SOMERS POINT — The eagle has landed at the home of Matt and Staci Endicott in Somers Point.
City Council honored their son Carson Endicott for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout with Scouting America Troop 94 on June 25, the same night members approved brother Eli Endicott’s project.
Both are intended to improve Richard Somers Memorial Park, where a bronze bust on a pedestal and building-sized mural on three sides of the library celebrate and honor the hero of the fledgling U.S. Navy. Richard Somers Day is celebrated there each year in early September to mark the sailor’s birthday.
Somers, who was appointed a midshipman in 1797, was killed while leading a fireship attack against Tripolitan-backed pirates during the Barbary Wars in 1804.
Carson, a recent graduate of Mainland Regional High School, raised more than $15,000 and $10,000 worth of supplies to complete a 400-square-foot paver brick patio encompassing the flagpole and bordered by a knee wall. Lighting and benches were added as well.
“Completing this project would provide an area for people to read books from the library, or sit and reflect. It would also provide ‘curb appeal’ for residents and tourists, and make the area nicer for ceremonies like Richard Somers Day,” he wrote in his proposal
Carson presented the project to City Council and obtained permission in fall 2022 after meeting with city officials and the Somers Point Historical Society. He conducted fundraising from November 2022 to April 2023, beginning to oversee the work in May 2023. The project was completed in November 2024.
Carson raised funds through donations as well as a sale of 143 of the more than 2,000 brick pavers used in the project.
Carson’s Eagle Court of Honor was held June 12 at Josie Kelly’s Public House, where he received his wings.
Carson, who was den chief from 2018-20 of Cub Scout Pack 55 and patrol leader from 2019-22, earned the Messenger of Peace and Order of Arrow awards, along with the Light of Christ and Parvuli Dei religious emblems. He also earned 31 merit badges.
Councilman Sean McGuigan congratulated the 18-year-old for completing all of the work.
“You should be very proud of yourself, as I am sure the rest of council and myself are proud of you,” he said. “It’s a wonderful start and you have a very bright future in front of you.”
Eli Endicott’s project will be like an extension of his brother’s. The 15-year-old rising sophomore at MRHS will work in phases to create a handicapped-accessible paver path from the patio to the door of the library. He also will be cleaning up and improving the landscaping, adding a fence, painting the knee wall and planting a shade tree.
The three-season athlete will start raising money immediately. Those wishing to buy a memorial brick should visit bricksrus.com/donorsite/endicotteaglescoutproject. Tax-deductible contributions can be sent to the Somers Point Historical Society with “Endicott Eagle Scout Project” in the subject line.
McGuigan acknowledged the contributions of the boys’ parents to the community.
Matt Endicott serves on the Mainland Regional High School Board of Education and the Somers Point Recreation Board, has been Cub Master and Scout Master in the city, coached baseball, football and street hockey and currently is president of the hockey association.
Staci Endicott is president of the Somers Point Board of Education and a member of the Green Thumb Garden Club.
“Those two people sitting behind you have clearly invested in this community and invested in you. And when we talk about investments, we would talk about the return on investments and clearly they’re getting a return on their investment by producing such an impressive young gentleman like yourself,” he said. “They’re doing something right and we are very fortunate that they are in this community because they do a lot of things right for this community and for their family.”
Carson said he attended the grand opening of the park as a younger Scout when the city erected the bust and unveiled the mural. He also works across the street at Charlie’s Tavern, so he passes the site often.
“He’s really important to Somers Point, so I wanted to upgrade the area of his memorial,” Carson said. “It’s going to be a place people can go and actually enjoy it.”
Councilman Kirk Gerety, who also is president of the Somers Point Historical Society, said it was our honor to be involved in the project.
“It came out great,” he said.
Council President Charlie Haberkorn said he recently read that just 4 percent of Scouts attain the highest rank, noting City Council honored another resident two weeks prior.
Jolyon Porto, 18, a recent graduate of ACIT, was honored June 12 for achieving Eagle Scout rank. His project involved building and erecting bat houses at Bud Kern Field to help control the mosquito population, something that benefits every athlete and parent who gathers there.
“The pond is a breeding ground for mosquitoes,” he said.
Troop 55 erected two posts with four boxes large enough to hold about 100 bats apiece in August 2024. Porto received his Eagle Scout rank April 1.
“This is a start for a very bright future for you,” McGuigan told the young man.
“I was there in your garage when you were showing that leadership, showing the younger members of the troop how to build the bat houses,” Mayor Dennis Tapp said. “I was there when you were out there installing the bat houses. It was a privilege for me to be there.”
Tapp noted the large number of projects that have been accomplished in the city. In the spring, Somers Point teen Geoffrey Lovett supervised members of Troop 55 as they removed, rebuilt and refilled garden planters at Somers Mansion as part of the 15-year-old’s effort toward achieving Eagle Scout rank.
“The one thing that is great about doing Eagle Scout projects in the city of Somers Point is that we benefit from having these projects,” Tapp said.
Councilman Rich DePamphilis noted he has a son and a grandson who are Eagle Scouts.
“I know how much work and dedication it takes — not only for yourself but also for your parents,” he said.
Porto is now in Macon, Ga., where he will attend a three-month firefighting school before being placed in a battalion.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
