Community

Five members of Southold Troop 6 earn Eagle Scout honor

Five boys from Southold Boy Scout Troop 6 were honored Sunday for achieving the highest rank in scouting.

The boys were formally pinned as Eagle Scouts during the Eagle Scout Court of Honor at the Southold American Legion, surrounded by family, fellow scouts and local dignitaries.

The newest scouts to earn the honor of Eagle Scout were: John Michael Judge, Stephen Schill, Nicholas Smith, Nicholas Vicinanza and Tyler Woodhull, all of Southold. John Michael attends St. Anthony’s High School and the other four boys are Southold High School students.

As a culmination of their years of hard work and dedication in the scouts, each boy completed an Eagle Project that will benefit the community for years to come.

Here’s a breakdown of each Eagle Scout’s project:

John Michael Judge

John Michael, 16, refurbished an overgrown prayer garden at St. Patrick’s Church in Southold. He designed, constructed and installed two six-foot resin benches, which will be easier to maintain and will last longer. He supervised the trimming of existing bushes, removed all dead brush and replaced them with drought resistant plants throughout the garden. He also power washed the existing brick walkway and cleaned and painted an existing statue. To make the garden more inviting to parishioners, a trellis was built and installed, mulch was added to the area and four statues were placed around the garden.

Stephen Schill

Stephen, 16, outlined and constructed a brick walkway around the flagpole at Cochran Park in Peconic. The project required consultation with a professional landscape designer and the director of the Southold Parks Department. The work required the excavation of the existing brush, mixing and pouring cement, preparing the base and laying the brick platform. He also installed two stone benches and planted drought resistant plants around the flagpole.

Nicholas Smith

Nicholas, 16, created and built two six-foot picnic tables, two six-foot benches and restored two existing park benches located at the Southold Historical Society in Southold. The Historical Society was in need for more seating to accommodate people at its multiple community events it hosts. Treated pine and cedar were used for the tables and benches. Light-weighted materials were used so it is easier for the volunteers to lift and move for assorted events. Nicholas needed to replace all rotted wood to restore the existing benches and the sanded and painted them. All the outdoor furniture was painted green at the request of the Historical Society.

Nicholas Vicinanza

Nicholas, 17, designed and built three benches outside the lobby at Southold Junior/Senior High School. The project featured one nine-foot bench and two five and a half foot benches. The all-clay ground made installing the benches labor intensive. The benches were built with mahogany and Trex to be sturdy and long lasting. Nicholas had to coordinate with the school principal, superintendent and the building maintenance supervisor. Trees were planted and the benches were installed in a “U” shape so that students have a comfortable and inviting area to sit and talk while facing each other.

Tyler Woodhull

Tyler, 17, created and installed a bicycle rack and bench at Goose Creek beach in Southold. The project took months of planning and required consultation and coordination with the Southold Town Parks Department. Prior to building and installing the bicycle rack and bench, the area needed to be cleared of dirt, sand, weeds and debris. The rack and bench were built with mahogany, which is more durable. Installation of six posts around the area required digging and pouring cement to securely fasten them into the ground. A chain was then linked through all the posts. The bicycle rack holds up to 30 bicycles and the visitors can sit on the bench.

Top photo caption: From left: Nicholas Smith, Stephen Schill, John Michael Judge IV, Tyler Woodhull, Nicholas Vicinanza, all of Southold. (Credit: Elizabeth Wagner)

See more photos:

Members of Boy Scouts of America – Southold – Troop 6 – perform the candle lighting ceremony. (Credit: Elizabeth Wagner)
Aileen Mazzei, committee chair, during the presentation of eagle awards. (Credit: Elizabeth Wagner)
Eagle Scout John Michael Judge, IV, is pinned. (Credit: Elizabeth Wagner)

Eagle Scout Stephen Schill is pinned. (Credit: Elizabeth Wagner)
Eagle Scout Nicholas Smith hugs his mother. (Credit: Elizabeth Wagner)
Peter Peterson, 2013 Eagle Scout, Troop 51 of Greenport, reads the Charge of Eagle Scout. (Credit: Elizabeth Wagner)
Eagle Scout Stephen Schill hugs committee chair Aileen Mazzei. (Credit: Elizabeth Wagner)
Eagle Scout Nicholas Vicinanza hugs his father, past assistant Scout Master, Tim Vicinanza. (Credit: Elizabeth Wagner)
Eagle Scout Nicholas Vicinanza hugs committee chair Aileen Mazzei. (Credit: Elizabeth Wagner)
Congressman Lee Zeldin addresses the Eagle Scouts. (Credit: Elizabeth Wagner)
Eagle Scouts of Troop 6, Southold, N.Y. (Credit: Elizabeth Wagner)
Local American Legion dignitaries address the scouts. (Credit: Elizabeth Wagner)
Legislator Al Krupski congratulates the Eagle Scouts. (Credit: Elizabeth Wagner)