For an Eagle Scout project, Mineola resident Joe Werther is planning to turn the 60 cement planters that the village placed in Mineola throughout the shopping areas on Jericho Turnpike, Willis Avenue, Mineola Boulevard, Station Plaza North, and Main Street, into beautiful flowering planters.

The planters have become "litter baskets" for the community and the Scout wants to make them beautiful again. He said that he wants to do this because he wants to give back to the community where he was born and will continue to live in the future.

Werther plans to visit the location of each planter, assess the condition and size of the planters and inform the store owners who have planters in front of their businesses of the idea to beautify the planters. He would also ask them if they would be willing to water these planters once the plants were planted. If they are willing, Werther would inform them that their names would be placed in the Mineola American as those willing to participate in the Spring Beautification of Mineola Eagle Scout Project.

Werther plans to prepare by reading about spring planting and to visit Hick's Nursery's Flower Show in Westbury to get ideas and ask questions.

He is going to ask the Mineola Chamber of Commerce to donate supplies, and ask vendors of gardening supplies and plants for donations of tools and materials. The planters were originally purchased by the Mineola Chamber of Commerce, under the direction of Peter Gollobin.

The plan has already been approved by the Village of Mineola. The project will involve numerous Scouts under Werther's leadership with each team of Scouts assigned to different areas.

Werther estimates that he will use 12 flats of flowers with 72 flowers in each flat. The Scout hopes to have his project completed by the end of May, possibly for the Memorial Day Parade.

Next year, the Scout will be entering his freshman year at Chaminade High School in Mineola.

Another Eagle Scout project that will add to the character of the village is being done by Eddie Kaiser. The Scout plans on having a monument of significant size erected in Mineola's Memorial Park in tribute to the victims and heroes of Sept. 11.

Kaiser is currently seeking donations to help pay for the monument and the landscaping around it. Anyone wishing to make a donation can make a check out to Boy Scout Troop 45 Monument Fund and send it to P.O. Box 1646, Mineola, New York 11501. Please include your name and your business name if your donation is coming from your business.