ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - As winter weather, ever so slowly, gives way to warmer temperatures, upcoming spring events were a hot topic during last week's Community Action Council meeting.
Guest speakers discussing topics relevant to the Aberdeen Proving Ground community during the Feb. 17 meeting, held at the APG South Chapel, included Commander Richard A. Graham, the Armed Services Blood Drive regional coordinator, and Army and Air Force Exchange Services Regional Director Chris Holifield.
A recap of the one-hour meeting is as follows:
John Kearny, head of the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security kicked off the meeting with installation highlights and accomplishments, recapping the recent deployment of the 1729th Field Support Maintenance Company to Iraq.
Marni Allison, FMWR community and recreation division chief, promoted several spring and summer events including summer camp registration and support group and teen activities. Other FMWR highlights included the Feb. 26 Nashville Connection, March 5-6 racquetball tournament, March 7 Mystery Dinner Theatre, March 17 St. Patty's Day Fun Run and March 23-24 Spring Bazaar.
She noted that community members can sign up through March 30 for an intramural volleyball league and addressed the capacity problem at the Hoyle Gym and Aberdeen Athletic Center.
"Our facilities are great, our equipment is great, but we do have some capacity challenges," said Allison. "We are perusing different options to try to overcome some of these challenges we have."
She urged users to always visit the gym at their convenience but noted that the busiest time is from 4 to 6 p.m.
"If you could adjust your schedule and avoid using the gym at this time you will certainly have a better chance of getting to use the equipment that you need," she said.
The Directorate of Public Work's Tom Kuchar said as a result of this year's unpredictable weather and frequent ice storms, DPW personnel will be busy over the next few months fixing potholes, curbing, and walkway lighting repairs damaged by winter weather.
He said the construction of a new Child Development Center will soon start at APG North and should be complete by the fall.
He also discussed the construction that will begin on Route 715.
"Four lanes will be widened to six lanes," said Kuchar. "The major work will be done during off-peak hours. We will keep you updated."
Kuchar asked attendees to call 410-306-1400 or submit comments online at http://www.apg.army.mil/apghome/ if they see something that needs to be brought to DPW's attention. Residents should call Picerne Military Housing at 410-305-1076 for housing issues.
He said the Earth Day/Arbor Day celebration will be held on April 29 at the APG museum with the theme "Light of the Bay." There will be a poster and essay contest for children and interactive and static displays by post organizations, and a time capsule containing items that highlight the historic changes happening at APG will be buried during the day.
Gene Schneck, the installation's director of Logistics, said the Aberdeen Dining Facility, Bldg. 4503, is now open to military retirees, DoD civilians, & DA contractors. For hours of operation or more information, call 410-278-3142.
Nicole Cawthern, of the Garrison Transformation Office, said that Army Team Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Reconnaissance Campus will go into the next phase of construction.
Cawthern added that all the Base Realignment and Closure projects are expected to meet the deadline. According to BRAC law, all projects are to be completed by Sept. 15, 2011.
Graham briefed attendees on the ASB mission-to provide quality blood products, blood substitutes and services for service members and their Families worldwide during peacetime and in war.
ASBD holds blood drives on DoD installations, leased facilities and some federal installations. Last year ASBD received 500 units of blood donations from APG.
Upcoming blood drives will be held at the APG North Recreation Center from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., March 14, April 4, May 17, June 21, July 25, August 23 and Sept. 27.
For information on ASBD, visit www.militaryblood.dod.mil, or call 301-295-2688.
Capt. Malikah McCormick briefed attendees on plans for the 2011 Armed Forces Day celebrations May 16-21. Events include a golf tournament, dinner cruise, veteran's lunch and official relighting of the Poole Island lighthouse. Armed Forces Day will be observed May 18 and will include demonstrations, aircraft flyovers, historical reenactments, live entertainment and more.
Holifield addressed the rumor that the APG PX is going out of business. "There are no plans to close the PX," he said. "We recently made some improvements to the PX, and we did an image upgrade to improve the appearance of it as well."
He added that there are plans to bring some name brand restaurants to the PX food court, and that improvements will be made to Subway, located in the APG North Shoppette to cut down on wait time.
Holifield said Burger King will go through a major renovation scheduled in April. "By the time we are finished we will have the first concept of its kind, right here in Aberdeen."
An attendee asked if civilian spouses could get an "easy pass" to allow fast access to the post gym, skipping the sign-in at the Visitor's Center every time.
The Directorate of Emergency Services' Robert Krauer said that at this is not allowed due to security restrictions.
"Civilian spouses are not entitled to government issued identification cards," he said. "It is not an ideal situation, but once they are in that system (at the visitor's center), it only takes a few moments for them to get another pass," he said.
Garrison Command Sgt. Major Rodney Rhoades closed the meeting by encouraging attendees to make ICE comments, citing the increase of exercise classes available at APG North and APG South, as an example of a program improved with feedback from the interactive customer evaluation, or ICE, program.
"We truly appreciate that feedback, that it is how we improve team APG, our home," he said. Visit www.apg.army.mil/apghome/sites/local/.
Rhoades invited attendees to participate in post events and observances that are open to the community.
"Team APG is changing, we are growing, and we got to grow together as a team," he said.
The next Community Action Council meeting is set for March 17 at the APG North Chapel at 9:30 a.m. Everyone is invited to attend.
The meeting will be broadcast live on Channel 97 and open for community members who would like to submit questions or comments via Twitter: http://twitter.com/USAGAPG.
To view slides from the Feb. meeting go to http://www.slideshare.net/USAGAPG/feb-apg-community-action-council-slides.
For more information about upcoming events, visit www.apg.mwr.com,www.facebook.com/APGMd, http://twitter.com/USAGAPG, view Channel 97 and 21, read the APG News and Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation's In-Demand newsletter.
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