Local Eagle Scout Honored By Township Committee

Just for the record, earning Eagle Scout means: 21 merit badges, including first aid, citizenship in the community, citizenship in the nation, citizenship in the world, communications, personal fitness, emergency preparedness or lifesaving, environmental science, personal management, swimming or hiking or cycling, camping and family life, as well as earning life scout status, serving for at least six months in a position of leadership with a boy scout troop, varsity scout team or venturing crew, planning, developing and leading a service project, taking part in a Scoutmaster conference and successfully completing an Eagle Scout Board of review – not that anyone is keeping track of these things.

Peter Vogel, Ridge high school junior, state champion speech competitor and recent Eagle Scout, was honored at Tuesday's Township Committee meeting with a resolution recognizing his achievement.

Vogel led a service project to plant approximately 240 trees along Haas Road, which Basking Ridge Patch covered in an article prior to the event and with a photo gallery afterward.

The resolution states, "The project will promote biodiversity, clean air and a sustainable environmental, as well as increased habitat for wildlife, and a reduction in grass mowing resulting in saved revenue for township residents."

Mayor Scott Spitzer presented Vogel with the resolution, which also reads, "We hereby express our thanks and gratitude to Peter Vogel for his Eagle Scout project which will benefit the residents of this community for centuries to come."

In addition to the trees lining Haas Road, the remaining trees from Vogel's project will live on in the yards of Township residents, who can pick them up free at Charter Day thanks to the Bernards Township Shade Tree Commission.