Area Scout attains Eagle rank

MARLBORO - Boy Scout Troop 86 has announced that James Cahalane has been awarded the rank of Eagle Scout. For his project, James renovated a playground at Camp Arrowhead, Route 520.

Camp Arrowhead is a division of the Community YMCA of Red Bank.

The playground renovation included building a retainer for the new playground mulch, sanding and refinishing the picnic benches, and replacing broken fence sections. Twenty-nine Scouts, leaders and other adults worked about 200 hours to complete the project, according to a press release.

While working through the Scout ranks, James has held several leadership positions including patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, and eventually, senior patrol leader. James worked at the Monmouth Council Scout Camp, Forestburg, near Port Jervis, N.Y., for two summers where he worked at the waterfront and taught the lifesaving merit badge.

On his trail to becoming an Eagle Scout, James earned 35 merit badges including his favorites, Small Boat Sailing, Bird Study and Horsemanship. He completed a Boy Scouts of America (BSA) council training course, and earned special awards for the polar bear swim, snorkeling, and BSA lifeguard.

James was elected to the Order of the Arrow, scouting's honor society, and has earned his Brotherhood. He has camped 70 nights and has spent a week at the BSA high adventure Sea Base camp in Florida.

According to Scoutmaster Bill Cain, "James is a natural leader who has been the senior patrol leader of Troop 86 for two years. He has the respect of all the Scouts in the troop. I expect he will do well at whatever he undertakes."

James attended Marlboro High School and was a member of the marching band, concert band and the Mustangs' basketball team. He currently attends Penn State University where he plans to major in business.