RUMSON – Stephen Farkouh of Tinton Falls and Andrew Tort of Rumson were recently inducted into the Eagle Scouts’ Court of Honor.
Farkouh is a senior at Monmouth Regional High School in Tinton Falls. Tort is a junior at Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft.
They have worked together for many years in the troop, including leading their troop of 40 Scouts as senior patrol leaders. Having spent the last five years as fellow Scouts encouraging each other to complete their final Eagle Scout requirements and projects, Farkouh and Tort wanted to celebrate their highest achievement together.
Farkouh’s project was an extensive cleanup and restoration of Monmouth Regional High School’s Preschool playground. Steve Didonato, Monmouth Regional High School administration, also an Eagle Scout, detailed Farkouh’s project during the Court of Honor. He praised Farkouh for his organizational skills, his tenacity and described the physical challenges that his project entailed. Didonato mentored him throughout the project and shared his and the school’s gratitude for the beautiful playground the children will now enjoy.
Farkouh was assisted by members of Rumson Troop 201 and classmates from Monmouth Regional High School.
During a Veterans Day ceremony at the historic bandstand in Rumson’s Victory Park, Tort noticed there was limited access to the bandstand for certain veterans and other physically challenged individuals who had to traverse a long grassy area to steps with no rails to reach the bandstand’s platform. After several meetings with the Borough of Rumson, Tort began his project to create a decorative paver walkway, landing pads and stair rails in Victory Park, making the bandstand more accessible.
Under the mentorship of Guy Hembling of Hembling & Son who is also an Eagle Scout, and with the help of his fellow Scouts, family and friends, the bandstand now has a beautiful paver walkway with stair rails as well as beautified landscaping around the bandstand for future ceremonies.
