Community Newsletter
Lewis-McChord Communities | December 2020
Satisfaction Survey
Living Green page 2
Community Events page 3
Cover
Feat ured Stor y
CHECK YOUR EMAIL! YOUR SURVEY LINK ARRIVES DECEMBER 2nd.
Didn’t receive your link? Please contact CEL via email at: ArmyHousingSurvey@celassociates.com Please include your Installation and full mailing address in the initial email.
Lewis-McChord Communities
Resident Newsletter 1
Living Green
In This Issue
1. Satisfaction Survey 2. Living Green 3. Community Events
Spouse Mixer - N/A
12 Days of Give Aways
Holiday Lights
4. Seasonal Reminders 5. Seasonal Reminders Cont. 6. Western Washington Tips 7. Snow And Ice Removal 8. Maintenace Tips 9. Maintenance Tips Cont. 10. Sustainability 11. Community Services 12. Resident Portal 13. Resident Portal Cont. 14. Find Us On Facebook 15. Maintenance Tips
District Office Hours: Monday - 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Tuesday - 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Wednesday - 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM Thursday - 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Friday - 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Saturday & Sunday Closed
Lewis-McChord Communities will be closed on the following days: December 24th and 25th Lincoln Military Housing
Living Green During the Holidays: • Use real dishes and flatware instead of serving food on paper or styrofoam at holiday parties. If there aren’t enough to go around, use recycled paper products or use plastic plates and cups, which can be washed and used many times. • Send an e-card with a photo of your family and a holiday wish, or e-vite if you’re hosting a party (this saves paper and postage). • Reduce wrapping by making it a part of the gift. Put presents in baskets, terra cotta garden pots or a reusable shopping bag. • Use LED lights instead of conventional lights. • Look for gifts with an environmental message: refillable thermos, a nature book, items made from recycled materials or products with rechargeable batteries.
District Trash Collection Schedule Have your trash cans curbside by 5:30 AM on your designated day Please Note: If your trash day falls on a holiday, pickup may be delayed by one business day
Monday: Evergreen, Madigan, New Hillside Tuesday: Broadmoor, Davis Hill, Greenwood, Parkway Wednesday: All McChord Field Thursday: Beachwood, Beachwood II, Eagleview, Meriwether Landing Friday: Clarkdale, Discovery Village, Hillside, Town Center Centralized Garbage Container Service: • Tuesday: Parkway and Town Center • Friday: Parkway and Clarkdale Resource Guide 2
Community Events
Spouses Mixer December: No Mixer This Month
Happy Holidays! Lewis-McChord Communities will be closed on December 24th and 25th.
Resident Events
Lewis-McChord Communities
Resource Guide 3
Seasonal Reminders Holiday Decorations Friendly reminder of important tips and dates:
After the holidays when its time to take down the family Christmas tree, LeMay offers free Christmas tree removal. Here are the guidelines to have your tree picked up and disposed of.
Christmas tree pickups will occur during Dec 31-Jan 4. If you choose to leave your tree up after the 4th of January, you can take your tree to the JBLM recycle centers located on Lewis and McChord. You will see two trucks in the communities on your schedule trash day. One truck will be performing normal trash removal, the second will be picking up any trees left on the curb. Please follow these guidelines to have your tree removed by LeMay.
* Only real trees will be removed by LeMay tree removal. * Trees need to be unflocked. * Trees must be cut down to 4ft sections and no bigger than 4� in diameter. * Trees must be free of tinsel, ornaments and decorations.
The Holidays and Trash pick up: During the holidays LeMay will be closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. All trash service will be pushed one day to accommodate their holiday schedule. For example: Christmas week. If your trash day is Monday or Tuesday, you will see no change to your service. If your normal trash day is on Wednesday - Friday, because LeMay is closed on Christmas, Wednesday pick up will be pushed to Thursday, Thursday to Friday and Friday to Saturday. Starting Monday, all trash service will return to normal pick up days. Lewis-McChord Communities
Resource Guide 4
Seasonal Reminders Cont. Extended Leave or Vacation from your home When leaving your home for an extended period of time (more than two (2) weeks), a Vacation and Extended Absence Form must be completed and given to your District Office. This form can be picked up at any of our District Offices. Before you leave your home, we strongly recommend that you: 1. Stop mail and newspaper delivery. 2. Leave pets with friends or at a kennel (pets are not allowed to stay in your home during your absence. 3. Unplug all unnecessary appliances such as a TV, coffee maker, or computers. 4. Lock and secure all doors and windows. 5. Turn off water supply line to washing machine.
During winter months: Please call our Customer Service line at 253.912.3500 for special “cold weather” instructions to prevent frozen / broken pipes.
Pet Responsibilities Pet droppings are odorous, unsightly, and a nuisance. More importantly, they can be a health hazard, especially for children. Therefore, pets must be kept under control so they do not defecate on parade fields, playgrounds, troop formation areas, sidewalks/walkways, common areas, miniature playgrounds of the housing areas, and neighbors' yards. You will immediately clean up droppings when your pet defecates outside of your residence yard. Droppings in your residence, including your yard, will be removed daily. Pet owners are responsible for disposing of their pet's waste, whether the pet is on a leash or in a fenced area. A pet owner who does not properly dispose of his/her pet's waste will be subject to a fine of $25 for each offense plus $5 per day that the violation persists. With the fall season comes heavy rain, wind and chilly weather. If you have a pet that spends time in the fenced yard, make sure you are taking the best care possible of your four legged family member. * Make sure your pet has shelter from the elements * Make sure your pet has food and water. * Bring your pet in when the weather is extreme. Remember if its too cold for you, its too cold for your pet. Be kind, bring them inside. Lewis-McChord Communities
Winter Weather Tips For Your Home / Ice and Snow Winter Weather Tips For Your Home:
With the changing weather, we could experience extreme temperature drops, snow and ice. When this kind of weather hits the Northwest, there is the possibility of pipes freezing and bursting in your home. You can help to prevent this by taking some simple steps. Disconnect all garden hoses from the exterior faucets. Keep your house temperature set at 55 or higher, even if you’re leaving the house for an extended period of time. Do not turn off the heating system, this can cause significant damage in your home due to broken water pipes. Open cabinet doors below sinks to allow heat from the home to circulate in these enclosed spaces. During extended periods of freezing temperatures set your inside faucets on a low drip to circulate water in the pipes and help prevent the lines from freezing.
Ice and Snow:
With snow and ice accumulations typically spanning short periods of time in the Pacific Northwest your Lewis McChord Communities teams will focus on hills, major roads and major intersections in and out of our communities. Lewis McChord Communities does not shovel or lay down ice/snow melt in walkways or driveways around the homes. During these times we ask you to use caution while moving in and around JBLM and other communities surrounding the installation, including major freeways and roadways. Follow the guidance provided by local officials and be safe when making a decision to travel away from your home. HAVE A SAFE WINTER
Tips for Holiday Travel Remember to contact your District Office if you and your family are on travel for more than 7 days. One Week Prior to Vacation: • • • •
Check the weather before your trip and modify any changes needed. Begin packing and leave room for “day of extras”. Also, overpacking a bit for the kids can help ward off any unexpected trips to your local store. If taking any animals pack their travel bag; don’t forget their favorite toy! Check under all sinks, around toilets and outdoor spigots for leaks, if you notice any leaks please call Lincoln at Your Service at 1-888578-4141 to have the leak repaired before your vacation.
The day or evening before your Vacation: • • • • • •
Double check all bags for any possible forgotten items. To assist in unwanted delays at security double check with the airlines regarding what cannot be in your carry-on. Throw away any foods that will spoil while gone. Take out any trash and unplug all non-essential appliances. Place timers on a few lights inside and lock all doors and windows. Lower your thermostat to a minimum of 68 degrees (in the colder months). If you live in an area that can freeze over night leave your sink cabinets open and leave your faucet valves with a slow drip. Resource Guide 5
Western Washington Winter Tips Cutting Down Your Own Christmas Tree May Require A Permit. Washington State Christmas tree permits for national forests Christmas tree farms 2020
Find a choose and cut tree farm or fresh pre-cut trees near you! Whether you want to cut your own tree, pick a live tree and have it cut for you, buy a tree already cut or buy a living tree you can plant, this page provides detailed listings of Washington State Christmas Tree Permits for National Forests’s choose-and-cut Christmas tree farms, places to buy pre-cut (also called pre-harvested and fresh-cut) trees, stands, sleigh rides, hay rides and related winter events and fun. Some listings are for tree farms, others are tree lots, and some only offer hay rides, sleigh rides or other winter events. READ EACH LISTING to know what each facility offers. The farms are listed further down this page, so scroll down the page! Since this service is free and open to ALL Christmas tree farms, not just those who belong to an association or pay for an ad, like almost all other websites do, this is the most complete and current listing available! Follow this link to learn more
Head To The Mountains And Enjoy The Snow! Here are some of the best places to go sled riding in Washington this winter. Considering over half the state has seen snow over the last few days, it’s safe to say that winter is imminent. And while skiing and snowboarding tend to be people’s favorite means of celebration, not everyone has time (or the desire) to make that happen. Plus, you’re really never too old to go sledding. Here are some of our favorite spots. 1. Tubing Park at Ski Hill, Leavenworth - Leavenworth’s Ski Hill is a small ski area with two Alpine runs, a tubing hill with rope tows, and cross-country skiing and snowshoe trails. 2. Mt. Rainier National Park - The only place where sledding is allowed in the park is the designated snow play area immediately north of the upper parking lot at Paradise... but if you can find it, it’s worth it. 3. Franklin Park, Yakima - When Yakima schools have a snow day, you’ll find most of the students sledding down the hills at Franklin Park. 4. Echo Valley Ski Area - This Chelan area ski and tubing hill has rope tows and a four-lane tubing hill. 5. Hurricane Ridge - Olympic National Park’s Hurricane Ridge has a small skiing and snowboarding area that also has a tubing run. Stop by the visitors’ center for information and a warming area.
Winter driving - Studded tires, Traction tires & chains Studded Tires - Studded tires are only legal Nov. 1 Mar. 31. Motorists using studded tires before or after these dates could incur a fine from law enforcement. Approved studded tires & chains There is no individual exception to the studded tire season. When traveling in Washington, you are required to follow the State of Washington’s motor vehicle laws. Studded tires do not satisfy state chain requirements. If chains are required on your vehicle, you’ll have to install them even on studded tires. Motorists are encouraged to visit a tire dealer to learn more about stud-free winter traction tires that are legal for year-round use and do not cause the same roadway damage as studded tires. These tires are different from “all season” tires and have a more aggressive tire tread. Traction Tires - The following qualify as traction tires when required on Washington roadways: • •
Approved traction tires - including an eighth of an inch tread and a M&S or All Season label or a Mountain/Snowflake symbol. Installing chains makes any tire a traction tire. Approved tire chains
Chains and alternatives - Those traveling into higher elevations should carry chains and have approved traction tires whenever winter weather is possible, especially Nov. 1 through March 31. Studded tires do NOT satisfy state chain requirements; if chains are required, they’ll have to installed on top of studded tires. 4WD/AWD and chains - 4WD/AWD vehicles (under 10,000 pounds) do not need chains installed during “chains required” notices, but drivers still must carry chains with them in case conditions worsen and they’re required to install chains during a “chains required on all vehicles” notice. Chain placement - Front- and rear-wheel drive vehicles. On a front-wheel drive vehicle you must install chains on the front two tires. On a rear-wheel drive vehicle, you must install chains on the rear two tires. For more informations please visit Washington State DOT site.
Click here for more fun places to visit this winter season. Lewis-McChord Communities
Resource Guide 6
JBLM Snow, Ice And Sanding Plan.
JBLM - Snow, Ice And Sanding Removal Plan
ROAD SNOW,ICE AND SANDING REMOVAL PLAN LEWIS-MCCHORD COMMUNITIES
When ice or snow accumulations are imminent, Lewis-McChord Communities staff will be on standby to respond if in fact the weather does affect the roads within the Housing Areas. While in standby mode, we will monitor local news as well as the Joint Base Alerts, so we can provide the quickest response possible to the ever changing conditions. Please keep in mind, LMC does not have staff on site 24 hours a day to assess road conditions; so when conditions change overnight we will respond as quickly as possible in cooperation with the Department of Emergency Services and Public Works. LMC responds with a phased plan addressing current road conditions focused on the most critical areas first, including hills and major intersections. As we implement our plan we will cooperate with installation resources to leverage our assets, helping to provide the safest passage possible for LMC residents and staff. The work order line is always available to our residents providing them an outlet to report issues in their area. LMC may send Red Flag Alerts to our residents providing specific instructions and warnings regarding inclement weather when necessary. All Lewis-McChord Communities residents are automatically registered for the LMH Red Flag alerts. If you have specific phone numbers or emails you would like to receive these alerts, contact your District Office to update your profile. We also encourage our residents to opt into the JBLM Emergency Notification services which is another mode of communication from local authorities, including JBLM Commanders. To stay informed on weather-related notices, join the JBLM Alert System by visiting: https://member.everbridge.net/index/453003085611338#/login For road conditions on JBLM, visit https://home.army.mil/lewis-mcchord or call the road conditions hotline at 253-967-1733. So that our focus remains on the most critical areas, LMC will not be plowing and/or sanding side streets, rather focusing on major connecting roads, hills and intersections in and out of our communities. If you are concerned with getting from your driveway, please stop to consider other options before you leave your home. Major snow accumulations in the Pacific Northwest are not constant in the winter and can vary considerably. Resources on JBLM and in many of the municipalities surrounding the installation are limited, travel may be limited in many of these areas, so please use caution before deciding to travel away from your home. Monitor Local News and Command communications so that you are making informed decisions on your travel plans. While it is the residents responsibility to perform snow/ice removal at their individual homes and the sidewalks in front of the homes, we will do our best to provide for the safe passage of our residents in and out of the JBLM neighborhoods and respond to resident concerns as resources allow. Be safe this winter season and Happy Holidays from all of us here at Lewis McChord Communites and Lincoln Military Housing.
Lincoln Military Housing
Resource Guide 7
Maintenance Tips Maintenance Tips: Garbage Disposal There are no two ways about it — garbage disposals are amazing. No longer do you have to worry about catching bits of food and stopping them from going down the drain as you do dishes. You can purposefully put food down the drain and grind it up. There are so many reasons to love your garbage disposal. Food scraps won’t sit in your trash can and give off an unpleasant odor. Your trash bag doesn’t fill up as full because you can put a lot of things into the garbage disposal instead. What’s not to love? However, it’s important to remember that as wonderful a tool as a garbage disposal is, it’s not indestructible. It can and will break, or be less effective, if the wrong foods go down the drain. That’s why it pays to know what things are safe for the garbage disposal and which things are no-nos.
WHAT IS A GARBAGE DISPOSAL USED FOR? Your garbage disposal is intended to be used for mashing and grinding up small food waste. It takes these pieces of food and shreds them into tiny pieces that won’t clog your pipes or drains. While the best way to keep your garbage disposal healthy is to avoid putting any food down it that it can’t handle, there are a few other things you can do to keep it working smoothly: • • •
Run cold water when turning the disposal on, as this helps greases and oils solidify so they can be ground up. Run your disposal regularly. Letting it sit unused will cause it to act up. Don’t put down anything that isn’t biodegradable.
WHAT CAN’T YOU PUT DOWN A GARBAGE DISPOSAL? • • • • • • • • •
•
Coffee Grounds: Although they may appear to be finely milled, they’re very densely packed and almost pastelike when you take them out of a filter. Pasta, Rice, and Bread: What do these three things have in common? They all absorb water and expand, which can easily lead to a clogged drain. Animal Bones: Although it can be hard to accept, the garbage disposal is not indestructible. It’s simply not built to grind up exceptionally hard items. Bones are one of the hardest naturally-occurring substances out there, and they can significantly shorten the lifespan of your disposal. Nuts and Shells: Similar to bones, nuts and shells (including seafood shells) can be very damaging to your garbage disposal. Pits and Seeds: If you can’t cut it with a knife, it’s safe to say putting it down the disposal is not a good idea. Pits and seeds are often round and small, making them even harder to grind up. Egg Shells: There’s a commonly held misconception that egg shells can help to sharpen the “blades” of your garbage disposal. But the truth is, garbage disposal don’t have blades. Rather, they have impellers that are more blunt than sharp. These impellers grind food waste down, rather than chopping it up like a blender. Fibrous or Stringy Fruits and Vegetables: Throw in the trash instead of the disposal for example, celery, asparagus, banana peels, corn husks, and rhubarb. Potato Peels: When tossing potato peels down the disposal, one of two things can happen: 1) the peels may be thin enough to slip past the disposal, causing them to potentially catch in the drain or 2) they are ground up, and turn into a starchy paste in your disposal. If this paste makes its way into the pipes, you can have major blockages down the road. The same goes for other starchy vegetables and beans. Grease, Oil, and Fat: The tricky thing about grease, oil, and fats is they may look like liquid now, but they don’t stay that way for long. These materials will congeal with time, which can cause a major blockage in your drain. It’s best to simply allow these substances to cool, and then dispose of them in trash. Lewis-McChord Communities
Resource Guide 8
Maintenance Tips Cont: Maintenance Tips: Oven and Stove Top Safety A stove and oven are a necessary household item. We use them on a daily basis for small meals and large meals alike. The stove is a critical component of the household and life would be hard without one, but life can be dangerous if you are not practicing safety and caution while using a stove. Cooking fires are the primary cause of residential fires in the U.S.. For the most part, kitchen fires are preventable, if you follow the safety tips provided below. USING YOUR STOVE TOP & OVEN: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Never leave cooking unattended. Keep it clean. Food particles and grease residue can ignite and cause a fire. Create a “Kid-Free Zone” that children are aware they are not allowed to enter. Check for body safety. Tie back long hair. Roll up long sleeves. Remove loose jewelry. Be sure footwear is non-slip. Before each use, do an oven safety check. Be sure you do not smell gas leaking from a gas stove.If you do, open a window and leave the room. Make sure there is nothing in the oven. An oven should never be used for storage. Make sure that there are no food particles or grease residue on the stove top. Position your oven racks before pre-heating to prevent scalding. Be sure to follow safety guidelines when using stove top burners. Use burners on the back as much as possible. Never use a pot that is too small or big for the burner. Never leave a burner on that does not have a filled pot or pan on it. Do not leave an empty pan on a hot burners. Turn all pot and pan handles inwards. They can be pulled and knocked over when they are turned out. Close the oven door immediately after removing or testing food. Keep oven mitts and other cloth and paper out of the way of the burners. Use oven mitts and oven sticks to remove pots and pans from the stove top or oven. Keep a fire extinguisher, baking soda and metal lids nearby to put out fires quickly.
IN CASE OF FIRE: • • • • • • • • • •
Never use water on a grease fire. If it is small in the pan, throw baking soda on top of it or cover it with a metal lid. Never use flour or fan the flames with a towel. Use an ABC rated dry chemical extinguisher. Be sure it is placed next to an exit so that you can back out of the kitchen and home if the fire becomes uncontrollable. If it is too big to smother with a lid or put out with an extinguisher, turn off the burner, move the pan off the burner if you are able to, and evacuate the house. If it is in the oven, keep the door closed and turn off the heating element. Do not remove a lid or open the oven door until the pot or pan has completely cooled. Before trying to fight a fire, be sure to evacuate everyone from the home. Turn off the burners or oven. If the fire does not go out, exit the home and call for emergency help. Lewis-McChord Communities
Resource Guide 9
JBLM News
Green Living on JBLM
By: Cathy Hamilton-Wissmer, Directorate of Public Works
The holidays are upon us, and while it’s time for family togetherness you can increase your comfort and joy by keeping a clean, fresh home. An eco-friendly home is good for pets, kids and their parents. With only a few simple changes you can go green in your home: • • •
• •
Clean your microwave with a slice of lemon in a small bowl of water, heat for 45 seconds then wipe away stains and eliminate unpleasant odors. Consider using an all-natural cleaner, it’s simple to make, safe for the family, and works anywhere in the home. Due to the chemical nature of many commercial cleaners, they can poison, corrode, explode, or ignite easily when handled improperly. Household cleaning, home improvement, automobile maintenance, lawn and garden care, and hobbies all produce by-products that are considered household hazardous waste (HHW) when discarded. Sometimes these are wrongly disposed of by pouring down the drain, on the ground, into storm sewers, or putting them out with the trash. Joint Base Lewis-McChord housing residents can bring their household hazardous waste to the Directorate of Public Works, Environmental Services team, please call 253-967-4786 for details. Here are some more ways to go-green in your home: Worldwide over 27,000 trees are cut down every day just to make toilet paper! Switch to 100% post-consumer recycled toilet paper. • Add more organic produce to the shopping list and plan meals to reduce food waste. • Check out the Environmental Guidebook on the Environmental Division webpage to see what else you can recycle. • Use reusable bags when you are out, and pack your own groceries. Washington State is implementing a plastic bag ban beginning January of 2021. Did you know? -- The average US household generates more than 20 pounds of household hazardous waste per year. As much as 100 pounds can accumulate in the home, often remaining there until the residents move out or do an extensive cleanout. Cut slingload and go-green! Follow Sustainable JBLM on Facebook for more green ideas.
Lewis-McChord Communities
Resource Guide 10
Community Services
Caught On Camera! October Spouses Mixer - Glitter Ornaments
Community Services Email: lewismcchordcommunities@gmail.com Office Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Closed Saturday and Sunday Community Services Coordinator: Hope Schwickerath Community Services Director: Marcia McDowell
join the conversation Like us on Facebook, find us on Twitter, look for us on Instagram and Pinterest, you can even find us on snapchat. Lincoln Military Housing is not responsible for information from other organizations published in this newsletter. Lewis-McChord Communities
Community Services Mission Statement Our mission is to improve the quality of life for our military residents through programs designed to strengthen personal connections between neighbors, and to partner with like minded local organizations to support this goal. Resource Guide 11
District Information
Lewis-McChord Communities
Resource Guide 12
District Information
Lewis-McChord Communities
Resource Guide 13
JBLM News
DISTRICT OFFICES LEWIS MAIN
LEWIS NORTH
MCCHORD FIELD
Lewis Main District Office
Lewis West District Office
Lewis East District Office
Lewis North District Office
McChord District Office
Broadmoor, Town Center and Clarkdale
Parkway, Davis Hill, Greenwood and Hillside
Discovery Village, Evergreen and New Hillside
Meriwether Landing, Beachwood North, Beachwood South and Eagleview
All McChord and Madigan
BLDG 5133 - Lewis Main Phone: 253-912-3460 lewismain@lpsi.com
BLDG 5133 - Lewis Main Phone: 253-912-3493 lewiswest@lpsi.com
BLDG 10400 - Lewis North Phone: 253-912-3475 lewisnorth@lpsi.com
BLDG 3209 - McChord Field Phone: 253-589-0523 mcchord@lpsi.com
District Manager: Heather Curaming Maintenance Supervisor: Matt Clark
District Manager: Amy VanPevenage Maintenance Supervisor: Dale Kimmell
BLDG 60100A - Lewis Main Phone: 253-912-3485 lewiseast@lpsi.com
District Manager: Jessica Flansburg Maintenance Supervisor: Adam Aflau
District Manager: Kimberly Trammell Maintenance Supervisor: Joe Mavaega
Lewis-McChord Communities
District Manager: Lesley Bonnell Maintenance Supervisor: Adam Brokaw
Resource Guide 14
Maintenance Tips
How Can We Help? Maintenance Requests, Suggestions or Residents Concerns Do you have a needed repair, a suggestion, or a concern? Lincoln Military Housing is committed to enriching the lives of military families through providing quality homes and vibrant communities. Your feedback is an important piece in helping us accomplish this goal, and we want to ensure we provide you with an avenue to initially address your needed repair, suggestion or concern and the process to escalate it, should that be necessary. Below is an outline of our easy Three- Step process for concerns and opportunities to provide feedback.
Three-Step Process for Resident Concerns Step One
Step Two
Step Three
Identify the issue and contact Lincoln Military Housing:
If the issue is incomplete contact Lincoln Military Housing:
If the issue is still unresolved contact:
Lincoln At Your Service 24-HR Toll-Free Hotline: 888-578-4141 LincolnServiceTrack.com
General Management Office 253-912-2111
Government Family Housing 253-967-2524
~ Lewis Main District Office | 253-912-3460 ~ Lewis West District Office | 253-912-3493 ~ Lewis East District Office | 253-912-3485 ~ Lewis North District Office | 253-912-3475 ~ McChord District Office | 253-589-0523 Lewis-McChord Communities
Resource Guide 15
