West Milford - Volunteering just comes naturally to Julia Held. Whether it is at the Friends of Long Pond Museum doing a re-enactment, fighting for new zoning regulations, or chronicling the history of her beloved Upper Greenwood Lake, Held takes pride in the volunteer work she’s done most of her life. And so does the community. Held was named West Milford’s Volunteer of the Year at the township council meeting last week. Like most in her line of work, Held was gracious and humble. “This room is full of volunteers,” said Held to the packed council meeting room. “We don’t do it to get recognized.” Nevertheless she thanked the council and her fellow volunteers for the honor. “I was surprised to be nominated,” Held said, “and even more surprised to be chosen.” Held, 75, was nominated by the Upper Greenwood Lake Property Owners Association Board for her work on the group’s 75th anniversary history, titled “Reflections of the Past.” She compiled 19 interviews and written histories of the community depicting the first 25 years of its existence. “This project was a wonderful experience for me,” said Held. “Once I got into it, it was like eating peanuts. The response was unbelievable.” Held’s family built a bungalow in the community in 1935, thereby making West Milford a part of Held’s life long before she moved here full time in 1984. Eventually, she and her husband, Samuel, made the bungalow a year-round house. Before moving to West Milford, the Helds lived in West Caldwell where she became involved in what would become her highest achievement as a volunteer. She spent 10 years as president of a residential association that fought - successfully - to rezone Passaic River wetlands so developers couldn’t fill them and build on it. “West Caldwell was the first community to get wetlands rezoning past,” said Held. “We went to every council meeting for 10 years. The board ridiculed us at times. The perseverance it took was amazing by the entire group.” After moving to West Milford, this former math teacher worked in the West Milford High School library for 10 years. She spent much of her free time volunteering with the Friends of Long Pond Historical Society, serving on its executive board and as fundraising chairperson. She volunteered for many years with the Greenwood Baptist Church as well as on the Passaic County Juvenile Committee in West Milford. When her daughters were young - the Helds have three grown children, two daughters and one son - Held served as a Girl Scout leader. She was part of the township’s Open Space Committee, something very dear to her heart. Held also made two trips to Katrina-ravaged New Orleans in 2007 and 2008. And Held isn’t the only one in her family who has made volunteer work a priority. Before some recent health setbacks, her husband was a dedicated volunteer at the animal shelter and at Chilton Memorial Hospital. He still volunteers with his wife as a greeter at the Long Pond Museum. Held will continue her volunteer work here in West Milford, along with the hundreds of others who devote so much time to this community. “I had an English teacher who loved teaching so much she said she didn’t think she should be paid for it,” said Held. “Volunteering is just that. These are things I enjoy doing. What would we do without our volunteers?”