Archive: Around Town

When you understand that only four of 100 Boy Scouts make it to the Eagle rank, it is remarkable that Lansing's Troop 48 inducted two  Eagle Scouts last January.  Last Sunday, only three months later, two more joined their ranks as scouts, families and friends came to Myers Park to honor Mark Bailey and Hunter Preston, both 17 year old seniors at Lansing High School.

The ceremony began with a flag ceremony in which everyone recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and Ian Garnett explained the history of the American Flag.  Scouts recited the Boy Scout oath, then everyone broke for a picnic lunch.  When lunch was done Scout Leader Rod Sunderlin began the induction, explained each step a scout goes through to reach Eagle, while scouts of each rank lined up.  He spoke of the obligations of an Eagle Scout, including honor, loyalty, responsibility and service.  "Wear your award with humility," he said, "bearing in mind that the Eagle Scout is looked up to as an example."


Scout Master Rick Vaughan pronounced them Eagle Scouts, getting their mothers to pin the badge on their uniforms, and the fathers to read the certificate that came with it.  Mike Coles read congratulatory letters from Governor George Pataki, State Senator Michael Nozzolio and US Representative Sherwood Boehlert.  Next Hurf Sheldon presented a monetary award from the Lansing Lions Club, which sponsors the Boy Scouts in Lansing.  They earned this award with family, dedication to the Scouts plus their own hard work," Sheldon said.


The celebration ended with speeches by Bailey and Preston in which they thanked their Scout leaders, families, mentors and fellow scouts.  They presented their mothers with seven roses symbolizing the seven ranks of scouting.  "It has been a privilege to watch them mature," said Vaughan.  It was a privilege to be their Scout Master and I wish them the best of luck."

Sheldon said, "What they have accomplished is amazing."  These included 26 merit badges for Bailey, 102 nights camping, 143 miles hiked and 164 service hours.  Preston earned 27 merit badges, camped 67 nights, hiked 35 mils and served 215 hours.  Both won special awards and served in numerous leadership positions in the troop.  "It's a great area," said Hunter's father Ronald Preston.  "It's great that we have so many adults that help with the scouting program.  We moved back to this area 15 years ago to raise our family.  We definitely made the right choice.  Today validates that for me."

Hunter Preston's project was the events sign and a picnic table at the Methodist church

Mark Bailey designed and built the reading garden at Lansing Community Library Center

Part of earning the Eagle Rank is a community project.  Preston refurbished the events sign outside the Lansing United Methodist Church as well as building a picnic table for the outdoor area near the butterfly garden.  "I knew I wanted to do a project with the church, because I've been a member of the church, he says"  He spoke to Pastor Bill Gottschalk-Fielding and Scott Bishop about what the church needs, and they came up with the idea for the sign and the table.  He ran a bake sale and solicited donations for the project, then led 25 scouts and parents, including his Dad to get the project built.

Bailey designed and built the reading garden at Lansing Community Library Center (LCLC).  The garden provides a beautiful environment to take a book to read outside.  He worked with Katrina Binkewicz, who lent her landscaping experience to the project, to design the garden.  Bailey held two book sales to raise money for the garden, then got Cayuga Crushed Stone to donate gravel and Bakers Acres to pitch in with the plants.  He also applied for a grant from Cornell Cooperative Extension.  "I applied for a $500 grant," recalls Bailey, "I guess they saw a Boy Scout and Lansing Library project and they decided to double it to $1,000."  He led about 65 scouts and library volunteers to hold the book sales and build the garden.


Both scouts are gaining some satisfaction from seeing their projects used in the community.  "I've seen a few people there," says Bailey.  "It's fulfilling.  Somebody is actually using it for what I intended it to be used for and what the Library wanted it to be used for."  Hunter adds, "I see that they change the sign and they definitely use it.  And a couple of times I've driven by and seen people at the picnic table."

Preston is planning to study engineering at Clarkson University next year, and Bailey wants to study foreign affairs or psychology at SUNY Pottsdam.  The two started as Tiger Cub Scouts and working their way up.  "We worked 13 years to get here," Bailey says and Preston adds, "Most of our lives."  Bailey summed up, "It's a big day."

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