Charlie Fineran’s Photo of the Week is a tribute to Boy Scout Andrew Hardenbergh

During the latter part of 2020 going into the earlier part of the year of 2021, Boy Scout Andrew Hardenbergh was working on his Eagle Scout Project.  The project was a total replacement of twelve (12) work out sites located along the ‘Fitness Trail’ located at Warren County’s Breadlock Park, off Rt 57 in Franklin Twp. The ‘Fitness Trail’ is approximately a .6 mile long semi-loop trail, which begins at the rear of the Morris Canal Museum building.  Andrew had been reporting on his progress regularly to the Warren County Board of Recreation and a couple of months ago, we (Board of Recreation) received word that the work was completed.  The next step was waiting information on his being officially approved as an Eagle Scout and the date for his Eagle Scout Court of Honor.

But First…..COMPLICATIONS WITH COMMUNICATIONS

Tuesday 6/22/2021 thru Friday 6/25/2021 email messages between Andrew’s mother and Liz Roy at Warren County Land Preservation Office:  Messages copied and pasted by myself.

Called evening Ms. Roy;
As you know we will be celebrating Andrews Eagle Scout Court of honor this coming Sunday, June 27th at 1 o’clock at Breadlock Park.  We had dropped off invitations for you and any and all of the board members to attend. Do you have any idea if anyone will be present at the ceremony?
Sharon Hardenbergh  

NOTE:  What NO ONE KNEW, those dropped off invitations were electronically sent ‘evites’ and the Warren County system inadvertently blocked the messages!!  But all came out good in the end. Liz then received info about the event and the following is a result of a flurry of emails!

From: Elizabeth Roy 
Subject: RE: Andrew Hardenbergh Eagle Scout Court of Honor 6/27/2021

Hello – I wanted to let you know that Charlie Fineran, copied here, will be attending the ceremony on Sunday.  Charlie comes from a Scouting family and is himself an Eagle Scout as was his brother.  These days, Charlie wears (very) many public service and volunteer hats, including multiple ones for Warren County.  We are pleased and proud that he will be able to represent us.  He works closely with us here in Land Preservation by serving on the Board of Recreation Commissioners and on the Morris Canal Committee. He is also a member of the Warren County Parks Foundation, the non-profit that provides many of the volunteers that maintain our county lands.   These groups are the bedrock of support for County open space.   They along with the NJ Youth Corps work hard to keep our opens spaces so inviting. And having an Eagle Scout project at our park is both valued and respected!  Several others who serve on one or more these three groups are also going to try to attend – Judy Keith from the Foundation and Dave Detrick who also wears many public service hats along with one or two others.  

I wanted to share this from John Trontis, another volunteer (he is a Trustee of the Parks Foundation):
“As a Scouter myself, I regret that I won’t be able to attend. We’ll be in LA, spending a week visiting our son and daughter-in-law… whom we haven’t seen together since Thanksgiving of 2019! All the best and congratulations to Andrew on attaining the rank of Eagle Scout!!”

Another comment, this one from Dave Lacouture (chairman of the Parks Foundation):

“As a dad of an Eagle Scout I appreciate what it takes …. it’s a great program.  Scouting influenced our family greatly.  We were very fortunate to have fabulous local leadership at both the Cub Scout and Boy Scout level which is also the key to success.”

Thank you again and I hope you have a great day on Sunday!
Liz

And so glad we got that squared away!

June 26, 2021 I sent an email to Alan Hardenbergh, Andrew’s father: 

I would like to say a few words at the ceremony, thank you for the opportunity!  I am also going to do an article for insidewarren.com telling everyone about the wonderful Fitness Trail and also connecting that to Andrew’s Eagle scout award.  I do this article every Monday under the title of Photo of the Week, a great way for me to get the word out about Open Space, wildlife, Cultural and Historical sites and events.  FYI, I went there yesterday and photo shot the entire trail which I will post on my Flickr site!  That is a great project in a wonderful and beautiful outdoor setting, A GREAT ADDITION to our Park – THANK YOU SO MUCH!!   

Please visit my Flickr site for tour of Fitness Trail – https://www.flickr.com/photos/charliefineran/albums/72157719455577323  

Charlie Fineran, Allamuchy Twp. Environmental Commission Chair, Director Open Space