Son finishes his Eagle Scout project

My son Andy just completed his Eagle Project.

He didn't join Boy Scouts until he was in eighth grade and so was a bit behind some of the other boys his age. But he managed to catch up and was awarded the Life award just under six months ago. You have to be in this level for a minimum of six months before you can go up to Eagle, and you have to complete your Eagle Project by your 18th birthday. Well, Andy turned 18 on Wed., April 16.

He had been trying unsuccessfully to contact the people he needed to get his project approved before he could start. He got final approval Sun., April 6 at 3:45 p.m.

On the way home, we stopped by Lowe's to pick up supplies and he got on his cellphone to start calling his friends, fellow scouts and anyone he could think of that could help him. They started that afternoon and finished the following Sat., April 12.

His project was to strip, sand, repair and refinish the picnic tables and benches at Holy Cross Church in Moorpark. We have attended Holy Cross since Andy was 2.

He had several friends help him: Jonathan Linderman, Cody Gillette, Erik Swanson, Steven Kelly, Taylor Manners, Eric Wolentarski, Andrew Schwartz, Nicholas Crombie, Derek Sloan, and Sean Crombie, TJ Johnson, all from Moorpark and his girlfriend Mandi Probst from Camarillo.

These boys and girls did an outstanding job. The benches and tables look almost new, not bad considering that they are probably at least 15 years old. The church will be able to use them for bake sales or coffee and donuts after church on Sundays, and for snacks during Religious Education classes during the year and during Vacation Bible School in the summer.

Now Andy will have to finish his paperwork with Boy Scouts of America of Ventura County and his troop and will hopefully have his Eagle board of review either in May or June and then be officially awarded Eagle Scout. Whew, talk about cutting it close.

Vicki Tymczyszyn

Moorpark