Farming roots are spark for Eagle Scout project
BY LARRY HLAVENKA JR.
Staff Writer

Howell

HOWELL - Newly minted Eagle Scout Joseph Garaffa wanted to show his community pride as part of his service project. So he helped the township remember its roots.

Garaffa, 18, a Howell High School graduate now in his freshman year at West Chester University, West Chester, Pa., explained how he helped Howell look to its past.

Through all of his ideas for an Eagle project, Garaffa and his parents believed this one was the best.

"I went through seven different [ideas]," he said. "The town faces serious overcrowding. At one time we were a farming town so I wanted Howell to remember its roots. We're not just a busy town with homes and stores."

Garaffa's project included a display of farming-related signs, equipment and artifacts that he placed at the foot of the municipal complex and township sign at the intersection of Old Tavern and Preventorium roads.

The biggest pieces of the project were an 1896 Oliver Brothers plow and a horse drawn riding wagon which Garaffa refurbished. Also included were large milk cans and plywood silhouettes of animals and farmers.

The site was landscaped with shrubs donated by Landex Nursery and wood chips from a local farmer.

Garaffa believes the donations he received were invaluable.

"The township and the response was overwhelming," he said. "There was not one negative response. So many people were willing to donate time, money, anything we needed. I think I generated over $1,000 and spent $12 of my own money."

Members of a local Internet message board helped spread the word about the teenager's project and donated to the effort. Telephone calls and e-mail were constant, Garaffa said.

"I think it was a great idea and a great project to do," he said. "I hope a lot of construction workers going to build new houses would see it."

Garaffa started out as a Cub Scout at the Newbury School at the age of 6. He became a Boy Scout at age 11 and moved to Troop 258 at the Taunton School, where he worked his way up through the ranks to Life Scout at the age of 15.

Honored by achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, Garaffa said he is proud.

"I feel great about it. Only 3 percent of Scouts nationwide become an Eagle Scout," he said.