The Newark Post from Newark, Delaware • 5

5 LOCAL NEWS NEWARK POST 2.3.2017 CONNECT WITH US Ch Ch Ch Ch ur ur ur ur ur Ch ur Ch Ch ur Ch ch ch ch ch ur ch ur ur ch ur Directory Directory Directory Directory Directory Directory Directory Directory Directory Directory Directory Directory Directory To Ad ve rt ise or mak ec hanges ca ll Ir yna Va rnia ga 410-770-4000 or Direc ta t4 ta t4 ta 10-770-4174 Prices start as lo wa 12 and includes internet. Deadline is Th urs. at 4:30 pm for follo wing Fr ida ye dition Ebene zer Yo Yo ua re welcome at nited nited Me thodist Church SUN SER VICES SER VICES SER 8:30 1: 00 am SUND AY SCHOOL 525 Polly Drummond Road Ne wa rk 302-731-9495 Handicapped Accessible hi ld ld Ca re REVEREND MAR YH MAR YH MAR RO wNE, PA St OR ebsite: ebsite: www wa rk.or em ail: ail: ne wa rk erizon.net First Church of Christ, Scientist 48 Wes tP ark Pla ce ew ark Sunday Service un da yS chool We dnesday Te stimony Meetings Childcar ea vailable during services. 302-456-5 302-456-5 302-456-5 808 ALL ARE WE LCOME ww w. fccsne wa rk 1100 W.

Ch ur ch Rd, Newark, DE 19711 Rd, 19711 Rd, 302-731-4169 www Sunday Wo rship at 11:00 am child care provided Ne wa rk We sl ey an Ch ur ch 708 WC hu rch Rd Ne wa rk E1 971 1 30 2- 737 -51 90 Wo rsh ip Su nda y1 nda y1 nda 0: 30 AM Beginn ers Beginn ers Beginn Bi bl Bi bl Bi eS bl eS bl tu eS tu eS dy 6:00 PM Sa turda Sa turda Sa turda turda By JOSH SHANNON When Ryan Gerhart and his Newark High School cross-country teammates used the Tri-State Marker Trail in White Clay Creek Preserve during their practice runs, he help but feel a sense of accomplishment. because the 18-year-old NHS senior built a bridge along the trail as part of his Eagle Scout project. really cool going across and knowing I built Gerhart said. excited to show my kids some day that I built the Gerhart and several friends built the 20-foot-long bridge in August 2015, and he was awarded his Eagle Scout rank in a cer ed his Eagle Scout rank in a cer ed his Eagle Scout rank in a cer emony Dec. 31.

The idea for the project came after a neighbor introduced him to Wendel Cassel, a longtime volunteer for the Friends of White Clay Creek State Park. Cassel told him about a new trail being built in White Clay Creek Preserve sister park to White Clay Creek State Park and suggested he consider making the bridge his Eagle Scout project. The Tri-State Marker Trail opened in 2015 and provided the first public access to the Ma the first public access to the Ma the first public access to the Ma son-Dixon marker that denotes where Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania meet. was one of five Eagle Scout projects that helped make the trail a reality. The park was already special to Gerhart, who often runs there by himself and with the cross-country team.

knew it would benefit me and the whole running he said. Gerhart spent about six months planning the project and recruited a number of volunteers to help construct it over a two-day period. He said he had helped out with several other Ea helped out with several other Ea helped out with several other Ea gle Scout projects but had never led one of his own. realize how much went into the said Gerhart, who next year will study nursing at Cedarville University in Ohio. Cassel died last year, and Ger Cassel died last year, and Ger Cassel died last year, and Ger hart added a plaque to the bridge dedicating it to him.

Scouting runs in the family for Gerhart, whose brother, brother- in-law and two cousins have all earned the Eagle Scout rank. He credited his grandfather, Jim Gerhart, for the encouragement, noting that he often asked his grandchildren when they would achieve the honor. that achievement sets you apart from a lot of other people in the Gerhart said. cool for my grandfather to have five Eagle Scouts. been a big part of all our The elder Gerhart said he had been a Boy Scout but never earned his Eagle Scout designa earned his Eagle Scout designa earned his Eagle Scout designa tion because he swim.

When his grandsons were in Scouting, he admits he them to earn the honor. very important to me, so sure it will be very important for them in the he said. that on an application for a job pays Newark High School senior earns Eagle Scout rank SUBMITTED PHOTO Ryan Gerhart (left) built a bridge in White Clay Creek Preserve as his Eagle Scout project. SUBMITTED PHOTO Jim Gerhart poses with his five grandsons, who are all Eagle Scouts..