Boy Scouts

Press release:

Congressman Chris Collins (NY-27) on Wednesday released the following statement after introducing a resolution commemorating the 100^th anniversary of the day the Boy Scouts of America was granted its Federal charter.

“The Boy Scouts of America have played a pivotal role in shaping millions of young lives across our country,” Congressman Collins said. “The values I learned, as a Scout, have formed the foundation of my beliefs and positioned me to succeed throughout my professional career. This resolution officially recognizes one of America’s most influential organizations and I look forward to the Boy Scouts of America continuing their good work.”

On June 15, 1916, the Federal charter of the Boy Scouts of America was passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate and signed into law by President Woodrow Wilson. In the past 100 years, the organization has helped shape the lives of millions of young men. There are more than 2,400,000 youth and 1,000,000 adult volunteers actively involved today in the Boy Scouts of America.

The full resolution, which has 33 original cosponsors, can be read here. The Senate introduced a similar resolution today, which was led by Senator Mike Enzi (WY).

Congressman Collins co-chairs the Scout Caucus in the House of Representatives and is a lifelong member of Boy Scouts, an Assistant Scoutmaster, an Eagle Scout, a member of the Executive Board – Greater Niagara Frontier Council (GNFC) and was chairman of the GNFC National Jamboree for 2001, 2005, 2010, and 2013 as well as the World Jamboree for 2007.

Grant Hertzler, center, presents a community service project to the Le Roy Village Board on Wednesday. Also pictured, from left, is Trustee Bob Taylor, Mayor Greg Rogers and trustees Bill Kettle and Jim Bonacquisti. Grant, a member of Boy Scout Troop 6016, hopes to beautify the former Wiss Hotel site as part of his Eagle Scout Service Project.

Grant Hertzler has a plan for the former Wiss Hotel site.

And the Le Roy High School junior pitched his idea to a supportive Village Board this week — from a lofty perch.

The mayor’s seat.

Grant, 16, is a member of Boy Scout Troop 6016 in Pavilion. He is pursuing his Eagle Scout rank, which requires him to lead a community service project.

His goal is to beautify the now-vacant hotel site at Main and Lake streets (routes 5 and 19). He was prepared with a laptop computer on Wednesday, to outline the project for the Village Board.

The board wanted a closer look, so Mayor Greg Rogers obliged by offering his seat at the table.

The Wiss Hotel was razed in 2013. The village has since installed an electric service panel for the Community Christmas Tree that is raised on the lot every holiday season, but the lot is otherwise vacant.

Grant said he would give the site a facelift by building a shed to house the electrical panel, leveling the ground and adding mulch and greenery. He would also upgrade the gravel circle where the Christmas Tree usually stands.

“I would either put brick over that, or a more-appealing stone,” he said.

Grant said he would recruit volunteers and obtain donations of material and money.

“This would be at no cost to the village,” he told the board.

Village Board members were encouraging, and even suggested the Department of Public Works could support the project by donating in-kind services.

“I like your ideas,” Trustee Bill Kettle said.

Grant said he hopes to begin work this spring. The project has to be finished by the time he turns 18, and then presented to an Eagle Board of Review.

Grant is the son of Neil and Deb Hertzler, of Le Roy. He picked the Wiss Hotel site because it needs improving — a goal that’s ambitious but manageable.

He agreed to bring detailed drawings and plans back to the board in six weeks.

Trustees had a final question: How did he feel sitting in for the mayor?

“Powerful,” Grant said.

“Don’t be fooled,” Rogers said.

Tyler Gaus was joined by other members of Batavia's Boy Scout Troop 6 today in the parking lot of Batavia's Original for a car wash to raise funds for his Eagle Scout project. Gaus plans on revitalizing the volleyball courts at Genesee Valley Park, which he said needs weeds eliminated and the boundaries need to be better defined.

Article and photos submitted by Mary Margaret Ripley.

The tradition of Scout Sunday, a Sunday that has been set aside to celebrate the close connection between the ideals of the church and the goals of Boy Scouting, goes back to the fourth anniversary of the founding of the Boy Scouts of America on February 8, 1914.

Each year since, Boy Scouts from around the country have gathered on the second Sunday in February to worship God together. This year, Troop #6021 and its charter organization, the First Baptist Church of LeRoy, joined together to mark the 101st anniversary of Scout Sunday with a special worship service and reception held on February 8, 2015.

Pastor John Partise, himself an Eagle Scout, led a worship service entitled “Fly Like an Eagle” that focused on the virtue of reverence as the most important of the 12 points of the Scout Law. Together with being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, and clean, the Scout Law establishes the high ideals that every scout must do their best to aspire to.

“I find it interesting that those same 12 ideals are also what every follower of Christ should aspire to be,” said Pastor John in his sermon.

During the service, both the 2015 Charter and a surprise award for Highest Percent Attendance at Camp Dittmer, the Boy Scout Resident Camp, were presented to Scoutmaster Bryan Colton and Committee Chair Carol Colton by Pastor John and a delegation from the First Baptist Church.

Following the service, the church hosted a reception for the boys and their family members that included a hand-assembled display of 50 years’ worth of Boy Scout memorabilia.

“We really appreciate our charter organization. I believe First Baptist Church is a great fit for our troop,” said Carol Colton during the reception.

Press release:

At its Annual Volunteer Awards Dinner held Saturday, Jan. 31, the Iroquois Trail Council, Boy Scouts of America honored three volunteers with the council’s highest award, the Silver Beaver Award. Honorees are Donald H. Morris (Batavia), Linda J. Wohlers (Clarendon), and John G. Maier (Lockport).

The Silver Beaver is a National BSA award that recognizes distinguished service to local youth. Each recipient is a long-tenured volunteer who has also made significant contributions by way of service to his or her local community. Linda Wohlers’ 20-year scouting history includes a variety of roles including Tiger Leader, Den Leader, Webelos Leader, Cubmaster, Commissioner, and Committee Member. John Maier’s Scouting history includes current roles as a Cubmaster, Troop Committee Member and Merit Badge counselor. A former Webelos leader, he is also an active member of the camp promotions team, district training team, and commissioner staff. Donald Morris has served the whole family of scouting with exemplary dedication. Over the past 40-plus years he has been involved in Scouting with three different local councils: Finger Lakes, New York; Blue Grass Council, Kentucky; and most recently Iroquois Trail.

The council was itself recognized by the Boy Scouts of America with the 2014 Journey to Excellence Gold Award for program excellence.

Local Cub Scout and Boy Scout leaders were recognized for program excellence in the areas of advancement, camping, membership recruitment and retention, and helping Scouts to meet their funding needs.

Several youth members were also recognized. Cub Scout Tyler Mutka (Corfu) topped the list with Popcorn Sales of more than $4,200. The sale raises money for Scout programs, and also qualifies Tyler for a national college scholarship program. This is Tyler’s fourth year as top seller among Scouts in a five-county area. Other Scouts who will be inducted into the scholarship program are Cameron Kreger (Lockport) and Ethan Nelson (Avon).

The Iroquois Trail Council provides development, leadership, and life skills to more than 3,000 youth in Orleans, Niagara, Genesee, Wyoming, and Livingston counties. To contact the council or enroll, visit www.itcbsa.org or call 585-343-0307.

More information after the jump:

2015 Silver Beaver Honorees

Three volunteers were honored with the Council’s highest award, the Silver Beaver Award. Honorees are Linda J. Wohlers (Clarendon), John G. Maier (Rapids), and Donald H. Morris (Batavia). 

The Silver Beaver is a National BSA award presented by the local Council for distinguished service to youth. Each of this year’s recipients is a long-tenured volunteer who has also made significant contributions by way of service to his or her local community.

Linda Wohlers’ 20-year scouting history includes a variety of roles including Tiger Leader, Den Leader, Webelos Leader, Cubmaster, Commissioner, and Committee Member. Her experience and sure-handed leadership helped to ensure that the local Cub Scout program continued to thrive, even long after her own son had grown. As a testament to her effectiveness, the current Webelos leader had this to say: “…I knew that she would be a positive influence on our young son. Her demeanor and enthusiasm for Scouting influenced me to sign him up on the spot.” This leader’s admiration for our honoree has only grown over the past several years.

Beyond Local Scouting, she has served as a Unit Commissioner for more than a decade. In addition to providing coaching for her local pack and troop, as part of the commissioner team she helped to ease the transition when the district borders were realigned to create the Seneca District.

Outside of Scouting, she has played an active role in her community. At Disciples Methodist Church she has been a Youth Mentor, Sunday School Teacher, and a member of the Church Board. An active member of the Clarendon Historical Society, she has helped to coordinate several Eagle Scout and other Scouting service projects such as painting the "Old Schoolhouse" and other historic sites.

She is a past recipient of the Cubmaster Award, Den Leader Award, Commissioner Arrowhead, Commissioner’s Key, and Distinguished Commissioner Service Awards, as well as the District Award of Merit.

John Maier’s Scouting history includes current roles as a Cubmaster, Troop Committee Member and Merit Badge counselor. A former Webelos leader, he is also an active member of the camp promotions team, district training team, and commissioner staff. 

His passion and dedication to the Cub Scout program has helped to ensure that his pack has achieved more than 20 percent membership growth in each of the past three years, and is now the largest pack in Towpath District; this is especially notable since local school enrollment and overall Cub Scout membership has declined over that time. In addition to his local pack leadership, he stepped in to help with a neighboring town’s struggling Cub program, and served for more than two years as their mentor. That pack is now on a solid footing and growing in membership under its own trained leadership. His support for other packs helped him to be selected as a 2012 recipient of the Towpath District Award of Merit.

An avid outdoorsman and Geocaching enthusiast, he has been a member of the Allied Sportsmen of WNY for 15 years, and served as a Hunter Safety Instructor for 10 years. He has used those skills to benefit Scouting as well, first as the BB range officer for Towpath Day Camp, and more recently as Director for the Towpath Day Camp for the past three seasons as well as the upcoming summer season. He has routinely inspired more than 75 percent of his own pack to attend camp, and has also lent a hand as an indispensible member of the camp promotions team, using his infectious enthusiasm to help other packs to get their Cub Scouts to camp, all of which has helped the Iroquois Trail Council to lead the Northeast Region Area 3 councils in Cub Scout camping participation.

His son Nathan is now a 1^st Class Scout and his grandson is a member of the Cub Scout pack. Together with his wife MaryLou, son Nathan, and daughters Amanda and Bonnie, our recipient is sure to remain a vital member of the local Scouting family for many years to come. 

Donald Morris has served the whole family of scouting with exemplary dedication. Over the past 40- plus years he has been involved in Scouting with three different local councils; Finger Lakes, New York; Blue Grass Council, Kentucky; and most recently Iroquois Trail.  His service includes tenure as a Scoutmaster, Troop Committee Member, Commissioner, Order of the Arrow Advisor, National Jamboree Scoutmaster and Commissioner, and coordinator or staff member for weekend events too numerous to mention here.

Currently a Unit Commissioner, he is also an active member of the "DeWalt Crew," helping with various camp improvement projects. Over the past several years, our Cub Scouts at Resident Camp and our 3 Day Camps have all benefitted from his handiwork, as he has taken on the majority of the prep work for camp crafts including shields, catapults, and other woodworking projects. 

His community service reaches well beyond Scouting. If you haven’t met him at camp, day camp, an Order of the Arrow activity or at a weekend event, it’s because he was either busy coordinating the Salvation Army Red Kettle drive or away from home together with his wife volunteering as a disaster relief worker after hurricanes and floods in Virginia, Florida, Texas, New York, or Alabama as part of the Salvation Army Disaster Team.

A member of the American Legion and active member of the Masonic Lodge, he also serves as a Trustee and Deacon of Batavia’s Emmanuel Baptist Church. In 2013 the Church recognized him with the Good Shepherd Religious Award.

A Wood Badge trained Scouter, he is a past recipient of the District Award of Merit, the Order of the Arrow Vigil Honor and Founders Award.

Iroquois Trail Council Celebrates Volunteer Service at Annual Dinner

At the January 31, 2015 Annual Awards Dinner the Iroquois Trail Council was pleased to recognize many individuals and units for their outstanding work to support our Scout youth.  

Thanks to the efforts of our 1,300 Scouting volunteers, the Council has much to celebrate.

• The Council has earned the Gold Level 2014 National Journey to Excellence Award for service to youth and high program performance.
• Local Youth Retention rates and market share lead all upstate New York BSA councils.
• Summer Camp participation of local Cubs and Scouts leads all Upstate New York BSA councils.
• Trained Volunteer Leader percentage has had a double-digit increase in the past two years.
• Major investments in our camp properties continue to be fully privately funded.
• The Council is financially sound with a balanced operating budget and capital budget.

Local Scouting Units were recognized in several categories:

Membership
Highest Youth Retention Rate - 2014 Charter Renewal 100% Pack 3023 Middleport

Highest Youth Retention Rate - 2014 Charter Renewal 90% Troop 4070 Geneseo
90% Troop 6066 Indian Falls

Largest Growth in Troop Membership Troop 4054 Castile

Largest Growth in Pack Membership Pack 3023 Middleport

Honorable Mention - Pack Growth of 10 or more youth Pack 4027 Caledonia
Pack 3067 Wilson
Pack 3018 Gasport
Pack 3071 Rapids

Advancement 

Highest Advancement Rate & Member Growth Troop 4748 Fillmore

Highest Advancement Rate & Member Growth Pack 3175 West Barre

Honorable Mention - High Advancement Rate Pack 3067 Wilson
Pack 3023 Middleport
Pack 3028 Medina

Camping
Highest Overall Percent Attendance at Summer Camps Pack 3004 Lockport

Highest Percent Attendance at Camp Dittmer Troop 28, Medina & Troop 6021, Le Roy

Highest Percent Attendance at Camp Sam Wood Pack 6650, Alexander & Pack 6066, Indian Falls

Honorable Mention - Overall Summer Camp Attendance > 90% Pack 3071, Rapids & 6069, Batavia

Popcorn Sales
Highest Average Sales per Youth Member: Pack 3004, Lockport with $490 per member
Troop 6067, Corfu with $507 per member
 

2014 marked the 8^th consecutive year that Pack 3004 has set the pace for our youth members.

Pack 3004, Lockport also has the distinction of top sales of $22,000, which will go a long way to help them to fund an ideal year of Cub Scout program!
 
Pacesetters with the largest gain in sales: Pack 3006, Lockport; Pack 3071, Rapids; Pack 3062, Holley

High Sales Average Honorable Mention with sales of more than $300 per youth member:
Pack 3006, Lockport; Pack 3071, Rapids; Pack 6467, Pembroke; Pack 6069, Batavia

Webelos Scout Tyler Mutka (Pembroke Pack 6467) was recognized as our 2014 Top Popcorn Seller. Tyler’s sales of $4,238 have made him our top seller for four consecutive years. In addition to the dollars he raised for his Cub Scout program, Tyler is a member of the national “Trail’s End Scholarship Club.” A portion of his current and future sales will be invested by Trail’s End toward either college or technical education after high school.

14 local Scouts are now invested in the Trail’s End Scholarship Club. Cub Scout Ethan Nelson (Avon Pack 4026) and Cub Scout Cameron Kreger (Lockport Pack 3004) are newly enrolled in the scholarship program for their 2014 sales. Each had sales in excess of $2,500.

Friends of Scouting Pacesetters
Friends of Scouting Pacesetters: Pack 6019, Oakfield; 6017, Elba;
                                                                  Troop 6067, Corfu; 4054, Castile; 164, Albion

Veteran Scouters
Many Scouters were recognized with Veteran Awards for their long-tenured Scouting membership, including David Hawley (Warsaw) – 60 years; Ronald Schmidt (Batavia) – 30 years; Peter Scarborough (Gasport) – 20 years; Joy Costello (Nunda) – 5 years.  

Endowment – James E. West Awards
Council President Emeritus Dr. Thomas Madejski announced the upcoming launch of an Endowment Campaign. As a prelude to the campaign, Council President Robert Confer was pleased to recognize James Barrett with a James E. West Bronze award for an endowment gift in his honor. President Confer also presented Dr. Thomas and Sandra Madejski with the Gold Level James E. West award for their lead gift of $10,000 to the Endowment Fund. 

Thank you to Eagle Scout Spencer Cottman (Pavilion Troop 6016) for serving as emcee for the Awards Dinner.

Silver Beaver Awards
Three volunteers were honored with the Council’s highest award, the Silver Beaver Award. Honorees are Linda J. Wohlers (Clarendon), John G. Maier (Rapids), and Donald H. Morris (Batavia). 

The Silver Beaver is a National BSA award presented by the local Council for distinguished service to youth. Each of this year’s recipients is a long-tenured volunteer who has also made significant contributions by way of service to his or her local community. 

Linda Wohlers’ 20-year scouting history includes a variety of roles including Tiger Leader, Den Leader, Webelos Leader, Cubmaster, Commissioner, and Committee Member. 

John Maier’s Scouting history includes current roles as a Cubmaster, Troop Committee Member and Merit Badge counselor. A former Webelos leader, he is also an active member of the camp promotions team, district training team, and commissioner staff. 

Donald Morris has served the whole family of scouting with exemplary dedication. Over the past 40-plus years he has been involved in Scouting with three different local councils: Finger Lakes, New York; Blue Grass Council, Kentucky; and most recently Iroquois Trail.  

More detailed Scouting biographies are posted on the council Web site.

Dylan Scroger shared his long journey to making the highest rank of Eagle Scout this past weekend at the First United Methodist Church in Batavia. This marks the third scout to achieve the highest rank this year for Troop 6006.

Sharing this day with family and friends, he thanked all who have helped him on his journey. A speech was read by Ron Schmidt, Boy Scouts commisioner, which gave a much-detailed history behind Dylan's path to Eagle:

" Dylan Scroger's path to Eagle began in this room. He was a youth member of our church, and both Mr. McAllister and I invited him to join the boys of our troop. He joined the troop in the Fall of 2007. The first merit badge he earned was fishing, which he completed on a campout held at the McAllister pond. Since then he has completed 26 more Merit Badges of which 13 were required and two were historical badges.

During his membership in Troop 6, he has held many leadership positions. He has been an assistant patrol leader, patrol leader, the assistant senior patrol leader, and served a year as the senior patrol leader, and finally he served as junior assistant scoutmaster. He currently is registered with the troop as an assistant scoutmaster. He has gone to summer camp with the troop for five years, as well as going on their High Adventure trip this past summer. He has gone with the group two times to the Cooperstown area camping.

In the summer of 2010, he attended the weeklong junior leader training held at Camp Dittmer. His performance there earned him an invitation to be on the training staff for future years, which he did. In July of 2013, Dylan chose to attend the Firstr National Jamboree to be held at the Summit Bechtel Reservation, the new permanent Jamboree site. Our council sent two troops of 36 boys each. Dylan was elected to serve as senior patrol leader for his troop. Dylan was also elected to be a candidate for membership in the Order of the Arrow, which is considered the Honor Society of Boy Scouts. He completed his Ordeal and became a member in 2013.

This past year, Dylan planned his Eagle Scout project, worked with the troop leadership and committee to get it approved, and then got the help of the boys in the troop to help him complete the project. His project involved building a kiosk for the disc golf course at Darien Lake State Park.  He used my barn and workshop for some of his construction work, and it was fun to stand there and listen to the boys as they visited will they worked. They seemed to forget I was sitting there.  There were some hitches along the way, but he completed the project as he had planned it."

Scout Commisioner Ron Schmidt (far left) pictured below received the mentor pin. Also next to him is Troop 6006 Scoutmaster Ron Bernard and Dylan's family. Lots of church supporters came to the ceremony.

Doug Gaus assistant leader for Troop 6006 introduced the Eagle Ceremony honoring Nicholas Johnson along with his parents today at the First United Methodist Church. Little did Doug know he would be receiving the Mentor Pin, earned for his help and encourgment to Nick along his trail to Eagle. This marks the troops second Eagle for 2014 and in less than 30 days from when Dennis Alton received his award.  Many prayers were made from Rev. Pamela S. Klotzbach, who led the worship mass along with friends and family who gave their best wishes to Nick before the ceremony started. (Pictured below, Nicholas Johnson)

After Nick recited the Scout Oath, he recognized his dad Tim, pictured below, and fellow scout Tyler, who was there for him as a good friend on his journey through scouting.

He spoke highly of both of them being important roles that kept him motivated and willing to succeed.

A reception followed the ceremony where more than 30 people attended to celebrate the occasion. Many scouts and leaders from the Troop attended also. Pictured below is Scoutmaster Ron Bernard, Assistant Leader Doug Gaus (who received the Mentor Pin), Nicholas, mom Lisa and dad Tim Johnson.

More than 20 volunteers hauled out 180 pounds of garbage from the Tonawanda Creek this morning under the supervision of Boy Scout Alex Hansen.

The cleanup was the culmination of Alex's Eagle Scout project, which he said took a year to plan and execute.

It required the cooperation of Genesee ARC (who hauled away the garbage for free) and Sloat Tire to pick up the tires that were collected, and Alex had to coordinate the volunteers through the Tonawanda Watershed Committee and Troop 6069.

"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."

The 16-year-old scout said volunteers dispersed to Kiwanis Park, Kibbe Park, behind the courthouse and behind Valu Plaza.

"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."

Boy Scout Troop 6006 had its first Eagle Ceremony of 2014 Sunday afternoon at the First United Methodist Church on Route 63, Batavia. Dennis Alton received the highest Boy Scout award he could achieve. Pictured above from left are Brian Mcallister who received the "Mentor Pin," Troop Scoutmaster Ron Bernard, Dennis and his parents.

Dennis held off his special day so brother Ken who just returned from the service in Afghanistan could be there. Pictured below are Dennis and Ken. The last photo is with his family who celebrated the event. Many scouts and assistant leaders came today to show support for Dennis.

Press release:

The Iroquois Trail Council Boy Scouts of America recognized several distinguished citizens at the May 21 Annual Boypower Dinner held at Genesee Community College. The Boypower Distinguished Citizen’s Award recognizes positive countywide impact through community and professional service, and a long tenure of service both through business and personal involvement in community causes.

Event Chairman Dr. Roger Triftshauser and Scout Executive James McMullen are pleased to recognize the 2014 Honor Roll of Distinguished Citizens:

• Craig Bolesky, C&R Food Service (Livingston County)
• Jodi Gaines, Claims Recovery Financial Services (Orleans County)
• William Hayes, Turnbull Heating & Air Conditioning (Genesee County)
• Peter Robinson, NYS Court Officer, Niagara Command (Niagara County)
• James Rutowski, Sinclair Pharmacy & Warsaw Redevelopment Corp. (Wyoming County)

The annual Boypower Dinner is the premier event to raise funds to support scouting programs of the Iroquois Trail Council, which serves nearly 3,000 boys from 7-20 years of age and girls ages 14-21 in Genesee, Wyoming, Orleans, Eastern Niagara, and Livingston counties.

The event featured guest speaker Eagle Scout and NY State Supreme Court Justice Jeremiah J. Moriarty III, along with emcee and award presenter Daniel Fischer of WBTA 1490 radio.

The Boy Scouts of America is the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. The scouting organization is composed of 2.7 million youth members between the ages of 7 and 20, 1.1 million volunteers and nearly 300 local councils throughout the United States and its territories.

Photos and article submitted by Alex Hansen.

Next month, 70 Boy Scouts from the local Iroquois Trail Council will be converging with over 50,000 other scouts and leaders from around the world at the National Boy Scout 2013 Jamboree. This will be the first Jamboree to be held at the Bechtel Summit Reserve, a new world-class facility in West Virginia.

Separated into two troops of about 35 boys each, the scouts and adult volunteers of the Iroquois Trail Council performed service projects on Saturday, June 8th. Troop A worked on projects at the Bergen Swamps, and Troop B worked at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge in Basom. The goals of the day of service were to give back to the community with a focus on improving local outdoor facilities, and to help the boys get to know one another better.

In order to go to the Jamboree, the boys have been saving and earning funds to pay their own way for their trip of a lifetime. This day of service was the last opportunity to seek sponsors, with half going to pay for Jamboree expenses, and the other half going to benefit local veterans organizations.

Top photo: Dylan Scroger, 17, of Batavia retrieves a plastic bag from the swamp.

Below: Chris Neal, 12, of Batavia picks up a discarded soda can

Alex Hansen, Iroquois Jamboree Contingent correspondent, is a Life Scout in Troop 6069 in Batavia, and a student in the class of 2016 at Notre Dame High School.

Photo and information submitted by John Petry.

A group of Cub Scouts from Pack 69 were recently promoted to Boy Scouts and all received the Arrow of Light Award, the highest award a Cub Scout can earn.

Pictured, from left, Webelos Assistant Leader Mike Pehrson, Aaron Whiteford, LJ Petry, Dylan Pehrson, Jack DeMarzo, Cubmaster Bruce Bartz, and Webelos Leader John Petry. Front row: Shayne Moak.

Write-up submitted by Laurie Clarke:

On Saturday, at the Indian Falls United Methodist Church, Christopher Clarke was honored at an Eagle Court of Honor Ceremony where he was awarded the highest rank in Boy Scouting -- the rank of Eagle Scout.

Christopher was presented with several citations from President Barack Obama, the Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Sen. Charles Schumer and Rep. Kathy Hochul just to name a few. Assemblyman Stephen Hawley attended the ceremony and presented Christopher with a New York State Assembly Citation. Chris will also be receiving an American flag that was flown at the Capitol in honor of his Eagle Scout accomplishment.

In 2006 when Christopher was 8 years old he joined Troop 6066 in Indian Falls as a Cub Scout and began his journey toward becoming an Eagle Scout, a journey that would take him in many different directions. Along the way, Chris had the opportunity to visit new places, meet new people and learn many new things.

In 2010, Troop 6066 traveled to AP Hill, Va., to attend the National Boy Scout Jamboree, making many stops along the way at different historical sites.

The troop also went on numerous camping and kayaking trips including the Adirondack Mountains.

Throughout scouting Christopher was active in the community participating in Adopt-A-Highway program, planting trees for the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, ringing the bells for the Salvation Army, flag retirement ceremonies and many other community activities.

Christopher completed his Eagle Scout Project at the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge in Alabama. With the help of fellow Scouts, family and friends, Chris constructed a handicap accessible duck blind. The blind was built in pieces and then transported to the duck pond on the refuge where it was assembled at the end of a long dock.

Chris spent many hours researching the correct measurements and regulations for a handicapped building, locating funding for and finally putting a crew together to build and transport the blind.

Chris says “Scouts allowed me to learn many things that I would not have learned  if I had not had the opportunity to be in scouting. Boy Scouting gave me the chance to grow as a person, to be part of the community and meet many wonderful people along the way."

Photos and article submitted by Steve Ognibene:

Three obligations of an Eagle are honor, loyalty and courage. Today marked the third Eagle Ceremony in the past three months for Troop 69 of Batavia.

Today’s Eagle Court of Honor was for Andrew T. Lichtenthal. Eagle is the highest recognition that scouting offers. Earned through the advanced program, only a small percentage of boys who begin in scouting receive this honor.

Andrew beat the percentages here. Starting at the age of 14 he had a goal and that was to achieve the Eagle rank.

“Scouting has really helped me break out of my shell!" Andrew said, "I can remember my first meeting where all I could do is look at the floor as I was nervous to be embarrassed by the new faces. I feel much more confident around strangers and I have the tools to earn their respect.”

Andrew's mom and dad have supported him, along with Verne Luce, Bill Brown and Rick Porter and gave him the encouragement to make this his day.

“Now I feel truly prepared to go out into the world and face any challenges that I may meet," he said.

It’s never too late to become a Boy Scout. Troop 69 meets at the First Presbyterian Church on Sunday evenings at 6:30 starting Sept. 9.

Top photo: From left, are Troop 69 Eagle Scouts Andrew Fischer, Andrew T. Lichtenthal and Garrett Eggebrecht. 

Jean Lichtenthal, Andrew's mother, pins her son’s Eagle pin on shirt. 

Tom Lichtenthal, Andrew's father, adjusts the Eagle neckerchief and slide around Andrew’s collar.  

Verne Luce received the Mentor Pin from Andrew. The Mentor Pin signifies the most influential person who has helped a scout to earn his Eagle.

Boy Scout Troop 6069 will hold its first chicken BBQ from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. (Cub Scout Pack 6069 has held a couple in the recent past, but this is a first for the whole troop).

The money raised will help pay for future scout outings as well as new camping equipment. Event organizer and Boy Scout dad Steve Ognibene said that depending on how successful the chicken BBQ is, they may make it an annual thing.

Dinners are take-out only and include half a chicken, salt potatoes, green beans, a dinner roll and butter. Tickets are $9 and can be purchased at the event -- which is at Clor's Meat Market, at 4169 W. Main St. Road in Batavia -- or in advance. Call Ognibene at 409-8358 or Lorelei Roll at 300-9500 for pre-sale tickets.

Free delivery is available to local senior living communities.

Photo taken by Steve Ognibene. Pictured are Jon Slezak, Ethan Gaylord, Andrew Freeman, Jon Totten and Thomas Ognibene. (There are 14 boys in the troop, but only these five were able to make it for the picture.)

Jacob M. Finkney and Gabriel L. Frey were honored Wednesday by the Town of Pembroke Board with a proclamation recognizing their achievement in attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. Supervisor Ed Mileham presented the proclamations.

Photo courtesy of Town Clerk Nicole M. Begin.

Area scouts showed their colors and displayed true Boy Scout pride last night for the "BoyPower Distinguished Citizens" dinner at Genesee Community College.

These young men and their leaders are members of Iroquois Council Trail, Inc., the Boy Scouts of America council serving Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming, Livingston and Niagara counties. Every year, they honor one outstanding community member from each county.

Betty Lapp was the 2012 Distinguished Citizen for Genesee County. Lapp is the former director of GCC's Nursing program. She retired in 2005, and has been a "professional volunteer" ever since.

Originally from Ohio, Lapp has an impressive track record as a Geneseean:

• Board Chairperson of United Memorial Medical Center
• Board Chairperson of Genesee Valley Educational Partnership (formerly BOCES)
• Regional Action Phone
• Family Counseling Services
• Parent Teacher Association
• Cub Scouts
• Genesee County Department of Health
• Genesee County Mental Health Services

Her service to the wider region includes membership in the following organizations:

• Lake Plains Community Care Network
• WNY Rural Area Health Education Center
• Genesee Valley School Boards Association

Other recipients were:

James Culbertson, Livingston County

David Bellavia, Orleans County (Bellavia currently lives in Batavia, but is originally from Lyndonville)

MORE after the jump (click on the headline to read more):

Mitchell McLaughlin, Wyoming County

Ken Kaufman and Michelle Farina, Niagara County

According to Roger Triftshauser, DDS, BoyPower Dinner chairman and master of ceremonies, these are people who have "gone over and above in service of the common good."

Click here for a list of past recipients.

The featured guest speaker was Vice Admiral Dirk J. Debbink, chief of the Navy Reserve. He spoke of his days as a Boy Scout and of what the Scouts taught him about preparedness, leadership, teamwork, self-reliance, and the "power of an oath."

Triftshauser announced that he would be paying for two Boy Scouts to attend this year's summer camp in honor of Debbink. He chose to do this in lieu of giving Debbink a personal gift, for which he knew he would receive a check in return.

Additional photos:

Scout Executive James McMullan

Photo courtesy of Kevin Carlson

Silent auction items: