By DANA BORICK
Two local Boy Scouts will hold a spaghetti dinner fundraiser Saturday to support their Eagle projects.
Robert Hammond, 15, and Philip White, 16, are both Scouts with Troop 41 out of Messiah Lutheran Church in South Williamsport.
Hammond, who will be a sophomore at South Williamsport Area High School this fall, began his Scouting career as a Wolf in Pack 41 in the third grade.
He has advanced through the Cub Scout ranks of Wolf, Bear, Webelos I and II, and the Boy Scout ranks of Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class and received the Arrow of Light Award, God and Country Religious Award and 13 activity pins.
He also is a Star and Life Scout, a member of the Order of the Arrow, and has earned the 12 required Eagle merit badges, along with 14 others. He now is working on two additional badges.
His Eagle project involves replacing the message boards at Nisbet United Methodist Church, along with landscaping and replacing crumbling sidewalks.
The project involves many man hours and at least $500 to complete. Hammond said he spent more than $100 on mulch already and the synthetic material used for the signs was donated.
Hammond hopes to raise at least $800 during the fundraiser, so that he and White can complete their Eagle projects. This is the first fundraiser being held for the projects.
Hammond said he began his Eagle project early because he didn't want to be rushed to complete it.
"To do it right, you need time," he said. "Then it gives me three more years in my Scouting career to have fun."
Hammond, the son of Carol and John Hammond, South Williamsport, has attended Camps Karoondinha and Seven Mountains through the Susquehanna Council.
"I've always enjoyed being outside and in the outdoors," Hammond said. "I like the challenges and experiences in Scouting. There's so much to do."
The spaghetti dinner fundraiser will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday in the social hall of Messiah Lutheran Church, 101 W. Southern Ave., South Williamsport.
Tickets will be sold at the door and takeouts will be available.
