<p class="ql-align-center"><strong>Girl Scouts of Connecticut Members Get Deep Dive in State Government During Daylong Event</strong></p><p><strong>(Hartford, CT)</strong> – <em>March 17, 2025</em> – For 113 years, Girl Scouts of Connecticut has served as the preeminent organization best positioned to help girls develop important leadership skills to become future changemakers. This underlying mission was best exemplified on Tuesday, March 11. 2025 when the non-profit organization hosted its annual Girl Scouts at the Capitol Day, a program designed to offer a deep dive into state government and teach members the importance of civic engagement and public service. Specifically, 93 Girl Scouts heard inspiring messages from Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz, four state senators, twelve state representatives as well as the executive director and staff from the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity &amp; Opportunity and League of Women Voters in the House Chambers at the Connecticut State Capitol Building. The <span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">eve</span>nt coincided with Women's History Month, as well as National Girl Scout Week.</p><p>“We are absolutely ecstatic with the amazing turnout for our recent Girl Scouts at the Capitol Day, the first time offering it since the pandemic in 2019,” said Elicia Pegues Spearman, chief executive officer at Girl Scouts of Connecticut. “Nearly 100 Girl Scout members learned the inner workings of state government, the importance of being a public servant and how they can make an impact—even before they can vote!”</p><p>Through panel discussions, hands-on activities and tours of both the Capitol Building and Legislative Office Building, Girl Scouts were fully immersed in the political process.</p><p>A special milestone of the day was the official pining ceremony of state legislators by their Girl Scout constituents into an honorary Girl Scout Capitol Troop. Participating legislators included: Senator Eric Berthel- 32nd District, Senator Paul Cicarello- 34th District, Senator Tony Hwang- 28th District, Senator Julie Kushner- Deputy President Pro Tempore, 24th District, Rep Kate Ferrar- Newington, West Hartford, Rep Marty Foncello- Brookfield, Bethel, Newtown, Rep Irene Haines-East Haddam, East Hampton, Salem, Rep Anne Hughes-Easton, Redding, Weston, Rep Dominique Johnson- Norwalk, Westport, Rep Sarah Kiett-Fairfield, Trumbull, Rep Jennifer Leeper-Fairfield, Southport, Rep Tracy Marra- Darien, Norwalk, Rep Amy Morrin Bello- Wethersfield, Rep Cristin McCarthy-Vahey- Bridgeport, Fairfield, Rep Laurie Sweet- Hamden and Rep Gary Turco- Newington, New Britain. </p><p>Additionally, various staff members from the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity &amp; Opportunity and the League of Women Voters discussed the history of women in the law-making process, contributions of female leaders in government and ways to launch a political career. </p><p>“All Girl Scout attendees walked away with a deeper understanding of how they can advocate for the causes they care about, while <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">pursuing their passion for public service,” adds Spearman. “We </span><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">are grateful to our management team, troop leaders, volunteers, legislative partners and our eager Girl Scout members for making it such a successful and memorable day!”</span></p>

<p>The Connecticut Spelling Bee will return to West Hartford on Sunday, March 9, 2025, and participants will compete for the chance to represent Connecticut at the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May.</p><p>The 8th&nbsp;Annual Connecticut Spelling Bee is presented by the Noah Webster House &amp; West Hartford Historical Society, Connecticut’s Official Regional Partner to the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The competition begins at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 9 at the Hoffman Auditorium at the University of Saint Joseph, located at 1678 Asylum Avenue in West Hartford.</p><p>Students competing in The Connecticut Spelling Bee have already won their school- or town-wide spelling bees. This year, thousands of Connecticut students in grades 1-8 participated in the spelling bee program. From that, 64 are eligible to move on to the state level. This makes 2025 the largest and most competitive Connecticut Spelling Bee in recent history, a number that grows each year.</p><p>“As Connecticut’s Official Regional Partner to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, the Noah Webster House is proud to once again present this event and we have more students than ever participating this year,” said Jeffrey Mainville, Executive Director of the Noah Webster House &amp; West Hartford Historical Society. “We are especially grateful to PeoplesBank, the Premier Sponsor of the 2025 Connecticut Spelling Bee.”</p><p>“At PeoplesBank, we are deeply committed to our associates, customers, and community. We proudly support The Connecticut Spelling Bee; this event not only fosters educational excellence but also strengthens our community spirit. By integrating our associates into this celebration, we reinforce our dedication to both education and community engagement,” said Ryan Young, PeoplesBank, West Hartford Banking Center Manager.</p><p>The Connecticut Spelling Bee is free and open to the public. Seating is limited. Live recordings of this event are strictly prohibited. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. For more information, please email us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:events@noahwebsterhouse.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);"><u>events@noahwebsterhouse.org</u></a>.</p><p>The winner of The Connecticut Spelling Bee will represent the state at the Scripps National Spelling Bee May 27, 2025, through May 29, 2025, at the Gaylord National Resort &amp; Convention Center in Port Washington, Maryland.<strong>&nbsp;</strong>The top Connecticut speller will also receive a $1,000 scholarship to the University of Saint Joseph if admitted.</p><p>“Noah Webster House is grateful to our friends at University of Saint Joseph for once again hosting The Connecticut Spelling Bee on their beautiful campus,” added Mainville.</p><p>This year, schools from all eight of Connecticut’s counties participated in the spelling bee program. Schools include: Academy For International Studies (Windsor), Alcott Elementary School (Wolcott), Andover Elementary School (Andover), Annie Fisher STEM Magnete School (Hartford), Bertrand Spencer Elementary School (Middletown), Bethlehem Elementary School (Bethlehem), Bi - Cultural Hebrew Academy Of Connecticut (Stamford), Booth Hill Elementary School (Trumbull). Bristow Middle School (West Hartford), Bungay Elementary School (Seymour), Catholic Academy Of Waterbury (Waterbury), Center Elementary School (East Hampton), Charles H Barrows Stem Academy (North Windham), Daniels Farm School (Trumbull), East Hampton Middle School (East Hampton), East Lyme Middle School (Niantic), Fields Memorial School (Bozrah), Frenchtown Elementary School (Trumbull), Gilbert School (Winsted), Glenville Elementary School (Greenwich), Great Plain Elementary School (Danbury), Harry M. Bailey Middle School (West Haven), Helen Keller Middle School (Easton), Henry S Chase Elementary School (Waterbury), Interdistrict Discovery Magnet School (Bridgeport), Isabell Pearson School (Winsted), Jane Ryan Elementary School (Trumbull), Jumoke Academy (Hartford), King Philip Middle School (West Hartford), Lawrence Elementary School (Middletown), Mabelle B Avery Middle School (Somers), Mary R. Fisher Elementary School (North Grosvenordale), May V Carrigan Intermediate School (West Haven), Middlebrook Elementary School (Trumbull), Middlebrook Middle School (Wilton), Middlesex Middle School (Darien), Multicultural Magnet School (Bridgeport), North Stonington Elementary School (North Stonington), Northeast Middle School (Bristol), Northville Elementary School (New Milford), Northwestern Regional Middle School (Winsted), Old Greenwich School (Old Greenwich), Oxford Middle School (Oxford), Pembroke Elementary School (Danbury), Ralph M Johnson Elementary School (Bethel), Renzulli Gifted and Talented Academy (Hartford), Reuben E Thalberg Elementary School (Southington), Sandy Hook Elementary School (Sandy Hook), Scotts Ridge Middle School (Ridgefield), Sedgwick Middle School (West Hartford), Seymour Middle School (Seymour), Somers Elementary School (Somers), Southern Connecticut Hebrew Academy (Orange), Stadley Rough Elementary School (Danbury), Strawberry Hill International School (Stamford), Tashua Elementary School (Trumbull), Thirman Milner School (Hartford), Thomaston Center School (Thomaston), Thompson Middle School (North Grosvenor), Toquam Magnet School (Stamford), Torrington Middle School (Torrington), Totoket Valley Elementary School (Northford), Vernon Center Middle School (Vernon), Westbrook Middle School (Westbrook), and Western Connecticut Academy (Danbury).</p><p><br></p><p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Every year, thousands of the world’s most prominent tech experts from all segments of the battery supply chain convene to discuss innovations in the lithium battery industry for consumers, as well as the automotive, military, grid, and industrial sectors at the International Battery Seminar &amp; Exhibit. This year, one Connecticut manufacturer is leading the charge by being tapped as a key speaker at the annual event to be held in Orlando, FL from March 17-20, 2025. Specifically, Rodger Mort, chief operating officer at <a href="http://www.pactww.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Packaging And Crating Technologies</a> (PACT®), will be delivering an educational seminar on how his company’s patented <a href="http://www.pactthermoshield.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">PACT ThermoShield</a>TM product line has become a viable solution for the proliferation of lithium battery fires around the globe.&nbsp;</p><p>“We are honored to be invited to speak at this high-tech forum to showcase our critical, life-saving solutions for lithium battery fires – a problem that continues to increase exponentially every day as more electronic-powered equipment and handheld devices enter the marketplace,” said Rodger Mort. “We are uniquely positioned to discuss and demonstrate how our fire-suppressant paper wrap stops thermal runaway, a phenomenon when lithium batteries heat up and ignite during storage, transportation or recycling, which can lead to dangerous and oftentimes deadly explosions.”</p><p>Mort explains that PACT Thermo ShieldTM was invented as a thermal management system for shipping and storing items containing lithium batteries. It consists of three thin, lightweight, paper materials coated with proprietary ink. When a lithium battery goes into thermal runaway and burns, the special ink releases a moisture barrier that creates a vapor cloud to immediately cool the internal contents of the package to prevent a domino fireball effect, while limiting oxygen around the package to prevent the battery temperature from escalating to 1,500° Fahrenheit, at which point, lethal gases form.</p><p>“Simply stated, the hot electrolyte gases that can escape from a lithium battery condense against the PACT Thermo Shield paper, which prevents the hot gases from finding oxygen and exploding into a major inferno,” said Mort. “By controlling both the internal and external environments of the battery package, we prevent the explosion and spread to other batteries.” </p><p>From the same technology, PACT also developed a 100% paper-based solution for lithium-ion battery packs, called TR SleeveTM that shuts down thermal runaway on the cellular level. Here, a layer of PACT Thermo Shield TM is wrapped around <strong>each</strong> battery cell to mitigate thermal runaway between them, thus serving as a heat and flame barrier. A critical safety solution for E-mobility equipment, like EVs, E-buses, E-bikes, E-scooters, and other modern devices, TR </p><p>SleeveTM stands at the forefront of safety, sustainability, and efficiency in battery technology and produces a greener and more cost-effective future for the increasing use of lithium batteries.</p><p>Mort notes that TR EnvelopeTM, is the newest, customizable format of PACT ThermoShield TM, which safely transports and stores smaller devices such as cell phones, pagers, smartwatches and rechargeable A-D batteries, items becoming a hazard for commercial airlines during flight.</p><p>Lastly, Mort describes the company’s newest invention – the PACT Lion-X TM Fire Extinguisher, which is still undergoing testing requirements but is targeted to be available by end of the year. The pre-mixed, water-based solution quenches lithium battery fires upwards of 1,600 degrees within seconds, while eliminating the release of toxic gases into the environment and is the first of its kind on a global scale. “We’re so excited to introduce our latest inventions that reduce lithium battery fires on the international stage,” concludes Mort. “If we can save just one life, while preventing property damage and personal injury, we’ve done our job!” </p><p>As the longest-running annual battery industry event in the world, the International Battery Seminar &amp; Exhibit has always been the preferred venue to announce significant developments, new products, and showcase the most advanced battery technology. In fact, Sony chose the International Battery Seminar as the platform to first announce its lithium-ion technology in 1991, an accomplishment that has since gone on to change the world.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(33, 37, 41);">For more information about PACT Thermo Shield</span> TM<span style="color: rgb(33, 37, 41);">, visit: </span><a href="https://www.pactthermoshield.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.pactthermoshield.com/</a><span style="color: rgb(33, 37, 41);"> or stop by booth #1117 at The International Battery Seminar &amp; Exhibit.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><strong>Assisted Living Services Receives 2025 Best of Home Care® – Leader in Experience, Provider of Choice, and Employer of Choice Awards</strong></p><p><a href="http://www.assistedlivingct.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Assisted Living Services, Inc</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">. today announced that it has received the distinguished 2025 Best of Home Care</span><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">®</strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> –Leader in Experience Award, Best of Home Care® - Provider of Choice and Best of Home Care® - Employer of Choice from Activated Insights, formerly Home Care Pulse, the leading firm in experience management for post-acute care. Specifically, the Leader in Experience Award is the highest recognition bestowed by Activated Insights and is given to select home care businesses </span>that consistently rank among the very highest in ten or more quality metrics. As a Leader in Experience, Assisted Living Services is <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">now recognized among the top 10% of home care providers in the nation.</span></p><p>This accomplishment demonstrates Assisted Living Services’ long-term dedication to excellent care and quality improvement. To qualify for this award, 10% of the company’s clients and caregivers were interviewed each month by Activated Insights. Over a 12-month period, Assisted Living Services received high client and caregiver satisfaction ratings in areas such as caregiver training, compassion of caregivers, communication, scheduling, client/caregiver compatibility, and more. Using feedback from clients and employees, as well as quality benchmarks from Activated Insights, the company’s management team set goals to reach the highest level of Experience possible.</p><p>“As a family-owned and operated business for nearly 30 years, we truly view all of our employees and elderly clients as an extended family, so earning these prestigious awards is very fulfilling to us,” said Mario D’Aquila, MBA, chief operating officer at Assisted Living Services, Inc. “As we continue to grow in both size and locations, our underlying commitment to providing excellent in-home care will always remain our primary purpose.”</p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The Best of Home Care</span><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">®</strong> –<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> Leader in Experience Award highlights the top-performing home care businesses in the nation. Activated Insights believes that by honoring these providers, families looking for in-home care for a loved one will be able to recognize and choose a trusted home care provider.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“At Activated Insights, our mission is to help post-acute care businesses create an experience that goes beyond client and caregiver expectations; ultimately improving outcomes for all stakeholders in the care continuum,” </span>says Bud Meadows, chief executive officer of Activated Insights. “When we see agencies like <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Assisted Living Services that have so effectively provided outstanding care and employment experiences, we know that we’re on the right track. The management team has worked extremely hard to prioritize high-quality care and employment, and their work hasn’t gone unnoticed. This award allows them to show proof of quality to potential clients and caregivers.” </span></p><p>To find out more about Assisted Living Services’ commitment to experience, please visit <a href="http://www.assistedlivingct.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.assistedli</a><a href="vingct.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">vingct.com</a> or call 203-634-8668.</p>

<p>&nbsp;It’s the sweetest time of the year as the 2025 Girl Scout Cookie season kicks off in Connecticut.&nbsp;The 100% girl-led entrepreneurship program that develops the next generation of female business leaders officially launches on January 24th. The public is now able to order the delicious desserts from individual Girl Scout members – both in-person and online.</p><p>“The five fundamentals of the cookie program are goal setting, decision making, business ethics, people skills and money management,” said Elicia Pegues Spearman, Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of Connecticut (GSOFCT).&nbsp;“Girls learn to work as a team to accomplish goals, while building confidence in their individual abilities and most importantly, they have fun while doing it!</p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Spearman notes that Girl Scout members received an educational immersion to ensure a successful 2025 cookie season at the Girl Scout Round Up: Cookie Rally and Entrepreneur Fair earlier this month, which offered a variety of helpful workshops on leadership, entrepreneurship, customer care, cyber security, and presentation skills.</span>To sweeten the deal, GSOFCT offers a reward system in which Girl Scouts earn prizes for selling a certain level of cookie packages.&nbsp;Incentives include patches, charms, a Lenovo Laptop, tickets to AdventurePark in Storrs and a plush stuffed panda, the official mascot of the 2025 cookie season.</p><p>The roster of tasty treats being offered this year includes&nbsp;Adventurefuls™, Thin Mints®, Samoas®, Tagalongs®, Do-si-dos®, Trefoils®, Lemon-Ups®, gluten-free Toffee-tastic® and Girl Scout S’mores®, which are officially retiring this season.&nbsp;Each variety costs $6 per package.</p><p>There are several ways to pre-order and purchase Girl Scout Cookies including:</p><ul><li>Contacting a registered Girl Scout to find out how she’s selling cookies, either in-person or through her individual Digital Cookie<span style="color: rgb(33, 37, 41);">&nbsp;®&nbsp;</span>online platform.</li><li>Visiting&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.b00YhNV2Nr0-2BaZn7eVNAdWk0D-2FZNWoRYVKhJpIohRAA-3DBxmu_Ij1XgsWtWeAdz0mTEGIcEh6byeAwrCr1n-2Fdtm09E61q1gufQgi3uo3sO5-2BIoQsNjgf4iqXmt9uazDd1G1KzkN40mGU08xegmnUeGbPY7bGBp1Ydh-2FRHiV88WH98wjE-2BT9cqaaXhBKL63RgPVFDdh3szbAdI2odiUdhPHYQ-2FxDA-2Bzl7bvPZDG4d-2BmSvxjb0sY3M-2FhyN8tVn-2FzzEmZncqE5TzGEymcFvmstvelUK5mwe85rQYHdLbJAC0jVvwFb7pnf7OjOzHix9S25xxlC0tHZnyLtQzmJEdz43evmJRcw9aHVp39d9PyVDdCWhaXj8mwsMh1G-2F7zlnbZpgU-2BamT5mA-3D-3D" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><u>www.gsofct.org</u></a><u style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">&nbsp;to find out how to order online,&nbsp;</u>or</li><li>Contacting GSOFCT’s Customer Care team at (800) 922-2770</li><li>Girl Scout Cookies will be delivered to Connecticut on March 22, 2025, at which time, all pre-orders will be fulfilled to customers, and troops around the state will set up cookie booths in their local communities through the end of April.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>For more information on the Girl Scout Cookie season, including how to find cookies or support the organization in other ways, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.b00YhNV2Nr0-2BaZn7eVNAdWk0D-2FZNWoRYVKhJpIohRAA-3De418_Ij1XgsWtWeAdz0mTEGIcEh6byeAwrCr1n-2Fdtm09E61q1gufQgi3uo3sO5-2BIoQsNjgf4iqXmt9uazDd1G1KzkN40mGU08xegmnUeGbPY7bGBp1Ydh-2FRHiV88WH98wjE-2BT9cqaaXhBKL63RgPVFDdh3szbAdI2odiUdhPHYQ-2FxDA-2Bzl7bvPZDG4d-2BmSvxjb0sYR811WZS7jUGxheBfFSa0FmJi3DHgbSaeMu2X35WswLJZj0Wj7xnKB39zukmrwR7ZdoRgDJx8g6H-2Fjww7KCPpKe6nDjDlneocXBo95YjT9P-2Benpo84ht5o5Cjw6A8Vil677mUOEOnEZMzTgZIey22EQ-3D-3D" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);"><u>www.gsofct.org</u></a>.</p>

<p>On Saturday, January 11, 2025, downtown New Haven will come alive with the energy of Girl Scouts gathering for the “Girl Scout Round Up: Cookie Rally &amp; Entrepreneur Fair.” Hosted by Girl Scouts of Connecticut (GSOFCT) at the Omni New Haven Hotel, this annual event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and serves as the official kick-off to the highly anticipated Girl Scout Cookie season.</p><p>The event, now in its second year, is expected to welcome more than 300 attendees and offers workshops on money management, leadership, entrepreneurship, customer care, cybersecurity, and presentation skills.</p><p>“The Girl Scout Round Up: Cookie Rally and Entrepreneur Fair is one of our most popular events because it equips Girl Scouts with hands-on techniques to enhance their cookie businesses,” said Elicia Pegues Spearman, CEO of Girl Scouts of Connecticut. “Everyone leaves the event informed, excited, and empowered to make this Cookie Sales Season their most successful yet!”</p><p>Attendees can participate in six Badge Activity Stations to work on Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy badges, visit over 30 company vendors—including M&amp;T Bank, Junior Achievement, and the UConn Extension Financial Literacy Education Program—and explore the Girl Scout Activity Zone featuring indoor archery, hula hoop games, and SWAPS (small tokens of friendship exchanged among Girl Scouts).</p><p>“Beyond business skills, this event highlights life-balancing activities that reinforce the four primary pillars of Girl Scouts: STEAM, Entrepreneurship, Life Skills, and the Outdoors,” added Spearman. “Our goal is for attendees to leave with a deeper appreciation for the amazing year-round programs Girl Scouts offers.”</p><p>Other highlights include a Summer Fun Zone showcasing camp and travel opportunities, sing-a-longs, the Council Shop featuring the latest Girl Scout gear, and workshops on yoga, mindfulness, fire safety, and self-defense. A Volunteers Lounge provides a space for attendees to connect with GSOFCT management team members.The event is open to all girls in grades K-12 with an adult chaperone. Pre-registration is available until January 3, 2025, at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.gsofct.org/en/sf-events-repository/2025/great-girl-scout-round-up-2025----dbjcsa---new-haven--ct.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(2, 177, 151);">Girl Scouts of Connecticut Events</a>. For more information, contact Customer Care at 800-922-2770 or <a href="mailto:CustomerCare@gsofct.org." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CustomerCare@gsofct.org.</a></p><p>Girl Scout Cookie season officially begins on January 24, 2025, with order-taking, followed by statewide booth sales starting March 22, 2025.</p><p><em>Photo: The 2nd Annual Girl Scout Round Up: Cookie Rally and Entrepreneur Fair will be held at the Omni New Haven Hotel at 155 Temple Street, offering workshops on leadership, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy to hundreds of attendees.</em></p><p><em>Credit: Girl Scouts of Connecticut</em></p>