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High Five! DirectBuy of Houston North celebrates five-year milestone.

THE WOODLANDS, TEXAS…

For five years, DirectBuy of Houston North has been offering consumers in the greater Houston area a brand new way to save on home improvement projects, home furnishings and accessories.

As the leading members-only home improvement and home furnishings club, DirectBuy of Houston North offers manufacturer-direct pricing on products ranging from light fixtures to televisions to kitchen cabinets, all from more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. DirectBuy also offers design, delivery and installation services.

“The growth we’ve experienced since we opened our doors five years ago is a little hard to fathom. Not only have we grown in terms of the number of our members, but also in the number of manufacturers who want to sell their products through DirectBuy. And that’s got us even more excited about the next five years,” said Patrick Sullivan, owner of DirectBuy of Houston North.

In addition to the tremendous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products and accessories, DirectBuy also offers design services to its members, as well as a listing of local contractors who offer installation services to DirectBuy members, many times at a discounted rate.

“Our five years in business have not only given us the opportunity to help families create the home of their dreams, but to also establish ourselves as part of the local business community and as a contributor to local charities,” said Sullivan. “We look forward to further cultivating those relationships with our customers and the community as we build toward even bigger and better things in the years to come.”

Since 2004, DirectBuy of Houston North 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 19241 David Memorial Drive in The Woodlands. DirectBuy offers consumers a comfortable, country-club setting, where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

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.

To request a “Free Insider’s Guide to Buying Direct” and a Visitor’s Pass to learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, visit www.DirectBuy.com or www.DirectBuyCares.com.

High Five! DirectBuy of Houston North celebrates five-year milestone.Read More

High Five! DirectBuy of Bucks County celebrates five-year milestone.

NEWTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA…

For five years, DirectBuy of Bucks County has been offering consumers in the greater Philadelphia and Delaware Valley area a brand new way to save on home improvement projects, home furnishings and accessories.

As the leading members-only home improvement and home furnishings club, DirectBuy of Bucks County offers direct insider pricing on products ranging from light fixtures to televisions to kitchen cabinets, all from more than 700 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. DirectBuy also offers design, delivery and installation services.

“The growth we’ve experienced since we opened our doors five years ago is a little hard to fathom. Not only have we grown in terms of the number of our members, but also in the number of manufacturers who want to sell their products through DirectBuy. And that’s got us even more excited about the next five years,” said Neil Morris, owner of DirectBuy of Bucks County.

In addition to the tremendous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products and accessories, DirectBuy also offers design services to its members, as well as a listing of local contractors who offer installation services to DirectBuy members, many times at a discounted rate.

“Our five years in business have not only given us the opportunity to help families create the home of their dreams, but to also establish ourselves as part of the local business community and as a contributor to local charities,” said Morris. “We look forward to further cultivating those relationships with our customers and the community as we build toward even bigger and better things in the years to come.”

Since 2004, DirectBuy of Bucks County 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 46 Blacksmith Road in Newtown, DirectBuy offers consumers a comfortable, country-club setting, where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

About DirectBuy

Since 1971, the DirectBuy network 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 enables 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 Philadelphia area since 1990. 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.

To request a “Free Insider’s Guide to Buying Direct” and a Visitor’s Pass to learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership, visit www.DirectBuy.com or www.DirectBuyCares.com.

High Five! DirectBuy of Bucks County celebrates five-year milestone.Read More

TMI Executive Resources Announces New Service Offering for Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurial Opportunities

TMI Executive Resources (http://www.TMIer.com), a firm providing outplacement and career consulting services to thousands of clients around the globe, has recently announced a new service offering that caters to executives who would like to consider, or already are considering the entrepreneurial option.

Entrepreneurs, business owners and executives who have participated in or led ventures which have been sold, gone public, restructured or simply grown too large may also be seeking new entrepreneurial opportunities. TMI Executive Resources helps these folks through the entrepreneurial decision; reduces the personal, professional, and financial risk; and increases the likelihood of substantial entrepreneurial reward.

TMI provides:

· Professional advice and guidance.

· Personal and professional assessment of a potential entrepreneur’s skills, financial resources and risk tolerance.

· Identification of entrepreneurial opportunities.

· Business planning

· Ongoing consultation and guidance, review and recommendations

“Many executives with successful track records in larger corporations realize that job security derived from the size and stability of the company no longer really exists. They have developed the skills and desire to “run their own show” and now see the entrepreneurial option in a much more favorable light,” explained Tom McNeil, the company’s president.

He continued, “As a successful entrepreneurial venture itself, TMI helps entrepreneurs identify the best opportunities and then build upon them.”

About TMI

TMI Executive Resources is a worldwide organization that provides professional career consulting and career management services as well as entrepreneurship consulting to executives. Founded in 1986, TMI has provided services to over 4,000 clients around the world and has grown to six locations on the east coast. TMI headquarters is located at 20 William Street, Suite 100 in Wellesley, MA. The company has offices in Boston and Springfield, MA; Hartford, New Haven and Stamford, CT and Washington DC. For more information, contact 877-864-3932 or visit their website at TMIer.com.

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Are we there yet? Travel tips for a smoother family vacation.

WAITSFIELD, VERMONT…

Long before the Griswolds and the “Vacation” trilogy of movies, the family trip had a certain painful nostalgia for people that could only be appreciated many years later—usually when they had their own families and attempted trips of their own. Resort Maps, creator of customized travel maps in more than 90 cities and towns across the U.S. and U.K. has some family travel tips that can help you optimize the pleasure of family trips and minimize the inconvenience.

“In a perfect world, every family trip goes smoothly and years later your memories center on where you went—Disneyworld or the Grand Canyon—rather than little Joey getting sick on the plane or on his sister in the car. But we all know the world is not perfect,” said Peter Hans, president of Resort Maps. “There are some things you can do to prepare for the mini ‘disasters’ that happen on your journey so they don’t impact the rest of your trip.”

Some of the areas to focus your pre-travel preparations include:

·         Attitude – expect a few snags and glitches both in packing and getting to and from your destination. By adopting a roll-with-the-punches approach, you really can keep the molehills from becoming mountains.

·         Drugs – there is never a drug store around when you need one. Keep this reality in mind when packing. Make sure to pack some travel size containers of cough syrup, cold or allergy medicines. Benadryl, in particular, is very helpful in getting sick children to rest comfortably on a flight or long car ride.

·         Baby wipes – even if the kids are out of diapers, wipes come in handy for a variety of quick clean ups.

·         Zip lock bags – make sure to carry a variety of sizes, which can have numerous uses. Oversized bags come in very handy for packing wet clothes.

·         Night lights – do not forget them, particularly if you’re sharing a hotel room. A bad night for one of your kids means no sleep for the entire family and that certainly can impact fun activities.

·         Scheduling – if you’re kids are younger, leave around the time they usually nap. This might buy you some extra quiet time for the drive. If flying, you may want to weigh the pros and cons of flying overnight. Sure, it will impact your zzz’s, but it may beat entertaining a pre-schooler for six hours on a daytime flight.

·         Flying – utilize resources like SeatGuru.com to strategize where you want to sit (e.g. windows, aisles, front of the plane or back). Maybe you want to split the kids up to minimize the possibility of bickering and fights.

·         Games, toys and other entertainment – ultimately, the key to traveling with children means keeping them occupied. Whether it’s playing their favorite DVD in the car, a deck of cards for the car or plane or finding some fun travel games (www.momsminivan.com has a list of 101 Car Travel Games and Road Trip Ideas for Kids), keeping your children entertained for as long as possible is the real difference maker in a good or bad trip.

“For many people, the memories of trips they took with their families last a lifetime. You’d be amazed at how a little bit of pre-planning, including having the right map of the town or city where you’ll be staying, can go a long way towards ensuring that the memories of your family trips center on the fun you had and the places and things you saw,” said Hans.

Resort Maps are colorful, hand-drawn maps of resort towns and cities. Free to area visitors, each map advertises restaurants, accommodations, retail stores, factory outlets, recreation and attractions, real estate and other local services. Each advertiser is represented with a display ad surrounding the map, including a color-coded grid locator and a building drawn, highlighted and labeled making it easy to locate. With landmarks prominently displayed, Resort Maps are an easy and fun way to find your way around town whether you are visiting, new to the area or you just want to know what’s happening around your town.  And kids love them so you can add Resort Maps to the list of things that will keep them entertained.

For more information on Resort Maps or to inquire about ownership of a Resort Maps franchise, please visit www.resortmaps.com or call 802-496-6277.

 

About Resort Maps

Headquartered in the Green Mountains of Vermont, Resort Maps has been creating and publishing advertising maps in the northeastern U.S. since 1986. In 1993, Resort Maps expanded its reach by creating a franchise model for distribution of its colorful, hand-drawn maps of resort towns and cities. Today, that network of franchises grown to nearly 90 Resort Maps in publication in the US and the UK, with several more in the process of being published. Nearly 20 million Resort Maps will be printed and distributed in 2009.

For more information on Resort Maps the company and/or the franchise opportunity, visit www.resortmaps.com or call 802-496-6277.

Are we there yet? Travel tips for a smoother family vacation.Read More

Old Colony Elder Services Strives to Raise Awareness of Elder Abuse on World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15th

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), a non-profit Aging Services Access Point (ASAP) is striving to create greater awareness of elder abuse on June 15th, which is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. The organization’s staff will recognize the importance of the day by wearing the color purple and several staff members will participate in Mass Home Care’s Annual Meeting at the Burlington Marriott.

Teresa Kourtz, Protective Services Supervisor and Rosemarie Kennedy, Protective Services Screening Supervisor of OCES will attend the annual meeting which will feature speakers including Hon. Charles A. Murphy, House Ways and Means Chairman, Robert Blancato, former President of the National Committee for Prevention of Elder Abuse (NCPEA) and Al Norman, Executive Director of Mass Home Care.

According to the World Health Organization, the population of those aged 60 and over will more than double by 2025. As the elder population grows, so will the number of elder abuse cases.

Elder Abuse ranges from physical, sexual, psychological and economic abuse to neglect. OCES has outlined several factors that may put an elder at risk:

· Strained family relationships

· The depiction of elders as frail, weak and dependent

· Social isolation due to physical or mental infirmaries or through loss of friends/family members

· Poorly run hospitals, long-term care facilities and nursing homes

OCES’ Protective Services department helps elders who have been victims of abuse by providing resources such as medical, legal, psychological, financial and housing assistance.

“Public education and awareness campaigns are key elements in preventing elder abuse and neglect. Both the general public and practitioners should be aware of the various types of abuse, how to identify signs of abuse and know that there are agencies such as OCES where help for elders can be obtained,” noted Diana L. DiGiorgi, Executive Director of OCES.

To report suspected Elder Abuse, contact OCES at (508) 584-1561 or the statewide Elder Abuse Hotline at 800-922-2275.

About OCES
Incorporated in 1974, Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) is one of 27 private, non-profit Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

OCES offers a number of programs to serve seniors, families and caregivers such as Family Caregiver; Caring Homes and Enhanced Adult Family Care; Supportive Housing; Nutrition; Money Management; Protective Services; Home Care and more.

OCES serves elders, their families and caregivers in the towns of 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.

The agency has 130 employees and operates more than 12 programs serving elders, their families and caregivers.  For more information call (508) 584-1561 or visit the website at www.oldcolonyelderservices.org.

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Why ENERGY STAR makes dollars and sense.

CHEEKTOWAGA, NY …

Most people want to know what they can do to make their dollar go farther, particularly when purchasing household appliances. While most consumers have their eyes on the price tag, it really should be on how much it costs to power those appliances, and that’s where ENERGY STAR comes in.

ENERGY STAR is the program created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reduce energy consumption. Typically, ENERGY STAR products offer 20 to 30 percent savings on your energy bills. DirectBuy of Buffalo, the leading home improvement and furnishings club with direct insider prices, sells a wide ride range of ENERGY STAR products to help members save.

“The irony about ENERGY STAR products is the program itself was set up to combat the negative effect running our appliances was having on our environment,” said Mark Klinger, owner of DirectBuy of Buffalo. “While most people do want to minimize their carbon footprint, in today’s economy, it’s just as much about how much you can save by having appliances that run more efficiently.”

So, how much can you save by purchasing ENERGY STAR appliances? Here’s a small sampling:

  • Clothes washers – replacing a 10-year-old washing with a new ENERGY STAR machine can save a household more than $145 per year.
  • Dishwashers – ENERGY STAR dishwashers use 41 percent less energy and water than non-ENERGY STAR washers. That translates to $30 a year on your utility bill.
  • Refrigerators – a typical two-door, freezer on top refrigerator can cost $100 per year to run. Upgrading to ENERGY STAR can knock $30 per year off that, resulting in savings of $350 in just five years.
  • Home electronics – the average household spends $100 per year powering electronics devices in “standby” mode. ENERGY STAR products use less energy when in standby.
  • LED Lighting – requires 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and lasts 25 times longer. According to energystar.gov, LED lighitn can last more than 25,000 hours than its incandescent counterparts or more than 22 years!

“As a company that deals specifically in home improvement, you often hear the expression that this project will pay for itself, meaning resale. Yet when it comes to ENERGY STAR products, they literally do pay for themselves over time,” said Vest.

DirectBuy carries a large selection of ENERGY STAR products and appliances at wholesale prices direct from the manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. In addition, each DirectBuy club employs product specialists and designers who can help members select the appliance that works best for their works best for their home.

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.

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Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield Brings Back “Camp Chuckles” this summer

The Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield, a non-profit organization that provides the youth of Marshfield and surrounding towns with enrichment and recreation programs in a safe environment, will host the second annual “Camp Chuckles” Comedy Camp for kids and teens in July. Registration has begun and is open to members and non-members of the club.

Camp Chuckles is a one-week workshop led by Chrissy Kelleher, a teacher and comedian who has opened shows for Kevin Nealon and Loretta LaRoche and also appeared on Nickelodeon’s America’s Funniest Mom. She is joined by fellow comedian and Milton High School Social Studies teacher and Drama Coach, Jimmy Bowes.

Kelleher and Bowes taught 15-year-old Max Clary at last year’s Camp Chuckles and he is now a regular performer at the Comedy Studio in Cambridge.

Camp Chuckles is geared towards middle and high school students and is a comedy writing and performing experience that uses improvisation and writing exercises to help kids turn their funny ideas into stories and jokes.

After the week-long session, attendees perform in front of family and friends in a Camp Chuckles graduation show.

Camp Chuckles will be held from July 20-24 and the cost is $120. The workshop for students entering grades 6-8 will be held from 5:30-7:00 p.m. and the workshop for students entering grades 9-12 will be held from 7:15-8:45 p.m. There is a maximum number of 12 students to each workshop.

To register or for more information about Camp Chuckles, contact Chrissy Kelleher directly at (617) 966-3832.

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.

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William W. Stocker, M.D. Joins South Shore Skin Center of Plymouth and Cohasset

Dr. William W. Stocker, a board certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist, has recently joined South Shore Skin Center (http://www.southshoreskincenter.com), one of the most progressive dermatology practices in Massachusetts with offices in Plymouth and Cohasset.

Dr. Stocker will treat South Shore Skin Center’s medical dermatology patients. He is currently accepting new patients.

For 30 years, Dr. Stocker has been practicing dermatology and dermatopathology. Prior to joining South Shore Skin Center, Dr. Stocker was with AmeriPath, Dermpath Diagnostics of Marietta, GA. He was also a Dermatopathologist at Cape Cod Dermatopathology and an associate of Hongmei Li, M.D., PhD. at DermPath New England in Boston. Previous to that, he cared for thousands of patients at his private dermatology practice in Hyannis which was affiliated with Cape Cod Dermatology and Cape Cod Dermatopathology. He has been Affiliate Staff of Cape Cod Hospital and Bassett Healthcare (Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital) in NY.

Dr. Stocker holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Harvard University and a medical degree from Case Western Reserve University, one of the nation’s top research universities located in Cleveland, OH. He completed his internship and residency at Dartmouth/Hitchcock Medical Center, the internationally renowned and nationally ranked academic medical center in Lebanon, NH. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and a member of the New England Dermatological Society, the Dermatology Foundation, the A.O.A. Society and the Massachusetts Medical Association.

“Dr. Stocker is a renowned dermatologist. We’re very pleased to welcome him to our team. His expertise and compassion make him a very good fit for our practice,” noted Drs. Richard Eisen and Ramzi Saad of South Shore Skin Center.

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.

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DirectBuy promotes achievement through technology.

MERRILLVILLE, IN…

DirectBuy, the home improvement and furnishings club with direct insider prices, recently donated computer equipment to PATINS (Promoting Achievement through Technology and INstruction for all Students) Project. DirectBuy’s donation will help provide computer access to Indiana K-12 public students who are disabled and/or disadvantaged.

“We’re thankful that DirectBuy provided us with much needed computer equipment,” says Walt Daigle, Manager of the Refurbished Computer Program for PATINS Project. “DirectBuy’s contribution will eventually help hundreds of students in underprivileged schools.”

This type of generosity is fairly standard for DirectBuy Corporate. Last year, the corporate campus donated more than 100 CPU’s and monitors to Net Literacy, a youth empowered nonprofit organization headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The donation impacted thousands of individuals in and around the Midwest. Although this year’s donation wasn’t as sizeable, the effects of the contribution will be felt across the state of Indiana.

“We hope our donation will help impact the lives of students for years to come,” said Senior Director of MIS Donna Vaughan. “Every student should have access to computer technology. We are thrilled that our computer equipment will provide this opportunity to disadvantaged and disabled children.”

About DirectBuy

For more than 38 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 furniture, carpet and flooring, and custom window treatments, to kitchen and bath cabinets and fixtures, appliances and much, much more.

DirectBuy enables members to purchase most every product offering from several hundred manufacturers and their authorized suppliers at more than 160 showrooms across North America. To request a “Free Insider’s Guide to Buying Direct” and a Visitor’s Pass to learn more about the superior value and benefits of DirectBuy membership, visit www.DirectBuy.com or www.DirectBuyCares.com.

About PATINS Project

The PATINS Project, an Indiana Department of Education/federal grant initiative, is the official lead agency in Indiana for the National Christina Foundation (NCF). NCF is a not-for-profit, national donation channel for refurbished computers. Together with NCF, CET, and Aidmatrix, PATINS is ensuring access to computer technology to students who are disabled, at-risk or disadvantaged.

             

DirectBuy promotes achievement through technology.Read More