18 JAX AIR NEWS, NAS JACKSONVILLE, Thursday, March 20, 2008 You and your pet can stay at a Navy Lodge when on permanent change of station move By Kristine Sturkie NEXCOM PAO Moving to a new location this year just got a lot easier when travel- ing with your pet. Most Navy Lodge's worldwide now allow dogs and cats up to 50 pounds in weight to stay when traveling with its owners. "Over 60 percent of all Americans have pets and the military is no different," said Michael Bockelman, vice president NEXCOM, director Navy Lodge Program. "Navy Lodge guests often stay with us dur- ing a permanent change of station move. Before, guests had to board their pet until they could move into their new home. Now, the pet can stay with the rest of.the family at the Navy Lodge. This will make a military move much easier for the entire family." Military families need to come to the Navy Lodge prepared in order to stay with their pet. First, keep in mind how long you will be gone and bring appropriate food and other supplies and always travel with a pet carrier. Before you leave town, schedule a visit with your veterinarian to update all medications or treatments required and bring a copy of each pet's vac- cination record. It is also a good idea to carry a health certificate for each animal traveling with you if traveling state to state or crossing international borders. Finally, when you are at the Navy Lodge, treat the area where you walk as if it were your own yard and always clean up after your pet, using the bags provided. While traveling keep in mind how long you will be on the road and make sure to bring at least one bowl of fresh water for your pet to drink. If traveling long dis- tances or an extended period of time, add one or two more, just in case. Never leave an animal alone in a closed car. Keep the air-conditioner going while traveling. Don't roll down a car window enough for a dog to stick its head out; just enough to get a good whiff of fresh air is plenty. Always remember to bring the following on trips: A sturdy leash and extra collar; An old blanket or sheet for wherever the pet's carrier will be secured; Old sheets to cover bedding and furni- ture once you reach your accommodations; Some of your pet's own bedding; Food and water bowl set; Treats; Toys or chew items; All required medications, supplements and preventatives; Brush or comb and lint remover; For cats, a full litter pan with extra lit- ter, liners and newspaper for underneath; Waste removal bags; Old towels, carpet cleaner, disinfectant spray and trash bags for accidents; and Flashlight for nighttime walks. Navy Lodges are on average 43 percent less expensive than comparable civilian accommodations, and still have the same and more amenities. Every guest room is oversized with cable TV with HBO, a DVD/ CD player, direct-dial telephone service, high-speed Internet access, and a kitchen- ette complete with microwave, refrigerator and utensils. Navy Lodges also have house- keeping service, vending machines, DVD rental service and guest laundry facili- ties as well as handicapped accessible and non-smoking rooms. Free local calls, free in-room coffee and newspapers as well as convenient on-base parking are also avail- able during your stay. To make a reservation toll free at 1- 800-NAVY-INN or log onto www.navy- lodge.com. Once you make a reservation, you cannot be bumped from your room. Reservation and room assignments are accepted on an as-received basis without regard to rank, rate or time of reservation. NAS Jax Environmental offers training classes From the NAS lax Environmental Department The following are the upcoming train- ing classes offered by the NAS Jax Environmental Department. 'All classes are held at the Auto Hobby Shop, second deck. April 16, 1 p.m. Spill Pollution Control and Countermeasures Plan April 22, 1:30 p.m. Hazardous waste coordinators meeting May 13-14, 7:30 a.m. Hazardous waste coordinator 16-hour training session May 15, 7:30 a.m. Hazardous waste coordinator eight-hour refresher class May 21, 1 p.m. Spill Pollution Control and Countermeasures Plan June 18, 1 p.m. Spill Pollution Control and Countermeasures Plan July 16, 1 p.m. Spill Pollution Control and Countermeasures Plan Aug. 20, 1 p.m. Spill Pollution Control and Countermeasures Plan Sept. 17, 1 p.m. Spill Pollution Control and Countermeasures Plan Oct. 15, 1 p.m. Spill Pollution Control and Countermeasures Plan Nov. 18-19, 7:30 a.m. Hazardous waste coordinator 16-hour training session Nov. 19, 1 p.m. Spill Pollution Control and Countermeasures Plan Nov. 20, 7:30 a.m. Hazardous waste coordinator eight-hour refresher class Dec. 17, 1 p.m. Spill Pollution Control and Countermeasures Plan For more information, call Billie Brownfield at 542-3492 or Frank Sigona at 542-3016. FFSC offers educational and support programs From FFSC The NAS Jacksonville Fleet and Family Support Center (FFSC) Life Skills Education and Support Program is the foremost preventive mea- sure for avoidance of personal and family problems. All FFSC workshops and classes are free to service members and their families as well as Department of Defense civilian per- sonnel aboard the base. Pre-registration is required. If special accommodations or handicapped access is required, please notify FFSC upon regis- tration. The following workshops are available in March: March 24-27, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Transition Assistance Workshop (retiring) March 24, 1:30-3:30 a.m. Parenting Class March 31, 1:30-3:30 a.m. Parenting Class For further information or to register, call 542-2766, ext. 127. Tax center open for business From Staff The NAS Jacksonville Tax Center offers a free tax service through the Voluntary Income Tax Assistance program to military mem- bers, retirees and their families. The center is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The tax center has a full-time recep- tionist to greet customers and set up appointments and 21 full-time and part- time volunteers who have been specially trained by the Internal Revenue Service to handle most tax situations. There is also a special area set up to children to watch movies while their par- ents are having their taxes prepared. It is the only free tax preparation ser- vice on base. Volunteers will e-file almost all.returns, ensuring fast refunds. Those eligible for the free tax prepara- tion include: All active duty service members and their dependents All retirees and their dependents Reservists on active duty for more than 30 days *Reservists within 30 days of demobi- Reminder... From Staff To receive the federal rebate check as part of the Economic Stimulus Bill this year, you are required to file federal taxes by April 15. Even if you normally do not file taxes due to Social Security income or VA dis- lization Reservists involved in pre-mobiliza- tion Before making an appointment, cus- tomers should have: All 2007 W-2's and 1099's Copies of social security cards for taxpayers and dependents Taxpayer(s) military ID cards Bank account numbers and routing numbers Any other tax records including cop- ies of 2006 tax returns if available **If you do not bring either a copy of your social security card or a previous year's tax return, we will not be able to prepare your return. You must also have this documentation for all dependents. Couples wishing to file joint returns should come to the tax center together. If a spouse is unavailable, the spouse preparing the return will need to bring a power of attorney that specifically covers tax filing purposes or an IRS Power of Attorney Form 2848 (available at www. irs.gov) If you have a complex return, please call ahead and make an,,appointment. For more information or to make an appointment, call 542-8039. ability, you must file a 2007 tax form to receive this rebate. People who owe no income tax, but earned at least $3,000 in income from Social Security and veterans disability will receive rebate checks of $300 for individu- als and $600 for couples. For more information, go to www.irs.gov. Come See America . BeSt Built Homes it's no secret that you understand what dedication, hard . work and service means.At Drees, because of our, same devotion, teamwork, and pursuit of excellence, we're proud to have been named America's Best Bullder In 2008 by Builder Magazine For over 80 years, homebuyers have appreciated Drees' quality, attenhon -.to detail, arid flexibility to create a home they're-proud, to own Another reason.why Drees continues to.be the family-owned nationally recognized builder of choice for so many homebuyers. For information about Drees' 12 communities throughout NortheastFloridvisit dreeshomres.dom Dr.i , .. J, Naidolpreagnniy r edu!u ~.- es '* '- *- *- - p. . . .h .= ." Copyrighted Material* ^ = Syndicated Content s Available from Commercial News Providers". S-- L - -- - - )I - *~m - *c, m *c - - - AMON sw op 90 p. 9 9 I. 9 - *- - .- - Qwd *m da oftom 40 f- 40M. m. so0 %u 44 "Rm*m 0.41 qmll 0* M *- C - 0*mo 04 1 * lm 0 - ~ I1 II a - * 0