Scotch Plains Council Salutes Scouts

The Scotch Plains Township Council recognized two Boys Scouts and two Girls Scouts at its meeting last Tuesday.

Deputy Mayor Dominick Bratti and Councilman Jeffrey Strauss issued honorary resolutions to Stephen Allen and Thomas Zeile for having become Eagle Scouts, and Alyssa Resnick and Perry Sandrock for having attained the Gold Award. The rank of Eagle Scout and the Gold Award are the highest honors that one can achieve in the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts.

"Look at all those badges," Strauss said, indicating the patches that adorned each scout's uniform. "Those are years of hard work."

For their Eagle Scout projects, Allen and Zeile helped renovate St. Mary's Parish in Plainfield. They refinished the hardwood floors of one of the parish's classrooms, installed molding, painted, and made general repairs.

"It took a few hundred man-hours," Allen said. But he said he enjoyed the work. "This project allowed me to learn a lot and just give back to the community around me."

Zeile agreed. "I got involved in Scouts to help," he said. "I'm very happy."

Strauss presented Allen and Zeile their honorary resolutions and shook their hands. Bratti then invited Resnick and Sandrock to describe their volunteer projects.

Resnick said she worked for the Interfaith Council for the Homeless. She prepared backpacks for children who attended the Interfaith Council's summer camp last July, and organized a carnival for the campers. The backpacks included water bottles, bathing suits, and other items a camper might need, she said.

Sandrock said she worked with the Fanwood Environmental Commission to expand the butterfly garden at the Fanwood Nature Center.

Each of those honored will graduate high school this spring. Allen said he plans to attend Villanova, Zeile said he plans to attend the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Resnick said she plans to attend Syracuse University, and Perry said she plans to attend the University of Rhode Island.