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Mostly Cloudy Wantagh scout builds up service record
In his 15 years, Stephen Vaiano has learned what it takes to be a good citizen. Whether it was leading a cleanup of the Tackapausha Preserve, painting a gazebo near the Wantagh train station or organizing a book room at a school in Levittown, Vaiano has spent recent years committed to community service.
Now, the Boy Scout with Troop 96 in Wantagh is in the process of completing a community service project for his Eagle rank. On April 4, he spearheaded a cleanup of the grounds around the Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church, which sponsors the troop, and in June he will erect a flagpole.
Vaiano is doing all of this while focusing on his studies as a ninth-grader at Wantagh High School. He is also a member of Venture Crew 130, a co-ed group which goes on various expeditions.
He and about 50 volunteers recently spent several hours cleaning up the church grounds, where they raked up leaves and pine combs, removed goose droppings and cleared out weeds. They wanted to prepare the area for the church’s annual Easter egg hunt the following morning.
That was just a precursor to the main part of his project, which will be putting up a 25-foot flagpole. It will be installed on the front lawn between the church and nursery school, and will be visible to drivers on Wantagh Avenue. The church has never had a flagpole.
“We’ve wanted one for a long time,” said Charles Jackson, president of the Wantagh Memorial Congregational Church Board of Trustees. “We’ve just never done it. It’s almost like he’s an answer to our prayer.”
Even though it was on the church’s wish list, Vaiano came up with the idea on his own. The pole will have room for two flags, and a light, to be affixed to the nursery school building, will shine on it. Vaiano will install a six-foot diameter concrete and brick base, as well.
“It feels good because we’re giving back to the church,” he said. “They’ve supported our troop for a long time.”
Vaiano is one of five Boy Scouts doing an Eagle Scout project this spring. Bruce Brickmeyer, a former scoutmaster, said about 125 boys in the troop have earned scouting’s highest honor since the unit was founded in the 1940s. The tradition continues.
“It’s great to see the troop as healthy as it is,” he said. “A lot of good scouts, a lot of good adults here, too.”
Brickmeyer added that it speaks volumes that Vaiano was able to get so many volunteers to come out on a windy but sunny holiday weekend. His helpers included fellow scouts and leaders, his parents, and Girl Scouts from Troops 3133 and 3088. Vaiano said one of his biggest roles in overseeing a project is delegating responsibilities and making sure that each volunteer has an assigned task. “That’s the big part of it,” he said, “you have to show leadership.”
Vaiano will call them into action again when it is time to put up the flagpole. That work is planned for June 13. The following day, which is Flag Day, Vaiano plans to host a flag-raising ceremony along with the church. In addition to the pole, he will also provide the flag, and has a bugler lined up for the ceremony.
Last year, Vaiano did a fundraiser for his project at Wendy’s on Wantagh Avenue. He collected about $1,600 from customers and a corporate donation. The flagpole alone will cost $1,100.
He also received donations for the cleanup, with In The Green landscaping providing tools and a truck for the leaves and other debris. Otto’s Deli, Iavarone Brothers and Fehn’s Cake and Cookies donated lunch and desserts for the volunteers.
Vaiano started his scouting career when he was in first grade with Cub Scout Pack 191. He is now a Life Scout and is hoping to appear before an Eagle Board of Review in the fall. Seeing other scouts in his troop earn the Eagle rank inspired him to do the same.
As president of Venture Crew 130, he organizes trips. He has gone ice climbing and wild caving, and estimates he has spent at least 120 nights camping. He has also attended the National Scout Jamboree in West Virginia, which included community service activities.
Vaiano has completed the other part of his Eagle journey with ease. Twenty-one merit badges are required. He has earned 72.
