JUNE 2012 • First Call 1

Chris Urban, Commander June 2012 Jack LaPaglia, Membership

First Call!The American Legion Utica Post 229

Utica Post 229 • 409 Herkimer Rd., Utica, NY 13502 • 315.793.9377 • www.uticapost229.org

Post Meetings are first Thursday of the month at 7:30 p.m. (optional dinner at 6:15)

Five-year-old twins Katherine and Josephine Aney are the 2012 Poppy Princesses. Outgoing Auxiliary President Theresa Jensen introduced the twins at the May 3rd membership meeting of Utica Post 229. See page 6 and back cover.

There will be no mem-bership and executive board meetings in July and Au-gust. The normal schedule will resume in September, with membership meet-ings on the first Thursday and executive board on the third Thursday.

Likewise, First Call will resume publishing with the September issue.

No MeetingsIn July, August

Inside

Commander’s Call 2Eagle Scout Project Picture 2Chaplain’s Corner 2 Baseball Schedules 3Joint Installation 4-5For wounded warriors 6Auxiliary 7

POPPY PRINCESSESBASEBALL KICKS OFFJUNE 3 FOR BOTH TEAMS

Legion baseball kicks off June 3 with Utica Post 229’s se-nior and junior teams playing in games. The senior team opposes Anaconda at a 10 a.m. game in Sche-nectady. The junior team plays Saratoga Stampede in an 11 a.m. home game at Murname Field.

See season schedules on page 3.

JUNE

5 Bingo, 6:30 pm6 Bloodmobile, noon-57 Monthly Dinner, 6:15 Post Meeting, 7:30 pm Auxiliary, 7:30 pm9 County Convention11 Vietnam Vets of Am., 112 Bingo, 6:30 pm16 DAV, noon 17 Father’s Day19 Bingo, 6:30 pm26 Bingo, 6:30 pm

POSTS INSTALL OFFICERS

Oneida County Legion installed the newly elected offficers of Utica Post 229 and Harold Provost Post 1686 during a joint installation dinner at Post 229 on May 5, including Utica Commander Chris Urban and Provost commander Vernon Harris. See Page 2.

DAV SERVICE VAN VISITS UTICA POST IN JULY

The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Service Van will be at Utica Post 229 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, July 11.

National service of-ficers will be on hand to help veterans file or check on claims with the Veterans Admin-istration, reports Post Service Officer Dave Wilson, a past DAV NY Department commander.

JULY

4 Independence Day18-21 NY Dept. Convention

First Call • June 20122

Commander’s Call

Chris Urban

catering menu (visit the Web page or review a copy held in the Post 229 lounge). Please consider using Post 229 as the loca-tion and the caterer for any party or event; contact Joanne Powers, Post 229 event coordinator, at 793-9377.

EAGLE PROJECTWe are hoping that our

Eagle Scout’s Landscaping Project will be approved by the Boy Scout Council soon and we hope that work will begin on land-scaping the Herkimer Road side of the Post. (See below for a picture of what

LOWER HALL FEEFOR MEMBERS

Change is the only thing that’s constant. At the last Executive Board (E-Board) Meeting the E-Board voted unanimously to lower the member’s price for renting the Banquet Hall from $250 to $150; non-members still pay $250.

Remember: we waive the Banquet Hall rental fee for everyone who uses Post 229 as the caterer for their event.

The E-Board also approved new policies governing the use of the Banquet Hall and a new

the Scout envisions for the post.) The Scout will be raising money for the project, so if you would like to donate, please send a check to the Post with the word “landscaping” on the memo line.

BE SAFE

When I was on active duty I ended every mis-sion brief with this phrase, “remember, be safe.” As we go into the summer, I hope that everyone enjoys family, friends, travel, out-door projects, and events of all kinds, but above all, remember, be safe.

For God and Country...

MAY GOD BE WITH YOU AND BLESS YOU,

MAY YOU SEE YOUR CHILDRENS’ CHILDREN,

MAY YOU BE POORIN MISFORTUNE AND

RICH IN BLESSING,MAY YOU KNOW NOTHINGBUT HAPPINESS FROM

THIS DAY FORWARD.

REST IN PEACE Richard S. Conde

JUNE NOTABLESJune 1 Internat’l Childrens DayJune 3 Cancer Survivors DayJune 6 D DayJune 14 Flag DayJune 17 Fathers Day

Chaplain’scorner

Paul Wojcik

This rendering shows Boy Scout’s vision for landscaping the Herkimer Road side of Utica Post 229.

JUNE 2012 • First Call 3

2012 SENIOR TEAM BASEBALL SCHEDULE

DATE OPPONENT TIME FIELD

JUNE

3 Sunday @ Anaconda DH 10 AM @ Schenectady

5 Tuesday @ Ilion (non-league) 7:30 PM @ Ilion High School

6 Wednesday * Fort Schuyler 6PM @ Murnane Field

7 Thursday * Herkimer 7:30 PM @ Murnane Field

9 Saturday @ Albany Americans DH 12PM @ Albany

10 Sunday Melvin Roads DH 1PM @ Murnane Field

11 Monday * @Smith 6PM @ Old RFA

14 Thursday Oneonta 6PM @ Murnane Field

16 Saturday @ Rayson Miller DH 12PM @ Finger Lakes CC

17 Sunday Sidney DH 12PM @ Murnane Field

18 Monday * @ Sherrill 6PM @ Noyes Park

19 Tuesday * @ Helmuth Ingalls 6PM @ Clinton High School

21 Thursday * New Hartford 7:30 PM @ Murnane Field

25 Monday * @ Love 7PM @ Boonville (BYAC)

26 Tuesday Albany Americans 1:30 PM @ Doubleday Field, Cooperstown

27 Wednesday * Roberts 6PM @ Murnane Field

28 Thursday * Moran 6PM @ Murnane Field

JULY

3 Tuesday * @ Whitestown 5:30 PM @ SUNY

4 Wednesday # Binghamton Post 6 PM @ Conlon Field - Binghamton

5 Thursday # Haddon Heights, NJ 9 AM @ Broome County CC

5 Thursday # Corning Post 12 PM @ Broome County CC

6 Friday # Endicott Post 6 PM @ Endicott High School

7 Saturday # Newburgh Post TBD @ TBD

8 Sunday # Playoffs if qualify 10 / 1 /4 @ Binghamton

10 Tuesday * @ Clonan 6PM @ Sauquoit HS

11 Wednesday * Ilion 6PM @ Murnane Field

12 Thursday * Little Falls 7:30 PM @ Murnane Field

14 Saturday * Adrean TBD @ Murnane Field

15 Sunday @ Saratoga Stampede TBD @ Saratoga

17 Tuesday * @ Parkhurst 7PM @ Delutis 1

PLAYOFFS

July 23 - July 28 District V Playoffs (if qualify) @ Higher seeds

Aug 1 - Aug 5 New York State Tournament (if qualify) @ Murnane Field

Aug 8 - Aug 13 Regional Tournament (if qualify) @ Old Orchard, ME

Aug 17-21 World Series (if qualify) @ Shelby, NC

* Denotes League Game

# Denotes Binghamton Tournament Game

5/20/2012

2012 JUNIOR TEAM BASEBALL SCHEDULE

DATE OPPONENT TIME FIELD

JUNE

3 Sunday Saratoga Stampede DH 11AM @ Murnane

4 Monday * @ Smith Post 5:30PM @ Franklin Field

7 Thursday * New Hartford 5PM @ Murnane Field

9 Saturday CNY Stalions 10AM @ Delutis #1 Field

14 Thursday * Smith Post 5:30PM @ Delutis #2 Field

17 Sunday * Adrean/Fort Schuyler Post 4PM @ Delutis #1 Field

21 Thursday * Smith Post 5PM @ Murnane Field

23 Saturday * New Hartford 3:30PM @ Delutis #1 Field

24 Sunday @ Camden 3PM @ Camden Yards

25 Monday @ CNY Pioneers 6PM @ Delutis #1 Field

30 Saturday Rayson-Miller Post DH TBD @ Murnane Field

JULY

5 Thursday * @ Smith 5:30 PM @ Franklin Field

7 Saturday @ Rayson-Miller Post DH TBD @ TBD

8 Sunday * @ Adrean/Fort Schuyler Post DH 11 AM @ Murnane Field

12 Thursday CNY Pioneers 5PM @ Murnane Field

15 Sunday @ Saratoga Stampede DH 11 AM @ Skidmore College

16 Monday @ CNY Stalions 6PM @ Westmoreland High School

19 Thursday Camden 5PM @ Murnane Field

20 Friday @ CNY Thunder Tournament TBD @ TBD

21 Saturday @ CNY Thunder Tournament TBD @ TBD

22 Sunday @ CNY Thunder Tournament TBD @ TBD

PLAYOFFS

14 Saturday District V Championship (if qualify) TBD @ Murnane Field

26 Thursday NYS Semi-Final (if qualify) 6 PM @ Murnane Field

Aug 1 - Aug 5 NYS Championship (if qualify) TBD @ Murnane Field

* Denotes League Game

5/20/2012

First Call • June 20124

Nearly all Post 229 officers were re-elected for another one-year term at the May membership meeting.

Chris Urban, a retired Navy helicopter pilot and an instructor in computer sci-ence at SUNYIT, returns as commander.

New to office are Historian Steve Campisi and Sgt.-at-Arms Wayne Dapre. In addition, Past Commander Anthony Palladino was elected adjutant.

Other returning officers are:• 1st Vice Cmdr: Len Lascala.• 2nd VC: Jim George.• 3rd VC: Bob Stronach.• Treasurer: Jim Haggerty.• Chaplain: Paul Wojcik.• Service Officer: Dave Wilson.• Judge Advocate: Al Alteri.Elected to serve at-large on the Execu-

tive Board were: Frank Cassella, Tom O’Toole, Jack LaPaglia, Vin Zaleski, Steward Bailey.

Elected to the Scholarship Commit-tee were: Jim McGuire, Paul Wojcik, Chris Urban, Vin Zaleski, Jim George, Tom O’Toole, Jim Haggerty.

The officers were installed jointly with officers of Harold Provost Memorial Post 1686 during an installation dinner May 5 at Utica Post. Auxiliary officers were installed at the same time.

ABOVE. BELOW AND OPPOSITE: Officers of Utica Post 229 and Harold Pro-vost Post 1686 were installed jointly in ceremonies at Utica Post on May 5.

OFFICERS ELECTED FOR NEW TERMPROVOST POST JOINS UTICA POST AT JOINT INSTALLATION

Oneida County Commander Patrick Gubbins presided at the installation.

Utica Post Commander Chris Urban addresses the gathering with county officers looking on.

JUNE 2012 • First Call 5

Leonard Lascala1st Vice Commander

Jim George2nd Vice Commander

Bob Stronach3rd Vice Commander

Anthony PalladinoAdjutant

Jim HaggertyTreasurer

Paul WojcikChaplain

Dave WilsonService Officer

Al AltieriJudge Advocate

Steve CampisiHistorian

Wayne DapreSgt.-at-Arms

First Call • June 20126

Give BloodAmerican Red

Cross bloodmobile is at Utica Post 229 every first Wednesday of the month from noon to 5.

CROCHETING FOR WOUNDED WARRIORS Auxiliary member Ginger Pieloch brought additional afghan blankets and slippers she crocheted to the May 3rd meeting. Auxiliary mem-bers and other volunteers are cro-cheting the afghans for wounded warriors at Landsthul Hospital in Germany. DAV Meets

on 3rd SaturdayDisabled American Veter-

ans, Leo B. Wheeler/Stars and Stripes Chapter 82 meets at Post 229 at noon on the third Saturday of the month. Jerry Welpe is commander.

VVA Meets on 2nd Monday

Vietnam Veterans of America, Utica Chapter 944, meets at Utica Post 229 on the second Monday of the month at 1 p.m. Tom Buono is commander.

Poppy Princesses Katherine and Josephine Aney received a rousing welcome at the May 3rd membership meet-ing. The 5-year-old twins were introduced by outgoing Auxiliary President Theresa Jensen, with Eleanor King and incoming President Peggy Kohler lookng on.

JUNE 2012 • First Call 7

AuxiliaryPeggy Kohler, president

By Rose A. Coniglio

We have reached 92 percent of our quota with 203 paid members.

We only need 16 more members to reach our goal by the end of June.

If you haven’t paid your $15 dues for 2012, please do so and help us reach our goal. Make checks out to American Legion Auxiliary Unit 229 and send to:

Rose A. Coniglio607 Jay St., Apt. C2Utica, NY 13501Thank you !

MembershipAt 92%

Rosaria Haggerty, repre-senting County Auxiliary, presided at the installation.

Peggy Kohler is the new president of Auxiliary Unit 229. She succeeds three-term president Theresa Jensen.

Other officers are:• Pat Dodge, 1st Vice

President.• Donna Wojcik, 2nd Vice

President and Historian.• Rosetta LaPaglia, Secre-

tary.• Pam Vogel, Treasurer.• Marie Dodge, Chaplain.• Gail Greco, Sgt.-at-Arms.

PEGGY KOHLER ELECTED TO LEAD AUXILIARY UNIT

Auxiliary President Peggy Kohler (right) during the May 5th installation with outgoing President Theresa Jensen.

Secretary Rosetta LaPaglia, 2nd Vice President Donna Wojcik and 1st Vice President Pat Dodge during the installation ceremony.

Sgt.-at-Arms Gail Greco (left), Chap-lain Marie Dodge and Treasurer Pam Vogel.

Oneida County Auxiliary President Joanne Constan-tine was a special guest.

First Call • June 20128

Utica Post #229The American Legion

409 Herkimer Rd.Utica, NY 13502

First Call is a monthly publication of Utica Post 229 American Legion,

409 Herkimer Rd., Utica, NY 13502, whose mission is to serve veterans, members and local communities.

Yearly membership includes First Call, published 10 times a year.

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

-PAID-Utica, NY

Permit No. 566

Since its founding in Paris in 1919, The American Legion has been an advocate for America’s veterans, a friend of the U.S. military, a sponsor of community-based programs for young people and a spokesman for patriotic values.

Editor: Robert Stronach. Send news, announcements and photos to FirstCall@uticapost229.org.

A PRINCESS SMILE

Five-year-old twins Katherine and Josephine Aney were all smiles as they were introduced as the 2012 Poppy Princesses during Utica Post 229’s May 3rd membership meeting.