Last Friday night Boy Scout Troop No. 544 held an Eagle Scout Court of Honor so that Steven Ventura could be elevated to the rank of Eagle Scout.

Ventura, of New Hyde Park, is the son of Barbara and Ralph and is the brother of Melissa.

He entered scouting as a Cub Scout and quickly went through the ranks of attaining many, many badges until the ultimate distinction of rising to Eagle Scout status.

Ventura's Eagle Scout project was to both clean and organize the basement at Ronald McDonald House after the devastation of a flood. McDonald House is a "home-away-from-home" available to families who have seriously ill children in local hospitals. Instead of using up valuable time that could be spent with their ill children, families may stay at McDonald House and be able to be with their children at a time they are needed.

Ventura gathered a crew of other Scouts and obtained donated shelving, rubber gloves and masks to prevent dust. The group worked, under the direction of Ventura for days to put the flood damaged basement in working order.

When the task was completed Ventura and his crew received high praise and appreciation from Ronald McDonald House Executive Director Silvana LaFerlita Gullo and House Manager Karen Calma for all the many hours of hard work it took to organize the McDonald House basement.

Many dignitaries, guests, family members and Scouts all joined together to bestow upon Ventura the recognition he so richly deserved.

Just some of the dignitaries that presented him with citations included: New York State Assemblywoman Maureen O'Connell; Nassau County Legislator Richard Nicolello; North Hempstead Town Councilman Anthony D'Urso, who also represented Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli; New Hyde Park Village Mayor Daniel Petruccio; representative for New York State Senator Michael Balboni; New Hyde Park VFW Post No. 8031 representatives including Commander Mario Obertis, Past Commander Robert Christman, Past Commander Anthony Faranda; New Hyde Park former village trustee and American Legion representative Frank Komornik; New Hyde Park Knights of Columbus Grand Knight John Lowe and New Hyde Park Fire Department Deputy Chief Michael Bonura.

Scout dignitaries included: Stanley Weinstein of the National Eagle Scout Association; District Commissioner of the Shelter Rock Boy Scouts of America James Dunleavy; District Eagle Scout Board Member John Robbie Robertson; Scout Master Anthony Gulotta; Former Scout Master Troop No. 544 Bruce Heckman; a representative from Chaminade High School where Ventura is a student and former New Hyde Park Trustee Florence Lisanti who is the village historian.

One of the speakers at the event was Ventura's sister Melissa who listed his many extra-curricular activities besides Scouting, which are many, including: At Chaminade: GSO (General Service Organization); Hiking Club; Art Club; Social Studies Club; Sacristans (Mass Volunteer Group); member of the Notre Dame Youth Ministry and participated in overnight religious retreat at Meribeth Retreat House.

Ventura also participated in the following sports: Albertson Soccer, New Hyde Park Wildcats Soccer, New Hyde Park Merillon Baseball Little League; Junior High Baseball at Memorial High; Junior High Soccer at Memorial High.

He has received the following academic awards: Honor Roll of Chaminade High and New Hyde Park Memorial High, National Fitness Award and Honorable Mention at the Memorial High Science Fair.

In his "spare" time Ventura has held down the following jobs: Telephone Receptionist Chaminade High; Baskin Robbins and an Assistant Karate Instructor at Gotham City Karate, New Hyde Park.

At the end of the ceremonies Ventura himself thanked all those who helped him to attain his Eagle conquest especially his mom, dad, sister and grandparents.

After the ceremonies the parents of both the Cub Scout Troop and Boy Scout Troop urged the guests to join them in a vast array of refreshments provided by troop members.