Journey comes full circle for Alex Costello
OCEAN CITY — It was a full-circle moment for Ocean City’s Alex Costello on Thursday afternoon as he returned to a place he first loved as a child.
A crowd gathered at Lake Memorial Park to watch the dedication of Alex’s Eagle Scout project — a tiny, brightly colored lending library set up around the StoryWalk that winds through the pretty shaded park at 407 Wesley Ave.
The 17-year-old Holy Spirit High School senior was being honored in the place that brought back years of great memories.
Jennifer Somers explained that when Alex was 3 years old, “we rode our bike to this park and sat in that bench over there and had packed tuna fish sandwiches for lunch. We just sat and had the quietist time,” the proud mother said. “Every time, up until a couple of years ago, every time we rode by this park he would say, ‘Remember when?’ So it was really cool the Friends and Volunteers of the Ocean City Free Public Library wanted to do this project so that it came full circle for Alex.”
Alex, son of Somers and Leon Costello, the auditor for Ocean City, said he was motivated to give back to the community, something he had done multiple times before via different community projects.
This project, he said, was different.
“It’s more special because I’ll be able to inspire creativity within kids and maybe promote a love for reading,” he said.
The little library is filled with children’s books. Visitors to the park are welcome to take the books and leave books to share with other children.
Printed on the side of the little library is a poem by Christine M. Wilson, president of the Friends and Volunteers. Wilson read the poem, “The Lil Lending Library,” at the gathering:
There’s a little place that’s just for me
I can visit it every day.
Read a book, take a book,
Get a “new” book totally free!
There’s a little place that’s just for me
I can take my friends for a view.
A cherished collection of gently used books
Especially for me and you!
Alex has a love a reading, which doesn’t come easily to him because he has ADHD and dyslexia.
“Some of my favorite books earlier on, I really liked the ‘Magic Treehouse’ series. I’ve read almost every single one I could possibly find. I cleared out the entire library of all of those books,” he said. “And then maybe around eighth to ninth (grade) I started reading ‘Harry Potter,’ longer books but still great ones. I have ADHD and dyslexia so it is hard for me to read, but I still enjoy it because it’s a different way of telling a story. You don’t need a video.
“Nowadays,” he added, “I’m reading biographies or depictions of certain (historical) events that happen. ‘I Survived’ books are a great example. They’re not exactly the most advanced books but I like reading them because they’re very informational and I’m a really big fan of history.”
After graduation from Holy Spirit, Alex plans to become a welder, attending Elite Welder Training and Testing in Mickleton, Gloucester County. That interest was sparked during his time in the Boy Scouts.
“Surprisingly enough I took a welding course in Boy Scouts. I got my welding badge and I was like, ‘Wow, this is actually fun.’ At the time I had no idea what I was going to do,” he said. “I had so many things I wanted to. One was being an astronaut.”
Smiling, he added, “Welding is definitely more accessible, I’d say. From there I made up my mind. I want to be a welder. Welding is fun and they’re in high demand, so what better time to go be a welder?”
Alex’s father, like his mother, is proud of his son.
“He put some time into that box. That was his design with all the different colors,” Costello said.
He explained Alex was in charge of his Eagle Scout project, which involves using other Scouts to help.
“The Scout does the project and other Scouts help. So many have to be there to do the project with him, but he’s in charge,” Costello said.
Smiling broadly as he watched the ceremony with his son, Costello noted is wasn’t easy having the little library set up. “It was tough getting it into the ground. We had to do it twice,” he said.
At the ceremony there were families with small children, library staff members and members of the Friends and Volunteers, including emcee Melodie Perri, who offered a history of the park and introduced Alex. The culmination involved everyone, children and adults alike, blowing bubbles.
– STORY and PHOTOS by DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
