By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
MILLSTONE – Four Boy Scouts from Millstone Township have attained the highest rank in scouting – Eagle Scout.
Nicholas Boyer, Thomas Brockman, Alden Littlefied and Brendan Maher of Troop 116 will each receive the rank of Eagle Scout during a ceremony to be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Nov. 26.
Nicholas, 16, is a junior at Allentown High School. For his Eagle Scout project he designed and built six large freestanding bat roosting boxes, which are intended to aid little brown bats in New Jersey.
Bat roosting boxes, according to Nicholas, can replace lost or degraded habitat that has contributed to the decline of bat populations throughout North America. Along with big brown bats, little brown bats are among the members of the species in New Jersey that are likely to inhabit the boxes.
Under the direction of Monmouth County Park System environmentalists, the bat boxes were installed in Millstone’s Perrineville Lake Park and at a farm that borders the park.
According to Nicholas, New Jersey’s population of little brown bats is declining due to a fungal disease. Nicholas said his goal was to give the little brown bats a fighting chance to survive.
Thomas, 18, is a senior at Allentown High School. For his Eagle Scout project he designed and built a decorative garden bed that is intended to enhance the entrance sign to the Thomas Baird Homestead, a historic 19th century property in Millstone that is being restored as a museum.
As part of his design, Thomas walled the garden with boulder stone from the foundation of the original barn. In addition to having historic significance, the boulder stone is meant to preserve the original rustic setting of the property. To attract attention to the site, the garden bed features an antique farm artifact from the period.
Alden, 18, is in his post-graduate year at Mercersburg Academy, Mercersburg, Pa. For his Eagle Scout project he built a 4-foot by 20-foot paver walkway with a paver and cement display area at the Thomas Baird Homestead museum.
The walkway, which includes dedication pavers, was designed by Alden to have the historic feel of the museum. To assure the design and placement of the walkway matched the historic surroundings, Alden worked closely with members of the Friends of Millstone Township Historic Registered Properties during the project’s creation.
Alden’s project was the focal point of the 2015 Harvest Festival at the Baird Homestead, during which pavers were sold to raise money for the historic home.
Brendan, 18, is currently training at a U.S. Marine Corps recruit training camp in South Carolina. For his Eagle Scout project he designed and constructed a 6-foot by 10-foot planter at the front entrance of St. Anthony’s Church in Hightstown. The planter is 20 inches tall and is constructed of landscape block. It was lined with landscape fabric and contains gravel at the base for drainage, and high quality top soil. The planter contains semi-evergreen, flowering perennial and is intended to enhance the appearence of the church’s entrance. The wall of the planter is intended to be low enough to provide a seating area for people when they gather in front of the church.
