The Alternative Press

NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ - Thursday night, Oct. 25, at the elegant Primavera Regency in Stirling, four individuals from New Providence were recognized for their exemplary leadership in the community. The Patriots’ Path Council, Boy Scouts of America held the inaugural New Providence Good Scout Award Dinner where local citizens were honored.

This year’s honorees were Mr. Michael “Mickey” Allocco, Mr. Kevin Carroll, Dr. Mitch Erickson, and Mrs. Rose Mary Murphy.  The event recognized them for their community service, as evidenced by their leadership and interests within the New Providence community, and for their embodiment of the values of the century old Scout Oath and Law in their personal and professional lives.

Grant Van Eck, the executive director of the Patriots' Path Council Boy Scouts of America said he and the board members thought of the event in the summer and realized it would be a great tradition to begin.  

“It’s going to be a wonderful thing to continue for this committee to honor such outstanding people,” Van Eck said. "It was my privilege to get to know this amazing honorees. I am truly inspired by their lives as they are shining examples of what the values of Scouting teaches our youth."

Michael “Mickey” Allocco has been the president of the New Providence Fire Department for 26 years, a volunteer fireman for 60 years, a trustee of Senior Affordable Housing, vice president of trustees at the Senior Citizens Center, a past member of the Parent Faculty Guild and Bingo Committee at Our Lady of Peace Church and School and a past vice president of New Providence High School Booster Club.

His wife, Theresa, said she and her family were thrilled to be at the dinner and are proud of her husband.  

“I think the Boy Scouts are wonderful,” she said. “I never expected such a turnout.”

Kevin Carroll is a teacher and coach in the Borough of Madison public schools, serves as a director on the New Providence PAL Board, is a member of the New Providence Athletic Foundation, a public liaison to the Borough Council’s Fields Committee and was a past chair of the Recreation Commission.  He has been recognized as Coach of the Year 12 times and was inducted in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Hall of Fame in 2004.

“I’m very honored and humbled to be here tonight and to be one of the honorees,” Carroll said. “I feel that it is a very prestigious honor, one that I truly embrace and I’m very happy to receive.”

Carroll said being in the Boy Scouts is about mentoring and setting a good example.  It is important to be a role model for children, so they will have a bright future, he said.

Rose Mary Murphy is a Cardio-Pulmonary Technician at Summit Medical Group, is the director of Our Lady of Peach Church’s (OLP) Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and Eucharistic Ministers, an active member in U.S. Women’s Health Initiative for 20 years, a retired director of OLP’s Religious Education, a former committee member of the Teacher-to-Teacher Jewish-Catholic Council, a former Boy Scout Den Leader and a former Girl Scout Troop Leader.

“I just can’t believe it,” she said after finding out she was going to be honored.  

Murphy said it was a beautiful evening and it was great to see so many old friends and her family that lives all over the country. Two of her children were in the Boy Scouts and she said she always thought highly of the organization.

Mitch Erickson is a senior executive with the Federal Department of Homeland Security, is the Boy Scout Commissioner for Watchung Mountain District, a Unit Commissioner since 2005 and Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 63 since 1999, an active participant to Sabattis and Philmont and an Eagle Scout.  He has published two books, holds one patent, authored over 150 technical publications and received the R&D-100 Award and a Federal Laboratory Council Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer.

In addition to the Good Scout Award, each honoree received a State of New Jersey Joint Legislative Resolution from Senator Thomas Kean, Assemblyman Jon Bramnick and Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz; and an American Flag flown over the U.S. Capitol Building, with a citation by the Architect of the Capitol, from Congressman Leonard Lance.