THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 6, 1995 TAG: 9508040186
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Close Up
SOURCE: Rebecca A. Myers
LENGTH: Long : 103 lines
With two truckloads of mulch, 3 pounds of screws, a quart of weed killer and enough lumber to build four picnic tables, Andy Artz had the beginning of his very own park.
The aspiring Eagle Scout also had the perfect site on which to build: the wooded area on the grounds of his church, Park View Christian in the 3200 block of Western Branch Blvd.
Artz is building the park not only to enhance the property's appearance, but to fulfill a requirement toward the highest rank in Scouting - to plan and implement a project that benefits the community.
``I really wanted to help my church, and the best thing I could think of was to help the area in front, because there's nothing up there except woods,'' said Artz, a 15-year-old Churchland High School student.
Artz felt the wooded area served no purpose because there were no amenities within the area that encouraged church members to linger or attracted strangers to visit. He's hoping that several mulch-lined trails that lead to four picnic tables with attached benches will entice people to stay awhile.
``It's a real peaceful area,'' said Artz, who's been in Scouting for nine years.
The rising high school junior hopes to have all of his Eagle Scout requirements completed by Christmas. He has to have 200 hours of work in this project before it is approved.
``Through Scouting, I've learned how to be more responsible and more like a leader,'' said Artz. ``I'm sure I'm going to benefit from it a lot in the future.''
Before work could begin on the park, Artz had to receive permission from the church, his Scoutmaster, a committee within his Scout group (Troop 207) and the Boy Scout Council. With that out of the way, Artz was ready to begin.
In late June, he mailed letters to 16 local businesses asking for donations of money or materials. He received positive responses from more than half of the companies he contacted.
``Rountree Construction Co. helped me with a truckload of mulch, and Lancaster Farms helped me with another truckload,'' Artz said.
Portsmouth Lumber, Dail's Hardware, Saunders Supply Co. and Treated Lumber Outlet provided all the wood for the tables.
AA Properties helped with the use of a truck, as well as the gas he needed to pick up the mulch and the lumber.
Robbie's Home Center donated galvanized screws, bolts, chains and Quikrete - all the supplies needed to do the actual building.
Builders Square in Virginia Beach gave Artz a $25 shopping spree.
Even Artz's dentist, Dr. Samuel S. Bisese, helped out with a quart of Round-Up and a $10 donation.
And in addition to the four-by-fours Portsmouth Lumber provided, they threw in a saw blade and a 3-pound bag of screws.
``We got all the materials right on time to start on schedule,'' said Artz, who began work on the 10-by-10-foot park on July 17. The park should be ready for picnickers this weekend.
To fulfill the Eagle Scout requirement, Artz had to recruit his friends, fellow Scouts and his family to do the actual work. Two to three nights a week, 20 to 30 volunteers show up between 5 and 9 p.m. to help with the project.
``I'm only supposed to supervise, to be the leader and to tell them what to do. That's mainly my job,'' Artz said.
``I'm not supposed to do the hand-and-shovel work. It's mainly the people that are doing it that should get the credit for it.''
Though most of the helpers are younger Scouts working to fulfill requirements themselves, Artz has given them an even greater incentive to pitch in.
``When we get this thing done, I'm going to take them out for some pizza,'' he said.
Name: Robert Andrew Artz
Nickname: Andy
Hometown: Portsmouth
Birthdate: Sept. 5, 1979
School and Grade: Churchland High junior
Parents: Chip and Gina Artz
Siblings: Matt, 19
Pets: None
Favorite subject: Math
Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite restaurant: Taco Bell
Hobbies: Girls
Favorite movies: Adventure movies
Favorite song or musical group: Sanction, my brother's band
Favorite sport: Soccer
Favorite TV shows: MTV's ``Road Rules'' and ``Wonder Years''
Pet peeve: People who jock other people for no reason (those who pretend to be something they're not).
Who are your heroes: My parents
Your worst habit: Talking too much
Last vacation: A week in Nags Head at my parents' cottage
Favorite way to spend a day: Hanging out with friends
If you had 15 minutes on national television, what would you talk about: Kids are good people and should be listened to and treated fairly.
When I get older, I want to be a: Doctor ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JIM WALKER
by CNB