Girl Scout Cookies Go Digital This Year

For the first time in its history, Girl Scouts from local troops will be able to sell Girl Scout Cookies to customers through a brand new national Digital Cookie platform.

This addition to the Girl Scout Cookie Program will enhance and expand the program’s ability to teach girls new skills for business and life. The new platform will expand the iconic cookie program by adding a digital layer that broadens and strengthens the essential five skills that girls learn in the traditional cookie program: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics.

The future of the Girl Scout Cookie Program/Digital Cookie will introduce vital 21st century lessons about online marketing, application use and e-commerce to nearly 10,000 Girl Scouts locally.

Digital Cookie follows Girl Scouts’ classic “hands on” approach to teaching girls new skills. Through the platform, local Girl Scouts will maintain their own protected, personalized websites to market their cookie business to local consumers, accept orders via credit card, and activate cookie shipments directly to customers. This means consumers who know Girl Scouts participating in Digital Cookie will receive e-marketing materials from them this season with invitations to visit their cookie websites and make purchases.

The platform places an emphasis on the safety of girls and customers alike and offers an online experience that allows girls to learn about digital money management using dashboards to track their sales and goals. Overall, the new platform teaches modern skills while aligning with the interests of today’s girls.

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.