One of the oldest chartered Girl Scout groups in the country celebrated the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts at a special Sunday Service at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lehighton.

Girl Scouts across the country observed the centennial on March 11.Katherine Hosler, Lehighton service unit manager and leader of Senior Girl Scout Troop 3802, enlightened the congregation at Trinity with a slide presentation and narrative of Lehighton Girl Scouts' history and its present-day activities during the service.Hosler said that Lehighton was the fifth group to charter in the country by organizing 26 girls in two troops on Oct. 7, 1915. There are 266 girls involved in Girl Scouting in the Lehighton area today, and it continues to grow and make an impact on the community."Lehighton Girl Scouts was sponsored by the Lehighton Women's Club," she said.She noted that girls continue to take part in the annual tree lighting ceremony, sing Christmas carols in the community, host free spaghetti dinners, plus make bookmarks for the Lehighton library and favors for Meals on Wheels. She added that they take part in Halloween parades, Veterans parades, Memorial Day ceremonies and collect books and clothes, play bingo with the senior citizens and donate to Care Net of Carbon County.They also hold bridging ceremonies, plant flowers, learn how to make jewelry, learn to use a pottery wheel, sell cookies, and honor citizens in the community.She noted that three girls recently earned their Silver awards: Katelyn Hosler, who made over 60 wheelchair bags for people with handicaps; Cassandra Rehnert, who painted park benches and power-washed play equipment; and Madelyn Walbert, who made friendship bracelets to be handed out to sick children in hospitals.Hosler's commentary was part of the slide presentation showing photos of the girls and their accomplishments, taken over the past few years.The service was coordinated by Hosler and the Rev. Robert vonFrish. The girls opened the service with a flag ceremony and served as greeters, readers and performed the offering service.Taking part in the flag ceremony were Stephanie Riggio, Troop 3802; Lily McDonough, Troop 3862; Emily Haberman, Troop 3801; and Kimberly Yerance, Troop 31102. Color guards were Gabrielle Achtermann and Madelyn Walbert, Troop 3802; Jessica VanFossen, Troop 3248; and Emma Liguari, Troop 31102.Greeters were Alexandra Rehnert, Troop 3801; Riley Nothstein and Emma Gaston, Troop 31. Readers were Cassandra Rehnert and Katelyn Hosler, Troop 3802; Maria Burits, Troop 3248; and Jenna Gasker, Troop 3224. Offering servers were Katelyn Yerance, Troop 3224; Alexandra Kemmerer and Jessica Mabus, Troop 31102; and Miranda Fox, Troop 3862.As part of Girl Scout Sunday, Lehighton Girl Scouts also celebrated World Thinking Day after the service with presentations of foods and history from other countries around the world. Each year girls traditionally participate in activities and projects with global themes to honor their sister Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in other countries.World Thinking Day gives girls a chance to celebrate international friendships and is also a reminder that Girl Scouts of the USA is part of a global community - one of nearly 150 countries with Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.As part of the program, Girl Scouts from Senior Girl Scout Troop 3802 served foods from the Fiji Islands - spiced pears, sweet potato cakes, honey wedding cake and chicken and pasta.Daisy Troop 31 had pork fried rice from Hong Kong; and Junior Troop 3148 presented Russia, with Russian pancakes and tea cakes. Daisy Troop 3176 offered salsa and chips from Mexico; and Junior Troop 31102 offered Guyla soup and cherry flavored Cukovi sweets and Ice Cream Kolacky from Hungary. Brownie Troop 3862 and Daisy Troop 38 offered Portuguese soup and peasant bread from Portugal; and Cadette Troop 3801 presented Irish soda bread.