Midland Park April 3, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 5 The Midland Park mayor and council are seeking a compromise on allowing baseball play on borough fields before 1 p.m. on the Saturday before Memorial Day this year. The town, which had eight of its native sons die in a two-year period during the Vietnam War, traditionally observes the holiday on that day with memorial services and a parade. Representatives of the Midland Park Baseball Association and the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and American Legion made their case for and against allowing the games on Saturday, May 25 to the governing body last week. Councilman Nick Papapietro suggested the two groups get together right after the council meeting to reach an agreement, but VFW Commander Bruce Strengberg said he would take the compromise suggestion to the post for discussion and report back to the council. Dana Weisbrot, president of the baseball association, Council puts off decision on use of town fields explained that the association wants to host the Bergen County Charity Classic, a baseball tournament always held on that day, as a fundraiser for his organization. He said games are played at 9, 11, 1 and 3 and could not be moved up to start at 1 p.m. Weisbrot said seven of his teams are entered in the tournament, two of which would be playing home that day. Weisbrot, who said his father and other relatives and friends were veterans, said having games at that time would be a tribute to veterans and one could even throw the first pitch. He said play would stop when the memorial ceremony was taking place. “There is no disrespect for the veterans. What better way for the players to learn about the veterans?” he said. “This is something that will benefit everyone here. If not 350 people are leaving town to do something else.” He noted that the funds raised are used not only for the baseball program but also to improve the school fields “The first half of the day is set aside for the veterans. It befuddles me that you can’t find other fields,” Mayor Patrick “Bud’ O’Hagan told Weisbrot. “The day is set aside to commemorate their sacrifice. To move the observances would be a dishonor to them,” Strengberg said when it was his turn to speak. “It is our duty and responsibility to see that those names are remembered. We are looking to maintain that honor,” said veteran Richard Kroitsch. “Keep the resolution you have in place to hold off play until 1 p.m.” American Legion Past Commander Harold Allen (continued on page 18) Village does not have space for more students Ridgewood Superintendent of Schools Dr. Daniel Fishbein has notified Midland Park’s school officials that Ridgewood High School does not have space for another 340 students. Fishbein and school trustee Sheila Brogan met last month with representatives of the Midland Park Public Schools, who are now exploring send/receive options with other districts. “Their answer was no,” Midland Park Board President William Sullivan reported. “They now have several housing developments in front of the planning board, and they are not in any position to accept our students,” Sullivan said. In February, the Midland Park Board of Education began reaching out to neighboring school districts to determine whether those districts would have any interest in accepting Midland Park High School students on a tuition basis or sending their students to Midland Park High. At that time, Sullivan said he and Midland Park Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marie Cirasella would be meeting with Ridgewood. Additional discussions are also planned with Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale, and perhaps other districts, Sullivan added. He pointed out that the district is “just gathering information to share with the board, and nobody should assume that the board has reached any sort of consensus on send/ receive.” The board president said the goal is to have as much information as possible available to the board in making decisions.