Eagle Scout

EAST COLUMBIA has added another Eagle Scout to its list of accomplished young men.Jonathan Porter's Eagle ceremony was held June 18 at Glen Mar United Methodist Church in Ellicott City.Scoutmaster George Baker presented Jonathan the highest Boy Scout rank. Jonathan joined Troop 874 five years ago.His project, approved by District and National Scout headquarters, was planting trees in Antietam Battlefield's "West Woods" to help return the site to its natural wooded state of more than a hundred years ago.Jonathan's project and its location were deeply personal.

County Council candidate Mary Kay Sigaty, a Democrat running in west Columbia's District 4, got the biggest crowd response last week at a candidates forum in Harper's Choice. The question from education activist Stanley Daniello was: "How can we trust any of you?" It began when UNcommon, a rival Democratic candidate whose name is Jeffrey L. Underwood, responded that he was probably the only Eagle Scout among the four candidates seeking the seat on the all-male County Council. Democrat Josh Feldmark then said he also had been an Eagle Scout, whereupon Sigaty, the only woman on the panel spoke up. "I think I'm the only one up here who couldn't be an Eagle Scout.

James R. LaVey, a retired systems equipment engineer who was also a decorated World War II gunner and longtime Boy Scout advocate, died Saturday of pneumonia at his Timonium home. He was 87. "He was a giant among Scout volunteers and was a kind friend to many," said Jack Simons, a longtime friend and Scoutmaster who lives in Cockeysville. "He will be dreadfully missed. " James Robert LaVey, the son of a production manager and a homemaker, was born and raised in Chicago, where he graduated in 1942 from Kelvyn Park High School.

James Crifasi became the 43rd Eagle Scout of Troop 601 at ceremonies held Dec. 22 at the Other Barn, Oakland Mills Village.Oakland Mills Community Association, sponsor of the troop, established Troop 601's "Eagle Nest" plaque at the Other Barn in 1980, six years before James joined Scouting.James has been bugler, patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader and troop instructor while earning merit badges and before creating his Eagle Scout project.Howard County Executive, Charles I. Ecker commended his project's "goal of increasing songbird population in the county by designing backyard habitats for songbirds."

On Nov. 6, at Bethany Unity Methodist Church, Boy Scout Troop 944 and Scoutmaster John Ritter awarded the rank of Eagle Scout to Life Scout Ian Yorkston of Marriottsville.This was a proud moment for Ian, fellow scouts, and his parents, George and Donna Yorkston.Ian is a senior at Mount Hebron High School, where he has been voted Student of the Month. He is a member of the Jazz Band, the Concert Band and the Marching Band units.Ian is active at his local church, First Lutheran Church in Ellicott City.

A FEW WEEKS ago, Drew Foerster, 17, was spotted on a bike path in Long Reach. He and a few friends were standing at the edge of the woods where the path meets Tamar Drive.The group seemed to be up to something.On the ground around them was a shovel, a bag of dry cement, a bucket of water and a trash can. A neighbor out for a stroll crossed the street to investigate.It turned out that Drew, a Boy Scout in Troop 794, was installing trash receptacles along the pathway. Over the course of several weekends, Drew's crew installed six cans as the community service part of his Eagle Scout project.

Timothy Bach, 17, has finally reached the apex of his Scouting career -- and the Odenton Public Library is proof of his success.To achieve the prestigious Eagle rank, Timothy, of Boy Scout Troop 377, planted eight cherry trees along the library's exit path."

CHRISTOPHER Patrick Roth is the latest member of Boy Scout Troop 75 -- and his family -- to attain the distinguished rank of Eagle Scout.Chris earned the rank of Eagle last year, but the ceremony Jan. 4 at Christ Memorial Presbyterian Church in Columbia had to be scheduled to coincide with his winter break from Florida State University, where the 1997 Howard High School graduate is studying computer sciences.His Eagle project was clearing brush, trees and debris from an extensive area in the western section of Centennial Park in Ellicott City to provide additional space for visitors.

Kenneth W. Davis, a retired Boy Scouts of America official who was active in the affairs of Severna Park United Methodist Church, died Tuesday at St. Agnes Hospital. The longtime Severna Park resident was 84. The son of a garage owner and a homemaker, he was born and raised in North Haven, Conn. After graduating from New Haven High School in 1945, he served for two years in the Navy as an electrician. In 1936, Mr. Davis joined the Cub Scouts and progressed to the Boy Scouts, where he eventually attained the rank of Eagle Scout.

We all have fantasies about a perfect birthday. Sometime they even come true.Alan Kramer, a Glenelg High School junior, may be experiencing one of those dream come true birthdays this year. Alan will be 17 on Dec. 18. That's also the day he'll be awarded Boy Scouting's highest honor, the rank of Eagle Scout, a goal he's had since sixth grade.Surrounded by friends and family, he'll have his Court of Honor at 7:30 p.m. at Shepherd of the Glen Lutheran Church in Glenwood. Steve Kight, his first scoutmaster, who helped him get started in Boy Scouts, will attend.