, need to have a bit of amnesia if they want to be any good. Everyone has sob stories about poor picks in March. We all have our personal BYUs.

However, everyone will not feel the haughtiness that comes with picking Ste-phen F. Austin over Utah, Buffalo over West Virginia, or even Michigan State into the Final Four — especially this year when it is easy to go the punk route and pick chalk (pick the favorites).

Well, Ms. Jones’ baby boy isn’t a punk.

Here’s my Sweet 16:• Midwest - Kentucky, Maryland,

Texas, Wichita State• West - Wisconsin, North Carolina,

BYU, Arizona• East - Villanova, Northern Iowa,

Oklahoma, Michigan State• South - Duke, SF Austin, SMU,

Gonzaga• Elite 8: Kentucky-Texas; Wisconsin-

Arizona; N. Iowa-MSU; Duke-Gon-zaga

• Final Four: Kentucky-Wisconsin; MSU-Gonzaga

• National Championship: Wisconsin over Gonzaga

Now that I’ve picked most of your winners, hurry and sign up for the Bracket Challenge. The deadline is noon today and the winner will receive a $100 gift card.

Remember the three Ds for watch-ing the NCAA Tournament: Discipline, Delivery and Digital Cable.

Lastly, and as always ...If you have comments on this or any-

thing to do with sports, contact me at [email protected], or hit me up on Twitter @CTJibber.

One bracket down ... already

Chad T. Jones, Public Affairs

Officer

Jibber Jabber - OpiniOn

Sports ShortsEarth Day 5K

The Fort Meade Run Series kicks off April 18 for the Earth Day 5K/1-mile walk at 8 a.m. at Burba Lake.

Pre-registration for individuals costs $15. Registration on event day costs $25.

Pre-registration 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.

Individuals can register for the entire season for $80.All pre-registered runners will receive a T-shirt.For more information, call 301-677-3318.

Youth swim lessonsRegistration begins Monday for youth swim lessons at Gaffney Fitness

Center’s indoor pool.Lessons will be offered to youths ages 4 to 13 Tuesdays to Thursdays and

Saturdays.Registration will be conducted until April 8.For more information, call Parent Central Services at 301-677-1149 or 301-

677-1156.

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 spring sportsRegistration for spring sports is underway.Spring sports include baseball, softball, tennis, lacrosse, basketball, track,

NFL flag football and soccer.To register online, go to ftmeademwr.com.For more information, call 301-677-1179.

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

Team Meade/Corvias 2015 NCAA ChallengeIt’s March Madness and for the seventh straight year, Meade Week, the FortMeade Public Affairs Office and Corvias Military Living are teaming up forour annual NCAA pick’em contest. It’s easy. Make the most correct picks inthe upcoming NCAA basketball tournament and you could win a $100 VISA giftcertificate, courtesy of Corvias Military Living.Brackets are due today at noon. Go to the Fort Meade Facebook page for more.


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.

Women’s History Month observance today

The community is invited to Fort Meade’s Women’s History Month observance today from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Conference Center, 6800 Taylor Ave.

The theme is: “Weaving the Stories of Women’s Lives.”

The guest speaker is Heather Taylor, executive producer of “Breaking Through the Clouds: The First Women’s National Air Derby.”

Admission is free.Service members and civilian

employees are encouraged to attend with supervisory approval and without charge to annual leave.

Administrative leave is authorized.For more information, call Sgt. 1st

Class Torey R. Palmore, senior Equal Opportunity advisor at 301-677-6687.

RAB meeting tonightFort Meade will conduct a

Restoration Advisory Board meeting today at 7 p.m. at the Courtyard Marriott, 2700 Hercules Road, Annapolis Junction.

RAB meetings are held to keep the public informed of Fort Meade’s environmental cleanup and restoration program and to provide opportunities for public involvement and open discussion.

Major topics include updates on site monitoring and the Nevada Avenue area.

The public and media are invited. Interested citizens who would like to learn more about the restoration program or become an RAB member are encouraged to attend.

For more information, call 301-677-7999 or visit www.ftmeade.army.mil/directorates/dpw/environment/ (click on RAB link).

NEWS & EVENTS

file photo

‘Clean Up! Fort Meade’For a seventh year, the Enlisted Spouses’ Club will host its annual “Clean Up! Fort Meade” event on April 11 at Burba

Lake.This event gathers various members of the Fort Meade community to dedicate a few hours of their time to giving back

and cleaning up our community.The main check-in point will be directly near the Post Library parking lot.A $400 Top School prize (sponsored by the ESC) and a $200 Second School prize (sponsored by the Officers’ Spouses’

Club) will be awarded to the top-two participating schools.The winning schools will have a choice of a “green-themed” library or gardening supplies and materials.Additional prize categories are Top Participating Child Organization/Club, Top Participating Military Unit/Command

and Top Collecting Individual Adult/Child.In conjunction with this event, the ESC will offer an additional incentive for the students of Fort Meade schools.A drawing competition with the topic of “How do you see recycling being used in 20 years?” in which students will have

the opportunity to create their own work of art and write a few sentences about what they have drawn.Completed works of art will be turned in the day of the event. In order to enter, students must attend the event. The

grand prize is a Kindle Fire tablet.To pre-register for an extra raffle ticket, go to FtMeadeESC.org.For more information, email [email protected].

Submit requests for pothole repairs

Due to the cold weather this winter, an increasing amount of potholes have developed on Fort Meade.

Community members can submit a work order to [email protected] to repair potholes.

The work order must include the street name (and closest building or intersection) where the pothole is

located; a primary and alternate point of contact; and a telephone number.

Public listening session rescheduled

The public listening session has been rescheduled due to weather to Monday at 9 a.m. at McGill Training Center.

Maj. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, commander, U.S. Army Military District of Washington, Joint Force Headquarters-

National Capital Region, will host the session.

Buchanan and a representative from the Army’s Operations and Plans Office will discuss the Army’s ongoing planning effort to achieve fiscal reductions required by the Budget Control Act of 2011.

Garrison Commander Col. Brian P. Foley will discuss ongoing growth at Fort Meade.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14



Leaders will take questions from the audience.

All members of the Fort Meade community including current employees, retirees, concerned citizens and family members are invited to attend the session.

The listening session will be live-streamed from the Fort Meade website at /www.ftmeade.army.mil/staff/pao/media/advisories/stream.html.

The alternate website is: dodnews.defense.gov/LiveStream4.aspx.

Individuals will be able to submit questions online.

For more information, call 301-677-1361.

Easter brunch at Club Meade

Club Meade will serve Easter Sunday brunch on April 5.

Seating times are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Brunch is open to all services and ranks.

Cost is $21.95 for members and $26.96 for nonmembers.

Cost for member children, ages 3 to 10, is $11. Cost for nonmember children is $13.50

For reservations, call 301-677-6969.

TARP trainingThe garrison security office and

the 902nd Military Intelligence Field Office are offering the Army’s Threat Awareness and Reporting Program (TARP) training to all members of the installation.

Training will be held March 31 at 10 a.m. at the Post Theater.

IAW AR 381-12, 2-3 requires all DA personnel undergo threat-awareness training at least annually.

Non-garrison units/commands will have to document their individual members training completion and/or accountability.

For more information, call Leslie Heckendorf at 301-677-4505.

Kimbrough town hall tonight

Dr. (Col.) Michael J. Zapor, the Fort Meade Medical Department Activity deputy commander for clinical services, will conduct a mini town hall today at

6 p.m. in the Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center lab reception area.


Volunteers Awards Banquet

The Fort Meade Volunteers Awards Banquet will be held April 16 at 6 p.m. at Club Meade.

Nominations for special awards will be accepted through Monday.

For more information on nomination procedures and tickets, call the volunteer coordinator at 301-677-4128.

Reduce taxesThe Community Readiness Center is

offering a program on strategies to reduce taxes (pre-retirement) on March 31 from 9 a.m. to noon at 830 Chisholm Ave.

The Community Readiness Center is also offering a class on effective planning to reduce taxes in retirement on March 31 from 1-4 p.m.

Registration is required.To register or for more information,

call 301-677-5590 or visit fortmeadeacs.checkappointments.com.

ESC scholarshipsThe Enlisted Spouses’ Club is offering

scholarships for graduating high school seniors and continuing education students for the 2015-2016 academic school year.

Applicants must be dependent children of service members from any branch: active duty, retired or deceased military personnel; Reservist; or National Guard

The service member must reside in the Fort Meade area.

Application packages must be completed and submitted to the ESC by March 27.

The complete application package and a full list of scholarship requirements are available at www.ftmeadeesc.org/scholarship-oportunities.

For more information, email [email protected].

Social Media for Job Seekers

Army Community Service is offering Social Media for Job Seekers on March

31 from 8 a.m. to noon at McGill Training Center

Learn to effectively use social media to find jobs and market yourself.

Registration is required.To register, transitioning service

members should call 301-677-9871. Everyone else should call 301-677-5590.

Corvias education grantsCorvias Foundation is still accepting

applications for the 2015 educational grants.

Applications must be submitted by May 7.

Grants are given in the amount of up to $5,000 to spouses of active-duty service members stationed at Fort Meade.

Applicants may be in any stage of the educational process.

For more information, go to corviasfoundation.org.

Financial, Employment Readiness

Army Community Service offers Financial and Employment 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.• Credit Management: Tuesday, 9 a.m.• Pre-Retirement Planning: March 31,

9 a.m. to 1 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.• Pre-deployment brief: March 19, 10-

11:30 a.m.Briefs are part of out-processing

for an extended TDY assignment/deployment of 30 days or more.

Learn about different support programs and the various resources available to you and your family. Spouses are welcome.

• Time Management: Tuesday, 9-11 a.m.

• Career Technical Training: Wednesday and March 26, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Anger Management: Wednesday, 9:30-11:30 a.m.

• Effective Communication: March 31, 9-11 a.m.

To register or for more information, call 301-677-9017 or 301-677-9018.

Lecture for aspiring performers

“Getting Started in the Arts,” a free lecture for aspiring teen dancers, singers and actors, and their parents will be presented Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Meade High School, 1100 Clark Road.

The guest speaker is New York talent scout Peter Sklar.

Sklar, who earned a master’s degree in education from Harvard University and trained in concert piano at the Juilliard School of Music, has four decades of professional experience.

He’s currently developing an original musical based on his experiences entitled, “The Kid Who Played the Palace.”

The lecture is open to teens, young adults, older children and parents. There is no charge for admission, but reservations are required.

Children under age 7 will not be admitted with or without a parent.

No one under age 18 will be admitted without their parent or legal guardian. Attending with a substitute temporary guardian, such as a friend’s parent, is not allowed.

For reservations, call 410-674–7710, ext. 247.

For more information, go to petersklaronline.com or gettingstartedinthearts.com.

‘Spring Into Fun’Corvias Military Housing is

sponsoring “Spring Into Fun” on March 28 from noon to 2 p.m. at Potomac Place Community Center.

The event will feature egg hunts, photos with the Easter Bunny, prizes, crafts and refreshments.

Bring a basket to collect all the eggs you find and a camera to take photos.

Egg hunt times: • Ages 0-2: 12:30 p.m.• Ages 3-5: 12:45 p.m.• Ages 6-8 : 1 p.m.• Ages 9-12: 1:15 p.m.• Ages 13-18: 1:30 p.m.For more information, go to

corviasmilitaryliving.com or call 410-

NEWS & EVENTS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

EDUCATION

YOUTH


movies

672-2981.

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.

• Today: “It’s Easy Being Green” - Stories about all things green

• March 26: “Spring Into A Good Book” - Storytime about spring


Youth Opportunity FairFort Meade’s Youth Opportunity Fair

for ages 14 to 21 will be held Wednesday from 2-6 p.m. at Club Meade.

The event will feature volunteering, employment and internship opportunities, as well as educational opportunities for university, college, vocational options and scholarships.

Dress professionally. Bring lots of resumes.

For more information, call the Employment Readiness Program at Army Community Service at 301-677-5590.

Easter Bunny brunchJoin the Easter Bunny for brunch on

Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Conference Center.

The event will feature games, activities and prizes.

Cost is $15 for ages 12 and older; $8 for ages 5-11; and free for ages 4 and younger.

Advance tickets are available at the Youth Center.


Youth Center eventsThe Youth Center is offering several

activities for grades six to eight.• Earth Day and a Movie: Friday, 5-8

p.m.Participants can choose which movie

will be featured in honor of Earth Day.• Fear Factor Challenge: March 27,

5-7 p.m.Youths are invited to a fun evening

filled with fear, challenges and crazy concoctions

• Take a Walk in the Park Day: March 30, 1-3:30 p.m.

Youths will take a trip to Burba Lake Park for a leisurely walk and to explore nature.

For more information or to register, call 301-677-1437.

Teen Center activitiesThe Teen Center is offering several

free activities for grades nine to 12.• Auto skills field trip: Tuesday, 4:30-6

p.m.Participants will take a free field

trip from the Teen Center to the Auto Center to learn how to change a tire, change the oil and put a system in their car.

• Chopped: March 26, 5-6 p.m.Teens will have the opportunity to

test their culinary skills, competing and turning mystery ingredients into three-course meals.


• Babysitter’s Certification Course: March 30-31, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The course will provide first aid and CPR certification.

Registration is required. Space is limited.

To register or for more information, call 301-677-1156 or 301-677-1149

Out & About• The Columbia Figure Skating Club

will present its annual spring production “Movies and Minions” on Saturday and Sunday at the Columbia Ice Rink, 5876 Thunder Hill Road, Columbia.

Show times are Saturday at 3 and 6 p.m. and Sunday at 2 and 4:30 p.m.

Skaters will enact movie scenes from “Annie,” “Mary Poppins,” “Frozen” and “Despicable Me.”

The show features almost 70 performers in pre-school through high school, and includes advanced-level skaters who have competed in regional and national level competitions.

For tickets or more information, go to columbiafsc.com.

• Leisure Travel Services is offering discounted tickets to Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus for shows Wednesday to April 5 at the Baltimore Arena.

Tickets cost $20. For more information, call 301-677-7354.

• Officers’ Spouses’ Club monthly luncheon is today at 10:30 a.m. at Club Meade. Cost is $20.

The luncheon is open to OSC members, officer/DoD spouses, and guests. The

monthly service project is Camp All-Stars (Johns Hopkins Hospital) Pajama Project.

For more information, go to http://www.fortmeadeosc.org/monthly-luncheons-2/ [email protected].

• Prostate Cancer Support Group meets at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda on the third Thursday of every month. The next meeting is today from 1-2 p.m. and 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the America Building, River Conference Room (next to the Prostate Center), third floor.

Spouses/partners are invited. Military ID is required for base access. Men without a military ID should call the Prostate Center at 301-319-2900 at least two days prior to the event for base access.

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

• Meade Area Garden Club will meet Friday at 10 a.m. at the Jessup Community Hall at the corner of Route 175 and Wigley Avenue.

Donna Macauley Shoemaker will present the program “Backyard Birding: How to Attract Songbirds to Your Yard.” Shoemaker writes for two birding newsletters and is featured on covers of Audubon Magazine. Her property is a certified wild bird sanctuary.

Reservations are not required. Refreshments will be served. Those interested in the club may attend one program before being asked to join for the annual fee of $20.

If Anne Arundel County Schools are closed or opening late due to inclement weather, the meeting will be canceled.

For more information, call Membership Chairman Jennifer Garcia at 443-949-8348 or President Sharon Durney at 410-761-5019.

• 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.

• Society of Military Widows meets for brunch the fourth Sunday of the month at 1 p.m. at the Lanes. The next meeting is Sunday. For more information, call Betty Jones at 410-992-1123.

• Marriage Enrichment Group, sponsored by Army Community Service, meets the second and fourth Monday of every month from 3-4 p.m. at the Community Readiness Center, 830 Chisholm Ave. The next meeting is Monday. For more information, call Celena Flowers or Jessica Hobgood at 301-677-5590.


RECREATION

MEETINGS

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 March 29

Friday: “Seventh Son” (PG-13). Young Thomas is apprenticed to the local Spook to learn to fight evil spirits. His first great challenge comes when the powerful Mother Malkin escapes her confine-ment while the Spook is away. With Ben Barnes, Julianne Moore, Jeff Bridges.

Saturday: “Spare Parts” (PG-13). Four Hispanic high school students form a robotics club. With no experience, $800, used car parts and a dream, this ragtag team goes up against the country’s reigning robotics champion, MIT. With George Lopez, Jamie Lee Curtis, Carlos PenaVega.

Sunday: “The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water” (PG). When a diabolical pirate above the sea steals the secret Krabby Patty formula, SpongeBob and his nemesis Plankton must team up on dry land in order to get it back. With Tom Kenny, Antonio Banderas, Bill Fagerbakke.

March 27: “Hot Tub Time Machine 2” (R). When Lou finds himself in trouble, Nick and Jacob fire up the hot tub time machine in an attempt to get back to the past. But they inadvertently land in the future with Adam Jr. Now they have to alter the future in order to save the past, which is really the present. With Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke.

March 28: “McFarland, USA” (PG). A cross-country coach in a small California town trans-forms a team of athletes into championship contenders. With Kevin Costner, Maria Bello, Ramiro Rodriguez.

March 29: “Fifty Shades of Grey” (R). Literature student Anastasia Steele’s life changes forever when she meets handsome, yet tormented, bil-lionaire Christian Grey. With Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Jennifer Ehle.

News & Politics

Soundoff March 19, 2015