Community Notes for the week ending Sept. 21 Published Sept. 17, 2007 MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Incorrect information given Sept. 14 The information published on hours changing at the Grizzly Bend Club effective Oct. 1 was incorrect in the Sept. 14 edition of the Front Range Guardian. That information applies to the Elkhorn Dining Facility. Correct information is as follows: Effective Oct. 1, the hours of operation at the Elkhorn Diner will be reduced. New hours are: Weekday breakfast: 6:30 to 8 a.m. Weekday lunch: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Weekday dinner: 5 to 6:30 p.m. Weekend brunch: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Weekend dinner: 4:30 to 6 p.m. Midnight meals will no longer be offered. Thrift shop offers bargains to all The Malmstrom Thrift and Consignment Store is located in building 145 and is open every Tuesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Selections include children's clothing to bedroom sets and the selection of items constantly changes. Consignments are accepted until 1 p.m. and donations are always appreciated. For more information, call the store at 731-3213. Retirement planning seminars offered There will be a one-day course Oct. 9 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for federal employees covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System who are more than five years away from retiring. This seminar focuses on personal planning and preparing for retirement. A two-day pre-retirement seminar for appropriated funds employees is Oct. 10 and 11, also from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is for those employees covered by both Civil Service Retirement and FERS who are within five years of retirement. Both courses take place at the Townhouse Inns, 1411 10th Ave. S. Call Ingrid Callahan at 731-4675 or e-mail her at ingrid.callahan@malmstrom.af.mil to sign up. Get your information included Organizations with information on upcoming events or important news can submit it to web.news@malmstrom.af.mil. It will be included in weekly posting to the Malmstrom external Web site at www.malmstrom.af.mil and also provided to the Front Range Guardian for possible inclusion in that publication. Basketball tournament on tap The African-American Heritage Association will host a fall classic basketball tournament Sept. 28 to 30 at the Sports and Fitness Center here. Malmstrom's base team will compete against other base teams from the mountain west region. There will also be a free children's clinic, featuring the Great Falls Explorers, at 10 a.m. Sept. 29, along with prize giveaways for those in attendance. Anyone wanting to volunteer or needing more information is asked to call Staff Sgt. Aharon Goins at 731-6315. TSP adds account number feature, improves security The Thrift Savings Plan will being using account numbers to improve individual account holder security effective in October. TSP officials will mail new account numbers to participants this month that will replace the use of Social Security numbers as the primary means of identifying current TSP participants. Follow the instructions provided with the new account numbers. Information available online The September DANTES Information bulletin can be found online at: http://www.dantes.doded.mil/dantes_web/newsletter.asp. This month's highlights include: · Troops to Teachers awards · 2008 DANTES Examination Program Handbook · Joint Professional Military Education for enlisted personnel · Distance education survey Supplemental NECP board being held Headquarters Air Force Personnel Center will conduct a supplemental Nurse Enlisted Commissioning Program board Oct. 23 to 25. NECP offers active-duty enlisted personnel the opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree in nursing. NECP students complete their degree at a college or university within 24 calendar months and will be attached to an active Air Force ROTC detachment or a college or university with a cross-town agreement. NECP applicants receive full pay and benefits while in the program. A requirement for 50 candidates still remains. NECP criteria can be found at: https://kx.afms.mil or contact the education office at 731-3531. Web site provides college assistance The Student Assistance Foundation, a Montana non-profit corporation, has established a Web site to assist students with a variety of scholastic needs. It is available at www.smartaboutcollege.org and provides information in a user-friendly format regarding almost every facet of preparing for college, according to SAF staff members. To find out more at SAF, visit www.safmt.org.