Jerry McCloskey, commander of the Plainview American Legion Post 1812, recently announced that its meeting hall, located at 115 Southern Parkway, Plainview, has reopened. The Legion Post, established in 1954, opened its present home in 1960 and served the local community until a fire occurred in 2003. Units from the Plainview, Hicksville and Syosset Fire Departments helped contain the blaze to the lower level of the building, but extensive fire, smoke and water damage forced the closure of the facility. Investigators discovered the fire began in a florescent fixture.

While the Post was closed, Legion meetings were held at the Plainview Veterans of Foreign Wars hall and later at the Town of Oyster Bay meeting hall on Haypath Road.

The Dominion Construction Company began the restoration project in January of this year and just recently completed the renovation. Improvements included a handicapped accessible ramp to the upper level and a new handicapped unisex toilet upstairs.

Dance groups have long flocked to the hall because its wooden floor is ideal for dancing. The Helen Golann, Estelle Birmbaum and Grumann dance groups have already returned. The Mid-Island Irish-American Club members, who have met there since their inception in 1979, have also returned and have scheduled several dances. The Long Island Traditional Music Association has scheduled a series of Friday evening dances beginning in September.

Regular American Legion meetings are held on the first Tuesdays of each month at 8 p.m. Any veteran who wishes to join the Legion can call Membership Chairman Howard Liebman at 931-7030. The Plainview American Legion has a program to pay the dues of Plainview residents who are now serving in the armed forces. The Plainview Post has a membership of 350, one of the largest in Nassau County and is the proud sponsor of Cub Pack 423, which joins the Legionnaires when they go to the National Veterans Cemetery in Pinelawn for flagging of graves on Memorial Day. The Legion hall is available for rental for meetings, dances and parties. Call 931-7030 for any additional information.