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Scout's honor: Teen spurs fix up of St. Albans bowling alley for war vets
Tuesday, December 15th 2009, 4:00 AM
BY NICHOLAS HIRSHON - Daily News
BE PREPARED - to bowl.
To become an Eagle Scout, an ambitious Long Island teenager is spearheading the rejuvenation of a neglected World War II-era bowling alley at a veteran’s health care facility in Queens.
Alfred Russo, 16, of Garden City, decided to spruce up the six lanes in St. Albans after troop leaders warned that sending care packages to soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq would be too costly.
"I wanted to do something that would be meaningful to me," said Russo, whose 91-year-old grandpa, Glen, fought in World War II. "I wanted to respect the veterans because they served this country."
Tucked in the basement of a building that also holds an auditorium and outpatient clinic, the bowling alley dates to the center's origins as a naval hospital.
It welcomed veterans until the late 1990s, when a leaky roof led to flooding that warped the wood floors and damaged a gutter.
Facility officials learned a few years ago that replacing the machinery would cost $150,000. But since the ball returns and pin-setters still work, Russo is focusing on less-expensive repairs.
He led a team of volunteers that journeyed to the alley Nov. 27 to sand the gutters, scrub balls and pins, mop the floors and clean out closets.
Donors, such as the Maple Family bowling-center chain, are chipping in by sending cash, shoes and pins for the effort.
"Having a sense of history and commitment to noble causes is good," said John LaSpina, owner of Maple Family, which operates JIB Lanes in Fresh Meadows.
Russo, who must finish the revamp by his 18th birthday in March 2011 under scouting rules, predicted he will complete it much sooner - by early next year.
His dad, Alfred Sr., is aiding by calling more potential sponsors.
"There's a lot of pride when you see your son living his life by the ideals of scouting," said the dad, 50, who himself became an Eagle Scout by cleaning a graffiti-tarnished Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, park in 1975.
Ernie Monteleone, the St. Albans facility's manager, estimated the total cost to reopen the alley could reach $15,000.
"We might be able to get it operating, even if it's only partially, by the summer," Monteleone said.
Yvette Cintron, chief of voluntary service for the city's three veteran’s health care facilities, said she hoped the alley might someday earn certification from the United States Bowling Congress so it can host official tournaments.
The MISSION of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and
moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
Scout Oath Scout Law
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.
A Scout is:
Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful,
Friendly, Courteous, Kind,
Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty,
Brave, Clean, Reverent.
Its VISION? The Boy Scouts of America is the nation's foremost youth program of character
development and values-based leadership training. In the future, Scouting will continue to:
• Offer young people responsible fun and adventure;
• Instill in young people lifetime values and develop in them ethical character as expressed in the
Scout Oath and Law;
• Train young people in citizenship, service, and leadership;
• Serve America's communities and families with its quality, values-based program.
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at Cathedral of Incarnation in Garden City. Meeting and event dates are listed on the Troop 55 calendar.
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