Scout spruces up library

MILLERTON — The NorthEast-Millerton Library has been given an earthy makeover, thanks to an extensive project by a local Boy Scout who transformed one of the rooms in its annex building into a reading treehouse, in anticipation of the space’s future use as a children’s library.Andrew Schultz, 17, is on his way to earning the rank of Eagle Scout in the local Troop 29, the highest rank in scouting. But the road to becoming an Eagle Scout is not an easy one.There are six requirements that every Scout must complete before earning his rank:1) Active membership in a troop for at least six months after achieving the rank of Life Scout.2) Demonstrate that you live by the principles of the Scout Oath and Law in your daily life.3) Earn a total of 21 merit badges, including 10 that are exclusive to Eagle Scouts.4) Serve in a position of leadership within the troop for at least six months.5) Plan and develop a community service project that benefits an organization other than the Boy Scouts.6) Take part in a scoutmaster conference.Picking and developing the community service project led Andrew to the local library nearly two years ago. Library Board President Diane Price explained that four years ago the library purchased the former First Church of Christ Scientist, which sits directly behind the library, with the intention of one day connecting the two buildings. The former church is called the Annex and will ultimately be used as a children’s library.When Andrew approached Price, she offered up the space as a blank canvas.“I was pretty much able to do what I wanted,” he explained.Andrew’s mother, Martha Schultz, who is scoutmaster for Troop 29, clarified that there were a number of stipulations from the scouting side: The project had to take at least 100 hours, from planning to completion, and had to meet the approval of a scouting board.Andrew, with help from his dad, Dave, and several Scouts and friends, arrived at the idea of a treehouse motif for the space, trying to take advantage of recycled materials whenever possible. For the end result, carpeted benches for reading line the main entrance way while the wall is decorated with wooden slats (the sides of the treehouse) and actual carved out trees are attached to the sides of the walls. A final paint job turned the background of the project into a blue sky with clouds and sun.As Andrew pointed out, all of the materials for the project were donated. Wood came from pallets donated by Seagull Roofing & Siding as well as the Dutchess County Fire Investigation Division, while Riley’s Furniture donated carpet and Herrington’s donated paint. Finally, the cut-up tree trunks were brought in from Jasmin Tree Service in Amenia. While some of the business owners were family and friends with the Schultzes, Andrew said he approached the rest of the businesses for help.The bulk of the project was completed in three days, starting on Jan. 25 of this year.“All in all, the whole project took about 179 hours,” Andrew said. The hours put in by each of the volunteers helped Andrew count toward the total. “We met the requirements on the first day.”Price was in Florida when the project was completed and got the first review of the makeover from a 10-year-old boy via the phone line.“He loved it,” Price said. She’s since seen the transformed Annex. “You just walk into the room and wow! It’s unique and cheerful.”While opening the new children’s library is still years down the road, the room will be put to use this summer with the start of the library’s children’s programming. The first event will be June 26.And the Annex, which is not heated during the winter months to save utility costs and is closed for use until spring, is kicking off this year’s concert series cycle with a performance by Wooden Nickel on Saturday, April 2.For Andrew, there are still a few hoops to jump through before earning the rank of Eagle Scout, but he and his family are hoping that a Court of Honor ceremony will be held some time this summer.“And then we can have the reception here!” Price said.It has been many years since a Boy Scout in Troop 29 has earned Eagle ranking. Andrew started as a Cub Scout in first grade and there haven’t been any Eagle Scouts in his tenure. But there are three other boys who are trying. One, Justin Katan, is working toward building a bulletin board/kiosk for the village of Millerton’s recreation program at Eddie Collins Field. Two others are still deciding what their projects will be.Troop 29 is sponsored by Amenia Fish & Game, which lets the Scouts use its building on Route 22 twice a month for meetings.And for Andrew, all of the work toward making Eagle Scout is in addition to playing three sports as a senior at Webutuck High School, serving at this year’s student representative to the Board of Education, working at the Catamount ski resort in Egremont, Mass., and sorting through college applications. Andrew will attend Cazenovia College outside Syracuse this fall.“It’s a been a busy year,” he said succinctly.There are still a few finishing touches for the treehouse room. Of course, Price wants Andrew (and all of the volunteers who helped) to add their signatures to the wall painting. And going along with the theme, Andrew even talked about how fun it would be to install Astroturf on the floor for grass. The logistics of that idea remain to be seen, but it’s clear that the wheels are still turning for Troop 29.“It’s been such a fun ride,” Martha Schultz said. “I just can’t believe how far they’ve come.”