News

Steven McCabe was one of 10 adult Scouts BSA leaders who were awarded with the Silver Beaver Award in February 2019 by Patriots’ Path Council.

Steve was born in Newark and raised in Bloomfield. He joined Pack 14 at Sacred Heart Church and has fond memories of his parents wearing Coonskin Caps and singing “Davey Crockett… King of the Wild Frontier” in a parents’ show for the pack.

When he took his sons to the Hackettstown Fishery it was another experience he first enjoyed with Pack 14. He celebrated his 50th Reunion from Boston College in May of this year and graduated from Rutgers Law School in Newark in 1971 where he had Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg as a professor, and more importantly he met his wife Cheryl with whom he will celebrate their 47th anniversary in November.

Since January 2015 Steve has been a happily retired attorney. Steve practiced as a Legal Services attorney in Trenton and Perth Amboy, as a sole practitioner in Westfield, and as a partner in two firms, one in Jersey City, and with Pressler and Pressler for nearly thirty years.

Troop 73

When the first of their three sons asked to enter Cubs, Steve and Cheryl couldn’t have been happier, even though Steve hadn’t been inside a tent since Fort Benning. Each of his sons joined Pack 273 at their grammar school in Westfield and Troop 73 at Holy Trinity Church in Westfield where they all attained the Eagle Scout rank. Steve served in Troop 73, the Watchung Mountain District and the Patriots’ Path Council all of which he continues. In Troop 73 Steve started by helping to run the troop’s poinsettia sale. He later served as troop committee chair and continues as a committee member. He began merit badge counseling at Troop 73, and continues as a counselor, although with the passage of years he swapped out Whitewater and Wilderness Survival for Genealogy.

His favorite activities at Troop 73 included the Jeuther Cup Great Canoe Race and running a trip from the Upper Delaware through Skinner Falls that was covered by Boys Life magazine in August 2002. He and all of his crew received the 50 Miler Afloat award for one of their several 77-mile trips down the Delaware.

In the Watchung Mountain District Steve served as a member of the DOC, DOC chair, merit badge dean, and advancement chair. Hereceived the District Award of Merit and has served as unit commissioner to troops and packs since 2008.

He earned Distinguished Commissioner status and through the generosity of his DOC colleagues received the James E. West Society Fellowship award in 2016. While serving as Watchung Mountain District Chair, Steve was made member of the council executive board and since then has served as a member of the presidents council. He is also a member of the PPC Wrestling Club.

Outside of Scouting, Steve helps his American Legion Post 3 select boys to attend Boys State and serves the Essex Catholic High School Foundation. Although the school closed, this alumni association keeps it’s alumni in touch and serves as fundraiser for inner city Catholic education. Steve and Cheryl continue to reside in Westfield and their sons live in Brooklyn (David), in Cary NC (Andy), and Westfield (Joe).

As part of their retirement adventures Steve and Cheryl are slowly but surely visiting all of our magnificent national parks andspend every possible second with their three-year-old granddaughter.

All of the Scouts and patrol leaders should be proud of their showing in the 2019 Klondike Derby held at Watchung Reservation Sat., Jan. 26. The Patrol Leaders and Assistant Patrol Leaders did a great job showing that teamwork can help overcome obstacles, and a good leadership always shines.

The Senior Sled – The Golden Goose Patrol – had a total of 715 points, placing second and just one point behind the first-place sled. They worked hard, had fun and showed great scout spirit and had a great race.

Scout Division

Whippoorwill – Final score was 498 points.  They came in 7^th out of 12.

Lightning – Final score was 449 points.  They came in 9^th out of 12.

Thank you to the adults who made the day possible, especially: Michael Cummings and Todd Sheppard who hauled the sleds; and Bob and Annie Fromtling and Tim Avis, who corralled (and fed) all of the adults at Circle City.

Troop 73:

Believe it or not, we are not that far from starting Scouts again for the year.

The first Troop Meeting will be Monday, September 10, 7:30 – 9:00 in the Holy Trinity Cafeteria. Since this is the first meeting, we Assistant Scoutmasters, Instructors and Senior Scouts will NOT be available for signoffs. The following meetings, we will have availability for sign-offs starting at 7pm. Also, you can schedule directly with a leader to work on rank outside of Troop Meetings.

Mrs. Palia will be presenting on Popcorn, which allows the Scout to earn money for his own scout account to use towards trips, dues, uniforms and equipment.

Shortly, our new website will be up. Thank you, Mr. Fannick! All forms can be found on the website, and the Troop Calendar dates are there as well (Thank you, Mr. Fiorentino!)

Our first trip of the year is canoeing in the Erie Canal September 28 – 30. Please email Mr. Keating if you are interested dkeato@aol.com . Trip signup forms will be available at the first Troop meeting, and the Trip Form will be on the website shortly. The trip costs $60 and scouts must have passed the swim test to attend.

Additional Fall Trips:

• The Catholic Scouting Retreat October 19 – 21
• Fall Backpacking Trip November 3 -4
• Day Hike December 8

Deadline for Dues is October 1st. Current Dues breakdown for 2018 – 2019:

• New Scout (not previously registered or has been inactive from Scouting for year): $120 each
• Returning Scout: $100 each
• Returning Scout Sibling: $90 each
• Adult/Scouter: $65 each

Each Scout must read and sign a Spirit Contract, and each adult is asked to sign the Parent’s Code of Conduct. Please bring these with your dues, and turn them in when you turn in your dues.
Please pay by check or they can be paid by Scout Account. Juan Suris has all the current Scout Account balances. Cash will NOT be accepted. Please bring dues for your son(s) to the next scout meeting and see Mr. Tim Coleman & Mr. Chris Estevez at the Sign Up Table.

The current Troop Handbook is on the website for review.

All Scouts working on Scout rank and Star rank are required to have current Cyber Chips for their appropriate grade level. Troop 73 will hold its fall Cyber Chip classes on September 17, September 24, and October 1 at 7:00 pm, prior to the Troop meeting. Parents are encouraged to stay for the classes as Cyber Chip requires family as well as Troop participation. Each Scout must attend all three sessions to complete the Cyber Chip. If you will be participating, please email Christine O’Brien at tpachristine@gmail.com by September 13. Please include your name and grade in school. Remember to copy a parent on the email!

There will be interest sheets for Catholic Religious Awards on the Sign-Up Table. Please add your name if you are interested. The classes will start in October and will start at 6:30 on Monday Nights. Schedule to follow.

Most of the Scout Ranks require service hours. Our first scheduled opportunity as a Troop will be Scouting for Food in November. Bags need to be distributed to houses on November 3rd, and food will be collected on November 10. It is a great way to serve the community and earn service.

If you earn service hours at church, school or other volunteer opportunity, you need to turn your hours in to Mrs. O’Brien. She has forms to fill out, and the forms can be found on the website. We won’t know about your hours unless you fill out the form and turn it in to Mrs. O’Brien as soon as possible.

All Eagle Scout candidates who have worked on their projects over the summer should submit the service hours completed by Troop Scouts and adults by September 4. Please send completed forms to Mrs. O’Brien. Keep in mind that Scouts working on your projects may need those service hours to complete rank advancement requirements. Your prompt attention is appreciated.

When you require a Scoutmaster Conference and Board of Review, please see Mr. Lang at any Troop Meeting, or email Mr. Lang at soutmaster@troop73nj.org. Please remember that the weeks leading up to a Court of Honor are very busy, so do not wait until the last minute.

We have a Facebook page where trip photos and stories are posted. You need to request to join the Group.

Nominations are now open for the 2018 Scout Scholar Athlete Award. Any Scout interested in the award can find information and nomination requirements. The deadline for nominations is October 12, 2018.

Please email me if you have any questions or need anything at scoutmaster@troop73nj.org. I will help you the best I can, or I can direct you to the person that can best help you.

Yours in Scouting,
Mr. Lang, Scoutmaster

Fourteen Scouts from Troop 73 spent a week at Camp Winnebago in Rockaway, N.J., from July 7 to 13 where they worked on merit badges and competed in various competitions against other troops.

The award for the troop who builds the best gateway to their campsite, a wooden ax, was awarded to the troop at the closing campfire. This year’s theme was Knights of Winnebago and their gateway had elements of a castle including a “dungeon” and a climbable ladder.