By NEIL ZOLOT
NORTH READING – Eagle Scout Christine Tenney was given a Certificate of Recognition by the Select Board at their meeting Monday, June 26 for her project reorganizing storage space in the Union Congregational Church on Haverhill Street.
“I’m grateful for the acknowledgement,” she reacted. “It was hard work, but satisfying once it was over.”
Tenney’s family are members of the UCC. She approached them about the project. “They built a two-story storage building, with six groups utilizing just the second floor,” she explained. “Due to open floor plan, it was hard to tell where each group’s allotted space ended and the next’s began. There was very little shelving so it was hard to keep the space organized, causing many grievances. I had been asked to make non-supporting divider walls as well as add a bit of shelving to the perimeter wall. To cut down on materials and allow for structural support, walls and shelves were attached directly to the wall studs. In order to allow easy movement of items, the walls only go out to the edge of the door frame and the left when facing in and the right side only to the edge of the back window.
“The project will be beneficial by allowing for better storage to keep the pathway clear of clutter and better access to the items being stored. Also, with shelving added, there will be less of a chance of injury when removing an item due to easier access to the items and separation of items.”
“It’s much easier to find things because she organized items we need at different times of the year,” UCC Minister of Discipleship Gayle McGlauflin confirmed. “Christine is great. Anytime we ask for help, she’s willing.”
Through friends, family, and the community at large $955 was raised for the project, higher than the $900 goal Tenney set. The project ended up costing $816.08 and the excess was donated to the church.
She just graduated from North Reading High School and will be attending UMass Lowell where she is looking to major in Industrial Engineering. She is also the town’s first female Eagle Scout and part of female Troop 701 in Wakefield, which is affiliated with North Reading’s male Troop 750. Select Board Chairwoman Liane Gonzalez called Tenney’s work “such a great thing.”
New TCC manager
In other business the Select Board approved the appointment of Christopher Young as new manager of the Thomson Country Club Pro Shop and the TCC Grille as part of their operating licenses.
Board liaisons announced
Liaisons to other town committees have also been finalized. Among them, Gonzalez will be liaison to the School Committee, Finance Committee and Housing Authority; Vice Chair Vincenzo Stuto will be the liaison to the Capital Improvement Planning Committee, Ipswich River Watershed Advisory Board, Recreation Committee, Water/Wastewater Planning Committee, Water Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals and co-liaison to the Finance Committee. Also, Kathryn Manupelli will be the liaison to the Facilities Master Plan Committee, Metropolitan Area Planning Council and Youth Substance Abuse Coalition; Stephen O’Leary will be the liaison to the Conservation Commission, Historic District Commission, Historical Commission and Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational School Committee; and Richard Wallner will be the liaison to the Commission on Disabilities, Council on Aging, MBTA Advisory Board, Recycling Committee, Transportation Committee and Youth Services Committee