Junior Girl Scouts from Troop 1297 surprised new mom and dad, Capt. Rick and Tia Svardhal, U.S. Air Force, at Naval Hospital Oak Harbor March 13 with a baby layette for their little girl, Amelia Louise.

The little girl weighed 8 pounds.

Girl Scouts of the USA celebrated its 94th birthday last week. It was on March 12, 1912, that Juliette Gordon Low and two other women met with 18 girls to form the first Girl Scout troop in the United States. Today Girl Scouts celebrate the birthday of that first Girl Scout meeting for an entire week.

To celebrate, the Oak Harbor service unit traditionally collects baby items from troops in the area to shower the first baby girl born at the Naval Hospital on Girl Scout Birthday, March 12. Baby Amelia was born at 11:10 p.m. on Sunday, March 12. The new parents were overwhelmed the following night when the Junior Girl Scouts came into their room with their arms loaded with gifts.

Let’s go for a walk …

Whidbey Island is full of history and for just $5 a ticket, you can “Take a Walk Through History” in downtown Coupeville Saturday mornings from 9 to 10 a.m. Tours start April 1 and continue through May 27.

Hear tales of the people who built many of the original buildings on Front Street in the mid-1800s and what their original purpose was. Learn about those gaps between many of the buildings on the waterside of the street. 

Interestingly, quite a few relatives of those who helped settle Coupeville still live in the area.

No need to reserve a spot. Buy your tickets from the guide the day of the walk. Tickets include free admission to the museum that day. Call 678-3310 to reserve a spot on the Saturday of your choice.

I brake for tulips …

Connoisseurs of fine art photography will be swept away by the talent of BRENDA PIKE of Oak Harbor. A single yellow rose, for example, appears to be magically suspended inches from its background. “Did you paint that,” I asked, the first time we met. “Actually, that’s a photograph and yes, I took it,” Brenda answered.

Whidbey Island is fortunate indeed to have her as part of a show at the co -operative Artworks Gallery at Greenbank Farm that includes the works of such other artists as photographer of LOIS MASON.

Like tulips? Brenda has photographed more than a few, and loves their unusual shapes and edges.

The Artworks Gallery (678-1871) is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. If you can’t get to Greenbank, Angelo’s Caffe has some of Brenda’s work on display.

Now that’s a switch …

About 1.7 million people who failed to file a federal income tax return for the year 2002 have unclaimed refunds totaling more than $2 billion.

To collect the money, however, a return for 2002 must be filed with an IRS office no later than April 17.

The IRS estimates that half of those who could claim refunds would receive more than $570. In some cases, individuals had taxes withheld from their wages, or made payments against their taxes out of self-employed earnings, but had too little income to require filing a tax return. Some taxpayers may also be eligible for the refundable Earned Income Tax Credit.

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=154625,00.html

Penny for a thought …

The things people worry about. One reader, for example, is upset that our government continues to mint the penny at a cost of thousands of dollars, money needed elsewhere.

People just can’t see carrying a coin you can’t actually plunk down on the counter and buy something with. They contend we don’t need such an infinitesimally small denomination in 2006.

On the flip side are those who worry that without the penny, prices might automatically jump 5 cents.

Pennies! We stash them in jars in the back of the closet and call it a “collection” or “savings.” Nowadays, even the smallest transaction does not involve cash at all. Let’s face it. Pennies are not going away anytime soon.

I’ll be back on March 29. Meanwhile, you are welcome to call me at (360) 675-6611 or e-mail lifeonwhidbey@yahoo.com.