From left, Suffolk County Police Officer Matt Spilotros, Eagle Scout Alexander Tafone and Leg. Rob Trotta. Photo courtesy of Leg. Trotta's office
Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta attended the Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Troop 539’s Alexander Jude Tafone on April 6 at Travis Hall at St. Joseph’s Church in Kings Park.
For his community service project, Alex organized a 5K Fun Run/Walk to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention. Approximately 150 people participated in the event and Alex was able to donate over $10,000 to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
“This is a wonderful honor for Alex, and he certainly earned it. I know his parents, family, friends, troop leaders and fellow scouts must be extremely proud of him. What is so special about this award is that you obtained it while still a teenager. This recognition will stay with you for the rest of your life,” said Legislator Trotta.
Brayden Michael Dickneider receives a proclamation for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout from Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta.
Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta recognized Brayden Michael Dickneider of Troop 214 for attaining the esteemed rank of Eagle Scout at his Court of Honor at the Smithtown Presbyterian Church on January 4. During the ceremony, he presented Brayden with a proclamation to acknowledge this accomplishment.
Brayden completed the requirements to be eligible to receive the rank of Eagle Scout. For his community service project, Brayden installed a new fence at the Smithtown First Presbyterian Church.
“This is a very proud moment for Brayden, his family and friends and the other scouts. This accomplishment will be with him for the rest of his life, and I am sure he will serve as an inspiration to the younger scouts,” said Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta.
Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta, right, is pictured with Eagle Scout Michael Canonic (center) and Suffolk County Legislator candidate Frank Black. Photo courtesy of Leg. Trotta's office
Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta attended the Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Michael Canonic, a junior at Kings Park High School. During his 16 years, he has had many challenges as he is deaf and learned to listen through a cochlear implant hearing aid from a young age. Although no one in Michael’s family works in the car repairbusiness, his goal is to open up his own auto body shop to repair vehicles damaged in accidents.
For his community service project, Michael designed and created an outdoor learning space located off of the library at the William T. Rogers Middle School in Kings Park.
“Becoming an Eagle Scout is a testament to your character and leadership skills and is something that you have accomplished while still a teenager. This recognition will stay with you for the rest of your life and can never be taken from you,” said Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta. “What you have done is very impressive and we will expect great things from you in the future,” added Legislator Trotta.
Danny Cappiello's Eagle Scout Project. Photo from Robert DeStefano
Massimo Olson's Eagle Scout Project. Photo from Robert DeStefano
João Ferreira's Eagle Scout project. Photo from Robert DeStefano
Ethan Matz's Eagle Scout Project. Photo from Robert DeStefano
Spencer Aron in front of his Big Adirondack Chair Eagle Scout Project with Port Jefferson-Terryville Chamber President Jennifer Dzvonar at the Train Car Park. Photo from Facebook
By Robert DeStefano
You don’t have to walk too far along the Setauket-Port Jefferson Station Greenway Trail before you notice an Eagle Scout project. Maybe it’s a bench, or perhaps some bat houses. Look closely and you might see the modest plaque that names the Eagle who led each project.
In fact, all around us, local Scouts deliver valuable service projects benefiting various local organizations and our residents at-large. In recent months, I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing several of these wonderful implementations of community service in Port Jefferson Station.
Outside Boyle Road Elementary School, João Ferreira’s Eagle Scout project created an outdoor workspace for students and local organizations that use the facility. The concrete work table is roughly 14’ x 6’, offering space large enough for an elementary class to spend time learning in an outdoor classroom. His project complements existing benches in the same space, an earlier Eagle Scout project led by Jordan Roche.
Over at Comsewogue High School, Ethan Matz organized a renovation to room 123, the Courtroom classroom. His Eagle Scout project returned the space to a style reminiscent of its décor a generation ago. Comsewogue alumni may recall the courtroom that served as the classroom for now-retired educator Mr. William Bodkin. The return to that style looks fantastic, and echoes the uniquely American history taught over the years.
At the Comsewogue Community Garden, many volunteers, including several local scouting organizations, have invested time to resurrect the garden. Their efforts have been bearing fruit for a couple of seasons now. With community volunteers regularly working the vegetation, the need for more storage space was addressed through another local Eagle Scout project. Danny Cappiello project-managed the development of a new storage shed at the back of the site. At roughly 100 sq. ft., the additional storage space invites plenty of helping hands who are growing vegetables that help feed others in our community. Volunteers helping volunteers; how wonderful is that?!
Not all Eagle projects are visible in the public, but the value they provide matters to the organizations they support. Within the courtyard at John F. Kennedy Middle School, Massimo Olson has led the charge to build composting bins. The compost from these bins will help feed Jackie’s Garden (in memory of Mrs. Jacqueline Rella, wife of late Superintendent Dr. Joseph Rella), and will provide nutrients for the work of the middle school’s Greenagers club, which recently planted several young trees near the bleachers to share the athletic fields.
Most recently, Spencer Aron unveiled his Eagle Scout Project, a big Adirondack chair painted in red, white and blue for all to enjoy, at the Port Jefferson Station-Terryville Chamber of Commerce’s tree lighting event at the Train Car Park.
Failure to mention how these projects are funded would be an oversight. Scouts working on their Eagle rank are required to project-manage a community service project. That includes not only planning and building, but also fundraising. This is where our wonderful community comes in. When you make a donation or attend an Eagle Scout fundraising event such as hosted by generous local restaurants, this is where your contribution goes. It enables our local youth to execute projects that give back in our local community. It lets them know that our neighbors care and support the service they do as they grow.
So, in thanking them for their work, we also thank you for supporting them on their Trail to Eagle: a rank only about 6% of Scouts earn, nationwide. An investment in them is an investment in a future that will undoubtedly inspire future leaders in our community!
If you’re interested in signing your child up for Scouting, please feel welcome to contact me at [email protected] and I’ll help you get connected with information and the Pack or Troop in your area.
Author Robert DeStefano is an Assistant Scoutmaster with Scouting America (BSA) Troop 354 and serves as trustee for the Comsewgoue School District Board of Education.
On November 30, Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Jane Bonner (third from left), New York State Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio (left) and Suffolk County Legislator Chad Lennon (right) were guests at the Eagle Scout Court of Honor for new Eagle Scout, Carrie Davis (second from left) from Troop 2019. She is the second young lady in the troop to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.
For her Eagle Scout project, Carrie built bee houses at Cedar Beach in Mt. Sinai (next to her brother Larry’s Eagle Scout project) to support local pollinators, contribute to the health of the environment and enhance the community’s natural resources. Carrie also earned 20 additional merit badges while excelling in both school and sports—a testament to her determination, leadership, and character.
“I commend Carrie for the work that she has done to attain the rank of Eagle Scout. Her leadership qualities, hard work and dedication to the community set a great example for her peers to follow. I look forward to all the great things that she will accomplish in the future,” said Councilwoman Bonner.
Youth soccer clinic at New York Avenue fields in Smithtown.
Youth soccer clinic at New York Avenue fields in Smithtown.
Youth soccer clinic at New York Avenue fields in Smithtown.
Youth soccer clinic at New York Avenue fields in Smithtown.
Youth soccer clinic at New York Avenue fields in Smithtown.
Youth soccer clinic at New York Avenue fields in Smithtown.
Youth soccer clinic at New York Avenue fields in Smithtown.
Youth soccer clinic at New York Avenue fields in Smithtown.
Youth soccer clinic at New York Avenue fields in Smithtown.
By Steven Zaitz
The Smithtown Kickers youth soccer league, in conjunction with Alyssa Faro, a sophomore at Smithtown High School West and aspiring Eagle Scout, put on a free youth soccer clinic on March 9-10 at the New York Avenue fields on the campus of the Smithtown Central School District Administrative offices.
Over 50 children received instruction from Faro and eight of her soccer friends and teammates as the Kickers Spring season will get underway in less than two weeks. The girls ran drills on both Saturday and Sunday for three hours despite stretches of inclement weather on and off throughout the weekend.
Faro, who managed the project from inception to execution, did so as a part of her ascension to the elite rank of Eagle Scout. If she is fortunate enough to achieve this high honor, Faro would be one of only six female Eagle Scouts at Troop 539 of Kings Park.
“I can remember being on this very soccer field when I was five years old and I love to pay it forward,” said Faro. “It’s important to me to make a positive impact in the community and doing it through soccer is such a great feeling.”
The budding soccer stars, who ranged in age between four and ten, also had a great feeling learning the game from Alyssa and her staff.
“I had a lot of fun and I scored a lot of goals,” said a seven-year-old boy named Daniel. “I can’t wait for the season to start.”
The Smithtown Kickers season will kick off on March 23 at various locations throughout Smithtown.
John Smillie and his American flag retirement drop off box at Comsewogue Library. Photo by Julianne Mosher
There’s a new way to donate old flags thanks to one local Eagle Scout.
John Smillie, from Boy Scout Troop 454 of Terryville, made it his mission over the last year to create an American flag retirement drop box for Comsewogue Public Library as his Eagle Scout Service Project.
He said that his mother, June, would enroll him in library programs since he was small.
“I’ve been coming here my whole life,” he said. “And it gave so much to my childhood that I wanted to give back when I had the chance, and this was my chance.”
It started last year, just before the pandemic hit, when Smillie was thinking about his project. After his initial idea fell through, he contacted the library who was thrilled to have him come on board.
“I knew we wanted to do something with the flag,” he said.
Photo by Julianne Mosher
Smillie said his troop always had a need for flags, because during summer camp, they have a flag retirement ceremony. Usually during the month leading up to the event, the scouts scramble to find flags to properly dispose of.
It is illegal to throw away an American flag, and they must be destroyed with dignity, preferably by burning.
“So, I took that need, and turned it into a solution to that need with my projects,” he said. “Now we can continually collect flags all year and then retire them properly in a ceremony at camp every year.”
The project took a long time, he said, and kept him busy on top of his already intense schedule. Between work, school, buying a car, applying for college and his other household duties, he said it was a challenge — but a fulfilling one.
When Smillie reached out to director Debbie Engelhardt last year, she was thrilled to have another scout donate his time and project to the library. She said that over the course of her nine-year tenure at Comsewogue, he is the second Eagle Scout to work with her.
“This was my second experience partnering as a beneficiary, which came right on the heels of the other project,” she said. “It was just a no brainer for me to want to help him, and to have the library gain a lovely project in the process, and to have that available for the community as much as we are open, is a win-win.”
Englehardt said literally a few minutes after the box was dropped off, librarians said they had flags to put inside.
“Five minutes later, it had its first deposit,” she said.
June Smillie said that it can be hard to find a spot to donate retired flags, since there aren’t many drop off boxes around. The only place she knew of was to give it to an associate at Ace Hardware. The box at the library makes it easy for others to find now.
“For him to want to do the box because it helps represent the military and his grandparents, it’s just very overwhelming because I know how much he cares about it,” she said. “I’m very proud of him, and I honestly couldn’t have asked for anything more than what he’s already done.”
Smillie will hopefully achieve his rank within the next few weeks — a huge accomplishment he’s waited a long time for.
“It’ll open up so many doors for you and so many opportunities for you in the future,” he said. “You join pretty much an exclusive group of people who can say, ‘We went and achieved the Eagle Scout rank. We did this. We earned this,’ and just to be a part of that was always a goal of mine ever since I was young.”
Cole Swensen, a Boy Scout in Miller Place Troop 204. created a bench and concrete pads along the Setauket-Port Jefferson Station Greenway Trail. Photo by Kyle Barr
With the weather warming, and with more people available to take walks while home from work and school (maintaining social distancing, of course), one local Boy Scout’s Eagle Scout Service Project has made a lasting impact.
Port Jefferson resident Cole Swensen, a member of Miller Place Boy Scout Troop 204, installed a bench, along with concrete pads on the Setauket-Port Jefferson Station Greenway Trail earlier this month.
“I’m happy with the finished product,” Swensen said.
Swensen, a senior at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School in Port Jefferson, said he and his dad use the trail often for running and biking and saw there was a need for a new bench, made from wood composite, at the top of the hill just after the westernmost trail entrance in Setauket. The young man also installed three concrete pads on the trail, one at his new bench and two more at existing benches.
“These pads not only clean up the look of the benches and trail, but they also prevent the area in front of the benches from getting muddy,” Swensen said. “It also is a place for strollers to easily get off the main trail.”
Charlie McAteer, the chair of the Friends of the Greenway, said Troop 204 has been a huge boon to the trail, having done five projects with the Greenway, with one more still in the planning phase. This new project comes just as the Greenway is getting increased usage thanks to more people looking to spend time outdoors while maintaining a distance from others.
“This is a remarkable commitment to the Setauket to Port Jeff Station Greenway Trail,” McAteer said. “The community will be enjoying these for decades.”
The high school senior said he had been working on the project since before last summer but had to put it on pause after a severe bike accident led to a concussion. He conducted his fundraising last month, just as things with the coronavirus crisis were starting to close in. Still, he managed to raise about $1,000 toward the project. The build was over a three-day period with the bulk of the work centered on installing the new bench and making sure the concrete pads were leveled against the slope of the hill.
Swensen said he is still waiting on the finalized paperwork for his Eagle Scout application, since all offices are closed everything now has to be mailed.
After graduating high school, Swensen expects to attend SUNY Maritime to study naval architecture, involved in designing the hulls of boats and ships.
Swensen’s father, Eric, said his son has been interested in boats and sailing since he was young.
Northport resident Ryan Starzee achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank awarded by the Boy Scouts of America. Starzee, 17, is a member of Troop 5 in East Northport and a student at Northport High School.
To become an Eagle Scout, a Scout must meet several requirements, including developing, organizing, directing and completing an approved project to benefit a nonprofit organization.
A puppy at the Guide Dog Foundation uses the puppy-up curb stool
For his Eagle project, Starzee built training tools for The Guide Dog Foundation, a Smithtown organization that provides trained guide dogs to blind and visually impaired individuals from around the country. With assistance from about a dozen boys from Troop 5, Starzee built four “Puppy Up-Curbs” and four “Puppy Adventure Boxes,” which were requested by the organization. The Puppy Up-Curbs are durable wooden curbs that are used to train the dogs. The Puppy Adventure Boxes are similar to baby gyms: They are constructed with PVC pipes, and they feature balls, cups, bells and other items hanging down from plastic cords for puppies to play with and learn about their environment.
For many Scouts, the biggest hurdle to becoming an Eagle Scout is finding a suitable Eagle project. While many nonprofit organizations could benefit from Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts doing a project for them, some are so busy trying to get all of their work done with limited staff that they do not have a system in place to meet with Scouts, brainstorm ideas and fill out the necessary paperwork.
The Guide Dog Foundation, however, provided Starzee with a list of projects it needed done. At their initial meeting at the foundation’s offices, Starzee and a representative from the organization decided together which items he would build. He then had to get the project approved by the Boy Scouts.
Puppies at the Guide Dog Foundation explore one of the four “Puppy Adventure Boxes”
“I was very excited to do a project for the Guide Dog Foundation,” Starzee said. “For one thing, I love dogs. And this is a great organization that provides an important service. And they were very nice and helpful to me.”
To raise funds for the materials for his project, Starzee held a car wash at Pep Boys Auto Parts & Service in Commack.
“Pep Boys has been very generous, allowing other boys in my troop and I to hold our Eagle car washes in their parking lot,” Starzee said. “I held my car wash last September and I was very lucky with the weather. A lot of boys from the troop came out to help, the drivers were very generous and we raised $345.”
In addition to completing his project, Starzee had to fulfill other requirements to make Eagle, including earning a minimum of 21 Merit Badges, which recognize ability in activities like swimming, orienteering, first aid, camping and wood carving. Starzee earned 25 Merit Badges in total.
“It was a great feeling of accomplishment to finally become Eagle,” Starzee said. “I worked very hard, but I had a lot of help, from my family, from kids in my troop, from my Eagle coach, David Hunt, who spent a lot of time meeting with me, and from the adult leaders in my troop, who have volunteered their time for many years to help me get to this point.”
Aidan Donnelly, an Eagle Scout from Troop 362 in Selden, spearheaded a project to have fishing line resource recovery/recycling containers installed near Suffolk County fishing spots . Photo from Aidan Donnelly
By Karina Gerry
A Centereach High School senior and Eagle Scout has dedicated much of his time to protecting Long Island beaches and wildlife.
During a terrapin turtle project, Aidan Donnelly searched, tracked, monitored, measured, weighed and coded turtles to take environmental data and GPS location of the turtles. Photo by Aidan Donnelly
Aidan Donnelly, 17, joined his local Boy Scout troop when he was in fifth grade after he was inspired by his older cousin’s Court of Honor ceremony, the highest rank a Scout can earn. Donnelly saw all the volunteer projects his cousin was involved in and wanted to make a difference as well. Now an Eagle Scout himself, Donnelly has planned and been the leader of four different wildlife projects since 2014.
“I really can’t describe it,” Donnelly said. “I just love seeing my projects make a positive difference. I love seeing the difference I was able to make through my projects and knowing I’ve helped the beach and so many people.”
Donnelly has been volunteering since he was nine years old, when he joined an educational program at West Meadow Beach called Beach Rangers, a program that teaches young kids about West Meadow Beach and the ecosystem there. He credits Beach Rangers and the cleanups he participated in as inspiration for the many wildlife projects he has started.
“I was pretty sad the first time to see how much garbage was left at the beach,” Donnelly said. “Which sort of sparked my interest in wanting to help out. So, I did beach cleanups every year from then on, and once I got into Boys Scouts, I got my troop involved in the cleanup.”
Through his Eagle Scout project, which he completed in 2015, Donnelly led, designed and planned the building and installation of an osprey nest platform at West Meadow Beach, when he was just 13 years old. In order to complete the project, Donnelly had to work with local politicians, such as Town of Brookhaven Councilwoman Valerie Cartright (D-Port Jefferson Station), who recognizes him as a true asset to the community.
“I was pretty sad the first time to see how much garbage was left at the beach.”
— Aidan Donnelly
“Aidan has an obvious sense of loyalty and duty to his community,” Cartright said. “He goes above and beyond in all that he does, and his dedication is reflected in academic honors, high achievements in scouting, and his organization of community activities. In my role as a town council member I have met hundreds of outstanding young people in our community, but Aidan is exceptional even among that elite group.”
Out of the many projects he has been involved in, Donnelly said he felt particularly proud of his most recent one — a fishing line resource recovery/ recycling project that he just completed this past December. The project is a countywide sustainable fishing line recovery and recycling project that is installed at West Meadow Beach, Stony Brook Harbor, Port Jefferson, Caleb Smith State Park Preserve, Deep Pond Conservation Area, Lake Ronkonkoma, South Haven County Park, Bubbles Falls, Rattlesnake Brook near Oakdale and West Brook Pond. The project required Donnelly to work with many outside sources, such as community members and an out-of-state recycling facility.
“I needed to find somewhere that would take the line and recycle it,” Donnelly said, “rather than it ending up in the trash or in landfills. I did find a Midwest company, and they sent me postage-paid shipping boxes to give to the organizations.”
Bill Schwalback, scoutmaster of Donnelly’s BSA Troop 362, has known him since 2016 when his son joined the troop where Donnelly was serving as troop guide. He has seen the growth and drive of the 17-year-old since then and notes that Donnelly has always jumped on the opportunity to take on a leadership role and enjoys passing on his knowledge to others.
“Aidan does not deflect an opportunity to teach others,” Schwalback said. “He thrives on the ability to share his knowledge and his passion with others, and it is great to see a young adult fill with pride when he sees something to completion and knows that it will make a difference to the targeted population or species.”
