Celebrate 50 Years of Scouting

Milford Scouts paddling to Shelton Monday

Troop 701 Boy Scouts photographed Sunday with their kayaks and canoes along the banks of the Housatonic River. / Contributed photo
 
Public can track Scouts paddling 90 miles from Massachusetts to Milford

By Phyllis Swebilius, New Haven Register

Posted: 06/20/14, 7:07 PM EDT | Updated: 14 secs ago

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MILFORD >> Twenty Boy Scouts in Troop 701 are using satellite technology to keep followers up to date on their 90-mile paddling trip down the Housatonic River from Massachusetts to Long Island Sound.
“Young people love action,” Assistant Scoutmaster Mark Lofthouse said Sunday from a campsite in Southbury.
“We plan a high-adventure trip every year,” said Assistant Scoutmaster Brian Leary, who could not make the trip.
“They learn skills they will have for the rest of their lives, and we enjoy just watching them grow up and develop these skills,” Leary said.

They left the city June 18 for an adventure that includes camping and portage (carrying their craft overland to avoid obstructions).
They are expected at Walnut Beach for a picnic at 3-4 p.m. Tuesday.

The Scouts, ages 14-18, and eight adults, 45 and older, are in 22 kayaks and canoes for seven days.
To make their schedule, the boys average four hours travel daily, getting up at 6 a.m., “no grumbling,” Lofthouse said.
The boys cook, clean and put up their own tents. “Nobody’s going to do anything for them. This is a big self-reliance week,” Lofthouse said by cellphone from Kettletown State Park.
“They’ve all said this was awesome,” Lofthouse said.
A big hit with the boys has been going through rapids, said Steve Johnson, the city’s open space and natural resource agent, is on the trip with son, Paul, 15.
Lofthouse has spotted a black bear cub in the woods; they once sat under a tree with a bald eagle 25 feet above; they’ve seen osprey fishing; and have been catching and releasing large-mouth bass and perch.
The group has been eating freeze-dried food and lots of nuts, Johnson said. As a special treat, leaders Bill Holdeck and Dave Shaw came up from Milford to cook dinner.

They also saw the International Space Station overhead about 9:30 one night, said Dan Murray, an Eagle from Milford. “We just watched it sail right over us. It was really beautiful,” said Murray, 19.
The trip was the brainchild of Murray, who recently finished his first year at the University of Connecticut.
When Murray was about 14, he asked Lofthouse about rowing down the Housatonic, to which Lofthouse replied: “‘We’ll make that happen.”’

On Sunday, Murray said it was a great idea, despite a few blisters, some sunburn and sore muscles.
Asked how the “old people” were doing, Lofthouse said, “The old people are handling it just fine. I haven’t seen anyone breaking down in tears, calling their wife,” Lofthouse laughed.
Planning for the trip began about 18 months ago for Lofthouse and Leary.

Follow this link to see location updates. The group will be at Sunnyside Park in Shelton Monday.

They had to get special permits for camping locations, as only there were only two state parks; the other sites were private property, or owned by municipalities or utilities, Leary said this weekend. And the two men paddled about 50 percent of the river, taking it in sections, Leary said.
In addition to Lofthouse and Johnson, other adults on the trip are Peter Murray, Bill Elliott, Tom Mercaldo, Bill Thorne of Storrs and Ian Siveyer of Monroe.
“We try to keep the ratio 3-1,” said Leary.
Part of the trip was to educate the boys, Leary said.
On this adventure, the focus is on getting a deeper appreciation of the beauty of the river and its economic importance for transport and energy.
The other part is helping and watching the young men develop life skills, Leary said.
Leary said Lofthouse gives up three weeks a year to plan and go on these trips.
“Mark does high-adventure activities. We’ve hiked the entire Appalachian Trail, in Connecticut and Massachusetts, and part of Vermont,” Leary said.
“No story would be complete without Mark Lofthouse,” Leary said.




Call Phyllis Swebilius at 203-789-5681. Have questions, feedback or ideas about our coverage? Connect directly with the editors of the New Haven Register at AskTheRegister.com.

Dance in Ansonia to benefit Troop 3

ANSONIA - A “Sweetheart Dance” featuring Flashback will be held from 8 p.m. to midnight Feb.  15 at Warsaw Park, 119 Pulaski Highway.

Dancing will be to live music of the '50s and '60s.

Admission is $20 (must be over 21 years old.
Bar set-ups, ice and coffee are provided.  Bring your own refreshments.

Tables are available for groups of 10.


The event will benefit Troop 3, Derby, Boy Scouts of America.

For tickets call 203-736-9539 or purchase them from a member of Troop 3, Derby.


This is a press release from Troop 3.

Scouts recognized for achieving Eagle rank

Twenty Boy Scouts from the Housatonic Council’s troops were recently recognized for achieving Scouting’s highest honor, Eagle Scout Rank at a ceremony at Molto Bene Italian American Kitchen at John J. Sullivan's in Ansonia. 

The awards ceremony was under the direction of Housatonic Council Advancement Chairman James Frovarp and the council’s branch of the National Eagle Scout Association.

Pictured are back row from left: Evan Altamirano, Troop 3, Derby, Joshua W. Zitnay, Troop 65, Seymour-Oxford, John Thomas Murray, Troop 3, Derby, Adam J. Sardiha, Troop 11, Seymour, Gajaan Sittambalam, Troop 28, Shelton, Angelo Ciambriello, Troop 101, Shelton.

Front row: Eagle Scout Tommy Caruso, master of ceremonies, Matthew J. Gura, Troop 105, Ansonia, Brandon James Guittard, Troop 28, Shelton, Max Slater Bracchi, Troop 3, Derby, John A. Grasso, III, Troop 3, Derby, Michael A. Yevich, Jr., Troop 27, Shelton, Christopher F. Turechek, Troop 27, Shelton, Philip W. Cooke, Troop 25, Shelton, and Father Christopher Tiano, keynote speaker.

Also recognized but not present were: Christopher Maxfield, Troop 55 Shelton, Adam Messier, Troop 11, Seymour, Jared Krugel, Troop 101, Shelton, Liam Fama, Troop 28 Shelton, Myles Hoponick, Troop 55 Shelton, Tyler Overton, Troop 1, Oxford, and Alex Main, Troop 3, Derby.

The 2012 class of Eagle Scouts led community service projects totaling more than 4,000 hours of effort. The scouts received certificates of appreciation from the Derby Elks Lodge 571 and the Military Order of World Wars. Nationally, fewer than 4 percent of all scouts attain the rank of Eagle.

Charles Stankye IV and Tyler Stankye, both Eagle Scouts from Troop 3, Derby, were recognized as the 2012 recipients of the Edmund and Caroline Strang Eagle Scout Scholarship.
Tiano, an Eagle Scout, past president of Housatonic Council, Committee Member of Troop 3 Derby and Pastor of the Torrington Cluster of Catholic Churches, was recognized with the Housatonic Council’s first Oustanding Eagle Scout Award for his more than 40 years of service to Scouting and the community. 
He was also recently named “most distinguished pastor” by the Archdiocese of Hartford.

This information was provided by Scoutmaster Randy Ritter.

Boy Scouts to host 'Sweetheart Dance'

Annual event benefits Troop 3 

ANSONIA - Troop 3, Derby, Boy Scouts of America, will host its annual "Sweetheart Dance” featuring the band “Flashback” from 8 p.m. until midnight Feb. 9 at Warsaw Park, 125 Pulaski Highway.

Cost is $20 a person (must be over 21). Bar set-ups, ice, and coffee are provided. Bring your own refreshments.
All proceeds will benefit Troop 3.
For tickets call 203-736-9539 or purchase them from a Boy Scout in Troop 3.

Scouts collect more than 13,000 food items

Troop 3 Scouts, pictured from left, Joe Szewczyk, Lou Richetelli, Anthony Bartholomew, and Naveen Madivala carry donated goods to the collection point, 326 Derby Ave., Derby. / Contributed photo

Housatonic Council, Boy Scouts of America held its annual 'Scouting for Food' drive Saturday and collected more than 13,000 food items for Valley needy.

Site coordinators were: Tom Symski, Huntington Congregational Church, Shelton; Chuck Hemstreet, Elwin Jimo, Chris Cafaro, Derby/Ansonia, Housatonic Council BSA office; Don Woodin, Seymour/Oxford, Trinity Episcopal Church, Seymour.

Troop 3 Scouts Louis Richetelli, left, and Jason Edwards sort donations. / Contributed photo 

This information was provided by Randy Ritter, Scoutmaster.      

Housatonic Council to host Radio City bus trip

DERBY - The Housatonic Council Boy Scouts of America is hosting a bus trip to Radio City Music Hall to see the “Christmas Spectacular” Dec. 5.

The cost is $125 a person and includes transportation and a first mezzanine show ticket.  The bus will depart the Derby train station at 9 a.m., arrive in the city for the 2 p.m. matinee and depart the city at 4 p.m. for return to the Derby train station. 

There will be time for lunch and shopping prior to the show.

To reserve tickets, contact the Housatonic Council, BSA, 203-734-3329.

Boy Scouts raise flag pole in Derby

Boy Scouts from Troop 3, Derby help Scout Joshua Moscato raise a flag pole toward his Eagle Scout Project at the Valley Council of Governments and Derby Train Station. Kneeling from left are Marcel Aguirre and Anthony Bartholomew. Standing left to right are Elliott Moscato, Mathew Main, Edgar Aguirre, Alex Main, Joshua Moscato, Adam Sroka, Colby McLiverty, and Caine Jimmo. / Photo contributed by Troop 3 

 

Irish Boy Scouts visit Derby aldermen

Irish Boy Scouts in photo are far left James Glasson and far right Cian Neilan. They are standing among members of Derby Board of Aldermen. Both Scouts are members of the 42nd Limerick Scout Group. They are from Meelick, Ireland, and stayed with host families last week in Derby. Derby Scout Troop 3 hosted their visit. Aldermanic President Ron Sill, second from left, declared July 27 Scout Exchange Day in Derby. Jean Falbo-Sosnovich/Register

Troop 3 collecting memories of Edmund D. Strang

Troop 3 Scoutmaster, Pack 3 Cubmaster influenced thousands

Among other endeavors, Edmund D. Strang was a WWII veteran, Scoutmaster of Troop 3, Cub master of Pack 3, Advisor to Explorer Post 33, Sunday school teacher, an incorporator of the Derby Little League, coach of the Laurels Little League team, past president of the Derby-Shelton Rotary Club, and a member of the Housatonic Council Executive Board.


Strang was a positive influence on thousands of lives. He died in 1995 at 85 years of age. "We are collecting the experiences of people whose lives Ed touched and enriched," said Robert Bednarcik of Oxford. 

Gary Scarpa, director of the Shelton High School Drama Club and co-director of Center Stage Theatre remembers Ed.
“I was discovered in the basement of the Methodist Church, known as the red church across from the Derby Green in Derby, Ct., by a talent scout named Ed Strang.”
Bednarcik said Scarpa was so outstanding singing in the (Gang Show) chorus that Ed had him sing “Little Brown Jug” in a duet. Scarpa said Strang “changed the course of my life”.

Robert Feeney, former VP of Pfizer, state, “My life was shaped by just three men, my father, Ed Strang, and a Professor of Chemistry at Yale University. Everything I did and became in my life I owe to these three men who directed my feet in the right paths.”

Alice Costello remembers Ed. In 1960 she received two tickets to the Troop/Pack 3 Gang Show held at the Derby Methodist Church. She became good friends with Ed and Caroline Strang.
Costello said she enjoyed the show so much she later participated in it singing “Second Hand Rose”. She was a Den mother in a Cub Pack in Bridgeport and decided that she would run a similar type program for her Cub Scout Pack. Strang gave her lots of jokes and ideas.

He and Caroline would go to visit her show every year. Costello attended 43 of the Troop/Pack 3 Gang Shows. She remembers taking a group of Cubs to the Troop/Pack 3 Gang Show. One Cub had to go to the bathroom but didn’t come back. She looked all over for him.
When the curtain opened there he was on stage with the chorus crying because the den mothers didn’t believe he didn’t belong to Pack 3. Costello became the first female Cub Master and was awarded the Silver Fawn (equivalent  to the Silver Beaver) by the Bridgeport Council.

What do you remember about Ed?
Contact me, Robert Bednarcik, at 203-888-2956, 95 Old Church Road, Oxford, Ct .06478 or at RobertBednarcik@netscape.net.


The above was contributed by Robert Bednarcik.  

NYC trip proceeds to benefit Troop 3

    DERBY - Troop 3 Matrons will host "A Day In The City" women's only bus trip to New York City Oct. 13.
     The bus will depart Derby at 9:45 am. There will be a Continental breakfast available on the bus.
    Spend several hours shopping, sight-seeing near Rockefeller Center and then head over to Little Italy for dinner (cost not included).
    Depart by 8 p.m. to return to Derby. The ride home will include light snacks, and a movie. 
   Tickets are $40. Money is due by Sept 26 and checks should be made payable to BSA Troop 3, Derby.
    For tickets and to reserve a seat call Pamela, 203-513-7129 or Carole, 203-735-7519.
    All proceeds to benefit the Boy Scouts of Troop 3, Derby.

Grant wins Good Scout Award

David M. Grant of Shelton, left, was recently recognized by Derby-based Housatonic Council. Boy Scouts of America with the 18^th annual Good Scout Award, for his lifelong community service to youth in the Lower Naugatuck Valley.


Shelton Mayor Mark A. Lauretti, Chairman of the Good Scout Award event, made the presentation to Grant at a recent reception in his honor at Il Palio Restaurant in Shelton.

Grant, a Past President of the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, Boys and Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, and the Derby-Shelton Rotary Club, was also the 2012 recipient of the Charles H. Flynn Humanitarian Award from the Valley United Way.


The above information was contributed by Randy Ritter, Scoutmaster, Troop 3 in Derby.