Unleash the Power of The Press

admin

Up on the roof…M Annis Home Enhancement offers roof cleaning service

NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS…

Having a “roof over your head” is one of life’s necessities. Yet when it comes to home maintenance—other than replacing shingles or the entire roof—it’s an area homeowners typically neglect. That’s why M Annis Home Enhancement, a Newton, MA-based home enhancement company since 1927, wants home owners to be aware of the growing need for our roof cleaning service.

“Besides looking bad, a roof with black stains, green patches or moss growing in it can lead to leaks, mold spores and shingle and wood rot. Once you get to that level, you’re talking about serious dollars to fix or even replace an entire roof and potential health issues,” said Mike Bogart, CEO of M Annis Home Enhancement. “Our new cleaning service is far more of a preventative measure than aesthetic, but most roofs look fantastic after a good cleaning, which adds value to the home.”

A typical roof cleaning takes four to eight hours. The cleaning consists of low-pressure power washing, scrub down and treatment with a liquid zinc shield stain preventer to add a layer of protection to the roof. All plants and shrubbery are rinsed before and after the cleaning. Typically, the homeowner does not have to be there for service. The cost of the cleaning is based on the size of the roof and estimates are free.

“For safety reasons, most homeowners do not want to get on a ladder and walk around their roof with a scrub bucket,” continued Bogart. “With this service, homeowners don’t have to let their roof be an eyesore or a potential health hazard . A good cleaning every year can even prolong the life expectancy of the roof.”

Based in Newton, Massachusetts, M. Annis Home Enhancement offers a myriad of home improvement service to greater the Metrowest area, including Lexington, Weston, Cambridge, Newton, Wellesley, Needham, Dover and Weston, as well as communities on the North and South Shore.

In addition to its roof cleaning services, M Annis Home Enhancement provides a number of interior and exterior cleaning services, including: power washing (house, deck and walkways), gutter cleaning (inside and out), window cleaning, screen cleaning, on-site drape cleaning, home repair and snow removal.

M. Annis Home Enhancement is a business in good standing on Angie’s List, winning the site’s 2011 Super Service Award. Family-owned and operated since 1927, M. Annis Home Enhancement is fully insured and offers a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee (5 Diamond Service). M. Annis is Hunter Douglas cleaning and repair certified.

For complete information or to request an estimate, please visit http://www.manniswindows.com or call 617-527-0078 or 781-444-2416.

About M. Annis Home Enhancement

Founded in 1927, now in its fourth generation, M. Annis Home Enhancement is the leading provider of residential window cleaning, gutter cleaning and home enhancement services in the Boston Metrowest area. Winner of the 2011 Angie’s List Super Service Award, M. Annis is full-insured and offers a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee (5 Diamond Service). For more information, including free quotes and estimates, visit www.manniswindows.com  or call 617-527-0078.

Up on the roof…M Annis Home Enhancement offers roof cleaning serviceRead More

Old Colony Elder Services Announces Class for Family Caregivers Beginning May 2nd

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the Brockton based regional elder services agency serving seniors, their families and caregivers throughout greater Brockton and Plymouth county, is offering a “Powerful Tools For Caregivers” six-week educational program for family caregivers.

Designed to help family caregivers take care of themselves while caring for a relative or friend, the class meets on Wednesdays, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Stoughton Council on Aging located at 110 Rockland Street. The class begins May 2, 2012 and concludes on June 6, 2012.

There is no fee to attend.

Family caregivers who are caring for a parent, spouse, friend or someone who lives at home, in assisted living/nursing home or across the country can benefit from this class.

Attendees will learn how to reduce stress; communicate more effectively; take care of themselves; reduce guilt, anger and depression; set goals and problem-solve. They will also receive a complimentary copy of the Caregiver Helpbook.

Class size is limited and registration is required. Call Rochelle Sugarman, Family Caregiver Support Program Supervisor and Class Leader, to register (508) 584-1561 ext 312.

This educational program is presented by OCES Family Caregiver Support Program and is sponsored by Stoughton Council on Aging.

About OCES
Incorporated in 1974, Old Colony Elder Services is a private, non-profit corporation designated as one of 27 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES offers a number of programs to serve seniors, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers such as Family Caregiver Support; Adult Family Care; Supportive Housing; Nutrition; Money Management; Protective Services and Home Care.

OCES serves elders, their families and caregivers in 23 towns in Southeastern Massachusetts:

Abington, Avon, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Easton, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Marshfield, Middleboro, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rockland, Stoughton, Wareham, West Bridgewater and Whitman.

The organization’s mission is to provide services that support the dignity and independence of elders by helping them maximize their quality of life; live safely and in good health; and, prevent unnecessary or premature institutionalization. For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org

###

Old Colony Elder Services Announces Class for Family Caregivers Beginning May 2ndRead More

1603 Grant Program Not Extended -Rodman & Rodman CPAs Provide Insight on the Effect on Smaller Projects

A few weeks ago, Congress had an opportunity to boost the renewables economy by passing an amendment that would extend the 1603 Grant Program for another year. The failure of this legislation to pass (by a 49-49 Senate vote) is disappointing to those who are involved in the renewable energy arena.

According to Steve Rodman, CPA, MST, president of Rodman & Rodman, P.C. providers of Green Energy financial/accounting services and business strategy for solar, wind, biomass, and cleantech companies, “The loss of this source of grant money will create new challenges for the future. The renewable energy economy is not completely felled by the expiration of the 1603. The program reverts back to the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) through 2016, which allows for a 30 percent tax credit (instead of the cash grant) for certain renewable energy projects. However, making use of the credit can be very difficult with small and medium sized projects.”

Rodman, who is a member of the New England Clean Energy Council (NECEC) and Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) continued, “It is rare that the smaller developer would have the tax appetite. For example, a $2 million project generates a $600,000 credit which is a lot of tax credit to make use of for the typical regional developer. The 30 percent cash grant in lieu of the credit didn’t cost the government any more than some bank interest, but certainly made financing a project much more practical. Now the developer will likely need to find an investor for the project who is interested in being allocated the tax credits in exchange for his investment dollars.”

To sum it up:

· Large banks that participate this way on utility scale deals are not interested in a few million dollars of credits, never mind a $2 million project that generates $600,000 of credits.

· Smaller institutions typically don’t have the experience with this type of investment.

· High net worth individuals need to have substantial “passive” income to qualify. This precludes those investors with large salary, interest and dividend income from qualifying as those types of income are not considered passive and the ITC cannot offset taxes from active and portfolio income.

“The growth in the industry over the last few years can be directly traced to the incentives programs like the ITC and the 1603 Program. The challenges from expiration of the grant program will be overcome with creativity and education of the capital marketplace. But there will be a slowdown until this fully evolves,” Rodman concluded.

About Rodman & Rodman P.C.

Founded in 1961, Rodman & Rodman, P.C. provides accounting, tax and business services to small and medium-sized companies throughout New England. With a focus on strategic planning, Rodman & Rodman goes beyond traditional accounting services and takes a proactive approach when serving clients to increase, preserve and sustain clients’ financial net worth. The company is Green Business Certified and in 2010 and 2011 was named one of the “Best Accounting Firms to Work For” in Accounting Today. Rodman & Rodman is listed in the Boston Business Journal’s “Top 50 Firms”.

From business valuations, taxation, audits, fraud detection and prevention services and succession planning to a variety of accounting IT services including software selection, implementation and training, the team at Rodman & Rodman serves as comprehensive advisors to clients. For individual clients, the company offers personal advisory services such as planning for real estate transactions, obtaining financing, estate planning and retirement planning as well as planning for college education. The Rodman & Rodman Green Team is a specialized green energy and clean technology accounting and tax services practice within Rodman & Rodman, P.C.

Rodman & Rodman, P.C. are located at 3 Newton Executive Park in Newton and 25 Braintree Hill Office Park in Braintree, MA. For more information, email info@rodmancpa.com, visit their website at www.rodmancpa.com or contact (617) 965-5959.

Steve Rodman, CPA, MST

1603 Grant Program Not Extended -Rodman & Rodman CPAs Provide Insight on the Effect on Smaller ProjectsRead More

eLove Matchmaking goes “Hollywood”, opens matchmaking office in West Hollywood.

Julie Ferman

WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA AND NORWELL, MASSACHUSETTS…

Hollywood is known for its fairy tale endings, where boy meets girl, they fall in love, overcome some sort of adversity and then sail off into the sunset. In real life, finding the person you’re supposed to live happily ever after with can be very difficult. eLove Matchmaking, with its new location at 9229 Sunset Blvd, Suite 215, in West Hollywood, is already helping many singles rewrite the script to their love story.

“Everybody loves the movies and the Hollywood ending where everything just seems to fall into place. In real life, there is no script. And if you want a relationship, it means putting yourself in a situation to best make that happen,” said Paul A. Falzone, CEO of eLove Matchmaking. “At eLove Matchmaking, we take care of the legwork and remove much of the guesswork so singles can meet people who they are more compatible with and have a better chance of making a connection.”

While the West Hollywood office may be new, eLove Matchmaking has had a presence in the greater Los Angeles area over the past few years. That effort has been led by eLove Matchmaking’s Chief Relationship Expert Julie Ferman. Ms. Ferman is the three-time winner of iDATE Conference’s “Matchmaker of the Year” award and has appeared on numerous programs as a dating expert, including Dr. Phil and NBC’s Match Off.

“All our matchmakers are good, but Julie is the best three years running,” said Falzone. “Julie works with all our matchmakers but LA is her backyard. Clients at our new West Hollywood location will benefit greatly with having Julie as a resource.”

Ferman and eLove Matchmaking’s team of professional matchmakers have paired literally thousands of singles over the past three decades. In addition to a one-on-one meeting with each member, eLove also conducts a mandatory background check for the safety of everyone they match.

“Because of our interview process, singles have more knowledge about the person they are dating from day one—what they like, what they want, etc. In an ordinary dating scenario with somebody you met on your own or online, it might five to 10 dates to find out what that person wants and is looking for,” said Falzone. “That doesn’t guarantee a Hollywood ending, but it sure puts you in the driver’s seat to find somebody who you could ride off into the sunset with.”

To arrange a consultation with a professional matchmaker or for a membership, contact eLove toll-free at 877–356-8370 or visit www.elove.com.

eLove is all you need

eLove Matchmaking, the next evolution in dating, has arrived.  eLove is the first “life stage company” within the dating industry to provide different levels of dating services, based on how serious singles are about meeting their soul mate.  Never before has a dating service catered so completely to everyone regardless of their age, sex, or relationship goals. With more than 50 matchmaking offices in 25 states, eLove Matchmaking is everything that singles have been wishing for whether they are looking for casual dating or a serious, committed relationship.

eLove’s Matchmaking offices are located in: Arizona (Scottsdale/Phoenix);  Arkansas (Bentonville, Fort Smith, Little Rock); California (Costa Mesa, Palo Alto, Sacramento, Walnut Creek, San Diego, Santa Rosa, Westlake, West Hollywood); Connecticut (Glastonbury, Stamford); Illinois (Chicago, Normal, Schaumburg); Indiana (Carmel, Ft. Wayne); Kansas (Overland Park, Wichita); Maryland (Columbia, Frederick); Massachusetts (Newton, Norwell, Shrewsbury, Stoneham); Michigan (Bingham Farms); Minnesota (Bloomington); Missouri (Springfield, St. Louis); Nebraska (Lincoln, Omaha); Nevada (Las Vegas); New Jersey (Iselin, Saddle Brook); Ohio (Cincinnati); Oklahoma (Broken Arrow, Oklahoma City, Tulsa); Pennsylvania (Mechanicsburg, King of Prussia); Rhode Island (Warwick); South Carolina (Greenville); Tennessee (Memphis, Franklin); Texas (Austin, San Antonio); Virginia (Falls Church, Richmond); Wisconsin (Appleton, Elm Grove, Madison).

For more information on eLove, visit www.elove.com.

eLove Matchmaking goes “Hollywood”, opens matchmaking office in West Hollywood.Read More

Board Certified Dermatologist Navid Bouzari, M.D. Joins South Shore Skin Center and Spa of Plymouth

Navid Bouzari M.D.

South Shore Skin Center and Spa, one of the most progressive dermatology practices in Massachusetts, with offices in Cohasset and Plymouth, is pleased to announce Navid Bouzari, M.D., a Board Certified Dermatologist and Mohs Micrographic Surgeon, has recently joined the practice.

Dr. Bouzari is specialty-trained in medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology and will treat patients at South Shore Skin Center and Spa’s medical office and Mohs Micrographic Surgical Unit located in the Scobee Medical Building in Plymouth.

Dr. Bouzari completed his dermatology residency at University of Miami, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery. He completed his clinical fellowship in Mohs Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology at Lahey Clinic/Harvard University Department of Dermatology.

Dr. Bouzari is a dermatologist on staff at Lahey Clinic Medical Center. He is a member of American Academy of Dermatology, the American College of Mohs Surgeons, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, the Women’s Dermatologic Society, the Massachusetts Medical Society and the Melanoma Skin Cancer Committee of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Dr. Bouzari is certified by the American Board of Dermatology. He has authored many book chapters and journal articles on dermatological issues and diseases. Dr. Bouzari’s articles have been published internationally. He has given presentations at the American Academy of Dermatology, the Society of Investigative Dermatology, the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care, the European Academy of Dermatology and the Iranian American Medical Association, to name a few.

About South Shore Skin Center and Spa

South Shore Skin Center and Spa is one of Massachusetts’ most progressive dermatology practices offering a wide range of medical, surgical and cosmetic services. South Shore Skin Center and Spa is a 2011 Best of South Shore Living Winner.

Founded in 1984, South Shore Skin Center and Spa is a unique team of physicians, physician assistants, nurses, medical assistants, surgical assistants, and licensed aestheticians who are all specialists in dermatology and share a passion for excellence and a commitment to providing the highest level of care to both children and adults in the greater Boston area. In addition to the medical dermatology office and Mohs Surgical Unit for skin cancer, South Shore Skin Center and Spa offers cosmetic dermatology treatments for wrinkles, age spots, acne scarring, birthmarks, hair removal, tattoos and more using the Fraxel re:store DUAL and Fraxel re:pair lasers, ePrime, Candela VBeam, Gentlelase, Gentle YAG, and Alex lasers. The practice also offers therapeutic massage and a full range of affordable anti-aging services including Botox, Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm and other wrinkle fillers; volumizers such as Radiesse and Sculptra; Thermage; microdermabrasion; medical grade facials, micropeels and chemical peels.

South Shore Skin Center and Spa is located at One Scobee Circle, Unit 3, in Plymouth, Mass. (508) 747-0711 and at 223 Chief Justice Cushing Highway, Suite 202, in Cohasset, Mass. (781) 383-3340. For more information, visit the website at www.southshoreskincenter.com.

Board Certified Dermatologist Navid Bouzari, M.D. Joins South Shore Skin Center and Spa of PlymouthRead More

HR Knowledge Inc. Weighs in on Obtaining Facebook Login from Job Applicants

Jeffrey C. Garr

Recent reports of employers asking prospective employees for Facebook login information have raised alarm in Facebook, job applicants and the legal community.

There have been at least three cases recently reported in the media where individuals were required to share Facebook passwords and user names as part of the application process for employment. There is also the instance of a city that required prospective job applicants to provide access to their Facebook account as well as their email accounts so they could review applicants’ private information. Is this legal?

According to Jeffrey C. Garr, CEO of HR Knowledge, Inc., a leading HR, payroll and benefits service provider in the Boston area, “Right now it is not illegal to ask for job applicants’ login information. But, employers who access private account information can therefore be accused of unlawfully discriminating against otherwise qualified applicants based upon information contained in private Facebook accounts.”

He continued, “Unlike comprehensive background checks for employment in law enforcement, or at highly sensitive infrastructure sites where there may be access to vulnerable populations, which is generally accepted, employers may gain information they cannot ask about through a social media profile. This information obtained could be the individual’s religion, age, marital status, pregnancy status or other protected information.”

The onus is on employers to understand that there are categories of information that they are not permitted to make hiring decisions based on. Having access to this through a Facebook profile could be deemed sufficient to subject the employer to civil liability.

Facebook made a statement that it is a violation of “Facebook’s Statement of Rights and Responsibilities” to solicit a Facebook password. In fact, Facebook notes that this “undermines the privacy expectation and the security of both the user and the user’s friends”.

Another point made by Facebook is that asking for user credentials in order to gain information about prospective employees could expose employers to lawsuits. Once an employer gets access to information, such as discovering the individual is a member of a protected group, the employer could be exposed to discrimination suits if the employer does not hire that person.

Garr concluded, “There is current litigation pending and being drafted to address gaps in federal law that allow employers to require personal login information from prospective employees to be considered for a job. Asking for Facebook login information of job applicants in order to review their personal information is not something that we, as an HR company, recommend.”

About HR Knowledge, Inc.

HR Knowledge, Inc. is a leading Business Process Outsourcer (BPO) serving emerging to mid-sized companies throughout the Northeast. HR Knowledge has the experience and technology to efficiently provide best-in-class integrated HR services at an affordable cost to clients.

HR Knowledge’s leaders have more than 100 years of combined experience and provide expert guidance in Human Resource management, Group Benefits Brokerage, Payroll Processing & Managed Services, Financial Services and Recruiting and Hiring Process Management (HPM).

Through their comprehensive Human Resource Services, HR Knowledge helps organizations minimize operational risks, reduce administrative costs and better serve their people.

HR Knowledge has been recognized as a Gold Level Broker by Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare. The company is headquartered at 905B South Main Street, Suite 203 in Mansfield and their second office is located at 890 Winter Street, Suite 208 in Waltham, MA. For more information, contact (508) 339-1300 or visit their website at www.hrknowledge.com

HR Knowledge Inc. Weighs in on Obtaining Facebook Login from Job ApplicantsRead More

Lakefront Living Realty makes a big splash with Keys to Buying Lakefront Property seminar

Kayak winner at Lakefront seminar

MANSFIELD, MA…

With a still sluggish real estate market, the dream of owning a lakeside home has become more affordable in recent years. That reality has led a growing number of home buyers, particularly older Baby Boomers looking to downsize, to pursue a home on the water. To that end, more than 40 buyers looking to purchase the lakefront home of their dreams attended the Keys to Buying Lakefront Property seminar, hosted by Mansfield, MA realtor, Lakefront Living Realty.

“Purchasing a lakefront home is different than any other real estate,” said Scott Freerksen, broker and owner of Lakefront Living Realty, LLC . “This seminar provided buyers the vital knowledge to ensure successful transactions and avoid costly mistakes.”

Knowledgeable guest speakers at the seminar, held at the Mansfield Holiday Inn on March 25,  included Real Estate Agents Theresa Godin and Rick Stockhaus; Bob Barlow, Director of MBA Mortgage; Kathy Keaveney, an attorney with Keaveney Law; and Andy Gianino of The Home Store.

While attendees received more than $300 worth of materials and a wealth of knowledge, one guest walked away with something extra special: a FREE kayak!

Rob Hammett of Marlborough, Massachusetts was this year’s lucky winner of a free kayak.  The kayak giveaway has become a tradition at this annual seminar, now in its fourth year.

“When we started this seminar a few years back, we wanted to make it special since this seminar is the only one of its kind in New England,” said Freerksen. “What better way is there for somebody looking buy a lake house but to give them a boat?”

Lakefront Living Realty specializes solely on the purchase and sale of pond and lakefront property in all six New England states. In addition to their lakefront expertise, the company offers a current and complete database of lakefront properties on their website that features only direct lakefront homes. All the “riverfront”, “oceanfront”, “across the street”, “within walking distance” homes are taken out of the site.

For more information on Lakefront Living Realty’s services, you can visit their website at www.lakefrontliving.com. Additionally, Scott Freerksen regularly holds seminars on the keys to buying and selling lakefront property. Please visit the company website or call 508-377-7167 for the date and time of the next seminar.

About Lakefront Living Realty, LLC

Based in Mansfield, Massachusetts, Lakefront Living Realty, LLC is a full service real estate brokerage specializing solely on the purchase and sale of pond and lakefront property in the six New England states. Owner Scott “The Lake Guy” Freerksen, a Real Estate Broker and Realtor, founded Lakefrontliving.com in 2003 as way to support his real estate practice and to bring to potential buyers and sellers a website that features direct lakefront homes. All the “riverfront”, “oceanfront”, “across the street”, “within walking distance” homes are taken out of the site.

Lakefront Living Realty has one mission: To passionately unite Buyers and Sellers of lakefront property. For complete information, please visit www.lakefrontliving.com or call Scott at 508-377-7167.

Lakefront Living Realty makes a big splash with Keys to Buying Lakefront Property seminarRead More

Action Bearing Boston Promotes Lee Holt to Marketing Specialist

Lee Holt

Action Bearing of Boston, providers of bearings and related products for OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Operations) markets throughout New England has recently promoted Lee Holt, a resident of Taunton, to Marketing Specialist.

Mr. Holt, who has been employed at Action Bearing Boston for 46 years, was recently promoted from Inside Sales to Marketing Specialist, and will lead the company’s new Packaging Division.

Mr. Holt will oversee the Packaging Division and assist clients in determining which bearing technologies would be most suitable by taking into consideration the specifications, recommendations, maintenance strategies, fatigue life and wear resistance of the bearing in relation to the application. He caters to a number of food processing and pharmaceutical packaging clients as well as woodworking, electric motor, textile machinery and pulp/paper manufacturing clients. Many of the client accounts Mr. Holt oversees are in the food processing industry and include Del Monte, Honeywell Superfine Foods and Qusac Decaf Inc.

Mr. Holt has comprehensive knowledge of bearings, having begun his career at Action Bearing Boston as a part-time warehouse stock assistant while he was a student. After graduating from Boston Trade School of Roxbury, he started working at Action Bearing Boston full-time and received hands-on training in fulfillment and sales.

He is a native of Roxbury, MA.

The Action Bearing Difference

In a proud tradition, the same families that started the company in 1957 keep Action Bearing rolling by specializing in bearings for OEM and MRO markets across the country. Action Bearing’s highly knowledgeable staff housed in their 23,000 square foot facility provide bearings ranging in size from 3mm to tunnel-boring 15-foot-diameter giants.

Action Bearing provides solutions to a variety of industries including: aggregate, concrete, mining, machine tools, electric motor repair, marine, material handling, metal processing, packaging, food processing, paper converting, printing, wind/power generation, recreation, heavy construction, robotics, automation, transportation, wood products, wastewater treatment, pump, compressor and oil field.

Action Bearing offers customers a one-stop shopping experience. With an online product catalog with over 3 million bearings; a vast inventory of bearings; worldwide sourcing; a fixed price program; a knowledgeable staff dedicated to delivering; same day shipping and 24/7 service, Action Bearing has become the leading provider of bearings to OEM and MRO markets in the U.S. Action Bearing maintains headquarters at 201 Brighton Ave. Boston, MA. For more information, contact 617-782-1400 or toll free, 800-225-4587, email info@Actionbearing.com or visit www.Actionbearing.com.

Action Bearing Boston Promotes Lee Holt to Marketing SpecialistRead More

South Coast Improvement featured in New England Business Bulletin

A winning niche: Marion construction firm finds success in healthcare niche

By Christina Hickman
Bulletin correspondent

Read the full article:
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120323/NEBULLETIN/204020301/-1/NEWSMAP

South Coast Improvement featured in New England Business BulletinRead More