Girl Scout Cookie Sales Are Underway

BY FRANCINE FULTON

For those craving Girl Scout Cookies, the wait is over.

Girl Scout Cookie sales are now underway at area stores and shopping centers. Locally, weekend sales are being held at the following locations: Tractor Supply, 985 Octorara Trail, Parkesburg; Walmart Supercenter, 100 Commons Drive, Parkesburg; Christiana Beverage, 360 Route 41, Gap; and RDV Convenience Store, 214 W. First Ave., Parkesburg.

To search for other locations, visit www.girlscouts.org and enter a ZIP code into the cookie locater. Cookies can also be purchased online starting on Monday, Feb. 27. The newest cookie, Raspberry Rally, which is a thin, crispy cookie with a raspberry flavor dipped in chocolate, can only be purchased online.

Locally, troop members from the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania (GSEP) who were selling cookies on a recent weekend at the Parkesburg Walmart included Gwen Clymer, a member of Cadette Troop 4037 of Atglen, which meets at the Penningtonville Presbyterian Church in Atglen, accompanied by her dad, Steve Clymer, and Naomi Walburn, a member of Brownie Troop 4642, which meets at Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Parkesburg, accompanied by her mother, Adrienne Walburn, troop leader.

Both girls reported that Thin Mints were the most popular selling cookie. “I freeze them and then put them in with ice cream,” said Gwen, who noted that Thin Mints are her favorites as well.

In addition to Thin Mints, Girl Scout Cookie varieties include Lemonades, Peanut Butter Sandwich, Peanut Butter Patties, Trefoils and Adventurefuls, which were introduced in 2022. “They are like a Thin Mint texture, but they are brownies with caramel and sea salt,” said Adrienne.

Those who visit the booths also have an opportunity to donate cookies to Hometown Heroes, a program adopted in 2019 by GSEP.

“At the end of our cookie season, our donations will go to local fire, police, EMTs and postal workers in this area,” Adrienne noted. According to www.gsep.org, Girl Scouts are learning five skills when selling cookies: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics.

Gwen said selling cookies has taught her a lot about sales, including handling rejection. “I am learning how to deal with people who walk past and don’t say hello,” she said.

“We are trying to (teach the girls to) use (their) voices and be less shy,” Adrienne added. “(The Scouts are also learning) social skills; counting; math, including multiplication; and giving change.”

Naomi said that the troop plans to use the money for troop activities and field trips. “We want to go to Dutch Wonderland or Hersheypark,” she said.

Girl Scout Cookie sales will continue through the end of March. For more information, visit the aforementioned websites.

BY FRANCINE FULTON

“A new year brings new faces to your local ambulance service,” announced Ben Scheffel, new president of the Christiana Community Ambulance Association (CCAA). In addition to Scheffel, other officers elected during the January board meeting were George Stewart, vice president; Tim Zook, treasurer; and

Brian Petersheim, recording secretary. John Beyer and Paul Zook were also named as board members. “Together, we are excited to hit the ground running,” Scheffel said. The new officers are part of CCAA’s revitalization effort, which includes adding more volunteers, improving its website and expanding its fleet of emergency vehicles.

See Christiana Ambulance pg 5