In Our Communities

September 29, 2019

The Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., and former Fort Monmouth, N.J., community held its 15th annual Fisher House Gala Sept. 21 for families of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers, the Harford County Office of Community & Economic Development (OCED) reports. The event drew more than 300 military and community leaders to celebrate Fisher House as “home away from home” for more than 350,000 families since 1990. “Our blended Aberdeen Proving Ground and former Fort Monmouth community — a result of BRAC 2005 — has collectively raised more than $2.5 million for Fisher House to date,” said Karen Holt, Federal Installation Administrator for Harford County’s OCED…
Treasure Island, Calif., San Francisco’s former naval base that is being transformed into a $6 billion development of condos and shops, was once considered hazardous enough to be a federal Superfund site but was never officially named one, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The newspaper says newly disclosed documents reveal the former base’s EPA Hazard Ranking System score was 51.78, almost double the threshold for Superfund consideration. The island’s developers, who plan on more than 8,000 homes on the site by 2035, say the cleanup has been heavily scrutinized and handled effectively by multiple government agencies…
Progress on a new ammunition pier at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Calif., could start with dredging Anaheim Bay toward the end of 2019, the Los Angeles Time reports. The dredging, part of a $154 million multi-stage project that will allow larger ships to dock at NWS Seal Beach, will replace the WWII-era ammunition pier with one meeting the growing Pacific Fleet’s needs. Seal Beach stores ordnance for the Navy and Marine Corps, loads and unloads ammunition, and maintains weapons on warships departing San Diego.
Photo credit: Harford County Office of Community & Economic Development
Editor’s Note:
If you have defense community news to share as an “In Our Communities” item, or other community news for ADC’s readership, send stories to: gtraweek@defensecommunities.org.

September 29, 2019

Recent News

Snap of the Week

Snap of the Week

Naval Academy plebes climb the Herndon Monument, a tradition symbolizing the successful completion of the midshipmen’s freshman year. The class of 2027 completed the climb in 2 hours, 19 minutes and 11 seconds. Navy photo by Stacy Godfrey

In Our Communities

In Our Communities

More than 74,000 residents of Whidbey Island, Washington could suffer long-term health impacts from the noise of jets stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, according to a University of Washington study, The Seattle Times reported. Researchers said the impact...

$2 Billion Aid Package Will Help Ukraine Build Its Own Weapons

$2 Billion Aid Package Will Help Ukraine Build Its Own Weapons

A new $2 billion aid package the State Department announced Thursday will help build a Ukraine Defense Enterprise Program, according to Defense News. The fund will help Ukraine buy weapons from other countries while “investing in Ukraine’s defense industrial base,...

NDAA Draft Asks for DOD Study on Privatizing Barracks

NDAA Draft Asks for DOD Study on Privatizing Barracks

The House Armed Services Committee’s draft National Defense Authorization Act indicates lawmakers may not be ready to privatize more barracks, as Military.com reported. “Members aren’t completely bought into privatizing all housing,” a senior Republican committee aide...

PAST STORIES