Published: September 25, 2009 11:59 pm      

Serving others: Upgrades to church grove fulfill Eagle Scout projects

The Benscreek Evangelical Lutheran Church Grove near Thomas Mills is wearing a fresh face thanks to an Eagle Scout and another Scout working toward that rank.

Eagle Scout Stephen Ketner and Life Scout Travis Dorian, both members of Troop 114 in Davidsville, rolled up their sleeves this spring and summer to make improvements to the grounds for their Eagle Scout projects. The church grove also is available for use by the community.

A number of requirements in addition to the Eagle Scout project must be met to become an Eagle Scout.

Stephen, 17, has completed all those steps and earned his badge this summer.

Travis, 14, is expecting to fulfill all the obligations by next summer.

Each had plenty of help for his Eagle Scout project in the form of labor from family members, friends and fellow Scouts.

Stephen’s project consisted of rejuvenating the metal swing seat by giving it a fresh coat of paint, and installing new swings and chains; installing new vinyl siding on the storage building; building a picnic table and painting it along with two other tables; making repairs to the basketball hoop and related supports; assembling a play set; and doing some painting in one of the two pavilions.

Travis’ undertaking consisted of landscaping a large area by one of the grove’s buildings; building four benches and three wooden posts that bear signs directing people to the grounds.

Both are Hollsopple residents and members of the Benscreek church.

“It’s the church I belong to,” Stephen said about why he wanted to do the project.

“It (grove) needed to be freshened up. I did it so that children can have a nice place to play.”

He said his parents, Doug and Lisa Ketner; his sister, Brittany; grandfather, Allen Hemminger; a friend, Lee Alex La Rue; a cousin, Ashley Knapp; and an aunt, Jen Garlesky, all were a big help to him.

Stephen had plenty of other support for his project.

His church provided the play set with Lowe’s of Johnstown and the Long Barn, St. Michael, contributing building materials toward his project.

“It was nice of the businesses to help out,” he said.

Stephen, a senior at Conemaugh Township Area High School, is on the cross country and track teams. He also enjoys hunting and fishing.

Stephen, who is employed at the McDonald’s restaurant near The Galleria mall, also enjoys hunting and fishing.

Travis said he wanted to draw attention to the main building at the grove and figured a landscaping project would do the trick.

For people with an interest in flowers and shrubs, the project will give them something to look forward to when they visit the grove, he said.

The benches – two at the playground and two at the horseshoe pits – will allow parents to sit and watch their children play and allow people to relax while they watch a horseshoe match, he said.

Travis said his parents, Scott and Diane Dorian; his Scoutmaster, Bill Miller; and fellow Scouts, Cody Miller, Colton Miller, Joshua Naugle, Cody Weinzierl and Michael Dilla did a fine job of helping.

He said J&D Fleck Paint Co., Sleek Trucking, The Home Depot, and Lowe’s of Johns-town, all of the Johnstown area, and Thomas Feed Mill of Thomas Mills, donated materials. Family and friends also donated money to buy materials, he said.

Travis, a freshman at Conemaugh Township Area High School, is planning to join the school’s rifle team and conservation club.

Both Stephen and Travis said they belong to a great Scout troop. The troop enjoys helping the community and does so through activities such as mowing the grass at Davidsville Cemetery.

Doris Thomas, coordinator of the church grove, said both boys did outstanding work on the projects.

They wanted to do projects that benefited not only the church, but also the community, she said.

Parents have commented about how much their children enjoyed the play set that Stephen assembled, she said.

People have commented about how the solar lights that Travis installed in his landscape project has drawn attention to the flowers and shrubs, she said.