SAUGUS — As the son of the town’s deputy fire chief and a former selectmen, Jake D’Eon has spent his entire life surrounded by Saugus public servants giving back to the community. Now, the 16-year-old is making his mark on the town at an early age.
D’Eon is working toward becoming an eagle scout. He set this goal, a mark neither his father nor his grandfather hit in their scouting careers, for himself at age 10. For his eagle project, D’Eon plans to construct eight new handicap-accessible picnic tales in the Pine Tops picnic area at Breakheart Reservation.
The inspiration for the project came about because of D’Eon’s love for nature. He explained that he enjoys walking his dog in Breakheart, and wanted to make the reservation accessible to all of the town’s residents.
“I started thinking everyone should have a place to rest after walking, and maybe have their lunch there,” D’Eon said. “I liked the idea of being able to help others be able to spend time in nature.”
To make the project a reality, D’Eon has to plan and manage it from start to finish. This includes raising the funds necessary to buy materials, supplies, and other items needed to complete the project. He has already begun doing so, and has a fundraiser set for Thursday, March 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Giggles Comedy Club in Prince Pizza.
There, a basket full of gift cards to local businesses will be raffled off to help pay for the cost of D’Eon’s project. D’Eon said residents have already been “very supportive” in the early stages of the project, with donations already rolling in and numerous volunteers on board.
The picnic tables themselves will be constructed across two days during the April school vacation next month, and D’Eon said a design is already in place. Volunteers will work in groups cutting, assembling, and painting all of the tables, he said, explaining that the work should be completed after two eight-hour work days.
“We need volunteers that need community service to come and help,” he said.
D’Eon earned rapturous praise from the Board of Selectmen at their meeting last week.
“Jake, I just want to let you know that we’re all proud of you and we’ll recognize you after you get your eagle scout,” said Board member Jeff Cicolini.
Debra Panetta, the board’s vice chair, hailed D’Eon as a “phenomenal young man.”
