When Walter Reed Medical Center closes in 2011... thousands of commuters are expected to relocate to their new facility in Bethesda. The Maryland Department of Transportation has proposed improving roads to accomodate the traffic.

But as Jessica Forres reports… some cyclists feel left out...



Angela Atwood-Moore and fellow members of her Cycling Club are at MDOT’s community meeting.They are concerned about what ISN'T being talked about in plans to improve four intersections near Bethesda Naval Medical Center...

WE WALK IN AND THERE ARE BIKE MAPS ON THE TABLE BUT WE’RE NOT ANYWHERE IN THESE PLANS.

The Naval Hospital is expecting about 25-hundred employees and 4-thousand patients to relocate there in a few years ...as part of the military base closure plan.

Atwood Moore says the new design widens and extends sidewalks, but doesnt include bike lanes....

IF THE WHOLE GOAL OF THIS PROJECT IS TO MOVE TRAFFIC THAN I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY WE’RE PENALIZING THE VERY PEOPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO GET OUT OF THEIR CARS AND DO THE MOST TO REDUCE TRAFFIC FLOW. I MEAN YOU CAN’T SAY YOU WANT TO MOVE PEOPLE AND THEN PENALIZE WHO AREN’T TAKING UP ROAD SPACE WITH THE CAR.

Mike Haley represents MDOT and says the agency will evaluate public comments when deciding how to use their limited resources..

SO PART OF THE EFFORT IS TO GET SOME FEEDBACK ON WHERE PEOPLE THINK THE MOST VALUE IS. SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SOME DECISIONS GOING FORWARD ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH THE MONEY WE DO HAVE.

The proposed intersection improvements are at West Cedar Lane and Jones Bridge Road.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

In a few years, thousands of new commuters will inundate downtown Bethesda when the Army relocates Walter Reed Medical Center from D-C to Maryland.

And as Jessica Forres reports.... some homeowners don't think their neighborhood can handle all the cars.



Sheila and Tom Barrett’s house is a stones throw from Jones Bridge Road....across the street from Bethesda Naval Medical Center. They can see the four lane highway from their dining room window.

STARTING AT LEAST FROM 5:30 TO 6 IN THE MORNING, IT’S BACKED UP. BECAUSE OF NAVY. ENTRANCE INTO NAVY BECAUSE OF SECURITY.

IT’S RIDICULOUS…THE TRAFFIC IS INCREDIBLE NOW AND THEN WITH THE CLOSING OF WALTER REED AND MOVING ALL THE EMPLOYEES OVER HERE…

According to plans proposed by the Maryland Department of Transportation, improvements are slated at four major intersections that they say will be most affected by the move.

[NAT: GYM

Inside Bethesda Chevy Chase High School, Mike Haley is representing MDOT at a community workshop. As he points to a large map of Cedar Lane and Wisconsin Avenue, he says the improvements won't do much to relieve the traffic.

-IT’S STILL F
- HUH?
-IT REMAINS F
-WHAT’S F
-FAILING LEVEL OF SERVICE
- EVEN AFTER THE IMPROVEMENTS?
-WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO MAKE IT AN A
-A IS NOT ON THE TABLE

Haley also says fewer than half of the improvements are funded.

Dozens of veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will lobby on Capitol Hill this week.

Jessica Forres reports...



At Garrett's in Georgetown, local veterans are socializing. They're part of the 4th annual "Storm the Hill" campaign organized by the group...Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Patrick Campbell says 120 meetings with Senators and Congressmen will take place over the next four days...

WE'RE JUST GOING TO GO TELL OUR STORY AND THAT STORY IS GOING TO BE THE STORY OF 1.8 MILLION VETERANS FROM IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.

He says the group's priority is the budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs....

THE VA IS CONSTANTLY GETTING THEIR BUDGET LATE. YOU CAN'T PAY RENT IF YOU DON'T GET YOUR PAYCHECK, THEY CAN'T PAY STAFF OR THE APPROPRIATE PEOPLE TO RUN THE VA. SO WE ARE GOING TO GET THAT BUDGET APPROVED A YEAR IN ADVANCE SO EVERYONE WILL BE ABLE TO GET THE QUALITY CARE THEY NEED.

Washingtonian Sam Corum served two tours in Iraq......

I WANT BETTER BENIFTS FOR VETERANS, ALL VETERANS, BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE GO THROUGH AND THE SACRIFICES WE MAKE.

Mandatory counseling for returning veterans is another of the group's concerns.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

Each year, the USO sends "care" packages to members of the U.S. military and this weekend, Jessica Forres watched as volunteers celebrated completion of the one and a half millionth package at Fort Belvoir in Virginia...



Inside a large warehouse, Skip Mielwoacki and other volunteers stuff packages of chewing gum, phone cards and deodorant into what resembles large plastic freezer bags....

MY SON-IN-LAW JUST GOT BACK FROM AFGHANISTAN AND HE TOLD US THAT IT'S SURPRISING THAT A LOT OF GUYS DON'T GET LETTERS FROM HOME SO WHEN THEY GET ONE OF THESE CARE PACKAGES YOU OUGHT TO SEE THE WAY THEIR FACES LIGHT UP.

[NAT: SCREAM, BELLS]

That's the volunteers celebrating the completion of the one and a half millionth "care" package.

USO president Sloan Gibson says it took five years to reach that milestone...

WHICH TELLS YOU THE PACE IS ACCELARATING IF IT TOOK US FIVE YEARS TO GET TO A MILLION AND A HALF AND WE'VE DONE A HALF A MILLION IN THE LAST YEAR.

The 10-thousand care packages filled this weekend will be shipped to service members around the world....

SOME OF THESE WILL GET HANDED OUT AT AN AIRPORT YOU KNOW WHERE A SOLDIER IS ON HIS WAYOVER FROM R AND R TO IRAQ OR AFGHANISTAN.

The USO started assembling the packages in 2001 after the Department of Defense suspended the practice of forwarding correspondence and packages from the general public.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

______________________________________________________

The USO has reached another milestone in its long history of assisting members of the military.

This past weekend, the group completed its millionth and a half "care" package and celebrated with many of its local volunteers.

Jessica Forres reports...

[ NAT: BELLS.YELLING]

Inside a warehouse at Fort Belvoir in Virgina, dozens of volunteers cheer along with USO president Sloan Gibson....

THE PACE IS ACCELARATING. IF IT TOOK US FIVE YEARS TO GET TO A MILLION AND A HALF AND WE'VE DONE A HALF A MILLION IN THE LAST YEAR.

Each care package includes approximately $75 worth of items, such as prepaid phone cars, sunscreen and travel size toiletries.

Sloan is thankful for the support the public continues to show despite the faltering economy...

WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE THE SUPPORT OF THE USO AND PROGRAMS LIKE THIS AT THE USO HAS HELD STRONG AND I THINK IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE SPIRIT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

More than 40-thousand volunteers assist the USO worldwide.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

Another sign that the holiday season is upon us.....The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots drive is underway again.

Jessica Forres reports…

TOYS2-FORRESmp3'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU 88.5 FM

Lance Corporal Mindy Sanford and three other Marines are collecting toys at a mall in Bethesda, Maryland...

WE STAND HERE AND MAKE OUR PRESENCE KNOWN. WE DON'T TRY TO MAKE SOMEONE DROP A TOY OFF. WE ALSO COLLECT FIVE DOLLAR DONATIONS WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DONATING THAN DROPPING OFF A TOY.

She says the toys will be distributed to local needy children to brighten their holidays. Donna Sudano of Rockville is donating a teddy bear....

I WANT TO HELP OUT CHILDREN THAT MAYBE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING FOR CHRISTMAS. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO OPEN UP.

Local Marines say they've collected almost 100,000 toys.....so far.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

____________________________________________________

The U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Holiday Drive is underway and as Jessica Forres reports...past and present members of the Corps are doing their part to make the holidays bright for thousands of children...

TOYS1-FORRESmp3'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU 88.5 FM

Four uniformed Marines stand at the entrance of the Build-a Bear Workshop inside the Westfield Mall in Bethesda, Maryland.Lance Corporal Mindy Sanford points to a cardboard box filled with stuffed animals and other toys that people have dropped off throughout the day...

THESE ARE BUILD-A BEAR BEARS ACTUALLY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE COME IN AND DROP OFF THEIR BUILD-BEAR THEY DON"T HAVE TO BUT THEY DO IT. THEY ARE UNWRAPPED NEW TOYS. THESE TOYS RIGHT HERE GO TO THE CHILDREN IN NEED FOR CHRISTMAS.

Donna Sudano is building a bear to donate to Toys For Tots....

THEY HAVE YOU STEP ON A PEDAL WHILE THEY GET THE STUFFING GOING AND THEY PUT A LITTLE HEART IN THERE AND YOU MAKE A WISH AND THEN YOU JUST COME BACK OVER HERE TO THE DRESSING STATION

She says the effort and the cost are worth it..

I WOULD RATHER GIVE UP SOMETHING SO THAT A CHILD COULD HAVE SOMETHING TO OPEN UP CHRISTMAS DAY.

Lance Corporal Sanford agrees...

WHEN THEY RECEIVE A TOY THEY ACTUALLY JUMP UP AND DOWN AND THEN THEY GO PLAY WITH THEIR FRIENDS… IT'S REALLY, REALLY AWESOME.

So far, she says local Marines have collected 97-thousand toys.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News

The Military Health System is encouraging sick, wounded or injured service members and their families to fill out questionnaires about their health care experience.

Jessica Forres reports…

Boomp3.com'>LISTEN TO THE STORY THAT AIRED ON WAMU RADIO

David Mayer...an Iraq war veteran...sits in a wheel chair outside of the Malogne House at Walter Reed. He talks about his injuries.

I GOT HIT BY AN EFP. I'M A DOUBLE AMPUTEE, ONE BELOW THE KNEE, ONE ABOVE THE KNEE.

Brad Sifford sits in a chair next Mayer. He lost his left arm. He says the health care he's received so far has been adequate.

THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT ESPECIALLY HERE. AS SOON AS I LEFT HERE THEY WERE ON THE TV FROM LIKE THEY EVEN MESSED UP MY PAPERWORK. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THEY COULD IMPROVE ON.

It's that type of information the Military Health System is asking service members and their families to disclose in questionnaires. Cynthia Smith a spokesperson says they can be found online.

THESE TWO QUESTIONAIRES ARE PART OF DEFENSE SECRETARY GATES COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING WOUNDED, ILL AND INJURED SERVICE MEMBERS ENSURING THERE CARE IS DOD'S TOP PRIORITY.

David Mayer says he hasn't filled out the form yet.

I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT BEFORE I CAN FILL IT OUT.

Smith says the deadline for participating in the survey is November 28th.

Jessica Forres WAMU 885 News