published: Sunday, June 21, 2009

Community does good deed for Boy Scouts

By CHRISTOPHER TUFFLEY

christopher.tuffley@newssun.com

LAKE PLACID -- Alan Richards, troop committee chairman for Boy Scout Troop 482 is overwhelmed and grateful. He can't get over how the community came together to help in a time of need.

The Boy Scout House on Dal Hall Boulevard was in need of repairs and paint, and in addition needed to be tied into the city's sewer and water system.

But this would all cost money and require expertise, neither of which Troop 48 had.

Richards had begun to explore how to raise the funds and find experts when suddenly men and organizations began to materialize without his even talking to them.

"It was awesome," he said.

"Linton Walker of Rainmaker Irrigation and Scott Webster of Monarch Plumbing guided me through the process of determining what was needed as far as supplies, permissions and permits," Richards said. "I don't know how much of their time my phone calls took, but their guidance made this possible, and I am grateful for their help."

Richards added that Frank Brown Construction donated pipe and the Lake Placid Masonic Lodge coordinated the donated services of Burke Marine Construction, Glover Plumbing, and All Around Septic.

"I arrived on Friday afternoon," Richards said, "after receiving a phone call that the sewer was being hooked up. I was amazed that by the time I got there, the job had been finished."

He added that Sapp Construction Clean-up then came by and box-bladed the area.

"The timing was great. With all the recent rain it became obvious our septic system was failing and the water was backing up," Richards said. "Luckily we were already working on the project.

"On top of that," he continued, "Sherwin Williams donated paint for the Scout House, and we had some cash contributions that we used for paint brushes and painting supplies."

But when he showed up to do some pre-painting repairs and prep work, Richards, once again to his surprise, found Larry and Laura DeSantis had beaten him to it.

"They had plastered the old particle board wall on the back of the house," he said.

"I don't think these businesses realize what a gift they have given the youth of Lake Placid, but we are extremely grateful," Richards said. "Their assistance had freed up our leadership to actually focus on a program for the boys.

"It's people like this that make Lake Placid such a great place to live and raise a family."