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Why you can’t bank on consolidating your loans.

MIDDLEBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS…

In tough economic times, many small businesses are looking to consolidate loans and credit card payments. While taking out a single line of credit and consolidating other debts might sound like a good strategy in theory, it puts all your debt with one lender. According to Itamar Chalif, president of Atlantic Capital Solutions, it’s a strategy that can backfire in a major way.

Atlantic Capital Solutions, based in Middleboro, Massachusetts, helps small businesses across the country find funding and lines of credit to buy or lease equipment, expand, or make other improvements. Often times, those businesses turn to ACS after a bad experience with a lender. In a number of cases, those lenders have been institutions the business had used for years.

Says Chalif, “We’ve heard some pretty horrible stories recently. One involved a business owner who had already made 24 payments on a $52,000 loan when he inquired if he could rewrite the loan to take advantage of lower interests rates. The bank offered to rewrite the loan if he put $5,500 towards the principle. The business owner declined and thought nothing more of it. The next day, he received an e-mail from the bank requesting the balance of his loan, $14,000, be paid off upon receipt. This was after the lender drew $20,000 out of his personal and business accounts. [after 24 payments, the balance on the loan was $37,000]. Adding insult to injury, he had to pay late fees on all the checks that were written and bounced because he did not know the bank depleted his accounts until it was too late.”

Adds Chalif, “Another story that’s equally disturbing involves a business owner who had been in business for more than 20 years, with total annual sales exceeding $3 million. He had excellent credit, excellent cash flow and a great net worth. For the past six years he had a $250,000 unsecured line of credit with a local bank. One day his banker invited him in and said ‘you are one of our best clients, you have been paying your loan on time, you cycle over $3 million a year through our bank and we really appreciate your business. However you have two choices: (1) provide us with collateral of $250,000 or (2) pay off your line of credit.’ The bank wasn’t completely cold-hearted. It did give him 45 days to pay off the line of credit.”

Tales like these aren’t designed to keep people from seeking lines of credit. Far from it. Says Chalif, “The idea is to diversify so that if you should somehow fall prey to one of these lenders, it doesn’t wipe out your bank accounts or, worse, put you out of business.”

To that end, ACS offers small businesses a number of solutions to getting financing and lines of credit, including:

●        New and used equipment leasing/financing

●        Small Business Administration (SBA) options

●        Non SBA solutions for start-up businesses

●        Commercial mortgages

●        Terminal Rental Adjustment Clause (TRAC) leases

●        Lines of credit

●        Working capital loans

●        Business acquisitions

●        Factoring (accounts receivable funding)

Offering professional, one-on-one service, ACS helps small businesses sift through the fine print that goes along with many financing options so that the best interest of the business owner is protected.

Based in Middleboro, Massachusetts, ACS works with clients locally and nationally, including:

●        Business owners, controllers, CFOs and other decision-makers.

●        Entrepreneurs contemplating the purchase of a business, franchise or start-up.

●        Equipment vendors

For more information about Atlantic Capital Solutions, Inc. and its range of services, you can visit http://www.AtlanticCapitalSolutions.com or call 508-718-5520 to set up a complimentary initial consultation.

About Atlantic Capital Solutions

Atlantic Capital Solutions has helped business owners, entrepreneurs, CFOs and other decision-makers find the right financing option for their organization. ACS works with a broad spectrum of lenders and institutions and is therefore able to offer a variety of customized programs for its clients, including: new and used equipment leasing/financing; commercial mortgages; Terminal Rental Adjustment Clause (TRAC) leases; lines of credit; working capital loans; business acquisitions; and more. For more information about Atlantic Capital Solutions and its range of services, you can visit http://www.AtlanticCapitalSolutions.com or call 508-718-5520 to set up a complimentary initial consultation.

Why you can’t bank on consolidating your loans.Read More

Destined for crate-ness! Boston Pack and Ship creates niche with customized crates for smaller shipments.

BRAINTREE, MA…

There’s the old expression “good things come in small packages”. At Boston Pack and Ship, a small load packing and shipping specialist for the past two decades, “good things happen with small shipments. Particularly when it comes to building customized crates for awkward-sized items.

“Most manufacturers ship items in bulk, even if it’s 1,000-lb. item. Very rarely do you see a shipment of one or two pieces. So, when companies have one or two items of that size to be shipped, it requires a customized crate to be built. That’s our forte,” said Joe Fell, co-owner of Boston Pack and Ship.

Building the crate is sometimes only half the job. For larger, more awkward-sized items, an onsite trip is required to measure the piece to be shipped to give a more accurate estimate. In most cases, Boston Pack and Ship’s staff will pick up the item for shipping and bring it back to the warehouse to build the crate.

“We build all our customized crates on site here in our workshop. Many times, the Boston Pack and Ship pick-up crew are the ones building the crate. That can make a big difference because the person building the crate has a better idea of the fragility of the shipment,” adds Fell.

For more fragile items, Boston Pack and Ship employs foam-in-place technology or closed cell foam to keep the item from moving within the crate during shipping. These technologies essentially create a casing for the item being shipped, which can be used again and again should the item need to be re-shipped to multiple locations.

Boston Pack and Ship serves both commercial and residential customers. Products being shipped can range from medical equipment and computer servers to delicate artwork and grandfather clocks. Typically, these items are of high monetary and/or sentimental value with a timely arrival being every bit as important as a safe arrival. Case in point, Boston Pack and Ship built a custom crate for a local artist’s large iron sculpture of an eagle commemorating the crash of Flight 93 on Sept 11.

Boston Pack and Ship offers multiple U.S. shipping options including ground and air delivery to a terminal for pickup or inside delivery. International options include air or ocean with door-to-door or door-to-port delivery. Full declared value is available on both domestic and international shipments. Pick-up of items to be packed and shipped for delivery is made by appointment.

For more information on the breadth of Boston Pack and Ship’s services, 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

Formerly known as The Packaging Store and now repackaged as Boston Pack and Ship, these small load specialists have 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.

 

Destined for crate-ness! Boston Pack and Ship creates niche with customized crates for smaller shipments.Read More

The Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield to Honor Frank and Heather Hynes at Gala

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The Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield will honor former State Representative Frank Hynes and his wife Heather at their annual Gala and Auction which will be held on March 7, 2009 at the Indian Pond Country Club in Kingston.

Frank Hynes served as State Representative for the 4th Plymouth District serving the towns of Marshfield and Scituate for 26 years and 13 terms. He served on the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. Mr. Hynes is a former member of the Plymouth County Advisory Board and the Marshfield Advisory Board and served on the Board of Selectmen from 1980 to1983. Many folks are familiar with his weekly cable access program “Open House with Representative Hynes” that aired in Marshfield and Scituate. Both the Massachusetts Nurses Association as well as the Massachusetts Municipal Association have honored him as “Legislator of the Year”.

Mr. and Mrs. Hynes will be honored by the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield for their support of and dedication to the Boys and Girls Club and families in the area.

Approximately 350 people are expected to attend this year’s dazzling Gala and Auction which celebrates the fifth anniversary of the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield and also serves as a major fundraiser. At last year’s Evening Under the Stars Gala and Auction, more than $40,000 was raised in support of programs for more than 4,000 youths in the area.

The evening’s events include cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, entertainment, a silent auction and a live auction.

“We can’t say enough about Frank Hynes’ work on Capitol Hill and what he has done for the Boys and Girls Club through his leadership on the Ways and Means Committee. We’re privileged to have Frank and Heather as part of our Board of Directors and are pleased to be able honor them at our Gala in March,” noted Greg Jackson, Executive Director of Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield.

For more information about the Gala and Auction or to purchase tickets, visit the website www.marshfieldboysandgirlsclub.com or contact Shawn Costa, Director of Development at the club (781) 834-CLUB (2582).

About the Boys and Girls Club

The Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield’s purpose is to establish a safe haven for recreation, which includes a variety of supervised activities for greater than 4,000 youth (between the ages of 6 to 18 years old) within the town. 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 website at MarshfieldBoysAndGirlsClub.com or write to the club at P.O. Box 311, Marshfield, MA 02050.

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DirectBuy of Buffalo hires Don Zappia as marketing manager

CHEEKTOWAGA, NY…

DirectBuy of Buffalo, the leading members-only showroom and home design center that offers merchandise at manufacturer-direct prices, recently hired Don Zappia as a marketing manager.

Zappia most recently worked for a networking marketing firm in Las Vegas, Nevada. Prior to that he owned and operated Simme’s Martini Bar & Restaurant in Lancaster, New York. Zappia attended Medaille College in Buffalo.

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

As a marketing manager, Zappia’s responsibilities include oversight of the phone room marketing efforts, lead generation and lead follow up.

“DirectBuy brings an entirely new way to shop for thousands of people and I’m extremely excited to help more people discover the unique opportunity DirectBuy offers,” said Zappia, a Buffalo resident. “Not only do we help people save, but this is a really fun place to work. Mark is a great boss and the people here really do make it a pleasure to come to work everyday.”

Married, Zappia resides in Amherst with his wife Lori. 

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 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 showrooms 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.

 

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DirectBuy of Greater Vancouver nominated for Tri-Cities Chamber’s business excellence award.

VANCOUVER, COQUITLAM, VICTORIA, AND OKANAGAN, BC…

In offering consumers an entirely new way to shop by buying directly from the manufacturers and their authorized suppliers, DirectBuy of Greater Vancouver strives for excellence. Recently, the Tri Cities Chamber of Commerce acknowledged that effort with DirectBuy of Greater Vancouver’s nomination for its business excellence award.

DirectBuy of Greater Vancouver was nominated in the Business of the Year category. The criteria for that category is:

  • A Tri-Cities business employing 35 or more;
  • has made an outstanding contribution in economic development, innovation and community services;
  • displays a positive social conscience;
  • and whose key figures are leaders in the business community.

“There are many wonderful businesses in the Tri-Cities community doing phenomenal things. I know it sounds like a cliché, but being nominated is an honor unto itself,” said Peter Ruetz, owner of DirectBuy of Greater Vancouver.

“DirectBuy of Greater Vancouver has been a leader not only in business, but in the Tri-Cities communities of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody. In particular, their work with the SHARE program to help physically and mentally challenged individuals assimilate into the workplace has been exemplary. They are a most worthy nominee for the business excellence award,” said Jill Cook, executive director of the Tri Cities Chamber.

Winners of the Business Excellence Awards will be announced on Thursday, January 31 at Westwood Plateau Golf and Country Club. The Business Excellence awards other categories include: Outstanding Small Business of the Year, Legacy Leadership, Newsmaker of the Year, Business Person of the Year and Innovative Spirit.

For more information, people can contact the Tri Cities Chamber of Commerce at 604-464-2716 or by e-mail at info@tricitieschamber.com.

Since 1971, DirectBuy franchises 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 and their authorized suppliers. In addition, DirectBuy also offers members a Rolodex of installers, many of who are DirectBuy members, who can help members create their dream kitchen, bathroom or any other room in the house.

With four convenient locations in the greater Vancouver area (Victoria, Vancouver, Coquitlam, and Kelowna), 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, visit www.DirectBuyBC.ca. 

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 500 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 Vancouver area since 1997. 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 four DirectBuy showrooms serving the greater Vancouver 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 contacting DirectBuy at 604-552-5255, or visiting www.DirectBuyBC.ca. 

Locations of the four DirectBuy showrooms serving the greater Vancouver area are: DirectBuy of Vancouver, 2659 Lillooet St., Vancouver, British Columbia V5M 4P7; DirectBuy of Greater Vancouver, 91 Golden Drive Unit #1, Coquitlam, British Columbia V3K 6R2; DirectBuy of Central Okanagan, #5 2260 Hunter Rd., Kelowna, British Columbia V1X 7J8; and DirectBuy of Greater Victoria, 350B Bay Street, Victoria, British Columbia V8T 1P7.

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

DirectBuy of Greater Vancouver nominated for Tri-Cities Chamber’s business excellence award.Read More

DirectBuy offers gemstones, jewelry for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries and other special occasion gifts.

MERRILLVILLE, IN…

When you think of DirectBuy, most people think of home improvement projects and big-time savings for members by enabling them to buy directly from manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. What’s not as well known is the variety of items members can buy from more than 700 (500 for Canada) top brands. That long list includes gemstones and jewelry, an item of interest for many consumers around Valentine’s Day, anniversaries and birthdays.

“The beauty of gemstones is not just in how nice they look, but what the stones symbolize. For example, garnet is the birthstone for January and for second anniversaries and represents strength and vitality. So, even if you don’t know much about jewelry, you can select a gemstone as a gift based on its meaning and the recipient will be touched by both how it looks and the thought behind it,” said Sara Shragal, of DirectBuy.

Some of the more popular gemstones, and their corresponding meanings, include:

  • Emerald – green, birthstone of May and the 20th anniversary gem; represents serenity.
  •  Diamond, colorless or pale, the birthstone of April; represents courage and true love.
  • Sapphire, available in any color (red with deep blue is most popular), the birthstone of September; represents peace and happiness.
  • Ruby, red, the birthstone of July; represents love and wisdom.
  • Pearl, white with iridescent pink, but available in a variety of colors; birthstone of June and the 12th and 30th anniversary gem, represents modesty.
  •  Aquamarine, medium blue with a touch of green, the birthstone of March; represents trust, harmony and friendship.

In addition to gemstones, DirectBuy also carries a variety of jewelry, ranging from high-end and everyday watches to engagement rings, lockets to bracelets.

“We’ve earned our reputation for helping people build the homes of their dreams at low, insider prices. With our selection of gemstones, we can make birthdays, anniversaries and, yes, Valentine’s Day a special memory with our gemstone and jewelry selections,” adds Shragal.

In addition to fine gems and jewelry, DirectBuy offers everything you might possibly want to give for a present at prices direct from the manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. If you do need some assistance in selecting a gift, DirectBuy employs product specialists and designers, who are at your service.

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

About DirectBuy

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

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

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Boot Camp for New Dads Advises Parents of 19 Essential Items for the Hospital

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When your baby’s birth is imminent and you are rushing to get to the hospital, it’s very likely that you’ll forget something. Being prepared beforehand is key and one of the best ways to start preparing is by making a list.

Greg Bishop, founder of Boot Camp for New Dads, a non-profit orientation program for fathers-to-be, operating in more than 260 hospitals, clinics, schools, fire stations and churches around North America and internationally, and author of two books on fathering, advises parents who are expecting to prepare a list of items to bring to the hospital, and keep it with the hospital bag to double check before heading out.

Below, Bishop shares the “19 Essential Items” that are listed in his most recent book Crash Course for New Dads: Tools, Checklists and Cheat Sheets:

1. A folder containing important documents including insurance cards, pre-admission forms, birth plan (two or three copies), etc.

2. Baby book (many nurseries will put your baby’s footprint in the book).

3. A watch with a second hand or digital readout.

4. Change of clothes and pajamas for mom (and dad, if staying overnight)

5. Warm shirt because hospital rooms are kept cool.

6. Basic toiletries such as a toothbrush, shaver, shampoo and deodorant.

7. Comfortable shoes, as you may do a lot of walking.

8. Something to read to mom.

9. CD, iPod or other music player with mom’s favorite music.

10. Pain-easing tools recommended at your birthing classes such as tennis balls, hot or cold packs, massagers, lotion, etc.

11. A bathing suit for dad to help mom take a shower which eases labor pains.

12. Something to eat and drink such as sandwich or power bars and juice, in a small cooler. Pack snacks for both of you for after the birth.

13. Cash to have on hand.

14. Pen and pad of paper.

15. Camera (photos and/or video), with extra film, battery, etc.

16. Address book and/or a list of phone numbers to announce birth.

17. Cell phone or calling card.

18. Champagne to celebrate. (Put your name on it and ask a nurse to store it in the fridge.)

19. Childbirth Coaching Guide from Crash Course for New Dads.

According to Bishop, “When you’re trying to get out the door and to the hospital, it’s guaranteed that you’ll forget one or more important items. Being prepared ahead of time is half the battle. In addition to considering our list of 19 Essential Items, expectant parents should talk to staff at the hospital; other attendees in birthing classes or someone they know who recently delivered a baby to get even more ideas for their list. Time is of the essence and you don’t want to have to drop mom at the hospital then rush back home to retrieve insurance papers or something else you must have. Every moment counts.”

Tips, Advice, Instructions and more

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

New Dads Learn What to Expect at Boot Camp Workshops

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

Boot Camp for New Dads

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

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

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

National and International Locations

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

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South Shore Skin Center’s Dermatologists Offer Insight on Signs of Stress

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With the holidays over, the bills rolling in and a bleak economic forecast for 2009, stress levels are running high.

Although you may believe you’ve hidden your stress well, signs of stress can be exhibited in your skin.

According to Dr. Richard Eisen, a dermatologist at South Shore Skin Center, “Stress affects your hormones, elevating Cortisol levels which increase oil levels in your skin. Stress will aggravate skin conditions such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. Yet, it can also affect your nails and cause your hair to fall out.”

There are two kinds of stress. Emotional stress pertains to the stress that goes along with stock market losses; the loss of a job or the loss of a loved one. Physical stress pertains to stress on the body due to pregnancy, illness or an operation. Both types of stress can affect your skin, nails and hair.

Dr. Eisen, along with dermatologist Dr. Ramzi Saad of South Shore Skin Center provide insight on how stress affects the skin:

For those who are prone to acne, the elevated levels of Cortisol will lead to increase in acne outbreaks. With more outbreaks, people are less confident and often have lower self esteem. This creates a negative feedback loop as they become stressed about their acne as well as everything else.

In extreme forms of stress and emotional upheaval, some people with acne try to reduce their acne by picking and scratching at it. This is actually a condition called acne excoriée. The picking and scratching of acne can lead to infection and scarring. In this case, it’s important that the person with acne excoriée see a dermatologist for treatment.

Other skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and itching are worsened by stress and breakouts will be more severe and more frequent. When a person is stressed, s/he has less of a threshold of pain for the itching and scratches even more. Yet, even those who don’t have a skin condition, may scratch when they are under stress. Some people become itchy and scratch so much that they leave sores. This is a concern if it is ongoing, and should be evaluated.

Some people who are stressed will pick at their cuticles which damages the nail matrix and leads to ridges in the nails. Picking at the cuticles is known as a “habit tic”. It causes damage to the growing part of nail, resulting in ridges in the nail that may take up to a year to grow out. If a stressed person keeps picking at her/his cuticles, s/he will end up with permanent nail changes, and ridges, that can’t be reversed.

Stress will also show in your face. From dark circles under the eyes to frowning and furrowing of the brow. More sleep will help to remedy the dark circles, but frowning and brow furrowing can lead to deep lines which are more noticeable. Botox can relax the muscle used to frown and furrow the brow and stop the manifestation of stress.

Under severe emotional stress such as the loss of job, the hormonal changes ensued can affect the hair cycle. When the hair cycle is affected, more hair will be in the “resting phase” as opposed to the “growing phase”. Typically 10-15 percent of hair is in the resting phase normally, which means 50-100 hairs per day will be shed without shampooing and 100-150 hairs will be shed with shampooing.

Both emotional stress and physical stress (from pregnancy) will cause more hair to be in the resting phase, which is a condition called “telogen effluvium”. When there is an excess of resting hairs, the stressed person will lose a noticeable amount (sometimes in clumps) of 200 or more hairs per day. Typically, the stress cycle is six months long before the stressed person will begin to see hair growing back.

Drs. Eisen and Saad offer several tips to help combat stress exhibited in the skin:

· Try to eat well. Don’t skip meals or skimp on nutritious foods. Poor diet will only increase symptoms of stress.

· Try to get enough sleep.

· Try to exercise on a regular basis, at least three times a week. A brisk 20 to 30 minute walk can be beneficial and doesn’t require special equipment or a gym membership.

“Individuals who are experiencing more frequent acne outbreaks, acne excoriée or who have eczema, psoriasis or another skin concern should consult their dermatologist for treatment,” noted Dr. Saad.

To learn more about Dr. Eisen and the South Shore Skin Center practice, visit southshoreskincenter.com.

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 offers “play” areas for parents and children.

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

By purchasing directly from the manufacturer, DirectBuy members can not only save a lot of money, but enjoy the process as well. And while it can be a lot of fun to pick out your new kitchen, the new floors for your bathroom, it also requires your full attention. That’s a luxury members with children don’t always have.

The five DirectBuy franchises of the greater Chicago—DirectBuy of Chicago North, DirectBuy of Tinley Park, DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates, DirectBuy of DuPage County and DirectBuy of Gurnee—have developed a “Kids Zone” area in their respective clubs so parents can focus on the task at hand and kids can enjoy the DirectBuy experience, too.

Though not a supervised area, the Kids Zone features a number of things to keep school-age children occupied and entertained: books, puzzles and games. The Kids Zone also includes a flat screen television so children of members can watch movies or play games. 

“Let’s face it, most kids would rather go to the dentist than watch their parents shop for their next home improvement project. By the same token, it’s difficult for members with children to get the most out of the experience and do the research they need to do if they’re concerned about the kids getting fidgety. The Kids Zone gives children of DirectBuy members a place to play games, watch TV or even make new friends with other members’ kids while the grown-ups have their ‘fun’,” said I.J. Sell, owner of DirectBuy of Tinley Park.

Creating fun things to do for children is nothing new for DirectBuy. DirectBuy franchises across North America regularly donate equipment to youth organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCAs, and children’s hospitals.

“Because we are entrenched in the greater Chicago community, we have an even greater incentive to make this a one-of-a-kind, unique shopping experience because many of the members are our friends, neighbors, even relatives,” said Dave Kushner, owner of DirectBuy of Hoffman Estates. “The Kids Zone and donations to youth groups are just an extension of that philosophy.”

Since 1971, DirectBuy showrooms 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 call 1-800-DIRECTBUY or 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 showrooms 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 showrooms 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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