<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>

<p><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">-CT Eldercare Experts Explain Subtle Symptoms that Signal the Need for Assistance-</em></p><p><br></p><p><strong>(Cheshire, Conn)</strong><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&nbsp;</strong><em>– December 5, 2024</em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&nbsp;</span>–&nbsp;It’s the time of year for joyous <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">holiday visits with elderly parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. It’s also the time to be on alert for signs of decline in your elderly loved ones that may indicate a need for in-home assistance to keep them aging safely in place. </span><a href="http://www.assistedlivingct.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Assisted Living Services, Inc</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">., a non-medical senior homecare agency with offices in Cheshire, Westport and Putnam, Connecticut, offers tips on what families should look for this holiday season,</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">“</span>Every January we experience a spike in phone calls inquiring about in-home care<span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);"> because most people have recently gathered with families and have noticed a physical or mental impairment impacting their elderly loved one’s daily life and safety both in and outside of the home,” said Mario D’Aquila,&nbsp;</span><span style="color: rgb(64, 63, 66);">chief operating officer</span><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">&nbsp;at Assisted Living Services. </span>“Age-related decline can happen quickly, so even if you see a loved one frequently, subtle changes are easy to overlook.”</p><p>He notes that the first step should be a visit to the senior’s primary care physician for a check-up to rule out any underlying causes, review all medications and help determine if professional home health care, such as nursing care, or physical therapy is necessary.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Some</span> warning signs that may indicate an elderly person needs additional help around the house or increased personal care include:</p><p>Forgetfulness/confusion</p><p>Neglect of physical appearance or basic hygiene</p><p>Neglect of medical needs</p><p>Trouble performing routine tasks or chores</p><p>Personality changes</p><p>Inability to handle finances, pay bills</p><p>Unsteadiness, clumsiness or recent history of falling</p>

<p><strong><em>-PACT Presents $500 Check to AMERICAN LEGION in THOMASTON-</em></strong></p><p><strong>(Thomaston, CT)</strong> –<em> November 20, 2024</em>– Thanksgiving marks the start of holiday giving, and one Connecticut manufacturing company has been giving back to those who served our country all year long! Specifically, Watertown-based <a href="http://www.pactww.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Packaging and Crating Technologies (PACT</a>), recently presented a $500 check to the American Legion organization in Thomaston based on a charitable campaign that it launched in November for National Military Appreciation Month. The local non-profit is the leading <span style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34);">advocate for healthcare and earned benefits for veterans, servicemembers and their families. </span></p><p><br></p><p>“Although we, as an American company, are always patriotically minded, we consider it a privilege to highlight key military holidays and commemorative milestones like Memorial Day, Veterans Day and most recently, Military Appreciation Month,” said Rodger Mort, COO of PACT. “In doing so, we are raising both awareness and financial donations for our heroes and their families.”</p><p><span style="color: rgb(32, 33, 34);">Mort notes that PACT has </span>strong ties to the military which uses its various shipping and packaging container line when individual soldiers are moved from station to station, including its </p><p>patented LiftVan, <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">PleatWrap, J-Crate, Spiral Foot, MP40, Sofa Crate and Motorcycle Crate. Each item</span> is made from a durable and sustainable corrugated cardboard material and is capable of being reused for hundreds of moves. </p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Further, the company is a preferred vendor for the US Department of Defense and has been awarded a special permit from the US Department of Transportation for the shipping of lithium-ion batteries, as </span>well as passed the proposed SAE-G-27 test standard for shipping lithium-ion batteries.</p><p>“PACT benefits the military through both its innovative product line, as well as in its generous charitable programs,” said David Lauretano, commander of the Thomaston CT American Legion Post 22. “We are extremely grateful for the company’s ongoing efforts in helping to ensure that the sacrifice of our servicemen and women is never forgotten.”</p><p><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">PHOTO</strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">: (from left): David Laurentano, commander of the Thomaston CT American Legion Post 22 is presented with a $500 check from Rodger Mort, chief operating officer at </span><a href="http://www.pactww.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Packaging and Crating Technologies (PACT)</a> in Watertown, Conn. for its fundraising campaign in honor of National Military Appreciation Month during November.</p><p><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Photo Courtesy of: PACT, LLC</em></p>

<p><em style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">GIRL SCOUTS OF CONNECTICUT OFFERS HOLIDAY DISCOUNT FOR EARLY SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION-</em></p><p><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">(</span><strong style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">Hartford, Connecticut</strong><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">) –&nbsp;</span><em style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">November 21, 2024</em><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">&nbsp;–Girl Scouts have always been a force of nature and now, families can give their favorite troop member an early taste of outdoor adventure by gifting them a weeklong summer camp experience this holiday season. Specifically, Girl Scouts of Connecticut (GSOFCT) is offering a $75 per week discount to any of its five summer camps for people who register between December 4th, 2024 and April 15, 2025. </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);"> </span>“Girl Scouts wouldn't be Girl Scouts without the great outdoors - it’s one of our four primary pillars where girls make new friends, build campfires and hike trails,” said <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Elicia Pegues Spearman, Esq., chief executive officer at Girl Scouts of Connecticut. “Our annual holiday discount program is a fantastic</span> opportunity for parents, grandparents and other family members to ‘gift’ a fun and fulfilling week of camp to their excited outdoor enthusiast.”</p><p><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">Spearman notes that the $75 discount applies to all four day camps, which include </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">Camp An-Se-Ox in Oxford, Camp Aspetuck in Weston, Camp Clatter Valley in New Milford and Camp Merrie-Wood in Manchester, as well as the organization’s overnight camp- Camp Laurel in Lebanon. Typical prices range from $385 to $625 per week.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">Additionally, GSOFCT offers a special Adventure Camp, which offers girls entering 6th to 12th grade </span>an immersive week of learning and exciting adventures, including climbing, canoeing and day trips. Costs range from $1,275 to $1,675 per week.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">As an extra bonus, </span>early registrants will also receive an official Girl Scouts water bottle and custom stickers.</p><p>“All of our summer camps provide a unique variety of engaging camp activities that allow our Girl Scouts to expand their horizons, while enjoying the adventure of learning and connecting with the world around them,” adds Spearman. </p><p>GSOFCT summer properties are also available to rent for private or corporate functions.</p><p>For more information, please visit <a href="https://www.gsofct.org/en/programs/camp-and-outdoors/summer-camps.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.gsofct.org/en/programs/camp-and-outdoors/summer-camps.html</a>.</p><p><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">Girl Scouts of Connecticut is offering a $75 discount for each week of summer camp between December 4, 2204 and April 15, 2025 as part of its annual holiday program, a great gift idea for families and friends. </span></p><p><em style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">Credit: Girl Scouts of Connecticut</em></p>

<p><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">-GIFTS OF LOVE ATTRACTS 90 ATTENDEES TO SPEAKEASY FUNDRAISING EVENT-</em></p><p><strong style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">(AVON, CONN)&nbsp;</strong><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">–&nbsp;</span><em style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">October 30, 2024 –</em><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">&nbsp;If Farmington Valley looked like an old Hollywood movie set, it wasn’t a new production, but rather, a “Roaring 20’s” costume ball hosted by </span><a href="http://www.giftsoflovect.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Gifts of Love</a><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">, </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">a </span>non-profit organization that provides food, clothing and housewares to Connecticut individuals and families facing a financial crisis. <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The “Club 35” fundraising event, which took place on Friday, October 25, 2024 at Farmington Gardens, attracted 90 registrants, and ten sponsors, raising money that </span><span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">directly helps </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">residents in over 40 towns with vital, basic needs. </span></p><p>“With the monies raised from this successful event, combined with the continuous goodwill of Connecticut residents, we know that we’ll help our clients get through the upcoming winter season warm and well-fed,” said Lisa Gray, Executive Director of Gifts of Love. “We look forward to hosting more fun-themed events in the coming months.”</p><p>Gray notes that another highly anticipated fundraiser is the non-profit’s spring golf tournament each May with this year’s event netting revenues close to $70,000.</p><p>Sponsors included Garrity Asphalt Reclaiming, Carmon Funeral Homes, Liberty Bank, and People’s Bank <span style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">and attendees </span>enjoyed a roaming magician, tarot card reader, caricaturist, samples from Litchfield Distillery, wine pull and specialty cocktails. </p><p>A major highlight of the event was a live auction emceed by Eric Hummel of Hummel Bros Inc. with such items as a $200 dinner voucher at Millwright’s Restaurant, tickets to the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, dinner for 8 people from New England Pasta Company, and a private wine class for up to 20 guests. Attendees also enjoyed live entertainment by the Simsbury High School Jazz Band.</p><p>Gifts of Love services more than 40 towns across Connecticut by offering a fully-stocked grocery pantry consisting of non-perishable items, paper goods, personal hygiene items, meats, and&nbsp;fresh produce and dairy products, a housewares and small appliances pantry and a clothing boutique, where clients can come and shop once a month. The organization has locations in Avon and in Hartford to make it easy for those in need to access necessary goods and services. It is also on the front lines of fighting childhood hunger with its Weekend Food Backpack Program, during which it distributes backpacks stuffed with easy-to-prepare meals and drinks to more than 300 students each week who are receiving free or reduced-cost lunches throughout the school year.</p><p>Gray notes that Connecticut residents who could not attend the “Roaring 20’s” event can still help the organization on Giving Tuesday and through its end-of-year appeal. To donate, please visit <a href="http://www.giftsoflove.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.giftsoflove.org</a>. </p><p><em>Photo Credit: Gifts of Love</em></p>