Three Troop 3 Scouts Achieve Highest Honor

Three Boy Scouts from Troop 3 were recognized as Eagle Scouts, scouting’s highest honor.

They are Alexander Main, John Jake” Grasso and Evan Altamirano. 

Three local town officials, a gospel choir and more than 200 friends, family members and scouts were at Derby Second Congregational Church to congratulate the scouts.

Derby Mayor Anthony Staffieri, Orange First Selectman James Zeoli and Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti presented proclamations and gifts on behalf of their respective communities. The Bridgeport based Pivot Ministries Choir performed two gospel songs in celebration of the good works completed for the organization by Main. 

A slide presentation of the scouts in action was presented by Troop 3 Scoutmaster Randy Ritter.

Main, 15, Shelton resident, is the son of Graham and Rosemarie Main. He is the older brother of Troop 3 Scout Matthew Main.

Main earned the Arrow of Light Award with pack three in Derby before joining troop three, where he earned 34 merit badges. Main attended the 100th Anniversary Boy Scout National Jamboree in Virginia in 2010.

Outside of scouting, Main is a freshman at St. Joseph High School in Trumbull where he is involved in the school’s drama club, debate club and ukulele club. He is a member and clarinetist of The Milford Concert Band and in 2012, he placed third in the Western Regional’s Competition. 

He plays the soprano saxophone and he also the fife for The Derby Historical Society’s David Humphreys House, where he volunteers as a Junior Docent. Main’s plans to become an English teacher.

For his Eagle project, Main collected men’s clothing, toiletries and food items for Pivot Ministries in Bridgeport, which is a Christian based drug and alcohol rehabilitation center for men. Along with other scouts, he collected more than $14,000 worth of merchandise for Pivot Ministries. 

Main and his family are members of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Shelton.

Altamirano is the 18-year-old son of Cesar and Janine Altamirano and older brother to Noah and Katherine. Prior to living in Middlebury, he was born in Derby, lived in the Valley and in Florida.

Altamirano is a 2012 graduate of Pomperaug High School and is currently a freshman at Central Connecticut State University, majoring in Business. He and his family belong to St. John of the Cross Church and he has participated in several mission trips with the youth group.

Altamirano first began his scouting adventure with Pack 902 in Woodbridge CT and then Pack 306 Boca Raton, Florida before joining Pack three Derby, where he earned the Arrow of Light Award. 

Upon joining Boy Scout Troop three, Altamirano participated in Troop three trips to Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England, the Boy Scouts of America Florida Sea Base and a Grand Canyon camping adventure. In addition, he enjoyed camping each summer at the Edmund D. Strang Scout Reservation in Goshen.

For his Eagle Scout Community Service Project, Altamirano worked closely with staff and members of the St. John of the Cross Parish to restore and cultivate a vegetable garden area for the youth members of the church to maintain and harvest the produce for donation to local soup kitchens. This sustainable garden not only provides food to the needy, but offers an opportunity for community members to come together and become invested in a long term mission of stewardship and commitment.

Grasso the III, is a lifelong resident of Orange and the older brother of troop three scout Ben Grasso and the step brother of Troop three scout Michael Getlein. Grasso’s father and step-mother are John and Shanon Grasso. His mother and step-father are Lynn and Elijah Dreher.

Grasso is a parishioner of Holy Infant Church in Orange. He started scouting with Pack 923 in Orange and then joined Pack three in Derby, where he earned his Arrow of Light Award.

Upon joining troop three, Grasso served as Den Chief, Patrol Leader and Troop Historian. He is a Brotherhood member of the Order of The Arrow Paugassett Lodge 553. 

Grasso has participated in troop three trips to the Grand Canyon, National Parks of the Western US and as a member of the Housatonic Council contingent he attended the 100th anniversary Scouting National Jamboree in Virginia.

Grasso is currently a junior at Notre Dame High School in West Haven where he is a member of the St. Brother Andre Bessete National Honor Society and the Concert Chamber Choir. He plans to attend Quinnipiac University where he’ll study to become an elementary school teacher.

For his Eagle project, Grasso led a group of scouts who improved the area around the Racebrook School Pond in Orange. Then built and installed two picnic tables for use by teachers, students and staff.

Altamirano, Main and Grasso are the 282, 283 and 284 scouts to achieve Eagle Scout Rank since troop three was founded in 1914. 

The troop meets Wednesdays, 7 p.m. at Derby Second Congregational Church and welcomes new members.

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