Annual Ed Strang Day for Kids on tap Saturday on Derby Green

 

Housatonic Council BSA wins ion Bank community award

"The Housatonic Council is a proud recipient of an ion Bank 2019 Community Award. Thank you to ion Bank and our families who voted for us. — at Ion Bank."

Congratulations!

*Shared from the Housatonic Council Facebook page.

Scouts to hold Ed Strang Day for Kids on Derby Green

Shopping bus trip to support Scouting in Valley

Dinner at Holy Rosary Church in Ansonia to support Venturing Crew 77

Derby Scouts enjoy 'trip of a lifetime' in England

Derby, England Mayor Paul Pegg and Lord Lieutenant Willie Tucker met with the Troop 3/Crew 33 Derby, Connecticut and Derby, England Scouts in the City Council Chamber, where Troop 3 Committee Member and Derby Alderman Felicia Monaco presented Councillor Pegg with a key to the city on behalf of Mayor Anita Dugatto./ Contributed photo


DERBY – Twenty-nine Scouts, leaders, and parents from Troop 3 and Venture Crew 33 Derby, recently returned from a two-week adventure to Derby and London, England, where they stayed with host Scout families, met the mayor, visited castles and attended an international Scouting event with 7,000 other Scouts.

“It was a trip of a lifetime,” according to Troop 3 Senior Patrol Leader James Chopak. “We made loads of new friends, who we are still in contact with and I’m already planning my return to England”, Chopak added.

Hosted by the families of the 107th Derby and Trent Explorer families, the Scouts were treated to a Medieval banquet as well as a tour of the Derby Gaol, or jail, where author and ghost hunter Richard Felix discussed the jail’s history. Felix had previously visited Connecticut and Derby’s haunted Sterling Opera House, and he was very excited to meet fellow Derbyites from across the pond.


The two Derby groups also encamped at Peak2015, on the grounds of Chatsworth House, the estate of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. Peak is an international Scouting event hosted every five years in the Peak District of England by the Derbyshire Scouts. Scouts from 15 countries participated in activities that included caving, rappelling, wheelchair basketball, stilt walking, hoover craft and Segway riding. Several Derby Scouts also met Bear Grylls, Chief Scout in the United Kingdom.

“We expect to continue our international exchange Scout program next summer by sending our top Scouts to Derby, England and Limerick, Ireland, while also hosting scouts from there,” said Richard Williams, Troop 3’s Committee Chairman.

“This ongoing program allows the Scouts to experience the world and expand our world Scouting friendships,” he added.

Troop 3’s Patrol Leaders Council recently completed annual calendar planning and decided on the following monthly troop meeting and camping weekend themes: International Scouting, Circus Skills, Outdoor Scout skills, water activities, film/photography, Duty to God & country, Merit Badge College, Health/Fitness and games, climbing and trampoline.

The Scouts resume meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesdays beginning Sept. 9. The troop meets at their sponsoring organization since 1914, Derby's Second Congregational Church, on Elizabeth Street. All young men ages 11 to 17 are encouraged to join in on the Scouting adventure.

Call 203-732-0343 for more information.

On Sept. 26 Cub Scout Pack 3, Boy Scout Troop 3 and Venture Crew 33 will host their 21st annual Ed Strang Day on the Derby Green.
The free event for boys and girls will take place from noon to 3 p.m. and includes a rope bridge, archery, craft making, face painting, model car building, and racing as well as many circus related skills training.


This is a press release from Scoutmaster Randy Ritter.

Troop 3 in Derby to honor alumnus with '3 for Life' award

Charles M. Stankye, Jr.

DERBY - If your last name is Stankye and you grew up in Derby, chances are you were involved in Housatonic Council Boy Scout Troop 3. 

Charles M. Stankye, Jr. is the patriarch of the Derby Stankyes and has never left Scouting. Charlie will be recognized by Boy Scout Troop 3 for more than 70 years in Scouting on Oct. 26 at Troop 3’s 100th anniversary celebration at the Inn at Villa Bianca in Seymour. 

The troop is sponsored by the Derby Second Congregational Church, where it was founded in 1914, and continues to meet there.

Stankye will receive the “3 for Life” award, presented every five years by the Troop to alumni who have been outstanding in their commitment and support of Pack 3, Troop 3, and Crew 33.

Previous recipients include the late Scouting pioneer, Edmund D. Strang, Walter R. Archer, Jr, the late Walter Petz, Robert Bednarcik, the late Charles Rotteck, Jr., Rev. John Carr, former Ansonia Mayor Bill Menna, the late Christy Testone, the late Anthony Pepe, Superbowl 1 and 2 Green Bay Packers' Captain Bob Skoronski, the late Frank Skoronski, Dr. Robert Feeney, Shelton Aldermanic President and 100th anniversary dinner chairman John Anglace, Jr. and Rodman Kneen, who has been involved in Scouting for 82 years. 

1951 Scouts Charlie Stankye and Bill Elko 

Joining Stankye at the dinner as the latest “3 for Life” recipients will be Dr. Sherwood Lewis and James Florczak.

Started career in 1942
Stankye, Troop 3’s 34th Eagle Scout, started his Scouting career when he became a Cub Scout in Edmund D. Strang’s Pack 3 in 1942. 

Charlie continued on to become a Boy Scout in Troop 3 in 1945. 

While a scout in Troop 3 he served as a Den Chief and was Patrol Leader of the East Derby Beaver patrol. Charlie continued onto become a member of Explorer Post 33. While a member of Post 33 Charlie was Post Scribe and Post Guide. 

While a member of Troop 3 and Post 33 Charlie performed in the Annual Minstrel Shows as a soloist and endman. 

In 1950 Charlie attended the National Scout Jamboree in Valley Forge, PA, where he worked at the Trading Post. He was also on summer camp staff at Camp Workcoeman in New Hartford.

In 1953, along with other scouts from Troop 3 and Post 33, Charlie traveled by train to Irvine, CA to attend the National Scout Jamboree. 

1951 Troop 3 Eagle Scouts
Charles Stankye, Jr. & Morton Goldstein

While at the Jamboree, Charlie and the other scouts had the opportunity to meet with Danny Thomas and Debbie Reynolds. 

The highlight of the trip was when the scouts of Troop 3 made national headlines after a private meeting with Mitzi Gaynor. Several of the Scouts, including Charlie, got to have their pictures taken with her.

As an adult, Charlie continued his scouting career. He joined the executive board of the Housatonic Council and served on the board for 15 years. 

While on the board Charlie served as Council Treasurer, Vice President and President. 

During his term as President, the Council renamed and dedicated its camp, Housatonic Scout Reservation in Goshen after long time Scouter, Edmund D. Strang.

Charlie was awarded the Silver Beaver by the Housatonic Council. He was also awarded the Bronze Pelican by the Archdiocese Catholic Committee. Charlie is also a recipient of the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Gold Seal Award.

Charlie continued his volunteer service to the community outside of Scouting. He has been very active in the fire service not only in Derby but throughout the state.

3 generations of Eagle Scouts, Charles III, Tyler, Charles IV and Charles Jr. at Tyler’s 2011 Eagle Scout Court of Honor

He has been a member of the Paugassett Hook & Ladder Company #4 of the Derby Fire Department for 60 years. 

As a member of the Paugassetts Charlie served as a Lieutenant and Captain. He was the Company Secretary for 20 years. Charlie eventually rose through the ranks of the Derby Fire Department as Asst. Fire Chief and became Chief of the Derby Fire Department where he served for 8 years. 
In 1975 Charlie became Deputy Fire Marshal and has served in that capacity for the past 35 years. 

Charlie is a Past president of the Valley Fire Chief’s Association and currently serves as the Association’s Treasurer. He is also on the Board of Directors of the Valley Fire Chief’s Regional Fire Training School and serves as its Treasurer. 

He is also a member of the building committee of the new regional fire school.

Charlie is a Past President and the current Treasurer of the Connecticut State Firefighters Association. In 2011 Charlie was inducted into the Connecticut State Firefighter’s Association Hall of Fame. In 1999 Charlie was appointed by then Governor John Rowland to the Commission on Fire Prevention & Control; where he still serves.

Charlie serves on the Board of Directors of the Derby Public Library and is a Past President of the Board.

Charlie is retired from the New England Engineering Co. and the Hancock Engineering Co. He has been married to Anne Francione for 57 years. Anne has also been involved with Cub Scout Pack 3 for more than 45 years. Charlie and Anne have four children and 11 grandchildren. 

Charlie’s three sons,Charles, III, Ronald, and Richard are all Troop 3 Eagle Scouts. Grandsons Charles IV, Tyler and Timothy Stankye are Troop 3 Eagle Scouts and Zachary Geffert earned Eagle Scout Rank with Troop 1 Oxford. 

Ryan Stankye, of Washington state, is a fifth grandson very close to completing Eagle Scout rank. Charlie’s brother-in-law Thomas Francione is Troop 3's 51st Eagle Scout.

“Charlies Stankye was an obvious choice when we were deciding honorees for this year’s “3 for Life” award,” said Richard Williams, Troop 3’s Committee Chairman.
“As the patriarch of an eight-Eagle Scout family that has been part of Troop 3 for more than 70 years, his community service alone is a model for us all.”

All Troop 3 alumni and friends are invited to the 100th anniversary dinner at noon on Oct. 26 at the Inn at Villa Bianca in Seymour.

Reservations are required and can be made by calling Raymond Oppel, 203-929-6616 (daytime) or 203-929-7210 (evenings), or by email, ray.oppel.cpa@sbcglobal.net.


This is a press release from Scoutmaster Randy Ritter.