JACKSON – Jared Lanado is concluding his long association with the Boy Scouts of America through an Eagle Scout Project that leaves the legacy of a “little library” to residents of the 60 Acres Reserve community.
Residents can pick books from the two display cases, or leave books for other readers to find.
The 17-year-old Boy Scout from Troop 34 was joined by family, members of the Board of Directors of the 60 Acres Reserve Condo Association, and representatives of the Eosso company who assisted him with materials and labor.
Sixty Acres Reserve Condo Association President Margaret Regan-Levine told The Jackson Times, “I come from a scouting family, the Eagle Scout award is the pinnacle of scouting – only four percent of all scouts achieve this.” She noted that those who do often go on to greater things and become, “astronauts, presidents, senators and more. They have to earn 21 badges and they have to earn them before their 18th birthday.”
Boy Scout Jared Lanado speaks to members of his family and Sixty Acres Reserve Community Manager Michelle Williams about his “Little Library” project. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
The association’s community manager, Michelle Williams said a partnership was formed to add something special to the community.
Lanado graduated from Jackson Liberty High School in June. He said he got the idea for the project from one of his scout leaders, Jim Iannello. “He told me that since I needed a project, there was one right here and that is how I was to pick up this job. It didn’t take that long. The hardest part was probably filling out the paperwork.”
“It was a breeze thanks to these guys,” the teen added glancing over to the Eosso brothers and to Williams along with members of the Board of Directors. “It was a team,” he said.
“Boy Scouts for me was a crazy ride. I love Boy Scouts so much. What I love most is the friends I have made since I was about six years old and they are my friends for life,” the scout added.
Iannello described the new Eagle Scout saying, “I’ve had him since he was seven years old and I saw him grow up from the Cub Scouts all the way up to being an Eagle Scout now. He is very mind driven when he has something he wants to do. He has a high value of education. He takes all AP (advanced placement) classes, band and an all-around great kid. He does a lot of charity work.”
Two display cases filled with donated books await a ribbon cutting. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
His parents, grandmother and sisters were present for the dedication. They expressed how proud they were of him and the time he spent on his project. The association held a barbeque following the ribbon cutting ceremony on the grounds of their clubhouse.
“It took a village,” Regan-Levine added as she straightened out the scout’s sash to look his best for photos. “The contractors were amazing and eager to help. We have a lot of kids in the community so we are hoping that they will take advantage of this.”
“This community (Sixty Acres) has been here for 38 years. It is a mixed community. We have families, retired people, we have houses, we have condos and we have town houses,” she added. “We have a lot of work going on around the community right now. We invested in perineal plants for the environment because we live on a nature reserve.”
Troop 34 Boy Scout Jared Lanado, 17, joins his father at the 60 Acres Reserve Club House where a new “Little Library” was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony. (Photo by Bob Vosseller)
She noted, “we have a lot of working families and this (library) is really helpful to the kids that can’t get out to the (Jackson branch of the Ocean County) library who would enjoy a book so now they can come right over here. We have handicapped access too. You can wheel a wheelchair up or a stroller up (to the library display cases), one of which is for adult books while the other caters to children’s books.
“We are very receptive to our residents. We have around 4,000 residents. We have 1,086 units. We are now having a new crop of young families because of the buying boom we just went through,” she added.
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