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USMMA’s Child Safety Open House Kicks Off Free Self-Defense Classes for the Community. Raised $500 for Random Smile Project of Bellingham.

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United States Mixed Martial Arts’ of Bellingham is committed to empowering families with information regarding child safety and protection. Their recent Child Safety Open House attracted over 175 attendees and served to kick-off a series of free self-defense classes for the community.

$500 in proceeds were raised from the sale of signed memorabilia from champion Mixed Martial Arts fighters were donated to Random Smile Project of Bellingham, a non-profit that provides temporary assistance to families and individuals going through tough circumstances.

Parents and guardians of approximately 100 children were pleased to have the opportunity to have their children fingerprinted for safety and identification at the Child Safety Open House. Along with the fingerprinting, Franklin Police DARE officers were on site to talk with kids and the Sutton and Bellingham Police offered K-9 demonstrations. Attendees also enjoyed Mixed Martial Arts self-defense demonstrations and Free Chair Massages.

“We had a terrific turnout and hope to turn this into an annual event,” noted Tom Hafers, owner of USMMA.

The first in the series of free self defense classes is a Rape Prevention & Self Defense class for teens and adults which will be held on April 18th at USMMA’s training facility located at 316 Hartford Avenue.

For more information about the free self-defense classes, visit the website at www.usmma.org or contact 508-966-5006.

About USMMA

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

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

About Whole Foods Market®
Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (www.wholefoodsmarket.com), a leader in the natural and organic foods industry and America’s first national certified organic grocer, was named “America’s Healthiest Grocery Store” in 2008 by Health magazine. The Whole Foods Market motto, “Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet”™ captures the company’s mission to find success in customer satisfaction and wellness, employee excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement. Thanks to its 53,000 Team Members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America by FORTUNE magazine for 12 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2008, the company had sales of $8 billion and currently has more than 275 stores in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods Market, Fresh & WildTM, and Harry’s Farmers Market® are trademarks owned by Whole Foods Market IP, LP.  Wild Oats® and Capers Community MarketTM are trademarks owned by Wild Marks, Inc.

About Random Smile Project

Random Smile, a grass-roots community non-profit organization located in Bellingham, Mass., offers temporary assistance to families and individuals going through tough circumstances. They also recognize the community’s “Unsung Heroes” and strive to get kids involved and engaged in helping their community and neighbors through community service. For more information, visit randomsmile.org or contact (508) 728-7850.

USMMA’s Child Safety Open House Kicks Off Free Self-Defense Classes for the Community. Raised $500 for Random Smile Project of Bellingham.Read More

Common HR mistakes addressed at Administrative Business Resources’s Webinar

FRAMINGHAM, MA …

Administrative Business Resources (ABR), a company that specializes helping human resource departments automate their services, recently hosted its first live Webinar with special guest, Frank Aubuchon, owner of Aubuchon Associates, an independent HR consulting firm.

The 30-minute Webinar, hosted by ABR President Sheldon Prenovitz, addressed “Common HR Mistakes” as part of Aubuchon’s presentation.

“These are challenging times for everyone, but particularly small businesses. This Webinar was kind of an HR 101 for the small business owner who due to size and budget constraints handles HR issues without the benefit of an HR staff,” said Prenovitz.

Held on March 18, here’s a snapshot of some of the “Common Mistakes” covered by Aubuchon during the presentation:

●        Failure to establish an effective sexual harassment policy

●        Failing to pay overtime to nonexempt employees

●        Failing to quickly discharge poor performing employees

●        Classifying employees as independent contractors

●        Being proactive in keeping your workforce union free

●        Not completing I-9 forms for new employees

“Having somebody of Frank’s caliber discuss these issues gave attendees a lot of information in a very short amount of time,” said Prenovitz. “He’s the level of guest we’re hoping to have for future Webinars.”

Prior to starting Aubuchon & Associates, Aubuchon was a regional director of human resources for a Fortune 1000 company. In addition, he’s also a former assistant vice president of Human Resources at Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts and has taught numerous courses on HR-related topics.

For those who would like to view the recorded version of the Webinar, please visit http://www.helloworld.com:80/global_frameset.aspx?target=myworld&uID=107105&section=show&recID=196574.

If you have questions or requests for upcoming Webinars, you can contact ABR by calling 617-747-3970 or by e-mail at info@abresources.com.

About Administrative Business Resources (ABR)

Administrative Business Resources (ABR) is a Payroll / HR technology company established to assist clients of all sizes with their Payroll / HR/Benefits integration and execution. ABR’s team of experts provides companies access to knowledge that would otherwise cost a substantial amount. This limitless resource of knowledge, combined with ABR’s online META Portal Technology, gives companies the ultimate control without a significant time and cost investment.  For more information on ABR, please visit www.abresourceshr.com.

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J.P. Licks Offers “Ice Cream for a Buck” on Sox Home Opening Day – Encourages Donations of New/Gently Used Baseball Equipment to Support Boys & Girls Club of Boston

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On Red Sox Home Opening Day, Monday, April 6th, J.P. Licks will offer “Ice Cream for a Buck” at all their stores to say “thanks” to both fans of their homemade ice cream and fans of the Sox.

Stop by any of J.P. Licks’ eight homemade ice cream and coffee cafés in and around the Boston area between noon and 9 p.m. on Red Sox Home Opening Day and get any ice cream or frozen yogurt for only $1 per scoop. At the same time, make a donation to help the Boys & Girls Clubs in the Boston area.

From April 6th to April 12th, all J.P. Licks stores will be collecting new or gently used baseball (and other sporting) equipment for the non-profit Boys & Girls Club of Boston. Don’t have baseball equipment? Donate new/gently used basketballs, soccer balls, dodge balls, Wiffle™ balls and bats, softballs, softball helmets, soccer shin guards, street hockey equipment, tennis rackets, tennis balls, jump ropes, double dutch ropes and/or hula hoops.

“The Boys & Girls Club of Boston is a terrific organization and we’re asking folks to support them by donating much needed sports equipment to any one of our stores during the week of April 6th,” noted Vince Petryk, owner of the eight J.P. Licks stores.

He continued, “We’re looking forward to another great Opening Day. Last year, the Sox won and we scooped over 26,000 servings of ice cream to say Thank You to our customers. Baseball and ice cream simply go together. It’s a great way to start the season.”

Gear up for the season and try one of these special flavors in the spirit of the Sox: Rice DICE Kream, Green Monster Tea, One Sweet World Series, Peanut Beckett and Jelly, Cherry Ortiz, Very Berry Ellsbury Lowfat Yogurt and Pedroia’s Passion Fruit Sorbet.

Kids of all ages will enjoy J.P. Licks’ tribute “Slider Sundae”, made with a choice of ice cream and topping and served in a Red Sox logo cap. Or bring home a Baseball pie made with vanilla ice cream in a graham cracker shell with caramel complete with red stitching!

To locate a store, visit jplicks.com.

The Boys & Girls Club of Boston – Invest in a Child, Inspire a Future

The Boys & Girls Club mission is to help young people, especially those who need it most, build strong character and realize their full potential as responsible citizens and leaders. The Boys & Girls Club does this by providing: a safe haven filled with hope and opportunity; ongoing relationships with caring adults and life-enhancing programs. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston is a not-for-profit organization and a local affiliate of Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

They are located at 50 Congress Street, Suite 730, Boston, MA 02109. For more information, visit www.bgcb.org.

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.

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

J.P. Licks Offers “Ice Cream for a Buck” on Sox Home Opening Day – Encourages Donations of New/Gently Used Baseball Equipment to Support Boys & Girls Club of BostonRead More

Is your line of credit next in your bank’s line of fire? …TBHR offers some precautionary tips for businesses with lines of credit.

William Rodgers
William Rodgers

BOSTON, MASS.

 

Business owners take out lines of credit for any number of reasons – to finance operations, fund the start-up of special projects, buy equipment, embark on an advertising campaign or even to act as a rainy day fund.

In today’s turbulent economic climate, there have been cases of banks calling business owners’ lines of credit without advance notice and, in many instances, without apparent justification. As counsel to many businesses as part of its corporate law practice, Boston-based Tarlow Breed Hart & Rodgers, P.C. has some pointers for business owners with on-demand lines of credit.  

“With the way things are today, it’s quite possible that a bank could call in a customer’s line of credit at any given time. While that might be unrelated to anything the borrower has or hasn’t done, business owners can put themselves on better ground with lenders,” said Bill Rodgers, a member of TBHR.

For starters, Rodgers suggests that businesses should, at all times, maintain compliance with the terms of the line of credit and the loan requirements. That not only means making payments on time, but also keeping up with timely reporting and observing all covenants of the loan.

“You also want to keep an open line of communication with your lender. If you’re experiencing some difficulty or if there’s a development at your business that could affect your line of credit, tell the bank sooner rather than later.  Banks do not like surprises, particularly in challenging economic times. By communicating forthrightly and regularly, you build goodwill that could save your line of credit down the road,” said Rodgers.

“The sad reality is that there are times the bank’s decision to call your line of credit has nothing to do with your performance as a customer and is a reflection of what’s going on internally with the lender or externally in the customer’s industry,” said Rodgers. “That’s why having a contingency plan in place before the bank calls your line of credit is critical.”

Of course, doing your due diligence on a lender prior to taking out a line of credit can also better insulate business owners from having a banker make a surprise demand for payment of a line of credit. Some guidelines business owners can follow in selecting a lender include:

●        Seeking out lenders who have an appetite for your industry  (e.g. a lender who specializes in loans for construction companies is less likely to get jittery by turns in the real estate market).

●        Seeking the counsel of financial intermediaries – working with somebody who knows the landscape and speaks the language of lenders can help prevent you from making a critical mistake. They can also tell you which institutions are giving out lines of credit at the moment.

●        Looking to community banks – it was the larger banks that were hit hardest by the recent economic downturn.

●        Being sure to have your own house in order – including having up to date financial statements and a current business plan in place.

“The current economic landscape has everybody—businesses and lenders—a little anxious.  By doing your homework first and by proactively working with your lender, you can better protect your business against the unwelcome payment demand when you’ve got no way to pay,” said Rodgers.

About 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 and business transactions, litigation and dispute resolution, estate planning, taxation, real estate, municipal law, and hospitality 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.

Is your line of credit next in your bank’s line of fire? …TBHR offers some precautionary tips for businesses with lines of credit.Read More

Effective storage solutions for your garage…DirectBuy locations in and around Chicago provide tips on garage organization

CHICAGO, GURNEE, HOFFMAN ESTATES, NAPERVILLE, TINLEY PARK, IL …

As you’re tripping over paint cans and bumping into old bicycles, you may not realize that your garage could be the most functional space in the house. After all, what other room can serve as workshop, potting shed, storage locker, recycling plant, and carport all at once? A garage is also the best place to store many items that are not used on a daily basis such as holiday decorations, gardening supplies, tools and anything else that clutters the home.

Creating effective storage in the garage can be done with a bit of ingenuity and planning.  The five DirectBuy clubs of greater Chicago— DirectBuy of Chicago North at 6325 North Avondale, DirectBuy of Gurnee, DirectBuy of DuPage County in Naperville, DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates and DirectBuy of Tinley Park —offer these helpful hints on creating usable working space in your garage.

§         When in doubt, throw it out … Clutter can take over a garage – Before you plan your storage solutions, sort through the clutter — have a garage sale, give it to charity or truly just throw it out.

§         Get organized …  Cut down on clutter and get your garage organized by installing garage cabinets.  A new set of cabinets will clear the floor of tools, supplies and athletic equipment and open new space for perhaps a workshop or potting shed. Cabinets also work well for protecting their contents from moisture and dust.

§         Maximize your space … Maximize available space in your garage by using narrow storage shelves or wall-mounted racks that can stack up neatly against the walls and leave room for cars.

§         Smart labeling … Another smart idea is to mark storage bins so they are easy to find or use clear plastic storage boxes to immediately see what you are looking for.  No more wasted time searching through an unorganized mess!

“Installing effective storage solutions in your garage means you have quickly created a new room in your home.  In a short amount of time and with little investment, homeowners can create a workshop, athletic storage system, potting shed, or any other working solution they may need or imagine,” said Dave Kushner, owner of DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates. “DirectBuy also gives members the opportunity to save a lot of money by buying storage solutions for their garage, directly from the manufacturer.”

DirectBuy carries a wide selection of garage cabinets to help you cut-down on clutter and get organized. A one-stop shop for all your home building and home remodeling projects, DirectBuy offers industrial quality and strength garage cabinets that can hold and organize a variety of items that would normally clutter your garage. These garage storage cabinets make a great addition to your home garage or auto shop business storing assorted parts, tools and chemicals, which can pose a threat when simply lying around.

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 five convenient locations in the greater Chicago area (Chicago, Gurnee, 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 five 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 five DirectBuy clubs serving the greater Chicago area are: DirectBuy of Gurnee, 4081 Ryan Rd. #107, Gurnee, IL; 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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Dating Expert Shares 5 Tips for Bringing Your Date to a Work Event

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DATELINE: NORWELL, MA…There’s a swanky work event coming up and the boss has made it clear that attendance is mandatory. Most of your colleagues and clients who will be attending it are married. No one expects you to fly solo, so bringing a date to the big event is imperative.

The challenge is whether or not your date is up to it. First impressions are everything, and in the work realm, who you bring as a date to an event can have lasting repercussions on your career.

Dating expert Paul A. Falzone, CEO of The Right One and Together Dating, one of the world’s largest brick-and-mortar dating services with more than 60 offices nationwide, has been helping singles maneuver the dating cubicles for decades.

Falzone shares five tips for bringing a date to a work event:

· Invite your date well ahead of time to the event to ensure that your date is not only available, but that s/he has enough time to prepare for the event. Advanced planning gives your date plenty of time for getting a haircut, buying a dress, renting a tux and so on. At the very least, you should ask a week in advance.

· Make sure your date has all the details of the event. S/he will need to know whether the affair is black tie or a more casual event in order to wear the proper attire. You should also inform her/him of where and when it will take place. Is it an awards ceremony? Will there be a four course meal or simply hors d’oeuvres? Will there be dancing or is it more of a networking event? What will be expected of her/him?

· Brief your date on the “who’s who” of the event. Be sure s/he knows (and understands the importance of) the “players” at the event such as C-level executives, key clients and anyone else you need to make a good impression upon.

· Above all, choose your date carefully. If you know that s/he is extremely uncomfortable in social situations or tends to imbibe a little too much, you may want to reconsider asking her/him to accompany you to a work event.

· Don’t invite a date out of guilt. So, you really like this guy you’re dating, but you just know he would not be a good fit for the event. Listen to your instincts. You know your boss, colleagues and clients better than he does and there are times when it’s best to keep business and your personal life separate. First impressions count, especially in the corporate world.

“Who you bring as a date to a work event reflects on you. You may be dating the sweetest person on earth, but if they have trouble stopping at one glass of wine and end up getting drunk, it’s going to embarrass you and your company and at the very least, your sound judgment will be questioned,” said Falzone.

He continued, “Trust your own judgment. If you have confidence in your date and have covered all the bases by asking her/him in advance and briefing her/him about the event, you should be able to rest easy.”

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); 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).

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Executive Director of Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation Receives 2 Awards

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Maryellen Maguire-Eisen, RN, MSN, executive director of the Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation, (Hingham, MA) and Mary Mills Barrow, co-founder of Coolibar, have been awarded the American Academy of Dermatology’s prestigious Gold Triangle Award for their “Pretty Prom: Your Skin is Pretty Too” and “Lake Vacation” books.

Maguire-Eisen and Barrow wrote the two books to empower adolescents with up to date and reliable information about the dangers of overexposure to ultraviolet radiation and to offer positive, easy action steps for sun protection. The pair wrote the books as part of the SunAWARE program, that provides information on sun protection and early detection of skin cancer.

The award was presented to the authors at the American Academy of Dermatology 67th Annual Convention held in San Francisco on March 6th.

“Both Coolibar and the Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation are dedicated to helping young adults establish healthy, sun-safe behavior early in life,” said Barrow. “And we’re thrilled that our books are being recognized as effective resources for adolescents across the country.”

“We’re honored that our books have received the Gold Triangle designation. Melanoma prevention is a cause in which we are both very passionate. We must do everything we can to educate and empower young people about the dangers of UV radiation because through knowledge and prevention, we can save lives,” said Maguire-Eisen.

During the convention, Maguire-Eisen was honored with a second award, the President’s Award, given by the Dermatology Nurses Association (DNA) for exceptional dedication and service to the DNA. Maguire-Eisen was selected among 4,000 DNA members by Karrie Fairbrother, RN, BSN, DNC, president of the DNA.

Maguire-Eisen continued, “I’d also like to thank the DNA for honoring me with the President’s Award. It was quite a surprise and I’m flattered to have been recognized for my contributions to the organization.”

Maguire-Eisen who is a resident of Hingham, was also recently nominated for the town’s “Citizen of the Year” award.

About the Books

Pretty Prom: Your Skin is Pretty Too tells the story of Katie who finds out the sad facts of tanning salons while getting ready for prom night. It is written for preteens and teens to educate them about premature aging and skin cancers caused by tanning. Lake Vacation is for children ages 6-10 and is the story of Hunter and Caitlin learning the importance of sun protection while enjoying the outdoors. This book teaches the five easy steps of being SunAWARE. The Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation recently distributed $5,000 worth of these two books to the DNA for educational purposes. Funds to do so were provided from the Ride for Melanoma event that was held in June 2008. Both books are available for purchase at www.coolibar.com.

Each year, the Gold Triangle Awards recognize and honor media, industry, health community organizations, public service and individual efforts that further understanding of dermatologic issues and encourage healthy behaviors in the care of the skin, hair and nails. This year marks the 12th Annual Gold Triangle Awards. For more information visit http://www.aad.org.

About Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation

The Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation, located in Hingham, Mass., is a non-profit educational foundation established in 2003 to deliver a comprehensive sun safety and melanoma awareness program, free of charge, to school children in Massachusetts. The Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation was created to aggressively focus attention on the need to teach “prevention” or “sun protection” to children and their caregivers. The foundation’s SunAWARE School Program is delivered to children in elementary and secondary schools in Massachusetts For more information, contact 781-875-1SPF (1773) or visit www.melanomaprevention.org.

About Coolibar

Based in Minneapolis, Coolibar was founded in 2001 to bring Australia’s world-leading approaches to sun protection to the American market. Now, Coolibar is the most recommended and tested sun protective clothing company in the United States. Dedicated to the highest quality sun protective clothing, hats and accessories, Coolibar guarantees 50+ UPF ratings for their products’ entire life cycles. The company has extensively redesigned sun protective clothing styles to meet the tastes and needs of active, fashion- and health-conscious American families. For information about Coolibar, go to www.coolibar.com or call 1-800-926-6509.

Executive Director of Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation Receives 2 AwardsRead More

Green with envy about “green” recognition…Drysdale’s All-Natural Carpet Care recognized by green authorities.

PEABODY, MA…

According to Mark Dullea, owner of Drysdale’s All-Natural Carpet Care, it’s not so easy being green. After much trial and error, he perfected a chemical-free way to clean rugs and carpeting. That effort has been recognized by leading mainstream and green publications and authorities.

In fact, 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.

“When you think of carpet cleaning, environmentally friendly doesn’t exactly come to mind. You think of large machines with chemicals and steam. That’s why it’s incredibly rewarding to be recognized by the National Green Pages and mentioned in Build a Green Small Business, said Dullea. “That recognition takes on even more weight when you consider that despite having two college degrees I didn’t know a thing about running a carpet cleaning business when I started Drysdale’s back in 1990.”

In addition to being chemical free, Drysdales’ employs a unique odorless,
low-moisture, process for cleaning rugs and carpets. This not only is better for the environment, but avoids potential damage to carpeting, carpet
pads, and to wood floors that can occur with “splash and dash” steam cleaners. Not to mention saving its customers hours, even days’ worth of wet carpeting.

“I think that’s the real beauty of what we offer. We not only clean rugs and carpets in an environmentally safer way, but we actually clean them better with less inconvenience to our customers,” said Dullea.

Besides cleaning carpets, Drysdale’s utilizes it’s natural cleaning process for:

●        Upholstery cleaning

●        Cleaning of tile & grout floors

●        Sterilizing of mattresses through the use of high-pressure, 300 degree
live steam (enough heat to destroy dust mite allergen)

●        Dustless sanding & refinishing of wood floors.

Perhaps the only real formula Dullea uses for his business is the formula for the business itself. For just $1995, Drysdale will provide prospective owners the equipment, supplies, training materials and the free backup technical and business assistance needed to run a successful carpet cleaning business. There are no franchise fees, no royalties and no territories. So, for less than $2,000, a budding entrepreneur can have their own green, award-winning carpet cleaning business and keep 100 percent of their earnings.

“The best part about this opportunity is you can come from any walk of life and do this business and make it fit your lifestyle. You can clean the carpets yourself or hire staff. You can be the guy recently out of work who can’t afford a prolonged job search and just wants an income. You can be just out of school or a single parent who can only work while the kids are at school. Or you can merely be the person who’s tired of working for other people and wants to run his or her own show. This is a great opportunity to start a business with a proven niche and track record for success for minimal dollars,” said Dullea.

For more information on  Drysdale’s All-Natural Carpet Care, please visit www.drysdales123.com. If you would like own and run your own green, carpet cleaning business, please visit www.carpet-cleaning-business.com or contact Mark Dullea at 617-242-9657 or markd@cybercom.net.

About Drysdale’s All-Natural Carpet Care

Drysdale’s All-Natural Carpet 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 All-Natural Carpet Care 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 All-Natural Carpet Care and 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.

Green with envy about “green” recognition…Drysdale’s All-Natural Carpet Care recognized by green authorities.Read More

Brockton’s Mayor Harrington Participates in “Mayors For Meals” National Initiative

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Brockton Mayor James Harrington was among more than 1,000 mayors across the country to support the Meals On Wheels programs in their cities by delivering meals to seniors on March 18th in what is known as “Mayors For Meals” Day. Mayor Harrington and OCES Assistant Director Timothy Valentine and Nutrition Director Shawn Smith delivered the noontime meals to 15 Meals On Wheels clients at their homes last week.

The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) has designated March for their annual national campaign known as “March For Meals”. Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) of Brockton participates in this campaign each year, which is designed to increase public awareness, recruit new volunteers and encourage local fundraising.

“We have many seniors in Brockton who are unable to get to the grocery store or to one of our congregate meal sites and who otherwise would not get a nutritious daily meal. The Meals On Wheels program is absolutely essential to them,” noted OCES Executive Director Diana DiGiorgi.

The Meals On Wheels program serves Brockton residents age 60 and over, as well as disabled residents under 60. Both the Meals On Wheels program and the congregate meal sites rely on help from volunteers. Meals On Wheels currently needs volunteer drivers to deliver meals to elders throughout the Brockton area. Volunteer drivers typically deliver 15-20 meals a day, between 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and are reimbursed for mileage. Volunteers are needed Monday through Friday, yet they may help out for any number of days per week that they desire.

Volunteers are also needed to set up, bag and distribute meals at the Belair, Manning, Caffrey and Campello congregate meal sites.

Anyone who is interested in volunteering at least two hours per week as a Meals On Wheels driver or as a helper at one of the congregate meal sites, contact Shawn Smith, Nutrition Director at OCES at (508) 584-1561.

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 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

Brockton’s Mayor Harrington Participates in “Mayors For Meals” National InitiativeRead More