Boy Scouts

Boy Scout Troop 209 from Burbank will have mistletoe and gift wrapping available for donations in December. This is the troop's major fundraiser and helps Boy Scouts pay for camping trips throughout the year. Gift-wrapping service will be on the third floor of Sears in the Burbank Town Center mall. Gift wrapping and mistletoe is available most non-school hours beginning today through Dec. 24. Mistletoe will also be available at Porto's and Handy Market during the afternoons today and Sunday.

Programs for Boy Scouts in the Verdugo Hills Council will be stronger than ever, thanks to a generous donation presented during the 38th annual Big Strike Auction Friday night at the Castaway. Under the theme, “Changing the World One Scout at a Time,” the gala kicked off with a silent auction followed by dinner. Then came a surprise announcement of a major donation. Tom Carnahan presented the Verdugo Hills Council with a check for $150,000 from its Carnahan Charitable Remainder Trust.

Joyce Rudolph For representing the values of Boy Scouting, radio talk show commentator Dennis Prager will be honored at the Good Turn Award Recognition Dinner on Oct. 16 at the Hilton Glendale. Prager will be presented with a bronze statue of a Scout helping a senior citizen cross the street, said Andrew Messer, executive director of the Boy Scouts of America Verdugo Hills Council. It's a figure the Boy Scouts have used since it began in the United States in 1910, depicting their motto, "Do a Good Turn Daily."

The Verdugo Hills Council of the Boy Scouts of America convened for their annual board installation and awards dinner at La Cañada Country Club this past week. Welcomed by Council President Thomas McLurkin Thomas McLurkin , the evening saluted the achievements of Scouts, leaders and volunteers who have been dedicated to scouting in Burbank, Glendale and throughout the Verdugo Hills region. Emceed by the organization?s Council Advancement Chairman Dan Humfreville , the event included the presentation of four Silver Beaver awards that are bestowed upon adult leaders who have made an impact on the lives of youth and have a history of community service and dedication to scouting.

BURBANK — At 4 p.m. on Thursday, more than 50 men, women and children stood in the Burbank Tennis Center with their hands over their hearts. As they recited the Pledge of Allegiance, they joined Americans all across the county who were observing Flag Day with the "Pause for Pledge of Allegiance" — when people in all of the nation's time zones salute the flag at the exact same time. As a part of the ceremony, Boy Scouts in uniform marched five flags out to the center of the assembly as a pre-recorded narrative traced the flag's evolution from its original design — the red cross of St. George and the white cross of St. Andrew juxtaposed over a red background — to the present-day banner of 13 stripes and 50 stars.

BURBANK? Dellon Soderstrom decided to give back Saturday to an organization that has given his Boy Scout Troop 204 so much in return. Dellon gathered friends and fellow Boy Scouts to help him refurbish First Christian Church?s community room, which is where the Boy Scouts meet. The church has allowed the Boy Scouts to use the room free of charge. Dellon?s project was made in an effort to give back to his community and to earn the Boy Scout?s highest rank of Eagle Scout. ?

Boy Scout Troop 204 is the only troop in the Verdugo Hills Council that performs the Historic Flag Ceremony at patriotic events in the community. Members display five designs of the American flag that mark historic times in our country’s past. Troop 204 is made up of boys who live in Burbank and Glendale and is part of the Verdugo Hills Council Boy Scouts of America. The troop, which is sponsored by the Burbank Noon Kiwanis Club, has conducted the ceremony for events like the Noon Kiwanis’ Pause for the Pledge, an event that pays tribute to the Pledge of Allegiance on Flag Day, June 14. The Historic Flag Ceremony was created in 1971 by Burbank resident Sam Engel Sr., a member of the Boy Scouts for 67 years and former scoutmaster of Troop 204. A World War II veteran, Engel wrote the script for a ceremony to dedicate a new flag the troop purchased after two others were taken from an equipment room, one flag in 1969 and another in 1970, he said.

CIVIC CENTER — Burbank city employee Jolene Elliot, accused of bilking thousands from the Boy Scouts, entered a no contest plea Tuesday to felony embezzlement charges in Burbank Superior Court. The plea amounts to an admission of guilt that Elliot, 44, stole $10,000 from Burbank Boy Scout Troop 210 accounts over a three-year period. As a part of the agreement, Elliot will receive three-years of probation in lieu of a two-year prison sentence. She must also complete 100 hours of community service, pay full restitution to Troop 210 and is forbidden from ever serving as an officer for any organization in the capacity of collecting or accounting for funds.

Comparison to the KKK was uncalled for I was disappointed to see that the Rev. Damon Vix lacked the vision to recognize that his rant perpetuates the very discrimination that he was speaking out against ("Mayor's support of Boy Scouts misplaced," Mailbag, Saturday). He was, however, correct about the fact that the Boy Scouts are an "expressive association." So, if I read his commentary right, this puts the Boy Scouts in the same sphere as the Ku Klux Klan? From its inception, the Boy Scouts has had a core belief in God — as evidenced in the Scout Oath and Law reference, "Duty to God" and "reverence" respectively.

Scouts in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade Senior Gold Award Girl Scouts from the Mt. Wilson Vista Council will join Eagle Scouts from the San Gabriel Valley Council Boy Scouts for today's the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade. This year marks the 35th appearance of the Tournament Troop. This year's Tournament Troop 2000 began preparing for the parade in the fall. An interview process was followed by meetings, uniform fittings and lots of practice.

The only thing missing at the reunion for Boy Scout Troop 201 was a roaring campfire and marshmallows. But at least there was plenty of pizza, skits by the boys and river-rafting stories. About 100 Boy Scouts past and present, parents, siblings and friends gathered on Sunday at the Magnolia Park United Methodist Church for the first alumni event, which was organized by Giselle Vivado and Joylyn Spencer. Ethan Durkee and Nick Rogus were deeply involved in their skit, called “Wild West Shootout.” “The parents never get to see the skits, so this is a treat for them,” said Nancy Durkee, Scoutmaster of Troop 201. “Some of the skits they pick up from camp.

Programs for Boy Scouts in the Verdugo Hills Council will be stronger than ever, thanks to a generous donation presented during the 38th annual Big Strike Auction Friday night at the Castaway. Under the theme, “Changing the World One Scout at a Time,” the gala kicked off with a silent auction followed by dinner. Then came a surprise announcement of a major donation. Tom Carnahan presented the Verdugo Hills Council with a check for $150,000 from its Carnahan Charitable Remainder Trust.

Boy Scout Troop 209 from Burbank will have mistletoe and gift wrapping available for donations in December. This is the troop's major fundraiser and helps Boy Scouts pay for camping trips throughout the year. Gift-wrapping service will be on the third floor of Sears in the Burbank Town Center mall. Gift wrapping and mistletoe is available most non-school hours beginning today through Dec. 24. Mistletoe will also be available at Porto's and Handy Market during the afternoons today and Sunday.

Jon Maeda, scout executive for the Boys Scouts of America Verdugo Hills Council is moving on and begins his new position of Director of Field Service with the Boy Scouts Orange County Council on Monday. As the chief operating officer, Maeda will be recruiting new Scouts and scouting groups. The Verdugo Hills Council has 4,000 Scouts, and the Orange County Council, headquartered in Santa Ana, served 28,000 Scouts as of 2009. Maeda has been overseeing two field executives for the Verdugo Hills Council and will now be in charge of 15 field executives in his new post.

LA PROVIDENCIA GUILD WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS La Providencia Guild of Childrens Hospital Los Angeles welcomed its new Associate members at a tea hosted on Feb. 4 in the Burbank home of Marcia Baroda , Patroness member. Lorelei Kelley , Patroness member, poured the tea and coffee and also provided a history of the guild for the attendees. Sue Ann Gordon , president, La Providencia Guild; and Sharon Terranova , first vice president; welcomed the following new Associates: Elsa Aguilar-Laba, Gina Chantland, Teresa Garcia, Cheryl Harrison, Lynn Koon, Ashley Kurges, Connie Lawless and Pam Moeck . La Providencia Guild has two major fundraisers each year.

The Verdugo Hills Council of the Boy Scouts of America convened for their annual board installation and awards dinner at La Cañada Country Club this past week. Welcomed by Council President Thomas McLurkin Thomas McLurkin , the evening saluted the achievements of Scouts, leaders and volunteers who have been dedicated to scouting in Burbank, Glendale and throughout the Verdugo Hills region. Emceed by the organization?s Council Advancement Chairman Dan Humfreville , the event included the presentation of four Silver Beaver awards that are bestowed upon adult leaders who have made an impact on the lives of youth and have a history of community service and dedication to scouting.

BURBANK? Dellon Soderstrom decided to give back Saturday to an organization that has given his Boy Scout Troop 204 so much in return. Dellon gathered friends and fellow Boy Scouts to help him refurbish First Christian Church?s community room, which is where the Boy Scouts meet. The church has allowed the Boy Scouts to use the room free of charge. Dellon?s project was made in an effort to give back to his community and to earn the Boy Scout?s highest rank of Eagle Scout. ?