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n e w h a v e n b i z . c o m | F e b r u a r y 2 0 2 3 | n e w h a v e n B I Z 5 A r o u n d t h e R e g i o n Willie Nelson joins herbal hijinks to promote BIC lighter Country music star Willie Nelson has joined Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg in a new ad campaign for BIC's EZ Reach lighter. e Shelton-based company has run a campaign for the EZ Reach for three years on the theme of "most borrowed lighter," due to the device's 1.45-inch extended wand "that helps light hard- to-reach places," BIC said. Celebrity lifestyle duo Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart have been pro- moting the lighter since the campaign's launch. Nelson appears in the ads aer taking an EZ Reach from Snoop to light up a candle with his "favorite herb scent" — which "he borrowed" from Stewart. BIC launched the EZ Reach lighter in August 2020, and now offers versions ranging from camouflage to Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg designs. BY THE NUMBERS $1M The grant amount the KeyBank Foundation recently awarded to support startup efforts at ConnCORP, the for- profit community economic development arm of workforce development nonprofit ConnCAT. Pokemoto opens two new CT eateries in Guilford, Berlin Two more Pokemoto restaurants have opened in the state, in Guilford and Berlin, the chain's Texas-based parent company announced. The newest locations are at 1065 Boston Post Road in Guilford and 224 Berlin Turnpike in Berlin, ac- cording to Muscle Maker Inc., which owns Pokemoto. The two eateries bring the number of Pokemoto locations in Connecti- cut to 18. Of that number, 13 are now open and another five franchise locations are coming soon. While exact locations have not yet been announced, the chain's website indicates new restaurants are com- ing to Danbury, Milford and North Haven. Poke is a Hawaiian dish, and Pokemoto serves a variety of bowls, salads, burritos and teas. Washington Trust Wealth Management® is a registered trademark of The Washington Trust Company, which has licensed its use to its parent, affiliates, and subsidiaries, including Washington Trust Advisors, Inc. Investment products are offered through Washington Trust Wealth Management. Non-deposit investment products are: not deposits; not FDIC insured; not insured by any federal government agency; not guaranteed by the Bank; may go down in value. Long-term planning for you. For them. For everyone to come. 800.582.1076 50 New Haven's rank in The New York Times' "52 places to Go in 2023" list. 4.2 % The state's unemployment rate as of December, according to the state Department of Labor. 150,000 The number of essential workers in the private sector expected to get pandemic bonus payments starting in February, according to the state Comptroller. PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED Willie Nelson, Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg featured in a BIC EZ Reach Lighter ad campaign. PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED

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