The Staten Island Advance has an article about a rally to save Camp Pouch Scout Camp.

In an attempt to prevent a beloved piece of Island history from falling into the clutches of private developers, approximately 1,500 Scouts and supporters of William H. Pouch Scout Camp braved the cold yesterday evening to rally against the potential sale of the Sea View site.

Armed with candleholders reading “Scouting without Pouch… Ouch,” the hundreds in attendance filled the lawn in front of Susan Wagner High School prior to the camp’s annual holiday lighting ceremony. They came from all five boroughs, with some even from Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Florida to sign petitions preventing the site from being sold.

Read the rest of the article and see pictures at the Staten Island Advance.

The Daily News has a nice feature article on Austin Boyd, the ninteen year-old Scout from New York that was killed in a car accident on Wednesday night. The story shows how the Scouting community is showing their respect, how friends and family remember Austin, and paints a picture of a young man that was dedicated to helping others.

Too often after the top Boy Scouts complete the requirements to become an Eagle Scout, they “vanish” and seldom return to their troops, said Jak Kohmann, a Scoutmaster in Clarendon.

Austin Boyd wasn’t like that. After the Eagle Scout graduated from Holley High School last June and enrolled in Monroe Community College this fall, he made attending weekly Scout meetings for Troop No. 59 a priority. Boyd, 19, was the troop’s assistant Scoutmaster.

“He meshed so well with all the kids in the troop, especially the younger ones,” Kohmann said. “This kid was in college but he still came back to every Scout meeting, religiously.”

Boyd died in a car accident last Wednesday evening, while returning home from a Scouting camp kickoff event in Batavia with his father Ron. Another motorist drove through a stop sign at the intersection of Route 31A and South Holley Road and crashed into the Boyd’s vehicle, killing Austin. Hundreds of Scouts from across the state are expected to attend a memorial service 4 p.m. Saturday at the Disciples United Methodist Church, 4410 Holley Byron Rd.

Read the entire article at The Daily News.

Photo Credit: Tom Rivers/Daily News

Iroquois Trail Council is mourning the loss of Austin J. Boyd who was killed in a traffic accident while traveling home from a camp kick off on Wednesday. Austin was the current Lodge Chief of Ashokwahta Lodge and had served on both the Camp Dittmer and Camp Sam Wood for the past four summers. An Eagle Scout, Austin was an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 59 of Clarendon and a member of Venture Crew 42. Austin will be sorely missed.

According to the Iroquois Trail Council Website, Austin’s family asked that the following invitation be extended to all Scouts and Scouters:

A memorial service will be held to celebrate the 19 years we shared with Austin James Boyd on Saturday, November 7. The service will be held at Disciples United Methodist Church, 4410 Holley Byron Rd (Route 237) Holley, NY 14470 beginning at 4:00pm.

All Scouts and Scouters who knew Austin are invited to attend. We ask that Scouts and Scouters attend in their “Class A” uniform. Order of the Arrow members are asked to wear their sash.

According to Austin’s wishes, there will be no public viewing. It was also Austin’s wish to be cremated.

Thank you,
Ronald E. Boyd and Family

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Austin J. Boyd Memorial Fund, Iroquois Trail Council, BSA, 45 Liberty St., Suite 2, Batavia, NY 14020. Arrangements are by the Christopher Mitchell Funeral Home in Holley. Visit www.christophermitchell.com to sign an on-line guest book

Source: Iroquois Trail Council Website