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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

Golf Tournament at Crosswinds Golf Club on June 26th to Benefit Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield

The Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield will hold their 4th Annual Golf Tournament on June 26, 2009 at Crosswinds Golf Club, 424 Long Pond Rd. in Plymouth. Registration starts at 11 a.m. Tee-off is at 12 p.m.

The Boys and Girls Club’s exciting Annual Golf Tournament has drawn past participants such as the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals Sean Morey (who is a Marshfield native). 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. Registration may be done online or at the Boys and Girls Club. 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.

According to 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. Golfers will be entertained by the “Village People” who will be selling raffle tickets to players. An awards dinner will be held at Crosswinds after the event and prizes will be given for “Closest to the Pin” and “Longest Drive”. There is also the possibility of winning a new car from Tracy Chevrolet Cadillac of Plymouth with a Hole-in-One. Restaurant gift certificates, golf items and sports memorabilia will be offered through a Silent Auction and raffles will held.

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.”

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.

Golf Tournament at Crosswinds Golf Club on June 26th to Benefit Boys and Girls Club of MarshfieldRead More

J.P. Licks Announces New Ordering System for Breakfast & Ice Cream Catering

J.P. Licks, the award winning homemade ice cream café with eight locations in and around Boston makes it even easier to arrange breakfast catering or ice cream parties.

Now, individuals, groups and businesses can visit jplicks.com to quickly download the Breakfast and Ice Cream Catering order form and submit the completed form via email or fax.

Looking for fresh coffee, juice, bagels, pastries and fruit for the mid-morning staff meeting? J.P. Licks provides Breakfast Catering for companies and groups in and around the Boston area.

Celebrating a birthday or other special event? Schedule an ice cream sundae party which comes complete with all the fixings as well as bowls, scoops, spoons, napkins and a J.P. Licks staff person to scoop (if desired). Or order a cake by simply going online.

All catering, ice cream party orders and custom cake orders must be placed at least 48 hours in advance. Customers may place orders well ahead of time – up to months in advance.

“Now businesses and all others can place a cake or catering order with us quickly and easily at any time of the day,” noted Kim Sawchuk, Director of Operations at J.P. Licks. “It’s a great feature that streamlines the process for us as well as our customers.”

With any $200 or more order of breakfast or ice cream party catering, J.P. Licks will provide free delivery; a free $25.00 gift card and free 1lb of coffee and travel mug.

To order J.P. Licks breakfast or ice cream party catering or cakes, visit jplicks.com.

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 has received six “Best of Boston’s” from Boston Magazine; 10 consecutive “Best” awards from the Boston Phoenix Reader’s Poll 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.

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

J.P. Licks Announces New Ordering System for Breakfast & Ice Cream CateringRead More

Samuel Fuller School in Middleboro to offer Spring Show

As Samuel Fuller School in Middleboro approaches the end of its first year, the school will present the Spring Program entitled  “Spring – Season of New Life” to the community.  The program will be held on Thursday, May 21st at 7:00 PM and will be directed by Mrs. Alia Rivers, who teaches music and first grade at the school.

According to Ms. Rivers, “The students have been working hard on their music, poetry, and scripture recitation and are eager to present this program for their family and friends.”

Each student has chosen a poem of their own to recite interspersed between five beautiful songs.  They will be playing rhythm instruments and will recite two Psalms for their audience.  The program will last less than an hour and will be followed by a time of refreshments and fellowship.  Classrooms will be open for viewing for those who are new to the school.

Samuel Fuller School is a classical Christian school whose mission is to support Christian families in educating their children to serve God as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ using a classical education that is rooted in Scripture.  Their first year has been a rewarding and successful one, and the school is expecting to double enrollment next year.

“In difficult times, people realize even more than ever the importance of a quality education that will prepare their children for living a Christian life in this world and for making a difference in a world that desperately needs change.  In order to effect change, we need to raise up a generation of Christians who can think clearly, as well as speak and write eloquently. Samuel Fuller School is doing that.  Additionally, a moral education which works to develop character is paramount today,” said Mrs. Peggy McKenna, Headmaster of the School.   “No education is complete without it.”

For more information about the Spring Program or about the school, please call (508) 715-4256.

About the Samuel Fuller School

Samuel Fuller is a classical and Christian school located at intersection of Routes 44 and 105 in Middleboro at the First Congregational Church.  Applications are now being accepted for the 2009-2010 school year.  The school opened in 2008.

For additional information about the race or the school, contact Samuel Fuller School, 508-715-4256, info@samuelfullerschool.org or visit the website at www.samuelfullerschool.org.

Samuel Fuller School in Middleboro to offer Spring ShowRead More

DirectBuy of Winnipeg awards Home makeover to area resident…Winnipeg residents Balic Nihad and Merina Topcic plan to use their winnings to purchase the home of their dreams.

WINNIPEG, MB…

DirectBuy of Winnipeg, the home improvement and furnishings club with direct insider prices, awarded $25,000 to Winnipeg resident Balic Nihad on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 as part of the company’s national Home Makeover Program.

With flowers in hand, Balic came ready to show his gratitude to the owners of DirectBuy of Winnipeg, and displayed much enthusiasm upon being named DirectBuy’s grand prize winner. “I am completely overjoyed,” he explained. “I still can’t believe I won $25,000. I would never have imagined anything like this happening to me.”

Balic Nihad and his girlfriend, Merina Topcic, plan to use their newfound fortune to purchase their dream home. Balic hopes to find a place in the same community in which he has made his home for the past 16 years after emigrating to Canada from Bosnia. Over the past few years, DirectBuy has distributed more than $450,000 in prize money to both members and non-members as part of their Home Makeover Contest, designed to help consumers create the home of their dreams.

Dwight and Lynn Till, who own and operate DirectBuy of Winnipeg, were ecstatic that they were able to help someone from their community realize their dreams. “I was very excited when I found out the Home Makeover grand prize winner was from our club,” co-owner Lynn Till explained. “The check presentation went wonderfully and I am happy that we could be part of this life-changing experience for such a nice couple.”

The DirectBuy of Winnipeg club, located at #180 – 117 King Edward Street in Winnipeg, offers consumers thousands of items, including kitchen cabinets, flat-screen televisions and major appliances from more than 500 top manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. Members enjoy a comfortable, welcoming setting and design club where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

To assist members with their home renovation projects, DirectBuy of Winnipeg employs interior designers and product specialists who are specially trained in one of five areas of merchandise: Home Furnishings, Home Improvement, Flooring, Entertainment/Outdoor, and Accessories. Additionally, members benefit from the use of a children’s play area, café and a member’s lounge to relax while shopping.

DirectBuy Membership

Consumers who are interested in joining DirectBuy of Winnipeg are encouraged to attend an exclusive Open House event, which is designed to educate families about DirectBuy’s unique business model.  The Open House also helps consumers better understand how DirectBuy members avoid traditional retail markup when purchasing brand-name merchandise. 

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.

About DirectBuy

For more than 38 years, DirectBuy has been showing hundreds of 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 500 brand-name manufacturers and their authorized suppliers in Canada, and more than 700 brand-name manufacturers and authorized suppliers in the United States.

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.directbuycares.com.

DirectBuy of Winnipeg awards Home makeover to area resident…Winnipeg residents Balic Nihad and Merina Topcic plan to use their winnings to purchase the home of their dreams.Read More

Polish off your spring cleaning…DirectBuy of Buffalo provides tips on stainless steel care.

CHEEKTOWAGA, NY…

Mention “spring cleaning” and most people think of cleaning out the garage. Or perhaps spreading seed on your lawn or mulching your flower garden. Yet giving the interior of your home a thorough cleaning after a long winter indoors can pick up your spirits like the first 70-degree day of spring. DirectBuy of Buffalo, the leading home improvement and furnishings club with direct insider prices, has some helpful tips on cleaning some of the toughest spots you might encounter during your spring cleaning: your stainless steel appliances.

“You’ll probably find stainless steel in the majority of homes nowadays on everything from refrigerators to stoves to countertops,” said Mark Klinger, owner of DirectBuy of Buffalo. “In terms of keeping stainless clean, what you should NOT do is every bit as important as what you should do.”

For example, when cleaning stainless steel, you’ll want to completely avoid using the following:

  • Products containing chlorine
  • Steel wool or brushes
  •  Abrasive cleaners

For the most part, you can simply use soapy water and a soft cloth to clean your stainless steel appliances. For tougher stains, you may need to use a stainless steel cleaner and there are many types on the market today. You’ll just need to find one that works for you.

In addition, there are also a number of products on the market that can reduce the smudge-ability factor of stainless steel, a big issue if you have little ones. Zeps is one product that works well on smudges; Simple Human puts out a sponge mitt that’s also effective in removing and minimizing finger print marks.

Regardless of the type of cleaner you use, any residue left on the surface may permanently damage the finish. Always rinse off the surface after cleaning. If you follow the above advice and still have spots or stains, it may be caused by your water. Hard water can leave spots, but drying completely after cleaning will usually fix this problem.

“Stainless steel sure looks great, but it’s something that needs regular maintenance to keep it looking that way,” said Klinger. “By following the above steps and completely cleaning your stainless steel appliances at least once a week, you can prolong the beauty of your appliances for years to come.”

DirectBuy carries a large selection of stainless steel appliances at wholesale prices direct from manufacturers or their authorized suppliers. In addition, each DirectBuy club employs product specialists and designers who can help members create the kitchen or bath that 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 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 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 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 membership, visit www.directbuycares.com.

Polish off your spring cleaning…DirectBuy of Buffalo provides tips on stainless steel care.Read More

Why ENERGY STAR makes dollars and sense.

CHICAGO, HOFFMAN ESTATES, NAPERVILLE, TINLEY PARK, ILLINOIS …

Most people want to know what they can do to make their dollar go further, 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. The DirectBuy clubs of greater Chicago, the leading home improvement and furnishings club with direct insider prices, sell 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 Jeremy Vest, owner of DirectBuy of DuPage County. “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 machine 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 lighting can last more than 25,000 hours than its incandescent counterparts or more than 22 years!

“As if the tremendous savings ENERGY STAR products offer weren’t enough, the U.S. government also offers tax exemptions, rebates and other incentives for consumers to purchase more energy-efficient items like ENERGY STAR products,” said Vest. “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.” 

DirectBuy carries a large selection of ENERGY STAR products and appliances at wholesale prices direct from manufacturers or 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 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 four 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/. For more information on ENERGY STAR, go to www.EnergyStar.gov.

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 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.   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.

Why ENERGY STAR makes dollars and sense.Read More

Tips from Dating Expert on How to Navigate Introducing Your Friends to Your Date

Is there a right time to introduce your date to your friends?

Master matchmaker, Paul A. Falzone, CEO of the world’s largest bricks and mortar dating service The Right One and Together Dating explains, “Absolutely. A first date is not a good time to introduce him/her to your friends because you hardly know your date. When you introduce someone you are dating to your friends, what you’re really saying is I like this person and I want you to like him/her too. At least wait until you’ve had several dates and you know the feeling is mutual.”

Falzone reminds singles that although it is not set in stone when you should introduce your date to your friends, it can be helpful to have your friends meet your date relatively early on. Why? Because your trusted, good friends are impartial and will have the ability to pick up on something about your date that may, or may not, be positive which you may have overlooked. It’s also helpful to see how your date responds to your friends.

“For example, you may be so enamored with your date that you may not notice how rudely he is treating the hostess and wait staff at the restaurant, but your friends would surely pick up on it. As your friends would point out to you, it’s only a matter of time before he begins to treat you in the same manner,” explained Falzone.

Navigating the date to friend introduction? Falzone advises singles that there are several things to consider:

· Wait until you’ve had at least two dates before introducing him/her to your friends. That will give you both a chance to get to know each other a little better.

· Keep the meeting casual. Meet for coffee or drinks; dine out somewhere informal; hit the local hotspots; head out to a concert; host a barbecue; go bowling or play pool – whatever you decide to do, keep it casual and try to do something that everyone will enjoy.

· Make the extra effort to put everyone at ease. Avoid intense or confrontational conversation. If the conversation turns less than amiable or your friends really begin to delve into your date’s personal life and past relationships, steer the conversation back to neutral territory and if necessary, politely part ways.

Falzone continued, “When you like someone, it’s only natural to want your friends to get to know that special person. Yes, your friends may ‘interrogate’ your date a little bit, but bear in mind that they are only looking out for your best interest. Wait until you’ve dated a couple times before you introduce them and do so in a fun, casual way.”

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).

Tips from Dating Expert on How to Navigate Introducing Your Friends to Your DateRead More

A new, environmentally friendly Lapels Dry Cleaning Store opens in Seattle, WA. Grand Opening Celebration May 30.

DATELINE: HANOVER, MA AND SEATTLE, WA… Lapels Dry Cleaning, an innovative, environmentally friendly dry cleaning company headquartered in Hanover, Massachusetts, is pleased to announce the latest addition to its growing nationwide family of retail stores. On May 9, the first Lapels Dry Cleaning store in Seattle opened for business at 8345 15th Avenue N.W. This new Lapels Dry Cleaning store will be open 7 am to 7 pm Monday through Friday; 8 am to 5 pm on Saturday; and 12 pm to 3 pm on Sunday.

The Grand Opening Celebration, scheduled for May 30, will include a giveaway drawing featuring a free dinner for four at a neighborhood restaurant, as well as a second prize drawing for an iPod nano. Area residents will also receive postcards good for 50% off the cost of their first dry cleaning order.

Local entrepreneurs Carl and Nora Robinson, the previous owners of Caffe Zingaro, will own and operate Seattle’s first Lapels Dry Cleaning store. “There are very few environmentally friendly dry cleaning operations in Seattle and Lapels Dry Cleaning fills an important need by providing an environmentally progressive alternative,” notes Carl Robinson. “We’re excited to be able to offer area residents the option of the most technically advanced, environmentally friendly dry cleaning service available at our new our Lapels Dry Cleaning Store, introducing on premise cleaning utilizing FIRBIMATIC’S Eco Green Saver machine.”

The Lapels Seattle store will offer environmentally safe ONE – HOUR dry cleaning on the premise on most garments, as well as VIP service utilizing a personalized laundry bag with the option of 24-hour drop off. Same day service will also be available with pick-up after 5 pm.

“We want to congratulate Carl and Nora on the Grand Opening of their new Lapels Dry Cleaning store, and we look forward to an ongoing relationship as we continue to provide guidance and support at the corporate level to help ensure the success of their new dry cleaning store,” remarked Lapels Dry Cleaning CEO Lawrence Friedman. “We’re also proud that their Seattle Lapels Dry Cleaning store will offer the most ecologically sophisticated dry cleaning process available, continuing to advance Lapels Dry Cleaning’s corporate goal of providing environmentally friendly service.”

FIRBIMATIC Saver – better for you, our employees, the earth AND better for your clothes
Utilizing odorless, ecological solvents the FIRBIMATIC Saver series is delicate on garments, minimizing the risk of shrinking, fading, and discoloring. It is designed to help cleaners lower their utility usage, and it also eliminates the production of hazardous waste since it doe not employ a still, unlike conventional dry cleaning systems.

The FIRBIMATIC Saver uses a high-tech filtration combination of nylon spinning disc filters and a special decanter with filtering powder to purify the solvent by accurately removing moisture, odors and fatty acids. Relevant savings in labor, electricity and maintenance costs can be obtained because the saver filtration combination doesn’t use conventional distillation and therefore doesn’t require an external steam supply for drying or supplementary heating coils.  It can also be equipped with an innovative air-cooled refrigeration system that requires no water connection at all, which means that during installation of the machine, only electric and air connections are required.

Lapels Dry Cleaning Community Commitment
Being a good neighbor isn’t just a slogan at Lapels Dry Cleaning, where community involvement is a tradition. Lapels Dry Cleaning proudly partners with the Big Brothers Big Sisters Foundation of Boston, Big Sisters of Rhode Island, and the American Red Cross.

A Rising Star
Lapels Dry Cleaning is ranked as one of the Top 10 fastest growing franchises in New England by the New England Franchise Association. In addition, the Lapels Dry Cleaning Franchise Program has made the ranking for the Top 30 Franchise Organizations based in New England.

Lapels Dry Cleaning has also been ranked in Entrepreneur’s 26th Annual “Franchise 500” as well as Entrepreneur’s “Top 50 New Franchises,” identifying Lapels Dry Cleaning as one of today’s top franchise opportunities. Entrepreneur’s “Franchise 500” is the best and most comprehensive rating of franchises in the world and is based on objective, quantifiable measures of a franchise operation.

Store Locations
Lapels Dry Cleaning has stores in Massachusetts (Abington, Bedford, Beverly, Boston-Charles River Park, Brighton, Concord, Dedham, Easton, Framingham, Halifax, Hanover, Marshfield, Newtonville, Norton, Randolph, Salem, Sudbury, Walpole, Westford, and Westwood); Rhode Island (Lincoln); Arizona (Peoria); California (Pomona and Poway); Florida (Orlando); New Hampshire (Hooksett); South Carolina (Carolina Forest and Myrtle Beach); Texas (Arlington, Garland, Granbury, Murphy, and Plano); Washington (Kirkland); and Washington, DC. Coming soon to Duluth, GA; Destin, FL; Boise, ID; Wilmington, MA; Edmond, OK and Bloomsburg, PA.

Lapels Dry Cleaning – Environmentally Friendly Cleaners
A full slate of services are offered at each Lapels Dry Cleaning store, including: same-day dry cleaning; shirt service; tailoring; shoe repair; wedding gown preservation; suede and leather processing; box storage and fur storage.

Lapels Dry Cleaning corporate offices are located at 962 Washington Street, Hanover, MA 02339.  To learn more about franchise opportunities with Lapels Dry Cleaning, call toll free (866) 695-2735 or email admin@lapelsdrycleaning.com. Additional information and up-to-date company news can also be found on the company’s Web site, www.lapelsdrycleaning.com.

A new, environmentally friendly Lapels Dry Cleaning Store opens in Seattle, WA. Grand Opening Celebration May 30.Read More