Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • October 8, 2014 Midland Park American Legion post merges with Waldwick’s unit American Legion Post 130 Commander Joseph Bush was recognized for his years of dedica- tion and leadership at a recent meeting. Pictured from left: Post 57 Senior Vice Commander John Vervoort, Commander Bush and Post 130 Finance Officer John F. Grisoni. American Legion Hugh E. Connelly Memorial Post 130 of Midland Park/ Wyckoff has been dissolved and merged into the Waldwick Walter Nightingale Post 57. The Post 130 Women’s Auxiliary Unit will follow the same route, merging into the Waldwick auxiliary unit. The merger allows the remaining Post 130 members to be part of a post with more activities, community and veteran outreach; opportunity to network with other veterans, and to socialize with fellow legionnaires. Waldwick Post 57 will expand its service to veterans and the community at large into Midland Park and Wyckoff in order to fill the absence of Midland Park Post 130. “It was clear that the Post 130 mem- bers were saddened by the passing of the old post that once was a favorite gathering place of veterans who enjoyed the camara- derie of fellow soldiers of campaigns past,” commented Post 130 Finance Officer John Grisoni. Post 130 is more than pleased to have them. “We’re glad they chose our post. This gives us a bigger membership and com- munity base, and we will continue to look out for the interests of Midland Park and Firefighters to host Open House Midland Park’s volunteer firefighters will host an Open House at the department’s 45 Witte Drive headquarters on Wednes- day, Oct. 8 from 7 to 9 p.m. Children through elementary school age and their families are welcome. The Open House will feature fire truck rides, a smoke house and educational activities, among other attractions. Refreshments will be served. During the day, the firefighters will be visiting Midland Park’s schools to discuss fire prevention practices with stu- dents. This event is part of Fire Prevention Week 2014. The National Fire Protec- tion Association has designated “Work- ing Smoke Alarms Save Lives” as its 2014 theme. Wyckoff in the future,” said Post 130 Senior Vice Commander John Vervoort. The members of Post 130 currently on the rolls, about 50, according to Grisoni, will be transferred over to the Waldwick Post as of Dec. 31. As a courtesy to their loyalty, their 2015 membership fee will be paid by Post 130, Post 57, and the Bergen County American Legion. If they wish, they may transfer their membership to other posts of their choosing. Auxiliary President Donna Hoffman said her group of over 20 members also chose to disband because it did not want to become a “widows’ unit” with a limited number of active members. She said the Waldwick Auxiliary had indicated a willingness to maintain her unit’s projects. Post 130’s decision to begin looking for a new home for its members was prompted by the announcement last spring that Com- mander Joe Bush would be moving from the area. “With no replacement in sight, it became apparent that something had to be done before the post passed into oblivion,” Grisoni said. After several years of declining mem- bership and an apparent lack of interest by most members, Grisoni said it was difficult to get the five-member quorum required for the monthly meetings. “While some decisions were made, such as sponsorships for Boys’ State, the fund- ing of scholarships for essay contests, and donations to worthy local charities, there was concern that these decisions were being made without the authority of the paid-up membership,” he said. Such mergers of American Legion local posts are becoming more common. Grisoni explained that the memberships of many American Legion posts set up after World War II had been aging out or moving to warmer climes, forcing declining posts to merge with more active posts with younger veterans. “At one time, almost every town had its American Legion post. In recent years, mergers are the means to survival,” he said. Grisoni said that Post 57 is an active post with younger members and an increasing membership. It is involved in many tradi- tional veteran organization activities such as supporting returning soldiers in need, visiting wounded soldiers in the hospital, helping vets with their benefits, and rep- resenting the community during holidays such as Memorial Day, Veterans’ Day, and July 4th. Midland Park and Wyckoff will also be incorporated into Post 57’s overall outreach programs. The post has agreed to focus more on the communities of Midland Park and Wyckoff and will continue sponsoring high school junior boys for American Legion NJ Boys’ State at Rider University each June. It will extend its scholarship essay contests to seniors in Midland Park and Wyckoff high schools as well. Post 130 was established in 1943 by World War I veterans, with Hugh E. Con- nelly as its first commander. Construction of the post home on Faner Road was done entirely with volunteer labor from legion- naires and the community at large and was completed in August, 1955. Seeing its membership numbers decline in the early 2000s, the post tried to merge with VFW Post 7086, but the move was rejected by the national VFW in Nash- ville. So in 2007 the VFW sold its post home on Woodside Avenue and purchased and upgraded Post 130’s property on Faner Road. As part of the terms of the sale, the Legion received a 40-year lease for the orga- nization and its auxiliary to use the building for meetings and other events.