Viewfinder: Dexter Daisy Scouts Learn Dining Etiquette

The Dexter Daisies dolled up Saturday afternoon for a primer on the dos and don'ts of dining etiquette.

The group of young Girl Scouts gathered at Terry B's Restaurant and Bar, where they were taught how to be ladylike in public, and how to properly dine with others.

The idea of the luncheon was "for the girls to learn about table etiquette, and how to do things in a more formal setting," said Michele Hoxie, service area manager for Daisy Scouts. "We want them to learn to eat together, and to learn to eat the right way."

Three of dexter's five Daisy troops were on hand -- 23 kindergarten and first-grade girls.

All were shown how to properly set a table, how to fold and use fine napkin linens, the reasons that they should avoid reaching for things across a table, and the importance of politeness.

The girls also learned how to cover sneezes, touch their elbows to their sides, and how to drink from a glass without smudging the rim, or leaving behind lipstick marks.

For lunch, the girls enjoyed gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches and chicken noodles soup, as well as their choice of blueberry or vanilla ice cream.

"For their age group -- having been there and done that myself -- it's a perfect selection for them," Hoxie said, of the menu of kid favorites.

The parents of the girls also joined the festivities, though they were seated in neighboring sections of the restaurant to give the girls their space.

The reason we planned this," Swain said, "was to let the girls know that scouting is fun, that it's great to be a leader."