Sterling Meetinghouse News

By Danielle Ray, Senior Reporter

Boy Scout Thomas Foley, Troop 189, is collaborating with the Sterling Fire Department for his Eagle Scout project – creating reflective address number signs for residents to place on their mailboxes or homes so first responders can easily locate peoples’ them during an emergency. 

“The address signs are easy to see day and night, whether the home is right on the street or set back off of the street on a long driveway,” said SFD Firefighter/Paramedic and Asst. Emergency Management Director Jim Emerton. “The sign gives fire and EMS a clear way to find the home of the resident requesting our fire or ambulance services. With most of our calls, a timely response is key to providing fire or medical services to your household.”

The blue metal signs feature large reflective numbers and are provided free-of-charge to Sterling residents. They can be ordered in a horizontal or vertical orientation, six-by-six inches or six-by-12 inches respectively, on the fire department website. 

To date, Thomas and his fellow Scouts have produced over 100 signs during two workshops in his garage, the latest one on March 20, and have orders for almost 75 more signs. 

“I appreciate how their help allowed for efficient production of the signs which allowed for a higher number of signs to be made in a matter of only a few hours,” Thomas said. 

Thomas, aged 17, has lived in town his whole life and is a junior at Saint Paul Diocesan Jr/Sr High School in Worcester. He started as a Cub Scout in first grade, and has been in Boy Scouts for 10 years. 

“The activity I have enjoyed most is camping with my fellow Scouts,” he said. 

Thomas said a Troop 189 committee member is actively involved with the fire department. 

“He mentioned the fire department had a need for high-visibility signs in the town of Sterling to help emergency personnel identify residences in emergency situation,” Thomas said. 

Thomas reached out to Emerton in February to discuss the project details. After receiving the necessary approvals to start the project, work began on March 1. 

“As I finish signs, deliveries are made to some residences, but most signs are picked up by residents at designated pick-up locations in the town throughout the length of the project,” Thomas said. 

Funding for materials for the large-scale project is coming from an EMS grant the fire department received. 

“The signs also have a benefit to all public safety and services here in town,” Emerton said. “The police department needs similar easy-to-see access, same with the DPW and the light department. When an ambulance responds during the night, the patients often turn on their front lights to make it easier for us to find the home. Imagine how that changes for the Sterling Municipal Light Department when they are responding to a home that has no power.”

Eagle Scout is the highest achievement or rank attainable in the Scouts BSA program of the Boy Scouts of America. Since its inception in 1911, only four percent of Scouts have earned this rank after a lengthy review process. The Eagle Scout rank has been earned by over 2.5 million youth.

At this time Thomas said he does not know when he will receive his Eagle Scout award. 

Before receiving the award, I must participate in a board of review following completion of the project,” he said. “After the review we will most likely consider holding a COVID-19-safe ceremony for myself and some of the other recent Eagle Scout rank recipients from my troop.”

Thomas said he plans to stay involved with his troop after his project is completed. 

“During the project I have enjoyed being a leader and directing the many aspects and moving parts of the production and distribution of the signs,” he said. “At times it is challenging to control and coordinate the different parts of the project. As the project finishes, I look forward to seeing the signs across the town and recognizing that the signs could aid in the saving of one’s life in an emergency.”

Emerton said every residence in town is required to have an address number posted, and most do, but there is no requirement for the size, color, or location of the sign. 

“Over time those numbers on a mailbox may fade, or break and a 37 is now just a three or a seven, and that’s not the time to have emergency services struggle to find your home,” Emerton said. “The reflective lettering is high visibility – easier to be seen on dark, or rainy or snowy nights. We hope residents will take a look at their own property, and maybe the homes on their roads, to see whether their home address is visible.”

The deadline to order a reflective sign is April 15. For more information and to order one visit www.sterlingfd.net.