Health
Madigan's Soldier Readiness Service, located at the Madigan Annex, is a walk-in clinic where Soldiers can see a counselor that same day. The behavioral health service at Madigan has the same type of walk-in service, but in addition to Soldiers self-referring, commanders can walk their Soldiers in to the clinic
Operation Family Support
Receiving help doesn't get much easier than having someone show up at your door. With the Fort Lewis New Parent Support Program, social workers and registered nurses are available to do just that. Parents can receive assistance for everything from deployment-related issues to "baby proofing" and everything in-between - all without
Spouses
Soldiers and their families have difficult decisions to make when facing a deployment. One of those is choosing to move or stay put in their current homes. For families living on post, the decision to move might seem appealing at first, but could end up being more of a hassle
We Recommend
Scrooge: The Musical is currently running at Capital Playhouse in Olympia - and will be through Dec. 30. With direction from Troy Arnold Fischer, Scrooge is easily one of the better ways to shake off the bah humbugs this season. The show promises fun for the whole family. But even better:
Operation Family Support
Most parents would agree that raising children is one of life's most difficult challenges. Bringing them up in a military family can be even more difficult. The Army recognizes this reality and is full of resources to assist and support those families. The Fort Lewis New Parent Support Program is no
Archives
A post-wide bus route, developed by a Pierce Transit and Fort Lewis partnership, aims at improving sustainability efforts, decreasing on-post traffic and making commuting easier for Soldiers, families and employees. The Fort Lewis 207-sequence routes run on weekdays and cost 75 cents for a single ride, a dollar less than the
Health
If there's one universal rule in the military, it's that your predeployment days can be hectic. There's a lot on your plate that needs taking care of, like getting your finances and legal documents in order and making arrangements for your family while you're gone. If you are deploying from a
Health
If you're planning to or have recently moved to another duty station, you not only have a new community, but you may have a new regional TRICARE contractor managing your health care benefits. Rest assured, though, no matter what TRICARE program you're using, your benefits are portable. Here are some suggestions: Get routine
Operation Family Support
WASHINGTON - The Army wants Soldier-dads to know there is a new paternity leave policy available to them. To get the word out, Department of the Army spread the word to military bloggers at the Pentagon. The policy, which was signed into law by President George W. Bush Oct. 14, 2008,
Archives
There are few activities that inspire more personal freedom than riding a motorcycle. Cruising down the highway, wind in your face and the sun on your shoulders as you crank the throttle to accelerate through a series of twists and turns is a mighty exhilarating and enjoyable endeavor. Life is
Health
Moms on the Move, Soldiers Training Ability Readiness Spirit, Healthy Beginnings, Mother Wellness Soldier Fitness, Pregnant Soldier Wellness - all are local names for the Army's fitness program for pregnant and postpartum Soldiers. The Army Pregnancy Postpartum Physical Training Program is a specialized Army physical training and education program developed with
Health
You can effortlessly change your child's diaper in the middle of the night. In the dark. With one hand. In the car. While you're driving. Some changes are not that easy. Military families regularly face deployments, moves and other transitions. "Families will see a range of reactions to the changes taking place at
Health
The Department of Pharmacy at Madigan Army Medical Center is now offering patients a new concierge service. Aimed at reducing prescription fill wait times, the concierge service will be offered Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The pharmacy's goal for the new service is to streamline the process
Deals
(Blue Star Families release) Last week, Blue Star Families and Google sent out an email introducing you to Google Voice. We briefly described the application and gave you a little insight into what it can do to ease the daily stresses of staying in touch with your deployed service member.
PROMO
(THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED. CONGRATULATIONS TO JAN AND PAUL!) Welcome to another awesome Weekly Volcano Morning Quickie Newsletter giveaway. This morning we're giving away two, $20 gift card to the new Cafe Banana Asian Bistro in Lakewood. The menu at Café Banana shines with five appetizers, five curry dishes,
Cup Check
Not that you noticed, but I was on vacation last week. There was turkey. There was stuffing. There was cranberry sauce. But there was no Cup Check. I'm assuming you survived. The good news is (at least for fans of lowbrow sports-related pandering), I'm back this week and so is the
Resources
(Fort Lewis release) — Deploying service members no longer have to worry about how their privately owned vehicles will weather the wind and rain of Washington during separation. Troops now have the option of storing their POVs at a new indoor storage facility thanks to a contract that was recently awarded
Arts
This Monday, Dec. 5, is "fast becoming a national holiday," at least according to the people at the Olympia Film Society. But if you're wondering which holiday it is, you're not alone.It's the date Prohibition was repealed back in 1933, and Olympia bartenders and the folks at the film society will
Stage
You'd think a gallery that's been open only a few months would not be able to mount a show featuring favorite artists from previous shows. But Flow (formerly Mineral) has done just that with a show called Remix + featuring prints, collages and sumi painting by Mary Bottomley, Bill Colby,
Stage
Stardust Serenade is the 17th in Harlequin's series of annual World War II-era musical revues, and by all accounts, it's intended to be the last. This reprise of the 2002 version uses the departure of a flyboy (Ryan Holmberg, charming as ever) as an excuse to perform 22 numbers from
