8 Boy Scouts From Chester Earn The Rank Of Eagle Scout

CHESTER, NJ — Eight members of a local Boy Scouts of America Troop will be honored with their Eagle Court of Honor ceremonies on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at the Chester Township Council meeting.

Michael Marano, Nick Patino, Mark Marano, Aidan Lowry, Jack Lia, Michael Kotarski, Ben Klosowsky and David Frees all satisfied their Eagle Scout requirements, earning the rank of Eagle Scout, the Boy Scouts' highest honor.

A Scout must be active in a troop, earn a minimum of 21 merit badges, assume a position of leadership in a troop, and complete a community service project to be eligible for the award.

Michael Marano finished his Eagle Scout project by building six bat houses and mounting them on poles in various parks throughout the Chester area. The houses provide a safe habitat for bats while also reducing mosquito populations, making the parks a more enjoyable place for residents to visit.

Patino completed his Eagle Scout requirement by building a garbage collection station at a beach in Wildwood, a location he often visits every summer. The trash system has benefited all beach visitors and since its installation, has allowed hundreds of pounds of debris to be collected from the beach.

Lowry completed his Eagle Scout requirement by building picnic tables and benches near the tiger brook reservoir. The new additions have provided visitors with a new place to sit and relax while enjoying the park.

Mark Marano completed his Eagle Scout requirement by building a 100-foot boardwalk through the marshy area of the yellow trail in MacGregor Park, which will now allow residents to easily traverse through that section of the park.

Frees built a 150-foot boardwalk on a muddy section of trail in the Tanners Brook Preserve in order to complete his Eagle Scout requirement. The new boardwalk will serve hikers and visitors to the area.

Lia completed his Eagle Scout requirement by building mobile food shelves at the Chester-Mendham Food Pantry, which has allowed volunteers to reorganize the facility. The new shelves will benefit not only the food pantry volunteers but also the residents who benefit from the food pantry.

Kotarski completed his Eagle Scout requirement by creating a half-mile trail in the Tanners Brook Preserve. Alongside the trail, Kotarski also erected two new benches in the area providing hikers a new place to rest.

Klosowsky designed and built a fire pit and four benches at Mendham Hills Community Church in order to complete his Eagle Scout requirement. The new communal space will provide a place for various church groups to gather, including the local Youth Group.

The eight boys will be awarded on Tuesday, Feb. 21, at the Chester Township Council meeting, to view the full agenda, click here.