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Eagle project owes success to many

Starting on April 18th, and ending on the 19th, 2014, I completed a major portion of my Eagle project around the southeast Slough, in Prospect Heights.

My project goal was to clear a large area of its shore from invasive buckthorn and as much dead wood as possible. Due to the huge amount of support from my Troop, friends and the community, my project was a success!

Mr. Ken Schaefer, a naturalist and the groundskeeper at Oakton Community College, was most helpful and loaned loppers, saws and safety glasses. He also identified and tagged native plants to leave alone.

Agnes Wojnarski, a member of the newly-formed Natural Areas Commission of Prospect Heights, volunteered many hours before and during my project. After the cutting, hauling and piling to the edge of Maple Street was completed, she applied herbicide to the tenacious buckthorn insuring it would not return. Calling her essential would be quite an understatement.

The city's Public Works Department loaned us construction cones to warn drivers to slow down and be wary of everyone working in the area. Beginning Monday, they began chipping up all of the collected debris and hauled it away. The Slough looks better than it has in many years.

The city's enthusiasm about my project was a great morale booster that helped get me through the planning and execution. I want to express how grateful I am for their approval and support for my project. It was a good feeling to know how many people were behind me.

I am writing this as a sincere thank you to all that helped and to voice my support for similar buckthorn removal projects happening on this Earth Day.

Kristopher Klingner, BSA Troop 468

Prospect Heights

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