Thursday, October 1, 2026
Jake Latsko, 14, chose to refurbish the Children’s Memorial Butterfly Garden in Wantagh Park for his Eagle Scout Project in part because his father’s best friend’s daughter, Victoria Riccardi, is honored there.
The other reason he chose that project, he said, is that: “the garden looked like it needed a lot of help.”
The idea to give back to the community this way came to the Wantagh High School freshman last year.
Jake said the renovations included weeding and raking the garden and digging out everything in the garden except the three butterfly bushes, to make room for three brand new trees and more than two dozen perennials. It also included redoing the slate around the garden, laying down mulch, and putting up a birdhouse.
Jake’s mom, Theresa, said that while the renovations took place on August 11 and 12, the project was a year in the making. She said Jake had to get approval from Nassau County before he could start the renovations.
Theresa Latsko said so many people in the community helped Jake with the project. “It was unbelievable how many people came down both days,” she said.
In addition to seeking permission for the project and getting the materials for the renovations, Jake also held a bottle and cans fundraiser, where he collected donations from home and work, and a burger fundraiser, held at the Burger King in Wantagh, to collect the roughly $900 in funds needed to complete the project.
Community businesses helped Jake by providing what he needed for the renovations, such as signs from Signarama in Bellmore and plants from Abby’s Parkside Nursery and Florist in Wantagh, Latsko said.
Before even beginning the project, Jake first had to present the proposal to his Scout Master, then the Troop Committee and then the Theodore Roosevelt Council District Project Approval representative, for approval.
Now that he’s completed the project, Jake must finish his project paperwork and present it to the Eagle Board Review, according to Theresa. The Theodore Roosevelt Council will then decide when he can become an Eagle Scout. Theresa said it will probably happen next Spring.
Theresa said she and Jake’s father, Michael, are “beyond proud” of their only child. She said Jake is a “great, happy kid” who wants to be an engineer when he grows up.
“He has excelled in so much,” Theresa said, with tears in her eyes. “He’s made us really proud.”
Jake said he loved how the renovations at the Butterfly Garden turned out. “I feel they went fantastic,” he said. He said he had help throughout this project from his friends, family, coworkers from DJ’s Clam Shack in Wantagh, Legislature Steve Rhoads, Wantagh Park Manager Nancy Seiffert, Eagle Coordinator for Scout Troop 656 Kevin Rhodehouse and the owner of Abby’s Parkside Nursery and Florist, Eric Abolafia. Jake said he wanted to give a special thanks to his parents for their help as well.
Jake is currently building three signs of “fun facts,” each one three feet tall, to put up in the garden. Two of the signs will be shaped like sunflowers while one will look like a butterfly. Jake hopes these signs will provide educational value to the children and others who visit the garden.
The Butterfly Garden is a memorial for chidren from Wantagh who died at an early age.
