Cub Scouts of Pack 98, Brodheadsville, held its Blue and Gold banquet and advancement ceremonies Feb. 22 at Pleasant Valley Elementary School.

Friends of Scouting gave a presentation asking for help to pay the $270 cost of a boy in Cub Scouting, calling it the "best investment you can make."Den Chief Christopher Curtis, who organized the program, sang a prayer followed by the invocation by the Rev. Sean Carpenter."Thank you for the core values we teach these young men," Carpenter said.The troop is sponsored by Our Lady Queen of Peace Church.Assistant Cubmaster David Mondillo asked the Tigers to come to the stage with their parents where they were given the Tiger badges. Tigers are Ryan Dutt, Tyler Eichelsdoerfer, Landyn Hinton, Daniel Marinelli, Luke O'Reilly, Jacob Chechel and Alex Gately.Chechel presented the Wolf badges saying it is the third badge on the trail to Eagle. The new Wolves are Nathan Costa, Ryan Acconzo, Connor Smith, Anthony Bulawa, Daniel Anderson, Lucas Marinelli, Jacob Kresge, Evan Kaminski, Carter Salzman and Jason Springer.The boys were asked to recite the Cub Scout promise.When the Bears came to the forefront, they were asked if they sought the rank of Bear. They recited the Cub Scout promise and received their badges.Bears are Gavin Bauman, Leadell Burpo, Nathan Calhoun, Robert Dutt, Jonathan Fleming, Edward Lauritsen IV, Mario Mondillo, Ronald Salvi, William Stephani, Patryk Kosmulski and Andrew Warner.Webelos I is an 18-month program during which time the Scout must earn certain badges plus elective ones if they choose. This is in preparation of achieving the Arrow Of Light when they are in Webelos II. The Arrow of Light is the only Cub Scout award that can be worn in Boy Scouting.The Webelos I Scouts are Ryan Bonser, Connor Hample, Elijah Heckman, Austin Brush and Lyam Shook.In addition to the Arrow of Light, Webelos II received the Heavy Shoulder award and the Sen. Pat Browne award. The Heavy Shoulder award is a shoulder patch with 20 pins earned as the Scouts achieve that many projects.Chris Curtis lit the seven candles representing the seven rays of the sun: wisdom, courage, self-control, justice, faith, hope and love.Each boy in Webelos II was given an arrow and a plaque with hooks to display the arrow and cloth to pin the Heavy Shoulder award on. The plaques, normally purchased by the parents, were made and donated by Rich Tadrzynski.The boys moving on into Boy Scouting are Michael Marinelli, Max Barone, Ryan Anderson, Cole Kaminski, Ethan Bauman, Xavier Curtis, Christopher Lopez, Justin Rankel, Alec Shonk, Justin Shonk, Sebastian Sordyl, Charles Alcamo and Brandon Glenn.As the boys crossed over the bridge into Boy Scouting they were met by members and Scoutmasters of Troops 98 and 113. Their neckerchiefs were removed and given to a parent as the Boy Scout received his string tie."You climbed the wall of Wolf Mountain, crossed the Bear jungle, and became a member of Webelos. Look at you now. You're a Boy Scout and are ready to start the trail to Eagle," Troop 113 Scoutmaster Edison Vasquez told the younger Scouts. "To all who are watching, one day it will be your turn to cross that bridge. You're young men, no longer boys."It is a continuing journey that started when the boys were 6 years old. The troop has been very active. For the first time the new Scouts said the Boy Scout Oath and Scout law.Chechel said the troop loses leaders and it loses Scouts. He thanked everyone who helped, especially Brian and Amy Shonk, who helped tirelessly, he said.Curtis gave a presentation about the Akelaland camp at Trexler Scout Reservation.Members of Boy Scout Troop 109 helped serve the food.