AN INDEPENDENT PUBLICATION OF COMPRINTMILITARY PUBLICATIONS AT JOINT BASE ANDREWS,MD.DCMILITARY.COM FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013 | VOL. 2 NO. 39

JBA Participatesin Hispanic FiestaFun 5k Run

6AFDW CommandChief Strives toLead, Inspire

3 Studio HelpsFill CreativeVoid For Students

7

BY JAZZMINAWA-WILLIAMS

Every nine seconds, a woman in the U.S. is assaulted or beaten.Husbands or boyfriends murder more than three women every daynationwide. Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women.These sobering statistics offer a mere scratch to the surface of do-

mestic violence, a serious issue faced at both a local and national levelthat crosses generation, class and racial lines.This October, women’s organizations, family advocates and domes-

tic violence coalitions will be honoring Domestic Violence AwarenessMonth (DVAM). The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence(NCADV) held the first “Day of Unity” on October 17, 1981 to join to-gether victims battered women’s advocates across the U.S.After that day, the “Day of Unity,” celebrated the first Monday of

every October, expanded to a week of domestic violence awareness, me-morials and celebrations for the survivors. That evolved to the presentday configuration of a biennial national conference, DVAM commemo-rative legislation passed annually by Congress and the entire monthof October dedicated to events and education in both rural and urbancommunities nationwide.Where it all began- domestic violence laws and statistics in the USDating back to medieval Europe, women were literally the property

of their husbands. In full compliance with the law, men could sentencetheir wives to be publicly whipped, force them to wear iron muzzlesand more. In early America, laws followed British common law in thatthe state affirmed a husbands right to domestically reprimand his wifein whatever manner he saw fit.“If no permanent injury has been inflicted, nor malice, cruelty nor

dangerous violence shown by the husband, it is better to draw thecurtain, shut out the public gaze, and leave the parties to forget andforgive,” the North Carolina Supreme Court said in a ruling in 1874.The attitude of leaving domestic “disputes” to the parties in-

volved persisted well into the twentieth century until the 1960sand 1970s when the feminism movement came to the forefront ofthe country’s consciousness. Advocates insisted that domestic vio-lence crimes be treated like any other crime, rather than pushedinto family court where conceived “crisis intervention” programsgave attackers more leeway and none of the severe penalties theycould face in criminal court.By 1976, DC police were given the authority to make arrests on prob-

able cause if they were under the impression that a person had com-

Domestic ViolenceAwareness Month

see AWARENESS, page 10

BY AIRMAN 1ST CLASSJOSHUA R. M. DEWBERRY11TH WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS

A team of tennis coaches andprofessionals made a racket atthe West Fitness Center as TeamAndrews members gathered tosharpen their tennis skills at aThanking our Troops ThroughTennis (T3) clinic on Joint BaseAndrews Oct. 5.T3, an initiative of the non-

profit entity Blue Sky foundation,Inc., was created to show supportfor troops and their families, byholding tennis clinics at militarybases around the country, allow-ing service members and theirfamilies to learn all aspects of the

Tennis for Troops

PHOTOS BY AIRMAN 1ST CLASS JOSHUA R. M. DEWBERRY.

Several tennis professionals joined Airmen and their families at Joint Base Andrews, Md., to give backthrough the Thanking Our Troops Through Tennis event Oct. 5. TeamAndrewsmembers gathered to sharpentheir game and play a friendly game or two at the base tennis courts.

see TENNIS, page 8

Several Brandywine residentsand their families participatedin the Annual Baden Day Com-munity Day Sept. 28. Local resi-dents were treated to live music,food, demonstrations, vendorsand children’s entertainment ofmagic, balloons, face painting,games, moon bounces and trainrides. The free event took place atthe Baden Community Center inBrandywine, Md.

Brandywine Residents Enjoy Annual Baden Day Festival

Awheel barrel of pumpkinswereamong theproduce for sale by localfarmers at theBadenDayevent.

Children have fun and get exercise by using muscle power to rotate aWhirly Bird amusement ride.

see BADEN DAY, page 10

Cyra Khureen has a captive dance audience as she teaches bellydancing techniques at center stage during the Annual Baden Day freeactivities offered.

BY BOBBY JONESSTAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Senior citizen, JacquelineCampbell was one of 26 happyhomers to benefit from the Annu-al Heats On -Waters Off programmade available to Prince George’sCounty residents on Sept. 28.“The Heats On – Waters Off ”

program involves the combinedvoluntary efforts of the PrinceGeorges’ County Departmentof Family Services the PrinceGeorge’s County Fire/EMS De-partment; as well as the Me-chanical Contractors Associa-tion of Metropolitan Washington;Steamfitters Local 602; PlumbersLocal 5.For the most part, her 40-year-

old home had been well kept. But

over the years her heating andair conditioning system fell intodisrepair and was in bad need foran upgrade.To make things worse the

chemotherapy patient’s heatingsystem failed her during the re-cent weather transition to cool-er nights.According to John Wigginton,

W.E. Bowers mechanical engi-neer noted that Campbell’s out-dated heating and air condition-ing (HVAC) system needed to beupgraded to a high efficiency 80percent gas fire furnace.Wigginton noted a laundry list

of items needed to provide herwith a safe HVAC system“We had to re-modify the duct

work for the new application,from the supply system down

to the furnace and install a newair filter rack. We essentiallybrought everything up to codewith a new gas cock and newdouble wall BVent kit, back to thewater heater,” said Wigginton.“This free upgrade saved her

around $4,800. The furnace wasdonated from a dealer at the sup-ply house, she’s in good shapenow,”Wigginton said. “I think it’sa great thing them donating thefurnace, because she wasn’t ableto afford one.”The purpose of the Heats On –

Waters Off program is to providelow income, elderly and disabledhomeowners who have inefficient,faulty or hazardous equipmentwith preventive maintenance,

15th Annual Heats On – Waters Off Project a Success

PHOTO BY BOBBY JONES

Cathy Stasny, left, Prince George’s County Department of Aging Ser-vices Home owner, Jacqueline Campbell, center, Steve Mack, right,Chairman of The Mechanical Contractors Association of Metropoli-tan Washington Service Bureau, and John Wigginton, W.E. Bowersmechanical engineer, far right, poses for a group photo with volun-teers from the Prince George’s County Fire Department.see HEAT, page 3

2 Friday, October 11, 2013Andrews Gazette

Andrews Gazette is published by Comprint Military Publications,9030 Comprint Court, Gaithersburg, Md., a private firm in no wayconnected with the U.S. Air Force or any branch of the UnitedStates military. The appearance of advertising in these publica-tions, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute en-

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BY CHRIS BASHAMSTAFF WRITER

I’m reading the news coverage ofthe federal shutdown, both Americanand international, and it’s interest-ing. But I think the real answer tothe whole mess is to be found on so-cial media.Angry, insulting, flame-war-in-

undated social media is taking overwhere the government shutdownleft off. If we put half the energy intoworking through our elected repre-sentatives that we spend shouting ateach other, we might be in a muchbetter position, as a country.My friends and family don’t all

agree on everything, except perhapson the idea that the only good idea isone strongly held. As the governmentshut down, the rhetoric heated up onmy Facebook newsfeed: It is all theleft’s fault, all the right’s fault, all thefault of rich, of poor, of leaders whohave forgotten their constituency’sneeds and leaders who won’t ignorepopular opinion to do what is right.It’s everybody’s fault. And it’s

making people angry.

Anger can be a great thing, if itspurs you on to do the hard work ofmaking real change. But if all it doesis make you yell at your friends andcall each other names, it’s not a pro-ductive emotion. It just leaves youred in the face and stomping, likeRumpelstiltskin in the corner.Lately, I have been getting to

know a lot of people with opinions Ihave never really considered. Peoplewho sit squarely on the other side ofthe political or religious aisle. AndI’m finding that a lot of the time, ifwe all calm down and explain ourpoints over a big pitcher of some-thing cool and refreshing, with theintention of listening, we all learn.Is anyone really listening, anymore?Or are we all just shouting?My son runs a robust online de-

bate group. They talk about politics,religion and a lot of other hot-buttonissues. Conversation can be tense,and people sometimes say thingswith a lot more vitriol than is use-ful. He reminds everyone, especiallyme, that the point of discussion isnot always to convince the otherperson that they’re wrong. The best

goal, much of the time, is to com-municate your own ideas as calmlyand respectfully as possible, so theywill be heard and understood, and sothat you can in turn hear and under-stand the opposing side. Sometimesthat leads to consensus and compro-mise, and sometimes it doesn’t seemto lead anywhere, but at least it isan opportunity for everyone to slowtheir roll and think.I’m writing this week’s column

early, so I can go on vacation. I’mhoping that by the time I return ev-erything will be straightened out:Not “back to normal,” so much as“back to our senses,” so we can worktogether as a nation, care for eachother as fellow Americans, respecteach others’ differing opinions, fightfor everyone’s rights and honor thecomplexities of life that lead each ofus to see the world from the particu-lar perspective we do.May our leaders have wisdom and

courage, dignity and strength. Andmay they all remember the rest ofus, here at home, watching.

Commentary:There’s yer problem

COURTESY OF THE RETIREEACTIVITIES OFFICE

Pentagon display honorsKorean War vetsA permanent display in the Pen-

tagon honors veterans of the KoreanWar. The exhibit comprises a collec-tion of photographs, videos, weaponsand other artifacts of the KoreanWar. It also highlights the advance-ments of women, medicine and tech-nology and the integration of Afri-can-Americans into the U.S. military.A 1953 ceasefire agreement endedthe three-year conflict. Negotiationstook place during 158 meetings overtwo years and 17 days while fightingcontinued across the Korean Penin-sula. The armistice agreement cre-ated the Demilitarized Zone -- 155

miles long by 2.5 miles wide -- thatserves as a buffer zone and de factoborder between totalitarian NorthKorea and democratic South Korea.The Korean War armistice has neverbeen followed by a peace treaty, andthe two Koreas technically are stillat war. More than 450 South Ko-rean and 100 American troops havebeen killed in the line of duty dur-ing North Korean provocations since1953. As a part of the South Korea-United States alliance, 28,500 Amer-ican troops serve in South Korea.

Scholarships awardedTwo daughters and a son of re-

tired enlisted Airmen were among25 people selected to receive $1,000scholarships through the Air ForceClub Membership Scholarship Pro-gram. There were no recipients in

the National Capital Area. Each ofthe winners also received a laptopcomputer and portable printer. Atotal of 156 entries were submit-ted. Each included a 500-word essayabout what inspired them to be suc-cessful. For more information aboutthe Air Force Clubs programs, howto apply for this scholarship andto view winning essays, visit www.afclubs.net and click on the ClubScholarship logo.

Maryland Guard groupinactivatedThe Maryland Air National

Guard’s 175th Wing in Baltimore in-activated its 135th Airlift Group aspart of the wing’s loss of the C-27Jflying mission. Some Airmen remain

Retiree Corner

see RETIREE, page 8

October 11Saxophonist Ron HollowayMontpelier Arts Center, 9652 Muirkirk Road, Laurel, Md.8 p.m.Hear one of today’s most notable tenor sax players. For

information visti www.arts.pgparks.com.

October 12Kids Day in the KountryPatuxent Rural Life Museums, 16000 Croom Airport

Road, Upper Marlboro, Md.10 a.m.Enjoy pony rides, face painting, woodworking demon-

strations, pumpkin decorating, live animal displays andblacksmith re-enactments. Tour all five museums and comehome with a bunch of mementos to go with your memories,all for free. For information visit www.pgparks.com.

October 122K Breast Health WalkThe Mall at Prince George’s, Hyattsville, Md.8 a.m.Join All Shades of Pink in an indoor walk for breast

cancer awareness. For information visit www.allshadesof-pink.org.

October 13National Theatre LiveAngelika Film Center - Mosaic, 2911 District Avenue,

Fairfax, Va.2 p.m.See a rebroadcast of a recent National Theatre produc-

tion of Othello captured in HD. For information on thisand other NT Live performances visit www.NTLive.com.

HOTTICKETSAround Town

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3Friday, October 11, 2013 Andrews Gazette

BY TECH. SGT. TAMMIE MOOREAIR FORCE DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

The new Air Force District of Washing-ton command chief arrived at Joint BaseAndrews less than a month ago. Since thattime, he’s been learning about the com-mand’s mission and its people.AFDW Command Chief Master Sgt. Jo-

se A. LugoSantiago moved here from JointBase San Antonio, the largest joint basein the Department of Defense, where heserved as the installation command chieffor nearly a year and a half.Prior to becoming a command chief, he

served as a test, measurement and diag-nostic equipment technician, quality as-surance evaluator, flight chief and squad-ron superintendent of an aircraft mainte-nance squadron. He also performed specialduties as an Airman Leadership Schoolinstructor and military training instructorin Air Force Basic Training. These experi-ences led him to believe teamwork is a cru-cial ingredient of success and directly tiesto the Air Force Core Value of “excellencein all we do.”“We must work together, we have to be

approachable, we have to take care of ourAirmen -- which includes our enlisted, of-ficers and civilians,” he said. “Those arethings I think are important and we haveto be able to do them with excellence. Theword ‘excellence’ is so overused; sometimesI think people forget what it is.”LugoSantiago feels a story shared by

former Chief Master Sergeant of the AirForce Robert D. Gaylor provides a solid ex-ample of excellence: One day Gaylor wasat a hotdog stand where he saw a workingman call out “Juan!” A boy came runningand the man handed him a bag. The boythen took off, Olympic-fast. When Juan re-turned, Gaylor asked him why he left sofast. Juan told him he delivered Frenchfries and that he ran fast because peoplelike hot French fries.“We have to know the people we serve

and be able to deliver ‘hot fries’ just like

Juan did,” LugoSantiago said. “That is ex-cellence to me.”The command chief wants those as-

signed here to know they can expect con-stant communication from him.“I will engage in a lot of communica-

tion,” he said. “I try to give them as muchinformation as I can. I will serve them. Ithink this is what I have to do.”In order to maintain open lines of com-

munication and foster teamwork, peoplecan expect to see LugoSantiago in the hall-ways and visiting their work spaces.“I will be walking around,” LugoSantia-

go said. “I have this problem staying in an

NewAFDWCommandChiefStrives to Lead, Inspire

free heating and preventive maintenance,plumbing inspections by local mechanicalservice contractors.Steve Mack, Chairman of The Me-

chanical Contractors Association of Met-ropolitan Washington Service Bureau,estimated that 60 contractors performing40 hours of labor at the 26 homes, includ-ing materials and equipment cost approxi-mately $100,000.“We provided services in the areas of com-

mercial HVAC, plumbing, which includesshowers, sinks, garbage disposals, any typesof leaks and materials,” Mack said.“On the steam fitter side, we provided

air conditioning upgrades, changed outflu’s, replaced furnaces, ran duct work, andnew thermostats.”Mack further noted that they worked

on a similar house last year, the PrinceGeorge’s County fire chief said when theyexamined the flu connected to the furnaceit was a 100 percent clogged.“The flu is what takes the poisonous gas

outside. And the chief noted that if we hadnot changed the flu that owner probablywould have died,” Mack said.During a safety briefing at the Campbell

home, Prince George’s County Fire ChiefMarc Bashoor gave a safety briefing to hisgroup of firefighters who volunteered forthe day long annual event.“This is not just about doing some-

thing that feels good, it’s about savinglives,”said Bashoor.“So that’s what we’re trying to do,” said

MCAMW Chairman, Steve Mack. “Makethe homes safe for the winter time and ifwe observe any unsafe conditions, we getthe home owner in contact with the countyso the issue can be resolved.”During their visit the Prince George’s

County Fire Department volunteers in-spected smoke detectors and carbon mon-oxide sensor in all of the 26 homes.The Heats On - Waters Off project con-

cluded with a cook out at the MechanicalTrade School in Landover to thank all ofthe volunteers.see AFDW, page 5

HEAT, from page 1

Two Prince George’s County Fire Depart-ment firemen install a new smoke detector.

John Wigginton, W.E. Bowers mechanical engineer, installs an air filter inside a newheating and air conditioning system during a Heats On - Waters Off program at a TempleHills residence.

01041044B01040075B

4 Friday, October 11, 2013Andrews Gazette

JAZZMIN AWA-WILLIAMS

In an area so close to the nations capi-tal, 1,670 acres of protected land that foralmost half the year is inhabited by morethan 5,000 Canada geese is a compellingsight to see. That sight can only be wit-nessed at Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary andVisitor’s Center, in Upper Marlboro, MD.Merkle is not only a sanctuary for Can-

ada geese and those that wish to observetheir sheer numbers, but its numeroushabitats create lush homes for a variety ofother creatures. Birds and mammals flour-ish in the upland forests and marshes thathelp make up Merkle and are common tothe area around the Patuxent River.“Certainly the geese are the biggest

draw [of the sanctuary],” said PatrickBright, long-time local and manager of theSouthern Maryland Recreation Complex.“Also the visitors center, and the other bigdraws are our fishing ponds.”

History of the Sanctuary:One mans passionMerkle, the only wildlife sanctuary gov-

erned by the Maryland Department of Landand Natural Resources (DNR), was namedfor Edgar Merkle. Born in Woodstock, Md.,in 1900, Merkle bought a publishing firmin 1932 and later renamed it Merkle Press.By 1962, when Merkle sold the company tomerge with Publishers Company, Inc., thecompany was printing millions of copies amonth of popular magazines like Sports Il-lustrated and Time.That same year Merkle purchased

Merkle Press, he bought a pair of Canadageese. Previously, Canada geese would mi-grate starting in mid-October to spend thewinter months on the eastern shores ofChesapeake Bay. Merkle, an active conser-vationist, planned to convince the geese tostart migrating to the western shore whilesimultaneously improving the habitat.“He just had a few pairs of Canada geese

that he promoted and created a breedingprogram that has ultimately resulted inthousands of geese that use the sanctuary,”Bright said.After eventually getting thousands of

geese to winter on the Merkle family farmthe Merkles sold their land to the state ofMaryland in 1970. Once adjacent trackswere also obtained, the sanctuary grew toits present composition of 1,670 acres.According to the DNR website, approxi-

mately 100 geese live at Merkle year round.On some occasions, from 3,000-5,000 canbe viewed all at once in one large field. It’sthe largest concentration of geese on the

western shore of Chesapeake Bay.“You’ll see several thousand geese on the

ground and a thousand geese all circlingtheir way in to join the other ones,” Brightsaid. “It’s pretty breathtaking actually.”According to Bright, the best place to

see the geese during prime season is to en-ter the sanctuary, and park at the FrankOslislo Visitor Center. A large field bordersthe visitor center, fenced off with a perim-eter that shouldn’t be crossed especiallyduring the fall and winter.“That’s why it’s worked as well as it has

for so long,” Bright said. “We try to leavethe geese largely undisturbed while they’rewintering over with us.”Crops are grown specifically for the

geese on the sanctuary grounds, includingcorn and millet. Canada geese can digestgrass, which makes them drawn to landand places like parks, airports and golfcourses. The geese west of the ChesapeakeBay have thrived so much that the num-bers of non-migratory geese (different fromthe flocks that come from Canada) prompt-ed the Maryland DNR to name them “In-vader of the Month” in October 2005. Ac-cording to the Washington Post, the gen-eral Canada goose population in Marylandrose from 25,000 in 1989 to almost 87,000in 2005.The Migratory Bird Treaty Act, enact-

ed in 1916 to protect certain bird speciesduring a time of high traffic and trade inbirds and their feathers, protects Canadageese as well as their eggs and nests. Cap-turing or killing Canada geese outside oflegal hunting seasons is against federallaw. Residents can apply for permits withthe U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to takesteps to protect their property with controlmethods, especially on farms or commer-cial crops.

HikingWith such a vast amount of land, Merkle

is a peaceful place for those of the humanpersuasion as well. There are four hikingtrails throughout the lands of Merkle: PawPaw Trail, Poplar Springs Trail, MoundsTrail and Lookout Creek Trail.A visitor can create a hike ranging from

1.2 miles up to 7.2 miles, depending onboth their level of expertise and what theywould prefer to see on their journey. Eachtrail is named accordingly. The Paw Pawtree, which grows the largest fruit nativeto Maryland, grows along the shortest andeasiest Paw Paw Trail. Marshland, numer-ous types of waterfowl and a view of Look-out Creek flowing into the Patuxent Riverare just some of what can be found on the

flat but longer Lookout Creek Trail. The7.2-mile hike can only be accessed from theCritical Area Driving Tour (CADT).“They’re great trails and each one has

its own distinct attributes,” Bright said.The CADT is an approximately four and

a half mile long self-guided driving touropen on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.From January to October, the CADT is alsoavailable for hiking, biking and horsebackriding. The closure is to allow geese theirpeaceful sanctuary during winter months.Admission is $2 per car.

Fishing and Other WildlifeAccording to DNR, Merkle is a home

and sanctuary for various other speciesof animals. White tail deer, red fox andskunks are just a few of the mammals thatcan be found on the grounds. For fowl, os-preys nest near the Oslislo Visitor Centerin the summer months. Other commonlyviewed birds are hummingbirds, finches,blue birds, wood ducks, purple martins andherons. Hikers guides share tips of a bea-ver dam on the Lookout Creek Trail.Fishing is an easy way to pass the time

at Merkle, with five fishing ponds avail-able for public use. The ponds are stockedwith large mouth bass, blue gill and sun-fish, among other species. There is a catfishpond specifically for those interested in thefish. The fishing ponds are closed from Oc-tober 1 to April 1 to correspond with theCanada geese and allow them free reign inthe ponds and surrounding fields.“We ask our fishermen not visit the ponds

when the geese are most prominent,” Brightsaid. “Most people when they’re going to theponds at Merkle are looking for bass.”Fishermen are required to be licensed

and observe the specific guidelines set upby the sanctuary. For example, only twofishing lines can be in the water at onetime in a pond. If one person has two lines,only they can fish. If another fishermanalready has a line in, the next man is al-lowed only one. The guidelines are in placeto keep the fish population at certain levelsand regulate for overfishing.

Oslislo Visitor CenterIn 2010, the Frank Oslislo Visitors Cen-

ter at Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary was dedi-cated to its namesake, a 32-year employeewho was active in pushing forward andcreating management plans not only forMerkle, but many Maryland DNR proper-ties. During his tenure, he managed severalDNR properties, and served as Director ofLand Management and Recreation Servic-es for DNR. Oslislo died of cancer in 2008.The wooden building is at home on the

sanctuary, with a wall of windows and bal-conies to enhance its view upon a slopelooking out over fields, ponds and woodsthat the geese populate. The center holdsexhibits of the geese, and educational dis-plays and exhibits for children. Only openon the weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,the center offers educational programmingand nature hikes most weekends.

Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary Offers Refuge for Canada’s Winged Visitors

seeMERKLE, page 8

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01041047B

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5Friday, October 11, 2013 Andrews Gazette

office. I need to be out and about figuringout what is happening and how (I can help)enable our teams successes.”One of the tools he uses to communicate

with his team is a personal blog called“Craft Your Journey.” He posts twice aweek, sharing leadership messages andwords of wisdom.“This blog was built to help you do two

things: achieve personal victory (lead andinspire) and be your weekly inspirationallighthouse (words of wisdom),” LugoSan-tiago said.Just like Airmen have expectations of

LugoSantiago, he also has expectations forhis Airmen.“I expect them to be motivated and to

form relationships,” LugoSantiago said.“I think relationships are very important.When we are united, it gives us a lot ofpower: power to accomplish things, powerto change things.”In addition, he expects leaders to devel-

op strong and capable Airmen.“For me a top priority, following from

the commander’s intent, is to developstrong and resilient Airmen so that theycan accomplish (the mission) and deal withadversities,” he said. “Hopefully we candevelop our Airmen so they can learn topause and reflect on what they are doing,so they can adjust their methods to fit thesituation and never give up.”Visit the chief ’s blog at http://joselu-

gosantiago.wordpress.com/tag/craft-your-journey/.

AFDW, from page 3

The Washington Redskins and KaplanUniversity have joined forces to createthe Kaplan University – Washington Red-skins Military Family Scholarship Fund.The scholarship fund is designed to honormilitary families by lessening the financialburdens of earning a degree.The fund will award one full and up

to 30 partial scholarships, which cover 54to 59 percent of tuition costs for spousesand dependents of active duty, NationalGuard, and reserve members. Scholar-ship recipients can choose from any ofKaplan University’s undergraduate on-line degree programs or elect to attendKaplan University’s Hagerstown or Rock-ville, Md. locations.“The Washington Redskins are proud

to partner with Kaplan University for thisscholarship program. We are pleased togive spouses and dependents of U.S. Mili-tary service personnel an opportunity tocontinue their education wherever theyare stationed,” said Washington RedskinsChief Marketing Officer Mitch Gershman.

The scholarships will be administeredby Scholarship America, as a 501©3 non-profit. Applicants must be the non-enlistedspouse or dependent of a U.S. service mem-ber, including members of the NationalGuard and Reserve. Family of deceasedservice members who served after Sept.11, 2001 are also eligible. The deadline forapplication is Oct. 26. For more informa-tion or to apply, please visit www.redskins.com/kaplan.If you wish to assist the Washington

Redskins and Kaplan University in spread-ing the word about this opportunity, pleasefeel free to utilize the following Tweet:The @Redskins & #KaplanU team up to

create a Military Family Scholarship Fundfor military families. Visit http://bit.ly/KU-WRS to apply.Any questions regarding the Kaplan

University – Washington Redskins Mili-tary Family Scholarship Fund should alsobe directed to Susanna Nickell of RedskinsPublic Relations at 615-347-8891 or nick-ells@redskins.com.

WashingtonRedskinsandKaplanUniversityAnnounceMilitaryFamilyScholarship Fund In observance of Breast Cancer Aware-

ness Month, members of the 779th MedicalGroup set up a table near the pharmacyat Malcolm Grow Medical Clinic and Sur-gery Center to greet and educate passersbywith important brochures, medical hand-outs, animated CDs and breast cancerawareness trinkets Oct. 7. The animatedCD, which covers the stages of breast dis-eases, also provides information on treat-ment options available, decisions aboutbreast reconstruction and other helpfulinsights about the recovery process. It canbe found at CEMM.org under the sectionfor “Women’s Health: Breast Diseases”.

Malcolm Grow Medical Clinicand Surgery Center ObserveBreast Awareness Month

Staff Sgt Rebecca Silvis, 779th MedicalGroup sonographer, left, and Master Sgt.Betsy Johnson, 779th Medical GroupWomen’s Health Clinic, flight chief, pro-vided information pamphlets and bro-chures about Women’s Health and breastdiseases.

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6 Friday, October 11, 2013Andrews Gazette

JBAMEMBERSPARTICIPATE INHISPANICHERITAGEFIESTAFUN5KRUN

PHOTO BY TECH. SGT. TROY WILKINSON

A group of runners start out on a Hispanic Heritage Fiesta 5k Run at Joint Base Andrews Oct. 2. The participants were entertained with festive Latin music along specific points ofthe run and received breakfast burritos and Agua Frescas, a popular Mexican fresh fruit beverage, upon completing the run.

BY SOPHIE PETIT STAFF WRITERTHE PRINCE GEORGE’S GAZETTE

Keeping the peace at dog parks of-ten rests with pet owners, a fact thatcan be easily overlooked by visitorswho see the trip as time off while dogsare fenced in.“People at the park are usually

smart enough to keep their dogs awayand gauge their temperaments,” saidKrysta Lemm, 24, of Bowie, who vis-its Bowie’s dog park weekly with her8-year-old golden retriever, Astro.Dog parks are safe places to let

dogs off the leash, but if owners aren’tcareful about keeping an eye on theirpets and following park rules, theycan become unpleasant places, parkofficials and dog experts said.The most common problems at dog

parks is aggression between dogs andowners not picking up pet waste, saidChuck Montrie, Maryland-NationalCapital Park and Planning supervi-sor for the Prince George’s CountyDepartment of Parks and Recreation.But county park and animal con-

trol officials said they have had noreports of serious injuries at any ofthe dog parks in the county, and thecounty has never been sued over adog-park incident.District Court of Maryland offi-

cials said they were unable to providestatistics regarding incidents at dogparks because they don’t categorizeinformation in a manner that letsthem sort out dog park cases.Luther Bradford, 49, of Bowie has

been taking his 3-year-old German

shepherd, Kyra, to the City of BowieDog Park at least once a week for thepast two years, he said, and has hadonly one bad experience when his dogand another dog snapped at each other.Bradford said it wasn’t a big deal,

and the other dog’s owner soon leftthe park.People rarely take legal action

against dog owners or landownersregarding dog-related incidents, andeven when they do, the cases don’ttypically go anywhere, said GeorgePatterson, a personal injury lawyerbased in Bowie who has been practic-

ing for 17 years. He said he’s neverworked on a case involving injury ata dog park.Dog-related injuries usually occur

in public areas where dogs are not al-lowed to run free, he said.All of the county dog parks have

disclaimers posted on their fencesstating owners are responsible fortheir pets and any injuries the petsinflict on others. However, dog parkseach have their own sets of rules.Some universal rules and etiquette

of the county’s dog parks include: No

It’s not always a walk in the park

GREG DOHLER/THE GAZETTE

The dog park in the Oak Creek West Community Park at Cameron Grove inUpper Marlboro.

TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE

Rules regarding use of the College Park Dog Park are posted on the fence.

see PARK, page 8

BY JAZZMIN AWA-WILLIAMS

In 2011, the oldest members of the “Baby Boom” genera-tion, those born between 1946 and 1964, turned 65. Thislarge generation compared to the ones after it will soonstart to have an effect on how the U.S. takes charge of thesenior population.With advances in modern medicine, Americans are liv-

ing longer than ever before. This means increasing thequality of life and providing services for seniors, especiallythose that are no longer in the workforce. Poverty rates forthose older than 65 are lower than they have ever been.Throughout Maryland’s counties there are countless

resources, events, centers and activities geared towardthe senior community. This focus on a large, yet oftenoverlooked population in the community includes annualpicnics and galas put on by the Prince George’s CountyDepartment of Family Services, daily classes and gamesat senior centers throughout the counties, nutrition ser-vices and Charlotte Hall Veterans Home, the only veteranshome in Maryland.“The seniors really are the glue of our community,” said

Prince George’s County Sheriff Melvin C. High. “They gen-erally head our families and make sure our families stayintact, and they have so much wisdom that they can passon to our following generations to help them be in the rightplace and do the right thing.”Seniors Picnic and other eventsThe annual Seniors Picnic, hosted by the PGC Depart-

ment of Family Services, generally draws 700 to 800 se-niors. Being a staple in the community for more than adecade, this year’s picnic on Sept. 14 at Watkins Park at-tracted more than 1200 seniors. There were so many at-tendees, a shuttle service had to bring seniors back andforth into the grounds throughout the day.At the free event, which focuses on healthy aging, se-

niors were given tickets to multiple snack booths and wereprovided with a prepackaged, nutritious lunch. A live DJset the tune for line dancing, while scores of crowded pic-nic tables held socializing seniors, many grouped by theirrespective senior centers. Bingo, card games and vendorswith information about resources for seniors rounded outthe event.“There’s some people that if they don’t do the senior

center thing, they don’t have anything else to do,” said KittBouknight, 60.Bouknight, a recent member of the Bowie Senior Cen-

ter, was attending for the first time. Fellow members Tay-lor Inez, 73, and Claretta Jones, 80, lauded the event forproviding an outdoors alternative to the humdrum of thesenior centers.“Even though there are activities to do, classes and

everything there’s nothing outside the center to do,” Inezsaid. Go in the building every day and stay inside.”According to the Administration on Aging (AOA), per-

sons 65 years or older in the U.S. was last counted at 39.6million in 2009. By 2030, it’s estimated there will be about72.1 million, with Maryland projected to hold approxi-

Prince George’sCounty OffersCountless Activitiesfor Baby Boomers

see AGING, page 7

7Friday, October 11, 2013 Andrews Gazette

CAPTION THIS

Send your silly captions for this week’s photo to cbasham@dcmilitary.com. The funni-est ones will be used in a future edition of The Andrews Gazette.

mately 1.2 million of those se-niors. Statistics show that a per-son can expect to live almost twodecades after turning 65, and asbaby boomers continue to retireand join the senior population,the demand for services, bothfrom seniors and their caregivers,will increase.Caregivers and opportunities

for seniorsCaregivers, who are defined by

the Family Caregiver Alliance as“an unpaid individual (a spouse,partner, family member, friend,or neighbor) involved in assistingothers with activities of daily liv-ing and/or medical tasks,” make up29% of the U.S. adult population.Other than online sources, the

Prince George’s County Depart-ment of Family services hosts a free“Caregivers Conference” to provideinformation, resources and supportfor those who may struggle withcaring for an elderly family mem-ber or friend. The conference offersinformation on services and pro-grams that are available to them,strategies to cope with stress andthe opportunity to create a networkof fellow caregivers.“We’re kind of trying to walk

the walk here,” said Cathy Stasny,

the Nutrition and Ombudsmanunit manager for the Departmentof Family Services. “If we wantpeople to move and be active andhave a good quality of life we’retrying to show that. Showing thataging is a good thing.”While good nutritional and

physical activity are essentialfor good quality of life during ag-ing, socialization and preventingloneliness has a significant physi-ological effect on seniors as well.Various studies within recentyears have linked loneliness withearly death and poorer health.According to a report by AARP,“depending on the circumstances,cognitive processes and psycho-logical and affective states couldbe both antecedents and conse-quences of isolation.”There are opportunities for

seniors to pour support back intotheir own community. In PrinceGeorge’s County seniors canvolunteer or take advantage ofthe Senior Community ServiceEmployment Program (SCSEP),which places low-income adultsaged 55 or older in communityservice positions that can eventu-ally transition into full-time em-ployment. A “Foster Grandpar-ent” program links seniors withat-risk children, troubled teen-agers and young mothers in dif-ferent community settings. The

Telephone Reassurance Programuses senior volunteers to placedaily reassuring phone calls andassist seniors living alone so thatthey can remain independent,and decrease feelings of loneli-ness and isolation.“Seniors are important,” said

Dr. Robin Harris, a coordinatorfor Newton Green, a senior inde-pendent living community. “Theykind of get left out sometimes.”Charlotte Hall: Maryland’s

only veterans homeThe U.S. veteran population

numbers more than 26 million,with more than a third of thatpopulation 65 and older. Veteranshave the ability to access benefitsand services through the Depart-ment of Veterans Affairs (VA) thatcan help them throughout the ag-ing process, including medicalcare, geriatric and long-term care.Charlotte Hall Veterans Home

is the only veteran’s home inMaryland and is part of a programthat works through the MarylandVA for senior veterans. It’s a 454-bed facility with both assisted liv-ing and a skilled nursing home.Charlotte Hall also services eli-gible spouses, and offers special-ized care for those suffering fromAlzheimer’s and other dementias.The VA also provides a monthlyper diem payment to help offsetthe cost of resident care.

According to an article writ-ten for the Journal of AmericanGeriatrics society, “The VA has aparticular obligation to aging vet-erans; those receiving care in VAare, on average, older and sickerthan the population as a whole.”Opened in 1985, the facility

sits on 126 acres. Up until 1976,the grounds had been home toCharlotte Hall School, a militaryboarding school. The home is forMaryland veterans 62 or olderwho served on full time activeduty in the U.S. military. Thehome is equipped with person-nel and facilities equal to a re-habilitation hospital so veteranscan attempt t0 regain quality oflife after an accident or illness.According to the website, “the re-habilitation staff strives to helpresidents achieve their optimumlevel of function and return toan independent life as quicklyas possible.”Physical therapy, occupational

therapy and speech-languagetherapy are some of the servicesoffered to members of the home.Social and fitness activities, muchlike other senior homes, are pro-vided for residents in the assistedliving program. Respite care, theoption for short-term care whileat-home caregivers take a tempo-rary break is also a service offered.Charlotte Hall accepts dona-

tions, which are essential to mak-ing sure residents enjoy the com-forts of home during their stay. Aresident wish list includes toilet-ries, clothing for men and women,as well as some electronic itemsand antique furniture to create ahomier atmosphere.For the FuturePhysical activity, diet and use

of time are essential to reduc-ing risks of chronic diseases anddepression, allowing a senior in-dependent living for longer andto enhance quality of life. Alongwith the rest of the nation, obe-sity is a problem plaguing the se-nior population as well. In 2009-2010, 38% of those 65 and olderwere obese. For those able tocombat that they manage to stayhealthier and independent longer.Older Americans are better off fi-nancially than they were 30 yearsago because of seniors able to stayin the workforce longer.With the growth of the senior

population looming, it’s importantfor every age to recognize that itis their family, friends and men-tors who will be aging soon, andone day, they too will be in thesame position. Staying informedthrough the internet and commu-nity activities is the easiest wayto equip an entire household todeal with the processes of aging.

AGING, from page 6

BY ERIC GOLDWEIN STAFF WRITERTHE PRINCE GEORGE’S GAZETTE

What started as informal field trips for free art pro-grams is growing into a multi-elementary school initia-tive: Art School After School.The after-school program shares the creative talents

of a Mount Rainier art school with public schools acrossPrince George’s County.Abigail Lafertte sponsors the after-school Creative and

Performing Arts Club at Thomas Stone Elementary Schoolin Mount Rainier.She said she used to take the club members to the

Art Works Studio School to take part in the classes. Thenonprofit art school regularly provides free art programs,which were just what the students needed, she said.Barbara Johnson, founder of the art school, said she no-

ticed a significant influx of students during a January 2012open house and discussed opportunities with Lafertte.From that discussion, the two women said, Art School

After School was born. Since September 2012, studioteachers have provided art lessons at selected schools.“We are dedicated to helping build the need for arts

education in our schools,” Johnson said.Art School After School is run through fundraisers,

grants and volunteers. It offers free weekly visual artsclasses at Thomas Stone, Mount Rainier and Hyatts-ville elementary schools. Later this school year, it alsowill be implemented at Gladys Noon Spellman Elemen-tary School in Cheverly and University Park ElementarySchool, Johnson said.Lafertte said Johnson’s program has provided much-

needed help to Thomas Stone’s after-school arts club,which has reached full capacity at around 100 students.During classes, which are held once or twice per week,the children split time between Lafertte’s lesson and oneprovided by Art Works Studio School teachers.“Art Works has been a blessing,” Lafertte said.At School After School supplements Thomas Stone’s

club, but it adds a new, free after-school art program tothe other schools, which have about 25 participants each.“Our hope is that it will expand the students’ opportu-

nities for arts education,” said Susan Holiday, principal atGladys Noon Spellman.Brenda T. Makle, the visual arts supervisor for county

public schools, said elementary schools without a dedicat-ed arts focus do not have full-time art teachers. She saidThomas Stone’s art teacher — shared with other elemen-tary schools — offers lessons at least four times per year.

“I’m looking at the environment we’re in and trying tofigure out a way to help the children out. It’s really aboutthe kids,” Johnson said.Miguel Gasca, 9, of Mount Rainier, a member of

Lafertte’s club, said the program includes exciting ac-tivities, such as decorating shirts, not offered duringschool hours.“You can do fun things you’ve never done before,”

Miguel said.Thomas Stone students colored and labeled blank maps

Sept. 26 as part of a lesson helping them relate and iden-tify with their communities.Kiterra Scott, 11, of Capitol Heights said the program

gives her an additional creative outlet.“We do a lot more stuff here,” Kiterra said.Prince George’s Gazette staff writer Eric Goldstein con-

tributed to this article. This story originally appeared inthe Oct. 7, 2013 edition of The Prince George’s Gazette.

Studio Helps Fill Creative Void for Prince George’s Students

TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE

Thomas S. Stone Elementary School students, includ-ing fourth-grader Miguel Gasca, 9, participate in an ArtSchool After School program Sept. 26 at the MountRainier school. “You can do fun things you’ve never donebefore,” Miguel said of the program.

TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE

Instructor Melissa Fiskal (right) assists Thomas Stone Elementary School sixth-grader Paola Mendez, 11, during anArt School After School program Sept. 26 at the Mount Rainier school, while sixth-grader Ana Cindy Sarceno (left) con-tinues her work.

You are what you eat?Thanks to Darlene Jones for submitting this silly caption.

8 Friday, October 11, 2013Andrews Gazette

“I used to come here when I was younger with my fam-ily,” said PG County resident Lynette Moreland. “It’s justa nice place to get outside, see something different thanyou normally do.”Merkle offers a summer time conservational job corps

program to keep youth in the community invested in theirfuture. An annual bird camp is put on in the spring in con-junction with the National Audobon Society to gather sta-tistics on bird populations. Keeping Merkle thriving andalive can help the entire population, both wild and human,for multiple reasons, according to Bright.“Public lands are vital to the health and well-being of

our population,” Bright said. “There are a lot of us thatneed to connect more frequently with nature, especiallyour kids. It tends to be a good source of exercise, goodstress relief, and a good way to reconnect with somethingthat we’ve sort of lost sight of.”

MERCKLE, from page 4

with the wing as part of a new, network warfare squadron.Others have relocated to different bases. The wing was oneof the first Air Guard units to transition to the C-27J, butthe Air Force divested the C-27 fleet as a cost-saving move.

The Retiree Activities Office is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.,Monday through Friday. Visit the office in Building 1604at California and Colorado Avenues or call us at 301-981-2726. Our e-mail address is rao@andrews.af.mil. Call theoffice before your visit to ensure a volunteer is on duty. TheRAO has a website at www.andrews.af.mil; Under “HelpfulLinks” click on “Retirees Activity Office” for information onretiree subjects, including past copies of “Retiree Corner.”

RETIREE, from page 2

dogs younger than 4 months old allowed; no smoking, hu-man food or dog food in the park; do not let your dog digholes; all dogs must wear collars or harnesses displayingall necessary tags; no more than two dogs per owner; al-ways pick up after your dog; owners must remain insidethe park with a leash available at all times; only use stan-dard collars or harnesses — do not use choke chains insidepark; and if your dog is barking excessively or acting ag-gressively, you must leave the park immediately.If dogs act aggressively, owners will usually leave the

park or end the scuffle themselves, officials said.There’s no specific “dog-park police” and rule en-

forcement varies from park to park. However, dog-parkusers commonly police one another, park officials andresidents said.A resident may complain to the county’s animal man-

agement division, health department or the city’s animalcontrol department, which will look into the complaint, of-ficials said.Users of the College Park Dog Park can be fined for

breaking rules or bringing aggressive dogs and evenbanned, although that hasn’t happened yet, saidEmily Pullins, president of the College Park DogPark Association.At the Bowie Dog Park, animal control officers will “pop

in” every now and then to make sure the dogs in the parkhave proper licensing and vaccinations, said LawrencePierce, director of Bowie’s community services depart-ment, which oversees animal control.First-time offenders caught without a pet license, for

example, will receive a ticketed warning. The second time,a fine. Third-time offenders will have their dog impounded,Pierce said.“We take that very seriously... . We don’t want to do

that. Get your paperwork in order,” he said.Prince George’s Gazette staff writer Sophie Petit con-

tributed to this article. This story originally appeared inthe Oct. 3, 2013 edition of The Prince George’s Gazette.

PARK, from page 6

game from world-class players and coaches.“It is a thrill for us,” said Col. Bill Knight, 11th Wing/

Joint Base Andrews commander. “We love having all thesewonderful people out here giving our residents a chance tolearn from real professionals.”The professional players and former tennis champions

that coached for the day included: Dick Stockton, formertop-ten tennis player in the world; Stan Smith, formerWimbledon Champion; Gigi Fernandez, InternationalTennis Hall of Fame member; and Joanne Russell, formerWimbledon Ladies Double Champion.The clinic was broken down into four one-hour group

lessons, with two clinics for adults and two for youth, agesfive-11 and 12-17, followed by a exhibition match betweenthe pros.More than 120 people attended the clinic, filling up the

event’s two tennis courts.“We were worried about not being able to have this

clinic with the government shutdown in place,” said BobKennedy, base resident and avid tennis player. “This clinicwas fantastic and a lot of fun to participate in.”The United Service Organizations provided lunch for all

participants in the clinic and the United States Tennis As-sociation will offer ongoing programs for children on base.“Today’s about tennis,” said Dick Stockton, T3 founder

and former tennis pro. “We’re honored to be here with you.This whole program is a ‘thanks’ for all the hard work ourservice members do.”Stockton had great success with a previous clinic held

at Ft. Bragg, NC, with more than 100 people attendingthe event.“We had an unbelievable response with all these people

that came out,” said Stockton. “They’re already asking us tocome back and hold another clinic and I couldn’t be happier.”The great reception from both clinics held at Ft. Bragg

and Andrews were a testament to the great interest inhosting future events and continued support for Americanservice members and their families.“This was truly one of the best days I’ve had as a tennis

player,” said Stockton. “As long as people walk away witha smile on their face at the end of the day, then I’m happy.We really hope this organization picks up more supportand we can do more events around the country next year.”

TENNIS, from page 1

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9Friday, October 11, 2013 Andrews Gazette

Christmas in April Prince George’sCounty’s application deadline is rapidlyapproaching for the 2014 program to beheld Saturday, April 26, 2014. Applica-tions must be turned in to their office byNov. 1, 2013.Christmas in April organizes this one-

day event, renovating and repairing thehouses of low-income, elderly and handi-capped homeowners. All work is done atno cost to the homeowner.

Participating homeowners must livein Prince George’s County, be elderly ordisabled, and be unable to do the workthemselves.For information or to request an ap-

plication, please call Executive DirectorMary Kucharski at 301-868-0937, emailcinapg@aol.com, visit www.christmasin-aprilpg.org or write to Christmas in April* Prince George’s County, 7915 MalcolmRoad, Suite 102, Clinton, MD 20735.

2014 Christmas in Aprildeadline approaches

Aaron CrockettLogistitanSuitland

SteveCummingsSecurity GuardClinton

“I recycle and I usean electric mowerso I don’t pollutethe air.”

“I recycle andmentor youth in myneighborhood.”

Senior MasterSergeant (retired)Veronica SpearsOperations in trainingsuperintendent

Linda Collinsretired schoolteacherFt. Washington

“I entered backinto the classroomto teach first gradestudents readingand math. I alsorecycle and donateclothes to my localthrift store.”

“I water my grassmanually insteadof using an electricsprinkler system.”

“In what ways are you improvingyour community?”

JBA Buzz

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10 Friday, October 11, 2013Andrews Gazette

mitted an assault and could be a threat to others.Women’sgroups raising awareness against rape were at a peak,while domestic violence was still a phrase fairly unknownto the general public. In the military, the Navy’s FamilyAdvocacy Program was the only one service wide that couldoffer help for wife battering and child abuse until the AirForce created an Office on Family Matters in 1981.Not until 1994 did the federal government take notice

of domestic violence, when Congress passed the ViolenceAgainst Women Act (VAWA). VAWA recognizes domesticabuse as a national crime, and admitting, “federal lawscan help an overburdened state and local criminal justicesystem.” Covering stalking and battering across statelines, VAWA also makes it illegal for abusers to possessa firearm while under the jurisdiction of certain Protec-tion Orders.What is domestic violence?Domestic violence, also sometimes called intimate part-

ner violence or battering, is defined as “a pattern of abu-sive behavior in any relationship used to establish powerand control over another person with whom an intimaterelationship is or has been shared through fear and in-timidation, often including the threat or use of violence.”Abusers are most often male. Women of all races, class-

es, religions, ages, and education levels are susceptible tobe affected by abuse. Males can also become victims ofabuse at the hands of their female counterparts, howeverthey may experience a societal stigma causing deeper feel-ings of shame and disbelief, preventing them from speak-ing up or getting help.Battering is a wide range of behaviors, not all of which

come with physical scars. Physical abuse can include hit-

ting, pushing, grabbing, choking, slapping and more. Sexu-al violence is both attempted and actual unwanted sexualcontact. Psychological and emotional abuses are variedbut include threats, humiliation, isolation and controlof finances, insults and degradation. Sometimes womenaren’t sure if they’re in an abusive relationship, especiallywhen physical violence isn’t initiated. Emotional abuse ismore often overlooked and confused by victims.“Now people are truly understanding that 80% of vic-

tims don’t have physical scars,” said Mildred Muhammad,advocate and public speaker for battered women and do-mestic violence survivor.“My presentations mainly focus around trying to get

people to shift their understanding that domestic violenceis not just a physical assault. There are abuses that leadup to a physical assault, and they don’t necessarily haveto happen at the same time.”Muhammad, whose former husband John Allen Mu-

hammad was primarily known as the convicted DC sniperthat stalked Washington, D.C., in 2002 endured differenttypes of abuse at the hands of her ex-husband. John AllenMuhammad threatened to kill Mildred, left her powerlessfinancially, and kidnapped their children for a year anda half by taking them out of the country after what wassupposed to be a weekend visit. Mildred regained custodyof her children, but continued to live in fear even after re-ceiving a lifetime restraining order from her ex-husband.Mildred recounted her experiences in 1999 an easier timeof obtaining a restraining order, but less immediate as-sistance from the authorities.“If you called and said someone had threatened to kill

you no one came,” Muhammad said. “If it was a domesticissue they may come out, talk, and then leave.”What should victims do?When seeking help for domestic violence, there are mul-

tiple hotlines that can be called for assistance. There is ahotline for military members and Family Advocacy Pro-grams on all military installations. Mildred Muhammad’sorganization, After the Trauma, assists survivors throughcounseling, education, housing and even transportation.Maryland offers legal services for representation and fil-ing of protective orders through the Protection Order Ad-vocacy and Representation Project (POARP). Creating asafety plan to include an emergency bag and destinationare also listed as important considerations.The legal system, from mandatory arrest laws for do-

mestic violence calls to “no-drop” policies adopted by pros-ecutors in domestic violence charges, is slowly making in-roads to better assist a victim of battering. Both of these

policies carry risks of retaliation to the victim from theabuser during prosecution or once the abuser has madebail. In Washington, D.C., the U.S. Attorneys Office givessurvivors the option of not participating in prosecutionproceedings and relies on other evidence than victim tes-timony to build its case. This method was enacted to makethe abuser less likely to blame the victim and retaliate.

The armed forces response to domestic violenceMilitary members and their families face a unique set

of challenges compared to the average civilian family. Fre-quent moves and long deployments can put high amountsof stress on the family. With the advent of volumes ofresearch on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), thecountry has become more aware of the lasting effects warcan have on the soldier. Although in regards to batter-ing, a study by the Association of Military Surgeons ofthe United States found little to no correlation betweendeployments and an increase of likelihood of domestic vio-lence by army soldiers.The Department of Defense (DoD) and all branches of

the armed forces have taken steps to ensure that servicemembers and their families have access to resources thatcan provide care, counseling and solutions. Family Advo-cacy Programs have services that train leaders on all lev-els and social workers that can help couples before theirproblems turn violent.“The military has implemented domestic violence

programs,” Muhammad said. “These are the people thatcontact me to come and speak at their domestic violence[awareness] programs.”The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that

there isn’t a lot of information on how to prevent intimatepartner violence in adults. Men who have witnessed do-mestic abuse as children are more likely to abuse theirpartners as adults than men who did not witness abusein the home. Programs that teach youth skills in datingand healthy relationships can have a positive impact inpreventing abuse.There are still many loopholes for abusers to create an

atmosphere of fear and control their victims, but providingawareness and resources to as many families as possiblecontinues to help in the fight against domestic violence.Every nine seconds, a woman in the U.S. is assaulted

or beaten.

AWARENESS, from page 1

BADEN DAY, from page 1

Joe Forbes, Baden Fire Volunteer Department assistant fire chief, shows Jason Dong, 2, how to look through a ther-mal imager inside a station fire truck on static display.

The local children enjoy a magic show.

A pair of vintage Fords was among items on display at theBaden Day event.

A worker slows down the rotation of Whirly Bird amuse-ment ride during an Annual Baden Day Community Dayevent in Brandywine. Local residents and their childrenwere treated to moon bounces, train rides, magic tricks,and zumba instruction.

A magician levitates a golf ball into a hat held by a will-ing assistant.

Participants enjoy a train ride around the grounds.

11Friday, October 11, 2013 Andrews Gazette

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12 Friday, October 11, 2013Andrews Gazette