Sunday, March 28, 2010
MILESTONES
SCOUTS
Eagle award
Eric E. Mirto, 17, son of J.D. and Sue Mirto, of Canfield, has earned his Eagle Scout award, the 163rd awarded to a scout from Troop 25.
His court-of-honor ceremony took place at Canfield United Methodist Church.
He was a member of Cub Scout Pack 25 for four years and attained his highest rank, the Arrow of Light. He joined Boy Scout Troop 25 in 2004. Kevin Prus Sr. is the scoutmaster.
Mirto is the troop’s chaplain aide and has served as senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, patrol leader, assistant patrol leader, scribe and historian.
He earned 21 merit badges and Scout awards of Seven Ranges fifth-year pipestone and survivor award, Gettysburg historic hike award, God and church religious award, Camp McKinley first-year Heritage award, the Boy Scout mile-swim award twice and was a Boy Scout lifeguard.
For his Eagle Scout service project, he planned, designed, coordinated and supervised the installation of storage shelving at the Beatitude House in Youngstown. He also had to raise money to help pay for some of the materials.
He is a junior at Canfield High School, where he is a member of student council, Key Club, wrestling, cross country, track and football. He is a three-year letterman in wrestling.
He is a member of Canfield United Methodist Church and its youth group and has participated in two mission trips.
Another Eagle
Thomas Dobson, 16, son of Rebecca and James Dobson of Kinsman, has received his Eagle Scout award at a court of honor at Joseph Badger High School. He is a member of Boy Scout Troop 93.
He began as a scout in 2005 and has served as senior patrol leader, quartermaster and grub master. He earned 26 merit badges and is a member of Order of the Arrow.
He canoed more than 50 miles at Tinnerman Canoe Base in Canada, bicycled more than 50 miles including the C&O Bike Path from Maryland to Washington, D.C., and whitewater-rafted in the New River Gorge in West Virginia.
His Eagle Scout service project was planning, organizing and leading the planting of 23 six-foot evergreen trees at the new Joseph Badger school complex.
Thomas is a sophomore at Joseph Badger High School, where he is a member of the band, ski club and school play.
HONOR
Top volunteer
Stephen Hanzely with Habitat for Humanity of Mahoning County was named 2009 Habitat Volunteer of the Year for the state of Ohio.
Hanzely, of Poland, received the award at the 2010 Habitat for Humanity of Ohio Statewide Conference in Columbus earlier this month. This award was given for contributions to advance the mission of Habitat for Humanity.
Hanzely began volunteering with Mahoning County Habitat in 2002. He was elected to the board first as the vice president and then president in 2006. He is the primary grant-writer as well as a member of the advisory committee. He has been directly involved in more than $1.3 million in fundraising during his time with the affiliate.
During 2009, he wrote grants raising more than $175,000 for the Mahoning County Habitat ReStore. It allowed the affiliate to build a 6,000-square-foot expansion to its building, buy and outfit the affiliate vehicles and improve the energy efficiency of the building.
He helps provide Mahoning County Habitat with sustainable partnerships with grant funders, church partners and business contacts.
Milestones is a regular Sunday feature in The Vindicator. Articles must be submitted within 30 days of the Milestone event. Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope if you want a picture returned. Pictures also may be picked up at the paper’s Front Street facility at the security guard station. Send items to: Milestones, c/o The Vindicator, P.O. Box 780, Youngstown 44501.