Aspiring Eagle Scout Repairs Portions of First Parish

It's a big year for Jonathan Mooncai.  

Aside from the responsibilities he has as a junior at , Mooncai, 16, has his sights set on an impressive goal: attaining Eagle Scout status. 

Mooncai, a Life Scout of Troop 3 Westwood, has been working hard this year to fulfill his commitment as a scout, and is looking to join others in town as crossing the highest line that can be crossed by a scout. 

As part of his Eagle Scout Leadership Community Service Project, Mooncai journeyed over to the First Parish of Westwood. There, using supplies from Home Depot. and Lowes, he helped repair, sand, scrape and paint various ramps, stairways, and other portions of the church that needed work. 

"I noticed that the paint job and condition of the stairways and ramps were peeling, and degrading over time, so I just decided to pose a question to the reverend," Mooncai said. "Over a period of time, they said it sounded like a really great project."

The project, which Mooncai began in late July and completed in late August, totalled near 150 hours of work. Mooncai engaged in the work with the help of 10 other volunteers, which included his father Harry and his brother, as well as a number of friends and fellow scouts. 

"A lot of the work was sanding and scraping the old paint of the structures," Mooncai said. 

By the end of his efforts, Mooncai completed repairs to the following:

• The handicap ramp and railings at the rear end of the church's meetinghouse. 
• The side stairs and metal railings at the side of the meetinghouse.
• The metal railings at the front of the meeting house.
• The white metal railings at the front of the Parish Hall.
• The grey handicap ramp and the railings at the front of the Parish Hall. 

Mooncai also moved the handicap parking sign closer to the Parish Hall driveway, and subsequently sanded, scraped and painted the sign post. Moreover, he sanded, scraped and painted the metal stair railing at the rear of the Parish Hall. 

As for what's next, Mooncai said he is working to complete and Eagle Scout booklet, which he'll submit to his scout leaders as he continues his journey toward the rank.