Above: Ariella Zalev looks on while brother Anthony leads the Charge at her Eagle Scout Court of Honor; Troop 92’s most recent Eagle Scouts (images cropped from photos by Joao Melo and Lisa Tommaney Photography)
BSA Troop 92 reached out about a bunch of boys who just earned the Eagle Scout rank. I couldn’t share that news without also highlighting that a member of Troop 823 became an Eagle Scout this fall – the first female resident in Southborough to make the rank.
In a message about Troop 92’s Eagle Scouts, resident Kate Gostick highlighted that the Eagle Scout rank requires earning at least 21 merit badges in addition to completing an Eagle Scout project:
I do not think that many of our community appreciate that when they are supporting scout fundraisers much of the money raised goes towards community initiatives including Eagle scout projects.
Female Eagle Scout
In 2019, a BSA Boroughs troop was formed for girls in Northborough, Southborough, and Westborough. Ariella Zalev is the troop’s second Eagle Scout. (The first was from another town.) Zalev’s project was to expand the Southborough Food Pantry’s ability to provide first aid and hygiene supplies to those who need them.
You can read most of the details in coverage by the Community Advocate of the ceremony in Northborough last fall. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t add a couple more .*
Since Zalev was the sole recipient in the Troop 823 Court of Honor, the Master of Ceremonies’ speech focused on Zalev and her achievements. Cass Melo told attendees:
If her involvement in our troop is ever questioned, I just want to point out that she is everywhere. Whenever something is needed, you can always count on her to show up and help out to the best of her ability.
In her thanks, Ariella noted the help she received from her older brothers (both Eagle Scouts) for their support over the years.
Troop 92’s “Bumper Crop”
On Sunday, Troop 92 held a ceremony to officially honor its five members to most recently earn the rank. They were in addition to three other members who earned the rank within the past year.
According to an Article in the Community Advocate, eight Eagle Scouts in one year is a first for the troop that was formed 30 years ago.**
Below are the details the Troop shared with me about the eight Eagle Scout Projects:
Sean Desmond who built a shed at Shifrin Field at Finn Elementary School for use by the Algonquin Baseball and Softball Association. The shed is used for storing various tools and materials required for Little League games.
Jackson Harris refurbished the snack shack at the Eric Green Field at Finn Elementary School.
Owen Hart built a large unit at the entrance of St. Mark’s Parish Hall to store rubbish and recycling bins.
Cameron Jackson built and installed four bat boxes at Neary Elementary School and Trottier Middle School. His idea for the project came in response to the increased risk of West Nile virus and EEE, which often shuts down town fields during the fall sports season.
Noah LaBelle built a community stargazing platform on the field behind Trottier Middle School to provide more opportunities for people to explore night sky watching. The platform is used in tangent with the Southborough Library’s telescope borrowing system.
Nathaniel Boy‘s Eagle Scout Project benefited the community at Breakneck Hill Conservation Land He designed and installed a telescoping pole for a kestrel box, a new kiosk sign board, and six blue bird boxes at the Breakneck Hill conservation land to help the ecosystems and to make it easy for yearly upkeep. It also provided the conservation committee a new place to put up fliers and space to add new signage.
Jack Tommaney created a new outdoor space at St. Matthew’s Church where people can meet and worship.
Nick McEvoy created a new trail that’s part of the Southborough Connector.
For more about the Troop’s recent ceremony, see the CA article here.
*I attended Zalev’s Court of Honor in October as mother of one of her troop-mates (who also served as the Master of Ceremonies). This is my very belated, public congrats!
**Back in 2021, the other Southborough Troop, Troop 1, honored 8 Eagle Scouts at once. But that included members’ whose ceremonies had been on hold through 2020.
