Freeholders Honor Outstanding Morris County Eagle Scouts

Published on July 05, 2018

Representing Scout Troops in Denville, Morristown, Parsippany and Roxbury

The Morris County Board of Freeholders, at its most recent meeting, has honored seven Eagle Scouts from troops in Denville, Morristown, Parsippany, and Roxbury for a series of ambitious scout projects that helped them attain Boy Scouting's highest honor.

photo: (l/r) Front Row: Gregory Elorette, Patrick Herbert, Christopher Merring, Stephen Fowler, David Dodd, Thomas Paglinco, and Joseph Homsi. Back row: Freeholders Deborah Smith, Kathy DeFillippo, Heather Darling, Director Doug Cabana, Tom Mastrangelo, and Christine Myers.(JPEG, 272KB) (l/r) Front Row: Gregory Elorette, Patrick Herbert, Christopher Merring, Stephen Fowler, David Dodd, Thomas Paglinco, and Joseph Homsi. Back row: Freeholders Deborah Smith, Kathy DeFillippo, Heather Darling, Director Doug Cabana, Tom Mastrangelo, and Christine Myers. Photo credit: Morris County, Karen Mancinelli

Projects done by the Eagle Scouts included work done at Celebrate the Children, a school in Denville for youths with autism and communications issues; the Stony Brook Community Garden in Hanover Township; the Hearts and Hands Pre-School in Parsippany; St. Peter's Orphanage in Denville; and the refurbishment of the World War II anti-tank gun at the West Orange National Guard Armory, among others.

The projects required hundreds of hours of volunteer efforts by the scouts and their volunteer teams.

The Board of Freeholders is privileged to highlight the positive work done in their communities by these seven young men who undertook ambitious projects for the benefit of their respective communities,'' said Freeholder Director Doug Cabana. They have set an example for all of us, and we thank them for their hard work, he added.

The freeholders, at their June 27 meeting in Morristown, awarded county certificates of achievement to:

  • David Lewis Dodd, Troop 173, Parsippany
  • Joseph Homsi, Troop 118, Denville
  • Thomas Guy Paglinco, Troop 118, Denville
  • Gregory Alden Elorette, Troop 34, Morristown
  • Patrick Joseph Herbert, Troop 34, Morristown
  • Stephen Douglas Fowler, Troop 188, Landing
  • Christopher Merring Jr., Troop 188, Landing

Each of the scouts who received county certificates have impressive personal resumes, featuring outstanding family, school, scouting, and personal achievements.

Take a look at photos from the Eagle Scout ceremony: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0pggruwj2w0fxbh/AAD4S2YelSTQgBTSDyZ1bQ9Za?dl=0

Scout David Lewis Dodd shakes hands with Freeholder Kathy DeFillippo(JPEG, 223KB) Scout David Lewis Dodd shakes hands with Freeholder Kathy DeFillippo

David Lewis Dodd is a recent graduate of the Morristown High School class of 2018 and plans to attend Stockton University as a biology major.

For his Eagle Scout Project, David built a pollinator garden to benefit the Hearts and Hands Pre-School at the Parsippany Presbyterian Church. Dave's garden consists of multiple raised beds in a fenced in, gated area. The preschoolers will be able to use the garden to learn about nature and pollination as they plant wildflowers, care for them, and watch them grow.

Scout Joseph Homsi accepts certificate from Freeholder Deborah Smith(JPEG, 199KB) Scout Joseph Homsi accepts certificate from Freeholder Deborah Smith

Joseph Homsi will be a senior a Morris Knolls High and is currently exploring colleges, with thoughts of majoring in engineering.

For his Eagle Scout project, Joseph did remarkable work at St. Peter's Orphanage in Denville. After seeing that the pool area's retaining wall was falling down and needed to be replaced with new railroad ties, and the perimeter of the pool was overgrown with weeds, he took action.

Joe's project consisted of replacing the three-tier railroad tie retaining wall, weeding the three other sides of the pool area, laying weed paper, planting shrubs and laying river rock. It provided the boys who live at the orphanage a pleasant and safe area to swim and enjoy a meal or snack sitting by the pool.

Thomas Paglinco shakes hands with Freeholder Director Doug Cabana(JPEG, 230KB) Thomas Paglinco shakes hands with Freeholder Director Doug Cabana

Thomas Guy Paglinco is a 2018 graduate of Oratory Prep in Summit, where he was a four-year honor student, member of various community service programs, a member of the campus ministry, art club, and two varsity sports, tennis and fencing.

Tom's Eagle Project focused on Celebrate the Children, a nonprofit school in Denville for youths ages 3 to 21 who have autism and other communications challenges.

Tom cleared and landscaped a wooded area near a pond on the school's property, removing rocks, leveling the ground, spreading mulch, and building benches made of oak tree stumps and planks. He created outdoor benches that convert easily into picnic tables. For a third classroom. He also built a teepee to act as a safe space for the students to relieve anxiety.

Tom will attend Lehigh University in the fall, and major in finance.

Greg Elorette is congratulated by Freeholder Kathy DeFillippo(JPEG, 223KB) Greg Elorette is congratulated by Freeholder Kathy DeFillippo

Gregory Elorette is a 2018 graduate of Morris Catholic High School, and will attend County College of Morris in the fall to study computer coding and cyber security.

For his Eagle Scout project, Michael targeted the Stony Brook Community Garden in Hanover Township, and focused on making it easier for disabled or injured residents to participate in gardening.

Greg constructed a handicap accessible raised garden bed planter to allow those who are wheelchair bound or unable to bend over due to back issues, to grow plants along with other, more able-bodied residents. He also constructed a multipurpose worktable that handicapped persons can use to wash and cut plants they have harvested.

(, 0B) Eagle Scout Patrick Herbert of Troop 34 in Morristown poses with his grandfather and Freeholder Director Doug Cabana. Herbert, with the guidance of his grandfather, lead a project to build a bridge over a creek near the county 9/11 Memorial.

Patrick Joseph Herbert will be a second year student at Seton Hall Prep, where he is an honors student, member of the Gaelic Society and Knights of Setonia, and a member of the football and lacrosse teams.

For his Eagle Scout Project, Patrick constructed an 18-foot pedestrian bridge that connects the National 9/11 Memorial Trail that runs through Morris County to Patriot's Path. In selecting that project, Patrick sought to honor men and women in law enforcement, including his dad, who is a police officer and former PBA President in Livingston.

Patrick hopes to attend the U.S. Military Academy at West Point

Freeholders Heather Darling and Kathryn DeFillippo flank Eagle Scouts Christopher Merring, Jr., and Stephan Douglas Fowler, of Troop 188 in Landing. (, 0B) Freeholders Heather Darling and Kathryn DeFillippo flank Eagle Scouts Christopher Merring, Jr., and Stephan Douglas Fowler, of Troop 188 in Landing.

Stephen Douglas Fowler is a 2018 graduate of Roxbury High School, where he was a member of the National Honor Society, and participated in the wrestling program for all four years.

For his Eagle Scout project, Stephen showed his love of nature and birding and the outdoors. Using donated cedar wood, he constructed 15 nest boxes for endangered Screech Owls and Kestrel Hawks. The boxes were hung in locations that best suited the birds in Stephen's, Allamuchy and Hopatcong State Parks.

Steve plans to attend the Florida Institute of Technology and major in astronomy.

Christopher Merring Jr. will be a senior at Roxbury High School, where he has participated varsity track, JV football, was captain of the JV hockey team, and is a delegate with the Boys' State Program.

His Eagle Scout project was unique: refurbishing a World War II 57mm anti-tank gun at the West Orange National Guard Armory. The project involved moving the cannon to the island in front of the armory, then stripping down the original paint to bare metal; and repainting the cannon. He also installed paving stones for the cannon to rest on as a small memorial for those who sacrificed for our nation.

Chris plans to enlist in the United States Marine Corps after graduation.

 

 

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