Contents

• Celebrate the Season with Us at Fallapalooza– November 8.
• Annual Resident Surveys Coming Soon
• Spouse Wellness Conference
• Tips for a Successful Thanksgiving:
• Live Army Green Corner
• Cold Weather Reminders for Your Home:
• Black Friday Survival Guide
• Corvias Foundation Scholarship and Grant Applications Available Nov. 1
• Fort Bragg Gate Access Changes
• Have you heard about Randolph Pointe?
• Leaf removal services are here
• Integrated Pest Management Program
• Yule Mart 2013
• USO Reading and Study Skills Program
• Holiday crime and safety tips
• November Special Office Hours
  

Celebrate the Season with Us at Fallapalooza– November 8

Fallapalooza is here!  Be sure to check out Corvias Military Living’s FREE Annual “Fallapalooza” on

Friday, November 8, from 2-5 p.m. in the field next to the Biazza Ridge Community Office (101 Graham Place).  Come for games, free food, magicians, music, 1-mile Turkey Trot Fun run/walk, and much more! Carpooling is encouraged. Don’t forget your camera! 

Annual Resident Surveys Coming Soon

Corvias Military Living’s goal is to provide the best homes, service and value to residents. Each year, Corvias hires a third-party research company to conduct annual satisfaction surveys. These surveys help us focus on areas that need attention and identify ways to enhance the experience of each resident.

Corvias has selected SatisFacts Research who will contact residents via e-mail to complete a brief online survey. To complete the survey, Corvias must have a personal e-mail address. The online surveys will be sent prior to the end of the year and participation is voluntary. However, we strongly encourage residents to contribute. Without candid and thoughtful feedback, we could not have provided nationally recognized, award-winning customer service for five consecutive years. 

Participants are automatically entered into a drawing for a great prize. Stop by your community office if you have questions or need to update your contact information. 

Spouse Wellness Conference

Spouses, are you looking for a way to re-energize your fitness, your relationships, your health and well-being? Fort Bragg's Spouse Wellness Conference could be just what you are looking for.

The conference, which is open to all spouses regardless of the service member's rank or branch of service, will be held November 12 at the Family Readiness Group Center and Hercules Physical Fitness Center with workshops in more than 30 wellness areas. Free child care is available with current CYSS registration.

Registration forms are available at www.fortbraggmwr.com/acs/, at the ACS office, 3rd Floor, Soldier Support Center or through your FRG. There is a $5 registration fee. Registration will close on 6 November or when all slots are filled. Pre-registration is required which includes a healthy box lunch. For more information, call 396-8160.

Tips for a Successful Thanksgiving:

• If you do not cook frequently, test your oven at least a week before the holiday to ensure it is working properly.  If repairs are needed, be sure to request a work order by contacting your Community Office as soon as possible.
• Do not pour grease, oils or other fatty substances down your sink, toilet or sewer drains. If poured down the sink, these materials can harden along pipes and may lead to clogged pipes and unpleasant sewer backups. These materials should be discarded with your regular trash or may be recycled at the DPW Recycling Facility. 
• To keep your garbage disposal working properly, do not use it to dispose of large quantities of food waste. Egg shells, potato skins, pasta, rice, bones and other vegetables and meats can cause your disposal to clog and jam. 
• Use extreme caution when operating turkey fryers as these have contributed to many home fires and accidental burns. Always keep the fryer in full view while the burner is on and do not operate fryers in, on or under a garage, carport, porch, wooden deck, fence, dry grass or any other structure or material that can catch fire. For additional safety information, visit http://www.ul.com/global/eng/pages/offerings/perspectives/consumer/productsafety/turkeys/

Live Army Green Corner

In the fall and winter months, reversing the direction of ceiling fans in your home will help to redirect warm air downward. Replacing air filters every 30 days will also help your HVAC unit to operate more efficiently and help save energy. Free replacement filters are available at your Community Center.   

Cold Weather Reminders for Your Home:

• Don’t be left out in the cold - test your heater today! Keep in mind, when using your heater for the first time, you may detect a smoke-like odor. This smell is caused by the dust that has accumulated in your unit during the summer months and will usually dissipate within a few minutes. Please do not call 911 unless you actually see smoke or flames.
• To prevent pipes from freezing and bursting, please disconnect garden hoses from outdoor spigots during winter months. Outdoor faucets should also be turned off completely. If you need assistance doing so, contact your Community Office. We’re here to help!
• If your home has gas heat or appliances, check the batteries in your smoke/carbon monoxide detectors to ensure proper operation.

Black Friday Survival Guide

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is touted as the biggest shopping day of the year and the beginning of the holiday shopping season. This can also be a stressful time, as gift giving can quickly “gobble” up your hard-earned money. Don’t fret – we’ve got some quick and easy tips to ensure that your many purchases don’t burn a hole in your wallet.

• Before you hit the stores, be aware of where your finances currently stand. Only purchase items that you are confident you can afford.
• Create a budget specifically for holiday shopping. Follow your budget as closely as possible, and track your spending. Need help? Contact the Financial Readiness Program at (910) 907-3670/(910) 396-2507.
• Ask for military discounts wherever you go. Even if stores do not advertise the discount, ask – you may be pleasantly surprised to hear the answer.
• Shop around. Look at the circulars for sales and discounts. Recognize a good price when you see one.
• Look for the Energy Star logo when purchasing new appliances or electronics. Compare the energy consumption of different products to help evaluate the potential operating costs over the long term. 
• Follow your gut instincts – if you think a potential gift is too much for you to spend, look for something else at a lower price.
• Cyber Monday, anyone? Check for last minute deals and steals online on Monday, December 2.
• Some of the best gifts come from the heart and cost nothing at all. Be creative!
• Don’t forget to stop, relax, and enjoy the season with your family and friends. That’s really what it is all about.

Corvias Foundation Scholarship and Grant Applications Available Nov. 1

Applications for the 2014 Scholarship and Educational Grant are available November 1 at www.corviasfoundation.org. The Foundation is committed to supporting military families in the pursuit of higher education and has awarded more than $4.5 million since 2006. 

Applications for the Scholarship must be submitted by February 13, 2014, and will be awarded to high school seniors with plans of attending a four-year university in the amount of up to $50,000 each. The Foundation will select 10 children of active-duty service members stationed at Forts Meade, Bragg, Polk, Rucker, Riley, Sill, and Aberdeen Proving Ground to receive the scholarships. New this year, children at Edwards AFB, Eglin AFB, Eielson AFB, Hurlburt Field, McConnell AFB and Seymour Johnson AFB will also be eligible to apply for the scholarships.

Applications for the Educational Grant must be submitted by May 8, 2014. Grants are given in amounts up to $5,000 for the spouse of an active-duty service member at the installations listed above.  Applicants may be in any stage of the educational process.

Applications and all necessary paperwork must be submitted by the due date. Awards for both the scholarship and grant are for use beginning in the fall of 2014.

Please contact info@corviasfoundation.org or 401-228-2836 with any questions about eligibility or the application process.

Fort Bragg Gate Access Changes

As part of a Department of Defense (DoD) directive for all military installations to install Physical Access Control Systems, Fort Bragg is implementing Automated Installation Entry (AIE) which will enhance security at the installation entrances and expedite access for personnel and vehicles. As a result of these changes, beginning November 15, new procedures will be in place for all drivers on the installation (excluding Linden Oaks). For your convenience, most DoD ID card holders in the Fort Bragg area have been automatically enrolled in the AIE system. However, some newcomers to the installation will be required to register their DoD ID Cards in the AIE system at the Vehicle Registration Office located near the All American Access Control Point.  

Please remember, these changes may affect the ability for some visitors and delivery services to access the installation. We encourage you to visit the following website for the most up-to-date information about the new AIE system http://www.bragg.army.mil/directorates/DES/pmo/Pages/AIE.aspx

Have you heard about Randolph Pointe?

Randolph Pointe is Fort Bragg’s only on-post apartment community for single and unaccompanied Senior NCOs and Officers. It is located near the North Post Commissary and PX on the corner of Randolph and Souter Streets at 2850 Compass Court. If you’ve ever wished your single friends could enjoy the many benefits of living on post, now they can! Be sure to tell your friends and colleagues about this innovative community that’s right around the corner from everything. For more information or to schedule a tour for your single or unaccompanied service members, visit www.RandolphPointe.com or call (910) 764-5008.

Leaf removal services are here

The Brickman Group, Corvias’s lawn care vendor, will complete two removal services in the fall/winter. For your home’s schedule, please refer to your community calendar. These schedules are meant to be a general outline and are weather dependent. For weather make-up days or more specific information about your street’s schedule, contact your Community Office.

To help ease the leaf removal process, please keep your yards accessible to Brickman crews by unlocking fenced areas, storing toys and lawn furniture and keeping pets inside on your scheduled collection days. Pet waste should be removed or leaf removal crews will not enter your yard. Your cooperation is sincerely appreciated. 

If you have opted to maintain your own yard, there are two options for leaf disposal:

1. You may rake your leaves to the curbline. Brickman crews will then pick up your leaves during your neighborhood’s two scheduled seasonal leaf removal services. 
2. You may bag leaves in clear bags and place them curbside on your weekly bulk trash day. Bagged leaves will be picked up by bulk trash crews, not Brickman.

Integrated Pest Management Program

As required by the Fort Bragg Directorate of Public Works, Corvias Military Living participates in an Integrated Pest Management program. Integrated Pest Management is a holistic approach to controlling pests that minimizes the uses of pesticides and limits families’ exposure to chemicals.   To detera and control pest populations, this 3-pronged approach emphasizes 1). good housekeeping, 2.) preventative maintenance and 3). targeted professional treatments. For more information about Corvias’s Integrated Pest Management Program or to request a pest control work order, contact your Community Office.

Yule Mart 2013

Come and do some holiday shopping at the 2013 Yule Mart Nov. 22-24! All proceeds from this annual craft fair benefit the Fort Bragg community and help raise money for local scholarships and welfare funds. Yule Mart is open to the public and will be held at the Ritz-Epps Physical Fitness Center. For more information, please visit https://www.facebook.com/FortBraggABS    

USO Reading and Study Skills Program

The USO of NC will host a free Reading and Study Skills program for military family members in grades Pre-K through Middle School at the Nijmegen/Cherbourg Community Center on Nov. 16. The two-hour sessions will be divided by age group. To sign-up your child for a session, contact the USO of NC at (919) 840-3000 or e-mail tcherry@uso-nc.org.

Holiday crime and safety tips

The holidays are a time of cheer, but they’re also the peak season for crime nationwide. Here are some tips to help keep your family safe this holiday season:

• Lock your car doors, roll up windows, and secure your valuables each time you exit your car. Do not store your keys in your car.
• Store valuable items like CDs, mp3 players, GPS systems, purses and wallets out of view in your car and remove suction cup marks from your windshield if you have any.  Store holiday packages and purchases in your trunk and keep receipts with you. Fort Bragg regulations forbid these items from being stored in plain sight within cars. 
• Close your garage door and secure all exterior doors and windows before leaving home. If you have a sliding glass door and do not already have a security bar, you may submit a request at your Community Office.
• When traveling out of town, make your home look lived-in. Ask a friend or neighbor to check your mail and pick up newspapers from your yard. Install timers to turn lights on and off during evening hours.
• Fill out a Home Security Check Form and submit it to the Fort Bragg Military Police. Forms are available at your Community Office but must be submitted to MPs at the Fort Bragg Law Enforcement Center (Bldg. 2-5634 Armistead Street). 

November Special Office Hours:

Nov. 11 –Veterans Day - Offices closed.

Nov. 13 – Offices closed from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for an employee event. 

Nov. 28 –Thanksgiving - Offices closed.

Nov. 29 – Offices open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.