Wharton Clamboree raises money for veterans

Kevin Scully promises the William J. Hocking American Legion Post 91’s World Famous Clamboree this year will be the best one yet.

“We used to just call it a Clambake but I wanted to spice it up a little bit because clambake is like, blah. So clamboree, jamboree, why not? It kind of works and it fits. It’ll be great. Band X will keep the crowd rocking all day.”

The 2015 Clamboree will be held from 1-5 p.m. on Aug. 15 at the Post, located at 99 North Main St. in Wharton. Tickets are a $45 per person donation and the all-you-can-eat event includes plenty of clams, hot dogs, hamburgers, salads and more.

For tickets, stop by the Post 91 Club bar or call 973-366-2458. To avoid any shortages of food or beverages, only 150 tickets are sold, all in advance. In the past, Post 91 sold as many tickets as possible but found it tough going.

“We find that’s manageable. You don’t have to wonder, are we going to sell 150, 200 tickets? At one point years ago, we would sell like 225 tickets and that was a nightmare because it was just way too many people and you didn’t know how to shop. Unfortunately, we’re all getting older and it’s hard to do what we could do 10, 12 years ago,” Scully said, laughing.

“This seems to be working out. Some people get there and they’re incredibly hungry and they go crazy which is fine. We encourage it, absolutely.”

The main reason for the Post 91 Clamboree is to raise money for their scholarship fund which awards one or two scholarships every year to a member’s child or grandchild.

“We’ve just done this event for as long as I can remember. It’s a lot of work but it’s a good day. It also helps in that it lets people know what we do. We do try to help the community as much as possible and we’re happy to do it.”

During the past year, Post 91 held a fundraiser for Ed Alonso, the Jefferson man who lost both his legs in an IED explosion in Afghanistan. The event netted close to $2,000 for the young Marine.

“In my mind, that’s what we should be doing. Supporting our veterans, assisting our veterans when we’re able to. Whether it’s a donation, whether it’s purchasing something for them, providing scholarships for the children or grandchildren of veterans, things of that nature. We’re a service-based organization. That’s what we should be doing.”

Scully first joined Post 91 in 2003 after learning about all the good the group did, for both veterans and the community. Since his father had served in Korea in the 1950s, he felt right at home amongst the members and their families.

Despite having close to 100 members, the William J. Hocking American Legion Post 91, like most service clubs, has been relying mainly on older membership. Scully, a resident of East Stroudsburg, Pa., who grew up in Mine Hill, has been actively trying to attract new members and welcomes visitors to come have a sandwich at the bar.

“Anybody who stops and asks what it is that we do, I’m more than happy to explain in the hopes that we’ll pick up a member or two along the way. Someone not as age-challenged who can pick up and continue the work that we’ve done. The biggest problem we find is our membership is getting older and we don’t have the younger kids coming up behind us,” said Scully.

“The median age of most of our members now is the late forties, early to mid-fifties. We don’t have the 30-year-olds coming up behind us that can pretty much take the flag and continue forward. That’s the only way ultimately the club will survive.”

Members of the Post meet the second Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Post, 99 N. Main Street in Wharton. The Post 91 bar is open to the public. Visitors are welcome to walk right in and enjoy some camaraderie with members over a game of pool, shuffleboard or just watching TV. For more information, stop by the post, call 973-366-2458 or visit www.squadron91.com.

Help the Homeless

Stefan is a beautiful 3-year-old sweetheart who was found as a stray on Route 46 before coming to Mt. Olive TNR. He loves to play and is SUPER affectionate. He loves any and all attention bestowed upon him. Stefan plays very well with his foster brother and can be found at times running back and forth from the kitchen to the living room being silly and chasing after toys. If you are looking for a lap cat, then this is the cat for you. He loves to snuggle and cuddle and would be a wonderful addition to any home. To meet Stefan, visit mtolivetnr.org and fill out an adoption application and a representative will get back to you.

Morris County residents honored for the Arts

During May, more than 100 students and education leaders were honored at the 35th Annual Governor's Awards in Arts Education in Trenton. The event celebrates the best in arts education from across the state and recognizes the creativity, talent and leadership of the award winners. The following were recognized: Aaron Bennett, Randolph H.S., Duo Interpretation, Speech and Debate; Abeba Isaac (accepting for the group), Morris Hills H.S., Best Scene, Theatre; Bryn Bennett, Randolph H.S., Duo Interpretation, Speech and Debate; Carlie Stanco, The Calais School, Student Arts Excellence Awards, Creative Writing; Christina Graf, The Calais School, Student Arts Excellence Awards, Creative Writing; Claire Sullivan, Montville Twp. H.S., Poetic Interpretation, Speech and Debate; Dominique Pickett, Lake Drive Program, Mountain Lakes H.S., Student Arts Excellence Awards, Visual Arts (Fine Arts); Elaine Huang, Montville Twp. H.S., Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Speech and Debate; Elora Borja, Pope John H.S., Exceptional Promise in Music, Music; Emily Moreno, Vernon Twp. H.S., Best Actress, Theatre; Jack Kimber, Chatham H.S., N.J. Playwrights Festival-High School Division, Playwriting; Jay Sirot, Montville Twp. H.S., Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking, Speech and Debate; Joshua Yogo, Chapel Hill Academy, Student Arts Excellence Awards, Music (Vocal); Lauren Robinson, Newton H.S., All-State Band, French horn; Michael Parondo, Mountain Lakes H.S., Student Arts Excellence Awards, Visual Arts (Fine Arts); Noah Weinflash, Montville Twp. H.S., Original Oratory, Speech and Debate; Shawn Brelvi, Montville Twp. H.S., Improvisational Acting, Speech and Debate; Victoria Strata, Morris County Vocational Tech, Student Award for Artistic Excellence and Leadership in Dance, Dance; William Taitel, Morris Hills H.S., Best Actor, Theatre; William August Hanisch, Retired Principal, Butler H.S., Distinguished Service to Theatre Education.

Staff Writer Leslie Ruse: 973-428-6671; lruse@GannettNJ.com.