PARSIPPANY —  The Morris County Board of Freeholders this week honored four Eagle Scouts from across Morris County for a series of ambitious scout projects that assisted a local library, a baseball league, and local churches in projects that required hundreds of hours of volunteer efforts by the scouts and their volunteer project teams.

“It is a privilege for the Board of Freeholders to celebrate the positive efforts of these four young men who undertook ambitious projects that have made positive impacts on their respective communities,’’ said Freeholder Director Doug Cabana.

“They, obviously, have set an example for all of us, and are obviously future leaders of Morris County,” he added.

The freeholders, at their meeting in Morristown, awarded county certificates of achievement to:

• Thomas Joseph Catapano of Parsippany: Troop 173 Parsippany
• Joseph Pinelli of Washington Township: Troop 236, Schooley’s Mountain
• Sumantra Chattopadhyay, of Rockaway Township: Troop 113, Rockaway Township
• Michael Morena of Rockaway Township: Troop 113, Rockaway Township

Take a look at the great work these scouts have done by clicking here.

Each of the scouts who received county certificates have impressive personal resumes, featuring outstanding family, school, scouting, and personal achievements. The following is a snapshot of their Eagle Scout projects:

• Thomas Joseph Catapano, of Parsippany, is a junior at the Delbarton School, where he has played baseball, runs cross-country, and is active with the forensics team. For his Eagle Scout project, Tommy – in concert with his Eagle Coach Juan Correa – worked with the Par-Troy West Little League in Parsippany to construct seating platforms out of railroad ties to provide much-needed seating for Little League games. He also cleared trails leading to the field and installed benches near the baseball field.
• Joseph Pinelli, of Washington Township, is a senior at West Morris Central High School, where he is a three-year varsity member of the track team and its current captain. For his Eagle Scout project, Joe decided to give back to his local church by cleaning, enhancing and repairing the church porch. The project – including scraping, power washing, repainting, and installing a handrail – done with a team of volunteers required more than 100 hours of work.
• Sumantra Chattopadhyay, of Rockaway Township, is a student at Morris Knolls High School, where he is enrolled in the International Baccalaureate Program – an intensive course of study. For his Eagle Scout project. Sumantra constructed a cover for the book drop location at the Rockaway Township Free Public Library to ensure protection for library materials and patrons. Working with 37 volunteers, the project required 450 hours of work.
• Michael Morena, of Rockaway Township, is a 2017 graduate of the Morris County Academy of Math, Science & Engineering at Morris Hills High School, where he is a member of the National Honor Society and a 12-season athlete. For his Eagle Scout project. Mike renovated the child-care area of his church, St. Cecilia’s Church in Rockaway. With the help of a team of volunteers. He repainted walls, replaced ceiling tiles, padded metal poles, replaced blinds, and window treatments, and installed child-safe flooring. Michael is now an engineering student at the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

For more information on Eagle Scouts click here.

For more information on Girl Scouts’ Gold Awards, click here.

PARSIPPANY — Cub Scout Pack 177 sang carols at CareOne Parsippany on Wednesday, December 13.  Songs included “Frosty the Snowman,” “Winter Wonderland,” and “Rockin Around the Christmas Tree,” among others. 

Many residents attended and sang along.  Special features included cub scout Dhruva Koushik playing the piano on “Jingle Bells,” and Webelo II scouts Tommy Allen, Paul Lomelo, Ryan Murphy, and Loei Moustafa singing a spirited version of Carol of the Bells. 

At the end of the performance the scouts gave out handmade holiday cards and exchanged holiday wishes with the residents.

PARSIPPANY — A Brooklawn Middle School student was named Music Student of the Month – Outstanding Vocalists by the Mayo Performing Arts Center.

Students are nominated by teachers, and are chosen by the Theater Education Department for their commitment and excellence in the performing arts.

Nicole Narvaez, an eighth grader at Brooklawn Middle School, was nominated by Tiffany Schifano. Read about her accomplishments, as written by her school:

Nicole has an incredible and diverse voice. She was accepted into Junior Region Choir for Region 1 last year and loved singing with the honors ensemble. At Brooklawn she is the heart and soul of my alto section and is constantly assisting other students and leading with her beautiful voice and love of music. The thing that impresses me most about Nicole is her ability to sing and appreciate every style of singing there is. Nicole is humble and is never one to brag about her tremendous instrument. She fiercely cheers on her fellow classmates and is always first to compliment someone else’s voice.