Andrews 031315

BASE NEWS JBA commemorates Women’s History Month, Page 2

DCMILITARY.COM

COMMUNITY

COMMUNITY Montpelier Mansion exhibit features new artifacts, Page 6

Coffee Club: Brewing strong communities, Page 4

AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION OF COMPRINT MILITARY PUBLICATIONS AT JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MD.

CDC children ‘Defeat Monster Mouth’

U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO/ SENIOR AIRMAN NESHA HUMES

Aahmir Elmore practices tooth brushing techniques during a demonstration at the Child Development Center for National Children’s Dental Health Month Feb. 26 on Joint Base Andrews. The 779th Dental Squadron held an interactive demonstration to educate JBA children on dental hygiene.

BY MAKEDA KNOTT

11TH WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS

In observance of National Children’s Dental Health Month, members from the 779th Dental

Squadron visited the Child Development Centers Feb. 26.

Each year, for more than a decade, the squadron has teamed up with

BAND AIMS TO INSPIRE STUDENTS

the CDC during NCDHM. The month-long awareness campaign, sponsored by the American Dental Association, aims to promote the benefits of good

eat today?, Juvonia Harris, RD, LDN offers a bit of perspective in helping The Academy of Nu- you navigate your way trition and Dietetics to a healthier lifestyle. invite you to adopt a Harris offers some healthier lifestyle dur- simple ways to step into ing National Nutrition a healthy new way of Month. This year “Bite thinking. “Biting into a into a Healthy Lifestyle” healthy lifestyle everyis the theme. where you go just really Registered Dieti- means making sure you tian and author of The are aware throughout D.I.E.T. Question: Did I your entire day of what STAFF WRITER

Skyline High School students sing Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” with Senior Master Sgt. Ryan Carson, U.S. Air Force Band Max Impact vocalist, during an educational outreach program Jan. 30 in Mesa, Ariz.

see TEETH, page 2

One veteran making a difference

Buffington said.

Buffington, once a Navy All Star basketball Navy veteran, Bill player, uses that same Buffington is a staunch tenacity to continuously advocate for veterans’ locate veterans to help rights on Capitol Hill and in the St. Charles and the Veterans Administra- Calvert county communition. ties. “One out of every 5 In particular, the people I meet is a veteran founder of VConnec- or knows a veteran.” Altions Inc. is passionate though Buffington has about providing services three offices, including a through his non-profit high-rise office at VConorganization to his fel- nections in White Plains, low veterans that include he stays on the go. “I services through the don’t like offices. My oftwo-year-old non-profit fice is on the street meetorganization. “We do ed- ing and talking with vetucation on benefits and erans.” claims, also health and “When I transitioned wellness, with a specific back into in the civilian interest in our service world, I wanted to know women,” said Buffington. how I could help our vet“I advocate for the vet- erans really benefit and erans who have gone out help to them to better volunteered to serve for understand the process. this country, whether a So I came up with little military member worked groups like a Veterans in administration, fought Coffee Break at Chick-filon the front line, served A as a place for veterans on 120-day deployment to eat, with mentors in or retired with 20 plus place to help each other years of service,” said and some of our military Buffington, who served students on campus at a combined total 8 years the College of Southern active duty and 3 years of Maryland Veterans OrSelective Reserve service. ganization.

Whether “The fact that a person they’re networking for stepped up to volunteer jobs, support, or informafor his or her country and tion about available VA walked away from their services, I want them to family is reason enough feel better about transito fight for and educate see VETERANS, page 3 them about their rights,”

BY BOBBY JONES

STAFF PHOTOJOURNALIST

Adopt a healthy lifestyle ‘bite’ by ‘bite’

BY LESLIE C. SMITH

U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO/ SENIOR AIRMAN NESHA HUMES

oral healthcare for children. The ADA’s campaign slogan this year is “Defeat Monster Mouth.”

Four 779th DS mem-

FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2015 | VOL. 4 NO. 10

you are eating; it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to be obsessed.

“Biting into a healthy lifestyle everywhere you go means if you are meeting friends for a lunch think about what you’re going to eat; are you going to have the cheeseburger and fries or are you going to have a healthy salad with some sauteed shrimp on

top of it. This means being aware of everything you do.”

Harris added, “Being healthy is a state of mind that you carry through your everyday life and your activities revolving around it. When you are faced with a decision of do you eat the french fries or do you get the baked potato

see BITE, page 5

Andrews Gazette

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Friday, March 13, 2015

Hot tickets JBA commemorates around town March 13

Live at Montpelier: Sharon Clark 8 p.m.

Montpelier Arts Center, 9652 Muirkirk Road, Laurel Washington, D.C. jazz vocalist Sharon Clark has performed for festival and concert audiences across the U.S. and Europe. A winner of the Gold Medal and $10,000 top prize in the Savannah Music Festival’s American Traditions Competition, Clark has headlined the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival, the historic Lincoln Theater, and the Cape May Jazz Festival. Clark has appeared with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and has performed by invitation for President Bill Clinton.

Call 301-377-7800 or visit www.arts.pgparks.com

March 14

Carmen Bowie Center for the Performing Arts, 15200 Annapolis Road, Bowie 7 p.m.

The Ballet Theatre of Maryland presents An American Southwest Carmen, featuring the music of Bizet played live by the Londontowne Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Anna Binneweg.

Set against the backdrop of the Mexican-American War, this true-life Carmen weaves, romance, passion, intrigue and betrayal together to reveal the tragic events surrounding the murder of one of the most notorious female smugglers in the history of the American West. For tickets and information, visit www.balletmaryland.org or call 410-263-8289.

March 14

Heatwave Harmony Hall Regional Center, 10701 Livingston Road, Fort Washington Heatwave remains one of the most beloved groups of the 70s. Heatwave is an international funk/disco band and are best known for their successful songs “Boogie Nights”, “Always and Forever,” and “The Groove Line.” Call 301-203-607 or visit www.arts. pgparks.com

March 17

St. Patrick’s Day Concert: Runa 8 p.m.

Montpelier Arts Center, 9652 Muirkirk Road, Laurel Most recently recognized in the 2013 Irish Music Awards and the 12th Annual Independent Music Awards, RUNA draws on the diverse musical backgrounds of its band members and offers a contemporary approach to traditional and more recently composed Celtic material. Visit www.arts.pgparks.com

COMPRINT MILITARY PUBLICATIONS Andrews Gazette is published by Comprint Military Publications, 9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, Md., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force or any branch of the United States military.

The appearance of advertising in these publications, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or the products and services advertised.

Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, martial status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non merit factor of the purchases, user or patron.

Maxine Minar, president mminar@dcmilitary.com John Rives, publisher

jrives@dcmilitary.com

Deirdre Parry, page design, dparry@gazette.net Leslie Smith, editor lsmith@dcmilitary.com Bobby Jones, photographer bjones@dcmilitary.com

Women’s History Month BY 1ST LT GRACE GIBBONS 1ST HELICOPTER SQUADRON

March is National Women’s History Month and Joint Base Andrews is hosting weekly events to highlight the contributions of women past and present.

This year’s theme, “Weaving the Stories of Women’s Lives,” was established to include both the singular and group accomplishments of women.

“The telling of women’s stories not only empowers but also inspires future generations of young women,” said 1st Lt. Grace Gibbons, 1st Helicopter Squadron special missions pilot. “These stories range from the heroic acts of Mary

Edwards, the only woman to ever receive the Medal of Honor, to the innovative discoveries of Marie Curie, the first person to have received two Nobel Prizes.”

Through the weaving of these stories, we see the unified, cohesive tapestry that is this nation.

Since the beginning of this nation, women have participated in every major conflict, including war.

However, it was not until 1948 that Congress voted and passed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act, allowing women to participate as active members of the Armed Forces.

This month, JBA wants to recognize women’s history with the following events; readings at the

Child Development Center on March 18 and at the Youth Center March 28.

“The books we will read to the children feature different women throughout history,” said Gibbons.

The month will culminate with a luncheon at The Courses at Andrews on March 23 at noon, with guest speaker, Lt. Gen. Judith Fedder, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Installation and Mission Support, Headquarters U.S.. Air Force.

She will speak about her perspective on women in the military.

For more information about JBA WHM events please contact 1st Lt. Grace Gibbons, Capt. Will Perry.

Retiree corner Vietnam Veterans Remembered

Allotment Changes

tired Lt. Col. Hayden J. Lockhart, who took part in Operation RollActive-duty service members, ing Thunder, becoming the first Air civilians and veterans were among Force POW. Flying the F-100 Super those who honored prisoners of Sabre, Colonel Lockhart ejected war and those missing in action over North Vietnam and survived during the 50th anniversary of the 2,905 days in captivity Vietnam War commemoration ceremony and wreath-laying at the Air B-29 Flight Planned Volunteers have completed resForce Memorial in Arlington, Va. “I don’t believe there is any bet- toration of Doc, “the world’s second ter place to honor these airmen airworthy B-29 Superfortress,” and than right here, looking at this plan to fly the plane from Wichita, beautiful memorial, looking over Kan., in the next few months. The the Pentagon, to our great nation’s restoration team originally wanted capital,” said Air Force Chief of to fly the WWII-vintage bomber to last summer’s Experimental AirStaff Gen. Mark A. Welsh.

The ceremony commemorated craft Association (EAA) fly-in at the beginning of the Operation Oshkosh, Wis. The new plan is to Rolling Thunder bombing cam- fly formation with Fifi, “the other paign in 1965, in which joint- flying B-29,” at EAA in July. It service aircraft bombed targets would be the first time in 60 years throughout North Vietnam. It also that two B-29s fly in formation tomarked the 50th anniversary of re- gether.

The Retiree Activities Office is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Visit the office in Building 1604 at California and Colorado Avenues or call 301 9812726. Call before your visit to ensure a volunteer is on duty. The RAO has a website at www.andrews.af.mil.

According to Capt. Melissa Holt, 779th DS advanced general dentist and officer-in-charge of Preventive Dentistry, children require us to break down difficult concepts into more understandable terms.

“During exams, we have much less time to work on children’s teeth and teach them proper dental hygiene,” said Holt. “Their attention span is shorter than adults.”

Holt cited that although their attention span is shorter, children are more willing to learn and incorporate proper care when taught early. The ADA recommends that it is important for parents and caregivers to begin mouth cleaning immediately, even before teeth begin to erupt.

The ADA advises parents to begin brushing with a small amount of fluoride toothpaste, twice a day,

when teeth appear. The association says that teaching children the importance of good oral hygiene is an excellent way to set healthy habits for life.

“Parents should continue to brush their child’s teeth until they have the ability to properly brush without assistance,” said Tech. Sgt. Tina Phelps-Prince, 779th DS dental hygienist. “They must consistently reassure children that they are doing well and also explain to them the importance of healthy snacking.”

Phelps-Prince said having a healthy diet is essential in maintaining an overall healthy mouth.

According to the ADA, it is a good idea to have the first dental visit within six months after the first tooth appears, and no later than the child’s first birthday.

TEETH, from page 1 bers talked to children at CDC II about proper nutrition, brushing and flossing techniques, and general oral hygiene instructions.

The team provided interactive ways for the children to get involved. They brought in large plastic models of teeth and stuffed animals equipped with a full set of teeth to practice brushing.

“The kids were enthusiastic to be a part of the dental demonstration,” said Staff Sgt. David Brockes, 779th DS dental assistant. “All of the kids wanted to demonstrate brushing teeth on our props; I think they really enjoyed it.”

The purpose of this event was to ensure children understand the importance of taking care of their teeth at a young age.

Retirees who pay Delta Dental or Tricare rime enrollment fees through a retired pay allotment with DFAS may experience slight changes in their net pay due to of changes in enrollment fees. If you have questions about Tricare Prime coverage or costs associated with Tricare coverage contact your regional contractor attricare.mil/contactus. Those with questions about Delta Dental coverage costs should consult Delta Dental at www.deltadewntal .com/public/index.jsp.

Friday, March 13, 2015

Andrews Gazette

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Serving The Community for 35 years! ® Implants & Dentures • Braces For Children & Adults • Invisalign (Invisible Braces) Digital X-Rays • Emergencies • Teeth Whitening • White Fillings • Root Canal Treatment

www.ClintonFamilyDental.com

Dr. Alan Michaels - Dr. Sam Hamam - Dr. Jared Lamb - Dr. Norman Wang Most major insurances accepted

9015 Woodyard Road • Suite 104 • Clinton, MD 20735

PHOTO/BOBBY JONES

Bill Buffington, founder of VConnections Inc. (left), Bill Needham, and John Flatley, La Plata Chick-fil-A, owner and operator, pose for group photo after a weekly Veterans Coffee Break meeting held at the Chick-fil-A in La Plata on March 9.

VETERANS, from page 1 tioning back into the community.”

Buffington approached John Flatley, La Plata Chick-fil-A owner/operator, over year ago about providing space where veterans could come eat and share information on VA benefits every Monday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. “I embraced it, because Monday mornings is quiet day,” said the 11-year restaurant owner. “The numbers may vary, but I’ve seen Vietnam vets and members who served in the desert recently come in and get a chance to compare notes. That’s when that ‘been there, done that’ moment comes up, like they understand they’re not alone. That’s where my heart is; when you get some of these young guys that just came out of the service and are trying to figure it out and mix them with some old guys who’ve been out for a while and are surviving, it all makes sense,” said Flatley, an Air Force veteran of 21 years.

“There’s plenty of room here and I’d like to see more women attend. Bill is a giant force within this community.”

As the veterans stood in line for a complimentary cup of coffee, Buffington blended with the veterans of different ages, conflict eras and services melded into one group with the obvious mission of sharing their story.

Buffington kicked off the informal meeting talking to veterans about the services his company provides. “V stands for veterans and Connections stands for connecting you to resources and opportunities by networking like you guys are doing here today. Bringing that student or family unit out and getting them to understand each other while being in a group setting like this one is good.”

He noted his group will be sponsoring a Mother’s Day event, focusing on veteran mothers, service women and their families at the St. Charles Library. “We’ll offer on-site employment, health and wellness, and education opportunities for those wanting to know how to apply for benefits or get back in school. That’s what my organization stands for,” said Buffington, before letting the veterans speak.

Francine Morgan, year-veteran Air Force 17 years, is anxious to serve as the Women’s Advocate for the Buffington’s non-profit organization to educate herself and other women about their right

to veteran benefits. “I’m starting from scratch. I’ve had to dig and crawl to find out information about my benefits,” said the native Washingtonian, airing her frustrations. “I now have medical benefits to go to the Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, only because my income is not sufficient. I live from paycheck to paycheck.

However, they have no female doctors, no OBGYN’s, no X-Ray machines and no transportation,” explained Morgan, now a Waldorf resident. “I’m really concerned about women’s health, because I’ve been dealing with it for the past 25 years, taking care of my daughter, Brittany, now 25, who has Down Syndrome. “Thanks to Mr. Buffington, I have a car that was given to me free with no payments and it’s mine,” said Morgan smiling. “I joined this group, because I wanted to get in the loop of knowledge about veteran benefits.

When I got out of the military in 1990 they didn’t have TAP classes. So I didn’t get any information.

“Bill is like the energizer bunny, I love him to death because he never stops advocating for his fellow veterans.”

Bill Needham, a 77-year-old Navy veteran was among the veterans seeking VA benefit information on how to get new hearing aids. His hearing lost came from while serving active duty. He was told that he wasn’t eligible for benefits. Consoling Needham, Buffington assured him that he would schedule a date to personally take him to the VA to file his claim.

So the seasoned patriot who was among the Navy members who plucked Navy Commander Alan B. Shepard, America’s first astronaut in space from the ocean was happy for the support.

Lyndon Watson, a civilian who has no military affiliation listened to veterans tell their stories and offered his support. His sole purpose for attending the meeting was to give support to the group wherever it is needed.

Buffington attributes the success of his organization to his veteran team members, in particular, the women. I’m the face of this company. However, my VConnections team is predominantly ran and driven by women. My nonprofit is run by veterans, not by me,” said Buffington.

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Open Saturdays

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Friday, March 13, 2015

Coffee Club: Brewing strong communities helped to start the club along with Derek Matthews, founder of True Dorothy Lowe, District Vision, a youth develop5 Coffee Club facilitator, ment organization, Major called the weekly Wednes- Annette James, previous day meeting to order in a Commander of Prince room furnished by Colony George’s County Police South Inn in Clinton Mar. District V in cooperation 4. with Clinton Safeway “We’re an independent Management and the club and we have a good Starbucks Company in relationship with the 2004. Club Williams EsDistrict 5 Police Depart- tates Citizen Association.

The non-partisan club ment,” said Lowe, who

BY BOBBY JONES

STAFF PHOTOJOURNALIST

is a public forum were Prince George’s county citizens, business owners; organizations and public officials share information and work together to build a stronger, safer community.

“I think the Coffee Club is a wonderful event.

It gets everybody together to get information out there in the community.

I just wish that more people would be able to

attend,” said Major Raymond Gordon, Prince George’s County Police Department District 5 Commander.

Police District V encompasses Accokeek, Andrews Air Force Base, Aquasco, Baden, Brandywine, Camp Springs, Cedar Haven, Cheltenham, Clinton, Croom, Eagle Harbor, Fort Washington, Piscataway, and Upper Marlboro.

PHOTO/BOBBY JONES

A District 5 Coffee Club member talks about phone scams with fellow residents at the Colony South Inn in Clinton on March 4.

“The club is run by the community, not the police or fire department. I try to let them know about serious events that occurred like thefts; or give safety tips like when a person goes to a gas station make sure they lock their car and take their valuables with them because there’s been a rash of thefts.

We get wonderful feedback. It’s a great give and take. That’s the beauty of it. People freely provide their input. We have

other government officials that come to the meeting and let us know of something new that’s going on in the community like a Wal-Mart being built.

The developers come to the coffee club and talk about it.”

According to Gordon, the information provided varies depending on the issue they’re having such as if they had problems with dogs, somebody from animal control would be asked to attend their

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BITE, from page 1 that is an opportunity to bite into a healthy lifestyle because you can choose the baked potato. It’s just that constant state of awareness. Staying in tune with your body to say this is better, maybe I should forgo that; and know the moments that you are going to cheat and just be mindful.”

Tips for eating healthy

Harris offers several tips as guidelines to taking the initial steps into adopting a healthy lifestyle. Harris’ first suggestion is to ensure to get enough fluids, especially water. “Make sure you have enough water because your body is over 80 percent water and you need to put that back in; and when I say water I literally mean water.”

Harris added, “You can’t and only have had one glass of water because then you’re not giving your body what it needs to continue to move as well as flush out all the toxins that you put in throughout the day.”

Another key factor, Harris said, is reducing your fat intake. “When you think about fat and reducing it; it’s not only foods that say fried but also things like potato chips and doughnuts – anything you know that is prepared in oil – or grease – you have to monitor that and

limit those foods that are high in fat.”

Fiber is another important aspect of nutrition. “Make sure you consume over 30 grams of fiber in a day because fiber is what you need to bring all those things together – all that junk – and move it out of there. There are so many cereals that are high in fiber you can get all you 30 grams probably in one serving of cereal. If you don’t want to eat it all at one time, spread it throughout the day; just make sure you pay attention the content of fiber in your foods so that you can have enough.”

Fresh fruit and vegetables are also essential according to Harris. “Many times people don’t eat anything fresh.

They’ll go the whole day then they’ll say, ‘I had some green beans or I had some apple sauce.’ It’s OK if that’s where you’re starting. I want you to get to a level where you are making sure you have an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables. I even say nine plus servings of fruits and vegetables. You’re not only getting water, you’re getting fiber, you’re getting antioxidants you’re getting all the stuff the body needs; and when the body gets what it needs it really thrives.”

The last tool she offered is not so much nutrition but none the less essential to a healthy lifestyle –fitness.

Harris suggested adding some type of physical activity. “It doesn’t have to be

strenuous; it doesn’t have to be something you don’t like. Any sort of exercise that gets the body moving is always a good thing.”

Pitfalls

Harris offers that adopting a healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to be daunting.

“Life is life and people are going to go out and eat and there are going to be days where you honestly don’t want to worry about the calories, you don’t want to worry about the carbs, you don’t want to worry about the fat; and for that I say go for it. If you pick a time, say for example your anniversary or your birthday, you want to go out and you want to splurge and you don’t want to worry then don’t worry about it. However, for the majority of the days you have to be aware.”

Enjoy going out to eat but be mindful of the pitfall of eating out; in particular the preparation of meals.

“So when you go out to restaurants there are always foods that have a lot of extra calories and extra fat those items always include a gravy or sauce so if you are eating something that has a heavy sauce, a cream sauce, a gravy, if it’s an a gratin – has any type of cheese sauce mixed in there – you can know that’s it’s higher in calories.

“The other thing you need to watch out for is any type of prepared salad.

For more news from other bases around the Washington, D.C. area,

visit www.dcmilitary.com.

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Anything that is pre-mixed and it’s got all these ingredients mixed up in it, and you don’t know the individual ingredients, then those aren’t the foods that are in the purest forms. You always want to make sure you choose something that you can identify the food group it belongs in; and you don’t want to have it tainted by a lot of sauces and cheese and gravies. What you end up doing is smothering your food and put a lot of extra calories and fat into something that it doesn’t need.”

Harris suggested staying with grilled dishes, baked dishes, or something sautéed. If you want a sauce or dressing ask for it on the side, “You can control it better instead of letting the restaurant control it for you; it gives you more power.”

Finally, Harris offered, “When you bite into a healthy lifestyle it means take it one step at a time; bite into a little at a time be aware of what you’re doing on a daily basis ask yourself what did I eat today: did I eat my fruits; did I eat my vegetables; did I have too much fat; did I drink my water? Just start biting it off bit by bit. Set realistic goals for yourself and take baby steps; one day at a time you’ll get there.”

For more helpful tips and recipes you can visit www.healthy-eating-family. com.

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Friday, March 13, 2015

Montpelier Mansion exhibit features new artifacts

BY LESLIE C. SMITH STAFF WRITER

Several of the more than 4,000 artifacts will be on display in a new exhibit “Hidden Treasure: Restoration and Archaeology” at Montpelier Mansion in Laurel, Md. These artifacts were discovered during a year-long restoration in 2013 by archeologists.

With construction initiated in 1781 by Ann Ridgely and Major Thomas Snowden, members of prominent Maryland families, the 70 acres and the mansion are what remain of an original 9000-acre land holding.

The Snowden family was host to many famous and prominent, including George and Martha Washington.

The exhibit is divided up into several parts including the background on Montpelier and the family that lived there, and the artifacts that tie in with the background of the family and their wealth, as well as what goes into preserving and the restoration of Montpelier helping to educate people about why this process needs to be done.

“One of the unique things about this project is it wasn’t we went in and fixed just one thing; it was a project that took many meetings and took many years

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Numerous hidden treasures were discovered during the Montpelier Mansion restoration undertaken in 2013.

PHOTOS/LESLIE C. SMITH

While visiting the archeology exhibit, Montpelier Mansion is open for self-guided tours which features a childrens hands-on room where kids can explore 18th century living.

to put together. It was a project that was tackled on the whole on many surfaces from the top to the bottom of the house,” noted Edna Graham with Montpelier Mansion Maryland National Parks and Planning.

“What benefits us is that we get a peek into the past when

something like this is done,” said Graham.

“This is not the end. Just like the honey-do list, there is always something that needs to be repaired or fixed,” said Graham.

“Normally sites – or even as homeowners – we’re not able

to do things as a whole; we fix this problem then we run over and fix this problem, and we’re continuously having to fix problems. So this was very exciting that we would take the year and attack it on all levels,” Graham concluded.

With the intent to have the

exhibit to be enjoyed by all age groups there are many handson activities with information panels. Additional kid’s activities are planned in the exhibit as well as the children’s handson room in the Mansion, available on a self-guided tour.

The Spring History Lecture Series discussing the archeology preservation and conservation will also be featured monthly from March through May. The exhibit will run through April 30. Montpelier Mansion is open Thursday through Tuesday (closed on Wednesday), 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Andrews Gazette

Friday, March 13, 2015

COFFEE, from page 4 meeting to discuss it or if there was a be legal concern, a county attorney could ask to give advice to our citizens to alleviate certain issue. “There might be an inquiry about snow. A Public works representative could be contacted to inform residents what they should do,” said Gordon, who’s been attending the meetings since 2011.

“It’s a non-adversarial atmosphere and you get to talk about what’s going on and what’s happening in the community, such as crimes in the area.

The whole body of the Coffee Club is very committed.”

He noted The Citizens Advisory Council (CAC) has a meeting at the police station the 3rd Tuesday of every month to have discussions and the chief of police has a CAC that meets on a regular basis to discuss what’s going on in the community as well. “We discuss everything like the Ferguson situation, body cameras etc. There’s a lot of open dialogue that goes on.”

Vonetta Norman, a retired Air Force Tech. Sgt., was among the audience club members who became more involved after Carolyn Lowe invited her to one of the meetings. “I’ve always been interested in my surrounding community, said Norman. “Attending these civic association meetings allow me to be aware and involved in activities that directly improve Prince Georges County District IV in Maryland.”

Norman explained that she has acquired a vast amount of useful information while attending the weekly meetings. “I’ve received links to current legislation with affects the community and various county and state training made to residents. I received education regarding various subjects such Fraud/Scams prevention, new and incoming businesses. Along with Prince George’s County District 5 police, the Brandywine and Clinton fire departments offer ways to keep my family safe, like installing carbon monoxide/smoke detectors and chimney maintenance,” said Norman.

“I believe the Coffee Club members are able to improve the community.

This directly impacts the lives of their family members and neighborhoods.”

Maj. Gordon said Prince George’s County Police Department is looking for people who want to attend The Citizens Police Academy, a 12-week program for citizens who want to learn about the police department operations. The individual will go through various scenarios, including what an officer might encounter, such as when it would be necessary to shoot or not.

Trainees will attend every Monday at the training academy in Lanham.

About Coffee Club

The District 5 Coffee Club meets 9 a.m. Wednesday at Colony South Hotel in Clinton. For more information contact Dorothy Lowe at carolynlowe@yahoo. com or subscribe to districtcoffeeclubsubscribe@yahoogroups.com.

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Security Forces police blotter The Security Forces Blotter is intended to keep members of the Joint Base Andrews Community informed and aware of the crimes and offenses that occur throughout the base each week. If you have any information that may help Security Forces solve a crime or prevent a criminal act, please contact BDOC (Base Defense Operations Center) at 301-981-2001, Crime Stop Line 981-2677 (COPS, or the investigations section at 301-981-5656).

Feb. 22, 7:07 a.m.: Security Forces responded to a crash involving a privately owned vehicle. Further investigation revealed, while traveling on North Perimeter Road and Arnold Drive, a driver lost control of the vehicle after driving over a patch of ice and struck the curb on the side of the road. The individual was uninjured.

March 2, 3:09 p.m.: An individual attempting to gain access to the installation through the Main Gate was discovered to have a controlled dangerous substance in the vehicle. The individual was detained and charged accordingly.

March 3, 3:28 p.m.: Security Forces responded to a reports of shoplifting at the Main Exchange. An individual attempted to walk out of the Main Exchange without rendering payment for a pair of earrings. The individual was detained and charged accordingly.

March 7 at 10:10 p.m.: An indi-

vidual attempting to gain access to the installation through the Main Gate was discovered to have a controlled dangerous substance in the vehicle. The individual was detained and charged accordingly.

As A Reminder

There has been an increase in attempts to enter the Installation with a controlled dangerous substance in the vehicle. All vehicles entering the Installation are subject to be searched, anyone caught attempting to bring controlled dangerous substances on the Installation will be charged and may lose their base privileges.

When exiting your vehicle be sure to secure your personal property and don’t keep items of high value in your vehicle unattended.

Please remember, while driving on the installation you must have a valid driver’s license, proof of insurance, vehicle registration and proper Military Identification. All credentials must be up to date and present at the time they are asked for.

For reporting any emergencies or non-emergencies please feel free to utilize the “LiveSafe” app. “LiveSafe” is an anonymous reporting app that can be downloaded for free on your smart device.

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