Chaz Murray, 54, grew up in Merrick bounding through the woods near his home. He became a Boy Scout and went on to camp in the wild. He moved away when he turned 24 and returned seven years ago. On Sunday, he said he was horrified to see the derelict state into which Merrick’s forests off the Meadowbrook Parkway have fallen. Murray, a New York City paramedic, was one of 52 volunteers who came to the woods between Sunrise Highway and Meadowbrook Road in Merrick to clean up debris that had washed from farther north into the forest via the Meadow Brook or had been strewn there by vandals. He said he learned about the cleanup by reading the Merrick Herald Life. more

Local Boy Scouts participated in their troop’s Blue and Gold dinner and ceremony on March 7 at Grace United Methodist Church. The ceremony featured new uniforms, accoutrements and Scouts … more

The death of Zachary Ranftle, 12, who was struck by an SUV near the entrance to Hendrickson Park on the morning of Dec. 11 as he walked to school, left friends and community members reeling, and … more

Partiers enjoyed food, company and dancing at the November holiday party for Camp ANCHOR, the Lido Beach-based program for developmentally disabled adults. Troop 116 helped organize and served food … more

Franklin Square Scoutmaster Chris Miller noticed he was having trouble breathing at work during the summer and saw a doctor. He was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer on Aug. 29. Four weeks … more

After nearly a year of planning, Billy Paraszczuk’s Eagle Scout project is finally coming to fruition. The Boy Scout from Valley Stream Troop 109 is constructing a walkway for the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. more

Children are taught from a young age to know their address in case of an emergency. But when those first responders show up, they need to know where to go. That was the basis for Boy Scout Anthony Bosko’s community service project, which he completed on June 21 as he works toward his Eagle rank. more

Five Valley Stream Boy Scouts made major contributions to the Valley Stream Dog Park when it opened two years ago. Four of them had earned their Eagle ranks. more

Camping is about giving people the opportunity to live off the land. While survival skills hardly come into play at the annual Valley Stream Camporee, this year scouts learned the importance of protecting the Earth that provides for them. more

Boys Scouts have been serving their community for decades, with a lot of their work visible in Valley Stream and beyond. more