Scout Builds Raised Beds For Senior Community
BY KAREN BERGER — MIRROR REPORTER
The roses, impatiens, pansies, marigolds and petunias became fresh bouquets for the tables, and the tomatoes, peppers and zucchini were passed around among the residents at Spring Meadows Senior Community.
While this summer’s crop is now just a memory, Matthew Hoenig recently learned that his project to build four raised planters at the Holland facility earned him his Eagle Scout rank.
The Anthony Wayne High School junior has been active with Troop 114, based at St. Joan of Arc, since second grade.
While searching for a non-profit organization to assist, Matthew learned from Metroparks employee Kim Kaseman that Spring Meadows Senior Community could use wheelchair-accessible planters.
Located on Clarion Avenue in Holland, the community has 100 residents in nursing care and 35 in Astor House, an assisted living facility, said administrator Phil Witker.
The 4-by-12-foot planters are 30 inches high, making it easier to plant and weed from a wheechair or without getting on hands and knees, Witker said.
“This is so much easier for our residents. Many of our folks are in wheelchairs. This helps them to be active,” Witker explained.
Matthew took shop class in junior high, but this is the largest project he’s undertaken. He didn’t find plans online or in books. Instead he drew up plans to get approved by Witker. Spring Meadows paid for the materials: 16 4x4s and 64 1x10s, as well as four tons of stone and six tons of topsoil.
Like all Eagle Scout projects, Matthew recruited Scouts and parents to help, digging post holes and lifting the pre-built frames into place.
And just like other Eagle Scout projects, he ran into snags, such as when they hit the irrigation lines.
“I didn’t call before we dug,” the Monclova teen admits. “Whenever you’re a leader, something almost always goes wrong. And delegating is most difficult thing to do. I like to lead by example.”
While constructing the beds, the volunteers were greeted by residents and staff members who brought them lemonade and munchies.
The scouts didn’t need to shovel in the tons of topsoil and stone – Witker arranged for someone with equipment to do that when the ground wasn’t so wet.
“I’m glad we didn’t have to do that ourselves – it was about 150 cubic feet per planter,” Matthew estimated.
After 94 hours of volunteer time, Matthew saw the project finished and then headed to Philmont Scout Ranch, where he hiked 78 miles, his mother Cindy noted.
But while he was hiking, the Spring Meadows residents were busy planting.
“We had probably 12 people who planted vegetables and flowers in the garden. We had tomatoes, hot and mild peppers and zucchini that was cascading over the sides,” Witker said. “The ladies were just beaming. They really enjoyed the flowers so much.”
Witker, who was a scout in his youth, said it was good to see the teamwork as the teens worked together.
While Matthew knows he earned his Eagle Scout badge – the highest rank possible for a Boy Scout – he’ll have a formal court of honor ceremony this winter at Christian Fellowship of Toledo.
Matthew recently began looking at area colleges and universities, where he hopes to study natural resources, possibly becoming a college professor so he can research and teach.

Sheriff’s Office Investigating Thefts Of Sewer Grates In Township
BY KELLY J. KACZALA — MIRROR REPORTER
Springfield Township officials and Lucas County Sheriff’s Sgt. Matt Luettke discussed the theft of sewer grates during Luettke’s monthly report to Springfield Township trustees on November 21.
Public service director Mike Hampton asked Luettke if he received a tip Hampton had relayed to the sheriff’s office regarding a possible suspect who has been stealing sewer grates from the township.
Luettke said the tip was not forwarded to him, but the sheriff’s office is working on the crimes.
Hampton said 10 sewer grates were stolen in a two-day period from Springfield Township, and 35 grates were stolen in Sylvania Township.
“The majority of the area is in the northwest section of our township, adjacent to Sylvania Township,” Hampton said.
The grates weigh between 150-250 pounds, he said, “so it does take a couple of people to steal them.” Replacing the grates costs between $300-$400 each. Some of the newer grates have casting marks that can be traced.
“We did receive a tip from someone who was pretty confident of who they thought was doing it, and what scrap yards they’re taking it to.”
The major scrap yards have police on hand for their operation, Hampton said.
“Scrap yards are to check driver’s licenses and check their material that goes into their yards,” he said.
While some communities are tack-welding the grates to the frame of the catch basins to deter thefts, Hampton said it would be costly to do so in the township because employees clean out catch basins that are clogged with leaves following leaf pickup.
“As much as what we’re going through, especially after leaf season, pulling up sewer grates will cost us labor and man hours,” he said.
After the meeting, Hampton said he started noticing the missing sewer grates a few weeks ago in Stone Oak, where most have been stolen.
“We had a couple of lids come up missing before, but nothing real serious until now,” he said.
The township has been able to replace the grates with older lids that had been replaced, he said.
“In the past couple of years, we’ve been replacing roads, sewers and have built new catch basins with OPWC (Ohio Public Works Commission) funds. I’ve been keeping the old grates, so fortunately for us, we haven’t had to buy any to replace the missing grates,” Hampton said.
He urged residents to be on the lookout for any suspicious activity around the catch basins and to call 911 if they see anyone other than township workers, who are in marked vehicles, lifting the covers.
“The majority of the thefts are taking place in the mornings and afternoons,” he said.
Springfield and Sylvania townships are offering rewards for the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the thefts.
“It is theft of public property and it’s a felony,” Hampton said.
Also during his report, Luettke shared the following:
• Daytime burglaries in Springfield Township increased in October.
“Daytime burglaries are up again, not only in Springfield, but all over the region,” Luettke said. “They have generally taken place in the afternoons. That’s probably because it’s getting colder, and there’s less neighborhood traffic, fewer people out doing work in the yards.”
All but one of the buildings were occupied, he added.
“There was an occupied burglary that took place at a residence early in the morning. We directed patrols in those areas, for those hours. You’re not the only township that got hit. There were others. We’ve directed patrols in those areas as well. We’re doing the best we can. We were able to get evidence at one of the crime scenes – not in Springfield – so that’s being looked at and it’s currently under investigation,” he said.
• Officers apprehended a suspect following a chase in the Lincoln Green Park area.
“A vehicle ran from one of our officers. We were assisted by the Holland police. They drove through Lincoln Green Park, back out onto the road and through a private home’s fence and into a creek,” he said.
The chase ended on Roseanne, just behind Lincoln Green Park where the creek ends. There was damage to a privacy fence on Cheswick.
The suspect, who also has warrants from another county in Ohio as well as in Indiana, was expected to go before a grand jury this week, Luettke said.
• Luettke will meet with residents in the Dorr Street and Centennial Road area who are interested in the forming a block watch. Trustee Andy Glenn said he was contacted by the residents.
“There’s been a rise in car and garage break-ins in the area,” Glenn said.