Girl Scout Project Created For Beloved Great-Grandma, 'My GG'

GREENPORT, NY — Four Southold Girl Scouts earned their Silver Awards with a project conceived and created in memory of the great-grandmother of one of the teens, who died last year.

Julia Cardi, Reagan Treharne, Ashleigh Doering, and Jordyn Kollen from Troop #731 in Southold presented the handmade mahogany benches and cedar planter boxes to the members of Peconic Landing on Monday.

The Girl Scouts, all freshmen at Southold High School, each contributed 50 hours of time to the project as part of their effort to earn the Girl Scout Silver Award, the second-highest achievement a Girl Scout can earn. According to the Girl Scouts’ website, the Silver Award involves exploring the local community’s needs and choosing a project to create positive change and apply new skills, Peconic Landing said in a release.

The benches and planter boxes were built in loving memory of Eleanor “Ellie” Skwara, great-grandmother to Jordyn. The completion of the project came exactly one year after Skwara passed away in October of 2020 after living at Peconic Landing for more than 12 years, Peconic Landing said.

“This Silver Award project is in memory of my GG,” said Jordyn. “Peconic Landing was GG’s home, and she loved where she lived. She lives on in my heart, and these benches and planters will make members like GG happy and proud of where they live.”

All four girls, Girl Scouts together since kindergarten, remembered visiting Skwara at Peconic Landing over the years.

“GG was a huge supporter of my Girl Scout Troop,” said Jordyn. “From trick or treating at Peconic Landing to Christmas caroling at the Shores, to selling Girl Scout cookies to her Peconic Landing friends, GG was always there for me and my troop.”

North Fork Woodworks donated time and materials to help with the project; the girls utilized woodworking skills and math skills and learned how to to operate miter saws, nail guns, and other tools in the process of making the benches. Additional assistance and resources were provided by troop leader Amy Doering, project advisor Lauren Kollen, DJK Heating and Cooling, Southold Agway, and Andy’s Restaurant, Peconic Landing said.

The planter boxes will adorn the walkways outside of Peconic Landing’s Health Center; the girls plan on visiting seasonally to maintain the plantings.

“We are so touched by the incredible job well done by these four driven and selfless young women,” said Robert J. Syron, president and CEO of Peconic Landing. “I know our community will cherish these beautiful gifts for many years to come.”

One mahogany bench was installed at the site of Embrace, the newest addition to Peconic Landing’s sculpture garden, Art Without Barriers. The sculpture garden is open to the public from June through October, sunrise to sunset.