Andrew outside the GC Bird Sanctuary This spring, three Garden City High School students, Andrew Kuruc, Steven Lanciotti and Tony Pittella, Eagle Scout candidates from Boy Scout Troup 134, worked on Eagle Projects. Eagle Scout Projects are undertaken with the explicit goal of providing meaningful community benefits while demonstrating leadership.

Andrew Kuruc led a Project to clear, clean and create a 20 by 40 foot xeriscaping garden at the Garden City Bird Sanctuary on Tanners Pond Road. Xeriscaping gardens consist of plants that tolerate drought conditions, thus use little water and require minimal maintenance. The garden adds to the beautification of the Bird Sanctuary while not increasing their water expenditure.

Donations of plants and supplies were provided by Atlantic Nursery (Freeport), Cipriano Nursery (East Meadow), and the Garden City Bird Sanctuary. Andrew would like to thank the Bird Sanctuary's Founder and President, Mr. Rob Alvey for his direction on his Project. Mr. Alvey provided insight to xeriscaping and continues to further develop the Sanctuary which has changed from an over-grown, trash-filled hole in the ground into a beautiful nature reserve. Be sure to stop by the Garden City Bird Sanctuary and admire the xeriscaping garden among all the beautiful plants and trees.

Andrew leads his Project to build a xeriscaping garden at the GC Bird Sanctuary Tony Pittella ran a collection drive for the Child Life Program of LIJ Schneider's Children Hospital for his Eagle Project. The purpose of the drive was to direct volunteers to solicit and collect new board games, art and craft supplies, books and gently used electronic games, tapes etc. These items were to be used to supply the waiting and game rooms used by the ill children in the Hospital. Monetary donations collected were used to buy a digital camera, photo printer and paper (purchased at a discount from Best Buy in Westbury) to be used by the Child Life Program on behalf of the children. Toy donations that did not meet the standards of the Hospital were donated to the Gerald Ryan Summer Camp at Our Lady of Miraculous Medal in Wyandanch, New York. Due to the generosity of our neighbors in Stewart Manor and Garden City, the children in the Hospital and at the Camp benefited greatly.

Tony drops off toys to LIJ Schneiders Children Hospital Steven Lanciotti directed the installation of about 100 linear feet of raised wooden walkway though a muddy, flood-prone section of the Greenbelt Trail in the Massapequa Preserve. The Preserve, which is an undeveloped area in excess of 400 acres of woodlands, ponds, lakes and freshwater wet-lands, is home to hundreds of species of plants and animals. The Project was co-sponsored by the Friends of Massapequa Preserve and the Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference.

Steven, Andrew and Tony would also like to thank the numerous Scouts, Dads, friends and neighbors who helped with these Eagle Scout Projects.

Eagle Scout candidates Andrew Tony and Steve Steven and fellow Scouts building bridges in the Massapequa Preserve