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East Amherst resident Bruce Kiernan joins DirectBuy of Buffalo team as Membership Director

CHEEKTOWAGA, NY…

DirectBuy of Buffalo, the leading home improvement and furnishings club with direct insider prices, recently hired Bruce Kiernan, an East Amherst resident, as a membership director for the club.

As a membership director, Kiernan is responsible for presenting the DirectBuy opportunity to prospective members, conducting tours of the DirectBuy of Buffalo club and answering questions prospective members might have prior to making their decision.

“Bruce has been a great addition to our team. He brings a lot of energy to the table and has a passion for the value DirectBuy brings to our members’ lives,” said Mark Klinger, owner of DirectBuy of Buffalo.

A former mortgage broker and banker, Kiernan has served as a senior vice president at HSBC, a vice president with Wells Fargo and owned his own mortgage finance company in his 30-plus year career. It’s an experience that’s served him well at DirectBuy.

“There are a lot of parallels between my previous career and working with DirectBuy. As a mortgage broker, I helped people realize their dream of owning their own home. As a membership director here at DirectBuy, we provide members with a way to create the homes of their dreams and help them save a ton of money in that process and that’s pretty cool,” said Kiernan.

Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped consumers enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products, and accessories, by providing an avenue to purchase directly from the manufacturer. Conveniently located at 4950 Genesee Street in Cheektowaga, New York, DirectBuy offers members a comfortable setting, where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

For more information on a DirectBuy club membership, you can call 716-684-1400 or visit www.directbuy-buffalo.com.

About DirectBuy

Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped hundreds of thousands of families enjoy a better quality of life, enabling them to buy directly from more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. Buying direct makes members’ hard-earned money to go much further, while having the selection and choice not available at any retail store. DirectBuy has been serving the greater Buffalo area since 2005. Access to confidential prices, local suppliers, and unparalleled selection helps make members’ dream projects a reality.  It’s a comfortable setting, where you finally have the financial control of buying direct. DirectBuy of Buffalo is one of more than 160 DirectBuy club locations throughout North America.

Consumers interested in becoming members may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by contacting DirectBuy at 716-684-1400, or visiting www.DirectBuy-Buffalo.com. 

To learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy club membership, visit www.directbuycares.com.

 

East Amherst resident Bruce Kiernan joins DirectBuy of Buffalo team as Membership DirectorRead More

Boot Camp for New Dads Shares Tips for Celebrating Father’s Day

Working with more than 200,000 new dads over the past 18 years, Greg Bishop, founder of Boot Camp for New Dads, a non-profit orientation program for fathers-to-be, operating in more than 260 hospitals, clinics, schools, fire stations and churches around North America and internationally, and author of two books on fathering, offers tips on how guys really want to celebrate Father’s Day.

“Most fathers believe the less complicated, the better. Guys aren’t really interested in spending a lot of money on Father’s Day in general so oftentimes, they choose activities that are outdoors and free,” noted Bishop.

Dads across the nation have shared their ideas for celebrating Father’s Day:

· Take in a minor league baseball game.

· No need for clubs or a golf cart – go Miniature Golfing.

· Fire up the grill and give dad the spatula – a cookout with all dad’s favorite foods is just the thing.

· Play Wiffle ball or get a backyard football game going.

· Plan a picnic at the park or the beach. Be sure to bring baseball gloves and ball, Frisbee or football.

· Take a family bike ride around the neighborhood or head for the nearest state park or trail.

· Pack up the gear, some special snacks and go hiking.

· Head for the nearest river or lake and go canoeing or boating. Or, watch the “big boats” while you stroll the ocean waterfront and enjoy ice cream.

· Going bananas? Check out the monkeys and other exhibits at your local zoo.

· Have a pizza party – order in or gather together and make it from scratch. Follow it up with (age appropriate) games like charades, Monopoly, Go Fish, etc.

· Take in a show. It could be the newest movie in the theaters or a concert or an auto, boat or monster truck show – whatever dad enjoys.

Bishop continued, “Gifts are nice but simply spending time together as a family is what many dads want on Father’s Day.”

Tips, Advice, Instructions and more

Greg Bishop offers strategies from more than 200,000 new dads that have gone through the Boot Camp for New Dads program in his second book, Crash Course for New Dads: Tools, Checklists and Cheat Sheets. His first book, Hit the Ground Crawling, covers work balance, being a dad, caring for a new mom and much more. Both books are available online at www.DadsAdventure.com.

New Dads Learn What to Expect at Boot Camp Workshops

Dads-to-be will be better equipped to face the challenges and opportunities of fatherhood after attending a Boot Camp “hands on” educational workshop. Men attend the class when they are expecting their first baby, and are joined in the workshop by “veterans” who had previously attended and have returned with their two to four-month-old baby in tow. They are able to give the dads-to-be a realistic idea of what to do and what to expect when their first baby comes. For many men attending, it’s their first time holding a baby.

Boot Camp for New Dads

Now celebrating their 18th year, Boot Camp for New Dads is nationally acclaimed as the “Best Practice” for preparing men to be fathers and has been named a U.S. Navy Model Program. Boot Camp for New Dads has prepared more than 200,000 men for fatherhood over the years.

With more than 4.1 million births (National Center for Health Statistics), and approximately 1.5 million men becoming new dads every year, it’s more important than ever for fathers to realize that being a “good provider” is only part of the very central role they have in their children’s lives.

For more information about Boot Camp for New Dads, visit www.bcnd.org, or to visit Dads Adventure, go to www.Dadsadventure.com. To arrange an interview with Greg Bishop, please contact sdubin@prworkzone.com, (781) 582-1061.

National and International Locations

Boot Camp For New Dads locations include ALASKA (Anchorage); ARIZONA (Chandler, Flagstaff, Gilbert, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Sun City); ARKANSAS (Jonesboro, Paragould, Springdale); CALIFORNIA (Apple Valley, Bakersfield, , Fresno, Garden Grove, Irvine, Laguna Hills, Madera, Merced, Mission Hills, , Oakland, Orange, Pomona, Port Hueneme, San Diego, Santa Ana, Santa Barbara, , S. Lake Tahoe, Travis, Valley Springs); COLORADO (Aurora, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Denver, Durango, Fort Collins, Fort Carson, Greeley, Longmont, Thornton, Wheat Ridge); CONNECTICUT (Bristol, Danbury, New London); FLORIDA (Brandon, Clearwater, Hollywood, Jacksonville, North Palm Beach, Orlando, St. Petersburg, West Palm Beach, Sarasota, Tampa); GEORGIA (Atlanta, Elberton, Gainesville, Marietta, Savannah); HAWAII (Pearl Harbor, Schofield); ILLINOIS (Aurora, Carbondale, Champaign, Chicago, East St. Louis, Evanston, Freeport, Geneva, Great Lakes, Highland Park, Libertyville, Moline, Oak Park, Rockford, Springfield, Urbana, Winfield); INDIANA (Anderson, Bluffton, Hammond, Indianapolis, Jeffersonville, Kokomo); IOWA (Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Jefferson, Sioux City); KANSAS (Junction City, Topeka); KENTUCKY (Paducah); LOUISIANA (Covington); MAINE (Auburn, Augusta, Bangor, Brunswick, Ellsworth, Waterville); MARYLAND (Annapolis) MASSACHUSETTS (Beverly, Ipswich, Lowell, Nantucket, Plymouth, Weymouth, Springfield); MICHIGAN (, Ann Arbor, Bay City, Centreville, Iron Mountain, Ithaca, Kalamazoo, Niles, St Joseph, Ypsilanti); MINNESOTA (Brainerd, Duluth, Robbinsdale); MISSISSIPPI (Tupelo); MISSOURI (Jefferson City) MONTANA (Billings, Helena, Miles City); NEBRASKA (Kearney, Lincoln, Omaha); NEVADA (Las Vegas) NEW HAMPSHIRE (Manchester, Portsmouth); NEW JERSEY (Princeton) NEW YORK (Glens Falls, Little Falls, Mineola, Rome, Utica); NORTH CAROLINA (Burlington, Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Concord, Ft. Bragg, Greensboro, Monroe, Raleigh, Shelby); NORTH DAKOTA (Grand Forks); OHIO (Akron, Cleveland, Columbus, East Cleveland, East Liverpool, Garfield Heights, Lima, Lorain, Mayfield Heights, Middleburg Heights, Orange Village, Portsmouth, Toledo, Warren, Westlake, Youngstown); OKLAHOMA (Claremore, Oklahoma City, Tulsa); OREGON (Corvalis, McMinnville, Salem, Silverton); SOUTH CAROLINA (Columbia, Pickens, Walhalla); TENNESSEE (Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis); TEXAS (Amarillo, Dallas, Fort Hood, Longview, Lubbock, Plano, San Antonio, Texarkana, Waco, Webster); VERMONT (Barre, Brattleboro, Middlebury); VIRGINIA (Charlottesville, Chesapeake, Hampton, Richmond) WASHINGTON (Everett, Fairchild AFB, Longview, Olympia, Puyallup, Yakima); WEST VIRGINIA (Wheeling); WISCONSIN (Florence, Green Bay, Madison, Oshkosh, Watertown, Wausau); JAPAN (Atsugi, Yokosuka), ITALY (Sicily); UNITED KINGDOM [a.k.a. Hit the Ground Crawling] (Birmingham, Liverpool)

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Gray receives DirectBuy’s Achievement Circle honors

HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL…

Carpentersville resident Jennifer Gray, a marketing associate at DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates, was recently awarded Achievement Circle honors by DirectBuy’s corporate offices for her dedication to helping introduce new families to DirectBuy club membership during the month of January.

DirectBuy’s Achievement Circle recognizes the top performing membership directors and phone room associates at the more than 160 DirectBuy clubs across North America for their performance on a monthly basis. As a marketing associate, Gray has an active role in helping interested families learn more about DirectBuy club membership at the  DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates club.

“It’s no accident that this is the fifth time Jennifer has earned Achievement Circle honors. She’s very good at working with prospective new members and is a valuable member of our marketing team,” said Dave Kushner, owner of DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates, located at 2200 North Stonington Avenue, Suite 150 in Hoffman Estates.

Gray began with DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates in 2006. Prior to that, she had worked in retail management.

“DirectBuy is a great place to work for several reasons. First, we provide a tremendous service to our members by providing them an alternative way to buy the things they want and need for their homes. On a personal level, the owner Dave encourages our development as professionals and people. He even makes his personal library of motivational books and cd’s available to the entire staff,” said Gray.

Since 1971, DirectBuy clubs have offered members the opportunity to enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products and accessories by buying wholesale, directly from the manufacturer. With several convenient locations in the greater Chicago area (Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Naperville, and Tinley Park), consumers can enjoy a comfortable, country-club setting, where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

For more information on a DirectBuy membership, you can visit http://www.directbuychicago.com/.

About DirectBuy

Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped hundreds of thousands of families enjoy a better quality of life, enabling them to buy directly from more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. Buying direct makes members’ hard-earned money to go much further, while having the selection and choice not available at any retail store. Access to confidential prices, local suppliers, and unparalleled selection helps make members’ dream projects a reality.  It’s a comfortable, country-club setting, where you finally have the financial control of buying direct. The DirectBuy clubs serving the greater Chicago area are part of more than 160 locations throughout North America.

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

Locations of the DirectBuy clubs serving the greater Chicago area are: DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates, 2200 N. Stonington Ave Ste. 150 Hoffman Estates, IL; DirectBuy of Chicago North, 6325 Avondale, Chicago, IL; DirectBuy of DuPage County, 1864 Highgrove Ste. 136 Naperville, IL; and DirectBuy of Tinley Park, 18400 S. 76th Avenue Ste. B, Tinley Park, IL.

To learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, visit www.directbuycares.com.

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Massachusetts-based early stage company poised for dynamic growth… Wave2’s self-service solution for on-line and print advertisers allows publishers to transition their businesses

WESTBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS…

In difficult economic times, it’s tough enough to stay afloat never mind growing your company. Particularly, if the primary industry you serve—publishing—is in a state of economic turmoil. Yet it’s under those exact circumstances that Wave2, a Westborough-based software solutions company, grew its customer base and hosted services business by 400 percent in the first quarter of 2009, the best quarter since the company opened its doors in the U.S. back in 2006.

The catalyst for Wave2’s success is the iPublish AdPortal — a Web-based application that automates the creative process for creating on-line Flash and print display ads. Essentially, Wave2’s software enables advertisers to create their own ads, with no assistance from a publisher’s creative staff.  

Publishers have traditionally lived off highly profitable print advertising from recruitment, autos and real estate. As publishers’ revenue from their traditional print sources declines, the challenge is to find new advertisers and develop new online, Web-based advertising products. Wave2’s iPublish AdPortal hosted service enables publishers to offer both print and on-line display ads to the thousands of small businesses in their circulation areas. This greatly reduces sales costs and eliminates production costs, enabling publishers to market deeper into the small business community. 

“Publishers have great brand awareness in their local markets and typically host websites that serve up more page views than any other site in their local circulation markets. They also offer the greatest variety of cross media ad products that are ideally suited to a small business owner,” said Brian Gorman, Wave2’s vice president of sales. “Unfortunately, most publishers find their current sales model can not sell products effectively to this market and they’ve had a difficult time capitalizing on their on-line brand awareness.    AdPortal is a totally web based ad selling system that is open 24X7 and enables them to sell their complete advertising product line from print display ads, on-line listings for a marketplace, on-line display and even search packages.” 

At present, Wave2 has signed contracts with many of the nation’s leading newspaper chains; Belo, The Boston Globe, Freedom Communications, Hearst, McClatchy, Media News Group, New York Times Regional Group, and Lee Enterprises. All of these chains have or will be shortly launching self-service advertising sites and will offer the complete line of print and on-line ad products through iPublish AdPortal.  Many of these publishers chose Wave2 as the only vendor out there who can deliver this solution. 

iPublish AdPortal runs on top of the Wave2 Publishing Platform. The W2PP is not limited to serving strictly the newspaper industry and Wave2 sees dramatic growth opportunities outside publishing.  The software incorporates a patent-pending, highly scalable and powerful rules engine, which gives the user the capability to create everything from simple printed display ads to complex multi page inserts to brochures to animated interactive advertising—all within the style guidelines that the company presets. This makes it possible for non-skilled business owners within a company or corporation to create collateral materials—and meet with compliance standards—with relative ease.

“One of the reasons we’re primed for continued growth throughout the rest of 2009 is because this Platform makes even more sense for large companies with a large independent sales forces who have to create their own collaterals,” said Gorman. “With the Wave2 Publishing Platform, they have the means to create attractive collateral materials that meet the rules of compliance and stay within the company brand.”

For more information on Wave2’s Publishing Platform and other media solutions, please visit http://www.wave2media.com or call their U.S. office at (508) 366-6383.

About Wave2

Wave2 Media Solutions Ltd was founded in the United Kingdom in January 2004, and has established itself as the leader in self-service advertising in the UK publishing market. In 2006, Wave2 opened a US office in the Boston area, located at 114 Turnpike Road in Westborough, Massachusetts. Wave2’s software is in production or under contract at many leading newspapers across the U.S., including: The Boston Globe, Dallas Morning News, Houston Chronicle, Miami Herald, Bay Area News Group, LA News Group, New York Times Regional Group, Orange County Register, Raleigh News & Observer, The Sun News, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Riverside Press-Enterprise and San Francisco Chronicle. Today Wave2 is realizing the fastest adoption rate of any provider of self-service solutions in the US newspaper market. 

For more information on iPublish AdPortal, Wave2’s Publishing Platform and their other solutions, please visit http://www.wave2media.com or call their U.S. office at (508) 366-6383.

Massachusetts-based early stage company poised for dynamic growth… Wave2’s self-service solution for on-line and print advertisers allows publishers to transition their businessesRead More

South Shore Skin Center Shares Sun Safety Tips with over 800 Kids & Parents at Plymouth Little League’s Opening Day

South Shore Skin Center, a sponsor of the Town of Plymouth’s Girls Softball team, was well-received last week as they provided more than 1,000 samples of sunscreen along with sun safety information to over 800 parents and kids at Plymouth Little League’s (very sunny) Opening Day.
Dr. Ramzi Saad, along with his young daughter Amelia who is well-versed in sun safety, and his colleague Jeanne Gutowski of South Shore Skin Center spent most of the day providing the community with information about sun safety, skin cancer and the most effective way to apply sunscreen. Cetaphil, Neutrogena and SolBar sunscreen samples were given to all.
According to the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention, there are over a million new cases of skin cancer each year, which outnumbers all other cancers combined.
Melanoma is the leading cause of death from skin cancer. Early detection is the only way to prevent it from becoming deadly. The New England area has the highest concentration of melanoma cases, partially due to weather patterns of intermittent, intense sunlight which increases residents’ risk.
“We can reduce melanoma incidence by teaching skin cancer prevention and early detection. Anyone can develop skin cancer. It is easily recognizable and preventable. Educating kids and their parents/guardians is key. Sunscreen should be applied before UV exposure – and UV exists even on cloudy days. Children who play sports and spend a lot of time outdoors should always wear sunscreen,” noted Dr. Saad.
South Shore Skin Center
Founded in 1984, South Shore Skin Center is one of Massachusetts’ most progressive dermatology practices offering a wide range of medical, surgical and cosmetic services.
South Shore Skin Center’s cosmetic services include Fraxel re:pair and re:store; Gentle YAG, innovative Laser, IPL (Intensive Pulse Light), Thermage and treatments for age spots, acne scarring, birth marks, tattoos and more.  The practice also offers a full range of affordable anti-aging services including Botox, wrinkle fillers, Microdermabrasion, laser skin resurfacing and chemical peels.
South Shore Skin Center offices are located at 223 Chief Justice Cushing Highway, Suite 202 in Cohasset, Mass. (781) 383-3340, and 45 Resnik Road, Suite 102 in Plymouth, Mass., (508) 747-0711.  For more information, visit their website at www.SouthShoreSkinCenter.com.

South Shore Skin Center Shares Sun Safety Tips with over 800 Kids & Parents at Plymouth Little League’s Opening DayRead More

Molly Newcomb of Marshfield Honored as “Roche Family Outstanding Young Adult of the Year”

The Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield honors an outstanding youth, Molly Newcomb of Marshfield, who is this year’s recipient of the “Roche Family Outstanding Young Adult of the Year” award.

Molly, 18, who is a senior at Marshfield High School has been volunteering at the club three times a week for the past two years. In countless ways, she has made a difference in the lives of members and at the Boys and Girls Club. Molly has helped run the “Go Girl Go” program which helps girls build self-esteem. She has also been a part of the Keystone Club, a dynamic teen program that charters leadership and service to the club. She led club members in Triple Play, a wellness program of physical activity. After volunteering so much of her time, Molly recently became a Staff Member.

Although her commitment to the Boys and Girls Club has kept her busy, Molly was very involved in school activities. She was the captain of the Girls High School Varsity Soccer Team and previously, a guard on the Girls High School Varsity Basketball team. She was also involved in the Key Club at school. Her future plans include attending Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston and studying Interior Design.

Molly was honored with the Roche Family Outstanding Young Adult of the Year award in a ceremony at the recent Boys and Girls Club “An Evening of Stars” Gala and Auction where there were 350 in attendance and $60,000 was raised in support of the club’s programming.

“The Boys and Girls Club youth have truly benefited from Molly’s influence. She has amazing character and real leadership ability. We’re delighted that Molly has received the Roche Family Outstanding Young Adult of the Year award – it’s well deserved. We wish her every success in the future,” noted Greg Jackson, Executive Director of the club.

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.”

For more information about the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield, 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.

Molly Newcomb of Marshfield Honored as “Roche Family Outstanding Young Adult of the Year”Read More

Single Parents Bring their Kids on Dates? Master Matchmaker Advises Single Parents to Bring the Kids on a “Kid Friendly Date”

There’s no two ways about it – being a single parent and trying to date is complicated. For single moms or dads who are juggling work with family responsibilities, it often comes down to having to choose between spending time with your kids or spending time with your date.

According to Paul A. Falzone, CEO of the world’s largest bricks and mortar dating service The Right One and Together Dating, “Dating as a single parent can be even more challenging than making a career change. But, you don’t always have to choose one or the other. There’s a third option – bring your child(ren) along on a ‘kid-friendly’ date.”

Falzone recommends single parents bring their child(ren) on a date ONLY if they are comfortable doing so and have been able to get to know their date better. He noted, “If you’ve only been on a couple dates with someone, it’s not the right time. But, if you’ve been dating someone for some time and are comfortable broaching the subject of a ‘kid-friendly’ date – go for it. Your date already knows you’re a single parent and most likely understands your time constraints.”

Falzone, who is the father of two, shares kid-friendly date advice:

· Be sure to consider activities that everyone might enjoy, but that are also age appropriate for the children.

· Check with the child(ren) and your date first, to gauge interest and ensure the day is a success.

· If you decide to go to a restaurant, make sure the atmosphere is casual and kid-friendly.

· Consider going to a playground, mini-golfing or bowling and heading for ice cream afterwards.

· Biking, hiking, sailing, going to the zoo, beach, aquarium or a picnicking the park are “crowd pleasing” activities.

· Amusement parks, water parks and carnivals aren’t just for kids – they bring “the kid” out in everyone.

· Sports it up. Like baseball, hockey or football? Tennis or soccer? Get tickets to a game (pro or amateur) and get in the fan spirit – wear your team hats or shirts, make a banner and so on.

· Rent paddle boats or go kayaking on a lake, river or bay for the day. No need to take on the challenge of level 4 river rapids, just get out and have some fun in the sun.

“There’s no need to take on the role of an activities director with a day-long itinerary. Plan one activity. It also helps to be flexible and have a back-up plan in case that first activity you thought of doesn’t work out. Then, relax and simply enjoy each other’s company for a few hours,” noted Falzone.

Help is on the way
Catering to more than 300,000 members at more than 60 locations throughout North America, The Right One and Together Dating are the largest brick and mortar dating services in the industry, offering a more consistent product, a greater number of potentially compatible mates and added value of flexibility in transferring memberships to another geographic region.

Romantic Locations

North American locations and affiliates of Together are located in: Indiana (Ft. Wayne, Carmel); Kentucky (Louisville); Louisiana (Metairie); Maryland (Columbia, Frederick); Minnesota (Edina); Nevada (Reno); New Hampshire (Hooksett, Nashua, Portsmouth and Salem); Ohio (Cincinnati); South Carolina (Greenville); Texas (San Antonio and Austin) and Virginia (Falls Church); Pennsylvania (Harrisburg).

The Right One’s offices and affiliates located throughout the United States include: California (San Diego); Colorado (Glendale); Georgia (Atlanta); Illinois (Downers Grove, Rockford Normal and Chicago); Massachusetts (Norwell, Newton Center, Shrewsbury and Woburn); Michigan (Bingham Farms); Nebraska (Omaha and Lincoln); New Jersey (Cherry Hill); New York (NYC); Nevada (Las Vegas); Pennsylvania (King of Prussia); Rhode Island (Warwick); Texas (Dallas); Utah (Salt Lake City); and Wisconsin (Madison, Appleton, Elm Grove).

Singles Station Dating Company, an affiliate of The Right One and Together Dating, is the largest independently owned personal introduction service in the Southwest. In the last 25 years, Singles Station has introduced more than 100,000 couples and is responsible for thousands of successful relationships and marriages. Singles Station Dating Co. has offices conveniently located in Oklahoma (Oklahoma City and Tulsa), Arkansas (Bentonville, Fort Smith and Little Rock), Tennessee (Memphis and Nashville), Missouri (Springfield and St. Louis) and will be opening soon in Kansas (Wichita and Kansas City). For more information about Singles Station, please visit www.singlesstation.com or call 866-807-LOVE(5683).

For more information about Together Dating and The Right One, please visit their websites at www.togetherdating.com and www.therightone.com, or call (800) 818-DATE (3283).

Single Parents Bring their Kids on Dates? Master Matchmaker Advises Single Parents to Bring the Kids on a “Kid Friendly Date”Read More

Decking out your front or back deck…Drysdale’s Total Floor Care introduces unique deck cleaning service.

PEABODY, MA…

According to Drysdale’s Total Floor Care Owner Mark Dullea, many homeowners hasten the demise of their decks without realizing it.  Through the use of chlorine bleach and amped-up power washers, they are harming the very materials they are trying to maintain.

“The front or back deck can be a very popular place to entertain family and friends. So, homeowners naturally want to take care of it. Unfortunately, the high-powered pressure washers used by most service companies can cause several problems. They can destroy the wood’s lignin, causing the surface to burr, which limits the ability of a sealant or stain to penetrate into the wood far enough to offer much protection from the elements.  If the nozzle is held too close to the surface of the wood, the sharp, powerful water spray can leave unattractive visible marks in the wood.  Splintering of the surface can also result,” said Dullea.

As an alternative, Drysdale’s new deck cleaning service employs a random orbital high RPM floor machine to clean and strip wood decks. Although it’s a high RPM machine, the orbital machine cleans much like a floor buffer, the polar opposite of high-pressure power washers that can damage the wood by the force of the water.

In addition to a kinder, gentler cleaning machine, Drysdale’s uses  oxygenated cleaning products to clean decks. These are environmentally friendly and also kill mold and mildew.

“Besides power washers, a lot of people will clean their decks with chlorinated bleach. That also burrs the wood surface, making it less absorptive for the sealant. That means you’re not getting the full benefit of sealing your deck,” said Dullea. “We’ve made our mark as a rug and carpet cleaning company by using a near chemical-free process to clean floors, so why stop there? By using the oxygenated products, it not only is friendly to the environment but does a better job of actually cleaning the wood.”

Adds Dullea, “Household bleach is actually a poor quality cleaner.  It does kill mold, but it also tends to dull the appearance of the wood by over-whitening it.  It strips away the wood’s natural color.””

A greener way to clean is something Dullea knows a little bit about. Drysdale’s All-Natural Carpet Care’s combination of superior customer service AND its cleaning of carpeting and rugs without chemicals has earned them a listing in the National Green Pages (the only carpet cleaning business in New England) and most recently inclusion in the McGraw-Hill book Build a Green Small Business. Drysdale’s has also received a “Best of Boston” award from Boston Magazine and an A rating on AngiesList.

For an estimate on Drysdale’s deck cleaning services, please contact Mark Dullea at 617-242-9657 or markd@cybercom.net.

For the complete rundown on all Drysdale’s Total Floor Care services, you can visit www.drysdales123.com. If you’re interested in possibly owning and running your own green, carpet cleaning business, please visit www.carpet-cleaning-business.com.

About Drysdale’s Total Floor Care

Drysdale’s Total Floor Care has been cleaning carpeting and rugs the chemical-free way since way back when Kermit the Frog was just a tadpole. In addition to cleaning all types of carpeting and rugs via a unique odorless, low-moisture, natural process, Drysdale’s also offers a variety of other services ranging from upholstery cleaning to sterilizing mattresses; cleaning tile & grout floors to polishing/refinishing of natural stone floors.

Drysdale’s has been recognized by several reputable publications and organizations. That includes being a “Best of Boston” selection in BOSTON Magazine, maintaining a straight “A” rating on AngiesList and being the only carpet cleaning company in New England to be listed in the NATIONAL GREEN PAGES (a nonprofit) published by CoopAmerica (http://www.coopamerica.org). Most recently, Drysdales was highlighted in the McGraw-Hill book BUILD A GREEN SMALL BUSINESS, by Scott Cooney, as a national leader in more healthy home services.

For more information on Drysdale’s Total Floor Care, visit (http://www.drysdales123.com). For details on the business opportunity presented by Drysdale’s All-Natural Carpet Care, please visit www.carpet-cleaning-business.com or contact Mark Dullea at 617-242-9657 or markd@cybercom.net.

Decking out your front or back deck…Drysdale’s Total Floor Care introduces unique deck cleaning service.Read More

Common sense practices can lessen the liability of email evidence in a world gone viral.

DATELINE:  BOSTON, MA…
Never underestimate the power of the written word – particularly if it’s in an email. Emails have become so deeply embedded in today’s business culture that little thought is given to the fact that they leave an electronic footprint that in litigation terms is akin to leaving DNA evidence at the scene of a crime.

“Judges are more and more willing to accept emails into evidence at a trial,” notes Kerry T. Ryan, Esq. of Tarlow, Breed, Rodgers, P.C. in Boston, who handles complex litigation matters for the firm.  “Disputes that once revolved around “he said/she said” versions of conversations are now often quickly and decisively confirmed or denied through the introduction of email evidence. Surprisingly, many business people remain unaware of the lasting nature of their email communications.”

We’ve all heard the stories… An employee dashes off an email to a colleague, complaining about a customer or a fellow employee – minutes later, the message has been shared with the entire company and even forwarded outside the company to its competitors.  Or, a project manger emails a client to say, “Sorry, we screwed up!” The project manager intends this to be a private communication, a quick apology to maintain good relations with his counterpart at the customer’s office, not a legal admission of guilt by his employer, as it might be interpreted a year later when the email reemerges as evidence in a legal dispute.

“Since emails can offer quick confirmation of concerns or doubts about a person’s performance, a project’s completeness, or a vendor’s error, it’s wise for businesses to periodically review their approach to the use of emails,” Ryan remarked. “It seems that common sense often gives way to expediency in email communications – a flaw that can be easily remedied by considering the following tactics for business emails.”

Basic Business Email Practices 101:
•    Never send an email when you’re angry or tired
•    Don’t take the bait by instantly responding to a nasty email – observe the 24 hour rule
•    Don’t use sarcasm – it’s often difficult to tell whether it’s sarcasm or the truth
•    Be professional – off the cuff comments may not be construed as they were written
•    Take time to reflect on the content of what you’re writing, just as you would with a letter
•    Proofread your emails – misspelling and poor grammar reflect back on your business
•    Think before you hit reply – are you actually confirming receipt of negative content? If in doubt, compose a new email
•    Limit access to your email password
•    Eliminate previous threads – prior emails at the bottom of new emails may contain information that you don’t want to share with the latest recipient, particularly if later forwarded to others

And most importantly, before you hit “send”, think about what your email would look like as it is blown up and shown to a room full of strangers in a courtroom.

Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers, P.C.
Formed in 1991, Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers, P.C. is committed to providing high quality, comprehensive legal services to its clients. Featuring a breadth and depth of experience and perspective usually found only at larger law firms, Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers. P.C. offers sophisticated legal counsel to entrepreneurs, businesses, individuals, families, and institutions.

Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers’ areas of expertise include corporate law, employment matters, mergers and acquisitions, litigation and dispute resolution, estate planning, taxation, real estate, bankruptcy, and municipal law.

The offices of Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers, P.C. are located at 101 Huntington Avenue, Prudential Center, in Boston, MA 02199. For additional information, or to arrange for a consultation, please call 1-617-218-2000, e-mail info@tbhr-law.com, or visit www.tbhr-law.com.

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