Eagle Scout project gives fire headquarters a new look

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For the second time in as many years, one of Johnston’s most important buildings has a special new look.

A year ago, the Police Department received a new sign, much needed landscaping in Gov. King Memorial Park and a new bench.

Just recently, the Fire Department’s headquarters at 1520 Atwood Ave. got a facelift, replete with a new and colorful sign, plants and more impressive grooming improvements.

Each project was completed under the leadership of a member of Johnston’s Boy Scout Troop 20 – both Bishop Hendricken High School students.

Peter Pagliarini, whose father is an owner of Johnston-based Central Nurseries, headlined the upgrades at the police department as his required Eagle Scout project.

Steven Khoury Hafey, the son of Steven Michael and Melissa Hafey, put together the master plan for new signage and groundwork at the fire headquarters as his Eagle project.

Both projects, concurred Police Chief Richard S. Tamburini and Fire Chief Timothy McLaughlin, were rated nothing less than “extraordinary,” and were “performed at the highest work level by some great Boy Scouts and youth of our town.”

Eagle is the highest rank in the Boys Scouts of America, and earning the distinction requires candidates like Pagliarini and Hafey to oversee an approved service project, which must be of a size and scope to allow other boys to be involved and earn service time for their respective rank advancements.

Like Pagliarini, Hafey worked tirelessly – and stressfully at times – in creating a new look for the fire department’s headquarters.

“I saw a need for a new sign at the fire department headquarters,” Hafey said. “Also, I thought the grounds around the present sign and around the memorial with a flag pole needed to be improved.”

Thus, as part of the Eagle project requirement, Hafey spoke with Firefighter David Pingitore, who became his liaison with McLaughlin. He later met with both men, who liked the idea and gave the Troop 20 free rein in designing the beautification of the grounds in front of the headquarters.

Hafey began bringing the project together last May when he met with Troop 20 Assistant Scoutmaster Steve Pagliarini, who helped Hafey design, in scale, his plans for the project. It was the elder Pagliarini, Hafey emphasized, who donated most of the materials needed for the project, including crushed stone, brick, mulch and plants.

“Mr. Pagliarini also recommended I speak with John Eramian of Eramian Signs,” Hafey said, “because his company made the original sign for the headquarters and Chief McLaughlin asked we duplicate that with the new sign.”

Hafey then ordered the new sign, which he hoped would be completed a week before the actual project took place, and it was. And, a happy Hafey said, “Mr. Eramian donated half the cost of the sign and the rest was paid for with donations.”

The entire project, which was coordinate by Hafey, cost $500, which included money for the sign posts that members of Troop 20 inserted into the ground.

Not only did the Hafey-led Troop 20 erect a new sign, “we made two new beds around the new sign and memorial. We used stone pavers to line each bed and we filled them with new plants, mulch and stone. We also trimmed some of the overgrown vegetation in a bed in front of the station.”

Hafey also credited Michael Groccia of Forrest Hills Irrigation, who helped by donating the use of his truck to transport all the materials to the fire department. Groccia also donated the use of his landscape equipment and was one of seven adults – including Troop 20 Scoutmaster Dave Curtin and the elder Pagliarini – who assisted the Scouts.

“It was a long process,” said Hafey, “but it was exciting getting it finished.”

So, what’s next for the Hendricken senior?

“I’m on the crew team,” he said. “It’s a new sport at our school and they wanted some seniors, so I signed up.”

Those familiar with Hafey know he has leadership experience from Boy Scouts, and is a homeroom representative and ministry leader who is ranked in the upper third of the class of 2014.

What most people don’t know is that he’s applying to a variety of colleges, where his next major project will be to secure a degree in engineering.

Needless to say, his fellow Boy Scout Troop 20 members, his Hendricken classmates and adult leaders in school and the community know his future is bright, and that Hafey has the wherewithal, drive and skills to achieve his ultimate lifetime dream, one that includes becoming an aerospace engineer who designs and flies airplanes.

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