September 26, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 19 Area VFW Post Commander Stanley A. Kober of the Washington Elm Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #192 (Ho-HoKus--Ridgewood), has announced the launch of multiple annual contests. Those contests include the Voice of Democracy Scholarship Competition, the Patriot’s Pen Essay Competition, the Citizenship Education Teacher Award, and the VFW Recognition Program for law enforcement and emergency responders. Applicants and nominees from Ho-Ho-Kus, Ridgewood, Saddle River, and Upper Saddle River are welcome. Submissions for all of these contests are due by Nov. 1. High school students are invited to compete in the annual Voice of Democracy audio essay competition. Entrants have the opportunity to win thousands of dollars in scholarships, a trip to Washington, D.C., and dozens of other awards. This program is endorsed by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. High school students begin by competing at the local level. Deadline for the student’s original entries to arrive at VFW Post 192 is Nov. 1. Post awardees advance to district level, and district awardees compete in the state competition. The winner of the state competition will enjoy an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. in March 2013, along with the winners from every state, the District of Columbia, the Pacific areas, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe. During the more than 60 years that the Veterans of Foreign Wars and its Ladies Auxiliary have been involved with Voice of Democracy, more than seven million high school students have participated. Students compete by writing and then recording in their own words a three-to-five Residents welcome to participate in VFW contests minute audio/essay expressing their views on this year’s patriotic theme, “Is Our Constitution Still Relevant?” All state awardees receive at least a $1,000 national scholarship, but any one of them could win the $30,000 first place scholarship award. Students in grades six, seven, and eight are invited to compete in the Patriot’s Pen essay competition and possibly win thousands of dollars in U.S. Savings Bonds and a trip to be honored at the VFW and Ladies Auxiliary Community Service Conference. Post-level winners will advance to the district level, and district-level winners will compete in the state event. The state-level winner will then compete with 45 other national awardees to receive at least $1,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds. The first place winner will receive a $10,000 U.S. Savings Bond and an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. with a parent or guardian. Students are invited to write a 300-400 word essay on a patriotic theme. This year’s theme is “What I Would Tell America’s Founding Fathers?” Interested 6th to 8th grade students and teachers from Ho-Ho-Kus, Ridgewood, Saddle One teacher in each grade category of grades K-5, 6-8, and 9-12 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, D.C., to be honored at the VFW and Ladies Auxiliary Community Service Conference. In addition, $1,000 in cash and a plaque will be awarded to the teacher’s school. The 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 K-12 are eligible. Previous state and national VFW winners are ineligible. Nominations may be submitted by fellow teachers, supervisors, or other interested individuals (not relatives). Candidates may not nominate themselves. Post-level winners advance to the district competition, and district winners will compete at the state level. The state winners then compete for national cash awards, commemorative plaques, and a trip to Washington, D.C. Nominations are also being accepted for the National Public Law Enforcement, Firefighter, and Emergency Medical Technician Citation and Gold Medal Award program. One individual in each category will have the opportunity to be selected at the local level to compete in the VFW’s annual recognition program for forwarding to the district level and then the state level. The first, second, and third place state-level winners will be recognized with awards at the VFW Department Convention in Wildwood in June 2013. The first place winner at the state level will be forwarded to the national VFW for consideration as a Gold Medal Award recipient. Previous state and national VFW winners are ineligible. Nominations may be submitted by colleagues, supervisors, or other interested individuals from the public at large. For application information for all of these events, contact Commander Kober at (201) 445-1121 or immediately write to the Washington Elm VFW Post 192, at 620 Cliff Street, Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 07423. The Post 192 website, www. vfwpost192-nj.com, also has copies of these applications. The Wyckoff Parks & Recreation Foundation, a private/ public partnership, is currently seeking donations to fund improvements to Pulis Field without using tax dollars. The upgrades were approved by the Wyckoff Planning Board in June, and the foundation notes that the only thing standing between the current inefficient, part-time use of the property and the state-of-the-art facility is the final drive for funds. “If we’re able to secure the funding gap between now and the end of September, we will complete the facility in time for spring 2013 use,” said Chris Vanuga, president of the Wyckoff Parks and Recreation Foundation. “Our goal is 100 percent participation of families in our (recreation) program. Some shared sacrifice by everyone in town will lead to a lasting and long overdue improvement of our township. A donor wall at the improved Pulis complex will reflect all of the family and sponsor support for the proj- Foundation seeks donations for Pulis Field projects ect.” Vanuga explained that the foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. As a result, any contributions are tax deductible. The plans approved by the Wyckoff Planning Board on June 13 include two regulation multi-purpose fields, one junior field, an additional access road to ease traffic flow, improved parking, lighting, and a bathroom and snack bar facility. The revised plan was the product of extensive discussions and planning in cooperation with the township administration, the Wyckoff Recreation Department and Board, representatives of the various sports programs that plan to use the facility, and the Pulis Field neighbors, including the residents of the Spring Meadow senior community and the Wyckoff YMCA. Substantial funding has been promised by the Wyckoff YMCA and the Torpedoes Soccer Club. “Some local businesses have already stepped forward and pledged in-kind support,” Vanuga added. “With these commitments and pledges, we have about 75 percent of our projected Pulis project cost committed.” According to foundation estimates, approximately $750,000 will be needed to complete the improvements. Since more than 1,000 families in Wyckoff take part in organized sports activities, members of the Wyckoff Parks and Recreation Foundation believe that support from all those who benefit will make the project a reality. Donations in any amount are welcome. The foundation invites sponsors at various levels, including: Platinum, $25,000 or more; Gold, $10,000 to $24,999; Silver, $5,000 to $9,999; Bronze, $2,500 to $4,999; and Family, $1,000 to $2,499. Donate online at www.wyckoffparks.org or write to: Wyckoff Parks & Recreation Foundation, P.O. Box 145, Wyckoff, NJ 07481. Call Laura at (201) 264-6420.