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Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café Begins Manchester Store Renovation February 11th

Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café, a growing fast casual dining establishment and wholesale bagel supplier, has announced that plans are in place for their Manchester store’s complete renovation.

Between Rounds Manchester store, which opened in 1994, has become somewhat of a landmark as it is the only original tenant of the Plaza at Buckland Hills. Located at 1540A Pleasant Valley Road, Between Rounds Manchester will close for remodeling on February 11, 2018 for two weeks.

During the temporary construction shut-down, the bakery café and bagel shop encourages customers to visit Between Rounds locations nearby in the Vernon Circle Shopping Center, 243 Hartford Turnpike and the South Windsor store at 19 John Fitch Boulevard, Route 5.

Between Rounds Manchester renovation promises a bright, cheery and well-lit store with the latest in energy efficient LED lighting. Flooring will be replaced with high quality flooring products and along with innovative ceiling and wall treatments, will modernize the look while being easy to clean and maintain. New furnishings, including tables, chairs and a bench seat that accommodates seating for large groups, will further enhance patrons’ comfort. Sleek retail giftware displays will also be incorporated into the design and showcase Between Rounds’ unique and expanded line of giftware.

The Manchester store’s floor plan is also getting a makeover. Customers will enjoy quicker service from a new efficient layout that integrates “grab-n-go” convenience allowing for new and delicious choices of salads, desserts, drinks and more. Expanded floor space will provide room for additional equipment and enhance employee operations, which will speed up customer flow.

The contractor for the renovation is Image Plus, led by Darrell Chaloult and based in Ashford, CT.

Between Rounds has been in business for more than two decades and is the brainchild of brothers Jerry and Joe Puiia, who are Staten Island, NY natives.

Jerry Puiia, co-founder of Between Rounds explained, “We are very excited about our Manchester renovation. It will be similar in scope to the 2016 renovation of our Vernon store, which we took down to bare bones and redesigned from floor to ceiling.”

Ultimately, the Manchester store will resemble the Vernon store in many ways and customers are sure to enjoy the upscale décor and a more comfortable atmosphere overall.

Puiia continued, “We received very positive feedback after our Vernon renovation and are striving for a similar harmony and visual consistency in Manchester’s redesign.”

The Manchester staff will temporarily work in the Vernon store during the renovation, and all catering orders will be satisfied via the Vernon and South Windsor stores.

Between Rounds will be hiring additional staff after the renovation.

For a sneak preview of what’s to come, visit Between Rounds Vernon store at 243 Hartford Turnpike.

About Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café

Founded in 1990, Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café is a unique bakery café and bagel shop renowned for their fresh, baked-on site bagels and baked goods as well sandwiches, wraps, salads, soups, specialty coffees and a unique line of giftware.  Between Rounds offers patrons an upscale, fast-casual dining experience with free Wi-Fi.

Between Rounds is also a wholesale bagel supplier to many independent grocers throughout the region. Between Rounds signature bagels are delivered to grocers fully baked so no additional labor is required of the bakery department.

Between Rounds locations include South Windsor, Vernon, Manchester and Tolland and franchise opportunities are available. Corporate headquarters are located at 19A John Fitch Blvd, Route 5 in South Windsor, CT. For more information about grocer partnership or their unique franchise offerings, contact (860) 291-0323 or visit www.betweenroundsbagels.com.

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Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café Adds Spicy New Bagel Flavor

Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café, a growing fast casual dining establishment and wholesale bagel supplier, introduces their newest bagel flavor, Jalapeño Cheddar.

Baked fresh daily, Between Rounds’ savory Jalapeño Cheddar bagels are chock full of cheddar cheese and have just the right amount of heat for balance and a little kick. They are great for breakfast, a spicy snack or in place of bread on a favorite sandwich.

Between Rounds offers 14 different types of bagels, and their bestsellers are Cheddar and Everything bagels. Between Rounds has been in business for more than two decades and is the brainchild of brothers Jerry and Joe Puiia, who are Staten Island, NY natives and expert bagel makers. The Puiia hallmark is manufacturing and selling their own delicious bagels, which sets them apart from other cafés.

Where to Get Jalapeño Cheddar Bagels

Jalapeño Cheddar bagels may be found at all Between Rounds locations – South Windsor (Route 5), Vernon (Vernon Circle Shopping Center), Manchester (Plaza at Buckland Hills) and Tolland (adjacent to Citgo Express Gas at 206 Merrow Road).

Handcrafted Cream Cheese Flavors

Along with plain and low-fat cream cheese, Between Rounds offers unique flavors of cream cheese such as their popular savory flavor, Roasted Red Pepper, Garlic & Parmesan. Between Rounds seasonal and innovative cream cheese flavors are developed and produced in-house. They are available for a limited time only and rotate depending on the month. The company’s traditional cream cheese flavors that are menu staples include plain, low-fat vegetable, scallion, strawberry and vanilla raisin walnut. No preservatives are added to Between Rounds cream cheese creations.

To view Between Rounds complete menu, visit betweenroundsbagels.com.

About Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café

Founded in 1990, Between Rounds Bakery Sandwich Café is a unique bakery café and bagel shop renowned for their fresh, baked-on site bagels and baked goods as well sandwiches, wraps, salads, soups, specialty coffees and a unique line of giftware.  Between Rounds offers patrons an upscale, fast-casual dining experience with free Wi-Fi.

Between Rounds is also a wholesale bagel supplier to many independent grocers throughout the region. Between Rounds signature bagels are delivered to grocers fully baked so no additional labor is required of the bakery department.

Between Rounds locations include South Windsor, Vernon, Manchester and Tolland and franchise opportunities are available. Corporate headquarters are located at 19A John Fitch Blvd, Route 5 in South Windsor, CT. For more information about grocer partnership or their unique franchise offerings, contact (860) 291-0323 or visit www.betweenroundsbagels.com.

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CamCare Announces Personal Chef “Food is Prevention” Program

Cora Fonner-Shrader and Rui Mendes, Founders of CamCare.org

The first line of defense against disease is what we eat.  In recognition of that critical fact, CamCare, an innovative Member Benefit Reimbursement Program that works as a supplement to healthcare insurance plans for Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM) and holistic approaches, announces a new nutrition program aspect.

CamCare has recently rolled out a state-of-the-art Personal Chef “Food is Prevention” Program, an online subscription program that anyone can participate in.

Food can support in the treatment of many illnesses. Fruits, vegetables, meats, oils and grains all contain one or more “primary” elements such as antioxidants, phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, fiber and much more that help fight a number of diseases.

Eating healthy meals designed to particular health concerns are a key strategy for improving health and well-being. CamCare’s Personal Chef “Food is Prevention” Program empowers members by making diet change easier.

CamCare’s Personal Chef Program is led by Chef Joe Emiro, MBA, who works with each subscriber to deliver a wide selection of nutrient rich, disease fighting, quick and easy to make recipes. Information on the nutritional and medicinal benefits of foods, as well as related apps, gadgets, promotions, awards and more are offered.

Essentially, subscribers receive:

– A monthly assortment of 10 custom, quick and easy to prepare recipes (Breakfast/Appetizer/Lunch/Dinner/Desserts)

– Grocery List with every meal

– Nutritional Facts with every meal

– Medically evident fact/research based on your condition

– Chef Emiro’s email: Contact him with any culinary questions or concerns

– Member Portal – a personal member dashboard

– 10 percent discount on all “CamCare Essentials” All-Natural Herbal Vitamins and Food Supplements

– Participation in our “Value-Add” Discount Program

“Based on the information provided on dietary intake forms by the subscriber, our Personal Chef designs a custom plan with food choices that are optimal for a subscriber’s particular health concern. These recommendations are based on the latest that nutrition science has to offer,” explained Cora Fonner-Shrader, co-founder of CamCare. “Our goal is to empower health and wellness consumers and help them to reach their dietary and health goals. We’ve developed a unique program that provides access to nutrition facts, research, recipes and more, all in one place.”

To learn more about CamCare’s Personal Chef “Food is Prevention” Program, visit http://www.camcare.org/personal-chef. 

CamCare – Choices for Better Health

Founded in 2016 by Cora Fonner-Shrader and Rui Mendes, CamCare was created and designed to offer health and wellness consumers with complementary alternative/integrative therapy options to use as a supplement to their current health insurance plan.

CamCare offers membership plans for Auxiliary, Ancillary and Voluntary Employee Member Benefit Programs as well as individuals seeking coverage options for functional medicine, herbal medicine, lifestyle medicine and naturopathic medicine. Designed to both be part of an employer benefit package as well as purchased by the individual consumer, CamCare offers the freedom to choose any certified/licensed complementary alternative medicine practitioner nationally for their care. Therapies range from chiropractic services to acupuncture, yoga and many others.

CamCare’s Member Benefit Programs to Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM) is available to everyone; individuals, couples, families, and businesses. Plans are offered in Single Therapy Plans, Combined Approach Wellness Plans, Health Focus Plans or Employer Benefit Plans, with benefits that cover office visits or fees for services. CamCare’s programs are comprehensive and dynamic and may serve more than one purpose. For more information, visit www.camcare.org.

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Old Colony Elder Services Appoints Alexandra Strangis as Home Care Program Manager

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the non-profit agency proudly serving older adults and individuals with disabilities throughout greater Plymouth County, has promoted Alexandra Strangis, to Home Care Program Manager of Care Management.

Ms. Strangis will oversee Home Care Program Care Management supervisors and program assistants. She will be responsible for planning, organizing, managing and evaluating all care management aspects of Home Care program operations and staff. She will also ensure program integrity and regulatory compliance, as well as work with the Home Care Program Manager of Nursing Services to ensure coordination and collaboration within the program.  She reports directly to OCES’ Home Care Program Director, Alisa DeLage.

Ms. Strangis joined OCES in 2010 as a Care Manager, and in 2012 was promoted to Home Care Supervisor. In 2015, she was promoted to the position of Home Care Program Lead Supervisor which she held until this most recent promotion.

Ms. Strangis graduated from Stonehill College in Easton, MA with a Bachelor of Arts in Healthcare Administration. She completed her college internship at Senior Behavioral Health Center at the former Jordan Hospital in Plymouth, MA, now Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth.

Ms. Strangis is a lifelong resident of Brockton, MA.

About OCES

Founded in 1974, OCES proudly serves greater Plymouth County and surrounding communities. OCES is a private, non-profit organization headquartered in Brockton with a second office in Plymouth. OCES is designated as one of 26 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES’ mission is to support the independence and dignity of elders and people with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living. The agency offers a number of programs to serve seniors, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call 508-584-1561 or visit www.ocesma.org.

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Navigating Valentine’s Day – BCI Offers Helpful Social Tips for Teens with ASD

Valentine’s Day is around the corner. But, for teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a day focused on relationships and filled with social interaction can create an array of emotional confusion.

From understanding non-verbal social cues and holding “successful” conversations to dealing with anxiety, making friends and dating – it is imperative that teens on the spectrum learn social skills and social relatedness. Not only will learning social skills better enable them to relate to their peers while in school, it sets them up for future success when it comes to living independently, holding a job, and building relationships.

Jill McGrale Maher, M.A., BCBA, LABA, Program Director at Behavioral Concepts (BCI), a company of behavioral clinicians specializing in the care of children with ASD throughout Central Massachusetts, explained, “It’s important to first identify your older child’s fears and deficits in the area of social skills in order to help untangle the emotions involved.”

McGrale Maher offers four key tips for parents of teens with ASD:

•    Teach your teen about different situations that may happen on Valentine’s Day by role playing the exchange of Valentine’s cards or treats.
•    Discuss the purpose behind Valentine’s Day and provide more detail. Role-play and rehearse everything including personal space, eye-contact, voice volume, and turn taking.
•    Several days prior to a Valentine’s Day event, role-play and rehearse exactly what is expected.  It can be very helpful in alleviating anxiety to actually visit where the event will take place as well.
•    For teens who may have a date, review everything including hygiene, manners, what to say, conversation starters, endings, and how to save a conversation. Again, roleplay as much as you can.

According to McGrale Maher, “Social skills deficits are one of the first indicators of ASD. Additionally, evidence clearly indicates that when young adults with ASD are not successful in life and work situations, it is almost always due to a lack of social skills.”

Fitchburg and Worcester After School Programs Focus on Social Skills
BCI has developed After School and Saturday programs to teach social skills to children and teens, with the goal of imparting skills to ensure a happy, successful, blended life in the community.

Social skills programming encompasses social pragmatics, group working skills, play skills, imitation, observational skills, perspective taking skills, how to act in a variety of situations, relationship development, self-awareness, and self-management. The teen social skills programs are more expansive and include dealing with frustration, anger and anxiety, advanced conversational skills, reading non-verbal cues, building and maintaining relationships, dealing with family and school demands, and decision making.

After identifying and assessing each child’s current social skills, the children are divided into three group levels. Typically, level one is for young children, level two for ages eight to 11 years-old, and level three is for teens. The after-school sessions run a minimum of two hours, and Saturday morning and afternoon sessions are each three hours long. The Fitchburg program has capacity for 30 students, while Worcester can accommodate 60 students.

For more information about BCI’s After School and Saturday programs, visit bciaba.com

About BCI
Behavioral Concepts (BCI) provides Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services to children with autism and their families in central Massachusetts. We identify and facilitate effective personalized instruction that allows children to discover more, learn more, and be more – increasing their independence and enhancing their quality of life at home, in school, and in the community. BCI is a Massachusetts Department of Public Health approved provider of specialty ABA services for early intervention. BCI also provides center, home-based, and afterschool services through private and public health insurance. The organization was founded in 2002 by Dr. Jeffrey R. Robinson. Further information on BCI is available at http://bciaba.com.

BCI is part of the Learn It family of companies, a national organization dedicated to helping all children succeed in school and life. Learn more at http://learnitsystems.com/family.

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Worcester School for Students with Autism Donates 158 Pounds of Food to Local Food Bank

Kevin Jedrzynski (student), Jenna Olson, Ethan Mairs (student), Ally Dalve, Elizabeth Rostron

The Center for Applied Behavioral Instruction (CABI), an accredited, private special education day school for students with autism spectrum disorder and challenging behaviors in Central Massachusetts, collected 158 pounds of food in a holiday food drive to help those in need of food assistance.

CABI held their first annual holiday food drive in December to benefit the Worcester County Food Bank (WCFB). Led by Elizabeth Rostron, BSN, RN and Instructional Assistant Meagan Trujillo, CABI organized the successful food drive collecting 158 pounds of nonperishable food donations over a one-month period.

The effort came about from an exercise with the students about what giving means during the holiday season. The students expressed an interest in helping those in need. With the help of the CABI staff, they identified the Worcester County Food Bank as their charity of choice.

Rostron and Trujillo mailed letters home to families, reached out to neighboring businesses and took to social media to spread the word about the cause. A donation box placed in the front lobby of the school quickly filled out with food from friends and family of the school.  Each week, the staff had to empty the boxes to make room for more donations piling in.

Rostron and Trujillo, along with a couple of students, made the trip to Shrewsbury to personally deliver the donation. This was a very proud moment for the CABI students as they experienced what giving back means and how they can directly impact their community.

CABI received a letter and certificate from the WCFB which acknowledged the students’ efforts and explained that the 158 pounds of food would serve 131 meals for individuals and families in the community.

“We are so humbled by the donations from CABI’s family and friends for our first holiday food drive,” said Rostron. “Even more so, we are beyond proud of our students for participating in the program and their true interest in giving back to their community. Each student brought a different value to this program whether it was through experience, their studies, or their compassion for helping, and we look forward to implementing future community programs.”

About CABI

The Center for Applied Behavioral Instruction (CABI) is a private elementary and secondary school that addresses the needs of students with autism spectrum disorder and challenging behaviors. CABI provides an educational option utilizing scientifically based educational treatment for children and young adults with significant educational and behavioral needs. The center is located at 345 Greenwood Street, Suite 3 in Worcester, MA. For more information, visit the website at http://www.cabiautism.org or contact the school directly at (508) 363-0201.

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Helping to Fill Fuel Tanks and More – Old Colony Elder Services Raises Over $7K for Emergency Fund

OCES Development Committee members: Paula Schlosser, Esq, West Bridgewater; Janice Fitzgerald, Director, Brockton COA; Gene Mazella, Director, Avon COA; Wendy Adams, Outreach Coordinator, West Bridgewater COA.

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the non-profit agency proudly serving older adults and individuals with disabilities throughout greater Plymouth County and surrounding communities, raised $7,714 for their Emergency Fund program over the holiday season.

The fundraising effort for OCES’ Emergency Fund kicked off on #GivingTuesday, which was November 28, 2017, with the theme #SafeAndWarm. The campaign was carried through the end of the year, and raised $312 over last year’s total.

OCES employees also contributed – donating a total of $1,135 to the Emergency Fund during #GivingTuesday, which was then matched dollar for dollar (up to $1,000) by an anonymous private family foundation.

OCES’ Emergency Fund is essential in helping to meet the needs of at-risk low-income older adults and individuals with disabilities who are in a crisis or emergency circumstance that threatens their health and/or living situation. All too frequently, these individuals encounter problems that can jeopardize their ability to maintain independence, dignity and well-being.

OCES’ Emergency Fund supports dozens of consumers throughout the year faced with unforeseen emergency events, answering urgent needs such as filling an empty fuel tank, repairing a broken furnace, or providing life-sustaining medications.

With the number of individuals needing assistance increasing each year, OCES’ strives to add to the Emergency Fund’s capacity each year, so they can continue to make a critical difference in the lives of consumers served.

“We are extremely grateful to the individuals, families, and employees who donated and we also wish to extend our deep appreciation to the private family foundation for their generous match,” said Nicole M. Long, CEO.

Even though the fundraising campaign is over, donations to OCES’ Emergency Fund may be made at any time of the year by visiting www.ocesma.org or making a donation by check or money order and mailed to OCES, 144 Main Street, Brockton, MA 02301. OCES is recognized as a tax exempt charitable corporation under section 501c3 of the IRS tax code.

About OCES
Founded in 1974, OCES proudly serves greater Plymouth County and surrounding communities. OCES is a private, non-profit organization headquartered in Brockton with a second office in Plymouth. OCES is designated as one of 26 Aging Services Access Points (ASAPs) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. OCES’ mission is to support the independence and dignity of elders and people with disabilities by providing essential information and services that promote healthy and safe living. The agency offers a number of programs to serve seniors, individuals with disabilities, their families and caregivers. For more information call 508-584-1561 or visit www.ocesma.org.

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Discovery Maps tips the scale to greater user experience with upgrade to scale map on website

The new scale view of Discovery Map’s online maps on its website, www.discoverymap.com

WAITSFIELD, VT…

Discovery Map International, Inc., the leading provider of curated guides to top tourist attractions, cities and towns throughout North America, announced today the upgrade of its Web-based maps to scale maps with enhanced user-friendly features. The digital counterpart to Discovery Map’s hard copy maps can be found on Discoverymap.com and embedded in many other websites around the country.

“This upgrade is a real game changer. Until now, we’ve essentially had digital versions of our hand-drawn maps on our website. You could cursor over the names of advertisers and get a little information but the functionality was confined to the area of the drawn map,” said Peter Hans, president of Discovery Map International, Inc. “With the upgrade, visitors will see a scalable map, so they can zoom in closer and have a view of all the streets in the area and get a lot more information on advertisers in the map area. Additionally, you can zoom out for a more global view to see what else is in the area. This is particularly beneficial in areas where we have other Discovery Maps.”

The new scale map will also enable visitors to conduct individual searches on things to do, places to stay, places to eat, services, places to shop and other attractions in a specific area or region. These searches provide results that include contact information and links to a company’s website and social media pages. The listings will also offer a link to get driving directions.

“What’s great about this upgrade is it takes our online maps from being a guide just for those areas where we have hard copy maps to something that’s beneficial to travel in and around the 132 areas where we offer maps,” said Hans.

Some of the other user benefits with the upgrade include a lighter data load, which improves performance. The new scale map is also easier to read with less clutter.

“Our franchise owners love the scale maps as each map provides backlinks for advertisers and that improves our advertisers’ exposure,” said Hans. “The new map also enables us to include display advertisers that are not on the print map. This will enable franchise owners to sell ads to companies who may be in or near the same town as the map but not necessarily on the face of the printed maps.”

To view the new scale map, visit www.discoverymap.com.

About Discovery Map

Headquartered in Waitsfield, VT, in the heart of the Green Mountains, Discovery Map International is the country’s leading provider of curated guides to top tourist destinations, cities and towns throughout North America. The distinctively colorful, hand-drawn maps are a favorite of travelers for navigating local dining, attractions, businesses, cultural experiences, ski destinations – and even the best locations to take selfies. Discovery Maps can be found in local hotels, restaurants, shops, visitor information centers and other participating venues, and at discoverymap.com.

Franchise Business Review named Discovery Map one of the top 50 franchisors in 2018, FranchiseGrade.com has given our franchise opportunity an A+ rating and when Forbes magazine named us the 4th best franchise in the US for investments under $150,000. For more information about the Discovery Map, please visit www.discoverymap.com.

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Brenda Bernard Promoted to Home Care Program Manager at Old Colony Elder Services

Brenda Bernard

Old Colony Elder Services (OCES), the non-profit agency proudly serving older adults and individuals with disabilities throughout greater Plymouth County, has promoted Brenda Bernard, RN to Home Care Program Manager of Nursing Services.

Ms. Bernard, who is a registered nurse, will provide clinical oversight to OCES’ Home Care nursing staff and programs, which encompass Transition Support, Home Care, and the Clinical Assessment and Eligibility (CAE) departments. She will be responsible for ensuring compliance with funding source program regulations, providing public outreach and education, acting as a clinical liaison to the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, and responding to inquiries from community health agencies, hospitals and physicians in order to support and enhance coordinated care for OCES consumers. She reports directly to OCES’ Home Care Program Director, Alisa DeLage.

Prior to her promotion, Ms. Bernard was OCES’ RN Clinical Supervisor, overseeing Transition Support Registered Nurses and Home Care Registered Nurses. She has been performing CAE screens for OCES since 2013. This past year, she was welcomed to join the OCES Ethics Committee.

Before joining OCES, Ms. Bernard held positions as an Adult Family Care (AFC) Nurse Coordinator for Nonotuck Resource Associates in Plymouth and as a charge nurse at Bridgewater State Hospital. Additionally, she has over ten years of experience working in the healthcare industry in a skilled nursing facility and at South Shore Hospital where she was recognized with the SPIRITT Award.

A graduate of Massasoit Community College in Brockton, MA, Ms. Bernard holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Massachusetts Boston where she graduated summa cum laude. While there, she joined the Golden Key International Honour Society, UMass Boston Chapter, and Sigma Theta Tau International, Theta Alpha Chapter, an honor society that recognizes nurses for their outstanding achievements in research and education. While pursuing her education, she offered seven years of service to Best Buddies Massachusetts as a volunteer E-Buddy.

Ms. Bernard is a resident of Brockton, MA.

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