Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • September 2, 2009 VFW announces competitions for students, educators VFW Post Commander Stanley A. Kober of the Washington Elm Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 192 (Ho-HoKus/Ridgewood), has announced the kick-off of three annual competitions, including the National VFW and its Ladies Auxiliary Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition, the Patriot’s Pen Essay Competition, and the National Citizenship Education Teacher Award. The Voice of Democracy contest invites local high school students to compete in the annual audio essay competition. Students write and then record a three-to-five minute audio essay expressing their views of this year’s theme: “Does America still have heroes?” Students begin by competing at the local Post level. Deadline for entries to arrive at VFW Post #192 is Nov. 1. Post awardees advance to the District level, and then to the state competition. The winner of the state event will enjoy a four-day tour of Washington, D.C. along with the awardees from every state, the District of Columbia, the Pacific Areas, Latin America/Caribbean, and Europe. All state awardees receive at least a $1,000 national scholarship, but any one of them could win the $30,000 first place award. Interested high school students and teachers from HoHo-Kus and Ridgewood should contact the Washington Elm VFW Post #192 (Ho-Ho-Kus—Ridgewood) at (201) 445-1121 or immediately write to the Washington Elm VFW Post 192 (Ho-Ho-Kus/Ridgewood) at 620 Cliff Street, Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 07423 for more information. Students in grades six through eight are invited to participate in the Patriot’s Pen event, which requires students to write a 300-400 word essay on the theme: When is the right time to honor our military heroes? Entries must arrive at VFW Post 192 by Nov. 1. Post awardees advance to District, and District awardees compete in the state VFW competition. State winners compete for more than $91,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds with the first place winner receiving a $10,000 U.S. Savings Bond and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. Patriot’s Pen entrants should use the contact information listed above. One teacher in each grade category -- K-5, 6-8, and 912 -- will have the opportunity to compete in the VFW’s annual teacher recognition competition to win $1,000 cash, a plaque, and an all expenses paid trip to Washington, DC. In addition, $1,000 cash and a plaque will be awarded to the teacher’s school. VFW’s citizenship education program stimulates interest in America’s history, traditions, institutions, civic responsibility, flag etiquette, and patriotism. All current classroom teachers (teaching at least half the school day in a classroom environment) in grades K12 are eligible. Previous state and national VFW winners are ineligible. Nominations may be submitted by fellow teachers, supervisors, or other interested individuals (not relatives). Self-nominations are not permitted. Deadline for the nominations to arrive at VFW Post 192 is Nov. 1. Post awardees advance to District, and then to the state level. State winners compete with all the other state awardees for the national cash awards, commemorative plaques, and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. Interested people from Ho-Ho-Kus or Ridgewood who want to nominate teachers who care deeply about America and its children, should call (201) 445-1121. Preserve Graydon declines spot on committee (continued from page 5) “On Monday evening, Aug. 17, still having never agreed to serve, we received an e-mail message asking us to confirm that we would be present at the first meeting of the committee two weeks later. On Wednesday, Aug. 19, our attorney sent a letter to the council reiterating our reasons for declining.” The blog also indicated concern over the weekend closing of Graydon, stating this was “an unprecedented step in our memory.” Interim Village Manager Heather Mailander had announced at a public meeting that the pool would be on reduced hours because the college lifeguards had to return to college and the high school lifeguards would be back at Ridgewood High School on Sept. 2. David Bolger, who has already threatened to sue the Preserve Graydon Coalition for libel because they cited him as the instigator of a three-year project he had joined only two months before, said the water quality issue at Graydon would not just disappear. “Had they done their homework they would have been able to inform you that the health board has been suggesting changes to Graydon for the last 10 years, and the land surrounding Graydon is restricted by the DEP (Department of Environmental Protection),” Bolger wrote. The Ridgewood Pool Project, which has been in operation for three years, was motivated by concern for dwindling membership at Graydon, and cited concerns about water quality as the primary reason. The group’s original plan called for a four-pool complex with a lake-like pool, a rectangular concrete pool, and two children’s pools and would have cost $13.9 million. Some neighbors and other residents objected, and this plan was withdrawn and revised to a $10-million plan. The second plan was somewhat more popular than the first, but a number of residents objected to both the aesthetic appearance and the cost. According to some experts, meeting DEP and federal water standards with a single open pool is unlikely. In addition, Graydon’s water quality remains a concern to those residents who support the Ridgewood Pool Project. Stay on top of commercial building maintenance homeimprovement & decorating The Villadom TIMES is giving you the opportunity to present your quality services and merchandise in a special Fall Home Improvement & Decorating Guide. In The Villadom TIMES, you’ll get the exposure you need in 56,300 homes right in your market area. And, as always, your Villadom TIMES advertising message is conveniently delivered each week by US mail to every residence in the ten affluent Bergen County towns listed below. 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