Ammiano, Howell honored by Monmouth Boy Scouts
The Monmouth Council of Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has honored two Freehold Township residents for their outstanding volunteerism and community service.

At an event held May 29, Anthony J. Ammiano, a member of the Township Committee in Freehold Township, was presented with the "2008 Good Scout Award" which recognizes community and business leaders for their role in supporting community and civic activities, and their dedication to improving the quality of life for its citizens.

Edwina Howell, a volunteer Battleground District commissioner for Monmouth Council BSA, received the "Lifetime Achievement Award" which honors scouting volunteers who have made significant contributions to Cub Scouting and Boy Scouting in Monmouth County.

The awards were presented by special guests state Sen. Jennifer Beck, the president of Monmouth Council BSA Carl Gross, and the Scout Executive of Monmouth Council BSA, Lee Marconi, during the 2008 Western Monmouth Good Scout Award Reception at the Battleground Country Club, Manalapan.

"We selected Anthony Ammiano because of his distinguished record of community service, citizenship and volunteer work," Gross said. "He is also an active supporter of scouting, and is a wonderful role model for scouts and leaders alike."

"I am extremely humbled and honored to be given this prestigious award and for being recognized as a community leader," Ammiano said. "I support the scouting program because it instills values and develops character. It teaches young boys the value of work, the ability to make and achieve goals, and provides scouts with skills such as dedication and teamwork that build a strong foundation for tomorrow's leaders."

A

ccording to a press release, Ammiano

has helped improve the lives of numerous people in his role as a township committeeman, and during his tenure as chairman of the board of the Newark AIDS Consortium (Broadway House) which ensures proper long-term care for people suffering from AIDS, and the Newark Housing Authority Scholarship Foundation which provides college scholarships to economically disadvantaged youth.

His work with Monmouth Council and local scouting organizations includes attending special ceremonies, presenting awards to scouts in recognition of their achievements, supporting scout fundraisers, and working with the Township Committee to allow scouts, particularly Eagle Scouts, to use munic- ipal properties to accomplish their special projects.

Ammiano has served on the Township Committee since 2001. He is the chief financial officer/treasurer for Del- Sano Contracting Corporation in Union. He and his wife, Maria, are the parents of a son, A.J.

Howell has devoted her life to young people, both as an educator and a scouting volunteer. She spent 40 years as a music teacher in the Old Bridge public schools and has been involved in scouting since 1977.

"Edwina Howell, who is affectionately known as 'Grandma' at Monmouth Council, has been involved in scouting for more than 30 years," Marconi said. "She has used her skills to teach, train, mentor and lead hundreds of Scouts and Scout leaders, to create and manage scouting programs, and to continuously promote the values and mission of scouting."

According to the press release, Howell first got involved to spend quality time with her son. She started as a den mother for Cub Scout Pack 158, then served as a den leader coach and cubmaster before becoming a committee member for Boy Scout Troop 158.

In 1995 she helped organize two special needs scouting groups for boys with special needs and disabilities, Pack 454 and Troop 454, where she still serves as a committee member. In addition to her current position as a Battleground District commissioner, she is Cub Scout camp director at Quail Hill in Manalapan.

"The reason I have stayed involved for so long is because of the positive impact this program has on young people," Howell said. "It is such a rewarding experience to work with boys who start out in Cub Scouts and see them evolve into mature young men in Boy Scouts, and to realize that you have helped, in some small way, to mold their futures and turn them into really productive members of society.

"Scouting is a program which allows both youth and adults to feel good about what they are doing. It really makes us aware of the world around us and the importance of preserving that world and the way of life that we all enjoy," she said.

Howell was married to Russell Howell for nearly 40 years and has two children, Christopher and Dawn (Corson) and five grandchildren (including a Cub Scout and a Boy Scout).

Currently more than 7,000 young people participate in Cub Scout, Boy Scout and Venturing programs throughout Monmouth County.