welcome to "news4 this week." >> hi, everyone. i'm veronica johnson and we're going to show you some of the more interesting local stories making news. this week among them a living memorial that's become a community hot spot is now on thin ice. why this outlet for kids is causing so much trouble with the county. and it's been an institution in old town alexandria for decades. community support can't keep it from closing up shop. we'll tell you why. and getting the weather forecast right is tough, but try doing it while taking enemy fire. we visit the special ops meteorologist. first, nearly 700 homeless

veterans who once lived on the streets of d.c. are now in their own homes. it's a dramatic change and brings the district closer to ending homelessness for not just vets but all residents. mark segraves reports. >> reporter: james hill grew up in d.c. and graduated from spingarn high school. he spent six years serving in the army, but in 1990 when he returned from his service, he fell on hard times. >> i served my country. >> reporter: hill has been bouncing back and forth from living on the streets to living in shelters. through it all, hill wasn't one to complain. >> a shelter is okay but it's not your home. >> reporter: hill said he tried to stay positive year after year even as others in the shelters were getting placed in homes. >> you just keep praying and praying maybe one day your time will come. >> reporter: hill finally has a home to call his own thanks to new programs by the bowser

administration. >> it takes time. when you've been in a shelter so many long years, you have to get used to starting over. >> reporter: hill is not the only vet to move from the streets of d.c. to his own home this year. 680 other vets have been placed in stable housing this year as well. that's a nearly 50% increase from this time last year. >> we know what the solutions are. when we focus on them, when we invest in them, an end to homelessness is something we can achieve. >> reporter: as for hill, he plans on getting his driver's license and enrolling at job training. at age 56, he says he's ready for a fresh start. >> first christmas, first new year's, first everything. >> reporter: mark segraves, news4. >> hundreds of people braved the cold morning air in alexandria this week for a peek into the past. part of a ship's hull was discovered during construction of a new hotel between union and strand streets on the waterfront. city archaeologists who have been on the site throughout the

construction believe it dates to the 1700s. >> the city is very excited to have this discovery made. the fact that this is such an early ship. >> it looks like a skeleton of, you know, a dinosaur that you'd find. so i'm excited to learn more as they learn more. >> that ship hull isn't the only thing found on the site during construction. to find out more, search alexandria ship on our nbc washington app. any d.c. restaurant that gives you a styrofoam container for your food is now breaking the law. a ban on those containers took effect new year's day. the aim is to help keep foam containers from polluting, especially the an costa river and to keep toxic chemicals from getting into our food supply. the department of energy and

environment will begin conducting undercover spot checks soon to make sure businesses are complying. warnings will be issued first and then $100 fines. a local father is hoping a tribute that he built to honor his stepdaughter's memory will last through the winter. it's a hockey rink that he's opened up to other community members in montgomery county. but as derrick ward reports, the county is concerned about the rink and it's location. >> reporter: the ice is synthetic, the fun is real. for mark cohen of poolsville, this is a natural way to indulge his lifelong love of the sport. he even coaches it. >> i thought if i ever get a chance and could have my own place, my own rink, i could have more flexibility. >> reporter: this rink isn't just about fun. there's a solemn meaning behind what's going on here. it's also a fitting way to remember his stepdaughter melody. >> huge hockey fan. if it was a friday night, we'd have pizza and puck nights. that was one of her favorite things.

>> reporter: she shared his passion for hockey right up until her death last july. she was just 35 when she died from a respiratory illness, and the rink is named after her. >> i just thought the greatest thing would be to do a tribute. >> reporter: but there's a problem. cohen's property is in an agricultural reserve. thousands of acres are protected montgomery county green space. as such, there are limits and rules governing what goes on. inspectors have already visited and they had an issue with the lighting. >> i took those down. >> reporter: it's immensely popular with the people of poolsville. >> they appear to be having a good time. >> reporter: but the preservation of green space is popular and important too. jim brown is president of the poolsville town commission. >> you have to defend the reserve. >> reporter: there are hopes middle ground can be found. the head of the licensing service says they understand the desire to memorialize his daughter, but the rink is being promoted for public use rather than personal use which raises concerns about public safety, community impacts and compatibility with the agricultural reserve.

for now the rink isn't shut down. county officials want to meet can cohen and he'll be happy to do it. hopes are that this active living memorial isn't on thin ice. derrick ward, news4. >> he has spent $40,000 on the rink. since we visited, the county has asked him to take down a facebook page that publicizes the spot and even offered to help him move the rink, but he didn't agree to that. he has started a go fund me campaign to pay for legal expenses. to learn more head to our nbc washington app and search ice rink fund-raiser. well, it's a popular place to work out in the morning, but you might have to change your routine. the reason why the national zoo is changing its hours, next. and a workout will cost you a little bit of sweat, but not much else. how d.c. is making it easier for you to keep up those new year's resolutions.

you may have to adjust your

exercise routine along one of d.c.'s most popular paths. the national zoo is shortening its hours. gates now open two hours later than they used to. they open at 8:00 a.m. and they'll now close at 5:00 in the winter months. it's 7:00 p.m. during the summer. that means a lot of walkers and runners who regularly go through the zoo will have to adjust to that new schedule. >> i'll have to wait a little, but it's really worth it in that it's great to walk and see. today i saw two pandas, two lions, so it's a great spot to exercise. >> oh, my. the zoo says the changes are for security reasons to limit foot and vehicle traffic during the darker morning hours and even during the evening hours. well, when the why not children's store first opened, kennedy was president and social media, well, it did not exist. it was social media where most people learned that the old town alexandria fixture will be closing its doors. the owner says she just can't compete with cheaper online

retailers anymore. we found lots of people stopping in to buy one last item. you still have time. the store will be open until at least through the end of january. well, some people who grew likely going to that store are sharing what's most important in their lives. a new survey of 2,000 millennials finds the group sees community engagement and volunteering as a way to solve problems rather than politics. they reject institutions, including organized religion, and they get most of their news and information from social media. the survey was done over the summer months by christopher newport university. well, it's a weather forecast like none other you've ever seen before. meet an elite group of military meteorologists risking their lives to get much-needed information for american servicemen and women in the battlefield. >> it's a way for us to ensure that the forecasts are

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well, any of us with storm team 4 knows just how difficult some forecasts can be, but there are some in the military that have it really tough. i recently had the honor of traveling to pope air field at ft. bragg, north carolina, and speaking to the elite group of battlefield meteorologists. they forecast the weather while traveling to some of the most hostile areas around the world. they are the department of defense's elite group of weather forecasters with the u.s. air force. they are trained as weather forecasters, but also in many of the same skills required by any special operations soldier. special operations weather technicians are highly trained meteorologists who provide realtime combat zone weather reports and analysis. they are embedded in every branch of the u.s. military

special operations division, including navy s.e.a.l.s and army rangers. they are the first to head into hostile environments. they provide information to help make the call of go or no go to unit leaders or commanders. they go through a two-year pipeline considered one of the longest in any branch of service. >> we train to take advantage of every aspect of the weather that there is tethered to the mission that we're on. you're definitely looking out for specific instances that might help your mission. >> i traveled with them on a recent training exercise. on this day their mission was to complete a river assessment. they were assigned to get river width, depth, check for obstacles and forecast the weather. team members learned their roles and responsibilities. >> we go to those places and collect the data, put that in our forecast which allows other special operations forces that are doing current and future operations there to have that

data. >> each one keeps certain weather instruments on them at all times. >> i have a hand-held laser range finder and i use that to determine cloud height as well as height of obstacles when we're doing environmental reconnaissance. >> in 2011 the mission was to come up with a weather sensor that would withstand harsh conditions along a dangerous winter passage that leads to northern afghanistan. just a year prior, that pass had been hit several times, killing 160 people. the mission was to construct a weather station that would measure and relay weather information to help forecast avalanches. this photo shows them raising the completed weather station. >> that is what we are skilled in is making those forecasts under pressure, trusting those forecasts and making them as accurate as possible to keep our fellow guys on the ground safe. >> i asked the special operations weather team what

they enjoy most about their job. as you might imagine, it was serving country. they really are among the most highly trained personnel in the u.s. armed forces. well, many of you made resolutions to mark the start of the new year and now there's some good news. for those who are trying to lose weight in 2016, as tom sherwood reports, d.c. residents will no longer have to pay a fee to use the city's fitness centers. >> you didn't put on extra weight just for us, did you? >> reporter: john was working out in northwest. he and his wife, katherine, were glad for everyone that mayor bowser is eliminating fees for district citizens at all 22 facilities. >> my wife and i come here three mornings a week to do the boot camp at 6:00 a.m. >> reporter: vincent cook is here too. he lives in ward 8 where there are no private fitness gyms to even consider. mayor bowser has decided if you're a district citizen you

don't have to pay anything. >> that's great. since i'm a district taxpayer, i don't see why i have to pay to use my own gym anyway. >> reporter: as of now they won't pay the $5 daily fee or $125 yearly membership. barry farm in ward 8 opened this year. residents are just learning of the free policy. >> we never had this. so if it's free, you have an opportunity to take advantage of it. >> do you know what this is. >> yes. >> what is it? >> it's a fitness ball. >> reporter: recreation spokeswoman crump said suburbanites will still have to pay fees to use the facility. >> and go, go, go, go. i know, i need to get going too. if fitness is at the top of your list this new year's, we have the thing just for you. the nbc4 fitness expo this weekend. if you're on a budget, don't worry, it's free. it includes medical tests, screenings and forms. it's at the washington convention center andicks off

at 9:00 a.m. this saturday. to learn more download the nbc washington app for scheduled speakers and exhibits. storm team 4 will be on stage at 12:30 each day answering your questions. i know you've got a lot this winter. the big game is just a day away. do you have plans? we ask redskins fans what they would do to get into fedex field and a warning your clever moves won't stop the cold and flu. but disinfecting with lysol can. lysol wipes and spray are approved to kill more types of germs than clorox. to help keep your family healthy, lysol that. okay. so right now, everyone is saying, "hurry! you gotta get fios." but why? well, because there's never been a better time to get a great deal from fios, the fastest internet and wi-fi available. only fios has speeds from 50 to 500 megs. because your devices run better on a better internet. and for just $79.99 a month online, you can get 50 meg fios internet, tv and phone for your first year.

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♪ yourbut the omega-3s in fish oil differ from megared krill oil. unlike fish oil, megared is easily absorbed by your body. megared. the difference is easy to absorb. anything good goes fast, right? well, tickets sold out in just 13 minutes and you'll have to dig deep if you want to go to the redskins game tomorrow. it will cost you at least $150 just to get in the door. news4's pat collins caught up with redskins fans to find out what they would do to get into fedex field. >> reporter: at the redskins store they got the playoff pennants, the playoff t-shirts, playoff hoodies, playoff tickets, well, you're on your

own there. what would you do to get a ticket to that playoff game? >> man, i would do anything. i would run buck naked around this stage one time. that's how i feel. we doing it big. >> reporter: you like that, you like that, you like that. >> that's my man cousins, that's what he do, right? >> reporter: what would you do to get a playoff ticket? >> i'd wear this all day long outside. >> reporter: outside? >> outside, today. >> reporter: just one of your ensembles. >> just one of my ensembles, the latest one. >> reporter: forget the playoff stuff for a minute, you know they're selling the actual stools the players use in the locker room? and they're autographed. this is pierre garcon's. it's $400. now this is a seat you can take with you. you going to the game? >> yes. >> do you have tickets? >> yes. >> where are they? >> in section 112. >> are you taking somebody? >> yes. >> who?

>> my brother. >> you like him? >> yes. >> you like him better than me? >> yes. >> but if he can't make it? >> i'll call you. >> promise? >> i promise. >> joy. my good friend. give me a hug. >> and what a game it's going to be. oh, pat collins, we love you. if you're still looking for a couple of tickets, you need to watch out for people selling fakes. the washington redskins tells our news4 consumer watch, they're becoming increasingly concerned about counterfeit tirk tickets and parking passes. the team says make sure you buy your ticket or parking pass from a reputable seller. and if you get one from a friend, make sure you know how that person received it. don't buy a ticket off the streets or from someone you don't know. remember, on gameday, it's illegal to sell tickets or parking passes within a two-mile radius of fedex field. all those tickets and parking passes will be scanned on sunday. the team's senior vice president says that any counterfeit or

duplicate tickets will be turned away and they're not eligible for a refund under any circumstance. we want you to have fun, we don't want you to get taken so make sure you're safe. there were some pretty big stories last year. we've got a list of the most clicked on stories from nbcwashington.com. check out our online galleries. some were heart breaking like the local reporter used as a human shield during a shootout in d.c. or the tragic annapolis mansion christmas tree fire. others were more light-hearted like the birth of bae bae. open our app to see the online gallery of the top 28 most-read stories of the year. well, that's all for "news4 this week." i'm veronica johnson. we leave you with another look at that ship that was unearthed in alexandria. until next time, be safe, be kind, be happy. see you at the expo!

right now on news 4 today, a violent start to the weekend. several shootings overnight leaving one person dead and police digging for answers. >> get ready for some big weather changes. tom's tracking heavy rain and gusty winds headed our way. how you can plan ahead, hour by hour. >> who is getting that match? $800 million at stake. it all comes down to just six numbers. seems like nobody can get that six. >> that's a lot of money. >> it is. good morning, everybody. i'm angie goff. >> i'm david culver. welcome to news 4 today on this saturday, january 9th. starting off a little cloudy, a little rainy this morning. >> coming inside, out of northern virginia into d.c., had a few sprinkles out there,