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J.P. Licks Names Josh Diveley as New GM of Newbury Street

J.P. Licks has recently promoted Josh Diveley, a resident of Somerville, to the position of General Manager of the Newbury Street store.

Diveley began his career at J.P. Licks (http://www.jplicks.com) as a scooper and supervisor in 2006. He was promoted to Assistant Manager in 2008 and assumed the duties of overseeing the daily and weekly activities of the business including hiring, training and development, customer service, and sales building. In his new role as General Manager, Josh will be held responsible for the store’s operations and business growth.

“Josh has the intelligence, experience and the skills necessary to assume this leadership role. Josh’s promotion is well-deserved,” noted Vince Petryk, founder of J.P. Licks.

For the past four years, Josh has also served as a Road Crew Team Leader for WZLX-FM, managing and assisting the road crew at promotional events and concerts. He also volunteers his time. Since 2006, he has been a volunteer at the New England Aquarium in the Penguin Husbandry program.

Diveley holds an Associate’s degree from Blue Ridge Community College in Virginia and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from James Madison University in Virginia. He is a member of the Boston Area James Madison University Alumni Chapter.

Best of Boston and Beyond

For more than 27 years, J.P. Licks has been serving homemade ice cream, frozen yogurt and other specialties in their eight Kosher-certified shops in and around Boston. They have won, literally, hundreds of awards over the years. Most recently, J.P. Licks won their 11th consecutive “Best” award from The Phoenix. They have received six “Best of Boston’s” from Boston Magazine and three consecutive “Bests” from The Weekly Dig magazine. J.P. Licks was also chosen as Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s “Small Business of the Year” in 2007.

J.P. Licks recently expanded their product line to include Numi loose leaf teas and hot breakfast at every store and French Press coffee at their locations in Jamaica Plain, Coolidge Corner, One Brigham Circle, West Roxbury and Harvard Square.

Additionally, J.P. Licks roasts their own fair trade and organic coffee beans in the Jamaica Plain store and they cater ice cream parties, too. Visit the website at jplicks.com for even more information.

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Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac of Plymouth donates Chevy for Boys and Girls Club 4th Annual Golf Tournament at Crosswinds Golf Club

Jeff Tracy with Chevy
Jeff Tracy with Chevy
“Golf drive” takes on a whole new meaning.  As part of the upcoming Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield 4th Annual Golf Tournament, participants now have the chance to drive in a hole in one and drive away in a brand new Chevy donated by Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac, Plymouth.
The Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield will hold their 4th Annual Golf Tournament on June 26 at Crosswinds Golf Club, 424 Long Pond Rd. in Plymouth.  Registration starts at 11 a.m. Tee-off is at 12 p.m.  There are still a few openings for golfers, hole sponsors and auction item donors.
Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac President Jeff Tracy noted, “The hole in one car contest is an added highlight for golfers.  Who wouldn’t get a kick out of hitting the perfect shot and snagging a new car as a prize?”  In addition to helping out the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield, Tracy is also on the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club of Plymouth.
The Boys and Girls Club’s exciting Annual Golf Tournament has drawn participants such as the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals Sean Morey (who is a Marshfield native) in the past.  Morey is both a recent Super Bowl champ and Pro Bowler. This year’s tournament is sponsored by Marshfield’s “Citizens of the Year” Jack and Beth Griffin of Buythecase.net (Pembroke) who will be playing in the tournament.  Other “local celebs” playing include Selectman Michael Maresco, Police Chief Bill Sullivan, Fire Chief Kevin Robinson and Pat Roche, founder of Roche Bros. along with his sons.
Tickets are $150 per person or $600 for a foursome and are on sale now at the Boys and Girls Club in Library Plaza and online at www.marshfieldboysandgirlsclub.com.  Early registration is recommended.  Every foursome receives free use of a golf cart, goody bags and a commemorative framed photo of themselves at the tournament.
Hole sponsorships are available for $150.  Raffle and silent auction donations are needed.  Those interested should contact the Boys and Girls Club directly.
“We have 18 foursomes signed up for this fun event and are looking for another 24 to round it out,” noted Greg Jackson, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club in Marshfield.  “Last year we raised over $25,000 from registration, fees, sponsorships and from the auction items.  This year we’d like to top it.”
All players will receive a box lunch.  An awards dinner will be held at Crosswinds after the event and prizes will be given for “Closest to the Pin” and “Longest Drive” among others.  Restaurant gift certificates, golf items and sports memorabilia will be offered through a Silent Auction.  Raffles will held.  There is also the possibility of winning a new car from Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac of Plymouth with a hole in one.
For those who are unable to attend the golf tournament, but would like to attend the dinner, a $50 donation is asked.
Stop by the Boys and Girls Club or visit www.marshfieldboysandgirlsclub.com to purchase tickets and register for the event.  For more information, contact 781-834-2582.
About the Boys and Girls Club
The Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield’s purpose is to establish a safe haven for recreation and fun, which includes a variety of supervised activities for the 1,100 current members and is available to youth (between the ages of 6 to 18 years old) within the town and surrounding communities. The Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield has five Core Areas:  Character and Leadership; Education and Career; Health, Sport Fitness Recreation and Life Skills; The Arts; and Technology.  These Core Areas serve as the foundation for all programming.
As a privately-funded, non-profit organization, the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield relies tremendously on the generous philanthropic support of individuals.  Financial gifts assist in providing the financial strength necessary to continue the club’s mission “to enable and inspire all young people to realize their full potential as productive and responsible citizens, as well as become tomorrow’s capable leaders.”
So easy at Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac
For more than 80 years and three generations of dealers, the Tracy family has made it so easy for customers on the South Shore and greater Plymouth area to purchase new and used automobiles. Since its beginnings in 1992, Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac has emphasized first-rate customer service and straightforward, bottom-line pricing with fair trade-ins every time–without the games or gimmicks you find at other dealerships. For more information on new and used trucks and automobiles, you can go to www.tracymotors.com or stop by the dealership, conveniently located at 137 Samoset Street, just off exit 6 on Route 3. For more information, or to make a service appointment, you can also call (800) 640-2884.
For more information about the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield golf tournament, please contact (781) 834-CLUB (2582) or visit the club in Library Plaza or the website at MarshfieldBoysAndGirlsClub.com.  The club’s mailing address is P.O. Box 311, Marshfield, MA  02050.

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Dr. Kate McDonough, Chiropractor, Expands Services to Include State-of-the-Art Microcurrent Technology

The Chiropractic Office of Dr. Kate McDonough, serving patients throughout the South Shore since 1993 and located in Hanover, has recently expanded their services to include state-of-the-art Microcurrent technology for facial and body rejuvenation.

Dr. McDonough now offers Microcurrent treatment, which is a type of safe, painless electrophysiology that utilizes subsensory currents to sculpt and tone the face and body.

According to Dr. McDonough, “Microcurrent works wonders on the face and body. When used on the face, the results are similar to a facelift, but without the surgery. When used on the body, it can improve tighten, lift, tone and reduce cellulite. No harmful lasers are used and there is no wounding of the skin. Best of all, patients feel no soreness or pain and there is no recovery time involved.”

Microcurrent technology provides effective and immediate results on the face and body that include: diminished wrinkles and lines; tighter, firmer skin; elimination and/or reduction in acne and dark under eye circles; reduction in the symptoms of Rosacea, Eczema and Melasma; cellulite reduction; and reduction of calloused skin on elbows, knees. When used in body sculpting, microcurrent provides measurable overall reductions, which result in firmer and more lifted buttocks; a more toned stomach and slimmer, tighter legs.

“Microcurrent is a popular non-invasive technology which provides patients with anti-aging results without the recovery and downtime of surgeries and other aggressive treatments,” explained Dr. McDonough.

Microcurrent technology rejuvenates the skin and muscle tone of mature patients and serves as more of a preventative measure in younger patients. Mature patients will experience the most dramatic results. Treatment courses vary according to the patients, buy typically, would consist of 10-12 treatments over a period of approximately two months.

For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact Dr. McDonough’s office at (781) 829-9099 or visit their website at http://www.drkatechiro.com.

Chiropractic Office of Dr. Kate McDonough

The Chiropractic Office of Dr. Kate McDonough focuses on healthy living naturally and serves as a Natural Healing Center for patients throughout the South Shore. For more than 15 years, Dr. McDonough has been providing chiropractic, corrective exercises and spinal and postural screenings. As a Natural Healing Center, the practice provides lifestyle advice, nutritional assessment, physiotherapy and most recently microcurrent anti-aging and cellulite reduction.

Dr. McDonough believes that treating the whole body, not just the symptoms, plays an instrumental part in pain relief, healing and wellness. The Chiropractic Office of Dr. Kate McDonough accepts most insurance plans including: Blue Cross/ Blue Shield, MAMSI, Aetna, Harvard Pilgrim, United, Guardian, Medicare and others.

For more information, contact the office at (781) 829-9099 or visit the website at www.drkatechiro.com.

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What you don’t know about retail markups does cost you…

MERRILLVILLE, IN …

These tough economic times have families and homeowners reevaluating budgets and looking for ways to reduce spending. One area a family’s internal audit might not take into consideration is how much more they spend by purchasing items they need at retail prices.

According to information from the 2007 U.S. Census, consumer retail markups range from 46.6 percent at furniture and home furnishing stores to 38 percent at department stores, and from 33.5 percent at building supplies and materials stores to 28 percent at electronics and computer software stores.

“When it comes to retail markups, many consumers don’t even realize what they are spending. And if they do, they often feel helpless. They don’t know there are alternative options to retail stores, so they opt to spend less rather than spend more wisely,” said Sara Shragal, of DirectBuy, the leading home improvement and furnishings club with direct insider prices. “You can’t stop shopping altogether. If you’re a homeowner, particularly if you purchased your home in the past few years, it’s difficult to spend less because you run the risk of your home running into disrepair and lowering the property value.”

In fact, according to the National Association of Home Builders website, www.homeeconomics.com, families spend $12,332 during the first year after buying a home built in 2004 or later; and $8,927 if the home was built before 2004. For a non-moving owner, that figure was $4,420.

Even further evidence that homeowners are still investing in their properties comes from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. In a recent report, the Joint Center projected that U.S. homeowners will spend $134.1 billion on home improvements in the third quarter 2009 and $137.2 billion in the fourth quarter 2009.

So, if consumers are still going to spend on home improvement, how do they escape costly retail markups?

“At our clubs across the U.S. and Canada, we enable our members to buy directly from the manufacturers. That eliminates the markup and gives them optimal value for their dollar,” said Shragal. “That’s why member sales are up at many of our clubs because, even in this difficult economy, people know they have to reinvest in their homes and want to get the maximum bang for their buck.”

DirectBuy clubs offer members the opportunity to save on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products and accessories. In addition, DirectBuy clubs boast teams of specialists and access to designers to help members with their purchases, as well as exclusive access to a roster of hand-selected contractors to expedite those projects.

Consumers interested in becoming members may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting www.directbuy.com.

About DirectBuy

For more than 37 years, DirectBuy has been showing thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything for in and around their homes – from furnishings, home improvement and flooring, to entertainment and outdoor products, accessories and much, much more. With more than 160 locations in North America, DirectBuy offers its members access to approximately 700 brand-name manufacturers and their authorized suppliers in the US, and more than 500 brand-name manufacturers and authorized suppliers in Canada.

Consumers interested in seeing DirectBuy’s savings, service and selection up close may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting www.directbuy.com or www.directbuycares.com.

What you don’t know about retail markups does cost you…Read More

ALS Patient takes on 4 Corners Motorcycle Ride to Benefit Compassionate Care ALS

Doug Oakley, a 46 year old financial services professional who was recently diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease) is undertaking the “4 Corners Motorcycle Ride” to the four corners of the U.S. on his Harley Davidson to raise greater awareness of, and funding for, the care of patients with ALS.

Victims of this fatal disease progressively lose control of the voluntary muscles of their body. Anyone can get ALS and there is no effective treatment or cure for ALS. But, a Cape Cod based non-profit organization, Compassionate Care ALS, has been helping Oakley and other ALS patients, their families and caregivers to live with this life-changing reality. All donations made for the 4 Corners Motorcycle Ride will go directly to Compassionate Care ALS.

“Since I bought my first Harley Davison 11 years ago, I have wanted to do the ‘4 Corners’ ride on my motorcycle. Last fall, after noticing diminished use of my fine motor skills and muscle cramping in my left hand, I was diagnosed with ALS. This diagnosis has shocked me into realizing that life will not wait until a more convenient time and I am finally going to ride the ‘4 Corners’ with my good friend Paul Zepf,” explained Oakley. “I am doing this ride to not only fulfill my dream but also to raise money and awareness for Compassionate Care ALS. This organization has already made a tremendous difference in my life.”

Oakley will be joined by Paul Zepf, a retired Boston Firefighter who is a 33-year veteran of Rescue Company 2 and a Vietnam Combat Veteran, in the 4 Corners Motorcycle Ride which entails riding around the perimeter of the U.S. and stopping at each of the furthest corners of the country: Key West, Florida; San Luis Obispo, California; Blaine, Washington and Machais, Maine.

Riding their Harley Davison bikes, Oakley and Zepf began the 8300 mile long ride in Key West on May 14th. From Key West, the riders will head to San Luis Obispo, CA then Blaine, WA and on to Machais, ME.

Weather permitting; the entire ride will be travelled in 17-20 days. The pair plan to return to Massachusetts on June 12th.

Compassionate Care ALS will provide updates on Doug Oakley’s 4 Corners Motorcycle Ride on the website http://www.ccals.org/4corners/

Follow the 4 Corners Motorcycle Ride on Doug Oakley’s blog: http://www.ccals.org/4corners/blog.php.

Donations to Doug Oakley’s 4 Corners Motorcycle Ride to benefit Compassionate Care ALS may be made online at http://www.ccals.org/4corners.

Donations may also be made by regular mail:

Checks should be made out to “Compassionate Care ALS” and mailed to:

Doug Oakley c/o Compassionate Care ALS

P.O. Box 1052

West Falmouth, MA 02574

Oakley is a resident of Weymouth and Falmouth, MA and Zepf is a resident of Falmouth, MA.

According to Ron Hoffman, Executive Director of Compassionate Care ALS, “ALS is a life-changing reality for everyone – the patient, the caregivers, family and friends. Our services are meant for this entire network of care. We are glad that Doug decided to take 4 Corners Motorcycle Ride as it was something that he had wanted to do for many years. Any donations made will directly benefit ALS patients and their families.”

About the 4 Corners Ride & Compassionate Care ALS-Gordon T. Heald ALS Fund-

The 4 Corners Motorcycle Ride will raise funding that enables Compassionate Care ALS to assist victims of the disease. The organization’s work is based on deep dialogue around the individual needs of each patient and family, and may include: emotional support, guidance, integrative therapies, contemplative practice, educational seminars, durable equipment, a medicine bag or loan of a handicapped van. In addition, the staff is responsive to a broad spectrum of special requests to help families face the challenge of living with ALS.

Founded in 1998, Compassionate Care ALS has helped more than 520 families impacted by ALS. Compassionate Care ALS (which now encompasses the Gordon T. Heald ALS Fund) provides services to ALS patients, families, caregivers and health care professionals.

The organization has raised more than $1.5 million and driven over 500,000 miles to support ALS families. They have worked with patients, families, communities and caregivers in 24 states.

Jack Childs, Ed.D., Professor/Founder Holistic Counseling Department at Salve Regina University has said, “Research strongly suggests that the immune system is diminished by the absence of a social support system. The personalized care and unique services of Compassionate Care ALS demonstrate that people can be healed without necessarily being cured.”

Compassionate Care ALS mailing address is P.O. Box 1052, West Falmouth, MA 02574.

For more information, contact (508) 563-3677 or visit the website at www.ccals.org.

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USMMA of Bellingham to Host Community Blood Drive on June 4th

United States Mixed Martial Arts’ (USMMA) of Bellingham will hold a Blood Drive on Thursday, June 4, 2009 from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at their studio located at 316 Hartford Avenue in Bellingham.

Anyone who donates blood at USMMA on June 4th will receive a free box of Chocolate Dipped Strawberries from Edible Arrangements and will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win two Boston Red Sox Tickets and to be honored on the field as “Blood Donor of the Game”.

The American Red Cross’ specially trained staff will be set up on-site at USMMA to collect blood donations from volunteers. To be eligible to give blood, healthy donors must meet the following criteria:

· Must be at least 17 years of age

· Must weigh at least 110 lbs.

· Must not have donated whole blood within the last eight weeks.

An American Red Cross staff member will conduct an extensive health history on each blood donor volunteer. Donor eligibility rules are intended to protect the health and safety of the donor as well as the patient who will receive the transfusion. The final determination of eligibility is made by American Red Cross staff.

According to the American Red Cross, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood, yet only five percent of the eligible population gives blood.

“There is a significant and ongoing need for blood. There are many people who require transfusions – from those in emergency situations to those with cancer, blood disorders or other illnesses. It’s important to come together as a community to help fulfill that need. We encourage our staff and members as well as those in the community to consider giving blood at USMMA on June 4th,” noted Tom Hafers, owner of USMMA.

For more information about the Blood Drive contact USMMA at 508-966-5006.

About USMMA

USMMA focuses on elevating the physical and spiritual well being of students through Mixed Martial Arts and Yoga. Classes offered include Strength & Conditioning; Brazilian Jiu Jitsu; Thai Boxing; Cardio Thai Boxing; Wrestling; Cardio and Open Mat; Kids Mixed Martial Arts; Pilates; Power Yoga and Deep Flow Yoga.

USMMA’s state of the art, 4,000 square foot training facility is complete with a 2,000 square foot padded MMA training floor equipped with heavy bags and conditioning equipment, a 1,500 square foot yoga studio, locker rooms, showers and a juice bar. USMMA is located at 316 Hartford Avenue in Bellingham. For more information, call 508-966-5006 or visit their website at www.usmma.org.

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Peter Hanson receives AAFD’s Chairman’s Award for Community Service

SAN DIEGO, CA…

The American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (AAFD) honored AAFD President Peter Hanson with a special Chairman’s Award to recognize his years of service to the franchising community. Hanson was recognized at AAFD’s Total Quality Franchising Awards banquet at the recent Annual Franchisee Leadership Summit in San Antonio, Texas.

“Peter’s service to AAFD and the franchisee community as a whole—both during his tenure as president and prior to that as a member—has been exemplary and invaluable,” said Robert Purvin, chairman of AAFD. “The wealth of knowledge and experience Peter brings to the table as president has helped us forge many of the relationships that make an AAFD membership highly desirable for members and member associations.” 

Hanson first served the AAFD for many years in a volunteer capacity as treasurer before his tenure on the AAFD Board of Directors for five years. He also served as a member of the AAFD Standards Committee and was named the AAFD’s Member of the Year in 2003. Hanson became president of AAFD in 2006.

An owner of four Huntington Learning Center franchises in southern California, Hanson is past President of the Association of Remedial Educators, the independent Huntington franchisee association. Prior to his life as a franchisee, Hanson served in various senior management capacities, notably as Executive Vice-President of Operations and Finance at Mitchell International, Vice-President and Principal of Polaris Capital Group LTD. Vice-President and CFO of Nucorp Energy, Inc. and Audit Partner at Arthur Young & Co.

“It has been quite an honor to serve as president of AAFD and I’m touched by this award,” said Hanson. “AAFD has been a big part of my career and life for that matter. We’ve made tremendous strides over the past few years and I’m looking forward to helping AAFD continue to be the vital force in the franchising community that it’s been.”

About the AAFD

The AAFD is a national non-profit trade association representing the rights and interests of franchisees and independent dealers throughout the United States. Formed in 1992, The AAFD is focused on market driven reform to achieve its mission to define and promote collaborative franchise cultures that the AAFD describes as Total Quality Franchising.   Since its formation the AAFD has grown to represent more than 50,000 franchised businesses throughout the United States. The AAFD currently has members in all 50 states and represents more than 100 different franchise systems.

The AAFD’s Fair Franchising Standards, Fair Franchising Seal, Trademark Chapters, and emphasis on Marketplace Solutions led to the Association’s recognition as a growing force in franchising. The AAFD’s Branded Partner programs add a new dimension to the value of AAFD membership. The AAFD provides a broad range of member services designed to help franchisees build market power, create legislative support of interest to franchisees, provide legal and financial support, and provide a wide range of general member benefits.

For more information about the conference or the AAFD, please call toll free – 800-733-9858 or visit www.AAFD.org.

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From One Club to Another-DirectBuy Supports Boys & Girls Clubs…Donning Denim Makes a Difference for Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana

DirectBuy's Patti Titus with children from the Merrillville Boys & Girls Club
DirectBuy

Merrillville, IN (May 19, 2009) –

Visitors walking in and out of the DirectBuy Corporate Headquarters in Merrillville were a little surprised to see employees so casually dressed on Friday, April 10, 2009. Wearing denim is not acceptable work attire for employees, but what visitors did not know was that DirectBuy employees were donning denim for a great cause. As part of a new corporate giving program, employees were given the opportunity to wear jeans to work in exchange for making a minimum $2 donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana (BGCNWI). As a result, DirectBuy raised $1000 for Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana. 

 

 

The donation provided by DirectBuy helps Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana to continue offering services to area youth. “Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana is able to provide its programs and services because of the generosity of donors and volunteers, such as the employees of DirectBuy,” says Greg Reinholt, development manager, Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana.  

 

DirectBuy’s Patti Titus, senior director of merchandise services, and Sara Shragal, public relations manager, visited the Boys & Girls Club in Merrillville on April 21, 2009 to present the $1000 check and meet the children and volunteers who will benefit from the donation. During their visit, Titus and Shragal toured the facility and stayed to lend a hand with math worksheets.

 

At the Boys & Girls Clubs, homework is a top priority, followed by educational learning activities, computer education, physical fitness and games room activities. The Club also teaches classes about leadership, and making good choices.

 

“The DirectBuy concept really goes hand-in-hand with the values of the Boys & Girls Clubs,” says Titus. “Both programs are focused on helping families achieve a better quality of life.”

 

Giving back to the community has become a regular activity for DirectBuy clubs across North America. At the corporate office, employees give to the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Foundation each year, but with the new corporate giving program in place, DirectBuy plans on making a donation each quarter of the year.

 

For the employees at DirectBuy, like merchandise specialist, Pattie Jakubielski, the new program is a welcome addition. “It was definitely fun to see co-workers wearing their favorite pair of jeans,” said Jakubielski. “But the best part is that the donations are helping local youth.”

 

About DirectBuy

For more than 37 years, DirectBuy has been showing thousands of consumers unparalleled ways to save as they shop for virtually everything for in and around their homes – from furnishings, home improvement and flooring, to entertainment and outdoor products, accessories and much, much more. With more than 160 locations in North America, DirectBuy offers its members access to approximately 700 brand-name manufacturers and their authorized suppliers in the US, and more than 500 brand-name manufacturers and authorized suppliers in Canada.

 

Consumers interested in seeing DirectBuy’s savings, service and selection up close may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by visiting www.directbuy.com or www.directbuycares.com

 

 

About Boys & Girls Club of Northwest Indiana

BGCNWI was founded in 1954 in Gary, Indiana. Currently BGCNWI operates six Club sites in six cities throughout Lake County Indiana. Serving more than 12,000 youth ages 6 to 18 years of age, BGCNWI provide Club programs and services that promote and enhance the positive development of boys & girls. The core belief of the organization, Board of Directors, staff, and donors is that all six Club sites provide youth with a safe place to learn and grow, teach youth to develop interpersonal relationships, to provide youth with life-enhancing programs and character and development experiences and last but not least to continue providing youth with hope and opportunity. For more information about BGCNWI visit (www.bgcnwi.org).

 

From One Club to Another-DirectBuy Supports Boys & Girls Clubs…Donning Denim Makes a Difference for Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest IndianaRead More

Boston Pack and Ship offers tips on how to avoid moving scams.

BRAINTREE, MA…

According to many credible medical authorities, moving—after life, death, divorce and illness—is one of the more stressful things anybody can go through. That’s why being the victim of a moving scam adds fuels to an already blazing fire. As a small load shipping specialist for two decades, Boston Pack and Ship offers some basic rules of thumb to follow to prevent yourself from falling victim to moving scams.

“There are a number of moving scams out there, everything from an out-and-out theft of your belongings to holding your belongings hostage because you didn’t pay a made up fee or you had more pieces than your estimate,” said Joe Fell, co-owner of Boston Pack and Ship. “People are even more vulnerable to these scams in tough economic times because everybody’s trying to keep their costs down.”

So, what can you do to minimize the risk of falling for one of these scams? For starters:

  • Beware of virtual movers – make sure the moving company has an actual physical address, preferably in your area or where you’re moving to and especially if you found the company on the Internet.
  • Find out who’s actually doing the moving – beware of companies who broker the move to unknown third-party service providers. Ask more about the entire process; who is making the pickup, who is providing the long distance transport and the final delivery?
  • Ask for references – better yet, ask friends you know who have moved lately to refer a mover.
  • Check the mover’s Web site for professional accreditation – there are mover’s associations in every state. A mover affiliated with an accredited association does have more creditability than one that is not. Even better if the mover is a member of the Better Business Bureau. That allows you to not only check their credibility but the company’s history for handling complaints.
  • Get a minimum of three quotes – scam victims are often victims of their own impatience and wanting to get their move underway and over with. Getting a minimum of three quotes may slow things down slightly, but it will make you look a little closer at the company you eventually hire.
  • Fear the lowball quote – like the saying goes, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is. While no two moving companies are exactly the same, true professionals should not be more than a few hundred apart. If an estimate is more than $1,000 less than the others, that’s a red flag and you might want to scrutinize the estimate and company further.
  • Stick to national carriers for cross-country and out-state moves – If your entire home is being moved, stick to a national carrier. That way, you will have an actual physical address for the mover on each end of the move, not to mention a corporate office who the agent has to answer to should anything go wrong.

“These suggestions should help you avoid most scams but if you’re still not sure, always opt for the mover who was referred to you by trusted family or friends,” said Fell.

Boston Pack and Ship specializes in moves of 1,000 pounds or less. In addition, it offers customized package and custom crate building services at its workshop in Braintree. For items like computer equipment, artwork and other fragile items, Boston Pack and Ship employs foam-in-place technology to “lock” those items in place and limit movement within the package.

The breadth of Boston Pack and Ship’s relocation services include:

  • Small loads – with no minimum requirement; blanket-wrapping for fragile, delicate moves; full insurance available. 
  • Custom crates and packaging for computers, electronic instruments, prototypes, antiques and artwork. 
  • State-of-the-art, foam-in-place solutions to protect valuables.
  •  Multiple U.S. and International shipping options—ocean or air—to help lower costs.
  • Door-to-door and door-to-port delivery with insurance available.
  • On-time pickups by appointment

For more information, you can visit the company Web site at www.bostonpackandship.com. For a free quote on an out-of-state or international move or shipment, please call (800) 400-7204.

Small load specialists

Boston Pack and Ship has been a trusted strategic partner of many movers in eastern Massachusetts for more than two decades. Based in Braintree, Massachusetts, Boston Pack and Ship employs custom crates and packaging and foam-in-place solutions to pack and ship everything from artwork to heirlooms, computers to antiques to both out-of-state and international destinations. Known for its fast and efficient customer service, one call is usually all it takes to schedule a pickup for a door-to-door or door-to-port shipment. For more information, visit www.bostonpackandship.com or call (800) 400-7204 for a free quote.

Boston Pack and Ship offers tips on how to avoid moving scams.Read More