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Girl Scouts of Suffolk County

Photo courtesy Girl Scouts of Suffolk County

The Girl Scouts of Suffolk County will kick off in-person “booth sales” for Girl Scout Cookies this weekend, starting on Friday, January 31.

In addition to in-person sales, customers can easily locate their nearest cookie booth by visiting the “Cookie Locator” on the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County’s website and searching by ZIP Code. For those who prefer online shopping, Girl Scouts are using the Digital Cookie platform to go beyond the booth and share their personalized cookie sites with QR codes and emails.

This year’s cookie lineup includes beloved classics including Thin Mints, Samoas, and Tagalongs. The 2025 season also marks the final opportunity for customers to purchase the S’mores cookie, which will be discontinued after this year. This year, all Girl Scout Cookies are priced at $7 a box, with a portion of the sales going directly to the troop from which customers make a purchase.

“The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the world’s largest girl-led entrepreneurial endeavor, teaching participants valuable skills such as goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics,” said Tammy Severino, CEO of Girl Scouts of Suffolk County. “Proceeds from cookie sales directly support local Girl Scout troops, funding activities like camping trips, community service projects, and educational programs.”

The 2025 cookie season runs through April 22, with availability and dates varying by location. Customers are encouraged to support their local Girl Scouts by purchasing cookies at booth sales or through the Digital Cookie platform.

For more information, please visit the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County’s website at www.gssc.us.

About Girl Scouts of Suffolk County 

Since 1968, Girl Scouts of Suffolk County has been committed to building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. Girl Scouts helps girls develop their full individual potential; relate to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect; develop values to guide their actions and provide the foundation for sound decision-making; and contribute to the improvement of society through their abilities, leadership skills, and cooperation with others. Follow Girl Scouts of Suffolk County on FacebookXInstagramYouTube and LinkedIn.

The Girl Scouts of Suffolk County hosted a preview of its annual Holiday Light Show at the Enchanted Forest at the Girl Scouts’ Camp Edey, located in Bayport on Nov. 12.

As part of the event, five Girl Scouts who won the annual Holiday Lights drawing contest saw their sketches come to life as a lighted display for the first time. Creations included a multi-colored daisy, a Girl Scout jumping over a bridge with the phrase “I Believe in Myself,” and a festive set of holiday cars traversing the woods. 

“I submitted in previous years and this is the first time I’m getting it,” said Jasmine Luo, 17, of Commack who is an aspiring artist and one of the winners of the contest. “I get to express myself more. Through my art I can spread my feelings and thoughts to other people better.” 

The show returns to Camp Edey for the first time since 2016 with an immersive, half-mile walk-through experience, with dozens of dazzling and animated light displays, including the iconic giant lighted Christmas tree, with plenty of fun photo opportunities along the way. Creating the show takes five miles of extension cords and enough electricity to power 25 homes. 

“We’re thrilled to once again highlight the creativity of our Girl Scouts as their designs go from drawings to a vibrant, lighted display that everyone can enjoy,” said Tammy Severino, President and CEO of Girl Scouts of Suffolk County. “This is the only holiday light show that supports a nonprofit. Funds raised through the show will provide scholarships to help girls become Girl Scouts and participate in our programs.” 

The display opens to the public on Friday, November 29. Tickets for the light display can be purchased in advance for a specific date and arrival time.  Click here to purchase tickets. All proceeds go toward helping girls participate in Girl Scout programs. 

About Girl Scouts of Suffolk County 

Since 1968, Girl Scouts of Suffolk County has been committed to building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. Girl Scouts helps girls develop their full individual potential; relate to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect; develop values to guide their actions and provide the foundation for sound decision-making; and contribute to the improvement of society through their abilities, leadership skills, and cooperation with others. Follow Girl Scouts of Suffolk County on FacebookXInstagramYouTube and LinkedIn.

 

Photo courtesy Girl Scouts of Suffolk County

The Girl Scouts of Suffolk County honored 42 Girl Scouts at its annual Gold Award Dinner & Ceremony on May 30. The event was held at Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook.

The Gold Award is the highest achievement in Girl Scouting and the preeminent leadership award for high school girls.  Gold Award Girl Scouts address issues they’re passionate about by planning and implementing a project that produces lasting change in their communities and beyond.

Among the awardees: 

Meredith Albertelli, Sayville High School

Kirsten Anderson, Longwood Senior High School

Morgan Bissell, Sayville High School

Zabelle Bobelian, Cold Spring Harbor Jr/Sr High School

Ashley Burke, Babylon Senior High School

Emma Cervone, Southampton High School

Brooke Cheskes, Harborfields High School

Mackenzie Clarke, Kings Park High School

Jessica Curran, Westhampton Beach High School

Julia Davi, St. John the Baptist

Alexandra Ebanks, Harborfields High School

Emily Franciscovich, Deer Park High School

Maeve   Graham, Babylon Senior High School

Alyssa Griesman, Smithtown High School West

Lauren Hedges, Kings Park High School

Sofia Kabacinski, Our Lady of Mercy Academy

Libby Kelly, Harborfields High School

Riya A. Kumar, Elwood-John Glenn High School

Avery Lazarus, Sayville High School

Alana Lewis, St. John The Baptist Diocesan High

Madison LoFrese, Smithtown High School East

Tianna    Marotta, Connetquot High School

Akiko Matrisciano, Our Lady of Mercy Academy

Chloe Montgomery, Ward Melville High School

Emily Newman, Walter G O’Connell School

Michaela O’Connell, Huntington High School

Annamaria Pepe, Walter G O’Connell Copiague High School

Angelica Rafaelides, Smithtown High School West

Megan  Reilly, St. Anthony’s High School

Rebecca Sandak, Mt Sinai High School

Ayesha Shaukat, St. Anthony’s High School

Theresa Soraire, Walter G O’Connell Copiague High School

Joelle Spainer, West Babylon Senior High School

Abbey Strent, Commack High School

Reagan Treharne, Southold High School

Brianna Vargas, Babylon Senior High School

Abigail Vermillion, Hauppauge High School

Haley Waszkelewicz, Westhampton Beach High School

Maegan Whalen, Commack High School

Evelyn Whitwell, St. Anthony’s High School

Layla Wilkes, Commack High School

Cassandra Yanke, Smithtown High School West

“Our Gold Award Girl Scouts are leaders in their community who are making measurable and sustainable change while still in high school said Tammy Severino, President and CEO of Girl Scouts of Suffolk County. “As they take action to transform their world, they gain tangible, real-world skills and a civic-minded awareness that sets them apart from their peers. 96% of Gold Award Girl Scouts say their experience inspired their ongoing commitment to service or volunteering. Our Gold Award Girl Scouts are discovering they have the power to create the future they want for themselves and others, and we are proud and honored by their achievements.”

To earn a Gold Award, each recipient must complete two Senior or Ambassador Journeys or their Girl Scout Silver Award before beginning their Gold Award project. To meet the Girl Scout Gold Award requirements, each candidate must complete at least 80 hours toward their project.

About Girl Scouts of Suffolk County 

Since 1968, Girl Scouts of Suffolk County has been committed to building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. With over 15,000 members, they are one of the largest youth-serving agencies in Suffolk County. Girl Scouts helps girls develop their full individual potential; relate to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect; develop values to guide their actions and provide the foundation for sound decision making; and contribute to the improvement of society through their abilities, leadership skills, and cooperation with others. For more information about the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County, please call (631) 543-6622 or visit www.gssc.us.

Approximately 50 girls from The Girl Scouts of Suffolk County (GSSC)  honored Long Island military veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation by planting American Flags at their graves at Calverton National Cemetery on May 25 in advance of Memorial Day.

The annual event is part of the GSSC county-wide Service Unit 48 activities and included girls ages 5 to 16 from Mastic Beach, Shirley and Moriches. 

Many of the girls have been participating in the activity for years.
“As an older Girl Scout it’s important to be a role model for the younger girls and to keep the tradition alive,” said Olivia Philips, of Mastic, who has been planting flags for nearly 10 years. 
“Im proud of the girls that they take the time out,” said Laura Sorgie of Shirley, who is a troop leader and member of Service Unit 48, which organized the event. “So many people think this is just a long holiday weekend for barbecues. I’m so proud of them for coming out here and doing what’s really important.” 
The girls also earned a special “Calverton National Cemetery” patch to wear on their sashes and vests. 
 
About Girl Scouts of Suffolk County 
Since 1968, Girl Scouts of Suffolk County has been committed to building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. With over 15,000 members, they are one of the largest youth-serving agencies in Suffolk County. Girl Scouts helps girls develop their full individual potential; relate to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect; develop values to guide their actions and provide the foundation for sound decision making; and contribute to the improvement of society through their abilities, leadership skills, and cooperation with others. For more information about the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County, please call (631) 543-6622 or visit www.gssc.us.

From left, Olivia Vigliotti, Troop 1631, Ronkonkoma; Tammy Severino, CEO, Girl Scouts of Suffolk County; Marissa Cilibrasi, Troop 1631, Ronkonkoma. Photo courtesy of Girl Scouts of Suffolk County

Past Presidents Scholarship Fund” recognizes outstanding achievements

The Girl Scouts of Suffolk County awarded its annual Past Presidents Scholarships to five young women planning on attending college in Fall 2024. Each Girl Scout received $500 to be used toward tuition or other expenses related to attending college.

“These young women have demonstrated a lifelong dedication to the Girl Scouts and the values we represent,” said Tammy Severino, CEO, Girl Scouts of Suffolk County. “Our Girl Scouts are learning to appreciate the outdoors, life skills, leadership and entrepreneurial skills as well as STEM and the arts. We are so proud of them and know they will succeed in college.”

The five scholarship recipients for 2024 are:

  • Lillian Clements, Troop 60100, Northport, NY
  • Olivia Vigliotti, Troop 1631, Ronkonkoma, NY
  • Marissa Cilibrasi, Troop 1631, Ronkonkoma, NY
  • Sarah DiPersio, Troop 227, Miller Place, NY
  • Julia Davi, Troop 98, Brightwaters, NY

The Board of Directors established the Past Presidents Scholarship Fund in 1988 to award educational scholarships to outstanding Ambassador Girl Scouts in the following categories: Academic Achievement, Community Service, Girl Scouting, and Personal Challenge. The scholarships will be awarded to five qualifying graduating Ambassador Girl Scouts in the Spring of the current year.

 

Carol Keil (second from left) is honored by the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County. Photo courtesy of Girl Scouts of Suffolk County

Carol Keil has personally mentored thousands of Long Island Girl Scouts

The Girl Scouts of Suffolk County honored Carol Keil of Huntington or her 50 years of service at its annual Volunteer Appreciation & Awards Dinner, held in Holbrook on April 19.

The Girl Scouts also created a new award in her honor, the Carol Keil Service Award.

Carol is a native Long Islander, born and raised in Mattituck. She says she was never able to be a Girl Scout growing up. Instead, she got involved when her daughters wanted to join the Girl Scouts.

“When my second oldest daughter was a Girl Scout and the troop leader was leaving, I said I would take her place as long as another mom would do it. Today that mom is my best friend.” Carol led that troop for 16 years and later rose to leadership positions in Suffolk County and at the Girl Scouts of USA.

Among her fondest memories is a trip to Washington DC, where one of her 5th grade girls was afraid to go up into the Washington Monument. Carol assured her she and the other leaders would hold her hand the entire time if she went up, and she got onto the elevator and took the ride. On the way home on the bus, Carol found a serving kit and invented a “Fear of Heights” badge which she sewed onto the girl’s sash in celebration of her conquering her fear. That girl, Linda Grasso, is now a science teacher at Half Hollow Hills High School.

“I remember Ms. Keil helping me that day,” says Grasso. “It had an impact on me that I never forgot and taught me I can do just about anything.”

Carol says she has always sought to teach and inspire the girls in her troops – which she humbly admits could be in the thousands. She also helped to create a badge for substance abuse prevention, which is now among the dozens of achievement badges available to Girl Scouts.

“Girl Scouts allows for ingenuity. It inspires young women to invent their future. I’m proud that I could be a part of that.”

The evening honored 300 other volunteers for their service to the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County.

“We are indebted to the volunteers who help our girls grow into inspired young women,” said Tammy Severino, CEO, Girl Scouts of Suffolk County. “Volunteers help our Girl Scouts learn to appreciate the outdoors, develop life skills, leadership and entrepreneurial skills as well as pursue STEM and the arts.”

About Girl Scouts of Suffolk County 

Since 1968, Girl Scouts of Suffolk County has been committed to building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. With over 15,000 members, they are one of the largest youth-serving agencies in Suffolk County. Girl Scouts helps girls develop their full individual potential; relate to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect; develop values to guide their actions and provide the foundation for sound decision making; and contribute to the improvement of society through their abilities, leadership skills, and cooperation with others. For more information about the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County, please call (631) 543-6622 or visit www.gssc.us.

Middle Country Public Library, 575 Middle Country Road, Selden will host a Venues for Volunteering Fair on Thursday, Feb. 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. Come find out what volunteer opportunities are available in our area and how you can help!

The following organizations are scheduled to be at the event: All American Assisted Living – Coram, Atlantic Marine Conservation Society, Bethel Hobbs Community Farm, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, EAC Chance to Advance, Family Service League Long Term Care Ombudsman Program, Federation of Organizations/Senior Companion Program, Fire Island Light House Preservation Society, Friends of the Middle Country Public Library, Girl Scouts of Suffolk County, Great Strides LI, Kids Need More, Legal Hand, Literacy Suffolk, Inc., Long Island State Veterans Home at Stony Brook, Mercy Haven Inc., Middle Country Public Library, NY Blood Center, Rebuilding Together Long Island, Save-A-Pet Animal Rescue, Selden Fire Department, Suffolk County Police Explorers, Town of Brookhaven Dept. of Environmental Education and the Three Village Historical Society.

No registration required. For more information, call 631-585-9393.

John R. Buran, President and CEO, Flushing Bank (center) presents the light show tickets to Ray Hopp, Deputy Director, Colonial Youth & Family Services (fourth from left). Joining them were Mike Bingold, Senior EVP and Chief Retail and Client Development Officer, Flushing Bank (third from left); Thomas Buonaiuto, Senior EVP, Chief of Staff and Deposit Channel Executive, Flushing Bank (fourth from right); Samantha Soccorso, Youth Worker, Colonial Youth & Family Services (third from right); and Colonial Youth & Family Services volunteers Tommy Pirello (left), Trishelle Cattell (second from left), Philip Wildner (second from right), and Alexus Rountree (right).

Flushing Bank donated tickets for 25 carloads to the Smith Point Light Show, presented by the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County, to Colonial Youth & Family Services. The presentation took place on December 18 at the Flushing Bank’s branch located at 1044 William Floyd Parkway, Shirley, NY. Members of Flushing Bank’s management team were joined by Ray Hopp, Deputy Director of Colonial Youth & Family Services. The tickets will be given to local families free of charge to brighten their holiday season.

“As a community bank, we recognize the importance of giving back and demonstrating our commitment to the communities we serve. We are new to the Suffolk County market, however because of our recent acquisition of Empire National Bank and its long-standing relationship with the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County, we are a proud sponsor of the Smith Point Light Show. Our sponsorship package included tickets for twenty-five carloads. Given what a tough year this has been for all of us, we wanted to spread a little holiday cheer to the children and families who could use it most,” said John R. Buran, President and CEO of Flushing Bank. “We are happy that the Colonial Youth & Family Services will be able to provide an opportunity for those in need to see this spectacular event.”