Council honors Scouts

FREEHOLD — Five Eagle Scouts were honored with resolutions presented by Freehold Borough officials during the Jan. 20 meeting of the Borough Council. The Boy Scouts are all members of Troop 18 sponsored by St. Rose of Lima Church.

The rank of Eagle Scout is the highest achievement in Boy Scouting. Receiving the congratulations of the council were Christopher Samaniego, of Freehold Borough, Max Resnick, of Freehold Township, Mark Harman, of Freehold Township, Christopher Heden, of Freehold Township, and Christopher Fatta, of Freehold Borough.

According to the resolution that was presented by the council, each recipient of the Eagle Scout rank has served in many leadership positions and has received numerous scouting awards.

Samaniego is a student at High Technology High School, Lincroft. His Eagle Scout project improved the Freehold Carnegie Library on East Main Street through the construction of a patio area, an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant picnic table and plantings.

Fatta is a student at Communications High School, Wall Township. His Eagle Scout project improved Lake Topanemus Park on Pond Road, Freehold Township, through the construction of exercise stations and fitness equipment.

Resnick is a student at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft. His Eagle Scout project restored a trail at Battlefield State Park, Manalapan, which included repairing a footbridge.

Harmon is a student at Freehold High School, Freehold Borough. His project improved Burke Road Park through the planting of more than 100 trees.

Heden is a student at Freehold High School, Freehold Borough. His Eagle Scout project was to help continue the restoration of a one-room schoolhouse on Wemrock Road, Freehold Township.

Mayor Michael Wilson and members of the Borough Council commended the five young men with a resolution which states that the "Mayor and Council of the Borough of Freehold are aware of the significant efforts associated with the attainment of the rank of Eagle Scout and are of the opinion that individuals who attain excellence in chosen fields of endeavor such as the Boy Scouts of America are deserving of recognition and commendation by their community."

Five other Boy Scouts from Troop 18 earned their Eagle Scout award earlier in 2008. Those young men are Michael Schnurr, Freehold Borough; Garrett T. Haas, Freehold Township; Scott Harmon, Freehold Township; Louis Herring, Freehold Township; and Zachary Schaffner, Freehold Township.

Schnurr's project was to create plant beds, remulch and extend the existing plant beds in the Freehold High School courtyard. He installed a brick border around all of the plant beds.

Hass built a 100-foot-long RevolutionaryWar period (worm wood) fence at Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Manalapan, using trees from the park which he and his father split into rails. He used tools from the time period to create the fence.

Harmon lead a group of fellow Boy Scouts and adults in building and installing 12 bluebird houses and two kestrel (nesting) boxes at a Green Acres site at Elton Adelphia and Burke roads, Freehold Township.

Herring planted northern red oak trees and high bush blueberry bushes along a 1,000-foot stretch of hiking trail that circles Lake Topanemus Park, Freehold Township.

Schaffer redesigned and renovated the landscaping around the entrance to Durand Park in Freehold Township.

— Clare Marie Celano