Spooky night with EFMP

BY CYNTHIA POTTER

FAMILY & MWR EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM (EFMP)

It’s the spookiest time of the year and the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is bringing in the fun!

To start off the Fall season, EFMP wants to celebrate Halloween with Fort Bliss EFMP Families! Get your costumes ready, there will be a costume contest, snacks, games and prizes. Princesses, monsters, action heroes, zombies and more are invited to participate! Celebrate with EFMP, Oct. 29 from 5 to 7 p.m., in the Army Community Service’s ballroom, located at 2494 Ricker Road. Be sure to make a reservation by Oct. 25, space is limited.

EFMP provides comprehensive support services for Families here at Fort Bliss. Some of the services include Non-Clinical Case Management, Educational and Recreational Activities, Navigating Community Resources, Respite Care and 504/IEP Support. If you are in need of assistance with enrollment/disenrollment, Overseas Screen or updates, visit the EFMP medical office located on the second floor of the Mendoza Clinic at 11335 SSG Sims Street. Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. EFMP paperwork must be updated every three years or any time a change in treatment has occurred.

For more information about events or services, call 915-569-4227, ext. 1. To keep up to date, like us on Facebook, search Fort Bliss EFMP.

Happy Fall, Old Fort Bliss Replica is open for the season! Y’all!

BY TASHA GROSS

FAMILY & MWR OLD FORT BLISS REPLICA

Old Fort Bliss Replica has been dusted off and spruced up this past spring. Explore some of the upcoming programming for the remainder of the year! Harvest Festival

It can be hard to get into the spirit of the season when the weather is so warm, but that’s why you don’t want to miss the Fall Harvest Festival. Traditionally, this event has been paired with Monster Bash. This year, Old Fort Bliss Replica is turning over a new leaf by leaving the spooky spectacles up to the wonderful MWR Special Events team. This season will kick off with a pumpkin patch, Friday, Oct. 8 from 4 to 8 p.m. There will be family fun with face painting, fall themed crafts, yard games, food trucks and local vendors. Our Heroes Tree

Our Heroes Tree was an initiative that started in 2005 at West Point to commemorate the service of all branches and its military members

throughout history. It is a way to connect with your heritage of military service within your family and community. This year, Old Fort Bliss Replica will be celebrating with a redecorating and lighting of Our Heroes Trees. The classroom space will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Nov. 6, 13 and 20 to make ornaments. Craft supplies will be provided to make your hero tree ornament commemorating a past or present service member of your choice. Then you may hang your ornament on one of the Heroes Trees. There will be an official tree lighting with book reading, Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. Old Fort Bliss Replica Market

Old Fort Bliss Replica is on a mission to support homebased businesses owned and operated by service members, dependents and retirees. December will mark the first quarterly market with a holiday theme to match the season. The market will operate Saturday, Dec. 4 from 1 to 5 p.m. The first market will have 30 outdoor spaces (10x10) available for rent. All products must be handcrafted goods produced by the owner. Resale items are prohibited. If you are interested in renting a spot at the Market, scan the QR code to submit an application or apply in person at the Old Fort Bliss Replica during museum operating hours. Host your own event

Did you know that the Old Fort Bliss Replica is available for rent? This year, there has been some serious spring cleaning and revitalization of the catering space. While indoor capacity for the space is only 40 people, it opens to the outdoor pavilions which can seat up to 100 at this time. It is also one of the only MWR facilities that allows outsourced catering. Fall evenings under the pavilions offers beautiful views of the sunset over the mountains which might be the perfect setting for your next event. Stop by and take a peek for yourself, and while you are at it take a stroll through the museum. Volunteers Wanted

The combination of closure due to Covid-19 and a new manager means that the volunteer corps, which is the foundation of the Replica, has to be rebuilt. Old Fort Bliss Replica is searching for volunteers for everything from gardening, cleaning, costume repair, reenactments, to those with specialized skills relevant to life in the 1850s.

For more information about events, catering or volunteering, call 915-588-8482.

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