<p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">HARTFORD, CT –&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><a href="https://ctsenaterepublicans.com/home-hwang/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><strong>Senator Tony Hwang</strong></a><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">&nbsp;has officially been reappointed by Senate Republican Leader Stephen Harding&nbsp;to serve as Chief Deputy Leader of the Connecticut Senate Republican Caucus for the upcoming 2025-2027 session of the Connecticut General Assembly.&nbsp;</span></p><p><strong style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Senator Hwang</strong><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">&nbsp;was also appointed&nbsp;to be the Republican Senate Leader of the&nbsp;</span><a href="https://www.cga.ct.gov/fin/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Connecticut General Assembly’s General Bonding Subcommittee</a><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">&nbsp;in the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee which focuses primarily on&nbsp;</span><span style="color: rgb(10, 10, 10); background-color: rgb(254, 254, 254);">financing the construction of buildings, grants, and loans for housing, economic development, community care facilities, school construction grants, state parks, and open space. Some bonds provide bondholders with an exemption from federal and state taxation for interest earnings. The repayment source for all general obligation bonds is the general taxing power (“full faith and credit”) of the State of Connecticut.</span></p><p><strong style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">CT Senate Republican leader Stephen Harding</strong><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">&nbsp;in this appointment of Hwang said,&nbsp;“Senator Hwang has done an excellent job in this leadership position with oversight over major state infrastructure investments. He understands that these projects are vital to spurring Connecticut’s economic growth and improving our quality of life. I thank Senator Hwang for continuing to serve our state in this important role.”</span></p><p>“Investment and improvements to Connecticut’s infrastructure provide the highest return on investment for any government spending,”&nbsp;<strong>Sen. Hwang said</strong>.&nbsp;“These investments literally help build schools, protect our environment, strengthen public safety and public health, and enhance services for seniors and our most vulnerable residents. At the same time, they create thousands of jobs in each of our communities. We invest these precious taxpayer dollars prudently and we always seek to maximize their impact to get the most bang for the buck. I am honored to continue serving in this role.”</p><p>The changes to state bonding instituted in 2017 as a part of the fiscal guardrails have added predictability to the state’s borrowing. Despite these controls, any borrowing has a direct impact on the state budget and amount available to spend on vital state services. Finding the right balance between making long-term investments while acknowledging short and medium-term challenges is one of the most important tasks of the General Obligation Bonding Subcommittee.</p>

<p class="ql-align-center"><strong>Norwalk, CT: </strong>Local&nbsp;Artist/Entrepreneur Lauren Clayton of Studio 162 (@studio162design) recently completed a holiday window display, transforming an empty storefront at 132C Washington Street in South Norwalk, CT into a vibrant art installation aptly named “Love is the Best Gift.”&nbsp;</p><p>The 132C storefront is one of the last vacant spaces in&nbsp;<a href="https://agwpartners.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">AGW SONO Partners</a>’ 27-address real estate collective on Washington Street. AGW has steadfastly supported the local arts scene and entrepreneurs and small businesses since acquiring the portfolio in 2019. The group has consistently hosted market and artist pop-ups whenever a vacant space was available. Their popular Entrepreneur contest has run for the last 3 years, of which current winners remain active business on the block. 132C is one of the last spaces to remain vacant as AGW’s portfolio filled up throughout 2024, with several businesses setting up shop in 2025.</p><p>&nbsp;“We get caught up in the holiday madness and forget that love is the best gift, “says Lauren, “Our presence with loved ones is the present. I wanted to convey this universal message in my colorful holiday window.”</p><p>Lauren is the founder and lead freelance designer of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.studio162.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">Studio 162</a>. She studied graphic design, photography, printmaking, and painting at the Cooper Union School of Art in NYC. Today, she is an active artist in lower Fairfield County, and her work is currently being shown at the prestigious&nbsp;Norwalk Art Space. Lauren is involved in her community, mentoring design students and offering internships and discounted design rates to non-profits. Lauren is a&nbsp;Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholar alum.</p><p>With a product partnership with&nbsp;<a href="https://shop.fairfieldworld.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">Fairfield World</a>, the makers of crafting materials, fillers, foams, and more, Lauren designed and created her holiday theme window in 2 days. Brightly colored gift boxes dangle from and adorn the indoor window vestibule, with added door décor highlighting the installation’s love theme with a heart. Backlighting illuminates the display, making it quite the standout in the evening hours.&nbsp;</p><p>Best of Norwalk and OnWashington are running social media contests, encouraging people to get into the holiday spirit, grab a selfie in front of the window with friends and family, and post their photos on social media.</p><p>@onwashingtonst</p><p>@bestofnorwalk</p>

<p>FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Fairfield University sophomore Megan Lipka ’27 is passionate about ending gun violence. She was in second grade when the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting occurred. Like many of her peers, she grew up knowing that she could be a victim and felt powerless to affect change. That is, until she enrolled in <em>Introduction to Social Work</em>, where she and her classmates learned about and practiced community organizing and political advocacy.</p><p>The introductory course taken by Lipka is taught by Kim Oliver, PhD, assistant professor of the practice and director of the undergraduate social work program in the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies. After years of helping the Social Work Club plan a Start With Hello 5K fundraiser, Dr. Oliver integrated the event into her class.</p><p>“I have woven <a href="https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/our-programs/start-with-hello/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">Start With Hello</a> into the curriculum so that students can learn about political advocacy, community organizing, and overall macro practice, as well as important social work values, such as service and social justice,” said Dr. Oliver.</p><p>The Start With Hello 5K is held in support of the Sandy Hook Promise campaign to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence. Cosponsored this year by the Social Work Club and Phi Alpha Honor Society, the event raises money to help local school communities build cultures of empathy and inclusivity.</p><p>“Our main goal was to spread positivity and kindness around our campus to work to end social isolation,” Lipka said. “We also wanted people to recognized that something as little as saying hello could completely alter someone’s day for the better.”</p><p>One strategy for highlighting their message was leaving inspirational sticky notes around campus. In the week leading up to the 5K, student organizers decorated windows, doors, walls, and vending machines with the pastel notes, all proclaiming the worth of passersby: “You are enough,” “The world needs you,” “You are loved.” Insofar as they lifted the spirts of those they reached, the notes reinforced the positive social impact of small kindnesses.</p><p>The curriculum and course activities taught Lipka that social work can be done anywhere. “Many people associate social workers with hospitals, schools, and counseling centers, but their work is not limited to these locations” Lipka reflected. “Social workers are active participants in the world, advocating for and driving social and political change.”</p><p>Social work major Grace Nieszczezewski ’26 took Dr. Oliver’s class last year and was instrumental in planning this year’s 5K fundraiser. She credits the course with helping her learn to work alongside professionals in other disciplines to enact change, and she was eager to put those skills to use again.&nbsp;</p><p>Nieszczezewski is proud of how she and her classmates have grown the event over the last three years. “Overall,” she said, “the social work course empowered me to take an active role in this group project and create a legacy of support for Sandy Hook Promise and ending gun violence in school systems.”</p><p>This year’s Start With Hello 5K fundraiser collected over $1,600, which was donated to East Hampton Middle School and High School. The funds will support travel for delegates to attend the <a href="https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/our-programs/save-promise-club/national-save-promise-club-youth-summit/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">National SAVE Promise Club Youth Summit</a> in Philadelphia. The East Hampton student representatives will attend workshops and presentations “designed to encourage, educate, engage, and empower youth to look out for one another and prevent violence.”</p><p>For Lipka, donating the funds to the East Hampton schools was the most memorable and rewarding part of the experience. “It showed us that our efforts actively made a change by working toward educating the next generation,” she said. “It is the first step to moving forward and working to change our world in a positive way.”</p><p class="ql-align-center"><em>Fairfield University is a modern, Jesuit Catholic University, rooted in one of the world’s oldest intellectual and spiritual traditions. More than 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students from 44 states, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and 43 countries, are enrolled in the University’s five schools. In the spirit of rigorous and sympathetic inquiry into all dimensions of human experience, Fairfield welcomes students from diverse backgrounds to share ideas and engage in open conversations. The University is located in the heart of a region where the future takes shape, on a stunning campus on the Connecticut coast just an hour from New York City.</em></p>

<p class="ql-align-center">Fairfield, CT — The Fairfield Rotary Club announced the Club’s annual allocation of grants to local organizations. Through its Club Foundation, Fairfield Rotary annually distributes funds to local and international service groups who apply for and demonstrate a need for capital to finance a project. In the past twenty years, the Club has given over $500,000. The following groups were granted funds in 2024:</p><ul><li>Bridgeport Rescue Mission</li><li>Caroline House&nbsp;</li><li>Center for Family Justice&nbsp;</li><li>Circle of Care&nbsp;</li><li>CLASP Homes&nbsp;</li><li>CT Burns Center&nbsp;</li><li>CT Housing Partners&nbsp;</li><li>Filling in the Blanks&nbsp;</li><li>Habitat for Hummanity&nbsp;</li><li>Norma Pfriem Breast Center&nbsp;</li><li>Nourish Bridgeport</li><li>Operation Hope&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Pequot Library&nbsp;</li><li>Pilot House Foundation</li><li>SHU Discovery Museum&nbsp;</li><li>St. Catherine’s Ctr for Special Needs</li><li>St. John’s Family Center&nbsp;</li><li>Team Woofgang</li><li>YMCA in Fairfield &nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul><p><br></p>

<p>FAIRFIELD, Conn.—Mark Congdon, Jr., did more than introduce his Sacred Heart University students to service-learning through his Uniting Hearts initiative: he also won a prestigious award and shook hands with the pope because of the project.</p><p><a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.IeNJgsWRFduklcosJj7MilnEHTn9op5II8vxrh9uQeexxw0tse8Dhyta8clLzz47gM9Pr5Sg3NJ0yWNZRfEIwA-3D-3DPzIi_FrbdBNjFDoEa-2F9q6J5rbxTv-2FYob5s2OonmKskZDAI3GbhEJtfSPFgoDWHq8Bubs2uS2iETCIFkazkr2vsQt5zP8tZqSrdLReTPnffLPp1eIja2d2KKQnzOnkBTIkERgzdILUnaYaf5TJ1jbl3K-2Fc6VNsZnr7wnn2Gyxo-2F960JQnc4nWtqpBdjDcxCRiWEAUjSxXkSoTZiEAISegrVbWKKEt7TA4jYNzYGLzvKJujMo6F86Fz-2FtaIP4nSioabwI9Gpel-2BdJD0M7wwzXeNV-2F0i0CMbWrxDIr7A-2FXlmj4Uul6ncQaKxVR8lvhWxw47NAbGK-2FjiamWNTukXbLJleAilKbUbRcufThOCSf0Hb8rwU0wu3pqNQkKJY67qHLgv1Qvaa" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: blue;">Congdon</a>, assistant professor of communication studies and director of inclusive excellence education at SHU, and alum Keresha Donaldson MA ’22 met Pope Francis during V Global Symposium Uniservitate in November in Rome, Italy. Congdon was one of two educators in North America to receive the 2024 Uniservitate Global Service Award for service-learning experiences in higher education, which included a trip to the symposium.</p><p>Congdon launched Uniting Hearts in 2021 as a service-learning unit in his undergraduate advertising and public relations (PR) campaigns class, which is part of SHU’s&nbsp;<a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.IeNJgsWRFduklcosJj7MilnEHTn9op5II8vxrh9uQef6ZUKUEjAJWK0BEgD6M9wIM-2FF0I5EiooR-2BGCoFLSj6V7Cc0i8i1Ke-2BEeJjtWG-2FRYY1qmvl6uK1oUdNMSyZjfT2YDUKS-2BNPbC0tuHFFfXckXHc4Zc45LafzO9DXU3ehWrc-3DEv5I_FrbdBNjFDoEa-2F9q6J5rbxTv-2FYob5s2OonmKskZDAI3GbhEJtfSPFgoDWHq8Bubs2uS2iETCIFkazkr2vsQt5zP8tZqSrdLReTPnffLPp1eIja2d2KKQnzOnkBTIkERgzdILUnaYaf5TJ1jbl3K-2Fc6VNsZnr7wnn2Gyxo-2F960JQnc4nWtqpBdjDcxCRiWEAUjSxXkSoTZiEAISegrVbWKKGVn6Qeo2OFuQol78B-2BttjQdBCginGUPloKB1dJeomr1XU3cfPkrSQ6KIddKIrFd3IRO0LUkqo242FUkuzekOP2KuIa-2BOG9r5AtC2aSOb-2BzXH7dLL5F12q4TP53WbNSQeL02F6mAxe43pZ1RBLN39oViV5cny7dE9jXCEmlgb3V7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: blue;">strategic communication, public relations &amp; advertising major</a>. For eight semesters, his students have taken on real-world communication and PR campaigns to build allyship, increase financial literacy and raise money for community partners. They have also helped register voters on Sacred Heart’s campus.</p><p>When told he could bring a student to the Rome symposium, Congdon immediately thought of Donaldson. A graduate student in the&nbsp;<a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.IeNJgsWRFduklcosJj7MilnEHTn9op5II8vxrh9uQef6ZUKUEjAJWK0BEgD6M9wIM-2FF0I5EiooR-2BGCoFLSj6V0SZK9bALySro6oFReIuZCmtoHpBd-2BVBshADF2Kjl2WPOJf1z-2F2vAzkhqcHl-2FH2inA-3D-3DJoFR_FrbdBNjFDoEa-2F9q6J5rbxTv-2FYob5s2OonmKskZDAI3GbhEJtfSPFgoDWHq8Bubs2uS2iETCIFkazkr2vsQt5zP8tZqSrdLReTPnffLPp1eIja2d2KKQnzOnkBTIkERgzdILUnaYaf5TJ1jbl3K-2Fc6VNsZnr7wnn2Gyxo-2F960JQnc4nWtqpBdjDcxCRiWEAUjSxXkSoTZiEAISegrVbWKKJ3KgPBL-2FQ7amp2-2Frnrl2QF7YroRAKRv77I1cDRsmF14wRMhnl-2FdrFtOhvTx8S-2BjIJglZ8FfQF4DQpKpDuV0BlFTl8XwKBqhHI-2Bw01FQ4UKsik2wOGA8CLeOrScrbb5UO9LbSNi5OH4ZR5WvKO0myHRUerHZVj-2FUZAU2TvGoIo1o" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: blue;">strategic communication &amp; public relations master’s program</a>, she helped implement the Uniting Hearts initiative and remains involved in the program.</p><p>Donaldson teaches digital design at Warren Harding High School in Bridgeport, and she says she enjoys working with people who are like-minded. “After I graduated from SHU, the service-learning aspect of the class did not end, and [Professor Congdon] asked me if I would still help. I live right in Bridgeport, and Sacred Heart is still a part of my community. It was a no-brainer to stay engaged.”</p><p>Congdon and Donaldson presented their initiative to the symposium’s global audience. Donaldson described the symposium as “a U.N. meeting” with many cultures represented from all over the world. “That experience was an award in itself. This was melting-pot global,” she said. “Every global person had their moment.” Although participants came from different countries, the needs they were trying to address were similar, she added.</p><p>At the symposium, the pope spoke to educators and students about how service-learning in Catholic schools and universities fosters a sense of “communal responsibility” in students. “In this way, Catholic educational institutions live up to their name,” the pope told attendees. “For any school or university, being ‘Catholic’ is more than having a distinguished adjective in its name; it signifies a commitment to cultivating a distinctive pedagogical style and teaching consistent with the teachings of the Gospel.”</p><p>Both Congdon and Donaldson had the opportunity to meet Pope Francis in a moment Congdon described as “filled with profound emotion and shared reverence.” The atmosphere in the room was charged, Congdon said, as everyone collectively experienced the culmination of days of collaboration and connection.</p><p>“I thanked Pope Francis for the hope and inspiration he provides and for always standing up for social justice for the marginalized,” Congdon said. “After meeting him, I got really emotional, and I did not expect that.”</p><p>Donaldson described the experience as “surreal, amazing and a blessing all rolled into one moment.”</p><p><strong>Uniting Hearts reflects SHU’s mission</strong></p><p>Prior to attending the global symposium, Congdon and Donaldson presented their initiative to 30 award nominees from the U.S. and Canada at the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities conference in San Diego, CA.</p><p><a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.IeNJgsWRFduklcosJj7MilnEHTn9op5II8vxrh9uQeemiRrBOxxEFk5mAmE-2FRQjYrRrpBOKZjqDPA4zQenFhSjRz-2F9UA-2BlyFrvsETNHvpdY-3DiR4T_FrbdBNjFDoEa-2F9q6J5rbxTv-2FYob5s2OonmKskZDAI3GbhEJtfSPFgoDWHq8Bubs2uS2iETCIFkazkr2vsQt5zP8tZqSrdLReTPnffLPp1eIja2d2KKQnzOnkBTIkERgzdILUnaYaf5TJ1jbl3K-2Fc6VNsZnr7wnn2Gyxo-2F960JQnc4nWtqpBdjDcxCRiWEAUjSxXkSoTZiEAISegrVbWKKEBrPr2o7xzwNZ6kLDan11iZQSs6nwyWLmLMGPiVVi-2BLSeQXlMJ-2Ft6xwfpx1qNodHy1JVDweyM5hay2sDKB-2Fq2wq3CKjbhP0BcZgjo9xD0iidjY9bzlIAW2Q0gRLQhiCs-2Bh0olWi6FjVPguBOtEcpJp8sO6asc3tnVnl4dZ1-2FBn-2F" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: blue;">Francis X.R. Origanti</a>, senior vice president of&nbsp;<a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.IeNJgsWRFduklcosJj7MilnEHTn9op5II8vxrh9uQefeRTTx0S7HCIdLiKK-2FhklZ5Rp768EVZT7x-2BKAEzae7StdenBhOqG8ZMrU0xPmAERV23gCYbo3mclAmtT3xmmvpkVJExQfxhv3e1H-2BJqZ-2BcJul18GTDzVBj-2BWZzRABD3hE-3D8S9I_FrbdBNjFDoEa-2F9q6J5rbxTv-2FYob5s2OonmKskZDAI3GbhEJtfSPFgoDWHq8Bubs2uS2iETCIFkazkr2vsQt5zP8tZqSrdLReTPnffLPp1eIja2d2KKQnzOnkBTIkERgzdILUnaYaf5TJ1jbl3K-2Fc6VNsZnr7wnn2Gyxo-2F960JQnc4nWtqpBdjDcxCRiWEAUjSxXkSoTZiEAISegrVbWKKC5yoinCr7mWpRBf3TGgldB1IyjRi-2FPNn9082tTNuSHAo5F4Y29UANXXr5zH-2BGieKu-2FqxxZJ9nRPKd4VIZmUXvTpwp4dfn8w-2Bd2bip2SaZvOOnkcgmyj9PjzBH9a-2Bm5x0mW9-2B6GuESH6PiZg2TxHvwcelzACEBupUPXPrGHwoQIx" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: blue;">mission &amp; culture</a>&nbsp;at Sacred Heart, said Congdon’s efforts align with the University’s mission. “The&nbsp;Uniting Hearts initiative has significantly impacted Sacred Heart University by promoting social justice and community engagement,” Origanti said. “This initiative has inspired students to actively participate in service-learning projects, enriching their academic experience and personal growth.”</p><p>Origanti continued, “As a Catholic university, Sacred Heart emphasizes the education of students in mind, body and spirit, preparing them to make a meaningful difference in the global community. The Uniting Hearts initiative embodies these values by fostering a culture of service, social justice and community engagement. Mark Congdon’s dedication to Uniting Hearts exemplifies these principles, encouraging students to engage in impactful social justice initiatives and truly reflect the University’s mission and Catholic identity.”</p><p>As a result of the Uniting Hearts program, Sacred Heart will be opening a student-run public relations agency called the HeartFusion Media Collective Agency, focusing on nonprofit organizations. Uniting Hearts will be folded into the agency, and students will continue to make real-world impacts while gaining valuable communication skills.</p><p>Reflecting on the experience, Congdon said, “[At the symposium] they talked about how education was an act of hope, but I see it as more than that. I see education as love and heart. It’s mind, body and soul. It’s hope realized in and with community.”</p><p><strong><em><u>About Sacred Heart University</u></em></strong></p><p>As the second-largest Catholic university in New England, and one of the fastest-growing private doctoral institutions in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus. Sacred Heart also has a campus in Dingle, Ireland, and offers online programs. More than 10,000 students attend the University’s eight colleges and schools: College of Arts &amp; Sciences; School of Communication, Media &amp; the Arts; School of Social Work; School of Computer Science &amp; Engineering; College of Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education &amp; Human Development; the Jack Welch College of Business &amp; Technology and the Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., &amp; Richard J. Henley College of Nursing. Sacred Heart, a Laudato Si’ campus, stands out from other Catholic institutions as it was established and led by laity. The contemporary Catholic university is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts, and at the same time cultivates students to be forward thinkers who enact change—in their own lives, professions and in their communities. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its&nbsp;<em>Best 390 Colleges: 2025 Edition</em>, and&nbsp;<em>Best Business Schools: 2024 Edition</em>. Sacred Heart is home to the award-winning, NPR-affiliate station, WSHU Public Radio, a Division I athletics program and an impressive performing arts program that includes choir, band, dance and theatre.&nbsp;<a href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.3KYkKCumCfJCrG2op2AWQGMH8NA2HszzKFMqxExvHODSk-2BOFF79ZsNqAVERw9U23QJdt_FrbdBNjFDoEa-2F9q6J5rbxTv-2FYob5s2OonmKskZDAI3GbhEJtfSPFgoDWHq8Bubs2uS2iETCIFkazkr2vsQt5zP8tZqSrdLReTPnffLPp1eIja2d2KKQnzOnkBTIkERgzdILUnaYaf5TJ1jbl3K-2Fc6VNsZnr7wnn2Gyxo-2F960JQnc4nWtqpBdjDcxCRiWEAUjSxXkSoTZiEAISegrVbWKKJYAgmwmKkbrgtgklSfoMP-2B-2BnepjoPTJd3ENhuZWqDdN1elJthqlOWZzkliLUb1d-2BVMdCd-2F25SWpqaPp7OFgpLAeeMC06l2103VpqhH0r0vR-2F0YaS6FFIQw-2B4h-2Fz3PAUdP133Q0K0GYjFsTEQTO8TfKaYWxetSqHfMzCUfxuygV1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: blue;">www.sacredheart.edu</a></p>

<p class="ql-align-center"><strong>Norwalk, CT:&nbsp;</strong>Since opening its distillery and tasting room in 2019 in the coastal city of South Norwalk, CT, SONO 1420, America’s Maritime Distillery, has earned a stellar reputation for producing premium hand-crafted, small-batch whiskey. A double gold award-winning distillery, this veteran-owned and operated company soon expanded its spirits portfolio to include vodkas, ready-to-drink vodka-based cocktails, innovative Threesome Ready-to-Mix Cocktails, and botanical gins. SONO 1420’s most recent industry recognition is for its Vo Vodka inclusion in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wineenthusiast.com/toplists/100-best-spirits-of-2024/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">Wine Enthusiast's Top 100 Spirits of 2024 List.</a></p><p>“Winnowed down from hundreds of bottles reviewed over the past 12 months, these 100 selections represent the brightest and most memorable.&nbsp;Whether you’re seeking to shake up celebratory cocktails, gift a special bottle, or try something different, we hope you’ll find a new favorite among these top 100 picks. —&nbsp;<em>Kara Newman, Spirits Editor, Wine Enthusiast</em></p><p>SONO 1420 Vo Vodka received a&nbsp;93 “Excellent, Highly Recommended, Best Buy” blind taste rating with a Wine Enthusiast tasting note, “Distilled from sugar cane and corn, this feather-light vodka is neutral and crisp, finishing with white pepper and cayenne prickle on the warming, even fiery finish.”&nbsp;SONO 1420 Vo Vodka is also a 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Bronze Medal Winner.</p><p><em>SONO 1420 Vo Vodka is 100% Natural, Sugar-free, Gluten-free, Vegan, and GMO-free. $23 Retail</em></p><p>The SONO 1420 company continues to evolve, playing off its earliest buzz of being America’s first distillery to incorporate hemp seed in its mash bill. SONO 1420 Founder Ted Dumbauld, known for his innovative distilling practices, recently expanded his brown spirits line (currently 7), crafting a Maritime Collection of bourbons, including the Finished at Sea Bourbon, which is aged onboard working oyster boats operated by Norwalk’s Copps Island Oyster boats, plying the waters of the Long Island Sound six days a week, 52 weeks a year.&nbsp;SONO 1420’s Harborside Bourbon is aged in the distillery, which runs adjacent to the Long Island Sound, where the barrels are exposed year-round to New England’s coastal seasons, temperature changes, and briny sea air.&nbsp;</p><p>SONO 1420 spirits, ready-to-drink cocktails, and the distillery’s unique and entertaining Threesome Ready-to-Mix Cocktails continue to gain in popularity. The company’s distinct branding and packaging is a true standout on retail shelves, restaurants, and bars throughout Connecticut and&nbsp;New York, and a growing presence on the East Coast. The SONO 1420 Tasting Room provides a social respite punctuated with creative cocktails and a front-row seat into the inner workings of the distillery.</p><p>What’s next for this pioneering distillery? Look for a “Haze” on the horizon…</p><p>SONO 1420 Distillery and Tasting Room</p><p>19 Day Street, South Norwalk, CT 06854</p><p><a href="http://www.sono1420.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(70, 120, 134);">www.sono1420.com</a></p>