Jeremy Ratliff
Reporter
As a result of the hard work and generosity of two local teens, last summer Pine Crest Nursing Home staff and residents were treated to two brand new outdoor fixtures to enhance the area of the newly finished courtyard and putting green.
Completed by Eagle Scout Alex Wickman and soon-to-be Eagle Scout Drew Polak and other Troop 599 members, a new pergola and storage shed came as welcomed additions to the facility.
As Pine Crest Administrator Lisa Gervais explains, the ideas for the structures came about as discussion between herself and Pine Crest trustee Kathy Wulfe.
“We were having a discussion one day about other ideas to further enhance the courtyard and putting green which had just recently been completed. Both were made possible by donations from the Bierman Family Foundation and the Alan Malm Family. We had quite a bit of open green space around the putting green and courtyard and we thought it would be nice to add a few more features,” Gervais said.
The idea of a pergola for residents and visitors to use while enjoying the area, and a shed to store accessories for the putting green, soon became the focus for the additions. But as with any newly construction, cost was a concern.
“We wanted to have something which could provide a comfortable place to sit outside and enjoy the weather, while providing shade from the sun,” Gervais explains. “Granted pergolas don’t provide a great deal of shade, but they are spacious so that’s what we settled on. I looked at some construction figures and was a bit concerned about cost which would have been well over $5,000 for both structures, that is until Kathy mentioned the idea of contacting the Eagle Scouts!”
Gervais eventually came into contact with Drew and Alex, who happened to be looking for community service projects as part of their Eagle Scout requirements.
“Alex and Drew’s families pitched in to help and they just did an excellent job!” Gervais adds with a smile. “They worked hard from start to finish, we were very impressed with their work. Even a year later now, we still get compliments from residents and visitors on their work and how well the shed and pergola turned out. They are great additions to our facility, our residents love them and the projects helped the boys along too with earning their Eagle Scout rank. It was a win-win for everyone.