Bob McDowell
Contributed photo
NEW CASTLE —
Twin brothers Tommy and Joey Groves completed their projects for Eagle Scout rank by building matching benches.
The two, 8-foot seats are situated at separate entrances of the North Country Trail along Snake Run Road, where the boys live with their parents, Tom and Sedora Groves.
The 14-year-old identical twins attend Shenango High School. They have been involved in scouts since first grade when they were Tiger Scouts, and worked their way to Life Scout. Now, they are going for their Eagle Scout rank.
According to their mother, they decided to do identical Eagle projects by building the benches for the trail because it’s close to their home and they enjoy walking on it.
Fellow Boy Scouts from Troop 746 helped them build the benches.
The Groves boys started planning in May by asking for donations for supplies from various companies.
In early June, a group of scouts met at the home of Ann Groves, the twins’ grandmother, to build the benches in her garage.
Scouts returned the following Saturday, June 12, to move the benches, which weigh about 100 pounds each. It took four people to move them, according to the boys’ mother.
The benches were hauled by a trailer to the North Country Trail entrance by Boyd School Road, where Joey’s bench was placed first. It took all the leaders and boys from Troop 746 to complete the task.
Tommy’s bench was placed at the opposite entrance by Sankey Hill Road.
Bob Cody, trail work coordinator from the North Country Trail, stopped by to oversee the project and to congratulate the boys on a job well done.
Their dad, Tom Groves Sr., an assistant scout master, engraved each of the boys’ names into the benches.
The boys’ grandmother hosted a picnic for the scouts.
Other scout leaders helping with the project were: Dave Gaydos, assistant scout master; John Book, scout master; and Ron Totin, assistant scout master.
Dusty Altman, the twins’ uncle, delivered the stone for the landscaping part of the projects.
Scouts from Troop 746 helping with the project included Jordon Bender, Sam Weisz, Dan Norris, Louie Pallerino, Michael Gaydos, Joey Totin, Tyler Myers, Shane Annarumo, John Book Jr., Camden Cwyner and Tyler Roolf.
The following companies donated materials: Lowes, wood and landscaping timber; Busy Beaver in Ellwood City, cement and bolts; True Value in Ellwood City, bolts; Tractor Supply Co., chain; Mayberry Stone and Gravel, stone; and Heritagein Wampum, stone.
