Girl Scouts learn the art of being brave
March 12, 2013
What do Taylor Swift, Venus Williams and Sandra Day O’Connor have in common? All are wildly successful in their various fields and they donned Girl Scouts uniforms when they were young.
Girl Scouts, which celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, has had a tremendous impact on culture — particularly when it comes to helping girls find their voice, develop the confidence to pursue their goals and challenge themselves in ways that, even just a few decades ago, were still rather revolutionary, Stefanie Ellis, public relations director of Girl Scouts of Western Washington, said.
Photos by Greg Farrar
Above, Issaquah attorney Mary Hammerly keeps a banner with her merit badge sash from the late 1960s, when she grew up in Wisconsin and earned the First Class Award.
“We want girls to feel better about themselves and their future … to be motivated by the fact that women are truly changing the world,” she said. “We want people to know, especially girls, that more than 80 percent of female senior executives and business owners were Girl Scouts, as well as two-thirds of the women in Congress and virtually every female astronaut.”
Issaquah has a couple of famous former Girls Scouts as well, including Mayor Ava Frisinger.
Who’s News
July 17, 2012
Girl Scouts collect hundreds of books for food bank
Andreea Popa and Anusha Kikkeri, of the Issaquah Girl Scout Troop 42302, collected 283 books for the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank from June 18 to July 2. The two ninth-graders at Skyline High School set and easily surpassed their goal of collecting 200 books to earn their Girl Scout Silver Awards.
Tent City 4 needs help to prepare, serve holiday season meals
December 7, 2011
NEW — 10 p.m. Dec. 7, 2011
Tent City 4 organizers need a hand to prepare and serve meals at the homeless encampment.
Elizabeth Maupin, Issaquah Sammamish Interfaith Coalition coordinator and Tent City 4 organizer, asked for volunteers for Dec. 26 and 31.
Maupin and Earle Jones plan to coordinate the Dec. 31 meal. In order to complete the process, Maupin and Jones need a half dozen or so volunteers to help. Contact Maupin at elimaupin@gmail.com to volunteer for either meal or to ask questions.
Organizers offer answers to frequently asked questions about serving meals at the campsite on the Tent City 4 website. The team also uses a frequently updated online calendar to track meals for Tent City 4.
Groups serving meals to Tent City 4 residents include faith organizations, families, Boy and Girl Scout troops, and more.
Issaquah School District campuses host Veterans Day events
November 1, 2011
Several local schools have planned to honor current military personnel and other veterans just in time for Veterans Day, Nov. 11.
At 9:30 a.m. Nov. 9, Clark Elementary School will open its doors to present and past military members and their families, said Heather Maloney, president of the Clark PTA.
Maloney said local veterans from the area, including from local VFW posts and the Providence Point retirement community, had been invited.
The school also had contacted the Issaquah High School Navy Junior ROTC program about providing a color guard.
King County bans unwanted door-to-door solicitation
October 25, 2011
Residents in rural and unincorporated King County gained a tool to discourage door-to-door solicitors due to a recent County Council decision.
If a resident posts a “No Soliciting” or “No Trespassing” sign on his or her property, then a commercial solicitor is prohibited from contacting the resident. Under the ordinance, violators face a $100 fine.
The regulation adopted by the council Oct. 3 applies to more than 300,000 residents in unincorporated areas.
Adventures abound for boys and girls in scouting groups
July 2, 2011
Dads are on the losing end of a tug-of-war against 16 Cub Scouts at Hans Jensen Park. By Greg Farrar.
Despite decades of history in America, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts still endure narrow views of their efforts.
The girls are famous for their cookie sales, the boys for their camping trips. That sometimes plays against them.
“A common misconception is that all Girl Scouts do is sell cookies,” said Julie Wendell, with the Girl Scouts of East King County. “The leadership opportunities, travel experiences and wonderful programs offered by Girl Scouts go way beyond selling cookies.”
Similar troubles beset the boys.
“A misconception is that Boy Scouts is for suburban white kids. And we don’t do programs for people of other ethnic backgrounds, and that all we do is tie knots and go camping,” said Sharon Moulds, with the Chief Seattle Council of the Boy Scouts of America, which encompasses all of King County.
Who’s News
April 26, 2011
Issaquah students receive garden club grants
The East Lake Washington District of Garden Clubs recently awarded more than $3,000 to local classrooms or horticulture and environmental studies.
Receiving the local grants were:
The Tiger Mountain Community High School students of teacher Mitra Kundu (about 100 alternative students and 21 developmentally disabled students served by A.C.T.) received $400 for adding raised beds to their growing area that includes a small green house.
The Grand Ridge Elementary School students of teacher Rebecca Rappin asked for funds to obtain more equipment for composting additional cafeteria food waste for making soil amendments to use in their vegetable and flower beds.
Rotary Club honors students of the month
March 1, 2011
The Rotary Club of Issaquah recently honored the following seniors as its students of the month for February.
Isabelle Chu
Isabelle Chu
-School: Issaquah High School
-Category of recognition: music
-Parents: Lawrence and Janet Chu
-Sponsoring teacher: Doug Longman
-Achievements: 4.0 grade point average, National Merit commended status
-Athletics: two black belts in martial arts
-Activities: principal cellist of the Evergreen Philharmonic and formal principal of Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra; second in state for large ensemble (2009)
-Scholastic activities: biology (and pursue that in college); National Honor Society executive board
-Hobbies: playing cello in orchestra and small ensemble/chamber groups; photography, fashion and traveling
-Outside school affiliations: Universal Energy Martial Arts; Eastside Chamber Choir and Orchestra; Sapor Dei Quartet; volunteer at Clark Elementary School
-Future goals: attend a four-year liberal arts college; dream school is Amherst or Princeton; still undecided on a career
Girl Scouts offer app to locate cookie sales spots
February 26, 2011
NEW — 8 a.m. Feb. 26, 2011
Girl Scouts fanned out across the region Friday to offer Thin Mints, Samoas, Tagalongs and the rest to the cookie-craving public.
Cookie sales continue at many locations in Issaquah and beyond through March 13. Use the Cookie Locator to find cookie booths.
Thin Mints, Tagalongs, Samoas, Do-si-dos, Trefoils, Lemon Chalet Cremes, Thank U Berry Munch and Dulce de Leche all cost $4 per box, payable by cash or check.
Finding a cookie booth is easier nowadays, thanks to the Cookie Locator smart phone app.
Learn about Girl Scout Camp at free kickoff
January 25, 2011
At summer camp, Girl Scouts can explore their region by sea kayaking, horseback riding, marine biology and mountain biking.
Girl Scouts of Western Washington invites families with girls entering grades one through 12 to visit its camp registration kickoff day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 5 at Camp River Ranch, 33300 N.E. 32nd Street, Carnation.
Prospective campers and their families can participate in camp activities, including archery, crafts and s’more making. They can also meet with directors of Girl Scout summer camps — Girl Scout Camp River Ranch, Girl Scout Camp Robbinswold and Girl Scout Camp St. Albans — who will be on hand to assist with on-site registration, answer questions and help girls choose the best camp to fit their needs.
Girls do not have to be Girl Scouts to attend the camps.
Register before Feb. 2 online at www.girlscoutsww.org/camps/kickoff.
