ALEX HANSEN OVERSEAS CLEAN-UP OF TONAWANDA CREEK


Eagle Scout Alex Hansen oversaw 2 dozen volunteers who hauled out 180 pounds of garbage from Tonawanda Creek in Batavia.

His project required the cooperation of Genesee ARC (who hauled away the garbage for free) and Sloat Tire to pick up the tires that were collected.

"The creek over the years has become really polluted with trash," Alex said. "People just throw tires and water heaters and even air conditioners right over the bridges in town. All this stuff gets washed to places, such as Kiwanis Park, and so we have people people cleaning because there's trash everywhere."

"We think this will make a positive difference for the community because people want to enjoy the creek again," Alex said. "We want to make it a better place for people and wildlife."

7 YOUNG MEN, 7 SERVICE PROJECTS

Troop 4174 of Livonia recently had a ceremony at which they recognized SEVEN Boy Scouts from their troop who earned the rank of Eagle this past year.

Their list of service projects is incredibly impressive...

James Damon: Designed and built an informational kiosk at Vitale Park for the Livingston County Planning Department, the Town of Livonia and the Conesus Lake Association Education Committee. The kiosk provides a place for the agencies to post information about Conesus Lake. The project was completed in October 2011.

Brady Davis:
Gathered, organized and filled 500 sandbags for use by the Livonia, Lakeville, Hemlock and Conesus Fire Departments. The project was completed in October 2013.

Brian Gaffney:
Completed Kinney Creek walking trail improvements, site of the old Lehigh Valley Railroad, for the Town of Livonia. The project was completed in April 2011

Devin Horan: Updated the Livonia High School Varsity Baseball diamond. The project, completed in October 2012, included removal of the old batting cage, construction of a new batting cage and two bullpens, placement of new turf and the addition of turf to existing hitting stations

Scott McLaughlin: Created a reflection garden at St. Matthew Church’s cemetery which features a granite bench, a walkway and lilac bushes. The project was completed in May 2011

Benjamin Sherman: Maintenance and repair of Hagerty Hall for St. Matthew Church. His project included both interior and exterior work as well as building new swing sets. The project was completed in August 2013.

Daniel Vogel:
Labeled the storm drains in the village of Livonia that drain into Conesus Lake for the Conesus Lake Association. The project included locating all drains, cleaning curbs and affixing decals that will withstand harsh weather. The project was completed in September 2013.

GENESEO EAGLE SCOUT BRINGS CREMATION PLOTS TO CEMETERY

Zack Anderson, a 15-year-old sophomore at Geneseo Central School and a member of Troop 4070, created a memorial garden for cremation burials at Temple Hill Cemetery.

He envisioned a park-like setting with walkways and a sitting area with a bench. The entrance and walkways would be paved, with flowers and plantings accenting the entrance. Anderson’s proposed sketch of the project was unanimously supported by the cemetery’s board and approval was granted to begin.

Anderson, along with fellow Scouts and friends, started the project August 11. They had three days to excavate a 344-square-foot-area to a depth of 4 feet. It was a difficult dig due to roots and stones but thanks to all of his helpers the site was ready. One of the contractors at the site estimated a cost of $7,000 if the cemetery had contracted the work out to a landscape company.

Al’s Landscaping of Lakeville donated the Geo-fabric, bedding sand and equipment usage for the project, Northern Nurseries of Fairport and the Alliance Company, a Canadian-based manufacturer, donated a new Gater Base product, which eliminates the need for stone, and Techo Bloc of Pittsburgh donated the pavers.

Temple Hill Cemetery Superintendent Dick Gallivan praised Zach for his leadership in this project. He said that it would add about 70 cremation burial sites in a very attractive setting surrounded by flowers.  Also, it will provide a more inexpensive alternative than purchasing a full size plot for a cremation burial.

BARKER TRIO COMPLETES THREE SERVICE PROJECTS



Three scouts from Boy Scout Troop 26 of Barker — Jordan Bender, William DiLorenzo and Michael Schian —recently completed a series of Eagle Scout projects.

For Bender's project, he organized several work parties to clean out a section of woods behind the Countyline United Methodist Church. After the area was cleaned out, a memorial walkway was created. The walkway includes two garden benches for church members to use for an area of reflection and remembrance of loved ones.

DiLorenzo's Eagle Scout service project was to revitalize the 200-year-old Stewart Cemetery on Carmen Road in Middleport.The project included clearing brush and weeds, resurfacing most of the top ground of the cemetery, cleaning headstones and grave markers and repairing several broken headstones. Unrepairable headstones were placed on a bed of gravel at the grave site. A new cemetery sign and placement was also completed.

Schian's Eagle Scout service project was repurposing an old office building at the Lighthouse Christian Camp in Barker.The office building was used to create a covered pavilion space for parents to enjoy watching their children play near an outdoor play area.Office and camp equipment was removed and carried to another site on camp for future use. The building was completely gutted with walls, windows and the floor removed. The bottoms of the rotted posts were cut and the building was stabilized until the stone and new concrete floor was poured.