As the calendar is turned to begin a new year, Girl Scout cookie time is here.

People will be seeing Girl Scouts in their uniforms knocking on doors or visiting businesses to take orders.

There also will be an opportunity to purchase the tasty morsels from Scouts who set up sales booths in local shopping malls, grocery stores and department stores.

There are a few changes involving the sale that helps celebrate

100 years of Girl Scouting. The sales have been one way for young women to build courage, confidence and character.

The cost of a box of cookies is $4, an increase of 50 cents.

“To help offset rising costs of our cookies from our bakery, Little Brownie Bakers, and to be able to provide quality programming, Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania (GSWPA) has approved an increase in cookie prices,” said Cori Begg, Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania promotions and advertising manager.

“Cookie prices have not increased for six years for the majority of our council’s membership.”

Troops will directly benefit by receiving an additional 10 cents per box, for a minimum total of 70 cents per box.

“All of the proceeds from the cookie program stay in western Pennsylvania to serve thousands of girls and adult volunteers, helping make Girl Scouts one of the most affordable yet personally enriching activities a girl can choose,” Begg said.

Door-to-door sales begin Friday, with orders to be delivered between Feb. 16-23.

The cookie lineup is similar to last year’s: Thin Mints, a thin wafer covered in chocolate and made with natural peppermint; Do-Si-Dos, an oatmeal-peanut butter cookie sandwich; Samoas, a mix of caramel, coconut and chocolate; Tag-Alongs, a peanut butter-topped cookie dipped in chocolate; Dulce De Leche, featuring caramel chips; and Trefoil, a shortbread cookie.

New this year is Savannah Smiles, crescent-shaped, lemon-flavored cookies dusted with powdered sugar and bursting with zesty lemon flavor, Begg said.

“While they did replace the Lemon Chalet Creme, the new cookie was introduced to celebrate 100 years of Girl Scouting,” Begg said. “Savannah Smiles pay tribute to Girl Scouts’ founder Juliette Low’s birthplace in Savannah, Ga., and the ‘Brownie Smile Song.’ ”

Begg said the biggest seller on the list continues to be Thin Mints.

Girl Scout cookie booth sales run from Feb. 24 to March 11.

“Cookie booths are typically set up in front of groceries, at sporting events or in other high-traffic areas,” Begg said. “While the safety and security of our members is always our chief concern, the booth sales are in place to help girls increase their group sales while considering marketing, setting goals and finances.”

She said it’s also a good way for customers to buy cookies they can eat right away.

“The girls also have lots of fun setting up their ‘store’ and talking to customers,” Begg said.

Many troops use the proceeds from sales for events, camps and travel opportunities.

“All proceeds stay in the council’s jurisdiction and help to defray the cost of troop activities,” Begg said.

A cookie locator on the Girl Scout council’s website, www.gswpa.org, will allow potential customers to enter a ZIP code and find a booth close to them.

Customers also are just an app away by calling the free cookie locator at **GSCOOKIES (**472665437) from a mobile phone.

More than 35,000 girls in Grades K-12 in the 27 counties that make up the western Pennsylvania council participate in cookie sales.

Begg said the cookie sale is the largest girl-led business in the country, which helps youngsters develop five key business and leadership skills.

“The girls set cookie goals to support their chosen activities for the year, to fund community service and leadership projects, to attend summer camp, to travel to destinations near and far, and to provide events for girls in their community,” she said.

Vicki Berloffe of Davidsville, leader of Brownie Troop 40510, said her 10 girls are looking forward to selling cookies.

Berloffe said because all of her Brownies are third-graders, she lets the parents decide if a door-to-door effort is undertaken.

“We have the option of going to the (Galleria) mall to sell,” she said.

“The mall permits the Girl Scouts to set up selling stations on the upper and lower levels.”

Berloffe supports the sales initiative because it teaches troop members to take responsibility, make change and account for money.

Information: 536-5371.

Tasty treats

When: Door-to-door sales begin Friday and run through Jan. 25; booth sales, Feb. 24 to March 11.

Delivery: Feb. 16-23.

Cost: $4 per box.

Information: 536-5371 or on the Web at www.gswpa.org.

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